When you get into audio, it quickly becomes clear that the best stereo speakers won't be enough. Sure, they'll cover your living room, but what about your desktop? Your TV set-up? It's time to buy more speakers!
...or you could accept the the Edifier M90 speakers' pitch, which is to just buy one pair of speakers that have absolutely loads of connection options. Not only do they have the basics — Bluetooth 6.0 and aux-in — they have support for optical, USB-C in and HDMI eARC.
That latter's a big selling point here, so you can plug the Edifier M90 speakers into your TV without losing audio fidelity, as it's something not offered by too many similar options.
But the real appeal is being able to do all of these things at once: I could connect the Edifier M90 to my TV, turntable, MP3 player and phone all at the same time, and use the remote to flick between them easily. They replaced every part of my hi-fi set-up, just like that.
And you're not replacing them with just anything, either. Thanks to their big mid-bass drivers, these things deliver powerful mids and bass frequencies, defying their relatively compact stature to fill small and medium rooms.
In some cases, the treble was a little weaker than it could have been, but the Connex app equalizer can go some way in fixing that. Although, that may be the only time you use the app, as it doesn't do much else…
If anything will put buyers off the Edifier M90, it's the price. It's not expensive for what you get, but it's a big step up from the Edifier M60, and some might not deem the improved specs or eARC addition worth it.
Edifier M90 review: Price and release date(Image credit: Future)The Edifier M90 were unveiled at the start of 2026, at CES on January 6, and have been slowly rolling out to physical and online store shelves ever since.
They’re priced at $369 (about £270 / AU$520, but a release in the UK or Australia has yet to be confirmed). That’s quite a step up from the $199 / £159 / AU$289 Edifier M60, but it’s fitting for the spec and size increase.
Depending on where you live, these are cheaper or pricier than the five-star Dali Kupid, which go for $599 / £299 / AU$599, and they closely match the $399.99 / £333.32 / A$620 Fluance RI71, two options that are on our list of the best stereo speakers.
Edifier M90 review: SpecsDrivers
1-inch tweeter, 4-inch mid-bass driver
Bluetooth
Bluetooth 6.0
Connections:
Bluetooth, AUX, USB-C, HDMI eARC, optical
Edifier M90 review: Features(Image credit: Future)Perhaps the most tempting reason to buy the Edifier M90 is its range of connection options. You can hook it up to outputs via Bluetooth (at the 6.0 standard), 3.5mm aux-in, USB-C, optical, or HDMI eARC — all at the same time, to jump between using the remote.
The last of those connections is perhaps the most intriguing addition, letting you connect them to your TV so they can be an alternative to a soundbar. This is still relatively uncommon in bookshelf speakers like this (though it's growing).
Edifier has an app, called ConneX, which you can use for a few extra features. Like the remote, ConneX lets you jump between input sources, control your media playback, and see what you’re actually listening to.
But you can also use the app to customize what the remote’s EQ buttons do, tweaking the settings on a nine-band equalizer. You can also set up a custom mode, which I turned into a movie-tuned balance.
As you can tell from that short list of features, ConneX is far from necessary — I didn’t use it for the first few weeks of testing, and didn’t open it again after setting up my equalizers — and I can see many users ignoring it completely.
This means you're not getting any in-app streaming support (since there's no Wi-Fi) or multi-room support. There's no automatic room correction for the sound or anything like that either.
Each Edifier M90 unit has a one-inch tweeter and four-inch mid-bass driver, totaling 50W of amplification, which is naturally doubled for the pair. That’s 100W in total, and it was sufficient for my medium-sized living room as an ersatz soundbar or bookshelf speaker — for a desktop setup, it’ll offer more than enough oomph.
The larger driver does a great job in making a subwoofer feel unnecessary, with bass lines broadcast around my living room and mids given glorious prominence in tunes. Frankly, I was surprised by how much low-end I’d get from songs, given that it’s only 2.0 sound, but it was a supported, scooping bass that maintained clarity.
Higher lines such as tinkling piano, higher-pitched vocals and strings maintained the clarity and detail of bass, but were sometimes a little lost in the mix for certain tracks. Dope Lemon’s Marinade is my go-to track for stereo imaging, and its rhythm guitar was hard to make out from the specific speaker I should have been able to hear it in.
Meanwhile, Michigan Rattlers’ Desert Heat’s sax wasn’t as sparkling as on some other speakers I’ve tested.
Testing the M90s alongside a TV, you’re naturally not getting the soundstage or blasting power of a really big soundbar, but I was pleased with the performance as a solid step up from my set’s built-in speakers. I put it through its paces through a variety of genres, and it was only big, bombastic battle scenes where it felt like it was struggling to express everything.
The Edifier M90 will look familiar to people who’ve been shopping around the brand’s options, as it’s a doppelganger for the M60. You’re getting two clean and simple speakers, with a large woofer topped by a smaller tweeter, in either white or black.
The speakers are 8.35 inches tall, 5.24 inches wide and 8.86 inches deep, so they can fit on your desktop by your monitor, or on a bookshelf (as you can see in the pictures). They’re light enough not to worry fragile shelves, and to be easy to move about your apartment too.
While the M90 look clean at the front, there’s a mess at the back. One of the speakers has five different jacks hidden around the corner – not including the audio input – as well as a power switch and volume dial. We’ll get more into this jacks in the Features section, but because of them, the back of my unit quickly became a mess of cables (as you’ll see in the images).
It’s a little annoying that these controls are hidden around the back of the speaker, but the remote makes up for it.
The in-box remote takes two AAA batteries, and it’s nice and small. It has the expected buttons — volume, skip tracks, mute — as well as options to quickly change the input, which I found useful for changing between my TV connection, Bluetooth phone, and any wired options such as a turntable.
You can also use the remote to flick between three presets: Classic Dynamic and Monitor, which you can set up yourself.
The Edifier M90’s price step up from its sibling might give some buyers pause, and a good argument would be made for other stereo speaker setups, which could get you more for your money — especially when it comes to better stereo imaging.
But when you consider how versatile the M90s are, the value proposition becomes a little clearer. These aren’t just for your bookshelf, but can be used for your desktop and TV as well. And so they could be a great value option rather than buying separate pieces of tech for your hi-fi setup — a real all-rounder.
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Features
The range of connection options is great, but the app doesn't add much.
3.5 / 5
Sound quality
I was impressed by the bass capability and volume, though could have done with clearer treble.
4 / 5
Design
They're relatively compact and clean-looking, with a useful remote.
4 / 5
Value
As a Swiss Army Knife for audio, they're good value for what they offer.
4 / 5
Buy them if…You want speakers that connect to your TV
While a soundbar will offer TV-specific sound, the M90 is a music player that just so happens to work with your set.
You have a small or mid-sized room
These won't fill up a huge living room, but for townhouses or rental flats, they're the perfect size.
You want Wi-Fi streaming
The M90 has a lot of connectivity, but stopped short of Wi-Fi and direct streaming via its app.
You don't want another remote
The remote is the heart of the Edifier M90 experience, and if you have more than you want already, you'll be annoyed that it's all but mandatory here.
Dali Kupid
These Dali speakers sound fantastic, don't take up much room and look great too. They're cheaper than the Edifier, except in the US where they cost a lot more.
See our full Dali Kupid review
Fluance Ri71
For detailed high-end sound you'll want the Fluance, which also have loads of connection options and only cost a little more than the M90s.
See our full Fluance Ri71 review
How I tested the Edifier M90(Image credit: Future)I used the Edifier M90 for several months before writing this review. In that time I used the M90 alongside a vast range of devices. I connected them wirelessly to several smartphones, via USB-C or aux to phones, MP3 players and laptops, and also to my TV and turntable.
That means they were used for streaming music, records, MP3 tracks, lossless music, movies, TV shows and games. Several devices I've tested in the last few months, including the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and Majority MP3 Player, got particular time with the M90.
I've been testing audio products for TechRadar for years, including other Edifier speakers, Bluetooth speakers and headphones.
The relatives of Hussein Asasa described to NPR how they were forced to exhume and rebury their father when Israeli settlers interfered with his grave.
(Image credit: Ilia Yefimovich)
Dame Jilly Cooper may no longer be with us, but her legacy continues to speak for itself — and frankly, Rivals season 2 on Hulu and Disney+ is the perfect tribute to the bonkbusting chaos that's synonymous with her name.
Picking up shortly after where we left off in season one, our Rutshire ensemble's collective horniness has turned somewhat sour. Cameron (Nafessa Williams) is lying low after being convinced she's killed her boss, Tony (David Tennant), after battering him with a TV award in self-defense.
Lothario Rupert (Alex Hassell) has immediately jumped to Cameron's defense, which puts his on-off relationship with neighbor Taggie (Bella Maclean) back in the shade. Meanwhile, Lizzie (Katherine Parkinson) and Freddie (Danny Dyer) are desperately trying to hide their feelings for one another, while Sarah (Emily Atack) is trying to climb the ranks at Tony's Corinium TV station, despite some harmful obstacles.
Basically, we've got everything and the kitchen sink on the go, with some signature streamy sex scenes drizzled on top for good measure. But despite getting our pound of naked flesh out of each of the three new episodes, the gang's general air of horniness is nowhere to be seen.
In short, things are on the cusp of taking a turn for the worse in Rivals season 2, so it's almost no wonder that we're being left on tenterhooks before the remainder of the season drops later in the year. But one man's tale of desperation (Rupert's) is another's insatiable binge (ours).
Rivals season 2 opens up another hornet's nest — but it's not full of headiness or heartacheIf I'm honest, I'm still not entirely sure if I love or loathe Rivals season 2's swing further into clothes-on heated rivalry. Tennant's Tony Baddingham is somehow even more odious than in season 1, intent on getting revenge against Rupert, Cameron, Declan (Aiden Turner), and even Sarah in one fell swoop.
For me, Declan and family are easily the weakest link of the season. While Declan gets lost in Cameron and Rupert's drama with Tony, wife, Maud (Victoria Smurfit), is on screen for what feels like all of two seconds. Taggie, relentlessly pining after Rupert, is starting to get tiresome, too.
But their loss means gains are made elsewhere, especially with Tony's long-suffering wife Monica (Claire Rushbrook). She's finally starting to bite back against Tony's adulterous ways, and instead of moping in bed with a pile of shaggy dogs on her lap (not a euphemism), she's starting to see the benefits. More of this energy in season two, part two, please.
Everyone else is feeling too stressed or fearful to be in desperate need of sex — so while steamy scenes are still present, they're often blink-and-you 'll-miss-them. The boisterous bonking in Rivals is both half the fun of watching and is integral to the show's DNA, so the missing heady energy is noticeable.
Dame Jilly Cooper's legacy is continuing in the safest of handsA pantry lock-in...? (Image credit: Disney+)What is clear about Rivals season 2 is that Cooper has obvious involvement over every inch of these episodes, with the bulk of production happening before her death in October 2025. Her input is clear, concise and has been carried off with aplomb, speaking to how highly the show will be treated in her absence.
What's more is that we're starting to see the seedlings of the JCU (Jilly Cooper Universe) being sown. Avid novel readers will know that Polo takes place between Cooper novels Riders and Rivals... and without giving anything away, there's an eye-popping ode to how the Rutshire Chronicles could easily be expanded into on TV.
My personal shoutouts of the season? Emily Atack's quietly devastating portrayal of Sarah's solo storyline, and the gift that keeps on giving in the form of Lizzie and Freddie's will-they-won't-they-affair. It's the most wholesome part of the salacious series, and that's considering the fact that they're literally cheating on their spouses.
Has Rivals season 2 made sure that it's the most bashful, bawdy and bonkers show available to stream? Absolutely. Is it a slight step down from season 1? Possibly. But will it likely pick back up with a vengeance later in the year? I'd put money on it.
Iran delivered its response to Pakistani mediators on Sunday, according to the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency.
(Image credit: Anna Moneymaker)
In the half-decade or so I’ve been testing gaming hardware, I’ve loved almost every 8BitDo product I’ve reviewed. The 8BitDo Pro 3 is no exception. In fact, I’d go so far as to say it’s the best budget-friendly controller on the market today. Yes, even beating out other desirable choices like the GameSir Nova Lite.
Contrary to its appearance, the 8BitDo Pro 3 isn’t just the Pro 2 in a particularly slim-fitting trenchcoat. It looks identical to its predecessor, sure, but 8BitDo has refined the newer gamepad to what feels like its logical conclusion. TMR (Tunnel Magnetoresistance; essentially an improvement over Hall effect) thumbsticks, swappable magnetic face buttons, micro switch trigger locks, charging dock, and two additional remappable buttons for a total of four are all additions here.
Then there’s the d-pad, which, despite being a simpler cardinal design, is one of the nicest-feeling I’ve ever had the chance to play around with. It’s rugged and precise, smartly avoiding that spongy, mushy feel that you find on a lot of retro-inspired controllers.
(Image credit: Future)You’re getting a symmetrical stick layout here, which isn’t too common in the third-party controller space, especially beyond the realm of PlayStation and its current DualSense controller. And while you’re not getting compatibility with Sony’s machine (or Xbox consoles for that matter), the 8BitDo Pro 3 is broadly compatible with PC, Switch, Switch 2, as well as iOS and Android devices. For connectivity, your options are 2.4GHz (with dongle included), Bluetooth, and good ol’ wired via USB-C.
Battery life can vary, though I found the 8BitDo Pro 3 outlasts the pricier 8BitDo Ultimate 2 on this front. The brand states you’ll get around 20 hours per charge, but this all depends on your personal usage. Hopping between Switch 2 and PC (Bluetooth and 2.4GHz connectivity, respectively), I managed around 15 hours before needing to top up. On average, that still beats out the Ultimate 2’s 10-15 hours.
The only gripes I have with the Pro 3 are minimal; nice-to-haves, if anything. I’m not a fan of the Start/Select buttons being crammed right in the center, and they’re a bit mushy to the touch. And I think the lack of a 3.5mm port for wired headphones is a shame, though the Ultimate controllers didn’t have one of these, either.
Those nitpicks aside, if you’re in the market for a new PC and/or Switch-facing controller and you don’t want to break the bank, buy the 8BitDo Pro 3. For now, it’s the last word in budget-friendly controllers and, astonishingly, has none of the usual concessions made to get it down to a price this low.
(Image credit: Future)8BitDo Pro 3: Price and availabilityThe 8BitDo Pro 3 launched in 2025 and is available to buy right now from 8BitDo’s Amazon store page. In the US, you can get it for $59.99, which puts it in roughly the same price range as the GameSir Tarantula Pro — a similarly brilliant Switch-facing symmetrical controller. That’s also cheaper than the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller; ideal if you’re shopping for a pad for the handheld hybrid that doesn't empty your bank account.
Things get a bit weird in the UK, price-wise. At Amazon, I’ve seen the 8BitDo Pro 3 hover anywhere between £40-£50 on the brand’s official store page, and there doesn’t appear to be a set-in-stone retail price for it. It’s worth noting that these aren’t second-hand listings, either. Best not to look a gift horse in the mouth, though; if you’re in the UK, you’re getting the 8BitDo Pro 3 at an aggressive price given its quality and feature set.
8BitDo Pro 3: SpecsPrice
$59.99 / £40 (around AU$84)
Weight
8.5oz / 242g
Dimensions
6.1 x 3.9 x 2.6in / 154 x 101 x 65mm
Compatibility
Switch, Switch 2, PC, iOS, Android
Connection type
Wireless (2.4GHz, Bluetooth), Wired (USB-C)
Battery life
15-20 hours
8BitDo Pro 3: Design and featuresPut the 8BitDo Pro 3 and its predecessor side-by-side, and you might not notice any immediate differences. They broadly share the same silhouette, looking like a SNES pad with grips bolted on. And those flat, slightly curved shoulder buttons almost look like they were taken wholesale from that iconic 16-bit era controller.
It’s not just looks that 8BitDo has borrowed from Nintendo’s playbook, though. Nearly every module on the controller — from sticks and d-pad to face buttons and triggers — has been implemented with tactility in mind. I know, that’s not uncommon for the modern controller, but it’s still fairly rare to see in the Pro 3’s price bracket.
One example is the simply sublime d-pad here. It’s not much of a looker, and its bumpy texturing gives the impression of something clunky and toy-like. In reality, it’s exceptionally comfortable and offers a level of precision that even Nintendo’s pricey Switch 2 Pro Controller d-pad can’t match.
(Image credit: Future)Another more interesting feature the 8BitDo Pro 3 has is its magnetic, swappable face buttons. These are more for show than anything, but they’re a neat extra that lends the controller some personality. An obvious usage here is that you can swap around the ‘ABXY’ layout based on Switch/XInput preferences.
There’s also a multicolored set of face buttons included in a latch underneath the charging dock (where you’ll also find the 2.4GHz dongle) and a small plunger-like item that you stick onto the buttons to remove them with ease. Don’t worry, though; the buttons themselves don’t feel loose and won’t come off during play.
All around, it’s a great-feeling package, though the one area where design lets me down (and hasn’t been improved on since the Pro 2) is the rather mushy Start and Select buttons. These are reminiscent of the squishier buttons found on the SNES pad, so it’s likely this is another continued design inspiration. They just don’t feel particularly great to press and lack that immediacy shown off by everything else on the Pro 3.
8BitDo Pro 3: PerformanceI test and review controllers pretty frequently, and often, switching from one to another can take a bit of getting used to, especially when there are differences in size and button/stick layouts. In contrast, the 8BitDo Pro 3 felt immediately comfortable to use thanks to a rounded design that sits in the hands just right.
Except for the Start and Select buttons, which I feel are just a bit too crammed together in the center, everything else rests under your thumbs and index fingers just right. Those long, rounded bumper buttons act as a nice cushion for your fingers, and the new claw-grip remappable bumpers next to them sit under your fingertips. I love these, especially, as they’re wonderfully clicky and responsive. I’ve even taken to mapping them to my trigger actions in Final Fantasy 14 Online, for extremely quick access to skills on my hotbars.
Briefly, I’ll go over how you can actually make use of these extra remappable buttons yourself, because it’s not immediately obvious. You can set them in the excellent Ultimate Software V2 app for PC (which also lets you tinker with vibration strength, button macros, and stick sensitivity). But a quicker way to do it is to hold one of these buttons in tandem with your input of choice and the ‘Star’ button found on the bottom-left of the controller. It can be fiddly, especially if you’re binding multiple inputs, but it’s much faster and easier this way if you don’t have immediate access to a PC.
A similar series of inputs applies to the Pro 3’s ‘Turbo’ functionality, which enables the repeated pressing of an input simply by holding a button down — handy for arcade games and shoot-em-ups that don’t already have a turbo function built in. To enable Turbo on the Pro 3, just hold down the button you’d like to assign Turbo to, in addition to the Star and Home buttons. To disable it, repeat that very same input.
Now, I’ve yapped on about responsiveness a lot, but it really is the name of the game here. There’s wonderful precision to every module found on the 8BitDo Pro 3. The exceptional d-pad is a highlight, as I mentioned at the top. Those TMR thumbsticks are incredibly smooth, too, and as someone who prefers a shorter trigger pull, the digital trigger locks featured here work wonderfully.
That last point is important, as I’ve tested many a budget pad like the HyperX Clutch Gladiate, which had trigger locks that rendered the triggers completely unusable for most games. That’s why I appreciate it all the more when a cheap controller actually puts the effort in.
Battery life isn’t exactly class-leading, but I managed around 15-20 hours on a full charge, which is in line with what 8BitDo estimates on its website. Out of the box, battery life is at roughly half, so I recommend topping up via USB-C or with the included charging dock before your first use.
(Image credit: Future)Should I buy the 8BitDo Pro 3?Buy it if…You want something highly customizable
Hardware-wise, you’ve got those swappable magnetic face buttons, which are a real delight. And on the software front, the excellent Ultimate Software V2 lets you get really granular with vibration strength, stick sensitivity, and more.
You’re in need of a performant controller suitable for all genres
I adore the responsiveness and durability of the Pro 3. Drift-beating TMR sticks, tactile buttons, and that glorious d-pad make playing games both old and new a real joy.
You want a pad for other consoles
I’ve no doubt that there’ll be at least an Xbox version of the Pro 3 down the line. But right now, if you’re in need of a controller for Xbox or PlayStation consoles, the Pro 3 won’t fit the bill unfortunately.
You like hooking up wired headphones to your controller
A lack of 3.5mm headphone port here is a real shame, especially as the Xbox version of the Pro 2 (not to mention the Ultimate 2) had one. It’s true that this is a more Bluetooth-centric gamepad, but Bluetooth headset connectivity on Switch and Switch 2 is pretty dire, so a wired option would’ve been nice to have here.
If the 8BitDo Pro 3 isn’t quite what you’re after, I’ve highlighted a couple more products from the brand that I recommend.
8BitDo Pro 3
8BitDo Ultimate 2
8BitDo Pro 2
Price
$59.99 / £40 (around AU$84)
$59.99 / £49.99 (around AU$90)
$49.99 / £33.89 (around AU$74)
Weight
8.5oz / 242g
8.7oz / 246g
8.0oz / 228g
Dimensions
6.1 x 3.9 x 2.6in / 154 x 101 x 65mm
5.7 x 4.1 x 2.4in / 147 x 103 x 61mm
6.1 x 3.9 x 2.6in / 154 x 101 x 65mm
Compatibility
Switch, Switch 2, PC, iOS, Android
PC, Android (Switch version sold separately)
Switch, Switch 2, PC, iOS, Android
Connection type
Wireless (2.4GHz, Bluetooth), Wired (USB-C)
Wireless (2.4GHz, Bluetooth), Wired (USB-C)
Wireless (Bluetooth), Wired (USB-C)
Battery life
15-20 hours
10-15 hours
15-20 hours
8BitDo Ultimate 2
While I honestly think the Pro 3 goes toe-to-toe with the Ultimate 2, the latter is one I still highly recommend if you prefer an Xbox-like asymmetrical stick layout. Other flourishes like RGB ring lights add some nice cosmetic flair, and you’ll find many of the same desirable features here, like claw-grip buttons, trigger locks, and TMR thumbsticks. A real winner.
Read our full 8BitDo Ultimate 2 review
8BitDo Pro 2
Older, but cheaper than the 8BitDo Pro 3. If you don’t mind losing 2.4GHz wireless connectivity, and are okay with Hall effect sticks as opposed to TMR, you’ll find a similarly high quality play experience here.
Read our full 8BitDo Pro 2 review
How I tested the 8BitDo Pro 3For this review, I ended up testing the 8BitDo Pro 3 for around three weeks. I put it through its paces with games of all kinds, from the high-difficulty Savage raids of Final Fantasy 14 Online to the hilariously off-kilter vibes of Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream.
The controller felt more than well-equipped for any kind of game thrown at it. That extends to fighting games like Street Fighter 6 and Tekken 8, and retro racers on PC via emulation, including NASCAR: Dirt to Daytona and Ridge Racer Type 4.
Naturally, I also found the Pro 3 to be fantastic for arcade games thanks to its remappable buttons and Turbo functionality. On this front, playing titles like DoDonPachi Resurrection on PC as well as Metal Slug 3 and Rave Racer on Nintendo Switch 2 felt just right.
First reviewed May 2026