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A new study finds that an all-out sprint may have unique benefits when it comes to the proteins and tiny molecules in your bloodstream.

Companies are investing in Forward Deployed Engineers, or FDEs.

AWS has announced a $1 billion investment in a dedicated organization intended to embed thousands of engineers with customers.

OpenAI has established a dedicated Deployment Company and agreed to acquire Tomoro, adding approximately 150 FDEs and deployment specialists.

Microsoft has said it would hire 6,000 people and invest $3.5billion in its new AI delivery unit, according to CNBC.

But what should FDEs deliver, and what value do they really offer for customers?

The FDE model is an evolution of how companies would previously work around projects with customers based on understanding the business and the technology involved, with a much higher expectation of hands-on engineering.

What has changed is the technology being deployed.

Where FDEs deliver value

FDEs typically embed directly into a customer and work across multiple teams. They identify a high-value workflow, understand the customer’s data and operational constraints and then work to build the required integrations and take the system from prototype into production.

For AI deployment, that involves more than connecting a model to an application. This includes looking at the enterprise context and data available to the model, as well as evaluating accuracy, reliability and confidence thresholds.

It can also involve looking at the guardrails that should exist, the review and escalation process, security and observability. It should also look at integration with existing workflows and business processes.

Companies need FDEs because companies want to deploy probabilistic systems into deterministic operating environments. In other words, enterprises want to use systems that can be different each time they respond within business processes that depend on predictable and uniform results. FDEs have to translate those outputs in a way that delivers what enterprises want to achieve.

For example, a technically impressive model might fail inside an actual workflow for multiple reasons, from incomplete context or poor quality data, through to the organization not being prepared to let the system take action without review.

What the future holds for FDE roles

At their best, FDEs should solve those problems and get a company into their production deployment phase. This ensures that the technology works and delivers value. However, that is not the end of the story.

FDEs should also convert what they learned with one company into reusable capabilities that others can take advantage of too. If every deployment remains bespoke and depends indefinitely on individual engineering talent, then the technology itself cannot scale.

Instead, a successful engagement should lead to reusable connectors, evaluation frameworks, governance patterns and product improvements that other companies should be able to benefit from. For the companies that hire the FDE, they should deliver successful projects. But the ultimate goal is to make the next deployment less dependent on any specific FDE, and instead make the product better.

Are there any bigger lessons from the growth of the FDE role? The real hiring trend is toward a hybrid professional who can be an expert in multiple areas simultaneously, from writing production-quality software and understanding the behavior and limitations of AI models through to learning a customer’s business and domain with enough insight to reconfigure business processes.

At the same time, they are expected to navigate security, governance and organizational constraints, take responsibility for measurable business outcomes in their business and in their customers, and be as adept at communicating with engineers in rolled-up sleeves as they are executives in suit and tie.

For companies that base their products on FDEs, this expansion is a sign that there is a huge market opportunity and that customers want what is being offered. There is an element of marketing involved too, with FDEs the latest “new” position that will solve problems for enterprises.

Some of this recruitment will be genuinely new, while some will be a reallocation or relabeling of people who would previously have been called field engineers, solution architects, technical consultants or professional services engineers.

AI Market Maturity

This continued growth is also a potential warning sign. The number of FDEs needed over time should drop as AI products and infrastructure mature and lessons are learned. This demand for a specific role is a sign of category immaturity. Industries mature when repeatable work is standardized, industrialized and embedded in software rather than recreated as a one-off service for every customer.

The same test applies to AI today. The reliance on FDEs shows that enterprises want AI, but that today’s products are not yet sufficiently complete, predictable or easy to operationalize without substantial human input. If every implementation requires embedded specialists to assemble the context, controls, evaluations and integrations by hand, the category has not yet fully matured.

Enterprises should therefore be careful not to measure success simply by the number of FDEs hired or proofs of concept completed. The right measures are time to production, sustained adoption, measurable business value, customer self-sufficiency and the amount of reusable product capability created from each engagement.

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The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/pro/perspectives-how-to-submit

Lanterns episode 2 is now live on HBO Max — and it introduces viewers to the most famous Green Lantern villain of all, Thaal Sinestro.

Long-time Green Lantern fans will already know plenty about this recurring antagonist, his relationship to Hal Jordan, and why he's deemed such a threat to the Green Lantern Corps and wider galaxy. However, unless you've read the source material and/or seen the disastrous 2011 Ryan Reynolds-starring Green Lantern movie, many of you won't know much, if anything, about Sinestro.

So, who is Sinestro? What are his powers? And does his DC Comics background give us any hints about his role in Lanterns? Allow me to enlighten you on the aforementioned questions and more.

Sinestro's DC comic book history and powers explained

Thaal Sinestro was first introduced in DC Comics over 60 years ago (Image credit: DC Comics)

Let's start with what the comics tell us about Sinestro.

Created by Gil Kane and John Broome, and first appearing in August 1961 in Green Lantern #7, Thaal Sinestro hails from the planet Korugar in space sector 1417.

An anthropologist, Sinestro comes into contact with the Green Lantern known as Prohl Gosgotha when the latter crash-lands on Korugar. Prohl does so after coming under attack from a Weaponer of Qward, which hails from the anti-matter universe.

Prohl gives its ring to Sinestro, who then defeats its pursuer. However, Sinestro keeps the ring, lets Prohl die, and lies to the Guardians of the Universe — aka the immortal race that founded the intergalactic peacekeeping organization known as the Green Lantern Corps — that the ring chose him as Prohl's successor.

Corrupted by the power of the ring, Sinestro abuses his position as a Green Lantern until Hal Jordan, who becomes Sinestro's student after Jordan acquires his own ring, informs the Guardians of Sinestro's evildoing.

Mark Strong played the first-ever live-action version of Sinestro in 2011's terrible Green Lantern movie (Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures)

To punish him, the Guardians expelled Sinestro from the Green Lantern Corps, took his ring, and sent him to the anti-matter universe — more specifically, the anti-matter world Qward. There, Sinestro convinces the Weaponers, who hate the Green Lanterns, that he can use his knowledge of the space cop agency and its creators to destroy them for good, which leads the Weaponers to give Sinestro his infamous, fear-inducing yellow ring. Thus begins his never-ending quest to eradicate the Guardians and Green Lantern Corps.

As one of the Green Lanterns' most powerful nemeses, it'll come as no surprise to learn that Sinestro has myriad superhuman abilities.

Prior to being gifted his yellow ring, he already possessed genius-level intellect and was a skilled hand-to-hand combatant and expert tactician. After being armed with said ring, he gained powers similar to those of his Green Lantern foes. They include — but aren't limited to — the ability to create constructs using the wielder's mastery of fear, the ability to fly, enhanced physical abilities, limited cellular regeneration, and the power to instil fear in opponents.

Not content with being the only Yellow Lantern in existence, Sinestro went on to establish the Sinestro Corps. Also known as the Yellow Lantern Corps, this group, created by Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Sciver, was introduced in Green Lantern vol. 4 #10 in May 2006 as a sinister counterpoint to the Green Lanterns.

Who plays Sinestro in Lanterns on HBO Max?

A post shared by Ulrich Thomsen (@ulrichthomsen)

A photo posted by on

As for who portrays Sinestro in the DC Universe (DCU) TV show on HBO Max, that'll be Ulrich Thomsen.

The Danish actor is more widely known in his homeland than in nations like the US and UK. However, Thomsen has starred in English-language movies and TV shows you might be familiar with.

On the film front, he's appeared in the 2007 big-screen adaptation of the beloved I/O Interactive game franchise Hitman, Ridley Scott's 2005 historical epic Kingdom of Heaven, and 1999 James Bond flick The World is Not Enough, among others.

Meanwhile, on the small screen, Thomsen was a series regular in Cinemax's Banshee and had recurring roles in NBC's The Blacklist and HBO Original The New Pope.

What role will Sinestro play in Lanterns' overarching story?

(Image credit: HBO Max)

To try to answer that, let's first take a step back and look at why Kyle Chandler's Hal Jordan visits his imprisoned former mentor in the DCU Chapter One TV show's latest chapter.

After John Stewart learns about the Manhunters in Lanterns episode 2, he tells Jordan what he knows before retiring to his motel room for the night. Armed with Stewart's information, Jordan puts on his Green Lantern suit and flies to the maximum-security prison where Sinestro has been kept since he was taken down by Jordan. Remember, as we learned earlier in the episode, Jordan battled and defeated Sinestro after the latter attempted a coup, went rogue after that plan failed, and killed one of the Guardians.

Anyway, upon arriving at Sinestro's cell in the extraterrestrial penitentiary, Jordan asks his former mentor what he knows about the Manhunters. After some unsurprisingly strained small talk, Jordan steers the conversation back to the topic at hand. Sinestro tells Jordan that, if there's really a Manhunter living in secret on Earth, he and Stewart are facing one of the second-most dangerous beings in the entire galaxy. Before we get more of a crash course in the Manhunters, though, Sinestro asks Jordan to tell him about Jordan's own pupil, Stewart, before the screen cuts to black.

Of course, none of this gives us any indication as to Sinestro's wider role in the plot. Is he somehow secretly orchestrating events in Rushville, Nebraska from his jail cell? Does he actually know anything about Manhunters, or is he simply suggesting he does to delay Jordan's return to Earth? And how many more times will we see him in Lanterns before this season's final end credits roll?

Even though I've seen seven of this season's eight episodes — I mentioned that in my Lanterns review — I'm not allowed to spoil, nor would I want to, how Sinestro factors into the wider plot. I know that's a non-committal answer to this section header's question, but it's the best one I can give without getting into trouble with Warner Bros, HBO, and DC Studios. You'll have to keep tuning into HBO Max, aka one of the best streaming services, every week until Lanterns tells all.

Lanterns episode 2 has made its HBO Max debut — and the sci-fi crime drama appears to have revealed that a mysterious race called the Manhunters are the villains of its 2016 storyline.

So, who are they? Where did they come from? And why are they seemingly being set up as the chief antagonists of HBO's Green Lantern TV show? Let's take a look at the Manhunters' comic book history to answer — or at least try to answer — these questions.

Who are the Manhunters in DC Comics?

The Manhunters are a sentient android race conceived by the Guardians of the Universe (Image credit: DC Comics)

Created by comic book legend Jack Kirby, the Manhunters are a race of extraterrestrial robots that made their debut in 1st Issue Special #5 in August 1975.

Built by the immortal beings known as the Guardians of the Universe, the Manhunters were the Guardians' first attempt to create an intergalactic police force that would patrol the universe and combat any threats they encountered.

Unfortunately, these supposed peacekeepers evolved to the point where they became sentient, started to resent the limitations imposed by their creators, and began carrying out their own form of justice — namely, that the only way to maintain peace was to wipe out all organic life in the known universe.

After the Manhunters committed mass genocide in a catastrophic event known as the Massacre of Sector-666, and then attempted a coup against their masters, the Guardians realized they were too dangerous to keep around and set about destroying them. However, some Manhunters survived, fled to distant planets to hide among the local population, and rebuilt their numbers in the hopes of one day crushing the Guardians and their space-cop agency replacement, the Green Lantern Corps.

What do we learn about the Manhunters in Lanterns episode 2?

The head of a group of shapeshifting aliens drops some key Manhunter lore in Lanterns episode 2 (Image credit: HBO Max)

We're only introduced to the concept of Manhunters in episode 2 of Lanterns. Nonetheless, they're seemingly being set up as the primary villains of this season's 2016 narrative, if not the full season.

So, what do we know about them so far? According to the leader of a covert group of shapeshifting aliens who kidnap John Stewart midway through this episode, the Manhunters' origins in the DC Universe (DCU) are nearly identical to those of their creation in the source material, i.e., they're synthetic beings manufactured by the Guardians.

Furthermore, the Manhunters are so technologically advanced that they can build new bodies and take the form of a world's native alpha species. That way, they can remain undetected and, using technology far beyond the limits of those they secretly live among, carry out their brutal form of justice without interference.

It's clear that the Manhunters committed atrocities in the DCU, too. Indeed, as Stewart — and, by proxy, we — learn, entire species were wiped out by the Manhunters before they mysteriously disappeared.

John Stewart experiences this alien race's collective loss through some form of memory-based device (Image credit: HBO Max)

Despite them vanishing without a trace, a Manhunter survived on whatever planet Stewart's captors are from and, in their leader's words, "lived among us as they quietly engineered a holocaust". Given the nature of this mass extermination, the Guardians soon dispatched a Green Lantern to arrest the Manhunter and ensure it would be executed.

However, Stewart's kidnappers believe the Manhunter wasn't killed and now secretly lives among Rushville's human population. Unfortunately, when they tried to get close to this Manhunter to enact their revenge, four of them were killed. Does that death count ring any bells? It should, because their murders are the same ones being investigated by Stewart and Jordan.

Unable to re-enter Rushville without being detected themselves, the group's leader gives Stewart an ultimatum: find the Manhunter in the next 48 hours, or the remaining shapeshifters will walk into the center of Rushville and blow themselves up. Yep, that means they belong to the same extraterrestrial race as the individual who was interrogated by Jordan in episode 1, and who detonated the explosive device in his skeleton at Rushville police station once he was compromised.

Reluctantly, Stewart agrees. Despite the group's leader warning him not to tell Jordan what they discussed, Stewart does so, which leads Jordan to question whether Abin Sur — aka the Green Lantern that Jordan replaced — was tasked with finding the Manhunter and executing it at the behest of the Guardians before his death, which presumably came at the hands of the Manhunter.

Manhunters vs. Martian Manhunter: what's the difference?

Hal Jordan visits his former mentor Sinestro (pictured) for details about the Manhunters (Image credit: HBO Max)

In terms of DC comic book lore, this is where things can get a little confusing.

For the uninitiated: in the comics, Martian Manhunter is a superpowered being who hails from Mars. Real name J'onn J'onzz, he's one of the few surviving members of his alien race (aka the real Manhunters) and a founding member of DC's iconic superteam in Justice League.

Because of what we'd class as this character's surname — i.e. Manhunter — you might be wondering if Martian Manhunter is a Manhunter. After all, they share a moniker, so he has to be one, right?

Well, he's not. All you need to know is that the Guardians modeled their Manhunters on the Manhunters of Ma'aleca'andra — or, to call that planet by another name, Mars. So, while these two species share a common name, they're not related in any way, nor is Martian Manhunter one of the sentient android beings that the Guardians created.

Who is the Manhunter that Hal Jordan and John Stewart must find?

Is Garrett Dillahunt's Will Macon actually the Manhunter in disguise? (Image credit: John Johnson/HBO Max)

That's the big question. Logic dictates that it's someone who was at the football game — and, right now, the only other named character we know to be present at that game was Sheriff Kerry Kane. On the basis that she's conducting her own investigation into the deaths of those four aliens, though, I think we can rule her out.

So, which other characters could be the Manhunter in disguise? Will Macon is the obvious choice — he's certainly mysterious and, based on his hostile approach to extraterrestrials, would fit the mould of someone who doesn't want to be found by, say, a group of aliens seeking revenge for their race's near-extinction.

That said, it seems that he answers to someone else — i.e., his so-called 'benefactor' — further up the food chain. As such, I'm not convinced that the Macon patriarch is the Manhunter.

I don't think we can rule out Zoe Macon, either (Image credit: HBO Max)

There are other possible candidates in the DCU Chapter One TV show. Will's son Billy is one — after all, he's cosied up to Jordan as his lawyer, which is a sure-fire way of disarming a potential opponent and throwing them off the scent about who killed the four aliens at the Nebraskan football game.

I don't think we can overlook Zoe, aka Will's wife, either. And, with Stewart being told by his kidnappers that Manhunters are deceptive beings, it's not a stretch to assume that she's trying to manipulate Stewart in a bid to drive a bigger wedge between him and Jordan, which would impact their own investigation.

Of course, the Manhunter could be someone we haven't even met yet, so we'll have to wait for future episodes to air on HBO Max, aka one of the best streaming services, to see if anyone else could be the Manhunter. Currently, though, I'm going to evoke Jordan and say my gut's telling me it's Will, Billy, or Zoe.

While we wait for more clues, get the full lowdown on Sinestro following his introduction at the end of Lanterns episode 2. Then, vote in the poll below and/or leave a comment to let me know who you think the Manhunter is.

Officials say the fire, which has now burned more than 15,000 acres and is zero percent contained, was human caused. Nearly 90,000 people have been told to evacuate or prepare to leave.

(Image credit: Haven Daley)

• Trump wants US to up aims to launch over 1,000 spacecraft every year by 2030
• Only 178 launches happened in 2025, mostly carried out by SpaceX
• Federal agencies must find new land for rocket launch sites

A new presidential memorandum signed by Donald Trump sets an ambitious annual benchmark for American commercial space activity within the next four years.

The new National Space Transportation Policy wants government agencies to work together so that the US hits over 1,000 spacecraft launches and returns per year by 2030.

In 2025, there were only 178 of these missions, though that number is already ten times higher than it was back in 2013, and SpaceX was behind most of them.

Land, permits, and spectrum take priority

The order replaces a national space policy that had been in place since 2013, when the previous framework was first adopted.

Within 90 days, several departments must scout available federal land that could host new sites for launching and landing spacecraft.

Approval processes for these facilities should move faster too, with environmental reviews and permits getting streamlined under the new rules.

Access to wireless spectrum, air traffic coordination and a stronger launch workforce are also named as priorities the government must address going forward.

Agencies have further been told to step back from any activity that might discourage or undercut private companies competing in the same space.

Export policies covering space technology will also be revisited periodically, aimed at protecting American intellectual property while expanding sales abroad.

The policy also calls for regular federal reviews of launch range schedules, intended to make better use of limited windows nationwide.

"This policy meets this moment of explosive growth and positions America to lead the next era of space," said Michael Kratsios, the White House's science and technology policy director.

Beyond Earth orbit, the memorandum pushes NASA toward landing American astronauts on the moon again before the end of 2028.

Early elements of a lunar base should follow two years later, alongside continued study of robotic and eventually human trips to Mars.

A dominant player and lingering doubts

Elon Musk's SpaceX remains the industry's clear leader, having carried out 170 missions last year that placed about 2,500 satellites into orbit.

Officials at the Federal Aviation Administration said back in May that the firm hopes to reach 10,000 flights annually within the next five years.

SpaceX has separately floated plans for roughly 1 million satellites designed to capture solar energy and feed power to AI data centers.

In addition to SpaceX, the U.S. will entertain requests from foreign companies that want to launch from American soil.

These firms will be screened individually, weighing security risk, investment value and site availability.

NASA, on the other hand, has been asked to build a lunar logistics network that private companies could eventually use to reach the moon commercially.

Lawmakers, meanwhile, have kept urging NASA to stay focused on Artemis, its long-running lunar program that has already consumed billions in funding.

That pressure suggests the administration's push toward 1,000 annual launches could still meet real budgetary and political resistance in Congress.

• America now dominates the world's largest hyperscale data center markets by a wide margin
• Northern Virginia remains enormous despite signs that future development is moving elsewhere
• Texas recorded 71% capacity growth, far exceeding the worldwide increase of 36%

The United States has tightened its grip on global hyperscale data center infrastructure, now accounting for 15 of the world's 20 largest markets.

Northern Virginia remains the largest single market, housing nearly 12% of global hyperscale capacity and approximately 250 data centers within Loudoun County.

However, rapid growth elsewhere suggests America's data center expansion is spreading beyond established hubs as power, land, incentives, and opposition influence investment.

America's dominance extends well beyond Northern Virginia

The figures from Synergy Research Group show 20 state or metropolitan markets currently account for 60% of worldwide hyperscale data center capacity.

Northern Virginia and the Greater Beijing Area alone represent 17% of global capacity, followed by Oregon, Iowa, Ohio, Dallas-Fort Worth, Dublin, and Shanghai.

Fifteen of those 20 leading markets are located in America, while Asia-Pacific contains four and Europe has only one, in Dublin.

The balance has shifted further toward America during the past two years, reducing the number of non-US markets within the top 20.

Tokyo and Sydney have fallen from the ranking since last year, alongside South Carolina, while Indiana, Tennessee, and Guangdong entered.

Synergy says America's advantage partly comes from corporate concentration, because 62% of the world's hyperscale operators are headquartered in the U.S.

The country's enormous cloud market also matters, with the US accounting for almost half of revenues across several important segments.

Amazon, Microsoft, and Google have the broadest infrastructure footprints and together control 57% of worldwide hyperscale data center capacity.

“A range of factors influence the choice of location for hyperscale infrastructure, including customers, real estate, power, networking infrastructure, incentives, and political stability,” said John Dinsdale, Chief Analyst at Synergy Research Group.

Texas gains ground as established markets face constraints

Northern Virginia's existing scale remains exceptional, although Dinsdale said the region no longer features as strongly in future development plans.

Loudoun County expects approximately $1.3 billion next year from taxes on data center equipment, according to figures reported by the New York Times.

Yet the economic benefits must be considered alongside incentives, with one earlier report estimating that Virginia's concessions could cost $1.94 billion.

Meanwhile, Texas has emerged as one of the fastest-growing hyperscale markets, with operational capacity increasing by 71% over the past year.

The increase was substantially higher than the worldwide growth rate of 36%, while Indiana, Tennessee, Shanghai, Johor, and Jakarta also recorded strong expansion.

Synergy is currently tracking 915 future hyperscale facilities at different stages of planning, construction, development, or internal equipment installation.

It expects rankings to continue changing, particularly as established markets encounter electricity constraints and communities become more resistant to major developments.

The current figures imply overwhelming US dominance, but the pipeline suggests future growth will depend on whether individual locations can secure sufficient power.

Netflix subscribers can watch the extended preview of GTA 6 a few hours before everyone else, but patient gamers can stream it for free later. 

NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben speaks with Jørgen Hollesen, a Senior Researcher at the National Museum of Denmark, about how climate change is impacting the study of archaeology.

In a recent article for Foregin Affairs, Mark Leonard makes that argument that America's leading role in the world order is fading. He discusses his argument with NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben.

• China is moving its AI data centers into poor rural provinces
• Guizhou offers cooler weather, cheap land, and abundant renewable power
• New data centers must draw 80% of power from renewables

China is significantly expanding its data center capacity as artificial intelligence processing drives an unprecedented demand for computing power nationwide.

Much of this new infrastructure is being built away from the crowded eastern seaboard and placed in rural western provinces.

In 2021, the Chinese government formally named this approach the Eastern Data Western Computing strategy, marking a clear national policy shift.

Why the rural west has the advantage

Provinces such as Guizhou and Inner Mongolia offer cooler climates, abundant renewable energy, and vast amounts of empty, affordable land.

China has also mandated that all new data centers draw 80% of their power from renewable sources before the decade ends.

Regions with expanded solar and wind capacity, like Guizhou, make it easier for operators to meet those goals, according to Rystad Energy analyst Simeng Deng.

Large-scale server farms can also absorb curtailed renewable output, easing the ongoing problem of overproduced solar and wind energy nationwide.

Developing previously overlooked rural regions has become another expected benefit, though researchers remain sharply divided on its actual economic impact.

An uneven economic payoff

According to Andrew Stokols of Singapore Management University, data centers do not necessarily generate a meaningful ripple effect for local employment.

This pattern shows in Guizhou's growth figures, where heavy data center investment helped drive average annual GDP growth of 7.4% over the past decade, yet wage growth over that same period ranked second to last among all Chinese provinces, according to Taiwan-based researchers at DSET.

The province also carries one of China's heaviest public debt burdens, driven largely by heavy infrastructure spending and incentive programs.

In 2024, Guizhou also ranked 30th nationally for its debt-to-revenue ratio and 27th nationally for its debt-to-GDP ratio.

Still, residents of Guian New Area, a Guizhou district built around Huawei's largest data center, describe visible local change, including new roads, growing trade, and steady new job opportunities for residents living close by today as well.

Two universities have reportedly opened in the area since the data centers were constructed, according to local vendors.

Despite this uneven mix of growth, debt, and stalled wages, fierce global competition over computing power keeps construction of new facilities moving steadily forward.

China is expected to nearly double its total data center capacity within the next five years, industry estimates suggest, momentum which shows why Chinese policy documents were already linking computing power to national strength, even before AI's rapid growth.

"It's essential for national competitiveness in the age of digital technology," said Stokols.

Unlike in Europe and the United States, where data center projects often face local resistance, dissent in China remains tightly controlled.

The pattern suggests China is treating computing infrastructure as a matter of national strategy rather than pure local economic development.

Whether rural provinces eventually see the broader prosperity officials have long promised remains, for now, an open and unresolved question.

Via Techxplore

Razer Soma Chroma: One-minute review

I've reviewed a lot of gaming chairs, sat my butt on plenty of seats promising the best of the best comfort, or ergonomic longevity (I'm convinced noblechairs wants my posture to last me until I'm 126 years old), and I've got to say, aside from possibly the AndaSeat Novis, this might be the most comfortable chair I've ever sat in.

At least, part of it is. The seat base. The fabric, the material, lovely; the base width, great. The backrest? Right up my street. But the Soma is a bit of an odd one when it comes to everything else it's trying to do. And an even bigger issue is its launch day price tag.

It's $500/£500 (about $954 AUD), which is a lot, and yes, there's RGB lighting in this, but Razer doesn't include an integrated battery (or even an optional one at checkout), doesn't pack a long enough cable, and doesn't include an adapter. The brand doesn't even include a cushioned headrest (you have to buy that separately). For 500 bones, frankly, that's utter madness.

The RGB itself (two diffused strips that run alongside the upper part of the backrest) is forward-facing only, and you can't really see it when you're sat down. It's not like a keyboard or a mouse, which is at least in your periphery, and needing your machine on with the cable hooked up separately if you opt to go without a battery bank means you'll probably spend about 5-10 seconds every session watching it just light up.

It's great for a streamer, sure, but even then it does feel more like an advert rather than something classy.

I had the lighting on for a day when I first got it for testing, then promptly unhooked the USB cable Razer graciously provided me with and never touched it again. Best gaming chair? Well, it won't be because of its RGB; that's for sure.

(Image credit: Future)Razer Soma Chroma: Price and Availability

• Costs $500/£500 (about $954 AUD)
• Remarkably expensive given what it lacks
• Single colorway and fabric option

Right, now you can grab the Razer Soma Chroma for $500 USD and £500 GBP (about $954 AUD). It sits roughly between the Razer Iskur V2 X (at about $350) and the standard V2 (that's $600 or so).

You can pick one of these up today, although there's little in the way of choice. No different color options, no different materials, you get what you get.

Sold separately, of course, you can also get a male-to-female USB-C extension cable, headrest, and power source (you'll have to source your own on the latter).

On the warranty front, Razer's got you somewhat covered with a 14-day returns policy via the RazerStore, and as standard it comes with a 3-year warranty, which upgrades to 5 if purchased direct and registered.

Razer Soma Chroma: Specs

Price

$500/£500 (about AU$954)

Dimensions

53.1 x 26.4 x 28.1in / 135 x 67 x 71.5cm

Max user weight

331lbs / 150kg

Max seat height

20.1in / 51cm

Seat depth

18.5in / 47cm

Recline angle

Up to 155°

Warranty

3 years (free 5-year upgrade via Razer.com)

Material

Knit fabric, cold-cured foam

AndaSeat Phantom 4 Pro: Design and Aesthetics

• Bold gamer style
• Perforated channels for air (read: debris)
• Green logo on an RGB product

The Soma Chroma is unabashedly gamer. There's just no two ways about it: the sharp lines, jagged polygonal design, the channelling, the RGB, the stitching — it doesn't exactly give off this allure of premium professionalism. That's to say I'm sure 16-year-old Zak would've loved it, but me, sat here in my ‘rustic’ office, dealing with media, clients, and more on the daily, yeah it kinda sticks out like a sore thumb.

Particularly with the striking green Razer logo etched in the backrest right behind my head, in a not-so-obscure glossy green plastic. Which again I have to question. This is an RGB product, right? That means you can set that lighting (hypothetically, if you use it) to any color you like.

That's great, but certain colors clash with green quite aggressively. Bright reds, neon blue, pinks, high-saturation yellows. Basically all off limits, all because the logo's bright neon green. It's 2026, guys; we've had RGB products for a seriously long time now. I thought it was common knowledge that you don't stick colored accents on them.

The lighting is also awkwardly placed. You can't actually see it from the back of the chair, and it's solely positioned behind your head, facing forward, so you literally never see it, outside of the five to ten seconds you go to the toilet and sit back down again. It's diffused, it looks good when you do manage to catch a glimpse of the stuff, and you can easily configure it in Synapse, but honestly it just feels like a bit of a swing and a miss.

(Image credit: Future)

How'd you connect all that? Well, there's a short USB-C cable located in the back of the chair that hooks up to your battery bank, which you can then stow away in a small zip pocket in the seat base. But it's really short; that cable. If you're imagining some retractable 6-foot thing you can pull out when you need it, no, it's not that.

You're not connecting this thing to a wall plug, or anything of the sort. Razer provided me with a seriously long extension cable (two in fact) for it, but that doesn't come by default, annoyingly. And of course, there's no built-in battery, or included power bank, or the option to add one to your order. I used the extension cable to effectively run the entire chair to the back of my PC, and it does run off USB power. That said, you don't have to go that route; you can just use a USB plug, and then let the included wireless dongle handle the RGB side of things.

Now I'm done wailing on the lighting; the good news is the finish is genuinely lush, it's like a neoprene-feel soft-touch fabric, and it's a delight to sit on. I'm writing this review in the midst of yet another heat wave in the UK, and skin-on-chair contact has been genuinely lovely. Compare that to the number of AndaSeat's chairs I've reviewed recently that leave me begging for AC, and well, it's a nice change that's for sure.

Ok, we've had bad, we've had good, now it's back to bad. There are channels in the chair base, and I get the concept. The idea is that it helps air circulate your, well, back passage, to stop you heating up so quickly, and it kind of works. But it comes with a major caveat, and that's that it also holds onto all manner of dust and debris.

If you own a dog, or cat, or have a habit of sitting at your desk eating from time to time, you're cooked. You'll be getting the blow duster out you use for your PC on the chair base at least once a week.

(Image credit: Future)Razer Soma Chroma: Comfort and adjustability

• Super comfortable, wide seat base
• Generous lumbar support
• Armrests and the castors are letdowns

Fortunately for the Soma, sitting on it is a treat. The cold-foam base is comfortable as all hell, and the seat base is wide enough for the weirdos like me who sit cross-legged to do so in absolute bliss.

The armrests, however, are more basic, two-dimensional affairs. There's no four- or even three-directional setup here like you'd find on almost all of its modern counterparts from competitors at this price.

You can raise them up and down and swivel them, and that's it. They're padded and modestly squishy, but if you'd put them on an Ikea chair, I wouldn't be able to tell that they were Razer-designed and made.

Oh, and it doesn't roll. Well, it does, but it's just so frustratingly stiff it beggars belief. I wrote about this in the AndaSeat Phantom 4 Pro review earlier this year. It's basically, I think, a result of overcompliance with the EU's EN 1335-2 safety measure, which means that in an emergency any unmanned chair shouldn't move easily. I don't quite understand the logic behind that, but here we are.

(Image credit: Future)

And it frustrates me because I can't roll up and down my desk, or if I need to lightly move it to put my shoes on, or I just want to get more comfortable at my setup, it's a minor struggle. And yes, I know that's a first-world problem, but it's $500/£500 for this thing, from a seriously reputable brand.

One final flag from me before I move on. There's no headrest cushion included either. Razer will sell you a headrest, but it's at additional cost. Eugh. No magnetic freebie for you, no sir. Not even a strapped one.

Razer Soma Chroma: Assembly

• Seamless, standard build
• Missing shear bolt on recline
• Massive manual

As far as building the thing goes, the Soma Chroma is genuinely smooth. If you've built one gaming chair before, you'll get along with this one just fine. It's a bit heavy; Razer recommends you'll need two people to build it, but it's more than easy enough to do solo.

Plus the manual is massive, and printed onto a giant sheet of card, which feels a bit overkill (a book would've been fine; I'm not that old, I can read).

The only cause for concern is that you do need to be a touch careful installing the backrest, as there's no safety bolt sitting between you and the tilt angle arm. So if you do hit that lever too aggressively, there's a chance the bracket can snap forward. So do bear that in mind.

(Image credit: Future)Should You Buy The Razer Soma Chroma?Buy it if...

You want a genuinely comfortable chair
Soft-touch upholstery, impressively wide base, generous lumbar support, and that cold-density foam do the bulk of the work here. It's best at the boring bits.

You're a streamer
The one audience that actually sees the Chroma, you know, work, is yours. The RGB syncs with a good 300 games or so, and you can build out to your color scheme if you'd prefer

Don't buy it if...

You expect 500 bucks to cover everything
No head pillow, no cables, no power adapters, no battery. The things that make the Soma Chroma don't light up without an additional investment.

You actually move at your desk
Braked castors and static armrests make this a chair for sitting perfectly still rather than shifting around.

Also consider...

Make sure to consider these alternatives as well.

Razer Soma Chroma

Secretlab Titan Evo 2022

Razer Iskur V2

Price

$500 / £500 (about AU$954)

$519 / £414 / AU$724

$650 / £600 (or around AU$1,128)

Dimensions

53.1 x 26.4 x 28.1in / 135 x 67 x 71.5cm

54.3–58.3 x 27.6 x 27.6in / 138–148 x 70 x 70 cm

51.0–54.7 x 27.2 x 27.2in / 129.5–139 x 69 x 69cm

Max user weight

331lbs / 150kg

285lbs / 130kg

300lbs / 136kg

Max seat height

20.1in / 51cm

21.9in / 55.5cm

21.1in / 53.5cm

Seat depth

18.5in / 47cm

20.9in / 53cm

17.7in / 45cm

Recline angle

Up to 155°

85–165°

85–153.5°

Warranty

3 years (5 direct)

5-Years (extended warranty)

3-Years

Material

Knit fabric, cold-cured foam

NEO Hybrid Leatherette, SoftWeave Plus Fabric, Napa Leather

EPU Leatherette, Fabric

Secretlab Titan Evo 2022
The legendary Titan Evo is a TechRadar Gaming favorite for good reason. With exceptional comfort, removable magnetic lumbar support, and a size range that covers every-shaped human under the sun, it's well worth considering if the Soma just doesn't feel like the right home for your butt.

For more information, check out our full Secretlab Titan Evo 2022 review

Razer Iskur V2
Like the Soma Chroma but better. With dedicated built-in lumbar support, it's a solid trooper in the world of gaming chairs. It's even got the build quality and aesthetic chops to match albeit at a slightly inflated price.

For more information, check out our full Razer Iskur V2 review

How I tested the Razer Soma Chroma

• Used for over a month
• Fully built by hand solo
• Set up in all manner of configurations

I spent well over a month with the Razer Soma Chroma, testing the ins and outs of how it held up under serious usage. Working from home, it endured the hardships of a constant 9-5 "office" job, along with late evening gaming sessions, through normal operating conditions and heatwaves abound.

I've spent years testing gaming chairs from all manner of manufacturers, and I compared this one directly to a slew of products from AndaSeat, Noblechairs, and Secretlab as well. I also fully tested the Synapse and WiFi dongle, and tracked the real-world usage and feel of it throughout the month, documenting any moment where I thought "ahh this is good" or "ahh not so good".

I also got my five-foot-five partner to sit in and provide me with her direct feedback as well, along with a few close friends to get their thoughts and feelings on it, which directly feeds the opinions you see here as well. I questioned them intensely on the comfort, the feel, and the build quality of the Soma Chroma to get a broad picture of opinions on it.

Read more about how we test.

First reviewed August 2026

Razer Soma Chroma: One-minute review

I've reviewed a lot of gaming chairs, sat my butt on plenty of seats promising the best of the best comfort, or ergonomic longevity (I'm convinced noblechairs wants my posture to last me until I'm 126 years old), and I've got to say, aside from possibly the AndaSeat Novis, this might be the most comfortable chair I've ever sat in.

At least, part of it is. The seat base. The fabric, the material, lovely; the base width, great. The backrest? Right up my street. But the Soma is a bit of an odd one when it comes to everything else it's trying to do. And an even bigger issue is its launch day price tag.

It's $500/£500 (about $954 AUD), which is a lot, and yes, there's RGB lighting in this, but Razer doesn't include an integrated battery (or even an optional one at checkout), doesn't pack a long enough cable, and doesn't include an adapter. The brand doesn't even include a cushioned headrest (you have to buy that separately). For 500 bones, frankly, that's utter madness.

The RGB itself (two diffused strips that run alongside the upper part of the backrest) is forward-facing only, and you can't really see it when you're sat down. It's not like a keyboard or a mouse, which is at least in your periphery, and needing your machine on with the cable hooked up separately if you opt to go without a battery bank means you'll probably spend about 5-10 seconds every session watching it just light up.

It's great for a streamer, sure, but even then it does feel more like an advert rather than something classy.

I had the lighting on for a day when I first got it for testing, then promptly unhooked the USB cable Razer graciously provided me with and never touched it again. Best gaming chair? Well, it won't be because of its RGB; that's for sure.

(Image credit: Future)Razer Soma Chroma: Price and Availability

• Costs $500/£500 (about $954 AUD)
• Remarkably expensive given what it lacks
• Single colorway and fabric option

Right, now you can grab the Razer Soma Chroma for $500 USD and £500 GBP (about $954 AUD). It sits roughly between the Razer Iskur V2 X (at about $350) and the standard V2 (that's $600 or so).

You can pick one of these up today, although there's little in the way of choice. No different color options, no different materials, you get what you get.

Sold separately, of course, you can also get a male-to-female USB-C extension cable, headrest, and power source (you'll have to source your own on the latter).

On the warranty front, Razer's got you somewhat covered with a 14-day returns policy via the RazerStore, and as standard it comes with a 3-year warranty, which upgrades to 5 if purchased direct and registered.

Razer Soma Chroma: Specs

Price

$500/£500 (about AU$954)

Dimensions

53.1 x 26.4 x 28.1in / 135 x 67 x 71.5cm

Max user weight

331lbs / 150kg

Max seat height

20.1in / 51cm

Seat depth

18.5in / 47cm

Recline angle

Up to 155°

Warranty

3 years (free 5-year upgrade via Razer.com)

Material

Knit fabric, cold-cured foam

AndaSeat Phantom 4 Pro: Design and Aesthetics

• Bold gamer style
• Perforated channels for air (read: debris)
• Green logo on an RGB product

The Soma Chroma is unabashedly gamer. There's just no two ways about it: the sharp lines, jagged polygonal design, the channelling, the RGB, the stitching — it doesn't exactly give off this allure of premium professionalism. That's to say I'm sure 16-year-old Zak would've loved it, but me, sat here in my ‘rustic’ office, dealing with media, clients, and more on the daily, yeah it kinda sticks out like a sore thumb.

Particularly with the striking green Razer logo etched in the backrest right behind my head, in a not-so-obscure glossy green plastic. Which again I have to question. This is an RGB product, right? That means you can set that lighting (hypothetically, if you use it) to any color you like.

That's great, but certain colors clash with green quite aggressively. Bright reds, neon blue, pinks, high-saturation yellows. Basically all off limits, all because the logo's bright neon green. It's 2026, guys; we've had RGB products for a seriously long time now. I thought it was common knowledge that you don't stick colored accents on them.

The lighting is also awkwardly placed. You can't actually see it from the back of the chair, and it's solely positioned behind your head, facing forward, so you literally never see it, outside of the five to ten seconds you go to the toilet and sit back down again. It's diffused, it looks good when you do manage to catch a glimpse of the stuff, and you can easily configure it in Synapse, but honestly it just feels like a bit of a swing and a miss.

(Image credit: Future)

How'd you connect all that? Well, there's a short USB-C cable located in the back of the chair that hooks up to your battery bank, which you can then stow away in a small zip pocket in the seat base. But it's really short; that cable. If you're imagining some retractable 6-foot thing you can pull out when you need it, no, it's not that.

You're not connecting this thing to a wall plug, or anything of the sort. Razer provided me with a seriously long extension cable (two in fact) for it, but that doesn't come by default, annoyingly. And of course, there's no built-in battery, or included power bank, or the option to add one to your order. I used the extension cable to effectively run the entire chair to the back of my PC, and it does run off USB power. That said, you don't have to go that route; you can just use a USB plug, and then let the included wireless dongle handle the RGB side of things.

Now I'm done wailing on the lighting; the good news is the finish is genuinely lush, it's like a neoprene-feel soft-touch fabric, and it's a delight to sit on. I'm writing this review in the midst of yet another heat wave in the UK, and skin-on-chair contact has been genuinely lovely. Compare that to the number of AndaSeat's chairs I've reviewed recently that leave me begging for AC, and well, it's a nice change that's for sure.

Ok, we've had bad, we've had good, now it's back to bad. There are channels in the chair base, and I get the concept. The idea is that it helps air circulate your, well, back passage, to stop you heating up so quickly, and it kind of works. But it comes with a major caveat, and that's that it also holds onto all manner of dust and debris.

If you own a dog, or cat, or have a habit of sitting at your desk eating from time to time, you're cooked. You'll be getting the blow duster out you use for your PC on the chair base at least once a week.

(Image credit: Future)Razer Soma Chroma: Comfort and adjustability

• Super comfortable, wide seat base
• Generous lumbar support
• Armrests and the castors are letdowns

Fortunately for the Soma, sitting on it is a treat. The cold-foam base is comfortable as all hell, and the seat base is wide enough for the weirdos like me who sit cross-legged to do so in absolute bliss.

The armrests, however, are more basic, two-dimensional affairs. There's no four- or even three-directional setup here like you'd find on almost all of its modern counterparts from competitors at this price.

You can raise them up and down and swivel them, and that's it. They're padded and modestly squishy, but if you'd put them on an Ikea chair, I wouldn't be able to tell that they were Razer-designed and made.

Oh, and it doesn't roll. Well, it does, but it's just so frustratingly stiff it beggars belief. I wrote about this in the AndaSeat Phantom 4 Pro review earlier this year. It's basically, I think, a result of overcompliance with the EU's EN 1335-2 safety measure, which means that in an emergency any unmanned chair shouldn't move easily. I don't quite understand the logic behind that, but here we are.

(Image credit: Future)

And it frustrates me because I can't roll up and down my desk, or if I need to lightly move it to put my shoes on, or I just want to get more comfortable at my setup, it's a minor struggle. And yes, I know that's a first-world problem, but it's $500/£500 for this thing, from a seriously reputable brand.

One final flag from me before I move on. There's no headrest cushion included either. Razer will sell you a headrest, but it's at additional cost. Eugh. No magnetic freebie for you, no sir. Not even a strapped one.

Razer Soma Chroma: Assembly

• Seamless, standard build
• Missing shear bolt on recline
• Massive manual

As far as building the thing goes, the Soma Chroma is genuinely smooth. If you've built one gaming chair before, you'll get along with this one just fine. It's a bit heavy; Razer recommends you'll need two people to build it, but it's more than easy enough to do solo.

Plus the manual is massive, and printed onto a giant sheet of card, which feels a bit overkill (a book would've been fine; I'm not that old, I can read).

The only cause for concern is that you do need to be a touch careful installing the backrest, as there's no safety bolt sitting between you and the tilt angle arm. So if you do hit that lever too aggressively, there's a chance the bracket can snap forward. So do bear that in mind.

(Image credit: Future)Should You Buy The Razer Soma Chroma?Buy it if...

You want a genuinely comfortable chair
Soft-touch upholstery, impressively wide base, generous lumbar support, and that cold-density foam do the bulk of the work here. It's best at the boring bits.

You're a streamer
The one audience that actually sees the Chroma, you know, work, is yours. The RGB syncs with a good 300 games or so, and you can build out to your color scheme if you'd prefer

Don't buy it if...

You expect 500 bucks to cover everything
No head pillow, no cables, no power adapters, no battery. The things that make the Soma Chroma don't light up without an additional investment.

You actually move at your desk
Braked castors and static armrests make this a chair for sitting perfectly still rather than shifting around.

Also consider...

Make sure to consider these alternatives as well.

Razer Soma Chroma

Secretlab Titan Evo 2022

Razer Iskur V2

Price

$500 / £500 (about AU$954)

$519 / £414 / AU$724

$650 / £600 (or around AU$1,128)

Dimensions

53.1 x 26.4 x 28.1in / 135 x 67 x 71.5cm

54.3–58.3 x 27.6 x 27.6in / 138–148 x 70 x 70 cm

51.0–54.7 x 27.2 x 27.2in / 129.5–139 x 69 x 69cm

Max user weight

331lbs / 150kg

285lbs / 130kg

300lbs / 136kg

Max seat height

20.1in / 51cm

21.9in / 55.5cm

21.1in / 53.5cm

Seat depth

18.5in / 47cm

20.9in / 53cm

17.7in / 45cm

Recline angle

Up to 155°

85–165°

85–153.5°

Warranty

3 years (5 direct)

5-Years (extended warranty)

3-Years

Material

Knit fabric, cold-cured foam

NEO Hybrid Leatherette, SoftWeave Plus Fabric, Napa Leather

EPU Leatherette, Fabric

Secretlab Titan Evo 2022
The legendary Titan Evo is a TechRadar Gaming favorite for good reason. With exceptional comfort, removable magnetic lumbar support, and a size range that covers every-shaped human under the sun, it's well worth considering if the Soma just doesn't feel like the right home for your butt.

For more information, check out our full Secretlab Titan Evo 2022 review

Razer Iskur V2
Like the Soma Chroma but better. With dedicated built-in lumbar support, it's a solid trooper in the world of gaming chairs. It's even got the build quality and aesthetic chops to match albeit at a slightly inflated price.

For more information, check out our full Razer Iskur V2 review

How I tested the Razer Soma Chroma

• Used for over a month
• Fully built by hand solo
• Set up in all manner of configurations

I spent well over a month with the Razer Soma Chroma, testing the ins and outs of how it held up under serious usage. Working from home, it endured the hardships of a constant 9-5 "office" job, along with late evening gaming sessions, through normal operating conditions and heatwaves abound.

I've spent years testing gaming chairs from all manner of manufacturers, and I compared this one directly to a slew of products from AndaSeat, Noblechairs, and Secretlab as well. I also fully tested the Synapse and WiFi dongle, and tracked the real-world usage and feel of it throughout the month, documenting any moment where I thought "ahh this is good" or "ahh not so good".

I also got my five-foot-five partner to sit in and provide me with her direct feedback as well, along with a few close friends to get their thoughts and feelings on it, which directly feeds the opinions you see here as well. I questioned them intensely on the comfort, the feel, and the build quality of the Soma Chroma to get a broad picture of opinions on it.

Read more about how we test.

First reviewed August 2026

• Brave1 lets Ukrainian units order drones built to exact specifications
• Military units have spent nearly one billion dollars through Brave1 Market
• Buyers can adjust seventeen different drone specifications before placing an order

A new procurement system launched by Ukraine's Brave1 defense cluster now allows Ukrainian military units to commission drones built to their own specifications.

The system operates through the existing Brave1 Market platform, where military units can request drones tailored to particular operational requirements.

Military units placed roughly $1 billion worth of orders for defense technologies through the platform during its first year of operation.

A more flexible way to buy

This digital marketplace currently has over 1,000 defense innovations spanning unmanned aerial vehicles, ground robotic systems, electronic warfare and signals intelligence equipment, specialized components, AI-powered solutions, software applications, and ammunition.

Custom ordering, however, is currently limited to a small slice of that catalog. At this stage, only three drone categories qualify for custom orders: standard FPV strike drones, fiber-optic FPV variants, and fixed-wing interceptors.

Seventeen separate specifications are open to adjustment under the new system, ranging from communication equipment and cameras to payload capacity and flight time.

Submitted requests are routed automatically to a pool of suppliers, each of whom can choose to bid or opt out entirely.

"All stages of interaction and decision-making are automatically recorded in the system," said Brave1.

If a military unit decides not to proceed with a purchase, it must provide a clearly justified reason for the decision.

Brave1 says the automated approach aims to give military units systems tailored to specific battlefield missions while keeping procurement rules transparent for suppliers.

The system also provides the state with a complete digital record and verified data for every transaction made across the platform.

The platform also allows complaints to be filed against either buyers or suppliers if disputes arise during the process at any later stage.

When multiple suppliers submit matching technical proposals, the system triggers a competitive bidding process, and the cheapest offer ultimately secures the deal.

Once bidding wraps up, the requesting unit finalizes an agreement directly with the chosen manufacturer, bypassing extra bureaucratic steps in the process.

Suppliers who decline a specific request face no penalty under the current system, according to the company's statement released this week.

Expanding categories and remaining limits

Brave1 said the procurement process is designed to remain transparent and competitive for all participating suppliers throughout every stage of the transaction.

Brave1 plans to expand the range of eligible systems considerably further in the coming months, including the eventual addition of unmanned ground vehicles.

For now, the feature applies only to purchases financed with military units' own funds, excluding the state eBaly procurement system.

Units can even request equipment that hasn't received official classification yet, something the standard state procurement process typically does not allow.

This shift toward customer-driven procurement suggests Ukraine is trying to close the gap between battlefield needs and manufacturing speed during an active war.

Other governments observing Ukraine's wartime innovations may eventually consider similar digital procurement models for their own defense industries in the years ahead.

Via United24media

If you're in the market for a capable smartwatch and a robust health tracker, then Garmin's Venu 3 is an excellent choice. While it's an older model (released in 2023), it's packed with insightful features, and in our Garmin Venu 3 review, we called it 'a near-perfect balance of smartwatch and health tracker'.

Amazon has dropped the Garmin Venu 3 to $294.99 (originally $449.99), which is the lowest price we've ever seen and a whopping $155 discount.

• Shop more daily deals at Amazon

The Garmin Venu 3 is the predecessor to the Venu 4, which currently holds the top spot in our best Garmin watch guide. Great for outdoor enthusiasts, the Venu 3 features advanced GPS tracking, a water-resistant design, and an extended battery life of up to 14 days. The smartwatch also tracks heart rate, respiration, blood oxygen saturation, sleep, and stress levels and includes a speaker and microphone so you can take calls from your wrist.

Today's limited-time offer on the Garmin Venu 3 from Amazon is not only a new record-low price, but it's also superb value for a rugged smartwatch that's packed with health and fitness features.

Garmin's Venu 3 for a record-low price at Amazon

Venu 3 Premium Fitness Smartwatch: was $449.99 now $294.99
The Garmin Venu 3 once sat atop our guide to the best Garmin watches, with our fitness experts calling it "the best for most people". The new Venu 4 has replaced it, but this last-gen model still offers an excellent balance of advanced sports metrics and communication features at a new record-low price.View Deal

Poco F8 Pro review: Two-minute review

(Image credit: Nirave Gondhia)

Over the past two decades, I’ve been lucky enough to test hundreds of smartphones from a range of brands around the world. Some of these brands receive the credit they’re due, others are criticized fairly or unfairly, and some fail to get the global recognition they deserve.

Xiaomi's sub-brand, Poco, falls into the latter category, and the Poco F8 Pro is another example of an extraordinary phone that should be talked about more than it is.

While its pricier sibling, the Poco F8 Ultra, packs true flagship specs and a stunning denim material finish, the Poco F8 Pro more closely follows Poco’s model: take the core features that every smartphone user needs, build a great overall experience, and offer it at a truly affordable price.

The Poco F8 Pro marries the first-gen flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset with 12GB of RAM and either 256GB or 512GB of storage. Yes, this is not the second-gen Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 that powers many of the current best Android phones, but you’d be hard-pressed to notice the difference. The Poco F8 Pro flies through day-to-day tasks with flagship-level ease, and its Bose-tuned stereo speakers deliver the same great audio experience as its pricier sibling.

There’s also an excellent 6.59-inch 120Hz OLED display, which is my favorite size for a smartphone screen, and it’s wonderful to use, with a 3,500-nit peak brightness and excellent color reproduction. As is customary with Poco phones, there’s no skimping on battery life, either, with the F8 Pro packing a 6,210mAh battery that can last for multiple days, and 100W charging that’s among the fastest on any phone.

There’s also a 2.5x telephoto camera, a first for Poco’s Pro lineup, although it does lack OIS. That’s indicative of the Poco F8 Pro as a whole; yes, there are compromises — including a lack of wireless charging, occasional slowdowns under heavy gaming loads, sluggish USB speeds, and some bloatware in apps — but if you can live with them, this phone offers the best value-for-money in its price bracket.

Poco F8 Pro review: price and availability

(Image credit: Nirave Gondhia)

• Launched for £549
• The current retail price in the UK is ~£449
• Not available in the US or Australia

In terms of availability, the Poco F8 Pro falls into the "widely available outside the US" category, and if you’re in the UK, you’ll find it’s priced extremely aggressively (the phone can be imported to the US, but its network compatibility will be limited).

At the time of writing in August 2026, the 256GB model is available for just £449. That's £100 cheaper than its already reasonable £599 launch price, and exceptional value for money in 2026 (note that the Poco F9 series is likely to arrive towards the end of the year, though we're expecting to see a sizeable price hike for all models).

This £400-£500 range pits the F8 Pro directly against devices like the Google Pixel 10a, Nothing Phone (4a), and Samsung Galaxy A57. But compared to these phones, it offers the fewest compromises against a £1,000+ flagship. If you want the higher 512GB storage option, that configuration has also been discounted by £100 to £499.

The Poco F8 Pro is available in three colors: Black, Blue, and Titanium Silver. There’s no denim-leather finish, like you'll find on the Poco F8 Ultra, but my Titanium Silver unit did come with a nice silicone case in the box.

• Value score: 5 / 5

Poco F8 Pro review: specsPoco F8 Pro

Dimensions:

163.2 x 78 x 7.5mm

Weight:

194g

Display:

6.83-inch AMOLED (1280 x 2772), 120Hz, 3,200 nits peak brightness

Chipset:

MediaTek Dimensity 8400 Ultra

RAM:

12GB RAM

Storage:

256GB / 512GB

OS:

Android 15, but Android 16 is now available

Primary camera:

50MP, f/1.7
1/1.55-inch sensor
PDAF, OIS

Ultra-wide camera:

12MP, f/2.2, 120°
1/3.06-inch sensor,

Telephoto camera:

50MP, f/1.9, 46mm
1/2.75-inch sensor
2x optical zoom, PDAF

Selfie camera:

32MP, f/2.2
1/3.44-inch sensor

Battery:

5,500mAh

Charging:

67W wired

Colors:

Black, Gray, Rose Gold

Poco F8 Pro review: design

(Image credit: Nirave Gondhia)

• Three colors
• Premium aluminum and glass design
• 6.59-inch display is ergonomically friendly

I mentioned earlier that 6.59 inches is my favorite smartphone screen size, and that’s because it's at the top end of the perfect 6.5-6.6-inch range. With these sizes, I’ve found you get the comfort benefits of a smaller phone like the Pixel 10 Pro while also getting the viewing benefits of larger flagships like the Galaxy 26 Ultra.

The F8 Pro strikes the perfect balance between those two phone sizes, and it pays off: it’s very comfortable to hold. Yes, it lacks the added grip of the denim leather finish on the Poco F8 Ultra, but the F8 Pro's is a more mature approach that appeals to everyone. Instead of a denim back, you get a flat aluminum frame paired with a frosted glass rear panel. It’s adult and functional, but deliberately less interesting than its flashier sibling.

(Image credit: Nirave Gondhia)

What makes this design more comfortable is the overall lack of heft: weighing 199g and measuring 8.1mm thick, this is a phone that’s lighter than most, and that pays dividends in the overall experience. What's more, despite being thinner and lighter than many other phones, the F8 Pro still offers full IP68 dust and water resistance; it's one of only a few devices to do so at this price point.

At the top of the phone, you’ll find the IR blaster, which is a common feature of Chinese-made phones, and it’s brilliant. I think every phone maker should bring back an IR blaster, as it’s a feature you don’t know you need until you lose your TV remote or need to bypass a locked-down hotel TV remote. Yes, the IR blaster has solved both of those problems for me.

• Design score: 4.5 / 5

Poco F8 Pro review: display

(Image credit: Nirave Gondhia)

• 6.59-inch 120Hz OLED display
• Flagship-grade color accuracy

The F8 Pro's 6.59-inch display is not only the perfect size but also an excellent all-around panel. Poco has rightly recognized that the display is arguably the most important part of any phone, and here you get a vibrant, rich, and colorful display that’s a joy to use.

Poco claims the display can reach a peak brightness of 3,500 nits. In day-to-day use, it is apparent that this display isn’t just bright; it’s extremely colorful, with testing showing it covers 99.2% of the sRGB gamut and 96.5% of the DCI-P3 color space. This is flagship-level display performance, and it makes the Poco F8 Pro a champion for consuming content.

(Image credit: Nirave Gondhia)

Beyond that, there’s a 120Hz dynamic refresh rate. While it lacks the expensive LTPO technology found on £1,000+ flagships, the phone's software automatically cycles between 60Hz and 120Hz depending on the content you’re using. The higher refresh rate is perfect for super-smooth scrolling and gaming, but drops to save battery when you’re just reading a book or an article online.

The display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 7i, which offers strong durability against general wear and tear. Across my testing, I have had no concerns about the toughness of the F8 Pro's screen.

• Display score: 4.5 / 5

Poco F8 Pro review: cameras

(Image credit: Nirave Gondhia)

• 50MP main sensor
• First Poco Pro with 2.5x optical telephoto
• 8MP ultra-wide camera

Poco’s rivals should take note of the Poco F8 Pro for several reasons — most of which are positive. Poco has traditionally ignored telephotos on its more affordable devices, but the Poco F8 Pro marks a shift in this area, likely driven by increased competition from triple-camera-toting rivals.

Although Poco has added a 50MP telephoto lens with 2.5x optical zoom, it lacks OIS, and the ultra-wide camera is an 8MP snapper that just about scrapes by. The 50MP Light Fusion 800 main camera sensor, meanwhile, takes excellent daylight photos with dynamic range and natural colors that look fantastic on the Poco F8 Pro screen.

The new telephoto lens does a decent job overall, but it’s nothing to write home about, and somewhat ironically, the 50MP main sensor enables a 2x in-sensor crop that can take better photos than the telephoto lens. The lack of OIS means you’ll get some blurry photos unless your hands are perfectly stable, so while it’s great that a telephoto lens exists, it won’t be as capable as those you'll find on a true flagship smartphone camera.

While the main rear camera can handle up to 4K video at 60 fps (and even 8K at 30 fps), the 20MP selfie camera is noticeably compromised, with Poco limiting selfie video capture to 1080p. These aren’t necessarily dealbreakers, but they are compromises you need to be conscious of.

Poco F8 Pro review: camera samplesNirave GondhioaNirave GondhioaNirave GondhioaNirave GondhioaNirave GondhioaNirave GondhioaNirave GondhioaNirave GondhioaNirave GondhioaNirave GondhioaNirave GondhioaNirave GondhioaNirave GondhioaNirave GondhioaNirave GondhioaNirave Gondhioa

• Camera score: 3.5 / 5

Poco F8 Pro review: performance

(Image credit: Nirave Gondhia)

• Flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset
• 12GB RAM + 256GB/512GB storage
• Excellent in-display fingerprint sensor

If speedy performance is your jam, look no further: the Poco F8 Pro has the best processor you’ll find in a smartphone at this price.

The Poco F8 Pro uses the first-generation Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, which is paired with 12GB of RAM and either 256GB or 512GB of storage. This processor powered many of the best Android phones last year (including the Galaxy S25 Ultra), making it extremely powerful and far superior to the mid-range chipsets used by other phones at this price point.

During day-to-day use, the chipset absolutely shines. It’s fast to respond, shows no signs of slowing down, and often reminds me of the Duracell bunny in that it just keeps on going. If you want a phone that can handle most things you throw at it, this is the best package at this price point. It’s great for everything from everyday multitasking and social media to emulating Nintendo Switch games, though it struggles under the heaviest gaming loads.

(Image credit: Nirave Gondhia)

Many phones aren’t limited by their internals as much as by how effectively phone makers manage thermals, and Poco firmly took the approach of raw power over cool operation in the F8 Pro. This means the aluminum frame and camera island can get a tad warm to the touch, but not to the point where it’s dangerous.

Where Poco does deserve credit is for the excellent in-display fingerprint sensor, which is fantastic even with wet or sweaty fingers. This is among the best in-display fingerprint sensors on any phone, and it’s wonderful that Poco chose not to skimp on this feature like many rivals in this category.

However, the F8 Pro is an exercise in acceptable compromise, so you do have to live with sluggish USB 2.0 wired speeds. Mind you, this is a trade-off I find acceptable, especially since you can use wireless transfer apps like LocalSend to easily send files to other devices or to your Mac or PC.

• Performance score: 4.5 / 5

Poco F8 Pro review: software

(Image credit: Nirave Gondhia)

• HyperOS 3.0 with Android 16
• 4 Android updates and 5 years of security updates
• Bogged down by bloatware and ads

Like all current Xiaomi phones, the Poco F8 Pro runs HyperOS 3.0 on top of Android 16. Depending on what you are used to, HyperOS 3.0 will either be comfortable or polarizing.

All phone makers are now forced to focus on longevity as well as features, especially as phones cost more and customers upgrade less frequently. For Poco, this presents an interesting challenge: it offers a respectable four years of Android version updates and five years of security updates, which provides some longevity, but it is known to be slow in pushing these updates out to users.

Look beyond this (and the final point below), and you’ll find that Xiaomi actually has some neat software features. Take Hyper Island, which looks and feels exactly like Apple’s Dynamic Island. It was inevitable that Xiaomi would be among the first to adopt (read: copy) this feature, and while the UX is unabashedly inspired by Apple, Xiaomi has executed it extremely well. Timers, voice recordings, and music playback all minimize into a dynamic bubble centered around the selfie camera.

Then there’s Hyper Connect, which makes even more sense in light of the above. Like many Android phone makers, Xiaomi is targeting Apple users, and Hyper Connect enables file sharing, clipboard syncing, and interoperability with Apple devices, as well as other Android phones and PCs.

(Image credit: Nirave Gondhia)

Throughout this review, I’ve talked about compromises, and the biggest one comes in the software department. But first, some context: simply put, there isn’t much margin in making affordable smartphones, especially given the current AI-fueled RAM and storage shortage, which has increased the cost of these components by up to 10x.

What this actually means for you is that Poco had to either raise prices or offset higher costs with higher income from alternative revenue sources, such as ads. In native apps like Themes, Files, and Security, you’ll find annoying system-level ads that slow down the experience. There are also many preloaded apps, although you can at least remove these.

All of this serves as a reminder that this phone has compromises, which detract from the overall experience. However, the pragmatist in me also recognizes that companies like Poco already had tight margins before the current RAM crisis, which will have been eroded further, and if ads like these mean it’s possible to keep making phones like these, then this is a trade-off that becomes slightly more acceptable. I’d rather they didn’t exist, but I also recognize that the raw cost of tech has exploded in a very short amount of time.

• Software score: 3.5 / 5

Poco F8 Pro review: battery life

(Image credit: Nirave Gondhia)

• Huge 6,210mAh battery
• 100W charging gets you to full in 42 minutes
• No wireless charging

What happens when you put a humongous battery in a phone with a power-efficient display and flagship performance? You get phenomenal battery life, and when you need to top it up, one of the fastest charging speeds of any smartphone.

The 6,210mAh battery in the Poco F8 Pro is massive, and far larger than batteries offered by the mid-range competition. It features Poco’s latest silicon-carbon technology, which offers much higher energy density, allowing Poco to pack a larger battery into the same size or a smaller phone.

In practical use, it offers around 7 to 9 hours of screen time over up to two days, depending on your settings. This puts the F8 Pro on par with most flagship phones and makes it superior to others in this category.

Then there’s 100W charging, and it’s ridiculously fast, charging your phone to full in around 42 minutes. This gives it a charging rate of around 148mAh per minute (mAh/min), which is considerably faster than its rivals, and almost three times the speed of the 30W charging on the Google Pixel 10a (57 mAh/min).

Again, like any phone at this price, there are compromises, but in this case, it’s the lack of wireless charging or an included charger. The former is a dealbreaker for some, while the latter is common practice among flagship smartphone makers but a shift for Poco, which traditionally included a charger in the box. Regardless, for most people, this is the best battery life you can get at this price.

• Battery score: 4 / 5

Should you buy the Poco F8 Pro?

(Image credit: Nirave Gondhia)Poco F8 Pro scorecard

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Design

Sleek and durable with a premium aluminum frame, IP68 water resistance, and an excellent ultrasonic fingerprint scanner, let down only by sluggish USB 2.0 speeds.

4.5 / 5

Display

The 6.59-inch 120Hz OLED panel is vibrant, exceptionally bright at up to 3,500 nits, and accurate, making it a total treat for gaming and watching content.

4.5 / 5

Performance

Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite, daily multitasking is blazingly fast and responsive, though thermals can run warm under sustained, high-intensity 3D gaming loads.

4.5 / 5

Camera

A versatile camera array bolstered by a new 2.5x telephoto lens and solid main sensor, though lack of OIS on zoom and mediocre selfie video and ultra-wide cameras hold it back.

3.5 / 5

Battery

The massive 6,210mAh battery easily delivers multi-day endurance, paired with blistering 100W fast charging that eclipses rivals, though it lacks wireless charging.

5 / 5

Software

HyperOS 3.0 offers slick animations, clever Apple connectivity, and Hyper Island, but is held back by system-level ads, preloaded bloatware, and historically sluggish update rollouts.

3.5 / 5

Value

Unbeatable value for money. It undercuts top-tier flagships by roughly 40% while delivering flagship-level core specs, making it the premier choice in its price bracket.

5 / 5

Buy it if...

You want great bang for your buck
This phone offers an incredible flagship-like experience at a price tag that won’t hit your wallet as hard.

You don’t need the best camera
The camera is fine, but it's an area where Poco had to compromise slightly. It’s worth noting that the F8 Pro takes good enough photos for many people.

You want phenomenal battery life and fast charging
The Poco F8 Pro is the Energizer Bunny of smartphones. If battery life is important to you, look no further: it excels in day-to-day use and offers ridiculously fast charging.

Don't buy it if...

You want the best phone that money can buy
The Poco F8 Pro's specs are definitely impressive, but more expensive phones do offer a more complete experience overall.

You need the best camera
If photography is important to you, this camera, especially the zoom, may be a disappointment. The main camera is usually good enough, but the same can’t be said for the ultra-wide, telephoto, or selfie cameras.

You want software longevity
HyperOS has ads, questionable update timeliness, and an inferior integration of AI services like Gemini. This will be a dealbreaker for some, but not for others, and the Poco F8 Pro is definitely for the latter group.

Poco F8 Pro: also consider

There are three real competitors worth considering, but like the Poco F8 Pro, they all have their compromises.

Google Pixel 10a
The Google Pixel 10a starts at £449 or $499 with 128GB of storage. It offers the best of Google's software, and although it has only one camera, it’s proven extremely capable. The problem? It feels like a considerable compromise in flagship specs for the benefit of AI features and better updates.

Read our full Google Pixel 10a review

Samsung Galaxy A57
Then there’s the Galaxy A57, and this phone brings the best of Samsung’s Galaxy S26 to a more affordable price point. It costs $550 (or £450 in the UK) for 8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, three cameras, an Exynos processor, and a large 5,000 mAh battery. It’s not quite at the same level as the Poco, but it has better updates, wider support, and greater availability.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy A57 review

Nothing Phone (4a) Pro
The other phone that’s definitely worth considering is the Nothing (4a) Pro. Priced at $499 or £499, it’s one of the most unique phones you’ll find, thanks to its Glyph Matrix display on the rear. Key reasons to consider the Nothing 4a Pro? A more unique design and better selfie and telephoto cameras. Both phones are pretty evenly matched, but the Poco F8 Pro has a better display, charging, battery life, and performance.

Read our full Nothing Phone (4a) Pro review

How I tested the Poco F8 Pro

• Review test period = ~2 weeks
• Testing included = Everyday usage, including navigation, web browsing, social media, photography, gaming, streaming video, music playback, and reading e-books.
• Tools used = Geekbench 6, 3DMark, CellMark, native Android stats

Why you can trust TechRadar

☑️ 100s of smartphones reviewed
☑️ 15 years of product testing
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☑️ Nearly 200,000 hours testing tech

I used the Poco F8 Pro for approximately two weeks across two different stints, including over a week of consistent usage before writing this review.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed: May 2026

Poco F8 Pro review: Two-minute review

(Image credit: Nirave Gondhia)

Over the past two decades, I’ve been lucky enough to test hundreds of smartphones from a range of brands around the world. Some of these brands receive the credit they’re due, others are criticized fairly or unfairly, and some fail to get the global recognition they deserve.

Xiaomi's sub-brand, Poco, falls into the latter category, and the Poco F8 Pro is another example of an extraordinary phone that should be talked about more than it is.

While its pricier sibling, the Poco F8 Ultra, packs true flagship specs and a stunning denim material finish, the Poco F8 Pro more closely follows Poco’s model: take the core features that every smartphone user needs, build a great overall experience, and offer it at a truly affordable price.

The Poco F8 Pro marries the first-gen flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset with 12GB of RAM and either 256GB or 512GB of storage. Yes, this is not the second-gen Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 that powers many of the current best Android phones, but you’d be hard-pressed to notice the difference. The Poco F8 Pro flies through day-to-day tasks with flagship-level ease, and its Bose-tuned stereo speakers deliver the same great audio experience as its pricier sibling.

There’s also an excellent 6.59-inch 120Hz OLED display, which is my favorite size for a smartphone screen, and it’s wonderful to use, with a 3,500-nit peak brightness and excellent color reproduction. As is customary with Poco phones, there’s no skimping on battery life, either, with the F8 Pro packing a 6,210mAh battery that can last for multiple days, and 100W charging that’s among the fastest on any phone.

There’s also a 2.5x telephoto camera, a first for Poco’s Pro lineup, although it does lack OIS. That’s indicative of the Poco F8 Pro as a whole; yes, there are compromises — including a lack of wireless charging, occasional slowdowns under heavy gaming loads, sluggish USB speeds, and some bloatware in apps — but if you can live with them, this phone offers the best value-for-money in its price bracket.

Poco F8 Pro review: price and availability

(Image credit: Nirave Gondhia)

• Launched for £549
• The current retail price in the UK is ~£449
• Not available in the US or Australia

In terms of availability, the Poco F8 Pro falls into the "widely available outside the US" category, and if you’re in the UK, you’ll find it’s priced extremely aggressively (the phone can be imported to the US, but its network compatibility will be limited).

At the time of writing in August 2026, the 256GB model is available for just £449. That's £100 cheaper than its already reasonable £599 launch price, and exceptional value for money in 2026 (note that the Poco F9 series is likely to arrive towards the end of the year, though we're expecting to see a sizeable price hike for all models).

This £400-£500 range pits the F8 Pro directly against devices like the Google Pixel 10a, Nothing Phone (4a), and Samsung Galaxy A57. But compared to these phones, it offers the fewest compromises against a £1,000+ flagship. If you want the higher 512GB storage option, that configuration has also been discounted by £100 to £499.

The Poco F8 Pro is available in three colors: Black, Blue, and Titanium Silver. There’s no denim-leather finish, like you'll find on the Poco F8 Ultra, but my Titanium Silver unit did come with a nice silicone case in the box.

• Value score: 5 / 5

Poco F8 Pro review: specsPoco F8 Pro

Dimensions:

163.2 x 78 x 7.5mm

Weight:

194g

Display:

6.83-inch AMOLED (1280 x 2772), 120Hz, 3,200 nits peak brightness

Chipset:

MediaTek Dimensity 8400 Ultra

RAM:

12GB RAM

Storage:

256GB / 512GB

OS:

Android 15, but Android 16 is now available

Primary camera:

50MP, f/1.7
1/1.55-inch sensor
PDAF, OIS

Ultra-wide camera:

12MP, f/2.2, 120°
1/3.06-inch sensor,

Telephoto camera:

50MP, f/1.9, 46mm
1/2.75-inch sensor
2x optical zoom, PDAF

Selfie camera:

32MP, f/2.2
1/3.44-inch sensor

Battery:

5,500mAh

Charging:

67W wired

Colors:

Black, Gray, Rose Gold

Poco F8 Pro review: design

(Image credit: Nirave Gondhia)

• Three colors
• Premium aluminum and glass design
• 6.59-inch display is ergonomically friendly

I mentioned earlier that 6.59 inches is my favorite smartphone screen size, and that’s because it's at the top end of the perfect 6.5-6.6-inch range. With these sizes, I’ve found you get the comfort benefits of a smaller phone like the Pixel 10 Pro while also getting the viewing benefits of larger flagships like the Galaxy 26 Ultra.

The F8 Pro strikes the perfect balance between those two phone sizes, and it pays off: it’s very comfortable to hold. Yes, it lacks the added grip of the denim leather finish on the Poco F8 Ultra, but the F8 Pro's is a more mature approach that appeals to everyone. Instead of a denim back, you get a flat aluminum frame paired with a frosted glass rear panel. It’s adult and functional, but deliberately less interesting than its flashier sibling.

(Image credit: Nirave Gondhia)

What makes this design more comfortable is the overall lack of heft: weighing 199g and measuring 8.1mm thick, this is a phone that’s lighter than most, and that pays dividends in the overall experience. What's more, despite being thinner and lighter than many other phones, the F8 Pro still offers full IP68 dust and water resistance; it's one of only a few devices to do so at this price point.

At the top of the phone, you’ll find the IR blaster, which is a common feature of Chinese-made phones, and it’s brilliant. I think every phone maker should bring back an IR blaster, as it’s a feature you don’t know you need until you lose your TV remote or need to bypass a locked-down hotel TV remote. Yes, the IR blaster has solved both of those problems for me.

• Design score: 4.5 / 5

Poco F8 Pro review: display

(Image credit: Nirave Gondhia)

• 6.59-inch 120Hz OLED display
• Flagship-grade color accuracy

The F8 Pro's 6.59-inch display is not only the perfect size but also an excellent all-around panel. Poco has rightly recognized that the display is arguably the most important part of any phone, and here you get a vibrant, rich, and colorful display that’s a joy to use.

Poco claims the display can reach a peak brightness of 3,500 nits. In day-to-day use, it is apparent that this display isn’t just bright; it’s extremely colorful, with testing showing it covers 99.2% of the sRGB gamut and 96.5% of the DCI-P3 color space. This is flagship-level display performance, and it makes the Poco F8 Pro a champion for consuming content.

(Image credit: Nirave Gondhia)

Beyond that, there’s a 120Hz dynamic refresh rate. While it lacks the expensive LTPO technology found on £1,000+ flagships, the phone's software automatically cycles between 60Hz and 120Hz depending on the content you’re using. The higher refresh rate is perfect for super-smooth scrolling and gaming, but drops to save battery when you’re just reading a book or an article online.

The display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 7i, which offers strong durability against general wear and tear. Across my testing, I have had no concerns about the toughness of the F8 Pro's screen.

• Display score: 4.5 / 5

Poco F8 Pro review: cameras

(Image credit: Nirave Gondhia)

• 50MP main sensor
• First Poco Pro with 2.5x optical telephoto
• 8MP ultra-wide camera

Poco’s rivals should take note of the Poco F8 Pro for several reasons — most of which are positive. Poco has traditionally ignored telephotos on its more affordable devices, but the Poco F8 Pro marks a shift in this area, likely driven by increased competition from triple-camera-toting rivals.

Although Poco has added a 50MP telephoto lens with 2.5x optical zoom, it lacks OIS, and the ultra-wide camera is an 8MP snapper that just about scrapes by. The 50MP Light Fusion 800 main camera sensor, meanwhile, takes excellent daylight photos with dynamic range and natural colors that look fantastic on the Poco F8 Pro screen.

The new telephoto lens does a decent job overall, but it’s nothing to write home about, and somewhat ironically, the 50MP main sensor enables a 2x in-sensor crop that can take better photos than the telephoto lens. The lack of OIS means you’ll get some blurry photos unless your hands are perfectly stable, so while it’s great that a telephoto lens exists, it won’t be as capable as those you'll find on a true flagship smartphone camera.

While the main rear camera can handle up to 4K video at 60 fps (and even 8K at 30 fps), the 20MP selfie camera is noticeably compromised, with Poco limiting selfie video capture to 1080p. These aren’t necessarily dealbreakers, but they are compromises you need to be conscious of.

Poco F8 Pro review: camera samplesNirave GondhioaNirave GondhioaNirave GondhioaNirave GondhioaNirave GondhioaNirave GondhioaNirave GondhioaNirave GondhioaNirave GondhioaNirave GondhioaNirave GondhioaNirave GondhioaNirave GondhioaNirave GondhioaNirave GondhioaNirave Gondhioa

• Camera score: 3.5 / 5

Poco F8 Pro review: performance

(Image credit: Nirave Gondhia)

• Flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset
• 12GB RAM + 256GB/512GB storage
• Excellent in-display fingerprint sensor

If speedy performance is your jam, look no further: the Poco F8 Pro has the best processor you’ll find in a smartphone at this price.

The Poco F8 Pro uses the first-generation Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, which is paired with 12GB of RAM and either 256GB or 512GB of storage. This processor powered many of the best Android phones last year (including the Galaxy S25 Ultra), making it extremely powerful and far superior to the mid-range chipsets used by other phones at this price point.

During day-to-day use, the chipset absolutely shines. It’s fast to respond, shows no signs of slowing down, and often reminds me of the Duracell bunny in that it just keeps on going. If you want a phone that can handle most things you throw at it, this is the best package at this price point. It’s great for everything from everyday multitasking and social media to emulating Nintendo Switch games, though it struggles under the heaviest gaming loads.

(Image credit: Nirave Gondhia)

Many phones aren’t limited by their internals as much as by how effectively phone makers manage thermals, and Poco firmly took the approach of raw power over cool operation in the F8 Pro. This means the aluminum frame and camera island can get a tad warm to the touch, but not to the point where it’s dangerous.

Where Poco does deserve credit is for the excellent in-display fingerprint sensor, which is fantastic even with wet or sweaty fingers. This is among the best in-display fingerprint sensors on any phone, and it’s wonderful that Poco chose not to skimp on this feature like many rivals in this category.

However, the F8 Pro is an exercise in acceptable compromise, so you do have to live with sluggish USB 2.0 wired speeds. Mind you, this is a trade-off I find acceptable, especially since you can use wireless transfer apps like LocalSend to easily send files to other devices or to your Mac or PC.

• Performance score: 4.5 / 5

Poco F8 Pro review: software

(Image credit: Nirave Gondhia)

• HyperOS 3.0 with Android 16
• 4 Android updates and 5 years of security updates
• Bogged down by bloatware and ads

Like all current Xiaomi phones, the Poco F8 Pro runs HyperOS 3.0 on top of Android 16. Depending on what you are used to, HyperOS 3.0 will either be comfortable or polarizing.

All phone makers are now forced to focus on longevity as well as features, especially as phones cost more and customers upgrade less frequently. For Poco, this presents an interesting challenge: it offers a respectable four years of Android version updates and five years of security updates, which provides some longevity, but it is known to be slow in pushing these updates out to users.

Look beyond this (and the final point below), and you’ll find that Xiaomi actually has some neat software features. Take Hyper Island, which looks and feels exactly like Apple’s Dynamic Island. It was inevitable that Xiaomi would be among the first to adopt (read: copy) this feature, and while the UX is unabashedly inspired by Apple, Xiaomi has executed it extremely well. Timers, voice recordings, and music playback all minimize into a dynamic bubble centered around the selfie camera.

Then there’s Hyper Connect, which makes even more sense in light of the above. Like many Android phone makers, Xiaomi is targeting Apple users, and Hyper Connect enables file sharing, clipboard syncing, and interoperability with Apple devices, as well as other Android phones and PCs.

(Image credit: Nirave Gondhia)

Throughout this review, I’ve talked about compromises, and the biggest one comes in the software department. But first, some context: simply put, there isn’t much margin in making affordable smartphones, especially given the current AI-fueled RAM and storage shortage, which has increased the cost of these components by up to 10x.

What this actually means for you is that Poco had to either raise prices or offset higher costs with higher income from alternative revenue sources, such as ads. In native apps like Themes, Files, and Security, you’ll find annoying system-level ads that slow down the experience. There are also many preloaded apps, although you can at least remove these.

All of this serves as a reminder that this phone has compromises, which detract from the overall experience. However, the pragmatist in me also recognizes that companies like Poco already had tight margins before the current RAM crisis, which will have been eroded further, and if ads like these mean it’s possible to keep making phones like these, then this is a trade-off that becomes slightly more acceptable. I’d rather they didn’t exist, but I also recognize that the raw cost of tech has exploded in a very short amount of time.

• Software score: 3.5 / 5

Poco F8 Pro review: battery life

(Image credit: Nirave Gondhia)

• Huge 6,210mAh battery
• 100W charging gets you to full in 42 minutes
• No wireless charging

What happens when you put a humongous battery in a phone with a power-efficient display and flagship performance? You get phenomenal battery life, and when you need to top it up, one of the fastest charging speeds of any smartphone.

The 6,210mAh battery in the Poco F8 Pro is massive, and far larger than batteries offered by the mid-range competition. It features Poco’s latest silicon-carbon technology, which offers much higher energy density, allowing Poco to pack a larger battery into the same size or a smaller phone.

In practical use, it offers around 7 to 9 hours of screen time over up to two days, depending on your settings. This puts the F8 Pro on par with most flagship phones and makes it superior to others in this category.

Then there’s 100W charging, and it’s ridiculously fast, charging your phone to full in around 42 minutes. This gives it a charging rate of around 148mAh per minute (mAh/min), which is considerably faster than its rivals, and almost three times the speed of the 30W charging on the Google Pixel 10a (57 mAh/min).

Again, like any phone at this price, there are compromises, but in this case, it’s the lack of wireless charging or an included charger. The former is a dealbreaker for some, while the latter is common practice among flagship smartphone makers but a shift for Poco, which traditionally included a charger in the box. Regardless, for most people, this is the best battery life you can get at this price.

• Battery score: 4 / 5

Should you buy the Poco F8 Pro?

(Image credit: Nirave Gondhia)Poco F8 Pro scorecard

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Design

Sleek and durable with a premium aluminum frame, IP68 water resistance, and an excellent ultrasonic fingerprint scanner, let down only by sluggish USB 2.0 speeds.

4.5 / 5

Display

The 6.59-inch 120Hz OLED panel is vibrant, exceptionally bright at up to 3,500 nits, and accurate, making it a total treat for gaming and watching content.

4.5 / 5

Performance

Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite, daily multitasking is blazingly fast and responsive, though thermals can run warm under sustained, high-intensity 3D gaming loads.

4.5 / 5

Camera

A versatile camera array bolstered by a new 2.5x telephoto lens and solid main sensor, though lack of OIS on zoom and mediocre selfie video and ultra-wide cameras hold it back.

3.5 / 5

Battery

The massive 6,210mAh battery easily delivers multi-day endurance, paired with blistering 100W fast charging that eclipses rivals, though it lacks wireless charging.

5 / 5

Software

HyperOS 3.0 offers slick animations, clever Apple connectivity, and Hyper Island, but is held back by system-level ads, preloaded bloatware, and historically sluggish update rollouts.

3.5 / 5

Value

Unbeatable value for money. It undercuts top-tier flagships by roughly 40% while delivering flagship-level core specs, making it the premier choice in its price bracket.

5 / 5

Buy it if...

You want great bang for your buck
This phone offers an incredible flagship-like experience at a price tag that won’t hit your wallet as hard.

You don’t need the best camera
The camera is fine, but it's an area where Poco had to compromise slightly. It’s worth noting that the F8 Pro takes good enough photos for many people.

You want phenomenal battery life and fast charging
The Poco F8 Pro is the Energizer Bunny of smartphones. If battery life is important to you, look no further: it excels in day-to-day use and offers ridiculously fast charging.

Don't buy it if...

You want the best phone that money can buy
The Poco F8 Pro's specs are definitely impressive, but more expensive phones do offer a more complete experience overall.

You need the best camera
If photography is important to you, this camera, especially the zoom, may be a disappointment. The main camera is usually good enough, but the same can’t be said for the ultra-wide, telephoto, or selfie cameras.

You want software longevity
HyperOS has ads, questionable update timeliness, and an inferior integration of AI services like Gemini. This will be a dealbreaker for some, but not for others, and the Poco F8 Pro is definitely for the latter group.

Poco F8 Pro: also consider

There are three real competitors worth considering, but like the Poco F8 Pro, they all have their compromises.

Google Pixel 10a
The Google Pixel 10a starts at £449 or $499 with 128GB of storage. It offers the best of Google's software, and although it has only one camera, it’s proven extremely capable. The problem? It feels like a considerable compromise in flagship specs for the benefit of AI features and better updates.

Read our full Google Pixel 10a review

Samsung Galaxy A57
Then there’s the Galaxy A57, and this phone brings the best of Samsung’s Galaxy S26 to a more affordable price point. It costs $550 (or £450 in the UK) for 8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, three cameras, an Exynos processor, and a large 5,000 mAh battery. It’s not quite at the same level as the Poco, but it has better updates, wider support, and greater availability.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy A57 review

Nothing Phone (4a) Pro
The other phone that’s definitely worth considering is the Nothing (4a) Pro. Priced at $499 or £499, it’s one of the most unique phones you’ll find, thanks to its Glyph Matrix display on the rear. Key reasons to consider the Nothing 4a Pro? A more unique design and better selfie and telephoto cameras. Both phones are pretty evenly matched, but the Poco F8 Pro has a better display, charging, battery life, and performance.

Read our full Nothing Phone (4a) Pro review

How I tested the Poco F8 Pro

• Review test period = ~2 weeks
• Testing included = Everyday usage, including navigation, web browsing, social media, photography, gaming, streaming video, music playback, and reading e-books.
• Tools used = Geekbench 6, 3DMark, CellMark, native Android stats

Why you can trust TechRadar

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☑️ Nearly 200,000 hours testing tech

I used the Poco F8 Pro for approximately two weeks across two different stints, including over a week of consistent usage before writing this review.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed: May 2026

A round of storms impacted the region on Aug. 11

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• Over half (54%) of UK businesses say AI created new jobs, new study finds
• A similar amount (58%) plan to raise AI skills investment soon
• Some firms plan to spend up to £250,000 on Artificial Intelligence training

Concerns that AI would eliminate jobs have dominated public conversation for years, fueling fears of mass unemployment and disruption.

A report from the Lloyds Business Barometer claims over half (54%) of UK businesses say AI has already created new jobs within their organizations.

The findings arrive as firms increasingly treat AI adoption as central to competitiveness, workforce skills, and long-term business growth strategy.

Companies ramp up AI skills spending

The majority (58%) of businesses say they now plan to increase investment in AI tools and skill training over the next twelve months - and of the businesses planning to raise AI investment, 42% expect to spend between £25,000 and £100,000 during the coming year.

Another 26% expect to spend between £100,000 and £250,000, showing a clear appetite for deeper AI skills funding across sectors.

Despite this spending push, 31% of businesses admit their current workforce still lacks the AI skills the company actually needs.

To close that gap, 43% of firms are introducing formal AI skills training while 32% are expanding programs already in place.

A smaller share, 24%, say they now prioritize AI skills when hiring, while 21% are creating entirely new AI-specific roles.

A widening gap between large and small firms

Overall, nearly two-thirds (61%) of UK firms say they currently use AI in some form, though adoption varies sharply by company size and reach.

Cost, cited by 18% of businesses, remains the most common barrier, followed closely by data quality and skills access at 17% each.

Domestic-only firms cite cost as their biggest barrier at 23%, while international firms point more often to data quality at 19%.

Larger businesses with annual turnover above £10 million report AI usage averaging 79%, far ahead of smaller and domestic-only competitors nationwide.

Nearly two-thirds of larger firms say their current workforce already possesses the AI skills the business truly needs right now.

Among larger firms already using AI, 74% cite productivity gains as their main reason for continued and future investment decisions.

Nearly six in 10 businesses believe companies that fail to adopt AI risk falling behind their competitors within a few years, but this confidence in AI's competitive importance varies by size, with 73% of large firms agreeing compared with 54% of the smallest firms.

"AI has the potential to be as transformative for businesses as the internet was," said Amanda Murphy, CEO of Lloyds Business and Commercial Banking.

Murphy added that success depends far more on building internal skills, culture, and confidence than on simply purchasing new technology.

The figures suggest AI adoption across the UK economy is accelerating faster than the workforce skills needed to sustain it.

Whether businesses can close that widening skills gap quickly enough may determine which companies gain a lasting competitive advantage overall.