Jurassic World Rebirth is the latest entry into the beloved dinosaur film franchise, following its revival in 2015 where we were introduced to Jurassic World for the first time. The first movie was great and I loved being back, but since then, it's definitely gone downhill.
By far the worst installment to date is Jurassic World Dominion, which has so far received a very low Rotten Tomatoes score of 29% from the critics, making it the lowest rated film in the franchise.
With audiences left frustrated by the direction that movie went in, there was a lot of pressure on filmmakers to restore it to its former glory, ironically, not unlike their efforts to revive a jurassic theme park as seen in the movies, following the collapse of the original.
It may be reassuring for me to begin by saying Jurassic World Rebirth is nowhere near as bad as Jurassic World Dominion, and is a much better made movie, even though I'm not sure if it really adds much to the story, as it seems to go off doing its own thing once again.
I'm likely not alone in missing the original Jurassic World cast, even though the stars in Jurassic World Rebirth were very strong. With so many big names attached to the project like Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali and Jonathan Bailey, if you're after star power, you're definitely going to get it here. They give it their all, even with a script that doesn't have much substance.
Having said that, it does feel strange not following the characters we're used to seeing in the Jurassic franchise and with no returning faces from older movies, this may come as a disappointment for fans wanting to see some familiar names.
An entirely new cast was a gamble I'm not sure was worth taking, though there's likely going to be some division here from fans. Some may argue that it's nice to see a fresh set of characters, but they didn't grip me the way Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas-Howard did when they dominated the screen in the very first Jurassic World movie.
Still, if you're looking for a fast-paced, loud, exciting trip to the cinema you'll definitely get it here. The action set pieces, when they happen, are great and make good use of a cinema sound system. The sound design is epic as are the visuals, so it's a real bit of escapism.
The T-Rex gets disappointingly little screen time in Jurassic World Rebirth.(Image credit: Universal Pictures)
One thing that disappointed me was that the dinosaurs felt underused. Audiences are flocking to a movie called Jurassic World to be thrilled by the dinosaurs, so it's frustrating when we don't get to see a lot of them. I've had similar criticisms of monster movies like Godzilla v Kong, which took entirely too long for the big monsters to start punching each other. While I'm not asking for a movie devoid of any plot, it's sad when the dinosaurs do seem to take a back seat, when they should be front and center of a movie like this.
The best action movies are ones that don't hold back. These movies don't lull in the middle, whereas I did struggle with some of the pacing issues throughout Jurassic World Rebirth. The script felt weak in places and it's a real shame – I suppose trying to fix the mistakes of Jurassic World Dominion was no easy task, I'm sure.
It's certainly not the worst in the franchise, but for me, even something like Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, which received divisive reviews, entertained me more than Jurassic World Rebirth.
I liked the way Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom leaned into darker topics and borrowed from the horror genre, for example, and there was nothing quite that memorable here, save for one stand out scene involving a T-Rex and a raft, but even then they could've done so much more.
There are worse ways to spend an afternoon at the movies, though, and this one will help you switch off and escape into some beautiful visuals and a good score, but it does make me worried for whether or not this franchise has a future, or if its at rapid risk of extinction just like its subject matter.
WiZ Gradient Light Bars are a clear dupe of the Philips Hue Play Light Bars (in fact they're produced by the same parent company, Signify), and like their Philips counterparts, they’re mainly designed to be used alongside a HDMI Sync Box to extend its screen-mirroring light effects.
Alongside the light bars themselves, the kit includes two variants of bracket (standing and mounting), and a separate USB-A plug. That second inclusion won’t mean a whole lot to most people but as someone who is constantly hurting for spare outlets on my power strip, being able to connect the bars’ wire to my TV or games console is a godsend.
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(Image credit: Abigail Shannon)
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Both the mounts and the light bars themselves are light but hardily-constructed, delivering impressive quality considering the $60 price tag. Really, the only qualm I had with the design was the placing of the light bars’ wires: they jut out from one end of the bar and the standing mounts don’t provide a gap for the wire to go through. As a result, you have to bend the wire at quite a sharp angle and press the bar against it. This is fine for now (albeit a little unsightly) but I am a tad concerned about what impact this might have on the longevity of the wire insulation.
This is a small oversight in what is otherwise a cleverly-designed mounting system. The centre of each WiZ Gradient Light Bar is magnetized, allowing them to slot securely into the mount without worry of it falling out. Because of this magnetization, you could even mount them on the top of a TV niche for some effective downlighting. Fair warning: these lights are really versatile, so when you first unbox them, you’ll likely spend a good while experimenting with different placements to find your favorite.
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A placement that works best in one layout might not work so well in another. For example, my TV unit isn’t a great deal wider than the TV itself and as a result, the WiZ Gradient Light Bars’ inclusion alongside the HDMI Sync Box Kit’s LED strip felt a tad redundant. Without sufficient spacing between the two light sources, they sort of just blended into each other in a way that made them feel lost in the layout. In that same vein, mounting them on the back of the TV didn’t make much sense either.
For my purposes, I found lying the light bars under my TV a better fit; this also had the added benefit of making up for the slight gap in light caused by the lack of LED strip on my TV’s bottom edge. That said, popping them on a bookshelf nearby produced a truly lovely effect too. Which is a nice reminder that if you don’t have the HDMI Sync Box Kit or just don’t fancy making your WiZ Gradient Light Bars part of your media setup, you really don’t have to.
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Alongside the screen-mirroring effects made possible by the HDMI Sync Box, the light bars are capable of all the usual static and dynamic light effects found in the WiZ app, and can even be programmed independently of each other. In each lighting mode, the light bars output a beautifully smooth and vibrant gradient glow that looks wonderful diffused against your wall or enjoyed directly. They can also be used for WiZ’s very rudimentary Music Sync mode (you’ll have to check out my review of the WiZ Gradient floor lamp to catch up on the beef I have with that).
Another activation you (theoretically) can set up in the app is SmartSense, WiZ’s motion detection function. Given that SmartSense requires two Bluetooth-enabled WiZ lights, I assumed that the Gradient Light Bars were the perfect candidate for testing this feature. Unfortunately, as far as SmartSense is concerned, the bars count as one single entity. This is a bit of a shame given they can be placed far away enough from each other to meet the setup requirements, but they likely have a shared Wi-Fi receiver that would make SmartSense impossible and the app recognizes that.
(Image credit: Abigail Shannon)
If you’re picking up the WiZ Gradient Light Bars, I’m not sure I’d recommend buying a third light source solely for the purpose of using SmartSense. In my testing (using the Gradient Floor Lamp as my third light), I found the motion detection disappointingly unreliable. After a good deal of troubleshooting, jumping up and down like an idiot, and four recalibration attempts, I resigned myself to the fact that there were a lot of things these versatile little light bars could do — and do very well— but motion detection was not one of them.
WiZ Gradient Light Bars: specifications
Connectivity
Wi-Fi (2.4GHz only), Bluetooth
Smart home compatibility
Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant & Matter
Brightness
Not specified
Light temperature
2,200-6,500K
Dimensions (with standing mount)
12.6 x 4.3 x 9.6in / 32 x 11 x 7.5cm
Dimensions (without mount)
11.8 x 1.9 x 1.2in / 30 x 5 x 4cm
WiZ Gradient Light Bars: price and availability
Price: $59.99 / £54.99 (not sold in Australia)
Where to buy: WiZ (US only), Amazon
The WiZ Gradient Light Bars have an MSRP of $59.99 in the US, and are available to purchase on WiZ’s site and on Amazon. However, at time of writing, the bars are sold out at WiZ and are 10% off at Amazon – that certainly makes for an easy decision on where to pick them up.
If you’re in the UK, you’ll be able to check out WiZ’s product lineup on their site but when it comes to actually ordering them, you’re better off heading to Amazon. There, you can purchase the light bars for £54.99.
Should you buy the WiZ Gradient Light Bars?
Buy them if
You want a smart light that’s versatile and doesn’t take up too much space
These little light bars are small but mighty, delivering a powerful glow in a compact package. They can also be placed standing, lying down, or mounted wherever you fancy putting them.
You have a WiZ HDMI Sync Box
While it’s definitely not a prerequisite, the WiZ Gradient Light Bars pairs really well with the HDMI Sync Box and can be used to deliver even more screen-mirroring ambient light around your living space.
You’re on a budget
At $60, the WiZ Gradient Light Bars are a fairly low-cost lighting fixture that offers double the bang for your buck thanks to the fact that it includes two bars in one kit.
Don't buy them if
You want to place your light bars in separate rooms
While the wire linking the WiZ Gradient Light Bars allows for over 7ft of distance between each bar, they are still connected to a single power supply. If you’re hoping for a two-for-one deal that helps you pop a smart light in every room of your house, look elsewhere.
You’re buying WiZ Gradient Light Bars hoping they alone can be used for SmartSense
Technically when you buy the WiZ Gradient Light Bars, you fit SmartSense’s requirement of having two Bluetooth-enabled smart lights that can be placed 6.6ft apart from each other. However, the two light bars count as one unit for the purposes of SmartSense.
WiZ Gradient Light Bars: also consider
If you’re still shopping around, why not consider these alternatives: Govee Table Lamp 2 and Philips Hue Play Light Bars offer very similar functionality at differing price points.
WiZ Gradient Light Bars
Govee Table Lamp 2
Philips Hue Play Light Bars
Price
$59.99 / £54.99
$69.99 / £69.99
$79.99 / £59.99
Number of units included
2
1
1
Smart home compatibility
Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Matter
Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant & Matter
Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant (via Philips Hue app)
Brightness
Not specified
500 lumens
500 lumens
Color temperature
2,200-6,500K
2,700-6,500K
2000-6500K
Dimensions (without mount)
30 x 5 x 4cm / 11.8 x 1.9 x 1.2in
4.7 x 11 x 4.7in / 12 x 28 x 12cm
10 x 1.7 x 1.4in / 25.3 x 4.4 x 3.6cm
How I tested the WiZ Gradient Light Bars
I installed the WiZ Gradient Light Bars in my main living space
I used the lights for two weeks, both independently and synced with my TV
I tested various settings and customization options
I tested the WiZ Gradient Light Bars for two weeks, while paired with the WiZ HDMI Sync Box Kit. I used them while they were synced to content from my TV and as standalone smart lights. During periods where they were not synced to the TV, I controlled them via the WiZ app and through voice controls made to my Amazon Alexa. For more details, see how we test, rate, and review at TechRadar.
Realme is once again teasing the upcoming Realme 15 lineup that's about to launch very soon in India. We can expect only the vanilla Realme 15 and the Pro version, though, as the Pro+ will likely launch at a later date.
The centerpiece features of both devices are the enhanced photography and AI. Especially when it comes to AI camera enhancements.
Previously, the advanced camera features were reserved only for the Pro+ model in the family, but now the regular Pro will adopt them. One can expect faster image processing and improved image quality.
Realme is marketing the Realme 15...
The Redtiger F77 is a two-channel dash cam that, almost uniquely among its rivals, records 4K video to the front and rear of your car at the same time. Both cameras have a Soy Starvis 2 imaging sensors, and both record smooth, colorful footage that is packed with detail.
Although bulky, the F77 feels well made, and its extra size means the 4-inch touchscreen on the rear is more useful than those of smaller dash cams, especially when it comes to navigating the intuitive menu system and viewing recordings. Footage is saved to the F77's 128GB of internal storage, then can either be transferred to a microSD card or sent to your phone via a 5GHz Wi-Fi connection.
If high-quality 4K video is what you want, the Redtiger F77 delivers exactly that – and at a competitive price.
(Image credit: Future / Alistair Charlton)
Redtiger F77: Price & availability
At the time of writing, the F77 has been reduced in the US from $400 to $250, making it feel like excellent value for money. Sure, it isn’t the cheapest two-channel dash cam around, but it’s good value when you consider the dual 4K recording, wide lenses and 128GB of storage. In the UK the F77 is priced at £260 – although was reduced to £220 at the time of writing – and in Australia it retails for AUD$389.
Unlike some other dash cams, like the Nexar One and Nextbase iQ, there is no 4G connectivity or cloud storage, so there's no ongoing subscriptions or fees to worry about.
Redtiger F77: Specs
Redtiger F77 specs
Video
4K (3840 x 2160) HDR, front and rear
Field-of-view (FoV)
170 degrees (front and rear)
Storage
128GB (integrated eMMC, non-expandable)
GPS
Yes
Parking mode
Yes (hardwiring required)
App support
Yes, RedTiger app
Dimensions
4.5 x 2.0 x 1.75 inches / 115 x 50 x 40 mm (front), 3.5 x 1.5 x 1.5 inches / 90 x 35 x 35 mm (rear)
Weight
6.7oz / 190g (front), 2.8oz / 79g (rear)
Battery
No
Redtiger F77: Design
Front camera with 4-inch screen
Bulky design might not suit smaller vehicles
128GB of eMMC internal storage
The Redtiger F77 is a chunky dash cam, but for good reason. This is one of the first dash cams to record 4K video forwards and rearwards. We’ve seen the former for a while now, but to shoot continuous 4K footage at 30 frames per second through two cameras at once is no mean feat. It takes a fair bit of processing power and, naturally, creates a lot of heat – hence the bulky design.
This could be annoying for drivers of especially small cars, or those with shallow, steeply raked windshields. Ideally the front-facing camera fits neatly behind the central mirror, mostly out of sight, but this won’t be possible in every vehicle. Even the screen on the back is massive, for a dash cam, at 4.0 inches. That’s 15 percent larger than the display of the original iPhone, and on par with many smartphones from just a few years ago.
(Image credit: Future / Alistair Charlton)
Redtiger has leaned into the bulky aesthetic, and the F77 is all straight lines, blunt edges and blocky. It looks fine and feels well made, but the many vents show the design was led by a need for cooling. The rear camera is much smaller, but still quite large compared to non-4K rivals, and mirrors the same industrial design as the main unit.
Both cameras attach to your windshield with an adhesive pad and there’s enough vertical adjustment to suit most vehicles. There's no horizontal movement though, so you’ll want to install them as close to the center of each windshield as possible.
The main unit is powered by an included USB-C cable and lighter socket adaptor. The rear camera then plugs into the front camera with another USB-C cable. These cables are quite thick, especially the one powering the main unit, so aren’t as easy to tuck behind interior panelling than others.
Redtiger has fitted the F77 with 128GB of eMMC internal storage. And, while there’s a microSD card slot on the side, this is for transferring footage to a card, not recording directly to one in the first place.
Once saved to the internal storage, videos can be viewed on the touchscreen, or in the smartphone app, then transferred to your phone via Wi-Fi, or copied to a microSD card. Transferring them to an SD card can only be done from in the app. I'd prefer an option to do this from within the dash cam's own interface.
(Image credit: Future / Alistair Charlton)
Redtiger F77: Performance
Both front and rear cameras shoot very sharp 4K video
Both cameras have a wider-than-average 170-degree field of view
Smooth recordings even when driving on bumpy surfaces
The F77 uses its dual Starvis 2 imaging sensors and 4K resolution to incredible effect. It produces some of the sharpest footage I have ever seen from any dash cam system, while also benefiting from both cameras shooting through wide, 170-degree lenses.
Colors are a little artificial, with the sky and greenery looking particularly saturated. But this footage isn’t intended for the movie theater; it’s to prove your innocence after a crash, so detail is the most important factor. The Redtiger F77 performs well here, thanks to shadows being raised, helping to bring details out from darker parts of the frame.
Footage is also pleasantly smooth, with none of the horizontal shuttering exhibited by some other dash cams, especially when fitted to firm-riding cars driven over poor road surfaces. The F77’s video stayed nice and smooth throughout my testing, even over London’s sizeable speed bumps and lunar-like potholes.
(Image credit: Future / Alistair Charlton)
While the Redtiger’s sharpness is welcome, I’d actually go as far as to say footage is overly sharp. I spotted this more with the rear-facing camera than the front, and the result was a curious white outline appearing around passing vehicles. This was more apparent on sunny days, and made cars pop so much that they looked superimposed onto the background. This isn’t a deal-breaker, but I’d like Redtiger to add a setting for turning sharpness down to a more realistic level.
That aside, the footage is still very impressive for a dash cam. Key details like vehicle license plates, road markings and street signs are pin-sharp.
I was also impressed by how quick the F77 was to set up, and how the large touch screen makes it easy to navigate through the intuitive menu system. Adjusting settings, like turning the microphone off and telling the display to go blank after 10 seconds, instead of being constantly on while driving, is the work of a moment.
(Image credit: Future / Alistair Charlton)
Less straightforward is transferring footage off the F77. Because it has internal storage, you can’t just pop out a microSD card and slot that into your computer. Instead, you’ve to either insert a blank memory card and transfer files to it off the dash cam, or connect your phone via 5GHz Wi-Fi and move recordings that way. Redtiger says the 128GB of storage is good for five hours of 4K video (from both cameras) before the oldest content is overwritten. As with other dash cams, footage captured after a collision, or after you press the red manual record button, is saved in a separate folder where it can’t be overwritten.
A parking mode is available, but that’s only enabled when using Redtiger’s hardwiring installation kit, sold separately. Like other parking modes, this constantly draws power from the car’s 12-volt battery via the fuse box, allowing the camera to spring into life and start recording when a collision is detected.
I like how Redtiger has kept things relatively simple with the F77, and instead of fitting the dash cam with lots of driver assistance systems – like inaccurate speed camera warnings and misfiring lane-departure alerts (that's my experience with many other dash cams, at least) – it has focused on providing excellent video quality. There’s a driver fatigue function, but that merely suggests you take a break after a predefined length of time, rather than actively monitor your driving and alertness.
Redtiger F77: Sample video
Should you buy the Redtiger F77?
(Image credit: Future / Alistair Charlton)
Buy it if...
You want excellent video quality The dual Starvis 2 sensors of this dash cam produce excellent results. Both cameras record in 4K resolution at 30 frames per second. The sharpness is arguably cranked up too high but, as dash cam footage goes, it’s still impressive.View Deal
You need wide lenses As well as a high resolution, the F77 records in both directions through a pair of 170-degree lenses. These are wider than most other dash cams, producing a broader field-of-view but without too much fish-eye distortion.View Deal
You’ve got the space The F77 is a chunky dash cam, and as a result it might take up too much space on small or particularly shallow windshields. The rear camera is smaller, but still on the big side compared to non-4K rivals.View Deal
Don’t buy it if…
You have an especially small car As outlined above, the F77 is a fairly big dash cam. As well as the main unit being quite bulky, even the cable connecting the rear camera to the front is thicker than some others I’ve encountered, and is trickier to install behind interior trim panels.View Deal
You’re on a tight budget Although good value for a dual 4K system, the F77 is still an expensive dash cam. There are plenty of cheaper options out there, especially if you only want a front-facing camera, from brands like Viofo and Miofive.View Deal
You prefer the flexibility of memory cards I get what Redtiger is trying to achieve with its use of internal storage instead of microSD cards. But some convenience has been lost, as you have to transfer footage off the camera and onto your phone via the app, instead of simply popping out the memory card.View Deal
How I tested the Redtiger F77
I installed the Redtiger F77 in my own car
I used the dash cam on several journeys, taking in a variety of roads
I transferred the footage to my phone and computer for a closer look
I installed both the front and rear cameras of the Redtiger F77 and used it as my own dash cam on multiple drives. Although it can be used without the company's smartphone app, I installed that onto my iPhone and connected it to the F77. From there, I was able to adjust settings (instead of using the dash cam's own touchscreen), view recordings, and transfer video either to a microSD card or directly to my phone.
The Sony ULT Field 3 is one of the latest portable Bluetooth speakers to enter a market stuffed to the gills with options. This one promises “impressive power”, “easy portability” and a build quality that'll play your music “anywhere, in any weather”. But with rivals such as JBL and Ultimate Ears going all-in on the whole rough-and-ready portable speaker thing, it begs the question… can Sony outdo its red-hot rivals?
At a glance, you may well think so. This speaker is packed with a ton of features. We’ve got multi-point, customizable EQ, environment optimization and, of course, ULT mode for enhanced bass output. That’s all very neat, and as always, Sony has done a great job with its Sound Connect app, which enables you to access all of these features and more.
This is also a highly durable speaker, with excellent build quality, IP67 dust and waterproofing and an adjustable strap, meaning it’s easy to transport and play in any environment. But, in order to outdo the best Bluetooth speakers around, the thing that truly matters in my book is sound quality.
Unfortunately for the Field 3, this is the one key reason that it fails to stake its claim as a class-leading option. Even with ULT mode on, which plays to the speaker’s strengths – beefy low-end output – you’ll notice significant compression at higher volumes, some harshness in the treble range and a slight lack of nuance.
Even if you want a more balanced listen, the ULT-off tuning simply didn’t cut it in my experience. You can achieve decent audio using the Sound Connect app’s seven-band equalizer, but still, you can’t expect well-separated, perfectly balanced audio.
And given the list price of this speaker – just under $200 / £180 / AU$330 – I think that middling sound quality is pretty disappointing. Some issues, like limited bass extension and mono-only sound (unless you pair to a second Field 3 model) are typical for a speaker of this size – but I’d still expect clearer, more controlled audio from a Sony product at this cost.
Again, a serviceable listen is certainly achievable on the Field 3. But some aspects are more than serviceable. More than anything, that includes battery life, which is very good for a speaker in this weight class. You get up to 24 hours with ULT on – admittedly not playing at high volume, though. Still, the Field 3 should have plenty of juice to last a long listening session, and it can even charge external devices with its USB-C port – which is a most welcome inclusion.
When all’s said and done, the Sony ULT Field 3 has some strong qualities, but just doesn’t have enough sauce to stand out in a talented crowd. Perhaps if it gets a juicy price cut in sales events I’d be able to say it’s worth checking out. But for the moment, I’d suggest looking elsewhere for a summer-ready Bluetooth speaker. Other models, such as the JBL Charge 5 or even the smaller, yet Wi-Fi-enabled Sonos Roam 2 would be better picks, just to name a couple.
(Image credit: Future)
Sony ULT Field 3 review: price and release date
$199 / £179 / AU$329
Launched in April 2025
The Sony ULT Field 3 launched alongside its sibling, the Sony ULT Field 5 in April 2025. It has a list price of $199 / £179 / AU$329, but there’s good news – I’ve already seen it on sale for less through various online retailers. In the UK, for instance, Sony has already run a slashed-price offer, which allows you to pick the ULT Field 3 up for less than £160, so keep your eyes peeled for a bargain buy.
You can grab the ULT Field in three different colorways: Black; Forest Gray; and Off White. The variant you chose should have little to no impact on the price you pay for this model.
Sony ULT Field 3 review: specs
Drivers
1x 86 x 46mm woofer, 1x 20mm tweeter
Dimensions
10.1 x 4.4 x 3.1 inches / 256 x 113 x 79mm
Weight
2.6lbs / 1.2kg
Connectivity
Bluetooth 5.2
Battery life
24 hours
Waterproofing
IP67
(Image credit: Future)
Sony ULT Field 3 review: features
ULT mode for enhanced bass output
Sound Field Optimization
Great battery life
As is typically the case with Sony, you’re getting a solid suite of features on the ULT Field 3. You get the standard stuff like multi-point connectivity, fast-pairing and multi-speaker pairing – which unlocks stereo mode – but there’s so much more to uncover.
Perhaps the main attraction is the ULT mode, which gives bass a gigantic boost. It’s well worth having this on if you want the most powerful, party-ready sound available, but I’ll drill into that a little more later. You can also listen with ULT mode off or set your own custom EQ using a seven band equalizer.
Another audio-related feature that interested me was Sound Field Optimization. This essentially detects noise from your surroundings and fine-tunes audio output to be as clear as possible for your environment – something that’s particularly useful in busier outdoor areas.
But if you dive into the Sony Sound Connect app, there’s a little more at your fingertips. There’s STAMINA (yep, in all caps) mode, which provides a boost to battery life while restricting elements like different sound modes. There’s also an option to prioritize connection quality over sound quality or control playback from your music apps.
One more feature that you don’t always find is an integrated mic that enables hand-free calling. I tested this out and found that my voice came through clearly and my friend's speech on the other end of the line never had any noticeable tinniness or distortion.
Does the ULT Field 3 have the most fleshed out feature-set I’ve ever seen? Well, not quite. There’s a distinct lack of EQ presets, no LED lights or similar, no Auracast over Bluetooth LE audio and omission of wired listening.
Still, there’s plenty overall – even a USB-C charging port that can juice up external devices or serve as a medium to charge the speaker itself. While we’re here, let’s talk battery life too. I was impressed with the ULT Field 3’s playtime – in fact, it’s one of the best things about this speaker. You get up to 24 hours of battery life – of course, if you’re listening at high volumes with ULT mode on, that’s gonna be lower. But still, this speaker is more than capable of keeping the tunes bumping well into the early hours.
Features score: 4/5
(Image credit: Future)
Sony ULT Field 3 review: sound quality
Standard ULT-off tuning sounds poor
But with it active, you get improved, bass-heavy audio
No advanced codecs, not even LDAC
OK, to be frank, I was initially pretty disappointed with the audio performance of the Sony ULT Field 3. I started off by listening with ULT switched off and tuned into Black Eye by Allie X which sounded… underwhelming. The meaty drum machine lacked its bite, taking the rhythmic bounce of the track down a peg. At higher volumes, the vocals had a slightly tinny edge to them too. But much of this could be rectified.
Yes, I simply pressed the ULT button and things vastly improved. The deep bass of that drum machine reared its lovely head, finally giving the track some much needed uplift in the low end and, in turn, I was gifted a more full-sounding delivery. In addition, dance tracks like Last One Standing by Kolter and Sidney Charles sounded better this way, with strong low-end output and decently crisp vocal sections.
But even with ULT mode on, I did encounter some issues. All songs sounded noticeably compressed as I gradually pushed the volume higher and higher. By the time I’d reached 80-100%, there was little breathing room for each instrument, resulting in quite a muffled, narrow sound. Treble especially could get pretty harsh with loudness pushed to the max. At medium volume, I’d argue that vocals, percussion and strings were all relatively clear, and the audio can just about fill a medium-sized room. But don’t expect phenomenal separation or microscopic levels of detail even here.
On that note, you won’t get any ‘hi-res’ Bluetooth codecs with the Sony ULT Field 3. Even Sony’s proprietary LDAC has been left out. Then again, this is more of a fun and convenient party speaker rather than a device pitched at audiophiles. And there are a ton of great alternatives if you want a more revealing listen – just look at the Bose SoundLink Max (or newer, smaller, cheaper SoundLink Plus) for instance.
There are a couple of other issues I ran into that are worth noting. Even with ULT mode on, the speaker didn’t quite have the might to handle dark sub bass. For example, The Boys Are Back In Town by Yung Gravy – marked by imposing deep bass running throughout – wasn’t replicated all too well. The speaker just didn’t quite have that extension in the low-end to make every boom sound ultra-clear, with the deepest notes tailing off a bit, even in ULT mode. For a speaker of this size, that’s fairly common – but it’s worth considering if you want the ultimate bass-heavy audio companion.
Speaking of that, there’s a seven-band equalizer that you can access via the Sound Connect app, which does enable you to forge a better sound than the standard ULT off tuning. But that’s it. There aren’t any other presets, which is pretty disappointing if you just want a swift way to adjust the sound to you. There’s also no EQ test, as seen on Sony’s recent smash hit headphones, the Sony WH-1000XM6.
Still, with a custom calibration, I did find that tracks with more emphasis on vocals – rather than big booming bass – could sound fairly clear. Rains Again by Solji had solid balance across the frequencies, with expressive vocals and soft strings coming through with enhanced clarity. And for tracks like this, where ULT mode will afford too much emphasis to the low-end, that quality is most welcome. All in all, decent audio is achievable with the ULT Field 3, but it’s far from the best-sounding speaker I’ve tested.
Sound quality score: 3/5
(Image credit: Future)
Sony ULT Field 3 review: design
IP67 dust and waterproof rating
Adjustable and detachable strap
Looks-wise not my fave, but fairly compact and durable
The Sony ULT Field 3 is certainly designed to be a rugged, outdoorsy speaker and it serves that purpose nicely. That’s largely thanks to its up-to-scratch IP67 rating, which means it's both dustproof and able to survive 30 minutes of underwater submersion, up to one meter – something I’d expect from any of the best waterproof speakers.
On top of that, there’s a really solid feel to the Field 3. It has a robust, durable, and fairly chunky build – if you dropped it I think it might break the ground rather than the other way round. Weighing in at 2.6lbs / 1.2kg, it’s got some serious weight for its size. Overall, it really does feel as if the ruggedness of this speaker is its selling point, rather than sound quality.
No matter the environment, you’ll be able to take the Field 3 around with ease, thanks to a fabric strap that’s pre-attached to the speaker (it can be removed). Some models like the Tribit Stormbox Lava come with a handle that you can swap in for transportation over shorter distances – something I would’ve liked to have seen here – though you can adjust the strap to make it shorter for handheld use if you’d prefer.
In terms of looks, I wasn’t loving the Field 3, though that’s fully down to personal preference. I just didn’t quite dig its rounded brick-like aesthetic and the color options were a bit on the bland side for me, but you might love it. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder...
And there’s certainly stuff here that I do like, including simple yet effective button controls, a tab hiding the USB-C port, and a decently compact build. So yes, plenty to admire about the Field 3 as far as design goes – especially if you want something that’s ready to brave any setting, from living room through to the beach.
Design score: 4/5
(Image credit: Future)
Sony ULT Field 3 review: value
Audio not good enough for the price
A lot of rivals can still offer the ruggedness too
Ultimately overshadowed in a tough market
The Sony ULT Field 3 is by no means an inexpensive speaker. At $199 / £179 / AU$329, it’s not quite in the premium tier, and its sibling the ULT Field 5 will come at a substantially higher price. But there are tons of similarly sized rivals offering great sound, build quality and features at a similar – or even lower price.
Value for money is simply not the ULT Field 3’s strong-suit. That's mainly because audio quality is pretty disappointing. You can definitely achieve a decent listening experience with ULT on for bass-heavy tracks, or custom calibration for softer genres and podcasts, but still – there are some issues, like underwhelming sound with ULT off and prominent compression at high volumes that hold this model back.
When you have rivals like the JBL Charge 6 on the market that offer impressive audio, an even higher IP rating and the same battery life, there simply aren’t many reasons to recommend the Field 3.
Is this a bad speaker? No, no it’s not. The ULT mode is the key draw, offering solid bass response for a speaker of this stature. You also get a ton of playtime and great protection against the elements. But I’d argue that’s not enough given the competition from, of course JBL – but also the Sonos Roam 2 (below), Ultimate Ears Everboom, and Tribit Stormbox Lava.
Value score: 2.5/5
(Image credit: Future)
Should I buy the Sony ULT Field 3?
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Features
Some omissions, but great battery life, environment optimization is a nice touch.
4/5
Sound quality
Needs ULT on to sound its best, at high volumes compression is noticeable.
3/5
Design
It's not the sleekest, but the Field 3 is rugged and ready for any environment.
4/5
Value
Average audio at a not-so-cheap price makes the Field 3 a tough sell.
2.5/5
Buy it if...
You want a speaker capable of handling any environment I have no doubts that the Sony ULT Field 3 is capable of enduring almost any setting, thanks to its brilliant IP67 dust and waterproof rating. That means it can even survive being dunked underwater for 30 minutes – pretty impressive. If you want to bring your music anywhere and everywhere, the Field 3 has you covered.
You need a speaker with plenty of battery to go around One of the best things about the ULT Field 3 is undoubtedly its battery life. You can get up to 24 hours here, which is enough to keep the tunes blasting throughout a beachside bash or house party for the ages. You can also use the Field 3 to charge external devices via its USB-C port, so when it comes to power, this really does have it all.
Don't buy it if...
You want great all-round audio In terms of sound quality, the Sony ULT Field 3 is unlikely to wow you. Without ULT mode on, bass sounds too thin, but even when it is active you’ll notice a lot of compression at high volumes and treble especially can get quite harsh. I’d recommend checking out our guide to the best party speakers if you want a more sonically talented alternative.
You’re on a budget The ULT Field 3 simply isn’t great value – particularly when it’s not on sale. You can do better for $199 / £179. But you don’t even have to spend that much. If you want a great speaker without having to spend all too much, I’d recommend checking out options like the five-star JBL Flip 7, or for something a little larger, the Anker Soundcore Boom 2.
Sony ULT Field 3 review: also consider
Sony ULT Field 3
JBL Charge 5
Sonos Roam 2
Price
$199 / £179 / AU$329
$179.95 / £169.99 / AU$199.95
$179 / £179 / AU$299
Drivers
1x 86 x 46mm woofer, 1x 20mm tweeter
1x 30W woofer, 1x 10W tweeter
1x tweeter, 1x mid-woofer
Dimensions
10.1 x 4.4 x 3.1 inches / 256 x 113 x 79mm
8.7 x 3.76 x 3.67 inches / 221 x 96 x 93 mm
6.6 x 2.4 x 2.4 inches / 168 x 62 x 60mm
Weight
2.6lbs / 1.2kg
2.1lbs / 960g
1lbs / 440g
Connectivity
Bluetooth 5.2
Bluetooth 5.1
Bluetooth 5.4, Wi-Fi
Battery life
24 hours
20 hours
10 hours
Waterproofing
IP67
IP67
IP67
JBL Charge 5 If you’re looking for a great-value rival to the Sony ULT Field 3, the JBL Charge 5 is right up there. You get well-balanced, clear audio, plenty of power and a highly durable design. Its battery life is very good, but not quite as high as Sony’s speaker and we still noticed distortion at peak volume. But overall this is a great speaker. With the Charge 6 recently arriving (review coming soon, and we’re expecting great things), you’re also able to pick the Charge 5 up at a massively cut price right now. I’m talking $139 / £119 – that’s amazing value! Read our full JBL Charge 5 review.
Sonos Roam 2 This one’s something a little different, but well worth checking out. Yep, the Sonos Roam 2 is a fair bit smaller than the ULT Field 3, weighs less than half of Sony’s speaker and can’t come close in terms of battery life. But still, I’d choose it over the ULT Field 3, personally. You get surprisingly powerful, yet rich sound quality, Wi-Fi connectivity for seamless streaming, and the same IP67 ruggedness. We’ve also seen it on sale for less than $140 / £140 in 2025, so keep an eye out for juicy deals if you’re sold on this Sonos speaker. Read our full Sonos Roam 2 review.
Sony ULT Field 3 review: how I tested
(Image credit: Future)
Tested for one week
Mainly used in our music testing facility at Future Labs
Predominantly tested using Tidal
I put the Sony ULT Field 3 to the test for a one week period (after a thoroguh run-in of 15 hours), tinkering with all of its features, blasting hours worth of tunes and assessing all aspects of its design. I predominantly tested in our music testing room at Future Labs in order to judge audio quality in an isolated, controlled environment.
When listening to music, I mainly used Tidal, but I occasionally played songs via Spotify too. I initially streamed tracks from our carefully curated TechRadar reference playlist, but I also listened to music from my own personal library.
I’ve tested all sorts of audio gear during my time here at TechRadar, from flagship headphones like the Sony WH-1000XM6 through to home cinema products like the Marshall Heston 120. I’ve reviewed a large array of speakers along the way from brands like Sony, LG and JBL, so I have a strong understanding of the ULT Field 3’s rivals, as well as what it takes to stand out as a strong candidate in a highly competitive market.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus, the latest mid-range big tablet from Samsung, puts a huge screen in your hands for $649 / £649 / AU$1,099. For some users, that could be reason enough to buy one, but while the display is genuinely excellent for the tablet’s price, there are some caveats to consider when it comes to performance.
But first, let’s talk about that beautiful screen: the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus’ 13.1-inch, 16:10 aspect ratio, 2880 x 1800 resolution display is this midrange tablet’s best feature, well-suited to watching videos, reading articles, and multitasking. Most will use the Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus indoors, but I can report that the display holds up in direct sunlight with colors that look great across the brightness slider, and the 90Hz refresh rate feels very fluid on a display of this size.
That large display, plus the 16:10 aspect ratio, makes the Galaxy Tab S10 Plus a compelling choice for those who want a tablet that goes further than the typical media consumption. There’s plenty of space for multiple windows in Samsung’s Dex environment, which is still the best multitasking system on any tablet. As usual, Samsung has loaded the settings app with deep and extensive customizations that allow you to tool the tablet to your liking. However, a lack of external monitor support hampers productivity potential.
With that said, the performance of the Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus does give me some pause. I rarely saw any slowdown within apps, whether gaming, browsing, or drawing with the included S Pen, but the Android 15-based One UI 7 operating system did sometimes stutter at basic things, like swiping up to see open apps. It’s not too slow to use whatsoever, but can’t keep up with Apple’s mid-ranger, the iPad Air.
As for internal hardware, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus runs on Samsung’s own Exynos 1580 chipset, with 8GB of RAM and either 128GB or 256GB of storage. Compared to the competing iPad Air’s M3 chipset, the Exynos 1580 is pretty underpowered. Externally, though, the Galaxy Tab S10 Plus is built like a tank – an all metal chassis with an unusually strong IP68 dust and water resistance rating.
These trade-offs define the Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus experience. If you want a great display and flexible software, this is one to consider – but it lacks the raw power and outstanding value you’ll find elsewhere.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus: Price and availability
(Image credit: Jamie Richards / Future)
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus starts at $649 / £649 / AU$1,099 for the model with WiFi connectivity and 128GB of storage, which is certainly a premium price point. With cheaper tablets like the base-model iPad and Lenovo IdeaTab Pro offering comparable performance, and in the latter case similar screen real estate, Samsung is banking on its brand name here, as well as unique features like the Dex multitasking system and included S Pen stylus.
In fact, putting a stylus in the box might be Samsung’s best move when it comes to the Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus. For comparison, Apple now charges $79 / £79 / AU$139 for the Apple Pencil with USB-C, and while the S Pen Samsung’s offering here is smaller and lighter than Apple’s stylus, and never needs charging thanks to a digitizer in the screen.
Increasing the storage to the 256GB option bumps the price up to $749 / £749 / AU$1,249, and adding 5G connectivity adds another £100 / AU$200 – the 5G model is unavailable in the US.
I think the value here is just about reasonable, especially against the competing 13-inch iPad Air which starts at $799 / £799 / AU$999, for 128GB of storage. Apple’s mid-range tablet greatly outpaces the Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus when it comes to performance (more on that later), but if you just want a premium-feeling tablet with a 13-inch screen the Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus is a cheaper option.
As for availability, as a Samsung tablet the Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus is widely available in the US, UK, Australia, and a plethora of other countries worldwide.
Value score: 3 / 5
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus: Specs
(Image credit: Jamie Richards / Future)
Starting price
$649 / £649 / AU$1,099
Operating system
One UI 7 / Android 15
Chipset
Samsung Exynos 1580
RAM
8GB
Storage
128GB / 256GB
Display
13.1-inch, 2880 x 1800, 90Hz
Cameras
13MP rear camera, 12MP selfie camera
Battery
10,090mAh
Connectivity
USB-C, MicroSD, WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, 5G
Weight
668g
Dimensions
300.6 x 194.7 x 6 mm
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus: Design
(Image credit: Jamie Richards / Future)
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus follows Samsung’s no-frills design philosophy, with a solid build and simple aesthetic. Personally, I think it looks great – sticking with a clean rear panel and straightforward all-screen front makes aesthetics hard to mess up. I’m also a fan of the fetching blue color on the all-metal rear panel and side rails – other options include silver and gray.
As for ports and buttons, it’s standard fare – a volume rocker, power button with fast and accurate fingerprint scanner, and USB-C port for data and charging. The selfie camera is mounted on the long edge of the device, which cements it as a landscape-first design, though the screen is large enough that my thumbs only just reach the middle when holding it at each end.
That all-metal frame also hints at the tablet’s durability – as well as feeling tanky, with a reasonably hefty weight of 668g, the Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus boasts an IP68 rating against dust and water ingress, meaning this tablet can be totally submerged in fresh water and supposedly come out unscathed. That’s a rare quality that Samsung’s premium tablets offer, and though it's not really a selling point it does offer peace of mind.
Size-wise the tablet is close to a small laptop, and while I found it weighty in-hand it’s no bother to carry around in a backpack. At 6mm thick the tablet finds a nice balance between slim and solid.
Design score: 4 / 5
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus: Display
(Image credit: Roland Moore-Colyer / Future)
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus’ display is its biggest and best asset. It’s a 13.1-inch LCD panel with a resolution of 2880 x 1800, 90Hz refresh rate, and up to 800 nits of brightness. Also, it sports an aspect ratio of 16:10, meaning videos and movies take up most the available space. It’s a fantastic screen – I was never left wanting more from this bright, high resolution 13.1-inch panel, even if it wouldn’t match up to an OLED-equipped Galaxy Tab model in direct comparison.
I was grateful for that wider aspect ratio when it comes to watching videos and playing games. You feel like you’re getting the most out of that large screen size watching videos on YouTube or playing games like Asphalt 8. It even holds up in direct sunlight, and colors feel vibrant and consistent across the full range of the brightness slider.
Samsung’s in-depth approach to device settings pays dividends for the display experience, too. You can calibrate vividness (seemingly a combination of saturation and contrast), change font and UI zoom independently of each other, and even adjust the default aspect ratio for each individual app. It’s a level of control that you just don’t see on other tablets.
A 120Hz panel would have been nice to see at this price point, and would have given the Galaxy Tab S10 Plus a bit more leverage over the iPad Air, which is stuck at 60Hz. However, this is certainly the next best thing – it's a great display and the tablet's best feature.
Display score: 4 / 5
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus: Cameras
(Image credit: Roland Moore-Colyer / Future)
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus comes equipped with a 13MP main camera and 12MP selfie camera, and both are serviceable for scanning documents, video calls, and taking the odd snap – which for a tablet, and especially one of this size, is all you really need them to do.
The 12MP selfie camera is placed horizontally, which cements the Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus as a landscape-first device. It takes pretty lackluster photos but will do fine for video chats and the odd snap here and there.
As for the rear camera, I found the 13MP lens similarly captured a reasonable amount of light, with more vibrant colors than its front-facing counterpart – but still produced images that were very lacking in detail. The Galaxy Tab S10 Plus FE’s cameras are, like most tablet cameras, auxiliary in nature, as most people will reach for their phone for photography needs. But even in this context, the cameras on the Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus aren't great.
Camera score: 2.5 / 5
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(Image credit: Jamie Richards / Future)
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(Image credit: Jamie Richards / Future)
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(Image credit: Jamie Richards / Future)
Shot at the maximum 8x digital zoom
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus: Software
(Image credit: Roland Moore-Colyer / Future)
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus runs One UI 7, which is built on Android 15. Samsung’s latest mobile operating system is full of personality and features, so many that using the tablet can feel genuinely personal without even heading to the Google Play Store. There’s just so much of everything – you could easily spend an hour tweaking the homescreen widgets or testing out the display options. The settings app is absolutely full of personalization and functional options for both the tablet and included S Pen stylus.
As for the UI itself, I like how One UI 7 adapts to the large screen. With that said, One UI 7 certainly feels a little less fluid to swipe through than some other implementations of Android, and I found that the UI would stutter quite frequently when swiping between homescreen pages or exiting apps. Whether that's down to software optimization or hardware deficiencies, the result is still disappointing.
Samsung also offers the best multitasking of any tablet maker. As well as the ability to put apps into split-screen in its normal mode, the Galaxy Tab S10 Plus FE supports not one, but two versions of Samsung Dex – the classic laptop-style format as well as a modernized look that feels like a more customizable version of Apple’s Stage Manager.
I was able to organize apps in a way that felt natural and flexible. I could type up notes on one side of the screen while browsing through articles on the other, or throw a YouTube video on in a floating window via Dex.
Free floating windows and the ability to open multiple apps simultaneously pairs very well with the huge screen, making using the Tab as a light all-in-one device pretty seamless, especially when paired with a keyboard and mouse over Bluetooth. No external monitor support, as well as an underpowered chipset, means potential as a true productivity device is limited, but Dex remains impressive.
The Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus also serves as a gateway to Samsung’s recently expanded Galaxy AI suite. Bixby and Google Gemini are both available as AI assistants, with tools that are integrated into One UI 7 but not always clearly signposted. For example, the AI object eraser tool – one of Samsung’s most impressive software tools – is hidden behind a tiny Galaxy AI logo in the photo gallery.
Software score: 3.5 / 5
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus: Performance
(Image credit: Roland Moore-Colyer / Future)
When it comes to performance, the Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus' Exynos 1580 chipset is fine for day-to-day browsing, media consumption, and even gaming – I didn’t clock any slowdown in Call of Duty Mobile. I also rarely felt the need to close apps when multitasking, 8GB of RAM seemingly enough to handle several everyday processes at once. I also enjoyed using the responsive S Pen to jot down notes and try my hand at drawing in the pre-installed PenUp app.
I also used CapCut to edit some video and made liberal use of Dex for multitasking, both of which the tablet handled well. With all that said, the tablet does seem to suffer from some stuttering and slowdown when navigating the UI, though, even during basic tasks like opening the app drawer or closing an app, which is a real let-down at this price point.
Another issue lies with how the Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus fits in to the rest of the market.
Future Labs test results found that the rival iPad Air was twice as fast in single-core processing and two-and-a-half times as fast in multi-core processing than the Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus. The 2025 base-model iPad is also about twice as fast in single core processing and 50% faster in multi-core processing for a starting price of $349 / £329 / AU$599
In fact, the Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus scored worse in our performance tests than the Lenovo Idea Tab Pro, which offers a 12.7-inch screen for $349.99 / £379.99. It is plainly ridiculous that Apple and Lenovo can outpace the Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus for around $300 / £300 / .AU$500 less.
Even though Android tablets aren't known to support many intensive professional workflows, at this price point I'd want to see Samsung at least keeping up with the competition.
Performance score: 2.5 / 5
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus: Battery and connectivity
(Image credit: Roland Moore-Colyer / Future)
The battery life of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus is one of its most impressive aspects. It almost seems reductive to measure the longevity of this tablet in hours – with moderate mixed use I typically managed two days without a recharge. Samsung quotes up to 21 hours of video playback on the official specs sheet, which seems reasonable based on my experience – even blasting through gaming sessions on full brightness doesn’t eat up the battery life too quickly.
When it does come time to recharge, the tablet supports charging speeds of up to 45W over USB-C, but does not support wireless charging – that’s pretty quick for a tablet. As the tablet doesn’t ship with a charger in the box, I topped up with a 25W charger from another manufacturer, taking around 4 hours to charge the 10,090mAh cell from empty to full.
When it comes time to top up, the Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus connects to power via a single USB-C port, which doubles as the tablet’s only data transfer port. As for wireless connectivity, the tablet supports WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and 5G cellular connectivity (an optional spec available in the UK and Australia).
A three-pin adapter on the bottom of the device provides connection to first-party keyboards and accessories. The tablet also has a tray for storage expansion via microSD card.
Battery and connectivity score: 4 / 5
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus: Score card
Attributes
Notes
Score
Value
The Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus offers a fair amount of utility and features. It's cheaper than the 13-inch iPad Air, but is undercut by more powerful rivals.
3 / 5
Design
Samsung minimalism, a sturdy all-metal build, and a surprising IP68 rating.
4 / 5
Display
The 13.1-inch display is beautiful, and by far this tablet's best feature.
4 / 5
Cameras
Tablets don't need great cameras, but these still feel subpar.
2.5 / 5
Software
One UI 7 is full of customization and Dex is the best multitasking system on a tablet, but the stuttery UI is a letdown.
3.5 / 5
Performance
Handles most apps well enough, but One UI 7 is prone to stuttering. At this price point we'd want to see more impressive results.
2.5 / 5
Battery
A huge battery that lasts days with mixed use, offset by long charging times.
4 / 5
Should I buy the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus
Buy it if...
You want a great, large screen
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus has a fantastic screen – one of the best you’ll find on a tablet for this price. It’s by far the tablet’s best feature.
You want something well-built
With an all-metal frame, solid build, and rare IP68 dust and water resistance rating, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus is about as sturdy as tablets come.
Don't buy it if...
You want something simple
One UI 7 feels less cramped on a tablet than it does on a phone, but Samsung’s mobile OS is still a step up in complexity versus Apple’s market leading iPadOS.
You’re on a budget
All things considered, the Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus is pretty expensive - there are cheaper and more powerful rivals out there.
Also consider
iPad Air 13-inch (2024)
Apple's large mid-range tablet is more expensive than Samsung's offering, but has access to a much wider range of professional apps, some of the best accessories around, and the profoundly greater power of the M3 chipset.
Read our full iPad Air 13-inch (2024) reviewView Deal
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE
If you're set on getting a Samsung tablet but want to save a bit more money or want a smaller screen, the Galaxy Tab S10 FE is the way to go. At a starting price of $499 / £499 / AU$849, the smaller Tab S10 FE offers better value performance wise. View Deal
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus: How I tested
I spent five days testing the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus, putting the tablet through a number of specific use cases designed to make use of the tablet’s full feature set. The model I tested had 128GB of storage and WiFi connectivity, and came in the Blue color option.
I watched videos and listened to music on YouTube, browsed articles on Google Chrome and the Samsung Internet browser, played games, typed notes and documents with a keyboard and mouse connected, and doodled with the included S Pen on the pre-installed PenUp app. I edited video on CapCut and made liberal use of Dex mode for multitasking.
I also ran the battery to zero and measured the time taken to fully recharge, and dove deep into the settings app to tune the display, UI, and S Pen to my liking.
I then applied my knowledge of mobile hardware and journalistic training to offer a balanced assessment of the Galaxy Tab S10 FE Plus’ capability and value for money.
Mild spoilers follow for Foundation season 3 episodes 1 to 5.
Foundation is a show I've championed ever since its first season debuted in September 2021. Admittedly, it took a season to find its footing but, with Foundation season 2 righting the wrongs of ifs forebear, the sci-fi epic hasn't looked back since.
Foundation season 3 continues the space opera's upwards trajectory. Exhilarating and intellectually stimulating, the under-appreciated Apple TV Original ups the ante in spectacular and engrossing fashion, with a season that further cements my view that the show should be held in a higher regard.
Empires always fall
The Imperium, which is ruled by the Cleonic Dynasty, is now a shadow of its former self (Image credit: Apple TV+)
152 years have passed since the end of Foundation season 2. The Foundation now rules the entire Outer Reach and is slowly expanding into the Middle Band, a group of independent planets once ruled by Empire – also known as The Imperium – which has become a shadow of its former self. The Cleonic Dynasty, which rules Empire, still controls large portions of the galaxy, but no longer holds dominion over its own Galactic Council, and is subsequently positioned as something of an underdog this season.
Pilou Asbaek is a delightfully wicked, chillingly commanding, and unpredictable on-screen presence
Things are about to worsen for both parties, though. The next Seldon Crisis – events predicted by psychohistorian Hari Seldon (Jared Harris) that will test the entire galaxy – is fast approaching. Furthermore, The Mule (Pilou Asbaek), an incredibly powerful and dangerous Mentalic – individuals born with psychic abilities – aims to bend the galaxy to his will. If The Mule succeeds, and if his arrival and The Third Seldon Crisis aren't connected, humanity won't successfully navigate the latter.
The threat posed by The Mule is so great that it forces The Foundation & Imperium to work together (Image credit: Apple TV+)
Season 3 wastes no time introducing the demonstrably evil new player on the proverbial chess board. First teased in last season's finale, The Mule demonstrates his seemingly unmatched superhuman abilities by singlehandedly destroying an entire fleet of warships and killing numerous soldiers on the Middle Band world known as Kalgan.
It's a shocking sequence that proves how menacing this Machiavellian character is, and that menace is embodied in Asbaek's eye-catching performance. Asbaek only replaced Mikael Persbrandt as The Mule in a season 3 cast shake-up last February, but he's a delightfully wicked, chillingly commanding, and unpredictable on-screen presence. If you thought he couldn't play a character more monstrous than Euron Greyjoy in Game of Thrones, think again.
Season 3's early entries also do a largely good job of getting us up to speed on Foundation's wider universe, and the galactic checkerboard's current arrangement.
Seeing these millennia long-feuding groups temporarily set their differences aside... makes for a captivating watch
The biggest surprise – one hinted at in Foundation season 3's official trailer – is that a fragile peace now exists between The Foundation and Empire. Yes, they're still staunch adversaries, and events in this season's explosively epic fifth episode suggest that later chapters will pit them against each other once more. Nevertheless, seeing these long-feuding groups temporarily set aside their differences makes for a captivating watch as they navigate the galactic geopolitical minefield and try to combat a common enemy in The Mule.
Civil wars and familial frailties
Hari Seldon is criminally underused in season 3's first five episodes (Image credit: Apple TV+)
The Apple TV+ show's latest installment also continues to explore key relationships that have defined its overarching story so far, albeit with varying degrees of success.
Gaal Dornick's (Lou Llobell) student-teacher dynamic with Hari has been an integral cog in the machine since Foundation premiered. I was disappointed, then, that this oft-fraught surrogacy-like relationship is given short shrift in season 3's first half.
Gaal and Hari's oft-fraught surrogate-like relationship is given short shrift
In fact, I'd go as far as to say Harris is criminally underused. Hari and his digitized counterpart Doctor Seldon (Harris), the latter of whom dwells in The Foundation's mysterious artifact known as The Vault, exist on the periphery of storylines concerning Ignis and New Terminus, i.e., the worlds that The Foundation and its secret sibling Second Foundation are based on. I hope season 3 rectifies this oversight in its latter half.
At least Llobell gets more to do. As Second Foundation's self-assured yet flawed leader, she spends her time juggling the demands of Ignis' Mentalic colony, a romance with newcomer Han Pritcher (Brandon P. Bell), a hyper-fixation on tackling The Mule, and using her own psychic abilities to infiltrate Trantor to form a clandestine pact with one the Imperium's Cleonic rulers.
Gaal's obsession with The Mule is the primary driving force of her season 3 journey (Image credit: Apple TV+)
Speaking of the Cleonic Dynasty, this season's iterations of Empire's monarchic trio – Dawn (Cassian Bilton), Day (Lee Pace), and Dusk (Terrance Mann) – are dazzling and disturbing in equal measure.
It's interesting to see this triumvirate operate with a fraction of the power they've previously wielded, but it's even more compelling to see each actor infuse their respective characters with different personalities. Indeed, Foundation season 1 episode 9's revelation that Cleon I's genetic code was irrevocably damaged by rebels means each clone's DNA and personality become more distinct with every generation. Season 3's cocksure but naive Dawn, and outwardly pacifying yet internally sinister Dusk, then, allow Bilton and Mann to shine in ways they haven't before.
The season 3 version of Brother Day is a scene-stealing delight (Image credit: Apple TV+/Skydance Productions)
Pace benefits most from the diverging Cleonic bloodline, though. In what I can best describe as Pace's channeling of The Dude from The Big Lebowski, this season's neo-nihilistic, brutally honest, drug-addicted, and wisecracking Day is a scene-stealing delight. He's still got a nasty side, and an arrogance that offer reminders of the uncompromising and warmongering Day we've previously seen, but I was nonetheless enchanted by Pace's wildly different take on the character.
I was enchanted by Pace's wildly different take on Brother Day
The variance is particularly visible when the Cleons gather for meetings with each other and/or alongside Empire's robotic majordomo Demerzel (Laura Birn), which often exude melodrama amid power struggles between the trio, and their individual and collective confrontations with Demerzel.
The final scene of this season's premiere is a perfect illustration of this. Not only does it reveal an unexpected inflection point in Hari's psychohistory calculations – remember, Demerzel (and, by proxy, Empire) came into possession of one of the two Prime Radiants in the season 2 finale – it also predicts humanity's total annihilation. Cue a tense debate as the quartet propose solutions to this calamity (or, in Day's case, choose to ignore it completely) and an existential crisis-fueled arc for Demerzel that Birn captures with dazzling nuance and heart-aching complexity.
Demerzel is consumed by an identity crisis in Foundation's first five episodes (Image credit: Apple TV+)
Foundation's primary cast is aptly aided by Asbaek's fellow season 3 newcomers. The charismatic couple Toran Mallow (Cody Fern) and Bayta Darell (Synnøve Karlsen), whose influence steadily grows despite their initial reluctance to get involved in events, and Bell's swashbuckling Foundation operative in Pritcher, who's trying to prevent a group known as The Alliance of Traders from breaking away from The Foundation and exerting its influence on Foundation-ruled worlds, are standouts at this season's midpoint.
If I have one major gripe about season 3's first five episodes, it's that they spend an inordinate amount of time focusing on The Imperium storyline. It's certainly entertaining, but there's plenty of cat-and-mouse politicking and gripping subplots, and new characters to get to know, all of which deserve more screen-time. I hope they're not neglected as much in episodes 6 through 10 as Harris has been so far.
My verdict
Foundation season 3 proves that the sci-fi extravaganza not only deserves its spot on our best Apple TV+ shows list, but also confirms its position as the best show you're not watching right now. Its ability to constantly evolve from a narrative perspective, and keep me engaged through its seasonal time jumps, plus its capacity to maintain a high level of consistency in all areas of its production, make it an unrivaled spectacle in the genre space.
If episodes 6 to 10 can build upon the thrills that season 3's first half contains and address the problems I've outlined in this review, it might threaten Severance season 2 as my favorite Apple production of 2025. Foundation season 4 is only a rumor at this point but, based on the show's latest installment, it's a matter of when, not if, this space odyssey's next entry is confirmed by one of the world's best streaming services.
Foundation season 3 launches worldwide with a one-episode premiere on Friday, July 11. New entries will air weekly until its finale is released on September 12.
First impressions account for a lot, and I think I was expecting far less from the Wiz Gradient Floor Lamp based on its freshly out-of-the-box appearance. As its shaft and base are composed entirely of relatively lightweight plastic, the build has a feel that almost borders on flimsy. Undisturbed, the lamp stands perfectly fine, but if you have a pet or a little one tearing through your living space, it’s not difficult to imagine them sending the lamp toppling. So, keep that in mind when deciding where to place it.
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(Image credit: Abigail Shannon)
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(Image credit: Abigail Shannon)
While it may not feel premium, the lamp doesn’t feel so cheap that I’d worry about its lifespan. I reckon the WiZ Gradient Floor Lamp could withstand years of clumsy folks knocking it over. So, unless you particularly value the feel and finish of metal, a plastic smart lamp gets the job done just fine. Actually, it does a lot better than just fine: the seven-segment RGB LCD creates a fabulous wave of color across the room that transforms the mood of the space surprisingly well.
In terms of brightness, the WiZ Gradient Floor Lamp lags behind equivalent products from its competitors. For reference, the Govee Floor Lamp Pro is 2,100 lumens, whereas the Philips Hue Gradient Signe sits at 2,500. Your initial instincts might tell you ‘bigger means brighter means better’, but that’s not strictly true. Given that this variety of floor lamp is meant to be placed in a corner and used as ambient light that washes across the walls, you’re not necessarily going to be looking for an output that’s particularly blinding.
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(Image credit: Abigail Shannon)
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(Image credit: Abigail Shannon)
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(Image credit: Abigail Shannon)
I respect that it’s actually quite difficult to conceptualize exactly how bright 1,000 lumens are, so I'll try to give you some point of reference: it’s enough to provide solid task lighting for an entire medium-sized room. Given that a WiZ Gradient Floor Lamp is very unlikely to be granted the role of ‘big light’ and is instead mainly for localised mood lighting, I’d say 1,080 lumens is perfectly adequate. Maybe those other lamps are compensating for something.
Historically, I’ve not been a big fan of operating smart lights with their associated apps. Obviously, I’ll hop on to do day-one setup and to tweak settings, but by and large, I much prefer importing devices into the Home app or controlling them using my Alexa. But after using WiZ’s app, I was struck by how few ‘smart home app sins’ it actually committed. The UI is clean and easy to navigate, and there aren’t any obtrusive popups, unsubtle attempts to get you to buy more products, or superfluous social features.
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(Image credit: Abigail Shannon)
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(Image credit: Abigail Shannon)
In fact, the sole problem I had with the app was when trying to pair my device for the first time. When you set up a device manually, it prompts you to define your device type. Apparently, the WiZ Gradient Floor Lamp falls under the category of a luminaire. Listen, I’m big enough to admit it: I had no idea that luminaire was just a synonym for light fixture. And so, when I saw that category on the app, I assumed it referred specifically to the WiZ Luminaire Mobile Portable Light – and I feel like the icon of a stout little table lamp just led me further astray. This might be a me-specific problem, and maybe I just should pick up a thesaurus more often, but I really wouldn’t be surprised if you also spend 10 very confused minutes trying to register your lamp as a LED strip.
Alongside the usual combination of static and dynamic light displays, the WiZ Gradient Floor Lamp also has a music sync feature. Well, it does with a little help. The device doesn’t have a microphone of its own, so it relies on you to open your app and use your phone’s mic instead. Crucially, that means that your music has to be coming from another audio source than your phone. Placing my phone beside a speaker to control my lamp felt a tad too much like a Rube Goldberg machine for my liking, and frankly, the whole process felt a bit silly.
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(Image credit: Abigail Shannon)
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(Image credit: Abigail Shannon)
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(Image credit: Abigail Shannon)
But if I’m being honest, I think music sync can afford to be silly. After all, it – at least in my experience – is a sort of novelty that you might pop on during a house party or to be particularly annoying to the people you live with.
WiZ Gradient Floor Lamp: specifications
Designed for
Indoors
Connectivity
Wi-Fi (2.4GHz only), Bluetooth
Smart home compatibility
Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Matter
Light color
RGBIC
Height
4.7 feet / 1.4 meters
Brightness
1,080 lumens
Color temperature
Color segments
7
WiZ Gradient Floor Lamp: price and availability
Price: £79.99 / $92.26 (not available in Australia)
Where to buy: WiZ website (available in the UK only), Amazon
You can pick up the WiZ Gradient Floor Lamp on Amazon US for about $90. Unfortunately for stateside folks, it seems like the gradient version isn’t available on the WiZ site at the moment (don’t get it confused with the dual-tone floor lamp!). In the UK, the WiZ Gradient Floor Lamp is available to purchase directly from WiZ and on Amazon for £79.99.
If you’ve been in the market for smart lights for any amount of time, I’m sure you’ve come across products from Philips Hue. After all, the brand delivers a premium ecosystem that consistently tops best smart lights lists. However, forking out $50 for a single colored smart bulb really isn’t for everyone.
As a more budget-friendly alternative to Philips Hue, I’m well familiar with Nanoleaf and Govee products – they’ve taken up some serious real estate in my apartment up to this point – but they aren’t the only company developing cut-price options for folks who love smart lighting. In fact, WiZ (whose products are made by Signify, the same parent company as Philips Hue) sits one rung further below those competitors in terms of price, dropping the barrier of entry to having a beautifully illuminated, smart living space impressively low.
Should you buy the WiZ Gradient Floor Lamp?
Buy it if
You need a smart light that’s kinder to your wallet
It’s a little too easy to rack up a hefty bill when putting together your smart light setup. Thankfully, WiZ products are a more economical choice that allows you to add more goodies to your basket while still staying on budget.
You want ambient lighting
The WiZ floor lamp delivers intense luminescence up close, but that’s not really its intended use. It does its best work when faced up against a wall or a corner, where it fills your living space with a cozy, diffused glow.
You’re looking for a large light source
WiZ also has a number of smart lights that can be mounted on your wall or planted on your table, but if you want something that’s going to make a real impact in your living space, bigger is better.
Don't buy it if
You’ve committed to another ecosystem(without Matter integration)
Mixing and matching products is thankfully easier than ever, thanks to the Matter standard. However, you might own devices that aren’t Matter-enabled. In that case unless you plan to upgrade your entire set-up – buying a new smart light outside of your chosen ecosystem is probably not worth the trouble.
You really value a premium finish
While the WiZ Gradient Floor Lamp is a pretty top-notch product for under $100, WiZ had to cut corners somewhere. Thankfully, that’s mostly resulted in superficial downgrades; but still, some folks really appreciate the look and feel of the finer things in life.
WiZ Gradient Floor Lamp: also consider
While you’re shopping around, you’ll probably want to check out some alternatives. The Philips Hue Gradient Signe and Govee Floor Lamp Pro are sort of like the bougee cousins to the WiZ Gradient Floor Lamp: sporting very similar features and form factors, albeit at a more premium price.
WiZ Gradient Floor Lamp
Govee Floor Lamp Pro
Philips Hue Gradient Signe Floor Lamp
Price
$92.26 / £79.99
$199 / £219
$329 / £279
Designed for
Indoors
Indoors
Indoors
Connectivity
Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
Bluetooth, Zigbee
Smart home compatibility
Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant & Matter
Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant & Matter
Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant & Apple HomeKit (Matter compatible if used with Hue Bridge, sold separately)
Height
1.4m / 4.7ft
1.7m / 5.5ft
1.4m / 4.7ft
Brightness
1,080 lumens
2,100 lumens
2,500 lumens
Color temperature
2,200K-6,500K
2,200K-6,500K
2,000K-6,500K
How I tested the WiZ Gradient Floor Lamp
I trialled both automatic and manual setup methods
I operated the lights using voice commands, Apple’s Home app, and the Wiz app
I tested the device’s music sync and automation functions
For three weeks, the WiZ Gradient Floor Lamp sat pride-of-place in my home office, where it illuminated my walls with both dynamic and static light effects almost daily. My primary means of operating the lamp was through voice commands to my Amazon Alexa, but I also activated it using the WiZ app and Apple Home app.
In evaluating the WiZ Gradient Floor Lamp, I made a direct effort to compare it to other floor lamps on the market, as well as to the broader array of experience I had with smart lights in general. For more details, see how we test, rate, and review at TechRadar.
Samsung is seeding the third One UI 8 version update to beta users in the UK, India, Germany and South Korea. The US and Poland are expected to get the latest software update sometime today.
The update itself is 1.2GB in size and comes with several bug fixes. For instance, an overlap between the status bar of the recent apps and the running app has been fixed, along with an unwanted keyboard input that occurs when rebooting on the Security Folder PIN input screen. There was also a text input error when using the swipe gesture, which has been addressed.
The long wait time when...
Samsung is seeding the third One UI 8 version update to beta users in the UK, India, Germany and South Korea. The US and Poland are expected to get the latest software update sometime today.
The update itself is 1.2GB in size and comes with several bug fixes. For instance, an overlap between the status bar of the recent apps and the running app has been fixed, along with an unwanted keyboard input that occurs when rebooting on the Security Folder PIN input screen. There was also a text input error when using the swipe gesture, which has been addressed.
The long wait time when...
