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The LG Ultragear GX9 Gaming Monitor engulfed me with its ultrawide, immersive OLED screen, and I don’t want to give it back

1:50 am | August 27, 2025

LG Ultragear GX9: Two-minute review

The LG Ultragear GX9 is an impressive, immersive gaming monitor that’s ideal for a relatively small subset of gamers. Let's get a couple of things out the way early though: first, it’s not cheap, so any gamer on a budget will probably want to look elsewhere; and as awesome as a 45-inch (well, technically 44.5-inch) ultrawide screen is, some might find it too wide for practicality’s sake.

After all, it can be tough to focus on the action in the center of the screen and also keep tabs on your health bar in the top-left corner when you have to move your gaze over 20 inches to check on it. This also means it's not ideal for esports gamers, despite the impressive refresh rate and response time.

However, those are issues endemic to this ultrawide form factor and not necessarily a knock on the LG Ultragear GX9. All the best gaming monitors with an ultrawide screen are on the pricier side, and too wide to rely on peripheral vision to catch important information.

For those who have the money and aren’t playing esports (or still want that wrap-around experience), that wide display and 800R curvature, along with the 4K resolution, good color coverage, and speedy refresh rates and response times, make this monitor a delight to use with most games.

Cyberpunk 2077 or Monster Hunter Wilds, for example, look gorgeous and completely envelop my vision during gaming sessions. Of course, it helps that the built-in speakers sound pretty decent as well.

There are a few other pluses as well, such as all the necessary ports (minus a USB hub with KVM support), including a USB-C port with power delivery, and good ergonomics for such a wide monitor. This is a hearty recommendation as the best monitor for the right gamer.

LG Ultragear GX9: Price & availability

An LG Ultragear GX9 on a desk — (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

How much does it cost? $1,999.99 / £1,799.98 / AU$3,499.00
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia

When you look at the best ultrawide monitors, the price of the LG Ultragear GX9 doesn’t seem out of place, though it’s still expensive. You can get a nice gaming laptop with an OLED panel or a powerful gaming desktop for the LG Ultragear GX9’s $1,999.99 / £1,799.98 / AU$3,499.00 asking price.

The Samsung Odyssey OLED G9, which originally went for $2,199.99 / £1,599 / AU$3,399 and is now $400 cheaper, is a good comparison. It is a little bit older, hence the price drop, but it’s got a great OLED screen with sharp resolution, fast refresh rates/response times reaching up to 240Hz, and good color coverage. It’s also bigger than the Ultragear GX9 at 49 inches across.

However, like most ultrawide monitors, it peaks at a 5,120 x 1,440p resolution compared to the LG Ultragear GX9’s 5K2K or 5120 x 2160p resolution.

Value: 4 / 5

LG Ultragear GX9: Specs

Screen size:		44.5-inch
Aspect ratio:		21:9
Resolution:		5120 x 2160
Brightness:		275 nits
Response time:		0.03ms (GTG)
Viewing angle:		178˚/178˚
Contrast ratio:		1,500,000:1
Color support:		98.5% sRGB
Inputs:		1x DP 1.4, 2x HDMI 2.1, 1x USB-C (90W), 2x USB-A downstream
Weight:		30.9 lbs (14 kg)

LG Ultragear GX9: Design

The monitor is massive
Decent, if limited, ergonomics
Plenty of ports, including USB-C

The LG Ultragear GX9 is a massive gaming monitor. Its 44.5-inch monitor (measured corner-to-corner diagonally) results in a length of 39 inches and a height of 18 inches, not including the stand. This can be an overwhelming monitor to use.

Of course, it has a nice 800R curvature, which brings the far ends of the screen in so that, experientially, its outer reaches fill out the peripheral vision.

It’s big enough that I have to dart my eyes to the edges to read specific information, like a health bar, which makes the size and curvature great for immersive experiences but not for esports-type gaming (I’ll get into the actual performance aspect below).

Since the monitor is so big, it does have somewhat limited ergonomics. While no specifics are listed, its biggest possible adjustments are a height adjustment of about 5 inches. If I had to guess, it swivels and tilts about 15 degrees in each direction. It’s not a lot, but more than enough for this kind of monitor.

Since this is such a big monitor, it has a large, strong, and stable stand with a wide base. There is cable management, though it’s basic, with a passthrough hole in the middle of the stand so all the cables go in one direction out the back and towards whatever they’re connected to.

Speaking of ports, the selection is pretty good. There are two HDMI 2.1 ports, so you could use this with a next-gen console or gaming computer, a single 1.4 DisplayPort, and one USB-C with 90 watts of power delivery for use with Ultrabooks, MacBooks, and the like.

There are also two USB-A downstream ports for charging peripherals. Unfortunately, there's no KVM capability via those USB ports.

Lastly, there’s a single button in the center of the lower back for power and navigating the OSD menu.

Design: 4.5 / 5

LG Ultragear GX9: Features

Game modes in OSD menu
Supports variable refresh rates
Has picture-in-picture and picture-by-picture, but no KVM

The monitor has a couple of cool features baked into the OSD menu worth knowing about beyond the usual, such as HDR and curvature. For instance, there’s a Game Mode icon in the OSD that brings up four presets with settings such as color temperatures, refresh rate max, and whether VRR, HDR, and DAS Mode (Dynamic Action Sync to minimize lag) are on.

Beyond the different modes, you can change the aspect ratio in the OSD menu to a narrower image for when you need all your gaming info in front of you, offsetting the potential esports-related issue I’ve mentioned with using such a large screen.

Not only is there support for HDR, but the LG Ultragear GX9 also comes with support for VRR (variable refresh rate), which synchronizes the frame rates of the monitor with the source to minimize screen tearing, stuttering, and the like.

Picture-by-picture and picture-in-picture are both available as well if you want to use two sources at the same time. Unfortunately, as I’ve previously mentioned, there’s no KVM (keyboard, video, mouse) system where you can use a keyboard and mouse plugged into the monitor to control whichever source you have pulled up.

Features: 4.5 / 5

LG Ultragear GX9: Performance

Can handle any game, though some are not ideal for the aspect ratio
Very good contrast and colors, along with a 5K2K resolution
Good but not great audio

I've played a number of games on the LG Ultragear GX9, namely Monster Hunter Wilds, South of Midnight, Baldur’s Gate 3, Cyberpunk 2077, and Gotham Knights, and found the monitor to be everything it's advertised to be.

Really, the only limitation is when loading up a game that doesn’t support the ultrawide resolution, such as South of Midnight – this just means there are black bars on the sides instead of the game stretching edge to edge – or when a game isn't ideal for that ultrawide resolution.

However, as mentioned before, you can change the aspect ratio. If you don’t change it, and then open up something fast-paced where you need to keep an eye on that health bar, you’re going to be in trouble.

The OLED screen and HDR support provide very good contrast – specifically DisplayHDR TRUE BLACK 400 – enabling me to see in the shadows in certain games. And the colors look more vibrant because of it. It also helps that the LG Ultragear GX9 has a rated 1500000:1 contrast ratio and 98.5% DCI-P3 color coverage.

Between the 165Hz refresh rate, 0.03ms response time, and VRR support, the action is smooth no matter how fast. And the 5K2K resolution (5120 x 2160p) is sharper than most of the competition, as most ultrawide monitors I’ve come across use a 5120 x 1440p resolution.

Since this monitor is so large, I appreciate the fact that it comes with built-in speakers. And while they’re not as good as the best computer speakers, discounting the budget options, they sound pretty decent. You don’t get any real low-end or rumble, but the sound is full and packs a good punch otherwise.

Performance: 4.5 / 5

Should I buy the LG Ultragear GX9?

LG Ultragear GX9 scorecard
Attributes	Notes	Rating
Value	The LG Ultragear GX9 is very pricey. However, considering what it is and what it does, the price is more than justified.	4 / 5
Design	Yes, it’s massive, but it has decent if limited ergonomics and a good selection of ports.	4.5 / 5
Features	Variable refresh rates, picture by / in picture, and more make this fairly feature-rich, even if it doesn’t have KVM.	4.5 / 5
Performance	It’s gorgeous, immersive (sometimes a little too much), and has great contrast and colors.	4.5 / 5
Average rating	The good news is that it’s massive. The bad news is that it’s massive. Either way, you have to decide if it’s worth the price.	4.38 / 5

Buy the LG Ultragear GX9 if…

You want an immersive gaming experience
The LG Ultragear GX9 is so massive that it will cover your peripheral vision, transporting you into any game that can take advantage of the ultrawide screen real estate.

You want a great-looking screen
Not only is it OLED, but it has great contrast, helped by the HDR, as well as strong color coverage. Last but not least, it has 5K2K resolution – a higher resolution than what I usually see in the ultrawide monitor space.

You want a gaming monitor with USB-C
There are a lot of good gaming monitors out there. However, USB-C with power delivery is still not standard. So, if you need that to plug in a MacBook when not gaming, it's available here.

Don’t buy it if…

You’re turned off by the price
Whether it’s out of your budget or dropping 2K on a gaming monitor puts a pit in your stomach, there are much cheaper gaming monitors that still offer a good gaming experience.

You don’t want to be overwhelmed
Even if the price doesn’t make you flinch, the sheer size of the monitor could be overwhelming for some, especially if you like playing esports and want a screen where you can see it all without having to constantly move your eyes.

Also Consider

If my LG Ultragear GX9 review has you considering other options, here are two more monitors to consider...

Samsung Odyssey OLED G9
The Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 is a little older, so its price is now much lower than the LG Ultragear GX9 while offering an even wider 49-inch size. The resolution is lower at 5120 x 1440p, but it has a lot of the same features, including the same level of HDR.

Read our full Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 review

MSI MPG 491CQP QD-OLED
The MSI MPG 491CQP QD-OLED might be a mouthful to say, but it’s a great ultrawide monitor. Again, it has that lower ultrawide 1440p resolution, but also an almost-as-fast 144Hz refresh rate, and the same HDR and color coverage, plus it goes for about half the price.

Read our full MSI MPG 491CQP QD-OLED review

How I tested the LG Ultragear GX9

Used regularly for a couple of weeks
Tested with various games and media
Tried out all the features

I used the LG Ultragear GX9 Gaming Monitor regularly for a couple of weeks. I tested it with various games and media, especially Monster Hunter Wilds, South of Midnight, Baldur’s Gate 3, Cyberpunk 2077, and Gotham Knights, to see how it would fare. I also played around with the OSD menu, features, and ergonomics.

The LG Ultragear GX9 Gaming Monitor is clearly meant for gamers who want an immersive experience, specifically those who like their games to feel more cinematic, and it does that job well. Of course, it comes with a price tag to match.

I’ve tested a lot of tech gear over the years, from laptops to keyboards and speakers, so I can use my expertise towards giving an honest and fair opinion, not to mention a critical eye, to any product I test.

First reviewed August 2025

The Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i has just about everything you’d want in a Windows laptop, but falls short of perfection

1:50 am |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Gadgets Laptops Windows Laptops | Tags: CPU, RAM, Total War | Comments: Off

Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i: Two-minute review

The Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i may face some stiff competition from the usual excellent offerings from Apple, Dell, and the like, but it’s more than up to the challenge. In fact, I believe it deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as the best Ultrabooks of this generation.

It’s very slim and portable, helped by the fact that the webcam is hidden under the display in a unique and space-saving measure. And its performance is snappy and responsive, comparing well to the best laptops of this type (don’t expect it to match the power of a gaming laptop, of course). Just as important, the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i is a gorgeous-looking laptop with an equally gorgeous-looking OLED display.

Really, there are only two drawbacks. The first is price. It’s not anywhere near a budget offering, though that's to be expected of this type of laptop, not to mention that an OLED display always brings a price bump.

The other issue is a little more concerning. The port selection is worse than on an Apple MacBook Air, which is saying something, as that’s already very minimal. More specifically, there’s no audio jack, so hopefully, you have a good pair of Bluetooth earbuds on hand.

However, that’s a pretty short list of things to be concerned about, and one of them (price) is to be expected with a nice Ultrabook. All in all, the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i is a wonderful laptop that will make a solid upgrade for anyone looking for an attractive, portable, and powerful Ultrabook.

Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i: Price & availability

A Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i sitting on a picnic table outside — (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

How much does it cost? Starting at $1,759.99 / £1,800.00 / AU$3,829.00
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia

The 10th-generation model of the Yoga Slim 9i comes in two configurations, with both available in the US, UK, and Australia. And both configurations are very similar.

The more basic configuration goes for $1,759.99 / £1,800 / AU$3,829 and comes with an Intel Core Ultra 7 256V CPU and 16GB of RAM. The more robust configuration with Intel Core Ultra 7 258V and 32GB of RAM costs a nominally higher price tag of $1,899.99 / £1,900 / AU$4,179. There’s very little difference in performance between the CPUs – it’s just that the 258v supports 32GB of RAM. Essentially, the price difference comes down to whether you want 16 or 32GB of RAM. Everything else is the same, from the color options to the screen and the storage capacity.

The Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4) makes for an easy comparison. Not just because they have a similar-sized screen, though the Yoga Slim 9i has better resolution, but because they have similar price points. This 14-incher from Apple starts at $1,599 / £1,599 / AU$2,499, but that gets you a 512GB SSD. If you want the same amount of storage (1TB), the price goes up to $1,799 / £1,999 / AU$3,299, which is a little more than the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i. Of course, you’ll probably gravitate towards one over the other, mostly depending on whether you want macOS or Windows.

The Dell XPS 13 offers an interesting comparison, too. It comes in at a similar price – $1,999.99 / £2,049 / AU$3,998.50 – if you opt for a touchscreen like the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i has, but the screen is smaller. And while the Dell XPS 13 does have an OLED display, it’s at a lower, though still pretty good, 2880 x 1800p resolution. Both laptops have limited ports, but both have plenty of power.

However, the Dell XPS 13 has an interesting design with its edgeless keyboard (meaning it stretches edge to edge) and a touchpad that just uses haptic feedback and doesn’t have a defined physical boundary. This is one of those love-it-or-hate-it design choices and will probably be a deciding factor for most.

Price: 4 / 5

Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i: Specs

The top edge of the lid of the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i — (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

Of the two available configurations, there’s very little difference. You basically get to choose between two almost identical CPUs, the Intel Core Ultra 7 256V and the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V, which is about 0.5% better.

However, if you select the ever-so-slightly better CPU, you get 32GB of RAM instead of 16GB, since that CPU supports the higher amount of RAM.

Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i Specs
	Base configuration	Review / Max configuration
Price:	$1,819.99 at Lenovo.com / £1,830 at Lenovo.com / AU$3,849 at Lenovo.com	$1,979.99 at Lenovo.com / £1,900.00 at Lenovo.com / AU$3,909.76 at Lenovo.com
CPU:	Intel Core Ultra 7 256V	Intel Core Ultra 7 258V
Graphics:	Intel graphics	Intel Arc graphics
RAM:	16GB LPDDR5X	32GB LPDDR5X
Screen:	14" WQUXGA (3840 x 2400), OLED, Glare, Touch, HDR 600 True Black, 100%DCI-P3, 400 nits, 120Hz, Glass, Camera Under Display	14" WQUXGA (3840 x 2400), OLED, Glare, Touch, HDR 600 True Black, 100%DCI-P3, 400 nits, 120Hz, Glass, Camera Under Display
Storage:	1TB SSD	1TB SSD
Ports:	2x USB-C Thunderbolt 4	2x USB-C Thunderbolt 4
Wireless:	Wi-Fi 7 2x2 BE 320MHz & Bluetooth 5.4	Wi-Fi 7 2x2 BE 320MHz & Bluetooth 5.4
Camera:	32MP camera-under-display with e-privacy shutter	32MP camera-under-display with e-privacy shutter
Weight:	Starting at 1.25kg / 2.76lbs	Starting at 1.25kg / 2.76lbs
Dimensions:	312.93mm x 203.5mm x as thin as 14.55mm / 12.32 x 8.01 x as thin as 0.57 inches	312.93mm x 203.5mm x as thin as 14.55mm / 12.32 x 8.01 x as thin as 0.57 inches

Outside of the internal upgrades to CPU and RAM, there are no other upgrades. Both configurations come in one color, Tidal Teal, which is admittedly beautiful.

And there’s just the one display available. Thankfully, it’s also very nice with high-resolution and responsive touchscreen capabilities.

Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i: Design

Attractive and slim
Gorgeous and impressive display
Limited ports, including a lack of an audio jack

Available in Tidal Teal, a shimmery blue with hints of green, the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i is a beautiful laptop even before opening it up. It’s slim and light, even for a laptop of this size, and is about as portable as it gets.

In terms of form factor, the one unusual thing I noticed is that there is a raised bar near the top of the lid. This houses the 32-megapixel webcam that’s hidden under the display and pops up near the top-middle of the screen when in use. Though there’s no physical shutter for the webcam, it does have an effective e-privacy toggle next to the right USB-C port.

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An angled view of the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i sitting on a picnic table outside — (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

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A Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i sitting on a picnic table outside at an angle — (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

It’s also worth noting that, despite having a touchscreen, this is not a 2-in-1, so don’t expect to be able to fold it to use as a tablet. That said, the touchscreen is very responsive and very sensitive, enough so that I’ve accidentally closed my browser multiple times when lightly touching the corner of the screen without thinking.

The screen is pretty remarkable beyond its touch capabilities. This 14-inch OLED panel has a 4K or 3840 x 2400 resolution (that’s a 16:10 aspect ratio) with a 120Hz refresh rate, along with 100% sRGB and DCI-P3 color coverage, which is ideal for photo editing. It also has a Vesa Certified DisplayHDR True Black 600 rating. It even supports Dolby Vision. You get the idea – the display is pretty spectacular.

The keyboard on the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i — (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

The keyboard is a bit shallow, so it's not the most comfortable one I’ve used, but that’s to be expected with a laptop this slim. It’s otherwise accurate and responsive, and I had no trouble pounding out a couple of articles on it.

The touchpad is just as snappy and accurate. While a lot of newer laptops seem to increase the size of the touchpad, that’s not the case here. If you want a really big touchpad, you’re not going to get it here.

Finally, the port selection is very, very minimal. There are just two USB-C ports, one on each side. They’re both Thunderbolt 4, so there’s plenty of throughput if you want to use a dongle. Still, it’s very limited. What I’m most upset about is the fact that Lenovo has done away with any kind of audio jack. As ubiquitous as wireless earbuds are, some of us still use wired headphones from time to time.

Design: 4.5 / 5

Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i: Performance

A Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i playing a game — (Image credit: Future / James Holland)

Snappy, responsive performance
Copilot+
Great audio quality with spatial audio

The Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i is quite powerful. It can handle day-to-day work easily. Opening, scrolling, clicking links, typing, photo editing: all the sorts of things most people want from an Ultrabook. For example, I was able to open 20 browser windows very quickly, just by pressing the Plus sign in Microsoft Edge.

Each window, which opens the MSN homepage filled with different news stories and information, loaded up almost immediately. Of course, I reviewed the 32GB configuration, but the CPU and RAM still do quite a bit of heavy lifting.

Even the camera behind the screen pops up promptly. Speaking of which, the webcam performs smoothly and looks good, though it does struggle with noise in low light.

Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i CPU / System Benchmarks
Benchmark		Score
Geekbench 6.4 Single Core		2,755
Geekbench 6.4 Single Core		11,186
Crossmark Overall		1,689
Crossmark Productivity		1,638
Crossmark Creativity		1,934
Crossmark Responsiveness		1,234
25GB File Copy Transfer Rate (MB/s)		1,032.87

Now, it’s not a gaming laptop, but I was able to run some less demanding or older games without any trouble, like Sable and Alan Wake. For those games, the action was crisp, clear, and smooth. That gorgeous OLED screen really helps. Still, there were some games I tried to run that wouldn’t even open.

As this is a newer laptop, it comes with Copilot+. Using the app is quick and responsive, though I still don’t find it to be a game-changer in my computing experience.

Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i GPU / Gaming Benchmarks
Benchmark	Score
3DMark Fire Strike	9,107
3DMark Time Spy	4,436
3DMark Speed Way	6,094
3DMark Steel Nomad	823
3DMark Night Raid	35,326
Borderlands 3 (Badass, 1080p)	27fps
Shadow of the Tomb Raider (Highest, 1080p)	46fps
Sid Meier's Civilization VI: Gathering Storm (Max impact, 1080p)	67fps
Total War: Warhammer III (Ultra, 1080p)	37fps

I’ve rarely been impressed by the audio from a laptop. I was when I reviewed the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i, and I am here. That’s probably because there are more than two speakers in the Lenovo Yoga Slom 9i. Specifically, there are two 2-watt tweeters and two 3-watt woofers. There’s also some virtual spatial audio since the laptop supports Dolby Atmos.

Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i: Battery life

Decent if disappointing battery life
Doesn’t seem to do fast charging

Laptops with OLED displays aren’t always the most efficient, so the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i’s just under 10 hours of battery life in the PCMark 10 Battery benchmark is not surprising, though it is a bit disappointing. It did manage a better showing in our Web Surfing test, where it managed to get just over 11 hours of battery life.

While not the best results we've seen, this isn't terrible battery life. However, we’re seeing a few laptops, particularly ones that this one competes with, hitting up to double those numbers. To be fair, I turned off the laptop’s battery-saver feature, which makes the laptop run more efficiently when the battery is low, so you might manage to squeeze more juice from the battery depending on the settings.

On the bright side, it was very good at maintaining battery life when the lid was closed. I’ve used and tested some laptops where the battery would continue to run down when idling, and that’s not an issue here.

Battery life: 3 / 5

Should you buy the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i?

Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i scorecard
Category	Notes	Rating
Value	While pricey, this laptop is thin, powerful, and comes with a wonderful OLED screen.	4 / 5
Design	It’s not only thin and light, but it is gorgeous. Too bad it lacks an audio jack and only comes with two USB-C ports.	4.5 / 5
Performance	The performance (and audio quality) is excellent, especially for productivity work.	4.5 / 5
Battery Life	The battery life is decent, but compared to the competition is lower than expected.	4 / 5
Final score	It’s gorgeous, light, and comes with robust performance. Plus, it has that OLED screen.	4.25 / 5

Buy the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i if...

You want a thin, light laptop
At under three pounds (and with a 14-inch screen), this laptop is about as portable as it gets.

You want a gorgeous screen
Not only is the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i a looker, but it comes with a high-resolution OLED display that might be the centerpiece.

You want responsive performance
This might not be a gaming laptop, but its performance is snappy and responsive, exactly what one needs for most productivity work.

Don't buy it if...

You want more ports
Only two USB-C Thunderbolt ports are limiting enough. The fact that there’s no audio jack is pretty disappointing.

You have limited funds
While worth the cost, this is not a cheap machine. If you’re limited on funds, there are some great laptops out there without an OLED screen that are probably within reach.

Also consider

If my Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i review has you considering other options, here are two laptops to consider...

Dell XPS 13
Between the long-lasting battery life, strong performance, and gorgeous OLED screen, the Intel Core Ultra 2nd Gen version of the Dell XPS 13 is the ideal Ultrabook. That is, if you’re game for an innovative design change that some will love and others not so much – essentially a haptic-only touch bar and touchpad.

Read our full Dell XPS 13 review

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4)
The Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4) may not have WiFi 7 or any major physical design upgrades, but it’s an almost perfect laptop otherwise. It has powerful and incredibly efficient performance (meaning it also has a very long battery life) and comes with some unique features such as the centerstage camera and optional nano-texture screen.

Read our full Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4) review

How I tested the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i

Tested for a month
Used it for work, gaming, and streaming
Tested its various features

I used the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i for a month, testing it for work, including this review (along with the requisite online research). I used it to stream video. I even did some light gaming. I played with the webcam, the audio, and the AI features as well.

After spending time with the Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i, it’s clear that this is perfect for those who want a premium experience (and can pay for it) in a gorgeous wrapping.

I’ve spent the last few years reviewing tech gear for gaming and otherwise, where I’ve gotten a feel for what to look for and how to put a piece of kit through its paces to see whether it’s worth the recommendation.

First reviewed August 2025

I’ve just tested a multi-talented air purifying table – turns out, it can do much more than hold your keys

12:00 am |

Author: admin | Category: Air Quality Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances | Tags: UK, US | Comments: Off

SwitchBot Air Purifier Table: two-minute review

The SwitchBot Air Purifier Table integrates an air purifier with a tabletop, a wireless Qi charger, a colored ambient light, and a fragrance diffuser.

It has a list price of $269.99 / £299.99, and can be purchased from SwitchBot and Amazon; however, there appear to be very regular discounts on the SwitchBot Air Purifier Table, and at the time of writing, it’s on offer for $175.50 / £180.

Replaceable filters cost $39.99 / £44.99, and will need to be replaced roughly every 6-12 months, depending on use, so it’s important to factor this extra cost in.

A woman is removing the side panel of the air purifier. — (Image credit: Future)

Setting up the SwitchBot Air Purifier Table was fairly simple but a little fiddly, on account of the little electrical connector I needed to plug in before putting the tabletop in place.

It’s a good height for having next to the couch or bedside, and the built-in wireless charger proves particularly useful in these cases. The onboard controls are a little tricky to see due to the tabletop, but I found myself using the SwitchBot app to control the purifier most of the time.

The simple-to-use companion app was pleasingly responsive when operating the air purifier and offers air quality data, scheduling, and a timer, which are all good features to have.

A woman is about to press the power button on the top of the SwitchBot Air Purifier Table. — (Image credit: Future)

During testing, the SwitchBot Air Purifier Table quickly detected and cleared dry shampoo contamination. While it didn't immediately remove fragrance, it was cleared fairly quickly once I intervened and increased the fan speed myself.

It operates quietly in sleep mode, and is only as loud as light traffic when on top speed. Pet Mode didn’t operate as I’d expected, but the overall low volume of the purifier meant that it didn't bother my cats. I also found the fragrance diffuser to be efficient in lightly fragrancing the room after I’d applied drops of fragrance oil to the pop-out pad.

Overall, this is a good price for a multi-talented and Matter-compatible air purifier with an efficient companion app. If you’d like to explore other air purifiers we recommend, I suggest taking a look at our guide to the best air purifiers.

SwitchBot Air Purifier Table review: price & availability

List price: $269.99 / £299.99
Available now in the US and UK

The SwitchBot Air Purifier Table is available to purchase from the official SwitchBot website and Amazon, and has a list price of $269.99 / £299.99.

The list price sounds pretty high considering the SwitchBot Air Purifier Table only detects and reacts to PM2.5; however, there appear to be regular discounts on offer on the SwitchBot site and at Amazon, so it’s common to find it available at a lower price. For instance, at the time of writing, the Air Purifier table has 35% off in the US, and 40% off in the UK at SwitchBot, knocking a considerable $94.50 / £120 off the list price, and lowering the cost to $175.50 / £180.

A close-up of the wireless Qi charger on the tabletop. — (Image credit: Future)

There’s a cheaper model available too, the SwitchBot Air Purifier, which includes most of the features mentioned in the following review, just without the tabletop and wireless charging. This has a list price of $219.99 / £239.99 but, as with the Air Purifier table, this price is often discounted, and it’s listed at $119.99 / £139.99 at the time of writing.

Both models use the SwitchBot Air Purifier Filter, which has a list price of $39.99 / £44.99. As with all HEPA filters, this will need to be replaced on occasion, with SwitchBot advising a lifespan of 6-12 months depending on usage and air quality, so it’s important to factor in this regular cost.

Taking into account the convenience and additional features of the Air Purifier Table, and that it’s very regularly available for less than its official list price, I would say that you’re getting good value for money here.

Value score: 4 out of 5

SwitchBot Air Purifier Table review: specs

Type	Air purifier table
Fan speeds	3
Timer	Yes
CADR (Clean air delivery rate)	236CFM
Filter	Pre filter, HEPA and activated carbon
Particle sizes detected	PM2.5
Dimensions	11.4 x 11.4 x 16.5 inches / 290 x 290 x 420mm
Weight	10.7lb / 4.9kg
Control	Onboard power buttons, app, and voice control
Additional modes	Auto, Sleep, Pet
Extra features	Fragrance diffuser, Light sensor, Wireless charging, Matter

SwitchBot Air Purifier Table review: design and features

4-in-1 air purifier, wireless charger, fragrance diffuser, and ambient light
Simple to set up, but a little fiddly
Detects and reacts to PM2.5 contamination

It feels like they were having a “yes” day in the SwitchBot office when they came up with the concept of the Air Purifier Table, like every idea thrown out was met with an enthusiastic nod. But somehow they found a way to make it work.

The SwitchBot Air Purifier Table consists of an air purifier with a tabletop, as one might expect, but it also boasts a wireless Qi charger, a colored ambient light, and a fragrance diffuser. It made a useful little side table next to my couch, and the built-in Qi wireless charger proved handy for keeping my iPhone or Motorola Moto Buds+ earbuds topped up, which was a nice bonus feature.

Does an air purifier really need all these things? Perhaps not, but I appreciated the thought, and found these extra features useful, so you may do, too.

The air purifier is capable of detecting and reacting to PM2.5 (particle matter of 2.5 micrometers or smaller), but it is also capable of filtering VOCs and odors, thanks to the HEPA and activated carbon filter. This filter sits within the base of the machine, behind a washable pre-filter, both of which can be easily accessed by removing the outer panel.

Setting up the SwitchBot Air Purifier Table was a little fiddly, as there are two parts of a little electrical connector between the purifier and the table top that need to be connected together. Once this was done, it was a case of rotating the table top until it clicked into place. There were four little screws that were meant to be screwed into the purifier underneath the tabletop for extra reinforcement, but this seemed basically impossible, even with my tiny hands, so I had to leave them.

A close-up of the screw holes below the tabletop. — (Image credit: Future)

There are a number of controls on the top edge of the purifier, underneath the tabletop, to use when you’re within reaching distance, or you can use the companion app to control the SwitchBot Air Purifier Table. The onboard controls include a button to change between the air purifier’s three modes: Auto, Pet, and Sleep, a button to cycle through the three fan speeds, a child lock, and a timer.

The controls were a bit tricky to reach, as they’re somewhat hidden underneath the tabletop. It wasn’t easy to change the settings unless I was sitting down and had a better view, although this wasn’t such a problem once I’d used them for a while, and it made more sense to use the app to adjust the settings, anyway.

Design score: 4 out of 5

SwitchBot Air Purifier Table review: app

Responsive and simple to use
Can set schedules and timers
Shows current and historical air quality data

The SwitchBot companion app is simple to use and houses a good range of features and air quality data insights for the price of the appliance. It proved very responsive over the weeks I used it, making it easy to switch modes or power on or off.

It clearly displays the air quality reading on the dashboard, using ratings from very good to bad, along with a numerical reference that relates to the number of micrograms of PM2.5 per meter cubed.

The app also provides historical data in graphs spanning either the last 24 hours or 30 days. This meant I could view which hour any spikes in air contamination occurred over the last day, and see what the minimum and maximum readings were each day over the last month. It would have been nice to have access to a 24-hour graph for previous days of the month, but this is only a small niggle, really.

Three phone screens show different sections of the SwitchBot app. — (Image credit: SwitchBot / Future)

I could also set schedules within the app, either as a one-off occurrence or repeating on particular days and times. There’s a timer function, too, which offers both hours and minutes, up to 12 hours, so I could leave it running for exactly 11 hours and 26 minutes, if I really wanted to.

Finally, the care and maintenance section told me how many hours of life were remaining on the filter, and how many hours I’d been using it for. At this moment, it’s telling me that I’ve used it for 184 hours, and I’ve got 4,136 hours left. This section also advises that the pre-filter should be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner every two to four weeks, which is all handy info to know.

App score: 4.5 out of 5

SwitchBot Air Purifier Table review: performance

Quick contaminant detection and clearing
The noise didn’t disturb my rescue cats
Subtly fragranced the air

The SwitchBot Air Purifier Table was pleasingly responsive when I tested it by spraying dry shampoo from roughly two feet away. It took just a few seconds to detect the contamination, with the PM2.5 reading increasing to 619 micrograms per meter cubed in thirty seconds.

In this time, the fan speed increased in order to tackle the detected contamination, and took a further thirty seconds to return the air level to “good”, and back to “very good” in less than two minutes from the initial detection.

As it tackled the contamination so quickly, and therefore returned to its lowest setting, it didn’t do much to tackle the lingering fragrance of the dry shampoo in this time, though this is standard for air purifiers incapable of reading the ambient levels of VOCs in the air. This doesn’t mean that it doesn’t capture VOCs, however, as the HEPA and carbon filter is capable of doing so, but it needs to be manually set back to a higher fan speed to do so efficiently. I upped the fan speed to level two, and could no longer detect the fragrance after about fifteen minutes.

The SwitchBot Air Purifier Table is pictured in a pink living room. The ambient light below the tabletop is lit up blue. — (Image credit: Future)

On the subject of scents, the built-in fragrance diffuser worked better than I was expecting. I’ve encountered this feature before with my beloved GoveeLife Smart Air Purifier Lite, though it was one of the rare sources of disappointment, as it wasn’t very efficient. Things were a bit more positive when it came to the diffuser in the SwitchBot, however; I could detect a good amount of the fragrance from the oils I’d placed on the pad.

One important thing to note regarding fragrance or essential oils and pets is to please make sure you do your research on whether any oils you plan to use are safe, as some can prove toxic to our furry friends.

The SwitchBot Air Purifier Table was very quiet when in sleep mode, measuring just 26dB from two feet away, which is quieter than a whisper. It was therefore very easy to sleep next to, and so I’d have no concerns using the SwitchBot Air Purifier Table as a nightstand.

A woman is pulling out the fragrance pad from the side of the air purifier. — (Image credit: Future)

Pet Mode worked a little differently than I expected. On the SwitchBot site, Pet Mode is described as using a softer air supply to prevent disturbing pets. In practice, I found that enabling it just seemed to bump the fan speed up to two, regardless of the air quality, which was already good. Nonetheless, neither of my rescue kitties seemed bothered by the 49dB volume, and were happy to come up and have fusses right next to it.

At its top fan speed, the SwitchBot Air Purifier Table gave a reading of 55dB, making it a little louder than the Blueair Blue Pure Mini Max, but seeing as this is still only as loud as light traffic, it’s perfectly acceptable.

Overall, the SwitchBot Air Purifier Table is an efficient air purifier for the price, and a handy little side table and phone charger.

Performance score: 4.5 out of 5

Should I buy the SwitchBot Air Purifier Table?

Section	Notes	Score
Value for money	Provided you purchase it at what appears to be a regularly discounted rate, you’re getting a good little air purifier and some fun additional features for the price.	4/5
Design & Features	There’s a lot packed into this little table, thanks to its air purifying, charging, and fragrance diffusing features. The setup was a little fiddly in places, but easy enough overall.	4/5
App	The companion app was simple to use and responsive. It gave some insights into any spikes in contamination throughout the day, plus min and max readings over the past thirty days.	4.5/5
Performance	The air purifier reacted to and tackled contamination quickly during testing, and dealt with the odor left over, once I’d manually upped the fan speed.	4.5/5

Buy it if...

You want a smart purifier
Having the SwitchBot app made it really easy to control and schedule the air purification, and it proved responsive and informative during testing.

You’ll make use of the extra features
If you happen to need a new side table or nightstand with built-in wireless charging, then the SwitchBot Air Purifier Table is a great way to feed two birds with one scone.

You want a purifier with auto-detection
It’s always useful to have an air purifier that can be left to its own devices, and the automatic detection and reactivity to PM2.5 means the SwitchBot Air Purifier Table will jump into action on its own accord.

Don't buy it if...

You want VOC detection
Unsurprisingly, considering its price point, the SwitchBot Air Purifier Table doesn’t detect or react to VOC contamination. If you’re looking for something that does, and you have a little more to spend, I highly recommend checking out the Dyson Purifier Cool Formaldehyde TP09 instead.

You just want an air purifier
If you’re not bothered about having an extra side table or a wireless charger, then you’re probably better off opting for the standard SwitchBot Air Purifier and saving some money.

You want it to deal with odors unaided
As it only detects and reacts to PM2.5 contamination and deals with it quickly, the fan isn’t running high enough for long enough to tackle odors. Therefore, manual intervention is required by turning up the fan speed until the odor is gone.

SwitchBot Air Purifier Table review: Also consider

	SwitchBot Air Purifier Table	Blueair Blue Pure 411i Max / Blue Max 3250i	GoveeLife Smart Air Purifier Lite
Price	$269.99 / £299.99	$169.99 / £169	$49.99 / £59.99
Fan speeds	3	3	3
Modes	Auto, Sleep, Pet	Auto, night mode	Sleep, Custom
Additional features	Fragrance diffuser, Light sensor, Wireless charging	Washable fabric pre-filter	Aromatherapy
Filter	Pre-filter, HEPA and activated carbon	HEPA and activated carbon	3-in-1 HEPA filter
App support	Yes	Yes	Yes
Dimensions	11.4 x 11.4 x 16.5 inches / 290 x 290 x 420mm	18.9 x 10.6 x 10.6 inches / 481 x 269 x 269 mm	6.2 x 6.2 x 10.75 inches / 158 x 158 x 273mm
Weight	10.7lb / 4.9kg	7.5 lbs / 3.4 kg	2.4lb / 1.1kg

Blueair Blue Pure 411i Max / Blue Max 3250i
This delightfully lightweight air purifier offers simpler on-board controls, with one touch button to cycle through the three fan speeds, and auto and night modes. There’s a handy companion app that allows for easy control, along with air quality data based on the ambient levels of PM2.5. BlueAir has cleverly made the pre-filter part of the aesthetic, opting for a washable fabric covering, making this air purifier more pleasing to the eye. If you’d like to find out more, check out my full Blueair Blue Pure 411i Max / Blue Max 3250i review.

GoveeLife Smart Air Purifier Lite
This is another favorite of mine, and makes for a great desktop option. Similar to the BlueAir above, it’s simple to control with a touch button to cycle through the fan speeds and modes. One such mode is the custom mode, which was great, as it allowed me to run a customized routine. The Smart Air Purifier Lite can be controlled via the fantastic Govee Home companion app and voice control, too. For more information, why not take a look at my full GoveeLife Smart Air Purifier Lite review?

How I tested the SwitchBot Air Purifier Table

I tested the SwitchBot Air Purifier Table for a few weeks
I explored the different modes and features
I tested its detection and reaction speeds

I passively tested the SwitchBot Air Purifier Table by having it next to my couch for a few weeks. I used it as a side table, charged my iPhone and earbuds, and made use of the fragrance diffuser and ambient lighting.

I tested out all of the different modes, like Sleep mode when I napped on the sofa, and Pet mode when my rescue cats were about. I explored the app and made use of the various features.

I tested how fast the SwitchBot Air Purifier Table would react to and clear contamination by spraying dry shampoo around two feet away. I also monitored the readings on the app during this time.

First reviewed: August 2025
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I spent six hours blasting grubs in Gears of War: Reloaded, and it was a bloody good time

6:00 pm | August 26, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Consoles & PC Gadgets Gaming Xbox | Tags: Forza Horizon | Comments: Off

Nearly two decades after Gears of War helped popularize cover-based shooting on the Xbox 360, the game is now on its second remaster, this time developed by The Coalition and sporting the fancy new title: Gears of War: Reloaded.

This outing's many improvements retroactively make the previous remaster, Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, seem like anything but an ultimate version of the first chapter in this decades-spanning series.

Review info

Platform reviewed: PS5
Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
Release date: August 26, 2025

Gears of War: Reloaded dramatically upgrades the beloved shooter's visuals and performance for a present-day audience. It comes packing 4K assets and remastered textures, HDR support, new lighting and shadows, 60 fps in campaign and up to 120 fps in multiplayer, and more. While it's impossible to fully obscure the game's age, these improvements do a great job at bringing it reasonably close to current-gen expectations.

Additionally, for the very first time, PlayStation fans can download and play a Gears of War game on PS5. We live in wild times, and I'm happy to be along for the ride.

But underneath the fresh coat of paint and the hype of the series joining a new ecosystem, this is still the Gears of War that players fell in love with years ago and whether that makes it worth your time and money is likely to depend entirely on your previous experiences (or lack thereof) with the game.

Gorgeous familiarity

A screenshot from Gears of War: Reloaded. — (Image credit: Xbox Game Studios)

The original Gears of War landed before I was even old enough to drink or rent a car, and I've beaten its campaign at least five times between getting married, buying a house, raising a kid, and becoming old enough to grunt when I get off the couch. It should be old news to me by now, but there's a timelessness to its campaign that made it easy for me to dive back in with Gears of War: Reloaded without feeling like it’s a chore.

It's exactly the same game as it's always been, too. As a grizzled COG soldier named Marcus Fenix, you spend six to eight hours shooting and chainsawing through mutated humanoids called Locusts as you work to find and plant a bomb capable of destroying their subterranean lair. It's loud, gory, and incredibly satisfying third-person chaos that has aged shockingly well.

It may look and sound like little more than a hyper-violent ‘bro’ game at a glance, but the series as a whole is known for its surprising character work, exploring Marcus and his team's struggles with family, sacrifice, and the never-ending toll of war. And while subsequent games admittedly capitalized a bit more on the overarching lore and individual characters' backstories, this introductory entry remains a meaningful foundation for them to build upon.

Best bit

An early showdown against a nearly invulnerable enemy forces you to carefully bait its charging attack to break doors down as you lure it through a building. Once you get it outside, you can finally blast it with an all-powerful laser from the sky. It's a tense game of cat and mouse that switches things up to great effect.

Despite being the same old Gears of War, though, one particularly noticeable update is the all-new lack of loading screens. Sure, it's not exactly surprising that a nearly 20-year-old game can pull that off in the same era as God of War Ragnarok's seamless no-cut camera work, but it's a quality-of-life feature that makes the campaign all the more efficient and enjoyable for both newcomers and veterans alike.

But speaking of the game being almost two decades old, it's important to remember that even with significant visual and performance updates, there's no hiding the Xbox 360's footprint in Gears of War: Reloaded.

The gray and brown aesthetic that defined many seventh-generation action titles can't be erased with snazzy 4K assets and lighting improvements, and some stiff animations give away the game's age pretty clearly.

There's only so much that can be done without completely remaking a game from the ground up, so I'd argue The Coalition has done a commendable job of getting things close to modern standards while maintaining the integrity of the original experience.

Here come the shotguns

While the servers weren't turned on during the review period, I spent enough time with the beta back in June to know that Gears of War: Reloaded's multiplayer, though much prettier and smoother, largely plays the same as it did in 2006. As always, it's a polarizing mode best summed up with the question, "Do you like shotguns?"

Most matches in any Gears of War game, including this one, come down to players repeatedly cancelling slide-to-cover animations to rapidly bounce from wall to wall (which is unsurprisingly called "wall-bouncing") while wielding the Gnasher shotgun. They move in on one another and engage in frenetic hip-fire shootouts to see who explodes into a million pieces first.

While not technically an exploit, wall-bouncing can seem like an abuse of game mechanics to newbies who expect the multiplayer to flow the same way as the campaign. You can find an occasional long-range showdown if you hang back and play defensively, but veteran players who bounce around like the ball in a pinball machine will usually still close the gap and pop you with a single Gnasher shot. This focus on point-blank gunplay isn't inherently bad, of course, but it can make matches feel one-dimensional.

Still, existing Gears of War enthusiasts and new players willing to adapt to the unique playstyle the community espouses will be happy to know that Gears of War: Reloaded is certainly the most complete version of the first game's multiplayer.

It includes all of the post-launch DLC, 60Hz dedicated servers, up to 120 fps (if your TV or monitor supports it), and cross-play support for every platform. And that last point is especially important, as this game reaches an audience it never has before: PlayStation owners.

A new platform for carnage

In a way, all of the visual and performance updates Gears of War: Reloaded brings to the table feel second to the real story here, which is that its release marks the first time the franchise has been available on a PlayStation console.

Seeing the title screen of one of Microsoft's biggest exclusive IPs boot up on my PS5 felt bizarre at first, but as with Forza Horizon 5 earlier this year, it didn't take long for the dust to settle.

Before I knew it, all the running, gunning, and sliding into cover with a DualSense controller felt just as natural as it always has with an Xbox controller. It was a great reminder that, while exclusives can be an important part of a console's identity, the most important thing is that a fun game is a fun game anywhere.

As you might expect, the DualSense adds some extra flair for those who enjoy its unique features. All of the immersion is in full force here, like how the vibrations differ between firing a weapon or using your chainsaw to grind through a Locust, or the way the adaptive triggers have a specific feel for each gun. Still, if you normally prefer a different platform, I wouldn't consider these DualSense features worth prioritizing the PS5 version.

The important part is that, wherever you decide to play Gears of War: Reloaded, it's the best version of the game available. Whether you're fresh meat or a franchise devotee, this remaster's facelift makes for a great opportunity to join Marcus Fenix and his loyal band of brothers on their first perilous adventure, or see if you've got what it takes to duke it out in some anarchistic multiplayer matches.

Should I play Gears of War: Reloaded?

Play it if…

You're new to the Gears of War franchise
Gears of War: Reloaded is the first game in the series and a great place to onboard, especially if you've been in the PlayStation ecosystem for the past few generations. However, there's no confirmation of the sequels making their way over to PlayStation yet, if ever. So, if you want to see the rest of the games through, you'll need to check them out on Xbox.

You value strategy over guns-blazing
Gears of War: Reloaded's campaign is about cover as much as it is about shooting. You'll spend a lot of time behind walls waiting for the right time to strike and explode your foes into bloody little bits. Strategic positioning and wielding the right gun at the right time can make all the difference to your chances of survival.

You like chainsaws in your video games
Look, chainsaws have shown up as a melee weapon in a lot of video games over the years for a reason — they're cool as hell. And Gears of War: Reloaded's chainsaws are attached to a frickin' assault rifle so you can saw nearby enemies in half and then get back to shooting. It'll never not be awesome. View Deal

Don’t play it if…

You've beaten the campaign recently and aren't into multiplayer
Gears of War: Reloaded is the second remaster of the 2006 Xbox 360 title, so if you're a franchise fan, there's a good chance you've played this before — maybe even multiple times by now. The flashier visuals and higher framerates are nice, but if you've already seen the campaign through in the past few years, or don't dig the game's shotgun-focused multiplayer meta, it may not be worth the investment.View Deal

Accessibility features

Gears of War: Reloaded won't be winning any awards for its accessibility options, but it has the basic suite of features like subtitles and text-to-speech.

You can make it so that button tap challenges allow you to simply hold down the button rather than rapidly press it, while photosensitive players will appreciate the flash reduction setting that limits sudden brightness changes.

How I reviewed Gears of War: Reloaded

I played Gears of War: Reloaded on a PS5 Pro using a Sony X90K LED TV. I swapped between my Sony Pulse Elite Wireless Headset and Alienware Pro Wireless Headset for audio.

I played Gears of War: Reloaded for around 6 hours, during which time I worked my way through the full campaign on Normal difficulty while finding all 33 of the COG tag collectibles.

I wasn't able to play any multiplayer since the servers weren't on during the review period, but I got a good feel for it when I spent a few afternoons playing online during the beta back in June.

First reviewed August 2025

I spent six hours blasting grubs in Gears of War: Reloaded, and it was a bloody good time

6:00 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Consoles & PC Gadgets Gaming Xbox | Tags: Forza Horizon | Comments: Off

Review info

Platform reviewed: PS5
Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
Release date: August 26, 2025

Additionally, for the very first time, PlayStation fans can download and play a Gears of War game on PS5. We live in wild times, and I'm happy to be along for the ride.

Gorgeous familiarity

Best bit

Here come the shotguns

A new platform for carnage

Should I play Gears of War: Reloaded?

Play it if…

Don’t play it if…

Accessibility features

Gears of War: Reloaded won't be winning any awards for its accessibility options, but it has the basic suite of features like subtitles and text-to-speech.

How I reviewed Gears of War: Reloaded

I played Gears of War: Reloaded on a PS5 Pro using a Sony X90K LED TV. I swapped between my Sony Pulse Elite Wireless Headset and Alienware Pro Wireless Headset for audio.

I played Gears of War: Reloaded for around 6 hours, during which time I worked my way through the full campaign on Normal difficulty while finding all 33 of the COG tag collectibles.

I wasn't able to play any multiplayer since the servers weren't on during the review period, but I got a good feel for it when I spent a few afternoons playing online during the beta back in June.

First reviewed August 2025

I tested Bambu Lab’s latest 3D printer – and the H2S single nozzle design comes hot on the heels of the H2D to offer ultimate speed and accuracy

3:59 pm |

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

The H2S comes hot on the heels of the H2D full laser combo and standard H2D 3D printer (see my review here), but with a few major differences that make it a superb option for any enterprise business requiring a machine that offers scale, reliability and speed.

It might not have the headline-catching dual nozzle that so interested the 3D printing market, but with much the same form factor, just with a single nozzle rather than dual nozzle tool head, it offers something a little different.

Essentially, Bambu Lab is touting this as a bigger X1C, which has become a staple for many design studios due to its print quality, flexibility, multiple filament printing, and of course, speed. Now, with the H2S taking yet another leap in scale and performance, and what's more, it's also coming in at a relatively affordable price point.

In use, the H2S is impressive, and the single-nozzle hotend is highly tuned for precision and quality. The speed, while quoted as faster than the X1C, in real-world tests using standard settings is on par; however, tweak the options and the full speed of the machine is unleashed, seeing a standard 20-30% boost in print times across the board. The H2S also has a far larger print bed, enabling more potential with the style and type of prints you're able to produce. There's absolutely no doubt that, when it came to side-by-side print quality, the X1C is one of the market leaders, but the H2S just took the edge during my test.

One feature that appeals to me about the H2S is that, compared with the H2D, it is far more affordable and there is a laser option as well, in fact, the new H2S line exactly reflects the H2D, just at a more affordable price.

What this essentially means is that, for any product design studio or anyone looking for the best 3D printer for quality, the Bambu Lab H2S is a balanced option, especially if you mainly print with a single filament with the occasional use of multifilament.

Bambu Lab H2S: Price and availability

There are three versions of the H2S available: the Base, the AMS Combo, and the Laser Full Combo. The two more advanced versions, the AMS Combo and the Laser Full Combo, are available now for $1,499 and $2,099, respectively. Bambu Lab will also be releasing the Base unit, which is just a single-nozzle machine, for $1,249.

Each model offers an upgrade route, so if you are working on a budget and just want an exceptionally good single FFM printer, you can start with the Base, then upgrade with the AMS Pro 2 to the AMS Combo. If you want to go all the way, you can upgrade to the Laser Full Combo, but only pick out the additions that you need.

Bambu Lab H2S: Design

Bambu Lab HS2 3D printer during our review — (Image credit: Bambu Lab // Future)

Like the H2D, the H2S has almost an identical form factor, so once again it's a large-scale machine that will take up a sizable amount of your desktop, and now that I have three of these machines side by side, that doesn't leave a lot of space for much else.

The fact is, however, that with the H2S, it cuts away a lot of the frills of the H2D and the excitement those machines create. Instead, the H2S goes back to the core of 3D printing, offering a single nozzle toolhead and a few additional features that help elevate what's possible. It positions itself as a successor to the phenomenal X1C, or if not a successor, then a larger-scale version that takes on the new form factor of the H2 series.

At the base level, the first thing you notice alongside that nozzle is the larger print volume, which measures in at 340 × 320 × 340 mm, making it one of the largest on the market. It also once again utilises the CoreXY system, offering high-speed printing, both single and multifilament, when coupled with the AMS Pro 2.

Once again, the 3D printer is fully enclosed, so if you want to print with more advanced materials, that is perfectly possible, with a heated bed that reaches up to 120°C and a 65°C actively heated chamber. This is great for materials like ABS, nylon, and ASA.

One of the features that I've really liked across all of the H2 series is that large touchscreen. It's just really intuitive, beautifully designed, and very quick to respond, which is not always the case.

Inside, they've also boosted the number of sensors, with five flame sensors covering monitoring, emergency stop, and airflow optimisation, once again almost mirroring the H2D series, but building on the feedback and experience of those first H2 machines.

When it comes to the major differences between the H2S and the H2D, aside from that single nozzle toolhead, most of the other differences come in the technology and steps forward in development. For instance, there's second-generation extrusion motion technology with a PMSM servo motor that exerts a 67% increase in extrusion force. There's also a 20 kg feedback load for precise filament control.

Once again, we see the Vision Encoder, which is optional, but will boost the motion accuracy for prints under 50 microns. This is essentially industrial-grade precision, so it will really only be of interest if you're using this for high-precision product design. However, if you're into gaming and want to make desktop game figures, then this is going to be a great feature. I have noted that there are several 3D artists now producing FFF-ready miniatures. With the Vision Encoder having industrial-grade precision, it could mean that printing miniatures on an FFM machine should now, in some cases, be possible, meaning that you don't have to deal with messy resin.

Bambu Lab has also taken a look at monitoring and intelligence, and the H2S includes 23 sensors inside the machine that are monitoring the print process and conditions. This is coupled with three onboard cameras, one for live view, one for the nozzle, and one for monitoring. This compares to just one on the H2D. There's also smarter fault detection if a print does go wrong, and I have to say, during the three-week test, I didn't have any print failures, even when I tried with an impossible print, the machine just detected it and paused.

Now, while the form factor of the machine is identical to the H2D, when it comes to the build volume, because it only has a single nozzle rather than two, the full print bed can be used, so you have a larger print volume of 340 × 320 × 340 mm compared with 325 × 320 × 325 mm for single-filament printing on the H2D.

Bambu Lab also says that the H2S is a high-speed machine, capable of printing up to 1000 mm/s and with acceleration over 20,000 mm/s². However, during my tests, I'd say they are both pretty much on a par until you delve manually into the settings.

Once again, there's a heated chamber, and in the H2S, this is capable of reaching around 65°C, exactly the same as the H2D. Likewise, the hardened steel nozzle seems to be the same, as does the 5-inch touchscreen.

One of the big questions I had when the machine arrived was: because it is a single-nozzle machine, does it still have the capability of using a laser and cutter? There are, of course, three versions of the H2S, including the Laser Full Combo version that offers laser engraving, cutting, digital cutting, and precision drawing capabilities.

Bambu Lab H2S: Features

Take a look through the machine's features, and aside from the single nozzle, which is obvious, the main feature aside from technology enhancement is the larger print area, which means that this is essentially a large successor to the X1C. Through the test, the speed of the H2S impressed. Put alongside the X1C on standard prints, print speeds were essentially similar until you delve into the settings. However, there are more options, and if you really want to push the speed of the printer, it is possible to get up to a 30% faster printout of the H2S than the X1C, although there is a small drop in quality.

The maximum speed of the printhead goes up to 1000 mm/s with 20,000 mm/s² acceleration. So, while the acceleration matches the X1C, the print speed essentially doubles, with a real-world speed increase of around 30%.

Like the H2D, the single nozzle of the H2S is capable of reaching 350°C, which makes it a perfect option for printing engineering-grade materials such as ASA and nylon. The H2S is a fully enclosed environment, which helps ensure optimal printing conditions for those materials, and with the filtration also helps to remove any toxins from the materials as they print.

Once again, Bambu has included a whole series of sensors that will detect if any print goes wrong and stop proceedings before issues are caused. Through the test, aside from running out of filament, I only had one occasion where the error-checking needed to kick in, due to some filament falling onto the print bed from a previous print. The new machine now includes 23 sensors and three onboard cameras. During the test, I didn't have any tricky situations with printing. The one issue that could've caused a problem was instantly recognised, and the printing was paused until I removed the filament, then the print completed successfully.

What I also liked was that when it came to filament changes due to running out, the process of restarting the print was absolutely spot-on. There wasn't the usual worry about layer misalignment that can often happen.

One of the big new features of the extruder is that it now includes a PMSM servo motor that can apply 67% more force. While I couldn't visually see the difference, the extrusion of the filament did seem exceptionally smooth for all materials tried, including Carbon fill and TPU. When I compared prints between the H2D and the H2S, there was very little difference; it was only when testing a specific model that I could see a very slight uplift in the print quality coming from the H2S.

Like the ability to add a laser cutter and digital cutter to the machine, there's also the option to add the Vision Encoder, which you'll need if you're going to be using this for professional product design or any dimensionally critical work. The Vision Encoder can be used for any print that needs 50-micron precision.

Through the software, there's also hole and contour compensation to assist with more intricate models. Again, the intelligent monitoring will stop if there is an issue. During the test, I tried to push the printer with a few excessive overhangs just to see what would happen, and the machine essentially paused as the print failure was detected.

As with the H2D machines, there's AMS Pro 2, and again, the new model is fully compatible with the original AMS and the AMS HT. You can also link several AMS modules together so you can extend printing to more than just four filaments, up to 16, and some people have even claimed it can be pushed further.

Bambu Lab H2S: Performance

Getting started with the H2S is as simple as any other Bambu Lab 3D printer, as it essentially comes pretty much ready to go. In this review, I'm looking at the Bambu Lab AMS Combo, so you get the 3D printer and the AMS Pro 2 to enable multifilament printing.

Getting it all set up is extremely straightforward. First, the packaging is stripped away, the AMS is popped on top, one tube connects the AMS to the machine, and then there's a data cable that also connects between the machine and the AMS. Once that's done, the activation key is popped into the back along with the power cable, and the machine is switched on.

After running through the initialisation and calibration process, which is all handled by the machine, you can then install the four filaments and get started with connecting to Bambu Studio and producing your first print.

As ever with this machine, there are a few prints just to get you started, and it shot through these in no time at all, with the 3D Benchy model looking exceptionally good, fine detail and a high-quality finish to all of the outer walls and using the default settings this took 33 minutes with all checks.

As I went through the test, there were some larger models to print to create a Shadow Force suit of armour, and this is where the machine really started to come into its own. The ability to print at a scale that is normally only possible with large-scale printers, combined with the high nozzle quality, meant that the end result had a surface cleanliness and consistency that you don't usually get with large-scale consumer 3D printers.

What I really liked was that, for quite a few of these large-scale prints, I did run out of filament partway through. However, the filament detection worked exceptionally well. As with many machines, it detected the issue, but what impressed me was that feeding in the new filament aligned perfectly, continuing the print from exactly where it left off. Adhesion to the print bed was sufficient that there was no movement or issue, even when the print had been left for a few hours in between filament changes.

For single filament printing, the print speed was exceptionally good, although at present, there isn't a huge array of presets for materials. So, if you are new to 3D printing and want high-speed prints, it is a little tricky to adjust the settings to get exactly what you want. However, if you are experienced with Bambu Studio, then delving into the quality, strength, speed, and support settings will enable you to fine-tune for those higher print speeds.

At those high speeds, the quality actually remains exceptionally good. While you can see a slight reduction in outer surface quality, for prototyping or quickly printing ideas, the quality is beyond what I've seen with most 3D printers of this type, size and price.

Going on to multifilament printing, again, the speed of the print was good. But, as with all other Bambu Lab AMS system printers, the volume of waste that gets kicked out of the back is quite extraordinary. So, while multifilament 3D printing is obviously a major pull for this machine, the fact that it still produces so much waste is a bit of an issue.

The quality of the 3D prints, however, is once again exceptionally good, with a high-quality finish and one of the best surface finishes for a multifilament print that I've seen. Multifilament print times are obviously slower on the H2S than compared with the H2D. That second nozzle makes a huge difference to both the amount of waste produced and overall duration. Still, because of the high-speed printing that is possible with the H2S, the speed was still good.

As an example, the Robo Tortoise four-colour print took just over 24 hours. On the H2D with its two nozzles, this print took only 20 hours. So, while there is a reduction in speed between the H2S and the H2D for multifilament prints, it isn't huge. The biggest difference really is the amount of waste produced.

As I ran through the test prints, I became more taken with this machine. While the single nozzle isn't as headline-grabbing as the dual nozzle of the other H2D machines, it's still exceptionally high quality and essentially makes this machine a top option for any designer looking to prototype or even run small production batches.

The quality of the casing and the size give you plenty of flexibility in how you use it, and the fact that it has that heated chamber enables you to use engineering materials such as nylon, ABS, and ASA. What really impressed me was that, across multiple prints, there were no real failures.

Bambu Lab H2S: Print quality

Target 25 = X: 24.88mm / 0.12mm Error | Y: 24.96mm / 0.06mm Error

Target 20 = X: 19.87mm / 0.13mm Error | Y: 19.90mm / 0.10mm Error

Target 15 = X: 14.87mm / 0.13mm Error | Y: 14.80mm / 0.20mm Error

Target 10 = X: 9.90mm / 0.10mm Error | Y: 9.80mm / 0.20mm Error

Target 5 = X: 4.90mm / 0.10mm Error | Y: 4.80mm / 0.20mm Error

X Error Average = 0.114

Y Error Average = 0.152

X & Y Error Average = 0.133

Fine Flow Control – Score of X

Fine Negative Features – Score of X

Overhangs – Score of 5

Bridging – Score of 5

XY Resonance – Score of 5

Z-Axis Alignment – Score of 5

Total Score – 29 / 30

Bambu Lab H2S: Final verdict

At the end of the test, there's no doubt that I'm impressed once again with this Bambu Lab machine. The H2S takes the scale of single-nozzle 3D printing up a notch, and unlike many other large-scale 3D printers, it offers a brilliant enclosed environment. This enables you to print with engineering materials, not just mainstream PLA that can be used with open frame machines.

Due to the CoreXY mechanics, you also have ultra-fast print speed, reliability, and the dimensional accuracy that comes with it. The test prints that came out of this machine were some of the cleanest I've seen, and at this scale and consistency, it's really difficult to match with any other model.

While the machine compares very closely to the other H2D models, just with a single nozzle, when it comes to print quality and speed, it takes a small leap forward for single-filament printing. Where it really comes into its own is in being able to print larger than any other Bambu Lab printer, and the scale of those prints is genuinely exceptional.

Although the prints Bambu sent me for testing were clearly optimised to show the printer at its best, I also tried it with other complex single-filament prints. It coped with contours, overhangs, and overall print quality exceptionally well. As ever, the AMS Pro 2 is a standout feature, and since I was reviewing the combo version, I was able to give that a proper test with the machine and once again it works exceptionally well, with the only downside being the amount of waste that is produced.

The quality of the multifilament print was again exceptional, and the fact that it's going through a single nozzle just gives you a little more real estate to print large. The full-scale helmet from the Cosplay armour I printed came out with exceptional quality and a support structure that was easy to remove.

One of the big points I would highlight while using this printer was not only the speed and scale, but also the quality of the surface finish.

Surfaces were exceptionally smooth, and when I printed the Autodesk Kickstarter test model I've been using for many years, it was almost a full 30 out of 30. The print surface was exceptional, and the only thing that let it down slightly was dimensional accuracy, although my thought is that, if I used the Vision Encoder, I'd likely hit that full 30 out of 30 for the first time.

Regarding the fine flow test, while I've had many 3D printers that can produce a very clean result, there are often slight signs of angel hair filament, with only the AnkerMake M5C previously producing a model with this level of cleanliness.

The other point I really like about the H2S is its simplicity. The base unit isn't expensive considering. If you're looking at this as an enthusiast or business user, the fact that you can buy the base unit for just over $1,000 and then upgrade all the way to the Laser Combo means it's relatively affordable and offers a solid upgrade path for the future.

At the end of the test, once again, Bambu Lab has demonstrated why it leads the market with its 3D printers, and the H2S single nozzle combo version reviewed here once again shows the level that all other 3D printer manufacturers need to aim for. However, with the likes of the Original Prusa XL and SnapMaker U1, while it's great to see a larger print area single nozzle machine it feels like there is a move now into multitool head options which could leave Bambu Lab behind in the technology stakes.

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Should I buy the Bambu Lab H2S?

Buy it if...

You need a large build volume and speed.

Once again, this printer comes in the superb H2 form factor that offers a fully enclosed environment. This time, the single nozzle enables an even larger print area that should suit most home and small business projects.

You need precision for engineering projects

While a fully enclosed environment is nice for some users, if you're working in education or in the professional sector and need to print in engineering materials, this enclosed environment with its heated chamber is absolutely essential.

Don't buy it if...

You need native dual-nozzle multi-material

While single-filament printing is exceptionally good, if you need to use support materials as standard, then upgrading to an H2D will probably be a better idea.

You're a casual or first-time hobbyist

Starting with one of the best 3D printers on the market might seem like a great idea, but with so many superb printers at a fraction of the Price, it might be worth starting with a cheaper printer before investing in the H2S.

For more tech for your crafting studio , I've tested the best laser engravers.

I tested Bambu Lab’s latest 3D printer – and the H2S single nozzle design comes hot on the heels of the H2D to offer ultimate speed and accuracy

3:59 pm |

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

Bambu Lab H2S: Price and availability

Bambu Lab H2S: Design

Bambu Lab H2S: Features

Bambu Lab H2S: Performance

Bambu Lab H2S: Print quality

Target 25 = X: 24.88mm / 0.12mm Error | Y: 24.96mm / 0.06mm Error

Target 20 = X: 19.87mm / 0.13mm Error | Y: 19.90mm / 0.10mm Error

Target 15 = X: 14.87mm / 0.13mm Error | Y: 14.80mm / 0.20mm Error

Target 10 = X: 9.90mm / 0.10mm Error | Y: 9.80mm / 0.20mm Error

Target 5 = X: 4.90mm / 0.10mm Error | Y: 4.80mm / 0.20mm Error

X Error Average = 0.114

Y Error Average = 0.152

X & Y Error Average = 0.133

Fine Flow Control – Score of X

Fine Negative Features – Score of X

Overhangs – Score of 5

Bridging – Score of 5

XY Resonance – Score of 5

Z-Axis Alignment – Score of 5

Total Score – 29 / 30

Bambu Lab H2S: Final verdict

One of the big points I would highlight while using this printer was not only the speed and scale, but also the quality of the surface finish.

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Should I buy the Bambu Lab H2S?

Buy it if...

You need a large build volume and speed.

You need precision for engineering projects

Don't buy it if...

You need native dual-nozzle multi-material

While single-filament printing is exceptionally good, if you need to use support materials as standard, then upgrading to an H2D will probably be a better idea.

You're a casual or first-time hobbyist

For more tech for your crafting studio , I've tested the best laser engravers.

I tested the minimalist Hasselblad X2D II 100C – it’s my dream portrait and landscape photography camera that sets the image quality bar

3:17 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Cameras Computers Gadgets Mirrorless Cameras | Comments: Off

Hasselblad X2D II 100C: two-minute review

If you've read any of my articles about Hasselblad's 'medium-format' mirrorless cameras, you'll know I have a soft spot for the premium Swedish camera maker's X-series.

They're stunning minimalist cameras with quality craftsmanship that are simple to operate and a joy to use. Naturally, it also helps that the recent models can shoot the best-looking photos this side of $10,000.

The latest addition to the series is the X2D II 100C, which is an update of my dream camera; it's refined in all the right ways, and it costs much less than its three-year-old predecessor, pushing it closer to reality for photographers on the edge of splashing out.

If I were to pick one camera for landscape photography, this would be it. You can expect highly-detailed 100MP resolution, gorgeous natural colors that need little to no editing, and 16-bit files with rich HDR, along with probably the best image stabilization performance for this full-frame-dwarfing format.

Usually cameras in this 44 x 33mm sensor format are largely confined to the studio for still life and static subjects, but the X2D II is way more versatile than that, especially since it gets an all-new autofocus system, equipped with subject-tracking continuous autofocus and LiDAR.

For the first time with a Hasselblad I felt confident using its autofocus for shooting portraits, given its largely reliable people-detection skills. There's no obvious gap in autofocus performance between Hasselblad and a Fujifilm GFX model now.

I also felt comfortable shooting without a tripod, getting sharp shots handheld with shutter speeds in excess of one second.

Don't get me wrong – I still needed to be more involved in the process to get the results I wanted than when shooting with my full-frame Nikon, but the X2D II has strong automatic chops too.

Otherwise, for the most part the shooting experience felt largely the same as with the original X2D 100C, which is fine by me.

Hasselblad X2D II 100C camera in the hand, outdoors at first light — The X-E5 can be purchased in a bundle with this nifty, space-saving 23mm pancake lens. (Image credit: Tim Coleman)

The X2D II 100C has what for me is probably the best camera design bar none: a gloriously minimalist body with exotic curves, a high-quality build with a slight reduction in weight compared to its predecessor, a larger-than-average tilting touchscreen with gorgeous color and clarity, plus various refinements that include a new joystick for adjusting the autofocus point and more.

A built-in SSD provides 1TB of storage for those mammoth 200MB raw files, and a CFExpress Type B card slot offers another storage option.

Some downsides remain: it has middling battery life, there's still no video recording capabilities (which for some could be a plus, but for me would be a nice to have), while the quality of the 5.76m-dot viewfinder display feels only okay.

And while this is the best-performing Hasselblad yet, Fujifilm GFX rivals can shoot faster, while full-frame alternatives are faster still. The X2D II is a steady shooter, just not one for action.

But again, that's fine – a camera that can deliver such rich detail can't be expected to sustain high-speed burst sequences.

Improved autofocus performance was probably my top wish for a X2D 100C successor, and that wish has come true, alongside other design refinements which improve the overall user experience.

A pleasant additional surprise is the X2D II 100C's list price: $7,399 / £6,400 (AU$ pricing TBC). That's a good deal less than the X2D 100C, even if it's still a pricey premium snapper.

Hasselblad X2D II 100C: price and availability

Available now for $7,399 / £6,400 (Australia pricing TBC)
Costs less than the original X2D 100C
Launched alongside a new XCD 35-100mm f/2.8-4 zoom lens

Hasselblad products are pricey, and with good reason – the build quality is top-drawer, as is the medium-format sensor tech, plus there's a 1TB SSD built-in. Yet despite several refinements in this latest model, it actually costs much less than the original X2D 100C, which was launched in September 2022.

The price difference depends on the region, but in the UK the X2D II 100C costs £1,000 less than its predecessor. It's still pricey, as is the new 35-100mm zoom lens (28-80mm effective), which costs $4,599 / £4,100 (Australia pricing TBC), but this Hasselblad is edging closer to Fujifilm in terms of pricing.

Price score 4/5

Hasselblad X2D II 100C: specs

Sensor:	100MP 'medium-format' sized 43.8 × 32.9mm
Video:	None
Cont. shooting:	3.3fps (approx)
Viewfinder:	5.76m-dot OLED
LCD:	3.6-inch, 2.36m-dot tilting touchscreen
Battery (CIPA rating):	Up to 327 shots, extended to 466 shots with HDR off
Weight:	29.6oz / 840g (with battery)
Dimensions:	5.85 x 4.17 x 2.95 inches / 148.5 x 106 x 75mm

Hasselblad X2D II 100C: design and handling

Very similar design to its stunning, minimalist predecessor
Slightly lighter than before, new joystick added
Large tilting touchscreen with stunning display
1TB built-in SSD and CFExpress Type B card slot

Having tested the Hasselblad X2D 100C at length, the X2D II feels very familiar. At 840g with battery, the latest model is slightly lighter, but it retains the same form factor, with a wonderfully minimalist layout and an exaggerated grip. Given the sensor format, the X2D II is impressively compact.

The finish on the high-quality body is different, and I prefer the new version both in appearance and feel.

We have the same touchscreen as before, and it's delightful. At 3.6 inches it's larger than most, plus it's wonderfully bright, rich in color and contrast, and its touch response is spot on, which is something that can't be said for all cameras – touch response feels more smartphone-like than camera-like.

Initially, pulling out the tilt screen stills feels a little fiddler than it could be, and the tilt motion is stiff; but it feels durable, and the up and downward tilt range is handy, especially for shooting at low angles.

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Hasselblad X2D II 100C camera outdoors at first light — (Image credit: Tim Coleman)

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Hasselblad X2D II 100C camera outdoors at first light, with 35-100mm lens attached — (Image credit: Tim Coleman)

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Rear screen of the Hasselblad X2D II 100C camera outdoors at first light — (Image credit: Tim Coleman)

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Hasselblad X2D II 100C camera outdoors at first light, with its touchscreen tilted — (Image credit: Tim Coleman)

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Hasselblad X2D II 100C camera outdoors at first light, with its screen tilted up — (Image credit: Tim Coleman)

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That tilt range also means the screen clears the viewfinder, which sticks out from the body, for unimpeded viewing from low angles. The large 5.76m-dot viewfinder display is lovely too, although it's far from the absolute best viewfinder I've used.

Once again we get a 1TB built-in SSD for storing images – and you'll need it, with each raw file coming in at a whopping 200MB. There's also the option to use removable media in the form of CFXepress Type B, which is one of the fastest card types today – I made use of both options during my review period.

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Hasselblad X2D II 100C camera's new joystick control, outdoors at first light — (Image credit: Tim Coleman)

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Battery door of the Hasselblad X2D II 100C camera outdoors at first light — (Image credit: Tim Coleman)

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Battery of the Hasselblad X2D II 100C camera outdoors at first light — (Image credit: Tim Coleman)

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Grip of the Hasselblad X2D II 100C camera outdoors at first light — (Image credit: Tim Coleman)

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Top plate of the Hasselblad X2D II 100C camera outdoors at first light — (Image credit: Tim Coleman)

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Memory card and connection port doors open on the Hasselblad X2D II 100C camera outdoors at first light — (Image credit: Tim Coleman)

One of the headline new features is an autofocus system that's totally new to Hasselblad, which I'll get onto in the next section, and in terms of the design this has prompted the addition of a joystick. This can be used to manually select the autofocus point – I find it a more intuitive method than the touchscreen. Despite the addition of the joystick, which is very welcome, the design still feels wonderfully minimal.

The same goes for the UI – menus are still super stripped-back and easily navigable, even with a new range of autofocus modes. The omission of video recording helps here, while there are no color profile options at all, and I really appreciate how quick and easy it is to make adjustments to settings.

I have only one niggle with design – the protective door for the USB-C port (the port which can be used to charge the camera), pops open all too easily, especially when using a camera strap.

Design and handling score 5/5

Hasselblad X2D II 100C: features and performance

5-axis sensor-shift IBIS with up to 10EV stabilization
New subject-detection autofocus recognizing humans, animals and vehicles
Continuous shooting up to 3.3fps

The original X2D's autofocus is poor by today's standards – I used it to shoot a wedding, and I quickly reverted to my old DSLR for moments when I needed autofocus with a quick response.

Hasselblad has sensibly focused its attention on various performance improvements for the X2D II, and chief among them is a completely new autofocus system. The X2D II's focusing is a different proposition altogether, almost matching Fujifilm GFX standards.

This is the first Hasselblad camera with continuous autofocus, plus the first with subject-detection autofocus, being able to recognize and track humans, animals and vehicles. It also utilizes LiDAR focusing, an improvement that comes courtesy of drone maker DJI (which bought Hasselblad some years ago, and which introduced the built-in SSD in previous models).

I tested the camera on all of the subject types it's able to recognize, and it performed well, but don't expect the same degree of autofocus sophistication you'll get from, say, recent Sony / Canon / Nikon models.

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Sample images taken with the Hasselblad X2D II 100C — I shot this self portrait remotely using Hasselblad's Phocus software, triggering the camera with my Apple iPad (Image credit: Tim Coleman)

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Still, given it was my first time shooting portraits on location with a Hasselblad, I felt confident that the focus was going to be pin-sharp on my subject's eyes, and that's a big deal. The AF was also able to track my children's pet guinea pigs and recognize birds and horses.

Hasselblad says image stabilization performance has also been improved, and it's now rated up to 10EV, which would be a world-first for any camera in any format.

I was using the X2D II with the new 35-100mm lens, and put stabilization to the test. Based on 10EV of stabilization, at the wide-angle end of the lens zoom range I would expect the camera to be able to shoot sharp handheld shots with shutter speeds of 15 seconds.

Not a chance – that simply isn't the case. I was getting sharp shots like I was before with the X2D, down to around three seconds, which is more like 7.5EV. Nonetheless, it's still an incredible performance for such a high-resolution camera.

Despite its improved autofocus performance, the X2D II, like its predecessor, is not a camera for action photography. Its burst shooting performance is limited to around 3fps, which by today's standards is very slow. No, this is a camera for single shots really, like landscapes and portraits.

Features and performance score: 4.5/5

Hasselblad X2D II 100C: image quality

Stabilized 100MP 'medium-format' 44 x 33mm sensor
16-bit raw files and 'end to end' HDR capture
No video recording whatsoever

Image quality for the most part is much the same as from the X2D, but Hasselblad didn't need to make any improvements here – the original model was already capable of taking the best-looking pictures I've ever made with a camera.

Not convinced? Check out this Hasselblad X2D vs Nikon Z6 II feature I wrote.

The X2D II utilizes the same 44 x 33mm sensor with 5-axis stabilization as before, shooting 100MP stills with 14-bit or 16-bit color-depth options. What is new, however, is what Hasselblad calls 'end to end' high dynamic range (HDR) capture – you simply check the box in image quality section of the menu to activate it.

HDR, as the name suggests, increases the range of tones in an image. Without it, the X2D II already has a wide dynamic range given the large sensor format and pixel density, but with it we get over 15EV of dynamic range. Check out some HDR landscape photos in the gallery, below.

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I took photos with and without HDR active (in raw and JPEG simultaneously), and really I could take or leave HDR – the raw files are stunning either way. Yes, you get more visible detail in shadow and highlight areas, but you also lose some of the punch of the raw files as a result.

And there's plenty of latitude to brighten shadows and darken highlights of raw files for HDR-like results using editing software. Perhaps the main benefit to in-camera HDR is that you can skip the editing process for the times when you want more detail in the tonal extremes. It could also mean that shooting in JPEG-only format is a more realistic option. I still think HDR capture is an excellent feature.

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If you're a camera owner who's used to a choice of in-camera color profiles, like you get with virtually all other cameras, such as Fujifilm's film simulations, then you'll quickly notice the absence of those here. There's not even a black-and-white mode.

It's another example of Hasselblad's minimalist approach which I appreciate, especially when the natural colors look this good – they're somehow vivid and natural at the same time – so unless you like to dial the saturation slider up to unnatural levels, stylize your images, or go monochrome, you really don't need to spend time tweaking colors in post. All the images in the gallery above are completely unedited.

The impressive image stabilization on board and improved autofocus performance really help too, meaning you can get sharp handheld shots more easily.

Hasselblad has left out video recording once again – the X2D II is purely for photographers. That will no doubt delight photography purists, but I can't see any harm in adding video recording, besides perhaps clogging up the menus.

One thing to note about all of the images included in my galleries – they are original unedited files. With 100MP to play with, there's plenty of cropping potential to focus in on certain details, like the distant person sat on a hillside, framed by the setting sun.

There's also various aspect ratios available in camera, such as Hasselblad's legendary X-Pan panoramic format.

Image and video quality score: 5/5

Hasselblad X2D II 100C: Test scorecard

Hasselblad X2D II 100C
Attributes	Notes	Rating
Price	A premium camera for a premium price, but it's surprisingly and significantly cheaper than it's predecessor	4 / 5
Design	Simply one of the best camera designs of all time	5 / 5
Feature and performance	Much improved autofocus, built-in SSD storage, but slow burst shooting speeds	4.5 / 5
Image quality	The best looking photos you can get, for the price. No video recording though.	5 / 5

Should I buy the Hasselblad X2D II 100C?

Buy it if...

You want natural-looking images from the off
Hasselblad's 100MP, 16-bit Raw files are packed with detail and the stunning colors look right from the off

You appreciate camera design
I dig Hasselblad's minimalist design philosophy – the X2D II not only looks the part, but it feels great in the hand and comes with a refreshingly simply UI.

You're a pro portrait and landscape photographer
If you want the absolute best image quality for portrait and landscape photography and don't often shoot action, then the X2D II sets the bar.

Don't buy it if...

You shoot video
An obvious one, but the X2D II has no video capabilities – it's purely for photographers.

You shoot any kind of action photography
Yes, the X2D II has subject tracking autofocus which makes it more reliable, but it's no match for industry-leading systems, while continuous burst shooting is a slow 3fps approx.

You want supreme battery life
Up to 330 shots is a pretty poor battery life for such a camera. That said, it's a photography-only camera with slow continuous shooting performance, so you're unlikely to rinse the battery quickly.

Hasselblad X2D II 100C: Also consider

Like the sound of the Hasselblad X2D II 100C but keen to know what else is out there? Here are a couple of solid alternatives…

Fujifilm GFX100 II
Fujifilm's flagship camera with the same 44x33mm sensor format is the GFX100 II. It also has a 100MP sensor, but it has superb video recording capabilities too. It's a little pricier than the X2D II.

Read our in-depth Fujifilm GFX100 II review

Sony A7R V
The best full-frame alternative to the X2D II is the high-resolution Sony A7R V. It has the same pixel density – 61MP on a stabilized full-frame sensor, together with a wide dynamic range and impressive autofocus skills. It costs around 40% less than the X2D II too.

Read our in-depth Sony A7R V review

How I tested the Hasselblad X2D II 100C

Hasselblad loaned me the X2D II 100C for three weeks ahead of its launch
I had the new XCD 35-100mm f/2.8-4 lens to test it with
I've taken camera and lens pairing on several outdoor photography shoots

I've had plenty of chances to use the X2D II with the new XCD 35-100mm f/2.8-4 lens ahead of their launches, taking the pairing on a few landscape photography trips, plus for candid portraits of humans and animals.

I've shot during daylight and nighttime, outdoors and in, and paired the camera with the latest (beta test) version of Hasselblad's Phocus app for remote control of the camera and image uploading.

My testing took place over the course of about one month.

First reviewed August 2025

This quiet but powerful pedestal fan blew me away during testing – here’s why I’ve rated it 5 stars

1:48 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Air Quality Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances | Tags: UK, US | Comments: Off

Levoit CirculAir Oscillating Fan: two-minute review

Product info

For this review, I tested the UK version of the Levoit CirculAir. A version with the same product code is available in the US, but there are minor differences compared to the UK model, including fewer fan speeds and slightly different onboard controls.

The Levoit CirculAir Oscillating Fan, also known as the Levoit Pedestal Air Circulator Fan in the UK, might be the best fan I've tested. I’ve been seriously impressed with the strong performance, convenience, and quiet operation.

This fan can be configured in two ways: either at full height or shorter, by simply unscrewing a section of the stand. This lower height is a little bit tall for use on a tabletop, but perfect for circulating air from heaters or floor-standing air conditioners.

The Levoit CirculAir is in its tabletop format on a desk in a pink living room. — (Image credit: Future)

It offers automatic horizontal and vertical oscillation, which makes for great air circulation, and also makes it really easy to fine-tune the position of the airflow just using the remote. The only thing it’s missing here is the option to select different oscillation ranges; instead, it's limited to 90 degrees horizontally and 120 degrees vertically.

On the front of the stand there’s a well-lit LED screen that displays the selected mode, and either the fan speed or the ambient temperature. Below this are the onboard touch controls (which vary slightly depending on region), and the CirculAir can also be controlled with the easy-to-use circular remote, which is magnetic for convenient storage on the back of the air circulator.

The LED screen and touch controls on the front of the fan's stand. — (Image credit: Future)

The airflow proved impressively strong during testing, and I was very grateful for it during a recent heatwave. Even at its lowest speed, I could feel a good breeze from 8ft / 2.4m, and I ran out of space to back up any further at 18ft / 5.5m away when the fan was at its top speed of 12, so it’s clear it has super-strong airflow when running full blast.

Despite its strength, the CirculAir runs satisfyingly quietly. I measured a volume of just 29dB from around 2ft away on fan speed one, 37dB at speed five, and 51dB at speed 12. This means it can operate with whisper-quiet volume at its lowest speed, and only gets as loud as moderate rainfall.

All this for a not-too-painful price tag: this fan is available to purchase at Amazon at a list price of $89.99 / £119.99, but I've already spotted a few discounts, so you might be able to avoid full whack. That's the short version; read on for my full Levoit CirculAir Oscillating Fan review.

Levoit CirculAir Oscillating Fan review: price & availability

List price: $89.99 / £119.99
Availability: US and UK

The Levoit CirculAir Oscillating Fan, AKA the Levoit Pedestal Air Circulator Fan in the UK, has a list price of $89.99 / £119.99, and is available at VeSync in the US, and at Amazon in both regions.

This is a good price considering the impressive performance the Levoit CirculAir delivered during testing, but I recommend keeping an eye out for offers, too, as there appear to be fairly regular deals available at Amazon. For example, at the time of writing, there’s a 10% limited-time deal knocking the price down to $80.99 in the US, and the price was regularly dropping to below £95 in the UK a couple of months ago.

I’ve tested the UK model, and while the model number is the same in the US, there are some slight differences, which I make note of in the following sections.

Value for money score: 5 out of 5

Levoit CirculAir Oscillating Fan review: specs

Type:	Pedestal air circulator
Speeds:	9 (US) / 12 (UK)
Oscillation:	Automatic: 90 degrees horizontal, 120 degrees vertical
Dimensions:	43.7 x 12.5 x 14.5 in / ‎36.5 x 110.8 x 32 cm
Weight:	12.7lb / 5.8kg
Control:	Onboard buttons and remote control
Timer:	Yes
Additional modes:	Eco, Turbo, Sleep

Levoit CirculAir Oscillating Fan review: design & features

Automatic vertical and horizontal oscillation
2 height options and 4 fan modes to choose between
Onboard touch controls and remote control

The Levoit CirculAir is a pedestal air circulator with two height options, so it can be placed on the floor or a tabletop. I personally found its shorter height to be a little taller than I’d prefer for a desktop fan, but this is a good option to have if you happen to be short on floor space. This shortened height could also prove useful if you wanted to, for example, position the fan in front of a heater or floor-standing AC unit, as it would be more efficient at circulating the heated or cooled air from that position.

I found it satisfyingly easy to get the Levoit CirculAir setup in either configuration – it was a simple case of screwing the poles together and into the base. The base is just the right weight: heavy enough that the fan felt sturdy on my medium-pile living room carpet, but not too heavy to move it around when required.

The Levoit CirculAir is at its full height in the middle of a pink living room. — (Image credit: Future)

There are two ways to control the Levoit CirculAir: by using the circular remote or the large touch panel on the front of the stand. The remote was just the right size; small enough to be easy for me to hold and reach all the buttons, but large enough that the buttons were well-spaced and the icons were easy to read.

The large LED panel has a generous screen that displays either the fan speed or ambient temperature, as well as which mode the CirculAir is currently set to. The controls vary slightly on the UK model from the one in the US, but all controls are accessible on the remote in both regions.

The fan is angled to face straight up. — (Image credit: Future)

The number of fan speeds also varies slightly between regions, curiously, with 12 fan speeds on offer on the UK model I tested, but only nine in the US. There are a few different modes that can be cycled through: Normal mode (where I could choose the fan speed), Turbo mode (which amps up the fan), Sleep mode (which silences the responsive beeps and dims the display), and Eco mode (which makes use of the CirculAir's internal temperature sensor and adjusts the fan speed to suit).

Unlike most desktop fans, the Levoit CirculAir boasts automatic vertical oscillation, along with the standard horizontal oscillation. There isn’t the option to choose the degree of oscillation, sadly, so it’s either 90-degree horizontal oscillation and 120-degree vertical oscillation, or nothing. I did have the choice to use just one or the other, or both, though. Not only does this range of oscillation equal better air circulation, but it also means that it could be set to just the right angle from the comfort of my couch using the remote, which I loved.

Design score: 4.5 out of 5

Levoit CirculAir Oscillating Fan review: performance

Easy to use, responsive controls
Super strong airflow
Satisfyingly quiet operation

Controlling the CirculAir was straightforward, as the touch buttons on the well-lit display were simple to understand and responsive, as were the controls on the remote. I really liked that the remote control could be magnetically clipped onto the back of the air circulator, as this made it really easy to store and retrieve.

The Levoit CirculAir has delightfully strong airflow, and I found it to be a real help cooling me down during a recent heatwave here in the UK. In fact, it has the strongest airflow out of the fans I’ve tested to date, to the point where I wasn't able to confirm how far the air travelled when it was running at its top speed, as I ran out of room at 18ft / 5.5 meters.

The airflow strength was great at lower speeds, too, as I could still feel a pleasantly cooling breeze from an impressive 8ft / 2.4m away at speed 1, and 15ft / 4.5m at speed 6, which means it reaches further at half power than the Dyson Purifier Cool Formaldehyde TP09 does at full blast.

The remote control is magnetically attached to the back of the air circulator. — (Image credit: Future)

I love it when a fan has an automatic mode, and 'Eco mode' (as it's called in the CirculAir's case) came in particularly handy during the recent heatwave. The CirculAir adjusted the fan speed in response to the rising ambient temperature throughout the day, though I found it to be much more conservative in terms of the fan speeds it applied compared to my current favorite air circulator, the MeacoFan Sefte 8in. This is good news for energy saving, though, and doesn’t make it any less efficient, really, considering the concentration of air kicked out even at the lower fan speeds.

The volume levels were pleasingly quiet, especially when taking into account the CirculAir’s punchy airflow. I got a reading of just 29dB from about 2ft away on fan speed 1, 37dB at speed 5, and 51dB at speed 12, so it was whisper quiet at its lowest, and only as loud as moderate rainfall when running at top speed.

The fan is angled down toward the floor. — (Image credit: Future)

Its low volume meant I had no problem at all sleeping with it toward the foot of my bed. I really appreciated the automatic vertical and horizontal oscillation at nighttime, too, as being able to control both with the remote meant I could get the angle of the airflow exactly where I wanted it without needing to get up and manually adjust it.

After testing, I have no complaints about the Levoit CirculAir. It was easy to use and responsive, and it operated at low volumes while delivering impressively strong airflow.

Performance score: 5 out of 5

Should I buy the Levoit CirculAir Oscillating Fan?

Section	Notes	Score
Value for money	This air circulator’s fantastic performance and versatility make it great value for money, but it’s always worth keeping an eye out for discounts.	5/5
Design	With 2 height options, automatic horizontal and vertical testing, plus responsive controls with clever remote storage, there’s plenty of versatility.	4.5/5
Performance	The airflow is seriously strong, and yet the CirculAir runs pleasingly quietly. The automatic oscillation proved particularly convenient.	5/5

Buy it if...

You want strong airflow
This air circulator certainly packs a punch! With impressively strong airflow even at its lower speeds, verging on ridiculous when running at full blast.

You want automatic cooling
The CirculAir’s Eco mode is a handy feature to have when the ambient temperature fluctuates, as it’ll adjust the fan speed to suit.

You want a fan with adjustable height
Having two different height options is great, whether you want to move it from the floor to a table, or you want to get the most efficient air circulation, depending on the position of your heater or air conditioner.

Don't buy it if...

You want something smart
If you love your smart tech and prefer to operate things from your phone, then this won’t be the air circulator for you.

You’re looking for a desk fan
Even at its shortened height, the CirculAir is a bit too tall, and the airflow is likely too strong to be a personal fan.

You want to fine-tune the oscillation
Unlike fans like the Dyson Cool CF1, which offers angles of 15 to 70 degrees, the Circulair doesn’t have the option to fine-tune the range of the oscillation.

Levoit CirculAir Oscillating Fan review: Also consider

	Levoit CirculAir Oscillating Fan	Shark FlexBreeze	Meaco MeacoFan 1056P
Price	$89.99 / £119.99	$199.99 / £199.99	$189.99 / £149.99
Speed settings	9 US / 12 UK	5	12
Oscillation	Automatic: 90 degrees horizontal, 120 degrees vertical	Automatic:180 degrees horizontal Manual: 55 degrees vertical	Automatic: 60 degrees horizontal, 80 degrees vertical
Timer	Yes	Yes	Yes
Controls	Touch buttons, remote control	Buttons, remote control	Buttons, remote control
Power	Corded	Corded or cordless	Corded
Additional modes	Eco, Turbo, Sleep	Boost, Mist	Sleep, Natural, Eco
Height adjustable	Yes	Yes	Yes
Dimensions	43.7 x 12.5 x 14.5 in / ‎36.5 x 110.8 x 32 cm	37 x 13.8 x 13.8in / 94 x 36 x 36cm	32.3-37.6 x 12.6 x 13.4 in / 82-95.5 x 32 x 33.9cm
Weight	12.7lb / 5.8kg	12.2 lb / 5.7kg	12lb / 5.4kg

Shark FlexBreeze
This is a great option if you like the idea of taking your fan outside and making use of its misting attachment on sunny days. It can be used as a pedestal or table fan, plus it can run cordless, and our reviewer was pleased with the battery life. It only has five fan speeds, but it still delivers airflow that can be felt up to 70 feet away. If you’d like to learn more, check out our full Shark FlexBreeze review.

Meaco MeacoFan 1056P
Another impressively quiet fan, this height-adjustable air circulator proved a hit with our reviewer. It delivered a great performance when tested during hot weather, and proved pleasingly quiet, even at higher speeds. This is another fan with clever fan storage, too, as the circular remote magnetically clips to the front. To find out more, have a read of our full Meaco MeacoFan 1056P review.

How I tested the Levoit CirculAir Oscillating Fan

I tested the Levoit CirculAir Oscillating Fan for a week
I tried out the different modes and features
I tested its volume and how strong the airflow was

I used the Levoit CirculAir Oscillating Fan in our photo studio, my home office, and my bedroom over the course of a week. I evaluated the assembly process and build quality closely before using it passively and in specific tests that allowed me to assess the available features.

I tried the CirculAir at both heights, oscillating, and static. I tested out the different modes, particularly Eco mode, to see how the CirculAir would respond to fluctuating temperatures.

I assessed the airflow by checking the distance I could still feel a cooling breeze on the top, middle, and lowest settings. I used a decibel meter on my iPhone to check the noise levels, taking the readings from around 2ft / 600mm away, ensuring the fan wasn’t blowing directly into the microphone.

First reviewed: August 2025
Read TechRadar's Reviews Guarantee

I tested Cambridge’s Evo 150 SE streaming amp and it is as high-performing a just-add-speakers system can possibly be, for this money

1:30 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Hi-Fi | Comments: Off

Cambridge Evo 150 SE: Two-minute review

A little over four years after it launched its well-regarded Evo 150 music streaming amplifier, Cambridge has given it the once-over and rechristened it Evo 150 SE. The differences are not numerous, but they are noteworthy nonetheless – and that’s even before you take into account the fact that this new model is actually less expensive than the model it replaces.

A neat form factor, with swappable side panels a particularly nice touch, a big, bright display and several very decent control options are all carried over. So is the expansive selection of digital and analogue, wired and wireless input options. Power, at 150 watts per channel into 8 ohms, is unchanged too – but now the Hypex NCOREx Class D amplification is ‘tuned by Cambridge’. This is by far the most significant differential between the 150 SE and the outgoing 150.

It makes its presence felt, too, in the weighty, punchy (and ultimately fractionally overstated) low frequency reproduction. But it hasn’t affected the machine’s ability to create a big soundstage, to extract and deliver lots of detail, to manage a rhythm confidently, or to generate a large and persuasive soundstage.

Add in great ergonomics, a fine standard of build and finish and the ability to drive a couple of pairs of speakers without alarms, and it’s apparent the Cambridge Evo 150 SE is a very worthwhile proposition indeed. Even if it doesn’t look all that different to the product it replaces.

The Cambridge Evo 150 SE on a gray hi-fi rack, showing the color screen, grilles and ports — Oh, it's red and no mistake (Image credit: Future)

Cambridge Evo 150 SE review: Price and release date

Release date: July 2025
Price: $3,299 / £1,999 / AU$5,999

The Cambridge Evo 150 SE launched in July 2025, and in the United Kingdom it sells for £1,999 – the same price as the outgoing Evo 150 had hit after launching at £2,249 back in 2021. In the United States you should expect to pay $3,299, while in Australia it’s currently listed at AU$5,999.

Of course, the market for streaming amplifiers is hotting up nicely – brands as venerable as NAD and as up-and-coming as Eversolo have products contesting this region of the market. So simply having a decent reputation for this sort of thing is only going to carry Cambridge (and the Evo 150 SE) so far…

Cambridge Evo 150 SE review: Features

150 watts of Hypex NCOREx ‘Tuned by Cambridge’ Class D amplification
Numerous wired and wireless, analogue and digital inputs
Four-layer PCB

There was very little wrong with the feature-set of the original EVO 150, so Cambridge has (very sensibly) left well enough alone. Or, at least, it has in all but one very significant area.

So what’s carried over from the outgoing model? Well, there’s the remarkably generous selection of physical and wireless inputs and outputs, for starters. Where analogue stuff is concerned, the Evo 150 SE has a line-level unbalanced input on stereo RCAs, a balanced equivalent via XLRs, and a moving magnet phono stage for use with a turntable accessed by another pair of RCAs. Digital inputs run to a digital coaxial input, a digital optical socket, an HDMI ARC and a USB-B input.

Wireless stuff is handled by dual-band wifi and Bluetooth with aptX HD codec compatibility. Wi-fi, of course, means the Cambridge can deal with AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect and TIDAL Connect - and it also gives access to internet radio. The 150 SE is Roon Ready, too.

As far as outputs go, there are binding posts for two pairs of speakers and a 3.5mm headphone socket. In addition, there’s a pre-out for a subwoofer, corresponding pre-outs for use with a power amplifier. And the Cambridge is a Bluetooth transmitter as well as a receiver, so it can drive your wireless headphones.

Incoming digital signals are handled by an ESS Sabre ES9018K2M digital-to-analogue converter that can deal with resolutions of up to 32bit/384kHz and DSD256. The Cambridge is compatible with all popular file types, and quite a few unpopular ones too.

So far, so very-similar-indeed-to-the-old-model. But what makes this machine an ‘SE’ is the fact that Cambridge has worked in such close collaboration with Hypex on its NCOREx Class D amplification that here it’s branded as ‘Tuned by Cambridge’. And it is, at least according to the companies involved, ready and able to produce “warm, dynamic and controlled sound”.

Features score: 5 / 5

Cambridge Evo 150 SE review: Design

39 x 317 x 352mm (HxWxD)
Large, bright, full-colour display
Swappable side panels

Just as with ‘features’, not a lot has changed where the design of the Evo 150 SE is concerned - it demonstrably wasn’t broken, and so Cambridge has chosen not to fix it. Unlike the ‘features’ section, though, where there’s a difference here between the 150 and this 150 SE it is absolutely trifling.

So your £1999 buys you a nicely proportioned, beautifully made and flawlessly finished box with a bright, crisp full-colour display on the fascia that will display album artwork or virtual VU meters as well as providing menu and set-up options. The Evo 150 is supplied with two pairs of side-panels that attach magnetically and can easily be swapped - one is a real wood veneer, the other a dark grey slatted alternative.

So yes, the difference between the Evo 150 and this Evo 150 SE is - hold on to your hat - the knurling of the two-part volume dial/input selector. It’s less knurled than it was before.

Design score: 5 / 5

Cambridge Evo 150 SE review: Sound quality

Detail and dynamism in equal measure
Big, organised soundstage
Slightly overconfident low-frequency reproduction

There are differences between the way the Evo 150 SE sounds when delivering a DSD64 file of Tears For Fears’ Head Over Heels via some network-attached storage compared to the same song streaming from the free tier of Spotify, of course – but one of the most admirable things about this Cambridge machine is how consistent it sounds. No matter which of its inputs you’re using, its fundamental character comes through loud and clear.

And broadly speaking, its character is a lovely balance between ‘detail’ and ‘energy’, and between ‘scale’ and ‘dynamism’. The Evo 150 SE is capable of revealing the finest, most minor details in a recording, and giving them the appropriate amount of emphasis relative to the overall performance. It invests music with the sort of vigour and momentum that can bring it to life, without ever threatening to lose control of proceedings. It creates a large and well-defined soundstage, and ensures that every element of recording (no matter how numerous the elements might be) gets the required elbow-room to express itself – though it delivers music as a unified and singular piece at the same time. It has the sort of dynamic headroom that allows it to track the shifts in intensity or volume during the course of a recording without sounding pressured or stressed.

At the top of the frequency range, the Evo 150 SE attacks with chunky determination. Treble sounds have brilliance and a fair amount of bite, but they’re substantial enough to prevent any hardness or edginess creeping in. It’s a similar story through the midrange: the Cambridge is forward and direct, but never pushy, and it reveals a big amount of information, both broad and fine, about what’s going on there. Voices, in particular, benefit no end from this eloquence and positivity.

The tonal balance up to this point, and down into the low frequencies too, is almost (but not quite) neutral – there’s just a hint of warmth that suits the overall character of the Evo 150 SE just fine. The frequency response, though, is slightly skewed. The Cambridge puts slightly more emphasis on the bottom end than is absolutely ideal, with the result that the overall presentation is slightly tiled towards bass. It’s not that the low end here lacks detail or is in any way ponderous – the Evo 150 SE controls the low frequencies carefully at their attack and decay, and expresses rhythms confidently as a result. But while there are doubtless plenty of listeners who will interpret this slight bottom-heaviness as ‘exciting’, it serves to make the Evo 150 SE sound less than neutral. And to demand you take some care with partnering equipment, especially loudspeakers.

Having praised the Cambridge for the consistency of its sound through its numerous inputs, it’s nevertheless worth pointing out just what a gem the Evo 150 SE’s phono stage is. A vinyl copy of The Cinematic Orchestra’s Every Day sounds full, dynamic to almost comical degree, lavishly detailed and is delivered with complete positivity. Yes, that tilt towards the bottom end is still in evidence – but the way the Cambridge handles the various rhythms and tempos goes an awfully long way towards making up for it.

Sound quality score: 4.5 / 5

Cambridge Evo 150 SE review: Usability & setup

Remote handset or app control
Simple to get attach to your local network
Big-print on-screen menus are nicely realised

Control is available via the on-screen menus and the input dial, or via the perfectly adequate yet entirely unremarkable remote control handset. Or you can do what all sensible people will do, and use the fourth (and current) version of the StreamMagic control app. This is a comprehensive, logical, stable and usable app, which offers a lot of options – I’m particularly keen on the ability to include only those inputs you’re using on the home screen. It’s good for integrating your favourite music streaming services, saving half a dozen internet radio stations as presets, and plenty more besides.

As far as ‘setup’ goes, it’s simply a question of making the physical connections you want to make, and then getting the 150 SE on to your local network. It behaves as an AirPlay speaker when fresh out of the box, so finding it and hooking it to your network couldn’t be easier (unless you’re using an Ethernet connection to your router, which makes it easier still). Then load up your streaming services and internet radio stations, nominate the inputs you’re using to the front of the app, and away you go.

Usability & setup score: 5 / 5

Cambridge Evo 150 SE review: Value

When the original Evo 150 launched back in 2021, it cost £2249 – and everyone seemed to think that was fair enough. Somehow Cambridge has managed to retain everything that was great about the original, dial in some upgraded amplification and lower the asking price to an extremely eye-catching £1999. So yes, there’s splendid value for money here.

Value score: 5 / 5

Should you buy Cambridge Audio Evo 150 SE?

Buy it if...

You admire well-realised industrial design
The Evo 150 SE is an understatedly swish looker, and those magnetically attached side panel options are never less than gratifying.

The description of sound as ‘thumping’ strikes you as a positive
You’ll never find yourself craving greater low-end heft or substance.

You own (or will own) some capable loudspeakers
The Cambridge is an adept performer in so many ways - and it deserves the speakers that can do that fact some justice.

Don't buy it if...

Your speakers or source equipment aren’t of a similar standard
See above, really - if you want the Evo 150 SE to sound like the money’s-worth (which it most definitely can) your sources and speakers need to step up.

You crave perfect sonic balance
There’s a definite flavour to the way the Cambridge sounds - and as with all flavours, it’s very much a matter of taste.

A triple screen-grab of Cambridge Evo 150 SE's companion app, showing various features and support — (Image credit: Cambridge)

Cambridge Audio Evo 150 SE review: Also consider

In 2025 the Naim Uniti Atom is an old stager – but that just means it’s matured, rather than being in any way past it. The audio balance is more neutral than the Evo 150 SE, and what the Naim lacks in inputs (there’s no phono stage, for instance) it more than makes up for in both tangibles and intangibles.

How I tested the Cambridge Audio Evo 150 SE

Two-week testing period
Bowers & Wilkins speakers
Rega P1 turntable; network storage; Tidal Connect, internet radio

With a pair of Bowers & Wilkins 702 S3 Signature at the business end, with a Rega Planar 1 turntable as a physical source and a mixture of Tidal Connect, network-attached storage, internet radio and various devices attached via Bluetooth at the other end, the Cambridge Evo 150 SE always held its own.

No genre of music seemed to be off-limits, and it wasn’t as ruthless with lower quality content as it might have been - try as I might, I couldn’t make it insist on hi-res stuff. Which means it was a pleasure to listen to in pretty much every circumstance.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed August 2025

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