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I tested one of the cheapest Roborock robovacs and it still offers excellent vacuuming

10:00 am | March 15, 2025

Roborock Q5 Pro+: two-minute review

Product info

For this review, I tested the Q5 Pro+, which has a self-empty dock. There's also a cheaper Q5 Pro, which is the same bot but with a charge-only dock.

The Roborock Q5 Pro+ is an affordable robot vacuum that delivers strong vacuuming performance with one major trade-off – poor mopping. Despite having a slightly lower 5,500Pa of suction power, on test I found it excelled at picking up dirt and dust, especially on carpets – perhaps thanks to the dual rubber roller brushes borrowed from Roborock's higher-end models. It also handled the copious amounts of pet hair in my home extremely well. If you don't have loads of cash to splash and your priority is vacuuming, this could be the best robot vacuum for you.

This model uses LiDAR-based navigation, which allows for precise mapping and efficient cleaning paths. Its obstacle avoidance is a little basic, though, so it's one to avoid if you typically have lots of clutter on your floors. Other standout features include the extra large 2.5-liter bag in its compact but efficient dock, and an outstanding, intuitive app.

While the Q5 Pro+ performs admirably well at vacuuming floors of all types, its mopping system is simply comprised of a static mop pad with no mop-cleaning facilities of any sort. Hence, its mopping performance is very underwhelming when compared to much of the competition, including many of its own, admittedly more expensive, Roborock stablemates.

If you don't need mopping, however, this could be an excellent buy. It's slightly older now and discounts are easy to come by, taking the Q5 Pro into the budget price bracket and delivering strong value for money. It's not the latest and greatest model, but it delivers strong vacuuming performance, smart navigation and minimal dust-emptying maintenance. I'd include it amongst the best cheap robot vacuums around and the best robot vacuums for pet hair if you're on a budget.

That's the short version; read on for my full Roborock Q5 Pro+ review.

Roborock Q5 Pro+ robot vacuum in its dock — (Image credit: Future)

Roborock Q5 Pro+ review: price & availability

List price: $699.99 / £499.99 / AU$999
Launch date: October 2023
Availability: US, UK, AU (out of stock)

The Q5 Pro line was first announced at IFA 2023, and launched in October 2023. As of writing, the Q5 Pro+ with auto dustbin is available on the US Roborock site at a list price of $699.99, but reduced to $359.99. On the UK Roborock website, it's £499.99 down to £349.99. In Australia, if you go direct to Roborock the Q5 Pro+ costs AU$999, reduced to AU$799 but out of stock at time of writing. The Q5 Pro+ can also be purchased via Amazon, although at time of writing it was out of stock in both the US and UK.

If you don't need the self-empty dock, you can opt for the Roborock Q5 Pro, which is the same model but just with a basic, charge-only dock. That costs $429.99 (reduced to $179.99) or £299 (down to £199.99). In Australia it's only available via third party retailers, but has a list price of AU$899.

At TechRadar, a robot vacuum under $500 / £400 is considered a budget model. At full price, the Pro+ model is mid-range, but it's currently widely discounted into the budget bracket. The Pro version is a budget model even at list price, and really very cheap if you can snag a discount. If vacuuming is your priority, then it's well worth considering.

If mopping is a priority, then it won't be such a good pick, though. In which case, perhaps opt for the earlier high-end Roborock S7 Max Ultra model – which features a fully functioning mop system with self cleaning ability, and can be picked up for around $799.99 / £500 (although at list price it's more expensive),

Shoppers in the UK should also check out the excellent Xiaomi X20+, which retails for a ridiculously low price of £299, and is the best cheap robovac I've tested.

A quick note on availability. Given the rate of new releases in the robot vacuum world, the Q5 Pro and Pro+ are now considered slightly older models. That, combined with widespread discounts and some lack of availability makes me think that maybe this line may be discontinued in the not-too-distant future.

Value for money score: 4 out of 5

Roborock Q5 Pro+ specs

Roborock Q5 Pro+ review: design

Excellent dual-roller vacuum system
Great dock with extra large dust bag
Disappointing mop pad

As much as I tend to gravitate towards Roborock as my brand of choice when it comes to robot vacuum cleaners, I'm also startled by the number of different models – 21 and counting – that the innovative Chinese manufacturer has launched in just the past year alone (at time of writing in March 2025). It's hard enough as reviewer of these little home helpers to differentiate between one model and the next, so I can only imagine the confusion it must cause for prospective buyers who don't know anything about all these models' respective suction power levels, navigation and obstacle avoidance systems, and their various mopping functions.

Close up of navigation puck and buttons on Roborock Q5 Pro+ robot vacuum — (Image credit: Future)

What I will say is that, though it's not necessarily the best in the Roborock range, if you're on a tight budget and wish to jump onto the Roborock bandwagon, the minimalistic Q5 Pro series is a good place to start. Available in two variants – the Pro+ I'm reviewing here with self-emptying dock and the standard Pro with no dock – the Roborock Q5 Pro+ is one of the lowest priced Roborock series currently on the market.

Robot design

Let's take a look at the robot itself. At 35 x 35.3 x 9.7cm it's about the same width as most robot vacs though, at a shade under 9.7cm, it's also one of the tallest, which means it won't be able to venture beneath some furnishings like its ultra-low stablemates, the Saros 10 and Saros 10R. In the pantheon of robot vacs, this one's not a bad looker, though its ribbed top and black plastic does attract dust instantly. Like within seconds.

Like so many robot vacs these days, the Q5 Pro uses LDS (Laser Distance Sensor) LiDAR and this means that the Q5 Pro will quickly map a home – usually in a matter of minutes – and present its floor plan in great detail on the accompanying Roborock app. LiDAR-equipped robots are excellent at general navigation – even in total darkness – and will almost always find their way back to their docks the very first time you use them, unlike old-fashioned camera-only models that don't know where they are half the time (here's more on how robot vacuums navigate, if you're interested).

This model isn't fitted with a front-facing camera, so obstacle avoidance of any item under around four inches in height will suffer. Instead, it uses its LiDAR and a bump sensor to help it avoid larger obstacles and furniture. While there is a sensor on the front, it's only used for navigation back to the dock.

Like all robovacs, the Q5 pro also comes with four under-body cliff sensors to prevent it tumbling down a flight of stairs (you can also set a virtual barrier in the app for extra peace of mind). The top part of the unit is completed with three instant-access buttons for some manual control – dock, start/stop and spot clean.

Roborock Q5 Pro+ robot vacuum flipped over to show underside — (Image credit: Future)

This model is fitted with Roborock's very effective Duo Roller rubber rollers for efficient pickup of carpet and hard floor debris, along with the obligatory fixed spinning side brush for sweeping matter from corners of the room into the path of the suction funnel. And speaking of suction, this model is rated at 5,500Pa which is a lot lower than some Roborock flagship models which boast up to 22,000Pa.

However, as you'll see in my tests below, its lower suction power doesn't impinge on the bot's ability to vacuum as well as the very best, especially considering the lower price point. This model doesn't feature an ultrasonic carpet sensor, and while the blurb does say it has carpet boost by default, I haven't heard anything from the motor to suggest it does.

One especially useful asset here is the inclusion of a larger-than-average 770ml internal bin for the robot – most others are around 270ml – and that means it will happily tackle pet hair on a grand scale before it trundles back to the dock to have it all emptied automatically into the dock's also larger-than-average 2.5-litre dust bag. But more on that below.

Roborock Q5 Pro+ robot vacuum with onboard dust bin pulled out — (Image credit: Future)

If you have a big home and are interested in battery specs, you'll be pleased to know that the Q5 Pro comes with a 5200mAh battery – the same as fitted to some of Roborock's earlier flagship models. This battery boasts a running time of up to 180 minutes, which is more than enough juice for a large floor plan.

Finally we come to this model's Achilles Heel – the dreadful moping system. Now I'm generally no fan of any robot with a mopping system and I know I'm not the only one. But, hey, the powers that be have decided that that is what most people want so all manufacturers continue to make high-end robots with mopping systems when all some of us want is a highly efficient vacuum-only system with a whopping 5-litre dust bag instead of the space in the dock being consumed by two large water containers. But what do I know?

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Small onboard water tank balancing against Roborock Q5 Pro Plus robot vacuum — (Image credit: Future)

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Mop pad from Roborock Q5 Pro Plus — (Image credit: Future)

So, what's so bad about this model's mop? Well it's a simple 35cm static pad for a start and, worse, it isn't really pushed down hard enough against the floor by the weight of the robot, which means poor contact and coverage. Also, since there are no water tanks in the dock, you will have to fill a tiny 180ml water tank above the mopping pad and select two levels of moisture – a lot and a little. Incidentally, this mop does not raise automatically when traversing carpet so tread carefully if you have a lot of rugs en route to the hard floor. You can read all about the performance of this mop in the, er, Performance chapter below, but suffice to say I wasn't impressed.

Dock design

The Q5 Pro+'s dock is a great bonus since it features an extra large 2.5-liter dust bag where most other bots can only manage around two liters. And since there are no water tanks to accommodate, the dock itself is only around 45cm in height, a svelte 30cm in width and 44cm in depth, which means it won't take up very much floor space.

Dock for Roborock Q5 Pro+ robot vacuum — (Image credit: Future)

The ribbed design of the dock's front fascia is reminiscent of some of iRobot's newer offerings and it's no shabby looker, especially when compared to some of the tasteless designs I've recently seen. However, I'm not too enamoured of the cheap-feeling lid one has to lift to access the dock's dust bag. Also, setting the dock up isn't quite as straightforward as most models since you will need to assemble the dock by using the supplied Allen key (under the platform) to attach it to the bin housing.

Design score: 3.5 out of 5

Roborock Q5 Pro+ review: performance

Excellent vacuum performance
Strong navigation but rudimentary obstacle avoidance
Very poor mopping

Let's take a look at the Roborock Q5 Pro+'s performance. It's a bit of a mixed bag here, so I've broken this section up into navigation, vacuuming and mopping so it's clear where this bot's strengths and weaknesses are.

All Roborocks navigate spaces extremely well and this model is no different. No it doesn't have the bells-and-whistles multi-point LiDAR navigation of the new Roborock Saros 10R, but it managed just fine in my open-plan home. Put another way, during my review period it never once got lost or found itself trapped under furniture. I'm not promising that'll never happen in the future – it's a robot after all – but it's a strong start.

Roborock uses something called Adaptive Route Algorithms for the Q5 Pro's navigation system and this means it will clean floors in a logical, linear way rather than randomly like most camera only-based models.

Crucially, this is another one of those modern bots that didn't seem to have any trouble traversing my rugs, even those of the loose, thin variety. And that's always a major bonus in my opinion.

Roborock Q5 Pro Plus bumping into dog toys — (Image credit: Future)

This model can be described as merely adequate when it comes to obstacle avoidance, so it's best suited to homes that are generally free of small items like loose socks, Lego bricks and phone cables. If this describes your home, you would be better off spending a lot more on a higher-end model – or avoid a robot altogether.

The Q5 pro uses very basic touch-and-run avoidance. This means it may gently push some larger items out of the way while dodging others. There's no rhyme or reason to its thought processes when faced with obstacles but, according to my tests, it didn't seem to see any items less than around 4 inches in height. Consequently, it gamely ploughed over the small nylon dog bone that has similarly caught out many other robot vacs and pushed some smaller dog toys that other models have avoided.

Vacuum performance

Vacuum cleaning of both hard floor and carpet is where this model really shines. But then that doesn't surprise me because very few Roborocks fail to impress in this regard.

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Roborock Q5 Pro Plus on a wooden floor with a pile of flour and larger crumbs in front of it — Before the suction test on hard floor... (Image credit: Future)

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Roborock Q5 Pro Plus clearing flour and crumbs from a wooden floor — ... and during (Image credit: Future)

Test one took place on my kitchen floor with a buffet of different ingredients – a handful of orzo pasta, a crushed Hob Nob, half a teaspoon of brown sugar, a large pinch of flour and a scattering of cornflakes (I would usually also include some oats, but I ate them). Anyway, I set the unit to Max (one below full power) and selected two passes.

The results were excellent; indeed, as good as many of Roborock's high-end bots. Yes, there was some serious snow ploughing of ingredients (my bad for adding so many) but everything was eventually sucked up with no traces of any remnants. Top marks.

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Flour and crumbs on carpet in front of Roborock Q5 Pro Plus — Before the suction test on carpet... (Image credit: Future)

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Photo of carpet clear of debris after suction test with Roborock Q5 Pro Plus — ... and after (Image credit: Future)

I then replicated the test on a medium-pile carpet rug using the app's Zone option and set the vacuum power to Max+ (its highest setting) plus two passes for good measure. I expected poorer performance for this test but was pleasantly surprised to see it collect the vast majority of the debris in a single pass. It then came back on itself and collected the rest. And just for good measure, it then proceeded to run over the same section horizontally until absolutely nothing remained. I call that a success.

Aside from the above tests, I also had the Q5 Pro running over a five day period and noted how well it collected all the hair shed by my two dogs and three cats. The great thing about this model is that it has a much larger internal bin than the majority of other robot vacs. This is a big bonus when it comes to collecting pet hair – not because it can cram more in during an average cleaning session, but because of the extra space in the bin which prevents bundling and compression when automatically emptying at the dock.

Many robot vacs I've tested have occasionally had issues during self emptying, where large clumps of hair become trapped in the outlet of the robot's bin and around the intake to the dock's dust bag. These issues are easily fixed but are also an inconvenience. Hence, if I'm in the same room as the dock, I always listen for the tell-tale ‘woomph' sound as the hair is sucked into the dock. In fact, I've also become accustomed to the tone of the motor fan during emptying so I can usually tell if there's a blockage issue.

Mopping performance

In short, there is nothing Pro about this robot's mopping system. In fact, I'm not sure why Roborock even considered a mopping system like this in this day and age, because it is pretty woeful at mopping up anything other than the very top layer of dust and some very light soiling. Worse, the mop cannot lift itself off the floor when crossing carpets so you would need to remove all rugs while in transit.

To set up the mopping system you need to fill the small 180ml water tank – preferably with hot water – and slide the switch under the mop pad to your preferred choice of wetness (I chose the lower amount since I have engineered wooden floors). Now wait a few minutes while the water saturates the mop and set it off on its way. Since the app doesn't show an option for mopping, you basically set the robot to do a standard vacuum and the mop pad simply drags along the floor.

Damp strips on wooden floor after it has been mopped by Roborock Q5 Pro Plus — Mopping merely left damp stripes on my floor (Image credit: Future)

In my test, the pad left a lot more moisture on the floor than other mopping models I've tried and, because some of my floor's wooden planks are fractionally bowed, the water was deposited as a series of stripes. Yes, it kind of mopped the floor as evidenced by the dirtiness of the mop but, really, this is no substitute for some proper elbow grease. Worse, you have to remove the mop pad when finished and clean it under a hot tap. That's just too much work for me.

Personally, I wouldn't bother using this model as a wet mop. Instead I would advise leaving the dry pad attached when sending the bot out on a vacuum run. It'll simply drag behind, collecting any remnants of dust while giving your hard floor a polish of sorts.

Alternatively, if you don't think you need a mop, perhaps consider the non-mopping Q5 Max+, which is ultimately a better overall choice for the money. And if your robot simply must have a mop attached, consider something like the Roborock S7 Max Ultra which, while more expensive, is way better at wet mopping hard floors.

Dock performance

I've been very impressed with the performance of this dock. For a start, it's got a much larger dust bag than most other models (2.5-litres) and a reassuringly loud suction process that never failed to remove all contents from the robot's larger-than-average bin, even when filled with pet hair. I also love its unobtrusively small size, which makes it perfectly suited to location in a living room if space is an issue.

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Roborock Q5 Pro+ robot vacuum dock, with bin section pulled up — The dock has a larger than usual bin (Image credit: Future)

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Full onboard bin from Roborock Q5 Pro Plus — The onboard bin before auto-empty... (Image credit: Future)

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Empty onboard bin from Roborock Q5 Pro Plus — ... and after (Image credit: Future)

It's not as fully-featured as you'd find on pricier models – as discussed, there are no water tanks, let alone mop pad cleaning – but as a dust-emptying dock it's excellent. Despite some cheapness in the quality of the lift-off dust bag lid, I give this dock close to top marks.

Performance score: 3.5 out of 5

Roborock Q5 Pro+ review: app

Intuitive and easy to set up
Feature filled
Not all setting options available

The Roborock app is essential for maximizing the Q5 Pro+'s potential. Setup is straightforward and the interface is clean and very intuitive. It also comes with tons of options, though some may be missing for this particular model of robot vac.

Screenshots from Roborock companion app — (Image credit: Roborock)

In general, you're provided with a decent range of parameters, including real-time mapping, cleaning schedules, zone customization, routine settings and various custom options regarding how the robot and dock behave during any cleaning session. I particularly appreciated the ‘no-go zones' for keeping the vacuum away from delicate areas and the way you can view your home in 3D. I also love the way you can set its voice notifications to your specific language and, if living in the UK, even choose a British accent.

App score: 4 out of 5

Should you buy the Roborock Q5 Pro+?

Buy it if...

You want reliable, efficient vacuuming

Roborocks rarely fail to impress when it comes to sweeping floors, and this model is no exception. Despite not having the highest outright suction on the market, its cleaning power is right up there with far pricier, higher-specced models.

You're on a budget

This is one of the cheapest Roborock bots available, and discounts are easy to come by. If mopping isn't your priority, this could be a great-value buy.

You want a compact dock

The dock is small for a self-empty option, despite having generously sized dust containers. I have no complaints about its functionality, either.

Don't buy it if...

You need a mopping feature

Although this bot does mop, it's pretty useless at it.

Your home is a little cluttered

While mapping is good, the obstacle avoidance here is basic. If there are often toys or other clutter on your floor, and you don't want to have to tidy before every vacuum session, this is one to avoid.

You have low furniture

The Q5 Pro+ is on the taller side for a robot vacuum. If you have low-sitting furniture, it might not be able to fit underneath. Roborock's newest models (including the Qrevo Slim and Saros 10R) are designed specifically with this in mind. View Deal

How I tested the Roborock Q5 Pro+

I let the Roborock Q5 Pro+ loose on my open-plan flooring and observed its behavior over a five-day period. I then ran a series of intensive tests to see how well it vacuumed both hard floor and carpet, which it passed with flying colours. I also tried out its obstacle avoidance using a variety of items, including small and large dog toys. I then put its mop to the test, knowing full well that it would be a sub-par performer simply by looking at it. And I was right.

Read more about how we test robot vacuum cleaners

First reviewed March 2025

This laptop cooling pad isn’t all that stunning – but my testing shows it offers seriously cool running

11:20 pm | March 14, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Gadgets Laptops | Tags: MSRP | Comments: Off

Tecknet N5 Laptop Cooling Pad Review

The Technet Laptop Cooling Pad is an inexpensive cooling solution for any heavy-duty tasks you throw at your laptop, whether you’re gaming or rendering 3D animation. It rocks two fans capable of up to 1800rpm and is compatible with laptops up to 17 inches.

As those fans would suggest, the Technet Laptop Cooling Pad offers genuinely impressive cooling. The baseline 3D Mark Stress Test I ran on our Acer Predator Helios 300 with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 saw its temperature rise from 20.2°C to 52.1°C, an increase of 31.9°C. With the Tecknet running at its highest output, our gaming laptop hit a high of 41.8°C, a much more modest warming of 17.9°C. That’s one of the best results I’ve seen in my testing so far.

With this kind of cooling, you’d expect some pretty serious fan noise from the Tecknet N5 Laptop Cooling Pad. However, in my experience it wasn't too disruptive – while the noise was noticeable, it didn’t distract from the tunes I was listening to.

And this was borne out by empirical testing – 10 minutes into the stress test, I measured the noise levels from three inches away and the combined noise of the cooling pad and laptop was quieter at 58dB than the 60dB benchmark of the laptop’s fans working alone. At my head height (21 inches away), this evened out a little, registering a little louder at 45dB combined compared to 42dB alone. Still, this rivals some of the best laptop cooling pads.

The Tecknet felt comfortable to use. The ergonomics were just right for me, with its angle allowing me to comfortably rest my wrists without any flexion or extension.

Speaking purely aesthetically, its looks are perhaps a little on the basic side – it’s essentially just made of textured matt plastic and a grille over the fans. You won’t see them most of the time, but when in use the fans are lit by a subtle blue light, which I think looks a bit more classy than some of the flamboyant RGB lighting its rivals opt for. One slight worry I do have, though, is the textured grips that hold your laptop in place. While my laptop didn’t slip around too much during testing, I have concerns about how well they’ll keep one in place during extra vigorous gaming sessions.

Ultimately, though, I can’t argue with the results. Despite being toward the cheaper end of the spectrum at $19.99 / £19.99, the Tecknet N5 Laptop Cooling Pad offers seriously decent performance, even if it doesn't look quite as fancy as more stereotypically gaming-focused cooling solutions. All in all, it's definitely worth the spend if your biggest priority is shaving off those degrees for as little dough as possible.

The Tecknet N5 Laptop Cooling Pad on a pink background. — (Image credit: Future)

Tecknet N5 Laptop Cooling Pad review: specs

The Tecknet N5 Laptop Cooling Pad on a pink background showing the ports and power switch. — (Image credit: Future)

Tecknet N5 Laptop Cooling Pad review: price and availability

Released August 18, 2015
MSRP of $29.99 / £24.99

The Tecknet N5 Laptop Cooling Pad first went on sale on August 18, 2015, and is still available now. It retails for an MSRP of $29.99 / £24.99, but there are plenty of deals out there. It’s currently on sale for $26.99 on Amazon US, while you can buy it direct from Tecknet in the UK for just £12.49, so it’s worth keeping an eye out for bargains.

There aren’t many different options available, with most retailers only offering it with blue lighting and detailing. However, Amazon US does currently offer it with red lighting and highlights, so if that’s more your bag, it’s worth snapping that option up.

The Tecknet N5 Laptop Cooling Pad featuring a gaming laptop on a pink background. — (Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Tecknet N5 Laptop Cooling Pad?

Buy it if…

You want impressive cooling
Able to keep our testing laptop a full 14°C cooler even during a 3D stress test, this cooling pad is seriously frosty. It should go a long way to stop your laptop overheating, even during the most demanding gaming sessions.

You want reduced noise
Thanks to those ultra-quiet fans, this cooling doesn’t come at the cost of loads of noise. In fact, the Tecknet N5 Laptop Cooling Pad seems to be no louder than our testing laptop’s built-in fans.

Don’t buy it if…

You want souped-up gaming aesthetics
If you want psychedelic RGB lighting and the sharp, angular geometry typical of most gaming equipment, you might be disappointed here. The Tecknet N5 Laptop Cooling Pad has understated blue lighting and is made of relatively basic materials, so it’s more for cooling than drooling over.

You want to ensure your laptop will stay put
Unlike some cooling pads with physical rests for keeping your laptop in place, the Tecknet only offers some textured grips. These are not a guarantee your laptop won’t slip during vigorous gaming sessions.

Tecknet N5 Laptop Cooling Pad review: also consider

TopMate C12 Laptop Cooling Pad
The TopMate C12 Laptop Cooling Pad looks stunning, with its vibrant RGB lighting and quality build, while the braces at its bottom end keep your laptop firmly in place. It didn’t quite manage to keep up with the Tecknet’s cooling in our test, allowing our laptop to warm up by 22.8°C, but it was just as quiet. If you’re willing to spend $29.99 / £29.77, this will definitely earn you some extra style points.

How I tested the Tecknet N5 Laptop Cooling Pad

Tested it over several days
Used a thermal camera to measure temperature difference before and after test
Used a sound level meter to measure fan noise 10 minutes into test

I spent several days testing and using the Tecknet N5 Laptop Cooling Pad. I ran it through several standardized benchmarks that we use for all laptop cooling pads. I checked the temperature of the hottest point of our Acer Predator Helios 300 with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 testing laptop using a handheld thermal camera, ran a 15-minute 3DMark Stress Test with the cooling pad on its highest setting, then checked its temperature again.

To test the noise it generated, I used a sound level meter to check the noise generated 10 minutes into the test both with the laptop alone and with the laptop cooler running. I tested this from three inches to get an accurate reading of the noise generated, as well as from my head height to gain a reading of how loud it will sound in practice.

In terms of my experience, I’ve been a committed gamer and laptop user for over 30 years, and I’ve been covering tech and gadgets as a journalist for well over a decade.

First reviewed: March 2025
Read more about how we test

This little fold-up MagSafe charging station is my new top pick for every trip

10:20 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Phone Accessories Phones | Comments: Off

Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Foldable Pad review

The Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Foldable Pad is a travel-friendly Qi2 MagSafe charger with charging modules for an iPhone and AirPods, and a certified Apple Watch fast-charging module. It has a retail price of $89.99 / £89.99 / AU$199.99 on the Anker website and can be purchased at Amazon too.

The material of the Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Foldable Pad looks and feels high-quality, and the patented design is well-considered. I was particularly happy to see Anker has incorporated materials that could reduce their environmental impact by using 75% PCR (post-consumer recycled) plastic in the outer casing of the MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Foldable Pad.

It took mere moments to fold the MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Foldable Pad down small enough to fit in the palm of my hand, and the magnets were strong enough to withstand the depths of my bag but easy to pull apart when needed. It was not so easy to remove the iPhone from the charging pad, however, unless I had two free hands to pry them apart and stop the charging pad from hitting the table once separated.

The small Anker charging station is unfolded and laid flat. — (Image credit: Cesci Angell / Future)

Although I liked the novel UFO-meets-macaron aesthetic, I found the charger moved easily when laid flat to charge three devices, especially when placing or removing the iPhone and Apple Watch. The charging module for the latter made me the most uncomfortable, as I could hear the outer surface scraping on the table each time it moved. It got a little marked from the rough surface of the table I photographed it on – fortunately it wiped off easily and there didn’t appear to be any scratches, but I’d still advise caution. This can be avoided if an Apple Watch has an all-in-one band or a sturdy strap is left fastened, as the charger’s silicone strap enables the Apple Watch charging module to tilt upwards, allowing upright charging.

I’m not really a fan of flat wireless chargers – unless it’s a charging pad I can comfortably hold in my hand like the Anker MagGo Wireless Charger Pad. However, I was pleased to discover the Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Foldable Pad could be made into a stand by attaching the Apple Watch charging module to the back of the iPhone module. It’s not a perfect solution as the phone can only be landscape and there’s only one viewing angle, but as Anker’s point was to facilitate StandBy mode, it does the job.

The small Anker charging station is unfolded and laid flat. It's charging an iPhone and an Apple Watch. — (Image credit: Cesci Angell / Future)

I’ve tested a fair amount of wireless chargers that seemed to take themselves too literally. This isn’t the end of the world if they charge efficiently with any cable and adapter, but some require the latter to be above a certain wattage. Fortunately, I won’t be adding the Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Foldable Pad to that list, as it comes with a 40W adapter and a conveniently long 5 ft / 1.5 m USB-C to USB-C cable too.

The Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Foldable Pad took a commendable hour and fifty-six minutes to fully charge an 3,095mAh iPhone 13 Pro, which is almost twenty minutes faster than the Anker 3-in-1 Cube with MagSafe. The Apple Watch charging speed was good too, taking just an hour and three minutes to recharge my Apple Watch Series 9, only one minute shy of the fastest MagSafe charger I’ve tested to date, the Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Stand.

In closing, I really quite like the Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Foldable Pad. Certain aspects may not be entirely to my preference, but it’s well–made out of good-looking materials, and the patented design makes it conveniently easy to fold up and pack away. It’s pretty pricey, for sure, but for the good charging speeds, eco-conscious materials, compact size, and light weight, you’re getting value for money here. If you’d like to explore other MagSafe charger options, I’d recommend checking out our pick of the best wireless chargers.

Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Foldable Pad review: Price & specs

Should I buy the Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Foldable Pad?

Buy it if…

You want a small and convenient travel-friendly wireless charger
This charger is easy to fold down to a satisfyingly small size, making it perfect to pack away quickly whether you’re off on your travels or taking it to the office to keep your phone juiced up as you work.

You want something minimal but efficient
Despite its clever design, this Anker charger keeps things fairly simple with just three wireless modules linked together with silicone straps. Its ability to fold down into a stand to charge the iPhone alone is a great space-saver too, if that’s the device you’ll charge most often.

Don't buy it if…

You want a wireless charger you can use one-handed
As there’s no weight to this Anker charger and no grippy base to keep it in place, it makes it very difficult to remove the iPhone from the charging pad. So if you’re someone like me who needs access to their phone regularly while working, it could prove irritating after a while.

You want a cheap 3-in-1 charging solution
As much as I like this charger, there’s no hiding the fact it’s very expensive. The price is reasonable for those wanting a compact and high-quality travel charger with good charging speeds, but if your budget is half as much as this, there are other options out there.

Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Foldable Pad review: Also consider

Mous MagSafe Compatible 3-in-1 Portable Charger
For around half the price of this travel-friendly Anker charger, you could purchase this pocket-sized portable charger that folds down to around the size of a credit card and is only 0.5 inches / 13.4mm deep. It’s certainly not the fastest charger out there, but if cost and convenience are the priority over fast charging, this little 3-in-1 charger is worth a look. If you’re interested in learning more, have a read of my full review of the Mous MagSafe Compatible 3-in-1 Portable Charger.

I’ve spent days in the ring with WWE 2K25, and it’s like a five-star match ruined by the Million Dollar Man

7:00 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming | Comments: Off

Since Visual Concepts’ WWE 2K wrestling game series hit current-gen platforms after a year off – skipping a 2K21 – it’s been a genuinely great series instead of a middle-of-the-road yearly sports release. From WWE 2K22 onwards, the games have been steadily improving with smart changes and new features, and WWE 2K25 is once again a great wrestling game that improves on what came before.

Review info

Platform reviewed: PS5 / PS5 Pro
Available on: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC
Release date: March 14, 2025

The core wrestling feels like a great mixture of arcade and simulation styles, with counters, combos, and freeform carry moves giving each wrestler a deep moveset. This year’s entry brings back the Chain Wrestling mechanic that was last seen in WWE 2K20; this allows matches to kick off in a far more realistic way. Wrestlers will lock up in a grab and use a minigame to maneuver around their opponent to get the edge at the start of the match; it’s only available at the beginning of a bout and gives the early match a momentum more akin to what you see on TV, as opposed to just going all out right away.

It’s also the best-looking game yet, with wrestlers now being covered in welts and bruises as a match goes along, and those who wear body paint having it come apart over the course of the match. Meanwhile, the TV-style presentation is top-notch, with camera cuts akin to real WWE TV.

The big new addition this year is intergender wrestling, allowing men and women to compete against each other. This features heavily in this year’s My Rise storyline, but outside of that, I feel like it could be more. For example, title matches are available in the mode, but it’s only for designated ‘intergender’ titles, which mostly consist of 2K’s made-up titles and a handful of official WWE titles like the 24/7, cruiserweight, and hardcore titles, but without being able to have Chelsea Green win the WWE Championship, it feels a little half-baked.

Bloodline rules

This year’s 2K Showcase focuses on ‘The Bloodline’ – the WWE canon name for the Anoaʻi/Maivia family of Samoan professional wrestlers, including the likes of The Rock, Roman Reigns, Yokozuna, and Umaga. Where previous editions have followed single wrestlers, you take on the role of a majority of the family members this time around.

This mode is presented and narrated by Paul Heyman this year, who is already the greatest talker in WWE history, and his rundown of the events is fantastic and keeps you engaged throughout the long cutscenes.

Since not all Bloodline members are created equal, 2K25’s matches are split into three categories. The usual reliving prominent wins (like Yokozuna beating Hulk Hogan at King of the Ring 1993) returns. But for those members who don’t have any big wins or standout matches, there are rewritten and dream matches like Tamina winning the first women’s Money in the Bank or having The Wild Samoans take on The Dudley Boyz.

The last few years of 2K Showcase intercut real-life match footage during gameplay, leading to players sitting and watching matches without commentary instead of playing the game for long stretches. This year, 2K has mercifully ditched that and recreated match cutscenes in engine and added new commentary from the game’s announce team. This style makes Showcase way less of a slog this year and turns it into a standout mode.

The only real issue with the mode this year is the goals. When recreating matches, the game wants you to redo certain beats from the real match, which will unlock new items when done correctly (you can play the match normally too, but you’ll miss these unlocks). This year’s game introduces timed goals, which usually require you to do a certain move or an amount of damage. But if you don’t get it in time, it’s skipped, and you’ll need to replay the match entirely if you want another crack at it.

Some of these timers are ridiculously short, and in multi-person matches like Money in the Bank, another wrestler doing one grab to you is enough to guarantee you failing it. The dream match goals, on the other hand, are terribly bland, mostly being ‘do x amount of damage’ and then ‘now win.’

Mutiny on the Bounty

This year's My Rise – an original story following your created wrestler – is a mixed bag. It’s far and away the best storyline found in any of these modes. It follows a faction of former NXT wrestlers attempting to take over WWE with their new NXT Mutiny brand, and your character leading the fight against them. It’s full of great twists and turns and kept me engaged the whole time. But, instead of the two gender-specific stories, this time you have to make a male and female-created character to go through the story.

Best bit

The Bloodline showcase features highlights of many members of the family. But the section dedicated to Umaga was not only the best match in this year’s mode but was also a genuinely lovely tribute to an incredible talent gone too soon.

The big deal this year is choices. There's stuff that will affect certain story beats, like where your wrestler came from (Indies, MMA) and their relationship with the other wrestler you make (used to date, best friends) that introduce different dialogue. And there are bigger choices, like which wrestlers you recruit to fight Mutiny. This means there’s a bigger focus on replayability too, which becomes a bit of a hindrance when there are unlockables involved. From what I can tell, you’ll probably need to play through the mode a good three or four times to get all of the extra characters and arenas available.

There only being one story isn’t the only cutback this year either. There are no more side missions, and the runtime feels shorter than in previous years. There are ‘Live Events’ that allow you to do generic fights, which also have unlocks attached to your star rating. Assuming you get five-star matches every time (which takes a while), it’s still 56 fights to unlock everything. I can’t help but feel like things were cut down in favor of another mode.

Here comes the money

The Island is the brand-new mode exclusive to the current-gen versions of the game (not PC, though), and despite being the big thing for WWE 2K25, it’s easily the worst thing about it. The mode plays out like a bad MMO where you go talk to NPCs, play matches, and compete against others.

But the mission structure is so bland; one of the early questlines has you walking in and out of the same building to talk to two different sets of NPCs multiple times. Plus, the story is told via still images with text, with the occasional video of Roman Reigns. It would be a harmless, kind of bland mode, but then its character progression shows its true colors.

You create a new character for The Island, and this character’s stats are upgraded via VC – the game’s premium paid currency. Not only that but there are also exclusive cosmetic items for your characters that also cost VC. You can earn VC while playing matches, but it’s a pittance compared to the prices of gear, leading you to either grind like mad or pull out the credit card.

Every online match (which took ages to find and disconnected immediately most times) in the mode placed me against the sweatiest-looking created wrestlers with maxed-out stats, so the mode is also basically pay-to-win, although thankfully it’s not interesting enough that I care. I play these games for around 80+ hours every year, but I don’t see myself touching this mode after the review.

Speaking of money, My Faction – 2K’s take on Ultimate Team – returns with all the same problems as before. Exclusive characters are locked behind ‘Persona’ cards, which are either a massive grind to get or require random drops from card packs. The new ‘World Tour’ within My Faction is the best thing added to the mode in years (allowing you to unlock some of those ‘Persona’ cards), but it also has walls that require you to have specific card types to continue through it.

My GM is another mode that has similar problems to before. I love GM Mode with all my heart, but the weird penalties in 2K’s version are off-putting. Characters all have roles and styles; some vibe well with others, and your matches are worse off if you don’t have the right pairings.

But this isn’t emblematic of what WWE is like in real life; CM Punk and Seth Rollins are in the midst of a blood feud right now on TV; both of them are good guys. This mode has the potential to be the best thing about WWE 2K, but the same old restrictions once again overwhelm any improvements.

WWE 2K25 is the best wrestling game of the modern era. The Showcase and My Rise modes are the best they’ve been with some minor issues, and the core wrestling feels great with an ever-increasing number of match types keeping it fresh. But the money-hungry Island and My Faction modes – which can’t even be ignored due to their unlockable content – hold it back from its rightful place at the head of the table.

Should you play WWE 2K25?

Play it if...

You want a fantastic wrestling game
WWE 2K25 is the best wrestling game I’ve played since 2K took the series over. The core wrestling is fantastic and is only improved with the likes of chain wrestling. Some of the side modes aren’t amazing, but it has a ton of content for you to play through until next year’s entry releases. Plus, there are hundreds of wrestlers from WWE’s past through to the current day.

You acknowledge Roman Reigns as your Tribal Chief
The 2K Showcase documentary mode is the best it has ever been this year. Looking back at the Bloodline’s past and future gives it a ton of variety, and Paul Heyman’s narration is incredibly engaging throughout. Plus, removing the real footage helps the pacing massively.

Don't play it if...

You’ll be annoyed at missing content
Variants of characters are locked to ‘Persona’ cards found behind a grind or random card packs in My Faction mode, or through various My Rise replays. Unless you’re willing to put a massive amount of time in, you’re probably not unlocking everything.

Accessibility

Accessibility-wise there’s not much to write home about. The various mini-games for the likes of pins and submissions are customizable. There’s rapid button pressing for submissions, which can be switched for a slider minigame, while pins are a timed minigame that can be swapped for rapid pressing. There’s also an option for rapid press inputs to be replaced by holding buttons. However, these changes are not available in any online modes (including vs the CPU in My Faction).

How I reviewed WWE 2K25

I played 30 hours of WWE 2K25 between a PS5 Pro on a Samsung Q60D TV and a Samsung HW-T450 soundbar. I also played on a PS5 on a Samsung Odyssey G5 gaming monitor with a PlayStation Pulse 3D Headset.

During this time I played all of the Showcase mode (including both sides of the Wargames match), one playthrough of My Rise, a year of My GM, a few months in Universe, and about five hours of My Faction. I also played through the first few chapters of The Island, with a couple of PVP matches in the mode.

First reviewed March 2025

Curaprox Hydrosonic Pro review: A powerful seven-mode, Swiss-made sonic brush

5:00 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness | Comments: Off

Curaprox Hydrosonic Pro: Two-minute review

The Curaprox Hydrosonic Pro toothbrush from Swiss company Curaden is a sonic brush that looks good, packs a fair bit of power and offers a comprehensive clean. Its octagonal shape and clinical whites and grays remind me of a satellite or space station, and the electric toothbrush itself is certainly a high-flier, and a contender for the title of “best electric toothbrush I’ve tried in 2025”, delivering a premium clean, albeit for a premium price.

The Curaprox is well-designed and functional. In the box you get the handset, a trio of brush heads equipped with soft Curen fibers, a plastic travel case, and a USB-A ‘nub’ type charging stand typical of many electric toothbrushes. Charging takes 10 hours, and the brush will last for 60 minutes on a full charge, which equates to around two weeks of use. As is the case with many toothbrushes, Curaden recommends that you don’t leave the Curaprox on charge constantly, and only charge it when the battery drops below 20%, as indicated by the LEDs running up the side of the handset.

Overall, it’s a pretty good package, although it would be nice at this price point if the case charged the brush too, so that you never have to worry about it on the go. I suppose that given its two-week battery life, the idea is that you should make sure the brush is fully charged before you go on your holidays.

Curaprox Hydrosonic Pro electric toothbrush — (Image credit: Future)

The trio of brush heads comprise one for power cleaning, one for sensitive cleaning, and one for precision cleaning. The single brush head really allows you to get between teeth and gums, and I was very impressed: it’s bent backwards where the others have been bent forward, to account for the difference of use.

Curaprox says the Hydrosonic Pro has been designed for professional-level cleans at home (what electric toothbrush isn’t, according to the marketing people?) and the three brush heads coupled with the seven intensities mean you get a total of 21 bespoke cleaning modes. There’s also lots of helpful information in the manual, and it makes for quite interesting and educational reading when it comes to how to use the brush. I’d rather read the manual than have to follow the instructions in an app any day – I’ve got too many wellness apps on my phone as it is.

Replacement brush heads can be bought in packs of two of each kind from Curaprox, and, like the brush itself, they’re not cheap at $25.20 / £24.50 / AU$42.00 for a pack on Amazon.

That powerful motor can go from whisper quiet to annoyingly loud at the highest setting – over 65 decibels, according to the Decibel X app, which is louder than the 53 decibels I recorded for the similarly premium Philips Sonicare 7100. However, it is a good indication of how powerful the clean is, and during my testing I found myself using the single brush to clean across my gumline quite often – it’s a great design element that I’d like to see more manufacturers adopt.

Curaprox Hydrosonic Pro: Specifications

Curaprox Hydrosonic Pro: Price and availability

$199.99 / £190 / AU$299
Replacement brush heads cost $25.20 / £24.50 / AU$42.00
Not cheap, but high quality

The Curaprox Hydrosonic Pro costs $199.99 in the US, £190 in the UK and AU$299 in Australia, with replacement brush heads available in packs of two of the same head, so if you want spares of the power clean, sensitive or the single clean, you’ll need to pay twice. Crafty.

As you’ve probably gathered, while there are more expensive toothbrushes on the market this is certainly a premium option, and an ongoing investment in your oral health. It’s a very well-designed system, you could certainly do a lot worse – I’m of the opinion AI guidance and app-based rewards are almost never used on more expensive toothbrushes, and therefore are usually unnecessary – but the Curaprox Hydrosonic Pro represents the upper limit of what I think anyone should prepare to pay for an electric toothbrush.

Value score: 3.5/5

Curaprox Hydrosonic Pro: Scorecard

Curaprox Hydrosonic Pro: Should I buy?

Buy it if...

You want power

The Curaprox Hydrosonic Pro is perhaps the loudest, most powerful toothbrush I’ve tested.

You want precision

The single brush head is a really great idea, enabling you to clean between your teeth and at the gumline with more accuracy.

You have sensitive teeth

With a brush head specifically for sensitivity and Curen’s special softer fibers, those needing a gentle clean are catered for.

Don't buy if if...

You’re on a budget

If you’re just after a simple sonic clean that does the job, you could spend half the money and get a suitable brush.

You want a charging case

The Philips Sonicare 7100 comes with a charging case rather than a non-electronic plastic one

Also consider

Suri Sustainable Sonic Toothbrush

The best sustainability-focused sonic toothbrush.

Read our Suri Sustainable Sonic Toothbrush review

Philips Sonicare 7100

Often found on sale, this toothbrush isn’t quite as powerful, but it comes with a charging case and cheaper replacement heads.

Read our Philips Sonicare 7100 review

How I tested

I used the Curaprox Hydrosonic Pro for one week. I charged it using the plug-in base, used all seven modes and all three brush heads, and used a decibel meter app to calculate how loud the brush was compared to other brushes on the market.

First reviewed: March 2025

I was already sold on Atelier Yumia as an RPG, but I wasn’t expecting it to have my favorite crafting system in all of gaming

4:00 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming | Tags: Final Fantasy, RPG | Comments: Off

I’ll be the first to admit games that heavily feature crafting as a key component are typically a huge turn-off for me, so I was initially wary of Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories and the Envisioned Land’s focus on it. Be it in survival games like Minecraft or Sons of the Forest, or even other RPGs like Final Fantasy 14 Online, I usually find it hard to engage with crafting systems; the tedium of it all quickly sets in, making me very eager to get back to gameplay that’s just a bit more exciting.

Review info

Platform reviewed: PC (Steam)
Available on: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
Release date: March 21, 2025

This, surprisingly, has not been the case with developer Gust’s Atelier Yumia. From equipment and accessories to helpful items and placeable furniture, so much of this RPG’s (role-playing game) gameplay revolves around its alchemical crafting system.

But that became the exact reason why I grew to love the game. In Atelier Yumia, you’re not just crafting things for small, temporarily helpful gains. Each item you synthesize provides meaningful game and character progression. Whether that’s increasing the potency of a healing item by using higher-quality gatherables or creating a version of a weapon that lets you slot in extra traits, there are always multiple avenues of customization and outfitting your party members with tools that suit your playstyle.

Pair this with an incredibly slick and stylish battle system and an open world that greatly incentivizes exploration, and in Atelier Yumia, you have a game that can easily be considered one of the best RPGs of 2025. Barring some presentational issues and the occasional bit of obtuse map design, the game is simply a near-constant joy to play.

The not-so-wicked witch

While not an exclusively dark narrative by any means, Atelier Yumia grounds things in a world where alchemy is greatly feared and shunned, having been responsible for a great many accidents throughout history.

Our titular protagonist, Yumia, is one such alchemist and, despite only wanting the best for the world and its people, is typically met with distrust. Even when she uses alchemy for the benefit of others.

Thus, Yumia sets out on a journey of truth and discovery with a party of trusted comrades. With the goal of discovering the secrets of the fallen land that once thrived beforehand, Yumia aims to prove that alchemy can be used for good and doesn’t have to be something that’s inherently destructive.

From start to finish, Atelier Yumia’s story is a pretty straightforward ride, but one that’s nonetheless enjoyable. Elements of maturity are present, especially when exploring Yumia’s past. But the game often keeps the tone light-hearted and there’s plenty of bubbly dialogue and humor to enjoy. Overall, it’s an easygoing, often cozy tale, but one that isn’t afraid to get serious as the situation demands.

A walk in the park

What Atelier Yumia gets right for the majority of its runtime is pacing - something that’s usually pretty rare in the open-world space. The game’s story rarely drags its heels, allowing players to truly take things at their own pace.

That pace, between all the game’s systems and mechanics, is usually very brisk. That’s especially true of exploration in Atelier Yumia. While you might initially balk at the abundance of Ubisoft-style question marks dotting the map, in reality, these are almost all extremely quick diversions. Optional points of interest like this include small ruins to explore, monster breeding grounds or hubs for particular materials, caves containing treasures, and boxes you can quickly nab skill points from.

While there’s certainly much to do in each of Yumia’s four main regions, you’re able to explore it at a relatively quick pace. Darting between undiscovered points of interest on the way to the next story objective always felt natural, and never like I had to seriously go out of my way unless I expressly wanted to.

Best bit

Atelier Yumia’s take on the series’ alchemy system is arguably its best yet. While certainly very deep and boasting an amalgamation of its own mechanics, it’s nonetheless incredibly straightforward. Crafting high-quality items like weapons, accessories, restoratives and more is a moreish endeavor, especially as you continue to refine and make them more effective as you progress through the game.

That same snappiness applies to Atelier Yumia’s battle system. Like alchemy, there’s a lot to the battle system, but it’s all very easy to pick up and learn. The basics are that your party of three can engage enemies with combo attacks, set to each of the four face buttons. These combos can be used to put enemies in a weakened state, at which point you can use battle items and partner attacks to exploit elemental weaknesses for massive damage.

Battle items are also a much more integral part of the experience, and have been streamlined to a degree. They can become permanent additions to your combat loadout, only limited by a cooldown timer between uses. You’ll only need to replace them if you wish to craft better versions of them with more properties and more damage or healing potency.

As a result, while party members have their own weapons and base stats, how you can set them up is impressively flexible. For example, kitting Yumia out with elemental battle items can turn her into a robust mage, while the shield-bearing Viktor might hold a variety of stat-boosting items, essentially making him a stalwart support unit. It’s a bit Xenoblade-esque in that regard, giving you the tools necessary to build and equip characters in a way that works for you.

I require your strongest potions

As I mentioned at the top, alchemy is the system that ties everything together in Atelier Yumia. While at your atelier - or within a designated building zone in the world - you’re free to perform synthesis to create anything from battle items to benches. You will of course need materials to craft these items, but you’ll find plentiful gathering spots throughout the world and you’ll naturally collect an abundance of ingredients by simply exploring.

All synthesis projects begin by selecting an Alchemy Core as your base item, of which there are various types - including one that provides an overall quality boost or another that lets you slot in traits for additional modifiers. You’ll then add materials to help expand the core’s resonance area. The larger this area, the more drifting mana will be captured within its influence. The more mana you collect, the greater the item’s quality, thus boosting its overall potency. Plus, using materials of a higher grade will extend the ceiling of any given item’s potential power.

What makes alchemy so great is that it really is up to you in regards to how you shape these items. Materials have their own unique properties, and using specific ones can provide secondary or tertiary bonuses. A hard-hitting battle item may provide other bonuses this way, such as healing or providing various buffs. Or, you can just go all-in on power, making items that hit as hard as possible.

As you progress through the game, you’ll gradually unlock new recipes for synthesizing entirely new items. These ‘recall recipes’ can be created and upgraded at your atelier using different types of Memory Vials you can find in the world. Upgrading recipes can make them even more powerful, such as increasing their number of uses before going on cooldown, or increasing their base quality.

As I said, you’re not just limited to battle-oriented items. Synthesis can be done to create potions, armor, accessories, and more. And if you don’t want to get too lost in the weeds, handy quick synthesis options exist where the game will smartly assign materials automatically based on your preferences - whether that be the bare minimum, or going for as much quality as possible.

Synthesis doesn’t stop there, either. Workbenches will allow you to create housing items like benches, plants, or archways. These can then be freely placed as designated building spots throughout the world, letting you create your own bases or homesteads. There are so many options here, and it feels great being able to leave your own marks on the world to a greatly personal degree. Sure, it’s not quite Minecraft levels of freedom, but there’s plenty here that’ll allow you to get lost in hours of creativity.

A brave new frontier

In my Atelier Yumia playthrough, really the only thing that bugged me was the game’s overall visuals and presentation. They’re by no means bad, but I do feel like developer Gust often went a touch overboard when it comes to post-processing effects. Bloom during sunrise and sunset can be eye-searingly bright, washing out the world to an occasionally uncomfortable degree. Weather effects also aren’t particularly convincing, with an example being rainfall immediately coating the world in an overly wet and shiny look.

In better news, performance in Atelier Yumia is fantastic. On PC, I was able to maintain a rock-solid 60fps (frames per second), and load times are phenomenally fast - even when fast traveling from one end of the map to another. I found this to be crucial given the relatively fast-paced nature of the game, and I’m glad that Gust really took the time to optimize its world with this in mind.

Should you play Atelier Yumia?

Play it if...

You want an intricate and moreish crafting system
Synthesizing items in Atelier Yumia is extremely enjoyable, and there are so many ways to create items for any playstyle and occasion.

You love a game that respects your time
It may be a lengthy RPG, but Atelier Yumia doesn’t bog you down with an hours-long intro. Meanwhile, battle and exploration are both remarkably brisk, making for an experience that’s easy and fulfilling to play if you don’t have a ton of free time to spare.

Don't play it if...

You’re averse to poorly implemented post-processing
Atelier Yumia’s biggest issue is its reliance on intrusive effects like overdone bloom and unconvincing weather effects. While not enough to be a deal breaker for me personally, such effects can be quite distracting during exploration.

Accessibility

There’s a decent amount of accessibility features found within Atelier Yumia’s options menu. Text size and background opacity can be adjusted, as well as have three colorblind settings (deuteranopia, tritanopia, and protanopia) applied to them.

Various battle options exist that can make hitting certain commands easier, too. These include an auto-guard function for incoming attacks and an ‘easy precision counter’ that swaps you to a random character after successfully guarding or evading at the right time.

How I reviewed Atelier Yumia

My playthrough of Atelier Yumia lasted around 35 hours, taking me through the main quest line, a ton of optional map exploration, and a handful of side quests.

I spent much of that time getting absorbed by item synthesis, finding it to be the game’s crowning achievement and something I was willing to put much time into in order to craft high-quality battle items and gear. I played the game on PC via Steam with an Nvidia RTX GeForce 3060 Ti graphics card, an AOC Gaming 24G2SP monitor, and the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro controller.

First reviewed March 2025

The Upeak Sport Strap is so comfortable I forgot I was wearing my Apple Watch – but it’s not the most premium band out there

3:38 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness Smartwatches | Comments: Off

Upeak Sport Strap review

The Upeak Sport Strap is an Apple Watch band designed for physical activity, and for those who want something light and comfortable. It adopts a fairly typical sports band aesthetic, with its silicone material and perforated holes.

There are multiple colorways available, from monochromatic shades to more vibrant, multi-hued combinations, so there’s a good match for everyone. The Charcoal variant I had was understated, making it suitable for all sorts of occasions.

It feels reasonably durable, although it’s perhaps not as tough as some of the best Apple Watch bands out there. It also picks up blemishes and small scratches relatively easily too.

It installs quite easily into an Apple Watch. I did notice a small amount of play, wobbling very slightly from side to side within the strap recess, although not enough to cause a problem or warrant concern.

The Upeak Sport Strap is pleasingly light and reasonably thin. It’s also quite pliant with a small amount of elasticity, meaning you can stretch it slightly to adjust on your wrist.

These aspects help to make it very comfortable. The multiple fastening holes ensure an easy fit, while the material is soft enough to prevent irritation occurring. In fact, I could barely feel it on my wrist at times, which is always a good sign in a watch strap.

Despite this, the Upeak Sport Strap also offers a good amount of grip. Even when I had it relatively loose on my wrist, my Apple Watch still didn’t move around. The buckle is equally secure, so I wasn’t worried about it coming loose. This makes it great for physical activity, and means you don’t need an uncomfortably tight fit to keep it stable.

What also supports physical activity is how the Upeak Sport Strap deals with sweat and water. It stays comfortable even when drenched, without rubbing on the skin or causing irritation. Even better is just how quickly it dries, and a small dab of a towel is all that’s required in the most extreme cases.

One drawback of the Upeak Sport Strap, though, is just how easily it picks up debris, such as dust and hair, thanks to the sticky nature of the silicone. This can be hard to remove without the aid of a brush or lint remover.

Despite this, the Upeak Sport Strap remains good value for money at under £10. The comfort levels and ease of use are great, so even though it mightn’t be the most premium Apple Watch band out there, it still makes for the ideal workout partner.

Upeak Sport Strap on Apple Watch on wrist — (Image credit: Future)

Upeak Sport Strap review: Price & specs

Close-up of buckle on Upeak Sport Strap on wrist — (Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Upeak Sport Strap?

Buy it if…

You want supreme comfort
Regardless of what you’re doing, the Upeak Sport Strap remains comfortable in all situations.

You want to save money
Many equivalent sports bands, especially those from the big brands and Apple itself, are considerably more expensive.

Don't buy it if…

You want minimal upkeep
Thanks to the sticky nature of the Silicone, dust and debris stick easily to the Upeak Sport Strap, which can be awkward to clean.

You want something formal
Despite being relatively understated, it still isn’t among the most premium or elegant of Apple Watch straps.

Upeak Sport Strap review: Also consider

Nike Sport Band
If you’re after something more premium, then the Nike Sport Band is a good choice. It’s made from fluoroelastomer and is comfortable and breathable no matter what kind of activity you’re up to. It’s also durable, and the range of colors, including a Pride option, mean there’s a variant for everyone. We think it’s one of the best Apple Watch bands for working out with.

I tested Meridian’s super-smart wireless speaker for a month – here’s my verdict on whether it’s worth that high price tag

3:28 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Hi-Fi Wireless & Bluetooth Speakers | Tags: MSRP | Comments: Off

Meridian Ellipse: two-minute review

The Meridian Ellipse is a seriously capable single-unit wireless speaker. It can handle incredibly detailed hi-res audio, whether via Wi-FI or wired inputs like USB-C or optical, and is crammed with seriously clever features. But it’s also one of the most expensive wireless speakers I’ve ever tested. So does it justify that high price tag?

On the one hand, the Meridian Ellipse is capable of impressive clarity and detail. When listening to the relatively spacious mix of Diamonds On the Soles of Her Shoes by Paul Simon, I was impressed with how much room various elements were given to breathe. The vocals of Simon and Ladysmith Black Mambazo in particular projected forward into the room, while the slap of the percussion was keen and clear.

However, if you feed the Ellipse something much sonically denser like electronic or dance music, some of the shortcuts it takes become more apparent. Listening to Expander by Bonobo, dynamic elements like the punchy kick and shuffly hats were well-communicated, as was its gorgeous vocal line, but there was a lack of cohesion lower down to help glue the mix together. The sub and low mids felt brighter and chillier than the glowing warmth I’ve come to expect from the best wireless speakers. And while you can tweak both treble and bass levels in the Meridian app, I definitely felt like I was ameliorating these imbalances rather than entirely reversing them.

It compensates, in part, for this with its suite of smart features, some of which are truly fantastic. For example, Image Focus does an exceedingly deft job of reorientating the stereo field when you’re sat at an off angle, while Image Elevation is a piece of psycho-acoustic wizardry that throws its voice higher to make TV audio seem like it’s coming from your TV screen. Its position-optimization settings are decent, although they aren’t algorithmic like on some devices, merely offering Free, Wall, Shelf and Corner options. Sadly, I was pretty underwhelmed by its frequency-balancing tech for different volumes: the speaker sounds great at higher volumes, but somewhat neutered at lower ones.

The connectivity options on offer are also decent, although maybe not as extensive as with speakers like the Ruark Audio R410 or Cambridge Audio Evo One. It goes without saying that it can utilize Wi-Fi streaming solutions like TIDAL Connect, Spotify Connect, AirPlay 2, Google Cast, and Roon connectivity, as well as Bluetooth. But it’s also able to support sampling rates of 192kHz / 24-bit over USB-C, 96kHz / 24-bit via mini-TOSLINK optical, plus 88kHz / 24-bit via its stereo analog input and built-in DAC. However, it doesn’t offer more exotic options like eARC or phono in, so you won’t be using this as your all-in-one home audio hub.

As its name suggests, the shape of the Ellipse is… anyone? Yep, it’s elliptical. I’m sure I’m not the only person to notice this but it gives me distinct vibes of the Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Pro, both having an undeniably similar Hindenburgian silhouette when viewed front on. Oh, the humanity. However, the metal grille on the face of Meridian’s speaker is much flatter, giving the device a footprint more like a slightly gibbous moon. It also features blue-lit, touch-sensitive controls on its top surface, allowing you to play and pause, skip tracks, adjust volume and initiate Bluetooth pairing mode.

All told, the Meridian Ellipse is a hi-res, feature-packed speaker with some major strengths and a few significant caveats. It’s undeniably detailed and, when its smart functionality delivers, it really delivers. It deftly reproduces trebles and dynamic details, while managing satisfactory, if not exactly stellar, frequency reproduction elsewhere. Were it not for the price tag, I’d be tempted to give it a pass on some of the weaker elements but, at the savings-siphoning price of $3,000 / £1,900 / AU$4,999, I feel its sound needs to be beyond reproach. For that reason, I’d suggest you at least consider cheaper options like the $1,799.95 / £1,299 / AU$2,599 Ruark Audio R410 or $1,499 / £1,299 / AU$2,495 Cambridge Audio Evo One before you commit here.

Meridian Ellipse review: price and availability

Released August 24, 2024
MSRP of $3,000 / £1,900 / AU$4,999

Launched on August 24, 2024, the Meridian Ellipse is available to buy now. It goes for an MSRP of $3,000 / £1,900 / AU$4,999, which is no small change for a single speaker. By way of context, TechRadar’s current pick for best premium wireless speaker, the KEF LS50 Wireless II, costs $2,499.99 / £1,999 / AU$4,000. Even our pick of best wireless speaker if money’s no object, the Bang & Olufsen Beolab 8, is a similar $2,749 / £2,199 / AU$4,499, which shows you the kind of company this speaker keeps.

The rear of the Meridian Ellipse showing its ports. — (Image credit: Future)

Meridian Ellipse review: specs

The Meridian Ellipse at a 3/4 angle in front of a house plant and a pink background. — (Image credit: Future)

Meridian Ellipse review: features

Crammed with smart features
Good range of connectivity options
Lower wattage than some rivals

For a comparatively compact speaker, the Meridian Ellipse certainly squeezes in a lot of features. When it comes to drivers, it focuses on quality over quantity. It only contains three drivers but they’re substantial: it has two 3.5-inch (90mm) polypropylene wide-range drivers and one 5.9 x 3.9-inch (150 x 100mm) racetrack sub. There’s not quite as much oomph behind these drivers as you’d hope, though. The Ellipse only offers 25W for those full-range drivers and 30W for the sub, while the cheaper Cambridge Audio Evo One packs a whopping 50W of amplification per driver.

Naturally, as a wireless speaker, the Ellipse focuses much of its energy on cable-free connectivity. It can stream over Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and Ethernet, offering both native streaming from Spotify Connect and TIDAL Connect, as well as AirPlay, Google Cast, and Roon connectivity. This doesn’t mean that wireless connectivity is the only connection to its bow however: it also possesses a USB-C that supports sampling rates up to 192kHz / 24 bit, a mini-TOSLINK optical port capable of 96kHz / 24 bit and an analog input with a built-in DAC that can hit rates of 88kHz / 24 bit.

None of this is unusual for a premium wireless speaker. However, what does set Meridian’s speaker apart is the range of smart features they’ve crammed into the Ellipse’s brain.

Some focus more on clarity: for example, Q-Sync exists to minimize jitter and increase clarity, while Digital Precision boosts the signal-to-noise ratio of the digital audio. Others aim to smooth out the Ellipse’s acoustics, with Perfect Balance ensuring low and high frequencies are perceived the same at low and high volumes and Free-Q offering the now-obligatory tech for sonically compensating for the device’s placement.

Perhaps the most unique smart features are those that tweak the speaker’s soundstage. Bass & Space offers stereo-enhancing tech to increase the sense of soundstage width, while Image Focus helps ‘correct for off-center listening’. Finally, Image Elevation is a piece of pseudo-Dolby-Atmos-style trickery that promises to raise the sound image so you can raise it from the speaker below to the middle of your TV screen – although with no actual height channels, it’s worth moderating your expectations on this front, as it won’t position sound as well as one of the best soundbars.

There are admittedly a few things the Meridian Ellipse is lacking. You won’t find a remote control here, which some rival premium wireless speakers supply and it doesn’t offer fancier inputs like eARC or phono in. All told, though, the Meridian Ellipse has an excellent range of features and a lot of the core functionality you’d expect.

Features score: 4.5 / 5

The front grille of the Meridian Ellipse. — (Image credit: Future)

Meridian Ellipse review: sound quality

Crisp, accurate presentation
Sounds great at higher volumes
Bass and lower mids a bit flat

Given its not-inconsiderable price and the hype around the Meridian Ellipse, I was really hoping to be able to give it an unequivocal thumbs up. But in reality, things aren’t so clear-cut. While a lot of the coverage of its sound quality during its release and early demos was gushing in its praise, I think part of this is down to the protean nature of the device itself, where it sounds wonderfully crisp in some situations and displays distinct flaws in others.

Undeniably, the Meridian Ellipse is capable of some impressive, high-resolution detail. When playing Chemtrails Over the Country Club by Lana Del Rey, it could achieve skillful separation of each instrument. Not only that, but it really brought out the rich, smokey timbre of her voice, giving it real, palpable presence in the room.

High-end detail is also unflinchingly precise. Go Your Own Way by Fleetwood Mac has exposed many a speaker’s weakness with its bright, trebly mix but the Ellipse holds the line. It never becomes overly sharp and yet still has plenty of definition – you can almost hear the scrape of the plectrum as it rings off those taut guitar strings, while the toms punch right through the mix.

Elsewhere, the picture gets a lot more mixed. For example, the Ellipse did a reasonable job with I Want You by Moloko: the funky keys and glockenspiel both had plenty of bite and presence, though I couldn’t help but feel this came at the expense of more nuance in the lower mid frequencies. With electronic music like Chimes by Otherliine, this became much more pronounced: the sound felt very forward without necessarily having the depth to back it up, leaving everything feeling a bit compressed and overdriven.

Again, the Meridian’s bass sometimes felt like it was all bite and no bark – which is particularly disappointing in light of its supposed E3 Bass, which is meant to ‘Expand, Extend, Enhance’ the low end. It’s undeniably punchy and dynamic, with kick drums giving a sizable thump, but the Ellipse can’t always back this up with substance – emphasis on the sub. The gargantuan bass of Tectonic by Technimatic sounded a lot weedier than I’m used to and there was noticeable ducking of the bassline every time the kick sounded, making me question whether its racetrack can really deliver the goods where sub is concerned.

Thanks in no small part to the Perfect Balance feature mentioned above, the Ellipse can hold its own at much higher volumes than many wireless speakers. In fact, I would argue it sounds much better when you crank it up. While Black Eye by Allie X sounded a bit hollow in the lower mids at average volumes, turning it up to 60% gave its saw-toothed synth line much more presence without causing those urgent string slams to distort. While this does give it some much-needed punch, if you’re not going to be listening to the speaker at earwax-melting volumes, it's worth asking whether its weaker sound profile at lower volumes is a compromise you’re willing to make.

To test the speaker’s soundstage, I popped on Tighten Up, Pt. 1 by Archie Bell & The Drells. Despite the hard panning typical of 1960s soul, on the Ellipse there was barely a sliver of daylight between the bass and horns, with much of the sound feeling like it came from a single point.

Its Image Focus stereo field correction was much more impressive, however. Positioning the device at a 3/4s angle definitely left Heart of Gold by Bettye LaFayette missing some of its high-end clarity. And when I slipped the Image Focus setting to <7, it really brought the slap of the bongos back into clarity. Admittedly, you could get up and spin the speaker around yourself, but where’s the fun in that?

I was skeptical about how convincing its Image Elevation feature would be, but when I played some classic episodes of The Simpsons and dialed it up to max elevation, it was genuinely compelling. The slight treble boost of the dialogue made it seem like it was issuing directly from the screen. Yes, with some effort I could get my brain to recognize the sound was issuing from the speaker, but it’s a pretty convincing effect.

Impressive though these smarts are, though, I’m not sure they totally compensate for some of the speaker’s sonic weaknesses. It might seem like I’m being overly harsh – the Ellipse doesn’t sound bad by any means and fed the right genres and sources, it sounds impressively clear and expressive for a speaker of its size. But it’s also inconsistent: in some frequency ranges it focuses on cut-glass definition at the cost of more balanced expression and there’s a lack of ballast to ground it in both the mids and bass. As a result, its sound quality is a qualified success, which would definitely give me reservations about spending this kind of money.

Sound quality: 3.5 / 5

The touch-capacitative buttons on the top surface of the Meridian Ellipse. — (Image credit: Future)

Meridian Ellipse review: design

Well built and attractive
Decent touch controls
Not the most original shape

For anyone who has spent some time following the wireless speaker space, the design of the Meridian Ellipse looks… eerily familiar. There’s no getting around it: there’s something undeniably Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin-esque about the Meridian Ellipse. It’s not quite as rounded as B&W’s audio dirigible, with a front grille that’s slightly convex rather than actively bulging, but it’s still a similar elongated ellipse shape that will be familiar to that device’s many fans.

Build quality is very decent, even if it’s not as luxe as some audio products in this category. Its matt black surface is smooth to the touch but doesn’t seem to pick up fingerprints, while a sturdy metal mesh protects its fabric covering and drivers. Its size is right in the middle of a Goldilocks zone between ‘big enough to make its presence known’ and ‘so large it’ll dominate your living room setup’. It’s also pretty light and easy to move, should you want to: at 8.6lbs (3.9kg), you won't need to wear a back brace just to relocate it to another shelf.

Controlling the Ellipse falls to a series of blue-lit touch-capacitative buttons on the top surface of the device. These are clearly marked and easy to activate, covering most of the basic functions you’d expect, including play / pause, skipping forward and back, adjusting the volume, and triggering Bluetooth-pairing mode. There are no presets here, though, which is a shame. Being able to quickly switch to various inputs or playlists is something a lot of wireless speakers offer these days and, while it’s not a must-have feature, it would be nice all the same.

Design score: 4/5

The Meridian Ellipse in front of a pink background, showing the feet and base of the device, as well as half of the grille. — (Image credit: Future)

Meridian Ellipse review: value

Eye-wateringly expensive
Some cheaper speakers sound better

Ultimately, the Meridian Ellipse is a good – or even potentially great – wireless speaker. But your expectations are inevitably going to be influenced by how much you’ve paid for a device. And for $3,000 / £1,900 / AU$4,999, I expect an audio device to sound unimpeachable. That’s not really been my experience with the Ellipse.

It’s smart, really smart. But instead of taking already rock-solid audio and polishing it up to a truly breathtaking listening experience, I often found myself tweaking the features just to get an aural picture that bested or even matched what I’ve heard from much cheaper speakers. When you can get better audio from the Cambridge Audio Evo One and comfortably buy the £599 / $699 / AU$1,299 Pro-Ject Debut Evo 2 out of the change to plug into its inbuilt phono stage, it does make me wonder who this device is for. Because, in reality, I think audiophiles can get more for much less.

Value score: 3 / 5

The Meridian Ellipse from above on a stone worktop in front of a pink background and a house plant. — (Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Meridian Ellipse?

Buy it if…

You want crisp, high-resolution audio
For a speaker of its size, the Meridian Ellipse is capable of consummate detail, with each instrument having impressive separation. And it keeps this up even at high volumes: it remains coherent at a level many speakers dissolve into a mess of distortion.

You want a whole range of smart features
Whether it’s tweaking the positioning of the soundstage, tailoring the speaker to its placement in the room, or widening the sound, the Meridian Ellipse features a wide range of tech to improve the audio you hear.

Don’t buy it if…

You want well-rounded lower mids and sub bass
Despite the above, the Ellipse does have a few shortcomings, sonically speaking. In particular, the mids and bass are lacking heft in their lower registers, meaning it can sound like it’s pulling some punches when it comes to certain genres.

You want value for money
Not only is the Meridian Ellipse firmly at the premium end of the market, with a whopping $3,000 / £1,900 / AU$4,999 price tag, but I would argue some cheaper speakers can give a more balanced, consistent experience.

Meridian Ellipse review: also consider

Cambridge Audio Evo One
While the Cambridge Audio Evo One is significantly bulkier than the Meridian Ellipse, it’s also arguably more talented. It’s capable of producing polished, dynamic sound that’s well-tuned across its full frequency range and genuinely impressive separation when fed appropriately hi-res sources. However, its real strength is in just how versatile it is: not only can it stream over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth but it can also handle your TV’s audio over eARC and play records from your turntable via its built-in phono stage. Not bad given its $1,499 / £1,299 / AU$2,495 price tag. Check out our full Cambridge Audio Evo One review.

KEF LS50 Wireless II
The similarly priced KEF LS50 Wireless II can muster streaming hi-res audio up to 24-bit/96kHz and offer a range of connectivity options, whether that’s HDMI eARC, Ethernet port, coaxial and optical or 3.5mm AUX inputs. They’re also discreet, compact units that nonetheless provide crisp, detailed sound across the frequency spectrum and taut, well-controlled bass. Couple this with superb stereo separation and a wide soundstage and these are some fantastic performers. Read our full KEF LS50 Wireless II review.

How I tested the Meridian Ellipse

I tested the Meridian Ellipse for a month
I used it to stream a wide range of genres and audio resolutions
I have several decades of experience using and reviewing audio gadgets

I lived with the Meridian Ellipse for a month, testing it with a range of types of music and sources. Not only did I listen to the TechRadar testing playlist but I also tried out plenty of my own go-to tracks to assess its dynamics and frequency balance.

Additionally, I monitored the quality of its output by trying out a variety of sources. This included my iPhone 16 Pro, MacBook Pro, and TV. On top of this, I tried out a variety of different audio resolutions, from Spotify's most basic tier to Tidal's 24-bit, 192kHz Max tier.

In terms of experience, I've covered tech and reviewed gadgets for over 10 years. Additionally, I've been listening to and producing music for several decades, which has given me insight into the balance of different frequencies and sonic performance.

First reviewed: March 2025
Read more about how we test

I tested the stylish Apple Milanese Loop watch band – here’s my verdict on whether it’s worth that hefty price tag

11:20 pm | March 13, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness Smartwatches | Tags: Apple Watch | Comments: Off

The Apple Milanese Loop can be considered a mid-range Apple Watch band offering, coming in at $99 / £99 / AU$149. It’s neither as cheap and cheerful as the $49 / £49 / AU$69 Sport Bands, nor as unabashedly expensive as the premium $349 / £299 / AU$549 Link Bracelet bands. It can also be picked up in a newer Titanium edition for the Apple Watch Ultra 2, which retails for $199 / £199 / AU$299.

Its stainless steel mesh wraps smoothly around the wrist, free of any kinks or rigidity, feeling comfortable yet suitably premium. And for those who are sustainability conscious, it’s made of 65% recycled materials, while 100% of the energy used for manufacture is from renewable sources. Here we review the dark gray Slate color; but the Milanese Loop is available in a Gold and silvery Natural finish, too.

Putting it on and taking it off is a breeze. As is the case with all of the best Apple Watch bands, clicking it into place simply requires you to slide it into the connectors on either side of the Apple Watch, while to disconnect it, you simply press the release buttons on the Watch’s underside. Tightening and fastening the clasp is achieved via a magnetic clasp that affixes to the band itself, which feels delightfully innovative and typically Apple-esque. Unfortunately, it does have a slight tendency to snap to itself when you’re just trying to adjust the strap; this isn't a deal breaker, but it can make things more fiddly than they need to be.

We found during our Yoohoo Adjustable Metal Strap review that the lookalike band showed quite a bit of scuffing after just a few weeks of wear. Conversely, the Apple Milanese Loop looks as perfect now as the day I first clasped it round my wrist. While I didn’t risk wearing it during high-risk activities such as weightlifting, this band's superior build quality will shrug off damage like John Wick wearing a kevlar business suit.

Its mesh build also makes it far more breathable than many other Apple Watch bands. During my weekly bouldering session, the skin beneath my Milanese Loop strap didn’t become sweaty as it can with synthetic rubber straps, while flexing sufficiently to remain comfortable. I also found I rarely needed to take it off to shower; in contrast to Apple’s sports bands, which trapped water against my skin, the Milanese Loop allowed my skin to stay dry and protected, even when wearing it for days on end.

The weave of the Milanese Loop does periodically pick up fibers here and there. Unlike the Yoohoo Adjustable Metal Strap, it doesn’t tend to leave your garments looking like a shorn spring lamb, although it does occasionally require you to undo it to pluck out rogue threads. All in all, I didn’t find this happened often enough to be a bother, however.

All in all, the Apple Milanese Loop is a fantastic Apple Watch band. It looks great, it’s relatively sustainable, and it's more hard-wearing than cheaper rivals. Ultimately, whether you decide it’s the right strap for you will come down to cost. If you’re happy parting with $99 / £99 / AU$149 for an accessory for your smartwatch, it’s an easy recommend. If not, a cheaper lookalike such as the Yoohoo Adjustable Metal Strap might suit you better.

The Apple Watch SE on someone's wrist using the Slate Milanese Loop band — (Image credit: Future)

Apple Milanese Loop review: Price & specs

Released alongside the original Apple Watch back on September 9, 2014, the Milanese Loop is available now direct from Apple for $99 / £99 / AU$149. It arrives in Natural, Gold and Slate finishes. Alternatively, if you own a Titanium watch such as the Apple Watch Ultra 2 or Apple Watch 10, you can pick up the Titanium edition of the strap to match, which will be as hard-wearing as your wearable.

The underside of the Slate Milanese Loop band on someone's wrist showing its clasp — (Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Apple Milanese Loop?

Buy it if…

You want a band that will always look its best
Not only is Apple’s Milanese Loop gorgeously premium in its design, it’s hardy too. After two weeks of solid testing, it looks as good as it did out of the box – which is more than we can say for some of its cheaper rivals.

You’re interested in sustainability
Given 65% of it is made from recycled sources, while 100% of the energy used to make it comes from renewables, this is a suitably green option for anyone wanting a strap that doesn’t deplete the earth’s resources.

Don’t buy it if…

You want an affordable Apple Watch band
At $99 / £99 / AU$149, the Milanese Loop is hardly the most inexpensive Apple Watch band on the market. While not an unreasonable price to pay, given its quality, if you don’t want a quarter of the cost of your Apple Watch to be its band, you’d be wise to look elsewhere.

You don’t want a lint trap on your wrist
It isn't quite as bad as options such as the Yoohoo Adjustable Metal Strap, but the Milanese Loop still likes to accumulate errant fibers. It won’t depilate your favourite cardigan, but you will occasionally need to pluck the odd filament out of its mesh.

Apple Milanese Loop review: also consider

Yoohoo Adjustable Metal Strap
The Yoohoo Adjustable Metal Strap comes with a couple of compromises: it can be a bit stiff to slide in and out of your Apple Watch, and it scuffs more easily. On the flip side, however, it looks great, it’s breathable and, most importantly, it’s super affordable – it costs from as little as £8.99 to a max price of £15.99, making it an easy choice for someone who wants their Watch to look fancy but can’t quite stretch to the Milanese Loop’s asking price.

I tested Anker’s cheapest wireless charging stand, and I can’t argue with the value, even if it’s not fast with today’s phones

10:20 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Phone Accessories Phones | Comments: Off

Anker 313 Wireless Charger Stand review

The Anker 313 Wireless Charger Stand has a list price of $23.99 on the Anker US website for the black model, and at the time of writing there's a $9 saving on offer, lowering the price to just $14.99. The Anker 313 Wireless Charger Stand can also be purchased at Amazon at a list price of $19.99 / £19.99, but as I write this review it's been reduced to $14.99 / £13.99 thanks to a limited-time deal.

One thing to note is that the product name varies slightly depending on where you look. I've come to expect Anker's disjointed and mildly frustrating naming conventions after reviewing so many of their chargers. There's often a different product name on the box than the website, and the name tends to differ again on Amazon too. This charger is sold as the Anker 313 Wireless Charger (Stand) on the Anker website and at Amazon US but is referred to as the PowerWave in the contents, and on the packaging. It's sold under the name Anker PowerWave stand at Amazon UK. If you ever get confused by the names of Anker chargers, you can cross-reference the model numbers for confirmation.

An iPhone 13 Pro is fully charged on the Anker 313 Charger Stand. — (Image credit: Future / Cesci Angell)

The design of the Anker 313 Wireless Charger Stand couldn't get much simpler. The charging stand comes in one piece, with the backward-angled phone holder attached to the front edge of the stabilizing rear stand. The outer is made of a soft-sheen plastic that is nice to touch, but there is a slightly sharp edge to the join between the front and back panels of the charging pad. A small shelf extends at an angle from the bottom of the charging pad, which was easy to place my phone on, however, it didn't offer much stability as it lacks any lip or silicone for extra hold. On the front of this ledge is a small blue LED ring that illuminates when the charger is connected to power.

The Anker 313 Wireless Charger Stand is available in Black on the Anker website and at Amazon, with the latter also offering a white model that costs an extra dollar or so. Curiously, Anker has used an outdated micro USB power port on the 313 Wireless Charger Stand, though fortunately it does provide a 3 ft / 900mm cable, saving me scrabbling through drawers in a vain attempt to hunt one down, although I would have preferred more length.

As this charger doesn't feature a MagSafe attachment, phone placement must be correct to ensure efficient charging. This lack of magnetic hold also means that anyone on the clumsy side, such as myself, must be careful not to knock it because there's nothing to hold the phone in place.

The micro USB input on the back of the Anker 313 Charger Stand. — (Image credit: Future / Cesci Angell)

When it came to charging an iPhone 13 Pro, the performance of the Anker 313 Wireless Charger Stand was underwhelming, taking three hours and twenty minutes to fully recharge from 0% - 100%. This is especially disappointing considering the INIU I212 Adjustable 15W Fast Wireless Charger was able to perform the same task in just two hours and sixteen minutes. Granted, the INIU charger is a little more expensive, but it more than makes up for it with the adjustable viewing angle, and the aforementioned charging speed.

Personally, I wouldn't purchase an Anker 313 Wireless Charger Stand due to its static design and slow charging speeds. However, when the price is discounted, it could prove a worthwhile purchase for someone who isn't fussed about speedy charging and wants to take their phone off the stand with ease, as there's no magnetic attachment to contend with. But even then, I'd suggest spending just a little more and buying the aforementioned INIU I212 Adjustable 15W Fast Wireless Charger; it's worth it. If you're looking for something faster or capable of charging more than one device, I recommend checking out our pick of the best wireless chargers.

Anker 313 Wireless Charger Stand review: Price & specs

Should I buy the Anker 313 Wireless Charger Stand?

Buy it if…

You're happy to wait
If you're someone who doesn't constantly have your phone in your hand, or you just want a cheap charging stand to pop your phone on when you go to bed, this charger will meet your needs.

You just want something cheap
When discounts are applied, the price is satisfyingly low for a brand-named wireless charging stand. You only need to spend a little more for a charging stand with an adjustable viewing angle, as shown in our also consider section below.

Don't buy it if…

You want a quick charger
This charging stand won't be winning any medals for its speed, taking nearly three and a half hours to charge an iPhone 13 Pro, which is an hour longer than it took a similar model.

You want some versatility
This charging stand is about as basic as you can get. It only charges one device at a time, and the viewing angle is fixed, meaning it's not the best choice for anyone who wants to use their phone as it charges.

Anker 313 Wireless Charger Stand review: Also consider

INIU I212 Adjustable 15W Fast Wireless Charger
I'm a big fan of this adjustable Android and iPhone charging stand. Its angle adjustment range should suit most situations, and it charged an iPhone 13 Pro an hour quicker than the Anker 313 Stand. It is a smidge more expensive, but the benefits far outweigh the price difference in my opinion. Read our full INIU I212 Adjustable 15W Fast Wireless Charger review.

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Roborock Q5 Pro+: two-minute review

Roborock Q5 Pro+ review: price & availability

Roborock Q5 Pro+ specs

Roborock Q5 Pro+ review: design

Robot design

Dock design

Roborock Q5 Pro+ review: performance

Navigation performance

Vacuum performance

Mopping performance

Dock performance

Roborock Q5 Pro+ review: app

Should you buy the Roborock Q5 Pro+?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How I tested the Roborock Q5 Pro+

Tecknet N5 Laptop Cooling Pad Review

Tecknet N5 Laptop Cooling Pad review: specs

Tecknet N5 Laptop Cooling Pad review: price and availability

Should I buy the Tecknet N5 Laptop Cooling Pad?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Tecknet N5 Laptop Cooling Pad review: also consider

How I tested the Tecknet N5 Laptop Cooling Pad

Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Foldable Pad review

Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Foldable Pad review: Price & specs

Should I buy the Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Foldable Pad?

Buy it if…

Don't buy it if…

Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Foldable Pad review: Also consider

Bloodline rules

Mutiny on the Bounty

Here comes the money

Should you play WWE 2K25?

Play it if...

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How I reviewed WWE 2K25

Curaprox Hydrosonic Pro: Two-minute review

Curaprox Hydrosonic Pro: Specifications

Curaprox Hydrosonic Pro: Price and availability

Curaprox Hydrosonic Pro: Scorecard

Curaprox Hydrosonic Pro: Should I buy?

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Also consider

How I tested

The not-so-wicked witch

A walk in the park

I require your strongest potions

A brave new frontier

Should you play Atelier Yumia?

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How I reviewed Atelier Yumia

Upeak Sport Strap review

Upeak Sport Strap review: Price & specs

Should I buy the Upeak Sport Strap?

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Upeak Sport Strap review: Also consider

Meridian Ellipse: two-minute review

Meridian Ellipse review: price and availability

Meridian Ellipse review: specs

Meridian Ellipse review: features

Meridian Ellipse review: sound quality

Meridian Ellipse review: design

Meridian Ellipse review: value

Should I buy the Meridian Ellipse?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Meridian Ellipse review: also consider

How I tested the Meridian Ellipse

Apple Milanese Loop review: Price & specs

Should I buy the Apple Milanese Loop?

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Don’t buy it if…

Apple Milanese Loop review: also consider

Anker 313 Wireless Charger Stand review