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I’ve used Blink devices for years, and its latest video doorbell is one of the best (and cheapest) around

6:00 pm | March 30, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Smart Home | Comments: Off

Blink Video Doorbell and Sync Module 2: two-minute review

Want to talk to whoever comes to your front door no matter where you are in the world? Then you will need a video doorbell. While Amazon-owned Ring is generally acknowledged as the market leader, another Amazon-owned company, Blink, offers a cheaper and, for some, more attractive option.

Now available with the company’s Sync Module 2 (a compact home hub), the Blink Video Doorbell can be used as part of a wider security system comprising several Blink cameras, or by itself without the sync module. However, its functionality without the sync module is restricted to live interactions including viewing recordings up to 60 seconds after they have taken place. If you want to watch and listen to recordings after this then you will either need to pay for a subscription starting at £2.50 a month or use the sync module with up to 256GB USB storage for storing recordings locally (sold separately).

Blink Video Doorbell mounted on doorframe — The Blink Video Doorbell can be used with the Sync Module 2 to create a larger ecosystem including extra Blink cameras (Image credit: Chris Price)

What I like about the Blink products is that they are generally easy to install. The Blink Video Doorbell is no exception. Two decent Energizer Lithium AA batteries are provided for wire-free connectivity. Alternatively, you can connect the video doorbell to your existing doorbell wiring, including a legacy doorbell chime (providing it's rated between 16 and 24 volts).

Unfortunately, the Blink device doesn’t come with its own chime. This means if you are using the device wirelessly you will need to use either a Blink Mini 2 camera as a chime, or connect to an Alexa-compatible device such as an Amazon Echo Show, Echo Dot or Amazon Fire TV stick via the Alexa app (support isn’t provided for Apple HomeKit and Google Home products). A speaker is also built into the video doorbell, though this may not always be loud enough to hear indoors, especially if you live on a noisy street.

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Blink Video Doorbell components laid out on table — The doorbell is easy to install and takes two AA lithium batteries (Image credit: Chris Price)

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Blink Video Doorbell open to show batteries — The doorbell is easy to install and takes two AA lithium batteries (Image credit: Chris Price)

Provided with the Blink are two mounting options: a standard mount for placing on a flat surface, and a wedge mount for a door architrave. We installed ours using the standard mount and the provided screws and wall plugs, which took about five minutes to complete. The video doorbell simply clips into the mount although if you want to remove it you will need to use the metal ‘key’ provided. This springs the unit out of the mount from underneath and helps to protect it from getting stolen.

As with all video doorbells, installation requires downloading the app and scanning the QR code on the back of the device (or entering its serial number manually) before pairing with your home’s Wi-Fi. Support is provided for 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, but it lacks the 5GHz connectivity of some other devices. Once installed, you can customise the camera to suit your needs. Options are provided for adjusting the video resolution of the camera, ranging from ‘saver mode’ to ‘best’ (1080p HD during the day, infrared HD night vision after dark). However, you will need to replace the batteries more often if recording in ‘best mode’

Other actions you should take include editing ‘motion zones’ so you only record footage of people coming to the door, rather than people walking past or even cars driving by. As with all video doorbells, it seems, the Blink is a little overly keen to capture everything going on outside so it’s worth turning down the sensitivity. Not only will this help preserve your device’s battery, it will also help preserve your sanity as you really don’t want to get pointless alerts every time a dog-walker goes past your garden gate.

Finally, you can also adjust settings for the video doorbell itself, including the speaker volume (the speaker is located on the bottom of the device) and the ‘dingtone’ – the sound that the doorbell makes when you press it. For UK readers, this sounds remarkably similar to the Moonpig ad.

If you have an Amazon Echo speaker or Firestick it’s also advisable to connect the Blink app to Alexa so you can get additional chimes to choose from. These include clock sounds, jingle bells and even a funeral march – perhaps not the most welcoming chime for guests to hear when they come to your house.

Blink video doorbell with Sync Module in black supplied by Screwfix.

Blink Video Doorbell and Sync Module 2: subscription options

Blink Basic Plan: £2.50/month per device or save and subscribe via Amazon for £24.99/year.

Blink Plus Plan: £8/month for unlimited devices or save and subscribe via Amazon for £80/year

Blink Video Doorbell and Sync Module 2: price and availability

How much does it cost? Blink video doorbell and Sync Module $69.99/£59 (about AU$110)
When is it available? Available since November 2024 with Sync Module 2
Where is it available? UK/US

As with other Blink home security products, the Blink Video Doorbell represents very good value for money with a retail price of only $69.99 / £59 (even cheaper without the sync module but that’s probably a false economy). That works out at about AU$110, though it's not currently available in Australia.

It doesn’t offer the same range of features that more sophisticated doorbells offer, including those from Ring. Video resolution isn’t the highest, and it doesn’t come with its own chime. However, for most people it is more than adequate, especially if you use it in conjunction with other Blink home security products (the company makes some of the best home security cameras if you're on a budget).

Blink Video Doorbell attached to angled mounting plate with button illuminated — The Blink doorbell comes in black and white, so you can choose the option that looks best (Image credit: Chris Price)

It’s also quite a convenient option if you don’t want to remove the doorbell camera for charging every couple of months, or wire into your old doorbell system. And while functionality is limited to live alerts without paying a subscription, there is the always the option of storing video footage locally using a USB stick connected to the Sync Module 2 to avoid monthly costs.

Subscriptions start at $3 / £2.50 a month, which is much less than many video doorbell manufacturers charge (Ring’s cheapest plan is currently $4.99 / £4.99). This includes 30 days of cloud storage as standard in the UK (60 days in the US), person detection and photo capture (images are captured frequently for more coverage). Alternatively, for $10 / £8 a month you can get support for an unlimited number of devices as well as some additional functionality such as Moments, where multiple clips from several cameras are automatically grouped into one video.

Value score: 4.5/5

Blink Video Doorbell and Sync Module 2: design

Easy-to-install mounting bracket
Lightweight
Compact

While some of the best video doorbells, such as the Yale Smart Video Doorbell, are quite chunky, the same can’t be said of this Blink model. Available in a black or a white finish to suit your décor, it’s quite a lightweight and compact model – bigger than a standard doorbell, but not much bigger. It also comes with an IP54 rating which means that it offers protection against limited amounts of dust and water splashes but isn’t completely waterproof.

Opening Blink Video Doorbell with tool — A release key allows you to open the doorbell to change the batteries (Image credit: Chris Price)

Supplied are two mounts (one for placing on a door architrave and one for mounting flat) which can either be screwed or drilled into the door frame. The doorbell then just clips into the mount.

As with other devices, the Blink video doorbell features the camera on the top of the unit so it’s important not to mount the device too high. Around 1.5 metres off the ground is probably ideal. Underneath the lens is a microphone and beneath that is the actual round doorbell button. This boasts a stylish blue LED light around it that glows when pressed (it can also be set to glow when it senses motion).

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Blink Video Doorbell angled mounting plate on door frame — The doorbell comes with an angled plate (Image credit: Chris Price)

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Blink Video Doorbell mounting plate on doorframe — There's also a flat plate, so you can choose the one that suits your door (Image credit: Chris Price)

In terms of design that’s pretty much it, apart from a small speaker and the release key on the base of the unit for when you need to change the batteries. At the back is space for housing two Lithium AA batteries (supplied), screws for connecting doorbell wires if needed and a reset button. There’s also the QR code to scan with your phone after installing the app.

Design score: 4.5/5

Blink Video Doorbell and Sync Module 2: performance

Image quality not the best (especially in saver mode)
Stable video connection
Overly sensitive camera

If you're looking for the ultimate in video doorbell performance, then expect to be disappointed. While the Blink Video Doorbell is more than adequate, it’s not the best unit out there by a long way. Firstly, it lacks the functionality of some other devices, most notably the lack of support for Google Home and Apple HomeKit.

Footage from Blink Video Doorbell in iOS app — Image quality isn't the sharpest, but will be fine for most users (Image credit: Chris Price)

Images aren't quite as sharp as those from higher-end doorbells, either. Maximum resolution is 1080p, and that's in ‘best' mode, rather than standard mode, which Blink recommends in order to preserve battery life. The camera is also quite sensitive to motion, which means it has a tendency to record too much footage unless you turn the sensitivity down and limit the active areas to around your front door.

That said, I didn’t have too many complaints during testing. It only took around 5-10 minutes to set the video doorbell up properly and once set up the doorbell maintained a strong connection with the wireless router. Throughout the testing process, I was also able to get a relatively quick connection when talking to someone at the door which has proved to be a problem in the past.

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Blink Video Doorbell setup instructions in iOS app — Setting up the Blink Video Doorbell is quick and easy (Image credit: Chris Price)

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Blink Video Doorbell Plus subscription details in iOS app — You can access extra features with a Plus subscription (Image credit: Chris Price)

And while not having a chime to hear the doorbell indoors could certainly be an issue for some, I found it easy enough to connect the doorbell with Alexa in order to play doorbell sounds through my Amazon Echo speakers.

In summary, the functionality of the Blink Video Doorbell might be a little limited but, considering its very low price, performance is quite good.

Performance score: 3.5/5

Should you buy the Blink Video Doorbell and Sync Module 2?

Buy it if

You already have Blink cameras

The software makes it easy to use the video doorbell as part of a Blink home security system comprising indoor and outdoor cameras.

You're on a shoestring budget

Costing just $69.99 / £59 with the Sync Module 2, the Blink video doorbell is one of the cheapest and easiest to install models on the market

Don't buy it if

You need a separate chime indoors

The Blink doesn’t come with a chime so you will need to turn up the volume of the device or rely on either a separate Blink camera or connect to Alexa-enabled devices.

You don’t want to buy expensive batteries

If you opt for wire-free installation, you will need to buy two Lithium batteries every few months – much more expensive than standard alkaline batteries.

Blink Video Doorbell and Sync Module 2: also consider

Not sure whether the Blink Video Doorbell and Sync Module 2 is right for you? Here are a few other options for you to consider.

Ring Battery Video Doorbell Plus

Amazon-owned company Ring has firmly established itself as the ‘go to’ company for video doorbells and now has several including this wire-free model.

Read our full Ring Battery Video Doorbell Plus review

Arlo Video Doorbell

An affordable wired video doorbell, the Arlo device offers a lot of useful features, but you will need to pay for a subscription to benefit from many of them.

Read our full Arlo Video Doorbell review

Yale Smart Video Doorbell and Doorbell Chime

A solidly built video doorbell, the Yale device offers good image and sound quality. However, streaming recorded content and speaking to people at the door can be a little slow.

Read our full Yale Smart Video Doorbell review

How I tested the Blink Video Doorbell and Sync Module 2

I used the doorbell every day for two weeks
I installed it myself
The doorbell was set up on the front door facing towards the road

To test a video doorbell properly you really need to use it as part of your home system for at least two weeks, which is what I did. Obviously, this isn’t long enough to test all aspects of the product, such as its battery life, which Blink claims to be up to two years (having used Blink products for several years it’s probably more likely to be around six months). However it is long enough to give me a good idea of the product’s functionality and performance.

On many occasions I was able to speak to people at the front door (usually the postman) and I recorded lots of footage from the front door that was stored both in the cloud and locally via a USB stick without any problems. I was also able to link the device successfully to the Alexa app to get alerts/view footage via my Echo devices, though it’s worth noting some people have reported problems with this.

Finally, I tested both white and black versions of the video doorbell to see how each looked when it was installed on the doorframe. Personally, I thought the white version looked much nicer, but it is largely a matter of taste.

First reviewed March 2025

I couldn’t find much wrong with the Thrustmaster TX Racing Wheel Leather Edition – my verdict is it comes close to besting its rivals

4:00 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming Gaming Accessories | Comments: Off

Thrustmaster TX Racing Wheel Leather Edition: One-minute review

The Thrustmaster TX Racing Wheel Leather Edition is designed for mid-level racing sim enthusiasts, promising a smooth and precise experience.

The leatherette steering wheel has a thick, squared-off design, which I personally prefer. It feels premium and smooth to the touch, sliding through the hands with ease. The paddles also feel excellent, responsive, and easy to tap.

All the other buttons are of a similarly high standard and are positioned well to make for easy access, just like those of the best racing wheels. The dial switch is also a nice touch, although it can only flick toward its two available directions rather than remain on them, which might limit its usability for some.

The pedals are metal and have a high shine, which makes them seem as though they’re made from plastic. They feel great under the foot, though, and the pedal base is stable even on hard floors.

Attaching the wheelbase to a desk is easy enough, if a bit awkward thanks to the weight of the servo and its clamp design. However, it remains firmly in place once attached. Once you power on the TX, take care to keep your hands well away from the wheel, as the autocalibration is quite vigorous.

The TX requires you to download a driver and software in order to get the latest firmware updates and tweak various settings. It’s not the most elegant tool in the world, but it’s stable to run for the most part and offers the usual force feedback settings with plenty of scope for tailoring the experience to your liking, with individual settings for spring and damper configurations, for instance.

In action, the TX is pleasantly smooth and accurate, imparting a strong sense of connection between you and the car. The pedals are also a pleasure to use, being easy to press while offering plenty of feedback, especially the brake pedal. The throttle might be a bit too loose for some, but I found it was still informative enough for controlled inputs.

I did have a few gripes with the TX, though. While the pedals offer plenty of adjustments, the throttle and brake were a little too close for me – although this is a problem I have with many pedal sets. Also, while playing American Truck Simulator, the calibration seemed to go awry, with wheel turns no longer syncing up with those in-game. Whether this is a fault with the wheel or the game is hard to say, but it’s worth mentioning all the same.

However, for the price, the TX is certainly a capable wheel, offering great feel and decent build quality in the main. Depending on your territory, it’s cheaper than the Thrustmaster T300RS, and I think it performs considerably better than this wheel.

Conversely, the Thrustmaster T248 is cheaper than the TX, and is our pick as the best racing wheel overall, thanks to its ease of use and great force feedback. And if you’re looking specifically for the best Xbox racing wheels, then the Logitech G923 is hard to beat. Nonetheless, the TX is a great wheel for those starting out on their racing sim journey.

Close-up of Thrustmaster TX Leather Edition Wheel — (Image credit: Future)

Thrustmaster TX Racing Wheel Leather Edition review: Price and availability

$369.99 / £309.99 (about AU$588)
Available now with various accessories
Some rivals are cheaper

The Thrustmaster TX Racing Wheel Leather Edition costs $369.99 / £309.99 (about AU$588) and is available now. It can be configured with various wheels and pedal sets, as well as handbrakes and shifters.

It’s slightly more expensive than the T300RS in the US, although quite a bit cheaper than that wheel in the UK. Regardless, the TX performs better in my view, thanks to the smoother steering, better paddles, and greater feedback from the pedals. The button placement is also better, and the T300RS lacks a dial switch.

However, the Thrustmaster T248 is cheaper than the TX, but it’s the best racing wheel overall in our view, thanks to its ease of use, brilliant pedals, and generally excellent performance for its relatively low price. The Logitech G923 is also one of the best around, although this is more expensive than the TX in the UK but cheaper in the US.

Thrustmaster TX Racing Wheel Leather Edition review: Specs

Thrustmaster TX Racing Wheel Leather Edition review: Design and features

Great feeling wheel
Stable pedal base
Unglamorous but stable software

The Thrustmaster TX follows a rather typical design. The steering wheel is relatively thick and flatter than perfectly cylindrical designs, which I prefer. It’s finished in a leather material that feels very smooth and makes for seamless slides whenever the wheel self-centers.

The T3PA pedal set features pedal heads made from metal with a high shine, although they feel more like plastic under the foot and are quite light. The base is pleasingly stable, even on hard floors, which I didn’t find with the T300RS. An optional conical stop for the brake is also included but uninstalled by default.

You can adjust the spacing, height, and incline of all pedals, and the process involves unscrewing the pedals with the included Allen key, which is simple enough, if a little time-consuming.

Installing the wheelbase is also quite straightforward, if not the most seamless experience. The screw and thread for fixing the clamp isn’t the smoothest, and the clamp itself tends to rotate out of place while screwing, which is a little frustrating. Also, the handle for turning the screw frequently gets in the way of the base, further adding to the awkwardness.

What’s more, the front-heavy weight distribution of the wheelbase means it won’t stay on the table without falling off, so I had to lean it on my chest while I attached the clamp to my desk with both hands. Ultimately, though, these are minor grievances, and it didn’t take long to get set up.

Thrustmaster T3PA pedal set on table with pink wall and plant in background — (Image credit: Future)

Once installed and powered on, you should take care to keep your hands well clear of the wheel, as the autocalibration of the TX – and other Thrustmaster wheels – is quite violent.

If you’ve owned a Thrustmaster wheel before, you should find software setup quick and easy. If you haven’t, you will have to download drivers and a configuration tool via Thrustmaster’s website, which took me a couple of attempts to get working correctly the first time, requiring a restart of my PC. It’s also a little awkward to open the configuration tool, since it’s integrated with Windows’ controller control panel, and it uses a rather dated-looking UI, but it at least functions well.

You’ll find the typical racing wheel adjustments, with options to change the steering angle, with a maximum of 900 degrees, and force feedback options for the periodic and constant forces, as well as those for the spring and damper parameters.

Thrustmaster TX Racing Wheel Leather Edition review: Performance

Smooth and accurate steering
Great brake pedal
Experienced a one-time calibration issue

The overall performance of the TX is hard to fault. Steering feels much smoother and more connected than on the Thrustmaster T300RS, for instance – lacking that wheel’s notchiness, especially at the start of turns. This meant that making slow and small movements was a more pleasant experience, and was especially noticeable when playing American Truck Simulator, which largely calls for this style of driving. However, steering is still responsive enough for rapid turns and corrections, as I found when racing in Assetto Corsa.

Tracking is also accurate and precise; however, when playing American Truck Simulator, I did experience an instance of desynchronization, with the game lagging well behind my inputs. It’s hard to say whether this is an issue with the game or the wheel, but it’s worth pointing out. Thankfully, the rest of the time it was faultless.

The paddles are quick and provide enough feedback – another area of improvement over the T300RS. The same is true of the buttons, which are tactile and satisfying to use, with many positioned towards the edge of the center, which makes them easy to reach with the thumb. Despite how they feel, though, they’re still no match for those adorning the best PC controllers.

Close-up of dial switch on Thrustmaster TX Racing Wheel Leather Edition — (Image credit: Future)

Pedal response, though, is more impressive. The throttle might be too light for some, but I adapted quickly and found it still offered enough control. The brake pedal is a real highlight, as it’s super smooth and offers the ideal amount of progressive resistance, which in turn imparts plenty of feedback to let you know how hard you’re braking.

However, my one gripe with the pedals is that the brake and throttle are too close together for my liking, even after I adjusted their spacing to their furthest points. I will admit, though, that this is a problem I usually experience with pedal sets in general, so others may not have an issue in this regard.

As with other Thrustmaster wheels, the force feedback can be extremely strong, and I found it borderline unusable on its maximum setting. Thankfully, there are plenty of adjustments you make to it, so getting the right balance between ease of use and immersion is simple. The other force feedback parameters, such as those for the spring and damper, offer noticeable changes too, allowing for greater degrees of steering weight and rebound.

Should I buy the Thrustmaster TX Racing Wheel Leather Edition?

Close-up of Xbox button on Thrustmaster TX Racing Wheel Leather Edition — (Image credit: Future)

Buy it if...

You want good button selection
The buttons are laid out sensibly, and the dial switch is a useful addition, allowing for more mid-race adjustments.

You want smooth inputs
Both the wheel and pedals offer smooth operation with plenty of feedback, making you feel better connected to in-game vehicles.

Don't buy it if...

You want a standard dial
Although the TX helpfully includes a dial switch, it only flicks; it doesn’t stay in position, which might not be ideal for all use cases.

You want a strong throttle
The throttle pedal on the TX is very light, so those who want something less sensitive might want to go with another pedal set.

Thrustmaster TX Racing Wheel Leather Edition review: also consider

The Thrustmaster TX Racing Wheel Leather Edition faces some stiff competition, namely from these alternatives.

Thrustmaster T248
As the best racing wheel overall in our opinion, there’s not a lot the T248 gets wrong. It’s easy to use and has good pedals and force feedback. We did find that the wheel was slow to recenter, and the paddles weren’t the best, but it’s a great wheel in many other respects.

Read our full Thrustmaster T248 review

Logitech G923
The Logitech G923 is the best Xbox racing wheel in our view. It greatly improves its force feedback system over previous iterations and offers tremendous build quality and steering performance.

Read our full Logitech G923 review

How I tested the Thrustmaster TX Racing Wheel Leather Edition

Tested for a few days
Played various driving games
Decades of experience

I used the Thrustmaster TX Racing Wheel Leather Edition for a few days, during which time I tried to make as many adjustments as possible to the pedals and force feedback settings in order to experience the full extent of its capabilities.

I played Assetto Corsa in order to test its fitness for serious sim racers. I also played American Truck Simulator to see how well the wheel handles slower and smaller pedal and steering inputs.

I have been gaming for decades, with arcade and sim racers being among my favorite genres. I have used various racing wheels in the past, and have previously reviewed the Thrustmaster T300RS, a similar wheel to the TX.

SwitchBot Blind Tilt: one-minute review

Smart blinds can be set to open and close remotely on a regular schedule, or when triggered by an event, via an app or using voice controls. However, they’re pretty expensive – which is where the SwitchBot Blind Tilt comes in. Like many of SwitchBot’s products, it’s designed to be retrofitted, and means you can make your existing blinds "smart" rather than replace them. It offers the ideal solution for renters or homeowners on a budget.

The Blind Tilt works with venetian blinds, using a motor to twist the wand to open and close the slats completely, or open them partly to control the amount of light allowed into the room. It’s a very simple idea, but one that SwitchBot has executed well. Having installed a unit to one set of blinds, I found myself wanting to fit the Blind Tilt to every window in my home.

Operated via the SwitchBot mobile app, you can set the blinds to open and close remotely, or – even more helpfully – make adjustments to them on a schedule. If you don’t mind the sound of the motor, the Blind Tilt is an affordable alternative to one of the best wake-up lights for rousing you with natural light in the morning.

SwitchBot devices are also compatible with all the main smart home ecosystems, and the Blind Tilt worked almost seamlessly with Google Home in my tests. It wasn’t quite as responsive as a smart light, but integrating it into my smart home was a piece of cake. Best of all, it's a far more affordable solution that having to invest in a whole smart blind, and can be set up in about 10 minutes.

SwitchBot Blind Tilt: price & availability

Much cheaper than buying a whole smart blind
Bundle discounts and frequent sales
Requires an additional Wi-Fi hub

The SwitchBot Blind Tilt launched in 2022, and is available to buy direct from SwitchBot and major retailers including Amazon. It has a list price of $69.99 / £69.99 (about AU$110), with discounts available if you buy a set of two, three, or four units. SwitchBot also runs regular sales, with discount codes on its website that are applied to products in your basket automatically. You'll find all today's best prices below.

Even without discounts applied, the Blind Tilt costs far less than a full motorized smart blind. For comparison, the SwitchBot Adjustable Smart Roller Shade launched in early 2025 comes in at $199.99 / £169.99 (about AU$320) for the smallest size without a solar panel.

To use either the Blind Tilt or the Adjustable Smart Roller Shade, you'll need a SwitchBot hub, whose prices start at $39 / £35 (about AU$60).

Value score: 5/5

SwitchBot Blind Tilt: design

Quite chunky, visually unattractive
Can be fitted in 10 minutes
Very simple to install and remove

The SwitchBot Blind Tilt doesn’t require any drilling, and can be installed in about 10 minutes using the 3M adhesive pads included in the box. These hold the unit firmly in place (I’ve had one installed for several weeks without any sign of movement), but can be removed easily if necessary.

Replacement pads are available to buy directly from SwitchBot, so you can take the Blind Tilt with you when you move house.

SwitchBot Blind Tilt components on table — The SwitchBot Blind Tilt comes with all the fittings you need, but you'll need to buy a Wi-Fi hub (shown on the left) separately (Image credit: Future)

The Blind Tilt has several different components that have to be positioned in exactly the right place for the blind wand to rotate correctly, but it comes with templates that make this a piece of cake. There’s no need to use a tape measure or a level – just follow the instructions to the letter (there are printed directions included in the box and videos are available online), and you can have the whole system working in about 10 minutes.

Before installing the Blind Tilt, you’re instructed to make sure your blind header and wand are cleaned using the alcohol wipe included in the pack. With that done, you use a small plastic guide to measure the rough circumference of your blind wand and choose an appropriately sized connector. If your wand is on the cusp of two sizes, choose the larger one to ensure the connector clamps around it fully.

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Measuring pole for SwitchBot Blind Tilt — Use the measuring tool included with the SwitchBot Blind Tilt to choose the correct sized adapter (Image credit: Future)

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Using measuring template to fit SwitchBot Blind Tilt — The Blind Tilt also comes with a cardboard template that helps you position everything correctly in relation to your blind wand (Image credit: Future)

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Fitting SwitchBot Blind Tilt to blind using template — The motor unit slides into a connector that adheres to the blind rail (Image credit: Future)

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Attaching SwitchBot Blind Tilt to blinds — Once you've fitted the small, medium, or large adapter to the blind wand, this gray piece with cogs clips over the top (Image credit: Future)

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SwitchBot Blind Tilt to blinds — The main motor unit clips onto the cog piece, allowing it to rotate the wand (Image credit: Future)

The main part of the Blind Tilt is a white, cylindrical unit containing the motor and battery, which slides onto a connector stuck onto the header of your blinds. You’re provided with a cardboard guide that helps you position this at the correct distance from the wand, whether you want to fit it on the right or the left. Once that’s done, just clamp the main motor unit onto the wand, and you’re ready to start.

You can recharge the Blind Tilt via USB-C, but if your window gets enough sunlight, it will be far easier to use the solar charger included in the box. This attaches to your windowpane using 3M tape, and plugs into the Blind Tilt using a short cable. It isn't a particularly attractive solution, but it’s effective and will be mostly obscured by your blinds when you’re indoors.

SwitchBot Blind Tilt attached to blinds — The Blind Tilt is quite large when fully assembled (Image credit: Future)

The Blind Tilt isn't the most elegant solution, but that's the price you pay for retrofit smart home devices. If you want something more discreet, you'll need to part with more cash for a purpose-made motorized blind.

Design score: 4/5

SwitchBot Blind Tilt: performance

SwitchBot app works flawlessly and is attractively designed
Blind Tilt is easy to control using third-party smart home platforms
Motor is quite noisy, and may be too loud to use as a wake-up light

The SwitchBot Blind Tilt is very easy to use and should be compatible with almost any venetian blind. I attached it to a small blind on a door leading to my balcony without much space to maneuver, and it worked perfectly.

In order for the Blind Tilt to work, you need the SwitchBot Hub, which uses Bluetooth to connect the Blind Tilt (and other SwitchBot devices in your home) to your Wi-Fi network. Note that this isn't included in the box; it's a separate purchase. You might get one as part of a bundle if there’s a deal running; but otherwise, you’ll need to pay at least $39 / £35 (about AU$60) for the SwitchBot Hub Mini.

The SwitchBot Hub Mini with Matter compatibility costs a little more, and the SwitchBot Hub 2 is pricier still, but has a screen, physical buttons, and supports more devices than the other two models.

Setting up SwitchBot Blind Tilt within SwitchBot app — Connecting the SwitchBot Blind Tilt to the SwitchBot app is super simple. Just press the button on the motor unit and the app will locate it within a few seconds (Image credit: Future)

Linking the Blind Tilt to the SwitchBot Hub Mini via the SwitchBot app is straightforward. Just hold down a button on the motor unit to put the Blind Tilt in pairing mode, and the Hub Mini will find it automatically.

The trickiest part of the whole experience is "teaching" the Blind Tilt the degree to which it needs to rotate the wand to open and close your blinds. To do this, rotate the wand manually as prompted and the app will record how far it needs to twist, and in which direction. Just be careful not to turn the wand the wrong way – or you’ll need to restart the calibration from scratch.

The SwitchBot app is attractive and simple to use, with your devices organized into rooms. There are quick access buttons for opening and closing the slats (up or down), or you can use a slider to make minor adjustments. The app also lets you create a schedule (which is very useful) or set the blinds to open or close on a delay (less so).

Controlling SwitchBot Blind Tilt in SwitchBot app — You can adjust the angle of your blinds using a slider in the SwitchBot app, open or close them fully with a tap of a button, and set schedules (Image credit: Future)

Adding the Blind Tilt to Google Home was straightforward, too. Log into your SwitchBot account through Google Home, and you should be able to see your SwitchBot devices, add them to rooms, and control them using the app or a smart speaker.

The experience of using the Blind Tilt through Google Home didn’t feel quite as polished as operating it through the SwitchBot app (if you use the slider to open and close the blinds, there will be a noticeable delay before the change registers on-screen), but it integrated easily with the rest of my devices and was simple to open and close with spoken commands. You can even link it to a smart bulb so the blinds lower when the light is turned on.

Controlling SwitchBot Blind Tilt with Google Home — The Blind Tilt is operated the same way as a smart light bulb in Google Home, although it's a little slower to respond (Image credit: Future)

Other than the lack of a hub included in the box, my only real complaint is that the SwitchBot Blind Tilt is rather loud in operation. My husband could hear it in the next room, and having three working in sync to open all the blinds in a room simultaneously creates quite the cacophony. I like the idea of waking to natural light in the morning, but I’d have a hard time sleeping through it.

Performance score: 4.5/5

Should you buy the SwitchBot Blind Tilt?

Buy it if

You're renting

The SwitchBot Blind Tilt doesn't require you to make any permanent changes to existing fittings, plus you can remove it easily and re-use it in your next place.

You're on a budget

The SwitchBot Blind Tilt is much cheaper than investing in a whole motorized blind.

Don't buy it if

You don't have venetian blinds

The Blind Tilt doesn't work with roller blinds, or shades that don't have a vertically hanging wand.

You're picky about aesthetics

This isn't the most attractive device in the world. If you want something clean and neat-looking, you'll need a purpose-made smart blind.

SwitchBot Blind Tilt: also consider

Not sure that the SwitchBot Blind Tilt is the right solution to your window-dressing needs? Here are two other options to consider.

SwitchBot Roller Shade

SwitchBot's smart roller blind comes in a wide variety of sizes, and you can replace the fabric with one of your choice. It's one of the cheapest smart blinds around, and works with Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit, or SwitchBot's own nicely designed app.View Deal

SwitchBot Curtain 3

If you have curtains rather than blinds, this little bot will slide along the rail or pole to open and close them. It's more expensive than the Blind Tilt, but cheaper than a whole motorized curtain rail. View Deal

How I tested the SwitchBot Blind Tilt

I installed the SwitchBot Blind Tilt on the blinds in my bedroom at home, and used it for several weeks. I started out controlling it via the SwitchBot app, then connected it to the Google Home app and operated it via the Google Home app on a Google Pixel Tablet.

I used it with the SwitchBot Hub Mini, which was in the same room about four meters from the Blind Tilt.

First reviewed March 2025

The Mobapad N1 HD feels great and works well with multiple platforms – I just wish it had analog triggers

5:00 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming | Tags: PC | Comments: Off

Mobapad N1 HD: one-minute review

Close-up of Mobapad N1 HD leaning on plinth with pink background — (Image credit: Future)

The Mobapad N1 HD is a Nintendo Switch controller aimed towards more serious gamers, thanks to its versatile functionality and premium features.

It doesn’t look particularly spectacular, and it even lacks RGB lighting, a common feature on many third-party controllers. It does, however, look a little more distinct in its pink and purple colorway.

On close inspection, you can tell the N1 HD is built to a high standard, rivaling some of the best Nintendo Switch controllers. The materials feel premium and the construction is solid, yet it’s also very light in the hand and comfortable to hold – although those with larger hands might find it a bit too small.

The buttons and sticks also feel great, offering a pleasing amount of dampening and smoothness for the most part. The N1 HD also comes with a USB cable for charging and wired play, although it’s quite short and isn’t braided, restricting its practicality.

The mobile app for the N1 HD includes various customization options, some of which are pretty detailed, such as custom curve profiles for the analog sticks. Certain adjustments can also be made using the settings and other buttons on the controller itself.

To game with, the N1 HD lives up to its promises. The Hall effect sticks are as smooth as you could want, and the buttons are satisfying and super responsive, especially the D-pad – no matter which of the two included hats you have attached. It’s a shame, however, that the triggers lack analog control when used with a PC or mobile.

Although I found it easy to connect to the Switch and PC, switching between them on the fly isn’t really viable, since repairing is required, although fortunately, this is an easy process. Connecting to Android is relatively simple too, although beware that you will need to connect to "Mobapad N1" rather than "Mobapad N1 HD" in the list of Bluetooth devices your phone finds.

The N1 HD is expensive, but so too are the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller and the 8BitDo Ultimate, two of the best Switch controllers out there. Like those pads, it’s a hugely capable controller and although it lacks analog triggers and seamless device switching, the N1 HD is worth your consideration all the same.

Mobapad N1 HD review: Price and availability

$74 (about £60 / AU$119)
Available now worldwide
Similarly priced to key rivals

The Mobapad N1 HD costs $74 (about £60 / AU$119) and is available now in three colorways: black, white, and pink with purple accents. Mobapad only lists USD prices on its website, but it does ship worldwide. It comes with two D-pad hats, a USB cable for charging and wired play, and a dongle for wireless PC connectivity.

If we judge it by its original price (we have seen it on sale at a considerable discount), it’s close to the official Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, although this controller lacks official support for other platforms, as well as extra buttons on the front and rear.

The N1 HD also costs about the same as the 8BitDo Ultimate, our pick as the best Nintendo Switch controller right now. This too has Hall effect sticks and multi-platform support, but unlike the N1 HD, the Ultimate comes with its own charging dock. However, it doesn’t have NFC support, so it can’t be used with Amiibo accessories.

Mobapad N1 HD review: specs

Close-up of analog stick and face buttons on Mobapad N1 HD with pink background — (Image credit: Future)

Mobapad N1 HD review: design and features

Solid yet lightweight build
Might be too small for some
Detailed mobile app

The N1 HD boasts a similar design to the best Xbox controllers: it even has the same distinctive D-pad design, although this is removable and can be swapped with a more traditional four-pronged unit included in the box. Due to these similarities, It looks rather unoriginal in its black and white colorways, but the pink and purple variant does help to set it apart somewhat.

However, the upside of this familiar form is the ergonomic benefit: it sits well in the hand, and the lightness makes it even more comfortable. It’s a little smaller than an Xbox Wireless Controller, though, which may be a problem for those with larger hands. And if you're a fan of the best PS5 controllers, then it might not be for you either. Despite its unsubstantial weight, it feels well constructed, with durable, premium-feeling plastics. The textured grips are a welcome touch too.

The USB-C port is easy to use thanks to its placement, although it isn’t recessed, which may be a cause for concern, but I didn’t find it prone to disconnecting while gaming. The included cable is a standard charging cable, without the braiding or length those included with many other controllers have, which does limit its practical usage.

The N1 HD has liquid silicone buttons, which Mobapad claims are more comfortable and more durable, while also improving consistency. Under the thumb, they certainly feel pleasant, but the dampening isn’t the best I’ve experienced, and the button caps aren’t the tightest, with some wobble to them. The shoulder buttons, however, feel better in both these aspects, but the triggers are a little too short for my liking.

The analog sticks are a highlight, with treaded edges to help improve grip, which they certainly do. I did find them to be a tad small, though, but those with smaller thumbs shouldn’t have a problem.

There are also two extra back buttons for customizable programming. While these are also quite small, they did suit my grip style, as my middle fingers naturally landed flush onto them.

Aside from the usual Switch buttons, you’ll also find a setting button, which can be used in conjunction with other inputs to perform various functions, from altering vibration intensity and toggling turbo modes to programming macros. These are complex for input-based functions; some controllers don’t even offer this level of customization in their software tools.

Speaking of which, the Mobapad mobile app offers even more tweaking potential, including the ability to remap buttons and set trigger modes on a per-button basis, with hold and loop options to choose from.

You can also change the dead zones and curve profiles of the analog sticks, with the latter adjusted via two points on a graph, freely draggable to create your own style, which is very involved. It’s a shame, however, that you can’t even view the battery level of the N1 HD in this app, which seems like a basic piece of information to omit.

Other features of the N1 HD include the ability to switch between Xinput, Dinput (for older games), Switch Pro input modes, and NFC support for Amiibo hardware. Currently, it’s not compatible with Mobapad’s PC software, but support is expected after March.

Back of Mobapad N1 HD leaning on plinth on table with pink wall and plant in background — (Image credit: Future)

Mobapad N1 HD review: performance

Great buttons and sticks
No analog triggers
Device switching clunky

The N1 HD performs well. The face buttons are satisfying to use, with a good deal of accuracy and responsiveness. The D-pad has these qualities in even more abundance, with an even shorter actuation, making it great for rapid taps. It’s also easy to roll for quick consecutive inputs with either the circular or four-pronged hat installed. It is, however, very clicky, feeling more like a mouse button than a controller button, which may deter some gamers, but I found it satisfying to use.

Even more damped are the shoulder buttons, which have a softer feel but still provide a responsive input. However, since the N1 HD is a Switch controller first and foremost, the triggers lack analog capability, even when used with a PC. This is a shame when playing certain games, such as those involving driving or racing, since they lack the precise control these titles benefit from.

The analog sticks utilize Hall effect technology, which purportedly offers greater precision as well as preventing stick drift. I certainly found them precise and incredibly smooth to move in all directions, providing just the right amount of resistance to impart some useful feedback without being onerous. The N1 HD also supports motion controls, and again I found these accurate, tracking superbly.

In my experience, the rear M buttons were also easy to use, although they were less consistent in their responsiveness; their small size and short travel meant that they were hard to hit in the optimal place every time.

Connecting the N1 HD to your platform of choice is also very easy. During my test, it connected instantly to my Switch, as well as to my desktop when using the included USB dongle, making it just as amenable to the platform as some of the best PC controllers. However, hot-switching between wasn’t an option, as the N1 HD required re-pairing to each device, which is a shame for those who switch between the two regularly.

At first, I was unsuccessful in connecting the N1 HD to my Google Pixel 7a, although this was remedied when I realised that I needed to connect to "Mobapad N1" rather than "Mobapad N1 HD" in the list of found Bluetooth devices. Once paired, using the N1 HD with my phone was as easy and responsive as with other platforms.

I wasn’t able to test the battery life of the N1 HD to exhaustion, and considering the lack of battery information – none in the mobile app and only an LED indication on low battery – I couldn’t gauge how much I had left. I can say, though, that it lasted for several days of use without showing a low battery warning.

Close-up of shoulder buttons and USB-C port on Mobapad N1 HD, leaning on plinth with pink wall and plant in background — (Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Mobapad N1 HD?

Buy it if...

You want an Xbox-style controller
The Xbox design is a popular one for good reason: it offers just about the best ergonomics around, and the N1 HD is all the better for following its lead.

You want multi-platform support
Although the N1 HD is primarily a Switch controller, it also works with PC and mobile devices, both wired and wirelessly.

Don't buy it if...

You have large hands
Despite its high levels of comfort, the overall form of the N1 HD is quite small, as are the sticks, triggers, and rear M buttons.

You want analog triggers
Despite being compatible with platforms other than the Switch, the N1 HD doesn’t have analog triggers, which won’t be ideal for certain games.

Also consider...

Nintendo Switch Pro Controller
As one of the console’s official controllers, the Switch Pro Controller is unsurprisingly one of the best, offering more features and functionality than the stock Joy Con controllers. We found it comfortable to hold and were taken by its excellent D-pad. And although its original price is relatively high, it can often be found at a discount. Read our Nintendo Switch Pro Controller review.

8BitDo Ultimate
The 8BitDo Ultimate is our number pick as the best Switch controller, thanks to its great price, performance, feature set, and comfort levels. It also comes with its own charging dock, which is very convenient. However, unlike the N1 HD, there’s no NFC for Amiibo support, but this is about the only drawback. Read our 8BitDo Ultimate review.

How I tested the Mobapad N1 HD

Tested for several days
Used on Switch and PC
Plentiful gaming experience

I tested the N1 HD for several days, during which time I used it on Switch and PC, both wired and wirelessly. I tried to use it on two Android phones but failed to connect with either.

I played The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, which provides a thorough test for any controller, given the demands it places on all manner of inputs, from the face buttons to the analog sticks and motion controls. On PC, I played Art of Rally to test the triggers and sticks, and Tekken 8, which is great for testing button responsiveness. On my Android phone I played Alien: Isolation and Asphalt Legends Unite.

I have been gaming for over 25 years, and during that time I have experienced a large number of controllers across a myriad of platforms. I play on consoles, including the Switch, as well as PC, both of which I use controllers with.

Read more about how we test
First reviewed January-February 2025

I found this affordable DAB radio great on the go, but wouldn’t want to take it all the way to, er, 30

2:30 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers DAB Radios Gadgets Hi-Fi | Tags: DAB, FM | Comments: Off

Sharp Osaka: Two-minute review

If you’re the person that loves to have tech to match your personal aesthetic, the Sharp Osaka isn’t really the one for you. What it is, though, is a great value solution for anyone who simply wants to listen to the radio from seemingly any location.

Smaller than my desk calendar, the Sharp Osaka is easily grabbed with one small hand and slips into my coat pocket well enough, too.

As with all DAB radios, the only bulky part is its extendable aerial arm which you can easily hide away when not in use. The Sharp Osaka's battery life comes in at about 15 hours which isn’t above average for such radios but will serve you well for most of your active day. Charging via USB-C means you’re unlikely to need to pack an extra cable any time you go away, too.

Costing £70 – that's about $90 in the US or AU$143 in Australia, where available – when first released in September 2024, the Sharp Osaka is already discounted at time of writing, bringing it down to an even more affordable £50 ($65 in the US and AU$102). That’s a good price for a DAB radio of this standard and it also doubles up as a basic Bluetooth speaker.

Its controls are more intuitive than its convoluted manual suggests, leading you to mostly enjoying the Sharp Osaka without much hassle. One of the best DAB radios? Maybe not, but still a simple solution to your radio listening needs.

Sharp Osaka review: Price and release date

Sharp Osaka DAB radio on a wooden sideboard — (Image credit: Future / Jennifer Allen)

Released September 2024
Cost £70 / €90 (currently only available in the UK and Europe)

The Sharp Osaka DAB radio was released in the UK and Europe in September 2024. It costs £70 / €90 depending on your region (unfortunately, it's not available in the US or Australia as it stands) so it’s affordable for a DAB radio.

We’ve already spotted some discounts emerging in the UK with the price more around the £50 mark.

That makes it one of the more affordable portable DAB radios around. It’s much cheaper than the stylish but premium Roberts Revival Petite 2 and also the ageing Sony XDR-P1 DAB radio. It’s slightly more expensive than the Groov-e Boston but that’s far from the right size for putting in your pocket.

Sharp Osaka review: Specs

Sharp Osaka review: Features

Side panel of Sharp Osaka DAB radio, showing USB-C charging facility and 3.5mm headphone jack — (Image credit: Future / Jennifer Allen)

DAB and FM radio, plus Bluetooth speaker
12-hour battery life
3.5mm headphone jack

The Sharp Osaka DAB radio has all the features you could need without offering up much in the way of surprises. At first glance, it looks like it’s only a DAB radio but it uses a technology it calls BestTune which combines FM, DAB, and DAB+ into a single station list to help you find the best option based on signal strength. I really liked this as it saved me switching between different modes while still gaining the best signal.

In all, the Sharp Osaka has a 120-station memory spread equally across BestTune, DAB and FM and, honestly, you probably won’t have to overthink this either. I simply turned it on and it figured things out for itself, quickly allowing me to find the station I wanted to listen to.

A tap of the source button also takes you to the Bluetooth side of things. Bluetooth 5.3 is in charge here so you won’t need to fret about any drop-out issues when pairing with your phone or tablet. I certainly didn’t have any issues switching between the two.

Sharp's website in various regions differs between 15 and 12 hours of promised battery life, however I found the latter to be the rough sweet spot during use. As is often the way, volume can affect a lot here. The USB-C cable is perfect because on my travels I didn’t have to worry about packing an extra cable to recharge it.

On the side and next to the USB port is a 3.5mm headphone jack if you want to connect the Sharp Osaka DAB radio to the best wired headphones for some added privacy.

Other neat extras include an alarm function and a SlideShow tool which displays images from the radio station where available. In reality, I never found a station that offered this but I’m continuing my search in my own time as it sounds fun.

Features score: 4 / 5

Sharp Osaka review: Sound quality

Sharp Osaka DAB radio on a wooden surface — (Image credit: Future / Jennifer Allen)

Mono speaker
A little tinny
Loud volume but some distortion

The Sharp Osaka is impressively loud, especially given its relative size. Though 10 is the average volume you’re likely to use, it goes all the way to a Spinal Tap-trouncing 30. It travels far, too. I cranked it up then walked a few rooms away and could still hear it.

That comes at a price with the audio quality not the best and offering some distortion but it’s fine for casual listening. I checked out Absolute 90s and found suitably old and nostalgic while listening to Blur’s Tender and The Rhythm of the Night by Corona. The latter lacks some excitement with the Sharp Osaka lacking crispness and spark, but the former translated reasonably well, never once leaving me waiting for that feeling to come.

This is the radio you’ll listen to while doing other things rather than indulging in your audiophile urges.

Sound quality: 3 / 5

Sharp Osaka review: Design

Sharp Osaka DAB radio held in the palm of a hand — (Image credit: Future / Jennifer Allen)

Functional, lightweight design
Simple-to-use buttons...
... but not especially tactile

The Sharp Osaka gets right to the point with its design – it isn’t spectacular looking but nor will it confuse you. On the front left sits the mono speaker, with its controls and screen to the right. The 2-inch color display is simple but clear, other than when looking at it in bright light conditions.

Controls are also similarly easy to figure out although there’s no tactile quality to it which will be an issue for anyone with sight issues. That’s not uncommon with many popular DAB radios but it does mean my search for a more accessible DAB radio will have to continue.

When listening to the radio, you’ll need to pull out the antenna which is quite tightly clicked in at other times. On the side are ports for charging and headphones. There’s also a neat little key lock button which means no one can accidentally tap a button by mistake.

The Sharp Osaka is only available in a black/gray mix but it looks reasonably sleek.

Design score: 3 / 5

Sharp Osaka review: Value

Sharp Osaka DAB radio on a carpet — (Image credit: Future / Jennifer Allen)

Inexpensive
Ideal for a quick fix
Cheaper than most

The Sharp Osaka was pretty cheap compared to the competition even before it went on sale (which seems to be commonplace now). Its primary competition for portability is something like the aforementioned Roberts Revival Petite 2 but it’s far cheaper than that. A closer rival could be the Pure Woodland but that’s less portable.

It might not be as adorable as that Roberts but the Sharp Osaka is far more affordable, which makes it tempting.

Value score: 5 / 5

Should you buy the Sharp Osaka?

Buy it if...

You’re on a tight budget
The Sharp Osaka brings all the DAB radio essentials at a very affordable price.

You want something truly portable
The battery life could be a little better but in exchange, you get a truly lightweight and portable device for putting in your pocket.

You want simplicity
Combining FM and DAB options together saves you from paying too much attention. I’m a fan of this ~~simplicity~~ laziness.

Don't buy it if...

You want great audio
With a mono speaker, the Sharp Osaka was never going to be class-leading but it can get a little tinny with music compared with talk.

You want great battery life
The Sharp Osaka’s battery life is about average for the price. There are trade-offs for its size and if you’re away from power for a while, this could be an issue.

You don’t need a radio
Potentially an obvious one, but if you need a Bluetooth speaker more than a radio, there are better choices around.

Sharp Osaka review: Also consider

Roberts Revival Petite 2

My favorite DAB radio in recent times, the Roberts is very portable and looks gorgeous, but it all comes at a higher price.

Read our full Roberts Revival Petite 2 review here

Sony XDR-P1

The Sony is harder to find these days but it certainly rivals the Sharp Osaka for size. If you want the big-name brand, this is the closest rival.

Read our full Sony XDR-P1 review here

How I tested the Sharp Osaka

Used the Sharp Osaka over two weeks
Listened to DAB radio, and music via iPhone 14 Pro and Bluetooth
Over 10 years' experience testing audio equipment

The Sharp Osaka followed me around the house and the garden. I mostly used it in my home office but I also moved it to the kitchen while I cleaned and the living room while relaxing. On the rare days of good weather, it followed me outdoors for a little bit.

I used it exclusively via the rechargeable battery as it saved me finding a USB port to connect it to. I mostly listened to the radio but once in a while, I listened to some podcasts through my phone. This was typically via Spotify.

Otherwise, there was a lot of Absolute 90s, ranting at LBC, and relaxing with BBC Radio 5 Live.

Read TechRadar's review guarantee
First reviewed in March 2025

I admired the quality of the Logitech Pro X TKL Rapid, but I found it hard to wrangle its analog switches

6:25 pm | March 28, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Gadgets Keyboards Peripherals & Accessories | Comments: Off

Logitech Pro X TKL Rapid: one-minute review

The Logitech Pro X TKL Rapid is a compact wired gaming keyboard with analog switches for greater precision and versatility when it comes to tweaking performance.

It looks like a fairly typical keyboard, lacking the pomp and ceremony of some of the more extravagant gaming peripherals out there, although the RGB lighting does make it stand out more, as do the white and pink colorways.

In terms of build quality, the Pro X TKL Rapid is level with what the best gaming keyboards offer. It has a thick yet sleek form, with enough heft to make itself known without being onerous. All the materials feel premium too, especially the keycaps, which have just enough texture to make them tactile.

There are a few extra media and other buttons at the very top, and a volume wheel that’s smooth and easy to use in the heat of the moment, thanks to its long, cylindrical shape. It’s a minor shame that it has no click-to-mute functionality, though.

The Pro X TKL Rapid can be customized using Logitech’s G HUB software, which offers plenty in the way of rebinding options, and also features the obligatory macro creation and RGB tweaking.

There are also plenty of actuation adjustments available, some of which are more involved than I’ve ever seen before. A real-time visual indicator is provided for general actuation, although such feedback is sadly absent when setting up Rapid Trigger, Multi-action, and Key Priority functions – and where it’s perhaps needed most.

To game with, the Pro X TKL Rapid offers the snappy performance you would expect from analog switches. However, I did find it a little too difficult to hit certain actuation points accurately and consistently, which is a problem if you have multiple inputs assigned to a single key.

I also found typing uncomfortable, owing to a combination of the thick keys and a lack of wrist support. Those who are used to thicker keycaps for typing may find them easier to live with, though.

For the price, the Pro X TKL Rapid represents good value compared to many analog keyboards. However, the Razer Huntsman V2 Analog is cheaper, and we still think it’s the best gaming keyboard around. So despite being a capable analog keyboard, the Pro X TKL Rapid doesn’t quite reach the heights of some of its key rivals.

Close-up of volume wheel on Logitech Pro X TKL Rapid, on table with pink background — (Image credit: Future)

Logitech Pro X TKL Rapid review: price and availability

$169.99 / £169.99 / AU$329.95
Available now in three colorways
Cheaper than some analog rivals

The Pro X TKL Rapid costs $169.99 / £169.99 / AU$329.95 and is available now in three colorways: black, white, and pink. It comes with a detachable USB-C-to-A cable, although it’s wired-only, with no wireless alternative available.

This is a good price for a wired analog keyboard. It’s cheaper than the SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL, for instance, although I personally found that board offered better precision, and I could find little wrong with it in terms of performance or design. It also comes with a wrist rest, which the Pro X TKL Rapid doesn’t, although this is perhaps its weakest aspect.

However, there’s also the Razer Huntsman V2 Analog TKL, whose full-size counterpart we still think is the best keyboard for gaming. This smaller variant is cheaper than the Pro X TKL Rapid, yet offers incredible performance, customization, and design.

Value: 3.5 / 5

Close-up of arrow keys on Logitech Pro X TKL Rapid — (Image credit: Future)

Logitech Pro X TKL Rapid review: specs

Close-up of right side of Logitech Pro X TKL Rapid on table with pink background — (Image credit: Future)

Logitech Pro X TKL Rapid review: design and features

Muted looks
Premium build quality
Useful analog tweaks

The Pro X TKL Rapid looks fairly typical for a Logitech gaming peripheral, with a subdued aesthetic that will fit in any setup or situation. However, the white and pink colorways add more vibrancy. Meanwhile, its body is thick but not to the extent of some other boards, and quite weighty without being the heaviest around. The compact layout and floating keys also help to make it appear more sleek than it otherwise would be.

In line with Logitech’s other peripherals, the Pro X TKL Rapid is very well made, with a premium plastic chassis and superb-feeling keycaps that are silky smooth with just enough texture to offer some tactility. Overall, the Pro X TKL Rapid is certainly up there with the best gaming keyboards in terms of build quality.

Its keycaps are also quite thick and have a small indentation. The layout is compact without being cramped, and there’s a very slight dip in the middle to aid with ergonomics. The overall tilt of the keys can be increased using the two-stage feet, which offer four-degree and eight-degree angles.

A handful of media keys adorn the top of the Pro X TKL Rapid, alongside a button for toggling RGB lighting brightness levels and a Game Mode button for disabling keys of your choosing while gaming, with the Windows key deactivated by default.

There’s also a volume wheel in the top right corner, that takes the form of a long, cylindrical roller you scroll up and down on, which gives it a smooth operation and makes it easier to utilize than a laterally rotating dial. It’s a shame, however, that there’s no click-to-mute function, although this is handled by one of the media buttons instead.

Back of Logitech Pro X TKL Rapid with USB-C cable attached, on table with pink background — (Image credit: Future)

The Pro X TKL Rapid can be customized using Logitech’s G HUB peripheral software. Here you’ll find the usual gaming keyboard customization options, including RGB customization, macro creation, and key remapping.

On the latter front, there are a large number of system functions you can assign, including audio input and output cycling and opening certain Windows apps, such as Task Manager and File Explorer. Mouse buttons can also be mapped (although cursor movements can’t), and there are specific shortcut actions for Overwolf, Streamlabs Desktop, Discord, and OBS.

Fn and G-Shift layers are available for rebinding, in addition to a custom assignment shortcut (by default mapped to fn+F1) that can be used to toggle your rebinds on or off.

Since the Pro X TKL Rapid has analog switches, there are various actuation adjustments at your disposal in G HUB, too. You can adjust the overall actuation point of keys between 0.1 and 4mm, as well as toggle a Rapid Trigger function to alter their reset point between 0.1 and 2mm.

There’s also a Multi-action feature that lets you assign two inputs to a single key – which isn’t to be confused with the Multiple Commands feature, which lets you assign up to five inputs to a single key, depending on whether you press, hold, or release the key in question. With Multi-action, each input is triggered at two independent, customizable actuation points. However, only keys and modifiers can be selected for Multi-action, with system functions, macros and the like excluded, which is a shame.

Another analog feature is Key Priority, which lets you decide which of any two keys takes registration precedence when pressed at the same time (beware, though, that this function is banned in certain games, such as Counter-Strike 2).

This mode has settings more in-depth than I’ve seen before in analog keyboard software. You can choose which one always has priority, or prioritize whichever is pressed furthest pressed or pressed last. There’s also a neutral mode, which prevents either key from registering if they’re both pressed, as well as a toggle that allows for both to register as normal when fully pressed simultaneously.

It’s a shame, however, that there’s no controller emulation option, as some other analog keyboards provide. And although there’s an animation conveying real-time actuation in the main menu, none is provided when setting up Multi-action, Rapid Trigger, or Key Priority, which is a real shame since this would provide some much needed visual feedback for the adjustments you make.

These omissions aside, G HUB is hard to fault in terms of usability, with its clear layout making for easy navigation. It was also quite stable in my experience; there were a few occasions where it felt a little sluggish, but not disruptively so. Useful explanations are also provided for most of the analog adjustments, along with guides for these and the remapping functionality in the settings menu.

Design & features: 4 / 5

Logitech Pro X TKL Rapid review: performance

Satisfying key strokes
Overly sensitive analog switches
Uncomfortable typing

The gaming performance of the Pro X TKL Rapid is good for the most part. The keys feel great to press, offering a smooth operation with a satisfying thock, although this isn’t as pronounced as that of the best mechanical keyboards. I still found them pleasurable to use, though.

Their slight indentation also helped my fingers to stay secure, while the angled layout made it comfortable to access the salient keys, including the bottom row as that can sometimes be a problem area for gaming keyboards. I do wish, however, that the feet offered a more acute angle, which would’ve made access even easier and more comfortable.

Close-up of switch underneath key on Logitech Pro X TKL Rapid — (Image credit: Future)

Since the Pro X TKL Rapid has analog switches, the Pro X TKL Rapid is capable of offering extremely snappy performance, too. However, I found that no matter what actuation point I set, the switches were always a little too sensitive. This makes it harder to hit certain actuation points, which is especially a problem if you have Multi-action inputs set up.

That aforementioned thickness also created an issue, especially when typing, as I had to adopt a more unnatural wrist angle and once more the feet didn’t provide a sufficient angle to remedy this. What the Pro X TKL Rapid really needs is a wrist rest, but unfortunately one isn't included.

The thick keycaps didn’t help either, although I’m someone who usually prefers low profile, laptop-style keys for productivity purposes, so other users may not have an issue with these.

Performance: 3.5 / 5

Should I buy the Logitech Pro X TKL Rapid?

Buy it if…

You want analog performance at a good price
Analog boards are usually quite pricey, and while the Pro X TKL Rapid isn’t exactly cheap, it does undercut the competition.

You have high build quality standards
The Pro X TKL Rapid is constructed as well as the best gaming keyboards without being too heavy, which is an impressive feat.

Don’t buy it if…

You want absolute control
Despite the analog keys being plenty responsive, I found it hard to meet certain actuation points, given their overly sensitive travel

You want controller emulation
Despite the many analog tweaks available in G HUB, there’s no option to have the Pro X TKL Rapid emulate joysticks and triggers.

Logitech Pro X TKL Rapid review: also consider

Razer Huntsman V2 Analog TKL
The Huntsman V2 Analog is still our pick as the best gaming keyboard around, thanks to its stellar performance and phenomenal build. It does have a steep list price, but it can be found for less if you shop around, while the TKL version is actually even less than the Pro X TKL Rapid. Read our Razer Huntsman V2 Analog review.

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3
The Apex Pro TKL is one of the best analog keyboards I’ve used, thanks to the incredible control it offers over key presses. It’s also built like a tank. There’s no denying it’s a pricey board, though, and the wireless variant is even more expensive. It also lacks controller emulation, but if pure analog performance is what you’re after, the Apex Pro TKL is hard to beat. Read our SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3 review.

How I tested the Logitech Pro X TKL Rapid

Tested for several days
Used for gaming and productivity
Plentiful PC gaming experience

I tested the Pro X TKL Rapid for several days, during which time I used it for gaming, productivity, and general browsing.

I played Counter-Strike 2, which is a great test for peripherals, as it requires the utmost responsiveness and precision. It’s also a good test for the Rapid Trigger functionality of analog keyboards, allowing for very fast micro-movements and counter-strafing. I also played S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, another FPS but one which utilizes more keys on the board.

I have been PC gaming for over a decade, and during that time I have used a large number of gaming keyboards. I have also reviewed a good number of them, including other Logitech models and those with analog switches.

First reviewed March 2025
Read more about how we test

I’ve reviewed dozens of gaming laptops, and the new Razer Blade 16 with Nvidia’s RTX 5090 is one of the best I’ve ever seen

4:00 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Gadgets Gaming Computers Gaming Laptops | Tags: Battery Life, Razer Blade, RTX | Comments: Off

Razer Blade 16 (2025): Two minute review

Weeks of stock shortages and scalping later, I can finally breathe: RTX 5000 laptops are here, offering a fresh path into Nvidia's glorious ray-traced future that doesn't involve selling your soul on Ebay - though you might need to sell a kidney to afford the new Razer Blade 16, especially if you're eyeing the top-of-the-line RTX 5090 configuration graciously provided to me for this review.

Yes, Razer is not beating the 'pricey hardware' allegations any time soon; the new Blade 16 starts at a wallet-battering $2,999.99 / £2,699.99 / AU$4,899.95, and the higher-spec configurations rocket beyond the four-thousand mark in the US, UK, and Europe.

Don't get me wrong, though: the sky-high pricing is just about the only criticism I have here. Razer's iconic 16-inch laptop has undergone a subtle redesign - and I mean subtle, bordering on indistinguishable - that provides a range of small but worthy improvements, and at the heart of it all, Nvidia's Blackwell GPU lineup delivers boosted performance and a new wealth of features ready to do battle with the best gaming laptops.

The Razer Blade 16 photographed for TechRadar on a white surface with plants in the background. — (Image credit: Future)

I'll get into the real meat of these graphics upgrades later on, but here's the short version: this thing goes hard. Between DLSS 4, Multi Frame Generation, Reflex 2, and the general generational improvements from RTX 4000, even the most demanding titles deliver crisp, speedy frame rates on the QHD+ OLED screen - and the 240Hz refresh rate means you won't find your game performance capped by the display.

The Razer Blade 16 isn't all steak and no sizzle, either. This is one classy-looking gaming laptop, as I've come to expect from Razer, with an anodized aluminum chassis, per-key RGB lighting, and the same overall top-notch build quality any previous Razer owner will be well accustomed to. Again, scroll on down to that Design section for all the juicy deets, but I will take a quick moment here to remark on the new-and-improved keyboard, which now features greater key travel and smoother actuation than previous models to provide a more pleasant typing experience as well as responsive inputs when gaming.

With how difficult it's proving to get your hands on a desktop RTX 5000 GPU, many will be looking towards the incoming slate of Blackwell-equipped laptops to scratch that hardware upgrade itch. If that's you - and you can stomach the price tag - then the Razer Blade 16 is the laptop to pick.

Razer Blade 16 (2025): Price and availability

How much is it? Starting at $2,999.99 / £2,699.99 / AU$4,899.95
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia

There's no getting around it: this is one expensive laptop, even pricier than the previous RTX 4000 Razer Blade 16 we reviewed back in late 2023. Granted, you're getting a hell of a lot of gaming power for your money, but it's still pricey.

The Razer Blade 16 (2025) will cost you $2,999.99 / £2,699.99 / AU$4,899.95 for the base configuration: that gets you an RTX 5070 Ti, 10-core AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 365 processor, 32GB of ultra-speedy LPDDR5X 8,000MHz memory, and a 1TB SSD. That's right - the long-standing industry baseline of 16GB of RAM is out, 32GB is the new standard for Razer.

There are a few different configurations, with more RAM or storage and an upgrade to either an RTX 5080 or 5090. The top-spec model costs a piggy-bank-busting $4,899.99 / £4,299.99 / AU$7,999.95, packing the RTX 5090 along with a 12-core Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 CPU, 64GB of RAM, and a huge 4TB of storage (in the form of two 2TB SSDs). Every version has the same 16-inch 240Hz QHD+ OLED display; sadly, there's no 4K model on offer, which does feel like a somewhat odd omission considering that the RTX 5090 is absolutely capable of 4K gaming.

I really can't stress enough that this is a comically enormous amount of money for the average PC gamer. As a fun little exercise, I went looking online for used cars that cost less than the Blade 16 review unit I'm typing this review on. 47,764 results. Oof.

Still, when scalpers are selling RTX 5090 cards on Ebay for upwards of four thousand bucks, it's not an entirely unattractive proposition. I mean, you're getting the whole system here, while the additional cost of a full desktop PC build capable of supporting Nvidia's latest flagship GPU without bottlenecking isn't exactly cheap. I have no doubt there will be laptops from other manufacturers that offer the same (or at least similar) specs at a lower price, but there will be sacrifices made - whether that's chassis materials, display quality, or memory speed.

Value: 2.5 / 5

Razer Blade 16 (2025): Specs

Razer Blade 16 (2025): Design

Same classic Blade finish with premium-feel anodized metal casing
New keyboard design is a real improvement
Chassis is lighter and more compact than previous models

Razer has long held a reputation as a company known for using premium materials for its hardware, and the new Blade 16 certainly doesn't buck this trend: every Blade begins life as a singular slab of tempered aluminum, which is then precision-milled into shape and electrochemically anodized to create a wear-resistant color finish designed to last.

Although the overall aesthetic of Razer's modern Blade lineup has changed very little over the years - compare this laptop side-by-side with the Razer Blade we reviewed back in 2018, and you'll see what I mean - there have been some small adjustments this time around, and all of them are good changes.

For starters, the laptop has been retooled to reduce the overall weight and size; there's a limit to this, especially with a 16-inch display, but Razer has managed to cut down the total package volume by almost 30%. It's almost half a centimetre thinner than the previous-gen Blade 16 (4.59mm, to be precise), and it adds that half-centimete to the length of the laptop instead - in practice, this doesn't make the Blade 16's footprint any appreciably larger, but does make it look and feel a lot thinner. It's also 310 grams lighter than the previous model.

Razer has also seen fit to improve the keyboard this time around, and it makes for a more satisfying typing experience than previous Blades. The key travel has been increased by 50%, and the actuation force sits at a finely-tuned 63G, providing a good amount of physical feedback that helped me avoid misinputs while both gaming and typing. The keys are quite widely spaced, which makes it comfortable to use even for long periods.

Naturally, this Blade now comes with a dedicated button for Copilot, Microsoft's AI assistant for Windows, though I doubt most buyers will have much cause to use that. More interesting is the new row of five programmable macro keys, giving you instant access to the functions you use most often.

Additionally, this ain't your daddy's backlit RGB keyboard: not only does the full layout have per-key RGB lighting, but multiple keys actually feature two LEDs beneath the keycap, enabling a nifty feature where holding down Fn or Shift switches the illumination to instantly highlight the relevant keys. You can see what I mean in the GIF below - it's a small bonus, but I rather like it.

A GIF showing the swap-lighting effect on the Razer Blade 16's RGB keyboard when the Shift and Function keys are pressed. — (Image credit: Future)

The touchpad is nothing to write home about (let's be honest, you'll be using a mouse anyway), but it is nice and large with a firm click to it. There's also a pretty straightforward 1080p webcam and microphone array, both of which work fine.

More impressive are the speakers: a six-speaker array with THX Spatial Audio support makes for one of the best audio experiences I've seen on a laptop. It's no secret that laptop makers often skimp on speaker quality because so many people will simply connect a headset anyway, but that's certainly not the case here. The bass is rich and punchy, and the midrange is crystal clear; high pitches are a little bit thin, but it's still a strong showing overall.

I'm not going to dedicate a huge amount of time here to the pre-loaded Razer Synapse software package, but I will say that there are some welcome improvements over the old (and rather wonky) version. Tweaking your system performance and lighting effects is nice and straightforward, as well as syncing and modifying any Razer peripherals you want to use.

I can't not talk about the screen, of course. Razer's hardware lineup has always offered high-end display configurations, often employing OLED panels, which remains the case here - though as I mentioned further up in this review, there's strangely no 4K configuration available this time around. Instead, every 2025 Blade 16 model comes with the exact same 16-inch 240Hz OLED display, with a resolution of 2560x1600. That's a 16:10 aspect ratio, which I'm personally a big fan of on laptops.

Still, it's an undeniably gorgeous screen: colors are bright and vibrant, contrast is sharp, and blacks are deep. It looks fantastic in motion while playing games like Cyberpunk 2077; the rainy, neon-splattered streets of Night City after dark are vividly colorful and realistic on this display.

One feature that I'm always happy to see is upgradability. Unfortunately, the RAM in the Razer Blade 16 is soldered, but the SSD is user-upgradable. In fact, anything less than the 4TB configuration (which uses two 2TB SSDs) comes with an empty NVMe slot for you to easily plug in a second drive if you want to expand the storage yourself.

Lastly, we've got a nice broad port selection here, with two USB-C ports, three USB-As, an HDMI port for connecting a second display, the omnipresent 3.5mm headphone jack, and finally a full-size SD card reader for creative users - a wise inclusion considering that this laptop can comfortably pull double duty as a work system (more on that later).

Design: 5 / 5

Razer Blade 16 (2025): Performance

Best-in-class performance
RTX 5090 and Ryzen 9 AI HX 370 are a deadly combo
New Nvidia features offer a huge performance boost

Enough about aesthetics: this is a gaming laptop, so how well does it run games? The answer is: extremely well, especially once you factor in Nvidia's DLSS and frame-gen tech.

Our standard testing process involves running games without using any form of upscaling or frame-gen tech, and you can see the results below. It's worth noting that the 2024 Razer Blade 16 with RTX 4090 I've used for comparative purposes has an Intel Core i9-14900HX processor, which quite literally has double the core count of the Ryzen 9 AI HX 370 chip in this laptop, so without implementing Nvidia's latest goodies, the differences are relatively minor in many games.

Performance is still strong, make no mistake - but if you're aiming to play the latest games at maximum graphical settings on this laptop's native 1600p resolution, you're going to want to use DLSS.

Kick DLSS 4 and Multi Frame Generation (MFG) into gear, and it's a totally different story. I tested a few different supported titles at their respective maximum presets with ray tracing enabled, and both enjoyed a serious performance bump with Nvidia's fancy AI-powered software enabled.

There's been quite some debate about tools such as resolution upscaling and frame generation, not least due to the use of AI for both, and I admit I've been skeptical in the past. Here, it's a revelation. Earlier iterations of DLSS - and the frame-gen model seen in the previous RTX 4000 generation - were imperfect, prone to impact lag and visual glitching, especially on hardware that would struggle to hit 60fps without any AI-assisted add-ons. But DLSS 4 and MFG work phenomenally well on a laptop packing an RTX 5090; in Alan Wake 2, a thoroughly beautiful (and therefore demanding) game, I was lucky to reach above the 60fps mark without any upscaling or frame-gen enabled. With those settings turned on? 200fps, easy.

Meanwhile, Cyberpunk 2077 and Returnal saw similarly massive framerate bumps. In Cyberpunk, the maxed-out ray-tracing preset struggled a bit at native resolution, scoring a meager average of 43 fps. With DLSS 4 and MFG, it averaged 217fps while still looking absolutely stunning. In Returnal, 113fps went to 240fps (which was the active cap) at 1440p - it doesn't have the option to run at the Blade 16's 1600p 16:10 resolution, but still, you get the idea.

It looks so good now, too; gone are the tearing and blurring I noted in my early experiments with DLSS, without any appreciable amount of input latency either. I imagine it's still there, perhaps noticeable to a pro esports gamer playing a twitchy shooter like Counter-Strike 2 or Valorant, but I certainly wasn't able to detect it.

Of course, DLSS 4 and MFG aren't available universally. Developers have to add support for the functionality, although there's also a new DLSS Override option for 'force-enabling' it in unsupported games, which I deployed for Returnal - as far as I could tell, it worked without issues, though of course that's just for one modern game.

Performance in synthetic tests was also strong, with good - though not world-beating - performance across both gaming and creative workloads. If you're hoping to use this laptop for professional creative work, it won't let you down. In fact, the performance it offers compared to the weight of the laptop is among the best I've ever seen, making it ideal for working on the go.

It's worth noting here that the 2024 Blade 16 actually outperforms the new model across several of our tests, but again, we can put that down to the significantly more powerful CPU found in the 2024 model. The power efficiency of the Ryzen chip is not to be understated, though - take a look at the battery life section, and you'll see what I mean.

Performance: 5 / 5

Razer Blade 16 (2025): Battery life

Surprisingly good battery life
Almost a full day's regular use, about two and a half hours of gaming
Charges fast but uses a proprietary charger

Battery life is rarely a selling point of gaming laptops, but I was pleasantly surprised with the battery life on the Razer Blade 16. In the PCMark 10 Gaming battery test, it lasted for almost two and a half hours; in real-world tests, I found this figure highly accurate, assuming you're playing with the battery efficiency preset on in Windows and brightness at 50% or lower.

Outside of gaming and running similarly demanding software, the Blade 16 offers some impressive longevity for a gaming laptop. The 90Whr battery lasted for almost seven and a half hours in our Battery Informant Web Surfing test, and it also holds charge remarkably well when not in use. This is likely due to the improved Nvidia Optimus tech, which offloads graphical processing to the Ryzen CPU's integrated graphics when you're not playing games or running GPU-intensive apps. Razer claims that the new Blade 16 offers 'up to 11 hours' of use, which is probably true if you really try to squeeze the battery with minimum brightness and power-saving mode turned on.

Although it needs a fairly chunky power adapter with a proprietary Razer connector, the Blade 16 also charges very quickly, charging up to 50% in about 30 minutes and 100% in just over an hour.

Battery Life: 4.5 / 5

Should you buy the Razer Blade 16 (2025)?

Buy the Razer Blade 16 (2025) if...

You want the best gaming performance there is
The RTX 5090 laptop GPU inside this laptop is a monster, delivering top-notch frame rates in games and offering the full suite of performance-boosting Nvidia software.

You want a gaming laptop you can use for work
Thanks to its surprisingly strong battery life and great capabilities when it comes to handling creative and AI workloads, the Razer Blade 16 can comfortably pull double duty as a work laptop when you're not using it for gaming.

Don't buy it if...

You're on a budget
Starting at over two grand, this is not a cheap gaming laptop by any means.

You want something compact
Although Razer has worked miracles reducing the weight and thickness of the new Blade 16, no 16-inch laptop can reasonably be called 'small'.

Also consider

If my Razer Blade 16 (2025) review has you considering other options, here is another laptop to consider:

Razer Blade 14 (2024)
If you're in the market for something a bit more svelte, consider the Blade 16's little sibling, the Blade 14. These aren't available with RTX 5000 GPUs, however - at least, not yet. But you still get the same excellent design and build quality, and a lower price tag too.

Read our full Razer Blade 14 (2024) review

MSI Titan 18 HX
Another absolute beast of a gaming laptop, the Titan 18 HX from MSI is a strong pick if you're looking for a gaming laptop that can also function as a premium workstation PC. With an Intel Core i9-14900HX CPU and up to 128GB(!!!) of RAM, this is one of the finest desktop-replacement systems on the market.

Read our full MSI Titan 18 HX review

How I tested the Razer Blade 16 (2025)

I spent just over a week with the Razer Blade 16 (2025), using it almost every day for both work and gaming. I don't always love working, but damn, if this didn't make it more pleasant.

Naturally, we ran plenty of performance tests on the Blade 16, taking additional time to test out the new DLSS 4 and Multi Frame Generation features on a handful of supported titles. What I played the most was Warframe, which isn't in our testing suite but look, I'm an addict.

In terms of work, I used the Blade 16 for everything from word processing to web browsing to image editing, and even took it out into my garden to work in the sun and put the battery life and display to the test in a real-world setting - both held up great.

First reviewed March 2025

I tested the Arcserve UDP 9.1 review – see how this backup and recovery for virtual machines works out

2:45 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro | Tags: UDP | Comments: Off

This review first appeared in issue 350 of PC Pro.

Arcserve UDP (unified data protection) provides a one-stop shop for backup and recovery of all your physical and virtual systems. Available as a turnkey appliance or software only, UDP 9.1 introduces a choice of private on-premises or cloud management.

There’s a range of licensing plans; the price we’ve shown is for an on-premises UDP 9.1 single socket premium license. Socket licenses are only applied to the systems being protected, have no restrictions on the amount of back-end storage and support unlimited virtual machines.

Ransomware protection for the UDP host comes into play as the price includes the Sophos Intercept X Advanced for Servers endpoint protection software. Arcserve supplies it with a personal Sophos Central account so you can manage the software in the cloud.

We chose the on-premises UDP version and installed it on a Dell PowerEdge R760xs Xeon Scalable server running Windows Server 2022. Initial deployment is deftly handled by a wizard that helped create protection plans, add nodes, define a backup destination and schedule jobs.

The recovery point server (RPS) is a smart feature. It defines where data is backed up to, and you can use the local host along with other networked Windows Server systems. It provides AES-256 encryption, deduplication and replication services, and each RPS performs global deduplication using dedicated data block locations, hash databases and indexes.

When physical nodes are declared to UDP, an agent is pushed to them. To define our VMs for agentless backup, we used the import function to add the VMs to be protected. UDP also supports CIFS/NFS shares, and we had no problems bringing a Synology NAS appliance under its protection.

Desktop screenshot of the Arcserve UDP 9.1's cloud console — **UDP 9.1 allows you to move all data protection management into the cloud** (Image credit: Future)

Microsoft 365 (MS365) support is enabled when a UDP license has been applied but the authorization process is tediously complex. You may want to consider Arcserve’s separate SaaS cloud product for protecting MS365 accounts as this is far easier to use.

Protection plans are very flexible and contain selected nodes, an RPS, the required number of recovery points and a schedule that can be run as often as every 15 minutes. A smart feature is the option to add extra tasks to a plan; these include replication to a remote RPS and assured recovery, which loads a temporary VM on a virtualization host, confirms it works and then deletes it.

Another valuable task is virtual standby, which creates backup VMware or Hyper-V VMs of selected nodes. It uses a heartbeat service measured in seconds to monitor the primary node and, if it fails to respond, the standby VM is automatically started using the latest recovery point.

For file and folder recovery, we loaded the UDP agent’s console for the selected node, chose a recovery point, picked files and folders and restored them back to the node or another location. An agent installed on our SQL Server system automatically added its databases as backup sources and we had no problems restoring these back to the host.

We tried out cloud management by installing the gateway component on a separate Windows host and using the migration tool to move everything to our cloud console account. This only took ten minutes, and we could then use the portal to manage our on-premises UDP installation along with all backup and restore tasks.

MS365 support is cumbersome, but UDP 9.1 delivers a wealth of data protection services for a wide range of environments. Recovery features are outstanding, the free Sophos endpoint agent adds essential ransomware protection and you can choose from on-premises or cloud management.

We also ranked the best antivirus rescue disks.

I tried out the Asus ZenScreen MB16QHG – read how this portable screen worked out

2:36 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro | Comments: Off

This review first appeared in issue 350 of PC Pro.

With 16in laptops all the rage, it’s hardly shocking to see that size class invade the portable monitor space. Nor is it a surprise to see Asus leading the charge, with its ZenScreen MB16QHG priced at a heavyweight £399.

That’s four times the cost of a 15.6in 1080p monitor you’d find on Amazon, but the ZenScreen not only features a 2,560 x 1,600 IPS panel but also offers a 120Hz refresh rate. Throw in strong color performance, a robust stand and one of the brightest panels we’ve seen in a portable display, and the MB16QHG has a lot going for it.

Asus opts for a hinged base rather than a kickstand or detachable/magnetic stand. This makes the unit heavier, but it’s a solid design that provides easy access to the ports. I also like the fact that the cables connect low down at desktop level and behind the screen. So, while most portable monitors have ugly cables protruding from the side, here they’re far less obvious.

The Asus ZenScreen MB16QHG's adjustable base is displayed — **The hinged base makes it easy to access the ports** (Image credit: Future)

The display’s hinge allows it to sit completely vertical or lay flat against the base (and any angle in between). Asus also integrates a tripod socket into the bottom of the base, adding yet more flexibility.

Speaking of the base, you’ll find a single full-size HDMI port and a full-function USB-C port on the right. The left side is home to a second USB-C port and a 3.5mm headphone jack. I used the included USB-C cable for my testing, as it’s a simple one-cable affair for power, video and audio. The OSD joystick and a power button are located on the back of the monitor.

Build quality matches other members of the ZenScreen family, meaning it’s primarily constructed of plastic to keep costs in check and weight down. However, it doesn’t feel cheap thanks to a stylish grain effect. I’m less convinced by the backlit Asus logo in the center of the bottom bezel, as it’s almost too eye-catching.

Fortunately, the quality and resolution of the screen distracted me. For example, I used the monitor to edit Microsoft Excel spreadsheets and greatly appreciated the 2,560 x 1,600 resolution. And while the 120Hz refresh rate is there to attract gamers, I also appreciated it for mundane tasks such fast-scrolling in Edge; text and images stayed crisp as they whirled by. Gamers should note that this screen isn’t Adaptive Sync compliant, so there’s no AMD FreeSync or Nvidia G-Sync support.

Full view of the Asus ZenScreen MB16QHG — **The 16in MB16QHG is the perfect match for a 16in laptop** (Image credit: Future)

The MB16QHG stood out in our brightness testing, delivering 417cd/m² compared to the typical 250cd/m² of a standard portable monitor (albeit short of the 500cd/m² that Asus claims). To achieve 100% brightness, plug the monitor in with the included wall adapter. Relying on a single USB-C cable to handle all the heavy lifting for power and video limits you to a 60% brightness.

The ZenScreen covered 116% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and 163% of sRGB, which is excellent for an IPS panel. Panel uniformity was good, with no obvious backlight bleeding. The only area it fell behind OLED was when I watched Incredibles 2, with blacks appearing more like a dark grey.

As usual with Asus, there are many picture modes to choose from via the OSD. Navigation is intuitive via a joystick, which is much quicker than the norm of up/down/select buttons found on lesser portable monitors.

The Asus ZenScreen MB16QHG is a great all-around portable monitor. Not only does the 2,560 x 1,600 resolution offer extra detail over FHD panels, but its 16in diagonal is the perfect match for the growing army of 16in laptops. With high brightness levels and strong color coverage, it could even attract photographers (that’s where the tripod mount comes in handy).

Admittedly, the MB16QHG doesn’t come cheap. You can buy 15.6in OLED portable monitors (including one from Asus) for this money. However, that’s a Full HD panel, and if you’re looking for additional resolution, and bumping up to 4K resolution is overkill, the MB16QHG is well worth considering despite its high price.

We've also rated the best pre-built gaming PCs.

Obsbot Tiny SE review: a conference room camera king

1:04 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Gadgets Peripherals & Accessories Webcams | Tags: AI | Comments: Off

Obsbot Tiny SE webcam: Two-minute review

The Obsbot Tiny SE is an entry-level pan-tilt-and-zoom gimbal webcam with AI features that punches well above its weight. At a remarkably affordable price point of $99 / £109 / AU$199, it offers a compelling blend of features and performance that makes it a strong contender, but only if you need a camera that can follow you around a room.

The Obsbot Tiny SE webcam. — Watching the Tiny SE swivel and tilt to follow your movement is oddly adorable. (Image credit: Future)

The low price point is probably down to the Obsbot Tiny SE maxing out at 1080p resolution. If you’re a stickler for 4K, check out the Obsbot Tiny 2, but for most users, 1080p strikes an excellent balance between quality and practicality. What's more important is that this webcam will go up to 100 frames per second, if you’re moving around a room, gesturing, or being rather animated in general having smooth motion is going to be important.

The webcam utilizes a 1/2.8-inch CMOS sensor with an f/1.8 aperture, resulting in decent low-light performance with minimal noise and grain. This is a significant advantage for home offices with terrible lighting; gamers who prefer a moody, backlit setup will also appreciate how well this webcam performs.

Here is a side-by-side image comparison against the budget webcam king, the Logitech C920. As you can see, the lines are sharper, the details are clearer, and the color balance is better.

Image quality comparison of the Logitech C920 HD and the Obsbot Tiny SE, showing a figurine of a samurai. — Granted, the Logitech C920 has been around for a while now, but at the same 1080p resolution the Tiny SE is notably sharper. (Image credit: Future)

The Tiny SE is, as the name suggests, tiny. Especially for a camera that includes motors able to follow you around a room. There is something undeniably cute about something so small following you around a room. Its compact design ensures it doesn’t hog space on your desk or screen. Here is a picture with it next to an SD card to give you an idea of how small it really is:

The Obsbot Tiny SE webcam next to a regular SD card for size comparison. — The Tiny SE certainly lives up to its name. (Image credit: Future)

The webcam comes with a standard monitor mount, making it easy to clip onto your laptop or desktop display. For added versatility, it also includes a 1/4-inch thread for mounting on tripods or other camera accessories.

The USB-C connection ensures compatibility with modern devices, and the included USB-C to USB-A adapter covers legacy ports. This thoughtful inclusion makes it adaptable without forcing you to rummage through your drawer of forgotten dongles and adapters.

The built-in AI tracking is a showstopper. Whether you’re pacing during a presentation or showcasing a product for your audience, the webcam keeps you perfectly framed. You can choose between different framing like upper-body tracking, or close-up shots.

The tracking works pretty well, keeping subjects in focus even when they move around the frame. Paired with the smooth 100 FPS recording, the result is buttery-smooth footage that doesn’t feel like a typical static webcam shot.

Gesture controls are a fun addition that I personally found annoying but I could see being useful for someone who is presenting. Need to zoom in? Flash an “L” with your hand. Want it to follow your movements? Raise your hand, and it locks onto you. Sometimes however it interprets hand gestures incorrectly and will zoom into a random area or follow you when you don’t want it to. Try it out for yourself to see if it's useful, but personally, I turned it off.

When testing the built-in microphones for the Tiny SE in a quiet room, my voice is clear with good range for webcam use, although a small amount of room echo and noise are present. The mic isn’t exceptional but then I was never expecting it to be and it does struggle a little in a crowded office. You'll always sound better with a dedicated headset or microphone but for a webcam, the Tiny SE offers acceptable audio quality.

In terms of usability, the setup process is straightforward. Plug it in and you’re good to go. The Obsbot Center software does take this webcam to the next level and while it is annoying installing an app for a webcam, it really is worth it to get the most out of the Tiny SE. Its intuitive interface makes adjusting settings a breeze, whether you’re tweaking the tracking mode or fine-tuning image quality. You can adjust ISO, shutter speed, white balance, and refresh rate, as well as play with its AI features. The software also supports integration with tools like the Elgato Stream Deck, letting you set up presets for different angles or zoom levels at the push of a button.

While the AI-driven tracking around a room is almost flawless, the autofocus leaves something to be desired. While it technically works, it isn’t as snappy or accurate as autofocus found in higher-end and more expensive models. There’s noticeable focus hunting and occasional warping, which can be distracting when trying to present or walking around. It’s one of the few compromises they clearly made to keep the price so low.

Obsbot Tiny SE webcam: Price & availability

How much does it cost? $99 / £109 / AU$199
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? The US, UK, and Australia

Here’s where the Obsbot Tiny SE hits it out of the park: the price. At $99 / £109 / AU$199, this webcam is fighting way above its weight class. Comparable models with similar features and gimbal tracking often cost significantly more. The Tiny SE provides a budget-friendly option for those who want tracking without the premium price tag.

Obsbot Tiny SE webcam: Specs

Should you buy the Obsbot Tiny SE webcam?

Buy it if...

You're upgrading a conference room setup
This is a "no-brainer" for businesses looking to upgrade conference calls. Its ability to track speakers and provide a more dynamic meeting experience while also being affordable and easy to use makes is easy to recommend.

You need AI tracking on a budget
The Tiny SE offers smooth, reliable AI tracking. If you move around during presentations, demonstrations, or online teaching, this camera will keep you framed effectively.

Don't buy it if...

You don't need pan, tilt, and zoom
The AI tracking and PTZ features are the Tiny SE's main selling points. If you primarily sit stationary in front of your computer, a less expensive, static webcam will likely suffice and save you money like the cute Obsbot Meet SE.

You need 4K video quality
If you're a professional content creator (or you're very serious about video conferencing) you might want to spring for a 4K webcam instead.

Obsbot Tiny SE webcam: Also consider

Logitech C920
The quintessential 1080p webcam. Logitech's C920 has been a reliable and sensibly-priced choice of webcam for years, making it a good pick if you'd like to save some cash and don't need the fancy AI-tracking features found on the Obsbot Tiny SE.

Read our full Logitech C920 review

Obsbot Tiny 2
If you're looking for a more premium webcam than the Tiny SE, the Tiny 2 from Obsbot is virtually the exact same device - but with a 4K camera and some extra bells and whistles. For those who want a high-end video experience, this is a great pick (though it's naturally more expensive than the Tiny SE).

Read our full Obsbot Tiny 2 review

How I tested the Obsbot Tiny SE webcam

Tested the webcam in video calls
Spent a while experimenting with the gesture command feature
Compared image quality to other webcams

I used the Obsbot Tiny SE for video calls and general image quality testing, as well as trying it out with various lighting levels to see how well it performed. I also tried out the gesture controls, and did some side-by-side comparisons with other webcams the offer the same resolution.