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Tenda BE5010 i36 Access Point: 30-second review

The Tenda BE5010 i36 is a dual-band Wi-Fi 7 ceiling access point built for business environments. It supports speeds of up to 5010Mbps across 2.4GHz and 5GHz. A 2.5GbE PoE+ uplink removes the bottleneck that limits most budget ceiling APs. And the price sits well below what you would normally pay for hardware at this specification level.

Tenda has been making network equipment since 1999. The i36 is not an adapted home product. It is purpose-built infrastructure hardware that powers up via PoE, mounts cleanly to a ceiling or wall, and feeds into the Tenda CloudFi management ecosystem.

The feature list covers all the expected ground for a business-grade AP. Fast roaming, WPA3, VLAN tagging per SSID, MU-MIMO, OFDMA, beamforming, and load balancing are all present. Up to 256 clients can associate, with 100 recommended. That recommended figure is a point worth noting. Most vendors only publish the maximum, as producing a realistic number is something most in the networking industry avoid like the plague.

The one critical thing missing is a 6GHz radio. The i36 is dual-band. That means no access to the wide, uncongested channels that the upper tier of Wi-Fi 7 makes possible. In most deployment scenarios, that will not matter. In very dense, high-demand environments, it might.

In terms of features and management, this might not be the best Access Point available, but for those working with a tight budget, it might be sufficient.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)Tenda BE5010 i36 Access Point: price and availability

• How much does it cost? $109.99/ £105.99/€107.99
• When is it out? It is available now
• Where can you get it? You can get it directly from online retailers like Amazon

At around $109.99 in the US via Amazon, the i36 represents some competitive spirit. Comparable dual-band Wi-Fi 7 ceiling APs from TP-Link and Ubiquiti regularly cost two or three times as much. In several cases, those rival units offer only marginal advantages in spec.

The pricing even undercuts some mature Wi-Fi 6 ceiling APs still on the market. That naturally raises questions about build quality and ecosystem depth.

The UK price is £105.99 on Amazon, and from the same source, it can be found across Europe for €107.99.

Tenda does sell via AliExpress, but at the time of writing this model isn’t available from that location.

As a PoE injector that delivers 802.3at power is included in the box, buyers don’t need a PoE switch or injector in addition to this AP. The i36 draws up to 17.4W. That sits well within the 30W ceiling of 802.3at, so any standard PoE+ switch is sufficient, and most businesses should have one by now.

Looking at the opposition, most have ceiling Access Points that are cheaper, but they’re invariably Wi-Fi 6, not Wi-Fi 7. Once you add the number 7, things become notably more expensive.

The TP-Link EAP772, for example, does have the 6GHz band, but it is $169.99/£151.92, and it doesn’t come with a PoE injector, so extra expense may be hidden.

Even more expensive is the Ubiquiti UniFi U7 Pro, which is close to $190 in the US, and it doesn’t have a power adapter either.

And, the most expensive model I found was the EnGenius ECW510, which has roughly the same specs as the BE5010, but the asking price is $217.98.

Probably the best-value alternative is the Zyxel Wi-Fi 7 BE5100 Access Point, which sells for $77.59, but the power supply is not included. And from what I understand, it supports Mesh.

But in the grand scheme of things, the Tenda BE5010 i36 offers exceptional value.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

• Value score: 4.5/5

Tenda BE5010 i36 Access Point: Specs

Feature

Spec

Model:

i36 Ceiling Access Point

2.4GHz:

2x2 up to 688 Mbps (20/40MHz)

5GHz:

2x3 up to 4323Mbps(20/40/80/160Hz)

6GHz:

N/A

Max Clients:

256

Recommended Clients:

100

SSIDs:

8

Ports:

1x 100/1000/2500Mbps PoE+ Ethernet; 1x 10/100/1000Mbps Ethernet 1 x Reset button

Mesh:

No

MLO

Yes

AFC

No (no 6GHz)

Wired Link Aggregation

No

CPU:

Unknown

Memory:

Unknown

Storage:

Unknown

USB Ports:

No

Modes:

Access Point, Client + AP

Firmware:

V1.0.0.3(4327)

Dimensions:

250.6 mm diameter x 55 mm

Weight:

640g

Tenda BE5010 i36 Access Point: Design

• Saucer
• Dual LAN ports
• PSU included

The i36 is a circular white disc that appears to have modelled itself on the saucer section of an original series Star Trek ship. I’m not sure if this is trying to draw attention to itself or not, but if it is, that’s exactly not what you want from a ceiling AP.

At 250.6mm across and just 55mm deep, it’s quite large as these devices go, but it should work in the majority of office settings with white paintwork or ceiling tiles.

Tenda includes mounting hardware for both ceiling and wall installation. The disc clicks onto a base plate that screws directly to the surface. Cable entry is through the edge of the mount, and there are three standoffs included that should provide sufficient ventilation for the AP in use. The installation is clean, assuming a LAN cable run is already in place.

The port arrangement is better than most, where a single PoE LAN is offered. A 2.5GbE port handles both incoming PoE power and uplink network traffic. The secondary gigabit port adds flexibility. A thin client, display controller, or IP phone can sit alongside the AP and plug into that second port without needing a separate drop. It is a small detail that competing units at this price often omit. It’s a shame that the second port wasn’t also 2.5GbE, allowing for these to be chained from a single LAN cable, but having the second port is incredibly useful.

Included in the box with the AP is a PSU, and thankfully, Tenda avoided the classic mistake of making a directly connected power supply that requires a local power outlet. The PSU provided comes with a PoE Ethernet injector, enabling power to be supplied at the server end of the cable, where power is likely to be easily accessible.

In my testing, I didn’t use this, since it was made for an American power outlet, but hopefully, for those buying this device outside the USA, regionally compliant versions are included.

The design of this AP is simple yet functional, and that’s mostly what IT people want from them.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

Design score: 4/5

Tenda BE5010 i36 Access Point: In use

• Basic router
• Limited controls

There are three ways to configure the i36. A local web interface is available at 10.16.16.169 or 192.168.0.254. The Tenda CloudFi mobile app covers most day-to-day management tasks. And the full CloudFi cloud platform handles multi-site deployments and fleet management.

For a single AP installation, the local web interface is perfectly adequate. For a school, hotel, or office campus running multiple units, the cloud platform and app become genuinely useful tools. That flexibility across deployment scales is a strength of the platform.

Tenda describes three steps to get a standalone unit running: set the working mode, configure the wireless network, and congratulate yourself on a job well done. The interface and feature set provide a straightforward onboarding process that only requires you to provide an 8-character password with no restrictions for special characters.

The management feature set goes a little beyond the basics. However, it can isolate clients using VLAN tagging, and also isolate the SSID. There are eight possible SSIDs, so you can put Guests on a different one from standard users, and isolate admin functions to another.

AP isolation, client access control, and RSSI threshold controls let you shape the wireless environment precisely. Weak signal client steering actively moves poorly connected clients to a stronger access point, or it will if you have multiple APs and are using the CloudFi functionality to administer them.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

Fast roaming via 802.11k/v/r is supported throughout, although the word ‘Mesh’ is never mentioned in this context. In any environment where users move between access points, a clean handoff matters. Hotels, school corridors, and warehouse floors all benefit from this, though this function isn’t Mesh, which the hardware doesn’t support.

The other word that isn’t used is VPN, as there are no automated connections where VPN tunnels can be established via the AP.

Compared to the management tools provided by others, specifically TPLink Omada and UniFi, this is Cloud management with a very light touch. While it is possible to have multiple projects for different locations and administer them centrally, there are limits to what can be done with this tool. There is a mobile app version with the same functionality, but it relies on you registering on the Cloud version to have an account to interface.

Perhaps there is more to CloudFi if you have other Tenda equipment, such as gateways and switches, but it’s a shadow of the Omada Cloud admin. But, on the positive side of that coin, Tenda don’t charge you to use it, or expect a local hardware controller.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

• In Use: 3.5/5

Tenda BE5010 i36 Access Point: Performance

• 5010Mbps peak
• 2.5GbE uplink
• 160MHz channel
• No 6GHz band

And, this is true of the most expensive hardware, as much as it is with this.

On paper, the i36 is an impressive unit. The 5GHz radio tops out at 4323 Mbps using 4096-QAM modulation across a 160 MHz channel. That is a decent amount of bandwidth for a dual-band Wi-Fi 7 radio without a 6GHz band. The 2.4GHz radio contributes 688Mbps. It is useful for legacy devices and extending the range into areas where the 5GHz signal falls away. I wasn’t expecting the 6GHz band at this price, and it isn’t included.

The 2.5GbE uplink is the headline specification at this price. Most budget ceiling APs are throttled by a 1GbE uplink long before the wireless radio hits its limit. With 2.5GbE, the wired connection to the network is no longer the constraining factor. Tenda claims aggregate wired throughput of up to 2.1Gbps under optimal conditions. But, and this is a problem with most APs of this generation, if it does hit those high notes using dual-band Wi-Fi 7 clients, then it's still leaving 60% of the possible Wi-Fi performance on the table. The only way this could be fully utilised is if Wi-Fi clients are talking between themselves, and not using the uplink.

To better explain my thinking here, let’s talk about that 4323Mbps 5GHz figure. It assumes a Wi-Fi 7 client capable of 160MHz channel operation and 4096-QAM encoding. Most current smartphones do not meet both of those requirements, and actually, relatively few laptops do either. A mixed environment of Wi-Fi 5, Wi-Fi 6, and Wi-Fi 7 clients will produce substantially lower aggregate throughput.

That is true of every access point in this generation and should be factored in when reading any peak specification figure. Just because this router can theoretically operate at those speeds doesn’t mean it will be doing so regularly, if ever.

Connecting with a laptop that had a Wi-Fi 6E adapter to my 1GbE PoE network, I managed a connection bandwidth of 2.4Gbits, but due to the LAN limitations, the fastest file transfer was about 85MB/s. Using a Comfast Wi-Fi 7 adapter, I managed a 2.8 Gbit link, but less performance on the file transfer. With a 2.5GbE backhaul and a better Wi-Fi 7 adapter, 200 MB/s might be possible, but that is when there is only me using the AP.

Without a 10GbE backhaul or 6GHz band and given the variability of Wi-Fi 7 technology, these are realistically the results most access points will deliver currently.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)Tenda BE5010 i36 Access Point: Final verdict

The Tenda BE5010 i36 is a dual-band Wi-Fi 7 ceiling access point that punches far above its price. It brings 5010Mbps of wireless speed, a 2.5GbE uplink, WPA3 security, and a capable cloud management platform to a category that typically charges far more for these features.

The absence of a 6GHz band is a real limitation for those who need it. For everyone else, this is a compelling piece of kit at a price that is hard to argue with.

(Image credit: Tenda)Should I buy a Tenda BE5010 i36 Access Point?Tenda BE5010 i36 Access Point Score Card

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Value

For Wi-Fi 7, this is a bargain

4.5/5

Design

Simple but effective saucer design

4/5

In Use

Cloud connector or not, its your choice

3.5/5

Performance

2.5GbE LAN backhaul is the limiting factor

4/5

Overall

Excellent 5G travel router with a few caveats

4/5

Buy it if...

You need cheap equipment
Given that most of the alternatives are at least 50% more, and don’t come with a PoE injector, this hardware is undoubtedly a cost benefit. However, the CloudFi system isn’t as powerful as a TP-Link or UniFi system, so it may take more time to administer.

Don't buy it if...

You want all Wi-Fi 7 offers
Without the 6GHz band, Wi-Fi 7 isn’t much faster than Wi-Fi 6e, and equipment at that level is even cheaper than this. It does have some other virtues that make it worth considering, but the unused frequencies of 6GHz make it special. This AP doesn’t support 6GHz.

You want a Mesh solution
This hardware doesn’t support Mesh, even if it does have fast roaming via 802.11k/v/r. Without Mesh technology, it would be difficult to integrate this into existing APs from other brands that do support Mesh technology.

For more connectivity solutions, we've reviewed the best business routers

• Japan plans to deploy 10 million additional robots before 2040 arrives
• Nursing homes and food factories sit at the centre of expansion
• Noetra will supply the AI foundation powering future Japanese robots nationwide

Japan has unveiled a revised national robotics strategy which aims to introduce around 10 million robots in the country by 2040.

Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Ryosei Akazawa announced the plan, which now spans 18 fields after adding food manufacturing and medical care to earlier priorities.

The government intends to move quickly to establish a core AI robotics hub, supporting deployment, research, and workforce training activities across the country.

Robots move beyond the factory floor

Officials described the hub as central to helping companies adopt robots at scale over the coming years, particularly in sectors already struggling with staff shortages.

The strategy centres on Noetra, a domestically produced multimodal foundation model developed alongside a National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology project focused on physical AI.

Noetra is majority-owned by SoftBank, NEC, Sony Group and Honda, while Fujitsu and Rakuten are reportedly still weighing whether to join the consortium.

Akazawa said accumulated data from elderly care, disaster response, manufacturing sites and the Fukushima Daiichi decommissioning effort underpins the government's confidence in the approach.

"The utilization of accumulated data" would become Japan's "winning strategy," he said, framing global competition as a contest over accessible datasets rather than raw computing power alone.

The government plans to build data infrastructure for physical AI and robots that reflects the country's own industrial strengths.

It will lean on decades of experience operating machinery in hazardous or labour-scarce environments nationwide.

International partnerships and regional ambitions

Officials have confirmed a collaborative arrangement with research institutions in the US, Canada, France and the UK to support development of the base model.

The resulting technology will reportedly be made available widely to Japanese AI developers, businesses and eventual users across multiple industries and regions.

According to officials briefed on the plan, some companies are expected to use the platform as a foundation for expanding into foreign markets in later years.

The minister also linked the strategy to broader efforts encouraging AI-driven transformation originating from regional areas outside Japan's major metropolitan centres, rather than concentrating growth in Tokyo alone.

Japan's ageing population and restrictive migration policies continue creating labour shortages across industries struggling to recruit sufficient numbers of workers.

Policymakers increasingly view automation as a practical response because many vacancies remain difficult to fill through conventional hiring efforts alone.

Supporters frequently argue that robots are filling roles unavailable to human workers rather than directly replacing existing employees across industries.

The revised strategy therefore includes medical care responsibilities alongside duties within food production and beverage manufacturing environments across the country.

South Korea announced a comparable robotics ambition this week, adding a competitive dimension to the wider regional picture as both countries pursue sovereign AI capabilities.

Whether those ambitions become reality may depend less upon announcements than sustained investment, technical progress, and broader public acceptance domestically.

Via The Register

The Samsung S95F was our TV of the Year last year, thanks to its excellent picture quality, effectiveness in a bright room and superb gaming capabilities. It edged out the LG G5, the S95F’s flagship rival, for the honors — but needless to say, both these models were top-tier performers and contenders for our list of the best TVs. So I've been relishing testing their successors side by side.

I’ve already tested and reviewed the LG G6, the G5’s successor, and it earned five-stars in my LG G6 review. It’s one of the best OLED TVs I’ve tested this year, especially for bright room viewing (more on that later).

Now, the S95F’s successor — which is called the Samsung S95H in the US, and the S99H in the UK (and there is a separate model called the S95H in the UK, which is different to the US' S95H. Clear? Great…) has arrived in our test room, so I put the S95H/S99H and G6 side-by-side to see which flagship OLED comes out on top.

Colors

Both the Samsung S95H/S99H (left) and LG G6 (right) showcase bold colors, but the S99H made reds in Speed Racer look orange in places, shown in the floors and shelving, while the G6 showed red (Image credit: Warner Bros / Future )

Color reproduction on both these TV’s predecessors has been superb in the past, so I was keen to see how the two new models would fare. I started with Speed Racer on 4K Blu-ray, which I recently reviewed as part of the June 2026 Blu-ray Bounty, and boy, does it have some impressive colors.

With both TVs set to their respective HDR Movie modes (called Cinema Home on the G6) colors are bold, punchy and vibrant on both TVs, perfectly delivering the hyper-saturated, cartoon-esque look of the movie.

Colors practically exploded on screen on both TVs. Looking closer, the G6 has deeper, richer colors which add a more 3D-like effect to the picture, while the S95H/S99H’s are on the more natural side. Blues, greens, purples and yellows appear more true-to-life on the S95H/S99H, while the G6 opts for dazzle.

One thing I found very interesting however was how each TV rendered red. In some scenes, I noticed that the S95H/S99H made these red details look more orange, while on the G6 they had a much more candy-apple red look that felt more accurate to the movie. This was clear in a scene with the red shelves, walls and floors of the Racer family garage, shown above.

The S95H/S99H (left) has higher fullscreen brightness, but the G6 (right) has punchier peak brightness and bolder colors (Image credit: Warner Bros / Future )

In the close-up shot of Speed Racer during a race shown above, the red of his seat and the M logo on his helmet was deeper and bolder on the G6, looking a little pale on the S95H/S99H. For any red tones, I preferred the G6’s saturation: for this movie at least, in these modes.

For the record, in terms of measurements, the S95H/S99H scored 2.2 SDR color accuracy and 99.97% UHDA-P3 and 89.3% BT.2020 HDR color gamut coverage, to the G6’s 2.3 SDR color accuracy, 99.3% UHDA-P3 and 83% BT.2020 color gamut coverage (measured after its most recent update as of July 3rd 2026). So, these two generally measured about the same in these major areas.

When it came to skin tones, I found myself drawn to the S95H/S99H. The G6 clearly favoured red in Cinema Home, hence the deeper reds in objects. To some, the skin tones of characters on the S95H/S99H may have looked a little washed out, but I found the highlighting red tones in people’s faces, such as their cheeks, during close-up shots to be a little distracting.

The S99H (left) has more accurate skin tones, with the G6 (right) favoring red shades in skin tones Lionsgate / Future Both TVs show great color reproduction in La La Land, but the S99H's (left) feel more natural Lionsgate / Future Both TVs do a great job rednering the gradation of the sky in La La LandLionsgate / Future

Switching to La La Land, with both TVs in Movie mode, the more natural colors worked in the S95H/S99H’s favour. At the spring pool party, Mia’s yellow dress was vibrant on both screens with some gorgeous visual pop, but the yellow looked more authentic on the S95H/S99H. In the background, the green bushes were deeper on the G6, which gave them a nice, rich look, but again I felt the softer green of the S95H/S99H suited the movie better.

Later on, a close-up shot of Mia, the G6 again showed off the red tones in her skin, while on the S95H/S99H, her skin tone was uniform, more lifelike. In the ‘City of Stars’ scene, as Sebastian walks along a pier at sunset, both TVs accurately delivered the gradation of the sky, which goes from purple, to orange, to pink, accurately and while the G6 again had that richer look, the S95H/S99H had a bit more punch in the paler tones.

Contrast and dark room viewing

With both TVs set to Movie mode (Cinema Home on the G6), both can easily show a dark movie like The Batman in brightly lit conditions and still have good contrast (Image credit: Warner Bros / Future )

Moving onto darker movies, I started with The Batman, my reference disc for darker scenes. The Batman is a very dim movie (mastered at a max of around 400 nits) so it can be tricky for any TV to accurately display.

As both TVs have effective reflection handling layers (more on that below), I tried out the movie in Filmmaker Mode in a brightly lit room — and of the two, the G6 better preserved richer black tones with crisper textures and contrast. The S95H/S99H was much dimmer, and although the matte screen blocked mirror-like reflections, the movie was harder to watch.

Switching to Movie mode on both TVs, it then became a much closer call. Watching the subway scene, as Batman stands on a dark subway platform, both TVs delivered strong black levels with good shadow detail. The S95H/S99H had the more uniform picture of the two overall in Movie mode.

With both TVs set to Filmmaker Mode, the S95H/S99H (left) shows deeper blacks and more dynamic contrast, but sometimes can crush said blacks. The G6 (right) preserves better detail, but is a little bright (Image credit: Warner Bros / Future )

Switching to darker viewing conditions, and switching back to Filmmaker Mode, the differences between each TV was much more apparent. While both TVs still delivered strong contrast, shown in scenes with bright lights against dark backgrounds such as the Batcave and the crime scene at Mayor Mitchell’s house, the S95H/S99H actually delivered noticeably deeper blacks.

In some cases they were too deep, as it did exhibit some black crush, which resulted in loss of shadow detail. In the same subway scene from before, the background became mostly ineligible on the S95H/S99H. On the G6, these same details were preserved, but the picture was much brighter and the darker areas on screen weren’t as satisfying. Despite the black crush, I found myself drawn to the S95H/S99H’s more uniform picture.

With both TVs in Filmmaker Mode, the G6 (right) does a better job showing this scene from Fight Club in a bright room20th Century Studios / Future With both TVs set to Movie mode, it becomes a much closer call20th Century Studios / Future

Next I switched to ‘brighter’ movies with dark scenes, and went back to having brighter conditions in the room. In Fight Club, back in Filmmaker Mode, the G6 had the more impactful contrast and richer black tones.

As Marla and the narrator talk in a dimly-lit shop, the S95H/S99H’s matte screen created a haze effect across the screen, affecting some dark tones and made textures look a little softer. The G6’s glossy screen had crisper textures and deeper blacks with more impactful contrast. But switch to Movie mode and, again, it was a toss up as to which looked better.

Using a scene from space in Alien: Romulus in Movies modes, both TVs delivered rich black tones with a good amount of white stars dotted throughout, something some cheaper TVs I’ve tested can’t reproduce as cleanly. Again, in Filmmaker Mode, the G6 was the more engaging picture with the inky blacks, but the S95H/S99H did a better job handling reflections on this occasion, while still delivering powerful contrast. So let's dig more into reflections and visual punch.

Brightness and reflections

Both TVs deliver bright, brilliant whites with excellent, controlled brightness. A note: the S95H/S99H does not have this red tint in person, it is the matte screen being picked up the camera awkwardly (Image credit: Future)

OLED TVs are getting brighter. Once struggling to hit over 1,000 nits HDR peak some years ago, this is easily surpassed now, on both flagship and mid-range models.

I measured the S95H/S99H as hitting 2,739 nits HDR peak brightness (10% window) in Filmmaker Mode, as well as 449 nits of fullscreen HDR (100% window). In HDR movie mode, the S95H/S99H hit 2,751 nits peak and 450 nits fullscreen.

The G6 in the same modes, after a re-test with a new firmware update, hit a staggering 3,004 nits peak (10%) and 451 nits fullscreen brightness in HDR Filmmaker Mode. In HDR Cinema Home, the G6 hit 2,207 nits peak and 365 nits fullscreen brightness.

How did this translate into real-world scenes? Using some snow scenes from the Spears & Munsil UHD Benchmark, both TVs, set to Filmmaker Mode, showed punchy white tones with plenty of vibrancy, but the G6 had that little bit more depth in some areas. Generally, however, the S95H/S99H had the brighter picture in larger white areas, during a shot of a snow-covered ground or a white sky.

The S95H/S99H's (left) stronger fullscreen brightness in Movie mode is on show in this scene from Fight Club, as the blue sky looks much brighter than on the G6 (right) (Image credit: 20th Century Studios / Future )

In movies, going back to Speed Racer, Speed’s white Mach 5 car and helmet appeared brighter on the S95H/S99H, especially in Movie mode, which makes sense based on the 500 nits peak HDR difference between the S95H/S99H and G6 in that mode.

However, the G6 again had that satisfying glint that drew the eye more. In daytime scenes, the S95H/S99H again showed higher overall brightness, especially in lighter colors like green and yellow. But, the G6’s richer colors sometimes gave it a perceived sense of higher brightness through its boldness.

In another scene from Fight Club, again in Movie mode, as the narrator stands over an overturned car in the day, the clear, blue sky was noticeably brighter on the S95H/S99H. The G6 still showed good brightness, but it wasn’t as impactful as the S95H/S99H.

Both TVs are very effective at reducing reflections and while the S95H/S99H (left) is better at getting rid of them totally thanks to its matte screen, the G6 (right) does a better job maintaining black tones while reducing reflections (Image credit: Future)

I’ve touched on bright-room conditions and reflection handling above, and both these TVs are impressive on this front. The S95H/S99H’s anti-glare screen does an excellent job at eliminating mirror-like reflections, turning them to a haze. While it would beat every other OLED TV in brighter rooms, the G6 is more than a match for it.

When I compared the LG G6 to last year's Samsung S95F for their reflection handling, I preferred the G6, as it did a better job delivering inkier, richer black tones while still eliminating most reflections.

The S95H/S99H is brighter than the S95F, and while this does mean its overall picture quality next to the G6 is improved, delivering more powerful contrast, I still prefer the G6 for bright rooms… in Filmmaker Mode.

In Movie mode, however, it again becomes a very tight call, edged by the G6 for me. I just preferred the preservation of contrast over the out-and-out reflection handling.

Which do I prefer?

(Image credit: 20th Century Studios / Future )

In these tests, the LG G6 proved to have bolder colors, with better black levels and punchier highlights in brighter conditions (still with great reflection handling). The Samsung S95H/S99H showed better skin-tone accuracy, better contrast balance and black tones in dark room viewing, and higher perceived fullscreen brightness.

Deciding between these two TVs is no easy task. Both deliver outstanding picture quality, with their own strengths, and superb gaming experiences. It's never been a closer contest. So torn am I between the two, I’m saying you can’t really go wrong with either. It will come down to price and what you’re looking for — though while I've only focused on picture here, I do know that a lot of people are put off by the huge frame on the S95H/S99H, and that might make the difference.

If you want Dolby Vision HDR, bolder colors and better contrast with richer black levels in a bright room, go for the G6. If you want HDR10+, a more accurate-feeling picture out-of-the-box in a dark room, and a TV that beats the most challenging reflections, go for the S95H/S99H. Honestly, both TVs can do pretty much everything.

If I had to choose one today, it would be the LG G6. Not only does it have the better black level performance in brighter rooms, but right now, it's cheaper in the UK (where I am) and Australia, with a 55-inch G6 costing $2,299 / £2,099 / AU$3,499, while the S95H/S99H 55-inch costs $2,199 / £2,399 / AU$3,999. If I were in the US, or if the prices switch here, I could easily change my mind: it's that close.

U.S. soccer star Folarin Balogun has had his World Cup ban suspended by FIFA, making him free to play in the United States' round of 16 game against Belgium on Monday.

(Image credit: Julio Cortez)

People in the Northern Mariana Islands – remote U.S. territories in the Pacific Ocean – are preparing for Super Typhoon Bavi, which experts say could bring winds of over 180 miles per hour.

(Image credit: National Oceanic and Atmospheric)

Apolosign 32-inch Smart Portable TV: 30-second review

Products that fuse technology to create something interesting aren’t a new concept, and with the advent of the Smart TV, most of us have one or more in our homes.

But the Apolosign 32" Smart Portable TV takes the technology crossover idea to a whole different level, as it combines a 4K display, an Android 16 tablet and a battery backup into a single roll-anywhere solution.

This is perfect for promotional signage, but I could also see this as being the perfect way to explain mobile apps in an educational setting.

If there is a caveat to lumping this much technology together, it's the weight, and this product is 22kg in the box, and not much less out of it. Therefore, getting it assembled is probably a two-man job, and should it fall over and hit anything, there will be breakage.

Also, at nearly $1000 / £1000, it isn’t cheap for what on the surface looks like a 32-inch TV, but that doesn’t account for all the technology underneath.

If you need a huge 4K Android tablet that can run all the standard apps and be operated by touch or voice while on battery power, then the options are limited.

And, while there are a few places where it might have been a little better, overall Apolosign has done a decent job making this fusion product design work.

Apolosign 32-inch Smart Portable TV: Price and availability

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

• How much does it cost? $820/£1000/€1100
• When is it out? Available now
• Where can you get it? Direct from the maker or via an online retailer

The Apolosign 32" Smart Portable TV is $819 from its maker, although it can be found on Amazon.com for almost exactly the same price plus 99 cents. UK customers pay £999.99 at Amazon.co.uk, and in Europe, €1,099.99.

Therefore, Americans get a much better deal here than anyone else, for no obvious good reason, since the hardware is made in China.

If you want to save some money but still like the concept, Apolosign also makes a version with a 1080p screen for $719. And, for $619, you can have a 1080p model with a 24-inch panel. While these are cheaper, saving a few hundred dollars might not provide the best experience, and that’s what this device is all about.

I did notice a few other brand names selling what looked like similar hardware, but their prices were typically higher. Although I did find one on Amazon.co.uk selling what seemed to be similar equipment for only £699.99. But, I did note that the product only had 128GB of storage, a 10500 mAh battery and no HDMI input.

So, you get what you pay for.

When you factor that with the Apolosign 32" Smart Portable TV, you get an Android tablet, a 32-inch 4K display, a 4K webcam, a remote control, a battery system that can power everything and a high stand, the asking price even outside America isn’t excessive.

And, for those in the US, it might even be a bargain.

• Value: 4 / 5

Apolosign 32-inch Smart Portable TV: Specs

Item

Spec

Processor

Rockchip RK3576, 8nm, octa-core (4x Cortex-A72 @ up to 2.2–2.4 GHz + 4x Cortex-A53)

GPU

Mali-G52 MC3

RAM

8GB

Storage

256GB

Display

32-inch 4K 10-point capacitive touchscreen, IPS technology, 300 nits

Main Camera

4K Webcam (provided)

Battery

15000Ah dual-cell

Charging

Charges from PSU

OS

Android 16

5G

N/A

Networking

Wi-Fi 6, BT5.3

Dimensions

18 x 32 x 151 cm

Weight

22kg in a box

Colours

White

Apolosign 32-inch Smart Portable TV: Design

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

• Assembly fun
• Power options
• Dual-purpose design

In the box, this hardware weighs an impressive 22kg, and the box isn’t a huge part of that weight.

That mass is mostly because of the construction of the base, which has some intentional extra weight, and also a battery, to increase the stability once fully assembled. Assembly starts with the base, connecting it to a two-part pillar, and then, once that’s together, attaching the monitor using a VESA 100 mounting.

I’d strongly suggest that, unlike me, anyone doing this have a second support person handy, because some of the parts and the assembly are heavy.

The added complication of this design is that the PSU plugs into the base, and power is passed via a series of connectors up the support arm to the display.

My install was made extra fun because on the inside of the box lid was a set of instructions that I decided to follow. To connect the base to the bottom half of the pillar, I was told to use the screws labelled B3x16, and this was the only screw bag that had a label.

Except someone in the packing department had taken B3 to be the number of screws, and put three screws in there that were for the VESA connection stage, and they weren’t anywhere near 16mm long. I found those in an unmarked bag, give of them, four to attach and one spare. But anyone following the box instructions to the letter would be stuck because the VESA screws aren’t long enough for that attachment.

Once I realised the mistake, it was all plain sailing, and soon the support arm and screen were treated as one item.

For those wondering, there is a panel you can remove on the screen that provides access to the USB ports and an HDMI port for those wanting to use a PC or smart stick with it. And, also in that location is a place to directly power the system with the PSU. However, if you use that power input, the battery in the base won’t be charged, and it will need to be plugged in to use. It’s a choice, but it does allow the display to be used on a different VESA support, like one on a table.

The support column can tilt, rotate, and swivel, and there is 18cm of vertical movement. And, as the base is on casters, it can spin completely around.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

Included in the box is a webcam, and there are two points to connect it to the display, depending on whether you are using it in landscape or portrait mode.

My only concern is that, given the size and mass of the monitor and how it's supported, it wouldn’t be impossible for this whole thing to go over, especially if someone pushed it onto a slope, like the one designed for wheelchair access. And, if that happens, the chance of the panel surviving seems remote.

If the screen doesn’t need to be moved around, a set of rubber feet is included to go over the casters, making it less mobile.

On the back of the display are a power button and a volume rocker, and pressing the power button will launch the Android installation routine, which anyone with a phone or tablet will be familiar with.

There are two accessories included with the display: a remote control and a webcam, but you can’t use either of those until Android is fully operational. When I first did that, the tablet part of this device was using Android 15, not the Android 16 that the maker's page promises. However, a system upgrade was ready, which converted it to Android 16 and also fixed a few limitations, such as adding Widevine L1 encryption.

I wouldn’t call the The Apolosign 32" Smart Portable TV a unique design, but there aren’t many hardware makers offering anything like this. It combines a monitor, tablet, mobile signage, information kiosk and presentation tool into a single device. And, for those who want all those things, it might be ideal.

• Design: 4 / 5

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)Apolosign 32-inch Smart Portable TV: Hardware

• Rockchip RK3576
• VA display
• 15000 mAh battery

When I saw that this Android device used a Rockwell chip, I was initially discouraged, but that might have been a mistake on my part.

The Rockchip RK3576 first appeared on Rockchip roadmaps in late 2023, alongside the smaller RK3506. At the time, it looked like a cheaper sibling to the mighty RK3588, and that reading turned out to be correct. Rockchip officially launched the RK3576 in the second quarter of 2024, built on an advanced 8nm process, with low CPU junction temperature that allows fanless designs in many applications.

The RK3576 uses the familiar octo-core layout, and in this design, the cores are split 50/50 between performance and efficiency. Four ARM Cortex A72 cores handle heavy lifting, and four Cortex A53 cores manage lighter tasks, with an additional M0 co-processor for background duties. Together, they deliver around 58,000 DMIPS of computing power, which isn’t a huge number, but it's enough to build an Android tablet around.

Graphics and media are where this chip earns its keep. Video decoding stretches up to 8K at 30fps or 4K at 120fps, and it supports H.264, H.265, VP9, AV1 and AVS2. Encoding covers H.264 and H.265 up to 4K at 60fps, with JPEG encoding and decoding also reaching 4K at 60fps. The embedded GPU supports OpenGL ES up to 3.2, OpenCL up to 2.0 and Vulkan 1.1, so it copes comfortably with modern display demands, although it’s not got the sort of GPU power that games like.

A new sixteen megapixel image signal processor adds real muscle for camera work, with accelerators for HDR, noise reduction, sharpening and lens distortion correction. Rockchip also built in a 6 TOPS NPU for on-device AI, enabling things like facial recognition and voice interaction without needing the cloud. Rockchips

The chip supports dual-channel LPDDR4, LPDDR4X, and LPDDR5; later revisions added LPDDR5X support, giving manufacturers plenty of flexibility depending on cost targets.

In this implementation, it's got 8GB of memory, but try as I might, I couldn’t discover what it is, and, in the same vein, it has 256GB of storage, but the type is unclear.

As this device is mostly bought for the 4K screen, that’s the one part of this that was clearly under the most price-saving pressure.

I’m reasonably confident that this is IPS, not VA or AMOLED, it has only a brightness level of 300 nits, and a refresh of 60Hz. The quoted response time is 8ms, and it supposedly has a contrast ratio of 1:3000.

When I get into the performance weeds, I’ll return to the screen, but my initial view was that while it's workable, it’s the one part that Apolosign needed to probably make better to justify the cost of the ensemble.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

• Hardware: 4 / 5

The final hardware part I want to discuss is the battery, something I wasn’t actually expecting, that turned out to be genuinely useful.

Deep in the base, but replaceable is a 15000 mAh dual-cell Lithium-ion battery rated at 14.8 Volts. This is charged when the base is connected to power, although it charges much faster when the unit isn’t in use. Apolosign states that if the unit is in use and the battery is flat, it could take 6 hours to fully recharge. If you turn the screen and tablet off, it charges faster, probably in less than two hours.

The moral of this tale is to provide a PSU with enough umph to both charge and power, not do only one of those things effectively.

Makers quoted discharge is also six hours, but that longevity is dependent on the brightness set on the monitor and what the tablet is doing. But, during that time, you can wheel it around without any connected wires, and it remains fully functional.

Overall, the hardware in the tablet part of this design is decent if a bit underwhelming. I do wonder if a more modern SoC at 4nm might be more power efficient and an even better performer, allowing for more time on battery. But then, given that most of the power in the battery will be used on the 4K display, there might not be much of an advantage to gain.

Apolosign 32-inch Smart Portable TV: Performance

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

• Modest SoC
• Display is of good quality
• 95% AdobeRGB

Phone

 

Apolosign 32" Smart Portable TV

SoC

 

Rockchip RK3576

GPU

 

ARM Mali-G52 MC3

NPU

 

Integrated 6 TOPS

Memory

 

8GB/256GB

Weight

 

20kg

Battery

mAh

15,000

Geekbench

Single

344

 

Multi

1228

 

OpenCL

1438

 

Vulkan

1436

PCMark

3.0 Score

6164

 

Battery

 8h 23m

Charge 30

%

15%

Passmark

Score

7180

 

CPU

3704

3DMark

Slingshot OGL

1941

 

Slingshot Ex. OGL

1473

 

Slingshot Ex. Vulkan

1694

 

Wildlife

864

 

Wldlife Extreme

241

 

Nomad Lite

100

Since this is a unique product to me, I’ve not put it in comparison to any other.

However, this, under the skin, is a tablet, so I’ve used the same benchmarks I’d do if it were one I could carry around.

Compared to the typical rugged tablet I cover, this is probably one of the slowest I’ve ever tested. Looking back at my data, the only tablet I’ve tested that was remotely similar in performance was the Ulefone Armour Pad Pro, which uses the MediaTek Helio G88, and the Ulefone Armour Pad 3 Pro, which uses the MediaTek Helio P60.

This arrangement is slightly quicker than those tablets, but the difference isn’t huge.

If the numbers don’t speak for themselves, the graphics performance here is fine for block puzzles and Candy Crush, but it’s not amazing when asked to do 3D.

The makers had predicted six hours of running, but it exceeded that amount by some way, running the PCMark battery test for 8 hours and 23 minutes. That’s not enough for the full day at a trade show, but it's acceptable. It’s worth remembering that the battery here is not only running the tablet but also the 4K display set to 120 nits of brightness.

For anyone wondering why I didn’t hook this display up to a PC and run a full Datacolor analysis on it, initially, there was a snag. Due to its integration with the tablet components, this monitor doesn’t have OSD, so selecting the various brightness settings I needed for analysis proved challenging.

What I was ultimately forced to do was swap back to Android, alter the brightness when required, and then go back to the PC HDMI input. Not impossible, but the process took much longer than it normally would.

Here are my results:

Datacolor Spyder X2 Analysis

Colour Gamut

Percentage

sRGB

95%

AdobeRGB

79%

P3

80%

NTSC

74%

Rec2020

57%

Gamma

2.1

Brightness/Contrast

 

Maximum Brightness

287.8

Maximum Contrast

1860:1

For an IPS panel, the one used here is decent, especially in Gamut and Tone Response.

It’s also strong on colour uniformity and contrast, even if it doesn’t hit the maker's quoted 3000:1 levels.

Its weaknesses are colour accuracy and luminance uniformity, with the latter being quite poor. This is an edge-lit design, and most of the light seems to come from the upper left, making the bottom centre and right much darker than the rest of the display. At its worst, we are talking 22% darker at 50% brightness.

The viewing angles on this screen are 178 degrees, so that’s not an issue for people viewing content at an angle.

Overall, the tablet part of this package isn’t anything special, but the display is better than anticipated.

• Performance: 3.5 / 5

Apolosign 32-inch Smart Portable TV: Final verdict

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

As a solution, I enjoyed the Apolosign 32-inch Smart Portable TV, since it delivered in a small but important niche.

Signage, presentation and educational rolls are all satisfied by this product, and for marketing companies needing show stand equipment, the price isn’t crazy.

In retrospect, a bigger battery to deliver a whole working day might have been worthwhile, and a high-end model with an AMOLED screen would be an eye-catching option.

The only question any prospective buyer needs to answer is whether they need 4K or if one of the 1080p models would do the job just as effectively.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)Apolosign 32-inch Smart Portable TV: Report card

Value

Limited choices make for good value

4 / 5

Design

Awkward to assemble but nice when together

4 / 5

Hardware

Modest SoC, but decent spec otherwise

4 / 5

Performance

Mediorcre tablet and decent screen

3.5 / 5

Total

Not cheap, but useful for so many jobs

4 / 5

Should you buy a Apolosign 32-inch Smart Portable TV?

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)Buy it if...

You need mobile presentation hardware
If you don’t have stairs to contend with, this mobile display and tablet could be the perfect companion. It’s an Android tablet, a media player, a live streamer and an information kiosk all in one.

You want a 4K touch screen
Microsoft damned touch screens by messing up Windows to support them and insisting we’d all be using them in the future, which caused the technology to die. However, this hardware is one of the few cases where touch works, especially when you put Android 16 on it.View Deal

Don’t buy if...

You intend to travel with it
Even if you are prepared to go through the exercise of breaking this down into its box and then reassembling it at the other end, at over 20kg, this isn’t a practical travel companion. Take a projector instead.

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Genki Attack Vector: Review

The Attack Vector is a basic set of covers and grips for your Switch 2 and Joy-Cons, designed to protect your console and improve ergonomics in handheld mode.

The plastic covers for the console and both Joy-Cons are quite plain, with a totally black finish and no extra flourishes. They’re reasonably thick and durable, but also light.

(Image credit: Future)

The back cover for the console is easy enough to snap on. It should offer sufficient protection from scratches and the like, and I appreciated the fact that the inside has a small patch of rubber, which makes the fit more snug.

Like the best Nintendo Switch 2 accessories, the Attack Vector doesn’t interfere with the console’s stand, ports or buttons, thanks to the various cutaways. They’re still quite easy to use, although the deep recess that’s created around the power and volume buttons means you may have to press these more with your fingernail than your fingertip. What’s more, the Switch 2 still fits in the dock with the cover attached; in fact, the fit is actually better, since it prevents it from wobbling at all.

(Image credit: Future)

Snapping on the Joy-Con covers is a little trickier, but it’s easier if you hold the detach button on each Joy-Con as you slide them on. These also have a small rubber backing on the inside for a more secure fit.

The Attack Vector comes with three sets of grips to attach to the back of these covers, of varying shapes and sizes. These have a solid build quality and a nice finish, with a rubber texture that feels comfortable, grippy, and hardwearing.

(Image credit: Future)

Attaching these grips is a little difficult at first. You have to line up the grooves and slide them on blindly, which can result in numerous failed attempts. However, I soon got the technique down and managed to attach them without issue thereafter. Once attached, they’re very stable; at no point did they come loose while I used them.

The two larger grip sets are called the Anchor and Balance. I found the latter set very comfortable, as the sides of the grips fitted the center of my palms naturally as I played.

(Image credit: Future)

The Anchor grips are shorter and feature ergonomic indentations at the bottom. I didn’t find these as comfortable or as secure, since only my last two fingers fit in these indentations. I suspect they’re designed for smaller hands than mine. Ultimately, though, both grips make handheld mode more comfortable and secure, especially when holding the Switch 2 upright, as you have something more substantial to hold on to.

There is a problem with these grips, though. Their weight and leverage mean that the Joy-Cons can rock back and forth slightly in the console, which is a little disconcerting. This rocking is minimal under normal use, and it never resulted in the Joy-Cons disconnecting from my Switch 2 during testing, but I do worry that eventually their hold in the console might loosen.

(Image credit: Future)

No such issue is created by the Feather grips, though. These are the smallest set and only cover the middle section of each Joy-Con. Unlike the other grips, they barely protrude outwards, offering a much more subtle feel. But given the stock Joy-Cons’ absence of a grippy surface or an ergonomic shape, I was still pleased with the limited support they provided. What’s more, I found them ideal when the Joy-Cons were detached from the console, since, unlike the other sets, they offer enough bulk to get a secure grip without impeding the reach of my thumbs to the controls.

At £40, the Attack Vector isn’t exactly cheap. However, the covers provide a good fit and basic protection for your console and Joy-Cons. Meanwhile, the comfortable grips for all types of hands are great if you play in handheld mode often, especially in a more upright position.

(Image credit: Future)Genki Attack Vector review: Price & availability

The Genki Attack Vector costs £39.99 and is available now in black only. This isn’t particularly cheap for a case and grip combination. But the quality of the product, as well as the inclusion of three different types of grips, may be worth it to those who take their handheld gaming seriously.

Should I buy the Genki Attack Vector?Buy it if…

You’ll be using handheld mode a lot
The grips offer a secure and satisfying way to use your Switch 2 in handheld mode, and the three different kinds should ensure you’ll get the right fit.

You want to keep the covers and grips on at all times
The console cover is designed to fit in Switch 2’s dock, and it actually prevents it from wobbling around in there, too.

Don't buy it if…

You want to improve the Switch 2’s looks
The utilitarian nature of the Attack Vector means if offers no flair to help personalize the style of your console.

You want ultimate Joy-Con stability
The larger grips tend to cause the Joy-Cons to wobble slightly, which might lead to problems for more animated players.

Genki Attack Vector review: Also consider

Genki Dual Wield Nintendo Switch 2 Charging Station
The Dual Wield actually makes a good companion to the Attack Vector, since you can attach the Joy-Cons to the Dual Wield grip while keeping the Attack Vector’s grips in place. What’s more, this improves the ergonomics of the Dual Wield, which was one of the main weaknesses I identified when I reviewed it. And when your session is over, you can simply dock your Joy-Cons in the charging station. There are two sets of grips for two sets of Joy-Cons and two positions on the charging station. Read our full Genki Dual Wield Nintendo Switch 2 Charging Station review.

(Image credit: Future)How I tested the Genki Attack Vector

I used the Genki Attack Vector for several days, playing a variety of games in handheld mode, including Super Mario Bros. Wonder and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. I made sure to try out all three grip types. I also tested the grips with the Joy-Cons detached from the console.

I've been gaming for decades, and have used a variety of systems and controllers in that time, including various handheld systems. I've also reviewed other Switch 2 accessories and controllers before.

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

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Snakebyte Ergo Grip S2 review

The Snakebyte Ergo Grip 2 is a basic grip for the Switch 2’s Joy-Cons, although it has a few tricks up its sleeve.

Its design is very much a case of function over form. There’s no RGB lighting, and the all-black colorway leaves no room for levity. At least it's simple and unfussy, consisting merely of a central bar and two grip handles on either side. These handles are reasonably long but quite thin compared to more traditional controllers.

(Image credit: Future)

The build quality isn’t particularly great, it has to be said. There’s quite a bit of flex to the whole unit, although it's solid enough and the plastic feels smooth in the hand. But it’s certainly not going to challenge the best Nintendo Switch 2 controllers on this front.

There’s a small switch underneath the Ergo Grip 2 to release the central bar from the bottom of the pad, allowing it to pivot upwards and out of the way of the grip handles so you can insert the Joy-Cons. This seems a little gimmicky, and what’s more, it’s not strictly necessary: by inserting my Joy-Cons at an angle, I managed to get around the handles while the center was locked down.

I think it would’ve been simpler to engineer a solution where the handles didn’t get in the way at all, rather than have a rotating mechanism. I’m also mildly concerned about the button that locks it down. I noticed a small amount of play while it’s locked down, which could spell failure further down the line.

(Image credit: Future)

Happily, the fit for the Joy-Cons is more secure. They slot into the Ergo Grip 2 just as well as they do into the Switch 2 itself. The hold feels strong, and the handles effectively partially cover their outsides, which prevents them from being prised out easily.

In action, it’s quite comfortable. The Joy-Cons sit fairly close together, but not so close as to cause issues. However, the grip handles took me a little while to get used to. At first, I had to slide my hands upwards to reach the Joy-Cons' bumpers when playing games such as Super Mario Bros. Wonder. However, I discovered that I could slot my last two fingers into the handles’ small indents for better purchase, which helped alleviate this problem somewhat.

But there are a few more ergonomic issues with the Ergo Grip 2. The bottom parts of the grips aren’t particularly long, and what’s more, they’re completely vertical, rather than angling outwards. This meant that they didn’t sit in the palms of my hands as well as more traditional gamepads, leading to a less secure feeling of grip.

(Image credit: Future)

This verticality extends to the orientation of the Joy-Cons. They don’t angle outwards at the bottom, which is part of the reason why reaching the bumpers can be a struggle. Other grips, such as the Genki Dual Wield, create such an angle, which feels like a more natural way to use the Joy-Cons.

The Ergo Grip 2 features a USB-C port for charging while you play. There are LEDs on top to indicate charging status, although these are basic, merely lighting up red while charging and green once complete.

At 200cm, the included USB-C cable is quite long, but it's made from rubber. This contrasts with the best Nintendo Switch 2 accessories, including other controllers and grips, that come with braided cables for better flexibility. Thankfully, the cable is quite light, so I didn’t feel much resistance while playing, and I wasn’t worried about the cable disconnecting. However, it’s quite hard to unbunch, meaning it fails to maximize its entire length.

At less than £20, though, such shortcomings are easier to swallow. If all you’re after is a cheap way to securely hold your Joy-Con 2 controllers and want to play and charge at the same time, you could do worse than the Ergo Grip 2.

Snakebyte Ergo Grip S2 review: Price and availability

(Image credit: Future)

The Ergo Grip 2 can be ordered from Snakebyte’s website for €19.99, which is about £17. However, we have seen it for less than this at other retailers. This is a fair price for a Joy-Con 2 grip, especially one that features charge-and-play.

However, there are Switch 2 accessories that are arguably better value for money, including others from Snakebyte. Its Starter Kit S2, for instance, includes Joy-Con 2 grips, a case, wired earbuds, joystick caps, and a screen protector — all for about the same price as the Ergo Grip 2.

Should I buy the Snakebyte Ergo Grip S2?Buy it if…

You want your Joy-Cons secured
The design of the Ergo Grip 2 means that your Joy-Cons are locked in place with nowhere to go.

You want to play and charge at the same time
Thanks to the USB-C port and cable, you can charge the Ergo Grip 2 as you play.

Don't buy it if…

You want formidable build quality
The release button for the pivot mechanism doesn’t feel particularly solid, which is a slight concern.

You want the best ergonomics
The upright nature of the Ergo Grip 2 means you don’t get the same ergonomics of typical gamepads.

Snakebyte Ergo Grip S2 review: Also consider

Genki Dual Wield Nintendo Switch 2 charging station
This accessory features two grips for two sets of Joy-Con 2s, as well as a charging station for them. The triangular shape of the grips creates a more natural playing angle for your Joy-Cons, although the completely flat surface of the grip and its small central hole hamper ergonomics somewhat. Still, for the price, the Dual Wield is a decent value.

Read our full review Genki Dual Wield Nintendo Switch 2 charging station review

How I tested the Snakebyte Ergo Grip S2

(Image credit: Future)

I tested the Ergo Grip 2 for several days. I played various games with it attached to my Joy-Cons, including Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Super Mario 3D All-Stars. I attached and detached my Joy-Cons several times to test the fit and pivot mechanism of the grip.

I’ve been gaming for decades and have used many systems and controllers in that time. I’ve also reviewed other Switch 2 grips, as well as numerous controllers for the Switch, PC, Xbox, and mobile.

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

Snakebyte Ergo Grip S2 review

The Snakebyte Ergo Grip 2 is a basic grip for the Switch 2’s Joy-Cons, although it has a few tricks up its sleeve.

Its design is very much a case of function over form. There’s no RGB lighting, and the all-black colorway leaves no room for levity. At least it's simple and unfussy, consisting merely of a central bar and two grip handles on either side. These handles are reasonably long but quite thin compared to more traditional controllers.

(Image credit: Future)

The build quality isn’t particularly great, it has to be said. There’s quite a bit of flex to the whole unit, although it's solid enough and the plastic feels smooth in the hand. But it’s certainly not going to challenge the best Nintendo Switch 2 controllers on this front.

There’s a small switch underneath the Ergo Grip 2 to release the central bar from the bottom of the pad, allowing it to pivot upwards and out of the way of the grip handles so you can insert the Joy-Cons. This seems a little gimmicky, and what’s more, it’s not strictly necessary: by inserting my Joy-Cons at an angle, I managed to get around the handles while the center was locked down.

I think it would’ve been simpler to engineer a solution where the handles didn’t get in the way at all, rather than have a rotating mechanism. I’m also mildly concerned about the button that locks it down. I noticed a small amount of play while it’s locked down, which could spell failure further down the line.

(Image credit: Future)

Happily, the fit for the Joy-Cons is more secure. They slot into the Ergo Grip 2 just as well as they do into the Switch 2 itself. The hold feels strong, and the handles effectively partially cover their outsides, which prevents them from being prised out easily.

In action, it’s quite comfortable. The Joy-Cons sit fairly close together, but not so close as to cause issues. However, the grip handles took me a little while to get used to. At first, I had to slide my hands upwards to reach the Joy-Cons' bumpers when playing games such as Super Mario Bros. Wonder. However, I discovered that I could slot my last two fingers into the handles’ small indents for better purchase, which helped alleviate this problem somewhat.

But there are a few more ergonomic issues with the Ergo Grip 2. The bottom parts of the grips aren’t particularly long, and what’s more, they’re completely vertical, rather than angling outwards. This meant that they didn’t sit in the palms of my hands as well as more traditional gamepads, leading to a less secure feeling of grip.

(Image credit: Future)

This verticality extends to the orientation of the Joy-Cons. They don’t angle outwards at the bottom, which is part of the reason why reaching the bumpers can be a struggle. Other grips, such as the Genki Dual Wield, create such an angle, which feels like a more natural way to use the Joy-Cons.

The Ergo Grip 2 features a USB-C port for charging while you play. There are LEDs on top to indicate charging status, although these are basic, merely lighting up red while charging and green once complete.

At 200cm, the included USB-C cable is quite long, but it's made from rubber. This contrasts with the best Nintendo Switch 2 accessories, including other controllers and grips, that come with braided cables for better flexibility. Thankfully, the cable is quite light, so I didn’t feel much resistance while playing, and I wasn’t worried about the cable disconnecting. However, it’s quite hard to unbunch, meaning it fails to maximize its entire length.

At less than £20, though, such shortcomings are easier to swallow. If all you’re after is a cheap way to securely hold your Joy-Con 2 controllers and want to play and charge at the same time, you could do worse than the Ergo Grip 2.

Snakebyte Ergo Grip S2 review: Price and availability

(Image credit: Future)

The Ergo Grip 2 can be ordered from Snakebyte’s website for €19.99, which is about £17. However, we have seen it for less than this at other retailers. This is a fair price for a Joy-Con 2 grip, especially one that features charge-and-play.

However, there are Switch 2 accessories that are arguably better value for money, including others from Snakebyte. Its Starter Kit S2, for instance, includes Joy-Con 2 grips, a case, wired earbuds, joystick caps, and a screen protector — all for about the same price as the Ergo Grip 2.

Should I buy the Snakebyte Ergo Grip S2?Buy it if…

You want your Joy-Cons secured
The design of the Ergo Grip 2 means that your Joy-Cons are locked in place with nowhere to go.

You want to play and charge at the same time
Thanks to the USB-C port and cable, you can charge the Ergo Grip 2 as you play.

Don't buy it if…

You want formidable build quality
The release button for the pivot mechanism doesn’t feel particularly solid, which is a slight concern.

You want the best ergonomics
The upright nature of the Ergo Grip 2 means you don’t get the same ergonomics of typical gamepads.

Snakebyte Ergo Grip S2 review: Also consider

Genki Dual Wield Nintendo Switch 2 charging station
This accessory features two grips for two sets of Joy-Con 2s, as well as a charging station for them. The triangular shape of the grips creates a more natural playing angle for your Joy-Cons, although the completely flat surface of the grip and its small central hole hamper ergonomics somewhat. Still, for the price, the Dual Wield is a decent value.

Read our full review Genki Dual Wield Nintendo Switch 2 charging station review

How I tested the Snakebyte Ergo Grip S2

(Image credit: Future)

I tested the Ergo Grip 2 for several days. I played various games with it attached to my Joy-Cons, including Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Super Mario 3D All-Stars. I attached and detached my Joy-Cons several times to test the fit and pivot mechanism of the grip.

I’ve been gaming for decades and have used many systems and controllers in that time. I’ve also reviewed other Switch 2 grips, as well as numerous controllers for the Switch, PC, Xbox, and mobile.

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

The best Bluetooth speakers get better every year: we get improved batteries to supply even more sonic stamina, wider connectivity, and a dizzying range of designs. The market is so competitive that 'good enough' just isn't good enough to stand out any more, and that means the speakers launched and launching in 2026 are often exceptional.

The first six months of 2026 have been great for audio fans, with a range of very good portable speakers to cover pretty much every niche. There are ridiculously loud party speakers that'll annoy your neighbors, tiny portables that are perfect for podcasts, small speakers that are ideal for when you're showering and go-anywhere, play-anything portables for the great outdoors. And we've tested a ton of them with in-depth reviews.

So I've picked out the five top Bluetooth speakers we've review so far in 2026, now that we're half-way through the year. The products I've picked here aren't the only Bluetooth speakers launched in 2026 by any means — for example, there was IKEA's 10-dollar Kallsup speaker, which is so cheap you can buy stacks of them to make a musical pyramid, which we also tried. I also haven't featured stationary wireless speakers that may include Bluetooth, but tend to be more focused on Wi-Fi — we're all about the portable options here.

I've picked my top five based on our in-depth testing, their price tags and how well I think they'll fit into most people's lives.

5. Tribit Stormbox Micro 3

• List price of $64.99 / £62.99 (about AU$130)
• Released in April 2026
• Rating: 4.5 / 5

(Image credit: Future)

The budget Bluetooth sector is absolutely jam-packed with affordable options, but it's hard to beat the Tribit Stormbox Micro 3: it's super-cheap even at full price, and it's frequently discounted from the launch price of $64.99 / £62.99 (about AU$130).

With 24 hours of battery life, a solid build and IP68 dust and water resistance it's a great go-anywhere speaker, and while its single 48mm driver is small, it's surprisingly punchy, with impressive bass for such a compact design. We really like the sound the Micro 3 delivers: it's a good all-rounder for music, podcasts and audiobooks.

Read our Tribit Stormbox Micro 3 review

4. Marshall Bromley 450

• List price of $799.99 / £549.99 / AU$1,079
• Available from March 31, 2026
• Rating: 4 / 5

(Image credit: Future)

The Marshall Bromley 450 is the marginally more sensible member of the Bromley party speaker range: it's considerably cheaper than its very expensive sibling, but still puts out a whopping 400W of Class D amplification — and it can keep playing for over 40 hours, albeit not at full volume. With a list price of $799.99 / £549.00 / AU$1,079 it's still quite expensive, but you're getting a lot of bang for your buck.

In our Marshall Bromley 450 review, we praised its 360-degree audio and noted that you can pair it with a second Bromley over Auracast if 400W isn't shaking the building enough. And as someone who's carried many a Marshall amp up and down venue stairs, I love that it echoes the design of classic Marshall amps and cabinets. Like most of my favorite rock bands it's a little bit ridiculous and enormously entertaining.

Read our Marshall Bromley 450 review

3. JBL Go 5

• List price of $54.95 / £39.99 (about AU$75)
• Released in April 2026
• Rating: 5 / 5

(Image credit: Future)

JBL is one of the best-known brands in the Bluetooth speaker space, and it consistently delivers very impressive products with equally impressive prices. Last year's JBL Flip 7 and JBL Charge 6 are firm favorites of ours, and this year JBL has updated its cute JBL Go ultraportable.

We gave this new model the full five stars in our JBL Go 5 review, calling it "the best tiny Bluetooth speaker" — while 4.8W output means it's hardly a party speaker, it delivers impressive sound from its tiny case along with attractive edge lighting and a durable, waterproof design. It's one of the best-sounding small speakers we've ever tested.

Read our JBL Go 5 review

2. Sonos Play

• List price of $299 / £299 / AU$499
• Released on March 31st, 2026
• Rating: 4.5 / 5

(Image credit: Future)

So far we've been focused on Bluetooth-only speakers, but now let's turn to a portable option that can also be used in multi-room setups over Wi-Fi. Sonos is the big brand in that space, and the Sonos Play is a superb new addition to the Sonos range whether you want it to fly solo, take it on your travels, or use it as part of a wider Sonos setup.

It's a little more expensive than rivals, but the Sonos Play delivers powerful and well-rounded audio, has superb streaming support and connectivity including Hi-Res Audio over Wi-Fi, and its USB-C port can be used as an audio input: you can get an adapter that enables you to connect a turntable or other wired audio source.

It delivers up to 24 hours of battery life and sits on a good-looking charging cradle when you don't need to take it places, which means you can grab and go in an instant without unplugging.

Read our Sonos Play review

1. JBL Xtreme 5

• List price of $399.95 / £329.99 (about AU$560)
• Launched in April 2026
• Rating: 5 / 5

(Image credit: Future)

This beast makes the JBL Go 5 look like it was made for a Lego character. The rugged, chunky and very loud JBL Xtreme 5 is a bit of a beast, delivering mesmerizing bass from its rather hefty frame. It's marginally bigger than its predecessor, but the sound is bigger too.

As we said in our review, "this is how you do an upgrade. This model has more power, more striking sound, lighting for added beauty points, and an even more durable build than last time out." It's also solidly built, reminiscent of the old Nokia phones where if you dropped them, you were more likely to break the ground than your phone.

Dustproof, waterproof and with a long-lasting battery keeping the party going for up to 28 hours, the JBL Xtreme 5 is exceptional — but if it's just a little too heavyweight for you, the 2025 JBL Charge 6 is very good too.

Read our JBL Extreme 5 review