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Viaim’s AI recording and transcription earbuds will blow your mind, if you’ll accept ANC that’s just a shade off excellent
1:00 pm | May 10, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Earbuds & Airpods Gadgets Headphones | Tags: , , | Comments: Off

RecDot Earbuds: Two-minute review

Boy, have I enjoyed my experience with the Viaim RecDot earbuds. Beginning with the AI recording and transcription functionality and ending with the sound quality, there’s very little not to love about Viaim’s latest offering.

The positives begin with the ability to record and transcribe calls, audio/video clips and meetings. This covers all situations and scenarios that you could ever find yourself wanting this type of functionality. I tried all of these features and thankfully found them to be reliable and accurate; otherwise, I would have been left seriously frustrated. My only gripe was that if a speaker (as in, the person speaking) paused for too long, Viaim would insert a full stop. Not very helpful, but perhaps a nice reminder that AI doesn't have consciousness, creativity or actual emotion.

Transcription is extended further by translation tools, the creation of to-do lists and summaries, and sharing audio or transcriptions to other devices. It really is a one-stop shop for managing your professional life. I found that these buds fit seamlessly into all aspects of my life, but especially at work.

I’ve already mentioned how impressed I was with the sound quality, but my brief comment deserves expansion. Having listened to music and carried out calls with friends and colleagues, I think Viaim has hit the mark across the board for detail across the frequencies. Remarkably, I found that I could just as easily discern a caller’s words while in a busy location as I could enjoy soulful tunes having sunk into my favorite chair for the night.

In short, far from being AI earbuds with average sound quality that you have to put up with, these are buds that are as good as much of the competition out there at the moment. The fact that they also transcribe recordings like a pro is ever more impressive.

RecDot Earbuds

(Image credit: Future)

From a design point of view, the RecDot are slightly chunkier than I would have liked, although they look pretty good for it. They’re not the snuggest fit and therefore aren’t really suitable for intense exercise, but they’re fine for when you’re sat at a computer, commuting or in a meeting.

Each bud comes with a long stem which houses a sensor for picking up presses and swipes. I would love to have had a recognition tone or perhaps haptic feedback integration, as it can at times be difficult to tell if your touches have been picked up. The buds sit cosily in the charging case, which offers a total of 36 hours of life, with each bud able to hold a maximum of 9 hours of power. All of this is more than enough to keep you going even through the busiest of days.

At $249.99 / £185 / AU$375, they’re not the cheapest buds around, but I wouldn’t compare them like-for-like against any other alternative on the market right now. These are excellent-sounding buds that deliver game-changing transcription. If you’re looking to save time in (and after) work meetings, there’s no easier way than with Viaim’s RecDot.

Any flies in the ointment? One or two; the case lid feels a tad flimsy and the ANC is fine rather than fantastic. OK, so they're unlikely to ever make it into our guide to the best noise cancelling earbuds, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised if they popped up in our broader best earbuds guide. I also think that if ever we created a ‘best earbuds for AI’ category (can't be long, surely?) the RecDot would be a front-runner.

Viaim RecDot Earbuds review: Price & release date

  • Released January 2025
  • Priced $249.99 / £185 / AU$375

As Viaim’s flagship product, the RecDot earbuds attract a premium price tag. Early AI adopters might be able to stomach the price, but if you only have a passing interest in how AI can streamline your workflows, you might not be convinced.

It’s difficult to bring a direct price comparison given there are so few AI earbuds on the market that can do everything these earbuds can. One example would be the Aidio X1 AI Earbuds for $149, but we’ve not yet tested those – oh, and Samsung's Galaxy Buds can do the real-time translation trick (and have been able to for a little while now) provided you've got a Samsung phone.

A helpful comparison is always Apple's AirPods Pro 2, which usually cost under $199 / £199 / AU$349. Let's not mince words – the design correlation between Apple's buds and Viaim's newer effort is striking. If you go for the RecDot earbuds, you’ll be sacrificing ANC quality, but for the extra money, you’ll get an abundance of useful hearing health features that are well worth the money (especially if you own an iPhone).

RecDot Earbuds

(Image credit: Future)

Viaim RecDot Earbuds review: Specifications

RecDot Earbuds

(Image credit: Future)

Viaim RecDot Earbuds review: Features

  • Excellent AI recording
  • Live transcription
  • Smart ANC leaves a little to be desired

When you buy a pair of the best wireless earbuds, you’ll be looking for great audio, excellent ANC and a snug fit. What most people are not looking for is an extensive set of recording and transcription services. But just because you might not have been looking for them, doesn’t mean you don’t need 'em.

With that introduction out of the way, are you ready for some seriously good features? Let’s begin with recording. There are three primary ways your set of RecDot Earbuds can do this, including call recording, audio/video recording, or live recording. The first will transcribe in real-time during a system or VoIP call. The second transcribes speeches in an audio or video clip, again in real time. The last transcribes live when you are in face-to-face dialog or in a small meeting room.

No matter how you access these recordings and transcriptions, you’ll find them to be reliable, comprehensive and useful for everyday purposes. I used it to make written notes from my own voice, to access a transcription of a conversation with a friend, and in a meeting with colleagues.

The Viaim software was able to pick up what was being said with very few issues or errors. The only snafu I experienced was that if I or someone else spoke too slowly or paused, Viaim would think it needed to begin a new sentence even if that wasn’t the speaker’s intention. So, you'll need to sub-edit your notes afterwards, but I find that's true of all note-taking software. I’d definitely like to see some post-AI tools that can sweep through the text and bring corrections, but it's still a neat perk.

RecDot Earbuds

(Image credit: Future)

What is maybe even more impressive than real-time transcription is that Viaim is able to distinguish between different speakers and mark them accordingly. I found this feature to be surprisingly reliable, making it a good fit for creating extensive meeting notes about who said what.

Transcriptions can also be simultaneously translated into up to 14 languages. With support for English, Chinese, French, German, and others, Viaim has covered a very high percentage of the world’s languages. I wasn’t involved in any bilingual meetings during my time of testing, but I can imagine how helpful this would be to non-native speakers.

The final AI feature to mention is the meeting assistant, which extracts concise summaries and actionable to-do items from lengthy recordings. If my mind hadn’t already been blown, then it most certainly was when I tested this feature. I couldn’t believe how accurately it was able to determine who needed to do what. It also did it remarkably quickly. My experience of this particular feature rings true through all the AI tools: impressive, reliable, and accurate.

Let’s finish by talking ANC. The 'Smart ANC' in the RecDot claims to reduce ambient noise by up to 48 dB, which would make it more than capable of drowning out most ambient noise. They don’t nix noise to the level of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, but they’re still capable enough for general everyday use. Given that they’ll be used primarily in office settings, you’re unlikely to need the highest-performing ANC buds – although for long-haul flights their minor shortcomings when it comes to jet engine noise cancellation could be more noticeable.

  • Features score: 4.5/5

RecDot Earbuds

The actual RecDot! (Image credit: Future)

RecDot Earbuds review: Sound quality

  • Vibrant, detailed, and crisp
  • Only one profile works for those with broad music tastes
  • ANC can be hit and miss, but auto option is best

I began by firing up Azizam by Ed Sheeran. The RecDot are able to deliver high levels of vibrancy with the strong dance beat punching through, without fighting against the vocals. While I was in an Ed Sheeran mood, I jumped into Galway Girl and sat back to enjoy the surprisingly wide soundstage. I would have taken a little more detail across the listening experience, but in general, it was all very pleasant.

Transitioning to a more sombre mood, I hit play on The Curse by Agnes Obel. Obel’s voice rises above the beautifully defined plucking of strings, delivering a near-perfect blend of instruments and notes. Alongside numerous other tracks, I was keen to play something layered, complex and gentle. I turned to the theme from Jurassic Park, by John Williams. Given this track's multiple instruments, I was pleased to hear the distinction between the flutes, piano and in fact all other sections of the orchestra. Well done, Viaim.

Most of my testing was carried out using the 'balanced' sound setting, although I did have a play around with other options, including pop, bass boost, and electronic. These other profiles were fantastic for specific tracks, but given my broad music tastes, I found them unreliable across multiple genres. I would therefore recommend sticking with the default unless you have reason to change it.

It was a similar story when it came to ANC. There’s the option to set it to low, middle, or high, but I found these weren’t reliable enough across a wide range of environments. I opted instead for the auto option and let the RecDot do the work. It’s fair to say that this did affect the sound, negatively at times, but it was better than choosing one of the three predefined options.

All that being said, I wouldn’t buy these buds purely for their sound quality. As good as they are, audiophile purists will want a dedicated pair of earbuds or headphones – probably with wires to their source device. The RecDot are for audio lovers who want more from their buds, namely a meeting companion that gets the job done.

  • Sound quality score: 4/5

RecDot

(Image credit: Future)

RecDot Earbuds review: Design

  • Accessible recording controls
  • Well-designed case that’s easy to use
  • Plenty of eartip options

The RecDot earbuds look pretty similar to almost all other long-stemmed earbuds, although they feel a little bulkier in the hand than something like the AirPods Pro. The additional size is no doubt due to the extra recording features that make the RecDot stand out from the competition.

The sensor strip is located on the stem and provides all on-board controls. The sensor supports five types of interaction with a simple slide increasing and decreasing the volume. I don’t mind sensors instead of buttons, but only if they work well. I found the RecDot earbuds a little fiddly to operate, especially the triple press to go to the previous track. Part of this will be personal preference, but I feel there’s some fine-tuning required.

The also buds ship in black, although I was sent the silver colorway. Both look smart, but I think the black offers a slightly more premium appearance. To help with fitting, Viaim supplies five different sizes of dustproof eartips. They’re a little bit fiddly to swap out, although I’ve never experienced a problem-free eartip change on any earbuds I’ve used to date. Finding the correct size of eartip took a little time, but I was glad to have an abundance to choose from.

With an IP55 rating, the RecDot earbuds are resistant to dust and water. That means you’ll be fine if sweat and rain are your only concerns, but if you’re looking to do anything more adventurous, then they’ll come up lacking. Given their recording and translation talents, these aren’t designed for extreme sports anyway.

Before moving onto the case, the only other thing to mention is that the 11mm dynamic drivers are coated in titanium, which provides the highest possible strength-to-weight ratio. This makes sure they are as light and strong as possible.

No pair of wireless earbuds would be complete without a charging case. Aside from the slightly flimsy sliding top, I only have positive things to say about it. The buds magnetically slot in with a seriously satisfying click, with zero chance of them falling out despite serious shaking. And yes, I did try!

The case supports USB-C charging, which delivers a total of 36 hours of battery life. Each charge will only give the buds a maximum of 9 hours, although this is more than enough for a full day of listening to your favorite music – and quite competitive.

The final element of the charging case is the physical record button. Offering one-click recording during meetings, all you have to do is place an earbud in the charging case, hit record, and wait for either the left or right indicator to flash. I love this feature and have used it regularly. My only bugbear is that I think this record button should double up as a ‘now recording’ light. In my opinion this would be far more satisfying and demonstrative than a dim blinking indicator on a bud.

  • Design score: 4/5

RecDot Earbuds

(Image credit: Future)

RecDot Earbuds review: Value

  • AI features to die for
  • Admirable sound considering the extra perks
  • Competitive battery life

At $249.99 / £185 the Viaim RedCot are far from cheap. You’re paying a premium price for a fully featured set of innovative earbuds. Whether they’re worth the money will hang solely on whether you will utilize their AI features. If you’re only concerned about design and sound then I’d perhaps nudge you towards the much more affordable AirPods 4 with ANC instead.

The AI recording tools are far above the biggest strength of Viaim’s latest buds. Record calls on your phone or at on-site meetings and view translations in realtime. With a capture distance of up to 7 metres you’ll be covered no matter where you’re sitting. I appreciate that you could download software to do this but to have all this tech alongside very capable sound performers makes the recording and listening workflow beautifully seamless.

  • Value score: 4/5

RecDot

(Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the RecDot Earbuds review:

Buy them if...

You want on-board recording capabilities
Not only do the RecDot buds sound fantastic, but they also record audio and transcribe it.

You need a meeting assistant
Extract concise summaries and create actionable to-do lists from lengthy recordings.

You want a great all-rounder
With fantastic sound, decent ANC, good battery life and AI smarts, these are the buds that do it all.

Don't buy them if...

You’re on a budget
At $249.99 / £185, there are much more affordable alternatives.

You must have tight fitting earbuds
They fit fairly well, but I wouldn’t call them a super secure or sports-optimised fit.

Sound is your only priority
The Viaim RecDot do sound good, but there are superior alternatives on the market if detailed, nuanced, neutral audio is your chief concern.

RecDot

(Image credit: Future)

RecDot Earbuds review: Also consider

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
Prefer device-agnostic head-tracked spatial audio plus some of the best ANC in the business? These September 2023-issue earbuds from Bose are a great shout – and the in-ear security is nearly as good as the Powerbeats Pro 2. You'll have to forego a bit of stamina (it's only 6 hours here) and transcription/translation, but the noise-cancellation is superior.
Read more in our Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds review

Cambridge Audio Melomania M100
The ANC-off and transparency profiles are much more enjoyable here – as is the sound quality generally. You also get a similar battery life and the option of Matt Berry on voice prompts (his "Waiting to pair!" is a delight). The overall aesthetic isn't as striking though, and they aren't as secure in your ears – also you can forget about meeting transcription… 
Read our full Cambridge Audio Melomania M100 review

RecDot

(Image credit: Future)

How I tested the RecDot Earbuds

  • Tested for three weeks at work, home, while exercising
  • Listened to Spotify, Apple Music and Deezer on a MacBook Pro, and iPhone

I began by getting them fitted correctly. This was helped by the numerous ear tips provided and the in-app test that covered both sound quality and noise reduction. With that out of the way and my app fully configured, I was ready to test them out in earnest.

Given their AI recording smarts, I was keen to focus my attention on that in the first instance. This mean utilizing them in meetings, conversations, and when I'm on my own. I tested all the different workflows for recording and transcription alongside all the finer elements of functionality. The only part I wasn’t able to test accurately was the translation feature.

Once I was happy with that, I turned my attention to sound quality and ANC. With Ed Sheeran, Agnes Obel and John Williams all lined up alongside TechRadar's trusted track list, I sat back and let my ears do the work.

I reviewed the BenQ PD3226G 32-inch 4K monitor for a month and there are two big reasons why creative professionals will love it
9:48 am |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro | Tags: | Comments: Off

If you had to pick a single feature that's most commonly missing from premium monitors aimed at creative professionals, it's high refresh rate support. Not any more, thanks to the new BenQ PD3226G.

This 32-inch display ticks all the usual premium boxes, including elevated image fidelity from a 4K IPS panel, outstanding connectivity and a broad range of pro-friendly features that creators will appreciate, such as wide color support and Pantone validation. To that it adds 144Hz refresh where 60Hz used to be the norm.

You could argue that high refresh rates are irrelevant to many professional workflows. Largely, that's true. But it is essential for maximising responsiveness for use with some digital art tools, such as drawing tablets. Moreover, high refresh certainly has a major impact when it comes to smooth rendering and an all-round sense of computing slickness. It makes daily computing feel so much snappier.
BenQ also throws in a few unusual extras, including a very nifty IR remote control puck, that serve to sweeten the overall appeal of this gorgeous monitor and ensure that it ranks among the best business monitors. The main snag, however, is the price. At just under $1,300 or £1,100, this is a very expensive display, especially in the context of the entry-level DisplayHDR 400 certification it offers.

BenQ PD3226G: Design & features

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BenQ PD3226G monitor during our review process

(Image credit: BenQ // Future)
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BenQ PD3226G monitor during our review process

(Image credit: BenQ // Future)
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BenQ PD3226G monitor during our review process

(Image credit: BenQ // Future)
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BenQ PD3226G monitor during our review process

(Image credit: BenQ // Future)
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BenQ PD3226G monitor during our review process

(Image credit: BenQ // Future)
  • Minimalist, slim-bezel design
  • Comprehensive connectivity
  • Wireless IR remote
Specs

Panel size: 32-inch

Panel type: IPS

Resolution: 3,840 by 2,160

Brightness: 400 cd/m2

Contrast: 1,200:1

Pixel response: 1ms GtG

Refresh rate: 144Hz

Colour coverage: 95% DCI-P3

HDR: VESA DisplayHDR 400

Vesa: 100mm x 100mm (bracket included)

Inputs: DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 2.0 x1, Thunderbolt 4 / USB-C in with 90W PD

Other: Thunderbolt 4 / USB-C out USB-C hub, USB-C x2 in, USB-A x3, 3.5mm audio

BenQ's latest 32-inch 4K panel for creatives sticks with the company's typically slick and minimalist design vibe, including slim bezels on three sides of its IPS panel. The lower chin bezel is a little chunky. But overall, it's a well-built display and sits securely on a metal stand that offers a full array of adjustability, ensuring strong ergonomics.

Speaking of which, the main array of ports sit flush on the rear of the chassis, as opposed to being situated underneath and pointing downwards, making power, peripheral and display inputs super-simple to get at and plug in. You also get additional ports, including a USB-C data port, plus a USB-A hub and 3.5mm audio jack, situated on the bottom surface of the lower bezel.

While we're on the subject of connectivity, that's definitely a significant highlight of the BenQ PD3226G. For starters, there's Thunderbolt 4 support that offers sideways compatibility with USB-C for single-cable connectivity to a wide range of devices, most obviously laptops. That means you can both drive the display and charge your device with one cable, with power delivery up to 90W.

The Thunderbolt 4 aspect also means you can daisy chain a second monitor from the BenQ PD3226G, though support for that does depend on your computing device. By way of example, Apple's entry-level M1 and M2 chips as found in previous generation Apple Silicon MacBook Air models, only support a single external display and so can't exploit the PD3226G's daisy chaining ability.

To all that you can add KVM switch functionality and therefore support for connecting two computers to this display and sharing a single keyboard and mouse. Rounding out the main physical features is BenQ's third-gen control puck. This time around, it's wireless via IR and powered by a pair of triple-A batteries.

That's a real benefit compared to previous wired iterations of the control puck and helps keep desk clutter to a minimum. The puck itself is extremely slick and sports a tactile metal dial plus shortcut buttons. The dial can be set to control brightness, volume or contrast, while a range of other functions and presets can be accessed in a flash via the shortcut buttons. It's a very nice little extra.

BenQ PD3226G: Performance

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BenQ PD3226G monitor during our review process

(Image credit: BenQ // Future)
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BenQ PD3226G monitor during our review process

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BenQ PD3226G monitor during our review process

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BenQ PD3226G monitor during our review process

(Image credit: BenQ // Future)
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BenQ PD3226G monitor during our review process

(Image credit: BenQ // Future)
  • Good factory calibration
  • Excellent all-round image quality
  • Only entry-level HDR support

Much of the BenQ PD3226G's specifications and therefore performance are pretty familiar. The 32-inch IPS panel delivers excellent all-round image quality, including 95% coverage of the DCI-P3 color space and factory calibration with Delta Es well below two.

Generally, it's a very sweet IPS panel that offers all the usual advantages of the 4K resolution, including plenty of desktop working space and decent pixel density for precise fonts and sharp image quality. It's not a true pro-grade panel for video production, for instance. But it is very well calibrated from the factory and makes for a super nice all-round monitor for creative workflows.

Where it separates itself from many similar displays aimed at creative pros, however, involves refresh rate. Instead of the usual 60Hz, you get 144Hz over both HDMI and DisplayPort, the latter including DisplayPort alt mode over the Thunderbolt 4 interface.

Now, 144Hz isn't directly relevant for most creative workflows. It's not required for image editing, nor the vast, vast majority of video editing. But for certain digital artwork tasks, notably those involving drawing tablets, high refresh really helps with visual responsiveness and accuracy.

It's also just a very nice thing to have, day-to-day. Once you're used to the slickness of 144Hz when scrolling web pages or just moving application windows around, you won't want to go back to 60Hz.

BenQ has also fitted the PD3226G out with lots of well-calibrated color space presets, including the core triumvirate of DCI-P3, sRGB and M-Book mode. The latter is a mode that's designed to match the factory calibration of Apple's MacBook laptops, though it's unclear how that differs from the standard P3 gamut that MacBooks run by default and is also offered separately by this BenQ.

As if that's not enough, this monitor is also Pantone Validated and Claman verified. So, it can be calibrated to an even higher precision for those workflows that demand it. Where it isn't so impressive is with HDR content.

You do get HDR400 support, but that's the most basic of HDR capability. There's no local dimming and the brightness peaks at a modest 400 nits. In other words, it's not a true HDR display and if you're looking for a screen to use in really bright ambient conditions, the PD3226G isn't the best choice.

BenQ PD3226G: Final verdict

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BenQ PD3226G monitor during our review process

(Image credit: BenQ // Future)
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BenQ PD3226G monitor during our review process

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BenQ PD3226G monitor during our review process

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BenQ PD3226G monitor during our review process

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BenQ PD3226G monitor during our review process

(Image credit: BenQ // Future)

Do not dismiss the new BenQ PD3226G as a routine update to the brand's already very appealing range of displays for creative pros. This one is a little different.

For starters, it gets an upgrade to 144Hz refresh. Admittedly, that's not of direct benefit for most creative workflows. But it's a genuine upgrade for all-round responsiveness and day-to-day usability. Once you're used to high refresh, you won't want to go back to 60Hz. It's also a clear advantage for certain digital art workflows, notable in concert with drawing devices like tablets.

BenQ has also upgraded its control puck with this generation from wired to IR wireless. It sounds like a small change, but it makes for a much more usable and ergonomic remote control. Once again, if you've gotten used to BenQ's IR remote, it's a chore to return to fiddly little buttons under the screen bezel.

On top of all that, BenQ has included plenty of features that creative pros will love, including a wide range of color space presets and excellent factory calibration. This is a really nice IPS 4K display with lovely image quality.

Connectivity is another very strong point thanks to Thunderbolt 4 connectivity, plus daisy chain and KVM switch functionality. Really the only obvious weak point of the BenQ PD3226G involves HDR support. The DisplayHDR400 certification is very much entry level and means you're not getting a true HDR experience.

That latter point would be fine save for the notably premium price point. This is an extremely expensive display given that it's ultimately limited to SDR visuals. Of course, if HDR doesn't factor in any of your workflows, that won't be a deal breaker. But at this price point, local dimming and a bit more backlight punch probably wouldn't go amiss. That aside, BenQ is onto a winner with the new PD3226G.

For more displays for creative professionals, we've rounded up the best monitors for photo editing, the best monitors for graphic design, and the best monitors for video editing.

A couple of weeks thoroughly testing the CMF Phone 2 Pro showed me it’s not just a bargain, it’s in a class of its own
7:42 pm | May 9, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Nothing Phones Phones | Tags: , | Comments: Off

CMF Phone 2 Pro: Two-minute review

With the CMF Phone 2 Pro, Nothing has delivered a truly remarkable bargain phone, treating you, the user with endearing respect, rather than sticking you with a watered-down version of the device you really want.

This phone has one of the most distinct and recognizable designs I’ve seen, but that design is also practical and extensible. I can’t imagine buying a CMF Phone 2 Pro without thinking of all the accessories I might make for it.

For less than $300 / £300 / AU$525 you can have a phone that isn’t just good, but special. The modular design, though a bit less adaptable than the first-generation CMF Phone, means you can make this phone your own in ways that Samsung Galaxy and iPhone owners can only dream of doing.

Even if you don’t want to create your own cases or accessories, the CMF Phone 2 Pro is still one of the best smartphones you can buy at this price. Its performance is solid – better than other bargain competitors, at least – and battery life is excellent.

It may not be quite as durable as a Samsung Galaxy A26 or Motorola Moto G Power 2025, but it’s more resilient than I expected. It has an IP54 rating against rain and splashing water, and Nothing also says the phone will survive in 25cm of water for 20 minutes, so you don't have to panic if it gets wet.

CMF Phone 2 Pro with widgets displayed on the screen

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

The CMF Phone 2 Pro certainly gives you one of the most distinctive versions of Android that you’ll find on a phone today, using the NothingOS interface as found on the Nothing Phone 3a and Phone 3a Pro. NothingOS is all about a minimalist, almost monochromatic aesthetic, so you get black-and-white icons on the home screen with no labels, and a set of matching widgets to complete the look.

Of course there are some AI features as well, and I honestly ignored them because they revolve around taking screenshots. I’m just not a screenshot type of user, but Nothing isn’t alone in this – the latest Google Pixel 9 also relies on screenshot-based AI tools. You can also use Google Gemini, but don’t expect the robust set of AI features that you might find on more expensive Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel phones.

With such a low price tag there are bound to be compromises. The cameras are not good, even compared to those on the cheapest Pixel, the Pixel 9a, although that phone costs almost twice as much as the CMF Phone 2 Pro. Performance also lags, and I experienced stuttering in the interface, and occasional delays as the system worked to catch up with whatever task I wanted to perform.

I used the CMF Phone 2 Pro as my primary phone for work, and I really enjoyed it. I like the style of NothingOS; it’s refreshing, with fewer distractions than my Galaxy phone. I committed to using the bright orange lanyard screwed into the back of the phone for my entire review period, and I now understand the appeal of being able to sling the phone over my shoulder and having it readily at hand.

CMF Phone 2 Pro in light green showing back with exposed screws and cameras

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

The worst thing about the CMF Phone 2 Pro is how hard it might be to buy one – and then to buy all the accessories you want. In the US, you can only get the model with 256GB of storage as part of Nothing’s so-called 'Beta' program. I used the Phone 2 Pro on AT&T near New York City, and after an initial warning message from AT&T that my phone wouldn’t work properly, it worked just fine.

The phone is easier to buy in the UK, Australia, and the rest of the world, with an even cheaper 128GB version available. Still, comparable phones from Samsung and Motorola are available at your local carrier store, and you can surely get one for free if you sign a contract. The CMF Phone 2 Pro may be cheap, but you probably won’t find one for free.

Only a few accessories will be available for US buyers, and those won’t include the back cover that lets you use attachable macro and fisheye camera lenses, or the magnetic wallet stand. I’m not a fan of snap-on lenses for smartphones, so that’s no big loss, but I wish more of the unique accessories were available here. Since they’re not, I’ll just have to head to my library’s 3D printer and make my own.

CMF Phone 2 Pro review: Price and availability

CMF Phone 2 Pro in light green showing back with exposed screws and cameras

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
  • $279 / £249 / AU$509 for 256GB and 8GB of RAM
  • £219 / AU$449 for a 128GB model, not available in the US

The CMF Phone 2 Pro by Nothing is available directly from Nothing in two storage options: 128GB and 256GB. The smaller-capacity model is not being sold in the US, however, and neither is the light green color – the color of my review sample – but you can still get the phone in white, black, or a very bright orange.

The Light Green is available in the UK, but not Australia, and all the other colors are available globally. That’s too bad, I like this light green very much, and it looks cool with the bright orange lanyard attached.

Don’t get too attached to the lanyard if you're in the US, though, because the accessories are only available in the UK and Europe, and Nothing says quantities may be limited.

The 128GB model has an incredibly low price for a phone this good, and if you use cloud storage services there isn’t a pressing need to buy the larger capacity.

Even so, the 256GB model is also an incredible bargain. For around the same price – $300 / £299 / AU$499 – you'll get a Samsung Galaxy A26 or Motorola Moto G Power with 128GB of storage. Both of those phones are a bit more durable, though, with true IP67 and IP68 ratings for water resistance, respectively. Otherwise, there are no significant benefits in terms of specs and hardware, and the CMF Phone 2 Pro has a slight edge in performance.

  • Value score: 5/5

CMF Phone 2 Pro review: Specs

CMF Phone 2 Pro in light green showing back with exposed screws and cameras

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

The CMF Phone 2 Pro has a MediaTek 7300 Pro 5G chipset inside, which is a bit faster than the Exynos 1380 you’ll find in a Galaxy A26 or the MediaTek 6300 in the Moto G Power 2025. The phone ships with 8GB of RAM, which is adequate for a bargain phone, and there's a microSD card slot behind the SIM tray if you need more storage space.

The camera specs are impressive for a phone in this price range, even if, as mentioned, the images aren’t noteworthy. The main camera uses a 0.63-inch sensor, which is much larger than the sensors you’ll find in competing Samsung and Motorola phones. There's a real 2x optical zoom, in addition to a third lens for ultra-wide shots and macro photos.

As with most phones at this price there’s no wireless charging, but you do get slightly faster charging speeds if you buy a 33W charger.

CMF Phone 2 Pro review: Design

CMF Phone 2 Pro in light green showing back with exposed screws and cameras

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
  • Exposed screws and removable bits
  • More durable than before, even water resistant

The CMF Phone 2 Pro design is a whole choice. Like its big-sibling Nothing Phones, the CMF Phone stands out; it looks, er, nothing like other phones you’ve seen. The back of the phone is punctuated by exposed screws, a removable circular plate, and cameras that look like internal components laid bare.

I like it. It doesn’t feel haphazard – it’s clear that there's thought and design behind the asymmetry. You can't remove the whole back cover of the CMF Phone 2 Pro, as you could with the original CMF Phone, but there is still the small circular screw that you can remove to screw in accessories like the lanyard (or just the lanyard holder, which can also be a loop for dangling charms).

The CMF Phone 2 Pro only comes with an IP54 rating, which means it's protected against dust, but when it comes to water it can only handle rain or splashing, not a full dunk.

However, Nothing has tested the phone itself, and claims it can be submerged in 25cm of water for 20 minutes – so I wouldn’t wash this phone in the sink, but I also wouldn’t worry if you drop it into the toilet by accident.

That’s a huge improvement over last year’s CMF Phone, likely thanks to that new back panel that doesn’t come off as easily. Still, the Samsung Galaxy A26 is IP67 rated for longer dips underwater, and the Moto G Power 2025 is fully military MIL-STD 810H rated, so it can take a serious beating.

My phone came in a lovely light green color that is becoming popular this year – the Galaxy S25 Ultra is available in the same hue as a Samsung online-exclusive color. Unfortunately, you can’t buy this color in the US; you can only get the black, white, or orange versions. I haven’t seen the orange in person, but if it’s as bright as the matching lanyard I got, be aware that it could stop traffic.

  • Design score: 4/5

CMF Phone 2 Pro review: Display

CMF Phone 2 Pro in light green showing back with exposed screws and cameras

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
  • Brighter than competitors at this price
  • Colorful and durable with Panda Glass

The CMF Phone 2 Pro has a very nice display for a phone at this price. It was brighter and more colorful in our labs tests than the Samsung Galaxy A26, a solid win for Nothing since Samsung is usually known for its superlative displays.

Does it get to 3,000 nits at peak brightness? Not that we could see, but it was bright enough in my review time for me to take photos in outdoor light, and to use the phone in a variety of lighting conditions. My content always looked great on the display, whether I was watching movies or perusing my photo albums.

This is one area where spending more will get you better technology, however. The Pixel 9a costs a bit more, but it has a much brighter display that's easier to see in bright, outdoor light. Even paying just a bit more for the Nothing Phone 3a and Phone 3a Pro will get you brighter displays than what you'll see on the CMF Phone.

If I were going to pay to upgrade any feature, it would be this, because more expensive phones have displays that are brighter and easier to use in bright sunlight. I’d also like a stronger glass panel, though the CMF Phone 2 Pro is no slouch here.

The CMF Phone 2 Pro has a screen that's durable and should stand up to mild abuse. The phone uses Panda Glass from Chinese glass maker Tengshu, and it offers many of the same physical qualities as Corning’s Gorilla Glass. I didn’t see any scuffs or scratches after an intense week using the phone as my primary device.

  • Display score: 3/5

CMF Phone 2 Pro review: Software

CMF Phone 2 Pro in hand with screen showing settings and widgets

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
  • NothingOS on top of Android 15 for a signature style
  • For folks who want fewer distractions, not more features

If you want a smartphone with helpful display-edge software panels, tons of features, and customizations galore, buy a Samsung with One UI. If you want to minimize distractions with a signature look and feel that's different from any other smartphone, you should check out NothingOS on the CMF Phone 2 Pro (and other Nothing phones).

That doesn’t mean Nothing gives you nothing on top of Android 15. In fact, Nothing offers a plethora of cool widgets to enhance your home screen, all in Nothing’s signature monochromatic style.

At startup, you can choose between a Nothing interface and a standard Android home screen. Go with Nothing and you’ll see fewer colors, fewer labels on app icons and settings, and presumably fewer distractions. I actually like the NothingOS design, especially with its home screen widgets and monochromatic wallpapers, so I stuck with it for my review period.

There is some AI on board, but frankly I never used it. Just like with the latest Nothing Phone 3a and Phone 3a Pro, you get a so-called Essentials key, which is a glorified screenshot button. Press the button to take a screenshot that saves to Nothing’s Essential Space. Hold the button to take a screenshot and add a voice memo.

Essential Space is an AI tool that scans whatever you save so it can offer answers later. Unfortunately, I don’t screenshot very much. I don’t save every bit of useful information as a screenshot. I don’t screenshot my emails, text messages, or calendar invitations, since those already live in their own app.

So I didn’t get much value out of Essential Space. If you screenshot everything, or if you’re willing to change your behavior, you may find this more useful. I, on the other hand, did not feel the CMF Phone 2 Pro was missing anything when I skipped these AI features.

  • Software score: 3/5

CMF Phone 2 Pro review: Cameras

Rear of CMF Phone 2 Pro in light green showing exposed screws and cameras

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
  • Lots of megapixels and big sensors don’t equal great photos
  • If photos matter, you’ll need to spend more (or get a camera)

The CMF Phone 2 Pro's cameras offer plentiful examples of pretty much every way smartphone cameras can go wrong. There’s a lack of detail in most shots, and evidence of strong digital sharpening that makes photos look more like still frames from a low-quality video camera. Backgrounds are frequently over-sharpened, leaving dark edges around objects. In even my most simple shots it can be so hard to tell what I was photographing.

Don’t take photos of anything red, because the cheap sensors on this phone can’t handle the hue, and flowers become a garbled mess, even in bright, outdoor light that should have made for the best results. I was equally unimpressed with the zoom lens, which took photos of birds that were so muddy I couldn’t tell if the water fowl were covered in feathers or plastic.

CMF Phone 2 Pro in light green showing back with exposed screws and cameras

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

The wide-angle lens produces a lot of barrel distortion, so buildings will look rounded and weird. I saw plenty of chromatic aberration along high-contrast edges, and the camera falls apart when asked to shoot in low-light near darkness.

It’s hard to find a good camera on a phone this cheap, but the Samsung Galaxy A26 will certainly produce better results in most situations. If photos truly matter, though, you’ll need to step up at least to a Pixel 9a, or perhaps look for a cheap digital camera to carry alongside your phone. I carried an older point-and-shoot camera during my review time, and I barely thought about the CMF Phone 2 Pro for my photography needs.

  • Camera score: 2/5

CMF Phone 2 Pro review: Camera samples

Image 1 of 6

Camera image samples taken with the CMF Phone 2 Pro

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Image 2 of 6

Camera image samples taken with the CMF Phone 2 Pro

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Image 3 of 6

Camera image samples taken with the CMF Phone 2 Pro

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Image 4 of 6

Camera image samples taken with the CMF Phone 2 Pro

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Image 5 of 6

Camera image samples taken with the CMF Phone 2 Pro

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Image 6 of 6

Camera image samples taken with the CMF Phone 2 Pro

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

CMF Phone 2 Pro review: Performance

CMF Phone 2 Pro in hand with TechRadar website on screen

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
  • Budget-level performance means delays
  • Still very usable, and lags weren't noticeable in lighter usage

The CMF Phone 2 Pro uses a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro 5G chipset, which is a slight step up from the Dimensity 7300 5G in last year’s CMF Phone. In Future Labs tests, the CMF Phone 2 Pro edged out the competition, including Samsung Exynos 1380-equipped Galaxy A26 and Motorola’s Dimensity 6300-driven Moto G Power 2025. In pure benchmark terms, this phone performs about as well as the Galaxy A36, a more expensive phone with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 inside.

In the real world, performance could be very laggy as I navigated the interface and performed advanced tasks. If I tried to select more than a dozen or so apps to download all at once, the phone came to a halt and stopped registering my taps. When I tried to add six-dozen photos to a single photo album, the phone flatly refused to move so many images at once. I got an error message that I could never defeat.

For most of my daily tasks, however, I didn’t notice any slowdown. Network speeds were fine on AT&T’s network near New York City, and web pages loaded slowly but steadily. All of my messages came through, and I was able to hold video chat meetings.

This isn’t a powerhouse phone, but it gets the job done, even for professional work. The phone handled TechRadar's AirTable content management system with no trouble, and it loaded up the over-complicated AirTable app to show me behind-the-scenes planning.

Any step up in price will get you a phone with more power, but I would pay more for better cameras and a better display before I worried about much faster CPU performance. As long as you’re not a hardcore gamer you might just need a little more patience, so maybe just stare at the cool design while you wait for your phone to catch up.

  • Performance score: 2/5

CMF Phone 2 Pro review: Battery

CMF Phone 2 Pro in light green showing back with exposed screws and cameras

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
  • Excellent battery life, among top performers overall
  • Charging could be faster; no charger included

The CMF Phone 2 Pro delivered excellent battery life, both in the real world and in our Future Labs testing. During my review time the phone always lasted through a full day of use, although it probably helped that I didn’t play many games and didn’t use the cameras very much. In any case, I could forget to charge this phone overnight and still have enough juice to get me through to lunchtime the next day.

In our Future Labs battery rundown test the CMF Phone 2 Pro was a top performer, managing to last just over 16 hours. In the same test, the Samsung Galaxy A26 lated around 10 hours, and the Pixel 9a and iPhone 16e (the cheapest iPhone right now) both lasted just over 12 hours.

Much of this longevity is down to how you’ll use the phone. With a slower processor on board, you’ll use less battery power; the Moto G Power 2025 is even slower, and that phone lasted slightly longer in our lab tests. You also won’t use the cameras on the CMF Phone 2 Pro as often as you might with one of the best camera phones.

That said, bargain phones offer great battery life, just like cheaper cars usually get better gas mileage. It’s a benefit of saving money, and I’m happy to take it.

For juicing up, the CMF Phone 2 Pro can charge up to 33W, but there’s no charger in the box (except in India). There's also no wireless charging, but that feature is a rarity at this price point.

  • Battery score: 3/5

Should you buy the CMF Phone 2 Pro?

CMF Phone 2 Pro in light green side-on and slightly tilted, showing buttons on left side and camera array

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

Buy it if...

You have a 3D printer and want to make phone accessories
The CMF Phone 2 Pro offers creative types unique options to make accessories that enhance the phone’s capabilities more than any other device.

You want more than just a cheap version of another phone
The CMF Phone 2 Pro is unique. It doesn’t try to look like a more expensive model, and it stands out with its own design that’s like nothing else.

You want a distinctive look that minimizes distractions
With NothingOS you can dial down the colors and distractions from all the apps on your phone that suck you in like candy.

Don't buy it if...

You need great cameras, or even very good cameras
It’s got megapixels, but that doesn’t equate to great photos, and the pics I got from the CMF Phone 2 Pro were disappointing in every way.

You want to play a lot of games with serious graphics
This phone performs better than most other phones you’ll find at this price, but you’ll notice lag on normal apps, and intense games are out of the question.

You plan on beating this phone up
The CMF Phone 2 Pro is more durable than the last CMF phone, but if you’re going to beat up on a phone, get something more durable.

CMF Phone 2 Pro review: Also consider

Samsung Galaxy A26
The Samsung Galaxy A26 has Samsung’s OneUI software with more AI features, as well as a water-resistant build that can take a serious dunk.

Motorola Moto G Power 2025
The Moto G Power 2025 isn’t the most powerful (ironic), but it is the most durable phone you’ll find at this price, and it comes in some great Pantone-approved colors

How I tested the CMF Phone 2 Pro

I used the CMF Phone 2 Pro for almost two weeks. I tested the phone on AT&T’s network in the greater New York area, throughout the city and suburbs. I used the CMF Phone 2 Pro as my primary work phone with all of my work accounts and apps, and as my personal phone for photos and gaming.

I tested the CMF Phone 2 Pro with a Pixel Watch 3 and CMF Buds Plus. I connected the phone to my car and tested Android Auto. I connected an Xbox wireless controller for gaming, and connected to a Bluetooth speaker for audio.

I tested the CMF Phone 2 Pro camera against the Nothing Phone 3a, among numerous other phones, in Future Labs.

Future Labs tests phones using a mix of third-party benchmark software and proprietary, real-world tests. We use Geekbench, CrossMark, JetStream, WebXPRT and Mobile XPRT, and 3DMark for performance testing. We test a phone's performance on tasks using Adobe Premiere Rush. We also measure display color output and brightness.

For battery testing, we have proprietary rundown tests that are the same for every phone, and which measure how long it takes for the battery to run down.

Read more about how we test

Why you can trust TechRadar

☑️ 100s of smartphones reviewed
☑️ 15 years of product testing
☑️ Over 16,000 products reviewed in total
☑️ Nearly 200,000 hours testing tech

First reviewed April 2025

I spent 18 hours ripping and tearing through Doom: The Dark Ages and it left me yearning for a return to Eternal’s movement
5:00 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming | Comments: Off

Id Software’s Doom series made a hell of a comeback in Doom (2016) with one of the best FPS campaigns of all time. This was followed up by 2020’s Doom Eternal, which turned every element of the series to an extreme level with a faster pace, enhanced weapons, and some of the most satisfying movement in any shooter; it was Doom by way of Devil May Cry. However, rather than go even more extreme, Doom: The Dark Ages takes on a medieval theme where instead of a Formula One killing machine, you’re a tank.

Review info

Platform reviewed: PS5
Available on: PS5, PC, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
Release date: May 15, 2025 (early access May 13

The Slayer (or, to give him his full name, Doom Slayer) is far slower than usual; there’s a sprint button as opposed to him just being naturally fast, and there’s nary a double jump or dash in sight. You’re heavy, you’re bulky, and you’re blocking all manner of attacks.

A shield is introduced very early on in Doom: The Dark Ages. Enemies will throw out attacks that glow green, meaning they can be parried, which you will soon realise is the central mechanic of the game.

Doom: The Dark Ages.

(Image credit: Bethesda)

The only thing they fear is you

The Slayer is built around defense, which is a far cry from the previous two entries and results in the stylish combat feeling a bit more barebones. The right move often feels like sitting back and having the enemy come to you, as opposed to you being the final boss tearing through every environment.

That doesn’t mean the combat doesn’t have its moments, though; the chainsaw shield throw is a bit of kit that feels incredibly satisfying from the moment you get it until the finale.

Throwing the shield into a large demon results in it getting lodged inside of it, which – with an upgrade – will let you shoot at it to create a ricocheting death machine. There are flashes of Doom’s trademark style, but it doesn’t quite have the sauce that was found in previous entries.

Doom: The Dark Ages.

(Image credit: Bethesda)

That being said, the actual shooting still feels fantastic. The Super Shotgun continues to be the greatest gun known to man. Meanwhile, the new Ravager weapon – which grinds up skulls and shoots out bone shrapnel – is a brilliant concept, and the ball and chain launching chainshot is so satisfying to charge up and blast off the skull of a demon with. Even if the Slayer doesn’t feel as good to control, his guns sure do.

Difficulty-wise the game strikes the perfect balance. I played on Ultra-Violence (hard), and it felt like the right amount of tough; countless adrenaline-filled moments of near death, where you’re parrying for your life, make for some of combat's highlights.

The combat is also extremely customizable, with the likes of parry windows and damage sliders being adjustable. Although there is nothing quite as terrifying as the Marauder battles from Doom Eternal, which would push you to your limit constantly.

The graphics look incredibly crisp – especially on PlayStation 5 Pro – even with all the gore and particles on screen, I never noticed any framerate drops on both the base PS5 or the Pro. The game does have some DualSense Wireless Controller features like adaptive triggers for the guns and use of the controller speaker (although the latter borders on the obnoxious as sound effects get doubled).

Doom: The Dark Ages.

(Image credit: Bethesda)

BFG Division

The levels found in Doom: The Dark Ages are a mixture of classic Doom and some new ideas. While the dense, secret-filled gauntlets are still present and accounted for, id experiments with a semi-open world formula for some of the new levels.

These levels will plop you into a domain and let you run free, taking on objectives in any order you please, and allow you to explore all corners of the map looking for upgrades and secrets. While some don’t feel quite as clean as the more focused levels, it's a nice way to change things up.

The other two additions are Mech and Dragon stages. These are used as nice distractions to break up the pace and are undoubtedly cool set piece moments; however, it becomes clear once you reach the second one of each that there’s no real progression between them.

Both revolve around a dodge-then-attack format, with the dragon having some aerial chases to segue between areas, but they feel pretty identical the whole way through and are a little half-baked.

Best bit

Doom: The Dark Ages.

(Image credit: Bethesda)

During the final act the story goes into overdrive and you’re faced with a number of great boss fights and set piece moments that round things off with a bang.

Another thing I didn’t think the developers went far enough with was the dark ages concept itself. While there’s fantasy iconography with the Slayer’s sick fur pelt cape and the melee weapons, there’s really not much that separates this from regular Doom.

It’s still fused with sci-fi, so there are still energy weapons; in fact, only the Ravager and Chainshot feel uniquely dark ages. The environments are pretty different at least, swapping Mars and destroyed Earth cities for large battlefields.

The roster of enemies have all gotten redesigns to fit the theme, but some are a massive step down. The Cacodemon – which is typically a pretty goofy-looking monster, bordering on cartoonish – looks unrecognisable as the team goes for a more realistic style. However, the majority of these are fantastic, with the Imps and Mancubus being the highlights.

Doom: The Dark Ages.

(Image credit: Bethesda)

Hell on Earth

Story is a big part of Doom: The Dark Ages, which means even more cutscenes. It centres on The Slayer being a tool in a war between Sentinels and the forces of hell.

The game introduces a ton of new characters who are new to the series, but outside of the Kreed Makyr and main villain Ahzrak, there’s not much to write home about. There’s a cast of human characters with their own plight, but it wasn’t engaging, and whenever they were on screen, I just found myself wishing I was playing or watching the Slayer do something.

The Slayer is still great, though. Right from the beginning it’s still established that he is that guy. Everyone talks about him with hushed tones; he’s treated like a bogeyman by the denizens of hell, and the moment he steps foot on the battlefield, the entire aura changes. It’s full of him doing superhuman feats that border on silly in how over the top they get, and despite my lack of interest in the overall plot, id Software nails it when he is on screen.

The previous two entries in the Doom series were all-time great FPS campaigns, but they were also top-tier albums, as Mick Gordon’s soundtrack work on them was incredible. However, after controversy with the Doom Eternal soundtrack, Gordon hasn’t returned for this. One of the best things about his soundtracks was the blend of metal riffs with excellent synth work, over just being straight metal. However, sadly, The Dark Ages goes for the straight metal approach. and it just doesn’t hit the same. None of the music is bad, but it’s not entirely memorable either.

Doom: The Dark Ages features an excellent FPS campaign with satisfying gameplay, best-in-class shooting, and great set-piece moments. At the end of the day, its biggest sin is that it doesn’t live up to what came before.

The decision to slow combat down and scale back the Slayer’s movement makes things feel like a step back and takes away some of the flashy style. I wish it did more with the medieval setting, but it’s still a great shooter campaign that continues to prove why id Software is at the top of the FPS mountain.

Doom: The Dark Ages.

(Image credit: Bethesda)

Should you play Doom: The Dark Ages?

Play it if...

You want a nice, long single-player campaign
Doom: The Dark Ages’ campaign clocks in at about 15-20 hours, with each level being packed with collectables and secrets to find. There’s also challenge modes available like Ultra Nightmare, for those who really want to test their limits.

You like satisfying shooting and parries
Doom remains second-to-none when it comes to satisfying gunplay, each shotgun blast feels devastating thanks to great visual and sound design. While the new weapons are unique and welcome additions to The Slayer’s arsenal and the parries are plentiful and impactful.

Don't play it if...

You want a multiplayer shooter
While Doom (2016) and Doom Eternal both had in-depth multiplayer modes, Doom: The Dark Ages has skipped it entirely, the single-player campaign is all you’re getting this time around.

Accessibility

Doom: The Dark Ages has one of the strongest accessibility suites I've seen recently.

All the controls are able to be remapped, plus you’re able to freely tune each difficulty to your own standards (such as changing damage values, parry windows and game speed).

The game features subtitles, font and HUD scaling on the UI, as well as customisable colours for effects such as parries. There’s also colourblind modes although these are found in the ‘Video’ options menu rather than the ‘Accessibility’ menu.

How I reviewed Doom: The Dark Ages

I played 30 hours of Doom: The Dark Ages between a PS5 Pro on a Samsung Q60D TV and a Samsung HW-T450 soundbar. I also played on a PS5 on a Samsung Odyssey G5 gaming monitor with a PlayStation Pulse 3D Headset.

During this time I completed the game on Ultra-Violence difficulty, with no difficulty modifiers turned on. I didn’t use the Life Sigils for an instant revive during combat, only during segments where I was exploring. I got 100% completion in all but two levels (having replayed a few levels to nail down those last few secrets).

First reviewed March 2025

I tested the Zyxel USG LITE 60AX, and found it to be superb for features and ease of use as well as price
10:22 am |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro | Comments: Off

The USG LITE 60AX is Zyxel’s latest secure small business router. As with other Zyxel appliances, the hardware and software setup is straightforward. The device includes two 2.5G Ethernet ports, four 1G ports, and a 4x4 Wi-Fi 6 radio. It connects seamlessly to the Nebula mobile app through the WAN, providing control and status of the network over the cloud.

Under the hood, a Quad-core ARM CPU with one gigabyte of RAM guarantees excellent packet processing times even with multiple clients connected to the unit. The firewall does not provide a serial console port, while status LEDs at the back hinder troubleshooting as they are hidden. The plastic unit can topple easily when many connections are made to the backports. The lack of mounting holes and heat dissipation vents means the firewall can only be placed on a flat surface.

Zyxel USG LITE 60AX: Price and Availability

The USG LITE 60AX costs $199 and comes with a five-year warranty. For this price, the user gets the basic Zyxel firewall package, including remote access from the cloud. Enterprise features such as SSH access require a premium license, which costs $456 annually. The smaller firewall version, the SCR 50AXE, supports Wi-Fi 6E for the same price but features a weaker processor.

Zyxel USG LITE 60AX: Design

The Zyxel 60AX ships in a large box with only one RJ45 cable and a 12V AC power block. The white plastic case is recycled and has a red front tab to match Zyxel’s colors. It measures 16 cm by 6.5 cm by 2.3 cm for a weight of 700 g. The case lies flat or upright on a table, with no mounting hole. A small plastic tab at the bottom rotates to become the router’s stand, keeping it stable when cables are plugged into the back. A multicolor LED hiding beneath the red plastic tab shows the router's state.

The built-in switch offers two 2.5GbE ports for WAN and LAN connections and four gigabit LAN ports. Each port has a pair of LEDs to show link status and speed. A recessed button enables resetting the unit if it becomes unstable or slow. The router's power consumption maxes out at 31W. An AX6000 class access point with speeds up to 1.2 Gbits/sec on the 2.4GHz radio and 4.8 Gbits/sec on the 5GHz channel makes accessing the Internet a breeze, even with multiple clients connected simultaneously.

Under the hood, the 60AX features one application processor for the firewall and router. The design is based entirely on Mediatek’s chipsets and includes an MT7986 ARM-based quad-core CPU, two radio transceivers, and a high-performance seven-port switch. A one-gigabyte DRAM provides data storage for the processor while 512MB of NAND flash holds the router application and supporting software.

Zyxel USG LITE 60AX front

(Image credit: Future)

Zyxel USG LITE 60AX: In use

The 60AX offers protection against hackers and ransomware beyond what a regular router typically provides. The subscription-free software includes an intrusion blocker and a firewall that filters access based on ports and IP addresses. The device also consists of the ever-useful ad blocker and cloud accessibility, allowing control from anywhere with an internet connection.

The installation is simple and allows the router to be used in minutes. Thanks to a Bluetooth interface, the setup is done with a smartphone, similarly to any Zyxel appliance. The mobile app, available on Android and iOS phones, scans a QR code at the bottom of the case. The router is then ready to be used with a few clicks. A firmware upgrade step might be necessary at the end of the setup.

The 60AX acts as a security router between the Internet provider’s modem and the LAN, actively monitoring and filtering inbound and outbound packets with a throughput of up to 2 Gbps, decreasing to 300 Mbps when used as a VPN. The router offers up to four VLANs, which is somewhat limited compared to competitive products. The 60AX consumes about 25W under normal load, with four devices actively surfing the net, which increases to a maximum of 31W when the CPU is under stress.

Zyxel USG LITE 60AX back

(Image credit: Future)

Zyxel USG LITE 60AX: Competition

The Zyxel 60AX security router competes directly with firewall products like the Firewalla Gold. Zyxel's advantage is the router’s seamless integration into the Nebula cloud. The price is also competitive, at less than $200. The 60AX has a built-in Wi-Fi 6 4x4 radio, which the Gold does not have. This firewall not only filters out unwelcome access but also acts as an Ethernet switch and a Wi-Fi access point, which makes $200 look like a bargain.

Zyxel USG LITE 60AX: Final Verdict

The 60AX bundle features that cost several times more than the unit. First, the firewall goes beyond content and attack filtering with additional extras such as a built-in AdBlocker. A Wi-Fi 6 access point and a multi-gig Ethernet switch are also included. The user eventually saves on the electricity bill and space compared to having multiple items to do what the 60AX is doing.

On the negative side, Zyxel could have chosen a newer Wi-Fi standard, such as 6E. We also are not a fan of the round casing, which topples over more than the average switch.

Buy the Zyxel 60AX if ... you need an all-in-one router with a built-in firewall and priced reasonably well.

Don’t get the 60AX if ... you want a speedy Wi-Fi 7 connection or three or more 2.5 Gb ports.

We've listed the best secure routers.

Days Gone Remastered is a welcome improvement, but doesn’t fix the original’s core issues for me
5:41 pm | May 8, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming | Tags: | Comments: Off

When you think of big PlayStation games, The Last of Us, God of War, Uncharted, or Sony's plethora of lauded franchises may pop into your head. Bend Studio's Days Gone is probably an afterthought.

While many loved the open-world zombie survival game, which sold over eight million copies, it was released in 2019 to a mixed critical reception. According to a report by Bloomberg, despite being profitable, this and its lengthy development process resulted in Sony rejecting the studio's pitch for a sequel in 2021.

Review info

Platform reviewed: PS5
Available on: PS5, PC (as Broken Road DLC)
Release Date: April 25, 2025

However, six years after Days Gone's release on PS4, there's been a resurgence brewing. Not only is a Days Gone movie in the works, but Bend Studio has taken another bloody swing at bringing Days Gone to the hungry hordes with the release of Days Gone Remastered on PS5 – a good time to do it, given its zombie cousin The Last of Us' TV success.

Back in the saddle

Day's Gone Remastered

(Image credit: Sony)

Days Gone Remastered certainly makes this survival adventure look better. Its enhanced lighting and shadow quality make the nights eerier and the sun-kissed days brighter and the improved graphical fidelity means the zombie-like Freakers are considerably more detailed.

Though, it's hard to appreciate the realistic faces of those Freakers when you're sprinting from this remaster's impressively huge Hordes in the new Horde Assault mode, which offers a serious challenge for those who just want to kick zombie ass. If you're a real glutton for punishment, you could always try the new Permadeath mode, which puts you back to the beginning of the game (or the second act) when you die.

The most welcome addition to this remaster, however, is the new accessibility features, which have become a staple of Sony's first-party offerings in recent years. Alongside options to customize the game's contrast, toggle on quicktime event autocompletion, remap your controller, and add UI narration, there are also options to adjust the game speed (giving you more time to react) and enable an audio cue that beeps when you're near a collectible.

Best bit

Day's Gone Remastered

(Image credit: Sony)

The Collectible Audio Cue is a dream come true for Platinum Trophy hunters. When enabled, you will hear beeps when you're near a collectible. As you get closer to the collectible, the beeps get louder and faster. Essentially, it's like playing the Hot and Cold game.

What this remaster cannot fix are the core issues some (including me) had with the original. The story is still tedious, with clunky pacing, and some cringeworthy, inauthentic dialogue. It's like someone who watched Sons of Anarchy decided "this is what a biker would say."

The missions also become very repetitive the more you play: go to the job giver, ride your chop-shop motorbike to the place where the baddies are, kill baddies, go back to the mission giver.

I had reservations about playing Days Gone again, but actually, I enjoyed it this time. At least, for a while. Sure, it's pretty generic, and the story is nowhere near as gripping or well-told as The Last of Us or God of War, but there's something satisfying about riding the roads, forests, and mountains of Oregon on a Frankenstein bike I've been working to buy parts for, feeling the subtle rumble of my bike through my DualSense Wireless Controller.

I tried to enjoy the ride, embrace the tedious, and not set my expectations too high – but even then, my enjoyment of Days Gone Remastered ran out of gas before the finish line.

Bugged the hell out

Day's Gone Remastered

(Image credit: Sony)

Days Gone Remastered begins with Mongrels MC member Deacon St. John desperately trying to get help for his wife, Sarah, who's stabbed amidst a chaotic evacuation in post-apocalyptic Oregon. With not enough room in the helicopter to take him and his best pal, Boozer, Deacon opts to stay with the "Boozeman" and regroup with Sarah later.

We then fast forward two years, and Boozer and Deacon are Drifters, outlaw bikers running jobs for nearby (somewhat questionable) camp leaders to make credits and survive in "The Shit." There's no sign of Sarah, but as you progress, a picture of what happened to her and how she and Deac got together becomes clearer.

Uncovering the story of Deacon and Sarah should be heart-warming, and at times it is, but the story's pacing and the many other story threads mean it gets a bit lost and doesn't get room to breathe. This isn't helped by the awkward writing, which can be downright cringeworthy and boring. The story does become more interesting as you progress, but often it feels like a slog, and the structure is inconsistent.

What's more, you're constantly bombarded with radio calls from others while riding, reminding you of what you're doing and repeating the same information in different ways. It ruins the joy of exploring the world when Boozer's constantly calling you up like a helicopter mom to ask what you've been up to.

It's a shame because the world is beautiful. The enhanced graphical fidelity means the flora and fauna of Oregon's forests, mountains, and lakes look much better than ever before. The nights are darker, too, thanks to enhanced lighting, which makes it particularly eerie when exploring abandoned houses and shacks at night, praying a horde doesn't descend upon you.

When the day comes, the blazing sun peaks around the mountains, casting realistic shadows through the trees and making you hope Deacon's got some sunscreen in his inventory. More impressive still is the rain and snow, which impact your riding and vision (and encourage more Freakers), but the snow flurries and rainstorms are so immersive that you can let that go.

Day's Gone Remastered

(Image credit: Sony)

While the map is big, it's manageable and full of (mostly) abandoned houses, caves, gas stations, and more to investigate and collectibles to find. Exploration provides some relief from the repetitive missions, which become particularly frustrating the further into the game you get. Many of those aforementioned radio calls are camp leaders asking you to drop by to pick up a job, which typically involves hunting down someone, clearing a Marauder or Ripper camp, or getting rid of Freakers holed up somewhere.

Initially, these missions feel like they have a story purpose, but eventually, it feels like a violent game of fetch. The main story missions can be similar, but usually have more depth to them or task you with sneaking and not hurting anyone. You learn more about the character you're with and maybe visit a new area, but they can seriously drag on.

The sluggish pacing of some of these quests is frustrating, especially when you have to just walk with a character or ride with them as they talk for several minutes. While some of what they say provides context and helps with character development, it feels like you're a hostage being force-fed background; it's shoehorned information that could be integrated more naturally.

The main issue is that it doesn't feel like there's an overarching story here. There are lots of quest lines, but it's unclear if Days Gone is mainly about Sarah, the camps and their survival, or Deacon himself. That lack of direction means it can feel like you're floating in the wind at times, unsure of what your actual aim is, except for riding all over the map, completing jobs, and trying to align your moral compass.

Riding the open road

Day's Gone Remastered

(Image credit: Sony)

While the story is lacklustre, Days Gone Remastered's combat is thoroughly satisfying. There are plenty of weapons and skills to unlock to improve your combat capabilities, but there's nothing quite like embedding an axe (or any hand-crafted melee weapon) in a Freaker's head, or burning them to cinders with a Molotov.

The types of Freakers don't vary greatly; you mainly deal with scrambling Swarmers who become bounty fodder as you progress, or savage marauders and Rippers.

The real challenge comes in taking out Hordes. These huge groups of Swarmers work as one entity, and there's nothing like the pure fear (and adrenaline) of attracting one's attention and then legging while the brutal mass chases you down. Hordes are Days Gone's niche, and thanks to the remaster's Horde Assault mode, you can take on even bigger ones.

The Horde Assault mode tasks you with gaining a set amount of points to unlock new maps and increase your level. Increased levels give you access to Injectors with negative or positive effects: positive ones help you in the game, but negatively impact your final score, while negative ones do the opposite.

Once let loose on the map, you can take out fodder Swarmers and other Freakers to gain points, allowing you to unlock supply cases to get better supplies and weapons. In the corner, however, is a timer that counts down to when a Horde is unleashed on you, so you better be ready. Taking out Hordes gives you more points, but becomes increasingly difficult over time, and these Hordes are way bigger than the ones in the story mode.

If you're after a challenge and want to skip the biker runs, Horde Assault will satiate you. If you're a true sadist, you can always try the story mode's Permadeath mode too, which puts you back to the start of the game (or the second act) if Deacon dies.

It couldn't be that easy

Day's Gone Remastered

(Image credit: Sony)

Days Gone Remastered comes with two visual options: Quality mode and Performance mode. Performance mode means the game can run at up to 60fps (as opposed to the 30fps of the PS4 version), at the cost of some visual quality.

Quality Mode allows for greater resolution (up to 4K), but at the cost of framerate. Both run well, with the Quality mode better suited to exploring and the Performance mode worth putting on during combat, especially with Hordes.

Days Gone Remastered isn't always a smooth ride, however. The game has some serious audio balance issues, even with audio settings adjusted for my setup. NPCs' voices are muffled and quiet, or dialogue is almost entirely drowned out by background noise. This is particularly noticeable early in the game and when rescuing hostages, but occurs during some cutscenes, too. I'm not the only one who has had this issue, either.

Other, minor, but annoying bugs include Deacon and his bike falling through hills and his struggles to line up with and talk to an NPC when you hold Square as instructed.

The DualSense Wireless Controller compatibility, however, is pretty good. I enjoyed the subtle implementation of haptic feedback from the DualSense when riding my bike and the varying resistance of the adaptive triggers, which allow for more control over acceleration.

What I found most useful, however, is the ability to swipe the touchpad to easily open menus and the map. I just wish it were as easy to navigate the crafting/quick menu on the go, as it can be fiddly, especially in combat.

Should I play Days Gone Remastered?

Day's Gone Remastered.

(Image credit: Sony)

Play it if…

You love The Walking Dead and Sons of Anarchy
Days Gone is pretty much The Walking Dead meets Sons of Anarchy. If you enjoy those shows, you'll likely love this.

You enjoy horror, but not the scares
If you like the idea of horror in your games but haven't the nerve for serious scares, you can handle Days Gone Remastered. While the Hordes can be frightening, there are few jump scares or overtly terrifying elements in this game.

Don’t play it if…

You want a riveting narrative
Days Gone's story isn't the most gripping, and its pacing is pretty poor, so don't expect the usual riveting PlayStation first-party offering. If you're mainly after some zombie-smashing fun, this is probably the game for you, but if you want a story that will stay with you, you'll likely be disappointed.

Accessibility

Days Gone Remastered boasts a heap of accessibility options that weren't available in the original.

Some highlights include a High Contrast mode, the ability to adjust Game Speed (a huge help with Hordes), UI Narration, subtitle customization, controller remapping, a collectible audio cue, and a field of view slider.

During this review, I had a wrist and thumb injury, so I found several of the QT event options particularly helpful. I set button-bashing QT events to a hold option instead, and enabled the auto-complete QT events option when needed.

How I reviewed Days Gone Remastered

I played Days Gone Remastered for over 35 hours on PlayStation 5 on a Samsung Q80T QLED TV using the DualSense Wireless Controller.

During that time, I played most of the main story campaign, completed several side jobs and quests, and spent some time with the Horde Assault Mode.

At launch, I played 2019's Days Gone, so I was able to make comparisons between the original game and this remaster.

First reviewed May 2025

I tested the Samsung 45W 20000mAh Battery Pack and it’s got plenty of juice, but it’s still too expensive for what you get
5:18 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Phone Accessories Phones | Comments: Off

Samsung 45W 20000mAh Battery Pack: review

The Samsung 45W 20000mAh Battery Pack is a power bank perfectly designed for charging smartphones, tablets, and other small devices, thanks to its multiple ports, 45W of power, and a large 20,000mAh capacity.

It certainly looks stylish for a power bank, with its pebble-like finish adding an element of organic chic. The rather prominent seam between the two panels is a little jarring, though, and detracts from the overall smoothness of the Samsung 45W 20000mAh Battery Pack.

It’s also quite large, even for a power bank with this kind of capacity. Some of the best power banks with similar or even higher capacities are smaller than this. Build quality is good – there’s some flexing to the panels, but not to the extent that I’d be concerned.

The Samsung 45W 20000mAh Battery Pack has three charging ports, all of which are USB-C, which is somewhat unusual for a power bank, as many incorporate other connector types. This may deter users who’d want more versatility and concessions made for older devices in the form of a USB-A port or two, for instance.

However, given the increasing ubiquity of USB-C, I’m quite happy with this configuration. All ports are positioned on one end, which may be a little restrictive for some; a more even distribution around the entire unit may have improved flexibility, but this isn’t a major issue.

Despite its large size, the Samsung 45W 20000mAh Battery Pack has no digital display: all you get are four LED dots to indicate the battery life of the bank itself. These are quite small and placed next to the ports, which obscures them from view somewhat.

What’s more, the LEDs don’t activate at all when charging devices, either to indicate charging or remaining battery life (you’ll have to press the power button every time to reveal the latter). This lack of interface is particularly disappointing on a premium power bank such as the Samsung 45W 20000mAh Battery Pack.

At least it has super fast charging, and can charge three devices simultaneously. It managed to charge my Google Pixel 7a, which has a 4,385mAh battery, from empty to full in about two hours, which is a decent performance.

After charging, all four of the bank’s LEDs remained lit, indicating that at the very least, the battery didn’t deplete by more than 30%, which is impressive and means you should get about 3-4 charges out of it.

The Samsung 45W 20000mAh Battery Pack is one of the more expensive power banks with this spec, although we have seen it on sale for considerably less. The JUOVI J2621, for instance, is cheaper, but has the same power and capacity, and even has four ports instead of three, two of which are USB-A. It’s similarly hefty, though, which might deter ultra-light travelers.

Ultimately, if you want plenty of USB-C ports in a stylish package, the Samsung 45W 20000mAh Battery Pack is a solid choice – but perhaps wait for a sale to maximize its value.

Close-up of ports on Samsung 45W 20000mAh Battery Pack, on plinth with pink background

(Image credit: Future)

Samsung 45W 20000mAh Battery Pack review: price & specs

Side view of Samsung 45W 20000mAh Battery Pack, on plinth on desk with pink background

(Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Samsung 45W 20000mAh Battery Pack?

Buy it if…

You want something stylish
The smooth texture and mottled design is quite attractive, and the beige colorway makes it less austere than other power banks.

You mainly have USB-C cables
With three USB-C ports, the Samsung 45W 20000mAh Battery Pack is great if all your devices come with USB-C-to-C cables, as they increasingly do.

Don't buy it if…

You want a slim power bank
The Samsung 45W 20000mAh Battery Pack is still quite big relative to other similarly capacious power banks and not ideal for pocket carry.

You have older devices
If you’ve got older devices with USB-A cables or other aging connector types, you’ll need USB-C cables or adapters to get them connected (the Samsung 45W 20000mAh Battery Pack comes with a USB-C-to-C cable).

Samsung 45W 20000mAh Battery Pack review: Also consider

JUOVI J2621 20000mAh 45W Power Bank
If you’re after a power bank with the same power and capacity, then the JUOVI J2621 is another viable option. This has similar dimensions to the Samsung 45W 20000mAh Battery Pack, but it has four ports instead of three, two of which are USB-A, which offers more versatility. What’s more, it’s cheaper, too. Read our full JUOVI J2621 20000mAh 45W Power Bank review.

The Printique photo book I designed stunned me with its high-quality finish – even if it comes at a premium price
7:50 pm | May 7, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Cameras Computers Gadgets Photography | Comments: Off

Printique photo book: review

The Printique photo book service offers a great option for whipping up a personal gift for a loved one or presenting your photography portfolio in its best light. It offers a wide range of pre-formatted themes, while allowing you all the flexibility you need to design a truly custom photo book from scratch.

If you’re just looking for quick and easy results, Printique’s photo books offer plenty of templates to choose from. Whether you’re looking for a clean and classy wedding photo book, a striking photography portfolio, or a photo album of your pet pupperino, there are a good number of options – although at 88 themes, its options are dwarfed by the more than 500 options listed by Mixbook. Just select a template and Printique will apply it to your whole project, then all you need to do is drag and drop your chosen snaps into the provided frames.

For those who want a little more customizability, Printique also provides layouts you can drag into individual pages and spreads in your photo book. From full-bleed images that span both pages to inset grids of thumbnail-size pics, these make it easy to include more variation in layouts and really adapt your book to fit your photos, rather than the other way around.

But what if you don’t want to color within the lines? What if you want to make a completely original photo book from scratch? Well there’s good news: building my own DIY Printique photo book was a snap, easily rivaling the best photo book services.

Placing images is simple: I just dragged my photos onto the page and they’d be added as image frames. On top of this, Printique’s built-in snap functionality made it easy to align them with each other or clip them to each spread’s margins. It even allows for really granular control over the size and position of image frames: the pop-up menu’s Properties section let me manually set images to specific dimensions and XY coordinates, as well as checking the DPI of each one to ensure it would print at a decent resolution.

There was the occasional bug here though – some images stubbornly insisted on defaulting to weirdly specific decimals like 4.97 inches, and resisted all of my attempts to set them to a whole integer. Odd behavior, but ultimately not a deal breaker.

Recreating the colored blocks and ribbons from TechRadar’s photo book test template was also pretty painless. Printique offers a range of shapes that you can add to your projects, and these are all super-flexible: I could precisely control their dimensions, add borders, and apply drop shadows from the properties menu. I was also able to change their color by entering a HEX code, setting RGB values or dragging a cursor to set saturation or brightness. However, the latter exhibited some odd behavior – changing either value would cause the color I’d chosen to creep away from my chosen hue, which occasionally proved irritating when I had a specific tone in mind.

Images of TechRadar's Printique photo book

(Image credit: Future)

Adding captions and credits to my photo book was also easy. Once I’d dropped a text box onto the page, I quickly was able to choose the font, size, styling and alignment. A small time-saver I especially appreciated is the ability to save chosen font settings as a style, which made it easy to achieve a consistent look for text throughout my photo book.

Thanks to some extra settings, it’s possible to get really creative with your layouts. First, Printique provides a wide range of shaped frames that allow you to show off your pics in rounded, slanted or even letter-shaped frames. While some of these are potentially a bit cheesy – star-shaped frames anyone? – they do add a high degree of flexibility that allows you to create some sleek, professional-looking designs.

You can also add extra flourishes and detail to your photo book using Printique’s background and sticker tools. Backgrounds offer everything from customizable block colors to a wide array of illustrations and patterns. Meanwhile, the stickers allow you to add pre-formulated text and illustrations to your photo book, from inscriptions about love to holiday iconography. Personally, some of the stickers aren’t to my tastes, giving things a distinctly clip-art vibe, but there are still a lot of choices there that could make useful ornaments to your text.

You will have to pay a premium for such powerful tools, however. Printique’s photo books were marginally more expensive than some of the other services we've tested. A 12 x 12 inch photo book cost $145.78 including delivery (roughly £112), whereas Shutterfly cost $132.5 (roughly £102) and Mixbook cost $133 (£102.25). It’s only a tiny price increase though, and I would argue one that’s more than worth it, given the flexibility of Printique’s platform.

Images of TechRadar's Printique photo book

(Image credit: Future)

Printique photo book review: performance

The printed photo book we received from Printique offered very high-quality results, with extra-thick pages and consistently good color and accuracy. Hues looked excellent throughout, whether it was a bright, sunny photo or more nuanced fog with creamy bokeh.

All of the photos were arranged perfectly, exactly as we set them, with no printing errors or unexpected margins. The book excels at photos that cross the binding, with a consistent look that feels mostly unbroken, allowing for very large spreads. I especially liked the brightness of the print and paper on our magenta TechRadar signature cover pages. Branding from Printique was minimal, but still present.

The heavy feel of the Printique photo book adds a nice bit of gravity to photos with the weight of the paper. I was almost worried that I would tear the heavy paper as I turned the pages, but the book held its binding nicely, and the photos feel even more special on such a thick presentation. This would make a fine photo book for wedding photography, very special occasions, or to highlight the best shots in your portfolio.

The pages may be a bit too thick if you're printing a large volume of work, and I still worry about those thick pages tearing with constant turning over the years. But for making a selection of photos feel extra premium, Printique’s photo books are a great choice.

Images of TechRadar's Printique photo book

(Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Printique photo book?

Buy it if…

You want a high degree of customizability
Whether it’s precisely controlling image dimensions, adding shaped image frames, including shapes in every color of the rainbow, or stamping your book with illustrations, you’re free to customize your photo book your way.

You want a polished final product
With quality tactile paper, vivid colors and unerringly precisely alignments, Printique's photo books are finished to an excellent standard, making them a gorgeous gift for loved ones.

Don’t buy it if…

You want big savings
There are cheaper photo book services out there. While Printique offers one of the best services we’ve tried, you can absolutely save some money elsewhere.

You want a huge array of ready-to-go templates
Printique has a decent number of templates for you to start plugging your photos into, but if you don’t care about customizability and just want the most prefabricated options, services like Mixbook offer many more.

Printique photo book review: also consider

Mixbook
With over 500 templates locked and loaded, Mixbook is a great choice if you want a no-hassle layout without needing to get into the nitty-gritty of creating your own designs. However, during our Mixbook photo book review we did find there were a few marks left by the printing process, so it’s worth bearing this in mind if you’re considering it for a gift.

Mimeo
For sheer simplicity, Mimeo can’t be beat – its stripped-back offering allows you to just get on with the design without having to wade through too many options. However, it is pricey. Creating a 10 x 10-inch layflat photobook – the closest you can get to the 12 x 12 inch one we created here – will set you back $169.51 (£133.11) and that’s not including the $13.99 (around £10.80) shipping fee. Read our full Mimeo photo book review.

How I tested the Printique photo book

  • I exactly recreated TechRadar’s photo book test template
  • I spent many hours using the platform and experimenting with templates
  • I have over a decade’s experience working in print and design

At TechRadar, we use a set photo book template that we attempt to recreate using every photo book platform we review. I followed this as closely as possible, sizing images according to precise measurements, adding colored shapes in specific hues and shades, and recreating captions and credits in specific fonts and styles, allowing me to assess how easy it was to recreate specific designs that users might have in mind.

Our US Mobiles Editor Philip Berne then assessed the final product, analyzing its overall quality and finish, and comparing it to the template to identify any potential errors in the printing process.

Additionally, I spent several hours playing around with the platform’s templates, layouts, shaped frames and illustrations to see how effective its off-the-shelf design elements were.

I’m an experienced photographer, having spent many years shooting both on my Canon DSLR and my iPhone 16 Pro. I’ve also spent many years working in print, creating layouts for magazines and doing post-production on images, meaning I've spent a lot of time using design tools for producing printed products.

The Printique photo book I designed stunned me with its high-quality finish – even if it comes at a premium price
7:50 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Cameras Computers Gadgets Photography | Comments: Off

Printique photo book: review

The Printique photo book service offers a great option for whipping up a personal gift for a loved one or presenting your photography portfolio in its best light. It offers a wide range of pre-formatted themes, while allowing you all the flexibility you need to design a truly custom photo book from scratch.

If you’re just looking for quick and easy results, Printique’s photo books offer plenty of templates to choose from. Whether you’re looking for a clean and classy wedding photo book, a striking photography portfolio, or a photo album of your pet pupperino, there are a good number of options – although at 88 themes, its options are dwarfed by the more than 500 options listed by Mixbook. Just select a template and Printique will apply it to your whole project, then all you need to do is drag and drop your chosen snaps into the provided frames.

For those who want a little more customizability, Printique also provides layouts you can drag into individual pages and spreads in your photo book. From full-bleed images that span both pages to inset grids of thumbnail-size pics, these make it easy to include more variation in layouts and really adapt your book to fit your photos, rather than the other way around.

But what if you don’t want to color within the lines? What if you want to make a completely original photo book from scratch? Well there’s good news: building my own DIY Printique photo book was a snap, easily rivaling the best photo book services.

Placing images is simple: I just dragged my photos onto the page and they’d be added as image frames. On top of this, Printique’s built-in snap functionality made it easy to align them with each other or clip them to each spread’s margins. It even allows for really granular control over the size and position of image frames: the pop-up menu’s Properties section let me manually set images to specific dimensions and XY coordinates, as well as checking the DPI of each one to ensure it would print at a decent resolution.

There was the occasional bug here though – some images stubbornly insisted on defaulting to weirdly specific decimals like 4.97 inches, and resisted all of my attempts to set them to a whole integer. Odd behavior, but ultimately not a deal breaker.

Recreating the colored blocks and ribbons from TechRadar’s photo book test template was also pretty painless. Printique offers a range of shapes that you can add to your projects, and these are all super-flexible: I could precisely control their dimensions, add borders, and apply drop shadows from the properties menu. I was also able to change their color by entering a HEX code, setting RGB values or dragging a cursor to set saturation or brightness. However, the latter exhibited some odd behavior – changing either value would cause the color I’d chosen to creep away from my chosen hue, which occasionally proved irritating when I had a specific tone in mind.

Images of TechRadar's Printique photo book

(Image credit: Future)

Adding captions and credits to my photo book was also easy. Once I’d dropped a text box onto the page, I quickly was able to choose the font, size, styling and alignment. A small time-saver I especially appreciated is the ability to save chosen font settings as a style, which made it easy to achieve a consistent look for text throughout my photo book.

Thanks to some extra settings, it’s possible to get really creative with your layouts. First, Printique provides a wide range of shaped frames that allow you to show off your pics in rounded, slanted or even letter-shaped frames. While some of these are potentially a bit cheesy – star-shaped frames anyone? – they do add a high degree of flexibility that allows you to create some sleek, professional-looking designs.

You can also add extra flourishes and detail to your photo book using Printique’s background and sticker tools. Backgrounds offer everything from customizable block colors to a wide array of illustrations and patterns. Meanwhile, the stickers allow you to add pre-formulated text and illustrations to your photo book, from inscriptions about love to holiday iconography. Personally, some of the stickers aren’t to my tastes, giving things a distinctly clip-art vibe, but there are still a lot of choices there that could make useful ornaments to your text.

You will have to pay a premium for such powerful tools, however. Printique’s photo books were marginally more expensive than some of the other services we've tested. A 12 x 12 inch photo book cost $145.78 including delivery (roughly £112), whereas Shutterfly cost $132.5 (roughly £102) and Mixbook cost $133 (£102.25). It’s only a tiny price increase though, and I would argue one that’s more than worth it, given the flexibility of Printique’s platform.

Images of TechRadar's Printique photo book

(Image credit: Future)

Printique photo book review: performance

The printed photo book we received from Printique offered very high-quality results, with extra-thick pages and consistently good color and accuracy. Hues looked excellent throughout, whether it was a bright, sunny photo or more nuanced fog with creamy bokeh.

All of the photos were arranged perfectly, exactly as we set them, with no printing errors or unexpected margins. The book excels at photos that cross the binding, with a consistent look that feels mostly unbroken, allowing for very large spreads. I especially liked the brightness of the print and paper on our magenta TechRadar signature cover pages. Branding from Printique was minimal, but still present.

The heavy feel of the Printique photo book adds a nice bit of gravity to photos with the weight of the paper. I was almost worried that I would tear the heavy paper as I turned the pages, but the book held its binding nicely, and the photos feel even more special on such a thick presentation. This would make a fine photo book for wedding photography, very special occasions, or to highlight the best shots in your portfolio.

The pages may be a bit too thick if you're printing a large volume of work, and I still worry about those thick pages tearing with constant turning over the years. But for making a selection of photos feel extra premium, Printique’s photo books are a great choice.

Images of TechRadar's Printique photo book

(Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Printique photo book?

Buy it if…

You want a high degree of customizability
Whether it’s precisely controlling image dimensions, adding shaped image frames, including shapes in every color of the rainbow, or stamping your book with illustrations, you’re free to customize your photo book your way.

You want a polished final product
With quality tactile paper, vivid colors and unerringly precisely alignments, Printique's photo books are finished to an excellent standard, making them a gorgeous gift for loved ones.

Don’t buy it if…

You want big savings
There are cheaper photo book services out there. While Printique offers one of the best services we’ve tried, you can absolutely save some money elsewhere.

You want a huge array of ready-to-go templates
Printique has a decent number of templates for you to start plugging your photos into, but if you don’t care about customizability and just want the most prefabricated options, services like Mixbook offer many more.

Printique photo book review: also consider

Mixbook
With over 500 templates locked and loaded, Mixbook is a great choice if you want a no-hassle layout without needing to get into the nitty-gritty of creating your own designs. However, during our Mixbook photo book review we did find there were a few marks left by the printing process, so it’s worth bearing this in mind if you’re considering it for a gift.

Mimeo
For sheer simplicity, Mimeo can’t be beat – its stripped-back offering allows you to just get on with the design without having to wade through too many options. However, it is pricey. Creating a 10 x 10-inch layflat photobook – the closest you can get to the 12 x 12 inch one we created here – will set you back $169.51 (£133.11) and that’s not including the $13.99 (around £10.80) shipping fee. Read our full Mimeo photo book review.

How I tested the Printique photo book

  • I exactly recreated TechRadar’s photo book test template
  • I spent many hours using the platform and experimenting with templates
  • I have over a decade’s experience working in print and design

At TechRadar, we use a set photo book template that we attempt to recreate using every photo book platform we review. I followed this as closely as possible, sizing images according to precise measurements, adding colored shapes in specific hues and shades, and recreating captions and credits in specific fonts and styles, allowing me to assess how easy it was to recreate specific designs that users might have in mind.

Our US Mobiles Editor Philip Berne then assessed the final product, analyzing its overall quality and finish, and comparing it to the template to identify any potential errors in the printing process.

Additionally, I spent several hours playing around with the platform’s templates, layouts, shaped frames and illustrations to see how effective its off-the-shelf design elements were.

I’m an experienced photographer, having spent many years shooting both on my Canon DSLR and my iPhone 16 Pro. I’ve also spent many years working in print, creating layouts for magazines and doing post-production on images, meaning I've spent a lot of time using design tools for producing printed products.

I’ve been using the Sony Inzone M9 II for months, and it’s perfect if you play on PS5 and PC
6:52 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming | Tags: , , , | Comments: Off

Sony Inzone M9 II: Two-minute review

As someone who uses a single monitor for both PC and PlayStation 5, the Sony Inzone M9 II really feels like it was made to meet my specific needs.

A follow-up to the popular Sony Inzone M9, the II eschews the white PlayStation look and bulky tripod stand design. Although I did like the unique appearance of the original M9, the stand of the II is undeniably more practical, with a more generous tilt adjustment range and full 360-degree pivot that makes finding the perfect angle a breeze.

The refreshed aesthetic does help emphasize that this is a monitor intended for use with a PC, too, and ensures that it no longer seems out of place on your desk.

Despite coming in a little cheaper than its predecessor at $799.99 / £899, the II also packs some small, but nevertheless appreciated, spec upgrades. This includes slightly better brightness (which now peaks at 750 nits rather than 600) and a boosted 160Hz refresh rate.

The Sony Inzone M9 II being used to play Counter-Strike 2.

(Image credit: Future)

As the PS5 can only output at a maximum of 120Hz, this latter change was clearly made with PC players in mind, and helps this model hold its own against some of the best gaming monitors aimed at the PC audience right now.

This faster refresh rate, paired with the 1ms GtG response time, and not to mention built-in 24.5-inch mode, could also make the Sony Inzone M9 II a great pick for those who enjoy high-intensity PC esports titles like Counter-Strike 2 or Valorant.

Thanks to a wealth of console-specific features, it’s also one of the best monitors for PS5 and PS5 Pro - full stop. It’s got full variable refresh rate (VRR) support, plus Auto HDR Tone Mapping to automatically calibrate brightness for your PS5 during setup. There’s even an Auto Genre Picture Mode that detects the title that you’re playing and dynamically adjusts the picture to match the likes of FPS titles or RPGs.

The built-in speakers lack bass and can be a little tinny at higher volumes, but they are surprisingly decent overall. That means console players used to the generally superior sound systems of a gaming TV won’t have to run out to pick up an extra pair right away.

It’s easy to lament the use of an IPS LCD panel, especially when OLED options are available from competitors at around the same price, but I don’t have any practical complaints about the 27-inch 4K display here.

It’s bright and responsive, with accurate colors and HDR10. Everything from Assassin’s Creed Shadows to Forza Horizon 5 and Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered looks absolutely stunning, cementing the Sony Inzone M9 II as a superb all-rounder.

The base of the Sony Inzone M9 II.

(Image credit: Future)

Sony Inzone M9 II: Price and availability

  • Retails for $799.99 / £899
  • Slightly worse value in the UK
  • Expect occasional sales

The Sony Izone M9 II retails for $799.99 / £899. This pricing means that it is slightly worse value in the UK, which is a little disappointing and could weigh on your decision if you’re buying in that market.

Although early Inzone products were marked by their eye-wateringly bad value prices (I’m looking at you, Sony Inzone M3), the Sony Inzone M9 II is actually reasonably priced given its spec.

It comes in a bit more expensive than similar options like the Gigabyte M32UC, though it benefits from a significantly more premium overall design that makes the added cost worthwhile in my book.

If you’re after a 4K screen on a tight budget, alternatives like the Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q could prove tempting as they come in at less than half the price of the Sony Inzone M9 II. Just bear in mind that there are noticeable compromises, including significantly higher response times and noticeably lower refresh rates.

The Sony Inzone M9 II is quite good value, then. I recommend it at full price, but, judging by the discount patterns of other Inzone products, I would expect occasional sales to come along and make it an even better proposition.

The monitor is readily available via the Sony website, in addition to the usual retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart in the US and Amazon, Argos, and Very in the UK.

Sony Inzone M9 II: Specs

Sony Inzone M9 II: Design and features

  • Easy assembly process
  • Low profile base
  • Plenty of adjustment options

I’ve never had a bad experience putting together a Sony Inzone monitor and the Sony Inzone M9 II is no exception.

It’s well packaged, with the monitor, stand, and its base secured separately in plenty of polystyrene foam. To assemble, you simply screw the bottom of the base onto the bottom of the stand and clip it all into the back of the monitor. It took me about fifteen seconds overall and did not require the instruction manual.

As I’ve already mentioned, the Sony Izone M9 II has a radically different design compared to the original M9. It’s black instead of white and has an entirely redesigned stand. Rather than a tripod, the Sony Inzone M9 II is held up by a single thick column on a circular base. It’s quite similar to the design of the stand on the Sony Inzone M10S, which was released at the same time, after all, though a bit chunkier on the whole.

With a radius of just under 3.5in / 9cm, the base is still rather compact for a monitor of this size, which makes it easy to fit on a desk - even if you have limited space. The stand can also pivot, offering a smooth 360 degrees of rotation. This is surprisingly handy, ensuring that you can quickly rotate the monitor to show something to a friend or simply adjust it slightly to better suit your current position.

The monitor can be tilted downwards by five degrees or upwards by 25, so you won’t have any trouble finding the right viewing angle either. The height can also be adjusted by 5.1in / 13cm, which is more than enough leeway to raise or lower it to a healthy height in most setups.

The Sony Inzone M9 II.

(Image credit: Future)

On the back right-hand side of the monitor is the power button, alongside a well-sized thumbstick for accessing the on-board settings menu.

The menu here is well organized and easy to navigate, but I’d still recommend installing the compatible Inzone Hub PC app, which offers a slightly more in-depth level of tuning.

There’s also a small white power indicator LED built into the side of the display. It is completely invisible from the front, which is a good thing as it stops it from becoming distracting in the corner of your eye, though can still be disabled in the software if you prefer.

You will find all the expected ports at the bottom of the monitor. There’s a DisplayPort 2.1 connector, 2 HDMI connectors, a USB Type-B input (for enabling the USB hub functionality), and two corresponding USB Type-A outputs.

A Type-C port would certainly be a bonus, but given how many peripherals still use USB Type-A, its absence is not that big of a deal. There’s also a third USB Type-A port that’s clearly labelled as being used for software updates via a USB stick only. Lastly, you get a 3.5mm headphone jack for hooking up any compatible audio devices.

In terms of features, you get pretty much everything that you would expect from a premium gaming monitor. It supports Full Array Local Dimming for enhanced contrast, in addition to meeting the VESA Certified DisplayHDR 600 standard.

The Sony Inzone M9 II.

(Image credit: Future)

On PC, you benefit from a speedy 160Hz refresh rate via a DisplayPort connection, in addition to Nvidia G-Sync support. On PS5, you have VRR and Auto HDR Tone Mapping. The monitor also automatically detects when a PS5 is detected, enabling a pre-tuned PS5 profile.

This is all on top of the usual array of display modes (I’d recommend turning off Auto Picture Mode and sticking to the DisplayHDR profile for the most life-like look in most situations), plus optional settings for on-screen frame rate counter, crosshair, and timer.

Sony Inzone M9 II: Performance

  • Brilliant for PC, perfect for PS5
  • A bright, smooth picture suited to a range of genres
  • An ideal all-rounder

Out of the box, the monitor was in its Power Saving mode, which unfortunately looks rather dim and makes for a lacklustre first impression.

Still, when you turn that off and enable HDR, the resulting picture is fantastic. Despite not being an OLED panel, colours are bright and blacks are surprisingly deep. 4K video is absolutely stunning, while general web browsing and office work benefit from the 160Hz smoothness and highly detailed image.

You likely won’t pick up the Sony Inzone M9 II purely for productivity, though, and gaming does not disappoint. As I used the Sony Inzone M9 II for multiple months, I experienced an extremely wide range of games on it. Highlights on PC include Counter-Strike 2, which is delightfully smooth at 160Hz, in addition to lots of Sid Meier’s Civilization 7, where the detailed models in its diorama-like world come through with excellent clarity.

Hitman World of Assassination benefited hugely from the crisp 4K and cheerful brightness in the sunny stadium of the fictional Miami Global Innovation Race, while the moodier aesthetic of the Dartmoor map showcased the monitor’s strong contrast. Again, this is not an OLED panel, but it still delivers colors that are just as vivid as some of the OLED models that I’ve tried.

The Sony Inzone M9 II.

(Image credit: Future)

It was a similar story over on PS5, where I played through the bulk of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, sunk hundreds of hours into the latest Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 season and tried out Forza Horizon 5 and Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered in addition to many other games. The VRR support was a gamechanger in Assassin’s Creed Shadows in particular, where its Balanced preset appears significantly smoother than on monitors without it.

It’s plenty smooth, but on PS5, you are still constrained to a maximum of 120Hz. If you’re buying purely for use with a console, do bear in mind that you won’t benefit from the true refresh rate capabilities of the Sony Inzone M9 II.

Unlike the more expensive Sony Inzone M10S, the Sony Inzone M9 II also packs some built-in speakers. Will they blow your mind? No, but they’re certainly good enough. At 50% volume, sound is clear and accurate with a decent level of detail. It lacks bass, but acceptable audio still puts them in the upper echelons of gaming monitor speakers. They can go impressively loud, which is good, but as you begin to crank that volume up, the sound becomes a bit more tinny.

If you are viewing the Sony Inzone M9 II as quite a significant investment, you can take comfort in knowing that you won’t need to run out to buy an expensive separate set of speakers to experience your favorite games in an enjoyable fashion right away.

Should you buy the Sony Inzone M9 II?

Buy it if...

You want an all-round gaming powerhouse
The Sony Inzone M9 II is a superb all-round option, delivering excellent performance in a wide range of game genres. It’s got plenty of features and even some decent built-in speakers.

You play on both PS5 and PC
The Sony Inzone M9 II is at its best when you own both a PC and PS5 and use them both on the same display, as it supports a range of features for both platforms. If that’s you, then this monitor is well worth its asking price.

Don't buy it if...

You want to save some cash
Although it is a fair price, the Sony Inzone M9 II is still quite an expensive monitor. There are cheaper 4K options out there, especially if you don’t mind skimping on the overall design and build.

Also consider

Not convinced by the Sony Inzone M9 II? Keep these alternatives on your radar.

Sony Inzone M10S
If you’re more of a PC player, then I’d recommend the Sony Inzone M10S. It’s one of the best monitors that I’ve ever tested, with a beautiful but functional stand and a blazing-fast 480Hz OLED panel. It is 1440p, however, so intended for competitive shooter players first and foremost.

Read our full Sony Inzone M10S review

Gigabyte M32UC
A titan of affordable 4K monitors, the Gigabyte M32UC frequently goes on sale and is the one to choose if you want to save some cash. It has loads of features and a speedy 144Hz refresh rate, though it definitely lacks the premium materials and design of the Sony Inzone M9 II.

Read our full Gigabyte M32UC review

The Sony Inzone M9 II.

(Image credit: Future)

How I tested the Sony Inzone M9 II

  • Tested for multiple months
  • Evaluated with both PC and PS5
  • Tried with loads of different games

I tested the Sony Inzone M9 II for more than two months, using it as my primary monitor for the entirety of that time.

I used it extensively with both PC and PS5, in addition to some light Xbox Series X gaming. During that time, I used it for hours of web browsing, office work, and playing countless games.

On PC, highlights included Counter-Strike 2, Resident Evil 4, Split Fiction, Cities Skylines 2, Sid Meier’s Civilization 7, Persona 3 Reload, Hitman World of Assassination, and Inzoi.

Even some smaller indie games like Monster Prom 4: Monster Con looked great, with the monitor’s vivid colors really complementing the expressive art style.

On PS5, games tested included Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, Days Gone Remastered, The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered, The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered, Forza Horizon 5, Zenless Zone Zero, and Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

Throughout my time with the monitor, I compared my experience to my hands-on testing of other gaming monitors, including the more premium Sony Inzone M10S.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed May 2025

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