This review first appeared in issue 354 of PC Pro.
WatchGuard’s family of Firebox security appliances offers an unbeatable range of desktop solutions, and the T45-CW brings 5G failover to the table. Ideal for businesses that need always-on internet access for remote sites, its multi-WAN features combine wired and 5G mobile connections in a single policy so if one goes down, the other seamlessly steps in and takes over.
The T45-CW’s quad-core 1.6GHz NXP CPU claims a high raw firewall throughput of 3.94Gbits/sec and 557Mbits/sec with all UTM services enabled. It has five gigabit ports for WAN, LAN plus DMZ duties and, unlike many table-top security appliances, it offers secure Wi-Fi 6 services.
The appliance delivers a wealth of security features, and it’s easy to choose the right subscription as WatchGuard offers two options. A Basic Security Suite subscription enables gateway antivirus, anti-spam, web filtering, HTTPS inspection, IPS, application controls, WatchGuard’s RED (reputation enabled defense) cloud-based URL filtering and network discovery.
The Firebox T45-CW has a wealth of security features(Image credit: Future)
We’ve shown the price for a three-year Total Security Suite subscription, which adds WatchGuard’s advanced persistent threat (APT) blocker with cloud sandboxing, DNSWatch for monitoring client DNS requests and blocking access to known malicious domains, IntelligentAV anti-malware services and ThreatSync XDR, which provides policy-based collection, correlation and automated responses for Firebox threat events.
Local management is simple. The web console runs a wizard to enable wired internet access, activate a basic security policy and create a wireless SSID. Our unit came with a Vodafone 5G SIM and, after enabling the internal modem, the SIM came online.
WatchGuard includes four SMA external aerials; LEDs on the front panel show the cellular signal strength, failover status and whether you have a 4G LTE or 5G connection. Configuring failover is a cinch: you use the multi-WAN feature to define primary and backup connections and decide how failback is handled.
In practice, it works perfectly. We set up a continuous ping to an external website and then pulled the wired internet cable. We saw a single ping timeout, after which it continued unabated, and when we plugged the WAN cable in again, the appliance swapped back to it without any ping timeouts being recorded.
Naturally, you can use 5G as your primary connection, and defining the modem as an external interface means all your security policies will be automatically applied to it. In fact, you can have both wired and 5G internet connections active and use multi-WAN round-robin weightings to determine how connections are distributed across them.
It can be managed locally or from the cloud(Image credit: Future)
For cloud management, we registered the appliance with our support account, allocated it to our site and chose the management and monitoring option. After reconfiguration, the T45-CW disables its local web interface, takes further settings from the cloud and provisions full access for remote configuration.
All security functions are easily accessible. From the portal’s content scanning page, you use a simple slider bar to enable the gateway AV, IntelligentAV, APT blocker and spamBlocker services. Anti-spam policies are available for SMTP, IMAP or POP3 traffic, where you allow, deny or tag spam messages in their subject line for ongoing local rule processing.
From the network blocking section, you can control botnet detection, IPS, custom blocked URLs and ports plus detection of Tor (The onion router) exit points. Web content filtering offers 130 URL categories for blocking or allowing, while WatchGuard’s application control service presents over 1,250 predefined app signatures.
The multi-WAN function is found in the device’s networks page where you select the Global WAN option, choose failover or round-robin operations and set the failback mode. Move to the portal’s monitoring page and you can see the status and strength of the 5G connection and view RSRP and RSRQ graphs.
Businesses that hate internet downtime will love WatchGuard’s Firebox T45-CW. It provides a wealth of top-class security services, can be easily cloud managed and delivers seamless 5G WAN failover.
This review first appeared in issue 354 of PC Pro.
Debian-based Ubuntu is the jumping-off point for many other distributions, including Linux Mint and Zorin OS. The Desktop edition is available in at least two builds: the so-called LTS (Long Term Support) build, which receives support for a minimum of five years from release, and the bleeding-edge release, which comes with nine months of security and maintenance updates. In each case, the build number – 23.10 in the case of this review – denotes the year and month of release, so 23.10 will enjoy support until July 2024, and 22.04 LTS until April 2027. New releases appear every six months for the cutting-edge build, and every other year for the LTS edition.
Both 23.10 and 22.04.3 LTS require 4GB of memory, 25GB of drive space and a 2GHz dual-core processor, despite running on different kernels (6.5 versus 5.17) and desktop environments (Gnome 45 versus Gnome 41/42). Build 23.10 is also running more up-to-date versions of its default applications, Firefox, LibreOffice and Thunderbird. Of these, perhaps the most significant is Thunderbird, which sits at 91 in the LTS release and at 115.2 in 23.10. Thunderbird 115 introduced significant interface improvements and, even if you install the LTS release, we’d recommend updating Thunderbird to at least 115 yourself.
As well as the desktop edition, there are builds for server and IoT platforms, with the latter including Raspberry Pi. The Pi edition is available directly through the Raspberry Pi Imager. There’s also an immutable build, in which the core system files are protected against tampering.
None of the installer’s questions is too taxing. You don’t need to know what kind of security your network uses, as you do for openSUSE, and we didn’t need to play around with the partitioning of our drive to complete the process successfully.
Once up and running, you’re presented with a largely vanilla workspace. Although Ubuntu has its own style, it remains fairly faithful to Gnome’s default look and feel, rather than making a significant departure as Zorin does (or as Nitrux does from KDE Plasma). If you don’t like Gnome, you’ll find alternative builds with a little searching. Kubuntu (kubuntu. org) switches it out for KDE, while Ubuntu Budgie (ubuntubudgie.org) and Ubuntu Cinnamon (ubuntucinnamon.org) naturally use Budgie and Cinnamon respectively. Lubuntu (lubuntu.me), using Qt, and Xubuntu (xubuntu.org), using Xfce, are both Ubuntu-recognized ports for lower powered computers.
“Jump start your desktop” gives direct access to the most common apps(Image credit: Future)
Apps can be installed using the built-in App Center or via the Terminal using apt. The App Center, which gives access to both Debian and Snap packages, has been upgraded in 23.10, and certainly feels more engaging than the installer it replaced. There’s a handy “Jump start your desktop” at the top of the homepage that gives direct access to the most commonly installed apps, rather like the recommended software section in Raspberry Pi OS. Other named sections, including a Productivity section, make it easy to find essentials such as alternative browsers, Bitwarden and Slack. Neither Inkscape nor GIMP are preinstalled, but the versions available through App Center match the latest-edition version numbers available from their respective sites.
More good news? On first boot, both of the wireless printers on our network were successfully recognized and set up.
For many newcomers, Ubuntu may well be a byword for Linux, and it’s easy to see why. Installation is a breeze and, once complete, it just works. The new features in this latest release, including the updated App Center and Gnome 45, are subtle but welcome improvements over their predecessors, and the default interface is unflashy and provides few distractions.
Ubuntu was our Labs Winner last time around, and nothing changes here – so long as you’re happy running Gnome. If you aren’t, take a look at KDE-based openSUSE Tumbleweed or Cinnamon-based Linux Mint.
It’s not difficult to find an Ubuntu-based distribution running KDE, Budgie and several other desktop managers, although, as they’re not directly controlled by Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu itself, it’s fairer to consider them different products.
This review first appeared in issue 354 of PC Pro.
Rocky Linux is one of the youngest distributions around, first appearing in mid-2021. It’s based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux, so in some ways is a natural home for anyone previously running CentOS, a community-supported version of Red Hat terminated in December 2020.
Rocky’s first release was version 8.3, reflecting the fact that it was based on the same version of Red Hat Enterprise Linux. The version-8 line remains current, despite 8.9 appearing two days after 9.3, which itself is based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.3. That’s the version we’re testing here. Planned end of life for the Rocky 9 line is May 2032. For Rocky 8, it’s May 2029.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux uses Fedora source code in its development, so Fedora and Rocky naturally share several touch points. However, where Fedora 39 is built on the 6.6.3 kernel, Rocky Linux 9.3 is built on the same 5.14 Linux kernel as Red Hat 9.3. While this may look outdated, it shouldn’t be an issue, as Red Hat uses a system known as backporting to implement fixes and features within the existing kernel while maintaining compatibility with overlaying applications.
Installation is straightforward. There’s no media builder as there is for Fedora, so it’s a case of downloading the ISO and using balenaEtcher or similar to write it to a bootable thumb drive. The full DVD ISO is a hefty beast, tipping the scales at 9GB. However, there are lighter “boot” and “minimal” builds that can be used to enter rescue mode and install the OS from an alternative source, like an online repository. There are four processor builds, covering x86_64, ARM, PowerPC and IBM s390x servers (although only the first two of these are available for Rocky 8). Dig deeper and you’ll find a build specific to Raspberry Pi in the alternative images library.
Although Gnome is the default window manager, you can swap it out for KDE, Xfce, Mate or Cinnamon.
The software installer doesn’t always have the most recent version of apps(Image credit: Future)
We opted for the DVD ISO and, once up and running, were dropped into Gnome 40.4, which feels dated if you’re accustomed to Gnome 45. Aside from the operating system, we didn’t have much to show for our 9GB download. Firefox was pre-installed, but there was no email client, office suite or image editor. These are all available through the Software app, and we were glad to see that the version of Thunderbird available through the repository was 115 (which benefits from a significant redesign). However, LibreOffice, had we chosen to install it through the default repository, would have been version 7.1 (the latest build is 7.6), GIMP was one point behind the latest build, and Inkscape was at 1.1.1, while its latest stable release is 1.3.2.
Further hurdles: the two printers on our network hadn’t been recognized upon first booting and updating the system, and we needed to enter their IP addresses in the printer setup dialog to add them to the OS.
Less rocky was this distribution’s turn of pace. Rocky Linux 9.3 returned a respectable 1,097 in the single-core Geekbench test and 3,112 in the multicore test. Despite the different kernels, this was broadly similar to the scores we saw when testing under Fedora, which turned in 1,105 and 3,053 respectively. In either case, we would be surprised if this made a noticeable difference in day-to-day use.
It’s perhaps unsurprising that our verdict is so similar to that for Fedora, which was our runner-up to Ubuntu. They are, after all, the bread in a Red Hat sandwich, sitting at either end of the development chain. If you don’t want to run a Debian-based OS, either would be an excellent choice, being well supported and closely aligned to one of the pre-eminent commercial Linux distributions.
Of the two, we would opt for Fedora. There are three reasons why. First, it got us up and running more quickly. Second, for bundling Gnome 45. And third, for including a wider range of pre-installed default applications, each running a recent build.
This review first appeared in issue 354 of PC Pro.
As remote working continues to boom, there’s no shortage of solutions aiming to improve the resilience of your power or networking provision. However, Reskube’s Home Pro is the first device we’ve come across that promises to do both: it’s an uninterruptible power supply, offering up to 500W of backup power, and also provides fallback data connectivity through an integrated 4G LTE router. If the mains goes down, the Home Pro keeps its two forward sockets powered from the internal battery; if your internet connection is lost, it switches to the mobile data connection.
The design is basic but robust, with no controls aside from the power button. The front features two simple LED strips indicating battery life and current power output. At the back you’ll find the mains power input plus an FM12315 port for solar power, again rated at 500W. The rear is also home to two Ethernet ports, which handle incoming WAN and outgoing LAN connections, plus SMA connectors for two mobile antennas and RP-SMA connectors for two Wi-Fi antennas. Above these, you’ll find primary and secondary SIM trays.
Reskube claims the Home Pro is powerful enough to run a small office with five PCs or laptops, a switch and a printer. I’m not sure about that: it’s certainly not sufficient for larger laser printers, which can draw around 1kW during their warm-up phase. However, it should be fine for a couple of home workers or a limited mobile retail setup. I tested the Home Pro under a constant 500W load and found the battery lasted for a decent 1hr 22mins before giving out. Over this time it supplied a total of 633Wh of power, about 82% of its stated 768Wh battery capacity, which is competitive for a compact battery power bank.
It’s worth mentioning that, during the 500W load test, the Home Pro’s cooling fans ran continually at top speed. The noise was audible, but not as loud as the warning buzzer, which sounds constantly when you exceed a load of 475W. At a 200W load the fans were quieter, and the battery delivered a total of 595Wh – roughly 77% of its claimed capacity.
The fans are distinctly audible when recharging, too. This happens at a fixed 500W rate, tailing off shortly before the batteries are fully charged. I measured a total power consumption of 801Wh for a complete recharge, so assuming the batteries went from fully discharged to fully recharged, that equates to an impressive 96% efficiency.
Two simple LED strips on the front show battery life and current power output(Image credit: Future)
The Home Pro’s power failover function works brilliantly. When I cut the incoming power, it switched to battery power in less than 10ms – much faster than most general-purpose battery backups, and certainly quick enough to avoid any glitching on my IT equipment.
Internally the Reskube Home Pro uses lithium-iron phosphate batteries, which have safer charging characteristics than standard lithium-ion chemistry. They also have a longer service life: Reskube says they’ll maintain 100% capacity for 3,000 cycles, dropping to 60% after 5,000. That being the case, it’s disappointing that the standard warranty is only 12 months, especially when other power supply manufacturers offer five years.
The Home Pro’s networking capabilities are on the conservative side. The unit supports 4G at speeds up to 150Mbits/sec, carrier and signal strength permitting. For the best possible reception you can upgrade Reskube’s standard stubby antennas with cabled ones, but even then you shouldn’t expect best-in-class network performance: the Home Pro’s Wi-Fi network only supports 2.4GHz 802.11n Wi-Fi, and its Ethernet ports are limited to 100Mbits/sec.
Those limitations have a noticeable impact on network performance. My ISP line normally gives me download speeds of 100Mbits/sec, but that dropped to 62Mbits/sec over the Home Pro network. That’s a shame, as for maximum resilience you’ll want to keep your critical devices connected to the Home Pro. Still, there’s enough bandwidth here to be productive, and the switchover to LTE is impressively smooth: I measured around nine seconds of downtime when switching from my fixed line to mobile data – fast enough that a YouTube video kept playing without interruption.
The Home Pro’s web-based configuration interface is easy to use, and provides access to a huge range of configuration options. Oddly, though, you can’t check the battery status, or change any power-related settings, such as selecting a slower charge rate or modifying the warning buzzer threshold. Reskube also offers a remote management option for £39 a year. This adds a command-line interface and full online access to the web dashboard, making it ideal for supporting remote users without needing to go onsite or cause downtime.
The Reskube Home Pro is a simple concept, delivered well. It wouldn’t hurt if it were quieter and had faster network support, but it offers the core protections you need in a single box that’s easy to deploy and manage. It’s also surprisingly good value, costing £999 exc VAT – only a little more than you’d pay for a similarly specified backup power supply and a dual-WAN router. Alternatively, the Reskube Home Pro can be leased for £444 per year. This means you don’t have to worry about the stingy warranty, and it includes remote, telephone and online support. If you’re looking to back up your key business systems, that seems like a price that’s more than worth paying.
This review first appeared in issue 354 of PC Pro.
Progress Software has been busy developing its flagship network-monitoring software, and WhatsUp Gold (WUG) 2023.1 introduces a raft of new features with ease of use given a high priority. Previously, you had to manually enable monitoring for every device, but you can now set a network discovery scan job to do this for you.
What’s more, the discovery process automatically collects SNMP and WMI device attributes and updates them in real-time, while WUG’s dynamic SNMP table monitor populates every instance, making it easier to monitor specific devices. The device properties page clearly shows which credentials are being used, access security has been tightened up with TLS 1.3 support, and SQL Server Express 2022 is now the default database.
Licensing is even more flexible. Along with the standard versions, perpetual licenses and points-based options, Progress has added three yearly subscription plans. The Business edition starts at around £715 per year for 50 devices and, unlike sensor- or element-based products, WUG doesn’t care how many CPUs are in a host or the number of ports a switch has.
The new NOC view provides a view of the network using slide decks(Image credit: Future)
This edition supports 1,000 devices and includes core functions such as network discovery, topology mapping, alerting and reporting, as well as cloud, wireless network and storage monitoring. The Enterprise edition has unlimited device support and enables virtualization host and application monitoring plus log management, while Enterprise Plus adds network traffic analysis and configuration management for switches, routers and firewalls.
Installation on a Windows Server 2019 host took around 30 minutes, and discovery is swift. A wizard helped conjure up the first scan and, after we’d added all our device credentials, it took ten minutes to deliver a complete list of all our network devices.
The WUG console is easy to use. It presents four menu options in its upper ribbon bar, and you can add frequently used views to the Favorites tab by clicking on the star icon at the top right of the console. It’s simple to create custom network discoveries, and you can pull up network topology views and maps.
Analysis dashboards are a great feature that allow you to design multiple custom views, add columns and choose the metrics you want to see. Anything WUG is capable of monitoring can be included, so you can create very detailed dashboards, and each device is assigned a colored icon for instant status views.
WhatsUp Gold Enterprise shows Flowmon data plus app availability(Image credit: Future)
The new network operations center (NOC) feature manages collections of views that rotate to a schedule for presenting support teams with a big heads-up live status display. To create them, you click the same star icon, choose the NOC option, add items to a slide deck, enter a display duration in seconds and pass the URL to support staff so they can access it directly.
Alert policies link device state changes with an extensive range of actions including running a program, restarting a service, sending emails and posting alert messages to Microsoft Teams users. The Alert Center presents even more information about disk utilization, and the device properties page has been updated so you can see which actions have been applied to it.
WUG is a great choice for businesses running the Progress Flowmon appliances as it can monitor them and include their traffic analysis in its dashboards. General reporting tools are in abundance, too, and they can now be emailed in HTML format so nontechnical users can appreciate them.
WhatsUp Gold 2023.1 is simple to deploy and offers an impressive range of network-monitoring tools. The choice of licensing plans makes it an affordable option for SMBs, and support teams will love its smart dashboard and NOC views.
Paessler's flagship product offers comprehensive visibility across networks, servers, and applications through its signature sensor-based approach. The platform monitors everything from bandwidth usage to hardware health metrics in real-time.
TechRadar reviewers spend several weeks researching each major IT platform in the market. We've found PRTG particularly appealing for mid-sized organizations seeking robust monitoring without enterprise complexity.
While LogicMonitor remains our pick for the best network monitoring tool of 2025, thanks to its AI-powered automation suite for IT workflows, PRTG offers compelling value for teams prioritizing quick deployment and comprehensive device support.
Paessler: Pricing
Plan
Starting price (paid annually)
What's included
PRTG 500
$179/month
500 sensors, monitor ~50 devices, basic support
PRTG 1000
$325/month
1,000 sensors, monitor ~100 devices, basic support
PRTG 2500
$675/month
2,500 sensors, monitor ~250 devices, basic support
PRTG 5000
£1,183/month
5,000 sensors, monitor ~500 devices, basic support
PRTG XL 1
$1,292/month
Unlimited sensors, single core server, basic support
PRTG Enterprise
Custom
Multiple core servers, unlimited sensors, enterprise support
Note: Prices converted from perpetual licenses to monthly equivalents based on 3-year depreciation
PRTG's sensor-based pricing offers flexibility but can become expensive as monitoring requirements grow. The licensing model counts individual metrics rather than devices, with most devices requiring 5-10 sensors for comprehensive monitoring.
While this allows precise control over monitoring scope, costs escalate quickly in large environments.
Support requires additional annual fees ranging from $360-680 after the first year, which adds to the total cost of ownership.
Paessler PRTG: Features
PRTG’s feature depth justifies its position among leading network monitoring platforms. It mostly targets IT professionals managing diverse network environments, with particular strength in multi-vendor networks.
For example, it’s remarkably good at infrastructure monitoring, with over 250 native sensor types covering everything from SNMP devices to SaaS.
However, PRTG lacks the advanced AI/ML capabilities of some competitors like LogicMonitor.
Its pricing remains reasonable for smaller deployments, but sensor-based licensing can become quite expensive as monitoring needs grow.
PRTG’s sensors deliver a vast amount of useful information(Image credit: Paessler)
Automatic network discovery
PRTG's automatic discovery feature simplifies initial setup by identifying all network devices and creating appropriate monitoring sensors automatically. The system recognizes servers, routers, switches, and printers without manual configuration. This significantly reduces deployment time and ongoing management overhead for IT teams.
Real-Time dashboards and visualization
The platform provides customizable dashboards with live status information and graphical data representation. You can create custom maps using the PRTG map designer to visualize network topology and performance metrics. These visual tools help administrators quickly identify issues and understand network health at a glance.
Multi-protocol monitoring
PRTG supports comprehensive monitoring through multiple protocols, including SNMP, WMI, NetFlow, and HTTP.
The platform can monitor physical network environments, virtual servers, cloud services, and applications from a single interface. This makes it suitable for hybrid infrastructure environments combining on-premises and cloud resources.
Alerting and notification system
The notification system delivers alerts via email, SMS, push notifications, and integrations with third-party tools. Administrators can customize alert thresholds and create escalation procedures to ensure critical issues receive appropriate attention. PRTG has achieved 91% satisfaction ratings for its alerting capabilities.
Reporting and analytics
PRTG generates customizable reports covering performance metrics, availability statistics, and trend analysis. Users can schedule automated reports and create executive summaries for stakeholder communication. The reporting functionality supports compliance requirements and capacity planning initiatives
Paessler PRTG: Ease of use
PRTG's interface strikes a balance between comprehensive functionality and user accessibility.
The web-based dashboard presents monitoring data through intuitive graphs and visual representations that help newcomers understand network status quickly.
Setup takes just minutes with the automatic discovery feature handling initial device identification.
However, the sensor-based licensing model can confuse new users who expect traditional per-device pricing.
And while the platform's learning curve remains manageable for IT professionals, customization requires a deeper understanding of both the infrastructure and the platform's capabilities.
Advanced features like custom sensors and complex alerting rules demand more technical expertise.
Most users praise the straightforward approach to adding devices and configuring basic monitoring, but note that fine-tuning alerts and managing large sensor deployments requires careful planning to avoid notification fatigue.
The PRTG web console keeps you in the loop on sensor usage(Image credit: Paessler)
Paessler PRTG: Customer support
Paessler provides multiple support channels, including email, phone, and an integrated help desk accessible through the PRTG interface.
The company offers comprehensive documentation, video tutorials, and an active community forum for troubleshooting assistance. Premium support includes priority response times and direct access to technical specialists for complex issues.
Support quality varies by license tier, with basic plans receiving standard email support and enterprise customers getting dedicated account management. Response times typically range from 1-2 business days for standard inquiries, though critical issues receive faster attention.
The company charges additional fees for extended support beyond the first year, which some users find frustrating compared to competitors offering inclusive support packages.
Paessler PRTG: The competition
PRTG occupies a strong position in the network monitoring market as a feature-rich solution for mid-sized organizations.
PRTG's strength lies in its comprehensive device support and reasonable pricing for smaller deployments, making it particularly attractive for organizations managing diverse network environments.
For enterprises seeking advanced analytics and automation, LogicMonitor's AI-powered platform offers superior predictive capabilities and automated remediation.
Cloud-native organizations might prefer DataDog or New Relic for their modern architectures and developer-focused features.
PRTG remains the better choice for traditional IT teams managing on-premises infrastructure who value proven reliability over cutting-edge automation capabilities.
Paessler PRTG: Final verdict
PRTG Network Monitor delivers solid value for organizations seeking comprehensive network monitoring without excessive complexity.
The platform's extensive sensor library, intuitive interface, and quick deployment make it an excellent choice for IT teams managing traditional network infrastructures.
While the sensor-based licensing model may surprise newcomers, the flexibility to monitor specific metrics provides precise control over costs and monitoring scope.
However, PRTG falls behind newer competitors in AI-driven automation and predictive analytics capabilities. Organizations prioritizing modern features like intelligent alerting, automated remediation, or advanced machine learning should consider alternatives like LogicMonitor.
For traditional IT environments where proven reliability and comprehensive device support matter most, PRTG remains a compelling choice that balances functionality with accessibility.
Paessler PRTG: FAQs
How does PRTG's sensor-based licensing work?
PRTG licenses are based on the number of individual metrics (sensors) rather than devices. Each sensor monitors one specific aspect of a device, such as CPU usage or network traffic. Most devices require 5-10 sensors for comprehensive monitoring, so a 1000-sensor license typically covers about 100 devices.
Can PRTG monitor cloud environments?
Yes, PRTG supports cloud monitoring for major providers including AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud Platform. The platform can monitor cloud services, virtual machines, and hybrid environments through various protocols and APIs. However, cloud-native monitoring solutions may offer better integration with modern cloud services.
What's included in the free version of PRTG?
Paessler's free edition of PRTG includes monitoring for up to 100 sensors permanently, which typically covers 10-20 devices depending on monitoring requirements. It includes all core features like dashboards, alerting, and reporting — making it suitable for small networks and for evaluation purposes.
How difficult is PRTG to set up and configure?
PRTG offers quick deployment with automatic network discovery that identifies devices and creates appropriate sensors automatically. Basic setup takes minutes, though advanced customization and large-scale deployments require more planning and technical expertise to optimize sensor configurations and alert management.
Does PRTG integrate with other IT management tools?
PRTG provides various integration options, including REST APIs, webhooks, and support for ITSM platforms like ServiceNow and Jira. The platform can send alerts to ticketing systems and supports integration with security tools for comprehensive IT management workflows.
Chinese tech giant Xiaomi has sub-brands, with Redmi already having built a strong reputation, but you should also start to take notice of Poco. The latter originally launched as Poco by Xiaomi, though it soon spun off as its own independent brand while remaining under the Xiaomi umbrella.
Poco aims to provide customers with "everything you need, nothing you don’t" – delivering devices for those on strict budgets, promising to offer near-premium smartphones for less. The Poco F6 Pro is its most high-end offering, calling it an "all-around flagship that closes the gap on high-end performance phones," and in many ways, it succeeds.
The pricing and model availability of the Poco F6 Pro can be a little tricky to pin down. It comes in three models: 12GB RAM and 256GB/512GB storage and the 16GB RAM/1TB model that I've reviewed here. While the UK get all three models, only the 512GB F6 Pro is available in Australia, priced at £549 / AU$999.
The Poco F6 Pro isn't officially available in the USA but, similarly to the 256GB and 1TB versions in Australia, international models can be purchased through AliExpress (as well as Amazon and Kogan in Australia).
I'm not a hardcore mobile gamer, but across casual titles like Marvel Snap, Hearthstone and Clash Royale, as well as more demanding games like Fortnite, Rocket League, and PUBG Mobile, the Poco F6 Pro ran flawlessly with a steady 60FPS at high graphics settings.
Playing Fortnite on the Poco F6 Pro (Image credit: Future)
It boasts a large, bright 6.67-inch WQHD+ display with sharp, vibrant colors. The 120Hz refresh rate makes gaming smooth and, combined with the 3200 x 1440 resolution, I found myself – a movie snob who desires the best possible viewing experience – genuinely enjoying watching movies and TV shows on the Poco F6 Pro. Perhaps most impressive is its 4000-nit peak brightness, just short of the OnePlus 12’s 4500-nit display.
With a 50MP main camera, an 8MP ultra-wide lens and a 2MP macro camera, the Poco F6 Pro offers a solid setup for casual photographers. While it doesn’t quite match the vibrancy or feature set of the best camera phones – or the best budget camera phone – it produces sharp, well-defined images, even in incredibly dark environments, where it's assisted by AI to restore details and deliver clear images.
One feature I personally enjoyed – but might not be for everyone – is the iOS-like interface, specifically regarding the iPhone's swipe-down control center that HyperOS almost completely copies. As an iPhone user in my daily life, it made for an easier transition compared to something like Samsung’s One UI.
The Control Center of the iPhone 15 compared to the Poco F6 Pro (Image credit: Future)
Now, for the bad – bloatware, and lots of it. Right out of the box, the Poco F6 Pro comes loaded with an abundance of applications, from duplicates with the Google suite to random games (Bubble Shooter, really?) and third-party apps that clutter the app drawer. Worse yet, you can't mass-delete them, forcing you to hold down each one individually and drag them to the bin.
Worse yet, ads appear within system apps like Themes. While they can be disabled, the fact that customers would have to traverse ads on a phone they've paid for is baffling, if not insulting. Despite enjoying my experience once I'd removed (most) ads, the sour taste they left was hard to forget.
In the budget phone market where high-quality UX is offered by Samsung, Google, Motorola, and now Apple with the iPhone 16e, it's a relatively small drawback that stops the Poco F6 Pro from sitting in the upper echelon of cheap phones.
Still, once beyond the initial setup pains, you're left with a stunning display, powerful performance and all-day battery life within a premium build. Poco even includes a 120W Type C pin charger (in certain countries), USB-C cable and a surprisingly high-quality phone case in the box.
Whether you’re a gamer, casual photographer, or someone who just wants a fast, reliable phone for streaming, scrolling and playing, the Poco F6 Pro delivers exceptional value.
Poco F6 Pro review: price and availability
Released in May 2024 for £549 / AU$999 (12GB/512GB model)
Not always available from reputable retailers
16GB/1TB model is only available in certain countries
Poco F6 Pro's glass back and cameras (Image credit: Future)
The easiest way to purchase the Poco F6 Pro in the UK and Australia is through the Xiaomi online store. In Australia it is also available via independent retailers: Amazon, Kogan and AliExpress. Amazon and AliExpress reliably stock it for the UK too, while the latter is your only easy option in the US, where you could get it for a discounted price at around the $400 mark.
While the F6 Pro launched in May 2024, it didn't hit the Australian market until August 2024. It comes in three configurations: the 12GB/512GB model is priced at £549 / AU$999, a 256GB storage variant is also available, currently available for approximately £499, though it’s only available in select markets. The 16GB/1TB model is priced at £599, but is available in even fewer markets.
When I first got my hands on the Poco F6 Pro, I wasn’t sure what to expect. It’s a lesser-known brand – at least in Australia where this phone was tested – claiming to offer impressive value even among the best budget phones. Yet, after testing it, I found it mostly delivered on its promise of flagship visuals and performance at a more accessible price.
Adding even more value, the Poco F6 Pro includes a 120W charger and a Europlug CEE 7/16 wall plug (in compatible countries), a USB-C cable, and a protective case – a rarity in an era where many brands are cutting back on in-box accessories.
Despite some minor drawbacks, the Poco F6 Pro consistently impressed me with its price-to-performance ratio. While the newer and cheaper Poco X7 Pro might be a better pick for those purely seeking ultra-budget gaming power, the Poco F6 Pro stands out as an excellent all-rounder with a gaming focus in the mid-range market.
Value score: 4.5/5
Poco F6 Pro review: specs
Given the nomenclature, it's seems obvious that the Poco F6 Pro would be the more expensive handset compared to the standard Poco F6, but the story isn't so simple. The Poco F6 Pro is a gaming-focused all-rounder in the mid-range market, but its regular sibling actually outperforms the Pro in some areas, which a much more dedicated focus on speed.
The F6 Pro sports the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, while the Poco F6 sports the newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. The Poco F6 Pro is also beaten in durability, with the IP64 durability rating and Gorilla Glass Invictus protection of the Poco F6 beating the Gorilla Glass 5 and IP54 of its Pro sibling.
Worth highlighting in the specs list is the F6 Pro's 6.67-inch display (3200 x 1440 resolution), 50/8/2MP rear camera trio, and 5,000mAh battery with 120W wired charging.
Poco F6 Pro review: design
Smooth quad-curved glass back
IP54 durability rating
Two color options
Poco F6 Pro camera bump and side buttons (Image credit: Future)
Much like the all-new iPhone 16e, the Poco F6 Pro sticks to just black and white options, ditching the more vibrant yellow seen on many other Poco phones. The result is a premium, albeit slightly boring-looking smartphone.
Unlike the plastic design of the F6, the Poco F6 Pro features an aluminum frame and marbled, smooth quad-curved glass back, giving it a high-end feel that exceeds expectations for its price.
My review unit was the white model, and while I usually prefer the more understated black, I quickly warmed to the color – especially since I had the option to cover the device with the included black case anyway.
Speaking of the included rubber phone case, it actually feels substantial, more like something you’d buy off Amazon than a flimsy throwaway addition.
However, the case won't protect your F6 Pro from its biggest design flaw – an IP54 dust- and water-resistance rating. This means the Poco F6 Pro offers limited protection against dust ingress and water sprays, and compared to other phones in its class that offer a minimum IP67 rating, it simply falls short.
This could be a deal breaker for those who work in dusty environments or need their phone in inclement weather.
The only part of the Poco F6 Pro that (literally) sticks out when using the case – besides the (thankfully) minimal Poco branding – is its camera array. Three large lenses and a flash dominate the top of the rear of the device, which avoid the all-too-common table wobble.
Attractive from any angle you look at it, comfortable to hold with either one or two hands and going without the Poco yellow, the design of the F6 Pro would be one of my favourite features… if it wasn't more impressive in other areas.
Design score: 3.5/5
Poco F6 Pro review: display
6.67-inch display (3200 x 1440) with 120Hz refresh rate
4000-nit peak brightness
Visible Gorilla Glass 5 protector
Checking out TechRadar on an overcast day (Image credit: Future)
Alongside its gaming prowess, the Poco F6 Pro’s display is one of its standout features – and one of the best you’ll find at this price visually.
As someone who previously loved the compact iPhone 12 mini, I’ve had to adjust to using larger smartphones and, while bigger isn’t always better, the 6.67-inch screen on the Poco F6 Pro hits the sweet spot between usability and immersive viewing.
Not all screens are built the same. In the past I've struggled with the long and narrow 6.7-inch Motorola Edge 50 Pro, whereas the 6.6-inch Samsung Galaxy A55 feels much more comfortable to hold. It's worth noting that I have larger hands, but the Poco F6 Pro sits closer to the Samsung in terms of usability, with an excellent in-hand feel.
Watching a nature documentary (Image credit: Future)
Beyond size, the Poco F6 Pro impresses with its 3200 x 1440 resolution, 120Hz refresh rate (which you’ll need to activate in settings, with a 60Hz base), and 4000-nit peak brightness. Whether I was reading, gaming, or watching videos, the display looked fantastic – even outside under the bright Australian summer sun.
Unfortunately, one of the Poco F6 Pro’s biggest weaknesses is its durability. Strangely, the cheaper Poco F6 is actually tougher as it features Gorilla Glass Victus, while the F6 Pro is stuck with older Gorilla Glass 5.
Damage from dropping it face-down (bottom) and one of several minor scratches from regular use (top) (Image credit: Future)
Usually, I'd hope not to have to test the toughness of the screen, but my Poco F6 Pro took a tumble off my bathroom sink onto the tiled floor, coming away with some minor damage. I also found that it's quite easy to scratch up, coming away with a few marks just from sitting in my pocket and bag. My biggest problem, though, is that the glass is visibly sitting on top of the main screen, taking away from the F6 Pro's display.
The Poco F6 has an excellently bright, responsive display that is a joy to both watch and play on, but phones at this price, and considerably cheaper – it's non-pro sibling a prime example – offer stronger displays without a visually obtrusive protector.
Display score: 4/5
Poco F6 Pro review: software
Ads in system apps and suffocating bloatware
HyperOS on top of Android 15
3 years of OS updates and 4 of security patches
Poco F6 Pro homepage (Image credit: Future)
One of the best things about a new phone is the naked, fresh interface and the Poco F6 Pro felt like it came wearing seven hats, three watches, and nine pairs of socks.
The software of the Poco F6 Pro is perhaps its weakest attribute. Pre-installed apps on Android phones never quite match up with the clean feeling of setting up a new iPhone. Typically, this includes useful essentials like the Google Suite, along with perhaps a few duplicate system apps such as a gallery and Google Photos.
This was my first time using a Xiaomi phone, and the Poco F6 Pro took my experience with bloatware to another level. I've never had to delete so many apps just to clear my home screen and keep only the ones I actually use.
Two app stores, the App Vault, Facebook, TikTok, Farm Frenzy, Booking.com, Bubble Shooter, LinkedIn, Mi Mover, Mi Remote, Mi Video, Gallery, Google Photos, Poco Community – you get the point. And that's far from the full list.
Note that I made things worse for myself by quickly rushing through the setup process and choosing to download several games right at the start. However, even when denying that, you'll still get far too many pre-downloaded, unwanted applications.
Once I cleared out the clutter, Poco’s HyperOS became a straightforward Android experience that I enjoyed.
Image 1 of 7
Ads and ads settings (Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 7
(Image credit: Future)
Image 3 of 7
(Image credit: Future)
Image 4 of 7
(Image credit: Future)
Image 5 of 7
(Image credit: Future)
Image 6 of 7
(Image credit: Future)
Image 7 of 7
(Image credit: Future)
On the customization front, the Poco F6 Pro offers a wealth of options. You can personalize your lock screen style, icons, fonts, notification effects, and even fingerprint unlock animation. The phone also supports themes that allow you to change multiple elements at once for a cohesive look.
Image 1 of 4
Customizability settings (Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 4
(Image credit: Future)
Image 3 of 4
(Image credit: Future)
Image 4 of 4
(Image credit: Future)
For those who enjoy AI-powered features, the Poco F6 Pro offers plenty. Google Gemini is integrated and activates when holding the power button, allowing you to ask about what’s on the screen, issue voice commands or type requests. You also get Google’s Circle to Search functionality.
Beyond that, AI features extend into Notes, Gallery and Recorder, enabling AI summaries, proofreading, translation, image expansion, editing, transcribing, speaker recognition, summary generation, and more. There’s even an AI Interpreter for real-time translation during conversations or phone calls, as well as AI subtitles for translated video playback.
Using AI to translate a news story in real-time (Image credit: Future)
Overall, I enjoyed Poco’s HyperOS experience, and while the three years of software updates isn’t the most generous I’ve seen, it’s acceptable. However, that positive experience is heavily tarnished by built-in ads and an overwhelming amount of bloatware upon setup.
Software score: 3/5
Poco F6 Pro review: cameras
50MP main camera, 8MP ultra-wide
2MP macro, 16MP front camera
Dull coloring
Poco F6 Pro camera bump and Poco branding (Image credit: Future)
The ability to snap great photos on a cheap smartphone is one of the key needs for budget buyers. Sure, you want to save money by avoiding bank-breaking flagship devices, but you don't want to struggle to take family photos, or be left with blurry results when you snap a selfie at the end of your hike.
That's why, right next to battery life, camera performance is one of the top qualities of many of the best cheap phones, from the Motorola Edge 50 Pro, to the Edge 50 Fusion, Galaxy A55, Pixel 8a and more. That's not the case for the Poco F6 Pro – it makes no apologies for focusing on gaming power and all-day battery. However, it still does well enough for most users to be happy with their results, especially if it's a secondary need to gaming.
It is not the best camera I have used while testing the other budget phones, but it was satisfactory across the board. From the 50MP main camera, to the 8MP ultra-wide, 2MP macro and 16MP selfie camera, the Poco F6 Pro lets you take any photo you want.
Image 1 of 11
Poco F6 Pro camera samples (Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 11
(Image credit: Future)
Image 3 of 11
(Image credit: Future)
Image 4 of 11
(Image credit: Future)
Image 5 of 11
(Image credit: Future)
Image 6 of 11
(Image credit: Future)
Image 7 of 11
(Image credit: Future)
Image 8 of 11
(Image credit: Future)
Image 9 of 11
(Image credit: Future)
Image 10 of 11
(Image credit: Future)
Image 11 of 11
(Image credit: Future)
It's not as feature-rich as other phone cameras in this market – there's not a ton of photo types or filters – and I did struggle to get the phone to focus in macro mode, but it performed well once in position and the subject wasn't moving.
The Poco F6 Pro has a few modes like document scanner and long exposure that allow you to do more than just take regular photos and videos. While the Poco F6 Pro claims to excel in night photography – and it certainly is impressive at pulling some detail from near pitch-black environments, I found it performed inconsistently in low-light environments like dimly lit restaurants.
Image 1 of 3
Results with night mode activated in a room with the lights off (Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 3
Results without night mode in the same room (Image credit: Future)
Result with Night Mode deactivated
Image 3 of 3
Results with the lights on (Image credit: Future)
The Poco F6 Pro isn't one of the best camera phones on the market, and the Motorola Edge 50 Pro, Samsung Galaxy A55 and the Samsung Galaxy A56 surpass it in the budget category. Still though, if you just want a decent enough camera setup for snapping the family, your pets or weekly hike, the Poco F6 Pro is more than up to the task.
Camera score: 3.5/5
Poco F6 Pro review: performance
Handles strenuous loads
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform
Stereo audio, no headphone jack
Fortnite on the Poco F6 Pro with DualSense controller (Image credit: Future)
Ranking smartphone processors isn’t always straightforward – some excel in speed, others in gaming, battery efficiency, or specific tasks. Still, the Poco F6 Pro runs on one of the better mobile chipsets available today in the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.
It delivers excellent, well-rounded performance and particularly stands out in gaming power and battery life. It even outperforms the Dimensity 8400 chip found in the newer Poco X7 Pro.
I reviewed the 1TB/16GB RAM model, and I was impressed by how cool it stayed under pressure. Many budget phones I’ve tested tend to heat up even during basic tasks, and even my personal iPhone 15 seems to get warm when I take a few seconds too long to select a podcast.
The Poco F6 Pro remained cool throughout my testing – even while gaming and charging simultaneously.
Using the DualSense controller to play Fortnite on mobile (Image credit: Future)
Its real-world performance translated well to benchmarks, too. In Geekbench tests, which measure CPU performance, the Poco F6 Pro’s multi-core score (4,733) outperformed the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, Nothing Phone 2, and Motorola Razr 50 Ultra. Its single-core score, however, placed it alongside mid-range devices like the Pixel 7a, Poco F5 Pro, and Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Turbo.
When it comes to 3D Mark gaming benchmarks, the Poco F6 Pro dominates budget and mid-range rivals and even approaches flagship-level performance:
As you can see, in nearly every benchmark test, the Poco F6 Pro significantly outperforms two of the best cheap phones on the market. And from my own experience, I can confidently say it felt just as powerful in everyday use.
As for its audio quality, the Poco F6 Pro connected to my Samsung Galaxy Buds 3, Apple AirPods 4 and Sony WH-1000XM5 very easily. Its dual stereo speakers offer Dolby Atmos where it can, and provided a completely enjoyable sound experience the rare times I wasn't using headphones.
Performance score: 4.5/5
Poco F6 Pro review: battery
20% in 5 minutes, full-charge in around 30 minutes (67W charger)
Easily handles hours of gaming
120W charger included (in certain countries)
Poco F6 Pro charging port, speakers and SIM card tray (Image credit: Future)
You might think that a smartphone that promises power, should have the battery to go with it. But, while that is not always the case, the Poco F6 Pro is certainly in line with that rule.
With a 5,000mAh battery, the Poco F6 Pro's battery capacity matches up to that of some of the best phones, not just the best cheap phones it's competing against. Battery capacity isn't everything, but even phones like the Google Pixel 9 Pro (4,700mAh) falls short in comparison to the Poco F6 Pro, which matches the battery capacities of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.
Like I said, battery capacity isn't everything, and it's actually the enhanced power efficiency of the F6 Pro, thanks to its LiquidCool Technology 4.0 with lce Loop system that makes it feel as good in use as its battery looks on the specs sheet.
The Poco F6 Pro only ever gets slightly warm when running games on low battery. And, as such, it has no issue lasting all day. So, while it varied depending on my use that day, I found myself with about 20% battery by the time I got home at 6pm after being up and using my phone from 5am.
Charging the Poco F6 Pro (Image credit: Future)
With the included 120W charger – that's not compatible with Australian sockets – Poco promises a HyperCharge speed that will get you to 100% in just 19 minutes. Though of course you can purchase your own 120W charger to get those speeds.
With the Xiaomi 67W GaN wall charger – which can be purchased from the Xiaomi store – the Poco F6 Pro increased by 22% in just 5 minutes, while 15 minutes would get you around 70%, and it would sit at about 85% after 30.
Playing Fortnite Mobile on the Poco F6 Pro was a blast, and it lasted a touch more than 3.5 hours of continuous, nonstop 60FPS gameplay at high graphics settings and around 80% brightness.
Speaking of, after a day of strenuous testing, the Poco F6 pro was sitting at only 10% battery as I got onto the bus after work, but I still needed some entertainment for my commute. Luckily, six games of Marvel Snap (around 15 minutes), starting with the phone on just 8%, took the F6 Pro to just 2% battery, which the phone stated would last about half an hour if you stopped using it and saved it for emergencies.
For both regular use and heavy gamers, the Poco F6 Pro is an excellent choice in the budget space.
Battery score: 4/5
Should you buy the Poco F6 Pro ?
Buy it if...
You're a mobile gamer with other needs The Poco F6 Pro offers excellent gaming performance, but there may be better options if you've got other priorities.
You regularly watch content on your phone This phone doesn't have the biggest or best screen on the market, but if you're a regular mobile watcher on a budget, its 6.67-inch high-res display is a great option.
You don't want to worry about battery Its 5,000mAh battery doesn't stand out on a specs sheet, but it has excellent power efficiency, fast charging and several battery settings that see it last all day.
Don't buy it if...
Cameras are your number one priority The cameras of the Poco F6 Pro perform adequately, but there are better options at its price range, and for less. You might even consider waiting for the Google Pixel 9a.
You like a clean start The Poco F6 Pro comes with a ton of pre-installed applications, most of which will require deletion as they're double-ups of the app store, gallery or mail app – making it one to avoid if you want a fresh start.
You plan on keeping your phone for years Whether you work in construction and need a phone that can handle the rigors of your daily life, or you just don't want to panic about the possibility of your phone slipping into your bath, there are more durable and resistant phones in this market.
Poco F6 Pro review: also consider
Poco X7 Pro If your main focus is gaming, and everything else is an afterthought, the X7 Pro is cheaper with a better battery and perhaps better gaming performance – though it's lacking in other areas. Read our full review of the Xiaomi Poco F6 Pro
Samsung Galaxy A56 The brand-new Galaxy A56 gives you tons of Samsung AI features and great specs for a very attractive price. If you're not a gamer, this is the cheap Android phone. Read our hands-on thoughts on the Samsung Galaxy A56
Apple iPhone 16e Android faithful won't want to hear it, but if you're an Apple user who's considering swapping sides for more value, the iPhone 16e is exactly what you're after. Read our fullApple iPhone 16e review
How I tested the Poco F6 Pro
Review test period = 3 weeks (had the device for much longer)
Testing included = Everyday usage, including web browsing, social media, photography, video calling, gaming, streaming video, music playback
Tools used = Geekbench 6, 3D Mark, native Android stats
I received the Poco F6 Pro in October 2024, but due to a combination of reviewing other devices, the Black Friday rush, and the busy Christmas period, I didn't get around to properly testing it until the new year. However, when I first received the device, I did use it as my main device for about a week and carried it with me to work, testing it intermittently during that time.
When I finally dedicated myself to the Poco F6 Pro review, I used it as my primary device for a three full weeks. During this time, I tested its capabilities with regular tasks like texting, video calling, and scrolling through social media for hours, along with gaming and streaming content from the best services.
Why you can trust TechRadar
☑️ 100s of smartphones reviewed ☑️ 15 years of product testing ☑️ Over 16,000 products reviewed in total ☑️ Nearly 200,000 hours testing tech
The only out-of-the-ordinary activity I indulged in was playing mobile games like Fortnite and PUBG – as the device is gaming focused and I'm not much of a mobile gamer. I quickly found myself enjoying it quite a bit, especially when I paired my mobile gaming sessions with my PlayStation 5's DualSense controller.
To ensure accurate performance results, I ran 3D Mark and Geekbench tests several times throughout my review period, factoring in battery performance and daily usage conditions at the time of testing to get the most applicable numbers.
The Anker Charger 140W, 4-Port, PD 3.1 – that’s a bit of a mouthful isn’t it. But don’t be fooled, this charger isn’t compensating for anything with its epic name. With four ports, an admirable maximum power output of 140W and even its own display, this charger is undoubtedly a top performer. But is it worth its high asking price of $89.99 / £89.99?
Well, if we’re talking about performance, the answer is yes. You can get up to 65W and 45W from USB-C port 1 and 2 respectively when quad-charging, with a maximum of 140W overall. You can even get that full 140W routed to either of these ports when charging one device at a time – not bad at all!
And when I tested out the charger to verify its prowess myself, I was delighted with the results. Even while utilizing all four ports, I was able to get the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE from 0% - 100% in less than 80 minutes. That’s the kind of speed I’d expect from some of the best Android phone chargers and best iPhone chargers.
If you want to see just how fast your devices are charging, this model has a neat display located on top of the charger. When you first plug it in, you’ll be greeted with a robot-looking face – one that’s not quite emotive as that of the UGreen Uno Charger 100W, mind you. Anyway, after the initial startup, you can sift between three different displays: power consumption per port; temperature monitoring; and total power use (in watts).
I tended to stick to the first menu in order to check the changing power use in each individual port, although the temperature monitoring screen was handy too. This display provides a rating depending on how hot the charger gets or can let you know if it's in High Performance / Cooling Mode – always good to know!
Something else that I liked was the positioning of the ports. They’re located on the underside of the charger, meaning your cables will dangle down if you’re using a wall socket. This is ideal in my view, because if you’re using a socket close to a desk or couch, for instance, the cables won’t be pressed against a surface. That makes the charger ideal for use in tight spaces. Combine that with its foldable prongs and compact size and you’re onto a real winner for portability and seamless usability.
But that’s not all – this is also a very nice-looking charger. The display is nice and bright and the outer casing has a premium-looking finish. Not only that, but there are two classy color options – Dark Gray or Silver. Well, that is if you’re in the US – I do wish the Silver option was there for us UK folk.
But that’s a pretty minor qualm I have – what’s the real catch to this charger? Well, if I had to pick something out, it would probably be the price. At $89.99 / £89.99 (about AU$140), this model is by no means cheap. But this charger does come with its own USB-C to USB-C cable and given its inclusion of a display, I’d still argue it’s great value. That’s especially true when you consider that the UGreen Nexode Pro 160W 4-Port charger – a clear rival to this Anker alternative – costs $119.99 / £99.99 and is display-less. So, it’s fair to say this entry from Anker gets almost everything right and it’s well worth grabbing – if you have the cash.
Should I buy the Anker Charger 140W, 4-Port, PD 3.1?
Buy it if…
You want high-level performance This model can offer fast charging speeds, no matter how many devices you have plugged in at once. With a maximum power output of 140W, there’ll be plenty of power for your phone, the best wireless earbuds, tablets and more. Even if you want to juice up 2024’s Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch M4, you should be able to get it back to life in no time.
You’d like to get the visual on charging progress One of the unique benefits of using this charger is its inclusion of a display. If you want to monitor temperature or power output and management, this is definitely the charger for you.
Don't buy it if…
You’re on a tight budget OK, so this charger packs a lot of punch and has plenty of ports, which makes it a good value option. But that still doesn’t mean it comes cheap. It’s knocking on the door of the $100 / £100 mark, so if you’re on a tight budget, maybe consider another option, like the UGreen Nexode Pro 100W 3-Port charger, for instance.
You want some neat color options This model is available in Dark Gray in the UK and US, but the smart Silver option is exclusive to the latter. And although I personally like the look of this charger, those with a preference for more vibrant colours may find it a little plain.
Anker Charger 140W, 4-Port, PD 3.1: Also consider
UGreen Nexode Pro 160W 4-Port charger Although I’d consider this Anker charger to be a stronger value option, there’s no denying the impressive power and quality of the UGreen Nexode Pro 160W 4-Port charger. You get a bit more juice out of this model thanks to its maximum power output of 160W and ports are positioned on the end of the charger – rather than underneath, if you’d prefer that. There’s no display here, but I can assure you, this thing will bring your devices back to life – and fast. On top of that, there’s intelligent temperature monitoring and four USB ports. The lack of foldable prongs on the UK model are a little bit of a miss though. Read our full UGreen Nexode Pro 160W 4-Port charger review.
The AOHI Future Starship is a large power bank with plenty of power to charge large devices on the go.
It adopts what you might call a cyberpunk aesthetic, with yellow markings and accents imparting a futuristic industrial look. The overall form is also reminiscent of some kind of a sci-fi gadget, injecting some interest in the typically straight-laced world of power bank design.
No doubt some will like it and others will hate it, but it’s not brash enough to totally preclude it from more professional settings.
At 23oz / 650g, the Future Starship isn’t exactly light, but its dimensions are relatively compact – it's not as thick or as long as some power banks with a similar wattage. The overall build quality is good, although there’s a small amount of flex to the side panels, so it’s not constructed quite as sturdily as some of the best power banks.
The large panel for the screen is somewhat misleading, as the actual display only occupies a very small area. What’s more, since it packs in quite a lot of information when charging, it’s hard to read at a glance if you want to quickly see how much battery power remains. It’s also relatively dim, which only adds to the visibility problem, especially at certain angles.
Still, the information the Future Starship displays is useful, as it includes readouts for each individual port, displaying their real-time wattage. There’s also an indicator to show whether the power is being outputted or inputted, which is useful to make sure the bank itself is actually being charged when plugged into an outlet.
Battery life is given as a percentage and in bars, which presumably is designed to make it easier to scan. However, in addition to the aforementioned issues with the display itself, the bars are too small to see from a distance because there are too many; four or five would have been enough, but there are 10, which is too many to parse quickly.
There are three ports in total on the Future Starship: two USB-C ports and one USB-A. It seems like another USB-C could have been squeezed in, and there are similarly large power banks out there with four, so it’s a small shame not to see this.
The two Type-C ports can deliver a max 140W each, both for output and for input. When used at the same time, one will drop to 100W, meaning the total output for both ports is 240W. It also comes with a USB-C cable rated for charging at 140W, which is nice to see, as not all large power banks include high-power cables.
The Future Starship managed to charge a Dell Latitude 5410, with its 68Wh battery, in just over two hours, which is an impressive performance, especially considering that I was using the laptop at the same time. The bank depleted from 100% down to about 20%, so it’s nice to know you’ll get one full laptop charge out of it, with a bit left in the tank for smaller devices.
It also stayed cool throughout, only warming slightly. Charging the bank itself also took just over two hours, which again is an impressive performance considering its large capacity.
However, the Future Starship is a very expensive power bank, and not many users will need such a massive output – and those who do would probably wish for a higher capacity to charge large devices multiple times. There are many cheaper alternatives out there that can handle laptop charging just as well.
(Image credit: Future)
AOHI Future Starship review: price & specs
(Image credit: Future)
Should I buy the AOHI Future Starship?
Buy it if…
You want plenty of power With a total of 240W, there aren’t many USB devices the Future Starship can’t charge.
You want plenty of info The screen might be a bit small, but all the useful metrics are there, including real-time wattage figures.
Don't buy it if…
You want something cheap The Future Starship is expensive full stop, and many probably won’t utilize all the power it has to offer.
You want multiple laptop charges Yes, it can charge a laptop completely – but it can only do so once before you have to recharge the bank itself.
AOHI Future Starship: also consider
Anker Laptop Power Bank It might be less powerful, but the Anker Laptop Power Bank is more than capable of charging most large devices thanks to its 165W output, and it has close to the same capacity at 25,000mAh. It also has two inbuilt USB-C cables for added convenience, and to top it all off it’s much cheaper than the Future Starship.
The VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank is a small power bank with a design that makes it a fashion accessory as well as a portable battery. The Cath Kidston crossover means you get the brand’s illustrative designs. The bee print finish of the model I had was rather subtle, with its cream background and the small drawings lacking any vivid colors.
If you want a little more vibrancy, two more finishes are available, both floral in nature, and incorporate bright shades of red and green. All schemes have a high-gloss finish, which VQ claims is scratch-resistant. After spending a couple of days with it, I didn’t notice any blemishes.
Other nice touches include the small power button integrated on the bezel, and the equally discreet LED dots indicating the battery life of the VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank. These are integrated on the front panel in the bottom right corner, and are barely noticeably, designed to intrude as little as possible on the Cath Kidston design. The problem is, however, that they’re hard to see even when they’re lit up, and are virtually invisible when looking at them from an angle, which is less than ideal.
What is more practical, though, is the pleasingly light and slim form factor, making it easy to carry in a bag or pocket. However, while the VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank is built quite well, it isn’t up there with the very best power banks. The plastic panels do flex somewhat, and while the joins to the bezel are strong enough, I did notice a few wide gaps in places. Also, the power button doesn’t quite sit flush with the bezel as perhaps it should, although it’s at least easy to use.
The VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank features one USB-C, one USB-A, and one Lightning port – disappointingly, though, only the USB-A can be used for charging devices, as the other two are for input only. This is especially baffling in the case of the Lightning port, as this is a now-defunct standard for older Apple devices, so quite what it’s doing here as an input is a mystery.
What’s also unusual is that VQ doesn’t provide a power output figure, although it does list the voltage and amperage for both the input and the output, so with some basic math, its total wattage should be 20.5W.
Charging my Google Pixel 7a from 50% to full took about two and a half hours, which is an adequate performance. The bank depleted by one dot, meaning it should be able to handle two roughly full charges. Charging the VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank itself from about half full took just over two hours, which again isn’t an overly impressive effort.
The VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank is more expensive than other popular power banks with similar specs, so it seems you’re paying for its looks more than anything else. Unless you really must have the Cath Kidston design, there are better value picks out there.
(Image credit: Future)
VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank review: price & specs
(Image credit: Future)
Should I buy the VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank?
Buy it if…
You want some flair The Cath Kidston designs certainly add more interest and personality than many other power bank finishes.
You want something easy to carry around The VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank is small, thin, and light, so this is an easy power bank to take on your travels.
Don't buy it if…
You want the best build The overall construction is good enough, but the chassis isn’t rock solid, and there are some questionable gaps where the panel meets the bezel.
You’re want the best performance The VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank doesn’t have enough power to charge smartphones fast, and only the USB-A port can actually charge devices, which is a shame.
VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank review: also consider
Ugreen 5000mAh Magnetic Wireless Power Bank For about the same price as the VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank, the Ugreen provides a similarly small and sleek form, but with the added bonuses of a USB-C port for both input and output, and a MagSafe wireless charging pad for use with the best iPhones and other Apple products. It might lack the style of the VQ Cath Kidston 5,000mAh Power Bank, but it makes up for it in performance. Read our Ugreen 5000mAh Magnetic Wireless Power Bank review.
