TechRadar Reviews

Beelink EQi Wildcat Lake: 30-second review

The Beelink EQi is essentially an ideal office machine. There’s nothing fancy about the design; in fact, it feels a little lightweight and plasticy; however, the balance of features is far greater than the specifications would initially have you believe.

As ever, this Mini PC is compact with its 126mm-square footprint that enables easy positioning around the desk; however, while the looks may not highlight anything special, it packs in an unusual amount of connectivity for a Mini PC at this price and with this level of CPU.

The major surprise here is that on the back, alongside the usual 2.5GbE LAN port, is a second, ultra-fast 10GbE port, which is the sort of specification you normally find on hardware costing far more, but also ideal if you’re connecting into a UGREEN IDX6011 NAS over a 10GbE network for archiving. Next to this network port are two Thunderbolt 4 ports at 40 Gbps, HDMI 2.0, and triple-display support, meaning that for integration into an office or studio this machine is highly tuned.

It’s also very neat with the dark grey ABS enclosure feeling cheap compared to aluminium rivals. Still, the 85W power supply is built into the chassis, so the only cable at the back is a mains lead, and those going to monitors and accessories, there’s no power brick to get in the way.

Open the base and the interior is exceptionally well organised, with both M.2 slots covered by a substantial metal heatsink that lifts off with two screws. The rear port layout is the odd decision, with the two Type-A ports placed on either side of the HDMI output rather than together, which is awkward if you use a wired keyboard and mouse.

Performance is well balanced by Intel's Core 3 304, though it has its limitations. It’s quick where it counts when browsing the internet, using office software, or playing media, and I've even found myself using it to offload image and video files to the server quickly and to book equipment and locations. Where it does fall is in graphics performance, as highlighted by the benchmarks: great for the office but really a no-go for gaming unless optimised for lower-specification systems.

Storage is also interesting with two M.2 slots. However, they support different lane counts, and a Crucial T710 Gen 5 drive returned 3510.25 MB/s read in slot one but only 1750.42 MB/s in slot two, which is slower than the UFS drive Beelink already fits, but then does enable you to boost the overall internal storage neatly.

Everything else is again well-balanced for office use. This is a nice, quiet machine with Windows 11 Pro pre-installed. The design is nothing flashy, but for dedicated office use with serious network potential it’s one of the best mini PCs I've tested.

Beelink EQi Wildcat Lake: Price and availability

• How much does it cost? From $509
• When is it out? Available now
• Where can you get it? Directly from Beelink and retailers such as Amazon

The EQi costs $509 for the 16GB LPDDR5 and 512GB configuration that I’ve looked at in this review. It's available direct from Beelink here in three configurations - 16GB LPDDR5, 24GB DDR5, and 32GB DDR5 RAM, all with 512GB SSD.

I'm also seeing several models on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk for around the same price.

• Value: 5 / 5

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)Beelink EQi Wildcat Lake: Specs

CPU: Intel Core 3 304, 5 cores/5 threads, up to 4.3GHz, 6MB cache, 15W TDP
Graphics: Intel Xe3-LPG integrated graphics
RAM: 16GB LPDDR5, or 24GB/32GB DDR5 at 5600MT/s; DDR5 version upgradeable to 64GB
Storage: 512GB UFS 3.1; two M.2 2280 slots (slot 1 PCIe 4.0 x2, slot 2 PCIe 4.0 x1), up to 4TB each
Left Ports: USB 3.2 Type-A, USB 3.2 Type-C, 3.5mm audio jack
Right Ports: 2x Thunderbolt 4, 2x USB 2.0, HDMI 2.0, 10GbE, 2.5GbE, AC input
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, 10GbE Ethernet, 2.5GbE Ethernet
Audio: 3.5mm combined audio connection
Camera: None
Size: 126 x 126 x 44.2mm,
Weight: 500g
OS Installed: Windows 11 Pro
Accessories: HDMI cable, regional AC lead/power adapter and user manual

Beelink EQi Wildcat Lake: Design

If you’re looking for a machine that blends into the office background, then the Beelink EQi Wildcat Lake is a perfect option. The dark grey finish, rounded corners, and a lightly textured top panel are neat and strike a note that really highlights the machine's price point and specifications.

The size is also in line with what you’d expect from a standard Office Mini PC, with a relatively small form factor and a compact 126mm x 126mm footprint, at just 500g.

While the design might not be the most inspiring, it is generally well thought out and, surprisingly, has a built-in 85W power supply, so just a single power cable runs to the AC mains, with no need for a power brick.

On the front and back are a good range of ports, highly specified for a machine at this price. There’s also good air ventilation through the base, with airflow entering over the processor and passing through the storage.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

Beelink quotes 32dB as the noise in normal use, and this seemed about right, with the ambient noise in the office slightly higher when ideal. This is also one of the neatest laid-out Mini PCs internally that I’ve seen, accessible through the base, which is held in place by four small cross-head screws. A small attention to detail is the small label that just helps to lift the base free, enabling easy access.

Once inside the interior, both M.2 slots are slightly hidden under a single large metal heatsink that lifts off with two screw. Once removed, your choice of M. 2 2280 SSD can be installed. This heatsink shows real consideration as a thermal solution for the installed drives, with the installation process taking no more than a couple of minutes.

The port selection and specification are where things really get interesting. Starting at the back, there are two USB 2.0 Type-A ports on either side of the HDMI Max 4.0 60Hz output rather than together, so a wired keyboard and mouse end up separated by a display cable.

Then there are two LAN ports, a 2.5GbE and a 10GbE, which is very unusual for a machine at this level; also unusual are the two Thunderbolt 4 ports. The front is a little more standard, with a USB 3.2 Type-A, a USB-C 10 Gbps, a 3.5mm audio jack, and finally the power button.

• Design: 4.5 / 5

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)Beelink EQi Wildcat Lake: Features

A quick check through the features highlights the intended audience for this PC. At the heart of the machine is the very respectable Intel Core 3 304; it’s nothing flashy, but this is a new-generation CPU so offers far more than entry-level CPUs in the past, and while not an AI powerhouse, does feature an integrated NPU as well as GPU, handy if you use Copilot on a day-to-day basis for work.

The CPU offers a five-core, five-thread processor with one performance core and four efficiency cores, 6MB of cache and a 15W TDP, turboing to 4.3GHz. Beelink quotes AI performance at 24 TOPS across the CPU, GPU and NPU for local AI processing.

While it’s great to see this entry-level office machine has AI potential, connectivity is what has surprised me about the EQi through this test. On the back are those two Thunderbolt 4 ports that run at 40 Gbps with DisplayPort 1.4, and if you need to connect more monitors, then there’s the more traditional HDMI 2.0, which I used to connect to my monitor for this review.

The two network ports, one 10GbE and one 2.5GbE, are a headline feature and enabled me to connect directly into the 10GbE LAN in the office. This meant that I could quickly offload video and image files through the machine's Thunderbolt 4 to the network. While this is an office-focused machine, I use an old Intel NUC 9 in the office for this exact task, and its speed over 1GbE and USB3.2 Gen 1 is unmatched by this.

Inside there’s a fixed 16GB LPDDR5 or upgradeable DDR5 at 24GB or 32GB, both at 5600 MT/s, with the DDR5 version supporting up to 64GB. Storage is 512GB of UFS 3.1, again fixed, but there is the option to install two M.2 2280 SSDs, both enabling up to 4TB. One point about these two slots is that they don’t support the same number of PCIe lanes, with one half as fast as the other.

Wireless runs over a MediaTek MT7922 module, with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

• Features: 4.5 / 5

Beelink EQi Wildcat Lake: PerformanceBenchmark scores

CrystalDiskMark Read: 1977.4
CrystalDiskMark Write: 806.79
Geekbench CPU Multi: 6303
Geekbench CPU Single: 2337
Geekbench GPU: 6182
PCMark Overall: 4733
Cinebench CPU Multi: 4785 (R23)
Cinebench CPU Single: 1696 (R23)
Fire Strike Overall: 1918
Fire Strike Graphics: 1971
Fire Strike Physics: 12379
Fire Strike Combined: 778
Time Spy Overall: 879
Time Spy Graphics: 773
Time Spy CPU: 3963
Wildlife Overall: 5133
Steel Nomad Overall: 127
Windows Experience Overall: 8.1
Procyon AI Computer Vision 2.0: 635

Additional tests

Crucial T710 Gen 5 NVMe, slot 1: Read 3510.25 MB/s, Write 3530.98 MB/s
Crucial T710 Gen 5 NVMe, slot 2: Read 1750.42 MB/s, Write 1766.17 MB/s
Lexar PCIe 3.0 SSD: Read 1631.56 MB/s, Write 1499.14 MB/s

Getting started with the Beelink EQi was extremely straightforward, with a single power cord that plugs in, eliminating the need for the usual power brick. While this may seem small, it actually makes quite a difference, reducing cables and bulk to deal with.

Once the initial setup with the mouse, keyboard, and 4K monitor was complete and Windows 11 Pro was set up, the machine was installed with the usual array of applications. Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite and a few games for good measure.

Starting with the main office applications, performance proved solid, running PowerPoint, Word, and Excel without issue, with Copilot there to support me as I put together a presentation for September. The speed is good, and despite the CPU's entry-level position, it handled everything impressively.

Checking out the results of the Geekbench 2,337 single-core and 6,303 multi-core results and, more importantly, the PCMark 10 came in at 4,733, showing that while this machine doesn’t excel, it’s where you would want it for a competent everyday computer that won’t get bogged down under heavy processing.

During the test, I edited a few images in Lightroom and Photoshop, and both ran surprisingly well, even with the images stored on the internal UFS 3.1 drive. While this drive isn’t the fastest compared with the latest SSDs, it is fast enough for most office-based work, with CrystalDiskMark results of 1977.4 MB/s read and 806.79 MB/s write.

What’s interesting is that inside there are two PCIe 4.0 slots, one listed as PCIe 4.0 x2 and the other as PCIe 4.0 x1, so I fitted a Micron Crucial T710 Gen 5 NVMe to each in turn to check out the speeds of each, just as a note you can add up to 4TB in each, giving a total of 8.5TB of storage which is impressive.

The first slot recorded 3510.25 MB/s read and 3530.98 MB/s write. The same drive in slot two returned 1750.42 MB/s read and 1766.17 MB/s write. That's roughly twice the speed in the first compared with the second and still very acceptable for the intended end user. While I used a PCIe 5.0 SSD, a respectable PCIe 4.0 SSD which is far cheaper should gain a similar result.

Switching to the Xe3-LPG graphics, things start to fall slightly. The integrated graphics are ideal for everyday work, watching back multimedia and light photo and video editing.

However, when it comes to gaming, the potential is limited. Hogwarts Legacy ran slowly, and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle was a no-go. Other games ran, but due to the lack of space on the internal storage, I ran all from the faster Crucial in the first of the two spare SSD slots.

After running the Mini PC in the office for a week, using it mainly for Word and research work with some light photo editing, a few features became apparent that set this Mini PC and test apart from most others. The speed of those connections just enabled the EQi to integrate perfectly with the studio; it’s nothing flashy, but it turned out to be the fastest machine for transferring image and video data to the NAS.

After a shoot, I plugged the CFExpress Type-B card reader into the Thunderbolt 4 port and transferred the files at speed over to the Ugreen IDX6011 NAS. The connection speed over the network, due to that 10GbE port, made the transfer speed far exceed that of any other machine I know.

I usually use an old Intel Nuc 9 Ghost Canyon that I can leave for a few hours before network editing on the MacBook Pro; however, here, with this small, inexpensive machine, it handled everything at speed.

While the 24-core TOPS, as quoted by Beelink, is marginal on the AI processing front, and while I was able to use Co-Pilot, running a local LLM was limited to a 3-4B model, I opted for Qwen3. The main issue here was that the RAM is only single-channel, which limits the speed; however, for checking through documents and basic summary tasks, it actually worked surprisingly well.

• Performance: 4 / 5

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)Beelink EQi Wildcat Lake: Final verdict

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

The Beelink EQi is an impressive office-focused machine that underwhelms with its design but outperforms in performance. It packs in the usual office-based Mini PC features such as being able to support three displays, 2.5GbE networking, a base level of storage and RAM, but then it surprises by offering more.

The 10GbE networking and Thunderbolt 4 ports are surprising and completely change what’s possible with this machine, and for something with such a small footprint, those two specifications instantly make it interesting.

When you then add in the fact that you can expand the internal storage with two 4TB SSDs, it then becomes even more interesting.

For me, the 10GbE and Thunderbolt ports are what make this Mini PC go from something that would blend into the background to something that’s actually very useful. The speed of those two ports enables me to hook this directly into an existing 10GbE network and to take advantage of the speeds that it offers. The issue, of course, is that you need the network infrastructure in place to make the most of this speed.

That brings me round to who the Beelink EQi is best for? Straight down the line, it would be for Office work. It has excellent single-core performance, runs pretty much silently, supports up to three displays, lets you upgrade the internal storage, and has an ultra-fast network connection that is beyond what most desktops offer. It’s also not really usable for playing games, and, on the surface, if you work in the creative sector, it’s not going to make an impact there either.

However, as I found with a cheapish mini PC that offers solid performance, the Thunderbolt 4 and 10GbE network make it great for offloading large video and image files to the NAS. Realistically, however, this is a Mini PC perfectly suited to anyone whose work involves documents, spreadsheets, browsers, and moving large files across a network; it is one of the more capable small machines I have tested this year.

Should I buy the Beelink EQi Wildcat Lake?

Value

Decent connection options for the money, if you have a 10GbE network to use it

4

Design

Compact, quiet and well laid out inside, let down by plasticy casing

4

Features

Outstanding port selection for a machine this size, focused for the office but with potential

5

Performance

Fast in everyday work, weak in graphics, excellent storage in the right slot

4

Overall

An excellent quiet office machine with workstation connectivity

4

Buy it if...

You store a lot of files in different places

Whether that is a NAS, a media library, or a shared project drive, the dual 10GbE and 2.5GbE ports move large files at a rate most full-sized desktops can’t match.

You want a silent machine.

Single-core performance is excellent, and in the office I couldn’t hear the machine over the ambient noise in most situations.

Don't buy it if...

You want to play modern games.

A Time Spy graphics score of 773, compared to 3,963 for the CPU, shows exactly where the limitations are. The single Xe3 core is built for displays, video playback and light graphical work, not gaming.

You need heavy multicore performance.

While light video and image editing is possible, it’s certainly not where the machine's strength lies.

For more professional-grade desktops, we've tested the best business computers.

Fanxiang PS2000W: 30-second review

Fanxiang is a Chinese storage brand, most commonly known as Shenzhen Fanxiang Information Technology. The company grew out of a team with a decade of prior experience in storage design, firmware, and product sales, and they've built their range around four main product lines: solid-state drives, mobile storage, memory modules, and storage cards.

It’s been making external SSD storage for about five years, with a wide range of devices and specifications.

The PS2000W appeared in 2025, and delivers capacities from 500Mb to 4TB in a slim aluminium case. It comes with a soft carry pouch and a cable that has an integrated adapter for both USB-A and USB-C connections.

The quoted performance is 2000MB/s reads, and 1800MB/s writes, but that assumes you have a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 port, and that’s not a common standard.

More realistically, a USB 3.2 Gen 2 port will achieve a little over 1000 MB/s reads, and 950 MB/s writes with either a USB-C or USB-A connection.

For those wanting faster transfers, you either need a system with the rare USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 port, or choose a different drive that supports the USB4 standard, like the Fanxiang PS3000 portable SSD.

However, that option costs $350 for the 1TB model, which is substantially more than the $150 the PS2000W is typically priced at for that capacity.

The problem the PS2000W doesn’t address is that this drive is double the price it was only eight months ago, and unless you have a system that can make the most of its enhanced performance, there are cheaper alternatives. In fact, if you have a spare NVMe drive, then buying an external enclosure for USB4 is probably a better choice.

Not the best portable SSD, or the worst, but sadly impacted by the outrageous cost of flash memory in 2026.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)Fanxiang PS2000W: Pricing and availability

• How much does it cost? Starts from $90
• When is it out? Available now
• Where can you get it? Sold through online retailers and also directly from Fanxiang.

The Fanxiang PS2000W portable SSD comes in capacities starting at 500 GB, doubling each step to include 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB drives.

Directly from the maker, these are priced at $112.99, $203.99, $379.99 and $495.99 for the largest capacity. That pricing makes the 4TB the best value, and the 500MB the worst.

But the maker prices aren’t especially good, and I was able to find it much cheaper on Amazon. On Amazon.com in the US, the 500MB model is only $89.99, the 1TB model is $149.99, and the 4TB model is $419.99. There wasn’t a price for the 2TB version.

UK pricing via Amazon.co.uk is £64.60, £119.99, £169.99, and £319.99, and Amazon EU sites are €94.99, €139.99, €229.99, and €379.99, respectively.

For those curious, the UK is the cheapest place to buy this hardware, followed by the EU, and the most expensive is the USA.

While officially Crucial has exited the retail market, its equivalent product, the X10, is still available from many retailers. At $207 for the 1TB option, and $299.99 for the 2TB option, the X10 is slightly more expensive. But it is rated as water-resistant, and while there isn’t a 500GB model, there are 6TB and 8TB options.

A cheaper option with the same spec is the PNY RP60, but the 1TB model is still $10 more than the PS2000W.

But many of the familiar brands are more expensive, such as the SanDisk Extreme Pro V2, Samsung T9, Kingston XS2000 and LaCie Rugged Mini. Western Digital has its My Passport SSD, but it’s the same price as the PS2000W, but only offers half the performance.

Those looking for a cheaper option should consider the $82 Orico S20 with 512GB storage.

It’s tempting to look at the pricing of the PS2000W and see it as a good deal, when it’s far from that.

Price tracking the 1TB model: it was $149.99 at the time of writing; it was $75.99 in November of 2025. That’s nearly a 100% markup.

Now, I should say that Fanxiang doesn’t control the price of Flash memory, which has spiked since AI companies and speculators decided to buy all of it. But in good conscience, I can’t recommend people spend this sort of money on devices that cost half as much a year ago.

• Value: 3 / 5

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)Fanxiang PS2000W: Specs

Model

Fanxiang PS2000W

Interface

USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (20Gbps)

Sequential read

Up to 2050MB/s

Sequential write

Up to 1800MB/s

Flash type

TLC 3D NAND

Capacities

500GB, 1TB, 2TB

Dimensions

8.5cm x 5cm x 0.8cm

Weight

Approximately 45g

Build

Aluminium alloy unibody

Cables included

USB Type C to C, plus Type C to A adapter

Compatibility

Windows, Mac, Android, PS5/PS4, iPhone 15 and later via USB-C

Warranty

5 years

Fanxiang PS2000W: Design

• Aluminium enclosure
• Dual USB standards cable

Some brands, and you know the names, will try to make their external SSDs and HDDs as cheaply as possible, typically by using mostly plastic construction.

Thankfully, Fanxiang didn’t go down that path with the PS2000W, and this device appears to be entirely made of metal. And, based on its relatively low weight, it uses aluminium.

The package is a simple lozenge shape with curved sides and flattened ends, measuring 85mm long by 50mm wide and less than a centimetre thick.

Out of the box, it comes with a 30cm USB-C to USB-C cable that has a USB-A adapter permanently attached. The drive and cable fit neatly into a soft drawstring bag, also provided, making for a neat and easily pocketable solution.

The review model was a 2TB capacity drive, which translated into 1863GiB of usable space, and it connects to the host device using USAP (Serial ATA).

To achieve the best performance, it requires a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 port, but the drive is backwards compatible with USB 3.2 Gen 2, Gen 1, and even USB 2.0. However, as you move down the USB interface pecking order, the expected speed decreases.

As for features, this drive is basic. It supports S.M.A.R.T. NCQ, TRIM and GPL, but it doesn’t offer hardware encryption like on the Kingston XS2000 or the Crucial X10 Pro.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

There are also no software tools included, though you can download a utility for SSD management from the Fanxiang website. I didn’t notice any means to update the installed firmware, or any firmware releases.

To be blunt, this is a basic USB SSD with a Gen 2x2 interface, but otherwise it’s unremarkable. And therefore, if you don’t have that interface, there appears to be no compelling reason why you would choose this one over another brand.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

• Design: 3.5 / 5

Fanxiang PS2000W: Performance

• Needs USB 3.2 Gen 2x2
• Performs within quoted specification

Fanxiang PS2000W Benchmark

Bench

Test

USB 3.2 Gen 2x2

USB 3.2 Gen 2

CrystalDiskMark 9.03

Default Read

2002MB/s

1041MB/s

Default Write

1853MB/s

948MB/S

Real World Read

1336MB/s

993MB/s

Real World Write

1219MB/s

912MB/s

AJA System Test 64GB

Read

1804MB/s

971MB/s

Write

1645MB/s

891MB/s

AS SSD

Read

1771MB/s

971MB/s

Write

1496MB/s

879MB/s

ATTO

Read

1.89GB/s

994MB/s

Write

1.73GB/s

906MB/s

PCMark Data Drive Bench

Score

2028

1250

Let’s be brutally honest: USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 was a dead standard walking from its inception, and USB4 didn’t really include it in its repertoire of supported prior standards. There are a few exceptions, but in general, if you don’t actually have a port to the 2x2 standard, then you won’t see the true performance that this drive can muster.

For that reason, I’ve presented the performance via a Gen 2x2 port and a much more common Gen 2 variety. How does it compare with the best Gen 2x2 drives?

Well, read speed is below the Crucial X10 Pro, ADATA Elite SE880 and LaCie Rugged Mini SSD, but write speed is close to what all those achieve.

Given the different controllers and implementations of Gen 2x2 interfaces, the Fanxiang PS2000W portable SSD doesn’t have a compelling reason to be chosen over any other drive in Gen 2x2 mode, but it can get close to the maximum realistic speed for this interface.

But if speed is the prerequisite, then a USB4 or Thunderbolt external drive, like the Corsair EX400U or the SanDisk Extreme PRO with USB4, would be a better choice if you have a USB4 port. These drives can hit read speeds of 3800MB/s or higher, and 3650MB/s writes.

And, if I were rushing to catch a plane or train, and needed to transfer files, I know which I’d prefer.

• Performance: 4 / 5

Fanxiang PS2000W: Final verdict

If the Fanxiang PS2000W portable SSD had appeared during the golden age of Gen 2x2, when the Kingston XS2000 appeared back in early 2022, and at a reasonable price, then it might have been something I’d recommend.

And the fine irony of that comparison is that the price of the PS2000W is almost exactly the same as the XS2000's MSRP was nearly four years ago. And the Kingston device supported hardware encryption, where the Fanxiang does not.

To be clear, the construction quality and performance of the PS2000W are absolutely fine, but what isn’t is the amount of money being asked for.

If money isn’t an issue for you, I’d buy the Crucial X10 Pro before they’re extinct, as it has hardware encryption. Or I’d consider a USB4-capable drive, like the Corsair EX400U, if you have a port that supports that specification.

Should I buy the Fanxiang PS2000W?

Value

100% more expensive than it was 8 months ago

3 / 5

Design

Metal construction, comes with a carry pouch and a dual standard cable

3.5 / 5

Performance

Works well at Gen 2x2 speeds, if you have that port

4 / 5

Overall

A nice drive, but hardly great value

3.5 / 5

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)Buy it if...

You have USB 3.2 Gen 2x2
If you have a USB port that is Gen 2x2 (not just Gen 2), then this might be the drive you want to exploit the extra speed that it offers. However, unless all the ports you are likely to plug it into are this spec, the advantage will be limited.

Money isn’t a concern
Buying RAM, storage or GPUs is currently only for those people not paying with their own money. Since, depending on what you are buying, the price hikes range from 100% up to 400% and higher, if you can wait for the AI bubble to burst, you could save yourself, or your business, lots of money.

Don't buy it if...

You have USB 4.0
If you have USB4 or Thunderbolt 4, then this isn’t the drive for you, at whatever price. There are USB4-specified drives that are twice the speed of this one, and most of them only cost a little more.

You need bigger than 4TB
The largest drive available in this range is 4TB. And those wanting 8TB or more need to look for a different product entirely.

Also consider

Nextorage NX-PS1PRO Series
One of the first USB 4.0 capable external SSDs available, the Nextorage NX-PS1PRO Series comes in 1TB, 2TB or 4TB capacities.

Read our full Nextorage NX-PS1PRO Series review

OWC Envoy Pro FX
If you have Thunderbolt 3 ports or intend to add this functionality soon, then the Envoy Pro FX might well be worth your time. A beautifully engineered external storage option that can provide exceptional performance in the right circumstances, the OWC Envoy Pro FX is effective if expensive.

Read our full OWC Envoy Pro FX review

We've also tested out the fastest external SSDs around.

BenQ has been one of my favorite monitor brands for quite a while now. The build quality is spectacular, the built-in features are wonderful, and their companion software makes it feel like a first-party device for Apple products, which is a huge win for me as an Apple product lover.

When it comes to creative hardware, those working in the industry need the best of the best. They crave color accuracy. A lot of them crave fun features as well, but above all they crave the ability to reduce friction in their day-to-day work.

Specifically, when it comes to monitors, color accuracy and calibration matter more than most people realize. If you're in this space, you're very familiar with how to calibrate your monitor. BenQ decided to answer that not just with its own hardware, but by building its own hardware. The company built a color calibrator into its monitors that are designed for those who need the color calibrator. BenQ didn't just do it in a way that would work, but did it in a way that's elegant and very BenQ-esque.

The monitor has a color calibrator arm that swivels down from the monitor and then pushes itself back up as well, hiding away when you're not using it but popping out when you need to calibrate further. It has a light shade or a hood, depending on the industry that you're in, that helps make sure there's no glare or reflections or anything that can manipulate the colors, producing an even more true-to-spec experience. So, for those looking for the best video editing monitor or best photo editing monitor, this one is excellent in my experience.

BenQ PD2770U: Price and availability

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

Right now, this monitor sells for around $1,700, and that comes with the hood and the built-in color calibrator. BenQ is also really good about sending cables that you need in the box, so don't worry about that.

If you buy this monitor, you can literally just plug it straight into your computer of choice without needing any extra accessories. It's widely available, and you can pick this up from BenQ's website, Amazon, and other retailers.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )BenQ PD2770U: Unboxing and First Impressions

As expected with BenQ monitors, the packaging is simple yet well-done. It's no Apple unboxing experience, but it is one that is predictable and expected. On first unboxing, I was a little confused about how the shield could be folded up so tightly, but then I realized how intricately they've tucked it into the box to keep it safe and protected.

Other than that, I was able to set up the monitor fairly quickly. I tried it first with the built-in stand and then quickly added it to a monitor arm that I had to try out some testing. Once I finished initial rounds of testing, I moved this to somebody on my team who does a lot of video editing, and now he has been using it on his desk for the last 100 days.

I've tested this monitor in low-light scenarios and in high-light scenarios with fluorescent lights directly above the desk. Thanks to the shader, this monitor has performed brilliantly and brighter, but the shader makes it so that even this dimmer color is still spectacular and vibrant.

BenQ PD2770U: Design & Build Quality

This brand came out very much like all the others, to where it is professional and simple. It's got a basic stand if you choose to use it. It's got great cable management and simple height adjustments.

What's great is that even if you choose to not use the stand, the hood attachment magnetically connects directly to the monitor itself, meaning that you can use this with any monitor arm or monitor stand that you so choose.

Also, since it is magnetic, if you're the kind of person that works in a light-controlled room or maybe a dimmer room (like a personal home office), you can customize the lighting. Perhaps you won't need the shade. If you work in a coworking space or an area where you cannot control the lighting as much, that's where the shade comes in clutch.

Last but not least, having the USB-C hub built in makes this a monitor and a hub all in one. If you don't have a ton of ports and perhaps you're just running a more simple setup where you have a desktop or laptop plugged directly into this monitor and that's about it, then you can run all of that.

You can have plenty of room to wiggle directly from the monitor itself without needing a docking station. Even if you had a couple accessories from a laptop, you can plug those in if you wanted to.

BenQ PD2770U: In use

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

As I previously mentioned up above, my team and I have had this 4K monitor in our arsenal for over 100 days. It's actually even closer to 150 at this point. I wanted to make sure that we could get some good long-term testing with this panel before giving results.

In that 100 days, my team and I have put this monitor through the tests. We've edited countless videos on it, done multiple big photo projects, done administrative tasks, and used it for managing content and so much more. While it is phenomenal, all those things, it is 100% overkill for anything other than photo or video editing where you need color accuracy.

Currently, this monitor is set up in a coworking area that has some pretty aggressive fluorescent lighting right above the desk. For our scenario, having the shader has been an absolute game changer, as it helps keep any glare off of the monitor, changing and destroying the color and visual sighting.

Plus, having the color calibrator built in is not only a fun element but an absolute game changer if you need to confirm and double-check calibration throughout your projects.

BenQ PD2770U: Final verdict

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

I've been using this monitor mostly for creative products, but of course had to test and see how it would work for basic administrative tasks. As expected, I can reassure you that if you are using this monitor for business or productivity or administrative tasks, you are dead wrong.

This is not meant for that at all. It's overkill in price, feature set, and physical operation. However, if you are in that creative space and you want something that is more consistent than what you ever had before, then you should absolutely check out the BenQ Creative Pro PD2770U monitor.

To make a long story short, if you are in the creative space and you need color accuracy above all else, or if you find yourself reaching for or even wishing for a color calibrator regularly, then this is absolutely your monitor.

If you are just looking for a 27-inch 4K monitor, this is 100% overkill, but it will do the job in a better and fancier way than you probably need. If image quality, screen resolution, and picture clarity are a part of your workflow, consider this one. If not, check out some of our other spectacular monitors.

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For more top-performers, we've tested the best business monitors and the best monitors for Mac mini.

The Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 6 is exactly what you expect to see if a ThinkPad got Botox. This computer is a professional workstation with the familiar soul of a ThinkPad business laptop, just in a sleek, facelifted chassis.

Everything about the P14s is geared toward getting work done without compromising looks or quality-of-life features that have been overlooked in the past when other workhorse laptops hit the market.

It combines serious hardware with a compact design without sacrificing the physical qualities that make a work laptop enjoyable to use. Given the size, In my experience it's one of the best laptops for engineering students looking for a more portable powerhouse, or professionals working across multiple locations.

Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 6: Price and availability

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

The P16s Gen 3 is available in a range of configurations, with both AMD and Intel chips. You can grab the AMD version and the Intel version from Lenovo US. That's the same for Lenovo UK with AMD models and Intel models.

I'm testing the Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 6, Model 21QT0029US to be exact. It has an Intel Core Ultra 7 265H processor, an Nvidia RTX Pro 500 Blackwell GPU with 6 GB of GDDR7 memory, 32 GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 1 TB NVMe SSD. It also includes Windows 11 Pro and Intel vPro support, which fits Lenovo’s stellar reputation for business security and management.

This ThinkPad P14s Gen 6 has 32 GB RAM, while leaving the second slot unused. For this laptop, Lenovo supports up to 96 GB, giving the device room to grow for larger projects. There is also only one internal M.2 storage slot, though, so if you increase storage, you must replace the existing drive.

Our exact testing model and configuration can be found for about $2,700, but with Lenovo’s frequent promotions you can also find a similar P14s configuration closer to the mid-$2,000 range. That number makes more sense when the laptop is compared with other professional mobile workstations.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 6: Unboxing and First Impressions

Physically, the ThinkPad P14s Gen 6 is fantastic. Its aluminum top and bottom give the chassis a sturdy feel with very little flex or anything else that makes it seem fragile.

Lenovo also puts the system through MIL-STD-810H testing, which is a standard used by the DOD for drops/shocks, extreme temperatures/humidity, dust, and high altitude. So, TL;DR—this thing is solid.

Its construction feels quite fitting for a computer you’d expect to travel with, to and from work every day. The design itself is unmistakably ThinkPad as well. Which is a pro and a con depending on how unique you want to be in your laptop.

It features an all-black, professional-looking frame with subtle Lenovo branding and the familiar red TrackPoint on the keyboard. If you want to stand out and make it your own, slap a sticker on there, but if you want to look professional and crisp, then you'll fit right in with yet another ThinkPad that looks exactly like the rest.

Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 6: Design & Build Quality

The keyboard is the undisputed favorite part of the laptop across our entire team. The shape and texture of the keys feel excellent, and each press is incredibly responsive, tactile, and honestly satisfying. Typing for long periods never makes my hand feel tired or makes me want to switch to a different keyboard for a break.

In fact, this whole article is typed on the P14s, that’s how much I enjoy its keyboard. I have several people who help me test laptops to ensure I am not just using my own personal bias in my reviews, and we all unanimously agree that the ThinkPad keyboards are spectacular, and the P14s Gen 6 is no exception.

The backlighting of the keyboard is also convenient, with brightness control using the Fn key and spacebar that offers a few different lighting/brightness options. The TrackPoint, along with its corresponding buttons, works as you’d expect too. With so many laptops moving to have this be software-driven, it is nice to see some business devices still have these elements built into key commands that have been around for quite some time.

The fingerprint reader is built into the power button, works quickly, and was much more dependable for us than facial recognition. The 5 MP infrared camera is acceptable for video calls, but we ran into issues when strong backlighting was present, mainly with facial recognition when trying to unlock the device.

The 14.5-inch display on this configuration has a 2560 × 1600 resolution at a 16:10 aspect ratio, a 90 Hz refresh rate, and a rated brightness of 400 nits. It covers 100% of the sRGB color space and is X-Rite factory-calibrated. In person, the screen is beautiful: the text looks sharp, colors have plenty of vibrance, and the taller 16:10 aspect ratio gives you extra vertical space for any project, document, or webpage.

The 90 Hz refresh does a good enough job to keep up with pretty much all on-screen movement and keep it looking smooth. Of course, we wouldn't suggest video editing or photo editing even on this at a professional level, but that's not what this is designed for now, is it? I'm still shocked at how many people in the classic professional white-collar jobs are happy with standard HD screens.

Movies, TV, and other media look great, but its more important job is providing a clear, color-accurate workspace for professional applications, and it does that quite well, too. The screen itself has that silky, smooth feel that many modern displays have.

There are also two 2-watt speakers, which are surprisingly good for laptop speakers. Dolby Audio helps voices and other sounds come out clearly and gives music and video a fuller sound than I would have expected from a laptop.

Of course, they will not replace quality headphones or external desktop speakers, but they work well for calls, presentations, and, as I mentioned before, your movies and TV if you plan on using this laptop for fun things too.

Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 6: In use

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

During normal use, the P14S feels extremely fast. I was able to move between multiple programs, browser windows, and background tasks without experiencing any noticeable lag. It responds like a computer ready for real work rather than one suited for online shopping and the occasional email.

The RTX Pro 500 is a workstation-class GPU, and the P14s carries independent software vendor certifications for its intended professional applications. That matters when stability is more valuable than chasing gaming-level frame rates. It also shows that Lenovo knows its lane with this laptop.

They aren't making this for the gamers, generalists, or the budget-seekers. This has its niche in the professional category of needing to be able to handle demanding programs with speed but needing to break records in any way either. The reliability and stability are the game here, and Lenovo has it in spades.

There are reasonable limits. The GPU’s 6GB of memory may restrict extremely complicated renders, massive simulations, or demanding local AI projects - set expectations, though, and you'll get by.

The included 32GB may also become a ceiling for unusually large workloads, although the 96 GB upgrade limit provides potential to grow. For seriously demanding workloads, the ThinkPad P16 Gen 3 is still the king.

The laptop “can” run games, but gaming is simply not its purpose. Performance is good rather than great, maybe even just okay, and the RTX Pro hardware is better suited to professional engineering applications than maximizing frame rate for games. This kind of testing is helpful too, as it gives a glimpse into how this may perform for CAD renderings and other graphically-intensive scenarios.

While this could pull up some models, the more complex ones may take longer than desired, and this isn't the machine you'd want long-term if you live in that space -- or at least not as your only machine.

The cooling system for the P14s becomes noticeable during heavy work. Under sustained loads, the fan is medium-loud, with a somewhat turbine-like sound. Imagine a Dyson bladeless fan. It’s not crazy loud, but there is no mistaking when the laptop is working hard.

Our review unit has the larger 75Wh battery and a 100-watt USB-C charger. Under normal or light use, it lasted pretty much the entire day even at maximum brightness. This was a real-world observation rather than a controlled rundown, but it showed that the device can work away from an outlet without constant anxiety over battery life.

Heavy CAD rendering or other sustained CPU and GPU work will indeed drain the battery much faster, especially with higher screen brightness. That is to be expected from mobile workstation hardware. Lenovo rates Rapid Charge to restore up to 80% in about an hour, which makes it easier to recover a useful amount of battery life during a short break.

Lenovo ThinkPad P14s Gen 6: Final verdict

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

The ThinkPad P14s Gen 6 feels like another professional tool to choose from if you are in that arena of the professional workforce. Its solid construction, fantastic keyboard, sharp display, quality ports, upgradable memory, and consistent performance support the work it was designed to do.

When you consider the professional hardware, ISV certifications, display quality, and upgradable options, the price of this laptop honestly shifts from a negative to one of its strongest positives.

For professionals and students seeking serious power without moving to a larger or significantly more expensive workstation, this computer is a solid all-around option. They don't necessarily want the newest or the fanciest in the category, they want something they know they can rely on, because downtime isn't worth the cost of a fun feature they occasionally use.

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For more powerhouse performers, we've tested the best business laptops and the best mobile workstations.

Samsung Galaxy S26: Two-minute review

Every year, Samsung's S-series lineup consists of three models. There's the entry-level option — in this case, the Galaxy S26 — followed by mid- and high-end offerings, which in 2026 are the Galaxy S26 Plus and Galaxy S26 Ultra. While the Ultra steals most of the headlines, the Galaxy S26 is no slouch. It's a great, well-rounded option for those who want a compact phone or don't want to shell out silly money on buying one of the very best Android phones.

The S26 features a slightly tweaked design versus the Galaxy S25, with a new pill-shaped camera array on the back, a 6.3-inch display, and several color options. Tucked underneath its exterior is a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, 12GB of RAM, and storage options that now start at 256GB (RIP 128GB). All these specs, along with Android 16 and Samsung's feature-packed One UI 8.5 software, combine for a smooth mobile experience.

In terms of endurance, the Galaxy S26's 4,300mAh battery routinely delivered more than a full day of use in my testing, often leaving me with enough juice to go into the next day. And its trio of rear-facing cameras does the job, as does the selfie cam.

One downside is the $100 / £80 price increase over last year's model (though Australian buyers actually get a AU$50 saving). Yes, this is an industry-wide trend right now — but that doesn't make the numbers feel any better. Thankfully, while the S26 starts at $899 / £879 / AU$1,349, it can often be found on sale.

Another blemish is the limited 25W charging speed and lack of internal magnets to fully support Qi2 chargers and accessories without a case.

Overall, then, if you can find the Galaxy S26 on sale and want to stay within the Samsung ecosystem, it's a great pick-up. However, there's stiff competition at this price point — and below it, too.

Samsung Galaxy S26 review: Price and availability

(Image credit: Future)

• Starts at $899 / £879 / AU$1,349 for 256GB + 12GB RAM

Samsung announced the Galaxy S26 line, including the base S26, S26 Plus and S26 Ultra, on February 25, 2026. Preorders opened the same day, and deliveries started March 11.

You can buy the S26 directly from Samsung with a starting price of $899 / £879 / AU$1,349 (which represents a $100 / £80 increase and AU$50 decrease versus the S25). However, Samsung frequently offers discounts, and at the time of writing, the S26 is going for $799 in the US.

Regardless of where you're buying the phone, you'll get double the starting storage versus previous entry-level S-series models (256GB vs 128GB).

Buying directly from Samsung means you'll have two additional color options in Silver Shadow and Pink Gold. Picking it up from third-party retailers like Best Buy and Amazon, or a wireless carrier such as Google Fi or Verizon, limits you to Cobalt Violet, Sky Blue, White, or Black.

• Value score: 3 / 5

Samsung Galaxy S26 review: Specs

Here's a breakdown of the Samsung Galaxy S26's key specs:

Dimensions:

149.6 x 71.7 x 7.2 mm

Weight:

167g

Display:

6.3-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2x

Resolution:

2340 x 1080

Refresh rate:

120 Hz

Peak brightness:

2,600 nits

CPU:

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5

RAM:

12GB

Storage:

256GB, 512GB

OS:

Android 16 with One UI 8.5

Cameras:

50MP main, 12MP ultra-wide, 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom

Selfie Camera:

12MP

Battery:

4,300mAh

Charging:

25W wired, 15W wireless

Colors:

Cobalt Violet, Sky Blue, White, Black, Silver Shadow, Pink Gold

Samsung Galaxy S26 review: DesignFutureFuture

• Same core design as the S25
• New camera array on the back

At first glance, it'd be easy to mistake the S26 for last year's S25. The design differences are small. The biggest visual change is the triple camera array on the back of the phone. Instead of each lens protruding out of the phone's housing, there's a single pill-shaped camera bump. Otherwise, the display is only slightly bigger at 6.3 inches compared to the S25's 6.2 inches. That increase also means the overall size of the phone grew a bit, too. The S26 measures 149.6 x 71.7 x 7.2 mm and weighs 167g.

As previously mentioned, there are a total of six color options available: Cobalt Violet, Sky Blue, White, Black, Silver Shadow, and Pink Gold — the latter two of which are exclusive to Samsung.

My daily drivers are an iPhone 15 Pro Max and a Pixel 10 Pro XL, both of which are much larger devices than the S26. Yet, I rather enjoyed the smaller form factor of the S26, and I didn't feel like the smaller display was too small at any time during my testing.

I've often debated whether I should stop using the biggest phone every phone maker offers, and after using the S26 for a couple of weeks, that internal debate is stronger than ever.

The only area I struggled with regarding the design of the Galaxy S26 was the orientation of the sleep/wake button and the volume up/down buttons on the right edge. I found myself instinctively reaching for the volume down button while scrolling through Reels on Instagram, only to press the sleep/wake button and lock the phone. My muscle memory just couldn't adjust to the S26's arrangement, which is the exact opposite of the Pixel 10 Pro XL's, which has volume buttons below the sleep/wake on the same side of its housing.

On the bottom, you'll find a nano-SIM card slot (I thought we were done with physical SIMs?!) and a USB-C port. The left side and top edge of the phone are completely clean.

• Design score: 4 / 5

Samsung Galaxy S26 review: Display

(Image credit: Future)

• Easy to use in direct sunlight
• Smooth refresh rate

The Galaxy S26 features a 6.3-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 2340 x 1080 resolution and an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate. All these technical specs mean one simple thing: it looks fantastic.

Everything from standard text messages to high-res YouTube clips appears incredibly sharp. Gaming is equally impressive; the display delivers fluid, stutter-free graphics in fast-paced titles like Asphalt Legends, which can take full advantage of the S26's 120Hz refresh rate.

The AMOLED panel truly shines — literally — when you take it outdoors, thanks to a rated peak brightness of 2,600 nits. Even under direct midday sun, I had absolutely no trouble reading the screen or navigating through apps.

There's really not much more to say about the Galaxy S26's screen other than it looks great. No issues. 10/10, would recommend.

• Display score: 5 / 5

Samsung Galaxy S26 review: Software

• 7 years of software updates
• Multitasking features are nice-to-haves

The Galaxy S26 runs Android 16 with Samsung's One UI 8.5 adding customizations and features to the overall experience. If you've ever used a Samsung phone or tablet, you'll feel right at home with the S26's interface.

One UI used to feel duplicative of the base Android experience, particularly when it came to the apps preinstalled on a phone. For instance, Samsung Messages and Google Messages were both available. However, Samsung recently retired Messages in favor of Google's offering.

Samsung hasn't fully given up on its own apps. The Samsung Browser and Gallery are still available, for example. It's still confusing and a cluttered user experience, but it is getting better.

Default apps aside, One UI is mostly interface tweaks and customizations you don't see on, say, a Pixel phone. For instance, the new gestures to view your notifications or the quick settings panel in One UI 8.5 have taken me some getting used to.

Swiping down from the left three-quarters of the screen opens your notification panel, while swiping down from the top-right quarter reveals your quick settings.

I've been using a Galaxy Z Fold 7 running One UI 8.5 for a few months and adjusted to the new interaction with little effort, but for some reason, the smaller screen of the Galaxy S26 keeps tripping me up.

But I digress.

The Now brief interface on the Samsung Galaxy S26 (Image credit: Future)

Galaxy AI is a big part of Samsung's AI initiative. You can use Galaxy AI to do things like let AI screen an incoming call, use writing and editing tools, photo editing, summarize and prioritize notifications, and even get personalized health insights using your Samsung Health data.

The feature list reads like a standard AI suite on any 2026 phone. That's not a bad thing, by any means.

I used the editing tool (Object Eraser) in the Gallery app to remove objects from photos a few times, and each time it nailed it. I'm not a huge fan of converting photos into pop art or retro anime, but in my brief experimentation with that feature, it mostly worked.

Pre-Object EraserFuturePost-Object EraserFuture

Having said all this, the redundancy of every phone maker and major tech company offering its own version of the same AI features can get overwhelming and confusing for users. Hopefully, after the AI boom goes bust, the mass spamming of AI features for the sake of AI features will stop.

Beyond Galaxy AI, one of my favorite features of the S26's software experience is the ability to touch and drag down on a notification to instantly create a small window for that app. It's super helpful when you want to reply to a message or continue a conversation without switching apps. The first time I triggered it was by accident, but once I figured out how it works, I'd routinely swipe down on the pop-up for an alert, do what I needed to do, and then close out the app — all without leaving whatever app I was in at the time. All phones should offer similar multitasking features.

• Software score: 4 / 5

Samsung Galaxy S26 review: Cameras

(Image credit: Future)

• 50MP main camera
• 12MP ultra-wide
• 10MP telephoto

The camera housing on the S26 might be new, but the actual hardware is unchanged from the S25. You still get a 50MP main camera, a 12MP ultra-wide, and a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom.

I had fun taking photos with the S26. Samsung phones have historically taken photos that are slightly over-saturated, and sometimes overexposed, but that look pretty darn good at the end of the day, and the S26 is no different.

The phone performed beautifully in brightly lit environments, like when I snapped pics of the new Rivian R2 after a test drive. It also did a solid job of preserving detail and color late in the afternoon as the sun went down during my evening walks.

The telephoto lens works well up to its 3x optical limit, but its digital zoom past that point is hit or miss, especially once you get near the 30x limit. I had hoped I'd be able to read a 'no trespassing' sign posted down the street from me at 30x zoom, and while some of the text is legible, it's difficult to read.

The phone's 12MP front-facing hole-punch camera is centered along the top of its display. It takes good selfies, although it makes me look old. Or maybe I'm getting old. It's probably the latter. Sigh.

• Camera score: 4 / 5

Samsung Galaxy S26 review: Camera samplesFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureFutureSamsung Galaxy S26 review: Performance

(Image credit: Future)

• Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset
• 12GB memory
• 256GB starting storage

The Galaxy S26 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, with 12GB of memory and 256GB or 512GB of storage.

All of that combines to provide a smooth overall experience, with no obvious slowdowns in daily use. I spent my time testing the S26 using it as I would my daily phone.

I made random calls, talked in group chats and with my wife and kids, took pics of random stuff, played a game once in a while, streamed music, and watched some videos. The phone handled everything I put it through without any hiccups. Apps launched fast, and multitasking didn't trigger any lag or unresponsiveness.

One thing I noticed while gaming and running benchmarks is that the S26 gets hot. While it never becomes too hot to hold, it can become uncomfortable during extended gaming sessions. After noticing the temperature rise during a benchmark test, I grabbed my infrared thermometer and measured it at 113 degrees Fahrenheit.

Although I didn't have a case to test with, I imagine a case will likely cause the phone to heat up faster and potentially throttle its performance. This isn't a dealbreaker, but it's something to keep in mind.

Samsung Galaxy S26 benchmark scores

Geekbench 6 single-core

3,616

Geekbench 6 multi-core

10,827

3DMark Wild Life Extreme Stress Test best

6,933

3DMark Wild Life Extreme Stress Test low

2,962

3DMark Solar Bay

12,007

• Performance score: 4 / 5

Samsung Galaxy S26 review: Battery

(Image credit: Future)

• 4,300mAh battery
• 25W wired charging
• 15W wireless charging

Inside the Galaxy S26 is a 4,300mAh battery that's big enough to power through 30 hours of continuous video playback, according to Samsung's claims. In practice, that claim held up. I was easily able to get through a full day of heavy use — starting at 6am and ending around 10pm — and still have enough juice left to make it into the lunch hour the following day.

I felt spoiled while testing the S26, especially since my aging iPhone 15 Pro Max now needs to be recharged multiple times a day.

I normally don't leave my phone overnight without plugging it in, letting it drain precious battery in the process. But I wanted to see just how far I could push the S26's battery, and it delivered. I routinely saw a drop in charge of 4-5% overnight.

When it came time to charge the S26, using a 25W power adapter nets you an 18% charge from empty in 15 minutes. A full charge with the same adapter took 1 hour and 35 minutes. That's slightly slower than the Motorola Razr Plus 2026 I recently tested, but to be expected considering the Razr charges at up to 45W.

Wireless charging is an option at 15W with support for the Qi2 standard. However, there are no magnets in the phone to hold any compatible wireless charger or accessory in place. Instead, you'll need to buy a Qi2-compatible case that includes a ring of magnets to take full advantage of the feature.

I'm sure this is a design and cost-saving decision, but it's an odd one. As someone who uses a MagSafe wallet and has MagSafe chargers all over my home, office, and even in my truck, I've noticed the lack of magnets in the Galaxy S26 daily. At least fixing the problem is just a simple case purchase away.

The S26 also supports reverse wireless charging at up to 4.5W, which isn't a whole lot of power, but it's perfect for those situations when you need to recharge your smartwatch or wireless earbuds while on the go.

• Battery score: 4 / 5

Should you buy the Samsung Galaxy S26?Samsung Galaxy S26 scorecard

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Value

An unwelcome price increase over last year's model.

3 / 5

Design

A tried-and-true design that looks great.

4 / 5

Display

A display that hits all the marks of what you'd want in a flagship phone.

5 / 5

Software

Android 16 and One UI 8.5 team up to provide a reliable experience.

4 / 5

Cameras

All three cameras take solid pics, but don't rely on the telephoto past 3x.

4 / 5

Performance

Quick and powerful, but the phone does get hot during intense tasks.

4 / 5

Battery

All-day battery life is welcome, but slow charging speeds are not.

4 / 5

Buy it if...

You want a Samsung phone
The base S26 doesn't totally break the bank, but you are paying more for a Samsung phone than you would with, say, a Google Pixel. But if you're in the Samsung ecosystem, then that extra expense may be worth it.

You want a workhorse
The Galaxy S26's performance doesn't know when to quit. Gaming, multitasking, and doom-scrolling aren't an issue — just don't play graphically intensive titles for too long!

You want all-day battery life
The S26's 4,300mAh battery powered through a full day and then some in our testing.

Don't buy it if...

You want faster charging
Being limited to 25W wired charging means topping off your battery in a hurry just isn't going to happen.

You want full magnetic Qi2 support
The S26 supports the Qi2 wireless charging standard, but you won't find a single magnet on the back of the phone. You'll have to buy a magnet-equipped case for that.

Samsung Galaxy S26 review: Also consider

Google Pixel 10
Google's Pixel 10 checks all of the same boxes as the Galaxy S26, with a starting price of $799. It often goes on sale for much less than that, too.

Read our full Google Pixel 10 review

Apple iPhone 17
It doesn't run Android, but Apple's iPhone 17 matches the S26's size, performance, battery life, and camera quality, with a starting price of $799.

Read our full iPhone 17 review

How I tested the Samsung Galaxy S26Why you can trust TechRadar

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I spent two weeks testing the Galaxy S26, using it as I would my everyday smartphone. I sent countless BlueBubble messages, played games, streamed music, and watched far more TheBurntPeanut streams and clips than I care to admit. I took pics of my food, my pets, and other daily randomness, as one does.

Read more about how we test

First tested July 2026

Beast of Reincarnation is a fantastic and immersive action-adventure role-playing game (RPG) with an emotional narrative that keeps you guessing at the end of every chapter. Game Freak, the developer responsible for the beloved Pokémon games, has taken a step into a completely new direction and done so in fine fashion.

Review info

Platform reviewed: PC
Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Release date: August 4, 2026

Throughout the journey, you'll encounter formidable foes, from basic enemies to mini and major bosses, in combat encounters with an excellent feel of ebb and flow. Game Freak has nailed the concept of traversing a rundown yet beautiful post-apocalyptic Japan, with abilities that let players explore multiple regions and uncover a plethora of secrets.

I didn't expect Beast of Reincarnation to deliver an immersive and engaging experience to this degree; certainly not within the story, combat, and atmospheric aspects of the experience.

While it's far from perfect, due to some quality-of-life issues, a slightly overstayed welcome, and effectively little to no cosmetic customization, it's still a game I expect to keep playing long after rolling the credits.

What it means to be human

(Image credit: Game Freak)

In Beast of Reincarnation, a post-apocalyptic Japan set in the year 4026 is center stage. The parasitic entity or force known as the blight has taken over the world, corrupting animals, humans, and just about every living creature there is.

You play as Emma, a blight-stained young girl alongside her blighted wolf-dog companion, Koo. As a purifier, Emma is humanity's last hope to defeat the beast of reincarnation and restore the world from blight. She will need to absorb Nushi, the corrupt (or blight-stained) monsters that come in all different shapes, species, and sizes.

During the journey, Emma will discover what it's like to be human and consider a very specific aspect of her nature — avoiding spoilers, you'll slowly unravel what that means for Emma, those closest to her, and, frankly, humanity's fate.

While Beast of Reincarnation is focused on the restoration of the world, one of its central themes is love and what one will do to embrace it. It's very much an emotional rollercoaster, full of surprises that I genuinely couldn't see coming, and by the time the credits rolled, I was clapping and tearing up just a little.

Beast of Reincarnation also features a rapport system, specifically with Koo and other supporting characters like Kagura. Essentially, the more interactions you have with these characters, such as feeding Koo when hungry, can increase the rapport, resulting in benefits such as extra skill or equipment slots.

The rapport with these characters directly ties into the story, specifically with how they respond to Emma or help. Fortunately, it doesn't take too much effort to increase rapport, and with the emotional weight of Emma's story arc, you'll want to interact with other characters as much as possible.

Aside from being incredibly adorable, Koo is easily one of the best companions in gaming, providing support in and out of intense combat sequences. (Video Credit: Game Freak)

Game Freak's inspirations for Beast of Reincarnation are clear as day. It almost certainly draws from PlatinumGames' Nier: Automata and Shift Up's Stellar Blade, and Square Enix's Final Fantasy 16.

Again, without spoiling story details, Emma will often encounter human non-player characters (NPCs) or even Golems (who were once human) that will label her 'stained' and act disgusted. It's very reminiscent of how Final Fantasy 16's Clive Rosfield was treated early on in the story, often labelled 'branded'.

That alone creates an interesting predicament; Emma is humanity's only hope, yet humans essentially despise her due to her blight-stained nature. It dives into some of the story's darker and more lonely aspects, especially when acknowledging Emma's emotional vulnerability.

While the narrative kept me invested, wanting to find out what happens next, I feel the game's runtime could've been shorter. There are constant cliffhangers at the end of each chapter, where answers to questions about Emma, the post-apocalyptic world, and the beast of reincarnation itself are unnecessarily withheld.

Ultimately, many of the cliffhangers and small-scale cutscenes feel like padding, rather than ones to help progress the story. I appreciated some of those 'padded' dialogue moments, giving Emma and other characters a little more depth — so it's not all bad, but it's worth noting if you hate long-winded cutscenes.

(Image credit: Game Freak)

Outside of the story, Beast of Reincarnation's soundtrack is undoubtedly one of its strongest assets, and I couldn't stop thinking about Nier Automata's orchestral, melancholic, yet magnificent soundtrack. While traversing many of Game Freak's incredible in-game regions, I was accompanied by amazing vocals, which manage to fit each scenario perfectly.

The only frustration I had with Beast of Reincarnation's original soundtrack is that it can get repetitive as you progress. Sometimes, the same soundtrack from a previous chapter would play again in a new environment, and unless you're in combat or watching a cutscene, the music never stops — and it's one of the only complaints I had for Stellar Blade too.

Nonetheless, it's still a fantastic listen, especially in the final chapters, where I was particularly blown away by the soundtrack playing during the final boss battle — and I'm already itching to start my second playthrough just to experience it again.

Spectacular Sekiro-like combat

Just imagine those satisfying sword-clashing sounds from Sekiro, but then dial it up to 11. That's exactly what you get in Beast of Reincarnation during combat. (Video Credit: Game Freak)

Simply put, Game Freak absolutely nailed the combat. Much like traditional Final Fantasy games (i.e., Final Fantasy 7 Remake), Beast of Reincarnation features a blend of real-time action and turn-based combat, where players control Emma engaging in fierce sword battles while also turning to Koo for blight attacks.

The more you pull off successful parries, the more Florescence Points (FP) you gain for Koo to select and pull off special attacks. At the same time, the more you parry, the more an enemy's stun gauge increases, causing a stagger and an opening for a finishing blow.

In this manner, Beast of Reincarnation's combat is what I would describe as Sekiro-like, with From Software's Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice featuring some of the best sword combat in games.

Parrying is key for Emma in almost all combat encounters. Players do have the option to dodge attacks, and need to for unbloackables. However, parrying will allow you to overcome all foes once they're stunned, and will also help you maximize the efficacy of Koo.

Also, if you thought Sekiro's sword clashing sound effects were great, Beast of Reincarnation gives it a run for its money. Game Freak's sound design for combat encounters single-handedly elevates enemy and boss encounters to another level; one duo boss encounter in particular left me hyped on the edge of my seat, in what was a challenging but extremely immersive back-and-forth clash.

One annoying issue, though, is one supporting character with Emma, who constantly says, "Remember to use Koo's skills too." This happens in every single combat encounter whenever Koo's FP meter is full, and it drove me wild on more than a few occasions.

Emma herself does the same when finding a new campsite or spotting an enemy, and it's one of those minor quality-of-life aspects that can very quickly become a major one, since it's bothersome after playing for hours.

There were many times I could choose to be stealthy, but decided against it. Why? The back-and-forth sword clashes are incredible! (Video Credit: Game Freak)

Throughout the game, you'll find different armor and swords to use, each with unique properties like elemental effects for the latter that will come in handy against enemies with different weaknesses.

There are two skill trees, one dedicated to Emma and another for Koo, and there are plenty of abilities to unlock. I finished the game at the 20-hour mark, and I only had around half the skills in both trees unlocked, which should give you an idea of just how much there is to add to Emma and Koo's skill set.

Fortunately, that will aid a second playthrough perfectly; and yes, Beast of Reincarnation has a New Game Plus run ready to go as soon as you finish the game, with a new difficulty (which I won't name... it's a potential spoiler). There's a fair amount of replay value, since almost all regions are explorable, with side content like mini bosses waiting to be found.

The latter makes traversal very important, and fortunately, it's a very strong highlight. Emma's hair allows her to reach high terrain and find loot that is pivotal to weapon progression, and finding new ingredients for Kagura to use for cooking.

I was quite disappointed to see that the new armor found for Emma has absolutely no cosmetic changes. It feels like a massive missed opportunity for Game Freak to give players a deeper layer of customization, besides equipping gear simply for better stat boosts.

But how does it perform?

4026 post-apocalyptic Japan is really a beautiful place to explore, but does Game Freak's ambitious action-adventure RPG run well enough to enjoy the landscape? (Video Credit: Game Freak)

I played Beast of Reincarnation on my main rig, using an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super, at 4K and 1440p. Instead of the 3440x1440 ultrawide display resolution, I was limited to 2560x1440, as the game doesn't have any 21:9 aspect ratio support — in 2026, this is unacceptable and, frankly, a massive disappointment for PC players.

At 4K, using DLSS (unclear which model it's using) quality, I was able to stay above 60 frames per second (fps), often between the 75 to 90fps range. I did have occasional frame rate dips, typically when there were numerous enemies on screen, but for Unreal Engine standards, it's not horrible performance.

At 1440p, it consistently stayed above the 90fps mark, and again, aside from odd moments of frame rate dips, performance wasn't a major concern for me.

Performance on the Lenovo Legion Go S Z1 Extreme was a little rougher than I expected. I could barely reach a stable 60fps even with the lowest graphics preset and FSR 3 performance enabled. What's worse is that the upscaler is constantly reset every time you restart the game.

Hopefully, Game Freak will include ultrawide support and FSR 4 in a future update, as only FSR 3.1 games can use FSR 4 via AMD's Adrenalin software.

Should you play Beast of Reincarnation?Play it if...

You're looking for a less punishing Sekiro-style game
Beast of Reincarnation scratches the itch of parry-based combat without the unforgiving difficulty of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and there are multiple difficulties, including one unlocked for New Game Plus for a far more challenging experience.

You're a fan of gripping stories set in post-apocalyptic worlds
Much like Nier: Automata and Stellar Blade, Beast of Reincarnation features a post-apocalyptic world to explore, with regions overgrown with nature and monstrous enemies to battle.

Don't play it if...

You want an action-adventure RPG with cosmetic options
If you're expecting to find any cosmetic options in Beast of Reincarnation, you'll be severely disappointed. While there is new gear and weapons to find, Emma's look remains the same throughout the game's runtime.

You hate a narrative with info-dumping
While Beast of Reincarnation's narrative is an interesting and immersive one, plot twists and surprises can be slightly underwhelming, as some are told via character explanations instead of shown.

Accessibility features

Beast of Reincarnation allows players to adjust controller button configurations and key bindings. Only English and Japanese are available as voice-over languages — I tested both throughout my playthrough.

There are no field-of-view options, which it desperately needs. The camera angle during some boss fights can easily be the cause of defeat, as sometimes enemies are too big, and you can't see Emma while they're still attacking you.

There are options to show speaker names via subtitles, but there isn't an option to make subtitles bigger. It's a little problematic as subtitles are small, and sometimes bright scenery in games can make it difficult to read.

Menu navigation with a mouse also isn't very good, as it requires the right mouse button to exit each section, instead of simply selecting another on the fly.

How I reviewed Beast of Reincarnation

(Image credit: Game Freak)

I tested Beast of Reincarnation on my main RTX 4080 Super rig, my second SteamOS AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT 16 GB powered PC, and the Lenovo Legion Go S Z1 Extreme. With the RX 9060 XT 16GB, it was a struggle to hit 60fps at 4K without using FSR 3 and lowering some graphics settings.

I used my TCL QM8 55-inch mini-LED 4K TV and my LG UltraGear 45GS95QE ultrawide OLED, despite the lack of ultrawide support from Game Freak.

Game Freak notes that while Beast of Reincarnation is on Steam, it's working on optimizing the game for the Steam Deck, so expect potential performance improvements at launch or in the future.

First reviewed July 2026.

Liene PixCut S1 : 30-second review

The Liene PixCut S1 is a 4x6 photo printer and sticker creator in one, at a size that will sit perfectly on your desk or shelf. The printer itself works solely through an app connection from your mobile device, so there’s no need to plug it into a machine, with all files transferring via Bluetooth.

What marks the S1 out is that it utilises a dye sublimation print process, laying a yellow, Magenta and cyan layer with a protective laminate over the top that gives a professional clarity. The printer is designed as a dual-use machine, enabling photo prints but also producing stickers, again with that dye-sub process and lamination that gives the stickers a look and quality that matches those that have been professionally produced.

Unlike most printers, there's a built-in cutter that then cuts out the stickers once printed, ready for use. Depending on the complexity of the sticker shape, it takes around 2-3 minutes per 4x7 sheet.

Different paper stocks are used for the two different processes, but aside from the material, the same hardware and carrier are used. The system has also been designed to be easily packable, so if this is an occasional-use item, it will pack away easily, while if you’re using it every day for your business, the design and quality are simple, stylish, and incredibly well made. It's not the best photo printer we've tested, but for a compact, easy-to-use option, it ticks a lot of boxes.

The only real issue is the software and the free templates that ship with it. Everything runs through the Liene app on iOS or Android, and there's no desktop option at all, which, if you’re used to designing on a computer, does feel like a real sticking point.

While there is plenty you can do within the app, it does feel a little limited; however, you can work around this by laying out stickers at the correct print size in Photoshop or InDesign, especially to ensure it cuts a straight edge on some designs. The app also ships with what feels like hundreds of sticker templates, but those templates are craft-themed rather than more business-focused, although there are a few.

The materials are all proprietary; however, packs of paper and the ink cartridges are well priced with 4 x 7in sticker and 4 x 6in photo sizes. If you’re looking to create short runs of stickers, especially for gifts, labels, and event stock or postage, this is a genuinely excellent machine. For volume production or larger formats, you’ll need to take a step up to something bigger.

Liene PixCut S1 : Price and availability

• How much does it cost? From $299.99 / £349.99
• When is it out? Available now
• Where can you get it? Directly from Liene, Amazon, and other online retailers

The PixCut S1 starter kit is $299.99 and is available directly from Liene and Amazon.com, with a larger Inspire Kit including 36 photo and 144 sticker sheets available for $346.99 on Amazon US. UK pricing is £350 from Amazon.co.uk. I'm also seeing available from other online retailers including Best Buy.

Paper, Ink and occasionally cutting blades are another cost to factor in, with 72 sticker sheets and two cartridges at $42.99. The Photo paper is also reasonable at $24.99 for 40 sheets with an ink cartridge and $36.99 for 80 sheets and two ink cartridges. Each cartridge enables around 36 prints.

• Value: 4 / 5

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)Liene PixCut S1: Specs

Printing: four-layer D2T2 thermal dye sublimation with laminate pass
Resolution: 300 x 300dpi, 256 shades per colour
Sticker media: 4 x 7in (printable 3.9 x 6.7in)
Photo media: 4 x 6in (printable 3.94 x 5.83in)
Supported files: JPEG, PNG, HEIC
Print speed: 59 seconds quoted; approx. 2 minutes print, laminate and cut
Cutting: kiss cut, up to 2in/sec single axis, 45-degree carbide blade
Blade life: approx. 800 sticker sheets (Liene figure)
Capacity: 36 sheets
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0, up to three paired devices
Control: Liene app (iOS and Android only; no desktop support)
Power: up to 60W printing, 1.2W sleep
Size / weight: 281 x 196 x 104.5mm / 2.9kg

Liene PixCut S1: Design

The PixCut S1 is a relatively compact white rectangular box with a black printing and cutting bay across the front, and measures 281 x 196 x 104.5 mm. Hence, it's smaller than a normal photo printer or craft cutter, which is the usual approach. The small footprint of the machine means that it can essentially sit on your desk or anywhere it will fit, and there’s a power point to it.

Unlike most printer and cutter machines, the PixCut S1 only operates through the iOS or Android app, which also means that if you want to take it out on site, then you can, as long as you have AC power to plug it into.

When it comes to the weight, at 6.4lb / 2.9kg, it doesn’t weigh much, so carrying it between rooms or out to an event, as long as there's mains power, or you have a small power station, isn’t an issue. In this review, I matched it with the DJI Power 1000 V2, which worked perfectly when no mains power was available.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

When the printer arrives, there is a small setup procedure with the loading of the ink cartridge on the side and paper into the loadable carrier. What I liked here was that the paper tray, which takes either the sticker paper or the photo paper, can be stored neatly in the machine. Then when it’s needed, you pull it out from its storage slot at the back top, and load it into the back lower slot.

When the printer arrives, the cutting head is already pre-installed at the front of the machine with a neat magnetic cover that covers the mechanism. When the print or print and cut process is started, the paper is drawn through the system with each colour layer applied, then laminated before the cutter is put into action; it’s a relatively fast process.

Through the process, the prints tended to go through the system in around a minute and a half, while stickers would take anything from 2 minutes to 3.5 minutes depending on the complexity.

• Design: 4 / 5

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)Liene PixCut S1: Features

Unlike many inkjet or laser colour printers, the S1 utilises another technology that uses a four-pass dye-sublimation process that gives the output its photo processing lab quality.

Essentially, three colour layers are laid down onto the paper, one after the other, followed by a protective laminate pass. This lamination protects the photos, but also highlights why the finished stickers feel commercial rather than homemade, as they do if you use specialist paper in an inkjet.

Alongside the printing ability is the cutter, which, after the printing process, goes into action with what is known as a kiss cut, going through the sticker material but leaving the backing sheet intact. This means that the sheet stays flat and the stickers peel off individually, just as you would expect from a set of commercial stickers. The only difference between the two uses is the paper you put into the caddy and insert into the machine. With the slightly different size of the photo compared with the sticker paper, the machine automatically switches modes based on the paper installed.

Printing photos of stickers is all handled by the Liene Photo App, which is available for iOS and Android devices; however, unusually, there is no desktop version for Mac or PC.

In the app you can use the free sticker templates, most of which are gimmicks and more aimed at the craft market than business, although if you spend some time going through there are a few that are worth a look. In this test, I generally opted to use designs that I already owned, or downloaded additional sticker or logo examples from a stock website.

Once those images are downloaded and laid out onto the correct document size, they can then be loaded into the App, as this is all through the mobile device; you need to make sure these are uploaded to your photo app. Once in place, there are quick edit features such as automatic image recognition and background removal, and the cutting path around the subjects is automatically assigned; the process of getting the stickers correctly sized and positioned is actually extremely easy and once you note a few quirks which I’ll highlight in the performance section, everything from there on in is easy enough.

Once the print is complete, the border the cutter runs around each of the stickers and the size of that border is adjustable; by default, this is 1.4mm, and you can reduce that down to zero or below for a borderless cut, which also has a direct bearing on how tightly you can lay designs out on a sheet.

The app then does the rest, and if you want to add more to the designs, then there are additional templates, text tools, shape cutting, puzzles, labels and passport-photo layouts.

The connection method to the machine is through Bluetooth 5.0, and this enables you to connect up to three devices, which is something else that should appeal if you’re using this at events.

The paper cartridge will take up to 36 sheets, the ink cartridges last for 36, and Liene rates the blade at around 800 sticker sheets depending on how complex your cuts are.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

• Features: 4 / 5

Liene PixCut S1: Performance

Getting started with the printer and cutter is fast enough, and once the ink cartridge is slotted into the side, the paper of choice, either sticker or photo, is loaded into the cartridge and slotted into the base of the machine; you’re set to connect to the app.

The power button on the side needs to be held down for a few seconds to start up, then you can run through the connection option in the App interface. The in-app connection didn’t work; however, there's a direct link button to your Bluetooth settings from within the app that takes you through to the phone's settings, where the printer appears so you can connect. Once connected, pop back to the app and you can get started.

The app interface is quite busy with AI generative options for photos and craft stickers, and trying these out, they're frankly a bit run of the mill and gimmicky. Really, this machine is a superb piece of hardware that is equally suited to craft and business, but the craft side seems to win out with tacky template images and AI photos.

As ever, an issue with the interactive, as with so many others, is the fact that it’s busy; however, at the bottom of the screen there are the Sticker, Label, Photo, Project and Me options. The Sticker section enables you to choose from all sorts of sticker templates, or click the Canvas button at the top, and you can import your own, which for the most part is what I chose to do through this review.

The next option along ‘Labels’ is a little more useful and may appeal to the artisan business owner, but again the designs are a little simplistic and childlike without the refined style you’d want for a serious business. Likewise, the photo option gives you the generative AI options, but again loading your own is definitely the best approach.

When you create your own sticker, for example, you can import your designs or use the generative AI options, including AI Image or Text to Image, which is actually quite useful, although again the AI model does appear to have been trained on the light cartoony rather than serious business.

That aside and falling back to your designs and images that you have created, the workflow once you’ve run through it a few times is straightforward, and the resulting prints for both Photo and stickers are excellent.

It is worth highlighting that the papers used for the two different types are different, and there is only a single caddy, and it doesn’t look like you can buy an additional caddy, which is a shame. This essentially means that you have to remove the photo paper and then install the sticker paper. I would have loved the design to have featured two caddies so that you only ever have to switch the caddies. It would also mean that the paper of either type would stay protected.

The print quality for both stickers and photos is excellent, with the colours looking great, being rich and well saturated, although a little over-sharpened, and I couldn’t work out a way to reduce the option. The other point about the photos is the laminate finish, which just gives a high-quality look. Likewise for the stickers, these are essentially commercial quality and ones that you could put on a product and charge for. Against shop-bought stickers, I genuinely couldn't tell which was which, and I ran some of the template sticker images through the machine, and these would be great for small production runs to attach to product.

In the app, there are a few processing quirks that are worth knowing about. As mentioned somewhere in the software, there's a little over-sharpening applied, which you notice on images with fine detail or soft edges. It isn't too bad, and for graphic artwork and logos it's invisible or even flattering, but for photographic stickers it's worth softening your source image slightly before importing to compensate.

This software is where I found myself experimenting with settings at first, but ultimately I found it easy to navigate. While the app does a lot, its logic isn't always where you'd expect. My working method went as follows: lay the whole design out in Photoshop, export it, then import into the app and let the machine handle print, laminate and cut. That skips most of the app's editing tools.

The most useful thing I learned in this test was about labels with white in the design. When making warning labels, I wanted clean, straight edges. Still, the cutter follows the colour rather than the sheet, so wherever white met the outer edge, the white background wandered, weaving in and out around the coloured areas instead of cutting the straight border I'd designed.

The app lets you set the border distance the cutter leaves around a sticker. Still, not the shape of the path itself, and the shape is the problem. What worked instead was adding a background colour behind the design, giving the software a defined edge to detect, at which point it cut the straight border perfectly. It's a simple workaround once you know it, but it's the difference between usable labels and wasted sheets.

Layout spacing is the other thing to get right before you print. By default, the cutter leaves a 1.4mm border around each sticker, so when you're laying several out on a sheet, they need room; otherwise they'll connect through the cut. I found 4mm between stickers is the minimum that works reliably, and 5mm is more comfortable. Any closer and the borders start to interfere with each other.

That border distance, however, is adjustable, though, and it's worth knowing you can take it all the way down to zero, which cuts right up against the edge of the sticker itself. Set it that tight, and you can pack the designs much closer together on the sheet, maximising the value you get from each sheet, especially when you're trying to get as many stickers out of it as possible.

Through the test, photos generally took a minute and a half to print with 36 prints per ink cartridge and a 100% success rate. When it came to stickers, again it’s 36 sheets per cartridge, but print times take between one and a half minutes to three and a half minutes depending on the complexity.

• Performance: 4 / 5

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)Liene PixCut S1: Final verdict

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

The Liene PixCut S1 is a surprising piece of kit and over the last month has been especially useful in the studio. At first, the photo printing that was reminiscent of the process sizes that we used to get with 35mm film really appealed, and once I worked out that a little softening was required for the image, the results of the pictures were outstanding.

The colours are bright and vibrant, and this is a crowd-pleasing photo printer that’s perfect for the home and workplace. It’s also smaller and cheaper than dedicated photo printers, which are hugely expensive to keep running.

But then the stickers started, and this is where this machine really comes into its own. It started with TechRadar Pro stickers and quickly progressed. Due to the laminate quality, I was able to start labelling all my kit, something I’ve been meaning to do for a long time, with my logo and QR details.

I then showed a friend who runs a local 3D print business, and a week later they have one running at shows and events creating custom stickers, and all postage product now gets a set of stickers in the box.

The stocker quality is excellent, and for small businesses this is a superb short run option and a great way to personalise your products or to give out freebies.

Initially I was a little disappointed that this was a mobile app-only product, but once I worked out a few workarounds the workflow was fine, the only real issue being the time it takes for Apple Photos to update so I could pull down the next design.

If you want to make stickers or print out high-quality 4 x 6 prints, then the Liene PixCut S1 is a superb option.

Should I buy the Liene PixCut S1?

Value

The price reflects the quality, but it is expensive, and then you have the consumables on top

4

Design

Compact and will easily sit on a shelf if needed, also small enough to take to events if there’s mains power

4.5

Features

Decent 4 x 6 photo prints and sticker sets; would be good if there was an additional paper carrier as standard

4.5

Performance

Commercial-quality stickers and excellent colour; slight oversharpening and some workarounds are needed for cutting paths

4.5

Overall

A clever piece of kit that blends photo and sticker printing into one neat machine. 

4.5

Buy it if...

You sell small batches of stickers.

For events, as an online retailer, in the classroom or for personalised gifts, the S1 produces commercial-looking stickers without needing separate printing and cutting machines. 

You want the process handled for you.

Automatic background removal and cut-path generation mean no blade pressure settings, no alignment marks and no desktop cutting software to learn, which makes things so much easier.

Don't buy it if...

You design on a computer.

There's no desktop application at all, so everything goes through the phone or tablet app; this is the biggest issue that I found. 

You need volume

The 4 x 7 in maximum sheet size and there’s no option for third-party media.

For more printing picks, we've tested the best home printers you can get.

Satechi Thunderbolt 5 CubeDock: 30-second review

The Satechi Thunderbolt 5 CubeDock is one of a new wave of high-performance docks that offer ultra-fast connectivity and the option to add internal storage. The design is reminiscent of the Mac Mini range with its cubed compact aluminium design that sees a single Thunderbolt 5 cable running from the dock to your computer, and once done, adds three more Thunderbolt 5 ports, alongside a spread of USB, UHS-II card readers, 2.5GbE Ethernet, audio, and up to 140W of charging.

The big features here are the Thunderbolt 5 connection and the option to add an M.2 NVMe SSD, changing this from a high-performance hub into an SSD enclosure. The SSD must be purchased separately; it comes in a model with up to 8TB of capacity and takes less than a minute to screw into place. Satechi has included everything you need, including a screwdriver and thermal pads.

Once the SSD is installed and all desktop cables are connected, it's a neat solution that enables you to connect monitors, control boards, speakers, network connections, and additional drives in a matter of seconds.

This makes it a great solution if you’re a photographer or video editor and need to offload files quickly after a day's shoot, though it's disappointing that the network is limited to 2.5GbE, whereas many other premium docks have already adopted 10GbE. Despite that, for creators, I found it to be the best docking station I've tested.

At the price, however, this doc is well balanced; you do need a Thunderbolt 5 to get the most out of it. On anything slower, Thunderbolt 4, USB4 and so on, it still works, but the speeds drop dramatically.

In this test, I utilised an Asus Prime-based machine fitted with a Thunderbolt 5 card to check the speeds. It’s also worth noting that in an editing environment where you want everything to be as quiet as possible, there is an active fan that helps keep the SSD cool, but unfortunately, it adds a little noise under load.

If you use the CubeDock with the right machine and have an SSD installed, it’s one of the neatest ways I've come across to turn a laptop into a full creative workstation, storage included, from a single cable.

Satechi Thunderbolt 5 CubeDock: Price and availability

• How much does it cost? From $399
• When is it out? Available now
• Where can you get it? Directly from Satechi or Amazon

The Satechi Thunderbolt 5 CubeDock with SSD enclosure is priced at $399.99 in the US, available direct from Satechi and Amazon.com. In the UK, it's up for £399.99 at Amazon.co.uk.

The price is for the dock alone, and if you want to install an M.2 NVMe SSD, then this is a separate purchase, so budget for the drive on top of that.

• Value: 3.5 / 5

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)Satechi Thunderbolt 5 CubeDock: Specs

Upstream: 1 x Thunderbolt 5 (80/120Gbps), up to 140W host charging
Downstream: 3 x Thunderbolt 5 (80Gbps data each, 15W each)
SSD enclosure: M.2 NVMe, 2230/2242/2260/2280, up to 8TB, PCIe 4x4, up to 6000MB/s
USB-C: 1 x 10Gbps (30W), 1 x 10Gbps (7.5W)
USB-A: 1 x front 10Gbps (7.5W), 1 x rear 10Gbps (4.5W)
Card readers: SD + microSD, UHS-II,
Ethernet: 2.5GbE
Audio: 3.5mm in/out
Displays: up to 8K 144Hz single / triple 8K 60Hz (Windows); up to dual 6K 60Hz (macOS, chip-dependent)
Cooling: active fan, smart curve, 20-40 dB(A)
Power: 180W smart power supply
Dimensions: 12.7 x 12.7 x 5.2cm
Weight: 588.9g

Satechi Thunderbolt 5 CubeDock: Design

The CubeDock is a compact cube in industry-grade aluminium, measuring 12.7cm square and 5.2cm tall, and weighing a substantial 588.9g, far heavier than you would initially expect and highlighting that this is a permanent office fixture rather than portable.

The weight is reassuring, especially when it’s sat on your desk, having various accessories and peripherals plugged in. The aluminium build and natural finish look great and have the dual function of durability and passive heatsinking. There’s also an internal fan that's vented to keep everything at a stable temperature.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

On the front and back, there are plenty of ports, and the layout is well thought out, with the connections I most frequently need, such as USB-C, USB-A, and the two card readers, positioned on the front. The permanent connections, such as the Thunderbolt 5 ports, Ethernet, audio, power, and a second USB-A port, are all on the back.

As ever, there's a Kensington lock slot, too, which is good to see if you do work in a shared office, especially if you install an expensive 8TB SSD.

That SSD is installed at the base of the dock and requires a screwdriver to access it. Satechi has included everything needed in the box: a small screwdriver, the mounting screws and two thermal pads, so there's no hunting for bits.

Checking out the cavity where the SSDs slot in, and it’s good to see that the space has been designed to take any M.2 NVMe drive from 2230 up to 2280, so whatever size you have, the installation process is easy enough. Installing a Crucial T710 took a couple of minutes.

One surprise is that there are no HDMI or DisplayPort connections for a monitor. Instead, all video runs through the Thunderbolt 5 ports, so if your monitors use either of these connector types, you'll need adapters or cables to connect them.

• Design: 4.5 / 5

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)Satechi Thunderbolt 5 CubeDock: Features

The design of the dock instantly highlights its close affinity with the Mac Mini in style and colour, although it is only available in silver. It’s also compatible with both Mac and PC systems, as long as they have a Thunderbolt 5 port; if not, it's fully backwards compatible with previous Thunderbolt and USB-C ports.

The feature that sets this apart from the vast majority of other hubs, even those with a Thunderbolt 5 port, is an integrated SSD enclosure. This means that rather than having the dock and then plugging in a separate external SSD, you can have one integrated internally, freeing up a port and also enabling maximum connection speeds.

If you deal with large files of any type, then having access to fast, readily available storage is essential, especially if you work with video. With an 8TB SSD inside, you'll be able to work off that fast internal storage for editing, offloading cards, and keeping an active project library for recent projects without constantly needing to archive.

Through the test, I popped in a Crucial T710 1TB, a PCIe Gen5 NVMe M.2 2280, and it’s highlighting that while the enclosure is compatible with the latest Gen5 modules, it runs at PCIe 4x4, which is rated at a maximum of 6000MB/s, so even if the drive is faster, you’ll be limited by that technology.

The storage is a feature that draws me to this dock, but there’s also the fact that a single-cable connection to your computer is all that’s needed, letting you connect all your devices. This not only helps with the time it takes to connect up in the mornings when you arrive at the office, but also at the end of the day. That one cable to my laptop, and then the Desktop PC enabled me to connect displays, data, networking, and charging.

On the feature side, there were a couple of points that surprised me, and the first was the display options: there are no HDMI or DisplayPort ports, so adapters will be needed if that’s all your monitors support. However, if you can connect via Thunderbolt 5 to Windows or macOS machines, you have plenty of flexibility and choice.

On Windows machines you can drive up to three 8K displays; on Mac, it's chip-dependent, with up to dual 6K on capable Apple Silicon and triple-display support reserved for the very newest Pro and Max chips, on my M1 Max, I was limited to two monitors and the speed of the Thunderbolt 4 connection, whereas the desktop equipped with the correct TB5 showed a huge uplift in speed.

The rest of the feature set is almost what you’d expect from a premium; up to 140W charging back to the host, ideal for my 16-inch MacBook Pro, plus 30W from a front USB-C for a phone or tablet; UHS-II SD and microSD readers great for the GoPro Mission 1 and the Sony A7 IV that I often use and a 3.5mm audio jack.

The one issue for me is that there's only 2.5GbE Ethernet; at this price, I would have expected at least 5GbE, with the more premium docks now all sporting 10GbE. Thankfully for the now-ageing MacBook Pro M1 Max and me, the dock is fully backwards compatible with Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 3, USB4, and USB-C.

Another feature worth highlighting is the active cooling, which features a smart fan that only starts up when the dock needs it, keeping the SSD and controllers cooler under load. When working with video in the doc and with an SSD enclosed, the fan did kick in, but the office volume wasn’t overly loud or distracting.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

• Features: 4 / 5

Satechi Thunderbolt 5 CubeDock: Performance

I tested the CubeDock with my MacBook Pro M1 Max, with a CrucialT710 1TB installed in the enclosure. I also tested on an M1 Max-equipped machine with Thunderbolt 4, so I was unable to reach the full potential of a Thunderbolt 5-equipped machine. The T710 is a PCIe 5.0 drive. To measure the CubeDock at its full Thunderbolt 5 potential, I've connected it to the Thunderbolt 5-equipped Asus ProArt.

Setting the CubeDock up is easy enough, and I opted to install the Crucial T710 from the outset. This took a few minutes, and it was good to see that a screwdriver had been supplied along with thermal pads to help with the heat dissipation. Once installed and all cables were connected to the dock, I connected my MacBook Pro M1 Max via the Thunderbolt cable included in the box.

After a couple of seconds, the Crucial drive appeared on the desktop, as it had already been formatted. The monitor also sprang to life, and I had a direct connection to the network, albeit limited to 2.5GbE. That single-cable connection is something I use extensively in the office, with two permanently fixed docks: one for the MacBook Pro and the other for the Asus desktop. They just make everything so much cleaner, cut down on cables and increase the speed at which I can connect, especially with the laptop.

On the M1 Max, while the docking is handy, I’m used to that feature with the other docks, but here, having the internal storage was definitely a great addition. However, as the MacBook Pro M1 Max runs Thunderbolt 4, the T710 was never going to reach its full potential, and combined with the enclosure's PCIe 4x4 ceiling, the test results using this setup reflect the connection rather than the drive's or, for that matter, the enclosure's full capability.

What I will say is that in a real world environment for everyday offloading of memory cards and drives as well working directly from that larger internal SSD drive that I installed, it was a great solution and did highlight that soon it will be time to upgrade to a Thunderbolt 5 machine, although whether that will be a Mac or something else is at the moment very much up for debate.

While the benchmarks are impressive, they're far from the potential of the Dock, so for the real TB5 test I’ve connected to the ProArt desktop, here the speeds take a massive increase in speed and for any creative environment this dock not only works as a handy dock adding in ports that are easily accessible, but also takes the place of a fast working drive in a small desktop box.

What impressed me was the Benchmark tests that showed transfer speeds from the internal SSD that I had installed, of 4622.50 MB/s Read, 3721.54 MB/s Write.

Connecting a Thunderbolt 5 external SSD through the dock showed speeds of 4332.44 MB/s Read, 2748.33 MB/s Write.

On the MacBook Pro M1 Max with Thunderbolt 4 this reduced to 3441.50 MB/s Read, 1752.96 MB/s Write.

Connecting a Thunderbolt 5 external SSD through the dock showed speeds of 3445.34 MB/s Read, 1659.22 MB/s Write.

All very impressive. Alongside the SSD speeds and connectivity to connected and internal drives, there are also SD card slots, both of which are UHS-II and rated to 312 MB/s.

In the test, I offloaded a USH-II Lexar Professional Silver Pro 512GB card containing images captured on the Sony A7 IV, with transfer speeds of 243.76MB/s read and 104.68MB/s write. After recently coming across a premium hub that dropped to UHS-I, it's good to see proper UHS-II readers here.

Some of the other connections are also worth noting, and for use with laptops, 140W charging and networking are both handy, although, as stated before, I wish that the networking had been rated at the 5GbE, but still 2.5GbE still enables quick transfers to achieve NAS, just not quite the speeds I’d like for network video editing.

During the test, with transfers to and from the dock to the SSD I had installed, the internal temperatures did rise due to the load; however, the active fan kicked in quietly and kept the temperatures in check. The noise from the dock really wasn’t an issue.

• Performance: 4 / 5

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)Satechi Thunderbolt 5 CubeDock: Final verdict

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

The Satechi Thunderbolt 5 CubeDock is a great bit of kit, both in function and style and what stood out to me was the integrated SSD enclosure that enables direct fast storage that’s essential for most laptop users, especially those working on MacBooks.

Having that storage option in the dock itself, albeit you need to supply your own SSD, helps keep things neat, so there’s never a need to plug in an external SSD, since the storage is already contained within the hub, ready to go as soon as you connect. It just makes it all a little more permanent.

The remaining connection ports, including the two UHS-II readers and the 2.5GbE networking, combine to offer a well-rounded package and a perfect option for any professional environment, especially for those in the creative sector.

However, as a dock, it’s expensive at $399.99. This is a combined dock and enclosure, and, of course, you also need to consider the price of the SSD you pop in. You also need a Thunderbolt 5 machine, although it is backwards compatible, to take full advantage of the speeds on offer.

My Thunderbolt 4 MacBook Pro M1 Max, while limited in speed, did benefit from additional storage capacity and connection options. I’d also highlight that it’s worth checking your monitors to ensure they have a USB-C display connection, as there is no HDMI or DisplayPort; however, I found Ugreen cables for less than £10 each.

If you're running a Thunderbolt 5 machine and want a single, compact dock that handles your displays, data, networking, charging, and storage at once, then the CubeDock is a great option, especially when you look at the price compared with some of the other Thunderbolt 5 docks on the market.

Should I buy the Satechi Thunderbolt 5 CubeDock?

Value

Despite initially seeming like an expensive dock, once you weigh up the features, it’s extremely well priced. 

3.5

Design

Reflective of the Mac Mini, the weight and size make this a great desktop option with a premium build and the option to install an SSD

4.5

Features

Integrated NVMe enclosure, 140W charging, UHS-II card readers and single cable connection to your machine

4

Performance

To make the most of the speed, you need Thunderbolt 5, and it is a good, balanced option

4

Overall

A great dock that will be a perfect partner for any creative, an upgrade in the network speed is really the only small downside.

4

Buy it if...

You have a Thunderbolt 5 machine and want built-in storage.

The integrated NVMe enclosure means one compact cube handles your displays, data, charging and fast storage from a single cable, no separate external drive cluttering the desk. 

You offload fast camera cards daily.

The UHS-II SD and microSD readers run at up to 312MB/s, so cards from a modern mirrorless body offload at full speed rather than crawling through a UHS-I reader often seen on other docks.

Don't buy it if...

You're on a slower machine or a budget.

On Thunderbolt 4, USB4 or older, it works but won't reach its full speed, so you'd be paying a premium for potential you can't use. 

Your displays are HDMI or DisplayPort.

All video runs through the Thunderbolt 5 ports; there's no HDMI or DisplayPort on the dock. If your monitors use those connectors, you'll need adapters, a dock with native HDMI/DP outputs may suit you better.

For more professional-grade desktops, we've tested the best business computers.

Samsung Galaxy Fold 8: Two-minute review

It’s high praise that one of my biggest problems with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 is that I wish it had a different name.

The fact that the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra has taken up the mantle of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and all previous Galaxy Z Fold models is a little confusing. But titles aside, what Samsung has actually done here with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 — that is, build a new kind of foldable for a new kind of audience — deserves recognition, and I'm glad the South Korean giant has once again moved the category forward in a meaningful way.

(Image credit: Richard Priday / TechRadar)

Ideal Galaxy Z Fold 8 users are those focused on mobile entertainment and exploring new ideas with a pair of screens that Samsung has shaped specifically for watching video and reading, respectively.

While the phone is still technically capable, with an excellent chipset, plenty of memory, and strong battery and charging specs, it’s being sold more on its everyday use cases — and convincingly so.

In one way, it’s going to be hard to judge how good the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is until we get the long-rumored foldable iPhone, which is going to be the second (and perhaps more important) passport-style foldable to hit Western markets. But what I can say right now, looking at the Galaxy Z Fold 8 itself and the wider foldable phone and Android phone markets, is that this mid-sized foldable may herald a new generation of folding phones. I just wish it wasn’t so expensive.

Samsung Galaxy Fold 8 review: Price and availability

• From $1,899 in the US
• From £1,699 in the UK
• From $2,699 in Australia

Starting at $1,899 /£1,699 / AU$2,699, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is currently in its pre-order phase; it'll hit shelves on August 7.

These prices put the phone in between the Galaxy Z Flip 8 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra in terms of cost, and it's cheaper than the Galaxy Z Fold 7, which retailed for $1,999.99 / £1,799 / AU$2,899 at launch.

Samsung releasing a cheaper book-style foldable is absolutely a good thing, but the small price difference between the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Fold 8 Ultra makes the former seem a little too keenly-priced.

That said, excluding the Huawei Pura X — which is hard to get in the West and requires some fiddling to get working with familiar Google services — and the as-yet-unnannounced iPhone Ultra, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is the only representative of this size of foldable you can easily buy right now.

Hopefully future discounts will make this phone more affordable, but right now, it seems like Samsung’s charging a little uniqueness tax on top of what the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is truly worth.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 pricing

Storage

US price

UK price

AU price

256GB

$1,899.99

£1,699

AU$2,699

512GB

$2,099.99

£1,869

AU$2,999

1TB

$2,499.99

£2,209

AU$3,599

• Value score: 3 / 5

Samsung Galaxy Fold 8 review: Specs

These are the key specs of the Galaxy Z Fold 8:

Dimensions:

Unfolded: 161.4 x 123.9 x 4.5mm, Folded: 81.9 x 123.9 x 9.7mm

Weight:

201g

Displays:

Main: 7.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, Cover: 5.5-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X

Resolution:

Main: 2448 x 1848, Cover: 1972 x 1248

Refresh rate:

1 - 120Hz (main and cover)

Peak brightness:

3,000 nits

CPU:

Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy

RAM:

12GB, 16GB (1TB model only)

Storage:

256GB, 512GB, 1TB

OS:

Android 17 with One UI 9

Cameras:

50MP wide (f/1.8), 50MP ultra-wide (f/1.9)

Selfie Cameras:

10MP (f/2.2) inner, 10MP (f/2.2) outer

Battery:

4,800mAh

Charging:

45W wired, 20W wireless

Colors:

Lavender, Graphite, Cream, Mint (Samsung Store exclusive)

Samsung Galaxy Fold 8 review: Design

(Image credit: Richard Priday / TechRadar)

• Compact and light for a “big” folding phone
• Outer and inner screens equally useful

When open, the Galaxy Z Fold 8’s 7.6-inch screen resembles a typical foldable phone, with a few exceptions.

It’s easier to handle, with its 201g weight making it lighter than any other book-style foldable, while the phone's 4.5mm thickness also contributes to it feeling like a small tablet. The minimal crease, while not as invisible as the Z Fold 8 Ultra’s, is barely a distraction unless you happen to catch the light in a particular way, and it's only noticeable to the touch when you’re trying to look for it.

With its slightly rectangular open shape, the Z Fold 8 is much more similar in size and form to an iPad (specifically, the iPad mini) or ereader than most foldables, which tend towards a square shape. And while being square can have its advantages, I have really fallen for the Z Fold 8’s design during my testing time.

While working on this review, I often turned the Z Fold 8 vertically for a physical document-style view of my work. You get almost double the number of lines in Google Docs with the keyboard open as you do with the Fold 8 in its regular orientation, while the keyboard remains split for easier typing. As a result, the Z Fold 8 is now my favorite device without a physical keyboard to write on, even though Samsung considers the Z Fold 8 Ultra to be the top choice for anyone wanting to get serious work done.

(Image credit: Richard Priday / TechRadar)

However, I also found myself less inclined to open the Z Fold 8 than I have been with other book-style foldables. The phone's outer 5.5-inch screen is perfect for one-handed use of fully-sized apps, which isn't a given even on standard bar-shaped phones today.

(Image credit: Richard Priday / TechRadar)

To alleviate any (understandable) durability concerns about folding phones, Samsung has rated the Galaxy Z Fold 8 as IP48 for dust and water resistance, which means it's as well-protected against water as any other flagship phone.

The '4' in that designation means no foreign objects above 1mm in size will worm their way into the Galaxy Z Fold 8's inner components, though other foldables — namely the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold and the Honor Magic V6 — offer superior IP68 dust protection.

There’s also Gorilla Glass Ceramic 3 on the display and Victus 2 on the back to avoid scratches or serious cracks, plus a Flex Titanium layer under the main display, which makes the most vulnerable part of the Z Fold 8 tougher.

Rounding off these impressive design credentials is a quartet of appealing color options: the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is available in Lavender (pictured in this review), Graphite, Cream, and the Samsung Store-exclusive Pistachio.

• Design score: 4 / 5

Samsung Galaxy Fold 8 review: Displays

(Image credit: Richard Priday / TechRadar)

• High-quality screens inside and out
• Display brightness could still be higher

The Galaxy Z Fold 8's 7.6-inch main display and 5.5-inch cover display have been crafted by Samsung to help you enjoy whatever kind of content you’re into.

The phone's outer screen has a video-friendly 16:10 aspect ratio, while its inner panel uses a more spacious, practical 4:3 ratio that's best suited to reading (though this inner panel is also better suited to widescreen video than the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra's square-shaped equivalent). We've compared the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra's screen sizes elsewhere on TechRadar so you can visualize the difference between the two.

(Image credit: Richard Priday / TechRadar)

Both screens are detailed and colorful, which is no great surprise — Samsung is one of the best, if not the best, mobile display manufacturers in the world.

That said, despite a high brightness rating of 3,000 nits, the Galaxy Z Fold 8's screen readability can be a problem when using the phone in direct sunlight, even with the Extra brightness setting enabled.

Still, the low-reflection coating on the phone's inside screen makes some difference. It’s not as effective as the one you get on the Galaxy S26 Ultra or Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra, but the Galaxy Z Fold 8 definitely softens reflections better than most standard phones, making it easier to see what's on screen.

• Display score: 4 / 5

Samsung Galaxy Fold 8 review: Software

(Image credit: Richard Priday / TechRadar)

• The latest Galaxy AI features with foldable-specific upgrades
• A mix of fun features, like My FanCam, and practical ones, like Multi-Window

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 runs on One UI 9, which is based on Android 17. It’s quite different from other Android skins, which hew closer to Google’s original design, but it’s still one of the best options around in terms of adaptation to foldable phones.

Several of Samsung’s software features have been adapted for the Z Fold 8 series, specifically, including Now Nudge. These small, discreet but helpful prompts suggest what app or action you might want to use next depending on what’s on screen, and offer to open a split-screen view on your behalf.

(Image credit: Richard Priday / TechRadar)

For AI fans, Samsung has expanded task automation for select apps, assuming you’re in the US, UK, or South Korea, where this feature is currently enabled. These automations don’t work all that fast, but assuming your prompt is understood correctly, the Z Fold 8’s AI will work through your request until you decide to take back control, or when it alerts you when it’s time to intervene to finalize a booking or order.

My FanCam, meanwhile, lets you create a motion-tracked video of a particular subject from any video (from your photo gallery, YouTube, or anywhere else). I have not made a fancam before, so I don’t know how well this sort of software — which is popular among K-pop fans — works elsewhere, but Samsung’s version is relatively effective, albeit with some major limitations.

Making a My FanCam clip is easy: just open the AI tools menu with the video you want to use in the Gallery app, tap the relevant icon, then tap your subject. After some processing time, depending on the size of the original clip, you have your tracked footage. But after trying the feature with a number of videos, two problems appeared.

First, the subject needs to be large enough in the frame. Even if you have high-resolution 4K footage, you need to crop in before My FanCam will detect them. Similarly, they need to be well-lit — I tried to use a clip of a dance troupe moving around in dramatic stage lighting, and My FanCam simply would not work.

Since there is no manual tracking option you can use, you are at the mercy of Samsung’s algorithms as to whether your footage is compatible.

As for multitasking, although it’s not as much of a focus on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 as it is on the Z Fold 8 Ultra, I still appreciate Samsung’s updates to its Multi-Window system, which lets you use two or more apps at once. The Z Fold 8 and its sibling now let you use three apps side-by-side vertically or horizontally, as well as via the older splitting method, which sees one app taking up half the screen and the other two taking a quarter each.

(Image credit: Richard Priday / TechRadar)

Multi-Window is still not as versatile as the windowed system you now find on many tablets and rival foldables, but if you’re cross-referencing without wanting to make too many edits to what you’re looking at, it certainly avoids the need to open your laptop from time to time, which makes the Galaxy Z Fold 8 a valuable productivity companion.

• Software score: 4 / 5

Samsung Galaxy Fold 8 review: Cameras

(Image credit: Richard Priday / TechRadar)

• No telephoto camera at this price feels unfair
• But cameras that *are* present perform well

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 has the undistinguished position of having the highest relative price per camera of any Samsung phone. Unlike the Z Fold 8 Ultra, there’s no telephoto camera to speak of here, although at least the cameras you do get are of good quality. Specifically, there are 50MP main and ultra-wide lenses on the back, plus 10MP selfie cameras embedded in the phone's cover and inner displays.

Samsung’s camera processing has made an important step forward in recent years, going from exaggerated colors to more natural ones, matching the vibe of other flagship smartphone cameras. That’s why, even in the intense sunlight that was slowly melting me during my photo trip to Beckenham Place Park, we still get attractive-looking trees, grass, sky and brickwork.

Main cameraRichard Priday / TechRadarMain cameraRichard Priday / TechRadarUltrawideRichard Priday / TechRadarMain camera low lightRichard Priday / TechRadar

Samsung’s 50MP main camera offers 2x in-sensor zoom for a little extra reach when you need it without compromising on image quality. The Camera app also offers presets for 4x and 10x (the latter is the maximum available digital zoom), although the image quality deteriorates, as you’d expect.

2xRichard Priday / TechRadar4xRichard Priday / TechRadar10xRichard Priday / TechRadar2xRichard Priday / TechRadar4xRichard Priday / TechRadar10xRichard Priday / TechRadar

For selfies, the 10MP cameras on the inside and outside of the phone are identical, and therefore equally competent. You’re also free to open the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and switch the preview to the outer screen for hi-res or ultra-wide selfies — perhaps one of the most underrated abilities of foldable phones.

Front camera selfieFutureMain camera selfieFuture

Portrait mode on Samsung phones is a particular strength, as it can cut accurately around glasses where other phones struggle. These examples show that the Z Fold 8 hasn’t missed out on this ability.

Selfie camera portraitRichard Priday / TechRadarMain camera portraitRichard Priday / TechRadar

Video maxes out at 8K/30fps, or 4K/60fps if you need your extra frames. Samsung’s videography party trick from the Galaxy S26 series — Super Steady video with Horizontal Lock — has also made it to the Z Fold 8 series.

This feature levels out shaky footage at the expense of some resolution. It does a fantastic job, though, as you can see in these samples of me running along a path (the first is the original footage, the second is the edited footage).

Overall, while it would be nice if Samsung had given the Z Fold 8 a telephoto camera, what’s here works well. And since this phone is designed to appeal to a more casual user, there’s a reasonable chance that anyone interested in the Z Fold 8 won’t mind the compromise.

• Camera score: 3 / 5

Samsung Galaxy Fold 8 review: Performance

(Image credit: Richard Priday / TechRadar)

• Top-performing chipset with plenty of memory, even by default
• Great for games, even with below-par benchmark scores

The Z Fold 8 contains the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 for Galaxy chipset, which is the best version of the best silicon currently available in an Android phone. The scores I got in my own benchmarking tests are a little lower than I would have anticipated, but they're impressive nonetheless, and prove that the Z Fold 8 is absolutely a performance powerhouse.

Indeed, this top-end chipset proved its worth while I tested several games on the Galaxy Z Fold 8. Destiny Rising, set to its highest graphical setting and 60fps, ran perfectly smoothly. Similarly, Asphalt Legends at its full high quality/120fps settings proved no challenge for the Z Fold 8.

Under the hood, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 features 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage by default, but you can spec the device up to 512GB if you wish. There’s also a 1TB model, which gets a RAM bump to 16GB, though whether this upgrade is worth the money will depend entirely on how intensively you use your phone.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 benchmark scores

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8

Geekbench 6 single-core

3,253

Geekbench 6 multi-core

7975

3DMark Wild Life Extreme Stress Test best

5087

3DMark Wild Life Extreme Stress Test low

2083

3DMark Solar Bay

8856

• Performance score: 4 / 5

Samsung Galaxy Fold 8 review: Battery

(Image credit: Richard Priday / TechRadar)

• The phone can last a surprisingly long time if you use the inner screen sparingly
• Charging isn’t the fastest, but it's definitely quick enough when you need it

Despite being smaller than last year’s Galaxy Z Fold 7, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 packs a larger-capacity battery — specifically 4,800mAh versus 4,400mAh. That’s thanks to Samsung finally adopting industry-leading silicon-carbon battery technology, which boasts higher energy density than the lithium-ion technology used by Samsung (and indeed most other Western phone manufacturers) in its previous batteries.

Samsung’s battery estimate claims you can get 26 hours of video playback from a single charge of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 — and I’m inclined to believe that, if you stick to the cover screen. In my light to moderate mixed usage of the phone during testing, switching between screens, enabling the always-on display and leaving the phone off charge overnight, I would get between a day and a day and a half between plug-ins.

Samsung is using its best 45W wired and 20W wireless charging options on the Z Fold 8 series, which, while slower than some rival devices, is still an upgrade on previous Z Folds. Using a compatible third-party charger, I was able to fill the Z Fold 8 to 43% in 15 minutes, and to 100% in 1 hour and 5 minutes.

In other words, you wouldn’t want to forget to charge this phone overnight, given the below-average battery life, but if you do, it won’t take long to get a usable amount of charge in an emergency.

• Battery score: 3 / 5

Should you buy the Samsung Galaxy Fold 8?Samsung Galaxy Fold 8 scorecard

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Value

Not as costly as some foldables, but still expensive.

3 / 5

Design

Perfectly sized whether open or closed, plus strong protection against common sources of damage.

4.5 / 5

Displays

All your content looks great inside and out, with low-reflection tech to help in bright light.

4.5 / 5

Software

Whether you're focused on productivity or entertainment, the Z Fold 8 has features to help.

4.5 / 5

Camera

No telephoto is a major absence, but the cameras you do get take great shots.

3 / 5

Performance

The flagship performance you'd expect, with the screen space to enjoy it fully in games.

4 / 5

Battery

A notable capacity upgrade has reduced the typical foldable battery life anxiety, although it's still on the weak side. The speedier charging is quite welcome though.

3.5 / 5

Buy it if...

Traditional folding phones or flip phones haven’t appealed to you yet
Sitting between the two sizes of foldable phones we've become familiar with, the Z Fold 8 is fully functional whether you’ve got it open or closed.

You like the idea of a small phone combined with a mini tablet
When closed, no phone on the market is as small and as usable as the Galaxy Z Fold 8. And when it’s open, it’s like you’ve pulled an iPad mini or a Kindle out of nowhere.

You want the best software available on a foldable
Samsung has been making folding phones the longest out of any brand, and that shows in how well its software adapts and works with the Z Fold 8’s hardware. And that’s not even mentioning the Galaxy AI tools that few other phones can match up to.

Don't buy it if...

You want a complete, well-priced phone experience
For the price of the Z Fold 8, you could instead buy a fully-specced Galaxy S26 Ultra or similar flagship phone, which will more than make up for its lack of hinge with other features.

Battery life is a deal-breaker
Battery life isn’t too bad on the Z Fold 8, but only in terms of other foldable phones. Stick to a regular-shaped phone if you want the best possible endurance.

The camera limitations will bother you
Spending well over 1,500 of your local currency on a phone that lacks a telephoto camera is a big ask, even if such a compromise becomes the standard for this size of foldable phone.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 review: Also consider

Motorola Razr Plus 2026

This is currently our best flip-style foldable pick, and it might be the better device for you if you're looking for a foldable that can go the distance with its battery, and don’t mind only having a standard-sized phone screen when you open it up.

Read our full Motorola Razr Plus 2026 review

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra

Considering the minimal price difference, you might be better off saving a little extra money and getting the full-fat fold experience with more screen space, a telephoto camera, and a longer-lasting battery. The Z Fold 8 Ultra isn't as well-suited to video, though.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra hands-on

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8

Motorola Razr Plus 2026

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra

Price (at launch):

From $1899, £1699, AU$2699

$1,099, £1,000

From $2,099 £1,899. AU$2,999

Dimensions:

Unfolded: 161.4 x 123.9 x 4.5mm, Folded: 81.9 x 123.9 x 9.7mm

Unfolded: 2.9 x 6.7 x 0.3 in

Folded: 3.5 x 2.9 x 0.6 in

Unfolded: 158.4 x 143.2 x 4.1mm, Folded: 158.4 x 72.8 x 8.9mm

Weight:

201g

189g

215g

Displays:

Main: 7.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, Cover: 5.5-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X

Main: 6.9-inch AMOLED, Cover: 4-inch AMOLED

Main: 8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2x, Cover: 6.5-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X

Resolution:

Main: 2448 x 1848, Cover: 1972 x 1248

Main: 1084 x 2640, Cover: 1272 x 1080

Main: 2256 x 2504, Cover: 1080 x 2520

Refresh rate:

1 - 120Hz (main and cover)

1 - 165 Hz (main and cover)

1 - 120Hz (main and cover)

Peak brightness:

3,000 nits (main and cover)

Main: 3,000 nits, Cover: 2,400 nits

3,000 nits (main and cover)

Processor:

Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3

Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy

RAM:

12GB, 16GB (1TB model only)

12GB

12GB, 16GB (1TB model only)

Storage:

256GB, 512GB, 1TB

256GB

256GB, 512GB, 1TB

OS:

Android 17 with One UI 9

Android 16

Android 17 with One UI 9

Cameras:

50MP wide, 50MP ultra-wide

50MP main, 50MP ultra-wide

200MP wide, 50MP ultra-wide, 10MP telephoto

Selfie cameras:

10MP inner, 10MP outer

32MP

10MP inner, 10MP outer

Battery:

4,800mAh

4,500mAh

5,000mAh

Charging:

45W wired, 20W wireless

45W wired, 15W wireless

45W wired, 20W wireless

Colors:

Lavender, Graphite, Cream, Mint (Samsung Store exclusive)

Pantone Mountain View

Violet Shadow, Graphite, Cream, Green Shadow (Samsung Store exclusive)

How I tested the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8

I used the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 for approximately a week and a half as my work phone, transferring my apps, messages, and SIM card from the Oppo Find N6 I was using beforehand.

As my work device, I used the Z Fold 8 for writing stories, answering emails, scrolling social media and watching tech YouTube videos.

Read more about how we test

Why you can trust TechRadar

☑️ 100s of smartphones reviewed
☑️ 15 years of product testing
☑️ Over 16,000 products reviewed in total
☑️ Nearly 200,000 hours testing tech

First reviewed July/August 2026

The idea behind the Falcon T1 is inspired but not unique: essentially, one machine that can replace five, with swappable modules that enable it to engrave and cut wood, mark metal, and engrave crystal, all via a set of interchangeable laser modules sold separately.

Swap the module, and the machine becomes a different tool, much like many other workshop tools, so from that point of view the concept is far from unique.

This means that if you’re a business short on space, or even if it’s not, then a machine like this will be appealing. There are, of course, a few catches: the first is that the machine ships with one module, the 20W fibre laser, which I’m looking at in this review.

However, the key to this machine is that it’s a 5-in-1, so as a first look I’ll be using this module and then covering the others later. It's worth noting that each of those additional modules costs anything from £859 upwards, so the more you buy, the more cost effective this machine becomes, when compared with dedicated machines.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

There is another slight issue, which Creality has addressed to a point: this machine is designed for small products. In this review, the fibre laser is used on a small metal object, which is fine with the fibre laser and the 175 x 175mm work area.

However, as you switch to the diode modules, you may want a larger workspace, which is where the additional lenses and the conveyor for batch production come into play.

In this first-look review, I have based my use and findings on the 20W Fibre Laser module, and I’ll update with the additional modules when they arrive.

Creality Falcon T1: Price & availability

The Falcon T1 is listed on the official Creality website for $2249, and on the UK site for £1999.

That buys the machine with the 20W Fibre Laser module. Additional modules start from $809 / £859 each, so a full five-laser system quickly escalates the price.

Accessories add more again: the Rotary Kit Pro, a conveyor, smoke purifier, flexible fixture, knife bed, and UV riser all available separately, creating a comprehensive ecosystem for businesses.

Creality Falcon T1: DesignSpecs

Modules: 20W diode, 40W diode, 20W fibre, 60W MOPA, 5W UV (sold separately)
Wavelengths: 445nm diode, 1064nm fibre and MOPA, 355nm UV
Working area: 175 x 175mm (UV internal engraving 70 x 70mm)
Spot size: 0.12 x 0.14mm (20W diode), 0.05mm (fibre/MOPA), 0.014mm (UV)
Processing accuracy: 0.01mm or better; positioning accuracy +/-0.01mm
Maximum speed: 10,000mm/s
Cutting: 8mm basswood (20W diode), 12mm basswood (40W diode), 0.2mm anodised aluminium (fibre)
Camera: HD positioning, autofocus and monitoring
Display: 4.3in detachable touchscreen; USB, cloud and app control
Software: Falcon Design Space, LightBurn, GRBL; Windows and macOS
Safety: Class 1 enclosed, lid-open stop, emergency stop, key lock, temperature, smoke and flame detection
Dimensions: 464 x 312 x 509mm

Getting started with the T1 is a relatively quick process once the machine is unboxed. The machine is almost fully assembled, with only the build plate, screen, power, and module needing to be fitted.

Most of the few parts that need attention before you start just need to be plugged in, with the large laser module essentially slotting into the back of the machine. To access the slot, you need to rotate the machine's body. The T1 itself weighs in at 20 kg. I couldn’t find official figures, so this is the result from me putting the machine on the scales. The 20W module weighs 3.2kg, and you do need to leave yourself a little room for manoeuvre to access the module slot.

The module is a box of electronics with the laser lens, and each module is essentially of the same design, just utilising different technology for the beam. As this is a space-saving exercise, the module measures in at 22 x 95 x 175mm. The installation process to a working state takes a couple of minutes, with the actual tool swap, which is usually the time-consuming part, taking no more than a suggested 15 seconds.

To swap modules, you first need to switch on the machine. This should raise the centre section. If not, when the screen has finished the boot sequence, tap the tool change button; you’ll need to do this if you’ve been working with one of the modules and need to swap.

Then switch the machine off; there’s no hot swapping. Push the lock button on top, withdraw the installed module, then insert the next module, rotate the machine back into position, and power on. This is the simplest tool change I think I’ve come across for any machine, and while it may not take 15 seconds for the entire process, that takes closer to two minutes, I managed 5 seconds for the actual module change; it’s that simple.

Once everything is set up and in position, the T1, as a machine, is relatively tall and fully enclosed with a large tinted viewing panel, measuring 464 x 312 x 509mm. Compared with similar machines, the footprint is pretty standard, as is the height. The height, however, increases as the entire protective cover rises when you load and unload materials, and again when you change modules.

On the side of the machine is the detachable 4.3-inch touchscreen, which I liked more than I expected. It uses a magnet to attach to the right-hand side on an extendable cable, so it stores away neatly out of the way and pulls round to the front when you want it. The screen itself is extremely responsive and gives access to most of what you need without a computer, though the excellent desktop software gives you full control.

Before using the machine, the inserted module needs to be calibrated. The box includes a calibration chart and a few other items of material that can be used to do this. The process is relatively straightforward, and Creality has created several tutorial videos to guide you through the process.

As the lid is lifted, you can place it on the removable work bed, which offers height, and the design enables various positioning options, especially for awkward objects. With the setup that I was sent, I was only able to work with metal due to the fibre module, and as I went through the test materials, there was almost nothing to clean up afterwards.

From experience, I know that using a diode head generates far more dust and particles that need to be cleaned away. It’s also worth noting that the exhaust fan and dust guard both detach for cleaning.

I’ll also note that no air purifier was supplied with my machine, so I connected an existing filter from another manufacturer using a little ducting, and it worked perfectly, although with full manual control. If you already own a purifier, that is worth knowing; you will lose the integrated feedback and control, but you’ll save some cash.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)Creality Falcon T1: Features

The module swap is the headline feature here, and although I only had a single module to work with, it seemed easy enough. However, swapping heads and recalibration are features that would set this apart from competitors. I was unable to check this, so it could be as simple as a quick swap or require far more time; again, I’ll update when further modules arrive.

An area that I am interested in seeing work is the calibration handling; it looks to be the clever part. Once you have calibrated each module with the supplied cards, swapping between modules doesn’t require recalibration, allowing you to move quickly between materials and processes.

If, however, you do move the machine around the workshop, as I did, a quick recalibration is sensible before starting again. Compared with the usual business of changing laser heads, the whole process seems quick.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

Inside the machine is an HD camera that works through the desktop software and enables you to place designs onto material accurately; this is essential when you are engraving something where you only get one go, such as a phone, lens or laptop.

Everything is calibrated so positioning is precise rather than approximate, and the software will map designs onto curved surfaces such as bottles.

The AI tools are more useful than they sound and far better than the usual gimmicky template images you see. Instead, they can be used to generate relief images to create coins from images sourced from Salisbury Museum, engraving them into blank metal coins, and it worked remarkably well.

There is also automatic layout, batch filling, and colour-engraving assistance for metals, and the multicolour engraving produced by the fibre module through the software is impressive.

Creality Falcon T1: Performance

Setup took around 10 minutes, as the machine arrived pre-assembled and factory-calibrated. I just needed to attach the cables and install the 20W fibre module before running through the calibration process, following the online videos, and then started with the test files from the supplied USB stick.

Later, when connected to a MacBook Pro, the Falcon Design Space was equally easy to use, and from there I could lay out my own designs, access the live camera feed, and position artwork precisely over the material, eliminating the guesswork.

The software really deserves a big mention, and I’ve used it before on previous Falcon machines. It’s just well thought out and lets you get straight to work rather than faffing around with settings. Unlike fibre lasers that hand you off to third-party software, this is fully integrated with the hardware, and that integration pays off constantly in workflow.

Everything worked seamlessly and felt stable from the outset, one of the issues I often find with fibre lasers intended for the professional market. Being able to set a job running from another room or to position a design against a live camera feed, rather than by guesswork, turns what is often a fiddly process into something straightforward.

At the time of review, I’m only testing the one module, but will update on the ease of swapping and the software's recognition of each new option once installed. Using the Fibre laser gave me quite a bit of flexibility with materials, including engraving on metal. It was incredibly fast and accurate, with fine, crisp edges and detail.

Most designs engraved onto various types of metal were completed in a few seconds, with most complex designs completed within 30 seconds.

This is also one of the first machines that makes working in colour with metal engraving relatively easy, and it is a prime example of where AI comes into play. Essentially, load the image, and the AI converts it into what is needed.

Although the hit rate on this isn’t 100%, it does make things easier than almost all other solutions I’ve tried, with only the XTool option being on a par. You can then go in and adjust the colours, as needed. As ever, a little experimentation is needed, but it’s just about as smooth a process as I’ve yet come across in this type of work.

On average, these designs, at the maximum size I tried (160 x 160), took around an hour. There were a few glitches along the way, but I was pleased to see that the software lets you generate test charts to test the material before you start.

Using the module with metals and the engraving quality with the 20W fibre module is exceptional. Speed and resolution are among the best I have seen, on a par with the strongest dedicated fibre machines, although the weaker power does mean more passes when embossing.

To test this, I had a high-resolution image from Salisbury Museum of a coin, and once it was processed through the software, it was embossed onto one of the coin blanks. The effect of this coin, due to its age and relief, was subtle, but when a few other designs were transformed, and the results were pronounced.

This is an amazing process, although, whereas the other uses are relatively quick, the process of creating an embossed coin took 13 hours, so roughly 26 hours for the two sides if you want to go down that route. A 40W or the MOPA will make a big difference to this speed and will be one of the most exciting aspects of this engraver.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

With that modular design, the 20w will hopefully see an upgrade in the future. One thing worth knowing is that, with this machine, and for that matter, higher-quality fibre material is important: cheap metal items engrave, but they do not look great afterwards. In contrast, a quality stainless steel piece under the same laser looks superb. If you are producing items to sell, buy decent blanks.

The 175 x 175mm working area proved decent enough for the small metal objects, which is exactly what the fibre machines tend to suit: keyrings, coins, tags, and similar personalised items. For anything larger, it will feel restrictive.

Through the review, I also tested the conveyor, one of the few accessories supplied, and setting it up requires considerably more room; it also requires you to disengage the lid's safety feature, so protective glasses are required. I was surprised to see that none have been provided.

However, again, this is quite common for this level of machine, and the results and speed increase for batch production are impressive. What really stands out is how it can automatically recognise the objects placed on the surface and engrave without you needing to align each individually.

If you do a lot of batch work, the conveyor makes sense, and again it shows the potential for the machine, which I only feel like through the review I am touching on.

Creality Falcon T1: Final verdict

In this test, I gave the 20 fibre module a good run, and it instantly gives a good idea of its potential, once those other modules are purchased.

Add in the 20W and 40W diode modules, which handle wood and acrylic cutting; the 60W MOPA, which most professionals will be interested in for deep and colored metal work; and the 5W UV module for glass, ceramics and internal crystal engraving, this machine really makes sense.

Couple all that with the rotary kit and the smoke purifier, and you have a professional eco-system that starts to look extremely appealing.

If you regularly work with wood, leather, metal, and glass, the modular concept makes sense, and buying the modules you need rather than five separate machines will save both money and a great deal of space in the long run.

On reviewing the fibre module, the engineering and software quality do show potential, but if you’re only going to be using one module then this is an expensive option. However, add in at least one or two additional modules and it makes sense in both cost and size.

Alastair JenningsAlastair JenningsAlastair JenningsShould you buy the Creality Falcon T1 laser engraver

Value:

The concept saves money against five machines, but a single module makes it expensive

4

Design:

Enclosed, practical and genuinely well thought out for maintenance and workflow

4.5

Features

An exceptionally feature-packed machine, with excellent software and camera positioning

5

Performance

The 20W fibre module is exceptional; the rest remains untested

5

Total

An innovative machine with value dependent on the modules you select

4.5

Buy it if...

You work across several materials.

If you regularly customise wood, acrylic, metal, glass, and crystal, a single enclosure with interchangeable modules can replace several machines and save considerable workshop space.

You produce small batches commercially.

Fast repeated engraving, camera-assisted positioning and the optional conveyor suit personalised products and regular commercial orders on small items.View Deal

Don't buy it if...

You only need one laser type.

With a single module fitted, this costs roughly double a comparable dedicated machine, and rivals bundle fibre and diode heads together for less. The concept only pays off across multiple modules.

Your work exceeds 175 x 175mm.

The fixed processing field suits keyrings, coins, tags and small personalised items. Anything larger will feel cramped, no matter which module is fitted.View Deal

For more crafting tech, I've tested and reviewed all the best 3D printers.

GoBirding Vision Master: One-minute review

Bird-spotting scopes have remained stubbornly analog for a very long time: you point some glass at a distant feathered friend, squint, and hope you remembered your spotter's guide. The GoBirding Vision Master Smart AI Spotting Scope, or the APL-ETF-M1 to give it its slightly snappier model name, wants to drag that experience kicking and screaming into the smartphone era.

It does so by squeezing a 4K camera, on-device AI bird identification and smartphone-friendly connectivity into a 30x optical zoom scope. It's certainly an ambitious concept; and after spending a few weeks testing it, I came away impressed in some ways and frustrated in others.

The build quality is a positive: the scope feels solid rather than plasticky, and the design manages to be fairly discreet too. At 932g with the tripod mount attached, it's not a lightweight in absolute terms, but it's manageable enough for a session in the field. The front and eyepiece caps, though, have an annoying habit of working themselves loose when the scope is packed away in a bag — worth knowing if you're the sort who likes to keep your gear spotless.

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

The headline feature — AI bird identification — works, but with caveats. GoBirding claims the M1 can ID over 1,500 species offline, and over 10,000 when connected to the internet via your smartphone, and in practice it correctly called out everything from common cormorants and herring gulls to species I hadn't heard of, like the water pipit. It's less confident with distant or backlit subjects, though, and it drew a blank on a peregrine falcon I spotted, likely because the bird was too well camouflaged against its perch for the system to extract enough detail; you need a clean, in-focus shot for reliable results, and that's not always easy to get.

Which brings me to the scope's chief weakness: autofocus. It's sluggish, and for fast or skittish birds, I found myself reaching for manual focus. It's a similar story with the image stabilization; GoBirding recommends a tripod over handheld use, and having tried both, I heartily agree. Mounted up, footage steadies out nicely; handheld, especially at higher magnifications, it completely fails to remain level.

Image quality itself is a mixed bag. 4K/30fps video looks reasonably sharp at native zoom, but push into the digital range beyond 30x and detail falls off fast. Colors also tend toward the oversaturated — skies in particular can look implausibly turquoise — and the bokeh has an odd, angular quality unlike anything I've seen from a superzoom camera, more chain-link fence than creamy blur.

The companion app is spotty too. Second-screening — letting someone else see what you're viewing through the scope on their phone — works well, and is genuinely useful for shared birding trips. But other features feel unfinished: the app never once managed to log my location correctly, defaulting instead to a spot on the equator, and it doesn't automatically record the time or place of AI-identified sightings, which feels like a missed opportunity given how central data-logging is to the scope's appeal.

Pricing, like a skittish sparrow, remains something of a moving target. GoBirding has confirmed an official retail price of $999, with Kickstarter backers able to secure an Early Bird unit for significantly less depending on tier; there will also be an as-yet-unspecified Super Early Bird VIP discount available too. The Kickstarter campaign is expected to arrive around August 20, with shipping to follow in batches after that — but I should caution that all of this remains subject to change.

GoBirding Vision Master: Price and availability

• Official retail price set to be $999 (about £750 / AU$1,450)
• Kickstarter Early Bird pricing from $649 (about £490 / AU$940)
• Kickstarter campaign expected to launch around August 20, 2026

The M1 isn't on sale yet. GoBirding's Kickstarter campaign is expected to launch around August 20, 2026, offering backers an Early Bird price from $649 to $699 depending on tier. That's well below the $999 official retail price, which will apply once the M1 reaches general sale. A further Super Early Bird VIP discount has also been promised, though GoBirding hasn't yet specified the terms.

GoBirding hasn't published official GBP or AUD pricing, so the conversions above are calculated at current exchange rates rather than confirmed figures. Production is reportedly already underway, with shipping to begin shortly after the Kickstarter campaign wraps and orders are confirmed. There's no word yet on wider retail availability beyond that, however.

At $999, the M1 sits close in price to premium bridge cameras like the Nikon Coolpix P1100, but well below high-end AI optics like the Swarovski AX Visio. My gut feeling is that it's a rather steep price to pay for a scope that doesn't feel completely finished in terms of features and has some image-quality issues, but given that there's not really anything else like it on the market, it's hard to say what something like this should cost.

GoBirding Vision Master: SpecsLeica SL3-P specs

Zoom:

30x optical, up to 120x hybrid

Sensor:

1/2.7-inch CMOS

Video:

Up to 4K/30fps; 1080p/120fps

Viewfinder:

1080p Micro OLED, 0.49-inch

Stabilization:

OIS (optical image stabilization)

Storage:

microSD, up to 512GB (not included)

Battery life:

Around 6 hours of continuous use

Waterproofing:

IP65

Dimensions:

11.7 x 3.22 x 4.3 inches / 297.6 x 82 x 110mm

Weight:

32.8oz / 932g (inc tripod mount)

GoBirding Vision Master: Design

• Solid, weatherproof IP65 build
• Tripod-ready straight out of the box
• Weighs around 32.8oz / 930g

Picking up the M1, the first thing I noticed was the heft-to-size ratio — it's a dense, reassuringly solid object, rather than something that feels hollow or plasticky. The forest-green and gunmetal-grey colorway feels like an appropriate choice for a birding tool, and should blend into foliage far better than a garish action-cam-orange scope would.

The controls are nicely tactile and have a rubbery finish, which suits outdoor use: there's a push-pull zoom joystick (which can be tilted left and right to manually focus), a dedicated AI recognition button, and separate stills/video capture controls, and they're all operable by feel alone, which is helpful when you're trying to keep your eyes on a parakeet rather than the top of the scope. The eyepiece itself houses a 1080p micro-OLED display, is angled nicely for extended viewing sessions, and can be twisted to adjust focus. As a glasses wearer, I found it comfortable and easy to get a nice sharp view.

Future | Sam KieldsenFuture | Sam KieldsenFuture | Sam Kieldsen

A pull-out rubber flap protects the microSD slot and USB-C port. I found that I wasn't able to transfer videos and images over to my MacBook Air via USB (the scope didn't show up as an openable drive in Finder) so I had to pop out the card, put it in a card reader and do it that way. Also, my sample didn't come with a microSD card, so you may need to buy one if you don't already have one going spare.

A tripod mount is attached to the underside, and given how much GoBirding leans on tripod use for its stabilization claims (more on that in the Performance section below), it's good that they haven't made you buy one separately or hunt for a compatible adapter. The mount can be removed by loosening a nut if you want to slim things down a bit and shoot handheld, but I kept it attached the whole time I was testing.

In the box you get a drawstring storage bag, a microfiber cleaning cloth, and protective push-on rubber caps for both the front element and the eyepiece. The caps are a nice idea in theory, but in practice they had an irritating habit of working themselves loose while the scope was in my backpack.

GoBirding Vision Master: Performance

• AI recognition impresses more often than it disappoints
• Autofocus is the scope's biggest let-down
• Image quality is solid in good light, shakier elsewhere

The M1's AI bird identification is simple to use — you just tap the AI button to toggle on a red box indicator, then center the bird within the box until the name appears on-screen — and mostly delivers on its promise. GoBirding claims 1,500 species identifiable offline and over 10,000 via the companion app, and across my testing it correctly called out common species like cormorants, rock pigeons and herring gulls, alongside less familiar ones — the water pipit, Caspian gull and great black-backed gull all got flagged, the latter two of which I'd wrongly assumed were regular herring gulls. I also tested it on a batch of still photos, and it was accurate the vast majority of the time, with only the occasional misidentification.

It's not infallible, though. The system needs a clean, sharply-focused subject to work with, so extreme-range or backlit birds (reduced to little more than silhouettes) routinely trip it up. It also failed to recognize a peregrine falcon I spotted perched on a distant church tower, most likely due to both the range and because its plumage blended in too well with the stonework for the AI to extract meaningful detail.

Autofocus isn't a strong point. It's noticeably sluggish and inaccurate, and for anything fast-moving or skittish I found manual focus the faster and more reliable option. Combine that with image stabilization that GoBirding itself admits works best with a tripod, and handheld shooting at higher magnifications becomes frustrating. Mounted up, footage steadies out nicely, but when you're shooting freehand, especially at the long end of that zoom range, you'll struggle to keep it level. Even when using a tripod, I found it almost impossible to get steady footage at 120x zoom.

Future | Sam KieldsenFuture | Sam KieldsenFuture | Sam KieldsenFuture | Sam KieldsenFuture | Sam Kieldsen

Image quality is a mixed bag, and here the small 1/2.7-inch CMOS sensor is a limiting factor throughout. In good light, 4K/30fps footage and 8MP stills at native zoom look reasonably crisp, but push into the digital zoom range beyond 30x and detail falls away quickly, as you'd expect from a sensor this size.

Colors also look oversaturated by default — skies in particular can be implausibly turquoise — and bokeh has an odd, angular character, more chain-link fence than the smooth, attractive background blur you'd get from a larger-sensor camera.

Should you buy the GoBirding Vision Master?Buy it if...

You want bird identification without a guide
The on-device recognition system works well enough to speed up confirming species in the field — arguably a handier trick than raw zoom power alone.

You mainly shoot from a tripod
Mount it up and the M1's stabilization and AI accuracy improve, and that ambitious zoom range becomes an asset instead of a challenge.

Don't buy it if...

You need it to work handheld
Stabilization struggles without a tripod, especially at higher magnifications — a real problem for a device that claims to offer grab-and-go convenience.

You're fussy about image quality
The small sensor, inaccurate color metering and unusual angular bokeh mean this won't satisfy anyone used to a proper superzoom camera or a dedicated wildlife lens.

Also consider

CoolPix P1100

If reach matters more than AI cleverness, the Coolpix P1100 goes further than the M1: its 125x optical zoom stretches to a 3000mm-equivalent focal length, more than double the M1's maximum. It's a conventional superzoom camera rather than a purpose-built birding tool, so you won't get on-device species recognition, and its small 1/2.3-inch sensor means image quality has its own well-documented limitations in anything but good light.

Read our Nikon P1000 reviewView Deal

Sony RX10 V

A very different proposition, the RX10 V pairs a much larger 1-inch sensor with a 24-600mm lens, and delivers image quality and autofocus performance that the M1 simply can't touch. Its 25x optical zoom falls well short of the M1's reach, and there's no AI bird identification here, but if outright photographic quality is your priority over specialized birding features, it's in a different league. It costs well over twice as much as the M1, though.

Read our Sony RX10 V reviewView Deal

How I tested the GoBirding Vision Master

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

• Tested over several weeks in several locations including a country park, the seafront, and a local churchyard
• Shot in a range of light conditions during the UK summer
• Tested handheld and tripod-mounted

I spent several weeks testing a review sample of the GoBirding Vision Master supplied to me by the manufacturers, across a range of locations near my home, aiming to put its birding-specific features through their paces in the kind of everyday settings a typical user would actually experience.

A local country park with a birding hide, and my town's seafront gave me a good mix of woodland, marshland and open-water species to test the AI recognition on. A nearby churchyard, home to a resident family of peregrine falcons, gave me the chance to test the M1 against a truly challenging subject: a stealthy bird of prey that spends much of its time perched high and partially obscured.

Across all locations, I tested both handheld and tripod-mounted use. I used the on-device AI identification extensively in the field, and separately tested it against a batch of still photos to assess accuracy outside of live conditions.

All shooting was carried out during a hot, dry summer spell, so while I can vouch for the M1's performance in strong sunlight, I wasn't able to test its weatherproofing in wet or cold weather.

First reviewed July 2026

Geekom IT13 Max: 30-second review

The Geekom IT13 Max is an interesting machine, built in the style of the usual Mini PC, yet with a quality that is slightly more solid and industrial than I’d usually expect. The design also lacks anything inspirational; it’s purely functional even down to the metal pressed backplate.

The specifications are also interesting, with a high-powered Ultra 9 185H and Arc GPU and NPU all integrated, providing impressive computing power. However, it all feels slightly limited with just 24GB of RAM that's soldered and non upgradable, then there’s the storage at just 500GB meaning that if you’re looking to store files onboard then you’ll quickly run out of space. Exactly as I discovered with the 4K video edit test in Premiere Pro and the gaming test, where it was a strict one game installed at a time.

However, as I started to look deeper at the system, you see that there’s something else going on with the RS232 and RS485 headers that means this can be integrated with a larger industry systems, well beyond anything that I have access to.

This is a mini PC that has a market in industry or as a solid machine for office use; if you work in the creative industry or fancy a bit of gaming, then while it’s powerful enough to handle quite demanding tasks, it's not the best mini PC we've tested for that, and there are better options out there.

As a standalone mini PC, it’s understated and powerful, great as a solid machine for the office that will plough through Microsoft Office applications with ease, but in reality this is a machine with a focus as part of larger industry applications.

Geekom IT13 Max: Price and availability

• How much does it cost? £749 / $749
• When is it out? Now
• Where can you get it? Directly from Geekom

The IT13 Max is available direct from Geekom US for $799 and Geekom UK for £749.

It's also on sale for the same price at both Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.

This buys you the 24GB RAM and 500GB SSD version that I have looked at in this review. There are, however, two present versions of this machine available. The other is what seems to be the lower-specified 16GB DDR5 with a 1TB SSD option; however, this machine offers two SO-DIMM slots accepting up to 96GB, which would be better suited for creatives, especially if used with an eGPU.

From now until August 15, TechRadar Pro readers can score an 8% discount when buying from either Geekom or Amazon when using the code TRT13MAX.

• Value: 4/5

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)Geekom IT13 Max: Specs

CPU: Intel Core Ultra 9 185H, 16 cores / 22 threads
Cache: 1.6MB L1, 18MB L2, 24MB L3
Graphics: Intel Arc (integrated).
NPU: Intel AI Boost
Memory: 24GB LPDDR5, 6,400 MTS
Storage: 500GB PCIe Gen4 SSD. Two slots: M.2 2280 PCIe NVMe Gen4 (to 4TB) and M.2 2242 SATA III (to 2TB), 6TB total
Display: 2 x USB4 40Gbps, 2 x HDMI 2.0, four 4K displays or 8K output
Networking: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, 2 x 2.5GbE
Other: dTPM 2.0, Kensington lock, VESA mount, RS232/RS485 headers
OS: Windows 11
Dimensions: 132 x 132 x 50mm (Measured)
Weight: 840g (Weighed)

Geekom IT13 Max: Design

Lifting the machine from the packaging, the size and weight are in line with what I’ve come to expect from a standard Mini PC, coming in at 132 x 132 x 50mm and weighing in at 836g. One point about the build quality that instantly stands out is how solid this is, with its full metal build including the base plate, which is usually plastic.

The other point is that the design is about as understated as you can get; this is by no means a design piece, and it is clearly not trying to be. It feels industrial, solid and functional: something you would be happy to see bolted into a workshop or sitting as part of a production line, although that simplicity also helps it to blend into the scenery in most offices.

The port layout across the machine is also relatively well thought out, if a little dated in the approach with the four USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports across the front and the faster USB4 at the back. The front also sees a 3.5mm audio jack and the power button. On the back, alongside the two USB 4 are two HDMI 2.0, two 2.5GbE LAN RJ45, USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, USB-A 2.0 and DC in. On the side is an SD 4.0 card reader.

One of the feature that will be of real interest to some users are the RS232/RS485 headers; these are really features that will only appeal to those looking for a machine to use in an industrial situation, and there’s no direct accessibility to them from the exterior of the machine.

Opening the machine up by removing the metal baseplate, secured in place with four crosshead screws, you can see the two connectors along the back plate of the machine. These two internal four-pin RS‑232 and RS‑485 headers are positioned beside the rear HDMI ports, although breakout cables are not supplied.

Checking the baseplate, however, there is an extra plate that would enable you to slip the cables neatly into it, and then you’d probably need to machine an opening for the cables to exit the system.

Have never used this type of connector; I was unable to test this with the top-level 3D printers, Laser engravers and CNC machines that I look at, obviously under the threshold or where this connector type comes into play.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

These are essentially industrial-grade connections, beyond what I can test here. Still, if your CNC equipment or production machinery uses serial control, this could be an interesting solution, and there is very little else at this price offering it.

These industrial options may well be the reasoning for much of the port choices and layout, which I did find frustrating with modern kit and connectors in my office and workshop.

The two USB4 connections are great to see even if they’re hidden round the back, but there is a row of USB-A ports across the front, and these days I don’t have a single machine, device or accessory running on this type of connector.

The display support also seems like a feature to hit a headline; four 4K monitors sounds impressive, but most businesses have two or, at the most, three screens that will suffice, and rarely if ever do I see four in play.

• Design: 4.5 / 5

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)Geekom IT13 Max: Features

The Ultra 9 185H CPU is a headline feature, and with its 16 cores, 18MB L2 and 24MB L3 cache in a hybrid layout, and 22 logical processors, with a 2.50GHz base that boosts it to 4.64GHz and a 45W TDP, it all looks very impressive on paper.

That CPU is partnered with the Intel Arc graphics and an NPU Intel AI Boost that has impressed in past reviews and now has a proven track record for on-device AI work that the likes of Windows 11 and the Adobe Suite increasingly pull on.

The CPU is at the heart of the machine and is joined by 24GB of LPDDR5 memory in the review sample that I have taken a look at. As this memory is soldered to the motherboard, there’s no upgrade route.

However, there is another version of the same machine available with removable RAM and this ships with just 16GB but is upgradable to 96GB.

It’s worth noting that the hardware for this machine will all utilise that 24gb of RAM, which for many high-intensity applications does instantly look like a limitation in the hardware configuration for some uses.

While the RAM may be limited, the internal storage does offer a little more flexibility despite only arriving with 500GB. There are two slots: an M.2 2280 PCIe NVMe Gen4 taking up to 4TB, and an M.2 2242 SATA III, so you do have the option of upgrading to a 6TB total.

Networking is well balanced considering the level of the hardware with Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, and two 2.5GbE ports.

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

• Features: 4.5 / 5 (Will change once features are available)

Geekom IT13 Max: Performance

Getting started with the Geekom IT13 Max required the usual run-through of the Windows 11 Pro set-up, which takes between 10 and 20 minutes depending on integrations and your internet connection. Aside from the normal, there’s nothing too tricky about the process, so setting up one or multiple machines in a workplace should be quite straightforward.

The one thing to note is that this does feel like a good, robust machine, so if you are attaching this to a rig, van or other piece of equipment, the design and quality here do show that this is an ideal solution as part of larger systems and not just as something to sit on a desktop.

Once everything had loaded, I was interested to see just how fast this Ultra 9 185H machine would be, having been impressed with similar mini PCs in the past. What was apparent almost immediately was that while that CPU power was there, when it came to applications that put demand on the system, it felt as though something was holding it back.

Checking the R23 multi-core score and the 14,934 showed that the CPU was in line with other machines, and even with the slightly elevated ambient temperatures, the machine's cooling was doing its job.

Checking through the rest of the machines' settings and again Geekbench score of 13,150 for the multi-core and 2,402 single-core, PCMark7,526 overall, and a Time Spy CPU score of 10,613 against 3,508 for graphics showed once again just how good this processor is even with the integrated graphics.

However, as I started to run through the real-world tests, the performance was mixed, with Microsoft Office applications running as well as with any machine; likewise, Photoshop and Lightroom Classic ran well, with some slowing down when rendering thumbnails in libraries and in Adobe Bridge but otherwise handling images and adjustments with ease.

Opening Premiere Pro started to show the limitations, and while lite edits were fine, as soon as higher-bitrate 4K footage was loaded, the machine started to slow down. Firstly, the storage was limited, so an external drive needed to be connected and then as the timeline filled, render speeds quickly extended and the smoothness of the application faltered.

Switching over to gaming and similar traits started to show as I loaded up Hogwarts Legacy, and while the initial gameplay was fine, the graphic quality needed to be lowered, and even then the smoothness of playback was affected.

As I checked through the tests, I noted that the scores for CrystalDiskMark highlighted a decent 5,466MB/s read, but only 3,289MB/s write. This was far less than I expected for a Gen4 drive and was most likely caused by the 500GB capacity getting close to capacity.

Through the test, I was also at that point of needing to uninstall applications before installing the next, which was frustrating, so a new SSD for me would be an instant upgrade.

This lack of capacity of the SSD would also help explain the Windows Experience Index of 8.2, which for an Ultra 9 machine is low.

Looking back at the real-world tests and for office work, including writing this review and other standard light to midweight tasks using Microsoft Office and the Adobe Creative Suite, the machine performed well. It was only when more was demanded from the machine, such as Premiere Pro 4K edits, that it started to struggle, although it could still manage light editing without too much issue.

When I switched to gaming, those struggles followed a similar pattern. Hogwarts Legacy is playable, but a little less smooth than I would have expected for a CPU of this power, and again the memory and storage were an issue.

Benchmark results

CrystalDiskMark Read: 5,466.68 MB/s
CrystalDiskMark Write: 3,289.07 MB/s
Geekbench CPU Multi: 13,150
Geekbench CPU Single: 2,402
Geekbench GPU: 39,255
PCMark Overall: 7,526
Cinebench 2026 Multi: 3,686
Cinebench 2026 Single: 426
Cinebench R23 Multi: 14,934
Cinebench R23Single: 1,666
Fire Strike Overall: 7,830
Fire Strike Graphics: 8,362
Fire Strike Physics: 28,618
Fire Strike Combined: 3,052
Time Spy Overall: 3,899
Time Spy Graphics: 3,508
Time Spy CPU: 10,613
Wildlife Overall: 23,648
Steel Nomad Overall: 696
Windows Experience Overall: 8.2

At present, it is hot generally inside and out, and the noise generated by the machine when working under load is worth highlighting. What I liked was that the fans respond quickly as the intensity of the workload increased; during testing, the ambient temperatures were higher than usual at around 25°C in the office and 20°C in the workshop.

Regarding that noise fan, I measured ambient noise of 32.4 dB; then, with normal running, browsing the internet and using Word, the noise sits at 46.8dB, rising to 59.5dB under load.

This increase in noise essentially meant that when editing in Premiere Pro, the fan noise becomes audible, while Lightroom, Photoshop and Office work stay relatively quiet. Then when it comes to gaming, the system pushes the fans to the max as soon as the graphics load increases.

As a final note, the dual 2.5GbE networking is great to see for creative users, although I do like to see 5GbE or 10-GbE to make the most of my network. Still, 2.5GbE enables surprising transfer speeds and is a good balance between speed and cost. Two ports mean one can run to the network while the other connects directly to a NAS; this helps to speed up backups and just about makes network editing possible.

• Performance: 4.5 / 5

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)Geekom IT13 Max: Final verdict

(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)

The Geekom IT13 Max is an interesting machine; it is, as you’d expect from a Mini PC, compact, with plenty of connection options and perfectly suited to office work, browsing and light to medium creative tasks. It then takes the pace up a level with dual 2.5GbE networking, the ability to connect to four monitors and those two USB4 ports, but then it also has the build quality and slightly odd RAM and storage configurations.

The processor is powerful and AI-ready, which was shown in the benchmark tests; however, while 24Gb of soldered memory is fine for Office tasks and light multimedia editing, it struggles as soon as anything more graphically demanding is required. Then the 500GB drive means that you run out of space surprisingly quickly, and in the test I was only able to install one large game at any one time, although I do take into account that the storage is upgradable; still, these days 1TB is generally the minimal I would recommend.

Then there’s the build quality and those two RS232/RS485 headers which really highlight that while you can use this in the office and it will be a productive work machine, in reality its use is a little more niche and it would be better suited to demanding workflows and systems, which again explains the build and those two very focused internal connectors.

In this review I’ve looked at the fixed RAM model, and there is also the 16GB model with its SO-DIMM slots and 1TB drive which, if you do need a machine that’s robust and better for creative use, would seem like a far better buy, especially upgraded to 96GB if you need it.

Should I buy the Geekom IT13 Max?

Value

The price is high but does give you an impressive processor; however, the memory and storage limit could mean limits and further expense.

3.5/5

Design

One of the most understated Mini PCs on the market with industrial style and plenty of connections for focused use. 

4/5

Features

It’s great to see the dual USB4, Wi-Fi 7, dual 2.5GbE and the RS232/RS485 headers point to this machine being used in industrial locations. 

4/5

Performance

The CPU delivers as expected, but the rest of the configuration limits what it can do without further spend. 

3.5/5

Overall

A very capable machine, as long as you pick the right configuration for the work that you want to do.

4/5

Buy it if...

You need a machine for a workshop or production line.

The metal base plate, solid construction and RS232/RS485 headers highlight that this is a machine designed for industrial deployment, and in that setting the memory and storage are well balanced rather than limiting.

You work from a NAS

Two 2.5GbE ports let you run one connection to the network and another straight to a NAS, speeding up backups and making mid-weight 4K network editing workable.

Don't buy it if...

Your workload will grow.

The 24GB memory is soldered, so there is no upgrade path. The 16GB configuration takes up to 96GB and ships with a 1TB drive, which makes it the better buy.

You work somewhere quiet.

The fans reach 59.5dB under load against a 32.4dB ambient, and Premiere Pro or gaming will keep them there. For office and photo work, they stay quiet.

For more productivity machines, we've tested the best business computers.

I still consider Lies of P to be the very best of the best soulslike games you can play today. Others have come close, like the tremendously underrated Wuchang: Fallen Feathers (I also have a soft spot for 2023's flawed-but-interesting Lords of the Fallen), but none have been able to match this macabre take on the tale of Pinocchio. And I'm happy to report the game really shines on Nintendo Switch 2 with the arrival of Lies of P: Complete Edition.

Review info

Platform reviewed: Nintendo Switch 2
Available on: Nintendo Switch 2
Release date: August 6, 2026

It's very much the same game that fans have loved since its 2023 release. However, Lies of P: Complete Edition also bundles in the phenomenal Overture expansion and all previously released cosmetic downloadable content (DLC).

As a result, this review will broadly focus on the game's performance on Nintendo Switch 2 and its overall value for money of Lies of P: Complete Edition. Be sure to read our original Lies of P review for a more complete rundown of the game itself, as well as our Lies of P: Overture review if you're curious about the unmissable massive expansion that released last year.

If you own a Nintendo Switch 2 and you've been waiting for a chance to play Lies of P, then you'll be well-served with Lies of P: Complete Edition. Not only does it bundle the base game and the expansion at a reasonable asking price, but it's also a winner in the performance department with robust graphics options and speedy load times. I really can't recommend it enough, especially after completing my third playthrough of the game via this Complete Edition.

It's not a perfect package; the more quality-centric graphics options are perhaps a tad too ambitious, leading to a very noticeable performance compromise. Plus, the inability to disable motion blur means you'll probably get sick of the smeary image created whenever you adjust the in-game camera.

But if you stick to the performance- or balance-oriented graphics modes in either docked or handheld play, you'll find that Lies of P mostly plays like a dream on Nintendo Switch 2.

Arms' length

(Image credit: Fireshrine Games)

As a quick catch-up (though once again I'll direct you to the review links above if you want to really learn more about the game before making a purchasing decision), Lies of P is a soulslike action game in the vein of FromSoftware-developed titles like Elden Ring and the Dark Souls trilogy.

That means you can expect a high level of difficulty, with tough boss encounters and tricky enemies. You can also expect intricate level design with plenty to explore off the beaten path, and robust build variety that lets you craft a playstyle that suits your preferences.

Best bit

(Image credit: Fireshine Games)

Lies of P: Complete Edition not only packs in the awesome Overture expansion with the base game, but it offers plenty of graphics options to help you play the way you prefer. While only the performance-centered option offers 60 frames per second (fps; in docked mode only; a day-one patch will add a similar graphics option for handheld play), I found the 'Balanced' option to offer the best compromise between graphics quality and game performance.

Where Lies of P sets itself apart is in its gameplay particulars. The player character, as a puppet, can equip a variety of Legion Arms, which offer effects like applying harmful status elements, pulling enemies toward you, or laying down proximity mines for crowd control.

You can also mix and match the blade and hilt of most of the game's weapons, with different combinations changing how you swing the weapon, as well as the special moves it has access to. Finally, exploring is greatly incentivized by Quartz - a rare item that lets you unlock strong passive abilities via your P-Organ setup at the homebase of Hotel Krat. Such passives include more healing item uses, more amulet slots for applying strong combat effects, and greater effectiveness of your dodge roll.

Lies of P can be an extremely tough game, but there are two easier difficulty options if you'd prefer a more casual experience. These can be changed at any time, so feel free to switch them around if you find you're having too hard (or too easy) of a time; the game does not punish you or lock away any content on those easier difficulties.

P for Performance

(Image credit: Fireshine Games)

So let's break down how Lies of P: Complete Edition runs on Nintendo Switch 2, specifically. In docked mode, on TV, you have three settings. The performance-centered option lets you play at a full 60fps, and it's tremendously smooth with little in the way of hiccups. The downside here is you lose quite a bit of graphical detail, with greatly simplified environmental detail and particle effects.

The quality-centered option swings a bit too far in the opposite direction, and while it does offer some nice-looking ray-tracing, the Switch 2 isn't quite able to keep up the pace and performance really suffers as a result. This setting also makes the camera-based motion blur very apparent, creating a Vaseline-like smear whenever you shift the camera in-game. There's no option to turn off the motion blur, either, so I would recommend avoiding this setting in both docked and handheld modes.

(Image credit: Fireshine Games)

I personally found that the 'Balanced' setting offered the best results. This had the best balance between frame rate (a stable 30fps) and graphical detail. If you're going to play on TV, this is the graphics option I would strongly recommend.

There are still some caveats that are apparent across all graphics modes, though. There's very noticeable object pop-in for distant objects, especially in the game's denser areas like the Lorenzini Arcade or Overture's Krat Zoo. It's not game-breaking by any means, but it shows that some compromises had to be made for more stable performance on Switch 2.

Another annoying thing about this Switch 2 version is that you can only change graphics options from the title screen menu. That means you'll have to back out from the game to the menu every single time you want to change things up. This is another reason why I recommend just setting the game to Balanced mode from the jump. It offers the best visual quality to performance balance, and I would only suggest swapping to the performance-centered mode if you're desperate for 60fps gameplay.

On that note, a 60fps graphics option is coming to handheld mode via a day-one patch, so I was unable to test that during the review period.

Should I play Lies of P: Complete Edition?Play it if...

You're checking Lies of P out for the first time
Lies of P: Complete Edition includes the base game, the Overture expansion, and all previously released cosmetic DLC and quality-of-life updates. It's the full package, so it's ideal if you're playing for the first time.

You want a chunky, satisfying adventure on the go
Your first playthrough of Lies of P will take roughly 40-50 hours with the Overture expansion. Pair that with the impressive handheld performance here, and Lies of P: Complete Edition makes for a lengthy and enjoyable game for those who regularly play portably.

Soulslikes typically intimidate you
Lies of P is hard, but its easier difficulty options provide a fantastic onboarding experience if you really want to get into games like it, but are maybe a bit unnerved by the high difficulty.

Don't play it if...

You want peak visual clarity
While it looks and runs great in most graphics modes, its quality-centered options are a letdown. I'd stick to the PC version if you really want to see Lies of P looking its best.

Accessibility features

Lies of P: Complete Edition has a basic set of accessibility options. There are three colorblind modes (protanopia, deuteranopia, and tritanopia), as well as the option to adjust subtitle display and size. Full button rebinding is also supported, and as mentioned in the review, there are two easier difficulty options if the going gets a bit too tough.

How I reviewed Lies of P: Complete Edition

(Image credit: Fireshine Games)

I played Lies of P: Complete Edition for 20 hours for this review. That playtime included most of the base game and the first handful of areas within the Overture DLC. I tested all graphics modes available during the review period, including quality, performance, and balanced options.

I played Lies of P: Complete Edition primarily in docked mode on an LG CX OLED TV with a Switch 2 Pro Controller, swapping over to handheld mode every so often to get a feel for overall performance there, too. I also hooked up my RIG R5 Spear Pro HS gaming headset for more immersive audio while playing in handheld mode.

First reviewed July-August 2026

Dreo TurboCool Misting Fan 765S review

The Dreo TurboCool Misting Fan 765S has an advantage over traditional fans. While traditional fans provide what feels like a cooling breeze in the sweltering heat, they don’t in fact actually cool the air around you. That’s where the Dreo's clever misting technology comes in, reducing the temperature inside your home.

The brand claims the 765S can drop the temperature in a room by up to 6 degrees Celsius (roughly 11F), which makes all the difference when the mercury is rising.

It’s not the only misting fan on the market — for example the Shark FlexBreeze sits proudly atop our best fans list as I write this — but with super-quiet operation and bold room-cooling claims, can Dreo topple it from its top spot? I’ve put the 765S through its paces to find out.

Setup is pretty simple, but do take a moment before you remove the fan from its packaging. You need to remove the weighted base plate first, then prop the fan tower up on the edge of the box so you can fix the base to the bottom. It clips onto the bottom of the tower and is secured with a screw, included in the box.

There's a variety of protective packaging around the fan that needs to be removed before operation, including cardboard and plastic in the water tank. It’s worth taking your time to check you’ve removed all the various stickers, plastic film and cardboard protection — I did miss a couple of things initially.

(Image credit: Future)

Stand it up, plug it in and then setup is ready to be completed via the free Dreo app. App setup is as easy as the physical. Create an account, pair the app with the fan, enter your Wi-Fi password, and you’re good to go.

And the app is pretty good: it's clearly laid out, although it only offers basic controls (on/off and timer) on the main screen. For any deeper controls, you have to tap the picture of the fan. It’s not difficult, but I’d like to see a few more options without having to tap into another menu.

Fortunately, you're not solely reliant on the app, as there are touch controls on the top of the fan, plus you get a remote (and the two AAA batteries required to power it) included in the box.

With the remote, you can control the power, fan speed, fan mode, oscillation, misting and timer. It feels a little cheap in the hard with a basic plastic shell — Dyson’s remotes are far more premium, plus they magnetically cling to the top of the firm’s fans — but it’s functional and feels sturdy.

It’s annoying that there’s just one fan speed button on the remote though, forcing you to cycle through all speeds levels to get your desired one. I’d rather have up and down buttons for faster control.

(Image credit: Future)

When filling the water tank, it slides out from the front of the fan, and comes with a fold up carry handle to make transportation easier. You might think you don’t need it as you carry it empty to the sink, but once filled to the max level line you’ll find it surprisingly heavy. If you have a shallow sink, you might find filling a little cumbersome due to the size and shape of the tank.

The 765S's design is sleek and modern, with a pillar shape that tapers towards the top. The circular display on the front is bright and easy to read, even from across a room.

And at the bottom of the tower the water tank itself hides a fun feature. Power the fan on and you’ll notice a funky ambient light. It’s not just decorative, as the color can indicate the current humidity in the room. Blue signals humidity of 70%, while orange means the air is dry, at 30% or less. Green signals a comfortable humidity between 30% and 70%.

However, you can just have it illuminated in a color of your choice instead, with no link to the fan's performance or the room’s humidity.

There are three other lighting modes to choose from: constant, breath, and cycle. Constant allows you to pick a color of your choice for the light to be, while breath will see your color selection slowly pulsate. Cycle, as the name suggests, will cycle through a range of different colors, fading from one to the next. I found this to be a handy party mode when I had guests over and we were listening to music.

(Image credit: Future)

But what’s it like as a fan, I hear you scream? The good news is: pretty darn good.

At fan speed two, you can comfortably feel a breeze from four meters away, and it’s very quiet at this level, making it perfect for chatting with others, working, or watching TV. Even at its highest speed (12), I got a peak reading of 65dB directly in front of the machine, which is equivalent to normal conversation. It’s quieter than that when you’re sitting away, allowing you to speak to others without the fan being a distraction.

When it’s warm and you are looking for a breeze to take the edge off, this is all you really need. Higher fan speeds are useful when the fan is placed in larger, open-plan spaces, while the misting function is only really required when the mercury starts to soar.

But when the temperature does rise, the misting function is excellent. There are four misting vents — two on each side of the main airflow vent that runs down the middle — and they’re angled slightly up so moisture is directed into the air, rather than at the floor / furniture.

And it surprised me in two ways. Firstly, there’s hardly any increase in noise when the misting function is on, which means you could leave it on overnight in your bedroom and not be disturbed. Second, I was impressed with how fine the mist produced was. The ultrasonic atomizers used in the 765S produce a 17um ultra-fine mist — this means it evaporates quicker, preventing damp building up on objects nearby.

I could sit comfortably just a meter away from the fan, enjoying the cooling breeze without a sensation that it’s lightly raining. What’s even better is the misting function actually delivers on the claim that it reduces the temperature in your room.

During my tests, I saw a degree knocked off the room temperature after just 10 minutes of misting. It instantly makes a difference, and I was able to set a target humidity so the fan wouldn’t just keep pumping out water unnecessarily.

(Image credit: Future)

Keeping the fan running continuously for several hours, room temperature dipped by another degree, but I never saw more than a 2C drop during my weeks of testing. That’s some way off Dreo’s “up to 6 degrees” temperature reduction claim, and I’m not sure what sort of ideal scenario is needed to achieve this in the real world.

Still, a reduction in temperature is always a win, and the misting adds an additional layer of cooling, keeping me comfortable in what otherwise would have been a stuffy home office.

Dreo says the 6L water tank will last for 24 hours (or more) of run time when the misting mode is enabled, and I’m inclined to agree. I ran the 765S with misting turned on for a variety of different durations, and even during longer four to five hour sessions the water level reduced only marginally.

One slight frustration though was the limited oscillation angle. The 765S can only rotate 90 degrees. For many that’ll likely be enough, but having recently tested the Dyson Find+Follow Purifier Cool that has 350 degrees of movement, the Dreo feels a touch restrictive.

If you live somewhere hot and dry, the TurboCool Misting Fan 765S will provide all-day misting without breaking a sweat. Dreo claims the TurboCool Misting Fan 765S can reduce temperatures by up to 6C and although I didn’t get this level of cooling, it did make a significant difference in the rooms I tested it in, making them far more comfortable to work, relax, and sleep in.

It’s not going to deliver the same cooling as air conditioning, but the 765S offers an excellent middle ground between AC and traditional fans. It can genuinely reduce the heat in the room, keep humidity at a comfortable level, and does it all so quietly you might even forget it’s there.

(Image credit: Future)Dreo TurboCool Misting Fan 765S review: Price and release date

• The TurboCool Misting Fan 765S costs £199.99 / $199.99
• It’s available now via Amazon in the US and UK
• A cheaper, table-top version is also available

The Dreo TurboCool Misting Fan 765S is available for a list price of £199.99 / $199.99, having gone on sale in April 2026. That’s the same price as its core rival, the Shark FlexBreeze, giving it a fighting chance in the market.

If you’re after a more compact offering, Dreo also has the table-top TurboCool Misting Fan 516S for £99.99 / $99.99. Meanwhile the TurboCool Outdoor Misting Fan 711AS — also £199.99 / $199.99 at Amazon — is, as the name suggests, designed for use both indoors and out. So if you’re looking to keep things cooler whether you’re in the garden or in bed, this is the one to go for.

(Image credit: Future)Dreo TurboCool Misting Fan 765S review: Specs

Speeds

12

Modes

4

Control

Remote, app, voice, touch

Max distance

18m

Max speed

10m/s

Max air volume

3007m3/h

Sound level (Max)

65dBA (tested)

Sound level (Quiet Mode)

20dBA

Oscillation

90 degrees

Cord length

1.8m

Product diameter

280mm

Height

1,105mm

Weight

8kg

Water tank

6L

(Image credit: Future)Should I buy the Dreo TurboCool Misting Fan 765S?

Attribute

Notes

Score

Features

There’s a good range of features here, and they work well, from the quiet sleep mode and handy scheduler, to the cooling misting mode and clever illumination.

4/5

Performance

I was impressed with the quiet operation and the misting function that genuinely reduces room temperature (although not by as much as Dreo claims).

4.5/5

Design

Decent design with attractive illumination tricks that are functional and decorative. But it’s not exactly going to wow people, it’s heavy to move around (especially with a full water tank) and the remote feels a touch cheap.

4/5

Value

Competitively priced considering the feature set. If you spot it on discount, I wouldn’t hesitate to purchase it.

4.5/5

Buy it if…

You want a fan that can actually cool down your room
The misting function on the Dreo TurboCool Misting Fan 765S actually brings the temperature of your room down by a degree or two, helping you beat the heat during the day and night.

You want to sleep and keep your fan on
The TurboCool Misting Fan 765S is exceptionally quiet, and you might even forget it’s even on. You’ll easily be able to sleep with the fan set at its lower speeds, and you can even have the misting function on too.

You want hassle-free operation
The 6L water tank can offer misting abilities for over 24 hours, which means you don’t need to be constantly checking the level. Coupled with an intuitive app and smart features, the Dreo 765S is a breeze to use.

Don’t buy it if…

You’re after AC-levels of cooling
The Dreo TurboCool Misting Fan 765S does reduce the temperature of the room it's in with its clever misting feature — something a traditional fan cannot do — but it’s not going to deliver AC levels of cooling.

You struggle to move heavy objects
The 6L water tank alone is heavy enough to lift out of a sink and carry back to the fan, so the two together are pretty weighty. There is a useful carry handle on the back, but it’s a lot of weight to shift by yourself.

You want to use it in a small room
Dreo has a smaller, more affordable table-top version of the 765S that will be great for small offices or box rooms. The TurboCool Misting Fan 516S will set you back £99.99 / $99.99 — that’s half the price of the 765S.

Dreo TurboCool Misting Fan 765S review: Also consider

Shark FlexBreeze
The main competitor to the Dreo, Shark’s FlexBreeze is powerful, near-silent, and incredibly versatile. It can be used virtually anywhere — it transforms from desktop to pedestal, works corded or cordless, and is suitable for indoor and outdoor use. Its misting function is only designed to be used outdoors though, giving the Dreo the edge when it comes to indoor cooling.

Read our full Shark FlexBreeze review

Dreo TurboCool Misting Fan 516S
If you’re sold on the cooling mist of the 765S, but think it’ll be a little too large for your home, Dreo handily has a smaller version made to sit on a table, nightstand, or desk. The TurboCool Misting Fan 516S has many of the same features as its larger sibling, just in a more compact design that won’t cool as large an area.

(Image credit: Future)How I tested the Dreo TurboCool Misting Fan 765S

• Used the TurboCool Misting Fan 765S for several weeks
• Tested in rooms of varying size and temperature
• Tried out the various modes, including misting

I used the Dreo TurboCool Misting Fan 765S for several weeks in my home, testing it in rooms of varying size and temperature. I used it in my lounge to see how effectively it could cool a modest room, had it running overnight in the bedroom to experience how loud it is when sleeping, and in my open-plan kitchen/diner for large space use.

I used the included remote, the free smartphone app, and the on-device buttons to find out how easy it was to control. I also used the misting function in the day and at night to test its cooling credentials.

• Read TechRadar’s reviews guarantee
• First reviewed: July 2026

Xiaomi Robot Vacuum X20 Max review: one-minute review

The Xiaomi Robot Vacuum X20 Max seems like a slam dunk in the robot vacuum space. Positioned right in between the budget and upper mid range sections of the market, it delivers strong vacuum and mopping performance that make it capable of tackling a wide variety of messes in your home.

With LiDAR technology, its mapping is excellent and the robot vacuum does a great job of navigating unexpected obstacles that it might encounter during a clean. The design isn't the most exciting, though it still has a good range of features like an extendable mop arm and automatic carpet detection.

The dock is large, which might make it tricky to fit into smaller homes, but it's pretty capable as well, with hot water washing and air drying capabilities to keep the mop pads clean between uses.

It's all underpinned by a competent app that's easy to use and offers key functions such as being able to schedule cleans, restricting the robot vacuum to certain rooms, and allowing you to customize the vacuuming power and amount of water used by the mop.

The elephant in the room is that my unit developed a fault after a year of testing, occasionally spilling water during a mop pad clean. It's unfortunate and, even though it doesn't seem widespread, makes this model difficult to recommend unreservedly.

Xiaomi Robot Vacuum X20 Max review: price, range & availability

• List price $999.99 / £499.99 / AU$1,199
• Launched late 2024
• No longer available in Australia
• Limited stock in the US

The Xiaomi Robot Vacuum X20 Max has a list price of $999.99 / £499.99 / AU$1,199, and is readily available via the brand’s website in the UK. It often receives discounts too, taking the price down by £100 or so around major sales events. At this price it sits neatly between the budget and upper mid range price brackets, coming in much more expensive than under $300 / £300 / AU$500 favorites like the Roborock Q7 M5 but cheaper than the likes of the Eufy X10 Pro Omni, which goes for $799.99 / £799 / AU$1,699.95.

That latter model is a good point of comparison here, as it also features mop and similar LiDAR sensor setup. With this in mind, the Xiaomi Robot Vacuum X20 Max is very solid value - especially if you get it at that reduced price point. Accessories like replacement brushes, dust bags, and mop pads are all available via the Xiaomi website at pretty reasonable prices too.

Unfortunately, this model seems a lot harder to come by in the US. You can find it on Amazon, but it goes for an eye-watering $999.99 and stock appears limited. At this price it’s significantly worse value and you would be better off spending less on an alternative. Its list price is AU$1,199 in Australia, but it appears to no longer be available either through Xiaomi's own store, or Amazon.

• Value for money score: 3/5

Xiaomi Robot Vacuum X20 Max specs

Suction

8,000Pa

Mopping

Yes

Mop type

Dual rotating discs

Robot size (W x D)

13.78 x 3.82 inches / 350 x 97mm

Robot height

~3.82 inches / ~97mm

Dock dimensions (W x D x H)

13.39 x 16.54 x 22.17 inches / 340 x 420 x 563mm

Dust bin volume (onboard)

15.22oz / 450ml

Water tank volume (onboard)

Not stated

Dust bin volume (base)

84.5oz / 2.5l

Water tank volume (base)

135.3oz / 4l

Self-empty dust

Yes

Self-empty / refill water

Yes

Mop pad cleaning:

Yes

Wi-Fi control

Yes

Xiaomi Robot Vacuum X20 Max: design

• Raised LiDAR puck
• Extendable mop arm

The Xiaomi Robot Vacuum X20 Max isn’t pushing any boundaries when it comes to its overall design, but honestly that’s not such a bad thing.

It looks like your average robot vacuum, which is to say a big plastic disc with a chunky bumper at the front and a whole host of sensors. The most prominent of these is a big LiDAR sensor that sits in a little raised puck on the top, though there are others designed to spot obstacles or prevent the vacuum from falling off ledges.

Despite the basic look, the Xiaomi Robot Vacuum X20 Max has a bunch of useful features including two mop pads, one of which can be extended on a little arm for edge cleaning. The Xiaomi Robot Vacuum X20 Max is also capable of detecting which kind of surface it’s on, raising the mop pads when it goes over carpet to prevent any accidental stains.

Coming in at13.39 x 16.54 x 22.17 inches / 340 x 420 x 563mm, the docking station that it comes with is absolutely ginormous which could make it awkward to fit in smaller homes, but there are some good reasons for this size. Firstly, you’re getting a large 135.3oz / 4l clean water tank (removed for filling by simply popping up the lid on top of the dock) and a slightly smaller but still sizable 128.5oz / 3.8l tank for dirty water storage.

Xiaomi says that this is more than enough water to clean 2,152.8 square feet / 200 square meters on a single fill, and while my testing area was considerably smaller, I can say that it didn’t need refilling across multiple cleans.

(Image credit: Future)

The dock also has a hot water system to help wash both mop pads at 131F / 55C - a temperature that Xiaomi claims reduces odours more effectively. It dries the mop pads using hot air, a process that takes a few hours and produces a small level of sound akin to a desk fan.

There’s also a generous 84.5oz / 2.5l dust bag, which Xiaomi says only needs emptying once every 75 days in a three-person household with one pet. This seems like a very generous estimate to me, and your mileage will vary depending on your specific level of household mess. This bag size is on par with much of the competition, such as the aforementioned Eufy X10 Pro Omni, so you can expect similar performance to those models.

One feature that I particularly appreciate is the ability to remove parts of the dock for cleaning, including the little tray where the vacuum sits while charging. This isn't something that you will need to do regularly, but my previous robot vacuum tracked a decent layer of grime in its dock over the years and was comparatively pretty tricky to clean.

My only real complaint from a design standpoint is the vacuum’s incessant need to narrate what it's doing. By default it frequently declares 'start to dry the mop pad' and similar phrases in a loud, annoying voice. It's disruptive, though mercifully can be turned off in the app.

• Design score: 4/5

Xiaomi Robot Vacuum X20 Max review: performance

• Good navigation
• Deals with multiple surfaces well
• Base station pump developed issues

I've been using the Xiaomi Robot Vacuum X20 Max for a year now, and can say that it handles most daily cleaning tasks well. Its navigation capabilities are excellent and map that it generated of my cleaning area was spot on. I have the base station in the corner of an L-shape hallway and the robot never struggles to find it, even when it's been cleaning the handful of adjoining rooms.

Setting room boundaries works excellently too — if you want to restrict cleaning to a specific defined area, the vacuum won't stray beyond it. It also deals with unexpected obstacles like closed doors or moved furniture well, bumping into them once or twice and then adapting its path smartly. You don't need to worry about multiple surfaces, either. Every time I spot the vacuum going over the rug in the middle of a mop cycle, the pads are automatically raised as it detects the soft surface to prevent damage.

The vacuum picks up small debris and cleans up small spills with no sweat, and for a more intensive task I doused my kitchen floor with oats, cereal crumbs, flour, ketchup, and pretty much anything else that I could find in the cupboard.

How did the Xiaomi Robot Vacuum X20 Max fare? I sent it out on the most intensive possible cleaning mode and it made a commendable dent in the mess. The oats, crumbs, and flour were masterfully hoovered up with the exception of a few survivors in the hardest to reach corners of the room.

The ketchup was more of a challenge, and at first I was pretty worried that it wouldn't be able to overcome it: the mop pads smeared it in a thin layer over the middle of the floor at first but, sure enough, after multiple visits to the base station in order to clean itself and to refill its water tanks, it was all gone after a few runs. I did spot some red residue in the grouting between tiles, but this took just a few seconds for me to wipe up.

It's the kind of performance you would want from a mid-range robot vacuum. It's not a total replacement for doing the cleaning, but it does decrease the need for big cleans.

(Image credit: Future)

That said, my unit has developed a major issue over long-term testing. Sometimes when the vacuum cleans its own mop pads (either at the start or during a cleaning task) the motor that's meant to suck away all the dirty water doesn't kick in. This means that dirty water starts to accumulate in the base station, eventually overflowing and spilling out onto the floor.

It's frustrating (and pretty gross), and I'm struggling to resolve the issue by cleaning the water sensors, fiddling with the base station, and so on. Anecdotally, a family member bought Xiaomi Robot Vacuum X20 Max a few weeks after seeing my one, and it developed a similar fault within just a couple of months. It was, after some back and forth, repaired by Xiaomi.

Looking online, it doesn't seem to be a widespread problem, though I've still been able to find at least a few others who report the same thing. Users on Facebook and Reddit also seem to have had luck getting their vacuums replaced via Xiaomi's support service, though I suspect I can't go through this route with a review sample.

For this reason, I would recommend buying from Xiaomi directly rather than through reseller if you do chose to pick one up, as you otherwise will likely have more trouble getting support if issues do arise.

• Performance score: 2.5/5

Xiaomi Robot Vacuum X20 Max review: app

• Easy to use
• Scheduling features
• Different suction levels

The Xiaomi Robot Vacuum X20 is compatible with the Xiaomi Home app. It's easy to use and has plenty of features, including the ability to view the map generated by the robot, and its location real time. This is on top of the option to start cleans in specific rooms, schedule cleans, or clean the mop pads.

You can view the battery level, and change cleaning modes. These include basic vacuuming, mopping, vacuuming and mopping, or vacuuming before mopping. You can increase the water output too, with three levels to choose between, but bear in mind that this will increase how quickly you will need to refill everything.

I didn't encounter any bugs within the app, and it remained quick and responsive during my year of testing. The fact that you have to set up a Mi account is a bit annoying, but otherwise it offers everything you could from robot vacuum companion software.

• App score: 4.5/5

(Image credit: Future)Should you buy the Xiaomi Robot Vacuum X20 Max?

Attribute

Notes

Score

Performance

Good at vacuuming up debris and cleaning up small spills... when it works as intended.

2.5/5

Design

The Xiaomi Robot Vacuum X20 Max doesn't defy any design conventions, but it's perfectly functional and packed with features.

4/5

App

An easy to use app that offers every feature you could reasonably expect.

4.5/5

Value

Decently positioned in the UK and regularly on sale, but far too expensive if you're in the US and no longer sold in Australia..

3/5

Buy it if… 

You want a robot vacuum capable of cleaning serious mess
The Xiaomi Robot Vacuum X20 Max did a good job dealing with some serious kitchen debris and spills. It requires multiple passes for some wet stains, but it is able to get through large amounts of grime.

You have a mix of hard flooring and carpet
The Xiaomi Robot Vacuum X20 Max does a great job differentiating between different flooring types.

You need a good app
The Xiaomi Robot Vacuum X20 Max's companion app has all the features you could reasonably expect. It's a great bit of software.

Don’t buy it if… 

You need long term reliability
Although likely not widespread, it's hard to ignore the fact that my unit developed a fault after a year of use.

You can't fit a large base station
The base station here is pretty large, is an includes two water tanks in addition to the standard waste bag. Only pick this model if you know you have the space for it.

Xiaomi Robot Vacuum X20 Max review: alternatives to consider

Xiaomi Robot Vacuum X20 Max

Eufy X10 Pro Omni

Eufy Omni S1 Pro

Suction:

8,000Pa

8,000Pa

8,000Pa

Mopping:

Yes

Yes

Yes

Mop type:

Dual rotating discs

Dual rotating discs

Spinning roller

Robot size (W x D):

350×97mm

12.9 x 13.9" / 32.7 x 35.3cm

12.8 x 13.7" / 32.5 x 34.8cm

Robot height:

~97mm

4.5" / 11.4cm

3.8" / 9.7cm

Dock dimensions (W x D x H):

340×420×563mm

14.4 x 18.9 x 18.1" / 36.6 x 48 x 46cm

15.8 x 18.4 x 26.4" / 40.1 x 46.7 x 67.1cm

Dust bin volume (onboard):

450ml

Not stated

0.25L

Water tank volume (onboard):

Not stated

Not stated

0.24L

Dust bin volume (base):

2.5L

2.5L

2.5L

Water tank volume (base):

4L

Not stated

Not stated

Self-empty dust:

Yes

Yes

Yes

Self-empty / refill water:

Yes

Yes

Yes

Mop pad cleaning:

Yes

Yes

Yes

Wi-Fi control:

Yes

Yes

Yes

Eufy X10 Pro Omni
This powerful alternative from Eufy costs about the same as the Xiaomi Robot Vacuum X20 Max and offers excellent cleaning performance and a good app.

Read our full Eufy X10 Pro Omni review

Eufy Omni S1 Pro
The Omni S1 Pro, also from Eufy, is a good higher-end alternative. It's much more expensive, but comes with a raft of extra features to justify the higher price tag.

Read our full Eufy Omni S1 Pro review

How I tested the Xiaomi Robot Vacuum X20 Max

I tested the Xiaomi Robot Vacuum X20 Max in my home for over a year, using it to clean a hallway and two large rooms on a weekly basis. It cleaned a wide variety of messes in that time on a number of different surfaces, namely carpet and tiled flooring. I fully utilized the companion app in order to evaluate its performance and compared the overall experience to other robot vacuums that I own.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed August 2026

My phone hit one bar outside Shinjuku Station, and the "unlimited" SIM card I'd bought at the airport two hours earlier had already burned through its entire 2GB. Just a dead connection and me standing on a street corner trying to remember which exit led to my hotel.

That trip is why I stopped trusting airport SIM counters.

Once I actually started researching eSIMs instead of grabbing whatever the kiosk pushed, one name kept coming up. Business travelers doing three countries a week swore by it. So did car nerds who care more about their infotainment system's connectivity than its horsepower.

That name was Ubigi.

Ubigi has been around since 2017. It's built by Transatel, part of the NTT Group, so you're on Transatel's own core network rather than a reseller riding someone else's coverage.

Ubigi: Plans and pricing

(Image credit: Ubigi)

Ubigi offers three plan types, including one-off, monthly, and annual. Every region also comes in two versions: a standard plan and a "Best" version that covers a different, usually narrower, set of destinations at a different data-to-price ratio.

• One-off: Prices vary by region and by standard vs. "Best" version. Standard Asia runs $9 for 1GB over 30 days, while Best Asia's 25GB for 30 days costs $44.
• Monthly: $17/month for 5GB up to $44/month for 20GB, or $180/month unlimited. All cover the full 201-destination World plan.
• Annual: one payment covers 12 months; allowance refreshes monthly at no extra cost. $210 for 5GB/month (60GB total) or $440 for 20GB/month (240GB total).

Listed prices may change due to currency fluctuations or ongoing promotions, so it's worth double-checking the live plan page before you buy.

Plan Type

Starting Price

Data Range

Validity

Cancellation

One-off

$2

500MB-200GB

1-360 days

N/A, single purchase

Monthly

$17/month

5GB-20GB/month

Renews monthly

Cancel after 3 months

Annual

$210/year

60GB-240GB total

12 months

Non-refundable

Ubigi: Features

• Smart Start: Your plan doesn't start counting down the moment you buy it. The validity period only kicks in once you land at your destination, so you can buy a plan weeks in advance without wasting a single day of data.
• Select Your IP: Switch between your home country's IP and a local one, useful for banking apps or region-locked content that behaves differently depending on where it thinks you're connecting from. It launched in beta for France and US residents, and Ubigi's own site now lists availability extending to Belgium, Japan, Australia, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, Singapore, and the UK too. Worth confirming it's live in your country before counting on it.
• No separate hotspot cap: Tethered data simply counts against your plan's normal allowance; there's no extra fee or reduced limit for sharing your connection with a laptop or tablet.
• Broad device support: Ubigi works with roughly 30 phone, tablet, and laptop brands, not just the usual iPhone-and-flagship-Android list. Older devices, Windows laptops, and less common brands like Fairphone and Panasonic Toughbook are all covered, provided the specific model supports eSIM.

How Ubigi's Lifetime eSIM and Zero Rating Work

The lifetime eSIM specifically covers the profile itself. Once it's installed on your device, Ubigi says it "stays active for future use." That means no new QR code on your next trip. You just buy a new data plan, and it activates on the same profile already sitting on your phone.

To test this, I set up my Ubigi eSIM before a trip to Bangkok, used it for two weeks, and forgot about it entirely once I got home. Three months later, heading to Lisbon, I opened the app, bought a Europe plan, and was online the second I landed. The only catch is switching devices. Ubigi doesn't automatically carry over the profile, so switching to a new phone means reinstalling. You get 5 reinstalls before you need to contact support for a fresh eSIM.

Zero Rating solves a different problem. Normally, running out of data mid-trip means you need Wi-Fi just to load a payment page and buy more. Ubigi keeps the app reachable "even if your data balance is empty," so you can top up without hunting down a hotspot first.

Put those two together, and the setup only happens once. Everything after that is to buy a plan, land, and connect.

Ubigi: Installation and Activation

(Image credit: Ubigi)

Setup takes a few minutes, and you can do it entirely before you leave home. Ubigi supports iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows 10, and 11. Installation is via QR code or the app on any of them.

Here's the process:

• Check compatibility by dialing *#06# on your phone. If an EID number shows up next to your IMEI, your device supports eSIM. Also confirm it's carrier-unlocked, since a locked phone won't accept a third-party eSIM.
• Buy a plan: Choose your destination and data size from Ubigi's catalog and check out.
• Install the eSIM: You'll get a QR code by email. Press and hold it, or scan it, to install the Ubigi eSIM profile on your device.
• Create your account: Sign up through the Ubigi app or at Ubigi.me to track data usage in real time, get alerts, and top up later.

On arrival, make sure Ubigi is set as your preferred mobile data line. You should normally connect without entering anything else, but if you don't, both Android and iOS let you manually add an APN (Access Point Name) of "mbb" in mobile network settings. When you're home, turn the Ubigi line back off.

Ubigi: Compatible Devices

Ubigi updates this list monthly. Support can vary even within the same device family, so check your exact model on Ubigi's compatibility checker or dial *#06# before buying a plan. Either way, your device needs to be eSIM-enabled and carrier-unlocked.

Here's the compatibility picture by brand:

Brand

Compatible Models

Key Exclusions / Notes

Apple iPhone

iPhone XS and XR onward, through the iPhone 17 lineup, plus iPhone SE (2020, 2022)

iPhones sold in mainland China don't ship with eSIM and aren't compatible.

Apple iPad

iPad 7th gen and later, iPad mini 5th gen and later, iPad Air 3rd gen and later, iPad Pro 11" and 12.9"

The same mainland China exclusion applies.

Samsung Galaxy

Galaxy S20 series through S25, Galaxy Z Fold/Flip from the original Fold/Flip through Z Fold7/Flip 7, select Galaxy A, Tab S9/S10, and Galaxy Book models

Coverage varies by exact model; check the list for A-series and Tab entries.

Google Pixel

Pixel 4 and every generation since, including Pixel Fold

No Pixel 3 or earlier.

Motorola

Most Razr and Edge models, plus select Moto G 5G models

Older or budget Moto G models are excluded.

Xiaomi

Xiaomi 12T Pro and newer flagship and T-series models

Redmi Note (except Note 13/14 Pro+) and POCO lines aren't listed.

Other Android

OnePlus (11 and newer, including Open foldables), Oppo Find/Reno series, Honor Magic series, Vivo X-series, TCL, Sony Xperia (10/5/1 series), Sharp Aquos, Nokia (G60/X30/XR21), Fairphone 4+, Crosscall, Rakuten, Revvl, Nuu, myPhone

Support varies significantly by model and region.

Windows laptops

Dell Latitude, HP Spectre/Elite/Probook/Zbook, Lenovo ThinkPad and Yoga, Acer Swift/TravelMate, Asus, Microsoft Surface (Pro, Go, Duo), Panasonic Toughbook

Needs a cellular-capable chipset and Windows 10/11.

Ubigi: Support

(Image credit: Ubigi)

Support starts with a live chat widget on Ubigi's website, staffed by an AI assistant called "Ubi." Ubi handles the easy stuff fine. But anything more complex gets kicked into a support ticket instead of a real back-and-forth, so it acts more like an async help desk than actual live chat. There's no phone line, and you can't reach support inside the app either, only through the website.

Response times depend entirely on when you show up. Reviewers report replies in 10-15 minutes during support hours, but that can stretch to an hour outside them. Worth remembering if your eSIM refuses to activate at 2 am in a country you've never visited.

The help center is where Ubigi actually pulls its weight. Dozens of troubleshooting articles cover iOS, Android, and Windows, from APN settings to moving a profile after you restore a new phone. Between that and the compatibility checker, most setup problems already have a documented fix. You'll rarely need to talk to anyone at all.

Ubigi: Final verdict

For most travelers who fly the same routes repeatedly, Ubigi lands in a strong position. Plans are priced fairly relative to the competition, and the two features covered earlier solve real, specific problems rather than serving as marketing checkboxes.

Where Ubigi asks for a trade-off is in response speed. Support is available via chat and a help center, but it's built around eventual resolution rather than instant back-and-forth; replies can take anywhere from 10 minutes to over an hour, depending on when you reach out.

That's fine if something goes wrong with time to spare, and less fine if you're standing at an airport gate needing an answer in the next five minutes. If real-time support matters more to you than price, easySim or Airalo are worth comparing. For everyone else, Ubigi's own network and the two features above make it one of the more dependable picks in the category.

Ubigi: FAQsWhat is Ubigi?

Ubigi is a Transatel brand, part of Japan's NTT Group. Beyond the travel product most people encounter, Ubigi also runs a separate business-focused version for company-issued devices, allowing IT teams to manage eSIM plans across a fleet of employee phones from a single account rather than juggling individual SIMs.

Is Ubigi cheaper than carrier roaming?

Yes, Ubigi is cheaper than carrier roaming, usually by a wide margin. Ubigi's Europe plan makes a strong case. A full 30 days of 3GB costs $7 total. Most carriers charge more than that for a single week of roaming, and that plan doesn't expire the moment your trip ends either.

Does Ubigi support hotspot and tethering?

Yes. Every plan includes tethering at no extra fee, and tethered data is pulled from your existing allowance. The one catch is on unlimited plans. Speed drops once you cross a destination-specific data threshold, so heavy tethering there hits that ceiling faster than regular browsing would.

Does Ubigi work with an iPhone?

Yes, from the iPhone XS and XR through the current 17 lineup and the iPhone Air, plus both the SE (2020) and the SE (2022). Your phone just needs to be carrier-unlocked. The one hard exclusion is iPhones sold in mainland China. Those ship with eSIM hardware disabled, so no Ubigi plan will work regardless of model or iOS version.

Does Ubigi have a mobile app?

Yes, on both iOS and Android, and most of the same functionality is mirrored on the website or at Ubigi.me. Buy a plan on your phone, check usage from a browser later, and your account stays in sync without logging in twice.

The SteelSeries Stratus+ is a wireless Bluetooth controller built primarily for Android mobile gaming, with wired USB-C support for Windows PCs.

It launched back in 2022 at $59.99 / £64.99, but has since tumbled to sale prices around $25 / £25. It’s a welcome price drop because it’s about the only thing that keeps it in with a shot of being worth picking up, and on the periphery of the best mobile controller conversation — but only just.

SteelSeries positions the Stratus+ as delivering a console-quality mobile experience, and in theory, it has most of the ingredients to do that. A traditional shape that blends Xbox and PlayStation design elements with a removable phone mount, Hall Effect triggers, and a claimed 90-hour battery life via Bluetooth LE. In practice, however, the phone mount that should be the controller's defining feature ends up being its biggest weakness. It’s tricky to install, and once it’s in, it wobbles, spoils the balance, and worst of all, it has a habit of turning your phone off altogether.

Once you have found the sweet spot to mount your phone, game compatibility is then a mixed bag. Fortnite on mobile is often kind on controller compatibility and worked well here, but more finicky titles like Call of Duty Mobile and Need for Speed didn't work at all. Xbox Cloud Gaming fared better, performing well enough with Forza Horizon 6, though compounding Bluetooth latency with remote gaming meant noticeable enough input lag that it forced me into pre-empting inputs rather than driving naturally.

For a mobile controller, the Stratus+ actually performs best as a wired PC controller. Plug it in via USB-C, and it's instantly recognized as an XInput device, fully mapped in Steam, and perfectly functional as a basic controller. The problem is that it's a particularly competitive market, and it does very little to stand out. You could pick up an actual Xbox Wireless Controller for not much more and get a better, more comfortable pad that still pairs to your Android phone.

(Image credit: Future/Alex Berry)SteelSeries Stratus+ review: Price and availability

• List price: $59.99 / £64.99 / AU$159.99
• Now often found as low as $25 / £25 from third parties
• Available from SteelSeries and retailers

The SteelSeries Stratus+ has been around a little while now, first launching in May 2022 at $59.99, though fast-forward to 2026 and that list price isn’t holding up. It’s now often available much cheaper from retailers, and I saw it selling for less than half its list price while pulling together this review.

At full price, the Stratus+ is stuck trying to compete with options like the first-party Xbox Wireless Controller and sits uncomfortably close to the excellent GameSir G8 Galileo mobile grip or the GameSir G8+ Bluetooth controller, all of which offer better experiences in their own way.

At its current discounted price, however, it’s cheap enough to be worth a look as a budget PC gamepad.

SteelSeries Stratus+ review: Specs

SteelSeries Stratus+

Price

$59.99 / £64.99 / AU$159.99

Dimensions

5.9 x 4.3 x 2.5in / 150 x 110 x 63.2 mm

Weight

8.6oz / 244g

Connection

Bluetooth LE, USB-C (Windows only)

Compatibility

Android, Chromebook, PC

Software

None

SteelSeries Stratus+ review: Design and features

• Blends elements from Xbox and PlayStation controllers into a familiar shape
• Included phone mount isn’t really fit for purpose
• Solid D-pad and Hall Effect triggers are the highlight

Before you start messing around with the phone mount, the SteelSeries Stratus+ looks like a perfectly generic controller. The sort of thing you’d see in a film to avoid giving brand recognition to either side of the console war. It borrows PlayStation’s symmetrical thumbstick layout and pairs it with Xbox-style ABXY buttons and a black shell. It's inoffensive, generic, and unexciting.

Holding it, though, something feels off. Despite being almost identical in width to an Xbox Series X controller and actually a touch taller, the Stratus+ somehow feels cramped. Part of that is down to the symmetrical stick placement, I’m sure, as it naturally sits lower on the body and makes the whole controller feel shorter than it physically is. I have reasonably large hands and am very used to an offset stick layout, so it never quite settled. Some of this is obviously personal preference, and if you’re coming from a DualSense Wireless Controller, I’m sure you’ll adapt quicker, though I doubt you’ll escape that sense of being on top of yourself.

The phone mount is where things stray from the norm and, unfortunately, not particularly successfully. SteelSeries includes a detachable clip that slots into the top of the Stratus+ via two metal bars to turn this from a controller into a mobile controller. It doesn’t work well, though, and almost feels like a third-party modkit for a controller, rather than a first-party USP. It’s fiddly to install, and even with the bars fully inserted, there's noticeable wobble before you've even added a phone.

(Image credit: Future/Alex Berry)

Once you do seat a device, the controller becomes top-heavy and unbalanced, constantly wanting to tip backward when placed on a surface and feeling like it’s trying to spill forward out of your hands. The mount clamps your phone from the sides rather than end-to-end, which helps with universality, but means it's also constantly trying to press your phone's power and volume buttons. During testing with a POCO X5 Pro, I had to significantly offset the phone to the right of the cradle to avoid it turning my phone off.

The D-pad is probably the highlight of the entire controller, not something I’ve often said, so it’s nice to see it get its moment to shine. It's firm with a satisfyingly soft press and rock solid with zero wiggle. The ABXY face buttons are generic but functional, and the bumpers are quiet, soft, and responsive.

There are Hall Effect sensors in the triggers with a mid-length travel and linear mapping, though there’s no hair trigger mode and no companion app to set dead zones. The ALPS thumbsticks offer fairly high resistance and felt fine during testing with no drift out of the box, though it's worth noting that these sticks don't carry the same drift-resistance guarantees as Hall Effect alternatives.

(Image credit: Future/Alex Berry)SteelSeries Stratus+ review: Performance

• Bluetooth latency is noticeable at times
• Mobile game compatibility is inconsistent
• Wired PC performance is where it’s at its best

The SteelSeries Stratus+ is trying to be two controllers in one, and in testing, the experience was certainly a tale of two halves.

Connected to my Windows gaming PC via USB-C, the Stratus+ was instantly recognized as an XInput controller and fully mapped as a generic gamepad in Steam. You’d think that’d be the bare minimum experience, but it’s actually refreshing to see it just work, as that isn’t always the case, I’ve found.

I jumped across a few titles in both Steam and Xbox Cloud Gaming, and there's nothing here that would give you reason to reach for a different controller. It’s perfectly fine but equally, there’s nothing worth shouting about, or that would make you recommend this one specifically. It looks like a generic game controller, and it plays like one, but most importantly these days it’s priced like one too, so that’s not a bad thing.

Sticking that weird phone mount into the top and heading to mobile, the experience is considerably less convincing. The SteelSeries Stratus+ connected to my POCO X5 Pro without issue, but game support is a guessing game. Fortnite recognized the controller and played well overall, but displayed PlayStation button prompts on screen despite the Stratus+ using an ABXY layout.

The firm resistance of the sticks offered me plenty of fine control, and any input lag was small enough to be below my skill cap. Call of Duty Mobile and NFS No Limits simply didn't work at all, with no controller recognition and no hardware mapping workaround available.

Again, this isn’t a SteelSeries-specific issue, but competitors like GameSir have built compatibility solutions via their companion apps, so while those games don’t have great native controller support, it’s possible with a little effort by brands.

(Image credit: Future/Alex Berry)

Xbox Cloud Gaming fared better, recognizing the controller natively and without any button mapping issues. Forza Horizon 6 played OK, but this is where the Bluetooth latency became most apparent when stacked on top of the small amount of remote gaming input lag. Racing games demand reactive inputs and a feeling of being connected to your car, and with the Stratus+, there was enough delay to force me into adapting my play style.

Rather than reacting naturally to what was happening on screen as I would normally, I found myself having to preempt my next movement while still executing the last one, building in a mental delay to compensate. It's not catastrophic, and it's less noticeable in games that don't demand constant precision, like the charming Sledding Game or Stardew Valley, which both played fine.

SteelSeries claims 90+ hours of battery life, and while I unfortunately couldn’t devote nearly four straight days to gaming, I can see those numbers being true enough. Despite regular use over a week of testing, the battery percentage reported by Android barely seemed to drop, and any time I was gaming on PC was passively juicing it up again anyway. Curiously, when charging, I noticed there was often quite a discrepancy between what the controller's own LED indicators showed versus what my phone reported.

At one point, I had three solid lights and one flashing during charging, suggesting it should be 75%, yet my phone's Bluetooth settings reported just 47% battery. There’s fast charging available here, so ultimately it isn’t a dealbreaker, as I doubt you’ll be plugged in often, but I’d be inclined to trust the more pessimistic software number over the lights.

(Image credit: Future/Alex Berry)Should I buy the SteelSeries Stratus+ review?Buy it if...

You're looking for a budget wired PC controller and nothing more
At its current street price, the Stratus+ is a functional, no-frills wired gamepad that works out of the box with Steam on Windows. If you need a cheap controller for casual gaming on a PC, it'll do the job.

You want a casual Bluetooth pad for Fortnite or cloud gaming
For supported mobile titles like Fortnite, the Stratus+ is perfectly fine. The same is true for Xbox cloud gaming, though be mindful that compound input lag can be tricky to work with for titles requiring reactive controls.

Don't buy it if...

You want a genuine mobile-first gaming controller
The phone mount is poorly designed, the Bluetooth latency is noticeable at times, and without a companion app, there are real limits to game compatibility. A telescopic controller or even a standard Xbox Wireless Controller paired via Bluetooth will give you a substantially better mobile experience.

You're paying full retail price
The Stratus+ isn’t worth its MSRP and is still not particularly compelling until you get close to the half-off mark it can often now be found at. There are simply far too many better options in the same price bracket if you’re stuck paying full price.

Also consider...

If you're looking for something else in either the dedicated mobile or PC controller space then consider these fine options.

SteelSeries Stratus+

GameSir G8+ Bluetooth

Xbox Wireless Controller

Price

$59.99 / £64.99 / AU$159.99

$79.99 / £79.99 / AU$129.99

$59.99 / £54.99

Dimensions

5.9 x 4.3 x 2.5in / 150 x 110 x 63.2mm

9.06 x 4.21 x 2.17in / 230 x 107 x 55mm

6.0 x 4.0 x 2.5in / 153 x 102 x 63mm

Weight

8.6oz / 244g

10.72oz / 314g

10.1oz / 287g

Connection

Bluetooth LE, USB-C (Windows only)

Bluetooth 5.3, Wired (USB-C), Dongle (sold separately)

Xbox Wireless, Bluetooth, Wired (USB-C)

Compatibility

Android, Chromebook, PC

Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, PC, macOS

Xbox, Windows PC, Android, iOS

Software

None

GameSir App (Android only)

Xbox Accessories app

GameSir G8+ Bluetooth
If mobile gaming is your priority, something from the GameSir G8+ family is likely a better bet. The telescopic cradle design eliminates all the phone mount problems entirely; Hall Effect sticks and triggers offer drift resistance, and the GameSir companion app provides hardware mapping for unsupported games. It costs more, but the experience is in a different league.

For more information, check out our full GameSir G8+ Bluetooth review

Xbox Wireless Controller
You’ll need to find somewhere to prop up your phone or grab a third-party case/clip, but you can always just pair a first-party Xbox Wireless Controller to an Android phone over Bluetooth. It’ll be a more comfortable solution with more robust native game support, and it plays great on PC too.

For more information, check out our full Xbox Wireless Controller (2020) review

How I tested the SteelSeries Stratus+

• I spent a week gaming with the Stratus+ across a POCO X5 Pro (Android) and a Windows PC
• I tested native Android games like Fortnite and Call of Duty Mobile, Forza Horizon 6 and Sledding Game via Xbox Cloud Gaming, and Steam titles via wired USB-C
• I paid particular attention to things like Bluetooth latency, game compatibility, and phone mount stability

I approached testing the Stratus+ independently as both a mobile controller and a PC gamepad over the course of a week, along with considering whether it successfully comes together as one hybrid unit. On Android, I tested both local titles and cloud gaming, while on PC, I tested through Steam's controller interface and games, along with Xbox Cloud Gaming, to evaluate its viability as a wired desktop pad.

I used a POCO X5 Pro in the included phone mount, paying particular attention to stability, balance, and how comfortable the overall experience was in this arrangement. I played both at home on the couch and at a desk, as well as taking the controller out and about to see how it fared on the move.

First reviewed May-July 2026

Read more about how we test

Ninja Luxe Café Mini Espresso Machine: two-minute review

The Ninja Luxe Café Mini Espresso Machine is a compact version of the Ninja Luxe Café. It doesn't require an enormous amount of counter space, especially considering that this single machine grinds your whole beans directly into your filter, weighs your grinds, brews your espresso or drip coffee, and froths your milk. You won't need any other coffee accoutrements on your counter.

While I did brew some absolutely delicious coffee with the Ninja Luxe Café Mini, there is definitely a learning curve. In fact, I wouldn't say I have mastered the espresso settings yet, even after brewing many cups. Even with the identical espresso settings, sometimes I get just an ounce or so and sometimes I get a lot more. Drip coffee comes out consistently well; no issues there. I also had some trouble frothing the milk; with just a minimum amount of milk in the jug it overflowed onto the counter.

Note that even though this is a semi-auto machine, you do need to have some manual strength and dexterity to get the portafilter properly into place. Be ready for some trial and error. If you're prepared to take on a project, I think you'll be well-rewarded for your efforts.

(Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)Ninja Luxe Café Mini Espresso Machine: price and availability

• Widely available both in store and online
• Retails for $449.99 USD (£338.50 GBP, $643.73 AUD)
• Only sold in the black and chrome colorway

You can find the Ninja Luxe Café Mini Espresso Machine at many brick and mortar stores and websites, including Amazon, Best Buy, Kohl's, Target, and Ninja's own site. It retails for $449.99 USD (£338.50 GBP, $643.73 AUD) and comes in just the one color, black and chrome.

(Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)Ninja Luxe Café Mini Espresso Machine: specs

Name

Ninja Luxe Café Mini Espresso Machine

Type

Semi-automatic

Dimensions (L x W x H)

10.24 in L x 12.17 in W x 13.43 in H / 26.01 cm L x 30.91 cm W x 34.11 cm H

Weight

18.96 lbs / 8.6 kg

Brew styles

Espresso (double), Triple (espresso), Classic (coffee), Rich (coffee), and Over Ice (coffee)

Milk frother

Yes

Connected device

No

Ninja Luxe Café Mini Espresso Machine: design

• Efficient design gives it a smaller footprint
• Aesthetically pleasing, goes with any decor
• Five brew styles

The Ninja Luxe Café Mini is efficiently designed to house everything you need to make just about any sort of coffee drink in a relatively small package. When you first unpack it, you will need to determine your water hardness with the enclosed test strip and set your machine accordingly. Run a flush cycle and then you're ready to start brewing.

The machine has a conical burr grinder, a brewing system that makes both espresso and coffee, and a steam wand. It comes with two filter baskets:, a smaller 'double' and a larger 'luxe' basket (unlike most espresso machines, there's no basket for pouring a single shot).

Place the basket into the portafilter, the funnel on top of that, and then slide it into the grinding cradle. Choose your brew style. The machine evaluates your beans and determines a recommended grind size. Turn the grind dial to meet the recommended number and hit the grind button.

(Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)

Once your ground coffee is the basket, remove the portafilter and tamp down the grinds with the assisted tamper. It has a spring inside so you'll apply just the right amount of pressure.

(Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)

Then you can remove the funnel, place the portafilter under the Ninja Luxe Café Mini's group head and turn it until it locks into place. This takes some manual strength and dexterity, and the machine's relatively light weight means you have to brace it in place so it doesn't slide around, though it does get easier with repeated use.

You can manually select your level of strength (represented by one, two, or three beans) and temperature or just use the default. When you're done brewing, dispose of the puck of used coffee grounds, and clean the dirty components.

(Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)

There is also a milk jug and steam wand. To use it, turn the manual valve on the side from brewing mode to frothing mode. The owner's manual includes detailed instructions of how to get the most froth from your milk of choice.

(Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)

You'll need to clean the tamper, funnel, basket, portafilter, steam wand and jug after each use. You'll also need to empty and clean out the drip tray every few brews, and every time you froth milk. Additionally, you'll need to descale the machine periodically. However, there is no obvious way to get in and clean the grinder. That part never gets wet, but coffee oils will build up there over time.

• Design score: 4.5/5

Ninja Luxe Café Mini Espresso Machine: performance

• There is definitely a learning curve
• You need manual strength and dexterity
• Brew amounts are not consistent

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(Image credit: Future)

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Overall, I think you'll find that the Ninja Luxe Café Mini will make you some great coffee and espresso drinks. There's definitely a learning curve, but if you have the patience you'll figure it out. Of bigger concern was that sometimes the brewing seemed to just stop short of a full yield, and I'm not sure why. The same beans brewed at the same setting just didn't always yield the same size espresso. This only happened to me while brewing espresso; all three of the drip coffee settings yielded perfect results every time.

There are five different brew settings: Espresso (which is actually a double espresso), Triple (espresso), Classic (drip coffee), Rich (a richer drip coffee), and Over Ice (drip coffee brewed at a lower temperature). I tested all five of them multiple times.

Espresso

The smallest drink you can make is a double espresso, there is no single espresso setting on this machine. The owner's manual says to throw away the first espresso you brew each time you put new beans into the hopper because it takes a couple of brews for the machine to dial in correctly. I tasted it anyway and yes, you should toss it. After that first one, the espresso tasted good though sometimes it would randomly give me a shorter brew. I did notice that I consistently got a beautiful crema.

Karen Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureTriple espresso

The experience of brewing the triple espresso is just like brewing the regular (double) one, only you use the Luxe basket instead of the smaller one. Again, the machine would sometimes give me a tiny brew. Pictured below is one of the smaller triples; other times it was much larger. Otherwise, the espresso was good and always had a lovely crema.

Karen Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureClassic

The Classic drip coffee setting yielded consistently good results. In addition to adjusting the grind size, brew temperature, and strength if you like, you can also choose to brew 6, 8, 10, or 12 ounces of coffee. The user experience of brewing the drip coffee is the same as brewing espresso, except that you skip the tamping step. The machine does something totally different on the inside. You get no crema. And when you go to throw the puck away, it's very wet, as opposed to the drier, crumbly puck you get with espresso.

Karen Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureRich

The rich drip coffee setting works just like the classic, only it yields a richer brew. I find I prefer the classic, as I found it a bit smoother and less bitter, but your tastes may differ.

Karen Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureOver ice

The drip coffee over ice setting might have been my favorite. I found it very smooth and it didn't taste too diluted from the ice.

Karen Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureSteam wand

I found that it took some practice to get the milk frothing just right. I tried just leaving the jug in place and frothing it from there, and it works ok but doesn't produce much foam. I tried following the instructions about angle and movement in the owner's manual, and got too much foam.

The wand will purge itself right after frothing, and you'll want to wipe off the milk from the outside of the wand right away. Otherwise it sticks on there pretty good, requiring a bit of scrubbing to get it off.

Karen Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / FutureKaren Freeman / Future

• Performance score: 3.5/5

Should you buy the Ninja Luxe Café Mini Espresso Machine?Ninja Luxe Café Mini Espresso Machine score card

Attribute

Notes

Score

Value

While not cheap, it does replace five machines: conical burr grinder, coffee scale, espresso machine, coffee machine, and milk frother.

4/5

Design

It looks great on the counter and has a relatively small footprint for all it does.

4.5/5

Performance

There's definitely a learning curve and my results were not consistent, but the coffee drinks especially were quite tasty and the espresso crema was perfect every time.

3.5/5

Buy it if

You want to be the barista

You'll need to put the effort in, but you can be the barista at home with this machine. You control the settings and the results, with help from the machine's sensors.

You want all the coffee accoutrements in one smallish machine

Forget having a separate grinder, scale, brewer, and frother spread out over your countertop. Just one little machine does it all.

You can't decide between espresso and drip coffee

Now you don't even need two different machines for espresso and drip coffee. The Ninja Luxe Café Mini Espresso Machine does both, plus iced coffee and milk drinks too.

Don't buy it if

It's not in your budget

While you'll likely make fewer trips to the coffee shop, and you don't have to buy five separate machines, it's still not cheap.

You don't have great manual dexterity and/or strength

It takes some coordination and muscle to get the portafilter correctly installed in the group head for brewing.

You expect perfectly consistent results with the touch of a button

This machine isn't a fully automatic touch-of-a-button machine. It's not always consistent and there is a learning curve.View Deal

Ninja Luxe Café Mini Espresso Machine: also consider

De'Longhi La Specialista Touch

This one is a little bit more automated and beginner-friendly than the Ninja Luxe Café Mini Espresso Machine while still being pretty small and lightweight. It's also a bit more expensive.

Read our De'Longhi La Specialista Touch review

Ninja AutoBarista Pro Fully Automatic Espresso Machine

While almost double the price of the Ninja Luxe Café Mini, it's worthwhile if you want a one-touch, super easy-to-use machine. It makes about a dozen different beverages including coffee, espresso, iced drinks, and milk drinks.

Read my Ninja AutoBarista Pro Fully Automatic Espresso Machine reviewView Deal

Terra Kaffe TK-02

This fully automatic coffee and espresso machine does it all with a touch of a button or even a voice command to Alexa. Custom design your own beverages. It's the priciest of the bunch, but an amazing machine.

Check out my Terra Kaffe TK-02 review.View Deal

How I tested the Ninja Luxe Café Mini Espresso Machine

I brewed and drank every drink on the menu: (double) Espresso, Triple (espresso), Classic (coffee), Rich (coffee), and (coffee) Over Ice more than once. I used two different kinds of beans for each beverage, first going all the way through the menu with a dark french roast and then again with a medium-dark roast. I frothed two different kinds of milk (almond and skim dairy) several times and added the milk to espresso shots. I cleaned all of the parts that touch the coffee after each use.

First reviewed July 2026

Two-minute review

It’s been almost seven years since Apple Arcade launched, and we’ve seen the service grow from one that focuses predominantly on experimental indie games to something more diverse and broadly appealing. Big exclusive releases like Hello Kitty Island Adventure and Fantasian successfully put it on the map and helped justify the subscription cost, but where exactly does Apple Arcade sit now that many of its best titles have come to traditional console and PC platforms?

Ultimate Guide to Apple Arcade

(Image credit: Apple / Future)

This article is part of our Ultimate Guide to Apple Arcade: the definitive guide to everything that you need to know about the gaming service. Be sure to browse the full series here.

Although I’ve dabbled with it on and off over the years (mainly through the various free trials available to Apple users), I put my head down and spent the last week truly immersing myself in the service with a shiny new iPhone 17 Pro Max to find out. I’ve now played all 279 games (yes, every single one — even those designed for literal toddlers like Thomas & Friends: Let’s Roll+ or My Little Pony: Mane Merge. The latter is surprisingly good, to be fair).

First and foremost, the thing I’ve enjoyed the most about my time with the service has been just how seamless it all is. Finding something to play is as easy as opening up the dedicated Arcade tab in the App Store or the dedicated Arcade app and having a quick scroll. Everything included with the service is neatly categorized into key genres like strategy, sports, card, puzzle, and so on, with new and popular games prominently displayed in case anything catches your eye.

(Image credit: Future)

Once you’ve chosen a game and got it installed, you simply boot it up, and you can get right to playing with no annoying sign-in screens, additional downloads, or intrusive pop-up ads. It all just works, which is the kind of premium experience you would expect from the Apple brand. You can even access everything offline and, as someone who has loaded my phone up with games before a 14-hour flight only to discover with horror that they all require internet account linking or substantial content downloads, it’s hard to overstate how valuable that can be.

The actual game library is pretty compelling too. The fact that many once-flagship games have come to consoles and PC does definitely diminish the appeal slightly if you have access to other platforms, but it’s still a good offering on the whole. It ranges all the way from full-on console to mobile conversions such as Sid Meier’s Civilization 7 Arcade Edition, MySims Kingdom, and Cult of the Lamb Arcade Edition to high-quality originals like Sonic Dream Team.

Loads of nostalgic mobile titles are also present in enhanced, ad-free form, and I’ve really enjoyed going back to the moreish endless running action of Subway Surfers in Subway Surfers+ and Jetpack Joyride in Jetpack Joyride+ and its exclusive follow-up Jetpack Joyride 2. That’s not to say that everything here is a winner, though. Some of the games, like racer Gear.Club Stradale seem fun at first but offer little depth, while a small chunk of the library are just samey card games (Gin Rummy+, Crazy Eights+, Spades+, Hearts+, etc.) with reused animations, assets, and sound effects that just feel like filler.

Still, there’s plenty to sink your teeth into for the relatively modest monthly price, and it’s well worth checking out if you have a compatible device. If you’re a subscriber to any Apple One plan, you already have access to Apple Arcade, so giving the service a go is a no-brainer.

Price and availability

• Costs $6.99 / £6.99 / AU$9.99 a month
• 12 month $49.99 / £49.99 / AU$79.99 plan available
• Also part of Apple One

When it originally launched in 2019, Apple Arcade cost just $4.99 / £4.99 / AU$7.99 a month. This has since gone up to $6.99 / £6.99 / AU$9.99, representing a slight $2 / £2 / AU$2 increase. Even with this factored in, the service is still decent value: it currently offers more than 270 games, and if you play just a few of those every few weeks you’ll definitely be getting your money’s worth.

You can save some cash and make it even better value by purchasing a 12-month plan, which is priced at $49.99 / £49.99 / AU$79.99. Various free trials are also available, with most new Apple devices including a complimentary three-month subscription. If you subscribe to any Apple One plan, access to Apple Arcade is already included.

Features and interface

• Built-in to the App Store
• Also part of the dedicated Games app
• Offers family sharing

For a mobile gaming service, Apple Arcade has a decent set of features. You can access the service through a prominent tab in the App Store, or via the dedicated Games app. You can add friends from your contact list in order to see what they are playing and compare your high scores.

If you want to play together, the likes of Crossy Road Castle offer full online multiplayer while titles such as Mini Motorways or Pac-Man 256+ let you set up competitive score-based challenges with a shared leaderboard in the Games app. These challenges last a set number of days and don’t require everyone to be playing at once, smartly helping you stay connected without the pressure of working out a dedicated play time that works with everyone’s busy schedules.

Unless you’re accessing the service through the Apple One Individual plan, you can share your Apple Arcade subscription with up to six family members at no extra cost, which means you shouldn’t struggle to find people to play with.

(Image credit: Future)

As with most Apple services, the entire Apple Arcade interface is simple but effective. The Arcade tab on the App Store is simply laid out with a good number of categories to browse. New or popular additions alongside games with ongoing events are highlighted so you can jump right in. It all looks and feels carefully curated, which is a big plus.

Although I tested the service using an iPhone, Apple Arcade is also available on a wide range of other Apple devices. It’s also compatible with iPad (and I’ve used it in the past on an iPad Mini), Apple TV, Mac, and even Apple Vision Pro.

Of course, game availability, compatibility, and performance can vary between devices, but it’s still good that you can access your games in a wide variety of formats.

The vast majority of titles can be played without a controller, though many still allow you to hook up a compatible gamepad such as the DualSense Wireless Controller, Xbox Wireless Controller, or many of the best mobile controllers if you prefer.

This is definitely the way to go on Apple TV, where the small included remote could otherwise be quite limiting.

AppleAppleAppleGame library

• Solely focuses on games
• Some good exclusive titles
• A little bit of filler

The Apple Arcade library is entirely devoted to games, and it includes a good range of them. The absolute highlights for me are the exclusive entries in popular console franchises, like Cooking Mama: Cuisine!, Taiko no Tatsujin Pop Tap Beat, or Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop. They take key series mechanics and smartly rework them for a touch screen format while sprinkling in a few interesting twists.

Sonic Dream Team is a particularly good example of this, borrowing heavily from other Sonic the Hedgehog titles but introducing a unique dream-world setting and the ability to swap between multiple characters on the fly with their own distinct abilities.

They’re all graphically impressive and run smoothly, at least on recent iPhones. Many of them would hold up right alongside the full console entries, which really helps Apple Arcade feel like its own platform rather than a collection of mobile ports.

That’s not to say that there aren’t many ports available on the service. You can play versions of big hitters like Sid Meier’s Civilization 7, Cult of the Lamb, Disney Dreamlight Valley, Stardew Valley, PowerWash Simulator, Vampire Survivors, Dredge, both MySims and MySims Kingdom, and much more. The selection definitely skews towards older games, however, which is somewhat of a shame.

SegaSegaRovioGameloft

There are also plenty of enhanced mobile classics like Subway Surfers+, Smash Hit+, and Jetpack Joyride+, which all have microtransactions and ads removed. There are also some cool exclusive sequels such as Jetpack Joyride 2 and even an excellent exclusive Angry Birds remake in Angry Birds Reloaded, which is crammed with new content.

More casual gamers have plenty of great experiences to choose from, and the family demographic is similarly well catered to with a number of titles specifically designed for younger children.

My only real complaint with the library is that there is definitely a bit of filler. Do you really need multiple apps for different card games, for example, or two competing Sudoku apps?

The number of great Apple Arcade exclusives that have been ported to console and PC is also unfortunate, namely games such as Fantasian and Hello Kitty Island Adventure.

On one hand, I’m glad that more players will be able to experience them, but on the other, losing exclusives does hurt the value proposition of the service. If you own other platforms and only want to play one or two games, it’s worth checking if they’re now available to buy outright elsewhere.

Should I use Apple Arcade? Use it if…

You pay for Apple One
If you pay for Apple One, then you already have access to Apple Arcade. Checking out some of the games on offer is a no-brainer. You might find a new favorite.

Apple is your primary platform
If you own multiple Apple devices and are interested in gaming, then Apple Arcade is perfect for you. One subscription allows you to play across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV.

You want a subscription for the whole family
The game library is brilliantly varied, with picks for the entire family no matter what genres or types of games everyone prefers. With the ability to share your subscription with up to six family members, it’s a cost-effective choice.

 Don’t use it if…

The games you want to play are available elsewhere
Loads of great Apple Arcade titles have been ported to other platforms. If you own an Xbox, PlayStation, or Switch and are thinking about subscribing, it’s worth checking that the games you want to play are not already available there.

How I tested Apple Arcade

• Tested for over a week
• Have previously used the service
• Tested using an iPhone 17 Pro Max

I have used Apple Arcade on multiple occasions over the years, mainly through free trials and an Apple One family plan on my old iPhone 15 Plus and iPad Mini. I made the jump to Android back in 2025, so I lapsed until this week, which I spent rigorously testing all of the available games using an iPhone 17 Pro Max and a 12-month membership provided by Apple for coverage purposes.

I mainly played games using touch controls, but still evaluated the functionality of multiple compatible controllers, including the Xbox Wireless controller and DualSense Wireless Controller in addition to some of the best mobile controllers like the Razer Kishi V3 Pro, Backbone One and Backbone Pro.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed December 2019

Dear Gillian,

When I close my eyes, my version of heaven is you sprinkling rose petals across the bedroom of a deserted log cabin while any song from Sade's Love Deluxe album hums softly in the background. Now, when I open them, I can see exactly that in Teenage Sex and Death in Camp Miasma.

It's an understatement to say that Jane Schoenbrun's third movie was my most anticipated movie of 2026, and that was before I knew anything other than the cast list.

The world's worst-kept secret is that amongst queer women, you're considered to be "lesbian God," thanks to The X-Files, The Fall, Sex Education, and the time you said that the Guess remix featuring Charli XCX and Billie Eilish was your most listened-to song on Spotify in 2024. I'd argue that you've even overtaken Cate Blanchett in that respect.

Add Hannah Einbinder, the woman we've vicariously lived through since season 1 of Hacks, into the mix, and I knew audiences would have something special in their hands. But I really didn't foresee just how profoundly, life-changingly moving the end product would be.

There's a lot of spectacular dynamics at play to make this possible, but I think that the beating heart at the center of it is you. As Billy Presley, the reclusive former 'final girl' of the Camp Miasma horror franchise that director Kris (Einbinder) wants to reboot, we get yet another piece of the never-ending puzzle that is your multi-faceted craft.

Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma is more than just a LGBTQIA+ horror movie — it's an epiphany

On the surface, Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma should be a straightforward, almost stereotypical horror movie premise. When Kris is asked to direct a reboot of the disgraced Camp Miasma franchise, she visits original movie final girl Billy, who still lives at the summer camp where it was set. Cue an inversion of reality where the pair are literally running for their lives away from the "big bad," Little Death.

But actually, there are no villains here. This is all just a facade to get you hooked on the true meaty substance of the movie: the subconscious fear in pleasure. For Kris, this manifests in her sexuality, struggling to fully let herself go in the presence of another person. Billy's confident command in leading Kris towards the light (that is, sexual freedom) is... well, satisfying in more ways than one.

Everything is sexy and sensually charged, but nothing is ever gratuitous. It's almost as if Einbinder was inside my own brain before instinctively making her character choices, with every decision Kris makes being the one I'd have chosen myself. She makes no secret of her immediate fascination and hunger for Billy... and isn't that how we react to you as it is?

By now, the internet has worked out that "Little Death" is also how the French describe an orgasm, but I think the significance of the trio's relationship runs so much deeper than just sex. Our spear-wielding villain signifies loneliness, a lack of self-understanding, and a self-imposed inability to give and receive love. Schoenbrun's previous two films, We're All Going to the World's Fair and I Saw the TV Glow, explore these phenomena beautifully, but by God, has she achieved an all-timer here.

Across the board, everything is elevated, from the movie's scale and production design to its soundtrack and grasp on moving through time. Aesthetically, we land directly between fantasy and reality, with hand-drawn backgrounds often representing Billy's romanticized version of her Camp Miasma truth. Kris is the conduit between the two, but when she finally gives herself over to Little Death, she exists in a blissful, ever-moving fantasy that I would now do anything to claim for myself.

The act of pleasure in itself can look like just about anything, and you all innately understand that. As Little Death sits in his video palace with a completely different understanding of what the Camp Miasma movies can mean, I find myself wanting to be brave for them all. I want to scream, cry, and grasp hold of joy for them. I want to meet myself at my most basic, primal level.

But back to you, Gillian

(Image credit: MUBI)

But enough of this... let's get back to you. Armed with a Dolly Parton-esque accent, a bucket of fried chicken and a lifetime's resistance against assimilating back into the real world, Billy Presley is the new-age horror hero I didn't know I needed.

Kris might be the bridge between the world of Camp Miasma and real life, but Billy is our guide between harbored shame and unrelenting freedom. She understands life in a way that most of us never do, perhaps because we've long left our sense of whimsy and suspension of belief behind. To her, Little Death is as real as you and I, and I'm starting to believe the same thing.

You've simultaneously made Billy into the most mysteriously sexy woman alive and an adult posing as the frightened, unsure teenage girl who never grew up after the release of the franchise's first movie. She's a beacon of never-ending wisdom, yet has absolutely no understanding of how the outside world works. She's the embodiment of how people can be everything and nothing all at once, and that is a pleasure to behold in itself.

If she could trap me under that picturesque starlit sky while little on the porch of the cabin she now calls home, I'd never move. If she reached for my hand to stay close through a woodland storm of bloodied clothes and peach skies, I'd walk forever. Kris felt the same way, and now she gets the blissful, blood-soaked happy ever after with her lover that the LGBT+-friendly side of cinema has only let us have a handful of times. The one so many of us long for.

Kris gets it. Einbinder and Schoenbrun get it. And now, I get it too. Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma isn't just a movie, but a life-altering experience, and you made sure of that. In a twisted sort of way, sex, death, and the life we live in between the two have never been more appealing.

Thank you for keeping us grounded in our own pleasure, whatever it looks like.

Yours,

Jasmine Valentine