TechRadar Reviews

Acer Predator Helios 18 AI: Two-minute review

The Acer Predator Helios 18 AI is a top-tier gaming laptop with a phenomenal spec that’s sure to whet the appetites of even casual gamers. Despite what lurks inside, its exterior is remarkably restrained. At 18 inches, it's obviously very large, but the black finish and lack of branding keep its profile reasonably low. However, that large rear protrusion and ostentatious RGB lighting give away its intentions.

I think Acer has done well to keep the Predator Helios 18 AI as slender as possible. Of course, this is all relative given the size of laptop we’re dealing with here, but it’s impressively thin for the most part, although it thickens at the rear.

Build quality is also excellent, equaling the best gaming laptops in this regard. Premium materials are employed everywhere, and the hinge for the lid is smooth and easy to operate, while offering plenty of stability once set.

The keyboard is tactile and snappy, and the generous spacing of the keys makes it easy to type and game on the Predator Helios 18 AI. The number pad somewhat compromises the layout, though, with the space bar paying the highest price; it’s a little too short for my liking.

On the other hand, the large trackpad does a fine job of not interfering while using the keyboard, with accidental contact failing to register in my experience. It’s also very smooth and accurate, should you wish to use it over one of the best gaming mice.

Considering its mighty spec, the Predator Helios 18 AI performs as well as you might expect. Cyberpunk 2077 and Doom: The Dark Ages ran with aplomb, each delivering fps figures in the hundreds with maximum graphics settings, including those for ray tracing.

(Image credit: Future)

You will have to endure constant fan noise when gaming, but thankfully this isn’t egregious when the default Balanced mode is selected in the Predator Sense app. The Predator Helios 18 AI also generates a fair amount of heat, which can spread to the sides and the keyboard after a while. Again, though, this isn’t bad enough to cause an issue.

The biggest price you’ll have to pay for all this performance is… well, the price. Starting at $3,000, the Predator Helios 18 AI is incredibly expensive. I struggle to think who’ll need such a large and powerful laptop, and be willing to pay this much for one.

Of course, the entire gaming laptop market is a premium one, but there are better value alternatives out there if you don’t need an 18-inch display and triple-digit frame rates, such as the excellent Razer Blade 16 (2025) or the MSI Katana 15 (2023), the latter of which we think is currently the best budget gaming laptop around.

Acer Predator Helios 18 AI review: Price & Availability

• Starts from $2,999.99 / £3,499.99 / AU$7,299
• Hugely expensive
• Better value alternatives

The Predator Helios 18 AI starts from $2,999.99 / £3,499.99 / AU$7,299 and is available now. It comes with spare WASD and arrow keys, as well as a thermal pad upgrade kit for the RAM.

You don’t need me to tell you what an eye-watering sum this is. It’s understandable considering the spec, and my review unit was even more outlandish, equipped with a 3840 x 2400 display and 192GB of RAM(!).

Prices are similar to the Razer Blade, which performs similarly too. If you want something that’s even better value, the MSI Katana 15 (2023) is, in our view, one of the best budget gaming laptops around, if you’re happy to game at 1080p.

• Value: 2.5 / 5

Acer Predator Helios 18 AI review: SpecsAcer Predator Helios 18 AI Specs

Acer Predator Helios 18 AI Base Config

Acer Predator Helios 18 AI Review Config

Price

$2,999.99 / £3,499.99 / AU$7299

TBC

CPU

Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX (24 Cores), 2.70 GHz

Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX (24 Cores), 2.70 GHz

GPU

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 (16GB)

Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 (24GB)

RAM

64GB DDR5

192GB DDR5

Storage

2TB PCIe NVMe SED SSD

2TB PCIe NVMe SED SSD

Display

18-inch WQXGA (2560 x 1600), 16:10 ComfyView (Matte), 250Hz, IPS

18-inch WQUXGA (3840 x 2400), 16:10 ComfyView (Matte), 250Hz, IPS

Ports and Connectivity

3 x USB-A, 2 x USB-C, 1 x RJ-45, 1 x SD card, 1 x HDMI, 1 x 3.5mm audio in/out; Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4

3 x USB-A, 2 x USB-C, 1 x RJ-45, 1 x SD card, 1 x HDMI, 1 x 3.5mm audio in/out; Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4

Battery

99Wh

99Wh

Dimensions

401 x 308 x 29.6mm

401 x 308 x 29.6mm

Weight

3.5kg / 7.7lbs

3.5kg / 7.7lbs

Acer Predator Helios 18 AI review: Design

(Image credit: Future)

• Large but surprisingly thin
• Relatively understated
• Excellent build quality

Given its large display size, the Predator Helios 18 AI is a reasonably understated gaming laptop. The rear bulge that extends beyond the lid hinge gives it some distinction, and the RGB lighting can light up the whole unit like a Christmas tree if you want it to (the bar that runs along the front edge and wraps around the side is especially striking). But switch this off and you’ll struggle to tell it apart from the best business laptops.

It’s quite bulky, although I think the Predator Helios 18 AI does an admirable job of keeping its dimensions contained considering the beastly components that lay within. The front end is reasonably thin, but thickens as it moves towards the back. This increased size does allow for larger vent openings, though, so it’s a worthy sacrifice to improve cooling performance.

The overall build quality is hard to fault. All the materials that are used look and feel premium and durable. The lid is also impressively smooth to operate yet remains sufficiently stable when set in position.

Underneath you’ll find three feet that run across the width of the Predator Helios 18 AI, and they provide plenty of grip on desktop surfaces. They also raise the chassis from the surface by a significant degree, again allowing for improved ventilation.

There are plenty of ports on the Predator Helios 18 AI. On the left, you’ll find an ethernet and a USB-A port, as well as an SD card slot and a 3.5mm audio in/ out jack. On the right are two more USB-A ports, which is a sensible location considering this is where you’ll likely be connecting external peripherals.

On the rear are two USB-C ports, an HDMI port, and a large power cable port. As you would imagine, the power supply is large, but unfortunately the cable running from the brick to the jack end is quite short. Owing to my setup, this meant I had to keep the brick on my desk rather than placing it on the floor, which was quite the inconvenience.

• Design: 4 / 5

Acer Predator Helios 18 AI review: Performance

(Image credit: Future)

• Fantastic AAA performance
• Vibrant and sharp display
• Some fan noise and heat

Gaming with the Predator Helios 18 AI didn’t get off to a particularly auspicious start. When I ran Cyberpunk 2077 for the first time, the game’s benchmark function recorded a disappointing 42fps, with the maximum 3840 x 2400 resolution and Ray Tracing: Ultra preset selected.

Some tinkering with the graphics settings resulted in modest improvements to performance, but it wasn’t until after restarting the game a couple of times that things suddenly improved: I started getting about 100fps, even in busy in-game environments, without lowering the resolution or any other graphical settings.

Similar figures were achieved when I played Doom: The Dark Ages, although I did have to change the DLSS mode from Auto to Ultra Performance to get there. Thankfully, this made no discernible difference to the image quality.

And on that front, both games looked fantastic on the WQUXGA display. Colors were accurate and vibrant, if very slightly washed-out. This is a common issue on many IPS displays, but here the effect did little to detract from the awesomeness of the visuals.

The ultra-high 3840 x 2400 resolution in my review unit offered incredible levels of sharpness, while the high response times resulted in super-smooth gameplay. It’s also capable of very high brightness levels, which helps to keep pesky reflections at bay.

(Image credit: Future)Acer Predator Helios 18 AI Benchmarks

Here's how the Acer Predator Helios 18 AI performed in our series of benchmark tests:

Geekbench 6.2:
Single - 2,803
Multi - 16,720
Cinebench R24:
Single - 125 13.89x
Multi - 1,728
3DMark:
Fire Strike - 36,158
Time Spy - 17,341
Port Royal - 12,994
Night Raid - 60,951
PCMark10:
8,885
Cyberpunk 2077:
1080p Low - 469fps
1080p Ultra - 361fps
1080p Ray Tracing: Overdrive - 128fps
Battery test:
Movie playback - 3 hours and 2 minutes
PCMark10 (Gaming) - 1 hour 27 minutes

Fan noise is constant when gaming on the Predator Helios 18 AI, but I didn’t find it distractingly loud. The volume increases considerably if you set the Predator Sense profile to Performance mode, though – then you’ll really need one of the best PC gaming headsets to drown out the noise.

The Predator Helios 18 AI does a good job of keeping temperatures down. Its underside doesn’t get too hot, although over time heat leaks out of both sides, which can be a little distracting for your mouse hand. After a couple of hours of gaming, I noticed the bottom of the keyboard became quite hot, too, especially around the space bar.

It wasn’t hot enough to make using the keyboard a problem, though. And what’s more, the keyboard on the Predator Helios 18 AI is great to game with. The keys are clicky but damped enough to make them tactile.

They’re a little on the small side (although they’re generously spaced apart), owing to the inclusion of the aforementioned number pad. This compromises the layout somewhat – especially the space bar, which isn’t as long as I would’ve liked, and therefore somewhat awkward to hit with my left thumb.

The trackpad on the Predator Helios 18 AI is large and very smooth, making it easy to use. Mercifully, it also appears unaffected by contact with the sides of your palms, meaning it won’t accidentally register movements while your hands lean over it to use the keyboard.

• Performance: 5 / 5

Acer Predator Helios 18 AI review: Battery Life

(Image credit: Future)

• Large 99Wh capacity
• Underwhelming longevity
• Quick to charge

The battery life of the Predator Helios 18 AI isn't particularly impressive. Despite its 99Wh capacity, it lasted just under 90 minutes PCMark10's battery test for gaming scenarios.

This makes it considerably worse than the Razer Blade 16 (2025), which managed about an hour more, but much better than the MSI Katana 15 (2023), which didn’t even last one hour.

Charging the Predator Helios 18 AI back up to full is a surprisingly quick process, though – and given the size of the power brick, you would hope it would be.

• Battery Life: 3.5 / 5

Should I buy the Predator Helios 18 AI?Acer Predator Helios 18 AI Scorecard

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Value

The Predator Helios 18 AI is incredibly expensive, and only worth it if you need the absolute best gaming performance in laptop form.

2.5 / 5

Design

The Predator Helios 18 AI is very large, but is admirably thin considering what’s inside. It’s brilliantly made, too, and the RGB lighting is tastefully vibrant.

4 / 5

Performance

My review unit had an RTX 5090 and an Intel Core Ultra 9, so naturally its performance is out of this world. The display is excellent, too.

5 / 5

Battery Life

The Predator Helios 18 AI can't last an especially long time, but at least it's capable of replenishing quickly.

3.5 / 5

Total

There’s no denying this is a ferocious gaming machine; you can’t really ask for more from a gaming laptop. But the astronomical price puts it beyond the reach of many gamers, and there are many better value propositions out there.

3.5 / 5

Buy it if...

You want the best portable performance
With Nvidia RTX 5000 series GPUs available, the Predator Helios 18 AI can achieve astonishing fps figures, while the CPU and configurable RAM are equally capable components.

You want a large display
At 18 inches, the screen is more than big enough for laptop gaming, and renders AAA titles in all their glory.

Don't buy it if...

You want to save money
You’ll need plenty of cash to buy even the base model, and there are better value options out there.

You want a truly portable device
You’ll want something much smaller and lighter than the Acer Predator Helios 18 AI if you’re constantly on the go.

Acer Predator Helios 18 AI review: Also Consider

Razer Blade 16 (2025)
We were already big fans of the Razer Blade 14 from 2024, but the Blade 16 (2025) surpasses it in many ways. Like the Predator Helios 18 AI, it too can be equipped with an RTX 5090, and is built to a similarly high standard. It’s a shame there’s no 4K option this time round, though, and it’s still about as expensive as the Predator Helios 18 AI. Read our full Razer Blade 16 (2025) review.

MSI Katana 15 (2023)
Our current pick as the best gaming laptop for those on a budget, the MSI Katana 15 (2023) gets the balance right between price and performance, impressing us with its 1080p gaming. The trackpad and battery life might be weak points, but these are areas in gaming laptops where we’re willing to forgive shortcomings. As your first foray into the sector, it’s a great place to start. Read our full MSI Katana 15 (2023) review.

How I tested the Predator Helios 18 AI

• Tested for a few days
• Played AAA games
• Extensive PC gaming experience

I tested the Predator Helios 18 AI for a few days, during which time I played games such as Cyberpunk 2077 and Doom: The Dark Ages, both AAA titles that provide stern tests for rigs owing to their demanding, cutting-edge graphics.

I also ran TechRadar’s series of benchmarking tests, including a battery test where I played a movie on a continuous loop until the Predator Helios 18 AI shut down.

I have been PC gaming for over a decade, and during that time I have experienced a number of systems and components. I have also reviewed laptops previously, as well as copious amounts of gaming hardware.

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

If you enjoy diverse content like me, torrenting is an easy way to access it. It involves exchanging files via the BitTorrent protocol and can be done via torrent clients. I’ve embarked on a mission to test many torrenting clients to help users choose the best ones. Today, I’m focusing on qBittorrent, a prominent app in the torrenting community.

qBittorrent is a free and open source torrent client, and compatible with the most popular desktop operating systems. I tested it extensively to provide an honest opinion. Read on to learn about its features, user-friendliness, security, and other vital factors.

qBittorrent: Versions

qBittorrent is compatible with the three most popular PC operating systems; Windows, macOS, and Linux. I use a macOS PC and easily downloaded qBittorrent from the official website. You can also do this for the Windows and Linux versions.

However, I noticed that qBittorrent does not have an Android app. I like torrenting clients with Android apps that let me control my PC’s torrenting activities from a smartphone.

I didn’t expect iOS compatibility, as Apple famously doesn’t allow torrenting apps to appear in its App Store.

(Image credit: Future)qBittorrent: Features

qBittorrent has the typical features of a torrenting app. To download content, I needed to get the .torrent file from an external source. This file contains the metadata of the relevant content to be downloaded, and qBittorrent reads the information to kickstart the download.

If you don’t have the .torrent file, you can provide the magnet link for the relevant content. A magnet link is a hyperlink containing the same metadata as the .torrent file. I pasted multiple links into qBittorrent, and it downloaded the required content without hassle.

I also downloaded content via RSS feeds. This feature lets users subscribe to a specific RSS feed and automatically download new torrents added to the feed. For example, if you subscribe to an RSS feed of your favorite series, you can automatically download all new episodes.

I like that qBittorrent allows plugins that provide extra functionality. My favorite is the search plugin that lets you find torrent files within the app. Instead of spending time discovering and downloading these .torrent files on external websites, I did that directly on qBittorrent, enabling much faster downloads.

There’s no single search plugin for qBittorrent. Instead, the app is compatible with numerous unofficial plugins built for torrenting clients. Installing a search plugin was a noticeably simple process.

(Image credit: Future)

Torrenting works when users exchange files via the BitTorrent communications protocol. When you download specific content on qBittorrent, you automatically become a seeder uploading that content for other users to download. This process of simultaneous downloads and uploads enables users to freely access content via qBittorrent and other torrenting clients.

Whenever I use a torrenting client, I always seek to limit my upload speeds to conserve bandwidth. qBittorrent makes this easy. You can limit the upload speed to any level you’re comfortable with, ensuring you upload files for other users without consuming excessive bandwidth.

I appreciated that qBittorrent gave me significant control over my torrenting activities. For instance, I could queue torrents and prioritize specific downloads over others. I could also select specific files within a torrent instead of downloading the whole package. For example, this feature comes in handy if you have a software package missing a few crucial files. You can download just the missing parts instead of re-downloading the software package and wasting bandwidth.

This torrenting client supports IP filtering for security purposes. Users can upload blocklists and prevent any IP on that list from sharing files with their PC. This feature protects you from interacting with malicious actors sharing malware via torrenting clients.

Before downloading torrents, I always turn on a VPN for further security. A VPN routes your traffic through a secure remote server, preventing your ISP and other third-parties from monitoring your torrenting activities. I advise everyone to always use a VPN when torrenting.

My main complaint is that qBittorrent does not have an Android app that allows me to remotely control my torrenting activities. However, I was pleased that its remote control feature is available via a web interface.

The remote web interface is very similar to qBittorrent’s regular interface. You can use it to control your torrenting activities from another PC or smartphone, e.g., starting and pausing downloads on your home PC while at work. However, setting it up was complex, unlike Android apps where it’s usually straightforward.

qBittorrent: Interface and in-use

qBittorrent has a minimalistic interface that I enjoyed using. It’s not overtly modern yet not outdated. Features are arranged neatly on the left, configurations are accessible at the top, and the main dashboard lies on the right. Each feature incorporates a relevant icon that defines their functions. This uncluttered arrangement makes it easy to find any feature and tweak your desired configurations.

qBittorrent: Security

As mentioned, qBittorrent allowed me to block specific IP addresses from interacting with my device. This security feature is crucial because torrents are a common vector for introducing malware into unsuspecting devices.

qBittorrent has no ads and no history of negligent security practices. It’s a free tool maintained by volunteer developers, so there’s little incentive to sneak in adware for commercial purposes, which a handful of torrenting clients are guilty of.

Despite its standard encryption and other security features, I reiterate my advice to always turn on a VPN before using qBittorrent.

qBittorrent: Final verdict

qBittorrent is a free, user-friendly torrenting client I genuinely enjoy using. It’s not as feature-rich as some clients I’ve tested, but it performs its functions well. It’s an ideal torrenting tool for anyone seeking easy access to digital content.

We've listed the best weird and wonderful niche Linux distros.

Anthbot Genie: two-minute review

Like the very best in the latest tranche of self-guided robot lawn mowers, the Anthbot Genie requires no perimeter wires and no professionals to install it. Simply take it out of its box, set up its charging station and RTK receiver in a suitable spot and set it off on its way.

There are three versions to choose from, with different battery capacities making them suited to different lawn size. The Genie 600 is designed for lawns up to 0.22 acres / 900m², the Genie 1000 is for up to 0.49 acres / 2000m² and the Genie 3000 is for up to 0.89 acres / 3600m². For this review, I tested the 3000.

Although the Genie's 7.9 inch / 20cm cutting width isn't the widest on the market – that accolade goes to the five-star Mammotion LUBA 2 – what it lacks in size it makes up for in accuracy. Thanks to RTK-GPS and its AI-empowered 3D four-camera recognition technology, the Genie cuts in straight lines and navigates neatly around edges without the typical zig-zag chaos of older robot mowers. It's a sterling obstacle avoider, too.

However, its success may depend on the RTK receiver having a good line of sight to a range of satellites in the sky, and to that end it's a bit of a shame that a wall-mounting kit (to place the receiver above the tree-line) is an added extra rather than being included as standard. That said, positioning mine in the lawn next to the charge station – the only setup possible with the included equipment – worked just fine to me, even with a fair amount of tree coverage.

Like the vast majority of robot mowers, the Genie doesn't have a grass collector. Instead, its five-blade cutting disk snips off millimeters at a time, leaving the nitrogen-rich cuttings to fertilize the lawn. Its motorized cutting deck is easily adjustable in the app and lets you fine-tune your grass from a crisp trim to a lush, longer look.

If you're in the market for an easy-to-use robot that's reliable and easy to operate, you've found it. Read on for my full Anthbot Genie robot lawn mower review.

(Image credit: Future)Anthbot Genie review: price & availability

• List price: $999 to $1,359 / £999 to £1,699
• Launch date: Spring 2025
• Available: US and UK

The Anthbot Genie went on sale in Spring 2025, following a successful Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign. They're available to buy direct from Anthbot and Amazon in the US and the UK, and at list price they cost $999 / £999 for the Genie 600, $1,199 / £1,299 for the Genie 1000 and $1,599 / £1,699 for the Genie 3000.

Given that wire-free yard robotics is a relatively new thing, right now you can expect to pay big money for the privilege of never having to mow the lawn again. However, prices have already started to tumble and this will likely continue as more competition enters the market. In fact, at time of writing, all sizes of the Genie were heavily discounted in both the US and the UK. In the pantheon of robot lawn mowers, the Anthbot Genie's price structure can be considered quite reasonable given the huge amount of sci-fi tech involved.

• Value for money score: 4 out of 5

Anthbot Genie specs

Max lawn size:

0.22 acres / 900m², 0.49 acres / 2,000m², 0.89 acres / 3,600m²

Cutting deck width:

7.9 in / 20cm

Cutting height adjustment:

1.18 - 2.8 in/ 30-70mm, motorized

Bot dimensions:

24.8 x 16.1 x 10.6in / 63 x 41 x 27cm

Navigation:

RTK GPS + 4-camera 3D Vision

Climbing ability:

45% (24°)

Drivetrain:

Rear wheel drive

Waterproof:

IPX6

Rain sensor:

Yes

Noise:

58dB

Connectivity:

Wi-Fi (2.4G), 4G, Bluetooth

Obstacle avoidance:

3D Vision (4 Cameras) + All-round Physical Obstacle Avoidance

Maximum zones:

20 - 30

Anthbot Genie review: design

• 3 variants with different batteries for different lawn sizes
• Navigates using RTK GPS and AI powered cameras
• Wall mounting kit for RTK station is sold separately

Funny how the world of technology works. It takes just one company to create a new type of innovative product and within a year everyone's at it. Just look at robot vacuum cleaners. Once there was iRobot, then the likes of Roborock followed suit and, before we knew it, we were being bombarded with hundreds of robot vacs from companies we'd never heard of. Well the same thing is happening in the world of robot lawn mowers.

Although robot mowers have been out since the 1990s, I've never had the desire to review one because they've all required getting down on hands and knees and fixing, or burying, a ridiculously long boundary cable around the entire perimeter of the lawn and every outdoor ornament and piece of furniture. But that's all changed with the recent advent of RTK GPS-, camera-, and LiDAR-guided lawnbots that not only navigate a lawn – and any obstacles – with gobsmacking precision but cut grass in beautifully straight lines that make any lawn look immaculately snazzy.

(Image credit: Future)

Anthbot is one of those young upstarts and I've got to say that its design team has done its homework and designed one of the very best lawnbots I've so far tested – and a great looker to boot. In fact, it's getting rather difficult to write these reviews because every robotic lawn mower I receive to test seems to be a bit better than the last, and there are only so many stars one can give as commendation.

The Anthbot Genie is the latest addition to the fast-evolving world of smart robotic lawn mowers, and it brings some serious tech to the yard. This model is available in three battery capacities, which equate to the amount of lawn space they can realistically handle without having to return to recharge too often.

(Image credit: Future)

If you have a small urban-sized lawn, opt for the Genie 600 which has a reach of 0.22 acres / 900m² . If your lawn's a lot larger or you want the robot to cut an entire space without heading back to base for a recharge (remember, fewer recharge cycles equals a longer battery life) then opt for either the Genie 1000 which is suitable for lawns up to 0.49 acres / 2,000m² or the Genie 3000 which is capable of trimming a whopping 0.89 acres / 3,600m². All three variants are exactly the same size and have the same features, except the 3000 model can cut up to 30 different lawn zones while the other two can manage 20.

Unlike traditional robot mowers that rely on cumbersome boundary wires, the Genie uses advanced RTK-GPS combined with an AI-empowered navigation system comprising four cameras (including one on each side) that are said to provide '300-degree human-like vision and 360-degree collision sensing'. I believe it having seen it in operation.

(Image credit: Future)

RTK-GPS uses an RTK receiver to correct satellite signals, making them accurate to within a few centimeters. The system requires the bot and the receiver to have direct line of sight to a large proportion of the sky. The idea is that if the GPS signal is weak or lost due to overhead obstructions, the lawn bot will switch over to camera-based navigation.

I should add that RTK-GPS, which is accurate to just a few centimetres, isn't suitable for every home layout because the package requires having an aerial spiked into the lawn within a foot of the charging station and with a clear line of sight to as many satellites as possible. My own lawn is surrounded by very tall trees and the RTK stations of every lawnbot I've so far tested have all been positioned to the side of two 80-foot beech trees.

In theory my yard should be the worst case scenario but, against all odds, I'm receiving signals from between 12 and 25 satellites at any given time – and with just 50 per cent or so of visible sky. So don't write off this model or any other without taking a good look at the sky around your home.

(Image credit: Future)

If your land space looks unsuitable, Anthbot sells a wall-mounting kit that enables you to attach the RTK receiver to a structure up high (so there's wider direct line of sight to satellites in the sky), and plug it into a separate power source to the charge station. Some other lawnbots, include wall-mounting kit with the initial bundle, but here it's an additional purchase.

When it comes to obstacle avoidance, this model features three levels of sensitivity (low, medium and high) and it's worth playing around with the settings to find the best solution for your lawn. I've been very impressed with the Genie's obstacle avoidance and you can read more about it in the Performance chapter below.

(Image credit: Future)

Right, let's get down to the stats. The Genie's 7.9 inch / 20cm cutting width may sound modest, but it's more than capable of maintaining a consistently neat finish on the lawn sizes it was designed for. Like all robot mowers, the Genie uses a spinning horizontal disc with razor blades attached to the outer edge. Some models like the Eufy E15 have just three blades, but this one has five.

The Genie's motorized cutting height is fully adjustable between 1.2-2.8 inches in 0.2in increments (30-70mm in 5mm increments), allowing you to switch between a close-cropped summer lawn or a longer, lusher look in the cooler months. However, you won't see the 0.2in / 5mm increments on the app unless you tap on the dividing lines between each main measurement. Please fix this Anthbot.

Like 99 per cent of robot mowers, the Genie is a mulching model, so it finely chops grass into tiny nitrogen-rich clippings that naturally fertilize your lawn. That means no messy grass collectors and no piles of cuttings to dispose of. If the mower is set to perform two to three cuts a week, it will simply snip off a few days' worth growth and therefore not litter the lawn in cuttings.

All robot mowers are whisper-quiet when working; so quiet that you can hardly hear them from just a few meters away. This model's drive motor is a fraction louder than other lawnbots I've tested (around 58dB), but it's hardly audible when you're more than 8 meters away.

I sadly wasn't able to test the Genie's multi-zone function since I only have one lawn, but from what I've seen online, it behaves in the same way as other robot mowers and involves steering the robot like an RC car using the Bluetooth connection from one zone to another. As long as the path between the two zones is free of clutter – and especially gates and steps – the Genie will follow the same path every time it's out on a cutting spree. Impressively, this mower provides the option to create between 20 and 30 zones depending on the variant you've chosen.

(Image credit: Future)

If there are permanent obstacles within the lawn (beds, for example), you can create no-go zones so the mower doesn't try to cut them. As a step up from some competitor models, you can create these in-app with a few taps, just as you would with a robot vacuum cleaner. I should add that the Genie's navigation system will cover the vast majority of obstacle avoidance but it's good to have the no-go option for those who wish to make doubly sure that the robot will always avoid pitfalls like drop offs and ponds.

Like all robot mowers and vacs, the Genie can be easily programmed to run a regular schedule so the grass is always kept in tip-top condition. However, the Anthbot Genie app also features a Smart Lawn Care function, which automatically selects the best mowing strategy based on growth of the grass. I wasn't able to try out this function properly because my test period coincided with an ongoing drought that has prevented most UK grass from growing.

I did select the option but found it very confusing because it leapt straight into a schedule and the whole point of the function is that it chooses when to mow. If it's like Worx's Landroid Vision system, it should require input of grass type and then check local weather to create an automatic schedule.

Perhaps this feature will be improved going forward but for now I would suggest ignoring it and stick to your own schedules. Incidentally, like every other bot on the market, a rain sensor on top of the body automatically pauses mowing during wet weather and you can change the delayed mowing time from between one hour and eight hours.

(Image credit: Future)

Most mowers are capable of climbing inclines of 30% to 40% but this rear-wheel-drive model goes 5% more, meaning it's suitable for a slightly wider variety of landscapes. The two large and chubby front caster wheels help in this regard, but it's the oversized and heavy treaded rear wheels that provide all the traction. Nevertheless, there will be some lawns that are still too steep for this mower to handle. If that's your lawn, consider the all-wheel-drive Mammotion LUBA 2 or LUBA Mini which both boast amazing 80% incline ability.

Like most modern wireless robot mowers, the Genie is initially bound to one's WiFi and Anthbot account so any light-fingered thieves will basically have a brick on their hands. To further enhance security, a four-digit code is also required and if the robot is moved beyond its preset boundary, an alarm sounds on the robot and the user receives an emergency alert. Top marks in this respect.

According to the US and UK websites, Anthbot already has an after sales repair service in place in many territories – including the UK and US – with a 10 day turnaround in most cases. In fact, I've been very impressed by Anthbot's activity on Facebook in seeking feedback from current users regarding any improvements the company can make going forward.

Setup

The Genie arrived in a large box containing the mowing unit, a charging base, ample electrical cabling for an outdoor mains output and the RTK GPS antennae. I selected a space next to my Mammotion LUBA 2 and placed the antennae beside the charging station. This area is right beneath two 80-foot beech behemoths, a large horse chestnut and a small damson tree but, against all odds, every RTK system I've used has worked.

This one worked too, though it took a few minutes for the RTK receiver to log on to the prerequisite number of satellites. I'm actually amazed that these RTK-based lawnbots work at all on my lawn given the amount of trees surrounding it, and that just goes to show that there are a lot more satellites up there than you might think.

(Image credit: Future)

After turning it on and hearing the musical fanfare, you'll be asked to select the default pin code (0000). Even though the machine is also bonded to the owner's Wi-Fi and email address, this code is an extra line of defence against theft of the machine and should be changed to a personal code using the keypad on the unit or, better still, via the app. Just make sure to make a note of your own pin code because the product is a brick without it, and the only way to fix it is by contacting the manufacturer with proof of purchase.

All robots need to map the space they'll be working in; in this model's case, the Genie uses its RTK GPS and multi-camera system. Anthbot provides two methods for mapping a lawn: auto or manual. In auto the robot analyses the lawn's borders automatically, while manual involves driving the bot around the perimeter like an RC car.

I initially chose auto and the Genie mapped the lawn quickly without any messing about. It simply went to the nearest edge and mapped the entire lawn in about five minutes. That's a record! However, I've since discovered an excellent feature in the app that lets you manually expand the map by driving the robot even closer to the perimeter. Nice one Anthbot.

(Image credit: Future)

At this juncture I wish to give a shout out to the tailored Rain Cover for the Genie because it not only keeps the robot dry (even though its IPX6 waterproof) but, perhaps more importantly, it blocks out hot summer sun which could feasibly mess around with the bot's battery and electronics. The Anthbot garage is an impressive piece of kit in its own right since the main body is cast from solid steel and is so robust that I sense it would stand up to a tornado, let alone a gale.

Once the Anthbot Genie is all set up and ready to roll, it's simply a case of going into the app and setting a two- or three-day schedule, your preferred cutting height and obstacle sensitivity, and whether you want the robot to mow in vertical or horizontal stripes. And that's it. You can now retreat, safe in the knowledge that your lawn will always look neat and tidy, even when you're away on holiday.

• Design score: 4.5 out of 5

Anthbot Genie review: performance

• Impressive cutting performance
• Superb navigation system
• On-par obstacle avoidance

Every perimeter wire-free robot mower I've reviewed to date has performed surprisingly well, at least given the relative newness of this particular field of robotics. The Genie's 7.9 inch / 20cm cutting width may seem compact compared to the 15.7 inch / 40cm Mammotion NUBA 2, but I've been impressed by the precision of its cut – its five-blade disc spins at around 3,000rpm, slicing through grass stems like a pair of sharp scissors, leaving only the tiniest of mulched clippings in its wake. If programmed to perform regular cutting sessions during the main season, the nitrogen-rich clippings will soon disappear back into the lawn where they'll act as natural fertilizer.

Whether you set it to 1.2in / 30mm for a UK-style summer trim or 2.8in / 70mm for a longer cut that's more suited to US grass varieties, the Genie should maintain a consistent finish across varied lawn surfaces. The Genie's simple, replaceable blade system certainly handled my lawn's thick early summer growth with ease, leaving no clumps or uneven patches. However, it sadly hasn't seen much use during the past two weeks because the UK has been experiencing a series of heatwaves and all lawns in the southern region have shut down to some extent.

(Image credit: Future)

I've been especially impressed by the Genie's navigation system, which has never faulted in four weeks of using it. My base station is set to one side of my 170 square metre lawn with a gap of around 15 meters / 49ft to the side border and when the Genie leaves its station, it starts mowing in a straight vertical line from that point, missing the 1.5 metres of lawn width to its left and continuing to cut the largest section of lawn to its right.

It then moves to the left side of its first path to complete the rest of the lawn before moving to the edges, which it cuts remarkably well. I should add that its border cutting improved tenfold since I engaged the new 'edge-cutting' option and manually expanded the map by driving the robot closer to the border.

(Image credit: Future)

Granted, the Genie employs an unusual cutting pattern when compared to other lawnbots I've tested but, hey, it has always finished the task in about an hour so I have nothing to grumble about in this regard. All I know is that it creates lovely stripes in its wake. Yes, I still prefer the much wider tract of the Mammotion LUBA 2 but I'm getting more and more used to the narrower stripes that the majority of current bots create.

I've also been impressed by the Genie's better-than-average obstacle avoidance. I tested it using a variety of objects – from dog toys and tennis balls to a chewed-up plastic plant pot – and it avoided all of them with deft precision (the two extra side-mounted cameras most definitely helped in this area). In fact I was so impressed I decided to bring out the ping-pong ball that no robot mower has so far avoided. Unfortunately, this was too small an item even for the Genie, which makes me think that manufacturers adjust their respective robots to ignore the smallest of objects on purpose lest they mistake scattered leaves for obstacles and avoid them entirely.

(Image credit: Future)

I should add that my test lawn is perfect for any robot since it's rectangular shaped and with no inclines and no major obstacles in the way. Nevertheless, I have watched a few videos by other users with more challenging terrain and they've also been impressed with the Genie's performance.

One thing I have noticed is that the Genie 3000 I was sent to review has been able to cut my entire lawn and the edges with 72 per cent of battery remaining. Yes, this model is overkill for my lawn size but it just goes to show how energy-efficient the model's battery and motors are. If you can afford it, perhaps opt for a larger model than you need so you can cut down on battery charging cycles and have the available juice to cut extra lawn zones in the future.

• Performance score: 5 out of 5

Anthbot Genie review: app

• Easy to use
• Receives quite regular updates
• Some room for improvement

The Anthbot app is mostly excellent. This easy-to-use app allows the user to set cutting heights and angle of cut, create up to 30 mowing zones, programme different schedules for each and define no-go areas with a swipe of the finger. The app also includes real-time monitoring so you can check the mower's location, battery level and progress at any time, even if you're away from home.

(Image credit: Anthbot)

My test model recently received a comprehensive update with additions to cut horizontally, edit the lawn's boundary and choose from three levels of obstacle avoidance. However, I would love to see Anthbot improve its cutting angle feature so that it behaves more like Eufy's E15 model, which provides an animated map with an adjustable arrow that swivels the entire map of the lawn on its axis so you can easily view the direction in which the robot will cut.

Given that Anthbot's reps are very responsive and eager to address current users' suggestions, you can be sure there'll be more tantalising updates along the way.

• App score: 4 out of 5

Should you buy the Anthbot Genie lawnbot?

Attribute

Notes

Rating

Value

In the arena of smart lawnbots, the Genie is very competitively priced. Deals are already easy to come by.

4/5

Design

Navigates using RTK GPS and 4 cameras on front and sides. Available in 3 battery capacities for different-sized lawns.

4.5/5

Performance

Exceptional performance with neat mowing, very accurate navigation and commendable obstacle avoidance.

5/5

App

Despite a few required tweaks, the Anthbot app is easy to use and pretty comprehensive.

4/5

Buy it if...

You want an easy time

This model is a breeze to use, with no major foibles to report.

You want lawn stripes

The Genie cuts in uniform parallel stripes.

You value reliable obstacle avoidance

With three levels of avoidance, this bot is a top dodger.

Don't buy it if...

Your lawn looks like the foothills of the Himalayas

With a 45% maximum gradient, this bot isn't suitable for very steep inclines.

You have lots of overhead obstacles

The Genie uses an RTK GPS navigation system, which relies on a decently clear view of the sky to allow it to talk to the satellites.

How I tested the Anthbot Genie

TechRadar employs a strict routine when testing equipment. Firstly I live with the robot for a week or two, letting it do its thing while observing its behavior. Then I get down to enacting some real-world scenarios like obstacle avoidance and introducing it to various types of borders to see how well it behaves. Robots can be very unpredictable so these tests can take a few hours to complete with lots of written observations. Once I'm satisfied that there aren't any major concerns, I'll start writing the review while very carefully considering the amount of stars each area of the product deserves.

Read more about how we test

• First reviewed July 2025

ViWoods AiPaper: Two-minute review

The moment I took the ViWoods AiPaper epaper tablet out of its box, I was surprised at how light it was. It was already inside a thin magnetic case, with the stylus in its loop, and it still felt like the lightest 10-inch E Ink tablet I’d ever used. And that's despite the fact that it's taller than its competition at 10.65 inches rather than the average 10.3 screen size.

The closest (direct) competition is from the Onyx Boox Go 10.3, which also runs Android (albeit an older version) and is 4.6mm thick, tipping the scales at 375g. The AiPaper, on the other hand weighs 370g and is 4.5mm thick. I never expected the small 5g weight difference to be discernible but, interestingly, you can 'feel' it.

The AiPaper also looks very much like the Boox Go 10.3, with silver edges, whitish-grey bezels and the flush E Ink display that doesn’t have a frontlight. And that’s alright because the AiPaper is more for writers and other creative people than an ereader you’d take to bed at night. The best part about the design in my opinion: the stylus magnetically sticks over the screen rather than the sides.

At its main function of being a digital notebook, it excels. Everything you need is neatly laid out on the homepage, so it’s very easy to get to grips with and the settings are simple to understand.

You can start writing on it straight out of the box (if it’s charged) because the first application you see is Paper (for notes). You also have easy access to a calendar, a digital sketchpad and a bunch of pre-installed applications that include Kindle, Kobo, OneNote, Libby and Wattpad, just to name a few.

There’s even a Mailbox to access your email on and, guess what, you can handwrite your reply and the built-in AI assistant converts it to text before sending. Watch out for the AI text conversion though – it’s not consistently accurate – so you may need to make edits before you send someone an email. You can even email your notes directly from the Paper app.

The home screen on the ViWoods AiPaper is neatly laid out, so everything is accessible quickly (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

While there are plenty of pen options for writing, I was a little surprised that drawing only has three (each with three thicknesses) – competing tablets offer more for creativity. Stylus input, however, has no lag whatsoever and the nib moves smoothly over the screen. There’s just enough friction to give you the feel of paper and I quite enjoyed the writing experience.

I appreciate the numerous templates and the separate calendar application too, even one called Meeting for jotting down minutes. Then there’s the AI button that gives you access to full-fat ChatGPT-4o or GPT-4o-mini. DeepSeek is also preinstalled. It's important to note, however, there are always risks with using AI, but if you're comfortable with it, it can be a fantastic productivity tool.

Chrome and the Google Play Store are also available out of the box. It uses a custom version of Android 13, but I found that the tablet I was sent for this review was not Play Protect Certified (meaning, I couldn’t access the Play Store at initial setup). I had to follow some steps to register the device and it was smooth sailing after that.

I won’t talk much about what it’s like to use as an ereader because that’s not its main function, and it has support for fewer file formats than some other brands with similar tablets, but they are the most common ebook formats, including EPUB, MOBI, CBZ and CBR. Moreover, without a frontlight, it may not be the best ereader for many users. PDF editing is possible if the document you’ve uploaded has edit capabilities.

Ghosting is a minor problem on this tablet, but I didn't notice it until I looked at the photos I had taken of the AiPaper. So it won't really be an issue when in use.

The entire setup is a lovely middle ground between reMarkable’s minimalist approach and Boox’s overcomplicated one – it’s well thought out and stands out as a unique alternative to its aforementioned competitors. There’s a heck of a lot more to unpack here (read on below for more details), but I really can’t get over the high asking price for this E Ink tablet – it's about $200 / £100 / AU$250 more than competing options even when discounted – although it could be argued that it justifies its cost just on performance alone.

Having Google Chrome preinstalled is fantastic (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)ViWoods AiPaper review: Price & availability

• Released after a Kickstarter campaign in September 2024
• Available to buy in the US since December 2024 and in Australia since March 2025
• List price of $799 / £610 / AU$1,199; can be purchased from on Amazon
• 100-day free trial, but terms and conditions apply

There are two AiPaper tablets available from Chinese brand ViWoods – the larger 10.65-inch model reviewed here and a smaller 8-inch alternative called AiPaper Mini. The bigger device went on sale in the US towards the end of 2024, and has been available in Australia since March 2025.

The 10.65-inch E Ink tablet is not what I would deem 'affordable' – in fact, it’s the most expensive epaper device I’ve tested to date, with its $799 / £610 / AU$1,199 price tag making it costlier than the color reMarkable Paper Pro and the grayscale Supernote Manta.

That said, there is a slim case in the box, as well as the stylus and extra nibs too. In many other cases, you’ll need to buy the case separately, but this bundle is still very much in premium territory.

Thankfully there are discounts to be had. At the time of writing, the AiPaper was down to $549 / £418 / AU$863 directly from the ViWoods website, but could be had for $539 / AU$806 on Amazon in the US and Australia respectively.

The ViWoods AiPaper Mini is also quite steeply priced ( listed for $599 / £455 / AU$939; discounts are available) compared to the likes of the 8-inch Kobo Sage, the 7-inch Kobo Libra Colour and the stylus-supported Boox Go 7 from Onyx. However, it too ships with a stylus while other smaller slates require you to purchase that separately.

Despite being a full-featured E Ink tablet running Android 13, it’s hard to justify even the discounted price, more so when you can get the Boox Go 10.3 for $379.99 / €419.99 (about £355) / AU$699. Even the reMarkable 2 would be a good alternative and save you money at full price. Price is the main reason why it gets some points docked in this review.

However, ViWoods stands apart from other brands by offering a 100-day free trial of its products when purchased directly from the brand's website, but there are a few other terms and conditions you will need to be aware of to take advantage of this offer. The tablets also come with a 14-month warranty for functional defects.

• Value score: 3.5 / 5

Writing on the ViWoods AiPaper is a wonderful experience, with several pen types and thicknesses to choose from (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)ViWoods AiPaper review: specs

Display type:

E Ink Carta 1300 with E Ink Mobius base

Screen size:

10.65 inches

Resolution:

300ppi (2560 x 1920 pixels)

Processor:

2GHz octa-core MediaTek MT8183

Frontlight:

None

Storage:

128GB (non-expandable)

Battery:

4,100mAh

Speaker:

None

Water protection:

None

Software:

Android 13

Connectivity:

USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0

File support:

7 (5 documents, 2 images)

Dimensions:

247 x 178 x 4.5 mm

Weight:

370g (without case and pen)

ViWoods AiPaper review: Design & display

• Thinnest and lightest 10-inch E Ink tablet I’ve tested
• Very nice 10.65-inch E Ink Carta 1300 display
• Stylus is slightly thicker than most, but very ergonomic and lightweight
• Built-in mic, but no speakers or microSD card tray

The overall design of the ViWoods AiPaper is familiar to me as it’s quite similar to the Boox Go 10.3 I’ve previously tested. The difference here is that it’s even lighter and thinner and, while you’d think that a 0.1mm thickness and 5g of weight difference wouldn’t matter much, think again. The moment I took the AiPaper out of its box – it was already encased in a magnetic folio with the stylus in its loop – it was noticeably lighter compared to all the other large-screen E Ink tablets I’ve tested.

It is, however, taller than other tablets like it. Its screen size comes in at 10.65 inches compared to the average 10.3 inches, but it doesn't add too much to the overall footprint – it's slightly taller than its counterparts. The thinness more than makes up for it, though.

And while the tablet itself has no protection against moisture, the supplied case is waterproof. Oh, and this magnetic folio barely weighs a thing too. The lack of waterproofing is not unique to the AiPaper – pretty much every single 10-inch epaper note-taking device I’ve tested has had no IP certification.

Image 1 of 3

There's a noticeable difference in thickness between the AiPaper lying on top of the Kindle Scribe (2024) (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)Image 2 of 3

The flush power button is home to a pretty accurate fingerprint scanner (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)Image 3 of 3

There's a mic right beside the USB-C port (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

Its lightweight design aside, the AiPaper looks lovely, with whitish-grey bezels and silver trimming along the four sides. The rear panel is a thin plastic sheet to match the bezels. The bottom bezel is broader and is home to three touch buttons that are very reminiscent of Android devices – back, home and AI. The last one opens up an application that gives you access to ChatGPT or DeepSeek, the choice is yours.

The only physical button on the device is to power it up (or down), which lies flush with the top edge and houses a fingerprint sensor. I thought such a thin surface would have trouble reading fingerprints, but I was wrong – it functioned well 95% of the time, but the raised edge of the case can get in the way sometimes which, for me, was the rest 5% of the time.

Image 1 of 2

The AiPaper Gen2.5 Stylus Pen magnetically secures to the top of the screen via its flat side and comes with two nib types (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)Image 2 of 2

The eraser on the top is spring-loaded and works quite well (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

I should also mention the stylus separately as it’s a little broader than the pens used by most other brands – only marginally so – but it’s lightweight and ergonomic. It’s called the AiPaper Gen2.5 Stylus Pen and it's made from light-grey plastic to match the tablet. It features an eraser on the top and a button on the flattened length on its body.

That flat section is what secures the stylus magnetically over the display (as pictured above) and that’s an exceptional addition as the curved edges (or sides) of the tablet are so thin, there’s no way the pen would stick there, as is common in other models. The closer to the center of the screen you get, the stronger the hold, but it will stay anywhere on the top surface of the device.

For when you're in transit, though, the loop on the protective case will keep the Gen2.5 Stylus Pen safe.

It’s also the first stylus I’ve used that comes with two types of replacement nibs in the box – the default is a ‘smooth writing’ nib that’s soft and thus can wear out easily, but it can be replaced with a more ‘durable’ or harder nib if you wish. Swapping one out for the other is as simple as pulling out the used one to slide in the replacement until it clicks into place.

Both the stylus and the tablet use Wacom EMR technology, so even if you lose the Gen2.5 Stylus Pen, you can use an alternative that has the same tech. I tried the Boox Pen Plus that came with the Go 10.3 and it worked just fine.

You get access to the ViWoods user community, which can handy if you have questions or want to leave feedback (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

The display technology used here is seemingly a hybrid of two E Ink screens. ViWoods says the top rigid layer is the E Ink Carta 1300 for writing and reading on, and it sits on a flexible E Ink Mobius base. The slight flexibility it offers, according to ViWood, is meant to offer the "rebound" feel of paper when you write. I didn't quite experience it but then I have no complaints whatsoever with how it feels to write on.

Everything you write on this monochrome screen is sharp, with excellent contrast for the pen's markings. That means it's quite dark against the pale background, which makes handwritten notes very easy to read, particularly without a frontlight.

On the other hand, the contrast when reading ebooks in the Learning app (where the library sits) is a little lackluster when compared to the likes of the Amazon Kindle Scribe (2024) – the words on the page appear lighter in comparison (see the image below). That doesn't mean you can't use the AiPaper as an ereader, it just hasn't been optimized well for that purpose.

The screen also lacks a frontlight, although that in no way hampers its usability and a lightless display is hardly unique to ViWood. Neither the reMarkable 2 nor the Boox Go 10.3 have a frontlight and they’re both still very nice to use. While I would have preferred a frontlight myself because I’m a nighttime reader and I would have loved to use the AiPaper as an ereader as well, that is not its primary function – it’s a productivity tablet, so writing, sketching and scheduling are what it does best.

• Design & display score: 5 / 5

The three touch buttons on the bottom bezel are very reminiscent of Android devices (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)ViWoods AiPaper review: Software & user experience

Arguably the most important factor when choosing an epaper writing tablet for yourself would be its software and user interface. Where Kobo and Kindle use custom Linux operating systems, as does reMarkable, Boox and ViWoods have adopted Android.

The ViWoods AiPaper uses a trimmed-down, custom edition of Android 13 (compared to Android 12 on the Boox Go 10.3) that caters specifically to reading and writing. And, importantly, the entire setup is fantastic, far better than the Boox alternative which, in fact, has a more streamlined interface compared to older models from the brand.

On the AiPaper, the interface is a fabulous middle ground – neither too minimalist like reMarkable, nor too complicated like Boox.

Android OS and apps

• Runs a custom version of Android 13
• Very streamlined user interface
• Nearly all applications you might need are already preinstalled, but there’s full access to the Play Store

The moment you switch on the ViWoods AiPaper, you’ll see the bottom right block already has a few apps preinstalled. Tap and you’ll find Chrome and the Google Play Store already there, ready for you to sign into.

The latter was the only real issue I ran into when setting up the AiPaper for this review: being unable to access the Play Store at the start. That’s because the device sent to me was not Play Protect Certified, meaning it hadn’t been registered with Google for Play Store access.

A little research told me that this is was not an isolated incident, although some users online have had no problems whatsoever. Getting this done, though, is very simple and ViWoods has a handy guide to help you.

Interestingly, ViWoods has implemented Android's 'long-press to copy and paste' functionality for this setup – I wish this would be expanded to all aspects of the tablet, wherein any handwritten, or at the very least text-converted, note can be copied across documents or applications. The feature already exists in the software, so it's just a matter of enabling it on a wider scale (although I'm not a developer and I can't speak to the feasibility of expanding it).

It also took three attempts to sync my Google Drive account to the tablet for cloud transfer of files despite being logged in on the first attempt. Why this happened is still a mystery to me.

Image 1 of 3

Pen settings aren't too complicated, but I would have liked to reassign the button to something other than erase (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)Image 2 of 3

Play Store connectivity at inital setup may not be there and you will have to do so manually (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)Image 3 of 3

General settings are simple and easy to understand (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

An unexpected surprise on the AiPaper that I haven't seen on any other tablet like this is email access. There’s a Mailbox application preinstalled that can be set up if you don't want to download Gmail or any other mail app but, interestingly, it allows you to handwrite your replies if you choose.

AI handwriting recognition is available on nearly every native application that allows you to use the stylus, but I found that the text conversion wasn’t always accurate and I pride myself on having a rather nice (and readable) handwriting. I’ve had no issues with handwriting recognition on the Kobo Elipsa 2E or the Kindle Scribe 2024 for example, so I’m surprised that the AiPaper is getting a few things wrong.

It’s not really a deal breaker as I found the onscreen keyboard just as easy to use to make any necessary edits. Unlike the Boox keyboard, which is a much more complicated affair with tiny keys, the ViWoods has big tiles and is very responsive.

Full access to the Play Store can be a huge plus if you're focused on productivity (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

I would normally be downloading the Kindle and Kobo apps on any other epaper tablet like this, but they were both already available to sign into. I was pleasantly surprised to find even the Libby app preinstalled, alongside the New York Times, Wattpad and a few more. So all I ended up adding was a couple of other productivity apps to test annotations and a couple of benchmarking tools to sate my own curiosity.

As I’ve already mentioned, the overall user interface is fantastic, lending itself well to a tablet like the AiPaper. You have everything you need at your fingertips, but you can always add more to make the most of Play Store access. You can also get involved with the ViWoods user community directly from the tablet in case you want to ask a question, leave feedback or get some help with any issue you have with the product.

One thing to note about the AiPaper is that, during my testing, my MacBook couldn't register the tablet in Finder, although ViWoods' promotional imagery indicates that should work. This means that the Android File Transfer app doesn't work, which was my experience with all Boox devices as well. I plugged the AiPaper into a Windows machine where it was available for file transfer via USB-C. I also couldn't get Wi-Fi Transfer to work, but this wasn't much of a deal breaker for me because cloud sync is quite quick. While Google Drive was my service of choice, Dropbox and OneDrive support is also available.

• Software score: 4 / 5

There are quite a few tools built into the native Paper (notes) application (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)Writing & productivity

• Native notes app is full featured; voice input is available
• Annotations are possible on several third-party apps
• Smooth and lag-free stylus input

I can't help but extol the virtues of the writing and productivity features of the ViWoods AiPaper. From a dedicated notes application called Paper to another called Meeting for jotting down minutes, even a calendar application that allows you to write within each date box and list task for a specific date – you have plenty to get you started. And they all have voice input available if you’re feeling too lazy to write – even the diary entries!

Don’t want to use the native writing app? OneNote is preinstalled in the app drawer and it works well with the supplied stylus. You can download any other third-party notes application – I tried Evernote and Google Keep, both of which worked fine – and ViWoods says you can annotate any page, no matter which application you use.

If you haven’t used any other note-taking application before, you’ll find more than enough in the native app. You can add pages and move them around easily enough, you can delete individual pages quickly by opening up a multipage document as a grid, you can change the template of individual pages… the list goes on. You can add layers, create tags, text boxes (or boxouts) and use a lasso tool to select text.

Image 1 of 2

It may not be my best handwriting sample, but I thought it was easy to read; the AI didn't agree (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)Image 2 of 2

At other times, though, it managed just fine (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

The AI button within the Paper application allows you to analyze text, convert a note into an email or convert handwriting into text. As I’ve already alluded before, AI conversions aren’t the best. For example (see the above image for clarification), I selected a handwritten question jotted down when making notes for this review: “Does template change affect all pages?” I selected it to be analyzed and the response from ChatGPT was: “The content consists of a handwritten note that appears to address the question “does bipolar change affect all pages?” The next time I got the same bit of handwriting ‘analyzed’, it became “inequality change”. C’mon, my handwriting isn’t that bad, surely!

For writing, you have an extensive choice of pens – seven, in fact, with five thickness options and four grayscale colors. Strangely, though, these brush types are missing in the Picking application (used for drawing and sketching) which, instead, only gets three pen types with three thicknesses each. I think it should be the other way around.

Image 1 of 2

I appreciate the several pen and stroke options in the Paper app for writing... (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)Image 2 of 2

..but I'm surprised the same isn't available for the Picking (or drawing) app (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

With 4,096 pressure levels and up to 60º tilt sensitivity for the stylus, the same brush types for creativity would have been great for artists who don’t necessarily want a dedicated drawing tablet like the XPPen Artist Pro 14 (Gen 2). Then again, I can't draw to save my life, so perhaps the limited pens in the Picking app would suffice for most users.

So my main complaint is only with the AI-powered handwriting recognition, which intermittently found it hard to decipher my relatively neat notes, but worked fine when it came to a colleague’s bad scribbles. Yes, I'm taking it personally – and no, I won’t deduct any marks for that.

• Writing score: 4.5 / 5

Reading

• Library is buried within another app
• Wired and Wi-Fi file transfer didn't work with macOS as represented by ViWoods
• Support for limited file formats, but more than enough for casual reading

With no built-in bookstore, you need to either use the browser (Chrome) to source content or import via wired or cloud transfer. I used the latter method to sideload a few titles I already own as, previously stated, my MacBook was unable to register the AiPaper and I found that OTG support (which is available on Android 13) has not been implemented on this tablet.

It was during this process when things got a little murky for me.

Image 1 of 2

Where to build the library was a little confusing on the AiPaper... (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)Image 2 of 2

..and, as a macOS user, I found cloud transfer to be the best way to sync files (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

When selecting to import (in my case from Google Drive), the AiPaper gives you two locations to save the ebooks – My Notes and My Files. The latter has a folder already called ‘e_books’, which is where I assumed I needed to build my library. Sure, that can be done, and this source uses the Bookshelf application to open EPUBs. However, the app doesn’t like sideloaded files (which I appreciate is a step to prevent piracy) and I couldn’t go beyond the book cover. It also needs an account to work.

I then saved the same titles to My Notes and that, dear reader, seemed to be where the default library is – tucked within the native Learning application. It supports a fair few common file formats, including EPUB, MOBI, CBZ and CBR, but I also found there's support for Kindle's AZW and AZW3.

The My Notes section is also where you can upload editable PDFs in case you need to fill a form or sign one.

Text is sharp on the screen, although I would have preferred more contrast to make the words on page darker but, again, it's not a deal breaker as you can add a little weight (thickness) to the text to make them appear darker.

There's a distinct lack of contrast for text on the AiPaper (right) compared to the exact same page on the Kindle Scribe (left) (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

You can either choose to swipe on the screen to turn a page or tap and I would recommend the latter – if you have a swipe gesture set up already for 'going back', that is the function that will constantly get triggered rather than turning to the next page. The top toolbar that appears when you first open a title can be made to disappear to leave a very clean page that you can annotate to your heart’s content.

I also found that the slightly larger screen made reading a much nicer experience than on the other 10.3-inch epaper tablets. The page layouts looked neater and, I suppose, the additional lines on a page do make a difference. That said, with no frontlight, it's clear that doubling as an ereader is not its priority.

• Reading score: 4 / 5

There's no speaker on the AiPaper, but Bluetooth connectivity will allow you to enjoy streaming music (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)ViWoods AiPaper review: Performance

• Excellent overall performance on a very responsive screen
• Mild ghosting across all applications
• Good battery life but can consume more power during certain tasks

As I’ve already mentioned earlier in this review, the AiPaper uses a processor that’s quite powerful for a device like an epaper tablet. While the MediaTek MT8183 can make Chromebooks purr along smoothly at higher wattages with specific implementations, my benchmarking told me that ViWoods hasn't taken full advantage of what this CPU can achieve. Compared to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 SoC used in the Boox Go 10.3, the benchmark numbers are rather dismal for the AiPaper even though the expectation was that they'd be evenly matched.

For context, Geekbench 6 recorded a single-core score of 403 for the Boox and 299 for the AiPaper, while multi-core scores were 1261 and 1114 respectively. But forget the numbers: the implementation of Android and the amount of RAM available is, ultimately, what will determine how well an epaper tablet will perform in real-world use.

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There are a few very useful AI-powered features in the Paper app (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)Image 2 of 3

Reorganizing pages within a notebook is extremely easy (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)Image 3 of 3

Arguably one of the best native notes applications I've tried (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

And that's exactly what's in evidence here. Despite ViWoods not harnessing the full power of the CPU, it's the better performer compared to the Boox as the execution of the OS here and the 4GB of RAM (same as in the Go 10.3) combine to make things run very smoothly indeed. Moreover, the MT8183 CPU also has slightly better RAM speed, so the overall system performance is better here.

Whether it was opening apps, writing or using the on-screen keyboard, I found the AiPaper just that tiny bit quicker than the Boox. I initially didn't even notice the ghosting on the screen until I looked at the photos of tablet I had taken for this review; on the Boox, though, it can be quite evident.

There are three refresh rates available on the AiPaper and I found the default Best to be, well, the best. Fast and Ultra-Fast resulted in more ghosting in some applications, and didn't make a huge amount of difference while scrolling in apps like Chrome. Expect the occasional stutter when scrolling, though, which is more due to the limitations of the E Ink screen tech rather than a fault of the device.

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The instructions for getting Play Protect Certification isn't accurate on the tablet, but ViWoods has a better guide on its website (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)Image 2 of 2

Despite security risks involved with AI use, it can be a very handy productivity tool (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

Not a single application has crashed since I began using this tablet (three weeks to the time of publication) – in comparison, I ran into a problem with the Boox Go 10.3 when testing its native notes app. According to Onyx Boox, the Go 10.3 can take up to 500 pages per document, but it crashed after 10. The biggest handwritten document I had on the AiPaper was 15 pages and it showed no signs of slowing down. There were no hiccups with turning pages or bringing up the AI analyze/handwriting recognition on nearly every page of that document.

Battery life is decent but not as good as the Boox (the Snapdragon 680 is known for more efficient battery use) or the Kindle Scribe, and that's despite the AiPaper using a larger capacity pack. The 4,100mAh battery which will offer no more than two weeks of use if you spend an hour with it each day. On standby, you could get up to four weeks on a single charge.

This is because there are some tasks that drain more battery than others, like downloading apps from the Play Store or importing documents via cloud transfer, but you should still get a few days out of each top up even if you use it extensively.

Charging up is also quite quick – it went from 9% to full in just under two hours during my testing, and that was when plugged into a dock and not a wall charger.

• Performance score: 4.5 / 5

Even the case is so thin, it barely makes a dent in the overall weight of the device (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)Should I buy the ViWoods AiPaper?

Attribute

Notes

Score

Value

It might be the best epaper writing tablet I’ve tested, but it’s eye-wateringly expensive at full price.

3.5 / 5

Design & display

It’s both very thin and very lightweight, even with a case. And even though it uses a 10.65-inch display, its overall footprint isn't too much more. And the screen is lovely to use as well, although it lacks contrast.

5 / 5

Software & apps

An open Android ecosystem and an easy-to-use interface makes this a winner in my books, but it has a few minor issues.

4 / 5

Writing & productivity

The limited pen types for drawing could be a deal breaker for artists, but if productivity is priority over creativity, then the AiPaper will serve you well.

4.5 / 5

Reading

While the lack of a frontlight might be an issue for some, the AiPaper is a passable ereader.

4 / 5

Performance

No other epaper writing tablet I’ve tested has been as fast as the AiPaper – overall performance is fantastic. Battery life, however, is limited compared to other brands.

4.5 / 5

Buy it if...

You want top-notch performance from an epaper tablet

It's hard to fault the performance of the AiPaper. It's responsive, fast and, despite a little bit of ghosting, its default refresh rate is capable of handling most apps. ViWoods arguably has the best epaper tablet on the market in the AiPaper.

You want an open ecosystem, with the freedom to use any app you want

Running Android 13 means you get full access to the Play Store, so you can do a lot on this tablet. And interestingly, this is the first epaper tablet I’ve tested that has a native email app that allows you to handwrite your replies if you so choose.

You want the thinnest and lightest epaper tablet

I thought the Boox Go 10.3 was thin and light, but I hadn’t met the AiPaper then. Taking away the accolade of being the thinnest and lightest epaper tablet I've tested, even the AiPaper's case doesn't add much weight to the full package.

Don't buy it if...

You don’t want to spend too much money on an epaper tablet

Most 10-inch E Ink note-taking tablets are expensive, but the AiPaper has an eye-watering price tag. Even discounted, it costs more than its many competitors, but if money is no object, I can’t recommend it highly enough.

You need a lot of storage space

Honestly, 128GB of built-in storage is plenty for a device like the AiPaper, but if that’s not going to cut it for you, you’ll need to look for an alternative with expandable storage. There’s no microSD card tray here.

You read more than you write

If you’re not going to take full advantage of the AiPaper’s many productivity features, you’ll save a lot of money by opting for either a smaller epaper tablet like the Kobo Libra Colour or a relatively cheaper 10-inch option like the Kindle Scribe. Moreover, avid readers would prefer a frontlight, which the AiPaper misses out on.

ViWoods AiPaper review: Alternatives

As great as I think the ViWoods AiPaper is, it may not suit everyone. If you're keen to check out alternatives, I've listed three options below that offer something different from each other. They also come in at slightly different price points, so take a look at their specs comparison below listed alongside the AiPaper itself, and read on for a quick look at each.

ViWoods AiPaper

Onyx Boox Go 10.3

reMarkable 2

Amazon Kindle Scribe (2024)

Price

$799 / £610 / AU$1,199

$409.99 / €419.99 (about £355) / AU$699

From $399 / £389 / AU$669

From $399.99 / £379.99 / AU$649

Screen

10.65-inch E Ink Carta 1300

10.3-inch E Ink Carta 1200

10.3-inch Canvas 2

10.2-inch undisclosed E Ink Carta display (possibly 1200)

Resolution

300ppi

300ppi

226ppi

300ppi

Operating system

Android 13

Android 12

Linux-based

Linux-based

Storage

128GB

64GB

8GB

16GB / 32GB / 64GB

CPU

2GHz octa-core MediaTek MT8183

2GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 680

1.2GHz dual-core ARM

Undisclosed

Battery

4,100mAh

3,700mAh

3,000mAh

Undisclosed

Waterproofing

None

None

None

None

File support

7

26

2

16

Speakers

None

Dual

None

None

Dimensions

247 x 178 x 4.5 mm

235 x 183 x 4.6 mm

246 x 188 x 4.7 mm

230 x 196 x 5.7 mm

Weight

370g

375g

403.5g

433g

Onyx Boox Go 10.3

Missing out on the thinnest epaper tablet accolade by a millimeter, the Boox Go 10.3 is a cheaper alternative that runs Android 12. If you aren’t too fussed about security updates, this might suit you better. Compared to the AiPaper, though, the user interface is a little over the top, but it’s a lot more streamlined than older Boox tablets.
Read my full Onyx Boox Go 10.3 review for more information

reMarkable 2

Now a little long in the tooth, but if it’s writing and creativity that takes priority for you, the reMarkable 2 is a great option. You will, however, need a subscription to access your files and there’s no Play Store access either, but the minimalist user interface is distraction-free.
Read my in-depth reMarkable 2 review to learn more

Amazon Kindle Scribe (2024)

If you prefer an epaper writing tablet that can double up as your ereader, then the newest model of the Kindle Scribe would be my recommendation. Its auto-brightness adjusting screen is downright fantastic to read on and writing on it is just as lovely. You will be enclosed in Amazon’s walled garden though, but if you already use the company’s services, then it’s a no-brainer.
Read our full Amazon Kindle Scribe (2024) review for more details

How I tested the ViWoods AiPaper

• Used for three weeks as main writing tablet
• Uploaded a few EPUBs via cloud transfer to test reading
• Downloaded a few Android apps, including benchmarking ones

It's not a deal breaker but I wish the AiPaper would register on my MacBook (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

I’ve tested quite a few epaper writing tablets in the last few years, so I’ve got a system in place when I receive a new model for review. Immediately after connecting to Wi-Fi, I go through the settings to see what I need to change to have taps and gestures set up just right for me, I also go through refresh-rate options and get rid of any nav ball that’s preinstalled (I find them very distracting on the page).

That done, it’s time to open up the native apps and see what’s on offer. In the AiPaper’s case, I started with the Paper application to start scribbling some random thoughts, then went sequentially through the pre-installed options, like calendar and drawing.

I found the Learning application a little confusing, but its purpose became clear when I tried to add a few EPUBs for testing its reading prowess.

I can’t draw to save my life, but I did try the Picking application as well, just to see what it was like. I also checked what kind of pen types (and nib thicknesses) were available for creativity.

I was chuffed to see the Kindle and Kobo apps were already preinstalled, but I downloaded a few other applications from the Play Store to test speed and performance. This included Geekbench 6 that I used to benchmark the CPU (just to sate my curiosity).

I plugged an external SSD into the USB-C port to see if there was OTG support and I also tried connecting the tablet to both a MacBook and a Windows laptop. I tested the AI app, personally preferring ChatGPT to DeepSeek, and tested the other AI-powered features in the Paper app.

Having reviewed epaper tablets from several brands, I have the experience to compare the ViWoods AiPaper to several other models in the market to score it fairly.

Read more about how we test

[First tested July 2025]

This review first appeared in issue 360 of PC Pro.

One of the most aggravating things about buying technology is that you can always go one further. Spend a little more, get a little more. And that’s exactly the case if you increase your budget from £1,000 to £1,250, with the Palicomp AMD Destiny offering a significant speed hike over the CyberPowerPC opposite.

The vast majority of this is due to the presence of an RTX 4070 Super card rather than an RTX 4060. At retail, the 4070 Super costs around £600 compared to £300 for its lesser sibling, and it’s roughly twice as fast, too. 3DMark Time Spy is a great measure of this, with the Destiny scoring 18,932 versus 10,518 for the Infinity X145 Elite.

In practice, I can simplify the differences between the two machines in one sentence: the Destiny is a solid option for 4K gaming where the Infinity is not. That’s shown by a trio of results at 4K and High settings in Cyberpunk 2077, Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Dirt 5, where Palicomp’s PC returned averages of 79fps, 114fps and 119fps compared to 39fps, 57fps and 54fps. It doesn’t take a mathematician to spot that the Destiny’s scores are almost exactly twice as fast.

Palicomp has given the RTX 4070 Super a helping hand by using one of the fastest gaming processors on the planet, namely the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D. The chip’s X3D suffix indicates the extra Level 3 cache (made possible by a 3D-stacked chipset) that AMD adds over the standard 7800X, which gives an instant boost in most games.

An RTX 4070 Super graphics card takes center stage (Image credit: Future)

The downside of AMD’s X3D range of chips is that they don’t have an unlocked multiplier and can’t boost to as high frequencies as their “X” counterparts, so if gaming isn’t your main use then you’re better off with the 7800X (or even the Ryzen 7 7700X, which is roughly 7% faster in multicore tasks). However, in its own right the 7800X3D is a brilliant day-to-day processor, pushing the Destiny to 2,705 and 14,806 in Geekbench 6, 110 and 1,028 in Cinebench 2024, and 1,765 and 17,017 in Cinebench R23 (single-core results first, multicore second).

An overall score of 8,772 in PCMark is also one of the highest I’ve seen, and here I must give due praise to the supporting cast of 32GB DDR5 RAM and a 1TB Adata S70 Blade SSD. The latter is particularly fast, with an astounding 7,476MB/sec sequential reads transfer rate in CrystalDiskMark and a none-too-shoddy 5,461MB/sec result in the writing test.

(Image credit: Future)

If you’re thinking 1TB is too small for your needs, there’s one empty M.2 slot on the AMD TUF Gaming motherboard, while removing the right side of the chassis reveals two mounting spaces for 2.5in SSDs and one 3.5in hard disk caddy. There’s also a rat’s nest of cables, but at least that allows Palicomp to keep the visible side of the Destiny relatively empty. This is mainly for aesthetic reasons, as on-board upgrades are minimal: only one PCI-E x1 slot is accessible.

You can at least add to the memory, with two unimpeded DIMM sockets lying empty despite the size of the air cooler. DeepCool isn’t a name I’m familiar with, and while it does its job well – together with the total of six RGB fans on the front, top and back of this PC – it contributes to a continual hum from the Destiny. It’s by no means annoying (more the kind of hum that you only notice when the PC is switched off) but it’s reflected in the idle power draw of 84W compared to 52W for the CyberPowerPC Infinity.

The Kolink Observatory HF Mesh chassis is basic, but does allow all those RGB lights to shine through and has a handy hinged door to make accessing the innards simple. Palicomp also saves money by choosing a CIT 80 Plus Bronze-rated power supply, rather than a bigger name with better efficiency ratings, but at 700W it won’t hold you back.

The Destiny is designed with 4K gaming in mind (Image credit: Future)

One of Palicomp’s perks is that you can pick from a variety of components at time of purchase, from CPU to GPU to PSU, and you can also upgrade the warranty. I would consider doing this, as it’s one area where this PC falls behind CyberPowerPC – only the first year includes parts, and you have to pay for courier costs. £108 buys three years of C&R cover. You may also be tempted to pay for faster delivery than the standard ten working days, with £75 accelerating that to the next business day.

Overall, the Destiny isn’t as refined a package as the CyberPowerPC opposite, but there’s no arguing with its powerful components, which are all geared towards one thing: making games run fast.

For on the go play, we've also reviewed the best laptops for work and gaming

DJI is well-known for their excellent lineup of drones, videography gimbals and actions cams etc, but all these devices have one thing in common. They are all powered by batteries.

And that's where the DJI Power 2000 comes in, letting you charge your DJI drone (amongst other devices) while out in the field. It's not the first from the company, but is it the best portable power station for drone operators? I put it to the test.

FEATURES AT A GLANCE

2048Wh capacity from LiFePO4 batteries

3000W continuous output

4 x AC sockets, 4 x USB-A and 4 x USB-C

0-80% charge in 45minutes

Multiple methods of charging

Fast 10ms response UPS

For drone operators, 30 minutes of flight can equal hours of charging unless they were to buy several expensive, propriety batteries which only have one use, drone power.

DJI may now have the answer for drone operators who not only want to fast charge their drone batteries but other things as well with added flexibility.

Not wanting to miss out on the action, about a year ago DJI brought out their Power 1000 Station. Now they have released the Power 2000 increasing everything for those who need more which we are reviewing with some accessories.

(Image credit: Future)DJI Power 2000: Packaging

The power station and its accessories were all packaged individually in non-descript, plain cardboard boxes with only simple outlines of the products and what they were printed on the box. No fancy glossy or satin box with listed features, photos, pictures or illustrations.

Removing the Power 2000 from the box, we were given only the quick start guide, certificate of conformity and AC power cable, no other accessories were provided.

(Image credit: Future)DJI Power 2000: The power station

Once out of the box, the Power 2000 measures 448 × 225 × 324mm or 17.6 x 8.9 x 12.7 inches (L x W x H) and weighing in at 22kg (or 48.5lbs).

The Power 2000 has two large, grippy handles on the top to facilitate portability

All the sockets, plugs, ports etc are at the front of the Power 2000 as is the status screen. The sides and back are bereft of anything much save for some threaded holes which we will come back to later.

At the front of this UK model are the following sockets/plugs:

4 x UK Type G sockets outputting 230V at 50Hz AC pure sine wave

4 x USB-C sockets, 2 x max. 140W and 2 x max 65W

4 x USB-A sockets, each able to output 24W

1 x AC charging socket

2 x SDC multi use sockets

And the status screen

(Image credit: Future)DJI Power 2000: Charging

Switching on the Power 2000 the first time showed us a state of charge of 51%. We were pleased to see that the AC charging socket was an industry standard C13/14 connector.

But it was here that we stumbled on the first hurdle, the cable has screws on either side to prevent accidental disconnection, but the screws were too small, tool free thumb screws would have been better.

Next to the AC charge socket is a small switch that allows you to set it for fast or slow charge, on slow charge the Power 2000 was charging at 1300W and on fast nearly double that at 2200W.

The AC charging socket at the front wasn’t well received, having reviewed several power stations, they often segregated charge on the side or back and discharging sockets on the front.

Also, to the right of the AC socket is a mysterious multi pin socket, is not documented in any of the manuals or software, our assumption, it’s a terminal used by DJI for servicing.

Charging it using solar panels sent for this review, it was noted that this was a third-party panel made by “IBCPower”. Fortunately, the panel uses MC4 connectors. Using the provided MC4 to XT60 cable means that the panels can be used for other power stations.

Plugging in the panels into the Power 2000 is a nuisance. The panels plug into the provided DJI Solar panel adapter module (MPPT). A small adapter box with three XT60 sockets, this allows you to plug three panels to the Power 2000 via this box which is plugged into the Power 2000’s large SDC sockets to charge it.

With only one 200W panel on a moderately bright day, we were only seeing 180W input with already 89% charged, an estimated 92minutes to full charge. Charging from 0% to 100% using only one panel would likely take over 10 hours.

Mentioned before were the screw holes on the sides and back of the Power 2000. You can see that the MPPT box has screw holes through it and it is here that the MPPT box is screwed on to the side of the Power 2000 to secure it in place so you don’t lose it. Screws and a hex wrench are provided.

(Image credit: Future)DJI Power 2000: In use

The status screen is your typical affair that shows all the useful information that you will need at glance such as state of charge, input and output wattage. Output voltage and AC Hz, USB as well as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connections.

Putting the Power 2000 through its paces, using it to power a variety of high draw household devices such as a rice cooker, mini-induction cooker, hair dryer, air fryer. The Power 2000 was able to power all of them separately and remained silent throughout.

Using the USB is about as ubiquitous as it is, it was able to charge a variety of phones, a Lenovo ThinkPad, MacBook Air laptops with ease.

The Power 2000 has a combined output power of 3000W continuous power.

A feature that stood out to us was the Uninterruptable Power Supply or UPS feature, whilst other power stations are capable of this, most advertise a 20 to 30ms response time or require setting up. The response time is the time the power station detects grid outage and switches over to battery.

The Power 2000 boasts a fast 10ms response time. UPS mode is automatically activated when the Power 2000 is plugged into mains, AC is on and power drawn.

We tested this by plugging in a typical home office setup, into the Power 2000 via multiplugs. The setup drew around 200W, we let the set up drain the Power 2000 for about two hours taking it from 89% to 61%.

We then switched the mains on to charge the Power 2000 back to 100%, you can see the UPS logo (small, orange battery with arrows under the “INPUT”) automatically activated and the Power 2000 began charging at 1360W in slow mode.

Once at 100%, we flicked the mains switch again whilst keeping an eye on the setup, not a flicker. The set up carried on as if there were no power outage, the Power 2000 drew power from the batteries and the UPS mode switched off.

(Image credit: Future)

One prominent feature that stands the Power 2000 different to other power stations is the inclusion of two SDC ports on the far upper right.

These are multi use sockets able to charge or discharge from the Power 2000 using DC power, the connectors are essentially QS10 sockets/connectors which are high current anti spark connections.

We were only able to use this to charge the Power 2000 via the afore mentioned MPPT solar adapter box.

The SDC connections would allow a user to plug in add on batteries to the Power 2000 or charge it faster using separately available cables and adapters capable of up to 1800W of input.

The other is to allow fast charging of DJI drone batteries using one of the appropriate adapter cables. It can charge a DJI Mavic 3 series battery from 10% to 95% in about 32minutes. The Mavic 3, Mavic 4, Air 3, Matrice 30, Matrice 4 and Inspire 3 drones, each cable costs £19 at time of review.

Also provided as part of this review is the DJI Power Series Hand Truck.

Essentially a hand trolley with a sculpted foot for the DJI Power Series batteries so that a power station such as the Power 2000 sits nicely at the base. The trolley supports a further two add on batteries to stack on top of the main one with a simple ratchet strap to batten them down.

Also, we mentioned the screws on the back of the Power 2000, these are for the middle handle retaining arm to screw into so that the Power 2000 has at least two points of anchorage to the trolley.

The trolley has 12cm heavy duty rubberised wheels, it can also be folded up for storage but the handle cannot be shortened or extended. The handle height is 98cm high.

(Image credit: Future)DJI Power 2000: The app

This is one place we think that DJI could vastly improve upon and was one where we had some concerns.

Most brands of power stations such as Jackery or Bluettti have apps that go beyond just simply controlling the power station. They are the place where you access your profile/account for that brand as many have loyalty schemes. It is the app that allows you to access your power stations hidden features, settings to tweak to your liking, even if just once.

The competition, mentioned above, have well translated apps that are downloaded from your app shop of choice, here we used the Google Play Store.

On setting up the Power 2000, we searched the Google Play Store to get the DJI Home app and could not find it. It was then discovered that you have to manually download and install the APK file from the web, not exactly what we like doing as it isn’t as curated as it would be from the Play Store.

On firing it up, the first menu is a DJI Product Improvement Project that gives us the choice to disagree or “加入”? It was in Chinese but we were able to translate this as “Join In”. Not off to a good start.

Detecting the battery and setting up was straight forward but once in the app you can see the Power 2000, see where/what is drawing power, state of charge etc. There are limit options you can tweak.

DJI Power 2000: Pricing

Currently the Power 2000 is on retail in the UK DJI store for £1185

DJI Power 2000: Final verdict

The Power 2000 is a solid power station but needs some improvement here and there.

If you have already invested in one of DJIs above mentioned drones and are in the market for a power station, then the Power 2000 is the one for you. The SDC connectors allows you fast charging of your drone batteries will allow you to fly more for longer.

The UPS feature was among the fastest response and easiest to set up and its near silent operation means that it can happily work silently in your home office too.

However, it is let down by some poor decisions such as the AC charging socket at the front and the woeful app, both in getting it and it being a glorified status screen if anything.

For more power solutions, we've reviewed the best UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply).

There aren’t many bigger names in online storage than Dropbox, but fewer people know about its Dropbox Passwords product.

It’s been a free offering as part of the wider Dropbox suite since 2021, and it promises to deliver an effective password manager that’s easy to use – ideal for anyone who wants to beef up their security without the tech-heavy language and features you may have to wade through elsewhere.

Dropbox Passwords: Plans and pricing

Dropbox Passwords is free and a part of the wider Dropbox ecosystem – it’s included in the basic tier. With that product a single user gets 2GB of secure storage, the option to connect three devices and the ability to store fifty passwords. Beyond cloud storage and password storage, you get instant syncing, thirty days of file recovery and sharable links. For people who need basic password management and cloud storage, it’s compelling, although other free options like Bitwarden allow unlimited password storage across unlimited devices – albeit without cloud storage.

If you’re willing to pay, though, you get unlimited password storage and unlimited devices in every product tier. The Plus product costs $9.99 / £9 / AUD$15 per month if you pay annually, and it gives a single user 2TB of cloud storage, improved multi-factor authentication and loads of storage and sharing features. The family plan costs $16.99 / £16 / AUD$25 and enables those features for up to six users.

You’ve got more options if you want to use Dropbox in a business environment. The Professional tier delivers 3TB of storage alongside better sharing options. The Standard business product costs $15 / £15 / AUD$24 per user per month. It delivers 5TB of space and a six-month file recovery period. Unlimited space is available in the Advanced tier, which costs $24 / £22 / AUD$35 per user per month and also deploys better security. Enterprise pricing is available on request.

(Image credit: Dropbox)Dropbox Passwords: Setup

It’s easy to get started with Dropbox Passwords, even for people without much techy knowledge. Sign up for a free Dropbox Basics account and verify your email address and you’ll be right into the browser extension.

The setup process is designed to make password storage as seamless as possible. The app gives users a list of common apps, like Google, Facebook and Amazon, that can be added quickly and easily – so you can start saving passwords immediately. If you want to add your own, a separate window allows you to log your username, password and any notes, and Dropbox Passwords also supports payment cards.

Existing passwords can also be imported from Chrome and Firefox and directly from CSV files that have been exported from other password managers. You can also use Dropbox to create your own password export as a CSV.

Once you’ve saved a password, you can copy the credentials or simply use a link to open the site with the details already filled in. It’s very straightforward. This system works similarly on Dropbox Password’s iOS and Android apps. You’re also invited to create a passphrase to unlock your Passwords app, like the master passwords deployed elsewhere.

(Image credit: Dropbox)Dropbox Passwords: Interface and performance

More of the features included in Dropbox Passwords are tailored to ease of use. Select a password in the app and a separate window shows you its details and strength rating – but also highlights if it’s been involved in any breaches.

The app’s Security Dashboard is straightforward: one window gives you a big warning if your data has been compromised, and a second window delivers alerts for weak or re-used passwords. You can also choose whether you monitor all of your email addresses or just a selection.

You can share passwords with other people – simply enter their email address and they’ll be invited to log in to their own Dropbox Passwords account. Editing an entry is similarly simple: type in the correct details and click save.

The interface is well-designed, too. It’s spacious, with large buttons, and it’s sensibly designed – the main screen delivers a simple list of passwords, and the Security Dashboard uses two straightforward windows. The settings menu is easy to use, with common options split into four categories and a slick graphic that illustrates how close you are to your storage and device limits. You’re not confronted with overwhelming technical data, so people without loads of tech knowledge won’t be intimidated.

(Image credit: Dropbox)

All of this makes Dropbox Passwords great for anyone who isn’t overly familiar with tech, or people who don’t need to store loads of passwords using a complex bit of software.

However, this simplicity means that Dropbox Passwords misses out on some features. You can add passwords or payment cards on this app, but most others include more categories and templates for saving a wider range of data – and some others also allow you to store more information in each listing, including documents and images, and let users add custom fields.

There’s more platform support elsewhere, too. Dropbox Passwords works on Windows and macOS and it’s got iOS and Android apps – and its browser extension functions in Chrome, Edge, Safari and Firefox. But look elsewhere and you’ll find extensions for a broader range of browsers and apps with Linux support.

Advanced features are absent, too. More import options are commonplace elsewhere, and some free tools even include unlimited cloud storage and optional self-hosting. Dropbox’s password generator allows you to customize the length of your password and opt to use symbols and numbers, but elsewhere you’ll find generators with more versatility, like the option to make passwords pronounceable.

(Image credit: Dropbox)Dropbox Passwords: Security

Dropbox Passwords might lack high-end functionality, but there’s no quibbling with its security credentials. As with the rest of the Dropbox ecosystem, Passwords are protected with 256-bit AES encryption – a rock-solid industry standard.

SSL and TLS is deployed to protect data when it moves between Dropbox apps and the company’s servers, and the app can lock itself after a period of inactivity. Alongside using your passphrase to sign in, Dropbox Passwords can be unlocked with facial or fingerprint recognition and two-factor authentication. Dropbox is also a zero-knowledge provider, meaning no one at the company can access your data.

This is another area where you’ll certainly find more ability elsewhere, especially if you want high-end security options for organizations.

Dropbox Passwords: Support

Because Dropbox Passwords is included in every Dropbox product, the support on offer varies depending on which tier you’re using.

If you use the free Dropbox Basics product you can access live chat and an email form, and Dropbox also offers a Help Centre with a good selection of articles. There’s a forum, too.

Buy the Plus, Family or Professional plans and you get broadly similar options, although your emails are given priority. But if you upgrade to the Standard, Advanced or Enterprise plans, you get phone support too.

Dropbox Passwords: The competition

If you’d like a free password manager without the cloud storage component then you’d be better off with Bitwarden. It’s our current free favorite, and for good reason – it includes unlimited password storage and optional self-hosting, so it’s instantly a more versatile option than Dropbox.

If you want to upgrade to the paid plans then Dropbox looks more compelling, but we’d still recommend people look towards Dashlane or LastPass for pure password management. Both include broader ranges of password-specific features and both are cheaper than a Dropbox package, albeit without Dropbox’s enviable sharing and cloud storage capabilities.

Dropbox Passwords: Final verdict

Indeed, that’s the crux of the situation for Dropbox. As a free password manager, Dropbox is acceptable, especially if you don’t need advanced features. Combine the free product’s decent password management with 2GB of cloud storage and its robust security protocols and you’ve got a good option for anyone who needs fuss-free storage and password management.

Its paid products are better thanks to a market-leading range of cloud storage and sharing features, and all include Dropbox Passwords – although the price does quickly become steep when compared to pure password management software.

If you want a free password manager, then Dropbox Passwords gets the job done. But only spend cash on the paid tiers if you also want its cloud storage features.

We've listed the best password recovery software.

BitTorrentis the synonymous torrent client of the BitTorrent protocol. This protocol is the world’s largest peer-to-peer file sharing system used by millions. Sharing files over it is known as “torrenting.”

The synonymous torrent client is also the first in its class. It’s the most widely used torrenting app and offers many advanced features. I tested it extensively to help you decide whether it’s a suitable torrenting tool. Read on to learn about its features, pricing, user-friendliness, and other essential criteria.

BitTorrent: Versions

BitTorrent is available on the two most popular desktop operating systems: Windows and macOS. I was also pleased to discover it has an Android app, enabling me to download torrents on my smartphone. It’s incompatible with iOS, like all torrenting apps I’ve tested. Apple doesn’t allow torrenting apps to appear in its App Store.

This app isn’t available for Linux, which I consider a drawback. Though I don’t use a Linux PC, it’s the most popular desktop operating system after macOS and Windows. It would be good if BitTorrent were directly compatible with Linux, but that isn’t the case. Linux users can choose alternatives like qBittorrent and Transmission.

BitTorrent: Pricing

BitTorrent has four variants: Web, Classic, Android, and Remote. Web is available on macOS and Windows, enabling users to stream torrents while downloading.

Classic is the original desktop torrenting app and is only compatible with Windows. It doesn’t support any macOS version later than macOS Catalina 10.15., an outdated version that debuted in 2019.

The Web and Classic variants have the same pricing structure. The free version lets you download torrents conveniently, but you can pay for premium features.

Ad-Free. For $4.95 annually, you can remove all ads from your BitTorrent interface.

Pro. For $19.95 annually, this package is ad-free and includes integrated virus scanning for all downloaded torrents.

Pro + VPN. For $69.95 per year, you can get the enhanced security features of the Pro version plus a CyberGhost VPN subscription. A VPN encrypts your traffic and prevents third-parties from spying on your torrenting activities.

The Android app has a free version that includes ads. For a one-time payment of $3.99, you can remove ads and access battery-saving features.

The Remote BitTorrent app is free to use.

(Image credit: Future)BitTorrent: Features

BitTorrent has advanced features that make downloading torrents easy. It is more sophisticated than most torrenting clients I’ve tested.

Like most torrenting clients, BitTorrent lets you add a torrent file and download the corresponding content. A torrent file contains metadata of the music, movie, software package, or any other content you want to download. When I add a torrent file, BitTorrent reads the metadata and immediately downloads the content.

The BitTorrent Web version let me stream files even while downloading them, a feature many torrenting clients lack.

Torrenting is a peer-to-peer file sharing system that relies on distributed computers connected to a single network. When you download a torrent file on BitTorrent, you automatically become a seeder uploading the same file for other users. This system is what makes files readily available on BitTorrent.

Because of simultaneous downloads and uploads, torrenting clients often cause excessive bandwidth consumption. Fortunately, BitTorrent mitigated this issue by enabling me to set maximum download and upload speeds.

BitTorrent Classic is a sophisticated version that enables bulk downloads. I used it to download many files simultaneously and prioritized bandwidth for specific files over others. This prioritization allowed me to download those files faster than others.

Suppose you want to download dozens of episodes of your favorite movies. BitTorrent Classic is your best choice. You can prioritize specific files, schedule downloads ahead of time, and subscribe to RSS feeds to download new content automatically. The drawback is that BitTorrent Classic is only available on Windows PCs.

I tested the Android app, and it worked similarly to the desktop apps. I used it to download torrents seamlessly on my smartphone. I also tested BitTorrent Remote, which let me control torrenting activities on my PC from a smartphone. With a smartphone, I could pause, start, or stop torrent downloads on my PC.

(Image credit: Future)BitTorrent: Interface and in-use

BitTorrent has a simple interface that I enjoyed using. The Web version runs on my web browser, making it convenient to combine downloads with other torrenting activities. The Classic version runs as a standalone app, which is less convenient but suitable for bulk downloads.

With features neatly placed on the left and the main dashboard on the right, navigating BitTorrent was as simple as it gets. The Web app has a modern, sleek interface that anyone can quickly understand.

The Classic version has a more dated interface but is easy to familiarize with. The Android app has a similar interface to the web app scaled down for a smartphone. BitTorrent scores excellently in the user-friendliness criterion.

BitTorrent: Security

BitTorrent has advanced security features to protect users while torrenting. I liked the integrated virus scanning feature, which checked torrents for malware before downloading them on my PC. Malicious actors often abuse torrents to spread malware on unsuspecting computers, so this feature was critical to keeping me safe online.

I also liked that the Pro + VPN feature is bundled with the advanced CyberGhost VPN. This VPN routes your traffic through a remote server and prevents third-parties, especially internet service providers (ISPs), from spying on your torrenting activities.

If you already have a VPN installed, you can use it to protect yourself online without paying $69.95 annually for the Pro + VPN version.

BitTorrent: Final verdict

BitTorrent is one of the best torrenting clients, with excellent download speeds, enhanced security, and a user-friendly interface. My main complaint is that some key features are locked behind a paywall, but overall, BitTorrent is a stellar client I’ll recommend to everyone.

You might also like

• Vuze
• qBittorrent
• Deluge

• Have a look at the best free torrent client
• Discover the safest VPN for torrenting

Razer BlackShark V3 Pro: one-minute review

The Razer BlackShark V3 Pro is, as the keen-eyed will have surmised, an upgrade to the 2024 V2 wireless gaming headset, which adds active noise cancellation to the proposition. Razer’s BlackShark headsets fit into the manufacturer’s range right at the top, in terms of both features and pricing, so the changes it makes to this model are always a real statement of intent.

What is that intent? A combination of one big addition in ANC, plus a few smaller tweaks that demonstrate an open ear to community feedback. It’s odd to see noise cancellation added to a headset that features breathable fabric earcups, since ANC relies on the headset’s ability to isolate sound passively through its physical design in order to work effectively.

In other words, the earcups need to block out maximum ambient sound by creating a vacuum around your ear before the listening technology gets involved. It’s not unheard of, though, as AirPods Max users will attest, and despite the cloth fabric’s inferior isolation properties, these updated BlackSharks do indeed manage to tune out a good deal of unwanted external noise. Best of all, there’s a button on the headset that toggles between ANC on, ambient (using the listening mics to actively amplify external noise), or ANC off.

Those other small tweaks: a slightly redesigned hinge connecting the earcups to the adjustable headband, which is now finished with an aluminum panel and operates slightly more smoothly and – the holy grail of headset features – a physical chat mix scroll wheel, just like SteelSeries adds to their Arctis cans.

Truthfully, there wasn’t much wrong with the existing model, as you’ll see from our Razer BlackShark V2 Pro review. I’ve been using the V2s ever since they released, and I’m delighted that the V3 retains all the strong points like incredible comfort, finish quality, battery life, audio, adds a couple of welcome tweaks, and then slaps in a big value-add like ANC without upsetting the apple cart. The Xbox and PlayStation versions feature very similar offerings, distinguished only by some green headband trim on the Xbox model and a slightly different variant of the dongle.

The only significant downside to using the BlackShark V3 Pro ANC, regardless of platform, is the dongle situation. The supplied HyperSpeed wireless dongle actually requires a USB cable to connect to either a PC or console, while the smaller, neater BlackShark V2 USB-C dongle won’t pair with V3 models. So although the headset’s wireless, the dongle is… wired? That seems like a bit of an odd situation, despite the improved latency that HyperSpeed brings.

(Image credit: Future/Phil Iwaniuk)Razer BlackShark V3 Pro: Price and availability

• List price: $249.99 / £249.99 / around AU$510
• $50 more than the BlackShark V2
• Considerably cheaper than SteelSeries’ Nova Pro Wireless ANC option

This certainly isn’t a cheap headset. Then again, the BlackShark never has been, and ANC tends to add a considerable price premium on any headset model that offers it, gaming or otherwise.

The cost of blocking out external sound is about $50, versus the outgoing 2024 model of BlackShark V2 Pro, which means anyone considering hitting the buy button has an important question to ask themselves: is ANC essential, or would they be just as happy to use the V2 model instead and enjoy the lion’s share of the same features, for less? V2s sell for less than $180 now and are likely to be discounted further while stocks last.

The other big player in the ANC gaming headset space is SteelSeries, whose Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is among the most feature-rich and lavishly finished models we’ve ever seen. Priced at $349.99 MSRP, it’s a full hundred dollars more expensive than this Razer model, which almost makes the Pro V3 ANC seem like a bargain.

Razer BlackShark V3 Pro: Specs

Razer BlackShark V3 Pro

Price

$249.99 / £249.99 / around AU$510

Weight

367g / 0.81lbs

Battery life

70 hours

Compatibility

PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5 (Xbox version), PC and PS5 (PC/PS5 version), iOS, Android

Connectivity

Bluetooth, 2.4GHz wireless

Microphone

16-bit/48KHz

(Image credit: Future/Phil Iwaniuk)Razer BlackShark V3 Pro: Design & features

• Beautifully stealthy looks with immaculate stitching
• All-day comfort, despite the weight
• Great suite of physical controls

BlackSharks are built around an aviation-style headset design, similar to HyperX’s Cloud, which was itself based on the OG QPAD QH90s. That entails two oval-shaped earcups connected not at the top but via a hinge at the side of each to a padded headband.

I’ve been testing headsets for far too many years at this point, and I’ve found this earcup size and design generally offers the best comfort and passive noise cancellation. So when it’s manufactured to a high standard like this and finished with a generous wedge of memory foam, you’ve got a recipe for long-term comfort.

Some people don’t get on with the hinge design. While other headsets offer a notched sensation when you adjust the headband and even show you measurements that you can reference, these BlackShark V3 Pros, like their ancestors, don’t have any of that. Personally, I’ve always found that a bit pointless – surely it’s quicker and easier to adjust until you feel comfortable, rather than dialing in a prescribed number?

It’s true that the thin telescopic aluminum poles that let you adjust for size have traditionally been a bit stiff to operate, and to me it feels like they’re smoother on this model. That could just be the new headset effect, though.

The finish is typically immaculate, as per Razer’s standards. The stitching on the upper leather portion of the headband looks like an Italian sports car’s interior, the imprinted Razer logo running along the top is pin-sharp, and so are the gloss finish Razer logos on the matte earcups. There’s a new aluminium plate on the hinges for these V3s, finished in an engraved spiral design, which breaks up what was previously a plasticky-looking component with a bit of added shine. They probably don’t bring the weight down, but despite its 0.81lbs/367g being towards the heavier end of the market, discomfort isn’t an issue as the headband and earcup cushioning, together with the headset’s clamping force, work together to prevent anything digging in.

(Image credit: Future/Phil Iwaniuk)

I’m such a big fan of the right-hand earcup’s physical controls. Firstly, there’s a button that cycles through three ANC modes: on, off, or ambient, and not even my Bose QC45s offer that much control over ANC, so well done for that, Razer.

Second, I always find a chat mix wheel useful, so its addition to the BlackShark V3 Pro ANC is an extremely welcome one for me. Streamers might like to hear a small amount of their mix audio just to check they’re not muted, and personally, I find it helps to regulate my speaking volume for in-game chat.

There’s also an EQ cycle button, which I never, ever use. Some people might. At least it’s positioned so that I never hit it by accident.

The only significant negative is an enduring one: the supplied HyperSpeed dongle needs a USB cable to be connected to it. The USB-C dongle for the V2 gen won’t pair with these V3s, so HyperSpeed dongles are the only option. This won’t impact your enjoyment of the headset’s features, but it feels like a strange solution, a bit of a stopgap until Razer releases a HyperSpeed dongle that plugs directly into your device. Until then, grit your teeth and brace for some cable spaghetti emitting from your PC or console.

(Image credit: Future/Phil Iwaniuk)Razer BlackShark V3 Pro: Performance

• ANC works well, if not perfectly
• Booming but precise sound
• Absurd battery life

Let’s get into the headline addition to this V3 iteration of the BlackShark Pro: active noise cancellation. Seeing ANC on a gaming headset’s spec sheet is a recent phenomenon, probably because the areas where we play games tend to be quiet in the first place. But there are scenarios when it could come in handy: doubling up as work and gaming headphones, playing on a mobile device on public transport, or, for the very few players skilled enough to find themselves in such a situation, playing an esports match in front of a crowd.

Until the Worms Armageddon competitive scene blows up, the only use case I have for ANC is when using a headset with a mobile device out in the world, particularly on a plane. I must disclose that I haven’t used the BlackShark V3 Pro ANCs on a plane yet, but I have taken them on train journeys and on walks, using the Bluetooth connection with my phone.

The listening mics do their job well, negating a lot of ambient noise in both situations. However, the downside to using cloth fabric instead of pleather around the earcups is that if you really listen out for it, you can hear the ANC making tiny adjustments whenever your headset’s position changes slightly. Which it does, because that breathable fabric doesn’t ‘stick’ the headset in place like pleather does. You really have to listen out for it, but the sound of low frequencies adjusting is perceptible as your headset shifts.

I don’t find that a major issue. ANC is a big value-add for me, but not because I need to drown out sound while gaming. Instead, it adds to the BlackShark V3 Pro ANC’s versatility, as a smartphone headset, a night-time phone session buddy, or a study aid to help me focus.

Speaking of versatility, since the V2s were released, Razer updated their firmware to allow simultaneous 2.4GHz wireless and Bluetooth connectivity, meaning you can take calls from your phone while you play on your PC or console. Yet another value-add.

(Image credit: Future)

Like its predecessor, the model comes in PC, PS5, and Xbox variants, both also compatible with PC, with only minor cosmetic differences and one compatibility difference (the Xbox version works on all platforms, the other two not so) between them - some green trim and a different dongle on the Xbox version, basically. Setup is easy on both consoles, and new to this gen, you can use them wired while they’re charging on consoles, too.

Not that charging is an especially frequent task. The spec sheet gives these 70 hours of life on a full charge when using a 2.4GHz wireless connection, which is an extraordinary figure. Based on my year of heavy usage with the V2s, the 70-hour claim held up long-term, so I’ll be interested to see what effect the ANC has on the V3’s battery performance over the coming months. All I can say at present is that 70 hours is correct out of the box.

I don’t think the mic’s been updated this gen, at least not as far as I can tell. The same detachable design returns, with a big foam pop shield, decent noise suppression, and a well-rounded sound. In the last year, I’ve been using the V2s, people on Discord always asked if something was wrong with my mic when I used a different headset for testing. The consensus this time? It sounds… the same.

Let’s mention the driver sound quality, since it’s the bottom line of any gaming headset. It’s been a long time since Razer and its contemporaries used to artificially boost the low-end frequencies to make everything you listened to sound like a bone-rattling action film. Modern gaming headsets offer a much flatter EQ response, which gives you numerous benefits, from versatility to precise audio articulation. It also means that headsets from different manufacturers sound a lot more like each other than they used to, but nevertheless, the BlackShark family has ‘a sound’.

It’s precise and flat, but with an authoritative thud to the bass response when it’s truly needed. You can, of course, tinker with those properties via the EQ presets and Razer’s Synapse software, but I find software EQ tends to introduce a digital artifice to the sound that’s always counterproductive.

The bottom line is that they sound fantastic in every setting. Like their predecessor, the V3 Pro ANCs are a complete package that’s hard to find fault with.

(Image credit: Future/Phil Iwaniuk)Should I buy the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro?Buy it if...

You play in noisy areas
Take that, inconsiderate housemates! ANC is a great option for improving your focus by filtering out unwanted external noise.

You’re a device-hopper
Constantly taking phone calls while playing on PC, then switching to a Sony-exclusive on PS5? The dual-wireless connectivity and new wired console use will make you smile.

You’re not pinching the pennies
During an ongoing cost-of-living crunch, it’s worth reminding ourselves that there are headsets at half this price, which, while not offering the same suite of features, let you enjoy your games and won’t break. This is definitely priced in luxury purchase territory.

Don't buy it if...

You’re deep into ANC effectiveness
The cloth fabric earcup covers aren’t optimised for passive noise cancellation, and that does affect the ANC’s potency too.

You already own the V2 Pros
All the upgrades are well thought–out and welcome, but this doesn’t mean your expensive V2s now need to go in the bin.

Razer BlackShark V3 Pro: also consider...

Is something fishy about the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro to you? Consider these wireless alternatives.

Razer BlackShark V3 Pro

Steelseries Arctis Nova Pro

PlayStation Pulse Elite

Price

$249.99 / £249.99 / around AU$510

$349 / £329 / AU$649

$149.99 / £129.99 / AU$239.95

Weight

0.81lbs / 367g

0.75lbs / 339g

0.76lbs / 347g

Battery life

70 hours

36 hours

30 hours

Connection type

Bluetooth, 2.4GHz wireless (HyperSpeed dongle)

Bluetooth, 2.4GHz wireless

Wireless (PlayStation Link via dongle), Wired (3.5mm audio jack), Bluetooth

Compatibility

PC, Xbox Series X, PS5 (Xbox version), PC and PS5 (PC/PS5 version), iOS, Android

Playstation 4/5, PC, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android

PS5, PlayStation Portal, PC, Mac

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless
Featuring SteelSeries’ unique dual-battery charging solution, premium looks, and similar ANC implementation, the Nova Pro Wireless is a similarly premium headset option with few faults.

For more information, check out our full SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless reviewView Deal

PlayStation Pulse Elite
Obviously, Xbox players need not apply, but for switching between PlayStation devices and PC, Sony’s wireless cans offer great comfort and audio quality for a surprisingly affordable price that’s not too far above the Nova 3X’s tag. Plus, they make you look like you’re on Star Trek.

For more information, check out our full PlayStation Pulse Elite reviewView Deal

How I tested the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro

• Over a week of solid use on PC, PS5, and mobile
• Desktop station and noisy environments field-tested
• Comfort and battery life were evaluated via long-term usage and extended play sessions, audio via music, and in-game sound

There are two ways to test the effectiveness of active noise cancellation outside the lab: one is to observe the difference in a quiet space, and the other is to go somewhere noisy. I did plenty of both during testing, on commuter trains and walks through the park, as well as at my nice, tranquil desktop PC setup.

I put the BlackShark V3 Pro ANCs through their paces in direct comparison to the V2s, across multiple consoles, and in a selection of games, including Death Stranding 2: On the Beach on PS5, Far Cry 5 on Xbox, and my old favorite, MotoGP 25 on PC, as well as a range of music too.

My typical play sessions these days are a couple of hours each, but I also logged some longer sessions to test out the long-term comfort, and used the battery from full charge down to full depletion, using both wireless modes and the full suite of ANC options.

First reviewed July 2025

Read more about how we test

Buzzsprout has always been on my list to test out when talking about podcast hosting providers. While it’s known for its beginner-friendly interface and powerful features, Buzzsprout’s extensive support stood out for me.

I tested Buzzsprout’s features, set my podcast live, and explored its analytic tools to get to know how it really works.

For a comparison on how Buzzsprout compares against the competition, check out the best podcast hosting providers.

Advantages of Buzzsprout (Pros)

Unlimited storage

Except for the free plan, all paid subscriptions have unlimited storage, so you never have to worry about running out of space for your podcasts.

Unlimited team members

Using just one account, you can add as many team members as you want. This allows your editors, managers, and others to access it without having to create separate access.

Manage multiple podcasts in one place

Running multiple podcasts? With Buzzsprout, you can manage them all under one roof. From uploading them to editing and even checking statistics, find everything in one account.

Plenty of learning materials

Buzzsprout has plenty of guides and support materials for you to learn everything that you need to. From their tutorials on YouTube to DIY fixes, there's plenty of content.

Free Plan Available

There is a free plan available for users who want to test out the platform. However, it is only available for 90 days, and features are limited. For instance, you can’t have a podcast website, import podcasts, etc.

Multiple monetization options

While I’ve talked about this in detail ahead, Buzzsprout offers various monetization options like ads, subscriptions, and direct payments that you can receive from your listeners.

Buzzsprout Celebrates Your Milestones

To ensure you never give up or lose the motivation of your podcasting journey, Buzzsprout sends you reminders of your achievements so far. In addition, it also shows you how close you are to your next achievement. Eventually, you’ll always strive for the best!

Who is Buzzsprout Right For?

Buzzsprout is perfect for beginner podcasters who want a simple, all-in-one solution to launch and grow their show without technical know-how.

You don’t need any advanced skills to get started. Features like Magic Mastering and one-click distribution make it easier to make your podcast live without spending hours on editing or hosting knowledge.

Furthermore, you get automatic updates to the latest version, dynamic ad insertion, and reliable hosting, so you can focus on content rather than tech.

Lastly, Buzzsprout takes the initiative to guide you step by step in publishing and making your first episode live. While Buzzsprout works for experienced podcasters, its biggest strength is removing barriers for newcomers, making it ideal for first-timers who want a hassle-free start.

Using Buzzsprout (Interface)

Buzzsprout's interface is clean and easy to understand. You can visit your statistics, podcast episodes, fan emails, your website, etc., all in one place.

Buzzsprout user interface (Image credit: Future)

Even as a beginner or a new podcaster, you won’t have a hard time figuring out how Buzzsprout works or how to publish your episodes. Secondly, I like how the dashboard also gives you a glimpse into your podcast pace (meaning how your podcast is performing) and shares resources.

From here, you can even check your fan emails and edit any existing podcast. If you want to upgrade your plan, you can do so directly from your dashboard.

Features BreakdownMagic Mastering

It works like an Instagram filter for your audio, and this feature uses advanced technology to optimize your audio with the best practices. This makes your podcast more professional with high-quality audio.

Automatic episode optimization

Forget about figuring out technical audio details. Upload your podcast recording directly to Buzzsprout and let their smart system handle all the optimization work behind the scenes. The platform automatically processes your audio to sound professional without requiring you to understand complex audio terminology or settings.

Transcriptions

For every episode, Buzzsprout lets you add a transcript to make your podcast easily accessible to people and search engines. In this feature, you can also choose your export format to use on other platforms as texts.

Embed And Sharing Options

With a one-click sharing option, you can embed your podcast directly into your website by customizing it to match your brand color. Moreover, your listeners can also directly hear your podcast from the embed and control it for speed, rewind, forward, etc. Lastly, you can also enable a sharing button that lets your listeners share your podcast with others.

Friendly Mobile App

Buzzsprout offers a mobile app that is available on Android and iOS. The mobile app works similarly to the website, allowing easy access to edit and publish your episode, check your stats on the go, or even celebrate your milestones.

Customizable Podcast website

Irrespective of the plan you choose, Buzzsprout gives you a free podcast website with your own domain (except for the free plan). This sharable website lets your audience find you without wandering on multiple platforms. At the same time, you can customize the majority of the aspects of the site.

How to Get Started With BuzzSprout?

You can sign up on Buzzsprout for free without entering your credit card. Once you’ve signed up, you can start your new podcast by entering your podcast title and description.

Here is a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Enter your title and description that aligns with what your podcast is going to be about.

Getting started with Buzzsprout (Image credit: Future)

Step 2: Once you’re redirected to your dashboard, click on “Upload a New Episode.”

Uploading podcast on Buzzsprout (Image credit: Future)

Step 3: Enter your podcast details as asked on your screen. These include title, episode description, artwork, etc. You can also choose to post it immediately or schedule it.

Publishing on Buzzsprout (Image credit: Future)

Step 4: Your episode is now live! You can customize or edit it by adding chapter markers, mid-roll placements, and visual soundbites.

Podcast Distribution With Buzzsprout

Buzzsprout allows you to submit your podcast to all the major directories. From Apple Music and Spotify to YouTube, you can manually submit episodes. This can also be done if you are on the free plan.

While this is great, there is no option for Buzzsprout to automatically submit your podcast, unlike its competitor RSS.com, which offers automatic submission once you upload your episode. We have broken down this in detail in our RSS.com Review.

Podcast distribution (Image credit: Future)Migration from Other Podcast Hosting to Buzzsprout

Migrating from another podcast hosting provider to Buzzsprout is easy. You can directly import your podcast by typing the name or add from an RSS feed URL.

Once you’re done, Buzzsprout will automatically take care of migration without you having to struggle with technical know-how. You will be notified once the migration is successful, and you can start editing and uploading your podcast through Buzzsprout without having to start over.

Monetization Options

Buzzsprout allows you to monetize your podcast with two primary options – let your listers be supporters and pay a “value 4 value” amount, or enable a subscription to provide exclusive content.

(Image credit: Future)

All the payments received will be collected in your Buzzsprout wallet. You can either take it out or carry it forward to your next paid plan invoice. Also, note that Buzzsprout charges a 15% fee for the payments you get.

Another monetization option is to allow ads on your podcast. For this, you get complete control over which ads you want to display and the ones that align with your audience's needs.

What Is BuzzSprout Ads?

A separate feature called Buzzsprout ads is where you can reach millions of listeners across 120,000+ active podcasts. You can customize your ad as per your preference and reach a wider audience directly.

This privacy-focused ad campaign targets podcasts that are related to yours, helping you find the right audience. The price for these ads is two cents per impression. You can further customize your ad budget.

(Image credit: Future)Analytics & Data

Buzzsprout’s analytics and statistics for your podcast stood out the most to me. From 30 days of statistics of your podcast to custom dates, you can find all the details of how your podcast is performing. These include your top episodes and top apps where your audience found your podcast.

But this isn’t the reason why I liked analytics. Buzzsprout has a built-in feature (even for free users) called “The Podcast Predictor,” which predicts how many downloads your podcast will receive in the next 90 days.

Another amazing option is that you can directly import your statistics from Spotify and Apple Music without having to track them separately.

Analytics (Image credit: Future)Buzzsprout Pricing & Plans

Buzzsprout has a free plan that hosts your episodes for 90 days and offers 2 hours of upload every month. The free plan comes with restrictions wherein you get limited storage, no access to monetization, and restricted features. While restricted, the free plan is perfect for anyone who wants to test our Buzzsprout before committing to its paid plan.

Talking about its paid plans, you can choose from its 3 options:

Price (per month)

Upload hours/month

Best For

$12 /month

3

Absolute Beginners

$18 /month

6

Podcasters who publish regularly

$24 /month

12

Big podcasters

Buzzsprout hasn’t named its plans because the features with all the tiers are the same. The only difference is the upload hours you get every month.

All plans include embedded players, statistics, podcast websites, and directories. But here’s a drawback I found. Despite paying for the premium plans, you don’t get Cohost AI and Magic Mastering as a part of your subscription. Instead, you need to add them separately to your plan by paying $10-30/month. This can add an extra cost for podcasters besides the regular subscription, especially if you’re looking for an all-in-one podcast hosting provider.

(Image credit: Future)Customer Support & Resources

Known for its award-winning customer support, Buzzsprout has a detailed resource section that covers guides, FAQs, news, etc. The resource hub is updated every month with new guides that you can check out. If you’re new to podcasting, their detailed guides will help you get the basics right.

If the DIY method doesn’t work or you are stuck, you can contact the Buzzsprout team by email. The “Help” option at the right corner of the header of your dashboard will automatically redirect you to email support. Note here that the team responds Monday-Friday 9:00-5:00 EDT (GMT-4).

(Image credit: Future)

Besides, you can tune into their YouTube channel or join the private Facebook community to stay updated with the podcasting world.

(Image credit: Future)Verdict: Is Buzzsprout Worth It?

Buzzsprout is absolutely worth it if you want to begin podcasting without any technical hassle. Its beginner-friendly user interface allows you to set up everything within a few steps. Besides, you can market your podcast with its easy social sharing and customizable embed and even monetize it with ads and subscriptions.

All plans are loaded with the right features a podcaster needs to kickstart their career. And if you get stuck, do not forget to check out their award-winning customer support and plenty of free resources to help you.

Meet the authors

After making it big with one of the best VPNs on the market, Surfshark launched Surfshark One - an entire security bundle for users who seek to go the extra mile for their online safety and privacy. Aside from featuring its own VPN, the company has thrown in antivirus software, a data leak detection system, and a powerful private search engine.

Thus, with Surfshark One, the team has fulfilled its long-held objective of providing more than just a VPN for its users. Today, it offers a powerful and comprehensive package that takes all of its four services and blends them into a single and cost-effective solution.

Surfshark One’s Alternative ID feature (Image credit: Surfshark)Features

If you’re already familiar with Surfshark VPN, you may know all about its qualities. These include a full set of privacy mechanisms, a budget-friendly price that makes it one of the best cheap VPNs, and advanced capabilities in terms of speed, unblocking, and server capacity of over 3,200 servers across 100 countries.

Furthermore, its features like NoBorders and Camouflage Mode help bypass censorship and unlock all the major localized streaming platforms, such as Prime Video, Netflix, Disney +, BBC iPlayer, and others. Add high speeds into the mix, and this makes Surfshark VPN one of the best streaming VPNs.

When you add military-grade encryption, a strict no-logs policy, and a kill switch, you get one of the most secure VPNs in the industry as well. As a bonus, Surfshark VPN offers its software-defined networking (SDN) Nexus technology, connecting the user to the network’s entire infrastructure instead of servers physically disconnected from the rest of its peers.

As for Surfshark Antivirus, it provides real-time protection to ensure you’re safe from cyber crooks and malicious software when downloading, installing, or using files and apps. On top of that, it enhances the digital hygiene of your devices through scheduled scans. This can include entire devices or specific files or folders.

And the best part? Surfshark’s AV tool got the ‘Top Product’ award from AV-TEST in its June 2024 test, rating its protection, performance, and usability. In particular, it reported a 100% detection rate against advanced zero-day malware attacks.

With Surfshark Alert, the platform’s data leak detection system, you will easily and immediately know if your sensitive data was included in any of the latest breaches. The service will notify you in real time if anything like this happens.

Whether related to your email accounts, passwords, personal identification number, or credit cards - you can have peace of mind, as it will alert you if any such information was part of breached online databases or is circulating around the darkest corners of the World Wide Web.

Finally, Surfshark Search is an ad-free private search tool that guarantees never to monitor or log your search history. At the same time, it keeps at bay any web trackers that may be snooping on you and making your browsing experience cumbersome.

This handy little tool also allows you to switch between regions and pick the one that delivers better and more relevant results for the location you want - wherever your real location may be. Moreover, it provides organic search results unaffected by previous searches.

Surfshark One’s app will ask you to log in only once (Image credit: Surfshark)Getting started

To start using all the perks included in Surfshark’s comprehensive security package, you’ll need to head over to its website, pick a plan (Surfshark Starter, Surfshark One or Surfshark One+), the subscription length (1-month, 12-month, or 24-month, currently with 3 extra months for free), and that’s it.

There are some differences between the three packages. Surfshark Starter only includes a VPN and Alternative ID tool. Surfshark One adds Antivirus, Alerts, and Search to the list of tools, and Surfshark One+ has all the tools from Surfshark One, but it also comes equipped with data removal from company databases and people search sites.

In terms of pricing, Surfshark Starter's 24-month plan costs $1.99 a month, (billed annually), and the 12-month plan costs $3.19 a month. Surfshark One’s 24-month subscription costs $2.49 a month (billed annually), whereas its 12-month option would require $3.39 per month. This leaves Surfshark One’s 1-month subscription, which would set you back for $17.95 - the least cost-effective option.

Surfshark One+ is $3.99 a month on the 24-month plan, $6.09 a month on the 12-month plan, or can be purchased on a rolling monthly subscription for $20.65.

After you’ve selected your desired plan and its length, just enter your email address, choose a payment method and input the requested information (so you can be automatically billed once the trial ends), create a password, and you’re good to go!

The next step is to download the suite (should start automatically) and install it. This happens pretty quickly, depending on your internet connection and the device’s speed. Now just sign in with your credentials and Surfshark One can begin protecting your device(s), identity, and online presence.

You can give the service a trial run for the first seven days completely free, as long as you pick a 24-month or 12-month subscription, cancel before the trial ends, and pay via a credit card or PayPal (it also accepts Google Pay and major cryptocurrencies - Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP).

The platform also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee if you’re not completely satisfied with the service - no questions asked.

Surfshark One app interface (Image credit: Surfshark)Interface

Surfshark’s Antivirus is currently available only on Android, macOS, and Windows, whereas its Alert, Search, and VPN services can be used on all of the above, plus on iOS and Linux, as well as on browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. You can also install its VPN manually on devices like routers, gaming consoles, and smart TV systems such as FireTV and Apple TV.

You’ll be happy to learn that Surfshark One covers up to five devices with one account with its antivirus protection - a solid number for a security suite albeit not unlimited as is the case with its standalone VPN solution.

Regardless of the device you’re using to open the Surfshark One app, the interface is sleek and easy to use, even for a beginner. As you open the app and sign in (only the first time), you’re welcomed by the straightforward VPN dashboard, where you can quick-connect to the fastest server based on your physical location or take a pick at any of the others.

The next tool down the left-side menu is Alternative ID, where you can see the details of your alternative persona if you’ve created them, copy all the info, and manage it by clicking on the link that will take you to the online dashboard.

To access Surfshark’s Alert dashboard, you’ll need to click on the link inside the app and it will take you to a web page listing all the detected breaches where your sensitive details have been exposed. There, the breaches are sortable by date of scan or breach, severity, or name, and list what was leaked and when.

Somewhat unintuitively, Surfshark’s Antivirus options are further down the list, just below Alert, but managing them is as easy as they get. In a single click, you can turn on/off the real-time protection, web protection, and webcam protection, start or schedule quick and full scans, and access additional features.

Following Antivirus is Surfshark Search, which you can use right there from the app. The results will open on a web page where you can narrow them down to images or videos, as well as according to a specific region.

Settings are the last option listed in the app’s left-hand menu, and here you can configure specific features related to the VPN tool, the app in general, or your account. You can also check out the referral options to get free months of Surfshark One in return.

Encountered a problem while using Surfshark One? Help is just around the corner, accessible via the app’s settings. From there, you can browse the platform’s helpful guides, access the handy troubleshooting tools, or contact the support team at any time of day or night.

Surfshark One’s antivirus dashboard (Image credit: Surfshark)Protection

Surfshark One’s Antivirus tool constantly watches over your devices through real-time scans, in addition to checking websites and stopping threats before they download. This is in addition to allowing you to conduct on-demand quick or full scans of your entire device or focus on specific files or folders.

Quick and full scans can also be scheduled to run automatically, letting you select specific scan days and scan times - and they won’t consume much of your time or RAM. The virus database updates itself every three hours, but you can also check for updates manually whenever you feel like it.

External storage scans - checking your USBs, hard drives, and network drives for malware, ransomware, and viruses, are also possible. You can choose to include them in the full and quick scans, have the tool ask you to scan them when connecting to your device, or both.

Additionally, the always-on cloud protection feature analyzes suspicious files using the Surfshark cloud, where the platform opens and checks them with no risk to your device. Its other advantages include access to a global virus database and the fact it doesn’t come at the cost of your device’s speed.

As a rare extra perk (though currently in beta phase), you can also turn on the webcam protection to stop untrusted apps on your device from accessing your camera. The trusted app list is easily managed by ticking the boxes next to the apps that should be allowed webcam access and leaving out others.

Already trust certain files, folders, or websites enough to exclude them from the real-time, scheduled, and manual scans? You can add them without hassle through the app’s file or folder picker, or paste the URL of the website (and opt to apply to all its subdomains) you want to exclude from the web protection.

Finally, you can choose to have infected files automatically deleted after 60 days of quarantine.

Surfshark One’s VPN interface (Image credit: Surfshark)VPN

Surfshark’s VPN already has an enviable reputation as one of the top performers in the industry and for many good reasons. Let’s start off with its wide-reaching network of more than 3,200 servers (virtual and physical) spanning over 100 countries across the globe.

Unsure which server is the best for your location? No worries, just run Surfshark’s built-in speed test to see how they perform based on region (Europe, Asia Pacific, The Americas) or type (P2P, virtual, physical, static IP). You can also see how fast the recommended or recently used servers are.

Thanks to such a large and versatile network, you can access just about any type of content you need, be it geo-blocked TV shows and movies on streaming platforms like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, DAZN, Prime Video, Hotstar, Hulu, Crunchyroll, YLE Areena, HBO Max, YouTube, or for some localized regional browsing.

The optional NoBorders mode, supporting internet access and connectivity around the world, is on by default. Additionally, you can download Surfshark’s browser extension for advanced blocking of ads, trackers, and malware when the VPN is connected.

Do note that the kill switch, the mechanism that disables your entire internet access in case the VPN connection fails to prevent any potential IP leaks, is off by default. Hence, you’ll need to turn it on manually as this part of the service is essential for your VPN use and online activities.

That said, Surfshark’s kill switch is customizable as well. Specifically, we’re talking about strict and softer versions of it. The former steps in if the VPN disconnects or is interrupted in any way, whereas the latter acts only if the VPN disconnects by accident or is interrupted.

Other VPN-specific extras include Dynamic MultiHop, Surfshark’s Double VPN feature routing your data through two servers instead of one. This way, it provides additional anonymity that security-conscious users will particularly appreciate. However, it might affect your connection speed as it needs to pass through twice the servers.

Supported protocols include OpenVPN (TCP or UDP) and WireGuard. You can choose any of them as your preferred protocol, or allow the app to select the fastest and most stable one automatically.

The Bypasser option defines the specific apps, websites, and IP addresses that can circumvent the VPN and those that should be routed through the VPN at all times. It is important to note that apps take priority over websites and IP addresses, so if you set your browser to route via the VPN, all the websites you visit will do so too, even if you set them to bypass VPN.

Other advanced options include Rotating IP (automatically changes your IP address while your VPN location remains constant) and Invisible on LAN (hides your device from other devices connected to your local network, like phones, printers, and smart TVs). Both are off by default.

In terms of performance, Surfshark VPN connects quickly and at the first attempt regardless of the server location choice. The speeds we tested independently are very good, even when connecting to India and Malaysia, both far, far away from our actual testing location.

The MultiHop to New York via Toronto was also fast. Changing the exit location to India didn’t make a lot of difference in this area, although switching to Indonesia after that delivered significantly lower download speeds, cutting the previous ones in half (but this was to be expected in some cases).

Surfshark One’s breach monitoring dashboard (Image credit: Surfshark)Other features

As mentioned above, Surfshark Search is a separate tool in the suite, delivering truly organic (and private) results, be it in the form of regular URLs, images, or videos. The results delivered by default pertain to all locales, but you can choose a particular country on the list (there are 36 of them) for more localized outcomes.

In terms of Surfshark Alert, the platform’s own data leak monitoring solution, it lists all the breaches in which your personal details, be it usernames, IDs, names, email addresses, physical addresses, IPs, birth dates, passwords, hashed passwords, security questions and answers, account balances, and the like, may have been involved.

The breached data is listed alongside a short description of the breach, the date when it happened, its level of severity, the number of records exposed, and recommendations on what to do next. You can choose to archive this data, and it will remain there under an appropriate category.

This section also allows you to type in the number of your credit card and your personal number (or social security number) to scan the internet and see if any of them appear anywhere unseemly.

Want to receive breach reports to your email? You can - just go to Alert’s settings, turn on this option, and select how often you’d like to get them (monthly, quarterly, or yearly). It is also possible to have the breach alerts sent to your account email address or the email address affected in the relevant breach.

Finally, if you change your mind and want to have all the data, your email addresses, credit cards, and ID numbers removed from Alert, you can do this in just two clicks in the settings, and voilá - all of this information is permanently deleted.

The Alternative ID feature allows you to keep your personal information hidden by creating an alter ego of sorts online. This means you’ll get a fake email address you can use for newsletters (linked to your actual email address that stays concealed) or an alternative persona for social media.

In other words, it’ll create a whole new person, including inventing their full name (yes, a middle name too!), date of birth, gender, and address - all with a city, a postal code, and a country. You can easily manage these details on the website or copy your new fake info directly from the app.

Surfshark One offers a dedicated IP for an additional monthly fee (Image credit: Surfshark)What's not included

Although there is a lot to like about SuperShark One, there are a few reasons why some would want to upgrade. Among them is the third-party Incogni tool otherwise included in the Surfshark One+ package, specifically designed to protect your personal information against identity theft and data brokers profiting off it.

It does this by removing your details, including your name, address, and other personal data off the internet (like people search sites and databases). If you already have an active Supershark One subscription plan, it will cost you an additional $3.99 per month for the remainder of it to add this. After that, it will charge you $47.88 every 12 months.

For an extra fee, you can also get a dedicated IP address for your use only, facilitating a consistent, private, and faster online experience with no risk of IP blacklisting. This costs $3.75 per month on top of your existing Surfshark subscription, after which it is charged $45 once a year.

The platform also lets you generate an alternative phone number with a US country code for deliveries, online accounts, text updates, and listings so you don’t have to share your real number, thus minimizing spam, data sharing, and identity theft risks.

With it, you’ll be able to receive calls and text messages, and even reply with a limited capability in the Surfshark app. However, it doesn’t support verification codes and you’ll need to pay an additional $2.89 per month to add the alternative phone number to your current plan.

On top of that, the bundle itself is missing some of the nice-to-have features like a password manager, parental controls, and a firewall.

Final verdict

Surfshark One delivers a strong security suite that includes antivirus protection, a VPN, safe search, data leak monitoring, and more - for less than what some charge for a single product. Although it doesn’t offer a password vault or support for iOS (for now), its user-friendly interface, customizable antivirus, high VPN speeds (even with a double VPN), and extras like webcam protection and alternative ID will do an admirable job of keeping your online presence safe and your mind sane.

Hotspot Shield Basic is a mixed bag of a free VPN. Offering differing experiences depending on the app you download, varying success at unblocking streaming services, and speeds that, while fast, can struggle to maintain a connection, it falls short of the best free VPNs.

Despite this, it has seen several improvements to its service since our last round of testing, and, while not perfect, proves to be a more than usable free VPN if you're willing to work within its limitations.

Features

Hotspot Shield Basic is by no means a feature-rich option. That doesn't mean, however, that you don't get a good suite of security tools in the free package. Together, these features provide the same sense of trust that you'd expect from the best VPNs.

Included with the free plan is anti-phishing protection, a kill switch, split tunneling, and IP and DNS leak protection. Plus, on mobile, you can access Hotspot Shield's secure browser from within the app.

Something that became a theme throughout our testing was inconsistency with Hotspot Shield Basic. For example, the iOS app lacks a kill switch on the Basic version, and it's missing entirely on macOS.

A bigger concern surrounding the kill switch was its lack of compatibility. It became apparent in testing that it only works when using the Hydra protocol; what's more, should you switch from Hydra to WireGuard, the killswitch silently deactivates.

This is a major security concern for anyone who relies on a kill switch, especially as users aren't warned about the deactivation, and it underscores Hotspot Shield's position behind the competition in terms of reliable features.

These incompatibility concerns extend to its split tunneling capabilities, too, which is only available on Hydra. Once again, the app doesn't make this clear, and, should you switch to WireGuard at any time, your split-tunneling settings reset. Given this continuous lack of warning and the numerous compatibility issues, it does raise questions surrounding what else may be hiding in the code.

Should you choose to upgrade to a paid Hotspot Shield plan, the only major feature additions to speak of are its streaming and gaming modes, which supposedly optimize the service for these use cases.

This is something most paid VPNs include as standard, so, given Hotspot Shield's steeper cost, I cannot imagine what it does differently to justify the price hike.

Features score: 4/10

Server Network

The ability to pick and choose servers is a fundamental aspect of a paid VPN. Even some free services offer a small, but varied, selection of server locations.

Hotspot Shield Basic has coverage in 4 locations in total, though its website only mentions one. These include the UK, Singapore, Los Angeles, and New York.

For comparison, Hotspot Shield Premium offers 115 locations (though its website claims 125) to choose from worldwide, which, while nowhere near some of the very best VPNs, is a much wider spread.

Server network score: 3/10

Apps

Currently, Hotspot Shield Basic is only available across four platforms: iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS. This leaves omissions in compatibility, most notably, Linux and Smart TVs.

Hotspot Shield seems to have discontinued support for its Chrome extension, as it has been removed from the list of compatible platforms on its website. Plus, it's no longer available to download from the Chrome Web Store.

We've mentioned inconsistencies across apps already, but, as we'll delve into later, something to note is that there's a major disparity between platforms. Most notably, the lack of a kill switch on Mac and the lack of WireGuard, IKEv2, a kill switch, and split-tunneling on its iOS app.

Plus, in testing, we found that depending on your download location, you can find yourself looking at a completely different app. On our Windows testing machine, for example, the app we received from the Windows Store was totally different from the one we got from Hotspot Shield's website.

Upgrading to Hotspot Shield Premium fixes several of these availability issues, including adding Linux, Smart TV, and router compatibility, as well as adding WireGuard and IKEv2 to its iOS app, alongside the kill switch and split-tunneling.

Apps score: 5/10

Ease of use

Limited features mean that there are limited opportunities for confusion, and, in that way, Hotspot Shield Basic claws back some points. However, that doesn't mean its offering is totally simple.

Since migrating the Basic experience into the main Hotspot Shield app, finding your way to the free experience is far from easy on mobile. After loading the app, you have the option to sign up for a free trial (which isn't the Basic plan), and only when you scroll into the smaller print at the bottom of the screen can you find a way of accessing the free app.

Once you've signed in, Hotspot Shield is surprisingly easy to use and pleasant to look at. You're greeted by a black, grey, and blue interface, with icons along the bottom of the screen on mobile and along the left edge on desktop. It bears a resemblance to the layout of NordVPN (albeit without the stacked roster of features).

Hotspot Shield for Windows is impressively clean to look at, resembling the likes of NordVPN. Though it lacks the features to make proper use of the layout (Image credit: Future)

We found accessing the settings easy enough. The menu provides ample description of each option, allowing newer users to quickly get to grips with the functionality, even if these settings lack necessary warnings about silent deactivations (as mentioned earlier).

Our biggest gripe with the usability of Hotspot Shield Basic stems from its mobile apps, which are inundated with ads.

They're (almost) ever-present on the home screen in banner form, and you can be presented with sketchy ads at any given moment if you choose to hop between menus or toggle on features, which adds unwanted wait time to the overall experience. Luckily, using Hotspot Shield Basic on Mac or Windows allows users to avoid these ads.

Ease of use score: 6/10

Speed and performance

No free VPN can match the speeds of today's fastest VPNs, but that doesn't mean they can't impress. In our testing, Hotspot Shield surprised us, recording speeds of 385 Mbps using WireGuard, which is more than enough for stable streaming, searching, and gaming.

Hotspot Shield's proprietary Hydra protocol offered more confusing results. Given that it's based on OpenVPN, it is unsurprising that the speeds were slower than its WireGuard results, achieving a maximum of only 163 Mbps.

During testing, we achieved these speeds when connecting to the US, with slower speeds attained when connecting to UK servers.

Hotspot Shield Basic's UK servers appeared to have a much higher load than its US servers, and this isn't entirely surprising, but it limits your options should you be looking to connect to the UK specifically.

Something to remember is, as mentioned already, Hotspot Shield Basic's kill switch only works on its Hydra protocol, meaning that should you need it, you'll likely experience a slower overall performance.

Speed and performance score: 5/10

Unblocking

Most free VPNs struggle to unblock streaming services, and Hotspot Shield Basic is no different.

In our testing, we achieved mixed results. On Mac and Windows, we failed to unblock any streaming services, including Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, 9Now, 10Play, and BBC iPlayer.

Despite this, on mobile, we were able to access both Netflix and Prime Video without issue.

If you're looking for the best streaming VPN, we will always recommend you look towards paid services, as all the best VPNs we test proved flawless at unblocking streaming services in our latest round of testing.

Unblocking score: 4/10

Privacy and security

Since our last review, Hotspot Shield has made some headway in improving its security, but it hasn't plugged every hole.

To its credit, the Basic plan now includes a kill switch, and in 2023, the service went through an independent security audit.

That said, some things are still either missing or remain red flags. The issues we've raised already surrounding kill switch and split tunnelling support offer little reassurance or reason to choose Hotspot Shield, especially if your privacy is actively at risk. Plus, while its no-logs policy has now been audited, the use of ads in the mobile apps means there are some ways to identify how devices have been used.

In terms of VPN protocols, Hotspot Shield Basic offers its own Hydra protocol, alongside WireGuard and IKEv2, depending on the platform you use. The Hydra protocol uses strong AES-256 encryption to protect your data, while the WireGuard protocol uses the standard ChaCha20 for encryption.

Privacy and security score: 5/10

Track record

Hotspot Shield's track record isn't quite spotless. In 2018, an information disclosure vulnerability allowed a remote attacker to find out whether a user was connected to the VPN, their approximate location (country), and more. It required the user to visit a booby-trapped website, but the vulnerability was fixed after being disclosed to the company.

In 2020, an exploit allowed a local attacker to use Hotspot Shield to corrupt system files, which, while not a privacy concern, drew our concern.

It has been five years since Hotspot Shield reported any issues of the same magnitude, however, and recent security audits serve to further prove the steps the provider has taken to improve on previous errors.

Track record score: 5/10

Customer Support

Using Hotspot Shield Basic limits your customer support options to the support site, rather than also having access to full 24/7 assistance.

The support site, we found, can be somewhat limited. You can easily find yourself reading an article that's years old and now irrelevant or simply outdated, much like we found with some of the data surrounding locations. Plus, we found various instances of duplicated articles when searching for DNS.

We also found the chatbot to be almost humorously ineffective. When asking "how do I cancel my plan?" it responded "I'm sorry, I don't understand, I'm still learning. Give it another shot with different words". However, on trying "How can I close my account?" the chatbot simply gave up and transferred me to a support agent.

Customer support score: 4/10

Pricing and plans

Being Hotspot Shield's free plan, Hotspot Shield Basic is more limited than its paid counterpart, though not by as much as some of its competitors. The main omissions from the free plan include:

• Gaming and streaming modes
• Linux, Smart TV, and router support
• IKEv2
• 9 additional simultaneous connections (10 in total)
• An iOS kill switch
• Split tunnelling on iOS and Mac
• Full 24/7 support
• 111 more locations (115 total)

However, at $6.66 per month, it's arguably a better value choice to simply use the free version should you, for whatever reason, be set on using Hotspot Shield.

If you're looking to upgrade to a paid VPN, there are much better alternatives for much lower prices, such as Surfshark and NordVPN – it even makes ExpressVPN look cheap.

Pricing and plans score: 4/10

Should you use Hotspot Shield Basic?

Hotspot Shield Basic is an extremely limited free VPN, but that doesn't mean it isn't capable. All free VPNs lack features, but Hotspot Shield Basic's omissions, locations, and unblocking consistency leave much to be desired when compared to the likes of PrivadoVPN Free.

What's more, the inconsistencies across its apps, alongside outdated website information and alarming feature limitations, all leave us concerned about other issues lying in wait.

That said, its speeds are impressive for a free VPN service, and offering unlimited bandwidth is something free VPN users on desktop will be pleased to see, given the limited market across Mac and Windows.

Overall score: 45/100

Alternatives

NordVPN – from $3.39 per month
The best VPN overall
NordVPN is one of the most well-rounded VPN services on the market, offering a combination of top-tier security, blazing-fast speeds, and advanced features. It has been fully audited multiple times to confirm its no-logs policy and the safety of its apps, and alongside a suite of extra security features, NordVPN is one of the best choices for keeping your data safe. You can give it a shot yourself with a 30-day money-back guarantee. View Deal

Surfshark – from $2.19 per month
The best cheap VPN (and also the fastest)
Surfshark is a cheap VPN that offers serious quality. It offers unlimited simultaneous connections on a single subscription and advanced privacy tools like Alternative ID, which allows you to generate new identities on the fly (so you don't have to fork over your real details). Take Surfshark for a risk-free test drive with a 30-day money-back guarantee.View Deal

ExpressVPN - from $4.99 per month
A beginner-friendly VPN package
ExpressVPN has built a reputation as one of the most reliable and secure VPN providers, which is well-deserved. It’s a slightly more expensive VPN than most of the other top-tier providers, but in return, you access a high-speed server network that spans 148 locations in 106 countries. It’s particularly effective at unblocking streaming platforms, including Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and HBO Max. See for yourself with a 30-day money-back guarantee.View Deal

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

Proton VPN is one of many internet privacy products developed by Proton, the team of scientists and privacy advocates behind Proton Mail. The suite Proton offers is certainly impressive, but how does its VPN hold up against dedicated VPN providers like NordVPN and ExpressVPN?

The answer is pretty well. The completely free tier is something no other competitor on our top five list offers. With no ads and the same privacy guarantees as paid accounts, it’s an ideal way to trial the service. The paid version? Starting at $9.99 per month, it’s about the average for a top-tier VPN. Stay with me and I’ll go into whether the paid features are worth paying for, as well as how Proton VPN stacks up to the rest of our top five for speeds, unblocking capabilities, privacy, and overall value for money.

Features

There are lots of extra features built into Proton VPN’s paid version of the app, most of which are designed to either enhance your privacy or make the VPN harder to block. For example, there’s Secure Core, which sends your VPN traffic through an initial hardened, physically owned VPN server in a high-security location before sending it on to a second endpoint VPN server. This secures the traffic you’re sending twice, so you can connect to locations without worrying that the endpoint server you use might be hacked, exposing your IP. Although it’s overkill for everyday use, it’s useful if you’re connecting to countries where VPNs are being heavily monitored by the government.

At the other end of the spectrum, there’s Alternative Routing. When enabled, this routes your VPN traffic along a route provided by external third-party servers such as AWS. While this does allow servers outside of ProtonVPN’s remit to see your home IP, it also allows you to connect to services that are otherwise blocking access from Proton VPN’s servers. You’re not going to get past an ISP’s DPI monitoring with this, but it’ll get you access to some sites that would otherwise detect you’re using a VPN.

As you can see so far, Proton VPN provides expert features that fit specific use cases. The same is true of the VPN over Tor feature, which allows you to access the Tor network directly from certain Proton VPN servers. Not everyone will need to access the Tor network, but if you’re a journalist or whistleblower, it might be the standout feature here when you need the extra anonymity.

Not everything is about privacy, though. Proton VPN uses a technology called VPN Accelerator, which uses multithreading and advanced TCP routing to provide you with better speeds when connecting to servers on the other side of the planet. It doesn’t do much when you’re connecting to servers you have a good connection with, but in situations where there’s high latency or excessive packet drop, it allows you to keep a significant portion of your bandwidth where you’d otherwise be slowed to a crawl by network instability.

Of course, there are all the conveniences here too. The VPN also includes a NetShield Ad-blocker, which blocks ads, trackers, and malware, enhancing both privacy and browsing speed. There’s also a kill-switch and split tunneling across all its apps, as well as DNS leak protection thanks to Proton VPN’s own private encrypted DNS servers.

Features score: 8/10

Server network

Proton VPN’s server network is impressive, to say the least. While the rest of our top 5 (barring Surfshark) offer more locations, Proton VPN is the undisputed winner for countries to choose from, offering a staggering 112. Although this leaves it neck and neck with NordVPN when it comes to country coverage, there are some significant differences in terms of where they cover.

What sets Proton VPN apart is the focus on serving areas of the world that have been traditionally underrepresented by VPNs, such as Africa (with 22 locations) and the Middle East (with 14 locations), both of which more than double any other provider on our top five list. Proton VPN also offers the most locations in Asia, too.

Of course, if you’ve already started doing the numbers, you’ll realize that this comes at the cost of offering less impressive coverage in Europe and North America than its competitors. This isn’t to say that Proton VPN doesn’t offer an acceptable range of locations, but if you need state-by-state coverage across the US, you’re better off looking at Private Internet Access instead. Similarly, ExpressVPN has you covered if you want in-depth access to Europe.

Server network score: 8/10

Apps

There’s a Proton VPN app for every major platform, including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux. There’s some feature disparity between versions of the app, but you can expect roughly the same experience from all of them, including the Linux app, which is a full GUI program. It’s roughly on par with the Windows version, whereas the macOS version doesn’t offer OpenVPN or split tunneling. Not ideal, but all of the security features are available across every platform.

There’s an interesting quirk in Proton VPN’s desktop app design that sets it apart from the rest of the apps in our top 5. When you unfurl the home menu, it displays a map of every VPN location you can access. It’s a very cool piece of design flair, which, when combined with the pleasing purple and black color scheme Proton VPN has going on, results in a piece of software that looks like something out of a spy film.

Proton VPN recently unveiled a major revamp to some of its apps, including its previously less appealing mobile apps. This update has improved not only the customisability of the service, but also how intuitive it feels to use across different platforms, since the apps now match almost entirely across all major platforms.

The Chrome version is rated significantly lower than the other browser extensions from our top 5 VPNs, but it seems a little unfair. With a score of 2.4 on the Apple App Store, many reviews seem to focus on the lack of a free version of the browser add-on. This isn’t the case anymore, as ProtonVPN has recently released a free version of all its browser apps. Some of these complaints are a little more valid, though. While I haven’t noticed it myself while testing the Chrome extension out, there are a lot of complaints about it requiring multiple log-ins to keep connected, which is an easily avoided frustration for users.

Apps score: 8/10

Ease of use

There’s nothing very difficult about the install process, and once you’re logged in, Proton VPN is easy enough to deploy. There’s a guided tour you can take to check out some of the more advanced features, but it’s easy to ignore if you just want to get started. You click the quick connect button, and you’re connected to the nearest server.

For everything else, Proton is functional if a little intimidating for new VPN users. The world map interface lets you plot out your Secure Core connection by hand, giving you a much better idea of how each location will impact your overall connection path. It’s a great way to optimize your connection speed, but it's a little more involved than just clicking a button and closing the app.

Ease of use score: 8/10

Speed and performance

Our latest testing across Proton’s protocols indicates an overall drop in its average speeds, though connecting to our nearest server still capped our testing rig out over 950+ Mbps, which is great news.

Unfortunately, testing from the UK to the US on WireGuard only clocked in at 630Mbps, which is pretty disappointing after recording around 700Mbps in our previous round of testing. At the very least, our latency and jitter readings didn’t pick up anything particularly alarming.

How we perform speed tests

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

We test OpenVPN and WireGuard protocols across a range of speed-test sites throughout the day using a pair of virtual machines from the US and UK, using a connection with 1GB bandwidth in each location. Yes, it’s overkill compared to a normal internet connection, but it gives us a better idea of how the VPN really performs. You can find our full testing methodology here.

The OpenVPN results are also less than we’d hope, only measuring 220Mbps compared to previous results of 400Mbps. We always expect to see a significant drop from OpenVPN compared to WireGuard, but Proton VPN’s OpenVPN speeds used to be fairly impressive. Now, they’re more or less in line with the rest of the pack.

To be clear, these are all speeds that will completely suffice for almost all your internet activity. If you’re on fiber, you might struggle a little to get the most out of your connection while you’re downloading, but otherwise, it’ll handle 4K streaming without any issue at all.

Speed and performance score: 7/10

Unblocking

Given Proton VPN promotes itself as a privacy-first VPN, you'd be forgiven for thinking streaming might not be a strong suit. However, that’s thankfully not the case. We’ve tested the servers against a wide range of streaming services, including regional variants of Netflix (US, UK, Japan, Canada, and Australia) as well as other streaming giants like Amazon Prime and Disney Plus.

In all cases, the Proton VPN servers provided instant access to the services we tested. All you have to do is pick the location you want to watch from and get streaming.

We also tested Proton VPN with more regional services such as BBC iPlayer, Channel 4, ITVX, 10Now, and 9Play, all of which were easily accessible from Proton VPN.

As for torrenting? It’s a breeze. Proton VPN supports port forwarding, so you can easily connect to other peers in a P2P network. There are also a few P2P optimized servers available on Proton VPN, which allowed me to fully connect to the rest of the swarm when downloading Linux ISOs to test.

Unblocking score: 10/10

Privacy and Security

Like every other tool from the Proton team, Proton VPN has been built from the ground up for privacy and security. Depending on which platform you’re using Proton VPN on, you’ll have the choice between OpenVPN, WireGuard, and its proprietary Stealth protocol. OpenVPN and WireGuard have both been stress-tested a thousand times over by real-world deployments and audits, so you don’t have to worry about accidentally choosing an insecure protocol when setting up the service. WireGuard is built to always use the most secure encryption by default, while Proton has set up its OpenVPN deployment to use AES-256, which is about as secure as can be.

Stealth is an obfuscated version of WireGuard that runs over TLS, making it look like normal encrypted browsing data to anyone who’s trying to analyze your traffic to spot a VPN in use. It’s mainly useful for ducking past enterprise rule-based firewalls, but your mileage may vary in how well it works on DPI-based firewalls that ISPs in countries with harsh internet restrictions use.

Of course, Proton has a strict no-logs policy, which has been verified by multiple independent audits, most recently from Securitum in July of 2024. This marks its third consecutive annual no-logs audit, all of which are available to see on Proton VPN’s website without registering for an account. Most providers, including ExpressVPN, will ask you to sign up first, but Proton VPN is demonstrating a commitment to transparency that few VPN providers can match.

While Proton VPN doesn’t use RAM-only servers to run its service, they do employ full-disk encryption on all of its servers, which essentially achieves the same thing. None of your browsing or connection data is ever written to disk, and anyone who attempts to remove one of the servers by force would be completely unable to decrypt the hard disk without an encryption key. Not that they’d find anything useful, anyway.

Proton VPN’s Secure Core architecture adds an extra layer of protection by routing traffic through multiple servers in privacy-friendly countries, effectively defending against network-based attacks. Forward Secrecy is implemented, generating a new encryption key for each session to ensure that even if a key is compromised, past browsing history remains secure.

I can’t say Proton VPN’s malware blocking was particularly good, though. To test it out, we picked 100 brand-new phishing URLs from the anti-phishing experts at OpenPhish and connected to each one with Proton VPN open to see how they’d do. At 11% of malware sites blocked and only 19% of phishing results, Proton VPN could do far better.

Privacy and security score: 8/10

Track record

When you claim that you’re a privacy-first company, you’re going to get a lot of eyes on you. Proton VPN is no exception, which means that some privacy issues from related products tarnish its reputation slightly. In 2019, ProtonMail was forced to log the IP address of a climate activist after a law enforcement request, which significantly undermined its perception as a private email provider.

However, Swiss law works slightly differently for VPN providers. They cannot be compelled to carry out bulk surveillance by either foreign law enforcement or the Swiss government, so Proton VPN as a product is significantly less vulnerable to the same sort of requests. As for individual accounts, Proton VPN has to comply with legally valid cases brought forth by the Swiss courts, even if these are made by a foreign entity. However, Switzerland has no official ties to EU, NATO, or US intelligence sharing pacts, and tends not to recognize law enforcement requests from countries with a poor judicial reputation.

Track record score: 9/10

Customer support

More so than other VPNs in our top 5, Proton VPN feels like it expects you to do a bit of reading to get the most out of your VPN. There’s an incredibly comprehensive knowledge base that very clearly outlines how the whole app works, as well as offering a ton of solutions for common troubleshooting problems. The live chat is only for paying customers, so if you have any trouble signing up, you’ll have to email them or send a support ticket.

Speaking of, its live support isn’t 24/7, unlike NordVPN. Instead, you’ll need to get in touch with a support representative between 9 AM and 5 PM CET. While my interactions with the Proton VPN support staff have been useful, if delayed a little bit (there’s a 24-hour turnaround on any issue when you open a ticket), there have been some poor interactions that resulted in a 2.4 score on Trustpilot.

Customer support score: 7/10

Pricing and plans

Proton VPN starts at $9.99 a month, putting it squarely in the middle of the road as far as pricing. This goes down to $3.99 per month if you buy for the year, or $3.59 per month for two years – both of which are prices exclusive to TechRadar readers. Not the most expensive VPN in the world, but PIA has it beat on price. Anyway, this subscription protects 10 devices on a single plan. Upgrading your plan won’t remove this restriction, but it will give you access to Proton Drive, Mail, Calendar, and Pass for another three dollars a month. If you’re trying to migrate all of your data away from another provider like Google, this is a truly great deal.

There’s also a free version that only offers three locations (The US, the Netherlands, and Japan) but does so with no ads or restrictions whatsoever. You won’t get access to all of the premium features, such as Multi-Hop or Secure Core, but it’s functional enough if you need a secure VPN to cover a single device without paying for it.

Pricing and plans score: 10/10

Should you use Proton VPN?

If you’re looking for a free VPN, get Proton VPN. With an unlimited bandwidth policy, no time-outs, and no ads, Proton VPN is just about the best free VPN you can get today. As a paid VPN? You could do a lot worse. Proton VPN will satisfy just about everyone who uses it, but it falls short in a few key areas where other VPNs simply work better.

It’s fast when it counts, but Surfshark and NordVPN both consistently outdo Proton VPN. All the rest of our top five perform better than Proton VPN at both European and North American locations, especially ExpressVPN and PIA, respectively. Still, these are minor complaints at best. Proton VPN has an extensive list of privacy-focused features, and you can try all of them for yourself with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Overall score: 83/100

Proton VPN – from $2.99 per month
A great pick for small businesses

Proton offers a huge package for an impressively low cost. Offering services such as email, a password manager, and, of course, an impressive VPN, Proton offers a close competitor to Surfshark in terms of breadth of offering and value. Despite falling short in some areas of our testing, it's a surefire solution to anyone's day-to-day security concerns and offers speeds and security more than good enough to put your mind at ease.View Deal

Proton VPN alternatives

1. NordVPN – from $3.39 per month
The best VPN overall

A VPN with a focus on security, NordVPN not only offers a high-speed VPN but also a built-in antivirus, URL safety checkers, additional server protection with Double VPN, and an ad-blocker using their encrypted DNS solution. It’s slightly more expensive than Surfshark but offers a VPN service second to none. View Deal

2. Surfshark – from $2.19 per month
The best cheap VPN (and also the fastest)
Don't be fooled by the price tag. Surfshark isn't just cheap, it's a full-blown privacy suite with the best value-for-money toolkit I've seen in the market so far. Beyond its great features and even better pricing, it's also the current champion in our speed tests, and has been for a while. Check out this budget-friendly privacy demon with a 30-day money-back guarantee and see how it compares to ExpressVPN.View Deal

3. ExpressVPN – from $4.99 per month
The best VPN for beginners and the most secure

With its lightning-fast speeds and excellent unblocking capabilities, ExpressVPN is one of the best choices out there if you’re willing to pay a premium for performance. Its apps are incredibly polished, and its custom VPN protocol, Lightway, combines high speeds with obfuscation to allow you to connect from anywhere on the planet. View Deal

Proton VPN FAQsHow does Proton VPN keep your data safe?

Proton VPN is based in Switzerland and adheres to a strict no-logs policy, verified by independent audits. It also employs strong encryption standards in addition to security features like Secure Core.

Does Proton VPN work with Netflix?

Yes, Proton VPN successfully unblocks Netflix in the US, UK, Australia, Canada, and Japan. Its speeds are also more than enough to watch 4K content, which makes it a good choice for streaming.

Is Proton VPN good for torrenting?

Proton VPN supports P2P file sharing on dedicated servers. They also use a combination of powerful encryption techniques and audited privacy practices, ensuring your IP won’t be leaked while torrenting.

3i G10+ robot vacuum: two-minute review

The 3i G10+ is a hybrid robot vacuum and mop that has a clever USP that makes it an especially good choice for small homes: the onboard dust cup is around twice the usual size, and compresses its contents to fit even more in. It's an ideal solution for those people who don't have space for a massive self-empty base station taking up their living room, but equally don't want to have to manually empty dust after every clean.

While it lacks the fancier features found on today's best robot vacuums, it's certainly one of the best budget robovacs I've tested, punching above its affordable price tag. There are several features I wouldn't expect in this price bracket, including an extending side brush and a mop pad that kicks out to get closer to the edges of rooms and can lift when traversing carpet. The result is very thorough vacuuming, strong edge cleaning, and solid mopping too.

It's not perfect. I found the 3i G10+ struggled to mount the charger when the dock was placed on a carpet, and the object avoidance is a little hit-and-miss. It's also not the best choice if mopping is your priority – the small onboard tank needs refilling regularly, and the fact the mop pads can't be removed from their base for machine-washing is annoying.

However, given the overall balance of performance to price, I think the 3i G10+ is a very solid recommendation. For me, the pros vastly outweigh the cons. Read on for my full 3i G10+ robot vacuum review.

(Image credit: Future)3i G10+ robot vacuum review: price & availability

• List price: $449 (about £560 / AU$1,110)
• Available: US only
• Launched: January 2025 (on sale June 2025)

The 3i G10+ was unveiled at CES 2025 and then went on sale in June that year. It's only available in the US, and any way you slice it, the 3i G10+ is very well-priced for what you're getting. At full list price, it's $449, but at time of writing it was reduced to $399 (about £560 / AU$1,110). Both fall into the TechRadar budget price bracket for robovacs. Sure, you can go cheaper with some robot vacuum models, but to get one with mopping capability, this is about as low as you can go.

There's also the innovative dust compression, enabling you to avoid having to make space for a bulky dock. There are only a few other bots that offer this. One example is the Narwal Freo X Plus, which costs about the same as the G10+ (going for $399.99 / AU$899), but has some unwelcome quirks that the 3i doesn't suffer from. There's also the Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo for $469.99 / £399, but the least said about that bot and its performance, the better.

The Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 goes for the same price when discounted, but has a higher MSRP of $699.99 / £449.99. It does have a bigger auto-self emptying base station with a 1.9 quart (about 1.8L) dustbin capacity, so requires a bit more space. It's also a bit older of a model, which at the time of review had a glitchy app and just average mopping. With the 3i G10+, you get 1 still very good 1L dustbin without having to set aside the space for such a big base station. And that's Shark's most reasonably priced mopping robot vacuum.

The Ecovacs Deebot N10 Plus might be the robot vacuum that the 3i G10+ reminds me of most. The Ecovacs has a higher MSRP of $649.99 / £499 / AU$999, but can be regularly found at the same price as the 3i G10+. It also has a small auto-self emptying base station. It, however, has an annoying quirk in that you have to physically remove the mop pad for use on carpet. And in that regard, the 3i G10+ is easier to use, as I'll get into below.

While the 3i G10+ isn't quite perfect, it sets a high bar for anything around $400.

• Value for money score: 4.5 out of 5

3i G10+ robot vacuum specs

Max suction:

18,000 Pa

Robot diameter:

14 in / 35.6 cm

Robot height:

4.3 in / 10.9 cm

Dock dimensions (W x D x H):

5.9 x 5.3 x 3.8 in / 15 x 13.5 x 9.7 cm

Dust bin volume (bot):

1L

Water tank volume (bot):

0.2L

Base type:

Charge only

Noise level (average):

52dB

Runtime:

180 minutes

3i G10+ robot vacuum review: design

• Large capacity onboard dustbin with compression
• Water tank is small but easy to access
• Extendable side brush and mop pad

The 3i G10+ might have the typical disc shape, but it doesn't look like most robot vacuums. Instead of the little raised navigation tower poking out of the top, this robot vacuum has a much larger, almost egg-shaped raised portion that not only contains sensors (the typical reason for these raised areas), but also the power button and, most importantly, the dustbin.

That dustbin is unusual in that not only does it have a supersized 1L capacity – most robot vacuums have less than half of that – but also an internal mechanism to compress all the dirt and debris coming in. That means that even though there's no auto-empty dustbin in the dock (instead, it's a compact, charge-only setup), you won't need to empty the onboard bin too regularly. Because the dust is potentially sitting around in the bot for a while, 3i has built in a UV light to keep things hygienic.

Image 1 of 4

The whole bin section can be pulled out of the top of the bot (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 4

The onboard bin features a dust compressing paddle (Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 4

The water tank is tiny (Image credit: Future)Image 4 of 4

The charge-only dock is pleasingly compact (Image credit: Future)

Getting back to the exterior of the 3i G10+. The water tank hugs the back of the unit and pulls off and snaps back into place via magnets, making it very easy to access and fill up. It has a small capacity – just 247ml – so it needs regular refilling.

(If you're using the mop on a regular basis then a bigger, more comprehensive clean station that can wash and dry the mop pads for you, as well as refilling the tanks, is a big effort-saver. Although you will of course have to make space for it.)

Select manual controls can be found on top of the robot (Image credit: Future)

Underneath, there's a single side brush, a brush roll, and a stationary mop pad. However, there's more going on here as well. That side brush can extend out to reach further into the edges of rooms. The mop pad is just a stationary one, but the 3i G10+ can move the whole pad out a bit for more thorough edge mopping too. Those kinds of features are unusual for robot vacuums at this price point.

• Design score: 4.5 out of 5

3i G10+ robot vacuum review: performance

• Very good vacuuming and solid mopping, including edges
• Mop pad can't be removed from mount for machine-washing
• Quiet operation

While I usually prefer robot vacuums to have two side brushes, one on each side, the single brush and brush roll on the 3i G10+ proved more than up to the job of vacuuming whatever dirt, dust, and debris was lying around. It helps that the side brush actually extends out, sweeping anything away from the edge of the room and into the bot's suction path.

Image 1 of 2

The 3i G10+ tackling my suction tests (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

The result after a single pass (Image credit: Future)

I used this robot vacuum on hardwood flooring, tile and carpet, and found it did a very solid job on all three. I also ran TechRadar's usual suction tests, sprinkling flour, sugar, and breakfast cereal on the floor and seeing how efficiently it cleared it. It took two passes to get everything, but once those were complete, you couldn't tell that anything had been spilled.

This bot is especially good at edge cleaning (Image credit: Future)

The mopping performance is pretty good as well, though not quite up to the standard of the vacuuming. The mop pad is the flat kind that gets dragged across the floor. It's great for surface-level cleaning but not tough enough for anything more challenging – I find dual, spinning mop pads offer more thorough clean.

In general use I found the coverage was good, and not streaky the way that this kind of mop pad can be. Because the mop pad can kick out to the side, the si G10+ is great at mopping into the edges of rooms. Also a plus is the fact that it will lift the mop pad up a few millimeters when going onto carpet to keep said carpet from getting wet – you don't always get that kind of functionality with a bot at this price point.

The 3i G10+ tackling my mopping tests (Image credit: Future)

I ran some mopping tests that involved spilling soda and coffee on the floor and seeing how well the bot handled it. While it cleared the area effectively, my whole floor ended up smelling like coffee and soda afterwards. I'd recommend tackling spillages manually, to avoid this.

Because the base station doesn't have mop-cleaning capabilities, you'll also need to stay on top of washing the mop pads fairly regularly. Annoyingly (and unusually), while the mop and its mount can be removed from the bot, the cloth part doesn't come off its mount. That means you can't throw it in a washing machine, but instead have to hand-wash. I was annoyed to find the mop cloth-and-mount took nearly a day to dry, though it went a lot quicker when I put it in the sun.

Object avoidance is hit-and-miss (Image credit: Future)

The object avoidance is unfortunately not as good as advertised. While the G10+ did manage to register and avoid some objects, I also watched it push around a bag clip, bump into a dog water bowl, and climb up on the base of a chair and end up stuck. Overall, the object avoidance is rather hit and miss. I've found that to be par for the course with more budget and mid-range models, though.

On the bright side, operation is relatively quiet, registering at 52dB during regular use and 56dB when extending side brush. I've used some robot vacuums that get much, much louder and it can be distracting. Having one with a quiet drone, especially when I'm trying to work or do something when it's running, is appreciated.

Emptying the onboard dust bin (Image credit: Future)

The battery lasts a very decent 240 minutes – enough time to clean the full 700 square feet area it could reach without having to recharge.

Lastly, though it vacuums just fine on carpet, it can't seem to get back onto its base station when on carpet (medium pile for reference). It's as if the 3i G10+ can't catch onto the ramp attached to the base station to reach the charging contacts. It's a bit strange and one of the drawbacks of not having a bigger mat for the robot vacuum to go up on.

• Performance score: 4 out of 5

3i G10+ robot vacuum review: app

• Straightforward to set up and use including maps
• Has an AI Auto Mode to make things even easier
• Comes with pet camera and manual controls

I typically don't find a lot of issues with robot vacuum apps these days, and it's no different with the 3i app. It's intuitive to get started, from pairing to going through the various instructions to complete the setup process. Other than waiting for the app and vacuum to pair and connect to WiFi, it's also a straightforward process.

Part of setting it up is also mapping your space and, though the 3i G10+ takes its time, it does a thorough job and even guesses the names of different rooms (not always correctly). Editing the map does take a tiny bit of menu diving, but once you get the screen to make changes, it works well and is happy to let you partition certain spaces more than once – an issue I've actually had with some models.

(Image credit: 3i / Future)

As far as using the app, the 3i G10+ home page is straightforward with the map top center, important info at the top, menu diving icons top right, as well as the more specific cleaning functions on the lower half of the screen.

There's a lot of flexibility for adjusting how you want your space cleaned including whether you want to vacuum or vacuum and mop, along with suction power, water level, cycles, and more. But if you don't want to manually set the cleaning mode, 'AI Auto' will decide the various settings for you. I found it useful for spaces with different types of surfaces – for example, it'll adjust automatically when going from hardwood to carpet.

Beyond the meat and potatoes of the app, there are more useful features including Alexa and Google Voice Assistant support. You can even take over the camera and motor functions to check on a pet when you're not home.

• App score: 4.5 out of 5

Should you buy the 3i G10+ robot vacuum?

Attribute

Notes

Rating

Value

Budget bracket, with a very solid feature list for the price.

4.5 / 5

Design

The large onboard dustbin with compression is just part of what sets this bot apart. It also has an extendable side brush and mop pad.

4.5 / 5

Performance

Very solid vacuuming, good mopping and thorough edge cleaning. Quiet in operation, too. However, struggles to return to dock if dock is placed on carpet.

4 / 5

App

The interface and mapping, along with everything else, is easy.

4.5 / 5

Buy it if...

You don't have a lot of space

The dustbin has such a large capacity (for an on-board dustbin) that the base station can be and is tiny. You won't need nearly the same amount of space that mopping vacuums with bigger base stations need.

You're on a budget

The 3i G10+ sits in the budget bracket and offers a very strong featureset. You're getting a lot for your money.

You care about the edges

With both an extendable side brush and an extendable mop pad, the 3i G10+ is able to reach your room's edges when vacuuming and mopping.

Don't buy it if...

You want deep mopping

The mopping performance is fine, but for more thorough scrubbing you're better with dual rotating mop pads than the stationary pad on this bot.

Your entire place is carpeted

It might just be my medium pile carpet, but this robot vacuum could not return to its base station when on carpet. Unless you also want to get a mat to put underneath the base station, you'll want to avoid if your whole place is carpeted.

Your priority is mopping

If you're going to be mopping a lot, the small water tank and lack of automatic mop-cleaning features is going to get annoying – not to mention the fact you can't chuck the mop pad into the washing machine.

3i G10+ robot vacuum review: alternatives to consider

Ecovacs Deebot N10 Plus

The Ecovacs Deebot N10 Plus is an affordable mopping robot vacuum with an auto self-emptying dustbin that does the job well. It has a longer battery life than the 3i G10+, but it also has the annoying quirk of needing its mop pad removed for use on carpet.

Read our full Ecovacs Deebot N10 Plus review

Yeedi C12 Pro Plus

Originally set at the same price point, the Narwal Freo X Plus also vacuums and mops without a towering base station. Of course, it doesn't have the 3i G10+'s dustbin, but it does come with a mat so it doesn't have the issues getting to its base station on carpets.

Read our full Narwal Freo X Plus review

How I tested the 3i G10+ robot vacuum

To test the 3i G10+, I used it for a couple weeks, testing its vacuum and mop capabilities not only on hardwood floors, but also when going from hardwood floors to carpets (with some intentionally dropped objects here and there). I also tested its cleaning abilities with spillages of various types. I went through every nook and cranny of the app, looking at things like mapping and ease of use.

Read more about how we test robot vacuum cleaners

• First reviewed July 2025

If you're reading this, odds are you've read a thing or two about standing desks and perhaps even thought about building out your setup already. If you've done that, I'd be willing to guess you've seen or considered a desk shelf. That was me years ago when I started my journey in the desk setup world.

Even way back then, I was familiar with the company Grovemade. It was the pinnacle of the desk shelf back then, and even to this day, with more competitors than I could count, they remain the original gorgeous desk shelf, continuing to create beauty to this day.

When I saw they were teasing a standing desk, my excitement was near uncontainable. I knew that if a company cared this much about the quality of a desk shelf, imagine how much care would go into an entire standing desk. Now, I've tested many of the best standing desks around, but I could never have predicted just how good this desk is.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Grovemade Standing Desk: Pricing and Availability

The Grovemade Standing Desk can be purchased directly from Grovemade for $2,900. They have a 4-6 week turnaround time and can ship to the USA, Canada, and Japan only.

They have six wood options and one size option, which is a bummer if you come from a world of heavy customization in sizing, but for everyone else, this desk size feels perfect.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Grovemade Standing Desk: Unboxing & first impressions

Opening up the boxes for this desk grew my excitement by the minute. The spectacular aroma of the real walnut, the curves of genuine craftsmanship, and the intricate parts all fit together beautifully. This desk was built, and I was setting up the workspace and organizing it mere 45 minutes after it was delivered to my door -- that's how excited I was.

I chose to get the complementary desk shelf, along with a desk mat, some other walnut accessories, dual monitor arms, a lamp, and a few other accessories to build out this dream setup.

The standout feature, of course, is the built-in drawer. My first impression of this drawer was one of shock and amazement, as it was exactly what I had hoped Grovemade would do; in fact, it's nearly exactly what I would do in an ideal world. It's organized, designed for quick access to things, and it has a spot for my laptop, allowing me to dock it and keep it out of the way.

Alternatively, can use it to store whatever else I want and have it as an active charging bay or for other purposes. Another standout feature is the slit in the desktop, which allows cables to pass through the middle of the desk instead of coming up and around the outside.

All around, this desk has some of the most wow-factor of any product I have had the pleasure of working with. And the shock and awe doesn't just end at a first glance.

Grovemade Standing Desk: Design & Build Quality

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Specs

Dimensions: 58 x 28 inches
Lifting Capacity: 270lbs
Drawer Capacity: 30lbs
Weight: 134lbs

The craftsmanship of this desk is out of this world. The solid walnut with a soft matte finish is peak craftsmanship in my mind. The CNC's drawer is a modern marvel and a work of art, combining two productivity-enhancing features that are precisely what I could have ever wished for with standing desks. The passthrough slit in the middle of the desk is another one of those spectacular features that I fell in love with.

It shows intentional craftsmanship, and it shows that Grovemade thought ahead to how some people want to be able to do a passthrough, but not all. Unlike others that have huge passthroughs or other systems built in, which can make it hard not to use the system as the company intended, Grovemade added a slit just big enough to be used or ignored, and there isn't a problem either way.

Another notable feature with a spectacular design is the drop-down tray that spans the width of the desk, used for both power and cable management. This option helps make the power accessible, gives ample space, and also helps keep everything clean on the desk itself. Additionally, if the desk were not positioned against the wall, it would also serve as a modesty shield, providing a bit of privacy from that angle.

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

I've had the Grovemade Desk assembled and a part of my fleet for 87 days. For those 87 days, this desk itself has grown on me and has become nearly the perfect desk for most people. I've built it out to be one of my favorite setups, featuring dual monitors on a simple monitor arm, an iPad Pro dock from Kensington, a desk mat, some nice accessories from Grovemade such as the pen holder, and a Magsafe stand, a Thunderbolt Docking Station, another one to run DisplayLink to the dual monitors from Dell. I also added a simple light bar (though I wish I had chosen to spend the extra money on one from BenQ rather than this random Amazon find), an Apple Magic Trackpad, and a gorgeous Keychron K2 HE keyboard.

The drawer organization is, in fact, the dream. It's precisely how I would have set it up if I were designing it. There is a clean spot to place my laptop with plenty of ventilation, keeping it safe and out of the way without needing extra accessories. There is a separate compartment large enough for books, notebooks, papers, pens, tools, accessories, and more.

Over the last 87 days, I have adjusted and tweaked just about everything to make it work exactly as I want. Having a built-in drawer that raises and lowers with the desk and is made of premium material to keep my gear organized is a massive step up in the desk world.

The cable management in the legs is also spectacular. I was able to tuck all my cabling from the desk through the slit and down into this management area, plugging into the power I needed, and hiding my secondary dock in here so that, regardless of the laptop I'm using, I can run both displays.

The controller is another very unique piece of this desk. The controls are very different than a standard controller, but once I got used to it, it feels like second nature now. I can easily and precisely adjust between standing and sitting heights, and I can adapt anywhere in between that I want to. Plus, it hides away under the drawer, sliding out with it when the drawer is extended and tucked away nicely when it's not.

Pairing this desk with a Grovemade shelf is an obvious choice if you have the cash for it, but if you don't, there are still great setup options that you can build without a desk shelf. What makes this desk so beautiful is that it's versatile. This desk can be easily used by a creative designer, a business professional, a teacher, a student, an engineer, a developer, a project manager, and so on. The desk is so versatile that it can accommodate almost any workflow.

Having seen many desks, I've identified some potential pain points for this desk that could make it less ideal for specific users. If you are the kind of person who has to mount things under the desk, like my home office beast of a desk that has servers, switches, a Mac mini, a NAS, and more all mounted under it, then this desk would make it very difficult to do that. There is minimal space where there is no drawer or cable management. But, for just about everyone else, this desk is not only perfect, but a dream come true.

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Design

Gorgeous, intuitive design

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ease of use

Easy to use for anyone

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Practicality

Practical for most

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Price

Expensive, but fair

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Grovemade Standing Desk: Final verdict

Grovemade didn't just build a desk - it changed what I think of when I think of a standing desk. The company designed an entire workspace, not just a phenomenal base on which to build a workspace. And somehow managed to do this in a way that did not limit users to a single niche.

The company chose to invest in R&D, utilize high-quality products, and create something that nobody has before. Everything feels intentional, planned, thought through, and designed, rather than being hastily put together to make a profit.

If you're looking for a workspace, not just a plank of wood or wood-like material on some legs, then the Grovemade Desk needs to be at the top of your considerations, seriously.

Creating the perfect, productive workspace? We've tested and reviewed the best office chairs around.

Thunderbolt 5 is a part of the newest laptop line-ups, whether we are ready for it or not. TB5 has incredible speeds, excellent reliability, and a plethora of other features that make it great. However, if your laptop has Thunderbolt 5, why wouldn't you want your docking station to support it so that you can take advantage of all the speed?

The FusionDock Pro 3 from iVanky is a single dock with two styles. They have the tower design and the deck design. The tower is designed to stand upright, much like the old Nintendo Wii. And the deck style looks about like every other docking station you may think of.

I grabbed the deck model because it would fit better into my workspace area. This model features three Thunderbolt 5 ports, a port for connecting to the laptop, 140W charging, a 2.5GbE network, multiple USB-A ports, an SD Card reader, and a headphone jack. Overall, this adds 11 ports to your MacBook Pro, Dell Pro, Lenovo, or any other laptop you may have.

Like just about all of the best docking stations supporting TB5, one thing to note right off the bat is that you can use this dock with any USB-C-enabled device; however, you won't get full-speed functionality unless your machine has a Thunderbolt 5 port available.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )iVANKY FusionDock Pro 3: Pricing and Availability

The FusionDock Pro 3, as a tower, is a whopping $459 on iVANKY's website. The deck that I grabbed is $439.99 on the same website, making a powerful docking station a tad more palatable.

You can purchase this newly released docking station from iVanky's website, Amazon, or B&H.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )iVANKY FusionDock Pro 3: Unboxing & first impressions

The FusionDock Pro 3 is a plain-looking device. However, it feels substantial and durable, with a weighty feel. Additionally, the metallic casing gives it a sturdy feel, suggesting it can withstand a few hits and bumps without breaking.

One thing that shocked me was the size of the power brick, but then again, it can output power to my laptop at up to 140W, so I shouldn't be too surprised that it has a hefty power brick.

iVANKY FusionDock Pro 3: Design & Build Quality

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Specs

Ports: 3x TB5, 4x USB-A, 1x RJ45, 1x SD card, 1x Audio Jack,
Ethernet: 2.5GbE
PD: 140 W upstream, 60 W downstream PD

The FusionDock Pro 3 features a simple, matte metallic shell with a matte black plastic front and back, housing the ports. The port layout is straightforward and thought through. While my personal preference for the desk setup determines whether I prefer the cable connecting to the computer to be in the front or the back of the dock, for this one, it's positioned up front.

On the front of the dock, we have (from left to right) the power button, some indicator lights, the 140W port for the laptop or computer, a TB5 port, a USB-A port, the SD Card reader, and then the headphone jack. That all makes a lot of sense to have readily accessible on the front, and I'm happy to see a TB5 on the front. Too many docks have those hidden away in the back only.

On the back of the dock is a row of three USB-A ports, an RJ45 port, two TB5 ports, and then the barrel connector. I am not a fan of barrel connectors, so I understand why some docks still use them.

Some other features worth mentioning are the rubber pads on the bottom side of the dock, which help prevent sliding, and the numerous ventilation holes that keep the device cool while it's working hard.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )iVANKY FusionDock Pro 3: In use

I recently purchased an M4 Pro MacBook Pro, which features the TB5 port, making me all the more excited to try this docking station out. In addition, a handful of the laptops I have in for testing (reviews coming soon) also feature Thunderbolt 5. In my testing, I was able to transfer files back and forth between my laptop and my Synology BeeStation as well as my Synology DS925+.

I was able to set up an entire workstation through a single dock, without feeling like I was missing anything. I tested single-monitor setups, dual-monitor setups, and, using one of the laptops I have, even a triple-monitor setup with just this dock. I did have to use an adapter for one of the monitors, though, which is an important thing to note.

This docking station, since it doesn't have an HDMI or DP port, will need adapters to connect non-USB-C displays. Many of the newer monitors are compatible, but if it's not a new one, you'll need to obtain an HDMI to USB-C or DisplayPort to USB-C adapter or dongle.

During testing, especially when running triple displays or transferring large files, the docking station did get a bit warm, but it never became too hot, nor did it activate a fan or any other similar mechanism. Watching that little dock do so much and all at speeds that didn't feel possible a mere few years ago was impressive.

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Design

Sleek and clean

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ease of use

Easy to use once and setup

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Practicality

Practical for TB5 Users

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Price

Expensive, but fair

⭐⭐⭐⭐

iVANKY FusionDock Pro 3: Final verdict

The iVanky FusionDock Pro 3 is an impressive Thunderbolt 5 docking station, available at a brand-new price with cutting-edge technology. If you don't need Thunderbolt 5, a different, more cost-effective dock may be better suited for you. However, if you have Thunderbolt 5 in your computer and need to maximize transfer speeds, then this is a spectacular choice in a docking station for you.

I'm a massive fan of workstations. I love customizing a space, whether it's simplistic, stylish, or robust, to suit the person and task at hand. Thankfully, I've found a career and a role that allows me to do this far more regularly than the average person.

Simple desk designs are fun. They are clean and beautiful, with a purpose, and they have things tucked away and organized, making them aesthetically quite pleasing.

Portable desk setups are also quite fun. The challenge of fitting all that's needed and helpful into a backpack, allowing for full productivity everywhere and anywhere.

Robust and maximalist desks are a whole different beast. Everything you could need, within arm's reach. Ready for anything, prepared for everything.

At the heart of a robust and built-out setup, you need a fantastic, reliable, quality, high-end standing desk. Without a solid foundation, the structure (or desk setup in this scenario) will not be stable.

That's precisely why, when I saw this desk, I knew I could transform it into a maximalist desk. I knew that this desk could withstand whatever I threw at it, and that I could have it be one that I could rely on for years to come.

The Uplift V2 Commercial 2-Leg Standing Desk is a two-legged, C-frame standing desk with a more stable design than the standard V2, thanks to a crossbeam. This crossbeam not only makes the desk far less wobbly, but it also allows Uplift to lower the legs by 3 inches, providing a wider range of motion, making it one of the best standing desks I've ever used.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Uplift V2 Commercial 2-Leg Standing Desk: Pricing and Availability

The best place to purchase the Uplift V2-Commercial Standing Desk is directly from Uplift's website. There aren't many desk companies that offer the same level of customization that Uplift does.

A basic desk can run you around $600. Nothing fancy, all the basic options. However, you can customize it to exceed $2000, changing and customizing the size, wood type and material, legs, colors, casters, accessories, keypads for controlling the desk, grommets, and more.

With all of these changes, you have the opportunity to create a one-of-a-kind custom desk that nobody else has. In all actuality, you can make a fully customized, one-of-a-kind desk by using the live edge with epoxy desktop type.

In short, the price will swing quite aggressively depending on what you build out, and what you choose can be customized to precisely the kind of base you want for your dream workstation.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Uplift V2 Commercial 2-Leg Standing Desk: Unboxing & first impressions

I remember it well. I saw the delivery truck back into my driveway - always a great sign - and then I saw this delivery driver grab a thin box I knew had to be a desk out of the back of the truck.

Once she picked it up, it had to have been three times her size. She somehow managed to get it over to my front porch by the time I got out there to take it from her. I remember grabbing the box and thinking, 'This thing weighs easily several times my weight; how on earth did she manage to carry this over here?'

The legs box for some desks is the heaviest, but for this desk, the desktop, made of real 1.5-inch reclaimed birch butcher block at 72x30 inches, was by far the heavier box. The desk itself took about 45 minutes to build with my Hoto Toolset. However, due to the desk's considerable weight, I had one more person assist me in building parts to ensure the desk was not damaged in any way.

Uplift V2 Commercial 2-Leg Standing Desk: Design & Build Quality

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Specs

as tested

Frame: Dual‑motor, 2‑leg V2 Commercial
Height Range: ~21.6″–47.7″ (+ desktop thickness)
Lifting Capacity: 355 lb
Dimensions: 72x30 inches

The reclaimed birch-butcher block desktop is downright gorgeous. I didn't expect it to look this good in person, but now that I see it, it looks even better than I thought it would. The legs are clean and sleek, providing incredible stability, and even a place to rest my legs when fully reclined if I want to. The controller is easy to use, although I swapped it out for a black one after taking these pictures to match the leg frame a bit better.

The controller is responsive and functional, making it super easy to preset heights that I want to use throughout the day. I have one set for my sitting height, one for my standing height, one for the standing height of another member of my team who uses this desk a lot, and one for a working height where I can do things on the desk a bit smoother without having the ergonomics dialed in for standing and typing.

This desk setup has two main things that everything else is built around. First of course, the desk, but secondly, this desk is the perfect build for the Hexcal Studio Desk Shelf. But more on that below.

For this robust desk setup, I chose to pick up some of Uplift's Monitor arms, the Range-X Dual Monitor Arm to be exact, I also decided to grab a lot of the other accessories I wanted too, like the proper grommets, the casters, a hefty surge protector, a magnetic cable channel for routing cables and some modesty panels to help with keeping a clean look all around. Lastly, to complete the power aspect of this desk setup, I added the iVanky FusionDock Max 1 to control the desk from that perspective.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Uplift V2 Commercial 2-Leg Standing Desk: In use

Building the physical desk is only half the battle. I spent several hours perfecting this setup once assembled. The Hexcal was assembled quickly, but then I chose to go all out for this desk, while still making it functional for most people on my team. I added dual monitors, a lamp, the dock, a soundbar, the iconic cup holder, cable management, a modesty panel, and more.

First, I added the monitor arms and positioned them exactly as I wanted. Thankfully, these arms have enough range that I can still maintain the one vertical and one horizontal look that I wanted, mainly since this setup features two different types of monitors. This setup is in the same orientation as the one I am replacing in this office.

A significant addition I wanted to make to this setup was the Hexcal Studio. I had gotten this around the same time as the Uplift Desk, so I knew it would be a great match. What's unique about the Hexcal is that it incorporates lights, power, data, cable management, and even a wireless charger all into one unit. So, I was able to run one power line from the Hexcal Studio down to the power strip mounted under the desk, and then I ran the power from the desk to that strip, and the lamp. That's it. Everything else I was able to run into the outlets built into the Hexcal, and then also manage the cables in the trough without any issues. The Studio fit perfectly under the monitors, providing room for me to place the iVanky FusionDock Max 1 right on top for easy access.

Moving back to the desk, I was easily able to set up the monitor arms right where I wanted them, without having to avoid any crossbars or frames, or choose a less-than-ideal mounting spot, because all areas were suitable for mounting. The 1.5-inch-thick butcher block1.5-inch-thick butcher block made mounting super easy, and it also made it easy to build everything else. I chose exactly where I wanted the control panel, my ridiculous (but now I secretly love it) cup holder, lamp, desk mat, and laptop stand.

My team and I usually pop in and out of here, so we kept the laptop stand pulled forward for easy access, and we put it right over the control panel so that when we come and go, we can press a button on our way to dock the laptop or as we are grabbing it to leave. I could have put the controller on the left, but I chose the right because I didn't want to bump it with my knee when moving around or twisting in and out of my chair.

Lastly, the modesty panel isn't just for covering peering eyes from looking at places you may not want them to, it's also great for covering up cables and giving a more professional look to things. I installed a modesty panel long enough for the back of the desk as well as the side, but due to the current arrangement of the desk and the monitor arm location, I chose to put the side one on for now. Though if I ever pull this desk out into the middle of the space as I hope to in the future, I'll toss that modesty panel on the back right away.

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Design

Maximalist and gorgeous

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ease of use

Easy to use once set up

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Practicality

Practical for the right user

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Price

Expensive, but fair

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Uplift V2 Commercial 2-Leg Standing Desk: Final verdict

The Uplift V2 Commercial 2-Leg Standing Desk is a powerful standing desk that transforms into a powerful workstation. It's a fantastic desk, providing smooth and consistent height adjustments, a sturdy desktop even at standing height, and a gorgeous surface to create your dream workspace, no matter how complex or simple it may be. And, since you can customize it, there isn't a reason not to check out this desk if you are in the market at all, no matter how small or how big that budget may be.

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

The Dell Pro 14 Plus is the portable version of Dell's new line of Pro Plus monitors, following their recent name change.

The Pro 14 Plus features a 14-inch display, making it one of the smaller portable monitors I have tested, and it's probably the simplest in all respects. It's highly portable, easy to use, with no frills and no extra mess. It's sturdy, well-built, and offers a respectable price. It's a clear market for those who need more screen space on the go, without needing anything fancy or power-hungry.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Dell Pro 14 Plus: Pricing and Availability

The Dell Pro 14 Plus is typically available for just over $300, and it's currently listed on Dell's site for $323.74. For this price, you get a standard 3-year warranty on a WUXGA 1920 x 1200, 14-inch display with two USB-C ports, a built-in multi-functional stand, and an easy-to-use package.

Dell ships these products worldwide, so they are available anywhere. Better yet, due to its compact size, you can also take it almost anywhere. It can slip into a backpack, briefcase, suitcase, or even just along in your arms without adding much bulk.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Dell Pro 14 Plus: Unboxing & first impressions

At this point, I've tested several portable monitors. This one functions much like the others, except it feels simpler. The other portable monitors I have tested have cooler features or nicer displays, but what they cannot top is this one in terms of simplicity and ease of use. The Dell Pro 14 Plus comes with only two USB-C cables and a fold-out stand, so you're good to go. You plug in, and it works. Nothing fancy, no setup time, no wondering which port to plug into - nothing like that. It's plug-and-play in the best way.

Amidst all the other portable displays, what makes this one so interesting is that it provides more screen real estate when needed. You don't need 4K, you don't need OLED, or a fancy stand; you don't need something with ports, speakers, or any other features. This display checks those boxes of simplicity very easily.

Dell Pro 14 Plus: Design & Build Quality

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Specs

Display: 14″ IPS
Resolution: 1920×1200
Refresh Rate: 60 Hz
Brightness: 400 nits
Contrast: 1500:1
Ports: 2× USB‑C (DP Alt + PD 65 W pass-through)
Weight: 0.57 kg, 0.62 kg with built-in stand

There isn't a whole lot to say about design -- and that's a good thing. This is a simple panel with a fold-out stand. It features two USB-C ports, one on either side of the stand, for easy use. The shell is constructed from slim aluminum with a plastic casing and rubber edges for enhanced grip and protection against scratches.

The bottom of the monitor, when used in landscape mode, features a slight chin with minimal branding, nothing too elaborate or complicated. The top of that same orientation view has a smaller chin, but still retains a slight bezel.

Due to its design, this monitor can be easily rotated to a vertical or portrait orientation, making it a more functional stand by far. This also explains why they placed one USB-C port on either side, allowing for a spot to plug the monitor into your computer from any angle.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Dell Pro 14 Plus: In use

This has been a fantastic little display to keep in a lightweight backpack for a trip, to use when working away from my desk, or even to add just a bit more screen space to my main desk. One thing to note right off the bat is that yes, this is only a 1080p display. It's nothing brilliant, and it's not overly impressive, but that's also what makes it great for certain things. I think of it like why I love my iPad Mini 7. It's not the best by any means, but the size and simplicity help me realize that it's not supposed to replace my primary machine. This display is unapologetically secondary; it's meant to enhance, not replace or become primary. Some of these other portable displays have become my primary workspace when I use them, for better and for worse. But the Pro 14 Plus stays secondary in every situation.

With that in mind, it's fine that it's not the best in terms of graphics, colors, or size. The ergonomics with the fold-out kickstand make it easy to set up, the anti-glare screen helps reduce distractions, the easy USB-C port means that I won't try to use it as a dock too, or try to run anything through it, I'll remember that all this is used for is expanding my workspace just a tad. There are no speakers, no high refresh rate, no mics, and no cameras. No frills, just a simple 14-inch addition to my screen.

The simplicity of this screen is what makes it special, just like the iPad mini. I can throw this in my bag and forget it's there, except when I want to be able to throw Notion, Slack, Spotify, Jira, Basecamp, Asana, metrics, or my email up on a dedicated screen to keep an eye on it while I knock out my work on my laptop. It's great for that, and for some, that's exactly what they want.

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Design

Sleek and minimal

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ease of use

Very easy to use

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Practicality

Practical for many

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Price

Understandably priced

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Dell Pro 14 Plus: Final verdict

The Dell Pro 14 Plus is simple, easy to use, easy to move, and easy to remember its purpose. It's got okay specs, but what makes it great is that it knows what it is and isn't. And that's a lot more than what some tech these days can say.

For more screen options, we've tested and reviewed the best business monitors.

Philips LatteGo 5500 Series: two-minute review

The Philips LatteGo 5500 Series is a compact fully automatic espresso machine that's a solid choice for couples and individuals. It has a relatively small water tank and bean hopper that's perfect for making a couple of cups, so you won't have large quantities of coffee and water going stale.

The built-in ceramic grinder offers some super-fine grind settings, and with just a little adjustment you should be able to brew consistently well-extracted espresso, which you can enjoy alone or as the foundation of over 15 different drinks. The most popular options (such as cappuccino and americano) are accessible via buttons beside the color display, while others can be found by tapping "other drinks" and selecting either hot or iced beverages.

It's worth noting that the LatteGo 5500 Series doesn't offer cold coffee extraction. Instead, you're prompted to add six to eight ice cubes to your cup, and the machine pours over a shot of hot espresso (followed by cold-foamed milk, if appropriate for your chosen drink). The results are OK, but you don't get the same mellow flavor you do from coffee infused using cold water, and the melting of the ice means drinks usually made without water can taste weak.

The LatteGo milk system works well, producing a thick and creamy foam from plant or dairy milk (Image credit: Future)

For me, the most interesting feature is the LatteGo's automatic milk-foaming system. Unlike most other coffee makers I've tested, the 5500 Series has a milk carafe that clips onto a steam nozzle on the front of the machine, and is designed to be filled while attached.

This might seem odd at first, but it actually makes a lot of sense. Not carrying containers of milk across the kitchen means less risk of spillage, and this carafe isn't intended for storing milk in the fridge between brews. Instead, it has markers on the side that show you exactly how much to add for different drinks, meaning there won't be any left at the end, and the carafe can be washed out, ready for next time (either by hand or in a dishwasher). It's a smart system for making just one or two drinks.

You do have to be very careful with how you position your cup, though. There's no way to adjust the LatteGo system's spout, and your cup needs to be further forward on the drip tray than you'd expect. Move it over the red water-level indicator, then a bit further still to avoid your milk spilling over the edge.

Overall, this is a well-made bean-to-cup machine for small households (or ones with just one coffee-drinker), and it does the basics very well. It wouldn't be my top choice if you want to make cold drinks regularly, however. For that, you'd be better opting for a machine that can handle cold extraction, so your drink isn't watered down. Take a look at my list of the best cold-brew coffee machines for some suggestions.

Philips LatteGo 5500 Series: price and availability

• List price $1,099.95 / £649.99 / AU$1,194
• Available globally
• Often discounted in the UK

The Philips LatteGo 5500 Series is available globally, and has a list price of $1,099.95 / £649.99 / AU$1,194 (although it’s often reduced to £549.99 in the UK). It’s the top-tier model in the LatteGo series, with 20 hot and cold drink options compared to 12 drinks for the less expensive 4400 Series. You’ll find all today’s best deals on the LatteGo 5500 Series listed below.

That price is about standard for a compact bean-to-cup espresso machine, and is roughly the same as the De’Longhi La Specialista Touch. However, the La Specialista Touch offers greater control over brewing options, along with both manual and automatic milk-foaming.

• Value score: 3.5/5

Philips LatteGo 5500 Series: Specifications

Name

Philips LatteGo 5500 Series

Type

Fully automatic bean-to-cup espresso machine

Dimensions (W x H x D)

9.7 x 14.6 x 17in / 24.6 x 37.1 x 43.3cm

Weight

17.6lbs / 8kg

Water reservoir capacity

1.9qt / 1.8 liters

Milk frother

Yes (automatic)

Bars of pressure

15

User profiles

4 (plus guest)

Philips LatteGo 5500 Series: Design

• Well suited to individuals or couples
• LatteGo system is easy to use and clean
• Simple button-based interface

At just 9.7 inches / 24.6cm wide, the Philips LatteGo 5500 Series is one of the narrowest espresso machines I’ve tested to date. It's ideal for tucking into small spaces – particularly because the water tank slides out of the front, so you only need to access the side of the machine when it’s time to clean the brewing group.

Although it has four user profiles (plus a guest option for visitors), this machine is best suited to individuals or couples who only want to make one or two drinks at once. Its 1.9qt / 1.8-liter water tank is quite small, and the optional (but recommended) water filter supplied with the machine takes up quite a lot of space, effectively making it smaller still.

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The LatteGo 5500 Series has quite a small water tank, which is fine for single people and couples (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

The water filter supplied is quite large, and uses a considerable amount of the tank's capacity (Image credit: Future)

At first that sounds like it could be a problem, but when you’re only making a couple of drinks at once it’s fine, and refilling the tank regularly is always a good idea. Most of your coffee is made of water, so you want to keep it fresh.

As the name suggests, one of the LatteGo 5500 Series’ key features is its milk system, which comprises a small carafe that pushes onto a steam nozzle on the front of the machine. Unlike every other automatic espresso machine I’ve tested, you fill this container while it’s attached to the machine. This feels odd at first, but it actually makes sense; no carrying containers of milk across the kitchen means no potential for spillage.

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The LatteGo system has just two removeable parts, and is easy to keep clean between uses (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

The milk carafe is filled while attached to the machine, which is quite unusual (Image credit: Future)

Markings on the side of the carafe show how far to fill it for different drinks, whether you’re preparing one or two cups. The idea is that you’ll use all the milk in one go. Unlike most other machines (such as the Jura J10, for example), the LatteGo’s carafe isn’t airtight. Nor is it intended to be stored in the fridge with milk inside between uses. Instead, you add just the amount of milk you need, then wash it out for next time (either by hand or in the top drawer of the dishwasher) to keep everything fresh.

The bean hopper doesn’t have a huge capacity either. Again, this is no bad thing for a machine intended for just one or two people, because it means you won’t have unused beans hanging around for too long.

The hopper has a tinted plastic lid to help stop light degrading the flavor compounds in the beans, and an airtight seal to keep them fresh. The seal also helps muffle the noise of the machine’s ceramic grinder. Indeed, this espresso machine is one of the quietest I’ve tested, with both the grinder and milk system making very little noise.

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The LatteGo 5500 Series has a fairly small bean hopper, which means individuals and couples won't have to worry about lots of beans going stale (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

The grind size is adjusted using a small dial in the hopper (Image credit: Future)

The grind size is adjusted using a small dial inside the hopper. I would have preferred this to be on the outside for accessibility, but that’s a minor quibble. For me, the bigger issue was the height of the hopper, which made it tricky to open and refill when the machine was under a cabinet. The machine is quite light, but if you don’t have much headroom, you’ll have to shimmy it out when it’s time to refill.

Just in front of the hopper, you’ll find a chute for adding a scoop of pre-ground coffee if you’d like to switch to something different, such as decaf for after lunch.

The drip tray is nice and deep, which again helps to avoid spillage, with a pouring spout at the back for easy emptying, plus a level indicator so you can see at a glance when it’s time to empty it. There’s also a deep detachable container for used coffee grounds, and the LatteGo 5500 Series will alert you when it needs emptying.

The drip tray has high sides to prevent spillage, and there's a generously-sized container for used coffee grounds (Image credit: Future)

This alert will appear on the machine’s TFT display, which is surrounded by a set of buttons that provide quick access to the most popular drink options. The rest are accessed by pressing the "More drinks" button, which presents you with a choice of two lists: one for hot beverages, and one for iced.

Selecting the "Setting"' button will reveal more comprehensive brewing options, including the ability to change the temperature, plus various energy-saving settings such as toggling the lights above your cup, and determining how long the machine should wait before powering off.

It was refreshing to see that the machine’s packaging was mostly cardboard, with only a few plastic bags for components. Even the best coffee makers are often packaged in large pieces of polystyrene

• Design score: 4/5

Philips LatteGo 5500 Series: performance

• Brews well-balanced espresso once grinder is dialled in
• Iced coffee isn't cold-extracted
• LatteGo milk spout is somewhat awkward

The LatteGo is very simple to use, and the buttons around the display will be all most users need on an everyday basis. Select a beverage, and you’ll be able to tweak a few options to determine the strength and volume of your drink, then the machine will handle the rest.

There’s no equivalent of De’Longhi’s BeanAdapt system for configuring the brew settings to suit your chosen coffee, but adjusting the grinder and tweaking the options when preparing your coffee should allow you to create consistently well-extracted espresso.

Each time you change the brew settings for a drink, your adjustments will be saved to the currently selected profile (red, blue, yellow or green). You can switch between profiles by tapping a button on the left of the screen, and there’s an extra guest profile, so visitors don’t accidentally override your custom cappuccino settings.

There are four colored profiles to store custom drink preferences, plus a guest profile so visitors don't override your favorites (Image credit: Future)

You can use the LatteGo system with any type of milk you choose. During my tests, whole and full-fat dairy milk foamed well, as did oat milk – although the results were less impressive when using one of the iced drink options, which dispense cold milk. An iced cappuccino had some foam on top, but not very much compared to the same drink brewed hot.

I particularly like that the LatteGo system is so easy to keep clean. The carafe comes in two parts, which are easy to unclip, and there are no awkward tubes to clean. Milk never enters the body of the coffee machine either, so you don’t need to worry about bacteria breeding inside.

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It's easy to adjust the volume of drinks to suit different-sized cups (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

The machine works well with both plant-based and dairy milk (Image credit: Future)

My biggest complaint about the LatteGo 5500 Series (and it’s one that’s easily avoided) is that you can’t change the angle of the milk spout, so you have to position your cup just right to avoid milk spilling down the side. The perfect position is much further forward than you might expect, and your cup needs to be completely covering the red level indicator on the drip tray.

It helps to use quite a wide cup for your milky beverages; otherwise, you may not be able to position it just right for both the coffee dispenser and the milk spout, causing one or the other to miss.

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You can't adjust the angle of the milk spout, so it's essential to position your cup just right (Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 2

The correct position for your cup is further forward than you might expect (Image credit: Future)

Iced coffee is one of the biggest trends in home espresso machines right now, so it’s no surprise that the top-tier LatteGo comes with plenty of options for chilled beverages. Select one and the machine will tell you how many ice cubes to add to your glass or cup, then pour coffee and milk on top.

However, it’s worth noting that the espresso used in the LatteGo 5500 Series’ iced drinks isn’t actually brewed cold. It’s hot, and relies on the ice to bring the temperature down. This means it doesn’t have the same mellow flavor profile as true cold-extracted coffee, and you may find that your drinks taste watered-down due to the melted ice. You can get around this problem by increasing the strength of the shot, but it’s something to be aware of.

The machine doesn't make cold-extracted espresso, instead dispensing hot-brewed espresso onto ice cubes to make chilled drinks (Image credit: Future)

• Performance score: 4/5

Should you buy the Philips LatteGo 5500 Series?

Attribute

Notes

Score

Value

Typical price for a fully automatic espresso machine, but there are other great options available more cheaply if you shop around.

3.5/5

Design

Very compact and well suited to small households. Milk nozzle position can't be adjusted,.

4/5

Performance

Easy to use and maintain and brews excellent espresso. Hot drinks are very good, but iced options are diluted by hot espresso melting ice cubes.

4/5

Buy it if

You're brewing coffee for one (or two)

If you're only brewing in small quantities, a large bean hopper and water tank will just allow the beans and water to go stale. This compact machine is a smarter choice, and the LatteGo system helps you measure out only the milk you need.

You have a small kitchen

This is a particularly narrow machine, and you don't need to access the sides to remove the water tank, so you can push it up against a cabinet without any issues.

Don't buy it if

You want cold-brewed coffee

The LatteGo 5500 Series makes perfectly acceptable iced drinks, but the espresso is extracted using hot water and cooled by pouring it over ice. For mellow coffee extracted using cold water, take a look at my list of the top three coffee machines for cold-brew.

Philips LatteGo 5500 Series: also consider

If you're not sure that the Philips LatteGo 5500 Series is the right coffee maker for you, here are two other options for your consideration.

De'Longhi Primadonna Aromatic

If you're serious about iced coffee, the Primadonna Aromatic offers true cold extraction that creates a similar flavor profile to coffee steeped overnight in the fridge. It also has two milk carafes (one for foaming hot milk and one for cold) – and you can adjust the angle of their spouts. No puddles of milk here.

Read our full De'Longhi Primadonna Aromatic review

KitchenAid KF6

Looking for something more stylish? The KF6 is a great-looking bean-to-cup machine with a sleek, streamlined chassis and simple touch controls. It brews sublime espresso too, but it's a pricier proposition than the Philips LatteGo 5500 Series.

Read our full KitchenAid KF6 reviewView Deal

How I tested the Philips LatteGo 5500 Series

I used the Philips LatteGo 5500 Series with my favorite espresso blend from a local coffee roaster, bought fresh that week. I tested the water hardness using the strip supplied in the box, and fitted the water filter in the tank following the instructions provided. I used fresh water each time I began using the machine.

I tested the LatteGo system using fridge-cold whole and semi-skimmed dairy milk, as well as barista oat milk.

I tested the machine's various hot and cold drinks, using the amount of ice specified by the machine for chilled recipes.

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

The Hbada E3 Pro is designed with the bigger and taller community in mind. It's not as well-known a brand, but they are doing a great job filling the place of a budget-conscious chair that provides it all, while still fitting those of all sizes.

While I may not be familiar with the Hbada brand itself yet, the armrests remind me a lot of Sihoo. The legrest is something I've seen a lot in recent chairs, especially those that aim to do it all, like Hbada. The lumbar support is solid. It might not be the best office chair I've tested, but overall, the chair is quite promising.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Hbada E3 Pro: Pricing and Availability

The Hbada E3 Pro is currently on sale for $549.99 at the time of writing, down $160 from its regular price of $709.99.

You can grab one from Hbada's website, and a few other retailers, including Amazon.com (click here) and Amazon.co.uk (click here).

The chair comes in three colorways and offers the option to set up with or without a leg-rest. I chose the lighter gray colorway, though the black and even pink look nice too (for the right person). The pink is more of a grey seat with a pink backing.

From what I can see on the website, the default option is to add the footrest, which is unique, as I usually see this as a priced add-on. However, the leg-rest is a fun feature that many are enjoying.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Hbada E3 Pro: Unboxing & first impressions

The Hbada E3 Pro Ergonomic Office Chair was easy to assemble, nothing too crazy there. The instructions were clear, and it wasn't too hard to assemble with just one person. Right away, as we removed the chair from the box, we noticed that it felt sturdy, heavy-duty, and supportive.

After assembly, we checked out the chair, and it felt sturdy, yet not too rigid, especially with the mesh. It felt breathable, easy to get comfortable in, and enjoyable to sit in for extended periods.

There is a slight quirk with our model; the footrest moves a little too freely, but that may be an inherent characteristic of our model.

Hbada E3 Pro: Design & Build Quality

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Specs

Material: Breathable mesh seat/back, padded headrest
Weight Capacity: ~300 lbs
Adjustments: Recline w/ lock, seat height, headrest tilt, lumbar shift, arm rotation
Footrest: Retractable, padded
Colors: Black/Grey
Dimensions: Designed to fit most users—but may run short for users 6’5”+

The Hbada frame is sturdy. With these chair companies that I'm unfamiliar with, I'm always wary of plopping down and relying on a chair to provide both stability and comfort. But, from the first sit until now, 114 days later, this chair hasn't given me any reason to doubt its stability. The mesh is comfortable, cool in both temperature and design, and it's supportive.

The armrests take a minute to get used to, as do any armrests that are different than what you are used to using now. I have a love-hate relationship with hyper-mobile armrests. 90% of the time, I will appreciate them, but then I'll stand up and push off of them, or I'll lean on them the wrong way, and I'll hate them for a few minutes, then forget about it again - but maybe that's just me.

The headrest adjusts more than most I have seen, allowing me to make it fit my head and neck just right, and then easily adjust it to another individual's preferences. It's the right balance of support and ease of use.

The legrest is okay in my book. It feels like an afterthought, though ironically, this is possibly the first chair I have seen that comes shipped with the chair and not as an accessory add-on. It seems like it's missing something, but I'm not sure what, as it technically works fine and is comfortable.

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Hbada E3 Pro: In use

Hbada is very keen to promote its 3-zone elastic lumbar support, the 4D bi-axial headrest, the 6D adjustable armrests, and so on. What that translates to in real-world applications is that this chair is hyper-adjustable. While that's mostly great, there are a few areas where this poses an issue.

When I go to grab this chair in the morning to sit down, I feel like just about anywhere I hold is an adjustable piece, so I grab multiple areas to move the chair around, ensuring I don't make unwanted adjustments. Outside of that, though, the adjustment features allow for customized seating, unique to your body type and preferences, and then I can go in and do the same for me, and just about anyone.

So, if you are sharing this chair, get ready to fiddle with it for a few minutes at the start of every use. If it's yours, though, take an hour to enjoy tweaking every feature until you have it dialed in just right.

The lumbar support gently caresses your midsection, love handles, lower back, whatever you want to call it. Hbada does a good job with the H3 Pro, providing comfortable support that is less intrusive and bothersome. They extend further than most chairs, wrapping more closely around your front, but for those who want more lower back support, that might be the perfect solution you've been looking for.

The headrest is also interesting; it does an excellent job of caressing my neck without pushing my head forward at all, and provides support when I need it without making me feel like my neck is excessively far forward.

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Design

Simple and clean

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ease of use

Easy to use

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Practicality

Practical for many

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Price

Understandably priced

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Hbada E3 Pro: Final verdict

So far, this chair has exceeded my expectations. For $700+ regular price, I was hoping it would be, but it has been an excellent chair for the last 114 days. My team has loved using it; it's been a fantastic option for both taller and smaller individuals, thanks to all the adjustments, and it's held up quite nicely. If you find this one on sale, it's a great option to consider for your home office, dedicated office, or even a co-working space, as it allows for adjustable seating for multiple users.

To help make your workspace more productive, we've also tested and reviewed the best standing desks.