Ezo is a surprisingly straightforward IT asset management software for inventory across multiple locations. The platform provides clear visibility into asset lifecycles, from acquisition to retirement. Its clean interface avoids overwhelming users with unnecessary complexity. We were impressed with how quickly we could implement the system during testing and start tracking equipment without extensive training.
The software shines in its asset tracking capabilities. It allows you to assign equipment to users and maintain accountability throughout the organization. During our tests, Ezo's QR code scanning worked flawlessly, making check-ins and check-outs a breeze. The reporting tools offered meaningful insights into asset use, though the dashboard could have been more intuitive for first-time users.
Ezo does have some weaknesses in its mobile experience. We noticed a few performance issues during testing. There was lag when processing multiple items at once, but the mobile interface feels less polished than the desktop version in general. Despite these minor drawbacks, the overall value remains strong. Especially for remote businesses with inventory management needs across multiple locations, Ezo could be a keeper.
Ezo's preventive maintenance features were a point of highlight during testing. They help you schedule and track regular equipment upkeep. We appreciated the automated alerts for upcoming maintenance tasks, which could extend the lifespan of assets. Being able to generate custom reports also helps you analyze inventory data on demand. However, we wish there were more advanced filtering options for different scenarios.
(Image credit: Ezo)
Ezo: Plans and pricing
Ezo has a tiered pricing system for businesses of all sizes. The Basic plan starts at $9.99 per user monthly (billed annually). It includes core asset tracking, limited to 500 assets, and basic reporting. But we found that the Professional plan at $19.99 per user monthly offers the best value. It provides unlimited asset tracking, advanced reporting, and maintenance scheduling, which greatly improved our asset management workflow.
Enterprise pricing comes through custom quotes. This includes extra features like API access, dedicated support, and custom integrations with current business systems. Ezo also offers a 14-day free trial for all new users. All plans come with free updates and standard customer support. However, premium support is only available at higher tiers.
(Image credit: Ezo)
Ezo: Features
Ezo offers a complete set of asset management tools that can simplify inventory tracking and maintenance scheduling for any organization. We found the platform's easy-to-use interface very helpful quick implementation across departments. But beyond that, here are the features that stood out to us the most:
Asset tracking
The core asset tracking feature lets you document equipment details, location, and user assignments. We were impressed by how easily we could create and attach QR codes to physical assets. This could make check-ins and check-outs much more efficient. The system also retains a full history of each asset, including maintenance records and location changes.
Maintenance management
Ezo's maintenance scheduling feature was a big hit during our testing. You can set recurring maintenance tasks based on time or usage. The system automatically generates work orders and notifies team members. This could help you avoid costly repairs and extend the life of your assets by addressing issues early on.
Mobile accessibility
Ezo has a mobile app for teams working in the field or from different locations, available on both iOS and Android. It manages basic tasks like asset scanning, status updates, and location changes well in most cases. The option to take photos of assets and link them to inventory records could be helpful during equipment audits. But, we noticed synchronization delays in areas with weak connectivity and the app lacks many features available to desktop users.
User management
The platform has a strong user management system in place. It lets administrators assign specific permissions and access levels to team members. We loved the option to create custom roles that fit different organizations. Plus the audit trail feature tracks changes per user, assisting with compliance.
(Image credit: Ezo)
Ezo: Analytics
Ezo's reporting features offer detailed insights into asset use, maintenance history, and inventory status. In our tests, the pre-built report templates met most of business scenarios. They provided quick access to depreciation schedules, maintenance compliance, and asset allocation metrics. Being able to schedule automated report delivery via email was a nice touch.
A custom report builder lets you create tailored analyses. You can select specific data points and visualization options to answer specific business questions. We liked the easy drag-and-drop interface. It allowed us to build complex reports without any SQL knowledge. However, we found that generating reports with very large datasets sometimes slowed performance. Some optimization here could help organizations with extensive inventory records.
(Image credit: Ezo)
Ezo: Ease of use
We found Ezo's interface very easy to use. We were able to set up quickly and start tracking equipment without much training. QR code scanning worked perfectly during our tests. It made asset check-ins and check-outs much faster than manual methods. However, some user reviews mention an initial learning curve, especially when using the advanced search function.
Ezo's mobile app offers key features for teams in the field, but we noticed some performance issues during testing. We liked being able to take photos of assets and attach them to inventory records during audits. This can be very helpful for keeping accurate documentation.
But despite a few minor UI issues, our overall user experience was intuitive. Most professionals can quickly adapt to the platform's main features, then explore advanced use cases over time.
(Image credit: Ezo)
Ezo: Support
Ezo provides various support options: email, phone, and chat. Their team is available on weekdays from 7 am to 5 pm US Eastern time. They also offer after-hours help for urgent issues.
In our evaluation, we found the customer service team very responsive. They typically reply within the same day and focus on finding solutions to our questions. Each license includes up to 90 minutes of onboarding help. This allowed us to quickly learn key features like asset tracking workflows, reporting capabilities, and best practices to optimize our processes.
(Image credit: Ezo)
Ezo: Security
Ezo shows a strong commitment to security with several key certifications. These include ISO 27001, SOC 2 Type 2 compliance, and CSA STAR Level 1 certification. Plus the platform runs on Amazon Web Services (AWS), a top cloud computing service known for its strong security measures.
Ezo: The Competition
There are several alternatives to Ezo, like Asset Panda, Sortly, and GoCodes. Each has similar asset tracking features but with different pricing and capabilities.
Asset Panda is a cloud-based platform that excels in warranty tracking and multi-location management. Sortly specializes in inventory management, offering great expiration date tracking and reminder features. GoCodes stands out for its strong equipment tracking and workflow management, appealing to organizations that want to prevent lost or stolen tools.
Ezo's pricing places it in the mid-range compared to its competitors. But ultimately, choosing the right platform depends on specific needs. Ezo generally offers a good balance of functionality and value for most business asset management needs.
Ezo: Final Verdict
Ezo offers a strong asset management experience. It balances ease of use with effective tracking. The platform shines particularly in showing asset lifecycles. Key features include QR code scanning, maintenance scheduling, and reporting tools that give insights into asset use.
We found some limits in the mobile app, plus some user interface areas could use an upgrade. Still, the overall value is high. Especially for businesses facing inventory challenges across many locations or with remote workers.
Every now and then, a refreshingly unique camera hits the market, and the Fujifilm X half retro compact is one of those few examples.
It's a niche, digital alternative to half-frame film cameras such as the Pentax 17, and for most people is the better choice of the two.
Fujifilm has really let loose in designing the X half, and it's a love letter to film photography, specifically half frame. It offers quirky features such as a touch-sensitive film canister window-like screen, plus a Film Roll mode which is so charming that I dedicated a whole article to it. Each idea, weird as they might seem for digital, actually make perfect sense in the spirit of film.
There's no other digital camera that comes as close to the film camera experience as the X half, and the beauty is that you can take or leave many of these features because it's digital, nor are you hobbled by the ongoing costs that come with using an actual film camera.
(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
On a technical level, the X half is pretty basic. The vertical-format 1-inch sensor records JPEG-only photos up to 18MP, while video is limited to vertical Full HD. Its fixed 32mm (equivalent) lens with f/2.8-11 variable aperture is only moderately sharp, too.
To mark the X half down for such reasons, however, misses the point – this camera is all about the fun, in all the right ways. Those perceived limitations such as JPEG only are rightly there, in the spirit of film – the Film Simulation you choose is locked in once you press the shutter.
The X half is a tidily packaged retro model too. Its robust plastic body tips the scales at just 8.5oz / 240g, plus its fixed 32mm f/2.8 lens is tiny, meaning you can slip the camera into a pocket. Battery life is particularly good, too.
I love the unique design touches – that touch-sensitive LCD which emulates a film canister window, and a lever that mimics the film wind lever for diptych composites and to move onto the next frame in the Film Roll mode.
Picture quality is actually pretty decent, but after a month using the X half, I'm less focused on outright quality – this is a different kind of camera.
I've read many comments bemoaning the price of what is a toy-like X half, and to an extent I see the point. However, I see value in products that I will actually use, and after a month with the X half, the novelty hasn't worn off.
Fujifilm designers with a soft spot for analog have clearly let loose with the X half, and it's simply in a world of its own.
Fujifilm X half: Price and availability
The X half was announced on May 21 and available globally from June 12 2025
It cost costs $849/ £699 / AU$1,349 and is available in three colorways: silver, charcoal and black
There's a (free) dedicated Fujifilm X half app on iOS and Android stores
Fujifilm launched the X half globally on June 12 for $849 / £699 / AU$1,349, which for most people counts it out as an impulse purchase – if it was about 30% cheaper I think the X half would fly off the shelves.
The price feels high, but an alternative such as the Pentax 17 film camera costs $499 / £449, and that camera doesn't have all the digital components that the X half does.
There are three colors to choose from: silver, charcoal and black. I think the silver version is most in keeping with the spirit of the X half, but I can also envisage it being produced in additional colors down the line if it sells well, which I expect to be the case.
There were no dedicated accessories at launch. I'd like to see optional accessories such as a half-leather case, which could look the part.
Alongside the camera, Fujifilm announced a dedicated app for the X half for iOS and Android devices, which can be used to upload images from the camera, and through which you load photos taken using the Film Roll mode. It's a really fun app.
Price score: 3.5 / 5
(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
Fujifilm X half: specs
Quick Specs
Camera type:
Compact
Lens
10.8mm f/2.8 (32mm equivalent)
Sensor:
Vertical 1-inch, 13.3 x 8.8mm, 18MP
Video:
Full HD, vertical
Battery:
880 shots
Weight:
8.5oz / 240g
Fujifilm X half: design
Unique twin vertical displays
Fixed 32mm (equivalent) f/2.8 lens
Weighs just 8.5oz / 240g with battery and SD card inserted
The X half is unmistakably a Fujifilm camera, while packing unique features and sharing certain similarities with the Pentax 17.
It might be plastic, but the X half is a well-built and lightweight retro compact, packing a tiny fixed lens with a 32mm-equivalent focal length and mechanical aperture, which can be manually adjusted between its f/2.8 to f/11 settings using a handy lever.
There's an on-off switch on the top of the camera. When set to on, a lever – which is designed to mimic a film-wind lever – juts out from the camera for easy access. This lever is used to activate the diptych feature, which we'll get into shortly, plus move onto your next frame in the charming Film Roll mode.
The shutter button is set within an exposure compensation dial, and I must say that all of these controls ooze a reassuring quality, with a suitably stubborn resistance.
Also on the top is a coldshoe for mounting accessories, but it's not a hotshoe, so that means no accessories such as a flash gun.
The top plate of the X half, with its film wind lever folded away. (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
In the absence of optional flash accessories, a low-powered LED flash sits above the lens to provide some fill light that's particularly handy for indoor close-ups. The flash can be turned on and off using a switch on the X half's left side, while on the other side is a USB-C port for charging the camera.
Battery life is a healthy 880 shots, with the X half utilizing the WP126S battery that's been a long time staple in the Fujifilm X series range, used by cameras like the X100VI.
On the back there's a small and basic look through optical viewfinder at the top-left, which comes in handy particularly for the Film Roll mode – more on this shortly.
There are no control buttons or dials on the camera's rear, just a photo / video switch and a playback mode. Instead, the action happens through the twin touch displays – and this is where things get really interesting.
The rear of the X half, with its twin touch displays and optical viewfinder. (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
First up, I adore the new touch-sensitive LCD which (by default) mimics the film canister window present in many film cameras.
A swipe up or down on this display scrolls through the various Film Simulation modes, with a stripped back selection of 13 looks. It can also be used to adjust certain camera settings, depending on which part of the menu you're navigating.
Then there's another unique touch LCD: a vertical display for live view and the X half's four menus, each of which is accessed via a swipe from one of the four sides.
One menu accesses basic camera settings such as exposure mode, another the Film Simulations and picture effects – Fujifilm has added several new film photography-inspired effects, including light leak.
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With a picture effect active or when in another menu, that second LCD displays the picture effects or camera settings instead of Film Simulations, effectively making it a secondary navigation tool.
Another menu on the main LCD accesses a new Film Roll mode, which is a fabulous concept. Select your 'film roll' – if you're not already familiar with them, Fujifilm Film Simulation color modes mimic the look of actual Fujifilm film stock – and the number of shots you'd like in the film, and start shooting.
Once the Film Roll mode is active, the display is inactive, so your only compositional tool is the optical viewfinder. Given the lens is moderately wide, you can point in the direction of your subject without relying on the viewfinder for composition.
In the Film Roll mode, you're also locked into the selected Film Simulation and settings such as ISO. And with no raw format available, once you've picked your look, you've made your bed. It's such a fun idea which pays homage to film photography.
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Design score: 4/5
Fujifilm X half: Performance
18MP JPEG-only vertical photos, Full HD vertical video
13 Film Simulations and new picture effects
Face-detection autofocus
If you take photography seriously, a word of advice – don't write the Fujifilm X half off on the basis of its image-making qualities, which on the face of it are pretty basic.
For one, JPEG-only photos and no raw? That's a bold move by Fujifilm, but I get it. After all, the X half is supposed to be like a film camera, and since when could you work from uncompressed raw data to make drastic color and exposure adjustments to film? Locking in the look at the point of capture is in the spirit of film.
The X half's video-making skills are also fairly stripped back, maxing out at Full HD resolution, but once again I don't mind that.
Those vertical photos and videos are recorded using a vertical 1-inch sensor. It's a 20MP 2:3 aspect sensor, but output is 3:4, which means the maximum photo resolution is 18MP.
Just taking the 3:4 portion of the 2:3 sensor also means the lens, which would be a 28mm-equivalent focal length, is actually more like 32mm – that's a suitable perspective for everyday photography.
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For close-ups, that 1-inch sensor and maximum f/2.8 aperture lens can capture nice blurry backgrounds, especially when you're pushing nearer the minimum 0.1m focus distance.
Fujifilm's Film Simulations number 20 in all, but the X half includes a stripped-back selection of 13 of the supposedly most popular looks.
It also gets some new picture effects, so in addition to the gimmicky mirror and toy-camera effects you have aptly analog-inspired options like light leak.
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Shoot close and use the maximum f/2.8 aperture, and soft backgrounds are possible (Image credit: Tim Coleman / Viktoria Shilets)
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The same photo but with the aperture set to f/5.6 (Image credit: Tim Coleman / Viktoria Shilets)
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Here's the vivid Velvia Film Simulation (Image credit: Tim Coleman / Viktoria Shilets)
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And the standard Provia (Image credit: Tim Coleman / Viktoria Shilets)
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The monochrome Astia features too (Image credit: Tim Coleman / Viktoria Shilets)
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Sepia makes a surprise appearance in the most popular Film Simulations (Image credit: Tim Coleman / Viktoria Shilets)
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And here's a more filmic look (Image credit: Tim Coleman / Viktoria Shilets)
Fujifilm's tagline in the X half marketing is, 'Half the size, twice the story'. This refers to the half-frame format of the pictures and the diptych-making feature for photos and videos.
The diptych feature is activated using the 'film-wind' lever, and composites two 3:4 images side by side, just as a half-frame film camera does onto a roll of 35mm film (it works for video, too).
However, they're not strictly half-sized; the resolution of each photo is preserved, meaning a diptych composite is doubled in width, from the 3648 x 4864 pixels of each photo to a 7296 x 4864 pixel composite with a 3:2 aspect – that's the same aspect as a frame of 35mm film.
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Two vertical photos composited into a diptych – just like with half-frame film cameras (Image credit: Tim Coleman / Viktoria Shilets)
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There's a modest selection of autofocus modes. As far as I could tell, focus is locked to the central portion of the frame; however, there's face-detection autofocus too, which is active anywhere in the frame.
I must also touch on the Film Roll mode which is guaranteed to charm photographers with a soft spot for analog photography. You select the film simulation you want and the number of frames in the film roll; 36, 54 or 72.
Once the roll starts, you're locked into the film simulation – just as if you were using a roll of film – and the rear display switches from live view to a frame count instead.
After each shot, you 'crank' the lever on the rear to move onto the next frame – the camera won't take the next shot until you do this. Like liveview, image playback isn't available mid-roll.
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Once the 'roll' is done, you upload the shots wirelessly to the Fujifilm X half app, which is where you'll see your photos for the first time. The app reimagines the photo lab in such a fun way, 'developing' the roll and then displaying it as a contact sheet – as someone who learned photograph in the darkroom, this feature has won me over.
If you approach the X half as a fun camera for casual snaps with some creative looks to try out, and as a convenient digital reimagining of analog photography, then you'll be wholly satisfied.
Performance score: 3.5 / 5
Fujifilm X half: testing scorecard
Fujifilm X half
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Price
Given the fun factor, the X half feels pretty expensive. But if it gets you out shooting, then it's decent value.
3.5/5
Design
Packed with charming features, the X half's retro plastic body is truly pocketable and eye catching
4/5
Performance
Not one for outright quality or high speed performance, the X half is a different kind of camera that reimagines the analog photography experience beautifully.
3.5/5
(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
Should I buy the Fujifilm X half?
Buy it if...
You have a soft spot for film photography The X half is clearly made be film camera fans, and wonderfully reimagines the format in digital form.View Deal
You simply want a bit of photography fun Forget the specs, the X half is a cute, retro bundle of fun.View Deal
You'd like a truly compact camera The X half is so small, even with its fixed lens, that'll easily slip into your pocket.View Deal
Don't buy it if...
You’re a stickler for image quality Shooting 18MP JPEG-only photos and Full HD video with a vertical 1-inch sensor, the X half's image quality is pretty basic.View Deal
You're on the look out for a 'regular' compact The X half is essentially in a category of its own and clearly geared to film photography fans.View Deal
Fujifilm X half: Also consider
Pentax 17
Should you want the genuine half-frame film experience the Pentax 17 is an obvious recommendation, sharing as it does many design similarities with the Fujifilm X half. The Pentax 17 is cheaper as an initial outlay, but remember there will be the ongoing film costs. A super-cheap half frame alternative would be the Kodak Ektar.
If it's the compact proportions and fixed wide-angle lens that appeal, then the Ricoh GR III is a pricier, high-quality alternative. In fact, with larger APS-C sensor and 24MP stills it delivers the best image quality from a pocketable camera, full stop. However, the GR III a 'regular' camera so you'll miss out on the fun features.
A short session with the camera ahead of its global announcement
Fujifilm consequently loaned me the camera for several weeks
I've tried various Film Simulations and picture effects, plus the diptych and Film Roll modes
I had the Fujifilm X half in my pocket for several weeks, during which time I tried out the various Film Simulation modes, picture effects, and shooting modes for photos and video. These include the diptych feature and the Film Roll. In essence, I've tried out every feature the camera has to offer.
On a technical level, I shot a series of images adjusting the lens aperture stop by stop, from its maximum f/2.8 aperture to f/11, and examined those images to compare image quality at each setting.
I've also switched between various autofocus and manual focus modes to see how each option handles. I shot images at the minimum focus distance too in order to check the camera's close focusing capabilities and for any lens distortion.
The Dell S3225QC offers a unique value proposition. I want to say that it’s the best value 32-inch all-rounder if you want awesome 4K OLED picture quality and epic integrated sound, backed up by a serviceable 120Hz refresh rate and a satisfying contrasting figure of 1500000:1, but there are a handful of things holding back my praise.
Dell has positioned the S3225QC as an all-rounder, claiming that its mix of features is “perfect for play, school and work” when it was announced back at CES 2025 in January. At first principles I think this monitor is capable of shifting between these different use cases quite well – the 5 x 5W speakers that run across the bottom of the display output brilliant audio, the screen itself doesn’t blur text and is perfect for a mix of writing documents, viewing content and playing games, and the 32-inch size is definitely a boon for blowing up whatever task you're performing.
Backed up by a design that’s fairly inoffensive and doesn’t take up much space on a desk, the S3225QC may be the perfect multitasking display for your home or office. The addition of two USB-C ports on the back and an accessible USB-C port on the front is also very welcome, especially for quickly charging a phone or mouse, or for transferring data to your computer in a pinch. One port pops in and out of the monitor, allowing it to be tucked away when not used.
(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)
Additionally, unlike some OLED monitors, the display doesn’t have annoying care programs – shortly after the monitor is turned off following a lengthy period of use, it’ll automatically shift into refreshing mode, which will take between six and eight minutes. Dell recommends refreshing the pixels every four hours, but I wasn't bugged once about doing this.
However there’s one big thing that’s holding Dell’s new OLED monitor back – its severe lack of ports.
I’m annoyed that the only inputs for displaying audio and video are HDMI and a Display Port-capable USB-C, and my particular use case, as somebody who bases everything they do in their home around a monitor, kind of underscores this as a weakness (so please excuse my incoming tangent). Most streaming services don’t show video in the highest resolution when functioning through a browser, and to watch Andor on Disney+ in all its glory, I wanted to connect my Google TV streamer to the S3225QC.
(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)
But the Google TV Streamer, as you’d expect, uses HDMI to connect to a display – I couldn’t use the Display Port-capable USB-C connection, as the TV Streamer doesn’t output audio and video through its USB-C port, and so my only solution was to physically swap the HDMI cord between my PC and the Streamer.
It’s not the end of the world and indeed the monitor displayed 4K streaming content brilliantly, along with all the things I played, but it begs the question: why are there only two audio/video inputs in the first place? This will surely be an issue for folks in similar positions looking for a more encompassing all-rounder solution, and this lack of connections is anomalous among similarly priced screens.
For people that might have one primary computer connected via HDMI and, separately, a laptop via the DP-Alt USB-C, this is unlikely to be a problem – but still be ready to factor in purchasing a USB-C to HDMI or USB-C to Display Port cable to get over these hurdles depending on what you’re doing at your PC. A quick and easy solution may be an external HDMI splitter.
Dell S3225QC: price and availability
(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)
How much does it cost? $799.99 / £879 / AU$1,299.10
When is it available? Available now (not currently listed on Dell US)
Where can you get it? Dell's website in the US, UK and Australia
For a monitor that comes with high-quality integrated audio, an OLED panel and a massive 32-inch size, the Dell S3225QC is priced quite competitively. There are very few monitors on the market that are offering this particular combination of features, which makes it difficult to compare, but the feature set is pretty impressive.
The price is slightly undermined by a couple of factors, the foremost being a lack of input ports, with only HDMI and a USB-C (DP-Alt) available. Another is the comparatively low refresh rate for an OLED panel, limited to 120Hz at a maximum 4K resolution. There is, however, a built-in USB hub, so keyboards, mice and other peripherals are able to connect directly to the PC via the monitor’s USB-C ports.
If you’re shopping for an alternative, I’d recommend the MSI MPG 271QRX (a 27-inch gaming OLED monitor with a higher refresh rate) or the Dell UltraSharp U3225QE (a non-OLED 32-inch monitor with similar specs, more ports and a lower price).
Value: 5/5
Dell S3225QC: specs
Screen size:
31.6-inch
Aspect ratio:
16:9
Resolution:
3,840 x 2,160 (120Hz)
Brightness:
250 cd/㎡ / 1,000 cd/㎡ HDR peak
Response time:
0.03ms (GTG)
Viewing angle:
178˚/178˚
Contrast ratio:
1,500,000:1
Color support:
1.07B
Inputs:
1X HDMI 2.1, 1X USB-C (5Gbps upstream, Display Port 1.4 alt mode, 90W power delivery), 2X USB-C 5Gbps downstream ports (data, 15W power delivery)
Weight:
10kg (22.05 lbs)
Dell S3225QC: design
(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)
Inoffensive design with white colorway
Speakers across the entire bottom
Nice USB-C placement
The Dell S3225QC is designed to be an all-purpose monitor, and so it has a neutral design without anything too jarring. The monitor is only available in a white colorway with an anti-glare matte OLED panel, sitting atop five integrated speakers.
While this speaker system appears at first glance to have a webcam inbuilt, it’s actually a proximity sensor that detects the user’s distance from the screen and adjusts sound quality accordingly. More on that in the Features section.
The stand has a coarse texture to it and is completely white. It doesn’t take up much room, with the stand consisting of a long cylindrical pole and the monitor footing being a flat rectangle. The monitor doesn’t take up too much room on a desk and has a fair amount of height, tilt and swivel adjustment to it.
(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)
One of the USB-C ports physically moves in and out from underneath the monitor, allowing for quick access. It’s an interesting aspect of the monitor that seems a little overdesigned – while popping a component in and out is convenient, I’m confused as to why this needs to move at all.
Surely an immobile USB-C port pointed downward would have achieved the same goal without the risk of getting stuck or broken? The rest of the ports are located around the back, while the monitor’s joystick and power button can be found to the bottom right of the screen’s backside.
Design: 4/5
Dell S3225QC: features
(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)
In-built speakers across the bottom
Handy USB-C port on the front with upstream/downstream support
Only two audio/video input ports (HDMI/DP via USB-C)
The Dell S3225QC is aimed at being an all encompassing display, capable of switching between work and play without a problem. It has a gorgeous screen and a handful of useful USB-C ports across the back and front, though there's a crippling lack of audio/video ports.
The main feature propping up the all-rounder goal is the sound system running across the bottom of the display, which offers enhanced surround-sound audio made possible thanks to its spatial tracking camera. The end product is frankly the best audio I’ve ever heard from a monitor, though I did find that two red lights would often appear on the soundbar, indicating that my head couldn’t be seen by the tracking tech – meaning sound wasn't always able to be optimized for my position. As someone whose home entertainment setup is based around their computer desk, I love monitors with inbuilt audio, so this focus on high-end audio is a win for me.
There’s a USB-C port on the front and the two USB-C ports around the back, one of which doubles as a Display Port alternative for audio/video (AV) signals, meaning you can plug your monitor in with a USB-C port and use it as a second screen. Those regular USB-C ports can serve as sockets for your laptop and keyboard while still using the DP-capable USB-C port for AV. It’s a great alternative to a dedicated USB hub, and that DP-capable USB-C port can even double as a 90W charger, meaning you won’t need a separate power cable for most connected laptops (beastly gaming models excepted).
(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)
I liked how well laid-out the inbuilt operating system was, and how easy it was to quickly change settings using the joystick on the back. It’s so fast and responsive that I would often adjust things like audio directly through the monitor.
What burned me the most about the monitor was its lack of any additional HDMI or Display Port sockets. All that’s on offer is a HDMI port (4K@120Hz) and the aforementioned DP-capable USB-C port. Somebody that’s merely switching between a laptop and a desktop PC likely won’t have any issue with the ports that are in use, but for my purposes (I tend to have a Chromecast connected to my screen), the arrangement resulted in an awkward dance of unplugging and plugging in cables constantly. For a monitor billed on versatility and being able to fulfill so many needs, it’s absolutely baffling how limiting it is in its design.
Features: 4/5
Dell S3225QC: performance
(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)
Epic OLED, 4K panel @ 120Hz
Deep, rich spatial sound
Ideal for productivity, fine for games
It’s tempting to say that the Dell S3225QC makes compromises to service a broad appeal, but I personally don’t think the specs reflect that – the hardware set here is solid.
Dell has sourced its 4K OLED panel from Samsung, and with the Korean tech giant so good at making such screens, it’s a win on all fronts. Colors pop perfectly and as it's OLED, blacks are perfect as they aren’t lit by pixels. A contrast rate of 150,000:1 keeps picture quality accurate, though brightness is limited to a maximum of 250nits/1,000nits HDR peak (a fairly standard figure for an OLED, but low compared to high-end non-OLEDs).
I think the OLED panel is fairly inconsequential when you’re using the monitor for stuff like writing up documents, editing things together or simply when casually browsing the web – and you’ll be better off purchasing a much cheaper display if these are the only things you’re doing. There’s no haziness around typed characters to be seen, but these days you don’t have to go up-market for a clear monitor to do work on.
(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)
It’s with stuff like gaming and streaming video that the S3225QC can really pull out the stops. The 120Hz refresh rate might seem a little low for PC gaming, but let me be clear – it’s perfectly fine, and unless you're an especially demanding (or competitive) gamer, 120Hz is more than enough for fast and fluid gameplay. I use a fairly high-performance gaming PC and though in many games I can far exceed a 120 fps framerate, I’ve never been left wanting more.
As we've previously mentioned, the audio system is fitted with a spatial camera that detects how close you are to the screen. With that detected, it then adjusts the sound profile to best suit the distance. In my experience it worked brilliantly, though the sensor certainly suffered when there wasn’t much light (and I tend to keep lights off in my office... I’m a bit of a caveman).
The S3225QC will still deliver rich sound without detecting your distance from the panel, however when the sensor isn’t capable of making that measurement, it displays two dark red lights beside the camera (appearing in the image below as purple). It’s a tad annoying when watching something cinematic in the dark, as the sensor is quite reliant on being in a well-lit environment, but ultimately when it doesn't completely work the results are harmless.
(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)
Should I buy the Dell S3225QC monitor?
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Value
A unique feature set at a fair enough cost makes the Dell S3225QC a screen to consider.
5 / 5
Design
An unassuming white colorway and a nice OLED panel positions the S3225QC well for specific settings.
4 / 5
Performance
There’s no holding the S3225QC back as an all-rounder monitor for work and play.
5 / 5
Features
The inclusion of high-quality speakers across the bottom is nice, but there is a severe lack of HDMI/DP ports.
4 / 5
Average rating
Although we’d like to see more inputs, the Dell S3225QC is likely to be a good fit for folks looking for a one-stop solution monitor.
4.5 / 5
Buy it if...
You’re craving an OLED monitor that isn’t completely gaming-oriented
Dell’s new OLED screen is sure to be a hit among non-gamers looking for gorgeous picture quality, or gamers looking to skip aggressive aesthetics and craving speaker sound.
You want brilliant in-built sound
I’ve never had sound on a monitor impress me more than the S3225QC and it’ll be hard to beat its room-filling audio.
You want an all-encompassing solution
Audio/video inputs for USB-C (DP) and HDMI make the S3225QC uniquely suited for switching between a desktop and laptop setup.
Don't buy it if...
You crave more input freedom
Only offering two audio/video inputs makes the S3225QC a much less capable monitor, especially for one marketed as being all-purpose.
You want to save money
The Dell S3225QC is fairly priced but still doesn’t come cheap and you may be better off saving some money and going with a non-OLED alternative for less.
You want better gaming specs
You’ll find higher refresh rates and lower response times on similarly priced 4K OLED monitors intended for gamers.
Also consider
Samsung Odyssey OLED G81SF
Want a more gaming-oriented monitor? The Samsung Odyssey OLED G81SF is priced similarly and is available as a 27-inch or 32-inch screen.
1x Display Port, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x USB-C (DP alt.) and 90W PD charging, 2x USB 2.0 Type-A 1, 1x USB 2.0 Type-B
Weight:
10.8kg (24 lbs)
Dell UltraSharp 32 4K Thunderbolt Hub
After the USB-C connectivity that the S3225QC offers, but don’t care for OLED or the high-end sound? Dell’s 32-inch Thunderbolt Hub monitor is much cheaper with many more ports on offer.
Productivity software used include Canva, Photoshop, Google Docs, ClipChamp and Google Sheets
Also used for a mix of streaming content and playing video games
During my time with the Dell S3225QC, I tried to use the monitor as a hub for everything I did. This included using it to get work done on my laptop by connecting a MacBook Air to the display via USB-C, but also connecting my gaming computer to it for video games and my Google TV Streamer for movies and TV shows.
Most of my time with my monitor was spent using it for entertainment, playing games like Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Counter-Strike 2, Wreckfest, Forza Motorsport, R.E.P.O, Marvel Rivals and Star Wars Outlaws, but I also took time to watch plenty of Disney+, Netflix and YouTube content on the display. I also used it for music streaming via Spotify.
Of course the monitor was also used for more casual things – doomscrolling on Bluesky, browsing websites on Chrome and messaging friends on Instagram and Messenger for example.
I tried the original Nexar Beam dash cam around three years ago, but I seem to recall that it did everything I wanted it to do at the time. Things have moved on since then, though, and for the Beam2 mini Nexar has tweaked the design and features in a bid to stay up there with the best dash cams.
In fact, none of the latest crop of Beam models bear much resemblance to the original incarnation. The Nexar Beam2 Mini is my pick of these products – there are also Beam2 (road only) and Beam2 road and cabin model variants, plus an optional rear view camera.
The others are chunkier, and might suit folks with space on their windshields and the willingness to spend more for a beefier array of features. The Nexar Beam2 mini is right up my street though, especially when I need to fix it to the small screen of my sports car. I’m looking for compact, which was a key part of the appeal with the first edition.
However, the Nexar Beam2 mini isn’t quite as dinky as I’d anticipated, at 6.86 x 6.49 x 3.83 inches / 17.4 x 16.5 x 9.7cm. It feels quite hefty too, weighing in at 1.74lbs / 0.8kg, but that’s no bad thing, as it helps make the package feel like a quality purchase. Perhaps some of the additional weight comes from the internal storage, as there's no microSD media card slot available on this model.
This model features a landscape-oriented body design, with a 160-degree field of view lens that can be swiveled to get the view of the road suited to any type of vehicle. It attaches to the windshield in standard fashion, using a self-adhesive pad that sticks the base of the camera unit to the glass.
(Image credit: Future)
The Nexar Beam2 mini is available with 4G LTE connectivity, which means that it can deliver ‘always on’ performance including remote video live streaming. There’s 1080p resolution and internal storage of up to 256GB, though as mentioned there's no external microSD storage. It features GPS tracking, a parking mode with real-time alerts plus 2.4/5GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and comes with an ODBII pass through connector cable, rather than a 12V plug for power.
Nexar offers the Beam2 mini with three different storage options: 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB, which offer recording storage times of 30 hours, 62 hours and 130 hours respectively. The internal storage can work harmoniously with Nexar’s unlimited cloud storage option, plus there’s the option to invest in an ongoing LTE Protection Plan that boosts this model’s appeal for just $9.99 (about £8) per month.
Due to its core 'always on' functionality, the Nexar Beam2 mini is ideally suited to folks who want to be sure they can keep tabs on their vehicle from anywhere, and at any time. The Nexar app helps here, enabling you to check in on your vehicle, as long as connectivity is retained. There are quirks, though, such as the need for a permanent connection, which can present power implications and add extra hassle during setup.
Performance is solid enough, and the features and functions do what they’re supposed to do. Nexar has tried to make purchasing the Beam2 mini as easy as possible too, with an array of plans to suit all budgets. There are cheap and cheerful models out there though, that offer greater plug-and-play simplicity, which might make the Nexar Beam2 mini seem a little too quirky for some needs.
Nexar Beam2 Mini Dash Cam: price and availability
Price starts at $149.95 / £113
There are three storage capacity variants: 64GB, 128GB and 256GB
The Nexar Beam2 mini is available in three storage variants. The base-level edition currently costs $149.95 / £113 (down from $199.95) and features 64GB of capacity. The 128GB model is $169.95 / £128, while the range tops out in terms of storage at 256GB, which costs $199.95 / £151.
An optional LTE Protection Plan is also available, and costs $9.99 per month or $71.90 annually, which at the time of writing represents a 40% discount. The latter delivers live streaming capability, unlimited cloud storage, a 24/7 Live Parking mode, real-time GPS tracking, and real-time emergency alerts too.
Nexar Beam2 Mini Dash Cam: specs
Nexar Beam2 Mini Dash Cam specs
Video
Front 1080p FHD
Field of view (FOV)
135 degrees front
Storage
Internal 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, Cloud
GPS
Yes
Parking mode
Yes, with constant ODBII power cable
App support
Nexar app
Dimensions
6.86 x 6.49 x 3.83 inches / 17.4 x 16.5 x 9.7cm
Weight
1.74lbs / 0.8kg
Battery
Yes
Nexar Beam2 Mini Dash Cam: Design
Slimline letterbox design and no screen
ODBII connector supplied for always-on power
Internal storage, with 64, 128 and 256GB versions
Anyone who needs something fairly compact will find the design of the Nexar Beam2 mini one of its most appealing aspects. This is a landscape-oriented box of tricks, with very little on its exterior to either fiddle with or go wrong. The design might not work for everyone, though, firstly because there’s no rear screen, so everything has to be done via the Nexar app. Second, until you have the app installed it’s quite tricky to get the angle of the lens correct.
The lens itself is housed in the front of the unit, and can be swiveled up or down, depending on the angle of the windshield in your vehicle. The power cable port is up on top of the unit though, which means it's easy to get this out of the way during installation. The dash cam can be fitted to the windshield in the usual way, either using an anti-static film sheet first and sticking the adhesive mount to that, or directly to the glass itself. There's no suction-cup arrangement though, and no removable option in the mount design either. Again, not for everyone.
(Image credit: Future)
There’s a small blue/green indicator light that flashes during setup and stays on when the camera is doing its thing. Power to the unit comes from a supplied ODBII connector setup, which is why this model is good if an ‘always on’ setup is required. However, the Nexar Beam2 Mini Dash Cam will also work if it’s plugged in via a sufficiently high-powered USB port, which widens its appeal somewhat, especially if a user doesn’t require constant surveillance. Don’t bother looking for a card slot though, because there isn’t one. My review unit came with a 64GB internal storage drive instead.
(Image credit: Future)
Nexar Beam2 Mini Dash Cam: Performance
Fiddly setup
Decent image and audio quality
I have to admit that initial setup and installation wasn’t as seamless as I’d hoped for. Sure, the power cable procedure is simple enough, just as long as you know where your ODBII connector is under the dash – these can be quite tricky to find in some vehicles. The Beam2 mini can be powered by a cable running into the 12V socket if preferred, although this isn’t supplied with the package, which only contains a ODBII adapter. Hard-wiring it is also an option, but you’ll need to pay for this additional accessory.
The main problem I had was connecting and verifying the app. Downloading it was easy enough, but the country code listings for inputting my number weren’t listed alphabetically. I then twigged Nexars lists by country codes on the right-hand side of the menu. Even then, with my country code and phone number entered, I couldn’t get a verification text to come through. Curiously, right after I’d tried this, I also got a couple of spam calls, so I’m hoping this was coincidental rather than anything to do with the Nexar setup process.
As it turned out, and after I got in touch with Nexar directly, I was told that there is currently an issue with UK cell phone companies blocking the verification codes. This appears to be a country-specific issue, so for US users this should hopefully not be an issue. A note on the Nexar website to explain this would have stopped me wasting a lot of time though.
(Image credit: Future)
One other thing that appears to be a potential issue, especially for anyone wanting to use the Nexar Beam2 mini in the UK, is that a strong mobile signal is needed for it to function correctly. As I drove off on my first journey, while the camera was doing its initial setup procedure, I kept on getting an audible alert suggesting I find a stronger cell phone signal. However, after a reboot, things seemed to settle down somewhat and the message stopped.
(Image credit: Future)
Maybe I was just unlucky, but the various teething troubles tainted my experience of the Nexar Beam2 Dash Cam somewhat. Nevertheless, this is a very decent dash camera, with results that left a positive impression. It’s great at capturing video in a wide variety of scenarios, and the audio quality seems really good too. Things look slightly less impressive on finer details, such as license plates, but this model is affordable, so some element of compromise is inevitable.
Should you buy the Nexar Beam2 mini Dash Cam?
(Image credit: Future)
Buy it if...
You want 'always on' recording A big bonus of this model is its ability to stay on using a permanent power connection, which unlocks extra features and functions.
Remote viewing using an app is essential This dash cam also benefits from having an app that allows connected monitoring of your vehicle, which can be useful in less secure neighborhoods.
You need a compact design The Nexar Beam2 mini Dash Cam is smaller and more compact than the other Beam2 models, but offers much of the same functionality.
Don't buy it if...
You want simplicity and ease of use This model purports to offer plug and play functionality, but in some cases there can be some hiccups during setup due to verification texts not coming through.
You’d like a rear screen If a rear screen is a must then the Nexar Beam2 mini Dash Cam should be avoided as everything has to be done via the app, even when it comes to getting the lens angle right.
A removable media card is an essential While this model does offer lots of storage, this is all done using internal memory and the cloud. There'ss no removable microSD card option across the Beam2 range.
How I tested the Nexar Beam2 Mini Dash Cam
I installed the dash cam in one test car for an initial period of two weeks
I used it for a wide range of journeys during the day and at night
I connected it to my phone and downloaded recordings to assess their quality
I was sent a loan package of the Beam2 mini Dash Cam by Nexar, which also provided me with the LTE Protection Plan for good measure. The camera was installed in a car I was testing at the time, and powered using the setup described in the review above. I also installed the Nexar app on an iPhone, which required me to follow a verification process that required the phone to receive a text in order to proceed.
I then tested the Beam2 mini over several days and in a variety of driving conditions, including local roads as well as larger highways. I was able to explore its capabilities in various weather conditions, including rainy days and in low-light as well as after dark.
The Google Android XR can’t do very much… yet. At Google I/O 2025, I got to wear the new glasses and try some key features – three features exactly – and then my time was up. These Android XR glasses aren’t the future, but I can certainly see the future through them, and my Meta Ray Ban smart glasses can’t match anything I saw.
The Android XR glasses I tried had a single display, and it did not fill the entire lens. The glasses projected onto a small frame in front of my vision that was invisible unless filled with content.
To start, a tiny digital clock showed me the time and local temperature, information drawn from my phone. It was small and unobtrusive enough that I could imagine letting it stay active at the periphery.
Google Gemini is very responsive on this Android XR prototype
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
The first feature I tried was Google Gemini, which is making its way onto every device Google touches. Gemini on the Android XR prototype glasses is already more advanced than what you might have tried on your smartphone.
I approached a painting on the wall and asked Gemini to tell me about it. It described the pointillist artwork and the artist. I said I wanted to look at the art very closely and I asked for suggestions on interesting aspects to consider. It gave me suggestions about pointillism and the artist’s use of color.
The conversation was very natural. Google’s latest voice models for Gemini sound like a real human. The glasses also did a nice job pausing Gemini when somebody else was speaking to me. There wasn’t a long delay or any frustration. When I asked Gemini to resume, it said ‘no problem’ and started up quickly.
That’s a big deal! The responsiveness of smart glasses is a metric I haven’t considered before, but it matters. My Meta Ray Ban Smart Glasses have an AI agent that can look through the camera, but it works very slowly. It responds slowly at first, and then it takes a long time to answer the question. Google’s Gemini on Android XR was much faster and that made it feel more natural.
Google Maps on Android XR wasn’t like any Google Maps I’ve seen
Celebrities Giannis Antetokounmpo and Dieter Bohn wear Android XR glasses and shake hands with the crowd (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Then I tried Google Maps on the Android XR prototype. I did not get a big map dominating my view. Instead, I got a simple direction sign with an arrow telling me to turn right in a half mile. The coolest part of the whole XR demo was when the sign changed as I moved my head.
If I looked straight down at the ground, I could see a circular map from Google with an arrow showing me where I am and where I should be heading. The map moved smoothly as I turned around in circles to get my bearings. It wasn’t a very large map – about the size of a big cookie (or biscuit for UK friends) in my field of view.
As I lifted my head, the cookie-map moved upward. The Android XR glasses don’t just stick a map in front of my face. The map is an object in space. It is a circle that seems to remain parallel with the floor. If I look straight down, I can see the whole map. As I move my head upward, the map moves up and I see it from a diagonal angle as it lifts higher and higher with my field of view.
By the time I am looking straight ahead, the map has entirely disappeared and has been replaced by the directions and arrow. It’s a very natural way to get an update on my route. Instead of opening and turning on my phone, I just look towards my feet and Android XR shows me where they should be pointing.
Showing off the colorful display with a photograph
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
The final demo I saw was a simple photograph using the camera on the Android XR glasses. After I took the shot, I got a small preview on the display in front of me. It was about 80% transparent, so I could see details clearly, but it didn’t entirely block my view.
Sadly that was all the time Google gave me with the glasses today, and the experience was underwhelming. In fact, my first thought was to wonder if the Google Glass I had in 2014 had the exact same features as today’s Android XR prototype glasses. It was pretty close.
My old Google Glass could take photos and video, but it did not offer a preview on its tiny, head-mounted display. It had Google Maps with turn directions, but it did not have the animation or head-tracking that Android XR offers.
There was obviously no conversational AI like Gemini on Google Glass, and it could not look at what you see and offer information or suggestions. What makes the two similar? They both lack apps and features.
Which comes first, the Android XR software or the smart glasses to run it?
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Should developers code for a device that doesn’t exist? Or should Google sell smart glasses even though there are no developers yet? Neither. The problem with AR glasses isn’t just a chicken and egg problem of what comes first, the software or the device. That’s because AR hardware isn’t ready to lay eggs. We don’t have a chicken or eggs, so it’s no use debating what comes first.
Google’s Android XR prototype glasses are not the chicken, but they are a fine looking bird. The glasses are incredibly lightweight, considering the display and all the tech inside. They are relatively stylish for now, and Google has great partners lined up in Warby Parker and Gentle Monster.
The display itself is the best smart glasses display I’ve seen, by far. It isn’t huge, but it has a better field of view than the rest; it’s positioned nicely just off-center from your right eye’s field of vision; and the images are bright, colorful (if translucent), and flicker-free.
The author in Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses looking dumbfounded (Image credit: Future / Philip Berne)
When I first saw the time and weather, it was a small bit of text and it didn’t block my view. I could imagine keeping a tiny heads-up display on my glasses all the time, just to give me a quick flash of info.
This is just the start, but it’s a very good start. Other smart glasses haven’t felt like they belonged at the starting line, let alone on retail shelves. Eventually, the display will get bigger, and there will be more software. Or any software, because the feature set felt incredibly limited.
Still, with just Gemini’s impressive new multi-modal capabilities and the intuitive (and very fun) Google Maps on XR, I wouldn’t mind being an early adopter if the price isn’t terrible.
How the Android XR prototype compares to Meta’s Ray Ban Smart Glasses
My Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses are mostly just sunglasses now (Image credit: Future / Philip Berne)
Of course, Meta Ray Ban Smart Glasses lack a display, so they can’t do most of this. The Meta Smart Glasses have a camera, but the images are beamed to your phone. From there, your phone can save them to your gallery, or even use the Smart Glasses to broadcast live directly to Facebook. Just Facebook – this is Meta, after all.
With its Android provenance, I’m hoping whatever Android XR smart glasses we get will be much more open than Meta’s gear. It must be. Android XR runs apps, while Meta’s Smart Glasses are run by an app. Google intends Android XR to be a platform. Meta wants to gather information from cameras and microphones you wear on your head.
I’ve had a lot of fun with the Meta Ray Ban Smart Glasses, but I honestly haven’t turned them on and used the features in months. I was already a Ray Ban Wayfarer fan, so I wear them as my sunglasses, but I never had much luck getting the voice recognition to wake up and respond on command. I liked using them as open ear headphones, but not when I’m in New York City and the street noise overpowers them.
I can’t imagine that I will stick with my Meta glasses once there is a full platform with apps and extensibility – the promise of Android XR. I’m not saying that I saw the future in Google’s smart glasses prototype, but I have a much better view of what I want that smart glasses future to look like.
Zluri provides a comprehensive software asset management platform that helps IT teams see and control their SaaS applications from start to finish. We found it great for discovering apps across the organization, even the most elusive shadow IT. During our tests, Zluri's easy-to-use dashboard helped us track usage, manage licenses, and optimize spending on a range of business software.
The platform's main strength is its discovery engine. It uses 9 different methods to ensure 100% SaaS discoverability. We were impressed by how quickly Zluri connected with existing systems like SSO, financial tools, and browser extensions. The automated workflows for onboarding and offboarding employees can save your IT team a lot of time. It automatically manages access based on employee status changes, too.
Cost optimization is another area where Zluri excels. It helps you spot underused subscriptions and duplicate apps. We liked the renewal monitoring feature, which tracks end dates and sends reminders. This prevents missed renewals and opens up chances for negotiation. AI-powered license forecasting helps with budgeting, allowing your team to make informed decisions about software.
Setting up Zluri needs some initial time, but the responsive customer support team makes it easier than you might expect. We found the multi-level access certification workflows very helpful for compliance. They ensure no access issues are missed. While the platform could use more detailed documentation and more integrations for niche apps, Zluri's ongoing improvements suggest these issues will be resolved in future updates.
(Image credit: Zluri)
Zluri: Plans and pricing
Zluri has a flexible pricing model based on employee count. Plans start at about $4-8 per user each month for their core SaaS management platform. The pricing includes Standard, Professional, and Enterprise options. Higher tiers come with extra features like advanced automation, custom integrations, and dedicated support.
In our testing, the Professional plan stood out for mid-sized organizations. It strikes a good balance of features and value. This plan gives access to key tools such as application discovery, license management, and basic workflow automation.
Zluri also offers a free trial. This lets organizations test the platform before subscribing. We liked the clear pricing model — there were no hidden fees or surprises during our evaluation. For larger enterprises, Zluri offers custom pricing. This can be tailored to include specific modules or integration options based on needs.
(Image credit: Zluri)
Zluri: Features
Zluri's complete SaaS management platform has many strong features. During testing, we found it great for spotting shadow IT and improving workflows for IT admins. Here are the key features that stood out during our evaluation:
Application discovery and management
Zluri's discovery engine was very effective at finding SaaS apps used in our testing, even those not approved by IT. We were impressed by how the platform connected with our financial systems, SSO providers, and browser agents to build a complete app inventory. The central dashboard simplified categorizing apps, tracking usage metrics, and spotting security risks. This gave us clear visibility into the whole SaaS landscape.
Automated workflows
The workflow automation features reduce admin work by simplifying onboarding, offboarding, and access management. The pre-built workflows were easy to customize, allowing us to automate license assignments and access revocations.
Another great thing is that the platform integrates with HR software systems, so employee status changes automatically trigger updates to software access. This reduces security risks and keeps you compliant with internal policies.
License optimization
Zluri's license management features uncovered major cost-saving opportunities in our sample portfolio. The platform's analytics showed us underused licenses, duplicate subscriptions, and chances to consolidate or downgrade. We especially liked the renewal calendar, which gave alerts for upcoming renewals. This could help the procurement team negotiate better and avoid unwanted auto-renewals.
Compliance safeguards
The security and compliance features give lots of useful insights into vulnerabilities in a software ecosystem. We found the risk assessment dashboard particularly helpful for spotting applications with poor security practices or compliance issues. The access certification workflows make it easy to review user permissions, so that regulatory requirements can be met even with less administrative work.
(Image credit: Zluri)
Zluri: Analytics
Zluri's analytics offer deep insights via data visualization into SaaS usage, spending, and security. The easy-to-use dashboards provide both broad overviews and detailed views. This helps IT admins spot trends, anomalies, and chances for optimization quickly. We found the spend analytics especially useful. They clearly visualized costs by department, application category, and time period. This helped us find ways to combine redundant tools and renegotiate contracts.
User-level analytics give clear insights into application adoption and engagement across the organization. We were able to track inactive users, find power users, and monitor license usage. This data could help you make smart choices about resource allocation. The customizable reports also generate specific insights for different stakeholders, making it easier to get to the issues you care about.
(Image credit: Zluri)
Zluri: Ease of use
Zluri's user interface balances strong functionality with an easy-to-use design. This makes it friendly for teams new to SaaS management. The dashboard is clean and organized, showing key metrics at a glance. You can navigate it easily to get detailed views for specific applications, departments, or users. During testing, we were able to master the interface quickly, after only a brief orientation. Contextual help features also offer useful guidance for complex tasks.
The platform’s workflow automation cuts down the learning curve even more by simplifying common tasks that usually need several steps. We liked the smart design of the application discovery process, which can integrate with various data sources without coding. Some of the advanced features, like custom integrations and complex workflows, need technical skills however. Still, Zluri offers templates and wizards to make these features easier to access.
(Image credit: Zluri)
Zluri: Support
Zluri provides different support options based on pricing plans. All customers can access email support, knowledge base resources, and regular webinars. In our evaluation, we found the support team to be both responsive and knowledgeable. They usually reply to inquiries within a few hours and offer clear, actionable solutions. The platform's implementation specialists are especially helpful during setup. They give personalized guidance for integrating with your systems and customizing workflows to meet your needs.
(Image credit: Zluri)
Zluri: Security
Zluri shows a strong commitment to security. It has SOC 2 Type II certification, regular penetration testing, and robust data encryption for data both in transit and at rest. The platform's handling of user permissions is also pretty robust. It offers granular role-based access controls, letting organizations define what team members can see and change in the system based on their jobs.
Zluri's clear security documentation was another highlight during our research. But it doesn't just commit to these security standards for its own platform. Zluri can proactively spot security risks in your existing SaaS ecosystem. This includes applications without proper security certifications or those storing sensitive data.
Zluri: The Competition
Zluri has many competitors, including BetterCloud, Torii, and Productiv. Each has its strengths and focus areas.
BetterCloud excels in workflow automation and has been around longer. However, Zluri's discovery engine is better at spotting shadow IT. Its interface is also more user-friendly for daily tasks.
Torii offers similar core features, focusing on automated workflows and a sleek interface. Still, Zluri stands out with stronger financial optimization and vendor management.
Productiv is all about application engagement analytics and benchmarking. This appeals to organizations that value adoption metrics and ROI analysis. For enterprises using ServiceNow, Productiv's SaaS Operations Management module provides integration benefits. However, it lacks the same depth and specialization as Zluri.
While each competitor has unique strengths, Zluri provides the best mix of discovery, cost optimization, workflow automation, and ease of use.
Zluri: Final Verdict
Zluri delivers on its promise of great SaaS management. It offers strong discovery features, an easy-to-use interface, and useful cost optimization tools.
During our evaluation, we found the platform excels at finding shadow IT, improving workflows, and giving insights to optimize software spending.
The initial setup does take time and resources. Some advanced features can be harder to learn. Still, Zluri's ongoing improvements and helpful support team make it a strong option for organizations with a complex tech stack.
ServiceNow is a powerful cloud-based ITSM tool that streamlines workflows and service management in IT, HR, and customer service. During our testing, we were impressed with its ability to automate complex processes. This feature lets organizations swap manual tasks for advanced digital workflows without any coding knowledge. The platform's flexibility helps businesses define, design, and automate their service delivery, enhancing operational efficiency for larger enterprises.
ServiceNow connects easily with popular tools like Jira, DocuSign, Microsoft, Google, and Salesforce. We liked how the customization options allowed us to tailor it to our needs. However, this flexibility comes with a steeper learning curve than we expected. The self-service portals were particularly useful, letting end-users create tickets and report incidents easily.
While researching the platform, we noticed how many reviews mention that the user interface feels dated. While the recent upgrade to the Next Experience UI addresses much of these issues, some occasional clunkiness still remains. And the reporting and business intelligence features, while functional, were not as strong as some competing systems we looked at.
Still, ServiceNow's AI-powered intelligence is quite impressive. It automatically categorizes, prioritizes, and routes incoming tickets based on historical data, cutting response times. For large organizations with complex IT environments, ServiceNow provides great value due to its service management tools and automation features. However, smaller businesses might find the platform's complexity and high licensing costs challenging.
(Image credit: ServiceNow)
ServiceNow: Plans and pricing
ServiceNow uses a subscription-based pricing model. Prices vary based on modules, features, and the number of users. We found that the company does not share pricing publicly. Instead, potential customers must contact the sales team for a tailored quote based on their needs. That said, current users mention that annual contracts usually start at $75-$100 per user per month for companies with 50 to over 100 users.
The platform has several product lines, including IT Service Management, IT Operations Management, Customer Service Management, and HR Service Delivery. Each line has its own pricing structure. Most organizations begin with the IT Service Management (ITSM) package, with the option to add more modules later. ServiceNow also provides a limited free trial, which is helpful for testing basic functions, but it does not include all features available in paid subscriptions.
(Image credit: ServiceNow)
ServiceNow: Features
ServiceNow offers a complete set of tools to improve workflows and service delivery across departments. In our tests, we were impressed by how well the platform automates complex processes. It also allows for easy customization. Here are the key features that stood out to us:
Workflow automation
ServiceNow's workflow automation is key to its offerings. It let us design, implement, and optimize complex workflows with little to no coding. We found the visual workflow editor easy for business analysts to use for basic processes. It also offers the depth developers need for complex automation. The platform triggers actions based on set conditions, cutting down manual work during testing. Automated escalations and notifications helped ensure nothing was missed.
Service catalog and request management
ServiceNow's service catalog can create a central marketplace for all your services. During our evaluation, we made a number of custom request forms. These forms had dynamic fields that changed based on user selections, making requests intuitive for end-users. The approval workflows were strong. They allowed multi-level approvals and delegation, ensuring business continuity even when key approvers were unavailable.
Knowledge management
The knowledge management system in ServiceNow offers strong tools to create, organize, and share information. We liked how the platform suggests relevant articles to service desk agents based on incident details. This feature greatly reduces resolution times. The knowledge base also has solid version control and review workflows that keep content accurate. Plus, the self-service portal helps users find solutions before submitting tickets.
Configuration management database (CMDB)
ServiceNow's CMDB gave us a clear view of the IT infrastructure and service links. This was crucial for change management and solving problems. During our review, we saw that the discovery tools mapped relationships between configuration items well. They created a visual map of how systems work together. The platform tracked changes to configuration items over time. This feature added important context for troubleshooting. And its integration with incident and problem management modules made managing IT services seamless.
(Image credit: ServiceNow)
ServiceNow: Analytics
ServiceNow's reporting and analytics tools give clear insights into service performance and operations. They offer both pre-built and customizable dashboards. We found the Performance Analytics module very helpful for tracking key performance indicators. We used it to monitor metrics like mean time to resolution, SLA compliance, and ticket volume trends over time. The platform also let us dig into specific metrics, helping us spot bottlenecks in service delivery and make informed decisions on resource use.
The platform includes predictive intelligence features. These use machine learning to find patterns and predict future service demands based on past data. We were impressed by how the system can automatically categorize and prioritize incoming requests. This significantly lessened the manual workload for any service desk team. However, creating custom reports sometimes needed more technical skills than we expected. Additionally, the visualization options were not as flexible as those in some dedicated business intelligence tools we have used.
(Image credit: ServiceNow)
ServiceNow: Ease of use
ServiceNow offers a mixed experience with usability. Its comprehensive interface can be overwhelming for new users. Our testing revealed a steep learning curve, especially for administrators and developers. The navigation structure is logical, but it has many menus and options. End-users may sometimes struggle to find specific services in the portal.
The platform does include features that improve usability, like role-based views. These views show only relevant information and functions for each user type. We also liked the mobile app, which simplified approving requests and checking status updates. Recent updates have brought many UI improvements, but some parts of the system still feel like traditional enterprise software.
(Image credit: ServiceNow)
ServiceNow: Support
ServiceNow provides tiered support options based on subscription levels, including Standard, Enterprise, and Elite packages. During our evaluation, we found the knowledge base and active community forums helpful for troubleshooting common issues. This allowed us to solve problems without contacting official support.
But the Elite support package offers 24/7 assistance, with quicker response times for critical issues. But complex customization questions still sometimes needed escalation to specialized technical teams. ServiceNow also offers professional services for implementation and optimization. Smaller organizations with limited IT resources may find these helpful due to the platform's complexity.
(Image credit: ServiceNow)
ServiceNow: Security
ServiceNow has SOC 1, SOC 2, and ISO 27001 certifications for its cloud infrastructure. It also offers strong role-based access controls.
Apart from that, the platform provides detailed audit trails that record all system changes to make compliance reporting easy. ServiceNow's data encryption, both in transit and at rest, meets industry security standards. It also offers regular security updates and strong vulnerability management tools to keep pace with growing security threats.
ServiceNow: The Competition
The enterprise service management market has several alternatives to ServiceNow. Atlassian's Jira Service Management is a popular choice for organizations using the Atlassian ecosystem. In fact, Jira Service Management is easier for smaller teams and much cheaper. But it lacks some of ServiceNow's advanced workflow features.
BMC Helix is another strong competitor. It has similar enterprise functionality and a more modern user interface than ServiceNow. But, it requires a similar effort for implementation.
For those seeking simpler solutions, Freshservice stands out. It has an intuitive interface and a faster implementation timeline, making it great for mid-sized businesses with basic needs. Zendesk also competes in this space. Its service management offerings are excellent for customer service but lack depth in IT operations management compared to ServiceNow.
ServiceNow: Final Verdict
ServiceNow is a powerful platform that offers great value for large businesses ready to invest time and resources. During our testing, we were impressed by its customization options and strong workflow automation. But the learning curve is steep and the costs high. Hopefully, ServiceNow's added efficiency will make the price worthwhile for large-scale IT operations.
Spiceworks offers a complete IT service management solution that's packed with features — for free. We found it very easy to set up, needing little configuration to manage tickets. The clean interface is very easy to navigate, but the ads can be a bit distracting.
The ticketing system is central to Spiceworks' functions. It lets your team track and manage IT support requests via email and a customizable self-service portal. We liked the automated notifications and response templates. They made the overall workflow smoother and improved communication with users. The platform also has useful asset management tools that work well with the help desk, giving you a full view of our tech setup.
Spiceworks impressed us with its strong reporting tools and customization options. However, we did face some performance issues during testing. Sometimes, the system took longer than expected to restart after shutdowns. We also experienced a few moments where the app became unresponsive. Despite these issues, the overall value is compelling, especially for smaller organizations with tight budgets that don't need enterprise-level features.
The cloud-based version of Spiceworks replaced the desktop app after December 2021. It provides the same core functions with the added benefit of access from anywhere. The mobile apps offered easy access to tickets, though they had limited functionality compared to the full web interface. For organizations looking for a free way into help desk automation, Spiceworks strikes a strong balance of features, usability, and community support. And for those wanting more than that, there's a Premium version at $6 per user per month.
(Image credit: Spiceworks)
Spiceworks: Plans and pricing
Spiceworks has a unique pricing model. It offers a free tier and a new Premium option for teams needing more features. The Core plan is free for up to 5 seats. There are no limits on tickets, users, or storage. This makes it great for small to medium-sized businesses with limited IT resources. Our testing showed this approach is clear and easy to understand. However, the free version does show ads, which can distract from support tasks.
For teams with 5 or more users who want an ad-free experience, Spiceworks offers a Premium tier. It costs $6 per seat per month. This option includes all the features of the free version without ads. It provides better value than many competitors in the help desk market. We liked that Spiceworks keeps its pricing simple with just two tiers. There are no complex features or hidden costs, making budgeting easy for organizations of any size.
(Image credit: Spiceworks)
Spiceworks: Features
Spiceworks offers a complete set of help desk tools for IT support teams. In our tests, we found the platform balances functionality and ease of use well. It has intuitive workflows without losing depth. Here are the standout features that impressed us the most.
Ticket management
The ticket management system is key to Spiceworks. It provides flexible options for creating, assigning, and tracking support requests. We found the email integration very useful. It automatically turns incoming messages into tickets while keeping the entire conversation history. The customizable ticket fields and status workflows let our team tailor the system to our needs. However, we sometimes wanted more advanced automation for complex routing scenarios.
Knowledge base
Spiceworks has a strong knowledge base feature. It helped our team cut down on repetitive support requests by offering self-service options. We liked how simple it was to turn resolved tickets into knowledge base articles. These articles included rich formatting, attachments, and internal notes. The platform also provides public and private knowledge base options. This lets us share some information with end users while keeping other documents for internal use only.
Asset management
The integrated asset management tools give clear insights into your IT infrastructure and support activities. In testing, the network scanning tool successfully found and listed our devices. It gathered detailed data on hardware specs, installed software, and warranty status. Linking tickets to specific assets helped our support team understand issues better. However, we noticed that the scanning sometimes missed devices or provided incomplete information.
Community support
Spiceworks has a unique advantage with its large IT community. This community acts as a support resource and a professional network. Our team often found answers to technical issues in the community forums. Thousands of IT professionals share advice and troubleshooting tips there. The link between the help desk and the community lets you search for solutions while working on tickets. This can save you a lot of research time.
(Image credit: Spiceworks)
Spiceworks: Analytics
Spiceworks offers strong reporting tools that show help desk performance and workload distribution. During testing, we found that the pre-built reports covered most key metrics we needed. These included ticket volume, resolution times, and support team performance. The dashboard gives quick insights through customizable widgets. However, we sometimes wanted more flexibility to create fully custom visualizations.
The platform also has advanced reporting features. You can add filters or mix filters to make reports that fit your needs. We liked generating reports that ranged from simple overviews of open tickets to detailed analyses of pending tickets over specific timeframes. For organizations needing deeper data analysis, Spiceworks provides a custom Power BI Desktop Data Connector. This tool lets you pull data directly from your Cloud Help Desk account and refresh it into your Power BI report template with one click after setup.
(Image credit: Spiceworks)
Spiceworks: Ease of use
Spiceworks has an easy-to-use interface. Even team members with limited tech skills found it simple to navigate. The dashboard gives a clear view of ticket status, recent activities, and key metrics. The menu structure is logical, making it easy to access different features. During testing, we liked the contextual help tips and the option to customize views. However, we sometimes had to click through multiple screens to finish tasks.
The ticket creation and management process is straightforward. It has clear status indicators and lets users quickly assign, prioritize, and categorize support requests. We found the email integration user-friendly. It allows users to create and respond to tickets without logging into the system. The knowledge base editor feels like a familiar word processor, making it easy to create and format documentation. However, the search function sometimes struggled to return the most relevant articles when using partial keywords.
(Image credit: Spiceworks)
Spiceworks: Support
Spiceworks offers different support channels, each with varying response times based on your tier. We found the knowledge base and community forums to be the most useful. They often provide solutions faster than direct support. Premium users enjoy priority email support, which has quicker response times. Free users can submit tickets but may wait longer for complex issues. The company also provides regular webinars and training resources to help users maximize the platform.
(Image credit: Spiceworks)
Spiceworks: Security
Spiceworks takes security seriously. They use industry-standard measures to protect sensitive help desk data. Our testing showed that the platform uses TLS encryption for data in transit. Regular security audits and SOC 2 compliance add extra reassurance. The granular permission system lets administrators control which team members can access certain information and perform specific actions. However, we would have liked more detailed audit logging to track user activities in the system.
Spiceworks: The Competition
For organizations looking for alternatives to Spiceworks, Freshdesk is a strong choice. It has a better ticketing system with advanced automation and a clean, ad-free interface, even at lower tiers. In our testing, we found Freshdesk's multichannel support and AI features to be more comprehensive. However, its pricing can rise quickly, especially as you add users and features, making it pricier than Spiceworks' Premium tier.
ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus is another solid alternative, especially for larger organizations needing ITIL compliance and better workflow customization.
For teams focused on project management but with some help desk needs, Jira Service Management offers better integration with development workflows and more customization. Zendesk is also a strong competitor, providing better omnichannel support and advanced reporting tools, but it comes at a significantly higher cost than Spiceworks.
But for organizations on tight budgets, Spiceworks' free tier stands out for its functionality without any financial commitment.
Spiceworks: Final Verdict
Spiceworks offers great value as a help desk solution, especially for small to medium-sized organizations with tight IT budgets. In our testing, we saw that the platform balances functionality and simplicity well. It provides essential help desk features in an easy-to-use package that doesn't need a lot of training.
While the ads in the free tier can be distracting, and some advanced features from premium competitors are absent, the affordable Premium tier is a strong option. It makes Spiceworks appealing for growing teams that need dependable ticket management without overspending.
Having toiled away on critically-acclaimed titles in the Metroid series and reviving Konami’s Castlevania series, developer MercurySteam has taken the risk of co-financing their latest project. Blades of Fire is its chance to prove their development skills at crafting their own original idea, and there’s a lot to love about this game’s blend of dark fantasy and mythology.
Review info
Platform reviewed: PS5 Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC Release date: May 22, 2025
That being said, it’s hard not to feel the weight of legacy and industry trends, rather than instilling this world with bold new ideas, holding this game back from greatness.
Rather than focusing on the negatives, there’s much to appreciate in this new game, particularly the father-son-esque bond at the heart of this story. While the game builds up a story about an ancient race of giants known as Forgers, instilling the knowledge to craft weapons from steel into humanity, with this power being seized by the anointed Queen Nerea to curse those who oppose her and turn steel to stone, the plot is simple. Aran de Lira possesses one of the ancient hammers necessary to forge his own steel, and alongside Asdo, the son of his deceased friend, embarks on a quest to kill the queen.
(Image credit: MercurySteam)
Classic is queen
There’s an almost-quaint retro simplicity to which the world of Blades of Fire is introduced: Aran is a lonely figure with an unspoken past that fuels his desire for a solitary existence, yet he’s more than willing to go and save an old friend he hears in danger nearby. The child desires revenge for his father’s death and, thanks to his knowledge of the Forgers, goes on this adventure with Aran to take down the queen.
The contrast of scholarly child and mysterious scarred older man soon warms to you, and not solely due to the similarities between their bond and that of Kratos and Atreus in the recent God of War titles. Asdo is far from an annoying sidekick, balancing wisdom with genuinely funny quips that are enough to make you laugh without grating (and you can always send him away, if you do wish for him to be quiet). I felt a warmth for Aran and a desire to learn more of his past, especially the guarded secrets of his past relationship to the Queen before her descent to despotic control.
Having first expected a practical but minimal story, I was surprised to find myself attached and with a desire to learn more of the rich lore the devs instilled into this world.
There’s an unabashed videogame-y nature to this world and cast, imbued with a quirkiness reminiscent of mid-budget adventure games abundant in the Xbox 360 and PS3 era
This is balanced with an engaging combat system that, though its quirks and intricacies will take time to learn, thanks to an at-first clunky and uncomfortable control scheme, you soon come to appreciate. Victory requires players to learn enemy attack patterns and the best weapons to counter each of them.
All four face buttons are each mapped to their direction of attack: on a PlayStation controller, this means Triangle will strike from above, X from below, and Square and Circle from each side. Depending on an opponent’s armor, it’s required to consider where you strike in order to deal maximum damage, or at times, inflict any damage at all.
The need to be aware of not just when but where you strike is most important in boss fights. One early sub-boss, a troll, requires you to whittle down its health, then slice off a part of the enemy’s body in order to drain it further before it can regenerate. Whether fighting big bosses - one boss at the end of the Crimson Fort is particularly interesting in how it forces you to learn both attack patterns and strike direction to defeat it most effectively - or small-fry enemies, it rarely tires even after dozens of hours have passed.
It may take time to get used to the stamina system that is required to inflict stronger, quicker attacks, and your hands will strain getting used to the unusual grip of having both block and dodging mapped to the left bumper and trigger, but you soon adjust to the fascinating tension it instils to high-stakes conflict.
(Image credit: MercurySteam)
Nerves of steel
Embodying the blacksmith skills key to the game’s identity, you must collect materials around the world to forge new weapons. You have complete control over the type of steel you use, which determines weight, speed, strength, blocking, and more, and once you’ve refined this selection, you must then physically hammer the weapon into shape. The closer to the real shape, the more refined the weapon, and therefore the more you can repair it before it’s unusable.
It’s fun, at first. After a while, it becomes repetitive and time-consuming. If you craft a good enough weapon, you can automatically recraft it to this level without replaying the minigame, but if you wish to improve this stat or build a new weapon, you must spend upwards of five minutes forging, grinding the momentum to a shuddering halt.
It’s one of a few issues holding the game back, many tied to the long legacy leading into this game’s development and the weight of adjusting the game’s design to chase industry trends. Many senior developers on Blades of Fire worked on the mostly forgotten 2001 action title named Severance: Blade of Darkness, which, beyond visual similarities, is often regarded as a precursor to the Dark Souls genre in its careful use of stamina and deliberate action.
Best bit
While it takes some time to get used to it, getting to grips with this unusual control scheme and observing a difficult boss’ attack patterns to correctly slice, dodge, and weave your way to victory brings about a primal joy that wills you forward towards the next area on your adventure.
While this makes it perhaps unfair to compare a game refining these 2001 ideas to Dark Souls, it’s hard not to see their implementation, and many other mechanics not found in Severance but introduced to this game are clearly inspired by the industry’s wholesale embrace of the beloved FromSoftware title. Players have limited flasks of health potions that can only be restored by resting at anvils, this game’s thematically fitting equivalent to bonfires, and upon death, players must return to the location they were felled in order to rescue their weapon.
Even if we were to credit these ideas to Severance and not an attempt to create a Soulslike adventure, Blades of Fire’s level design and enemies feel best suited to a style of action opposite to the plodding action and unstoppable attack animations of both titles. In battles against undead hordes, you can at times be facing close to a dozen enemies at once, and even your fastest weapons are useless with the rate at which your attacks are interrupted.
As this game lacks the punishment of lost resources or the risk of losing your weapon forever if you die before reclaiming it, recovering your weapon feels more like a chore and an obligatory feature to adhere to the formula than a design suited to the pace of this adventure.
(Image credit: MercurySteam)
A search for souls
It contributed to an overwhelming feeling that the embrace of so many Souls-isms only served to hinder the natural flow of the game, rather than enhance it.
This is before we discuss the game’s cumbersome map, which, through its lack of dimension, can become nearly useless when navigating more complex, multi-level terrain for the next objective.
This is only compounded by the fact that there’s no clear indication in the environment on where to go next, and even the optional objective markers activated by navigating menus and automatically disabled upon clearing that specific objective, unless reactivated, are often useless in more complex multi-level areas. If you’re navigating a multi-floor fortress and miss an inconspicuous door you must unlock with a newly-obtained key, even a marker won’t stop you wandering in circles for 20 minutes or longer, lost and frustrated.
Yet despite my complaints, I felt just enough charm to find myself soldiering forward. There’s an unabashed gamey nature to this world and cast, imbued with a quirkiness reminiscent of mid-budget adventure games abundant in the Xbox 360 and PS3 era, like Enslaved: Odyssey to the West, but non-existent in this modern era of spiraling budgets.
(Image credit: MercurySteam)
For all I can complain about Soulslike inspirations that these days induce more groans than excitement, there’s a simplicity to this quest to go and kill the queen while offering just enough mechanical depth without bogging you down in an overwhelming number of unnecessary systems.
You craft weapons, you fight enemies, you move forward. Simple, but the sense of a human hand touching every asset rather than some overcautious executive or an overzealous focus group drew me even to its flaws.
Blades of Fire is charming, even if its soulslike eccentricities were more of a hindrance to the characters and adventure housed within. This blend of retro simplicity and modern flair won’t be the best game you play in 2025, but it’s likely going to be one of the more charming (and as such memorable), and isn’t that just as good?
Should you play Blades of Fire?
Play it if...
You miss your Xbox 360 or PS3 There’s an indescribable essence to this game that feels like a lost title from the PS3 and 360 generation, modernized with quality-of-life and graphics improvements, giving it a feel unlike many other modern games.
You enjoy customizing your weapons The gameplay is fun, but key to victory is picking the right choice from dozens of refinements of steel while even customizing the pommel and small of your weapons to your playstyle. Understanding the best way to craft a weapon takes patience.
Don't play it if...
You aren’t a fan of Dark Souls or soulslikes While not a soulslike, many mechanics indicative of the famous series are present, and likely won’t gel with players seeking a more fast-paced action adventure.
Accessibility features
Accessibility features in Blades of Fire are limited. Camera shake and motion blur can be adjusted, alongside the size and color of subtitles but otherwise, the default text is small, and it lacks many commonplace accessibility features such as colorblind modes.
How I reviewed Blades of Fire
I played just over 30 hours of the game on a base PS5 model using a standard DualSense controller on standard difficulty, getting all the way through the game to the latter stages of the main story.
I utilized an ASUS VG27AQL1A gaming monitor, while for audio, a mix of Denon speakers and a wireless audio adapter, and AirPods Max were used.
If you’d have told a 33-year-old Tom Cruise at the 1996 premiere of Mission: Impossible that he’d be promoting — and not just promoting, living — the same film franchise 29 years and seven instalments later, he probably would’ve believed you right there and then.
There are plenty of seemingly impossible things about Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, but Cruise’s commitment to the character of Ethan Hunt is not one of them. Brian De Palma’s big-screen reboot of the 1966 Mission: Impossible TV series was the first to be produced by Cruise’s then-new production company C/W Productions, and the ageless star has since committed to going bigger and better with each subsequent instalment.
The Final Reckoning is, we presume, the last Mission: Impossible movie for some time (maybe ever!), and though it’s certainly no better than what’s come before – in truth, it probably places fifth or sixth in our ranking of the Mission: Impossible movies – it’s most definitely bigger than anything else you’ve seen (or will see) this year.
Back in the saddle
The series' eighth entry picks up where 2023’s Dead Reckoning left off, with Ethan and the rest of the IMF gang still trying to outfox the rogue artificial intelligence system known as 'the Entity'. It’s essentially the same Big Bad as before, except now the Entity is hell-bent on nuclear armageddon, and it’s also started to brainwash small pockets of the populace into supporting its apocalyptic cause (some people just have to be part of a club).
To ensure its own survival when the bombs start to fall, the Entity needs access to a secure digital bunker in South Africa, and it’s here that our heroes hope to trap ChatGPT-on-steroids using a combination of various hard-to-get-hold-of MacGuffins, including an elaborate USB stick buried in the belly of a sunken Russian submarine. So far, so Mission: Impossible.
There are many, many other facets to The Final Reckoning’s convoluted story, which is even more difficult to follow than the plot of the original Mission: Impossible, but the film is essentially a '90s disaster movie dressed up as a commentary on AI and misinformation.
That’s not necessarily unbecoming of the franchise – Ethan has always been dropped into a race against time to save the world – but, to its detriment, The Final Reckoning feels distinctly more grandiose than any other Mission movie before it, with more time devoted to politicking and fate-of-the-world decision-making than to ingenious gadgetry and covert spycraft.
Ethan spends precious little time with his IMF crew in The Final Reckoning (Image credit: Paramount)
Mission: Impossible is at its best when Ethan and his band of IMF misfits are infiltrating a famous landmark or pulling off an improbable escape, quipping at each other as they do so (the Burj Khalifa sequence in Ghost Protocol is an all-timer example of that formula in action). The Final Reckoning swaps this playful tone for doom and gloom in a bid to raise the emotional stakes, but the trade-off is a more serious, arguably un-Mission: Impossible-like experience overall.
This sentiment isn’t helped by an exposition-heavy first hour, which jumps between locations, characters, and plot threads like a YouTube recap of the Mission: Impossible series so far. Flashbacks are fine in moderation, but the sheer number of them deployed by director Christopher McQuarrie in the opening moments of The Final Reckoning is an indictment of the film’s unwieldy story.
Getting down to business
The underwater sequence is an instant Mission: Impossible classic (Image credit: Paramount)
Mercifully, things take a turn for the action-packed about halfway through, when Ethan jumps into the Bering Sea in search of that aforementioned Russian submarine. It’s here that we’re introduced to Captain Bledsoe, played with scene-stealing aplomb by Severance star Tramell Tillman, and the first of two outrageously gripping stunts gets underway.
If you’ve seen any of The Final Reckoning’s trailers or posters, you’ll know that the biplane sequence – shot at 8,000 feet in 140mph winds with no CGI – is being framed as the film’s centerpiece, and while it’s undeniably impressive, the earlier submarine sequence is arguably the bigger highlight. Here, McQuarrie and Cruise use a combination of digital effects and practical wizardry to simulate the inside of a missile-filled submarine at the bottom of the ocean, and the sense of scale and jeopardy the pair achieve is staggering.
Watching Cruise dodge nuclear warheads under life-threatening amounts of pressure will have you, too, feeling like you’re trapped on the ocean floor, especially if you experience this ordeal in the expanded aspect ratio afforded by IMAX.
Quite frankly, The Final Reckoning is saved by its two major set-pieces. They bring a much-needed injection of excitement to an otherwise drawn-out disaster story, and while the film as a whole could do with more action and less situation-room drama, these stunts will remind you why you paid the ticket price. Nobody is doing it like Tom Cruise, and this eighth and potentially final entry in the Mission: Impossible franchise – for all its many shortcomings – hammers home that truth and then some. Cue the theme music!
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning arrives in theaters and IMAX on May 21 (UK) and May 23 (internationally).
