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I tested TCL’s new flagship mini-LED TV, and for this price it's going to be hard to beat
TCL QM8K: Two-minute review
The TCL QM8K is the company’s flagship mini-LED TV for 2025, and it brings several refinements over last year’s TCL QM851G, which was the brightest TV we’d ever tested at the time. The QM8K also delivers high brightness via a new Super High Energy LED Chip. Still, that brightness is now balanced with a Halo Control System, a 23-bit backlight controller, and a Dynamic Light Algorithm to ensure that pictures also have solid contrast and deep, detailed shadows.
The improvements made to the TCL QM8K make it one of the best TVs for movies, but its anti-reflection screen and new Ultra Wide Angle feature also make it perfect for sports. Not only do you get a very bright picture, but its anti-reflection coating lets you watch without having to worry about screen glare, while the Ultra Wide Angle feature means that groups can gather around the screen and everyone will experience the same picture quality no matter where they are sitting.
TCL tapped speaker Danish speaker maker Bang & Olufsen to design the QM8K’s built-in speaker system, which supports both Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual:X. Audio by Bang & Olufsen on the QM8K entails a ‘Beosonic’ equalization interface that lets you tune the sound using categories like Bright or Relaxed, as opposed to typical EQ options. Overall, the QM8K’s built-in sound is good for a TV, though it’s unsurprisingly light on bass and dynamics.
The QM8K’s Ultra Slim design uses a Zero Border bezel that reduces the distance between the TV’s edge and the actual picture to a mere 3.4mm. It has a more premium look than many TVs, and models up to 85 inches all get a sturdy pedestal stand with adjustable height to clear space for a soundbar.
Google TV is used for the QM8K’s smart TV platform, and it’s a serviceable one, but also one that serves up ads. A quick menu lets you easily access basic picture and other settings, and Google TV’s Live program guide can incorporate broadcast channels pulled in by the QM8K’s ATSC 3.0 ‘NextGen TV’ tuner.
Gaming is well represented on the QM8K with 4K 144Hz support, though that refresh rate is only supported on two of the TV’s four HDMI ports. A Game Accelerator 288 VRR feature also lets you double the TV’s native 144Hz refresh rate for 1080p resolution gaming. The QM8K’s 13.2ms input lag would be considered an average level for most TVs, though most gamers should be perfectly satisfied with its gaming performance.
Value is a strong point with the QM8K. TCL’s current discounted $1,599 price for the 65-inch model is several hundred dollars less than the 65-inch Samsung QN90F, and it offers many of the same features, including an anti-reflection screen and Ultra Wide Angle feature. But it's also more expensive than the Hisense U8QG, another super-bright mini-LED TV with impressive picture quality.
TCL QM8K review: Price and release dateThe QM8K's powerful contrast and wide color gamut coverage results in rich-looking color (Image credit: Future)- Release date: May 2025
- 65-inch: $2,499.99
- 75-inch: $3,199.99
- 85-inch: $3,799.99
- 98-inch: $6,499.99
Similar to its TCL QM851G predecessor, the new TCL QM8K series is available in 65- to 98-inch screen sizes. All QM8K sizes launched at a higher list price than the preceding models, but have since dropped significantly, with the 65-inch version I tested now widely selling for $1,599.
With its reduced pricing, the QM8K is now more competitive with the Hisense U8QG, which is that company’s flagship mini-LED TV series. The 65-inch U8QG dropped to $1,299 during the time I was reviewing the TCL QM8K. Another close mini-LED competitor for the QM8K is the Samsung QN90F, a 2025 model that has since dropped in price to $1,999 for the 65-inch model.
TCL QM8K review: SpecsScreen type:
QLED with mini-LED
Refresh rate:
144Hz
HDR support:
Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG
Audio support:
Dolby Atmos, DTS Virtual:X
Smart TV:
Google TV
HDMI ports:
4 (2x HDMI 2.1)
Built-in tuner:
ATSC 3.0
TCL QM8K review: Benchmark resultsHisense U8QG review: FeaturesThe QM8K has two HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 144Hz support, plus two HDMI 2.0 ports (Image credit: Future)- Ultra Wide Viewing Angle
- Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+, HDR10, and HLG support
- Audio by Bang & Olufsen
The TCL QM8K series uses a new CrystGlow WHVA Panel with TCL’s Halo Control System. To decipher all that, it’s a QLED display with a mini-LED backlight that uses a Super High Energy LED Chip for increased brightness, along with a reduced optical distance between the light modules and display panel. The Halo Control System in QM8K series TVs also feature a 23-bit backlight controller for more precise local dimming, which is helped by a Dynamic Light Algorithm.
Two other CrystGlow WHVA Panel features are a Zero Border display that reduces the distance between the TV’s edge to the actual image down to 3.4mm, and Ultra Wide Viewing Angle, which provides a 40% improvement in off-axis picture uniformity compared to last year’s TCL QM851G series, according to TCL.
QM8K series TVs feature up to 3,800 local dimming zones and up to 5,000 nits specified brightness. An anti-reflective screen is also provided to reduce screen glare when viewing in bright rooms.
HDR support on the QM8K series includes the Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+, HDR10, and HLG formats. The TVs are also IMAX Enhanced and they provide a Filmmaker Mode picture preset – a new feature for TCL TVs in 2025.
The Audio by Bang & Olufsen built-in speaker system on QM8K series TVs supports Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual:X. No specific speaker configuration or wattage information is supplied in TCL’s specifications, but there are upfiring Atmos speakers on the TV’s top edge, along with dual subwoofers on the rear panel.
Like other TCL TVs, the QM8K series uses the Google TV smart TV platform, and it also features a built-in mic for hands-free Google Assistant voice control. If you don’t want to deal with Google Assistant, other control options include Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit.
Gaming features on the QM8K include 4K 144Hz support on two of the TV’s four HDMI inputs. A Game Accelerator 288 VRR feature lets you double the TV’s native 144Hz refresh rate to 288Hz for 1080p-resolution gaming, and there’s also a Game Bar menu for easy onscreen access to gaming-related adjustments.
The QM8K’s connections include an ATSC 3.0 tuner input. This lets you connect one of the best indoor TV antennas to receive both standard and ‘NextGen’ digital TV broadcast channels, and there are options to view channel data either in a dedicated program grid guide or integrated in the Google TV Live TV guide along with free streaming channels.
- Features Score: 4.5/5
- Excellent brightness
- Accurate out-of-the-box picture
- Impressive off-center picture uniformity
When I tested the QM8K’s predecessor, the TCL QM851G, it was the brightest TV I’d yet measured. The QM8K doesn’t hit the same brightness heights as that model, but it still has very high brightness even by flagship mini-LED TV standards.
In Filmmaker Mode, the QM8K hit 2,268 nits peak brightness (measured on a 10% HDR white window pattern) and 584 nits fullscreen brightness. Standard mode brightness was even higher, at 3,176 and 629 nits, respectively.
For comparison’s sake, the Samsung QN90F measured 2,086 and 667 nits, respectively, on the same tests in Movie mode when I reviewed it, while the Hisense U8QG – 2025’s current reigning brightness king – hit 2,888 nits peak brightness and 744 nits fullscreen brightness in my tests.
Color gamut coverage was also excellent, with the QM8K measuring 97% for UHDA-P3 and 78.7% for BT.2020. Picture accuracy was also notably good, with the QM8K delivering Delta-E (the margin of error between the test pattern source and what’s shown on-screen) averages of 1.9 for grayscale and 0.8 for color, which means both are indistinguishable from perfect to the human eye.
The QM8K features an Intelligent picture preset that uses AI to determine the proper picture settings based on content. I used this for casual TV viewing with generally good results, though I’d recommend the more accurate Filmmaker or Movie modes for movies. Upscaling was impressive, with the QM8K presenting older TV shows and other lower-resolution content with a good level of clarity.
Brightness is one of the QM8K’s main advantages, and it helped sports come to life on screen, and also made highlights in movies like Alien: Romulus visually pop. In dark movies like that one, the QM8K’s refined local dimming ensured that shadows looked deep and detailed. Contrast was consistently strong, and, true to the promise of TCL’s Halo Control System, there was virtually no sign of backlight blooming.
An Ultra Wide Angle features means the QM8K's picture looks good from a range of seating positions (Image credit: Future)Motion handling on the QM8K was average, with a reference scene from the James Bond film No Time to Die showing a fair amount of blur and judder as Bond traversed a rocky hillside cemetery. Selecting the Custom Motion Clarity option in the Motion menu and setting both the judder and blur settings to 2 reduced this, however, and it didn’t add any soap opera effect to the picture in the process.
The QM8K’s anti-reflection screen proved effective when viewing with bright overhead room lights turned on. I could see mirror-like reflections when a lamp was placed in the way of its screen, but otherwise, general ambient room lighting didn’t harm picture contrast, even when watching movies.
Equally impressive is the QM8K’s Ultra Wide Viewing Angle feature. During my testing, pictures retained their contrast and color saturation even when viewed from a far-off-center seat. That’s a big step up from last year’s QM851G, which performed poorly in the same test.
Less impressive was a faint vignetting, an effect that is likely related to the QM8K’s Zero Border design, which places the LCD panel driver circuitry along the outer edges of the screen. The effect was minor, and I mostly saw it only on gray full-field test patterns during my initial testing, but during normal viewing, I occasionally noted it on flat fields of color, such as an empty blue sky.
- Picture quality score: 4.5/5
- Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual:X
- Audio by Bang & Olufsen built-in speakers
- Good overall sound quality
The QM8K’s Audio by Bang & Olufsen built-in speakers support both Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual:X. TCL doesn’t provide any specs about speaker configuration or power, but there are upfiring drivers on the TV’s top surface, and bass modules on the back panel.
Sound features are mostly limited to presets such as Speech, Movies, Game, and Night. There’s also a Custom preset that lets you make adjustments using Bang & Olufsen’s Beosonic interface, which involves moving a cursor between Relaxed, Energetic, Bright, and Warm options until you settle on a sonic mix that you like. Using this, I found it useful for taking off the bright edge that’s typical for built-in TV sound.
I did most of my viewing using the TV’s Movie preset, which provided a good level of spaciousness with Dolby Atmos soundtracks while retaining speech clarity. The QM8K’s sound was good overall, with accurate positioning, but bass was limited, and soundtracks could also get a bit muddied when pushed to higher volume levels. Movie fans will want to consider pairing the QM8K with one of the best soundbars.
- Sound quality score: 4/5
- Ultra Slim design
- Adjustable height pedestal stand
- Full-sized, backlit remote control
The QM8K’s “Ultra Slim” design features a sloping back panel that gives the impression the TV is thinner than it actually is. A sturdy plastic-capped aluminum pedestal stand is used for all sizes except the 98-inch model, and it has an adjustable height to clear space for a soundbar. Many TVs claim to have a “bezel-free’ design, but the QM8K with its 3.4mm, Zero Border bezel comes closer to presenting an all-image look than most I’ve seen.
Connections are located on a side-mounted input section and include four HDMI ports (including one with eARC and two HDMI 2.1 with 4K 144Hz support), an optical digital audio output, RF antenna, two USB type-A, and Ethernet.
TCL’s remote control strikes a nice balance between the more minimalist ones that come with TVs from LG and Samsung and the button-heavy remotes included with Hisense TVs. The buttons are backlit so you can actually see what you’re doing in the dark, and there are dedicated controls for input selection and for accessing Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, and the ad-supported TCLTV free streaming channels portal.
- Design score: 4/5
- Google TV
- Live program grid integrates FAST and broadcast channels
- Quick settings menu
TCL TVs use the Google TV smart TV platform, which features a homescreen with a large banner at the top with rotating show recommendations and a few sponsored ads. A ‘Top picks for you’ row of recommended programs is located directly below, and the options can be determined by your Google search activity and viewing history when you’ve signed in with a Google account. The final component of the homescreen is a ‘Your apps’ row at the bottom of the screen, which can be edited to reflect your most-used apps.
Tabs located at the top of the homescreen let you access the following: Live (a program guide with Google TV Freeplay channels and channels pulled in by antenna), Apps (a portal for downloading and organizing apps), Library (for purchasing and renting shows and movies on Google TV), and TCL (TCL’s own TCLtv free, ad-supported channels).
As usual with Google TV, picture adjustments and other settings can be accessed by clicking the gear icon onscreen, or its equivalent on the remote control. There are a fair number of adjustments available, including advanced ones such as 2- and 20-point white balance and variable gamma settings.
A quick menu can also be accessed via a dedicated remote control button, and this presents an overlay at the bottom of the screen for easy access to a range of settings, including essential ones like brightness and picture mode.
- Smart TV & menus score: 4/5
- Two HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 144Hz support
- Game Accelerator 288 VRR
- 13.2ms input lag is an average level for TVs
Gaming features on the QM8K include two HDMI 2.1 ports with support for 4K 144Hz, ALLM, and FreeSync Premium Pro. There’s also a Game Accelerator 288 VRR feature that doubles the TV’s native 144Hz refresh rate for 1080p-resolution gaming (which may be of interest to PC gamers), and an onscreen Game Menu that lets you make quick gaming-related adjustments without having to exit the main screen.
I measured the QM8K’s input lag in Game mode at 13.2 using a Bodnar 4K meter. That’s an average level, and below the 15ms threshold most gamers look for, but other TVs we’ve recently tested from Samsung and LG, and also the new Hisense U8QM, yielded under 10ms lag times when we measured them.
- Gaming score: 4/5
- Great value at current price
- Cheaper options available with similar brightness
- You’ll pay considerably more for premium brand options
At its current reduced $1,599 price for the 65-inch model I tested, the TCL QM8K is an excellent value.
That price is more than what you’ll pay for the Hisense U8QG, that company’s flagship model, but the TCL arguably has better overall picture quality and also better built-in sound. It’s also less than what you’ll pay for the Samsung QN90F, another flagship mini-LED, and one that offers a better smart TV platform and gaming features, along with a slimmer design.
Taking all that into consideration, the TCL is a solid middle mini-LED option, and perhaps the best value of the three.
- Value score: 4.5/5
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Features
Comorehensive HDR support and Audio by Bang & Olufsen built-in speakers
4.5/5
Picture quality
High brightness, refined local dimming, an anti-reflective screen, and a wide viewing angle make this a great all-purpose TV
4.5/5
Sound quality
Good overall sound quality but limited bass. A Beosonic interface allows for fine-tuning audio
4/5
Design
A literally bezel-free design with a sturdy pedestal stand and solid, backlit remote control
4/5
Smart TV and menus
Google TV is a serviceable smart interface plus the quick menu provides easy access to basic settings
4/5
Gaming
4K 144Hz and FreeSync Premium Pro supported, but only on two HDMI ports
4/5
Value
At its current discounted price, the QM8K is a great value
4.5/5
Buy it if...You want a great TV for movies
The QM8K’s high brightness, refined local dimming, and comprehensive HDR format support make it an excellent choice for watching 4K movies.
You also want a great TV for sports
An anti-reflection screen on the QM8K effectively reduces screen glare during daytime sports viewing, and an Ultra Wide Angle feature means its picture looks solid even from off-center seats.
You don’t want to pay top dollar for a mini-LED TV
The QM8K offers much the same performance level as other flagship mini-LED TVs from brands like Samsung, while costing several hundred dollars less.
You want the best gaming TV
While the QM8K has a strong set of gaming features, including 4K 144Hz and FreeSync Premium Pro support, those features are only supported on two of its HDMI ports. Also, there are other TVs with lower input lag time than the TCL.
You want the best smart TV platform
Google TV is a generic, serviceable smart TV platform, but it's been eclipsed by the smart platforms on LG and Samsung TVs, which have seen strong improvements over the past few years.
You want to watch movies, but don’t want a soundbar
The QM8K has good built-in sound, but movie soundtracks can get congested at loud listening levels, making a soundbar a necessity for best audio quality.
TCL QM8K
Samsung QN90F
Hisense U8QG
Sony Bravia 9
Price (65-inch)
$2,499.99
$2,499.99
$2,199
$2,999
Screen type
QLED w/ mini-LED
QLED w/ mini-LED
QLED w/ mini-LED
QLED w/ mini-LED
Refresh rate
144Hz
165Hz
165Hz
144Hz
HDR support
DolbyVision/HDR10+/HDR10/HLG
HDR10+/HDR10/HLG
DolbyVision/HDR10+/HDR10/HLG
DolbyVision/HDR10/HLG
Smart TV
Google TV
Tizen
Google TV
Google TV
HDMI ports
4 (2x HDMI 2.1)
4x HDMI 2.1
3x HDMI 2.1
4 (2x HDMI 2.1)
Samsung QN90F
The QN90F is pricier than the QM8K, but it has better gaming features and performance and a superior smart TV platform. Its Glare Free screen is also more effective at reducing reflections in bright rooms.
Here’s our Samsung QN90F review
Hisense U8QG
Hisense’s flagship mini-LED TV is currently a cheaper option than the TCL QM8K. It has a similarly bright picture plus refined local dimming, but it lacks the QM8K’s Ultra Wide Angle feature and has less impressive built-in speakers.
Here’s our Hisense U8QG review
Sony Bravia 9
The Sony Bravia 9 is significantly more expensive than the other TVs listed here, but it has a bright picture with refined local dimming plus excellent built-in sound and audio-related features.
Here’s our Sony Bravia 9 review
How I tested the TCL QM8KMeasuring a 10% HDR white window pattern during testing (Image credit: Future)- I spent about 15 viewing hours in total measuring and evaluating
- Measurements were made using Calman color calibration software
- A full calibration was made before proceeding with subjective tests
When I test TVs, I first spend a few days or even weeks using it for casual viewing to assess the out-of-the-box picture presets and get familiar with its smart TV menu and picture adjustments.
I next select the most accurate preset (usually Filmmaker Mode, Movie or Cinema) and measure grayscale and color accuracy using Portrait Displays’ Calman color calibration software. The resulting measurements provide Delta-E values (the margin of error between the test pattern source and what’s shown on-screen) for each category, and allow for an assessment of the TV’s overall accuracy.
Along with those tests, I make measurements of peak light output (recorded in nits) for both standard high-definition and 4K high dynamic range using 10% and 100% white window patterns. Coverage of DCI-P3 and BT.2020 color space is also measured, with the results providing a sense of how faithfully the TV can render the extended color range in ultra high-definition sources – you can read more about this process in our guide to how we test TVs at TechRadar.
For the TCL QM8K, I used the Calman ISF workflow, along with the TV’s advanced picture menu settings, to calibrate the image for best accuracy. I also watched a range of reference scenes on 4K Blu-ray discs to assess the TV’s performance, along with 4K HDR shows streamed from Max, Netflix, and other services.
- First reviewed: May 2025
- Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee
Categories: Reviews
DreamHost Website Builder review 2025
DreamHost has recently revamped its approach to website building. Instead of competing with other no-code builders on our best website builders roundup, they now focus on two separate but complimentary services.
TechRadar reviewers have spent thousands of hours testing 140+ website builders, giving us deep insight into what works. While Wix remains our top pick for 2025, DreamHost's revamped service is unique enough to deserve a spot and a mention.
DreamHost now offers both an AI-powered website builder called Liftoff and a professional website service for WordPress. Both come free with any hosting plan, including the shared hosting that starts at just $2.59/month for the first year. Plus the company has been hosting websites since 1997 and powers over 1.5 million sites, so you know you're in good hands.
DreamHost Website Builder: 2-minute reviewDreamHost takes a refreshingly different approach to website building. Rather than creating another traditional drag-and-drop tool, they've developed two complementary services that address different user needs. The AI-powered Liftoff builder creates complete sites in under 60 seconds, while their professional service delivers custom 4-page websites built by experts that integrate with WordPress.
Both services excel at what they do, but they're not for everyone. You're locked into WordPress, which limits flexibility compared to platform-agnostic builders. However, for small business and professional users who want WordPress, DreamHost's approach works quite well. And it's completely free if you're subscribed to any DreamHost hosting plan, which is great value.
What is DreamHost Website Builder?Think of DreamHost's website builder as two different services rolled into one package. First, there's Liftoff, an AI assistant that asks about your business and builds a complete WordPress website automatically. You simply describe what you need, and in less than a minute, you have a fully functional site with content, images, and design.
The second option is their professional service, where DreamHost's team builds a custom 4-page website for you. You provide your content and branding, but they handle all the technical work. No dragging elements around screens or learning design principles. Everything still runs on WordPress, so you get powerful blogging features and can expand your site later if needed.
FeaturesYou get access to hundreds of WordPress block patterns and page templates through their Design Library, plus an AI-powered help center for support. (Image credit: DreamHost)DreamHost's feature set focuses heavily on WordPress integration and AI assistance over traditional website building tools. The AI builder includes content generation, image creation, and automatic site structuring based on your business description. You get access to hundreds of WordPress block patterns and page templates through their Design Library, plus an AI-powered help center for support.
On the other hand, the professional service delivers more hands-off features — expert design, mobile responsiveness, SEO optimization, and hosting setup. Both services include free domain registration, SSL certificates, and unlimited traffic. WordPress integration also means you get built-in blogging capabilities, plugin support, and the ability to scale up later.
Missing features include advanced customization using animations and interactions, built-in ecommerce tools beyond WooCommerce, and support for other platforms besides WordPress. However, the pricing justifies these limitations since everything comes free with hosting plans starting at $2.59 monthly.
DreamHost's approach works best for small businesses, bloggers, and anyone who prefers WordPress over proprietary platforms. AI-powered workflows suit tech-comfortable users who want speed, while the professional service appeals to those who'd rather outsource everything. The feature set feels intentionally focused rather than comprehensive.
ToolsDreamHost's content generator integrates directly with the WordPress editor for seamless workflow. (Image credit: DreamHost)DreamHost provides several integrated tools designed to work seamlessly with WordPress to simplify the website creation process. Each tool focuses on a specific aspect of building and managing your online presence.
Liftoff AI builder
DreamHost's new AI-powered tool creates complete WordPress websites in under 60 seconds. Simply answer questions about your business purpose and goals. Liftoff generates a personalized site with content, images, and design elements. It can also add ecommerce functionality or appointment booking systems based on your input. You maintain full ownership and can continue editing later in WordPress.
Site assistant dashboard
A personalized guidance system helps you refine your site after the initial AI-generated results. Your dashboard provides smart tasks and next-step recommendations, making it easier for beginners to improve their sites progressively. This tool bridges the gap between automation and manual customization.
Design library
Access hundreds of WordPress-native block patterns and page templates for visual customization. These professionally designed elements help you quickly modify layouts and add visual appeal without starting from scratch. The library focuses on WordPress blocks, ensuring compatibility and performance.
Professional website service
DreamHost's new human-powered service assigns a team to create a custom 4-page website (Home, About, Services, Contact) using your content and branding. This service includes mobile optimization, SEO setup, and professional design - delivered ready to launch. Perfect for those who prefer expert handling over DIY headaches.
Content creator
DreamHost offers AI-powered writing assistance for creating blog posts, product pages, and website copy. This tool helps maintain consistent messaging across your site and speeds up content creation. It integrates directly with the WordPress editor for seamless workflow.
Ease of useFor advanced customization, you transition from DreamHost to WordPress's familiar interface. (Image credit: DreamHost)DreamHost's website builder prioritizes simplicity over complexity. Once in, the control panel features a modern interface that's easy to navigate, though it heavily promotes paid add-ons which can feel pushy. Setting up a website takes less than five minutes, with an additional few minutes for server-side processing.
The AI-powered Liftoff tool eliminates traditional learning curves entirely, because you just answer a few questions about your business and it builds your site automatically. You can use DreamHost's editor to customize your AI-generated results, which uses a block-based system where you drag elements to reorder them, remove sections, or insert new ones.
You can't drag objects anywhere on the page like traditional builders, although you get decent layout control through column adjustments and block spacing. For advanced customization, you transition from DreamHost to WordPress's familiar interface.
PricingDreamHost offers three different plans for its website builder (Image credit: DreamHost)Plan
Starting rate (paid annually)
Renewal rate (paid annually)
Shared Starter
$2.59/month
$5.99/month
Shared Unlimited
$3.95/month
$10.99/month
DreamPress Basic
$16.95/month
$19.95/month
DreamPress Plus
$24.95/month
$29.95/month
DreamPress Pro
$71.95/month
$79.95/month
VPS Basic
$10.00/month
$24.99/month
VPS Business
$20.00/month
$39.99/month
VPS Professional
$40.00/month
$79.99/month
VPS Enterprise
$80.00/month
$159.99/month
DreamHost's pricing structure follows the industry standard of significant discounts for long-term commitments. The Shared Starter plan at $2.59 monthly offers excellent value for beginners, including the free AI website builder and professional service. DreamPress plans cater to WordPress enthusiasts who want managed hosting with enhanced performance and security features.
But it's the renewal rates that tell the real story. Prices can double or triple after your initial term ends. VPS plans see the steepest increases, jumping from $10 to nearly $25 monthly for the basic tier. But, DreamHost offers a generous 97-day money-back guarantee, giving you plenty of time to test their services. Also, monthly payments cost up to 60% more than 12-month+ commitments, making longer terms essential for budget-conscious users.
Security(Image credit: DreamHost)DreamHost covers security basics well across all plans. You get free Let's Encrypt SSL certificates, web application firewalls, automated daily backups, and domain privacy protection. Their server-side security includes intrusion detection systems, malware scanning, and 24/7 monitoring. And the user management system lets you create role-specific accounts, so team members only access what they need.
But the catch is DreamShield, their premium malware removal tool, which costs extra at $29.99/year. With the latest updates, this offers impressive additional features like real-time threat monitoring, 30-day scan history, and color-coded security status indicators. Their new centralized dashboard gives you instant visibility into your site's security health, making it easier to spot problems early.
SupportDreamHost won both 2025 Stevie Gold and Globee Awards for customer service excellence. (Image credit: DreamHost)DreamHost won both 2025 Stevie Gold and Globee Awards for customer service excellence. You get 24/7 live chat and email tickets, plus a comprehensive knowledge base that's actually useful. Chat support typically connects you within 2-5 minutes, where agents explain things clearly without robotic scripts. Their knowledge base covers most common issues with step-by-step tutorials.
Phone support exists but works differently, as it's callback-only and costs extra for most plans. Shared hosting users pay $9.95 for one callback or $14.95 monthly for three callbacks. Only managed hosting and dedicated server customers get free callbacks included. Email tickets get responses within an hour, though some can take up to a whole day during busy periods.
DreamHost's community forum provides additional help, though responses aren't always quick. Professional services are available for hands-on assistance with site management, SEO, and development work. Overall, support quality is solid if you're comfortable with chat and email, just don't expect free phone calls unless you're on premium plans.
AlternativesDreamHost occupies a unique position by focusing entirely on WordPress rather than competing with general-purpose builders. This works well for users who specifically want WordPress sites but limits appeal for those seeking platform flexibility. Their dual approach targets different user types within the WordPress ecosystem effectively.
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Categories: Reviews
I tested the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen thinking they couldn't better the originals for ANC – but wow, was I wrong
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen: Two-minute review
I've been wanting Bose to lighten up a bit for years where its earbuds are concerned and with the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen, the usually oh-so-serious audio heavyweight got the memo. Would you look at that 'Deep Plum' hue?
When setting up the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen (try saying that three times in quick succession after 5:30pm) you're prompted to rename them if you'd like – and someone on Bose's payroll clearly had a jolly old time coming up with cheeky suggestions such as "Cherry Wine", "Burgundy Buds" or "Sonic Sangria". You love to see it. (They're also available in black and white, naturally.)
But that's far from the end of the fun times where this particular Bose vintage is concerned. These buds are the most sonically exuberant listen I've heard to date in this type of form factor, a fact only enhanced by their rock-solid, near-impenetrable active noise cancellation (ANC), which you can usefully tweak on a slider when creating Bose's hugely successful 'Modes' (more on that later).
This time around, you also get wireless charging from the box and multi-point connectivity that works seamlessly, something the original Ultras bizarrely lacked on their release. Some of the best earbuds on the market then? Oh absolutely.
But not everyone will be wholly happy with the update. If you were expecting a complete design overhaul from the inaugural late-2023 Ultras (which were not too dissimilar in design to the September 2022-issue QuietComfort Earbuds 2), you're still not getting that.
My colleague in Australia, Sharmishta Sarkar has been waiting for a rework there for some time now – and to be clear, she means an alternative to wedging the buds in with stability bands because these silicone accessories eventually wear out (even though a total of three, in different sizes and separate from the interchangeable tips, has been provided in the box). Anyone who wanted Bose to take its smaller QuietComfort Earbuds 2024 design and Ultra-fy it for 2025 (are you out there?) will also be disappointed.
I am not disappointed. The ovoid nozzle actually slips happily into my bijou ear canal and serves up exciting, expansive audio that nixes more low-level constant noise than anything else I've tested on the market. And with the (admittedly incremental, but still welcome) upgrades Bose has given me in the QuietComfort Earbuds Ultra 2nd Gen, I'll be thoroughly recommending them to anyone who'll let me for some time.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen review: Price and release date(Image credit: Future)- Released on June 12, 2025
- Priced $299 / £299 / AU$450
- Available in black, off-white and 'deep plum' (pictured)
Key things to note here: they're newe,r and while they're not cheaper, they're also not more expensive than what's gone before them. Bose has generously carried over the original Ultra Earbuds' 2023 launch price (which was the same as the prices listed above) to 2025 and ignored inflation, although you can now find the older set for nearer $220 / £199 / AU$399.
Why mention this? Because if the deep plum limited colorway and wireless charging as standard don't matter to you, you might think the smart money goes on the older set. I actually disagree, as you'll see, but there's definitely a case to be made for it…
In terms of direct competition, your rivals at the level are of course AirPods Pro 2 which can be yours for around $50 / £70 less than the Bose (though often drop to being much cheaper), the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 (which are pricier, at $399 / £349 / AU$599), or the Technics EAH-AZ100 which are virtually the same price as the Bose depending on where you live, at $299 / £259 / AU$478.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen review: SpecsDrivers
9.3mm dynamic
Active noise cancellation
Yes, plus Immersive audio and 'Modes'
Battery life
6 hours (earbuds), 24 hours (total)
Weight
7.7g per bud
Connectivity
Bluetooth 5.3
Waterproofing
IPX4
(Image credit: Future)Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen review: Features- Up to 24 hours of battery (up to 6 from the buds)
- Excellent and useful Modes options
- Option to switch off on-ear controls
Via a few clicks within the Bose companion app, Bose has added (drumroll)… the ability to switch off on-ear controls with this iteration. Why you'd want to switch off the capacity to scroll through your listening modes (you can customize the long-press function too, if you'd rather use it to switch source devices manually, access your voice assistant or deploy a hotline to Spotify), stroke the stem to alter volume or tap to pause and play your tracks is strange to me – but if you want to, you can now. And you couldn't before.
Now: Modes. It's not new, but I was a huge fan of the feature in the original Ultra Earbuds and I still love it now. What are these Modes? Essentially, you can combine however much of Bose's excellent ANC or ambient passthrough you want on a slider – although take note, the solo slider starts at full transparency or awareness and goes through to maximum ANC – along with Immersive Audio.
You can pick whether you want Immersive Audio on or off, 'Still' (so you can move your head around your source device and feel the different sounds being piped into each ear accordingly) or in 'Motion' (which means that whichever way you turn your head, the three-dimensional immersive soundstage will not change).
There are three presets from the box: Quiet (max ANC, Immersive Audio off); Aware (max Ambient passthrough, Immersive Audio off); and Immersion (max ANC, Immersive Audio set to 'Motion'). I created a fourth preset: Work. Here, I set ANC to 75% and select 'Still' under Immersive Audio. This way, all but the most important noises are gone at my desk, and said desk is my fixed audio source – so I'm less tempted to leave it!
The thing is, if these profiles didn't do exactly what they promised to do, you'd say they were surplus to requirements. But because they genuinely enhance the listening experience better than any similar solutions currently offered by rivals (for me, it's better than JBL Spatial Sound, for example), they're emphatically worth using and celebrating.
On the ANC, Bose says there are new AI algorithms included this time, for better filtering of sudden noise spikes via its ActiveSense system. What I can tell you is that I've never heard more effective ANC in a set of noise-cancelling earbuds. Better than the outgoing model? Yes. I even missed my own doorbell while testing (which meant an extra journey to collect my next review product) – and my music was not loud.
Image 1 of 4Not to hammer the point home, but from a design perspective, there's a new wax guard and… not much else, to differentiate the original QCUE (left) from the QCUE 2 (right) (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 4(Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 4(Image credit: Future)Image 4 of 4(Image credit: Future)It's not all great news: your Bluetooth version is still 5.3 (when 6.0 now exists) and although you get Snapdragon Sound again, which means aptX Adaptive is on the menu as well as aptX Lossless, you've still got to be using an Android non-Samsung device with a compatible Qualcomm chip (see our aptX explainer for more on that tricky business).
None of that is Bose's fault, of course, but it is a roundabout way of saying that LDAC would've been a great addition this time around – especially when cheaper options such as the Nothing Ear (a) proudly offer it.
Also, the three-tab EQ graph is relatively basic compared to some flagship options and there are no listening tests to augment certain frequencies to create your own 'Personi-Fi' type profile – which is a feature of the JBL Live Beam 3, for example.
However, that doesn't mean there's no sonic tailoring whatsoever in the QCUE 2 – just that you might not be aware of it. CustomTune is a feature that actually made its debut in the QuietComfort Earbuds 2, but it's worth noting nonetheless, because I think it's a big part of what makes the sound and ANC so effective.
Basically, that thwomph sound in each ear when you put them on? It's not performative. What's happening is that this test sound travels through your ear's unique canals, bounces back to the buds nestled within them and is picked up by the microphones.
Then, Bose's CustomTune tech gets to work, potentially amplifying some frequencies while pulling back a touch others, depending on the architecture of your auricles. It's just that you don't take an active part in this test, in the way you do with lengthier tests offered by the Nothing Ear, for example.
Battery life? It's fine, but not exceptional. In my tests, I managed to get the promised six hours from them with my 'Work' mode deployed, but not a minute more – and that's largely because I found (unlike many rivals) they're able to play relatively loud and I was able to listen at just under 45% volume at my desk.
- Features score: 4.5/5
- Loud, zealous, crisp and expansive audio
- Excellent across the whole frequency range
- Immersive Audio is beautifully handled
Let's take the excellent ANC performance as read (scroll back if you missed that). Sonically, the QCUE 2nd Gen are also a rare treat across the frequencies, with a layered and expansive soundstage that allows bass registers ample space to rumble and clack, midrange vocals and instruments to sound textured and fully realized, and treble trills to soar unaffected above it all.
If you love a considered hip-hop album (and I really do) you'll find much to celebrate here. I cue up OutKast's Stankonia and through the Bose buds Gasoline Dreams is an emotive romp filled with guitar kerrangs, drum fills and sonic articles lesser earbuds cannot unearth. Big Boi sounds extra indignant; Andre 3000's playful Georgian twang is just that bit more noticeable.
Switching to Ozzy Osbourne's Bark at the Moon (thank you, Ozzy), the complex layers of laughter, driving guitars and bass are faithfully captured and held dutifully in a cohesive but energetic mix – and when that guitar glances from left to right through the soundstages, it whooshes past each ear like a Tokyo bullet train.
For detail, they're also very good, and while there will always be that old argument about integrated, neutral hi-fi sound versus fun and excitement, for me, Bose has absolutely aced the sonic treatment here.
For detail and neutrality, you'll get just a little more from the aforementioned Technics EAH-AZ100, but for bass impact and zeal, the Bose buds take it. And there's so little in it this time around, I cannot dock any stars.
- Sound quality: 5/5
- Excellent mics for call-handling
- On-ear touch controls work very well
- Winning 'deep plum' finish
As mentioned (and pictured), the earbuds and case are extremely similar to the older model in terms of size, shape and driver array. What I didn't mention before is that there is a small difference to the build, and it's the addition of something Bose calls an embedded ear wax guard, to prevent any of the stuff produced naturally by our ears (let's not be weird; a healthy body creates ear wax) finding its way beyond the casework and into the driver housings.
I cannot say I had this issue with the older set, but having seen a few Reddit threads that mention it, it's a sensible addition from Bose.
Bose also promises improved voice pickup from the four mics per bud and thus improved call quality this time around, and I think the company has made good on that claim. It was a sore point in the older set, and this time callers felt I sounded much clearer and more present.
You can also tweak how much of your own voice you'd like to hear in the app (something rival Technics calls 'Sidetone') and it is beneficial if you prefer to hear a little more of your dulcet tones in calls, to avoid shouting at your recipient.
In the Bose app, there's a fit test to work out whether you've got the correct tips and fins fitted, and although it's quick and relatively rudimentary (I passed first time with the pre-fitted options, no issue) I did find the buds secure and comfortable during my testing.
Basically, if you've liked the fit of Bose's flagship earbuds to date, it's more of the same here. OK, in today's money the charging case could be considered a touch on the large side. For me it's no biggie, since its flat underside means it sits happily in my hand and in my bag without issue.
- Design score: 5/5
- Simply the best ANC earbuds on the market
- …but not the cheapest
Value is an odd thing to quantify here, since it really is horses for courses. I keep coming back to this: there will be those out there who simply want the best noise-cancelling earbuds on the market, that also do great things with their music. This is that pair of earbuds.
No, they're possibly not the absolute best earbuds for small ears (although to clarify: I had no issue with fallouts and I have bijou ears, but they do protrude more than rivals) nor do they ask you various questions about what you're hearing and when you stop hearing certain frequencies to create sound profiles.
If you want to take an active part in augmentation, you'll be better served by AirPods Pro 2 or Nothing Ear. That said, not everyone wants this – and for me, the overall sound quality here is so good I wouldn't touch it anyway.
- Value: 5/5
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Features
Excellent ANC and now, wireless charging. Every perk is class-leading
4.5/5
Sound quality
Immersive audio is wildly fun and engaging but even with all profiles off, the sound is zealous and powerful
5/5
Design
A case of 'it wasn't broken, so we didn't fix it' but the added wax guard is a nice touch
4.5/5
Value
Simply the best earbuds for ANC on the market – and that's worth paying for
5/5
Buy them if…You need class-leading ANC in earbuds
I've never heard bubble-of-silence noise cancellation in earbuds quite like it – no, not even in the older set.
You like immersive, head-tracked audio
With Bose's earbuds, you get to choose whether you want your own personal surround-sound performance fixed or moving, and in conjunction with whatever level of ANC you want.
You like vivacious, dynamic, pro-active audio
Want your grime tracks with a thumping bassline? Bose can give it to you and then some. If I had to use just one word to describe the audio performance here, I'd go with 'powerful'.
You've already got the Ultras
If wireless charging doesn't matter to you, you're not fully sold on the new color, the incremental upgrade in the inaugural set's very good ANC isn't a deal-breaker and, er, wax buildup has never been an issue for you, you might give this update a miss.
You prioritise stamina
The battery life here isn't terrible exactly, but compared to certain rivals, it can certainly be bettered – the Technics EAH-AZ100 lasted a lot longer on a single charge, for example.
You want LDAC
No dice here, friend. If you need Sony's higher-resolution Bluetooth audio codec, look to the Cambridge Audio Melomania A100.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)
Technics EAH-AZ100
Cambridge Audio Melomania A100
Drivers
10mm
10mm free-edge dynamic
10mm Neodymium dynamic
Active noise cancellation
Yes
Yes
Yes
Battery life
6 hours (earbuds, ANC off; 4 hours with it on) case not specified
12 hours (earbuds, ANC off); 17 hours (charging case)
11 hours per charge; up to 39 hours with the case
Weight
7.7g per bud
5.9g per bud
4.7g per earbud
Connectivity
Bluetooth 5.3 with aptX Lossless / Adaptive
Bluetooth 5.3 with LDAC and LC3 compatibility
5.4 with LDAC and aptX Lossless
Waterproofing
IPX4 earbuds only
IPX4 earbuds only
IPX5 earbuds only
Cambridge Audio Melomania A100
Cambridge Audio also offers an excellent listen in its latest earbuds with good ANC. No immersive audio profiles (Cambridge doesn't believe in tinkering with recorded music in that way) but if it's an integrated hi-fi listen you seek, add them to your list – and they'll last longer than the Bose option. Read more in our Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 review.
Technics EAH-AZ100
Another option with better stamina that also offers excellent sound quality and decent noise cancellation. Here, you even get multi-point to three devices (rather than the standard two) though, and the classy finish makes them nothing short of a joy to own. Get the full picture in our Technics EAH-AZ100 review.
- Tested for two weeks
- Tested at home, walking along a crowded beach and on a packed train
I used the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen for two weeks when writing this review, and my testing involved listening to music, podcasts and watching streamed movies from various devices – including Android and Apple sources.
I listened at home when working and taking calls, during several beach-combing walks and on a busy commuter train – and let me tell you, with these as my musical companion, it was no hardship.
I've been testing audio products full-time since 2019, firstly over at our sister publication What Hi-Fi? as a staff writer (locked in our hi-fi testing facility for two years, I was), then as senior writer at TechRadar and, since early 2024, audio editor. My background as a professional dancer is what drives me to search for faithful timing, precision, clarity and good old fashioned fun in recorded music.
- First reviewed in July 2025.
- Read TechRadar's review guarantee
- Learn more specifically about how we test earbuds at TechRadar
Categories: Reviews
Samsung's mid-range mini-LED TV is pretty good, but I'd opt for one of its better-priced rivals
Samsung QN80F: Two-minute review
The Samsung QN80F is the mid-range model in the company’s 2025 4K Neo QLED mini-LED TV lineup. It is available in 50-100-inch sizes (with the 50-inch only available in the UK and the 100-inch only available in the US and Australia) and carries a stacked feature set.
The QN80F uses the same NQ4 AI Gen2 processor as its predecessor, the Samsung QN85D. While not as effective as the step-up Gen3 processor, it still delivers useful picture and audio enhancements.
Picture quality is mixed on the QN80F. Its vibrant yet natural colors are up there with the best TVs, and it also delivers refined details and solid contrast. While brightness is lacking compared to cheaper rivals such as the TCL QM7K (and even the TCL C7K in the UK), it can still give pictures a nice boost. Black levels, while raised at times, are also generally respectable. Where the QN80F struggles is with its highly reflective screen and inconsistent motion handling, particularly with sports – something its more premium counterpart, the Samsung QN90F, has no issue with.
Sound quality is average on the QN80F. Speech is clear and sound placement is accurate, with a good sense of direction, but bass is lacking, and the narrow soundstage never extends beyond the screen’s threshold. Movie fans will definitely want to invest in one of the best soundbars for this TV.
Gaming is a strong area for the QN80F, which has a near-full list of gaming features, including 4K 120Hz, FreeSync Premium Pro and ALLM across four HDMI 2.1 ports. Plus, Samsung's Gaming Hub is an excellent portal for cloud-based gaming apps. Pair all this with an ultra-low 9.9ms input lag time, and the QN80F competes with the best gaming TVs.
Samsung’s own Tizen 9.0 smart TV platform serves as the QN80F’s smart interface. With smooth performance, tons of picture settings, a customizable home page, several ‘hubs’, and a useful quick menu, Tizen 9.0 is the best iteration of Samsung’s smart TV platform to date. Some settings are buried deep in menus, but this is one of my only gripes.
While the QN80F does have a strong feature list and generally solid performance, its value is a tough category to score. At $1,299 / £1,399 for the 55-inch model I tested, there are cheaper mini-LEDs from Hisense and TCL that deliver very similar features and performance for a lower price. The QN80F is still a good option, but one that you should look for during major sales events.
Samsung QN80F review: Price and release dateThe Samsung QN80F demonstrates decent contrast but minor backlight blooming (Image credit: Future)- Release date: May 2025
- 50-inch: $N/A / £1,099
- 55-inch: $1,299.99 / £1,399 (roughly AU$1,991)
- 65-inch: $1,799.99 / £1,699 (roughly AU$2,757)
- 75-inch: $2,299.99 / £2,599 (roughly AU$3,524)
- 85-inch: $3,499.99 / £3,699 (roughly AU$5,363)
- 100-inch: $5,999.99 / £N/A (roughly AU$9,196)
The Samsung QN80F is the mid-range model in Samsung’s 2025 4K Neo QLED (mini-LED) lineup, sitting above the Samsung QN70F and below the Samsung QN85F and the flagship Samsung QN90F. The QN80F is not available in Australia. For the 55-inch model I tested, its May 2025 launch prices were $1,299.99 / £1,399 (roughly AU$1,990).
Since its launch, there have been discounts across the entire lineup. The 55-inch price remains unchanged in the US, but in the UK, its price has dropped to £1,199.
Samsung QN80F review: SpecsScreen type:
QLED with mini-LED
Refresh rate:
120Hz
HDR support:
HDR10+, HDR10, HLG
Audio support:
Dolby Atmos
Smart TV:
Tizen
HDMI ports:
4 x HDMI 2.1
Built-in tuner:
ATSC 3.0 (USA)
Samsung QN80F review: Benchmark resultsSamsung QN80F review: FeaturesThe QN80F has four HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 120Hz support (Image credit: Future)- NQ4 AI Gen 2 Processor
- HDR10+ HDR support
- Four HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 120Hz for gaming
The Samsung QN80F uses a mini-LED backlight and has a standard gloss screen rather than the Glare Free screen used in the step-up Samsung QN90F mini-LED TV. It features Samsung’s QN4 AI Gen2 Processor, a step-down from the Gen3 processor used in the QN90F, that supports 4K AI upscaling and Real Depth Enhancer.
Like all Samsung TVs, the QN80F supports the HDR10+ High Dynamic Range format, but not Dolby Vision.
The QN80F’s four-channel, 30W sound system supports Dolby Atmos. There are also AI-based tools such as Active Voice Amplifier and Adaptive Sound, both of which analyze the content on screen and adapt the sound accordingly.
Gaming features include 4K 120Hz, VRR (AMD FreeSync Premium Pro included) and ALLM, with all supported on four HDMI 2.1 ports. There is also Samsung’s Gaming Hub, which provides access to cloud-based gaming apps including Xbox and Luna.
The QN80F uses Samsung’s Tizen 9.0 as its smart TV platform. Along with the AI-based picture and sound enhancement tools mentioned above, the TV provides AI content recommendations based on viewing history. It has access to all major streaming apps such as Netflix and Prime Video, and there is built-in voice assistant support from Alexa and Bixby. The QN80F also supports the Samsung Art Store feature previously exclusive to Samsung’s The Frame TVs, which lets you display artworks when the TV is in standby mode.
- Features Score: 5/5
- Bold, vibrant colors
- Generally good contrast
- Screen reflections
I measured the QN80F in its Standard and Movie picture modes. I did find that Filmmaker Mode was the more accurate picture preset overall, but Movie provided a brightness boost (in default settings) that allowed the QN80F to better show off its picture quality strengths.
Peak brightness (measured on a 10% HDR white window pattern) hit 1,106 nits in Movie mode and 975 nits in Standard. That is a big drop from its step-up sibling, the QN90F, which registered 2,086 nits in Movie and 1,987 nits in Standard. It’s even less than the cheaper mid-range TCL QM7K, which hit 1,733 nits in Filmmaker mode (the UK equivalent TCL C7K hit 1,706 nits). This is quite a disappointing result for the QN80F.
Fullscreen HDR brightness, however, was significantly higher, with the QN80F hitting 754 nits in Movie mode and a mammoth 869 nits in Standard, which should make Samsung’s mid-range mini-LED TV great for daytime viewing in brighter rooms.
This does, however, bring me to the elephant in the room: the QN80F’s reflective screen. I found that I could see objects reflected on the TV’s screen when watching dark scenes, even in dim room lighting conditions.
The QN80F does an effective job upscaling non-4K movies and TV shows. An HD stream of Fight Club viewed on Disney Plus benefited from an uplift in sharpness, giving textures a cleaner look, and contrast was also stronger. But upscaling wasn’t as effective with lower-resolution content. The TV’s Auto Remastering HDR setting is an option here, but I found it gave pictures a too-sharp look.
Color reproduction is the QN80F’s main strength. A scene from Elemental (on Disney Plus) where Ember makes a red and orange glass vase showcased the TV’s vibrant, punchy color display. Watching a 4K Blu-ray of Wicked, a scene where Elphaba sings under pink flowers showcased the QN80F’s ability to deliver more natural hues, giving the flowers and Elphaba’s green skin a realistic yet dynamic look.
When I measured the QN80F’s HDR color gamut coverage, it yielded results of 70.3% for BT.2020 and 93.05% for UHDA-P3. These are surprisingly low results for a mini-LED in this range, but also not far off the QN90F’s numbers, which hit 76.3% and 93.6%, respectively, for the same color gamuts.
Black levels are surprisingly deep on the QN80F, but can also sometimes take on a raised gray tone (Image credit: Future)The QN80F’s black levels were generally quite good. As Hutler made his way to Orlock’s castle in Nosferatu, blacks looked pretty deep, although they did take on a slightly raised gray tone at times. Contrast was solid, with light sources such as torch and lamplight contrasting well with the dark surroundings in both Nosferatu and The Batman. The QN80F also showcased good local dimming with very few instances of backlight blooming.
Viewed from an angle, the QN80F’s screen took on a gray wash in darker areas, but its contrast wasn’t as bad as what I’ve seen on some older or cheaper mini-LED TVs.
Watching the black and white scenes in Oppenheimer, the QN80F had a good range of gray tones, and while screen uniformity wasn’t as good as what you’d find on more premium mini-LED and OLED TVs, it was still solid.
Textures and details throughout my viewing were rich and lifelike, with the right level of sharpness. Faces looked detailed, and the QN80F’s solid contrast helped to give objects and textures definition and depth.
Motion handling was an area the QN80F struggled with. Setting motion and judder reduction to between 3 and 5 seemed to be the sweet spot for movies, depending on how ‘smooth’ a picture you’re looking for. With these settings active, a scene in No Time To Die where a camera pans across a cliff face was smooth without any of the dreaded soap opera effects.
Using the same settings, sports never looked quite right, however. There always seemed to be motion artifacts, regardless of the settings I used. While football games on both YouTube and Prime Video were watchable, the action wasn’t as smooth as on other TVs I’ve tested, such as the Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini-LED.
- Picture quality score: 4/5
- Four-channel, 30W speaker system
- Direct sound
- Narrow soundstage and limited bass
The QN80F has a four-channel, 30W speaker system that supports Dolby Atmos. It has two preset sound modes, Standard and Amplify, as well as AI sound enhancement tools such as Active Voice Amplifier Pro (to enhance speech volume) and Adaptive Sound Pro (analyzes the content on screen to optimize the sound).
The QN80F’s built-in speakers delivered direct, clear sound throughout my viewing, with speech coming through with good clarity in most movies. Active Voice Amplifier Pro and Adaptive Sound Pro, found in the TV’s AI Mode in Advanced Settings, worked very well for sports by amplifying the commentary. Sound was also accurately connected to the action on screen, as demonstrated by the swerving traffic in The Batman’s Batmobile chase scene.
Unfortunately, the QN80F falls short elsewhere. In the same Batmobile scene, the soundstage was very narrow, and there was no sense of Dolby Atmos height or surround effects. Bass was also lacking, making the rumble of the Batmobile’s engine feel limited and flat. The balance between the vocals and score in Wicked was effective, but it didn’t have the same weight or dynamic quality I’d experienced with other TVs I've recently tested, such as the TCL C7K.
Bottom line: QN80F’s sound is fine for day-to-day viewing, but I’d recommend using it with a soundbar.
- Sound quality score: 3.5/5
- Central pedestal stand
- Sturdy build quality
- Bulkier and plainer design than other Samsung TVs
The QN80F’s design plays it safe. It has a slightly bulkier depth than more premium mini-LED TVs and a plain-looking rear panel, though its glossy, silver metal frame does give it a more premium look than other mid-range TVs from Hisense and TCL.
The TV features a central pedestal stand, and due to its placement, it will make it difficult to place a soundbar underneath easily. The stand itself is made of a similar plastic to that used on the TCL C7K, but it still suits the QN80F’s design.
The QN80F uses Samsung’s SolarCell remote, a slim, compact remote control with minimal buttons. It can be charged using USB-C or the solar panel on the rear, eliminating the need for any batteries. In the UK, a second remote with numbered buttons is also included in the box.
- Design score: 4/5
- Samsung Tizen 9.0 interface
- Home, Game, Daily+ and Art hubs
- Some settings difficult to find
The QN80F uses Samsung’s Tizen smart TV platform, now in version 9.0. The Home screen’s default layout is the For You page, which presents recommendations based on your viewing history, along with a row of customizable apps. There is a large sponsored ad at the top of the screen, but this is not as invasive as the one found on Google TV.
Tizen 9.0 is the most advanced version of Samsung’s smart TV platform to date. A useful Quick Menu provides easy access to major settings categories, and it even remembers your most visited settings for quick navigation. There are four major hubs: Home, Game (a portal for all things gaming), Daily+ (for health and office-based apps) and the Art Store (where artworks can be purchased to display as a screensaver).
There are plenty of picture settings in the menus for those who like to tweak, but this is also one area where Tizen 9.0 falls short. Some settings are buried in several submenus and can be very difficult to find. Still, performance is snappy enough that navigation is easy, though I did find the QN80F to be a bit slower than its more premium counterparts.
- Smart TV & menus score: 4.5/5
- Four HDMI 2.1 ports
- 4K 120Hz, AMD Freesync Premium Pro support
- 9.9ms input lag time
The QN80F has a stacked feature list for gaming. It supports 4K 120Hz, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, ALLM and HDR10+ gaming, all featured on four HDMI 2.1 ports. Samsung’s Gaming Hub continues as an excellent portal for everything gaming-related, including access to cloud-based apps from Xbox, Luna and more.
Performance is responsive and snappy, even during fast-paced gameplay. In Battlefield V, the most chaotic of battles felt smooth, and targeting enemies was easy. This is helped by the QN80F’s ultra-low 9.9ms input lag time, which is up there with the best 120Hz TVs.
The QN80F’s Game picture mode delivers superb color and contrast with a nice hit of brightness. Textures are sharp, and motion is smooth and well-handled.
- Gaming score: 5/5
- Good feature set for the price
- Cheaper rivals available
- Price drops help value
Value is a difficult area to score for Samsung’s Neo QLED TVs. That was something we discovered in our Samsung QN90F review, and the same holds true for the Samsung QN80F.
The 55-inch model I tested is available for $1,299 / £1,199 at the time of writing. In the US, you can get the Hisense U8Q (the company’s flagship mini-LED TV) for $848, and the TCL QM7K mini-LED TV for $749, a $4-500 price difference from the QN80F. Yes, the QN80F has more features, but both those TVs are significantly brighter.
In the UK, the QN80F is a more tempting option. Priced at £1,199, it's cheaper than the Hisense U7Q Pro (the U75Q equivalent for the UK), which is priced at £1,499. But the rival TCL C7K 55-inch is priced at £849, so again cheaper rivals exist.
The QN80F’s stacked feature list and generally solid performance make it a more premium option than its rivals, but ultimately, the Hisense and TCL alternatives deliver nearly the same performance at a lower price.
- Value score: 3.5/5
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Features
A full suite of gaming features and AI-based enhancement settings
5/5
Picture quality
Punchy colors and contrast and refined textures but motion is hit-and-miss and the reflective screen can be very distracting in bright rooms
4/5
Sound quality
Clear speech and accurate placement but lacking bass and narrow soundstage
3.5/5
Design
Plain design with slightly bulky depth but solid and sturdy with central stand
4/5
Smart TV and menus
Snappier navigation and a 'hub' design make this the best version of Tizen yet, but some settings still buried in menus
4.5/5
Gaming
An strong list of gaming features, with a responsive performance to match
5/5
Value
More expensive than much of the competition and best sought out at a discounted price
3.5/5
Buy it if...You want a punchy, colorful picture
The QN80F's main strength lies in its colors, which are bold, yet natural-looking.
You want a great TV for gaming
The QN80F carries a near-full suite of gaming features, including 4K 120Hz, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, ALLM, HDR10+ gaming, across four HDMI 2.1 ports, and it also delivers smooth, responsive performance.
You want a smooth user experience
Tizen 9.0 is the best version of Samsung's smart TV software to date, with a useful quick menu, mostly smooth navigation and an intuitive hub layout.
You want Dolby Vision HDR:
As with all Samsung TVs, the QN80F doesn't support the Dolby Vision HDR format used for 4K Blu-ray and by streaming services. It does support HDR10+, however.
You want the best value mini-LED TV
The QN80F faces stiff competition from cheaper rivals that deliver equally strong performance and features for a lower price.
You have a very bright room
The QN80F's reflective screen resulted in mirror-like reflections during my testing in brighter conditions. View Deal
Samsung QN80F
Samsung QN90F
Hisense U8QG
TCL QM7K/TCL C7K
Price (55-inch)
$1,299.99 / £1,399 (roughly AU$1,991)
$2,499.99 / £2,499 (roughly AU$3,786)
$999 / £1,799 (roughly AU$1,513)
$749 / £849 / AU$1,395
Screen type
QLED w/ mini-LED
QLED w/ mini-LED
QLED w/ mini-LED
QLED w/ mini-LED
Refresh rate
120Hz
165Hz
165Hz
144Hz
HDR support
HDR10+, HDR10, HLG
HDR10+/HDR10/HLG
DolbyVision/HDR10+/HDR10/HLG
DolbyVision/HDR10+/HDR10/HLG
Smart TV
Tizen
Tizen
Google TV / VIDAA
Google TV
HDMI ports
4 x HDMI 2.1
4 x HDMI 2.1
3x HDMI 2.1
4 (2x HDMI 2.1)
Hisense U8QG
The U8QQ is Hisense’s top mini-LED for 2025, and its picture quality is brilliant for the price. Although it struggles in similar areas to the QN80F (such as sound quality) it's arguably overall better value for money (in the US at least).
Here’s our Hisense U8QG review
Samsung QN90F
The step-up sibling to the QN80F, the Samsung QN90F offers superior picture and sound quality, plus its Glare-Free screen makes it better for bright room viewing. It is a significant price increase over the QN80F, but the QN90F is a big quality increase as well.
Here’s our Samsung QN90F review
TCL QM7K/C7K
TCL’s mid-range mini-LED model (QM7K in the US, C7K in the UK) delivers higher brightness, better overall sound and impressive gaming performance again for cheaper than the QN80F. But, the QN80F does offer more as an overall package.
Here’s our TCL QM7K review and our TCL C7K review
How I tested the Samsung QN80FImage 1 of 2(Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2(Image credit: Future)- Subjective tests made using HDR and SDR sources
- Measurements taken using Calman calibration software
- Tested in varying lighting conditions in our testing lab
Before conducting my subjective and objective tests, I did some casual viewing of the QN80F to determine its best picture mode, deciding on Movie mode due to its added brightness. Filmmaker Mode is a good alternative as it provides a more accurate picture but it lacks the visual punch of Movie mode.
For my subjective tests, I used reference scenes from a variety of HDR (4K Blu-ray and 4K streaming) and SDR (broadcast TV and lower-resolution formats such as DVD) sources to test the QN80F's picture quality, focusing on color, contrast, detail, motion handling and upscaling. I used some of these same scenes to analyze the QN80F's built-in speakers as well.
I took several measurements of the QN80F using a colorimeter, test pattern generator and Portrait Displays Calman Color Calibration software. Brightness was measured using 1-100% white window patterns in both SDR and HDR, with results presented for peak (10%) and fullscreen (100%) brightness.
I also measured the QN80F's grayscale and color accuracy, recording its Delta-E results (the margin of error between the test pattern and what's displayed on screen).
I also measured HDR color gamut coverage for the BT.2020 and DCI-P3 color spaces.
You can check out a more in-depth guide to how we test TVs at TechRadar in the link.
- First reviewed: July 2025
- Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee
Categories: Reviews
Psylo browser review
For years now, there’s been an online arms race between companies that want to know everything about what you do online, and companies that are trying to stop all these intrusive logging and tracking technologies.
We, as consumers, have a fairly limited privacy-boosting toolbox. Think antivirus apps and today's best VPNs.
But now there’s something new. Something we haven’t seen in a while. A new web-browser called Psylo. While the name might bring up memories of a certain terrible movie featuring a seven-foot-tall dreadlocked alien, the name is a play on the core functionality – the ability to have multiple tabs within one browser, each one completely isolated from the others, and each with its own IP address.
So how does Psylo stand up against today's best secure web browsers? We’re going to take a look and see just what Psylo brings to the table.
FeaturesUser privacy is at the heart of what Psylo does, and a small but focused set of features reflects that. The main feature of this mobile browser is the concept of tab isolation.
This "silo" system means that every tab is isolated from the others, so websites can only attempt to track what you’re doing in that single silo rather than following you around the internet.
Another big driver for Psylo’s developers was to combat browser fingerprinting. Browser fingerprinting works by identifying all the specific ways in which your particular device’s setup is unique. This is done by looking at the apps and extensions you have, what hardware you’re running, where in the world you are, what timezone you’re in, and even the size of your browser window.
No two individual setups are the same, which means, just like a human fingerprint, these details can be used to identify and track a specific user.
Psylo works to foil this fingerprinting by changing your browser's time zone and language to match the location of the proxy server you’re connected to, making it harder for websites to identify and track where you are in the world. It also works to stop another form of tracking called canvas fingerprinting by implementing canvas randomization, all of which makes your unique fingerprint that much harder to pick out from all the others.
(Image credit: Shaun Rockwood)Psylo is also a no-logs provider. The only information it holds about you is your subscriber number, which it needs to confirm whether or not you’ve paid. It can also see when you’re connected and how much data you’re using, so that it can track your monthly bandwidth allowance. It doesn’t store your browsing history, IP address, or any other kinds of information that might be used to identify you.
Finally, unlike many other browsers these days, you don’t need to worry about Psylo trying to shoehorn in an AI assistant. It’s a browser first and foremost. Oh, and because it’s subscription-supported, you don’t need to worry that it'll overload you with adverts or sell your personal data on to third parties.
Server network(Image credit: Shaun Rockwood)Psylo would not work without the network of private proxies that underpin it. The Mysk Private Proxy Network is made up of 40+ servers around the world. While a proxy server usually does not offer the same level of added encryption that you find with a VPN, it still works to anonymize your identity.
Psylo works in partnership with the well-known VPN service Proton VPN to provide the exit nodes for its connections. This means that any website you access through Psylo will see your traffic coming from a Proton VPN IP address.
An additional benefit here is that, because you’re using only Proton VPN’s IP addresses, you’ll still be able to access websites that block or restrict traffic coming from an IP address that’s associated with a datacenter, as these are often connected to fraudulent activity.
These servers are key to Psylo’s functionality, and you must pick a proxy server to connect to before you can create a new silo within the browser.
AppsAs Psylo is built using Apple’s WebKit, it’s currently only available for iPad and iPhone users, though the developers do hope to bring us an Android version in the future.
You can find Psylo in the App Store. Installation is as straightforward as any other app, and the iPad and iPhone apps are laid out the same, so it’s easy to swap from one device to the other.
(Image credit: Shaun Rockwood)The app is minimalist and simple. Once you’ve created your silos, they’re laid out for you. You tap to open that particular silo and, if you tap and hold, you'll see options to edit the silo details, copy the URL and deep link, or delete that silo.
Other than that, you have a plus sign to add more, and the traditional cogwheel icon to access the settings menu. The settings menu shows your bandwidth usage, subscription details, and you can choose to have the silo tabs show the website address and/or the proxy IP address.
You can also access Mysk’s social media, send an email to the support team, and view the FAQ, Privacy Policy, and TOS.
Ease of useThe Psylo interface could be charitably described as “minimalist”. After you’ve got the app installed and you’ve signed up for a subscription, you’re dropped into an empty black workspace (or a white workspace if you’re not using dark mode on your device), with an invitation to create your first silo.
(Image credit: Shaun Rockwood)You need to enter a name, the website address you want to connect to, and then choose a proxy server. You can also give each silo an individual icon and color. Advanced options are tucked into a sub-menu, but it’s unlikely your average user will need these.
It only takes a click to access the silo, and the website you’ve chosen is loaded up automatically. It’s pretty easy to get to grips with, though it’s unlikely this is the sort of browser that would appeal to a beginner or even the average internet user. This is a product targeting someone who values privacy above all else.
Speed and performancePsylo is a browser designed to interact with websites, and it’s very good at doing so. It renders even image-heavy websites like Amazon’s storefront in a couple of seconds, but it’s not really designed or intended to be used for streaming content, torrenting, or downloading large files.
Its speed tests were remarkably consistent, but also very much on the slower end of things. We tested the UK, US, and Australia proxy servers on a 1 Gb connection, and every test returned a speed just above 21 Mbps.
That’s more than enough for most things when it comes to using the internet and interacting with online apps, but if you’re thinking about doing anything bandwidth-intensive, there are better options than Psylo.
(Image credit: Shaun Rockwood)To put these results into context, a download speed of 25 Mbps is recommended for streaming 4K content, so it’s unlikely this is a browser you’d want to use for your movie marathon. Then again, this isn’t really what Psylo is designed for, so we don’t consider these results to be a mark against it.
UnblockingAs mentioned above, Psylo is not really designed with accessing streaming content in mind, and as such, it struggles with the big streaming sites. Trying to access Disney+ or Amazon Prime Video resulted in a prompt to download the specific platform’s app to view content, and the Paramount+ website refused to load at all when connected to either the UK or US proxy servers.
When connected to BBC iPlayer, it detected that our IP address was not in the UK and refused to display any content, even with the UK proxy server connected. This suggests there might be some issues with accessing geo-restricted content. We’ve raised the issue with Psylo’s tech support team, and they are going to look into it, but for now it’s just something to bear in mind.
Privacy and SecurityWith such a focus on user privacy and security, you would hope that the company’s terms of service and privacy policy reflect that, and Psylo does not disappoint.
Both documents are written in plain, easy-to-understand English and are up front about the information the company collects from you when you sign up for, and use, the product.
Psylo collects your Apple subscription identifier so it knows if you have a valid subscription or not, your App Store region, how much bandwidth you’re using, and timestamps. All uploaded or downloaded data is aggregated by the hour and is rounded to the nearest 50 Mb, making it all the more difficult to identify a specific user. Psylo also does not collect any sort of personally identifiable information (PII), IP addresses, or logs of website visits.
Each of Psylo’s nodes runs an HTTPS proxy server that routes traffic between the silos you create and the target websites via a Proton VPN exit node. These proxy servers can’t see the content of what you’re doing online, but they do see the destination address. Psylo’s no-log policy guarantees that none of this data is logged or stored.
Psylo’s privacy policy is also one of the rare ones that specifies exactly what happens to any stored data once you stop using the service, and how long it will take the company to delete any information it does collect, such as bandwidth data or the details of your subscription.
Psylo is impressively open about the nuts and bolts of its service, despite not being an official open-source product. You can even see a diagram of the system architecture on the Mysk Inc. blog.
Customer supportPsylo has an FAQ available within the app, which goes into detail about the service, including limits on bandwidth, number of silos, details of the no-logs policy, etc. There is also email support, as well as accounts on Bluesky and X/Twitter that you can reach out to with any questions.
At the moment, there’s no live chat support or AI chatbot, but we found the support team responsive and helpful when we reached out during our testing.
(Image credit: Shaun Rockwood)Pricing and plansPsylo is available with a monthly or annual subscription. A monthly subscription is currently £9.99 in the UK ($9.99 in the US), and an annual subscription will cost £99.99 (or $99.99). Psylo is running a deal at present that'll net you 30% off an annual sub, but there’s no getting around the fact that Psylo is one of the more expensive options out there.
£99.99 puts Psylo in the same price bracket as Brave VPN’s annual subscription, which was already nearly twice as much as an annual subscription with a VPN provider like Proton VPN, Surfshark, or even Express VPN, though the month-by-month cost is cheaper than some.
A 7-day free trial is available for users who sign up for the annual subscription, while users who opt to pay monthly get 3 days free to decide if the product is right for them before any money is taken.
Should you use Psylo?Psylo is an interesting product with some strong selling points and an impressive commitment to user privacy, especially defeating browser fingerprinting. There are some alternatives on the market that can be used to obtain a similar result, but none are quite as effective or as elegant as Psylo and often require both multiple apps as well as a fair degree of technical know-how to make them work properly.
The biggest issue is the subscription cost. In a world where it seems almost everyone has their hand out asking users to cough up for an ongoing subscription, wallets are more strained than they ever have been, and an expensive, niche product like Psylo is likely only going to appeal to a specific subset of people.
All this said, we feel that Psylo is a fast, effective product that does exactly what it sets out to do. If you’re someone who values their privacy above all else and you don’t mind paying for it, then Psylo deserves a place as part of your privacy toolkit.
Alternatives to Psylo- The Brave browser is a product with a commitment to user privacy, through what it calls “Shields”. These are designed to block trackers, cross-site cookies, and alert you to phishing or malware risks. It also works to defeat browser fingerprinting by blocking browser-language and font fingerprinting as well as randomizing and/or removing browser features to make you harder to track. Brave also comes with a built-in VPN that requires a subscription to use.
- Aloha is a privacy-first browser with a built-in VPN. It also features an advert, tracker, and malware blocking, along with a no-logs commitment; however, it does not appear to have any specific measures to defeat browser fingerprinting. So, if that's a specific concern, you'd be better off looking at one of the other alternatives. The free version also comes with adverts that can be removed by signing up for a paid subscription.
- LibreWolf is another browser that was based on the Firefox browser, but this one comes with far tougher security out of the box. It’s a little on the bare-bones side and offers little in the way of added features beyond the basics, but as with Psylo, this is a browser you use for a very specific reason. Librewolf comes with uBlock built in and offers strong protection against web tracking and browser fingerprinting. The absence of any sort of subscription makes it a tempting alternative.
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
Categories: Reviews
I tested Canon’s biggest multifunction tank printer and loved it
The Canon imagePROGRAF TC-21M is a large-format printer with a difference; it can also scan and copy. By adding a flatbed scanner to a 24-inch ink tank printer, Canon has created a three-in-one device that could prove indispensable for schools or small businesses wanting to enlarge prints quickly and affordably, or print posters at the point of sale without a PC.
This unique multifunction device can print on cut paper up to LTR or A4 size, or produce banners and personalized wrapping paper on 24-inch wide rolls. With its integrated scanner, you can do more than just copy documents; enlarging graphics such as maps or CAD drawings into A0-size posters can be done via the printer’s own touchscreen interface.
Is it one of the best large format printers? I put it to the test.
Canon imagePROGRAF TC-21M: Design and buildImage 1 of 3(Image credit: Canon // Future)Image 2 of 3(Image credit: Canon // Future)Image 3 of 3(Image credit: Canon // Future)SpecsType: large format color multifunction inkjet printer
Functions: Print, scan, copy
Connectivity: Ethernet, USB, Wi-Fi
Data storage slots: USB Host
Print speed: A3+ in 4min 15sec
Max paper size: 24-inch roll
Print quality: 2,400 x 1,200 dpi
Memory: 1GB
Apple AirPrint: yes
Consumables included: 4 x 70ml ink bottles
Dimensions/Weight: 968 x 533 x 245 mm (WxDxH)/31.7lb/34kg
The user-friendly design has the same chunky appeal as Canon’s other professional MegaTank models, with the rounded off white plastic casing and large tilting touchscreen display.
It’s quite a large unit because the 24-inch paper roll fits neatly inside where it’s kept clean and dust-free. The four ink reservoirs add to the bulk, but given its broad functionality, I’d say this printer is pretty compact.
The A4 scanner platen adds nothing to the size when you compare the multifunction imagePROGRAF TC-21M with the otherwise identical print-only version called imagePROGRAF TC-21, without the ‘M' for multifunction.
Canon imagePROGRAF TC-21M: Features & specifications Image 1 of 3(Image credit: Canon // Future)Image 2 of 3(Image credit: Canon // Future)Image 3 of 3(Image credit: Canon // Future)This is a three-in-one device so you can print, scan and copy. There’s no fax, but it has plenty of other features, enriched by its wide format capabilities. Naturally, it has Wi-Fi with AirPrint, Mopria and Chrome OS compatibility, but it can also enlarge A4 or smaller documents up to A0, or repeat the scanned image to produce banners or wrapping paper on the paper roll.
Alternatively, you can shrink your scans down to make name tags or business cards. Basically, this versatile machine has a much longer list of paper size options than your average wide-format printer.
There’s room for 100 sheets of plain letter or A4 paper in the main tray, while larger sheets of cut paper are loaded one at a time. The internal roll holder will take anything up to 24-inches wide. There’s no output tray to collect your prints, unless you buy the optional stand with integrated basket for around US$180 (£140).
There’s no auto duplex mode either, but there is a USB Host port beside the touchscreen display for a convenient way of printing to, or scanning from a thumb drive.
Canon imagePROGRAF TC-21M: Setup and operationImage 1 of 2(Image credit: Canon // Future)Image 2 of 2(Image credit: Canon // Future)Getting your new Canon imagePROGRAF TC-21M started is much like installing any inkjet printer, except that it takes two to lift it onto the table. There’s also the extra time needed to fit a roll or paper, but the shaftless roll holder makes this quite easy.
The box includes four 70ml bottles of ink which pour into the tanks on the right hand side and the keyed bottle spouts make it impossible to fill the wrong tank.
The touchscreen simplifies the setup procedure by telling you what to do next. It’s even quicker to download Canon’s Print app onto your smartphone and use that to connect it to your local Wi-Fi network. The app also makes it easy to print and scan remotely, or check the printer’s status and ink levels.
Canon imagePROGRAF TC-21M: Performance(Image credit: Canon // Future)The Canon imagePROGRAF TC-21M printed without a hitch and only suffered one A4 paper jam during my tests, which was easily rectified. Overall, it scored highly on ease-of-use and print quality. It takes nearly two minutes to print an A1 poster in standard quality, so it’s not fast, but the results are very good. It also has a draft mode which almost doubles the print speed and the slightly paler print quality is fine for gift paper and the like.
Canon’s single bubble jet printhead has a total of 4,352 nozzles spraying its four pigment inks onto the paper and producing detailed prints at 1,200 x 2,400 dpi resolution. It’s equally adept at printing color documents on A4 paper, as it is on A1.
The four colors look bright and being pigment-based, they dry quickly for smudge-resident and longer lasting results. This is perfect for large maps, CAD drawings and poster-sized graphics, where the vivid colors look pleasing vibrant on plain paper.
With coated photo paper, you still get bright and detailed images, but unsurprisingly, it doesn’t achieve the wide color gamut and natural shading of photo printers like the 12-ink Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1100. It’s certainly good enough to say that the Canon imagePROGRAF TC-21M has strong all-round print quality.
The CIS scanner worked well and made it possible to blow up A4 test documents to A1 size without any real loss of detail. I can see how this application would be useful in a shop, or school setting where posters can be produced without the need of a PC.
I found it quite easy to use the printers touchscreen to turn a test scan into a repeated pattern that could be used as wrapping paper. I did the same thing using Canon’s PosterArt, which is an equally user-friendly piece of software that comes free with the printer.
The only slight problem I had was a practical one. Without the optional stand or any extendable flap to collect each printout, you have to catch each print as it emerges and before the internal cutter sweeps across to dump them on the floor. Easily solved by moving the printer to a bigger table.
Canon imagePROGRAF TC-21M: Consumables (Image credit: Canon // Future)As a refillable ink tank printer, the Canon imagePROGRAF TC-21M is potentially very economical to run, which is important in a printer designed for running out such large prints.
The box includes four 70ml bottles, which is roughly enough ink for around 6,000 letter or A4 pages. While a replacement Canon PFI-050 multipack is significantly cheaper than cartridge ink, it’s quite expensive for bottled ink.
I found compatible pigment ink tended to be around a quarter the price of Canon-branded ink.
Canon imagePROGRAF TC-21M: MaintenanceBeing an inkjet, the Canon imagePROGRAF TC-21M is prone to drying out and suffering clogged nozzles if left unused, but this can usually be solved by simply running a maintenance cycle.
Just enter the printer’s on-screen settings and choose one of the cleaning cycles to flush the nozzles. Further down the line, you may need to replace the PF-08 printhead and MC-32 maintenance cartridge, both of which are reasonably priced by Canon.
Canon imagePROGRAF TC-21M: Final verdict(Image credit: Canon // Future)I enjoyed turning out bright poster-sized prints and banners with the Canon imagePROGRAF TC-21M simply by blowing up images on its integrated scanner. It proved to be a very versatile product with its wide paper size compatibility and two input options.
The touchscreen interface and bundled PosterArtist software ensure it’s easy to use, and with the scanner, front USB port and Wi-Fi with AirPrint compatibility, it’s pretty well featured.
No, it can’t auto-duplex and it’s better with graphics and line drawing than photos, but otherwise, the strong print quality, and the affordability of its bottled ink will make this an essential accessory in many a shop, school or studio.
For more print solutions, I've comprehensively tested the best small business printers and best home printers.
Categories: Reviews
After weeks of testing, the 11th-gen iPad proves it's still one of the best – even without Apple Intelligence
Apple iPad (A16): One-Minute Review
Choosing the best iPad these days can be tricky. Not only are there several models to choose from, but all of those models are also pretty well-specced, and they increasingly look similar.
I've spent several weeks testing the latest iteration of Apple's entry-level tablet, which for the purposes of this review we'll mostly refer to as the 11th-gen iPad. You may also have seen it referred to as the iPad (A16), or the iPad 2025. It’s not noticeably different from the 10th-gen model that arrived in 2022, and which ushered in a significant redesign that brought plenty of modernization.
Instead, this is a more under-the-hood upgrade that keeps Apple's most affordable iPad ever-so-modern and ensures that it'll still be kicking for many years to come. The biggest change is a jump in processing power to the Apple-made A16 – it's not a light-years-ahead upgrade from the A14 Bionic in the 10th-gen iPad, but it's still zippy-fast for opening apps and completing most tasks you'd want to do on an iPad.
Those tasks include playing games, browsing the web, multitasking with two apps, using handwriting recognition with the Apple Pencil, or doing any of the above while on a FaceTime call, without slowing things down or unduly draining the battery life. While testing this iPad alongside an iPad Pro with M4 and the 11-inch iPad Air with M3, I didn't always find myself reaching for those to perform more demanding tasks, thanks to the performance on offer here.
This iPad still boasts a sizable 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display, offering a nice experience for watching almost anything; however, the glossy finish does make it harder to use in very bright environments. Still, there are no issues with color accuracy or the reproduction of visuals here. Apple's still tucking the front-facing cameras alongside the top here, which makes the Magic Keyboard Folio, or at least a Smart Folio, a nice addition. The Magic Keyboard for this iPad still splits into two, which I quite like, but it's not a free upgrade.
Out of the box, this iPad is running iPadOS 18, and it runs really well here, thanks to the A16 chip, but it's not enough power to support Apple Intelligence. That might be a deal breaker for some, but I don't see it as a major shortcoming based on my testing. Remember, you can download ChatGPT from the App Store and it'll work just fine here.
One piece of excellent news is that there will be no price increase for the new entry-level iPad, which means no premium for the A16 chip, and Apple is also doubling the starting storage to 128GB.
While the 11th Gen iPad is sticking with more affordable prices at $349 / £329 / AU$599, it's still more expensive than the 9th Gen iPad once was – with hindsight, that tablet was an excellent deal. Even so, I think many people will find themselves at home with the 11th-gen iPad, they just need a basic model or someone who wants to get a bit more out of an older iPad, like the 9th Gen.
Apple iPad 11th-gen: SpecsiPad Air (A16) SpecsiPad (A16)
Starting price
$349 / £329 / AU$599
Operating System
iPadOS 18
Chipset
A16
Memory (RAM)
6GB
Storage
128GB / 256GB / 512GB
Display
11-inch LED Backlit (2360 x 1640) IPS LCD
Cameras
12MP wide main, 12MP ultrawide front
Battery
28.93Wh
Connectivity
Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3. 5G Sub-6Ghz and Gigabit LTE on Cellular models.
Weight
1.05lbs / 0.475kg without cellular and 1.06lbs / 0.48kg with
Dimensions
9.79 x 7.07 x 0.28 inches / 24.9 x 17.95 x 0.7mm (L x W x D)
Apple iPad A16: Pricing and Availability(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)- The 11th-gen iPad starts at $349 / £329 / AU$599
- One major change: it now starts with 128GB of storage
- It comes in Pink, Yellow, Blue, and Silver
Apple's 11th Gen iPad – also known as the iPad A16 or the 2025 iPad – is on sale now with a starting price of $349 / £329 / AU$599. That starting price gets you 128GB of storage, which is double the starting storage of the 11th-gen iPad with no price increase.
You can choose to upgrade that storage to 256GB or 512GB, but it will cost you. Storage aside, all models have the same specifications, including the A16 chip inside. The 11th-gen iPad comes in four colors: Blue, Pink, Yellow, or Silver.
Apple iPad 11th Gen: Design(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)- The 11th-gen iPad keeps the more modern design that the 10th-gen model ushered in
- It no longer says 'iPad' on the back, now matching the rest of the lineup
- This iPad still feels pretty high-end, with an aluminum build, and is easily portable
As I hinted at above, my favorite part of the iPad A16 – aside from the value proposition it provides – would be the design, and specifically the colors, as the rest of it is basically unchanged. My review model is a lovely shade of Pink that’s vibrant and fun.
Like most other iPads, and different from the likes of a Samsung Galaxy Tab or an Amazon Fire HD tablet, the entry-level iPad A16 is mostly a slice of aluminum. It’s effective at hiding fingerprints on the sides and rear, thanks to its mostly matte finish. This also allows the shade of Pink to vary here, depending on how the light hits it – either bouncing off with a highlight or looking a bit more muted.
The only glossy and fingerprint-prone area on the rear would be the Apple logo. Just like the updated iPad Air with M3 in the 11-inch or 13-inch size, this iPad no longer says iPad on the back. It’s a simple cosmetic change that gives this iPad a more minimalist finish.
If pink isn’t your thing, Apple also offers the iPad A16 in Yellow, Blue, or Silver – all crafted from that single piece of aluminum.
(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)The rest of the story with the design is mainly bezels and buttons. Apple reserves Face ID and the True Depth Sensor stack for the iPad Pro, meaning that to unlock or authenticate securely without entering a pin, you place a finger on the power and sleep button, thanks to it being finished with a piece of glass.
That critical material enables Touch ID, and it works well – I just recommend setting up one finger from each of your hands so that you can better unlock your iPad, regardless of how you’re holding it. The power/sleep button, located at the top, is accessible when you hold the tablet vertically or on the left-hand side when held horizontally, making either position convenient. The volume up and volume down buttons are right next to it.
The only other input-output element is the USB-C port on the bottom, which remains unchanged from the previous-generation 10.9-inch entry-level iPad. In fact, almost every part of the design is unchanged here.
There are stereo speakers that push sound out at the top and bottom when the tablet is vertical or left and right when it’s held horizontally. There’s a main 12-megapixel camera centered along the longer side of the iPad – that’s on the top when held horizontally or on the right side when held vertically – and it delivers excellent performance for video calls. Apple has also kept a 12-megapixel camera on the rear as well.
While Apple didn’t redesign anything here, the 10.9-inch iPad remains a well-crafted tablet, and its modern look and feel complement its performance. It has nearly identical looks to the higher-priced iPad Air and feels at home next to an iPad mini or even an iPad Pro. It still comes in just one screen size, and as I’ll detail below, the 10.9-inch size, which Apple markets as 11-inch, is ideal for a wide range of tasks.
It’s easily portable, weighing in at just 1.06lbs / 0.48kg if you opt for cellular connectivity, or 1.05lbs / 0.475kg with a standard Wi-Fi-only connection. If you’re upgrading from the previous generation, it keeps the exact dimensions – 9.79 x 7.07 x 0.28 inches / 24.9 x 17.95 x 0.7mm – which means your existing Smart Cover Folio or Magic Keyboard Folio will work just fine.
- Design score: 4 / 5
- The 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display is great for most tasks
- The glossy display can make it harder to use in very bright conditions
- The 11th-gen iPad supports two Apple Pencils
If you’re looking for an iPad to browse the web, use various apps, stream movies or TV shows, play some games, and even do a little work, you’ll have no problem with the iPad in almost any scenario.
That’s a testament to the upgrades Apple rolled out in 2022, when it introduced this updated look for the most affordable iPad. The iPad A16 still boasts a 10.9-inch display, although, as Apple has done with the iPad Air and iPad Pro, it rounds that up to 11 inches in the marketing blurb – you’ll see in a footnote on Apple’s tech specs page for the iPad A16 saying it has a 10.86-inch display, which we’ve found to be the same as the 10.9-inch size of the previous generation.
Apple is still opting for its Liquid Retina display technology, and the 11th-gen iPad has an LED IPS screen that offers a resolution of 2360 x 1640 pixels. In my testing, I’ve found that it’s great for watching Severance on Apple TV+ or Nobody Wants This on Netflix, as well as for browsing the web, working within TechRadar’s CMS, or typing in a document. I’ve found that it can get punchy with colors. It’s a great screen to use in general.
The only issues are that it has a glossy, reflective finish, which makes it challenging to use the iPad A16 in really bright scenarios, and that fingerprints easily show on this display. The 11-inch iPad Air with M3 most certainly has the iPad A16 beat here, as it features an additional coating to block reflections, and it can produce even more vibrant colors. Then again, it is a bit more expensive.
I also had no issues with writing or sketching using either the Apple Pencil (first generation) or the Apple Pencil with USB-C on the iPad A16. Using both models here felt quite close to writing with an actual pencil or pen on a sheet of paper, in that there wasn’t a noticeable lag.
- Display score: 4 / 5
- The camera setup on the 11th-gen iPad remains unchanged from that of the 10th-gen
- That's fine, though, as the selfie camera is awesome, mainly thanks to its CenterStage tech
- There's still a rear 12-megapixel camera with no flash as well
The previous-generation iPad (10th-generation, also known as the 10.9-inch or 2022) saw Apple correcting its placement of the selfie camera on its iPads, and the iPad A16 doesn’t make waves by moving it again.
As I mentioned above, the 12-megapixel CenterStage camera lives on the longside of the iPad A16, so if you have it placed in the Magic Keyboard Folio or the Smart Cover and have it laying horizontally, it’ll be in the right spot for you to record a video – maybe a monologue or an audition tape – or to take a video call.
The latter is really where this camera excels. Sure, it’s fine for snapping a selfie, but the CenterStage tech uses some onboard software tricks to always keep you in the frame. So, if you’re prone to pacing on video calls, the A16 processor inside will do the work to keep you in the shot. It’ll work in tandem with the stereo microphones to pick up your voice as well.
If you jump up, crouch down, move to the left, or the right, the camera will slowly but surely pan to keep you in the frame. Remember, though, that it can only follow you so far, as the camera itself isn’t moving. The 12-megapixel camera itself supports up to 1080p HD recording, and is the same one that’s used on the 10th-gen and 9th-gen iPads.
If you want to take photos or record video with your iPad, this model again has a 12-megapixel camera on the rear that works just fine. Don’t expect it to rival the camera built into your phone, or a dedicated camera, though.
- Cameras score: 4 / 5
- Fans of iPadOS will feel right at home on the 11th-gen iPad, as it's the classic experience
- With iPadOS 18, you can still split the screen between two apps and also use picture-in-picture
- Apple Intelligence isn't supported here, but Math Notes does work
Ever since Apple split the iPad’s operating system off from iOS into iPadOS, its tablets have been increasingly treading the line between being entertainment devices and productivity machines. The 11th-gen iPad is similarly multi-talented, and the leap to Apple’s A16 chip over the A14 Bionic in the 10th Gen or the A13 Bionic in the 9th Gen ensures that everything runs smoothly here.
I threw a wide range of tasks at the iPad A16, and it didn’t let me down, although it might have made me wait a bit longer for some things. iPadOS 18 here, though, runs very well and didn’t exhibit any noticeable slowdowns when doing the things most people will use the iPad for. I could open nearly every app in what felt like the blink of an eye, from Safari, Messages, games and streaming services to more demanding ones like iMovie or Final Cut Pro. I could also split the screen without slowing things down and run a video in picture-in-picture, or a FaceTime call while having two other applications open.
The iPad A16 is a very competent device for most tasks – you could easily use it in school or college, splitting the screen to take notes with an Apple Pencil on one side and viewing a slide deck or highlighting lines in a virtual textbook on the other. I could use it for work, responding to emails and Slack, then switching to Safari or Google Chrome to edit or write stories on the web. I also edited a few photos in Pixelmator Pro without a hitch.
(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)Something you won’t find supported here, though, is Apple Intelligence. The A16 is not one of the chips that Apple says can handle it, so those features are not here, nor will they arrive in the future. That means the 11th-gen iPad will not receive the new AI-powered Siri whenever it ships and, currently, doesn’t support features like Writing Tools, Genmoji, Imagic Playground, the new look for Siri, or – one of my favorites – Clean Up in Photos.
If you're looking for an iPad that can run Apple Intelligence, the iPad A16 isn’t the model for you, and you’ll need to consider the iPad mini, Air, or Pro. However, I don’t think this will be a deal-breaker for the type of user this tablet is aimed at. If you’re simply after an iPad on which you can browse the web, work with nearly any app on the App Store, and enjoy some gaming, FaceTime with friends, or Netflix streaming, with some productivity tools thrown in and Apple Pencil support, you’ll be right at home.
Furthermore, you can get AI features running on the iPad A16 by downloading Google Gemini, ChatGPT, or any number of services. I’ve tested those first two here, plus Copilot, and they work just fine. And one of the standout machine learning features from Apple, MathNotes within the Calculator or Notes app, also works just fine here.
One last note on software – while the iPad A16 with iPadOS 18 can’t run StageManager, Apple’s more advanced multitasking solution for iPads, it will support iPadOS 26 and receive a whole host of upgrades when that arrives later this year, likely in September or October 2025. And yes, that does mean true to the iPad windowing of apps, a menu bar, and the ability to place folders in the dock. I think it will stretch the mileage even further here, and the Apple silicon inside should keep it running for many years.
- Software score: 4 / 5
- The A16 chip keeps things running promptly, even if it's not a night-and-day upgrade over the previous generation
- Even more power-hungry tasks like creative edits run well here, but will take some time
Now let’s break down the specifics of the Apple-made A16 chip that powers the 11th-generation iPad. The A16 consists of a 5-core CPU, a 4-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine, and remains relatively modern even in 2025, despite being introduced with the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max.
The other hardware change, alongside the A16 chip, is the doubling of the storage to 128GB from the start, which means plenty of room for apps, videos, and anything else you’d want to store on the iPad. It certainly punches up the value of the device as well.
Inside this iPad, the A16 gives you a tremendous runway – think of it as a performance superhighway – for really any conceivable task you might want to run here. No, it doesn’t essentially eliminate load times, as is the case with the M3-powered iPad Air or the M4-powered iPad Pro, but you’ll be hard pressed to make things slow down here.
I primarily encountered slowdowns when using more creativity-focused applications, such as Pixelmator Pro, Final Cut Pro, or any Adobe Suite product, including Premiere Rush or Photoshop for iPad. Most games, whether Apple Arcade titles or just purchased from the App Store, ran just fine here, and multitasking with picture-in-picture on top didn’t seem to cause much of an issue.
I also ran the iPad A16 through Geekbench 6, which runs the device through a series of tests in a stress-test fashion, and here are the results: 2,577 on single-core and 5,408 on multi-core. While those scores don't beat those of the iPad Air with M3 – and we wouldn’t expect them to – they show that the latest entry-level iPad isn’t any slouch. It matches up pretty clearly without everyday use.
It’s also a highly efficient chip, and it’s paired with a 28.93Wh rechargeable battery inside, which is the same-size cell as in the 11-inch iPad Air with M3. Apple promises up to 10 hours of video playback or surfing the web over Wi-Fi, and up to nine hours on cellular. A better benchmark is that the iPad A16 can last for a full workday of use, depending on the apps you're using. It ships with a USB-C to USB-C cable and a power brick in the box, allowing you to recharge when needed.
- Performance score: 4.5 / 5
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Value
With double the starting storage and the same starting prices as well as the A16 chip and promised future software updates, the entry-level iPad strikes a great value posistion.
4.5/5
Design
The entry-level still looks like a modern tablet with a higher-end design over competitors and support for Touch ID.
4/5
Display
Everything from streaming movies to browsing the web with calls, games, and editing in between looks great, I just wish it got a little brighter to combat using it outside on sunny days.
4/5
Cameras
The CenterStage functionality of the front-facing camera makes this a great device for calls.
4/5
Software
iPadOS 16 runs really well here and gives you basic multitasking and supports the Apple Pencil.
4/5
Performance
The A16 isn't a huge leap over the A14 Bionic and doesn't support Apple Intelligence, but it keeps things running very smoothly and lets you use the iPad for really any conceivable task.
4.5/5
Buy it if...You have an aging iPad or other tablet
Apple's latest entry-level iPad makes a lot of sense if you have an older iPad (maybe something beyond the 9th Gen) or another tablet and have been wanting better performance, battery life, or a larger screen. View Deal
You want an iPad for the basics and then some
With 128GB of starting storage, an excellent 10.9-inch screen, and the A16 chip, the 11th Gen iPad works exceptionally well for a broad range of tasks, including work and entertainment.View Deal
You don't want to spend a ton
With a starting price of $349/£329/AU$599, this is the most affordable way to enter Apple's iPad lineup in terms of a new model.View Deal
Don't buy it if...You need more power
If you want an iPad that can rival the best laptops and serve as your one device for everything, you'll likely want to consider the M3-powered iPad Air or the iPad Pro with M4.View Deal
Your current iPad is working just fine
Considering that even the 9th Gen iPad will receive iPadOS 16 later in 2025, if your current iPad still meets your needs, then you don't need to make the upgrade just yet.View Deal
Also ConsiderWith the 11-inch size just as portable as the 11th Gen base iPad, the Air is all about speeding things up even further, featuring a better screen that doesn't have issues operating on a bright, sunny day, and the ability to pair it with an even better Magic Keyboard.View Deal
It's our pick for the best Android tablet for most folks, and the Galaxy Tab S9 really toes the line of being an excellent slate for both work and play, nearly as well as the iPad.View Deal
Apple iPad 11th Gen: How I Tested(Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)I spent several weeks with the 11th Gen iPad (A16) in Pink, using it with a few Apple-made accessories, including the Magic Keyboard Folio, a Smart Folio, a first-generation Apple Pencil, and the Apple Pencil USB-C. I first unboxed the iPad and then set it up as a new tablet, before beginning to install my usual apps to start using it.
I tested the new, entry-level iPad alongside the new iPad Air with M3 for a few days, conducting comparison testing to see how the two similar iPads, in terms of build, hold up.
I also tried to use the iPad A16 as my primary device for testing. I use the iPad for a broad range of tasks, including much of my job, like responding to Slack, emails, editing photos or videos, and writing and editing stories. I also streamed hours of content from some of the best streaming services and played several games on the tablet.
Categories: Reviews
Wild Hearts S isn’t exactly definitive, but I’m glad the underrated monster hunting game has a home on Switch 2
Review information
Platform reviewed: Nintendo Switch 2
Available on: Nintendo Switch 2 (originally released on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC)
Release date: July 25, 2025
Wild Hearts S is the Nintendo Switch 2 port of the 2023 action game, developed by Dynasty Warriors team Omega Force, and this time published in-house at Koei Tecmo. No longer an EA Originals title, Wild Hearts S has been given a chance to shine on Nintendo’s new hardware. So how does it fare?
Well, performance and visuals are a mixed bag. Wild Hearts S targets 60 frames per second (fps), but unfortunately rarely meets that goal. Instead, frame rate can fluctuate wildly, especially in busy, visually dense areas. Graphics on Switch 2 are also noticeably worse than the original PS5 and Xbox Series X|S release, with greatly simplified textures and geometry. Thankfully, the kemono (Wild Hearts’ term for monsters) still look and animate fantastically, as does your player character.
Thankfully, it never reaches a point that I’d call outright unplayable. If you can get used to the performance and presentational downgrades, Wild Hearts S is a solid port of an underrated game that was never able to leave the long, wyvern-like shadow cast by Capcom’s Monster Hunter series.
Far from being an uninspired clone or quickly-made cash-in, Wild Hearts brings plenty of its own ideas to the monster-hunting subgenre. Its karakuri system is fantastic, as it lets players quickly place down contraptions that are useful for both combat and traversal. Its roster of weapons is interesting, too, with each category falling squarely in that satisfying ‘easy to learn, hard to master’ stable.
It’s a game that I strongly believe doesn’t get enough credit for the things it does right. But that’s not to say there aren’t some frustrating elements. Overall movement can feel a bit stiff, the camera can be your worst enemy, and even early game kemono punish new players hard by hitting like trucks.
But if you’re willing to overlook its shortcomings - and a relative lack of polish compared to Capcom’s flagship franchise - there’s plenty to love about Wild Hearts S.
Real face(Image credit: Koei Tecmo)The main drive of Wild Hearts is that you’re a hunter from a distant land, trying to find a new purpose away from the chaos of the world. You’re drawn to a land ravaged by deadly beasts - known as kemono - and decide to help the town of Minato rebuild and fight back against the threat these creatures pose.
The story is as basic as it gets, but it’s certainly not offensively bad. It’s very much a vehicle to guide you from monster to monster, location to location. What is neat, though, is that the four main areas outside of Minato are massive, and each is inspired by a different season of the year.
After a brief tutorial, which introduces you to some basic combat against smaller monsters and the awesome karakuri system (more on that soon), you’ll have a chance to create your character. If you’ve done character creation in other Koei Tecmo games, like Nioh 2 or Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, it’s very similar here with plenty of options to customize your appearance, hairstyle, and cosmetics. Definitely one of those where you can literally spend your first hour perfecting your look.
Threads of fate(Image credit: Koei Tecmo)Your initial run of hunts in Wild Hearts will gradually introduce you to the karakuri system, which is easily my favorite part of the game. Karakuri are wooden, mechanical contraptions that you can spawn instantly from a quick-select menu, and there are tons of different types that aid you in both combat and traversal.
The most basic of these is a stackable box, which can either help you climb to high ledges or allow you to jump into the air for a plunging attack. Springs, meanwhile, can propel you over gaps or let you lunge at a monster for a surprise attack. These and more have multiple uses, providing a good amount of depth to the game.
That’s kind of a running theme with most karakuri devices - they’ll almost always have more than one use. The game doesn’t always spell out the uses to you outright, either, so there’s plenty of room for experimentation.
Furthermore, some karakuri can combine into larger, more powerful devices. Stacking six boxes creates a bulwark, for example, which can stop charging beasts dead in their tracks. Elsewhere, three torches stacked together create a firework that can ground flying beasts.
Naturally, these hybrid karakuri are more expensive to spawn (the system has its own ‘currency’ called thread, which you can gather from rocks, trees and so on), and outside of tutorial moments introducing you to their uses for the first time, it’s largely up to you to figure out when best to deploy them against specific monsters.
Maybe what I love most about karakuri is that you can place them literally anywhere on the open map. Struggling to locate a monster? Pop down a radar tower to scan the surroundings. Need to cross a large swath of land? The flying vine can zip you over there in a flash. What if you need an extra fast travel point? You can set up a base camp and various amenities anywhere you want. It’s an impressively fluid and dynamic system, and one that can help you shape any hunting ground in your favor.
Hunter monster(Image credit: Koei Tecmo)Wild Hearts’ core objective of hunting large monsters may sound part and parcel for the subgenre, but its pace is decidedly different from that of Capcom’s Monster Hunter series, especially. In Wild Hearts, there’s nothing in the way of item management, and food buffs can be applied at any time, just while you’re out in the field.
That may disappoint some looking for something a bit more slow-paced and preparatory. But Wild Hearts does make up for this in its fast-paced action, aggressive monsters, and its interesting take on build variety.
To start, Wild Hearts handles weapon categories pretty differently from what you might expect. The karakuri katana, for example, is perhaps the easiest to understand. It builds meter as you attack, and when full, it can transform into a whip-like weapon with a powerful, modified move set.
Best bit(Image credit: Koei Tecmo)Wild Hearts S’s karakuri system is a creative and innovative addition to the monster hunting subgenre, greatly expanding traversal and combat possibilities. Examples include planting a spring to launch yourself at a monster for a surprise attack or placing a zipline to cross massive distances quickly. It’s awesome, and I hope we get to see the system expand in a potential sequel someday.
The karakuri staff is a bit more interesting. It morphs between four forms - each with its own move set - with a carefully timed press of ‘ZR’, and these morph attacks build meter when connecting with a monster. At full gauge, you can morph the weapon into a comically large buster sword, unleashing diabolical amounts of damage. It’s a very risky weapon, though; the sword combo is slow and locks you in place, while knowing the best time to morph the weapon is a learning experience in and of itself.
The bladed wagasa is similarly risky, rewarding successfully-timed parries with massive damage. However, my favorite has to be the claw blade, which has a hook you can embed into a creature before swinging around and towards it like a deranged, combat-ready George of the Jungle.
The way you go about upgrading weapons and armor is really interesting, too. Each weapon type has a universal skill tree, which branches off into weapons you can create from various monster parts. While you can beeline from the start of the tree to your desired weapon, it actually can pay dividends to plan out a route on the skill tree that provides unlockable traits which you can carry over to the final build. You don’t need to worry about wasting materials if you mess up or change your mind, either, as you can reset the tree at any time for a small gold fee, refunding all materials used.
Armor is a similar story, most featuring unique skills like increased health or dodging distance while out on a hunt. The key thing here, though, is a gauge that tilts in either a ‘human’ or ‘kemono’ direction depending on which pieces you have equipped. This is important as certain skills will only become active if you’re in the right spot on this gauge, either on the human or kemono side. You can also make human or kemono-inspired versions of armor sets after crafting the base piece, to further influence the gauge.
It’s a really interesting approach that reminded me of how Monster Hunter players craft hybrid sets that target specific skill activations. In Wild Hearts’ case, you may have to sacrifice some defence or elemental resistances in order to get the skills you want, again bringing an element of risk-versus-reward to gameplay. It’s cool.
What's the 'S' for?(Image credit: Koei Tecmo)So what are the big differences in the Nintendo Switch 2 version of Wild Hearts? Well, the game now supports multiplayer for up to four players, an increase from the original release’s three. It’s unfortunately not crossplay, though, which makes Wild Hearts S an independent experience that’ll live or die on the Switch 2’s player base. Another slight downer is that the game doesn’t support voice chat, so you’ll need to rely on GameChat or an app like Discord when playing with friends.
Wild Hearts S does pack in all of the original’s post-launch support from the get-go at least. That includes additional kemono and quests, though there isn’t anything brand new or exclusive to this Switch 2 version that you wouldn’t have seen in the original 2023 package.
Aside from four player multiplayer, then, it’s all sounding like a bit of a downgrade so far. And if you were hoping for a fresh, transformative experience compared to the original release, you’re going to be let down. What doesn’t help here is that the game on Switch 2 does look noticeably worse in the visuals department, and performance can be rocky at the best of times.
Wild Hearts S does at least boast some pretty impressive load times, and quality-of-life features have been implemented. These include buffs to certain weapons and armor sets, as well as a reduced frequency of how often kemono will flee to another area (which was a huge gripe I had with the original).
Otherwise, while the port itself certainly leaves a lot to be desired, Wild Hearts S is still a great and more affordable version of the original at retail price. There’s a ton of content to sink your teeth into here, especially if you’re looking for something different in the lull period between Monster Hunter Wilds patches. It’s definitely not as polished or long-lasting as Capcom’s game, but there are plenty of fresh, fun ideas in Wild Hearts that absolutely make it worth checking out.
Should you play Wild Hearts S?Play it if...You want a unique take on the monster-hunting subgenre
Wild Hearts has plenty of ideas all of its own, including the innovative karakuri system and an interesting take on weapon and armor upgrades.
You’ll have friends to play with on Switch 2
Wild Hearts S has support for four players via online multiplayer. If you know some friends who’re interested in picking up this release, then you’ll probably have a blast.
You were hoping for pristine performance
There have been some impressive Switch 2 ports on the performance front, like Street Fighter 6 and Cyberpunk 2077, but Wild Hearts S isn’t quite there with a notable drop in fidelity and performance that often can’t sit still.
There’s a healthy amount of accessibility options in Wild Hearts S, which could be a knock-on effect of Koei Tecmo working with Electronic Arts for the original release. EA is typically on point when it comes to accessibility options, too, so to see them maintained in this Switch 2 version is great.
You’re getting a suite of colorblind options here for the game’s user interface - protanopia, deuteranopia, and tritanopia - as well as subtitle customization including size, color, and background opacity. You can also change the size of in-game text in general, alter how long you need to hold a button down for certain prompts, and force monophonic audio from all sources.
How I reviewed Wild Hearts SI’ve put 15 hours into Wild Hearts S on Nintendo Switch 2. Having played through the original release on Xbox Series X back in the day, I was already greatly familiar with the game, and I enjoyed it as much now as I did back in 2023. That said, the Switch 2 version doesn’t offer much in the way of substantial additions or improvements, so the overall experience is very similar.
I largely played in docked mode on an LG CX OLED TV, using the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller as my go-to gamepad. I also spent some time in handheld mode, but performance is predictably worse here, so I stuck to TV play as much as I could.
Categories: Reviews
Google Chrome Enterprise Review: Features, Usage, and Competition
Chrome Enterprise is Google’s enterprise-centric version of its popular Chrome browser. With Chrome Enterprise, businesses get the ability to remotely manage the browser and its various aspects, for all their employees across the company.
They can, for instance, manage and control the use of web apps, and extensions, and can influence all kinds of browser settings. Chrome Enterprise also offers several security controls, protects against malware and phishing attempts, and even offers data loss prevention functionality.
This is especially useful these days as web browsers have emerged as a doorway to cyberattacks. In fact, several security reports have shown that a majority of security breaches hit companies through their browsers.
This doesn’t come as a surprise since the growth of cloud-based applications, and powerful SaaS platforms, combined with the accelerated adoption of remote working, has helped transform the web browser into an all-in-one workstation.
Here’s everything you want to know about Chrome Enterprise and whether it’s the best web browser for your business.
Chrome Enterprise: Features(Image credit: Google)Chrome Enterprise is built around the Chrome web browser and inherits all its security features, and productivity enhancements.
For instance, Chrome Enterprise too runs every web page and web app in an isolated environment of its own to protect other tabs against malicious code. You also get Google’s Gemini AI to help create content and summarize information, as well as improve your search with Google Lens.
Besides the regular browser features, Chrome Enterprise also gets you a cloud-based management and reporting interface for free in the form of Chrome Enterprise Core.
After signing up for Chrome Enterprise Core, IT admins can control how your employees use their browsers, from a single console, irrespective of whether they use Windows machines, Linux distros, MacBooks, and Macs, or even iOS and Android devices.
The IT department can segregate browsers into multiple groups for fine-tuned control. This allows them to define and implement different policies for different departments, different job profiles, and even different offices. They can, for instance, mandate certain extensions for the sales team, while disabling them for remote developers.
(Image credit: Google)Talking of extensions, you can use Chrome Enterprise Core to allow, block, force-install or pin Chrome extensions, and even enable your employees to request extensions. IT admins can also remotely send commands to the browser, for example, to delete browser caches or cookies, and tweak all kinds of settings.
In addition to controlling the browsers, Chrome Enterprise also offers detailed reports on the browser’s deployment and use across your organization. You get the ability to view all versions of Chrome installed in your company, along with all the installed web apps and extensions. It’ll also help you keep track of things such as browser crashes, password reuse and more.
For more advanced security and data protections, you can subscribe to Chrome Enterprise Premium, which costs $6/user/month. This will get you additional controls to enforce policies, detailed security reporting functions, and more.
Chrome Enterprise: Privacy(Image credit: Google)The biggest advantage with Chrome Enterprise is that it enables centralized browser management. This helps reduce privacy risks by enabling knowledgeable IT admins make informed decisions on behalf of the employees, not all of whom will be well-versed with the dangers lurking on the web.
Chrome Enterprise benefits from Chrome’s malware and phishing protections, and will also prevent users from visiting harmful sites. It’ll also help the IT department keep an eye on the use of extensions and their behavior, for instance, if they are accessing cookies.
Chrome Enterprise also helps cure some of Chrome’s nefarious privacy-invading features. For instance, it’ll help you control your users’ ad privacy settings, and override whether the browser sends usage statistics and crash-related data to Google.
This is especially useful as depending on how it’s configured, the usage stats include details such as memory usage, button clicks, as well as web page URLs and other personal information. Similarly, crash reports contain system information at the time of the crash, and even URLs, and personal information depending on what the user was doing when the crash reporting was activated.
(Image credit: Google)Chrome Enterprise: Ease of useThe management console of Chrome Enterprise Core is fairly intuitive and easy to navigate, which, Google claims, makes it accessible to IT admins of varying technical skill levels. It helps IT define and enforce policies and browser configurations across different operating systems and devices using a point-and-click interface that’s easy on the eyes.
It also helps ease the process of managing a large number of devices, as all browser settings and policies are controlled from a single console.
The cloud-based management console has interactive setup guides that’ll take admins through the entire setup and configuration process. The process to enroll browsers is straightforward and well-documented with detailed OS-specific instructions.
Chrome Enterprise: CompetitorsChrome Enterprise is built around the regular Google Chrome browser, and has all the features you’d expect from a modern desktop and mobile web browser. As an everyday browser, it’s right up there with the best such as Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, and their ilk.
The primary competition for Chrome Enterprise Core comes from other enterprise-focused browser management solutions. Different enterprise browsers have different capabilities and go about securing the browser differently.
One of the first enterprise browsers in the market was Island. While Chrome Enterprise takes pride in its management capabilities, especially for large-scale deployments, Island offers fairly detailed reports about how the users are using the web, as well as granular security controls.
Other popular enterprise browsers include the Citrix Enterprise Browser whose USP is its seamless integration with the Citrix Workspace platform. There’s also Microsoft Edge for Business that similarly offers tight integration with Microsoft 365 applications like Outlook, Teams, and OneDrive.
In addition to standalone browsers, you also get products that operate much like browser extensions. They are designed to make regular internet browsers act like enterprise browsers. Solutions like LayerX Enterprise Browser Extension, and Red Access add extra security layers to your existing browser, saving your employees the effort to switch to a completely new browser.
Chrome Enterprise: Final verdictChrome Enterprise offers the familiarity of the Chrome web browser along with the centrally managed advantages of an enterprise browser.
You can sign up for Chrome Enterprise Core for $0, which makes it affordable to even the smallest of organizations. Chrome Enterprise is a good option for businesses with mixed device environments, and even more so for those that need to strengthen their BYOD policies.
The product’s central management console is fairly intuitive and well-documented for IT admins, and presents a familiar user experience to end users. Combined with its no-cost tier Chrome Enterprise presents itself as a must-try option for any business looking for an enterprise browser.
Categories: Reviews
Phoenix Browser Review: Features, Usage, and Competition
Phoenix is a fast and intuitive web browser designed explicitly for mobile devices, and supports both Android and iOS. Developed by CloudView technology in 2016, Phoenix is best known for simplifying watching and downloading videos online.
Whether or not Phoenix can be your next default browser will be answered today — read our guide till the end to know everything about its features, disadvantages, privacy policies, and more.
Phoenix browser: FeaturesPhoenix supports video downloads in multiple formats and from multiple sites.
Say you want to know which videos are downloadable on a site — you don't have to click on them individually to check.
Phoenix has a smart video detection feature that automatically points out downloadable videos and leads you to them. However, this feature doesn't work on YouTube owing to Google Play’s privacy policy.
The browser also has a “data saver” feature that the developers claim will compress web pages before they are displayed on your device, in order to reduce the amount of mobile data used while browsing the web.
Another benefit of using Phoenix is its built-in video player. No more hopping onto your gallery to play a video you've downloaded — play the video directly on the browser and lock the screen to avoid disturbances.
Using the video player you can control playback speed, and it also supports a picture-in-picture mode to play videos outside the browser over other apps.
The Phoenix browser comes with an incognito mode, which allows you to browse the web privately without saving your browsing history, cookies, or cache.
Phoenix’s interface is a treat to the eyes. Its web view is built on Chromium, just like Chrome and Edge. This means that when you load a new site, all the elements of that site are displayed without breaking the site design.
The browser also lets you take custom screenshots of the web page. You can take a custom-sized picture by dragging your mouse and then annotating the picture right after. Unlike other browsers, you won't have to go back to the gallery for the edits.
(Image credit: Phoenix)Phoenix ships with a built-in ad blocker that keeps away ads, pop-ups, and annoying notifications. The ad blocker also keeps track of the number and type of ads it has blocked, and the amount of mobile data saved, as well as other details.
(Image credit: Phoenix)Talking of built-in apps, the browser also has a fully functional file manager that you can use to view all kinds of files including PDF and Word documents, Excel sheets, PowerPoint presentations, and a lot more.
The app also has some PDF tools that’ll help convert images, Word files, and PowerPoint presentations into PDF documents.
Phoenix browser: PrivacyWhen it comes to privacy, Phoenix pretty much covers the basics. For starters, it has an incognito mode that you can use to prevent the browser from logging your data and search history.
Its builtin ad blocker will also help boost your privacy by discarding any tracking scripts, cookies, and other data-gathering elements on web pages. This can substantially limit the amount of information websites and advertisers can collect about your browsing habits.
You can also use Phoenix to clean junk files from your mobile, as well as all kinds of browsing data, such as cached images and videos, along with cookies and browsing history, and more. As an added bonus, it can also help free up space by helping find and remove videos, large files, and WhatsApp data.
(Image credit: Phoenix)Phoenix browser: Ease of usePhoenix browser has a clean interface, with a search bar in the middle of the interface and pinned websites below it. At the bottom, you get buttons to launch the file manager, switch tabs, and more.
Its file manager is also pretty intuitive to use. It gives easy access to the downloaded files, as well as the PDF tools. There’s also a find function to help find files.
You also get buttons to quickly access all audio files, video files, documents, images, and more, and can easily clean browsing data, and more with a single tap.
The ad blocker is enabled by default, which is a plus. That said, you do get the option to disable it for specific websites using its icon next to the address bar.
(Image credit: Phoenix)Phoenix browser: CompetitorsPhoenix is one of the few mobile browsers that has interesting features such as a very helpful video downloader, and a fully functional file manager.
It also ships with a built-in ad blocker, much like Opera and Brave.
On the downside though, unlike its popular peers, be it Chrome, Edge, or Safari, Phoenix is ad-supported, and will occasionally display full-screen ads.
Also, when it comes to other browsers like Avast, Opera, Mullvad, or even Firefox, Phoenix gets a lower rank in terms of user privacy. All these browsers offer extra privacy in some way or the other, such as with a built-in VPN. However, all that Phoenix has to offer for free is an ad blocker.
Need a top VPN for 360-degree security? Check out our guide to the best VPN.
Phoenix browser: Final verdictPhoenix is a pretty decent browser. Sure, it doesn't drop jaws in any parameter, be it privacy or features, but it does a little bit of everything, which makes it the perfect solution for those looking to replace their default mobile web browser.
The built-in ad blocker, combined with the “data saver” functionality, is a boon for those who want to save mobile data. Its activated-by-default nature will also appeal to privacy conscious users.
Phoenix’s download manager is ideal for those who regularly download videos on their mobile. In the same vein, the file manager and its productivity features also make it an interesting option for those looking for such functionality.
If you care for any of these features, and can live with its shortcomings, you should take Phoenix for a spin.
Categories: Reviews
Epic Browser Review: Features, Usage, and Competition
Epic Browser is a popular privacy-centric web browser built on the Chromium codebase and released in 2010. It’s owned by an Indian software company called Hidden Reflex, founded by Alok Bhardwaj.
Along with tons of privacy features, its biggest USP is its simple and approachable interface that makes it easy to use for most people.
In this review, we’ll cover Epic’s features, privacy policies, and pros and cons in detail — know everything you have to before you decide if it's the best browser for you.
Epic Browser: FeaturesEpic is always in private browsing mode, which means exiting the browser deletes all browser data. The browser is based on Chromium, which the developers claim to have sanitized by removing Google’s tracking code.
Third-party cookie tracking is disabled by default, and its developers claim the browser is well equipped to protect against all kinds of fingerprinting techniques.
Epic’ headline features are its uBlock-based ad-blocker, and the encrypted proxy that encrypts and routes traffic between your computer and the internet, masking your location for added privacy. The proxy has nodes in seven countries including the US, the UK, Canada, Singapore, Germany, France, and the Netherlands.
The Epic browser comes with a “Reader” mode that lets you convert web pages into plain text, making it easier for you to skim through the paragraphs. Plus, this mode isn't cluttered with unnecessary ads or images, either. This feature is perfect for you if you want your focus only on the written text with no distractions whatsoever.
In addition to Windows and macOS, the browser is also available for Android and iOS devices. The Android version of the browser offers some additional functions, such as the “Audio Queue” feature that’ll use Android text-to-speech function to read out the text on queued webpages.
(Image credit: Epic Browser)Epic Browser: PrivacyThe first thing Epic Browser does to keep your online activities private is not store your browsing data.
What's more, all third-party cookies, annoying ads, and even fingerprinting attempts by hackers are blocked — Epic ensures you get a clean and clutter-free environment to work with every day.
Furthermore, it comes with a built-in encrypted proxy that hides your IP address from everyone, making it impossible for anyone to track you.
The browser uses two search engines, with the default being Yahoo. While the browser encrypts all search queries to Yahoo, the search engine, and a few other Yahoo websites, bypass both its proxy and ad-blocker.
If that spooks you, use the browser’s EpicSearch search engine that strips all your personal information before passing on your search query to a search engine. However, EpicSearch comes with a price tag and costs $2.50/month.
Epic Browser: Ease of useThe browser’s interface is the standard fare. There’s a prominent search bar in the middle of the screen. Like Brave, Epic visualizes privacy protections by displaying stats about the number of trackers and fingerprinting attempts it has blocked.
Unlike other browsers, Epic doesn’t ship with a set of favorite websites of its own, and instead gives you the option to plug the ones you visit most often.
Below the search bar, you get links to a few common browser functions. There’s one that’ll take you to the browser’s privacy and security settings, and another to enable/disable Epic’s ad blocker, and encrypted proxy extensions. You’ll also be able to switch to the paid EpicSearch search engine from the dashboard itself.
If you’ve enabled the two Epic extensions (ad blocker, and encrypted proxy), you’ll get buttons to control their behavior next to the address bar. For instance, you can use the encrypted proxy’s icon to change the country.
Next to these plugin buttons, you have a button to toggle the side panel that can either display your bookmarks, or reading list of saved articles and web pages that you can read later or when offline.
Epic Browser: CompetitorsEpic seems to be competing on two criteria — usability and privacy. In terms of usability, it isn’t much different from its peers. Thanks to the browser’s Chromium-base, you shouldn’t face any issues switching to it from another browser.
In terms of privacy and user security, Epic is up there with the best. Its encrypted proxy feature is free to use and gives you the option to switch between 7 different countries. Opera’s VPN is free to use as well, but doesn’t offer as many countries. Similarly, Edge too has a free VPN, but it comes with a monthly usage cap.
Similarly, just like Brave, Vivaldi, and Opera, Epic too ships with a built-in ad blocker, and has several protections to thwart attempts to fingerprint you.
However, besides the ad-blocker and encrypted proxy, Epic doesn’t have any extensions of its own. Instead it falls back on its Chromium-base to claim compatibility with virtually all of the extensions of the Chrome Web Store.
Epic also lacks performance settings like the ability to put inactive tabs to sleep that you get with many of the top browsers such as Chrome, Edge and Firefox. It also doesn’t have any AI-powered assistants that are becoming a norm in mainstream browsers.
Epic Browser: Final verdictTry Epic if online security is paramount. It’s one of the few browsers with a built-in encrypted proxy that hides your IP address. Turning on this feature will make it impossible for your ISP, government officials, or even hackers to follow you around the internet.
The Epic browser is also quite easy to use and comes with a navigable interface.
New users won’t have to muck about its settings to take advantage of its privacy-centric features, which is a definite plus.
However, it’s also important to remember that the browser lacks some of the features that we have come to expect from modern day web browsers, such as an AI-powered assistant. But if you can live without these convenience features, Epic is a good option for privacy conscious users.
Categories: Reviews
Maxthon Browser Review: Features, Usage, and Competition
Maxthon was designed to support blockchain apps and make it easier for users to access them. Released in 2002, this Chromium-based browser works on Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS. Currently, it's available in 55 different languages.
The browser is best known for its rich catalog of features. It might not be as popular as Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge, but it can stand up to these stalwarts in terms of features.
In this review, we have covered everything about Maxthon’s features, competitors, and pros and cons so that you can decide for yourself whether it's the best browser for you.
Maxthon: FeaturesMaxthon comes with a built-in notepad called “Maxnote” that can be used to take notes as you browse, copy information, web addresses, and images, and arrange them on different platform devices.
The Passkeeper is a password manager that helps you save passwords, usernames, and other login credentials in one click. The next time you try logging in, Maxthon will automatically offer to auto-fill the details on your behalf.
Maxthon’s most unique feature is the “Snap Screen.” This box selection tool lets you select a particular area of the screen to take a screenshot. With most other browsers, you’ll have to take a screenshot and then crop it in the gallery. However, with Maxthon, you can directly crop the desired area before taking the snapshot. If you want to capture the whole screen with a click, go for the “Snap Page” option.
If you want to run a quick background check on certain images, videos, or music, Maxthon’s resource sniffer will be your friend. Within seconds, this feature will extract the URL of any digital asset and lead you to it. The only issue is that this feature is only available in the desktop version.
Maxthon is also one of the very few browsers that supports customizable mouse gestures for common functions, such as switching tabs, and scrolling pages.
Another benefit of using Maxthon is “Tab Grouping.” This feature lets you group tabs on similar topics together to create a more harmonious workspace. After all, if you’re working on multiple topics and have multiple tabs open, keeping track of each page without proper categorization can be challenging.
If you have a lot of tabs open at once, you can also put the inactive ones to sleep. This will prevent your system from lagging or going into overload.
The browser also offers a free VPN as an optional extension that you can add while installing the browser. However, you’ll have to agree to occasionally share your computer’s free resources and your IP address, to use the feature.
Maxthon also has a “Reading mode” that removes distracting elements from a webpage. You can also consume the content using the “Read aloud” function that’ll convert the text on the web page into speech.
The browser also includes a free trial of an AI chatbot. You can also use it to download any video on any webpage. This functionality too is implemented as a free trial.
The headline feature of the browser is its support for blockchain apps, thanks primarily to the inclusion of a blockchain wallet and identity manager called VBox.
(Image credit: Maxthon)Maxthon: PrivacyMaxthon, like most browsers, mentions in its privacy policy that it doesn’t disclose user data to any third party apart from certain special scenarios, such as legal cases.
They also say they collect usage data to improve user experience and browser functionality. But they claim to anonymize the data and ensure that it can’t be used to identify individuals.
Maxthon Browser also claims that it is equipped with robust anti-phishing mechanisms to help protect users from fraudulent websites that trick you into revealing personal information. However there’s no option to tweak, or customize, or even disable this protection in the browser’s settings.
Also, the browser, like virtually all its peers, allows you to browse the web in the Incognito Mode. A more robust option is its VPN service. However, using that will expose your IP address and even use the free resources on your computer, nullifying its existence for many users.
Maxthon: Ease of useYou are asked to sign in/create a Max account when you launch the browser for the first time. This will help sync the browser data across installations. But if you don’t want to use this feature, you can choose to sign in with a guest account.
Also, while its dashboard follows the design philosophy of most web browsers, Maxthon has a rather busy interface.
The dashboard has a dozen pinned websites and you can add and remove them as per your needs. There’s also a search bar, which defaults to Maxthon’s Google-powered MaxAsk search engine. You can of course switch to other options such as Bing, and DuckDuckGo, without much effort.
Some unique Maxthon features, such as Read aloud, Reading mode, Snap Screen, MaxNote, and AI chat, are all easily accessible either from the address bar at the top, or the left sidebar.
The dashboard displays random wallpapers by default, but you can tweak this behavior to display a local image, or none at all. You can also show and hide all the other elements in the dashboard.
You can enable/disable and tweak all of Maxthon’s features from inside a dedicated section in the browser’s neatly arranged Settings section.
Maxthon: CompetitorsMaxthon was founded way before Chrome and Edge, which is why it enjoys a user base of over 100 million users in 140 different countries.
As an old and experienced player in the market, Maxthon is aware of what users want, which is evident through its smart features.
For example, it comes with a useful screen-splitting feature that gives you two interfaces to work with at the same time. This feature is a godsend for multi-tasking fans.
Another benefit of using Maxthon over Chrome and Edge is it doesn't track your behavior. It might collect basic, non-personal data such as your time and frequency of browsing, but it’ll never spy on your online activities.
Maxthon follows Edge’s footsteps to optimize speed and performance and puts inactive tabs to sleep. The logic here is quite simple — the more open tabs you have, the heavier it is on your system. But when you put inactive tabs to sleep, it’ll free up a lot of space and CPU power which can then be used to support other apps and processes.
In terms of security though, Maxthon is clearly defeated by the likes of Firefox, Opera, and Tor. Although it does bundle a free VPN, its riders make it a no-go for privacy-conscious users.
Maxthon: VerdictMaxthon is a good browser for those who care for its built-in blockchain wallet and identity manager. It's not the best browser in the market in terms of performance or security, but when it comes to features, Maxthon is up there with the best.
That said, some of its interesting features like the FreeVPN and the AI chatbot are only available as free trials.
All things considered, Maxthon is a good option for those interested in its blockchain-friendly features. The browser has all the features you’d expect from a modern browser, but none of them unique enough to help it stand out from the crowd.
Categories: Reviews
Tor Browser Review: Features, Usage, and Competition
Created by the Tor Project in 2008, the Tor Browser is a rather unique browser that was established with the intent to help people use the internet anonymously. This is quite evident through its features that resemble VPNs.
Tor, an acronym for The Onion Router, is a software that allows you to browse the web anonymously. Its goal is to prevent people from learning your location or tracking your browsing behavior.
From IP masking to triple-layer encryption, Tor will keep your online business private and lock out nosy intruders such as trackers and malware.
The Tor Browser rolls the benefits of Tor into a web browser. Our review today covers every detail of the browser, including its features, ease of use, privacy, and much more. Read on to know more about its top competitors and how different Tor is from them so that you can make the right choice.
Tor Browser: FeaturesThe Tor Browser is available for all popular desktop operating systems including Windows, Linux, and macOS. You can also use it on your Android device, but not on iOS.
Under normal circumstances, when you visit a website, your computer establishes a direct connection between your computer and the website. The website knows your IP address and where you are coming from and your ISP (or malicious entities) knows which websites you are visiting.
Tor thwarts their surveillance by creating a network of relay nodes across the internet. When you visit a website using Tor, the data to and from your computer is bounced around these nodes before ending up at the intended website. This masks your origins from the website and no one knows where the network traffic from your computer is headed.
By default, the Tor Browser protects your security by encrypting your browsing data three times as it passes over the Tor network. You can also use the browser to disable certain web features, such as JavaScript, that nefarious users can exploit to compromise your security and anonymity.
On top of that, the Tor Browser isolates each website you visit so third-party trackers and ads can't follow you. It also thwarts any attempts to fingerprint you by making all its users look the same. The browser will also delete any cookies and your browsing history automatically when you're done browsing.
Apart from Tor, no other browser gives you access to locked or geo-restricted content, straight out of the box. This feature works a lot like VPNs. Since using the browser masks your location and IP, the target website cannot recognize that your request is coming from a banned location, and you get to access their content. On the flip side, if the ban is imposed by your home network, Tor will help you bypass that as well and access whatever content you need.
(Image credit: Tor)Tor Browser: PrivacyThe Tor browser uses three security levels to safeguard your privacy.
It is safe to use on most device types, such as Androids and macOS, and in most cases, it does fairly well in terms of privacy.
For starters, it passes your web traffic through three layers of encryption so that no online tracker can monitor your activity or collect your data. On top of that, it's also one of the few browsers that hide your IP address by default, making it harder for spammers to target you.
The browser enables the NoScript extension by default, which blocks active content, like WebGL, Flash, Java applets, and such) for all websites until you explicitly allow it from trusted sites.
It’ll also thwart any fingerprinting attempts, and will also zap cookies automatically when you close the browser. And unlike many of its peers, it uses the privacy-respecting DuckDuckGo search engine by default.
Tor Browser: Ease of useTor browser is relatively easy to use. On launch, you’ll first have to ask the browser to connect to the Tor network. You can do this manually, or toggle the option on the main page to do this automatically every time you launch the browser.
The interface is quite simple, with a minimal menu and options, so you don't have to spend too much time figuring out the setup.
The layout is quite standard with no fancy dashboard. You get the address bar and tabs on the top margin of the screen. On the left side of the address bar, you’ll find the options to control navigation, where you can choose whether to load a page or go back to the previous one.
On the right side of the address bar, you’ll get buttons to switch the security level, and to get a new identity. When you click the New Identity button, the browser will restart and establish new Tor circuits for all connections. This helps ensure that subsequent browsing activity cannot be linked to what you were doing before.
Tor Browser: CompetitorsTor is unique in what it does and how it does it. While you could use the Incognito mode that's available in Google Chrome, the Private Browsing in Mozilla Firefox or the InPrivate mode in Microsoft Edge, to stop other people who share your computer from seeing your browsing history, they won't prevent your ISP from monitoring the sites you're visiting.
Its closest competitors are free VPN equipped browsers like Opera and Edge.
While Chrome has the biggest market share in the industry, it cannot beat Tor in security and user privacy.
In fact, Chrome’s quite infamous for its poor user privacy measure. The browser has also been involved in many consumer privacy rights lawsuits and is known to sell user data.
Tor, on the other hand, goes out of its way to keep all your online sessions secure and even brought in VPN-like features to keep away hackers, trackers, and malware. For example, it helps you hide your location and contact details so that any unauthorized party can neither spam you nor impersonate you.
The only downside to using Tor is that websites load slower than usual as the data to and from the website passes through so many relay nodes in the middle.
Tor Browser: Final verdictTor is a great browser for those who take web security and data privacy very seriously. It's one of the few well-known browsers to use multiple encryption levels to filter your online traffic and prevent trackers and malware from reaching your system.
It's also quite simple to use, lightweight, and goes easy on your battery. What’s more, it helps you bypass the site blocks imposed by your home network so that you can freely browse any content you want. In short, it's the finest example of simplicity meeting power — check it out for a taste of its full potential.
Categories: Reviews
Brave Browser Review: Features, Usage, and Competition
Brave is a unique browser that puts a strong emphasis on privacy. While you can equip the popular web browsers to thwart unwanted information leaks, the Brave web browser ships with privacy strengthening features built right into its core.
A relatively new entrant, the Brave browser was only founded in 2016. But thanks to its unique set of features, the browser has emerged as one of the most promising entrants in the industry and has amassed over 70 million users in less than a decade.
Besides its strong emphasis on privacy, another interesting feature in Brave is that it offers users the option to earn cryptocurrency by viewing privacy-respecting ads.
If you want to know more about how Brave can transform the internet for you, read on.
Brave browser: FeaturesIt’ll be in fact a folly to look at Brave as just another web browser. Instead, think of it as an ecosystem of apps and services.
Along with the list of recently visited websites, you can also ask the browsers to enable the Brave News service.
One prominent component of that ecosystem built into the web browser is Brave Rewards, which again you can enable from the dashboard. When toggled, Brave Rewards will display the occasional, unobtrusive advert. In return however, if you view enough of them you’ll be rewarded in Brave’s native cryptocurrency, the Basic Attention Token. You can then pass these over to your favourite content creators.
Also, by default the browser uses Brave Search, which is the browser’s privacy-centric search engine. You do however get the option to switch to any of the other popular options. Another interesting feature is its ability to display vertical tabs.
The privacy offered by Brave is simply unparalleled. It clearly states on its website that it isn’t in the business of selling user data. In fact, it actively fights trackers, malware, hackers, and anyone who might try to break into your system through the browser.
Brave will let you know exactly how many ads and trackers it's blocking every day. Along with that, you’ll also get to customize your browser’s shield settings. For example, if you want to keep the ads coming in from a website you’re familiar with and block the ones from the rest, you can adjust those settings accordingly.
For additional security, Brave offers a built-in VPN and firewall. While most other browsers with VPNs limit their functionality to masking IPs alone, Brave goes a step ahead and encrypts everything you do online. In short, there’ll be no way to trace back any activity to your account.
Brave also includes a privacy-focused video conferencing feature called Brave Talk. You can use it to make free, unlimited one-to-one video calls, without creating a separate account. The browser also integrates Tor to help you browse the internet anonymously.
It also includes a webpage translation function, and will help you find archived versions of missing web pages thanks to its integration with the Wayback Machine service.
If you don't like the default design of the browser, you’ll have plenty of options to experiment with the colors and the background. By default, the browser displays random images as the background, but you can add images from your system, edit, crop, or resize them and turn on the dark/night mode to protect your eyes during long working hours.
Reading a report or blog is highly convenient and quick with Brave’s Speedreader feature. All unnecessary visual elements are removed upon activating this feature, and only pure content is filtered out and displayed in a simpler format. Reducing design elements also helps the page load faster, which further reduces the reading time.
And keeping up with the times, Brave also includes an AI assistant called Leo that can summarize web pages, answer questions about content on a web page, and more.
Besides the Brave-specific functionalities, the browser has all the features you’d expect from a mainstream web browser. As it’s based on Chromium, the browser is compatible with all the extensions in Google Chrome’s Web Store. Oh, and it’ll hide those irritating cookie consent notices.
(Image credit: Brave)Brave browser: PrivacyAfter reading through Brave’s privacy policy and observing its performance over the years, it's safe to claim that it's a privacy-friendly browser. As per its policy, it doesn’t store your data, track your activities or sell details about you to any third party.
Brave also supports fingerprint randomization, which essentially makes you appear different to all websites, further thwarting any tracking attempts. There’s also its Tor mode for anonymous browsing.
If you want more robust privacy, you can use Brave’s built-in VPN to keep all your online activities anonymous.
Speaking of built-in tools, Brave also offers integrated ad blockers and tracker blockers so that it becomes impossible for any third party to monitor your web history or disrupt your experience with annoying pop-ups.
Also, since it's a Chromium-based browser, you can look up Brave’s code any time you want and come up with your own ways to make it more secure.
(Image credit: Brave)Brave browser: Ease of useWhether you are an experienced campaigner or a newbie, getting started with Brave shouldn’t pose a problem. On first run the browser offers to import settings and bookmarks from other installed browsers.
The interface of the Brave browser is quite similar to Chrome, so if you’re familiar with the latter, getting started with Brave will be a piece of cake for you.
The main page is quite simple and clutter-free. Brave’s dashboard proudly displays the number of trackers and ads it has blocked, and the bandwidth and time this has saved.
If you want to enroll in the Brave Rewards program to earn some extra tokens, simply click on the red triangular icon on the right side of the search bar to get started.
Next to it is the Shields icon that’ll give you details about the trackers, ads, and other nefarious privacy-intruding elements that it has blocked. You can enjoy the protection as is, or customize it using this icon.
Most useful functions, such as the VPN are also within reach and can be toggled with a single click. Some, such as the Talk video conferencing tool, don’t take much effort to get going.
Brave browser: CompetitorsBrave is rather new to the market, just like Vivaldi. Its lack of experience puts it at a disadvantage, especially against big tech companies like Google and Microsoft, which are dominating the industry.
However, there are more than a few reasons why Brave could be your next default browser. Firstly, unlike Chrome, Brave is renowned for the tight security of user data. It not only comes with a built-in tracker blocker and ad blocker but also disables bad cookies by default.
On top of that, its privacy policy page confirms that it neither collects your data nor sells it to any third party.
Brave is also the only well-known browser that lets you earn rewards and tokens for watching privacy-respecting ads. The money you earn from these ads can then be forwarded anonymously to creators you want to support through its own payment portal called Brave Payments.
On the downside though, Brave doesn’t have the same extensive portfolio of extensions that you’ll find on some of its peers like Chrome. And while its ad-blocking can be a boon to privacy conscious users, it’ll cause issues on certain websites.
Also, while it does ship with a VPN, unlike VPNs in Opera and Edge, Brave VPN is a paid subscription service that offers a 7-day free trial. It’s also currently not available on the Linux version of the browser.
Brave browser: Final verdictAlthough Brave is relatively new to the market, its new-age features and adaptive design have given a glimpse into its potential.
Brave offers some unique features like no other browser. For example, it lets you earn rewards by watching privacy-respecting ads, which you can then donate to support your favorite creators.
Also, it deletes all bad cookies and prevents any unauthorized third-party software from tracking by default. This means that even before you configure its settings, Brave will ensure that all your online activities are safe from day one.
All things considered, if you value your online privacy and can live with the occasional site breakage, you can’t go wrong with Brave.
Also check out our roundup of the best anonymous browsers
Categories: Reviews
Vivaldi Browser Review: Features, Usage, and Competition
Need a browser to handle sensitive information? A secure and encrypted browser like Vivaldi might just be what you’re looking for.
Vivaldi might not be one of the most popular browsers, but if you’re after a feature-loaded option, it's a must-try. The browser is created by former Opera developers, and aims to add unique features and functionality on top of its Chromium-base.
It's also fast, responsive, and incredibly light on your system. Read till the end to find out more about Vivaldi and see if it's the best browser for you.
Vivaldi browser: FeaturesThe best thing about Vivaldi is its tag management features. For starters, you can put inactive tabs on hibernation mode to save battery and free up more space. For managing multiple tabs, Vivaldi offers a separate set of features. You can open them in a split-screen view to see multiple pages at once. Or, you can also group similar tabs together in a two-way stack, keeping your workspace clean and clutter-free.
Say you want to access all the tabs you opened in one particular session — Vivaldi allows that by giving you the option to name each session. Once done, all you have to do later is type in a particular session’s name, and the tabs will be in front of you. It's the perfect feature for both students and working professionals who work on the same topic on a long-term basis.
Vivaldi comes with a built-in ad blocker, so it offers a calm and peaceful “Reader View.” This basically means that you can cut through all the unnecessary notifications, ads, and floating windows to concentrate on your work and enjoy nothing but the content you’re looking for online. It can also hide the irritating cookie banners and popups on most websites.
You can also use its “Break mode” that fades content and pauses any playing media to help you take your eyes off the screen, and relax. It also includes a mail client, calendar, and a feed reader. They are disabled by default, but you can enable them from the settings.
If you want to watch a video as you work or browse the internet, Vivaldi will put that on a floating window. Of course, you’ll be able to adjust the position of this small window so that you can look at it and still see what’s playing on the screen behind it. This facilitates multi-tasking too.
Vivaldi’s installation sharing is another benefit of using this browser. No need for multiple installations for different users — after you create a user profile, you can share the installation with other users.
If you want to check social media feeds or chat with someone as you work, you can add additional web panels on the side of the screen. If not, this space will be occupied by the default menu that lets you manage your bookmarks, downloads, and more.
The sidebar also includes a Notes feature, as well as a Translate tool. Like any modern browser, Vivaldi also has a Sync feature that allows you to synchronize bookmarks, history, passwords, open tabs, and more with other Vivaldi installations.
Another interesting feature is its support for mouse gestures. Thanks to this feature you can perform common tasks such as open and close tabs, open a link in a new tab, reload page, and more with a flick of the mouse. The browser ships with several default gestures, and you can also define your own.
(Image credit: Vivaldi)Vivaldi browser: PrivacyVivaldi does pretty well in terms of privacy and security. It doesn't track your browsing history, and according to its privacy policy, it doesn't profile and track users, nor does it collect and sell user data.
If you use the Sync option, your download history and other browser data will be synced to other devices via an encrypted channel. As already mentioned, there’s also a built-in tracker and ad blocker, plus the ability to disable all cookies from third-party sites. Also, like most of its peers, Vivaldi supports private browsing and has a very capable password manager as well.
Together, these features protect you from trackers and potential hackers who might want to break into your system.
(Image credit: Vivaldi)Vivaldi browser: Ease of useVivaldi is quite easy to use. It’s Chromium-based and made using the latest algorithms, so the user interface won't take too long for you to master. The same goes for the Vivaldi mobile app, which is quite similar to the web version in terms of aesthetics and appeal and is just as easy to use.
After installation, it takes through an onboarding process that helps you import bookmarks and other data from other browsers, choose a theme, and more. By default it places tabs at the top, but you can also place them on the left, right, or at the bottom of the window.
The best thing about the browser is its fully functional sidebar. Besides providing easy access to the browser’s downloads, history, and bookmarks, you can also access all of Vivaldi’s most used tools from here.
We particularly like how the browser’s design is customizable, and you can experiment with multiple themes of your choice.
Vivaldi browser: CompetitorsVivaldi faces tough competition from Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Safari, and Opera, to name a few.
The biggest drawback of Vivaldi is that it's relatively new to the market. On the other hand, browsers like Opera, Firefox, and Chrome have been around for a long, long time. They have a strong hold over the market, making it difficult for new browsers like Vivaldi to break in.
The browser has also deliberately avoided jumping on the AI-bandwagon with its CEO saying that AI isn't a priority for them.
Vivaldi also doesn’t have extensions of its own. Instead it points users to the ones on the Chrome Web Store, thanks to its Chromium base. But this comes with a caveat—not all extensions designed for Chrome will work flawlessly on Vivaldi.
However, on the flip side, Vivaldi not only includes a free VPN like Opera and Edge, but its implementation, courtesy of ProtonVPN, is uncapped. That said, the VPN facility is currently only available on the desktop version.
Also, Vivaldi is one of the few browsers that provides a commendable environment to foster work and efficiency — it offers a separate set of task management tools that helps you manage your tabs and keep your workspace clutter-free.
Vivaldi browser: Final verdictPeople who enjoy feature-rich browsers will certainly enjoy Vivalidi. After all, there’s just so much to do.
For example, it makes browsing multiple tabs more efficient through the Tab Stacking feature — group two or more tabs of the same subject together. You can also send the inactive ones into hibernation mode to save battery and CPU power.
On top of all this, Vivaldi also comes with a built-in tracker and ad blocker, which, to be fair, are available on most browsers. That said, their presence is certainly appreciated. One protects you from malicious websites that collect user data, while the latter blocks annoying pop-ups and ads that might otherwise disrupt your experience.
All said and done, thanks to the inclusion of an email client, and a feed reader, Vivaldi is designed for people who want to use their web browser for more than just browsing the web.
Also check out our roundup of the best anonymous browsers.
Categories: Reviews
Google Chrome Review: Features, Usage, and Competition
Google Chrome needs no introduction. For many of us, Google Chrome was our first browser. Credit to its simplicity and close knit integration with the Google ecosystem of apps and services, Chrome remains the #1 browser in searches, user base, integrations, and more.
While the exact figures vary, all benchmarks give Chrome well over 50% of the web browser market share, across all platforms. Many suggest that over two-thirds of the world uses Chrome to browse the web.
If you’re looking for an all-in-one browser that’s fast, secure, and easy to use, Chrome could be the best web browser for you. Read on for more details.
Google Chrome: Features(Image credit: Chrome)Google Chrome offers a built-in password manager that automatically asks if you want to save your passwords and then later offers to autofill when you log back in. The browser will also warn you if any of your passwords is compromised due to a data breach anywhere on the web. It’ll also help you identify weak passwords and offer to change reused ones.
The browser’s dark mode is perfect for night owls. If you don't want the pertinent blue light to hurt your eyes, this feature is for you. Google also lets you experiment with many other artistic themes along with the default and dark themes.
The Chrome browser is automatically integrated with other Google products such as Google Drive, Google Sheets, and Google Docs. If you look up something on the browser, all your files containing that keyword will pop up in the suggestions.
Tab management is a cakewalk with Google Chrome. To increase your productivity, Google lets you open and manage multiple tabs at once. You can also group tabs with similar topics so that you keep track of all of them in the crowd.
The best feature of Google’s tab management is that it lets you pin tabs that you use frequently. This way, the pinned tab or website will open automatically, saving you the hassle of starting the process from the beginning.
Managing your other Google accounts is also quite easy. All you have to do is click on your profile picture in the top-right corner, and it’ll roll down a list of your other Google accounts. Having separate accounts is a great way to keep your professional and personal life apart.
Google analyzes your searches to see what exactly you’re interested in. This data is then used to create a personalized news feed for you on your mobile.
For example, you might have noticed that if you research a new college course, all details regarding the best colleges and upcoming exam dates will pop up in your news feed — that’s Google Chrome’s doing.
To top it all, Chrome also bakes in popular Google services like Google Translate and Google Lens. You can use Google Lens to search and ask questions about anything you see on a webpage, including text in a video. Chrome can also translate captions in near real-time while playing audio and video.
The browser also ships with Google Cast built-in, which means you can also stream content from Chrome to your Google TV/Android TV or Chromecast device without much effort. Similarly, you can also quickly access other Google services that aren’t included with Chrome, such as the Gemini AI.
Google Chrome: Privacy(Image credit: Chrome)Google Chrome has a built-in security system that protects you from malware and viruses even before they reach your device. It also uses high-level encryption to keep your data safe, especially during transit through emails.
Chrome also has a Privacy Guide feature that’s accessible via the Settings, which takes you through multiple steps to help you strengthen and customize the browser’s privacy settings.
However, despite all these claims of security and privacy, Chrome has often been accused of selling personal user data. Sure, almost every other browser does it, but Chrome does it more than anyone else. In fact, Google had many long-running consumer privacy lawsuits filed against it. One was settled in 2022 for a whopping $85 million. Another seeking $5 billion for misleading consumers regarding Chrome’s Incognito mode was settled in 2024.
So if you’re looking for a truly secure and private browser, you're much better off with Tor, Firefox, or Brave.
Google Chrome: Ease of useGoogle Chrome is undoubtedly an easy-to-use browser, at least on a basic level. Your first and most basic interaction with Chrome would be to look up things on the internet. Just open the app and type in your query in the search box located right in the center — it's impossible to miss it.
This design is so popular that it has now been adopted by several of the other leading web browsers in the market.
Next, you can access other Google apps via Chrome. Pretty straightforward again, Click on the dotted square next to your profile picture. All Google apps, such as YouTube, Drive, Contacts, Photos, Google Meet, etc., will pop right up. It won't take you long to learn your way around the app.
On top of this, most of Google’s powerful tools such as Translate, Lens, and Cast are easily accessible via the right-click context-menu.
Google Chrome: CompetitorsGoogle Chrome remains the number one choice of many users due to its wide availability. Unlike many of its peers like Opera or Brave, a majority of devices and operating systems have Chrome as their default browser.
Google’s number one competitor these days is Microsoft Edge. Sure, Edge's market share is far below Chrome, but it has a few points over Chrome with its tab management feature that lets you stack them vertically. Chrome, on the other hand, has only one option, and that’s to line them up horizontally. Another benefit of using Edge, and Opera, are their built-in VPN service.
However, on the flip side, Chrome is faster at pushing out updates and fixing vulnerabilities with security patches. Others do it, too, but not as fast as Chrome.
Also, Chrome’s extension store is much better than Edge, or any other browser. You have about 130,000 options that are easy to add and will drastically improve your experience.
Google Chrome: Final verdictGoogle Chrome is the most popular browser in the world commanding well over 50% of the market share. So it's needless to say that Chrome is certainly a reliable and worthy browser that should surely win you over.
Also, you won't have to go through too much trouble to get started with Chrome. The interface is quite simple, and while it offers enough options to maximize your experience, it doesn’t demand technical adeptness.
The browser is especially useful for those who rely on Google’s apps and services. Once you settle in, have all your documents saved in the drive, upload your passwords to the password manager, and get your Gmail account — Chrome will offer an integrated experience and ecosystem that you’ll never want to leave.
Categories: Reviews
Opera Browser Review: Features, Usage, and Competition
Opera was founded in 1995, which makes it one of the oldest browsers (even older than Chrome and Edge), which adds to its credibility. While its earlier versions were known to be slow and featureless, the recent updates have put it on par with the competitors.
In fact, in some areas, such as performance and security, Opera has surpassed other popular browsers with its consistent and remarkable service. If you’re planning to give Opera another try or have yet to experience it, read this guide till the end to find everything you need to know about whether it's the best browser for you.
Opera browser: FeaturesOpera is perhaps one of the only widely recognized browsers that provides a free VPN to all users. Sure, Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge provide an option to use VPN, but they are either paid services or have a data cap. VPN-enabled browsing is undoubtedly far safer than any incognito mode or private browsing mode.
(Image credit: Opera)It also comes with a built-in adblocker that gives you a seamless browsing experience without the distraction of pop-ups. Also, since pop-ups from unknown websites could be bait from hackers, keeping them blocked is a great way to protect your system against such digital attacks. Another notable benefit of having ads blocked is the browser will load much faster.
Opera also integrates with many popular social media sites such as Instagram, X, and Facebook Messenger. If you frequently use these platforms on the web, Opera’s instant access feature will definitely benefit you. Opera also integrates with WhatsApp and lets you chat through a small WhatsApp window on the sidebar as you browse online. It's the perfect way to work online while collaborating with your team.
One of Opera’s most unique features is the “Lucid Mode,” which instantly improves the quality of your videos and images with a click. Opera has also made managing web snapshots easier than ever. While traditionally, you had to go back to the folder where any snapshots you’ve taken are saved to edit them, Opera allows you to edit them as soon as you capture the screen.
If you want to watch videos as you work, Opera has the perfect solution for you — Video Pop-Up. Using this, you can make the video window float on the screen as you browse other things. The same goes for music and podcasts — you can play any audio in the background as you work. Unlike music on YouTube that disappears as soon as you close the tab, this feature will keep the music running at all times.
Opera provides you with an easy way to save and share web content that you frequently browse, all thanks to its “Pinboards” feature. Additionally, you can share this saved content visually with other users.
Talking of sharing content, the browser also has a file sharing service built-in that securely sends data between the connected devices via an encrypted channel.
Opera also has wonderful tab management features. For starters, you can easily identify tabs by adding emojis to them. If you have lots of open tabs, you can organize them in groups, and workspaces for easier access. You can even view the content of two tabs alongside each other by splitting the screen.
Opera browser: PrivacyOpera has a high standard for user privacy. For starters, it provides a free VPN to all its users so that none of you have to worry about your activities being tracked.
Secondly, it blocks all ads and pop-ups that could possibly lead you to websites that steal data.
Thirdly, you get a tracker blocker that's specially designed to keep away third-party tools that are infamous for stealing your data.
These features come together to not only keep your data safe but also reduce the load time, lighten the load on your CPU and RAM, and boost the overall performance of your device.
(Image credit: Opera)Opera browser: Ease Of useOpera has upped its game when it comes to user experience. The browser’s onboarding process is similar to its peers and lets you quickly import bookmarks, and more.
The browser’s interface is neatly arranged and again looks similar to other popular browsers. There’s a search bar in the middle of the landing page along with a list of some popular websites that you can customize or disable altogether.
It also groups and makes available commonly accessed settings in an easily accessible Easy setup menu. From here you can customize the start page, alter the layout, switch themes, and more.
Accessing your social media apps via Opera is easy too. You’ll find all the necessary shortcuts on the left-side menu of the screen. The sidebar comes with its own setup settings, which help you quickly customize the content of the sidebar. You can also hide it altogether if it is a distraction, and further unclutter the interface.
Opera browser: CompetitorsAs with other tier 2 browsers, Opera faces tough competition from Chrome, Edge, and Firefox.
Chrome has the biggest market share in the browser industry, and commands over half of the web browser market share. However, more doesn't always mean better. Opera is slightly ahead of Chrome in terms of user security and performance efficiency.
For example, while Chrome offers a paid VPN service, Opera offers it for free. Chrome takes up too much space and slows down your system, whereas Opera is fast and responsive. Along with that, Chrome has faced several lawsuits and allegations for leaking user data, but Opera is widely renowned for its safe network.
The same goes for Edge. When compared for privacy and security, Opera is the clear winner. It not only has a wide range of security settings but many features, such as an intuitive ad-blocker, are set by default. This way, your browsing experience remains secure from day one.
Speaking of Firefox and Opera, the latter is a few brownie points above the former with faster loading, enhanced tracking protection, and a built-in tracker blocker.
Also, unlike its peers, Opera has a “Battery Saver” mode that can extend battery life. You can even set it up so that it kicks in automatically when you unplug your laptop.
Opera browser: Final verdictOpera is a comprehensive browser with enough in it to win you over. It provides you with a secure browsing space like no other and offers a free VPN too, which further adds to your protection.
Despite not being one of the top contenders in the market, Opera’s catalog of features is praiseworthy. Starting from multiple browser themes and integrated social media platforms to AI integration and simpler task management, Opera does it all.
Last but not least, Opera takes much less space and CPU power than its more popular peers, meaning your system and other apps work smoother.
Categories: Reviews
Mozilla Firefox Review: Features, Usage, and Competition
Mozilla Firefox was introduced in 2004 and hit 100 million downloads in less than a year after launch. However, things began to go downhill for it after Google Chrome was launched and heavily promoted in lieu of Firefox.
Still the default web browser on virtually all Linux distros, Firefox, at one point, had over 350 million users. But its market share has now dropped significantly, pushing it to the fourth spot behind Chrome, Safari, and Microsoft Edge.
Although Chrome might have gained immense popularity, the speed and security provided by Firefox remain unbeatable to date.
If you’re looking for a privacy-friendly browser that’s lightweight and kind on your system, read on till the end, as we believe Firefox might just be the best browser for you.
Mozilla Firefox: FeaturesFirefox has been proven to use less memory than Chrome, for a majority of users. When using multiple apps along with Firefox, they won't lag or freeze, which is a common problem with other slow browsers.
Firefox uses the bare minimum memory so that it works fine without slowing down the entire system. It also automatically blocks ad trackers and third-party cookies from collecting your personal data.
Like most other popular browsers, Firefox also has its own built-in password manager.
As you create a new account on a website, it’ll ask whether you want to save its credentials or not. If you do, the next time you log into that account, it’ll give you the option to autofill the password on your behalf.
Firefox offers much more security and privacy than any other browser. There’s the Private Browsing mode that deletes your history and cookies after every browsing session. Each time you close the tab, all links that could trace back to your searches will be erased automatically.
While many other browsers let you bookmark your favorite websites, Firefox goes a step ahead and lets you create separate folders. You can customize the names and categorize similar links into the same folder. This way, you’ll save a lot of space, plus it'll be much easier to look for the bookmarked page.
You can also pin tabs in Firefox to keep your favorite and often visited websites, like email, always open. The browser will also notify you when the content of a pinned tab is updated, for instance, when you get a new email.
Firefox's built-in language translator lets you translate the web pages in the results into 100 different international languages of your choice — a truly global browser that erases language barriers.
Firefox also has a built-in screenshot tool that gives you several options for capturing a web page. Using this feature you can save the entire page, including the sections that aren’t visible without scrolling.
It also includes the Pocket app by default. You can use it to save content as you browse the web and access it later, even when offline.
Like some of its peers, Firefox also has a PDF reader that’s good enough to eradicate the need for having a dedicated app, for most users.
Most web browsers can pop out videos into their own individual floating windows, thanks to a feature called Picture-in-Picture mode. However, Firefox’s implementation offers more functionality than many of its peers. You can turn it on by clicking the Picture-in-Picture button when you hover over a video.
Firefox is indeed a highly functional and powerful web browser, but there’s always room to improve, right? That’s why it lets you add extensions to the default browser to make your life easier.
Mozilla Firefox: Privacy (Image credit: Firefox)We cannot emphasize enough that Firefox is one of the most secure and privacy-friendly browsers out there.
Even on its FAQ page about privacy, you’ll see that it has addressed the issue and stated that Firefox neither sells your data nor buys it from other parties. It wants you to have a truly authentic and unbiased browsing experience.
On top of that, while other popular browsers such as Chrome are swimming in privacy violation lawsuits, Firefox has hardly ever landed in any such scandal.
If you’re still unsure about how safe it is, you can use its Private Browsing mode, which automatically wipes off every trace of your browsing session once you close the tabs.
Firefox also has a Forget functionality that you can use to wipe your recent browser activity. When used, the “Forget” button can help you quickly delete the last five minutes, two hours, or 24 hours of activity.
Security advocates will also appreciate the fact that Firefox automatically tries to upgrade any images, audio and video content from HTTP to HTTPS if they are embedded within an HTTPS page. If they do not support HTTPS, they will no longer load.
Firefox users on MacOS and Windows can also tweak Firefox to ask for a device sign in, such as your operating system password, fingerprint, face or voice login, every time you access and fill in stored passwords.
Mozilla Firefox: Ease of useOne of the most important features of a good browser is a simple user interface so that everyone, regardless of their technical expertise, can use it. Thankfully, Firefox flairs quite well in that department.
The design of the main page is a lot like Chrome. It has the search bar in the center of the page, and the tabs are lined up horizontally at the top, which makes the first few steps simpler.
Firefox also offers a high level of customization. You can, for instance, change the appearance, layout, and functionality of the browser with lots of themes and add-ons. While this is possible with other browsers as well, the ability is implemented more extensively in Firefox.
In the same vein, while not as large as Chrome's extension store, Firefox still has a wide variety of extensions available for added functionality.
New users will also appreciate Firefox’s strong default privacy features that’ll help them stay safe straight out of the box. Firefox is also hailed for being one of the first browsers to rope in accessibility features.
Mozilla Firefox: CompetitorsFirefox might not be as popular as Chrome or Edge, but it certainly stands out with a few unique features under its belt.
For example, it's one of the few browsers that automatically blocks trackers from collecting your personal data. At a time when the market leader, Chrome, is accused of selling consumer data, Firefox is your best bet for safety.
Also, compared to Chrome, Firefox takes much less memory space, which in turn, helps it run faster. On top of that, using Firefox does not affect the speed or performance of any other apps you might be running simultaneously.
Firefox not only uses the Google Safe Browsing database but also automatically blocks pop-ups. You can also add more extensions to keep away ads and trackers. Since these things are known to hide malicious links, blocking them will also reduce your overall vulnerability.
On the downside though, unlike some of its peers like Opera and Edge, Firefox does not have a built-in VPN. Similarly, its AI assistant, Orbit, is also available as an extension, and isn’t part of the browser.
Mozilla Firefox: Final verdictFirefox, one of the best web browsers in the industry for a long time, is certainly a great choice for any internet user. It comes with a diverse range of features, beats popular peers like Chrome and Safari in terms of privacy, is easy to use, and is also lightning-quick.
Plus, it doesn't ask for too much space either, so you don't have to think twice before installing it. What's more, Firefox also has multiple customization options — whether you want to stick to the default theme or experiment with a thousand other themes, the choice is yours.
Also check out our roundup of the best anonymous browsers.
Categories: Reviews
Microsoft Edge Review: Features, Usage, and Competition
Edge is Microsoft’s latest web browser, and it looks its best when you use it as it was intended to be used: by running Bing, which is Microsoft’s search engine.
Microsoft Edge is undoubtedly the second-biggest fish in the pond, as of now. But it offers virtually everything users need to put up a tough fight to its long-time competitor, Google Chrome.
After dragging its feet with Internet Explorer, Edge is Microsoft’s best answer to the competition. It has all the features and enhancements users expect from a modern web browser. Windows users swear by Edge’s speeds and performance improvements. With the introduction of AI-powered functionalities on Edge, the user experience is way more personalized than before.
For the ones looking for a reliable browser that comes with security, user data privacy, and an easy user interface, Edge is a great choice. If you want to know more about the browser and how it can make a difference to your online experience, read on!
Microsoft Edge: FeaturesMicrosoft Edge offers one of the fastest browsing experiences in the industry, thanks to its performance features such as “Sleep Tabs”. Thanks to this feature, Edge will put the tabs that haven't been used in a while to sleep, opening up more space and power for your CPU and RAM so that they can take on the active tabs.
Edge is also one of the quickest browsers as far as launching is concerned. That’s because it uses a special feature called “Startup Boost.”
Whether you’re opening the browser from the main menu, taskbar, or a link, the Edge window will open up almost instantly, whereas Opera and Safari usually take a lot longer.
So if you’re in a hurry to look up something or open a link, Edge won't stand in your way. This feature is available on all current versions of Windows.
Edge is highly battery-efficient. Microsoft is constantly working to optimize energy usage so that Edge can function on minimal battery power.
Current tests show that Edge’s efficiency mode helps you save up to 25% of your battery life. Features like putting your tabs to sleep further contribute to it. Even for your active tabs, Edge uses a rather tiny portion of the battery to keep them running in the background.
With Edge’s Clarity Boost protocol, all the visuals on your screen look much clearer and life-like. For avid gamers or movie enthusiasts, this feature is a huge win. Currently, this feature is available on devices running Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Speaking of gaming, if you’re looking for a browser that’s masterfully crafted for gamers, Edge is a must-try. With its “Efficiency mode”, Edge keeps your PC running fast and smooth even when you’re playing a demanding game.
The Efficiency mode is turned on by default. But if you want to turn it off, go to “Settings,” click on “More,” select “System & Performance” and turn off the “Improve your PC gaming experience with efficiency mode” setting. However, if you’re keen on getting the best browser performance, we don't recommend turning it off. After all, it's not going to take up any extra power or space.
When comparing Microsoft Edge and Chrome for gaming performance, most benchmarks favor Edge primarily due to its integration with the Windows operating system. This is even true for machines with less powerful hardware since the browser tends to use less system resources than its peers.
(Image credit: Microsoft Edge)Also of note are Edge’s AI features, primarily the “Copilot” functionality. When enabled by clicking its icon, you can interact with Copilot using natural language. You can ask it to summarize the content of a page, ask questions about the content of a web page, and more. Copilot can also help you compose social media posts and emails.
Microsoft Edge: Privacy(Image credit: Microsoft Edge)Microsoft Edge comes equipped with several privacy-enhancing features. For starters the browser ships with three Tracking Prevention mechanisms to block trackers from tracking your movement through the web.
By default, the browser uses the Balanced Mode where it blocks trackers from websites you haven’t yet visited. If you are truly paranoid about tracking, you can toggle the Strict Mode, which will block a majority of the trackers, but could potentially degrade the browsing experience on some websites.
Some users prefer to use the Strict Mode of tracking when using the browser’s InPrivate browsing mode. This is similar to the Incognito mode in other browsers, and prevents the browser from storing any browsing history, or cookies.
Additionally, you can also choose to clear all cookies and block all or certain websites from saving cookies during browsing sessions. Remember however that while this does enhance your privacy, it can also potentially prevent some webpages from displaying correctly.
The browser’s headline privacy protection feature is the “Defender Smartscreen”. It helps you stay away from malicious websites and can also block phishing and malware attacks.
Edge also includes 5 GB of free VPN data protection that renews every month. The protection obscures your location and IP address, and kicks in automatically when you connect to an open Wi-Fi network or visit a non-HTTPS secured website.
Talking of visiting insecure websites, you can use Edge’s “Enhanced Security Mode” that automatically applies stricter security settings on unfamiliar sites. The opt-in feature isn’t enabled by default, but will adapt to your browsing habits once you toggle it.
The browser also includes a Password Monitor that alerts you if any of your saved passwords have been exposed in a data breach anywhere.
Microsoft Edge: Ease of useIf you’re not a fan of complex browsing applications, you’ll certainly appreciate Edge’s simple interface. The biggest advantage here is that Edge comes pre-installed on most devices running Windows 10 and 11. This means that you won't have to go through the hassle of downloading and setting up a new browser.
Once you open the browser, you’ll have everything you’ll need at your fingertips. Granted, at first, it might be a little overwhelming because there are too many options, but you’ll soon get the hang of it.
You can also ask Edge to display Vertical tabs. This is a space saving functionality that puts tabs on the left side of the screen instead of across the top.
You can also use the browser in the “Immersive Reader” mode that makes the text easier to read by removing all distracting elements from the webpage. There’s also the AI-powered “Read aloud” feature that helps you listen to the content on a webpage in multiple languages. You can control the pace of the speech, and even the voice accent.
There’s also the Collections feature using which you can collate webpages, images, text snippets, and more from different websites into a single location. This comes in handy when you’re researching on the web for a holiday, or planning an event.
Microsoft Edge: The competitionEdge and Google Chrome are the two most popular browsers, and although they share a lot of similarities, many people consider Edge to be easier to use.
This is primarily because of features like vertical tabs, Collections, Immersive Reader, and a whole gamut of AI-powered functionalities. Edge has also been designed to be familiar to Windows users with a similar design philosophy, giving it an advantage over its peers.
What’s more, Edge is also faster than Google Chrome. When it was initially launched, Microsoft claimed that it was 112% faster than Chrome. While we cannot confirm that exact number, tests run by Avast show that Edge is faster than Chrome, Opera, Firefox, and many other popular browsers.
It's also the default browser for Windows, unlike others like Opera or Mozilla Firefox, which have to be downloaded and installed separately.
That said, Opera does outperform Edge in some parameters, particularly VPN. While Edge's VPN has a limited monthly data allowance and automatically connects to the nearest location, Opera bundles a more flexible free VPN with no data cap. Another potential downside is that Edge doesn’t offer as vast a selection of extensions as Google Chrome.
However, in short, if we consider its ease of use, speed, features, and overall performance, Edge is by and large at-par, if not ahead, of most of its competitors.
Microsoft Edge: Final verdictConsidering all the reviews, facts, and results from our own evaluation, we find Microsoft Edge to be a good browser and certainly worth your time.
Thanks to its beginner-friendly yet uncompromising nature, it's the perfect browser for people who aren't-tech savvy. Another point to consider here is that it’s the default browser for Windows, so you won't have to put any effort into setting it up.
As the cherry on top, the Edge browser is battery plus internet usage efficient. For people who are constantly on their laptops/computers, a power and data-saving browser is a must-have. No matter how many tabs you have running at any given moment, Edge will always minimize power usage.
Categories: Reviews
I’ve used the NiSi V7 kit for a long time, and it’s the best filter holder I’ve used by a long shot
NiSi V7 with True Color NC CPL: two-minute review
When it comes to square filter holders, they’re surely all the same, aren’t they? In terms of basic design, they are, but build quality, functionality and value are another matter. For me, the NiSi V7 with True Color NC CPL is one of the best professional 100mm filter holders available, with an impressive performance that belies its attractive price.
100mm filter holders are typically used with lenses as wide as 15mm full-frame (or 10mm for APS-C). For lenses wider than this, you’ll need to move up to a cumbersome and painfully expensive 150mm square filter system.
150mm filters are also so large that they simply look ridiculous, and I have chuckled watching other photographers on location with me wrestle with their window pane-sized filters. But I digress.
The advantage of the Nisi V7 kit, like many 100mm filter holders, is that you can use up to three square filters at once alongside a polarising filter. So, that’s ND graduated filters, ND filters, color correction filters and special effects filters. Are three slots overkill? Definitely not – I often require all three slots when shooting in tricky lighting conditions while controlling exposure times.
One thing that I love about the NiSi V7 kit is that you get four adaptor rings, which means you can use the holder with four filter thread sizes straight away. These include 67mm, 72mm, 77mm, plus the main ring which has an 82mm thread. This covers the vast majority of landscape photography lenses, plus you can also buy adaptor rings for other sizes separately if you need them. For example, I own a 62mm ring that allows me to use square filters with my macro lens.
Image 1 of 3(Image credit: James Abbott)Image 2 of 3(Image credit: James Abbott)Image 3 of 3(Image credit: James Abbott)The V7 filter holder isn’t really suitable for smaller lenses with smaller filter threads, say in the 39mm to 67mm range. For example, I own some small Fujifilm prime lenses, plus some Micro Four Thirds lenses, for which the NiSi M75 II with True Color NC CPL is a better fit. The downside with this smaller holder only is that it only has two filter slots alongside the rear-mounted polarizing filter, rather than three.
Build quality of the V7 kit is excellent and the overall design is reasonably compact. The holder is a CNC-machined single block of matte black coated aeronautical aluminum, with three plastic filter holder slots screwed onto the front. The polarizing filter screws into the main ring, locking in place at around a 10-degree turn, while the holder clips onto the main ring and can be locked in place to avoid detachment of the two parts.
The main ring is also an 82mm adaptor ring, and is attached to the smaller adaptor rings when a smaller thread than 82mm is required. Practically speaking, these are best attached to the lens before the holder is attached. The polarizer can be rotated using a couple of small dials on the rear of the main ring. You can also use any 100mm square filters with this holder.
The advantage of the rear positioning of the polarizing filter is that the filter holder doesn’t vignette with lenses as wide as 15mm. NiSi even says that the Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4S doesn’t vignette at 14mm, although I haven't tried that lens with the holder. The rival LEE Filters LEE100 Polarizer mounts at the front, thereby creating a vignette with ultra wide-angle lenses – meaning Nisi has the advantage in this regard.
Unlike cheap polarizers, the supplied True Color NC CPL also produces clean images with no color casts at different rotations, which is exactly what you want.
Image 1 of 4(Image credit: James Abbott)Image 2 of 4(Image credit: James Abbott)Image 3 of 4(Image credit: James Abbott)Image 4 of 4(Image credit: James Abbott)In my experience, some filter holders can also be too tight, making it hard to slot filters in and out, to the point that this can risk accidental damage.
The V7, thankfully, provides just the right amount of resistance that filters are secure, but they’re easy enough to slot in and out of the holder when it’s attached to the front of your lenses.
The downside to a system like this, however, is that a set of filters and the holder take up space in your kit bag and can weigh more than other types of filters.
As magnetic and stackable filters are growing in popularity, you may be wondering what place there is for larger, heavier and more expensive square filters. The simple answer is ND grads. With square filters, you can get everything as right as possible in-camera, including the sky exposure.
With magnetic filters, the price you pay is no ND grads, so while you get a polariser, NDs and other types of filters depending on the kit, you have to shoot HDR to maintain sky detail. That naturally means you have to take more shots and spend more time at the computer editing. For me, square filters remain the optimal option for landscape photography.
NiSi V7 with True Color NC CPL: key specsFilter slots
Three
Adaptor rings
67, 72, 77, 82mm
Polarizing filter
True Color NC CPL
Case included
Yes
Lens cap
Yes
NiSi V7 with True Color NC CPL price and availabilityThe NiSi V7 with True Color NC CPL costs $259 / £199 / AU$389, which is an incredible price considering what’s included in the kit: a Filter Holder for three 100mm filters and a CPL, an 82mm main ring with polarizing adjustment, a True Color NC CPL (removable), three adapter rings (67/72/77), a soft case and a V7 Lens Cap.
To provide a point of reference, the LEE Filters LEE100 Polarizer filter alone costs as much as the NiSi V7 kit.
There are V7 kits available that also include several filters and offer excellent value for money compared to purchasing separately. The NiSi Starter Kit – V7 – 100mm Filters costs $499 / £345 / AU$849 and includes most of the above, a few additional accessories, a 3-stop medium GND and a 10-stop ND filter.
If you already own 100mm filters and would simply like a new filter holder, the NiSi V7 with True Color NC CPL is perfect for you. If you’re getting started with 100mm filters, I’d recommend the NiSi Starter Kit – V7 – 100mm Filters or one of the other kits that come with filters, because you will save money and have several filters to use from the get-go.
NiSi square filters themselves are expensive. They’re optically fantastic and made of high-quality optical glass, but expect to pay in the region of $245 / £95 /AU$279 per filter. The glass used is much better than traditional resin square filters in many ways, but they do cost more.
Should I buy the NiSi V7 with True Color NC CPL? (Image credit: James Abbott)Buy it if...You need a pro filter holder
This is a professional filter holder kit offering excellent performance and several extremely useful accessories.
You want incredible value
While not cheap, the NiSi V7 with True Color NC CPL is a high-quality professional filter holder at an affordable price, certainly versus LEE filters. For me, it's a bargain.
Don't buy it if...You’d prefer lighter weight filters
The weight of square filters does add up once you factor in several glass filters, so you may find magnetic circular filters are better for you.
You don’t require ND Grads
The main reason to have square filters is to combine NDs and corrective filters with ND grads. So, if you don’t use ND grads, square filters aren’t for you.
How I tested the NiSi V7 with True Color NC CPL- Long-term test
- Tested with a variety of lenses
- Used for landscape, cityscape and astrophotography
I've tested the NiSi V7 with True Color NC CPL over many years, with a range of different NiSi filters in different combinations, for subjects including landscape, cityscape and astrophotography.
As my go-to filter holder, I've also used it with a wide range of lenses, including zooms and primes, ranging between 16mm and 200mm on a full-frame camera.
With nearly 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, lenses and accessories from a photographer’s point of view.
First reviewed July 2025
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