Reviews

8BitDo Arcade Controller: One-minute review

Leverless controllers can appear daunting at first glance if you’re interested in picking one up for the best fighting games. The lack of a traditional joystick makes such controllers feel more akin to a keyboard, with buttons dedicated to everything from inputs to movement.

They almost feel counterintuitive when you have one in your hands for the first time. But thankfully, 8BitDo has stepped in with its own take on leverless fighting game controllers, and it’s one that’s relatively beginner-friendly.

The 8BitDo Arcade Controller is a 16-button leverless pad that has some similarities to the 8BitDo Arcade Stick, carrying over that NES-inspired look for the Switch-compatible model. However, both are fundamentally different controllers.

For one, the 8BitDo Arcade Controller is much, much thinner, and thus a lot lighter as well. It can sit in your lap or on a desk or tabletop with ease. This alone makes the device more portable; ideal if you’re heading over to local tournaments.

Its buttons are excellent, too. They feel responsive and immediate with their short travel time, and have a springy, tactile press that makes learning with the controller a satisfying affair.

I’d still recommend some caution if you’re interested in buying the 8BitDo Arcade Controller, though. If it’s going to be your first leverless controller, it’s ideal for that, but you should still expect a fairly steep learning curve if you’re used to the best fight sticks or more traditional gamepads.

(Image credit: Future)8BitDo Arcade Controller: Price and availability

• Switch/PC: $89.99 / £75.99 (around AU$136)
• Xbox/PC: $99.99 / £84.99 (around AU$150)
• Available to purchase now from 8BitDo’s Amazon store

The 8BitDo Arcade Controller comes in two variants. A Switch and Switch 2 compatible model retails for $89.99 / £75.99, while a version for Xbox consoles comes in at $99.99 / £84.99. Both work with PC, too, and are available to buy now, but don’t expect PlayStation compatibility here.

As retail prices go, the 8BitDo Arcade Controller is a sub-$100 leverless that I can happily recommend. Leverless pads often command rather premium price tags, as we see with the Victrix Pro KO ($249.99 / £229.99 / AU$399.95) and Hit Box Ultra ($299.99 / around £249.99 / around AU$429.99). This makes 8BitDo’s hardware very easy to recommend from a cost-effective standpoint.

8BitDo Arcade Controller: Specs

Price

$89.99 / £75.99 (around AU$136)

Weight

2.42lbs / 1.1kg

Dimensions

11.9 x 7.9 x 0.9in / 301 x 201 x 22mm

Compatibility

Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC (Switch and Xbox models sold separately)

Connection type

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

Battery life

Around 20 hours

Software

Ultimate Software V2 (PC)

8BitDo Arcade Controller: Design and features

At just less than an inch thick, the 8BitDo Arcade Controller is impressively discreet and can be easily slid into a backpack or laptop bag for when you want to take your game to the locals. It’s also rather lightweight, coming in at just above a single kilo.

In terms of button layout, there are similarities to that of the 8BitDo Arcade Stick. The top end of the pad is lined with functions, including a dial that swaps between Switch and XInput layouts. Like on the Arcade Stick, different button notations will also light up depending on your layout of choice.

The top end also has a tournament lock switch, preventing you from accidentally pausing during matches, as well as a button to enable or disable custom button profiles. It’s a simple yet robust set of options, all available on the controller itself. The top rear also houses the Arcade Controller’s 2.4GHz receiver, and next to it, you’ll find a USB-C port for wired play, with a cable also included in the box.

As for the main buttons on the pad proper, you’ve got four directional buttons, mapped so you can rest your left hand’s fingers and thumb across them. Eight red buttons sit off to the right side of these in two rows of four, allowing you to rest a finger on each of them. Of course, being a leverless pad, these are just suggestions, and you can freely remap both in-game and via Ultimate Software V2 on PC to your preferences.

You also have four additional remappable buttons here, which aren’t assigned to anything by default. These can be assigned inputs via the Ultimate Software, and you can even set macros here if, say, you want quick access to throws or other per-game mechanics. Alternatively, four lock caps are included in the box, which you can swap in if you’d prefer not to use these at all and avoid any accidental mispresses.

On that note, all buttons on the 8BitDo Arcade Controller can be swapped out for third-party options easily. If you’re brand new to leverless controllers, you probably won’t have any alternative switches lying around, but if you do, they can be used here, which is nice.

(Image credit: Future)8BitDo Arcade Controller: Performance

As I mentioned at the top, getting to grips with leverless fighting game controllers for the first time can be quite the process. But once you get the hang of things like up and down inputs essentially being inverted (down is lodged between left and right on the pad by default, with up/jump being at the bottom), it can quickly become second nature.

I primarily used the 8BitDo Arcade Controller with my main fighting game, Tekken 8. Tekken’s rigid four-way movement actually works brilliantly well with leverless pads, and the responsiveness here had me sidestepping and backdashing faster than on a traditional controller.

Responsiveness is the keyword here. Button inputs feel immediate, and being able to roll a motion input special move in Street Fighter 6 or Guilty Gear Strive felt easier and more reliable to pull off than on a standard controller’s d-pad or thumbstick. Never did I feel at risk of fumbling the input or jumping by mistake, as I often end up doing with those pesky dragon punch motions. Here, just a couple of quick taps of the directional buttons had me inputting specials reliably and instantaneously once I’d gotten used to the motions.

I’ve raved about just how much mechanical and microswitch buttons can improve the feel of a fighting game thanks to their immediacy, and it’s a similar story here with the 8BitDo Arcade Controller. Its buttons are just oh-so satisfying to press. I wouldn’t necessarily say I’m a better player as a result of using a leverless controller like this one, but I have been able to more reliably iron out mispresses and become more efficient at combo strings with lenient timings. I’ve loved my time with it.

(Image credit: Future)Should I buy the 8BitDo Arcade Controller?Buy it if…

You want an affordable gateway into leverless controllers
It may not be the absolute cheapest leverless out there, but the 8BitDo Arcade Controller oozes a shocking amount of quality at its sub-$100 price. You can safely dip a toe in here for less if a purely button-based pad appeals to you.

You want to take your game up a notch
Leverless controllers are designed with competitive players in mind first and foremost. A pad like the 8BitDo Arcade Controller can help prepare you for higher-level play by allowing your inputs to be faster, more responsive, and helping you to avoid costly mispresses.

Don’t buy it if…

You prefer casual play
Inversely, the 8BitDo Arcade Controller probably won’t be the best fit if you’re not keen to rewire your brain to its particular input requirements. Inputs aren’t where they would be on a regular controller, so if you’d rather not deal with the headaches that come with learning a leverless layout, give this one a miss.

Also consider...

The 8BitDo Arcade Controller is just one of many quality fighting game pad options out there. If this one’s not quite doing it for you, consider the following two alternatives.

8BitDo Arcade Controller

Victrix Pro KO

8BitDo Arcade Stick

Price

$89.99 / £75.99 (around AU$136)

$249.99 / £229.99 / AU$399.95

$119.99 / £99 (around AU$182.99)

Weight

2.42lbs / 1.1kg

2.7lbs / 1.225kg

4.63lbs / 2.1kg

Dimensions

11.9 x 7.9 x 0.9in / 301 x 201 x 22mm

13.35 x 9.23 x 0.8in / 235 x 334 x 22mm

11.9 x 8 x 4.4in / 303 x 203 x 112mm

Compatibility

Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC (Switch and Xbox models sold separately)

PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC (PlayStation and Xbox models sold separately)

Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC (Switch and Xbox models sold separately)

Connection type

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

Wired (USB-C)

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

Battery life

Around 20 hours

N/A

30-40 hours

Software

Ultimate Software V2

N/A

Ultimate Software V2

Victrix Pro KO
More of a premium pick in the leverless realm, the Victrix Pro KO offers sublime build quality, plenty of customization, and comes in much cheaper than the high-end Victrix Pro FS. One to check out if money’s no object.

Read our full Victrix Pro KO review

8BitDo Arcade Stick
If you’d prefer something more arcade-adjacent, I can definitely recommend the 8BitDo Arcade Stick. While much bulkier than its leverless counterpart, it offers the same level of responsiveness and customizability. If you can’t wrap your head around the lack of a stick on the 8BitDo Arcade Controller, then this one might be the answer if you don’t mind paying a little extra.

Read our full 8BitDo Arcade Stick review

(Image credit: Future)How I tested the 8BitDo Arcade Controller

• Tested for a week
• Played a variety of fighting games on Switch 2 and PC
• Compared to the 8BitDo Arcade Stick

I’ve played with the 8BitDo Arcade Controller for around a week for this review. During that time, I hopped between Switch 2 and my gaming PC to play a wide variety of fighting games, including Tekken 8, Street Fighter 6 Years 1+2 Fighters Edition, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, Guilty Gear Strive, and Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising.

I compared my time with the Arcade Controller to that of the 8BitDo Arcade Stick, really getting a feel for the difference between a traditional joystick and leverless inputs. I did find leverless to be a little trickier to get used to, but I would choose the Controller over the Stick for competitive settings purely thanks to its high level of responsiveness.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed October 2025

70mai Dash Cam 4K T800: two-minute review

I’ve been mildly obsessed with the best dash cams since getting rear-ended by another car. Nowadays, I tend to bypass more basic models, like the Nextbase Piqo and head for something with a more substantial set of features. The Viofo A329 Pro Dash Cam, for example, is a great option. However, the 70mai 4K T800 three dash cam bundle supplants Viofo as my current pick of the dash cam crop.

Since installing it a few weeks ago, I think this model is one of the best for covering all bases thanks to a trio of cameras and lots of shooting power. The 70mai Dash Cam 4K T800 is a premium package, which means it costs more than many other models, even within the rest of the 70mai product portfolio. This is for good reason though, as the bundle is an impressive blend of quality cameras, beefy tech and the sort of user-friendly design that makes setting it up appealing for anyone who’s short on time.

The front and rear cameras both feature Sony IMX678 Starvis sensors, which capture 3840 x 2160p 4K video at 30 frames per second with a 146-degree field of view. The cockpit-facing camera shoots 1920 x 1080p footage, so combined there’s effectively complete coverage both outside and in. Adding to the appeal is a raft of bang-up-to date tech specifications, that including Wi-Fi 6 at 5GHz for speedy transfer of those larger 4K files, plus voice command operation, storage up to 512GB via microSD card and a power supply that uses a supercapacitor arrangement.

(Image credit: Future)

Alongside these impressive specs, I also love the after-dark and low-light capabilities of the 70mai 4K T800. It’s got 70mai Lumi Vision, that helps enhance footage in less-than-ideal conditions, plus there’s the so-called ‘Night Owl Vision’ which captures excellent footage in the dark. I’m also keen on the subtle features, like the MaiColor Vivid+ Solution technology that boosts the exposure capabilities of the cameras to tackle issues that can occur when shooting through different types of windshield glass.

Crucially, for me at least, the 70mai 4K T800 benefits from upgraded Buffered Emergency Recording, which can work from a default 1 minute right up to 3 minutes. The usefulness of this feature is everything, with the ability to retain footage of any kind of incident before, during and after it happens. The way it can do this without me having to worry about it makes the 70mai 4K T800 a very dependable option. If I needed them, I’d also be pretty pleased with the Smart Parking Guardian Mode, which offers permanent 24/7 monitoring in locations such as car parks. An additional, hardwire kit is needed to deploy this, however.

Overall, the 70mai 4K T800 is a complete solution that offers complete coverage with a specification and feature set that’s right up there with the best of them. 70mai also completes this comprehensive dash cam package by supplementing it with an excellent app, which I have used previously without fuss or bother.

70mai Dash Cam 4K T800: price and availability

The 70mai Dash Cam 4K T800 is available to buy now and can be purchased from Amazon in the USA for $400 as a Premium Set bundle that includes the rear camera. It can also be purchased directly from the 70mai website. Meanwhile, Amazon in the UK also sells the bundle for £450.

70mai Dash Cam 4K T800: specs70mai Dash Cam 4K T800 specs

Video

Front: 3840 x 2160p (4K)
Rear: 3840 x 2160p (4K)
Interior: 1920 x 1080p @30fps

Field of view (FOV)

146 degrees front / 146 degrees rear / 147 degrees interior

Storage

MicroSD up to 512GB, Cloud

GPS

Yes

Parking mode

Yes, with constant power cable, not included

App support

70mai app

Dimensions

1.81 x 4.84 x 2.48 inches / 4.5 x 12.2 x 6.2 cm

Weight

2.07lb / 938g

Battery

Yes

70mai Dash Cam 4K T800: Design

I really like the design of the 70mai Dash Cam 4K T800. The main camera unit, which contains both the front-facing lens as well as the cockpit surveillance camera, is chunky but relatively unobtrusive. This is mainly down to the way it has been designed, with a body that can be easily attached near a rear-view mirror without feeling like it's encroaching too much on screen space.

That was good news for me as I fitted the 70mai Dash Cam 4K T800 to the screen of my two-seater sports car, which does have a fairly small windshield. The main camera has a sloping bracket, which contains the self-adhesive pad that can be mounted using a static sheet on the glass to make removal easier.

The really clever bit with this design, though, is the way that the 70mai designers have made the cockpit camera lens swivel on its mount. This means it can be adjusted so the view is just right and covers all of the interior space. I found it really useful because my two-seater makes mounting a rear-facing camera all but impossible due to a retracting top. The 70mai Dash Cam 4K T800 covers this scenario as the cockpit camera also gets the view out of the back window. In my case, it effectively does the three-camera job using just two.

(Image credit: Future)

However, the third camera, if it is needed, is the standard barrel-type design and that too can be adjusted using the swivel technique, once it’s been stuck in situ using the adhesive pad. Again, this can be done using a static sheet attached to the glass, then sticking the camera to that if the setup might need to be moved to another vehicle at some point.

Around the back of the main camera unit there’s a 3-inch IPS display screen, which features a very decent 640x360 resolution that works well in a variety of lighting conditions. Once powered up, the view displayed is a full-front outlook with a picture-in-picture layout showing the cockpit view to one side. Attach the rear-facing camera and that view also appears within the screen space. Amazingly, it all seems to fit in perfectly fine.

On the side of the body, there’s a circular light that is coloured depending on the mode of operation. On the other side is a microSD card slot and along the bottom of the camera, underneath the screen, are four control buttons. If the screen is powered up there are matching menu icons on the screen itself, making setup and adjustment all very straightforward. The 70mai app is best used in order to get the best from all of the features and functions though. It’s also great for managing those chunky 4K files.

(Image credit: Future)70mai Dash Cam 4K T800: Performance

Alongside a practical design, the 70mai Dash Cam 4K T800 has proved to be very dependable in the performance department. If the three-camera setup is being used there is some inevitable time taken to plumb in the various cables and get everything into place. However, I found having those camera lenses mounted in a rotating case made getting the shooting angle really straightforward. This was further aided by the live view that appears on the rear screen.

I also found the setup procedure a no-nonsense affair, with the usual formatting of the memory card needed to get the ball rolling. I also had to pick through the time and date settings, which is very simple using the default time zone sections, or it can be setup manually. I did all the basic steps using the controls on the back of the camera, and the buttons and menu options were all self-explanatory.

It’s also well worth getting the 70mai app, which acts as a brilliant supplement to the camera bundle itself. Available for iOS and Android, the software is nicely executed and makes managing those larger 4K files much easier. This is helped by the Wi-Fi connectivity of the 70mai Dash Cam 4K T800, which features Wi-Fi 6 that can be used at 5GHz for faster transfers.

Footage-wise, all three cameras are excellent. The quality is of a really good standard, with great definition when it comes to things like license plates and road signs. Best of all, the combined field of view of the trio of lenses offers up complete coverage. I found using a two-camera setup worked well in my small car too, with crisp and clear cockpit footage complimenting the views of the road ahead. And, because my car’s cockpit is so small, it’s possible to enjoy a recorded view through the back window, just by using the cockpit camera.

(Image credit: Future)

(Image credit: Future)

The 70mai 4K T800 dash cam is generously endowed with additional features and functions too. Of course, the suite of parking surveillance tools only gets tapped into by enlisting the services of an optional hardwire kit. However, there is also plenty to enjoy if hardwiring isn’t an option, including voice control for added convenience.

Best of the specification features, though, has to be the muscle offered by the Sony Starvis 2 sensor technology. 70mai reckons the sensors in this bundle help deliver 90 percent higher light sensitivity and 100 percent improved low-light performance. I see no reason to disagree.

Should you buy the 70mai Dash Cam 4K T800?

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

You want a three camera solution
The 4K T800 can be used as a single camera if that's all you need, but it is best exploited via the Premium Set bundle for complete coverage.

Good quality video is a must-have
Anyone with a desire to improve the quality of their dash cam video content will find the 4K footage returned by the 4K T800 top drawer.

An excellent supporting app is required
The 70mai 4K T800 packs a brilliant supplementary app, which is available for both iOS and Android. It allows for easy management of those big video files.

Don't buy it if...

Three cameras might seem too much
Some of us prefer a single camera for front-facing coverage. The 70mai 4K T800 works best as a bundle, but might be too much for some users.

You want less wiring not more
Admittedly, the rear camera of the 70mai 4K T800 does add to the wiring job, but everything needed to get the job done is inside the box, save for a hardwire kit.

You need a more compact model
While the 70mai 4K T800 is nicely proportioned, it might be a little too big for some very small windshields. However, it worked just fine in the sports car used here..

How I tested the 70mai Dash Cam 4K T800

• I installed the dash cam into a test car for an initial period of two weeks
• I used it for several journeys during both day and night
• I connected it to my phone and downloaded recordings for comparison

70mai loaned me the Dash Cam 4K T800 and supplied everything I needed to test it.

I subsequently used the dash cam over a period of around two weeks, after being sent the Premium Set bundle, which contains the main camera unit with two lenses plus the supplementary rear-facing camera. Using the contents of the box, I was able to plumb in the cameras and connect them using the supplied cables. 70mai also supply a fitting tool, which was used to push wiring behind trim panels where it was needed.

I also downloaded the app, which was installed on an iPhone 17 and put through its paces. The Wi-Fi connectivity between the cameras and app was also tested, which based on the size of the 4K video files, was a big part of the testing criteria. It all worked as expected.

• First reviewed October 2025

I've reviewed a significant amount of gear from Sihoo over the years. Sihoo is one of those companies that offer a wide range of prices, covering budget gear all the way to higher-end gear.

The Sihoo M56C-V2 favors the budget side, but it's not as budget-friendly as the Sihoo M76A-M101. However, it does remind me of it a lot. Where the M76A-M101 was very lightweight, making it feel a bit cheaper, the M56C-V2 feels a bit heftier, without significantly increasing the price tag. Is it one of the best office chairs around? I took it for a spin to find out.

Sihoo M56C-V2: Price and availability

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

The Sihoo M56C-V2 can be purchased from the Sihoo website, Amazon, Best Buy, and several other retailers, and I'm sure that number will grow over time, as this is still a relatively new release chair. The chair costs just over $200, and depending on where you buy it from, you could get next-day delivery, pickup, or relatively fast shipping.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Sihoo M56C-V2: Unboxing and First Impressions

I've reviewed a significant amount of gear from Sihoo over the years. Sihoo is one of those companies that offer a wide range of prices, covering budget gear all the way to higher-end gear. The Sihoo M56C-V2 favors the budget side, but it's not as budget-friendly as the Sihoo M76A-M101.

Some users or businesses want a good chair with some ergonomics, but they don't want to spend an exorbitant amount of money. Sadly, when it comes to budget chairs, ergonomic features are often the first to be sacrificed. For this chair, however, the ergonomics are still present, providing good back support, albeit with the lumbar support a little too low for some users.

Assembly will depend on your comfort level with building chairs. If you know what you're doing and are fairly comfortable assembling items like this, you can probably build it in around an hour. However, those with less experience may take longer to build. Another thing that could help speed up the process of assembling this chair is an electric screwdriver.

Sihoo M56C-V2: Design & Build Quality

The Sihoo M56C-V2 has a firm mesh back with a self-adjusting lumbar system. It's designed to lean and adjust with you while you move in the seat, and for some, it will work great. For others, it may feel slightly lower than desired, although Sihoo aimed to support the true lower lumbar region, rather than the mid-to-low back, unlike many chairs.

The seat cushion, although not the best on the market, still provides a reasonably decent seat for the price. Lastly, the armrests and headrest provide enough flexibility and adjustment options to be helpful, without being ground-breaking and expensive.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Sihoo M56C-V2: In use

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

I've had the Sihoo M56C-V2 in my inventory for 100 days at the time of writing this review. So far, this chair has held up nicely to everything we have thrown at it, including long working days.

All around, I'm impressed with just how good this chair is for the price. Granted, it has its ups and downs, but for around $200, it's pretty impressive that it offers any ergonomic features. There is a comfortable headrest, a great cushion that provides support without being uncomfortable, and it has good armrests.

While, for the most part, this chair is excellent, some users on my team have noted that the chair's lumbar is lower than they prefer. Additionally, the armrests cannot move inward, though that's usually a feature I only see on the more premium chairs, so no marks against the M56C in that regard.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

The members of my team who felt like the lumbar was too low took matters into their own hands and added a DIY towel roll to the top of the lumbar support to help adjust the relief to the proper spot.

Other members of my team like the lowest part of the lumbar support because it feels like it properly holds their lower back.

Over the last 100 days of use, I've had one member use this chair far more than anyone else on my team. They have found that this chair is just about perfect for them. The armrests are great, the seat is comfortable, the lumbar support is helpful, the headrest is supportive, and the overall feel is wildly beneficial. This team member has suffered from migraines and tension headaches for quite some time, so having a chair that can give them a comfortable seat, a supported back, and a headrest makes all the difference.

Sihoo M56C-V2: Final verdict

The Sihoo M56C-V2 is not the fanciest chair, nor is it perfect, but it is a budget-friendly option that is well worth the money. If you are looking for a great budget chair for your home office or want to buy in bulk for a conference room or office bullpen, this chair is a great option to consider.

Should you buy a Sihoo M56C-V2?

Value

Good level of ergonomics for the price

4.5 / 5

Design

Simple design, clean, aggressive lumbar support

4 / 5

Hardware

Basic armrests, and adjust-less lumbar are simple. They work but are not for everyone

3.5 / 5

Performance

Great for budget buyers, also for average height to shorter users

4 / 5

Overall

Not perfect, but one of the better wallet-friendly chairs you can buy today if you like lumbar support

4 / 5

Buy it if...

You want a budget-friendly chair with lumbar support
The Sihoo M56C-V2 is easy on the spending side and works well for most with the lumbar support. Simple and sweet.

You need to buy in bulk
If you are buying chairs for a conference room or for a bullpen or general office use, this chair may just what you are looking forView Deal

Don't buy it if...

You want a super ergonomical chair
While the M56C-V2 has good features, it's not the most adjustable and customizable chair

You are above average height
This chair may still work for you, but there are other options that may be a better fit

For more office furniture essentials, we've reviewed the best standing desks around.

Google is best known for its search engine and suite of digital tools covering emails, document editing, presentations, spreadsheets, and many more. Popular among both individual and business users, Google provides alternatives to dominant platforms in various software niches. For example, Google Sheets is an alternative to Microsoft Excel, and Google Docs is an alternative to Microsoft Word.

For a long time, Google has bundled its digital tools into various tiers for enterprises. This bundle was initially known as Google Apps, then rebranded to G Suite in 2016 and Google Workspace in 2020. Over the years, Google has added many more features to its software suite, and its user base has increased significantly.

What does Google Workspace offer that the competition doesn’t? Is it worthwhile for my business, and what benefits do I get from it? These are essential questions business owners and managers ask when considering adopting Google Workspace. You’ve arrived at the right place if you have these questions.

Having extensively reviewed each tool within Google Workspace, I’ve put together this broad review covering its pros, cons, and unique features. Read on to learn what Google Workspace offers and whether it’s the best choice for your business.

(Image credit: Google Workspace)Google Workspace: Plans and pricing

Google Workspace has distinct pricing plans: Starter, Standard, Plus, and Enterprise Plus, with each having its benefits. The higher the plan, the more functionalities and storage space your enterprise can access.

The Starter plan costs $7 per user per month. Under this plan, each account has access to 30 GB of cloud storage, double the 15 GB limit for free Google accounts. The Starter plan lets your company's employees create email addresses tied to your company's domain name. Other benefits include the ability to use Google's Gemini artificial intelligence (AI) assistant and hold video meetings with up to 100 participants.

The Standard plan costs $14 per user per month. Under this pricing tier, each user has access to 2 TB of cloud storage, which is dramatically higher than that of the Starter plan. All features of the Starter plan are included, plus more benefits like access to NotebookLM, Google's AI-based research tool; video meetings with up to 150 participants; and the ability for employees to append digital signatures to documents.

The Plus plan costs $22 per user per month. Cloud storage for each user increases to 5 TB on this plan, and other benefits include video meetings with up to 500 participants, a digital vault to retain data for a long period, and advanced endpoint management and security features.

The Enterprise Plus plan isn’t like the others. It doesn’t have a standard price. Instead, you’ll need to contact Google’s sales team to negotiate a custom deal. This plan has the most advanced security features, endpoint security and the ability to choose the geographical storage location for your company’s data. Storage can be 5 TB or more, depending on the deal negotiated with Google’s sales team.

The Enterprise Plus plan is best suited for large companies with hundreds or thousands of employees that need Google Workspace tools. Pricing varies, but large companies may negotiate discounts compared to the unit price of the Plus plan.

Google Workspace: Features

Think of Google Workspace as a one-stop shop that provides the tools a company needs to communicate, collaborate, and manage documents seamlessly. A Google Workspace subscription unlocks access to many valuable tools, including Google Meet for videoconferencing, Google Sheets for spreadsheets, Google Docs for document editing, Google Slides for presentations, Google Chat for real-time chat, Gmail for emails, etc.

If you’ve used Gmail individually, the corporate version offered via Google Workspace is easy to understand. It has the same interface and similar features, but the corporate version lets you create emails attached to your company’s domain name instead of the generic “@gmail.com.”

Another benefit is that the Gmail interface doesn’t include ads when subscribed to Google Workspace, unlike the free version, where ads are displayed at the top of your inbox. Notably, the Starter, Standard, and Plus plans are capped at 300 users, making this figure the maximum number of Gmail accounts a company can create.

Google Meet is a popular video conferencing tool used by both individuals and companies. With Google Workspace, your company unlocks access to advanced Google Meet tools, including the ability to host up to 500 participants on the Plus plan.

You may be confused that the Plus plan is capped at 300 users but allows up to 500 participants in a videoconference. The answer is that participants aren’t always employees with Google Workspace accounts. You can invite people outside your organization to meetings, and there’ll still be ample space to host them alongside employees. Besides that, the Enterprise Plus plan works for well over 300 users but requires direct negotiations with Google’s sales team.

Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides are powerful alternatives to Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, the leading tools for creating and managing text documents, spreadsheets, and visual presentations, respectively. While Word, Excel, and PowerPoint remain capable tools, Google’s alternatives outshine them in collaborative features.

With a Google Workspace subscription, employees can collaboratively create and edit text files on Google Docs. Each person working on the same document is represented by a unique icon and cursor indicating their position on the document. Every collaborator can suggest changes, leave comments, or edit text directly, depending on the permission given by the document owner, and every change gets reflected in real-time.

In my case, I liked the idea of integrating Google Chat with Docs, which let me send instant messages to collaborators on the same page where we edited documents. The same applies to Google Sheets and Slides, where I could chat with collaborators on the same page.

On Google Sheets, employees can simultaneously edit the same spreadsheet, with each collaborator represented by their unique icon and cursor. Any changes, comments, or suggestions will be delivered in real-time. Google Slides is similar, but for collaboratively editing visual presentations.

The document owner, who can be any employee, decides who can access their document and what they can do with it. Three distinct permissions can be given to a collaborator: Viewer, Commenter, and Editor.

(Image credit: Google)

A Viewer has read-only access, i.e., they can read the document but can’t comment, suggest a change, or edit anything directly.

A Commenter can leave comments on specific parts of the document, for example, a highlighted paragraph on Google Docs or a highlighted cell on Google Sheets. They can suggest changes at particular parts, but the document owner decides whether to accept or reject the suggestions.

An Editor has complete access to a document just like the owner. They can edit the document extensively and undo or redo changes.

When editing documents on Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides, the Version Control feature allows you to revert to previous versions of a document if needed. As employees edit a document, their changes are saved at different time instants. Then, the document owner can view previous versions and revert to any version if needed.

I liked the Version Control feature for two reasons. Firstly, it fosters accountability because the document owner can view different versions of a document and know who made specific changes, incentivizing collaborators to always stick to the agreed-upon rules. Secondly, it assures all collaborators that mistakes can be undone, so there’s no need to panic when they make errors.

Gemini is Google’s proprietary artificial intelligence (AI) assistant, released in 2023 in response to the rise of ChatGPT and other rival AI chatbots. Google Workspace users have complete access to Gemini, either via the standalone app or via direct integration with Docs, Slides, Sheets, and other Google tools.

I found Gemini very useful when working with documents on various Google tools. For example, I used it to generate text when writing on Google Docs and also to translate and edit text. The output wasn’t perfect – it often sounds too bland and robotic – but a few edits were enough to make it sound more human.

On Google Sheets, I used Gemini to analyze data, specifically to visualize the data I entered into my spreadsheet. You can do much more, for example, by asking it to calculate specific values based on the figures in your spreadsheet.

On Google Slides, I used Gemini to generate text and ideas for my presentations. The use cases are endless, making Gemini a valuable companion for any company’s employees.

Other useful tools you can access under Workspace include Google Calendar, a tool for employees to set and manage schedules, and Google Keep, a note-taking app with collaborative features. There’s also Google Forms, which your company can use to survey customers, collect data from leads, or conduct internal surveys.

Google Workspace offers such a broad set of features that it would be too much information to provide in this review. It provides a valuable software suite to run your business operations, but it’s not without its drawbacks. In my opinion, Google Workspace is best suited for companies with a few hundred employees, but it becomes more difficult to manage above this figure. The costs can also be high for small businesses, although Google Workspace’s pricing is generally competitive.

Google Workspace: Interface and in use

I’ve reviewed all Google Workspace tools, and a smooth, intuitive interface is a commonality among them. In my opinion, Google has zeroed in on simplicity and intuitiveness as a way to stand out amid intense competition, considering it was a latecomer to various software niches. From Google Docs to Sheets, Slides, Meet, and other tools, their interfaces are much more seamless to navigate compared to rival apps.

Google Workspace enables smooth communication and collaboration among your employees. From collaborating on text documents, spreadsheets, and presentations to holding videoconferences on Google Meet or group chats on Google Chat, Google Workspace excels in its user-friendliness and makes these functions work smoothly.

Google Workspace: Support

As paid subscribers, Google Workspace users have access to abundant support resources, both self-help and direct support from Google’s team. Each Google tool has a dedicated section on the company’s official Help Center. Every section covers all features related to the specific tool, making it the ideal first stop when troubleshooting issues.

For example, on the Google Meet Help Center section, you can find user guides, tutorials, and answers to common issues users face on Google Meet. The same applies to all other tools offered under Google Workspace.

If self-help resources on the Help Center aren’t sufficient to resolve issues, Google Workspace users can contact Google’s support team via email, live chat, and telephone. Throughout my experience with Google Workspace, the support team has been very responsive and knowledgeable. A good thing is that the intuitive interface of Google tools reduces the number of times you’ll need direct help in the first place.

Google Workspace: The competition

I’ve repeatedly mentioned Microsoft tools in this review, giving a hint that Microsoft is Google Workspace’s primary competitor. The Microsoft 365 bundle mirrors Google Workspace by offering businesses access to a broad suite of Microsoft’s software tools, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, OneNote, and more.

I’ve tested Microsoft’s software tools extensively, just like I’ve done with Google’s, and Microsoft’s tools generally have broader functionalities. For example, you’ll find more formatting options in Word and Excel than in Google Docs and Spreadsheets. PowerPoint has a broader collection of templates and insertable visual elements than Google Slides. Microsoft Teams is more capable of hosting large video conferences than Google Meet.

However, Google’s tools outshine Microsoft’s in ease of use and collaborative features. I found Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides much simpler to navigate than their Microsoft counterparts. Collaborating with colleagues was also much smoother when working with Google tools. Although Microsoft’s tools also support collaboration, Google’s tools felt more designed for collaborative use.

Google Workspace: Final verdict

Google Workspace is an all-in-one software suite that fosters collaboration and productivity. It unlocks access to broad software tools and lets employees share files, communicate, and collaborate on the same documents.

I think Google Workspace is best suited for mid-sized companies, given its features and price. It’s not the best for small businesses, given its pricing, nor large companies because of the 300-account limit on the regular plans, but the pricing and features are ideal for a mid-sized company with a sizable IT budget.

We've featured the best Microsoft Office alternatives.

Narwal Flow: two-minute review

The Narwal Flow is a high-end, self-emptying hybrid robotic vacuum with an especially unusual and impressive mopping system. I've been testing one out for the past fortnight, and the performance is such a mixed bag that coming to a definitive conclusion is tricky. On one hand, its mopping is among the best of any robovac I've tested. The mop pad is mounted on a wide roller, which extends outwards to reach into corners, and uses hot water to clean both your floor and itself. The system works remarkably well.

The Flow's vacuuming abilities are also strong, and it performed very well in TechRadar's standardized tests. It's not only very powerful (up to 22,000 Pa of suction), but cleverly adjusts the speed of its rotating side brushes to prevent dry debris from being flung across hard floors. It also performed very well at in my obstacle avoidance tests. There don't seem to have been any negative results of installing the LiDAR module in the back of the bot instead of in a raised puck on top. The benefit is that the overall profile is relatively shallow, which means the bot can clean beneath low furniture.

On the other hand, the Flow occasionally let itself down. During one cleaning task, it spilled a large amount of debris from its dust bin onto the floor, despite being set to automatically empty itself into the base station. The robot then drove over the mess, lifting itself off the ground enough to trigger its cliff sensors, and requiring help. Another time, it repeatedly failed to enter a room and, despite not vacuuming a single square centimeter, returned to its charger and declared the task a success.

The app is also so packed with adjustable settings that it'll likely feel intimidating to robovac rookies – an issue compounded by numerous examples of poor translation. I have no doubt these issues can be addressed by software updates, and I was ultimately still very impressed by the Flow's cleaning performance. The fundamentals are sound, it just needs a little finesse to reach perfection.

That's the short version – read on for my full Narwal Flow review, including an in-depth look at the design, performance and value for money, plus how it compares to the rest of the best robot vacuums on the market.

(Image credit: Future)Narwal Flow review: price & availability

• List price: $1,499.99
• Launched: August 2025
• Available: US

The Flow launched in August 2025, and a month later its price fell from $1,499.99 to $1,299.99. That's for what Narwal calls the basic dock, which contains a dust bag and tanks for clean and dirty water. A smaller dock that plumbs into your water supply for a full hands-off experience costs $1,599.99, but was discounted by $200 during the pre-order phase.

Currently, the Narwal Flow is only available in the US. The brand hasn't announced plans to bring the Flow to the UK just yet. However, it's available in some European countries, including Germany, for €1,299 with the standard dock and €1,499 for the smaller, plumbed-in dock. Those prices were cut for a limited time at launch to €899 and €1,099 respectively. The Flow is not currently available in Australia.

Even at the new, lower list price, the Narwal Flow is firmly in the premium price bracket for robot vacuums. It sits above other high-end robovacs, like the $1,099 Ecovacs Deebot X8 Pro Omni, but below the lofty $1,599.99 recommended retail price of the Roborock Qrevo Curv. However, discounts are common in the robot vacuum market, so in many cases you'll be able to take list price with a pinch of salt.

If you're comfortable with the idea of a four-figure vacuum – something we've all had to get used to as their features and performance continue to grow – then the Flow feels like good value. This is especially true when you start digging through the spec sheet and the many, many pages of features and settings accessible in the app. Things like the use of hot water with the mopping system – to clean the floor, not just the pad itself – and an extending, track-based mop help the Flow stand apart. I'll come back to these features in more detail later.

Like other robotic vacuums, the Flow will require replacement parts over time. Examples include dust bags and detergent for the mopping water, and the spinning side brushes can also be replaced if they wear out or break. Narwal sells a kit of parts that includes two mops, two filters, a replacement roller brush, three dust bags, two bottles of detergent, two pairs of side brushes and other accessories. But it's rather expensive, at $259.99.

• Value for money score: 4 out of 5

Narwal Flow specs

Max suction:

22,000Pa

Robot diameter:

13.8in / 35.1cm

Robot height:

3.7in / 9.5cm

Dock dimensions (W x D x H):

16.9 x 15.6 x 18.2in / 43 x 40 x 46.1cm

Dust bin volume (base):

2.5L

Water tank volume:

Requested

Base type:

Charge, auto-empty, wash mop pads with hot water, dry mop pads with hot air, refill clean water, self-clean

Max threshold clearance:

1.6in / 4cm

Mop type:

Roller track with hot water mopping

Mop pad lifting:

0.5in / 1.2cm

Max runtime:

190 mins

Narwal Flow review: design

• Hybrid robot vacuum with LiDAR integrated to give a shallower profile
• Track-style roller mop that can extend, with hot water mopping
• Comprehensive dock with hot water mop cleaning and self-clean cycle

The Narwal Flow is a robotic vacuum cleaner and mop with a self-emptying charge station that also cleans and drys the integrated mop. As well as emptying the robot's onboard dust bin, the charge station empties the robot's dirty water tank and refills it with clean water. For an even more hands-off approach, there's an option that has a dock that can be plumbed in (I didn't test this version).

(Image credit: Future)

The standard base station is comprehensive. It'll take care of basic things like charging the bot and emptying the dust, but also tasks like refilling the onboard water tank, washing the mop pads with hot water and drying them with hot air. It'll even clean itself, rinsing the dirty water tank and pipes with hot water. It's a shame, then, that there's no automatic detergent dispenser; instead you just add cleaning solution to the clean water tank.

I like how the robot is housed almost entirely inside the charge station, instead of protruding out the front when parked. This makes for a neater appearance, and means the system takes up less floor space than some rivals.

As with other robovacs, the Flow asks for plenty of free floor space around the base station, though. Officially, you should keep 18 in / 45cm free to each side and in front of the dock. This isn't critical though, so you can put the dock in a corner of the room (or next to a kitchen cupboard, as I have) and the robot will still drive in and out just fine.

(Image credit: Future)

The underside of the robot houses a rotating, anti-tangle brush, a pair of spinning side brushes, two wheels that promise to lift the robot over thresholds up to 1.57 in / 4cm tall, and a reusable mopping pad.

Unlike some other robotic vacuums, the Flow's spinning LiDAR unit is housed within the body instead of mounted on top, which reduces its height to 3.74 in / 9.5 cm, which is on the shallower side for a robot vacuum and means it's able to drive beneath low furniture.

When in use, the mop pushes down onto the floor with a force of 2.7 lbs / 1.22 kg to help it scrub at dirt and dried-on stains, while grime is scraped off, and the pad is fed with clean water. The mop uses water warmed to 113F / 45C while in use, then lifts by 0.47in / 1.2cm to keep clear of carpet and rugs.

(Image credit: Future)

Unlike some other robotic vacuums, the rotating side brushes of the Narwal Flow do not pivot outwards to reach further into corners. Instead, there's a clever mechanical solution: one brush on each sweeper has a hinge halfway up. When the bot approaches the edge of a room, the sweeper changes direction of rotation, causing the hinge to open up and extend the reach of the brush.

The mop does extend outwards, getting it closer to walls but not quite within touching distance.

Setup

Setting up the Narwal Flow is relatively quick and easy. The spinning brushes clip into place, then it's just a case of picking a good spot for the charging station, filling the water tank, letting the robot charge its battery, and using the Narwal app to connect the robot to your Wi-Fi network. After that, you're prompted to send the Flow out on a mapping mission, where it quickly drives around, without cleaning, and uses its vision system to map your property.

The Flow performed this quickly and did a decent job of splitting the floor plan into rooms. It even correctly labeled the kitchen and living room, spotted how the latter is carpeted, and placed icons to represent a dining table, chairs and sofa. I had to adjust some of the wall locations, then split the hallway and downstairs toilet into two rooms, but this process is all quite intuitive.

(Image credit: Future)

The Flow also spotted a couple of obstacles – a cable and some shoes – and marked them with relevant icons on the floor map. Narwal says the Flow can recognize 200 different types of objects this way – and yes, that includes pet mess. This system was inconsistent, as it later mistook a stainless steel kitchen bin for a mirror and labelled a single table leg as 'other' despite previously adding the same table and chairs to its map of the kitchen. Up to four maps can be saved, which is handy if you live in a multi-storey house instead of an apartment.

Lastly, the Flow offers smart home integration and support for voice commands via Siri, Alexa and Google Home. However, there's a bit of clunky Chinese-to-English translation going on here, which can make some settings nonsensical. That aside, I like being able to ask Alexa to 'clean the kitchen', for example, or set up a Siri Shortcut to control the Flow.

• Design score: 4.5 out of 5

Narwal Flow review: performance

• Strong vacuuming and excellent mopping when you get the settings right
• Occasional navigation failures
• Impressively thorough self-cleaning from the dock

Narwal suggests the Flow is best left to think for itself. This is because, while there's lots of granular customization of cleaning schedules and mopping strategies to sink your teeth into, Narwal's artificial intelligence, called Freo Mind, can be summoned to do the thinking for you.

The AI adjusts the cleaning strategy based on the room and how much dirt there is. It'll adjust the suction power, mopping water usage, cleaning frequency and other variables on the fly, and work especially hard on tougher stains.

(Image credit: Future)

This is most obvious when tasked with mopping dried-on stains, which the robot will scrub at repeatedly, sometimes with multiple trips back to the docking station to clean the mop and grab more warm water, before the job is done.

The Flow's intelligence and navigation skills are mostly good, driving very close to walls but rarely crashing into them, and cleaning in neat, straight lines.

But it isn't perfect. On one occasion the Flow pushed a chair about 12in / 30.5cm across the kitchen floor, then seemingly got stuck, unsure of where to go or how to get back to its charger. I was also disappointed to see how the Flow once dropped a large amount of debris onto the carpet after cleaning, and another onto its own dock when returning to base. The robot can be set to empty its bin either after every clean, or intelligently based on how full it is, but in neither scenario should the bin be overflowing. Those minor hiccups aside, during general use I found the Flow to clean very well indeed.

Vacuuming tests

Now for the specific cleaning tests. I started by challenging the Narwal with a mixture of crushed digestive biscuit and flour on a wooden floor. I set the robot to its lowest suction setting and asked it to vacuum the area just once, and with what the app refers to as 'standard coverage precision', instead of the more meticulous option.

I started on the lowest of four suction settings (this is called 'Quiet, and lives up to its name, reaching just 58 dB.) Most of the debris was collected after a single pass. But, while the Flow managed not to flick dirt around the room, as some other robovacs are guilty of, larger pieces of food were missed, and there's no doubt I could have done a better job with a handheld vacuum or a dustpan and brush. The bot then returned to its dock and disinfected the internal bin. I measured this process at 42 dB; noticeable in a quiet room, but only slightly louder than a refrigerator.

I repeated the test at the next suction level, called Normal. This picked up more debris, but still left some behind – and I also noticed how the robot left two sizable trails of crumbs at the entrance to its charging dock. I then selected the highest setting, called Super Powerful, but before starting the app suggested I try 'Vortex suction power', which was previously hidden but, the app said, was suitable for the current area I was cleaning. Vortex suction is much louder, at 76 dB, but did an excellent job, picking up almost all of the crumb mix and leaving behind only a few faint trails.

As a final test, I scattered some more of the crumb mix and this time selected the Narwal Flow's Freo Mind setting, which promises to intelligently adjust depending on the environment and dirt level.

The robot drove in a more meticulous way, but left quite a few patches of crumb in its wake, plus some trails of debris spread around by its tank tracks. Honestly, I was expecting a little better here. As is almost always the case with robovacs, the best approach is to have it vacuum the entire room twice, rather than focus on a single area from which it is likely to flick dirt. This approach produced the best results.

(Image credit: Future)

Next, I repeated this test in a carpeted lounge. Strangely, the robot repeatedly failed to even leave the kitchen, yet twice proudly told me it had completed the task (and stated how it had cleaned 0.0 square meters in the app).

After the third failure, I asked it to vacuum the entire lounge instead of a custom zone. This also failed, and – after deleting the map and creating a new one – I discovered the Flow had designated the lounge carpet as an area to 'Cross' instead of 'Clean'. This is intended for rugs, creating the option to avoid them, but in this case it meant the robot refused to enter the room. A notification explaining this would have been helpful.

Image 1 of 2

Crumb mix on a carpeted floor before the suction test (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

... and the results of the crumb test (Image credit: Future)

Issue resolved, and even the lowest suction mode did a fantastic job of vacuuming the carpet, with only very small patches of the crumb mix left behind. It was an impressive performance, and I liked how, even in 'standard' coverage precision, the Flow methodically drove twice across the selected zone. I repeated the task using Normal suction with two vacuuming cycles, and the carpet was cleaned perfectly.

Image 1 of 4

Oats on a carpet ahead of suction test (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 4

All the oats cleared away after the suction test (Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 4

Oats on a wooden floor before the suction test (Image credit: Future)Image 4 of 4

... and the results (Image credit: Future)

For my next test, I used oats to see how the Flow performed with larger debris. On a hard floor it passed with flying colors, even with the lowest suction level. Crucial here is how the Flow's rotating side brushes vary their speed depending on the task, so instead of flicking the oats around – as many other robovacs do – the Flow slowed down and picked up almost everything.

On carpet I saw similarly impressive results, with just a single pass on the lowest suction enough to leave the floor totally spotless.

Mopping tests

Next, the mop test. For this I tested the Flow with some spilt water, then a few drops of ketchup smeared across a wooden floor and left to dry. For every mopping task, the bot first cleans its mop with hot water inside the base station, then sets off. The Flow did a great job of wiping away the spilt water, without pushing it around and creating more mess, but the rotating side brushes are dragged through the liquid (and, later, the ketchup too), so could start to smell over time.

The Flow's Freo AI function didn't scrub at the ketchup as much as I'd hoped, and instead returned to base after one pass without properly cleaning the area.

Image 1 of 3

Water and ketchup on a hard floor, ready for the mopping test (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 3

.. after one pass (Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 3

... and after two passes (Image credit: Future)

I tried again – this time with the mopping set to 'meticulous' and with increased water usage to help loosen and remove the ketchup stain – and the floor was left spotless. Worth noting is how the Flow comes with a bottle of detergent, but this is added manually to the base station water tank, instead of being administered automatically, via a separate tank, as is the case with some premium robovacs.

Especially impressive is how the mop uses hot water to clean the floor, then is itself washed with more hot water and dried inside the base station after every task. Remarkably, even after a few weeks' use and the ketchup test, the mopping pad still looked like new.

Obstacle avoidance tests

Finally, obstacle avoidance. I tasked the Flow with vacuuming my lounge and placed a shoe, a sock and a USB charge cable in its way. The robot did an excellent job of avoiding every object, while still vacuuming very closely to each of them.

(Image credit: Future)

I was particularly impressed by how it dodged the charge cable, since most robovacs fail at this test. The app showed an icon of a cable on the map, but strangely didn't identify the sock and shoe.

• Performance score: 4 out of 5

Narwal Flow review: app

• Some poor Chinese-to-English translations
• A ton of settings to explore – in fact, an overwhelming number
• Drains phone battery quickly when left open

The Narwal app is a complex beast, packed with adjustable features and settings. It's designed nicely though, and most of the menu system is logical enough, although some questionable translation into English will have you scratching your head.

Ideally, you'd leave the Freo Mind AI to work everything out for you. But I found the Flow vacuumed best when configured to perform two cycles with strong suction and the coverage precision set to meticulous. Mopping worked best when set to two cycles, with normal water usage and, again, the meticulous coverage mode.

Beyond that, there are pages and pages of settings to read through and tinker with. There's even a setting to increase suction power to compensate for living at high altitude, a graph to show the 'health index' of the dust bag over time, and three options for how intensely the mop is dried. A 'simple mode' that strips out most features would be welcome.

Image 1 of 3

(Image credit: Narwal / Future)Image 2 of 3

(Image credit: Narwal / Future)Image 3 of 3

(Image credit: Narwal / Future)

More helpfully, you can create and save up to four maps, so using the Flow across multiple floors is possible, and there's a page showing you when each consumable accessory will need replacing.

One of the app's best features is how shortcuts can be created for common cleaning tasks. I made one called After Meal, which is configured to vacuum the entire kitchen with normal suction and two passes. These shortcuts live on the home page of the app, and begin with a single tap.

It's a good app, but there's too much going on for the average user. I'd urge most buyers to take manual control of the various cleaning functions, see what works best in your home, then set up a handful of shortcuts to fit your use case. I prefer this approach to relying on the Freo AI and trusting the robot to always do the right thing. Lastly, I noticed the Narwal app runs quite hot and quickly depleted my iPhone battery when left open.

• App score: 3.5 out of 5

Should you buy the Narwal Flow?

Attribute

Notes

Rating

Value

Expensive, but justified at least in part by an extensive feature list and generally very strong performance.

4/5

Design

Hybrid robot vacuum and mop with integrated LiDAR and extending, track-style roller mop. Comprehensive dock.

4.5/5

Performance

Vacuuming is strong, mopping excellent, and the dock's cleaning functions are impressively thorough. Let down by occasional bugs and navigation issues.

3.5/5

App

Nicely designed, but overflowing with far too many features and settings and some poor translation into English. A resource hog that makes your phone run hot.

3.5/5

Buy it if...

You need a great mop

For homes with predominantly hard floors, the Flow is a great robot – the mopping is amongst the best I've tried, and it's remarkably good at keeping itself clean, dry and odor-free. Get the plumbed-in dock for a fully hands-off experience.

You rely on obstacle avoidance

The Flow is very good at avoiding obstacles, then plots their location on the floorplan and even takes photos of whatever it encounters. It didn't once ingest a stray sock or charge cable during my testing.

You want minimal maintenance

The Flow empties its dust bin, but also disinfects itself after vacuuming, then washes its mop with hot water and dries it too. After several weeks of use, and producing two tanks' worth of filthy used water, the mop still looked like new.

Don't buy it if...

Your priority isn't mopping

Much of the cost here is related to the advanced mopping and mop maintenance features. If you don't have a ton of hard floor or intensive mopping needs, this probably isn't the robot vacuum for you.

You want simplicity

With pages of settings to adjust, function names that don't always make sense, and some poor translation, the Narwal app can be overwhelming. One-tap shortcuts can be created, and work well once you've spent some time configuring them, but the app could be more user-friendly.

You're on a budget

Naturally, a four-figure robovac won't appeal to consumers who want to spend less. Thankfully, there are plenty of more affordable options from brands like SwitchBot, Roborock, Tapo and Eufy, although not all can mop as well as the Narwal Flow (or at all).

How I tested the Narwal Flow

I set up the Narwal Flow and used it as my own vacuum cleaner and mop for a couple of weeks, before conducting a series of specific tests. During the initial period, the Flow was tasked with vacuuming and mopping the entire ground floor of my home. I experimented with the Flow's ability to create additional maps, and used it to clean my first floor bedrooms and bathrooms too. The specific vacuuming, mopping, navigation and obstacle avoidance tests are outlined in the Performance section above.

Read more about how we test robot vacuum cleaners

• First reviewed September 2025

I've worked with Uplift in the past, so when I heard they released a new desk, I, of course, had to try it out for myself.

I've tried out their V2 Standing Desk with commercial legs, and the team has reviewed the V2 standing desk with standard legs. Both desks scored 4.5 and are widely recognized by the TechRadar Pro team as fantastic standing desk options. Sometimes when companies knock it out of the park, they swing too far in a different direction and lose touch with what made their original product so successful. Uplift, on the other hand, did the right move - they listened to their customers.

The Uplift V3 is everything that made the V2 great, everything that the V2 Commercial refined, and made it just a little bit better. Assembly is improved, stability is enhanced, and we still have the same great desktop and accessory options. We also have a sturdier frame and the same high-quality materials. For me, this might be the best standing desk around right now.

Uplift V3 Standing Desk: Price and availability

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

The Uplift Standing Desk V3 offers some of the most customizable options I have seen, including material choices and built-in features. Depending on what you choose, you'll adjust the price and time it takes to get to you drastically.

With the base-level desk in the smallest size, without any modifications, you'll come in around $700 and will get it shipped that day, free of charge. However, if you want to, and your budget allows of course, you could go all out and get a desk, and come out to over $2000 without accessories.

There are so many combination options that we could all make unique desks if we wanted to, and that is one of the things that sets Uplift apart.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Uplift V3 Standing Desk: Unboxing and First Impressions

I've customized and ordered numerous standing desks. Uplift still has the most robust number of options for me to choose from when I build, making it feel like I have a truly customized and almost one-of-a-kind desk.

I get to design it to be precisely what I want. Granted, there are other companies, such as Oakywood, that allow you to customize down to the exact inch, but when it comes to options for materials, Uplift may have just about everyone else beat. Even with this incredible selection of desktops and accessories, delivery time is still within a week, which is insane, sometimes as quickly as three days.

Everything comes well-packaged, with all the accessories you chose, and easy-to-follow directions to help with setup. Right off the bat, the desk feels sturdier than the V2, providing the rigidity I wanted with the V2 and even the V2 Commercial, while still maintaining a sleek and minimal appearance. The biggest game changer for me is the inclusion of the FlexMount Cable Manager.

I am the kind of person who loves a clean desk, even if it's cluttered; I still like it to be tidy and have the cables organized. The FlexMount cable Manager is the cable management solution that FlexiSpot added to their E7 Pro, except on the back of the desk, which works out well, as that's where most of the cable mess is.

Uplift V3 Standing Desk: Design & Build QualitySpecs

Height range: 22.6” – 48.2” (BIFMA-certified)
Lift capacity: ~355 lbs
Frame: dual-motor, steel, crossbar stability design
Noise: <50dB
Keypad: programmable memory, hush or RGB options
Warranty: 15 years

For my V3 desk, I built out a beautiful Heritage Oak desktop paired with the V3 C-Shaped legs, a handful of accessories, and powered grommets. The Heritage Oak is lovely. It looks excellent from a distance, and even up close, it still looks great for a laminate. It is worth noting that it is laminate, so it's not solid wood, but for what it is, it feels very nice.

I wanted to see how good their laminate could be, and I'm glad I did. If a more accessible desk can be this good, and I've also tested a solid wood option from Uplift, I know that their desks, overall, are solid and worth suggesting and promoting now.

Another element I really like about the design is the ability to add features like powered grommets at the point of purchase. These wouldn't be as beloved as they are, but the powered grommets are frequently the most notable feature of this desk, according to my team. We use them all the time to plug in whatever we are working with, all without having to run an extension cord, leave out a cable mess, or look for an outlet. We can pop up the grommet, plug in, and get to work.

The upgraded V3 legs still feature the same four programmable presets, and we also have a selection to choose from when it comes to the controller, which is quite impressive. We can choose the variant that best suits our working style and aesthetic, and it will work seamlessly with the desk out of the box.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Uplift V3 Standing Desk: In use

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

I've had this desk set up and in use for my team and I for the past 39 days at the time of writing this review. In that time, we have had numerous people rotate using it.

We have had multiple meetings, working sessions, and full days of work at this desk. We have it set up with dual monitors, an external Logitech MX Keys Keyboard, and the Logitech MX Master 3. We added a desk pad to protect the desk and enhance its aesthetic appeal. We also built out dual docking stations, one to run dual monitors for a Mac (that shouldn't be able to run dual monitors) through DisplayLink Manager, and another Thunderbolt Dock pulled forward for easy port access.

On top of this, we added a lamp, speakers, and multiple power options with under-mounted power strips and both grommet power solutions all running to where the desk itself can be powered with a single cable, and one ethernet port for wired internet (though it could be wireless if required).

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

This is how I like to build my desks, over-built but ready for modifications in the future if desired. Creating this way also highlights the limitations of a desk, if any exist. So far, this desk has withstood the hefty build beautifully, and it is working precisely as intended. The privacy screen blocks exactly where we'd want it to, and provides some lovely pouches for quick access to books or documents.

The grommets are easy to use and highly convenient. The desk has not bowed or sagged at all. The cable management solution keeps everything in place without allowing any cables to come into contact with the ground. Additionally, the wheels provide super-easy maneuverability.

After using this for a month and walking into the office every day, looking at the desk as I do in the photos, I wish that the cable management solution were either black to blend in or a more rigid and refined metal to match the desk frame. Everything looks so high quality, and then that stands out as an outlier. But not in a terrible way - just a little room for growth for V4.

Uplift V3 Standing Desk: Final verdict

The Uplift V3 is a significant and highly welcomed update from the Uplift V2 and V2 Commercial lines. Not to say that those are bad by any means, but the V3 is a definite step above. This desk has been excellent for all kinds of office work and would work beautifully in a dedicated office or a home office space. If you're investing in a standing desk, consider one that offers not only a fun, customizable option but also a quality, well-tested desk.

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Value

Can be built out to be very affordable, or very bougie depending on your budget

4 / 5

Design

Beautiful and sturdy design, with room to grow

4.5 / 5

Hardware

Dual motors, great range, sturdy, and high lift capacity

5 / 5

Performance

Quiet, responsive, stable, great to build a setup with

5 / 5

Overall

The V3 continues the line of greatness with Uplift's standing desk, giving us a fantastic desk all around

5 / 5

Buy it if...

You want a customized desk
The Uplift Standing Desk V3 builder allows for what feels like a custom desk, without paying absurd amounts of money for other companies. You get to choose most elements, creating a one-of-a-kind piece for your space.

You need a buy-it-once kind of desk
Sometimes you want a cheap desk that fits a space, sometimes you want to buy a desk that will last for a decade without even batting an eye.View Deal

Don't buy it if...

You need to adjust the size down to an inch
While Uplift has a ton of options, you do have a set number of options for sizing, if you need custom sizing, you'll have to look elsewhere

You expect the best cable management solution to come first party
There are a few desk companies that have better cable management solutions, but you could also grab those and add them to this desk, which is what we'd suggest

For more office furniture essentials, we've tested and reviewed the best office chairs.

When I first saw the LiberNovo Omni announced, I thought that if they delivered half of what I am seeing in the previews in real life, I'd be impressed.

Now, I've reviewed some of the best office chairs for the home and office, but this? This is something very different. Let me explain.

LiberNovo Omni: Price and availability

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

The LiberNovo Omni began on Kickstarter and has recently emerged from that initial phase. The next round of chairs will start shipping on October 21, 2025, and LiberNovo is still accepting more pre-orders until October 20th.

The basic bundle is currently on sale for $848 through the LiberNovo website, originally priced at $ 1,099.

If you want to get your hands on this chair before the price increases or before there is a delay in shipping due to high demand, grab one from LiberNovo directly by clicking here.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )LiberNovo Omni: Unboxing and First Impressions

The Omni arrived in a large box and took 10 minutes to assemble with minimal frustration or strain. The hardest part was coping with the realization that I had missed a step in the directions and hadn't moved the wire controls to the side before attaching the seat to the frame, meaning I had to undo everything.

That brings up another point -- the assembly was straightforward, partially due to a design and setup process that I have yet to see among my 50+ chairs that I have reviewed over the last several years. Most chairs I have tested have a backpiece that mounts directly to the seat of the chair, usually with three bolts.

This chair, though, has what I can only describe as a spine that extends to the top of the backrest, and then seats directly onto the pedestal. Then, a base is added on top of the spine, and a backrest is attached to the top section of the spine. This assembly and design method, while unique, also provides a tremendous amount of stability to the chair, making assembly a breeze.

From the moment I first sat in this chair, I have absolutely loved it. It's different than what I expected in feel, but in a good way. The seat is firm yet comfortable, the backrest functions well, and the adjustments are excellent. The shock for me was that the seat felt a bit narrower than expected.

Without taking too long, I was able to dial it in to be exactly what I wanted, and I got back to work, forgetting about needing to make any further adjustments, which speaks to just how comfortable the chair is.

LiberNovo Omni: Design & Build QualitySpecs

Height range:
Lift capacity:
Dimensions:
Warranty:

As I mentioned above, the frame for the LiberNovo Omni is unique. It has three main components, with the primary structure of the frame spanning where most chairs have a gap.

The spine portion of the chair effectively conveys the stability it offers. The mesh seat is comfortable, even for all-day use, the backrest is incredibly supportive, and the frame is stable.

The footprint is small enough to fit even in smaller setups, to the point where I moved this chair to my smallest desk setup, and it works perfectly.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )LiberNovo Omni: In use

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

The LiberNovo Omni has a backrest that is not only comfortable but also hugs my spine when I sit. Most chairs require adjustment throughout the day, but I've spent several long days sitting in this chair without any issues.

Admittedly, even when I'm at my standing desk, I haven't stood up in a few days (while working, of course). The headrest can be adjusted to push forward or back, helping to support my neck when I'm sitting. I can recline when thinking or on a virtual call, and I can get a quick massage by pressing a simple button.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

One more thing worth mentioning is that this chair features a nice lumbar support, unlike many chairs that have a gap. Right at the lower back, where your seat meets the backrest, most chairs have a gap, or some padding is used to try to make up for it.

Since this chair is designed in such a unique way, there is not only an option for a small gap, but also a zero-gap option, utilizing electronics to close that gap, meaning you are supported all day without slouching to relieve pressure on your spine.

It wouldn't be a non-biased review without some cons. After a few days of using this chair, I noticed that the headrest drops too easily, and it moves side to side more easily than expected. This is probably due to the thin, small piece of plastic holding the headrest in place. If you're the kind of person expecting that to be rigid, you'll be sadly disappointed in this headrest's level of maneuverability.

LiberNovo Omni: Final verdict

The LiberNovo Omni is impressive. This is the kind of quality that I would expect from a well-established company, and several variations of a chair.

But, instead, I have found it within a chair that is still technically on Kickstarter at the time of writing this review. Yes, it's expensive, but it truly is worth the money if you spend all day at a desk.

If you're looking for a comfortable chair that supports your lower back all day long, consider LiberNovo's Omni offering before making your decision. It may change your mind - or at least make you reconsider what an office chair can be.

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Value

Good level of ergonomics for the price

4.5 / 5

Design

Simple design, clean, aggressive lumbar support

4 / 5

Hardware

Basic armrests, and adjust-less lumbar are simple. They work but are not for everyone

3.5 / 5

Performance

Great for budget buyers, also for average height to shorter users

4 / 5

Overall

Not perfect, but one of the better wallet-friendly chairs you can buy today if you like lumbar support

4 / 5

For more office furniture, we've reviewed the best standing desks.

Levoit EverestAir air purifier: two-minute review

Air purifiers designed for large rooms tend to be big and bulky – but the Levoit EverestAir Air Purifier is an exception to that rule. It's a slim machine that can fit into tight spaces, and fit flush against a wall, but which packs enough power to use in extra-large spaces.

Inside, you'll find a 3-stage filtration system that includes a washable pre-filter, and a H13 True HEPA filter and an activated charcoal filter combo. I have an open plan home with no walls separating the living room and kitchen, and the EverestAir did an excellent job of purifying the space quickly and effectively, including clearing my neighbor's cigarette smoke. In fact, this is one of the most effective air purifiers I've ever reviewed – and I've tested over 50 of the best air purifiers on the market.

The mode I used most often was Auto, where a laser dust sensor scans for airborne particles and increases or decreases the fan speed as necessary. There's also a Sleep mode and a Turbo mode.

The control panel includes plenty of options, but they're clearly presented and the information is easy to navigate and digest. The air quality score, along with color-coded rings, provide you with an at-a-glance overview. At the touch of a button, you can also cycle through readings for specific particulate matter, such as PM 1.0 (fine dust and microtoxins), PM 2.5 (dust, smoke, and pet dander) and PM 10 (pollen, ash, and airborne allergens). There's no remote control, but you can control the EverestAir from a distance using the companion app, which includes options to turn the device on or off, switch modes, create a schedule and more.

Normally, the airflow on an air purifier is in a fixed position. However, the Levoit EverestAir has adjustable vent angles, which is ideal for directing the clean air to suit the position of the purifier. Cleverly, when the air purifier is not in use, the vents close completely to keep dust out.

That's the short version – read on for my full Levoit EverestAir review.

(Image credit: Future)Levoit EverestAir review: price & availability

• List price: $499
• Available: US

The Levoit EverestAir has a list price of $499.99 and is available to purchase direct from Levoit US via Amazon. While Levoit does have a presence in the UK and Australia, at time of writing this model wasn't available in either territory.

The Levoit EverestAir replacement filter is rather expensive ($99). However, it only needs to be replaced every 12-15 months with normal use… so you could think of it like a $50 filter that needs to be replaced every 6 months, if that helps.

In the air purifier market, the Levoit EverestAir is considered a mid-range purchase. It's more expensive than the Levoit Core 300S, which is TechRadar's top budget air purifier choice. On the other hand, it's significantly less pricey than the likes of the Dyson Purifier Big+Quiet Formaldehyde BP04. For me, the features, functions, and build quality certainly justify the price, and it delivers strong value for the money.

• Value for money score: 4.5 out of 5

Levoit EverestAir specs

CADR:

354 CFM / 601 m³/h

Size:

18.9 x 8.5 x 23.2in / 48 x 21.6 x 58.9cm

Control:

Buttons, app, voice

Filters:

Pre-filter, H13 HEPA, activated carbon

Modes:

Low, medium, high, Auto, Sleep, Turbo

Contaminants detected:

PM1, PM2.5, PM10

Model code:

LAP-EL551S-AUS

Levoit EverestAir review: design

• Sleek, compact design with easy filter access and wheels for moving
• Vents can be angled to suit the position of the purifier
• Can be controlled via touchscreen buttons, a companion app, or voice

Air purifiers can be bulky, but the Levoit EverestAir Air Purifier has a sleek design that's less than 9 inches / 22.9cm wide. When I'm working at my desk, it's usually positioned in the tight space between my desk and sofa.

The EverestAir has a white front, stainless steel back, and black top, and the design is unique enough that visitors to my home often point to the machine and ask what it is. (For context, I also have a TruSens air purifier that looks like a speaker, and a Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin speaker that looks like a football, so you can understand how it's easy for guests to get confused.)

(Image credit: Future)

As well as looking stylish, it's very functional. Levoit has added wheels underneath, which make it easy to roll the whole thing around (it weighs 20.7lbs / 9.4kg, so it's not really heavy, but I wouldn't want to pick it up). Some purifiers have to be turned upside down to access and remove the filter. However, with this air purifier, I merely need to gently pull the panel door and it comes off immediately.

I also appreciate the fact the vents are adjustable, enabling me to customize my airflow. By touching the Angle icon, I can choose to set the vent angle to 45 degrees, 60 degrees, 75 degrees or 90 degrees. So if I put the air purifier under my kitchen island, I can angle the vent so the clean air flows out and away from the island rather than blowing upwards into the bottom of the countertop.

(Image credit: Future)

On the top of the purifier you'll find a touchscreen control panel. With white text and icons on a black background, the display panel is clear and easy to read, and the contrast is sharp enough that the items are visible in bright light as well as no light. On the left hand side of the panel, you'll find options to toggle between three special modes (Sleep, Auto and Turbo), as well as buttons to access 'Air info' and filter info. To the right of the control panel are the controls for speed, vent angle, and the timer function, as well as the on/off button.

Of course, you don't have to use the touchscreen panel for control if you don't want to. You can also adjust settings using the companion app, where you'll find options to turn the purifier on or off remotely, change the mode, create a schedule, explore air quality, or check on remaining filter life. There's also support for voice control via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.

• Design score: 4.5 out of 5

Levoit EverestAir review: performance

• User-friendly display with useful information
• Cleans air quickly and effectively, even in large spaces
• Auto mode works well to detect pollutants

One unique feature of the Levoit EverestAir is that it provides a clean air score as a percentage. The air purifier works this number out based on the concentration of particles and changes in detected particles during the purification process. Keep in mind that the clean air percentage is based solely on particles, not odors or gases. Typically, in my home, the score is between 98% and 99%.

By default, the Air Info button displays the clean air score as a large percentage, in the center of the control panel, and surrounded by rings that are color-coded to indicate air quality. The ring is blue when the air quality is very good, green when it's good, orange when the air quality is moderate, and red when the air is bad.

Press the Air Info button again and it'll show you PM (particulate matter) information. One press shows PM 1.0 (fine dust, micro-toxins), a second press shows PM 2.5 (dust, smoke, pet dander), and a third press shows PM 10 air info (pollen, airborne allergens).

(Image credit: Future)

When the air purifier is in Auto mode, it will automatically detect a change in the air's quality and boost or lower the airflow in response. There have been plenty of occasions where I've noticed a change in fan speed, looked down to see what was happening, and noticed that the air quality indicator rings had turned orange. That usually means my neighbor is smoking, and the air purifier is working hard to clean my air.

The Levoit EverestAir does an excellent job of removing pollutants from the air. That's due, in part, to the combination of filters. The washable pre-filter captures dust, lint, hair, and pet fur. I love to see pre-filters on an air purifier, because they help to extend the lifespan of the filter.

Behind the pre-filter is the H13 True HEPA main filter, and it is designed to trap such pollutants as fine dust, smoke, pollen, and pet dander. Lastly, the high-efficiency activator carbon filter is what makes the air smell so clean. The carbon absorbs smoke, fumes, and odors, ranging from secondhand smoke to smells from food and pets.

(Image credit: Future)

The average air purifier has a CADR (clean air delivery rate) in the 200 range. However, the Levoit EverestAir has a much higher CADR: 354 CFM (cubic feet per minute). In my bedroom, the air purifier can clean/change the air around 5 times per hour when it's on the highest setting and my bedroom door is closed. In the living room, which is open to the kitchen and the steps leading downstairs, it cleans the air around twice an hour.

The Levoit EverestAir does an excellent job of clearing odors. This is due, in part, to the activated carbon filter, which is specifically designed to absorb odors. One pleasant surprise I discovered as I was testing: most air purifiers have to be set on high to clean the air and remove odors. However, even on a medium setting, the Levoit EverestAir effectively cleans the air.

For the purposes of this review, I recorded how long it took for the purfier to clear the smell of second-hand smoke in various spots in my home. It completely removed smoke from my bedroom in roughly 10 to 12 minutes, and took 20-30 minutes to clear the smell from my large, open-plan living space.

(Image credit: Future)

Don't let anyone fool you. Air purifiers on high tend to be noisy. On Turbo, this one gets quite loud as well – although not as loud as many others that I've tested. The noise level ranges from 24db on the lowest setting to 56dB on the Turbo setting.

If you're looking for a setting that creates minimal disturbance, you'll want to activate Sleep mode. This turns off the display and uses a fan speed that is lower than the Low speed. It's great for people who like to keep the air purifier running all night, but are easily bothered by lights and noise. However, I tended to use a higher setting overnight.

(Image credit: Levoit / Future)

As a general rule, I'm quite happy to manually operate the control panel on the top of the machine. However, for testing purposes, I also downloaded the app to my smartphone and controlled the air purifier by this method. The app was easy to set up and integrated seamlessly, providing the same level of control as the touch controls.

Regarding maintenance, every two to four weeks, I've wiped the exterior with a dry cloth, and vacuumed the pre-filter. On other occasions, I've also rinsed the pre-filter in the sink, and washed it with a damp cloth and liquid detergent. Every three months I use the vacuum cleaner attachment to clean the dust sensor on the side of the air purifier.

The process for changing the filter is really easy and entails removing the front cover, removing the old filter, cleaning any dust or hair with a vacuum hose, and inserting the new filter.

• Performance score: 5 out of 5

Should you buy the Levoit EverestAir?

Attribute

Notes

Rating

Value

It's not a budget pick but considering the features, it's well worth the money.

4.5 / 5

Design

Slim and compact considering how powerful it is. Adjustable vents, and manual, app, and voice control options.

4.5 / 5

Performance

User-friendly with controls that are easy to read and understand. It also cleans the air quickly and efficiently, and app integration is seamless.

5 / 5

Buy it if...

You want a purifier you can tuck out of the way

The Levoit EverestAir Air Purifier has a slim design that doesn't take up much space, and it can fit into tight spaces and still work effectively. Also, since the vents are adjustable, you can angle them so the clean air is directed out into the room.

You want a purifier for a larger space

The Levoit EverestAir has a higher-than-average CADR (clean air delivery rate) to quickly remove pollutants from the air, and the pre-filter, HEPA filter, and activated charcoal filter combine to trap particles of various sizes.

You want something you can control from afar

The EverestAir can be controlled remotely, via the companion app, and it's also possible to set a schedule. If you're in the same room, there's support for voice control.

Don't buy it if...

You have small kids

Admittedly, many air purifiers may not be ideal to use around curious toddlers and small kids. My primary concern with the Levoit EverestAir is the adjustable vents, since their tiny fingers may get caught in the vents if they accidentally tap the adjustment button.

You're on a budget

While there are plenty of air purifiers that cost more than the Levoit EverestAir, there are also cheaper and simpler options that might be absolutely fine if you're on a budget or only need something for a relatively small space.

You want something simple

The Levoit EverestAir is very user-friendly, but there are nine different items on the display panel. Not everyone wants that level of insight or control – and there are plenty of simpler options if that includes you.

How I tested the Levoit EverestAir purifier

I've been using the Levoit EverestAir in my home for the past two years and 5 months. My house was built in 2016 and includes an open living room/kitchen and two bedrooms, and a HVAC system. During this time, I've used the EverestAir in the living room/kitchen to clear cooking smells and second-hand smoke from my neighbor. I’ve also used it – to great success – in my bedroom.

For this review, I made note of how quickly it responded to and cleared pollutants. I also explored all the various special modes and control options, including digging into the companion app. I compared my findings to other air purifiers I've tested – I've reviewed over 50 different models in my years as a consumer tech journalist – to get a feel for how it compares to the wider market and if it offers good value for the money.

• First reviewed October 2025

To me, as a video editor, being able to shoot, edit, and share a short film all from a small handheld device has always been these slabs of glass’ revolutionary concept. I’ve been editing and experimenting with them since I downloaded iMovie for the iPod Touch.

Since then, I've tested out all the best video editing apps, with some focusing on simplicity, while others try to cram a desktop video editor into a phone. There’s truly something for everyone. Even Adobe was on the scene with Rush.

But there's a new Adobe app in town that, I think, might be a massive game-changer for creators on the go. Adobe Premiere, also known as ‘Premiere on iPhone’, likely to differentiate it from its desktop big brother, Premiere Pro.

Adobe Premiere on iPhone: Pricing & plans

• Most tools are free. What isn’t are the AI features and online storage, but if you already have a subscription with Adobe, it’s possible it could now include this new app, meaning you won’t have to fork out more of your precious money to take full advantage of Premiere.

Competing in the mobile market is hard, what with most apps being sold for so little… How can you expect to make a profit? That doesn’t seem to be too much of a concern for the mighty Adobe, as they’ve released Premiere on iPhone for free (henceforth just referred to as Premiere for simplicity). You can download it by clicking here.

Yes, there are in-app purchases in the form of monthly and annual subscriptions. These unlock some features on the app, including online storage, and likely a certain number of generative credits each month.

Do be aware however that these unlocked features can also be accessed simply by login into your Adobe ID, and if you already subscribe to one of their other plans, you might not even need to pay for an additional subscription.

For instance, I have access to the Creative Cloud All Apps package, and I’ve encountered no limitation in my use of Premiere. I realise this is quite nebulous: as of this writing I haven’t received a response from Adobe about what you get with a Premiere Mobile subscription, and which other subscriptions grant you the same access to this new app.

• Score: 4.5/5

Adobe Premiere on iPhone: Interface

(Image credit: Adobe // Future)

• An excellent, well polished interface, which makes it easy to control, while getting out of your way when editing, letting you see only what you need to see, when you need it.

Although Adobe refers to this app as ‘Premiere on iPhone’, it’s a bit of a misnomer as it’s also designed to work perfectly on iPad. Sorry Android users, you’ll have to wait a little longer for yours; it’s coming, but it’s just not quite ready.

On iPhone, just like Rush was, you’ll be working exclusively in portrait orientation. The iPad is way more flexible, and the interface will work in either portrait or landscape.

When you first launch the app, you’ll be greeted with a handful of tutorials, and a series of 8 icons at the top of the screen. Any project you’ve worked on will appear beneath them, represented by large thumbnails.

These icons allow you to start a new project, either one from scratch, or by choosing some clips from your Photos library. You also have dedicated tools, like being able to extract audio from a file, adding captions, or even access AI tools such as generating an image, turning a photo into a video, or expand an image beyond its original borders.

Once you’re working on a project, the screen is divided into two parts. The top section is for a Preview of your film, and the lower part represents the Timeline. There’s a very handy slider to the left which lets you resize both sections, which is a very clever addition, especially when your project becomes very complex with multiple layers, and you need to see all of them to fine tune your edit.

At the bottom is a contextual toolbar: by default, this is where you get to add additional video clips, audio files and titles. Tap on a clip in the Timeline, however, to reveal adjustment tools instead; tap on an edit point to see a paltry number of transitions. It’s a simple concept: you only see the tools you need when you need them.

You’ll also find a handful of icons at the top of the screen, and perhaps the most interesting one offers you various aspect ratios for your project. By default, it’ll take on the format based on the first clip you add to it, but if this isn’t right for you, this button enables you to override that.

Overall, the interface is simple, uncluttered and clean, and allows you to control your project with ease.

• Score: 4.5/5

Adobe Premiere on iPhone: Video editing

(Image credit: Adobe // Future)

• The interface is designed to make editing easy and fluid, and it works great, offering you surprising frame-accurate precision, whether you’re on an iPad or iPhone.

Editing is really nice and fluid. You can effortlessly zoom in and out of your project, select a clip, trim it, move it around, the works. I did mention when the app was announced, that it felt a lot more like Apple’s Final Cut Pro (FCP) than Adobe’s desktop Premiere Pro. The clips’ rounded look for one.

The fact clips reorder themselves when you drag one to another location, reminded me very much of Final Cut’s magnetic timeline. I’m obviously biased as I love the magnetic timeline, as it allows you to edit much quicker in my opinion, and here, it makes it so easy to work using only a finger or two. Also, just like FCP, the layers aren’t numbered; new ones appear as you need them. Good to see Adobe being comfortable with being inspired by its competitors, for the benefit of its users.

When it comes to altering clips, you have a handful of tools at your disposal. With them, you can change their speed, reverse them, alter their opacity, create a freeze frame, or perform some colour correction, among others. It’s all done through icons and sliders, and that interface resize tool I mentioned earlier to see more or less of the viewer and timeline, works great for this too, as you can see those parameters, your Timeline and the Viewer all at the same time, even on an (large) iPhone.

Some tools, such as Transitions and Adjust also have an ‘apply to all’ button which greatly speeds up your workflow if you wish to paste the same effects across the board. It’s impressive and very well done. Working with Premiere was slick and smooth, even on a 7 year old iPhone XS.

• Score: 4.5/5

Adobe Premiere on iPhone: AI

(Image credit: Adobe // Future)

• A good selection of AI tools which, along with the usual generative text prompts, are designed to enhance your project in useful and creative ways, especially the ‘generate sound effect’ one.

A sleek interface is already a big plus, and you get that for free, without having to log in to or create an Adobe ID. But if you don’t mind opening your wallet, or if you’ve already got an eligible subscription, then Adobe offers a string of very impressive tools, most based on some kind of AI.

Take ‘Enhance Speech’. It’s designed to improve the quality of spoken audio if you recorded something with a lot of background noise. It works extremely well, enriching the quality of the spoken audio immensely. You’re also offered a couple of sliders so you can choose how much of the background noise to keep.

You also have the ability to generate images and stickers, but perhaps the most impressive AI tool is ‘Generate Sound Effect’. On the surface, it looks like any other AI feature: you’ve got a text prompt where you input the description of what you hope to get, but what sets it apart is the optional extra: you can use your voice to ‘perform the sound’, and the AI will base the effect on your performance. It works surprisingly well, and could become quite addictive.

• Score: 4.5/5

Adobe Premiere on iPhone: Exporting video

(Image credit: Adobe // Future)

• Two easy to use options, one offers simple changeable parameters when exporting your project to your Photos library, the other is a way to send your project to the beta version of Premiere Pro via the Cloud.

A sleek interface is already a big plus, and you get that for free, without having to log in to or create an Adobe ID. But if you don’t mind opening your wallet, or if you’ve already got an eligible subscription, then Adobe offers a string of very impressive tools, most based on some kind of AI.

Take ‘Enhance Speech’. It’s designed to improve the quality of spoken audio if you recorded something with a lot of background noise. It works extremely well, enriching the quality of the spoken audio immensely. You’re also offered a couple of sliders so you can choose how much of the background noise to keep.

You also have the ability to generate images and stickers, but perhaps the most impressive AI tool is ‘Generate Sound Effect’.

On the surface, it looks like any other AI feature: you’ve got a text prompt where you input the description of what you hope to get, but what sets it apart is the optional extra: you can use your voice to ‘perform the sound’, and the AI will base the effect on your performance. It works surprisingly well, and could become quite addictive.

Should I buy Adobe Premiere on iPhone?

(Image credit: Adobe // Future)

Buy it if...

You’re on the lookout for a very easy to use, and elegantly designed video editing app for your iPhone or iPad, with most tools being available for free.

Don't buy it if...

To be honest, there’s no real reason not to get this app, at least to try it out. Most of the features are free, and you don’t need to subscribe to it if you don't need to use those advanced AI-driven tools. Shame it’s not available for Android just yet.

For more essential creative tools, we've reviewed the best video editing software, best free video editing software, and the best video editing software for beginners.

Pixel density is something Apple pays far more attention to than most PC builders. Problem is, achieving Apple's signature "Retina" display experience with one of the brand's own monitors is very pricey. But you can now get the very same 27-inch 5K form factor from the ​​Philips 27E3U7903 for not far off half the price.

Up front and centre, this monitor matches the Apple Studio Display's 5K resolution and 218DPI pixel density. It's similar to the Apple panel in other ways, too. There's a comparable feature set with excellent connectivity including Thunderbolt 4, plus an integrated webcam and microphone array.

This Philips even apes Apple with its boxy, metallic chassis aesthetic, and flat-wide base and stand. What's more it even outstrips the Apple display by some measures. Philips has used the latest IPS Black panel tech to offer 2,000:1 static contrast, notably higher than the 1,200:1 ratio of the Studio Display.

Add in VESA DisplayHDR 600 certification, broad colour support and other features aimed at creative pros and you have a super strong on-paper package. The one catch is that while the Philips 27E3U7903 is much cheaper than the Apple Studio Display, there are some very good 4K monitors available at a significant discount among our pick of the best monitors for MacBook Pro. You're going to have to really want that 5K thing to justify this new Philips panel.

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• Apple-aping design…
• …but not quite quality
• Excellent connectivity

Specs

Panel size: 27-inch

Panel type: IPS Black

Resolution: 5,120 by 2,880

Brightness: 500 nits SDR, 600 nits HDR

Contrast: 2,000:1

Pixel response: 4ms GtG

Refresh rate: 70Hz

Colour coverage: 99% DCI-P3

HDR: VESA DisplayHDR 600

Vesa: 100mm x 100mm

Connectivity: HDMI 2.1 x1, 1x Thunderbolt 4 with 96W PD upstream, 1x Thunderbolt 4 downstream,1x USB-C upstream, 1x USB-C downstream, 2x USB-A, headphone out

It's obvious from the get go that the Philips 27E3U7903 is aimed squarely at the Apple Studio Display. That extends well beyond the basic 27-inch 5K form factor. The boxy, metallic-looking chassis and flat, wide stand and base, and glass screen cover all scream "Studio Display." Even the way the fixed power cable sticks out of the rear is awfully Appley.

Where Philips can't quite match Apple is for perceived quality. The 27E3U7903 is mostly plastic where the Apple monitor uses actual metal. So, it doesn't feel nearly as expensive.

The Philip's particularly chunky bezel also separates it slightly from the marginally slimmer Studio Display. To be clear it doesn't feel cheap, either. But to at least some extent, you can see where the extra money goes on the Apple alternative.

Connectivity is both another strong point and another overlap with Apple. Philips has given this monitor Thunderbolt 4 with 96W of power delivery, plus Thunderbolt out for display daisy chaining, another three USB-C ports, USB-A, HDMI and ethernet.

That's all tied together with full KVM switch functionality, picture-in-picture support and the aforementioned display daisy chaining. So, if you have multiple PCs, Mac, laptops, whatever, this display has you covered.

Next up, there's a webcam with AI-enhanced autoframing and a microphone array, which again is redolent of the Studio Display's Center Stage camera, plus stereo speakers.

For creators, there are features like a wide range of preset colour spaces including Apple's favoured Display P3 support, 99% coverage of the DCI P3 gamut, support for Calman Ready automatic calibration.

The Philips 27E3U7903 is also VESA DisplayHDR 600 certified. That level of HDR certification requires some level of local dimming. Philips doesn't quote the number of zones. But as we'll see this monitor almost certainly is limited to a very small number of edge-lit zones, as opposed to full-array local dimming.

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• Crispy 5K visuals
• Very punchy backlight
• Limited HDR capability

For 5K neophites, the first question is whether the upgrade in terms of pixel density compared to a 4K 27-inch monitor is obvious. And the simple answer is no, it's not an immediately apparent and dramatic improvement in subjective, experiential terms.

No question, fonts and text are that little bit crisper and clearer. But 4K on a 27-inch panel is pretty good in that regard too. So, the benefits of 4K are a touch more subtle than that. One benefit, for instance, is that the 3,008 x 1,692 virtual resolution option in MacOS works particularly well.

For some creative workflows, it's also very handy to be able to display a full 3,840 by 2,160 pixel 4K video stream in a window with space to spare for toolbars and controls.

But these are relatively niche upsides. For most users, it's questionable whether the price premium versus numerous cheaper 4K monitors is worth it purely for 5K, and I say that as someone who really appreciates high pixel density in computing displays.

With that in mind, the Philips 27E3U7903 needs to justify itself in broader terms. For starters, it's certainly very punchy. The maximum brightness in SDR mode is well beyond what most users will ever want to dial up.

However, it's good to have some brightness in hand, especially if you want to use this display in a setting with lots of ambient light. You'll have no problem burning that off with the ​​Philips 27E3U7903.

That said, in that context you'll also have to contend with a fair bit of reflectivity from the glassy screen cover. That's a very Apple feature and something you either like or dislike. But it certainly adds to a sense of heightened contrast.

On that note, this is an IPS Black panel with getting on for double the static contrast performance compared to most IPS monitors. From that spec alone, you might expect a dramatic improvement in black levels. The reality is much more marginal. This monitor still has more light bleed than a VA monitor, let alone an OLED panel with perfect per-pixel lighting.

That's relevant for HDR performance, a notable weak point for this display. It has VESA DisplayHDR 600 certification and basic local dimming. But while Philips doesn't quote the number of zones, it's very likely to be around 16 edge-lit zones.

You can toggle the level of local dimming in the OSD. But in all honesty, this type of local dimming is barely any different from a dynamic backlight. Ultimately, this is not a true HDR monitor, even if it is pretty bright.

As for broader accuracy and factory calibration, that's a slight weak point. It's most noticeable when using an Apple laptop where the sRGB preset is actually a better visual match for Apple laptop than the Apple-default Display P3 colour space. To be clear, this is not a poorly calibrated display. But given the lofty price tag, it could be a touch better.

Finally, the integrated webcam is superior to a typical laptop camera, but not truly comparable to the Center Stage camera in the Apple Studio Display.

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If you're a tech enthusiast, the very notion of 5K computing is pretty exciting. 5K has to be better than 4K, right? Yes it is, but the difference on a 27-inch display isn't hugely dramatic.

There are advantages, such as slightly crisper fonts and the ability to view 4K content with screen real estate to spare for toolbars and other interface elements. But the benefits are relatively marginal. And I say that as something of a high-DPI aficionado.

With all that in mind, the ​​Philips 27E3U7903 needs to be absolutely excellent in broad terms to justify its premium pricing and not just by virtue of delivering that Apple Studio Display-style 5K experience.

Well, it certainly is excellent in terms of connectivity thanks to a plethora of ports, plus KVM switch and daisy chaining support. Elsewhere, the ​​Philips 27E3U7903 is certainly good, but arguably not exceptional.

The IPS Black panel is certainly nice, with vibrant colours and a very powerful backlight. But the subjective experience doesn't quite deliver on the expectations raised by the on-paper 2,000:1 contrast spec. Likewise, as with most, perhaps even all, HDR 600 monitors, the HDR experience is limited.

Slightly harder to forgive is the factory calibration. This is not a poorly calibrated display. But it's not as excellent as you might expect at this price point, albeit for the most demanding workflows, you'll be calibrating this monitor yourself, something for which it provides good support.

All of which means the ​​Philips 27E3U7903 is ultimately a niche offering. If you're tempted by Apple's Studio Display but don't fancy the price, this is a very appealing and effective alternative. If you want the absolute best possible pixel density, then likewise. But for most users, there's better value to be had from a wide range of 27-inch 4K displays.

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For more high-resolution displays, we've reviewed the best 5K and 8K monitors.

Aqara Doorbell Camera Hub G410: two-minute review

Whereas most of the best video doorbells are sleek, with the look and feel of a traditional doorbell, the same can’t be said of the Aqara G410. Like its predecessor, the G4, this is a decidedly chunky unit. The reason why soon becomes clear when you realise it’s powered by no less than six AA batteries (even the latest ‘long-life’ Blink device only has three and most have two).

While this might not be a massive issue when it comes to operation, it does make installation a little more challenging. Aqara provides a wedge mount for installing on a door architrave but the likelihood is you will have to install it on a flat surface because of its large size.

(Image credit: Chris Price)

Furthermore, lack of waterproofing (IPX3 provides very modest protection against splashing) means you have to install in an enclosed or semi-enclosed (storm) porch rather than exposed to the elements – at least in the UK. Aqara provides screws and wall plugs for installation or alternatively there is a large and strong adhesive strip on the back of the device for placing directly onto a wall or front door.

Unusually, the indoor chime is also the hub of the Aqara system. It is here where you scan one QR code to sync the doorbell to the Aqara iOS/Android app and another to connect to various smart home platforms including Google Home. It is also here where you insert a MicroSD card (up to 512GB) to store video clips rather than paying Aqara from £3.99 (about $5 / AU$8) a month to store all of your clips in the cloud. However, Aqara only provides a USB-C to USB-A cable so you will need a mains plug with a USB-A port to use.

(Image credit: Chris Price)

Once set up, a 4:3 image appears in the app alongside a range of options to help you take control of your video doorbell. As well as the usual settings that allow you exclude or include parts of the image or adjust doorbell and/or chime volume, AI-based facial recognition is also included as standard. This allows you to add images of people who live in the house for the camera to store. It will then send you an alert if it spots that person leaving the house (and if it’s someone it doesn’t recognise it will say ‘lingerer detected’!)

Subscribers to the Aqara’s HomeGuardian service can also access additional functionality such as AI Video Search where you can enter keywords to search through videos more easily and AI Video Summary which will provide a one sentence summary of the video created – for example ‘courier in red T-shirt carrying parcel'.

Aqara Doorbell Camera Hub G410: subscription options

• Aqara HomeGuardian (1 device): £3.99 (about $5 / AU$8) or £39.99 (about $55 / AU$80) per year
• Aqara HomeGuardian (unlimited cameras): £7.99 (about $10 / AU$15) per month or £79.99 (about $110 / AU$160) per year

Aqara Doorbell Camera Hub G410: price and availability

• How much does it cost? Aqara G410 £129, $129
• When is it available? Available from August 2025
• Where is it available? UK/US

When the original Aqara G4 video doorbell was released back in 2023, it cost £119/$119 (although it is now available online for under £100 / $100). With the new model, Aqara has managed to maintain the same price point (give or take £10 / $10), at the same as making a shed-load of improvements. These include much better viewing angle, dual-band Wi-Fi capability and much improved video resolution (2K rather than 1080p) to name but a few.

Nevertheless, the new Aqara G410 is actually towards the upper end of the price range for a video doorbell with many devices now retailing for under £100/$100, albeit without local storage so you have to pay a monthly subscription fee to store video clips in the cloud. The advantage of the new Aqara model is that, while a monthly-subscription fee is available for advanced AI-detection features, you don’t have to pay it to store video clips. Instead, you can insert a MicroSD card in the smart home hub/chime and get pretty much all of the functions without having to pay extra.

So is the Aqara video doorbell worth the investment? Much depends on how you intend to use it. If you want to use it just as a standard video doorbell to talk to whoever comes to the front door then we’d say probably not. There are simply better, and definitely nicer looking, video doorbells out there. There’s no getting around the fact that the G410 looks cheap and plasticy, like something you would have bought from a Tandy store back in the day (if you are old enough to remember them!)

However, if you want to use it as part of a home automation system so, for example, the doorbell unlocks a compatible smart lock when it sees a face it recognises, then the Aqara G4 does represent much better value for money. For example, in this scenario it’s possible to imagine the Aqara doorbell taking centre stage – effectively becoming the brain of your smart home. Just don’t get it too wet as the limited IPX3 weather resistance means this ‘brain’ could stop working completely if you return from work in a downpour.

• Value score: 3.5/5

Aqara Doorbell Camera Hub G410: design

• Easy installation
• Chunky design
• IPX3 weather resistance

Measuring 14.2 x 6.5 x 3cm (5.57 x 2.56 x 1.2 inches), there is no getting around the fact that the Aqara is big and ugly. Whereas most video doorbells on the market have the form factor of a chunky traditional doorbell, the Aqara has no such pretensions. Instead, it’s more like the shape of an old-fashioned door entry phone. At least it means it has a nice big, illuminated doorbell that visitors simply can’t miss.

(Image credit: Chris Price)

That it’s so big is largely down to how it is powered. Though it is possible to hard-wire the doorbell into your existing doorbell system, most people will probably use it as a stand-alone doorbell. This means installing no fewer than six AA batteries by unscrewing the panel in the back of the unit (standard AA batteries are provided).

That’s considerably more than most battery-powered video doorbells, which usually only require two or three AA batteries unless they’re powered by a rechargeable lithium Ion battery.

(Image credit: Chris Price)

Installation is relatively straightforward. Aqara provides wall plugs and screws for mounting on the door or door frame. Alternatively, there’s a very strong adhesive strip for sticking both the doorbell and chime to a suitable surface. Also provided is a wedge-mount for installing at an angle though the likelihood is that this video doorbell is simply too wide to mount on most door architraves.

Importantly, the chime/smart home hub needs to be installed on the same Wi-Fi network as the doorbell, close enough so they can communicate with one another, but also in an area of the house where you are most likely to hear it from several rooms – such as a hallway. As noted earlier, the Aqara G410 will need to be enclosed in a semi-enclosed or enclosed porch to prevent it getting wet. It also shouldn’t be mounted too high in order to get the best view from the 4:3 shaped image. Aqara recommends a height of between 1.4 and 1.5m from the ground (around 4.5 to 5ft).

• Design: 3/5

Aqara Doorbell Camera Hub G410: performance

• Good image quality
• mmWave radar detection reduces false alerts
• Complete smart home hub

There’s no doubt that when it comes to performance, the G410 represents a massive leap forward from its predecessor, the G4. Whereas the former unit offered 1080p resolution, the G410 boasts much sharper 2K (2048 x 1536 pixel) resolution. Aspect ratio too has been changed from a wide 16:9 to squarer 4:3 which is more suitable for capturing people coming to the door (although some of the latest doorbells now favour the square 1:1 aspect ratio for head-to-toe footage).

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On the downside, the video doorbell still lacks HDR support. However, we generally we found the dynamic range was more than sufficient for recognising visitors and monitoring deliveries during the day. More problematic was night vision which was not always that clear unless the PIR on my porch light was triggered. Alternatively, it is possible to program the Aqara to trigger a smart porch light if anyone approaches your door at night.

One really useful addition is mmWave Radar detection. We recently saw the technology used to great effect on a Baseus Security S2 outdoor security camera and the same’s true here. Indeed, the technology seems a big improvement over older PIR detectors which tend to be a little overly sensitive.

This feature drastically reduces the number of false alerts from passing cars and pedestrians walking past your house which can be a problem with some video doorbells.

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Other plus points include a very loud indoor chime (up to 95dB) – handy if you can’t always hear someone coming to the front door – and a reasonable speaker and microphone for talking to whoever is at the door. In fact it’s even possible to disguise your voice with various settings (anonymous, robot and clown). This may be useful, if say, you are a vulnerable woman and don’t want whoever is at the door to know you are home alone or simply for having fun with family and friends.

Finally, where this model really comes into its own of course is as the engine room of a home automation system. The G410 is now a fully-fledged smart home hub with a built in Matter Bridge and controller, a Zigbee Hub, a Thread border router and a dual-band Wi-Fi adaptor.

(Image credit: Chris Price)

However, it’s worth noting that while the camera is technically capable of 2K resolution, this is only available if the device is used exclusively within the Aqara app. For example, if it’s added to Apple HomeKit (or any other ecosystem), the resolution is downgraded to just 1600 x 1200 pixels. As a result, images via Apple Home Kit look less sharp.

• Performance score: 3.5/5

Should you buy the Aqara Doorbell Camera Hub G410?Aqara Doorbell Camera Hub G410 score card

Attribute

Notes

Score

Value

Reasonable value for money if you just want to store video clips on a MicroSD card. However, if you want full AI functionality you will need to pay a sub from £3.99 a month.

3.5/5

Design

Powered by six AA batteries, this chunky unit feels quite cheap and plasticky. It doesn’t offer full waterproofing either – a failing for a video doorbell.

3/5

Performance

A big improvement over its predecessor with dual-band WiFi, better resolution and radar detection. However, image quality is reduced when viewing via smart home platforms.

3.5/5

Overall

While the Aqara offers reasonable performance and flexibility especially for fans of home automation, ultimately it is let down by poor, cheap design and lack of waterproofing.

3.5/5

Buy it if

You want to use as part of a smart home setup

Compatible with all the major smart home platforms (including Alexa, Google Home and Apple Home), the Aqara is ideal for pairing with home automation products.

You want a loud doorbell chime

The Aqara comes with a very loud doorbell chime (95dB) making it ideal for those who can’t always hear if someone is at the door.

Don't buy it if

The doorbell is likely to get very wet

Designed for an enclosed or semi-enclosed porch, the Aqara is not suitable for all homes because it only has very modest IPX3 weather resistance.

You're looking for compact unit

Powered by six AA batteries, the Aqara is a very chunky unit indeed – considerably larger than most video doorbells that fit neatly on a door architrave.

Aqara Doorbell Camera Hub G410: also consider

Aqara G410 Doorbell Camera Hub

Blink Video Doorbell (Gen 2) and Sync Module

Yale Smart Video Doorbell and Doorbell Chime

Ring Battery Video Doorbell Plus

Subscription price

From £3.99 a month

From £2.50 a month

From £3.50 a month

From £4.99 a month

Viewing angle

175° horizontal

150° horizontal

154° horizontal

150° horizontal

Network connection

Wi-Fi (2.4GHz/5GHZ)

Wi-Fi (2.4GHz)

Wi-Fi (2.4GHz)

Wi-Fi (2.4GHz)

Audio

Two-way audio

Two-way audio

Two-way audio

Two-way audio

Video

2K resolution

1440p Full HD resolution

1080p Full HD resolution

1536p Full HD resolution

Power

Mains or battery (6x AA batteries)

Battery (3x AA batteries)

Mains or rechargeable battery

Rechargeable battery

Hardware price

£129 (with chime/smart hub)

£59 (with Sync Module Core)

£129 (video doorbell), £29 (chime)

£129 (video doorbell), £139 (with basic chime)

If you're not sure whether the Aqara Doorbell Camera Hub G410 is right for you, here are some other options to consider:

Blink Video Doorbell (Gen 2)

Powered by three lithium AA batteries, this latest video doorbell promises a long battery-life. Featuring a 1:1 shaped image, it’s ideal for capturing a head-to-toe image of people coming to the door.

Read our full Blink Video Doorbell (Gen 2) review

Ring Battery Video Doorbell Plus

Amazon-owned company Ring has firmly established itself as the ‘go to’ company for video doorbells. It offers several models including this wire-free model which also features a head-to-toe view.

Read our full Ring Battery Video Doorbell Plus review

Yale Smart Video Doorbell and Doorbell Chime

A solidly built video doorbell, the Yale device offers good image and sound quality. However, streaming recorded content and speaking to people at the door can be a little slow.

Read our full Yale Smart Video Doorbell review

How I tested the Aqara Doorbell Camera Hub G410

• I used the doorbell every day for 10 days
• I installed it myself
• The doorbell was set up in a storm porch to the side of the door

I regularly test video doorbells, much to the confusion of local postmen when I have several up at once and they don’t know which one to press! As an experiment, I decided to leave two up for a short while, a Blink Generation 2 video doorbell on the front of the door and the Aqara at the side of the storm porch.

Interestingly, I found that most couriers/postmen rang the Aqara drawn no doubt by the extremely large doorbell button in the centre. Ideally, I would have installed the doorbell in the centre of the door, but it’s extremely wide design made this impractical. For many, it’s lack of waterproofing will also prove a massive obstacle (it seems essential for any outdoor product, at least in the UK).

It’s a shame because there is much to like about this product, including its compatibility with all the major smart home platforms, accurate motion detection and local as well as cloud storage. But without waterproofing and an impractical design it is simply difficult to recommend the Aqara G410 to TechRadar readers.

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

First reviewed October 2025

The Humanscale Freedom is not your average chair. It's not just another ergonomic chair. It's designed by ergonomics pioneer Niels Diffrient to remove complexity. Diffrient removed levers, knobs, dials, switches, and other controllers and created a chair that adjusts to your body naturally, along with any movement you make.

I have tested many of the best office chairs and have yet to find one like this. It feels like a different class of luxury, like moving from a budget car to a luxury vehicle. The Humanscale Freedom is luxurious, iconic, ergonomically excellent, and wildly expensive.

Humanscale Freedom: Price and availability

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The Humanscale Freedom Headrest that I have here can be customized to stay just under the $2,000 mark at $1,997.00, on sale now for $1,605.00. However, if customized to the max, this chair could cost nearly $6,000. My build included the standard task chair, the advanced duron arms with textile, graphite frame color, the Corvara Chrome-Free Leather in Onyx with Vanilla Stitching, a standard foam seat pan, the tall cylinder 5", standard hard casters, fireproofing, and the standard matching base. Due to the leather, this took a longer time to create, especially since it was custom all around, but once I got it delivered, I was floored. It's an art piece, it's exquisite. It's unlike anything else that I have or will ever have in the future. Depending on your material choice, this kind of chair could take beyond 8 weeks for delivery, but if you choose the right materials, you could get this down to two weeks.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Humanscale Freedom: Unboxing and First Impressions

Once I waited my eight weeks to get this chair, I was eager to use it. Thankfully, unboxing was unbelievably easy. I opened the box, added the chair to the base, cut a few ties holding the moving pieces together, and I was good to go.

Right off the bat, I knew this chair would stand out among all of the chairs that I have tested. This one is unlike anything else I have tried. It looks unique, functions uniquely, and is made with the most genuine and premium materials I have experienced. This chair feels like that classic car that someone has in their collection, or the luxury furniture that is meant for looking, not touching, and for sure not sitting on, except it's very much made to sit on, and then uniquely conforms to your body. This piece isn't just a chair, it's art you can experience.

Humanscale Freedom: Design & Build QualitySpecs

Height range: Fits 5'0"–6'4", 100–300 lbs
Recline: Weight-sensitive, self-locking recline at 20°
Arms: Moves with the back, no knob or button adjustment
Headrest model: +5-inch adjustment
Warranty: 15 years
Weight: ~43–49lbs depending on model

At the end of the day, this can be described as an ergonomic chair. However, when you start to look at functionality, features, materials, and design language, you see that this chair was re-imagined from that basis on. This is an ergonomic chair, yes, but unlike almost all other ergonomic chairs, this one does not have dials and knobs and tension controls -- no, it moves with your body, as your body does. Its contoured cushions roll backward as you do, leaning with you, while supporting you. The armrests move with the backrest, staying in a helpful position even when reclined. Additionally, with my leather materials, I can be assured that not only is this piece made with luxury materials, but I'm also covered by a warranty, knowing that this chair will last for well over a decade and beyond.

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

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

Visually, I love this chair. It's gorgeous. It's a statement piece I hope to always have in my home office from now on. Sitting in it, though, does take a moment to get used to. I've gotten so familiar with the functionality of so many chair companies that the lack of functionality is as shocking as a new Tesla owner getting into their vehicle for the first time. The change from a gas and brake pedal operating as it does in a standard vehicle, the familiarity with a key, or at minimum a key fob, and the need to shift, start the car, and more being stripped away in the push for minimalism and seamless usability is much reflected in the push from other chairs to the Humanscale Freedom. It's the Tesla of the ergonomic chair market. Instead of shifting into gear, adjusting the settings with knobs, or feeling like you need to press buttons to begin your experience with this chair, you can sit down without thinking, and the chair handles the adjusting. It's that easy.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

Comfort-wise, it takes a minute to get used to, I won't deny that. But once you get used to it, I've really enjoyed the chair overall. I've had this chair in my rotation for a month now, and I still love it just as much. The weight-sensitive recline feels natural, the lumbar support is excellent, but my headrest feels a tad loose, which may be because I extend it to maximum due to my height. Much like in a Tesla, once you trust the design and intentionality of the vessel, the experience improves. And that is precisely what I have found to be the case with the Humanscale Freedom.

Humanscale Freedom: Final verdict

The Humanscale Freedom is not the chair for most people. I would rarely recommend this chair to the average Joe or to a mass purchaser. But, once you know that this level of customization, this quality level, this comfort level, and this ease of use exist, you'll wish you could have it. If you want to have the ease of not having to adjust every dial precisely to your needs or else the chair won't work right, if you want to be able to customize a chair, if you want to have premium materials and you are okay with the premium price, then this chair would be very hard to beat if you tried.

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Value

Luxury pricing for a luxury item, but solid long term option if you want something that will last

3.5 / 5

Design

Iconic look that feels more like art than a chair

5 / 5

Hardware

Unique adjustments, and futuristic feel when making changes to how you sit

4.5 / 5

Performance

Excellent support once you learn how it works and get used to it

4 / 5

Overall

Ergonomically wonderful, while also doubling as a featured art piece. This piece is wonderful if your budget is equally accommodating.

4.5 / 5

Buy it if...

You want a beautiful, aesthetic, fabulous chair
The Humanscale Freedom won't just blend in with other chairs, it's unique looking and feeling, made with quality materials

You want a chair that will last
With a massive warranty and genuine leather, minimal moving parts and quality engineering, this chair is sure to last longer than cheap chairs with poor materials.View Deal

Don't buy it if...

You like having controls to adjust
While the adjustments are mostly still there, the controls, dials, knobs and switches to maneuver your chair around are not.

You have a budget
If money is going to play a factor in your chair choice, this one probably won't make the cut, unless your "Budget" is very high, or if the chiar is the most important part to your renovation

Huawei Watch GT 6 Pro: one-minute review

Huawei as a brand isn’t a strong one in the US, UK and Australia right now – particularly not in the phone stakes, considering the US ban on Huawei telecomms equipment is still in place. However, the company is making outstanding smartwatches and reports record global sales. Serving up high-quality fitness kit in a classic dress-watch package like this, at a relatively low price, I can see why. There’s an awful lot to like about the Huawei Watch GT 6 Pro.

For one thing, it’s a fitness powerhouse. The battery life, which in the 46mm version is said to last for up to 21 days, lasted a full two weeks in my testing with multiple GPS-enabled workouts, and those workouts were full of comprehensive, actionable metrics. I wore the Huawei Watch GT6 Pro in the gym, and tested its GPS credentials during outdoor runs and walks.

In a stationary cycle fitness test, I compared the Huawei Watch GT 6 Pro to both an industry-standard heart rate monitor (the Polar H10) and the Apple Watch Ultra 3. Its heart rate graph matched the Polar’s without any statistically significant differences, and its average heart rate reading was only off by 1bpm, matching that of the Ultra. I was certainly satisfied with the accuracy from the TruSense heart rate monitoring system.

Heart rate is the foundation of on-wrist wellness – the lynchpin of health, wellness, sleep and stress tracking. I found Huawei’s TruSleep algorithm very representative of how I felt each morning, wearing it to bed each night over a four-day period. It’s so accurate, that after a rough night full of very vivid dreams, the watch even stated “REM sleep accounted for 32% of your overall sleep, which is a little high and may indicate excessive dreaming”. Spot on. I’ve been testing wearables for many years, and it’s rare I get caught off-guard with an immediate level of insight.

(Image credit: Future)

The Huawei Watch GT 6 offers battery life of 10 days or 14 days, depending on whether you choose the smaller or larger model, while the Huawei Watch GT 6 Pro (which I tested) offers, can run for up to 21 days on a single charge. It’s a lot longer than the Ultra 3’s 42 hours, at any rate, and worthy of any of the best Garmin watches.

I also tested the watch's skin temperature tracking, blood oxygen detection, arrhythmia analysis, and even emotional wellbeing feature, which attempts to interpret your various metrics as indicators of your current mood. I found this a little woolly, but generally accurate: it certainly never mistook workouts as extreme stress, or told me I was having a panic attack during a Sunday morning rerun of Frasier.

The display, a 1.47-inch AMOLED screen, is bright and clear even in intense sunlight, reaching an Apple Watch Ultra 3-rivalling exact brightness of 3,000 nits, and is sensitive to ambient light, adjusting based on brightness. Its case and bezel is made of titanium, while the non-pro versions of the watches are comprised of stainless steel.

What’s stopping me from scoring it higher is not the quality of the device itself, nor the total value of the package; it’s Huawei’s awkward ecosystem. Most people are using a phone that runs Android or iOS operating systems, and thanks to the US ban, Huawei struggles to work seamlessly with either one. Huawei Health can be downloaded through AppGallery on your phone’s browser, but you can’t use Google or Apple’s Maps, Wallet, emails, or products from App stores on Huawei’s HarmonyOS. Instead, you only get basic notification and call functionalities.

You can get notifications from WhatsApp messages, but can’t install a WhatsApp app for the watch. Huawei’s own functionalities are limited, too. You have to download a separate Petal Maps app from your phone’s browser if you want to use its Maps functionality, and you can’t use the wallet functionality without a Huawei phone with proprietary software.

While Huawei Health can interface with Strava, Komoot and other third parties, being unable to use third-party apps on-watch to their fullest extent causes the watch to fall down a little as a communication extension or convenience tool. However, if you’re looking for a top-flight fitness tracker at a low price and you don’t mind skimping on apps such as WhatsApp or Spotify, the Huawei Watch GT 6 Pro is easy to recommend.

Huawei Watch GT 6 Pro: price and availability

(Image credit: Future)

• £329.99 in the UK (around $445 / AU$670)
• The vanilla GT 6 starts at £229.99 in the UK (around $300 / AU$465) for the 41mm version
• Same price for the 46mm version

The Huawei Watch GT 6 Pro is available for £329.99 in the UK (around $445 / AU$670). The Huawei Watch GT 6 starts at £229.99 in the UK (around $300 / AU$465) for the 41mm version and 46mm version alike.

It is currently unavailable in the US due to the communications ban, although some Huawei products are available in Australia.

Scorecard

Category

Comment

Score

Value

A very well-priced fitness watch.

4/5

Design

Looks great, with wonderful build quality.

4/5

Features

Frustrating compatibility issues mar a great wellness experience.

2.5/5

Performance

Very accurate metrics and long battery life.

4/5

Huawei Watch GT 6 Pro: should I buy?Buy it if...

You want a fitness tracker first

As a fitness tracker experience rather than a complete smartwatch, it’s hard to beat.

You like the look

The Huawei GT series look like dress watches, and are made of premium materials such as titanium and stainless steel.

You crave accuracy

During my tests, the Huawei Watch GT 6 Pro was as accurate a smartwatch, in terms of metrics, as I’ve ever used.

Don't buy it if...

You need a smartwatch loaded with apps

You’re better off looking at a smartwatch to match your phone through Google, Samsung or Apple.

Also consider

Garmin Venu X1

The best Garmin smartwatch for most people, a system-agnostic gem.

Read our full Garmin Venu X1 review

OnePlus Watch 3

The best system-agnostic Android Watch, operating via the OHealth app instead of Google.

Read our full OnePlus Watch 3 review

How I tested

I wore the Huawei Watch GT 6 Pro for around two weeks, sleeping with it, training with it and using it day-to-day. I tried as many features as I could, and rode a stationary bike wearing it alongside an Apple Watch Ultra 3, and a Polar H10 heart rate monitor as a comparison test to determine accuracy.

First reviewed: September/October 2025

TCL QM9K: Two-minute review

The TCL QM9K is the final TV series the company launched in 2025, and it was clearly saving the best for last. As the company’s flagship mini-LED TV series, it arrives packed with the highest level of performance, along with the latest and greatest features, with some of those exclusive to the QM9K.

A key exclusive feature of the TCL QM9K at launch is Google TV with Gemini. This adds the Gemini AI chatbot to what is otherwise the same Google TV smart interface found on many of the best TVs. Gemini enables you to conduct not just content searches, but research on essentially any topic, from dinner recipes to ancient Roman civilization, using the TV’s built-in far-field mic.

The contextual, conversational Gemini lets you ask follow-up questions without losing the thread, and for those concerned about privacy, queries get deleted after 10 minutes. Other Gemini capabilities include image generation, and the screensavers you create can pop up on the screen automatically when you enter the room, thanks to the TV’s built-in presence sensor (another QM9K exclusive).

On the picture-quality front, the QM9K features a mini-LED panel with up to 6,500 local dimming zones, and TCL’s Halo Control System works to minimize incidences of backlight blooming – something it does remarkably well. The result is an exceptionally bright picture with powerful contrast, deep, uniform blacks, and detailed shadows.

Other features that enhance the QM9K’s picture are an AIPQ Pro processor, a wide viewing angle feature, and an anti-reflective screen. Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+ high dynamic range formats are both supported, and the TV features Filmmaker Mode and is IMAX Enhanced.

The QM9K’s Audio by Bang & Olufsen speaker system provides potent Dolby Atmos sound with clear dialogue and an impressive level of bass for a TV. And if you want even better sound, the QM9K is one of the first TVs to support Dolby FlexConnect, which can output wireless Atmos sound to the company’s Z100 speakers and Z100-SW subwoofer, as well as automatically configure the system for optimal performance.

TCL’s Zero Bezel design for the QM9K reduces the screen’s bezel width to 3.2mm for a striking, “all-picture” look. An adjustable height pedestal stand provides solid support and can clear space for a soundbar, and the TV's edges taper in at the sides to give it a slim profile.

A respectable number of gaming features are provided on the QM9K, including two HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 144Hz support, FreeSync Premium Pro, ALLM, and Dolby Vision gaming. A pop-up Game Bar menu lets you make quick adjustments, and a Game Accelerator 288 feature enables 288Hz gaming at 1080p resolution.

TCL QM9K review: Price and release date

The QM9K's high brightness and refined local dimming help to bring out fine details in images (Image credit: Future)

• Release date: September 2025
• 65-inch: $2,999.99
• 75-inch: $3,499.99
• 85-inch: $3,999.99
• 98-inch: $5,999.99

The TCL QM9K is available in 65- to 98-inch screen sizes. As TCL’s flagship TV, it is priced higher than other series in the company’s mini-LED TV lineup, with the 75-inch model I tested priced at $3,499 at launch. To put the QM9K’s price in perspective, the step-down TCL QM8K mini-LED launched in May at $3,199 for the 75-inch size, and is now selling for around $2,000.

Similar to the QM8K, prices for the QM9K are already starting to drop, with the 75-inch model having been reduced to $2,499. Other flagship mini-LEDs in a 75-inch size that the QM9K is competing with include the Samsung QN90F (currently selling for $2,099) and Hisense U8QG (currently selling for $1,899).

TCL QM9K review: Specs

Screen type:

QLED with mini-LED

Refresh rate:

144Hz

HDR support:

Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG

Audio support:

Dolby Atmos

Smart TV:

Google TV

HDMI ports:

4 (2x HDMI 2.1)

Built-in tuner:

ATSC 3.0

TCL QM9K review: Benchmark resultsTCL QM9K review: Features

The QM9K has two HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 144Hz support, plus two HDMI 2.0 ports (Image credit: Future)

• Wide viewing angle and anti-reflective screen
• Audio by Bang & Olufsen
• Google TV with Gemini

The TCL QM9K features a high-contrast display panel with a wide viewing angle and an anti-reflective screen. A Halo Control System with a 23-bit controller and dynamic light algorithm is used to minimize blooming from the TV’s mini-LED backlight, which provides up to 6,500 local dimming zones, and the company’s AIPQ Pro processor is used for upscaling and noise reduction.

High dynamic range support includes both the Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+ formats. The QM9K is also IMAX Enhanced certified and features a Filmmaker Mode picture preset, a new addition to TCL TVs in 2025.

The QM9K’s Audio by Bang & Olufsen built-in speaker system features Dolby Atmos support, and there's pass-through for DTS:X. Upfiring speakers for Atmos height effects are located on the TV’s top surface, and there are dual subwoofers on the back panel.

TCL’s Zero Border design for the QM9K provides a disappearingly thin bezel that allows for virtually the full screen area to be filled with the picture. A built-in sensor can be configured to turn the TV on when it detects your nearby presence, and it will then be switched to ambient mode, displaying artwork or photos. A built-in far-field mic lets you use voice commands to control the TV, and there’s also a built-in mic on the backlit remote control that lets you do the same.

The QM9K is the first Google TV with Gemini AI, which lets you carry out contextual, voice-based content search, among other things. Gemini can be used to control Google Assistant smart home devices, and the TV additionally works with Alexa and Apple HomeKit and jas AirPlay and Chromecast built-in support.

Gaming features include 4K 144Hz support on two of the TV’s four HDMI ports, FreeSync Pro, and Game Accelerator 288, which lets you game in 1080p resolution at a 288Hz refresh rate. There is also a Game Bar onscreen display that lets you make gaming-related adjustments without having to exit to a menu.

• Features Score: 4.5/5

TCL QM9K review: Picture quality

The QM9K's high brightness and anti-glare screen make it a great option for bright room viewing (Image credit: Future)

• Exceptional brightness and contrast
• Rich color and excellent detail
• Wide viewing angle

When I previously reviewed the TCL QM9K’s step-down sibling, the TCL QM8K, one of that TV’s high points was its exceptional brightness. In my testing, the QM9K proved to be even brighter than the QM8K, with a measured peak HDR brightness of 3,322 nits in Filmmaker Mode and 3,811 nits in Standard mode. Fullscreen HDR brightness was also impressive, with the QM9K hitting around 660 nits in both Filmmaker and Standard modes.

The QM9K’s HDR color gamut coverage was also very good, with the TV measuring 96.7% for UHDA-P3 and 79.7 for BT-2020. Color point accuracy was similarly good, with the Delta-E value (the margin of error between the test pattern source and what’s shown on-screen, with a result lower than 3 being undetectable by the human eye) averaging out to 1.8, and to 2.8 for grayscale accuracy.

The QM9K’s high brightness, combined with its extended, accurate color and refined local dimming translated into an exceptional picture. Watching the animated Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse on 4K Blu-ray, a scene where Spider-Man battles the Green Goblin had powerful contrast, and it caused the scene’s psychedelic color palette to pop more than I’m used to seeing on most TVs. The film’s animated textures were also displayed with a high level of detail, giving it a near 3D-like effect.

The QM9K’s impressive detail carried over to Ripley, which I streamed in 4K with Dolby Vision from Netflix. Watched in the TV’s Dolby Vision Dark picture mode, textures in clothing and objects were clearly visible, and it gave the picture a strong sense of depth. The show’s black and white images looked completely uniform, and subtle gray tones were easily revealed.

Test patterns on the Spears & Munsil Ultra HD Benchmark 4K Blu-ray confirmed that the QM9K’s CrystGlow WHVA Panel worked as well in maintaining uniform color and contrast over a wide viewing angle as the TCL QM8K did when I tested it. The disc’s local dimming torture tests also confirmed the effectiveness of TCL’s Halo Control System at minimizing backlight blooming in high contrast images.

With its Ultra Wide Angle feature, the QM9K's picture looks uniformly good over a range of seating positions (Image credit: Future)

The only area where the QM9K stumbled a bit was in its motion handling. Watching a scene from the James Bond film No Time to Die, where Bond walks across a craggy hillside cemetery, there was a fair amount of judder, although this could be eliminated by making adjustments to the Custom mode in the TV’s Motion menu without introducing too much “soap opera” effect.

There was also a very slight degree of vignetting at the edges of the screen, an effect likely related to its Zero Border design. This was mostly visible on test patterns, however, and I rarely spotted it on TV shows or movies.

The QM9K’s anti-reflection screen proved effective at reducing screen glare from overhead lights and maintaining picture contrast. I did see some reflections from lamps when placed in the path of the screen, but it was minimal and mostly an issue for dark images.

• Picture quality score: 4.5/5

TCL QM9K review: Sound quality

The QM9K's Audio by Bang & Olufsen speaker system features upfiring drivers for Dolby Atmos height effects and dual subwoofers on the TV's rear (shown) (Image credit: Future)

• Audio by Bang & Olufsen with Beosonic interface
• Dolby FlexConnect support
• Potent sound with good directional effects

TCL doesn’t provide much in the way of audio specs for its TVs, but the QM9K does have an Audio by Bang & Olufsen Dolby Atmos speaker system with upfiring drivers and built-in subwoofers. There’s no DTS Virtual:X processing, but DTS:X pass-through is supported.

The QM9K is also compatible with Dolby FlexConnect, which lets you use the TV with the company’s Z100 wireless FlexConnect speakers and Z100-SW wireless subwoofer. FlexConnect automatically configures and calibrates the system from the TV, and it gives you the freedom to position the speakers anywhere you want in the room, not just in the standard home theater positions to the side of the screen, or behind you to the sides.

One notable feature related to the Audio by Bang & Olufsen on the QM9K is its Beosonic interface, which becomes available when you select the TV’s Custom sound preset.

The graphic interface features a cursor that allows you to move between Relaxed, Energetic, Bright, and Warm quadrants to adjust the sound to your liking. Using this, I was able to warm up the TV’s too-bright sound, though I ended up leaving the Movie preset in place for most of my testing.

Overall, I found the QM9K’s sound to be pretty potent, with clear dialogue and a good helping of bass. When I watched the chase scene through the town square in No Time to Die, the crashes and gunfire had good impact and directionality, and the sound of ringing church bells in the Dolby Atmos soundtrack had a notably strong height effect.

I imagine many viewers will be fine with using the QM9K’s built-in speakers, though I’d recommend adding one of the best soundbars or taking advantage of its FlexConnect feature to get sound quality that equals the picture.

• Sound quality score: 4.5/5

TCL QM9K review: Design

The TV's pedestal stand can be installed flush or at an elevated height (shown) to accommodate a soundbar (Image credit: Future)

• ZeroBorder design
• Height-adjustable pedestal stand
• Full-size, backlit remote control

TCL’s ZeroBorder design minimizes the QM9K’s bezel to a vanishingly small 3.2mm, giving it a true “all-picture” look. The panel itself has a two-inch depth, although its sides taper inward in a manner that gives the TV a slimmer look when viewed from the side.

A pedestal stand comes with the QM9K in screen sizes up to 85 inches, while the 98-inch version features support feet. The stand is made of metal covered with a faux brushed metal plastic, and it has two height positions, with the higher option clearing space for a soundbar.

Connections on the QM9K include four HDMI ports (one with eARC), two USB type-A, Ethernet, and an optical digital audio output. There is also an ATSC 3.0 tuner input for connecting an antenna.

TCL’s full-size remote control features a backlit keypad. The layout is uncluttered, and includes three direct access buttons for apps (Netflix, Prime Video, and YouTube) plus an input select button, and a Free TV button that takes you to the TV’s free and ad-supported streaming channels portal.

• Design score: 4/5

TCL QM9K review: Smart TV and menusImage 1 of 2

The QM9K's Google TV smart interface with the Gemini AI icon, (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

Google TV's Live TV grid guide (Image credit: Future)

• Google TV with Gemini AI
• Live program grid with broadcast channels
• Quick menu for basic adjustments

The QM9K is notable for being the first Google TV with Gemini AI chatbot support. This feature lets you essentially carry on a conversation with the TV using either the set’s built-in far-field mic or the remote control’s mic.

Using Gemini, you can ask a question like, “Show me a list of Samurai movies from the 1960s to the present.” The contextual nature of Gemini search lets you then ask follow-up questions to drill down deeper, such as “Show me the ones with an 80% or higher Rotten Tomatoes score that are available on HBO Max or Netflix.”

Gemini has much more in its bag of tricks: You can ask about anything you want, from questions about astronomy or astrology to recipes to top attractions to see when visiting cities. It can create news briefs with video links and also generate images from prompts (“Fantasy twilight landscape with white deer”) to use as screensavers.

The QM9K features a built-in presence sensor, and it can be configured to activate your AI-generated screensavers, or even a rotating photo gallery drawn from a Google Photos account, automatically when you enter the room.

A Live TV portal in Google TV provides a grid guide of broadcasts pulled in by the QM9K’s ATSC 3.0 tuner, including NextGen channels, and these are displayed along with Google TV Freeplay and TCL free ad-supported TV channels. Google TV gives you multiple options to sort these, including by genre (Reality TV, News, etc.) or antenna-only.

Both AirPlay and Chromecast built-in are supported by the QM9K, which also works with Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple HomeKit.

The QM9K's quick menu lets you easily adjust basic settings (Image credit: Future)

There are extensive settings in the QM9K’s menus to satisfy picture and sound tweakers. The Brightness section of the Picture menu provides multiple gamma settings and contrast adjustments. For sound, there are various audio presets, including a custom Audio by Bang & Olufsen Beosonic adjustment that lets you EQ the sound based on parameters like Bright, Relaxed, Energetic, and Warm.

Accessing these settings is done by pressing the gear icon on the remote control or by clicking the same icon in the Google TV home screen. Another option is to press the quick menu icon on the remote, which calls up a menu at the screen’s bottom with a range of picture and sound setup options.

• Smart TV & menus score: 4.5/5

TCL QM9K review: Gaming

The QM9K's Game Bar menu (Image credit: Future)

• Two HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 144Hz support
• FreeSync Premium Pro and Game Accelerator 288
• 12.9ms input lag is average

Gaming features on the QM9K include two HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 144Hz support, FreeSync Premium Pro, ALLM, and Dolby Vision gaming. There is also a Game Accelerator 288 feature that lets you game at 288Hz in 108p resolution and a Game Bar onscreen overlay for making quick adjustments to gaming-related settings.

The QM9K’s bright, contrast-rich picture makes all manner of games look great. Performance is also responsive, with the TCL measuring at 12.9ms when tested with a Leo Bodnar 4K input lag meter.

• Gaming score: 4/5

TCL QM9K review: Value

The QM9K's full-size, fully backlit remote control (Image credit: Future)

• Priced higher than top mini-LED competition
• Less extensive gaming features than competition
• Google TV with Gemini enhances value

The TCL QM9K is a fantastic TV, but its raw value is taken down a notch by the fact that there is plenty of great mini-LED TV competition in 2025.

At the time of writing, TCL had already lowered the price of the 75-inch QM9K by $1,000 to $2,499. Even so, other 75-inch flagship mini-LED TVs such as the Samsung QN90F are now selling for $2,099. The QM9K has higher peak HDR brightness than the Samsung, and it also beats competitors such as the Hisense U8QG on that test. But the Samsung has superior gaming features and performance, and its great overall picture quality was one of the main reasons why it earned a five out of five stars overall rating in our Samsung QN90F review.

TCL’s own step-down mini-LED TV, the TCL QM8K, also provides very impressive picture quality, and it features the ZeroBorder screen, ultra wide viewing angle, and anti-reflection screen features found in the QM9K.

I’d have said that Google TV with Gemini, which is currently exclusive to the QM9K, was its ace-in-the-hole when it comes to value, but that feature is also coming to the QM8K at some point in 2025, and it should also be available as an upgrade for the Hisense U8QG. The QM9K is the only TV of the three with a built-in presence sensor, so that is one exclusive feature the QM9K can claim.

• Value score: 4/5

Should I buy the TCL QM9K?

A Gemini-generated fantasy image, used as a screensaver (Image credit: Future)TCL QM9K

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

Google TV with Gemini, Dolby FlexConnect and comprehensive HDR support

4.5/5

Picture quality

Exceptional brightness and refined local dimming combined with a ultra wide viewing angle feature and anti-reflective screen make this a great all-around TV

4.5/5

Sound quality

Very good built-in sound from Audio by Bang & Olufsen Dolby Atmos speaker system

4.5/5

Design

ZeroBorder screen minimizes bezel for all picture look. Adjustable height pedestal stand can clear space for a soundbar

4/5

Smart TV and menus

Google TV is enhanced by Gemini AI, plus the quick menu provides easy access to basic settings

4.5/5

Gaming

4K 144Hz and FreeSync Premium Pro supported, but only on two HDMI ports

4/5

Value

A bit pricier than most of the current flagship mini-LED TV competition. Step-down QM8K model is a better overall value

4/5

Buy it if...

You want to watch in a bright room
The QM9K’s high brightness and anti-reflective screen make it a good option for viewing in bright rooms. An ultra wide angle feature also makes it a good choice for viewing sports with groups.

You don’t want to use a soundbar
The QM9K’s built-in Audio by Bang & Olufsen speakers deliver clear dialogue, good bass, and immersive Atmos effects. Many viewers likely won’t feel the need to add a soundbar.

You want a TV with sophisticated AI
The QM9K’s Google TV interface features the Gemini AI chatbot, which takes content searching and other smart TV-related activities to the next level.

Don't buy it if…

You want to save some money
The QM9K’s step-down sibling, the QM8K, also delivers a bright picture with refined local dimming and has many of the same picture quality and sound features. TCL says the QM8K will also be getting Gemini in a future update.

You’re nervous about AI
Google says that any queries made to Google TV using the Gemini AI feature are erased after 10 minutes, but those with serious privacy concerns may want to tread lightly.

TCL QM9K: Also consider...

TCL QM9K

Samsung QN90F

TCL QM8K

Hisense U8QG

Price (65-inch)

$2,999

$2,499.99

$2,499.99

$2,199

Screen type

QLED w/ mini-LED

QLED w/ mini-LED

QLED w/ mini-LED

QLED w/ mini-LED

Refresh rate

144Hz

165Hz

144Hz

165Hz

HDR support

DolbyVision/HDR10+/HDR10/HLG

HDR10+/HDR10/HLG

DolbyVision/HDR10+/HDR10/HLG

DolbyVision/HDR10+/HDR10/HLG

Smart TV

Google TV (with Gemini)

Tizen

Google TV

Google TV

HDMI ports

4 (2x HDMI 2.1)

4x HDMI 2.1

4 (2x HDMI 2.1)

3x HDMI 2.1

Samsung QN90F
Samsung’s flagship mini-LED TV is priced even lower than the QM9K following a series of discounts. This TV has superior gaming features and an even more effective anti-reflection screen, though it lacks TCL’s Google TV Gemini feature.

Here’s our Samsung QN90F review

TCL QM8K
The QM8K is the step-down model in TCL’s mini-LED TV lineup, but it also has a bright picture with effective local dimming, plus an ultra wide viewing angle feature and an anti-reflective screen. The QM8K is also slated to get Gemini added to its Google TV interface in a future update.

Here’s our TCL QM8K review

Hisense U8QG
The Hisense U8QG also has exceptional brightness and is slated to get the Gemini feature added to its Google TV interface in an update. Compared to the TCL QM9K, its picture quality isn’t as good at off-center seats, and its built-in speakers aren’t as good.

Here’s our Hisense U8QG review

How I tested the TCL QM9K

Measuring 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 QM9K, 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: October 2025
• Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee

Nanoleaf Smart Multicolor Floor Lamp: Two-minute review

If there’s one thing I’ve come to appreciate about Nanoleaf’s smart lights since the release of the first-generation Essentials Smart Bulb, it's the company’s ability to offer excellent products at an affordable price. And that's been carried over to the Nanoleaf Smart Multicolor Floor Lamp, which was first revealed at CES in January 2025. It’s one of the cheaper smart floor lamps available at the time of writing and performs wonderfully well, which means you get good value for money here.

There’s nothing particularly standout about it – I suppose that might partly explain the lower price point – but it’s still packed full of features, including reacting to sound, screen mirroring and extensive customizable light scenes. There's even AI-enabled customizations here – just type a word and the app will spew out an appropriate light color palette.

It does require some assembly, which I was a little apprehensive about initially, but a little help from a short YouTube video from Nanoleaf had the lamp ready to be switched on in less than 20 minutes.

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

If you’re new to Nanoleaf, you’ll have an easy time of pairing it via the companion app – available for both iOS and Android – but I should mention that as someone who’s had multiple Nanoleaf products over the last few years, I ran into trouble as I hadn’t used many of them in a long time. I kept getting popup warnings that all my other Nanoleaf lights were offline, and that prevented me from connecting the floor lamp. Trying to pair each one back was a miserable experience, so I ended up deleting them – except for the Nanoleaf Essentials Light Strip that just refused to disappear (I still can’t figure out why) – which then made connecting the floor lamp via the QR code on the product (and its box) a lot easier.

When switched on for the first time, the Nanoleaf floor lamp defaults to a solid color light, but you can change that quickly enough in the app, where a plethora of user-created light combinations (or Scenes) are already available to preview and download. You can also create your own if you’re feeling adventurous.

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

It’s not the brightest floor lamp we’ve tested at TechRadar, topping out at 1,700 lumens. In comparison, the Philips Hue Signe Gradient lamp sits at 2,500 lumens (but costs a heck of a lot more too), while the Govee Floor Lamp Pro is 2,100 lumens. So while it won’t necessarily light up a large room brightly, the Nanoleaf Smart Multicolor Floor Lamp manages to create a moody ambience, even if you decide that a solid white (cool) or yellow (warm) light is what you prefer.

As with any other smart floor lamp like it, the Nanoleaf is best used as a wall washer – the light facing the wall – that’s what creates the atmosphere in the room and, if you happen to set it to full brightness with a white (or whitish) light, it can be very harsh on the eyes when you look at it directly.

The transition from one color to another is fantastic and I am yet to find a hue that I don't like – whether you prefer vivid and vibrant lights or pastel shades, the Nanoleaf floor lamp handles them just as well as all the other smart lights from the brand. It’s really quite lovely and I can’t complain about anything when it comes to its day-to-day performance.

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

I’m amazed at how many features Nanoleaf has managed to pack into this lamp. It has 24 color zones with 72 LEDs spread along it (so you can really go crazy with the customizations); it works via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or can be controlled via a Matter smart home hub; and it inherits the Rhythm Mode from Nanoleaf’s light panels that make the lamp react to the beat of the music playing in the room. Screen mirroring is also possible if you already use the Nanoleaf 4D kit on your TV (you’ll need the Nanoleaf desktop app for PC screen mirroring).

While there's no lag when it comes to using the Rhythm Mode or screen mirroring, I will say that the light palette doesn't always shift with the exact beat. And if you happen to be talking loudly over the music, you'll definitely confuse the lamp which will react to the bigger sounds in the room.

There's no arguing that it's a versatile smart light that requires no pre-planning to install (like the Nanoleaf panels) and, once fully set up, is easy to use. What it misses out on is the speaker on the base that you’ll find in the Philips Hue Signe Gradient and the Govee Floor Lamp Pro, but that didn’t bother me at all.

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

My biggest issue is with the Nanoleaf app. I’ve complained about it when testing the Essentials range and in my Nanoleaf Lines review, saying the app is not intuitive. Sadly that situation hasn't changed in the last a few years and it needs to be a little easier to use. Don't get me wrong, it's got everything you need for smart lights, but how the whole thing is set up could be a touch convoluted for some users.

Take the Routines tab, for example: I wanted to set up a weekday and a weekend routine where it switches on and off at set times. You can easily add a start time for a specific action, but there's no option to add the end time in the same routine. Instead, I found I needed to create a separate routine where the start time was essentially the end time with the action being the light being off. Schedules and routines shouldn't be this hard to do.

The Philips Hue app, on the other hand, is so easy to use, where the same functionality is allows you to add the start and end time within the same pane. Other smart home applications I've used also offer the same seamless scheduling, including TP-Link's Tapo app and Australian company Laser's ConnectSmart app.

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

The Nanoleaf app is necessary, though, particularly if you want to set up different Scenes (as the mixed-color lights are called) and customization is made easy via the AI Magic Scenes feature that allows you to type a word or short description to get a corresponding palette. You’ll also need it to integrate Google Home, Alexa, Samsung SmartThings or Apple HomeKit control. In fact, I much prefer using the Apple Home app on my iPhone 17 Pro, which also imports my favorite Scenes, while Siri automations makes it easy to control the floor lamp via voice commands.

If, like me, you’re frustrated with the app, there is a physical controller attached to the power cord and can be used to not just turn the lamp on or off, but also cycle through a few Scenes you’ve marked as your favorites. It also allows you to adjust brightness. That said, the controller is best used only after you’ve finished all your customizations on the app, or you may not like the color palettes that are set as default.

Despite my issues with the app, I can’t help but love the Nanoleaf Smart Multicolor Floor Lamp, and I applaud how affordable it is.

• Performance score: 4.5 / 5

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)Nanoleaf Smart Multicolor Floor Lamp review: price & availability

• List price: $119.99 / £69.99 / AU$149.99 in the US, UK and Australia respectively
• Available now directly from Nanoleaf or authorized retailers

Nanoleaf debuted the Smart Multicolor Floor Lamp at CES in January 2025, but it only became widely available in most major markets much later in the year. While the company announced it would retail for $99.99 in the US, that price has since gone up and it's now listed for $119.99 / £69.99 / AU$149.99.

Despite the slightly higher price in the US, that’s still an affordable amount for most people looking for a smart lamp. In comparison, the Philips Hue Signe Gradient floor lamp will set you back a whopping $362.99 / £279.99 / AU$499.95. The Govee Floor Lamp Pro costs $199.99 / £219.99 (it's unavailable in Australia), but can often be discounted to around $159 / £169, which is still higher than the full price of the Nanoleaf. Even the cheaper Govee Floor Lamp 2 costs more at $159.99 / £149.99 / AU$349.99.

Sure, the Nanoleaf misses out on the speaker base of some of the more premium smart lamps, but that’s about all, which makes it excellent bang for buck.

• Value score: 5 / 5

Nanoleaf Smart Multicolor Floor Lamp review: Specs

Height

1.4m

Thickness

19mm

No. of LEDs

17

Color zones

24

Max brightness

1,700 lumens

Color temperature

2200K-6500K

Lifetime

25,000 hours

Nanoleaf Smart Multicolor Floor Lamp review: Design

• Slim, simple yet solid build
• Easy assembly
• Good height, but lacks speaker base

The Nanoleaf Smart Multicolor Floor Lamp comes in a few individual bits in the box that you'll need to put together. As I mentioned, I was a little apprehensive about that – DIY is not my forte – but Nanoleaf has easy-to-follow instruction videos online that provide better clarity than the diagrams in the user manual.

The main components are the circular metal base, the three sections of the semicircular pole (or stem) and the light strip that fits into the assembled pole. You screw the connectors to the sections of the stem, which then gets screwed to the tiny protrusion on the base.

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(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)Image 2 of 3

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(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

The base houses a tiny connector, which is where you'll start pushing the bendy light strip into the pole. Nanoleaf suggests you fit the bottom, the top and middle, then push the rest of the strip in and not be afraid to tuck it into the base. It doesn't seem like the light strip will fit, but it surprisingly does.

Also in the box is the power cable that comes fitted with the controller. Once set up, the lamp stands 1.4 meters tall (4.59 feet), which I think is a nice height for a light like it.

I've lifted the lamp by the top of the stem and nothing has shaken loose, and neither does anything wobble despite being multiple pieces screwed together. It looks thin, but it seems quite sturdy to me. I do have to note that the base picks up dusty scuff marks easily, but those can be wiped off. I would, however, be a little concerned about scratches in the long run.

• Design score: 4.5 / 5

Should I buy the Nanoleaf Smart Multicolor Floor Lamp

Attributes

Notes

Score

Value

It's feature packed and yet one of the cheaper smart lamps on the market, offering excellent bang for buck.

5/5

Design

There's nothing unique about its design, but it's sturdy for its slim build.

4.5/5

Performance

If you have no trouble with the app, then there's absolutely no issues when it comes to its colored lights, transitions or rhythmic beats.

4.5/5

Buy it if...

You want an affordable smart floor lamp

It's hard to argue with the value for money you get with the Nanoleaf Smart Multicolor Floor Lamp, with plenty of useful (or fun) features at quite an affordable price point.

You want a smart light that's nearly effortless to use

If you don't run into any trouble with the app, I think the Nanoleaf floor lamp is really simple to use. And it works very well, doing what it promises to do perfectly.

You want a versatile smart floor lamp

Not only does it offer colored lighting, there are specific Scenes that work with music and screen mirroring is also available, whether that's matching what happening on your TV or your PC. Please note that TV screen mirroring requires another Nanoleaf device to work.

Don't buy it if...

You want a statement piece

It's a demure light that's not the brightest in the business. If you smart lights that stand out, consider opting for one of Nanoleaf's amazing wall (or ceiling) light panels.

You want to light up a room

The Nanoleaf floor lamp will impart mood lighting only. If you want to light a room or a task lamp, you'll need to look elsewhere.

You want a seamless app experience

The Nanoleaf app works, and it has a lot going for it – it's just not as streamlined as other smart light apps.

Nanoleaf Smart Multicolor Floor Lamp review: Alternatives

Not sure if the Nanoleaf floor lamp is right for you? Below are a couple of alternatives that you could consider instead.

Govee Floor Lamp 2

Available in most major markets, the Govee Floor Lamp 2 comes with a handy remote control so you don't need to be near the lamp to use a physical controller (or the app if your phone is in another room). It's not the brightest of lamps though and costs a little more than the Nanoleaf at full price.
Read our full Govee Floor Lamp 2 review for more details

Philips Hue Signe Gradient Table Lamp

If you want a floor lamp, but would still love changing light palettes, Philips Hue has a tabletop option, although it's a lot more expensive than the Nanoleaf. It's performance is par excellence, though, and the app experience is significantly smoother too.
For the full details, read our in-depth Philips Hue Signe Gradient Table Lamp review

How I tested the Nanoleaf Smart Multicolor Floor Lamp

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

As soon as I opened the box that the lamp came in, I began the assembly process. The user manual has diagrams only to help with the setup, but you can find videos on Nanoleaf's website or its YouTube channel if you're having trouble.

Once powered on, I paired it via the Nanoleaf app and, despite the issues I described earlier, I was then able to choose some light scenes to get me started. That done, I integrated it into the Apple HomeKit app as another accessory.

I created one of my own light scenes, but didn't try another as it can be quite time consuming. Instead, I browsed a variety of user-created options and downloaded about 10 that I really liked.

I was unfortunately unable to try the lamp with my other Nanoleaf lights as I had trouble re-pairing them to the app (due to inactivity), so I tested different features on the lamp alone. I placed it in different spots in my living room, finally liking it beside a console table that houses my Sonos Ikea Symfonisk picture frame speaker, which was ideal to test out the Rhythm Mode.

I finally tried setting up routines on the Nanoleaf app, but ended up setting up schedules via HomeKit instead, which works fine for my needs.

You can read more about how we test products at TechRadar for more details.

[First published October 2025]

Nintendo Switch 2 Camera: Review

If you’re looking to make the most of GameChat for online multiplayer, the Nintendo Switch 2 Camera is a decent way to go about it. Its basic design may lack the charm of the Hori Piranha Plant Camera, but rest assured that the official Switch 2 Camera is a significantly better product, even if I wouldn’t classify it as one of the best webcams out there.

I’m a believer that contemporary webcams should be aiming for at least 720p picture quality, with 1080p being the ideal. The Switch 2 Camera clears Hori’s product on this front, boasting 1080p picture quality over the Piranha Plant’s disappointing 480p. As a result, your face will come through crisply on GameChat, as well as on PC for work meetings or chats with friends.

Price will definitely be a bit of a sticking point, though. At $54.99 / £49.99 / AU$, it costs less than the Hori Piranha Plant Camera in the US, but a good deal more than it does in the UK. You’re basically paying for the official branding here, really, especially as you can pick up 720p and 1080p webcams that perform just as well for much less.

(Image credit: Future)

While the Switch 2 Camera can be used when you’re playing in handheld mode, its rigid design (not to mention the lack of a clip or mount) makes it best suited for when your console is docked. The tall stem upon which the camera sits is likely the way it is for this reason, so it can still reasonably capture your face while you sit back on the couch.

It’s likely also designed to support its wide field of view, which is around 110 degrees. That’s a good deal more than most PC webcams, but it does make sense given Nintendo’s family-friendly approach. If you have a few folk sitting in the room while playing with GameChat, that wider viewing angle does a decent job of capturing everyone in the same frame.

You can also adjust the vertical angle of the camera itself by a total of around 30-40 degrees or so. That’s fairly acceptable when you take into account its otherwise unmoving design. And when you want to hide yourself, a privacy shutter is included via a circular dial around the camera. You can also manually turn off the camera feed in GameChat’s settings by hitting your controller’s ‘C’ button during play.

(Image credit: Future)

As for performance, the camera’s 1080p output is decent, if a little soft around the edges. While you’re using GameChat, the Switch 2 attempts to crop you out of the background and place you onto a blank one that takes on the color of your profile picture. That’s a nice touch, and also means you don’t have to fiddle around with blur settings.

One major problem I had, though, had to do with the space between myself and the blank background. I have a blank wall behind me in my office space, and the surroundings were still noticeably fuzzy. I also had moments during a Mario Kart World play session where I appeared to phase in and out of existence on the screen, so it’s not a perfect implementation by any means. To be fair, your mileage may vary here depending on your background and lighting conditions.

Thankfully, the Nintendo Switch 2 Camera is blissfully simple to set up. Being an officially licensed product, simply plugging it into the console via USB-C caused it to be registered immediately. That was the same case on PC, too, when using it as a webcam. There’s no fussing with drivers or installs. Just plug it in and you’re good to go. It also works with a USB-A adapter on both Switch 2 and PC, if you prefer that.

(Image credit: Future)Nintendo Switch 2 Camera: Price & Specs

Price

$54.99 / £49.99 / AU$69.95

Resolution

1080p at 30fps

Field of view

Around 110 degrees

Dimensions

6.3 x 2.5 x 1.5in x 160 x 64 x 38mm

Weight

0.3lbs / 136g

Compatibility

Nintendo Switch 2, PC, MacOS

Should you buy the Nintendo Switch 2 Camera?

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

You primarily play in docked mode
If docked mode on TV is your preferred playstyle with Switch 2, then the official camera is the way to go for GameChat multiplayer sessions. The wide field of view makes it easy to capture multiple people in the same frame, and is useful if you sit a ways back from your console.

You want decently high resolution
Compared to Hori’s 480p, the 1080p resolution of the Switch 2 Camera is preferable, and certainly makes sense given its wide field of view. It’s not utterly crystal clear, but it does a fine job of capturing you at a range of distances.

Don't buy it if...

You’re on a budget
The Switch 2 Camera’s price tag is a little steep for what is essentially a webcam on a stand. You can buy webcams with similar specs for a lot less, and they’ll almost certainly be compatible with Switch 2 via USB-A or USB-C connections.

You mostly play in handheld mode
Unlike the Hori Piranha Plant Camera, the Switch 2 Camera isn’t quite as versatile, lacking any kind of clip or mount. That means handheld play, while doable, isn’t quite as well-suited here as it would be with Hori’s device.

Nintendo Switch 2 Camera: Also consider

Hori Piranha Plant Camera
While it’s let down by specs like a paltry 480p image quality, the Hori Piranha Plant Camera isn’t a total write-off. For one, its L-shaped mount makes it decently suited for handheld play. And if you’re a Super Mario head, the design of it is certainly very cute.

Read our full Hori Piranha Plant Camera review

How I tested the Nintendo Switch 2 Camera

• Tested for one month
• Used for Switch 2 GameChat multiplayer and as an office webcam
• Largely tested with Mario Kart World and chat apps like Discord

I’ve been using the Nintendo Switch 2 Camera for a little over a month now, as both a Nintendo Switch 2 GameChat device and as a webcam for work and social gaming sessions over Discord. On Switch 2, I primarily played in docked mode while using the camera with an AOC Gaming 24G2SP 1080p gaming monitor.

While gaming, I tested the camera’s functionality with sessions of Mario Kart World with my TechRadar Gaming colleague Dash Wood. While here, I also made sure to test out GameChat’s various settings, including screen size and in-game face capture options.

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

Boya Magic: one-minute review

One of the downsides to shooting video and content creation is the sheer amount of kit you have to carry; even the most pared-back setups require a plethora of accessories. Beyond that, how many different microphones might you need to cover a range of situations? It's an issue that's effectively addressed by the Boya Magic, a 4-in-1 wireless mic that's designed to be a jack of all trades.

Lavalier (lapel), on-camera, handheld and desktop are all forms the Boya Magic mic can take. The mic is available in several kits, but if you opt for the most comprehensive and still competitively priced of the three you can connect the mics to smartphones, computers and cameras using USB-C, Lightning, and 3.5mm TRS, making it a significant upgrade over the Boya Mini and potentially one of the best wireless mics.

Since this is a multi-purpose mic, we could discuss its performance and characteristics at length, but we’ll delve into those later. Focusing on the lavalier mics, which are the transmitters in all configurations, and the backbone of the mic, these two tiny 7g units can be attached to clothing with clips or magnets, and produce impressive 24-bit sound quality. They’re incredibly easy-to-use with excellent noise cancellation to boot.

I have to admit that when I first received the Boya Magic, I was sceptical about its performance, but I've been impressed while testing the mic in all four configurations, attached to my smartphone, computer and my camera.

The Boya Magic lavalier mics are tiny (Image credit: James Abbott)Boya Magic: price and release date

• Available now
• Three kits to choose from
• Prices start at $93 / £89 / AU$159

The Boya Magic is available from the Boya website and Amazon. The USB-C kit costs $93 / £89 / AU$159, the USB-C & Lightning kit costs $140 / £119 / AU$209 and the USB-C, Lightning & 3.5mm TRS kit costs $151 / £129 / AU$229. All in all, it’s extremely good value for money, given the versatility of the mic.

One slightly frustrating aspect of the Boya Magic is that you have to purchase the Boya Mini Tripod separately, and this is required for tabletop and on-camera use of the mic. It’s not the end of the world, and it only costs $30 / £20 / AU$46 (currently reduced to $20 in the US), but it would be better if it were included in at least the kit option with the 3.5mm TRS.

The Boya Magic comes in a handy case (Image credit: James Abbott)Boya Magic: specs

Dimensions

Magic TX 35 x 15.2 x 13mm, 3.5mm TRS RX 42.2 x 30 x 19.4mm, USB-C / Lightning RX 19.55 x 24 x 21mm, Charging Case 141.3 x 26.5 x 21mm

Weight

Magic TX 7g, 3.5mm TRS RX 16g, USB-C / Lightning RX 5g, Charging Case 62.5g

Transmission range

Up to 100m

Connectivity

USB-C, Lightning or 3.5mm TRS

Battery

Six hours / 30 hours total with the charging case

Audio

24-bit

Noise cancelling

Yes, one-click

Handheld mic with the foam cover attached (Image credit: James Abbott)Boya Magic: Design

• Innovative design
• Highly versatile
• Compact and lightweight

This 4-in-1 mic system is built around a compact charging case that triples up as the on-camera, handheld and desktop mic, with a foam and dead-cat wind cover in the kits. This measures just 141.3 x 26.5 x 21mm and weighs 62.5g. The lavalier mics are stored and charged inside, behind a clear plastic door. When used in these modes, it’s the lavalier mic at the top of the case, in the first slot, that records sound through holes in the glass door and at the top of the charging case.

The lavalier mics are the backbone of the system, and in my opinion, the most impressive; and for content creators who are using lavalier mics as handheld mics, this system provides a much more comfortable and professional-looking solution.

The two lavalier mics are incredibly compact and lightweight at just 35 x 15.2 x 13mm and 7g. There’s a clip on the rear for attaching the mics to clothing, as well as a magnet plate on each clip to increase the options for attaching the mics to your clothes in more imaginative ways, although I fear that these may be easy to lose over time. The kits come with a couple of clip-on dead-cat wind covers for the mics.

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(Image credit: James Abbott)

The build quality of all of the components is great, and the small carry-bag accommodates everything safely and neatly. The overall design of the kit is innovative, while operation is incredibly simple, with just a single button on each mic and the charging case. This can be used to switch the mics on and off, and to switch the AI noise cancellation on and off.

The USB-C and Lightning receivers are small and lightweight, slot neatly into your phone’s port, and are powered by the phone. The 3.5mm TRS attaches to the camera hotshoe and offers six hours of battery life. It’s designed simply, with just a power button, a volume/gain button and a 3.5mm jack. There’s no Bluetooth connectivity as in some mics, beyond a Bluetooth connection to the receivers, so these receivers are essential.

Boya Magic: Performance

• Incredibly easy to use
• Excellent AI noise cancellation
• 24-bit audio

Setting up the mic, from unpacking the kit to first use is incredibly easy. This is one of the more intuitive wireless mics I’ve used, and you can use the BOYA Central app to adjust settings including AI noise cancellation, the EQ, AI noise cancellation, and the limiter, and to apply camera gain presets and firmware updates.

The mics are omnidirectional, so they will pick up sound from all directions. This causes no issues when recording in quiet environments, but when there’s background noise you often need to use the AI noise cancellation, which is available with two strength settings depending on the level of background noise.

AI noise cancellation is powered by deep neural networks (DNNs) trained on over 700,000 real-world noise samples and 20,000 hours of deep learning. Boya claims it can separate voices from noise in milliseconds, with up to -40 dB suppression. In use, the AI noise cancellation is undoubtedly impressive, and it doesn’t distort voices or make them sound robotic.

Sound quality is fantastic, with audio recorded in 48 kHz/24-bit with an 80dB signal-to-noise ratio, a 144 dB dynamic range, and a frequency response from 20Hz to 20kH. You can set sound levels manually, but there’s also a handy built-in smart limiter to protect your audio from peaking. In addition, a second safety track is recorded at a lower (-12 dB) volume to ensure nothing is lost.

The transmission range is up to 100m without obstacles, and 10m with obstacles. During testing the connection was solid, and I never experienced any issues with any of the four mic configurations. Battery life is up to six hours per mic, with 30 hours in total available with the charging case. This is average, and is plenty of battery power for most situations.

Should I buy the Boya Magic?Buy it if…

You use different types of mics

If you carry several different types of mics in your kit bag, you can whittle everything down to a single versatile package.

You need tiny lavalier mics

In lavalier mic mode, the lavalier mics are compact and lightweight at just 35 x 15.2 x 13mm and 7g.

You value simplicity

The Boya Magic is incredibly easy and intuitive to use, making it an attractive option for everyone from beginners through to seasoned experts.

Don’t buy it if…

You only need an on-camera mic

If you only need an on-camera mic, it would be more cost-effective to buy a traditional cabled on-camera microphone.

You’d prefer connectivity without receivers

Some wireless mics can be connected to devices via Bluetooth, which may be more convenient for those who don’t want to have to use receivers.

You’d like the best

The Boya Magic is fantastic across the board, but you can get better-quality wireless mics if you have a larger budget.

Boya Magic: also consider

Boya Mini

The Boya Mini wireless mics are, as the name suggests, tiny, but they do come with some limitations: they can only be used with USB-C and Lightning compatible devices, and offer only 16-bit audio. On the plus side, they're enticingly inexpensive and have decent battery life, and sound quality is better than you'd expect for 16-bit.

Read our Boya Magic review

DJI Mic Mini

These mics come with DJI ease of use and reliablity, not to mention 24-bit audio and and Bluetooth connectivity. This means you don't have to use a receiver for some devices, while a 3.5mm receiver allows for use with cameras.

Read our DJI Mic Mini review

(Image credit: James Abbott)How I tested the Boya Magic

• I tested it in all four configurations
• I used it attached to multiple devices
• I tested all its features

I tested the Boya Magic over several weeks in all four configurations: lavalier, on-camera, handheld, and desktop mic. I also attached the mic to my smartphone, computer and camera so that I could assess performance across the board in real-world situations.

I was sent the complete kit, which includes the USB-C, Lightning and 3.5mm TRS receivers. I recorded audio in different environments to see how well the mics perform with and without AI noise cancellation. I also used the Boya Central app to access settings and assess the overall ease of use.

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

Weebly is a functional, affordable, and easy-to-use website builder, but it is no longer considered one of the best website builder platforms on the market.

While it has a unique advantage with its free plan that includes basic ecommerce, the platform has not seen any major feature updates since 2018, making it an outdated option for more advanced online stores.

Offering simplicity and a low cost, Weebly does rank amongst the best small business website builders. But if you want robust features, you won't find them here.

What is Weebly?

Weebly is a website builder that helps anyone create websites without coding. You drag and drop elements like text, images, buttons, and forms onto your page. Weebly takes care of the coding behind the scenes.

Founded in 2006 by three college students at Pennsylvania State University, Weebly was supposed to help students build online portfolios. Now, it’s owned by Block, Inc. (formerly Square) and has become a complete website solution. It includes hosting (where your site lives), domain registration (your website address), and design tools all in one place.

What makes Weebly easy for beginners is its What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG) editor. Changes you make in the editor are exactly what visitors see on your live site. You start with about 50 pre-designed templates and customize them with your content. Weebly manages technical details like mobile responsiveness (making your site look good on phones) and security, so you can focus on your content.

Weebly also supports ecommerce, letting you set up an online store to sell products directly. A standout feature is that you can sell unlimited items even on the free plan—something many competitors don’t offer. This is especially appealing for small businesses or entrepreneurs testing online selling without a big investment.

Weebly: 2-minute review

Weebly is a budget-friendly website builder that has been around since 2006. However, it has stagnated since Square (now Block, Inc.) acquired it in 2018. It makes website creation simple for beginners, but its limited customization and outdated templates aren't enough to support professional designs.

The platform shines in ecommerce, though. It allows selling unlimited products, even on the free plan. It could appeal to small businesses on tight budgets or entrepreneurs testing new business ideas. Still, there are key drawbacks, like transaction fees on lower-tier plans and limited integration with payment platforms.

There's basic SEO tools, but they lack the depth of competitors. Its marketing features are also disappointing compared to more modern options. Competitors like Wix and Squarespace provide more modern features, better designs, and stronger growth potential — though at a higher price point.

Features

Weebly provides a reliable set of features, but they feel outdated and insufficient for anything but the most basic websites. (Image credit: Weebly)

Weebly provides a reliable set of features, but they feel outdated and insufficient for anything but the most basic websites. That said, we were impressed with the ecommerce options. You can sell unlimited products even on the free plan, making it a great option for new stores that rely on volume sales. The platform also offers tools for inventory management, product reviews, shipping calculators, and coupon creation.

However, since its acquisition by Square (now Block, Inc.) in 2018, updates have been rare. This leaves Weebly trailing behind competitors like Wix, which now offers AI tools, advanced editing options, and many more templates.

Weebly's App Center offers some flexibility with 350+ apps and integrations across various categories, like ecommerce and social. But, we found the selection still pretty limited compared to competitors. There are fewer big-name integrations, though ecommerce users can access the larger Square App Marketplace.

Weebly is still one of the best blogging sites out there, thanks largely to its affordable price tag and simple to use blogging tools.

At a starting price of $10/month for paid plans, Weebly provides decent value, especially for beginners or small businesses with basic needs. Yet, the value declines for advanced users who may need richer features from competitors.

Tools

Weebly offers customizable templates, mobile-responsive designs, and analytics that track opens and clicks. (Image credit: Weebly)

Weebly offers various tools to help users create and manage websites easily. Our testing showed these tools are mostly user-friendly, but they lack the advanced features of newer competitors. Here’s a summary of Weebly's main tools:

Drag-and-drop editor

Weebly's drag-and-drop editor is central to its website building experience. You can add content like text, photos, maps, and videos by dragging them into place. The editor uses a row-based structure, which is great for symmetry but limits creative freedom.

Ecommerce tools

Most of Weebly's standout features lie in its ecommerce tools. You can manage inventory, display product reviews, and handle sales. We liked the inventory tracker, which updates shoppers when items run out. There are shipping and tax calculators too. A coupon builder lets you create custom discounts, while automated emails help with order confirmations and shipping updates.

Marketing suite

Weebly Promote is the platform's email marketing tool. It integrates smoothly with your website to turn visitors into customers. The system offers customizable templates, mobile-responsive designs, and analytics that track opens and clicks. Our tests revealed that the email editor is easy to use, with many options to import and segment contacts. While it may not match dedicated email marketing platforms, it offers enough for small businesses.

SEO features

Weebly offers basic SEO tools for customizing URLs, title tags, meta descriptions, and image alt texts. It supports 301 redirects and automatically compresses large images to boost page load speed. We liked that you can manage product SEO settings right in the product popup window. This keeps SEO in focus. The dashboard shows basic analytics to track site performance, but it doesn’t match the depth of dedicated analytics platforms.

App center

The App Center enhances Weebly with over 350 apps and integrations in five areas: e-commerce, communication, marketing, social media, and site tools. We found good filtering options and a helpful search function. While the selection is smaller than most rivals, it still offers basic options for adding social feeds, managing contact forms, using live chat, etc.

Ease of use

Weebly is built for simplicity, making it one of the easiest website builders currently on the market. It has a live editor that lets you preview changes in real time. For beginners, this makes website creation less intimidating. We built basic pages within minutes of signing up, without needing tutorials or help docs.

The user interface has a clean design. All elements are easy to reach from a fixed sidebar on the editor page. Unlike some competitors that hide options in nested menus, Weebly keeps everything visible with a single click. But clicking any element opens up a few more customization options. The content is organized in rows, which helps beginners, though it feels like a dated approach.

Weebly also offers an All-in-One Accessibility App through Skynet Technologies, a third-party developer. It includes important features like screen readers, voice navigation, and keyboard accessibility, supporting WCAG 2.0, 2.1, and 2.2 guidelines. But this app needs separate installation and costs more after a free trial.

Weebly’s design prioritizes simplicity, which can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, the structured editor helps beginners avoid messy layouts. On the other, experienced designers will be frustrated by the limitations. We also noticed that changing themes can misplace or distort elements, and some formatting options aren’t customizable. Also, the platform sometimes has glitches that require refreshing the page, and the mobile app has very limited functionality compared to the desktop version.

Despite these drawbacks, Weebly’s usability is its strongest point. The company was founded by three college students who wanted to help people create online portfolios without coding. This philosophy still shines through in the product's design. For users who want to get online quickly with little learning, Weebly offers a straightforward experience that few competitors can match.

Weebly plans and pricing

Weebly offers three paid plans and a free plan (Image credit: Weebly)

Weebly offers plenty of plans to choose from. For just $10/month (when billed annually) or $13 per month, you can get access to most of the features needed to launch a basic online store with a custom domain name.

If you want even more customization and control over your website, the Professional plan for $12 per month is a better choice. Serious users can also consider the Performance plan, which lets you accept payments through PayPal, automate abandoned cart emails, include item reviews, and get priority support. It costs just $26 per month billed annually or $29 month-to-month.

Security

Weebly offers one-click SSL certificates for free with all of its plans. (Image credit: Weebly)

Weebly offers one-click SSL certificates for free with all of its plans. SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) provides an encrypted connection between the server and the browser, so any information sent from the user's computer is kept secure.

This encryption helps protect your private data from potential hackers or other malicious actors who might try to steal it. It also helps build trust between visitors and the website owner, as customers feel more confident providing their information when they know it’s encrypted.

Weebly also provides DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) mitigation services. A DDoS attack occurs when multiple computers flood a server with requests in an attempt to overwhelm it and take it offline. By having DDoS protection in place, Weebly can help protect against these malicious attacks and keep any site available to its visitors no matter what kind of traffic is coming in.

Customer support

Weebly provides tiered customer support based on your subscription. (Image credit: Weebly)

Weebly provides tiered customer support based on your subscription. Free and Personal plan users can access email support and the help center. Professional and Performance subscribers enjoy live chat. Performance users also have phone support. Our tests showed reasonable response times. Email queries were usually answered within 24 hours. Chat support was available within minutes during business hours.

Support quality was generally good for basic issues. Representatives showed solid knowledge of the platform's core features. However, for complex design challenges or integration questions, we often got generic responses. These typically directed us to help documentation instead of offering specific solutions. The help center is comprehensive and well-organized. It includes clear articles and video tutorials for most common questions, making it a good self-service resource.

One key limitation is Weebly's support hours. They are Monday through Friday, 6 am to 6 pm PT, and Saturday to Sunday, 8 am to 5 pm PT. Users with urgent issues outside these hours may face delays. Also, phone support is available only in English, which may be difficult for international users. Overall, Weebly's support is adequate for a budget-friendly platform. However, it lacks the 24/7 availability and depth of expertise found in premium competitors like Wix or Squarespace.

Alternatives

Weebly is in a tough spot right now. It once held about 13.7% market share, making it the third-largest website builder after WordPress and Squarespace in 2021. However, it has lagged behind since Square bought it in 2018. Weebly is best for absolute beginners on tight budgets or small businesses trying ecommerce with low investment.

Wix is Weebly's closest competitor and our top pick for most users. It has far more templates (over 900 compared to Weebly's 50+) and better design tools. Wix also gets regular updates, including AI features that Weebly does not have.

Check out our Wix review to learn more about what the platform has to offer.

For users prioritizing design quality, Squarespace offers more elegant templates and better customization than Weebly. This makes it a great choice for creatives and service-based businesses wanting a strong visual impact.

Our Squarespace review covers the platform in more detail.

For serious ecommerce, platforms like Shopify or BigCommerce offer stronger selling features, though at higher prices. Even WordPress with WooCommerce provides more scalability and customization for growing businesses, but it does have a steeper learning curve.

Weebly review: Summary

Weebly is a budget-friendly website builder for beginners and small businesses. It's great for those wanting to explore ecommerce without spending too much. It’s easy to use and starts at just $10 a month. Weebly offers strong ecommerce features, like selling unlimited products even on the free plan.

However, the templates feel outdated, there are no new features, and customization options are limited. So, Weebly is a good choice for users who want simplicity and low cost. But businesses aiming for long-term growth might find better options in Wix or Squarespace.

Weebly review: FAQsIs Weebly free or paid?

Weebly offers both free and paid options depending on your needs. The free option provides access to basic features such as templates, drag-and-drop design tools, etc.

However, if you want access to more advanced features such as custom domain name registration, website analytics, email marketing tools, SEO tools, etc., then you need to upgrade to one of its paid plans.

Which is better, Wix or Weebly?

It really depends on what kind of website you're trying to build. If you're looking for something simple and straightforward with limited customization options, then Wix might be the better choice. However, if you want something more advanced with greater design capabilities and flexibility, then Weebly is likely the way to go.

What is the difference between Weebly and the Square website builder?

When you visit the Weebly website you will notice a small Square logo sitting under the Weebly logo. This can be a little confusing as Square offers its own website builder, so allow us to explain

Square is a payment processing platform. In 2018, Square bought Weebly and therefore gained access to its website building platform. However, Square also decided to build its own website builder platform.

Now Square offers a website builder via Weebly and under the Square brand. Although both website builders have some of the same features, they also differ in their offering.

Why doesn't Weebly have an AI website builder?

Since Weebly was purchased by Square in 2018 it hasn't seen any major updates. That means that the more recent tools you would find on the best website builders, such as AI website builders, AI text writers, and AI image/video creators, are all missing from the platform.

It doesn't look like Weebly plans on adding them any time soon, either, so if you want them, you will need to look elsewhere.

Hisense 116UX review: Two minute review

The Hisense 116UX is the brand’s flagship 4K TV, and it introduces RGB mini-LED technology to the world in a 116-inch screen size. Some elements of its picture rival the best TVs, and it has a wide array of features, but its appeal is limited by key shortcomings.

With a launch price of $29,999 / £24,999 / AU$39,999, the Hisense 116UX is an expensive TV that will exceed most budgets. And while it features exciting new RGB mini-LED tech, Hisense will also be introducing RGB mini-LED in 100- and 85-inch models in the future, and more buyers are likely to gravitate to those.

The 116UX’s bold, vibrant colors take mini-LED to the next level. Textures are crisp, and the high brightness gives pictures a strong level of punch. Contrast and black levels are mostly good, but backlight blooming and inconsistent backlight control lead to a clouding effect in some dark scenes that hamper what would otherwise be a remarkable picture. Even with the TV’s large size, viewing angles are limited, with pictures losing contrast when viewed from off-center seats .

A 6.2.2-channel sound system delivers mostly solid performance, with immersive effects, impressive accuracy and clear dialogue. Bass has good impact, but the 116UX’s soundstage isn’t as wide as I’d hoped for. A screen this size deserves one of the best soundbars to match, ideally a premium option like the Samsung HW-Q990F.

The 116UX is great for gaming, with 4K 165Hz, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, ALLM and Dolby Vision gaming all supported across three HDMI 2.1 ports. While its 14.6ms input lag time is higher than the best gaming TVs, its overall gaming performance is good enough for an enjoyable experience on a big screen.

This TV’s high price is hard to ignore, and even though the 116UX features an RGB mini-LED panel and has a gargantuan screen size, you can build a truly great home theater system with some of the best 4K projectors at this price. The 116UX will deliver better value when its price drops, but right now, it’s a big ask.

Hisense 116UX review: Price & release date

(Image credit: Future)

• Release date: September 2025
• Price: $29,999 / £24,999 / AU$39,999

The Hisense 116UX, Hisense’s flagship 2025 TV, uses a new RGB mini-LED panel. It sits above the Hisense 110UX, U9Q, U8Q, U7Q and U6Q mini-LED TVs and is priced at $29,999 / £24,999 / AU$39,999.

Although the 116UX had only been available for a few weeks at the time I reviewed it, the price has dropped to $24,999 in the US. I expect the TV's price will drop even further over the coming months.

Hisense 116UX review: Specs

Screen type

RGB mini-LED

Refresh rate

Up to 165Hz (4K)

HDR support

Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG

Audio support

Dolby Atmos

Smart TV

Google TV (US), VIDAA (UK& Aus)

HDMI ports

3 x HDMI 2.1

Built-in tuner

ATSC 3.0

Hisense 116UX review: Benchmark resultsHisense 116UX review: Features

(Image credit: Future)

• RGB mini-LED panel
• Hi-View AI Engine X processor
• Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+ and IMAX Enhanced support

The 116UX features Hisense’s RGB mini-LED panel, which uses RGB mini-LEDs to produce a wider, more refined color gamut. HDR support includes Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+, as well as the HDR10 and HLG formats. It also supports IMAX Enhanced and Filmmaker Mode.

Hisense’s flagship TV comes equipped with a 6.2.2-channel speaker system, totaling 110W in power. It supports Dolby Atmos, but not DTS. Alongside the usual sound presets - Standard, Movie, Sport - it also has AI sound, which adapts the sound and dialogue based on both the content showing onscreen and the viewing environment.

The 116UX’s gaming features include 4K 165Hz, VRR including AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, Dolby Vision gaming and ALLM support. All features are supported across the TV’s three HDMI 2.1 ports.

Hisense’s smart TV platform varies by region. Google TV is used in the US, while Hisense’s own VIDAA smart TV platform features in the UK and Australia. I reviewed the UK version, so I used VIDAA, which has access to popular streaming services like Netflix and Prime Video, and also UK apps such as BBC iPlayer and ITVX. If you want a review of the Google TV smart TV platform, check out our Hisense U8Q review.

• Features score: 4.5 / 5

Hisense 116UX review: Picture quality

Color is where the Hisense 116UX really shines, thanks to its RGB mini-LED panel (Image credit: Disney / Future)

• High brightness and brilliant color
• Refined detail
• Black uniformity issues

The 116UX’s peak HDR brightness hit 5,441 nits and fullscreen HDR brightness was 1,090 nits, with both measured in Filmmaker Mode. That peak brightness result is over twice what I measured on the Hisense 110UX, a TV that uses a standard mini-LED panel.

The 116UX’s measured HDR color gamut covered 99.3% of the DCI-P3 color space, which is an excellent result for a mini-LED TV. Its BT.2020 color gamut coverage was even more impressive at 92.64%, which is the highest amount we’ve measured on a TV to date.

I first started my testing with some SDR content, beginning with an HD stream of Fight Club on Disney+. I chose Filmmaker Mode but set brightness and local dimming to medium as the picture was too dim at the default settings. I was impressed by the 116UX’s effective upscaling of textures, which gave the picture a crisper look. Even at a 116-inch size, the image was clean. Lower resolution content on YouTube didn’t fare as well, with the image looking blocky on the large screen.

Color is where the 116UX shines – literally. Watching Elemental on Disney Plus in Dolby Vision IQ picture mode, reds and oranges were vibrant and punchy, with the 116UX’s brightness adding real pop in a scene where Ember makes a vase. In Wicked on 4K Blu-ray, pink flowers in a tree in the ‘Wizard & I’ scene had a bold look, as did the greens of the Emerald City.

Image 1 of 2

The 116UX sometimes handles dark scenes well (1) but struggles with others (2), even in the same movie, as shown here with Alien: Romulus (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

(Image credit: 20th Century Studios / Future )

As I’ve discovered with most Hisense TVs, motion handling requires a bit of setup. I watched a stream of a soccer game on Prime Video and found that most motion presets worked, but either Standard or Custom, with Blur set to 3 and Judder set to 5, produced the smoothest image. This was also true for movie viewing, as a scene from No Time To Die where a camera pans across a rocky hillside looked much smoother with the above settings.

Textures looked consistently crisp and realistic on the 116UX, with close-up shots of people’s faces showing fine details such as marks or hair. Clothing was also true-to-life and given a 3D look.

Watching black and white scenes from Oppenheimer on the 116UX, whites looked bright and there was a good range of gray tones. Blacks were slightly raised, but they still looked solid. The 116UX also delivered good shadow detail in darker scenes, such as objects against dark walls in a scene where Strauss and Oppenheimer are in an office after their first meeting.

Dark scenes ultimately were a mixed bag on the 116UX. Blacks appeared rich and deep in some instances, such as the Spears & Munsil UHD Benchmark 4K Blu-ray’s demo footage, but they came across as more of a dark gray in movie scenes from The Batman and Alien: Romulus. While contrast was also strong in these movies, there was a clouding effect across the screen in dark sections of the image. Strangely, one exterior space shot in Alien: Romulus demonstrated good accuracy in the blacks, but another in a dark tunnel revealed the clouding effect at its worst.

The 116UX also demonstrated some backlight blooming around bright objects against dark backgrounds when viewed from off-center. Plus, the clouding issue became more apparent when viewing from more extreme angles.

I reached out to Hisense regarding dark scene viewing and the clouding effect and it said it was aware of and looking into it, but couldn't provide a fix at this time. If there are any updates, I'll be sure to add them to this review.

• Picture quality score: 4 / 5

Hisense 116UX review: Sound quality

The 116UX delivers decent built-in sound, but overall a screen like this deserves a soundbar to match (Image credit: Future)

• 6.2.2-channel speaker array
• Clear, expansive, accurate sound
• Only average soundstage

The 116UX comes with a built-in 6.2.2-channel, 110W Devialet sound system that supports Dolby Atmos, but not DTS. It has subwoofers built into the rear of the screen, with two speakers running down each side of its frame and height speakers positioned on the top of the TV.

Watching the Batmobile chase scene from The Batman, the 116UX accurately connected the sound to the action on screen. The overall sound was punchy with clear dialogue. The 116UX’s sound was also immersive at times, going beyond the borders of the screen and making Dolby Atmos effects, such as rain in The Batman, feel as if they’re overhead.

While the 116UX’s built-in sound system is good, at times it felt restrained. Bass in particular lacked fullness. And while there was some suggestion of surround effects, I expected a sound system like this to produce a wider soundstage.

Some people will be happy with the 116UX’s sound, but I feel it deserves a sound system to match its gargantuan, cinematic picture.

• Sound quality score: 4 / 5

Hisense 116UX review: DesignImage 1 of 2

The 116UX uses metal feet to support its heavy weight (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

But the 116UX is surprisingly thin despite is large size (Image credit: Future)

• Sleek, modern design
• Weighty and cumbersome
• Basic support feet

At 116 inches, the 116UX requires a large space. Its big screen will be too cumbersome for most living rooms and, unlike retractable projector screens of a similar size, it will dominate a space.

Hisense has done its best to make the 116UX appear as sleek as possible while still housing a substantial built-in sound system. Its frame is trim, and it’s made of a premium-looking black metal. As a result, the 116UX is an incredibly weighty 239lbs (108kg), meaning you’ll need to carefully consider installation, although there are two carry handles on the rear. The TV is supported by two metal feet, which, although plain, are expected for a TV this size.

The 116UX comes with Hisense’s solar remote, which is reminiscent of Samsung’s SolarCell remote and can be charged using the rear solar panel or by USB-C. It has a nice design with a burnished steel finish and feels more premium than Hisense’s standard TV remotes.

• Design score: 4 / 5

Hisense 116UX review: Smart TV & menus

VIDAA (Hisense's smart TV platform in the UK) has plenty of picture settings and good app access (Image credit: Future)

• Google TV (US), VIDAA (UK & Australia)
• Good number of picture settings
• Performance can lag at times

Like all Hisense TVs, the 116UX’s smart TV platform will be different based on your region. In the US, it uses Google TV, and in the UK and Australia, it uses Hisense’s own VIDAA smart TV platform. I reviewed the 116UX in the UK, so I will be focusing on VIDAA. Check out our Hisense U8Q review to read about a Google TV Hisense model.

VIDAA has access to all major streaming services such as Netflix and Prime Video, and all UK-based streaming services such as BBC iPlayer and ITVX. It also supports Freely, a service in which you can watch live TV over Wi-Fi with no need for an antenna or satellite connection.

There are a good number of picture settings on the 116UX. VIDAA’s overall look is plain and not as user-friendly as LG’s webOS, and the 116UX’s overall performance during navigation suffered from lag on occasion. VIDAA could do with a visual overhaul, as it does look dated in some of its menus.

• Smart TV & menus: 4 / 5

Hisense 116UX review: Gaming

The Hisense 116UX has great gaming features and impressive picture quality for gaming (Image credit: Future)

• 4K 165Hz, AMD FreeSync Premium
• 14.6ms input lag
• Three HDMI 2.1 ports

The 116UX has impressive gaming features, such as 4K 165Hz, VRR including AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, ALLM and Dolby Vision gaming, and these are all supported on three HDMI 2.1 ports. There is also a 288Hz game booster mode for PC gaming and a Game Board pop-up menu that displays useful information such as frame rate and VRR, as well as settings that can be adjusted, such as Dark Detail.

Gaming performance on the 116UX is generally smooth and responsive. Playing a demo of Dynasty Warriors: Origins on PlayStation 5, the action felt fast-paced and chaotic as expected at both 60Hz and 120Hz. I noticed during gameplay that the frame rate varied a lot in the 120Hz Performance mode, but I chalked this up to the game itself, due to its rendering of many enemies on screen.

The 116UX’s measured input lag is 14.6ms, which is higher than rivals like Samsung and TCL, but still under the 15ms threshold most gamers look for.

• Gaming score: 4.5 / 5

Hisense 116UX review: Value

The Hisense 110UXN comes with Hisense's premium remote, which has both a USB-C port and a solar cell on the bottom rear for charging (Image credit: Future)

• Expensive
• Similarly priced to big-screen OLED TVs
• Much pricier than the 110-inch 110UX

At $29,999 / £24,999 / AU$39,999, the Hisense 116UX is a pricey, premium TV. It may come with an exciting, new RGB mini-LED panel that produces superb brightness and color, but that’s still a lofty price, even for a TV this feature-packed.

At this price range, you can pick up some of the best projectors on the market, such as the JVC DLA-NZ800 ($15,999 / £15,999 / AU$24,999). It won’t have the 116UX’s brightness, but it will still produce an excellent picture. Plus, you can build an entire home theater system around it with the same budget.

The 116UX is also much pricier than the step-down 110UX ($14,999 / £18,999 / AU$24,999), and while it delivers better performance and picture quality, that's still a significant price gap.

• Value score: 3 / 5

Should you buy the Hisense 116UX?

The Hisense 110UXN comes at a premium price that most won't be able to afford (Image credit: Future)Hisense 110UXN

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

RGB mini-LED panel with good amount of smart and gaming features

4.5/5

Picture quality

Superb color reproduction, brightness and realistic textures, but dark scene viewing can be an issue

4/5

Sound quality

Punchy, precise sound system with decent bass, but sound feels narrow at times

4/5

Design

Trim design considering size, and feels sturdy as well

4/5

Smart TV and menus

VIDAA has good number of picture settings and apps, but looks dated

4/5

Gaming

Great array of gaming features including 165Hz and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and 3 HDMI 2.1 ports

4.5/5

Value

An exciting step forward for mini-LED, but expensive price means it remains exclusive

3/5

Buy it if...

You want a cinema-sized screen
The Hisense 116UX gives you the experience of a cinema at home, delivering high brightness and vibrant color.

You want a big screen for gaming
The 116UX has a great range of gaming features and solid performance to match, but the novelty of gaming on such a large screen is where gamers will be most excited.

Don't buy it if…

You're on a budget
The 116UX carries a very premium price tag and although prices will drop over the coming months, it's unlikely to become affordable for 99% of people.

You want a perfect picture
The 116UX has screen uniformity issues and struggles with some dark scenes. It struggles even more when these scenes are viewed off-center.

Also consider

Hisense 116UX

Hisense 110UXN

Samsung QN90F (65-inch)

Hisense U8QG (65-inch)

Price

$24,999 / £24,999 / AU$34,999

$14,999 / £19,999 / around AU$24,300

$2,499.99 / £2,499 / AU$3,499

$2,199 / £2,199 / AU$2,999

Screen type

RGB Mini-LED

Mini-LED

Mini-LED

Mini-LED

Refresh rate

120Hz (up to 165Hz)

120Hz (up to 144Hz)

120Hz (up to 144Hz)

120Hz (up to 144HZ)

HDR support

Dolby Vision/HDR10+/HDR10/HLG

Dolby Vision IQ/HDR10/HLG/HDR10+

HDR10+/HDR10/HLG

Dolby Vision/HDR10+/HDR10/HLG

Smart TV

Google TV (US), VIDAA (UK/Aus)

Google TV (US/Aus), VIDAA (UK)

Tizen

Google TV (US/Aus), VIDAA (UK)

HDMI ports

3 x HDMI 2.1

4 (2x HDMI 2.1)

4 x HDMI 2.1

3 x HDMI 2.1

Hisense 110UXN
The Hisense 110UXN is the step-down model from the 116UX and while its standard mini-LED panel doesn't deliver as vibrant a picture as the 116UX, it does have similar features and is significantly cheaper, while still delivering a big screen experience.

Read our full Hisense 110UXN review

Samsung QN90F
Though it lacks the Hisense's RGB mini-LED panel and doesn't hit the same brightness levels as the 116UX, the Samsung QN90F delivers outstanding picture quality and has one of the most complete feature sets on the market, including an effective anti-reflection screen. Plus, it's a lot cheaper.

Read our full Samsung QN90F review

Hisense U8QG
The Hisense U8QG is one of Hisense's flagship TVs at a more affordable price. While it again doesn't deliver the same picture quality as the 116UX, it is excellent value for money and does deliver strong performance and a brilliant set of features for a good price. It's also frequently on sale.

Here's our full Hisense U8QG review

How I tested the Hisense 116UX

(Image credit: Future)

• Tested in light controlled testing room
• Tested SDR and HDR sources for picture quality

I tested the Hisense 116UX in a light-controlled demo room at Hisense Europe HQ in Leeds, England.

I first established which picture modes I would use for my testing with some casual viewing. For my critical viewing, I used several reference scenes from both SDR (broadcast TV and streaming) and HDR sources (4K Blu-ray and streaming). I tested the 116UX's picture for brightness, color, shadow detail and contrast, screen uniformity, upscaling and motion. I also used these same sources to test the UX116's audio performance. To play 4K Blu-rays, I used the Panasonic DP-UB820 4K Blu-ray player.

I also tested gaming performance and features using a PlayStation 5.

Measurements for the Hisense 116UX were taken by my colleague Matthew Murray, Head of Testing at Future, at a separate event in the US.

These tests included peak (10% window) and fullscreen (100%) SDR and HDR brightness, measured on a white window test pattern.

HDR color gamut was also measured, examining the DCI-P3 and BT.2020 color spaces. Color and grayscal accuracy were measured using Delta-E values (the margin for error between the test pattern signal and what's shown on screen).

Finally, the TV's input lag was measured using a Leo Bodnar 4K HDMI Input Lag Tester.

For a more detailed explanation of how we test TVs at TechRadar, check out the link.

• First reviewed: September, 2025
• Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee

The best note-taking apps help you remember crucial information. It’s often done with physical notebooks, but digital note-taking apps provide an easier way. You already carry a smartphone, so using the same device to take notes makes things convenient. Google Keep is one of the most popular note-taking apps used on smartphones globally.

Initially launched in 2013, Google Keep has amassed tens of millions of users within a short period. Because it’s free to use, Google Keep has become a go-to option for people seeking a simple app to store and manage notes.

But, is Google Keep an ideal note-taking tool for you? What are its unique features, and how does it differ from competitors? I’ve extensively reviewed the app to answer these questions for you. Read on to learn about Google Keep’s features, pros, and cons compared to rival note-taking tools.

(Image credit: Google)Google Keep: Plans and pricing

As I mentioned earlier, Google Keep is a tool you can use at no cost. Google offers it for free, along with various other tools, to keep users attached to its software ecosystem. Anyone with a Google account can enjoy Keep’s features.

However, there’s a catch. Google offers a premium tier for companies that desire collaborative functionalities and access to enhanced features on Google software tools. If your company subscribes to this premium plan, called Workspace, the features of Google Keep don’t change. However, your company can enjoy seamless collaboration on Google Keep and many other Google tools.

Google Workspace has three pricing tiers: Starter, Standard, and Plus. The Starter plan costs $7 per user per month, the Standard plan costs $14 per user per month, and the Plus plan costs $22 per user per month. There’s also an Enterprise Plus plan for large companies that can negotiate custom sales deals with Google’s team.

The Starter plan unlocks 30 GB of storage per account, the Standard plan unlocks 2 TB of storage, and the Plus plan allocates 5 TB to each account. Google Keep’s functionalities remain the same regardless of your plan, but these plans have significant differences in other areas.

(Image credit: Google)Google Keep: Features

Google Keep’s core feature is letting users keep and retrieve notes when needed. It lets you create and organize notes, from shopping lists to personal reminders, phone numbers, and workplace ideas. You can then label these notes for easy retrieval later. For example, you can have separate labels named “work” and “personal” and simply click on any label to find the relevant notes when needed.

To create a note, you have various options: a plain note, a list, a note with a drawing, or a note with an image. A plain note can be any text you choose to write. There’s no limit on the number of characters you can store in the plain note.

After writing your plain note, you can add a reminder to it, which will be saved in the Google Reminders app, and you’ll receive an email or push notification reminder at the appropriate time. Google Keep has seamless integrations with other Google tools, making it convenient if you already use one Google app or another.

If a plain note isn’t satisfactory, you can add images or drawings for context. Images can be uploaded directly from your PC or smartphone, but videos aren’t permitted. All uploaded images count towards your allocated storage, which ranges from 15 GB on the free plan to between 30 GB and 5 TB on Workspace plans.

Similarly, you can add drawings to your notes, a feature that is useful when trying to sketch ideas. Forgive me for not being the best artist, but my example below illustrates how adding drawings is done on Google Keep.

(Image credit: Google)

Notably, you can convert your drawing into an image and download it to your device. Drawings help you add significant context to the notes you’ve jotted.

I like that Google Keep provides ample text formatting features. It allows users to break down notes into headings and subheadings, making them easy to read later. You can bold, italicize, and underline specific words or phrases within your notes. The formatting options aren’t as plentiful as what you’ll find on a word processor, expectedly, but they provide the basics that help users create detailed notes.

Another feature I enjoyed is Google Keep’s Optical Character Recognition (OCR), which lets users extract text from uploaded images. The example below illustrates a picture I uploaded and its extracted text.

You can observe that Google Keep extracted the text from the image with a high degree of accuracy. I only needed to adjust the text a little to get a coherent note. The OCR feature isn’t perfect, but it works well most of the time. It’s a valuable feature in many situations, such as a lecture with informative slides displayed on a projector. In this case, you can simply snap a slide and extract the text instead of typing the same thing manually.

Still on the idea of extracting external information into your notes, Google Keep has a browser extension available exclusively on Google Chrome. With this extension, you can download web pages directly as notes to view later. Suppose you encounter a web page that piques your interest, but you’re too busy to read it at the moment. You can simply download it as a note and open it later. My only complaint is that this feature is compatible with Chrome but not with other browsers.

(Image credit: Google)

Another interesting feature is the ability to record voice notes and transcribe them into text. You can add an audio memo to a note, and Google's sophisticated voice recognition system will translate it to text and also keep the audio recording for future playbacks. In my case, the transcription feature wasn’t perfect, as I had to edit some words and phrases, but it transcribed most words correctly. Note that this feature only works on the mobile app.

I talked about using labels to organize your notes. However, that’s not the only way. You can change the background color of each note to differentiate it from the rest. For example, all personal notes can have one background color, and those related to work can sport another color.

Likewise, you can pin specific notes at the top of your dashboard. These pinned notes, which are of utmost importance, will always be displayed above the other notes you’ve created.

I mentioned reminders earlier, but there’s more to it. You can not only set time-based reminders, but you can also set reminders based on locations. That is, Google will issue a reminder about a note as soon as you arrive at a specific location. For example, you can set Google to remind you about school notes as soon as you arrive at school. You can receive work reminders as soon as you arrive at the office. These reminders are helpful in many day-to-day situations.

Seamless collaboration is one of Google Keep’s main benefits compared to rival note-taking tools. You can easily share your notes with friends, family, and colleagues, and they can view or edit the notes.

To share a note with someone, you can add their email address, and they’ll receive a notification about the note you’ve shared with them. Collaborators can view or edit your notes, and any changes are reflected in real-time.

For example, if you share a checklist, the collaborator can tick off items on the checklist, and it’ll immediately reflect in your Google Keep dashboard. A good thing about Google Keep is that there’s no limit to the number of collaborators you can invite.

Most Google tools allow you to set specific permissions for collaborators (read-only or editing access), but Google Keep bucks the trend. Anyone you invite automatically gets full access, including the ability to edit your notes. I didn’t like this lack of permission management.

Another thing I didn’t like relates to the text formatting options, which I mentioned earlier. Google Keep’s formatting features are basic, unlike the advanced formatting options I’ve encountered on several competing note-taking tools. However, it’s understandable because those tools require paid subscriptions, while Google Keep’s core features are entirely free.

Despite some drawbacks, Google Keep remains an excellent note-taking tool given the features available for free. It’s ideal if you need an intuitive app to keep simple notes. However, it’s not the best option if you need to manage large volumes of notes.

(Image credit: Google)Google Keep: Interface and in use

Google Keep is as simple to use as it gets. Its features aren’t much, so they are neatly arranged along the dashboard. The dashboard prominently displays the box to create a new note, and after opening this box, formatting options are clearly displayed at the bottom. The main menu lies in the top-left corner and is easy to navigate.

Even as a first-time user, you wouldn’t have problems understanding Google Keep’s interface at a glance. It’s coherent and intuitive, which I’ve observed as the norm with Google tools.

I liked that Google Keep has a built-in option to switch between light and dark theme modes, both on the web version and mobile apps (iOS and Android). I also liked the ability to switch between list and grid views of my notes. Generally, Google Keep has an excellent interface that I enjoyed interacting with.

Google Keep: Support

Google Keep users have access to ample support resources. Given it’s a free tool, there’s no direct support from Google’s team, except you’re a Google Workspace subscriber. However, you can always consult the official Google Keep Help Center, which includes detailed user guides and solutions to common troubleshooting scenarios.

Every Google Keep feature is covered in the Help Center, so you’ll likely find the solution to the problems you encounter on Google Keep. Along with the Help Center, there’s also an online community where you can seek solutions from other Google Keep users.

If your company is subscribed to Google Workspace, you can get direct help from Google’s support team via email, live chat, or telephone. However, Google Keep is simple enough that direct help is needed on rare occasions, or if at all.

Google Keep: The competition

Note-taking is a thriving software niche with many players. Google Keep is one of the players, albeit a dominant one. Two major competitors I’d like to highlight are Notion and Evernote.

Notion is more than a note-taking app. It’s a versatile tool that lets you manage broad projects, storing everything from knowledge bases to wikis and technical documents. Notion is extensively customizable and has a wider library of third-party integrations than Google Keep.

Google Keep is the go-to tool for managing simple notes, but Notion is the go-to tool for managing complex notes and text documents. Notion has extensive collaboration features with more permission control than Google Keep. The drawback is that Notion’s extensive features present a steep learning curve for the everyday user. It’s not as user-friendly as Google Keep, so expect more time to get used to it.

Evernote has several note-keeping features that Google Keep lacks, such as the ability to add videos to notes, rich text formatting, and whiteboards where multiple users can work on the same note simultaneously. It provides more advanced ways to organize notes, making it ideal for managing large note volumes.

The downside is that Evernote requires a subscription to access most of its features, while Google Keep is completely free. Evernote’s free tier is heavily limited compared to Google Keep.

Google Keep: Final verdict

Google Keep is an excellent choice if you need a simple app to keep your day-to-day notes. It’s free to use, intuitive, and lets you share notes with others.

Google Keep doesn’t have the most advanced features, such as rich text formatting, inserting videos within notes, and using folders and subfolders to organize notes. However, that’s intentional. Google created it as a free tool for everyday use, not for the most complex note-keeping scenarios. The app fulfills its purpose of simplifying digital note-taking perfectly.

We've listed the best note-taking apps for Android.