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Wolfbox G900 Pro: One-minute review

The Wolfbox G900 Pro is a mirror-style dash cam that records 4K forwards and 2.5K video rearwards. The weatherproof rear camera can be screwed to your vehicle’s bumper, turning into a reversing camera. A live video feed from either camera, or both, can be seen on the touchscreen display, which is integrated in the mirror itself.

Both cameras produce excellent, high-quality video, and the user interface is a joy to use – it's sharp, responsive and intuitive. The Wolfbox app also works well, with videos transferred quickly via 5 GHz Wi-Fi from the dash cam to your phone, although transferring footage directly from the included microSD card isn’t an option for macOS users, due to how the card is formatted by the dash cam.

Installation is more involved than with other dash cams, and the separate GPS antenna creates extra clutter that you'll likely want to hide. The design of the G900 isn’t perfect, as I found that its camera was partially blocked by the mirror assembly of some vehicles. This is a dash cam to try (or at least measure carefully) before you buy.

(Image credit: Future / Alistair Charlton)Wolfbox G900 Pro: Price & availability

The Wolfbox G900 Pro is priced at $360 in the US and £260 in the UK, although discounts are often available. At the time of writing, the US price on Amazon had fallen to $250.

Unlike some other dash cams, like the Nextbase iQ and Nexar One, the Wolfbox does not have a 4G connection and there are no ongoing data subscription or cloud storage costs.

Wolfbox G900 Pro: SpecsWolfbox G900 Pro specs

Video

4K (3840 x 2160) at 30fps (front), 2.5K (2560 x 1440) rear

Field-of-view (FoV)

170 degrees (front), 150 degrees (rear)

Storage

microSD card slot (128GB card included)

GPS

Yes, plug-in antenna (included)

Parking mode

Yes, with hardwiring kit (sold separately)

App support

Yes, Wolfbox app

Dimensions

12.0 x 3.0 x 1.5 inches / 305 x 80 x 45mm

Weight

17.5 oz / 497 g

Battery

No

Wolfbox G900 Pro: Design

• Doubles as replacement mirror
• Perfect fit isn’t guaranteed
• Forward view easily obstructed

Unlike dash cams that stick to the windshield, the Wolfbox G900 Pro acts as a replacement to your car’s central rearview mirror. It straps onto your existing mirror, and gives you both a reflected view of what’s behind, plus a view ahead recorded by the forward-facing camera.

This is made possible because there’s a touchscreen embedded within the G900 Pro’s mirror. The result is a mirror that still shows a clear view of what’s behind, but can also, with a tap to wake up the user interface, show live video from the front- and rear-facing dash cams.

It’s also possible to swipe and tap your way through the G900 Pro’s settings menus, and view recorded footage on the mirror/touchscreen, before transferring it to your smartphone using the Wolfbox app and the G900 Pro’s Wi-Fi connection.

(Image credit: Future / Alistair Charlton)

As well as the main unit, the kit reviewed here included a rear-facing camera that can either be stuck to your rear window with an included adhesive pad or, since it’s weatherproof, screwed to the rear bumper. Here, it doubles as a rear-facing dash cam and also a reversing camera, with its live video feed sent to the display of the main unit.

It’s also possible to wire the rear camera to your car’s reversing light. Then, when the light illuminates the dash cam automatically shows a feed from the rear camera. The main unit is powered from an included 12-volt adapter, but Wolfbox also sells an optional hardwiring kit for a permanent power supply.

(Image credit: Future / Alistair Charlton)Wolfbox G900 Pro: Performance

• Lots of messy cables to hide
• Excellent 4K video
• Isn’t suitable for some cars

Despite being very different to most other dash cams, the G900 Pro is still relatively easy to install and set up. The main unit attaches to your mirror using a pair of included rubber straps, and is powered from the 12-volt lighter socket in the usual way.

The dash cam has GPS but, unusually for a modern, high-end dash cam, the antenna is not integrated. Instead, the GPS unit is a small box that attaches with a cable and then sticks to the windshield or dashboard. It’s a disappointing bit of hardware design, given the otherwise top-notch specifications of this dash cam. The GPS unit takes up space, the cable needs to be hidden somewhere, and it’s generally a bit of a mess.

I also found the main unit didn’t fit my car’s mirror well. The camera is fitted to the left-hand side of the mirror, which in my car meant having to install the G900 Pro off-center, thus leaving a bit of my car’s original mirror poking out from behind the dash cam. Worse still was how the camera’s forward view was partially obscured by the car’s mirror mount. I could improve the camera’s view, but this meant moving the mirror to an angle where it was no longer giving the view I needed.

(Image credit: Future / Alistair Charlton)

For my own car, a 2015 Mazda MX-5 ND (Miata in the US market), this made the G900 Pro a non-starter. It also shook while driving, and considerably so while stationary with the engine running. The car’s own mirror doesn’t do this, but the constant shaking of the Wolfbox’s mirror and digital interface became a considerable distraction.

Hoping the Wolfbox would perform better elsewhere, I switched it to my partner’s Peugeot e-208. Being an electric car, most of the shaking I‘d experienced in my car disappeared, and being a larger vehicle meant the G900 Pro could be installed without looking too messy. The separate GPS module is still an annoyance, though, and some of the camera’s view ahead was still blocked by the car’s own mirror assembly.

It’s a shame some of the camera’s view is blocked, because the G900 Pro produces excellent 4K footage. It’s honestly some of the best I’ve ever seen from a dash cam, and is arguably on par with a GoPro or other action camera. There’s loads of detail, colors are accurate, and everything is nice and smooth.

The rear camera is almost as good. It has a lower 2.5K resolution, but still does a great job of capturing plenty of accurate detail.

The G900 Pro’s user interface is also impressive. The display is bright, sharp, and responsive, with an intuitive menu system that makes it easy to adjust settings. Wolfbox’s smartphone app is also good.

(Image credit: Future / Alistair Charlton)

The setup process is quick and 5 GHz Wi-Fi makes video transfers speedy too – a good thing, since this dash cam formats its microSD card using a file system unreadable by macOS. I reformatted the card, using my Mac, to exFAT, but the dash cam still insisted on reformatting it. Footage transfers via the app just fine, but it can’t be moved directly from the SD card to a Mac, so you’re forced to use the app.

Recordings viewed in the app also show the car’s location on a map, plus a G-force indicator. This doesn’t seem accurate though, as it often indicated 0.8g of acceleration at 0.0 mph. Some data, like the map, altitude and the G-meter, are lost when recordings are transferred to your phone’s camera roll, and I noticed how the speedometer was slightly delayed when compared to the footage.

I also encountered an issue where the map that accompanied each recording (provided by Apple Maps) was blank. This was rectified by granting the Wolfbox app constant access to my iPhone's locational data.

Back to the positives, and I’m sure some drivers will love how this dash cam doubles as a rearview mirror. If you drive a van, for example, or any vehicle with limited rear visibility, seeing the rear-facing camera’s feed on the mirror can be really useful.

I can’t really see the point of the G900 Pro constantly showing the front-facing camera’s view, since that’s the same as looking through the windshield, but thankfully it’s easy to either show the rearview only, or have no camera feed at all. In that state, the G900 Pro acts like a conventional mirror, but with a simple interface showing the time and date in one corner.

Wolfbox G900 Pro: Sample video Should you buy the Wolfbox G900 Pro?

(Image credit: Future / Alistair Charlton)Buy it if...

You definitely want a mirror-style dash cam
They’re quite different to conventional dash cams, taking up more space and likely posing a more challenging installation. Make sure this is the type of dash cam you want, and you’re happy with the idea of a new mirror with a user interface appearing on it, before making the purchase.View Deal

You don’t mind a bit of mess
The separate GPS module and rubber straps – plus usual cables for power and the rear camera – make this dash cam a messier installation than that of most dash cams. Make sure you have the space on your windshield, and don’t mind a more involved installation process. Or have a pro do it for you.View Deal

You want 4K video
The G900 Pro records excellent 4K footage that is sharp, smooth and full of detail. The file sizes are large, but Wolfbox includes a 128 GB microSD card in the box, and 5 GHz Wi-Fi means recordings transfer to your smartphone relatively quickly.View Deal

Don't buy it if...

You drive a particularly small car
I had trouble fitting the G900 Pro comfortably into my car. Make sure it’ll attach to your vehicle without having its camera obscured by the existing mirror’s mount and assembly. View Deal

You want a clean, simple installation
Many other dash cams offer a less cluttered setup, with fewer cables and integrated GPS. A professional can surely help if you go down the Wolfbox route, but a smaller, more conventional dash cam might be a better option if a mess-free interior is important to you.View Deal

You only need a front-facing camera
The G900 Pro’s rear camera is included in the box, rather than being a paid optional extra. If you don’t need the rear camera, you should consider a different dash cam. This will also likely save you money and make for a simpler installation, since there’s no secondary camera and cable to fix into place.View Deal

How I tested the Wolfbox G900 Pro

• I installed the G900 Pro in two different cars
• I used the front and rear cameras on several journeys
• I used the Wolfbox app and analyzed recorded footage

To thoroughly test the Wolfbox G900 Pro I installed it in two different cars. The first showed how this mirror-style dash cam doesn't work perfectly in some vehicles, while the latter cast it in a better light. I completed numerous journeys with both cars, then transferred footage to my phone and computer for a closer look.

• First reviewed July 2025

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Review information

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

The conversation around interactive-visit-come-video-game Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, rather unfortunately, has not been about the game itself. Rather, many players have (rightly so) lamented the fact that this is a paid download rather than a pack-in experience - similar to the likes of Wii Sports or even Astro’s Playroom on PlayStation 5.

That being said, Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour remains one of the top downloads on the Switch 2 eShop - at least here in the UK - so folks are certainly buying it. The question is, then, is it worth the $9.99 / £7.99 you’ll end up paying for it? Well, yes and no.

There are positives to take away from the Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour experience. If you’re a hardware head like me, Welcome Tour presents information about the Switch 2 system in bite-sized chunks of trivia. There are even info booths and quizzes to undertake that highlight specific features, such as HD Rumble and mouse controls. I’m also a fan of the tech demos and minigame challenges that let you try out said features in a practical fashion.

Realistically, though, it’s an experience that only lasts a handful of hours, and rather annoyingly, it could be a more expensive game than its modest price tag lets on. That’s because some of the demos and minigames outright require things like a 4K TV or the Switch 2 Camera.

If you’re shooting for 100% completion, then Welcome Tour assumes you’ve gone all-in on the Switch 2 ecosystem as a whole. This is why I strongly feel the game should have come pre-installed onto your Switch 2 console; having to pay for a game that you might not even get to experience everything in - depending on the hardware you own - is extremely disappointing.

Ins and outs

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour is presented as a giant exhibition for the new console. You’ll start by picking your avatar’s appearance simply by plucking them from a queue to the venue; you’re either an extremely tiny human, or the exhibition and its various sections are monolithic in size. I’ll let you decide which is more likely there.

If your objective in Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour is simply to plough through all the areas, then that’s easy enough. You’ll begin on the left Joy-Con 2 controller, and you’re tasked with finding and checking all the components there. That includes things like the analog stick, directional buttons, and magnetic connector.

Once you’ve seen it all, you can unlock the gate to the next area, where you’ll repeat that process. It’s fun at first, but even though it’s a short experience overall, there will be instances where you’ll find yourself pixel hunting while uncovering all the gizmos needed to unlock the next area. That means a lot of running around this isometric exhibition, which can be quite a chore.

Up for a challenge

(Image credit: Nintendo)

To sidestep some of the tedium said exploration can bring, I do encourage you to take things at a measured pace in Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour. Thankfully, there are some distractions to be had in the form of quizzes, minigames, and tech demos.

Quizzes are the most straightforward of the bunch. There are various booths dotted about the exhibits, and talking to the person there will load in some information displays you can read to learn more about various aspects of the Switch 2 ecosystem.

Minigames are a bit more bespoke. Each area will have at least one or two, and most are fun little diversions. You’ll be tasked with a great many things with these, again having something to do with the Switch 2’s capabilities. Examples include using the Joy-Con 2’s mouse to pilot a UFO avoiding spiked balls, and a task where you have to guess the framerate of a ball bouncing across a screen.

Best bit

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour’s presentation is really quite charming. Running around on a giant Switch 2 screen or Joy-Con 2 controllers is a novel idea, and I had fun exploring each area to learn more about the console and its accessories.

Finally, there’s the tech demos. These don’t offer much of a challenge and instead showcase various aspects of the Switch 2’s tech. An early example has you shaking the Joy-Con 2 like maracas to demonstrate HD Rumble, while another showcases the handheld’s HDR capabilities, where you can let off fireworks and compare the differences between HDR and SDR color gamuts.

Completing quizzes, minigames, and tech demos will award you with medals, and collecting enough of these will unlock more content, including harder versions of minigame challenges. Some of these were surprisingly tough, too, so you may have your hands full if you’re a completionist.

Though the completionist route is kind of where Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour can potentially fall apart. The game flat out assumes the player has access to a 4K display and accessories like the Switch 2 Camera, as, believe it or not, there are challenges and tech demos related to such items.

Again, this would be slightly less foul were Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour a free inclusion with the console. But as it stands, I would avoid purchasing it even at its modest price if you don’t have a contemporary gaming setup, as you simply won’t be able to enjoy all the content on offer.

Should you play Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour?Play it if...

You want to learn more about your new console
Exploring all the different areas to learn about each and every aspect of the Switch 2 and its tech was a fulfilling experience. I definitely know more now than I did before going into the game.

Don't play it if...

You don’t have a more up-to-date gaming setup
Put simply, if you don’t have a 4K TV or you’re missing accessories like the Switch 2 Camera, you should avoid Nintendo Switch Welcome Tour as some of its content will be completely locked out.

Accessibility

Frustratingly, there is absolutely nothing in the way of options for Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, let alone for accessibility. At the information kiosk in the game’s first area, you can talk to a non-player-character (NPC) there to invert camera controls, and that’s literally it. Nothing for audio, visuals, or alternative control schemes.

How I reviewed Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour

I played Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour for five hours on the Switch 2 system. As the game has strict requirements for which control schemes to use at any given time, I was limited to using the Joy-Con 2 controllers for things like HD Rumble, mouse controls, and more. As for display, I swapped between my LG CX OLED TV and played on the Switch 2 handheld when the game required it.

Alienware 16 Area-51: Two-minute review

There are only a few gaming laptop releases that’ll impress buyers this year as much as the Alienware 16 Area-51. Everything about this work of premium art and technology oozes perfection.

Though the configuration I reviewed came out to around $3,249.99 / £3,349 / AU$5,497.80, there’s plenty of scalability in terms of both price and component options, with systems starting at $1,999.99 / £2,149.01 / AU$4,198.70.

The design alone places this as one of the best gaming laptops going, thanks to a futuristically sleek design that mirrors its desktop sibling with “fluid contours and soft surfaces” that blends nice angles, lovely multi-zone customizable lighting, smart port placement, clever ventilation, a clear glass panel on the bottom to show of the internals, and much more.

The phenomenal design philosophy is matched with gaming performance that’ll impress enthusiasts and competitive gamers alike. All of that power is pumped out through a 16-inch 2560x1600 display that offers a 240Hz refresh rate as well.

However, holding the display back significantly is the image quality. Despite featuring 100% DCI-P3, 500 nits of brightness, and Nvidia G-Sync, images lack crispness and can come off as smudged a bit as well. Thankfully, the Dolby Atmos-certified speakers provide great, nuanced sound for gaming alongside general music listening.

That doesn’t even count the amount of extras that are featured on the Area-51 16, such as the option to have a full RGB mechanical keyboard, which makes it to where serious players don’t have to use a USB slot and lug an extra keyboard around.

Even outside of gaming, the mechanical keyboard makes general computing tasks a thrill thanks to how fantastic keystrokes feel. In a cool touch, the touchpad itself glows with customizable lighting too.

All of this greatness does come at the cost of borderline abysmal battery life, which comes with the territory of most high-end gaming laptops.

Those in need of more juice for long flights or times without a nearby electrical socket may be in some trouble. Regardless, the Alienware 16 Area-51 is out of this world when it comes to laptop gaming.

Alienware 16 Area-51: Price & availability

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

How much does it cost? Starting at $1,999.99 / £2,149.01 / AU$4,198.70

When is it available? Available now

Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia

The Alienware 16 Area-51 is now available through Dell’s online store and other digital retailers, starting at $1999.99 / £2,149.01 / AU$4,198.70. Buyers in the US, UK, and Australia can choose from a range of configurations and options tailored to their Windows gaming needs.

My review unit was configured with an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080, 32GB RAM, and 1TB SSD Storage comes in at $2,849.99 / £3,298.99 / AU$5,497.80. Other features include the 4K web camera and mechanical keyboard options.

While not the most expensive laptop in its size class, it's not the cheapest either, but its starting price is very good for a laptop with this kind of premium feel.

• Value: 4 / 5

Alienware 16 Area-51: Specs

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

Alienware Area-51 16 (Lowest Configuration)

Alienware Area-51 16 (Review)

Alienware Area-51 16 (Highest Configuration)

Price:

$1,999.99 at Dell.com | £2,149.01 at Dell.com | AU$4,198.70 at Dell.com

$2,849.99 at Dell.com | £3,298.99 at Dell.com | AU$5,497.80 at Dell.com

$5,499.99 at Dell.com | £5,779 at Dell.com | AU$$8,847.30 at Dell.com

CPU:

Intel Core Ultra 7 processor 255HX

Intel Core Ultra 9 processor 275HX

Intel Core Ultra 9 processor 275HX

Graphics:

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090

RAM:

16GB DDR5-6400MT/s

32GB DDR5-6400MT/s

64GB DDR5-6400MT/s

Screen:

16" WQXGA 2560x1600 240Hz 3ms 100% DCI-P3 500 nit, NVIDIA G-SYNC + Advanced Optimus

16" WQXGA 2560x1600 240Hz 3ms 100% DCI-P3 500 nit, NVIDIA G-SYNC + Advanced Optimus

16" WQXGA 2560x1600 240Hz 3ms 100% DCI-P3 500 nit, NVIDIA G-SYNC + Advanced Optimus

Storage:

1TB SSD

1TB SSD

12TB (3 x 4TB) PCIe SSD (4TB PCIe SSD in Australia)

Ports:

1X SD Card Slot, 1 x 3.5mm Headset Jack, 2 x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1, 1 x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1, 2 x USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports, 1 x HDMI 2.1

1X SD Card Slot, 1 x 3.5mm Headset Jack, 2 x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1, 1 x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1, 2 x USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports, 1 x HDMI 2.1

1X SD Card Slot, 1 x 3.5mm Headset Jack, 2 x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1, 1 x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1, 2 x USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports, 1 x HDMI 2.1

Wireless:

Intel Killer Wi-Fi 7 BE1750 (2x2 320Hz) MIMO 802.11be Wireless LAN and Bluetooth 5.4

Intel Killer Wi-Fi 7 BE1750 (2x2 320Hz) MIMO 802.11be Wireless LAN and Bluetooth 5.4

Intel Killer Wi-Fi 7 BE1750 (2x2 320Hz) MIMO 802.11be Wireless LAN and Bluetooth 5.4

Camera:

1080P Webcam

4K Webcam

4K Webcam

Weight:

7.49 lbs | 3.40 kg

7.49 lbs | 3.40 kg

7.49 lbs | 3.40 kg

Dimensions:

14.37 x 11.41 x 1.12 ins | 365 x 290 x 28.5mm (W x D x H)

14.37 x 11.41 x 1.12 ins | 365 x 290 x 28.5mm (W x D x H)

14.37 x 11.41 x 1.12 ins | 365 x 290 x 28.5mm (W x D x H)

Alienware 16 Area-51: Design

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

• Sleek, rounded design with a beautiful liquid teal colorway and RGB lighting nearly everywhere
• Nice rear port selection and SD Card slot
• Comfortable experience with the mechanical keyboard

As noted before—and it bears repeating—the Alienware 16 Area-51’s design is truly breathtaking. From the moment you unbox it, the spaceship-inspired curves and sleek, dark liquid teal finish immediately signal a premium, high-end machine that stands out in any setting. While closed, there are some noticeable design choices that truly set this gaming laptop apart from others.

Every angle of the Area-51 16 is picturesque from top to bottom. This includes the top panel featuring the standard Alienware logo that is backlit by customizable RGB.

At the bottom, you get to see the laptop’s Cryo-Chamber structure, allowing direct airflow to the laptop’s core components. This also raises the device for both comfort and larger air intake. For added measure, there’s a clear Gorilla Glass panel showing the AlienFX fans that also has customizable lighting.

Image 1 of 3

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)Image 2 of 3

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)Image 3 of 3

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

A nice selection of ports is located on the rear, which offsets the display hinge by about a few inches. That portion also features a customizable RGB light ring that circles it from top to bottom, too.

This allows access to three USB-A, two USB-C with Thunderbolt, a single HDMI port, and a power port. Those are joined on the left side by an SD Card slot and a 3.5mm headset jack. Smartly designed V-Rail edges make opening and closing the gaming laptop a smooth

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

When opened, the display offers either an FHD or a 4K webcam at the top. Below, the mechanical keyboard provides a satisfying feel for both gaming and typing, complete with customizable RGB lighting, and is flanked by a speaker system with two 2W woofers, two 2W tweeters, and Dolby Atmos certification.

The smooth, precision glass touchpad at the bottom also features customizable RGB lighting, adding to the laptop’s premium, tailored experience. Usage is made extra comfortable through a pillowed palm rest, which helps when gaming or when doing general web browsing tasks for long periods.

The Alienware Area-51 16 is just so thoughtful in the engineering and design. There’s a visual appeal and functional enhancements that elevate the ownership experience here in ways that feel luxurious yet cool.

• Design: 5 / 5

Alienware 16 Area-51: Performance

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

• Incredible power for modern AAA games with high frame rates
• Can control power output through Alienware Command Center
• Display performance is awesome though image quality suffers

Alienware 16 Area-51 CPU benchmarks

Benchmark

Score

Geekbench 6.4 Single-core

3,126

Geekbench 6.4 Multi-core

20,498

Crossmark Overall

2,338

Crossmark Productivity

2,173

Crossmark Creativity

2,587

Crossmark Responsiveness

2,145

Gaming and high-end creative task performance match the design perfectly on the Alienware 16 Area-51. The Intel Core Ultra 9, Nvidia RTX 5080, 32GB RAM, and 1TB SSD in my configuration was probably the ideal way to make the most of the 16-inch 2560x1600 resolution display when it comes to configuration options.

I was able to play all the latest, visually arresting AAA games at 60+ frames per second without problems using Cyberpunk 2077, Black Myth: Wukong, Forza Motorsport (2023), Doom: The Dark Ages, and Assassin’s Creed: Shadows.

Alienware 16 Area-51 GPU benchmarks

Benchmarks

Score

3DMark Fire Strike

37,813

3DMark Time Spy

21,070

3DMark Fire Strike Ultra

14,073

3DMark Time Spy Extreme

10,558

3DMark Speed Way

5,613

3DMark Steel Nomad

5,142

3DMark Port Royal

13,966

There are ways to push frame rates even higher thanks to Nvidia’s DLSS upscaling technology. The base configuration option is great for 1080p and 1440p gaming, while the max configuration is good enough for 4K gaming if users plan on connecting to a compatible monitor.

The Area-51 16-inch is powerful enough to edit high-resolution photo and video content without any problems in apps like Adobe Premiere and Photoshop.

Despite pushing the Area-51 16-inch to max capabilities, I didn’t hear much fan noise and it didn’t get too hot, mostly thanks to the Area-51 16-inch's Cryotech cooling and smart vent placement.

Game

Average FPS

Assassin's Creed Shadows (Ultra, 1080p)

52

Black Myth: Wukong (Cinematic, 1080p)

58

Cyberpunk 2077 (Ultra, 1080p)

63

Monster Hunter Wilds (Max, 1080p)

83

Shadow of the Tomb Raider (Very high, 1080p)

183

Total War: Warhammer III (Ultra, 1080p)

201

Like other Alienware devices, the Command Center app is a great way to augment power delivery to focus on a quieter fan speed, focus on battery (though it doesn’t help much), and full-on performance power. Other features of the Command Center include the ability to manage various game settings alongside customizing the various RGB lighting zones around the gaming laptop.

Gaming and the display performance are good enough to make me forget how average-looking the display is when it comes to image quality, suffering from washed-out colors that aren’t very crisp.

• Performance: 5 / 5

Alienware 16 Area-51: Battery life

• General computing tasks usage will give around 4 hours of usage between charges
• Trying to game is only going to provide about two hours

Gaming laptops at this level rarely excel in battery life, and the Alienware 16 Area-51 is no exception. In our PCMark 10 gaming battery test, it lasted around two hours, typical for machines in this category.

More disappointing is its performance in everyday tasks: during our Battery Informant Web Surfing test, it managed just over four hours with power-saving settings like reduced RGB lighting and lower brightness.

With lighting and medium volume levels on, the battery dipped to roughly three hours before needing a recharge. It would be nice to see the power-focused sect of gaming laptops reach the level of the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14.

On the positive side, the Alienware Battery Defender technology promises to balance power consumption with temperature monitoring to give the battery a longer life.

Charging takes a little over a few hours to reach full battery life, and there isn’t any quick charging. The power adapter brick is also pretty large as well so be mindful when traveling.

• Battery life: 3 / 5

Should I buy the Alienware 16 Area-51?

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Value

Gaming laptops are expensive by nature but the lower configuration versions of the Alienware 16 Area-51 do come at an attractive price.

4 / 5

Design

Between the smooth sleek chassis with lovely RGB lighting everywhere, port placements, fan placement and see-through bottom, this is the coolest looking gaming laptop ever made. This is the perfect match of form and function.

5 / 5

Performance

No matter which configuration you choose, you’re getting top-tier components that offer impressive scalability in performance options.

5 / 5

Battery

Battery life is pretty average so users are going to have to make sure they are near some power outlet.

3 / 5

Average rating

Image quality and battery life issues aside, this gaming laptop is worth every penny.

4.25 / 5

Buy the Alienware 16 Area-51 if...

You require one of the best-designed gaming laptops available
The Alienware 16 Area-51 is beautifully designed with a lovely chassis, properly placed ports, and awesome RGB lighting.

You need premium performance
Various configurations for top-of-the-line Intel Core CPUs and Nvidia RTX 50 series GPUs mean a variety of performance options.

You want some good extras
Great sounding speakers and a mechanical keyboard mean that serious gamers don’t have to use a USB port for an external one.

Don't buy it if...

You need better image quality
Though the performance of the 16-inch display is great, colors aren’t crisp and can feel a bit washed out. This means that gamers who are on the creative content side may have some issues.

You want better battery life
Gaming laptops aren’t usually known for their battery life, so expect similar results with the Area-51 16-inch.

Also Consider

If our Alienware Area-51 16 has you considering other options, here are two laptops to consider...

Razer Blade 14 (2024) review

Though it may not have the colorful lighting of the Area-51 16 and loses about two inches of display real estate, the Razer Blade 14 is a powerhouse that’s also portable.

Read the review here

MSI Katana 15

Anyone looking for an ultra-affordable gaming laptop that’s good for 1080p gaming performance should definitely check out the MSI Katana 15.

Read the review here

How I tested the Alienware 16 Area-51

• Tested the gaming laptop over the course of a week
• Games tested include Forza Motorsport (2023), Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II and Doom: The Dark Ages among others
• General computing tasks include Tidal, Google Chrome and Adobe Suite

During my week with the Alienware 16 Area-51, I spent my time split between work during the day and gaming at night.

During the day, I used Google Chrome for web browsing, Gmail, Docs, and Sheets. Other software used includes Tidal to test speakers and Adobe Suite software like Photoshop, alongside Premiere Pro for creative tasks.

Outside of standard benchmark tests for games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Black Myth: Wukong, I tested out plenty of modern games, including Forza Motorsport (2023), Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II, and Doom: The Dark Ages. I also managed to handle a few video conferences, which allowed me to test out the webcam as well.

Read more about how we test

• First reviewed July 2025

• Google could freeze the Pixel Watch 4 price
• The Pixel Watch 3 started at $399 / £349 / AU$579
• We should see the new wearable next month

With a Made by Google event scheduled for Wednesday, August 20, it looks as though we don't have too much longer to wait for the Pixel Watch 4 – and a fresh pair of leaks point to the pricing and features we can expect on this new wearable.

According to Dealabs (via Android Authority), the Google Pixel Watch 4 is going to set you back from €399 for the 41 mm version, or €499 with added LTE. The equivalent prices for the 45 mm model are reportedly €449 and €549 respectively.

There's not much point giving you currency conversions on those numbers, because that's not how Google will set prices in other countries, but the important takeaway is that those are the same prices that the Google Pixel Watch 3 launched at.

That suggests you can expect to pay $399 / £349 / AU$579 and up for the Pixel Watch 4 in other countries, which in the US and UK was the same price as the Pixel Watch 2 – so full marks to Google for staying consistent, if this leak is indeed accurate.

With added strength training

Look out for new training features (Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

Our other Pixel Watch 3 leak here is from Android Headlines: apparently the wearable is going to arrive with a new strength training experience, which you'll be able to configure through a special workout builder that Google is readying.

The idea seems to be that the feature lets you customize your own warm ups, cool downs, and workouts, in order to maximize performance gains and reduce the risk of injuries. Another feature, AI run recommendations, will be available through Fitbit Premium.

Add in previous Pixel Watch 4 rumors around a bigger battery and improved repairability, and this is shaping up to be a substantial smartwatch upgrade from Google. As always though, nothing is certain until it's made official.

The Pixel Watch 4 won't be the only new device that's on show on August 20, because we should also see the unveiling of the Google Pixel 10 series. Of course, we'll be covering all the news and announcements live on the day.

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• Leaked renders may have revealed the Pixel Watch 4
• A flurry of Google Pixel Watch 4 leaks appear
• The Pixel Watch just got a useful software update

- A spinoff series of Buffy the Vampire Slayer was announced in February, with Hulu ordering the pilot

- Ryan Kiera Armstrong has been cast as the next slayer, and Sarah Michelle Gellar will reprise her role as Buffy Summers. She will also serve as executive producer

- No release date, trailer or plot details have been revealed yet

A Buffy the Vampire Slayer sequel spinoff series is officially in development. After years of toying with the possibility of rebooting one of the best TV series of all time, the series is finally on the way with a pilot ordered by Hulu – one of the best streaming services.

News of a Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot series first came in February when it was announced that the series would be returning after 20 years. At the time of the announcement, Oscar-winner Chloé Zhao (Nomadland) was named the show’s director, and Nora and Lilla Zuckerman (Poker Face) were announced as writers.

The next big question was whether the slayer herself Sarah Michelle Gellar, who played the role of Buffy Summers, would be returning. And in short, yes, Gellar will be returning to Sunnydale, joining the team as an executive producer – but what about the show’s original production team?

The original ‘90s show was written and directed by Joss Whedon, who in 2021 was accused of creating a toxic work environment on the set of the show as well as its spinoff series Angel. Therefore, it’s confirmed that Whedon won’t be returning to work on the next chapter in the Buffyverse. With that said, original Buffy the Vampire Slayer producers Gail Berman, Fran Kuzui, Kaz Kuzui, and Dolly Parton (yes, the Dolly Parton) will all be returning.

It’s still early days into the spinoff’s production, but we’ve had our ears to the ground when it comes to all the recent updates regarding the show. Here’s everything we know about the next chapter of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Full spoilers follow for Buffy the Vampire Slayer seasons 1-7.

Release dates speculation

The OG slayer herself will be returning to the new spinoff series, reprising the iconic role as well as serving as executive producer. (Image credit: Prime Video)

Though the pilot is currently in early stages of production and a new lead slayer has been cast, an exact release date has yet to be determined. According to IMDb, it’s billed to be released next year, but again, an official announcement is yet to be made – so we wouldn’t rule out 2027.

Predicted cast

A post shared by Sarah Michelle (@sarahmgellar)

A photo posted by on

As well as stepping into the shoes of executive producer, Sarah Michelle Gellar will also be reprising her role as Buffy Summers. However this time, Buffy won’t be at the centre of the reboot. Instead, Buffy will be a recurring character and a brand new slayer will be the focus – and she’s been found.

Back in May, it was revealed that young actress Ryan Kiera Armstrong would be taking on the lead role in the sequel series. Gellar told the news to Armstrong herself sharing the announcement via an Instagram reel where she said 'Welcome to the new Sunnydale' – a possible nod at the show's title maybe?

Prior to scoring the role as this generation’s next slayer, Armstrong kick-started her career in productions from some of the best streaming services including the Disney+ series Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, and Netflix’s Anne with an E.

So far, Armstrong and Gellar are the only names attached to the spinoff’s confirmed cast. But while we still wait for more names to surface, Gellar has expressed her desire to bring back characters from Buffy’s past sharing with Vanity Fair Italia “My dream is to bring back everyone who has died, but space will have to be made for new stories as well”.

If Gellar’s dream comes to fruition, there’s an endless slew of characters from Buffy’s past that could be resurrected, but the fandom will certainly have its favorites – Joyce Summers being one of the frontrunners, who died in season five.

Other names that could crop up range from Jenny Calendar, who suffered a heart-shattering death at the hands of Angel in season two, Tara who was shot in front of her lover Willow in season six, and even Anya who died during the final moments of the finale episode. But as exciting as this may sound, it hasn’t been confirmed.

Plot rumors

Could the new spinoff series see best friends Buffy and Willow reunite? (Image credit: Paramount+)

Similar to its release date, we’re not exactly sure what direction the show will take plot-wise, however the reboot has been described as ‘the next chapter in the Buffyverse’, says Deadline. Additionally, Sarah Michelle Gellar also revealed to Vanity Fair that the reboot “Will be lighter than the last few seasons of the original”, adding “We will try to find a balance between new and old characters”.

Still, it doesn’t reveal a whole lot about which direction the reboot will go plot-wise. Saying that, TV Line shared details on a possible plot outline, which we’re taking with a pinch of salt for now.

According to the outlet the new slayer will lean more into the characteristics of Willow, Buffy’s timid yet intellectual sidekick with a knack for witchcraft rather than the combat, kick-ass Buffy-esque persona. TV Line also said that the new slayer could be named Nova, though it admits that this could very much be a placeholder name until more details are revealed.

Another speculation is around the new slayer’s group of friends, which TV Line says could replicate a similar one to the ‘Scooby gang’ from the original series consisting of Buffy, Xander, Willow, Buffy’s watcher Giles, and other recurring characters depending on the season. TV Line states that the new ‘Scoobies’ will be ‘Hugo, an out-and-proud nerd who comes from money, and Gracie, a young expert on vampires who’s an acolyte of Gellar’s Buffy’.

Alternatively, there’s another direction that the plot could take. Despite the golden rule of there being only one slayer at a time, the Hulu reboot could flip this on its head and explore the possibilities of there being multiple slayers – just as its season seven finale did. But this is simply a personal hypothesis.

Where to watch

(Image credit: Hulu )

Want to catch up on all things Buffy the Vampire Slayer before its spinoff series is released? There are plenty of platforms where you can stream all seven seasons including Hulu (US), and Disney+ and Paramount+ (UK and AU) – though only one season is available to stream on Disney+ in Australia.

Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Saturday, July 19 (game #1272).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,100 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #1273) - hint #1 - VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 5*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #1273) - hint #2 - repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 1.

Quordle today (game #1273) - hint #3 - uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1273) - hint #4 - starting letters (1)Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 2.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #1273) - hint #5 - starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• G

• C

• E

• G

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

Quordle today (game #1273) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1273, are…

• GRACE
• COUNT
• EGRET
• GIANT

I don’t think I’ve ever had a more straightforward round than this one, with every word ending up being a very easy-to-solve anagram.

EGRET was the only one of the quartet that required me to do a small bit of thinking, but with G-R-E-T in the correct positions it was hardly a stretch. 

Daily Sequence today (game #1273) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1273, are…

• DROVE
• IMAGE
• HORSE
• FILLY

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1272, Saturday, 19 July: EARLY, CLICK, TRITE, SPREE
• Quordle #1271, Friday, 18 July: CINCH, FOYER, FUDGE, TAFFY
• Quordle #1270, Thursday, 17 July: CRESS, TABOO, POWER, HATER
• Quordle #1269, Wednesday, 16 July: UNCLE, NADIR, REMIT, BROOM
• Quordle #1268, Tuesday, 15 July: VILLA, FLECK, TIGER, CRANE
• Quordle #1267, Monday, 14 July: SURGE, PIZZA, PAPER, POPPY
• Quordle #1266, Sunday, 13 July: KAYAK, DECRY, RUDDY, HATER
• Quordle #1265, Saturday, 12 July: WREAK, NANNY, CLASP, STAIN
• Quordle #1264, Friday, 11 July: LAPEL, DRAIN, FROND, GROSS
• Quordle #1263, Thursday, 10 July: CROSS, WHEEL, UNDID, PENCE
• Quordle #1262, Wednesday, 9 July: SHIRE, SIXTH, SINGE, IMAGE
• Quordle #1261, Tuesday, 8 July: PLIED, PRANK, GAWKY, OXIDE
• Quordle #1260, Monday, 7 July: DROLL, TRUCE, TWIRL, SINCE
• Quordle #1259, Sunday, 6 July: AMPLY, SPAWN, EXTOL, RIDGE
• Quordle #1258, Saturday, 5 July: HAVEN, SNAKE, DREAM, TORUS
• Quordle #1257, Friday, 4 July: FAVOR, SKUNK, GAWKY, FLUFF
• Quordle #1256, Thursday, 3 July: DANCE, EYING, GLAZE, EGRET
• Quordle #1255, Wednesday, 2 July: INANE, SCOUR, ELITE, ULCER
• Quordle #1254, Tuesday, 1 July: REBAR, YEARN, FORTH, CROWD

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Saturday, July 19 (game #769).

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #770) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• ВОР
• DRAW
• CROSS
• BUZZ
• DRY
• LOAN
• PULL
• SWAY
• BOUNCE
• TWIST
• DRAG
• SHAKEN
• PASS
• GROOVE
• GIN
• PUFF

NYT Connections today (game #770) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: Almost dancing
• GREEN: Breathe in
• BLUE: Not stirred
• PURPLE: Add a word

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #770) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: MOVE TO THE MUSIC
• GREEN: INHALATION
• BLUE: MARTINI SPECIFICATIONS
• PURPLE: ___WORD

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #770) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #770, are…

• YELLOW: MOVE TO THE MUSIC BOP, BOUNCE, GROOVE, SWAY
• GREEN: INHALATION DRAG, DRAW, PUFF, PULL
• BLUE: MARTINI SPECIFICATIONS DRY, GIN, SHAKEN, TWIST
• PURPLE: ___WORD BUZZ, CROSS, LOAN, PASS

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 1 mistake

Today I got the idea stuck in my head that there was a group about a card game, so I had DRAW, PULL, PASS and CROSS. Fortunately, I abandoned this idea before I made any more mistakes.

Getting MARTINI SPECIFICATIONS helped narrow things down and led to me finding the green and yellow groups.

A good thing, as I would have struggled to find the fourth member of the purple quartet after BUZZ, cross and pass, but today I learned that loanword is a word adopted from a foreign language with little or no modification.

There are some obvious examples, such as safari, karaoke and guru, but also some surprising ones like cookie, which comes from the Dutch language, and cartoon – which originated in Italian.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Saturday, July 19 game #769)

• YELLOW: SOURCES OF DRINKING WATER RAIN, SPRING, TAP, WELL
• GREEN: THINGS YOU CAN DO WITH A FOOTBALL PASS, PUNT, SNAP, SPIKE
• BLUE: SHARP FASTENERS BRAD, NAIL, PIN, TACK
• PURPLE: STARTS OF TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES DON, LEO, MIC, RAP

What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.

On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.

It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.

It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Saturday, July 19 (game #503).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #504) - hint #1 - today's themeWhat is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Shore thing!

NYT Strands today (game #504) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

• BEAR
• HATS
• DATA
• CHAT
• PAGE
• SONG

NYT Strands today (game #504) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 11 letters

NYT Strands today (game #504) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: left, 3rd row

Last side: right, 8th row

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #504) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #504, are…

• WRAP
• BIKINI
• SARONG
• TRUNKS
• SANDALS
• SWIMSUIT
• SPANGRAM: BEACH ATTIRE

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

An easy search today. One that we could do from the safety of a sun lounger without having to tax our brains too much, although initially I did think we were looking for ocean geography.

Some people have very different ideas about BEACH ATTIRE to the ones we searched for.

I don’t think I’ve ever worn anything other than shorts and SANDALS whenever I’ve visited a beach. This is not the case with my whole family, as my grandparents would wear their regular clothes to the beach – and my grandfather’s idea of regular attire was a three-piece suit.

The one concession to their whereabouts would be to place knotted handkerchiefs on their heads, but their cardigans and jackets would stay firmly on regardless of the weather.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Saturday, July 19, game #503)

• STICKY
• BALMY
• MUGGY
• SCORCHING
• SWELTERING
• SPANGRAM: SUMMER WEATHER

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

Ever fancy having a collection of software to help you tackle photo editing, page design, and vector illustrations all under one roof? Well that’s what CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2025 is all about.

It's part graphic design software, part photo editor, and one of the most comprehensive alternatives to Adobe Photoshop around. We tried out the latest version to see how it compares to rivals.

CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2025: Pricing & plans

(Image credit: Corel // Future)

• The Corel suite is cheaper than a lot of the competition, and on top of that, you also have the option of purchasing a licence, if you prefer that over subscribing. The 15-day trial is also welcome

We know it’s been six years since the momentous occasion, but it’s worth mentioning often: after a 20-year absence from the field, Corel finally made its professional apps compatible once more with the Mac in 2019, and version 2025 is no exception: whether you own a Windows or Mac computer, you can download this suite and test it out free for 15 days by clicking here.

After the trial is up, you’ll need to open your wallet, although unlike companies like Adobe, Corel offers you a choice: a one-time purchase for $549 / £659, or an annual plan, where you pay $22.42 / £26.58 each month (which means a one-time purchase is roughly equivalent to two years of rental, but without any possibility of upgrades, and the loss of some additional features which we’ll explore below).

This price includes PHOTO-PAINT (a Photoshop equivalent) and DRAW (an Illustrator equivalent). Quickly checking the competition, you’ll find subscribing to those two Adobe apps would cost you around twice as much ($45.98 / £45.96), so right there Corel’s offering is a pretty good deal. But what can you do with the suite?

• Score: 4/5

CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2025: The suite

(Image credit: Corel // Future)

• 6 apps, but really only 2 major ones, comprise this suite. The online service is a good addition but it’s only for subscribers, and why couldn’t they include ‘Capture’ with the Mac version, or at least reduce the Mac’s price since it doesn’t include all the apps that are part of the Windows suite?

This Graphic Suite comes with a host of creative apps. The main one, the one the suite borrows its name from, is CorelDRAW. This is a vector illustration and page layout program. If you’re familiar with Adobe Illustrator, it’s similar. CorelDRAW comes with PowerTRACE, which is an AI-powered bitmap-to-vector tracing tool, and is a massive time saver (as all good time-saving AI tools should be).

Next is Corel PHOTO-PAINT, which is Corel’s Photoshop equivalent. With it, you can edit images and create pixel-based projects. Corel Font Manager is an alternative to your computer’s default font management tool which we found fun and easy to use, and also gives you direct access to over 1,000 Google fonts.

CorelDRAW Web, is a browser-based service that lets you create projects online, wherever you may be. There is one drawback to it, mind: it’s only available to customers who subscribe to the suite. Those who opted to purchase their licence are sadly out of that loop.

And finally, there’s Capture, a screen capture tool which is sadly Windows only. Even though Mac users pay the same price for the suite, they end up with 5/6th of what Windows users get. Be that as it way, we’ll take a brief look at the two main apps, PHOTO-PAINT and DRAW.

The integration between all apps in the suite allows for the sharing of numerous features, including Pantone Dualities, which bring powerful colour management between all apps in the suite, designers and printers, through industry recognised palettes.

• Score: 4/5

CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2025: Corel PHOTO-PAINT

(Image credit: Corel // Future)

• We found this image compositing program to be very competent, with tools similar to its competition, even if its way of working is different and will necessitate a bit of a learning curve if you’re used to the way other apps do things

One of the two main apps of this suite is PHOTO-PAINT, which is designed to be as welcoming as it can be. OK, you must sign in (or create an account) before you can use it, but once you’re in, you’ll be greeted with a welcome page offering you numerous online tutorials to help you understand which features are available and how you can make use of them.

Even when you open a file, you’ll find a ‘Learn’ sidebar on the right to guide you through any creative process, but if you don’t need this, just close it to get on with your work.

If you’re familiar with other image compositing tools, it won’t take you long to acquaint yourself with PHOTO-PAINT as the concept is pretty much the same: you have tools in a sidebar on one side, with an inspector sidebar on the other, and contextual parameters above.

You’re offered a range of tools to retouch or enhance an image, and of course create one from scratch. If you’re used to Photoshop or other tools that borrow easily from that program’s interface, you will quickly feel comfortable in PHOTO-PAINT, although there are enough differences to impose a learning curve on you. Still, for most of the basics, you’ll find yourself up and running in no time. All the tools you’d expect are there, from drawing and painting, to selecting, colour correction, filters and effects.

We did find it taxed our computer’s CPU the longer we experimented with it though, forcing us to quickly relaunch the program to resolve the issue - something we haven’t encountered with other image compositing software. Still, it could be because we were using an oldish Mac (a 2019 Intel Core i9 MacBook Pro with 64GB of RAM), but we thought it worth mentioning nonetheless.

• Score: 4/5

CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2025: CorelDRAW

(Image credit: Corel // Future)

• CoreDRAW is an impressive vector-based drawing package with powerful tools, which seamlessly combine bitmap drawings and photos with resolution independent vectors

When you launch CorelDRAW, you’ll be graced with a very similar welcome page to PHOTO-PAINT, along with tutorials and a ‘Learn’ section when you’re in the app proper. This family resemblance extends to file formats, as CorelDRAW can open PHOTO-PAINT documents. The reverse is not as seamless, as the DRAW files need to be converted; DRAW can handle bitmap content just as well as vector ones in its files.

CorelDRAW is a program designed to work with vectors, essentially resolution independent art, represented by mathematical equations. You have at your disposal powerful tools and brushes to design complex artwork which will look sharp and crisp at any resolution. Perhaps the most impressive tool we explored is PowerTRACE, which is fully embedded within CorelDRAW itself.

Its purpose is to convert a bitmap image (i.e. any photo, or any drawing created in PHOTO-PAINT, Photoshop or similar), into a vector equivalent. Depending on your image’s complexity and your computer’s power, it may take a few seconds for the action to complete, but we were highly impressed by the results. We chose particularly complex images, and the output was truly excellent.

Other impressive tools are the Painterly brushes, which allow you to replicate realistic brush strokes inside CorelDRAW: it’s a pixel-based brush tool that’s controlled by vector curves, combining the best of both worlds when it comes to design and illustration. This means you get great detail and effects, which are easily scalable with zero resolution issues. CorelDRAW comes with hundreds of preset brushes but if you feel the urge to own more, there's an online store which you can access via the Welcome screen, where you can purchase additional packs. Also, as yet another incentive to get you to subscribe rather than buy, you’re given a further 100.

A further bonus for subscribers is CorelDRAW Web, which allows you to perform quick edits to projects directly from a compatible web browser, from any machine. You can upload existing work and carry on with this online, or bring projects you started in the browser to further refine in CorelDRAW itself. It’s a very nice touch, and it’s pretty amazing what you can achieve from within a web browser these days - for those who don’t mind renting their software, that is.

• Score: 4.5/5

Should I buy CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2025

(Image credit: Corel // Future)

Buy it if...

You’re looking for an affordable design suite that allows you to work with bitmap pixel-based images, and vectors, work online when you need to, gain access to Google fonts, and even record your screen (PCs only)

Don't buy it if...

All you want is to draw a little and don’t wish to feel overwhelmed with a powerful set of tools with far too many features, and you don’t like that those who buy get fewer features compared to those who subscribe.

It's almost time for the final Marvel movie of 2025. The Fantastic Four: First Steps launches worldwide in late July, and before it arrives, you might be wondering who's in the upcoming superhero film.

Below, I've compiled a list of the most prominent cast members who'll appear in the first Marvel Phase 6 project. I'll also tell you which characters they're playing and where you might have seen these actors before.

Before we begin: this article only contains actors confirmed to appear and whose role hasn't been cut from the final film (RIP John Malkovich's Red Ghost). My ultimate guide to The Fantastic Four: First Steps provides more information on that character's absence and looks at some big cast rumors, so read that once you're done here.

Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic

Man-of-the-moment Pedro Pascal will play Reed Richards' latest live-action iteration (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

One of the most popular and prolific A-listers of recent years, Pascal was rumored to be Mister Fantastic way back in November 2023. Last February, he was all but confirmed as Reed Richards before Marvel officially unveiled who'd be playing The Fantastic Four in the group's latest big-screen reboot.

For those unfamiliar with the character, Richards is the de facto leader of Marvel's First Family. He's also an incredibly intelligent individual with an ego to match that of Tony Stark's. Unlike his fellow genius, though, Richards can lack the ability to emotionally connect with people, so he often comes across as cold. Oh, and he can stretch his body and limbs, too. Richards acquired this superpower when he and the rest of The Fantastic Four encountered cosmic radiation that altered their DNA and imbued them with superhuman abilities.

Following his breakout TV roles in Narcos and Game of Thrones, Pascal has appeared in numerous big films and shows, including The Last of Us, Gladiator II, The Mandalorian, and The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.

Most recently, he's starred in the A24 movie duo Materialists and Eddington. He'll next be seen in the Star Wars film The Mandalorian and Grogu and Avengers: Doomsday, which arrive in March and December 2026.

Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/The Invisible Woman

The team's matriarch will be played by The Crown and Mission: Impossible alumnus (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

After Kirby dropped a huge hint about her involvement in First Steps – she told me it would "be an honor" to play Sue Storm in August 2023 – it was inevitable she'd be cast as the super-team's only female character.

Also known as The Invisible Woman, Storm is one of the most powerful beings in the entire Marvel Universe. In the comics, she can turn invisible, fly, and create force fields to protect or catch objects. Numerous teasers, including First Steps' official trailer, revealed she'll possess some of these powers and confirmed a big fan theory about Sue Storm that's ended up being one of the movie's two worst-kept secrets.

Kirby rose to fame for portraying Princess Margaret in seasons 1, 2, and 5 of the hit drama The Crown. Since then, she's appeared in three Mission: Impossible movies, Pieces of a Woman, Apple Movie Original Napoleon, and various other big- and small-screen projects. Following First Steps, viewers can see her in Night Always Comes and Avengers 5.

Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/The Human Torch

Flame on! The hot-headed Johnny will be portrayed by a former Stranger Things star (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

Sue's hot-headed brother, who was portrayed by former Captain America star Chris Evans and Black Panther actor Michael B. Jordan in prior Fantastic Four live-action films, will be played by Stranger Things alumnus Joseph Quinn in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

Given his impulsive nature and 'Human Torch' superhero alias, it'll come as no surprise to learn that Johnny Storm has pyrokinetic abilities. Indeed, he can create fire – in environments where oxygen is present, anyway – to use as a weapon against his foes and/or enable him to fly. He also possesses the ability to absorb heat energy, which would be a handy ability to have if he ever became a firefighter.

Aside from playing fan-favorite character Eddie Munson in Stranger Things season 4 on Netflix, a role that turned him into an overnight sensation, Quinn has also appeared in other TV projects like Dickensian, Catherine the Great, Small Axe, and Strike. On the big screen, he featured alongside Pascal in Gladiator II, and also had roles in A Quiet Place: Day One and Warfare. Like the above pair, he's also part of Avengers: Doomsday's initial 27-strong cast.

Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing

One of The Bear's biggest actors is playing Grimm/The Thing in Marvel's cinematic franchise (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

The Bear stalwart Ebon Moss-Bachrach is on board as the fourth and final member of the titular team, Ben Grimm/The Thing. The handsome pilot underwent the biggest physical transformation due to the galactic radiation the group encountered, and his skin turned into an orange, rock-like substance.

Grimm's mutated, rocky exterior allows him to withstand hits that would floor many other individuals. He also possesses superhuman strength, endurance, and stamina, and is effectively immortal in Marvel literature. Given how much it's been teased in various trailers and TV spots for one of 2025's most exciting new movies, don't be surprised if he utters his famous phrase "It's clobberin' time!" at some point, too.

Arguably most famous for co-starring in The Bear, aka one of the best Hulu shows and best Disney+ shows, Moss-Bachrach has also had roles in The Punisher, Girls, Andor, We'll Never Have Paris, and No Hard Feelings. He's also due to appear in Avengers: Doomsday.

Ralph Ineson as Galactus

Marvel is withholding a full reveal of Galactus until First Steps is publicly released (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

The planet-devouring cosmic entity known as Galactus will be First Steps' primary antagonist. His appearance was all but confirmed when Marvel teased key story details about the film last April. One month later, The Office UK star Ralph Ineson was tapped to play him, but it wasn't until late April that we got our first proper look at Galactus, albeit via a Lego toy leak. Indeed, Marvel didn't reveal Galactus' full form in First Steps' inaugural trailer and hasn't done so in other footage we've seen since.

A terrifying, immortal space god who feasts on planetary bodies to sustain himself, Galactus will be a near-impossible force for The Fantastic Four to overcome. Indeed, he maintains mastery over the Power Cosmic, a source of unlimited power that grants him an infinite amount of superhuman abilities, including, but not limited to, size alteration, teleportation, matter transmutation, energy projection, and creation of interdimensional portals.

Ineson was most recently seen in Foundation season 3 on Apple TV+, but viewers may also recognize him from appearances in Nosferatu, The Northman, The Green Knight, Ludwig, The Jetty, Chernobyl, and Game of Thrones, among many other films and series.

Julia Garner as Shalla-Bal/The Silver Surfer

Some viewers might recognize Garner from Netflix TV hit Ozark (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

The latest incumbent to portray Galactus' Herald, Julia Garner will play a female version of The Silver Surfer, whose real name is Shalla-Bal.

A surfboard-riding humanoid who reluctantly agrees to become Galactus' harbinger to save their world, Zenn-La, The Silver Surfer boasts superpowers that are also borne from the Power Cosmic, including super-strength and endurance, heightened senses, and the ability to traverse interstellar space and hyperspace via their surfboard.

Best known for playing Ruth in Ozark, aka one of the best Netflix shows, Garner has also starred in The Americans, Dirty John, Inventing Anna, Apartment 7A, and Wolf Man, among others. Her next major role will be in August's supernatural horror flick Weapons before she starts work on Madonna's film biopic, in which Garner will play the so-called 'Queen of Pop'.

Paul Walter Hauser as Harvey Elder/Mole Man

Hauser rose to prominence as the antagonist in Apple TV Original Black Bird (Image credit: USA Today/Marvel Studios)

Unlike Malkovich, Hauser will appear in a bit-part role in First Steps, with The Afterparty and Black Bird actor tackling the role of Mole Man.

Another member of The Fantastic Four's rogues gallery, Mole Man spends much of his time (in the comics, anyway) trying to conquer Earth's surface world. The scientific genius usually does so with the aid of the Moloids, mole-human hybrids who dwell in the subsurface nation of Subterranea and whom Mole Man rules over.

The aforementioned Apple TV Original aside, Hauser has also featured in Cobra Kai, Reno 911!, Kingdom, Inside Out 2, and Orion and the Dark. Post-First Steps, his next role will be the Jeremy Allen White-led Bruce Springsteen biopic, which comes out in October.

Matthew Wood as H.E.R.B.I.E

Wood is most famous for voicing various characters in Star Wars (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

The eponymous supergroup's robot assistant, H.E.R.B.I.E will be voiced by Matthew Wood. H.E.R.B.I.E isn't a fully CGI creation, either – indeed, Marvel created a fully functioning robotic puppet that could interact with the iconic quartet, and my colleague Jacob Krol even got to meet it in person!

But back to Wood. The sound editor/voice actor is best known for playing General Grievous in Revenge of the Sith, i.e., the third and final installment in Star Wars' prequel film trilogy. He's also had various small voice roles in other Lucasfilm and MCU projects, such as Star Wars: Visions, What If...?, and Willow.

Natasha Lyonne as Rachel Rozman

Natasha Lyonne, seen here in Poker Face season 2, isn't playing the character we thought she was (Image credit: Peacock)

Following her addition to First Steps' cast last May, MCU fans were convinced Natasha Lyonne was the perfect hire for a specific Marvel character in Alicia Masters. Having seen some of the movie, though, I can confirm she's playing someone named Rachel Rozman. No spoilers for what role she'll play, though.

Lyonne is the star of Netflix's brilliant time-travel-inspired Russian Doll TV Original and the Peacock whodunnit series Poker Face (its second season has just ended). She's also had roles in Orange is the New Black, What If...?, Portlandia, His Three Daughters, Ad Astra, and the latest Smurfs movie reboot. Lyonne's instantly recognizable voice will also be heard in The Bad Guys 2, which launches worldwide on the same day as First Steps.

Sarah Niles as Lynne Nichols

Niles was last seen in Amazon MGM Studios' Heads of State movie (Image credit: Dimitrious Kambouris)

Another ally of Richards and company, Sarah Niles has signed on as Lynne Nichols, the CEO of The Future Foundation. A stand-in for the United Nations in the alternate universe (Earth-828) that The Fantastic Four resides in, Nichols oversees the day-to-day running of The Future Foundation, which was originally set up by Sue Storm.

Best known as Doctor Sharon Fieldstone in the multi-award-winning sports comedy show Ted Lasso, Niles is slowly becoming a household name. Indeed, whether it's her appearances in films like the Brad Pitt-starring F1, or John Cena and Idris Elba's Amazon Original Heads of State, the rise of the Beautiful People and Catastrophe actor is long overdue. Up next for Niles is The Thursday Murder Club, Netflix's live-action adaptation of Richard Osman's best-selling murder-mystery book.

Mark Gatiss as Ted Gilbert

Ted Gilbert is the fictional host of a TV talk show that the iconic quartet appears on (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

Another actor with a small role in First Steps, Mark Gattis is in line to play Ted Gilbert, the host of a TV talk show that Marvel's First Family appears on.

Known for co-creating and appearing in UK comedy horror series The League of Gentlemen, Gatiss' writing and acting credits extend to the BBC's modern-day retelling of Sherlock Holmes (the one starring Doctor Strange star Benedict Cumberbatch), Doctor Who, Game of Thrones, The Favourite, and Mission: Impossible 7. Most recently, Gatiss is the brainchild behind Bookish, a crime drama that's just started airing on various global networks, such as HBO Max and U&Alibi.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps arrives globally on Friday, July 25. The group's three other live-action movies are available to stream now on Disney+.

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