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The Honor Magic 8 Lite has the best battery life of any phone I’ve ever tested – but it’s not a total home run
6:00 pm | December 8, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Honor Phones Phones | Tags: , , , | Comments: Off

Honor Magic 8 Lite review: Two-minute review

With the Honor Magic 8 Lite, the battery is undoubtedly the star of the show. It has the same massive 7,500 mAh capacity as the Oppo Find X9 Pro, but when combined with its lower-end energy-efficient chip, it lasts even longer. I'm not exaggerating when I say that four days on a single charge is quite easy to achieve with this phone.

The Magic 8 Lite's construction has been significantly upgraded this year, too. It now carries the highest possible IP rating, so dust and water will pose no threat, while a shock-resistant frame and reinforced tempered glass should keep it fairly safe from drops.

The phone's display is another highlight, and it ticks all the most important boxes. It's bright, has a speedy 120Hz refresh rate, supports PWM dimming, and has slim symmetrical bezels all the way around.

Product shots of the Honor Magic 8 Lite

(Image credit: Future)

Unfortunately, the Magic 8 Lite's performance isn't quite so impressive. You'll see the occasional stutter when you're going about your daily business, and you'll need to use very low graphics settings to get a playable experience in modern games.

The cameras, too, left me wanting more. Honor hasn't upgraded the camera hardware on its Magic Lite series for the last few generations, and while the main sensor on this latest model is quite good, the ultra-wide is pretty terrible.

The software won't be to everyone's taste (and it's not fully up to date), but it has some genuinely useful features, as well as some neat AI tricks that are often reserved for pricier flagship phones. I found it very easy to live with.

So, whether the Magic 8 Lite is right for you will all depend on your priorities. As a photographer and a gamer, I didn't have the greatest time with Magic 8 Lite, but not everyone is like me. Battery life is the number one concern for many users, and that's one area where the Magic 8 Lite will definitely not disappoint.

Honor Magic 8 Lite review: Price and availability

Product shots of the Honor Magic 8 Lite

(Image credit: Future)
  • Announced on December 8, 2025
  • Coming to the UK and Europe in January
  • Not available in the US

The Honor Magic 8 Lite was announced on December 8, 2025, and is expected to begin shipping in the UK and Europe in January. As usual for Honor products, it won't be coming to the US.

Honor hasn't confirmed official pricing just yet, but with the Magic 7 Lite retailing for £399 at launch, I'd expect the Magic 8 Lite to cost a similar amount.

If so, that would put it in league with big-name rivals like the Samsung Galaxy A56 and Google Pixel 9a, though the Magic 8 Lite already stands out by offering the biggest battery of the three, as well as an IP69K rating.

  • Value score: TBC

Honor Magic 8 Lite review: Specs

Here's a look at the Honor Magic 8 Lite's key specs:

Honor Magic 8 Lite

Dimensions

161.9 x 76.1 x 7.76mm

Weight

189g

OS

MagicOS 9, based on Android 15

Display

6.79-inch OLED, 120Hz

Resolution

2640 x 1200 pixels

Chipset

Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 4

RAM

8GB

Storage

256GB / 512GB

Battery

7500mAh

Rear cameras

108MP (f/1.75) main, 5MP (f/2.2) ultra-wide

Front camera

16MP (f/2.45)

Honor Magic 8 Lite review: Design

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Product shots of the Honor Magic 8 Lite

(Image credit: Future)
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Product shots of the Honor Magic 8 Lite

(Image credit: Future)
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Product shots of the Honor Magic 8 Lite

(Image credit: Future)
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Product shots of the Honor Magic 8 Lite

(Image credit: Future)
  • Plastic frame with 6-layer drop-resistant structure
  • Forest Green, Midnight Black, and Reddish Brown options
  • IP68/IP69K dust and water-resistant

With the Magic 8 Lite, Honor has done away with the curved edges we saw on the last few generations, instead opting for a boxy design with flat siderails, which is bang on trend. While I appreciated how slim the curved edges made the Magic 7 Lite feel, the newer model feels more premium and modern.

The phone is available in three different colors: Midnight Black, Reddish Brown, and Forest Green. I have the latter in for review, and it looks lovely. The rear panel has a velvety matte feel, and the color shifts slightly when the light hits it. It's not a fingerprint magnet, either, which is often a problem with matte-finish phones.

The cameras are arranged in a centrally placed halo, just like on the previous generation, and the design reminds me of the Huawei Mate-series flagships. Love it or hate it, there's no denying it stands out from the crowd.

One of the big upgrades this year is the new IP68/69K rating for dust and water resistance. This means the phone is effectively immune to dust ingress and can withstand dunks in fresh water, as well as blasts from jets of hot water. So, if you can't resist scrolling while you take a shower, this is one of the few phones that will survive the ordeal.

The drop resistance has also been cranked up a notch. Honor reckons it'll survive drops from up to 2.5m heights, thanks to a new 6-layer drop-resistant structure that incorporates non-Newtonian fluid.

The phone still has a plastic frame, but it doesn't seem to be holding it back in terms of durability. The tempered glass coating on the screen has also been toughened; it now has a 31% deeper tempering depth to help with scratch and crack resistance.

  • Design score: 4 / 5

Honor Magic 8 Lite review: Display

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Product shots of the Honor Magic 8 Lite

(Image credit: Future)
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Product shots of the Honor Magic 8 Lite

(Image credit: Future)
  • 6.79-inch 120Hz OLED display
  • 3840Hz PWM dimming
  • 6,000-nit peak brightness

The Honor Magic 8 Lite now has a fully flat screen, rather than curved edges, and I much prefer it. Not only does this mean you avoid unwanted reflections and accidental edge touches, but it's also easier to find a quality screen protector.

The bezels are slimmer, too, and they're symmetrical on all sides, which gives the phone a more premium look. The pill-shaped selfie cutout is also gone, and you now get a more typical circular punch hole.

The screen is also brighter than before, able to reach a whopping 6,000 nits at peak brightness. I certainly never had any trouble seeing the display out in the sunlight.

Product shots of the Honor Magic 8 Lite

(Image credit: Future)

It's an OLED panel, and as you might expect, it delivers the deep, inky blacks and vibrant colors that the technology is known for. A 120Hz refresh rate keeps things looking smooth as you swipe around, too.

If you're concerned about eye strain, you'll be pleased to learn that the Honor Magic 8 Lite supports 3,840Hz high-frequency PWM dimming. This will help your eyes feel fresher when using the phone at low brightness levels.

Another neat feature is Honor's AI Heavy Rain Touch/Glove Touch tech. This ensures that the touchscreen continues working when others might fail, for example, when there's water on the screen. It's very useful in the British wintertime.

  • Display score: 4 / 5

Honor Magic 8 Lite review: Cameras

Product shots of the Honor Magic 8 Lite

(Image credit: Future)
  • 108MP main (f/1.75)
  • 5MP ultra-wide (f/2.2)
  • 16MP selfie camera (f/2.45)

The Honor Magic 8 Lite has two rear cameras: a 108MP main and a 5MP ultra-wide. Around the front, there's a 16MP punch hole selfie camera.

This is the exact same hardware that we saw on the Magic 7 Lite and Magic 6 Lite before that. Neither of those phones impressed me with their photographic abilities, so my expectations were on the ground when coming to test the Magic 8 Lite.

Indeed, the ultra-wide is as bad as you might expect. You can get passable results in perfect lighting, but there's only so much you can do with such a low-resolution sensor. In low light, you should avoid it entirely.

The main camera, on the other hand, is quite decent. Just don't let the 108MP specification fool you into thinking you'll get exceptionally detailed shots. It spits out 12MP JPEGs by default, and you'll need a bright sunny day if you want to use the full resolution, as the pixels are quite tiny.

I had hoped that this high-resolution sensor would allow for big digital crops without much of a loss in quality, but that's not the case. You can see the quality degrade quite significantly at 3x zoom, and it gets worse as you approach the maximum of 10x.

Still, in the right conditions, you can get some great shots with the Magic 8 Lite. Honor's processing is a little punchy and contrasty for my tastes, but you are given plenty of controls to adjust the way your images look.

The selfie camera is fine, but wholly unremarkable. It's on par with most budget-focused handsets, and it gets the job done, but it doesn't have the edge that Instagram addicts will be looking for.

I found that portrait mode cutouts weren't the most reliable, often chopping off bits of hair. Plus, there's less control than I'm accustomed to. There's no way to change the blur level on the selfie camera, for instance; it's just on or off.

For video shooting, you can capture at up to 4K 30fps on the main camera, while the other two lenses top out at 1080p. Video stabilization isn't the most impressive, and the lack of consistency across lenses means that budding content creators will be left wanting more.

  • Cameras score: 3 / 5

Honor Magic 8 Lite review: Camera samples

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Honor Magic 8 Lite camera samples

(Image credit: Future)
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Honor Magic 8 Lite camera samples

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Honor Magic 8 Lite camera samples

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Honor Magic 8 Lite camera samples

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Honor Magic 8 Lite camera samples

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Honor Magic 8 Lite camera samples

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Honor Magic 8 Lite camera samples

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Honor Magic 8 Lite camera samples

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Honor Magic 8 Lite camera samples

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Honor Magic 8 Lite camera samples

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Honor Magic 8 Lite camera samples

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Honor Magic 8 Lite camera samples

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Honor Magic 8 Lite camera samples

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Honor Magic 8 Lite camera samples

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Honor Magic 8 Lite camera samples

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Honor Magic 8 Lite camera samples

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Honor Magic 8 Lite camera samples

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Honor Magic 8 Lite camera samples

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Honor Magic 8 Lite camera samples

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Honor Magic 8 Lite camera samples

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Honor Magic 8 Lite camera samples

(Image credit: Future)

Honor Magic 8 Lite review: Performance

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Product shots of the Honor Magic 8 Lite

(Image credit: Future)
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Product shots of the Honor Magic 8 Lite

(Image credit: Future)
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 chipset
  • 8GB RAM
  • 256GB / 512GB storage

The Honor Magic 8 Lite is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 SoC. It's a healthy upgrade compared to the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 that was (strangely) present in both the Magic 6 Lite and 7 Lite.

Still, this is a budget-focused chipset, so you should temper your expectations when it comes to performance. It's paired with 8GB of RAM, which should be sufficient for some multitasking, and either 256GB or 512GB of storage.

In normal day-to-day use, when scrolling social media and responding to emails and WhatsApp messages, the phone feels quick enough. At times, though, you can feel the difference between this and a flagship device. You can expect to see the occasional stutter in the system animations, and sometimes things will take a split second longer to load. Honestly, though, it's very easy to live with.

However, when you boot up a demanding game, that performance gap widens significantly. In fairness, the Magic 8 Lite was still able to play Wuthering Waves, which is well known as one of the most challenging Android titles, but I had to stick to the lowest preset to get playable framerates, and I still saw the odd performance dip.

So, this phone is not a good choice for keen gamers, but if you're more into Candy Crush or retro titles, you might find this level of performance to be all you need.

  • Performance score: 3 / 5

Honor Magic 8 Lite review: Software

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Product shots of the Honor Magic 8 Lite

(Image credit: Future)
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Product shots of the Honor Magic 8 Lite

(Image credit: Future)
  • Magic OS 9, based on Android 15
  • Plenty of AI features
  • 6 years of updates and security patches (in EU regions)

The Magic 8 Lite runs Magic OS 9, which is the same software you'll find on Honor's 2025 flagships like the Magic 7 Pro and Magic V5. That said, we've already seen Magic OS 10 begin to roll out to these handsets, so it's a little strange that the Lite model is launching one step behind. Hopefully, the upgrade will materialize before too long.

Honor promises six years of OS upgrades and security patches for the Magic 8 Lite in the EU, so it will definitely get the new OS, but how soon it will arrive remains to be seen. Regardless, it's a very decent update policy at this price point; it doesn't match the seven years that you get with Honor's flagship phones, but it outdoes a lot of the similarly priced competition. It should be noted, though, that outside of the EU, this phone only gets two years of updates.

Magic OS continues to be a divisive Android skin. It's heavily stylized, and it changes a lot of the core fundamentals, so Android purists probably won't love it. Personally, though, I quite enjoy it. I think it looks nice, and it adds some genuinely useful features.

Product shots of the Honor Magic 8 Lite

Honor's Magic Portal interface on the Magic 8 Lite (Image credit: Future)

Honor's Magic Portal is probably the most unique offering. It allows you to drag text and images from one app to another, and I find myself using it quite frequently. I was pleased to see that Honor's "Knuckle to Portal" gesture is now supported on the Lite model, too, as it was missing when I reviewed the previous model.

In terms of functionality, there's a lot of overlap between Magic Portal and Google's Circle to Search, which is also supported on this phone. That said, having more than one way to accomplish a task is rarely a bad thing, because if one service isn't behaving the way you'd like, you can try the other.

You also get loads of AI-powered image editing tools on the Magic 8 Lite, like an object eraser, reflection removal, outpainting, background removal, and more. Again, a lot of these features are built into Google Photos, too, but if you use both platforms, you can see which one does a better job.

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Product shots of the Honor Magic 8 Lite

Magic Pill on the Magic 8 Lite (Image credit: Future)
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Product shots of the Honor Magic 8 Lite

Magic Pill on the Magic 8 Lite (Image credit: Future)

I'm a big fan of Honor's Magic Pill feature, which is functionally almost identical to Apple's Dynamic Island. It's nothing particularly new, but it means you have quick access to things like media controls and timers, no matter which app is running in the foreground.

The aggressive power-saving measures that the OS applies by default are less impressive. If you want timely notifications, you might find that you need to go into the settings and tweak things. I often found I wasn't getting notifications from my video doorbell, for example.

  • Software score: 3 / 5

Honor Magic 8 Lite review: Battery

Product shots of the Honor Magic 8 Lite

(Image credit: Future)
  • 7,500mAh silicon-carbon battery
  • 66W wired charging
  • No charger included

Without a doubt, one of the most appealing aspects of the Magic 8 Lite is its insane battery life. The 7,500mAh silicon-carbon cell is up there with the largest batteries available today (tied with the Oppo Find X9 Pro and RedMagic 11 Pro). The difference here is that it's paired with a less powerful and more energy-efficient chipset, which results in the best battery life of any phone I have tested to date.

When I was working in the office, and not playing too many games or taking a lot of photos, I found I was only using around 25% of the Magic 8 Lite's battery per day. I managed to make the phone last for four days on a single charge, and it wasn't particularly challenging to do so.

Of course, battery life varies wildly depending on how you use your phone, but even the heaviest of users should be able to achieve two days on a charge without any difficulty. So, if you're always forgetting to charge your phone, the Magic 8 Lite could be an absolute game-changer.

What's more, despite having a massive battery, the phone also doesn't take too long to charge. It supports up to 66W speeds using an official Honor charger, but sadly, you don't get one included in the box.

With the right charger, you can expect around a 50% charge in just half an hour, while a full charge will take just over an hour. Not too shabby.

As ever, I would have loved to see wireless charging support, especially since the feature seems to be making its way to more mid-rangers, but there's none of that here.

  • Battery score: 5 / 5

Should you buy the Honor Magic 8 Lite?

Honor Magic 8 Lite scorecard

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Value

We're still waiting for confirmation of the phone's price.

TBC

Design

The Magic 8 Lite looks a lot more premium than its predecessor, and it's a lot more durable, too.

4 / 5

Display

Slimmer bezels, higher brightness, and PWM dimming make this display a winner.

4 / 5

Cameras

The 108MP main camera can take some decent shots, but the ultra-wide is pretty awful.

3 / 5

Performance

The Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 is adequate for daily use, but it's nothing too special.

3 / 5

Software

There are some great features, but it's already a generation behind, and the power-saving features can be annoying.

3 / 5

Battery

Simply put, this is the longest-lasting phone I've tested to date.

5 / 5

Buy it if...

You hate charging your phone

If you're always walking around with 1% left in the tank, the Honor Magic 8 Lite could be the phone for you. You can easily go for three days on a single charge, and with light use, you might even be able to make it last four.

You need something durable

An IP69 rating for dust and water resistance, along with a shock-resistant frame and thickened tempered glass, makes for a very hard-wearing phone. This device should be able to withstand some abuse.

Don't buy it if...

You want blazing-fast performance

While I found the performance to be adequate for basic tasks, you can definitely tell this isn't the speediest device around. Gamers should steer clear.

You want the best cameras

With the Magic 8 Lite, you only really get one good camera; the ultra-wide and selfie snappers are wholly unimpressive. If photography is your priority, there are better options to consider.

Honor Magic 7 Pro review: Also consider

The Honor Magic 8 Lite is a battery life champion with great durability, but there are plenty of other great options around the same price. Here are a couple of competitors that are worth looking at:

Samsung Galaxy A56

Samsung's mid-range favorite offers a more premium build, using more aluminum and glass than plastic. It also has a superior ultra-wide camera, but the battery is much smaller, and the charging isn't as quick.

Read our Samsung Galaxy A56 Review

Google Pixel 9a

Google's Pixel 9a is powered by the Tensor G4 chip, which is a massive step up from the Magic 8 Lite's Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 in terms of performance. The cameras are more impressive, too. However, yet again, Honor reigns supreme when it comes to battery life and charging speed.

Read our full Google Pixel 9a review

Honor Magic 8 Lite

Samsung Galaxy A56

Google Pixel 9a

Price:

TBC

$499 / £499 / AU$699

$499 / £499 / AU$849

Display:

6.79-inch OLED

6.7-inch OLED

6.3-inch OLED

Cameras:

108MP main; 5MP ultra-wide

50MP main; 12MP ultra-wide; 5MP macro

48MP main; 13MP ultra-wide

Processor:

Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 4

Exynos 1580

Tensor G4

Battery:

7,500mAh

5,000mAh

5,100 mAh

How I tested the Honor Magic 8 Lite

  • Review test period: One week
  • Testing included: Everyday use, including web browsing, social media, photography, video calling, gaming, streaming video, music playback
  • Tools used: Geekbench 6, 3DMark, GFXBench, native Android stats

I put my SIM card into the Honor Magic 8 Lite and used it as my main phone for just over a week. I used it exactly as I would use any other phone, taking lots of photos, gaming, messaging, working, streaming video, and navigating with Google Maps and Waze.

I also compared the experience of playing graphically challenging games like Wuthering Waves and Zenless Zone Zero to my experience on other Android mid-rangers like the Nothing Phone (3a) and Samsung Galaxy A56. I also ran multiple benchmarks on the handset, including 3DMark, GFXbench, and Geekbench.

I assessed the battery performance based on my real-world usage, and charging times were measured using an official Honor 100W wall adapter and cable.

Read more about how we test

First tested November 2025

I tested Doogee’s V Max LR – a rugged phone that’s identical to the V Max Play with one big difference that also makes it cheaper
7:11 pm | December 7, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Phone & Communications Pro | Tags: | Comments: Off

Doogee V Max LR: 30-second review

Doogee’s V Max series includes some monstrous phones, all powered by the same MediaTek Dimensity 7300 SoC and a huge 20500 mAh battery.

The V Max LR is the cheapest option and delivers an almost identical design to the Play model, but with the omission of the projector.

Instead, the LR has a measuring sensor, which is slightly less niche and might be useful to anyone in the construction industry who doesn’t already have a gizmo for that.

Using an integrated app, this can measure lengths and areas easily and can be activated via the custom button.

In my V Max Play review, I covered some of the silly mistakes that Doogee made with that phone, like the included bumper that covers over the camping lights, among others. And, the LR model fixes none of these issues and repeats them all verbatim.

However, this choice has the significant advantage of being cheaper than the Play, a phone I felt was way too expensive. Direct from Doogee, the LR is $110 less than the Play, which gives us a good idea of what adding a projector adds to the cost.

That doesn’t make the LR cheap; it's just not the high cost of the Play.

If you want an impressively large phone with enough battery life to last a week of general use, that enhances the owner's biceps, and doubles as a tape measure, then the LR meets all those criteria.

If you don’t care that it's so unwieldy and not inexpensive, it might provide good service, but this isn't a combination that calls to our best rugged phones collection.

Doogee V Max LR

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

Doogee V Max LR: price and availability

  • How much does it cost? $580/£465
  • When is it out? Available now
  • Where can you get it? You can get it in most regions directly from Doogee or from many online retailers.

Doogee sells its phones directly and through online retailers like Amazon and AliExpress.

In the USA, the V Max LR sells for $579.99 directly, or you can get it on Amazon.com for $769.99, but at time of review, it's discounted to $639.99.

A better deal can be had on AliExpress, where the V Max LR sells for $545.51, though I’m unsure whether that price includes tariffs on Chinese imports into the USA.

For UK customers, it's available from Amazon.co.uk for £630. It's also on AliExpress, where the latest price is only £463.23. And, across Europe, AliExpress charges €524.32 for the global version of this phone.

Other phones that offer a rangefinder include the Blackview BV9300 and the Unihertz 8849 Tank 3. The Blackview has been replaced with the BV9300Pro model, but the old one with the same measuring technology as the LR costs around $480 on AliExpress. That seems cheap, but the BV9300 only has 75% of the battery capacity of the LR, and half the storage.

Equally, the original Unihertz 8849 Tank 3 has been superseded, you can still get it, but only the models without the rangefinder.

Given that most phone makers who previously included a rangefinder have removed it from their devices, it hints that it wasn’t a feature that sold many devices.

Doogee V Max LR

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
  • Value score: 3.5/5

Doogee V Max LR: Specs

Item

Spec

CPU:

MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Energy

GPU:

Arm Mali-G615 MC2

NPU:

MediaTek APU 655

RAM:

16GB

Storage:

512GB

Screen:

6.78 inchFHD+IPS Screen

Resolution:

1080 x 2460FHD+,120Hz

SIM:

2x Nano SIM + TF (all three can be used)

Weight:

686 grams alone, 771g with bumper

Dimensions:

183.5 x 85.4 x 30.5 mm

Rugged Spec:

IP68 IP69K dust/water resistant (up to 2m for 30 min), MIL-STD-810H Certification

Rear cameras:

200MP AI Main Camera + 20 MP Night Vision Camera + 8MP Ultra Wide Angle & Macro Camera

Front camera:

32MP Samsung

Networking:

WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.3

Audio:

130dB loudspeaker with Smart PA

OS:

Android 15

Battery:

20500 mAh (Max 45W wired, 10W reverse)

Colours:

Black

Doogee V Max LR: design

  • Heavy and thick
  • Annoying bumper

I’ve already covered the ergonomics of this phone in my Doogee V Max Play review that you can read here, so let's keep this brief.

At 771g, this is an excessively heavy and bulky device that doesn’t fit easily in your pocket and would be a nightmare for anyone who has wrist strength issues or a child.

To make it marginally easier to carry, Doogee created a hard-plastic bumper with an integrated rubber handle.

It’s obvious to anyone using the phone for the first time that the person who designed the bumper never saw a physical phone, and just created it using a CAD model.

I say that because the carrying handle sits over the user-customisable button, and gripping the phone triggers that button every time. So, where on the Play you open the phone to always find the projector controls on the screen, here you always meet the measuring app.

Doogee V Max LR

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

Another clue to the lack of joined-up thinking is that the LR, like the Play, has two large LED arrays that act as a camping light, but the bumper obscures these entirely behind solid plastic. Therefore, to use them, the bumper must first be removed, which isn’t easy in either light or dark.

I do wonder about the number of people involved in the design and production of the LR and the Play who either didn’t notice or chose to ignore the obvious faults in this aspect of the design as it moved from concept to production. But, they did one or the other.

As a phone and a bumper, neither of these things is Doogee’s finest hour.

Doogee V Max LR

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

Design score: 3/5

Doogee V Max LR: hardware

  • Same SoC as Play model
  • Confuses IR and Lasers

The underlying Android 15 platform on the LR is unchanged from the Play, and therefore, you can read my review of that phone for a greater insight into what the Dimensity 7300 Energy offers, and if it's something you might want in your mobile devices.

To paraphrase my previous views, it’s a decent SoC with more than enough power for the majority of use cases, even if it’s not ideal for the hardcore gamer.

Its strengths are supreme power efficiency, which, given the phone's battery capacity, results in exceptional running time.

The one feature that Doogee removed from the Play to create the LR was the projector, but its omission left physical space within the design, and the engineers decided to fill that with something more practical and less niche.

You may be wondering what the LR stands for in this phone, and it's the Laser Rangefinder. But this is where we head down a rabbit hole, because I’m not sure whether this phone has a laser rangefinder.

What makes me unsure? Well, in the app, when you activate the measuring system, it says “Turn on infrared”, not “Activate Laser”. But when you do that, you can see a visible laser spot where the phone is pointed. If this were infrared, it wouldn’t be visible, since humans can’t see the frequencies of light that are generally classed as infrared.

In an attempt to resolve these apparent contradictions, I checked the documentation that came with the phone and found no reference to laser light or any safety warning regarding that or IR. Admittedly, the two-page manual was a generic one, and not specific to the LR, but surely if you have a product with a laser in it, of whatever power, that needs a specific kite-mark or something?

What I do know is that, alongside the area on the phone where the ‘laser’ comes out, there's an IR sender/receiver. Doogee mentions it has this in its promotional materials, calling it an “Infrared Remote Control”, although there are no apps included to use it.

Doogee V Max LR

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

My guess, and take this with a huge pinch of salt, is that the laser is a marker so you can see where it is measuring to, and the actual measurement is performed using Infrared, because that’s much cheaper than the electronics to calculate the return of a laser beam.

That would explain why the device's maximum range is 40M and its measurement accuracy is rated at ±3-15 mm. Eventually, I found a reference that said 630-670nm visible infrared, which confused me even more, because that’s in the visible light range, and strictly not in the true infrared range.

I could be wrong, and I’ll be happy to accept it if I am, but whatever the LR has isn’t a ‘Laser Rangefinder’, as is typically defined.

Can it measure distances? Yes, although not that accurately. As they say, measure twice, cut once.

Doogee V Max LR

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
  • Hardware score: 4/5

Doogee V Max LR: cameras

  • Rear camera: 200MP Samsung S5KHP2 primary camera, 20 MP Sony IMX350 Night Vision Camera, 8MP Ultra Wide Angle & Macro Camera
  • Front camera: 32MP Samsung S5GD1

Doogee V Max LR

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

Again, I’ll spare you my repeated thoughts on the camera system of the LR, since it's identical to the same arrangement in the V Max Play. I covered that subject in my review of that phone, so I’ll give a general overview of my thoughts here.

The phone's sensor is good, and the HP2 primary camera in particular is an excellent choice for those wanting crisp, well-saturated images, even in low-light conditions.

It’s combined with the workman-like 20MP Sony sensor that is good for night vision and a workable 8MP sensor for ultra-wide-angle and macro scenarios.

For the sake of thoroughness, I’ve taken another series of example photos using the LR, but there isn’t any practical difference between these and the ones I took using the Play.

One thing I failed to mention on the Play, but I’ll include here, is that neither of these phones has Widevine L1 support, with only L3 encryption. That means that the majority of streaming services will limit the quality of a streamed movie or TV show to only 480P, irrespective of the screen resolution. Many Chinese phone makers don’t care about Westerners watching Netflix, and Doogee is one of those, it transpires.

In short, the cameras are good, but avoid the encouragement of the underwater mode, since given the weight of this phone, if you let it slip from your hand, it will be heading rapidly to the deep six.

Doogee V Max LR

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

Doogee V Max LR Camera samples

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Doogee V Max LR

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
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Doogee V Max LR

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
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Doogee V Max LR

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
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Doogee V Max LR

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
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Doogee V Max LR

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
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Doogee V Max LR

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
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Doogee V Max LR

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
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Doogee V Max LR

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
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Doogee V Max LR

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
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Doogee V Max LR

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
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Doogee V Max LR Examples

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
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Doogee V Max LR

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
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Doogee V Max LR

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
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Doogee V Max LR

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
  • Camera score: 4.5/5

Doogee V Max LR: performance

  • Decent SoC
  • GPU is game-friendly
  • Big battery

Phone

Doogee V Max LR

Doogee V Max Play

SoC

Mediatek Dimensity 7300

Mediatek Dimensity 7300

GPU

Mali-G615 MC2

Mali-G615 MC2

Mem

MediaTek NPU 655

MediaTek NPU 655

NPU

16GB/512GB

16GB/512GB

Weight

686g

686g

Battery

20500

20500

Geekbench

Single

1019

1009

Multi

3247

3176

OpenCL

2500

2478

Vulkan

2521

2501

GFX

Aztec Open Normal

40

40

Aztec Vulkan Norm.

42

42

Car Chase

36

36

Manhattan 3.1

61

60

PCMark

3.0 Score

13932

11709

Battery

43h 21m

43h 28m

Charge 30

%

12

11

Passmark

Score

13772

13901

CPU

6816

6973

3DMark

Slingshot OGL

7124

6977

Slingshot Ex. OGL

5378

5275

Slingshot Ex. Vulkan

4976

4862

Wildlife

3300

3269

Nomad Lite

364

360

I put this data in the review to underline that the LR and the Play versions of the Doogee V Max are the same phone inside.

Yes, there are different results, but the difference is no more than what you get by repeatedly running the tests. The only oddity is why the Play has a lower PCMark score, and I can only conclude that a firmware update that happened between my testing made a change that upgraded the LR on that one test.

If the LR is compared with other rugged phones, the performance is decent but not spectacular. As a good example, the Oukitel WP210 that uses the Dimensity 8200 scores 6023 on the 3Dmark Wildlife test. Therefore, faster phones are available, but the platform on the LR outclasses many designs, like the Blackview BV7300 or Oukitel WP300.

  • Performance score: 4/5

Doogee V Max LR

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

Doogee V Max LR: Final verdict

As I iterated with the V Max Play, the phone's physical size is a deal-breaker for many, since it limits who can carry it and how far.

On the other hand, if the phone will typically be in a vehicle, then it might not matter.

The idea of removing the projector and putting in the measuring system and its price reduction seems, on paper at least, a good idea.

Though the V Max LR still isn’t an inexpensive phone, especially if you buy it through Amazon.

There are good things about this phone, like the cameras and the SoC, but they’re balanced by the price and a few dire aspects, such as the poorly designed bumper.

That bumper wasn’t good on the Play, and now it's appeared on the LR. I just hope Doogee redesign it for any subsequent V Max models.

Should I buy a Doogee V Max LR?

Doogee V Max LR Score Card

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Value

Maker price is too high, but online its more affordable

3.5/5

Design

Terrible bumper and a massive device

3/5

Hardware

Decent SoC and a 20500 mAH battery, and a 'Laser Rangefinder'

3.5/5

Camera

200MP Samsung sensor takes great pictures and video

4.5/5

Performance

Decent performance and enhanced battery life

4/5

Overall

Not the most practical phone for daily use, but rugged

4/5

Buy it if...

You need a phone for outdoors
The water- and dust-resistant Doogee V Max LR is suitable for working in the rain and can withstand being dropped. But it is exceptionally heavy and unsuitable for small hands.

You need battery capacity
One of the redeeming features of this design is the battery capacity and how this translates into running time. If all you want is a long-running time, then this is a design that offers that feature, but it also makes it heavy.

Don't buy it if...

You are travelling light
At over 771g with bumper, this is a heavy phone, and it's too big to fit in a trouser pocket. Maybe for a long trek, this isn't the best choice, even if the camera is perfect for scenic shots and measuring planks.

Also Consider

Ulefone Armor Mini 20 Pro
Another practical, rugged design with an inbuilt camping light, night vision camera and about 60% of the battery capacity than the WP60. It’s cheap, but conversely, the cameras aren’t as good, and the SoC isn’t as powerful. For those needing a cheap, tough phone, the Ulefone Armour Mini 20 Pro might be a good choice as it's easily pocketable.

Read our full Ulefone Armor Mini 20 Pro review

ThinkPhone 25 by Motorola
The ThinkPhone 25 offers a powerful SoC, robust package, practical form factor, high-quality camera sensors and decent battery life at a mid-range price point. But, it’s not available in the USA, sadly.

Read our ThinkPhone 25 by Motorola review

For more ruggedized devices, we've reviewed the best rugged tablets, the best rugged laptops, and the best rugged hard drives

The anime-themed Starforge Systems Frieren PC might be one of the prettiest systems I’ve ever seen – and the performance is almost as powerful as the elf mage herself
6:00 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Gadgets Gaming Computers Gaming PCs | Tags: , , , | Comments: Off

Starforge Systems Frieren PC: Two-minute review

It's not every day I get to review a PC that looks this good. PC-building brand Starforge Systems makes some excellent pre-built systems worthy of standing among the best computers, but it's the company's collaboration builds that really stand out - and I've been lucky enough to get Starforge's latest themed PC, which is a collab with the popular new anime Frieren: Beyond Journey's End.

Starforge has previously run collabs for novel PC builds with popular media from across anime and gaming, including Jujutsu Kaisen, Path of Exile, and even Old School Runescape. Why am I reviewing this one specifically? 'Cos Frieren slaps, that's why. Chronicling the misadventures of an ancient and powerful (but also frequently goofy) elven mage, it features near the top of our best anime shows list for good reason, and season 2 is out in January - so if you haven't watched it already, get a move on!

Uh, anyway. Enough about the show. Let's actually talk about the PC Starforge has built: because it also slaps. A premium mid-tower gaming desktop with high-end components, it's fundamentally similar to the Voyager III system, with the most notable change being that it features an AMD graphics card rather than an Nvidia one (and that it has the cast of Frieren plastered all over it, obviously).

The Starforge Systems Frieren PC, photographed on a dark worktop with the RGB lighting switched on.

(Image credit: Future)

As far as PC builds go, it's nothing particularly wild outside the anime-themed aesthetics. I'll get more into the nitty-gritty of the internals down in the Design section, but the guts of this build should look largely familiar to anyone familiar with the art of custom PC building. It's exceptionally colorful when switched on, too; I played around a bit with the RGB settings and was easily able to set up a very pleasing white-and-green light scheme that matched the design of the case.

Thankfully, the performance is solid: this system can comfortably handle 1080p and 1440p gaming, and run all but the most demanding titles at 4K - though you might want to turn on AMD's FSR 3 upscaling for that, especially in ray-traced games like Cyberpunk 2077. If you want a gaming PC that can also pull double duty as a workstation for professional or hobbyist creative work, this system can get the job done.

The Starforge Systems Frieren PC, photographed on a dark worktop with the RGB lighting switched on.

(Image credit: Future)

The main downside for me here - other than the lack of an Nvidia RTX GPU, which does lock users out from using Nvidia's best-in-class upscaling and frame-generation tech - is the price. I'll do a full breakdown in the next section, but the cost is $2,499.99 (around £1,870 / AU$3,760).

That's not a terrible price, for sure; I took some time to sit down on PCPartPicker and tried to replicate this build as accurately as possible, and even opting for some cheaper components in the same performance bracket (like more budget-conscious RAM and storage), I landed at a price just barely south of $2,300.

The fancy backlit display panel and general extra design features here will be worth that extra two hundred bucks for some people, and the skyrocketing price of RAM will no doubt be pushing some people away from DIY-ing their next PC. Oh, and of course, if you buy from Starforge, you don't have to go through the pain of actually building the damn thing.

Starforge notably does bundle this PC with a large desk mat and acrylic wall art panel matching the Frieren aesthetic, too - which, when purchased individually, would run you an extra $110. Still, you're definitely paying a premium for the Frieren theme, so it's probably a PC you should only pick if you're a serious anime lover.

Starforge Systems Frieren PC review: Price & Availability

  • Fixed price of $2,499.99 (around £1,870 / AU$3,760)
  • Available now in the US, ships to UK and Australia
  • Only one configuration available

There's only one model of the Frieren PC available, and it'll run you a total of $2,499.99 (around £1,870 / AU$3,760). As I noted above, that's only marginally above the price you're likely to pay to build your own similar system at the time of writing, though you'd obviously be missing out on the exclusive design starring everyone's favorite tiny but overpowered elf and her pals, plus the bundled artwork and desk mat.

It should also be noted for British and Australian shoppers that those GBP and AUD conversions don't include regional tax (VAT and GST, respectively), so you will actually end up paying a bit more once you factor in that and shipping fees. Americans, you already know the drill when it comes to sales tax.

The Starforge Systems Frieren PC, photographed on a dark worktop with the RGB lighting switched on.

(Image credit: Future)

So while the Starforge Systems Frieren PC is undeniably a rather expensive purchase, I can't knock it too hard for that; it's a niche collab targeting the crossover between PC gamers and a relatively new TV show fanbase, and the bundled extras soften the blow of the asking price.

The Frieren PC is already available to purchase directly from Starforge's website, with shipping to anywhere in the US, Europe, and Australia. All of Starforge's PCs come with a 2-year warranty, too.

  • Value: 4 / 5

Starforge Systems Frieren PC review: Specs

Starforge Systems Frieren PC Specs

Starforge Systems Frieren PC Config

Price

$2,499.99 (around £1,870 / AU$3,760)

CPU

Intel Core i5-14600K

GPU

AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT 16GB

RAM

32GB DDR5-6000

Storage

1TB PCIe NVMe 4.0 M.2 SSD

Ports and Connectivity

Front I/O: 2x USB-A 3.2, 1x USB-C 3.2, 1x 3.5mm combi audio jack

Rear I/O: 6x USB-A 3.2, 1x USB-C 3.2, 1x HDMI, 3x DisplayPort, 1x RJ-45 Ethernet, 1x PS/2, 1x SPDIF, 5x 3.5mm audio in-out

Dimensions

18.82 x 11.42 x 18.54in (47.8cm x 29.0cm x 47.1cm)

Starforge Systems Frieren PC review: Design

  • Clean, well-assembled internals
  • Fantastic aesthetic with swappable platelights
  • Potentially bigger than it really needs to be

I'll say this right out of the gate: even for a mid-tower system, this is a pretty chunky desktop PC. The specially-customized Lian Li O11 Dynamic case used for the Frieren PC is large, and there's quite a bit of negative space inside the case - this isn't the PC to buy if you're working with limited real estate on your desk.

Still, that extra room does mean that the Frieren PC has a lot of upgrade potential. Removing the glass side panel to root around inside the guts of this system is as easy as pie, and there's ample space for a bigger GPU if so desired in the future, too. Or, you know, an anime figurine...

Size aside, this is obviously one really good-looking system. The art quality is excellent, and the anime-themed print doesn't just extend to the glass panels; there's a separate piece of artwork depicting Frieren's previous adventuring party (shown in flashbacks in the show, which form an important part of her narrative development- okay, I'll shut up now) printed on the metal opposite side panel, as well as a large sigil on the top grille. It's also decked out with plenty of fully customizable RGB lighting, including two slim lightbars that run along the top and bottom edges of the panelling. There's also the usual abundance of ports on the back you'd expect from a gaming PC, and a pretty standard front I/O featuring USB-A, USB-C, and an audio jack.

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The Starforge Systems Frieren PC, photographed on a dark worktop with the RGB lighting switched on.

(Image credit: Future)
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The Starforge Systems Frieren PC, photographed on a dark worktop with the RGB lighting switched on.

(Image credit: Future)
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The Starforge Systems Frieren PC, photographed on a dark worktop with the RGB lighting switched on.

(Image credit: Future)

I also feel compelled to say that this is one of the tidiest and most well-assembled pre-built PCs I've seen in years, rivalling many of the best gaming PCs. I'm not saying that most reputable PC-builders are messy with their builds, but Starforge's work here is clearly top-class, with masterful cable management. Even the space hidden beneath the vertical PSU shroud is tidy (an area I'm personally accustomed to using as the 'just stuff it out of sight' space in my own PC builds).

In addition to the Frieren-themed extras, you also get a pack containing all the additional bits and pieces that weren't used in the build - drive brackets from the case, spare screws, unused modular cables from the PSU, all that good stuff. Not all PC-builders include this superfluous kit, but it's highly useful if you choose to upgrade your system further down the line.

One particularly nice inclusion here - also seen in some of Starforge Systems' other premium pre-built PCs - is the 'platelight'. That's the tall, thin acrylic art strip with LED backlighting you can see in some of the photos I've taken; pop off the other side panel, and you can easily slide it out and replace it with a different piece of illuminated artwork. Starforge sells a variety of these on its site (there are four other Frieren ones besides the default one included here), which range from other collabs to striking original artwork. You could even theoretically make your own, since it's just artwork printed on a rectangular slab of translucent acrylic.

  • Design: 5 / 5

Starforge Systems Frieren PC review: Performance

The Starforge Systems Frieren PC, photographed on a dark worktop with the RGB lighting switched on.

(Image credit: Future)
  • Strong gaming and creative performance
  • CPU performance is okay, but not spectacular for the price
  • Fans are impressively quiet even under load
Starforge Systems Frieren PC Benchmarks

Here's how the Frieren PC performed in our suite of benchmark tests:

Geekbench 6 (Multi Core): 17,477; (Single Core): 2,787
Geekbench AI (Single Precision): 35,726; (Half Precision): 47,849; (Quantized): 28,735
Cinebench R23 (Multi Core): 23,937; (Single Core): 2,039
Cinebench R24 (Multi Core): 1,387; (Single Core): 122
Crossmark Overall: 2,255
3DMark Fire Strike: 45,822; Steel Nomad: 7,032; Solar Bay: 117,376; Night Raid: 84,092
BlackMagicDisk Read: 4,071MB/s; Write: 4,779MB/s
25GB Copy Test: 1,502MB/s
Shadow of the Tomb Raider (1080p, Highest): 197 FPS; (Balanced Upscaling, 1080p, Highest): 244 FPS
Total War: Warhammer III (1080p, Medium): 275 FPS; (1080p, Ultra): 146 FPS
Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p, Ultra): 173 FPS; (Balanced Upscaling, 1080p, Ultra): 183 FPS; (Balanced Upscaling, 1080p, Ultra RT): 131 FPS
Marvel Rivals (1080p, Low): 193 FPS; (1080p, Ultra): 112 FPS; (Balanced Upscaling, 1080p, Ultra): 136 FPS

Powered by the excellent AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT graphics card, the Frieren PC has no issues running the latest PC games at 1080p and 1440p resolutions, and can easily spring to 4K without dropping below 60 frames per second in many titles too. If you're willing to switch on upscaling with FSR 3 (and you really should be at this point, as upscaling tech has come a long way in recent years), 4K gaming is comfortably within reach here.

I got stable framerates at 1440p and 4K in all the listed games (plus Black Myth: Wukong, which I'm currently playing through) except Cyberpunk 2077, which struggled a little once ray tracing was turned on. If you're willing to do a very small amount of fiddling in the graphical settings, though, virtually any game should be playable at 4K on this PC.

Considering the synthetic test results too, it's safe to say that this PC is also able to comfortably handle creative workloads such as video editing and 3D rendering. If you're a creative professional who also happens to be an anime fan, this might actually be the perfect computer for you.

The Starforge Systems Frieren PC, photographed on a dark worktop with the RGB lighting switched on.

(Image credit: Future)

CPU performance is a little less impressive, though still good. Although the Intel Core i5-14600K chip inside the Frieren PC is fast, as an i5 CPU, it's fundamentally just not a high-end processor. That has the potential to create minor bottlenecks in CPU-heavy programs, particularly single-core workloads. It's perfectly sufficient for 99% of use cases, but there will potentially be some users who want to do a lot of stuff beyond gaming on their PC, and this should be an important consideration if you're one of those people.

That i5 chip lacks a dedicated neural processing unit (NPU) for handling AI workloads, but that doesn't matter in the slightest, since the far more powerful Radeon GPU can handle locally-run AI tasks to a good degree. This is a fairly niche application, though, so unless you already know you're going to be running AI software locally (or you're planning on building your own LLM) it shouldn't be a major concern.

Lastly, I'd like to note that despite its hefty size and six case fans (plus two on the GPU), it's surprisingly quiet in operation. Airflow overall seems good, with vertical pressure venting heat efficiently (I saw no significant component temperature spikes during my tests). Sure, you can hear the fans, but considering how much whine some PCs put out when running a demanding game or program, I have to say I was impressed at how little noise this system produces.

  • Performance: 4.5 / 5

Should I buy the Starforge Systems Frieren PC?

Starforge Systems Frieren PC Scorecard

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Value

It's not cheap, but the pricing puts it only a little above the cost of a similar DIY PC - and the aesthetics are worth it if you're a weeb like me.

4 / 5

Design

Aesthetically stunning and well-assembled from good quality components, there's very little I can reasonably fault about this PC's design.

5 / 5

Performance

Gaming and creative performance is strong, with only minor tweaks needed to run the latest games at 4K with 60+ frames per second.

4.5 / 5

Total

A love letter to PC gaming and anime, the Frieren PC is the indisputable best possible gift for someone who loves that show.

4.5 / 5

Buy the Starforge Systems Frieren PC if...

You want a powerful, upgradable PC
With solid gaming performance and an extremely tidy internal finish that should make future upgrades a breeze, this is a future-proofed system - though I can't guarantee it'll live as long as an immortal magical elf.

You love Frieren
Do I really need to explain this one? If you like the show and you're a PC gamer, this is probably the best system you could possibly buy. If you haven't seen the show, how did you even get this far into the article? Leave immediately and watch it, that's an order.

Don't buy it if...

You're on a tight budget
Two and a half thousand dollars is a lot of money, I can't dispute that. This is a product for die-hard fans who are willing to pay a bit more (though Starforge does also have some very reasonably-priced generic pre-builds).

You want a compact desktop
The Frieren PC has a frankly huge footprint for a mid-tower system, measuring almost as much as my massive old Corsair Carbide 600C build from 2017. If you're already working with a cramped gaming space, I'd advise look for something smaller.

Starforge Systems Frieren PC review: Also Consider

NZXT Player PC
One of the best desktop PCs we've reviewed this year, the 'Player PC' from NZXT might have an awful name, but it delivers strong gaming performance in a well-constructed case - plus, as an RTX 5070 system, it'll cost you a bit less than the Frieren PC too.

Read our full NZXT Player PC review

Asus ROG NUC (2025)
If you’re looking for a powerful PC in the same price range that won't take up half your tiny desk's surface area, this compact gaming PC from Asus is a stellar choice. It's incredible how much performance Asus was able to cram into its pint-sized chassis, though it can get a bit noisy while gaming.

Read our full Asus ROG NUC (2025) review

How I tested the Starforge Systems Frieren PC

  • Tested for two weeks
  • Used for work, video calls, and general internet use
  • Replaced my usual desktop for gaming

I tested the Starforge Systems Frieren PC for a set period of two weeks, during which it replaced my usual home office desktop (a similarly beefy system). I naturally used it for everyday work from home, which usually involves straightforward tasks like word processing, emailing, and web research, but also image editing using GIMP.

As usual with PC reviews, I ran the Frieren PC through our usual suite of benchmarking tests, which includes both in-game and synthetic benchmarks, as well as using it daily for my own gaming activities - it ran Black Myth: Wukong and Doom: The Dark Ages great (and Stardew Valley, but that could run on a lemon clock). Aside from gaming, I also used it for a few other online activities; I'm rewatching Twin Peaks, and on two occasions, it played host to my regular virtual TTRPG session.

I've been reviewing PC hardware for more than seven years and have been a PC gamer for more than twice that time, with so many laptop and desktop reviews under my belt at numerous different publications that I genuinely can't even count them. This was my first time reviewing a system from Starforge, and needless to say, I came away from the experience impressed (and quite frankly, frustrated that I couldn't keep it).

  • First reviewed: December 2025
  • Read more about how we test
I reviewed Marshall’s mid-sized Bluetooth speaker and its stereo sound blew me away
6:00 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Hi-Fi Wireless & Bluetooth Speakers | Comments: Off

Marshall Middleton II: two-minute review

The Marshall Middleton II is a small-to-mid sized Bluetooth speaker that combines a classy amp-inspired look with expansive stereo sound and a rugged design. It carries a pretty premium price for a model in its weight class, coming in at $329.99 / £259.99 / AU$499, so is it really worth buying?

Well, let’s start by discussing the most important factor for any Bluetooth speaker: audio performance. And I have very few complaints here. The stereo separation on offer from such a small speaker is astounding, which results in a far more nuanced listen than most rivals in this size category can supply. You also get decent bass output, with the Middleton II able to reach down pretty low. Low-frequency sounds compress at the highest volumes, but that’s fairly common for smaller models like this.

On top of that, you get satisfyingly balanced mids and clear treble – it never feels like any elements are being overwhelmed, and there are EQ options to fine tune the Middleton II’s sound to your taste. You don’t get the top-tier instrument separation, higher-resolution Bluetooth streaming, or indeed, the raw power of some options in my guide to the best Bluetooth speakers, but on the whole, sound quality is very strong on the Middleton II.

Features-wise, there’s a lot of good stuff going on too. There’s a built-in microphone for hands-free calls, the aforementioned EQ settings, battery preservation options, and Auracast connectivity. I would’ve liked to see placement compensation and multi-speaker pairing, which is available on some other Marshall models, but all of the basic essentials are here.

One of the most impressive features, though, is the speaker’s phenomenal battery life. You get 30 hours of playtime from the Middleton II, which is considerably more than a lot of rivals supply.

Design-wise, I found the Middleton II to be an interesting one. I certainly appreciate its premium look and build. Sure, it isn’t quite as flashy as the larger Marshall Kilburn III, but its golden control button and logo, faux-leather exterior, and inclusion of frets ensure it's still a beauty to behold. It’s also IP67 dust and waterproof-rated, making it ideal for use in any environment – even in the shower or in a pool.

In spite of that, I find its size and weight to be just on the awkward side of things. It doesn’t have the one-handed portability or lightweight feel of the Marshall Emberton III, which is ideal to throw into a bag or carry around. And unlike its big brother, the Marshall Kilburn III, it doesn’t have a proper handle for transportation, just a small carry strap.

This ties into a wider theme for me – the Middleton II feels like a harder sell than the models on either side of it. It’s priced closer to the Kilburn III – a model that plates up superior sound and loudness, more luxurious looks, and a stronger set of features. And it doesn’t quite have that budget-friendly appeal of the Emberton III. This leaves the Middleton II feeling like the awkward middle child – it doesn’t quite feel like the best value-for-money speaker Marshall has made.

Is that to say that the Middleton II isn’t worth checking out? Absolutely not. If you want something smaller than the Kilburn III as a statement piece, or if the heaviness is no bother, it would still be a great pick. And when it inevitably goes on sale for less, I could definitely find it easier to pick it over other models in its class.

And of course, this is still a fantastic model in the audio department. Commendable balance and stereo sound make this an admirable creation from Marshall, which has had an exceptionally strong 2025 in the commercial audio sphere. It's also got that unmistakable Marshall look and build quality, so all in all, it’s still a hit.

Marshall Middleton II being picked up by carry strap

(Image credit: Future)

Marshall Middleton II review: price and release date

  • $329.99 / £259.99 / AU$499
  • Launched in July 2025

The Marshall Middleton II was released in July 2025, two and a half years after its predecessor. It has a list price of $329.99 / £259.99 / AU$499, which is $30 higher, £10 less, and the same amount of Australian dollars as the original model cost at launch.

It’s positioned as a middle point between the small and rugged Marshall Emberton III and the larger Marshall Kilburn III, both of which we rate very highly here at TechRadar. You can grab the Middleton II in either Black & Brass, or Cream.

Marshall Middleton II review: specs

Weight

3.9 lbs / 1.8kg

Dimensions

9.1 x 4.3 x 3.9 inches / 230 x 110 x 98mm

Connectivity

Bluetooth 5.3, Aux

Battery life

30 hours

Speaker drivers

2x 30W woofers; 2x 10W tweeters

Waterproofing

IP67

Man pressing button on the Marshall Middleton II

(Image credit: Future)

Marshall Middleton II review: features

  • Solid EQ options
  • Colossal battery life
  • No placement compensation or ‘M’ button

The Marshall Middleton II packs in a solid suite of features, with pleasing customization options and battery preservation settings.

This model is supported by the standard Marshall app – not the revamped one that the audio specialist’s home theater tech makes use of. Here, you’ll find a five-band equalizer and a small set of presets, all of which work well. You can also see the speaker’s remaining battery life, set a standby timeout, and tune into a live broadcast via Auracast.

Something that sets the Middleton II apart from a lot of the competition is its excellent battery life. You get a whopping 30 hours from this model, which is admirable considering the raw power and premium sound it supplies. Those aforementioned battery preservation options come in handy too, with maximum charge, temperature, and charging speed controls on offer.

You also get a built-in mic on the Middleton II, which is ideal if you want to take hands-free calls – this is a feature I don’t always see from speakers in this size-class, but I think it’s a most welcome one.

Having said that, the Middleton II does omit some useful features that I loved from its cousins. The first that pops to mind is placement compensation. On models like the Marshall Kilburn III, this optimizes the speaker’s audio output to the space that you’re listening to it in.

I also like the ‘M’ button that's on a lot of Marshall’s tech, and acts as a shortcut button – I use it on the Marshall Monitor III ANC to activate a bass boost, for example. But that’s not here either, and I would’ve appreciated it.

There’s also no multi-speaker pairing, and although you don’t need two Middleton II models to access stereo sound, the option to double up would be nice. Still, these gripes remain fairly minor, given that this speaker plates up plenty of playtime, an effective built-in mic, and good EQ options.

  • Features score: 4/5

Reverse side of the Marshall Middleton II

(Image credit: Future)

Marshall Middleton II review: sound quality

  • Impressive stereo sound
  • Impactful bass, clear mids, and controlled treble
  • Effective 360-degree stereophonic sound

Let’s get into the juicy stuff and chat about sound quality for a while. And I’ll put my cards right on the table: this speaker is a very strong performer, and surprised me with its sonic capabilities.

First of all, the Middleton II absolutely nails the basics. When tuning into Fascinator by Max Dean, the pumping bass was replicated with agility and serious impact. It never sounded bloated or overbearing. Vocal chops in the midrange also cut through with intent and clarity, while synths had fantastic tonal accuracy and character.

For me, I felt that higher-pitched drums – though well controlled – didn’t quite have the energy that I was looking for, but even this was easy to rectify with the on-board EQ controls. I simply ramped up the treble, and found that the track had that high-end sparkle I was looking for.

The Middleton II can even handle deep bass pretty effectively, reaching all the way down to 50Hz. In 15 Seconds of Fame by Kolter, I was instantly struck by weighty and immersive low-frequency performance. At top volumes, I did notice the bass compress a bit, but that’s very understandable for a smaller model. If you want loud, almighty low-end performance for outdoor use, say, it may be worth going for the larger Marshall Kilburn III.

All of this is great, but what really impressed me about the Middleton II was its stellar stereo sound. Yep, for such a small model, this thing whips up a phenomenal sense of stereo separation, something I found when listening to Foxey Lady by Jimi Hendrix. In this track, vocals on the left, and percussion on the right were both expertly positioned, creating an engrossingly expansive spatial impression.

360-degree ‘true’ stereophonic sound is here too, which means you get a beautiful listen, no matter where you are in the room. As Marshall says, “there’s nowhere to hide” with the Middleton II.

When listening to a collection of smooth jazz tracks, I was impressed with the levels of details the Middleton II could unveil. Subtle percussion and the breathy vocals came out to play, and I rarely felt as if the finer intricacies were lost in my favorite tracks. It’s worth noting, though, that this model doesn’t go beyond SBC and AAC, meaning you don’t get the higher-res codecs (think LDAC or aptX) for the most insightful listen over Bluetooth.

Finally, I did a comparison against the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Gen, a smaller-sized portable speaker at a similar price-point to the Middleton II. I thought that the Marshall more than held its own, providing a well-balanced, yet exciting performance.

For me, I felt that the B&O speaker gave individual instruments a touch more breathing space to work their magic, resulting in a beautifully layered listening experience. However, you need two B&O speakers to access stereo sound, which is downmixed to mono in a single unit, meaning you lose some of the nuance and expansiveness the Middleton II can offer.

And again, the fact that the quality of stereo sound is so high from the Middleton II really helps it to stand out in a highly convoluted market.

  • Sound quality score: 4.5/5

Marshall logo on the Marshall Middleton II

(Image credit: Future)

Marshall Middleton II review: design

  • Premium look and feel
  • Strong IP67 dust and waterproofing
  • Slightly awkward size and weight

As I’d always expect from Marshall, there’s a real sense of luxury on display with the Middleton II. This model has a fret-infused design, with a gorgeous golden multi-directional controller, and neat LED lights to indicate battery level. Its faux leather outer casing and iconic logo at the center also hammer home that feeling of quality.

This speaker is also heavy given its size, weighing in at 3.9 lbs / 1.8kg. Now on one hand, this feels indicative of its high standard of build and materials, as well as its inclusion of multiple quality speaker drivers. But on the other hand, it does feel a little too hefty, especially given the lack of a proper handle – there’s just a carry strap here.

I also had a similar feeling about the dimensions of the Middleton II. It feels too large to hold in one hand and throw in a bag, as you would with the Emberton III. But then again, it doesn’t supply the raw power and even stronger sound quality of the Kilburn III. I suppose the speaker’s name is fitting in this regard, as it does almost seem like the awkward middle child in Marshall’s speaker lineup.

Again, there is a lot to like about the Middleton II’s look. Although its control buttons aren’t all too flashy, they are easy to use and well-positioned on the top of the model. There are also some easily accessible USB-C and Aux ports on the reverse side – for charging and wired listening respectively. And perhaps best of all, this model is IP67 dust and waterproof, meaning it can survive being dunked under a meter of water for up to 30 minutes. Pretty neat!

  • Design score: 4/5

Marshall logo on the Marshall Kilburn III

(Image credit: Future)

Marshall Middleton II review: value

  • Quite expensive, although limited change from original Middleton’s pricing
  • Kilburn III only slightly more expensive, but a considerable upgrade
  • Still a very good speaker with premium build and excellent sound

The Middleton II sits between the Emberton III and Kilburn III in terms of size, but it’s far closer to the latter when it comes to price. It comes in at $329.99 / £259.99 / AU$499, which is similar to the list price of the first Middleton at launch.

I’d still argue that this model is on the slightly more expensive side of things. Sure, it offers excellent stereo sound, with fantastic soundstage performance and well-balanced audio. It also looks premium, and plates up plenty of playtime. But that’s a lot more than a lot of models in its size class, and now, you can even get the significantly mightier and great sounding JBL Xtreme 4 at a similar price.

In fact, for just $50 / £40 / AU$100, you can get your hands on the Kilburn III, which offers more power, better bass performance, an even more premium look, and a better feature-set. The Kilburn’s inclusion of a proper handle is also a big plus, and helps to cement it as a stronger value pick than the Middleton II.

As I’ve expressed throughout this review, this is still a very high quality model. And in the future, if you can snap it up on sale for closer to $250 / £200 / AU$400, it will undoubtedly prove to be well worth the investment. But it lacks the pure portability of the Emberton III, and it doesn’t quite provide the five-star sound and look of the Kilburn III. As a result, it feels like a slightly harder sell than those two models.

  • Value score: 3.5/5

Buttons on the Marshall Middleton II

(Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Marshall Middleton II?

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

In-built mic, effective app, 30-hour playtime, but missing some options from other Marshall models.

4/5

Sound quality

Fantastic stereo sound, excellent soundstage, well-balanced audio, only some minor imperfections.

4.5/5

Design

A little heavy and awkwardly-sized, but premium and pretty.

4/5

Value

Kilburn III offers better bang for your buck, but overall quality is high.

3.5/5

Buy it if...

You want a smaller-sized speaker with excellent sound quality
For a speaker that sits on the smaller side of things, this model does sound pretty impressive. It packs fantastic stereo sound and never takes any half measures when it comes to soundstage. You won’t be blown away by gigantic bass, but what is here is clean, agile, and surprisingly deep. You also get detailed mids and clear treble, making for an engrossing listen, time after time.

You’re a fan of the classic Marshall aesthetic
I love the look of the Marshall Middleton II. It doesn’t quite have the same sex appeal of the Kilburn III, with its gorgeous control panel and red velvet handle, but it’s still very nice to look at. That’s thanks to a multi-directional metallic control button, attractive faux-leather casing, and eye-catching frets. If you appreciate the classic Marshall look, I expect you’ll appreciate the Middleton II.

Don't buy it if...

You want the ultimate portable option
The Middleton II is heavy for its size, and it doesn’t come with a proper handle either, just a small carry strap. As a result, it’s not the best in terms of portability.

You’re looking to get the most bang for your buck
For the slight increase in cost, the Kilburn III offers more value for money, thanks to its superior sound quality, power, build, and feature-set. You can even get the larger JBL Xtreme 4 at a similar price right now, which makes the Middleton II feel like a slightly tough sell, in spite of its strong overall quality.

Marshall Middleton II review: also consider

Marshall Middleton II

Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Gen

JBL Charge 6

Price

$329.99 / £259.99 / AU$499

$349 / £299 / AU$639

$149 / £129 / AU$229.95

Weight

3.9 lbs / 1.8kg

1.3 lbs / 576g

3lbs / 1.37kg

Dimensions

9.1 x 4.3 x 3.9 inches / 230 x 110 x 98mm

5.2 x 1.8 x 5.2 inches / 133 x 46 H x 133mm

9 x 3.9 x 3.7 inches / 229 x 99 x 94mm

Connectivity

Bluetooth 5.3, AUX

Bluetooth 5.1, USB-C

Bluetooth 5.4

Battery life

30 hours

24 hours

28 hours (with PlayTime Boost)

Speaker drivers

2x 30W woofers; 2x 10W tweeters

1x 0.6-inch tweeter; 1 x 3.25-inch woofer, each with 1x 30W Class D amplification

53 x 93 mm mid/bass 'racetrack' driver, 20mm tweeter

Waterproofing

IP67

IP67

IP68

Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Gen
This is a top-of-the range Bluetooth speaker that offers phenomenal sound quality, fantastic features, and one of the most luxurious designs around. It downmixes stereo content to mono, so some may appreciate the sound of the Middleton II more, but it still offers palpable bass, beautifully detailed mids, and exciting treble, with adept instrument separation and higher-res Bluetooth streaming. It’s similarly priced to the Middleton II, so if you want a real touch of class, I’d certainly consider this. Read our full Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Gen review.

JBL Charge 6
This is a much cheaper, and not quite as powerful option, but the JBL Charge 6 is still a worthy rival to the Middleton II. It has class-leading dust and waterproofing, fantastic sound quality, top-tier portability, and a nice array of color options. It’s recently been on sale for less than $130 / £100 / AU$180, so it’s a great budget-friendly option. Read our full JBL Charge 6 review.

How I tested the Marshall Middleton II

Marshall Middleton II in man's hand

(Image credit: Future)
  • Tested across multiple weeks
  • Used in the Future Labs music testing space
  • Predominantly tested using Tidal

I spent multiple weeks with the Marshall Middleton II, during which time I exhausted every feature, listened to hours and hours of music, and carefully assessed its design. For the most part, I used the speaker in our music testing space at Future Labs, which we use to judge audio quality in an isolated, controlled environment.

When tuning into tracks, I mainly used Tidal over a Bluetooth connection, but I did dip into Spotify on occasion and tested out wired listening too. As always, I kicked off my review by playing tracks from our curated TechRadar reference playlist, but I also bumped a whole lot of tunes from my own personal library. As I mentioned in the review, I also compared the Middleton II with the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1 3rd Gen, in order to assess aspects such as bass output, instrument separation, and detail.

More generally, I’ve tested all kinds of audio equipment during my time here at TechRadar, from flagship headphones such as the Sony WH-1000XM6, as well as home cinema products like the Marshall Heston 60. I’ve also reviewed a whole lot of Bluetooth speakers, from leading brands like Bose, JBL, and, of course, I’ve tested more than 30 models in total, and personally curated our guide to the best Bluetooth speakers, so I have a deep understanding of the Middleton II’s competition, and how it compares in a challenging market.

  • First reviewed: December 2025
  • Read more about how we test
Forget bulky backpacks, this 9L crossbody bag is my top pick for lightweight camera gear – here’s why
4:00 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Camera Accessories Cameras Computers Gadgets | Comments: Off

Ulanzi 9L Camera Sling Bag with Tripod Holder B122: two-minute review

I increasingly find myself on days where I need just a small bag with quick access to camera gear, whether that's a day out with my compact or lightweight mirrorless camera, taking street photos, or work events where I'm shooting TikTok content with a smartphone, supported by wireless mics and portable lighting.

For such times, a backpack is excessive, and with which access to what's inside is typically slow and complicated. No, I need a small holder with quick access to gear, and that's where a bag like Ulanzi’s Camera Sling Bag (9L) is perfect and one of the best camera bags of its kind.

It takes the same crossbody bag form as the bags all the kids are wearing these days, but is also deeply practical (shh, don't tell them). It's larger than your average crossbody bag – aka a sling bag – meaning it's surprising just what can fit inside, without compromising on the advantages of such a bag type.

With it slung over one shoulder and resting on my midriff, right where I can easily unzip and switch gear, I can store a range of equipment. For a photography day, a couple of compact cameras / an enthusiast mirrorless camera with a short prime lens, wallet, phone, snacks, and a small drink (there's a stretch pocket on each side, but I struggled to find a drink container small enough to fit).

For content creation, a smartphone, wireless mic case, portable SmallRig mini LED Video Light 25W (I have two, and they are superb and worth a feature of their own - that's coming), mini selfie stick-cum-tripod / neck mount, phone clamp, mints, comb, the whole shebang. It all fits.

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Man wearing a blue jacket outside with a Ulanzi Camera Sling Bag over his shoulder and resting on his midriff

(Image credit: Future)
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Man wearing a blue jacket outside with a Ulanzi Camera Sling Bag over his shoulder and resting on his midriff

(Image credit: Future)
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Man wearing a blue jacket outside with a Ulanzi Camera Sling Bag over his shoulder and resting on his midriff

(Image credit: Future)
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Man wearing a blue jacket outside with a Ulanzi Camera Sling Bag over his shoulder and resting on his midriff

(Image credit: Future)
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Man wearing a blue jacket outside with a Ulanzi Camera Sling Bag over his shoulder and resting on his midriff

(Image credit: Future)

I'm currently using a Xiaomi 15 Ultra for social media video work, and it fits vertically in the Ulanzi sling bag, as do the lights and mini selfie stick-cum-tripod, which means I can fit way more in than if I had to stash them horizontally.

I was surprised to discover the Ulanzi sling bag is large enough to hold a regular tablet too (like a 10.9-inch iPad) – it's positively cavernous – while other nice touches include a hidden AirTag pocket.

Even with all of that gear inside, the Ulanzi sling bag is comfortable on a single shoulder, thanks to its padded strap and snug fit around the torso. It's designed to rest over the shoulder and at midriff height, with the main compartment accessed through the top zip, which runs across the entire width, for easy access.

The bag comes with an internal divider component. It can be laid flat to provide a firm underside and leave the main compartment completely open, or folded in on itself to create three separate compartments, dividing out gear to keep it protected from other items inside. It's great having the choice between open and divided, and that the divider can remain inside for either setup.

Build quality is particularly good - I'm expecting to get several years of use from the bag - the outer polyester material seems rugged. The main zip is weather-sealed and glides easily, too.

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The Ulanzi Camera Sling Bag on a wooden table, zip closeup

(Image credit: Future)
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Close up of the Ulanzi Camera Sling Bag with its zip being opened

(Image credit: Future)
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The Ulanzi Camera Sling Bag on a wooden table, front

(Image credit: Future)
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The Ulanzi Camera Sling Bag on a wooden table, back

(Image credit: Future)
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The Ulanzi Camera Sling Bag on a wooden table, underside

(Image credit: Future)
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The Ulanzi Camera Sling Bag's padded insert on a wooden table

(Image credit: Future)
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The Ulanzi Camera Sling Bag's padded insert on a wooden table

(Image credit: Future)
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The Ulanzi Camera Sling Bag on a wooden table, main compartment open

(Image credit: Future)
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The Ulanzi Camera Sling Bag on a wooden table, main compartment open

(Image credit: Future)
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Ulanzi Camera Sling Bag on a window ledge

(Image credit: Future)
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Ulanzi Camera Sling Bag on a window ledge

(Image credit: Future)

There's no rain cover provided, but I wouldn't expect water ingress – it has easily withstood light showers. Just to be clear, though, I haven't used the bag outdoors in sustained inclement weather, so I can’t vouch for it in those conditions yet.

There are external straps to fix additional accessories to, such as a small tripod on the underside. Side straps are included less so for accessories but rather to provide a grip that makes zipping and unzipping the main compartment a breeze.

Elsewhere, there is a disguised external pocket with a particularly sticky and widespread velcro fastening frontage – ideal for thin items such as a wallet. The cover can be tucked away to expose the velcro, and Ulanzi sells velcro badges to customize the exterior, which is something I didn't do.

Put simply, every aspect of the bag functions as expected. I can't find a single fault with the Ulanzi Camera Sling 9L bag, functionally at least, and it's reasonably priced too. I've found it for $49.95 at Amazon US, and at the time of writing, there's an additional $10 off coupon. Bargain. The price is a little different on the Ulanzi site, but there's international shipping (see details below).

The only criticism I have is subjective - the bag’s appearance. Its plain black exterior won't win any style awards, and I'm not convinced that optional velcro badges help matters. No, this is function over aesthetics.

Looks aside, if you need a small sling bag for day trips with lightweight gear or mobile content creation setups, you can't go wrong with the Ulanzi 9L Camera Sling Bag with Tripod Holder B122, and it fully deserves my highest recommendation.

Man wearing a blue jacket outside with a Ulanzi Camera Sling Bag over his shoulder and resting on his midriff

(Image credit: Future)

Ulanzi 9L Camera Sling Bag with Tripod Holder B122: key specs

Type

Sling

Capacity

9L

Size

14.56 x 5.11 x 7.48in / 370 x 130 x 190mm

Weight

1.32lb / 600g

Tablet sleeve

Yes, up to 10.9-inch

Included

Bag, divider, shoulder pad (velcro badges optional)

Material

Polyester Fabric

Ulanzi 9L Camera Sling Bag with Tripod Holder B122: Price and availability

I've found the Ulanzi camera sling bag (9L) on Ulanzi's own website for $61.79 or $67 with velcro badges (which converts to around £47 / AU$93), and international shipping is possible.

It's also available for less at Amazon in the US and Australia, where it costs $49.95 at Amazon US and AU$75 at the time of writing.

Ulanzi 9L Camera Sling Bag with Tripod Holder B122: Also consider

Billingham Hadley Pro 2020

At the opposite end of style and cost is the Billingham Hadley Pro 2020 day bag. With classic looks and a premium price tag, it couldn't be any more different to the Ulanzi sling.

Read our Billingham Hadley Pro 2020 review

Should I buy the Ulanzi 9L Camera Sling Bag with Tripod Holder B122?

Man wearing a blue jacket outside with a Ulanzi Camera Sling Bag over his shoulder and resting on his midriff

(Image credit: Future)

Buy it if...

You need quick access to gear

Sitting across the body positioned close to hand, and with one large zip easily opened to access the main compartment, gear will be in your hand in no time.

9L storage is sufficient for your gear

Larger than your regular crossbody bag but much smaller than most camera backpacks, the Ulanzi sling is ideal as a day bag, being able to hold a camera with lens, or mobile content creator gear.

Don't buy it if...

You want a stylish bag

I think it's fair to say that aesthetics are hardly the Ulanzi sling bag's strong suit.

You have bulky gear

Cavernous its 9L storage may be, the Ulanzi sling bag is for lightweight camera gear.

How I tested the Ulanzi 9L Camera Sling Bag with Tripod Holder B122

  • I tested it for several months
  • I stored various camera gear and tried various internal configurations
  • It has seen various weather conditions

The Ulanzi 9L Camera Sling Bag with Tripod Holder B122 has been my go-to day bag for months, for when I need to carry lightweight camera gear and want quick access to that gear, such as for street photography with a mirrorless camera or premium compact camera, to everything I need for filming TikTok content.

It's held everything from a mirrorless camera with a short prime lens to a vlogging camera and mics, portable LED lights, and more. The bag has kept my gear secure on hectic days and in short bursts of inclement weather.

First reviewed December 2025

The Xgimi Horizon 20 Max is a bright, premium projector that’s awesome for both movies and gaming
3:00 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Theater Projectors Televisions | Tags: | Comments: Off

Xgimi Horizon 20 Max review: One minute review

The Xgimi Horizon 20 Max is the company’s flagship portable projector. Its triple laser DLP light engine is rated to deliver a very high 5,700 ISO lumens brightness, and it has Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and IMAX Enhanced support. Optical zoom and lens shift features allow for a high level of placement flexibility.

The Xgimi Horizon 20 Max's picture is bright, with powerful contrast and crisp textures. Motion handling for both sports and movies is very good after making some adjustments, and it also delivers surprisingly good built-in sound, with solid bass, clear speech and effective virtual surround sound.

Google TV is built in for wireless streaming, and gaming performance is very good. The Horizon 20 Max does lack key gaming features such as 4K 120Hz support, but its performance is responsive and snappy when playing intense games.

The Xgimi Horizon 20 Max is much more expensive than the best portable projectors, but its performance justifies its price, and it’s easily one of the best projectors I’ve tested.

Xgimi Horizon 20 Max review: Prices & release date

Xgimi Horizon 20 Max showing orange butterfly

The Xgimi Horizon 20 Max has crisp textures and refined detail (Image credit: Future)
  • Release date: October 2025
  • Price: $2,999 / £2,599 (roughly AU$4,599)

The Xgimi Horizon 20 Max is the company’s flagship 4K portable projector, sitting above both the mid-range Horizon 20 Pro and entry-level Horizon 20. It was released in October 2025 for $2,999 / £2,599. This puts it in a similar price range as rivals such as the Anker Nebula X1, Valerian VisionMaster Pro 2 and Hisense C2 Ultra.

Since its release, the Horizon 20 Max’s price has remained the same in both the US and UK, but it has fallen to as low as $2,399 in Xgimi special offers. Minus any discounts, it sits at the premium end of the portable 4K projector market.

Xgimi Horizon 20 Max review: Specs

Screen sizes supported:

40-300 inches

Brightness (specified):

5,700 ISO lumens

HDR support:

Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG

Display technology:

Triple laser DLP

Smart TV:

Google TV

Connections:

1x HDMI (with eARC), 3.5mm audio out, USB-A, USB-C (supports 100/140W PD input)

Dimensions (H x W x D):

2x HDMI (x1 eARC), 1x USB 3.0, 1x USB 2.0, 1x 3.5mm, 1x optical audio out

Weight:

11.9 pounds (5.4kg)

Xgimi Horizon 20 Max: Design & features

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Xgimi Horizon 20 Max rear ports

The Horizon 20 Max's rear ports (1) and optical zoom feature (2) (Image credit: Future)
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Xgimi Horizon 20 Max optical zoom

(Image credit: Future)
  • Triple RGB laser light engine
  • Optical zoom and obstacle avoidance
  • Google TV

The Horizon 20 Max feels solidly built and has a useful hinged design that lets you easily adjust its projection height. A gimbal stand allows for good rotation, without needing to move the projector itself. At 9.6 x 11.7 x 7.5 inches (249 x 298 x 190mm), its size is similar to other larger portable projectors such as the JMGO N1S Pro 4K.

The Horizon 20 Max has a triple laser DLP light engine and a rated brightness of 5,700 ISO lumens. Its throw ratio is 1.2-1.5:1, and it can project on screens ranging from 40-300 inches.

The Horizon 20 Max has several useful features for image correction, including auto and manual keystone and focus, optical zoom, 120% vertical and 45% horizontal lens shift, intelligent obstacle avoidance, wall color adaptation and eye protection.

I found these features to be impressive during my testing, with auto keystone working effectively. The optical zoom made setup easy, displaying the image with good brightness and clarity even at maximum zoom. The lens shift also proved to be a very useful tool with a wide range that let me easily align the image with the 80-inch matte white screen I used for testing.

The Horizon 20 Max supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and IMAX Enhanced. It has a Filmmaker Mode, but this isn’t a standard picture preset like you’ll find on some of the best TVs, but rather a ‘Filmmaker Mode switch’ setting that can be turned on in the Display settings. 3D is also supported on the Horizon 20 Max.

Xgimi Horizon 20 Max showing Google TV home screen

The Xgimi Horizon 20 Max uses Google TV as its UI (Image credit: Future)

For audio, the Horizon 20 Max has 2x 12W speakers with sound by Harmon Kardon and DTS: Virtual X support. There is support for Dolby audio, but not Dolby Atmos. Sound modes include Standard and Movie, plus a virtual surround sound setting. There is also an EQ for bass and treble adjustments.

For connections, the Horizon 20 Max has two HDMI ports (one with eARC), a USB 3.0 port, a USB 2.0 port, one optical digital audio output and one analog audio output.

The Horizon 20 Max uses Google TV as its operating system and supports major streaming apps including Netflix, Disney Plus and Prime Video. Its extensive settings for both picture and audio allow for a deep level of customization.

While the Horizon 20 Max does not support 4K 120Hz, it does support VRR and ALLM for gaming and a 240Hz refresh rate at 1080p resolution (as well as 4K at 60Hz). I did find that the Horizon 20 Max accepted 4K 120Hz signals from my Xbox Series X, but it was confirmed by Xgimi that this was probably being downscaled and using it could result in an “unstable or downgraded image”.

  • Design & features score: 4.5/5

Xgimi Horizon 20 Max: Picture & sound quality

Xgimi Horizon 20 Max showing the market scene from The Sound of Music

The Xgimi Horizon 20 Max has spectacular color reproduction, making colorful scenes from movies such as The Sound of Music (pictured) really pop. (Image credit: 20th Century Studios / Future)
  • High brightness
  • Spectacular color and good contrast
  • Impressive audio

For my testing, I used an 80-inch Optoma 1.0 gain matte white screen. The Horizon 20 Max measured 433 nits HDR peak brightness in both Movie and Standard mode, with light output set to Max (the default). This is a great result and easily beats other portable projectors I’ve tested like the JMGO N1S Pro, which hit 178 nits peak HDR brightness. The Horizon 20 Max’s bright picture is no surprise, given that it is rated for 5,700 ISO lumens.

When measuring the Horizon 20 Max’s native contrast ratio, it yielded a result of 1,446:1. Color accuracy in the default Movie preset was 6.8, but setting the color temperature to D65 dropped it to 3.3, a much better result. Lastly, it covered 98.9% of the DCI-P3 color space and 96.8% of the BT.2020 color space, both excellent results.

The Horizon 20 Max’s bright picture really made an impact with animated movies. Watching a 4K Dolby Vision stream of Elemental in Dolby Vision Bright picture mode, the Horizon 20 Max showed vibrant, dazzling colors that packed plenty of punch, such as in one scene where Ember runs across some crystals, changing her own flame’s color.

A scene where Maria and the children stand at a fruit market stall from the 4K Blu-ray of The Sound of Music showed impressive highlights, with the reds and yellows of the fruits popping on screen. As they made their way into the hills, the luscious green grass and clear blue of the sky were bold but still had a true-to-life look.

Switching to darker movies, the Horizon 20 Max also displayed strong contrast and rich blacks. In the crime scene in Mayor Mitchell’s house on a 4K Blu-ray of The Batman, the Horizon 20 Max had great shadow detail, with objects such as photo frames on the dark walls still visible. In both The Batman and Dark City, again on 4K Blu-ray, the Horizon 20 Max’s contrast was powerful, with lamps under people’s faces casting strong shadows. While blacks did occasionally take on a gray-blue hue, they were mostly accurate – more so than on other projectors I’ve tested, such as the JMGO N1S Pro 4K.

Xgimi Horizon 20 Max showing peacock feather

Black levels aren't the deepest on the Horizon 20 Max, but are still very good (Image credit: Future)

Textures throughout my viewing were crisp and detailed. Whether it was the plates in Batman’s armor in The Batman, the pockets on dark jackets of characters in Dark City, or even blades of grass in The Sound of Music, everything looked realistic.

The Horizon 20 Max’s motion handling is generally very good. Watching a soccer game on Prime Video, I found that setting MEMC to Low in picture settings produced the smoothest motion. When I next watched a panning camera shot from the movie No Time To Die where Bond walks across a rocky hillside, setting MEMC to Low also provided smooth motion without adding a soap opera effect.

The Horizon 20 Max does a solid job of upscaling SDR and lower-resolution content out of the box. An HD stream of Fight Club got an uplift in crispness and contrast. There are a number of AI settings that can be applied if you’re looking for a sharper picture, including AIPQ and AISR, with the latter having a scale from Low-High. This improves upscaling even further, and as long as you stick to the lower settings, it doesn’t make pictures look overly sharp.

Xgimi Horizon 20 Max displaying Battlefield V

Gaming performance on the Horizon 20 Max is solid, even with fast-paced games such as Battlefield V (pictured) (Image credit: Future)

The Horizon 20 Max has two built-in 12W Sound by Harmon Kardon speakers, and I was impressed by how well they performed. Watching the Batmobile chase scene from The Batman, the Horizon 20 Max delivered plenty of volume, with strong bass that perfectly conveyed the rumble of the Batmobile’s engine. Even car crashes had plenty of impact. Turning on surround sound in the settings made the soundstage wider, with accurate placement of effects such as screeching tires and blaring horns from vehicles. Speech was also clear throughout, whether it was dialogue or the vocals in musicals.

Gaming on the Horizon 20 Max is equally impressive. While it doesn’t support 4K 120Hz gaming, I still found gameplay to be smooth and responsive. Playing Battlefield V at both 4K 60Hz and 1080p 120Hz, gunfights, which needed quick targeting and regular scanning of the environment, felt intuitive and snappy throughout. The Horizon 20 Max’s input lag time was 19.1ms at 4K 60Hz. When I asked Xgimi about the projector's specified 3ms input lag time, I was told that this was for a specific part of the screen. Still, the Horizon 20 Max is a great projector for gaming.

  • Picture and sound quality score: 4.5/5

Xgimi Horizon 20 Max review: Value

Xgimi Horizon 20 Max remote

(Image credit: Future)
  • Premium priced
  • Great performance and features
  • Built-in Google TV

At $2,999 / £2,599, the Horizon 20 Max is a pricey portable projector. Even so, it’s priced comparably to rivals such as the Hisense C2 Ultra ($2,499 / £2,299) and the Anker Nebula X1 ($2,999 / £2,999), and delivers similar features and performance.

You can buy some of the best ultra short throw projectors, such as the Hisense PX3-Pro ($2,699 / £1,999), for cheaper. And there are cheaper portable options such as the JMGO N1S Ultra ($1,599/£1,999), but the Horizon 20 Max really is a fantastic projector for the performance and features it offers.

  • Value score: 4/5

Should I buy the Xgimi Horizon 20 Max?

Xgimi Horizon 20 Max showing Ember from Elemental

The Xgimi Horizon 20 Max's brightness and extended color gamut coverage worked wonders for animated movies such as Elemental (Image credit: Disney / Future )
Xgimi Horizon 20 Max

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Design and features

Excellent features for picture adjustment and positioning. Design looks a bit old-school, but feels solidly built and premium

4.5/5

Picture and sound quality

Colorful, bright picture with strong contrast and crisp textures. Built-in sound surprisingly good and solid gaming performance too

4.5/5

Value

At the pricier end of the portable projector market, but with features and performance are great for the money

4/5

Buy it if...

You want great picture quality
The Xgimi Horizon 20 Max's picture is bright, with bold colors, powerful contrast, and great detail. View Deal

You want good built-in sound
The Horizon 20 Max has strong built-in sound, with punchy bass, clear speech and surprisingly effective virtual surround sound. View Deal

You want a versatile projector
With plenty of picture adjustment tools as well as extensive installation controls, the Horizon 20 Max is highly versatile for a portable projector. View Deal

Don't buy it if...

You're on a budget
The Horizon 20 Max is a premium, flagship projector and as such carries the high price tag to match. View Deal

You want the full gaming experience
While the Horizon 20 Max is very good for gaming, it is missing key features such as 4K 120Hz support. View Deal

You don't want to adjust your picture
If you're looking for the best possible picture from the Horizon 20 Max, be prepared to spend some time in the settings. View Deal

Also consider

Xgimi Horizon 20 Max

Anker Nebula X1

Hisense C2 Ultra

Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2

Price:

$2,999 / £2,599 / around AU$4,500

 $2,999 / £2,999 / around AU$4,500

$2,999 / £2,499 / AU$4,499

$2,999 / £2,599 / AU4,999

Screen sizes supported:

40-300 inches

up to 200 inches

65-300 inches

40-300 inches

Brightness (specified):

5,700 ISO lumens

3,500 ANSI lumens

3,000 ANSI lumens

3,000 ISO lumens

HDR support

Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG, IMAX Enhanced

Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG

Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG

Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HLG,

Optical technology:

Triple laser DLP

Triple laser DLP

Triple laser DLP

Triple laser DLP

Smart TV:

Google TV

Google TV

Google TV (US) / VIDAA (UK/AU)

Google TV

Connections:

2x HDMI (x1 eARC), 1x USB 3.0, 1x USB 2.0, 1x 3.5mm, 1x optical audio out

2 x HDMI 2.1 (1 with eARC), USB-A, USB-C, optical audio out

2x HDMI 2.1 (1 with eARC), 2x USB-A, 1x S/PDIF, Ethernet, 1x 3.5mm, Bluetooth

2x HDMI 2.1, 1x HDMI 2.0 with eARC, 1x optical, 1x 3.5mm

Anker Nebula X1
The Anker Nebula X1 is an excellent projector with similarly good contrast and detail. While not as bright as the Xgimi Horizon 20 Max, it is marginally cheaper and has optional external speakers that can provide better sound.

Read our full Anker Nebula X1 reviewView Deal

Hisense C2 Ultra
The Hisense C2 Ultra is a sleeker, slightly more portable option than the Xgimi Horizon 20 Max that also delivers great picture quality. The Horizon 20 Max has a higher rated brightness, however.

Read our full Hisense C2 Ultra reviewView Deal

Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2
The Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 is less portable than its rivals but delivers similarly bright, bold pictures. The Xgimi Horizon 20 Max has significantly more adjustment options, however, making it easier to install.

Read our full Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 reviewView Deal

How I tested the Xgimi Horizon 20 Max

Image 1 of 2

Xgimi Horizon 20 Max testing setup in bright room

(Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 2

Xgimi Horizon 20 Max testing setup in dark room

(Image credit: Future)
  • Tested using HDR and SDR sources
  • Mostly tested in pitch black conditions
  • Measurements taken using Portrait Displays' Calman Color Calibration software

I tested the Xgimi Horizon 20 Max using an Optoma 80-inch, 1.0-gain matte white screen. I first did some casual viewing to establish its most accurate picture modes for testing, landing on Movie and Dolby Vision Dark.

I primarily used 4K Blu-ray and 4K streaming for HDR testing, and used lower-resolution streaming for SDR analysis. For the Horizon 20 Max's picture, I looked at brightness, color, upscaling, contrast and shadow detail. For 4K Blu-rays, I used the Panasonic DP-UB820 4K Blu-ray player.

I also tested the Horizon 20 Max's gaming capabilities using an Xbox Series X, playing at both 4K 60Hz and 1080p 120Hz.

For objective testing, I made measurements using a test pattern generator and colorimeter, recording the results with Portrait Displays' Calman color calibration software. I measured the Horizon 20 Max's peak brightness for both SDR and HDR, contrast ratio, color and grayscale accuracy, and HDR color gamut coverage for the DCI-P3 and BT.2020 color spaces. I also measured its input lag using a Leo Bodnar 4K HDMI Input lag tester.

For a more detailed explanation of how we test TVs at TechRadar, check out the link.

I reviewed the UPerfect UColor T3 and this 4K portable monitor challenges what “portable” means
10:47 am |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro | Comments: Off

UPerfect reached into a whole new category of display panel with the UColor T3. It blurs the formerly clear line between a desktop-class monitor and a portable monitor by creating a display that could genuinely be used for either.

It’s a 23.8-inch 4K matte panel, large enough for a desktop display. What makes this panel particularly interesting is that it's as thin as a tablet and powered by a single USB-C port, rather than requiring a USB-C cable to connect to the computer and a separate AC power cable.

Having tested many of the best portable monitors around, including several from UPerfect, I can tell you it’s not the easiest to bring to a quick coffee run. But you could very easily take this on the road, perhaps to a temporary workspace, co-working, or business travel where you need a more substantial screen than your laptop allows. Regardless of the reason, if you need a monitor for whatever reason, but a traditional monitor won’t work for you, you don’t have to decide. You can get a full-sized, 4K-resolution panel that you can take wherever you are.

UPERFECT UColor T3: Price and availability

UPERFECT | UColor T3

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

The UColor T3 is currently on sale directly on UPerfect's site for $510 / £386 (and it's discounted at time of review to $410 / £311). I'm also seeing it sold via online retailers for around the same price.

UPERFECT | UColor T3

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

UPERFECT UColor T3: Unboxing and First Impressions

This unboxing didn't feel like a monitor. It felt more like a laptop. I pulled out the 24-inch display, wrapped in protective material, and then pulled out two USB-C cables, an HDMI cable, a power adapter, and a manual. I chose not to get the VESA mount, though that would have come in a separate box if I had. The carrying case feels like a laptop sleeve or a display board case, rather than a monitor case.

Then again, I have never had a portable monitor this size, so that's probably normal. In the style of a portable monitor, setup is pretty straightforward: all you have to do is pull out the display and plug in a single USB-C cable if you have a USB-C device, or plug in an HDMI cable if you're going with HDMI. Then a USB-C for power as well, since power doesn't transfer between the device and the monitor via HDMI.

Right off the bat, I was genuinely shocked by its size. Even next to my 14 and 16-inch laptops, this thing felt huge. I plugged in my iPad mini 7 just for kicks and giggles and was astonished at the size difference.

One thing that I like about this panel is the matte display. Personally, I am a sucker for a good matte screen. I have always had a PaperLike screen protector on my beloved iPads, even when my iPad Pro was my only device for a few years. And, if money were no object, I would have gotten a matte display on my 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro. Because of this love, I really appreciate the matte finish on this portable monitor. I also love that this monitor bends the rules of what makes a "portable" monitor.

Yes, it's more portable than my monitors, which are rigged up with my Monobloc, monitor arms, BenQ light bars, and webcams, but it still won't fit in even my larger Nomatic backpack. This display can be powered by a single USB-C cable running to your host device, but it will also need its own carrying case or an absurdly large bag to transport safely when in use. So, maybe even the term "portable" needs some translation. Or, is this unit too far gone?

UPerfect UColor T3: Design & Build Quality

UPERFECT | UColor T3

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

When it comes to overall design and finish, UPERFECT ensured a product that looks high-end yet meets everyday needs. This isn't a display you feel bad bringing out of the office or your house, but it's also one that looks nice enough to use for a presentation with your boss or that client you are trying to impress.

The bezels are sleek, the display is sharp, though I do wish it were a bit brighter, and the stand pops out of the frame, feeling like a bonus feature every time. For setups you want elevated with a desk arm or mounted in an office.

Another unique option could be to use a VESA mounting bracket to mount a mini PC to the back of this monitor, and then run the USB-C directly into the computer, essentially making it so you could have a full-blown desktop with a single cable power system, and it could be pretty portable. Especially if the machine is something like the M-Series Mac mini, which offers unreal power, is reasonably cheap, and is portable in and of itself. You could even get a portable power station and run this on the go.

UPerfect UColor T3: In use

UPERFECT | UColor T3

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
Specs

Display: 23.8 in IPS, 3840×2160 (4K)
Refresh Rate: 60Hz
Contract Ratio: 1000:1
Finish: Matte anti-glare
Brightness: 350 cd/m2
Ports: USB-C (power + DP Alt Mode), HDMI, 3.5 mm audio out
Mounting: 75×75 mm VESA holes
Stand: Adjustable tilt stand built in
Power: USB-C
Weight: ≈ 1.92 kg / 4.23 lb (estimate)

Using this for the last few months, on and off, has been great. It hasn't been used every day, but my team and I have repeatedly grabbed it for testing machines, for working in different places. I grabbed this and brought it to a coffee shop, though that was odd, and I used it as an added display for workspaces I already have.

One of my favorite setups I used this monitor for was mounting it on a monitor arm, then putting this display below it at an angle closer to 60 degrees, almost like a laptop display. I love this look when I am working with a laptop, so having a portable display that gives me the same look and feel as my desktop is great.

This display would also be great for those in the IT world who need to physically plug into server rooms, run tests on machines with a repair cart, or similar needs. It's large but portable, making this an excellent display for unique or otherwise not-great scenarios.

UPERFECT UColor T3: Final verdict

UPERFECT | UColor T3

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

The UPerfect UColor T3 lives in the grey area between portable monitor and standard desktop monitor, in the best way. It's not stationary and hard to move like a standard display, and it's not too small like most portable displays.

While it doesn't get super bright, which is sad, the colors are great, the matte display cuts down on glare, and the portability and usability with that size is fantastic. For those niche use cases, this is a spectacular option.

The UColor T3 delivers superb 4K sharpness and premium materials in a semi-portable format. It straddles portable and desktop categories perfectly for those who travel occasionally but still need a large, accurate display. It’s not ultra-bright or light, but for workspace flexibility and clarity, it’s an easy recommendation.

Should you buy a UPERFECT UColor T3?

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UPERFECT | UColor T3

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
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UPERFECT | UColor T3

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
Image 3 of 9

UPERFECT | UColor T3

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
Image 4 of 9

UPERFECT | UColor T3

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
Image 5 of 9

UPERFECT | UColor T3

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
Image 6 of 9

UPERFECT | UColor T3

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
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UPERFECT | UColor T3

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
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UPERFECT | UColor T3

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
Image 9 of 9

UPERFECT | UColor T3

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

Value

More expensive than other panels, but also a lot more screen

4 / 5

Design

Slim, matte finish, with a built-in stand

4.5 / 5

Hardware

4k panel, HDMI, USB-C and a VESA Mount, but it's fairly dim

4 / 5

Performance

Sharp and easy to see, but only indoors and not with direct light

4 / 5

Overall

A semi-portable, "portable" monitor with massive real estate, a fairly dim display with a built in stand and easy usability.

4.5 / 5

Buy it if...

You want a large display, but don't have a dedicated workspace
This display is easy to tear down and set up thanks to the single cable setup and built-in stand, plus the travel case

You have a non-traditional workspace
If you need a monitor, but don't have a standard workspace, this may be perfect. Like mounted in a vehicle, on a cart, in a hallway, or something else odd, yet needing a screenView Deal

Don't buy it if...

You are always on the go, or work out of a backpack
This display won't fit in a backpack, making it really hard to bring with you

You work in bright workspaces or outside
For outside, this display may be a bit cumbersome, and for outside or bright offices, this may be a bit too dim

For more options, we've tested the best business monitors.

I’ve spent 20 years testing hi-fi and these bookshelf speakers are the gateway drug to passive perfection
1:30 pm | December 6, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Hi-Fi Speakers | Comments: Off

Dali Kupid: Two-minute review

Dali may have been concentrating on the loftier parts of the audio market lately with its various loudspeaker and headphone product launches, but with the Kupid it wants you to know it hasn’t abandoned the entry level. The company has had plenty of success with its affordable speaker ranges before now, and it wants to bring those days back.

The Kupid is a small, neatly finished standmounting design that’s available in a couple of quite vibrant finishes (blue and yellow) along with the more usual black, white and walnut. Its compact nature means it should be easy to position, though its rear-facing bass reflex port means you can’t just plonk it anywhere. Rather unpromising impedance and sensitivity figures turn out to be no major real-world issue when it comes to pairing these speakers with appropriately affordable amplification, though.

And, in practice, the Kupid turns out to be a very successful proposition where performance, as well as appearance, are concerned. One of the best stereo speakers on the market? You bet...

A single Dali Kupid bookshelf speaker, mounted on a speaker stand.

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Dali Kupid review: Price & release date

  • Released October, 2025
  • Priced $599 / £299 / AU$599

The DALI Kupid standmount loudspeakers launched in October 2025, and in the United Kingdom they cost £299 per pair. In Australia they’re a predictable AU$599, while in the United States they cost a slightly less predictable $599.

The American market is a law unto itself at the moment, I suppose, and DALI is almost certainly being pragmatic enough to factor in any whim-based fluctuations in tariffs and the like.

Bird's eye shot of the front panel of a Dali Kupid bookshelf speaker.

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Dali Kupid review: Features

  • 26mm soft dome tweeter
  • 114mm wood-fiber/paper mid/bass driver
  • Rear-facing bass reflex port

These are affordable passive loudspeakers, so it won’t come as all that much of a surprise to learn they’re not exactly overburdened with features. Those features the Kupid do have, though, seem entirely fit for purpose.

At the front they have a 26mm soft dome tweeter sitting behind a mildly dished waveguide. Beneath this there’s a 114mm mid/bass driver made from the same mixture of paper and wood-fiber pulp the company has been refining for quite some time now. This duo is supported by a rear-firing bass reflex port that; a) contributes to an overall frequency response of 63Hz - 25kHz; and b) makes the Kupid slightly less appealing as a shelf-mounting proposition than they otherwise would be.

Crossover between the drivers is sensibly positioned at around 2.1kHz. Nominal impedance (4 ohms) and sensitivity (83dB) mean that the Kupid will be just a little trickier to drive than the majority of the size- and/or price-comparable rivals.

In theory, at least…

  • Features score: 5/5

Rear-firing bass reflex port of the Dali Kupid bookshelf speaker.

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Dali Kupid review: Sound quality

  • Rapid, energetic sound
  • Impressive grasp of rhythm
  • Unlikely levels of dynamism and punch

You’re entitled to expect certain things from a loudspeaker, no matter how small and/or affordable it is. But there are some things that are not quite so easy to come by when you’re talking about compact, (relatively) inexpensive loudspeaker designs. What’s remarkable about the Dali Kupid is how they manage to deliver everything you expect and a fair bit of what you might only be hoping for.

A listen to a 24bit/96kHz FLAC file of ScubaZ The Vanishing American Family gives a strong flavor of both of these things. The tonal neutrality and even frequency response you are expecting is present and correct, but the dynamism, and low-frequency extension and solidity the Kupid are capable of falls squarely into the ‘unexpected’ category.

Detail levels are decently high, and if they’re sympathetically positioned the Dali are capable of creating a fairly large and quite carefully controlled soundstage. Control of low-frequency activity is good, so rhythmic expression is convincing, and despite the unpromising nature of most of the numbers here, there’s more than enough low-end energy available to ensure there’s weight and punch to the Kupid sound.

The midrange communicates quite freely. There’s plenty of space for the voice during King Hannah’s Big Swimmer to project ahead of the similarly close-mic’d guitar – these speakers can do ‘intimate’ just as readily as they can do ‘animated’. The top of the frequency range, while rounded off just slightly in the name of ‘good taste’, can nevertheless bite and crunch with the best any price-comparable rival can summon.

Momentum levels never dip (provided the recording doesn’t dictate it, of course), but the Dali never sound forced – they’re just pleasantly on the front foot. Yet despite the sort of attitude that begins at ‘exciting’, the Kupid retain the headroom to make big dynamic shifts in volume or intensity perfectly apparent.

Music is meant to be fun, isn’t it? Well, most of the time anyway – I guess we all like to pop on a bit of Elliott Smith or Joy Division every now and then. But if it’s ‘fun’ you’re predominantly after, along with the sort of authenticity that can only come from a well-sorted loudspeaker, the sound of the Dali Kupid is the perfect place for most of us to start.

  • Sound quality score: 5/5

Close of the driver on the Dali Kupid bookshelf speaker.

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Dali Kupid review: Design

  • Extensive range of finishes
  • Very acceptable build quality
  • 245 x 150 x 198mm (HxWxD)

There are a couple of immediately striking things about the Dali Kupid's design. The first is the size of the cabinets – at just 245 x 150 x 198mm (HxWxD) the speakers are almost small enough to perch on a windowsill, let alone a shelf or speaker stand.

The other, if you encounter one of the livelier finishes is, well, the finish. Sure, you can have your Kupid in black, white or the species of fake walnut that my review sample rather disappointingly showed up in, but why would you, when ‘chilly’ blue and ‘golden’ yellow are also available?

As the asking price strongly suggests, there’s nothing special about the materials used here, and at just 2.9kg per speaker they’re not what you might describe as ‘weighty’. But the standard of construction is perfectly sound, and the gently curved cabinet edges offer a slightly more upmarket appearance than the straight-edged alternative that’s more common at this sort of price.

The fact that the grilles attach magnetically, meaning there are no lug-holes in the front baffle of the speaker, only adds to the impression of thoughtful design.

  • Design score: 5/5

Magnetically attached grille of the Dali Kupid bookshelf speakers, placed on a speaker stand.

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Dali Kupid review: Setup and usability

  • Wall-brackets and rubber feet are provided
  • Single-wire speaker terminalsS
  • Some running-in required

Where do you want to position your Dali Kupid?

If they’re going on speaker stands, you have plenty of choice from plenty of specialist brands. If you want to put them on a shelf, Dali provides eight little rubber feet in the box to help with decoupling. If you fancy hanging them on the wall, there are rudimentary wall-brackets supplied, too.

As regards setup, there’s really not a lot to it. You have a stereo amplifier, presumably – if not, you’ll need one. Each Kupid has a single pair of speaker cable terminals on the rear of the cabinet – try to keep the lengths of cable you use to connect each one roughly the same length.

And, like all loudspeakers, a period of running-in is required before you hear them at their best. Dali reckons you should expect to put 100 hours on the Kupid before they sound how they’re supposed to sound…

  • Setup and usability score: 5/5

Closeup of the rear cable terminations on the back panel of the Dali Kupid bookshelf speakers.

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Dali Kupid review: Value

The Dali Kupid are by no means your only choice when you’re looking for compact and affordable passive loudspeakers. But they’re more compact than most, which many will find appealing, and the combination of some vibrant finishes and relatively good-looking cabinet-work doesn’t do any harm where perceived value is concerned either.

Best of all, though, and the real deal-sealer, is the energetic and engaging sound these speakers make. Pair them with an affordable streaming amplifier (like the similarly titchy WiiM Amp, for instance), and you can create a compact, high-achieving audio system for a relatively small amount of money. And that means ‘value for money’ all day long in my book.

  • Value score: 5/5

Closeup of the Dali logo on the magnetically attached grill of the Dali Kupid bookshelf speaker.

(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Should you buy the Dali Kupid?

Buy them if...

You’re after a taste of authentic hi-fi sound but don’t want to break the bank
For the performance that’s on offer, $599 / £299 / AU$599 seems like a bit of a bargain…

You want big sound, not big cabinets
The Kupid won’t fill an authentically large room with sound, but they nevertheless sound a lot bigger than they look.

You prefer your loudspeakers to be interestingly coloured
Ignore the pics of my review sample and check out the blue and yellow alternatives instead.

Don't buy them if...

Your amplifier is on the tentative side
They’re not as burdensome as the numbers suggest, but the Kupid still require a reasonably pokey amp if they’re going to work efficiently.

You’re expecting thumping bass presence
You know how this works, right? A speaker this size will never shift enough air to rattle your windows…

You think $599 / £299 / AU$599 should buy a luxurious standard of build and finish
It doesn’t.

Dali Kupid review: Also consider

Q Acoustics 3020c
The 3020c by Q Acoustics are down to Dali Kupid money these days, and they’re a great-sounding pair of speakers for the money. The cabinet is relatively deep, though, which means they’re very much a standmounting proposition rather than being suitable for a shelf or a windowsill.
Read our full Q Acoustics 3020c review here

Wharfedale Diamond 12.1
For even less money than the Kupid, Wharfedale will sell you a pair of its Diamond 12.1 loudspeakers. They’re not as decorative as the Dali, but in their own way they’re just as satisfying to listen to.

How I tested the Dali Kupid

  • Connected to a Naim Uniti Star and an A&R Cambridge Audio A60
  • Vinyl listening via Technics SL-1300G turntable
  • Playing a wide variety of music from a number of different sources

I connected the Dali Kupid to a Naim Uniti Star and also to a ‘vintage’ A&R Cambridge A60 for amplification purposes, and then used the Naim as a network streamer, a Rega Apollo for CD playback and a Technics SL-1300G (via a Leema Elements pre-amp) as a vinyl source.

This allowed me to listen to lots of different types of music from a variety of formats. And, let me tell you, doing so for well over a week, on and off, proved no kind of hardship whatsoever.

First reviewed: December 2025

Read more about how we test at TechRadar

I tested the Hinomi H2 Pro – and this office chair folds in half and has some wild lumbar support
10:47 am | December 5, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro | Comments: Off

Earlier this year, I tried out the Hinomi H1 Pro and was genuinely impressed by how well the chair performs. Now, with the H2 Pro, the team at Hinomi has taken what was great about the H1 Pro and upgraded a few key features.

First, they increased the number of adjustment points from 16 to 19, adding three more. Second, they reworked their lumbar support. Third, they updated and upgraded their armrest system. Fourth, they used slightly different materials, opting for an aluminum alloy frame and breathable mesh that is skin-friendly and ultra comfortable for all-day use.

After the H1 Pro impressed, I was keen to see how this newer model compared to the best office chairs I've tested.

Hinomi H2 Pro: Price and availability

Hinomi | H2 Pro

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

The Hinomi H2 Pro is available from Hinomi's US site and UK site. It has a retail price of $759 / £759. Purchasing direction, you can add on the optional footrest, free shipping, and a 10-year warranty. I'm also seeing it on sale from online retailers, including at Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.

Hinomi | H2 Pro

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

Hinomi H2 Pro: Unboxing and First Impressions

The Hinomi H2 Pro came in a simple box with clearly labeled parts, and the necessary tools for assembly were included. You won't need any other tools unless you choose to use them. I still love using my Hoto Electric Screwdriver for furniture builds, but you can use whatever you prefer. Hinomi makes sure that you are ready to go out of the box.

The assembly process took approximately 25 minutes, without any issues or needing a restart. Once I got everything assembled, I was able to grab a seat and start adjusting the ergonomics to fit my body. The mesh feels pretty firm, but not in a bad way. It feels like it’s not going to loosen over time, but instead will give firm yet comfortable support for a long time to come.

I will say that the lumbar support is very noticeable in this chair. For those who like to have less support here, this chair may not be your favorite, but if you are looking for something that can add a layer of support, help you stop slouching, or help with a sore lower back, this may just be what you need.

Hinomi H2 Pro: Design & Build Quality

I found overall, this chair feels good quality for the money. It has a stable aluminum base, smooth casters, quality mesh upholstery, a good pattern, and good mechanics. It keeps the chair moving well without creaking or feeling like something will break over time.

Hinomi | H2 Pro

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

Hinomi H2 Pro: In use

Specs

Seat Height Range: 18-22.8 inches
Seat Depth: 16.7-19.9 inches
Weight Capacity: 330 lbs
Dimensions: 26.8 x 25.2 x 20.5-inches
Warranty: 10 years

Hinomi | H2 Pro

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

Sometimes chairs in this mid-price tier can be a weird mix between budget materials and a premium price, but the Hinomi H2 Pro fits its price quite nicely. Even though it’s not the highest priced nor the most feature-set, this chair provides all day comfort with ergonomic support, which at the end of the day is all that we are looking for.

Testing for the first day, the first few hours of this chair felt firm, I noticed the lumbar support very prominently, and I felt very supported. By hour four, I started realizing that this mesh was keeping me cool which was great. However, I wish the thigh support could extend a bit more for my very long legs (I’m 6’2”). By hour eight, I was noticing that my head and neck still felt supportive and I hadn’t noticed any squeaking nor looseness in the chair.

Hinomi | H2 Pro

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

Now, 60 days later, I still feel the same way. This chair has held up great, and I actually use the feature of folding down more than I thought.

At first, I thought it was a bit gimmicky and I was just using it because why not, and I wanted to use the fun feature, but now, as I mentioned, a full two months of having this chair in my rotation and used by my team, I find myself folding up the chair and pushing it under my standing desk when standing to get work done more often than not.

Rather than pushing it behind me into my office taking up more space, or pushing it off to the side, I now push it directly under my desk right where it is out of the way. Granted, if you have a smaller desk this may not work, but for medium to large desks, this is a spectacular plus to a chair like this.

Hinomi H2 Pro: Final verdict

The Hinomi H2 Pro is a welcome upgrade to an already great chair with the Hinomi H1 Pro. It’s a lumbar-prominent, breathable mesh, color popping, chair folding ergonomic addition that offers a great bang-for-the-buck.

It’s not the most luxurious of chairs, nor does it claim to be. It offers an appropriate experience for the price, while also throwing in the fact that it can fold flat like a party trick you never knew you wanted to be able to do.

Should you buy a Hinomi H2 Pro?

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Hinomi | H2 Pro

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
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Hinomi | H2 Pro

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
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Hinomi | H2 Pro

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
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Hinomi | H2 Pro

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
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Hinomi | H2 Pro

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
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Hinomi | H2 Pro

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
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Hinomi | H2 Pro

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
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Hinomi | H2 Pro

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
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Hinomi | H2 Pro

(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )

Value

Mid priced, and a mid chair, it's very fairly priced, good quality for the money

4 / 5

Design

Bold colors, nice mesh, and unique folding frame

4.5 / 5

Hardware

Sturdy mechanics, nice base, and hyper-mobile arms

4 / 5

Performance

High-comfort for long sessions, nice lumbar support, though not for everyone

4 / 5

Overall

A fun chair with some nice features, and great adjustments, though it may not be the perfect chair for all

4 / 5

Buy it if...

You want highly adjustable armrests
These armrests are some of the most adjustable I have ever seen. So, if armrests are a big deal to you, you'll probably love this chair

You want to be able to fold your chair in half
There aren't many chairs that I've tested that fold in half, if you want this feature for storage or for ease of use, this chair may be perfect for you for that feature aloneView Deal

Don't buy it if...

You want a more subtle or adjustable lumbar
This lumbar support is pretty pronounced, it may not be the right fit for you if you don't want to be forced into perfect lumbar positioning

You want a more minimal chair
This chair is bold, it's pronounced, and it is not understanted to say the least, if you are looking for a sleek and aesthetic chair, this may not fit your vibe

For more office furniture essentials, we've tested and reviewed the best office chairs.

The CZUR ET24 Pro isn’t a perfect book scanner, but those who need one don’t have many choices
8:21 pm | December 4, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Gadgets | Comments: Off

CZUR ET24 Pro: 30-second review

Most people think of scanners as that quaint mechanism that looks like an old photocopier on the printer, or an independent flatbed ideal for capturing receipts.

But in commercial terms, there are two pathways to bulk image capture: industrial document scanners that can handle hundreds of documents in short order, or devices like the CZUR ET24 Pro focused on book scanning.

Scanning books is a critical task for museums and archives where many people wish to see and read rare books, but the process is often detrimental to the documents.

The CZUR ET24 Pro is a camera solution designed specifically to cope with books where the scanning surface is likely to be curved, and the captured data will need to be flattened to provide the best viewing experience for others.

It features a 24MP camera mounted on a stand with its own lighting source and the electronics needed to profile the curve of the pages, and pass that information on to the scanning software to make appropriate adjustments.

The workflow allows the operator to turn the pages, hold them down and then trigger a capture using the foot pedal, hand switch or software-controlled, before moving on to the next page.

In addition to auto-flatten functionality, the software can also de-skew and includes OCR that can understand 180 different languages.

The CZUR ET24 Pro can scan any documents up to A3 size (16.5” x 11.7”), making it suitable for the majority of book scanning projects. CZUR makes a series of these devices, with the ET24 Pro being a mid-range option; it also makes cheaper, lower-resolution ET16 Plus and ET18 Pro models, in addition to the larger ET25 Pro and ET Max variants.

The only significant caveat with this device is the price, with the asking price being $649 for this model. That probably prices this hardware out for anyone who just wants to capture a single book, but for those who do this job regularly, it might be a solid investment.

CZUR ET24 Pro

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

CZUR ET24 Pro: Price and availability

  • How much does it cost? From $649/£649/€629
  • When is it out? Available now
  • Where can you get it? Through an online retailer or direct from CZUR

The range of CZUR scanners can be purchased through Amazon and AliExpress, and the asking price on Amazon is $649 in the USA, in the UK it's £649 at Amazon.co.uk, and €629 in Europe. Though the Europeans have a voucher deal running that reduced that to €534, making it the cheapest place to get it via Amazon.

The AliExpress pricing is better for the UK at £507.07, but for both the EU and USA customers, it's more expensive to get it from AliExpress than it is from Amazon.

Book scanning appears to be a subject that CZUR has effectively ring-fenced, since many competitor products are rebadged versions of its products. There are hand scanners and a few cheaper versions of the same concept, but CZUR has a wide range of options progressing from small portal solutions to larger professional installations.

Because there aren’t many competitors, the price is the price, and only the potential purchaser can determine if that represents value for money.

For what hardware is in this equipment, it seems expensive to this reviewer, but for those scanning books every day, it might seem like a bargain.

  • Value: ★★★★☆

CZUR ET24 Pro

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

CZUR ET24 Pro: Specs

Feature

Specification

Product Type

Smart Book & Document Scanner

Camera Sensor

CMOS, 24 Megapixels

Resolution

5696 x 4272 pixels (320 DPI default)

Max Scan Area

?A3 (420 x 297 mm / 16.5 x 11.7 in); Max: 480 x 360 mm (18.89 x 14.17 in)

Max Scan Thickness

35 mm (A3), 50 mm (A4)

Scan Speed

1.5 seconds per page (single/dual pages)

Image Format

JPG

Export Formats

JPG, PDF, Searchable PDF, Word, Excel, TIFF

Color Depth

24 bits

Video Streaming

MJPG

Preview

PC Visual Presenter: 3072 x 1728 @12fps; Scanning: 1536 x 1152 @20fps

Light Source

Built-in top LED and side lights

Focus Mode

Fixed focus

Trigger Methods

Device control, software, hand button, foot pedal

System Support

Windows XP/7/8/10/11 (32/64-bit), macOS 10.11+, Linux Ubuntu 16.04+

Processor

Dual-core OpenRISC 32-bit

Laser Assistance

3 laser rays

Memory

1Gbit DDR

HDMI Output

HDMI 1.4 (Visual Presenter: 1920x1080P 60Hz/50Hz, 1280x720P 60Hz/50Hz, etc.)

Display

2.4" LCD, 4:3, 320x240

USB

USB 2.0 High-Speed

Power

Input: AC 100-240V 50/60Hz; Output: DC 9V/1.5A-2A

OCR

ABBYY OCR, supports 180+ languages

Software Features

Flattening curve, smart paging, tilt correction, auto-cropping, fingerprint removal, background purifying, colour modes, auto/manual scan, watermark, screen/video recording, combine sides, blank page detection

Optical Features

EFL: 4.55mm, BFL: 3.4mm, F/NO: 4.5, IR Cut: 650±10nm, Field of View: 82°, Distortion:

CZUR ET24 Pro: Design

  • Mostly plastic
  • Built-for purpose
  • Plenty of options

I was initially somewhat disappointed with this device, or rather, specifically the build quality, as it is almost entirely made of relatively thin plastic.

Given the L-shaped form factor, I at least expected the base to be mostly metal to counteract the weight of the top arm that holds the camera. It’s not, and therefore, the whole construction isn’t far from toppling over if something or someone accidentally collides with it.

That said, it comes mostly in one piece, and the only feature that requires attaching other than cables is the side lighting component that is roughly halfway up from the base. This is attached using magnets, and again, they needed to be stronger magnets to avoid this part falling if knocked.

The base has four buttons and connections on the rear for attaching the various triggers, an included power supply and, on this model, a display via HDMI.

If you attach all the cables provided, including the foot pedal and hand button, there could be five cables coming out of the scanner, which is a bit messy.

One annoyance is that this uses generally old technology. The USB cable to connect it to a computer is Type-A, so that’s a pain for anyone with a modern laptop which has only USB-C, and the Type-A is USB 2.0, making for longer file transfers than are possible with better connectivity. Not that the scanned files it captures are huge, but USB has got better for many reasons with each subsequent release.

There is another way to use the scanner: use it for presentations and display what it sees via the HDMI output. This sounds super-useful until you realise that the maximum resolution supported by the HDMI is 1080p, whereas the captures are 5696 x 4272 pixels or nearly six times bigger. You can zoom the display to see more detail from the capture, but why this isn’t in 4K is a mystery.

CZUR ET24 Pro

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

Another curiosity is that on top of the scanner, where the camera is supported, is a small colour LCD display, which shows what the camera is currently seeing. If you are sitting in front of the scanner, unless you are remarkably tall, you won’t be able to see the display unless you are standing up. That might be great for posture, but the idea of scanning a book while standing up seems mildly bonkers for those in the later stages of life.

There is an easy fix for this would be that the display was hinged, just like the ones that are on most 3D printers, and this would have worked for both standing and sitting operations. This evidently was either never considered by the designers or they rejected it on a cost basis. Whatever the reason, it was an obvious omission that needs to be rectified.

Along with the scanner and its cables, CZUR also provides two ‘finger cots’, curious devices I’ll discuss in the user experience section. And, also a CD with the software on it. No, that’s not a bit of my infamously odd UK humour, this scanner came with a CD, something I’ve not seen with a tech product in many a year.

Why wasn’t it a cheap USB flash drive? I’ve no idea, but I take it that CZUR thinks that the market for these devices is those still using technology from the end of the previous century.

And, as if to underline this point in neon marker, the software is provided in a version that runs on Windows XP, disturbingly.

To be clear, you can download the software and the manuals from the CZUR website if you can’t find a PC with an optical drive mounted.

  • Design: ★★★★☆

CZUR ET24 Pro: Features

  • OpenRISC 32-bit
  • 1Gbit DDR?
  • Lasers?

CZUR describes the processor in the scanner as being a dual-core OpenRISC 32-bit, which covers a great many possible processors, none of which is especially impressive. The specifications also tell us that it has 1Gbit DDR. I find that hard to believe, because original DDR isn’t made these days, and also that would be 128MB/s of memory, which seems implausibly small for the job.

Perhaps those were typos, and it has 1GB of maybe DDR4, but I do wonder why they didn’t just take off-the-shelf phone electronics with their 64-bit ARM SoCs rather than building a complete bespoke platform to do the same job as phones do literally for pennies. And if they had taken that path, the scanner could have been wireless-capable and also have had USB-C inherently.

Another head-scratcher in the specs is that it indicates that the scanner has three lasers, which I presume are used to calculate the curve of the pages so they can be accurately flattened once scanned. My problem with this is that there is no evidence in use that there are any lasers, at least not ones that produce visible light frequencies.

I suspect this is another Chinese-made product where infrared and lasers are confused, as I can’t see anyone in the valuable book trade wanting their most valuable assets subjected to laser light if they could help it.

It should be noted that the profiling of the page has some significant limitations in the thickness of the book that can be scanned. The depth that can be adjusted for is 35 mm at A3 and 50 mm at A4. If your book is thicker than that, or you don’t hold it down to flatten it as much as possible, then you will end up with less than perfect scans.

CZUR ET24 Pro

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
  • Features: ★★★⯪☆

CZUR ET24 Pro: User experience

  • Define a workspace
  • Tons of features
  • Lacks a clearly defined workflow

Setting up this scanner doesn’t just involve getting it out of the box, plugging it all together and installing the software, as there are some subtle nuances to the installation that I wasn’t aware of.

For starters, there is a black neoprene mat that comes with the scanner that shows exactly the area that the camera is focused on, and it has a notch cut on one side, which is where the scanner must be precisely placed. Failure to do this accurately will impact the scanning process, so make sure it's right.

One thing that I only realised after a few scans was that no objects other than the book and your hands can be inside the border of the mat, and that includes the cabling. If it crosses the threshold of the mat, the software will think it's something to scan, and that will throw all sorts of things out of whack.

The software, which I’ll get to shortly, is designed to realise what fingers look like and will remove them from the processed image if you are using them to hold the pages down. However, also included are two yellow ‘finger cots’, which are devices to perform the same page-holding function, but are easier for the software to erase. They also provide a means to touch the book without adding skin oils to the paper, which is also useful for rare publications.

The biggest issue I had in creating a suitable workspace for this device was the amount of space it required. To avoid cables crossing the mat meant the laptop needed to be well away from the scanner, and my 120cm long pine table was probably the minimum size that is workable. Anything smaller and the computer will be too close to the scanning mat, making the scanning exercise more challenging. It would probably work better with a desktop system under the desk, although where you would put the mouse and keyboard is debatable.

In a previous role, I worked with document scanners, and it was a two-person operation: one handled the scanner and documents, while the other operated the computer.

That might seem people-intensive, but it's significantly more efficient than having one person do the whole thing by themselves.

In my experience, working alone, this process turned out to be more complex than I’d originally anticipated. This was mostly down to the need to use both hands to hold down the book and then needing a third hand or a foot to trigger the scanning process.

There is an ‘Auto-scan’ function that can detect page turns, but it’s easy to make a slight adjustment with the finger cots and trigger another scan of a page you have already captured. Facing pages can be captured as left and right images or as a combined, flattened output, which allows some leeway in cropping and adjusting how the captures are processed on each side.

CZUR ET24 Pro software interface

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

There are, however, a few things missing that I’d have liked to have seen. Having worked with a repository containing millions of images, a golden no-no is having images with the same name, since this can lead to overwriting a file with something else.

What this software doesn’t offer is the unique label that is never reused and added to every filename. You can create daily or project-driven folders, but this system would be massively advantaged if the capture files were integrated with a database, possibly detailing who scanned them, what adjustments have been applied and other information, such as an index code for the book.

While it can scan barcodes present on the book, it doesn’t use the same logic to identify page numbers that can then be inserted automatically into the file naming model. That wouldn’t be difficult to achieve, and could make a file collection that is correctly sorted by page, irrespective of the order it was scanned.

What is more comprehensive are the options for exporting the files in PDF, Tiff and various other formats.

My assessment of the software is that it isn’t exactly intuitive, but I did eventually locate the features I was looking for. While I was reviewing the scanner, it was updated, suggesting that it does get improved on some basis, which is gratifying.

What it lacks is an inherent workflow, where a book goes in one end and scanned digital data comes out of the other end.

CZUR ET24 Pro scans

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
  • User experience: ★★★⯪☆

CZUR ET24 Pro: Final verdict

CZUR ET24 Pro

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

Typically, with me, first impressions play a big part, and the amount of plastic in this product I found off-putting out of the box. However, after I’d used it, my opinion of this device subtly improved, because in the end of the day it does what CZUR claims for it.

I still think it needs a heavier base to counteract the arm, and a swivel on the display to make it easier to see when sat in front, but the workflow is practical, and it's possible to scan even a large book in an afternoon.

Does this justify the price? Probably not, but given the minimal product options that anyone wanting to scan a book has, that might be something you are forced to deal with.

I should mention before I get complaints that there are potential legal pitfalls to copying books protected by copyright, and that those using devices like the CZUR 24 Pro need to be aware of where those limitations exist in their specific geography.

This equipment can scan any book or publication, but doing so may not be protected under the law. But, if you have publications you can justify digitising, the CZUR 24 Pro will do it reasonably efficiently with a bit of training.

  • Final score: ★★★★☆

Should you buy a CZUR ET24 Pro?

Value

Seems expensive, till you realise the limited alternatives

4 / 5

Design

Simple but effective design that is quiet and attractive

4 / 5

Features

Odd hardware choices

3 / 5

User experience

Lots of features but lacks straightforward workflow

4 /5

Overall

Does whats required, but needs training

4 / 5

Buy it if...

You need to scan some books.
While this isn't perfect at all, this is far superior to trying to use a flat-bed scanner or taking photographs.

Don't buy it if...

You have no scanning strategy.
The worst possible approach to scanning documents is to assume its a photocopy exercise. If you think that, then the CZUR ET24 Pro or any other book-scanning equipment will be a wasted investment. Develop a plan that considers how the contents will be stored, retrieved and distributed, and then think about a scanner.

For more essentials, we've tested the best scanners and best home printers.

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