Computers - Organizer

I tried Logitech’s new G325 Lightspeed gaming headset, and it was so comfortable I forgot I was wearing it

5:00 pm | March 6, 2026

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming | Tags: PC, Resident Evil | Comments: Off

Logitech G325 Lightspeed: Two-minute review

Logitech definitely knows the strengths of the G325 Lightspeed, its new budget wireless gaming headset.

Advertised as a model that’s “just as suitable for an OOTD selfie or wearing out and about” as gaming, the impressively lightweight design and unique look make it well worth considering if you're after something more stylish than your standard gamer fare.

This is an incredibly comfortable headset that you should have no trouble wearing for extended periods of time, whether you’re gaming or taking calls at the office. Its memory foam earcups are super soft, and the thin plastic headband is reinforced with some effective padding.

The fact that it’s made almost entirely from thin plastic means that it doesn't feel anywhere near as premium as competitors like HyperX Cloud III or Razer BlackShark V3 X, but this is a reasonable compromise given the high level of comfort the resulting lightness brings.

The Logitech G325 Lightspeed on a white table. — (Image credit: Future)

The microphone represents a similar trade-off. On one hand, I love how streamlined the built-in beamforming microphone is - in fact, it’s almost invisible aside from a tiny little grille on the left earcup. There’s no messing around with a retractable arm or removable parts that you might end up losing.

On the other hand, there’s no denying that those models with dedicated microphone arms sound much better, even if they are a bit more frustrating to use. The mic of the G325 Lightspeed picks up a lot of background noise, despite the best efforts of Logitech’s “AI-powered noise reduction”, and leaves you sounding quite distant and grainy.

It’s perfectly adequate if you’re chatting with friends on a Discord call, but there are gaming headsets with much better microphone performance out there at this price, like those aforementioned alternatives.

This is also a very basic headset when it comes to features. The built-in controls are a volume rocker, Bluetooth pairing button, microphone mute switch, and that’s your lot. The headset is compatible with Logitech’s brilliant G Hub software, but it doesn’t offer much here aside from some EQ options and a couple of extra settings. This is going to be more than enough for most casual gamers.

The sound here is also good for the asking price, but not exceptional. Like other Logitech headsets, it sounds a bit flat out of the box without much bass, but it’s decently detailed and performs well in games.

With all of this in mind, you should already know whether the G325 Lightspeed is for you. If comfort and aesthetics are your priority, it’s an easy recommendation given the relatively low asking price - but those after booming sound or a crystal clear mic are better served with other options.

Logitech G325 Lightspeed: Price and availability

Costs $79.99 / £69.99 / AU$199.95
Three colors available
One of Logitech’s cheapest wireless models

Priced at $79.99 / £69.99 / AU$199.95, the G325 Lightspeed is one of the cheapest wireless gaming headsets Logitech makes right now.

This price point puts it in budget territory and, given the brand’s frequent generous discounts on other products, I wouldn’t be surprised you could scoop it up for around the $50 / £50 / AU$95 mark in the future.

At full price, it still represents quite good value, though, with much of the cost accounted for in the wireless capabilities and attractive design. There are three colorways available: a black with subtle purple accents, white with grey and mint green highlights, and a cute lilac with hints of orange.

Logitech G325 Lightspeed: Specs

	Logitech G325 Lightspeed
Price	$79.99 / £69.99 / AU$199.95
Weight	7.4oz / 212g
Compatibility	PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, mobile
Connection type	Wireless (Lightspeed, Bluetooth 5.2)
Battery life	~24 hours
Features	Beamforming microphone
Software	Logitech G Hub (PC / Mobile)

Logitech G325 Lightspeed: Design and features

Attractive overall look
Very lightweight
Basic set of features

The design of the Logitech G325 Lightspeed eschews the usual gamer aesthetic of most headsets in favor of a more subtle look.

They’re sleek and seem more like a pair of music listening headphones than a gaming headset, which I quite like. You could easily wear these out of the house or in the office without embarrassment, which is certainly one of the biggest reasons to choose this model over others.

At only 7.4oz / 212g, the G325 Lightspeed is impressively lightweight, though it’s easy to see where Logitech has made the biggest sacrifices to achieve this. The headband feels particularly thin and cheap, with lots of flex to it. Importantly, it is still comfortable thanks to generous memory foam padding. The earcups, which can be adjusted up and down by a few inches, are similarly well-padded with memory foam cushioning.

The right earcup is completely plain aside from some subtle G325 branding, with all of this headset’s controls located on the back of the left one. There’s a power switch (situated beneath an LED indicator to denote battery level and charging status), a Bluetooth pairing button, a volume rocker, and a button to mute the microphone with a built-in and flush design on the front of the earcup.

The headset is compatible with the Logitech G Hub app, though it doesn’t give you access to many extra features. You can turn on side tone (which lets you hear yourself as you speak) or enable the microphone’s AI noise reduction features. There are also a number of audio presets to choose from, but the default one is well-balanced and a good fit for most uses.

Logitech G325 Lightspeed: Performance

Decent, balanced sound
As suitable for office work as gaming
Microphone could be better

Like other Logitech gaming headsets, the G325 Lightspeed sounds quite neutral out of the box. There is definitely some bass, but not overemphasized, and the mids and highs are decently presented. Is it the most detailed or breathtaking sound I’ve ever heard? No, but it’s firmly in line with what you should expect at this price.

I’ve been using the Logitech G325 Lightspeed for a few weeks now, and I never found the listening experience unpleasant, even when bobbing along to music as I worked. In games, the sound is more than sufficient for an enjoyable experience for a casual player, and this has been my go-to throughout my recent co-op playthrough of Resident Evil 6 and daily Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 matches.

Although I do have access to much better-sounding models, the ease of use of this one, not to mention the sheer comfort, is hard to argue with. Just plug the USB dongle in, and you’re ready to go.

I even like the built-in microphone despite its obvious flaws, too. This is not a gaming headset that you should use to start your streaming career, but the fact that the microphone is always present and incredibly unobtrusive is a plus. When I’m using the Astro A20 X, for example, I always have to dig the removable microphone out of my drawer and consciously attach it to my headset before I play - often struggling to find it in the process. Here, you just put the headset on, and you’re ready to go.

I do wish it did a better job of picking up your voice, though. I found that I often sounded quite quiet in comparison to other headsets, with a noticeably grainy quality to my voice. It also lets in an awful lot of background noise, with everything from typing to controller button presses picked up. This is easy to remedy with something like the Krisp noise suppression built into Discord, but still a clear area for improvement.

The battery life here isn’t anything special, but it’s good enough. Logitech claims that this headset will last more than 24 hours at 50% volume, and, in normal use, I found that it easily lasted about 20 hours at a time.

Should I buy the Logitech G325 Lightspeed?

Buy it if…

You want a light and comfortable headset
The Logitech G325 Lightspeed is incredibly comfortable thanks to its lightweight and generous memory foam padding. It’s one to choose if you want something that you can wear for hours and hours at a time.

You love the look
This headset also has quite a unique look that’s very different from most gaming models. Pick it up if you want something understated.

Don’t buy it if…

You need better sound
The sound here is good, but you can still get better performers for around the same price from brands like Razer or HyperX - especially if you don’t mind going for a wired alternative.

You want a great mic
The microphone here could do with some work. It gets the job done, but the performance isn’t as good as most models with a microphone arm.

Also consider...

Not sold on the Logitech G325 Lightspeed? See these two alternatives.

	Logitech G325 Lightspeed	Razer BlackShark V3 X	HyperX Cloud III
Price	$79.99 / £69.99 / AU$199.95	$99.99 / £99.99 / around AU$141	$99.99 / about £99.99 / AU$150
Weight	7.4oz / 212g	9.5oz / 270g	10.9oz / 310g
Compatibility	PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, mobile	PC, Xbox Series X/S (Xbox version), Playstation 4/5, (PlayStation version), mobile	PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, mobile
Connection type	Wireless (Lightspeed, Bluetooth 5.2)	2.4 GHz Wireless / Bluetooth / USB Wired	Wired (3.5mm)
Battery life	~24 hours	70 hours	N/A
Features	Beamforming microphone	7.1 virtual surround sound, unidirectional detachable cardioid mic	Detachable 10mm mic, DTS Headphone:X Spatial Audio
Software	Logitech G Hub (PC / Mobile)	Razer Synapse (PC)	HyperX NGENUITY (PC)

Razer BlackShark V3 X
This budget-oriented BlackShark headset from Razer is more expensive and heavier than the G325, but it offers significantly better battery life and much punchier sound, not to mention plenty more features.

For more information, check out our full Razer BlackShark V3 X review

HyperX Cloud III
The HyperX Cloud III might be getting on in years, but it’s still a top contender and regularly on sale for around the same price as the G325. It’s wired, but it comes with a phenomenal microphone.

For more information, check out our full HyperX Cloud III reviewView Deal

How I tested the Logitech G325 Lightspeed

Tested for multiple weeks
Used with PC, PS5, and Xbox
Relied on for both work and play

I tested the Logitech G325 Lightspeed for multiple weeks, using it as my primary wireless gaming headset for both work and play.

I used it with my PC in addition to my PS5 and Xbox Series X consoles, squeezing in plenty of game time with friends to test out the built-in mic. I also wore it daily while working, wearing it for online meetings and while listening to music, and found it to be a worthy companion.

I frequently compared its performance to a range of other models that I’ve tested, including the Logitech G522 Lightspeed, Astro A20 X, and SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5, plus more premium alternatives like the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro and Astro A50 X.

DuelSense-fueled fighting

Avowed player character attacking a skeletal wizard with a war hammer. — (Image credit: Microsoft / Obsidian Entertainment)

While I began an Avowed playthrough on my Xbox Series X a year ago, I didn't get to dig very deep into its rich, potential-packed universe. What I remember most from my brief time braving the Living Lands as an envoy of the Aedyr Empire is the game's rewarding combat, which feels better than ever on the PS5.

Fast, fluid, and superbly supported by weighty impacts of blades, bullets, and arcane abilities, the monster-slaying action was already satisfying as hell. But the combat's been amped up significantly thanks to the DualSense's immersion-ratcheting capabilities.

Obsidian didn't sleep on the gamepad's proprietary tech, fully leveraging its adaptive triggers and haptic feedback to make every input – from meaty melee strikes to slow simmering spells – feel as fantastic in your hands as they look on the screen.

Of course, this also folds in that fresh content I mentioned above, as the game's massive anniversary update introduces a new Quarterstaff for wizard builds. No mere reskin of an existing melee weapon, this two-handed tool of destruction allows mages to crack skulls up-close – as well as unleash powerful spells – in an epic fashion that'd make Gandalf proud.

Coupled with its next-level DualSense effects, it's quickly become my favorite way to bring death to the Living Lands.

An update worthy of the gods

An Avowed location showing off a serene pond and a mountain in the background. — (Image credit: Microsoft / Obsidian Entertainment)

While the Quarterstaff is my personal favorite addition, this sorcerer's best friend barely scratches the surface of the brimming update.

A deep photo mode – with plenty of options for customizing effects, filters, and color gradients – as well as a New Game+ option, will keep both existing envoys and new recruits busy. Beyond that, a trio of new races – Orlans, Aumaua, and Dwarves – join the Humans and Elves, bringing more character customization, perks, and fresh personality and lore to this already layered fantasy universe.

Best bit

Wielding Avowed's new Quarterstaff weapon feels fantastic, allowing mage-leaning envoys to fluidly mix magic and melee attacks. More than just a flashy new tool to test out and toss back in my inventory, the two-handed death-dealer changed the way I approached combat, while also making the game's excellent enemy encounters even more engaging.

A slew of new difficulty modifiers also invite adventurers of all skill levels to tweak and tailor their experience to their hearts' content. Factor in the past year of smaller updates – adding everything from polish, bug fixes, and quality of life touches – and PlayStation fans are getting yet another definitive take on a title that was born on Xbox.

If the PlayStation version stumbles at all, it's in its lack of PS5 Pro-specific enhancements. It packs the now-standard quality (30 frames per second) and performance (60 frames per second) options, as well as a more in-the-middle setting for those with 120Hz displays. You can also chase faster performance by unlocking the frame rate, a welcome inclusion for sure. But there are no meaty ray-tracing features or other enhancements that allow you to truly harness everything under the Pro's hood.

And what is offered didn't seem to make much of an impact during my testing. In terms of both visuals and performance, my time playing on the Pro looked and felt pretty comparable to my Xbox Series X experience. Similarly, the standard PS5 and Pro seem to offer near-identical visual quality and performance, with no notable differences between the two.

Don't sleep on it a second time

While Pro owners might pine for more features to justify their pricey hardware purchase, the finger can be partially pointed at the fact that Avowed already played smoothly and impressed visually upon its release a year ago. That same sentiment translates to many other elements of the game, including its fantastic storytelling, colorful character interactions, and vibrant, varied world, covered extensively in TechRadar Gaming's original review of the game.

Unsurprisingly, upon its release, Avowed was another compelling, polished action-RPG from a studio that's been honing and perfecting its craft for over two decades, starting with 2004's Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords. Sadly, it got somewhat lost in the sea of last year's acclaimed genre entries.

Thankfully, that oversight can now be remedied with its PS5 release, which not only reintroduces everything that was great the first time we faced its fungal plague but also brings a brimming treasure chest of fresh features, enhancements, and content.

Whether you're a PlayStation owner craving the most immersive experience from behind the DualSense or an existing envoy ready to wield the Quarterstaff as one of the new races, Avowed's second coming is as impressive as a Living Lands sunset…which you'll definitely want to capture in photo mode.

Should you play Avowed on PS5?

Play it if...

You missed out on Avowed the first time
Given the glut of awesome RPGs that landed last year, you could be forgiven for overlooking Avowed's original release. That said, there's no excuse not to jump in now, as one of 2025's best genre entries is better than ever. If you're a fantasy RPG fan who missed this one the first time around, you're in for a real treat.

You've played Avowed, but have been craving fresh content
Even if you've already conquered the Dreamscourge, Avowed's anniversary update is reason enough to dive back in. Its New Game+, photo mode, and a trio of additional races offer fresh ways to experience the game, while its awesome, two-handed Quarterstaff is worth the price of admission (which is free if you already own the game) for wizard-wannabes.

You don't own an Xbox
If you're a PlayStation stalwart pining for a new action-RPG, Avowed has you covered and then some. Like last year's Stalker: Heart of Chornobyl and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Obsidian's fantasy-fueled romp is another previous Xbox exclusive that arguably plays better on Sony's console thanks to its immersion-cranking controller.

Don't play it if...

You're a PlayStation 5 Pro owner looking to justify your purchase
Avowed offers up a visual feast running at a peppy framerate on the PS5 Pro, but the same can largely be said for its standard PS5 and Xbox Series X versions. If you're looking for meaningful Pro features and enhancements, you won't find them here.

Avowed player character fights a bear with a sword and spellbook — (Image credit: Microsoft)

Accessibility features

Prior to its PS5 release, Avowed already offered an admirable slate of accessibility options for camera adjustments, subtitle settings, difficulty levels, and even an arachnophobia mode for those averse to creepy crawlies. But the game's new version builds further on this solid foundation, especially in the difficulty department.

A new "custom" difficulty setting allows players to tweak over two dozen modifiers, adjusting everything from player damage and stamina to carrying capacity, enemy attack speed, and much more. But while Avowed more than delivers in most accessibility areas, it still doesn't offer the suite of colorblind options that have become pretty standard in other games.

How I reviewed Avowed on PS5

I explored The Living Lands for just over 40 hours, adventuring primarily on my PlayStation 5 Pro, but also putting plenty of time into my standard PS5 and Xbox Series X for visual and performance comparisons. I found the best, most balanced experience playing on my Pro in quality mode with the framerate unlocked.

I focused on testing the game's anniversary update additions, specifically its custom difficulty settings, new Quarterstaff weapon, races, and photo mode. I played primarily on my budget TCL 4K display, with HDR enabled and using its built-in stereo speakers, paying particular attention to the game's DualSense controller integration for vibration and audio effects. I also played a few hours on my PlayStation Portal with PlayStation Pulse Explore earbuds.

First reviewed February 2026

Kensington SD7100T5 EQ Pro docking station review: Easier to buy than a laptop or PC that has the ports you need for the full Thunderbolt 5 experience

8:16 pm | March 5, 2026

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

Kensington SD7100T5 EQ Pro: 30-second review

I still have questions about the cart-before-horse nature of Thunderbolt 5 docks, where we have so many dock choices when there are virtually no TB5 peripherals, and a tiny percentage of laptops have this port.

Ignoring those salient points, the Kensington SD7100T5 EQ Pro is yet another slice of Thunderbolt technology for those lucky enough to have a TB5-capable system and can afford a top-tier docking station to go with it.

Straight up, this is easily the nicest Thunderbolt dock I’ve ever seen from Kensington, combining some elegant chamfered corners and a cool-to-the-touch metal exterior.

The front side has a great selection of ports, including card readers for three different standards. And at the back are even more connection options, including a few I’ve never seen on a dock, such as a TOSLINK optical for digital audio.

Having nineteen ports is an important selling point, but this dock can also operate as a Thunderbolt-connected SSD using a provided M.2 PCIe 4.0 slot, if you install an SSD.

However, when you combine this level of build quality with unique features, the first casualty is the budget, and this is one of the more expensive TB5 docks. And that price might easily be doubled if you want one for home and work.

Throw in some Thunderbolt-to-DisplayPort or HDMI adapters, and you might easily exceed $1500 for two docks and a 2TB NVMe drive.

If you need only one dock and have monitors that can accept Thunderbolt directly, then the outlay might be easier to justify. But with TB4 docks hovering around $200, the performance benefits of this dock might need to be documented.

Ignoring the price, this is easily one of the best laptop docking stations I’ve tested with Thunderbolt 5, even if it doesn’t have any direct HDMI or DisplayPort outputs.

Kensington SD7100T5 EQ Pro: Price & availability

How much does it cost? $279/£223/€260
When is it out? It’s available now
Where can you get it? Direct from WavLink

From what I understand, there are two variants of this dock: K33611NA (standard) and K33612NA (Mac-optimised). That makes little sense, since Thunderbolt 5 is meant to be a standard, and not something that needs to be optimised for on a particular platform. Unless Apple took it on themselves, uncharacteristically, to adopt a piece of technology and then break it?

You can get either directly from Kensington in the USA, but these are oddly missing from the European Kensington websites. The cost of both models directly from the maker is $449.99, which serves as an MSRP for this hardware.

However, it's cheaper via the Kensington outlet on Amazon.com, where it's available for only $404.99. The Newegg price is $435, curiously.

UK pricing via Amazon is only £389.10, and the EU price is around €430.

That $449.99 MSRP price is the single biggest conversation point of this dock, and with good reason. That is roughly double the cost of a well-specified Thunderbolt 4 dock, and it puts the SD7100T5 firmly in the corporate IT procurement bracket rather than the individual buyer market.

The justification for the price is the unique combination of features. As no other TB5 dock at any price currently bundles a PCIe M.2 SSD slot, CompactFlash reader, optical audio, programmable hotkeys, and three Thunderbolt 5 downstream ports into a single unit.

The bottom line is that if you can afford a laptop with TB5, you probably won’t be concerned about the cost of this hardware, and it is easily one of the best docks available.

Value: 4 / 5

Kensington SD7100T5 EQ Pro: Specs

Feature

Specification

Compatibility

Thunderbolt 5, Thunderbolt 4, USB4, USB-C (Windows 11 23H2+, macOS 14.5+)

Total Ports

19-in-1

Thunderbolt 5 (upstream)

1x TB5 host port (80Gbps / 120Gbps Bandwidth Boost)

Thunderbolt 5 (downstream)

3x TB5 ports — support up to 140W PD and display output

USB-A ports

4x USB-A 3.2 Gen2 (10Gbps)

USB-C ports

2x USB-C 3.2 Gen2 (10Gbps); 1x up to 30W charging

Video — Windows

Triple 4K@144Hz or Dual 8K@60Hz

Video — Mac

Dual 6K@60Hz (M-Series Pro/Max required)

Power Delivery

Up to 140W (USB PD 3.1 EPR, 28V/5A)

KonstantCharge

Yes

Storage Slot

1x PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD slot (lockable, SSD not included)

Card Readers

CF 4.0, UHS-II SDXC, UHS-II microSDXC

Network

1x 2.5GbE Ethernet

Audio

3.5mm headphone jack, 3.5mm mic jack, 3.5mm speaker jack, TOSLINK optical

Hotkeys

2x programmable (iPhone backup + DND on Mac; custom on Windows)

Mounting

Pre-drilled holes for optional bracket (K34050WW, sold separately)

Security

Kensington lock slot (cable lock sold separately)

Thermal

Passive cooling

Construction

97% post-consumer recycled (PCR) aluminium

Warranty

3-year limited

Kensington SD7100T5 EQ Pro: Design

Recycled aluminium construction
Lockable M.2 slot
No display outputs

The SD7100T5 represents a design departure for Kensington, moving away from the brand's more conservative corporate aesthetic towards something that looks more at home on a creative's desk.

The marketing presentation declares that the case is constructed from 97% post-consumer recycled aluminium, a genuine sustainability credential if true.

The metal used in this dock is critical to the heat dissipation from the Thunderbolt electronics and the SSD, if you mount one. It did get slightly warm in use, but not too hot to touch, even after several hours of activity.

Due to the SD7100T5's lateral design, it is intended exclusively for horizontal desktop use, and Kensington sells a secure mounting plate accessory that attaches to the threaded holes on the underside.

Without that accessory, which isn’t included in the box, there are two security slots on the left side that work with Kensington's own cable locks, unsurprisingly.

The top panel is removable via a single screw, revealing the M.2 SSD slot beneath. This screw is small and requires a tiny Phillips screwdriver, which Kensington doesn’t include with the dock. With the screw removed, the M.2 slot can be populated with any PCIe 3.0 or 4.0 specification NVMe drive, and made accessible from the computer.

Thermal pads inside the slot thermally connect the drive to the case, but these don’t allow for drives that have attached heatsinks to be used. The counter to that downside is that the slot supports drives of different sizes, with 2232, 2240 and 2260 being supported alongside 2280.

Getting a drive installed and running takes a relatively short amount of time, assuming you have a suitably sized screwdriver.

I’m not going to list all the ports, because it's tedious, but there are some unusual ones that need to be mentioned. I’ve already spoken about TOSLINK Optical Audio, but for those using headphones and a microphone, 3.5mm audio jack inlets are included.

The typical arrangement for Thunderbolt docks is to have a single uplink port to the laptop that carries power and data, with two downlink ports usually on the rear of the dock. That’s not the case here, because there are three downlink ports, with one conveniently on the front.

My only issue with downlink ports is that the maximum power they can deliver is 30W, which makes them less than useful for charging phones. However, this dock does have KonstantCharge, another made-up word for keeping power available to attached hardware when the host system is turned off or disconnected. I like that idea, and I wish more docks had that feature.

There are two programmable hotkeys on the top surface, which some might find useful. On macOS, one handles iPhone photo backup and the other acts as a Do Not Disturb toggle; on Windows, both are customisable via the Kensington Konnect software.

Overall, this is an extremely nice dock with plenty of useful features and a few things that are less than must-have. Of these, the M.2 slot and the three TB downlinks are the ones that customers will probably buy this hardware for.

Design: 3.5 / 5

Kensington SD7100T5 EQ Pro: Features

TB5 Bandwidth Boost
Built-in M.2 SSD slot
CompactFlash + optical audio

The SD7100T5's feature list is what separates it from every other dock on the market. Starting with the connection: Thunderbolt 5 delivers 80Gbps bidirectional bandwidth as standard, increasing to 120Gbps under Bandwidth Boost when driving video-intensive workloads.

To put that in context, a decent USB-C dock, like the WavLink WL-UG75PD1-DH2, operates on 10Gbps USB-C, which gives the SD7100T5 twelve times the bandwidth available to share across its ports.

The built-in PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD slot is arguably the dock's most distinctive feature. It is lockable (the top panel is secured by a screw rather than friction), making it suitable for shared or office environments where physical security matters.

Often, laptops are given a modest amount of storage, like 1TB, but sometimes even less, and having another 2TB, 4TB or even 8TB of drive space when you connect to the dock could make data-intensive tasks easier to handle.

The SSD is not included and must be purchased separately, but even if it merely provides a means to back up the laptop, it's probably worth the investment.

The card reader selection goes further than any competing dock: CF 4.0 (CompactFlash), UHS-II SDXC, and UHS-II microSDXC. I’ll be honest and admit that I haven't used Compact Flash in at least 14 years, but I also know that some professional photographers still use older high-end DSLRs that require it. If you are one of those, then this might be another reason to invest in this design.

Audio connectivity is similarly comprehensive: separate 3.5mm headphone, mic, and speaker jacks plus a TOSLINK optical output. The optical connection enables lossless audio passthrough to external DACs and high-end audio systems, making it extremely helpful for anyone editing video or audio.

Features like the CF support and TOSLINK are quite unique for a TB5 dock, and while it could easily be argued that they’re somewhat niche, those that need them won’t care.

However, the lack of any direct HDMI or DisplayPort might also put off those looking for a more general-purpose device, since that requires additional budget to add adapters for monitor connectivity.

Features: 4 / 5

Kensington SD7100T5 EQ Pro: Performance

80Gbps upstream bandwidth
No DisplayLink compression
TB5 Bandwidth Boost for video

The fundamental performance story of the SD7100T5 is the inverse of those docks that use USB-C or even Thunderbolt 4. On those devices, the issue of bandwidth management becomes critical, as they might be trying to service 55Gbps worth of ports (or more) with as little as a 10Gbps uplink.

The SD7100T5 operates on 80Gbps, rising to 120Gbps under Bandwidth Boost. The bandwidth pie is dramatically larger, which means port oversubscription is far less of a practical concern in real-world use. Bandwidth boost, in particular, enables display data not eat into the bandwidth for other devices, which it would on lesser docks.

In USB-C and Thunderbolt 4 docks, this is often mitigated using DisplayLink, which uses CPU-side video compression to minimise the amount of bandwidth required to support displays.

Critically, the SD7100T5 does not use DisplayLink. All video output goes through native Thunderbolt 5 signalling, meaning there is no CPU-side video compression, no software driver requirement for display output, and no compression artefacts or lag on moving content. Triple 4K@144Hz on Windows is native and uncompressed, a capability that is fundamentally impossible on DisplayLink-based solutions.

The proof in this pudding is that it is possible to connect a monitor via a Thunderbolt-to-HDMI or Thunderbolt-to-DisplayPort adapter, have that running, transfer a large file to an NVMe drive installed in the M.2 slot, and still achieve full speed. And critically, there is no impact on the image quality on the display.

The caveat to all this functionality is that the host system must have a Thunderbolt 5 port. Running this dock from a Thunderbolt 4 host rather than TB5 will still work, but the connection will be capped at TB4's 40Gbps, which means the Bandwidth Boost is unavailable and maximum display configurations are reduced.

The dock is fully backwards-compatible; you simply won't be able to access the full specification without a TB5 laptop, and, as a good TB4 dock is half the price, the extra cost of this device was largely pointless.

Performance: 4 / 5

Kensington SD7100T5 EQ Pro: Final verdict

The Kensington SD7100T5 EQ Pro is the most comprehensively specified docking station available today. Its combination of three TB5 downstream ports, built-in M.2 SSD slot, CompactFlash reader, optical audio, 140W power delivery, and programmable hotkeys in a single recycled aluminium chassis is, at the time of writing, without direct competition.

If you have a Thunderbolt 5 laptop and can make use of what this dock offers, it is worth the $449.99, even if that’s a significant investment.

The problem, and it’s an awkward one, is that TB5-capable laptops are like hens' teeth. Normally, this is part of the review where I say that this situation will get better when X, Y and Z happen, but I’d be lying in this instance.

Intel's 2026 Panther Lake will not natively support TB5, meaning the total addressable audience remains primarily Apple M4 Pro/Max MacBook users and a relatively small number of Intel Core Ultra 200H/HX Windows users. For everyone else, a Thunderbolt 4 dock at $200-250 will deliver 80% of the practical benefit at half the cost.

For the right user, however, this dock genuinely transforms a single-cable laptop setup into a fully featured workstation. The M.2 SSD slot alone is a workflow improvement that has proven difficult to go back from, once experienced. The three-year warranty and Kensington's established reliability record add further confidence for IT procurement decisions.

If you are lucky enough to have the right platform to attach it to, the Kensington SD7100T5 EQ Pro is probably the best dock so far, if you can afford one.

Kensington SD7100T5 EQ Pro: Report card

Value	Expensive but no other dock matches this feature set at any price	4 / 5
Design	Premium recycled aluminium, lockable SSD slot, thoughtful hotkeys	4.5 / 5
Features	Best-in-class: M.2 slot, CompactFlash, optical audio, 3x TB5 downstream, KonstantCharge	4 / 5
Performance	Native TB5 video, no DisplayLink, full PCIe 4.0 SSD speed, consistent throughput	4 / 5
Overall	The most capable dock available, but only for those who genuinely need what it offers	4 / 5

Should I buy a Kensington SD7100T5 EQ Pro?

Buy it if...

You have Thunderbolt 5
Apple M4 Pro/Max MacBook users or Intel Core Ultra 200H/HX Windows users will access the full 80–120Gbps bandwidth and unlock the complete display configuration options.

You need 140W charging
Very few docks deliver USB PD 3.1 EPR at 140W, a power level that’s essential for high-performance mobile workstations that require more than the standard 100W. View Deal

Don't buy it if...

You have Thunderbolt
While this dock might work with a Thunderbolt port if it downgrades to USB 3.2, a much better experience can be had with a Thunderbolt dock. And, they don't cost any more.

Your laptop has Thunderbolt 4 only
The dock is backwards-compatible but caps at 40 Gbps on a TB4 host. A CalDigit TS4 or a similar TB4 dock costs roughly half as much and will serve you better today.

Also consider

Kensington SD5000T5 EQ
More of a hub than a dock, but overall, it is a well-specified dock for those planning to head down the TB5 rabbit hole. However, the lack of machines with this port and peripherals to connect does make it largely overkill at this point. But cheaper than the SD7100T5 EQ Pro.

Check out our Kensington SD5000T5 EQ reviewView Deal

CalDigit Thunderbolt Station 4
The CalDigit Thunderbolt Station 4, or TS4 as it is also known, is a full-featured Thunderbolt dock that works with Thunderbolt 4/3 and USB-C. It is not designed to be a portable dock but specifically to support a laptop user who comes to the office and wants a single cable connection to the network and a host of peripherals. To that objective, it has no less than 18 ports and can deliver up to 98W for charging a connected system. If you don't have TB5, then this is a good alternative.

Check out our CalDigit Thunderbolt Station 4 (TS4) review

Adobe Lightroom Classic (2026) review: Perfect photo organization with time-saving AI at its best — but it can be hit and miss

7:58 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro Software & Services | Tags: AI | Comments: Off

It’s been a while since I last reviewed Adobe Lightroom, and as always with Adobe, many features have been added and a host of others have been improved, so let’s take a look at Lightroom 9.2 and see what it’s all about.

But before we do, I need to point out that there are two versions of Lightroom: Lightroom, and Lightroom Classic.

Lightroom is a simpler, more user friendly version, whereas Classic is aimed at the professional user or someone demanding a higher degree of control, who prefers to store their media on their local hard drives. I’ll be primarily covering the Classic side of things here.

Adobe Lightroom Classic: Pricing & plans

Three subscription options
No perpetual license
Additional AI credits available

As with most of Adobe's professional software, Lightroom Classic is subscription-only - and here, there are three options available.

Grab Adobe’s entire portfolio with Creative Cloud Pro for US$70 a month. Alongside Lightroom, this unlocks other popular apps such as Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, After Effects, the works.

For a less expensive, photo-focused subscription plan, there's the Photography bundle. This brings together both versions of Lightroom as well as Photoshop for $20 a month. Alternatively, you could just limit yourself to Lightroom and Lightroom Classic for $12 a month.

These are monthly costs, based on a year-long contract. They also come with Generative Credits, from 250 a month for the cheapest option to 4,000 for the high end plan. Those credits don’t roll on: if you don’t use them in a month, they don’t get added to your next allotment the following month.

If you’re really into generative AI creation, Adobe has add-on plans to suit your appetite, from an additional 2,000 credits for $10 a month, to 50,000 for $200 a month.

Pricing & plans: 3.5/5

Adobe Lightroom Classic: What is it?

Adobe Lightroom Classic during our review process — (Image credit: Adobe // Future)

Very well designed app
Easy to organize, alter, and share your work

Let’s start with the basics: what is Lightroom Classic?

Quite simply, it has the dual purpose of storing and cataloging your photos, while also allowing you to make alterations to them and prepare them to share with others. Any change is non-destructive, so the original photos are never altered, and you can go back to the source to make additional tweaks without ever suffering from quality degradation.

I feel the interface is very well designed - and interacting with interfaces is what I do most of the time! You have seven different sections, all accessible through a large menu bar, top right. By default, you’re in ‘Library’, which is where you can see all the photos you’ve imported and worked on.

You can actually do a fair amount of work there, such as rotating an image, adding tags, a star rating, keywords, and even perform some light colour correction. But if you want to get fully immersed in image manipulation, then ‘Develop’ is the place to be.

This is where you get to apply in-depth colour correction, cropping, remove red-eye, correct for lens distortion, completely remove an object from a scene, and mask specific sections to fine tune which part of an image to alter - among many others. You’ll find the tools at your disposal are quite extensive.

But Lightroom Classic goes beyond that. You have the ‘Map’ section where you can see all the photos you took in a specific location (and alter a shot’s metadata should you need to), there’s a section dedicated to designing a ‘Book’, or creating a ‘Slideshow’, ‘Print’ selected photos, or upload them to the ‘Web’. Although, truth be told, this is something consumer software like Apple’s Photos offers too.

All in all, Lightroom Classic makes it easy to organise your shots, make them look their best with a wide range of tools, and share them in numerous ways. But what does its latest release bring to the table? Let’s find out.

Score: 4.5/5

Adobe Lightroom Classic: What’s new?

New AI features can save time
But I found results vary in quality
And it’s not like you get your credits back if you’re not happy

While the general workflow remains unchanged from previous versions, the big new features are primarily AI-based. This will delight some, and send shivers down the backs of others.

The most useful application of AI is ‘Assisted Culling’. Currently in Beta (Adobe calls it ‘Early Access’), it’s designed to accelerate the photo selection process upon import, by automatically filtering out blurry, closed-eye, misfired images, and more. You’re given a few sliders to determine the intensity of the cull, and can choose which options to filter for. After a few seconds (depending on how many images you’re importing and your computer’s capabilities), the results are ready to be reviewed.

I found the process works very well, identifying with ease any issues it’s designed to look for, and if it made a mistake, you can alter the decision shot by shot. This makes looking through a series of very similar photos a much quicker process (and if you don’t like a machine doing that kind of work for you, you can always disable the feature). As an added bonus, this AI tool is free… Unlike Lightroom Classic’s new ‘Generate using Firefly’ options.

Now why would we want Generative AI in Lightroom? Well, if you’re not well-versed in Photoshop, then it’s a quick way for somewhat clever algorithms to perform relatively complex actions for you… but I admit having a few issues with such technology.

As an example, I asked AI to colorize a black and white photo of my brother and I when I was just a baby. It should’ve been a simple process, and indeed the colours used do look good. However, it added an object on top of a chest of drawers, and changed my brother’s face. In another shot, it cleaned up a tray. Although I can appreciate the virtual maid having tidied up, it’s not what I had asked for. Plus if you’re not satisfied, you don’t get your generated credits back.

To be fair, other results were better, and Firefly didn’t alter the faces of other ancient family members of mine - even my great great grandmother was faithfully updated. The resolution of the resulting version can be set up to a maximum of 2K. Great for older images that have lower resolutions, but not so good for more modern shots.

If you have credits to burn, you can bring a photo to life by turning it into a video. I found this a bit disturbing, although others around me loved it. And it must be said, Firefly did an impressive job of bringing my long-gone relative to life (Dr Frankenstein would be proud).

Score: 4/5

Adobe Lightroom Classic: Classic vs Lightroom

Lightroom is much simpler
Generative Upscale tool is better than Classic’s gen AI features

Before finishing up, I wanted to quickly dip into the simpler Lightroom, as there’s a feature there that’s worth mentioning: ‘Generative Upscale’.

It’s worth mentioning as this AI-based upscaling isn’t actually done by Adobe but in partnership with Topaz Gigapixel instead, and unlike the Firefly option we explored above, you don’t leave Lightroom when using it, which is a definite plus.

The feature not only tells you how many credits you’ll need, but also how many you have left - a useful addition which is sorely missed in Classic’s Firefly. The downside though is, as with Firefly, you have no control over the process. You get what you get, whether you’re happy with it or not.

Overall, Lightroom Classic is a very good image management and manipulation tool, and its new AI-based additions will no doubt please some, but aside from the useful Assisted Culling feature, you have next to no control over the output of AI.

Score: 4/5

Should I buy?

Buy it if...

You’re looking for a high-end, easy to use and feature rich image management tool, and appreciate the growing proliferation of AI tools within it.

Don't buy it if...

You don’t like subscriptions, and having more and more AI in your software irks you, not to mention that you have to pay extra for those tools.

We tested out the best photo editing PCs and the best laptops for photo editing and these are our top picks.

Munbyn RealWriter 405B dual-color thermal printer review: More expensive than I’d like, but performance and build quality are excellent

7:24 pm |

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

Specs

Type: Thermal label printer

Connectivity: Bluetooth, USB

Max print speed: 72 labels/min

Max paper size: 4-inch

Print quality: 203 dpi

Apple AirPrint: no

Consumables included: 20 4x6-inch labels; 40 dual-color labels

Dimensions: 8.19 x 3.54 x 2.95 in / 208 x 90 x 75 mm (WxDxH)

Weight: 1.49 lbs / 676g

An inkless label printer that can print color? Well, sort of. Thermal printing works by heating special thermal media so there’s no ink, making it ideal for portable printing. The downside is it can only make black marks on thermal paper — until now.

Munbyn’s latest printer is compatible with dual-color thermal paper which adds either blue or red, but not not both. You have to choose between red/black or blue/black media, so it’s not like Hollywood discovering Technicolor, but dual-color labels are certainly more impactful and allow some cute creativity.

The other potential advantage of the Munbyn RealWriter 405B, is its readily replaceable printhead. With no ink cartridges to consider, and relatively few moving parts, this is probably the most cost effective way to print shipping labels, box stickers and price tags.

How does the RW405B compare to the best label printers? I took tested it out to see how it stacks up.

Munbyn RealWriter 405B: Design and build

The Munbyn RealWriter 405B during our review in a home office — (Image credit: Munbyn // Future)

This is a portable desktop label printer rather than a handheld, so it’s small enough to pack up and carry, but not in your pocket. Like the simpler Munbyn RealWriter 403B I reviewed, you feed paper through its intake rather than loading rolls of paper inside the printer.

But with this step-up model, you are getting the crucial roll dispenser that attaches to the printer. That doubles the footprint, although it’s still very easy to separate and store the whole assembly in a drawer whenever you want to clear your desk. It also has the advantage of ensuring your labels feed through smoothly so fewer are wasted through misalignment.

The smooth white and silver plastic looks good and feels sturdy enough when you lift the panel. Unlike the previous model, the printhead on this one unclips so you can clean or replace it more easily. There are just three buttons: paper feed, reverse feed and power.

Munbyn RealWriter 405B: Features & specifications

The Munbyn RealWriter 405B can print on a wide range of thermal media from large 6x4 inch panel labels down to one-inch round price tags. And now the list includes dual-color labels.

These look just like regular white stickers, but embedded in the white thermal paper is either blue dye or red dye, depending on which roll you choose. In other words, Munbyn’s color innovation has nothing to do with hardware and everything to do with software and paper. I expect the black and white Munbyn RealWriter 403B will be updated to dual-color compatibility at some point.

Auto-calibration is another key feature that allows this printer to line up each label with surprising accuracy. So long as you load the paper roll with some care to keep the feed straight rather than diagonal, the leading edge will always be automatically lined up just right. That’s an important point for a label printer without internally loaded paper.

With no display of its own, the Munbyn RealWriter 405B is best controlled by the free Munbyn Print app designed for MacOS, Windows, iOS or Android. I found the software quite convoluted, but with it you can design your own dual-color labels and choose from a wide selection of templates and graphic elements.

In the box with your printer and roll holder are some blank thermal media to get you started. These include 4x6-inch fan-fold labels, a standard size for parcel labels, and some red/black and blue/black 1-inch round stickers.

Munbyn RealWriter 405B: Setup and operation

This is a true plug and play device. With no ink to install or Wi-Fi to connect to, it’s a simple case of connecting the power cable, downloading the Munbyn Print app to your phone and connecting the two devices via Bluetooth.

The label holder is easy to assemble with its three plastic parts, so you probably won’t need the printed quick-start guide at all. It’s actually quite fun to use.

Munbyn RealWriter 405B: Performance

The Munbyn RealWriter 405B printed quickly and reliably throughout the test, with no misprints or jams. The image quality is very good for a thermal printer, which is to say that it’s nowhere near as sharp as an inkjet or laser, but it achieves a darker and more consistent imprint than a lot of inkless solutions. Munbyn’s claim of “crystal clear prints every time” is optimistic.

The 203dpi print resolution is pretty low, but it’s good enough to print readable bar codes and QR codes. There is a limit though. Print your postage label too small, as I did experimentally, and it won’t scan. Always print at the correct size and you may never again have to wait in line at the post office.

Black imprints appear nice and dark, on the whole, with the quality being on par with the Munbyn RealWriter 403B, but there are times when the thermal process leaves a less than bold black finish. Take a closer look at my test stickers to see what I mean.

Feed in some dual-color labels, and the advantage of the Munbyn RealWriter 405B is revealed. Adding red, or blue to the design can make your stickers way more impactful. With just these colors, you might be able to print your brand logo or highlight a keyword in a label.

On the downside, there are limitations to which design elements you can color and the dual-color paper itself lets some ghostly red or blue show through unintentionally, so it’s not perfect.

Munbyn RealWriter 405B: Consumables

With no ink to think about, your only consumables cost is the thermal paper. It comes in the form of rolls, or fan-folds, or stickers and naturally, thermal stickers are more expensive than regular ones.

And dual-color thermal stickers are more expensive again, but on the whole, ink is more expensive than paper, so thermal printing will usually work out as the more cost effective way of labelling. Munbyn suggests a figure of 3 cents per label.

The RealWriter 405B comes with some dual-color two-inch round stickers and some 6x4-inch labels in the box. When you come to buy more, you’ll discover a pretty broad range of compatible stickers in varying shapes and colors.

Munbyn RealWriter 405B: Maintenance

The only maintenance this little printer needs is an occasional wipe with a dry cloth along its print head to keep it clean. The print head detaches easily, which is good news as it’s the only component of a thermal printer that’s likely to need replacing. Munbyn says it should last around six times longer than rival printers and won’t need replacing for at least 970,000 labels.

Munbyn RealWriter 405B: Final verdict

There’s no denying the convenience of a dedicated label printer and this practical application of thermal print tech is a perfect example. For me, the Munbyn RealWriter 405B turned out crisp parcel labels that scanned reliably every time and made it possible to print a very wide range of stickers.

Could the accompanying Munbyn software be improved? Definitely. The app makes it possible to print all kinds of great stickers with plenty of graphic elements to play with - and now that includes red/blue dual-color designs too. I found the app unintuitive and frustrating, but for simply printing parcel labels or plain tags, it’s a pleasure to use.

As a reliable, low maintenance, and low cost labeller, the Munbyn RealWriter 405B is hard to beat.

For more, I've tested out the best home printers and the best small business printers.

Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man review — new Netflix movie manages to destroy the best British TV show of the 2010s in less than two hours

5:00 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Netflix Streaming | Comments: Off

Cast your mind back to 2022, when BBC smash hit period drama Peaky Blinders was wrapping up its sixth and final season. Loveable local gangster Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) was tricked into believing that he was about to die from syphilis, making himself a recluse in the process.

However, this was all a lie, with Tommy tracking down the doctor responsible but failing to kill him. In this moment, Tommy learned the ultimate lesson of grace, and his legacy was forever changed (and more importantly, left on a high).

At least, this was the case until new Netflix movie Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man. We've picked up with who's left of the gang in 1940, with Tommy's now grown-up eldest son Duke (Barry Keoghan) involved in a plot to foil the Second World War. In short, he's helping the Nazis distribute counterfeit money across the country, making him rich to the tune of £70 million in the process.

But never fear! It's Tommy to the rescue... well, at least after he's done dithering over whether it's the right thing to do. Duke's aunt Kaulo (Rebecca Ferguson) and Tommy's sister Ada (Sophie Rundle) are on hand to try and coax him back to Birmingham, and I bet they wish they hadn't bothered.

The biggest problem with The Immortal Man is how overwhelmingly depressing it is. The first half struggles to get itself going, with the second half abruptly ending in unnecessary tragedy.

If you're looking for jaunty fights, slick laughs and Tommy back on fighting form, you've come to the wrong place. Netflix has instead penned a funeral to the show we once loved, and simultaneously paved the way for an incredibly uninspiring sequel series.

I'm not joking when I say that I never want to watch Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man again

It breaks my heart to be the bearer of such bad news after an agonizing four-year wait, but let's dig deeper into what's gone so wrong. More than anything else, it's the actual storyline that The Immortal Man has chosen to flesh out.

Fans have been waiting a long time for a spectacular Tommy Shelby comeback, wanting more of the same explosive energy that we got during the original series run. Instead, Tommy has become a man who is incredibly unsure of himself.

He's got good reason to be, as fans will find out in the first 20 minutes. But sadly, this all makes for incredibly drab viewing. It's easy to sum the entire movie up as this:

The first 45 minutes is Shelby continuous saying "No, I can't possibly go back to Birmingham" to the few people on hand to listen. The middle 25 minutes is Tommy at his best, punching and shooting layabouts who don't respect their elders. For the final 40-odd minutes, we're back to misery, as Tommy has all but given up the ghost.

Our original crew has practically dissipated before our eyes, too. By the time The Immortal Man closes out, we're largely left with new or B-plot characters, none of whom we actually give a damn about. That's not amazing news if the BBC does intend to develop a sequel series in the future…

In essence, it's out-and-out dread, which isn't exactly what you want to sit down and stream after a long week. Tommy's ending in season 6 was much more fitting too, and I really wish it remained his final hurrah. The Immortal Man ends suddenly, sadly, and with little resolution for the characters we dedicated almost a decade to.

Not everybody else is a great fit either

The Peaky Blinders gather around a dimly lit table — Stephen Graham is onscreen for all of 5 minutes. (Image credit: Netflix)

When we talk about period dramas, the term 'iPhone face' is sometimes bandied about. This describes someone who looks so modern that you just know they've seen an iPhone, therefore is not a successful fit for a story set in the past. Barry Keoghan suffers from something I'm going to term 'iPhone haircut'.

Sporting an on-trend fade and more sticker-style tattoos than I could count, Keoghan's styling completely takes us out of the 1940s moment. Thanks to Saltburn, Eternals, Master of the Air, The Banshees of Inisherin, Crime 101 and the upcoming four Beatles movies, the man is absolutely everywhere, so perhaps it was already going to be difficult to buy him as anyone other than a modern actor.

Even so, it speaks to the disjointed feeling that The Immortal Man hosts, a patchwork of old and new that sits in a no-man's land in between. There's light to be found in the dark, including multiple touching tributes to Helen McCrory's character Polly Gray and, ironically for something so bleak, the best lighting in a Netflix movie I've possibly ever seen.

On the whole though, these minor wins don't make up for the dull and depressing bigger picture. My advice? Watch The Immortal Man's trailer before binging Peaky Blinders season 1-6 all over again. Trust me, it's a much better use of your time.

Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

And of course, you can also follow TechRadar on YouTube and TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.

Nothing Headphone (a) review: excellent cans that fix all the problems of the original while being way cheaper

2:15 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Headphones Wireless Headphones | Comments: Off

Nothing Headphone (a) review

The Nothing Headphone (a) are just about the dream tech version 2.0 launch. As the follow-up to the Nothing Headphone (1), launched in 2025, they fix the sound problems I had with those headphones, they keep the excellent stuff I liked, and they somehow cut the price in half in the process (in one country, at least).

What more could you ask from something that's looking to go from audio also-ran to ranking among the best headphones available today? At their official price of $199 / £149 / AU$329, I think the Nothing Headphone (a) are arguably the best cans in their category — just with a few reasons why you might want to choose something else over them.

Let's start with the most important area: the sound. As soon as I fired these up, I felt a sense of relief. Nothing's first headphones baffled me in my Nothing Headphone (1) review with their oddly narrow soundstage that felt like the breadth of a song's traffic was being crammed down a single-lane road.

The Nothing Headphone (a) immediately feel like a big expansive highway in comparison – it's an open, wide and free-flowing soundstage that allows songs to spread out and to feel more energetic, emotive and satisfying. And when I say "in comparison", I mean I broke out the original $299 / £299 / AU$549 model for a listen, and while they have their strengths (a nicely refined frequency balance), the new model is so much more enjoyable to listen to.

The Nothing Headphone (a) ear cushions and mesh inside them — There are 40mm drivers under the mesh (Image credit: Future)

And this improvement has come without any major downsides, though there's one quirk worth discussing. My unit came with the 'More Bass' setting activated out of the box, and this was certainly much more generous with the bass than the Headphone (1) was, to the point of wandering into the 'bass-heavy' category.

This was no problem at all with electronic or pop music — the strength of the lower frequencies gives a glorious foundation to deep drum machines or sinking synths. It's also well integrated into the overall balance, despite being so muscular, with the Headphone (a) having no problems delivering lower mids that can stand up to, or transition from, the bassier parts.

But it was too much for some tracks with real instruments. In Regulars by Allie X, the double bass that opens the song sounded like the instrument was collapsing under its own vibrations. I pulled up the EQ in the Nothing app, saw it was set to 'More Bass', switched to 'Balanced' instead, and immediately the double bass went back to sounding like a double bass, instead of a quadruple bass.

This took a bit of a punch out of electronic songs when I switched back to those, but the bass still had good depth, its integration with the rest of the sound was still excellent. But Nothing's superb app gives a nice option here that I decided to take it up on: I set one of the controls to be an instant EQ switch, so I could get the extra bass if I wanted it.

The Nothing Headphone (a) earcups in close-up — The oval section is more rounded on these headphones than the original (Image credit: Future)

The Headphone (a) provide loads of space for the mid-range to express itself, with a nice chunkiness to guitars, the ability to handle a lot of complex instruments going on at once, and a nice clarity to vocals through it all.

Moving to the treble, it's again just very well worked into the sound, able to stand up for itself without ever feeling harsh or like it's overblowing in order to be heard even when songs get really energetic.

But there is a slight softness of detail to the Headphone (a)'s sound. They're not poor in this area by any means, but switching to the similarly-priced Sennheiser Accentum Plus reveals a slightly more convincing edge to the guitar strings and tambourine in Fleetwood Mac's Go Your Own Way, and more texture to the beat of sticks on drumskins in Sonny Rollins' St. Thomas. There's also better instrument separation in the mix.

The Sennheiser Accentum Plus also have a more neutral sound overall, but this comes alongside a shortfall in bass depth and less dynamic attack in playback. I probably prefer the Nothing Headphone (a) overall for sound given my personal predilection for electronic music, but if you're more of an acoustic fan, you may be better off leaning towards the Sennheiser.

This doesn't change when switching to Hi-Res Audio and listening over USB-C, or with LDAC higher-quality wireless, both of which are supported here (along with a 3.5mm headphone jack). The USB-C mode maybe had a little extra lightness of touch with instrument separation and detail, but any difference was minor.

The Nothing Headphone (a) held in a man's hand — The overall design vibe is a little more 'regular' than the original Nothing headphones (Image credit: Future)

The Sennheiser cans are also much lighter than the Headphone (a) at 227g, versus 310g for the Nothings. That's an improvement on the 329g that the Headphone (1) weigh, but is still higher than most of the competition, and means they still need a stronger clamping force to stay on your head than lighter competition.

Again, this isn't inherently a bad or good thing, but you will 'feel' them more than other headphones, and the synthetic pads aren't designed to be particularly breathable, so left the sides of my head feeling warm over time.

It's probably worth talking about the overall design for a moment here, which is very similar to the original, but has been 'softened' in a way that makes them feel less like they make you look like a cyborg (a good thing), but the ear cups look less like cassette tapes (a shame). Aluminum is now plastic, and gentler curves to the raised section in the middle of ear cups makes all the difference.

Nothing Headphone (a) next to Nothing Headphone (1) — Original flavor on the left, new flavor on the right (Image credit: Future)

Sadly, I don't love the new yellow and pink colorful options. I think there's not enough color for it to really work – the yellow in particular looks like a fried egg, because the rounded yellow mound is surrounded by white. I think there needed to be more color throughout. I love the changes in the white and black models, though – undeniably Nothing, but more mainstream than the divisive Nothing Headphone (1).

Nothing has kept a quirk of headphone design that I don't like here, in that the size is adjusted at the top of the head, rather than by the ears, which I find makes it harder to make micro-adjustments, but isn't a big deal overall.

The Nothing Headphone (a) headband — The headband adjustment is way higher up than on most cans (Image credit: Future)

What is a big deal is that Nothing has kept the fantastic set of controls from the Headphone (1). In particular, the roller for volume control is my favorite control system on any pair of headphones, period. It feels so high quality, it moves reliably under the thumb, and audible clicks tell you that it's moving up through volume tiers. Anything else feels crude in comparison.

That is paired with a 'rocker' control underneath, which is also super-intuitive. Nudge it one way to skip forward, and the other way to skip back. At the top of the right ear cup is a round multi-function custom button that was set to trigger your Voice Assistant by default; I changed it to EQ control, as I mentioned, but it can also work as a camera remote trigger (a new feature for this model) or a mic mute button, or a few other options.

The Nothing Headphone (a) roller and rocker controls on the side — The roller control at the top, with the rocker underneathFuture

The Nothing Headphone (a) customizable button — The roller control at the top, with the rocker underneathFuture

And you'll absolutely want to play around with this, because Nothing's app is so good. Not only are the headphones customizable in so many ways — different noise cancellation options, different spatial audio types, multiple EQ controls — it's also just really simple to find the key features you want to turn on and off, such as the low-lag mode for gaming, or dual-device connectivity (which really should be on by default, but most devices have it off, so I won't knock Nothing hard for that).

We recently knocked the Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds for making it hard to find its essential features, so it's nice to see Nothing show how it should be done.

I mentioned spatial audio options before, and while you don't get head tracking or Dolby Atmos here, there are two options with processing handled by Nothing: Concert and Cinema. Concert does a good job of moving sound out from the ear cups, and making it feel like more of a speaker setup across and in front of you.

Cinema adds more left and right sound to that, while also pushing the EQ a little more towards the treble — going for more of a 'surround sound' experience and boosting voices, I suspect — and I found it useful for picking dialogue out of movie soundtracks, so I'd happily use it when watching while traveling.

Speaking of traveling, the noise cancellation here is strong, though not mind-blowing, and that's just fine for this level. Walking along a busy road while listening to music, I wasn't bothered by outside sounds at all. I could hear podcasts clearly while on public transport. The Transparency profile also works as advertised, and never makes things robotic or tinny.

But I want to briefly call out here that Nothing provides the best sounds to indicate what noise mode you're in. Switching to Transparency is announced by an exhaled breath as if sound is escaping; noise canceling is announced by the sound of something being sucked down and then slammed shut. There's no ambiguity here, and no annoying voice.

Nothing promises a phenomenal 75 hours of battery life with active noise cancellation turned on, and 135 hours with it turned off. I couldn't possibly test both claims fully in my time with them so far, even if I used them every waking hour. But I can say that they seem to live up to it, with the battery indicator dropping by 20% after around 13 hours of use.

This makes them essentially best in class, and phenomenal value. In general, I'd say these are about as good as headphones value gets in this space between the budget and premium options. There are only really two knocks against their value worth mentioning.

The first is that it's a shame they don't have an auto-pause feature (also called wearer detection) for when you take them off. It's pretty standard even in affordable stuff these days and while I'm not mad about it since they offer so much elsewhere, it's still surprising.

The second is that in lieu of a hard case (presumably dropped for cost reasons; again, it's understandable) they come with what I can only describe as a swimbag. Yes, it's like a smooth plastic fabric. Yes, it closes with a drawstring. Yes, it made me kind of nostalgic. No, it doesn't feel like a premium addition.

The Nothing Headphone (a) plastic bag — (Image credit: Future)

The thing with the Nothing Headphone (a) is that all the knocks I have against it are either minor like the above, or are more subjective, like the weight and clamping force.

There are enough little downsides or quirks that I can't quite give them full marks, but make no mistake that I think these are excellent headphones, that they'll be ideal for a lot of people, and that they're superb value.

Nothing Headphone (a) review: Price & release date

Released on March 13th, 2026
$199 / £149 / AU$329

The Nothing Headphone (a) arrive with an impressive price of $199 / £149 / AU$329, meaning that they come in at half the price of the earlier Nothing Headphone (1) and their £299 launch price in the UK, while they're a third cheaper than the $299 Headphone (1) price in the US. In Australia, the drop from AU$549 for the Headphone (1) is between those two percentages.

I should note that they Headphone (1) have been available for as little as $254 / £199 / AU$350 in sales events, though — but I have no doubt the Headphone (a) will see juicy discounts too.

Instead of putting them in direct competition with high-end releases from the likes of Bose and Sony, the Headphone (a)'s mid-to-low price tag puts them up against the likes of Sennheiser's Accentum Plus or Soundcore Space One Pro.

Nothing Headphone (a) review: Specs

Drivers	40mm
Active noise cancellation	Yes
Battery life (ANC off)	135 hours
Weight	310g
Connectivity	Bluetooth 5.4, LDAC, USB-C audio, 3.5mm jack
Frequency response	20Hz - 40kHz
Waterproofing	IP52

The Nothing Headphone (a) close-up of the ear cup — (Image credit: Future)

Should I buy Nothing Headphone (a)?

Attribute	Notes	Score
Features	They're generally best-in-class for features, but miss just a few minor options.	4.5 / 5
Sound quality	Expansive and exciting with excellent balance, but a little soft on detail.	4.5 / 5
Design	The best controls of any headphones, and a premium build – but a little heavy.	4 / 5
Value	An excellent mix of features and performance for a very fair price.	4.5 / 5

Buy them if…

You want excellent all-rounders for Android or iPhone
No matter which platform you're on, the Headphone (a) deliver an excellent range of features, great sound, and their mighty battery life.View Deal

You like a big and energetic sound
The Nothing Headphone (a) deliver fun and dynamic audio that's finely balanced, and is much more expansive than the Nothing Headphone (1).View Deal

You don't like to think about charging
75 hours with ANC on, and 135 hours without it, are as good as it gets in headphones right now.View Deal

Don’t buy them if…

You want a neutral, hi-fi sound
They're well-balanced, but still like to juice up songs a little — the Sennheiser Accentum Plus can deliver a more neutral sound with a little more instrument separation.View Deal

You don't like to 'feel' your headphones
Nothing has made these lighter than its first pair, but they're still heavier than most other options, and clamp the head more firmly as a result.View Deal

You need a protective case
If you don't treat your headphones very well in your work or gym bag, the flimsy plastic drawstring sack the Nothing Headphone (a) come with won't do much to help them.View Deal

Nothing Headphones (a) review: Also consider

Sennheiser Accentum Plus
If you'd like a more 'hi-fi' sound than the Nothing provide, in a lighter body, then these are ideal. They're a bit more detailed and neutral, and battery life is great at 50 hours. You'll miss out on a lot of features in comparison, though – but we do like them, as our Sennheiser Accentum Plus review explains.View Deal

Sony WH-1000MX4
Still available to buy over five years since they launched, and now available for a price in the same range as the Nothing Headphone (a). Good sound, great noise cancellation, a super-comfortable fit, and a hard case, for those who want one. They have a solid range of features, but not as many as the Nothing – and the battery life is 30 hours with ANC on. Still, they're great cans – you can read our original Sony WH-1000XM4 review there.View Deal

How I tested the Nothing Headphone (a)?

The Nothing Headphone (a) worn on a man's head — These look a little more natural on the head than the Headphone (1), thanks to some tactical curvier design (Image credit: Future)

Used for a week in my day-to-day life
Tested largely over standard Bluetooth and USB-C hi-res wired audio
Tested with a pre-release update to the Nothing X app

To test the Nothing Headphone (a), I started carrying them everywhere with me and made them part of my normal life. I used them on both walking and public transport commutes, around the house, and at the office.

I compared them directly to the Nothing Headphone (1), Sennheiser Accentum Plus and Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones, switching back and forth, as the headphones I think are the biggest alternative options. I had access to an early version of the Nothing X app with support for their features, so some details may change there before launch.

I lead TechRadar's AV team, and I've been reviewing audio gear for well over a decade, from the budget end of things all the way to up to high-end audiophile tech. I reviewed the earlier Nothing Headphone (1), as well as this newer model.

Read TechRadar’s reviews guarantee
First reviewed: March 2026

WWE 2K26 review: The game keeps getting better, the monetization keeps getting worse

2:00 pm |

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

My favorite thing about WWE 2K26 is a relatively minor feature. At the start of every match, you get the choice of what actions your character will take. Do you bumrush your opponent and try to knock them down out of the gate? Do you go in for a staredown or a handshake? Or do you hang back and play to the crowd? Yearly sports games don't tend to feature massive overhauls, but this implementation of a little bit of psychology shows me that deep down, Visual Concepts gets it.

Review info

Platform reviewed: PS5
Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Nintendo Switch 2
Release date: March 13, 2026 (Early access on March 6, 2026)

Since returning with WWE 2K22, these games have gotten steadily better with each release, and WWE 2K26 is no different. The grappling feels better thanks to the aforementioned change and an updated stamina system that forces you to play tactically; the roster is huge, and the updated match types are mostly winners. But as is the tale with the WWE 2K series, its improvements are undercut by what feels like new ways to make money.

Hotdogging and grandstanding

In-game screenshots from wrestling game WWE 2K26, showing wrestlers in the ring, making entrances, and the arena — (Image credit: Visual Concepts/2K)

One major change to WWE 2K26 is the absence of the traditional "buy a pack, get x wrestlers" DLC model. This year introduces the ringside pass, of which there will be 6 across the entire year. There's also a free route, which is how you unlock WWE Legends this year as opposed to previous years, where there was an in-game shop or unlock-everything DLC to grab. I don't blindly hate battle passes in games, but in 30 hours of playing WWE 2K26, I've barely hit the halfway point of the first pass.

Sure, there are ways to gain levels faster, such as your MyRise playthrough or Showcase mode – the latter of which is one-and-done – while the quickest ways seem to be through The Island and MyFaction, two modes that are playable without spending a penny but far easier for those who do invest. Paired with the ability to buy level skips, it feels like a rough trade from simply getting the characters you pay for – especially when there are still characters locked to MyFaction card drops through random number generating (RNG) on top of that. And while you can complete these battle passes at any time across the year, you can only work towards one at a time, meaning anyone who isn't playing consistently from day one will get left behind.

This is paired with another symptom of the yearly sports release, that some things just don't get touched. Aside from the ability to book intergender matches, MyGM – which should be my favorite mode as someone who was begging for a booker mode in these games from 2008-2022 – remains practically unchanged from WWE 2K25, and thus my same issues persist (namely, the super restrictive class and alignment systems).

Best in the World

The highlight of this year's modes is 2K Showcase – the yearly mode focusing on a story, be that of a wrestler, a family, or a show in which you play recreations of classic matches – with this year's focusing on cover star CM Punk. While there are some notable omissions from the mode, like the absence of Jeff Hardy, Chris Jericho, and Daniel Bryan from WWE, stopping those feuds from being included, it's a lengthy selection that covers the bases.

Punk notably had a very public falling out with WWE in 2014 before returning in 2023, and part of this year's Showcase is imagining what would happen if he didn't leave. These include the likes of his planned showdown with Triple H at Wrestlemania 30, taking on AJ Styles at his first Wrestlemania, and fighting Bray Wyatt as The Fiend. These are the absolute highlights of this mode and made me wish deep down we could've seen them happen in real life.

I typically prefer MyRise – a storyline featuring a created character – most years, but sadly, I'm a bit let down by this year's edition. Don't get me wrong, The Comeback and the story of The Archetype is one of the best stories told in the series to date, but you can feel the budget ripped out of this mode as you play.

As opposed to the separate men's and women's division stories of previous years, it's pretty much the exact same story across both, with recurring dialogue and events, just with women instead of men in roles. And like last year, side quests are gone entirely; instead, you play Rise matches, which are simple exhibition matches against wrestlers to earn stars. These are fine as a side thing to buff your character, but you're forced to play them between pretty much every main storyline, and it feels like tedious, artificial padding.

Boy Stable

After hating it last year (I called it "a superfluous mode that feels focused on money"), The Island returns this year, and shockingly, it feels a lot more interesting. Instead of still images and text, the mode features actual cutscenes this year, making it feel like an extension of MyRise in ways.

But once again, you create a new character for The Island, and this character’s stats are upgraded via VC – the game’s premium paid currency, which can also be earned in-game. So if you want to play one of the mode's towers, which challenge you to play a gauntlet of matches on one health bar, you're going to have a far rougher time with your base stats. Plus, you can battle other players online on The Island, and I don't need to tell you that the person who spends money will have a better time.

Best Bit

The CM Punk Showcase mode, filling in the blanks of his decade-long WWE absence, was filled with genuinely great 'What If?' moments, like him retiring Kurt Angle at Wrestlemania 35 or answering John Cena's US title open challenge.

But ultimately, I think, why would I want to spend money on this? I received a review code for the Monday Night Wars Edition of the game, which comes with a substantial amount of VC anyway, but I still feel like I'm wasting it to buff up a character I frankly don't care about. And given MyRise has gotten smaller both years The Island has been included, I can't say I'm a fan of this tradeoff from one of my favorite modes to one I can't see myself thinking about too often.

I'd much rather save the VC for MyFaction – the game's Ultimate Team equivalent. But not because I'm madly into MyFaction, but because exclusive versions of superstars are often locked behind this mode's RNG. Do you want Drew McIntyre's 2010 version with his fantastic theme song? Better hope you get him. What about Booker T's iconic King Booker gimmick? Well, you're going to need to get five Oddities cards, which are random drops. Plus, you straight up can't play certain missions or challenges without having access to certain cards, so get spending, I guess.

WWE 2K26 continues the series tradition of frustrating me with every entry. There's a fantastic wrestling game in there; the roster is great, the showcase is an excellent piece of throwback and fantasy about one of the best wrestlers of all time, and MyRise continues to be a fun story despite feeling majorly cut back. But the Ringside Pass is another red flag on top of the existing red flags of previous years and something that will need to be significantly tweaked for me to consider it a suitable replacement for the previous method.

Should you play WWE 2K26?

Play it if...

You want a great wrestling game
WWE 2K26 is great grappler that improves upon last year's entry in solid iterative ways. It's not going to be a major overhaul for series regulars, but smart changes make for a more engaging battle system. And there's a lot of it among the specific modes.

You're a fan of wrestling history
The CM Punk Showcase mode is already a brilliant edition in its own right, but the inclusion of those "what if I never left" matches offers an interesting take on what is one of the most significant events in wrestling history.

Don't play it if...

You get fomo
You won't unlock everything in WWE 2K26. It's updated all year with new exclusive characters locked to MyFaction cards, and with the addition of grindy battle passes this year, that's only going to get worse.

You're extremely averse to microtransactions
You can play WWE 2K26 entirely without spending a penny, but some of the modes are made far more accessible and easier for those willing to put a bit of coin in.

Accessibility features

WWE 2K26's accessibility features are mainly focused around mini-games. You can change the timing-based pinfall minigame to a rapid press motion if you please, or change the rapid press submission game to a slider, alongside the option to include held inputs for both, but these won't be changed for any online modes. Outside of that, there's not much to write home about, with four difficulty options and manual AI sliders. However, there are no options for colorblindness, unfortunately.

How I reviewed WWE 2K26

I played 30 hours of WWE 2K26 on PS5 Pro using a DualSense Wireless Controller, and an LG C5 OLED TV with its built-in sound.

During this time, I played all of Showcase mode, a Babyface men's division run of MyRise, and the first few chapters of a Heel women's division run. I played a few months of My GM and Universe mode, a few chapters of The Island, and about four hours of MyFaction – mostly the towers. I also played a good few regular matches along the way.

First reviewed February-March 2026

Stream Vladimir at your own risk — there’s not a messed up, steamy or uncomfortable new Netflix show quite like it

11:01 am |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Netflix Streaming | Comments: Off

There has never been a better time to be Rachel Weisz, or indeed, a Rachel Weisz fan. Since The Favorite in 2019, she's been in a string of steamy TV sessions from Prime Video's Dead Ringers remake in 2023 to brand new Netflix show Vladimir, based on the hit novel of the same name.

I could wax lyrical about how refreshing it is to see a woman over 50 consistently and unashamedly explore her sexuality onscreen until the cows come home, but the projects Weisz is picking are so much more than that. For one thing, Vladmir is possibly the most uncomfortable binge watch of my entire adult life.

Let me explain. Weisz's character, simply know as The Protagonist (let's call her P for clarity) is a professor at a university with her husband John (John Slattery), who has been suspended after numerous sexual assault allegations against him have come to light.

At the same time, new professor Vladimir (Leo Woodall) arrives on campus — and despite them both being married, P becomes infatuated with him, fantasizing about the idea of Vladimir whenever she can.

It's a morally conflicting watch, making it something you can barely tear your eyes from. Much like P, we can't fight the pull of overwhelming desire, but we know what's unfolding is abhorrently wrong at every level. For that alone, I think Vladimir is the first truly unmissable TV show of 2026.

In Vladimir, sex has never been more sordid or scandalous

Netflix invites us to "descend into sexy madness" while watching Vladimir, and that's an incredibly apt summary. P is clearly an academically smart and well-educated woman, but when it comes to her moral compass, she's operates like a clueless teenager.

It's hardly a spoiler to say P throws her family, career and sanity out of the window in order to objectify and clamor over Vladimir while he shows very little signs of reciprocation. When we meet him, he's a true family man, putting his daughter and marriage to fellow troubled colleague Cynthia (Jessica Henwick) before professional ambition.

I like that there's no real reason for P self-sabotaging, as we often don't understand those who choose to in real life. She hates John for putting her in such a precarious position, but equally uses him as a vessel to act on her feelings for the version of Vladimir she's created in her head.

You might think this sounds like a modern feminist icon, shunning the conventions of marriage and professionalism in order to be fully liberated by sex and passion. However, her stance on the female complainants against her husband puts an end to this, with P making it clear that she believes the women in question are just as at fault.

We're left with a complicated soup of unadulterated mess to sift through, making us critically engage in ways we're normally afraid to... and this is our real breath of fresh air moment.

Content is arguably taking the safe route, trying not to ruffle any feathers or give viewers any pause for thought. There's a reason why the likes of Virgin River and Sweet Magnolias are championed by Netflix, and with Vladimir, it's going against the grain.

Don't get me wrong, it's an incredibly uncomfortable binge

Leo Woodall pins Rachel Weisz to a bookcase — Reality, or an illusion? (Image credit: Netflix)

Don't get me wrong, though... you'll likely find Vladimir an incredibly tough watch. Not just because the subject matter is morally dubious, but because the new Netflix show really turns up the spice.

Almost all of the 8 episodes feature a hot and heavy sex scene, and showrunner (and original author) Julia May Jonas has spectacularly nailed the spice. Nothing is gratuitous or unnecessary, and desires are explicitly explored with nothing off-limits. Honestly, it's all you could ever ask for.

By this point, it hopefully goes without saying that Weisz is completely mesmerizing, and she's head and shoulders above the additional cast. In a way that brings Notes on a Scandal, Misery and Fleabag together, she frequently breaks to fourth wall to talk directly to viewers, yet it remains difficult to understand exactly what she's going to do next.

Jonas frequently distorts P's imagination and reality, combining them into the same indistinguishable scene. Vladimir is an incredibly easy binge watch too, with all 8 episodes coming in under the 30-minute mark. It's all like taking a medicine you know isn't really any good for you.

Sure, John inserts himself too heavily into the story when he's the last thing we care about, but everything else about Vladimir is sexy from start to finish. Sexy is often unhinged when you take off the rose-tinted glasses, and this is truly a warts-and-all experience.

Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

And of course you can also follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.

I reviewed the ‘world’s first’ Dolby Atmos FlexConnect soundbar ‘system’ and it’s really something — here’s what I made of LG’s multi-box Sound Suite

8:00 pm | March 4, 2026

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Soundbars Televisions | Tags: DTS, HDMI, TV | Comments: Off

LG Sound Suite Immersive Suite 7 Pro review

Dolby Atmos FlexConnect is well and truly here. And the LG Sound Suite Immersive Suite 7 Pro is among the first systems to make use of this technology. This sound system – composed of an LG H7 9.1.6-channel soundbar, two 2.1.1-channel LG M7 wireless speakers, and the LG W7 sub, all available separately too – is a powerful, dynamic, and expansive-sounding system. But is it capable of outdoing the home theater big boys — particularly Samsung?

Well, let’s start by tackling the Immersive Suite 7 Pro’s unique feature: its Dolby Atmos FlexConnect capabilities. This enables you to enjoy optimized sound and Atmos effects even with your speakers in non-optimal positions for traditional surround setups – the speakers map their position in the room, and adjust their output so you'll still get as close to 3D sound as they can provide. So, if your living room isn’t suited to having rear speakers to the left and right behind you, this could be a real solution.

And FlexConnect works really well in practice on the Sound Suite, helping it to stand out among the very best soundbars. I tried placing the two M7 speakers – which can work wired or wirelessly – across various spots in our TV testing space, and I was treated to clear, impactful, and balanced sound with each configuration. All you have to do is recalibrate the speakers each time you change their position, which is quick and easy to do in the LG ThinQ app.

More generally, the calibration tool provides accurate, streamlined sound, no matter where you’re seated. I had to retry this a couple of times during testing for the most accurate reading, but this wasn’t too troublesome. I did experience a couple of errors later on in my testing, but was almost certainly due to a network issue in our weird corporate network in our test rooms, so setup is likely to be straightforward if you’ve got stable home connectivity.

I want to talk about the Suite 7 Pro’s sound more generally now, because it really impressed me. Surround sound is phenomenal, and I often felt like I was truly enveloped in the movies or music I was playing. When viewing a 4K Blu-ray of 2024’s Nosferatu, I truly felt like I was at the center of the action — the movie's eerie score came through with immense power and control, high-pitched screeches pierced through the center channel and never sounded tinny or distorted, while bass was rippling yet regimented.

In addition, I was struck by the accuracy and expansiveness of the Suite 7 Pro’s Dolby Atmos performance when switching over to The Mask on 4K Blu-ray. At one point, the titular character flung through a glass door like a tornado with a truly palpable smash, and the system mapped his wild movements across the screen with tremendous precision.

Something that a lot of Dolby Atmos soundbars struggle to nail is height effects, but that’s not the case for the Suite 7 Pro. I threw on Top Gun Maverick, and during the scene where Tom Cruise flies his jet over Ed Harris, the verticality of the move was captured with commendable fidelity. The continued upward movement was traced well too, making for a highly immersive viewing experience.

One audio feature that some people may miss is support for DTS audio, meaning there’s no decoding of DTS HD or DTS:X onboard here – but that was to be expected after LG dropped DTS from its TVs in 2025. If your TV or video player supports decoding DTS, that should be fine.

But let's take it back to the fundamentals, where the Suite 7 Pro performs admirably. Dialogue is clear and direct, bass is intent-filled but doesn’t overwhelm other sounds in the frequency range, and treble is both clear and expressive.

I didn’t think music sounded perfect on this system, though, with vocals in the mid-range sometimes getting slightly obscured in the mix. Still, tunes generally sounded strong with clean bass and the Suite 7 Pro made great use of its various channels, especially with Atmos tracks. There’s AI-powered upmix mode if you want to convert a stereo audio signal into an expansive multi-channel format.

In fact, there are quite a few sound modes available, including an AI Sound setup, bass, and voice settings. Personally, I enjoyed the standard sound mode the best— it felt like the most balanced and revealing of the available options to me. But the options don’t stop there. You can adjust channel levels to suit your preferences, adjust the lighting on the rear speakers, and even activate Sound Follow mode, which centers audio on you, rather than a position in the room.

Combine all of that with Wi-Fi connectivity — which opens up hi-res 24-bit/96kHz audio and supports for the likes of Tidal Connect and Spotify Connect — and you’re looking at a feature-rich system. You’ve also got Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity at your disposal.

LG Sound Suite Quad Suite setup on table — (Image credit: Future)

One thing that didn’t quite bowl me over was the Suite 7 Pro’s look. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still a nice-looking system overall and I appreciated its display, but the H7 bar itself does look a bit basic, lacking the sleek, modern look of a Sonos model or the eye-catching luxury of a bar like the Marshall Heston 120.

I did quite like the curved W7 sub, though, which can stand upright or lay flat. It's not the smallest, but that’s to be expected for a model that reaches down to 25.9Hz and packs a maximum power output of 220W. The mighty M7 wireless speakers are pretty appealing too, and their customizable downward lighting really won me over. On top of that, the included remote feels as if it's built to a very high standard, and it's highly responsive.

What I was a little disappointed by, however, was the lack of HDMI passthrough. See, when you use a soundbar system like this, you already have to sacrifice your TV's eARC port for enhanced sound. And given that many modern TVs only have two HDMI 2.1 ports, this means you can be pretty limited there – if you’ve got a couple modern consoles, say, then that may prove to be inconvenient. That’s something where the Samsung HW-Q990F outdoes the Suite 7 Pro, given that the former supports 4K 120Hz passthrough.

It would be remiss of me not to mention price, too. The H7 soundbar is priced at $999 / £899, with the W7 sub costing $599 / £599, and the M7 speakers coming in at $399 / £399 a piece. That means you’ll be fronting almost $2,400 / £2,300 for the Suite 7 Pro.

Sure, this is an almighty system, rammed with 21 speaker units, a swathe of height channels, game-changing FlexConnect technology, and excellent all-round audio. And given that we’ve tested models like the Yamaha True X Surround 90A, which comes in at $3,499 / £2,199 — a model with fewer channels and no FlexConnect — I don’t think the price is totally unwarranted.

But when you can grab a sensational system like the aforementioned Samsung Q990F for almost $1,000 / £1,000 cheaper, the Suite 7 Pro’s price could prove to be a difficult pill for some to swallow.

With that said, the LG Sound Suite Immersive Suite 7 Pro is certainly something special. It uses Dolby Atmos FlexConnect tech to great effect, its audio performance is very admirable indeed, and the speaker configuration opens up exceptionally immersive movie watching.

Yes, the lack of HDMI passthrough is a shame, and it comes at a very premium price, but if you’re looking for a system that’s designed to suit your specific needs, then this is about as good as it gets.

LG Sound Suite H7 soundbar display — (Image credit: Future)

LG Sound Suite Immersive Suite 7 Pro review: price and release date

Sound Suite H7 soundbar priced at $999 / £899 (about AU$1,400)
Sound Suite W7 sub costs $599 / £599 (about AU$840)
Sound Suite M7 speakers are $399 / £399 (about AU$560) each
Whole system will set you back approximately $2,400 / £2,300 (about AU$3,400)

The LG Sound Suite Immersive Suite 7 Pro is pretty pricey, coming in at about $2,400 / £2,300 (around AU$3,400) in total. The individual components of this system got a price drop ahead of release, making it pretty competitive over the likes of Sonos, which also offers different parts of its system individually.

You can connect up to four of the M7 or the cheaper LG M5 speakers up to the Suite H7 soundbar, or connect speakers directly to your TV if you have a compatible model, like the LG G5 or LG C5.

LG Sound Suite Immersive Suite 7 Pro review: specs

Dimensions	Soundbar: 47.2 x 2.5 x 5.6 inches / 1200 x 63 x 143mm; Sub: 16.1 x 16.3 x 7.6 inches / 410 x 415 x 194mm; Surround speakers: 7 x 9.4 x 7 inches / 177 x 238 x 177mm
Speaker channels	9.1.6 (H7 soundbar), 2.1.1 (M7 speakers)
Connections	1x HDMI eARC, USB, Bluetooth 5.4, Wi-Fi
Dolby Atmos / DTS:X	Yes / No
Sub included	Yes
Rear speakers included	Yes

Man holding remote for LG Sound Suite — (Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the LG Sound Suite Immersive Suite 7 Pro?

Attributes	Notes	Rating
Features	Dolby Atmos FlexConnect is excellent, hi-res streaming, but no HDMI passthrough or DTS.	4 / 5
Performance	Amazing Atmos, unrivalled flexibility, powerful bass, clear dialogue.	5 / 5
Design	Soundbar not the prettiest, but convenient and sleek sub and M7 speakers are excellent.	4.5 / 5
Setup & usability	Had to recalibrate a couple of times for best accuracy, but wireless setup is easy and straightforward.	4.5 / 5
Value	A pretty pricey overall package compared to some rivals, but FlexConnect makes it a standout, and overall quality is very high.	4 / 5

Buy it if…

You want a system with Dolby Atmos FlexConnect
Is your room not best suited for a traditional sound system setup? No problem. Dolby Atmos FlexConnect means that you can place the Sound Suite’s various speakers in whatever position suits your space best, but you still get well optimized audio for mesmerizing viewing experiences.

You want top-tier performance
Not only does FlexConnect work like a dream, but Dolby Atmos is awesome on this system in general. The Sound Suite 7 Pro whips up a wide spatial impression with stellar height effects and mapping. More generally, audio quality is exceptional, with rumbling bass, clear dialogue, and expressive treble.

Don't buy it if…

You need HDMI passthrough
If you need a soundbar with HDMI passthrough, then the H7 – which sits at the core of this system – might not work for you. If you have multiple devices that use HDMI 2.1 but your TV only has a couple of these ports, then you’re going to be left feeling a little underserved.

You want a system that supports DTS audio
The Suite 7 Pro does not support DTS audio formats, which really is a shame. That means you don’t get access to DTS:X spatial audio, among other variants — something that the two rival models supply below.

LG Sound Suite Immersive Suite 7 Pro review: also consider

	LG Sound Suite Immersive Suite 7 Pro	Samsung HW-Q990F	JBL Bar 1300MK2
Price	$2,400 / £2,300 (about AU$3,400)	$1,999 / £1,699 / AU$2,099	$1,699 / £1,299 / AU$2,299
Dimensions	Soundbar: 47.2 x 2.5 x 5.6 inches / 1200 x 63 x 143mm; Sub: 16.1 x 16.3 x 7.6 inches / 410 x 415 x 194mm; Surround speakers: 7 x 9.4 x 7 inches / 177 x 238 x 177mm	Soundbar: 48.5 x 2.8 x 5.4 inches / 1232 x 70.8 x 138 mm; subwoofer: 9.8 x 10.0 x 9.8 inches / 249 x 251.8 x 249 mm; surround speakers: 5.1 x 8.0 x 5.5 inches / 129.5 x 201.3 x 140.4mm	Soundbar: 40.6 x 2.3 x 5.4 inches / 1030 x 58 x 136mm; subwoofer: 12.4 x 10.9 x 10.8 inches / 315 x 277 x 275mm; surround speakers: 8 x 2.3 x 5.4 inches / 202 x 58 x 136mm
Speaker channels	9.1.6 (H7 soundbar), 2.1.1 (M7 speakers)	11.1.4	11.1.4
Connections	1x HDMI eARC, USB, Bluetooth 5.4, Wi-Fi	1x HDMI eARC, 2x HDMI 2.1 in, digital optical, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.3	1x HDMI eARC, 3x HDMI in, digital optical, USB (playback US-only), Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.3 (surround speakers use 5.4)
Dolby Atmos / DTS:X	Yes / No	Yes / Yes	Yes / Yes
Sub included	Yes	Yes	Yes
Rear speakers included	Yes	Yes	Yes

Samsung HW-Q990F
It’s hard to think of a better value surround sound system than the Samsung HW-Q990F. It comes with impeccable performance, a boat-load of features, HDMI passthrough at 4K 120Hz, and a regularly discounted price tag. There’s no FlexConnect here, of course, but it’s still an excellent option. Read our full Samsung HW-Q990F review.

JBL Bar 1300MK2
The JBL Bar 1300MK2 is an almighty soundbar system with 29 drivers and a maximum power output of almost 2,500W. Its battery-powered rear speakers are versatile and compact, it supports Dolby Atmos as well as DTS formats, and it's priced pretty generously to boot. Again, no FlexConnect here, but it’s an excellent pick. Read our full JBL Bar 1300MK2 review.

How I tested the LG Sound Suite Immersive Suite 7 Pro

Purple light on LG Sound Suite H7 soundbar — (Image credit: Future)

Tested across the course of a week
Used at our TV testing space at Future Labs
Played 4K Blu-Ray, streamed movies and streamed music over Wi-Fi

I spent a week testing the LG Sound Suite Immersive Suite 7 Pro, using it alongside the LG G5 OLED TV via HDMI eARC. I tested the system using various configurations, and tried the system with the wireless speakers across many parts of our TV testing space at Future Labs.

During my testing time, I viewed and listened to a wide variety of content. I began by throwing on some movies via Netflix Premium, as well as higher-quality 4K UHD Blu-rays, which I played using the Panasonic DP-UB820. I also connected my phone up to the Suite 7 Pro and listened to some tracks via Tidal Connect, using both Dolby Atmos and stereo formats.

Of course, I made sure to exhaust the Suite 7 Pro’s various features as well. I listened using all of the different sound modes, messed around with Dolby Atmos FlexConnect, and tried out the Sound Follow feature.

More generally, I've tested a load of soundbars here at TechRadar, and have tried out everything from ultra-cheap models like the Sony HT-SF150 through to luxurious alternatives like the JBL Bar 1300MK2. My experience testing rival models means that I know exactly what it takes for a soundbar system to stand out, in what is a highly competitive market.

Read more about how we test
First reviewed: March 2026

« Previous Page — Next Page »

Logitech G325 Lightspeed: Two-minute review

Logitech G325 Lightspeed: Price and availability

Logitech G325 Lightspeed: Specs

Logitech G325 Lightspeed: Design and features

Logitech G325 Lightspeed: Performance

Should I buy the Logitech G325 Lightspeed?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Also consider...

How I tested the Logitech G325 Lightspeed

DuelSense-fueled fighting

An update worthy of the gods

Don't sleep on it a second time

Should you play Avowed on PS5?

Play it if...

Don't play it if...

Accessibility features

How I reviewed Avowed on PS5

Kensington SD7100T5 EQ Pro: 30-second review

Kensington SD7100T5 EQ Pro: Price & availability

Kensington SD7100T5 EQ Pro: Specs

Kensington SD7100T5 EQ Pro: Design

Kensington SD7100T5 EQ Pro: Features

Kensington SD7100T5 EQ Pro: Performance

Kensington SD7100T5 EQ Pro: Final verdict

Kensington SD7100T5 EQ Pro: Report card

Should I buy a Kensington SD7100T5 EQ Pro?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

Adobe Lightroom Classic: Pricing & plans

Adobe Lightroom Classic: What is it?

Adobe Lightroom Classic: What’s new?

Adobe Lightroom Classic: Classic vs Lightroom

Should I buy?

Munbyn RealWriter 405B: Design and build

Munbyn RealWriter 405B: Features & specifications

Munbyn RealWriter 405B: Setup and operation

Munbyn RealWriter 405B: Performance

Munbyn RealWriter 405B: Consumables

Munbyn RealWriter 405B: Maintenance

Munbyn RealWriter 405B: Final verdict

I'm not joking when I say that I never want to watch Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man again

Not everybody else is a great fit either

Nothing Headphone (a) review

Nothing Headphone (a) review: Price & release date

Nothing Headphone (a) review: Specs

Should I buy Nothing Headphone (a)?

Buy them if…

Don’t buy them if…

Nothing Headphones (a) review: Also consider

How I tested the Nothing Headphone (a)?

Hotdogging and grandstanding

Best in the World

Boy Stable

Should you play WWE 2K26?

Play it if...

Don't play it if...

Accessibility features

How I reviewed WWE 2K26

In Vladimir, sex has never been more sordid or scandalous

Don't get me wrong, it's an incredibly uncomfortable binge

LG Sound Suite Immersive Suite 7 Pro review

LG Sound Suite Immersive Suite 7 Pro review: price and release date

LG Sound Suite Immersive Suite 7 Pro review: specs

Should I buy the LG Sound Suite Immersive Suite 7 Pro?

Buy it if…

Don't buy it if…

LG Sound Suite Immersive Suite 7 Pro review: also consider

How I tested the LG Sound Suite Immersive Suite 7 Pro

Recent Posts

Archives

Categories

Tags