When it comes to square filter holders, they’re surely all the same, aren’t they? In terms of basic design, they are, but build quality, functionality and value are another matter. For me, the NiSi V7 with True Color NC CPL is one of the best professional 100mm filter holders available, with an impressive performance that belies its attractive price.
100mm filter holders are typically used with lenses as wide as 15mm full-frame (or 10mm for APS-C). For lenses wider than this, you’ll need to move up to a cumbersome and painfully expensive 150mm square filter system.
150mm filters are also so large that they simply look ridiculous, and I have chuckled watching other photographers on location with me wrestle with their window pane-sized filters. But I digress.
The advantage of the Nisi V7 kit, like many 100mm filter holders, is that you can use up to three square filters at once alongside a polarising filter. So, that’s ND graduated filters, ND filters, color correction filters and special effects filters. Are three slots overkill? Definitely not – I often require all three slots when shooting in tricky lighting conditions while controlling exposure times.
One thing that I love about the NiSi V7 kit is that you get four adaptor rings, which means you can use the holder with four filter thread sizes straight away. These include 67mm, 72mm, 77mm, plus the main ring which has an 82mm thread. This covers the vast majority of landscape photography lenses, plus you can also buy adaptor rings for other sizes separately if you need them. For example, I own a 62mm ring that allows me to use square filters with my macro lens.
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The V7 filter holder isn’t really suitable for smaller lenses with smaller filter threads, say in the 39mm to 67mm range. For example, I own some small Fujifilm prime lenses, plus some Micro Four Thirds lenses, for which the NiSi M75 II with True Color NC CPL is a better fit. The downside with this smaller holder only is that it only has two filter slots alongside the rear-mounted polarizing filter, rather than three.
Build quality of the V7 kit is excellent and the overall design is reasonably compact. The holder is a CNC-machined single block of matte black coated aeronautical aluminum, with three plastic filter holder slots screwed onto the front. The polarizing filter screws into the main ring, locking in place at around a 10-degree turn, while the holder clips onto the main ring and can be locked in place to avoid detachment of the two parts.
The main ring is also an 82mm adaptor ring, and is attached to the smaller adaptor rings when a smaller thread than 82mm is required. Practically speaking, these are best attached to the lens before the holder is attached. The polarizer can be rotated using a couple of small dials on the rear of the main ring. You can also use any 100mm square filters with this holder.
The advantage of the rear positioning of the polarizing filter is that the filter holder doesn’t vignette with lenses as wide as 15mm. NiSi even says that the Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4S doesn’t vignette at 14mm, although I haven't tried that lens with the holder. The rival LEE Filters LEE100 Polarizer mounts at the front, thereby creating a vignette with ultra wide-angle lenses – meaning Nisi has the advantage in this regard.
Unlike cheap polarizers, the supplied True Color NC CPL also produces clean images with no color casts at different rotations, which is exactly what you want.
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In my experience, some filter holders can also be too tight, making it hard to slot filters in and out, to the point that this can risk accidental damage.
The V7, thankfully, provides just the right amount of resistance that filters are secure, but they’re easy enough to slot in and out of the holder when it’s attached to the front of your lenses.
The downside to a system like this, however, is that a set of filters and the holder take up space in your kit bag and can weigh more than other types of filters.
As magnetic and stackable filters are growing in popularity, you may be wondering what place there is for larger, heavier and more expensive square filters. The simple answer is ND grads. With square filters, you can get everything as right as possible in-camera, including the sky exposure.
With magnetic filters, the price you pay is no ND grads, so while you get a polariser, NDs and other types of filters depending on the kit, you have to shoot HDR to maintain sky detail. That naturally means you have to take more shots and spend more time at the computer editing. For me, square filters remain the optimal option for landscape photography.
NiSi V7 with True Color NC CPL: key specs
Filter slots
Three
Adaptor rings
67, 72, 77, 82mm
Polarizing filter
True Color NC CPL
Case included
Yes
Lens cap
Yes
NiSi V7 with True Color NC CPL price and availability
The NiSi V7 with True Color NC CPL costs $259 / £199 / AU$389, which is an incredible price considering what’s included in the kit: a Filter Holder for three 100mm filters and a CPL, an 82mm main ring with polarizing adjustment, a True Color NC CPL (removable), three adapter rings (67/72/77), a soft case and a V7 Lens Cap.
To provide a point of reference, the LEE Filters LEE100 Polarizer filter alone costs as much as the NiSi V7 kit.
There are V7 kits available that also include several filters and offer excellent value for money compared to purchasing separately. The NiSi Starter Kit – V7 – 100mm Filters costs $499 / £345 / AU$849 and includes most of the above, a few additional accessories, a 3-stop medium GND and a 10-stop ND filter.
If you already own 100mm filters and would simply like a new filter holder, the NiSi V7 with True Color NC CPL is perfect for you. If you’re getting started with 100mm filters, I’d recommend the NiSi Starter Kit – V7 – 100mm Filters or one of the other kits that come with filters, because you will save money and have several filters to use from the get-go.
NiSi square filters themselves are expensive. They’re optically fantastic and made of high-quality optical glass, but expect to pay in the region of $245 / £95 /AU$279 per filter. The glass used is much better than traditional resin square filters in many ways, but they do cost more.
Should I buy the NiSi V7 with True Color NC CPL?
(Image credit: James Abbott)
Buy it if...
You need a pro filter holder
This is a professional filter holder kit offering excellent performance and several extremely useful accessories.
You want incredible value
While not cheap, the NiSi V7 with True Color NC CPL is a high-quality professional filter holder at an affordable price, certainly versus LEE filters. For me, it's a bargain.
Don't buy it if...
You’d prefer lighter weight filters
The weight of square filters does add up once you factor in several glass filters, so you may find magnetic circular filters are better for you.
You don’t require ND Grads
The main reason to have square filters is to combine NDs and corrective filters with ND grads. So, if you don’t use ND grads, square filters aren’t for you.
How I tested the NiSi V7 with True Color NC CPL
Long-term test
Tested with a variety of lenses
Used for landscape, cityscape and astrophotography
I've tested the NiSi V7 with True Color NC CPL over many years, with a range of different NiSi filters in different combinations, for subjects including landscape, cityscape and astrophotography.
As my go-to filter holder, I've also used it with a wide range of lenses, including zooms and primes, ranging between 16mm and 200mm on a full-frame camera.
With nearly 30 years of photographic experience and 17 years working as a photography journalist, I’ve used many of the cameras and lenses that have been released in that time. As a working photographer, I aim to test cameras, lenses and accessories from a photographer’s point of view.
Platform reviewed: PS5 Available on: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PC Release date: July 11, 2025
To be frank, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 didn’t have a particularly tough job on its hands. Five years prior, the 1 + 2 remake landed during the Covid-19 pandemic and reminded us that the series was an absolute gem, actually, despite what Pro Skater 5 led us to believe in 2015, so all this remake had to do was match the quality of the last installment.
Even though development transferred from Vicarious Visions to Iron Galaxy, it’s safe to say they smashed it out of the park with a fantastic nostalgia hit, complete with all-new content, and I’m hooked all over again.
The start of a new era
(Image credit: Activision)
When I played Tony Hawk's Pro Skater1 + 2 almost five years ago, I had goosebumps as I rolled down that first ramp in the Warehouse level, struggling to fathom that I was really experiencing this game that comprised so much of my childhood again, but this time looking a heck of a lot better.
That moment never came with Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4, but that's not a slight. In fact, I'd argue it's a compliment, because those goosebumps were thanks to the novelty of playing those games again, whereas we're now fortunate enough for this to be a semi-regular release, provided we get a remake of Tony Hawk's Underground next, anyway.
Back in the day, some may argue the series peaked with the third game. Pro Skater 3 was the best version that was just all about performing sick combos, completing objectives such as the SKATE letters or impressing pro skaters for the sake of it, essentially making each level a skateboarding sandbox. Pro Skater 4 took these goals a tiny step further by giving them context. The SKATE letters need collecting because the janitor tasks you with tidying up, for example.
This has been removed from the remake, and while there was outrage initially, it turns out it was blown considerably out of proportion. Sure, the Pro Skater 4 levels in the remake lose a little bit of charm, no longer having NPCs to actually talk to, but it means the game retains its fast-paced flow better, and the whole package feels like a single game. Keeping that part would be a touch disjointing, going from the THPS 3 levels without those NPCs, to the THPS 4 levels with them, despite this being one game now.
Passing the torch
(Image credit: Activision)
Iron Galaxy has proved itself more than capable of handling the Tony Hawk series from here onwards, though, because once again, I've spent hours upon hours grinding through the levels, completing all of the goals, including the pro ones.
At the time of writing, THPS 3 is 100% complete, and I have just a few levels in 4 left to go, and frankly, it's been hard to put the controller down. Watching back footage of the original games shows just how impressive and fluid the remake feels now, and even though mechanics like skitching and acid drops didn't feature in the original THPS 3, the fact that both games are identical mechanically now is a huge positive.
Best bit
(Image credit: Activision)
There are a few new levels that weren't in the original games, and the last one, Pinball, is a delight to explore, with plenty of secrets and hidden areas.
The only complaint I have, and it may well be anecdotal, is that 3 + 4 feels slightly buggier than 1 + 2 did when I rinsed it for weeks on end five years back. I've glitched through the world a couple of times, got stuck bouncing on the ground where the game thinks my skater is in mid-air, but they're not, and every now and then it feels like my button inputs don't entirely register correctly.
I'd be remiss not to mention the soundtrack too because it's such an important component of any Tony Hawk game. It's safe to say the originals had a significant bearing on my music tastes throughout my entire life so far because these days, I love a mosh pit and some heavy metal or pop punk, but there aren't quite as many tracks retained from the prior soundtracks as I'd have liked.
That said, they have included some incredible, more modern bands, such as Turnstile, Idles, and 100 gecs. Huge shout out to Boys in the Better Land by Fontaines DC, too, which is such a perfect fit, and don't worry, folks; Motorhead's Ace of Spades hasn't gone anywhere.
Crowning a new king
(Image credit: Activision)
It's hard to argue that this isn't the best skateboarding game of all time, to be honest. The amount of content is staggering, and while some folks may prefer something more realistic like the Skate series - somewhere you can't perform The 900 into a revert, followed by 50+ more tricks all in the same combo. After all, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4 is very much an arcade game; it's the Need For Speed to Skate'sGran Turismo.
Once you beat all the levels and complete every goal in both games, you unlock pro goals, which are essentially five even more difficult objectives to complete in each level. Beat all of these, and you get your hands on solo tour mode, which gives each individual skater a unique goal in each level depending on their skateboarding style.
Then you have speedrun mode, which allows you to set the highest score you can on different levels and enter leaderboards, along with create-a-park to either design your own level or play those made by the community. Oh, andthere's multiplayer, which is endless fun in and of itself. Then there's a bunch of customization options and collectibles to find in each level, plus challenges, including two expert categories which will likely take you a long time to complete.
This is, quite frankly, a no-brainer to pick up if you've enjoyed a single Tony Hawk game in the past. It's one of the best video game remakes in recent memory, and even levels that have a completely different aesthetic now have been improved tenfold. If you haven't played one for many years, then it may be a somewhat steep learning curve, especially for the harder objectives. But it's not too tricky to pick up if you're happy chaining together some kickflips and bluntslides, rather than going for million-plus score combos.
Even the product placement, which usually feels incredibly on the nose, is so well integrated here, with brands such as Vans and Red Bull placed in natural-feeling spots. Although I don't think there's actually a Vans shop right on Trafalgar Square in London, but then again, I also don't think Trafalgar Square is full of quarter-pipes and ramps. Could be mistaken, though.
Should you play Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4?
Play it if...
You played the original games 20+ years ago This remake is so well done, even if you don't think you'll be as skilled as you used to be, experiencing these two games from so long ago remade in such clarity and with so many small enhancements is worth it alone.
You love an arcade sports game Tony Hawk games are never about realism, so 3 + 4 is wacky and wonderful in the sense that you can combo 50+ tricks as if your skater has robotic legs that don't get tired, all while chasing a van around London's Trafalgar Square with a nearly-nude man with an elephant mask on in the back.
Don't play it if...
You didn't play the originals, oryou don't have the time to learn the skillset Getting really good at a Tony Hawk game is hard, and 3 + 4 is no different. You may get frustrated if you don't have the nostalgia aspect in your favour and you're struggling to beat some of the score goals.
Accessibility
You cannot remap the base controls, but you can choose which button combos individual tricks are applied to, and you can choose between wallplants being either a one or two-button press.
The camera can be inverted, lots of HUD options can be toggled, and if you're struggling, you can enable assists such as perfect balance on rails, manuals, and lip tricks, and you can turn off bails entirely.
How I reviewed Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4
According to my in-game time played, I have sunk 13 hours and 30 minutes into Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 so far, all on a base PS5 with a DualSense controller. This was entirely in the fidelity graphics mode on a Samsung QN88C 55" TV and a Samsung HWMS650 soundbar.
I've entirely completed all of the THPS 3 content, and I'm around halfway through the levels in THPS 4, and while I've given multiplayer a spin, I haven't spent too much time in it. I have also played around with some custom-made levels, both playing community-made ones and making my own.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 is a great flip phone that gives you the best of Samsung’s mobile might in a package that’s innovative and polished. To say it’s an improvement over past Galaxy Flip phones would be an understatement – this is the Flip I’ve been asking Samsung to make for years.
It’s not quite the best flip phone you can buy, but that’s because flip phones have gotten really good; and the Galaxy Z Flip 7 makes a perfect argument for why flip phones may be today’s best form factor.
Think about it, what’s better than a flip foldable? The Galaxy Z Flip 7 has a huge screen – the same 6.9 inches as the mighty Galaxy S25 Ultra – but it’s smaller and lighter in every way, even before you fold it in half. And instead of the Ultra’s questionable S Pen, the Flip 7 gives you a whole second screen to use. On top of that, it costs $200 / £200 / AU$550 less than an Ultra.
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Flip phones just make too much sense, so what’s stopping them from being more popular? First, there’s the durability question. The seventh generation of Samsung’s flip phones still can’t keep dust out, though it can handle being dunked in water thanks to its IP48 rating.
Second, there are sacrifices required to make a folding phone, and the cameras are a downgrade from other Galaxy phones. This year’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 got a 200MP main camera, but the Flip 7 keeps its 50MP cameras on the back. There’s no zoom, only wide and ultra-wide. A 200MP sensor would have alleviated the disappointment of not having a 3x telephoto lens or better.
Finally, the battery takes a hit with the Galaxy Z Flip 7 – maybe too big of a hit. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 doesn’t last long enough. I think this is more of a Samsung problem than a flip phone problem, because the Moto Razr Ultra offers great battery life, though it is marginally thicker and heavier than the Flip 7.
A Motorola Razr Ultra 2025 (left) and Galaxy Z Flip 7 (right) with TechRadar on the cover displays (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
It’s impossible to avoid comparing the Flip 7 to the Motorola Razr Ultra / Razr 60 Ultra, which is its biggest competitor (for now, Apple?). Samsung should be thrashing the Razr, but Motorola has been consistently eating Samsung’s lunch in the flip phone café.
With the Flip 7, Samsung finally catches up to Motorola on the cover display. Its cover display doesn’t just fill the front of the phone, it features the thinnest bezels Samsung has ever used on a Galaxy phone screen.
The Flip 7 can also, albeit with some difficulty, use every app on the cover display. You can navigate with AllTrails maps, watch some TikTok, and play Vampire Survivors without opening the phone.
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Still, as Samsung takes a big leap forward, Motorola continues its slow and steady pace as the flip-phone frontrunner. Today’s Razr Ultra is faster than the Galaxy Flip 7 in every way. The processor is faster; games run faster; the screen refreshes faster; the battery even charges faster.
Does all of that speed matter? Yes, but some folks will appreciate Samsung’s deep feature set and customization options more than a bit of extra speed.
Samsung’s One UI 8 is a powerhouse, especially if you mix business and pleasure on your smartphone. The Flip 7 also ships with Android 16, and this is the first time Samsung foldable buyers haven’t had to wait for an upgrade to the latest version of Android.
Samsung promises seven years of major Android updates and security patches, more than any competitor except Google. It has a good track record of delivering on such promises, while many Motorola fans are still waiting for promised updates for past Razr phones.
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Is it time to consider a flip phone? Absolutely. As you’ve probably noticed, I’m a fan of flip foldables, and the Flip 7, with its versatile cover display, rock-solid design, and hefty set of features, offers more value than the sum of its parts.
In fact, I think most people would appreciate the Flip 7, with its unique benefits, more than other phones that don’t make the same sacrifices.
Ask yourself, does your phone need that tiny zoom camera? Wouldn’t you rather have a phone you can slap shut and slip in your front pocket? And I use the cover display on my Galaxy Z Flip 7 far more than I use the S Pen on my Galaxy S25 Ultra.
I’m rooting for flip phones – and the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is an exceptional flip for serious smartphone users.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 review: Price and availability
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Starts at $1,099 / £1,049 / AU$1,799 for 256GB of storage
The best color – Mint – is a Samsung online exclusive
The Galaxy Z Flip 7 starts at $1,099 / £1,049 / AU$1,799, which is the same price as last year’s Z Flip 6. The price seems reasonable to me, considering that you’re getting two displays for the price of one, plus glass that bends in half like a dang magic trick.
Galaxy Z Flip phones used to seem pricey, but the rest of the phone world has slowly crept up to meet Samsung, and now $1,099 / £1,049 / AU$1,799 actually seems fair, especially if you’re getting this phone from your carrier with a steep discount (most US carriers offer it for free with a new contract).
The Motorola Razr Ultra 2025 (left) is more expensive than the Galaxy Z Flip 7 (right) (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Most importantly, the Flip 7 costs less than the new Motorola Razr Ultra 2025 in the US, where the Razr Ultra starts at $1,299. In the UK, the Razr 60 Ultra costs the same: £1,099. Motorola claims it has been outselling Samsung in flip phones, and its cheapest flip, the Razr 2023, is available for $349 in the US.
At launch, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 only comes in four colors, while last year’s Flip 6 was available in seven hues. Mint and Coralred are exciting (the former is a Samsung web store exclusive); Jetblack and Blue Shadow are more staid. I wish Samsung would try something unique with its materials and finish, but it likes to dress the entire product family in the same sweater for holiday portraits, so all the Galaxy phones look alike finish-wise.
Value score: 4 / 5
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 review: Specification
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
When Samsung admitted that the Galaxy Z Flip 7 would use its own Exynos 2500 processor instead of the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy found in every other flagship Galaxy phone this year, it was like a record scratch moment from a comedy show. Rumors suggest this could have been the CPU inside every Galaxy S25 phone, but Samsung changed its plans late in the game on those phones. Instead, this new Samsung chip debuts in the Galaxy Z Flip 7.
Samsung claims the Exynos 2500 is more powerful than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy that’s in last year’s Flip 6, and this lets the Flip 7 use Samsung DeX, a feature that was oddly omitted from last year’s Flip. I don’t buy it. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 had the same processor and the same RAM, and the Fold 6 could run DeX. Heck, even the Galaxy S24 FE with its mid-range Exynos 2400e chipset could run DeX. I’m calling shenanigans on this claim.
The display is bigger this year, up to 6.9 inches for the internal display from 6.7 inches last year, and the phone is 4mm wider to accommodate this. Otherwise, the specs are mostly unchanged from the Flip 6 – 12GB of RAM; a 50MP wide camera and a 12MP ultra-wide; Wi-Fi 7; Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the back cover. The battery is larger this year, but maybe not as big as it needs to be.
Big and beautiful cover display with ultra-slim bezels
Nice colors, but design is a bit bland for a flip phone
After years of me complaining that the Galaxy Z Flip wasn’t using enough of its cover space for the front screen, Samsung finally listened (I’d like to think). The 4.1-inch screen on the front of the Galaxy Z Flip 7 takes up every possible inch – Samsung says it has the thinnest bezel ever on a Galaxy phone.
The Flip 7’s cover screen looks like the future of phone displays, and I’m excited for the internal screen to catch up, with a bezel this slim.
Otherwise, the phone is a standard 2025 Galaxy model. It has flat sides, with the power and volume buttons on the right. The power key acts as an effective fingerprint scanner, though it’s more recessed than the power button on other Galaxy phones, and it was hard to find in the dark.
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My review sample is Blue Shadow, and the blue certainly has a nice depth to it, though I still wish the color had more pop – there’s not much room for color on a flip phone. Only one half of one side of the phone is actually blue; the rest is all display. Three quarters of the phone is a screen. Is that worrisome? Maybe it should be.
I’ve had the Galaxy Z Flip 7 a week and I’ve been using it extensively. I throw it into my bag with my car keys, and let it bang around with my cameras and other phones in my pockets.
I don’t have a case on it, but some friends at UAG are sending an armored case my way. It may be too late. My back glass – a Gorilla Glass Victus 2 panel – already has noticeable scuffs and scratches marring the shadowy blue. I don’t see any nicks on the screens, so that’s a plus, but I should have gotten that case before I started using this phone. Consider yourself advised.
Design score: 4 / 5
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7: Displays
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Big inner display is super-bright and clear
Cover screen is a showstopper – it’s the future of displays
I could rave about the new cover display again, but I’ll start with the impressive inner screen, because the Galaxy Z Flip 7 has been very satisfying to use thanks to this exceptionally bright and clear AMOLED. It was always a joy to open, even in bright outdoor light.
Don’t worry about the crease on the inner screen. It’s completely invisible when you’re using the phone, and it never bothered my fingers when I was swiping across the screen. After all these years it still feels like a magic trick to fold a piece of glass in half, and it still shocks friends who haven’t seen a flip foldable in person before.
The Galaxy Z Flip 7’s cover display is, as I’ve mentioned, also spectacular. The ultra-thin bezels make it seem to disappear, and you get plenty of room to work with apps and widgets on the 4.1-inch space. It’s a great improvement to the Flip line, and one I’ve been impatiently waiting to see.
Displays score: 5 / 5
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7: Software
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
The best flip for getting things done
Maybe too focused on productivity, not enough on fun
If you want a smartphone you can tweak and customize to your heart’s content, get a Samsung phone. If you prefer something simpler, you can still grit your teeth and ignore most of the settings, the pop-up features, and the extra steps required to make things work.
How bad is Samsung’s software? Take the cover display, for example. On the Motorola Razr, when you’re using an app and you close the phone, the app shows up on the cover display. That’s simple and intuitive. On the Galaxy Z Flip 7? Not even close.
To use an app on the front screen, you have to find the setting to enable apps on the cover display. This isn’t in the Cover Display settings menu; it’s in a menu called Advanced Settings, and then Labs.
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Labs. Can you imagine a more frightening way to hide a crucial feature? Why not just call it Dungeon?
And once you find Labs, you’ve only gotten started. You can enable a few pre-selected apps to work on the cover display – Maps, Messages, Netflix – or you can download another widget called Multistar from the Samsung Galaxy App Store.
Multistar creates a home screen that lives on your cover display, and on that screen you can add any app on your phone. On the cover, you swipe to the Multistar screen and tap the app you want to open.
Multistar on the Galaxy Z Flip 7 cover display (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Unfortunately, you can’t set any of this up on the cover display itself. You can’t even add widgets to the cover display without opening the phone. It feels like Samsung is still getting the hang of this whole cover-display thing, but the Flip7 is its best effort yet.
This complex procedure exemplifies Samsung’s software ‘philosophy,’ if it has one. The phone has lots of features, and they all work… somehow. Finding those features and making them work can feel like an endless chore, and then features work in a way that seems slapped together and haphazard.
I don’t want to open an app twice, on two different home screens, after loading a specialized widget hidden under three layers of settings. I just want to open an app, close my flip phone, and see the same app on the cover. Easy peasy.
Aside from those issues, I have many questions about Samsung’s AI strategy. The company has a habit of talking up features that never materialize. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 was supposed to have a special version of Google Gemini that could talk to me live while the flip screen was half closed, but I haven’t been able to find a mode that works that way.
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Samsung’s Now Brief home screen widget and app is also a key selling point for its AI features, but it’s truly a useless bit of software. It never offers me more than the weather and the first few appointments on my company calendar, which are always people who scheduled a day off.
Samsung promised that this Now Brief and its Galaxy AI features would offer highly personalized information as the AI gets to know you through your Samsung devices and usage behavior. I carry multiple Samsung phones and wear a Galaxy Watch Ultra, and I’ve never seen anything personalized for my interests or habits.
Software score: 3 / 5
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7: Cameras
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Very good cameras with fun and useful features
Samsung is clearly tuning its cameras for more realistic photos
The Galaxy Z Flip 7 has a good set of cameras that took photos I enjoyed sharing. Images taken with Samsung cameras usually pop with bright colors and a highly-sharpened look, but I’ve noticed on the last couple of phones (this one and the Galaxy S25 Edge) that Samsung has been toning down this artificial look for a more natural photography style, closer to what the iPhone produces. I’m all for it.
Don’t worry, Samsung fans, you still get photos that look great, especially if you opt for Samsung’s specialized modes.
Samsung’s Portrait mode is probably the best on any smartphone. It isolated my subject neatly and blurred the background for a gorgeous look. Samsung’s Food mode is by far the best camera phone mode for taking food photos – I reach for my Galaxy phone whenever I bake something tasty and I want to share it.
Samsung’s AI editing features are also the best I’ve used on any smartphone. When you cut an unwanted person or object out of your photo, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 does a perfect job of filling in the gaps. If there are floor boards or vertical blinds behind them, it fills these in seamlessly.
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Of course, the Galaxy Z Flip 7’s coolest camera trick is letting you use the cover display as your viewfinder for photos. You can take selfies at the full 50MP resolution when you point the main camera at yourself and use the cover display. You can also set the phone in an interesting position – way down low or hanging from up high – and then take shots with voice commands or by signaling the camera with a wave.
My only complaint is the lack of a real zoom lens. I have a kid who plays sports, and the digital zoom isn’t good enough to capture him on the field. If you take photos from far away often, you’ll miss the lack of real zoom. Maybe Samsung should try a zoom camera instead of an ultra-wide on the Flip 8.
Cameras: 4 / 5
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7: Performance
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Performance is adequate, but not superlative
Exynos is not going to win over any fans from Snapdragon
In my real-world tests, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 performed well. I used it for a variety of complex tasks, including running two apps with one at the top and the other at the bottom of the inner screen, and plugged the phone into my monitor for the full Samsung DeX treatment.
I like Samsung DeX because I have all of my work accounts for email, Slack, and Google Drive on my phone, so when I use my phone I don’t need to log in again, as I do when I use my laptop. I just plug my phone into my USB-C laptop dock and get a little bit of work done, then unplug and go. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 was great at this, and I’m happy to see DeX on the Flip 7 after missing it on last year’s Flip 6.
That said, in benchmark tests it’s clear that the Samsung Exynos 2500 lags behind the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite, and it’s a shame that the Flip 7 and Galaxy Z Fold 7 run on different platforms.
In Future Labs tests, the Exynos 2500 did not beat the Galaxy S25’s Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy platform in a single test – not processor speed, graphics performance, web browsing, AI and machine learning tests, nor any other benchmark we run. In every way, the Exynos 2500 is inferior to the Snapdragon 8 Elite.
Worst of all may be the chip’s power consumption, which I’ll get to in the next section. Samsung isn’t doing itself any favors by ditching one of the best mobile platforms I’ve ever used – the Snapdragon 8 Elite – and I hope it doesn’t ever make the same mistake again.
Performance: 3 / 5
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7: Battery
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Battery life is unimpressive and charging should be faster
Could the Exynos platform be to blame?
The Galaxy Z Flip 7 usually lasted a full day in my testing, unless I used it extensively for taking and editing photos or playing games. On camera testing days, I needed to charge up to keep it going until bed time.
It could have been worse, but I wonder if the cover display makes a difference. After all, there were plenty of times when I used the cover when I might have used the full screen on a normal phone, and the inner screen certainly draws more power than the half-sized cover display.
The reason I was pessimistic about the battery life was the Galaxy Z Flip 7’s poor showing in Future Labs battery testing. The Z Flip 7 has a battery that’s 300mAh larger than the cell in the Z Flip 6, but it only delivers about 90 minutes more runtime in our rundown tests.
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Compare that to the Motorola Razr Ultra, which uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. The Razr Ultra has a battery that’s 400mAh larger than the Galaxy Z Flip 7’s, but in our tests it lasted almost 6.5 hours longer than the Z Flip 7! The Z Flip 7 died in just under 12.5 hours in our lab tests, while the Razr Ultra lasted almost 19 hours.
I have to assume the Snapdragon is sipping power compared to Samsung’s Exynos chip, and that’s why the Razr Ultra lasts so much longer with only a slightly larger battery. Motorola’s displays are just as bright, and actually pack more pixels, which means they could draw more power. If it isn’t the display saving electricity, it must be the chipset.
Battery: 3 / 5
Should you buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7?
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 score card
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Value
Solid value considering you get two displays for the price of one, plus all of the technology Samsung packs inside. There are cheaper flip phones, but none that can do as much as the Flip 7.
4 / 5
Design
A nice design that will be familiar to Samsung fans. I still wish it were more exciting, and some scuffs during my review time left me more concerned about durability than before.
4 / 5
Display
Excellent displays inside and out. The inner display is bright and clear and a joy to use. The cover screen has the smallest bezels ever, and it's more useful than before.
5 / 5
Performance
The Flip 7 can do more than ever, but Samsung doesn’t make it easy. Expect hidden features, extra steps, and hacked-together solutions. Also, the AI features don’t seem fully baked.
3 / 5
Software
Nice cameras that tone down the saturation for a more realistic look. The best camera modes in the biz, including great portraits and appetizing food shots. Solid AI editing tools remove artifacts flawlessly. I wish it had zoom.
4 / 5
Cameras
Disappointing performance all round thanks to the Exynos 2500. I’m being extra harsh so Samsung doesn’t make this mistake again and use an inferior Exynos chip when the Snapdragon is obviously superior. This phone should be faster.
3 / 5
Battery
Battery life isn’t terrible, but it’s disappointing considering other phones have seen huge advancements thanks to new battery tech and more efficient (Snapdragon) platforms. It still lasts a full day, most of the time.
3 / 5
Buy it if...
You want more phone in your phone The Galaxy Z Flip 7 lives up to the flip-phone promise, giving you more than the sum of its parts. It’s two devices in one.
You can find a great deal on this phone The Galaxy Z Flip 7 is priced well, but Samsung phones see great discounts from wireless carriers and bonus offers for a good trade.
You want a flip but you’re a serious person The Motorola Razr may be shiny and colorful, but it doesn’t have Samsung DeX or the full suite of software Samsung offers to get things done.
Don't buy it if...
You want simpler software The Motorola Razr hews closer to Google’s Pixel version of Android, while Samsung’s One UI is feature-packed, but overcomplicated.View Deal
You don’t like the Samsung Galaxy look The Flip 7 should have been a cooler-looking flip phone, but instead it looks like every other Galaxy, bent in half.View Deal
You hang out in very dusty places The Galaxy Z Flip 7 has an impressive level of water resistance, but it can’t keep out dust smaller than a big piece of lint, so be careful.View Deal
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 review: Also consider
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Motorola Razr Ultra The Razr Ultra is more expensive, but it beats the Z Flip 7 on almost every metric, including processor speed and battery life.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus It costs $100 / £50 / AU$100 less and blows the Z Flip 7 away for battery life and performance, plus it comes with a 3x telephoto zoom lens.
Testing included: everyday use, including web browsing, social media, photography, gaming, streaming video, and music playback
Tools used: Geekbench 6, and Nit-brightness-testing system
I tested the Galaxy Z Flip 7 for two week before writing this review, using it as my primary work phone for that entire period. I tested the phone using a T-Mobile account provided by Samsung for my review period.
I used the phone extensively for communicating with colleagues, using apps including Slack, Google Meet, Airtable, Gmail and more. I played games including Vampire Survivor and Call of Duty Mobile, and I connected the phone to an Xbox Wireless Controller for games.
I used Android Auto with the Flip 7 in my car, a Kia EV6, for navigation, listening to music and audiobooks, and sending messages using voice input.
I connected the Flip 7 to my Galaxy Buds Pro 3 earbuds, Moto Buds Loop, a Galaxy Watch Ultra smartwatch, and Ray-Ban Meta smartglasses. I used the phone for fitness tracking, snore and sleep apnea detection with the Galaxy Watch Ultra, and other health and fitness activities.
Future Labs tests phones using a mix of third-party benchmark software and proprietary, real-world tests. We use Geekbench, CrossMark, JetStream, WebXPRT and Mobile XPRT, and 3DMark for performance testing. We test a phone's performance on video tasks using Adobe Premiere Rush. We also measure display color output and brightness.
For battery testing we perform proprietary tests that are the same for every phone, which enable us to determine how long it takes for the battery to run down.
Light spoilers follow for The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
It's not an exaggeration to say The Fantastic Four have been represented poorly on the big screen. 20th Century Fox's two attempts to launch live-action franchises starring Marvel's First Family in the early and mid-2000s were at best average, and at worst utterly abysmal.
A well-made film that captures the spirit of the iconic quartet's comic-book adventures is long overdue, then – and The Fantastic Four: First Steps duly delivers. It falls short of being, well, fantastic but, considering what's come before it's easily the eponymous team's best live-action adventure to date.
Space oddity
First Steps is set in a '60s-inspired universe that's full of space-age wonder and optimism (Image credit: Marvel Studios)
Set in a parallel universe – one designated Earth-828 – to Earth-616, i.e., the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), First Steps reintroduces audiences to the titular team. For those who don't know, the individuals who comprise this group are Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Joseph Quinn), and Ben Grimm/The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach).
The only heroes who exist in this retro-futuristic alternate dimension, these superpowered scientists-cum-celebrities have not only created a utopia built upon ground-breaking technological advancements, but also keep their planet safe from those who wish to destroy it.
First Steps is arguably the most accessible Marvel Studios project since 2008's Iron Man movie
That's until Galactus (Ralph Ineson), an immortal, world-consuming cosmic entity, and his surfboard-riding lieutenant The Silver Surfer (Julia Garner) come calling, anyway. With the duo marking the group's planet for death unless they hand over Reed and Sue's newborn son Franklin for reasons I won't spoil, The Fantastic Four face their biggest obstacle yet as they try to stop a seemingly unstoppable space god from tearing their family – and their world – apart.
First Steps isn't your typical origins story for the iconic quartet (Image credit: Marvel Studios)
Sure, there are Easter eggs and references to the group's various villains in the comics. Those include Doctor Doom, who wasn't considered as First Steps' main villain before Galactus and who'll be played by returning MCU superstar Robert Downey Jr in Avengers: Doomsday. Still, given it's devoid of ties to the increasingly complex MCU, First Steps is the most accessible Marvel project – for first-time viewers and fans who've fallen off the cinematic juggernaut's bandwagon – since 2008's Iron Man movie.
But this isn't your typical origins story. With two prior film adaptations covering the team's backstory, First Steps takes a leaf out of Tom Holland's debut as Spider-Man in Captain America: Civil War, plus his standalone MCU film trilogy, by introducing heroes who already possess their cosmic radiation-sourced superpowers. As the film tells us, Richards and company have been operating as superheroes for four years by the time it begins.
First Steps' opening act is one of the most tonally jarring I can remember in any movie
Its breezy opening takes a similar approach to another of 2025's most exciting new movies and fellow superhero film in James Gunn's Superman.
Like the most recent entry of a long-running comic book series you've just picked up off the shelf, both films drop you right into the thick of things and expect you to figure things out as you absorb their story. It's a refreshing change of pace for a Marvel project and its DC Universe (DCU) counterpart, and helps to quickly establish these pre-existing universes without prolonging their first acts via another superfluous re-tread of their origins.
First Steps' plot spans one whole year, with Franklin's (center) growth helping to show the passage of time (Image credit: Marvel Studios)
That doesn't mean this movie's first 30 minutes aren't without fault. In fact, its opening act is one of the most tonally jarring I can remember in any movie.
Indeed, the Marvel Phase 6 flick is all too keen to flit between melodrama, comedy, and the occasional splash of horror between scenes, and sometimes within the same sequence. These narrative jolts make for an emotionally polarizing first act and detract from the grave, existential threat posed by the omnipotent and seemingly unkillable space tyrant (i.e. Galactus) at crucial moments.
Imagine how Avengers: Infinity War's incredibly shocking ending would've been emotionally undercut if one of the surviving heroes made an unnecessary joke amid the heart-shattering silence that follows. That's what First Steps does all too often in its first act and its narrative suffers as a result.
Heavy lies the crown
First Steps only offers a taste of its space horror vibes through its antagonists (Image credit: Marvel Studios)
Thankfully, The Fantastic Four's latest big-screen reboot becomes a much stronger movie once its opening act ends.
Part of that is down to the lack of hard cuts between scenes, which aid the natural flow of its unfolding story. However, the film's narrative improvement also owes much to a greater focus being placed on the four primary members of The Fantastic Four: First Steps' cast and the unwavering mutual bond that exists between them.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps' narrative improvement owes much to a greater focus being placed on its four primary cast members
Much was made of Pascal, Kirby, Quinn, and Moss-Bachrach's hirings when Marvel confirmed they'd be playing The Fantastic Four in February 2024, with some observers questioning whether they were the right fit and/or if they'd gel as a collective.
First Steps proves those naysayers wrong. Arguably the movie's biggest strength, their chemistry is on point from the outset, with quips and witty insults aplenty, plus their collective resolve amid individual and group disagreements, highlighting the easy rapport that exists between the actors and the characters they portray.
Galactus is one of the most terrifying villains Marvel has even put in an MCU movie (Image credit: Marvel Studios)
Individually, Moss-Bachrach does a great job of capturing Grimm's long-standing position as the heart and soul of the team. Pascal is similarly stellar as the group's incredibly intelligent yet oft-times emotionally awkward de-factor leader.
I wish there were more scenes showcasing their collective camaraderie and quieter moments between each pairing
However, the Storms are the real standouts. Kirby and Quinn steal the show as the superpowered siblings who, throughout The Fantastic Four's early comic book runs, were simply depicted as the team's tokenistic female/damsel in distress and stereotypical cocksure ladies' main.
As they have in more recent comic book stories, though, the pair's representation on the screen have undergone highly satisfying evolutions akin to how they're not portrayed on the page. Indeed, Sue is positioned as the group's strongest member from emotional and superpower perspectives. Meanwhile, Johnny is a fully-formed, three-dimensional character with his own intellectual intuition that ties into a intriguing subplot that makes full use of his multifaceted persona.
If there's a criticism I can level at First Steps from a cast viewpoint, I wish there were more scenes showcasing their collective camaraderie and quieter moments between each pairing.
Some scenes used in TV spots or one of its three main teasers, including First Steps' official trailer and the final trailer Marvel released for its new Fantastic Four movie, are absent from the final cut. Given the movie's sub-two hour runtime, though, there was certainly scope for their inclusion, and I wouldn't have scoffed at seeing more humorous, heartfelt, and dramatically heavy interactions that would've further sold me on these all-important dynamics.
Julia Garner does a good job of demonstrating the nuances of The Silver Surfer's emotional conflict (Image credit: Marvel Studios)
The same is true of the film's villains. I've been eager to see Ineson's take on Galactus since his hiring last May and Garner's version of the Big Bad's Herald following her casting a month earlier, especially given the Shakespearean tragedy elements that define their antagonistic sensibilities.
Sadly, both characters are underused. Garner gets more to do than Ineson and , after looming large as a terrifying off-screen presence for much of the film, the latter's humanoid monstrosity gets his due in First Steps' intense final act. Nevertheless, the pair weren't lying when they told me they never filmed a single scene together for First Steps, which is abundantly clear in the final edit. Their characters aren't given the requisite screentime to really dig into their motivations, nor does the flick lean into the cosmic horror they could've delivered individually and collectively.
My verdict
The Fantastic Four: First Steps is an entertaining, distinct, and at-times emotional Marvel film that MCU diehards and newcomers will equally enjoy. Still, while I applaud its brave storytelling and unique selling points, it could've benefitted from some narrative refinement to enhance its primary themes and multi-genre formula.
Those frustrations aside, this is still the most authentic representation of the superteam outside of Marvel literature. Considering what's come before, it wasn't a particularly high bar to clear, but I commend Shakman and company for giving us a Fantastic Four film that won't make me shudder at the thought of rewatching it. For that reason alone, it's not a small step forward, but rather a giant leap in the right direction for Marvel's First Family on the silver screen.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps launches in theaters on Thursday, July 24 (UK) and Friday, July 25 (internationally). The group's three other film adaptations are available now on Disney+.
Platform reviewed: Nintendo Switch 2 Available on: Nintendo Switch 2 Release date: July 24, 2025
To beef up its Nintendo Switch 2 first-party library, Nintendo has been bringing enhanced versions of Nintendo Switch games to its new console, both as standalone releases or with an additional upgrade price. While it started strong with Switch 2 editions of two of the greatest games of all time, Super Mario Party Jamboree is a trickier proposition.
This isn't the same as a remaster like Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom, which integrated new features into the existing game, but more of an expansion bundled with the base game like Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury, and at a higher price. Sure, you can play the base game in 4K or on a nicer 1080p display in handheld mode, but you don't really notice a big visual bump, while the Switch 1 version had no performance issues that this Switch 2 Edition has improved.
All the same content, including the single-player Party Planner Trek, the motion-based modes, and the online-based modes, are still there, and if you're upgrading, all your save data and unlocked rewards and content carry over. But you're not going to experience any material differences from the original game I covered in my previous review. For instance, DK hasn't had a Donkey Kong Bananza-style facelift, while Switch 2 functions like the camera doesn't feature either. All the new Switch 2-exclusive content you'll find exclusively in Jamboree TV, so without further ado, let's get to that.
Mouse trap
(Image credit: Nintendo)
Jamboree TV revamps the Mario Party model into a game show setting, featuring the annoying talking flower from Super Mario Bros. Wonder, though you can thankfully also mute him. But rather than just picking Mario and pals as contestants, if you have a compatible camera attached to your console, you can also put your own faces on screen as a circle besides your character, though for privacy reasons, you won't be able to capture any screenshots or video when using this feature.
Once your contestants (and/or yourselves) are up on stage, you get to choose between four modes: Mario Party, Carnival Coaster, Bowser Live, and Free Play, the latter where you can play any of the minigames but is presented rather barebones compared to the same option in the base game's Minigame Bay.
Mario Party lets you play the core board game with all seven boards from the base game, but with some new exclusive twists. Aside from the standard party rules, this introduces two new rules.
While Tag-Team lets you play as a 2v2 instead of the usual free-for-all, Frenzy is a welcome option for those strapped for time, condensing a game down to just five turns but throwing in all the perks and high stakes of the last five turns of a normal game, so you start with more coins and a star, more to spend but more to lose. Of course, the option to save the game and continue from where you left off in another session is still possible.
Best bit
(Image credit: Nintendo)
Bowser as a game show host in Bowser Live is a pretty fun turn for the Mushroom Kingdom's resident baddie, and the Switch 2's camera and microphone functions do a decent job of immersing you in that. It's just a shame it's so short-lived.
While camera play won't make a huge difference on gameplay (although having everyone see your mug when you've had a star snatched from you is going to be more priceless than just selecting an emote) the 14 new mouse-based minigames are a decent addition. They're all creatively varied, not just basic point-and-click or drag-and-drop affairs, but sometimes also incorporate gyro controls, while also requiring team coordination.
But given you've also got 73 other minigames in Mario Party mode, you might only encounter a mouse minigame a handful of times, and there's no way to change a setting for more mouse minigames. You can, however, turn off mouse minigames, which you'll have to if pairing the original Switch Joy-Con as extra controllers, but that annoyingly also turns off motion-based minigames.
It's for that reason that there's the mouse-only Carnival Coaster. In this co-op mode, you ride a rollercoaster-slash-shooting gallery with five different themed routes to choose from, and have to try and get to the end before time runs out. You can gain precious seconds by aiming the mouse to shoot enemies that pop up during the ride, as well as completing randomly selected mouse minigames. These minigames adopt co-op rules rather than battling another team, while you're awarded more bonus time based on how well you do.
Make some noise
(Image credit: Nintendo)
If it sounds like the biggest addition to Jamboree TV is mouse controls, you'd be right because the Bowser Live mode feels half-baked, even though it should be a bigger deal. For this game show within a game show, two teams or two battle to win the Koopa king's approval in either camera or microphone-based minigames. The camera is a literally bigger deal because rather than just capturing your heads, it captures each person's whole body so that you're fully transported into the scene and tasked with doing pretty silly things like balancing goombas on your head or hitting coins from a question block as fast as you can.
Meanwhile, microphone minigames takes advantage of the Switch 2 Camera as you use either your voice of handclaps, and it's incredible how well the microphone picks up both even when you're standing or sitting several feet away, so you don't have to yell, even if that's what you're encouraged to do in Bowser Chicken, where you shout to propel a car forward to score points, but not before reaching Bowser at the end. But since the microphone doesn't pick up who's shouting, that allows some underhanded shenanigans like having another team shout just when you thought you stopped your car at just the right spot.
Yet for all the snazzy presentation and wild atmosphere of this mode, Nintendo only thought to include three minigames for each, and they're all incredibly short. So, in a format where you have just two rounds before a final round that's basically determined by which team can make the most noise, the novelty wears off very quickly. It feels like a lack of confidence, perhaps owing to the fact that the camera is also not going to be a peripheral that everyone has. But then it also means it's definitely not worth investing in one if you're expecting to make better use of it in this game.
One other feature that I wasn't able to test pre-launch was GameShare, a cool feature that allows you to share a multiplayer game with other Switch owners even if they don't own the game. However, from the information provided, its support for Super Mario Party Jamboree - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition only works locally and only lets you play a single board, Mega Wiggler's Tree Party, and none of the modes from Jamboree TV. It makes you wonder what even the point is of including the feature when it's so limited, especially when Mario Party boards play perfectly fine on a single console.
Should you play Super Mario Party Jamboree + Jamboree TV?
Play it if...
You want more fun ways to play with your Joy-Con mouse controls Mouse-based minigames make up the lion's share of the new minigames in Jamboree TV, which are more creatively varied than mere point-and-click that work in co-op as well as versus modes. With Mario and pals, it's also more charming than the mouse minigames in Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour.
Don't play it if...
You don't care for multiplayer games There's little fun to be had playing a party game solo, especially as Jamboree TV contains no rewards or unlockables like the base game. If you don't already own the Switch 1 version, you're also looking at an eye-watering cost for a casual party game.
Accessibility
While there are no set accessibility settings, Super Mario Party Jamboree Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV allows you to adjust the difficulty of CPU, message speed, as well as whether or not to include a tutorial before the start of each minigame. Jamboree TV minigames requiring a camera, motion, or mouse do not have alternate controls, but for microphone minigames, you can also clap your hands instead of using your voice. Content in the base game remains unchanged, so there are no alternate controls to the Motion Island modes.
How I reviewed Super Mario Party Jamboree + Jamboree TV
I played Super Mario Party Jamboree Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV for about 8 hours on Nintendo Switch 2, including several local multiplayer sessions, but was unable to test online or GameShare as per Nintendo's pre-launch guidelines.
I previously reviewed Super Mario Party Jamboree on Switch, so I was able to make comparisons between the original version and the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. As there are no meaningful changes in the base game, my time was primarily spent on Jamboree TV.
I played primarily in docked mode on an LG C2 OLED TV. I mostly played with a single Joy-Con in horizontal and vertical, button, motion and mouse-based configurations, and also used the official Nintendo Switch 2 Camera, except for when capturing screenshots.
Jackery is a mainstay of the power back-up industry being one of the original companies to offer such quality devices and products. I remember seeing their adverts some several years ago before the big boom of power stations.
So, I tested out the Jackery Explorer 3000 v2, packing in a 3072Wh of capacity with a combined max output of 3600W continuous load. Having tested plenty of the best portable power stations, it's notable that few offer one with nearly as much capacity without the use of add on batteries or output as this one.
Image 4 (Image credit: Future)
Jackery Explorer 3000 V2: Unboxing
The Explorer 3000 v2 came in a non-descript brown cardboard box, opening it gave way to a satin printed box in the Jackery orange tone, on the side were some nice handles in order to lift the inner box out.
Placing it on the table came with a heavy thud, the Explorer 3000 is certainly weighty, but about the same as other lesser capacity power stations. Removing the Explorer 3000 isn’t hard, open the box, get the manual and power cable out the way, top protective lid off then just lift the Explorer 3000 out. Only the Explorer 3000, manual and AC power cable are provided.
(Image credit: Future)
Jackery Explorer 3000 v2: First impressions
Switching it on for the first time shows that the Explorer 3000 had 28% charge, a typical charge amount I would expect for the product as the battery chemistry of LiFePO4 prefers around 30% for long term storage.
IMAGE 5 (Image credit: Future)
Size wise, measuring in at 16.38 x 12.80 x 12.01in and weighing in at 59.5lb. I compared its size to the Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 if that was on your shortlist and whilst it is bigger in size, the Jackery Explorer 3000 v2 does come with extra capacity and output so needs somewhere to store all of that.
There are two large handles on either side for carrying it like a milk crate. It can be carried by one hand on one of the handles but some may find this difficult to do.
(Image credit: Future)
The front of the power station is the main part with all the important functions, it has:
3 x UK AC outlets capable of delivering 230V at 50Hz in a Pure Sine Wave at 13Amps max, with a total power output of 3600W across all three sockets and can with stand sudden surge demands of up to 7200W for short periods of time.
2 x USB-A ports with 18W max on each
2 x USB-C ports with 100W max on each
1 x Cigarette Lighter Port at 12V with a max load of 10Amps
The left, top, bottom and backside haven’t got much and are bare, save for the back side having the product label.
On the right side is the “input side” with the following:
1 x AC input via the common IEC C13/14 power socket, able to accept 220v to 240v in coming AC at a max of 10A
2 x DC input via an 8020 DC plug which is able to support 16 volts to 60 volts at a max of 12A on a single port with a maximum over all of 1000W input on both barrels.
One disappointment is that the Explorer 3000 v2 all of the sockets have no covers or any ingress protection.
(Image credit: Future)
The front also has the main screen status screen which can be used by the user for a glance at what’s going on. The center of the screen is dominated by the percentage of remaining battery life with a circle around it that shows if it is in use.
On the left of the screen is input and the right is output displaying the number of watts in coming or outgoing respectively on either AC or DC. There are other status symbols which only illuminate when is use such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and so on.
(Image credit: Future)
Jackery Explorer 3000 V2: In use
I used the Explorer 3000 v2 on a few tasks through the house to see how it would fair and if any of these everyday household appliances would stress the battery. I ran an air fryer, induction hob, hair dryer and even an air heater, all separately of course and the Explorer 3000 powered on without a hitch. Each one using not much of the 3kWh of battery storage.
Trying to push it further, I brought out my large 3HP Air compressor, plugged that in and gave it a whirl, that managed a max draw around 2250W. I was able to spray paint my entire shed in the day using only about 30% of the battery bringing it down from 100% to 70%.
Charging the power station can be tricky, assuming you have a normal electricity tariff at 20 cents per kWh, this means that charging the Explorer 3000 from 0 to 100% would cost you around a $1.05.
The Explorer 3000 v2 supports charge from Solar Panels, ideally you would use one of Jackery’s SolarSaga line of panels but their biggest one only output at around 200W, but you will need at least 2 or more as charging this on a single SolarSaga 200W will take approximately 22 hours assuming clear sunny sky and constantly repositioning the panels. Connecting up to four additional SolarSaga 200W panels will in essence reduce the number of hours needed to charge but a splitter is required.
One notable negative is that Jackery opted to use a DC8020 Connector and socket, so if you had spare solar panels or the rigid or foldable kind, you would need to source either an MC4 or XT60/90 connector to DC8020 adapter.
Charging via the AC cable is as simple as plugging it in, the Explorer 3000 detects power, turns its self on and starts charging at full speed unless you otherwise specify a lower charge speed or schedule it.
Somehow Jackery managed to essentially fit a DC to AC inverter capable of out putting 3600W in the space of a milk crate. In comparison, most inverters installed permanently in homes for solar power are of the 3.6kWh type with few being more than 4, 5 or even 6. Most homes, even larger 3-bedroom houses in the UK, draw around 250 to 300W on idle these days, imagine the savings if you ran a house on this during the day and charge it during the night on the right tariff.
Jackery Explorer 3000 V2: App
Once set up the unit, I delved into the app. A quick app download, registration and I was in. Adding the battery to the app was a simple and quick affair.
On the home screen you are greeted by your Jackery products, on this occasion the Explorer 3000 v2 and state of charge.
Tapping on the battery led me to the main status screen of the battery showing is state of charge, inputs, outputs, Wi-Fi signal strength, temperature and some basic controls.
Tapping on the cog on the top right led to more in depth controls and settings and through this the product specifications.
Using the app, I did find it a bit laggy. I would click on an icon to switch on say USB charging and about 5 seconds later the icon lit up and my phone acknowledge charge. I found I had to click back forth to see that it had done what I asked of it.
But to be honest, you will seldom be using the app, you would set up the battery the way you like it and just use it.
(Image credit: Future)
Jackery Explorer 3000 v2: Final verdict
The Explorer 3000 v2 is another solid product by Jackery improving on the Explorer 2000 battery I recently reviewed.
Whilst most people will think of these products as camping or recreation products, like in my last review ill refer back to the power outages of Spain and Portugal earlier this year.
Perhaps having one of these at home isn’t a bad idea after all. An old saying comes to mind “I’d rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it”.
High output and high storage mean that this is superb for most home uses in an emergency or using off peak charging to use during the day.
The Dreame AirStyle Pro is a multistyler that can operate as a dryer, or to create smooth, curly or bouncy styles using the various attachments supplied in the box. On paper, it looks like one for TechRadar's best hair styler roundup, but when I actually put it through its paces, a couple of design flaws quickly revealed themselves – and they're annoying enough to make this styler difficult to recommend.
The first is that the maximum temperature just isn't hot enough. I have collarbone-length, wavy hair that isn't overly thick, yet I wasn't able to use the Dreame AirStyle to dry it – it just took far too long. I also found that the styles created using the Dreame (in particular, the curls) lacked staying power. I'm as concerned about heat damage as the next person, but you do need some heat for these kinds of tools to be useful.
The second issue is that the attachments don't clip on securely enough. They twist on, but there's no 'click' at the end of that motion, which means they have a tendency to twist off again as you're using them to style.
It's a shame because, as I've said, the Dreame AirStyle Pro shows plenty of promise. The attachments are varied and well designed, and include those all-important auto-wrap curl barrels that position this styler as an Airwrap alternative. It's also stylishly designed and comfortable to use, with controls that are well positioned.
Price-wise, it isn't cheap, but it's far more affordable than Dyson's Airwrap i.d., and in line with rival products. While the Dreame AirStyle Pro's issues might not be insurmountable – you could rope in one of the best hair dryers for the start of the styling process, and take extra care not to dislodge the attachments when styling – there's no real reason to choose it over a tool such as the Shark FlexStyle, which comes in at a similar price and doesn't suffer the Dreame AirStyle Pro's issues.
That's the short version; read on for my full Dreame AirStyle Pro review.
Dreame AirStyle Pro review: price & availability
List price: $399.99 / £299 / AU$599
Available: US / UK / Australia
Launched: May 2025
The Dreame AirStyle Pro is available worldwide, with a list price of $399.99 / £299 / AU$599. However, at time of writing, it was reduced in all territories to $279.99 / £269 / AU$399. Such widespread discounts suggest you won't often find it at full price.
By comparison, the Dyson Airwrap i.d. costs $599.99 / £479.99, while the Shark FlexStyle comes in at $279.99 / £269.99. While Dyson's styler delivers a step up in quality and features, it looks like Dreame is looking to position itself more directly as a competitor to Shark. (There are cheaper Dyson Airwrap dupes, but if you want one with the auto-wrap curl barrels, it will typically fall into a similar price bracket.)
While the AirStyle Pro looks good, feels high quality, and comes with a solid range of accessories, there are a couple of flaws at a functional level (a top temperature that's far too cool, and attachments that don't clip on securely) that make it difficult to recommend over the similarly priced Shark version.
There's a clear jump up in quality and functionality with the Dyson i.d., but I appreciate that not everyone is looking to splash that amount of cash on a styling tool (I compare all three in a bit more depth in this article, if you're interested).
Value for money score: 3 out of 5
Dreame AirStyle Pro specs
Weight (styler only, no cord):
0.6lbs / 0.3kg
Dimensions (styler only):
1.8 x 1.8 x 10.2in / 4.5 x 4.5 x 26cm
Cord:
9.2ft / 2.8m
Temperatures:
2 (50C and 80C) + cool shot (room temperature)
Speeds:
3 (50m/s, 55m/s, 60m/s)
Wattage:
1,300W
Attachments:
Fast dryer, flyaway attachment, 32mm auto-wrap barrels (L+R), hard smoothing brush, soft smoothing brush, round volumizing brush
Dreame AirStyle Pro review: design
Tubular dryer with six styling attachments and storage box
Attachments twist on, but aren't secure enough
Stylish, premium design with leather-look finish
The Dreame AirStyle Pro has a similar look to most modern multistylers: it comprises a tube-shaped dryer onto which different attachments are clipped.
At the end of the barrel that you hold it are the controls. Two press buttons (with indicator lights) let you toggle though two temperatures and three windspeeds. Slightly unusually, the "cool shot" isn't a separate button, but included as an extension of the on/off slider.
(Image credit: Future)
At the base is a removable filter cage, covering a stainless steel mesh filter that traps any fine hair and particles and keeps them out of the motor. Dreame provides a cleaner brush to help with maintenance. The cable is 9.2ft / 2.8m.
(Image credit: Future)
If you want to use the AirStyle Pro as just a dryer, you clip on the fast dryer attachment. This widens the airflow to 90-degrees to the dryer.
Aside from that, the key attachments are the 32mm auto-wrap curl barrels. Used on slightly damp hair, they attract the strands around the barrel, shaping them into curls as they dry. The idea being that this damp to dry styling is far better for your hair than using traditional hot tongs.
If you want to switch from clockwise to anticlockwise curls then you'll need to swap over the barrels. Currently, the only styler of this kind that can achieve two directions of curl on one barrel is the Dyson Airwrap; all the cheaper alternatives require a manual swap-over.
(Image credit: Future)
Elsewhere, there's an impressive range of attachments. Alongside the fast dryer and auto-wrap barrels (L+R), you get a flyaway attachment, hard smoothing brush, soft smoothing brush, and round volumizing brush.
To attach a tool to the dryer section, you line up spots on the base of the attachments, then twist to clip them on. Most examples of this kind of styler have a release switch around the back, but there isn't one here – you simply twist in terms of opposite direction to take off the attachment. Unfortunately, this setup isn't that secure, and in my time with the tool I often experienced attachments becoming loose mid-styling.
Design score: 3.5 out of 5
Dreame AirStyle Pro review: performance
Not hot enough to be used as a hair dryer
Controls are well positioned and easy to use
Attachments work well, but lack of heat limits performance
I started by using the Dreame AirStyle Pro with the fast dryer attachment – and I immediately ran into problems. While the windspeed felt decent, it just wasn't getting hot enough to dry hair, even on the higher of the two temperatures. (For context, I have collarbone-length hair that I'd towel-dried from wet, so it wasn't soaking.) After several long minutes of ineffectually waving the AirStyle over my head, I gave up and switched to a dedicated hair dryer.
(Image credit: Future)
I wondered if my review model was faulty, but a closer look at the specs revealed this wasn't the case. The AirStyle's two heat options are 122ºF / 50ºC and 176ºF / 80ºC. In comparison, the Airwrap has a low heat setting of 140ºF / 60ºC and a high heat setting of 194ºF / 90ºC.
That cooler temperature might be better for your hair, but for anyone other than those with super-fine hair, the AirStyle Pro will prove ineffective and you'll need to have a separate hair dryer on hand for this part of the styling process.
(Image credit: Future)
I then tried out the auto-wrap curlers. They worked well, effectively pulling around the barrels and holding it there as it finished drying. In this part, they were similar to the Airwrap (although the Airwrap has some extra features to make the process more straightforward). As a general rule, auto-wrapped curls don't last as long as those created using hot tongs, but I found the curls created with the AirStyle Pro dropped especially quickly – again, I think this is something to do with the lower temperatures used.
(Image credit: Future)
On the plus side, the styler is comfortable to hold and balanced in weight. The buttons are well positioned, making them easy to find mid-styling and difficult to press accidentally.
I especially like the way the cool shot is activated. It's at the top of the on/off slider, so you can easily locate the raised button by feel alone, and since it's spring-loaded, it pings back when you let go.
(Image credit: Future)
Over the course of my review period, I tested out all the other attachments. Broadly, I felt they were well designed and did what they were meant to do. However, as mentioned, they don't attach securely – they simply twist on and off, with no clipping involved.
This proved an issue when doing anything that involved twisting the tool, and when creating curls using the round volumizing brush, I found it became loose and fell off on more than one occasion.
The hard smoothing brush and soft smoothing brush both feature prongs that can pivot slightly – I'm not sure of their purpose – and they worked well in practice. In fact, the two are virtually identical, except the latter has bobbles on the end of the prongs, so I'm not sure I needed both.
Performance score: 2.5 out of 5
Should you buy the Dreame AirStyle Pro?
Attribute
Notes
Rating
Value
Not cheap but relatively affordable. In line with other similarly designed tools that perform better.
3 / 5
Design
Looks stylish and is comfortable to use. Attachments are varied and well designed, except for the fact they don't clip on securely.
3.5 / 5
Performance
Maximum temperature too cool for effective drying, and means curls drop quickly. Attachments can also fall off in use.
2.5 / 5
Buy it if...
You have very fine hair Those with fine or short hair may find the AirStyle Pro's cooler temperatures in hair dryer mode perfect for their hair type.
You want an stylish tool With its tasteful tan, faux-leather finish, this is one of the most stylish hair tools I've tested.
You're worried about heat damage The Dreame AirStyle Pro gets far less hot than rival stylers I've tested, so if you have heat-damaged hair and don't trust yourself to stick to lower temperatures, it might be a good pick.
Don't buy it if...
You have thicker or longer hair The AirStyle Pro's lower temperatures likely won't cut it to dry and style thicker or longer hair.
You have tangle-prone hair I found the attachments here didn't clip on very securely, so those with denser or more tangle-prone hair might find themselves losing tools while they try to style.
Dreame Airstyle Pro (reviewed)
Dyson Airwrap i.d.
Shark FlexStyle
Weight (styler only, no cord):
0.6lbs / 0.3kg
1.4lbs / 0.6kg XXCHECK
1.5 lbs / 0.7kg
Styler dimensions (L x W):
10.2 x 1.8in / 26 x 4.5cm
10.7 x 1.9in / 27.2 x 4.8cm
11.3 x 1.7in / 28.7 x 4.4cm
Cord:
9.2ft / 2.8m
8.5 ft / 2.7m
8ft / 2.4m
Temperatures:
2 + cool shot
2 + cool shot
3 + cool shot
Speeds:
3
3
3
Wattage:
1,300W
1,300W
1,400W (US), 1,600W (UK)
List price:
$399.99 / £299 / AU$599
$599.99 / £479.99 / AU$849
$279.99 / £269.99 / AU$499.99
Dyson Airwrap i.d.
The Airwrap i.d. is king in this category, both in terms of price and features. This multistyler comes with a switch that launches an automated wrap > curl > cool shot sequence, for maximum ease. It can also do clockwise and anticlockwise curls on the same barrel.
The FlexStyle is a very similar proposition to the AirStyle in that it isn't as good as the original AirWrap, but it's a solid alternative if you don't want to spend megabucks. It looks slightly less stylish than the AirStyle but is all-round a more effective tool in my opinion.
I used the AirStyle Pro as my main styling tool for a week. During this time I used it to dry my hair, and tested all the different attachments, paying particular attention to the auto-wrap curlers. I compared the styling results to what I managed to achieve with other similar stylers I've tested – including the Dyson Airwrap i.d. and Shark FlexStyle. I also assessed how easy the styler was to use and the effectiveness of its design and features.
BisectHosting has been around since 2011 as a child company of Venture Node LLC and was registered in Ohio. The company focuses on providing the best Minecraft server hosting but also covers several other games including Rust, Terraria, 7 Days to Die, Valheim, ARK: Survival Evolved and many more.
Relatively unusually for a game hosting provider, BisectHosting also provides other web hosting services such as shared hosting, VPSand dedicated server hostingto those who want to launch their own website.
BisectHosting’s main website is a good example of a user-friendly approach done right, where you’ll be able to find everything you need within a reach of a click or two. It has 20 server locations around the world with the majority in Europe and USA, but others scattered across the globe. Bear in mind that some of these are only accessible for those signing up to a Premium plan.
With strong claims of being the ultimate destination for seemingly everything, I dived into BisectHosting to see how well it works as a Minecraft server provider, looking at its pricing, how easy it is to use, and more.
There are many Minecraft pricing plans. (Image credit: BisectHosting)
BisectHosting plans and pricing
For those interested in Minecraft server hosting only, BisectHosting offers forty packages in total (a half of which are “Budget” while the other half belongs to “Premium” ones), which is such a considerable amount of choices that we were struck with analysis paralysis straight away.
Even the budget-friendly ones are chock-full of features that are fundamental in Minecraft, including custom JAR support, full FTP access, free MySQL, a free subdomain, free DDoS protection and more. The most affordable “Budget” plan will cost you mere $5.98 per month and provide 2GB of RAM and support for up to 12 slots, in addition to everything mentioned above.
Apart from Minecraft, there are fitting packages for other popular multiplayer games including: Terraria, Valheim, ARK: Survival Evolved, Left 4 Dead 2, Counter Strike: Global Offensive, 7 Days to Die, Rust, Counter Strike: Source, Arma 3, Garry's Mod and Team Fortress 2.
Besides gaming-focused hosting, BisectHosting offers a few options for those looking to host a website (or several of them) which include shared hosting (that start at $2.99 per month), VPS (from $4 a month) and dedicated server hosting solutions (from $109 a month).
All hosting packages (with the exception of dedicated ones) come with 3-day money-back guarantee. Although it is far below the industry’s standard, at least there is one being actually offered.
As for payment methods, BisectHosting currently accepts credit cards, PayPal, and Paysafecard.
You can manage your Minecraft server from BisectHosting's modified control panel (Image credit: BisectHosting)
Ease of use
One thing BisectHosting provides all of its users with is an abundance of choice, with something being offered to suit most tastes. Whether you want hosting for a small multiplayer community or a large one, BisectHosting should get you covered with its unlimited slots.
Those who are on the lookout for Minecraft server hosting services can select from Bedrock (mobile) and Java (original) edition, with more pre-designed packages being provided for Java. Whichever you opt for, the following step is to select a plan and check all of its details, such as data center location, billing cycle and add-ons.
If you aren’t hell bent on saving a few bucks, you could go with the most pocket-friendly out of the “Premium” packages, since they come with all features you could wish for without the need to pay extra for each of them. The most noteworthy are: unlimited slots, NVMe SSD space, dedicated IP, daily backups, Sponge installation and modpack updates and installations. Of course, all of “Budget” server features are included in this one as well.
Creating an account with BisectHosting will require you to provide a number of personal details (although nothing out of the ordinary) and since instant setup is one of their key features, your server will be ready to use in the blink of an eye.
All server hosting plans come with a highly modified version of MultiCraft as your control panel, and which variation you’ll get depends on whether you chose a plan from the “Budget” or “Premium” section. Both control panels share the same easy-to-use functionality and will enable fast navigation for Java and Bedrock users alike. Even if you haven't used any version of MultiCraft before, with its user-friendly interface you should be able to swiftly find ways to customize your server by installing modpacks, plugins, server JARs and much more.
We used GTmetrix to measure the uptime and response time of our BisectHosting server (Image credit: GTmetrix)
Speed and experience
In order to fulfil its goal and become one of the best Minecraft server providers out there, BisectHosting should present us with close to perfect performance, even more so since they claim that NVMe or SSDs are used exclusively to run all of their game servers. After testing the speed of BisectHosting’s main website by utilizing GTmetrix as our tool we got somewhat expected and highly satisfactory results. All vital web metrics related to speed performance were well above the average, resulting in near-perfect an A (99%)
Although BisectHosting offers no uptime guarantee, according to the results we got after monitoring it for a month (via UptimeRobot) it should be close to 100%. No major oscillations were recorded in response time and not a single second of downtime on top of everything. Admittedly, one month of perfect performance doesn’t have to be indicative of a whole year, but it sure seems like a good start.
Support
As reported by a large number of their users (and supported by our own first-hand experience) BisectHosting’s customer support team is one of their major selling points. Not only they are at your disposal around-the-clock, but the persons in charge are responsive, resourceful and very respectful in their approach to customers. This “dream team” can be reached via support ticket and live chat.
You can find answers to common problems in BisectHosting's knowledgebase (Image credit: BisectHosting)
If you want to be more self-sufficient, you’ll find a major source of information in BisectHosting’s knowledgebase. It currently contains 139 articles in total which are split into ten corresponding categories (Billing Panel, Domain Management, Game Servers, Minecraft Java/Bedrock Servers and so forth). As far as we can see, most of these articles are easy-to-follow and often supplemented with pictures or video tutorials from BisectHosting’s official YouTube channel.
We should give a special mention to their YouTube channel as well, since it is only less than a year old and, yet, it is overflowing with how-to videos which seem to be coming out on a weekly basis.
The competition
When placed side by side, Shockbyte and BisectHosting seem quite similar in terms of pricing, features and support, but there are small differences that might be decisive for some users. Shockbyte is more famous for its overall performance (which means high response time, low latency and lag improbabilities), while BisectHosting’s technical team is doing a better job with support for unlimited domains, SSL certificates and backups.
Both Apex Hosting and BisectHosting offer servers of all sizes with a myriad of additional options. However, the cheapest Minecraft server hosting option with Apex Hosting will cost you $4.49 per month (and for the first month only, after which it will rise to $5.99), while with BisectHosting it’s merely $2.99 per month. On the other hand, with Apex Hosting you’ll get a somewhat longer money-back guarantee.
Besides game server hosting, BisectHosting provides a shared web hosting option with a few attractive features and pricing that is a match for Bluehost’s. The cheapest plans with both hosts come at quite an attractive price, which is $2.95 per month with Bluehost and $2.99 with BisectHosting. However, with Bluehost’s plan you’ll get free domain registration, a free SSL certificate and CDN, which is hard to beat.
HostGator is a great alternative both to Bluehost and BisectHosting for all those looking for a simple-to-use yet feature-packed hosting service equally fit for individual users and small businesses. As expected, even with its cheapest plan, HostGator provides users with a wide array of beginner-friendly and useful features (free domain registration, one-click installs, a free SSL certificate, free domain and website transfer, free MySQL and script transfer, and a generous 45-day money back guarantee), so it might be a better choice.
Final verdict
On the question if BisectHosting is likely to make your gaming dreams come alive, we would have to say “yes, probably”. It offers a great diversity with its Minecraft packages, a full set of favorable features, prompt and proficient customer support and all at a pocket-friendly price.
Its web hosting packages are, however, another matter and leave out some of the beginner-friendly bonuses we are accustomed to see with other providers. Newcomers who would like to get some of those benefits are better off with fan-favorites such as HostGator, Hostinger or Bluehost.
Apex Hosting is a US-based company which launched in 2013. Its goal according to the site is to "deliver the highest level of customer support to our Minecraft server hosting clients". It makes sense then to see it feature prominently in our look at the best Minecraft server hosting. Registered in Florida, USA, its main office is situated in Sarasota with data centres across 18 locations around the world .
These include six locations in the USA (Portland, Las Vegas, San Jose, Dallas, Vint Hill and Miami), and one each in the following countries: Canada (Montreal), Brazil (Sao Paulo), the UK (London), France (Gravelines), Poland (Warsaw), Germany (Frankfurt), Israel (Tel Aviv), Russia (Moscow), China (Hong Kong), Singapore (Singapore), Australia (Sydney) and Turkey (Istanbul).
While its website isn't the most visually appealing of sites, Apex Hosting knows what counts for users. Below, you'll find exactly how I found the service with most of the things available within a few clicks.
Apex Hosting offers a wide variety of plans to suit your Minecraft server hosting needs (Image credit: Apex Hosting)
Apex Hosting plans and pricing
Apex Hosting offers 14 Minecraft packages with the most budget-friendly plan starting at $5.99 for the first month (renewing at $7.99). For the price, you get 2GB RAM which Apex explains is good for basic servers and some modpacks.
To be able to confidently enjoy all modpacks imaginable, opt for the 8GB RAM package which costs $20.99 for the first month recurring at $27.99. In all cases, there’s a discount for committing to paying quarterly but this is still a little pricier than some game server alternatives.
The most expensive option offers 32GB RAM for $77.99 for the first month, increasing to $103.99. All plans offer unlimited player slots, dedicated live chat support, full DDoS protection, automated backups, a free subdomain, one-click pack installers, and unlimited storage.
Another option is to sign up for the Ex Series which has 16GB RAM but also a more powerful server with the Ryzen 9 5900X 4.8GHz, NVMe SSDs, free premium support, and a free dedicated IP.
Although there is no free trial, Apex Hosting provides a 7-day money-back guarantee, which is always handy to have. As for payment methods, Apex Hosting accepts credit/debit cards, and PayPal.
Ease of use
With so many Minecraft server plans, it's pretty easy to figure out what will work best for you. They all offer unlimited player slots but you will be somewhat limited by the RAM available to you. Fortunately, users have the flexibility to change their chosen plan at any time, so if one plan doesn’t fit your bill, there is probably another one that will. However, if neither of them work for you, don’t forget about their money-back guarantee.
After choosing your server, you’ll have to configure some details about it (billing cycle, your Minecraft username, server version and optional subdomain) and decide if you want to include a few add-ons for extra cash (plugin installations, permissions setup, dedicated IP or premium support). Oddly, there are only two options in regard to the billing cycle (monthly and quarterly) with a saving of 10% when you commit to quarterly. After this, you’ll have to provide your personal information, pick out a payment method, create a password and proceed to checkout.
This is Apex Hosting's customized Multicraft control panel (Image credit: Apex Hosting)
Since Apex Hosting utilizes a customized version of easy-to-use Multicraft as its control panel, keeping your server running and managing all of its aspects should become a straightforward experience in no time. In addition to that, video guides are found only a click away, as is one-click modpack installer, all of which is sure to make things even easier.
Another noteworthy feature that is included with every package is automated backups, which will ensure the safety of your Minecraft world.
We used GTmetrix to test the uptime and response time of our Apex Hosting server (Image credit: GTmetrix)
Speed and experience
While boasting (and rightfully so) about hosting over 200,000 Minecraft servers and having the best support in the whole industry (which should be put under question), Apex Hosting brings up their dedicated hardware features such as “high clock speed” CPUs and the use of SSDs. This should indicate high TPS and lag-free servers for all of their customers. To check out the speed of their servers we tested the performance of their main website with GTmetrix as our tool. The results we got were pretty promising, with all the vital web metrics being above the average and rated with a conclusive grade of an A (100%).
Apex Hosting promises a 99.9% uptime and, as reported by UptimeRobot, it is very likely that you’ll be able to uphold it. We monitored Apex Hosting’s main website for more than a month and were presented with a report showing an impeccable 100% of uptime, which came as a welcome surprise. Not a second of downtime was recorded and while there were several oscillations in response time, they should have no substantial impact on the overall performance.
Support
Although we were rather skeptical about Apex Hosting’s claims to have “the best support in the industry” we decided to give them a chance to prove us wrong. Their customer support is available 24/7 through tickets and live chat, which they seem to take great pride in. From our perspective, chat seems well-organized and functions as a one-stop-solution for most of the problems one might encounter along the way. A support agent we got in touch with responded within five minutes and provided us with everything we wanted to know in a very kind way. If you are using some of the same social platforms they are active on, you can try to reach them there as well.
You can find answers to common web hosting and Minecraft server-related questions in Apex Hosting's knowledgebase (Image credit: Apex Hosting)
If you prefer finding solutions on your own, Apex Hosting’s knowledgebase should probably be your first stop, although their YouTube channel shouldn’t be overlooked since it offers a decent number of easy-to-follow video guides.
The competition
Both Shockbyte and Apex Hosting tend to get high on the majority of “best Minecraft host” lists, and rightfully so. While Shockbyte has more server options in general, a longer list of features and all at a budget-friendly price, Apex Hosting is stronger in terms of customer support.
BisectHosting is another provider determined to make a Minecraft server hosting experience as easy as possible, much like Apex Hosting does. However, BisectHosting is slightly stronger in terms of package options, features and included add-ons, while Apex Hosting provides superior support to its customers. Additionally the daily backups you’ll get with Apex Hosting are a great bonus.
Another difference between the two is the availability of web hosting options (shared hosting, VPS and dedicated server hosting) you have with BisectHosting, but not with Apex Hosting, since it’s focusing on Minecraft. Another web hosting alternative and quite a popular one, would be Bluehost, since in addition to attractive pricing, it provides a full range of hosting services capable of responding to most needs.
Another good (and beginner-friendly) choice for those looking to launch their own website would be HostGator. Besides everything one would expect from a well-known host, they offer their own easy-to-use website builder with all of their shared hosting plans (even the cheapest one) and a 45-day money-back guarantee with “no questions asked”.
Final verdict
There are several reasons behind Apex Hosting’s growing popularity among Minecraft fans, including a variety of server options and total control over it. When we add fast and lag-free performance, backups and DDoS protection, simple-to-use control panel and first-class support to the deal, it’s really hard to say “no” to Apex Hosting.
Although the money-back guarantee is valid for only seven days and might not seem particularly generous, it is actually a bit longer than what is found with some of the company's Minecraft-focused competitors. For a usual 30-day one, you can try out Hostinger, which is one of top web hosting providers out there, with and without Minecraft.
However, if you are on the lookout for a reputable and reliable host for your website and don’t even know how you ended up here in the first place, don’t miss out on checking Bluehost and HostGator.
The Dabbsson DBS1000 Pro portable power station provides 2000W of inverter power in a compact footprint. The base unit features a 1000Wh battery that can be expanded to 5kWh with additional packs. The unit has four fans and is quiet enough to work in an office environment. It supports a handy UPS mode, where the AC output switches from the grid to the battery in under 15ms, ensuring uninterrupted office work.
It has all the bells and whistles that the competition offers: a super-fast charger, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi support, and a sleek mobile app for remote operation. With the addition of a battery pack, the inverter's output power increases to 2400W, a feature not found in similar products. The DBS1000 comes with a powerful front flashlight to help in roadside emergencies and supports three types of charging.
Dabbsson DBS1000: Price and Availability
The Dabbson DBS1000 carries an MSRP of $899 and is on special for $541 for a limited time. The 2kWh battery expansion, which usually costs $1499, is available at a reduced price of $1099 also for a limited time. Other product variants include two DBS1000s with a parallel connector box that increases the output inverter power and battery capacity. This combination is discounted to $1700 from an MSRP of $2549.
(Image credit: Future)
Dabbsson DBS1000: Design
The Dabbsson DBS1000 ships with one AC cord and two DC cables for car and solar charging. A user manual and a warranty card complete the package. The unit is compact, measuring 43 cm x 25 cm x 25 cm, which translates to a volume of just under 28 liters. Two large handles on either side of the case help carry the 16kg unit around effortlessly. The top surface is clear of obstructions and can act as a small table, making it ideal for resting electronic devices such as tablets and phones.
Specifications
Battery chemistry: LiFePO4
Battery capacity: 1024Wh
Number of charge cycles: Over 4000 before 20% drop
AC output power: 2000W, surge 4000W
Number of AC outlets: 4
Number of USB sockets: 3 Type A, 3 Type C
Number of 12V sockets: 1 XT60, 1 Cigar lighter, 2 DC 5521
Number of extra battery ports: 2, total of 5120Whr
AC inverter efficiency: 90%
Number of power inputs: 3
Fastest charge time: 1 hour
Additional features: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, flashlight
Weight: 16kg
The user interface features a large LCD on the front panel. The high-contrast display is easily visible from a distance of a few meters. The remaining battery capacity, input and output power consumption, and warnings such as low battery are displayed clearly. User interaction is straightforward through push buttons located near the output sections, which illuminate when activated.
The DBS1000 features four AC power sockets that can supply over 2000W with a 4000W surge capacity. The unit also allows the power limit to exceed 2000W for longer durations through the P-Boost mode when not charging. The P-Boost mode is compatible only with resistive devices, such as electrical heaters, as the AC output voltage can vary depending on the available thermal margin.
The Dabbsson station provides nine low-voltage DC outputs. Six USB ports, organized as three Type-A and three Type-C ports, give the user multiple options to charge devices, such as smartphones and laptops. Two Type-Cs support up to 100W in PD mode, while two Type-As can fast charge at 18W. The remaining three DC outputs are all 12V, consisting of a 120W cigar outlet and two DC5521, each supporting 50W. The DC and AC outputs have a combined power budget of 2200W.
Dabbsson DBS1000: In Use
A short press on the power button activates the unit. The LCD shows status information, including battery capacity and whether any protection features have been triggered. The display will turn off after five minutes if the station remains unused to conserve power, and it will resume operation when a load is connected. To turn off the unit, a long press on the power button is required.
The DBS1000 has a fast AC charger that supports input power of up to 1200W. DC charging through solar panels, with a similar power rating, is also available. Considering the unit’s 90% efficiency, the station will fully charge the 1000Wh battery in under one hour. The power station can accept a DC voltage of up to 60V at a maximum of 25A, representing six 200W solar cells arranged in a 3-series x 2-parallel configuration.
Any abnormal behavior triggers a self-protection mechanism that turns off the input and output ports. For example, the input current can remain above 20A for an extended period, triggering the overload protection. The app shows a pop-up explaining the issue. The user can then decide to continue charging by clearing the fault.
Dabbsson's mobile app is available on both Android and iOS platforms. Once installed, the next step is to enable pairing by pressing the IOT button on the station. The DBS1000 should be detected automatically and added to the app homepage. The optional firmware update may appear as a single step during the initial setup. The final step is to enable Wi-Fi, which allows for full remote access to the unit.
(Image credit: Future)
Dabbsson DBS1000: The competition
The DBS1000 has plenty of competition. The Jackery Solar Generator 1000 possesses features similar to those of the DBS1000. With a 1000Wh battery capacity and a comparable number of output sockets, the Jackery 1000 lacks a mobile app and is non-expandable. It also cannot sustain the same output power as the DBS1000. Finally, the Dabbsson station is less expensive than Jackery’s offering, with a price tag of $999 compared to $1899 for the Jackery.
Dabbsson DBS1000: Final Verdict
The Dabbsson DBS1000 sets the bar high in terms of inverter power and battery capacity, all within a small footprint, and at a reasonable price. For a little less than $1000, the unit offers a 2000W AC inverter that can easily reach 4000W for short durations on a 1 kWh battery capacity. Having a way to increase battery capacity with extra modules is also a great option.
The unit offers multiple charging options, including solar or car DC input, an AC socket, and an additional battery port. The DBS1000 features include a UPS mode, fast charging, Wi-Fi, and an emergency light, making it an ideal companion for the road.
Buy the DBS1000 if you want a low-cost compact power station with an option to expand the battery capacity.
