TechRadar Reviews

Pokémon Pokopia has been somewhat of a mystery since its first announcement; it was evidently set to be a cozy game, but of what variety few could tell. Well, the answer is here; it’s part life sim, part town-building sim, part sandbox, and 100% great fun.

Nintendo passing the reins to Koei Tecmo’s Omega Force for this proved wise; their experience in making Dragon Quest Builders 2 proved invaluable in balancing Pokopia’s Animal Crossing-like cuteness and coziness with a solid storyline and satisfying gameplay loop. It's most certainly one of the best Nintendo Switch 2 games.

Review info

Platform reviewed: Nintendo Switch 2
Available on: Nintendo Switch 2
Release date: March 5, 2025

As you’d expect, there’s always at least a little room for improvement, but overall, I am solidly impressed with the results; I found Pokopia incredibly hard to put down, and considering I’ve been working on a deadline to write up my review, that’s proved problematic!

Some prospective fans might be surprised to find that Pokopia is pretty story-driven; there’s ample side-questing, construction work, and resource collection to be enjoyed, too, but you’ll need to progress through the main quest lines to unlock new powers, areas, and Pokémon. While I love a sandbox game, the story focus of Pokopia really helps draw out the experience; had I not been working to a deadline, I could have comfortably enjoyed the first chapter (which I completed in roughly eight hours) for thrice as long.

I’m willing to hedge my bets that this will be a hugely popular title for the Nintendo Switch 2, and perhaps even a system seller; limited perhaps only by the fact that non-Pokémon fans might assume you’d need to love the monster-collecting role-playing games to enjoy Pokopia. Sure, you might miss out on a few references here and there, but I’d point any cozy game lover in the direction of Pokopia in a heartbeat.

(Image credit: Nintendo/The Pokémon Company)Kanto region as you’ve never seen it before

In Pokopia, you play as a Ditto who awakens to a post-apocalyptic and alarmingly underpopulated world. It’s your mission to restore the land to its former glory, entice back the missing Pokémon, and perhaps, even, the humans that seem to have completely vanished without a trace. It’s a great concept with some surprisingly dark undertones, though no more sinister than movies like WALL-E, which broach similar topics.

For the uninitiated, the Ditto species has the ability to transform into other creatures; it’s relatively rare that the ability is used to transform into humans, but this particular Ditto, longing for its long-lost trainer, can maintain their former partner’s human form. Even more unusually, it’s able to concurrently mimic other Pokémon’s abilities, and it’s with these powers you’ll terraform the land around you. By all accounts, it seems like we’re in the Kanto region; in-game clues hint as much, though I’ve not reached a point in the main storyline where there’s absolute confirmation on that.

There’s a solid variety of really useful skills on offer, from Bulbasaur’s grass-growing Leafage to the power to glide acquired later in the game. These scale with you as your adventure progresses in a really satisfying way, speeding up the rate at which you can improve the environment and travel around the world. They do come with limitations; you’ve got a PP meter that refills each day, however, it’s pretty easy to refuel.

(Image credit: Nintendo/The Pokémon Company)

To learn these abilities, Ditto needs to see them in action, so the first call to order is creating habitats that missing Pokémon can live in. As you explore the various locations in the game, you’ll find hints for different habitats, which use a combination of natural objects like rocks, trees, flowers, and tall grass, environmental factors like height, as well as man-made furnishings to lure home different species.

Many are relatively easy to form, but some will require you to find or build items. I’d wager that despite powering through the storyline, I’m only about halfway through both the Pokédex and Habitat dex; there’s a lot of content to enjoy here.

It takes a village

The rarity of the Pokémon dictates how quickly it will appear, but after some waiting, different species will arrive and offer their support to Ditto as it works to improve the local towns. Each Pokémon has abilities to help these efforts; some can refine items like bricks and ingots, others can join your party to help as you quest around town, and some just know how to bring a great vibe to any function with abilities like Hype. Each have their own likes and dislikes, too, when it comes to decor.

Much like in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, there are archetypes for characters and dialogue, and while there are lots of different topics, there’s a fair amount of duplication in line delivery when you stop to chat with Pokémon. It’s somewhat understandable given just how many species there are, but it’s frustratingly close to nailing it. The first time you meet a Pokémon, there’s a unique interaction that gives you a good idea of the wide-ranging personalities of these species, only to be quickly traded for more generic interactions. Conversations between other Pokémon are pretty consistently charming, at least, and show off their unique qualities much better.

Plus, there’s a distinct lack of sass here, too; you’re told Pokémon like Dartrix are “narcissistic” in the Pokédex, and yet he’s sweet as pie most of the time when you interact. Given there are so many mischievous, egotistical, and even downright aggressive Pokémon species, this feels like another missed opportunity from Nintendo to bring back some bite to its characters.

Best bit

(Image credit: Nintendo/The Pokémon Company)

Listening in as Kricketot helped Diglett find his groove in an impromptu jam sesh. So. Darn. CUTE. I also love the photo opportunities to capture various Pokémon hanging out in the wild.

Still, I love that the Pokémon walk around your town, interacting with furnishings and decor you’ve placed as well as eachother. Sometimes they’ll bound over to you for a chat, to make a request or even to play a minigame like hide and seek – while these are pretty easy, it’s nice to break away and build your relationships. The world feels really lively, and I wasn’t convinced it would from early game footage nor my demo experience last month; I’m always glad to be wrong in moments like this.

Some smaller details like this do get lost in the mix; for example, sometimes, you might struggle to find a specific Pokémon you need. Presumably to offload the weight of having lots of Pokémon in one area at once, sometimes the game will remove residents from the world – but they also can just have strayed far from home. I happened to notice that it was possible to use the Pokédex to search for them around the map, and it’s only through an item description that I learned you could use honey on a habitat to summon its resident back into the world. Missing these tips meant I spent a good few hours earlier in my gameplay running in circles, ironically, trying to find Far’fetchd.

Broadly, though, the game handles these quality-of-life features and attention to detail incredibly well, and feels like Nintendo learned a lot of huge lessons from the early versions of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, even if I can still foresee an impatient younger player missing a trick or two and facing some frustration off the back of it.

Make a house a home

(Image credit: Nintendo/The Pokémon Company)

The centrepiece of each town is its Pokémon center, which you’ll need to rebuild; thankfully, the PC stationed nearby grants access to the Poké Life app, where you’ll find daily challenges and shop items to help on your journey as well as launch multiplayer modes and claim rewards.

Broadly, you progress through the game by improving the town’s environment level, which can also be tracked on the PC. You accomplish this by improving the habitats of your new pals; each day, they’ll request everything from decor to environmental changes, and meeting their demands will help you level up. You might find that these satisfaction levels even change for the worse if, for example, it starts raining and your fire Pokémon doesn’t have shelter, so it’s well worth checking in every day to see how things are changing for your Poképals.

If a Pokémon’s natural habitat just isn’t working out, that’s fine too; you can build everything from quick and space-efficient shanty huts for smaller species to grander block houses that multiple Pokémon can call home. Making your own structures and placing blocks can be a teensy bit fiddly at times, especially if you’re repairing pathways or dealing with larger-scale buildings, but you can use mouse mode, which allows for a little more fine motor control. Personally, I didn’t get on with this control system; however, I have dyspraxia, so I struggle with mouse mode at the best of times. I can see some players finding it useful, though.

(Image credit: Nintendo/The Pokémon Company)

There are also ample opportunities for customization, especially when it comes to building. I think players are going to have a lot of fun with this feature, which will be massively appreciated when it comes to the multiplayer experience, where players can show off their home islands.

Plus, some great tech mechanics make building much more than a cosmetic exercise, some of which I’ve barely scratched the surface of; from minecarts to electricity circuits and beyond, it will take a lot to recreate the world as humans left it. Thankfully, Drifloon can whisk you away to a different dream island every day, where you can gather more resources if you’re running dry.

Strafing difficulty levels

(Image credit: Nintendo/The Pokémon Company)

Overall, the game is quite well balanced in terms of difficulty, but there are a lot of shortcuts you can figure out to speed your way through questlines and unlock more powerful moves more quickly.

The real-time element of the game is great for pacing, but it does have its quirks. Certain tasks like teams of Pokémon taking on construction work or processing materials, make you wait for the results, but in both cases, you can still make use of the Pokémon for other tasks at the same time, unless they’re operating machinery. And anyway, it’s actually pretty easy to build multi-resident houses yourself in Pokopia; all you really need is a one-block high wall, a doorway, three pieces of furniture, and voila, you can move in a few Pokémon and more quickly improve their satisfaction levels.

Plus, ome Pokémon abilities are pretty busted. You can bring most plant-type Pokémon along with you to any vegetable gardens you’ve planted and use their abilities to speed up crop growth – sure, they might run out of energy, but a quick Leppa berry sees them hop straight back to work. I’d have preferred it if, like with furnaces and other workstations, farming had been an assignable task, as its current setup somewhat flies in the face of the real-time cycle.

(Image credit: Nintendo/The Pokémon Company)

These kinds of min/maxing workarounds are often tantalizing, but it’s up to you as the player to moderate yourself and choose to enjoy the non-demanding pace Pokopia offers. Perhaps the game could have a few more guardrails, but it doesn’t make it any worse to play unless you’re looking for reasons to rush through.

Besides, there’s just so much to do in Pokopia. You want to build a museum and proudly display your collectibles? You got it. Want to focus on rebuilding all that which the humans left behind? There’s plenty of ruins to go around. Want to shirk off Ditto’s mission and just create 3D models of Pokémon out of dirt blocks? You do you, boo boo.

Most of my issues with this game have been surface-level, really; the attention to detail here is fantastic, it’s consistently great fun to play, and brimming with evident care for the now-30-year-old franchise.

Every aspect of Pokopia feels like a warm hug; the graphics are super cute, the interfaces are clean, the music is bright and comforting, and it’s full of life. It’s a breath of fresh air to have a spin-off that adds so much to the already-teeming world of Pokémon, and I, for one, am incredibly excited to see how players design their own cities and islands.

Should you play Pokémon Pokopia?Play it if...

You love a peaceful adventure
Part life-sim, part sandbox, part town-building sim, there’s a lot to love about Pokémon Pokopia and very little to raise your blood pressure.

You’re craving some self-expression
From character design to furnishings to building materials and beyond, you can really make the world of Pokémon feel like your own with very few restrictions.

You want an environmental feast
Pokopia is so darn cute to look at. Cutesy pastel hues, animated and vibrant Pokémon, and a great stripped-back soothing soundtrack make it a wonderful and immersive cozy experience.

Don't play it if...

You want Pokémon battles
While even I hoped for some semblance of classic Pokémon fighting, in a trainer-less world, it makes little sense to include any fighting mechanics.

You have poor self-control
The worst thing about this game, really, is that it’s easy to work around a lot of its real-time restrictions. If, like me, you’ve got poor impulse control and crave the dopamine hit of completed tasks, you might struggle to enjoy the slow pace – but there’s still plenty to enjoy.

Accessibility features

There are many of the standard expected accessibility features: text speed, customizable controls, camera speed and distance controls, as well as auto-adjust/follow.

However, outside of these, there’s little on offer; I’d expect and hope at the very least for font size adjustments, control sensitivity, UI settings, and closed captions for in-game sound effects, which would drastically improve the experience for a wide range of prospective players. I really hope these come in a future update.

(Image credit: Nintendo/The Pokémon Company)How I reviewed Pokémon Pokopia

I spent 40 hours playing Pokémon Pokopia on my Nintendo Switch 2, working my way through as much of the main quest as possible in that time while also working towards rebuilding the various towns to my taste. I completed most of the early-game side quests, gathered a sizeable chunk of collectibles, and created a wide variety of habitats for my Pokémon.

I mostly played in docked mode, playing with my Nintendo Switch 2 Pro controller and using standard settings on my Sony KD-49XH8096 TV, using Logitech Multimedia Z200 speakers or my Corsair Void MAX Wireless v2, but I also spent around 6 hours in handheld mode and tried mouse mode for easier block placement.

I compared my experience with Pokémon Pokopia to some of my favorite cozy, sandbox, and town-building games, from titles like Stardew Valley, Minecraft, and Terraria to Animal Crossing: New Horizons and games from the Two Point tycoon series.

Fujifilm X-T30 III: two-minute review

Fujifilm has updated its beginner mirrorless camera for photographers with the new X-T30 III, which comes four years after the Fujifilm X-T30 II.

It launches alongside a tiny new XF 13-33mm f/3.5-6.3 OIS kit lens (that's a 20-50mm effective focal length) that's smaller and lighter than the 15-45mm, the previous kit lens packaged with Fujifilm’s low-cost cameras. The portable pair weigh just 17.7oz / 503g combined.

Going on appearances alone, very little has changed. There's now a film simulation dial in place of a shooting mode dial, much like on other recent Fujifilm cameras including the X-T50, with all 20 simulations available, and the ability to add film recipe shortcuts.

The X-T30 III is available in three colors; silver, charcoal and black (Image credit: Tim Coleman / Gareth Bevan)

Otherwise, the size, weight, profile and control layout are pretty much identical to the X-T30 II – this is a really small camera and lens combo that easily slips into a jacket pocket.

Headline features include the same 26MP sensor and current fifth-generation processor combo as used in the X-M5 and X-S20. This means the X-30 III sits below the pricer X-T50, which uses the latest 40MP stabilized sensor.

It has more in common with the slightly pricier X-S20, which with its in-body image stabilization, feels like a better pick. Otherwise, the specs are almost identical to those of the X-M5, which, with its viewfinder-less video-first design, costs less.

The notable change from the X-T30 II is that there's a film simulation dial rather than a shooting mode dial (Image credit: Tim Coleman / Gareth Bevan)

Despite its photography-friendly design, which also factors a built-in flash, the X-T30 III does in fact have the same video features as the compact X-M5, including 6K video with 10-bit color depth, 4K 60fps video and a vertical 9:16 short movie mode for social.

Personally, I think Fujifilm’s X-series range is getting a little crowded now, and would have liked to have seen the X-T30 III priced around 10% lower to help it to truly stand out for beginners.

However, it's still a compelling retro package – $1,150 / £1,000 / AU$1,950 for an attractive portable camera and lens with sharp 26MP stills and impressive 6K video is pretty respectable.

The X-T30 III is a tidy package with the 13-33mm lens attached (Image credit: Tim Coleman / Gareth Bevan)Fujifilm X-T30 III: price and release date

• Costs $999 / £829 / AU$1,679 body-only, or $1,149 / £999 / $1,949 with the 13-33mm lens
• Available in silver, black and charcoal
• Sales started on November 20, 2025

Designed for beginners, the X-T30 III was available from November 20 in silver, black and charcoal options, for a body-only price of $999 / £829 / AU$1,679, or with the new 13-33mm lens it costs $1,149 / £999 / $1,949.

The X-M5 remains the lowest-priced model in Fujifilm's range of X-mount cameras; the X-S20 is a fraction more, while the X-T50 is more again. Considering its features, I would prefer that the X-T30 III was around 10% cheaper in order for it to be more competitive.

I expect the silver model in particular to sell well. (Image credit: Tim Coleman / Gareth Bevan)Fujifilm X-T30 III: specs

Video

6K 30fps / 4K 60fps, 9:16 mode

Photo

26MP APS-C

Lens mount

Fujifilm X

Autofocus

Intelligent hybrid phase / contrast

Cont shooting

8fps (mechanical), 20fps (electronic), 30fps (electronic with 1.25x crop)

Screen

3-inch, 1.62m-dot tilt touchscreen

Viewfinder

2.36m-dot

Weight

13.3oz / 378g (incl battery and card)

Battery

NP-W126S (same type as in most of Fujifilm's current cameras), 425 shots

Fujifilm X-T30 III: Design

• Weights just 378g, same dimensions as the X-T30 II
• Film simulation dial in place of a shooting mode dial
• Built-in EVF, flash and tilt touchscreen

The X-T30 III is a tidy, compact retro package, especially with the new 13-33mm lens – the pair weigh less than most rival cameras without lens attached, and I easily slipped the combo into my jacket pocket when I wasn't using it. The camera is available in three colors and it certainly looks the part, especially in silver.

Just like the X-T30 II before it, the new model makes a great travel camera. The retractable design of the 13-33mm lens gives it almost pancake optic proportions, and shooting around the busy city streets of Rome, the setup drew very little attention. Conversely, when I switched to its X-series sibling, the Fujifilm X-H2S, while not exactly a massive camera, got glances from passersby, especially at the major landmarks, where candid street photography can seem almost impossible. Even the X-T5 seems heavyweight by comparison.

Happily, this doesn’t have a negative impact on the handling experience, and I was still able to reach all of the buttons and controls with my thumbs, while my index finger remained on the shutter release. If you’ve used previous iterations of the camera, or indeed other enthusiast-level Fujifilm X-Series cameras, you should fall right into step with the layout.

Tim Coleman / Gareth BevanTim Coleman / Gareth BevanTim Coleman / Gareth BevanTim Coleman / Gareth BevanTim Coleman / Gareth Bevan

The pronounced thumb rest gives a decent grip, and I happily (and securely) held the camera with one hand in both horizontal and vertical formats. I was concerned about the balance I might find when using the wide-aperture primes I’d packed to accompany me on my shoot, namely the Fujinon XF 56mm F1.2 R WR, which is on the bulky side. I needn’t have worried though, as even after several long days of shooting, the setup didn’t seem unduly imbalanced.

There's a quick menu button conveniently placed on that thumb grip, but all too often I found myself pressing it unintentionally. It's not a big drama as you just have to exit the menu, but it's something to be aware of.

One element I’m happy Fujifilm retained from previous models is the pressable control wheels. It’s a smart and sensible application of dual control – you can scroll through a menu and then select the desired item by pressing the wheel. It’s actually something I’ve wished more manufacturers would introduce as I’ve always enjoyed this underrated character of the X-series.

Tim Coleman / Gareth BevanTim Coleman / Gareth BevanTim Coleman / Gareth BevanTim Coleman / Gareth BevanTim Coleman / Gareth BevanTim Coleman / Gareth Bevan

The rear touchscreen is tilt only and not fully vari-angle, which means you won't be able to easily shoot selfies.

I'm personally fine with the tilt design, which is handy for waist-level viewing. Also, the positioning of the USB-C, micro HDMI and mic ports on the side would obstruct a flip around screen, when those ports are in use.

The 2.36m-dot EVF is clear enough for such a small camera – I regularly used it rather than the screen, and it is particularly helpful on bright sunny days for photography.

Now, let’s talk about that new Film Simulation dial, which brings the camera in line with Fujifilm’s latest generation of cameras, including the X-T50. It replaces the mode dial which occupied the same space at the left side of the top plate, and now offers direct access to Fuji’s range of film simulations. While I can see the appeal if you regularly like to experiment with color profiles, and bearing in mind that film styles are something of a speciality of Fujfilm cameras, it’s more of a downgrade for advanced photographers.

(Image credit: Peter Fenech)

Personally, I switch exposure mode more often than color profiles, so I'm a bigger fan of the shooting mode dial which is sacrificed. Since I also shoot RAW all of the time, anything I might select using this dial is rendered pointless in the captured image unless I reapply the style in Lightroom – an extra step reintroduced, only later in the production process.

The styles are lovely, and I wonder if Fujifilm created a physical control for them in an effort to make them feel like more of a genuine photographic tool than a gimmick, but I fear it may have had the inverse effect. The dial now becomes the defining feature of the X-T30 III.

There is also a secondary impact on the practical use of the camera body. Inexplicably, once I got started using the X-T30 III, I couldn’t seem to work out how to place it in aperture priority mode, which is my default exposure setting. I test a lot of cameras, so this was an unsettling predicament.

I always like to think I’ve done some reasonable homework on a camera before setting off on a trip with it, but here I was in the darkened streets of the Italian capital at midnight, in the shadow of St Peter’s Basilica, unable to find Av mode. I can’t say that’s ever happened before, at least not since my first week of taking photos. Notably, this was never a problem with the X-T30, X-T30 II, nor any other Fujifilm camera. The addition of the film sim dial is my only culprit.

The Astia, Acros, and Velvia film simulationsPeter FenechPeter FenechPeter Fenech

Until I got my bearings, I resorted to the new auto mode instead which selects shutter speed and aperture based on the scene. The X-T30 III certainly feels designed for beginners.

There's a built-in flash, one of only three current beginner models with such a feature. The GN7-rated (ISO 200) flash is handy to have for sure, especially at parties. You only tend to get a built-in flash in beginner cameras which aren't weather sealed, like the X-T30 III, because they usually compromise weather sealing.

Speaking of which, the lightweight design does come with a few compromises. The build quality is a little plasticky, especially coming from a higher-end body like the X-T5. It didn’t especially bother me, considering how much I appreciated the camera’s low weight, but it isn’t a model with which I’d like to find myself stranded outside in a rainstorm.

Fujifilm X-T30 III: Performance

• New processor delivers 10% better battery life
• New Instax mode for instant photography fans
• Digital stabilization only

Packing Fujifilm's latest processor, the X-T30 III is a snappier camera than the X-T30 II. For example, 8fps (mechanical) and 20fps (electronic) burst shooting are sustained for 2x longer, for up to 173 JPEGs. That max speed can be upped to 30fps (electronic) with a 1.25x crop.

I didn’t count the individual frames, but even in RAW mode, the camera felt snappy and punched above its weight with regard to speed. I was able to shoot extended bursts of images, or several sequences in close succession, without the X Processor 5 notably struggling to clear the buffer before I triggered the shutter again.

Fujifilm also says battery life is improved by 10% thanks to the new processor, for up to 425 shots, and across a four-day trip, the two NP-W126S battery packs I had with me were more than enough. Of course, in more extreme temperature conditions, or if I had been exclusively shooting video, it might be a different story. It’s certainly a respectable battery life for a camera at this level, though.

Autofocus receives a boost, too, with Fujifilm's latest subject detection on board, which in addition to people can track animals, birds, cars, insects and more. I was very impressed by the speed with which the camera could snap between close and distant subjects. It also wasn’t easily fooled by tourists and traffic moving between the lens and my intended focal point.

It clearly isn’t a match for the advanced Dual Pixel CMOS AF system found in Canon cameras like the EOS R5 Mark II or EOS R6 Mark III, or even the comparably priced EOS R10, but it’s perfect for everyday photographic needs.

Peter FenechPeter FenechPeter FenechPeter Fenech

For me, the biggest sacrifice here versus a pricier model such as the X-T50, is in-body image stabilization (IBIS). There's digital image stabilization only, which is certainly better than nothing, but does somewhat limit the possibilities for smooth handheld video footage. The same goes for creative slow-shutter-speed photography.

Given the ultra-lightweight nature of the body, I did find getting sharp images at even moderate shutter speeds a challenge, and I always consider myself to have a steady hand. Perhaps I have been spoiled by seven and eight-stop IBIS systems, but I definitely missed it here. Given the limited aperture range of the kit lens, the optical IS within it struggled to have a meaningful effect once the sun dipped below the horizon.

Fujifilm X-T30 III: image quality

• 26MP stills and film simulations
• 6k 30fps, 4k up to 60p, and 9:16 short video mode
• 10-bit color depth for video

Ok, so pricier Fujifilm cameras such as the X-T50 and X-T5 boast Fujifilm's latest 40MP sensor for highly detailed photos, but the X-T30 III is no slouch, and still outshines other crop-sensor rivals for detail with its 26MP stills (and 14-bit 'RAF' format RAWs) – these rivals include the 20.9MP Nikon Z50 II, the 24MP Canon EOS R10 and the (older) 24MP Sony A6400.

It’s important not to get too caught up in pixel-counting and the X-T30 III is able to deliver exceptional levels of detail. Shooting in RAW, at base ISO and with a high-quality professional prime lens, the results are exemplary.

This is maintained up to around ISO800, where resolution starts to drop off. By around ISO6400, files have taken on a mushier appearance, and noise is most definitely present. It’s not as good a low-light performance as I’ve seen in some other high-end APS-C cameras, like the Nikon Z fc or Canon EOS R7, but given the target audience and price point, it’s not awful. In fact, up to around ISO4000 the fine grain is actually quite attractive, especially in black and white shots where it lends an almost filmic look.

Tim ColemanTim ColemanTim ColemanTim ColemanTim ColemanTim ColemanTim ColemanTim Coleman

Having Fujifilm’s film simulations at your fingertips is handy and furthermore includes customizable film recipes, even if that makes shooting-mode changes much more of a hassle. I've shot using various profiles in the galleries above and below, including Velvia (vivid), Reala Ace, Acros (monochrome) and others.

An area where the camera really excels is in its auto white balance system, which is superbly accurate. Combined with Fuji’s renowned color science, the X-T30 III is able to render beautifully naturalistic tones. This was one of my favorite aspects of the original X-T30 (also reviewed in Rome, coincidentally) and revisiting the same locations, I was happy to see the trend had been maintained in its younger sibling.

Video quality is excellent, too – 6.2K video and 4:2:2 10-bit color depth is excellent at this price point, even if in-body image stabilization is missing. The footage looks great straight out of camera, ready to share on socials. It’s a shame the LCD doesn't flip or rotate through 180 degrees, as overall the X-T30 III would make an ideal vlogging camera, but it’s still versatile enough for casual videography or B-roll capture.

Tim ColemanTim ColemanTim ColemanTim ColemanTim ColemanTim ColemanTim Coleman

I was especially keen to examine the performance of the new 13-33mm lens. This detail matters because most people will buy the camera with the new kit lens, which will spend most of the time on the camera.

As far as kit lenses go, it’s not bad at all and is capable of resolving a reasonable amount of overall detail. Impressively, sharpness is quite consistent across the frame, right out to the edges, even at 13mm. I’ll admit that I wasn’t expecting this and goes to show how far kit optics have come over the past couple of decades. This one is clearly designed to match the quality of the 26MP sensor, which it does admirably.

Don’t expect prime-level quality, but contrast and resolution are good enough for most shooting circumstances.

Fujifilm X-T30 III: testing scorecardFujifilm X-T30 III

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Price

The cost is accessible to enthusiasts but you can find more spec for your money elsewhere

4/5

Design

Classically Fujifilm, the retro layout is a joy to use, although the build quality is quite plasticky for the price

4/5

Performance

The lack of IBIS is a problem, but autofocus and speed are up there with the best in class

4.5/5

Image and video quality

The X-T30 III is capable of outstanding images in good light, although it lags behind the competition at higher sensitivities

4/5

Should I buy the Fujifilm X-T30 III?Buy it if...

You want a super-portable retro camera
Only the X100VI is smaller in the Fujifilm family, but the X-T30 III provides access to the full range of XF interchangeable lenses. The body is almost small enough to fit into a jacket pocket, but expands any existing X-Series ecosystem.

You need speed over absolute image quality
The X-T30 III is a rapid-shooting performer that is also quick to start up. Meanwhile, its fast AF system makes it ideal for street photography and as a backup for wildlife and sports.

You're looking for your first X-Series camera
The X-T30 III is a perfect introduction to the Fujifilm system. It's uncomplicated (mode selection quirks notwithstanding) and the 13-33mm kit lens will cover most of your bases.

Don't buy it if...

You already own the X-T30 II
....or even the original X-T30, perhaps. There isn't really enough of an upgrade here to justify replacing your existing camera. You'd be better off investing in a higher-end model like the X-T5 if you want more features.

You own many heavyweight lenses
While the camera still works well alongside heavier standard primes, telephoto lenses like the XF50-140mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR or XF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR will feel greatly unbalanced when mounted to the X-T30 III.

You need to print large format
The 26MP sensor is a little conservative by 2026 standards, and you can find much higher-res cameras for similar money. Equally, while 4K video is available, cameras like the X-H line and single-digit X-T families offer superior quality footage, for larger displays.

Fujifilm X-T30 III: also consider

Nikon Z50 II

Available for exactly the same price as the X-T30 III, the Z50 II is a versatile mirrorless camera with Nikon's latest Expeed 7 processor for flagship performance, superb subject-recognition autofocus, and improved video features. Its excellent ergonomics and vari-angle touchscreen make it an easy camera to travel and shoot with, while color profiles can be uploaded from Nikon's app, much like Fujifilm film recipes. With lower-resolution 20.9MP stills and 4K video, the Z50 II can't quite match the X-T30 III for detail.

See my Nikon Z50 II reviewView Deal

Fujifilm X-M5

Smaller, lighter and cheaper, the X-M5 features the same sensor and processor as the X-T30 III – which likewise means 26MP stills, 6.2K video, 9:16 short movies and film simulations. The major difference is that the X-M5 lacks a viewfinder and has a vari-angle screen, making it the better pick for video.

See our Fujifilm X-M5 reviewView Deal

(Image credit: Tim Coleman / Gareth Bevan)How I tested the Fujifilm X-T30 III

• I spent time in both London and Rome, testing the camera in a range of lighting conditions
• I used the camera for several days, shooting multiple subjects from street photography to interiors and cityscapes
• I paired the camera with both the 13-33mm kit lens and a professional 56mm prime lens

I took the X-T30 III with me on a multi-day trip to Italy, where I knew I’d be shooting a range of subjects across a spectrum of challenging lighting conditions, inside and out. I made a point of shooting the camera as it would normally be used in practise, but also performed a standard regimen of technical tests.

To assess noise performance, I mounted the camera on a stable support, set Av mode (when I figured out how) and then shot a frame at each ISO setting, from the lowest to the highest. I also kept the camera in automatic white balance mode for the duration of the shoot, but also shot reference images with a custom WB or another preset where I felt it appropriate, so I could compare the camera's color decisions to my own preferences.

I took an X-H2S body along for the ride too, which made a good control camera for quality reference.

I used both the viewfinder and main LCD for composition throughout, and worked with the camera in both auto and manual focus modes at various points. Due to the nature of many of the locations in which I was shooting, I didn’t have much opportunity to thoroughly use the built-in flash – flash photography wasn’t permitted in most of the interior spots.

I used the 13-33mm kit lens extensively, but also switched to the XF56mm F1.2 R WR to see how much the cheaper optic may be limiting the maximum possible performance from the sensor and processor. All images were shot in RAW format and converted in the latest version of Adobe Lightroom, where no noise reduction or sharpening has been applied to the sample shots seen here.

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

GameSir G7 Pro: one-minute review

GameSir is a controller brand that’s only gone from strength to strength over the last few years. Reliably offering forward-thinking controllers for Xbox and Switch consoles as well as PC and mobile, they’re (typically) competitively priced and offer more features and longevity than even first-party gamepads.

That trend continues with the GameSir G7 Pro, which has easily entered my top three on the GameSir tier list alongside the GameSir Tarantula Pro and GameSir Kaleid. Many of the features that make those other two pads so desirable are present and accounted for here: Hall effect sticks that prevent drift, as well as fantastic trigger lock and remappable button options.

On top of that, the G7 Pro leans into modularity. Similar to the Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded or Thrustmaster eSwap X2 H.E., the G7 Pro has swappable d-pad and stick top modules (though the extra stick tops here are identical and act more like spares). You’ve also got the option to swap out the controller’s face and grip plates, though that’s strictly for cosmetic purposes.

Almost everything about the controller exudes quality; I’d use the G7 Pro over the official option any day. The only slight misstep here that prevents it from earning a perfect five stars, for me, is the face buttons. While using tactile micro switch tech like others in the GameSir lineup, these have a strange halfway bump that makes for a pretty lumpy press feel. It’s something you’ll likely get used to over time, but I definitely prefer the cleaner presses found on the GameSir Kaleid and competing pads like the 8BitDo Ultimate 2.

(Image credit: Future)GameSir G7 Pro: Price and availability

• List price: $79.99 / £89.99 (around AU$114)
• Available to buy now at GameSir’s website, as well as Amazon
• Multiple colorways and special editions exist at various price points

The standard GameSir G7 Pro comes in at $79.99 / £89.99 (around AU$114), slightly pricier than most other GameSir models, though this is understandable when taking the additional modularity into account.

Many colorways and special editions are available for the G7 Pro, some based on games developed by teams in China, including Wuchang: Fallen Feathers and Zenless Zone Zero. The latter even includes a layered keychain and is the one I received for this review.

As mentioned, prices vary for these special editions, and you can also pick up compatible face plates and stick tops from the GameSir website if you so desire.

GameSir G7 Pro: specs

Price

$79.99 / £89.99 (around AU$114)

Dimensions

6.9 x 6.8 x 3.7in / 177 x 173 x 94mm

Weight

9.6oz / 272g

Compatibility

Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC

Connection type

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

Battery life

Around 12 hours

(Image credit: Future)GameSir G7 Pro: design and features

Like many controllers in the ‘Designed for Xbox’ stable, the GameSir G7 Pro bears the approximate silhouette of the Xbox Wireless Controller. It’s a similar size and weight, but there are a number of improvements here that put the G7 Pro lightyears ahead of the official model.

From a pure look and feel perspective, I love this thing. The swappable faceplates add a good bit of personality and put forward a more cost-effective solution than Xbox’s own Design Lab, if you’re into the cosmetics of a controller, of course. The rubberized grips on the rear of the pad are sublime, too; among the sturdiest and most comfortable I’ve ever had the pleasure of testing.

Staying on the rear of the controller for a second, you have a pair of remappable buttons that are strictly optional; you can flick a small switch on either side to fully lock the button, preventing you from pressing it if you’d prefer. You’ll also find the trigger lock toggles back here, as well as a switch for swapping between Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless connectivity options.

The front of the pad is pretty standard stuff. You have an Xbox-like asymmetrical stick layout here, as well as the d-pad, face buttons, and Home and share buttons. A Multifunction button also exists here, as it does on other GameSir controllers.

This is immediately useful if you want to make quick and simple adjustments, such as headset and mic volume adjustment, and remappable button assignment. You can do all this in the GameSir Nexus app on Xbox and PC, too, but having on-device shortcuts in addition to that is a real boon.

(Image credit: Future)GameSir G7 Pro: performance

Once again, GameSir has provided a near-luxurious play experience at a mid-range price with the G7 Pro. Hall effect sticks are pretty standard nowadays (and arguably expected), but they’re here and feel great nonetheless.

One thing that really impressed me about the G7 Pro is its trigger locks. Again, nothing new, but I almost always prefer the tighter press of a digital trigger if given the option. On the G7 Pro, they work flawlessly, and it offers one of the most tactile and responsive digital trigger options in the business.

Immediacy really is the keyword here. The micro switch-powered d-pad, as well as the claw grip bumpers and rear remappable buttons, all offer such clicky and immediate responsiveness that I can highly recommend this controller if you’re a competitive gamer.

The one misstep here has to be the face buttons, though, and it’s a real shame they don’t feel quite as nice as everything else on the G7 Pro. Here, as mentioned above, there’s an awkward half-press that makes the face buttons feel uncomfortably bumpy at first. I got used to it after some time with the controller, but the quality of them here is a noticeable step down from the brand’s other products.

On battery life, I managed roughly 12 hours on a single charge. That’s about average for wireless controllers at this price point, so no real complaints here. The inclusion of a charging dock is a really nice touch, and I found that it charges the controller fairly quickly, going from empty to full in about two hours.

(Image credit: Future)Should I buy the GameSir G7 Pro?Buy it if...

You want a controller that’s all about responsiveness
Immediacy really is the name of the game here. From the optional digital trigger locks to the d-pad and bumpers, everything about the G7 Pro is so tactile and clicky. It’s one of the most satisfying controller experiences I’ve had in quite a while.

You enjoy controller customization
Swappable face plates are a nice touch with the G7 Pro. GameSir sells a range of designs separately, making it easy to find a style that suits your preferences.

Don't buy it if...

Those face buttons sound annoying to you
Really the only downside of the G7 Pro is its face buttons. They just feel a little awkward and out of place compared to the immediacy and responsiveness of the rest of the pad’s modules. While far from unusable - and certainly not unresponsive - the relatively spongy feel is a letdown here.

Also consider...

If the GameSir G7 Pro isn’t quite what you’re after, here are a couple more recommendations that might fit your preferences a little better.

GameSir G7 Pro

8BitDo Ultimate 2

GameSir Tarantula Pro

Price

$79.99 / £89.99 (around AU$114)

$59.99 / £49.99 (around AU$90)

$69.99 / £69.99 (around AU$105)

Dimensions

6.9 x 6.8 x 3.7in / 177 x 173 x 94mm

5.7 x 4.1 x 2.4in / 147 x 103 x 61mm

6.2 x 3.9 x 2.4in / 157 x 99 x 61mm

Weight

9.6oz / 272g

8.7oz / 246g

11.52oz / 325g

Compatibility

PC, Nintendo Switch, mobile

PC, Nintendo Switch

PC, Nintendo Switch

Connection type

Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC

PC, Android (Switch version sold separately)

PC, Switch, Switch 2, Android, iOS

Battery life

Around 12 hours

10-15 hours

Around 12 hours

8BitDo Ultimate 2
Arguably the best controller in 8BitDo’s repertoire, it offers drift-eliminating TMR thumbsticks, improved remappable buttons, eye-catching RGB ring lights, and a sublimely smooth play experience overall. I highly recommend this one if you’re in the market for an affordable yet feature-rich PC controller.

Read our full 8BitDo Ultimate 2 review

GameSir Tarantula Pro
One of my favorite GameSir pads, the Tarantula Pro adopts a symmetrical stick layout like PlayStation’s DualSense Wireless Controller. You’re also getting high-quality TMR sticks here, and the build quality feels wonderfully premium despite the relatively affordable price.

Read our full GameSir Tarantula Pro review

How I tested the GameSir G7 Pro

• Tested for two weeks
• Primarily tested on PC with both wireless and wired connections
• Played a wide variety of single and multiplayer games

My GameSir G7 Pro testing largely took place on PC, using the controller in both wired and wireless capacities. As a fan of the best fighting games, I found the G7 Pro, its circular d-pad, and clicky remappable buttons, to be a wonderful fit for Street Fighter 6 and Tekken 8.

I also got plenty of use out of its digital trigger option, allowing for quick and responsive access to alternate hotbars in Final Fantasy 14 Online.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed January-February 2026

Razer Kitsune: One-minute review

Leverless controllers tailor-made for fighting games tend to be a sight more expensive than standard pads, and the Razer Kitsune certainly isn’t doing anything to change that. In fact, it’s one of the more expensive options available in the premium leverless bracket, coming in hotter than both the Corsair Novablade Pro and Victrix Pro KO.

It’ll put a serious dent in your bank account, so I definitely can’t recommend the Razer Kitsune to anyone wanting to dip a toe into leverless waters for the first time (the much cheaper 8BitDo Arcade Controller is ideal for that). Thankfully, those who do take the plunge will be rewarded with one of the most luxurious leverless controller experiences around.

What immediately stunned me about the Razer Kitsune was its weight - or lack thereof. It’s not much heavier than many of the best PS5 controllers, and manages this while presenting exceptional build quality and a remarkably razor-thin profile. Even compared to other impressively slim models like the Novablade Pro, the Kitsune would be the talk of the town at a Weight Watchers meeting.

The controller’s discreet nature makes it very portable-friendly, and thus ideal for taking to a buddy’s house for some casual 1v1s, or even to local tournaments if you’re the competitive type. That discreetness carries over to the Kitsune’s buttons, which are whisper-quiet and - as you’d hope - immediately responsive.

There are a couple of notable issues I have with the Kitsune. There’s no PS4 compatibility here, in terms of hardware, unlike the majority of its PlayStation-facing competitors. Instead, if you want to play older PS4 titles like Ultra Street Fighter 4 or Tekken 7, you’ll need a PS5 for that. You are getting PC compatibility here as well, at the very least.

I’m also not keen on the usage of Razer Chroma RGB lighting here. While not overly flashy or intrusive, it feels a bit tacked on and unnecessary, and probably drove up the price of the device all in all. And while I do wish there was a wireless connectivity option, I can see why Razer has kept the Kitsune strictly wired to allow for maximum responsiveness.

Overall, it’s a fine leverless controller if you’re willing to pay a premium for it. Its robust Simultaneous Opposing Cardinal Directions (SOCD) cleaning options are also especially welcome, ensuring that you won’t flub directional inputs in the heat of the moment.

(Image credit: Future)Razer Kitsune: Price and availability

• List price: $299.99 / £299.99
• More expensive than other mid-range to premium leverless options
• Some designs are exclusive to Razer’s store, and cost even more

The Razer Kitsune is available to buy now for $299.99 / £299.99 in its standard black colorway. A Razer store exclusive ‘Esports Green’ variant is also purchasable for $10 / £10 more, and this is the one I received for testing and review purposes. Though honestly, I’d give this one a miss; it’s a pretty ugly shade of green.

That’s notably more expensive than many of its leverless competitors, including the Corsair Novablade Pro and Victrix Pro KO, both of which retail for $249.99 / £229.99. Even the Hit Box, one of the more popular and renowned options in the leverless space, can be had for much cheaper.

Razer Kitsune: Specs

Price

$299.99 / £299.99

Weight

1.8lbs / 0.82kg

Dimensions

11.7 x 8.3 x 0.8in x 296 x 210 x 19mm

Compatibility

PS5, PC

Connection type

Wired

Battery life

N/A

Software

Razer Chroma RGB

Razer Kitsune: Design and features

• Super impressive lightweight design
• Solid aluminum face plate
• Customizable 12-button layout

Purely from a design and build standpoint, the Razer Kitsune might be the nicest leverless controller I’ve ever used. It’s astonishingly discreet, being less than 2cm thick and coming in under a kilogram in weight. It’s noticeably smaller than many of its competitors, too, while still offering plenty of space to rest your hands on during play.

This compact design also doesn’t come with compromise. Build quality is - as I’ve come to expect from Razer - immaculate. The Kitsune is built from high-quality materials, fitted with a sturdy aluminum plate and a textured rubber grip mat on the underside for non-slip gaming.

That quality extends to the controller’s buttons. The Razer Kitsune has a 12-button layout that’s pretty standard for leverless controllers. Though you’ll also find a DualSense-like touchpad, and shortcut buttons for L3, R3, as well as Home, Menu, and Share inputs.

Rounding out the top of the controller are two small switches. One lets you toggle the Kitsune’s SOCD cleaning options (more on that in the performance section below), and the other switches compatibility between PS5 and PC. Be sure to have this one switched into the right place depending on your platform of choice.

At the top-rear of the controller, you’ll find a USB cable lock, which again is fairly standard for wired leverless devices. It simply does what it says on the tin; locking your cable in place so it won’t end up being detached during play.

My only real gripe with the Kitsune’s design is its Chroma RGB lighting. It’s not that I hate a bit of extra flair on a controller; RGB is something that helps some of my favorite controllers like the GameSir Kaleid and 8BitDo Ultimate 2 stand out, but it just feels a little unnecessary here, especially for such a competitive-focused controller. I get that Razer loves juicing up its products with RGB lighting from time to time, but it seems tacked on this time.

(Image credit: Future)Razer Kitsune: Performance

• Immaculately responsive buttons
• Button presses are whisper-quiet
• Plenty of SOCD cleaning options

The Razer Kitsune’s buttons operate by way of low-profile linear optical switches. In short, that means you’re getting whisper-quiet, immediate, and accurate presses. There’s no loud clickiness here, and while there is a bit of tactility lost there, the controller nonetheless remains incredibly responsive and satisfying to play with.

I tested the Razer Kitsune across a wide variety of fighting games in both online and offline environments, including Street Fighter 6, Tekken 8, Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising, and Capcom Fighting Collection 2, and I found it to be an excellent fit for all these titles. There were no compatibility issues to speak of whatsoever across PS5 or PC.

One major feature I’m a real fan of with the Kitsune is its robust SOCD cleaning options. Short for ‘Simultaneous Opposing Cardinal Directions’, SOCD cleaning helps prevent misinputs when opposite directions are pressed simultaneously; either by accident or on purpose.

The Kitsune has four SOCD cleaning modes available, which you can switch between by holding the Share and Home buttons and pressing a direction. Neutral mode, for example, makes it so that no inputs are registered when an SOCD input occurs. ‘Absolute Up Priority’ mode, meanwhile, ensures that only the up input is registered when pressing up and down simultaneously. You can then toggle the lock switch to keep your preferred mode in place, with no danger of swapping it around during play.

It’s a shame that the Razer Kitsune isn’t compatible with the PS4 console, despite being an officially licensed PlayStation product. As mentioned above, you’ll have to play your old PS4 games on PS5 if you want to play them with the Kitsune, which is a slight shame for those with access to the older hardware.

(Image credit: Future)Should I buy the Razer Kitsune?Buy it if…

You want luxurious build quality and money’s no object
While it does cost a small fortune, you’re definitely getting your money’s worth with exceptional build quality and an impressively lightweight design.

You enjoy controller customization
Razer sells Kitsune faceplates separately, and even provides a template you can download for the purpose of custom designs or commissions. On top of that, full button customization and SOCD cleaning options are very welcome.

Don’t buy it if…

You’re just starting out with leverless controllers
While I love the Kitsune, it’s not the one I’d recommend to first-timers. There are worthwhile cheaper options available like the 8BitDo Arcade Controller for those curious about trying leverless controllers for the first time.

Also consider...

If the Razer Kitsune isn’t pushing the right buttons for you, definitely check out the following two alternatives.

Razer Kitsune

8BitDo Arcade Controller

Corsair Novablade Pro

Price

$299.99 / £299.99

$89.99 / £75.99

$249.99 / £229.99

Weight

1.8lbs / 0.82kg

2.42lbs / 1.1kg

3.9lbs / 1.8kg

Dimensions

11.7 x 8.3 x 0.8in x 296 x 210 x 19mm

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

12.6 x 9.1 x 1.2in / 320 x 231 x 30mm

Compatibility

PS5, PC

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

PS5, PS4, PC

Connection type

Wired (USB-C)

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

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

Battery life

N/A

Around 20 hours

Around 40 hours

8BitDo Arcade Controller
In my view, it’s the ideal leverless controller for newcomers. Great design and build quality, robust button options, and a price tag that’s ideal for introducing curious gamers into the leverless fold.

Read our full 8BitDo Arcade Controller review

Corsair Novablade Pro
Another fairly premium option, the Corsair Novablade Pro impresses on many of the same fronts. Brilliant build quality, discreet buttons, and handy customizable color-coding to help you get used to its unique button layout. Another real winner.

Read our full Corsair Novablade Pro review

(Image credit: Future)How I tested the Razer Kitsune

• Tested for one week
• Played a wide variety of fighting games across PS5 and PC
• Compared with the 8BitDo Arcade Controller and Corsair Novablade Pro

I spent roughly one week testing the Razer Kitsune for this review. In that time, I racked up several hours of playtime both online and offline across multiple fighting games. These included Street Fighter 6, Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising, Tekken 8, and compilations like Capcom Fighting Collection 2.

As a leverless controller, I endeavored to test it in multiple play environments. That included at my desk with the controller both on my lap and on my desk, as well as sitting down on a chair to play on PS5. In all scenarios, I found the Razer Kitsune’s light weight and small profile to make for an extremely comfortable play experience.

I did prefer the design and performance of the Razer Kitsune compared to other controllers I’ve tested, including the 8BitDo Arcade Controller and Corsair Novablade Pro. That largely comes down to design and build quality, as well as the quiet nature of the Kitsune’s buttons. That said, I would still wholeheartedly recommend those other leverless controllers if you’re after a quality fighting game experience, albeit for less cash.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed February 2026

Kodak Snapic A1: one-minute review

The Kodak Snapic A1 is a 35mm analog film camera designed and manufactured by Hong Kong-based Reto Production – the same company behind other licensed Kodak analog models like the Ektar H35N and Charmera. Priced from just $99, it's one of the more affordable ways to dip your toes into the world of film photography, and it comes loaded with enough retro charm to justify that novelty appeal.

The design is immediately striking. Available in off-white or dark gray, the clean-lined plastic body has just enough Kodak orange on the shutter button and logo to feel authentically branded without going overboard. It's a look that calls to mind the retro-futuristic aesthetic of classic science fiction movies rather than a straightforward throwback, and in my book that's a good thing. It slipped into my jacket pockets with ease, and the included neck strap and protective pouch are welcome additions that more budget-focussed cameras often skip.

Feature-wise, you get a three-element glass lens at 25mm with a fixed f/9.5 aperture and 1/100s shutter speed. There are two manual focus settings, plus an auto flash with red-eye reduction, automatic film advance and rewind, and a double-exposure shooting mode. A small but practical OLED panel on top displays battery life, remaining exposures, and current settings. It's basic by design, but thoughtfully put together.

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

In good outdoor light, I found that the Snapic A1 delivers characterful, grainy 35mm shots with that all-important analog look. Vignetting and some chromatic aberration are present, but these feel like features rather than flaws. Indoors, however, the flash struggles; it lacks the reach and power to properly illuminate subjects beyond a few feet, making indoor shots a more hit-or-miss experience, particularly with slower film.

The main practical gripes are minor but worth flagging. The Mode button sits awkwardly on the left edge of the top plate, and it's easy to accidentally trigger it depending on how you hold the camera. There's also no lens cap, which makes the pouch essential rather than optional. And while the price is genuinely affordable for the hardware, film and processing costs ramp up fast. A single 36-exposure roll and a set of digital prints can run close to $40 / £30, meaning the ongoing cost of ownership is considerably higher than buying the camera itself.

Taken as a whole, I think the Kodak Snapic A1 is a fun, well-designed entry point into analog photography – and one of the best new film cameras for the money. It won't satisfy anyone looking for creative control or technical precision, but for casual shooters who want a stylish, pocketable film camera that just works, it hits the mark at a price that's hard to argue with.

Kodak Snapic A1: price and availability

• $99 / £99 / AU$179
• Ongoing costs of 35mm film and processing

The Kodak Snapic A1 is available to buy now, and refreshingly cheap at just $99 / £99 / AU$179.

Also supplied in the box are two handy accessories: a soft microfiber drawstring pouch for keeping the camera protected when not in use, and a corded strap that's long enough to fit around the user's neck or shoulder. Kodak could have shipped this with just a tiny wrist strap, so I was impressed with the extras.

You will, however, need to supply your own batteries (2 x AAA), and there are the added costs of 35mm film, its development and potential printing to consider as well. This can quickly add up: buying a roll of 36-exposure Kodak ColorPlus film and getting some medium-quality digital prints costs me almost £30 in the UK (around $40 / AU$ 57). So, despite the affordability of the hardware, the Snapic A1 isn't a particularly cheap camera to own.

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)Kodak Snapic A1: specs

Format:

35mm

Lens:

25mm f/9.5

Focus:

0.5m to infinity (two-stage)

Flash:

Built in

Exposure:

Auto

Battery:

2x AAA

Viewfinder:

Optical, direct vision

Size:

118 x 62 x 35mm, 120g

Kodak Snapic A1: design

• Small, stylish and built from sturdy plastic
• Just 120g in weight and 118 x 62 x 35mm in size
• Film is easy to load thanks to large rear door and auto wind

The top plate's OLED panel is a clever and very useful touch. (Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

Kodak (or Reto, to be precise) has kept things pleasingly nostalgic with the styling. The camera body is ABS plastic but built to nice sturdy standards, and its clean lines and ivory white front (it's also available in a dark gray color finish), with a couple of flashes of classic Kodak orange on the shutter button and logo, bring to mind the retro-futuristic production design of something like 2001: A Space Odyssey. It's not just another 1950s or 60s-esque camera, and I really like that.

At under 120g and just 118 x 62 x 35mm in size, the camera is genuinely pocket-sized and I found it very easy to bring along to social events and out on hikes. There's no lens cap to protect the glass front element, which makes the included protective pouch all the more valuable.

While the Snapic A1 is fairly bare-bones in terms of features and functions, it does have some interesting design touches. By flicking a switch underneath the lens, for instance, I could toggle between close-up (0.5 to 1.5m) and far-off (1.5m to infinity) focus. And, up on top, there's an OLED panel that provides at-a-glance info on remaining exposures, battery life and the current flash and focus settings. It's monochrome and tiny, but easy to read and perfectly equipped for its job.

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

My main gripe with the design is the placement of the Mode / M.E. button, which sits right on the left edge of the top plate, curving around to the left side of the camera. Often, when I was gripping the camera and about to take a shot, my left forefinger would hit this button and change the shooting mode. Depending on how you hold the camera, this may never become an issue for you, but it forced me to adjust the way I took photos, which I found a little annoying.

Getting film in and out of the camera is easy thanks to a large, easy to open rear door that provides plenty of room to work. There's a tiny plastic window on the door so that you can instantly see whether or not any film is inside. And, in a nice user-friendly touch, film winds on automatically between shots and will fully rewind once a roll is complete.

Kodak Snapic A1: performance

• Strong, characterful 35mm photos
• Flash isn't particularly powerful
• Solid battery life

Most cheap 35mm cameras use plastic lens elements, but the Kodak Snapic A1 has a three-element glass lens. It has a wide-angle 25mm focal length and a rather narrow fixed aperture of f/9.5, along with a fixed shutter speed of 1/100s.

There's the two-stage manual focus I mentioned above, as well as a flash (which can be set to automatic, on or off, and has a red-eye reduction mode), but other than that there's no way to control your exposures. This is very much a point-and-shoot camera, and while that's not necessarily a bad thing – simplicity is welcome – it does mean you need to know its limits if you want to get the best out of it.

Future | Sam Kieldsen

I shot using Kodak ColorPlus 200 speed film, with which the camera performs well outdoors in the daytime. I managed to capture some striking snaps that I'm very happy with, and I love the grainy look of those images. Indoors, however, I found that the flash doesn't have the reach or power to illuminate subjects more than a few feet away. It may fare better with 800 or 1600 speed film, of course, but in my experience my most successful indoor shots were all close-up portraits, where the flash could do its job properly.

Are the Snapic A1's photos "high quality" by today's standards? Not really – if you pull out a 10-year-old smartphone it'll take sharper, cleaner images than these; there's noticeable vignetting around the edges, particularly in the corners, and some chromatic aberration too.

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

But I don't think quality is ever really the point with a cheap 35mm camera – the look and feel of analog photos can't easily be replicated by digital filters and algorithmic tweaking, and you buy an old-fashioned camera like this for, ironically, the novelty of shooting on film. Yes, its photos aren't noise-free or razor-sharp edge-to-edge, but they have real texture and character.

If you do want to get a little more creative, the Snapic A1 can capture double exposures – just hold down the Mode button to select it, and the OLED panel will make it clear whether you're shooting the first or second exposure.

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

Battery life feels pretty solid to me. After shooting a 36-exposure roll of film on the camera, the battery indicator still showed as full, and according to Kodak users should be able to shoot around 10 rolls of 24-exposure film on a single pair of AAA alkaline batteries. Your mileage, of course, may vary depending on which batteries you're using and how frugal you are with the flash.

Should you buy the Kodak Snapic A1?

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)Buy it if…

You want a break from digital photography
There's nothing like analog photography – and the Snapic A1 is one of the cheaper, simpler ways to shoot on 35mm film.

You want a compact, stylish novelty
Small, lightweight and stylish, this camera makes for a great talking point at parties, and it's beautifully simple to use.

Don’t buy it if…

You're not prepared for ongoing costs
Yes, the camera itself is cheap – but film and processing is very expensive these days, particularly in comparison to digital photography.

You want to learn about analog photography
The stripped back controls mean this is about as point-and-shoot as it gets. If you want to learn more, buy an old SLR or rangefinder.

Also consider

If you like your photography truly hands-on, consider the Lomography Konstruktor F (best film cameras), a plastic 35mm camera that you have to build yourself. It’s cheap to buy, though a little challenging to construct.

The Olympus Trip 35 (in our best film cameras round-up) is an all-time classic 35mm compact with auto exposure, zone focusing and a selenium metering cell around the lens that requires no batteries. A good used one won’t cost the earth and will give you great results.

How I tested the Kodak Snapic A1

• Used over a few weeks in different lighting conditions, indoors and outside
• Tested with Kodak ColorPlus 200 film
• Film sent to Analogue Wonderland for processing and development

Testing a film camera is a much slower process than reviewing a digital camera, because you can't look at the photos right away. In fact, I reviewed the Kodak Snapic A1 (a sample of which was sent to me by a PR rep) over a period of well over a month, taking it with me to various parties, hikes and events and snapping a photo or two until my 36-exposure roll of Kodak ColorPlus 200 film was spent.

I made sure to use the camera in all kinds of conditions – indoors and outdoors, day and night, bright and overcast – testing out the flash and focus controls.

I then sent the film to UK-based online film retailer and developer Analogue Wonderland for processing. They created digital scans for me to download – I opted not to pay extra for physical prints.

Skullcandy Crusher PLYR 720: two-minute review

The Skullcandy Crusher PLYR 720 is an open-back headset with a bass-heavy sound designed to impart as much impact as possible when playing games.

For a gaming headset, the Crusher PLYR 720 has quite a muted appearance; even the RGB lighting is restrained. In fact, the most prominent feature is the sheer bulk of the drivers, which are hard to ignore and aren’t exactly flattering when cupped over your ears.

The entire headset is built to a high standard. The materials feel premium and sturdy, and the various buttons and controls operate with a reassuring solidity. All this means the Crusher PLYR 720 ranks among the best wireless gaming headset in terms of construction.

Wearing the Crusher PLYR 720 is largely a joy, despite that aforementioned bulk. Even when wearing glasses, I experienced little fatigue on my ears or head, even after long sessions.

This is partly due to the thick padding of the earcups, although their inner circumference is smaller than you might imagine from the outside, which may be a problem for those with larger lobes.

The headband is also supremely comfortable. It has a second layer that stretches across the top of your head, therefore eliminating the soreness that single-layer headbands can cause — even those with soft padding.

However, the fit isn’t all that secure. Whenever I leaned my head back, the entire headset almost fell off completely, only saved by the grip of the headband.

Both the desktop and mobile apps for the Crusher PLYR 720 are easy to use and full of useful tweaks, complete with handy graphs and visualizations to help you make them. In my time with them, they ran smoothly without any glitches or stability issues.

(Image credit: Future)

The overall sound quality of the Crusher PLYR 720 is excellent. When gaming, every detail is audible and impactful, even with the bass dialed back. However, it perhaps lacks the treble clarity of the best headphones around. This is somewhat forgivable when gaming, but less so when listening intently to music. I still found the Crusher PLYR 720 enjoyable for the latter purpose, though, and it’s a better gaming headset than many in this regard.

Given the name, it’s no surprise that Skullcandy’s Crusher feature is the sonic highlight. This allows you to crank the bass of the Crusher PLYR 720 to frankly absurd levels. How much you need to dial in depends greatly on the specific source, but at its best it adds an unparalleled amount of weight to low-end frequencies, from gunshots to kick drums.

The Crusher PLYR 720 also gets THX Spatial Audio support. The head-tracking feature works well enough, although it lacks precision and subtlety. The surround sound distance adjustments also fail to impart a sense of space all that accurately.

Along with these features, there’s also the obligatory EQ graph, with four presets and four custom slots for tuning your own. However, I didn’t find any tweaking useful, as the default flat mode was sufficient for every scenario.

The microphone offers plenty of clarity, too, rendering my voice without distortion. It’s a small shame the stalk can’t be manipulated to the same degree as gooseneck designs can be, but I found the positioning adequate nonetheless.

Connecting the Crusher PLYR 720 to various devices was quick and easy, whether it was via the 2.4GHz USB dongle or Bluetooth. Also, being able to connect to your smartphone and your gaming system simultaneously is a blessing, as this allows you to alter settings in the mobile app mid-play.

The battery life of the Crusher PLYR 720 is quite impressive. Skullcandy quotes a time of 48 hours, and I believe this figure. Over the course of several days, when used with a variety of platforms, all sonic features activated, and RGB lighting on, it still had juice left.

All of these quality features come at a price, though, as the Crusher PLYR 720 sits firmly at the premium end of the market. There are great wireless headsets for considerably less, such as the Razer BlackShark V3 and the Beyerdynamic MMX 150 Wireless, but if you need untold amounts of bass in your life, the Crusher PLYR 720 scratches that itch like nothing else.

Skullcandy Crusher PLYR 720 review: price & availability

• $269.99 / £229.99 / AU$449.99
• Available now in two versions
• Top-end of the market

The Skullcandy Crusher PLYR 720 costs $269.99 / £229.99 / AU$449.99 and is available now. Two editions are available: Xbox and multi-platform. Both are the same price.

If you want to save some serious money, then the Razer BlackShark V3 might be for you. In our glowing review, we highlighted its comfortable, lightweight design that felt more premium than its mid-range price tag suggests, as well as its impressive noise isolation and versatile sonics. For these reasons, we think it ranks among the best PC gaming headsets around right now.

For those who prize audio quality first and foremost, the Beyerdynamic MMX 150 Wireless is a better option. We were impressed with its immersive sound stage, although we were less taken with its microphone. This headset is also a lot cheaper than the Crusher PLYR 720.

(Image credit: Future)Skullcandy Crusher PLYR 720 review: specs

Price

$269.99 / £229.99 / AU$449.99

Weight

0.78lbs / 354g

Compatibility

PC, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS

Connection type

Bluetooth, Wired (USB-C, 3.5mm AUX), 2.4GHz wireless (USB-A dongle)

Features

THX Spatial Audio, Crusher bass enhancement, eight-band EQ, 4 sound presets, Sidetone mode, plug-in mic

Battery life

48 hours

Software

Skull-HQ (PC), Skullcandy mobile app (Android and iOS)

(Image credit: Future)Skullcandy Crusher PLYR 720 review: design and features

• Very comfortable
• Excellent build quality
• Plenty of audio-based features

For a gaming headset, the Crusher PLYR 720 has a reasonably muted style. The design is devoid of any gamer-aesthetic touches typical to many in this sector. The premium-looking and feeling matte black finish even lends an element of sophistication.

The RGB lighting is similarly subtle: there’s some illumination strained through small strips and a honeycomb mesh on the drivers, but the lion’s share is reserved for the inside of the earcups — which, of course, you won’t see when wearing the Crusher PLYR 720.

I should also highlight the build quality of the Crusher PLYR 720, as it’s excellent. Despite it being a relatively light unit, it feels sturdy and well-made. I particularly liked the 180-degree rotating drivers, which is convenient when you want to take a break and hang the headset around your neck.

What makes the headset stand out above all else, though, is the bulky drivers. They’re very wide, which makes the Crusher PLYR 720 less than ideal as a travel companion; not only because the drivers take up a lot of space, but also because they don’t look particularly fetching around your ears.

Despite this bulk, the actual inner circumference of the earcups is quite small. Personally, I didn’t find them too small for my ears, but it’s possible others might.

In fact, I found the Crusher PLYR 720 exceptionally comfortable all-round. There’s plenty of padding on the earcups, yet its fabric is more breathable than many. Also, as a glasses-wearer, I can confirm that the cups don’t present any issues when sat on top the arms of frames.

The headband is solid yet flexible, and feels reassuringly durable. You don’t get any padding here; instead, there’s a supplementary band, made from an elastic material to fit snugly on your head, running underneath the main one. I found this incredibly comfortable; I didn’t experience any aching or fatigue at all, even after long sessions, as I have with many other headsets.

The adjustments for the earcup height are also excellent. They have a sufficient range to accommodate various head sizes, and the operation of these adjustments is very smooth with no notching. Despite this, the cups remain at your chosen height setting with a surprising amount of stability, which impressed me.

However, the overall fit of the Crusher PLYR 720 isn’t particularly secure. The earcup padding provided little friction to the side of my head, so whenever I tilted my head back the entire headset moved with it; only the grip of the headband kept it from falling off completely. However, this wasn’t an issue during normal use, so it’s a trade-off I’m willing to accept for the supreme overall comfort of the headset.

(Image credit: Future)

The switches and other controls on the Crusher PLYR 720 operate with a satisfying solidity and smoothness. There are three main buttons, all of which are easy to reach, thanks to their convenient positioning and generous size. One is named Custom, which is misleading, since as far as I can work out, can only be used to toggle THX Spatial Audio Head Tracking on or off.

The joystick for adjusting volume and other parameters is easy to use for the most part, although there isn’t much feedback when you move it. At least it’s hard to trigger accidentally, by, say, leaning against the back of your chair — something I’ve experienced numerous times with conventional volume wheels.

It’s a slight shame, though, that the jumps between the volume increments are quite large, meaning it's hard to dial in a very precise volume with the joystick; for such purposes, you’d be better served by the volume settings of your connected device or inside Skullcandy’s software.

Thankfully, the Crusher wheel doesn’t suffer from accidental triggering or overlarge increments. It’s tactile and smooth to operate, while the small point that sticks out makes it easy to know where exactly you are in the setting.

There are three ports on the Crusher PLYR 720: a USB-C port for charging and playback, a 3.5mm audio jack, and the microphone input. All are located on the left-hand driver. The various cables fit securely in these ports, and what’s more, they’re nicely recessed for protection from accidental disconnections.

The microphone appears to be as well made as the rest of the headset. The soft rubber feels more upmarket than many others, but while it can bend around, it’s not a true gooseneck, so gamers who are particular about their mic placement might be a little disappointed by its lack of maneuverability.

(Image credit: Future)

Skull-HQ, the desktop app for the Crusher PLYR 720, is feature-packed and quite easy to use. It has a faux-retro interface that employs the terminal font, tapping into that mid-nineties hacker vibe. It ran smoothly during my time with it; I didn’t experience any slowdown or bugs.

The layout is clear, although I was a little disappointed by the lack of explanations for certain features. Some are only denoted by symbols, which aren’t always self-explanatory. A tutorial for the joystick controls would’ve been appreciated, too, rather than having to always refer to the manual.

There are plenty of tweaks that can be made to the Crusher PLYR 720 in the app. These range from rudimentary RGB customizations and basic adjustments volume, game mix, and the sidetone function.

Beyond these, there’s an parametric EQ with FPS, RPG, Music, and Default (flat) presets to choose from. There are also four custom slots, allowing you to save your own sculpted sound. This is achieved by dragging eight points on a graph, with a range of 32Hz to 16KHz, to cut or boost frequencies by 12BD.

Various adjustments for THX Spatial Audio are available, too, including the ability to set speaker distance. Strangely, however, there isn’t a toggle for the Head Tracking function, as there is in the Skullcandy mobile app (which has a better, cleaner interface than Skull-HQ, by the by).

Then there’s a section for the Crusher bass enhancement. Here, you can alter the cut-off points for the low and high frequencies on another EQ graph. This is rather overkill for such a setting, but nonetheless I always welcome a visual representation for sonic settings. It’s also accompanied by a humorous ditherpunk face depicting various expressions depending on the strength of the Crusher setting.

Skull-HQ even features a hearing test, designed to calibrate the Crusher PLYR 720 based on your individual hearing. What’s more, a knock-off version of Space Invaders is buried in the app, too.

Beyerdynamic MMX 150 Wireless review: performance

• Skull-shaking bass feature
• Great overall for gaming and music
• Clear mic

The general sound of the Crusher PLYR 720 is punchy and clear, with all frequencies represented well. Overall fidelity isn’t quite up there with the best wireless headphones, though, which is most apparent when listening to music. This is due to the slight lack of crispness and clarity at the high end.

It’s the bass response that the Crusher PLYR 720 is sold on, though — thanks to its Crusher feature. Whether this is something you like comes down to personal preference, but I have to say that when the mood struck, I loved cranking the wheel to maximum and letting the drivers shake (and they really do shake) to my favorite bass-heavy tracks or to gunfire, something I certainly noticed when playing Counter-Strike 2.

However, you’ll find yourself riding the Crusher level frequently, as the prominence of the bass enhancement can vary widely between sources; even those you thought had a relatively tame low-end suddenly become a booming mess, causing the drivers to audibly rattle — even before you’ve enabled the extra Crusher Bass Boost on top. In fact, I wouldn’t want maximum “Crushing” for an entire session, even for sources that can handle it without distorting.

The THX Spatial Audio is reasonably effective. With Head Tracking enabled, changes to the audio space react quickly to head movements, without being too disconcerting or disorientating.

However, you’ll have to move your head by large degrees to notice the effect. Also, it’s a shame that the sensitivity of the effect can’t be adjusted, as it lacks the precision and subtlety of some of the best THX headsets and headphones. Adjusting the virtual distance of the surround sound speakers noticeably changes the soundscape, but at the cost of reducing fidelity. What’s more, I found it largely ineffective at imparting a realistic sense of space.

The microphone for the Crusher PLYR 720 is clear and largely free of distortion. The Sidetone mode allows an appropriate level of ambient noise to spill through, so you can hear your own voice more clearly.

(Image credit: Future)

During my time with the Crusher PLYR 720, it proved easy to connect to the various devices I tested it with. The 2.4GHz USB dongle allows for instant plug-and-play, and merely requires the flip of a switch on the dongle itself to change compatibility modes from PC to Xbox.

In terms of connectivity to Microsoft’s console, then, the Crusher PLYR 720 up there with the best Xbox Series X headsets. It also connected to my Nintendo Switch just as easily, via the dongle and Bluetooth.

Oddly, even though I had the Xbox version of the Crusher PLYR 720, it still worked with my PlayStation 5 via the dongle. There’s conflicting information as to whether this is intended or not: the printed manual states that the Xbox variant only works with the PS5 when connected via the 3.5mm audio cable, while the product page on Skullcandy’s website states that wireless play is possible with Sony’s console. If the latter is correct, it then begs the question as to why there are two versions of the Crusher PLYR 720.

It connected seamlessly to my Android smartphone via Bluetooth, with no discernable drop in audio quality. Better yet, you can connect to your phone and console or PC at the same time; during my testing, I was impressed by the ease with which it established and maintained these simultaneous connections. The benefit of this is that you can adjust settings in the mobile app on the fly, taking effect while playing your game.

Even with this multiplatform use, the battery of the Crusher PLYR 720 endured admirably well. Skullcandy claims it can last 48 hours, but with all the bells and whistles enabled, you can see lifespan deplete at a considerable rate in the software readouts. Still, it managed to last several long sessions over a few days, which, in addition to connecting to various devices, also involved activating all its various sound features and keeping the RGB lighting on.

Should I buy the Beyerdynamic MMX 150 Wireless?Buy it if…

You’re a bass head
Cranked all the way up, the Crusher function is truly monstrous, adding real impact to music and sound effects.

You want all-day comfort
I’m not sure I’ve tried a more comfortable headset than this. After very long periods, there were no aches on my head or ears.

Don’t buy it if…

You want isolation
This is an open-back headset, so you won’t be getting much isolation from the outside world.

You’ll be listening to lots of music
Although the fidelity is more than adequate when gaming, audiophiles might be disappointed with the lack of top-end clarity when listening to their favorite tunes.

Beyerdynamic MMX 150 Wireless review: also consider

Skullcandy Crusher PLYR 720

Razer BlackShark V3

Beyerdynamic MMX 150 Wireless

Price

$269.99 / £229.99 / AU$449.99

$149.99 / £149.99 / AU$350

£159 (around $210)

Weight

0.78lbs / 354g

0.6lbs / 270g

0.7lbs / 336g

Compatibility

PC, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS

Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, PC, Mobile

PC, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, Playstation 4, Nintendo Switch 2, Steam Deck

Connection type

Bluetooth, wired (USB-C, 3.5mm AUX), 2.4GHz wireless (USB-A dongle)

2.4GHz wireless, wired (USB), Bluetooth

Bluetooth, wired (USB-C), low-latency 2.4GHz wireless (dongle)

Features

THX Spatial Audio, Crusher bass enhancement, eight-band EQ, 4 sound presets, Sidetone mode, plug-in mic

THX Spatial Audio, detachable Razer HyperClear Super Wideband 9.9mm mic

Five-band EQ, 10 sound presets, Sidetone mode, custom button settings, plug-in mic with noise reduction

Battery life

48 hours

70 hours

50 hours

Software

Skull-HQ (PC), Skullcandy mobile app (Android and iOS)

Arctis Companion App

Beyerdynamic app

Razer BlackShark V3
The Razer BlackShark V3 is an excellent all-round headset, and it costs much less than the Crusher PLYR 720. We were impressed by its comfort, battery life, and superb audio quality. All this helps to make it one of the best gaming headsets currently available.

Read our full Razer BlackShark V3 review.

Beyerdynamic MMX 150 Wireless
The Beyerdynamic MMX 150 Wireless has a strong focus on sonics — unsurprising from a brand famed for catering to music professionals. Again, it’s much cheaper than the Crusher PLYR 720, although it lacks the features and build quality.

Read our full Beyerdynamic MMX 150 Wireless review.

How I tested the Beyerdynamic MMX 150 Wireless

• Tested for several days
• Used for various scenarios and with multiple platforms
• Experience reviewing gaming headsets

I tested the Skullcandy Crusher PLYR 720 for several days. Not only did I use it for gaming, but I also listened to music and watched videos with it on.

I tested it with a Windows PC, an Xbox Series S, a PlayStation 5, and a Nintendo Switch, connecting to each of these devices with the USB dongle. I also tested Bluetooth connectivity with the latter console, as well as with my Android phone. I used both the desktop Skull-HQ app and the Skullcandy mobile app to try out all the various features.

I’ve been gaming for decades, using a variety of headsets, headphones, and speakers for the activity. I’ve also reviewed a number of headsets professionally, all the way from budget wired offerings to premium multiplatform wireless options.

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

If your business is looking for the best social media management tools to boost its online presence then Sendible is an ideal candidate, offering a complete package that delivers all of the tools for managing social media campaigns via its simple and easy-to-use platform. 

Sendible has a variety of tools for getting the job done, including the ability to schedule and queue your posts, along with managing calendars in order to create controlled campaigns. The overall design and usability is intuitive, there’s a strong emphasis on reporting capabilities, and Sendible also comes reasonably priced.

• Sign up for a Sendible plan

While rivals such as Hootsuite, Buffer, HubSpot, and Zoho Social all have their own pros and cons, Sendible is designed firmly for the social media savvy era, and even comes with a 14-day free trial to help get a sense of the software. 

Sendible users can also choose from a selection of different packages, ranging from very basic freelance options, which include a barebones set of features, through to a full-on White Label edition aimed at businesses trying to get a social media foothold.

Let's dive into our Sendible social media manager review.  

• How we test, review and rate on TechRadar

(Image credit: Sendible)Sendible: Plans and pricing

Plan

Starting rate (paid annually)

Starting rate (paid monthly)

Creator

$25/month

$29/month

Traction

$76/month

$89/month

Scale

$170/month

$199/month

Advanced

$255/month

$299/month

Enterprise

$638/month

$750/month

Sendible has a range of plan and pricing options, making the suite well suited to different sizes of business user. Currently, pricing seems to be either US-, EU-, or UK-centric, though there are portals for the UK, the US, and European markets, too.

You can choose to pay monthly or yearly, with a 15% saving offered to those who pay for the full twelve months in one go. To illustrate typical package prices we’ll use monthly costs here, which start off with the Creator package, billed at $29 per month after a free trial and aimed at freelance workers, offering one user and six social profiles.

Next up, there is the Traction package, which also comes with a free trial and is then billed monthly at $89. Sendible says Traction is ideal for startup agencies and brands. The tier allows 4 users and 24 social profile options. 

Sendible’s Scale edition is its most popular, with the option for 7 users and 49 social profiles, along with custom and automated reporting, a content and hashtag library, and campaign management tools, billed at $199 per month.

(Image credit: Sendible)

Then, Sendible's Advanced edition includes 20 users and 100 social profiles for larger agencies, advanced permissions, bulk posting with custom tags, live report sharing, and white label as a paid add-on. The tier costs $299 per month, but there’s a free trial option too, if you want to get a sense of the features.

Finally, the Enterprise edition offers support for 80 users and 400 social profiles for $750 per month, flexibility that is clearly going to be useful for businesses that are on the up. While this level can be expensive, the number of features is impressive, as we'll get into now. 

• Best small business software of 2024

(Image credit: Sendible)Sendible: Basic features

Sendible has several core areas, all of which should appeal to businesses looking to get a strong hold on social media campaigning. 

The main areas of interest are Publishing, Collaboration, and Analytics, offering the ability to closely monitor how campaigns are going via a neat dashboard-style design. We found the software very easy to understand and use. 

Usefully, each of the plans outlined above adds in features and functions that are suited to the particular target market. In theory, this means your business will only pay for what it's using, rather than having lots of unused tools. 

The Creator edition includes unlimited scheduling, planning and publishing, monitoring and replying, plus reporting tools. 

Sendible provides a useful overview of which features each tier gets, and we recommend checking this if there is something specific you will likely need. For example, cloud integrations are reserved for the top two tiers. 

(Image credit: Sendible)Sendible: Professional features

Speaking of the top tiers, when we move up to Traction, users get all of the above plus team collaboration, post assignment and approval, user management, and a personalised demo to get the ball rolling. 

Similarly, the Scale tier includes everything in Traction alongside automated client reporting, a content and hashtag library, and custom approval flows, as well as personalised onboarding.

Finally, Advanced and Enterprise editions include everything in the Scale plan along with an optional white-labelling add-on, the ability to manage client permissions, merge tags, and the benefit of a dedicated account manager. This alone can be highly useful in a charged and rapidly expanding social media management department.

• Best online collaboration tool of 2024

(Image credit: Sendible)Sendible: User interface

Sendible can help tackle pretty much every social media management challenge, and is therefore compatible with all of the usual suspects, including Twitter (or X), Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and basically everyone else.

To do that effectively Sendible has created a great little user interface, which is both easy to use and powerful, too. Some of its social media rivals can feel a little outdated, or feature-heavy, but Sendible has clearly been designed with ease-of-use in mind. 

(Image credit: Sendible)

Central to the effective nature of Sendible is its dashboard area, home to all of the core tools needed during daily activities. The dashboard is also crucial for setting up and managing campaigns, with menu options for scheduling and queuing posts. You can also dip into published items, check how the activity levels are going, and, subsequently, monitor the outcome. 

Overall, Sendible is all very straightforward, even in the beefier package editions, and we really appreciated how quickly everything fell into place, allowing space to get on with, well, actual work. 

• Best small business accounting software of 2024

(Image credit: Sendible)Sendible: Support

Not everyone is ready or able to hit the ground running when they embark on a social media marketing journey. In that respect, we like the way Sendible packs in plenty to help both the newbie and seasoned pro, as well as lone freelancers, while also delivering plenty of support for those higher up the ladder, offered in multiple formats across Sendible's website. 

We also like the ease of dipping in and seeing how fellow users have been faring with their Sendible suites, which is often a great way of pinpointing potential problem areas. That’s especially so if you’re working within a collaborative environment, or have new staff who might not be familiar with the way things tick.

As you’d expect, Sendible support staff can also be contacted directly, with the support center delivering plenty of options on that front.

• Best UK tax software of 2024

Sendible: The competition

Sendible covers an awful lot of bases on the social media management front, and there's also something to suit any kind of budget. 

However, to make sure your business gets exactly the right social media tool, it's worth checking out the likes of Hootsuite, Buffer, Loomly, Circleboom, and Zoho Social, all of which are perfectly decent competitors worthy of investigation.

Our guide to the best social media management tools also helps quickly see the pros and cons of each platform. 

(Image credit: Sendible)Sendible: Final verdict

Sendible offers a good selection of different package options for those with ambitions to raise their social media profile. For campaign purposes, it’s got all of the tools, especially if you work for an agency or a business. 

Crucially, Sendible includes rock-solid reporting capabilities, which many will find to be key in seeing how much of a return they’ll be getting on their monthly, or annual, investment.

It’s easy to see why Sendible Scale is the most popular, as the tier contains a host of great tools that will appeal to many, while not breaking the bank as some of its rivals can do on the higher-level packages.

• Sign up to Sendible

Agorapulse is a software package that lets you take better control of your social media management tasks. It can be used by medium-sized businesses and upwards, along with agencies that focus solely on social media activity.

It’s engineered to work seamlessly with popular social media tools, including the likes of X (Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube. As of 2026, TikTok, Pinterest, Threads, Bluesky, Reddit, and Google Business profiles are also supported.

The great thing with Agorapulse is that it can amalgamate numerous social media management tasks and bring them all under one roof. That means it can be used to create and post content, make better contact with end users, and also keep tabs on how well content posts are performing.

Especially with the new AI features that have been rolled out across all plans, it's a compelling yet reasonably-priced option for managing your social media marketing workflow.

• Sign up for a Agorapulse plan.

Plans and Pricing

(Image credit: Agorapulse)

Plan

Starting rate (paid annually)

Starting rate (paid monthly)

Free

$0/user/month

$0/user/month

Standard

$79/user/month

$99/user/month

Professional

$119/user/month

$149/user/month

Advanced

$149/user/month

$199/user/month

Custom

Tailored pricing

Tailored pricing

Agorapulse offers a 30-day free trial (no credit card required) so you can explore its full feature set before committing to anything. There's also a permanent free plan for individuals, though it's limited to three social profiles and a modest post-scheduling cap, making it more of a tasting menu than a long-term option.

If you're ready to go beyond the basics, Agorapulse's paid tiers are now structured around four plans: Standard, Professional, Advanced, and Custom. Pricing is per user per month though, which is worth keeping in mind if you have a larger team.

The Standard plan starts at $79/user/month (billed annually) with unlimited post scheduling, a unified inbox, basic reporting, and the full suite of AI writing tools. It's a solid entry point for solo social media managers or small teams getting started.

Professional ($119/user/month annually) adds approval workflows, ad comment moderation, Instagram product tagging, and a link-in-bio tool. It's the sweet spot for growing teams that need tighter collaboration controls. Stepping up to Advanced ($149/user/month annually) brings bulk scheduling, shared content calendars, advanced ROI and ads reporting, and competitor benchmarking.

At the top end, the Custom plan is designed for large teams and enterprises. It includes unlimited social profiles, AI-powered reply suggestions, SSO, custom roles, multi-step approval workflows, and priority support with a dedicated Customer Success Manager. That said, you'll need to contact the Agorapulse sales team for a tailored quote if you want to be on the Custom plan.

(Image credit: Agorapulse)AI features

Agorapulse has made AI a core part of the platform rather than an afterthought, with most new features available across all paid plans. Its primary AI Writing Assistant helps you generate captions and post copy directly inside the publishing composer. Then the Organization Context AI lets you set your brand's tone and direction so every piece of AI-generated content stays on-brand.

The platform also introduced AI-generated alt text in 2025, covering Facebook, LinkedIn, Bluesky, X (Twitter), Instagram, and Threads. It works in 38 languages, which is a nice touch for internationally active teams. Separately, AI summaries are built into the reporting section, giving you a plain-language digest of your key performance data.

On the engagement side, Best Time to Publish uses AI to surface smart scheduling recommendations based on when your audience is most active. The Custom plan goes a step further with AI reply suggestions, which draw on your past conversations to propose contextually relevant responses in the inbox.

Most recently in January 2026, Agorapulse launched a ChatGPT and Claude integration via a self-hosted Model Context Protocol (MCP) server. This lets you create and manage social content, track engagement, and organise your calendar directly from within ChatGPT or Claude. It's one of the more forward-thinking integrations in the social media management space right now and available to all plan users.

Basic features

The same goes for engagement tools, with the ability to manage Google My Business reviews, provision for an advanced social inbox, social CRM tools, comment monitoring and an automated inbox assistant all forming part of the potent feature set. Agorapulse also bristles with plenty of reporting tools, particularly on the higher-end packages with lots of functionality that assist you with working out your return on investment (ROI).

One of the surefire appealing aspects of Agorapulse is that it can be used on several different levels, depending on need. The software can also be boosted, with all paid plans being fully scalable with user count based pricing.

Core features

Meanwhile, the core feature set within Agorapulse centers around publishing, engagement and reporting. As you’d expect, the Free edition is thinner around the edges, with only 10 scheduled posts allowed at any time. This is compared to the unlimited capacity of the Standard or Professional editions. There’s plenty of publishing power too, with the likes of content labelling, and a unified calendar adding more muscle to the package.

If you commit to the Advanced edition, you’ll see the features and functionality explode with an unlimited asset library and bulk scheduling, along with the ability to assign and approve posts. Calendar sharing is more substantial here too.

(Image credit: Agorapulse)Premium features

It’s really worth considering some of the premium add-ons that you can get in order to increase the potential of Agorapulse. You can choose from the likes of Power Reports, shared calendars, and Competitive Benchmarking, all of which add extra weight to the software. If you’ve gone for the Custom edition, this can be tailored even more to suit individual needs.

(Image credit: Agorapulse)Interface and in use

Mounting successful social media campaigns can mean juggling lots of plates at the same time in order to get the job done effectively. Luckily, Agorapulse has developed an interface that is perfectly suite to time-poor executives, who need to dip in and out again, sometimes on the go. Indeed, the app side of things offers another helping hand with this, allowing you to co-ordinate campaigns no matter if you’re working in the office, remotely or on the move.

Support

For many business making their first foray into the world of social media management it’s the levels of support that often make the difference in signing up, or not. Agorapulse offers plenty of help on that front. There’s a dedicated support portal, which shares a similar setup to many others in this field, complete with searchable help topics and tutorials.

Lookout too for a raft of additional customer support options including email, live chat, and video depending on your plan. The options become more extensive as you move to the more expensive packages, but help is never far away no matter which of the editions you adopt. The enterprise-focused Custom edition really tops it off though, with one-to-one training as well as a dedicated account manager.

(Image credit: Agorapulse)Competition

The social media management marketplace is a hotbed of activity, with plenty of options aimed at helping businesses get more from their campaigns. As an alternative to Agorapulse, you can take your pick from hugely popular options that include SocialPilot, Buffer, eClincher, Sendible, Statusbrew, Loomly and Hootsuite, all of which are very decent competitors worthy of consideration.

Verdict

Agorapulse will meet the social media management needs of any type of business, but it’s best suited to larger concerns and agencies, which can fully exploit its potential.

The reporting capabilities in particular make Agorapulse a potent provider of data. If you’re running concerted social media campaigns, this software will be able to give you lots of information to justify your return on investment.

When combined with the bevy of new AI features that are accessible to free and paid users alike, its offer is hard to beat. Still, the per user pricing is something to be wary of if you have a large team but your social channels aren't mature enough to justify the added costs.

• You can signup to Agorapulse here.

Any business hankering after the best social media management tools should investigate Zoho Social, which offers the ability to co-ordinate all of your social campaigns from one place, lets any type of business to schedule posts, keeps track of the results, and compiles comprehensive reports.

Zoho Social's other benefit is working alongside other products in Zoho's portfolio, meaning a business should be able to exploit its power even more efficiently by integrating with Zoho Workspace, Campaigns, and CRM. 

Being able to work in a one-stop environment will be ideally suite to many companies, especially those who are looking to make workflow activities more efficient. Add on great iOS and Android apps and Zoho is an attractive tool. 

• Sign up for Zoho Social

Of course, there is still competition in the social media management space from the likes of Hootsuite, Buffer, HubSpot, and Circleboom, but for companies that have already bought into the Zoho suite, or are considering doing so, Social is one of the strongest options. 

Let's dive into our review of the Zoho Social social media manager. 

• How we test, review and rate on TechRadar

Zoho Social: Plans and Pricing

(Image credit: Zoho)

Plan

Starting rate (paid annually)

Starting rate (paid monthly)

Free

$0/month

$0/month

Standard

$10/month

$15/month

Professional

$30/month

$40/month

Premium

$40/month

$65/month

Agency

$230/month

$320/month

Agency Plus

$330/month

$460/month

Zoho now offers six plans rather than three, starting with a permanent Free tier that stays active once your 15-day trial ends. It covers one brand and six social channels, with a handful of AI credits to get you started.

From there, the Standard plan is $10/month (billed annually) and expands channel support to 11 platforms. The Professional plan ($30/month annually) adds advanced scheduling tools like bulk scheduling, CustomQ, and RSS feeds. The Premium plan ($40/month annually, $65/month monthly) steps things up with SmartQ, a full reporting dashboard, Zoho CRM/Desk integration, and an Inbox for managing interactions — now including WhatsApp and Telegram.

For agencies, the Agency plan ($230/month annually) supports 10 brands and up to 140 channels across five team members, while Agency Plus ($330/month annually) doubles that capacity to 20 brands and up to 280 channels. Both agency tiers include branded reporting and client access features.

(Image credit: Zoho Social)Zoho Social: AI features

Zoho has been quietly weaving AI into Social through its in-house assistant, Zia, which is powered by ChatGPT. The headline feature is Compose with Zia, which lets you generate captions, hashtags, and post copy from a short prompt. It's a practical time-saver if you manage multiple channels and need to keep a steady content rhythm without starting from a blank page every time.

Every plan comes with a monthly AI credit allowance that refreshes each billing cycle. Free users get 5 credits, Standard and Professional accounts each receive 40, and Premium, Agency, and Agency Plus plans bump that up to 80 credits per month. That should be more than enough for occasional use on lower tiers, though heavy users on Standard or Professional may find themselves rationing credits toward the end of the month.

If you're on the Agency or Agency Plus plan, you also get access to Reply with Zia inside the Inbox. This feature helps you draft or rephrase replies to customer messages across connected channels. It's the kind of feature that makes the premium agency pricing feel more justified, especially for small teams that handle large volumes of DMs.

Overall, Zia is a solid but not spectacular AI implementation, meaning that it handles the basics well without overreaching. What we'd like to see in future updates is AI-assisted scheduling recommendations beyond SmartQ, plus maybe a repurposing tool that adapts a single post across multiple channel formats automatically. Still, for a platform at this price point, having generative AI baked into every plan is a meaningful advantage for Zoho.

Zoho Social: Basic features

Even in its most basic incarnation, Zoho Social comes packed with a practical array of features and functions, and of course there is the 15-day free trial to get your head around what works for your business. 

Standard works for one brand and 10 channels, one team member, and includes compatibility with Facebook Pages, Facebook Groups, X (formerly Twitter) Profiles, Instagram Business Profiles, LinkedIn Profiles, LinkedIn Company Pages, Google Business Profile listings, and more. Recently, Zoho Social has also added in support for YouTube, WhatsApp Business, Telegram Business, Threads, Mastodon, TikTok, Pinterest, and Bluesky.

There’s a neat dashboard interface that helps to monitor posts, carry out multi-channel publishing, schedule your content, and compile a publishing calendar. 

Power tools include a link shortener, activity logging, user tagging, and the production of summary reports. An image editor also proves mighty handy if you don't want to splurge on Adobe Photoshop or similar. 

• Best productivity tool of 2024

(Image credit: Zoho Social)Zoho Social: Professional features

The Professional tier ramps things up a bit, offering one brand and 10 channels, and a one team member allowance. Users also get all of the Standard features plus a ream of others, including livestreaming, notifications, repeat posting, a media library, rescheduling of posts, RSS feeds, messages, the ability to pause and resume content, and the muting and blocking of accounts where needed.

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(Image credit: Zoho Social)Zoho Social: Premium features

Zoho has added a Premium edition to its portfolio, which is even better suited to larger businesses. You get all of the regular Professional features alongside a pile of extras, including the ability to export posts, collaborate between three team members, and use a dedicated reporting dashboard. 

In fact, the reporting capabilities of this package are pretty formidable, and there’s the added advantage of being able to use Social in tandem with Zoho CRM and Zoho Desk. It can also handle lead generation, so there is plenty of opportunity to get a decent return on your investment.

Zoho says the Premium option is its most popular and it's easy to see why, there's a good mix of high-end enterprise features without a huge cost. 

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(Image credit: Zoho)Zoho Social: User Interface

Zoho Social has been designed to offer a full suite of tools aimed at improving your social media management fortunes. 

Zoho is certainly a comprehensive solution, no matter which of the three packages you decide to go for, and the core structure of Zoho Social focuses on the structuring of campaigns and the subsequent monitoring of your social activity. 

Collaboration is a priority too, helping team members work together and make sense of analytics and the production of those all-important reports, which can then be fed higher up the chain. 

Setting up and scheduling posts is quick and easy, and there’s the ability to collaborate using a publishing calendar, create content queues, and also curate content as and when it's needed. 

(Image credit: Zoho Social)

In our testing, we found that Zoho Social has been nicely designed, meaning that it’s simple to monitor all of your social media activity, with a listening dashboard, live stream, and the ability to send direct messages.

The collaborational aspect of Zoho Social is particularly impressive, offering the ability to define workflows, have team discussions, and assign roles and permissions proving to be the most practical aspects. The same goes for the useability of the analytical tools: lookout for comprehensive stats, the ability to produce custom reports, and also the ability to receive scheduled reports for your regular meetings.

Capping things off, the iOS and Android apps are a pleasure to use, making on-the-go social media tasks that much easier. 

• Best online collaboration tool of 2024

(Image credit: Zoho Social)Zoho Social: Support

All Zoho Social packages come with the same 24/5 email support, which should prove substantial enough for most needs. The Zoho website also comes with a very decent level of help files, tutorials, and supporting information designed to answer many common queries.

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(Image credit: Zoho Social)Zoho Social: The competition

The social media management marketplace is a hive of activity, with plenty of options aimed at helping businesses get more from their campaigns, which is ultimately good news for your search. 

Alongside Zoho Social you can take your pick from key players, including Buffer, Sendible, Loomly, Hootsuite, and Circleboom, all of which are very decent competitors worthy of consideration.

It's worth checking out our guide to the best social media management tools to quickly see the pros and cons of each offering. 

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Zoho Social: Final verdict

Zoho Social has managed to pack in a great deal of features and functions into each one of these three social media management packages, which will make the suite instantly attractive to businesses of all shapes and sizes, although you’ll really want to head in the direction of the Premium editions to get the best set of tools. 

That’s especially so if you’re looking for detailed analytics and the ability to produce power-packed reports. Indeed, the Agency editions take that a step further and, while there is added cost involved, there’s no doubting the additional muscle these premium-priced products come with.

If you're already a Zoho customer across its CRM, Desk, Mail, Books, and Assist offerings, then tacking on Social is the best thing to do. 

• Sign up to Zoho Social

Buffer bills itself as a simple but effective, all-you-need social media toolkit for small businesses. It’s just one of many different social media management tools out there on the market, but the emphasis with Buffer is on affordability, which is always welcome given current trading challenges.

If you’re after a one-stop social media management solution then Buffer should do the trick, even within the confines of its free edition. To unleash its full potential though you’ll need to invest more time and money to access its full suite of tools.

• Sign up for a Buffer plan

Like its rivals in Hootsuite, Sprout Social, and Circleboom, among many others, Buffer aims to make the world of a social media manager – or whoever has the keys to the social accounts – that much easier by automating scheduling, helping visualise content, and more. 

Buffer is also currently offering a free trial, so make sure to claim that, if you wish to first try out its features. 

Let's dive into our review of the Buffer social media management tool. 

• Read more on how we test, rate, and review products on TechRadar

(Image credit: Buffer)Buffer: Plans and Pricing

Plan

Starting Rate (Paid Annually)

Starting Rate (Paid Monthly)

Free

$0/month (up to 3 channels)

$0/month (up to 3 channels)

Essentials

$5/month per channel

$6/month per channel

Team

$10/month per channel

$12/month per channel

Buffer has kept a keen eye on simplicity with its pricing plans. 

There’s something for most if not all types of business, and payment can be done on a monthly or annual basis. If you’re simply starting out and want to gain some experience using a social medial management tool, the Free package makes a lot of sense. Better still, this comes with a £0 (or $0) price tag, which is ideal if you’re running to a tight budget and helps you manage up to three channels.

Next up is the Essentials package, which costs $6 per month or $5 annually per social channel. It’s easy to add additional channels when and if you need them, and by paying annually you’ll shave $12 off the overall cost over a year. You can try this plan free for 14 days and it’s suited to professionals who have to call on publishing, analytics and engagement tools as part of their daily brief.

(Image credit: Buffer)

The beefier Team package is aimed squarely at any businesses that have more of a collaborative arrangement going on. This offers much more user flexibility and costs $12 monthly, or you can knock $24 off the price by paying $120 annually. Additional channels can be added as and when they’re required, meaning lots of freedom for your business. 

While Buffer no longer offers a dedicated Agency plan since November 2025, it provides volume discounts across all plans for users who add more than 10 channels to a plan.

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(Image credit: Buffer )Buffer: Basic features

As with any scalable social media management tool, Buffer can be used in its most basic incarnation, most suitable if you’re just starting out. Buffer users get an array of basic publishing tools and a handy landing page builder as standard, but if you’ve got a desire to really boost your potential, head for the Essentials or upwards. 

The free tier comes with three channels, basic scheduling, a landing page, the ability to schedule 10 posts per channel at any one time (with no monthly limit), and a useful new AI assistant. 

Meanwhile, the Essentials plan comes with everything in the free tier, plus as many channels as you can wish for, unlimited post scheduling, analytics, and engagement tracking. Those last two might prove the difference between paying nothing and going for the $5 per month per channel option. 

All of the teams get iOS and Android apps, which make working on the go much easier, and support for 30+ app integrations including 11 native integrations and more through Zapier, plus two-factor authentication. 

(Image credit: Buffer )Buffer: Advanced features

By upgrading to either Team or Agency, you business will instantly have the ability to do much more. For example, scheduled posts per channel are limited to just 10 per on the free tier, rising to up to 5,000 on the higher tiers. Of course, it’s easy to work with the obvious social outlets including Instagram, Facebook, X (or Twitter), LinkedIn, and Pinterest on any edition of Buffer. Buffer has also added more social media channels than there were originally in its roster, with Bluesky, Google Business Profile, Mastodon, Threads, TikTok, and YouTube (Shorts) being now fully supported.

Similarly, on the higher tiers, there are assorted scheduling options, a calendar view, plus handy day to day features such as a link shortener capability and one for tweaking custom links, too. The paid-for editions also deliver features such as custom video thumbnails, multi-channel campaign delivery, and lots of cool options for tweaking Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook posts. 

To cut to the chase, the main features features that the non-free tier options get are advanced analytics, insights, and reporting. Essentials, Team, and Agency all get a performance overview, data access, and much more, while Team and Agency gain branded reports and a cover page. 

If you feel like any features are missing, check out Buffer's product roadmap. 

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(Image credit: Buffer )Buffer: Analytics and reporting

Vital ingredients for more efficient social media management are inside Buffer too, such as the power tools for checking audience demographics via machine learning insights, which is basically a smart way of tweaking and fine-tuning your results.

Buffer is also great for its tools that cover the array of analytics and reporting. The ability to get a performance overview is paramount, and that comes packed inside Essentials and upwards, along with more specific history details in individual posts, plus historical insights that help businesses build up a bigger picture scenario.

Users of non-free tiers can see insights into post performance, individual post analytics, data storage, tag analysis, hashtag performance, audience demos, Instagram Stories analytics, Shopify performance, custom and exportable reports, and more besides. 

(Image credit: Buffer)

Adding to the appeal of Buffer is its extensive range of reporting tools. After all, if you have no data to present at meetings the validity of the purchase will soon come into question, no matter how nice the graphs look. 

Buffer offers custom reporting tools, including exportable reports on the higher tiers. However, corporate users will find these options invaluable and presumably not mind the added expense of getting them.

The app also offers important comment detection, giving insights into potentially good or bad posts, alongside hotkey support. 

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(Image credit: Buffer)Buffer: AI tools

Buffer has quietly built one of the more practical AI toolkits in the social media management space. At its core is the AI Assistant, which is available to all users (including those on the free plan) with unlimited credits. Rather than bolting on AI as an afterthought, Buffer has woven it directly into the post composer and the dedicated Create space, so you can tap into it exactly when you need it.

The AI Assistant is powered by OpenAI's GPT-4.0 and is channel-aware, meaning it understands the nuances of each platform you're posting to. If you're drafting for LinkedIn, it leans professional. For Instagram, it keeps things punchy and caption-friendly. You can also specify your target audience and adjust the tone so the output actually sounds like your brand rather than a generic AI bot.

Beyond drafting, the assistant handles repurposing and refinement. You can take an existing post and rework it for a different platform in one click, expand a short update into something more substantial, or trim down a long post for X (formerly Twitter) without losing the core message. The idea generation feature is handy too: say a bit about your business and it'll surface content ideas tailored to your industry.

Buffer has also integrated AI into its Community inbox with AI replies. This feature learns your voice and suggests contextual responses to comments across Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Bluesky, X, and LinkedIn. Free users get five AI reply suggestions per week; paid plans include unlimited suggestions. It also includes a Comment Insights feature that surfaces themes and ideas from your comment section, helping you spot content opportunities you might otherwise miss.

Buffer: User interface

One of the best things about Buffer has been the way the designers have made the interface a joy to use. Much of this is down to the simplicity of the layout, with little to get in the way of boosting your social medial management potential. This extends to the more complex and feature-heavy premium products, too, even those that pack in powerful reporting tools and comprehensive data analytics.

While some rival services can feel overburdened with features, Buffer manages to treat the line perfectly, and we never really encountered any issues getting around. 

The addition of an AI assistant also helps with discovery of new features and creating ideas from scratch, which could be useful in smaller organisations with less people to bounce things off. 

We're big fans, and for anyone who cares about UI and UX, Buffer has you covered. 

• Best content marketing tool of 2024

(Image credit: Buffer)Buffer: Support and transparency

We’ve been really impressed with the attention to detail displayed by Buffer support. Like everyone other social media rival, there’s a great starting point via an online help centre, which contains a searchable database of help topics, plus a whole host of tutorials and other insights into how to get the best from Buffer.

Anyone needing further help on a one-to-one basis can contact the Buffer Support team. The process is very straightforward: simply raise a ticket using one of the many different subject area options to trigger a response. The Buffer community is another aspect of the support options found inside this package that allows a wider range of contact options to users.

On top of support, Buffer offers some of the best transparency in the industry, regularly reporting everything via its transparency dashboard. For example, you can see that Buffer has over 191,726 MAUs, $1.9 million in MRR, and makes $28.06 per user on average. 

Buffer also publishes its staff's salaries transparently, breaks down what each subscription supports (eg, hosting, retreats, or salaries), and so much more. The addition really serves to build trust in Buffer as a company. 

(Image credit: Buffer)

• Best free software for SMBs of 2024

(Image credit: Buffer)Buffer: The competition

While users with fairly basic needs will be able to make use of Buffer, this is a social media management package that will really come into its own for larger business concerns. So while the likes of Hootsuite, Sendible, Loomly, HubSpot, and Zoho Social are all competitor products worth looking at, Buffer's packages do have a great deal of scalability.

After spending many hours testing Buffer and its rivals, we can say that while some have more powerful features than Buffer at the absolute high-end, none of them manage to artfully combine so many features in a non-threatening and understandable way, which is a real plus. 

• Best free office software of 2024

(Image credit: Buffer)Buffer: Final verdict

Buffer is one of the best full-service social media management suites you can get and there’s a package to suit all kinds of user. 

Naturally, the free edition lacks some of the muscle that comes with the premium editions, so it’s worth spending a little more if you want to boost your social media management potential. Along with its ease of use, there’s no doubting the potency of Buffer, while the capacity for expanding its capabilities is great, too.

For example, there are over 30 different third-party integration options, letting users harness the likes of Zapier and more. We’re also very keen on the ability to use Buffer quickly and easily on iOS and Android, creating room for more efficiency when you’re not able to carry out tasks at your desk. 

Overall, it’s easy to see why Buffer continues to draw in plenty of new customers since its 2010 launch, and we can't recommend its software highly enough. 

• Sign up to Buffer here

Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch 2 review: one-minute review

Fancy a Rematch? That’s right, Turtle Beach is back with the Rematch Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch 2, which comes equipped with an all-new design, trusty C button, and a few other technical touch-ups.

There’s a lot to love about the Rematch, whether that be its drift-resistant TMR (tunnel magnoresistance) thumbsticks, its eye-catching semi-translucent design – which even features Super Mario himself, or its customizable GL and GR buttons. It’s also a pretty comfortable controller to use, with responsive triggers and face buttons, and incredibly seamless pairing.

I was also delighted with the controller’s generous 40-hour battery life, which competes with top controllers in our guide to the best Nintendo Switch 2 accessories. Despite that, though, the Rematch certainly isn’t without its flaws.

One of the most glaring drawbacks is the controller’s omission of rumble technology. This can be crucial for certain in-game segments, and is generally a vital instrument to immerse players more deeply in their gaming experiences. I was also sad to see NFC tech left out, which lets you scan Amiibo in titles like Metroid Prime 4: Beyond or Kirby Air Riders.

When you combine those things with the Rematch’s lack of a 3.5mm port and its inability to wake your Nintendo Switch 2 console from sleep, I think it’s fair to say it's missing a few crucial features. And yes, although this model costs a fair bit less than the official Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller, it's not exactly cheap. At more than $60 / £50 / AU$90, I’d hope for more expansive functionality.

All of that’s not to say that I disliked the Rematch – far from it. It’s a solid model overall that feels comfortable and effective in use, and the TMR tech is something that Nintendo’s official Switch 2 pro controller doesn’t have. And even with some missing features, it does support motion controls, which worked well in my experience.

Ultimately, I’d probably recommend waiting for a sale for this model. It’s a trustworthy, appealing controller that gets a lot of the fundamentals right, and it will almost certainly serve you well. At full price, though, I just feel that it’s a bit too thin on features.

(Image credit: Future)Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch 2 review: price and release date

• List price of $64.99 / £54.99 / AU$99
• Which is $20 / £20 / AU$20 less than the official Switch 2 Pro Controller
• Launched in October 2025

The Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch 2 was released in October 2025, a few months after Nintendo’s latest system came to market. This Nintendo-licensed controller will typically set you back $64.99 / £54.99 / AU$99 – that’s about $20 / £20 / AU$20 less than the official Switch 2 Pro Controller. You can purchase it with the Mario design – pictured throughout this review – or in a more basic Charcoal Black colorway.

Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch 2 review: specs

Price

$64.99 / £54.99 / AU$99

Weight

0.8lbs / 0.4kg

Dimensions

6.3 x 5.3 x 2.6in / 160 x 135 x 65mm

Compatibility

Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch

Connection type

Wireless

Battery life

40 hours

(Image credit: Future)Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch 2 review: design and features

• Beautiful semi-translucent design
• Remappable GL/GR buttons plus C button
• No NFC support, no 3.5mm port

Looks-wise, I’m a big fan of the Rematch controller for Switch 2. It has a semi-translucent design and is adorned with the Super Mario logo, as well as the Italian plumber himself. It's beautiful, fun, and a bit more charismatic than the swathe of plain black controllers that dominate the market. Red details really cement the fact that this is a Mario-themed, Nintendo-licensed model too, which is a nice touch.

As nice as it looks, though, I would argue that the controller feels a touch cheaper than its price tag may suggest. It's got quite a plasticky build, and some components, like the D-pad for instance, just lack that premium finish you’ll get from Nintendo’s official Pro Controller.

That’s fairly understandable, given that the Pro Controller is $20 / £20 / AU$20 more expensive, but that cheaper build isn’t the only sacrifice you’ll make if you do indeed opt for the Rematch instead.

For instance, this model doesn’t have NFC technology built in, which means that you can’t make use of Amiibos in games like Donkey Kong Bananza or Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. I understand that this won’t upset most players as much as me, but as an avid amiibo collector, this felt like a significant miss. Pair that with the lack of a 3.5mm port for a wired headset, and the omission of rumble (which I’ll discuss more down below), and you’re not getting the most feature-rich model on the market.

However, the Rematch controller does still have some commendable aspects, like its GL and GR buttons – these can be mapped to different controls for different games, and can come in handy for item management in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, for instance.

The C button in the center of the controller is also a big help if you want quick access to GameChat capabilities, something that you won’t find on a lot of third-party models.

(Image credit: Future)Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch 2 review: performance

• TMR thumbsticks feel pretty good
• A whole lotta battery life
• Lack of rumble and can’t wake the console

The Rematch is an ergonomic, well-sized model with a pleasing weight to it, and it’s a very solid controller performance-wise.

Perhaps the biggest benefit of picking this controller over Nintendo’s official rival is that you’re getting TMR thumbsticks. This ensures strong responsiveness and precision, while also making stick drift less likely. More generally, the textured thumbsticks feel pretty good, and I experienced no issues with them across hours and hours of play.

In fact, most of the buttons feel pretty pleasing to use, whether that be the main face buttons, plus and minus controls, or the triggers. I especially appreciated the form of the ZL and ZR buttons, which slope upwards and are satisfying to press. The aforementioned GL/GR buttons are a welcome addition to boot.

My only real complaint when it comes to the buttons is some of the placements. For some reason, the home and plus buttons, as well as the minus and screenshot buttons, have been swapped around. To begin with, I found myself continually pressing the home button instead of the plus one, just out of sheer muscle memory. When playing with friends, I found that they would do the same, so this change felt more bothersome than anything.

Back to the good stuff, though, and I’m pleased to report that this controller delivers plenty of playtime. Turtle Beach says you get 40 hours from the Rematch, and from my time playing, I’d report that as accurate. That’s the same amount of time you’d expect to get out of the official Switch 2 controller, and competitive against other third-party controller manufacturers.

This model also supports motion controls, which I found to be surprisingly accurate. During my playthrough of Super Mario Galaxy, it was nice ‘n’ easy to grab star bits and navigate through menus – I still find the Joy-Con 2 controllers to be superior for motion-controlled games, however.

Having said that, Turtle Beach did leave a few functions out that could’ve put this controller's performance on par with the best of the best. For instance, there’s no rumble here, which is crucial for certain in-game mechanics and delivering a more immersive experience overall. You also cannot wake the console with the home button – something I love about my go-to controller, the Mobapad N1 HD.

(Image credit: Future)Should I buy the Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch 2?Buy it if...

You’re looking for more advanced thumbstick tech
The Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch 2 packs in TMR thumbsticks – one of its best assets for sure. This means that your controller will be less prone to drift than a controller using more traditional tech, like the official Switch 2 Pro Controller.

You want standout looks
I really like the semi-translucent design of this controller, and having Super Mario himself at the front and center feels like a nice touch. As I stated earlier, the market is filled with one-note, plain black models, so it’s nice to find something with a bit of pizzazz.

Don't buy it if...

You want the most feature-rich controller
Despite its nifty thumbsticks and swell design, the Rematch omits some fairly major features. For instance, there’s no rumble here, which can be crucial for immersing players in their gaming experiences. There’s also no NFC tech for amiibo, and you can’t wake the console from sleep mode, which is a shame.

You’re looking for something with a premium feel
As much as I like this controller’s look, I wouldn’t say it's the most sturdily or luxuriously built model. The Rematch has quite a plasticky feel, and for the price you pay, you may expect something a little more premium.

Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch 2 review: also consider

Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch 2

Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller

8BitDo Ultimate 2

Price

$64.99 / £54.99 / AU$99

$84.99 / £74.99 / AU$119.95

$69.99 / £59.99 / AU$90

Weight

0.8lbs / 360g

0.5lbs / 235g

0.5lbs / 246g

Dimensions

6.3 x 5.3 x 2.6in / 160 x 135 x 65mm

5.8 x 4.1 x 2.4in / 148 x 105 x 60mm

5.7 x 4.1 x 2.4in / 147 x 103 x 61mm

Compatibility

Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch

Nintendo Switch 2

Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC

Connection type

Wireless

Wireless

Wireless

Battery life

40 hours

40 hours

15 hours

Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller
Although it doesn’t have TMR or Hall effect, we still love the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller. Its luxurious build quality, excellent battery life, smooth thumbsticks, and ergonomic comfort just keep us coming back for more. Its inclusion of NFC and rumble tech gives it a bit of a leg up over this Turtle Beach model, although it will cost you a little more.

Read our full Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller review.

8BitDo Ultimate 2
The 8BitDo Ultimate 2 is filled to the brim with high-tech features, be that TMR sticks, Hall effect triggers, or remappable L4/R4 bumpers. OK, its battery life really isn’t that great, especially if you’re using the flashy RGB lights, but there’s still a lot to love about this model.

Read our full 8BitDo Ultimate 2 review.

How I tested the Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch 2

(Image credit: Future)

• Tested across multiple weeks
• Compared against other wireless controllers
• Played a range of Nintendo Switch 2, original Switch, and retro titles

I spent weeks testing the Turtle Beach Rematch Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch 2, during which time I played various games, exhausted its many features, and compared it against a handful of rivals.

In order to assess the controller’s capabilities in full, I played classic titles via Nintendo Switch Online, such as Chibi-Robo!, as well as games with motion controls like Super Mario Galaxy, and Switch 2 exclusives like Mario Kart World. Most of the time, I used the controller while my Nintendo Switch 2 was docked, and connected up to my Sky Glass Gen 2 TV and Marshall Heston 120 soundbar.

More generally, I’ve tested a bunch of Nintendo Switch 2 accessories – not only controllers, but also cameras like the Hori Piranha Plant Camera, screen protectors including the Genki Aegis Shield, and cases such as the official Nintendo Switch 2 All-In-One Carrying Case.

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

Sprout Social has been around for a while now and, as a result, has become one of the go-to software options for anyone needing the best social media management or SEO tools. 

The package, spread across several paid tiers, comprises a heady blend of social tools and marries those to a potent analytics edge, which produces a great all-round package for small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs).

Anyone looking to take on social media channels for the first time, or to beef up their levels of participation, will find Sprout Social offers plenty. There’s a neat dashboard-style management setup, allowing for easy co-ordination, while the ability to lets multiple users access it means there’s appeal for larger organisations too.

• Sign up for a Sprout Social plan

While Sprout Social comes with a potent yet user-friendly array of social media management tools, the company has worked to still offer an affordable and good value option. Perhaps unsurprisingly then, Sprout therefore continues to be a hit with many business owners, who might not necessarily warm to a competitor like Hootsuite or Buffer. 

Let's dive into our Sprout Social social media management review. 

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(Image credit: Future)Sprout Social: Plans and Pricing

Plan

Starting rate (paid annually)

Starting rate (paid monthly)

Standard

$199/user/month

$249/user/month

Professional

$299/user/month

$399/user/month

Advanced

$399/user/month

$499/user/month

Enterprise

Custom pricing

Custom pricing

You can try Sprout Social for free using a 30-day trial, without the need for any credit card details, which is a great way to get to know the software. 

Following on from that, Sprout Social comes in three different packages, starting with the Standard edition, which currently costs $249 per user/per month when billed monthly. Alternatively, you can choose to pay for the Standard package on a $249 month-to-month basis.

Stepping up to the next package, the Professional edition is Sprout Social's most popular plan, currently available for $299 per user/per month and, again, billed annually. There is also the option to pay $399 month-to-month with this one, too.

Meanwhile, an Advanced edition costs $399 per user/per month billed annually. This has the option to pay $499 on a month-to-month basis if preferred. If you’re concerned about whether or not there will be enough benefits from the higher-end packages, requesting a demo is also possible, where a member of the Sprout Social team can talk you through the various features and functions.

Finally, there's an Enterprise tier, which is available for large organisations upon request. Sprout Social will tailor the app to your needs, and there is 24/5 support, plus a range of other features we'll get into below. 

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(Image credit: Sprout Social )Sprout Social: AI features (New)

Sprout Social has invested heavily in AI over the past two years, consolidating its machine learning and automation capabilities under the Sprout AI brand. Rather than treating AI as a bolt-on feature, the company has embedded it across publishing, engagement, analytics, and customer care.

The most notable recent addition is Trellis, Sprout's agentic AI launched in Q4 2025. Think of it as an AI analyst that navigates the platform on your behalf, transforming large volumes of social data into business intelligence and surfacing actionable next steps.

Trellis is a meaningful step beyond basic AI-assisted suggestions and positions Sprout ahead of many competitors in terms of automation depth. You can also connect your Sprout data directly into ChatGPT, which opened up in Q4 2025 as well, for deeper content planning and research workflows.

On the content creation side, AI Assist lets you generate and refine social copy, write accurate alt-text for images, and automatically create subtitles for video posts in one click. The Optimal Send Times feature uses AI to identify the best windows to publish based on your audience's activity patterns. These tools are especially useful for teams managing multiple accounts across platforms, where manually optimising each post quickly becomes impractical.

Sprout AI also powers a smarter inbox experience. Sentiment analysis runs automatically across incoming messages, and AI-driven bot and spam filtering helps keep your engagement metrics clean by removing automated noise from your data. For brands using Sprout's Social Listening add-on, Smart Categories uses AI to surface the key themes driving conversations around your chosen topics .

Finally, the Influencer Marketing platform received a major AI overhaul in April 2025. The new version introduced natural language and topic-led creator discovery — replacing keyword-based search with a more intuitive approach that better reflects how social platforms actually surface content. A revamped Brand Fit Score and brand safety reporting also use AI to help you vet creators more quickly, reducing what used to be hours of manual research to a matter of minutes.

Sprout Social: Basic features

As you’d expect from a Standard package, the entry-level edition is more of a slimline edition of the software. Nevertheless, it does come with a decent array of tools aimed at users with lesser social media management needs than bigger businesses. 

Starting off, the Standard edition bundles in five social profiles, an all-in-one social inbox, the ability to publish, schedule, draft, and queue posts, and a social content calendar, to keep everyone on the same page. 

Users can also carry out review management, monitor profiles, keywords, and locations, as well as deploying social CRM tools. Reporting offers up group, profile, and post-level options, plus there’s the ability to deliver paid promotion tools to boost Facebook posts. 

Sprout also offers handy iOS and Android apps for working on the go. 

Sprout Social: Professional features

You’ll really want to invest in Sprout Social's popular Professional edition to benefit from more power tools. While this does involve additional costs, the set of features covers an awful lot of bases. Look out for unlimited social profiles, plus everything that comes packed into Standard. 

On top of that there is competitive reporting for Instagram, Facebook, and X, incoming and outgoing message content tagging, as well as custom workflows for multiple approvers. More advantageously, there’s scheduling for optimal send times and the benefit of response rate and time analysis reports. 

Crucially, Pro users get trend analysis for X keywords and hashtags, and the benefit of paid social reporting for Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn. Also useful for larger concerns is the helpdesk, CRM, and Social Commerce integration capabilities.

For most companies, Professional offers the perfect blend of features and price, and compares favourably to its rivals across the market. 

(Image credit: Sprout Social)Sprout Social: Advanced features

Finally, larger business frequently have the need for even more power tools, which can often be a needless requirement for smaller companies. 

Social Sprout’s Advanced package features add a lot more muscle to the software, especially for companies with a major push going on with their social media management needs. The Advanced package comes with everything in the Professional edition, and then adds on the likes of Message Spike Alerts for increased message activity email and push notification alerts when traffic is high.

There’s a digital asset and content library, and chatbots with automation tools. Advanced users can also work with saved and suggested replies, make use of an inbox rule builder for automated actions, and enjoy automated link tracking. X surveys to define CSAT or NPS come bundled good measure.

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(Image credit: Sprout Social)Sprout Social: Analytics and reporting

By the same token, the reporting aspect of Sprout Social is as impressive as ever. 

Users can create detailed insights into social media campaigns, get a handle on what works and what doesn’t, as well as producing shareable information that should work a treat in the board room. Naturally, it’s easy to export reports in popular file formats, including CSV and PDF.

Sprout Social has always been handy with its chunky analytics tools and this is an aspect that has become stronger in recent years. The higher-end bundles pack in lots of advanced features for helping combine analytics with lead generation and suchlike, adding value. 

In fact, sales and marketing teams should find it invaluable, while a feature like the Chatbot tool should help improve efficiency too by allowing administrators to build an assistant to help customer needs.

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(Image credit: Sprout Social)Sprout Social: User Interface

Sprout Social has been in existence for quite a while now and has therefore evolved into a great on-the-go tool for anyone needing to manage their social media out in the field. 

Sprout Social offers iOS and Android mobile apps, both of which have been nicely produced and include more than enough functionality for most needs, even on the Basic edition. Considering its impressive feature set, Sprout Social is still fairly straightforward to setup and configure.

Even in its desktop incarnation, you’ll find Sprout Social to be fairly logical with its layout, especially considering all of the tools that come contained within. There are quick access menu options to commonly used tools like Messages, Tasks, Feeds, and Publishing, helping to improve the overall workflow. 

Similarly, you can get to those vital reporting tools with relative ease too. There are practical considerations too, with a settings area that lets you configure language settings and suchlike for users in other geographical territories.

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(Image credit: Sprout Social)Sprout Social: Support

Anyone getting to grips with Sprout Social for the first time will find a whole host of great content at the online help center, including tips, tricks, and tutorials covering every aspect of the software, along with more advanced tools for helping to get the best from Sprout Social. 

If you need to get in touch there is a phone support number, the option to submit a request online or you can simply reach out via social media. The enterprise tier also includes 24/5 dedicated support, for any enquiries or help. 

While some rivals do go a little further when it comes to support, Sprout Social offers most of the things needed to make sense of the software and get the most out of your online social media presence. 

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(Image credit: Sprout Social)Sprout Social: The competition

Social media management tools are reasonably plentiful and, if you’re working to a tight or non-existent budget, some of them can be had for free. 

Small business owners might struggle to justify the cost implications of the beefier editions of Sprout Social. With that in mind, heading for something like the basic edition of Hootsuite might make more sense, but there’s also the likes of Buffer, HubSpot, Zoho Social, and Circleboom to ponder over too.

All of the different services have their own pros and cons – especially depending on your specific social media needs – and checking out a variety of cheaper (or free) tiers, plus free trials, is likely the best way to definitively find the best. 

• Read more on how we test, rate, and review products on TechRadar.

(Image credit: Sprout Social)Sprout Social: Final verdict

If your organisation has advanced social media management needs then Sprout Social offers plenty of appeal, including the ability to ramp up your efforts even more than that with the additional premium solutions. However, all of those extra features and functions add to the price tag, which for smaller businesses can soon make a Professional package seem like a sizeable investment.

Nevertheless, if you’ve got any kind of serious inclination to boost your standing in social media circles, and enjoy the data produced by Sprout Social, you’ll find this is a package that rarely disappoints. Even the Standard edition offers up a surprisingly potent dashboard of delights, via an interface that’s a joy to use, especially if you’re making full use of the iOS and Android apps. 

As we've said throughout the review, Sprout Social is far from an upstart in the space and so you can trust the company to maintain its product, offer quality support, and generally provide one of the best social media management tools in 2026. 

• Sign up to Sprout Social.

Neo may not have the name recognition of the real major players in this space, like Google Workspace, Microsoft 365 or Proton Mail, but it is nevertheless making a concerted effort to join them as one of the best email hosting services around. 

Attempting to set itself apart from its competitors, Neo has set its sights on the small business market. This is an email provider that is geared towards entrepreneurs, startups, and small businesses. And what it does, it does well. If you are a small business, this is an email hosting platform that ticks a lot of boxes.

Neo comes with a good range of features, including appointment scheduling, email templates, and read receipts, and is available at an affordable price. It’s a great option if you want a custom email address, flexible cloud storage and the possibility of exploring whether some of those AI tools making headlines are really as important to business success as they claim to be.

It must be said, Neo isn’t perfect. We’ve found that the support on offer isn’t the most responsive and if you're a large enterprise you might require some of the advanced functionality that you find offered by some of the larger players out there. 

However, if you’re a small business on the lookout for a reliable, affordable email solution, then it’s certainly worth giving Neo a go. The email and marketing services on offer could help take your brand to the next level. 

Neo: Plans and pricing

Plan

Starting rate (paid annually)

Starting rate (paid monthly)

Business Starter

$2.49/mailbox/mo

$3.11/mailbox/mo

Business Standard

$4.99/mailbox/mo

$6.24/mailbox/mo

Business Max

$9.99/mailbox/mo

$12.49/mailbox/mo

Neo subscribers can choose from three plans: Starter, Standard, and Max. The Starter plan is priced at $2.49 per mailbox, per month when billed annually — a step up from its original launch pricing, but still highly competitive compared to most business email providers. The Standard plan comes in at $4.99, while the Max plan sits at $9.99 per mailbox, per month on an annual subscription.

One area where Neo still stands out is its billing flexibility. You can choose monthly, yearly, two-year, or four-year subscription terms, with longer commitments unlocking lower rates. This is fairly unusual in the email hosting market, and it's a nice option to have if you're confident in sticking with Neo for the long haul.

It's also worth noting that if you need more than 50 mailboxes, you'll need to contact Neo's sales team directly for custom pricing. That's standard practice for business software at this scale, but if you're already managing 50+ mailboxes, you may want to weigh up whether a platform built for larger enterprises might be a better fit.

AI tools

Neo has been quietly building out its AI capabilities and by now they're a meaningful part of what the platform offers, particularly on the Max plan. The headline feature is Smart Write, an AI email writer powered by OpenAI's ChatGPT API. You give it a prompt, pick a tone and length, and it produces a ready-to-send draft in seconds. You can also use it to reply to incoming emails with the "Reply with Smart Write" option, which automatically pulls in the context of the email you're responding to.

Smart Write supports multiple languages and handles everything from cold outreach to client negotiations. If the first draft isn't quite right, you can hit "Give me another option" for a fresh take.

However, it's worth knowing that the tool operates under a fair usage policy. You get 75 words per input prompt and Smart Reply autofills up to 1,000 words of context from the email you're replying to. Privacy-wise, OpenAI only accesses the specific content you share with Smart Write, and does not use it for model training.

On the Standard and Max plans, you'll also get access to a built-in Grammar & Spell Check feature, which gives your outgoing emails an extra layer of polish without needing a third-party tool. It's a small addition, but useful for day-to-day correspondence.

Beyond email, Neo has rolled out an AI-powered website builder under its AI Site product. The tool generates a ready-to-launch one-page website from a short text prompt, and you can refine it using an AI copy assist feature. Higher-tier site plans unlock more generations and access to the latest AI models. It's not a replacement for a dedicated website builder, but for small businesses that need a quick professional web presence alongside their email, it's a practical bonus.

Features

(Image credit: Neo)

As with all business email providers, the features that you receive depend heavily on the subscription you’ve signed up for. Let’s start by taking a look at the email storage on offer. With the Starter plan, you receive 15GB of mailbox storage, which matches the free 15GB that comes with a personal Gmail account. We did find that this amount of space filled up quickly, so if you’re a small business with big aspirations, you might find this somewhat lacking. If that is the case, you’ll probably want to look at the 50GB you get with the Standard plan or even the 100GB enjoyed by Max customers. 

In terms of the other features that Neo offers, there’s plenty on show. Subscribers to all three payment plans will receive access to Android and iOS mobile apps, a built-in calendar, and the ability to access their Neo inbox via a third-party mail platform. 

Some more advanced functionality is provided on the Standard plan, including a priority inbox and unlimited read receipts. But the really high-level stuff requires you to be signed up for the Max plan. For instance, customers here get a plethora of powerful business suite tools, such as access to campaign mode (great for email marketing), appointment booking, and the AI Smart Write feature. 

Support

Here’s an area where Neo could do better. While there is a help center, which comes with a host of useful articles and guides like help getting started and a general FAQ, it’s when you try to contact Neo directly that things become a little more tricky. 

There is a link that allows you to create a support ticket but getting a response can take a long time. This is a shame, because for small businesses especially, any issue could cause significant reputational damage that ends up sending customers elsewhere. 

Security

Neo’s security credentials are solid and this is clearly something that the platform takes very seriously. The platform offers data encryption both at rest and in transit with 256-bit ciphers, two-factor authentication, advanced antivirus and antispam functionality, and is hosted on Amazon Web Services, which should give users a little extra peace of mind. 

Neo is also fully GDPR compliant and allows users to include a digital signature with their message to add extra authenticity whenever they are sending an email. 

The competition

Although you might think that email is a bit old-fashioned, it remains essential to the business world. Sure, most successful organizations may have adopted an omnichannel strategy these days, meaning they can contact customers via WhatsApp or a social media platform, but email remains crucial.

In terms of email providers targeting the small business market, Neo has to compete with the likes of Zoho Mail, IONOS, and a growing array of others.  Neo fares pretty well in terms of price and does offer users a free .co.site domain, but for advanced functionality or more response support, you might be better off going with more established players. In fact, Neo's affordability is a massive strength when compared to its rivals - especially for smaller players where budgets may be a bit tighter.

(Image credit: Neo)Final verdict

Neo is a very decent email provider - especially given that it hasn’t been around the longest. If you too are just starting out and don’t require some of the more advanced features you get with larger vendors, then be sure to check Neo out. This is an email hosting platform that really shines when it's used within the small business market - it's here where we think it truly excels. 

If you have expectations of scaling your business rapidly, you might find that you outgrow Neo, but until then, this platform is likely to have everything you need at a very reasonable price. 

We've featured the best email hosting services.

Ratio Four: one-minute review

The Ratio Four is a drip-coffee machine focused on smaller batches. That means it fulfils a valuable niche in the market, meaning it’s perfect for anyone who’s only likely to want a few cups of coffee at a time.

Rather than leaving your brew stewing for hours over a heating element, it allows you to quickly whip up a small batch of coffee on demand and not waste as much as with some traditional drip machines. While it may not be optimum for offices or big families, it’s great for couples or coffee fans that are flying solo.

And its smaller capacity has an extra benefit: its footprint takes up far less space on your counter than many of the best coffee machines. Instead it cuts a sleek figure on your counter, with its clamp-shaped form and smoky-colored glass carafe looking right at home in any kitchen. The only exception for me is its water tank. While I understand that helps it keep its size down, I’m not biggest fan of the way it’s hooked up to the machine with an umbilical cord pipe – I much prefer the built-in tanks of the more premium Ratio Six and Ratio Eight.

Using the Ratio Four couldn’t be easier. Once I’d filled the water tank, all I had to do was slip a compatible filter into the filter basket, grind my beans to a medium-coarse grind and pour them in. Pressing the single button on the front first runs a bloom cycle to pre-wet and stir up the grounds – a step many traditional drip machines skip – then the Ratio Four gets to work running water through your grounds to fill the carafe with sweet Costa Rican crude.

So how did my coffee turn out? Once I found the optimum grind for the Ratio Four, it made very solid coffee – it wasn’t too bitter and there was at least a hint of some of those volatile flavors that make speciality coffees so fantastic. But I wouldn’t say it packed the rich bouquet I associate with wonderfully extracted coffee and I’ve definitely experienced pour-over and pressure extracted coffees that expressed more character out of similar beans.

That doesn’t mean the Ratio Four isn’t worth it though. Pour-over coffee requires developing the knack for it, while many of the best espresso machines require you to spend much more and spend a lot of time cleaning. When you need a couple of cups of tasty coffee in mere minutes, the Ratio Four is definitely worth your time.

(Image credit: Future)Ratio Four review: price and availability

• Launched November 2024
• Retails for $279

Launched in November 2024, the Ratio Four is available now. It retails for a list price of $279 (around £205) – unfortunately, unlike its larger stablemates the Ratio Six and Ratio Eight, it’s not currently available in the UK. So those based on that side of the pond might have to content yourself with drip machines like the Sage Luxe Brewer Thermal or Ninja DualBrew Pro instead.

While the black version featured here isn’t currently available on Amazon, the white colorway is and looks just as classy. For that price, you’re getting pretty much everything you need included – such as the carafe and filter basket – but the one exception is compatible Ratio or Melitta filters so I’d absolutely recommend you grab some at the same time if you’re going to purchase the Ratio Four.

(Image credit: Future)Ratio Four review: specs

Type

Automatic drip machine

Dimensions (W x H x D)

10.6 x 7.5 x 11.5 inches / 26.9 x 19.1 x 29.2cm

Weight

24.18lbs / 10.97kg

Water reservoir capacity

20.3 ounces / 0.6l

(Image credit: Future)Ratio Four review: design

• Sleek, attractive styling
• Perfect for just one or two cups
• Water tank looks less elegant

For some reason, not every brand seems to have gotten the memo about coffee maker design. Some manufacturers seem to think that just because an appliance is bulky, that means it has to be squat and utilitarian. Fortunately, Ratio is way ahead of the crowd here: all of its drip coffee machines are gorgeous and the Four is no exception.

Despite measuring in at 10.6 x 7.5 x 11.5 inches / 26.9 x 19.1 x 29.2cm, this coffee maker looks pretty sleek to my eye. Both its matt black finish and bracket-shaped form meant it cut a bold silhouette in my kitchen and stood out among all the chrome and squat boxes of my other appliances.

As the smallest product in Ratio’s range, the Four’s water tank only contains 20.3oz / 0.6l, which is approximately enough for two full mugs. There aren’t a whole lot of drip machines that cater to this size, so it makes it a great choice for individuals or couples. However, that does mean that if you want to brew enough for family brunch or your coworkers’ coffee order, you’ll probably want to size up.

(Image credit: Future)

The water tank is the one area I’d dock this machine some style points – the discrete reservoir and hose hookup here looks a little goofy to me, like it's connected to the device with an umbilical cord. Personally, I prefer the built in tanks of the more premium options.

By their very nature, drip coffee machines are far simpler affairs than espresso machines, so you won’t get a whole lot in terms of accessories here. But you will of course get everything you need – the packaged carafe is nicely made, with its darkened, heat-proof glass of the carafe gives it a smoky, sophisticated look. And it comes with its own filter basket, although you can swap in your Hario V60, Kalita Wave or Origami basket if you prefer.

Beyond this, you’re on your own. So to get the right coarseness of grind – pre-ground is unlikely to give you either the freshness or precision you’ll need here – you’ll want to pick up a coffee grinder. It’s also worth getting some compatible, flat-bottom filter papers: Ratio sells its own but the Ratio Four is also compatible with Melitta filters if those are more convenient for you.

• Design score: 4.5/5

FutureFutureFutureRatio Four review: performance

• Quick to use and clean
• Easier than pour over to get consistent results
• Flavor is good but not top tier

If you’re looking at automatic drip-coffee machines, your biggest priorities are likely to be speed and convenience. And I’m happy to say that the Ratio Four offers both of these things in spades.

Larger drip-coffee machines can sometimes take between 5 and 10 minutes to brew but, thanks to the Ratio Four’s smaller batch-sizes, it often takes far less than this. While the first brew I did took around 1 minute 52 to bloom and 5 minutes 16 for the total pour, once the boiler had warmed up, this time shrank considerably. My final brew took 1 minute 29 to bloom and 4 minutes 28 for its total pour time, so pretty much bang on what I’d expect.

So how easy is it to use? All told, I felt the process was pretty straightforward. Once you’ve ground your beans, you just insert a compatible filter, fill it up and top up the tank, then you’re good to go. Press its single button and it’ll automatically bloom and brew your coffee. Compared to the more finicky process I’ve come to expect from pour over or my espresso machine, using the Ratio Four is a breeze.

And it achieves decent results… as long as you’re willing to experiment a little with dialing in the right grind. While you’ll be broadly fine with a medium-coarse grind – somewhere between sand and sea salt in texture – I found brewing a few test batches allowed me to really zero in on the right grind for the machine and filters I was using.

(Image credit: Future)

Case in point, for my first batch I set TechRadar’s Mazzer Philos testing grinder to 100 (on a scale of 0 - 140). While the initial bloom of the grounds seemed to go well, the resultant pour looked a little weak to my eye – something I confirmed when I tasted it. Honestly, it was insipid, tasting indistinguishable from a stewed french press. Back to the grindstone then.

This is where I went down a bit of a rabbit hole. I brewed about eight more batches, dialing the grind down 60 microns at a time, producing more flavorful brews each time. I did eventually hit a sweet spot of richness and acidity but this came at a finer grind than I expected and didn’t quite produce the flavor-forward caffeine hit I was looking for. Don’t get me wrong: it makes for a tasty cup of joe but I honestly feel like pour-over or an espresso machine would have extracted more of those mouth-watering floral flavor notes I was hoping for.

But barring a little grind calibration, I have to hand it to the Ratio Four for being incredibly easy to use. And it’s similarly easy to clean. All I had to do was bang out the used filter and grounds into the bin, wash up the filter, carafe and water tank, wipe down the shower and it was good to go again. Compared to espresso machines, with their milk-encrusted steam wands and silt-clogged portafilters, it’s much easier to get the Ratio Four looking spotless.

All in all, the Ratio Four makes good coffee while being simple to operate. It probably ekes a little bit more flavor out of your grind than a standard drip coffee and it’s cheaper and far easier to use than the best espresso machines – although it can’t reach the same heights of flavor either.

• Performance score: 3.5/5

(Image credit: Future)Should I buy the Ratio Four?

Attribute

Notes

Score

Value

Few coffee machines at this price are going to make a better brew. But many pour-over setups are a fair bit cheaper and more expensive espresso machines will likely give you better results.

4/5

Design

Stylish and sleek, although the separate water tank looks a little silly. A perfect size if you just want two cups of coffee, although this means it might be less good for families or workplaces.

4.5/5

Performance

Incredibly easy to use and clean afterwards. After you’ve properly calibrated your grind, it can produce tasty coffee – but if flavor is your biggest priority, you may find other setups more rewarding.

3.5/5

Buy it if…

You want pour-over style coffee without the hassle
With its bloom cycle and the way its shower agitates the grind, the Ratio Four gets you much closer to pour-over quality without you needing to spend ages honing your technique.

You’re tired of boxy kitchen appliances
As with all of Ratio’s coffee machines, this cuts a gorgeous silhouette. The umbilically connected water tank aside, this stylish machine will look seriously classy on your counter.

Don't buy it if…

You want the best possible tasting coffee
While the Ratio Four provides a tasty brew, I don’t think it can quite hit the heights of an exquisitely executed espresso or perfect pour over. So if you want truly exceptional coffee, I think it’s worth the extra expense or practice.

You want coffee for your whole house or office
The Ratio Four’s whole niche is that it provides small-batch drip coffee. That’s fantastic for individuals or couples but, naturally, if you want to serve more people, a bigger drip machine will suit you better.

Ratio Four review: also consider

Breville Luxe Brewer Thermal
Breville’s machine is everything a drip-coffee machine should be. It’s simple to use, has a well-designed interface and produces great-tasting coffee. But it has a few tricks up its sleeve as well: it’s both able to keep your java warm for hours without stewing it and produce authentic cold brew with far less mess. Read our full Breville Luxe Brewer Thermal review.

Ninja DualBrew Pro
This chimera of a device combines two easy-brew coffee-making methods in one handy gadget. Not only can it create a batch of drip coffee anywhere from 4oz to 55oz but its included K-cup adapter means you can also use pods to fire out a quick espresso instead. It can’t quite rival a dedicated espresso machine but it sure makes up for that in convenience. Read our full Ninja DualBrew Pro review.

How I tested the Ratio Four

• Tested it over a week
• Made around 8 - 10 batches of coffee
• Have several decades of experience making coffee

I tested the Ratio Four over the course of a week. As it’s exclusive to the US and I’m testing in the UK, I used a voltage transformer to step down our 240V mains power to 120V. I exclusively used fresh roasted beans ground right before brewing to ensure as much of the delicate flavor profile was preserved as possible.

When it came to testing, I brewed around 8 - 10 batches of coffee at a range of grinds from coarse to medium, covering a much wider range of grinds than would usually be used for drip coffee. I followed the exact grounds to water ratio suggested by the manufacturer. I created multiple batches one after another, then made sure to compare the results to see how variations in the grind affected the finished results.

In terms of my experience, I’ve been drinking coffee on a daily basis for over two decades. My go-to brew methods are espresso using my Breville Bambino and cold-brew extracted at room temperature over 18 hours then filtered through a fine mesh. However, I’ve used an enormous array of coffee making devices over the years, from the Aeropress to a stove-top moka pot.

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

OneOdio Focus A1 Pro: Two-minute review

It’s a competitive world out there for the best cheap headphones — OneOdio should know, it’s contributed a fair few options. And with its most recent pair of budget blowers, it’s offered yet another fantastic-value headset with just a few rough edges.

The OneOdio Focus A1 Pro are the cheapest pair of headphones we’ve tested yet from the budget brand, and that’s really saying something. They cost just $35 or equivalent, undercutting the 4.5-star-rated OneOdio Focus A6. If you’re looking for a pair of headphones that’ll last you well, and really don’t want to spend much money, they’re a hit.

Last you they will, because they offer a battery life that reaches up to 70 hours, which is fantastic for the money. They’re also lightweight and easy to tote about, and these perks will likely be big draws to buyers on a budget.

My favorite element of the Focus A1 Pro is the audio quality: these headphones sound better than anything else I’ve tested under $50. That’s obviously a low bar, but the OneOdio easily clears it, with music sounding natural and bright with a decent sound stage.

When buying budget headphones, there’s always a big risk that you’re buying tat that’ll end up in landfill (or a box to take to your local recycling center) by the end of the month. I’m happy to report that the OneOdio certainly aren’t that… but they have a few issues too.

Lots of the weakest elements of the A1 Pro are things I’ve seen in other OneOdio headphones, such as the Focus A5 (which I only awarded three stars, in my review).

These new cans don’t have a tie-in smartphone app, and nor do they offer many of the features that an app would help open the door to. Most vitally, there’s no equalizer, which many consider an imperative feature for products such as this. The ANC performance is also weak, with the passive padding of the cups doing the lion’s share of the work in stopping surrounding sounds from distracting you. Now, we can easily argue that it would be churlish to expect these things for such a lowly fee, but it's my job to tell you what you'll be getting here if you click 'buy'.

I also found these cans a little uncomfortable to wear over longer periods of time, partly due to their rather tight clamping force, and partly because they sit somewhere between on-ears and over-ears. Your poor flappers are going to get a little crushed.

OneOdio Focus A1 Pro review: Price and release date

(Image credit: Future)

• Released on January 20, 2026
• Sells for $34.99 / £43.99 (roughly AU$85
• On sale in UK and US, not Australia

You can pick up the Focus A1 Pro for $34.99 / £43.99 (roughly AU$85, but unlike many other cans from the company, they don’t yet seem to be on sale in Australia).

You think that makes them some of the cheapest headphones worth considering? Wait until you hear the actual price; within two weeks of the release date of January 23, I’d already found them discounted. Only by a couple of dollars or pounds, but it's still something, and OneOdio promises continued price cuts through the year.

The headphones were announced on January 20, 2026, and released shortly afterwards.

OneOdio Focus A1 Pro review: Specs

Drivers

40mm

Active noise cancellation

Yes

Battery life (ANC off)

70 hours

Weight

200g

Connectivity

Bluetooth 6.0

Frequency response

20Hz - 20kHz

Waterproofing

N/A

OneOdio Focus A1 Pro review: Features

(Image credit: Future)

• 70-hour battery life
• ANC is resoundingly light-touch
• No app

In what might come as a shock to headphone buyers in the year 2026, the Focus A1 Pro don’t have a smartphone app. Of all the features this rules out, an equalizer is the biggest: if you don’t like OneOdio’s mix, you'll have to lump it.

You do still get multipoint pairing, as well as a low-latency mode for gaming which is enabled by double-pressing the ANC button. But this department more than any other shows why the headphones are so cheap.

Talking of ANC, it’s not very good, but coupled with the natural passive noise cancellation of the ear cups, it’ll remove the top layer of annoying noise. When I was on public transport, I could still hear every screech of noisy rails or honk of nearby vehicles, but it was a little less onerous than normal.

(Image credit: Future)

I personally took to keeping the ANC off, though, and it was for battery reasons. With ANC off, you get 70 hours of listening time, which is solid stamina. For context, if you listened for about three hours and 20 minutes every day, you’d only have to charge every three weeks.

That figure drops substantially with ANC on; OneOdio’s figures alternate between quotes of 40 or 50 hours, and the truth is likely somewhere in between. I’d rather have the longer listening time than the scant improvements this particular ANC solution brings.

I was surprised to read that the OneOdio has Bluetooth 6.0; it’s rare among headphones I’ve tested recently in having this enhanced standard. Not once in testing did I have any connection issues.

• Features score: 3.5/5

OneOdio Focus A1 Pro review: Design

(Image credit: Future)

• Sustainable build
• Comfortable to wear
• Incredibly handy joystick controls

The Focus A1 Pro are, by and large, your standard headphones: big, black band with an ear cup at each end, that give you music. No-one was expecting OneOdio to reinvent the wheel for $35.

They weigh 200g, and while they have a few little design flourishes that differentiate them from your average budget cans (some curves and patterns in the appearance, for example), they do feel cheap. The build is plastic-heavy and some of the moving parts can wobble or creak a little bit.

You don’t get a carry case with the Focus, and I was a little scared to transport them in my bag, as they feel a tad fragile. They also have no IP rating. That said, during my testing month, they sustained no damage whatsoever.

(Image credit: Future)

I’ve so far refrained from classing these as over-ears or on-ears, as they sit haphazardly in the middle of both. Forget Goldilocks’ messaging, though, because it’s not ‘just right’ either. They sit a little weirdly on the head, for me.

The pads, while soft, crush your ears a little over time; this was noticeable when listening for longer sessions, as my ears would get a bit achey. The rather tight grip of the cans doesn’t help here either. I also never quite figured out exactly how to wear them, due to this over/on dilemma.

On the right cup, there are some touch controls (volume up and down, power, ANC; the basics) as well as the USB-C port. These don’t stick out too much, so finding them by touch can be tricky. It took a little while for pressing these to become easy and natural. There’s no 3.5mm jack for wired audio; these are wireless or nada.

• Design score: 3.5/5

OneOdio Focus A1 Pro review: Sound quality

• 40mm driver
• Crisp, natural audio
• Max volume could be higher

(Image credit: Future)

I’ve been positive about the Focus A1 Pro and that’s not going to stop now, but let’s get one thing straight: these are budget cans, and when I say they’re ‘good’, I mean ‘for the price'.

OneOdio has kitted out the headphones with 40mm dynamic drivers using PET diaphragms; so far, so budget.

Unlike many other budget headphones, the brand hasn’t fallen into the ‘more bass is more gooder’ trap — there’s a fairly natural-sounding V shape with distinct trebles in vocals, and bass that’s as rounded as you can hope for at this price point. I was surprised when songs like Starlight by Slash and Miles Kennedy offered layered instrumentation and palpable timbre, as it’s not something I’d expect for the cost.

(Image credit: Future)

Naturally, the mids can fall through the cracks, so you can’t expect the whole band to show up. And when you get songs with lots going on, instruments blur together; Clarity by Vance Joy doesn’t quite live up to its title.

I’ve been constantly mentioning the price in this scene, and it’s to cover my back. Audiophiles won’t like these cans, as the mixing is messier than it would be on pricier options. But if you compare these to other offerings at the price, they’re nothing short of wonderful.

I would’ve liked to see the Focus A1 Pro manage a higher max volume, though. At full blast, the audio could mostly compete with a busy-ish road I was walking down, but Nigel Tufnel would malign the lack of any 11 to turn your music up to for that harder hit. Even when at home, anything below 50% volume was hard to hear.

• Sound quality: 4/5

OneOdio Focus A1 Pro review: Value

(Image credit: Future)

• Great sound for price
• Some rivals may beat in certain departments

The OneOdio Focus A1 Pro are fantastic for the price. They sound far better than you’d expect from budget cans, and I’ve tested rivals for twice the price which don’t hold a candle.

That’s not even touching on the solid battery life, the hardy connection or the useful-for-gamers latency mode.

If you look hard enough, you can probably find rival cans with better ANC, a comfier fit or an equalizer, and I’d like the OneOdio even more if it offered these. But for the price, it’s hard to knock the Focus for its absences.

• Value: 4.5/5

Should I buy the OneOdio Focus A1 Pro?OneOdio Focus A1 Pro score card

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

There’s no app and ANC isn’t great, though the battery life and connection are solid.

3.5/5

Design

For cheap earbuds, they look better than most, but have a few rough edges (literally).

3.5/5

Sound quality

These cans sound great for the price, with clearer audio and neater sound spacing than you’d expect.

4/5

Value

If you’re on a budget, these can’t be beaten

4/5

Buy them if…

You're on a tight budget
These headphones have been designed for people who don't want to pay for premium, or even mid-range, options.

Battery life is an important factor
The 70-hour battery life is going to be handy for all kinds of use cases.View Deal

You need lightweight headphones
Don't like a big helmet on your head? These are lighter than some alternatives I've tested.View Deal

Don’t buy them if…

You need something durable
The OneOdio feels a little fragile, and I don't imagine they'll stand up to some rough-and-tumble use.

You need heavy-duty noise cancellation
The ANC on these guys isn't fantastic, though it's better than nothing.

OneOdio Focus A1 Pro review: Also consider

OneOdio Focus A1 Pro

Soundpeats Cove Pro

OneOdio Focus A6

Drivers

40mm

40mm

40mm

Active noise cancellation

Yes

Yes

Yes

Battery life (ANC on)

70 hours

95 hours

75 hours

Weight

200g

251g

240g

Connectivity

Bluetooth 6.0

Bluetooth 6.0

Bluetooth 6.0

Waterproofing

NA

IPX4

NA

OneOdio Focus A6
These high-rated budget cans cost a touch more than the A1 Pro, but app access is the headline improvement.
Read our full OneOdio Focus A6 review

Soundpeats Cove Pro
These slightly pricier alternatives have a solid build and impressive feature set, though they don't sound as good. (Our review on the Cove Pro is currently in the pipeline; when we publish it, you'll be the first to know!)

How I tested the OneOdio Focus A1 Pro

• Tested for 1 month
• Tested at home, on walks, on public transport and the gym

(Image credit: Future)

I used the OneOdio Focus A1 Pro for the best part of a month before writing this review, so they got a lot of use.

For most of the test period, the headphones were paired with my Android smartphone, though I also used them alongside an Android tablets at several points.

Testing was done streaming music, watching TV shows and playing games. I tested the headphones in various interior settings, while out and about, and during gym sessions.

I've been tested audio gadgets for TechRadar for years, including several previous OneOdio headphones and earbuds.

• First reviewed in February 2026

• Read TechRadar's reviews guarantee

Asus ROG Raikiri II Xbox Wireless: one-minute review

The Asus ROG Raikiri II Xbox Wireless is a controller compatible with both Xbox Series X|S and PC. It’s an unabashedly premium product at $189.99 / £199 / AU$349 but, for that price, it’s wonderfully responsive, beautifully designed and comes with a good array of accessories.

First off, the Raikiri II feels beautifully well built. It feels solid and substantial, yet it’s ergonomically designed. Elements like the rear buttons are perfectly placed under your fingertips to make them easy to access without shifting your grasp, while its textured grips meant it never once slipped in my hands. Its RGB lighting is also tastefully done, just subtle enough to not detract from its sleek appearance and coming with plenty of customizable options.

Both the thumbsticks and shoulder triggers are staggeringly accurate, thanks to Asus’s decision to use TMR sensors in each of them. Not only do I relish not having to worry about the dreaded stick drift anymore but I found them astoundingly precise, giving me spot-on control over everything from acceleration in racing games to aiming in FPSes. The fact that the shoulder triggers can be toggled to using micro-switches is just the icing on the cake – smashing parries out against the Paintress in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has never felt so satisfying to me.

This awesome sensitivity and precision is further supported by the Raikiri II’s blisteringly fast connectivity, which rivals that of many of the best Xbox controllers. Not only does it offer an absurdly rapid 1,000Hz polling rate but its 2.4GHz wireless connection and USB-C connectivity each trim input latencies down to just 3.5ms and 2.3ms. Naturally, it also offers Bluetooth connectivity but, honestly, I found the former options so fast that I’d opt for those every time.

Thanks to Asus’s Gear Link software, you can also customize a lot of the Raikiri II’s functionality. On top of basic options like button remapping, you can also set discreet response curves and deadzones for each thumbstick, as well as start and end points for each of the shoulder triggers. There’s also the option to tweak how intense the controller’s rumble settings are and map the pad’s four rear buttons to various functions.

While you can save all of these settings to one of five profiles, this does come with a pretty serious caveat. When playing on Xbox, you can only switch between them using the Gear Link software, meaning hooking it up to your laptop or desktop each time. To me, this feels like a pretty major oversight – can you really class this Raikiri II’s Xbox edition, if a key part of the functionality is inaccessible to Xbox gamers?

This one misstep aside though, the Asus ROG Raikiri II Xbox Wireless is a seriously impressive controller. While I think PC gamers will get even more out of it than those on Xbox, it’s still a fantastically responsive pad on either platform, offering some features I’ve not seen on many other products, like those TMR triggers. Yes, it’s relatively pricey at $189.99 / £199 / AU$349 but, if you’re looking for a trailblazing premium controller, it’s a great option.

(Image credit: Future)Asus ROG Raikiri II Xbox Wireless review: price and availability

• Launched December 10, 2025
• Retails for $189.99 / £199 / AU$349
• Offers a lot of accessories for that price

Having launched on December 10, 2025, the Asus ROG Raikiri II Xbox Wireless is available now. You can pick it up for $189.99 / £199 / AU$349, putting it firmly up the premium end of the Xbox controller market.

In return for that spend, though, you get a whole heap of functionality, plus a range of connectivity options: Bluetooth, a 2.4GHz wireless dongle or wired USB-C connectivity. On top of this, it also comes with a carry case, USB-C cable, charging dock and replacement thumbsticks, so it’s a very decent package for the price.

(Image credit: Future)Asus ROG Raikiri II Xbox Wireless review: specs

Price

$189.99 / £199 / AU$349

Compatibility

Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC

Connection type

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

Battery life

Up to 50 hours

Features

TMR thumbsticks, dual-mode triggers, microswitch buttons, 1,000Hz polling rate (via wired connection / 2.4GHz wireless)

Software

Asus Gear Link (PC)

(Image credit: Future)Asus ROG Raikiri II Xbox Wireless review: design and features

• Long-lasting TMR sticks
• Excellent dual-mode triggers
• Attractive, ergonomic design

Over the years, I’ve built up quite the grisly mausoleum of dead controllers, both Xbox and otherwise. Eventually, the dreaded stick drift has claimed every single one. So it’s a relief to know that won’t happen with the ROG Raikiri II’s drift-resistant thumbsticks.

Asus has opted for TMR sticks here, which it says are not only more accurate but consume less power than Hall-effect alternatives. While it’s difficult to assess what kind of longevity you’ll get out of them, from the second I held the ROG Raikiri II Xbox Wireless in my hands, the thumbsticks felt incredibly responsive and enabled me to make surgically precise movements in a variety of games.

But perhaps even more than the Raikiri II’s thumbsticks, I really fell for its dual-mode shoulder triggers. When set to their micro-switch triggers, I found they were lightning fast to activate, making them perfect for hammering the trigger in FPS games. Meanwhile, their full-range TMR sensor mode is a real rarity on console controllers – we’ve certainly not tested many with that functionality here at TechRadar Gaming – and it gave me really wonderfully precise control for games like Forza Horizon 5.

At first, I found the clicky feedback of the micro-switch face buttons took a little getting used to, as I’m more familiar with the spongy softness of the Xbox Wireless Controller buttons. But once I’d adapted to their novel feel, I was fully converted – they activate seriously quickly and offer such an immediate response that you know almost instantly when you’ve hit your target.

Its extra rear shortcut buttons are perfectly placed, sitting right under where your middle and ring fingers naturally grab the pad. And they’re wonderfully versatile. Not only are they great if you want to set up extra macros in game but being able to set a couple as shortcuts for the shoulder buttons saved me ever having to switch my grip during sessions of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which reduced my response times in game significantly.

When it comes to looks, the controller styles itself after the recent Xbox ROG Ally X, riffing off design elements like its subtle decal. It also mimics its textured grips, which I definitely found made it easier to keep hold of the pad without them ever feeling rough. In fact, its matt plastic build always feels pleasantly tactile to the touch, while the whole device feels just substantial enough to avoid flimsy or hollow.

And while I know that for some people RGB lighting on a controller is an unnecessary gimmick, I have to admit that I’m completely suckered in by the ROG Raikiri II’s lighting. Partly this is because it’s relatively subtle and restrained, limiting itself to a strip down either side and the central ROG button, and it’s fully customizable, allowing you to decide quite how much you want to lean into full-blown esports styling.

Finally, the ROG Raikiri II has an impressive range of connectivity options. On top of Bluetooth, it also has 2.4GHz wireless connectivity via a dongle and a USB-C wired connection. These latter two are particularly impressive, offering an 1,000Hz polling rate and trimming input latencies to just 3.5ms and 2.3ms respectively, meaning you should easily get the drop on most of your enemies in game.

(Image credit: Future)Asus ROG Raikiri II Xbox Wireless review: performance

• Blisteringly fast response times
• Brilliantly customisable
• Custom profiles can’t be changed on Xbox

With its 1,000Hz polling rate in PC mode, it’s safe to say I was expecting the Raikiri II to respond to inputs rapidly. And it did not disappoint. Even when playing fast-paced FPSes like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, I couldn’t detect the least hint of lag over its low-latency 2.4GHz RF connectivity or USB-C cable.

But it’s not only its connectivity that make for lightning fast gaming – those dual-mode shoulder triggers are a literal game-changer. When I first tried them out while playing Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the difference compared to my previous budget controller was immediately appreciable. Especially when using them in their micro-switch trigger mode, I suddenly found myself going from fumbling three-quarters of parries to nailing them 80% of the time. Those triggers respond fast and I certainly found it had a palpable impact on my game play.

And with Asus’s Gear Link software you can tweak things even further to get the kind of performance you need for each game you’re playing and save them to one of five customized profiles. You can access this tool by hooking up the Raikiri II to your PC and accessing it in your browser.

This method does come with an unfortunate wrinkle, however. As it's browser-based, there’s no way to access it on the fly from your Xbox and the controller doesn’t offer any way to switch between profiles as you play. That means you can only ever access one tuning at a time on your console before you need to return to a PC to switch things up – which is a weird choice to make for a controller that literally has ‘Xbox’ in the name.

Honestly, that’s a bit of a shame as, otherwise, the Gear Link software offers really granular control over the responsiveness of your controller. For example, I was able to set one of my profiles with very quick response and shallow range for its triggers, making it really easy to fan the hammer when trying to gun down opponents on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. Conversely, for Forza Horizon 5, I set the right trigger to activate over its full range, giving me really precise control over the throttle so I could better manage my speed during cornering.

And that’s just the beginning. You can also set independent custom curves for each of the TMR thumbsticks, enabling you to tweak how fast they respond the further they’re moved, as well as set the size of their deadzones. While playing Doom, I set the left stick to have a rapid curve and kept the right one set as linear – as a result, I was able to close the gap between Doom Guy and all those demons far quicker, without having the camera whip round too violently.

The Gear Link software also unlocks a bunch of other customization options. You can change the intensity of the controller’s vibration haptics, which I imagine is very useful for people who have sensory processing problems or find it difficult to grip on to a controller that’s vibrating too fiercely.

It also unlocks some aesthetic tweaks for that RGB lighting. You have the option to set each zone up separately, whether you want it in solid color, breathing, reacting to button presses or color cycling. My personal go-to though? It definitely has to be battery mode, which allows you to set the lighting to specific colors for different battery levels – I can now get a precise sense of how much juice my pad has left at just a glance, which is a lifesaver.

Overall, I found the performance of the Asus ROG Raikiri II Xbox Wireless to be seriously impressive. Don’t get me wrong: there are some odd choices along the way, especially the lack of a hotswap button for saved profiles on the Xbox. But if you’re not flipping through different genres at the drop of a hat or you’re playing on PC, it's an incredibly responsive controller with a great level of customizability.

(Image credit: Future)Should I buy the Asus ROG Raikiri II Xbox Wireless?Buy it if…

You want lightning fast response times
With 1,000Hz polling on PC and clicky micro-switch buttons, the Raikiri II will cut your reaction time in games down to an absolute minimum.

You want a high-level of customizability
With Asus’s Gear Link software, you can tweak a wide array of settings on the Raikiri II, whether that’s thumbstick curves, trigger activation ranges, vibration intensity or key mappings.

Don’t buy it if…

You have a massive Xbox games library
Despite the name, I honestly don’t count Xbox gaming as one of the Raikiri II’s strong suits, thanks to the lack of hotswitching between profiles. If you want to jump between different Xbox control schemes at the click of a button, you’ll be disappointed.

You want a cheap controller
If you’re hoping for a budget pick, this ain’t it. While it offers high-end features, they come at a premium price of $189.99 / £199 / AU$349, so if you want to save some cash, you might want to look elsewhere.

Asus ROG Raikiri II Xbox Wireless review: also consider

Asus ROG Raikiri II Xbox Wireless

Razer Wolverine V3 Pro

PowerA Fusion Pro 3

Price

$189.99 / £199 / AU$349

$199.99 / £199.99

$79.99 / £79.99

Compatibility

Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC

Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC

Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC

Connection type

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

Wireless (2.4GHz dongle), Wired (USB Type-C)

Wired

Battery life

Up to 50 hours

12-13 hours

N/A

Features

TMR thumbsticks, dual-mode triggers, microswitch buttons, mappable back buttons, 1,000Hz polling rate (via wired connection / 2.4GHz wireless)

Hall effect thumbsticks, circular D-pad, microswitch buttons, two-way trigger locks, Razer mouse click paddles, 1,000Hz polling rate (via wired connection on PC)

Mappable back buttons, three-way trigger locks, impulse triggers, dual rumble motors, volume dial, one-touch mic mute

Software

Asus Gear Link (PC)

Razer Controller App (Xbox and PC)

PowerA Gamer HQ App (Xbox and PC)

Razer Wolverine V3 Pro
Not only does the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro offer a similarly premium build, it also offers the same dual-function triggers, drift-resistant thumbsticks and mappable rear buttons as the Raikiri II. On top of that, its floating D-pad provides super smooth action and it comes in cheaper than Asus’s controller. Literally, the only downside is its more unadventurous looks.

Read our full Razer Wolverine V3 Pro review

PowerA Fusion Pro 3
Want a slightly more affordable controller than either of these pro-level pads? Then the wired Fusion Pro 3 is worth checking out. Despite rocking trigger locks, mappable buttons and swappable thumbsticks, it comes in at just $79.99, which is a bit of a bargain. The drawback? It’s no longer available for those in the UK.

Read our full PowerA Fusion Pro 3 review

(Image credit: Future)How I tested the Asus ROG Raikiri II Xbox Wireless

• Tested it over two weeks
• Used it on both Xbox and PC
• Created multiple custom profiles

I tested the Asus ROG Raikiri II Xbox Wireless over a period of several weeks. I tried it out on both the Xbox Series X and on PC and tried it out on a wide range of genres, from RPGs like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, FPSes like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and racing games like Forza Horizon 5.

Not only did I try the Raikiri II using all three connection methods – 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth and wired – but I used the Asus's Gear Link software to tweak all of its available settings. That included creating multiple profiles with varying trigger ranges, thumbstick curves and button assignments.

In terms of my testing experience, not only am I TechRadar's reviews editor, with experience of reviewing a wide array of gadgets, but I've been gaming for 35 years. That's across a wide range of platforms, including PC, consoles and gaming handhelds, meaning I've got loads of experience in gaming across a wide range of genres.

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

Onyx Boox Note Air5 C: One-minute review

I’ve been a fan of the Boox Note Air series of epaper tablets since I first tried the Note Air 2, and the Note Air5 C — announced in October 2025 — continues the tradition of solidly built devices that work well.

The headline act here is an updated operating system. It’s the first epaper tablet to run an Android 15-based software and Boox has promised that the device will receive three years of support, much more than previous iterations.

The second thing that’s new here is the pen. It ships with the Boox Pen 3, which is unlike anything I’ve seen from the Chinese ereader maker. It continues to have the felt tip-like writing experience, but unique is the storage space for three replacement nibs on the top, covered by its own cap. Sadly this top cover is loose and pops off easily.

Lastly, the Note Air5 C features a set of pogo pins on its rear that allows it to attach seamlessly to the optional keyboard folio from Boox, and there’s a pair of buttons on the magnetic side for page turns or volume adjustment.

That’s all that’s new here — nothing really groundbreaking except the software upgrade. That’s not necessarily a bad thing as the Note Air5 C, like its predecessors, is solidly built and performs well. It just doesn't feel very different from other Boox devices and, if I was asked to recommend a 10-inch e-notebook, I'd probably pick the lighter (albeit grayscale) Boox Go 10.3 or the reMarkable Paper Pro for its color display (although you won't get Android's versatility).

There are a few other small issues that I think is important to note: while the screen light is great at its brightest, it's comparatively darker at low and mid levels. The magnet to secure the pen to the side of the tablet is also not very strong — the only position where it secures well covers the bottom page-turn button, but even that isn’t great.

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 690 CPU used here helps the device perform well, but I found some lag when using the on-screen keyboard. There's a much more significant lag when using the optional keyboard folio, which makes touch typing annoying. You might also experience some ghosting, particularly if the document you're perusing is image-heavy.

While my complaints aren't serious, I think they diminish the Note Air5 C’s overall value and make it harder to recommend over its own Go 10.3 sibling, or the reMarkable Paper Pro if color is important.

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)Onyx Boox Note Air5 C review: Price & availability

• Released October 2025
• Available now for $529.99 / €529.99 / AU$919
• US and European price includes folio and box of 5 replacement nibs; Australian price is for device and stylus only

If you’re in the US or in the UK, (or anywhere in Europe for that matter), the Boox Note Air5 C is well priced, especially when purchasing directly from the Boox Store where it’s bundled with a folio case and a box of five replacement pen tips. And given there are three spare nibs on the top of the new stylus itself, that’s a lot of spare tips for the price.

In Australia, however, it’s a very expensive prospect as you only get the tablet and the Boox Pen 3 — no extras are included.

In contrast, the reMarkable Paper Pro, which is also a 10-inch color e-notebook, starts at $579 / £559 / AU$929 with a basic Marker and no additional extras. However, it uses a better color display (a customized version of the E Ink Gallery 3 technology that no other ereader maker is currently using), so the saturation is much better. On the flip side, the Android-running Note Air5 C gives you more freedom on the apps you can use and is the more versatile device.

Then again, if you can forgo the color display, a monochrome epaper tablet would be a lot cheaper. For example, you can get the Boox Go 10.3 for around $410 / €420 / AU$699 (US and European price includes the folio and extra nibs), and it’s a fantastic e-notebook that’s lighter than the Note Air series. Even the Amazon Kindle Scribe (2024) would be a cheaper buy and I love its bright, monochrome display.

• Value score: 4 / 5

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)Onyx Boox Note Air5 C review: Specs

Display type:

E Ink Kaleido 3

Screen size:

10.3 inches

Resolution:

300ppi (2560 x 1920 pixels) in b/w; 150pp (1240 x 930) in color

Processor:

2GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 690

Frontlight:

Yes (warm and cold)

Storage:

64GB (expandable)

Battery:

3,700mAh

Speaker:

Dual (stereo)

Water protection:

None

Software:

Android 15

Connectivity:

Wi-Fi (2.4GHz + 5GHz); Bluetooth 5.1 USB-C

File support:

20 document, 4 image, 2 audio

Dimensions:

225 x 192 x 5.8 mm (8.9 x 7.6 x 0.23 inches)

Weight:

440g / 15.5oz (without case and pen)

Onyx Boox Note Air5 C review: Design & display

• Solid build, but heavy to hold for long durations
• Newly designed pen with spare nibs on the top
• Customizable page-turn buttons
• Excellent 10.3 E Ink Kaleido 3 display, but colors can appear muted

Physically, the Note Air5 C is identical to the previous two generations, with a couple of minor differences. As I’ve already said, that’s not a bad thing, as the overall design is still nice and the device is solidly built. So solid, in fact, that the Note Air series is on the heavier side when it comes to 10-inch epaper tablets.

For context, the Boox Go 10.3 weighs 375g and the ViWoods AiPaper tips the scales at 370, but neither of them have frontlights. In contrast, the Note Air 4C weighs 420g and the 5C comes in at 440g. It’s not the heaviest e-notebook — the reMarkable Paper Pro is 525g — but it’s not the most comfortable to use in one hand for long periods of time.

Despite being on the heavier side, I like the Note Air series’ metallic chassis and glass screen. While that makes the tablet cold to the touch (especially in winter months), it also makes it a hardy device. That said, there’s no waterproofing here.

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

There are only two design differences between the Note Air5 C and the previous 4C and 3C generations. One is a set of pogo pins on the rear to connect to the optional keyboard folio, and the other is a pair of small buttons on the magnetized edge of the device for page turning or volume adjustments.

I’ve been waiting for a large-screen ereader with page-turn buttons but this placement means the device can’t be used single-handed — you will need one hand to hold the device via the larger bezel and use the other hand to press one of the buttons on the opposite side. In my time with the Note Air5 C, I never once found the need to use the buttons, but the long-press functionality can be set to various functions that can prove handy for some users.

However, if you have the supplied stylus — called the Boox Pen 3 — secured to the side of the tablet, it covers the lower button. Place the stylus lower and the magnetism just isn’t strong enough for a secure hold.

Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadarSharmishta Sarkar / TechRadarSharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar

I have to take some time to describe this new pen too. It has an interesting design where, instead of an eraser on the top, three replacement nibs can be stored vertically. They’re covered by a cap with a side clip — much like an actual pen — but sadly the cap is loose and pops out easily. You also need to replace it carefully, and correctly, to avoid damaging the nibs. As thoughtful as the design is, I think the cap would have benefitted from being clipped into place rather than sliding on and off. Despite the addition of the spare nibs on the top of the stylus, the pen is well balanced, lightweight and lovely to write with on the Note Air5 C.

I should also mention that the most secure way to stow the stylus is to use a folio cover, but the one I was sent for this review didn’t have a loop. Instead, it had a removable flap that I found very annoying to use. Even the keyboard folio designed for the Note Air5 C has the same flap and it’s just as annoying there as it comes off easily or shifts position with the merest of touches.

Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadarSharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar

Going back to the tablet itself: there’s a USB-C port, a microSD card tray and dual speakers on the edge opposite to the page/volume buttons, while the top edge houses a power/sleep button that’s flush with the body. The power button is also a fingerprint scanner and I didn’t find its placement very intuitive — I kept expecting the button to be on the corner, but it’s placed slightly away and I kept having to feel for it.

As expected, one bezel is thicker than the other three, with the top corner of the bigger bezel featuring the Boox branding. Small orange strips on three of the edges add some trim to the device, and the same orange surrounds the USB-C port.

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

This chassis encloses a 10.3-inch E Ink Kaleido 3 screen with LEDs under the glass panel for a frontlight. The light can be adjusted for both brightness and temperature, although keep in mind that warmer (yellow) light will affect the colors displayed on the screen. While this won’t affect those of us who mostly read and write in black and white, fans of comics, manga and graphic novels — or anyone using the color inks to mark up documents — may find colder light the better option.

At its brightest, the frontlight is excellent, but dip it a little bit and the difference is quite dramatic, with the screen appearing darker than expected, but this is a common feature among Boox's color epaper devices like the Go Color 7 (Gen II).

The display, with a monochrome resolution of 300ppi and color resolution of 150ppi is standard, is good. Text is sharp and clear for reading, while colors are good… in the context of being an E Ink display, not compared to an LCD screen. That said, they are relatively muted compared to the reMarkable Paper Pro, which uses the E Ink Gallery 3 screen technology that no other epaper device has yet adopted.

• Design & display score: 4 / 5

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)Onyx Boox Note Air5 C review: Software & user experience

• First 10-inch epaper tablet to adopt Android 15
• Boox promises three years of software support
• Good native apps, but complex user interface

Where the Note Air 4C runs on Android 13, Boox has adopted Android 15 for the 5C. Running a later version of Android means the newer epaper tablet will get better software support — and Boox has promised three years of security updates — and there’s better app compatibility too.

It’s important to note, however, that my review of the 5C’s software is based on the firmware it was running at the time of writing (v4.1.2) and the experience could change slightly depending on what future firmware versions add. The current software fixed a major issue the tablet suffered from at launch (and one I experienced as soon as I started using it) — being unable to write comfortably along the four sides of the screen in the native Notes app.

Android OS & apps

The custom version of Android 15 running on the Note 5C doesn’t feel very different from the software on older Boox devices as the company has its own user interface overlaid on the operating system. Boox has done a lot of work over the years to simplify its interface, making it cleaner and easier to use, but there’s still plenty to wrap your head around.

That said, I love the look of the default home screen on Boox’s larger tablets, which has a box for your books, another for notes, below which are the apps — both native and those downloaded from the Google Play Store — and, finally, a few icons to access the native library app, a bookstore (with titles that are available in the public domain), the folders within the device’s storage section, and all settings.

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

Unlike older Boox devices, the Google Play Store is preinstalled and all you need to do is sign in to download any app. While you won’t be using video streaming services, you can download audio platforms — the built-in speakers are fine, but I’d highly recommend pairing Bluetooth speakers or headphones instead. You can also download some mobile games — I played a bit of Two Dots and it wasn’t too bad — but I suspect most users opting for a device like the 5C would want reading and productivity apps.

You can install Gmail, for example, to access your emails or install KoReader or Moon Reader instead of using the native NeoReader app. Personally, I use the Kindle and Kobo apps to access my existing purchases and get new content, but I also like Instapaper (for reading web articles offline) and Libby (to borrow library books), but the choice is yours.

However, I’ve found the native apps to be more than enough for most users. Not only will you get a full-featured library and notes applications, but there’s also a browser, music player, calendar and a gallery. There are a couple of applications to help you transfer files — although you can use Google Drive and/or Dropbox for easy cloud transfers. Wired transfers are possible on Windows PCs and, as a Mac user, I stuck with the OTG support on the USB-C port that allowed me to plug in a portable SSD.

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

Swipe down from the top right of the screen to open the Control Center and you’ll find plenty more options there, including buttons for taking screenshots and splitscreen view. This is also where the volume and light control sliders are, but Boox introduced buttons for some preset light options in 2025 and, honestly, I don’t like either the Bright or the Soft settings. I choose custom and make adjustments as I need them — something I did in my Boox Go 7 review as well.

There’s a long list of settings to get through as well, but what’s irksome about the Boox interface are the smaller hidden menus that you need, especially in the native reading app. Unless you’ve already used a Boox device previously, you’ll likely miss them, or you’ll stumble upon them when you’re looking for something specific to change. Ironically, this is a massive improvement over the previous versions of the UI but, if you’re a first time Boox user, be prepared to be patient while learning your way around.

• Software score: 4 / 5

Reading experience

While I had issues with how text rendered on the 7-inch E Ink Kaleido 3 screen in my Boox Go Color 7 (Gen II) review, thankfully none of that affects the Note Air5 C. Reading, whether you’re using the native NeoReader application or you’ve downloaded a third-party app, is a pleasurable experience. Text is sharp and there’s a wide variety of font sizes to choose from.

What I like about the open Android ecosystem of Boox tablets is the ability to sideload any font I like — I’m partial to Amazon’s Bookerly — and use that in the native library app for any sideloaded DRM-free content.

Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadarSharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar

As an avid reader who has used the Boox Go 10.3 as well, I’m pleased to say that the text contrast on the 5C is better, which adds clarity and makes for a better reading experience over the monochrome sibling. Plus, the frontlight on the 5C makes a difference — if you want more contrast, you have to set it to high brightness with no warmth. Adjusting the light temperature can have an effect on the clarity via the contrast, but at no point did it make the text look fuzzy or unreadable. It’s a marked improvement over the Go 10.3 which uses the E Ink Carta 1200 display technology.

Colors, while not as saturated as on the reMarkable Paper Pro due to the difference in screen tech being used, are not bad and I found book covers looking good. However, my favourite graphic novel series, The Sandman, looked washed out compared to when I was reading it on my Kobo Libra Colour or even the Boox Go Color 7 Gen II. I’m not much of a comic or graphic novel reader, so the muted colors didn’t really bother me as I’m very used to looking at the frames in black and white on a monochrome ereader.

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

If you need to make notes on ebooks in the native reading app, you can either scribble or type, and there are menu options within the app to help you do so. These get saved automatically in the document you’ve annotated and you should see them when you open it again. You can use colored ink to write, but all typed text will be grayscale. Highlights can be in a variety colors too.

Overall, the Note Air5 C makes for a lovely ereader, but its weight can make it uncomfortable for using beyond, say 30 to 40 minutes, and if you leave the folio on, that’s added bulk to take into consideration. Whether you’re reading in bed or sitting up, this is definitely a two-handed device.

• Reading score: 4 / 5

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)Writing & typing experience

The Note Air5 C offers one of the best writing experiences I’ve had. The Pen 3 is designed to offer a felt-tip experience, which is smooth, and there’s just enough friction to make it feel like you’re writing on paper. You can even hear an almost-audible scratch on the screen that you’d hear when scribbling with pen and paper.

However, if you’ve used an epaper writing tablet without a frontlight before — like the Boox Go 10.3, ViWoods AiPaper or the reMarkable 2 — and decide to move to one with a light, you might find the gap between the pen and its stroke a little disconcerting. This gap is due to the LEDs occupying the space between the top glass and the actual E Ink layer below — but you get used to it very quickly, so this isn’t a complaint, merely an observation.

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

I found no lag between pen movement and the mark appearing on the screen, although there were occasions when the device didn’t register a pen stroke — a page refresh usually fixed this issue, although I did restart the device a couple of times when a simple refresh didn't work.

Despite that, the overall writing experience is excellent. Typing, on the other hand, not so much.

Whether you’re using the on-screen keyboard or you’ve opted to purchase the optional keyboard folio, there is a lag. The former is the faster option with only the slightest lag, but using the physical keyboard is slow and makes touch typing difficult. I tested the Note Air5 C with a Logitech wireless Bluetooth keyboard and found the lag is slightly less compared to Boox’s own keyboard folio. This allows for a better touch-typing experience in my opinion.

In fact, my experience typing on the 5C was so slow that I stopped using physical keyboards and stuck with the on-screen one when necessary (like inputting a password).

• Writing & typing score: 4 / 5

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)Onyx Boox Note Air5 C review: Performance

• Smooth and fast performance overall
• Some ghosting, but mostly when viewing image-heavy documents
• Disappointing battery life, but standard for an Android device

Boox doesn’t reveal what specific processor it uses in its devices. To determine that, I downloaded the CPU X app — a free download from the Google Play Store — and this told me there’s a Qualcomm Snapdragon 690 chip inside doing the heavy lifting.

This chip is also in use in the smaller Boox Go 7 ereader and works well there, and is an upgrade over the Snapdragon 680 in the original Boox Go 10.3. So, does it make the 5C the better device? To answer that, I began by first benchmarking the CPU, something I’ve done for previous Android-based epaper tablets because it’s easy to install the Geekbench 6 app on them.

The single-core score for the Note Air5 C recorded was 576, while multi-core was 1424. In comparison, the Boox Go 10.3 scored 403 and 1261 respectively, while the ViWoods AiPaper produced a result of 299 and 1114 from its MediaTek MT8183 CPU.

To be honest, these numbers don’t really mean much for devices like ereaders and e-notebooks — it’s how well the operating system has been implemented that will make or break the performance. For instance, despite a lower score, I found the ViWoods AiPaper to be the better device compared to the Boox Go 10.3 in real-world use because of how well the Android 13-based OS had been implemented.

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

On the Note Air5 C, the Snapdragon 690 chip doesn’t really make much of a difference in overall performance when compared to the Go 10.3, although it’s a lot better compared to the Note Air 3, which was the previous device in this series that I have experience with.

Other than the typing lag I’ve previously mentioned, I’ve had no other significant issues with the 5C: apps open quickly and none crashed during my testing, page turns are quick and any adjustments — like brightness or volume — happened instantly. Ghosting can still be a problem for some users though, and I found it to be particularly noticeable when reading image-heavy documents and books.

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

The only reason I would opt for a non-Android e-notebook like the Kindle Scribe or the Kobo Elipsa 2E would be for the battery life. As I expected, the 3,700mAh battery doesn’t last very long as Android is a power-hungry OS.

You might find yourself charging the device every 3 to 4 days, depending on how much you use it and what some of your settings are. During my testing, I found that an hour of reading at mid-brightness and some warmth to yellow the screen dropped battery life by 2%. An hour of notetaking will drop it quicker — in my case, about 8% at the same light settings with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth switched off.

Bump the frontlight to full brightness (and no warmth) and those battery drops for the same amount of use increases to a 5% and 10% respectively. If you have Wi-Fi turned on at all times, expect a touch more battery use, but it’s not a significant drop. If you happen to use some apps, like the browser or the music player, the battery will drain faster.

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

Long story short, prolific use will get you 2-3 days on a single charge, which can be extended to about 5 or 6 days if you use the device for maybe 30 minutes every day.

Topping up the battery is also a bit of a time investment — it took 2 hours and 3 minutes for my review unit to go from 16% to full, and that’s when plugged directly into a GAN wall charger using a high-quality USB-C to C cable. In my experience, this charging rate is slower than the 4,100mAh capacity battery in the ViWoods AiPaper, but about the same rate as the Boox Go 10.3 (which also uses a 3,700mAh battery).

• Performance score: 4 / 5

Should I buy the Onyx Boox Note Air5 C?

Attribute

Notes

Score

Value

It’s well priced, but expensive compared to grayscale e-notebooks.

4 / 5

Design & display

Solidly built with a good display, but there’s not a lot that’s actually ‘new’ about it physically.

4 / 5

Software & apps

The first Android e-notebook to run on an Android 15-based OS, it will get a few years of updates. The UI, however, still remains relatively complicated.

4 / 5

Writing & typing

Using the new stylus on this device is a wonderful and smooth experience, but there’s a lag when typing, whether via a physical keyboard or the on-screen one.

4 / 5

Reading

Clear text with very good contrast, but some colors appear muted, especially when compared to the similarly priced reMarkable Paper Pro.

4 / 5

Performance

Good general performance, but nothing that stands out from the competition.

4 / 5

Buy it if...

You want to upgrade from a much older Boox Note series tablet

If you're using an older Note series tablet, the 5C is a worthy upgrade, with software and performance enhancements that make a huge difference to usability.

You want a color e-notebook that offers an open ecosystem

There still aren't too many 10-inch epaper tablets with a color display — if that's an important consideration, the 5C is cheaper than the reMarkable Paper Pro and there are perks to using an Android device.

You want a versatile epaper tablet

One of the perks I mentioned above is the ability to download apps from the Google Play Store to make the most of your e-notebook. And that can make such a device very versatile indeed.

Don't buy it if...

You want more saturated colors displayed on the screen

While book covers look fine, I found some others appearing washed out on the 5C. Moreover, the ink and highlight colors are a lot better on the reMarkable Paper Pro, if you want more saturation.

Battery life is important

Android epaper tablets don't offer good battery life. If that's a major criteria, you should opt for a Kindle or Kobo writing tablet instead.

You don't need a plethora of features

There's a lot you can do with the Note Air 5C, or other Android e-notebooks, but this could be overkill for many users. If you want a more streamlined UI and don't need third-party apps, you could save money by opting for smaller e-notebooks like the Kobo Libra Colour, or larger grayscale ones like the Kindle Scribe.

Also consider

If you're unsure whether the Boox Note Air5 C is right for you, there are other options to consider. However, keep in mind that any such device with a color display will be expensive, while monochrome options can save you some cash.

reMarkable Paper Pro

If it's a color display on a 10-inch e-notebook that's got your attention, then there's none better than the reMarkable Paper Pro. It's the only epaper tablet using the E Ink Gallery 3 screen tech and it offers a simple, streamlined interface that has absolutely no distractions.
Read our in-depth reMarkable Paper Pro review for the full details

Amazon Kindle Scribe (2024)

Given the Colorsoft version of the Kindle Scribe still isn't widely available, I think the second-gen Scribe is still a worthy option with a grayscale screen. The ambient light sensor makes a huge difference to usability (I love it!) and it's arguably the nicest screen I've written on.
Read our full Amazon Kindle Scribe (2024) review to learn more

ViWoods AiPaper

It's a frightfully expensive Android e-notebook, but I much prefer its interface to Boox. It's also the thinnest large-screen epaper tablet I've tested. It works wonderfully well and has more native apps than Boox as well. If money's no object, I couldn't recommend this highly enough, albeit no color screen here.
Read my in-depth ViWoods AiPaper review to find out more

How I tested the Onyx Boox Note Air5 C

(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)

I've been testing and writing about ereaders and epaper tablets for nearly a decade now, and have a wealth of knowledge when it comes to E Ink devices. That puts me in an excellent position to compare and just new devices coming into the market, just like the Boox Note Air5 C.

As with any new epaper device, I first go through all the settings options to ensure I have the tablet set up the way I like it, as it becomes my person device for a few weeks. Having done that, I connected the 5C to Wi-Fi and logged into the Play Store.

Plugging my 2TB Samsung T7 Shield portable SSD into the USB-C port, I was able to access a bunch of ebooks I keep as test files for my ereader reviews, plus a few PDFs. While this was the primary way of transferring files during my testing, I also signed into Google Drive to download some old notes I had saved from an older Boox device. I also used BooxDrop, which has some EPUBs stored in the cloud, that I could transfer to the 5C. These were the methods I tested for file and font (Bookerly specifically) transfer.

I spent about an hour each day over four weeks reading, but I spent a lot more time taking notes, including for this review — the Note Air5 C essentially became my e-notebook for work and for personal use. I tried annotating PDFs and some DRM-free ebooks as a test, but I also used the on-screen keyboard, the Boox keyboard folio made specifically for the 5C and a Logitech Bluetooth keyboard as part of my review process.

I kept tabs on battery use in 1-hour blocks, but I also changed settings to see how it affected battery usage. And, finally, I timed how long it took to charge when I allowed it to drop below 20%.

Read more about how we test

[First published February 2026]

CyberGhost has been on the VPN scene since 2011 and, as you'd expect from a veteran, has built a solid service with a reliable roster of core VPN tools. Despite this, however, you won't find CyberGhost listed in our shortlist of the best VPNs overall – despite its impressive speed testing results and unblocking performance.

So, where does it fall short? Throughout our testing, we found that CyberGhost just isn't as proactive as the big dogs. There's a lack of new, innovative features, and its ad-blocking tool has plenty of room for improvement. Keep reading, and we'll dig into the good, the bad, and the ugly to see where CyberGhost stands amongst today's competition.

Features

CyberGhost won't be taking home any awards for new and novel VPN features, but the tools it does offer are all solid and secure.

Kicking off with the basics, we were glad to see that CyberGhost has its very own kill switch, which will cut the existing internet connection if the VPN drops out. This prevents IP leaks – and the kill switch works well in tandem with the DNS leak protection as a safety net, running in the background to catch mishaps before they happen. Unfortunately, unlike NordVPN’s, this kill switch is not configurable, which may disappoint power users looking to tailor their VPN experience.

We think that the Wi-Fi protection feature pairs up nicely with this set, too. It's a simple on/off toggle to activate and, once enabled, it'll let you know about changes to the internet connection and warn you if you're not currently connected to a VPN server.

You can tell the VPN what to do depending on the security status of the new network you connect to, too. For instance, prompting CyberGhost to ask before connecting to a server if the network is secure, or always joining a server if it's unsecure. This is pretty nifty, as it'll ensure that you don't accidentally expose identifiable details when switching from your home network to public Wi-Fi.

FutureFutureFuture

CyberGhost has its very own split tunnelling functionality called Exceptions. Here, you're able to list the sites that don't use the VPN's encrypted tunnel. They'll be routed through your original internet connection instead – and you may want to add your online banking to this list, for example, or streaming services you use to keep up with local sports.

Another VPN staple is the connect-on-launch tool. There's some limited customizability, here, too, as we were able to select the server that the VPN automatically connects to and even nominate an app that'll launch, too. It's a nice time-saver that worked like a charm when we tested it, connecting to a US server and launching the Netflix app in one fell swoop.

The built-in ad, malware, and tracker blocking tool was surprisingly effective when we tried it out in real time. We found that it blocked 83% of ads – which is pretty impressive for a VPN tool, but it's not as powerful as a full-blooded ad-blocking solution. Ultimately, we don't recommend using it in place of one of today's best ad-blockers.

We attempted to access 156 common trackers with the tool, too, and saw that the app blocked 149, which is seriously impressive. These results put CyberGhost on par with Windscribe and Private Internet Access.

CyberGhost's malware blocking results weren't quite as rosy, as it only managed to block 55% of a set of 412 malicious URLs. Still, it's enough to be useful in a day-to-day context.

While it's encouraging to see that CyberGhost has stepped into the ad, malware, and tracker blocking, the VPN has fallen behind in other cybersecurity arenas. ExpressVPN, for example, boasts its own password manager, ExpressVPN Keys; NordVPN has an identity theft protection service; and Surfshark's Alternative ID tool can generate an entirely new online persona for you before you can sneeze, to reduce the risk of becoming embroiled in scams and data breaches.

CyberGhost, by comparison, doesn't bring any features of this calibre to the table. This won't be a deal-breaker for everyone, but when other providers are making such notable strides, it's a shame to see CyberGhost at the back of the field.

Features score: 5/10

Server network

CyberGhost offers 124 server locations spread over 100 countries. This puts it near the top of the pile when it comes to global coverage. Competitors like NordVPN might serve a wider variety of countries (118), but CyberGhost certainly isn't lacking global coverage.

FutureFutureFuture

Most of these servers are based in Europe, with 11 locations in the USA, though CyberGhost also covers Central and South America, Asia, and Africa. We were pleasantly surprised to see servers in regions that are often neglected by other providers, such as Kenya, Bolivia, and Costa Rica. The fact that CyberGhost boasts server coverage in censorship-heavy countries like China and Russia is especially noteworthy.

CyberGhost does make use of a lot of virtual servers, and they don’t appear to be specifically flagged in the apps, so you don’t always know if you’re connecting to a server that’s actually where it appears to be. For example, CyberGhost appears to host its Cyprus and Egypt locations in Romania, which is significantly further away than we see with most providers, who typically use a Mediterranean location such as Marseille.

If you live somewhere that's missing a local server, CyberGhost does claim to take requests for new server locations, so you can always try asking for one. We can't confirm whether these requests are taken seriously or responded to, but you lose nothing by trying!

Server network score: 9/10

Apps

CyberGhost's apps straddle a fine line between sleek and somewhat threadbare. The VPN is compatible with pretty much every platform out there – Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, smart TV, and consoles included. Unfortunately, the Linux edition of the CyberGhost app is command-line only, and there's no indication of whether a GUI upgrade is in the cards. If that's a deal-breaker, you'll want to invest in Surfshark or PIA’s Linux VPN, instead.

As is the case with most of today's top VPNs, CyberGhost has its own browser extensions. Folks using the Chrome and Firefox browsers can add the tools in a few clicks, though it's worth remembering that the extensions only encrypt browser traffic and not the traffic of other apps you might be using on your device. Sadly, there's no extension for Microsoft Edge.

CyberGhost's apps have a distinct visual flair. We think that the black and gold looks awesome, and the Windows edition of the app looks like it could even be native to the platform. There's an emphasis on readability and open space that we find refreshing, and the screen isn't jammed with statistics, social media links, or flags. There's room to breathe, making CyberGhost a pretty solid VPN for beginners.

The desktop offering is intuitive and easy to navigate. Basic tools and settings are clearly labelled, and there are only three extra features to take note of – the ad blocker, DNS leak protection, and kill switch.

The mobile VPN apps look even better in our opinion, especially when using them in the portrait orientation. They're just as easy to navigate as their desktop counterparts, too, with simple tabs to tap on, though they are somewhat on the small side.

Unfortunately, the iOS and Android apps are light on features, especially compared to NordVPN and PIA's feature-rich and customizable offerings.

We were particularly irked by CyberGhost's device limit. Unlike ExpressVPN, CyberGhost doesn't issue a certain number of simultaneous connections, and instead limits the number of devices, total, that you can install the service on. Users have 7 device slots, and installing the VPN on a device consumes a slot. If you reach the 7-device limit, you'll need to unlink a device before you can install it on another, which is an extra bit of legwork that the majority of the competition just don't make you do.

Apps score: 6/10

Ease of use

CyberGhost's apps might not be full to bursting with a cavalcade of tools, but they're nice and easy to use. For some folks, this will be more important, and we had no trouble getting the VPN set up on our Windows 11 test machine and iPhone 13 mobile.

We found that it was easier to create a CyberGhost account and select a plan as the first step in the process, then download the corresponding app for the device you're using after logging in to the My Account page on the CyberGhost site.

Initially, the Windows installer failed to initialize, though it worked like a charm upon the second attempt. The installation process itself was quick and painless after accepting the usual terms and conditions.

Once we'd logged into the app, which is compact and stylish, we were greeted by a big one-click connect button, which is exactly what we like to see. A lot of VPN users won't need to explore any further than this homepage, as hitting the button will pair you with a speedy local server, allowing you to go about your day-to-day browsing with increased peace of mind.

FutureFuture

On the other hand, we found that it was easy to dictate which server CyberGhost connects to when clicking the connect button, and the full server list expands into a larger window with a single click. From here, we were able to favorite locations and check out the full roster of specialized streaming, torrenting, and gaming servers.

Our sole quibble with the CyberGhost Windows UI is that the settings are split into three discreet menus, each with a different icon in a different part of the app. We believe that it'd be better to merge these options into a single tab, reducing the amount of clicking around required to find specific tools and configurations.

We're happy to report that CyberGhost is a straightforward and sleek iOS VPN, too. Downloading the app from the App Store is a breeze, and we were prompted to log in, as usual, before seeing the home page and quick connect button.

The iOS and Android apps have access to dedicated IPs, protocols, and a mobile-exclusive connection checker. This is a nifty little extra that ensures that your network connection is stable and configured correctly, and it was responsive when we put it to the test - which is something to keep in mind if you run into issues and need a place to begin your troubleshooting.

Ease of use score: 8/10

Speed and performance

CyberGhost blew us away during our last round of speed testing, achieving a blistering 950+ Mbps when using the WireGuard protocol, which is why it’s quite disappointing to see its average speeds drop in our latest tests. We test from two different virtual PCs, one in the UK and one in the US.

CyberGhost’s UK WireGuard performance was consistent with download speeds of 672Mbps in our first session and 676Mbps in our second, for an average of 674Mbps.

How we perform speed tests

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

We test from two different virtual PCs, one in the UK and one in the US. We’re expecting big things out of NordVPN, as both of these servers have a 1 Gbs connection. You can find out more in our VPN testing methodology.

CyberGhost’s Ireland to US WireGuard testing gave us download speeds of 407 Mbps in our first test, then 405 Mbps in the second, for an average of 406 Mbps.

CyberGhost’s OpenVPN speeds have suffered as well, dropping from 460 Mbps in our last set of tests to 199 Mbps. This is still a decent speed compared to its competitors, with Proton VPN returning slightly faster results at 202 Mbps and NordVPN 179 Mbps. Unless you must have the absolute best OpenVPN performance, we wouldn’t let this result put you off CyberGhost.

We did find that CyberGhost's connection times remain brisk, clocking in at about a second, and its connections are both consistent and stable, but it’s disappointing to see this be another place where it appears to be backsliding compared to the competition.

Speed and performance score: 10/10

Unblocking

We put VPNs through the wringer when it comes to unblocking streaming services, and part of that testing involves determining whether the VPN in question can access various Netflix libraries in the US, UK, Japan, Canada, and Australia, Disney+, Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, 10Play, 9Now, and Channel 4. It's a tall order – but CyberGhost achieved a perfect score.

We didn't encounter a single obstacle when investigating these streaming platforms. Netflix loaded instantly, every time, and we were able to catch up on multiple WWE replays without a single buffering hiccup or drop out. This kind of reliability is seriously impressive, and makes CyberGhost a solid VPN for Netflix.

As we mentioned earlier, CyberGhost is a certified speed demon, too, and the content we access loaded in crisp HD, every time. After all, Netflix itself says that 4K streaming only requires a 25 Mbps connection – and CyberGhost brings 950+ Mbps to the table.

We're also glad to see that CyberGhost has its own Smart DNS service. This allows folks with consoles and smart TVs to enjoy the VPN's unblocking power, too, though it's worth noting that the Smart DNS tool won't encrypt your traffic like a full-blooded VPN.

CyberGhost is a decent torrenting VPN, but not at the top of our recommendations. The provider doesn't make a big song and dance about it, but it does offer P2P-optimized servers, listed under the "For downloading" tab in the server menu. These servers span 80 countries, which is plenty to choose from, and should help you find a nearby connection point to help maximize performance. Unfortunately, unlike PIA, CyberGhost doesn't come with port forwarding, which reduces the number of seeders you can connect with.

Unblocking score: 10/10

Privacy and Security

CyberGhost users have three VPN protocols to choose from – OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IKEv2.

As we touched on earlier, OpenVPN is your go-to if you value security over speed, whereas the speedy WireGuard protocol is a favorite of gamers and avid streamers. IKEv2, on the other hand, is ideal for mobile users, as it can handle changes in network connections without disrupting the VPN connection. Of course, if you can't make up your mind, you can always let CyberGhost choose a protocol on your behalf.

In addition to DNS and IP leak protection, which help keep your identifiable details out of the hands of third-party snoopers, CyberGhost lets you choose a random port. This makes it easier to use the VPN in airports and hotels, for example, as they usually restrict traffic to HTTPS.

CyberGhost is headquartered in Romania, which will register as an immediate green flag for privacy purists, as the country has no mandatory data retention laws and isn't a part of the notorious Five Eyes Alliance.

Because Romanian law doesn't force CyberGhost to record or store user data, it means that, if pressed by the authorities to hand that data over, the VPN couldn't, as it wouldn't have any data to fork over in the first place.

CyberGhost doubles down on its commitment to user privacy with a solid no-logs policy that ensures that no records are stored that could link users to their network activity. We investigated the policy and found that it was refreshingly easy to follow. It's not stuffed with techno-babble, and it takes the time to explain each term in plain, parsable language. Sure, it's on the lengthy side, but we'd take a long, simple policy over a short and impossibly dense one.

The provider even invited cybersecurity firm Deloitte to comb through this no-logs policy back in January 2024. Deloitte gave CyberGhost a big thumbs up, confirming that the VPN doesn't have an appetite for identifiable details and logs. Ideally, CyberGhost will repeat the audit at some point this year, and make the report accessible to everyone.

Privacy and security score: 7/10

Track record

In addition to the 2024 Deloitte audit, CyberGhost claims to be the very first VPN to publish a quarterly transparency report way back in 2011. These reports are published in the spirit of transparency and detail how many DMCA complaints the VPN has received, as well as the number of police requests for user information.

The reports can be difficult to find, but CyberGhost does an excellent job of cutting through the statistics for the layperson, highlighting figures that have risen or fallen in the period between reports.

CyberGhost's owner, formerly known as Crossrider, has raised concerns over the years. The company acquired CyberGhost in 2011 and was previously associated with malware distribution – essentially the antithesis of a VPN service.

Crossrider rebranded as Kape Technologies in 2017 and has since brought PIA and ExpressVPN into the fold. This murky past has deterred more than a handful of users but, since then, Kape Technologies has taken steps to promote transparency and trust with its continued transparency reports and independent audits.

Finally, on a brighter note, we love to see that CyberGhost launched a bug bounty program in 2022. Any expert who sniffs out a vulnerability in the service can earn up to $1,250 for their trouble.

Track record score: 7/10

Customer support

Right off the bat, we were glad to see that CyberGhost offers 24/7 live chat support. This means that, if you do encounter a hiccup here and there, you won't have to wait until business hours to begin troubleshooting the issue with in-house experts. Alternatively, there's the option to raise an email ticket via the support page.

You'll need to choose the right keywords to find what you're looking for in CyberGhost's knowledgebase (Image credit: CyberGhost)

If you prefer doing your own problem-solving, you'll be glad to see that CyberGhost has a well-stocked library of guides, tutorials, and articles. The setup guides are some of the best we've come across. They're illustrated with up-to-date screenshots, have simple and easy-to-follow steps, and cover most platforms – though Surfshark's guides are slightly more detail-rich, and are supplemented with handy YouTube tutorials.

Customer support score: 7/10

Pricing and plans

CyberGhost is a budget-friendly provider and, in fact, with prices on par with Surfshark, one of the best cheap VPNs on the block. Of course, you'll bag the biggest bargain by picking up a multi-year plan and paying upfront.

A 2-year CyberGhost subscription comes in at $2.19 – identical to Surfshark – and includes an extra 2 months of coverage for free. You'll be billed $56.94 for 2 years, then yearly from then on out.

NordVPN pricing

- 1-month plan: $12.99/month

- 6-month plans: $6.99/month

- 24-month plans: $2.19/month

If you're looking for a shorter-term commitment, you can opt for the 6-month plan at $6.99 ($12.99 upfront), or a one-month plan at $12.99. All CyberGhost subscriptions are covered by an especially generous 45-day money-back guarantee, giving you over a month to put the provider through its paces to see whether it's the right service for you.

You can pay for your CyberGhost plan using PayPal, Bitcoin or credit card, and more (Image credit: CyberGhost)

Oh, and if you fancy adding a dedicated IP to your plan, it's a simple add-on of $2.50.

We're impressed by the number of trials CyberGhost serves up, too. In fact, it has some of our favorite VPN free trials. Windows users can enjoy a 24-hour trial, Android users get a 3-day free trial, and iOS loyalists win big with a 7-day free trial. Better yet, none of these trials demand that you hand over any financial details.

Pricing and plans score: 9/10

Should you use NordVPN?

There are plenty of good things about CyberGhost. It's wickedly fast, unblocks every streaming platform you can think of, and is one of the cheapest providers in today's market. So, if you're an avid streamer, or spend a log of time plugged into online games, CyberGhost could be your holy grail – if you don't mind dealing with the pesky 7 device limit.

However, if you're looking for a VPN that's on the cutting edge of cybersecurity ingenuity, then CyberGhost won't cut it. Its basics are in order, but its functionality doesn't extend far beyond basic, and it doesn't seem like that's going to change any time soon.

NordVPN and Proton VPN, on the other hand, continue to innovate and release new tools and features, and may be better alternatives for true advocates of internet privacy.

Overall score 78/100

CyberGhost alternatives

1. NordVPN – from $3.39 per month
The best VPN overall
NordVPN is, frankly, the total VPN package. It's stacked with privacy-boosting features that reach beyond the bread-and-butter basics, and its Threat Protection suite effectively shooes away ads, trackers, and malware. NordVPN knows how to have fun, too, with a reliably quick performance and flawless access across all streaming platforms. It's hard to pinpoint an area where NordVPN falls flat – though CyberGhost's apps are arguably easier to navigate. Want to see for yourself? Make good use of the 30-day money-back guarantee.View Deal

2. Surfshark – from $2.19 per month
The best cheap VPN (and also the fastest)
Surfshark goes toe-to-toe with CyberGhost when it comes to rock-bottom prices, but stuffs a ton of tools into the offering that CyberGhost can't match. The Alternative ID feature spins up an entirely new persona you can use in place of your real details, and subscribers get unlimited simultaneous connections they can use to protect all of their gadgets – or share the love with family and friends. Check out Surfshark's blistering speeds and minimalist apps with a handy 30-day money-back guarantee.View Deal

3. ExpressVPN – from $4.99 per month
The best VPN for beginners and the most secure
ExpressVPN is our go-to recommendation for VPN newbies, and boasts a foolproof installation and setup process. This intuitive experience extends through its apps, too, regardless of which platform you're using. While CyberGhost has ExpressVPN beat in terms of speed and price, ExpressVPN's offering is polished and places emphasis on security, with rock-solid encryption. Take the service for a risk-free test drive with a 30-day money-back guarantee.View Deal

The midrange VPN provider market is a hotly contested one, with lots of great providers both free and paid jostling for position. VyprVPN is a provider that you might not be immediately familiar with, but it’s been around since 2010, which is longer than some of the biggest and best VPNs in the market.

We last reviewed VyprVPN back in 2023, and found it to be a decent enough option, but there were some caveats we hoped that the provider would improve. Has anything changed in the two years since? Sadly, yes, and not for the better, with a number of features being removed or limited.

We’re going to look at whether this venerable VPN provider is still one you should trust with your online privacy.

Features

VyprVPN is not the most feature-packed provider on the market, but it has enough to satisfy users who need a basic product to keep them safe online.

There’s public Wi-Fi protection, which will automatically boot the VPN if you connect to an unsecured network, very useful for business travellers and people on holiday, as the free hotspots in hotels, airports, and cafes are often frequented by opportunistic cybercriminals.

Android and desktop users get a far wider range of features and customization options than their iOS counterparts. The iOS client features almost no additional features, not even a kill switch, which will cut your internet connection in the event of your VPN dropping out, making sure that you don’t leak any unprotected information.

Some features are standard across all apps, such as public Wi-Fi protection, the ability to automatically reconnect the VPN if the connection is dropped, a choice of VPN protocols including IKE v2, OpenVPN, WireGuard and VyprVPN’s own “Chameleon” obfuscated protocol which is designed to be used in environments where VPN use is heavily monitored and/or blocked.

(Image credit: Shaun Rockwood)

There’s also the option to choose between an “Advanced” connection, where you pick the server you want to connect to each time, or “Quick Connect,” where the VPN automatically picks a server from a region you choose in advance. Keep in mind, however, that there’s no way to pick a UK server with this option. Presumably, it gets lumped in with the “Europe” region.

Non-iOS users get more options, including the ability to have the app automatically start and connect when the device boots up, ensuring that you never end up browsing the net unprotected.

They also get split tunneling, which VyprVPN calls “Connection per App.” It allows you to select which apps connect to the VPN and which don’t. This is especially useful when you want one app, such as Netflix, to connect to a VPN server of your choice, while another app, like your banking app, uses your local connection without the VPN.

Android VPN users can also choose the DNS server they want to use, including VyprVPN’s open zero-log VyprDNS, which is purpose-built from the ground up to defeat internet censorship and protect users from DNS man-in-the-middle attacks.

Plus, unlike other DNS servers that log personally identifiable information such as IP addresses, websites visited, and geolocation data, VyprDNS employs a zero-knowledge approach, so you don’t have to worry about trading your privacy for extra access.

Features score: 4/10

Server network

VyprVPN currently offers 73 different locations around the world, and it’s impressive that the provider continues to increase its total server count. Since our last review, VyprVPN has boosted its network to more than 700 servers.

While this still doesn’t compare to the likes of ExpressVPN, NordVPN, or Proton VPN, which offer thousands of servers across hundreds of locations, VyprVPN nevertheless covers all the major regions. It provides a solid spread of countries across North America, Europe, Oceania, Africa, Central and South America, Asia, and even the Middle East.

Where VyprVPN further struggles compared to other providers is that almost all of these countries only have a single server. This means if you really need to access a particular piece of geo-locked content in, for example, the UK, and that particular server doesn’t work for you, then there are no other locations to try.

The only exceptions to this are the USA and Australia, which both have multiple locations – 8 in the USA and 3 in Australia.

Server network score: 4/10

Apps

One area where VyprVPN really deserves praise is the effort it has put into offering dedicated apps for both major and minor platforms. In addition to the mainstays – Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android – it also provides apps for smart TVs, routers, Chromebooks, Anonabox, and even Blackphone. Even better, it backs up this wide range of apps with plenty of helpful tutorials, so regardless of your device, you'll get set up quickly and easily.

Some VPN providers spend a huge amount of time on their Windows app to the detriment of other platforms, but VyprVPN has done a good job of making sure that all mobile platforms match their desktop counterpart.

The macOS and mobile apps look and feel almost identical to the Windows version, right down to the color scheme and layout.

Linux users are, as often happens, left with only a CLI setup option rather than an app, and even then, it’s tailored for only specific versions of Ubuntu. So, if you’re a Linux novice, you might be better off elsewhere.

The Apple versions of the app are rather bare-bones compared to the other options – disappointing news for folks on the hunt for an iPhone VPN. Some of that is down to Apple restricting access to the underlying operating system rather than any fault on the part of VyprVPN, but Apple isn’t entirely to blame here.

Other offerings from companies like Sufshark offer automatic connection, a kill switch, and even an Apple-friendly form of split-tunneling/whitelisting, so there are plenty more functions that could be here, but VyprVPN has seemingly chosen not to include them.

VyprVPN has done a good job of keeping its app clean and simple to use on all platforms, though the blinking snake eyes and pulsing ring while connected won’t be to everyone’s taste and can be rather distracting if you leave the app on screen.

That said, it’s underwhelming that VyprVPN doesn’t offer browser extensions. These have become a common feature among VPN providers and give users a simple way to boost their digital privacy while browsing.

Apps score: 5/10

Ease of use

VyprVPN’s apps are easy to use and some of the best beginner VPNs we've come across. There are two buttons, one showing the location you’ve picked, and the other that says Connect/Disconnect, and that’s it.

It’s not quite as foolproof as the big, friendly power button that so many other providers use, but it’s nice and straightforward.

It would have been nice to see a convenient drop-down of locations to pick from; instead, this is on a separate tab. That said, if you click on a new location, then it automatically connects the VPN, which is nice to see and makes trying out new servers a simple process.

(Image credit: Shaun Rockwood)

The settings screen is cleanly laid out, with a small explanation for what each setting does to help newer users understand just what they’re changing, though, for some reason, the automatic reconnect description seems to be truncated on iOS devices, with the last word missing.

There’s even a small icon in the top right of the screen that shows you useful information about your VPN connection, including the status, how long you’ve been connected, what your VPN IP address is, and how much data has been uploaded and downloaded, which can be very useful for those traveling overseas on a data-limited connection.

Ease of use score: 6/10

Speed and performance

To measure how a VPN provider stacks up in the real world and where it places in our fastest VPN rankings, we measure download speeds multiple times, with multiple speed test sites and apps. These include SpeedTest, Cloudflare, and Measurement Lab, used across multiple sessions in US and UK locations.

VyprVPN’s WireGuard speeds were remarkably solid for much of our testing. We regularly saw speeds over 600 Mbps when connected to the UK, USA, Europe, and even the Japanese location, which is quite impressive as servers in Asian locations are often substantially slower than those in the Western parts of the world.

The same can’t be said for VyprVPN’s OpenVPN speeds. While it’s accepted that OpenVPN will always be slower than WireGuard, the results we saw were still far slower than we would expect.

UK speeds often dipped below 40 Mbps, US servers returned around 40-60 Mbps, and Asian speeds fluctuated between 25-40 Mbps. These results are similar to what we saw the last time we reviewed this provider, so while there’s been no improvement, the speeds haven’t gotten any worse, either.

(Image credit: Shaun Rockwood)

To put these speeds into context, 4K streaming, for instance, requires connection speeds of 25 Mbps. So while you could stream high-def content with VyprVPN, you wouldn’t be able to do too much else without potentially encountering problems with buffering or the image quality suffering.

Connection speeds are important for downloading and streaming media, but another important factor is latency or “ping”. Your ping is a very important factor in online gaming as it measures the time it takes for data to travel from your device to the game’s server and back again. In other words, this is the amount of time it takes the game to fire your weapon after you click your mouse or tap on the screen.

Ping is measured in milliseconds (ms), and you want to always try and connect to a server that offers you the lowest ping possible. The lower your ping, the faster your in-game actions are received by the server, resulting in smoother and more accurate gameplay. If you’ve ever been in a multiplayer game and seen someone jerking when they move or seeming to teleport back and forward, that’s someone with a very high ping suffering from what’s commonly known as lag.

Speed and performance score: 6/10

Unblocking

Unblocking streaming services in other countries with VyprVPN is a bit of a mixed bag. We had some success in testing, with VyprVPN working with Disney+ in both the UK and the US.

Amazon Prime Video was a bit more hit-and-miss in both the US and the UK. We could stream most content, but not all. We had similar problems the last time we reviewed this provider, and it looks like these issues still persist. We had no luck with Netflix UK/US, too, and BBC iPlayer simply refused to load. All in all, VyprVPN isn't a viable streaming VPN.

VyprVPN fares better as a torrenting VPN. There are no specific servers for streaming or torrenting, so you can use whichever is closest to you. In testing, we were able to access common torrenting sites and download torrent and magnet files without issue. Connection speeds while downloading torrents were fine. Nothing spectacular, but they were quick enough to get the job done.

Unblocking score: 4/10

Privacy and Security

While better than some of the lesser-known VPN providers out there, VyprVPN could do a whole lot better when it comes to the security and privacy of its users. It’s a good thing to see it offering up-to-date VPN protocols, like WireGuard, as well as giving users the ability to choose from a variety of other options to fit their needs.

The WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2 protocols are supported across all platforms, and VyprVPN even has its own custom VPN masking protocol called Chameleon that can help bypass aggressive VPN blocking. VyprVPN even has its own private DNS servers you can use to make sure you’re leaving as little of a digital footprint as possible.

Unfortunately, that’s all the VPN offers. There’s no malware or ad blocking, no antivirus, no website filtering, no TOR over VPN, or even multi-hop servers.

VyprVPN does, at least, protect user data with strong encryption capabilities. It supports the industry-standard AES-256 encryption with Perfect Forward Secrecy. This is a technique that ensures that a different encryption key is used every time a connection is made, so even if an attacker did somehow obtain an encryption key, they would only be able to access data in that particular session before the key was rendered useless.

However, there are no signs that VyprVPN is planning to roll out post-quantum encryption, which has quickly gone from being a nice-to-have feature to an essential one. It’s especially important given the growing threat of quantum computers, which may eventually be powerful enough to break current encryption standards, as well as the risk of cybercriminals using store-now-decrypt-later attacks.

The company has also undergone a third-party audit, which was carried out by Leviathan Security. We always love to see a VPN provider willing to undergo an audit, as it shows the provider is serious about its privacy claims. It is, however, a shame that VyprVPN hasn’t had another audit carried out since this was completed back in 2018. That’s 7 years ago, and a lot has changed in that time.

It’s worth noting that a VPN audit confirms that a provider did not log any data during the audit period, which can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. However, it doesn’t prove that the VPN hasn’t logged data in the past or won’t do so in the future. That’s why we always vouch for VPNs that regularly submit their no-logs policies for independent audits, preferably once every year.

Privacy and security score: 5/10

Track record

The biggest change with VyprVPN happened back in 2023. The company is now owned by Certida and is incorporated in the USA. Previously, it was based in Switzerland, so this is a loss in terms of user privacy and consumer protection.

The company also didn’t make any real effort to inform its users about this change, with nothing being published on the website to reflect the change of owner or location.

This seems to have gone hand-in-hand with a reduction in the level of service the company offers, with apps and support for NAS devices and routers vanishing from the company website (although the support portal still has manual setup instructions for routers) along with a reduction in the number of simultaneous connections for new users, dropping from 10 to 5, and URL filtering disappearing from the app as well.

All this means that while the price has remained unchanged, you’re paying the same amount for fewer features.

Track record score: 4/10

Customer support

VyprVPN has a dedicated support portal, where a knowledge base provides setup instructions, troubleshooting guidance, and specific advice for various device types, but it’s not the most coherent or up-to-date offering we’ve ever tried to use.

For example, on the front page there’s a link to the 'VyprVPN forum', but when you click on it, you get an 'Error 404: Page Not Found' error message. That dead link has been there since we last reviewed this VPN provider in 2023, suggesting there’s not a lot of active maintenance of the support site going on.

The rest of the support portal is quite well stocked with helpful content, though it would be nice to see the articles go into more depth to help users troubleshoot their problems. Some of the articles are little more than a couple of lines long, with not even a screenshot to help beginner users find their way..

If you can’t find what you need on the portal, there’s an AI support bot that can help out and point you to useful support topics. If you’d rather not use it, then you also have the option to send a message to the support team to ask for help, or to chat live with a support engineer if you need assistance then and there.

Customer support score: 1/10

(Image credit: Shaun Rockwood)Pricing and plans

VyprVPN offers three straightforward price plans. There are no other tiers, and you don’t get any additional features if you pay more money. Its prices are comparable to other mid-range VPN providers such as Proton or Windscrib,e and it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee if you decide it’s not the right option for you.

• 2 years - $72
• 1 year - $48
• 1 month - $5

(Image credit: Shaun Rockwood)

On the sign-up page, there’s some confusion over what you get for your money, with the main VyprVPN page stating you get 10 simultaneous connections, but the “Choose a plan” page states it’s only 5. On reaching out to support for clarity, we were informed that users who have signed up previously get 10 connections while new users get only 5.

This is not clearly stated anywhere on the main VyprVPN page, and even checking the support portal leads you to an article that tells you to contact the support team to verify how many connections are included in your subscription. This information should be front and center and clearly stated. It shouldn’t be something we have to dig to try and find.

Pricing and plans score: 5/10

Should you use VyprVPN?

As a VPN provider, VyprVPN’s overall offering is fine. It’s solidly average, and that’s both a strength and a weakness. If you need a VPN that won’t break the bank and has decent abilities for torrenting and unblocks the streaming sites you use, as well as offering adequate download speeds, then VyprVPN has you covered.

The problem is that so do dozens of other providers, some of which cost less and offer better features.

VyprVPN doesn’t do enough to make itself stand out in a market crowded with providers all eager for your money, and lets itself down in a number of ways. The features it offers seem to have diminished over the years rather than evolving; it’s unclear about the things it supports, and it doesn't make enough of an effort to keep its website up to date with accurate information about its product offering.

To sum up, VyprVPN isn’t a bad VPN, but it’s not a particularly good one either.

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.

FastestVPN is a cost-effective VPN solution based in the Cayman Islands, which makes it a solid choice for privacy-conscious users. However, in our testing, we found that while the service offers decent functionality and has come a long way in terms of privacy, features, and app usability, it still underperforms when compared to today's best VPNs.

That’s not to say FastestVPN isn’t worth considering, though. In addition to its sub-$1 two-year introductory plan, its lifetime VPN plan at just $40 is something you’ll rarely find elsewhere. It also boasts an audited no-logs policy and apps for all device types, and unblocks most popular streaming platforms with ease. Read on to see whether FastestVPN is worth your time.

Features

FastestVPN offers a standard suite of VPN features, along with a few less-common extras.

Even though it has a relatively small pool of servers, it’s impressive that FastestVPN offers P2P-optimized servers, allowing you to download and upload P2P files with increased security. Combined with its port forwarding feature – which can further boost download and upload speeds – FastestVPN is a solid option if you’re looking for a torrenting VPN.

Other than that, there’s also an ad blocker that enhances your online experience by ensuring you’re not bombarded with frustrating and potentially malicious ads. FastestVPN is also one of the very few VPNs to offer extra device logins for an additional fee. While it comes with 10 simultaneous connections by default, you can add more devices for $4 per device if you want to share the love.

Other add-on options include a dedicated IP and port forwarding, both of which are extremely reasonably priced. Admittedly, most VPNs don't provide port-forwarding, but some generous services (like Private Internet Access) offer it for free.

Plus, regardless of the plan you choose – monthly, yearly, or the exclusive lifetime plan – you’ll also get two years of free access to the FastestPass password manager, which helps improve the security of your online accounts and reduce the risk of identity theft by creating and safely storing highly secure passwords.

Features score: 5/10

(Image credit: FastestVPN)Server network

FastestVPN has over 800 servers spread across 49 countries, with over 100 locations to choose from. While there are plenty of servers across Europe, as well as access to the US, Japan, Australia, and Canada, it's not particularly comprehensive across the Middle East, Africa, or Asia.

So, while it might not be the first choice for users in some of these countries, the good news is that all the popular streaming locations you’d expect are easily accessible.

The provider also recently rolled out a double VPN feature, which, as the name suggests, routes your internet traffic through two servers instead of one, adding an extra layer of encryption and security to your data.

Admittedly, FastestVPN is nowhere close to the thousands of servers offered by industry leaders like NordVPN, Surfshark, or ProtonVPN. However, it’s also worth considering that FastestVPN doesn’t have the same volume of users as these top providers. Still, I’d like to see the service add more servers and locations.

Server network score: 6/10

Apps

When you jump into the FastestVPN downloads page, you're immediately presented with nearly twenty different platforms to choose from. FastestVPN supports fully-fledged apps on Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, as well as browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox.

For everything else like routers and TVs, there are setup guides available on the support site. There's a download link for Linux, too, but it just takes you to the features page. You'll have to read the support blog and use a third-party client – which can be tricky if you're not a tech-savvy Linux user.

Apps score: 8/10

(Image credit: FastestVPN)Ease of use

For me, this is where FastestVPN disappoints. When you boot up the VPN, you're immediately presented with the full app. However, trying to actually use it bounces you over to the login screen.

It's slightly confusing, but once you're through it only takes one click to connect to your nearest server. Even though it's easy enough to read and navigate, the actual app looks a little rough compared to some of its closest competitors.

Unfortunately, trying to use FastestVPN for the first time on a Mac testing machine brought up some issues with the app. After trying to connect to the DVPN servers for testing, the app shut down and wouldn't restart even after a reboot. I couldn't replicate this issue on any other platform, but if you're hunting for a bulletproof Mac VPN app, you might need to look elsewhere.

Ease of use score: 6/10

(Image credit: FastestVPN)Speed and performance

Despite its name, FastestVPN doesn't quite live up to the "fastest VPN" claim.

Using a 100 Mbps connection with Ookla Speedtest for monitoring, I recorded an average download speed of 58.25 Mbps and 14.82 Mbps upload on my nearby server. Connecting to US East dropped those speeds down to 37.94 Mbps download and 11.89 Mbps upload.

During my tests, I found that download and upload speeds were inconsistent, especially over long distances. While nearby servers in the U.S. and Europe provided solid speeds that easily let me stream shows with no buffering, I found that connecting to servers in Asia and South America delivered significantly lower performance.

These speeds don’t match up to our top VPNs, but they'll still suffice for most activities. If you need a VPN for gaming, torrenting, or HD streaming, then FastestVPN isn't a bad choice.

Speed and performance score: 7/10

Unblocking

FastestVPN might not be the fastest, but it's fast enough to stream high-quality video. That's great because there's plenty you can unblock with its help.

To test a VPN's unblocking claims, we skip all of the marketing material and go straight to testing the top streaming sites. We check out multiple different Netflix regions (the US, Canada, UK, Japan, and Australia) as well as Amazon Prime and Disney+. We even check out some regional providers, like BBC iPlayer and ITV, too.

Everything we threw at FastestVPN worked. Not only did FastestVPN pass all of the usual tests, but it even picked up Hulu and HBO. I didn't encounter any lag or buffering while loading up any of the streams I tried out, which makes FastestVPN an all-around great option as a streaming VPN.

The only downside is that FastestVPN has a smaller location pool, meaning you might be out of luck if you're looking to unblock more obscure streaming providers.

Torrenting also works pretty well on FastestVPN's dedicated P2P servers, and the inclusion of port forwarding means you'll be able to connect to the full swarm whenever you're torrenting.

Unblocking score: 9/10

Privacy and security

FastestVPN doesn't have the extensive suite of security tools you'd see from a provider like NordVPN or Surfshark, but it does cover the basics.

It offers all the VPN protocols you’d expect from a top service, including OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IKEv2, allowing you to choose the best option for your specific use case. On top of that, all FastestVPN apps have been audited and use the highly secure, industry-standard AES-256 encryption.

That said, it has yet to announce support for post-quantum encryption, which is becoming increasingly important as it protects your data against the threat of quantum computers and Q-Day.

Digging into FastestVPN's privacy policy revealed that the VPN commissioned its first no-logs audit in 2023 from Altius IT, a California-based auditing company with over 30 years of experience. The full report makes for illuminating reading. You can check it out yourself via the provider's site and the link included at the bottom of the page.

The only information FastestVPN logs is the date you connect to the VPN service and your email address. While this is certainly excellent and in line with what we expect from a private VPN, the provider hasn’t undergone another audit since. Ideally, a VPN should regularly submit its no-logs policy for independent verification.

Even if law enforcement does come asking for the little information that FastestVPN holds onto, it's headquartered in the Cayman Islands. This puts it far outside of the jurisdiction of Five Eyes nations while retaining strict data laws with a national data privacy policy comparable to GDPR.

Privacy and security score: 8/10

Customer support

FastestVPN offers 24/7 live chat support as the first port of call for any technical issues. All of the support staff I contacted via live chat were supportive and helpful, although I was sometimes left waiting around a while for a response. Email support is available, though slower than live chat, typically responding within 24-48 hours.

The knowledge hub is well-organized, containing useful tutorials and FAQs for common issues. There's also a pretty comprehensive set of manual setup guides if you're trying to get FastestVPN working on a router or Linux.

The only issue here is that the site itself looks slightly archaic, and some of the articles mentioning older protocols are clearly outdated.

Customer support score: 8/10

(Image credit: FastestVPN)Track record

For a vendor with nearly a decade of experience, FastestVPN has a relatively uneventful history.

No traffic breaches, no huge exploits, no scandalous lawsuits. Instead, it's a VPN that has been slowly but steadily reinventing itself over and over into what is now a decent service. Maybe it isn’t at parity with top-tier VPNs, but WireGuard integration and a no-logs audit put it above a big chunk of the industry.

However, FastestVPN's reviews don't quite paint the same story. Some of the reviews I read complain about the lifetime plan running out or having other subscription issues, although it seems like the support team is pretty good at catching these complaints and rectifying them.

Track record score: 8/10

Pricing and plans

At $5 per month, the monthly plan is more affordable than most discounted VPNs. But the annual plan – which is really a two-year plan, since it gives you one year free with your first annual purchase – brings the price down even further to $0.83 a month. It then renews at $19.95 every two years.

This is absolutely fantastic value for a VPN that covers the basics. That said, FastestVPN goes one step further by offering a unique lifetime plan, which seems to be truly unlimited.

There are also plenty of payment options, from PayPal and debit/credit cards to crypto – the latter allows you to sign up for FastestVPN completely anonymously, which can be especially handy for users in regions where VPN usage isn’t well received.

Pricing and plans score: 9/10

Should you use FastestVPN?

FastestVPN is a strong budget option for those looking for basic security, privacy, and content unblocking without breaking the bank. It's not the fastest VPN, despite its name, and it doesn't have the largest server network. That said, its affordability and core privacy features make it a solid choice for if you're a casual VPN user who's willing to compromise on some performance for a significantly lower price point.

However, if you require a VPN with high-speed performance, global streaming access, or advanced security tools, premium services like ExpressVPN or NordVPN may be better options.

FastestVPN alternatives

1. NordVPN – from $3.09 per month
The best VPN overall
There's no better VPN in the industry if you need a fast and secure provider with global server access. With a variety of security and performance features, including a built-in virus scanner and double-hop servers, NordVPN is great value for money.View Deal

2. ExpressVPN – from $6.67 per month
The best VPN for beginners and the most secure
ExpressVPN offers fantastic blocking capabilities with a nearly unparalleled set of locations to choose from. ExpressVPN guarantees high-speed obfuscated connections with its own proprietary VPN protocol, Lightway, as well as a high-quality server bank and audited no-logs server technology.View Deal

3. Proton VPN – from $3.99 per month
A superb all-round VPN and online security alternative
Proton VPN is the best free VPN out there, with a truly unlimited bandwidth plan across three different locations. Built by the minds behind Proton Mail, Proton VPN also provides a range of privacy-first features which make it a great choice if you're concerned about your internet data. The standout of these is Secure Core, which allows you to chain your VPN connection through multiple servers for better security.View Deal

FastestVPN FAQsAre all VPNs required to have a no-logs audit?

No, most VPNs do not provide proof of a no-logs audit. FastestVPN is one of the few VPNs on the market to have contracted a third party to audit its privacy policy.