This review first appeared in issue 351 of PC Pro.
It’s hard not to fall in love with the Cherry KW 7100 Mini BT, in part because it’s so wee and in part because you get to choose from two eye-catching pastel colors: Cherry Blossom (pink) or Agave Green as pictured. Or you can opt for boring black. Despite its attractive price, the KW 7100 Mini comes with a travel pouch (made from recycled plastic), although it’s only offered in dark grey.
Build quality is up to Cherry’s usual high standards, with its SX scissor mechanism delivering a shallow but satisfying typing action similar to a good-quality laptop. It isn’t up there with mechanical keyboards, but it’s also much quieter. With big Enter, backspace and space keys, I don’t think you’ll struggle to hit high typing speeds despite its slim 295mm width.
The KW 7100 Mini should look just as good on day 500 as it does on day one, with the key lettering protected by a UV coating to guard against abrasions. Those keys are designed to last for more than ten million hits apiece, which is no doubt why Cherry feels confident enough to offer a three-year warranty.
A row of function keys sits at the top, all of which are customizable using the Cherry Keys software. This is almost charmingly basic, and it will take moments for you to assign actions or favorite websites. You also use the F1, F2 and F3 keys to switch between active Bluetooth connections; there’s no USB adapter here, and Apple devices aren’t supported either (it refused to pair with my iPad).
Aside from the sturdy feet that lift the rear of the keyboard for a better typing angle, that’s it for physical features. Backlighting isn’t present, merely LEDs to indicate which Bluetooth channel is active and if the Fn or Caps lock are active. These will also start flashing when the two AAA batteries run low, which will probably be months; all Cherry says about battery life is that it strongly depends on user behavior.
One final word for those who love matching accessories: you can buy a color-coordinated Cherry Gentix BT mouse, but its clicky keys reflect its low price: £16 from cclonline.com.
The KW 7100 Mini BT isn’t for those who love frills, then, nor is it for Apple fans. For everyone else, though, it’s a superb travel-friendly choice.
This review first appeared in issue 352 of PC Pro.
The Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 4 is the most unusual laptop I’ve ever reviewed. Not only does it have a color E Ink display on its lid, but it also features a hinge that lets you swivel the screen 180°. Note that isn’t 360°, which is a shame – I kept trying to twist it in the wrong direction.
So, let’s address the obvious question: why? According to Lenovo, it offers four modes: laptop, tablet, e-paper and typewriting. It also ships with a stylus – although sadly there’s nowhere for it to be stowed – so you can write, annotate and draw on it. I find the Apple Pencil more enjoyable to write with thanks to its greater heft and girth, and while Lenovo’s stylus is precise it’s still no match for a real pen and paper.
The color E Ink display is meant to make reading books and taking notes feel similar to performing the same acts on real paper. It can show anything the OLED panel can, so you aren’t reduced to viewing content made specifically for e-readers. While a novel feature, I wouldn’t recommend it due to the E Ink panel’s low 12Hz refresh rate. Scrolling web pages or documents is choppy, and a ghosting effect (when traces of a previous image remain on screen) adds to the annoyance.
…but the hinged lid allows you to swivel the display by 180º…(Image credit: Future)
Colors on the E Ink panel also look washed out at best, hitting 0.4% (that is not a typo!) of the DCI-P3 color gamut. Still, it’s better to have some color than none at all.
If all you’re doing is reading or using it as a typewriter, then the E Ink display still has its advantages. For a start, it’s easier on the eyes, but it also cuts down on distractions. Switch on the Lenovo Reader mode and you can devour ebooks, while you can use Lenovo Notebook to scribble notes. If the performance is too sluggish, you can also use Reader and Notebook with the OLED display.
This 13.3in touchscreen panel is as vibrant as you would expect, covering 100% of the DCI-P3 gamut with an average Delta E of 0.21. It’s bright, too, hitting 360cd/m2 in our SDR tests and 480cd/m2 with HDR content.
…to reveal a versatile 12.2in color E Ink screen(Image credit: Future)
You can happily watch films on the ThinkBook Plus without headphones, thanks to clear audio and plenty of volume without distortion. Music lovers won’t appreciate the lack of bass on offer, however.
Bearing in mind that Lenovo is pitching the ThinkBook Plus as a typewriter, it’s a shame that it isn’t part of the ThinkPad range with its deep key travel. Still, I found the keys snappy and responsive, and even though this is a compact laptop it never felt cramped when typing (and I have big hands). The trackpad’s small footprint proved more challenging, not always registering my gestures.
While I say compact, I don’t say light. At 1.4kg, this is substantially heavier than the streamlined 13in laptops we see elsewhere, with many now ducking under 1kg. What’s more, they’ll offer far better battery life than the Plus, which gave up after 6hrs 50mins of our web-surfing rundown test. That’s poor.
Finally we come to speed, which is in line with expectations for a laptop with a Core i7-1355U. It’s extremely fast for day-to-day operations, but those who use heavyweight apps or want to play AAA games should look elsewhere. Only one configuration is on sale, with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, which also restricts usage, but not as much as the fact that Lenovo UK hasn’t announced a release date or price yet.
(Image credit: Future)
So, should you rush over to the US and spend $3,039 on this machine? For the vast majority of people, the answer to that is a straightforward no. That’s a shame, as I really wanted to love the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 4. After all, it’s not every day you come across a 2-in-1 with a built-in color E Ink display and twistable hinge. As foldable phones have shown, having a device that serves multiple functions is advantageous. But while the idea behind this ThinkBook Plus sounds great on paper, it doesn’t live up to the promise — especially for a device at this price.
With Apple stepping away from larger 27-inch-screen all-in-one iMacs, HP seized the opportunity with the OmniStudio X 31.5—a sleek, powerhouse Windows PC that’s far more than just a pretty display. At its heart is a 32-inch 4K IPS screen (or 27-inch FHD option), but under the hood lies serious performance muscle: an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, an Nvidia RTX 4050 GPU and a 1TB SSD.
This makes the OmniStudio X more than capable of juggling everything from dozens of Chrome tabs to high-resolution creative workflows in Photoshop and Premiere Pro.
Its setup is refreshingly straightforward, while the design is both thoughtful and practical.
Multiple ports are neatly placed along the rear panel and adjustable neck, and a cleverly integrated pop-up webcam delivers solid performance for video calls and meetings.
The overall aesthetic and functionality make it a perfect fit for offices, libraries, and creative studios alike.
One disappointing aspect of the design is the included keyboard and mouse combo. The keyboard style does a great job of matching the overall desktop but lacks a lift for better positioning beyond its flimsy feel. On the other hand, the mouse isn’t any better as it's simply not very comfortable; especially during long typing sessions.
Priced at $1,660, the OmniStudio X 31.5 offers impressive value. From its high-end audiovisual features to its streamlined yet sophisticated design, this all-in-one desktop balances everyday productivity with creative performance—making it a compelling purchase. That doesn’t mean this all-in-one isn’t without some problems.
Even though the desktop has an Nvidia RTX 4050, it’s not enough for serious gaming experiences. In the modern AAA space, the 6GB of V-RAM just isn’t enough for most games going as low as 1080p.
You can forget about playing games in native 4K, though DLSS upscaling can help at least match the display’s resolution. Add a 60Hz refresh rate limit to the display itself and it’s only so much it can do in that department.
However, if you're looking more for casual gaming sessions between writing a review like this or editing social media content, you'll likely be satisfied with what the OmniStudio X 31.5 has to offer.
For professionals and creatives seeking a capable, visually striking desktop that handles demanding tasks with ease, this all-in-one makes a strong case.
While it falls short in areas like gaming and peripheral comfort, its overall performance and design still deliver a premium experience. It’s not built to be everything, but it nails what it sets out to do—serve as a stylish, high-powered productivity hub.
For those willing to overlook its minor setbacks, the OmniStudio X 31.5 offers a solid, future-forward option in today’s all-in-one desktop market.
HP OmniStudio X 31.5: Price and availability
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Where can you get it? Available now in the US, UK, and Australian territories
When can you get it? Available now
How much does it cost? $830 - $1,715 / £1,599.00 - £2,249.99 / AU$3,399 - AU$4,199
Available now in the United States, United Kingdom and Australian territories, the HP OmniStudio X 31.5 can be purchased in various customization options through HP’s online store.
Potential buyers in the United States have the most options available with choices of a 27.5-inch 1080p or flagship 4K 31.5-inch screen. On the lowest $830 tier, users can get the FHD 27.5-inch display with the Intel Core Ultra 5 processor with integrated Arc Graphics, 16GB DDR5 RAM and 256GB PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD.
For more money, there are options for giving the display touch capabilities alongside a more powerful CPU, RAM and SSD storage.
Even more flexibility is offered on the 31.5-inch UHD model. Our review model with the specs mentioned above comes out at the price of $1,660. There are a few options to push the storage to 2TB SSD alongside Intel Wi-Fi 7 BE200 (2x2) and Bluetooth5.4 wireless card outside of the standard Realtek Wi-Fi 6E RTL8852CE (2x2) and Bluetooth 5.3 wireless card for $1,715.
The HP OmniStudio X 31.5 only comes in one screen size featuring the Intel Core Ultra 7 with RAM, Storage and GPU options ranging between £1,599 and £2,249. Though more options will be available in the future, there is currently only one version right now in Australia for $3,399. That’ll get users the 31.5 UHD display, Intel Ultra 7, RTX 4050, 32 GB DDR5-5600 RAM and 1 TB SSD.
Value: 4 / 5
HP OmniStudio X 31.5: Specs
The HP OmniStudio X 31.5 currently comes in several configurations based around CPU, GPU, RAM and storage options.
HP OmniStudio X 31.5: Design
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Set-up is a breeze
Ports are well-placed and the pop-up webcam is nice
Keyboard and mouse could use some work
Design-wise, there’s so much to love about the HP OmniStudio X 31.5. Starting with the relatively easy installation process. All users have to do is connect the base to the neck via a pre-installed screw and snap both parts into the back panel of the desktop via USB-C.
The Meteor Silver colorway blends an aluminum material for the base and neck with hard plastic on the actual all-in-one itself. For the display itself, thin bezels on the right, top and left of the display with a bigger one to showcase the HP logo provide enough screen real-estate.
The all-in-one isn’t just sleek looks but also offers serious functionality through port placement alone.
Image 1 of 2
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Image 2 of 2
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
The right side of the neck features a singular USB-C and two USB-A slots. On the rear panel is a singular USB-C, two USB-A, HDMI-in, HDMI-out, ethernet and power ports besides a 3.5 headphone/mic combo jack. On the right side of that same panel is a power button and clickable thumbstick for in-display menu options.
Popping the top of the OmniStudio X 31.5 reveals a 5MP webcam which feels good to push back in once done with it. Posability is respectable with tilt and height adjustment as well.
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
As mentioned previously, the sore spot of the design is the included mouse and keyboard. The mouse tries to be something for all sorts of hand sizes and shapes but ends up being uncomfortable for my medium-sized hand. After long-typing sessions, I definitely noticed a bit of hand cramping.
The keyboard works well enough but holding that back is the lack of a level raiser. Both keyboard and mouse unfortunately also require AAA batteries to work which is a shame considering its biggest competitor in the space features rechargeable batteries.
The OmniStudio X 31.5 nails the essentials of modern all-in-one design with a clean aesthetic, intuitive assembly and thoughtful hardware placement. For users prioritizing performance and style in a streamlined package, this all-in-one desktop makes a confident impression right out of the box.
Design: 4.5 / 5
HP OmniStudio X 31.5: Performance
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
General tasks and creative software performance is top tier
Gaming performance is a bit wonky
Audio/visual and webcam capabilities are great
Over the course of a week with the HP OmniStudio X 31.5, I put the all-in-one through a mix of hybrid work tasks, creative projects, and light gaming. The bulk of my day job involved running Google Chrome with multiple tabs open—everything from Docs, Gmail, and Sheets to Asana, Hootsuite, and Wix—without a single hiccup in performance.
Even while managing those apps, I was able to jump into Adobe Photoshop and Premiere Pro to create high-resolution social media graphics and short-form video content, all without any lag or slowdown. That real-world performance aligns well with its PugetBench scores of 7102 for Premiere Pro and 6085 for Photoshop, making it a solid option for content creators who need reliability and speed.
HP OmniStudio X 31.5: Benchmarks
Here's how the HP OmniStudio X 31.5 performed in our suite of benchmark tests:
One would think having the Intel Core Ultra 7 and Nvidia RTX 4050 would mean some low-to-mid-range gaming experiences. Because the mobile GPU is throttled to a total graphics power of 60 watts, it can barely handle most modern games even with the 6GB of VRAM.
This means many games released over the past five years are going to struggle on 4K settings without DLSS upscaling which doesn’t help much in this case. This is why it’s imperative for users who want to game stick to around 1080p resolution as many of our benchmarks would suggest.
For example, trying to play Ninja Gaiden Black II or Forza Motorsport at 4K even on lower settings turned the games into slide shows while other titles known for their visual prowess like Cyberpunk 2077 and Far Cry 6 wouldn’t run at all. In fact some games like Black Myth: Wukong wouldn’t run at all on low settings at 1080p because of VRAM limitations.
It’s unfortunate because the 4K display truly stands out, especially for work tasks and streaming ultra-high-definition content. The IPS panel delivers vibrant, true-to-life colors, sharp text, and solid brightness levels that make everyday use a pleasure.
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
For creatives, the color accuracy is especially impressive, with coverage of 100% sRGB, 93% P3, and 85% Adobe RGB—ideal for design and visual work. It’s a display that thoroughly caters to both productivity and creative precision. The dual 5W speakers featuring DTS:X Ultra provide some nice audio too. Though volume levels aren’t necessarily high and even lose audio quality at their highest setting, mid-levels sound pretty great.
Sometimes while testing, I had a meeting with my therapist and nutritionist through various video conferencing software like Zoom. During those times, video quality was excellent in mid-day lighting conditions and I was told by both individuals that they could hear me just fine.
Users can also utilize the webcam as a bio-metric security for log-in but response time may differ depending on lighting conditions as well.
Performance: 4/5
Should I buy the HP OmniStudio X 31.5 ?
Buy it if…
You need an all-in-one desktop with fine performance for general and creative tasks
The HP OmniStudio X 31.5 can handle multiple Google Chrome tabs without breaking a sweat while handling large files for creative software like Adobe Premiere Pro and Photoshop.
You want a superb visual/audio experience
A lovely 4K display that’s crispy yet vivid in colors and dual 5W speakers with DTS:X Ultra capabilities sound amazing.
You require a solid design that looks great and has plenty of ports
Putting the all-in-one together is pretty easy allowing set-up to happen in seconds. There are also plenty of ports behind the display and on the side as well. Using the pop-up webcam feels good as well.
Don’t buy it if…
You need better gaming performance in your all-in-one
More serious gamers are going to be a bit disappointed despite the included mobile Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU. There are some AAA games that work well at low-to-mid settings where some are going to have issues on even the lowest graphical settings.
You want a better packed in keyboard and mouse
The keyboard is above average but lacks any lifts but the mouse isn’t the most comfortable for long sessions.
Also Consider
If our HP OmniStudio X 31.5 review has you considering other options, here are two all-in-one desktops to consider...
Apple iMac 24-inch M4 (2024)
If gaming isn’t a priority and you’re comfortable with a compact 24-inch display, the 2024 iMac delivers exceptional performance for everyday tasks and creative work.
While the HP Envy 34 shares similar GPU limitations for gaming as the OmniStudio, it offers a larger 34-inch ultrawide display and slightly more power at its highest configuration, even with older components.
Used for general computing tasks including Chrome and Zoom
Played a handful of games including Ninja Gaiden Black II, Forza Motorsport and Red Dead Redemption 2 among others
For the review of the HP OmniStudio X 31.5, we tested various features of the all-in-one desktop over the span of a week. For general computing tasks, Google Chrome served as the base to use services like Docs, YouTube, Asana, Hootsuite and Wix. Creative app capability was split between Adobe Suite software including Premiere Pro alongside Photoshop. Zoom conferencing software was also utilized to test the webcam and microphone combo.
In order to test the visuals of the UHD display, I watched several YouTube videos in 4K which also gave insight into the audio quality of the speakers. Meanwhile, to further test the speakers, I played various music on Tidal. Finally, we played various AAA games to test performance. Games included Cyberpunk 2077, Ninja Gaiden Black II, Forza Motorsport, Assassin’s Creed Mirage, Grand Theft Auto V and more.
The Apple Sport Band is a basic, albeit high-quality Apple Watch strap that’s ready for all activity, whether that be a stroll in the park or a run around the block. At $49 / £49, it’s not the cheapest Apple Watch band in the world, but its price is very much in-line with other official first-party accessories, like the Sport Loop, for instance.
This band is made of fluoroelastomer – ideal for sports due to its inherently sweat and waterproof nature. When I went on walks and did a home workout, I never found that the band was irritating on my skin or accrued any kind of damage.
On top of that, it’s super comfortable for everyday use. Even fastening the band on is quick and easy – just poke the aluminum pin through one of the strap’s holes and you’re good to go. That combination of comfort and convenience is a must-have for all of the best Apple Watch bands.
Something I would have liked to see, though, is a few more holes in the strap for fitness activity. That’s something that I loved about the Apple Nike Sport Band, for example, because it offers added breathability when you’re working up a sweat. Another aspect of the Nike Sport Band I appreciated was that it is composed of 30% recycled fluoroelastomer, but the Apple Sport Band doesn’t come with this sustainability pledge.
But enough moaning – I want to get back to the positives again. This band is available in a wide array of colorways – seven to be precise. I tested out the Plum variant, but this strap also comes in: Black; Denim; Lake Green; Light Blush; Starlight; and Stone Gray. All of these look fairly understated, making for a more discreet look, if that’s what you’re after.
In addition, this strap is compatible with three different case sizes: 40, 42 and 46mm. You can grab it either in small-to-medium (130-180mm) or medium-to-large (150-200mm).
Even if this band comes in at $49 / £49, you’re still getting value for money. Sure, you could opt for a third-party alternative – like the Yoohoo Adjustable Metal Strap – for less than $15 / £15, but this will be more prone to scuffs and won’t be so easy on the eye. Meanwhile, the Apple Sport Band has a satisfying material, reliable fastening method and classy looks. That makes it well worth the extra spend as far as I’m concerned.
All in all, I think the identically priced Apple Nike Sport Band beats this one out thanks to its more airy design and vibrant looks. But for anyone that likes a more reserved aesthetic, I’d say the Apple Sport Band is a great option for you. It has that real quality feel and it's super simple to slip on if you’re on-the-go. That alone earns it a recommendation in my book.
(Image credit: Future)
Apple Sport Band review: Price & specs
(Image credit: Future)
Should I buy the Apple Sport Band?
Buy it if…
You want an understated look The Apple Sport Band comes in seven color options. None of these are dazzling and vibrant, but all of them play into a smooth, discreet look very nicely. When testing out the plum band, for example, I never felt that it stuck out like a sore thumb against my clothing.
You want to get fastened up quickly and easily Just poke the aluminum pin through one of the Apple Sport Band’s holes and bam! It will lock into place straight away. There’s no frustrating buckle or unorthodox contraption to wrestle with here, just pop and go. Simple, yet effective.
Don't buy it if…
You want a cheap replacement strap If you’re on the hunt for the ultimate bargain option, this ain’t it, I’m afraid. The Apple Sport Band will set you back $49 / £49 – by no means cheap for an Apple Watch accessory. Sure, that’s in line with the Nike Sport Loop, for example, but there are some really cheap third-party alternatives, like the CeMiKa Silicone Sport Straps if you’re looking for savings.
You want a super-classy band If you want a super swanky band, then you’re in luck – there are plenty of premium alternatives to be discovered on the Apple Store. Options like the Milanese Loop or Hermès En Mer, for instance, carry that air of high class that some of you may be craving – but these options will set you back by at least $100 / £100.
Apple Sport Band review: Also consider
Apple Nike Sport Band This one’s extremely similar – it even comes in at the same price. But if you want a bit more flair in your watch band’s design, the Apple Nike Sport Band is the perfect option. It has more vibrant, loud color options, eye-catching fluoroelastomer flakes throughout and breathable holes when you need to sweat it out. It’s been my go-to band since I started using the Apple Watch SE, so why not give it a try? Read our full Apple Nike Sport Band review.
Billed as a ‘hardcore action RPG’ (role-playing game), The First Berserker: Khazan from developer Neople lives up to its description by offering a back-breaking, taxing, and demanding soulslike game that doesn’t ever let up, for better and for worse.
Review info
Platform reviewed: PS5 Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC Release date: March 27, 2025
With some impressive combat and progression tweaks to the genre’s formula mixed in, it also has some solid ideas of its own. Dozens of hours of content, optional side missions, and secrets to find are backed up by some excellent voice work - even if the narrative doesn’t quite match the performance quality.
However, for long-running Soulslike fans, The First Berserker: Khazan’s combat feels on par with Lies of P’s quality. We are now at a point in the genre where developers are able to make combat that is on par with FromSoftware’s work on the iconic Dark Souls series, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring, et al. What is even more impressive is that this is Neople’s first soulslike - and you can’t tell at all.
(Image credit: Neople)
A familiar formula
The setup of The First Berserker: Khazan is a familiar one for the genre. General Khazan wakes up after narrowly escaping death upon being branded a traitor and mercilessly tortured. Frail and weak, he stumbles upon an entity known as the Blade Phantom), providing him with grand, otherworldly powers, and allowing him to get back to his full strength.
On that journey, he will regain powers and abilities allowing him to use one of three weapon types while meeting a cast of characters that join him in a hub called The Crevice. They can upgrade his gear, improve his stats, and offer equipment to purchase, from weapons to armor pieces and your usual batch of consumables you can find in a soulslike game.
Khazan then journeys from level to level to seek revenge and become The First Berserker. While the game is set within the Dungeon & Fighter (DNF) universe, I have no experience with the other projects in it, but I found the story to be initially intriguing, offering impressive world design and great visuals and environments that grabbed me from the get-go.
(Image credit: Neople)
It also helps that the voice performances from Ben Starr as Khazan and Anthony Hell as the Blade Phantom, the two main characters you are with for most of the game, are fantastic. The rest of the supporting cast, bosses, and human characters you fight are also just as good. Everyone here does the best they can with the writing which often underdelivers.
As the story goes on, the game piles on lore and terminology that makes it a bit hard to follow for newcomers. The world you are exploring and the rules of it just sort of become an amorphous blob of stuff interjected between each level and boss fight. I’m sure it's really cool for fans of the DNF universe to see their world brought to life in a way it never has been before, but The First Berserker: Khazan doesn’t do a great job of keeping new players invested in it past the first few hours.
(Image credit: Neople)
A brutal battering
While I wasn’t thrilled by the story, the combat in The First Berserker: Khazan is just exquisite. No soulslike has challenged me this consistently since I got into the genre with Bloodborne. There are so many adjectives I could use to describe the combat’s difficulty but it is simply one of the hardest soulslikes I have ever played. However, I loved every second of getting slaughtered.
The First Berserker: Khazan is heavily reliant on blocking, parrying, and dodging at the right times to avoid attacks, with even one hit doing significant damage. Precise dodge timing is required and parry windows are even shorter. Missing these will also lower your stamina with each block as you take damage, leaving you vulnerable and unable to move for a few seconds as your stamina fully recovers. It is grueling and there aren’t ways to get around these requirements either, unless you opt for the easier difficulty mode which lessens the effects of a lot of these punishing mechanics. You can’t simply out-level a boss or area.
The game also doesn’t opt for the build flexibility and customization that many soulslikes do these days, instead letting you develop and deepen combat with the three main weapon types (dual blades, greatsword, and spear) as you play. As you kill enemies and bosses, you earn skill points that unlock abilities that you can activate that vary up a weapon's moveset, as well as other moves and passive bonuses that are imbued into the weapon once activated.
I opted for a Greatsword in my playthrough and that allowed me to unlock abilities such as Breakthrough which let me charge into an enemy push them back away from a group and then slam down. Other abilities like Inner Fury summoned an explosion underneath where I was standing, dealing area of effect damage to everyone around me acting as a stun, building up an enemy’s stun meter to land a Brutal Attack while they were immobilized. It also helped with crowd control.
Best bit
The best moment in The First Berserker: Khazan came after finally beating Maluca after almost six hours. The fight is one of the best spectacles in the game, and it is a huge challenge to overcome, requiring you to master almost every aspect of combat from managing your stamina, knowing when to stun him, and honing your parries to deflect quick sword combos.
Within the skill tree, there are also additional combat moves that you can seamlessly slot in between attacks, such as being able to use a charged heavy attack with some added reach after performing the first hit in a light combo or being able to guard as you charge your heavy attack. There is even a ranged Spear attack that you can use.
This is the first time I can remember a skill tree and traditional combat abilities working this well in soulslike and I loved the fluid, dynamic nature of fighting in The First Berserker: Khazan as I unlocked more skills with a weapon. There’s an exceptional flow I got into as i combined attacks and seamlessly interweaved moves that became addicting. It’s all supported by excellent sound design and music, with the clink of a parry and the swoosh of a perfect dodge being especially satisfying.
Of course, combat is nothing in a soulslike without enemies, and The First Berserker: Khazan has a wealth of them. Skeletons, humans, demons, dragons, and more litter the game’s 16 levels and many bonus missions. They all have a great, varied selection of attacks and I never had issues with struggling to understand which moves were being telegraphed. The only downside is there are a few too many brown and grey villages and areas where you fight these enemies, that lack the flair seen early on and towards the end of the game.
Bosses, however, are exceptional and always a spectacle. The way their attacks and the visual effects combine together to create grand, herculean challenges is an aspect of the game that never gets old. Each one also challenged me in entirely different ways, requiring different approaches almost every time and forcing me to adapt to new combat styles.
Endure and try to survive
However, the sheer amount of attacks to learn, the parry timing, and the damage these bosses do, combined with the demanding combat is a lot to endure. I spent several hours on every single boss, sometimes spending more than five hours trying to finish them off. For example, Aratra, a giant spider has a number of stabs and swipes it can perform with its legs, a few jumping grab attacks, as well as a charge that requires you to block half-a-dozen successive hits. It also can inflict poison with its attacks, forcing you to manage a poison meter at the same time.
Another boss Rangkus, offers a unique blend of both ranged crossbow atatcks and melee attacks, forcing you to adjust to his constantly shifting moveset that switches between the two styles. You not only have to block, parry, dodge, and close the gap on him, but you also need to manage your position in the arena to stay close to him, preventing him from doing his more punishing area of effect attacksor charged crossbow shots that are almost impossible to dodge.
The First Berserker: Khazan has some of the hardest bosses I’ve ever experienced in the genre because they all ask so much of the player. While it felt like being in the trenches in the moment, the exhilarating jubilation I felt after beating each one is a feeling I haven’t felt in the genre in a very long time. Combat is really quite exceptional and to have something of this quality come from a studio’s first soulslike game is impressive.
(Image credit: Neople)
Ideas of its own
While The First Berserker: Khazan definitely borrows a lot from the games that came before it, there are a few interesting twists to the formula, most of which work. For example, you can actually provide larger damage and stamina recovery boosts to Khazan beyond the traditional five stat upgrades you get from the currency enemies drop. By finding Vengeance Points, you can boost these stats universally across the game’s levels which encourages you to explore thoroughly as there is a meaningful reward for doing so.
You can also perform similar upgrades by using items gained from the red enemy summons or spirits to boost your own summon, enhancing their damage and strength during boss fights, giving you a reason to actually fight them and invest in your summon if you want. Although the AI isn’t that great on your summon, they can be used as a punching bag for a boss to let you land some free hits.
There are also a lot of fun twists and optional bonus missions, such as fighting a boss again in a new form or exploring an area from a main level in a new way. There are also a few collectibles to find in these and the main missions that can provide a variety of extra bonuses, armor pieces, or gear. I really enjoyed doing these and chasing these items. Being encouraged to explore in this way for tangible rewards made the linear-level design more intriguing as I scoured every crevice for secrets.
The one area that the game offers a twist on the soulslike formula here - that doesn’t really work - is the amount of gear (weapon and armor) customisation options. You can craft gear, upgrade gear, rework attributes and stat bonuses on gear and entire gear sets, sell that gear for money and buy other gear, and even dismantle gear.
It’s a lot of ways to use your unwanted items, but I never felt the need to engage with any of them meaningfully. I was still just using everything I obtained while exploring and making use of gear sets and the bonuses granted by them. I never felt a need to actually think about crafting a gear set or dismantling gear to save up for a specific item from the blacksmith. It largely just feels tacked on because I got so much gear as I was playing.
Should you play The First Beserker: Khazan?
Play it if...
You're a veteran of the genre and looking for a challenging Soulslike The First Berserker: Khazan is one of the most demanding soulslikes in the genre. There is little room to make mistakes in a fight and you will need to perfect your ability usage, dodges, and parries to survive against tougher enemies and beat bosses.
You're a fan of the Dungeon & Fighter (DNF) universe and keen to see it realized in a whole new way This is the first big-budget triple-A action RPG in the universe and it offers a brand new way for fans to see the world they love come to life. It also has robust mechanics and gameplay to support that world-building and lore.
Don't play it if...
You're looking for an accessible and approachable soulslike with a lot of flexibility The First Berserker: Khazan offers no meaningful accessibility options or gameplay adjustments besides an easier difficulty. However, once you choose that difficulty, you can’t bump it back up to normal. Additionally, you have to learn how to parry, dodge, and master almost every core combat mechanic, you can’t find easy workarounds or broken builds here.
You're looking for a narrative-driven soulslike with an easy-to-follow, quality storyline Despite some great voice work, the writing and storyline here aren’t anything you haven’t seen before in the genre or other action games. It’s a by-the-numbers revenge tale and the writing often lets down the amazing performances. It’s also hard to follow for newcomers to the DNF universe.
Accessibility features
The First Berserker: Khazan includes aim assist for ranged weapons and an easy difficulty for those who are finding the combat too challenging. However, once you choose easy difficulty, you can’t change the difficulty back to normal, and the game doesn’t have any fine-tuning options for combat such as adjusting the parry window. The combat also doesn’t have much wiggle room to make things easier with upgrades and you can’t customize button mappings outside of the two default templates.
There are also no options for people who are colorblind, visually impaired, deaf, or have motor and reaction time problems besides some very minor adjustments such as hold to sprint, turning screen shake off, and basic subtitle options.
The First Berserker: Khazan tested me in much the same way Bloodborne did when I tried the genre in 2015. Since that year I have played almost every game in the genre including Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Elden Ring, Demon’s Souls, Lies of P, The Surge, Lords of the Fallen, Ashen, Darksiders 3, and more.
With audio brands and tech companies announcing open-ear earbuds left, right and center, it was only a matter of time before Chinese giant Huawei got in on the action too.
It was only minutes into the testing for this Huawei FreeArc review, though, that I understood these to be some of the best open-ear buds on the market right now. Huawei’s onto something here!
The reason for this is simple: as of their release, the Huawei FreeArc are the best-sounding examples of this form factor, and that’s a really impressive selling point given how earbuds like this work.
For those who aren’t familiar, open-ear headphones like these dangle the earbud over your eardrum, instead of plonking it straight in there; this means you can still hear sounds beyond your music. Useful for people in busy areas or who need to hear announcements, but less useful for audiophiles as having a bud centimeters from your ear can spell doom for well-tuned music.
Not with the FreeArc, though. Music has an impressive soundstage, sounds delicately tuned and maintains bristling energy. The best compliment I can give to Huawei is that I often forgot I was listening to open-ears.
Two enthusiastic thumbs up in the audio department, then, although the FreeArc do struggle just a little in a few other departments. The battery life is one, with the 23-hour lasting power of the case in particular an area that might dissuade certain buyers.
If you’ve got an Android phone, you’ll also find the app install process an absolute pain, as you have to side-load multiple apps through APKs. The process is only suitable for technophiles, or someone who can rope in a tech-savvy relative or friend to help.
OK so great-sounding, just slightly annoying to set up? Yes, but we're missing the big draw. Huawei has priced these buds to sell, making them some of the most affordable open-ears on the market right now.
You can overlook a few of issues in tech with competitive pricing, and the Huawei FreeArc do benefit from that when you consider their feature set. But purely from a sonic perspective, these are an absolute steal at the price.
Huawei FreeArc review: Specifications
Huawei FreeArc review: Price and availability
(Image credit: Future)
Announced in February 2025
Priced at £99.99 (roughly $130, AU$200)
Not on sale in Australia or US
The Huawei FreeArc were announced in February 2025, at the same time as a slew of rivals, and went on sale shortly afterwards.
You can pick up the buds for £99.99 (roughly $130, AU$200) so they’re priced competitively against many of these competitors. There’s no US or AU pricing at the time of writing and I don’t expect the buds will go on sale in either region.
There are a few open-ear buds priced around that general area, or a slight amount cheaper, but most competitors cost up to 50% more. So Huawei has put out a really tempting option here.
Huawei FreeArc review: Design
(Image credit: Future)
Mid-sized charging case
Comfortable and reliable bud fit
Temperamental touch controls
The Huawei FreeArc comes in a square carry case; it’s not the smallest I’ve ever seen from open-ear buds, but it’s definitely at the smaller end of the spectrum.
The case measures 67.8 x 67.8 x 26.5mm and weighs 67g, and it has basically what you’d expect from an earbuds case: place to lay each bud, a pairing button, and a USB-C port for charging.
The buds themselves weigh 8.9g so they’re not the lightest open-ears I’ve ever tested, but the difference is just a gram or so and they are by no means heavy. Like most open-ears (although not ear-clip/cuff designs – see the Bose Ultra Open), they consist of the main body as well as a sports loop that circles and slips behind the ear, which in the Huawei’s case ends in quite a pronounced teardrop shape.
Evidence of how easily-bendable the hook is. (Image credit: Future)
I found them reliably comfortable and lightweight to wear, and they didn’t shift much during exercises or runs, a problem some other open-ears have. Instead they’re firmly held pretty close to the ear, so you can hear your music well.
The buds’ body supports gesture controls, but I found them a little bit temperamental in picking up my touch. You’re meant to be able to swipe to change volume, double tap to pause or play songs and triple-tap to skip songs, and while the tapping ones worked well, I had to fight with the buds to pick up swiping.
The charging case doesn’t have any protective certification but the earbuds are IP57, which was a pleasant surprise to see given that most rivals are IP54. The ‘5’ in common means that they’re dust resistant and the ‘7’ means that they’re waterpoof up to a depth of 1m for half an hour, whereas most rivals are simply splash-proof. I don’t think this means that you should swim with the buds, but it still means they’re protected from the elements.
You can buy the FreeArcs in black, white or pale green, and as you can tell from the images, my review sample was the former.
Design score: 4/5
Huawei FreeArc review: Features
(Image credit: Future)
Battery life is 7 hours (only 23 for case)
App has convoluted installation process
Could do with extra features
The feature set is the Huawei FreeArc’s Achilles Heel, so let’s get the criticisms out the way upfront.
Firstly, the battery life isn’t amazing. At 7 hours of listening per bud, it’s not awful, though plenty of other buds (especially open-ears) beat it. But worse is the charging case, which only gets you 28 hours of listening, a stat that’s got to be one of the lowest I’ve seen in buds like this.
My biggest issue was that downloading the Huawei AI Life app, to unlock extra features, was an absolute pain (on Android, at least, but on iOS it’s simple). To get it on my Realme phone I had to download Huawei’s AppGallery (as an APK on my browser, as it’s not on the Play Store), which took some convincing on my phone, then use the AppGallery to download the AI Life, convince my phone to let me side-load apps from this app, and then set it up via this app. It’s a lot of faff and it took me about 10 minutes, which is approximately 9 and a half minutes more than this process generally takes me during reviews.
(Image credit: Future)
I’m not entirely convinced that the process is worth it either. It mainly lets you find your earbuds if you’ve misplaced them, manage which devices your buds are connected to, and change what the gesture controls do.
The main feature of the app is access to four music presets (default, Elevate for workouts, Treble boost and Voices for boosting vocals). You can also make your own, which gives you access to a 10-band equalizer.
Unlike at least one contemporary rival (that would be the Honor Earbuds Open) there’s no active noise cancellation, no low latency mode and no gimmicky AI feature – yes, I’m looking at the Honor Earbuds Open's AI translator here. None of these are ubiquitous in open-ears so I can’t detract points for that, but the FreeArc do feel like they’re missing some kind of USP.
Features score: 4/5
Huawei FreeArc review: Sound performance
(Image credit: Future)
Large 17mm x 12mm drivers
Impressive sound stage
Could have done with ANC
The core selling point of the Huawei FreeArc is that they’re the best-sounding open-ear earbuds I’ve tested to date. That’s not the biggest compliment in the world, given that the form factor naturally leads to worse audio (the speaker is dangling away from your ear, of course, and bass clout is usually the first casualty), but I was still impressed with how the FreeArcs sound.
The most palpable and immediately-obvious positive of the FreeArcs’ audio is the soundstage: it’s unprecedented for open-ears, and I was surprised to be able to pick out the strums of guitars and range of piano keys when I was listening.
Music is energetic and exciting, zealous and crisp, and it was a joy to listen to my favorite workout songs and actually hear the details in them. Admittedly, lots of my excitement came from the sheer fact that I could make out individual lines in songs (I hate to harp on, but open-ears generally sound pretty bad), but the Huawei’s do sound great.
Each earbud has a single 17mm x 12mm driver, which is bigger than I can recall seeing in past open-ear headphones, and that might go some way in explaining the quality of the Huawei FreeArc's sonic performance.
I would have liked to hear a little more bass in the FreeArc, as it ended up sounding just a touch underwhelming during workouts when I wanted a bassy kick. The aforementioned Elevate mode does improve things in terms of bass clout, but it also makes more complex songs sound oddly ‘crunchy’ and distorted, so I stopped using it.
It was almost a shame to listen to such high-quality audio in open-ears – it sounded amazing when listening in quiet environments, but as soon as I left the house or went somewhere busy, the extraneous noise that can't help but enter your ear makes it hard to appreciate the detail. ANC would be a blessing on these buds.
Sound performance score: 5/5
Huawei FreeArc review: Value
(Image credit: Future)
Given that Huawei tends to release premium products, I was surprised to see the FreeArcs go for £99, which makes them fairly affordable as open-ears go.
They'd be decent value if they only had 'good' sound quality, but the fact that they sound great really helps cement the Huawei FreeArc as one of the best-value open-ear buds you can buy right now.
Value score: 4.5/5
Huawei FreeArc review: scorecard
Huawei FreeArc: Should I buy?
(Image credit: Future)
Buy them if...
You're an audiophile
If you care about audio fidelity but still need to use open-ear headphones, the FreeArcs are your go-to pick.
You're on a middling budget
While I can't recommend the Huawei FreeArc for people on a low budget, those willing to spend a middling amount will find these a great pick..
You have an iPhone or Huawei mobile
I've waxed lyrical about the app installation pains, but this isn't an issue for people who use iPhones or Huawei devices.
Don't buy them if...
You wait a while before charging
The FreeArcs' battery life isn't awful, but the case charge is. If you don't often get a chance to power up your gadgets, their 23-hour lasting time might not cut it.
You don't listen when it's quiet
Due to their design, you can only make the most of the Huaweis if you listen somewhere quiet. If you only use earbuds in noisy environments, you might not appreciate these buds.
Also consider
Honor Earbuds Open
These buds cost a little more and don't quite match the Huawei buds in sound, but their battery life is better, plus they offer effective active noise cancellation (I know, it shouldn't work, but it does).
Fitness users should look perhaps to the OpenRock; they have an incredible battery life and a sturdy design – don't expect quite the levels of sonic brilliance as the Huawei or Honor options above though.
I listened to the Huawei FreeArcs for two weeks before writing this review, and the testing process coincided with that of two rivals: the Honor Earbuds Open and the EarFun Openjump, which helped me better understand all three.
I used the Huawei FreeArc alongside my Android smartphone for most of the review, and also paired them to my Windows laptop at several times. Mostly I listened to music on Spotify but also tested podcasts, games and TV shows. I tested them at home, in the office, on walks around my area and also for various workouts (road cycling, running and gym workouts).
The FreeArcs are the latest of many products I've reviewed for TechRadar; I've been doing so for over six years and have reviewed headphones, smartphones, tablets and more.
Satechi has been making Apple-esque accessories for a few years now, with keyboards, mice, charging docks and more on its roster. But in all that time, it’s never made a mechanical keyboard – until the SM3 came along.
Satechi has opted to kick off its mechanical range with a full-size board that features a numpad on its right-hand edge. It looks great and will fit in neatly with your Apple devices, but it also works perfectly well with Windows PCs.
The key switches feel a little heavy and there’s only one switch choice. Satechi has opted for its own proprietary switch, making it harder to know how the board will feel before you buy. That holds it back, and we’d prefer more choice here. Looking beyond that, it’s got plenty of connectivity options, making it well suited to people who find themselves typing on different devices during the day.
Satechi SM3: Price & availability
How much does it cost? $119.99 (about £93 / $190 AUD)
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available globally
The Satechi SM3 costs $119.99, which is about £93 or $190 AUD. That’s not an outrageous price to pay, especially for a full-length board.
Satechi SM3: Design
(Image credit: Alex Blake / Future)
The SM3 is Satechi’s first full-length, 108-character keyboard. That means it comes with a numpad on the right-hand side, along with a couple of bonus keys for connecting the device to Bluetooth, 2.4GHz, or over a cable.
My review unit came in a simple, attractive gray and white colorway, but there’s also a darker version available. Both come with 14 different backlighting patterns (some of which are a touch distracting) but it only shines in white – there’s no RGB here. That white backlighting was often hard to see in daylight against the white keycaps, making discerning keys with a quick glance trickier than it should have been. There was no issue in low light, though.
Image 1 of 2
(Image credit: Alex Blake / Future)
Image 2 of 2
(Image credit: Alex Blake / Future)
This is a slimline keyboard with low-profile keycaps (there are a few spare Windows ones in the box), and that helps it fit neatly into a bag on your travels, provided your backpack can accommodate the keyboard’s full-size length. The keycaps are removable, but any replacements need to fit Satechi’s proprietary switch stems (more on that later).
The SM3 is also impressively lightweight for a large keyboard, weighing in at 1.42lbs (648g) on my scales. For comparison, my Keychron K8 – with its smaller tenkeyless design – weighs 1.96lbs (889g). The Satechi SM3 comes with an aluminum top and sides, while the underneath is made from sturdy plastic.
Around the back are two pop-out feet to prop the board up. Although there are two height options here, they’re both at a fairly shallow angle. It would have been good to have an option for a higher incline. There’s also no wrist rest, but that’s not a huge problem.
Satechi SM3: Performance
Image 1 of 3
(Image credit: Alex Blake / Future)
Image 2 of 3
(Image credit: Alex Blake / Future)
Image 3 of 3
(Image credit: Alex Blake / Future)
The Satechi SM3 is a mechanical keyboard, but it only comes with one switch: a proprietary brown tactile option. It’s a little heavy and sluggish in use, and after a few days I noticed some finger fatigue from having to press harder than I’m used to. A more lightweight configuration would have been welcome. The switches are not hot-swappable, either, so if they don’t feel right to you, you’re stuck with them.
This is definitely not a gaming keyboard, but it’s surprisingly viable for this usage. I played a range of titles, including fast-paced shooters and much more sedate games, and in both cases the keyboard stood up reasonably well. You won’t find any gamer-specific features, but the low-profile keycaps were easy to find by touch in the heat of battle. The main issue is the board’s length, and I found my mouse hitting the edge of the numpad at times.
(Image credit: Alex Blake / Future)
I did have occasional issues with certain keys not registering when pressed, and this seemed to mainly affect the space bar and left Shift key. There were no issues with ghosting in my testing, though.
You can connect the SM3 to two devices over Bluetooth, one using the 2.4GHz receiver, and one with the included USB-C cable. Switching over Bluetooth takes about a second and just requires you to press a single button on the keyboard. You can also change layouts between Windows and macOS, and the keys to do this have “Mac” or “Win” helpfully printed on their keycaps.
Disappointingly, there’s no companion app to assign macros and reassign keys, and the SM3 is not compatible with QMK or VIA.
Should you buy the Satechi SM3?
(Image credit: Alex Blake / Future)
Buy the Satechi SM3 if…
You like the Apple aesthetic
This board will fit in well alongside Apple’s devices.View Deal
You want a numpad
The extended layout is ideal for numpad users.View Deal
You work on the go
It’s not the smallest board, but its lightweight design won’t weigh you down when it’s in a backpack.View Deal
Don’t buy it if…
You prefer lighter switches
Satechi’s proprietary switches are quite heavy.View Deal
You want more switch options
You only get brown tactile switches here, and they’re not hot-swappable.View Deal
You like customising your keyboards
With no QMK/VIA compatibility and no Satechi-made companion app, you can’t assign macros or customise the device.View Deal
Satechi SM3: Also consider
Logitech Signature K650
Our pick for the best keyboard, the Logitech Signature K650 comes with a full-size layout and low-profile keycaps. It’s not got mechanical switches, but it is very reasonably priced and is packed with extras. Read our full Logitech Signature K650 reviewView Deal
Razer Pro Type Ultra
One of our favorite mechanical keyboards is the Razer Pro Type Ultra. You get a full-size layout and a superb typing experience, although its lack of low-profile switches means it’s not as lightweight or portable as the Satechi SM3. Read our full Razer Pro Type Ultra reviewView Deal
How I tested the Satechi SM3
I tested out the Satechi SM3 in both work and gaming scenarios, using it to type all day long and game in the evenings. I also paired it with both a Mac and a PC and tried it on both machines to see how well it fared with the different key layouts.
The Netgear Meural Canvas II is a premium 27-inch digital photo frame that will allow you to show off your photos at a huge size. But that’s only half of its talent: it's also an art frame designed to screen a wide variety of visual art, offering an optional subscription that will unlock access to over 30,000 artworks. This will likely make it appealing to those who want to show off photos of their family, and also enjoy art by a range of artists from Katsushika Hokusai to Gustav Klimt.
Getting started with the Netgear Meural Canvas II is straightforward… for the most part. Once you’ve downloaded the app, you’ll navigate to the Canvas tab, then click to add a new device. Scan the QR code that displays on the Canvas II’s screen and you’re good to go. However, it isn't always totally foolproof. On one occasion, I was forced to set up the frame again – after resetting the Canvas II, every time I scanned the QR code, it threw up an error about not being able to connect to the Wi-Fi. Eventually, I resolved the issue by connecting it via an Ethernet cable for initial setup; but it’s worth being prepared, just in case you experience similar setup gremlins.
Adding photos to the Meural Canvas II is a breeze. Select "upload" from the app and you can send either individual shots or even link whole albums, letting you easily add all your snaps of Ibiza 2022 in one go. Meanwhile, you can buy individual artworks from the Meural app for $3.95 / £3.99, or access over 30,000 free with a Meural membership. Again, adding these is as simple as selecting the artwork in question and tapping "Send to Canvas".
Once you’ve set up and loaded your Meural Canvas II with photos and art, the first thing you’ll likely notice about it is that substantial display, which can rival any of the best digital photo frames can offer. Netgear’s digital art frame is gargantuan – at 27 inches, it exists right on the nexus between a photo frame and the Samsung Frame, the gorgeous art-focused TV screen. Not only does this mean it will show off your favorite snaps and paintings at a large size, butunlike much smaller frames, it doesn’t look swamped by space when you mount it on your wall.
(Image credit: Future)
While such epic screen estate is a definite plus, it does have an impact on detail levels. Stretching its relatively modest 1920 x 1080 resolution over such a large area does mean the Meural Canvas II has a relatively low pixel density of just 80ppi. Compare this to the super-crisp 212ppi density offered by the Pexar 11-inch Digital Picture Frame, and you can see that you won't be getting the sharpest picture on the market. However, to put this in perspective, this is no worse than a mid-market 4K 55-inch TV such as the LG C4 and, given the frame is designed to be viewed across the room, you’re unlikely to notice too much blurriness unless your face is basically pressed up against its display.
This was absolutely my experience living with the Meural Canvas II. Even on that expansive screen my photos looked crisp from most vantage points. Monochrome shots of the grand ceiling of the Mosque–Cathedral of Córdoba showed off the intricate filigree of its vaulting in exquisite detail, while a color macro photo of the head of a thistle displayed the fine threads of its wispy thistle-down. When it comes to art, Blossoming Acacia Branches by Vincent van Gogh looked so detailed that his daubs of thick yellow oil appeared three dimensional.
Color reproduction is also impressively accurate. Whether I was displaying snaps of fireworks exploding into a haze of violet sparks and smoke, or blooming rhododendrons in a riot of reds and amber, every hue was faultlessly replicated. Meanwhile, Hilma af Klint’s Altarpiece No. 1 showed every color and tone of her prismatic pyramid flawlessly, never causing them to become oversaturated. I honestly couldn't spot the difference between the images on my iPhone 16 Pro’s camera and on the Meural Canvas II, which is a definite compliment given the iPhone’s almost slavish commitment to precise color reproduction.
At 300 nits, the 27-inch model I tested also felt plenty bright enough, without losing the impact of its blacks. Rocky outcroppings and distant valleys in my snaps of Fuerteventura displayed impressive levels of contrast, perfectly balancing the bright sunlit highlights with the dark shadows. And the screen's brightness is sufficient to continue to enjoy your artwork in direct sunlight. Don’t get me wrong: the sun does dull the image slightly, but its ambient light sensor boosts the brightness to compensate and that matte, anti-glare finish assures there’s very little in the way of reflections or glare.
(Image credit: Future)
The Netgear Meural Canvas II’s beauty goes beyond that screen, though. Its overall design is gorgeous; the perfect blend of minimal chic and authentic materials. Those thick white bezels make a convincing mount for your images, further reinforcing its artistic cred, while the range of finishes in which it's available – matte black, matte white, dark wood and light wood – make it super easy to complement your decor.
When it comes to your mounting options, the Meural Canvas II doesn’t come with a stand, which is perhaps understandable, given I’m not sure I’d trust a plastic stand to support its substantial bulk. I wasn’t able to test out its wall-mounting system – I rent and can’t quite justify losing my security deposit in the spirit of journalistic curiosity. Nevertheless, its mount seems easy enough to use, and for $49.95 / £45.99 can be upgraded to a swivel mount that will allow you to spin the frame’s orientation without removing it from the wall.
When you’re not using the app, you can control the frame using hand gestures, swiping through the air in front of it to change between your artwork, view metadata providing additional info on artwork and photos, or to navigate through menus. It’s all very Minority Report… if Tom Cruise had spent half that film frantically waving his hands and getting increasingly bewildered like a technophobic relative trying to use TikTok. I’m being only slightly hyperbolic here: occasionally, the frame would pick up the return stroke of my gestures, recoiling in the opposite direction – this was fine when just navigating artwork, but occasionally became quite irritating when trying to tweak complex settings buried down in multiple submenus.
Ultimately, aside from the odd UI quirk and the slightly lower pixel density, the Meural Canvas II is a fantastic picture frame. But the big stumbling block for most people will likely be that price. Starting at $599.99 / £649.99, it isn't going to meet anyone’s definition of cheap, particularly when you factor in the optional $8.95 / £8.99-a-month art membership. So if you can’t afford this kind of outlay, you might be better off with one of the best digital photo frames. However, if you can stretch to it, the Merl Canvas II is a thoroughly worthy purchase, offering a window to a world of art in your living room.
(Image credit: Future)
Netgear Meural Canvas II review: price & release date
From $599.99 / £649.99
Announced September 6, 2019
Meural membership costs $8.95 / £8.99 a month or $69.95 / £69 a year
First announced back on September 6, 2019, the Netgear Meural Canvas II retails for the not-insignificant sum of $599.99 / £649.99 for the 21-inch version or $699.99 / £822.99 for the 27-inch version. However, right now it’s reduced down to $399.99 and $499.99 respectively on Netgear’s US site right now.
Meural membership is an additional cost. Costing $8.95 / £8.99 a month or $69.95 / £69 a year, it offers access to over 30,000 artworks, expands cloud storage from 4GB to 20GB, allows you to push images to multiple Canvas products, and offers up to 60% off premium content. However, if you’re happy just displaying your own photos and artwork, you’re by no means obligated to upgrade, so you shouldn’t necessarily let this put you off.
(Image credit: Future)
Netgear Meural Canvas II review: specs
(Image credit: Future)
Should I buy the Netgear Meural Canvas II?
Buy it if…
You want a huge digital frame At 27 inches, the Meural Canvas II is the biggest digital photo frame you’ll find – at least without buying a full TV screen. If you really want to show off and make a statement with your photos and art, it really can't be beat.
You want easy, ethical access to art Yes, you’ll need to pay an additional subscription to access the Meural’s full library of official artwork. But with a catalogue of more than 30,000 pieces and a scheme that remunerates artists fairly for their work, it’s a great way to celebrate art and artists in your home.
Don’t buy it if…
You want to save some money The Netgear Meural Canvas II is unashamedly costly. While I’d argue it gives an adequate return on your investment, it’s one of the most expensive frames we’ve seen – and the 27-inch version even comes at a similar price to the $799.99 / £799 4K 43-inch Samsung Frame TV.
You just want to show off a few holiday snaps As mentioned above, this is a premium art frame and comes at considerable cost. That means that if you’re not that excited about its art-displaying functionality, nor desperate to see your photos at maximum size, plenty of smaller frames will probably suit you just fine.
Netgear Meural Canvas II review: also consider
Vieunite Textura Digital Canvas The Vieunite Textura Digital Canvas is one of the strongest arguments we can think of against buying the Canvas II. It’s similarly bright, crisp and colorful; it also comes with a 27-inch screen, yet is available for considerably less money. There are a few image cropping quirks that the Canvas II doesn’t experience, and there’s no membership that offers unlimited art access here. But you can buy pieces to display from around £4 ($5 / AU$9) each and there are plenty of free images available. Read our full Vieunite Textura Digital Canvas review.
Aura Walden If you don’t necessarily need a massive 27-inch display, the Aura Walden is your best choice for a premium digital picture frame. Measuring 15 inches, it’s super crisp and bright; it has a gorgeous yet understated design; and its app is both easy to use and allows friends and family to share their snaps to your frame. Read our full Aura Walden review.
How I tested the Netgear Meural Canvas II
Tested the product over multiple weeks
Tried it out with a variety of photos and artwork
Have many years of experience working with photography
I tested the Netgear Meural Canvas II over a period of several weeks. I uploaded a wide variety of my own photos using the Meural app and also loaded a range of artworks onto the screen.
I made sure these images covered a wide variety of subjects, both portrait and landscape, and everything from monochrome landscapes to vibrant pictures of blossoms and leaves. I tested the frame in multiple positions to assess its performance in different lighting conditions, as well as trying it in both horizontal and vertical orientations.
I have extensive experience in photography, whether that’s the years I spent shooting on my Canon DSLR, or the snaps I now take on my iPhone 16 Pro. I’ve taken around 40,000 photos in the past and I’ve also got around a decade of experience preparing images for print, which has given me a lot of insight around spotting issues with image resolution and color reproduction.
The BenQ PD2730S is a stunning display recently launched by BenQ, explicitly designed for creative professionals who seek exceptional clarity, precision, color reproduction, and connectivity. This monitor boasts a sharp 5K resolution and a wide color gamut, offering more input/output options than the (in)famous Apple Studio Display.
For creative professionals, a quality display is one of the most essential things in their arsenal of technologies. Whether they are in the video, photo, design, or something similar, knowing that what you have on your screen is accurately being shown and is not washed out or misrepresented.
For a good reason, the Apple Studio Display is known as the gold standard for monitors in the creative space right now. Granted, it's remarkably pricy, doesn't have great inputs, and has a few other downsides, but when it comes to color reproduction, it's hard to beat.
BenQ decided to disrupt that market, offering a more versatile, affordable Apple Studio Display alternative with this newest release - and they might have just done it.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
BenQ PD2730S: Price and Availability
The BenQ PD2730S has just been officially publicly released at $1200 through the BenQ official website and B&H for now. For UK, Australian, and European readers, it's slightly more widely available, and retails for around £1000 / AU$2000 / €1199.
At that price, the PD2730S is cheaper than the Studio Display but slightly more expensive than the shockingly cheap (and limited) ASUS ProArt PA27JCV.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
BenQ PD2730S: Unboxing & first impressions
Over the years, I've looked at a lot of BenQ Monitors. Each of their monitors has come in the same basic and secure packaging, keeping the display safe even through the test of transit and ensuring minimal waste. The packing is professional and minimal, precisely as I expected.
In the box are the monitor, the stand upright, the stand base, cables, documentation, and the excellent HotKey Puck G3 that BenQ is known for. If you're unfamiliar with the puck, it is a wireless controller that gives you quick access to changing settings on the monitor without reaching behind or under the monitor and messing with a joystick or a handful of random buttons.
The monitor is sharp and professional, with a plastic backing, though it doesn't look bad. The bezels are minimal, and the back has a VESA mounting option, meaning that this monitor can fit just about anywhere, be it with the included base, an ergo arm from BenQ, or any other VESA arm.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
BenQ PD2730S: Design & build quality
Specs
Panel Type: 27-inch IPS with Nano Matte coating Resolution: 5120 x 2880 (5K) Brightness: 400 nits peak Contrast Ratio: 2000:1 Color Gamut: 98% P3, 100% sRGB Refresh Rate: 60Hz Response Time: 5ms (GtG) HDR Support: VESA DisplayHDR 400 Ports: • 1 x Thunderbolt 4 (90W PD) • 1 x Thunderbolt 4 downstream • 2 x USB-C • 3 x USB-A 3.2 • 1 x HDMI 2.1 • 1 x DisplayPort 1.4 • 1 x Headphone jack
Stand Adjustments: Height (up to 150mm), Tilt (-5° to 20°), Swivel (60°) VESA Mount: 100 x 100mm Speakers: 2 x 3W stereo Included Accessories: HotKey Puck G3 wireless controller
The BenQ PD2730S is a gorgeous 27-inch panel. It has a beautiful Nano Matte coating, helping to manage reflections and providing a clear viewing experience. I've seen some hate for this kind of texture as it's been made popular by the Apple Studio Display. However, I like a slightly matted display. I can see things better and more smoothly, and I'm not distracted by the reflections of the world behind me.
The monitor casing is made from a classy-looking plastic with a premium feel, helping to make the monitor lighter. I wouldn't have minded some extra weight to add a more elegant case, but I don't frequently carry this monitor around either. I'm more of a set it up right once and then leave it (for a few weeks until I change around my desk setup again to add a new gadget).
I have been using this monitor on a VESA monitor arm from Corsair. If you prefer to use the stand that comes with the monitor, or you don't have a monitor arm you want to use, the one that BenQ designed to go with this monitor is sleek and offers comprehensive adjustments, including height, tilt, and swivel. It's pretty sharp-looking.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
BenQ PD2730S: In use
I got the BenQ PD2730S a few weeks ago to test pre-release, and so far, my experience has been nothing short of excellent. It's a spectacular picture with the 5K resolution, and unlike some 5K monitors I have tried, this one scales wonderfully with both PC and Mac.
I've tested this monitor with everyday work and some basic photo and video editing—nothing too fancy, but I could see how great this screen was even with those tests.
As mentioned earlier, I use this monitor mostly in my home office. So, 400 nits wasn't a huge problem. I tested it next to my beloved BenQ MA3020U, which has a peak of 600 nits, and I could tell a difference. Not to mention my iPhone 16 Pro with a peak brightness of 2,000 nits.
Moving on, the color accuracy on this monitor was immediately something that I paid attention to. Since this monitor is designed for a creative and visually demanding workforce, it is vital to knock it out of the park. The PD2730S factory calibration ensures accurate colors out of the box, covering 98% of the P3 color gamut. In short, it looks great, works great, and produces excellent results, making it one of the best video editing monitors and best photo editing monitors for those who don't want to shell out for the Apple Studio Display.
One of the things that makes this a better option than the Apple Studio Display is the ports and overall connectivity. You can only use the Studio Display with Macs. With the PD2740S, you can use it with any device and with multiple different inputs. The PD2740S has Thunderbolt, HDMI 2.1, and DisplayPort 1.4 as options to provide feedback to this display.
This is a gorgeous display, easy to use, and, dare I say, a pleasure to use. It's an excellent option for those who need a 5K display in their workflow.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
BenQ PD2730S: Final verdict
For professionals who want a premium 5K display without Apple’s ecosystem limitations, the BenQ PD2730S delivers more flexibility, better connectivity, and built-in ergonomics—all at a lower price point. It’s an easy choice for those who need a pro-grade display that works seamlessly with both Mac and PC setups without sacrificing adjustability or requiring extra dongles.
While Apple’s Studio Display is a strong contender for macOS users, it lacks port variety, adjustability, and cross-platform flexibility. The BenQ PD2730S delivers comparable display quality, better ergonomics, and broader compatibility, making it the better all-around choice for creatives who don’t want to be locked into Apple’s ecosystem.
Branch is a company I have grown to appreciate over the years. I looked at the Branch Duo Standing Desk in 2023, and elsewhere, we've reviewed the Branch Ergonomic Chair around the same time.
Since then, I've had the Branch Softside Chair in my rotation of personal chairs I keep in my home. Branch may not be the most prominent and flashiest of companies, which may play to their advantage. They have fewer options, yet their quality is fantastic. Little wonder the company's Verve is our pick for best office chair.
The Branch Ergonomic Chair Pro is a premium office chair aimed to take what was loved from the Ergonomic Chair and make an even better offering for remote workers, designers, and anyone needing all-day support, all without breaking the bank. Branch added more adjustability, upgraded the lumbar support, and added the forward tilt feature. In short, they are the cheaper chairs with the same high-end features found in the big-name chair companies.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Branch Ergonomic Chair Pro: Price and Availability
The Ergonomic Chair Pro is offered on Branch's website for $599 for the base model and an extra $79 to get the headrest. They can be shipped for free and are provided on Branch's website.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Branch Ergonomic Chair Pro: Unboxing & first impressions
The Branch Ergonomic Chair Pro comes in relatively compact packaging, protecting the components well but not too over-zealous with packing material. I could get everything out of the box with minimal effort and zero frustration. The assembly took about 15 minutes, though I used an electric screwdriver to help speed up the process.
One of the things I've noticed right out of the gate - or box - is the quality of the base. The base is made of aluminum, giving it a higher weight capacity and a more durable seat.
Material Options: Mesh, Vegan Leather, Leather Overall Dimensions: 25″W x 24″D x 38″-41.2″H (or 41.5″-45″H with tall cylinder) Seat Height: 17”-19.9” (or 19.3”-22.9” with tall cylinder) Seat Depth: 16.7”-19.7” Armrest Height: 24”-29.8” (or 26.3”-32.8” with tall cylinder) Tilt Range: 26° Weight Capacity: 275 lbs Assembled Weight: 42 lbs Base: Powder-coated aluminum Casters: Scratch-proof nylon
Branch has always intentionally chosen to be minimal in what they do and how they look. This chair is a continuation of that. The sleek, professional look with multiple colorways and material options shows they want versatility. Still, the Aluminum base, smooth casters, high-density seat, and quality material choice are what make this chair shine.
The best way I can describe this is to explain that I am now a father of three, and my wife and I want a fourth (in due time). I never wanted a minivan, and I still don't. But, the genius marketing at the newly revitalized Kia caught me. They marketed the Kia Carnival as an MPV -- a Multi-Purpose Vehicle. Do you know what it is? It's an SUV, with sliding doors like a van. Nevertheless, the marketing worked, and now I own a Kia Carnival for my wife and the kids.
So, why do I mention a not-so-minivan vehicle when discussing a chair? This chair's price tag and simplicity may make it look like another run-of-the-mill, simple chair you can get anywhere. But, what's hiding beneath that over-used language of "ergonomics" is a fabulous experience that is precisely what you need it to be, without unnecessary frills. Like how the Kia Carnival disguises its practicality behind sleek marketing, the Branch ergonomic Chair Pro hides its premium ergonomic experience behind an unassuming professional design.
At first glance, it may seem like just another ergonomic office chair, but the details make it stand out. The high-density foam seat provides long-lasting comfort without making your butt sweat or getting too cold (but whose butt is ever too cold?). And, the adjustable lumbar support helps hold frail backs like mine (I'm not that old yet, but boy, do I feel like I am). The 5D armrests allow me to put my arms exactly where I choose. Granted, they wobble a bit, but outside of this slight wobble, the rest of the build quality, choice of materials, and features make this chair feel like something at a much higher price point.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Branch Ergonomic Chair Pro: In use
This chair has been a part of my ever-growing fleet of ergonomic chairs for 166 days while writing this review. In that time, I have rotated the chair around through my team to make sure that I am not just fluffing up my thoughts on Branch and making this chair out to be better than it is (like I try to lie to myself that owning an MPV is better than owning a minivan).
However, what we all keep coming back to is that this chair is fantastic. The 14 customization points lend themselves to being comfortable because they are made intentionally and not gimmicky. The forward tilt for active seating is another feature that helps this chair stand out. This allows individuals to maintain a more engaged posture, leaning forward and not just slouching back. This helps your core and your posture, but more importantly, it is usually only found in very high-end chairs, not budget-friendly chairs like this.
I wish I could end my review here and not mention anything poor about this chair, but there is one weak link. While the 5D armrests provide high levels of flexibility and adjustability, they feel loose and tend to rattle. I've even noticed it when I am midday, foot tapping, leg shaking, moving throughout my day, I've heard the rattle. Now, I'm the kind of guy who straps down the extra length on my children's car seats because hearing any amount of rattling drives me mad. However, with this chair, I heard rattling, and the armrest felt loose, even when I knew it was tightened down during assembly (and checked several times).
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Branch Ergonomic Chair Pro: Final verdict
The Branch Ergonomic Chair is a near-perfect sleeper-build-budget ergonomic chair. It's under $500, has fantastic adjustability, forward tilt, excellent materials to choose from, and is comfortable for all-day working. The one downside is some mediocre armrests, but all things considered, this chair is still fantastic.
