The Galaxy S23 series has been a sales hit for Samsung. According to a report citing data by Hana Securities, the Galaxy S23 series moved 22.89 million units in the first eight months - up 22% from the Galaxy S22 series in the same period of last year.
The numbers break down in 10.69 million Galaxy S23 Ultras, 8.09 million Galaxy S23s, and 4.11 million Plus units.
It's not the same story with the Galaxy Z5 series, though. In the first two months, the Galaxy Z Fold5 and Z Flip5 have only reached 3.51 million sales - below the Galaxy Z4 series' 3.63 million in the same period. The...
As well as its ever-growing range of smart bulbs, Philips Hue has been producing table and floor lamps for a number of years, many of which qualify as some of the best smart lights.
Way back in 2013, the Hue Bloom was the first non-bulb smart light to start this trend – a successful gambit, given it’s still a fan favorite to this day. It can be purchased from Amazon, directly from Philips Hue, and from some third-party retailers for $79.99 / £79.99. It’s a little expensive for what it is, especially in the UK; but it’s one of Hue’s more affordable table lamps. Petite at 4 x 5.1 x 5-inches / 10.1 x 12.9 x 12.6cm (h x w x d), the Bloom is a versatile table lamp that works as well for rudimentary bias lighting as it does for accent lighting.
(Image credit: Future)
It sports a fairly discreet appearance, especially when it’s off, with a sort of ’70s sci-fi look; neutral, curvy, and clad in white plastic and metal. The front of the light is a flat, angled disc with a small bezel; however, you’re most likely to only ever see the rear or side of the light, since it’s for indirect lighting and performs best when facing walls and corners. The light sits on a short stem, which is home to the power cable; the cable exits through a small arch at the front-facing side of the lamp. Depending on where your power supply is in relation to the lamp, this can prove a little fiddly to set up.
You can set up the lamp via Bluetooth or the Hue Bridge. The latter comes at an additional cost of $59.99 / £49.99, and enables further devices to be connected, while also bringing more features such as remote control. As with all Philips Hue lights, the Bloom is super easy to set up in the app, with the overall user experience splendid. Adding the light to your smart home ecosystem is just as easy, and it’s compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple HomeKit.
(Image credit: Future)
Its slightly low lumen output somewhat betrays the age of the Bloom – and that’s despite it having had a few generational updates over the years. At just 500 lumens at 4000K, which is about as low as you’d ever want a table lamp to go. However, Bloom isn’t designed to spray light across the room, just to provide an interesting and ambient splash of color – and for that it’s perfectly balanced. There’s also a welcome softness to the Bloom as a result of the frosted covering, which diffuses the light wonderfully.
With the now-standard full 16 million array of colors, the Bloom can produce some beautifully vibrant hues, and you can adjust the temperature and brightness with ease using voice controls with the best smart speakers or via the app. As time has gone on, and Bloom has evolved through different Hue generations, color accuracy has improved significantly, and the most recent version I’ve been testing is exemplary of that evolution.
(Image credit: Future)
While there are still a few niggles that I’d have expected Hue to have tackled by now (the cable exit in the stem really irks me, for example), overall the Philips Hue Bloom is an excellent – albeit basic – bias or accent light, offering vibrant and bright ambient lighting in your home. It’s discreet enough to work well in any room, but still a good-looking device in itself.
Philips Hue Bloom review: Specs table
Should I buy?
Buy it if...
Don't buy it if...
Philips Hue Bloom review: Also consider
How I tested the Philips Hue Bloom
I tested the Philips Hue Bloom for a month
I used it as part of my smart lighting setup
I paired it via the Philips Hue Bridge and Alexa
To test the Philips Hue Bloom, I set it up in my living room for a month, alongside a set of other smart lights from other manufacturers.
My primary smart speaker controller is Alexa, which I used in tandem with the Philips Hue app to test the responsiveness, accuracy and ease of use when operating the lamp. I compared its color accuracy to smart lights in various form factors and from different manufacturers, too.
I used the Bloom as both a bias light behind my TV screen and as an accent light for a display cabinet, as well as a table-side light to add some more color spray to my smart light setup
There’s an old saying “if you're not paying for the product, then you’re the product” and Meta is now offering users in Europe more control over their data with no ad targeting on Facebook and Instagram in exchange for a monthly fee.
Facebook and Instagram users in the EU, EEA and Switzerland can now pay €9.99 per month for web and €12.99 / month on iOS and Android granting them an ad-free experience across the social media platforms. These monthly fees will cover all linked Facebook and Instagram accounts owned by a single user until March 1, 2024. After that, the ad-free experience...
Platform reviewed: PS5 Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC Release date: November 3, 2023
Quantum Error is a cosmic horror shooter action game from TeamKill Media that has a very original premise, one that I’m surprised hasn’t been explored more in games: putting you in the boots of a firefighter and having you utilize their specialist skills and tools.
You are Jacob Thomas, an accomplished firefighter Captain. On a regular search and rescue fire mission that goes south - and spookily supernatural - you soon become stranded in a research facility and have to rely on your distinct firefighter skills as well as the weapons you find on-site. Throughout the adventure, you'll need to save employees, liaise with survivors, and find out what’s at the heart of a cosmic horror nightmare - all while confronting terrorists and otherworldly monsters.
Quantum Error is an intriguing horror game that’s well done, uses the PS5's DualSense controller smartly, has robust weapons, and deploys its firefighter USP terrifically. However, frustrations affecting pacing, progression, gunplay, and art direction hold the game back.
Fanning the flames
(Image credit: TeamKill Media)
Quantum Error’s setup is a mix of original and familiar. The former is the concept of being a stranded firefighter in a high-tech facility, trying to save lives, find your crew, and rely on your vocational talents and tools to get to the bottom of a dark mystery. The familiar part is quite familiar, however: a solo protagonist, cut off from their team, is on a rescue mission gone wrong and must navigate a dark and mysterious facility taking on terrorists and supernatural enemies with whatever tools they can find. This gives Quantum Error some particularly strong Dead Space vibes, making protagonist Jacob reminiscent of Isaac, the frontman of EA's own seminal sci-fi horror series.
The meat of the game is set in the 22nd century at the Monad Quantum Research Facility, an installation on the cutting edge of quantum travel. You traverse multiple floors of the Monad, following objectives and uncovering information, but there’s no strong USG-Ishimura-type sense of place here. It’s rather monotonous and samey by design, and unfortunately, a lot of the Monad is just too dark to appreciate. The approach in Quantum Error does seem to be ‘more dark = more scare’. However, the darkness also helps reinforce the sensation of Jacob being alone and isolated which ramps up the fear factor. It still successfully gives you the jumps when hearing cries or whispers in the distance or rounding a corner and getting rushed by an enemy. Skulking around the corridors and rooms of the Monad is rewarding, too, offering the chance to find new weapons, resources, or even NPCs to save. Some of the side quests to rescue folks are particularly enjoyable to pull off, and it’s always satisfying to solve a puzzle using your firefighter's brain or lead stranded Monad employees to escape points.
(Image credit: TeamKill Media)
Several well-designed and helpful safe spaces throughout the Monad facility help Jacob survive, along with plenty of resources and ammo to assist your journey through each zone: Firewings and armories offer safe rooms in which to stock up, change your suit depending on the specific fire or damage resistance you need, and upgrade your weapons (with the firmware resource found throughout the game); and ARGUS (Advanced Retinal Global Unity System) sites provide place to upgrade Jacob and to save progress. A mysterious substance called ‘quintessence’ - introduced to you without comment, somewhat frustratingly - is used to upgrade Jacob’s stats, and overall, his personal and weapon upgrades are pleasingly simple and streamlined - there are no branching skill trees here, just good old-fashioned numbers that you can make bigger.
The healing system is particularly satisfying to use. Jacob can boost his health with a syringe (the ‘E.M.I’) but you can store healing items up to ‘stock up’ said syringe. This means you can gather healing packs to both top yourself up in the short term, and prepare for future encounters in the long term. The game encourages you to maintain full health and stock up so Jacob is in the best possible condition and position going forward.
A lot of Quantum Error plays as a straight-up action shooter, that can be played first-person or third-person. The firefighter tools are weighty and brutal when used in melee combat; smash the fire axe or halligan into enemies and you’re met with heavy and satisfying thuds which yield explosive results. Most of the guns are cool in and of themselves, and deliver solid punches and satisfying blows on enemies. The shotgun. great for cutting enemies in half, and the spitter (a heavy-duty shotgun-type gun that fires clusters of ammo) are definite highlights, and I had great fun laying into all the different enemy types with them too. However, the actual gunplay is a bit sluggish: fire rates and reloads are very slow, weapon switching takes an age, and there are no automatic reloads when you get to the end of a mag. At best this could be interpreted as something to remind you that Jacob is only a firefighter, not a soldier, but at worst (and most of the time) it slows down the action, is frustrating, and can leave you helpless in a fight if you’ve emptied a clip.
Burning bright, and burning dim
(Image credit: TeamKill Media)
Best bit
The DualSense reflecting and assisting with firefighter skills is always very cool - receiving localized rumble when checking the temperature of doors, performing CPR compressions and mouth-to-mouth with the triggers and mic, and feeling the intense rumble when porting open doors with the halligan are particular highlights of the tech.
Where Quantum Error shines brightest, however, is when you can go hard on playing Jacob as a firefighter. There are a host of firefighting tools at your disposal which are so cool, and that are implemented very successfully. From simple things like working out how to restore water supplies to hosepipes when fires are blocking the way ahead or using a mallet to slowly close heavy-duty valves, to more specialist abilities like identifying gas flows and pinching the pipes off with the jaws of life, prying open closed doors with a halligan bar, checking doors to avoid backdrafts, and venting rooms with a saw, are all incredibly well done and satisfying, adding to the immersion. So much so that these are some of the best bits of the game - something further enhanced when putting some of those specialist tools to very good effect against bosses; knocking a boss down and then laying into them with the K12 saw is grimly satisfying.
These tools and skills are then terrifically deployed with the PS5’s DualSense controller: when checking to see if a door is hot with Jacob’s left hand (to work out if a deadly backdraft will occur if you were to pry it open), the left wing of the DualSense will subtly vibrate to indicate that the door is hot, and the room on the other side needs venting first; the adaptive triggers will resist and then rumble intensely as your halligan jams into and then opens doors; the haptics will alter according to the intensity of flames and how you’re approaching them; and you can blow through the microphone to deliver breaths when performing CPR.
There are a host of firefighting tools at your disposal which are so cool, and that are implemented very successfully
However, it’s not all white hot. Quantum Error’s art direction is very over the top at times, to the point of being cringeworthy. It feels like it's trying to be so cinematic and cool with the amount of lingering close-ups on character faces, super slow-mo sequences, and forced faux-dramatic delivery of lines. The eyebrow-raising art direction also extends to the characters: Jacob is another member of the wooden-voiced, blank-expression protagonist club, for starters. Elsewhere, especially in cutscenes, there are strange poses, weird animations, inaccurate lip-syncing, and very wooden voice work and facial expressions, all of which are jarring and falter the immersion and storytelling.
The pacing throughout the game is strange, but also annoying at times. Especially in the first few hours, the story is hard to follow due to the implementation of flashbacks, and elsewhere cutscenes can just suddenly appear in areas of otherwise normal game time, causing you to be on hold for a few minutes. I also had to wait for what felt like an age to get the second main weapon in the game. The pacing also affects some levels with long gaps between save points making for frustrating checkpointing - some particular enemies that are thrown at you along the way make this even more annoying and can quickly ruin progress.
(Image credit: TeamKill Media)
Quantum Error’s use of Unreal Engine 5 is splendid and gives the game a slick and chic finish, but, overall, the title does show some signs of its small-scale development. I’ve had multiple instances when the weapon and item menus would just not appear when pressing the appropriate buttons; Jacob often struggles with ladders and has strange transitions between standing, crouching, and going prone; and, at one point, I managed to skip a level’s whole main objective by using a save point. When I booted up after this save, the companion I was escorting disappeared and I could only go into the final area of the level with the game starting the end boss fight as if nothing happened.
Quantum Error is a well-executed mystery horror game that realizes the childhood dream of “being a firefighter”. Broad chunks of it are robust, such as its guns and Jacob’s specialist skills, but numerous frustrations hold it back. In the year of Dead Space Remake and Alan Wake 2, Quantum Error struggles to burn as bright as its contemporaries.
Accessibility features
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(Image credit: TeamKill Media)
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(Image credit: TeamKill Media)
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(Image credit: TeamKill Media)
There are no dedicated accessibility features in Quantum Error. Subtitles are present but small and there is no way to change subtitle size which is a huge problem at early points in the game where some tutorial boxes are unbelievably text-cramped and hard to read - so much so that I had to get close to my TV to read them. Elsewhere, the best-looking features that would benefit accessibility - ‘cheats’ offering things such as infinite oxygen and health - are unavailable until you finish a playthrough (this qualifier is not displayed).
How we reviewed Quantum Error
I played Quantum Error on PS5 for nearly 15 hours enjoying its full technical capabilities on a Samsung Q6F QLED TV. I explored as much of the Monad facility as I could in my time with the game following the main story as well as exploring and finding side missions. I used as many weapons and tools as I could find to get a handle on all that the game offers in that respect, and I enjoyed the game’s creepy audio on both a soundbar and with a PS5 headset.
Tecno announced a new imaging technology called Universal Tone. Leveraging AI, it promises to enhance skin tones in photos so people from all colors are correctly captured.
The essence of Tecno Universal Tone is recognizing multiple faces in one photo, along with their facial complexities, and then applying appropriate filters that encompass a vast range of skin tones in order to eliminate bias within the image processing.
The technology combines three engines, according to the press release. The first is the Multi-Skin Tone Restoration Engine, which works with a database of...
The Yeedi Cube comes among a litany of combo robot vacuums capable of both vacuuming and mopping. In that regard, it’s one of many. What sets it apart then is the fact that it comes with a self-emptying base station for a much lower price than much of the competition.
Whether it ranks among the best robot vacuums for you depends on whether you can accept its quirks. After all, there are a few issues here that might make you reconsider as the virtual mapping is not as good as it could be (though that should be fixed with a firmware update) and assembly can be involved to the point where, if you don’t hit every step correctly, you could end up with an issue. Of course, the issue with getting edges and corners is inherent in this type of vacuum. So, if that’s a concern, you can look at one of the best vacuums for something able to do a deeper clean.
That said, the Yeedi Cube is a cheap way, relatively at least, for a hands-free vacuuming and mopping experience that will leave your floors clean.
Yeedi Cube: price and availability
List price: $699 (about £559 / about AU$1,054)
Available in the US only at the moment
At $699.99 (about £559 / about AU$1,054), the Yeedi Cube is decidedly cheap for what it offers. Sure, you can find robot vacuums capable of mopping for less. For example, the Bissell Spinwave R5 costs $549.99 / about £455.19 /AU$799 and it has both functionalities. What the Bissell doesn’t have that the Yeedi Cube has is a base station that not only empties the debris that’s been vacuumed up but the dirty water as well.
A better comparison then is the iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus, which goes for a much higher price tag of $1,099.99 / £999 / AU$2,199 and also includes a self-emptying base station. Though the iRobot’s mopping ability is a bit better, the self-emptying functionality only applies to the dust and debris the Roomba picks up. Anything mopping-related is done manually. The Yeedi Cube’s base station also sucks out the dirty water.
That said, an area that both the Bissell and iRobot robot vacuums as well as that of most established brands have over Yeedi is the fact that the Yeedi Cube is currently only available in the US.
Value:4 / 5
Yeedi Cube: specifications
(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
Yeedi Cube: Design and features
Completely flat on top
Self-emptying base station
Lots of assembly
There are a few intriguing elements of the Yeedi Cube robot vacuum unit that stand out compared to other models I’ve seen. To start, the clean water tank sits on top of the vacuum instead of being shoehorned into the back with the dustbin. Because of its placement, it can store quite a bit of water (one liter specifically).
Also, the vacuum is completely flat, instead of having a raised area for mapping purposes. Because of this, the Yeedi Cube can get under couches and some furniture that might be out of reach for other units.
(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
As far as attachments go, the Yeedi Cube has two side brushes (many especially cheaper models have one) and a single large brushroll underneath. The brush roll uses bristles so it is susceptible to getting tangled up, so you’ll have to check it somewhat regularly if anyone in the house has long hair.
The mop pad covers the back half of the vacuum and vibrates up to 2,500 times a minute to clean. Though you can easily remove the mop pad to clean it, the base station will wash and dry it every time it docks.
Speaking of the base station, it’s sizable but not too bulky. As it measures 15.74 x 17.72 x 14.76 inches, you’ll have to set aside a good amount of space, especially as the actual robot vacuum likes to do a three-point turn to back into it from about four feet in front.
The base station takes up this much space for a couple of reasons. As soon as the vacuum is docked, the station will suck the debris out of the dustbin into a disposable bag inside the base station, so you don’t have to regularly empty anything. Since having started testing for this review, I have not needed to replace the bag despite cleaning up after two dogs.
(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
The base station also has a dirty water tank that’s big enough (1.2 liters, specifically) that it rarely needs to be emptied. Also, as mentioned above, when the vacuum docks, the station will wash and dry the mop pad to keep it clean and free of mold.
This is all well and good once you have it all set up, but it requires a little bit extra in terms of assembly. Namely, there are a lot of different areas where you have to remove tabs and stickers for correct operation.
(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
To that end, I had trouble with the base of the base station as I thought it was properly installed, but because it didn’t fully click into place, all the dirty water that was supposed to go into the dirty water tank ended up leaking out of the base station. While I’ll admit that it’s user error, it’s something that I checked more than once trying to troubleshoot. And, if you’re not careful and fully push in that base when assembling this vacuum, you might end up stepping in a puddle of murky water as well.
Design:4 / 5
(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
Yeedi Cube: Performance
Solid vacuuming ability
Object avoidance is okay
Mopping is good
As far as vacuuming ability goes, the Yeedi Cube is as capable as any robot vacuum I’ve tested. It has two side brushes to the single one that most models have so that it’s able to feed all debris towards the brush roll instead of kicking debris out.
Having had to run the Yeedi Cube somewhat regularly to pick up after two French Bulldogs and a cat (mostly the dogs), it did a great job of getting all the pet hair off the floor. It did have some issues with larger objects since that brush roll uses actual bristles. Long hair and larger leaves will get stuck there as I experienced, requiring some manual clearing of the brush roll and brush roll area before being able to continue cleaning the floor.
Robot vacuums tend to have issues with this in general so it’s not a major point against the Yeedi Cube. You’ll just have to do a little pre-cleaning before running it if you see big pieces of debris lying around.
In the same vein, its object avoidance is okay but not great. It will bump up on objects before deciding to go around. This is a little bit of a frustration as that means it can get stuck on some lower-lying objects. In my case, the robot vacuum has gotten stuck on some floor vents that are a couple of centimeters higher than the surrounding floor, requiring me to rescue it. However, it seems to have learned from the first couple of times getting stuck and no longer does so when being run.
As with many other robot vacuums I’ve tested, the edge cleaning is not nearly as good as advertised and the Yeedi Cube will leave areas along the wall with some dirt and debris that I would have hoped it to pick up.
(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
The mopping functionality is also pretty good. At first, it was a little streaky, but it seemed to find its stride after the first time or two running it. While Yeedi doesn’t offer any cleaning solution or advice on what to use, just using water does pick up quite a bit of dirt. The dirty water tank on the self-emptying base station attests to its ability to go the extra mile with mopping.
That might be from the physical mopping pad. Instead of dragging it behind it, the Yeedi Cube vibrates the mopping pad to physically remove dirt. If you want to take it to the next level, you can use any cleaning solution except for strong acids or alkali-based ones that could corrode the cleaning tank.
Performance: 4 / 5
(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
Yeedi Cube: App
Fairly intuitive to use
Lots of adjustments for both vacuum and station
Room mapping needs work
The Yeedi app is generally intuitive to use. The main screen depicts the overall map that the robot vacuum has made of your space including whatever room divisions you’ve made. Information about the vacuum such as current settings, battery life and what it’s currently doing is listed at the top of the screen, while access to controls is at the bottom.
The “Robot” tab allows you to select between just vacuuming or vacuuming and mopping, how loud you want its operation (which affects how deeply it will clean), the amount of water you want it to use, whether you want it to do a quick or full clean and more. There are some advanced settings here available such as creating scheduled cleanings, how you want each room to be cleaned, and Do Not Disturb hours.
There’s also a “Station” tab with some base station-specific settings such as toggling on/off the self-emptying functionality and how long you want it to wash or dry the mopping pad.
The one area where the app falls short however is in its ability to subdivide the map into different rooms. After the initial mapping of my space, it all showed up as one big room. I was able to subdivide the whole space into two rooms but not any further than that even though I should have been able to break it down further. That means that I have to clean half the floor space when I want to clean just one room, so I end up just running the vacuum to clean everything.
Now, I run this vacuum in an area that is almost an open floor plan with wide door frames that lack doors and the Yeedi Cube apparently has more trouble with these sorts of spaces compared to a more typical apartment or house layout. So, this issue may not even apply to you. It’s still a major annoyance as well as a consideration when comparing robot vacuums, though I’ve been told that Yeedi is working on this and will hopefully have rectified this issue with a future firmware update.
If you’re on the smart home train, be aware that it is compatible with Alexa and Google Home but not HomeKit.
App: 3.5 / 5
Yeedi Cube: Battery life
Long battery life
Constantly returns to base station
The crazy thing about the Yeedi Cube’s 150-minute battery life is that it’s so careful about emptying its contents regularly and washing that mopping pad before continuing that it never got below 50%.
So, it would run for 40 or 50 minutes, return to the base station to clean, and then return to the job. That said, it wouldn’t wait to fully recharge. So, I never was in any danger of it running out of battery. The only time it did was when it got stuck on something when I wasn’t around to rescue it.
Even beyond that, a 110 or 120-minute runtime is typical so what this robot vacuum can achieve is far above average.
Battery: 5 / 5
Should I buy the Yeedi Cube?
Buy it if...
Don't buy it if...
Yeedi Cube: Also consider
Not sold on the prowess of the Yeedi Cube? Below are a couple of alternatives that you can consider.
How I tested the Yeedi Cube
I used the Yeedi Cube for a month
Tested different settings and features
Tested on different surfaces with various obstacles
To test the Yeedi Cube Robot Vacuum and Mop Self-Empty XL, I used it for a month to vacuum and mop the hardwood floors in my house. I also tested all the features listed in the app, from mapping to different levels of cleaning.
I took note of how well the vacuum cleaned the edges of a room as well as around obstacles, not to mention running it over different surfaces including two different types of hard flooring.
The iQOO 12 series will arrive on November 7, and today the vivo brand revealed the duo will feature new design, a periscope camera for combined 100x zoom, and a new iQOO Q1 gaming chip. A couple of hands-on images also surfaced.
We know a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset will power the Pro member of the duo, but it's unclear if the vanilla will share the chispet. The BMW Motorosport collaboration will go on for this generation as evident by the official teaser.
vivo iQOO 12 series official poster
One vivo VP shared their thoughts on the new phones. According to Jia Jingdong, who...
The iQOO 12 series will arrive on November 7, and today the vivo brand revealed the duo will feature new design, a periscope camera for combined 100x zoom, and a new iQOO Q1 gaming chip. A couple of hands-on images also surfaced.
We know a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset will power the Pro member of the duo, but it's unclear if the vanilla will share the chispet. The BMW Motorosport collaboration will go on for this generation as evident by the official teaser.
vivo iQOO 12 series official poster
One vivo VP shared their thoughts on the new phones. According to Jia Jingdong, who...
The xTool P2 Laser Engraver is one of the most comprehensive laser engraving solutions that I have seen. Sure enough, there is the formidable Glowforge, but with all the additions and ease of use of the xTool P2, it easily stands above its competitor as one of the best laser engravers when it comes to simplicity and ease of use.
When the xTool P2 arrives there is a little setup time and you should anticipate a good hour to make yourself familiar with the machine and find all the bits and pieces you'll need to get started such as purified water. This isn't just filtered water, you'll need to buy it from your local DIY store, but it's cheap and readily available. This water is mixed with anti-freeze that's then poured into the coolant system; if you have any doubts about the quality of this machine, those are quickly dispelled in the first hour as you set up and get to know your P2.
(Image credit: Ali Jennings)
Once panels are refitted, and the lid closed on the 600x400 workspace, the machine looks great and ready for business. The machine, before any additions, looks incredibly sleek, and then, to enhance its use, the raiser base can be added along with the absolute essential of the extractor that fits on the back. Then inside, there are more sockets and plugs for the rotary engraver and various other accessories that will enable you to cut, score and engrave everything from greeting cards and signposts to furniture. It really is that versatile.
What makes this laser engrave different from most, aside from the Glowforge is the 55W CO2 laser with a maximum engraving speed of 600mm/s. What gives it the edge over the competition is the xTool Creative Space software which is comprehensive and easy to use, but more than anything, it's xTool's open approach to software with compatibility to LightBurn, meaning that unlike others you don't always have to be online which at times has left the Glowforge offline and redundant.
xTool P2: Design
Specs
Engraving Technology: CO2 Laser Tube
Maximum Work Area: 600 x 400 mm
Engraving Speed: Up to 500 mm/s
Cutting Speed: Up to 300 mm/s
Laser Power: 60W - 80W Adjustable
Cooling System: Liquid Antifreeze Cooling
Software Compatibility: xTool Creative Space (Windows/Mac)
Material Compatibility: Wood, Acrylic, Aluminium, Brick Ply
When you look at the xTool P2, it's clear that the designers prioritised both form and function. With a sleek, black metallic housing that feels robust yet sophisticated, it blends seamlessly into a professional studio or even a home workshop. The machine's dimensions of approximately 1100x750x1100 mm offer a footprint that is surprisingly compact for its capabilities, making it a smart choice for spaces where space is a premium.
The control panel layout is intuitive; even if you're new to laser engraving, you'll find it easy enough to navigate options. Really, there's just the large button to start the engraving and a clear LED screen that shows what's happening; everything else is handled through the software.
The design of the machine is simple with the large protective glass lid enclosing the inner workspace. The weight of the lid is balanced and again reinforces the feeling of high-end quality. As the software can be connected through Wi-Fi there's only the need for the power cable and tube to the extractor fan, nothing else is needed which again makes it nice and neat on a work surface.
If you do want to connect directly, then there is a USB port on the side, but at present although this port is USB Type-C you can't connect directly, rather a USB Type-A to C hub or adapter is required. I've been assured that this will be resolved.
(Image credit: Ali Jennings)
xTool P2: Features
The xTool P2 sets a high standard with its feature set, and at the price, it really needs to consider the competition. Central to its capabilities is a 20-watt high-precision laser boasting an engraving accuracy of 0.05 mm. Operating within a 445–450 nm wavelength range, the laser is versatile enough to work on various materials, including wood and some metals.
Adaptive power control is another standout aspect, as it dynamically adjusts the laser's power in response to the material and design intricacies. This feature is relatively rare but offers a significant advantage for achieving uniform engraving results; essentially, it means that you can easily engrave curved surfaces such as a wooden bowl while retaining the sharpness of the edge that you'd expect to see on a flat surface.
The optional RA2 Pro add-on deserves a mention. This rotary attachment expands the P2's engraving capabilities to cylindrical objects; while these rotary accessories are common place, this one is really easy to set up and use. You just position it inside the P2, select the options from the software and then place a bottle or metal drinks bottle onto the RA2 and off it goes. A few test subjects are required, but the learning curve is far less than other rotary engravers I've tried.
(Image credit: Ali Jennings)
Another key feature is pass-through engraving, which enables the P2 to work on materials larger than its internal workspace; this is something that I've seen before and, in principle, is a great idea. My workshop is a little pressed for space, and while it worked, my ability to steady the material through has something to be desired.
The user interface of the P2 software is what has really warmed me to the P2. It's streets ahead of the software that I use with Glowforge and always works whether the internet connection is good or not. The software strikes a balance between ease of use for beginners and advanced options for professionals. It's designed to be intuitive and feature-rich, with support for materials and accessories; there's also a good stock library of projects to get you started, as well as the connected shop.
Safety is essential with these laser engravers and having looked at multiple open frame designs which are fantastic, there's nothing like the reassurance of an all-enclosed design. Not only is the P2 fully enclosed but as with professional machines there's the ability to attach the extractor fan. What's more built into the P2 are air purifiers and automatic shutoff mechanisms, all adding to the safety element.
Compared to industry competitors like Glowforge or Trotec, the xTool P2 proves competitive, particularly due to its adaptive power control and well-designed software.
xTool P2: Performance
The testing of the P2 has not been quick, not because of anything complicated about the machine more due to the size and mass of accessories that I have with it. Below I've broken down the basics of the machine without all the accessories, and in the future, I'll add a little more about the additions.
Starting with the easiest and most common of projects which for the most part will be flat materials like wood, acrylic, and leather, the xTool P2 performs exceptionally well. The 20-watt laser module effortlessly carves intricate details onto surfaces, achieving a level of engraving accuracy that is impressive at 0.05 mm. Even at higher speeds, the machine maintains its incredible clarity, ensuring the end product is professional-grade with some of the cleanest burn-free lines that I have ever seen from a consumer engraver.
Compared to similar models from brands like Glowforge, the xTool P2 not only holds its own but outperforms in the quality of cuts and engraving but also speed and precision of lines.
(Image credit: Ali Jennings)
This is one of the big out of the box features that I kept to see as curved surfaces can often be challenging for laser engravers. That's not to say they can't do it, just that the precision of the engraving fades as the focus of the laser reduces due to the height of the material.
Out of the box, the P2 handles slight curves extremely well, far better than most and enables you to engrave wooden bowels and plates with decent success. It's worth noting that this is still limited and the higher walls of a bowl will push the abilities.
However add in the optional RA2 Pro attachment and you can start to engrave cylindrical objects like glasses, bottles, or even spherical objects.
What I like about this is that, firstly, the accessory sits inside the body of the machine, so no issues with the laser bouncing around the room from metal objects, something I seem to worry about. Still, it's all seamlessly integrated into the software. It is just far easier to use than other systems.
xTool P2: Engraving quality
The xTool P2 really stands out with its user-friendly approach. There are a few things that I've noted in the three months of use, that mean that this is by far the best laser engraver on the market at present.
The first is the ease of set-up as mentioned earlier in the review. It does take two to handle the machine into place, and don't let that person leave until you've topped up the system, shifted it around a few times to attach the extractor and then shifted the thing around the workshop a few times before finding a decent final destination. Once the machine is setup it's worth noting that you are never going to want to move it again.
Once it's in place, it just works; Wi-Fi was set up, the MacBook Pro connected through Wi-Fi, and then that's it. Open the xTool Creative Space software start a new project, pop the material you want into the machine and close the lid, nothing will happen with it open. Then, use the camera preview to align your design, choose the material, select whether to cut or engrave or a bit of both and hit go. Then run to the machine push the button and off you go.
What has set me back is the difference in the type of project that you can do with the P2. This is a consumer machine and professionals can equally use it sitting in that middle ground. The power means that if you want to dabble in making furniture then with the pass-through function you can, although you may need to double up on the Ply thickness if you do, 12mm feels thick but underweight, 18mm is better.
Rather than making place mats, you start to think bigger and more elaborate, my one wish was that there was a trace feature where a design could be drawn and then. the machine would be able to convert the drawing to a cutting path. Previous machines have this feature and it's a great time saver, however, there are some licence issues around this which I hope will be resolved. Otherwise, everything else about the machine is incredible.
However, before you rush out and buy one it's worth revisiting the size and weight issue; you'll need space. Firstly moving it around isn't a one-person job, particularly when you want to test features like the pass-through or set it on a riser. While this isn't a deal-breaker, it requires you to plan your workspace carefully. I positioned the machine on a work surface, which meant I couldn't properly use the pass through, I then had to wait for my neighbour to return from holiday to help shift it, then in the middle of the workshop I was able to use the pass through, only to then wait another day for my neighbour to help me lift it back to the worksurface.
While the size and weight do mean that you need to plan carefully the machine's versatility is a massive advantage for practical, everyday use.
It's as if it's designed to be the go-to machine for first-timers and seasoned pros. The software interface is intuitive. Advanced features like path splitting, allowing you to specify engrave and cut options more easily, could enhance it further. Currently, the xTool P2 has room for improvement on this front.
When it comes to long-term usability, the build quality suggests that the xTool P2 will be a workhorse for years, I've been using it solidly for three months and the machine has only improved with function over that time. The machine's robust construction is reassuring, especially for those considering it a long-term investment.
Overall, the user experience is incredibly positive, marred only by minor gripes like the machine's weight and a few software limitations.
xTool P2: Verdict
If you want to invest in a laser engraver, the xTool P2 should be at the top of your list. It's unrivalled in the market for the price point, offering a blend of functionality, user-friendliness, and robust build quality that's hard to beat. Its versatility sets it apart; whether you're engraving flat or curved materials or utilising the RA2 Pro for advanced operations.
While no machine is perfect, the P2's minor flaws—such as its weight and the absence of some advanced software features—pale in comparison to its overall performance and utility.
(Image credit: Ali Jennings)
It's a machine built with both the amateur and professional in mind. It is backed by extensive documentation and customer support, making it welcoming even for newcomers to the world of laser engraving, I especially liked the large library of projects that are available to help you get started.
The machine's add-ons, especially the RA2 Pro and the riser, are not just accessories but essential components that extend its capabilities significantly. As these are accessories you can add to and expand on the xTool P2 as you're budget allows which I like. I also like the fact that you're not restricted to the xTool software environment and if you want to use third-party software then you can.
The xTool P2 is an excellent long-term investment for anyone serious about laser engraving. It offers a perfect blend of price, performance, and practicality, making it the best laser engraver currently available at this price range. If you're looking for a reliable, high-performing laser engraver, look no further.
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