Reviews

Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.2 LAB FE: one-minute review

Professional lenses typically offer the best image and build quality, but at a cost. Plus, when thinking about features on prime lenses, most are fairly straightforward despite the aforementioned characteristics. One of two lenses bucking this trend is the Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.2 LAB FE, the other being the Viltrox AF 135mm f/1.8 lens.

The latter is available for both Sony E and Nikon Z mount, with the 35mm soon to be available for Z mount, too. The thing I love about these lenses is that, despite being primes they're surprisingly feature-packed, and are available at extremely attractive prices.

The 35mm f/1.2 LAB costs just $999 / £959 at Amazon, which is an amazing price for what you get (if you're buying from Australia you can purchase the lens in USD.) This price is especially impressive when the slower Sony FE 35mm f/1.4GM is considerably more expensive. The Sony is, of course, a flagship G Master lens, which may suggest superiority, but the 35mm f/1.2 LAB holds up well by comparison.

That extra 1/3 stop of light-gathering capability makes a difference in two ways. First, it makes the lens better for astrophotography. Second, it produces a beautifully shallow depth of field. Detail is also impressively sharp wide open at f/1.2, so for portraiture and astrophotography this is a truly stunning lens.

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• Check out more of the best Sony lenses

Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.2 LAB FE specsViltrox AF 35mm f/1.2 LAB FE specs

Type:

Standard prime

Mount:

Sony E mount (Nikon Z coming soon)

Sensor:

Full-frame

Focal length:

35mm

Max aperture:

f/1.2

Minimum focus:

13.4 inches / 34cm

Filter size:

77mm

Dimensions:

3.51 x 8.80 inches / 89.2 x 121.8mm

Weight:

32.5oz / 920g

Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.2 LAB FE: Design

• Digital color screen
• Large and heavy for a 35mm lens
• Excellent build with weather sealing

Most prime lenses are fairly simple in their design, relying on their fast maximum apertures and excellent image quality to act as the main selling points. The 35mm f/1.2 LAB certainly follows suit here, but it also has a few tricks up its sleeve that set it apart from other primes. It’s also a beast of a lens, at 3.51 x 8.80 inches / 89.2 x 121.8mm and weighing32.5oz / 920g.

It’s certainly nowhere near as large and heavy as the 135mm f/1.8 LAB lens, but it’s close to double the weight of the Sony FE 35mm f/1.4GM and is slightly larger. The fact that it's an f/1.2 lens is a contributing factor, but Viltrox LAB series lenses do seem to be pretty hefty, to say the least.

Both lenses are made of aerospace-grade magnesium-aluminum alloy with a die-coating, so they have a premium look and feel alongside being of an extremely high build quality. Plus, the lenses feature a dust and moisture-resistant construction, making them perfect for outdoor photographers.

The filter thread is 77mm, so not too large and ideal for both circular and square filters, while the 11-blade aperture produces smooth bokeh with circular highlights. The minimum focusing distance is 13.4 inches / 34cm, which isn’t the shortest you'll find but is still pretty good.

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As mentioned, despite being a prime lens, the 35mm f/1.2 LAB is fairly feature-packed. It has a customizable multi-function ring, which by default is set to control the aperture, with clicked and clickless operation selectable using a switch.

There are also two customizable Fn buttons and a small color digital screen that shows the focus distance, aperture, and the active Fn button. The screen can, alongside the Fn and multi-function ring, be customized by connecting the lens via Bluetooth to the Viltrox Lens app.

Since this is a third-party lens, firmware updates and customization can’t be applied in the same way as OEM lenses. But, with the lens unattached from a camera, it can be powered via a USB-C port on the lens mount and then connected to the app. This works incredibly well; a firmware update was required during testing and only took a few minutes to complete.

The ability to personalize the controls is extremely useful for tailoring the lens to the way you like to shoot. I was quite happy with the default configurations, so although I looked at the options available in the app, I left everything as it was.

Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.2 LAB FE: Performance

• Excellent image quality overall
• Impressive sharpness at f/1.2
• Sharpest at f/8

The image quality produced by this lens is sensational, with incredible sharpness and detail wide open at f/1.2. Sure, with this lens you’ll need to stop down on some occasions, but most people want a lens like this for that fast maximum aperture, and the 35mm f/1.2 LAB is incredible when shooting wide open. It’s not perfect, but it’s seriously impressive.

The 35mm f/1.2 LAB produces exceptional center sharpness at f/1.2, and while extreme corner sharpness is quite soft, edge sharpness is excellent. Corner sharpness increases gradually as you get closer to the center of the frame and as you stop down the aperture, with f/4 showing greatly improved extreme corner sharpness.

Overall sharpness continues to improve up to f/8, which, like many lenses, is the sweet spot at which most detail is resolved and the overall image produced is sharpest. Beyond f/8, diffraction begins to come into play, with f/11 providing slightly less sharp images, and f/16 exhibiting the least sharp results.

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Vignetting is most visible at f/1.2 as you’d expect, and becomes less noticeable until f/2, where it almost disappears, and completely disappears at f/2.8. This is normal for a prime lens, and it’s not an issue at all because vignetting is easy to remove with software.

There isn’t a profile available in Adobe Lightroom yet since this lens is still relatively new after an April 2025 release, so any corrections currently have to be made manually. Chromatic aberration is minimal, with only the tiniest amount of fringing visible, and this was easily removed.

Autofocus performance is fast and precise, with the lens locking onto subjects quickly and silently. The AF 35mm f/1.2 LAB features Quad Viltrox HyperVCM motors, which Viltrox claims provide 150% faster AF than STM motors. I couldn’t perceive a difference in speed.

The lens also supports subject recognition, which I tested by using people/eye recognition to shoot portraits wide open. This worked exceptionally well, with perfectly sharp eyes and a dramatic fall-off in depth of field.

Should you buy the Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.2 LAB FE?Buy it if...

You’re on a budget

Considering the image quality, build quality and features alongside the amazing price, this lens is an absolute bargain.

You shoot astrophotography

35mm is a great focal length for astrophotography, and the fast f/1.2 maximum aperture enables lower ISO settings for improved image quality.

You shoot portraits

35mm is also a great focal length for environmental portraits, and the sharpness available at f/1.2 is outstanding.

Don't buy it if...

You’d like a compact and lightweight lens

The 35mm f/1.2 LAB is a chunky and fairly weighty lens. There are lighter and more compact alternatives available, although they're also slower.

You need versatility

Primes typically offer the best image quality and faster maximum apertures, but zoom lenses are, by their nature, more convenient and versatile.

You shoot APS-C

If you shoot with an APS-C camera, there are more appropriate Viltrox lenses available to you, including the Viltrox AF 27mm f/ 1.2 Pro, which is almost half the price.

How I tested the Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.2 LAB FE

• I tested it over several weeks
• I used it to capture multiple subjects
• I tested it with an unforgiving Sony A7R V

I tested the Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.2 LAB FE over several weeks attached to an unforgiving Sony A7R V, shooting a range of relevant subjects and using different aperture settings to test sharpness and distortion. I shot both static and moving subjects to test autofocus performance.

With 30 years of photographic experience and 17 years working as a photography journalist, I’ve used many of the cameras and lenses that have been released in that time. As a working photographer, I aim to test cameras and lenses from a photographer’s point of view.

• First reviewed July 2025

UGreen Nexode 500W 6-Port Charger: review

If you need a ton of power for a ton of devices, the UGreen Nexode 500W 6-Port Charger could be the ultimate solution for you. This multi-port desktop charging station is equipped with five USB-C ports and one USB-A alternative, GaN smart tech, and a premium build. But the question is: should you really spend more than $200 / £200 to get hold of it?

Well, if you don’t have a lot of power-hungry devices like modern laptops, tablets, handsets, and more, the 500W maximum power output may mean the answer to this question is “no”. But if you’ve got a high-demand setup, I think you’ll get great value from this model.

Yes, if peak performance is what you’re after, it won’t get much better than this. You can activate 240W single-port charging for devices like gaming laptops or e-bikes, and even charge 5 laptops with 100W of power at once. I tried juicing up my Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, LG Tone Free T90S, the Motorola Edge 50 Neo, and the Marshall Kilburn III – and every device bounced back to 100% in no time.

(Image credit: Future)

My 4,700 mAh Samsung phone charged in under 80 minutes with every port in simultaneous use, and something I picked up on was that the Nexode 500W never got too hot. That’s largely thanks to inbuilt sensors that execute real-time temperature monitoring for protection against overheating and support of secure, stable charging.

And there’s just so much tech rammed into this desktop charger. It harnesses the might of six GaN chips, helping it to offer maximum charging efficiency while also maintaining a compact build. There’s everything else you could want too, from short-circuit prevention through to electrostatic protection.

Still, given the high-spec nature of this charger, it’s quite hefty, weighing in at just under 5lbs (2.2kg). I’d argue it's compact, though, given its 500W of power, so unless you have a particularly small desk, it should fit your setup.

The only other aspects that could disappoint are the charger's lack of a display or companion app compatibility – something its main rival, Anker, has implemented into some of its desktop chargers. Additionally, there are no USB-C cables included – I would have really appreciated at least one, and I think many buyers would too.

Otherwise, I’ve got no complaints about this UGreen powerhouse. It has both a durable and premium feel, serving up excellent performance, and although the price tag is high, it has the capabilities to justify it.

(Image credit: Future)UGreen Nexode 500W 6-Port Charger review: price & specs

Price

$249.99 / £219.99

Total power output

500W

Number of ports

6

Port type(s)

5x USB-C; 1x USB-A

Dimensions

5.7 x 4.5 x 2.4 inches / 146 x 114.6 x 60.6mm

(Image credit: Future)Should I buy the UGreen Nexode 500W 6-Port Charger?Buy it if…

You need a ton of power
If you want to charge multiple laptops simultaneously or simply juice up all the devices at your desk, the UGreen Nexode 500W 6-Port Charger is ideal. If you’re holding a meeting, say, and both you and your colleagues need to charge your devices, it’s a great solution thanks to its efficient, speedy multi-port performance.

You want access to 240W charging
A real draw of this model is its ability to deliver 240W of power through a single port. That means you can optimally charge some seriously power-hungry devices without compromise – think gaming laptops, e-bikes, or the Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M4 Pro).

Don't buy it if…

You don’t have an especially high power demand
500W, simply put, would be overkill for most people. This product is designed for those with intensive power needs – businesses and pro gamers, for example. If you’re an individual user, you may want something like the Anker Prime Charger (200W, 6 ports, GaN), which has enough juice to recharge your laptop, phone, and a handful of smaller devices. I use this one myself, and absolutely love it!

You’re on a budget
As a result of its gigantic power and high-caliber tech, the UGreen Nexode 500W is pretty pricey. Yep, at over $200 / £200, this isn’t ideal for those on a budget. Having said that, you can sometimes find this model on sale, so make sure to keep your eyes peeled for a deal if you’re sold on it.

UGreen Nexode 500W 6-Port Charger review: also consider

Anker Prime Charger 6-Port Desktop Charging Station 250W
500W a little much? Looking for something a little cheaper, too? Then this multi-port desktop charger from Anker is an awesome option. You get 250W of power, six ports (4x USB-C; 2x USB-A), a useful display with power consumption info, and app compatibility. It’s also a fair bit smaller, making it ideal for smaller desks. Read our full Anker Prime Charger 6-Port Desktop Charging Station 250W review.

Beast Mighty 850 Plus: two-minute review

If you're tired of personal smoothie makers that struggle with ingredients tougher than milk and bananas, the Beast Mighty 850 Plus could be the best blender for you. Rather than running on a rechargeable battery like many of its rivals, the 850 Plus is mains-powered and has a considerably more powerful motor, paired with a tough blade unit.

That means you won't be able to blend a protein shake in the changing room after a gym session, but if you're interested in making green juices and fresh smoothies using tough fruits and vegetables, it'll produce much smoother and more palatable results.

During my tests, it turned kale, oat milk, and blueberries into a very drinkable beverage with no flecks of leaf to get stuck in my teeth. It also totally blitzed frozen blackcurrants, eliminating the gritty seeds that usually make them a troublesome ingredient.

The Beast Mighty 850 Plus can tackle ingredients that lesser blender leave in lumps (Image credit: Future)

The disadvantage of this power is that the 850 Plus is relatively noisy. However, a single blending cycle is enough to tackle just about anything you can throw at it, so you'll only have to endure the noise for one minute.

This is an attractive appliance that comes in a range of colors, so you can pick one to suit your kitchen. (I chose white, but black, muted blue, and sand are other options.) It comes with three different-sized blending vessels (the small one is particularly good for salad dressings), plus a choice of lids for carrying your creations on the move.

The vessels have ridges on the sides that look interesting, but can be an issue if you're using a sticky ingredient like peanut butter, which can get a bit stuck. Beast supplies a long-handled cleaning brush to remove this debris, but almost all the components are dishwasher-safe, and I found this a much easier way to get everything squeaky clean.

Beast Mighty 850 Plus: price and availability

• Available in the US and UK for $149 / £149.99
• Beast Health also offers a more affordable model and a premium one
• Costs more than most personal blenders, but is more powerful

The Beast Mighty 850 Plus is available direct from Beast, and from third-party retailers, including Amazon, for $149 / £149.99. At the time of writing, Beast Health blenders aren't available in Australia. You'll find today's best prices listed below.

The 850 Plus sits in the middle of Beast Health's range of personal blenders. If you want something a little more affordable and don't mind sacrificing some power and accessories, the Beast Mighty 650 costs £119.99 and is only available in the UK.

The company's top-end model is the Beast Mega 1200 Plus, which is priced at $199 / £199.99. Extra blender vessels in various sizes are available to buy separately.

The Beast Mighty 850 Plus is relatively pricey for a personal blender (for example, the Ninja Blast Max and Nutribullet Flip are both around $89.99/£89.99), but the price difference is understandable considering what you're getting for your money. The 850 Plus has a more powerful motor than those other two, and runs directly from the mains rather than a rechargeable battery. It also comes with a bigger set of accessories, including three different-sized blending vessels.

• Value score: 4.5/5

Beast Mighty 850 Plus: design

• Stylish blender with three vessels and a choice of lids
• Controls are very simple to use
• Ingredients can stick in ridges after blending
• Dishwasher-safe components

The Beast Mighty 850 Plus is a particularly stylish blender with a large base that houses its powerful motor and a set of three blending vessels with ridged sides. It comes in a variety of colors, including Cloud White (shown here), Mist (slate blue), Sand, and Carbon Black.

Its vessels have capacities of 415ml, 638ml, and 786ml; the larger two are ideal for smoothies and protein shakes, while the smaller one works well for portions of salad dressing or sauce. You also get a screw-on lid, a drinking lid with a carry cap and straw lid, two drinking straws, and a set of two cleaning brushes (a large one for the vessels and a small one for the straws).

The 850 Plus comes with three blending vessels and an assortment of lids (Image credit: Future)

The large brush is particularly useful if you plan to wash the blender vessels by hand because ingredients (especially sticky ones) have a tendency to accumulate in the grooves on the sides. Many personal blenders can be cleaned by adding water with a squirt of dish soap and running a blending cycle, but the Beast blender needs more thorough cleaning.

Thankfully, the blade unit, blending vessels, and caps are all safe to wash in the top drawer of a dishwasher. and came out perfectly clean during my tests. The only parts of the blender that aren't dishwasher-safe are the base unit and the straws.

Unlike some personal blenders we've tested here at TechRadar, the Beast 850 Plus doesn't have a rechargeable battery. This means you can't use it to blend ingredients on the move, but the fact that it runs directly from the mains means it can offer more blending power than portable smoothie makers.

Its controls are very simple to use, with a large yellow power button at the back and a 'blend' button on the front. Pressing this button once will pulse the blender, and holding it briefly will initiate a minute-long blending cycle.

• Design score: 4.5/5

Beast Mighty 850 Plus: performance

The Beast Mighty 850 Plus lives up to its name, with the best blending performance of any personal smoothie maker I've tested to date.

I started by testing the blender with a particularly tough ingredient: mixed frozen berries. These pose two challenges: first, frozen strawberries are essentially big chunks of dense ice that many blenders struggle to break through, and second, blackberries and blackcurrants are full of tiny seeds that can leave a smoothie feeling gritty in the mouth if not completely blended.

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Gritty blackcurrant seeds are no challenge for the powerful motor and tough blades of the 850 Plus (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

One of the lids has a hole for a drinking straw (two of which are provided with the blender) (Image credit: Future)

I added a good handful of the frozen fruit to the blender along with oat milk and a scoop of vanilla protein powder, and was pleasantly surprised when a single minute-long blending cycle obliterated even the largest strawberries to create an icy shake, while also obliterating the gritty seeds.

The 850 Plus crushes ice cubes equally well, and one blending cycle turned a double shot of espresso with ice and milk into a perfect iced coffee.

I also tried the 850 Plus with our standard testing smoothie – Nutribullet's Banana Kale Blueberry Freeze, which often poses a challenge for blenders due to its high content of fibrous green veg. I added the ingredients to the largest blending vessel, then ran a single blending cycle to see how well everything was combined.

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A single blending cycle produced a smooth and palatable drink, with no flakes of kale (Image credit: Future)

Some blenders (such as the Nutribullet Flip) require a second cycle to break up the kale, but the 850 Plus thoroughly blitzed all the ingredients first time, creating a very drinkable smoothie with no flecks of leaf to stick to my teeth.

The blender averaged around 80dB at the start of a blending cycle. dropping to 75dB once the ingredients started to break down. This makes it one of the loudest blenders I've tested to date, which can be explained by its more powerful motor, but is worth bearing in mind if you're particularly sensitive to noise.

• Performance score: 5/5

Beast Mighty 850 Plus: also consider

If you're not sure that the Beast Mighty 850 Plus is the right blender for you, here are two others to consider.

Nutribullet Flip

The Nutribullet Flip has its blades and motor in the lid, meaning you can easily carry the whole appliance wherever you go. Its smooth design makes it hard for ingredients to become stuck, and it generally works well, though it didn’t handle tough kale and frozen strawberries as well as the Beast Mighty 850 Plus.

Read our full Nutribullet Flip review

Ninja Blast Max

One of the most powerful portable blenders available right now, the Ninja Blast Max makes light work of most ingredients and can be carried around for blending on the move, making it ideal for post-workout protein shakes.

Read our full Ninja Blast Max review

Should you buy the Beast Mighty 850 PlusBeast Mighty 850 Plus score card

Attribute

Notes

Score

Value

One of the more expensive personal blenders I've tested, but you're getting a lot for your money.

4.5/5

Design

Very stylish and supplied with three different sized vessels. Ingredients can get stuck on the ridged sides, but the cups are dishwasher-safe.

4.5/5

Performance

Makes light work of difficult ingredients like fibrous vegetables and frozen fruit with a single blending cycle. Quite loud, but very effective.

5/5

Buy it if

You want serious power

The Beast Mighty 850 Plus has a lot more blending power than the average smoothie maker, so it's a great pick if you want to use more challenging ingredients than protein powder and bananas. Frozen fruit and tough veggies are no match for its motor and blades.

You value versatility

This blender's different-sized vessels make it great for more than just drinks. The smallest one is particularly good for whipping up salad dressing and cold sauces.

Don't buy it if

You want to blend on the move

The 850 Plus doesn't run from a battery, so you'll be restricted to blending in the kitchen. If you want to whip up a shake at the gym after your workout, take a look at the offerings from Nutribullet and Ninja instead.

You're watching the pennies

This is a premium personal blender. You're getting a lot for your money, but if you're on a tight budget, then there are cheaper, though less powerful, alternatives available.

How I tested the Beast Mighty 850 Plus

I used the Beast Mighty 850 Plus for a week, making a variety of 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 July 2025.

Graywind Smart Blinds: one-minute review

Graywind offers a wide variety of smart blinds, including zebra, panel track, vertical, Ventian, and wood blinds. They also have a variety of smart shades, including roller, Roman, cellular, dual, and more. They even have smart curtains. Within each category, you can choose from selection of sizes, fabrics, and colors.

Then you choose your motor from five options: Eve Apple HomeKit Motor, Rechargeable BLE RF Motor, Zigbee Alexa Motor, Matter Smart Motor, or Hardwired WiFi Motor. I selected the zebra blinds and the Eve Apple HomeKit motor, since I'd be using my iPhone and HomePod to control the blinds.

I can't say that getting the Graywind Smart Blinds up and running was easy. The screws that were included for installation were not great quality, which meant that they stripped easily. Setup was also a little tricky. Still, I managed to get everything up and running. Once completed, the blinds work exactly as expected. You can set up scenes or automations which allow you to set opening and closing to a schedule or situation of your choosing. You can also control the blinds using your smartphone, voice, or just your hands.

(Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)Graywind Smart Blinds: price & availability

• Starting price is relatively inexpensive
• Can get pricey with upcharges
• Custom fit to many sizes

You can order Graywind Smart Shades, Curtains, and Blinds directly from the Graywind website or you can buy them from Amazon. Prices start at $109.99 (£82.04/169.88 AUD.) I selected the zebra blinds in the charcoal blackout fabric and the Eve Apple HomeKit motor. I also added a solar panel and an extra-long wall charging cable. Blinds in the size and style you see in my photos go for $276.99(£206.59/427.97 AUD) each. It's important to measure your windows carefully if you want the blinds to fit correctly. I chose the outside mount style and made my measurements accordingly.

• Value score: 4.5/5

Graywind Smart Blinds: design

• Tricky installation and setup
• Goes up and down smoothly and quietly
• Blinds can get caught in solar panel charging cable

You'll need to be pretty handy and have access to a drill in order to install the Graywind Smart Blinds. You'll also need to be patient and careful, since the included screws are soft and strip quite easily.

Note that if you're charging the blinds via the solar charger, the blinds can get tangled with the charging cord pretty easily. I've gotten around that issue by not opening the blinds 100%. But I shouldn't have to do that.

(Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)

Once you get the blinds installed and charged via solar panel or wall charger, you're ready to set them up with your smartphone. I ordered two sets of identical blinds for windows right next to each other; I was able to set up the first one using only the Home app on my iPhone.

(Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)

For some reason, I wasn't able to set up the second set that way. I had to download the Eve app on my iPhone and set it up there. Once that was done, I was able to control both sets of blinds via either the Home or Eve app.

(Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)

There is also a pull cord that you can use for manual operation, if you wish. One tug on on the pull cord gets the blinds moving in one direction, a second tug stops them, and a third tug gets them moving in the other direction.

Are these the most beautiful blinds I've ever seen? No, and the 'fabric' is plastic. But they look fine, and they do what they are supposed to do.

• Design score: 3.5/5

Graywind Smart Blinds: performance

• Can be controlled so many different ways
• Use with Google, Amazon, or Apple
• Opening and closing mechanism works beautifully

As mentioned above, there are five different types of motors, so you'll want to make your selection carefully. I chose the Eve Apple HomeKit motor, since I have both an iPhone and a HomePod. But you can also choose BLE RF Motor (works directly with the Graywind app via Bluetooth, no bridge needed), Hardwired WiFi Motor (no bridge needed), Zigbee Alexa Motor, or a Matter Smart Motor (which allows use of Alexa, Google, HomeKit or SmartThings). A detailed guide on the site can help you choose the right one for your home if you're not sure.

As mentioned above, I was only able to set up one of the blinds using the Apple Home app; to set up the other one I had to use the Eve app. Another little blip was that one of the blinds wanted to roll the wrong way initially, but I was able to fix that by troubleshooting with the owner's manual.

Once your blinds are all set up, it's easy to control them. You can use your smartphone and tap to select how far open you want them, down to an exact percentage. You can also use the cord to control them. If you don't like the look of the cord and you're not going to use it, you can easily remove it.

(Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)

You can also set up scenes and automations, so that your blinds open and close at specific times or in specific situations of your choosing. For example, you could have the blinds open at sunrise and close at sunset. Or, you can set your blinds to open when you say, "Good morning!" and close when you say, "Good night!" Or have them them close automatically when you leave the house and open when you arrive home. I just set mine to open and close to a specific percentage at a specific time. But there are endless ways you can set them up. I tried several different ways and they all worked great.

• Performance score: 4.5/5

Should you buy the Graywind Smart Blinds?Graywind Smart Blinds score card

Attribute

Notes

Score

Value

They start pretty inexpensively for custom smart blinds

4.5/5

Design

Design is fine but there are some minor yet annoying flaws

3.5/5

Performance

Once you get everything set up, the blinds are simple to use and perform beautifully

4.5/5

Buy it if

You want to be able to control your window covering in a variety of ways

Graywind offers five different motors so you can use Bluetooth, Alexa, Apple, Matter, or connect directly to your home's Wi-Fi. You can also control them manually with a cord.

You want customization

Graywind has you covered with smart blinds, shades, and curtains in a huge variety of styles, sizes, fabrics, and colors.

Don't buy it if

It's not in the budget

Graywind's prices actually start quite reasonably, but can ramp up quickly for bigger windows and other customizations.

You want ultra-easy installation, setup, and removal

I found these a little tricky to install and set up. You need a drill and some patience to fiddle around. This might not be ideal for renters, since they do have to be screwed in to the window frame.

Graywind Smart Blinds: also consider

Want some other, similar options to check out? Here are a couple of TechRadar favorites to consider.

SmartWings Smart Blinds

These are pretty similar to Graywind's offerings but, but you may find a particular style more appealing. Read our SmartWings Smart Blinds review to learn more.View Deal

SwitchBot Blind Tilt

Looking to spend a lot less? You can use your existing blinds and just add this little guy. You don't even need a drill, which makes this a renter-friendly option. Check out our SwitchBot Blind Tilt review.View Deal

How I tested the Graywind Smart Blinds

I placed Graywind Smart Blinds in two bedroom windows. I tested out the blinds in a number of different ways. I tapped them open and closed using the Apple Home app, Eve app, and Control Center on my iPhone, both at home and away from home using a HomePod mini as a hub. I told Siri to open and close the blinds. I set up an automation to open the blinds a certain percentage 8:00 a.m. and close them at 9:00 p.m. each day. I also used the manual cord to open and close the blinds.

First reviewed July 2025

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Eaton SmartPro Tripp Lite UPS: 30-second review

I’ve noticed that lately, possibly since the introduction of SSDs, if the power is cut to a PC, a file might become corrupted, but the operating system is usually unaffected.

But would you take that chance with a server or network hardware on a customer-facing or point-of-business system?

If the answer is no, then the Eaton SmartPro Tripp Lite UPS I’m reviewing here might be worth including on the budget, as it’s built specifically for providing the time to shut a system down gracefully.

The catchily named Eaton SMX1500XLRT2UN is a 2U high industrial UPS that can be rack mounted or floor standing, has power outputs for up to eight mains-powered devices, and 1500VA of battery capacity on tap to keep those devices running should mains power fail.

That capacity can be increased either with one of the other SmartPro Tripp Lite models or with an expansion battery that connects to a 48V/50A connector on the rear.

This top-of-the-line model also supports WEBCARDLXE, USB, and even a DB9 serial cable for those who prefer to telnet into infrastructure.

It allows the Eaton SMX1500XLRT2UN to be part of a greater disaster management plan, giving IT professionals the ability to make the best strategic choices in the event of power loss.

This equipment isn’t easy to handle, and the price isn’t especially low, but it's built for the job and not a battery borrowed from an alternative purpose, making one of the best UPS around.

Eaton SmartPro Tripp Lite UPS: Price & availability

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

• How much does it cost? $1454 / £1460
• When is it out? Available now
• Where can you get it? Direct from Eaton or through online retailers like Amazon.

The cost of a UPS of this type is directly impacted by the size of the battery, and what features for managing that stored power are provided.

As the Eaton SMX1500XLRT2UN is a top-tier unit in its particular series, it comes at a slight premium due to the extra features like WEBCARDLXE.

That makes the basic price around £1460 Inc VAT in the UK, and $1454 in the USA. In the UK and Europe, Eaton sells mostly through retail partners, but in the USA, this hardware can be bought directly from Amazon.

It should be noted that although the same model number, the US version is designed for 120V equipment, whereas in the UK and throughout Europe it outputs 230V.

Personally, if you are unfamiliar with UPS technology and want to get the right one for your installation, it is best to talk to a partner, because they’ll provide you with all the options and additional information about replacement batteries and expansion.

If you don’t need their expertise, then Amazon will work if you live in a region where these devices are sold through them.

The immediate response to many seeing this price will be that a 1500VA battery can be found for $225, so why pay this much for this equipment?

The devil is in the details, as they say. However, the battery component of this equation is a relatively small part of the exercise, and a 1500VA battery with this type of management, configuration, and expansion potential is likely to cost much more than $1500.

The APC SRT1500RMXLA is similar, with an asking price of $ 1,473 for the 120V model, for example.

There are only a limited number of brands that make these types of devices, and therefore, the price variance is limited.

You can buy cheaper units with roughly the same battery capacity, but they won’t have the features of this hardware and generally aren’t intended to handle the power demands of an entire rack at a moment's notice.

• Value: 4 / 5

Eaton SmartPro Tripp Lite UPS: Specs

Hardware

Eaton Tripp Lite series SmartPro UPS

Part No.

SMX1500XLRT2UN

Rack Size

2U

Topology

Line-interactive

Phase

Single-phase

Nominal output

208V

Voltage options

200/208/220/230/240V

Max current

10A

Outlets

8x C14

Size

591.8 x 505.5 x 223.5 mm (W x D x H)

Weight

?19.5kg

Accessories

Mounting rails, legs, power cables, USB cable, D89 cable

Warranty

2-year warranty, 3-year with registration

Extended battery

Yes, 48V/50A

Eaton SmartPro Tripp Lite UPS: Design

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

• Heavy duty
• Floor or rack
• Excellent connectivity

The elephant in this room, or something almost as heavy, is the size and mass of this UPS. Its quoted weight is 43.1lb (19.5kg), but if you deploy it to a rack, then the mounting rails add even more weight.

My recommendation would be to never install one of these without the help of another person, because even removing it from the packaging isn’t easy.

Once this giant square metal box is extracted, it can be oriented in two different ways. It can be vertically mounted using two L-shaped feet, provided that they screw into the sides. Alternatively, it is sized to be installed in a 19-inch rack, being 2U high.

For those wanting to rack mount this UPS, I’d strongly suggest putting it in the lower section of the rack, because having this much mass high up is inadvisable. On the subject of stability, it comes with sliding rails that enable easier access to the rear once it's installed. But again, since this will move the centre of gravity, it's another reason not to put this high up in a rack. There are side brackets that securely attach it to the rack, but my concern is that if the rack isn’t securely bolted to the floor, it might overbalance.

On the front of the unit is a plastic facia panel that must be removed before installation; it simply pulls off. Behind it is the battery, and for safety reasons, it is shipped disconnected.

A notable feature of this design is that the entire battery pack can be replaced, extending the unit's life. Once the battery is connected, the facia can be replaced.

One significant feature of the front is a small display on the right side of the unit that features simple button controls. As the UPS can be floor-standing, this would put the display on its side; however, Eaton's approach to this problem made me chuckle.

The obvious solution would be a menu feature for orientation, but Eaton engineers made a cradle for the display that, with the help of a screwdriver, the panel and buttons can be popped out and then put back in after being rotated by 90 degrees.

Interestingly, the Eaton Tripp Lite logo on the other end can also be twisted to be readable in an upright position.

My only issue with the screen is that it isn’t especially bright, and the menu system it allows for navigation is remarkably basic. However, most IT professionals using this equipment are likely to utilise more feature-rich interfaces.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

Where this UPS becomes substantially more interesting is on the rear, where all the external connections are located.

Using standard IEC male-to-female cables, the SMX1500XLRT2UN features eight power outlets on its rear, and retaining clips are provided to prevent accidental disconnection. That’s great, but unless the server or other hardware has similar retainers on its power inputs, then it's only half the answer.

What the rear panel also offers is a wide range of potential connections, including two flavours of USB, Ethernet, and even DB9 serial.

Most engineers will probably be fine with LAN access, but the USB option adds the possibility of a server shutting down before the battery is exhausted, even with the use of a software tool.

There is also a substantial port for adding an additional battery, and these come in some large capacities that might keep a substantial server cluster up for more than a few minutes.

From a design perspective, the SMX1500XLRT2UN is built for purpose, possibly overbuilt, and it offers all the bells and whistles that server admins are looking for.

• Design: 4 / 5

Eaton SmartPro Tripp Lite UPS: User experience

• Command line
• WEBCARDLXE

Lots of things about this hardware made me laugh, but not in a bad way.

I’ve not been an IT Manager for twenty-five years, but there are features in the SMX1500XLRT2UN designed for exactly the type of thinking that was prominent when I was, and even before that.

What I’m referring to here is the PowerAlert Device Manager (PADM) Version 20 Command Line Interface, for its full title. Once you’ve established a network connection to the UPS, it’s possible to connect via SSH via a terminal tool and issue commands.

How many commands? A ridiculous number. The Eaton provided PDF that documents them and what they do runs to 230 pages, and some pages have multiple commands.

Since I left all this insanity behind me some considerable time ago, it’s a struggle to understand why anyone would want to do this. However, conversely, I could imagine a scenario where installing a large number of these and being able to create a script that runs through all the settings you might want to make for all of them could be useful.

Another approach to that problem is a software tool called the PowerAlert Mass Configuration Utility, which allows you to log in to each UPS by its IP number and then make global changes. To implement multiple changes, an XLM file containing a configuration can be saved and then executed on new hardware devices when they are added.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

The only issues I have with this software are that it looks like it was designed when Windows XP was supported, and it can’t cope with making changes to different UPS models.

While it doesn’t offer the granularity of the command line or mass-appeal of the app, there is a much more approachable web interface, WEBCARDLXE, that provides the monitoring and easy access that more modern IT professionals would probably gravitate.

What’s missing here is a Cloud service model, although Eaton does offer the PowerAlert Element Manager, which consolidates management utilities for Eaton LX Platform devices.

PowerAlert software offers a complete set of tools designed for overseeing and safeguarding power across different settings, whether from an individual computer or a whole network.

From an IT perspective, the user experience, with the exception of WEBCARDLXE, is somewhat dated. However, Eaton is selling into an ultra-conservative environment that is decidedly anti-change. And therefore, their support for older-thinking and methods is probably serving them well.

• User experience: 4 / 5

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)Eaton SmartPro Tripp Lite UPS: Final verdict

When I first received this item, I was slightly underwhelmed with it, because compared with a battery system like those offered by EcoFlow for home use, it seemed positively prehistoric.

However, I’ve come to appreciate this hardware more, even if I think there are some things to be learned from the likes of the EcoFlow Delta line and similar products.

What this hardware does exceptionally well is provide a decent window of opportunity to elegantly achieve the landing with servers and other network devices, rather than everything entirely faceplanting when the power suddenly disappears.

What it isn’t built for is to keep that equipment running for a sustained period, although Eaton has some alternative options directed more towards those objectives.

With all the connectivity, the servers should be aware of the power loss scenario and have a failsafe that can shut them down in a controlled manner before the SMX1500XLRT2UN is entirely exhausted. Additionally, it's possible to expand the unit to provide a larger time window before that becomes necessary.

What concerns me is that, should you shut a system down during a power loss and then power returns, you need to pray that the power doesn’t go out again within the next 4.5 hours. That seems an inordinate amount of time to restore 1,500VA of power, something the EcoFlow Delta 2 can achieve in under an hour.

That said, the SMX1500XLRT2UN is designed to remain on trickle charge for long periods, whereas the battery architecture of the EcoFlow equipment was designed to be fully exhausted daily. That might well be the reason it takes so long to restore, so I can’t make an apples-to-apples comparison. Faster recovery should be something that Eaton needs to consider, as it creates a significant period of vulnerability after a power loss.

Another point that surprised me about this hardware is that it lacks wireless networking or Bluetooth capabilities, which would enable remote monitoring without the need for physical wires.

I’m not sure why Eaton isn’t interested in wireless networks, but interference can’t be the issue, I’m sure.

An interactive phone application that alerts IT staff to a potential power loss would be ideal, but to achieve that with this equipment is somewhat convoluted. Additionally, it assumes that the computer running the Webcard application, along with its network hardware, including the Internet, is also protected from power loss.

The interconnected nature of this UPS and the hardware it maintains is part of the strategic thinking that needs to be established before it's deployed; otherwise, this is merely an expensive battery.

Eaton SmartPro Tripp Lite UPS: Report card

Value

For this hardware spec, this is the price

4 / 5

Design

Built to last and can have its battery replaced

4 / 5

User experience

CLI, global update app and Web UI

4 / 5

Overall

Lacks modern thinking, but does what it needs to

4 / 5

Should I buy a Eaton SmartPro Tripp Lite UPS?

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

You need a power loss strategy
This isn’t a cheap UPS that promises to keep the power on for a few minutes and your PC safe; it’s much more than that. If you want to have a complete power-loss plan, this is a building block for precisely that.

You like flexible solutions
The ability to bolt extra battery capacity to the basic UPS, and extend battery running time, enables the power support to expand with the hardware it's maintaining.

Don't buy it if...

You don’t use racks
While this UPS can be floor-standing, it’s designed for racking, and not just any cheap model. If it were accidentally knocked over and hit someone, it could easily break an ankle.

If you need to do graphic design, you need dedicated software, ideally installed on a powerful computer.

But CoreDRAW Go is turning that idea on its head, by offering you graphic design software, but from a web browser… so let’s check it out.

CoreDRAW Go: Pricing & plans

(Image credit: Corel // Future)

• This is an online service so you can only access it via an ongoing subscription, although the 15-day free trial is welcome, and so’s the 30-day money back guarantee

Being an online service, CorelDRAW is, you’ve guessed it, only available as a subscription, although you do have two options: you can choose to pay on a month by month basis, which would cost you $10 (or £9) each time, or select a yearly contract, which will set you back $100 (or £95).

There are often discounts on offer, like at the time of writing, Corel reduced the price of each of these by 30%. You’re also free to try CorelDRAW Go for 15 days without even having to hand out your credit card details, and Corel do offer a 30-day money back guarantee, should you decide the service isn’t for you.

You can check out CorelDRAW Go by clicking here.

• Score: 4/5

CoreDRAW Go: Getting started

(Image credit: Corel // Future)

• So many templates and presets are available to you to start a new project with ease. It’s just a shame this service is limited to only two browsers

Whether you grab yourself a subscription immediately or dip your toes in with the free trial, you need to also set up an account with Corel. It's free and can be done at the same time, and will allow you to save your projects to a dedicated personal space on Corel’s servers.

One potential issue is the limited number of browsers that CorelDRAW Go supports: it will only work with Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome. If you’re not a fan of either, and prefer one of the other many options, I’m afraid you’re out of luck: choose one of these two, or look for another service.

The first place you get to once logged in, is the Home page. From here, you have the option of starting with a handful of blank presets broken down by category, such as Social Media, Poster, and more, or choose to open a file stored on your computer (only .cdr and .svg files are supported).

The bulk of the Home page however is devoted to Templates, and there are more than just the few on display: click on ‘Explore More Templates’ at the bottom of the page, to reveal hundreds more, all organised by categories, with a handy search field to help find what you’re looking for quicker.

The same is true for those blank Presets. Click on ‘More’ to their right, and find a similar pop-up window with hundreds of options for you to choose from.

• Score: 3.5/5

CoreDRAW Go: Interface

(Image credit: Corel // Future)

• A nicely designed interface that offers nothing new to an experienced user, yet makes it easy to immerse yourself into this service

You’ll find the interface extremely simple and well organised. In fact if you’re familiar with other graphic design apps, you’ll feel right at home in no time, delving into CorelDRAW Go. Your tools are located in three sidebars, two of which are collapsable to increase the space devoted to your project.

On the left you have the various tools you’ll be using all the time, from Shapes, Brushes, and Text, to Stock Assets, the ability to import your own objects, as well as your project’s Settings.

Top right is your Properties panel, where you can change various parameters of a selected item. Lower right, that’s where you have control over your layers, where you can select one, create new ones, move them around, and delete them, lock them to prevent further changes, or hide them.

There’s also a menu at the top where you’ll find undo and redo commands (also accessible via keyboard shortcuts), as well as an export option.

All in all, there’s nothing new here, yet that’s a definite advantage, as the muscle memory you developed elsewhere will be of great value here as well.

• Score: 4.5/5

CoreDRAW Go: Tools

(Image credit: Corel // Future)

• A wide range of tools to help you create complex designs in next to no time

CorelDRAW Go has a wealth of tools to help you create projects, and caters to beginners and advanced users alike. Any creation tools you might need can be found in the sidebar on the left. From there, you have access to a myriad of shapes, brushes and text tools.

Clicking on one of these reveals a secondary menu, where you can choose exactly the one you’re after. The shapes for instance are vectors, so you can resize them, without any loss in quality, until they look perfect for your needs by dragging one of the outside handles, or clicking and dragging on a little dot inside the shape to alter its configuration further.

You can do the same with Stock Assets object. You’ll find thousands of ready-made vector images, and millions of photos to choose from and add to your project, and when it comes to fonts, there are thousands waiting for you, ensuring your designs are as unique as they can be.

Of course, the Properties panel is there to make sure you’re able to change an object's colour, or add a gradient, control its outline, transparency and shadow, easily covering the basics of what you need to do. However, CorelDRAW Go has a few fancy tools up its sleeve. It can, for instance, turn a shape into a ‘Mask Frame’, allowing you to drag an image into it, creating a complex masking effect in seconds.

• Score: 4.5/5

CoreDRAW Go: Exporting

(Image credit: Corel // Future)

• CorelDRAW Go has a surprisingly generous number of exporting options, from dpi to file formats

Once you’ve completed your project, it's time to share it with others. That’s where the Export menu comes into its own. You’re offered various choices, from its size (in pixels), to its resolution (from 72 to 600dpi). You also have a selection of formats, including JPEG, PNG, PDF, and SVG.

All in all, CorelDRAW Go is a well rounded graphic design application which has a wide range of tools to help you create unique projects, but perhaps what’s most impressive, is that you’re doing all of that inside a web page. It’s amazing how far web development has gone that you easily forget you’re not working in a dedicated app installed on your computer.

• Score: 4.5/5

Should I buy CorelDRAW Go?

(Image credit: Corel // Future)

Buy it if...

If you’re looking for a graphic design service you can access from anywhere, with a generous number of powerful tools and an interface that’s similar enough to other competing products to hit the ground running.

Don't buy it if...

You don’t fancy subscribing to yet another service, don't like the idea of working within a web browser, or you're using an incompatible browser.

Roborock Q7 M5: two-minute reviewProduct info

There are a few different M5 options – the robot is the same, but the dock is different:

Q7 M5: Charge-only dock
Q7 M5+: Auto-empty dock
Q7 M5 Max+: Auto empty and water refill dock

For this review, I tested the Q7 M5, with the charge-only dock.

The Roborock Q7 M5 is a relatively basic option from within the Roborock robot vacuum lineup, aimed at the more budget-conscious consumer. Despite the affordable pricing, it's still a capable bot, offering the kind of suction specs I'd expect from a much pricier model.

The design may lack the bells and whistles (and robotic arms) of the brand's newest offerings, but it's still effective in use. As well as sporting a robust build, it has a generously sized dust cup and water tank and bouncy suspension that enables it to clear relatively tall room thresholds with confidence. Navigation is also reliable and mapping accurate.

In my vacuuming tests, the Q7 M5 proved up to the task of clearing up debris, large and small, and sucked up an impressive volume of dog hair from my carpets, too. It did struggle a little with getting right into the edges of rooms, however – more advanced robot vacuums typically have a side brush that can extend outwards, whereas the one on the Q7 M5 is fixed.

The mop setup is rather basic, although the bot still managed to clean up a dried ketchup smear surprisingly effectively. Overall I felt mopping was rather wetter than expected, so it perhaps isn't the best choice if you have delicate wooden floors, for example. The Q7 M5 also lacks the capacity to lift its mop when traversing carpet (not surprising at this price point, though).

The model I tested comes with a compact, charge-only dock, and is perfect for those with small homes, or if you want a cleaner for a less-used floor of a multi-storey home. However, owners of larger homes and/or pets should seek out the "Plus" model where possible; it arrives with an auto-empty dock, which will save you from having to empty the onboard bin too frequently.

That's the short version; read on for my full Roborock Q7 M5 review.

The basic Q7 M5's compact dock means it can be tucked out of the way (Image credit: Future)Roborock Q7 M5 review: price & availability

• List price: $299.99 / £239.99
• Launched: April 2025
• Available: US and UK (AU alternatives available)

The Roborock Q7 M5 launched in April 2025, as an upgraded version of the previous Q7 Max. The brand has plenty of fancier, pricier bots (see the arm-equipped Saros Z70, for example) in its lineup, but the Q7 M5 is designed to appeal to a more budget-conscious consumer.

In the US, the Q7 M5 costs $299.99 direct from Roborock, but was discounted to £239.99 at time of writing. In the UK, the list price when purchased direct from Roborock is £239.99, but at time of writing it was reduced to £179.99. Even at full price, it falls into the budget bracket.

Having tested a few budget bots now, I'd say that even at full price this vacuum offers decent value for the features and performance it delivers, with the discounted prices making it more appealing still. My current favorite robot vacuum around this price level is the Dreame D9 Max Gen 2, which costs $299.99 / £219 at full price. However, the Roborock offers stronger suction specs and slightly more advanced mopping – in that you can switch off that functionality without having to remove the mop pad.

Upgrading to the Q7 M5+ with the auto-empty dock pushes the price up to $429.99, while the Q7 M5 Max+ – with a dock that not only empties dust but also refills the water tanks – is $599.99. Those upgraded options don't appear to be available in the UK, though. In both cases, the list prices are on the high side for what you're getting – although, at time of writing, both models were already available at generous discounts, bringing them more in line with the price I'd expect to pay.

The Q7 M5 doesn't seem to be available in Australia, but there is a Roborock Q7B for AU$399, which looks very similar but has slightly less suction. There's also a Q7T Plus for AU$799, which looks the same as the Q7 M5+ with its auto-empty dock.

• Value for money score: 4 out of 5

Roborock Q7 M5 specs

Max suction:

10,000Pa

Robot diameter:

12.8in / 35.3cm

Robot height:

3.9in / 9.9cm

Dock dimensions (W x D x H):

6.3 x 4 x 2.8in / 16 x 7 x 10.1cm

Dust bin volume (onboard):

Requested

Water tank volume:

Requested

Base type:

Charge only (more advanced docks available)

Roborock Q7 M5 review: design

• Robovac with raised LiDAR puck, chunky wheels and charge-only dock
• Fixed, D-shaped, removable mop
• Dust cup and water tank form one removable unit at side of bot

The Roborock Q7 M5 looks similar to other budget-friendly robot vacuums –except, perhaps, a little more robust. A chunky bumper encircles the perimeter, and there's a raised LiDAR turret for navigation (newer Roborock models such as the Saros 10R have done away with this, in favor of a different navigation method, thus offering a lower overall profile). The top surface is a mix of matte and very shiny black plastic, the latter of which attracts much dust – perhaps not the best choice for this type of gadget.

This shiny surface is a magnet for dust and fingerprints (Image credit: Future)

Flip the whole thing over and you'll find the brushroll, which has a "JawScrapers comb" to prevent hair from tangling around it – although it didn't prove very effective in practice. There's also a rotating side brush to catch dirt from around the edges of rooms. On more advanced bots this will kick out to the side as required, but the version on the Q7 M5 is fixed. Roborock has placed the brushes at an angle, so hair slips off rather than becoming tangled – and from my experience, it seems to work quite well in practice.

The wheels are thick with a deep tread, and sit on a spring-loaded hinge, presumably to allow the robot to bounce its way over tall thresholds. Other bots have more hi-tech solutions for this – the Dreame X50 Ultra Complete has little extending feet, for example – but Roborock's approach seems perfectly effective as a budget alternative.

The chunky wheels are set on a spring-loaded hinge, providing bouncy suspension (Image credit: Future)

Slotted into the side of the bot is a unit that holds the dust cup and water tank. The mop pad itself is a fixed, D-shaped style pad, and it can be clipped on and off the main robot. It doesn't feel enormously secure when clipped on, although it didn't fall off at any point in my tests. The pad part can be removed and popped into the washing machine for cleaning.

This unit houses a generous dust dup and water tank (Image credit: Future)

It's a very basic style of mop in that the pad is simply dragged along the floor, wiping as it goes. Fancier bots have mops that press on the floor or vibrate to dislodge dirt, or have dual-rotating discs.

With some budget bots, the mopping is automatically "on", whenever the mop pad is attached. That isn't the case here: you can switch the water off from within the app. However, the Q7 M5 isn't advanced enough to be able to lift up its mop pad when it encounters carpet, which means you might still end up with slightly damp carpets if the bot is making its way over them after a mopping session. (Some premium bots can even drop off their mop pads at their base station when they're not needed.)

Mopping is courtesy of a removable, D-shaped pad (Image credit: Future)

Speaking of the base station, the one included here is very basic and pleasingly compact. It simply charges the robot. In some territories there are sister models available with more advanced docks. If you're dealing with larger amounts of dust, or have a pet, I'd definitely recommend opting for a version with an auto-empty dock.

• Design score: 3.5 out of 5

Roborock Q7 M5 review: performance

• Navigation accurate, but object avoidance is patchy
• Vacuuming is very good; mopping is fine but not amazing
• Sucks up hair (pet and human) well, but it does wrap around the roller

As ever with Roborock, mapping was smooth and navigation reliable. Initial setup simply involved sending it on its way on a "Quick mapping" run, where the bot scoots around – not cleaning, just looking – and builds a map of the space as it goes. On this run, it approached the edge of the top of the stairs repeatedly (and at speed), but stopped itself every time. Good cliff sensors should be a given for any robot vacuum, regardless of price, but I felt reassured nonetheless.

With the map compiled, I could name the rooms and make necessary adjustments. Note that some parts here were slightly buggy, but I'll get into that in the App section.

The bot approached the step edge at speed, but never once took a tumble (Image credit: Future)

To kick things off, I sent the bot out on a whole-floor vacuum, just to get an initial feel for performance. There's a maximum of 10,000Pa of suction here, which is decent, and more in line with what I'd expect from a mid-range robovac. Having checked the dustbin after the run, I could see it had done a stellar job of pulling dust and pet hair from the carpet – the latter of the two being particularly challenging. I'd rate its performance among the best robot vacuums for pet hair, if you're on a budget.

The robot vacuum picked up pet and human hair impressively well (Image credit: Future)

Then it was time for some more formal suction tests. For these, I scattered a teabag's worth of dry tea leaves and a handful of oats onto the carpet, and performed a zone clean of the area. There are five suction modes to choose from: Quiet, Balance, Turbo, Max and MAX+ (I can't help thinking Roborock has gone too hard, too soon, with the naming choices here).

A single pass in Turbo mode cleared most of the oats, but only the top layer of tea. Two more passes in MAX+ and the oats were history, and only a fine scattering of tea remained. That's a super solid result – the tea is purposefully a very tricky test, and it's rare for even expensive robovacs to clear it all.

Image 1 of 3

Tea and oats on a carpeted floor ready for the carpet suction test (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 3

Results after a single pass in Turbo suction mode... (Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 3

... and after two more passes in MAX+ mode (Image credit: Future)

Hard floors are far less challenging to vacuum, so I used the Balanced mode when repeating the test on the tiled bathroom floor. This time, almost all the oats were sucked up on a single pass, and the vast majority of the tea, too. The only real issue was with debris being pinged about; but, thankfully, the robot vacuum would catch any wayward remnants on a later run.

Image 1 of 2

(Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

(Image credit: Future)

Moving on to the mopping tests. For this, I smeared a tiny amount of tomato ketchup on the tiled bathroom floor and left it to dry. I then set the bot on a mopping run to see if it could clear it.

There are three options for water level, or you can set the bot to mop and vacuum simultaneously (I prefer to vacuum first, then mop, to minimize the amount of gunk that ends up stuck to the damp mechanisms.)

Image 1 of 4

Dried ketchup smeared on the floor ready for the mopping test (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 4

(Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 4

(Image credit: Future)Image 4 of 4

(Image credit: Future)

Despite having a relatively basic mopping setup, the Q7 M5 actually did a pretty good job here. One pass in medium wetness mode was enough for the robovac to begin to lift the smear, and a couple more in max mode saw only a tiny bit remaining.

This is one of the wetter mopping mechanisms I've used, so it wouldn't be a great choice if you wanted something for hard floor that can only stand a little bit of water. Beware, too, that the mop pad doesn't lift, so if the route back from your hard floor to your dock is carpeted, said carpet will end up a bit damp. Overall, the mopping is fine here, but if that's your priority then there are better choices out there.

The fixed side brush couldn't get right into the edges of rooms (Image credit: Future)

Like most robot vacuums, the Roborock Q7 M5 has a spinning side brush designed to flick debris from the edges of rooms into the path of the suction. Here, it worked fairly well but not amazingly – perhaps because it's fixed rather than being able to extend. The bot shifted some of the tea sprinkled along the edge of the bathroom floor, but left more behind.

Roborock says this bot has anti-hair wrap features built into the brushroll. However, on test I found my long hair tangled around the roller. However, the anti-tangle design of the side brush was more effective on this front.

The main brushroll quickly got tangled with hair (Image credit: Future)

Finally, I ran some object avoidance tests. These involved laying out a series of objects – charge cable, socks, dog bowl – on the floor and seeing if the bot would avoid them. Unfortunately, it confidently ploughed into everything I put in front of it, so a bit of a fail on this front. (One useful hack is to activate a "Pet" mode to increase sensitivity to objects, but there was no such option I could find here.

That said, in my real-life tests the bot performed much better. For instance, it skirted the perimeters of chair legs and the base of the toilet cistern, for example, rather than bumping into them. Nevertheless, I still wouldn't recommend this bot to those who have a lot of clutter in their homes.

• Performance score: 4 out of 5

Roborock Q7 M5 review: app

• Encountered a few bugs that I assume will be fixed
• Otherwise well-designed and intuitive

I've used plenty of Roborock robot vacuums and the app has always been great. So I was surprised that things weren't entirely smooth when testing it with the Q7 M5. While there weren't any glaring issues, I did run into several glitches: I was unable to resize a zone properly; the app would forget room names; plus it failed to save a customized cleaning routine, for example.

Click to enlarge (Image credit: Roborock)

There was also a strange bug where the text wasn't resizing properly, so the ends of words would routinely be cut off – do you want to "Mo" or "Vacuu"? I assume most of these are temporary glitches and should be fixed before long.

Otherwise, it's the same well-designed app I'm used to. It's pretty intuitive, well-laid out and easy to figure out from scratch.

• App score: 3.5 out of 5

Should you buy the Roborock Q7 M5?

Attribute

Notes

Rating

Value

Budget price bracket and deals are common. Not the most advanced, but performance is good for the price.

4 / 5

Design

Robust-looking robot with strong suction specs, raised LiDAR tower, bouncy wheels and a basic mop mechanism. Simple but solid design, lacking the advancements of pricier Roborock bots.

3.5 / 5

Performance

Accurate navigation and very good vacuuming, but mopping is a little wet and object avoidance patchy.

4 / 5

App

Unusually glitchy, but otherwise well designed and intuitive.

3.5 / 5

Buy it if...

You're on a budget
It's not the most advanced robovac on the market, but it's very affordable and deals are common – and performance is solid for the price.

You're short on space for a dock
The dock here is very compact – small enough to comfortably pop under a bed, for example. It's the charge-only type, but if you're okay emptying your own dust bin, it's an ideal space-saving solution.

You mainly want to vacuum
The vacuuming here is excellent. There's an impressive 10,000Pa of suction and it performed very well in my real-world vacuuming tests, too.

Don't buy it if...

You want a really capable mop
Mopping functionality is basic, and quite wet – it's fine for occasional cleanups, but if you're going to be using this function more regularly, I'd suggest opting for a model with more advanced mopping capabilities.

You have a large house or lots of dust
The model on test here has a charge-only dock – if you're dealing with lots of dust or pet hair, you should opt for a model with an auto-empty dock (in some territories you can pick up a M5+, which has an auto-empty dock).

How I tested the Roborock Q7 M5 robot vacuum

I used the Q7 M5 as my main robot vacuum for a week, stationing it on a higher level of my house, which includes a carpeted hall and master bedroom (where a hairy spaniel also sleeps) and a tiled en-suite bathroom. As well as getting a feel for how well it performed in general, I ran specific mopping and vacuuming tests, which included sucking up oats and/or dry tea, and using the mop to clear a smear of dried ketchup off a tiled floor. I also tested obstacle avoidance by laying out common objects to see if the bot would spot and avoid them. I compared the performance, general usability and value for money to other robot vacuums I've tested in the past.

Read more about how we test robot vacuum cleaners

• First reviewed July 2025

Taking photos of documents with your phone is an incredibly convenient thing to do. But you know what would be better? Being able to convert those photos into PDFs, recognise the letters on the page, turn them into selectable and editable text, and more.

Now most phones come with a document scanning app that allows you to do some of that, but why not try an app that does it all, like Adobe Scan can?

Adobe Scan: Pricing & plans

(Image credit: Adobe // Future)

• A free app is always enticing, but as expected, the best features are locked behind a paywall. The good news is if you already pay for Creative Cloud, those premium features will be unlocked immediately, otherwise, you’ll have to pay the Adobe Piper

Adobe Scan is free. You can download and install it with ease. You will need an Adobe ID though, which is free too, and you’ll have to log in before you can use Adobe Scan. If you already have another Adobe app on your device, you’ll be automatically logged into your Adobe account when you first launch Adobe Scan.

One thing worth mentioning, is as you’ll be using your phone’s camera through this app, you’ll need to grant it permission to do so first. If you’ve had to do this for other apps, the process is exactly the same: you’ll get a message asking you to ‘Allow’ the app access. Once you’ve done it once, you won’t need to do it again.

Adobe Scan will also ask you for permission to send you notifications messages. This one is less crucial, and you could easily use the app without ever having granted it that capability. Your mileage may vary of course, but don’t we already have far too many notifications on our phones as it is?

Now free Adobe Scan might be, but its more advanced features only come with a subscription. These features include being able to combine files, export to other formats, password protect your files, edit text in scanned documents, and high-speed scanning, among others. Yes, the coolest features are locked behind a paywall. Now if you already have a subscription to Creative Cloud, those features will be unlocked automatically. On its own, Adobe Scan’s premium side will cost you $10 a month (with a free 7-day trial available).

• Score: 4.5/5

Adobe Scan: Interface

(Image credit: Adobe // Future)

• A simple and well-organized interface with a ridiculously frustrating bug that lets the whole thing down

Adobe Scan’s main interface looks for all the world as a camera app, aside from the various options at the bottom of the screen, which aim to facilitate the type of information you wish to scan. Each is pretty self explanatory. You have Whiteboard, Book, Document, ID Card and Business Card. Each uses the tools in different ways, which we’ll look at further down.

Top left is a ‘Home’ button which takes you to your library of previously scanned documents. This is also where you get to edit the text contained within those documents, and share and export them.

Simple and straightforward enough, although bear in mind this app only works in portrait. Change the phone’s orientation and nothing happens to the interface. Although you can of course take photos in landscape, there is a puzzling and frustrating restriction when in ‘Book’ mode. That option allows you to take the facing pages of a book at the same time, lining up an overlay so you can be sure to capture the left page and the right page as best as possible based on its guides…

Except the overlay restricts you to holding your phone with the camera button on the right. Turn your phone so that button’s on the left and the result is a mess with upside down pages saved in the wrong order which you’ll have to fix manually later. An irritating bug - or is it a feature to primarily annoy left-handers?

• Score: 3/5

Adobe Scan: Tools

(Image credit: Adobe // Future)

• Lots of nice touches in the app’s various sections, like it being able to automatically scan a page for you, and the copying and editing of a scanned document’s text is unexpected and a great addition

Despite the flaw mentioned above, Adobe Scan is a well organised app, and separating the various functions makes sense when scanning a document. ‘Book’ works well (when your phone is forced in the right orientation) and the app cuts your image into two based on the vertical overlay line in the middle - so make sure your book’s spine is placed in that general area as well. ‘ID Card’ expects the card you’re scanning to have text on both sides, and then combines both shots into a single file for convenience. And ‘Business Card’ will create a new contact for you and place it in your address book, should you want it to.

By default, Adobe Scan will take a shot automatically for you once you’ve positioned your camera over the document correctly, which can help you scan multiple pages in quick succession (although we also ended up having shots of us turning a page if we weren’t quick enough - something we had to fix later). However, you can also override that and take a shot manually yourself.

When it comes to editing, Adobe Scan has a wealth of tools. From the basics, such as deleting unwanted pages, or reordering them, to more intricate features such as cleaning up an image, adjusting its brightness and contrast, and erasing unwanted parts of a photo with a ‘magic eraser’ which will attempt to fill the removed area with the same surrounding background.

You also have a markup tool for quick hand drawn annotations, but perhaps the app’s most impressive tools are its OCR capabilities. When you’re in the ‘Edit Text’ mode, Adobe Scan automatically detects the text on the page, and not only does it allow you to copy it, you can also alter the original content, even changing the font, colour and alignment. Being able to password protect your scanned document is also possible, as is the ability to fill in a scanned form and sign it.

All in all, Adobe Scan makes use of many of Acrobat’s premium features, but allows you to take advantage of them on the go, directly from your phone. It’s not perfect and has some frustrating interface decisions, but overall it’s darn good at what it does.

• Score: 4/5

Should I buy Adobe Scan?

(Image credit: Adobe // Future)

Buy it if...

You take a lot of photos of documents, receipts, books, etc, love the idea of copying and editing text from a scanned image, and greatly appreciate how free most of the service is.

Don't buy it if...

You don’t like the tease of giving you some features for free but expect you to rent the best ones on a monthly basis, and you’re happy enough with the tools offered by default on your phone.

GuliKit Elves 2 Pro: two-minute review

(Image credit: Future)

The GuliKit Elves 2 Pro is heavily inspired by the Sega Saturn gamepad, yet it’s embellished with enough modern-day features to make it playable with today’s games and platforms.

Its soft curves look good, as did the colorway I had, with its retro off-white base and multicolored accents. It’s also available in all-black, which lends it a more menacing appearance.

Its shape is more than just for show: it also helps with ergonomics. It fitted the contours of the hand very well, and I found the pronounced dips housing the face buttons and D-pad made it easy to use those inputs.

However, the small overall size of the Elves 2 Pro, coupled with the short length of handles, might deter those who prefer something more substantial. In this regard, the Elves 2 Pro falls short of the best PC controllers.

The build quality, on the other hand, is level with those gamepads. The chassis feels sturdy, and all the buttons are solid yet easy to press. The analog sticks are of a similarly high standard, although they’re shallower and have a smaller traveling circumference than many other modern controllers.

Despite the lack of customization software, there are a surprising number of tweaks you can make on the fly. There’s a settings button that’s used in conjunction with other buttons to adjust various parameters, such as stick sensitivity, D-pad modes, and the Motion Aim Assist.

In action, the Elves 2 Pro performs better than its looks might lead you to believe. The buttons are snappy and responsive, although they’re less damped than you might expect, but satisfying nonetheless. The D-pad is the real highlight, with its thick, circular design allowing for precise inputs and easy rolls without mis-presses – aspects that make it great for fighting games.

Despite their small size, the analog sticks are also a joy to use, with plenty of tactility and accuracy. When I tested the Elves 2 Pro on my Nintendo Switch, I also found the motion controls to be very accurate, although the tracking was worse when using the Motion Aim Assist mode in PC games.

Connectivity is good, and the Bluetooth seemed reliable. Switching between various devices on the fly can be a bother, though, requiring re-pairing at times. Battery life is admirable, lasting for several days in my experience.

The Elves 2 Pro sits somewhere in the middle of the third-party wireless controller market. However, it’s a little disappointing that it lacks certain common features, such as analog triggers, 2.4GHz connectivity, and companion software.

There are better value rivals that offer greater versatility, but if you want a good balance between retro design and modern performance, the Elves 2 Pro is a fine example in the space.

(Image credit: Future)GuliKit Elves 2 Pro review: Price and availability

• $49.99 / £59.99 (about AU$76)
• Available now in two colorways
• Middling value compared to rivals

The GuliKit Elves 2 Pro costs $49.99 / £59.99 (about AU$76) and is available now in two colorways: Retro and Black. It comes with a USB-C cable for charging.

This is a middling price for a wireless third-party controller. The multiplatform support is nice to have at this price point, but it’s a shame there are no analog triggers, no 2.4.GHz option, and no software.

You can find more controllers for the same price or less with more features. The GameSir Cyclone 2, for instance, has superior TMR sticks and Hall effect analog triggers, as well as both 2.4GHz and Bluetooth connectivity options. It also has a shape similar to the best Xbox controllers, which means it should accommodate more hand sizes.

If you want a gamepad with even more retro appeal, though, Retro-Bit’s Sega Saturn Wireless Pro Controller is probably the better pick. This costs about the same as the Elves 2 Pro, but has the advantage of 2.4GHz connectivity, and it even works with the original Sega Saturn console.

GuliKit Elves 2 Pro review: specs

Price

$49.99 / £59.99 (about AU$76)

Dimensions

5.8 x 3.4 x 1.8in / 147 x 87 x 45mm

Weight

6.7oz / 190g

Compatibility

PC, Nintendo Switch, Android and iOS

Connection type

Wireless (Bluetooth), wired (USB-C)

Battery life

About 20 hours

Software

None

(Image credit: Future)GuliKit Elves 2 Pro review: design and features

• Retro looks
• Small with short handles
• Surprising number of on-board tweaks

The Elves 2 Pro leans heavily into the retro aesthetic, aping the Sega Saturn controller from 30 years ago. I liked the finish of my review unit, with its off-white base offset nicely by the red shoulder buttons and multicolored face buttons. An all-black colorway is also available, though, if you’d prefer something a bit more menacing.

It’s also just as small as an old controller, which might be a problem for larger hands. I found the handles too short to get a sufficient grip on them, which contrasts drastically with many modern controllers. The diminutive size does at least help with portability, and so does the lightweight construction.

Thankfully, the Elves 2 Pro has plenty of modern touches to redress the balance: the layout is fit for contemporary games, complete as it is with two analog sticks and two shoulder buttons. However, the triggers lack analog capability, which keeps the Elves 2 Pro somewhat rooted in the past – although Nintendo fans won’t be phased by this omission.

Overall build quality is impressive. Despite its light frame, the Elves 2 Pro feels sturdy, while the buttons are solid yet light to press. I also liked the craters on either side housing the face buttons and D-pad, which make for more comfortable thumb placement.

(Image credit: Future)

The analog sticks feel premium, and their soft coating helps with grip. They’re smaller and shallower than those on many other controllers, but I found them to be a good fit for my thumbs nonetheless.

There are a few buttons related to connectivity, which are clear and easy to use. There’s a pairing button on the front and a selector switch on the back to choose the appropriate platform for the Elves 2 Pro to work with.

There’s also a settings button on the front that works in combination with other buttons to give you access to an admirable number of tweaks. You can alter stick sensitivity and vibration modes, as well as swap the A and B buttons with X and Y, and toggle the D-pad between four- or eight-direction mode.

You can also adjust parameters for the Motion Aim Assist on PC and set up Continuous Fire mode. What’s more, there’s a dedicated button on the pad for the Auto Pilot Gaming (APG) mode, which is GuliKit’s name for its macro function. You can record 10 minutes-worth of inputs, which is quite astonishing, by holding this button for three seconds, and playback the sequence by pressing the same APG button. Double-tapping the button lets you play back the macro on a continuous loop.

GuliKit Elves 2 Pro review: performance

• Snappy and responsive buttons
• Excellent D-pad
• Inconsistent device switching

The overall performance of the Elves 2 Pro is pretty good. The face buttons are responsive and satisfying to use, despite their lack of dampening relative to many other controllers.

The sticks also feel as smooth and as accurate as you would expect given their Hall effect technology, and I personally didn’t find their small size and confined travel an issue – but hardcore console FPS fans might feel differently.

However, it’s the D-pad that stands out most on the Elves 2 Pro. Personally, I usually prefer pronged hats rather than circular ones, as I tend to find them more accurate and less prone to unintended inputs.

But the Elves 2 Pro’s are an exception, as it allows for easy multi-directional rolls while maintaining high levels of accuracy, which I certainly welcomed when playing Tekken 8. It's also well-damped and has a light actuation, which makes it effortless to use.

I also found the motion controls to be excellent when playing The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom on Switch, matching the performance of the best Nintendo Switch controllers in this department. You can also turn on motion controls when playing PC games by activating the Motion Aim Assist mode.

(Image credit: Future)

This allows the gyroscope to replace right stick movements when either L or ZL is held (your typical aim-down-sights buttons). However, when I played Atomfall on PC, the motion controls failed to track with anything like the same levels of accuracy as when using motion controls on Switch.

The Elves 2 Pro’s lack of 2.4GHz connectivity might deter those after pro-level performance, since this standard generally provides better response times. However, I can’t say I experienced any notable lag over Bluetooth with this gamepad, on any platform.

Connecting to various systems is also easy. I had no issues pairing the Elves 2 Pro to my Nintendo Switch or PC. It also connected to my Android phone with the same ease as the best mobile controllers.

Hot-swapping between PC and Switch was also a cinch, requiring a mere flick of the underside selector switch. However, switching between my phone and Switch for some reason proved more onerous, as I had to re-pair the Elves 2 Pro with my Switch. Thankfully, due to the aforementioned pairing process, this isn’t too bothersome, but it’s an aspect worth pointing out all the same.

The battery life of the Elves 2 Pro is admirable, lasting several days according to my testing. GuliKit claims it can last up to 20 hours, and I’m inclined to believe this figure.

Should I buy the GuliKit Elves 2 Pro?Buy it if...

You’re feeling nostalgic
The retro charm of the Elves 2 Pro is appealing, but it’s still modern enough to cut it with today’s games.

You want a great D-pad
The floating, circular D-pad is a joy to use and offers precise and rapid inputs – vital when playing fighters.

Don't buy it if...

You have large hands
While the Elves 2 Pro is pleasingly ergonomic in some regards, the small size and short grips might be a problem for those who want more of a handful.

You want more features
With no 2.4GHz connectivity, no analog triggers, and no software, the Elves 2 Pro might not be enough for more serious gamers or those who play a diverse range of genres.

GuliKit Elves 2 Pro review: Also consider

Here are some alternatives to the GuliKit Elves 2 Pro Controller if it doesn't sound right for you:

GuliKit Elves 2 Pro

GameSir Cyclone 2

Retro-Bit Sega Saturn Wireless Pro Controller

Price

$49.99 / £59.99 (about AU$76)

$49.99 / £49.99 / AU$79

$49.99 / £44.99 (around AU$78)

Dimensions

5.8 x 3.4 x 1.8in / 147 x 87 x 45mm

6.1 x 4.1 x 2.5in / 156 x 103 x 63mm

5.91 x 3.54 x 1.18in / 150 x 90 x 30mm

Weight

6.7oz / 190g

8.1oz / 229g

13.8oz / 390g

Compatibility

PC, Nintendo Switch, mobile

PC, Nintendo Switch, Android and iOS

PC, Nintendo Switch, Sega Saturn

Connection type

Wireless (Bluetooth), wired (USB-C)

Wireless (Bluetooth, 2.4GHz), wired (USB-C)

Wireless (2.4GHz, V2 for Sega Saturn), Wired (USB-C)

Battery life

20 hours

10 hours

15-20 hours

Software

None

GameSir Connect

None

GameSir Cyclone 2
For about the same price as the Elves 2 Pro (or even less in some territories), you could get the Cyclone 2 instead. This has TMR sticks, Hall effect analog triggers, a 2.4GHz option (in addition to Bluetooth), and software for customizing just about every parameter you can think of. Its D-pad might not be as sophisticated, but with all these features, it represents great value.

Read our full GameSir Cyclone 2 review

Retro-Bit Sega Saturn Wireless Pro Controller
If you want to go full-retro, then the Retro-Bit Sega Saturn Wireless Pro Controller is the pad for you. Not only does it have the looks of its namesake, it also has the same layout, which includes no less than six face buttons. You do get two analog sticks as a concession to modernity, though, as well as 2.4GHz connectivity.

Read our full Retro-Bit Sega Saturn Wireless Pro Controller review

How I tested the GuliKit Elves 2 Pro

• Tested for several days
• Played on multiple platforms
• Extensive controller experience

I tested the Elves 2 Pro for several days, during which time I used it to play multiple games on various platforms.

I played Tekken 8 on PC, which provides a stern test for D-pads and the overall responsiveness of inputs. On Nintendo Switch, I played The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, which I used to test the motion controls, among other inputs. I played Atomfall on PC to test the Motion Aim Assist mode, and I played Alien: Isolation on my Google Pixel 7a to test the Elves 2 Pro’s mobile gaming credentials.

I’ve been gaming for decades across all manner of platforms, from retro consoles to the modern PC. I have experienced a number of controllers during this time, and have reviewed a diverse selection of them, too.

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

LG S95AR soundbar: One minute review

The S95AR with its included accessories (Image credit: Future)

The LG S95AR is the successor to the already great LG S95TR soundbar system. There are a few good improvements, but at a couple of hundred dollars more, it can also seem redundant.

That said, if you don’t already own the LG S95TR, then I can enthusiastically recommend the LG S95AR, as it ranks among the best soundbars available, not to mention one of the best Dolby Atmos soundbars. This 9.1.5-channel system not only offers incredibly immersive surround sound and spatial audio, but it does so with plenty of power and clarity.

The LG S95AR’s feature set is about as impressive as on any soundbar I’ve tested, with AI Room Calibration that’s good enough to rival Sonos soundbars. On top of all of that, it’s very easy to set up.

I have some small nitpicks with the S95AR, such as its use of basic LED indicators to let you know when the volume or settings have changed instead of having a full LED display. And, of course, its price is going to be prohibitive for a lot of people. But if you can handle the high price, you’ll be impressed.

LG S95AR soundbar review: Price & release date

The S95AR soundbar with its included wireless subwoofer (dog not included) (Image credit: Future)

• Price: $1,699.99 (about £1,260 / AU$2,610)
• Released in April 2025

While I wouldn’t call it a soft launch, the LG S95AR Soundbar is currently only available in the US. If you’re located in one of the fifty states (or Puerto Rico and Guam), getting the LG S95AR will set you back a hefty $1,699.99 (about £1,260 / AUD$2,610).

The LG S95TR, this model’s predecessor, was also originally available only in the US, but has gone worldwide with a slightly better (but not by much) pricing of $1,499.99 / £1,699 / AU$1,699.

Both models come with a large soundbar, two rear speakers with multiple drivers, and a powerful subwoofer. They’re almost exactly the same, except that the S95AR has a redesigned subwoofer and better integration between the soundbar system and LG TVs. Oh, and there’s a new app, but more on that later.

LG S95AR soundbar review: Specs

Dimensions (W x H x D)

Soundbar: 49.2 x 2.5 x 5.3 in (1250 x 63.5 x 134.6mm); subwoofer: 7.9 x 16 x 15.9 in (200 x 406 x 404mm); rear speakers: 6.3 x 8.8 x 5.6 in (160 x 223.5 x 142mm)

Speaker channels

9.1.5

Connections:

2x HDMI (1 with eARC), optical, digital, Bluetooth, USB type-A

Dolby Atmos/DTS:X

Yes/Yes

Sub included

Yes

Rear speakers included

Yes

Features

4K @ 120Hz passthrough, Wi-Fi Streaming, Voice assistant support, AI room calibration, LG WOW Orchestra, LG WOW Interface, WOW Cast

LG S95AR soundbar review: Features

Ports include two HDMI (one with eARC/ARC) and optical digital (Image credit: Future)

• First-party features for LG TVs
• Wi-Fi Streaming and Alexa/Google Assistant support
• AI Room Calibration

There are several features of the S95AR that only owners of compatible LG TVs can access, which I wasn’t able to test with my non-LG TV. (You can tell which ones they are, because they start with the prefix “WOW.”) WOW Orchestra, for instance, combines an LG TV’s speakers with the LG S95AR for an even more immersive audio experience. And the WOW interface allows you to use one remote to control the soundbar’s functions as well as the TV’s via an onscreen interface. Lastly, WOW Cast lets you make a lossless wireless audio connection between the soundbar and specific LG TVs.

Luckily, there are plenty of features still accessible for non-LG TV owners. Wi-Fi streaming via Apple AirPlay 2 is available, as is Alexa and Google Assistant support. There are some gaming-related features as well, such as Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), as well as 4K, HDR10, and Dolby Vision support on the HDMI passthrough port.

Along with supporting Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, the LG S95AR can handle high-resolution audio, making this soundbar as capable of giving an immersive listening experience for music as it is for movies. There’s even what LG calls Smart Up-mixing that utilizes all the speakers for stereo audio playback.

What really puts the LG S95AR over the top in the feature department is its AI Room Calibration Pro, which I also appreciated when I reviewed the LG S95TR. Using LG’s app, you sit in the ideal listening spot (most likely your couch), and the soundbar will send out test tones. The app then measures the response and calibrates the soundbar’s audio output for your room. It’s pretty cool!

After calibration, the soundbar’s “AI Sound Pro Mode” will reflect the calibration. Speaking of sound modes, all the usual suspects are here, such as Cinema, Sports, etc., but the two I like to highlight are Night Mode and Clear Voice Mode. Both work very well, with Night mode compressing the audio to limit spikes without losing sound fidelity and Clear Voice mode pushing the dialogue level without distorting the frequency range, something that often happens with these types of modes.

Most of these features are only accessible through LG’s control app, which is fairly easy to navigate. You can even individually adjust the volume of the rear speakers, subwoofer, upward-firing speakers, and the center channel here. My only real gripe is that there’s only a three-band EQ for adjusting audio to taste.

• Features score: 5 / 5

LG S95AR soundbar review: Performance

The system's rear speakers feature left, right, and upward-firing drivers for Atmos height effects (Image credit: Future)

• Sound is a little mid-forward, but clear
• Incredibly immersive soundstage
• Stereo upmixing to all channels

The S95AR’s sound quality is very, very good – only the most nitpicky audiophiles will find some fault with it. I consider myself audiophile-adjacent, and the only issue I could hear is that its midrange was just a bit forward-sounding. Of course, there is a three-band EQ in the app to help with that.

That said, the midrange is generally well-balanced. This is particularly true with dialogue. You can enhance dialogue, either by turning up the center channel level or using the dialogue mode in the app, but I never really felt the need to. Whether it was when watching a scene from The Batman or Deadpool &Wolverine, or playing a game like Dead Rising 2 where the main character is often talking while a lot of various audio elements (well, zombies) are occupying sonic space, dialogue was consistently clear.

The S95AR’s bass is nice and present. At default settings, it has that “you can feel it before you can hear it” effect, so it blends in nicely with the rest of the frequency range. When watching a blockbuster like Deadpool & Wolverine, there’s a lot of low-end information since half of every set is exploding, but even without turning the subwoofer up and having the soundbar set at a modest volume, I could sense the impact of everything and anything that is supposed to go boom.

The high-end also resolves nicely so that I didn’t miss any details, whether watching a movie, listening to music, or playing a game.

As far as the S95AR’s soundstage goes, it was just as immersive as when I reviewed the S95TR. The surround sound works perfectly – I was a bit unnerved to hear zombies behind me when I booted up Dead Rising 2 – and the upward firing speakers give all the audio elements a sense of height along with the left to right and front to back directionality. It’s quite the experience.

• Performance score: 5 / 5

LG S95AR soundbar review: Design

LG's sub has a 8-inch side-firing woofer that’s helped along with a forward-facing port, which helps with bass extension and output (Image credit: Future)

• Soundbar is fairly large
• Wireless connectivity
• Basic LED indicator display

The LG S95AR is not a small soundbar, and that’s without getting into the fact that this is a four-piece system. The main soundbar is almost fifty inches wide with ten drivers in it – three of them pointing up for Dolby Atmos height effects – and requires a fairly large entertainment console to properly hold it.

The rear speakers are sizable as well, but there’s a good reason for that. Unlike most rear speakers, these don’t have just one driver. They use three – one slightly angled to the right of the speaker, one to the left, and one out of the top for spatial audio or Dolby Atmos effects.

The subwoofer houses an 8-inch side-firing woofer that’s helped along with a forward-facing port, which helps with bass extension and output.

A nice design feature is that all units have recessed power ports with angled power cables so that everything looks flush when installed. Soundbar connections, meanwhile, include optical digital, two HDMI (one of which supports Dolby Vision HDR passthrough), and a USB port.

The soundbar does have a set of capacitive buttons so that everything looks clean, but you can still power on the soundbar, change the volume, change inputs, connect Bluetooth, or enable Wi-Fi (necessary for pairing to the app) without using the remote.

I also want to mention that, like the S95TR before it, there is no display other than three LED indicator lights on the right side of the soundbar that light up and change color depending on what you’re doing, whether it’s adjusting the volume or changing to Bluetooth connectivity.

Speaking of the remote, it has a good feel in the hand and comes with a decent set of controls, though it’s not as robust as the app. Since the soundbar itself just has the three indicator lights, cycling through certain settings via the remote, like different sound modes, is somewhat of a guessing game.

• Design score: 4.5 / 5

LG S95AR soundbar review: Setup & usability

The S95AR's remote lets you control basic functions, but more advanced ones are only available in LG's app (Image credit: Future)

• Removing the various pieces from the box takes the longest
• Physical setup is incredibly easy
• Mounting brackets included

The S95AR comes in a big box. It takes a minute to get all the pieces out as they’re very well packed, with the rear speakers and subwoofer bound in recyclable packing material. But getting all the pieces out of the box (and putting the box away) is the most time-consuming part of the whole setup process. I would estimate it probably took me about 10 minutes at most.

Connecting the soundbar to the TV via the included HDMI cable and power, and then connecting the various other speakers to power (remember, they’re all wireless) took half that time. And, since the rear speakers and subwoofers are paired out of the box, there was no other physical setup besides placing the included batteries into the remote.

I did have to go through one more step, which is connecting the app to the soundbar system. It does take an additional 5 to 10 minutes, but it is mostly just following instructions on a screen. This is a necessary step, however, as the remote can't access all the features and fine-tuning capabilities found in the app.

If you want to wall-mount the soundbar and rear speakers, LG has helpfully included brackets and screws for both without an extra charge.

• Setup & usability score: 5 / 5

LG S95AR soundbar review: Value

All speakers in the system feature recessed power ports for neat installation (Image credit: Future)

• Similar-specced soundbars come with similar price tags
• Building out a home theater sound system probably costs more
• Cheaper surround sound and Dolby Atmos systems available

With a price tag of $1,699.99 (about £1,260 / AUD$2,610), the LG S95AR is expensive. However, that’s par for the course for a flagship soundbar system. The Samsung Q990D, for instance, retailed for $1,799 / £1,699 / AU$1,995 when first released and covers a lot of the same ground, being a feature-filled 11.1.4-channel system.

Of course, building out an actual home theater setup with individual speakers is probably going to cost even more if you get decent speakers. That said, there are cheaper options if you want surround sound and Dolby Atmos, such as the Hisense AX5125H. Being a 5.1.2-channel system, it is not as robust as the LG S95AR, but it goes for a much, much cheaper $299 / £349 (roughly AU$449). Of course, you’re giving up a lot in terms of features as well

• Value score: 4 / 5

Should I buy the LG S95AR soundbar?

Section

Notes

Score

Features

Even if you can’t use the features that only work with LG TVs, there’s a lot to take advantage of, including AI Room Calibration

5 / 5

Performance

The sound quality is immersive and clear, with plenty of low-end rumble

5 / 5

Design

Big, with lots of drivers, including upward-firing ones on the rear speakers. Unfortunately, the LED display is very limited

4.5 / 5

Setup & usability

Easy to set up and quick, too, though you’ll need to use an app to get at more sophisticated setup functions

.5 / 5

Value

Expensive, but priced in line with other flagship soundbar systems

4 / 5

Buy it if...

You want immersive audio
With seventeen drivers pointing every which way, the sound on the LG S95AR is very immersive, even with stereo audio, thanks to stereo up-mixing.

You’re looking for lots of features
Just about every feature one could want is provided on this soundbar. The AI Room Calibration is great, but so are the various sound modes, Wi-Fi Streaming, and Alexa and Google Assistant support.

You need easy
As much as this soundbar is capable of, it’s also easy to set up and easy to use. You can probably get it fully set up in 20 minutes.

Don't buy it if...

You’re looking for value
I don’t necessarily think the LG S95AR is overpriced, but it’s not cheap, and it’s not really a value proposition. If you’re trying to stretch your cash, there are other options that are cheaper.

You’re not in the US
At the time of writing (June 2025), the S95AR is only available in the US. Luckily, the S95TR is very close in most aspects and is available in other territories.

LG S95AR soundbar review: Also consider

LG S95AR soundbar

Samsung HW-Q990D

Hisense AX5125H

Price

$1,699.99 (about £1,260 / AUD$2,610)

$1,799 / £1,699 / AU$1,995 

$299 / £349 (roughly AU$449)

Dimensions (w x h x d)

Soundbar: 49.2 x 2.5 x 5.3 in (1250 x 63.5 x 134.6mm); subwoofer: 7.9 x 16 x 15.9 in (200 x 406 x 404mm); rear speakers: 6.3 x 8.8 x 5.6 in (160 x 223.5 x 142mm)

Soundbar: 1309.0 x 595.0 x 277.0 mm (51.3 x 23.4 x 10.9 in), Subwoofer: 220.0 x 413.0 x 410.0 mm (8.6 x 16.2 x 16.1 in), Rear speaker: 129.5 x 201.3 x140.4 mm (5 x 7.9 x 5.5 in)

Soundbar: 36.2 x 18.8 x 3.5 in (920 x 478 x 90mm); Subwoofer: 8.5 x 12.3 x 11.9 in (210.5 x 310 x 300mm); Satellites: 3.6 x 5.7 x 4.3 in (90.1 x 140.5 x 110mm)

Speaker channels

9.1.5

11.1.4

5.1.2

Connections

2x HDMI (1 with eARC), optical digital audio, USB type-A

11.1.4

1x HDMI Out (eARC), 1x HDMI in, optical, USB, 3.5mm AUX

Dolby Atmos/DTS:X

Yes/Yes

Yes/Yes

Yes/Yes

Samsung HW-Q990D
If you want a powerful, all-encompassing surround sound and Dolby Atmos-equipped soundbar, the Samsung HW-Q990D has about as much going for it as the LG S95AR. Like the LG soundbar, it’s also a bit pricey and has an obscured LED display.

Read our full Samsung Q990D review

Hisense AX5125H
The Hisense AX5125H is a fraction of the price of the LG S95AR, and that is probably the main reason to consider this 5.1.2 system over something more robust. It’s still immersive with clear dialogue and punchy bass, but it is much more limited when it comes to features.

Read our full Hisense AX5125H review

How I tested the LG S95AR soundbar

The S95AR's indicator lights offer basic control feedback, but a front-panel alphanumeric display would have been a better option (Image credit: Future)

• I used the LG S95AR Soundbar for several weeks
• Tested with both TV, movies, and music

I used the LG S95AR Soundbar regularly for several weeks with TV, movies, and music. I listened to the different sound modes and I tested the various features.

As has been hopefully expressed in the review, this is a powerful, immersive soundbar that does a very good job of offering an immersive home theater experience and should work for anyone with the budget for it who wants the convenience of a soundbar.

I’ve tested a lot of tech gear over the years, from laptops to keyboards and speakers, and so have been able to use my expertise towards giving an honest and fair opinion, not to mention a critical eye, to any product I test.

Read more about how we test

• First reviewed: July 2025

Wolfbox G900 Pro: One-minute review

The Wolfbox G900 Pro is a mirror-style dash cam that records 4K forwards and 2.5K video rearwards. The weatherproof rear camera can be screwed to your vehicle’s bumper, turning into a reversing camera. A live video feed from either camera, or both, can be seen on the touchscreen display, which is integrated in the mirror itself.

Both cameras produce excellent, high-quality video, and the user interface is a joy to use – it's sharp, responsive and intuitive. The Wolfbox app also works well, with videos transferred quickly via 5 GHz Wi-Fi from the dash cam to your phone, although transferring footage directly from the included microSD card isn’t an option for macOS users, due to how the card is formatted by the dash cam.

Installation is more involved than with other dash cams, and the separate GPS antenna creates extra clutter that you'll likely want to hide. The design of the G900 isn’t perfect, as I found that its camera was partially blocked by the mirror assembly of some vehicles. This is a dash cam to try (or at least measure carefully) before you buy.

(Image credit: Future / Alistair Charlton)Wolfbox G900 Pro: Price & availability

The Wolfbox G900 Pro is priced at $360 in the US and £260 in the UK, although discounts are often available. At the time of writing, the US price on Amazon had fallen to $250.

Unlike some other dash cams, like the Nextbase iQ and Nexar One, the Wolfbox does not have a 4G connection and there are no ongoing data subscription or cloud storage costs.

Wolfbox G900 Pro: SpecsWolfbox G900 Pro specs

Video

4K (3840 x 2160) at 30fps (front), 2.5K (2560 x 1440) rear

Field-of-view (FoV)

170 degrees (front), 150 degrees (rear)

Storage

microSD card slot (128GB card included)

GPS

Yes, plug-in antenna (included)

Parking mode

Yes, with hardwiring kit (sold separately)

App support

Yes, Wolfbox app

Dimensions

12.0 x 3.0 x 1.5 inches / 305 x 80 x 45mm

Weight

17.5 oz / 497 g

Battery

No

Wolfbox G900 Pro: Design

• Doubles as replacement mirror
• Perfect fit isn’t guaranteed
• Forward view easily obstructed

Unlike dash cams that stick to the windshield, the Wolfbox G900 Pro acts as a replacement to your car’s central rearview mirror. It straps onto your existing mirror, and gives you both a reflected view of what’s behind, plus a view ahead recorded by the forward-facing camera.

This is made possible because there’s a touchscreen embedded within the G900 Pro’s mirror. The result is a mirror that still shows a clear view of what’s behind, but can also, with a tap to wake up the user interface, show live video from the front- and rear-facing dash cams.

It’s also possible to swipe and tap your way through the G900 Pro’s settings menus, and view recorded footage on the mirror/touchscreen, before transferring it to your smartphone using the Wolfbox app and the G900 Pro’s Wi-Fi connection.

(Image credit: Future / Alistair Charlton)

As well as the main unit, the kit reviewed here included a rear-facing camera that can either be stuck to your rear window with an included adhesive pad or, since it’s weatherproof, screwed to the rear bumper. Here, it doubles as a rear-facing dash cam and also a reversing camera, with its live video feed sent to the display of the main unit.

It’s also possible to wire the rear camera to your car’s reversing light. Then, when the light illuminates the dash cam automatically shows a feed from the rear camera. The main unit is powered from an included 12-volt adapter, but Wolfbox also sells an optional hardwiring kit for a permanent power supply.

(Image credit: Future / Alistair Charlton)Wolfbox G900 Pro: Performance

• Lots of messy cables to hide
• Excellent 4K video
• Isn’t suitable for some cars

Despite being very different to most other dash cams, the G900 Pro is still relatively easy to install and set up. The main unit attaches to your mirror using a pair of included rubber straps, and is powered from the 12-volt lighter socket in the usual way.

The dash cam has GPS but, unusually for a modern, high-end dash cam, the antenna is not integrated. Instead, the GPS unit is a small box that attaches with a cable and then sticks to the windshield or dashboard. It’s a disappointing bit of hardware design, given the otherwise top-notch specifications of this dash cam. The GPS unit takes up space, the cable needs to be hidden somewhere, and it’s generally a bit of a mess.

I also found the main unit didn’t fit my car’s mirror well. The camera is fitted to the left-hand side of the mirror, which in my car meant having to install the G900 Pro off-center, thus leaving a bit of my car’s original mirror poking out from behind the dash cam. Worse still was how the camera’s forward view was partially obscured by the car’s mirror mount. I could improve the camera’s view, but this meant moving the mirror to an angle where it was no longer giving the view I needed.

(Image credit: Future / Alistair Charlton)

For my own car, a 2015 Mazda MX-5 ND (Miata in the US market), this made the G900 Pro a non-starter. It also shook while driving, and considerably so while stationary with the engine running. The car’s own mirror doesn’t do this, but the constant shaking of the Wolfbox’s mirror and digital interface became a considerable distraction.

Hoping the Wolfbox would perform better elsewhere, I switched it to my partner’s Peugeot e-208. Being an electric car, most of the shaking I‘d experienced in my car disappeared, and being a larger vehicle meant the G900 Pro could be installed without looking too messy. The separate GPS module is still an annoyance, though, and some of the camera’s view ahead was still blocked by the car’s own mirror assembly.

It’s a shame some of the camera’s view is blocked, because the G900 Pro produces excellent 4K footage. It’s honestly some of the best I’ve ever seen from a dash cam, and is arguably on par with a GoPro or other action camera. There’s loads of detail, colors are accurate, and everything is nice and smooth.

The rear camera is almost as good. It has a lower 2.5K resolution, but still does a great job of capturing plenty of accurate detail.

The G900 Pro’s user interface is also impressive. The display is bright, sharp, and responsive, with an intuitive menu system that makes it easy to adjust settings. Wolfbox’s smartphone app is also good.

(Image credit: Future / Alistair Charlton)

The setup process is quick and 5 GHz Wi-Fi makes video transfers speedy too – a good thing, since this dash cam formats its microSD card using a file system unreadable by macOS. I reformatted the card, using my Mac, to exFAT, but the dash cam still insisted on reformatting it. Footage transfers via the app just fine, but it can’t be moved directly from the SD card to a Mac, so you’re forced to use the app.

Recordings viewed in the app also show the car’s location on a map, plus a G-force indicator. This doesn’t seem accurate though, as it often indicated 0.8g of acceleration at 0.0 mph. Some data, like the map, altitude and the G-meter, are lost when recordings are transferred to your phone’s camera roll, and I noticed how the speedometer was slightly delayed when compared to the footage.

I also encountered an issue where the map that accompanied each recording (provided by Apple Maps) was blank. This was rectified by granting the Wolfbox app constant access to my iPhone's locational data.

Back to the positives, and I’m sure some drivers will love how this dash cam doubles as a rearview mirror. If you drive a van, for example, or any vehicle with limited rear visibility, seeing the rear-facing camera’s feed on the mirror can be really useful.

I can’t really see the point of the G900 Pro constantly showing the front-facing camera’s view, since that’s the same as looking through the windshield, but thankfully it’s easy to either show the rearview only, or have no camera feed at all. In that state, the G900 Pro acts like a conventional mirror, but with a simple interface showing the time and date in one corner.

Wolfbox G900 Pro: Sample video Should you buy the Wolfbox G900 Pro?

(Image credit: Future / Alistair Charlton)Buy it if...

You definitely want a mirror-style dash cam
They’re quite different to conventional dash cams, taking up more space and likely posing a more challenging installation. Make sure this is the type of dash cam you want, and you’re happy with the idea of a new mirror with a user interface appearing on it, before making the purchase.View Deal

You don’t mind a bit of mess
The separate GPS module and rubber straps – plus usual cables for power and the rear camera – make this dash cam a messier installation than that of most dash cams. Make sure you have the space on your windshield, and don’t mind a more involved installation process. Or have a pro do it for you.View Deal

You want 4K video
The G900 Pro records excellent 4K footage that is sharp, smooth and full of detail. The file sizes are large, but Wolfbox includes a 128 GB microSD card in the box, and 5 GHz Wi-Fi means recordings transfer to your smartphone relatively quickly.View Deal

Don't buy it if...

You drive a particularly small car
I had trouble fitting the G900 Pro comfortably into my car. Make sure it’ll attach to your vehicle without having its camera obscured by the existing mirror’s mount and assembly. View Deal

You want a clean, simple installation
Many other dash cams offer a less cluttered setup, with fewer cables and integrated GPS. A professional can surely help if you go down the Wolfbox route, but a smaller, more conventional dash cam might be a better option if a mess-free interior is important to you.View Deal

You only need a front-facing camera
The G900 Pro’s rear camera is included in the box, rather than being a paid optional extra. If you don’t need the rear camera, you should consider a different dash cam. This will also likely save you money and make for a simpler installation, since there’s no secondary camera and cable to fix into place.View Deal

How I tested the Wolfbox G900 Pro

• I installed the G900 Pro in two different cars
• I used the front and rear cameras on several journeys
• I used the Wolfbox app and analyzed recorded footage

To thoroughly test the Wolfbox G900 Pro I installed it in two different cars. The first showed how this mirror-style dash cam doesn't work perfectly in some vehicles, while the latter cast it in a better light. I completed numerous journeys with both cars, then transferred footage to my phone and computer for a closer look.

• First reviewed July 2025

Review information

Platform reviewed: Nintendo Switch 2
Available on: Nintendo Switch 2
Release date: June 5, 2025

The conversation around interactive-visit-come-video-game Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, rather unfortunately, has not been about the game itself. Rather, many players have (rightly so) lamented the fact that this is a paid download rather than a pack-in experience - similar to the likes of Wii Sports or even Astro’s Playroom on PlayStation 5.

That being said, Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour remains one of the top downloads on the Switch 2 eShop - at least here in the UK - so folks are certainly buying it. The question is, then, is it worth the $9.99 / £7.99 you’ll end up paying for it? Well, yes and no.

There are positives to take away from the Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour experience. If you’re a hardware head like me, Welcome Tour presents information about the Switch 2 system in bite-sized chunks of trivia. There are even info booths and quizzes to undertake that highlight specific features, such as HD Rumble and mouse controls. I’m also a fan of the tech demos and minigame challenges that let you try out said features in a practical fashion.

Realistically, though, it’s an experience that only lasts a handful of hours, and rather annoyingly, it could be a more expensive game than its modest price tag lets on. That’s because some of the demos and minigames outright require things like a 4K TV or the Switch 2 Camera.

If you’re shooting for 100% completion, then Welcome Tour assumes you’ve gone all-in on the Switch 2 ecosystem as a whole. This is why I strongly feel the game should have come pre-installed onto your Switch 2 console; having to pay for a game that you might not even get to experience everything in - depending on the hardware you own - is extremely disappointing.

Ins and outs

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour is presented as a giant exhibition for the new console. You’ll start by picking your avatar’s appearance simply by plucking them from a queue to the venue; you’re either an extremely tiny human, or the exhibition and its various sections are monolithic in size. I’ll let you decide which is more likely there.

If your objective in Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour is simply to plough through all the areas, then that’s easy enough. You’ll begin on the left Joy-Con 2 controller, and you’re tasked with finding and checking all the components there. That includes things like the analog stick, directional buttons, and magnetic connector.

Once you’ve seen it all, you can unlock the gate to the next area, where you’ll repeat that process. It’s fun at first, but even though it’s a short experience overall, there will be instances where you’ll find yourself pixel hunting while uncovering all the gizmos needed to unlock the next area. That means a lot of running around this isometric exhibition, which can be quite a chore.

Up for a challenge

(Image credit: Nintendo)

To sidestep some of the tedium said exploration can bring, I do encourage you to take things at a measured pace in Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour. Thankfully, there are some distractions to be had in the form of quizzes, minigames, and tech demos.

Quizzes are the most straightforward of the bunch. There are various booths dotted about the exhibits, and talking to the person there will load in some information displays you can read to learn more about various aspects of the Switch 2 ecosystem.

Minigames are a bit more bespoke. Each area will have at least one or two, and most are fun little diversions. You’ll be tasked with a great many things with these, again having something to do with the Switch 2’s capabilities. Examples include using the Joy-Con 2’s mouse to pilot a UFO avoiding spiked balls, and a task where you have to guess the framerate of a ball bouncing across a screen.

Best bit

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour’s presentation is really quite charming. Running around on a giant Switch 2 screen or Joy-Con 2 controllers is a novel idea, and I had fun exploring each area to learn more about the console and its accessories.

Finally, there’s the tech demos. These don’t offer much of a challenge and instead showcase various aspects of the Switch 2’s tech. An early example has you shaking the Joy-Con 2 like maracas to demonstrate HD Rumble, while another showcases the handheld’s HDR capabilities, where you can let off fireworks and compare the differences between HDR and SDR color gamuts.

Completing quizzes, minigames, and tech demos will award you with medals, and collecting enough of these will unlock more content, including harder versions of minigame challenges. Some of these were surprisingly tough, too, so you may have your hands full if you’re a completionist.

Though the completionist route is kind of where Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour can potentially fall apart. The game flat out assumes the player has access to a 4K display and accessories like the Switch 2 Camera, as, believe it or not, there are challenges and tech demos related to such items.

Again, this would be slightly less foul were Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour a free inclusion with the console. But as it stands, I would avoid purchasing it even at its modest price if you don’t have a contemporary gaming setup, as you simply won’t be able to enjoy all the content on offer.

Should you play Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour?Play it if...

You want to learn more about your new console
Exploring all the different areas to learn about each and every aspect of the Switch 2 and its tech was a fulfilling experience. I definitely know more now than I did before going into the game.

Don't play it if...

You don’t have a more up-to-date gaming setup
Put simply, if you don’t have a 4K TV or you’re missing accessories like the Switch 2 Camera, you should avoid Nintendo Switch Welcome Tour as some of its content will be completely locked out.

Accessibility

Frustratingly, there is absolutely nothing in the way of options for Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, let alone for accessibility. At the information kiosk in the game’s first area, you can talk to a non-player-character (NPC) there to invert camera controls, and that’s literally it. Nothing for audio, visuals, or alternative control schemes.

How I reviewed Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour

I played Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour for five hours on the Switch 2 system. As the game has strict requirements for which control schemes to use at any given time, I was limited to using the Joy-Con 2 controllers for things like HD Rumble, mouse controls, and more. As for display, I swapped between my LG CX OLED TV and played on the Switch 2 handheld when the game required it.

Alienware 16 Area-51: Two-minute review

There are only a few gaming laptop releases that’ll impress buyers this year as much as the Alienware 16 Area-51. Everything about this work of premium art and technology oozes perfection.

Though the configuration I reviewed came out to around $3,249.99 / £3,349 / AU$5,497.80, there’s plenty of scalability in terms of both price and component options, with systems starting at $1,999.99 / £2,149.01 / AU$4,198.70.

The design alone places this as one of the best gaming laptops going, thanks to a futuristically sleek design that mirrors its desktop sibling with “fluid contours and soft surfaces” that blends nice angles, lovely multi-zone customizable lighting, smart port placement, clever ventilation, a clear glass panel on the bottom to show of the internals, and much more.

The phenomenal design philosophy is matched with gaming performance that’ll impress enthusiasts and competitive gamers alike. All of that power is pumped out through a 16-inch 2560x1600 display that offers a 240Hz refresh rate as well.

However, holding the display back significantly is the image quality. Despite featuring 100% DCI-P3, 500 nits of brightness, and Nvidia G-Sync, images lack crispness and can come off as smudged a bit as well. Thankfully, the Dolby Atmos-certified speakers provide great, nuanced sound for gaming alongside general music listening.

That doesn’t even count the amount of extras that are featured on the Area-51 16, such as the option to have a full RGB mechanical keyboard, which makes it to where serious players don’t have to use a USB slot and lug an extra keyboard around.

Even outside of gaming, the mechanical keyboard makes general computing tasks a thrill thanks to how fantastic keystrokes feel. In a cool touch, the touchpad itself glows with customizable lighting too.

All of this greatness does come at the cost of borderline abysmal battery life, which comes with the territory of most high-end gaming laptops.

Those in need of more juice for long flights or times without a nearby electrical socket may be in some trouble. Regardless, the Alienware 16 Area-51 is out of this world when it comes to laptop gaming.

Alienware 16 Area-51: Price & availability

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

How much does it cost? Starting at $1,999.99 / £2,149.01 / AU$4,198.70

When is it available? Available now

Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia

The Alienware 16 Area-51 is now available through Dell’s online store and other digital retailers, starting at $1999.99 / £2,149.01 / AU$4,198.70. Buyers in the US, UK, and Australia can choose from a range of configurations and options tailored to their Windows gaming needs.

My review unit was configured with an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080, 32GB RAM, and 1TB SSD Storage comes in at $2,849.99 / £3,298.99 / AU$5,497.80. Other features include the 4K web camera and mechanical keyboard options.

While not the most expensive laptop in its size class, it's not the cheapest either, but its starting price is very good for a laptop with this kind of premium feel.

• Value: 4 / 5

Alienware 16 Area-51: Specs

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

Alienware Area-51 16 (Lowest Configuration)

Alienware Area-51 16 (Review)

Alienware Area-51 16 (Highest Configuration)

Price:

$1,999.99 at Dell.com | £2,149.01 at Dell.com | AU$4,198.70 at Dell.com

$2,849.99 at Dell.com | £3,298.99 at Dell.com | AU$5,497.80 at Dell.com

$5,499.99 at Dell.com | £5,779 at Dell.com | AU$$8,847.30 at Dell.com

CPU:

Intel Core Ultra 7 processor 255HX

Intel Core Ultra 9 processor 275HX

Intel Core Ultra 9 processor 275HX

Graphics:

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090

RAM:

16GB DDR5-6400MT/s

32GB DDR5-6400MT/s

64GB DDR5-6400MT/s

Screen:

16" WQXGA 2560x1600 240Hz 3ms 100% DCI-P3 500 nit, NVIDIA G-SYNC + Advanced Optimus

16" WQXGA 2560x1600 240Hz 3ms 100% DCI-P3 500 nit, NVIDIA G-SYNC + Advanced Optimus

16" WQXGA 2560x1600 240Hz 3ms 100% DCI-P3 500 nit, NVIDIA G-SYNC + Advanced Optimus

Storage:

1TB SSD

1TB SSD

12TB (3 x 4TB) PCIe SSD (4TB PCIe SSD in Australia)

Ports:

1X SD Card Slot, 1 x 3.5mm Headset Jack, 2 x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1, 1 x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1, 2 x USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports, 1 x HDMI 2.1

1X SD Card Slot, 1 x 3.5mm Headset Jack, 2 x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1, 1 x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1, 2 x USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports, 1 x HDMI 2.1

1X SD Card Slot, 1 x 3.5mm Headset Jack, 2 x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1, 1 x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1, 2 x USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports, 1 x HDMI 2.1

Wireless:

Intel Killer Wi-Fi 7 BE1750 (2x2 320Hz) MIMO 802.11be Wireless LAN and Bluetooth 5.4

Intel Killer Wi-Fi 7 BE1750 (2x2 320Hz) MIMO 802.11be Wireless LAN and Bluetooth 5.4

Intel Killer Wi-Fi 7 BE1750 (2x2 320Hz) MIMO 802.11be Wireless LAN and Bluetooth 5.4

Camera:

1080P Webcam

4K Webcam

4K Webcam

Weight:

7.49 lbs | 3.40 kg

7.49 lbs | 3.40 kg

7.49 lbs | 3.40 kg

Dimensions:

14.37 x 11.41 x 1.12 ins | 365 x 290 x 28.5mm (W x D x H)

14.37 x 11.41 x 1.12 ins | 365 x 290 x 28.5mm (W x D x H)

14.37 x 11.41 x 1.12 ins | 365 x 290 x 28.5mm (W x D x H)

Alienware 16 Area-51: Design

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

• Sleek, rounded design with a beautiful liquid teal colorway and RGB lighting nearly everywhere
• Nice rear port selection and SD Card slot
• Comfortable experience with the mechanical keyboard

As noted before—and it bears repeating—the Alienware 16 Area-51’s design is truly breathtaking. From the moment you unbox it, the spaceship-inspired curves and sleek, dark liquid teal finish immediately signal a premium, high-end machine that stands out in any setting. While closed, there are some noticeable design choices that truly set this gaming laptop apart from others.

Every angle of the Area-51 16 is picturesque from top to bottom. This includes the top panel featuring the standard Alienware logo that is backlit by customizable RGB.

At the bottom, you get to see the laptop’s Cryo-Chamber structure, allowing direct airflow to the laptop’s core components. This also raises the device for both comfort and larger air intake. For added measure, there’s a clear Gorilla Glass panel showing the AlienFX fans that also has customizable lighting.

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(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

A nice selection of ports is located on the rear, which offsets the display hinge by about a few inches. That portion also features a customizable RGB light ring that circles it from top to bottom, too.

This allows access to three USB-A, two USB-C with Thunderbolt, a single HDMI port, and a power port. Those are joined on the left side by an SD Card slot and a 3.5mm headset jack. Smartly designed V-Rail edges make opening and closing the gaming laptop a smooth

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

When opened, the display offers either an FHD or a 4K webcam at the top. Below, the mechanical keyboard provides a satisfying feel for both gaming and typing, complete with customizable RGB lighting, and is flanked by a speaker system with two 2W woofers, two 2W tweeters, and Dolby Atmos certification.

The smooth, precision glass touchpad at the bottom also features customizable RGB lighting, adding to the laptop’s premium, tailored experience. Usage is made extra comfortable through a pillowed palm rest, which helps when gaming or when doing general web browsing tasks for long periods.

The Alienware Area-51 16 is just so thoughtful in the engineering and design. There’s a visual appeal and functional enhancements that elevate the ownership experience here in ways that feel luxurious yet cool.

• Design: 5 / 5

Alienware 16 Area-51: Performance

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

• Incredible power for modern AAA games with high frame rates
• Can control power output through Alienware Command Center
• Display performance is awesome though image quality suffers

Alienware 16 Area-51 CPU benchmarks

Benchmark

Score

Geekbench 6.4 Single-core

3,126

Geekbench 6.4 Multi-core

20,498

Crossmark Overall

2,338

Crossmark Productivity

2,173

Crossmark Creativity

2,587

Crossmark Responsiveness

2,145

Gaming and high-end creative task performance match the design perfectly on the Alienware 16 Area-51. The Intel Core Ultra 9, Nvidia RTX 5080, 32GB RAM, and 1TB SSD in my configuration was probably the ideal way to make the most of the 16-inch 2560x1600 resolution display when it comes to configuration options.

I was able to play all the latest, visually arresting AAA games at 60+ frames per second without problems using Cyberpunk 2077, Black Myth: Wukong, Forza Motorsport (2023), Doom: The Dark Ages, and Assassin’s Creed: Shadows.

Alienware 16 Area-51 GPU benchmarks

Benchmarks

Score

3DMark Fire Strike

37,813

3DMark Time Spy

21,070

3DMark Fire Strike Ultra

14,073

3DMark Time Spy Extreme

10,558

3DMark Speed Way

5,613

3DMark Steel Nomad

5,142

3DMark Port Royal

13,966

There are ways to push frame rates even higher thanks to Nvidia’s DLSS upscaling technology. The base configuration option is great for 1080p and 1440p gaming, while the max configuration is good enough for 4K gaming if users plan on connecting to a compatible monitor.

The Area-51 16-inch is powerful enough to edit high-resolution photo and video content without any problems in apps like Adobe Premiere and Photoshop.

Despite pushing the Area-51 16-inch to max capabilities, I didn’t hear much fan noise and it didn’t get too hot, mostly thanks to the Area-51 16-inch's Cryotech cooling and smart vent placement.

Game

Average FPS

Assassin's Creed Shadows (Ultra, 1080p)

52

Black Myth: Wukong (Cinematic, 1080p)

58

Cyberpunk 2077 (Ultra, 1080p)

63

Monster Hunter Wilds (Max, 1080p)

83

Shadow of the Tomb Raider (Very high, 1080p)

183

Total War: Warhammer III (Ultra, 1080p)

201

Like other Alienware devices, the Command Center app is a great way to augment power delivery to focus on a quieter fan speed, focus on battery (though it doesn’t help much), and full-on performance power. Other features of the Command Center include the ability to manage various game settings alongside customizing the various RGB lighting zones around the gaming laptop.

Gaming and the display performance are good enough to make me forget how average-looking the display is when it comes to image quality, suffering from washed-out colors that aren’t very crisp.

• Performance: 5 / 5

Alienware 16 Area-51: Battery life

• General computing tasks usage will give around 4 hours of usage between charges
• Trying to game is only going to provide about two hours

Gaming laptops at this level rarely excel in battery life, and the Alienware 16 Area-51 is no exception. In our PCMark 10 gaming battery test, it lasted around two hours, typical for machines in this category.

More disappointing is its performance in everyday tasks: during our Battery Informant Web Surfing test, it managed just over four hours with power-saving settings like reduced RGB lighting and lower brightness.

With lighting and medium volume levels on, the battery dipped to roughly three hours before needing a recharge. It would be nice to see the power-focused sect of gaming laptops reach the level of the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14.

On the positive side, the Alienware Battery Defender technology promises to balance power consumption with temperature monitoring to give the battery a longer life.

Charging takes a little over a few hours to reach full battery life, and there isn’t any quick charging. The power adapter brick is also pretty large as well so be mindful when traveling.

• Battery life: 3 / 5

Should I buy the Alienware 16 Area-51?

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Value

Gaming laptops are expensive by nature but the lower configuration versions of the Alienware 16 Area-51 do come at an attractive price.

4 / 5

Design

Between the smooth sleek chassis with lovely RGB lighting everywhere, port placements, fan placement and see-through bottom, this is the coolest looking gaming laptop ever made. This is the perfect match of form and function.

5 / 5

Performance

No matter which configuration you choose, you’re getting top-tier components that offer impressive scalability in performance options.

5 / 5

Battery

Battery life is pretty average so users are going to have to make sure they are near some power outlet.

3 / 5

Average rating

Image quality and battery life issues aside, this gaming laptop is worth every penny.

4.25 / 5

Buy the Alienware 16 Area-51 if...

You require one of the best-designed gaming laptops available
The Alienware 16 Area-51 is beautifully designed with a lovely chassis, properly placed ports, and awesome RGB lighting.

You need premium performance
Various configurations for top-of-the-line Intel Core CPUs and Nvidia RTX 50 series GPUs mean a variety of performance options.

You want some good extras
Great sounding speakers and a mechanical keyboard mean that serious gamers don’t have to use a USB port for an external one.

Don't buy it if...

You need better image quality
Though the performance of the 16-inch display is great, colors aren’t crisp and can feel a bit washed out. This means that gamers who are on the creative content side may have some issues.

You want better battery life
Gaming laptops aren’t usually known for their battery life, so expect similar results with the Area-51 16-inch.

Also Consider

If our Alienware Area-51 16 has you considering other options, here are two laptops to consider...

Razer Blade 14 (2024) review

Though it may not have the colorful lighting of the Area-51 16 and loses about two inches of display real estate, the Razer Blade 14 is a powerhouse that’s also portable.

Read the review here

MSI Katana 15

Anyone looking for an ultra-affordable gaming laptop that’s good for 1080p gaming performance should definitely check out the MSI Katana 15.

Read the review here

How I tested the Alienware 16 Area-51

• Tested the gaming laptop over the course of a week
• Games tested include Forza Motorsport (2023), Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II and Doom: The Dark Ages among others
• General computing tasks include Tidal, Google Chrome and Adobe Suite

During my week with the Alienware 16 Area-51, I spent my time split between work during the day and gaming at night.

During the day, I used Google Chrome for web browsing, Gmail, Docs, and Sheets. Other software used includes Tidal to test speakers and Adobe Suite software like Photoshop, alongside Premiere Pro for creative tasks.

Outside of standard benchmark tests for games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Black Myth: Wukong, I tested out plenty of modern games, including Forza Motorsport (2023), Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II, and Doom: The Dark Ages. I also managed to handle a few video conferences, which allowed me to test out the webcam as well.

Read more about how we test

• First reviewed July 2025

Ever fancy having a collection of software to help you tackle photo editing, page design, and vector illustrations all under one roof? Well that’s what CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2025 is all about.

It's part graphic design software, part photo editor, and one of the most comprehensive alternatives to Adobe Photoshop around. We tried out the latest version to see how it compares to rivals.

CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2025: Pricing & plans

(Image credit: Corel // Future)

• The Corel suite is cheaper than a lot of the competition, and on top of that, you also have the option of purchasing a licence, if you prefer that over subscribing. The 15-day trial is also welcome

We know it’s been six years since the momentous occasion, but it’s worth mentioning often: after a 20-year absence from the field, Corel finally made its professional apps compatible once more with the Mac in 2019, and version 2025 is no exception: whether you own a Windows or Mac computer, you can download this suite and test it out free for 15 days by clicking here.

After the trial is up, you’ll need to open your wallet, although unlike companies like Adobe, Corel offers you a choice: a one-time purchase for $549 / £659, or an annual plan, where you pay $22.42 / £26.58 each month (which means a one-time purchase is roughly equivalent to two years of rental, but without any possibility of upgrades, and the loss of some additional features which we’ll explore below).

This price includes PHOTO-PAINT (a Photoshop equivalent) and DRAW (an Illustrator equivalent). Quickly checking the competition, you’ll find subscribing to those two Adobe apps would cost you around twice as much ($45.98 / £45.96), so right there Corel’s offering is a pretty good deal. But what can you do with the suite?

• Score: 4/5

CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2025: The suite

(Image credit: Corel // Future)

• 6 apps, but really only 2 major ones, comprise this suite. The online service is a good addition but it’s only for subscribers, and why couldn’t they include ‘Capture’ with the Mac version, or at least reduce the Mac’s price since it doesn’t include all the apps that are part of the Windows suite?

This Graphic Suite comes with a host of creative apps. The main one, the one the suite borrows its name from, is CorelDRAW. This is a vector illustration and page layout program. If you’re familiar with Adobe Illustrator, it’s similar. CorelDRAW comes with PowerTRACE, which is an AI-powered bitmap-to-vector tracing tool, and is a massive time saver (as all good time-saving AI tools should be).

Next is Corel PHOTO-PAINT, which is Corel’s Photoshop equivalent. With it, you can edit images and create pixel-based projects. Corel Font Manager is an alternative to your computer’s default font management tool which we found fun and easy to use, and also gives you direct access to over 1,000 Google fonts.

CorelDRAW Web, is a browser-based service that lets you create projects online, wherever you may be. There is one drawback to it, mind: it’s only available to customers who subscribe to the suite. Those who opted to purchase their licence are sadly out of that loop.

And finally, there’s Capture, a screen capture tool which is sadly Windows only. Even though Mac users pay the same price for the suite, they end up with 5/6th of what Windows users get. Be that as it way, we’ll take a brief look at the two main apps, PHOTO-PAINT and DRAW.

The integration between all apps in the suite allows for the sharing of numerous features, including Pantone Dualities, which bring powerful colour management between all apps in the suite, designers and printers, through industry recognised palettes.

• Score: 4/5

CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2025: Corel PHOTO-PAINT

(Image credit: Corel // Future)

• We found this image compositing program to be very competent, with tools similar to its competition, even if its way of working is different and will necessitate a bit of a learning curve if you’re used to the way other apps do things

One of the two main apps of this suite is PHOTO-PAINT, which is designed to be as welcoming as it can be. OK, you must sign in (or create an account) before you can use it, but once you’re in, you’ll be greeted with a welcome page offering you numerous online tutorials to help you understand which features are available and how you can make use of them.

Even when you open a file, you’ll find a ‘Learn’ sidebar on the right to guide you through any creative process, but if you don’t need this, just close it to get on with your work.

If you’re familiar with other image compositing tools, it won’t take you long to acquaint yourself with PHOTO-PAINT as the concept is pretty much the same: you have tools in a sidebar on one side, with an inspector sidebar on the other, and contextual parameters above.

You’re offered a range of tools to retouch or enhance an image, and of course create one from scratch. If you’re used to Photoshop or other tools that borrow easily from that program’s interface, you will quickly feel comfortable in PHOTO-PAINT, although there are enough differences to impose a learning curve on you. Still, for most of the basics, you’ll find yourself up and running in no time. All the tools you’d expect are there, from drawing and painting, to selecting, colour correction, filters and effects.

We did find it taxed our computer’s CPU the longer we experimented with it though, forcing us to quickly relaunch the program to resolve the issue - something we haven’t encountered with other image compositing software. Still, it could be because we were using an oldish Mac (a 2019 Intel Core i9 MacBook Pro with 64GB of RAM), but we thought it worth mentioning nonetheless.

• Score: 4/5

CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2025: CorelDRAW

(Image credit: Corel // Future)

• CoreDRAW is an impressive vector-based drawing package with powerful tools, which seamlessly combine bitmap drawings and photos with resolution independent vectors

When you launch CorelDRAW, you’ll be graced with a very similar welcome page to PHOTO-PAINT, along with tutorials and a ‘Learn’ section when you’re in the app proper. This family resemblance extends to file formats, as CorelDRAW can open PHOTO-PAINT documents. The reverse is not as seamless, as the DRAW files need to be converted; DRAW can handle bitmap content just as well as vector ones in its files.

CorelDRAW is a program designed to work with vectors, essentially resolution independent art, represented by mathematical equations. You have at your disposal powerful tools and brushes to design complex artwork which will look sharp and crisp at any resolution. Perhaps the most impressive tool we explored is PowerTRACE, which is fully embedded within CorelDRAW itself.

Its purpose is to convert a bitmap image (i.e. any photo, or any drawing created in PHOTO-PAINT, Photoshop or similar), into a vector equivalent. Depending on your image’s complexity and your computer’s power, it may take a few seconds for the action to complete, but we were highly impressed by the results. We chose particularly complex images, and the output was truly excellent.

Other impressive tools are the Painterly brushes, which allow you to replicate realistic brush strokes inside CorelDRAW: it’s a pixel-based brush tool that’s controlled by vector curves, combining the best of both worlds when it comes to design and illustration. This means you get great detail and effects, which are easily scalable with zero resolution issues. CorelDRAW comes with hundreds of preset brushes but if you feel the urge to own more, there's an online store which you can access via the Welcome screen, where you can purchase additional packs. Also, as yet another incentive to get you to subscribe rather than buy, you’re given a further 100.

A further bonus for subscribers is CorelDRAW Web, which allows you to perform quick edits to projects directly from a compatible web browser, from any machine. You can upload existing work and carry on with this online, or bring projects you started in the browser to further refine in CorelDRAW itself. It’s a very nice touch, and it’s pretty amazing what you can achieve from within a web browser these days - for those who don’t mind renting their software, that is.

• Score: 4.5/5

Should I buy CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2025

(Image credit: Corel // Future)

Buy it if...

You’re looking for an affordable design suite that allows you to work with bitmap pixel-based images, and vectors, work online when you need to, gain access to Google fonts, and even record your screen (PCs only)

Don't buy it if...

All you want is to draw a little and don’t wish to feel overwhelmed with a powerful set of tools with far too many features, and you don’t like that those who buy get fewer features compared to those who subscribe.

Sonus Faber Concertino G4: Two-minute review

The Sonus Faber Concertino G4 are a very posh set of passive bookshelf speakers. That poshness isn’t just imbued by the colour palette and material choices that define their physical form, even though they do help a bit. Nor is that poshness fully explained by the not-inconsiderable $5,000 / £4,625 / AU$9,495 price point, though, again, that cost does its own fair share of heavy lifting on that front.

The poshness of these posh speakers comes, in my opinion, from Sonus Faber’s dedication to detail. So much attention has been paid to the design, construction, and resulting sound of these speakers, creating an experience arguably greater than the sum of its parts.

On the sound front, these speakers sound unsurprisingly excellent. The two-way design provides for both rich, detailed bass and generous, airy high-end – balanced to the point of tasteful sweetness. There’s a real tactility to the sound produced by the Sonus Faber Concertino G4, as if you could reach behind each instrument or sound source and cup it in your hands. This incredible, three-dimensional resolution is caveated by some serious directionality, but having to sit before your speakers for optimal results is neither a problem, nor anything new.

Visually, it’s hard to beat those walnut sides – but the vegan Ohoskin leather cladding gives it a good old college try. The brass accents consummate the executive nature of these speakers’ design, and the high attention to detail paid in their execution. If you’ve the figurative brass to spare, and are willing to buy more than a great pair of speakers, here’s where to start looking. Among the best stereo speakers money can buy? Absolutely.

(Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw)Sonus Faber Concertino G4 review: Price & release date

• Released September, 2024
• Priced $5,000 / £4,625 / AU$9,495

The Sonus Faber Concertino G4 are something of a celebration for the Italian brand – specifically, an anniversary. It’s been 30 years since the first Concertinos made it to listening rooms around the world, and Sonus Faber has deigned to mark the occasion with this special revisit to its classic design.

The first 300 pairs of the Concertino G4 are numbered via a unique brass plate on the left cheek, and sold as the Concertino G4 Maestro Edition; the pair reviewed here is number 29. The occasion, the numbering of the first out of the gate, and the brand from which they hail are all overt clues as to the lofty space these audiophile bookshelfs aim to occupy on the market. The other is the price – $5,000 / £4,625 / AU$9,495 per pair, with purpose-designed iron stands coming in at an extra $1,500 / £1,375/ AU$2,875 (approx.).

These are by no means the most expensive speakers you’ll see from Sonus Faber – indeed, they actually sit quite comfortably at the cheaper end of the brand’s (dauntingly broad) price bracket – but they are nonetheless considerably pricy objects d’art. How do you think they hold up?

(Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw)Sonus Faber Concertino G4 review: Specs

Type

Bookshelf

Active or passive?

Passive

Bi-wirable?

Yes

Woofer

5-inch paper pulp

Tweeter

1-inch silk dome

Impedance

4 ohms

Dimensions

314mm x 214mm x 297 mm

Sonus Faber Concertino G4 review: Features

• Passive, bi-wirable two-way speakers
• Unique cork damping
• Look at ‘em!

The Sonus Faber Concertino G4 are a pair of passive two-way bookshelf speakers, but also probably the most beautiful pair of passive two-way bookshelf speakers I did ever see. I’ll be breaking down the impeccable aesthetic design of these bookshelfs a little later, but for now – quelle finesse!

Being a passive set of hi-fi speakers, the Concertino G4 are fundamentally uncomplicated and untroubled by the shoehorning-in of needless techy fripperies. However, there are some very nifty goings-on within, that make for a sound as phenomenal as the look. More specifically, the Concertino G4 utilize some precision-modeled cork damping material inside, which does a remarkable job of reducing internal resonances (and, I like to think, contributes a certain ‘springiness’ to the resulting sound of these excellent speakers).

This cork damping is paired, for the first time in Sonus Faber’s history, with a mid-woofer – a 5-inch paper-pulp, long-throw mid-woofer that goes some way to defining the brand’s sonic signature. Couple this with a 1-inch silk-dome tweeter, and you have a stunningly broad, stunningly rich set of living room listeners.

The speakers are, of course, bi-wirable; what else would you expect from a two-way speaker at this price? This writer doesn’t subscribe to the idea that running a bi-wired speaker system results in any tangible sonic improvements whatsoever, but bi-amping is a very different thing entirely – and something the Concertino G4 promise to benefit from all the more.

In the box, you’ll find the speakers, some optional magnetically attachable grille cloth covers, and, if you’re lucky enough to get a double-digit Maestro Edition, one of 100 hand-printed artworks – a copy of an etching, illustrating the Concertino G4’s unique internal damping, delivered in an embossed manila envelope. As far as ‘box candy’ is concerned, this is an excellent little gift, especially for the monumental shame that such downright cool designs are permanently, necessarily hidden from view.

(Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw)

• Features score: 4.5/5

Sonus Faber Concertino G4 review: Sound quality

• Exceptional dimensionality
• Sonorous low-end
• Generous, airy high-end

Holy hell.

Being a writer of variable income (that is, varying somewhere between 'ramen noodles every night' and 'slightly posher ramen noodles every night'), I tend to champion the cheaper stuff over anything. Particularly so when returns diminish starkly after a certain price cut-off, and especially where it’s obvious that a premium brand is cashing in on its perceived pedigree as opposed to offering anything of serious value.

As such, it’s rare for me to recognize anything asking upwards of $2000 as 'worth it'. But the Concertino G4 are exceedingly hard to turn down, simply for the rapturous quality of sound they dare to bring into my humble living room.

I use ‘three-dimensional’ a lot as a term when describing the structure and texture of a given device’s auditory performance, and am forced to again here – but in full acknowledgement that this is about as three-dimensional as any bookshelfs can be. The platonic ideal. The dragon I’ll be chasing for decades to come.

Rich(ard) Dawson’s End of the Middle is a record rich (geddit?) in raw percussive instrumentation, blooming low-tuned guitars and alternately plain-spoken/high-falsetto’d art-folk tales of the unexpected. Through the Concertino G4s, Dawson’s heartbreaking windows into the banal (played from a 12-inch on my Victrola Stream Sapphire) are rendered with stunning richness and clarity.

Aptly for the Sonus Faber name, these are sonorous speakers. The low-end is unbelievably rich and structured; it’s rare to feel like you can reach behind the bass strings and grasp the thick air in their wake. Dawson’s voice is rich [that's enough now – Ed.], complex, and fully present – his fricatives feel as if formed in the room.

High-end information is rendered generously. There’s a sense that all higher elements sit plushly within a cushion of air, presenting themselves forth for scrutiny without force or strain – the same force and strain that, in my self-invented mythos of sound, causes tinniness, cloy or otherwise intolerable screech from lesser sources.

(Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw)

The balance of sound is hugely directional. If you, like me, place these facing across a room as opposed to down it, you’re likely to find patches of especial untamed bass-i-ness. Unsurprisingly enough, if you situate yourself where Sonus Faber’s manual actually instructs you to – that is, dead in front, with the speakers facing you, as one point of an audiophile equilateral triangle – the fruits of the Concertinos’ labor make the sense they’re supposed to make.

Dirty Projectors’ Swing Lo Magellan, also listened to on vinyl, is every bit as immediate as your mind’s ear interprets it. It might be a bit dross to fall on the word ‘musical’ to describe the Concertino G4 here, but here we go nonetheless – the subby kicks of opener Offspring Are Blank are discrete, weighted and musical, a far cry from the placeless wub lesser speakers would offer up as alternative.

As Offspring…’s pre-chorus opens out with twanging guitars, there’s a spring in the step – a delightful bounce emphasized by the rubbery drums and densely sponged short-scale bass of ensuing track About To Die. Percussion throughout the album is supple and giving despite its forefront presence, and David Longstreth’s dry, dead-center vocals are a floaty, reedy delight. My album favourite, The Socialites, has a weight and focus I’ve not heard elsewhere. It's a unique joy.

Speaking of which, the Concertino G4 has no issue bringing that same weight and focus to famously less-focused records, like My Bloody Valentine’s Loveless. Kevin Shields’ stacked soundscapes throb and thrum with excitable energy throughout, while the dead, motorik drums at the center of When You Sleep punch out from behind as if pummeled by a hammer. Side B loud-lullaby Sometimes is a glorious bath of multi-tracked guitars and rabbit-heartbeat kicks, distinct in its indistinctness and clear in its complete lack of conventional clarity. A beautiful paradox delivered through these speakers.

The word I keep returning to with these speakers is ‘generous’. There’s space in and around everything tackled, from distant roomy drums to attention-begging upfront vocals – space enough you genuinely feel as if you could cup each element in your hands, or awkwardly reach around them to grab something. Aside from their clear preference for head-on listening (which is, assuredly, of necessity and by design), these speakers are functionally faultless.

• Sound quality score: 5/5

(Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw)Sonus Faber Concertino G4 review: Design

• Executive walnut and brass build
• Delicious vegan leather cladding
• Nifty magnetically attachable clothe grille covers

Design-wise, it’s hard to know where to start with the Concertino G4s because of Sonus Faber’s trademark meticulousness. Each speaker is a work of art, exuding craftsmanship from every angle. They benefit from beautifully shaped walnut cheeks, with an outward crease that runs from bottom to top, front to rear, and bisect the trapezoidal shape of the whole thing in a very pleasing manner.

New here is the involvement of Ohoskin, an Italian manufacturer of high-quality leather alternatives. This bio-based leather material (made from orange and cactus byproducts) is eco-conscious, sure, but also a stunning ‘pleather’ that clads the top and front of the chassis. It certainly could’ve fooled me.

Between this sleek black not-actually-leather and the solid walnut cheeks, these are a distinctly executive set of audiophile speakers, enhanced further by the mirror-polished brass that forms its front logo panels, rear terminal plates and side-mounted issue number placards. Even the studs holding those walnut cheeks in place are highly reflective, monogrammed indications of attention to detail.

That same attention to detail gifts us sleekness elsewhere. Sonus Faber supplies you with a pair of lightweight cloth grille covers, which you may optionally attach to the front of the Concertino G4 by way of some concealed magnets beneath the pleather.

Now, I think these speakers look far better in their uncovered glory, both for generally preferring uncovered hi-fi speakers and for having my own aesthetic misgivings around the covers' design. Still, the option is a nice one to have, and well-executed besides – from the completely invisible magnets to the soft felt material covering the ‘feet’ on the covers themselves.

• Design score: 5/5

(Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw)Sonus Faber Concertino G4 review: Value

• Commands a considerable price
• But represents more than just ‘good sound’
• Clearly made with skill, reverence and love

When buying the Sonus Faber Concertino G4, you’re actually buying at least two things, not one. Yes, one of them is an excellent-sounding pair of bookshelf speakers, but you’re also buying an immaculately designed, reverently constructed pair of artworks for your living space. On top of that, if you buy the Maestro Edition, you’re also buying a secret third thing – a limited-edition set, made all the more valuable for its combination of rarity and pedigree. It is with this in mind that I suggest, humbly, that value is difficult to ascribe to this set of speakers.

I’ve heard dozens upon dozens of bookshelf speakers below £1,000 – and even owned a fair few second-hand speakers bought for below £100 – that display similarly remarkable attention to detail in the audio realm, even if their chassis leave a little to be desired. Yet all fall short, however marginally, of the dimensionality on display here. Buying the Concertino G4 for performance alone could be justifiable, yes, but only if you’re willing to throw an extra £3,500 at the extra 5-10% that elevates these speakers above their upper mid-range contemporaries.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the Concertino G4s. It’s a rare pair of speakers that can so convincingly render voices and instruments in discrete three-dimensional space, and nothing short of magic to hear the care with which such sound sources are treated. But you can find this for less. What you can’t is the Italian-made, executive-saloon suavity of the Concertino’s form, or the combination of this hand-built reverence with such deferent approaches to audiophilia.

So, while I might not be currently tempted to sell my belongings in favor of owning the Sonus Faber Concertino G4, I do know that, with the right capital and in the right atmospheric conditions, I’d snap them up in a heartbeat. Not just for their impeccable sound, but for the space they command, and for what that command represents.

(Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw)

• Value score: 4.5/5

Sonus Faber Concertino G4 review: scorecard

Comment

Rating

Features

Passive, bi-wirable bookshelf speakers; smart internal cork damping.

4.5/5

Sound quality

Massive depth, clarity and three-dimensionality; careful handling of high-end, weighty low-end.

5/5

Design

A masterclass in executive chic. Cloth grille covers aren’t to everyone's taste.

5/5

Value

Pricy, but it buys you a work of practical art, made with reverence.

4.5/5

Should you buy the Sonus Faber Concertino G4?Buy them if...

You have the cash
The price point is a lot to ask from most people, even if it’s far closer to the floor than the ceiling when it comes to the cost of audiophile-grade hi-fi equipment. That said, these walk the walk – and provide more than sound for the money.

You have a dedicated listening spot
The Sonus Faber Concertino G4 are designed to be listened head-on, like studio monitor speakers. These should be enjoyed as such, then – in a room where they straddle your hi-fi and point directly at your head.

Don't buy them if...

You want a daily driver set of bookshelfs
Sure, the Concertino G4 will serve you marvellously well whatever you deign to throw at them, but buying them for watching Countdown and listening to BBC Radio 4 would be a bit like ordering a Michelin Guide dish on Uber Eats. And scarfing it down while watching Countdown or listening to BBC Radio 4.

You don’t have a dedicated hi-fi spot
You don’t need telling that these speakers want to see the output from an integrated amplifier or broader hi-fi system. You might, though, need telling that these speakers demand their own dedicated space and placement to sound their best.

Also consider

Sonus Faber Concertino G4

Monitor Audio Studio 89

Sonus Faber Lumina II

Type

Bookshelf

Bookshelf

Bookshelf

Active or passive?

Passive

Passive

Passive

Bi-wirable?

Yes

No

Yes

Woofer

5-inch paper pulp

x2 4.5-inch RDT III

150mm paper pulp

Tweeter

1-inch silk dome

x1 MPD III

29mm silk diaphragm

Impedance

4 ohms

6 ohms

4ohms

Dimensions

314 x 214 x 297 mm

340 x 157 x 361 mm

304 x 180 x 263mm

Monitor Audio Studio 89
Another set of passive bookshelf speakers, they incorporate two RDT III mid/bass drivers and a sandwiched MPD III tweeter, arranged vertically for wider sound dispersion.
See our full Monitor Audio Studio 89 review

Sonus Faber Lumina II
If you want that same Sonus Faber experience without having to worry about a potential remortgage, you can achieve just that with these excellent, ‘budget’ offerings from the Italian artisans. There are shortcomings (including a leather finish that may offend), but does a great job of bringing audiophile quality down a price peg.
See our full Sonus Faber Lumina II review

How I tested the Sonus Faber Concertino G4

• Tested for four weeks
• Used in my living room, as my primary listening speakers
• Tested using a Victrola Stream Sapphire and Cambridge Audio receiver

As someone with considerable personal and professional investment both in the enjoyment of music and in its production, I have unique experience on both sides of the equation. I engage with speakers of various types as a matter of course each day, from flat-response studio monitor speakers to gorgeous, flattering hi-fi numbers like these.

For four glorious weeks, the Sonus Faber Concertino G4 speakers were my primary listening speakers in my living room. I wired them into my Cambridge Audio Azur 540r receiver, which received the sound of my vinyl record collection via a Victrola Stream Sapphire turntable (outfitted with an Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge).

First reviewed: July 2025

Read more about how we test at TechRadar

There are no reasons to consider picking up a copy of Tamagotchi Plaza, especially if you just got your hands on a Nintendo Switch 2.

Review info

Platform reviewed: Nintendo Switch 2
Available on: Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch
Release date: June 27, 2025

It’s a basic collection of boring, uninspired minigames that all ultimately just boil down to hitting the same few buttons for minutes at a time. This is paired with a laughably tiny hub world, that’s conspicuously devoid of activities and an absolute nightmare to customize or upgrade.

It all feels like something that you would find in a free mobile phone game, not a $49.99 / £44.99 release for a brand new console.

Sure, the serviceable graphics and abundance of Tamagotchi characters might prove enough to entertain a very small child for an hour or two, but with games like Mario Kart World and recent Donkey Kong Bananza on the scene there’s no real reason not to spend your time and money more wisely and go for one of them instead.

Again and again

(Image credit: Bandai Namco)

A spiritual successor to the Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop series on Nintendo DS, Tamagotchi Plaza is ostensibly about helping out in the various shops of a cute Tamagotchi town. This is accomplished through the completion of short minigames, of which there are 12 - one for each shop.

The first thing that you’ll notice is that none of them feature tutorials. You’re just expected to work out what you’re meant to do from the get-go, though this omission isn’t much of an impediment given just how simple the minigames are.

The first I tried involves cooking galettes (the flat, French pastry) by looking at an image of a customer’s desired order and mindlessly hitting buttons to bake the crust and fill it with the desired ingredients.

Accompanied by annoying sound effects which I later found can, mercifully, be turned off in the settings menu and protracted, overly slow animations, it becomes stale almost instantly.

The others are all a similar story: helping out in the personal gym, for example, involves spamming the shoulder buttons at a set pace, while the afternoon tea shop is simply dragging and dropping a few items on a table.

(Image credit: Bandai Namco)

The only one that I find remotely entertaining was the dentist minigame, which has you drilling Tamagotchi teeth to weed out creepy little critters causing decay and even this just involved selecting options from a menu and hitting a button.

On the other end of the spectrum is the manga shop minigame, which is just nonsensical. You’re meant to design manga panels by dragging and dropping a few pre-made assets into position, but the scoring, measured on a scale of zero to three stars, doesn’t seem to correlate to anything other than how many characters you manage to cram on the screen.

If you keep grinding a particular minigame enough, you’re eventually offered the chance to upgrade it. This introduces some new options, which does break up the monotony somewhat, but takes quite a long time to appear and isn’t substantial enough to justify the effort.

Switch it up

(Image credit: Bandai Namco)

There are three additional minigames exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2 version of the game too. They’re unlocked after you’ve spent some time in the initial 12 and utilize the Joy-Con 2 mouse control features. These are the strongest of the bunch, with the likes of the shuriken shop which has you using the Joy-Con 2 to aim ninja stars providing a few minutes of fun.

Unfortunately, it’s not enough to redeem the overall package and is nowhere near as interesting as some of the neat hardware tricks found in software like Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour.

Best bit

(Image credit: Bandai Namco)

There are more than 100 Tamagotchi characters here, with unique models and even the odd bit of dialogue.

Outside of minigames, there’s a small hub area to explore. Aside from the occasional conversation with another Tamagotchi, it’s empty and bland. You can upgrade it using currency earned from minigames, but progress is painfully slow and adding a few trees or the odd square here and there just isn’t worth the effort.

There’s also some light story content, centred around the protagonist being recruited to help improve the town so that it’s selected as the site of the Tamagotchi festival, but it’s basic and spread incredibly thin.

At the very least, I can say that Tamagotchi Plaza has no shortage of characters. There are more than a hundred Tamagotchis to discover, all with unique models that look quite nice. I just wish that this same amount of effort was put into literally every other facet of the game too.

Should I play Tamagotchi Plaza?Play it if…

You find it super cheap
Tamagotchi Plaza might be worth buying if you find it at a heavy discount. The time spent trying each of the minigames a few times could justify a few bucks if you’re shopping for a child.

Don’t play it if…

You’re more than four years old
There’s no way that anything in Tamagotchi Plaza could entertain anyone over the age of about four. If you’re able to read this, I would recommend giving it a miss.

Accessibility

There are no accessibility features in Tamagotchi Plaza. In fact, there’s barely a settings menu at all. You can adjust the game’s volume (with separate settings for music, sound, and voices) and change the direction of the camera controls, but that’s it.

How I reviewed Tamagotchi Plaza

I subjected myself to more than four hours of Tamagotchi Plaza on Nintendo Switch 2, which is roughly four hours more than any reasonable person would play it for.

I tried every minigame in the package, and spent some time exploring the tiny world. I carefully evaluated the amount of fun that I was having at every juncture and compared my experience to my testing of other Nintendo Switch 2 games like Donkey Kong Bananza and Mario Kart World.

First reviewed July 2025

The Humanscale Float Micro is the smallest Humanscale desk, offering a beautiful and straightforward workspace for a laptop or notebook, but not much more. It's a minimalist side table that can easily slide over a couch, making it an excellent solution for short working sessions, but not a fantastic option for a dedicated workspace. While this is a premium piece in every way, the functionality is nice.

The mechanics are smooth, the materials are incredibly high quality, and the design is quite aesthetically pleasing. Suppose you're looking for a multi-functional end table that can transform your living space, reading nook, family room, or other area into a compact workspace in a pinch, or for some light work on vacation. In that case, this desk is a spectacular way to do it -- just know there's a price that comes with such a design and company.

Humanscale is a company I have been familiar with for a while, and it has always been associated with luxury in my mind. I am hoping to see more of their gear in person in the future, but for now, the Humanscale Float Micro is an excellent introduction to who they are and what they do.

This is the smallest desk I have ever seen as an independent product. I have seen smaller workspaces, such as the seat-back table on an airplane, but I have never seen one this small as a standalone item. Nevertheless, this is still more expensive than most desks on the list of best standing desks. This communicates that Humanscale is a high-end, luxury brand. Some companies can afford to have a hefty price tag, and from what I can see so far, Humanscale is one of those companies. Their materials are phenomenal, the build quality is spectacular, the functionality is superb, and the design is beautiful.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Humanscale Float Micro: Pricing and Availability

The Humanscale Float Micro has models available for around $765, but some models and specifications are currently being sold for $ 1,300. These desks ship directly from Humanscale and offer a variety of accessories, including locking casters, as options. There are several colorways and a couple of material options to choose from, all of which affect the pricing of the Float Micro.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Humanscale Float Micro: Unboxing & first impressions

The Humanscale Float Micro had the most straightforward assembly process of any product I have ever received. And I am being genuinely honest about that. It arrived fully assembled, and all I had to do was cut the box open, pull out the desk, and start adjusting the size to what I wanted.

From the first moment I touched the desk, I realized the materials were premium and of high quality. I even noticed, without seeing the price tag, that this desk was going to be a more premium offering due to its materials and design language.

I understand that some homes, offices, and areas may not be able to accommodate a dedicated workspace, and while I genuinely enjoy building out workspaces, some people are not in a position to have one. That's where something like this comes along. It transforms any space into a spot to get some work done on your laptop in no time at all, and with minimal effort.

Humanscale Float Micro: Design & Build Quality

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Specs

Height range: 23″–41″
Footprint: 80″ × 80″, 27.5″ deep wings
Weight capacity: 12 lbs
Motors: Pneumatic Cylinder

As I mentioned earlier, the build quality of this desk is exquisite. The height adjustment, while not electric, is spring-assisted and incredibly smooth. I understand that they would not want to add an electric function to this desk, as it would require stepping back in terms of simplicity and ease of use by introducing the need for power input. However, at the same time, it would be nice.

Instead, the desk utilizes a pneumatic lifting system, which is still nearly instantaneous and is much easier to maintain, as well as more manageable to work with.

The desk's offset design is also an interesting feature. After very brief use, I can tell that it's offset to fit under furniture more easily, making this a great idea yet again for a living space or a multi-purpose area.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Humanscale Float Micro: In use

I've used this simple desk in a few areas. I have used it in my living room for exactly what I expect this has been made for, to add a steady workspace for my laptop while I am on the couch. I have also used this in my office as a workspace from a comfy chair in the corner.

I have used this in a more traditional workspace to help with making a desk for a meeting area that did not have enough desks, and I have used it in other odd places as a height-adjustable end table, or desk all without having any issues with the desk itself. The hight range seems to be great, the design fits in anywhere and when adding my laptop I have a great amount of space, making it so I can put my iPad mini, iPhone or something simple on the desktop with me, allowing for functional work.

I even wanted to test this desk a bit, so I took the desk and used it at one of the companies I work with and tried to build out a desk system on it. I mounted power to the underside of the desktop, I added a vertical monitor on a monitor arm, and then an iMac to the main function of the desk, plugging into a docking station that I also mounted under the desktop. Even with this full setup on the desk, I could still fit a mouse, keyboard and had enough wiggle room to still use the mouse appropriately.

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Design

Sleek and minimal

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ease of use

Very easy to use

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Practicality

Practical for some

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Price

Highly priced

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Humanscale Float Micro: Final verdict

The Humanscale Float Micro is a unique desk. It's premium, yet tiny. It's functional yet minimalist. All the while, it's expensive, but clearly premium and it will clearly last. So, if you are looking for a simple desk to add to your living room, co-working space, comfy chair, or in other areas, you should check out the Humanscale Float Micro on Humanscale's website, today.

For more pro essentials, we've reviewed the best office chairs for comfort and ergonomics.

Fujifilm X-E5: two-minute review

The Fujifilm X-E5 is a significant leap forward for Fujifilm’s X-E series, elevating it from its budget-friendly beginnings to the loftier heights of the mid-range.

At $1,699 / £1,299 / AU$2,699 body-only it’s significantly pricier than its predecessor. But that hike brings with it some serious upgrades – and not only in the shape of the 40.2MP X-Trans CMOS 5 sensor (which is the same as the one you’ll find in the X100VI).

Design-wise the X-E5 nails the retro look, and with its aluminum top plate and minimalist controls it really feels like a premium product. Compact, handsome and lightweight, it’s ideal for travel and street shooters, and the new Film Simulation dial and customizable front lever give it added control finesse. That said, the camera isn’t weather-sealed and offers limited grip, making it less suited to challenging environments or big lenses.

The viewfinder and touchscreen feel slightly outdated, too. The OLED EVF is small and lacks the crispness I’ve seen on some rivals, while the flip-up screen can be obstructed by accessories in the hot shoe, which could be an annoyance for vloggers and video shooters. That said, I found both to be functional for stills photography.

The X-E5 can be purchased in a bundle with this nifty, space-saving 23mm pancake lens. (Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

The star addition to the feature list is in-body image stabilization (IBIS), appearing for the first time in the X-E line. It’s a game changer for low-light shooting and handheld video, at least compared with the X-E4. The autofocus system has been upgraded too, and now offers subject tracking not only for humans but animals, vehicles and more.

Shooting performance is solid: 20fps burst with electronic shutter (with crop), 13fps uncropped or 8fps with the mechanical shutter. And thanks to the inclusion of 20 of Fuji’s signature Film Simulation modes, it's easy to get incredible-looking shots straight out of the camera. The color science, as with all X-series cameras, is a real strong point.

Video quality is excellent, with 6.2K 30p and 4K 60p 10-bit capture, including access to F-Log profiles for added dynamic range. But there are caveats: the camera tends to overheat with extended video shooting, it lacks a proper headphone jack, and that tilting screen remains an ergonomic obstacle for self-shooters. For me the X-E5 is best thought of as a photography-first tool, with video as a very capable bonus feature.

In short, the Fujifilm X-E5 is a compact and beautifully built mirrorless camera that delivers superb images, reliable autofocus and welcome stabilization. It's not cheap, and it's not perfect (video-first shooters and all-weather adventurers should look elsewhere), but for travel, street and everyday stills photography, it's a delight.

Fujifilm X-E5: price and availability

• $1,699 / £1,299 / AU$2,699 body-only
• Significantly pricier than X-E4 was at launch
• Available in a kit with new XF23mm lens

The Fujifilm X-E5 was launched on June 12 2025, alongside a new pancake lens, the XF23mmF.28 R WR.

Pricing starts at $1,699 / £1,299 / AU$2,699 body-only, or $1,899 / £1,549 / AU$3,049 for a bundle with the lens. Perhaps the most notable thing about the price is how much higher it is than the Fujifilm X-E4’s was at launch: it cost $949 / £799 / AU$1,399 body-only, or $1,049 / £949 / AU$1,799 in a kit with a pancake lens. Yes, that was back in 2021, but this is still a significant increase that far outstrips inflation.

There are various factors that affect pricing, from general inflation to recently introduced tariffs. However, I think the main reason for the bump here is simply that Fujifilm deems the X-E5 is a more premium product than its predecessor – and given the improvements made to features and spec, it’s hard to argue with that.

It’s clear that the X-E5 isn’t the entry-level option the X-E4 was; this is now very much a mid-range option. I think the price reflects that, and I think the lens bundle in particular represents a pretty good deal.

• Price score 4/5

Fujifilm X-E5: specs

Sensor:

40.2MP X-Trans CMOS 5 HR APS-C

Video:

6.2K 30p, 4K 60p, FHD 240p, 10-bit

Cont. shooting:

Up to 20fps electronic shutter, up to 8fps mechanical shutter

Viewfinder:

2.36m-dot OLED

LCD:

3-inch 1.62m-dot tilting touchscreen

Battery (CIPA rating):

Up to 400 shots or 45 minutes of video capture

Weight:

445g / 15.7oz

Dimensions:

124.9 x 72.9 x 39.1mm / 4.92 x 2.87 x 1.54 inches

Fujifilm X-E5: design and handling

• Weighs just 535g / 18.9oz with XF23mm lens
• Not weatherproof
• Tilting touchscreen and OLED viewfinder

The Fujifilm X-E5 sports similar rangefinder styling to previous models in the series, but with some big advances in design and build quality. As soon as I picked up the camera I realized it felt nothing like a plasticky 'budget' option; it’s solid and hefty, thanks to the new aluminum top plate, while the included braided rope strap looks and feels very modish indeed.

I still found the camera body to be compact and lightweight for a mirrorless model however, and with the new pancake lens attached it makes for a strikingly portable setup that I think would be perfect for street or travel photography. I should say, though, that despite its build-quality improvements this still isn’t a fully weather-sealed camera, so should be used cautiously in rainy conditions. I think that’s a shame, as it somewhat detracts from its travel-friendly nature.

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The compact size and flat body shape have an impact on ergonomics, of course; there’s not a great deal to grip onto here bar a small moulded bump at the front and back on the right side. With a small lens attached things feel comfortable enough, but I suspect fitting larger lenses will result in balance and handling challenges. This camera certainly seems designed for use with small primes and short zooms rather than longer, heavier lenses.

Controls-wise, things remain fairly minimalist, particularly on the rear of the camera – that’s always been typical of the X-E series and I think it suits the aesthetic well, and I had few problems accessing settings I wished to change.

There are a couple of notable additions I really enjoyed using: firstly, the Film Simulation dial on the top plate, which displays the current selection through a little circular window and supports up to three custom recipes plus the standard range of Fuji’s film-aping filters.

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Second is the lever on the front – a feature borrowed from X100- and X-Pro series cameras. It can be customized to suit the user’s preferences, adding a great deal of additional control to what appears to be a very controls-light camera.

The X-E5’s rear touchscreen and viewfinder feel outdated alongside other recent cameras. The screen, for instance, has a flip-up design rather than full tilt-and-swivel vari-angle, which means it can be blocked by anything mounted on the hot shoe when flipped up to face forward. Got a flash or shotgun mic fitted? You won’t be able to see much of the screen. Other than that, I found it bright, sharp and easy to use.

The OLED viewfinder is small and fairly low-resolution compared with say, the Fujifilm X100VI’s, and its eyepiece does little to block out exterior distractions. That’s not to say it’s not perfectly serviceable – it just seems a little behind the times.

Storage is courtesy of a single SD card slot alongside the battery slot on the bottom of the camera, while physical connections comprise a 3.5mm mic/remote input, a USB-C port for charging, storage and headphone hook-up, and micro HDMI.

• Design and handling score 4/5

Fujifilm X-E5: features and performance

• 5-axis sensor-shift IBIS now included
• Subject-detection autofocus recognizing animals, cars and more
• Continuous shooting up to 20fps

Perhaps the biggest feature upgrade the X-E5 boasts over its predecessor is five-axis in-body stabilization (IBIS). The X-E4 had no internal mechanism to counter camera shake, so IBIS is a significant boost to its capabilities.

The sensor-shifting mechanism adds up to seven stops of compensation according to Fujifilm, and I found it very useful for slower shutter speed photos (i.e., in low-light conditions) and handheld video capture. It would have been nice to have some longer lenses to test with it, but I have no complaints about its effectiveness with the 24mm pancake.

As well as the sensor-shift tech, users also have the option to use two further digital stabilization modes for video capture, which apply a successive crop to the image.

Continuous shooting has been slowed down slightly from the X-E4, albeit only in electronic shutter mode, and perhaps as a result of the X-E5’s higher sensor resolution, it can’t match the X-E4’s 30fps maximum speed. It can now shoot at up to 20fps in this mode (which applies a 1.29x crop to the image), at up to 13fps electronically with no crop, or at up to 8fps with the mechanical shutter (also uncropped). That’s perfectly respectable in my book, particularly as those speeds are now paired with a much improved autofocus setup.

The X-E4 had human face and eye detection and tracking, but the X-E5 adds subject detection for animals, birds, cars, motorcycles, bikes, airplanes and trains. In testing I found that it reliably tracked moving subjects across the frame, and as they moved towards or away from the camera or in and out of view. It might not quite match the speed and laser-like accuracy of the systems on the latest high-end Canon, Sony or Nikon cameras, but it’s a good, dependable setup.

Battery life doesn’t look particularly impressive on paper, with the X-E5 having a CIPA rating of 400 shots or just 45 minutes of video recording on a full charge. But in practice (shooting mainly photos) I found it felt fairly generous, and rarely had to recharge the camera during my time with it.

Perhaps yet more evidence that this is a photography-first camera is that it has a tendency to overheat and shut down when used to shoot longer video clips. I set the video quality to 4K 60fps and found that the X-E5 only managed to record 14.5 minutes before turning itself off to cool down.

• Features and performance score: 4/5

Fujifilm X-E5: image and video quality

• 40.2MP X-Trans CMOS 5 APS-C sensor
• 4:2:2 10-bit video up to 6.2K and 14-bit RAW photo capture
• 20 customizable Film Simulation modes

The X-E5 is built around a 40.2MP APS-C sensor that represents a fairly large resolution jump over the X-E4’s 26MP sensor. It’s the same sensor as you’ll find in the highly coveted Fujifilm X100VI compact, but instead of that camera's fixed lens you can use any piece of X-mount glass you like.

As well as its 40.2MP stills (which can be captured in JPEG or 14-bit raw), the X-E5 can capture video at up to 6.2K 30fps or 4K 60fps 4:2:2 10-bit quality, plus Full HD at up to 240fps for slow-motion playback.

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I’m hugely impressed with the X-E5’s photography performance. As mentioned above, it comes with a selection of film simulation modes (20 in all), allowing users to instantly give their images a style and aesthetic reminiscent of analog film types.

My personal favorite, going back to my time using the Fujifilm X-Pro 2 almost a decade ago, has always been Classic Chrome, and I found myself defaulting to it as my go-to setting for standard shots. But there are plenty of other interesting Film Simulations that I enjoyed testing too, like the desaturated Eterna Bleach Bypass and the ultra-punchy monochrome Acros, which can be set with yellow, red, or green filters to further enhance its look.

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There are plenty of options in the menus for adjusting these Simulation recipes in order to find results you like, or you can of course just shoot in raw and process the images yourself in Lightroom or similar. I also tried this, and found the huge raw files provided superb platforms for heavy image adjustments and corrections. Whether you want a camera that produces excellent point-and-shoot results or gives you the basis for heavy editing, the X-E5 fits the bill.

Video quality is also excellent, and offers videographers the same selection of Film Simulation modes as well as F-Log and F-Log2, two flat profiles that work as a solid base for color grading and correction in post-production. It also supports bit rates of up to 200Mbps. There are several reasons why the X-E5 isn’t ideal for video (the lack of a 3.5mm headphone socket, the tilting screen being blocked by anything on the hotshoe, the tendency to overheat), but actual image quality isn’t one.

• Image and video quality score: 4.5/5

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)Fujifilm X100VI: Test scorecardFujifilm X100VI

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Price

A big price bump over the X-E4, but given the improvements it feels warranted.

4 / 5

Design

Stylish and compact, with more metal than previous X-E models – but not weatherproof.

4 / 5

Feature and performance

Image stabilization and autofocus are excellent, even if other aspects are a little more average.

4 / 5

Image quality

A superb sensor and winning color science deliver superb images straight out of the camera.

4.5 / 5

Should I buy the Fujifilm X-E5?

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)Buy it if...

You want a chic, ultra-compact mirrorless camera
The X-E5 is small, lightweight and handsome – and its X-mount means it can be used with lots of excellent lenses, so it’s more versatile than most premium compact cameras.

You primarily shoot with small or lightweight lenses
Balance-wise, the X-E5’s body is more suited to small primes and zooms than larger, heavier lenses. If you’re a sports or wildlife photographer, you may find the handling unwieldy with those longer lenses.

You adore Fujifilm’s color science
Fujifilm’s Film Simulation modes are color magic, and the X-E5’s nifty selection dial makes them easier to choose (and use) than on any other Fujifilm camera to date.

Don't buy it if...

You’re primarily a video shooter
While video quality is excellent, the X-E5’s design imposes some limitations on videographers that may cause frustration. It’s fine for the odd clip, but making a film on it would be a struggle.

You need to shoot in all conditions
The lack of weather sealing is a concern here, particularly for those buying the X-E5 as a travel camera. It’s a pity it can’t be used in rain showers or in dusty desert conditions.

You're seeking a cheap entry-level camera
The X-E4 was relatively inexpensive, but the X-E5 feels like a mid-range model and comes with a price tag to match. Cheap it most certainly isn’t.

Fujifilm X100VI: Also consider

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

If our Fujifilm X-E5 review has inspired you to think about other options, here are two other cameras to consider…

Fujifilm X100VI
The X100VI is one of the most desirable compact cameras around, and it’s based on the same processor as the X-E5, but has a fixed lens. The X100VI may be a little less versatile as a result, but its 23mm f/2 lens, LED flash and better screen and viewfinder definitely make it worth a look.

Read our in-depth Fujifilm X100VI review

Nikon Zf
Oozing retro charm, the Zf is available at a similar price to the X-E5 but comes with flagship-level stabilization, burst speeds, autofocus and more, with a raft of new features recently being added via firmware update. It’s also got a full-frame sensor, with all the advantages that brings.

Read our in-depth Nikon Zf review

How I tested the Fujifilm X-E5

• I used the camera and new XF23mm f/2.8 lens over two-week period
• I tested them in various lighting conditions
• I focused mainly on still photography, but shot video too

Fujifilm loaned me the X-E5 and new Fujinon XF23mm f/2.8 pancake lens for a period of two weeks, which gave me plenty of time to field-test the camera in a variety of situations, although the wide-angle lens meant I didn’t attempt any sports or wildlife photography (unless you count snapping some insects in my garden). I took the camera with me on various walks and trips, allowing me to test it in a range of lighting conditions and situations.

While the X-E5 supports both photo and video capture, I felt that I should concentrate mainly on the former, as the camera (particularly with this lens) feels geared more towards stills photography than amateur moviemaking. That being said, I did test the various video modes during my time with the X-E5.

First reviewed July 2025

When it comes to professional video editing, the first software that likely comes to mind would be Adobe Premiere Pro; some might come up with Avid Media Composer; Mac users would probably point to Final Cut Pro.

But did you know there’s another option that offers professional grade tools at an unbeatable price? That option is Blackmagic Design’s DaVinci Resolve.

It's not just one of the best free video editing software tools out there - it's some of the best video editing software we've ever tested, period. There are no compromises here. Packed with pro-grade features for creative professionals, for what you get here (absolutely loads), it's impressive that it doesn't cost a cent.

DaVinci Resolve: Pricing & plans

• You can’t beat free, especially for a professional-grade product, but if you want even more power, then grab the ‘Studio’ version for just under $300

Why does it have an unbeatable price? Put simply, because it's free. That’s right: you don’t pay anything to get your hands on a powerful video editor, which also comes with media management, impressive colour grading, compositing and sound editing tools, and not an ad or watermark in sight.

How can such a tool be free? Likely because it's heavily subsided by Blackmagic Design’s extensive hardware portfolio. But surely it must have some limitations, right? Well yes, there are, but frankly they may not be seen as a hindrance to most editors: the biggest limitation is restricting exports to 4K and 60fps.

If that clashes with your workflow, then you should consider DaVinci Resolve Studio, which raises the ceiling to 32K and 120fps, and includes a host of other advances features, including HDR10+ formats, digital cinema packages for theatrical distribution, including a host of advanced AI tools which have been released with version 20. Studio will cost you just under $300 - all future updates, large or small, are included in that one-off fee.

This review’s focus is on the free version, which you can download for your PC, Mac and Linux machine, which you can get by clicking here.

• Score: 4.5/5

DaVinci Resolve: Interface

(Image credit: Blackmagic Design // Future)

• A wealth of editing tools wrapped inside a very well organised interface, coupled with detailed online video tutorials. Perfect for pros and novices alike

DaVinci Resolve is a big app. As we’ve mentioned above, not only can you edit a video project with it, but you have access to other features that would often be offered as a separate dedicated program. In order to facilitate working with so many tools, Resolve is broken down into seven different categories, which are referred to as ‘Pages’.

These are organized in the order in which your project progresses: you import and sort out your clips in the ‘Media’ page, then use ‘Cut’ or ‘Edit’ to build your project; after that, ‘Fusion’ is where you assemble complex special effects, followed by ‘Color’ for colour correction, ‘Fairlight’ to work on your audio, and finally, ‘Deliver’ to export your work and share it with others.

It’s all very well designed and straightforward, with perhaps the exception of ‘Cut’ and ‘Edit’. Why would anyone need two separate pages to cut a movie? The answer is simple: one is to do quick work, while the other offers more tools and additional precision. ‘Cut’ can also be seen as an introduction to Resolve, for those with little to no previous experience with video editing.

You can easily switch from one to the other, using tools in ‘Edit’ that aren’t available in ‘Cut’, then moving back to ‘Cut’ to carry on in a simplified environment (you can still see the effects of the tools you used in ‘Edit’ even if you can’t access and alter these effects while in ‘Cut’).

If you’re an experienced editor, you’ll acclimatise to Resolve’s way of working in little time, but newcomers to this art might well feel overwhelmed by the sheer power at their disposal - this is not your basic run of the mill limited free app.

But don't panic and run for the hills, as this software can and does grow with your skills and confidence - being able to switch between the basic ‘Cut’ to the more advanced ‘Edit’ is testament to that. And to help you on your journey, Blackmagic Design offer a detailed series of tutorials, complete with project files, on their website, again, completely for free (click here).

• Score: 5/5

DaVinci Resolve: Features

(Image credit: Blackmagic Design // Future)

• So many new features designed to improve, enhance and add to your editing experience. Sadly (but unsurprisingly) the best ones are kept for paying customers

DaVinci Resolve was recently updated to version 20, and the number of new and improved features is huge - the list is far too long for us to discuss each in turn. Instead, you can check what’s new here. We’ll discuss here the ones that struck a chord with us the most.

Version 19 was released only a year ago, and the improvements are stark… although, as you’d expect, Blackmagic Design have unsurprisingly kept the best for their paid-for Studio version. Need another incentive to upgrade? How about getting Studio to automatically edit a Multicam project for you? Or get it to retime a score so it fits the exact length you’re after? Or how about feeding it a script and let AI edit a scene for you based on the clips you’ve imported, complete with multiple takes spread across multiple layers so you can choose between them?

But fret not: the free version of Resolve also comes with a host of new and very useful features, which will greatly improve your workflow. For instance, you can now (finally!) easily extract a multi-layered PSD file and work with its layers individually in the Edit page’s timeline (prior to 20, this was only possible in the Fusion page).

(Image credit: Blackmagic Design // Future)

You can record a voice over directly from the Cut and Edit pages, with controls located just above the timeline. You’ve even got numerous options, such as a countdown timer, being able to choose from all connected microphones (even your iPhone), where to save the recording and on which layer to display it, for instance.

The text tools have received some love too. Your text can (finally!) wrap inside a text box, and there’s a new ‘multi text’ clip within which multiple text boxes can be created, enabling you to create complex titles without cluttering your timeline.

If you’re working with multiple timelines within a single project, you’ll likely appreciate being able to open a second one in the source viewer. This is nothing new, but 20 allows you to also edit that timeline from there, enabling you to see two timelines at once, switch between them and edit either (to help you differentiate them, the playhead changes colour from red to blue depending on which timeline you’re in).

(Image credit: Blackmagic Design // Future)

And we’ve got just enough time to gush over the revamped keyframe tools. They’ve been greatly improved and are now available in multiple locations, depending on your preferred way of working.

You can see them top left, either as a list, or as curves (which makes it so much easier to tweak them - you can even hold down the shift key to restrict their movement, allowing for much greater precision). These keyframes are also available in the timeline itself, giving you a greater visual feel for how they affect the clips in question.

Let’s be honest: this is just scratching the surface. Blackmagic Design have worked hard to deliver a significant update to Resolve (and especially Resolve Studio), and despite the fact the best tools are reserved for paying customers, those on an extremely tight budget haven’t been abandoned.

Resolve is an incredibly powerful application, with complex tools, from video editing, to image compositing, colour correction and audio manipulation. If you’re serious about filmmaking but have to watch your budget, downloading DaVinci Resolve should be a no brainer.

• Score: 4/5

Should I try DaVinci Resolve?

(Image credit: Blackmagic Design // Future)

Try it if...

You need a professional grade video editing solution with advanced compositing tools, audio manipulation, extensive colour correction, and you’re on a seriously tight budget

Don't try it if...

You don’t like free software with no ads and no watermark. Seriously, the only reason you shouldn’t try it is if you’re not interested in video editing.

For more creative software, we've tested and reviewed the best video editing software for beginners and the best video editing apps for mobile devices.

There are many ‘royalty free’ websites out there that offer images, videos, and more which you can add to your projects. Some are free, and although you can get lucky and find what you’re after there, it’s little surprise that the best results all too often come from paid services.

Adobe Stock is the one we’ll be exploring in this review, to see how it compares in a pretty crowded field.

Adobe Stock: Pricing & plans

• Adobe Stock ain’t the cheapest, but it also ain’t the most expensive service out there either, and we like the fact they offer the option to either subscribe or to simply purchase credits for the occasional need instead

Pricing is a subjective thing: just how valuable is the asset you’re after? If you look at various competing services to Adobe Stock (like Getty Images or Shutterstock, for instance), you’ll see that prices vary wildly. Though not cheap, Adobe’s can be viewed as middle of the road.

As usual with Adobe products, you can pay a monthly subscription or sign up for a yearly contract paid monthly (like a phone contract). Depending on the plan, you’ll get a set amount of credits to use.

You can see the full plans here.

• Score: 4/5

Adobe Stock: Interface

(Image credit: Adobe // Future)

• A huge library of assets is at your disposal, with a powerful search tool and useful filters to help narrow down the results to a manageable level - and you can do all that without even logging in

Browsing through Adobe Stock’s catalog doesn’t require you to be logged in or have set up any kind of subscription, or anything like that. It’s a great way to explore and check what’s available before committing yourself.

The interface is pretty simple: all assets are organised by categories, which can be accessed from the top of every page, through a convenient menu: you can look through ‘Videos’, ‘Photos’, ‘Illustrations’, ‘Vectors’, ‘Audio’, ‘Templates’, ‘Fonts’, ‘3D’, and there’s even a ‘Free’ section.

That’s right: a large number of assets can be downloaded for free, including over a million photos and even over 55,000 4K video clips.

Looking through a category is worse than searching for a needle in a haystack: how can you hope to find the shot you’re looking for through literally hundreds of millions of choices? That’s where filters and a search field come into their own. Type in any keywords to narrow down your search, and if that’s not enough, reveal the filters sidebar on the left to trim down the results. You can choose, for instance, to only look for Photos, ignoring Illustrations and Vectors, or remove any Generative AI images.

One filter we particularly enjoyed was the ‘Undiscovered Content’ tick box. With it enabled, you’ll only see assets that have never been downloaded by anyone, which can be a little disheartening if you’re a content provider, but will ensure that the asset you used has a greater chance of never having been seen before.

Another benefit of this filter is realising that although Stock has over 140 million AI generated images, over 130 million of those have never been bought by anyone, which still gives some hope for humanity and the genuine creative process.

• Score: 4.5/5

Adobe Stock: Assets

(Image credit: Adobe // Future)

• Acquiring assets is a matter of login in, purchasing and downloading them to your computer. There’s even a way to get Stock to generate new images based on a selected one

Getting assets couldn’t be easier, although you will need to log in with your Adobe ID in order to do so. If you don’t already have one, getting an ID won’t cost you anything. This applies whether you’re on a subscription, using credits, or downloading free assets.

Once you’ve found one you like, mouse over it to reveal a few buttons, including a big blue ‘Download’ one. Click on it, and it’s downloaded to your computer.

One of the other buttons lets you save assets to your library. This doesn’t commit you to buying anything, but is a good way to gather up those you like, and later refine your collection to only download (and purchase) the ones you need.

There’s also an ellipsis in the top right corner of every thumbnail. Within it, is a ‘Find Similar’ option, which uses that chosen image as the basis to locate other similar assets for you. Incidentally, you can also use the ‘Find Similar’ filter with one of your own images.

Another option is ‘Generate Variations’. Based on the selected asset and an optional prompt by yourself, Adobe will generate new options for you to choose from. They claim that should you choose one of those variations, the original artist will be compensated, which is fair and just.

• Score: 4/5

Adobe Stock: Contributing media

(Image credit: Adobe // Future)

• Adobe makes it as easy as possible to contribute to their growing asset collection - once you’ve completed the relevant US tax forms. You can even upload content straight from Adobe Lightroom

Speaking of contributing, such a service only survives through regular intake of new assets, and is why you’ll find a ‘Sell’ option to the right of the menu at the top of every page.

Once you’ve filled in your details, including tax information, it’s just a question of selecting your images, and uploading them to the service, with the relevant description and tags (you can also do this directly from Adobe Lightroom).

There are some restrictions, such as specific file formats and minimum sizes, but aside from that, you should be good to go, and should someone purchase your work, the royalty rate is 33% for images and 35% for videos.

• Score: 4/5

Should I buy Adobe Stock?

(Image credit: Adobe // Future)

Buy it if...

You’re in the market for new assets, you enjoy browsing through a huge portfolio, and like the fact you can either subscribe or buy credits to get what you want.

Don't buy it if...

You’re not keen on adding yet more expense to your already struggling finances, or you’re not a fan of the Adobe ecosystem.