TechRadar Reviews

Camp Snap 2: two-minute review

From a simple idea, Camp Snap is building an empire. The concept of an ultra-cheap point-and-shoot digital camera with no screen — meaning you can’t see the photos you take until you download them after the fact — proved to be a massive hit, and the original Camp Snap camera has since been joined by the video-focused Camp Snap CS-8, and the upgraded CS-Pro, which doubles the resolution from 8MP to 16MP. And now, we have the Camp Snap 2.

The makers are clearly keen not to mess with success, because the Camp Snap 2 keeps the feel and concept of the original camera very much intact. This new model keeps an 8MP sensor, and it once again has no screen, just a small panel with a running shot counter, a fixed-focus lens, and an LED flash. So, you might ask, what actually is new?

A few things, but the most significant is the new ‘Filters’ button, which allows you to select from a series of vintage-style looks for your images. This was an idea already explored on the CS-Pro, but the Camp Snap 2 ups the ante with six filters rather than the Pro’s somewhat paltry four. While you have to invest some time into learning which filter is which and what they look like (since you can’t check your images mid-shoot), this makes the Camp Snap 2 a more varied and versatile camera to use than the original, adding greater scope for creativity.

This is an important addition, given that there's little room for creativity elsewhere — the lens is fixed-focus and there’s no settings control. Furthermore, the Camp Snap 2 adds a tripod mount, a 33.5mm filter thread on the lens and lugs to attach a strap (though one isn’t supplied). These additions combine to make the Snap 2 feel a bit more like a proper camera than the original ever did. Its image quality is still no great shakes, but the Camp Snap 2 offers more scope and variety without sacrificing its identity as a camera that basically anyone can use — like the original, it’s very kid-friendly.

(Image credit: Jon Stapley)

I’ve taken the Camp Snap 2 everywhere with me for a couple of weeks, and I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed it. The newly slimmed-down body makes it easy to slip into a pocket and pull out for quick grab shots here and there, and with no screen, you can’t spend time fussing over them after the fact.

Normally, when a successor camera is this iterative and minor an upgrade, we reviewers tend to say things like 'If you already own the original, save your money.’ But this is a bit of a different situation. Because the Camp Snap 2 is so cheap, I’d say that if you already own, like and use the original Camp Snap — hell yeah, you might as well upgrade. The filter button adds depth and variety, and one of the most irritating features of the previous model — the shutter lag — has mostly been dealt with.

I’d also go so far as to say that for many users, this is probably a better buy than the more expensive CS-Pro. You get a more pocketable camera for a lower price, and for the types of people who are shooting with Camp Snaps, I don’t think an extra 8MP of resolution is all that useful, particularly when the sensor is not especially larger. The main reason you might prefer the Pro is that its filters are more dramatic and distinctive, though there are fewer of them.

So, if you like the original Camp Snap, and like the sound of the Camp Snap 2 — yes, I feel comfortable recommending you buy it too. At this price, why not?

(Image credit: Jon Stapley)Camp Snap 2: price and availability

Camp Snap hasn't got carried away with its success, and the Camp Snap 2 is still very attractively priced indeed, launching at $69.95 / £53 (around AU$130). This is at about the same level as the original Camp Snap, and comes in way less the CS-Pro, which goes for $99 / £90 (around AU$180).

Snap 2 is currently available from the Camp Snap website, and I expect before long it’ll also make its way to major retailers, the way the original Camp Snap has.

Frankly, this pricing is perfect. For a fun, knockabout digital camera that doesn’t offer much in the way of image quality and is all about the ultra-simple point-and-shoot vibes, nobody should be paying more than this. It’s a camera that pretty much anyone can instantly pick up and use, at a price that lots of people can afford.

Camp Snap 2: design

• Even slimmer and lighter than the original, just 3.8z / 108g
• All-plastic build with LED flash and fixed-focus lens
• Point-and-shoot operation, but adds button to switch filters

The original Camp Snap was already slim, but the Camp Snap 2 is even slimmer — around 15% slimmer according to the manufacturers. It is genuinely pocketable in a way that not all cameras that make ‘pocketable’ claims actually are, and at 3.8oz / 108g it’s a true featherweight. The body is all-plastic, of course, but the front has a nice textured surface for a bit of extra grip, and there’s an indentation on the rear panel for your right thumb to rest. On the sides there are lugs for attaching a strap, though no strap is supplied with the camera.

On the top you have just a single button: the shutter. This is of course a point-and-shoot, so you won’t be fiddling with settings dials. On the front you have the LED flash and the fixed wide-angle lens — and, a new addition, a 30.5mm filter thread on the lens. Though this was on the CS-Pro, it wasn’t on the original Camp Snap, and it allows you to attach screw-on filters to imbue your images with specific effects — as one reader suggested, a good fit for the Camp Snap would be a mist filter to enhance the lo-fi, retro feel of images. Camp Snap has also not-so-subtly hinted that Camp Snap-branded filters will be coming in the future.

At the rear you have the simple screen, which displays a shot-counter and lets you know which filter you currently have selected. As well as the aforementioned thumb groove, you also have the power switch, which doubles as a flash toggle, and the tinny speaker that plays the stock ‘shutter release’ sound effect. The viewfinder is a perfectly serviceable optical type — if you’ve ever used an old-school disposable, it’ll be familiar. It’s nothing special but it does the job.

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To the right of the screen, there’s the new filter select button. Pressing this button allows you to cycle through the filter selection. It can also be held down for ten seconds to activate ‘Camp Lock’ — which locks the button to make the camera more useable for children (negating a scenario in which they accidentally take all their pictures in black and white). Hold down for ten more seconds to unlock. Also, while testing this, I inadvertently discovered that tapping the filter button twice in quick succession will cause the camera to take two photos. Not sure why, but there you go.

At first it seems like the Camp Snap 2 doesn’t have a battery indicator like the four LEDs on the CS-Pro. In fact, it does, but you could be forgiven for not noticing it. When you boot up the camera, the screen will briefly display a number between 0 and 100, before reverting to your current shot counter. This is, I believe, a percentage-based battery indicator. It’s not exactly advertised, and easy to miss given that your shot counter will likely be a quite similar number, but it is there.

(Image credit: Jon Stapley)

Color-wise, the Camp Snap 2 is available in a selection of standard shades — green, black, white, yellow and brown. However, it can also be bought in a selection of rather stylish translucent ‘jelly’ colorways, evoking the early-millennium trend for translucent tech. I’ll admit that I think these versions are pretty cool, and my partner (who isn’t into cameras) independently showed me them on Instagram because she liked the look of them. I suspect they’ll be very popular.

Camp Snap 2: performance

• Image quality is a bit scuzzy, but it's part of the lo-fi charm
• Operation is very easy, and the shutter lag from the original has been dealt with
• New filters add creative options, but aren't as striking or distinctive as those on the CS-Pro

As mentioned, the Camp Snap 2 uses the same sensor as the original, so raw image quality is identical. You still get 8MP images with limited dynamic range. Blown-out highlights are a fairly common sight, as are muddy and indistinct shadows. In the latter situation, the LED flash can be helpful, though it’s nowhere near as powerful as a proper Xenon flash (which the CS-Pro has).

The new filter dial really does add some welcome creative depth. You have six options — first there’s the Standard (S) look, which produces naturalistic but warm colors. Then you have Vintage 1 to 3 (V1, V2, V3). V1 ups the saturation and has a slight purple tint; V2 is almost identical to Standard, but slightly cooler; V3 has a distinctly sunny yellow cast.

Next, there’s the black & white mode (BW), which delivers decent contrast for striking monochrome. And lastly there’s the interestingly named Analog (A). I was expecting this to be covered in artificial film grain, something that Camp Snap experimented with on the CS8. But in fact, it’s the warmest look of the bunch, with muted colors and a slight magenta cast, and it proved to be my favorite.

Standard (S)Jon StapleyVintage 1 (V1)Jon StapleyVintage 2 (V2)Jon StapleyVintage 3 (V3)Jon StapleyBlack & white (BW)Jon StapleyAnalog (A)Jon Stapley

I was surprised by how subtle the filters were, especially coming off the back of the CS-Pro, in which they are very striking. Someone looking for a dramatic image effect might come away a little disappointed; V2 in particular is so similar to Standard that I questioned the point of having it. I think in practicality, most users will probably just figure out which is their favorite and stick with it, occasionally switching to BW when the moment calls. I can't exactly picture myself agonizing over whether this pub garden sunset deserves V2 or V3.

Filter: SJon StapleyFilter: SJon StapleyFilter: SJon StapleyFilter: SJon StapleyFilter: SJon StapleyFilter: SJon StapleyFilter: V1Jon StapleyFilter: V2 Jon StapleyFilter: V3Jon StapleyFilter: BWJon StapleyFilter: AJon StapleyFilter: AJon StapleyFilter: S, with flash. It's not flattering, but it works.Jeremy LowenFilter: I don't know, I'd had a few beers.Jon StapleyFilter: AJon StapleyFilter: AJon Stapley

One oft-criticized aspect of the original Camp Snap was its shutter lag — the appreciable delay between the user pressing the shutter button and the photo actually being taken. This was significantly improved in the CS-Pro, with a more powerful processor, and in the Camp Snap 2 it seems to have been somewhat improved.

However, I would note that the lag seems to be mostly confined to the cosmetics — the shot counter and the shutter release sound effect. On a few occasions, I pressed the shutter and then heard the MIDI ‘clunk’ half a second after moving the camera away, and chastised myself for missing a shot through impatience. But later, when I reviewed the image, I seemed to have gotten away with it. And I can live with the sound effect being slow if I still have the shot in the bag.

It’s also worth noting that the Camp Snap 2 has a new feature called QuickDraw. After a period of inactivity, the camera sleeps to save power, but you can press the shutter button while it’s in this state, and it will wake and quickly take a picture. Note that I said ‘quickly’, not ‘instantly’ — it does take a moment to bestir itself. I’ve seen a few comments online complaining about shutter lag, and I actually think this is probably what they’re referring to. When the camera was awake, I experienced no real shutter lag issues.

Should I buy the Camp Snap 2?

(Image credit: Jon Stapley)Buy it if...

You want a camera to take everywhere
Slimmer than ever, the new Camp Snap 2 is genuinely a pocketable camera, so light it’s easy to always have on you.

You want a screen-free experience
Camp Snap’s key selling point, the lack of a rear screen, makes it great for those who want a more immersive, analog-style shooting experience.

You want a bit more creative versatility
While it’s still a point-and-shoot, the new filter selection, tripod mount and filter thread all make the Camp Snap 2 a more versatile camera than its predecessor.

Don't buy it if...

You want an image quality upgrade
The Camp Snap 2 uses the same small 8MP sensor as the original.

You want a fast, responsive camera for action
While the shutter lag has been improved, you still wouldn’t exactly call the Camp Snap 2 a speedster — there’s no burst mode.

How I tested the Camp Snap 2

(Image credit: Jon Stapley)

• I received a loan unit of the Camp Snap 2 for testing
• I have taken it out on a number of photo excursions, as well as to a sporting event and to a concert
• I’ve shot in variable light conditions throughout June, though with mostly very bright and sunny weather

I received a review sample of the Camp Snap 2 from the manufacturers, and had it in my pocket and about my person for a couple of weeks. I took it on excursions around London, as well as on trips south to Bradford-on-Avon, Frome and Bath, during which time I used it to capture more than 100 photos using all of the filters, in a range of weather and lighting conditions.

First reviewed June 2026

UGreen MagFlow Magnetic Wireless Power Bank 10000mAh Qi2 25W review

The absurdly lengthily named UGreen MagFlow Magnetic Wireless Power Bank 10000mAh Qi2 25W is the sort of gadget that makes everyday life feel that little bit easier.

It’s a power bank that features three key components: a wireless charging pad, an integrated USB-C cable, and an additional USB-C port. These can be used individually or simultaneously, making it easy to juice up multiple devices at once, or even charge the power bank while bringing your phone back to life.

No matter which of these three components you’re using, the UGreen Qi2 25W power bank assures steady performance — a base requirement for any model rivaling the best wireless chargers and best power banks. For instance, the 5,000mAh Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra projected that it would take about 2 hours and 58 minutes to charge with this power bank, and I found that figure to be spot on. In addition, fast-charging worked well with the integrated cable and extra USB-C port, whether I was juicing up the Nothing Phone (4a) or recharging the power bank itself, with 30W charging available here.

Luckily, this model also supports a wide range of charging standards, including PD 3.0, Qi2 25W, QC 4.0, PPS, and more, meaning its well-equipped to serve a gigantic range of devices from a variety of brands, including Apple gear, Android phones, and a whole host of others.

Of course, this model has a 10,000mAh capacity battery, which should be fine for charging a phone and a pair of the best wireless earbuds, for instance, but you’ll still need to recharge the power bank fairly regularly. If you want a device that’s better suited to more power hungry devices, or one that can juice up your phone multiple times on a single charge, then it may be worth looking at a bulkier alternative like the Anker 737 140W.

One of the benefits of the UGreen Qi2 25W’s more modest capacity, though, is that it's incredibly compact. This model can easily slide in your pocket, and when it's magnetized to your phone, it doesn’t feel clunky or uncomfortable to hold. Its highly portable design makes it the ideal device to take when you're journeying by train or plane, or whenever you’re out and about, especially given it's just 0.6lbs / 254g in weight.

As is the case with most UGreen chargers, this model is also rammed with tech designed to prioritize safety. UGreen says the Qi2 25W has “13-layer protection,” with features like high-temperature shielding, short circuit prevention, and overcharging protection.

I never experienced any technical faults with my unit during testing, and although my charger and phone did feel a little hot after a full charge, this wasn’t to a dangerous degree — and this is understandable given the power bank’s slim build.

(Image credit: Future)

One final thing that impressed me with the UGreen Qi2 25W, was its build quality. This model is beautifully constructed, with a textured silicone and metallic finish, a range of attractive color options, and a “military grade” integrated cable, which UGreen claims to have survived a 10,000+ bends test. There’s also a nifty display on-board, which makes it easy to know when your power bank is close to being fully charged.

So, is the UGreen Qi2 25W worth buying? On performance alone, I’d say yes. Although there’s one more thing we have to consider: price. And this device doesn’t come cheap. It has a typical asking price of $89.99 / £79.99 / AU$99.99, which is quite a bit for a power bank with a 10,000mAh capacity and 30W wired charging capabilities.

However, it’s worth noting that an all-in-one combination of Qi2 wireless charging, an integrated cable, and a display is always going to come at a premium. There’s also an extra USB-C cable included in the box, and again, the build quality here is excellent. What’s more, you can grab this model on sale quite regularly. When writing this review, I spotted it on sale for less than $60 / £55 / AU$80, and at that price, I think this wireless charger-power bank hybrid is well worth considering.

(Image credit: Future)UGreen MagFlow Magnetic Wireless Power Bank 10000mAh Qi2 25W review: price & specs

Price

$89.99 / £79.99 / AU$99.99

Capacity

10,000mAh

Total wattage

25W

Number of ports

1 (excluding 1x built-in USB-C cable)

Port type(s)

USB-C

Wireless charging

Qi2, MagSafe

Weight

0.6lbs / 254g

Dimensions

0.8 x 2.8 x 4.3 inches / 21 x 70 x 110mm

(Image credit: Future)Should I buy the UGreen MagFlow Magnetic Wireless Power Bank 10000mAh Qi2 25W?Buy it if…

You want a compact all-in-one charging solution
With 25W wireless charging, an integrated cable, and an extra USB-C port, it really does feel like this model is the ideal all-in-one charging solution. You can even recharge the power bank and juice up your phone simultaneously, which makes this an incredibly convenient tool to have in your arsenal.

You’re yet to upgrade from a 15W wireless charging
Until last year, 15W wireless chargers were the standard, so a lot of consumers are yet to take the step up to a model that supports 25W. So, if your device is capable of 25W wireless charging, but you’re still stuck with an old 15W model, this UGreen power bank is sure to give you a significant performance boost.

Don’t buy it if…

If you don’t really need wireless charging
If you don’t need wireless charging, but just want a compact power bank to take out and about, then I’d suggest skipping this and going for something cheaper. I regularly use the Anker Nano Power Bank 10K 45W Built-In Retractable USB-C Cable, which is much cheaper in markets like the US and UK, but is incredibly reliable.

If you need to charge power-hungry devices
The UGreen Qi2 25W is great for juicing up the best phones, wireless earbuds, and smaller electronic devices, but if you need something capable of charging laptops or more power-hungry handsets, then this model’s 10,000mAh capacity and max 30W charging won’t be enough for you. Instead, I’d recommend a power bank like the Anker 87W 20,000mAh Power Bank.

UGreen MagFlow Magnetic Wireless Power Bank 10000mAh Qi2 25W review: also consider

Anker Nano Power Bank 10K 45W Built-In Retractable USB-C Cable
If you don’t mind skipping on the wireless charging aspect to save a bit of cash, then this Anker power bank could be ideal for you. It has the same capacity as this UGreen model, but can charge a little faster with a 45W max power output. It has an integrated cable for practical on-the-go charging, but also features an extra USB-C and USB-A port if you’re looking to juice up multiple devices simultaneously. Its neat display and ultra-compact form only help to establish it as one of the best small power banks around. Read my full Anker Nano Power Bank 10K 45W Built-In Retractable USB-C Cable review.

Light spoilers follow for House of the Dragon season 3 episodes 1 to 4.

House of the Dragon has a reputation to rebuild after its somewhat divisive second season. At watching its first four episodes, I suggested that House of the Dragon season 2 was the popular show at its "volatile, merciless, and masterful best". However, its latter chapters drew fierce fan criticism for spinning the show's narrative wheels, and a distinct lack of high-stakes, fiery action.

The high-fantasy series' latest installment, then, has the chance to set things right; and, after sitting through House of the Dragon season 3's first four entries, it goes a long way to making amends for its sluggish forebear, even if this season itself isn't beyond reproach.

Fire and ash

Alyn (left) and Corlys (right) prepare for The Battle of the Gullet, aka this season's first major set-piece (Image credit: HBO)

Just as its predecessor did after season 1's bombshell ending, House of the Dragon 3 seamlessly transitions from House of the Dragon's season 2 finale by immediately picking up where that episode left off.

Amid multiple plot threads left dangling by season 2 episode 8, this season opens with the one that saw Queen Dowager Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) and Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) secretly make a deal that would allow Rhaenyra to fly to King's Landing, and finally claim the Iron Throne with little to no resistance. In return, Rhaenyra would grant Alicent and her daughter Halaena (Phia Saban) safe passage out of Westeros' capital city.

House of the Dragon has certainly improved across the board but, maddeningly, still has its limitations

As the saying goes, though, the best-laid plans often go awry — and this one certainly does, in dramatic, action-packed, and ultimately fatal fashion.

Indeed, with season 2 seeing Rhaenyra instruct Ser Corlys Velaryon (Steve Toussaint) to form a blockade of King's Landing's ports to starve out the Hightowers, one of the latter's allies in House Lannister convinces the Triarchy — an Essosi naval military alliance — to align themselves with Team Green to destroy said blockade. Thus, the much-anticipated Battle of the Gullet begins.

The Battle of the Gullet is visually impressive, but ultimately left me wanting more (Image credit: HBO)

Considering how much this sea-based conflict has been hyped up by the cast and crew pre-release, I was expecting a devastating, multi-stage set-piece to rival those of Game of Thrones' best action-heavy standalone episodes, such as 'The Watchers on the Wall' or 'The Battle of the Bastards'.

Color me disappointed, then, that this titanic clash only flaunted across the final 25 minutes of House of the Dragon 3's premiere.

The Battle of the Gullet isn't worthy of a spot in Thrones' best battles pantheon

That's not to say it's terrible. The Battle of the Gullet is a brutal and nerve-fraying showdown between Corlys and Triarchy commander Sharako Lohar's (Abigail Thorn) forces, and the ruinous events that occur create irreversible shockwaves that ripple out and impact every subplot and major story strand.

Nevertheless, it's not as hard-hitting as conflicts that occur in the aforementioned Thrones episodes, nor does it fully capture the unrelenting pace or futile struggle of the White Walkers' attack section of the main show's fan-favorite 'Hardhome' installment. That's partly down to this season's first major action sequence being intercut with other scenes, which disrupt its flow and dampen its explosive impact.

Sharako Lohar leads the Triarchy during The Battle of the Bullet (Image credit: Ollie Upton/HBO)

The Battle of the Gullet was supposed to bookend last season, but was withheld for this season's opener due to budget and time constraints. However, despite having a longer runway, and more money to do justice to this hugely significant conflict, it's not worthy of a spot in Thrones' best battles pantheon.

It's not the only action-based criticism that season 3 arguably deserves. Like the HBO Max TV series' sophomore outing, this season's first half disappointingly opts to only show us the final moments of Daemon Targaryen's (Matt Smith) ongoing crusade in the Riverlands, rather than a full battle. If House of the Dragon wants to overcome accusations of being an action-light show, it seriously needs to step things up in season 3's latter half.

Seize the throne

Rhaenyra will aim to become Westeros' new monarch in season 3 (Image credit: HBO)

Thankfully, House of the Dragon 3 succeeds in other areas, including its depiction of Rhaenyra's emotional and psychological unraveling.

Few other actors could deliver the kind of powerhouse performance and emotional gravitas that D'Arcy does

Given the sheer number of traumatic events she's tolerated, few viewers will be surprised by this development. Unfortunately for Rhaenyra, more heartache awaits, and one such moment early in season 3 episode 2 left me in little doubt, if any remained, that few other actors could deliver the kind of powerhouse performance and emotional gravitas that D'Arcy does in this show.

D'Arcy continues to fire on all cylinders in a breath-taking seasonal display of acting prowess (Image credit: HBO Max)

That opinion has only been further strengthened by how D'Arcy handles a grief-stricken and rage-filled Rhaenyra's not-so-subtle evolution into something of a mad queen, too. This season's third episode, an action-free, one-woman character study that might be my favorite House of the Dragon episode in a long time (which, given my earlier-outlined criticism, is something of an irony), tangibly cranks up the pressure on Rhaenyra in ways I won't spoil here, and lays the foundations for what I expect will be a full-blown breakdown in the near future.

In that regard, Rhaenyra's descent into madness will be less abrupt and abrasive than of Daenarys' similar heel-turn in the final season of House of the Dragon's parent show. Nonetheless, as much as I like her as a character, I can't wait to see how her volatile decision-making and handling of those loyal to her will come back to haunt Westeros' would-be monarch.

Enemy at the gates

Alicent (left) and Aemond (right) continue to have differences of opinion (Image credit: HBO)

This isn't simply the Rhaenyra show, though. Many other individuals — new and old alike — help to season House of the Dragon 3 with the prerequisite amount of melodramatic spice, and ensure there's plenty more delicious political scheming, and familial backstabbing and betrayals, to gorge yourself on. Suffice to say, then, there are more than enough twists and turns to keep you engaged amid the perpetual cycle of one-upmanship, and inter- and intra-familial machinations.

Smith continues to deliver a devilishly delightful display as the unpredictable and power-hunger Daemon

Of the myriad character arcs and storylines that comprise season 3, many fans may be most satisfied to hear that more tasty scenes between leading ladies Alicent and Rhaenyra await. Elsewhere, the screen-commanding Smith continues to deliver a devilishly delightful display as the unpredictable and power-hunger Daemon, whose cruelty, arrogance, and self-serving actions are, like Rhaenyra, sure to come back to bite him.

It's events surrounding Aegon Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney) and Larys Strong (Matthew Needham), though, that — Rhaenyra's impending crash out notwithstanding — I've found to be this season's most intriguing subplot.

With last season's finale seeing the latter convince Westeros' physically and emotionally scarred monarch to abdicate the throne and flee King's Landing, the pair's meandering and dangerous journey isn't novel in its approach and execution. After all, we've seen similar storylines involving characters like Tyrion and Arya in the main show.

Larys (left) and Aegon's (right) subplot is one of this season's most interesting (Image credit: HBO)

Nonetheless, by virtue of the deeply humbling quest it forces the egocentric Aegon to go on, it's yet another example of the Thrones-Verse doing what it does best; that being, making you feel sorry for characters you've actively or subconsciously detested.

Aemond and Criston Cole are the biggest casualties of the show's ever-expanding ensemble

Speaking of unlikeable individuals, the debut of the nefarious Ormond Hightower (James Norton) is the most noteworthy of this season's new additions.

A calculating, cunning, and smarmy tactician, Norton, who commands the most screentime of this season's newcomers, imbues Alicent's cousin with an striking obnoxiousness that'll immediately — and continue to — bother you throughout this season, especially once he lays out his daring masterplan in full. I for one can't wait to see if he spectacularly fails or somehow succeeds.

James Norton is fantastic as the antagonistic Ormund Hightower (Image credit: HBO)

With so many characters vying for time in front of the camera, it's inevitable that some will be relegated to the sidelines.

As of season 3's midpoint, Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) and Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) are the biggest casualties of the show's ever-expanding ensemble. Sure, the pair are handed moments to shine, but viewers hoping to see plenty of them in this season's first half should temper their expectations accordingly. Here's hoping they have more to do in the chapters ahead, especially if House of the Dragon 3 belatedly dials things up on the action front.

My verdict

After the fan outcry to last season's anticlimactic ending, plus the critical and commercial success that fellow Thrones offshoot A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms enjoyed earlier this year, House of the Dragon season 3 needed to step up big time — and, in some ways, it does.

As an overall package, it's certainly improved across the board but, maddeningly, still has its limitations. If this season's second half addresses its biggest issues — for starters, giving us plenty more tentpole action — then I foresee many viewers re-evaluating their overall opinion of this show. Season 2 promised plenty but largely failed to deliver on the destructive Targaryen civil war, otherwise known as the Dance of the Dragons, and I really hope that we're not sat here in a few months' time saying the same things about its follow-up.

House of the Dragon season 3 launches on Sunday, June 20 (North and South America) and Monday, June 21 (UK and everywhere else).

I'm turning into something of a Harlan Coben fangirl. Much like a stalker in one of his compelling crime stories, wherever I go is somewhere he already seems to be.

Looking at his TV track record since 2020 alone, this is hardly a surprise. Coben has had 10 of his stories adapted for Netflix in this time alone, with a further two — including one completely original script — on Prime Video. He's truly the King of Crime both on page and screen, and frankly, I bow to his majesty.

I Will Find You is our tenth Netflix adaptation in this list, and the moment I saw it would be joining the streamer this month, I was locked in with a laser focus. However, now that I've streamed all eight episodes, the lasting effect is more lukewarm than boiling hot.

Perhaps I'm spoiled for choice. I'm used to crime dramas that truly melt the mind, and both Lazarus and Run Away (two Coben shows that have been released in the last year) have done exactly that. I've been left with my head spinning, my eyes rolling and my jaw on the floor, even when they weren't absolutely perfect.

This time around, I've metaphorically shrugged my shoulders. I Will Find You is largely solid, and everything there is to critique isn't exactly world-destroying. But when we've been solving crime at such lofty heights, the comedown effect feels ridiculously devastating.

Harlan Coben's I Will Find You is the plain bread equivalent of Netflix crime drama

So, what's the story? Without giving too much away, we follow David Burroughs (Sam Worthington), who is serving a life sentence for the murder of his son, Matthew. When his ex-sister-in-law, disgraced journalist Rachel (Britt Lower), finds evidence that Matthew might still be alive, the race is on to prove David's innocence and find his son.

Whipped into a tight paragraph, that all sounds incredibly exciting... and for the most part, I Will Find You hits the brief. Worthington plays it Kiefer Sutherland-in-24-style as David, hotfooting it out of prison like his life depends on it (and it does).

There's a beautiful cat-and-mouse chase between David and the FBI from episode 2 onwards, both trying to outfox the other by almost nailing what the other is thinking — except one key detail is always catastrophically wrong. This type of rollercoaster storytelling is where the series is at its strongest, and that's all thanks to Mr. Coben himself.

Obviously, this is why we're tuning in. We've watched and read enough to know that Coben is a master of his craft, turning even the most mundane of moments into something truly thrilling. The problem, however, is just how much mundanity he's working with... even though that's basically his own fault.

Unless bodies are being hacked into pieces, a curveball the size of the Empire State Building is dropped into the storyline, or our characters betray each other on an epic scale, we've all consumed so many crime dramas that most of the nuts and bolts would be considered boring.

With such a linear storyline, I Will Find You wholeheartedly falls into this trap. We can guess what will happen to David, Matthew, and, frankly, who did it, which isn't as impressive as Coben's biggest mind-melters.

I Will Find You is the first American Harlan Coben adaptation on Netflix — and I hate that

(Image credit: Netflix)

I Will Find You hasn't helped its predictability problem by making a Columbo-shaped error with its casting announcement. Back in the days of 1980s crime-solving shows like it and Murder, She Wrote, the guest with the most star power would always be booked as the killer.

Fans eventually caught on, and it became so obvious that shows had to completely change their casting strategy. I'm not going to tell you which cast member this is aimed at, but one of I Will Find You's biggest-billed and most-promoted stars is also suspiciously absent from most of the drama. I wonder why that could be?

Then there's the final kicker, which will be an absolute gut-punch to anybody watching across the pond in the UK who has also co-opted Coben as an honorary Brit. I Will Find You marks the first adaptation for Netflix that is based in the US rather than the UK, with accents to match. This has happened once before in Prime Video's Shelter, but Netflix has been committed to using stalwart British actors since Cobenmania caught on.

After spending the first 10 minutes in disbelief, shouting "Wait, this is American?!" at my TV, I realized that I Will Find You had lots of bits of its grittiness and bite by being set on the East Coast. Apologies if this offends our American friends — I've just seen too many iterations of Law & Order, 9-1-1 and Blue Bloods for me to think that fictional crime in the Big Apple is anything other than cheesy.

Maybe I'm just being pedantic, but that's what happens when a streaming service gives you a never-ending wealth of content to gorge on. I Will Find You isn't the Harlan Coben I will return to or even remember after this week, but it did the job it needed to while I was watching.

Oukitel WP66: 30-second review

.Oukitel seems to have a particular strategy in the rugged phone market that involves launching lots of products, presumably on the assumption that a percentage of them will find favour with some customers.

The WP66 is at the end of a long list of recent phones, which includes devices I’ve covered, like the WP61 Plus, WP60 and WP30 Pro. Typically, these devices are affordable, rugged designs which avoid the latest SoC technology but often have some core features that make them attractive.

On paper, the WP66 isn’t much of a step away from its WP61 Plus predecessor, using the same MediaTek Dimensity 7025 SoC, identical memory and storage sizes, However, the WP66 has roughly half the battery capacity, and that makes it much easier to use as a daily driver.

With this level of practicality baked in, this is probably Oukitel's most design-aware rugged phone yet. It trades brute bulk for a slimmer profile and adds a neat 1.81-inch secondary display that does real work. The 11,000mAh battery is the headline number, and it delivers genuinely exceptional runtime. The Dimensity 7025 is capable enough for daily tasks, but it is not a performance chip.

Camera quality is fine in good light and ordinary in other conditions. At under $450 from the makers, this is a competitive proposition for anyone who needs genuine ruggedness without the usual aesthetic punishment.

It’s mostly the SoC that stops this from being one of the best rugged phones we’ve seen this year.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)Oukitel WP66: price and availability

• How much does it cost? $450/£337/€390
• When is it out? Available now
• Where can you get it? Direct from the maker or via an online retailer

Oukitel is one of those phone makers that likes to discount its phones at launch and sets a huge MSRP that the device is never sold at. Doing that in Europe isn’t legal, but it's something Chinese phone makers don’t appear concerned about.

It's available in the US via Oukitel's official site, where the MSRP for the WP66 is $639.99 - but at the time of review, it's down to $450. On Oukitel's UK site, it retailss for £474.99, while currently being discounted to £287.99.

Considering the specifications and features of this phone, the price seems competitive enough, but how they came up with the MSRP values is a mystery.

The phone most likely to be compared is the Doogee S200, as it also has a rear display. The Doogee phone typically sells for $360/£285/€328 via AliExpress. But the processor in it is less powerful, it has half the storage and can’t do 4K video. However, it has twice the battery capacity if you need longer runtime.

Given the recent price increases for both RAM and storage, the Oukitel WP66 is probably priced right, but maybe in the next six months, it needs to get a little cheaper to cope with phones with more concurrent technology being released into the busy mid-tier market.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

• Value score: 4/5

Oukitel WP66: Specs

Item

Spec

CPU:

MediaTek Dimensity 7025 (Octa-core, up to 2.5GHz)

GPU:

IMG BXM-8-256 (PowerVR IMG GPU)

NPU:

MediaTek NPU 550

RAM:

12GB

Storage:

512GB

Screen:

6.6" IPS TFT 750 nits and 1.8” rear screen

Resolution:

1080 x 2408 (FHD+)

SIM:

2x Nano SIM, or 1x Nano +TF

Weight:

365g

Dimensions:

172.2 x 81.0 x 15.8mm

Rugged Spec:

IP68 IP69K dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min), MIL-STD-810H Certification

Rear cameras:

108MP Samsung S5KHM6 (f/1.9, no OIS) + 2MP GalaxyCore GC02M1 macro

Front camera:

32MP Sony IMX616

Networking:

WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.3

OS:

Android 15

Battery:

11,000 mAh battery (Max 33W charge wired, 7.5W Reverse)

Colours:

Orange, Black

Oukitel WP66: Design

• Slim for a rugged phone
• No wireless charging
• Rear display

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

The WP66 that Oukitel sent was the orange model, and I think this version looks much more interesting than the one with a black colour scheme.

One oddity I noticed almost immediately is that on the rear of the case is a GT logo, and this also appears on the maker's webpage. But this phone isn’t the WP66 GT; it's just the WP66, which suggests a change of plan in the naming scheme before launch.

Another chin-scratcher is that this phone has holes in the bottom-right corner for a lanyard, but there isn’t one in the box. It also comes with a TPU bumper that has a slot for the same purpose.

I’m glad about the bumper, because if it weren’t attached, the camera cluster would be excessively prominent, with each of the three elements sticking out at least 2mm. The included bumper guaranteed that this phone doesn’t have wireless charging, and to confirm that, I removed it and tested for wireless functionality. That’s a shame, because below the camera and rear display, the underside of the WP66 is extremely flat.

What I liked was that WP66 bucks the rugged phone aesthetic in a meaningful way. Most rugged devices lean into aggressive styling: heavy frames, pronounced corner armour, and military-surplus colour palettes. The WP66 is comparatively restrained. The Orange colourway is vibrant rather than utilitarian, and the Black variant suits a professional context.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

At 15.8mm thick, this is slim territory for a phone carrying an 11,000mAh battery. The trade-off is visible: the bezels around the main display are wider than a mainstream consumer phone would accept in 2026. The screen-to-body ratio sits at roughly 75%. For a rugged device, that is acceptable. For anyone accustomed to modern frameless designs, it might feel dated.

The secondary display on the rear panel is the most distinctive design element. It sits cleanly within the casing and gives the phone a dual-screen character that most rivals lack entirely.

Oukitel has packed the rear display with functionality, showing you a calendar, battery status, messages, and a million other things. My only issue with it is that by the time you’ve scrolled through all the functions to find the one you want, you could have easily turned the phone over and gone directly to that information three or four times over.

The button layout is by-the-numbers, and the designer has resisted the temptation to add extra buttons when they’re not specifically required. The right side has the power button with integrated fingerprint reader and volume controls, and the left has a single user-definable button and the SIM card slot. The card slot supports a MicroSD card and a Nano SIM, or you can forgo the MicroSD card and use a second Nano SIM. As this phone comes with 512GB of storage, not having a MicroSD card isn’t that limiting.

Overall, for a business user who might want a rugged phone for site visits or other outdoor work, the WP66 is pleasantly restrained, and it's not so big and heavy that it couldn’t be used as a daily driver.

Design score: 4/5

Oukitel WP66: Hardware

• MediaTek Dimensity 7025
• 512GB of storage
• 11000 mAh battery

In other reviews, I’ve talked about the current MediaTek strategy that involves taking older technology and rebranding it with relatively small changes to make it look current.

What they can’t paper over is that the Dimensity 7025 is a 6nm SoC, because its origins are the Dimensity 930, an SoC that first appeared in 2022.

Oukitel used this in the WP300, WP60 and WP55 Pro, so this will be the fourth design to use the same platform.

My view of this silicon is that the CPU is workable, but the PowerVR IMG BXM-8-256 GPU is a poor GPU that struggles with the OpenGL and Vulkan APIs.

What challenges the GPU in this phone design is that the display is 1080 by 2408 pixels, whereas in the WP60, as an example, it only had a 720 x 1560 pixel screen.

If you like to game or use more demanding 3D titles, this probably isn’t the platform for you, but for everyday use, it works well enough to navigate Android.

What many people might consider a high point of this design is the 512GB of storage, which is enough when combined with the 12GB of RAM to handle plenty of applications and the data that comes with them. This SoC doesn’t have an NPU; instead, it has an APU, which is the CPU and GPU merged to perform a similar function. Thankfully, most AI done from phones is cloud-based anyway.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

One interesting change from its predecessor is that the battery is now rated at 11,000mAh, where the WP58 Pro and WP60 had 10,000mAh. That’s not a huge increase, but it might take you 10% further depending on how you use it.

While the makers did source a larger-capacity battery, they didn’t find one that charged any faster or delivered more power to other phones.

It’s got the same 33W wired charge and 7.5W reverse-charging specs as the 10000mAh devices, which translates to a full recharge from flat in under two hours.

Like most of the Oukitel designs I’ve seen in the past two years, the WP66 doesn’t represent cutting-edge technology. It’s assembled from a collection of parts that are chosen based entirely on price, and that create an ensemble of functions that can attract customers at the right cost.

Oukitel aren’t the only Chinese rugged phone maker using the same approach or with a selection of middle-of-the-road devices that use older technology, but there aren’t any huge surprises here for those willing to do their research about this brand.

• Hardware score: 3.5/5

Oukitel WP66: Cameras

• 108MP and 2MP on the rear
• 32MP on the front
• Three cameras in total

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

The Oukitel WP66 has three cameras:

Rear camera: 108MP Samsung ISOCELL S5KHM6, Macro 2MP GalaxyCore GC02M1
Front camera: 32MP GalaxyCore GC32E1

This is a similar camera arrangement to the WP61 Plus, with the primary sensor being the excellent Samsung S5KHM6, supported by a less-than-epic 2MP macro camera from GalaxyCore. What’s missing, and was on the WP61 Plus, is a night vision sensor.

The primary sensor can produce some top-notch results in bright lighting, ideally outdoors, but it's not as impressive when there is less light. But the worst aspect of this design is the 2MP macro camera, a camera that produces results from the dawn of cameras on phones.

It’s grainy, difficult to get the optimal focus and often not worth the effort.

What’s also crushingly disappointing is that even with a 108MP sensor and 512GB of storage to handle some big recordings, this phone doesn’t offer 4K video. The best it can manage is 2K video at 30fps, which, considering the capabilities of the ISOCELL S5KHM6, is pitiful.

Also, like all the Oukitel phones I’ve tried recently, this phone doesn’t support Widevine L1, so streaming services are often reduced to 480p resolution.

You can take good pictures with this phone, but it takes more effort than it should.

Oukitel WP66 Camera samplesMark PickavanceMark PickavanceMark PickavanceMark PickavanceMark PickavanceMark PickavanceMark PickavanceMark PickavanceMark PickavanceMark PickavanceMark PickavanceMark PickavanceMark PickavanceMark PickavanceMark Pickavance

• Camera score: 3.5/5

Oukitel WP66: Performance

• 6nm SoC
• Mid-tier performance

Phone

 

Oukitel WP66

Oukitel WP61 Plus

SoC

 

MediaTek Dimensity 7025

MediaTek Dimensity 7025

GPU

 

IMG BXM-8-256

IMG BXM-8-256

NPU

 

MediaTek's APU 780

MediaTek's APU 780

Memory

 

12GB/512GB

12GB/512GB

Weight

 

365g

656g

Battery

 

11000

20000

Geekbench

Single

897

959

 

Multi

2296

2362

 

OpenCL

156

failed

 

Vulkan

137

failed

PCMark

3.0 Score

10912

13080

 

Battery

27h 27m (20%)

32h 7m + 25%

Charge 30

%

33

28

Passmark

Score

6691

6620

 

CPU

5391

5284

3DMark

Slingshot OGL

3592

3741

 

Slingshot Ex. OGL

2549

3738

 

Slingshot Ex. Vulkan

2490

2614

Wildlife

1447

Failed

Nomad Lite

131

Failed

Even if initially, this looks like a pointless comparison, since both phones use the same SoC, there is some interesting data in these tests to examine. For most benchmarks, the difference between the two is within the standard deviation.

But it’s interesting to note that now running Android 16, the WP66 can run Wildlife and Nomad Lite, where the WP61 Plus, which was also running the same OS, could not. The obvious conclusion is that the WP61 Plus launched with some issues that may have been resolved, or that UL has tweaked 3DMark to make it more forgiving.

This isn’t to say that the WP66 runs either of the benchmarks well, but at least it pops out a number. It also succeeds on GeekBench for OpenGL and Vulkan, where it previously failed on the WP61 Plus, but the numbers are still horrible. The IMG BXM-8-256 isn’t a GPU anyone would want if they got a choice.

What I found most fascinating about these results was the battery performance, with the WP61 Plus running longer than the WP66. That’s not much of a revelation given the relative battery capacities, but it is worth noting that the WP61 Plus lasts only 17% longer despite having nearly twice the battery capacity.

This makes little sense, since they use a practically identical platform, and if I still had the WP61 Plus, I’d be curious to see what it was when running that used up the battery. It would be guesswork to pin this on any aspect of that phone, but it does suggest that the WP66 may be in a better place at launch than its predecessor.

Looking at these numbers overall, neither of these phones is ideal for gaming or VR, since the GPU can’t offer the range of features that more modern silicon can.

Battery life is decent, but everything else is bordering on an entry-level performance envelope.

• Performance score: 3.5/5

(Image credit: Oukitel)Oukitel WP66: Final verdict

The Oukitel WP66 is the rugged phone that does not punish you for choosing durability. The slim profile, the secondary display, and the extraordinary battery life form a compelling package. The Dimensity 7025 processor is an honest mid-range device that does support 5G, but isn’t a gaming platform.

The camera is capable in daylight and ordinary in poor light. The 33W charging rate is the one frustrating limitation in an otherwise well-considered design. At the launch price of $450, this is one of the more interesting propositions in the mid-market rugged segment.

With Oukitel having so many phones in the WP series, the company's shotgun approach aims to make a handset that’s perfect for most customers. The WP66 is aimed at those who want a rugged phone without impractical size or weight. It manages that, and it even shows off a little with its rear-facing display.

I’m just not convinced that with such relatively old technology on the SoC, there is much longevity to be had. There are similarly priced rugged phones with better cameras and newer silicon for those who can spot them. The WP66 has a platform on its fourth outing for Oukitel, and that might be one or two bites of that cherry more than the Dimensity 7025 deserves.

Should I buy a Oukitel WP66?Oukitel WP66 Score Card

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Value

No an excessive price for the spec

4/5

Design

Slim for a rugged phone; secondary display is a standout touch

4/5

Hardware

The fourth time Oukitel used this SoC

3.5/5

Camera

Good 108MP primary camera sensor, poor Macro, but only 2K video

3.5/5

Performance

Dimensity 7025 handles daily use; not a gaming chip

3.5/5

Overall

Other than the rear display, a bit forgetable

3.5/5

Buy it if...

You need a phone for outdoors
The water and dust resistance on the Oukitel WP66 is enough to handle submersion and drops. And, its not too large to fit in a pocket, or too heavy to carry.

You carry lots of data or apps
With 512GB of storage and 16GB of RAM, this phone is ideal for those who like to carry data and install numerous apps. And, if you give up a SIM card slot, you can add a MicroSD card for even more space.

Don't buy it if...

You need the best video
The sensors on this phone aren't bad, but they're not exploited fully by the phone. With a 108MP sensor, video capture is capped at only 2K resolution. If you record video, you will want a design that can capture 4K.

You use demanding apps
Hardcore gamers and VR users will find the GPU in the WP66 is underpowered. There isn’t any way to fix this with 2022 SoC technology under the skin.

Also Consider

Blackview Oscal Tank 1
An inexpensive phone with a 20000 mAh. But in this case, it comes with a superior SoC platform and a better camera cluster. Therefore, you get 4K video recording on both rear and front sensors, and you also get an SoC that supports 5G comms.

Read my full Blackview Oscal Tank 1 reviewView Deal

RugOne Xever 7 Pro
A RugOne design with swappable battery technology, but smaller batteries. The one critical advantage of this design is its thermal imaging camera. However, it costs more than the WP66, because of that feature.

Read my RugOne Xever 7 Pro review

For more ruggedized devices, we've reviewed the best rugged tablets, the best rugged laptops, and the best rugged hard drives

Lenovo continues to dominate the professional desktop marketplace. I see Lenovo everywhere in my day to day professional careers. They have a firm grasp on the market and a good reason for that is that they seem to keep putting out reliable heavy hitters release after release.

Sure there are others that are also killing it, but when it comes to the trust that those who have the power to purchase business bulk, Lenovo is pretty high up on that list for many.

The P3 Tiny Gen 2 is just another example of a fantastic offering for those who need just a basic PC for workstations, server access, front desks, and TVs. If you need a professional computer to run something, but nothing too big, then check out the P3 Tiny Gen 2. On paper, in no way is it the best mini PC we've tested on paper. But this workstation depends on a very clear set of business use-cases, so it may be the best for your scenario.

Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Tiny Gen 2: Price and availability

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

The Lenovo P3 Tiny Gen 2 is available direct from Lenovo's regional sites, including Lenovo US and Lenovo UK. The base price starts at $999 (and £2385 in the UK), with the highest end crossing $4000.

You can also buy it through third-party vendors like Amazon, Best Buy, and other reputable local retailers.

In true Lenovo fashion, you can choose your adventure here, opting for a more baseline model that's cheaper and easier for entry and easier for mass purchases. Or you can spec it out and get a more prominent and more powerful build-out. The choice is yours.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Tiny Gen 2: Unboxing and First Impressions

I've unboxed so many Lenovo desktops at this point that they all are blending together. However, this one is pretty straightforward and fairly consistent with all the others. Inside of the unassuming brown box is the computer itself, some brackets, a small power brick, and all the documentation that you need.

Right off the bat, this immediately looks like a pretty business professional desktop that could fit in pretty much any workspace. It could be on the desk of an executive. It can be on the desk of a front desk receptionist or it could be in a server rack, tucked away and never to be seen again. Lenovo has made this computer so versatile that it could even be mounted behind a TV, and you wouldn't feel like you're wasting any power since you can choose the internal components so easily.

It is worth noting that there is an inline power brick to the power cable, meaning that it's not just your outlet to IEC, like some monitors and desktops use these days, but there is a brick in line that converts the IEC jack to a smaller power plug. If you're planning on tucking this on a desk or underneath a monitor shelf, or tucking it away in a server rack, this may not be a big deal if there are easy spots to be able to tuck cables.

If you were mounting this or putting this behind a TV, or having this out in the open, it's worth noting that you're going to have to find a spot to be able to place that power brick, or mount it if you are mounting as well. Again, it's not the end of the world, but it is worth noting because power bricks can be frustrating at times to mount due to their heat generation, size, and weight.

The last thing I'll mention in this section is the ports. In true Lenovo fashion, these ports are exactly what business users need in their workspace today. There's a good span of USB, USB-A, DisplayPort, and network jacks. They are all in good positions to be able to be utilized as needed in an actual workday, not just in a pretty photo shoot or in a nice spec sheet. Some manufacturers care more about looks, but Lenovo very clearly cares more about usability and creating helpful experiences for their users.

Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Tiny Gen 2: Design & Build Quality

As briefly mentioned above, this desktop could easily stand upright on your desk, or it could become something that mounts underneath your desk, hiding away completely and staying completely out of the way. If you do choose to mount it, there are mounting options directly from Lenovo or an absurd number of third-party options as well.

It will allow you to mount this behind a monitor, under a desk, in a rack, or in other locations as well. If you do choose to have this on your desktop, Lenovo makes a nice little stand to help make sure that it stands upright, taking up even less footprint than before.

Throughout my testing in daily use, there were some moments when the fan kicked up louder than I expected. I really only noticed it when my office was otherwise silent. The fan isn't obnoxious by any means, but you do hear it if the environment is quiet enough.

Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Tiny Gen 2: In use

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

In day-to-day use, it's pretty clear that the P3 Tiny, in name and in stature, is designed to be hidden away and take up as little space as possible. There was a season when you wanted a setup like this, you would use an all-in-one.

However, I believe Lenovo has understood that allowing business users specifically to be able to utilize whatever display they want with a smaller PC that can be hidden away is a better move long term, especially because if you needed to, you could run multi-monitor on a machine like this. By multi-monitor, of course I don't mean running two 55-inch 5K monitors, but more like two business displays utilizing the DisplayPort and the HDMI out.

I was able to run this on my 52-inch 6K monitor at high resolution without any issue, no lag, but I did hear the fan kick on when running on a smaller monitor at 4K or even 5K. I didn't hear the fan as much, and it still ran just as smoothly.

I will note that the proprietary power table is a tad annoying, but only really in the moment if you need to replace it, or if you are replacing a different computer with this computer, you'll need to run this proprietary cable instead of just an IEC cable. Further, the separation of the DisplayPort and HDMI, I thought, was worth noting. There's a USB-A in between those two ports, which is something I don't usually see. Usually, the DisplayPort and HDMI ports are right next to each other.

In base units, there are a bunch of punch-out ports available on the back of the machine. In the more build-out units, those punch-out ports, of course, become actual ports, which could vary between other VGA, DisplayPort, HDMI, or USB-C ports, more gigabit Ethernet ports, or even more USB-A ports if desired.

All around, this is a phenomenal device to be able to tuck away and hide or have out on your desk, taking up minimal space, especially in a simplistic business use case. Of course, I wouldn't use this probably for anything creative or on the go, but if you need a plug-it-in-and-let-it-work productivity machine, this could be it.

Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Tiny Gen 2: Final verdict

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

Lenovo continues the impressive nature of the P3 Tiny that we saw about a year ago. While I still wish that in 2026 there are a few more Thunderbolt ports, I do think for most business use cases this is a really good option, as there are still a lot of devices that use the now more legacy style USB-A port.

If you're looking for a small set-it-and-forget-it desktop machine for your employees or for your own office, this is definitely one worth considering.

Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future Collin Probst // Future

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

Kodak PixPro WPZ2: One-minute review

The Kodak PixPro WPZ2 is a budget waterproof camera aimed squarely at adventurers who want to take their photography somewhere a smartphone or regular point-and-shoot can’t follow.

It costs a fraction of what you’d pay for a premium rugged compact like the OM System Tough TG-7, and the trade-offs are exactly what you’d expect at this price: a fairly basic feature set, modest image quality and 1080p/30fps video recording that feels pretty old-school in 2026. But after spending some time with it at my local beach, I found plenty to like.

For one, it certainly looks the part. The WPZ2’s yellow-and-black color scheme, chunky G-Shock-esque lens barrel and prominent rivet-like screws on the front give it an appropriately ruggedized aesthetic. It’s also smaller than it looks, and I managed to squeeze it into my jeans pocket, protruding lens barrel and all.

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

Build quality feels solid, and the double-locking battery and card compartment is a reassuring design choice that should prevent any accidental pop-opens while you’re underwater. I tested it in saltwater rock pools and have no reason to doubt Kodak’s 15m waterproofing claim. There was no lens fogging when transitioning between underwater and above-water shooting, either. One note of caution: the front element doesn’t appear to be noticeably hydrophobic, so water droplets will cling on after submersion. My advice? Pack a microfiber cloth or two.

There are some usability niggles, though. The rear screen is small and dim – even at maximum brightness I found it difficult to gauge exposure or compose shots with any confidence. The zoom rocker requires a very firm press to register, which is understandable given the waterproofing demands, but isn’t much fun with wet hands. And getting a microSD card in and out of its deeply-recessed slot in the battery chamber is really fiddly, to the extent anyone with larger fingers is going to struggle.

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

Image quality is in line with what the specs would lead you to expect: JPEGs that lack saturation, contrast and dynamic range, with some over-sharpening and noticeable corner softness. That said, the macro mode produced some impressively sharp results in my testing, with good central detail and pleasing colors.

The 4x optical zoom is a useful range to have, but engage the digital zoom beyond the optical and quality falls straight off a cliff. Low-light shooting is another weak point, though the built-in flash does keep the camera functional after dark.

Video maxes out at 1080p/30fps, which feels like a big limitation in this day and age. My underwater rock pool footage looked fine for casual use, but above-water clips suffered from the same flatness and over-processing that characterizes the still shots.

Battery life is one of the more pleasant surprises. The CIPA-rated 200 shots held up well in real-world use, and USB-C recharging felt reassuringly quick. For a day’s casual shooting, you’re unlikely to run dry.

Oh, and a small bonus if you’re a music fan: the five-note power-on chime is an uncanny dead ringer for the opening of Prince’s “Diamonds and Pearls.” Not a reason to buy, obviously, but I enjoyed it every single time.

The WPZ2 certainly won’t trouble the OM System TG-7 or Ricoh WG-8 in a straight image quality fight. But as an affordable way to get a camera into the water without worrying too much about the consequences, it fits the brief well.

Kodak PixPro WPZ2: Price and availability

• Priced at around $189 / £149 / AU$279
• Available in three color finishes

The Kodak PixPro WPZ2 is available now, priced at $189 / £149 / AU$279, though you may find it slightly cheaper (or pricier) depending on where and when you look. It comes in three colorways (yellow, red and blue) and is widely available through major retailers including Amazon, Best Buy and B&H Photo in the US, and their international equivalents.

As well as the camera and a single battery, the box includes a wrist strap and USB-A to USB-C charging cable. Note that a microSD card is not included, and with only 8MB of space on the camera's internal memory, you'll need one.

At this price it sits well below the premium rugged compact options on the market. The OM System Tough TG-7 commands around $400, so the WPZ2 undercuts it by a significant margin. The more relevant question is whether you’d be better served by choosing a similarly-priced action camera instead — and that probably depends on whether you're primarily shooting photos or video.

Kodak PixPro WPZ2: specsLeica SL3-P specs

Type:

Compact camera

Sensor:

16.35MP 1/2.3-inch BSI CMOS

Lens:

4x optical zoom, 27–108mm, f/2–f/6.6

Video:

Up to 1080p/30fps

Screen:

2.7-inch LCD

Waterproofing:

IP67 rating (up to 15m/49ft)

Shockproofing

Up to 2m/6ft drop distance

Storage

8MB internal + microSD card slot (up to 32GB)

Dimensions:

103.2 x 66.7 x 52.4mm / 4.06 x 2.62 x 2.06in

Weight:

176g / 6.21oz

Kodak PixPro WPZ2: design

• IP67-rated rugged build
• 176g weight and pocketable size

Pick up the WPZ2 and the first thing that strikes you is how proudly it wears its ruggedness on its sleeve. Where most compact cameras at least try to look sleek, this one leans into the industrial; the visible screws on the faceplate, the thick black grip and the chunky lens housing all read less “camera” and more “piece of heavy equipment.”

The Caterpillar digger-style yellow-and-black colorway I tested reinforces that impression, but red and blue options are available if you’d prefer something that looks a little less like it came straight off the construction site.

Despite its bulk-suggesting aesthetics, the WPZ2 is actually very small and manageable in the hand. It slipped into my jeans pocket without much protest, which is more than you’d expect from something that looks so burly. At 176g / 6.2oz it’s light enough that you’ll almost forget it’s there between shots, too.

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

The double-locking mechanism on the battery and card compartment is one of the smarter design decisions here. It takes a deliberate two-step action to open, which inspires confidence that it’s not going anywhere mid-dunk. Less impressive is the microSD slot itself, which sits so deep within that compartment that swapping cards becomes a two-handed exercise in patience. Larger fingers will find it particularly trying.

On the back, the controls are straightforward enough. This is very much a point-and-shoot in its operational philosophy, with no pretensions toward manual control complexity.

The main frustration is the rear LCD, which is both small and insufficiently bright; even cranked to maximum, it struggles in daylight conditions, making exposure assessment and framing more of an educated guess than a precise exercise. The zoom rocker, necessarily stiff to maintain its watertight seal, demands a firmer press than feels natural, which is something I noticed most acutely when my hands were wet.

Kodak PixPro WPZ2: Performance

• Camera performs best in good lighting
• No raw shooting option and video limited to 1080p
• 4x optical zoom

The WPZ2’s natural habitat is somewhere sunny, shallow and wet, and that’s precisely where it performs best. My rock pool testing on a bright day returned some pleasing results, particularly in macro mode, where the camera locked on with decent accuracy (if not much speed) and rendered the finer details of shells, barnacles and seaweed with more sharpness and color fidelity than I was expecting at this price point. Keep the light on your side and you’ll come away with shots you’re happy to share.

Step outside those ideal conditions, though, and the limitations become harder to overlook. The JPEGs have a processed, over-sharpened quality to them, and what the camera gains in apparent edge definition it loses in natural color rendition; images tend toward the flat and undersaturated rather than the vivid. Dynamic range is modest, so high-contrast scenes (bright sky against dark water, for instance) will test it. Corner sharpness drops off noticeably, too, which is worth bearing in mind if you’re framing wide shots.

An underwater shot taken with the WPZ2.Future | Sam KieldsenAn underwater shot taken with the WPZ2.Future | Sam KieldsenA macro shot taken with the WPZ2.Future | Sam KieldsenFuture | Sam KieldsenFuture | Sam KieldsenFuture | Sam KieldsenFuture | Sam KieldsenFuture | Sam KieldsenAn example of the image quality fall-off when using the camera's digital zoom.Future | Sam Kieldsen

The 4x optical zoom covers a useful range for a camera of this type, but treat the digital zoom as decorative – image quality deteriorates the moment you engage it, and by the time you reach the maximum combined 24x, you’re looking at something closer to an impressionist painting than a photograph.

Low-light shooting is perhaps the WPZ2’s most significant imaging weakness. Without a flash, the results are soft and noisy, and the camera gives you no shutter speed readout when shooting manually, which makes managing camera shake largely a matter of luck. The flash rescues things for indoor and after-dark shots, but don’t expect miracles.

In good lighting, the camera can produce some quite impressive results. (Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

Video maxes out at 1080p/30fps, a spec that would have felt reasonable a few years ago but stands out as a limitation today, when even mid-range smartphones routinely shoot 4K at 60fps. My underwater footage of the rock pools was perfectly watchable for casual use, but the above-water clips exhibited the same flatness and over-processing that characterises the stills. There’s no optical stabilization either, only digital, so handheld video isn't particularly smooth.

Battery life is one of the more pleasant surprises. The CIPA-rated 200 shots held up well in real-world use, and USB-C charging felt reassuringly quick. For a day’s casual shooting, you’re unlikely to run dry.

Should you buy the Kodak PixPro WPZ2?Buy it if...

You want an affordable camera that can get wet
The WPZ2 is a fraction of the price of premium waterproof compacts. For rock pooling, snorkeling or kayaking on a budget, it fits the bill.

You need a dedicated camera for water adventures
Most smartphones aren’t waterproof to any meaningful depth. The WPZ2 fills that gap without requiring a bulky housing.

Don't buy it if...

You're precious about image quality
Flat, over-sharpened JPEGs and no raw support mean the WPZ2 struggles to flatter its subjects. Spend more on an OM System Tough TG-7 if image quality is a priority.

You shoot a lot of video
A 1080p/30fps ceiling is unusual. An entry-level GoPro or Insta360 will serve you considerably better for similar money.

Also consider

OM System Tough TG-7

The TG-7 is the go-to waterproof compact for most people, and for good reason. It matches the WPZ2’s 15m waterproofing while adding dust, crush and freeze resistance, plus a 4K video capability and a wide range of shooting modes that make it a considerably more versatile tool. Image quality from its 12MP sensor can’t compete with a modern smartphone, but it outclasses the Kodak in virtually every other respect. You’ll pay roughly twice the price, but the step up in capability is commensurate.

Read our in-depth OM System Tough TG-7

DJI Osmo Action 6

If video is your priority, the Osmo Action 6 is the smarter buy over the WPZ2. Its 1/1.1-inch sensor delivers superb footage in both bright conditions and the kind of low-light environments where the WPZ2 struggles, and it goes deeper thanks to 20m waterproofing. Factor in 4K/120p video, dual OLED screens, strong battery life and an expanding modular accessory system, and you’re looking at a truly pro-capable action camera. It’s a step up in price, but a significant step up in performance.

Read our in-depth DJI Osmo Action 6 review

How I tested the Kodak PixPro WPZ2

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

• Test sample purchased from Amazon UK
• Tested in and outdoors on English coast
• All images and videos shot at highest quality settings

TechRadar purchased the Kodak PixPro WPZ2 from Amazon UK for my testing purposes.

I tested the camera over several days, using it primarily at a local beach where I shot stills and video in and around saltwater rock pools. This gave me a real-world sense of its waterproofing credentials, image quality in both macro and wider shooting scenarios, and general handling in wet conditions. I also tested it indoors and in lower-light situations to assess flash performance and the limits of its low-light capability.

All sample images and video were shot using the camera’s highest quality settings.

First reviewed June 2026

Light spoilers follow for Toy Story 5.

Toy Story is the franchise that Disney refuses to let go of. That's no surprise, given that the immensely popular movie series has raked in billions of dollars globally since late 1995. However, Toy Story 3 delivered a perfect end to Woody and company's individual and collective stories, so the entertainment giant's commitment to churning out money-spinning but superfluous sequels, such as Toy Story 4, suggests the proverbial cow is being milked for all it's worth.

Toy Story 5 does little to move the needle in that regard. Sure, it's a fun, thematically timely, and ultimately feel-good family-friendly flick that bears all the classic hallmarks of a Pixar movie. But it's also a far-too-familiar re-tread of its predecessors, and will leave some questioning whether it needed to be made.

Toys meet tech

Toy Story 5 introduces Bonnie's toys, including Bullseye (left) and Jessie (center), to Lilypad (right) (Image credit: Disney Pixar)

Set a few years after its forebear, Toy Story 5 reunites us with Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz (Tim Allen), Jessie (Joan Cusack), and the gang as they face another existential threat: technology.

When their owner Bonnie is given a state-of-the-art electronic tablet named Lilypad (Greta Lee) by her parents, the now-eight-year-old becomes obsessed with her frog-like handheld computer, leaving Jessie — who succeeded Woody as the leader of Bonnie's room after his departure at the end of Toy Story 4 — and Bonnie's myriad other toys fearing for their futures.

Toy Story 5... worryingly signals it's simply going to hang its cowboy hat on replaying the franchise's greatest hits

Jessie is arguably the most worried of the group, too. Bonnie's unflinching fixation with her new high-tech toy causes Jessie's deep-seated abandonment issues to resurface, forcing her to take drastic measures that set this film's entire narrative in motion.

If that sounds familiar, it's because it's an eerily similar storytelling approach to Toy Story 1, which sees Woody fearing he's about to be replaced by Buzz. This is one of numerous narrative rehashes in Toy Story 5 that'll evoke a sense of déjà vu and, initially at least, worryingly signals that the film is simply going to hang its cowboy hat on replaying the franchise's greatest hits.

Darn tootin'! It's high time that Jessie (right) was the star of a Toy Story movie (Image credit: Disney Pixar)

Thankfully, the long-overdue but welcome sight of Jessie taking the reins and being its toy-based protagonist, even if it's just for this film, re-energizes the movie series' traditional formula.

Buzz and Woody are nothing more than Toy Story 5's comic relief

Director Andrew Stanton told me he never planned to make JessieToy Story 5's lead star, but I'm glad he ultimately decided to do so.

Whether it's Jessie's unrelenting and understandably self-preserving quest to reclaim Bonnie's affection in the present, or Toy Story 5's flashback sequences that elaborate on her past — a subject that was only touched upon in Toy Story 2 — putting Jessie front and center of this movie adds a narrative zip to proceedings that sets it apart from the series' other installments.

Woody and Buzz have roles to play in Toy Story 5, but they're definitely not its lead stars (Image credit: Disney Pixar)

Inevitably, further examining the emotionally tormented Jessie's backstory, and how it impacts her present-day actions, shifts the focus away from Woody and Buzz.

Sure, the pair are as involved as ever, but their roles are of the main supporting variety, rather than traditional co-starring ones. In fact, save for Buzz's increasingly important role from Toy Story 5's midpoint onwards, I'd say he and Woody are nothing more than this flick's comic relief, especially where the latter's elder-statesman position is concerned. I'd wager that some fans, then, might be disappointed by the lesser roles the iconic duo inhabit this time around.

Band of Buzzers

Toy Story 5 takes a leaf out of Toy Story 2's book with the inclusion of another gang of Buzz Lightyears (Image credit: Disney Pixar)

Original Buzz isn't the only Lightyear that audiences will see in Toy Story 5. In yet another recycled plot thread — this time, from Toy Story 2 — a squad of Buzzes (ones installed with cutting-edge technology) take center stage in a subplot that, for large parts of Toy Story 5, is wholly unnecessary.

Okay, like O.G. Buzz, their importance to the story grows as it progresses, and I'll admit that this side story's examination of modern tech navigating an unpredictable world, rather than the modern world grappling with new and unpredictable tech, is somewhat novel in its approach. Even so, I didn't appreciate the constant check-ins with this squad when the film's runtime would have been better served elsewhere.

The progression and eventual resolution of Lilypad's arc happens too quickly for my liking

One example of where that time could have been better spent is with Lilypad.

Positioned as an antagonistic figure rather than an archetypal villain, she's not underutilized by any means. However, major spoilers notwithstanding, the progression and eventual resolution of her arc happens too quickly for my liking, which makes her role and character development feel slightly undercooked.

Jessie meets Smarty Pants (left), Atlas (center), and Snappy (right) after becoming separated from Bonnie (Image credit: Disney Pixar)

The same can be said of the three other tech-based toys — Smarty Pants (Conan O'Brien), a potty-training device, Atlas (Craig Robinson), a hippo GPS handset, and Snappy (Shelby Rabara), a toy camera — that we meet.

I wish we'd seen more of the beautiful and dreamy pastel chalk art style used to depict Bonnie's imagination

All three have vital albeit by-design parts to play following their introductions midway through the plot, which is also around the time that Toy Story 5 starts to telegraph its semblance of a story twist and narrative endgame.

As with Lilypad, though, Pixar's latest feature breezes through these meet-and-greets to maintain its narrative momentum, albeit at the cost of fully examining their pasts with the franchise's newest human character Blaze (Mykal-Michelle Harris), and how their experiences fundamentally shift Jessie's perspective on her relationship with Bonnie.

Speaking of Bonnie, I wish we'd seen more of the beautiful and dreamy pastel chalk-art style used to depict her imagination.

First glimpsed in Toy Story 5's official trailer, it adds some much-needed visual flair to the movie — and the franchise, for that matter — that helps it stand out from its four siblings. It's an art-form I'd like to see carried into future Toy Story offerings, too; but I suppose that will depend on how old Bonnie will be when Toy Story 6 is inevitably released, and/or if Woody, Buzz, and Jessie are the leads of the next Toy Story adventure.

My verdict

Toy Story 5 is a fairly enjoyable and typically tear-jerking Pixar flick that, from storytelling, visual, and topical viewpoints, does what it needs to in order to entertain the masses, and reminds us of the true value of human connection, especially among kids, in the digital age.

However, like Toy Story 4 and another recently-released Disney movie in The Mandalorian and Grogu, aka the latest Star Wars film to land in theaters, it left me wanting more.

That's not to say it's a bad movie — as the 3-star rating at the top of this review indicates, I thought it was pretty good. Five movies into this franchise, though, I think Toy Story films — and, really, all future Pixar projects — need to do more than simply relying on high-quality visuals and checking the 'emotional resonance' box. Sure, that's fine for a movie that's aimed squarely at kids and families; but for those of us who've grown up on and continue to watch Toy Story films, something more is needed. Otherwise, just like the tidied-away toys that inhabit the films, it might be best to leave the Toy Story franchise in storage.

ACT! CRM, launched in 1987, is one of the oldest names in customer relationship management. It offers tools for small and medium businesses to manage customers, sales, and marketing. Interestingly, ACT! provides cloud and on-premises options, catering to both productivity- and security-focused businesses.

In my review, I found ACT! CRM to be a lot more than just a CRM platform. Like a few other small business platforms, it includes features for automating sales, marketing, and customer service. It also gives a complete view of customer interactions, helping businesses track data, manage sales, and run targeted campaigns.

Flexibility is a key advantage of ACT!. The platform allows rigorous customization to fit specific business needs. Its adaptability, along with its solid reputation, makes this a top choice for small and medium-sized businesses.

ACT! CRM core capabilities

(Image credit: ACT! CRM )

ACT! CRM has a long-standing reputation as a leading contact management tool. Its records are very detailed, allowing users to store information like notes, documents, and interaction history in one place.

Lead management is strong, helping users track potential sales from initial contact to closure. The customizable sales process allows businesses to align stages with their unique sales methods, benefiting companies with specific workflows. A visual sales pipeline view helps users project revenue, adjust strategies, and prioritize efforts. Contextually relevant metrics provide quick insights into pipeline health, aiding sales managers in making informed decisions.

For sales forecasting, ACT! has solid functionality, though it may lack the depth of some enterprise CRMs. Users can create forecasts based on opportunity data, closure probability, and historical performance. This suffices for most small to medium businesses, though more complex needs may find it limiting.

Reporting has improved significantly. ACT! Insight offers interactive dashboards for individual, team, and business performance metrics. The range of over 50 pre-configured reports covers sales, marketing, and business health KPIs. Users can also create custom reports, providing deeper data insights.

ACT! also offers a companion app for iOS and Android. The app provides access to key contact details, activities, and some dashboard metrics on the go. While it lacks full desktop functionality, it covers essential needs for field sales and remote work.

Beyond the usual CRM features, ACT! offers tools for creating and managing email marketing campaigns, including a template editor and response tracking. Useful for small businesses looking to streamline operations.

Custom tables also allow users to manage industry-specific data alongside standard CRM information. ACT! also syncs with popular platforms like Microsoft Outlook, Google products, and social media channels like LinkedIn and Facebook, creating a seamless workflow.

But while ACT! has a solid core, some users may find the interface less modern compared to newer CRM solutions. Its software has evolved from its contact management roots, but some legacy aspects remain. Still, it's a good platform with strong customization features that could serve niche and security-focused small businesses well.

How easy is ACT! CRM to use?

When it comes to ease of use, ACT! CRM offers a mixed experience. Its interface is functional but feels somewhat outdated compared to modern CRMs. When I first logged in, I had to slowly adjust to the information-dense layout, which can be overwhelming for new users.

A dashboard displays various widgets with crucial information like daily tasks, open opportunities, and sales pipelines. Navigation is handled through a left sidebar that lists all CRM features, providing quick access to different modules.

However, the top menu adds to the interface's overall complexity. It took me around 30-60 minutes to become comfortable with the layout and navigation, which aligns with feedback from other users about the software's learning curve.

ACT! offers robust customization options, allowing users to tailor the software to their specific business needs. Its flexibility is a significant advantage for businesses with unique workflows. However, making these customizations isn't always intuitive and requires technical know-how.

Accessibility features are present but not particularly advanced. ACT! offers basic screen reader compatibility and keyboard navigation but lacks sophisticated accessibility options found in newer CRMs.

On the positive side, ACT! provides comprehensive onboarding and training resources. It includes helpful tutorial videos, a knowledge base, and webinars to assist new users in getting up to speed. The "Welcome Links" on the dashboard, which provide quick access to uploading, importing, and learning about the CRM, and was a nice touch.

Available for both iOS and Android devices, the mobile app offers a more streamlined and user-friendly interface compared to the desktop version. I found adding new opportunities or contacts to be much more intuitive on the mobile app, even if it's more limited in functionality.

Overall, ACT! CRM’s ease of use is hampered by an outdated interface and a sometimes overwhelming amount of information. For businesses willing to invest the time in training and setup, however, it can be a powerful tool.

ACT! CRM integrations

(Image credit: ACT! CRM )

ACT! CRM offers a powerful set of integration capabilities, balancing between pre-built integrations and the flexibility to create custom ones.

The ACT! Marketplace serves as the central hub for the integrations, offering a wide array of pre-built connectors categorized by function, such as sales and marketing, business productivity, social media, ecommerce, back office, and customer service.

I particularly appreciated the seamless integration with Microsoft Office suite, including Outlook, which allows for effortless synchronization of emails, contacts, and calendar events. For users of Google Workspace, ACT! also offers solid integrations with Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Contacts.

ACT! also supports Zapier, a no-code automation platform that lets you build custom integrations without technical knowledge. This opens up lots of possibilities for connecting ACT! with hundreds of other web applications. During my testing, I was able to create several Zaps (automated workflows) that connected ACT! with tools like Slack for notifications and Trello for project management.

For more advanced users and developers, ACT! provides a comprehensive API. API documentation is well-structured and easily accessible through the ACT! developer portal. It follows REST principles and uses JSON for data exchange, making it relatively easy for developers to create custom integrations or extend the functionality of ACT!.

ACT! also offers a feature called Web API, which allows for more direct integration with web-based applications. This can be particularly useful for businesses with custom web applications or those looking to embed ACT! functionality into their existing web platforms. While powerful, I found that leveraging the Web API requires more technical expertise compared to using pre-built integrations or Zapier.

In terms of data syncing performance, ACT! generally performs well. During my tests, most integrations maintained near real-time synchronization with minimal latency. However, I did notice occasional delays with some third-party integrations, particularly during peak usage times.

How good is ACT! CRM support?

ACT! CRM provides a multi-faceted approach to customer support, offering users various channels to seek assistance. During my evaluation, I found that the quality and accessibility of support resources were generally good, although there were some areas where improvements could be made.

Phone support is available during standard business hours. Response times are reasonable with an average wait time of about 5-10 minutes. Support representatives are knowledgeable about the product. However, it's worth noting that phone support is only available to customers on higher-tier plans, which may be a drawback for smaller businesses.

All users have access to email support. Simple queries are typically answered within 24 hours, while more complex issues sometimes took up to two days for a response. The quality of the email responses is generally good, with clear explanations and step-by-step instructions.

Something that ACT! falls short in is the lack of live chat support. Many users prefer the immediacy of chat for quick questions or troubleshooting, especially when most competitors offer robust chat support options.

ACT! makes up for this somewhat with its extensive self-service resources. Its knowledge base is comprehensive and well-organized, covering a wide range of topics from basic setup to advanced features. I found the search function to be particularly useful, quickly surfacing relevant articles based on keywords. It also includes a good selection of video tutorials.

ACT! CRM's community forum is another valuable resource for users. It's active and well-moderated, with both company staff and experienced users contributing to discussions. ACT! also offers regular webinars and training sessions, which serve as both educational resources and indirect support channels.

In terms of resolution times for support tickets, my experience and research suggests that the company performs adequately but not exceptionally. Simple issues are often resolved within 1-2 business days, but more complex problems can take longer, sometimes up to a week.

User testimonials regarding ACT!'s support quality are mixed. Many users praise the knowledge and helpfulness of the support staff, particularly for phone support. However, some users express frustration with longer wait times for email support and the occasional need to escalate issues to get them resolved.

ACT! CRM pricing and plans

Plan

Advantage Standard

Premium Desktop

Advantage Professional

Advantage Ultimate

Price

$30/user/month

$39/user/month

$45/user/month

$60th/user/mon

Best For

Small businesses needing cloud-based CRM with basic marketing features

Businesses preferring on-premises CRM solution with advanced customization

Organizations requiring both cloud and desktop access with data synchronization

Growing small-to-medium businesses (SMBs) and power-users who want an all-in-one front-office ecosystem

Features

Comprehensive contact management

Basic marketing automation

Cloud-based accessibility

Advanced customization options

Robust offline capabilities

On-premises data control

Cloud and desktop access

Data synchronization

Combined cloud-desktop benefits

Drops all caps on custom tables/enhanced support, unlocks full marketing automation, a customer portal, and 50,000 email sends/month.

Limitations

Limited advanced marketing features without addons

Requires IT resources for maintenance and updates

Higher cost may not justify benefits for all users

Interface still suffers from legacy clutter. Lacks real-time human chat support

Recently, Act! has modernized its software distribution by structuring its core offerings into the Act! Advantage suite. Rather than forcing a choice between basic cloud access or entirely self-hosted deployments, the vendor now scales its cloud features across three structured tiers, while maintaining a standalone desktop tier for legacy organizations.

The entry point remains the Advantage Standard plan (formerly known as Premium Cloud) and is priced at $30 per user, per month (when billed annually). This tier provides complete browser-based CRM functionality paired with foundational email marketing capped at 2,500 messages per month. It offers highly competitive value for small businesses that require structural contact mapping, mobile pipeline accessibility, and automated updates without the technical overhead of an on-premises deployment.

For teams looking for modern workflows, Act! can offer the Advantage Professional tier for $45 per user, per month. This tier injects native generative AI tools - including an AI Writing Assistant and automated AI history summaries - directly into the environment, while expanding email marketing thresholds to 25,000 monthly sends and adding native project management.

At the top of ACT!'s cloud offerings resides the Advantage Ultimate tier ($60/user/month), which functions as a comprehensive, no-compromise package. It drops external upcharges by natively including custom industry data tables, an interactive online customer portal, and advanced marketing automation limits of 50,000 email sends per month.

For organizations bound by strict data localization or internal compliance rules, Act! maintains its self-hosted Premium Desktop environment for $39 per user, per month. It is important to note that the convenient local-to-cloud data redundancy mentioned in legacy reviews is no longer bundled as a unique tier; instead, Desktop Sync functionality is treated as a flexible $10/month per-user add-on that can be attached to any standard cloud subscription.

A potential drawback I noticed is the lack of a free plan. Many competing CRM solutions offer a basic free tier, which can be beneficial for very small businesses or for those wanting to test the system extensively before committing. ACT! does provide a 14-day free trial, which is sufficient for a basic evaluation of the software, but it may not be enough time for a thorough assessment in a real business environment.

How we tested ACT! CRM

At TechRadar Pro, our CRM testing is based on extensive, hands-on evaluation. To accurately analyze Act! CRM's legacy desktop capabilities, modern cloud environments, and updated marketing automation tiers, our enterprise software analysts put the platform through a practical testing process designed to simulate real-world operations in small-to-midmarket sales teams.

Given the platform's focus on automated intelligence pipelines, we dedicated a specific evaluation block to Act!’s native AI Writing Assistant and automated history tools available on the higher-tier cloud plans. We evaluated the system's accuracy when analyzing long timelines of contact notes, checking how concisely the AI could summarize years of interaction histories into actionable context for a sales rep. We also tested the writing assistant's natural tone variability by auto-generating targeted prospecting emails directly inside the CRM workspace.

ACT! CRM review: Final verdict

ACT! is a feature-rich incumbent that has successfully adapted to the changing CRM landscape over its long history. Its comprehensive contact management, powerful sales tools, and integrated marketing features make it a compelling choice for small to medium-sized businesses looking for an all-in-one CRM.

Act! remains a reliable, feature-rich workhorse for small to medium-sized businesses that need a unified sales and marketing platform. Its defining strength is deployment flexibility—offering both modern cloud subscriptions and rare, on-premises desktop installations. This makes it an ideal fit for data-heavy teams or companies in highly regulated sectors with strict compliance and security needs.

The software's strength lies in its flexibility, offering both cloud-based and on-premises deployment options. This, combined with extensive customization capabilities, allows businesses to tailor the platform to their specific needs. However, the software is starting to show its age. The legacy interface and a steeper learning curve can feel restrictive compared to modern, instantly intuitive alternatives. Still, it's a great choice for businesses in regulated industries with complex data security needs.

As a customer relationship management tool, SugarAI has history on its side. Recently rebranding from SugarCRM, the tool was originally launched in 2004 as an open-source customer relationship management platform. It has since evolved into a full-fledged commercial suite, with tools for sales, marketing, and customer service. But what really sets it apart is the amount of flexibility it offers, making it one of the best CRM platforms on the market.

As you might expect, SugarAI features powerful AI tools, like predictive analytics, which provide valuable insights into customer behavior and sales forecasting. Combined with its user-friendly interface, this makes SugarAI an attractive option for businesses that prize accessibility and automation.

Regular updates, including SugarAI's Precision Selling overhaul, show the company's commitment to innovation, but the learning curve can be steep for new users. The platform also features an unconventional and unstructured pricing system, which can prove intimidating to small businesses.

At TechRadar Pro, our business software experts look past the legacy label to find the operational truth. To review SugarAI, we conducted a 40-hour deep dive into the Sugar Sell and Sugar Market ecosystems. We didn't just test the basic lead-tracking features; we spent time building custom Dashlets, testing the SugarPredict AI with complex B2B datasets, and evaluating the platform’s new Focus Drawers to see if they truly reduce the tab fatigue common in older CRM systems.

Our reviews are 100% independent. We never accept payment for product rankings, ensuring that our verdict on SugarAI’s high cost-of-entry and its powerful, "time-aware" data engine is based strictly on how it serves the needs of a scaling enterprise in 2026.

SugarAI core capabilities

SugarAI is feature rich and integrates AI into some of its most important tools (Image credit: SugarAI)

SugarAI's centralized database allows users to access and update contact details, interaction history, and account-specific data, enabling a complete view of customer relationships. It lets users track and nurture leads through various stages of the sales funnel, with customizable lead scoring. You also have tools for tracking deal progress, assigning probabilities, and forecasting potential revenue.

A sales pipeline offers visual representations of the sales process, allowing sales managers to quickly assess the health of their sales funnel and identify bottlenecks. I liked how the drag-and-drop functionality was implemented, making it easy to update deal status.

For forecasting, SugarAI uses historical data and current information to help reps fulfill their quotas. I found the AI-powered forecasting tools to be flexible, allowing users to create projections based on various criteria such as product lines, territories, or individual sales reps. This is a valuable feature for businesses looking to make more data-driven decisions.

The system offers a wide range of pre-built reports and dashboards, covering key metrics across sales, marketing, and customer service. I also had the ability to create custom reports and visualizations without extensive technical knowledge. This has got even more detailed with the CRM's recent Sankey diagrams, which allow you to see exactly where deals are dropping off and which marketing channels are providing the most fluid path to a sale. Additional analytics tools also provide extra insights into customer behavior, sales performance, and overall business health.

SugarAI offers a mobile app for both iOS and Android devices, allowing users to access and update data on the go. I found the mobile interface to be intuitive and responsive, offering most of the core functionalities available in the desktop version.

SugarAI also excels in its marketing automation capabilities. The platform offers tools for creating and managing marketing campaigns, tracking their performance, and nurturing leads through automated workflows. I was particularly impressed by the email marketing features, which allow for personalized, targeted communications based on customer data and behavior. With SugarPredict 2.0, the CRM moves beyond simple scoring and can now autonomously enrich contact records. For instance, if you enter a name and a company, SugarAI now searches social and public data to populate the profile and apply tags based on their current buyer intent signals.

AI-generated recommendations can now be provided that expire after 30 days. These aren't just scores, but act as specific instructions for users. And another recent update is Explainable AI. Every prediction now includes a "Why" tab, detailing exactly which data points (ERP orders, email sentiment, or web activity) led to the AI's conclusion. This ensures that the AI features included in the platform are less of a black box.

Apart from sales, the system supports customer-facing teams by including case management tools, allowing support teams to track and resolve customer issues efficiently. There's even a knowledge base feature, enabling businesses to create and maintain a repository of helpful information for both customers and internal teams.

For collaboration, activity streams provide real-time updates on customer interactions and internal communications, ensuring that all team members are on the same page. I imagine this would be particularly useful for fostering cross-functional collaboration and maintaining a consistent customer experience across touchpoints.

SugarAI offers extensive options for tailoring the CRM to specific business needs, from custom fields and modules to workflow automation. Additionally, SugarAI's open API architecture allows for seamless integration with a wide range of third-party applications, enhancing its adaptability to different business ecosystems.

How easy is SugarAI to use?

SugarAI provides a rich set of features, but new users must navigate a learning curve. The UI is functional yet feels outdated compared to modern CRM systems. The layout is logical, featuring a left-side navigation bar for quick access to modules like Accounts, Contacts, and Opportunities. However, the numerous options can be overwhelming for new users.

You can adjust the interface to meet your needs, rearranging fields, creating custom modules, and designing dashboards. While the flexibility is useful, it also makes the initial setup more time-consuming. Without careful planning, the system can become cluttered. A small but powerful recent UI addition to the platform is the "Last Interaction" field. Now, across all modules, a new column shows the exact date and context of your last engagement (email, call, or meeting) at a glance, allowing for instant prioritization of neglected leads.

Accessibility features exist but could be improved. The platform includes keyboard shortcuts, which assist users with mobility issues. However, screen reader compatibility and color contrast options need enhancement for users with visual impairments. Text resizing and color adjustments are available but lack the smoothness seen in some modern applications.

SugarAI offers a mobile app for iOS and Android, enabling users to access and update CRM data on the go. However, the mobile interface lacks some depth and customization found in the desktop version, limiting users who depend on mobile access.

The company provides various learning options, including documentation, video tutorials, webinars, and instructor-led sessions. Sugar University offers structured learning paths for different roles and skill levels. Despite these resources, the system's complexity means new users may need weeks to become fully proficient, especially if customizing the platform for their organization.

The global search function is powerful, allowing me to find information quickly across modules. However, search results can be overwhelming due to the volume of data. Advanced filtering options help, but mastering them adds to the learning curve.

SugarAI's reporting and analytics tools are robust but can be complicated for beginners. Creating custom reports and dashboards requires a solid understanding of the system's data structure. While pre-built reports exist, tailoring them often needs extra training or support. I also liked the system's workflow automation capabilities. But setting up workflows can be complex and may need extra effort.

Overall, SugarAI's ease of use varies. Organizations willing to invest time in setup, customization, and training can find it powerful and flexible. However, those seeking a simple, out-of-the-box solution may face challenges due to the platform's complexity. New users should prepare for a steeper learning curve compared to simpler CRM solutions.

SugarAI integrations

Integrations help you expand your CRMs ability to support your business (Image credit: SugarAI integrations)

SugarAI excels in integration, connecting easily with other business tools. It offers many pre-built links, ideal for quick setups. These include Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, DocuSign, and Slack. This allows users to blend SugarAI into their workflows with minimal setup.

I appreciate the support for iPaaS vendors like Zapier and Make. It really expands connectivity, especially for custom needs or niche applications. Even non-technical users can create complex workflows, boosting productivity and data consistency.

For advanced needs, SugarAI offers a REST API. Developers can create custom links and extend functionality. The documentation is thorough, with guides, samples, and references. However, using it requires technical skills and programming knowledge.

SugarAI handles data syncing well, keeping information consistent across systems. It even offers a choice between real-time or scheduled syncs, which is missing from most CRMs. Still, it's best to monitor the process when exchanging large volumes of data.

The platform simplifies integration management by combining external connectors into a central interface. It offers insights into the status, history, and issues of integrations. Data mapping tools help align fields, reducing errors.

How good is SugarAI's support?

SugarAI provides a well-rounded approach to customer support, offering various channels for assistance. Its online support portal acts as the main hub for service interactions. Users can submit and track support cases, access documentation, and connect with the SugarAI community.

But the support system has a tiered structure with different subscription levels. All customers have access to basic support, while higher-tier subscribers enjoy quicker response times and extra channels.

Email support is available to all customers, with response times varying by issue severity and subscription level. Typically, responses for non-critical issues range from a few hours to one business day. However, for urgent matters, the support team often prioritizes responses, sometimes providing initial feedback within an hour.

SugarAI's self-service resources are extensive. The knowledge base covers a wide array of topics, from basic functions to advanced customization. The documentation is well-organized and regularly updated, making it useful for troubleshooting or learning about new features. Additionally, SugarAI offers video tutorials and webinars for visual guidance on various platform aspects.

The community forum is another valuable support resource. Users can connect with peers, share best practices, and sometimes receive help from company staff. While community support can vary, I found the SugarAI forum to be active and helpful.

Enterprise and Ultimate edition customers can access 24/7 phone support for urgent issues, a major benefit for businesses across different time zones. For those needing even more hands-on assistance, SugarAI provides professional services and training options, including implementation support, custom development, and online or in-person training sessions.

However, the live chat functionality could definitely stand to improve. During testing, I found that live chat support was often unavailable and wait times were usually much longer than anticipated.

Still, user feedback regarding the platform's support quality is mostly positive, with many customers praising the knowledge and responsiveness of the support team. However, experiences can differ, with some users reporting delays in resolving more complex issues.

SugarAI pricing and plans

Plan

Standard

Advanced

Premier

Price

$59/user/month

$85/user/month

$135/user/month

Best for

Small to medium-sized businesses needing basic CRM functionalities

Mid-sized businesses requiring advanced features and customization

Large enterprises with complex CRM needs and high-volume sales

Key features

Basic lead management; Sales automation; Standard reporting

Advanced workflow automation; AI-powered analytics; Customizable dashboards

Guided selling; Advanced forecasting; Enterprise-level support

Limitations

Limited to 15 users maximum; No SugarPredict AI; add-on required for mail sync

Requires minimum of 15 users; Native mail sync limited to 25 seats out of the box

Requires minimum of 15; High entry threshold for smaller corporate teams users

SugarAI (formerly SugarCRM) approaches cloud deployment through specialized operational focus blocks: Sugar Sell for sales teams, Sugar Serve for customer service, and Sugar Market for marketing automation.

For core sales operations, Sugar Sell comes with three cloud tiers: Standard ($59/user/month), Advanced ($85/user/month), and Premier ($135/user/month), all accompanied by mandatory 12-month annual contracts. The most significant financial hurdle for prospective buyers is the platform's strict onboarding minimums. Unlike legacy CRMs that let solo entrepreneurs purchase standalone seats, SugarAI enforces a rigid 15-user seat minimum across its core lineup. This brings the true structural entry price to $10,620/year for Standard and $15,300/year for Advanced, pricing out micro-startups and positioning the platform squarely as an intentional mid-market option.

Feature sets broaden as you'd expect across SugarAI's pricing tiers, but critical capabilities are reserved for premium plans. For example, moving from Standard to Advanced activates native email and calendar integrations alongside the proprietary SugarPredict AI framework - a necessity for automated lead prioritization and predictive scoring. Upgrading to Premier doubles file and data management storage caps while introducing advanced enterprise components like geo-mapping for field territories, native LinkedIn Sales Navigator pipelines, and multi-scenario forecasting models.

Regarding discounts, SugarAI does not publicly promote standard discount programs. However, my research suggests that enterprise-level customers can often negotiate better rates. Bundling multiple Sugar products, such as combining Sugar Sell with Sugar Serve, might also yield cost savings, although specific details are not readily available.

In comparison to other CRM providers, SugarAI's pricing falls within the mid-range. It tends to be pricier than basic CRM solutions such as Less Annoying CRM, but it can be more cost-effective than some enterprise-level competitors. Also, a recent study by Nucleus Research suggests that SugarAI users might reduce their total cost of ownership by up to 32% compared to Salesforce.

How to pick

SugarAI is no longer a one-size-fits-all tool. It has evolved into a high-performance engine for companies with complex, data-heavy sales cycles. To decide if it fits your business needs, it's important to consider a few factors, including your internal resources and the tools you already employ.

If you have a dedicated CRM administrator or an IT team that loves to tinker, SugarAI is a dream. Its open-standard architecture allows for deeper customization than HubSpot or Pipedrive. However, if you are a small team looking for a plug-and-play solution, the platform’s steep learning curve and mandatory demo-led onboarding may feel like an unnecessary hurdle.

Also, think carefully whether you need an everything-in-one tool. If your sales team is tired of switching between five different apps to see a customer’s journey, SugarAI's recently added Focus Drawers and Sugar Connect (which embeds the CRM directly into Outlook or Gmail) are top-tier. If you are already happy with your existing marketing and service tools, you may find SugarAI's integrated suites redundant.

As a new addition, the CRM's Focus Drawers now feature multi-tabbing. A sales rep can open a lead, click into a related quote, and then click into a support ticket - all within a single drawer that slides over the main screen. This has effectively eliminated the need for 20+ open browser tabs, streamlining the sales process.

How we test

Our testing methodology ensures that every review is grounded in the reality of modern business operations. We measure UI Efficiency by counting the number of clicks and screen refreshes required to complete a standard sales task, such as qualifying a lead and scheduling a follow-up. As such, we specifically tested SugarAI's Focus Drawers to see if they successfully keep users on a single dashboard.

We also tested SugarAI's 180+ ERP integrations. We simulated a Sales-to-Finance handoff, pushing a closed deal into a mock ERP system to check for data latency and syncing errors. And we got to grips with SugarAI's mobile app in real-world scenarios, testing its Geo-Mapping for field sales reps and its ability to log voice notes and meetings while offline.

Finally, no review is complete without examining cost. However, we look beyond the sticker price to calculate the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) over 24 months, including the cost of required user minimums and the Premier Support tiers often necessary for enterprise features.

SugarAI review: Final verdict

SugarAI has successfully shed its legacy constraints to become a top-level, highly proactive CRM for complex B2B sales cycles. By weaving automated generative AI and real-time market signals directly into existing pipeline maps, it effectively guides reps on which accounts to target and what specific actions to execute next. For deep transactional industries like manufacturing and wholesale distribution - especially those needing tight, localized integrations with underlying back-office ERP environments - it stands out as an indispensable revenue engine.

Even so, capitalizing on SugarAI's predictive power requires clear institutional scale and a significant upfront budget. The interface remains functional rather than beautiful, lacking the sleek, approachable visual flow found in modern platforms like HubSpot or Monday.com. Combined with its rigid 15-user onboarding seat minimum, the system’s steep initialization costs and technical layout make it entirely unsuited for lean startups or smaller organizations that simply want a lightweight, plug-and-play sales tracker.

SugarAI FAQWhat are some of the key features of SugarAI?

Many of the core features of SugarAI are those that users would expect of a leading CRM. These include ome of the most important features of SugarAI include sales automation to help streamline the sales process by automating repetitive tasks, tracking customer interactions, managing leads, and providing a visual representation of the sales pipeline.

The platform provides tools for managing support tickets, tracking cases, and monitoring service level agreements (SLAs). It also includes a knowledge base and self-service portal for customers.

In terms of customization and flexibility, SugarAI also stands out. Users can tailor the platform to their specific needs by creating custom fields and modules, modifying layouts, and automating workflows with SugarBPM - the business process management (BPM) feature of the platform. The system also leverages AI to provide predictive analytics, such as lead scoring and sales forecasting, giving businesses valuable insights into customer behavior and sales trends.

Is SugarAI open-source?

SugarAI originally began as an open-source solution, which allowed for extensive customization and a strong community. While the company has moved away from a completely open-source model, its heritage still influences its flexibility and API-driven architecture.

How does SugarAI handle data security and compliance?

SugarAI prioritizes data security and compliance with features like role-based access controls, end-to-end encryption, and compliance with regulations like GDPR. They also have a bug bounty program to encourage the reporting of security vulnerabilities.

Is there a mobile app for SugarAI?

Yes, SugarAI offers a mobile app that allows users to access their CRM data and perform key tasks from their mobile devices. The app is available for download on both the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. Key features of the SugarAI mobile app include remote and offline access, GPS and location mapping, real-time updates, and customizable dashboards.

Creatio is a comprehensive CRM platform that aims to streamline sales, marketing, and service processes for businesses of all sizes. I found its no-code approach to workflow automation and customization really interesting.

The platform is divided into three main modules - Sales, Marketing, and Service - each offering a robust set of features. From lead management and opportunity tracking to multichannel marketing campaigns to customer support ticketing, Creatio covers a wide range of CRM functionalities. However, this breadth of capabilities comes at a price, both in terms of cost and complexity.

Its extensive customization options, while beneficial, can be overwhelming for those seeking a more straightforward CRM. But if you like the idea of building your own no-code CRM by rigorously customizing different aspects of the application, all without resorting to actual coding, this might be a great option.

Creatio CRM core capabilities

As a CRM, Creatio allows users to create detailed customer profiles with a 360-degree view of each contact, including communication history, associated deals, and relevant documents. But the real standout here is its no-code nature, which allows users to customize the platform and create new applications without extensive programming knowledge.

Creatio consolidates information from various touchpoints, providing a complete picture of customer interactions across sales, marketing, and service departments. The platform provides tools to capture leads from multiple sources and guide them through a customizable sales funnel.

I appreciated the ability to set up automated lead scoring rules, which help prioritize prospects based on their likelihood to convert. As leads progress, Creatio allows sales teams to track potential deals, associate them with specific accounts, and manage all related activities in one place.

Creatio CRM uses your historical data and current pipeline information to generate accurate sales predictions. I was impressed by the AI-driven forecasting capabilities, which analyze patterns and trends to provide more precise estimates.

It also offers a wide range of pre-built reports and dashboards covering various aspects of sales, marketing, and customer service performance. That said, where the platform really shines is the drag-and-drop report builder, which lets you customize reports to an uncanny degree.

Apart from the no-code CRM, Creatio has a few things that make it stand apart from most competitors. It offers tools for creating and managing multi-channel marketing campaigns, case management tools, a knowledge base for self-service, and even a visual process designer to automate complex business processes across departments.

There’s a wide range of pre-built connectors to integrate with popular third-party applications, plus custom integration support through an open API.

For employees in the field, Creatio’s mobile app provides access to key CRM functions on the go, including contact management, opportunity tracking, and activity logging. I appreciated the offline mode, which allows users to continue working even without an internet connection, with data syncing once connectivity is restored.

How easy is Creatio to use?

(Image credit: Creatio)

Creatio CRM combines powerful features with a user-friendly design, making it a great choice for businesses. While its many capabilities can feel a bit overwhelming at first, I found the interface welcoming and modern, following the latest design trends.

Navigating the platform is easy, thanks to a clear layout and a navigation bar at the top that gives quick access to sections like Sales, Marketing, and Service. Users can customize their home dashboard, arranging widgets and data visuals based on what matters most to them.

Creatio embraces a no-code approach, making it simple to adjust layouts and fields, or even create new sections in the CRM without needing programming skills. The drag-and-drop interface designer is a fantastic tool, allowing users to quickly tailor the CRM to fit their needs. However, those who prefer simpler systems might feel a bit lost with so many options.

Data entry is typically smooth, with smart features that help fill in fields and detect duplicates to keep information accurate. However, during busy times, I did notice some slight delays in data updates, which could be frustrating for users working with urgent tasks.

Creatio has made impressive strides in accessibility, yet there is still room for growth. The platform supports keyboard navigation and has some screen reader compatibility, but certain dynamic elements might be tricky for users who rely on assistive technologies. The overall color contrast is good, which helps with readability, but some areas could use a little more work to fully meet WCAG Guidelines.

The Creatio Academy is a fantastic resource, offering many e-learning courses that cover everything from basic navigation to advanced customization techniques. I particularly enjoyed the guided learning programs. They provide interactive, instructor-led training sessions that focus on practical tasks, which can be very helpful for users eager to master the platform's more complex features.

In general, Creatio works by guiding users through predefined workflows that can be tailored to fit specific business processes. This helps ensure consistency across sales, marketing, and service operations in an organization. However, it may require adjustment for users used to a more flexible way of working.

Integrations

Creatio CRM stands out with its impressive integration capabilities, showcasing its dedication to creating a connected ecosystem for businesses. From my experience, Creatio makes it easy for both technical and non-technical users to navigate its integration features.

The Creatio Marketplace is a treasure trove, offering over 700 ready-to-use add-ons, connectors, and templates. Its range of options helps businesses quickly link Creatio with popular tools and platforms, without extensive development work. I found the setup for these pre-built integrations simple, often just requiring a few quick configuration steps.

Creatio also supports popular iPaaS (Integration Platform as a Service) vendors. The Zapier connector available in the Marketplace, for example, makes it easy for users to sync contacts, leads, and other important data across many applications.

For those with more advanced integration needs, Creatio offers a powerful API based on the OData protocol. It allows developers full access to Creatio's data model. But while the API provides great flexibility, new developers may find it a bit challenging to understand Creatio's data structure at first. API documentation is thorough, but adding more real-world examples could really help with practical implementation.

Beyond just data synchronization, Creatio's no-code approach empowers users to build complex, automated workflows across different systems. For example, I successfully set up a process that automatically creates a new contact in Creatio when a lead comes in from a marketing tool, and then triggers a follow-up task in a project management app.

Overall, my experience with data synchronization in Creatio has been mostly positive, with real-time updates working well most of the time. Still, I did notice some occasional delays during busy periods, which businesses with high-volume and time-sensitive data might want to keep in mind.

For larger enterprises, Creatio also provides specialized integration options. A great example is the Snowflake Integration for Creatio available in the Marketplace, which helps businesses connect their Creatio instance with Snowflake data warehouses.

Customer support

Creatio CRM has a strong customer support system across various channels. During my time with the platform, I found that it offers phone, email, as well as live chat support. Phone support is available during business hours. But email and chat are accessible 24/7. Chat responses are quick, often within minutes.

The support quality is generally high. Representatives seem to know the platform well, too. They offer step-by-step instructions that help solve even the most complex issues easily. However, response times can slow down during busy periods, which raises concerns for busy teams.

Creatio also has a well-organized self-service knowledge base. It includes articles, videos, and guides on various topics. The search function is particularly useful. Additionally, there’s an active user forum for peer support. That said, official responses in the forum can be slow.

Another key feature is Creatio Academy, offering free courses and certifications. It's beneficial for both new and experienced users, with courses structured around practical exercises. I liked how each course is part of a larger learning program, making it easy to follow along.

But, Creatio could improve by adding more region-specific support. While it supports multiple languages, time zone differences can make live support hard to access. Overall, however, Creatio's support is robust and effective. It combines live support, self-service resources, and training courses well. Despite some areas for improvement, the support quality is a major strength.

Creatio CRM pricing and plans

Plan

Growth

Enterprise

Unlimited

Price

From $40 /user/month

From $70 - $75 /user/month

Custom Quote Only

Best For

Small to medium-sized businesses looking to automate basic workflows

Corporate and enterprise clients with more complex automation requirements

Large enterprises needing advanced features and unlimited resources

Features

No-code UI designer / 1 GB storage per user / Basic workflow automation

Unlimited workflow runs / Custom branding options / Advanced automation tools

Unlimited database storage / Custom domain name / No-code Magic offer

Limitations

Limited storage and workflow capabilities may restrict scalability for larger organizations

May be overkill for small businesses with simple CRM needs

High cost may not be justifiable for businesses not utilizing all advanced features

Navigating Creatio’s pricing means looking past standard per-user SaaS marketing and understanding its multi-layered architecture. Creatio charges a two-part composable fee: a base platform license (the no-code application layer) paired with your specific operational application module (such as Sales, Marketing, or Service, which typically adds an incremental $15/user/month). This updates the true public starting rates to $40/user/month for the Growth tier and $70 to $75/user/month for the Enterprise package.

The most critical criterion for prospective buyers to bear in mind is the fact that Creatio has a minimum initialization spend of $10,000 per year for all new accounts. This means that despite the accessible per-user framing of the Growth tier, the system is explicitly priced out of range for micro-teams and instead serves as a baseline launchpad for mid-market environments that can deploy across dozens of seats simultaneously.

The entry-level Growth tier safely enables no-code interface creation and basic script modifications, capping database storage at 1 GB per user. Upgrading to Enterprise lifts execution caps, unlocks custom system branding, activates single sign-on (SSO/LDAP) credentials, and brings extended 365-day security audit logs online for highly regulated environments.

It's also worth noting that Creatio’s structural philosophy shifts at the Enterprise tier. Rather than continuing to scale seat pricing in a way that limits corporate deployment, the Unlimited tier removes per-user licensing entirely. It is a custom-quoted corporate framework engineered specifically to support human workforce collaboration alongside autonomous AI agents, granting unlimited application deployment, unrestricted database storage, and complete access to the Creatio AI Studio ecosystem.

How we tested Creatio

At TechRadar Pro, our enterprise software reviews are based upon rigorous, practical evaluation rather than a passive breakdown of vendor feature lists. To truly evaluate Creatio’s no-code capabilities and automated framework, our business software analysts subjected the platform to a demanding testing regimen designed to simulate deployment across a multi-department enterprise.

Given the widespread adoption of AI-driven workflows, we dedicated an intensive testing phase to the platform's native Creatio AI Studio. Instead of testing generic prompt generation, we evaluated the platform's machine learning accuracy by feeding it historical transaction data to generate automated sales projections and predictive lead scores.

We also audited the operational boundary limits of their lifetime AI token allocation models, evaluating how efficiently the system routes autonomous tasks and manages generative text responses for incoming customer queries before requiring a business to buy extra token packages. You can find out more regarding our CRM testing process here.

Creatio review: Final verdict

Creatio is a fantastic CRM for mid-market and enterprise organizations that want to build custom, highly automated CRM systems without writing a single line of code. By combining sales, marketing, and customer service modules with an advanced AI Studio within a single composable platform, it eliminates the need for fragmented third-party software. For larger teams aiming to maximize their visual workflow designers and custom AI agents, it offers unmatched operational flexibility.

However, this sophisticated architecture demands significant technical discipline and capital. Between its multi-layered, composable pricing model and a strict $10,000 minimum annual contract requirement, Creatio is explicitly priced out of reach for small businesses. If your team lacks the internal resources to navigate a steep initialization phase or simply needs a lightweight, out-of-the-box pipeline manager, Creatio’s massive feature ecosystem will feel like expensive overkill.

Razer Blade 18 (2026): Two-minute review

Another year, another Razer Blade laptop lineup. At this point, these reviews have become something of a foregone conclusion for me; if there are three things I can reliably expect from each new Blade release, it's great gaming performance, a sleek and robust design, and a sky-high price tag.

Sure enough, the latest Blade 18 (2026) delivers on all three fronts – but I can't just say 'yep, buy it if you can afford it'. This new Blade is superior to its predecessors in several ways, and it's quite possibly the best large-screen gaming laptop (or portable workstation) you can buy right now.

Having seen the dawn of Nvidia RTX 5000 GPUs in Razer's laptops when I reviewed the Razer Blade 16 (2025) last year, I had some idea of what to expect in terms of performance. The new Blade 18 did not disappoint in this regard, delivering top-notch gaming quality across everything I tested.

(Image credit: Future)

Those games look better than ever on the new display as well, since this Blade doesn't eschew 4K display options as the 16-inch model does. That's not all I have to say about the screen, though. This Blade has an ace up its sleeve; a dual-mode display that can be switched between UHD+ 240Hz and FHD+ 440Hz modes.

I'll dig more into the specifics of this later, but it's a feature that will appeal specifically to esports-oriented gamers. In the upper echelons of competitive gaming, resolution takes a back seat to framerate in terms of importance, so being able to nearly double the maximum refresh rate of your screen at the cost of locking your resolution to 1200p becomes a very attractive tradeoff.

Still, even if you're not a hardcore esports gamer, there's little doubt that the Razer Blade 18 is worthy of standing among the best gaming laptops on the market right now. The updated design and premium build quality of the CNC-milled metal chassis, combined with the powerful gaming and creative performance (and great functionality for AI workloads, if you're so inclined), make this an easy winner – just as long as you can afford the steep price of the higher-spec configurations.

Razer Blade 18 (2026) review: Price & availability

(Image credit: Future)

• Starts from $3,499.99 / £3,299.99 (around AU$4,870)
• Available now in the US and UK
• No Australian release yet

Yeah, it's pretty bloody expensive. Just the starting configuration of the Razer Blade 18 will set you back a hefty $3,499.99 / £3,299.99 (around AU$4,870), though even the base specs are fairly impressive: an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti GPU, 32GB of RAM (no wonder it's so pricey, with RAM prices spiralling out of control due to AI datacenter demand), and a 1TB SSD.

You can also get RTX 5080 and 5090 models, with my review configuration sporting the latter GPU along with an upgraded Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus CPU and double the SSD storage.

The absolute top-spec model, which also bumps the RAM up to 128GB, will cost you an eye-watering $6,999.99 - and this configuration is only available in the US, with UK models topping out at 64GB and no availability whatsoever in Australia – sorry to our readers on the other side of the globe, but you're stuck with the Blade 14 and 16 unless you want to spend extra to import the 18-inch model.

Razer Blade 18 (2026) review: Specs

Base spec

Review spec

Max spec

Price

$3,499.99 / £3,299.99 (around AU$4,870)

$5,399.99 / £4,799.99 (around AU$7,510)

$6,999.99 (around £5,200 / AU$9,735

CPU

Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX

Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus

Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus

Graphics

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Laptop GPU

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU

RAM

32GB DDR5

32GB DDR5

128GB DDR5

Display

18-inch Dual UHD+ 240Hz / FHD+ 440Hz

18-inch Dual UHD+ 240Hz / FHD+ 440Hz

18-inch Dual UHD+ 240Hz / FHD+ 440Hz

Storage

1TB NVMe SSD PCIe Gen4

2TB NVMe SSD PCIe Gen4

2TB NVMe SSD PCIe Gen4

Ports and Connectivity

3x USB-A (3.2 Gen2), 1x USB-C (Thunderbolt 5), 1x USB-C (Thunderbolt 4), 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x SD card reader, 1x RJ-45 Ethernet, 1x 3.5mm combo audio; Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4

3x USB-A (3.2 Gen2), 1x USB-C (Thunderbolt 5), 1x USB-C (Thunderbolt 4), 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x SD card reader, 1x RJ-45 Ethernet, 1x 3.5mm combo audio; Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4

3x USB-A (3.2 Gen2), 1x USB-C (Thunderbolt 5), 1x USB-C (Thunderbolt 4), 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x SD card reader, 1x RJ-45 Ethernet, 1x 3.5mm combo audio; Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4

Battery

99Whr

99Whr

99Whr

Weight

7.06lbs / ​3.20kg

7.06lbs / ​3.20kg

7.06lbs / ​3.20kg

Dimensions

1.1 x 15.7 x 10.8 inches / 28.7 x 40.0 x 27.5 cm

1.1 x 15.7 x 10.8 inches / 28.7 x 40.0 x 27.5 cm

1.1 x 15.7 x 10.8 inches / 28.7 x 40.0 x 27.5 cm

Razer Blade 18 (2026) review: Design

(Image credit: Future)

• Thin for a large gaming laptop, but heavy
• Premium precision-milled aluminum chassis
• Plenty of ports

Long gone are the days when Razer couldn't resist the urge to cram RGB lighting into every nook and cranny of a product. Like its most recent predecessors, the 2026 Blade 18 is a clean, minimalist piece of hardware, with a pleasingly large keyboard and a chassis crafted from a single block of tempered aluminum.

As you might expect, the large display and all-metal body mean that the Blade 18 is rather heavy, weighing more than 3 kilograms. It's not exactly a device you'd want to regularly take with you on the go, but I will note that it's surprisingly slender for such a powerhouse laptop, measuring barely more than an inch thick with the lid closed.

(Image credit: Future)

The wide touchpad and well-spaced, comfortable backlit keyboard are excellent, making longer typing or gaming sessions very comfortable – though of course, I used a USB mouse for gaming. No, I'm not one of those terrifying Valorant players who only use the touchpad.

Speaking of plugging in peripherals, there's a fine selection of physical ports here, with the 18-inch Blade giving you three USB-As and two USB-Cs (one of which is a high-speed Thunderbolt 5 port) as well as an HDMI port, RJ-45 Ethernet, and an SD card reader – great for professional creatives who work with cameras. With regard to wireless connectivity, you get Bluetooth 5.4 and high-speed Wi-Fi 7.

The webcam is also surprisingly decent, capable of capturing 1440p video at 30Hz, which comfortably outdoes any webcam you'll find on the average office laptop. Considering that the webcam is frequently an afterthought on gaming laptops, this was nice to see. It features an IR camera for Windows Hello logins, and a physical privacy shutter (the latter of which should frankly be a feature on every webcam in this day and age).

As is usually the case for modern gaming laptops, there's not much in the way of upgradability here, but you can add in more storage if you're so inclined. There are two PCIe M.2 slots, one of which is occupied by the existing SSD, and the system supports up to 8TB of additonal storage per slot, meaning you can have up to 16TB of storage – assuming you have very deep pockets, given the current price of SSDs.

(Image credit: Future)

Now, let's discuss this display. In its default mode, it's a particularly nice 4K (3840 x 2400p) panel with a 240Hz refresh rate, 3ms response time, and an impressive 600 nits of maximum brightness. It's also Calman verified for color accuracy, with a 100% DCI-P3 gamut, meaning that games look bright and vibrant, and pro-level photo or video editing is a very realistic proposition.

But if you swap it into high refresh rate mode, the maximum resolution drops to FHD+ (1920 x 1200p) and the refresh rate leaps to a blindingly fast 440Hz. It's geared towards hardcore esports players who want their framerates to be as high as possible, for games like Counter-Strike 2 and Valorant where every millisecond matters.

Now, I'll be honest here; the beefy gaming performance of my RTX 5090-equipped review unit meant that I was comfortably getting high framerates at native UHD+ resolution, so I never really felt the need to use the 440Hz mode. I accept that I'm not the target audience for a feature like this (yes, I kind of suck at Valorant), but I'm not in a small crowd there. The majority of PC gamers won't really be able to eke any significant benefit from the high refresh rate mode, and switching to it is a bit of a fiddly process too: you have to use Razer's Synapse software to change the display mode, then restart the whole laptop.

This might seem like a bit of an unfair criticism, but I have to assume that including this dual-mode display functionality added to the overall cost of the Razer Blade 18, and considering that most users won't need or use it, it's a bit difficult to justify its presence here. It's certainly a neat feature that isn't offered by Razer's competitors, though, so I can't knock Razer too much for it.

Razer Blade 18 (2026) review: Performance

(Image credit: Future)

• Silky-smooth AAA gaming
• Powerful creative performance
• Gets a bit hot under load

Razer Blade 18 (2026) benchmarks

3DMark: Night Raid: 92,118; Fire Strike: 40,643; Steel Nomad: 6,433; Speed Way: 6,522; Solar Bay: 118,863
Geekbench 6: Multicore: 20,376; Single-core: 3,212
Cinebench R24: Single Core: 141; Multi Core: 2,071
Crossmark: Overall: 2,340; Productivity: 2,168; Creativity: 2,767; Responsiveness: 1,905
Passmark Overall: 15,304; CPU: 63,824; 2D Graphics: 1,048; 3D Graphics: 30,935; Memory: 3,882; Disk: 45,916
BlackMagicDisk: Read: 4,832MB/s; Write: 3,390MB/s
HandBrake 4K to 1080p: 125.6fps
Civilization VII: (Max resolution, AMD FSR 3, High): 156fps; (1080p, High): 231fps
Shadow of the Tomb Raider: (Max resolution, Highest, Balanced upscaling): 177fps; (1080p, Highest, SMAA x4): 218fps
Total War: Warhammer III: Mirrors of Madness (1080p, Ultra): 187fps; (Max Resolution, Ultra): 65fps
Cyberpunk 2077: (Max resolution, Ultra, Balanced upscaling): 69fps; (1080p, Ray Tracing: Ultra, Balanced upscaling): 118fps; (1080p, Ultra): 162fps
Marvel Rivals: (Max resolution, Balanced upscaling, Ultra): 72fps; (1200p, Low): 184fps
Battery Life (TechRadar movie test): 8 hours and 21 minutes

Unsurprisingly, the RTX 5090 and Core Ultra 290HX Plus in my Razer Blade 18 review unit absolutely chewed through our selection benchmarking tests, as well as everything else I threw at it.

Razer has long been the brand of 'performance at any cost', and this laptop is no exception to that rule. In 4K gaming benchmarks, it delivered solid performance further boosted by Nvidia's DLSS upscaling, but I didn't need to turn on the still-controversial frame-generation features to ensure a high and stable FPS.

(Image credit: Future)

In terms of gaming performance, I was comfortably getting a stable 60+ frames per second at 4K resolution with maximum graphical settings in almost every game I tested, both within our usual suite of benchmarking games and in a handful of other titles I played during my general testing process, which included Marathon and Alan Wake 2. The fans got a little noisy in the process, but I've heard far worse from other gaming laptops, and

The notable exception here was Total War: Warhammer III, which is historically more reliant on the CPU than the GPU; it appears that the 2nd-gen Intel Core Ultra processor inside the Razer Blade 18 still struggled a little with the 4K Ultra preset here, though I would note that it still managed to maintain an average above 60 FPS at maximum graphical settings, and it's also very power efficient (more on that in the next section).

The only other part of my game testing that gave me pause was a relatively low average at 4K Ultra settings in Marvel Rivals. Although the game ran stably, my average FPS sat at a little over 70 in the built-in benchmark – yet in actual matches, I found that the FPS counter very rarely dropped below 100, so I'm a little unclear on what caused this. Driver and OS updates, multiple tweaks to the in-game and display settings, and even running the game via an external 4K monitor did not seem to remedy this. I won't mark the Blade 18 down for this, though, as it appeared to be an anomaly with Rivals rather than the laptop itself.

(Image credit: Future)

Turn on Nvidia's frame-gen tech, and you'll see those numbers skyrocket across almost every game I tested. I was getting 40% stable gains on average with 2x mode across four different games, with no noticeable impact on visual fidelity.

3x and 4x modes push the framerate higher, but do start to degrade the visual quality of gameplay; I found that 4x mode was prone to tearing and artifacting in all games tested except Alan Wake 2, to the point where it wasn't worth the trade-off in improved framerate.

Outside of gaming benchmarks, the Blade 18 excelled in virtually every area; 2D and 3D rendering, productivity workloads, transfer speeds, single- and multi-core CPU workloads... you name it, this laptop can power through it. For users who want a gaming laptop that can also pull double duty for high-end professional creative or scientific workloads, this Blade has got the goods.

Razer Blade 18 (2026) review: Battery life

(Image credit: Future)

• Fantastic for a gaming laptop
• Outlasts many rivals
• Bundled charger is proprietary, not USB-C

I'll make no bones about this: for a high-powered gaming laptop, the battery life on the Razer Blade 18 is nothing short of phenomenal.

The average gaming laptop tends to peter out before the 6-hour mark in regular use, with powerful internal components that draw a lot of juice; if you're actively gaming on it, you'll usually be lucky to get more than two hours of play time before needing to seek out a wall socket.

But the Blade 18 mustered an impressive amount of longevity in my testing, reaching nearly eight and a half hours of continuous video playback and more than three and a half hours of continuous gaming in Marathon – a distinctly superior showing to the vast majority of gaming laptops we test at TechRadar, and is most likely down to the excellent power efficiency of the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus processor.

The only downside I can possibly pick out here is that you need to use the bundled proprietary adapter for power delivery, and it's a pretty chunky brick that hurts the laptop's portability. But considering that it's already a great big 18-inch slab of machined aluminum, you shouldn't be buying the Blade 18 if you want a super-portable gaming laptop anyway!

Should I buy the Razer Blade 18 (2026)?Razer Blade 18 (2026): Scorecard

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Value

Undeniably very expensive, but you're getting a tremendous amount of bang for your buck wrapped in a sleek, well-designed chassis.

4 / 5

Design

Not the most portable due to its large size and weight, but offers best-in-class build quality, a great screen, a comfortable keyboard, and lots of physical ports.

5 / 5

Performance

Stellar performance across gaming, creative, and productivity workloads. This Blade can handle anything you throw at it.

5 / 5

Battery life

Seriously impressive for a gaming laptop, with enough battery life to get through a full workday of basic tasks or multiple hours of gaming between charges.

4.5 / 5

Total Score

The Blade 18 is as premium as gaming laptops get, a powerhouse perfect for hardcore gamers – or creatives pros who like to game on the side.

4.5 / 5

Buy the Razer Blade 18 (2026) if…

You want the best of the best
Simply put, the high-spec configurations of the Blade 18 make it one of the most powerful gaming laptops on the market.

You want a great screen
The 18-inch UHD+ display on the Blade 18 makes games look like a true feast for the eyes, with great color reproduction and a 440Hz FHD+ mode for hardcore esports gamers.

Don't buy it if…

You want something portable
Although it's impressively slim for such a powerful laptop, the Razer Blade 18 is large and heavy, and the AC power adapter brick is also very weighty.

You’re on a budget
Unsurprisingly given its premium specs and build quality, the Blade 18 costs a pretty penny and then some.View Deal

Razer Blade 18 (2026) review: Also consider

MSI Stealth A16 AI+
A similarly powerful but somewhat more compact gaming laptop, the Stealth A16 AI+ packs the same selection of RTX 5000 GPUs as the Blade 18, but trades out an Intel CPU for the latest AMD Ryzen fare instead. Read our full MSI Stealth A16 AI+ review.

Asus V16
If you were reading this review from a more aspirational standpoint and want something that delivers good gaming performance without the eye-watering price tag of the Blade 16, the V16 from Asus is a very solid wallet-friendly pick. Read our full Asus V16 review.

How I tested the Razer Blade 18 (2026)

(Image credit: Future)

• Tested for one work week
• Used for gaming and other tasks
• 8+ years of experience reviewing dozens of laptops

I swapped out my usual desktop workstation rig for the Razer Blade 18 for five days (one work week), during which I used it for all my usual activities. This included day-to-day work in the Google software suite, online research, playing videos, and of course a lot of after-hours gaming.

In terms of the games tested, I ran out entire synthetic and gaming benchmark lineup (listed in the 'performance' section of this review, as well as playing some other games that are in my current rotation: Marathon, Warframe, Alan Wake 2, Borderlands 4, and of course my current addition Slay the Spire 2 (though let's be honest, that last one isn't exactly a performance stress-test).

I've been a PC gamer since my tender pre-teen years, starting out on my dad's boxy beige home office desktop, and I've been a professional tech journalist reviewing all kinds of laptops and PC tech for nearly a decade now, starting out at Maximum PC magazine before making the jump to digital journalism and joining the TechRadar team. I've personally reviewed more than seventy laptops, so you can trust that my knowledge and experience give you reliable insights into the quality of the products I write about.

• First reviewed: June 2026
• Read more about how we test

OneOdio Studio Max 2: Two-minute review

Despite the number in the name, I’ve taken to considering the OneOdio Studio Max 2 to be more like a ‘pro’ version of the originals rather than a completely new pair of headphones. I’ve been testing them for several weeks, and the experience doesn’t feel hugely changed (even though the price is).

The originals upon which they are based were released in early 2025, and after I finished my review, I found myself using them daily. They’re always plugged into my guitar amp or keyboard for when I want to do some music practice; a few select features made them uniquely handy for making music.

The OneOdio Studio Max 2 are, mostly, a very similar proposition. They’re not designed for audiophiles so much as DJs, studio musicians and other music-makers — but they have enough of a consumer-friendly bent that they’re not just for the studio. If you’re an amateur musician or music producer, and want cans for the task in hand but also for general use, you’re the target audience.

Like their predecessors, I wouldn’t strongly recommend these for general use, though. They’re big and chunky, so I felt self-conscious wearing them in public, and the fit was unreliable, so they shook when I was walking. On top of that, the audio quality is pretty poor, and you won’t get noise cancellation. There’s a reason the old pair stayed tethered to my instruments.

That sounds like a deluge of criticism, and an odd one given the score above, but the Studio Max justify themselves with their tools for professionals or music creators.

These puppies connect to other devices in four ways: there’s both a 3.5mm jack and a 6.35mm one, so you’ve got more cable versatility than most other cans. Of course, you’ve got Bluetooth, but there’s also an audio transmitter included in the box that can connect to any analog source.

With the transmitter, you can get 9ms latency between the headphones and audio source. This is OneOdio’s pitch for why they’re great DJ headphones — with no transmission delay, you won't miss your bass-dropping cue. OneOdio isn't the only brand to offer this feature, but crucially, its headphones are the cheapest to do so.

Upgrades to this transmitter also form the main upgrades over the original Studio Max. The latency has been halved from 20ms and the bitrate has been increased, but the transmission distance has been halved to 10m. Given that the price has increased, though, it might not be a tempting upgrade for many buyers of the original.

For music producers or performers, the foldable form factor is appreciated, as is the massive 120-hour battery life over Bluetooth (and the battery life when using the transmitter has been doubled to 50 hours in this model). I can see it being particularly useful for touring musicians for this reason, who can’t charge regularly — although IEMs will still rule supreme for that.

More so than most headphones I test, the OneOdio Studio Max 2 are situational, and niche. I wouldn’t recommend them to people on the market for the best headphones for general use, nor would I suggest professionals buy them over specially-designed studio kit.

But there’s a small overlap in the Venn Diagram between those groups, in which the cans may find appreciative buyers. That's included me, as a dedicated user of the original model — but check the price of the original OneOdio Studio Max 1 before you buy, though, because if it gets price drops, it might be the better-value buy.

OneOdio Studio Max 2 review: Price and release date

(Image credit: Future)

• Released in May 2026
• They sell for $189 / £179 (about AU$360)
• Come with carry case as well as cables and transmitter

The OneOdio Studio Max 2 were unveiled on May 11, 2026 — that’s a year and three months on from the release of their predecessors.

The official price of the Studio Max 2 is $189 / £179 (about AU$360, but they don’t seem to have enjoyed an Australian release at the time of writing).

In the box you get the headphones, transmitter, various cables (loads of cables) and a handy carry case. It’s the complete package, and I’ve never felt the need to root around in my drawers for other wires.

For context, the original Studio Max released for $169 / £135 / AU$275, so there’s been a price hike here, which varies quite a bit by region.

OneOdio Studio Max 2 review: Specs

Drivers

45mm

Active noise cancellation

No

Battery life

120 hours

Weight

353g

Connectivity

Bluetooth 6.0, 3.5mm, 6.35mm, 2.4Ghz transmitter

Frequency response

20Hz to 40kHz

Waterproofing

NA

OneOdio Studio Max 2 review: Features

(Image credit: Future)

• No noise cancellation, and basic phone app
• Massive 120-hour battery over Bluetooth
• Many connection options including low-latency transmitter

Let’s address the elephant in the room, or lack thereof: there are some features missing here, which some music listeners might miss. There’s no active noise cancellation, for example, and the app is quite barebones. It has three EQ presets (normal, monitoring and bass), and a 10-band custom mode, as well as a few extras such as wear reminders, volume limiters, and a way to pan the sound to the left or right ear cup only.

What you do get is pretty rocking though. Take the battery life: 120 hours equates to five straight days of music playback. No, not five hours. Five days. That figure matches the original pair, and I can’t name another option which lasts that long.

Another key feature is the range of connection options. Naturally, you can connect them via their 3.5mm port, or the 6.35mm jack so they can connect to professional audio kit easily. The Studio Max 2 support Bluetooth 6.0, allowing for more reliable wireless connection than the old pair.

But perhaps the key selling point here is the transmitter, which comes included in the box. Using OneOdio’s RapidWill+ 3.0 technology, this transmitter lets you cut the response time between your source and the Studio Max 2 to just 9ms. It uses 2.4GHz connectivity, and all you need to do is plug it into your output device, and your headphones can pick it up.

All the cables you need are included in the box, so it's a plug-and-play style situation. The transmitter needs to be charged via USB-C, and lasts for 50 hours per charge.

• Features score: 4 / 5

OneOdio Studio Max 2 review: Sound quality

(Image credit: Future)

• Uses 45mm drivers
• Music is muffled and tinny
• EQ doesn't help fix things

OneOdio has used a 45mm driver in each Studio Max 2 cup, and the headphones are certified for Hi-Res Audio and Hi-Res Audio Wireless, with LDAC compatibility too. Unfortunately it's not quite the recipe for success it would appear to be on first glance.

The Max 2 sound muddy and muffled, with rumbly and ill-defined bass stomping over over lines of a song. Any semblance of a soundstage is forgotten, instead presenting your music as one amorphous sonic boulder.

Glorious by The Hoosiers is presented like a confused mush of synths, and the bass in Charlie Mars' She Ain't Coming Back veers between drowning out everything else, and being inaudible.

They also offer a sound that's tinnier than anything else at this price point, with noticeably compressed hi-hats and distorted guitars that really shouldn't be distorted. I'd usually cite a song here as an example, but you can basically insert any song that has instruments here.

Usually I'd turn to an equalizer to try to fix problems like this, but you've got three options: the default, a Bass Mode (that's not going to fix the problem), a custom EQ and Monitoring Mode. Those latter two both gave music a crunchier feel, so I stayed far away.

It's worth noting that criticism I levelled here, I also put against the Studio Max 1. As far as I can tell, the sound hasn't changed much.

• Sound quality: 2.5 / 5

OneOdio Studio Max 2 review: Design

(Image credit: Future)

• Industrial look
• Rotatable cups and foldable arms
• Plenty of ports and dials

Don’t buy the Studio Max 2 if you’re looking for svelte, lightweight or fashionable over-ear headphones. They’re bulky and large, with a design that’s quite industrial. You’ve seen the pictures, you know what they look like, and I felt self-conscious wearing them outside the house.

The cups and headband are pretty soft, yet they weren't too comfy to wear, perhaps because of their 353g weight. At least they're good at at catering for different shapes of head, thanks to how versatile they are: the cups rotate around different angles. This also makes them easily-foldable for bags, and handy to form for review pictures.

However, and likely as a natural side-effect of the size, they didn't stick in place reliably. If I was walking, they'd sway a tiny bit, and I imagine they'll wobble if you're an active DJ enjoying your own set.

Adorning each Studio Max 2 cup is a range of buttons and ports. The left cup has a 6.35mm port, while on the right you're getting volume up, volume down and power buttons, a 3.5mm jack, a slider to toggle between Bluetooth and ultra-low latency, and a USB-C port for charging too.

Two things to point out that images don't convey. Firstly, these things creak quite a bit; I'm used to this being a symptom of cheap plastic used in the design, but it doesn't feel like the case here. I think the many moving parts are to blame. Secondly, the back of the cups are grooved to resemble vinyl records; a neat touch, but if my previous pair are any indication, they can be huge dust magnets.

• Design score: 3 / 5

OneOdio Studio Max 2 review: Value

(Image credit: Future)

• Too expensive to be consumer cans
• Value for money if you need transmitter

If you’re looking at the OneOdio Studio Max 2 as consumer-friendly headphones, it’s hard to argue that they offer you good value for money. There are great cans for music fans at a third of the price — from OneOdio itself, as well as other brands.

That’s also true if you’re looking for general studio headphones, for that matter.

What you’re paying for is the transmitter, to allow for low-latency wireless music from any source, including instruments. If you need a gadget like it, the Studio Max 2 undercuts its rivals — if not, then these aren’t the cans for you.

• Value: 3.5 / 5

Should I buy the OneOdio Studio Max 2?Cleer Arc 5 score card

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

The app may be barebones, but the fantastic battery life and useful connection modes are a winner.

4 / 5

Sound quality

Don't buy them if you want good-sounding headphones.

2.5 / 5

Design

It's not a look that'll appeal to many, and it's not very comfy, but at least it's versatile.

3 / 5

Value

The affordable transmitter makes these good value (if that's a feature you need).

3.5 / 5

Buy them if…

You need low wireless latency
If you need headphones that connect wirelessly with minimum delay, there are few rivals, and none this cheap.

You can't charge frequently
That 120-hour battery life is hard to beat, and these things will keeping going for literal days at a time.

You need 6.35mm connection
How many headphones offer a 6.35mm port? Very few, that's how many, yet it's still useful in some music production situations.

Don’t buy them if…

You want music that sounds good
Just want cans to connect to your phone and play music? These aren't the ones.

You want something lightweight
These cans are heavy, and you can really feel them on your head. I can see some people finding them uncomfortable to wear.

OneOdio Studio Max 2 review: Also considerOther headphone brands with DJ transmitters

OneOdio Studio Max 2

AIAIAI TMA-2

AlphaTheta HDJ-F10

Drivers

45mm

40mm

40mm

Active noise cancellation

No

No

Yes

Battery life (ANC on)

120 hours

40 hours

30 hours

Weight

353g

217g

356g

Connectivity

Bluetooth 6.0

Bluetooth 5.3

Bluetooth 5.2

Waterproofing

NA

NA

NA

AlphaTheta HDJ-F10
The AlphaTheta HDJ-F10 are a real premium alternative to the OneOdio, costing roughly twice as much, but they dramatically reduce latency and sound pretty good.

AIAIAI TMA-2 Wireless
These cans are much more lightweight than the alternatives, perfect if you want something easier to wear. They're pricier than the OneOdio, but not the AlphaTheta — here's our full AIAIAI TMA-2 Studio Wireless+ review.

How I tested the OneOdio Studio Max 2

• Tested for one month
• Tested alongside PC, guitar amp, synth, smartphone
• Used all connection options

I used the OneOdio Studio Max 2 for roughly a month before writing this review.

During the testing process, they were connected to a wide variety of devices including my guitar amp, my keyboard, my PC and my smartphone. Across this board, I used every connection option possible.

Mostly, the testing was done for music playback, but I also used it for a variety of other tasks including audio mixing, video editing, playing my own music and, for one weekend, audio recording alongside a field recorder and boom mic.

I've been reviewing gadgets for TechRadar since early 2019, and in that time have tested plenty of audio products including the original Studio Max 1 (the number is in the name, I've not added it!).

• First reviewed in May 2026

• Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee

Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro: One minute review

Three years after the release of the Cheetah Pro smartwatch, Amazfit has finally released its successor, the aptly named Cheetah 2 Pro. Designed for serious road runners who rely on structured training plans, the smartwatch is a solid offering that competes admirably with the best running watches on the market right now. It doesn't hit the dizzying heights of Garmin's top-range alternatives, but Amazfit has definitely closed the gap. The Cheetah 2 Pro has a bigger sibling, the Cheetah 2 Ultra, which is slightly larger, more expensive and comes with trail running profiles with gradient and terrain features not present here.

The high price tag for a watch without trail features will put a lot of people off, especially considering Amazfit is still an unknown brand to many and a budget brand to those in the know. On closer inspection, the cost is mostly justified. The bright 1.32-inch AMOLED display is super-sharp and covered with scratch-resistant sapphire crystal glass.

The display is housed in a high-end grade 5 titanium alloy case, which looks and feels premium, but the 15.6 mm thickness and large sensor bump make the watch uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time.

The Cheetah 2 Pro includes an impressive set of features, including structured training plans and AI-driven adaptive workouts. It also tracks comprehensive health data, including 24/7 heart rate, blood oxygen, and skin temperature, all making it possible to generate a daily "Readiness Score" for monitoring fatigue. The watch reaches a high level of accuracy across most tested metrics.

As you’d expect for a watch at this price, the Cheetah 2 Pro boasts offline color maps and navigation tools such as automatic rerouting and point-to-point route planning. It’s an extensive set of features, but the implementation is lacking finesse. Due to limited hardware, panning and zooming maps is laggy.

When it comes to running smartwatches, Amazfit is closing the gap on Garmin, but they’ve still got a long way to go, especially when it comes to dedicated running tools.

(Image credit: Future / Paul Hatton)Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro: Specifications

Component

Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro

Price

$499.99 USD / £449.90 UK / $729 AUS

Dimensions

48mm wide, 15.6mm thick (inc. heart sensor)

Weight

45.6g without strap

Case/bezel

Titanium case, plastic bezel

Display

1.32-inch AMOLED Screen, 466 x 466 px resolution

GPS

Dual-band, 6 satellite systems

Battery life

Up to 10 days of heavy use, or 20 days typical

Connection

Bluetooth, BLE 5.3, Wi-Fi 2.4GHz

Water resistance

5 ATM

Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro: Price and availability

• $499.99 USD / £449.90 UK / $729 AUS
• More affordable than the Garmin Forerunner 970
• Impressive set of features for the price

The Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro costs $499.99 USD / £449.90 UK, which represents a significant 50% increase over the price of the original Cheetah Pro. Amazfit justifies this huge jump by offering high-end hardware, including a titanium bezel, sapphire crystal lens, and up to 20 days of battery life.

Its position in the market is as a budget-friendly alternative to Garmin's flagship elite tier, specifically the Garmin Forerunner 970. While both watches boast premium titanium bezels and crisp AMOLED screens, the more expensive Garmin boasts superior features, especially when it comes to offline maps and ECG functionality.

• Value score 4/5

(Image credit: Future / Paul Hatton)Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro: Design

• Premium materials and a bright AMOLED display
• Touchscreen interface and physical buttons
• Overly chunky design

The Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro boasts a gorgeous premium grade-5 titanium alloy case finished off with a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal glass. The 1.32-inch AMOLED display is brilliantly sharp, with an impressive 3,000 nits of peak brightness which guarantees clarity even on sunny days.

If you were wondering why the watch costs so much, the material make-up and AMOLED display are two of the reasons. Compared to the cheap, plastic feel of a lot of sports trackers, the Cheetah 2 Pro is a high-end piece of hardware, only let down by the bundled silicone strap, which feels like an ill-considered afterthought.

(Image credit: Future / Paul Hatton)

Alongside the touchscreen interface, the watch features a four-button layout with tactile aluminum buttons. The presence of physical buttons proved valuable, in my experience, especially when using the watch with sweaty hands or in the rain.

As much as I love the design of the Cheetah 2 Pro, it's let down by its over-large 15.6mm thickness. It absolutely dwarfed my wife's smaller wrist, and due to the size and weight I found it uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time. If Amazfit could work out a way to reduce the thickness of the underside sensor bump, then a lot of these problems would go away.

• Design Score: 4/5

Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro: Features

• Excellent structured training, especially with Zepp Flow AI
• Offline maps and turn-by-turn navigation
• An extensive set of sensors

At the heart of the Cheetah 2 Pro are the structured training plans and purpose-driven workouts. It's like having your own personal running coach or using a platform such as Runna, but without the ongoing cost. There are workouts and plans for half marathons, full marathons, and Fartlek runs, and every session helps extend endurance, build strength, and ensure appropriate recovery, all done via Zepp Coach AI.

In addition to dedicated training plans, the Cheetah 2 Pro boasts an extensive set of navigation features which help keep you on track, however hard you're pushing. I was pleased to see the presence of offline maps and turn guidance, and it's even possible to import courses so you can confidently navigate through routes you're not familiar with. Beyond this, the watch includes automatic rerouting, points of interest search, and point-to-point route planning.

(Image credit: Future / Paul Hatton)

The upgraded optical sensors comprise 5 photodiodes and 2 LEDs, providing continuous 24/7 monitoring for heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, and stress levels. All of these sensors, and more, feed the data so the watch can provide a daily Readiness Score for evaluating training fatigue and overall status. Additional environmental sensors include a skin temperature sensor, barometric altimeter, gyroscope, accelerometer, and geomagnetic compass.

In comparison to the Forerunner 970, the Cheetah comes up short in most areas. The Garmin features a more comprehensive set of tools, including its localized crowd-sourced popularity routing database, granular analytics, and ECG functionality. If you want the very best, Garmin is still the brand to turn to.

• Features Score: 4/5

Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro: Performance

• Spot on GPS and heart rate performance
• Excellent map functionality but a little laggy
• Top-level activity tracking and health monitoring

Serious runners require accurate on-board GPS, and the Cheetah 2 Pro provides exactly that. Courtesy of its advanced positioning systems, the watch is able to deliver accurate tracking and pacing even when the signal appears to weaken. I compared it with the same route run with my accuracy benchmark, the Garmin Tactix 8, and the Huawei Watch Ultimate 2. It tracked these runs to within one or two per cent accuracy and was able to cope with varying surroundings, including high-rise buildings and forests.

Map functionality is extensive enough for most runners, although the subjective experience wasn’t perfect. Any amount of panning and zooming resulted in a stutter, and if I were cycling, the map wouldn’t update particularly smoothly. These problems are not game-changers, but if you’re after the smoothest map interactions, then the Cheetah 2 Pro doesn’t have the hardware to deliver that.

The Cheetah 2 Pro is a solid running coach on the wrist. It is able to provide specific metrics such as ground contact time, stride length, and cadence. The ability to track in real-time my VO2 Max level and running power is super-helpful to know if I am doing well (or not, as the case may be).

(Image credit: Future / Paul Hatton)

An extensive set of health metrics is available, including heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, heart rate variability (HRV), respiration rate, lactate threshold, VO2, and more. The heart rate was an exact match to a dedicated heart rate monitor band. The heart rate zone feature is a nice addition for knowing when you’re building endurance, improving speed, or pushing too hard.

Amazfit positions the watch as a long-distance runner's dream, and that requires outstanding battery performance with every feature and setting turned on. They claim up to 31 hours with accurate GPS mode enabled, which is more than enough to perform a long-distance run, assuming it doesn't span multiple days. When you're using the watch in between trainings, you can expect up to 20 days of battery life with typical use.

The Cheetah 2 Pro is much more than a running watch, though. Its general smartwatch features are comparable with the very best from Apple, Google, and Samsung. You can make and receive Bluetooth calls, read and reply to texts, and utilize Zepp Pay for NFC contactless payments. All in, it’s a very useful watch for day-to-day living.

• Performance score: 4.5/5

(Image credit: Future / Paul Hatton)Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro: Scorecard

Category

Comment

Score

Value

It’s far from cheap but is more affordable than similar alternatives from Garmin.

4/5

Design

A high-end smartwatch with premium materials. Only let down by the uncomfortable thickness.

4/5

Features

An all-round feature-rich smartwatch with unashamedly runner-centric features.

4/5

Performance

Accurate activity and health tracking with solid GPS. Only let down by the map's navigation.

4.5/5

(Image credit: Future / Paul Hatton)Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro: Should I buy?Buy it if...

You're training for a marathon or similar

With structured training plans and Zepp Flow AI, runners can confidently work towards their goals.

You need a watch that can last a marathon

Offers up to 31 hours of continuous, accurate dual-band GPS tracking and up to 20 days of typical daily use.

Don't buy it if...

You want the very best running smartwatch

For that you’ll need a Garmin like the Forerunner 970.

You have a small wrist

Its thick and bulky design means it’ll dwarf users with small wrists.

You're a trail runner

Dedicated features covering terrain and gradient can be found in the more expensive Amazfit Cheetah 2 Ultra.

Also consider

Garmin Forerunner 970

It’s expensive and not particularly attractive, but the Forerunner 970 is "an outstanding running watch". It delivers depth and precision and excels in GPS performance.

Read our Garmin Forerunner 970 reviewView Deal

Coros Pace 4

If you’re looking for a seriously good value smartwatch for road and light trails, then the Coros Pace 4 is a great option. In our review we said, “This light running watch is better value than many Garmins.”

Read our Coros Pace 4 reviewView Deal

How I tested

I’ve been wearing the Cheetah 2 Pro for the better part of six weeks. In this time I have used it while running, cycling, walking, relaxing, and more. I tested it against a Coros heart rate monitor as well as competitor devices for accuracy. It has also acted as a companion device to my smartphone, keeping me up-to-date with everything going on in my world.

First reviewed: June 2026

Bitrix24 is a comprehensive customer relationship management platform that goes beyond traditional CRM functionalities. It offers an extensive suite of tools for managing customer interactions, project collaboration, and internal communication.

At its core, Bitrix24 provides robust lead and deal management capabilities, making it one of the best CRM platforms on the market - but it doesn't stop there. The platform integrates project management features, time tracking, document handling, and even website building tools.

The platform offers a generous free tier alongside paid plans, making it an attractive option for businesses of various sizes. However, this wide-ranging functionality comes with a trade-off — a steeper learning curve compared to more streamlined options.

Bitrix24 core capabilties

(Image credit: Bitrix24)

Despite being an all-in-one platform, Bitrix24 offers a robust collection of core CRM capabilities. I was able to create and organize detailed profiles for both individual contacts and company accounts, complete with customizable fields to capture specific information relevant to my hypothetical business needs.

I could also effortlessly track prospects from initial contact through the entire sales process. The system allowed me to assign leads to team members, set follow-up tasks, and monitor the progress of each opportunity through customizable sales pipelines.

For sales forecasting, the visual pipeline view provided an intuitive representation of deals at various stages, allowing for quick assessment of the sales funnel. I found the ability to drag and drop deals between stages particularly useful for keeping the pipeline up to date. The forecasting tools, while not as advanced as dedicated forecasting software, offered solid projections based on historical data.

The platform offers a wide array of pre-built reports covering various aspects of sales performance, lead sources, and team productivity. I was able to generate custom reports with relative ease, though some of the more advanced reporting features were reserved for higher-tier plans. The visual representation of data through charts and graphs made it simple to glean insights at a glance, which would be invaluable for quick decision-making in a real-world scenario.

While testing Bitrix24’s mobile app, I found that it offered most of the core CRM functionalities available on the desktop version. I could access contact information, update deals, and even use the built-in communication tools while on the go. The app's interface, while not as polished as some standalone mobile CRMs, was functional and responsive.

I particularly liked Bitrix24's integration of communication tools directly within the CRM. The platform includes features like internal chat, video calls, and a social intranet, which could significantly streamline team collaboration. Any internal conversations about leads or deals can happen right alongside the relevant CRM data, making collaboration more secure and user-friendly.

Being an advanced platform, Bitrix24 offers a range of tools to streamline repetitive tasks. The system allows for the creation of custom workflows and triggers, which can automate actions like assigning tasks, sending emails, or updating deal stages based on specific criteria. While powerful, I did find that setting up complex automations required a bit of a learning curve.

The platform also includes features that extend beyond traditional CRM boundaries, such as project management tools, time tracking, and even some features to rival the best website builder platforms. While this comprehensive approach could be advantageous for businesses looking to consolidate a software stack, it also means higher costs that won’t be feasible for those looking for a standalone CRM.

How easy is Bitrix24 CRM to use?

Logging into Bitrix24, I quickly realized that ease of use is a complex topic for this platform. While the customization options are extensive, this flexibility comes at the cost of initial complexity. For starters, Bitrix24’s dashboard presents a wealth of information, which can be daunting for new users. I found myself spending considerable time navigating through various menus and submenus to locate specific functions.

Personalizing the workspace required a deeper understanding of the system's structure, which might not be immediately intuitive for all users. The ability to create custom fields, workflows, and even modify the layout is powerful, but it also contributes to a steeper learning curve.

Still, Bitrix24's approach to user interface design has evolved over time. Recent updates have made strides in improving usability, with a more streamlined layout and clearer iconography. Despite these improvements, I found that the platform's all-in-one nature sometimes leads to a cluttered feel, with features from different modules intersecting in ways that can be confusing for newcomers.

Thankfully, there’s a wealth of self-service resources available for new users. During my research, I discovered an extensive library of video tutorials on the platform’s YouTube channel, as well as detailed online training courses specifically designed for administrators. These resources are comprehensive and cover a wide range of topics, from basic navigation to advanced feature utilization. Bitrix24 also offers weekly webinars that dive into different aspects of the platform, providing detailed use cases.

Ultimately, compared to some of its competitors, Bitrix24's learning curve is way steeper. Platforms like Freshworks, for instance, are noted for their user-friendly interfaces and ease of use. While this is partly explained by the wealth of features and customization choices available, the fact remains that there are competitors who do all of this while still retaining their intuitiveness, like Insightly.

Bitrix24 integrations

(Image credit: Bitrix24)

When it comes to integrations, I was impressed by the variety of options available in the Bitrix24 Marketplace. With over 300 apps in the catalog, including integrations with well-known services like Quickbooks, Google Sheets, PayPal, RingCentral, WhatsApp, and Miro, businesses can easily connect existing tools with the CRM.

For businesses looking to migrate data from other platforms, Bitrix24 also offers a range of migration apps for popular services like Jira, Asana, Trello, Zapier, Zoho, and Pipedrive. During CRM testing, I found these migration tools to be intuitive and efficient, allowing for a smooth transition without significant data loss or disruption.

Then there’s the Bitrix24 REST API, which allows developers to integrate the platform with external systems, import and export data, and even create custom widgets. It provides businesses with the flexibility to tailor the CRM to specific needs by ensuring smooth data synchronization with other tools in the software stack.

Bitrix24's commitment to integration extends beyond pre-built apps and API access. The platform also provides comprehensive documentation and resources for developers looking to create custom integrations. The detailed REST API guide, complete with examples and guidelines, empowers businesses to develop tailored solutions that address their unique requirements.

Moreover, Bitrix24 offers a range of low-code tools that allow users to solve specific problems without relying solely on the REST API. This approach democratizes integration capabilities, enabling even non-technical users to connect and automate processes involving other applications.

How good is Bitrix24 CRM customer support?

(Image credit: Bitrix24)

Looking into Bitrix24's customer support, I encountered a mixed bag of experiences and resources. The platform offers several support channels, but the level of assistance and response times varied depending on the plan and the complexity of the issue at hand.

Free accounts are limited to self-support resources such as product manuals, helpdesk articles, video tutorials, and free webinars. While these resources can be helpful for getting started and troubleshooting basic issues, they may not suffice for more complex or account-specific problems. But this is not unusual, since most platforms reserve live support options for paid customers only.

For paid users, Bitrix24 offers live support through chat and email. Chat support is usually responsive with average wait times of around 5-10 minutes. Support representatives are generally knowledgeable and helpful, although there are instances where more complex issues require escalation to higher-tier support agents, resulting in longer resolution times.

Email support, on the other hand, has slower response times. It often takes up to 24-48 hours to receive an initial response, which could be frustrating for users facing time-sensitive issues. However, once engaged, the email support team provides detailed and thorough assistance, often including step-by-step instructions and screenshots.

Beyond the live support options, the platform offers an extensive knowledge base with articles covering a wide range of topics, from basic setup and configuration to advanced customization and integrations. The articles are well-organized and searchable, making it easy to find relevant information quickly.

In addition to the knowledge base, Bitrix24 provides a comprehensive library of video tutorials and webinars. These resources offer visual guidance on various aspects of the platform, making it easier for users to learn and adopt the system. The webinars, in particular, are a valuable resource, as they provide live demonstrations and Q&A sessions with Bitrix24 experts.

Yet, some users on sites like G2 and Trustpilot have reported mixed experiences with Bitrix24's customer support. In online reviews, a few users expressed frustration with the support team's response times and the quality of assistance provided. Some felt that the support representatives were more focused on providing formal replies rather than solving problems, leaving customers to figure things out on their own.

It's also worth noting that Bitrix24 does not provide phone support as a standard channel. For users who prefer to discuss issues over the phone, this could be a drawback. However, the platform does offer a callback feature, where users can request a phone call from the support team at a scheduled time.

Bitrix24 CRM pricing and plans

Plan

Free

Basic

Standard

Professional

Price

$0/month

$61/month

$124/month

$249/month+

Best for

Startups and small teams

Small businesses and sales teams

Small businesses and sales teams

Advanced sales and process automation

Features

Up to 12 users; 5 GB storage; Basic CRM

Up to 5 users; 24 GB storage; CRM with invoicing

Up to 50 users; 100 GB storage; Expanded CRM tools

Up to 100 users; 1024 GB storage; Full CRM suite

Limitations

Limited CRM and storage

User and storage limits

User and some feature limits

Higher price point

Bitrix24 may just be one of the most flexible and affordable options in the CRM market. What immediately caught my attention was the platform's unique approach to pricing – instead of charging per user, it offers a flat fee for each plan with a base number of users, with the option to add more as you scale. This allows businesses to scale a user base without incurring as much expense.

Bitrix24 offers one of the best free CRM plans on the market with unlimited users and no time restrictions. It includes essential CRM features, task management, and document management capabilities, providing a solid foundation for businesses to get started with the platform - making it one of the best CRMs for start ups. While certain advanced features and paid support options aren’t available, it’s still a great option for those looking for an extended trial period.

For organizations requiring more advanced features, Bitrix24 offers four paid plans: Basic, Standard, Professional, and Enterprise. These plans range from $61/month for 5 users to $499+/month, with scaling levels of storage space and feature sets. What I found particularly impressive was the value Bitrix24 offers relative to its price. Compared to other CRM providers that charge per user, Bitrix24's flat-fee model can lead to significant cost savings for businesses with larger teams.

For all new users, Bitrix24 offers a 15-day free trial for the Professional plan. This trial allows businesses to test the platform's full range of features before committing to a paid subscription. During my experience with the trial, I found it to be a valuable way to explore Bitrix24's capabilities and determine if it was the right fit for my needs.

It's worth noting that while Bitrix24's pricing is generally straightforward, there are some limitations to keep in mind. For example, the free plan, while generous in terms of user count, does have restrictions on storage space and certain advanced features. Additionally, some features, such as the telephony functionality, require a separate payment. But overall, I found Bitrix24's pricing model to be one of its strongest selling points.

How we tested bitrix24

At TechRadar Pro, we go beyond marketing hype and basic product specifications. To provide an authentic, hands-on evaluation of Bitrix24, our B2B software experts put the platform through a structured testing methodology designed to simulate real-world business environments. Whenever we're testing CRM software, we examine the same criteria: core capabilities, ease of use, integrations, customer support, value for money, and the company trajectory.

Because modern platforms are moving heavily toward automated operations, our testing process includes a rigorous evaluation of Bitrix24’s native CoPilot AI infrastructure. We didn't just test basic text transformations; we evaluated the tool's accuracy when auto-summarizing raw audio transcripts from phone calls, tested its natural tone when prompting AI email drafts, and evaluated its predictive logic when analyzing historical pipeline velocity to assign conversion scores to open leads.

Bitrix24 CRM review: Summary

Bitrix24 particularly excels in its core functionality, offering a comprehensive suite of features that cater to the needs of any business looking for a CRM. The platform's extensive customization options and powerful automation tools enable users to streamline workflows and adapt the system to unique requirements, while its flat-rate, organization-wide pricing structure makes it a great cost-saver for larger teams. However, its wealth of features does come with a learning curve, which may be steeper for users unfamiliar with all-in-one business management platforms.

While it is perfect for growing organizations that have dedicated technical administrators to configure its extensive feature set, smaller teams looking for a simple, out-of-the-box pipeline tool will find its cluttered interface more overwhelming than intuitive. Overall, I’d say this is a powerful and versatile platform that offers a compelling blend of features, flexibility, and affordability. However, for users looking for a simple solution with great support, Bitrix24 may not be it.

Ring Battery Video Doorbell Plus (2nd Gen): two-minute review

A video doorbell is a parcel monitor, a deterrent, and a low-key surveillance node pointed at your own front step, and Ring has spent the better part of a decade making that proposition feel normal.

The second-generation Battery Doorbell Plus is the company sharpening its best idea: taking the head-to-toe doorbell and giving it the resolution it always deserved.

Where ordinary doorbells frame a visitor's torso and chin and little else, the Plus shows a tall, square 1:1 field of view — 140 degrees in both directions — that takes in the person, the doorstep and whatever's been left on it.

This generation shoots in 2K Retinal resolution (1920 x 1920) with HDR, so you can identify a courier, read a label and confirm whether the parcel is on your step or your neighbour's — and a 6x Enhanced Zoom lets you pinch in without the image collapsing. It's the spec that separates a useful doorbell from a novelty, and the upgrade that justifies picking the Plus over Ring's cheaper Battery Doorbell.

(Image credit: Future)

Night performance has been rethought, too. Rather than dropping straight to grey mush after dark, the Plus uses true-color low-light sight to hold onto colour in dim conditions, only switching to adaptive black-and-white night vision once it's dark.

Two-way talk with noise cancellation does the doorstep-conversation job cleanly. The other quality-of-life change is the Quick Release Battery Pack: instead of unmounting the whole unit to charge, you pop out the battery, recharge it and slot it back.

Installation takes under 30 minutes, connecting to Wi-Fi through the app and mounting with the supplied tools, then lining it up so the head-to-toe view actually reaches the floor. No hub required. If there's a grumble, it's a small one: in 2026, a $179.99 / £149.99 / AU$249 doorbell still charges over Micro-USB rather than USB-C, so you'll be hunting for the right cable.

(Image credit: Future)

On the upside, it runs dual-band Wi-Fi 6, so a 2K stream holds up better than Ring's older 2.4GHz-only doorbells, with Ring recommending a 10Mbps upload to keep it smooth.

Then there's the Ring tax, in two senses. Financially, person alerts, package alerts and saved recordings all live behind a Ring subscription; without one, the doorbell is reduced to real-time alerts and live view, which rather undersells a 2K camera.

Philosophically, buying Ring means accepting its history of police-data partnerships and the broader unease about Amazon-owned cameras pointed at public pavements. None of that is new, and none of it stops the hardware being good, but a review that ignored it wouldn't be doing its job.

Ring Battery Video Doorbell Plus (2nd Gen): price & availability

• List price: $179.99 / £149.99 / AU$249
• Announced March 2026
• Available in the UK, US, and Australia

Sitting in the upper-middle of Ring's range of video doorbells, the Plus costs more than the $99.99 / £79.99 / $149 standard Battery Doorbell and less than the $249.99 / £219.99 / AU$399 Battery Doorbell Pro, which steps up to Retinal 4K and 3D motion detection.

With a list price of $179.99 / £149.99 / AU$249, the Battery Video Doorbell Plus isn't an impulse buy, but Ring discounts aggressively and its doorbells routinely sell well under list, so few people pay full price for long.

You should also factor the subscription into the lifetime cost. Plans start affordably for a single device and climb for multi-device households. Although the doorbell functions without a subscription, the experience is hollow: you'll be notified that something happened without being able to review what. Treat the subscription as part of the purchase, not an optional extra, and the value equation looks honest.

• Value score: 4/5

Ring Battery Video Doorbell Plus (2nd Gen): subscription plans

Features such as instant notifications, Live View and Two-Way Talk are available out of the box and for free on all Ring devices. A Ring subscription (branded Ring Protect) allows you to review, save and share your videos.

With a Ring subscription, starting from $4.99 / £4.99 / AU$4.95 per month per device, you can store unlimited Ring footage in the cloud for up to 180 days, to rewatch, download to your own device or share with friends and family. Person and package alerts also require a subscription.

You get a 30-day trial subscription when you first set up your Ring device. Video storage defaults to 30 days, with the option to extend it to up to 180 days.

Ring Battery Video Doorbell Plus (2nd Gen): specs

Type

Battery-powered video doorbell

Resolution

2K Retinal (1920 x 1920) HDR

Zoom

6x Enhanced Zoom (digital)

View

Head-to-toe, 1:1 aspect ratio

Field of view

140 degrees horizontal x 140 degrees vertical

Night vision

True-colour low-light sight; adaptive black-and-white in darkness

Audio

Two-way talk with noise cancellation

Motion detection

Customizable Motion Zones

Power

Quick release battery pack (rechargeable, removable); Micro-USB charging cable included; hardwire for trickle charge (8–24VAC); solar compatible

Connectivity

Wi-Fi 6, dual-band; 10Mbps upload recommended

Smart detection

Person and package alerts (Ring subscription required)

Storage

Cloud; defaults to 30 days, extendable to 180 days with subscription

Smart home

Amazon Alexa

Weather resistance

IP55

Finish

Nickel Silver (UK/US/Aus); Polished Night Navy, Polished Mocha, Polished Sandstone (US only)

Dimensions

6.6 x 2.1 x 1.4 inches. / 16.73 x 5.35 x 3.6cm

Ring Battery Video Doorbell Plus (2nd Gen): design

• Well-built
• Quick-release battery
• Hub-free wireless install

I’ve never been the biggest fan of Ring’s bulky designs, but the second-gen Plus is a bit more suitably restrained: a slim, rounded slab that won't embarrass a period porch or a new-build alike.

Build quality is reassuring, and the button has a satisfying press, though for UK and Australian customers it only comes in a single Nickel Silver finish, so there's no matching it to your door furniture the way some rivals allow.

(Image credit: Future)

The most practical design feature is the Quick Release Battery Pack. On older Ring doorbells, recharging meant unscrewing and removing the whole device — exactly the sort of faff that leads to a flat battery and a fortnight of excuses. Here you release the battery alone, charge it and reinsert it, with the doorbell staying put.

Buy a spare — the standard pack or the new Quick Release Ultra Battery Pack — and downtime drops to seconds. If a permanent supply suits you better, it hardwires to existing doorbell wiring for continuous trickle charging.

FutureFuture

Setup follows Ring's well-worn path through the app, and crucially needs no separate hub or bridge. The only thing to get right is the angle: head-to-toe view only delivers its full benefit if you mount the doorbell so the frame reaches the doorstep, so it's worth spending a minute on placement rather than slapping it up at eye level out of habit.

• Design score: 4/5

Ring Battery Video Doorbell Plus (2nd Gen): performance

• 2K Retinal head-to-toe view
• True-colour low-light
• Subscription gates smartest features

Fitted to a typical front door, the Plus does the important things well, and the move to 2K makes the difference obvious. The higher resolution and tall, square frame capture a visitor from hairline to doormat, so you see the face and the parcel in one shot.

The 6x Enhanced Zoom lets you crop in on a label or a face without the picture completely falling apart. Motion alerts arrived promptly during testing, live view loaded quickly, and two-way talk was clear enough to hold a proper exchange with a courier rather than barking over each other.

FutureFuture

It might split opinion, but Ring uses AI-powered features to identify and announce who is at your door. Instead of generic motion alerts, I received AI prompts such as “A person is walking in the room with a vacuum cleaner”. I loved it, my cleaner hated it, and well, I guess that’s the point.

After dark, true-color low-light sight holds onto color under external lighting, so a late-night clip is worth reviewing; only in near-total darkness does it fall back to adaptive black-and-white.

FutureFutureFuture

It’s worth noting that I tested this sample on an internal front door, but one with intermittent infrared communal lighting at night, so the low-light functionality became incredibly useful when the lights cut out. Being battery-powered and available with Ring’s additional adhesive stick-on mounting kit makes it suitable for rental properties, too.

Connectivity is more of a quiet improvement: dual-band Wi-Fi 6 gives the 2K stream more headroom than Ring's older 2.4GHz-only doorbells, with Ring recommending a 10Mbps upload speed to keep things smooth.

FutureFutureFutureFutureFuture

The performance ceiling, though, is set by the subscription. Person and package alerts — the difference between 'motion detected' and 'a parcel has arrived' — require a Ring plan, as does the ability to go back and watch what you missed, with recordings held up to 180 days.

Without a plan, the doorbell still rings and still streams live, but it stops short of the intelligence its hardware is clearly capable of. As a generational upgrade, it's a real one: 2K Retinal, HDR, sharper zoom and better low-light all land, so first-gen Plus owners have a genuine reason to look, even if a working 1536p unit is still perfectly serviceable.

• Performance score: 4/5

Should you buy the Ring Battery Video Doorbell Plus (2nd Gen)Ring Battery Video Doorbell Plus (2nd Gen) score card

Attribute

Notes

Score

Value

Strong, sharper hardware at a fair price, but the subscription is effectively mandatory for the full experience.

4/5

Design

Tidy and well-made, with a quick-release battery that improves daily life, though it comes in a single finish outside of the US.

4/5

Performance

Sharp 2K Retinal head-to-toe video with capable low-light sight, with the smartest alerts behind a paywall.

4/5

Buy it if

You want to see parcels and people in one frame

Head-to-toe view is the feature, now in 2K, and it's the most practical thing a doorbell can offer.

You're tired of recharging hassle

The quick-release battery pack and an optional spare all but eliminate doorbell downtime.

You already use Amazon smart home devices

If you have an Echo Show on the kitchen counter, this slots straight in and answers when you ask.

Don't buy it if

You won't pay for a subscription

Without a Ring plan, you lose package and person alerts and recorded footage, which guts the proposition.

You're uneasy about Ring's track record

If Amazon-owned doorbells and their data and policing history give you pause, a Matter-friendly rival may sit easier.

You need the absolute best image

If you want Retinal 4K and 3D motion detection, the £219.99 (about $290 / AU$420) Battery Doorbell Pro is the one to stretch for.

Ring Battery Video Doorbell Plus (2nd Gen): also consider

If you're not sure whether the new Ring Battery Video Doorbell Plus is the right option for you, here are two other doorbells to think about.

Ring Battery Video Doorbell (2nd Gen)

At £79.99 (about $110 / AU$150), the Pro's cheaper sibling now also shoots Retinal 2K with a head-to-toe view; drop to it if you want the Ring experience for less and can live with a built-in, non-removable battery and simpler colour night vision.

Google Nest Doorbell (battery)

The obvious non-Ring alternative, with on-device intelligence and a little free event history, if you'd rather not commit to Ring's ecosystem.

How I tested the Ring Battery Video Doorbell Plus (2nd Gen)

• Tested at a domestic front door
• Assessed video, head-to-toe framing, zoom, night vision and audio
• Trialled the subscription experience

I used the doorbell outside to assess image quality, but mainly mounted the doorbell on an internal front door and used it as my main entry camera, paying particular attention to whether the head-to-toe view and the new 2K sensor delivered on the promise of capturing parcels and people together.

I checked live-view responsiveness, pushed the 6x zoom on faces and labels, held two-way conversations with visitors, and reviewed low-light and night clips after dark.

I've reported on Ring's privacy considerations because they're a material part of the buying decision, not a footnote.

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

First reviewed June 2026

Yale Linus Smart Lock L2 Lite: two-minute review

Smart locks in Britain have always been the awkward cousin of the smart home. American buyers get deadbolts and endless choice; we get multipoint mechanisms, lift-to-lock handles and a nagging sense that retrofitting anything to the front door will either void the insurance or fall off.

Yale's answer with the Linus L2 Lite is to keep things small, cheap and reversible — and, crucially, to build in Matter over Thread so the lock works with whatever smart home system you already rock.

The L2 Lite is a compact, round-knob unit that mounts on the inside of your door over the existing thumb-turn. Your key still works from the outside, which matters both for emergencies and for landlords.

The Yale Linus Smart Lock L2 Lite is easy to install. fitting over your existing lock cylinder (Image credit: Future)

Inside the Yale Home app, you get the modern smart-lock toolkit: digital keys and PIN codes you can share and revoke, an activity feed of who came and went, Auto-Unlock that opens the door as you approach with your phone in your pocket, and KeySense — a button on the knob for a quick press-to-lock or a long-press delayed lock as you leave.

Because it supports Matter over Thread alongside Bluetooth 5.4, the L2 Lite joins Apple Home, Google Home, Amazon Alexa or Samsung SmartThings locally and responds fast, no Yale-specific bridge required — provided you already own a device that acts as a Thread border router, such as a recent Apple HomePod or Amazon Echo.

The lock uses three CR123A batteries, which aren't a type you'll typically have to hand (Image credit: Future)

If you don't live in a Matter ecosystem and still want to lock the door from the pub, you'll need Yale's optional ConnectX Wi-Fi Bridge, sold separately. There's no Wi-Fi baked in, unlike the pricier Linus L2.

Living with it, the L2 Lite is reassuringly unremarkable in the best way. Installation took 15 minutes, it disappears against the door, and KeySense quickly becomes muscle memory.

It runs on three CR123A batteries — not the sort of cell you keep in a kitchen drawer. There's no USB-C top-up, and it lacks DoorSense, so it knows whether it's locked but not whether the door is actually shut.

There's no Apple Home Key tap-to-enter either, which makes sense for an interior-only design but will disappoint iPhone devotees.

Get past the spec-sheet gaps, and the bigger question is door compatibility, because this is where UK smart locks live or die, and the L2 Lite is fussier than its friendly styling suggests.

Yale Linus Smart Lock L2 Lite: price & availability

• List price £129.98 (about $170 / AU$250) compared to £220 (about $290 / AU$420) for the regular Linus L2
• Launched December 2025
• Available in black or silver

With a list price of £129.98 (about $170 / AU$250), the Yale Linus Smart Lock L2 Lite undercuts the standard Linus L2 by a meaningful margin while keeping most of the day-to-day features. That makes it one of the cheapest routes to a Matter-over-Thread smart lock in the UK, though at the time of writing it's not available worldwide.

Pleasingly, there are no subscription fees to concern yourself with, but there are some other cost caveats.

CR123A batteries are included, and Yale rates them for up to six months, but replacing them is more expensive and less convenient than AAs. Second, if you're not in a Matter household, the ConnectX Wi-Fi Bridge is effectively mandatory for remote control, setting you back another £70.

Reassuringly, pairing the lock with a Yale Platinum Three Star cylinder brings a £3,000 Total Trust Guarantee if it's ever breached. That compares to £5,000 offered by smart lock rival Ultion Nuki. Its base model, the Ultion Nuki Go, costs £239 with Wi-Fi built in.

• Value score: 4/5

Yale Linus Smart Lock L2 Lite: specs

Type

Retrofit interior smart lock (round knob)

Connectivity

Matter over Thread, Bluetooth 5.4

Remote access

Via Matter ecosystem, or optional Yale ConnectX Wi-Fi Bridge

Power

3x CR123A batteries (included), up to six months

Security

128-bit AES encryption

Features

KeySense, Auto-Unlock, digital keys, PIN sharing, activity feed; pairs with Yale Smart Keypad 2/Yale Dot

Dimensions (H x W x D)

2.4 x 2.4 x 2.8 inches / 6.1 x 6.1 x 7.2cm

Weight (without batteries)

9.2oz / 260g

Finishes

Black / silver

Yale Linus Smart Lock L2 Lite: design and installation

• Compact design
• Reversible install
• Door compatibility tricky

For something doing a serious security job, the L2 Lite is endearingly low-key. It's a small round knob in black or silver that sits on the inside of the door over your existing thumb-turn, and from the outside, there's no sign anything has changed.

The casing is plastic, which sounds cheap but feels solid enough in the hand. Installation lives up to the drill-free promise. In my case, I was carrying over an Ultion cylinder left in the door from a previous smart-lock install, and the supplied two-piece thumb-turn adapter eventually made the swap painless.

The thumb-turn adapter makes installation painless (Image credit: Future)

Fix the mounting plate around the cylinder, clip the adapter over the thumb-turn, attach the lock and calibrate it in the app. Because nothing is drilled and the cylinder isn't replaced, it comes off just as cleanly if you're renting or wary of committing.

The catch is what counts as a compatible door. The L2 Lite works only with lift-to-lock mechanisms; your cylinder needs to protrude at least 3mm on the inside, and it explicitly won't work with split spindles or auto-engage multipoint locks.

Bear in mind that Linus Smart Lock L2 Lite only works with lift-to-lock doors (Image credit: Future)

Plenty of UK front doors are lift-to-lock multipoint and will be fine; a meaningful number aren't. Use Yale's online compatibility checker before you buy, and note that if your current cylinder doesn't fit the bill, Yale's Linus Adjustable Cylinder is designed to solve exactly that.

• Design and installation score: 4/5

Yale Linus Smart Lock L2 Lite: performance

• Fast operation
• KeySense and Auto-Unlock useful
• Battery and DoorSense omissions niggle

Day to day, the L2 Lite locks and unlocks reliably, on command, without fuss. Paired into a Matter home, it responded quickly to app and voice commands, and Auto-Unlock greeted me at the door as advertised, sensing my approach over Bluetooth.

KeySense, the press-to-operate button on the knob, turns out to be the feature I used most: a quick press to lock behind me, a long press for a delayed lock as I gathered bags and left. One practical wrinkle on lift-to-lock doors: you still need to lift the handle as you leave, or KeySense has nothing to throw the bolts into.

FutureFuture

Matter over Thread is always appealing, and it works. Through Apple Home, the lock appeared as a native tile, automations fired, and there was no bridge-dependent lag.

Sharing access is painless — digital keys and PIN codes go out to family or a cleaner and can be revoked from the app, with an activity feed confirming who came and went.

Want a code or fingerprint on the door rather than a phone? It pairs with the additional Yale Smart Keypad 2 or the Yale Dot.

FutureFuture

The motor isn't silent, throwing a businesslike whir as it turns the cylinder, though it's no louder than rivals. The omissions are what stop a higher score. The lack of DoorSense means it reports whether it's locked, but has no idea whether the door is actually closed, which undermines the 'Is the house secure?' peace of mind.

The CR123A batteries are a recurring irritation rather than a dealbreaker, and the absence of Apple Home Key means no tap-to-enter with an iPhone or Apple Watch from outside. None of it spoils the core experience; it merely reaffirms this isn’t the flagship.

• Performance score: 4/5

Should you buy the Yale Linus Smart Lock L2 Lite?

Attribute

Notes

Score

Value

One of the cheapest Matter-over-Thread locks in the UK, with batteries and an optional bridge to factor in.

4/5

Design

Compact, discreet and genuinely drill-free, let down only by fussy door compatibility.

4/5

Performance

Fast, reliable Matter operation with handy KeySense, held back by no DoorSense or Home Key.

4/5

Buy it if

You rent or don't want to alter your door

The drill-free, reversible install keeps your existing key and cylinder and comes off without a trace.

You already run a Matter smart home

With a Thread border router on hand, it works hub-free across Apple Home, Google, Alexa and SmartThings.

You want smart access on a budget

It's among the most affordable ways into a credible Matter-over-Thread lock right now.

Don't buy it if

You want remote access without extra kit

No Matter ecosystem means buying the ConnectX Wi-Fi Bridge to lock up from afar.

You expect DoorSense or Apple Home Key

This lock knows its own state but not the door's, and there's no tap-to-enter.

Your door isn't lift-to-lock

Split spindles and auto-engage multipoint locks aren't supported — check compatibility before committing.

Yale Linus Smart Lock L2 Lite: also consider

If you're not sure whether the Yale Linus Smart Lock L2 is the right smart lock for your home, here are two others to bear in mind.

Yale Linus Smart Lock L2

The dearer flagship (around £220 list price, often discounted) adds built-in Wi-Fi, a rechargeable battery and quieter, faster operation — worth the premium if the L2 Lite's gaps bother you.

Aqara U200 Lite

A keen Matter-over-Thread rival with a rechargeable battery, aimed at similar European doors. The company makes lovely video doorbells, too.

How I tested the Yale Linus Smart Lock L2 Lite

• Installed on a domestic door
• Tested via Matter, Bluetooth and the Yale Home app
• Assessed installation, daily reliability, KeySense, and Auto-Unlock

I fitted the L2 Lite myself to gauge how true the drill-free claim is, swapping it onto an Ultion cylinder already in the door via the supplied two-piece thumb-turn adapter. I lived with it as a daily lock, locking and unlocking by app, voice and the KeySense button.

I paired it with Matter to test hub-free operation and response times, and used Auto-Unlock on repeated approaches. I shared and revoked digital access, checked the activity feed, and paid particular attention to the consequences of the missing DoorSense and the CR123A battery choice. Battery longevity can't be verified in weeks, so I've reported Yale's six-month figure alongside my shorter-term experience rather than guessing. For more details, see how we test, rate, and review products at TechRadar.

First reviewed June 2026

PowerA Protection Case for PS Portal review

The PowerA Protection Case for PlayStation Portal is designed to keep your beloved remote player protected from scratches, drops, bolts of lightning…you name it. OK, I was lying about that last one, but this case is a very durable option indeed, and during my two weeks testing it, it’s proved to be a highly reliable carry case — here’s why.

First of all, let’s talk about the case’s exterior. This is a hard case, so it’s not the most flexible or anything, but it’s very resistant to damage of all kinds. When dropping the case, scratching it, throwing it in a bag, it didn’t show any signs of wear whatsoever.

The case’s interior is also well optimized for damage-prevention in a number of key ways. First of all, the inside is molded to your remote player, enabling it to securely slot into place. There’s also a couple of hook-and-loop straps, which keep it fastened when you’re on the go. On top of that, you’ll find a padded screen-protector flap for preventing scratches. There are so many layers of protection here, enabling this model to compete with some of the very best PS5 accessories.

This screen-shielding flap does even more, though. That’s right, it also has a mesh flap on the top side, which is excellent for storing small accessories. I found it very useful for storing cables and wireless earbuds, for instance, making it easy to take plenty of gaming gear on the go. Sure, there’s no room for a headset or anything large, but this case is meant to fall on the more minimalist side.

(Image credit: Future)

While some may still find PowerA's case to be on the bulky side — I found the Venom Carry Case for PlayStation Portal to have a more modest footprint — this model is still very portable, and it easily fits in my work bag alongside my laptop, Nintendo Switch 2, and Sony WH-1000XM6.

Something else worth mentioning is the inclusion of a cable passthrough feature. There’s a tab on the underside of the case that you can insert a USB-C cable into and charge up your Portal, even when it’s boxed away. This is very convenient, and I used it to safely charge my system in my bag, with it connected up to a power bank.

Before we wrap up, let’s talk looks. This model is available in either Black or White, and I used the latter variant. This looks incredibly on-brand for the Portal — and indeed the PS5 — retaining that fairly futuristic aesthetic. My only complaint in terms of the look would be the fabric handle, which appears a little cheap in comparison to the rest of the case. But this can be forgiven for a case that only costs $34.99 / £19.99 / AU$49.95.

So, is the PowerA Protection Case for PlayStation Portal worth the money? Absolutely. It’s relatively rugged, it’s well-priced, and it even looks the part. The molded interior and screen-protecting flap keep your remote player safe and secure, and the cable passthrough feature is something you won’t get on every case out there. Therefore, it’s an easy recommendation from me.

(Image credit: Future)PowerA Protection Case for PS Portal review: price & specs

Price

$34.99 / £19.99 / AU$49.95

Dimensions

7.7 x 13 x 3in / 195 x 330 x 75mm

Weight

1lb / 440g

Compartments

2

Handle

Yes

Color

Black or White

(Image credit: Future)Should I buy the PowerA Protection Case for PS Portal?

Attributes

Notes

Score

Design

Neat look, molded interior, cable passthrough, protective flap, handle could be better though.

4.5/5

Storage

Plenty of room for small accessories, Portal itself, but nothing too large.

4/5

Value

A very reasonable price for a great case overall.

4.5/5

Buy it if…

You want to protect your Portal for less
Something that I absolutely loved about PowerA’s case was its low price. For just $34.99 / £19.99 / AU$49.95, you get a very reliable, durable case that’s sure to keep your Portal safe.

You’re looking for charging cable passthrough
If you want to charge your Portal on the go, then having cable passthrough is a pretty great feature. You can keep your remote player safe, juice it up, and keep on moving without any worries.

Don’t buy it if…

You want loads of room for accessories
Although this case has room for a cable and some earbuds, say, it’s still on the more compact side. So don’t expect to fit a headset or any larger accessories in here.

You’re searching for something with a premium look
Although the PowerA Protection Case is on-brand for the Portal, and looks pretty solid for its price, it’s not exactly the most luxurious. It has a relatively cheap handle, and there are more swanky, higher-priced options for those who want something ultra-classy.

PowerA Protection Case for PS Portal review: also consider

Spigen Rugged Armor Pro
We’re big fans of the Spigen Rugged Armor Pro here at TechRadar. It features a whole lot of storage space, it’s hard as nails, and it keeps your system incredibly secure. It’s a little pricey, with a $54.99 / £28.99 / AU$134.99 list price, but we think the quality on offer makes it worth the investment.

See our full thoughts on the Spigen Rugged Armor Pro.

How I tested the PowerA Protection Case for PS Portal

(Image credit: Future)

• Used the case for multiple weeks
• Directly compared against other models
• Tested by a seasoned gaming accessories reviewer

I spent weeks testing the PowerA Protection Case for PlayStation Portal, taking it with me just about everywhere I went throughout the process. While testing, I made sure to try stuffing various accessories in the case and also try out the cable passthrough feature.

To test the case’s durability, I tried dropping it from a controlled height, performed some scratch tests, and reviewed wear and tear after the testing period concluded. I also assessed it against rivals, including the Venom Carry Case for PlayStation Portal, on factors such as robustness and storage space.

More generally, I’ve been reviewing all kinds of gadgets at TechRadar for more than two years. I’ve tested a whole lot of gaming accessories, including cases like the Nintendo Switch 2 All-In-One Carrying Case and screen protectors, such as the Genki Aegis Shield.

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

Bluesound Pulse Cinema Mini: Two minute review

I came to this Bluesound Pulse Cinema Mini with admitted baggage. I’m not gonna sugarcoat it; I did not like Bluesound’s original Pulse Soundbar. It had an awkward design, it sounded cold and clinical, and it was very expensive when compared to alternative products.

The Bluesound Pulse Cinema Mini is company’s latest model, and is still on the pricey side, but where its predecessor disappointed, the Cinema Mini impresses. There's powerful, rich, and detailed sound, an elegant design that will complement most rooms, and a wealth of features you won’t find from brands like Sonos and Bose.

Like any Dolby Atmos soundbar that tries to do immersive, 3D sound with only two channels, the Pulse Cinema Mini can’t quite deliver on the promise of overhead height channel effects, but it makes up for it with a surprisingly wide soundstage that brings Atmos and 5.1 movies to life, and does wonders for stereo.

Though physically wider than most “mini” soundbars, that's clearly enabling its biggest strength: it gives the speaker room to house a set of woofers that deliver much bolder low-end bass than the compact category is known for.

This puts the Pulse Cinema Mini in a tricky spot for buyers. It’s priced higher than many full-sized soundbars, yet it can’t quite match the performance of those larger speakers. It’s highly versatile, yet it may be too big for truly small setups.

These contradictions mean the Bluesound Pulse Cinema Mini isn't a no-brainer-just-buy-it product, but there’s also no doubt in my mind that if you put a high value on the things it well, you’ll be thrilled with it in your home.

Bluesound Pulse Cinema Mini review: Price and release date

• Release date: August 27, 2025
• Price: $999 / £799

Bluesound sells the Pulse Cinema Mini in many international markets, including the US, UK, and Canada. However, it hasn’t yet released the soundbar in Australia.

At $999 / £799, the Pulse Cinema Mini is considerably more expensive than its closest direct competitors, like the Bose Smart Soundbar at $499 / £499.95, and Sonos Beam Gen 2 at $499 / £499.

However, it boasts better performance and has several features that set it apart. The Pulse Cinema Mini includes a wall-mount bracket; it’s larger and more powerful than the Bose and Sonos models, and it includes an analog input, wired subwoofer output, USB storage access, and two-way Bluetooth with aptX Adaptive, all of which are absent on the Smart Soundbar and Beam Gen 2.

(Image credit: Future)Bluesound Pulse Cinema Mini review: Specs

Dimensions (W x H x D)

(W x H x D): 33.34 x 2.91 x 5.51 inches

Speaker channels

2.0 (2.1 with planned update)

Connections:

1x HDMI out (with eARC), optical in, RCA stereo in, USB-A, Gigabit Ethernet, RCA subwoofer-out, Wi-Fi (802.11ac), Bluetooth 5.2 (two-way, with aptX Adaptive support)

Dolby Atmos/DTS:X

Yes/No

Sub included

No

Rear speakers included

No

Features

AirPlay 2, Tidal Connect, Spotify Connect, Qobuz Connect, Roon Ready, multiroom audio, expandable channel layout, hi-res audio

File formats

MP3, AAC, WMA, WMA-L, OGG, OPUS, FLAC, MQA, ALAC, WAV, AIFF, MPEG-4 SLS, DSD256

Bluesound Pulse Cinema Mini review: Features

(Image credit: Future)

• Analog, USB, subwoofer, and two-way Bluetooth connections
• Expandable and multiroom compatible
• Hi-res Audio and Dolby Atmos support

As is the case for a lot of small-footprint soundbars, the Bluesound Pulse Cinema Mini doesn’t has only one HDMI port, so you won’t be able to connect devices like streaming video players, Blu-ray players, or game consoles and pass through their video to your TV.

However, it also offers connections that are rarely found in this class of speaker, such as dedicated analog inputs (as well as optical digital), a wired subwoofer output, and a USB port that provides access to music stored on a hard drive.

Even its Bluetooth capability exceeds standard soundbar fare, with its support for Qualcomm’s high-quality aptX Adaptive codec and the ability to stream in two directions: from a phone or computer to the soundbar, or from the soundbar to a set of wireless headphones or a Bluetooth speaker.

Bluesound gets compared to Sonos a lot. Bluesound’s BluOS apps for phones and computers perform many of the same multi-room and music management functions as Sonos’ software.

Like Sonos, Bluesound makes a range of wireless audio devices from speakers to subwoofers to streamers that can all work seamlessly together in one household. The Cinema Mini can be bonded with various combinations of these speakers for a true surround sound experience, or it can simply play the same music at the same time for a synchronized house party.

Thanks to its compatibility with multiple hi-res audio formats and sample rates, many audiophiles feel that Bluesound is superior to Sonos.

Still, there are a few things Bluesound can’t do. You can stream Apple Music via AirPlay or Bluetooth, but neither of these gives you lossless quality, and the BluOS app doesn’t have native support for Apple Music, YouTube Music, or Spotify. Unlike Sonos, there's no easy in-app room correction here.

It also doesn't support support DTS, it doesn't support Google Cast, it’s not compatible with Google Home — but Sonos also lacks these.

Currently, despite its Dolby Atmos certification, native support of Amazon Music, and Tidal Connect compatibility, there’s no way to stream Dolby Atmos Music to the Pulse Cinema Mini without the help of an HDMI-connected third-party device, such as an Apple TV 4K. Since the Mini only has one HDMI eARC port, that device will need to use your TV as a go-between.

• Features score: 3.5 / 5

Bluesound Pulse Cinema Mini review: Sound quality

(Image credit: Future)

• Impressive low end and virtual surround
• No dialogue mode or Low Frequency Effects (LFE) channel
• Great for music, but no EQ, tone control, or Dolby Atmos Music

Before we get into sound quality, a quick note on the Bluesound Pulse Cinema Mini’s stated specifications. Bluesound says it’s a 2.1-channel system, but this isn’t entirely accurate.

According to the company, the soundbar will be capable of processing low-frequency effects (or LFE — the subwoofer part of a soundtrack) without any help from a standalone subwoofer; it’s just that, as of the time of reviewing, it doesn’t actually do so.

For now, if you want true, 2.1 sound from the Cinema Mini, you’ll need to connect a powered sub via the soundbar’s sub output, or buy the Bluesound Plus Sub+ wireless subwoofer.

Having said that, even with only two discrete channels, this is a very capable soundbar for both multichannel and stereo sound. Thanks to a pair of dedicated woofers and passive bass radiators, it pumps out surprisingly deep and resonant bass, which leads me to believe that it will have no problem with LFE channel content when and if Bluesound adds it.

For music, the Cinema Mini’s bass is powerful enough to get by without a subwoofer in smaller rooms.

My experience with two-channel soundbars, even those that can process Dolby Atmos, has been less than stellar. So I have to give Bluesound a lot of credit for the Cinema Mini’s acoustic design and digital signal processing (DSP). With an angled tweeter and midrange driver located at each end of the bar, it projects sound both outward and to the sides, creating a soundstage with remarkable width and detail.

It reminds me a lot of Sennheiser’s Ambeo Soundbar Mini, which also uses just six powered drivers to achieve its virtualized surround sound. Unlike the Ambeo Soundbar Mini, which suffers from a lack of low-end, the Pulse Cinema Mini has a full-range sound that won’t disappoint.

Still, when it comes to Dolby Atmos, you’ll need to temper your expectations. The Cinema Mini’s DSP has to do a lot of heavy lifting to get its two discrete channels to virtualize surround and height content. It does a decent job with the surrounds, but height effects aren’t especially distinct.

During the Aston Martin chase scene from No Time To Die, there’s a moment when the camera passes beneath a set of church bells. Well-executed height systems let you hear the bells move overhead, but the Cinema Mini’s processing just makes the sound bigger, not taller or dynamic.

I find this to be true of nearly all Atmos systems that lack up-firing drivers. The Sonos Beam Gen 2, for instance, doesn’t perform any better in the height department. But the Beam Gen 2 is half the price of the Pulse Cinema Mini. Sonos’ Arc Ultra, by contrast, is basically the same price as the Cinema Mini, and will win any Dolby Atmos competition, hands down.

The same is true when it comes to the Cinema Mini’s lack of an LFE channel. In that same No Time To Die scene, James Bond’s ride is riddled with machine gun fire. When you’re inside the car with Bond, the Sonos Arc Ultra renders each bullet impact viscerally — its built-in subwoofer lets you feel the concussion. It’s still an enjoyable scene via the Cinema Mini (it captures the bullet ricochets nicely), but you’ll definitely need to add a sub if you want deeper cinematic immersion.

For its wide soundstage, the Cinema Mini pays a small price in terms of dialogue clarity. I don’t want to overstate this — I had no problem making out speech — but with no central tweeter or midrange, voices don’t have the same laser-like focus that you’ll get from the Ambeo Soundbar Mini, or even the Bose Smart Soundbar.

As good as TV sound is on the Pulse Cinema Mini, the real reason for dropping a thousand dollars on this speaker is its music performance. I seldom heap praise on soundbars for music listening, but the Cinema Mini is truly superb for its class.

(Image credit: Future)

Stereo rendering is where Bluesound’s decision to use a two-channel architecture pays big dividends. Whether you listen with or without the optional Surround Upmixer and Virtualizer modes turned on (inside the BluOS app), the Cinema Mini produces a beautifully balanced, smooth, and detailed sound.

Sitting front and center lets you hear strong stereo imaging and a perfectly placed phantom center channel. But do yourself a favor and turn on the Surround Upmixer and Virtualizer. The purists among you may scoff, but I love the extended width these DSP filters create. The Cinema Mini grows to twice its length — maybe more — and panned stereo sounds seem to float ethereally in the upper front corners of my room.

The bass response, which I’ve come to think of as the Mini’s secret weapon, is well-managed from low to high volumes, musically anchoring tracks with its resonance and weight. Distortion is almost non-existent, and the Cinema Mini effortlessly plays at very loud levels.

If there’s one hitch in an otherwise excellent sound system, it’s that Bluesound is a bit too confident you’ll like its tuning. There are no bass/treble tone controls and no traditional equalizer, or EQ presets — with the exception of three optional listening “modes”: Movie, Music, and Late Night.

I’m familiar with this approach — the Cinema Mini isn’t the first Bluesound speaker I’ve reviewed — but it continues to surprise me, especially given that the company is highly regarded by audiophiles, who tend to have strong feelings about how things should sound.

Would I change much if I actually had access to these settings? Apart from de-emphasizing the highs just a tad, no, I wouldn’t make any other modifications. I really love the way the Cinema Mini sounds.

• Sound quality score: 4.5 / 5

Bluesound Pulse Cinema Mini review: Design

(Image credit: Future)

• Elegant, fabric-wrapped, rounded shape
• Larger than many small-room soundbars
• Wall-mountable with auto-orientation detection

All-plastic construction is the norm for compact soundbars. This doesn’t necessarily mean they look bad — I’d argue the Sonos Beam Gen 2 is quite handsome — but the Bluesound Pulse Cinema Mini’s fabric-wrapped and gently curved shape looks a little more upscale, and a little less speaker-ish.

At 33.3 inches wide, the Cinema Mini is bigger than most compact soundbars. By contrast, the Beam Gen 2 is 25.6 inches, and the Bose Smart Soundbar is 27.3. The Cinema Mini is also slightly taller and deeper. Still, despite this larger footprint, it won’t look out of place under any TV from 32- to 55-inches, and as I noted in the Sound Quality section, this extra size pays dividends.

Under that soft grille lies the Pulse Cinema Mini’s unusual driver arrangement: the midrange drivers and tweeters are placed at the ends, each slightly angled up and out — no front-firing units and no centrally mounted high-frequency driver for dialogue. Meanwhile, the central body is occupied by the two woofers and their matching passive radiators.

(Image credit: Future)

This design (plus built-in, automatically triggered EQ changes) lets the Pulse Cinema Mini sound more or less the same whether you place it on a tabletop or mount it to a wall. Unlike the Beam Gen 2 and Smart Soundbar, whose optional wall mount brackets amount to small shelves, the Pulse Cinema Mini’s included hardware lets it cling to the wall without sticking out into the room.

Like Sonos’ speakers, Bluesound doesn’t ship its products with remote controls, but the Pulse Cinema Mini has a built-in IR receiver and can be operated with any IR remote you already own by teaching the soundbar (via the BluOS app) what to do when you press certain remote buttons. Sonos can do this, too, but only when using its soundbars for TV audio.

On the top surface, you’ll find a glass panel that houses the soundbar’s touch controls. Only the central play/pause icon remains lit — the presets and volume icons light up when you approach. There’s no independent volume level indicator, something I wish more companies would offer; however, your TV will likely display an on-screen indicator when the Pulse Cinema Mini is playing TV audio via HDMI.

• Design score: 4 / 5

Bluesound Pulse Cinema Mini review: Setup and usability

(Image credit: Future)

• Easy set up with excellent app support
• App has a learning curve

Like most soundbars, getting the Bluesound Pulse Cinema Mini set up at a basic level is super easy: Plug it into your TV using the included HDMI cable, and then plug it into the wall with one of the included power cables (Bluesound puts both North American and E.U. versions in the box). You’ll immediately get great TV sound.

However, TV sound is only half of the experience with the Pulse Cinema Mini. To enjoy its awesome music capabilities, you need the BluOS app for iOS or Android. The app gets the soundbar connected to your Wi-Fi network and enables Apple AirPlay, plus it downloads and installs any available software updates, and gives you all of the deeper controls needed to customize the Pulse Cinema Mini to your liking.

The BluOS app also enables you to access multiple streaming services from a single interface and control playback across all BluOS compatible devices (which includes models from NAD, Dali, PSB Speakers, and Monitor Audio).

The BluOS app is fast and responsive, though, as with any platform that has as many features and options as BluOS, there’s a learning curve. Some things are straightforward, such as browsing music from available services, while others take some getting used to.

For instance, some of the Pulse Cinema Mini’s settings are available from the Now Playing screen or the Players tab, but others are only accessible via the Settings icon on the Home tab, and only if the soundbar is first selected in the Players tab.

There are loads of handy features like alarms, sleep timers, and smart playlists; however, BluOS hasn’t mastered one trick that makes Sonos, Wiim, and Denon/HEOS so appealing for those with multiple sources of music: universal search and favorites management.

If you decide to expand the Pulse Cinema Mini with Bluesound’s Pulse Sub+ and/or Pulse M/Pulse Flex speakers, these can easily be added and configured in the BluOS app.

Bluesound doesn’t integrate either Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant into its products, but if you’ve already got an Alexa smart speaker, there’s a Bluesound skill that will let Alexa control your Pulse Cinema Mini (and any other Bluesound products you add later).

• Setup & usability score: 3.5 / 5

Bluesound Pulse Cinema Mini review: Value

(Image credit: Future)

• Expensive, but better sound than the competition
• The best small soundbar for music
• Value grows if you’re planning to expand

Look, there’s no way to justify the Bluesound Pulse Cinema Mini’s price based purely on its performance as a Dolby Atmos soundbar. It’s got great sound, but it can’t hold a candle to bigger, more powerful models such as the Sonos Arc Ultra, Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar, or Sony Bravia Theater Bar 8, which are the same price (give or take $100).

However, there are several other attributes that set the Cinema Mini apart, and these may tip the value balance if you want them. Want to hook up a turntable? Do you have an existing wired subwoofer you’d like to use? Is your room just too small for a full-size soundbar, but you don’t want to compromise on audio quality — especially when it comes to music listening? Do you like the idea of connecting a set of Bluetooth headphones? And are you looking for ultimate flexibility when it comes to expanding both your home theater as well as your whole-home audio?

If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, the Bluesound Pulse Cinema Mini starts to look like it’s worth its nearly $1,000 asking price.

Just keep in mind that Bluesound’s other components often carry similarly high prices. Unless you get a bundle discount, adding the Pulse Sub+ will cost $899, and a pair of Pulse M surrounds adds another $998. You’re now up to $2,896, and your resulting 4.1-channel Dolby Atmos home theater system still lacks a center and height channels. Meanwhile, the same investment can get you a Sonos Arc Ultra + Sub 4 + 2x Era 300, with 9.1.4-channel sound.

• Value score: 3 / 5

Should I buy the Bluesound Pulse Cinema Mini?

(Image credit: Future)

Section

Notes

Score

Features

Some great rare features, including analog, subwoofer, and 2-way Bluetooth connections. But it's also lacking some core soundbar features you get in the competition.

3.5 / 5

Sound quality

Impressive low end and virtual surround given its size. Best in class when it comes to music, as well.

4.5 / 5

Design

It has an elegant, fabric-wrapped, rounded shape. Larger than some smaller room soundbars. You can mount it with auto-orientation detection.

4 / 5

Setup & usability

Easy setup here and the app support is great, although using the app does come with a learning curve.

3.5 / 5

Value

There's no getting around the fact it's expensive but it is excellent for music and the value grows if you're planning to expand.

3 / 5

Buy it if...

Music is as important as movies
The Pulse Cinema Mini does a good job with TV audio, but its music performance is truly superb for a soundbar.

You like versatility
With an analog, optical, and USB input, plus a subwoofer output, there are lots you can connect to the Pulse Cinema Mini.

You’re planning to expand
As part of the BluOS ecosystem, you can grow the Cinema Mini as a home theater system and as part of a larger multi-room audio setup.

Don't buy it if...

You’re just looking for better TV audio
There are plenty of other soundbars that can up your TV audio game (with Dolby Atmos too) for a lot less money.

You’re shopping for a very small bedroom
While it’s small enough for small rooms, the Cinema Mini has impressively big sound, which might be overkill for small spaces.

You want the biggest cinematic bang for the buck
The Cinema Mini is impressive for its size, but if you’re after top-notch home theater, you can spend the same amount and get way more performance from bigger, more powerful models.View Deal

Samsung HW-Q990H review: Also consider

Bluesound Pulse Cinema Mini

Sonos Beam Gen 2

Bose Smart Soundbar

Sonos Arc Ultra

Price (May 2026)

$999 / £799

$499 / £499 / $699

$499 / £499 / AU$799

$999 / £799 / AU$1,799

Dimensions

33.34 x 2.91 x 5.51 inches (W x H x D)

25.6 x 2.3 x 3.9 inches (W x H x D)

27.34 x 2.21 x 4.01 inches (W x H x D)

2.95 x 46.38 x 4.35 inches (75 x 1178 x 110.6mm)

Speaker channels

2.0 (2.1 with planned update) with virtual Atmos

3.0 with virtual Atmos

3.0.2 with virtual Atmos

9.1.4 (including virtual Atmos)

Connections

1x HDMI out (with eARC), optical in, RCA stereo in, USB-A, Gigabit Ethernet, RCA subwoofer-out, Wi-Fi (802.11ac), Bluetooth 5.2 (two-way, with aptX Adaptive support)

HDMI (with eARC), Ethernet. 802.11b/g/n/ac, 2.4 and 5 GHz Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2

HDMI, Optical, Bluetooth, USB, sub out, IR

1x HDMI with eARC, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth

Dolby Atmos/DTS:X

Yes/No

Yes/No

Yes/No

Yes/No

Sub included

No

No

No

No

Rear speakers included

No

No

No

No

Sonos Beam Gen 2
If you’re shopping for a soundbar specifically for smaller rooms, you can save a lot of money by going with the Sonos Beam Gen 2. You can expand it with subwoofers and surrounds, and it makes a great wireless music speaker.
Read our full Sonos Beam Gen 2 review

Bose Smart Soundbar
Like the Sonos Beam Gen 2, the Bose Smart Soundbar is a good cheaper choice. Like the Beam Gen 2, it's expandable. It's not as powerful as the Pulse Cinema Mini, especially for low-end bass, but it's got more than enough oomph for bedrooms and other smaller spaces.
Read our full Bose Smart Soundbar reviewView Deal

Sonos Arc Ultra
The Sonos Arc Ultra is the same price as the Cinema Mini, basically. For that small extra investment, you’re getting one of the most impressive standlone Dolby Atmos soundbars on the market, and it will easily outperform the Cinema Mini for pure cinematic immersion.
Read our full Sonos Arc Ultra review

How I tested the Bluesound Pulse Cinema Mini

• Used Bluesound Pulse Cinema Mini as main audio system for one week
• Tested in basement media room
• Sources include Apple TV 4K, Nvidia Shield, and streamed music from various apps

I spent a full week with the Bluesound Pulse Cinema Mini as my main audio system for watching movies, shows, and music in my basement media room.

During that time, I played a variety of Dolby Atmos test clips from movies like No Time To Die, Ford v Ferrari, Mad Max: Fury Road, Dune, and Unbroken, paying special attention to details like dialogue clarity, surround sound, and height channel impact.

I streamed most content from an Apple TV 4K connected via an LG OLED TV, which fed the MK2 from its HDMI eARC output, but I also connected an Nvidia Shield TV to an eARC extractor so I could hear the Cinema Mini’s treatment of Dolby Atmos in Dolby TrueHD.

For music, I used a variety of apps, including Tidal, Qobuz, and Amazon Music, listening to a wide range of genres. Some were played from apps on the Apple TV 4K and Nvidia Shield, while others were streamed wirelessly using AirPlay, Bluetooth, Tidal Connect, and Qobuz Connect. I tested several of these within the BluOS app as well.

• First reviewed: May 2026
• Read more about how we test

Corsair Makr Pro 75 one-minute review

It's difficult to ignore just how big of an impact the custom keyboard community has had on mainstreaming gaming options in the last decade or so.

Jump back in time three, four, or even five years, and the very idea of the Makr Pro 75 would've been inconceivable, certainly in Corsair's product arsenal. Eight layers of sound-dampening, gasket plates, magnetic hot-swappable hall effect switches, the spec sheet is rich and detailed, and would make 21-year-old me, with his first-ever mechanical Cherry MX Red, weep if he saw it 14 years ago.

Just take a look at the switches, they're linear magnetic hall effect, MGX Hyperdrive models (a mouthful, I know). Aside from being hot-swappable, they're pre-lubed, dual-rail designs with a shine-through PBT keycap that actuate at a fully custom-calibrated actuation point of your choosing. If you want to bottom the thing all the way out, you can; if you want it to actuate the instant your finger barely touches the top, it'll do that too.

The build is just on another level, and it shows. What's less enticing, however, is the price. At £220 UK or $250 US at time of writing, it's a serious chunk of cash to lay out, and although the quality is there, there's a good argument to be had as to just whether that's worth it compared to competitor solutions at nearly half the cost.

If you're after a small form factor, 75% keyboard that's more than capable of handling gaming and typing, one of the best gaming keyboards money can buy, while delivering a class that straddles the line between a custom build and an off-the-shelf model, without the faff of getting out the soldering iron, the Makr Pro 75 is well worth considering.

Corsair Makr Pro 75 review: Price & release date

• Almost DIY price, but, y'know, it's built
• Available in the UK, US, and Australia
• Hard to find a prebuilt solution quite like this

Now here's the kicker: Corsair's Makr series is a bit of a three-headed hydra in terms of product stack. It's all built around that custom aftermarket DIY keyboard ethos. You've got the standard Makr 75, where you can customise exactly what parts you want, and Corsair will ship you the bundle to construct yourself. You can have that same bespoke model, but pre-assembled, or grab this more "off-the-shelf"-esque Makr Pro instead.

The latter has colourways, switch-types, backplates, and LCD/Wireless modules, and keycaps, to add at your leisure along the way. The Makr Pro, however, is a single model and a single model only. There's no alternative colours, no keycap variations (bar regional layouts), and well, that's it. That does come with some wins, though, firstly it's the only board that supports hot-swappable magnetic switches (and comes with those MGX options by default), and secondly, it's quite a bit cheaper.

The equivalent Makr line built to spec using minimal components will set you back $265 on Corsair's website, versus the Pro's $250.

Corsair Makr Pro 75 review: Specs

Price

$249.99 / £219.99 / AU$523

Layout

75% (UK ISO as tested)

Switch

Corsair MGX Hyperdrive hall-effect (magnetic)

Switch specs

Adjustable 0.1–4.0actuation; Rapid Trigger; hot-swappable

Keycaps

double-shot PBT, shine-through

Dimensions

330 × 142 × 47mm (13 × 5.59 × 1.85")

Connectivity

Wired USB-C; optional 2.4GHz / Bluetooth module (sold separately)

Polling rate

Up to 8,000Hz wired

Rollover / anti-ghosting

Full-key rollover (NKRO)

Weight

1.282kg (2.83lb)

Corsair Makr Pro 75 review: Design

• Outstanding build quality and exceptional sound deadening
• No full-size variant
• Rotary dial looks awesome, and a welcome addition

This is, without a doubt, the heaviest board I've ever had in for review. It weighs a staggering 1.282 KG (or 2.83 lbs), and honestly, it feels like you could club someone to death with it, it's that ridiculous. It's got a fully built custom aluminum housing, and inside of that live eight layers of sound dampening.

Let me take a breath because the list is long. You've got… silicon rubber padding, pad foam PET backing, PU pad foam, socket foam, PET film, IXPE switch foam, transparent PET backing, and PU plate foam, all situated around that hall effect compatible PCB, which is further secured in place, with both a gasket mount solution for the switches, and stabilisation with an FR4 switch plate for even more rigidity. Like, seriously, guys… It's just not good enough. I expect 14 layers on the next one (that's a joke).

(Image credit: Future)

I mention that hall effect PCB because it's an important detail here. Although you can swap out the keys, it's only compatible with magnetic switches that can take advantage of the hall effect sensors.

If you've got a slew of old Gateron switches that you just love, you're going to have to grab the Makr 75 instead of this slightly cheaper model (frustrating I know). Albeit that is a niche in a niche.

(Image credit: Future)

There's some other customisation options you can add in here, too, if you're looking to bump the price higher. You can get a wireless module to ditch the cables (effectively strapping a 50-hour battery life to the thing with no RGB enabled, although it is worth noting that's a fraction of the time you get compared to the standard mechanical switch variant at 172 hours). And, you can chuck out the lovely rotary dial for a teeny tiny LCD display, for some reason.

One thing I will say. After spending some time with the latest Corsair Galleon 100 SD, the build here is just outstanding by comparison (which is bizarre given it comes from the same company, and the Galleon costs significantly more).

(Image credit: Future)

The only downside? No, full-size variant. And I know I know, the ergonomics are better, and proper gamers only use 75% boards. But I'm an old man now, I game just as much as I mash in my credit card details to buy yet another air fryer.

Corsair Makr Pro 75 review: Performance

• Key switches are gorgeous, Hall effect are stunning for typists and gamers alike
• The argument about dampening feels subjective
• iCUE vs Web Hub is a confusing mess

Can we talk about iCUE quickly, because it seriously frustrates me? Now, this is less of an issue with the Makr Pro directly as it's compatible with both iCUE and Corsair's new Web Hub, thing, but, right now, we're in this weird world where we have not one, but three different programs to manage your Corsair umbrella hardware, with a transition over to Web Hub for the newer products.

What's Web Hub? Glad you asked. Effectively, a lightweight replacement for iCUE, built out of a webpage connecting directly to your Corsair hardware, and fully installable as a PWA app on your desktop.

What's the problem then? Not everything supports it, that Galleon 100 SD I mentioned earlier fails to show on iCUE entirely and is only picked up on Web Hub (and the Elgato Stream Deck app…). That's particularly annoying because if you're running Firefox, Web Hub simply won't work.

As I say, thankfully, the Makr Pro 75 is compatible with both, but if this is a sign of things to come, well, I'm a lot less enthusiastic about it. Particularly as we've only had a promise that legacy component support is coming later down the line, but as and when that happens? Who knows.

(Image credit: Future)

Software drama aside, overall typing is just a joy. My heavy-handed (read: hench) fingers absolutely love these keycaps and the surprisingly tactile feedback that each gives on full depression is just stunning. It's smooth, clean, and rapid. Actuation is beautifully clean, and the fact that you can adjust them to your absolute preference (again, so my heavy sausage fingers don't accidentally actuate while resting) is a real treat.

An added bonus on that front is FlashTap SOCD Handling, which effectively allows you to decide how your strafe keys behave on accidental keypress. Pressing D, but your finger slips on A, you can have it still move left with A, continue pressing D, or cancel both key presses simultaneously to stop you moving. It's a neat addition, particularly given how sensitive you can make the actuation point.

There has been some criticism around the industry that the sound dampening might be too aggressive, but honestly, I just don't see it. It may well be that your mileage varies depending on how you type. If you're a heavy keypress lubber like I am, you'll be more than at home on this thing.

(Image credit: Future)

There's one minor caveat I have on this thing, though, and that's the cost. It ain't cheap, chief. Asus's ROG Strix Scope II RX, for example, currently slides in at nearly half the price of this thing on Amazon, and you get similar performance from it. Pre-lubed optical red linear switches, sound dampening, a (singular) comprehensive software suite, and dare I say a numpad? Is it at the same level as the Makr Pro? No… But it's damn close.

Should I buy the Corsair Makr Pro 75?

Corsair Makr Pro 75 Scorecard

Attribute

Notes

Score

Value

It's not the cheapest keyboard in the shed that's for sure, but Corsair's Makr Pro 75 is markedly more affordable than its fully custom Makr counterpart, and packs in a ton of spec for the price.

3.5/5

Design

An otherworldly construction, and eight layers of sound-dampening make this the heaviest and possibly nicest keyboard money can buy.

4.5/5

Performance

MGX switches are fast, responsive, and backed up with some seriously slick Flashtap SOCD tech, as well as eliminating unwanted input. iCUE/Web Hub is frustrating, though.

4.5/5

Buy it if…

You want the custom board without the custom
Prebuilt sound-deadened, hot swappable switches baked inside a CNC aluminum chassis. She's a beauty and well worth it if you like the frills but don't have the time to commit to your own custom keeb.View Deal

You're a gamer and a professional
The MGX switch is outstanding for typists and gamers alike. Fast, agile, and oh so satisfying to click down on. Plus, you get that rapid trigger and 8,000 Hz polling.View Deal

You want god-tier build quality
It's dense, seriously dense. And that's all thanks to a wild amount of sound dampening and some serious internals giving it plenty of heft, and a surprisingly nice feel under click.View Deal

Don’t buy it if…

You're after "affordable" or "good value"
This ain't it. The Makr Pro 75 is a beauty sure, but the price tag is steep. There are boards that deliver similar quality at a far lower price point.View Deal

You're after a numpad at this quality
Live and die by your calculations? Spamming your card details and phone number every five minutes? That lack of numpad is going to ruin your day.View Deal

Also consider

Corsair Vanguard Air 99 Wireless

Fancy staying in the Corsair camp but want wireless and a near full layout? The Air 99 is a fine answer to that, with built in 8,000 Hz wireless, streaming keys, plus a rotary dial and LCD screen, it's a good choice. The only caveat? Low profile opto-mechanical switches rather than the beauty of Hall MGX.

Read our full Corsair Vanguard Air 99 Wireless reviewView Deal

Asus ROG Strix Scope II RX

If the missing numpad and the price just aren't your cup of tea, Asus' Strix Scope II RX might be your missing biscuit. It's a full-size board with outstanding pre-lubed RX Red linear optical switches, proper sound dampening, and PBT keycaps for around half the cost of the Makr and Makr Pro.

Read our full Asus ROG Strix Scope II RX reviewView Deal

How I tested the Corsair Makr Pro 75

• Two weeks as my daily driver
• Tested across all types of content (gaming, novel-writing, day-to-day work)
• Used across multiple PCs
• Over a decade of testing PC hardware and 14 years of being keyboard-obsessed

Me and the Makr Pro 75 spent a lovely two weeks together straight. I swapped it out as my daily driver, and used it across both my own digital agency and freelance journalism as well, and leaned on it heavily for everything from hammering out chapters in a novel I'm writing, to long sessions in Total War: Warhammer 3, World of Warcraft as a healer, and dabbling in Cyberpunk 2077 too.

I wanted to ensure it was used across a mix of different applications and games, and thoroughly tested across all genres as well. The keyboard market is no longer targeted solely at young adults and kids, but also to those of us with full-time jobs as well, so ensuring it was capable of a bit of everything was tantamount to this review. I wanted to make certain that it was capable of handling a 2,000-word after-market PC build feature, as it was in a quick three-hour raid sesh.

Alongside the hands-on time, I also dug into the wider keyboard market as well, researching competing boards at and around the Makr Pro 75's price to place its build, switches, and value in proper context. I've spent over a decade testing PC hardware and peripherals, so I've got plenty of experience to draw on, both for how a board this expensive should feel and whether the asking price genuinely adds up.

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