This review first appeared in issue 357 of PC Pro.
3CX is the place to go for the best IP PBX services, as its phone system software offers an unbeatable range of call-handling features. Not content to rest on its laurels, 3CX has been working hard on development and the version 20 on review represents the most significant update we’ve seen for many years.
Security takes center stage here, with 3CX hardening its systems against cyberattacks by using a zero trust model across the board for much stricter access control policies. Only allowing the native 3CX softphone app to be deployed from the Microsoft store adds extra security, and it lets 3CX update it as required without having to tinker with the main Phone System build.
One of the biggest changes is with the admin console. Previously, there was a separate management interface, but this has been redesigned and integrated into the client app so admins don’t need separate consoles to use and manage the system.
Admin functions and call handling are all neatly integrated(Image credit: Future)
Phone System is available in four plans, with the 3CX Free cloud–hosted edition aimed at micro businesses with up to ten users. The Small Business edition, also cloud-hosted by 3CX, supports up to 20 users and starts at £175 per year, while the Professional and Enterprise editions increase the number of features hugely and can be run on-site, in a private cloud or hosted by 3CX.
For this early review, Phone System V20 was only available for Debian Linux 12 so we chose to virtualize it on the lab’s Windows Server 2022 Hyper-V system. Deployment was undemanding: we assigned the downloaded ISO file to a new VM, booted it up and followed the brief Debian install wizard, which finished by loading Phone System and providing a link to its web console.
The new client interface will be a big surprise for existing users as the dashboard’s system performance graphs and quick access icons have been removed to make way for far more information about the Phone System status, configuration and event logs. All admin features are still easily accessible from the left menu, and a sidebar next to it provides direct access to calls, chats and voicemail, with icons to the top right provided for one-click links to a dial pad and availability status settings.
The new 3CX portal provides lots of information about your IP PBX(Image credit: Future)
There are some on-premises prerequisites, as you still need to create forwarding rules on your firewall for Phone System’s SIP and RTP port ranges. The system’s fully qualified domain name (FQDN) must now be resolvable internally and externally so your firewall needs to support split DNS, but smaller businesses can make all these issues disappear by opting to let 3CX host Phone System V20 in the cloud.
You’ll need a paid-for SIP trunk to enable VoIP calls; we used the excellent UK-based T4com Ltd, which is on 3CX’s supported provider list. Adding the trunk was simple: after entering the main trunk phone number, account and password, it was ready for action in one minute.
Adding new users and provisioning IP phones is just as easy as with previous versions, while ring groups, call queues and a digital receptionist ensure calls are never missed. Call forwarding allows users to redirect calls when they’re working from home, and 3CX has added 2FA user authentication plus integration with Microsoft 365, Google Workspace and a host of CRM apps.
3CX Phone System V20 is our recommended choice for businesses that want to manage their own VoIP system. Available in a range of affordable plans, it can be hosted in the cloud or on-premises, and this latest version adds an impressive range of new features.
At first glance, the Cherry XTRFY M68 Pro is rather restrained in its appearance as gaming mice go. Its straightfoward design is rather inconspicuous, and the white model I've reviewed here is only offset by black side buttons and accents on the scroll wheel. The logo is inconspicuous and there’s no RGB lighting either. So far, so conventional.
However, the design of the Cherry XTRFY M68 Pro's front end is less so. The mouse buttons are raised steeply at the back, and curve down sharply before cutting short, which means the contact point is biased towards your fingertips, more so than I’ve experienced with many other gaming mice.
The M68 Pro weighs just 55g, and there aren’t too many full-size wireless gaming mice lighter than this. It undercuts the Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro, our pick as the best wireless gaming mouse, by eight grams. The Turtle Beach Burst 2 Air is one of the rare few that’s even leaner, tipping the scales at just 47g.
The two primary buttons on the M68 Pro feel solid yet easy to fully depress, and the same is true of the side buttons. The scroll wheel is notched well, making for smooth yet controlled spins, and the rubber layer offers plenty of grip, helping to make clicks feel secure. Overall, the M68 Pro seems to be a well-constructed gaming mouse.
The skates are quite thin, so you do feel hard desktop surfaces a little when maneuvering. Despite this, the M68 Pro doesn’t scratch or bottom out, as other gaming mice with insufficient padding do. This is impressive, especially considering there are only two skates on the top and bottom (although the included spare set features a piece for the sensor too). This is still a mouse I would recommend only using with a mouse pad, though, in order to get the best out of it.
The USB port is also located on the right rear side of the M68 Pro, a placement that will no doubt prove contentious, bucking the typical front-end trend (perhaps the snub-nose design leaves no internal room for this placement).
However, it does have the advantage of eliminating drag, although the included braided cable for wired play is light enough to make this no concern regardless. The port is also deeply recessed, so there’s no fear of accidental disconnection. The one major proviso, though, is that you’re right-handed and have your desktop on the right; if it’s on your left, then the cable is liable to get in the way.
Pressing the bottom button, which toggles between various settings and modes, can be awkward, as it sits flush with the underside surface. This is especially the case when pressing in combination with the two side buttons to toggle between the sensor modes, and I struggled to activate it consistently.
(Image credit: Future)
In fact, altering most of the settings on the M68 Pro is very awkward, since many require various odd button combinations. Worst of all, the buttons still register normal input when you're trying to activate the combinations, which means you have to be very careful about what window you’re on and where the cursor is.
These combinations are a necessary compromise given the lack of buttons and software, but keeping them active when holding them down is a serious misstep. Another gripe I have is that selected parameters are only indicated via different colors displayed on the small side LED, so you’ll likely have to keep referring back to the manual til they’re ingrained in your memory.
Once you get your head around these button combinations, though, there’s a wide selection of adjustments present on the M68 Pro. Despite having no software, there are eight onboard CPI settings to choose from, offering enough scope to dial in levels precise enough for most gamers. There are also four debounce time increments, ranging from 2ms to 12ms, which again should be more than enough to meet individual preferences.
There are only two lift-off distances (1mm and 2mm) to choose from, although this isn’t out of the ordinary, and while there are six polling rates to choose from (or four when wired, topping out at 1K), I can’t see many people wanting more than three for low (125Hz), mid (1K), and high (8K) values. There’s also an option to toggle motion sync on and off.
(Image credit: Future)
Once you start gaming, though, the M68 Pro starts to shine. That aforementioned fingertip emphasis encouraged by sloping mouse buttons makes for a more tactile experience. It meant I could get a better grip when lifting off before swipes, and somehow gave me a greater sense of connection to the on-screen action, especially when aiming. The different sensor modes are also effective, with Pro Gaming mode being remarkably snappy and precise, perfect for FPS titles.
Cherry claims the M68 Pro’s battery can last up to 90 hours on a single charge. Although I wasn’t able to get an exact measurement, I can say that after several days of testing, the LED was still green, indicating a percentage of between 75-100%.
To show the battery level, you have to hold down both side buttons and the left mouse button for three seconds, another inconvenient method if you’re still connected to your machine, since again the buttons will still operate. There are four colors representing the 25% increments, and since there’s no software, there’s no way to get a more accurate assessment than this.
All things considered, the M68 Pro is a high-caliber wireless gaming mouse with a few design quirks that may please some but deter others. It’s not what you’d call cheap, but it does beat perhaps its closest rival, the Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro, when it comes to pricing.
The DeathAdder can be tweaked with Razer’s in-depth Synapse software, though, which is more convenient. And if you can live without an 8K polling rate and an inbuilt battery, the Cooler Master MM311 is a viable alternative with exceptional value, given it’s still wireless.
(Image credit: Future)
Cherry XTRFY M68 Pro: price & availability
$129 / £139 / AU$214
Black, white, and Team Vitality editions
Mid-range value
The M68 Pro costs $129 / £139 / AU$214. There’s one white colorway and two black variants: one with gray accents and another with yellow that also sports the logo of esports organization Team Vitality in place of Cherry XTRFY’s.
It’s cheaper than our pick for the best wireless gaming mouse, the Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro, yet still competes with it spec-for-spec, as both have an 8K polling rate and the M68 Pro is even lighter.
However, there are more budget-friendly wireless options around, such as the Cooler Master MM311, which is the best gaming mouse for those on a budget – it’s massively cheaper than the M68 Pro and many other wireless gaming mice for that matter. However, its polling rate tops out at 1K, and it requires a single AA battery. Still, if you’re not after eSport-level performance, this may be a better alternative.
Cherry XTRFY M68 Pro: specs
Should I buy the Cherry XTRFY M68 Pro?
Buy it if...
You want elite performance The 8K polling rate will delight many pro-level players, and the overall performance when gaming is terrific.
You want something you can really grip The short, raking front end makes the M68 Pro a joy to hold in my opinion - although it may not be to every gamer’s taste.
Don't buy it if...
You want multiple connectivity modes There’s only one way to connect wirelessly, and using the mouse in wired mode may not suit everyone’s setup, considering the USB-C port is on the right.
You’re on a budget Although it’s slightly cheaper than some big-name rivals, including Razer, there are alternatives offering better value if you don’t need that ultra-high polling rate.
Cherry XTRFY M68 Pro: also consider
Cooler Master MM311 If you can live without that 8K polling rate – which more casual gamers can – then the MM311 is an excellent budget choice. In our review, we found it was still capable enough thanks to its great performance. It doesn’t have an inbuilt battery, requiring an AA battery to power, but that’s a minor inconvenience considering its price tag. Read our full Cooler Master MM311 review.
Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro Another state-of-the-art gaming mouse with an 8K polling rate, the DeathAdder V3 Pro is only marginally more expensive than the M68 Pro, yet it has the advantage of integrating with Razer’s excellent Synapse software. It’s hard to find fault with this gaming mouse, which is why it currently claims the top spot as the best wireless gaming mouse overall in our view. Read our Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro review.
How I tested the Cherry XTRFY M68 Pro
Tested for several days
Played various games
10+ years PC gaming experience
I tested the M68 Pro for several days. During this time, I used it for gaming, working, and casual tasking.
I played titles such as Counter-Strike 2, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater - Master Collection Version, and Fear the Spotlight, in order to cover a variety of genres.
I have been PC gaming for over 10 years, and have experienced many mice during that time. I have also reviewed numerous gaming mice, all with various connectivity options, sizes, polling rates, and features.
Samsung is launching three Galaxy S25 phones today in San Jose, California. Just mere hours before the official unveiling, the phones were spotted in their retail boxes. The image from IR Iran confirms the Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25+, and Galaxy S25 Ultra will ship in thin boxes with no charger in sight.
We also get to see the gray paint job of the vanilla Galaxy S25, the dark blue S25+, and the Titanium Ice Blue version of the S25 Ultra in the flesh for the first time.
The rounded edges of the Ultra are clearly visible, and there is still room for an S Pen. The S25 will have 128 GB...
Samsung is launching three Galaxy S25 phones today in San Jose, California. Just mere hours before the official unveiling, the phones were spotted in their retail boxes. The image from IR Iran confirms the Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25+, and Galaxy S25 Ultra will ship in thin boxes with no charger in sight.
We also get to see the gray paint job of the vanilla Galaxy S25, the dark blue S25+, and the Titanium Ice Blue version of the S25 Ultra in the flesh for the first time.
The rounded edges of the Ultra are clearly visible, and there is still room for an S Pen. The S25 will have 128 GB...
This review first appeared in issue 357 of PC Pro.
A letter can make a big difference in a monitor name, and none more so than here. The ViewSonic VG3456 is a highly affordable flat-screen monitor that you can now purchase for around £250, while the VG3456C is curved – exactly like the AOC CU34P3CV and Philips 34B1U5600CH. They also share the same 3,440 x 1,440 resolution, giving you huge amounts of space on which to spread your windows, and VA technology.
The ViewSonic is the most stylish of the three, with slim bezels and a fuzzy speaker-like finish to the bottom edge of the monitor. We only wish the pair of 5W speakers could live up to the billing, but like so many others here they’re better suited to speech radio and web calls than listening to music or enjoying films.
We were also struck by this monitor’s tilting skills: you can push it backwards by 40°, which may well be the killer feature for some situations. While its height adjustment is limited to 110mm, that should be enough for most setups, and we’d give it a firm tick for stand quality overall: you feel like you’re buying a high-quality piece of kit.
(Image credit: Future)
The panel is much more average. Rather than true 8-bit color, this is a 6-bit + FRC affair, and this is one reason why its gamut is more limited than its curved 34in rivals. In native mode, it covers 74% of the DCI-P3 gamut compared to 88% and 85% for the AOC and Philips. But if you’re happy with the sRGB gamut then it’s fine, covering 97% out of a 104% volume. Accuracy is strong, too, with an average Delta E of 0.69.
With a stated peak brightness of 400cd/m2, we were surprised to find the monitor maxed out at 280cd/m2in our initial tests. But then we went into the (excellent) OSD and discovered that ViewSonic ships it with the Energy Saving mode switched on; deactivating this pushed the panel up to 435cd/m2. This also boosts the whiteness of the whites, but the penalty comes in power consumption: 48W compared to 31W at 200cd/m2.
ViewSonic doesn’t load this monitor with extras, so if you’re hoping for a webcam or KVM switch then you’ll be disappointed (there’s no USB-B input, either). But it does cover the docking station basics, with an Ethernet port and a USB-C video input that can deliver 98W of power. All four USB-A ports are 3.2 Gen 1, so 5Gbits/sec, with two sensibly positioned on the left-hand side.
It adds up to a solid curved 34in monitor, even if we prefer the punchier colors from the AOC and Philips. If the price drops it will become a strong choice.
This review first appeared in issue 357 of PC Pro.
If you’re a graphic designer but your budget doesn’t reach Eizo levels, then there are some extremely compelling reasons to choose the BenQ PD2706U. Let’s start with the obvious: this is a 27in 4K screen, so that means you enjoy incredible amounts of detail.
Unlike the Eizo ColorEdge CG2700X, it uses an 8-bit panel plus FRC to reach 1.07 billion colors, but if you’re happy to stick to the sRGB, Display P3 and DCI-P3 color spaces then it covers them all with superb accuracy. For example, switch to sRGB and it covers 98% with a 100% volume, while DCI-P3 covers 92% with no overspill. With a maximum (not average) Delta E of 1.81, you can trust what your eyes show you.
BenQ sweetens the deal thanks to a wired Hotkey Puck, which lets you easily switch between presets while a dial means you can swoosh through options. Head into the OSD and there’s even a dual-screen mode, which splits the panel in two so you can work in different color spaces side by side. This is an OSD that’s well worth exploring, too, with a huge range of color-tuning options. Buy a calibrator and you can fine-tune it to your heart’s content.
(Image credit: Future)
It’s attractively designed with slim bezels, with 150mm of height adjustment, 30° of backwards tilt but limited swivel at 20° on either side. There’s no RJ45 port and no webcam, but other than that you’ll want for nothing. The DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.0 inputs are joined by a USB-C port delivering up to 90W of power, with a USB-C, USB-A and 3.5mm jack on the right-hand side. Two more USB-A ports sit at the rear alongside a USB-B connector, so you can share peripherals between computers. The speakers are just about good enough for listening to music, but you won’t be blown away.
If you do buy this monitor and the brightness looks duller than you’d expect (it promises 350cd/m2 and we measured a peak of 348cd/m2), head into Color | Advanced | Uniformity in the OSD and check that uniformity isn’t switched on. Doing so smooths out the differences from edge to edge, but also reduces your peak brightness to around 180cd/m2. We don’t think it’s worth the sacrifice.
The BenQ PD2706U can’t hold up to all the color options provided by the Eizo FlexScan CG2700X, which also offers a superior warranty: BenQ’s PD series include three years of collect-and-return cover, so if something goes wrong you may have to wait two weeks for a replacement. Still, though, BenQ PD2706U is a compelling buy if you have £400 and will use its color-switching skills.
The international OnePlus 13 received its first update about a week ago, and now the device is already in the process of getting another one. The new update is currently only rolling out in India, but should spread to other regions soon. It arrives over-the-air as software version CPH2649_15.0.0.405.
The changelog you can see in the image below has been shared on Reddit by one owner who's already received the update. As you can see, the main focus (pun intended) is on improving the camera performance.
Thus, you should expect better colors in photos taken in Master mode, enhanced...
Nothing loves cryptic teasers, as it's doled out at least one for pretty much all of its product launches in the past. Today the company is back with another one. Take a look:
pic.twitter.com/zhcmw0cW3i— Nothing (@nothing) January 21, 2025
As someone in the comments noted, the launch date of whatever Nothing product is coming next could be February 9 since Arcanine has nine in the name, or we can go by its Pokédex number of 58.
In that case, the launch could take place on the 58th day of the year, which is February 27, or in 58 days from today, which would be March 20.
Or, of...
Nothing loves cryptic teasers, as it's doled out at least one for pretty much all of its product launches in the past. Today the company is back with another one. Take a look:
pic.twitter.com/zhcmw0cW3i— Nothing (@nothing) January 21, 2025
As someone in the comments noted, the launch date of whatever Nothing product is coming next could be February 9 since Arcanine has nine in the name, or we can go by its Pokédex number of 58.
In that case, the launch could take place on the 58th day of the year, which is February 27, or in 58 days from today, which would be March 20.
Or, of...
Samsung is announcing the Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25+, and Galaxy S25 Ultra at its big Unpacked event tomorrow, and ahead of that a new leak brings us some information about the company's pre-order deal for the trio.
Unsurprisingly (since Samsung has already done this a few times before), it looks like you'll get a free storage upgrade, at least in France where this rumor originates.
So, you will be able to pre-order an S25 for €899 (down from €959) with 256GB of storage or €959 with 512GB (down from €1,079), an S25+ for €1,169 with 512GB (down from €1,289), and an S25 Ultra for €1,469...
