Panasonic Lumix S5 II: Two-minute review

At its launch, there’s no more capable full-frame camera under $2,000 / £2,000 for video and photo than the Panasonic Lumix S5 II. It succeeds the Lumix S5 – a camera that I rate highly, and which earned four-and-a-half stars in our Panasonic Lumix S5 review – and arrives with a comprehensive set of improvements, and is set to join its predecessor on our list of the best video cameras. 

So what sort of bang do you get for your buck? Highlights include a new 24MP full-frame sensor and 6K / 30p video recording, with virtually all video options available in 10-bit. What’s more, the S5 II isn’t limited to 16:9 video aspect ratio (or wider) like most cameras, but can record from the full sensor area, which in the S5 II is 3:2 aspect ratio. You may have already heard this uncropped video referred to as ‘open gate’ or ‘full sensor’ recording. 

Uncropped video is nothing new – I own a Panasonic Lumix GH5 which does this from its 4:3 aspect ratio – but most other cameras, including the Canon EOS R3 and Nikon Z9, impose a 16:9 crop, which effectively discards the pixels from the top and bottom of the image. The S5 II can make full use of the entire sensor, which is a dream for those intending to shoot in narrower aspect ratios embraced by social media, like 4:3, 1:1 and 9:16.

Panasonic's image stabilization has impressed me again, and its effectiveness has been improved over the S5, especially for run-and-gun filmmaking. Whether it’s some casual vlogging or slow-shutter-speed landscape photos, the S5 II is a camera that can be used handheld in most scenarios and will still deliver sharp photos and smooth video clips. 

What makes the 24MP full-frame sensor ‘new’ is that it includes a 779-point phase detection autofocus system. This development in particular excites people like me who closely follow the latest camera technology, because Panasonic, unlike all other leading camera brands, has previously shunned this technology.  

The S5 II becomes the first mirrorless camera from Panasonic to use phase-detection AF for video, and contrast-detection AF for stills. All other Panasonic cameras rely solely on contrast-detection AF, which performs extremely well for photography but is more jittery than phase-detection AF for video, which can be particularly distracting in the resulting footage. Now, finally, we have the best of both worlds.

And it’s not just the sensor tech that impresses. From the off, in the hand, the S5 II feels like a camera that you can trust, and forge a solid working relationship with; it feels solid and reliable, and has an intuitive control layout that's managed to feel simple and comprehensive at the same time.

Then there are the design details that won't make headlines, but which do make daily life with this camera less pressured for creatives like me. Cooling vents prevent overheating and allow for unlimited video recording times, the full-size HDMI gives better connectivity to an external monitor, and a joystick enhances the handling for autofocus selection. 

Whether you're shooting stills or video, both the EVF and vari-angle touchscreen are up to the task, offering clear viewing and enabling you to compose images from any angle and in any environment.

I particularly appreciate the S5II paired with the 20-60mm lens that I used for this review, which is available as a kit with the camera for only a little extra outlay. Together, they're a well-made and compact combo that cover most stills and video scenarios, the wider-than-normal angle of view being particularly helpful for filmmaking. The full-frame ‘S’ lens range is coming together nicely, too.

Panasonic’s full-frame Lumix system unfairly goes under the radar, compared to alternatives from the likes of Sony and Canon; but if Panasonic wasn’t already being taken seriously, it should be now. Put simply, I can trust the Lumix S5 II as a reliable tool for creating high-quality videos and stills, and like my GH5, it represents excellent value for money.

Panasonic Lumix S5 II: Price and release date

• $1,999 / £1,999 / AU$2,989 body-only
• Raw video output costs an additional $200 / £200 / AU$300 (approx)
• Panasonic S5 IIX version available in May 2023 at $2,199 / £2,199 / AU$3,137 body-only

The Panasonic S5 II is available now, and quite frankly it's a steal at $1,999 / £1,999 / AU$2,989 body-only. Not many hybrid full-frame mirrorless cameras at this price or less can do what the S5 II does. It’s also available as a kit with the excellent 20-60mm f/3.5-5.6 lens for $2,299 / £2,299 / AU$3,220 – a versatile pairing especially for those who shoot both video and stills, and who regularly need that wide 20mm focal length.

Another version of the S5 II, the Lumix S5 IIX, will be available later this month for an additional $200 / £200 / AU$300. The S5 IIX brings raw video output and recording to an external SSD. Alternatively, raw video output can be added to the S5 II after purchase for the same additional cost, though you’ll miss out on SSD recording. The key differences between the two cameras will be explained in our upcoming Panasonic S5 II vs Panasonic S5 IIX feature.

• Price score: 5/5

Panasonic Lumix S5 II: Specs

Panasonic Lumix S5 II: Design

• Reassuring and solid build quality
• Cooling vents give unlimited video recording
• Vari-angle touch screen impeded by accessory cables

As someone who thrashes their camera kit about, I appreciate the sturdy build quality of the S5 II. It’s a compact, DSLR-style mirrorless camera that's comfortable to hold for long periods, and I’m confident it would last me through years of heavy use. 

Make no mistake, though – despite its relatively small body and modest price tag, the S5 II lacks little. Every control an experienced photographer needs – and to an extent a pro filmmaker – is here. 

There are dedicated buttons for key exposure settings, control dials, plus an AF joystick for making quick adjustments to the AF area. You also get a big shiny red button to initiate video recording, in addition to the shutter button for stills. 

Behind two rigid port doors are a headphone jack, mic socket, and USB-C and a full-size HDMI connectors, and with these connections the S5 II is well equipped for professional video recording. When the ports are in play, I did find that cables seriously impeded the vari-angle screen when it’s flipped out to the side, although the HDMI cable for an external monitor is the main culprit, where I’m less likely to need the camera’s screen anyway. 

That screen is crisp and clear, and provides full touch control for navigating menus, selecting focus points and taking photos, while the viewfinder display is decent enough, with a 3.69m-dot resolution and solid refresh rate. 

Cooling vents are tucked neatly on either side of the viewfinder bump, and prevent the camera from overheating when maxing out the video recording features. As such, video recording times are only limited by card capacity or battery life. I recorded long video sequences (for the purpose of testing rather than actual creation) and the S5 II does the job with no fuss. 

I really like the screen display layout of video settings, which clearly includes the most useful info like live audio levels, shutter speed, FPS, aperture (iris), and color profile, with the option to adjust by a touch of the screen.

Overall, there’s not a lot to be excited about when it comes to the conventional boxy design of the S5 II – you can hardly call it sexy, but it’s a highly competent and comprehensive tool that does everything you need it to do. 

• Design score: 5/5

Panasonic Lumix S5 II: Features & performance

• Superb image stabilization for handheld work
• Phase detection autofocus – finally
• A good all-rounder for photography 

There was a time when Olympus (now OM System) ruled the image-stabilization roost, but Panasonic has worked its share of magic, too. The 5-axis in-body image stabilization employed by the S5 II makes light work of slow shutter speeds and moderate handshake to deliver sharp detail and smooth videos respectively. 

For one test, I set the 20-60mm lens to its widest 20mm setting, at which I would expect a sharp handheld image with a steady hand at 1/30 sec with no stabilization employed. I then continually cranked the shutter speed slower until I found the camera’s breaking point – and impressively it was only at a 2.5 secs that softness crept in, and at 3 secs that blur was evident from camera shake. That works out at around six stops of effective stabilization. The reality of such tech is the ability to shoot the likes of light trails at night, handheld.

Active IS has been introduced in the S5 II, which Panasonic informed me kicks in automatically when user motion is detected, and which is claimed to be 200% more effective than the image stabilization in the S5. I can’t quantify that in the same way that Panasonic does, but I did take the S5 II for several brisk walks and shot handheld vlog clips, and I've been majorly impressed – you can get some seriously smooth run-and-gun video. And I couldn’t see a crop of the image area, which is a major bonus. 

For video, the historic thorn in Panasonic’s side has been its insistence to shun phase detection autofocus; that is, until now. The Lumix S5 II has hybrid contrast-detection AF for photos, and an all-new phase-detection system for video. Judging from its implementation here, I'm fully expecting to see this hybrid AF system in future Panasonic mirrorless cameras, certainly those for advanced users. 

Contrast-detection AF continues to be extremely quick for photos, with a huge array of choices to suit your shooting scenario, but its speed and any jitteriness is less desirable for video. Thankfully phase-detection AF, once set up to your taste, is dreamy-smooth for video. For example, in the ‘AF Custom Setting’ the AF speed and sensitivity (on a detected subject) can be manually adjusted – set the speed to slow, and shifts in focus are buttery – hallelujah!

Where Panasonic could develop the AF system further is by embracing a wider range of subjects for tracking AF. Currently, the S5 II is limited to human, face/eye or human+animal. 

Elsewhere, action shooters can enjoy 7fps (or 9fps single AF) with the mechanical shutter or 30fps using the electronic shutter, with continuous AF. It’s a rudimentary all-rounder’s performance, with bursts lasting in the region of 300 frames and 130 frames respectively (recording JPEG fine to a UHS-II card). It’s possible that performance could be improved by recording to a faster memory card like CFexpress, but the S5 II only accepts twin SD cards with UHS-II support. 

• Features and performance score: 4.5/5

Panasonic Lumix S5 II: Image and video quality

• Uncropped 6K video ideal for shooting in multiple aspect ratios
• Lovely colors
• Can import your own LUT profiles

Camera brands take very different approaches when it comes to video quality – take a rival to the S5 II like the Sony A7 IV. In the S5 II, Panasonic has opted for higher-resolution 6K / 30p video – uncropped at 5952 x 3968 pixels or cropped to 16:9 (5952 x 3136 pixels) – with 10-bit recording in almost all of the resolution and frame rate options in MOV format. However, Sony’s 4K video has a superior bitrate and compression (therefore in theory better quality), with a maximum 600Mbps bitrate to the S5 II’s 200Mbps, plus you can shoot in ALL-I as well as LONG GOP (the S5 II is restricted to LONG GOP). Both cameras impose a Super 35 crop when shooting 4K /60p video.

Excessively large video files are the bane of independent video creators, regularly chewing up the minutes and hours of record time; so on a practical level, the S5 II’s much smaller video files are more manageable, and I wouldn’t hesitate to shoot 6K video even if my output is 4K. That way I have the extra cropping potential for 4K-or-lower output. 

Certainly, I think the video quality of the S5 II is excellent, with a noticeably wide dynamic range and lovely rich colors that can easily be matched to profiles from other camera brands in post. Panasonic introduces Real Time LUT for the first time, meaning you can import your own LUT color profile for internal video recording, in addition to V-Log, Rec 709L and many ‘Cinelike’ profiles. There’s little wanting here.  

Stills quality is great too. The 24MP resolution is standard fare in 2023 for an all-rounder full-frame camera, and the S5 II has excellent noise control and dynamic range. I like to shoot low key in bright weather to maintain highlights, and brightening those images in post reveals clean detail in dark shadows. You’ll get more detail from a higher-resolution camera like the Sony A7 IV, but few other cameras at this price range can better the S5 II. 

• Image and video quality score: 4.5/5 

Should you buy the Panasonic Lumix S5 II?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Panasonic Lumix S5 II: Also consider

If our Panasonic Lumix S5 II review has you considering other options, here are three more cameras to consider...  

How I tested the Panasonic Lumix S5 II

With the Panasonic Lumix S5 II being a hybrid camera, I took equal interest in its stills and video functions. It was by my side for several weeks, during which time I shot all kinds of photos – portraits, landscape, street reportage and low light – and recorded numerous videos, including run-and-gun vlogging. 

I've attached all manner of video accessories to the camera – external monitor, microphone and headphones; tested the effectiveness of the image stabilization, including the new active IS mode; and got a good feel for the new phase-detection autofocus system. 

I’ve been pushing the S5 II hard, especially with long video recording times and continuous photo bursts, in order to test if the camera overheats and the battery’s longevity. All in all, the S5 II has passed these tests with great competence. 

Read more about how we test

First reviewed April 2023

Nacon has a track record of making some of the best bang-for-your-buck gaming headsets out there. And with the RIG 300 Pro HX wired headset, the French brand has shown that good quality can be had even at aggressively low prices.

Previously, I was very impressed with the RIG 800 Pro HX, a wireless mid-range headset which boasted excellent audio quality and supreme levels of comfort. The RIG 300 Pro, then, is its budget-friendly sibling, costing a whole lot less but offering an experience that’s nonetheless worth the budget price tag.

That level of comfort is still here with the RIG 300 Pro, along with a similarly lightweight build. It’s a solid alternative if you can’t afford the 800 variant, though do keep in mind that the overall audio quality takes a hit with a distinctly muddier sound. It’s a strictly wired headset, too, so you won’t have freedom of movement, nor ancillary features like the 800 Pro’s excellent charging dock.

 RIG 300 Pro HX: price and availability 

The RIG 300 Pro HX wired headset is available to buy right now from Nacon’s online store. A very affordable headset, it’ll only run you $29.90 / £29.99 (around AU$44.89). The headset is available in either white or black colorways, and is universal, meaning it’s compatible with PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PC and mobile devices. 

RIG 300 Pro HX: design

Design-wise, the RIG 300 Pro isn’t too dissimilar from that of its pricier variants. The carbon fiber-like aesthetic RIG logo and green accents create a simple yet sleek design that helps it to stand out in the budget crowd. Much like other RIG models, the plastic isn’t of the utmost quality, but it's sturdy and flexible enough to withstand wear and tear.

On top of that, the ear cups provide a high level of comfort, which is somewhat of a rarity with cheaper models, but a mainstay of RIG headsets. It’s obviously very welcome here, and I found the headset a joy to wear during longer gaming and music listening sessions. The cushioned headband also helps to keep the headset firmly in place, so little to no adjustments will be necessary during play.

The headset’s on-board mic has a smaller form factor than you might be used to from many of the best gaming headsets, but I appreciate what I think Nacon is trying to achieve here. The mic is small, but also non-intrusive. That’s quite nice considering it can’t be detached from the headset.

Lastly, the RIG 300 Pro HX connects to your device via 3.5mm headphone jack. The cable threads through an inline volume controller that can also be used to mute your mic if needed. It’s a handy inclusion, but may take some getting used to if you’re more accustomed to on-headset controls. I do wish the cable was a little longer, too.

RIG 300 Pro HX: performance

The RIG 300 Pro HX’s 40mm drivers, much like its pricier variants, provide a strong bass profile that’s quite satisfying when it comes into play. It’s a sound profile that really shines when listening to hard-hitting electronic or metal music. However, it’s an overall muddy sound where the mids and trebles don’t shine through as clearly as they should. Certainly a downgrade from mid-range stalwarts like the Epos H6Pro.

The headset performs admirably in-game, however. You won’t be let down by its performance when it comes to picking up directional audio. Distant gunshots and footsteps are picked up clearly here, making the RIG 300 Pro HX a solid choice for multiplayer shooters like PUBG and Fortnite. I was particularly impressed with its results in Gran Turismo 7, however; the bassy profile really highlighting the power of your vehicle’s engine.

The RIG 300 Pro HX’s mic is of decent quality, too. Its output isn’t the clearest in the business, but it’s a cut above many other headsets in the budget range. The only issue is that due to the compact size of the mic, your voice may sound a little distant depending on your settings. I’d recommend adjusting mic volume and monitoring for best results when you’re party chatting with friends.

Should I buy the RIG 300 Pro HX?

Buy it if...

You’re on a strict budget
Solid quality matched with affordability means the RIG 300 Pro HX comes highly recommended within its price range.

You like longer gaming sessions
With a high level of comfort provided by its plush earcups, the headset won’t irritate at all during longer sessions.

Don't buy it if...

You’re after something more feature-rich
The RIG 300 Pro HX is still quite basic, and lacks many of the features provided by pricier headsets.

You want great sound quality
Sound quality with this headset is more than serviceable, but it certainly doesn’t wow like more expensive headsets.

• Epos H3Pro Hybrid headset review

The Mingda Magician X2 refines the offering of its predecessor, the Magician X which was a solid enough machine that was capable of producing impressive prints considering the relatively cheap price tag. However, since the Magician X much has changed in the world of the best 3D printers with Core XY and standard cartesian printers picking up the pace and features that are all coming in at reasonable price points. 

The Magician X2 is less than half the price of many of that new wave of machines, and Mingda has focused on refining the tried and tested rather than branching out into something new or innovative. So this latest update is a refinement of what has come before, it is a relatively cheap 3D printer, with a solid build and all the right features. At this level as long as it can produce a decent print and is easy to use it should hit the mark for anyone just gettings started.

Design

The Mingda Magician X2 is designed with a standard Cartesian printer structure, again sticking with the tried and test. It is relatively easy to build, with full construction taking around 15 to 20 minutes. The printer's plastic outer cover is functional rather than aesthetic, serving to protect the electronics and mechanics.

Once assembled, the Magician X2 is easy to use reinforcing the fact that this is an ideal no-fuss entry-level printer. The machine is essentially designed to get users up and printing as quickly as possible, and with clear instructions, there's nothing challenging about the initial setup.

Likewise, setting up CURA, the slicer software that converts models to print-ready files, to work with the Magician X2 is also straightforward, and the printer's size makes it neat and easy to move around and store when not in use. While the filament reel on top of the machine makes for a tall machine, it does help to reduce the printer's footprint and keep things organized.

The Magician X2 features handy storage slots for USB and spare SD cards, and its touchscreen LCD is impressive for a printer of this size and price point. 

Overall, the design of the Magician X2 is functional and user-friendly making it an excellent choice for those new to 3D printing.

Features

One of the most user-friendly features of the Magician X2 is its smart auto-levelling function. This function uses 16 points auto levelling to ensure the print bed is perfectly level before each print. This function promises to save time and effort and helps improve the prints' overall accuracy. This feature is often highlighted by manufacturers, but a little manual adjustment is almost always necessary; I will definitely be putting this to the test.

Quality specifications are good, with a minimum layer resolution of 0.1 mm and a maximum layer resolution of 0.4 mm, giving you a good standard range for this level of printer and a balance between quality and speed options. 

Likewise, the build area of 23 x 23 x 26 cm makes it suitable for a wide range of printing applications, from small hobbyist projects to larger aspirational designs as your 3D printing knowledge grows. However, it's worth noting this is a beginner to intermediate printer.

It's good to see the addition of a PEI steel print surface that features a special textured coating and spring steel sheet that ensures good adhesion and anti-warping; it also releases the print easily once finished and can be removed and flexed if prints do cling on. 

The double gears direct extruder offers a strong pushing force, reducing the risk of under-extrusion and supports flexible filaments, which further opens up the choice of materials and use of the printer. 

The printer also features a quick swap extruder, in case the old one breaks I assume. There are many things to like about this entry-level offering as it packs in a good amount of advanced features such as the very decent touch screen that enables you to quickly navigate options and settings. 

A welcome addition at this level is the filament detection and resuming function, so if you run out of filament part way through a print, you can load some more, and the printer will pick up where it left off. There are also multiple connection options, a neat cable design, belt tensioners that are simple to adjust, and an all-metal heat break.

A feature that does raise some interest is the quick swap extruder, which is held in place with two screws. At present, there are no other extruders available, but this does open up future possibilities of alternative extruders or at the very simplest level, enables you to swap out broken extruders easily. 

Overall, the feature list of the Mingda Magician X2 makes it a great option for beginners who want to get started with 3D printing without hassle. But features aside, it's the performance that will really tell if the printer is a worthwhile consideration. 

Performance

The Mingda Magician X2 is a 3D printer that is easy to set up and use. The printer's construction is straightforward, requiring only a few screws to hold the vertical in place before attaching the tool head and cables. Once completed, a quick check ensures all bolts are adjusted, and the belts are tightened correctly, and the calibration and filament loading process can begin.

The calibration process is done using the touch screen, which provides a user-friendly interface to navigate. Although instructions indicate that any big platform levelling adjustments could be made using the mechanical dial adjusters under the print platform, the bed was found to be level out of the box, and auto-calibration sorted most of the adjustment.

Filament loading is also easy using the touch screen, enabling you to load the material and purge it before the first layer test. However, the auto-levelling feature left the nozzle a touch too high, requiring some adjustment to bring the nozzle closer to the print surface. The baby step option on the touch screen enabled easy Z-Axis adjustment, which took two attempts to get the perfect height ready for printing.

The first few prints, including the test print on the machine, printed well, but there is quite a bit of stringing; increasing the retraction for the PLA material used for the test did help to reduce this. Overall the first few prints off the printer showed that the aesthetic print quality is good, and the fine strings can be easily removed when they do appear.

The print surface quality is impressive, with a smooth finish and shows a good level of detail. The dimensional accuracy is also good, making the printer suitable for a wide range of printing applications. However, the print speed is relatively slow compared to some of the newer machines on the market.

Overall, the Mingda Magician X2 is an impressive printer for the price when it comes to print quality and accuracy. The printer's ease of use and the convenient touchscreen interface makes it an excellent option for both beginners. 

Print Quality

Dimensional accuracy - score of 5

Target 25 = X: 24.91mm / 0.09mm Error | Y: 25.08mm / 0.08mm Error 

Target 20 = X: 19.94xmm / 0.06xmm Error | Y: 20.19mm / 0.19mm Error

Target 15 = X: 14.98mm / 0.02mm Error | Y: 15.16mm / 0.16mm Error 

Target 10 = X: 10.03mm / 0.03mm Error | Y: 10.16mm / 0.16mm Error 

Target 5 = X: 5.19mm / 0.19mm Error | Y: 4.96mm / 0.04mm Error

X Error Average = 0.078

Y Error Average = 0.126

X&Y Error Average = 0.10

Fine Flow Control - score of 2.5

Fine Negative Features - score of 4

Overhangs - score of 3

Bridging - score of 4

XY resonance - score of 2.5

Z-axis alignment - score of 2.5

Adding up the totals gives a final score of out of 30.

Verdict

The Mingda Magician X2 is an entry-level 3D printer with impressive features that make it a great choice for hobbyists or anyone looking to get into 3D printing. Its standout features include the 16-point auto-levelling, quick swap extruder, touch screen LCD, and removable PEI build platform, all adding to the ease of use. 

The LCD includes a surprisingly good UI that displays handy feedback information such as a hotbed temperature indicator, access to settings and adjustments, such as easy-to-understand baby-step Z-Axis tuning, all of which enhance the printing experience. 

However, the printer has limited nozzle options, and while the auto-levelling is good, it requires a little manual adjustment to get it spot on, but otherwise, there's very little fine-tuning to do. Print speed is also relatively slow compared to some of the newer machines on the market. These factors are important to consider, especially for those looking for a high-speed 3D printer or advanced features.

The Mingda Magician X2's print quality is good with decent dimensional accuracy, a smooth finish once settings such as retraction are fine-tuned, and prints have a good level of detail. The printer's ease of use and the touchscreen interface makes it an excellent option for both beginners and hobbyists. The printer also supports multiple printing materials, including PLA, PETG, and TPU, further enhancing its versatility.

The Mingda Magician X2 is a reliable and easy-to-use printer, perfect for anyone looking to get started in 3D printing. The affordable price tag, decent print quality, and versatile capabilities make it an excellent choice for beginners or hobbyists looking to take their projects to the next level. However, it may not be the best option if you're looking for more advanced features, a fine quality finish or high-speed printing.

• Looking for a great workspace to put your new 3D Printer on? Check out our guide to finding the best standing desk

Firewalla’s Gold Plus firewall refreshes its Gold model with a faster CPU and higher network throughput. Backed by an excellent mobile app and frequent firmware releases, the box will provide peace of mind when web surfing, filtering content on the fly without hiccups, and guarding against external attacks. The hardware is protected against obsolescence since it supports adding more memory in terms of RAM and storage.

The Gold Plus keeps the same form factor as previous Firewalla products, housing the embedded computer in a small metal enclosure. The passively cooled unit provides four 2.5Gbit Ethernet ports, two USB 3.0 connectors, and an HDMI output, giving the Linux-based OS a display console. The case becomes warm when used, while the lack of moving parts increases the device’s reliability. 

Firewalla Gold Plus: Pricing and availability

Firewalla has a range of domestic firewall appliances, with their least expensive at $199 and featuring basic filtering without any Internet routing capability. The Gold Plus is their best performer and will set you back by $589. The Firewalla Gold is slightly slower at processing packets but costs $485. 

Firewalla Gold Plus: Design

The Gold Plus ships with all accessories needed to connect to an Internet hub, including an Ethernet cable, a 40W 12V power adapter, and a wall mounting kit. The Gold Plus metal box, which acts as a heatsink, will get warm when used for a long time. The unit measures 13cm x 11cm x 3.4cm and weighs 565g. Four rubber pads on the bottom of the case support the firewall when placed horizontally.

The Firewalla Gold Plus has two USB3 ports on the front, one hosting a red license dongle that also serves as a Bluetooth interface and a second that can connect to a WiFi dongle. An HDMI connector on the front outputs the OS console to a screen. Four rear 2.5Gb Ethernet ports combine to give an aggregate throughput of 5Gbps. A push button sporting a blue LED serves as the power switch.

Under the hood, a compact motherboard hosts an Intel J4125 Quad Core CPU, 4GB of RAM, and 32GB of eMMC. The RAM is installed in a single SODIMM socket and provides an upgrade path if more memory is required. Four Intel I226-V controller chips implement the 2.5Gb Ethernet subsystem and are superior to a Realtek-based solution, which is notorious for lacking proper Linux support. The firewall’s fourth port works as the WAN port and connects to the ISP’s Ethernet port.

The Gold Plus consumes less than 15W of power on average. Firewalla products have a one-year warranty with support from their website and forum. 

Firewalla Gold Plus: In use

Connecting the AC power supply boots the system immediately and is practical in the event of power-lost. A buzzer then beeps, signaling the PC is doing its POST sequence. The OS boots within seconds, thanks to the fast eMMC interface. A reset button is included on the front panel but should rarely be used. Finally, a console port at the back connects to an RJ45 serial cable and helps troubleshoot the unit.

The hardware installation of the Gold Plus is as simple as connecting the unit between the ISP router and the intranet. The router mode can assign IPs to connected devices while monitoring inbound and outbound traffic. The routing capability can be disabled if one is on the network, which turns the unit into a 2.5Gb firewall. 

Firewalla’s mobile application, available on iOS and Android platforms, provides the main user interface to control the firewall. The setup requires scanning the QR code at the back of the unit. The procedure takes a few minutes to complete and requires the user to answer a few questions. The app eventually opens a dashboard containing live statistics about the health and utilization of the network.

Firewalla’s products shine by how different pieces, such as the threat database, are integrated seamlessly into their ecosystem. The app plays a critical part by controlling features such as the VPN or the Adblocker. Alarms triggered by intrusion attempts generate notifications on the mobile device’s status bar. 

Firewalla Gold Plus: The competition

Firewalls such as the Gold Plus are hard to find since they target the general public and include hardware, software, and services like the threat database. Off-the-shelf computers suit hackers and tinkerers who want to deploy Linux-based firewalls and require a steep learning curve. Others, such as the WatchGuard Firebox T40, are tailored for small businesses, often requiring a subscription to get all services.

The WatchGuard Firebox T40 is a compact firewall box powered by a 1GHz Quad-core processor. With 4GB of RAM, 16GB of non-volatile memory, and five 1Gbit Ethernet ports, one supporting PoE, it is close to what the Gold Plus provides. However, Firewalla’s unit offers better packet processing with a more powerful processor and 2.5Gb Ethernet. The Gold Plus is also more compact and costs less than the T40.

Firewalla Gold Plus: Final verdict

Firewalla’s Gold Plus firewall is out to conquer the home office, and the chance of it succeeding in this endeavor is high. The powerful hardware provides a good base for many software extensions and more threat analysis without dropping packets. The setup and everyday use are a treat, thanks to a snappy mobile application.

On the other hand, the Gold Plus could have had built-in WiFi and been a tad less expensive. The annoying buzzer, even if seldom used, could also have been quieter. As with any cloud service, users will ask how their data are used and who keeps Firewalla in check to prevent leaks.

We've listed the best UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply).