Platform reviewed: Nintendo Switch 2 Available on: Nintendo Switch 2 Release date: June 5, 2025
Even though I didn’t love anti-grav racer Fast Fusion as much as I wanted to, I still think you should absolutely buy it. Its $14.99 / £13.49 price tag on the Nintendo eShop is quite frankly a steal, and a very fair price considering what you’re getting from this Switch 2 launch game. There’s not a metric ton of content here, and it is an experience you can get the most out of in around 10-12 hours, but that low cost of entry is worth it for the presentation alone.
Fast Fusion is arguably the best-looking Nintendo Switch 2 launch game. It might not have the artful whimsy of Mario Kart World, but in terms of sheer graphical fidelity, developer Shin’en Multimedia has delivered in spades. To me, that comes as no surprise; I maintain that 2019’s The Touryst(also by Shin’en) is one of the most visually impressive games on modern hardware, and that’s definitely the case with Fast Fusion, too.
Another reason to buy the game is that its performance is basically bulletproof. Its Quality graphical setting, which I used for the majority of my play time in docked mode, holds 4K resolution at 60 frames per second (fps) at all times, even with some light ray-traced reflections enabled.
But even though Fast Fusion is certainly a looker, it unfortunately falls short as a racing game. While tracks look beautiful, they don’t offer much in terms of variety, usually boiling down to a handful of obstacles and one or two alternate shortcuts. AI drivers also employ an absurd amount of rubber-banding, sticking to your tail like glue even after an extended period of boosting.
I’m also not a fan of how the game handles progression, as unlocking new cups can require huge sums of currency. This has improved since launch, with patches increasing the amount of money you can earn in a championship, but you’ll still find yourself having to grind out an extra run or two just to have enough to unlock the next set of races.
Overall, Fast Fusion is a beautiful, ‘fun while it lasts’ racing game. A lack of online play definitely hurts its longevity, but given how cheap the game is at retail price, I can’t fault it too much for a lack of content, and I did have a decent time with it regardless. It's certainly not one of the best Switch 2 games, but it's hard to argue with the value on offer.
Double or nothing
(Image credit: Shin'en)
Fast Fusion is a futuristic, anti-gravity racer, inspired by subgenre legends like F-Zero and Wipeout. The goal is simple: enter a championship, drive faster than your opponents, get money for more vehicles and events, rinse and repeat.
Your vehicle is capable of boosting and jumping - the latter to avoid obstacles and grab boost tokens floating in the air. Said tokens fill up your boost meter, so collecting them throughout a race is imperative - especially as they also increase the amount of in-game currency you have.
The swap mechanic from Fast RMX also returns, which lets you change between blue and orange forms in order to make use of the same-colored boost pads littered throughout each track. Finally, boosting into an opponent who isn’t boosting will cause them to spin out, hampering their race and netting you some more tokens.
While content in Fast Fusion is light overall, there’s still a decent amount of it to check out. The main championship mode features five cups of three races, split across three speed classes. Local multiplayer (including GameShare) and time attack modes are featured, too.
There’s also Super Hero Mode, which is an additional challenge mode that mimics the F-Zero series’ style of play. Here, your boost gauge is also your health bar, and crashing or running out of health retires you from the race. It’s a pretty thrilling side mode and quite challenging, adding some much-needed replayability to Fast Fusion.
Two become one
(Image credit: Shin'en)
Easily my favorite part of Fast Fusion is its titular fusion mechanic. By accessing the Fusion Shop from the main menu, you can not only unlock new vehicles with currency, but also choose two to fuse together into one super-powered machine.
Every combination is accounted for, leading to an extremely impressive array of vehicles. They all have unique looks, liveries, and name amalgamation depending on your chosen two. Not all are made equal, though; the game will let you know how powerful the fusion is on a grading system. For example, a lower rank ‘C’ fusion will have worse stats, but cost less to fuse. Meanwhile, an ‘A+’ beast can get close to maxing out in performance, but will naturally cost more.
Best bit
(Image credit: Shin'en)
I love the titular ‘fusion’ mechanic in Fast Fusion. Combining two vehicles into one for a more powerful craft, it’s always interesting to see the results. Especially when it’s an amalgamation of both crafts, complete with a livery change and a hybridized name. There’s loads to see here, and experimentation is practically necessary in order to beat the more challenging championship events.
You’ll need to rely on the fusion system when tackling the game’s hardest speed classes, too. Not only do AI drivers rarely make mistakes, but they have some of the most egregious rubber-banding I’ve seen in a racing game in quite some time. You can fully maximize a track, hit every shortcut, and spend most of your time boosting, and you’ll still get at least two AI drivers zooming past you on the final lap.
And as I mentioned earlier, racing in general, despite being a futuristic anti-grav racer, feels disappointingly grounded. Vehicles are extremely grippy, and hitting a wall has practically no negative impact. Track design also plays it rather safe - there’s very little in the way of demanding corners like hairpins, meaning braking and tilting rarely get used outside of the final speed class. It’s a far cry from Wipeout or F-Zero GX, where you often really have to wrestle your machine around corners and you are heavily punished for colliding with walls.
Should you play Fast Fusion?
Play it if...
You want a real showcase of the Switch 2’s graphical chops Fast Fusion is stunning to behold, sporting a high level of graphical fidelity, rock-solid performance, and convincing motion blur and incredible weather effects. The low price of admission is worth it for all those ‘wow’ moments, especially if you own a 4K display.
You want a cheap game that’s actually worth it The Nintendo eShop’s relationship with cheap games is a sloppy one, but Fast Fusion proves you can still offer a very compelling experience at a budget price.
Don't play it if...
You were hoping for bags of content Overall, Fast Fusion will probably last you around 10-12 hours if you’re planning on doing absolutely everything. While that’s expected for the price, it certainly doesn’t have the longevity of F-Zero GX or Mario Kart World.
You want a true anti-grav racer The vehicles in Fast Fusion may as well have wheels, given how overtly grippy they are. The ships all look very cool, but their handling doesn’t exactly scream ‘anti-gravity’.
Accessibility
There isn't much in the way of accessibility settings in Fast Fusion. You can fully rebind controls in the options menu to suit your preferences, as well as enable tilt controls via gyro aiming should you prefer. However, don't expect anything in the way of colorblind settings or other visual options.
How I reviewed Fast Fusion
I played 10 hours of Fast Fusion on Nintendo Switch 2, clearing all Grand Prix and Super Hero Mode content across the three speed classes, while also unlocking most vehicles and playing around a good bit with the fusion system.
I primarily played the game in ‘Quality’ mode, which offers 4K 60fps performance while docked, as well as some basic ray-traced reflections. I also tried out the ‘Ultra Quality’ mode, which increases fidelity further at the cost of a 30fps frame rate. While this mode does look utterly stunning, I much preferred the smoother performances offered by other graphics modes.
For gameplay, my gamepad of choice was the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller, while also using the Joy-Con 2 controllers while playing in handheld mode.
Released at the tail end of 2024 on Xbox Series X|S and Windows, action-adventure gameIndiana Jones and the Great Circle quickly established itself as not only one of the year's best games, but an incredibly immersive, cinema-rivaling romp that perfectly captured the spirit of Spielberg's beloved trilogy. Surpassing expectations, the first-person game didn't deliver the Uncharted or Tomb Raider rip-off many assumed we'd get. Nor did it turn out to be a shooter similar to developer MachineGames' successful Wolfenstein games.
Review information
Platform reviewed: PS5 Pro Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC Release date: April 17, 2025
While either of those approaches probably would have worked just fine, the Swedish studio and publisher Bethesda Softworks went off the beaten path – much like Dr. Henry Jones Jr. himself – to produce an ambitious, story-driven, sublimely satisfying experience that's on par with the archeologists' best big screen adventures. As a result, it's now one of the best PS5 games and best PS5 Pro games you can play.
A thrilling ride worthy of the films
(Image credit: Bethesda)
For those yet to don the fedora, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle spins an original canon yarn set in 1937, between the events of Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade (remember, Temple of Doom serves as a prequel to Raiders). The globe-trotting tale finds Indy exploring the likes of Vatican City, Thailand, Egypt, and beyond in his quest to uncover the secrets and mysteries behind the titular Great Circle.
For fans, this means participating in plenty of relic-hunting, puzzle-solving, and Nazi-pummeling antics across incredibly detailed, semi-open world maps. But it's the deft pacing and organic implementation of these various elements that make the game shine brighter than the Ark of the Covenant. Puzzles hit the sweet spot between being challenging but never to the point that frustration overshadows the fun, while the combat – which sees you fighting fascists with everything from fly swatters to frying pans – is a visceral blast.
Best bit
(Image credit: Bethesda)
It feels fantastic wielding Indy's signature whip and pistol, but beating up baddies with every random object – from spatulas and brooms to candlesticks and various musical instruments – is a surprisingly satisfying way to thin the Third Reich's ranks, especially with the DualSense's bells and whistles upping the immersion.
On the subject of putting Hitler's heavies in their place, the game, of course, arms you with Indy's trusty pistol and bullwhip. But rather than regularly relying on these items, you use them smartly and sparingly, supplementing them with lots of sneaking around, stealth takedowns, and improvisational melee combat. Seriously, breaking a mandolin over a baddie's head never gets old.
This sort of balanced, organic approach also translates to puzzle-decryption and environmental exploration, as you'll rarely find yourself simply mimicking on-screen prompts, chasing down shiny symbols, or following icons. Instead, you'll rely on Indy's intuitive camera and info-packed journal to naturally progress through objectives.
And while the critical path will keep you busy, the expansive sandboxes are brimming with optional collectibles, secrets, and surprises worth seeking out. On that note, expect to discover plenty of manuals that help you upgrade Indy's abilities, an especially cool feature that forgoes the usual, game-y skill trees in favor of a leveling system that more naturally suits the character.
Whether you're cracking ancient conundrums or Nazi skulls, the game offers an absorbing visual and audio experience that seamlessly blends its first and third-person perspectives. Most of the action unfolds from the former, while the latter perfectly frames some platforming sequences – like climbing and swinging – as well as cutscenes. Toss in some epic set pieces and Troy Baker's spot-on Harrison Ford performance, and the Great Circle puts the whip in your grip like never before.
PS5 fortune and glory
(Image credit: Bethesda)
All that said, the game's original release did suffer from some graphical and performance issues, especially on the Xbox Series S. With this PlayStation 5 version - particularly when played on a PS5 Pro - however, those problems have been squashed like a crypt-inhabiting creepy crawly beneath Indy's boot.
Where many titles on both the standard PS5 and Pro consoles offer a choice between Performance and Fidelity modes, the Great Circle ditches those options for a beefy default that delivers both native 4K resolution at 60fps. Supported by advanced ray tracing tech – putting some of the prettiest lighting and reflection effects I've ever seen on screen – the result is an absolutely stunning, incredibly sharp visual presentation complemented by performance that feels as smooth as a poison-dipped date.
Of course, the PS5 release also cranks the immersion through the DualSense controller's nuanced haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, LED lighting, and touchpad effects. Whether feeling the building rumble of Raiders' iconic boulder trap, splintering a guitar over a goose stepper's head, or pulling your whip as it wraps around a foe's limbs, you'll never experience the same tactile sensation. Smaller touches, like the LED light flashing green when you apply a life-saving bandage, further make you feel like you're actually under the hat.
More than a mere port, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle on PS5 is easily the definitive version of the game, thanks to the various features, upgrades, and enhancements that this version built for Sony’s consoles brings to the adventure.
Should you play Indiana Jones and the Great Circle for PS5?
Play it if...
You love the Indy films Highly evocative of Indy's Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade era, The Great Circle offers an incredibly immersive action-adventure romp that's as close as you'll come to a playable Indiana Jones movie. A must-play for fans of the franchise.
You have a thirst for adventure While the Great Circle puts you under the hat like never before, you needn't be an Indy nerd to enjoy it. The rewarding mix of deep exploration, puzzle-solving, collectible-gathering, and improvisational combat will satisfy any fan of the genre’s thirst for adventure.
You've been waiting for the best console version of the game PlayStation owners may not have gotten Indy's latest interactive adventure when it arrived late last year, but the wait was worth it. While the Great Circle impressed on Xbox platforms, its PS5/PS5 Pro release is the prettiest, most immersive console version of the game.
Don't play it if...
The content didn't get you cracking the whip the first time Indiana Jones and the Great Circle receives notable graphics and performance upgrades on the PS5/PS5 Pro, but its content is identical to that of the Xbox and PC versions released last year. If you're looking for different or new content – like the upcoming Order of Giants DLC – you won't find it here.
Accessibility
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle goes pretty deep in terms of accessibility features, offering a solid suite of options for those looking to tweak and tinker. Both the size and color of the user interface elements can be adjusted, while subtitles and closed captions can also be personalized to your preferences. Camera modes, like motion blur and screen shake, can also be turned on or off.
There are also protanopia, deuteranopia, and tritanopia color filter modes for color blind players, as well as various HUD adjustment settings. The game also offers a number of difficulty settings for both its action elements, which can tweak enemy quantity and behavior, as well as adventure aspects, which can adjust puzzle difficulty and toggle objective markers.
How I reviewed Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
I playedIndiana Jones and the Great Circle for over 40 hours, with about a third of that time invested in optional activities and additional exploration. I reviewed the game on the PlayStation 5 Pro, but also put several hours into the Xbox Series X version to compare the visuals and performance. I also tested all the new DualSense-specific features. I played on my budget model TCL 4K display with HDR enabled. For audio, I used my television's onboard stereo speakers, but also tested with PlayStation's Pulse Explore earbuds.
Terramaster has effectively carved out a niche in the NAS world with a combination of well-constructed hardware that supports a feature-rich environment and is aggressively priced.
As a result, it has attracted many home and small business customers who wouldn’t pay Synology, Asustor, or QNAP prices, but wanted solid equipment to manage and distribute data.
The F4 SSD isn’t the first SSD-based NAS that TerraMaster has produced, but it immediately stands out as something distinctly mainstream, significantly cheaper than the majority of products in this sector.
This small box can mount four PCIe Gen 3 NVMe drives, providing a total capacity of 32TB, and then distribute them over the network using a 5GbE LAN port.
The core of this solution is an Intel N85 processor, and it comes with 8GB of DDR5 memory, which is easily upgradable to 32GB by the user.
It utilises TerraMaster’s own TOS 6.0 operating system, although you don’t invalidate your hardware warranty if you use a third-party NAS OS, such as TrueNAS SCALE, Proxmox, etc.
With all this flexibility for a modest price, what’s the catch here?
The issue with this system is that the CPU’s power is on the low side, and therefore, it wouldn’t be ideal for running multiple simultaneous applications, Docker containers, or virtual machines.
At best, this hardware is best for primary tasks with perhaps a secondary role, but accept that file serving will take much of the power in this machine.
However, even with those limitations, this is a neat and helpful platform for those who want a tiny, silent and efficient NAS solution.
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
TerraMaster F4: Price and availability
How much does it cost? From $400/£380
When is it out? Available now
Where can you get it? Direct from the makers or through an online retailer
Unlike some brands, TerraMaster is widely available and also sells its hardware directly from its website.
The asking price for the only available SKU is $399.99 on Amazon in the United States and £379.99 on Amazon in the United Kingdom. That’s $200 less than the larger F8 model, and half the price of the F8 Plus.
That’s dramatically cheaper than the Ugreen NASync DXP480T, which costs about double this and still only takes four NVMe drives. However, that machine has a much more powerful i5 platform, a 10GbE LAN port and Thunderbolt.
The Asustor Flashstor 6 FS6706T is slightly more expensive, offering a six-drive option with increased processing power and dual 2.5GbE LAN ports, but it comes with only 4GB of memory.
Closer to the Ugreen option in price is the QNAP TBS-464-8G for $589.99 from Amazon, powered by the Intel Celeron N5105/N5095. The downside of that option is, other than the price, that the 8GB of RAM is not upgradable.
However, not all competitor devices are sold as NAS. One competitive alternative is the Minisforum MS-01-S1260 Mini Workstation, a mini PC that utilises the Core i5-12600H processor, supports three M.2 2280 drives, and features dual 2.5GbE LAN ports and USB4.
In a barebones configuration where the customer must provide an operating system, RAM, and storage, the MS-01-S1260 can be purchased for just $399.99 on Amazon, and there are SKUs that feature more powerful Core i9 CPUs.
Excluding mini-computers overlapping NAS territory, the TerraMaster F4 is the cheapest mainstream branded SSD NAS around, and represents excellent value for money.
But, only if the use case doesn’t require significant amounts of processing power.
The design and layout of this machine seem vaguely familiar, as it employs a concept similar to that of the Beelink Me mini system I recently reviewed.
What they share is a cooling solution where the case acts as a chimney, drawing cool air from below, gathering heat as it rises over the motherboard and M.2 storage before being expelled out of the top.
In the F4, the air is propelled by two almost silent 50mm fans on the bottom, and the book-like form factor is arranged with the M.2 slots on one side and the processor and memory on the other.
What’s slightly different is that the front face of the unit, where it says TerraMaster F4, is clearly not the end that should be facing you. As all the ports and the power button are at the opposite end, which is the rear.
What’s great about this unit over some other NAS is how easy it is to get inside to add drives and upgrade memory. A single thumbscrew on the rear releases the outer skin, allowing it to slide off easily.
With this plastic shell removed, the M.2 slots and the memory are available, and this doesn’t require any tools. However, TerraMaster does include a screwdriver, which is useful for those easy-to-misplace M.2 screws, and thankfully, some spares are included in the box.
I’m surprised that the designers didn’t use a sprung plastic retainer, like those on the Asustor Flashstor 6 FS6706T, as it would have made this design entirely tool-free.
According to TerraMaster, the M.2 slots are designed for up to 8TB drives, and there is sufficient room for modules with integrated heatsinks to be used. What I recommend is that if you use any double-sided modules, you should add a heatsink to them, as there’s no thermal pad connecting them to the case, which is mostly made of plastic.
For those wondering what the best drives to use are, TerraMaster has a good selection of approved brands and models in stark contrast to the own-brand path that Synology has recently taken.
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
Interestingly, I used an idiosyncratic mix of brands in my testing, some of which weren’t on this list, but I didn’t have any issues. The only ones the makers suggest to avoid are S500PRO modules by Fanxiang, and that’s across all their NAS boxes that can accept M.2 modules.
The only limitation on physical size for the F4 is that all drives must be NVMe and 2280, as there are no retainer positions for 2260, 2242, or 2230 drives.
If I were deploying one of these on a budget, I’d be considering using a drive like the Crucial P3, where the 4TB model can be found for under $220. Using these, a system with 16TB of storage can be constructed for close to $ 1,200, and as SSD NAS go, that’s cheap.
The strength of this design lies in its relatively low power consumption and vertical tube topology, which make for a simple-to-deploy and nearly silent NAS.
For those who would like a small NAS to sit on their desk, perhaps to keep a live backup of a running system, the F4 is ideal in many respects.
Design: 4 / 5
TerraMaster F4: Features
Intel N95 CPU
No ECC memory
Only 9 PCIe Lanes
When Intel first introduced the Atom series of processors, many wondered why customers would purchase such low-power systems. These days, platforms that are scaled back to run 24/7 or deliver just enough performance for the primary task are common.
The Intel N95 is where low-power computing took Intel, and it’s not anything you would ideally wish to use on a desktop computer.
While it does have an integrated GPU with sixteen execution units, this processor is more limited by its four-core CPU, which doesn’t support hyperthreading. Four cores on Windows 11 would be a nightmare, but for the custom Linux platform of TOS 6.0, it is sufficient. Additionally, with 8GB of RAM, expandable to 32GB, it is also more than enough for file-serving duties.
However, the wall and running into that barrier are never too far away with the N95, and this isn’t a system that would enjoy being pre-loaded with demanding applications. Those who put Plex on it don’t expect it to do that and also run a torrent client, a mail server and three Docker containers, because it won’t be smooth sailing.
Precisely where the N95 runs out of road entirely depends on how demanding the apps are, but if you want to run many applications, then there are alternatives that use more powerful Intel and AMD processors that will be better choices.
The other limitations of the N95 are that it can only address a single memory module and has limited PCIe Express lanes. There is only one memory channel, and thankfully, TerraMaster engineers used a DDR5 module on it to maximise bandwidth.
Intel claims it can address up to 16GB, while TerraMaster says 32GB, but whichever is correct, they both agree it doesn’t support ECC memory, unfortunately.
I believe, and this may be misinformation, that the standard memory model of the N95 allows only 16 GB. The additional 16GB of memory can be used for things like virtual machines.
If you don’t intend to use VMs, then putting more than 16GB in the F4 is probably pointless.
Even 16GB is a good amount of memory for a small server, especially when you consider that the drives in this unit don’t require much caching to perform well.
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
A bigger issue is the PCIe lanes, since these dictate exactly how much data can flow through the system and to externally connected devices.
With only nine PCIe 3.0 lanes, there isn’t enough bandwidth for the SSDs to have the full X4 lanes that modern NVMe drives are designed for. Two of the slots have been downgraded to X2, while the other two remain at X1. Therefore, it’s a futile exercise to populate these slots with modules meant for PCIe 4.0, since they will be downgraded to PCIe 3.0 by the system.
Being pragmatic, achieving 1GB/s from two drives and possibly 2GB/s from two others is still well beyond the performance required to saturate the 5GB/s of the single LAN port fully.
As there were no PCIe lanes left to add a card slot, the only way to get more network bandwidth is by using USB adapters. There are relatively inexpensive 5GbE adapters that can utilise USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, but I cannot personally confirm whether they would work on this platform.
Again, if you want better than a single 5GbE LAN connection and more PCIe lanes for faster drives, then this probably isn’t the NAS for you.
Overall, the F4 makes the most of its hardware, but this machine won’t break any records for having excess performance on tap or for its responsiveness.
Features: 3 / 5
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
TerraMaster F4: Software
TOS 6.0
Applications
Yes to TrueNAS and UnRaid
For those who started with TerraMaster early on, and I’m happy to say that includes me, the evolution of the TerraMaster OS, or TOS, has been impressive.
Now in its sixth incarnation, this is a pretty mature platform that offers a wide range of functionality and applications.
While it doesn’t quite reach the levels of polish that Synology prides itself on, the feature set of TOS 6.0 ticks plenty of boxes.
One interesting change of direction that TerraMaster isn’t unique in taking is a shift away from first-party applications to those that are installed either as Docker-packaged containers or as virtual machines. Some compiled TOS apps, such as Qtorrent and Plex, are available on the TerraMaster application store. However, you can install later versions of these tools by finding the Docker container and using it instead.
While TerraMaster isn’t competing with the likes of QNAP and Synology for the number of available apps on its platform, there is more than enough for the majority of customers, and it isn’t a closed environment that requires approved tools.
TOS 6.0 isn’t for everyone, but TerraMaster is one of those NAS makers that is entirely customer-focused and is happy for their hardware to be used with TrueNAS Scale, UnRaid, Proxmox, or any other NAS OS the owner wishes. You won’t receive software support from TerraMaster if you opt for this approach, but hardware issues are still covered during the warranty period.
It’s interesting to see that TerraMaster and Ugreen are both pitching the ‘NAS-your-way’ approach, whereas other brands seem less confident about allowing alternatives into their playgrounds. This direction appears opposed to where Synology is heading, where the turnkey solution comes with much stricter limits on what you can and can’t do.
This is certainly more customer-friendly, but will it lead to a future where NAS makers no longer bother with a branded OS and instead offer a pre-loading service of a popular third-party OS? Only time will tell.
In short, TOS 6.0 offers a plethora of features that cover the majority of tasks that NAS commonly use, and if these don’t quite match your needs, the ability to run Docker containers and VMs is a viable answer.
Software: 4 / 5
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
TerraMaster F4: Final verdict
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
There are good things about the F4, and some other things that aren’t wonderful.
Unless you kludge a NUC into a mini server, this is undoubtedly one of the most affordable SSD NAS options available. However, being realistic, the cost of the F4 is likely to be dwarfed by that of the M.2 modules unless you only install 1TB or smaller drives in it.
If you can afford to populate this with 8TB modules, or even 4TB, then you might get more performance in return by investing in an Asustor or Ugreen SSD NAS.
The other issue here is that the Intel N95 limits the system’s capabilities somewhat, as it lacks the performance to handle multiple apps or Docker containers. It also dictates that there is no USB4/Thunderbolt, which on other systems can be used to locally network to a host PC while the LAN ports support other users.
The natural space this device occupies is either as a network location for live synchronisation or as a directly connected external storage system. In both these scenarios, the 5GbE LAN port can deliver and retrieve data at over 500MB/s, making it as fast as a USB 3.2 Gen 1 attached SSD. The lure is that it can offer capacities much larger than even the biggest USB-connected SSDs, which typically only offer 8TB as their largest option.
Outside of this use, justifying the investment becomes tougher, since this doesn’t have the power to be an all-purpose NAS or the LAN connections to handle a 10GbE network.
Should I buy a TerraMaster F4?
Value
Inexpensive, if you ignore the M.2 modules
4 / 5
Design
Elegant chiney cooling and easy access
4 / 5
Features
5GbE LAN, 8GB of RAM, but only a four-core CPU
3 / 5
Software
TOS 6 has plenty to like
4 / 5
Overall
Some improvements, removed features at twice the price
4 / 5
Buy it if...
You need a live local backup With a 5GbE LAN port and up to 32TB of local storage, this could be the perfect device for live synchronising files from a desktop or workstation PC. The only caveat is that the unit must be either directly connected or used with a 5GbE network infrastructure.
You need a flexible solution The app selection on ADM 5.0 is extensive and covers all the possible requirements, and for specialist user there are always Docker containers or VMs.
Don't Buy it if...
You need massive capacity Even using 8TB SSDs, the four slots limit the practical space this NAS can have. If you use redundancy, that could be 24TB or less. Since a single conventional hard drive can have that much, this isn’t ideal for those with large datasets.
You need a flexible solution The app selection on ADM 6.0 is extensive and covers all the possible requirements, but with only four cores running, more than a couple of demanding tasks isn’t a realistic option. If you want a more flexible NAS, then there are more powerful systems.
Also Consider
Asustor Flashstor 12 Pro FS6712X An older Asustor machine that can take twelve M.2 drives, giving a maximum potential of 96TB, should you have the funds for that many 8TB drives.
What this unit lacks is processing power, as it's powered by an Intel Celeron N5105. That chip also means it only offers USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports for connecting external storage.
Ugreen NASync DXP480T Plus A beautifully engineered NVMe NAS that takes 2280 drives of all sizes in its four slots. Twice the cost of the F4, it features an integrated heatsink design, a single 10GbE LAN and Thunderbolt 4.0 ports. Given its feature set, this is a viable alternative, admittedly with the same potential capacity.
Getac is one of those companies that likes to keep the names of products the same while changing the underlying hardware. Thankfully, with the new ZX10 release, someone decided to add “G2” to differentiate it from the prior version, even if they are remarkably similar in many respects.
On one level, this is a standard 10.1-inch Android tablet designed for business users who require stock control or a shop floor with mobile computing needs.
What separates this from a typical Android tablet is that it is designed to handle a high level of abuse or a challenging environment without issue, and it features hot-swapable batteries to ensure it is always ready for the next shift.
Like the original ZX10, the focus of the hardware is to provide a powerful SoC, while being less interested in peripheral features, such as the cameras.
What it offers above the prior G1 is a more powerful platform with increased memory, storage, a brighter display, and WiFi 6E communications.
Oddly, it’s running Android 13, not a cutting-edge release, but an improvement over the Android 12 that its predecessor used.
The build quality and accessory selection are second to none, so it’s no surprise that the device’s cost is relatively high. However, even at this price, it might make it into our selection of the best rugged tablets.
A question that business users might reasonably ask about this hardware is how many cheap tablets could we go through for each one of these?
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
Getax ZX10 G2: price and availability
How much does it cost? From $1200 / £1175 (plus tax)
When is it out? Available now
Where can you get it? From a Getac reseller
Unlike many of the tablets we typically discuss, the Getac ZX80 doesn’t come with a standard price tag, as each device is tailored to meet the specific needs of its owner. The review unit we assessed is likely to start at over $1200 in the USA, not factoring in any accessories, service agreements, or upgrades.
The UK price is a whopping £1175.00 plus VAT, making it one of the most expensive 10-inch tablets around.
Options such as different sensors, cradles, additional batteries, and external chargers can substantially raise the total cost. If your finance department is already wary of Apple equipment pricing, they might need to brace themselves for the investment in this equipment.
That said, the durability of this design, combined with a three-year bumper-to-bumper warranty, implies that most customers should expect good service from this device.
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
Value score: 3/5
Getax ZX10 G2: Specs
Item
Spec
Hardware:
Getac ZX10 G2
CPU:
Qualcomm Dragonwing QCS6490
GPU:
Adreno 643
NPU:
Qualcomm Hexagon Processor
RAM:
8GB
Storage:
128GB
Screen:
10.1-inch TFT LCD 1000 nits
Resolution:
1200 x 1920 WUXGA
SIM:
Dual Nano SIM 5G+ MicroSD option
Weight:
906g (1.99lbs)
Dimensions:
275 x 192 x 17.9mm (10.8" x 7.56" x 0.7")
Rugged Spec:
IP67 and MIL-STD-810H
Rear cameras:
16.3MP Samsung GN1 Sensor
Front camera:
8MP Samsung GD1
Networking:
WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2
OS:
Android 13
Battery:
4870mAh (extra slot for 2nd battery)
Getax ZX10 G2: Design
Sturdy construction
Unusual layout
High brightness screen
Getac has extensive experience in making rugged equipment, and the ZX10 G2 is a prime example of how the lessons its engineers have learned are implemented in their recent designs.
The tablet is constructed with a metal chassis encased in a nearly impenetrable reinforced polycarbonate outer shell that has a subtle texture, making it easy to handle.
On paper, the new design is slightly lighter than its G1 predecessor, but that difference is likely due to the battery design, as the screen remains the same 10.1-inch-sized panel as before. This one is slightly brighter at 1000 nits over the 800 nits in the first ZX10.
Getac engineers prefer a form factor that is decidedly skewed towards right-handed users, with the five buttons, including power and volume controls, located on the right front face of the tablet.
The lanyard-connected stylus is also on the right, although you could rotate the tablet to bring that and the buttons to the left.
But if you do that, then you can’t use the harness accessory, as it uses two metal studs that project proud of the top left and right corners.
The bottom edge of the tablet features an edge connector for docking the unit when it is not in use, and pass-through antenna connections.
The physical connection points along this axis are significant enough that they will lock a hinged keyboard accessory to the ZX10, turning it into an Android laptop.
Another feature of Getac hardware that I appreciate is that the ports that could potentially be impacted by moisture are hidden behind a sealed door that clicks into position when shut.
I’ve seen way too many rugged tablets that use rubber plugs for water/dust proofing, and they will ultimately perish. These Getac covers will last much longer, if not for the working life of the machine.
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
On our review hardware, the top edge featured a 1D/2D imager barcode reader, which was linked by default to one of the two custom buttons on the left. The other button takes a picture with the camera, but these can be altered to fit the specific use case.
Getac offers smartcard readers and NFC if you specifically need those technologies.
Like the ZX80 I previously reviewed, the screen has an anti-glare coating that makes it relatively easy to see the display even in bright sunlight. However, the filter that applies to the image softens it in a way that won’t attract drone pilots, as it tends to blur the finer details in the image, such as thin branches or wires.
This is a shame, because the 1000 nits of brightness this LumiBond display outputs ticks a lot of boxes for outdoor use in other respects.
On the rear is a slot for the stylus, two slots for batteries, and an access panel for mounting a smartcard reader. The SIM slot is inside the top battery slot, and the MicroSD card slot is in the lower battery bay. I’ll talk more about the batteries later, but the ability to charge them using an external charger and then swap over without rebooting the machine is extremely useful.
Overall, the ZX10 G2 has many positive aspects for industrial and military users who may be looking for a dedicated data capture device or a service support system.
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
Design score: 4/5
Getax ZX10 G2: Hardware
Powerhouse SoC
Limited storage
Dual battery options
When I reviewed the ZX80, it used a Qualcomm SM7325, aka the Snapdragon 778G 5G Mobile Platform, and again, with this machine, Getac engineers have gone with a Qualcomm SoC.
The Qualcomm Dragonwing QCS6490 is specifically designed for high-performance edge computing. It features up to 8-core Qualcomm Kryo CPUs, an integrated Qualcomm Adreno 643 GPU, and a robust AI engine (NPU + DSP), capable of achieving up to 12 TOPS.
In use, this makes the ZX10 remarkably responsive and reactive to user input, and the machine is capable of local data processing should the mission require it.
In the review machine, it came with 8GB of LPDDR5 memory and 128GB of storage, of which only about 80GB was available after a handful of test apps were loaded.
The amount of storage does seem low, and the Getac specifications do hint that a 256GB model is available for those who don’t want to expand storage using the MicroSD card slot.
Our review machine only had a single 4870mAh battery installed, enabling the total capacity to be doubled with the addition of a second. Getac also offers an enhanced high-capacity battery that can be installed in either slot, delivering a minimum of 9740mAh. While switching to those will offer considerably longer running times, it will also make the tablet more cumbersome to carry.
In the accessories, there is an external battery charger that can keep extra batteries ready for use. Having a policy where, at the start of each shift, the batteries are swapped and placed in the charger should help avoid dead tablets.
I prefer the dual battery arrangement over the external and internal battery model used in the ZX80, because, in theory, this machine never needs to be recharged directly if it isn’t convenient. And, because each battery can be changed independently, it makes it much easier to enhance the running time with either a single extended battery or two.
If the purchaser makes the right accessory purchases, the ZX10 should be able to operate almost indefinitely, and even if away from mains power, a small collection of extra batteries should keep it operating for days at a time.
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
Hardware score: 4/5
Getax ZX10 G2: Cameras
16.3MP sensor on the rear
8MP on the front
Two cameras in total
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
The Getac ZX10 G2 has two cameras:
Rear camera: 16.3MP Front camera: 8MP
As with other Getac hardware, the specification doesn’t detail what the sensors are for the front and rear cameras. However, even without that input, I can say with some certainty that these aren’t the best sensors I’ve seen on a tablet, and they’re a notch below what an entry-level phone was delivering in 2020.
While the Android distribution was compiled for several 16MP sensors, my prior experience suggests that the rear sensor is the Omnivision OV16a10, and the front sensor is the Omnivision OV8856.
Those assertions are based on the ZX80 cameras, as these seem identical.
The one positive feature of the rear Omnivision OV16A10 is that it records 4K video at 30 fps, although there are no frame rate controls available at this resolution. In fact, the camera application has relatively few controls, and it lacks special shooting modes.
Being simple isn’t a bad thing if the system takes care of things like exposure and focus, but the camera app here does practically nothing, even though it has an AI processor sitting idle that could easily identify the subject of an image and how best to capture it.
With still image control, you have a resolution selection and digital zoom, as well as the ability to turn the flash on or off.
To be direct, nobody using this equipment is likely to be distracted from work by the temptation to enhance their photography skills.
Like the ZX80 and its sensors, the images from these cameras are workable, but only if any image is acceptable. However, the camera doesn’t balance light or colour well, and the digital zoom is an abyss of graininess.
Evidently, no special attention was paid to the cameras on this hardware or the capture application, as it was lifted directly from a prior product without any changes.
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
Getax ZX10 G2 Camera samples
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Camera score: 2/5
Getax ZX10 G2: Performance
Decent SoC
GPU is game-friendly
Slow charging battery
Tablet
Getac ZX10 G2
Getac ZX80
SoC
Qualcomm Dragonwing QCS6490
Snapdragon 778G 5G
Adreno 643
Adreno 643
Mem/Storage
8GB/128GB
8GB/180GB
Battery Capacity
mAh
4870
4060 + 4870
Geekbench
Single
1142
1137
Multi
3044
3056
OpenCL
2877
2891
Vulkan
3159
3159
GFX
Aztec Open Normal
47
44
Aztec Vulkan Normal
51
49
Car Chase
44
41
Manhattan 3.1
76
59
PCMark
3.0 Score
9360
9521
Battery Life
8h 27m
15h 24m
Charge 30
Battery 30 mins
31%
18%
Passmark
Score
14639
15029
CPU
6902
7097
3DMark
Slingshot OGL
7777
7781
Slingshot Ex. OGL
6761
Maxed
Slingshot Ex. Vulkan
Maxed
Maxed
Wildlife
3387
3411
Steel Nomad.L
312
310
The obvious comparison for me was to the smaller ZX80 model, which uses a similar platform and delivers nearly identical performance.
Even if you are uninterested in either of these two machines, these results demonstrate that the Dragonwing QCS6490 performs at the same level as the Snapdragon 778G 5G, also by Qualcomm. As they both feature the same memory architecture, core counts and GPU, this isn’t hugely surprising.
Where things get interesting is when we explore battery life, since the ZX10 had only a single 4870mAh battery, whereas the ZX80 had an internally integrated 4060mAh battery plus an external 4870mAh battery.
That extra internal capacity nearly doubles the operating time of the ZX80, although it can’t replace the internal battery, which must be recharged in situ. Had Getac provided the second battery for the ZX10, I’d be surprised if its inclusion would not exceed the run time of the ZX80 by at least an hour, and probably longer.
One result here is highly misleading, and that’s the recharge percentage after 30 minutes. Given the capacity of the ZX80, it recovered approximately 18% of its total 8930mAh, or 1607 mAh. Conversely, the recovered power on the ZX10 was 1,510mAh. Given that the ZX80 has two batteries, not one, it’s safe to conclude that there’s no charging improvement over the ZX80 in the ZX10.
This is a weakness of this design, since it takes more than 90 minutes to fully recharge a 4870mAh battery, and it would be safe to assume double that if you have the second battery. The draw on the power supply is only 20W, which is why it isn’t faster.
I’ve seen phones and tablets with 25000mAh batteries that can recharge much faster than this using 66W power supplies. Getac may have taken the view that slower charging will extend battery life, and therefore, is in the customer’s interest. However, I found it curious that the Chicony-branded PSU included with the machine is rated for 20V at 65W, even though it can only take a third of that power when recharging.
Overall, this is a powerful tablet that offers performance beyond what most tablet makers are currently providing, with the possible exception of the Unihertz Tank Pad 8849 and its Dimensity 8200 platform.
Performance score: 4/5
(Image credit: Getac)
Getax ZX10 G2: Final verdict
I liked this design substantially more than the Getac ZX80, as I think it better balances the user experience with the capabilities. However, it’s not without some issues, most noticeably that it’s launched with a three-year-old version of Android.
Also, Getac doesn’t see camera sensors as a selling point, as the ones in this tablet are below what you might expect in a budget phone.
The strengths here include a solid computing platform, interchangeable hot-swap batteries, and a fantastic selection of accessories for docking and carrying the tablet throughout the day. It also comes with a warranty where Getac won’t argue with you about accidental damage for three years.
However, the cost of well-made and engineered equipment, which can withstand being in a warehouse or garden centre, is disturbingly high.
It’s a matter of convincing those senior people who control budgets that devices like the Getac ZX10 G2 ultimately save money with fewer issues and downtime, since the investment is likely to be substantial when deploying these into any decent-sized business.
Should I buy a Getax ZX10 G2?
Getax ZX10 G2 Score Card
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Value
Expensive for an Android tablet
3/5
Design
Built to take knocks and keep working
4/5
Hardware
Powerful SoC, dual hot-swap batteries, tons of accessories
4/5
Camera
Poor sensors and grainy results
2/5
Performance
Powerful platform but slow charging
4/5
Overall
Highly durable, but you pay for the privilege
4/5
Buy it if...
Your environment is harsh Most brands claim IP68, IP69K dust/water resistance, and MIL-STD-810H Certification, but this equipment is built to withstand much more than these dubious endorsements.
It comes with a three-year warranty that includes coverage for accidental damage, which is a testament to the abuse these devices can withstand.
You need a powerful platform The processor in this Android tablet is at the top end of what is available and delivers a stellar user experience. With this much power available, it’s possible to locally process data before sending it to the Cloud.
Don't buy it if...
You are working on a budget The price of the tablet is high, and once you’ve included a keyboard, extra batteries, an off-line battery charger and other accessories, the total package might run to $2000 or more. There are more affordable options that offer you more for less.
You need decent photography The camera sensors in this device are like going back to the past for most Android phone and even tablet users. The results aren’t good, and it’s a weakness in the Getac tablets that I’ve observed so far.
Also Consider
Unihertz Tank Pad 8849 Larger and slightly heavier than the Getac ZX10 G2, this is a powerful Android tablet featuring an impressive 21000 mAh battery and the latest 50MP Sony IMX766 camera sensor. Although it may not offer the accessory selection of the ZX10 G2, at around $600, it’s nearly half the price and a better all-around performer.
Getac ZX80 Rugged Android Tablet Another super-robust design from Getac aimed at tough environment use. It uses a different Qualcomm SoC, and has a wide selection of accessories, including replaceable batteries.
However, like its ZX10 G2 brother, it’s on the expensive side, so it’s not an impulse purchase.
Professional lenses typically offer the best image and build quality, but at a cost. Plus, when thinking about features on prime lenses, most are fairly straightforward despite the aforementioned characteristics.One of two lenses bucking this trend is the Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.2 LAB FE, the other being the Viltrox AF 135mm f/1.8 lens.
The latter is available for both Sony E and Nikon Z mount, with the 35mm soon to be available for Z mount, too. The thing I love about these lenses is that, despite being primes they're surprisingly feature-packed, and are available at extremely attractive prices.
The 35mm f/1.2 LAB costs just $999 / £959 at Amazon, which is an amazing price for what you get (if you're buying from Australia you can purchase the lens in USD.) This price is especially impressive when the slower Sony FE 35mm f/1.4GM is considerably more expensive. The Sony is, of course, a flagship G Master lens, which may suggest superiority, but the 35mm f/1.2 LAB holds up well by comparison.
That extra 1/3 stop of light-gathering capability makes a difference in two ways. First, it makes the lens better for astrophotography. Second, it produces a beautifully shallow depth of field. Detail is also impressively sharp wide open at f/1.2, so for portraiture and astrophotography this is a truly stunning lens.
Most prime lenses are fairly simple in their design, relying on their fast maximum apertures and excellent image quality to act as the main selling points. The 35mm f/1.2 LAB certainly follows suit here, but it also has a few tricks up its sleeve that set it apart from other primes. It’s also a beast of a lens, at 3.51 x 8.80 inches / 89.2 x 121.8mm and weighing32.5oz / 920g.
It’s certainly nowhere near as large and heavy as the 135mm f/1.8 LAB lens, but it’s close to double the weight of the Sony FE 35mm f/1.4GM and is slightly larger. The fact that it's an f/1.2 lens is a contributing factor, but Viltrox LAB series lenses do seem to be pretty hefty, to say the least.
Both lenses are made of aerospace-grade magnesium-aluminum alloy with a die-coating, so they have a premium look and feel alongside being of an extremely high build quality. Plus, the lenses feature a dust and moisture-resistant construction, making them perfect for outdoor photographers.
The filter thread is 77mm, so not too large and ideal for both circular and square filters, while the 11-blade aperture produces smooth bokeh with circular highlights. The minimum focusing distance is 13.4 inches / 34cm, which isn’t the shortest you'll find but is still pretty good.
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As mentioned, despite being a prime lens, the 35mm f/1.2 LAB is fairly feature-packed. It has a customizable multi-function ring, which by default is set to control the aperture, with clicked and clickless operation selectable using a switch.
There are also two customizable Fn buttons and a small color digital screen that shows the focus distance, aperture, and the active Fn button. The screen can, alongside the Fn and multi-function ring, be customized by connecting the lens via Bluetooth to the Viltrox Lens app.
Since this is a third-party lens, firmware updates and customization can’t be applied in the same way as OEM lenses. But, with the lens unattached from a camera, it can be powered via a USB-C port on the lens mount and then connected to the app. This works incredibly well; a firmware update was required during testing and only took a few minutes to complete.
The ability to personalize the controls is extremely useful for tailoring the lens to the way you like to shoot. I was quite happy with the default configurations, so although I looked at the options available in the app, I left everything as it was.
Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.2 LAB FE: Performance
Excellent image quality overall
Impressive sharpness at f/1.2
Sharpest at f/8
The image quality produced by this lens is sensational, with incredible sharpness and detail wide open at f/1.2. Sure, with this lens you’ll need to stop down on some occasions, but most people want a lens like this for that fast maximum aperture, and the 35mm f/1.2 LAB is incredible when shooting wide open. It’s not perfect, but it’s seriously impressive.
The 35mm f/1.2 LAB produces exceptional center sharpness at f/1.2, and while extreme corner sharpness is quite soft, edge sharpness is excellent. Corner sharpness increases gradually as you get closer to the center of the frame and as you stop down the aperture, with f/4 showing greatly improved extreme corner sharpness.
Overall sharpness continues to improve up to f/8, which, like many lenses, is the sweet spot at which most detail is resolved and the overall image produced is sharpest. Beyond f/8, diffraction begins to come into play, with f/11 providing slightly less sharp images, and f/16 exhibiting the least sharp results.
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Vignetting is most visible at f/1.2 as you’d expect, and becomes less noticeable until f/2, where it almost disappears, and completely disappears at f/2.8. This is normal for a prime lens, and it’s not an issue at all because vignetting is easy to remove with software.
There isn’t a profile available in Adobe Lightroom yet since this lens is still relatively new after an April 2025 release, so any corrections currently have to be made manually. Chromatic aberration is minimal, with only the tiniest amount of fringing visible, and this was easily removed.
Autofocus performance is fast and precise, with the lens locking onto subjects quickly and silently. The AF 35mm f/1.2 LAB features Quad Viltrox HyperVCM motors, which Viltrox claims provide 150% faster AF than STM motors. I couldn’t perceive a difference in speed.
The lens also supports subject recognition, which I tested by using people/eye recognition to shoot portraits wide open. This worked exceptionally well, with perfectly sharp eyes and a dramatic fall-off in depth of field.
Should you buy the Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.2 LAB FE?
Buy it if...
You’re on a budget
Considering the image quality, build quality and features alongside the amazing price, this lens is an absolute bargain.
You shoot astrophotography
35mm is a great focal length for astrophotography, and the fast f/1.2 maximum aperture enables lower ISO settings for improved image quality.
You shoot portraits
35mm is also a great focal length for environmental portraits, and the sharpness available at f/1.2 is outstanding.
Don't buy it if...
You’d like a compact and lightweight lens
The 35mm f/1.2 LAB is a chunky and fairly weighty lens. There are lighter and more compact alternatives available, although they're also slower.
You need versatility
Primes typically offer the best image quality and faster maximum apertures, but zoom lenses are, by their nature, more convenient and versatile.
You shoot APS-C
If you shoot with an APS-C camera, there are more appropriate Viltrox lenses available to you, including the Viltrox AF 27mm f/ 1.2 Pro, which is almost half the price.
How I tested the Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.2 LAB FE
I tested it over several weeks
I used it to capture multiple subjects
I tested it with an unforgiving Sony A7R V
I tested the Viltrox AF 35mm f/1.2 LAB FE over several weeks attached to an unforgiving Sony A7R V, shooting a range of relevant subjects and using different aperture settings to test sharpness and distortion. I shot both static and moving subjects to test autofocus performance.
With 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 and lenses from a photographer’s point of view.
If you need a ton of power for a ton of devices, the UGreen Nexode 500W 6-Port Charger could be the ultimate solution for you. This multi-port desktop charging station is equipped with five USB-C ports and one USB-A alternative, GaN smart tech, and a premium build. But the question is: should you really spend more than $200 / £200 to get hold of it?
Well, if you don’t have a lot of power-hungry devices like modern laptops, tablets, handsets, and more, the 500W maximum power output may mean the answer to this question is “no”. But if you’ve got a high-demand setup, I think you’ll get great value from this model.
Yes, if peak performance is what you’re after, it won’t get much better than this. You can activate 240W single-port charging for devices like gaming laptops or e-bikes, and even charge 5 laptops with 100W of power at once. I tried juicing up my Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, LG Tone Free T90S, the Motorola Edge 50 Neo, and the Marshall Kilburn III – and every device bounced back to 100% in no time.
(Image credit: Future)
My 4,700 mAh Samsung phone charged in under 80 minutes with every port in simultaneous use, and something I picked up on was that the Nexode 500W never got too hot. That’s largely thanks to inbuilt sensors that execute real-time temperature monitoring for protection against overheating and support of secure, stable charging.
And there’s just so much tech rammed into this desktop charger. It harnesses the might of six GaN chips, helping it to offer maximum charging efficiency while also maintaining a compact build. There’s everything else you could want too, from short-circuit prevention through to electrostatic protection.
Still, given the high-spec nature of this charger, it’s quite hefty, weighing in at just under 5lbs (2.2kg). I’d argue it's compact, though, given its 500W of power, so unless you have a particularly small desk, it should fit your setup.
The only other aspects that could disappoint are the charger's lack of a display or companion app compatibility – something its main rival, Anker, has implemented into some of its desktop chargers. Additionally, there are no USB-C cables included – I would have really appreciated at least one, and I think many buyers would too.
Otherwise, I’ve got no complaints about this UGreen powerhouse. It has both a durable and premium feel, serving up excellent performance, and although the price tag is high, it has the capabilities to justify it.
Should I buy the UGreen Nexode 500W 6-Port Charger?
Buy it if…
You need a ton of power If you want to charge multiple laptops simultaneously or simply juice up all the devices at your desk, the UGreen Nexode 500W 6-Port Charger is ideal. If you’re holding a meeting, say, and both you and your colleagues need to charge your devices, it’s a great solution thanks to its efficient, speedy multi-port performance.
You want access to 240W charging A real draw of this model is its ability to deliver 240W of power through a single port. That means you can optimally charge some seriously power-hungry devices without compromise – think gaming laptops, e-bikes, or the Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M4 Pro).
Don't buy it if…
You don’t have an especially high power demand 500W, simply put, would be overkill for most people. This product is designed for those with intensive power needs – businesses and pro gamers, for example. If you’re an individual user, you may want something like the Anker Prime Charger (200W, 6 ports, GaN), which has enough juice to recharge your laptop, phone, and a handful of smaller devices. I use this one myself, and absolutely love it!
You’re on a budget As a result of its gigantic power and high-caliber tech, the UGreen Nexode 500W is pretty pricey. Yep, at over $200 / £200, this isn’t ideal for those on a budget. Having said that, you can sometimes find this model on sale, so make sure to keep your eyes peeled for a deal if you’re sold on it.
UGreen Nexode 500W 6-Port Charger review: also consider
Anker Prime Charger 6-Port Desktop Charging Station 250W 500W a little much? Looking for something a little cheaper, too? Then this multi-port desktop charger from Anker is an awesome option. You get 250W of power, six ports (4x USB-C; 2x USB-A), a useful display with power consumption info, and app compatibility. It’s also a fair bit smaller, making it ideal for smaller desks. Read our full Anker Prime Charger 6-Port Desktop Charging Station 250W review.
If you're tired of personal smoothie makers that struggle with ingredients tougher than milk and bananas, the Beast Mighty 850 Plus could be the best blender for you. Rather than running on a rechargeable battery like many of its rivals, the 850 Plus is mains-powered and has a considerably more powerful motor, paired with a tough blade unit.
That means you won't be able to blend a protein shake in the changing room after a gym session, but if you're interested in making green juices and fresh smoothies using tough fruits and vegetables, it'll produce much smoother and more palatable results.
During my tests, it turned kale, oat milk, and blueberries into a very drinkable beverage with no flecks of leaf to get stuck in my teeth. It also totally blitzed frozen blackcurrants, eliminating the gritty seeds that usually make them a troublesome ingredient.
The Beast Mighty 850 Plus can tackle ingredients that lesser blender leave in lumps (Image credit: Future)
The disadvantage of this power is that the 850 Plus is relatively noisy. However, a single blending cycle is enough to tackle just about anything you can throw at it, so you'll only have to endure the noise for one minute.
This is an attractive appliance that comes in a range of colors, so you can pick one to suit your kitchen. (I chose white, but black, muted blue, and sand are other options.) It comes with three different-sized blending vessels (the small one is particularly good for salad dressings), plus a choice of lids for carrying your creations on the move.
The vessels have ridges on the sides that look interesting, but can be an issue if you're using a sticky ingredient like peanut butter, which can get a bit stuck. Beast supplies a long-handled cleaning brush to remove this debris, but almost all the components are dishwasher-safe, and I found this a much easier way to get everything squeaky clean.
Beast Mighty 850 Plus: price and availability
Available in the US and UK for $149 / £149.99
Beast Health also offers a more affordable model and a premium one
Costs more than most personal blenders, but is more powerful
The Beast Mighty 850 Plus is available direct from Beast, and from third-party retailers, including Amazon, for $149 / £149.99. At the time of writing, Beast Health blenders aren't available in Australia. You'll find today's best prices listed below.
The 850 Plus sits in the middle of Beast Health's range of personal blenders. If you want something a little more affordable and don't mind sacrificing some power and accessories, the Beast Mighty 650 costs £119.99 and is only available in the UK.
The company's top-end model is the Beast Mega 1200 Plus, which is priced at $199 / £199.99. Extra blender vessels in various sizes are available to buy separately.
The Beast Mighty 850 Plus is relatively pricey for a personal blender (for example, the Ninja Blast Max and Nutribullet Flip are both around $89.99/£89.99), but the price difference is understandable considering what you're getting for your money. The 850 Plus has a more powerful motor than those other two, and runs directly from the mains rather than a rechargeable battery. It also comes with a bigger set of accessories, including three different-sized blending vessels.
Value score: 4.5/5
Beast Mighty 850 Plus: design
Stylish blender with three vessels and a choice of lids
Controls are very simple to use
Ingredients can stick in ridges after blending
Dishwasher-safe components
The Beast Mighty 850 Plus is a particularly stylish blender with a large base that houses its powerful motor and a set of three blending vessels with ridged sides. It comes in a variety of colors, including Cloud White (shown here), Mist (slate blue), Sand, and Carbon Black.
Its vessels have capacities of 415ml, 638ml, and 786ml; the larger two are ideal for smoothies and protein shakes, while the smaller one works well for portions of salad dressing or sauce. You also get a screw-on lid, a drinking lid with a carry cap and straw lid, two drinking straws, and a set of two cleaning brushes (a large one for the vessels and a small one for the straws).
The 850 Plus comes with three blending vessels and an assortment of lids (Image credit: Future)
The large brush is particularly useful if you plan to wash the blender vessels by hand because ingredients (especially sticky ones) have a tendency to accumulate in the grooves on the sides. Many personal blenders can be cleaned by adding water with a squirt of dish soap and running a blending cycle, but the Beast blender needs more thorough cleaning.
Thankfully, the blade unit, blending vessels, and caps are all safe to wash in the top drawer of a dishwasher. and came out perfectly clean during my tests. The only parts of the blender that aren't dishwasher-safe are the base unit and the straws.
Unlike some personal blenders we've tested here at TechRadar, the Beast 850 Plus doesn't have a rechargeable battery. This means you can't use it to blend ingredients on the move, but the fact that it runs directly from the mains means it can offer more blending power than portable smoothie makers.
Its controls are very simple to use, with a large yellow power button at the back and a 'blend' button on the front. Pressing this button once will pulse the blender, and holding it briefly will initiate a minute-long blending cycle.
Design score: 4.5/5
Beast Mighty 850 Plus: performance
The Beast Mighty 850 Plus lives up to its name, with the best blending performance of any personal smoothie maker I've tested to date.
I started by testing the blender with a particularly tough ingredient: mixed frozen berries. These pose two challenges: first, frozen strawberries are essentially big chunks of dense ice that many blenders struggle to break through, and second, blackberries and blackcurrants are full of tiny seeds that can leave a smoothie feeling gritty in the mouth if not completely blended.
Image 1 of 2
Gritty blackcurrant seeds are no challenge for the powerful motor and tough blades of the 850 Plus (Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 2
One of the lids has a hole for a drinking straw (two of which are provided with the blender) (Image credit: Future)
I added a good handful of the frozen fruit to the blender along with oat milk and a scoop of vanilla protein powder, and was pleasantly surprised when a single minute-long blending cycle obliterated even the largest strawberries to create an icy shake, while also obliterating the gritty seeds.
The 850 Plus crushes ice cubes equally well, and one blending cycle turned a double shot of espresso with ice and milk into a perfect iced coffee.
I also tried the 850 Plus with our standard testing smoothie – Nutribullet's Banana Kale Blueberry Freeze, which often poses a challenge for blenders due to its high content of fibrous green veg. I added the ingredients to the largest blending vessel, then ran a single blending cycle to see how well everything was combined.
Image 1 of 2
TechRadar's standard test smoothie includes generous amounts of raw kale (Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 2
A single blending cycle produced a smooth and palatable drink, with no flakes of kale (Image credit: Future)
Some blenders (such as the Nutribullet Flip) require a second cycle to break up the kale, but the 850 Plus thoroughly blitzed all the ingredients first time, creating a very drinkable smoothie with no flecks of leaf to stick to my teeth.
The blender averaged around 80dB at the start of a blending cycle. dropping to 75dB once the ingredients started to break down. This makes it one of the loudest blenders I've tested to date, which can be explained by its more powerful motor, but is worth bearing in mind if you're particularly sensitive to noise.
Performance score: 5/5
Beast Mighty 850 Plus: also consider
If you're not sure that the Beast Mighty 850 Plus is the right blender for you, here are two others to consider.
Nutribullet Flip
The Nutribullet Flip has its blades and motor in the lid, meaning you can easily carry the whole appliance wherever you go. Its smooth design makes it hard for ingredients to become stuck, and it generally works well, though it didn’t handle tough kale and frozen strawberries as well as the Beast Mighty 850 Plus.
One of the most powerful portable blenders available right now, the Ninja Blast Max makes light work of most ingredients and can be carried around for blending on the move, making it ideal for post-workout protein shakes.
One of the more expensive personal blenders I've tested, but you're getting a lot for your money.
4.5/5
Design
Very stylish and supplied with three different sized vessels. Ingredients can get stuck on the ridged sides, but the cups are dishwasher-safe.
4.5/5
Performance
Makes light work of difficult ingredients like fibrous vegetables and frozen fruit with a single blending cycle. Quite loud, but very effective.
5/5
Buy it if
You want serious power
The Beast Mighty 850 Plus has a lot more blending power than the average smoothie maker, so it's a great pick if you want to use more challenging ingredients than protein powder and bananas. Frozen fruit and tough veggies are no match for its motor and blades.
You value versatility
This blender's different-sized vessels make it great for more than just drinks. The smallest one is particularly good for whipping up salad dressing and cold sauces.
Don't buy it if
You want to blend on the move
The 850 Plus doesn't run from a battery, so you'll be restricted to blending in the kitchen. If you want to whip up a shake at the gym after your workout, take a look at the offerings from Nutribullet and Ninja instead.
You're watching the pennies
This is a premium personal blender. You're getting a lot for your money, but if you're on a tight budget, then there are cheaper, though less powerful, alternatives available.
How I tested the Beast Mighty 850 Plus
I used the Beast Mighty 850 Plus for a week, making a variety of recipes, including TechRadar’s standard banana, blueberry, and kale smoothie, which we make with all the personal blenders we test.
I used the blender to tackle ingredients I knew to be particularly tough, including large frozen berries and ice, making sure to select the most appropriate blend setting each time.
I measured the volume of the blender during use with a decibel meter app on my phone.
If you're tired of personal smoothie makers that struggle with ingredients tougher than milk and bananas, the Beast Mighty 850 Plus could be the best blender for you. Rather than running on a rechargeable battery like many of its rivals, the 850 Plus is mains-powered and has a considerably more powerful motor, paired with a tough blade unit.
That means you won't be able to blend a protein shake in the changing room after a gym session, but if you're interested in making green juices and fresh smoothies using tough fruits and vegetables, it'll produce much smoother and more palatable results.
During my tests, it turned kale, oat milk, and blueberries into a very drinkable beverage with no flecks of leaf to get stuck in my teeth. It also totally blitzed frozen blackcurrants, eliminating the gritty seeds that usually make them a troublesome ingredient.
The Beast Mighty 850 Plus can tackle ingredients that lesser blender leave in lumps (Image credit: Future)
The disadvantage of this power is that the 850 Plus is relatively noisy. However, a single blending cycle is enough to tackle just about anything you can throw at it, so you'll only have to endure the noise for one minute.
This is an attractive appliance that comes in a range of colors, so you can pick one to suit your kitchen. (I chose white, but black, muted blue, and sand are other options.) It comes with three different-sized blending vessels (the small one is particularly good for salad dressings), plus a choice of lids for carrying your creations on the move.
The vessels have ridges on the sides that look interesting, but can be an issue if you're using a sticky ingredient like peanut butter, which can get a bit stuck. Beast supplies a long-handled cleaning brush to remove this debris, but almost all the components are dishwasher-safe, and I found this a much easier way to get everything squeaky clean.
Beast Mighty 850 Plus: price and availability
Available in the US and UK for $149 / £149.99
Beast Health also offers a more affordable model and a premium one
Costs more than most personal blenders, but is more powerful
The Beast Mighty 850 Plus is available direct from Beast, and from third-party retailers, including Amazon, for $149 / £149.99. At the time of writing, Beast Health blenders aren't available in Australia. You'll find today's best prices listed below.
The 850 Plus sits in the middle of Beast Health's range of personal blenders. If you want something a little more affordable and don't mind sacrificing some power and accessories, the Beast Mighty 650 costs £119.99 and is only available in the UK.
The company's top-end model is the Beast Mega 1200 Plus, which is priced at $199 / £199.99. Extra blender vessels in various sizes are available to buy separately.
The Beast Mighty 850 Plus is relatively pricey for a personal blender (for example, the Ninja Blast Max and Nutribullet Flip are both around $89.99/£89.99), but the price difference is understandable considering what you're getting for your money. The 850 Plus has a more powerful motor than those other two, and runs directly from the mains rather than a rechargeable battery. It also comes with a bigger set of accessories, including three different-sized blending vessels.
Value score: 4.5/5
Beast Mighty 850 Plus: design
Stylish blender with three vessels and a choice of lids
Controls are very simple to use
Ingredients can stick in ridges after blending
Dishwasher-safe components
The Beast Mighty 850 Plus is a particularly stylish blender with a large base that houses its powerful motor and a set of three blending vessels with ridged sides. It comes in a variety of colors, including Cloud White (shown here), Mist (slate blue), Sand, and Carbon Black.
Its vessels have capacities of 415ml, 638ml, and 786ml; the larger two are ideal for smoothies and protein shakes, while the smaller one works well for portions of salad dressing or sauce. You also get a screw-on lid, a drinking lid with a carry cap and straw lid, two drinking straws, and a set of two cleaning brushes (a large one for the vessels and a small one for the straws).
The 850 Plus comes with three blending vessels and an assortment of lids (Image credit: Future)
The large brush is particularly useful if you plan to wash the blender vessels by hand because ingredients (especially sticky ones) have a tendency to accumulate in the grooves on the sides. Many personal blenders can be cleaned by adding water with a squirt of dish soap and running a blending cycle, but the Beast blender needs more thorough cleaning.
Thankfully, the blade unit, blending vessels, and caps are all safe to wash in the top drawer of a dishwasher. and came out perfectly clean during my tests. The only parts of the blender that aren't dishwasher-safe are the base unit and the straws.
Unlike some personal blenders we've tested here at TechRadar, the Beast 850 Plus doesn't have a rechargeable battery. This means you can't use it to blend ingredients on the move, but the fact that it runs directly from the mains means it can offer more blending power than portable smoothie makers.
Its controls are very simple to use, with a large yellow power button at the back and a 'blend' button on the front. Pressing this button once will pulse the blender, and holding it briefly will initiate a minute-long blending cycle.
Design score: 4.5/5
Beast Mighty 850 Plus: performance
The Beast Mighty 850 Plus lives up to its name, with the best blending performance of any personal smoothie maker I've tested to date.
I started by testing the blender with a particularly tough ingredient: mixed frozen berries. These pose two challenges: first, frozen strawberries are essentially big chunks of dense ice that many blenders struggle to break through, and second, blackberries and blackcurrants are full of tiny seeds that can leave a smoothie feeling gritty in the mouth if not completely blended.
Image 1 of 2
Gritty blackcurrant seeds are no challenge for the powerful motor and tough blades of the 850 Plus (Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 2
One of the lids has a hole for a drinking straw (two of which are provided with the blender) (Image credit: Future)
I added a good handful of the frozen fruit to the blender along with oat milk and a scoop of vanilla protein powder, and was pleasantly surprised when a single minute-long blending cycle obliterated even the largest strawberries to create an icy shake, while also obliterating the gritty seeds.
The 850 Plus crushes ice cubes equally well, and one blending cycle turned a double shot of espresso with ice and milk into a perfect iced coffee.
I also tried the 850 Plus with our standard testing smoothie – Nutribullet's Banana Kale Blueberry Freeze, which often poses a challenge for blenders due to its high content of fibrous green veg. I added the ingredients to the largest blending vessel, then ran a single blending cycle to see how well everything was combined.
Image 1 of 2
TechRadar's standard test smoothie includes generous amounts of raw kale (Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 2
A single blending cycle produced a smooth and palatable drink, with no flakes of kale (Image credit: Future)
Some blenders (such as the Nutribullet Flip) require a second cycle to break up the kale, but the 850 Plus thoroughly blitzed all the ingredients first time, creating a very drinkable smoothie with no flecks of leaf to stick to my teeth.
The blender averaged around 80dB at the start of a blending cycle. dropping to 75dB once the ingredients started to break down. This makes it one of the loudest blenders I've tested to date, which can be explained by its more powerful motor, but is worth bearing in mind if you're particularly sensitive to noise.
Performance score: 5/5
Beast Mighty 850 Plus: also consider
If you're not sure that the Beast Mighty 850 Plus is the right blender for you, here are two others to consider.
Nutribullet Flip
The Nutribullet Flip has its blades and motor in the lid, meaning you can easily carry the whole appliance wherever you go. Its smooth design makes it hard for ingredients to become stuck, and it generally works well, though it didn’t handle tough kale and frozen strawberries as well as the Beast Mighty 850 Plus.
One of the most powerful portable blenders available right now, the Ninja Blast Max makes light work of most ingredients and can be carried around for blending on the move, making it ideal for post-workout protein shakes.
One of the more expensive personal blenders I've tested, but you're getting a lot for your money.
4.5/5
Design
Very stylish and supplied with three different sized vessels. Ingredients can get stuck on the ridged sides, but the cups are dishwasher-safe.
4.5/5
Performance
Makes light work of difficult ingredients like fibrous vegetables and frozen fruit with a single blending cycle. Quite loud, but very effective.
5/5
Buy it if
You want serious power
The Beast Mighty 850 Plus has a lot more blending power than the average smoothie maker, so it's a great pick if you want to use more challenging ingredients than protein powder and bananas. Frozen fruit and tough veggies are no match for its motor and blades.
You value versatility
This blender's different-sized vessels make it great for more than just drinks. The smallest one is particularly good for whipping up salad dressing and cold sauces.
Don't buy it if
You want to blend on the move
The 850 Plus doesn't run from a battery, so you'll be restricted to blending in the kitchen. If you want to whip up a shake at the gym after your workout, take a look at the offerings from Nutribullet and Ninja instead.
You're watching the pennies
This is a premium personal blender. You're getting a lot for your money, but if you're on a tight budget, then there are cheaper, though less powerful, alternatives available.
How I tested the Beast Mighty 850 Plus
I used the Beast Mighty 850 Plus for a week, making a variety of recipes, including TechRadar’s standard banana, blueberry, and kale smoothie, which we make with all the personal blenders we test.
I used the blender to tackle ingredients I knew to be particularly tough, including large frozen berries and ice, making sure to select the most appropriate blend setting each time.
I measured the volume of the blender during use with a decibel meter app on my phone.
Graywind offers a wide variety of smart blinds, including zebra, panel track, vertical, Ventian, and wood blinds. They also have a variety of smart shades, including roller, Roman, cellular, dual, and more. They even have smart curtains. Within each category, you can choose from selection of sizes, fabrics, and colors.
Then you choose your motor from five options: Eve Apple HomeKit Motor, Rechargeable BLE RF Motor, Zigbee Alexa Motor, Matter Smart Motor, or Hardwired WiFi Motor. I selected the zebra blinds and the Eve Apple HomeKit motor, since I'd be using my iPhone and HomePod to control the blinds.
I can't say that getting the Graywind Smart Blinds up and running was easy. The screws that were included for installation were not great quality, which meant that they stripped easily. Setup was also a little tricky. Still, I managed to get everything up and running. Once completed, the blinds work exactly as expected. You can set up scenes or automations which allow you to set opening and closing to a schedule or situation of your choosing. You can also control the blinds using your smartphone, voice, or just your hands.
(Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)
Graywind Smart Blinds: price & availability
Starting price is relatively inexpensive
Can get pricey with upcharges
Custom fit to many sizes
You can order Graywind Smart Shades, Curtains, and Blinds directly from the Graywind website or you can buy them from Amazon. Prices start at $109.99 (£82.04/169.88 AUD.) I selected the zebra blinds in the charcoal blackout fabric and the Eve Apple HomeKit motor. I also added a solar panel and an extra-long wall charging cable. Blinds in the size and style you see in my photos go for $276.99(£206.59/427.97 AUD) each. It's important to measure your windows carefully if you want the blinds to fit correctly. I chose the outside mount style and made my measurements accordingly.
Value score: 4.5/5
Graywind Smart Blinds: design
Tricky installation and setup
Goes up and down smoothly and quietly
Blinds can get caught in solar panel charging cable
You'll need to be pretty handy and have access to a drill in order to install the Graywind Smart Blinds. You'll also need to be patient and careful, since the included screws are soft and strip quite easily.
Note that if you're charging the blinds via the solar charger, the blinds can get tangled with the charging cord pretty easily. I've gotten around that issue by not opening the blinds 100%. But I shouldn't have to do that.
(Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)
Once you get the blinds installed and charged via solar panel or wall charger, you're ready to set them up with your smartphone. I ordered two sets of identical blinds for windows right next to each other; I was able to set up the first one using only the Home app on my iPhone.
(Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)
For some reason, I wasn't able to set up the second set that way. I had to download the Eve app on my iPhone and set it up there. Once that was done, I was able to control both sets of blinds via either the Home or Eve app.
(Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)
There is also a pull cord that you can use for manual operation, if you wish. One tug on on the pull cord gets the blinds moving in one direction, a second tug stops them, and a third tug gets them moving in the other direction.
Are these the most beautiful blinds I've ever seen? No, and the 'fabric' is plastic. But they look fine, and they do what they are supposed to do.
Design score: 3.5/5
Graywind Smart Blinds: performance
Can be controlled so many different ways
Use with Google, Amazon, or Apple
Opening and closing mechanism works beautifully
As mentioned above, there are five different types of motors, so you'll want to make your selection carefully. I chose the Eve Apple HomeKit motor, since I have both an iPhone and a HomePod. But you can also choose BLE RF Motor (works directly with the Graywind app via Bluetooth, no bridge needed), Hardwired WiFi Motor (no bridge needed), Zigbee Alexa Motor, or a Matter Smart Motor (which allows use of Alexa, Google, HomeKit or SmartThings). A detailed guide on the site can help you choose the right one for your home if you're not sure.
As mentioned above, I was only able to set up one of the blinds using the Apple Home app; to set up the other one I had to use the Eve app. Another little blip was that one of the blinds wanted to roll the wrong way initially, but I was able to fix that by troubleshooting with the owner's manual.
Once your blinds are all set up, it's easy to control them. You can use your smartphone and tap to select how far open you want them, down to an exact percentage. You can also use the cord to control them. If you don't like the look of the cord and you're not going to use it, you can easily remove it.
(Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)
You can also set up scenes and automations, so that your blinds open and close at specific times or in specific situations of your choosing. For example, you could have the blinds open at sunrise and close at sunset. Or, you can set your blinds to open when you say, "Good morning!" and close when you say, "Good night!" Or have them them close automatically when you leave the house and open when you arrive home. I just set mine to open and close to a specific percentage at a specific time. But there are endless ways you can set them up. I tried several different ways and they all worked great.
Performance score: 4.5/5
Should you buy the Graywind Smart Blinds?
Graywind Smart Blinds score card
Attribute
Notes
Score
Value
They start pretty inexpensively for custom smart blinds
4.5/5
Design
Design is fine but there are some minor yet annoying flaws
3.5/5
Performance
Once you get everything set up, the blinds are simple to use and perform beautifully
4.5/5
Buy it if
You want to be able to control your window covering in a variety of ways
Graywind offers five different motors so you can use Bluetooth, Alexa, Apple, Matter, or connect directly to your home's Wi-Fi. You can also control them manually with a cord.
You want customization
Graywind has you covered with smart blinds, shades, and curtains in a huge variety of styles, sizes, fabrics, and colors.
Don't buy it if
It's not in the budget
Graywind's prices actually start quite reasonably, but can ramp up quickly for bigger windows and other customizations.
You want ultra-easy installation, setup, and removal
I found these a little tricky to install and set up. You need a drill and some patience to fiddle around. This might not be ideal for renters, since they do have to be screwed in to the window frame.
Graywind Smart Blinds: also consider
Want some other, similar options to check out? Here are a couple of TechRadar favorites to consider.
SmartWings Smart Blinds
These are pretty similar to Graywind's offerings but, but you may find a particular style more appealing. Read our SmartWings Smart Blinds review to learn more.View Deal
SwitchBot Blind Tilt
Looking to spend a lot less? You can use your existing blinds and just add this little guy. You don't even need a drill, which makes this a renter-friendly option. Check out our SwitchBot Blind Tilt review.View Deal
How I tested the Graywind Smart Blinds
I placed Graywind Smart Blinds in two bedroom windows. I tested out the blinds in a number of different ways. I tapped them open and closed using the Apple Home app, Eve app, and Control Center on my iPhone, both at home and away from home using a HomePod mini as a hub. I told Siri to open and close the blinds. I set up an automation to open the blinds a certain percentage 8:00 a.m. and close them at 9:00 p.m. each day. I also used the manual cord to open and close the blinds.
I’ve noticed that lately, possibly since the introduction of SSDs, if the power is cut to a PC, a file might become corrupted, but the operating system is usually unaffected.
But would you take that chance with a server or network hardware on a customer-facing or point-of-business system?
If the answer is no, then the Eaton SmartPro Tripp Lite UPS I’m reviewing here might be worth including on the budget, as it’s built specifically for providing the time to shut a system down gracefully.
The catchily named Eaton SMX1500XLRT2UN is a 2U high industrial UPS that can be rack mounted or floor standing, has power outputs for up to eight mains-powered devices, and 1500VA of battery capacity on tap to keep those devices running should mains power fail.
That capacity can be increased either with one of the other SmartPro Tripp Lite models or with an expansion battery that connects to a 48V/50A connector on the rear.
This top-of-the-line model also supports WEBCARDLXE, USB, and even a DB9 serial cable for those who prefer to telnet into infrastructure.
It allows the Eaton SMX1500XLRT2UN to be part of a greater disaster management plan, giving IT professionals the ability to make the best strategic choices in the event of power loss.
This equipment isn’t easy to handle, and the price isn’t especially low, but it's built for the job and not a battery borrowed from an alternative purpose, making one of the best UPS around.
Eaton SmartPro Tripp Lite UPS: Price & availability
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
How much does it cost? $1454 / £1460
When is it out? Available now
Where can you get it? Direct from Eaton or through online retailers like Amazon.
The cost of a UPS of this type is directly impacted by the size of the battery, and what features for managing that stored power are provided.
As the Eaton SMX1500XLRT2UN is a top-tier unit in its particular series, it comes at a slight premium due to the extra features like WEBCARDLXE.
That makes the basic price around £1460 Inc VAT in the UK, and $1454 in the USA. In the UK and Europe, Eaton sells mostly through retail partners, but in the USA, this hardware can be bought directly from Amazon.
It should be noted that although the same model number, the US version is designed for 120V equipment, whereas in the UK and throughout Europe it outputs 230V.
Personally, if you are unfamiliar with UPS technology and want to get the right one for your installation, it is best to talk to a partner, because they’ll provide you with all the options and additional information about replacement batteries and expansion.
If you don’t need their expertise, then Amazon will work if you live in a region where these devices are sold through them.
The immediate response to many seeing this price will be that a 1500VA battery can be found for $225, so why pay this much for this equipment?
The devil is in the details, as they say. However, the battery component of this equation is a relatively small part of the exercise, and a 1500VA battery with this type of management, configuration, and expansion potential is likely to cost much more than $1500.
The APC SRT1500RMXLA is similar, with an asking price of $ 1,473 for the 120V model, for example.
There are only a limited number of brands that make these types of devices, and therefore, the price variance is limited.
You can buy cheaper units with roughly the same battery capacity, but they won’t have the features of this hardware and generally aren’t intended to handle the power demands of an entire rack at a moment's notice.
Value: 4 / 5
Eaton SmartPro Tripp Lite UPS: Specs
Hardware
Eaton Tripp Lite series SmartPro UPS
Part No.
SMX1500XLRT2UN
Rack Size
2U
Topology
Line-interactive
Phase
Single-phase
Nominal output
208V
Voltage options
200/208/220/230/240V
Max current
10A
Outlets
8x C14
Size
591.8 x 505.5 x 223.5 mm (W x D x H)
Weight
?19.5kg
Accessories
Mounting rails, legs, power cables, USB cable, D89 cable
Warranty
2-year warranty, 3-year with registration
Extended battery
Yes, 48V/50A
Eaton SmartPro Tripp Lite UPS: Design
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
Heavy duty
Floor or rack
Excellent connectivity
The elephant in this room, or something almost as heavy, is the size and mass of this UPS. Its quoted weight is 43.1lb (19.5kg), but if you deploy it to a rack, then the mounting rails add even more weight.
My recommendation would be to never install one of these without the help of another person, because even removing it from the packaging isn’t easy.
Once this giant square metal box is extracted, it can be oriented in two different ways. It can be vertically mounted using two L-shaped feet, provided that they screw into the sides. Alternatively, it is sized to be installed in a 19-inch rack, being 2U high.
For those wanting to rack mount this UPS, I’d strongly suggest putting it in the lower section of the rack, because having this much mass high up is inadvisable. On the subject of stability, it comes with sliding rails that enable easier access to the rear once it's installed. But again, since this will move the centre of gravity, it's another reason not to put this high up in a rack. There are side brackets that securely attach it to the rack, but my concern is that if the rack isn’t securely bolted to the floor, it might overbalance.
On the front of the unit is a plastic facia panel that must be removed before installation; it simply pulls off. Behind it is the battery, and for safety reasons, it is shipped disconnected.
A notable feature of this design is that the entire battery pack can be replaced, extending the unit's life. Once the battery is connected, the facia can be replaced.
One significant feature of the front is a small display on the right side of the unit that features simple button controls. As the UPS can be floor-standing, this would put the display on its side; however, Eaton's approach to this problem made me chuckle.
The obvious solution would be a menu feature for orientation, but Eaton engineers made a cradle for the display that, with the help of a screwdriver, the panel and buttons can be popped out and then put back in after being rotated by 90 degrees.
Interestingly, the Eaton Tripp Lite logo on the other end can also be twisted to be readable in an upright position.
My only issue with the screen is that it isn’t especially bright, and the menu system it allows for navigation is remarkably basic. However, most IT professionals using this equipment are likely to utilise more feature-rich interfaces.
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
Where this UPS becomes substantially more interesting is on the rear, where all the external connections are located.
Using standard IEC male-to-female cables, the SMX1500XLRT2UN features eight power outlets on its rear, and retaining clips are provided to prevent accidental disconnection. That’s great, but unless the server or other hardware has similar retainers on its power inputs, then it's only half the answer.
What the rear panel also offers is a wide range of potential connections, including two flavours of USB, Ethernet, and even DB9 serial.
Most engineers will probably be fine with LAN access, but the USB option adds the possibility of a server shutting down before the battery is exhausted, even with the use of a software tool.
There is also a substantial port for adding an additional battery, and these come in some large capacities that might keep a substantial server cluster up for more than a few minutes.
From a design perspective, the SMX1500XLRT2UN is built for purpose, possibly overbuilt, and it offers all the bells and whistles that server admins are looking for.
Design: 4 / 5
Eaton SmartPro Tripp Lite UPS: User experience
Command line
WEBCARDLXE
Lots of things about this hardware made me laugh, but not in a bad way.
I’ve not been an IT Manager for twenty-five years, but there are features in the SMX1500XLRT2UN designed for exactly the type of thinking that was prominent when I was, and even before that.
What I’m referring to here is the PowerAlert Device Manager (PADM) Version 20 Command Line Interface, for its full title. Once you’ve established a network connection to the UPS, it’s possible to connect via SSH via a terminal tool and issue commands.
How many commands? A ridiculous number. The Eaton provided PDF that documents them and what they do runs to 230 pages, and some pages have multiple commands.
Since I left all this insanity behind me some considerable time ago, it’s a struggle to understand why anyone would want to do this. However, conversely, I could imagine a scenario where installing a large number of these and being able to create a script that runs through all the settings you might want to make for all of them could be useful.
Another approach to that problem is a software tool called the PowerAlert Mass Configuration Utility, which allows you to log in to each UPS by its IP number and then make global changes. To implement multiple changes, an XLM file containing a configuration can be saved and then executed on new hardware devices when they are added.
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
The only issues I have with this software are that it looks like it was designed when Windows XP was supported, and it can’t cope with making changes to different UPS models.
While it doesn’t offer the granularity of the command line or mass-appeal of the app, there is a much more approachable web interface, WEBCARDLXE, that provides the monitoring and easy access that more modern IT professionals would probably gravitate.
What’s missing here is a Cloud service model, although Eaton does offer the PowerAlert Element Manager, which consolidates management utilities for Eaton LX Platform devices.
PowerAlert software offers a complete set of tools designed for overseeing and safeguarding power across different settings, whether from an individual computer or a whole network.
From an IT perspective, the user experience, with the exception of WEBCARDLXE, is somewhat dated. However, Eaton is selling into an ultra-conservative environment that is decidedly anti-change. And therefore, their support for older-thinking and methods is probably serving them well.
User experience: 4 / 5
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
Eaton SmartPro Tripp Lite UPS: Final verdict
When I first received this item, I was slightly underwhelmed with it, because compared with a battery system like those offered by EcoFlow for home use, it seemed positively prehistoric.
However, I’ve come to appreciate this hardware more, even if I think there are some things to be learned from the likes of the EcoFlow Delta line and similar products.
What this hardware does exceptionally well is provide a decent window of opportunity to elegantly achieve the landing with servers and other network devices, rather than everything entirely faceplanting when the power suddenly disappears.
What it isn’t built for is to keep that equipment running for a sustained period, although Eaton has some alternative options directed more towards those objectives.
With all the connectivity, the servers should be aware of the power loss scenario and have a failsafe that can shut them down in a controlled manner before the SMX1500XLRT2UN is entirely exhausted. Additionally, it's possible to expand the unit to provide a larger time window before that becomes necessary.
What concerns me is that, should you shut a system down during a power loss and then power returns, you need to pray that the power doesn’t go out again within the next 4.5 hours. That seems an inordinate amount of time to restore 1,500VA of power, something the EcoFlow Delta 2 can achieve in under an hour.
That said, the SMX1500XLRT2UN is designed to remain on trickle charge for long periods, whereas the battery architecture of the EcoFlow equipment was designed to be fully exhausted daily. That might well be the reason it takes so long to restore, so I can’t make an apples-to-apples comparison. Faster recovery should be something that Eaton needs to consider, as it creates a significant period of vulnerability after a power loss.
Another point that surprised me about this hardware is that it lacks wireless networking or Bluetooth capabilities, which would enable remote monitoring without the need for physical wires.
I’m not sure why Eaton isn’t interested in wireless networks, but interference can’t be the issue, I’m sure.
An interactive phone application that alerts IT staff to a potential power loss would be ideal, but to achieve that with this equipment is somewhat convoluted. Additionally, it assumes that the computer running the Webcard application, along with its network hardware, including the Internet, is also protected from power loss.
The interconnected nature of this UPS and the hardware it maintains is part of the strategic thinking that needs to be established before it's deployed; otherwise, this is merely an expensive battery.
Eaton SmartPro Tripp Lite UPS: Report card
Value
For this hardware spec, this is the price
4 / 5
Design
Built to last and can have its battery replaced
4 / 5
User experience
CLI, global update app and Web UI
4 / 5
Overall
Lacks modern thinking, but does what it needs to
4 / 5
Should I buy a Eaton SmartPro Tripp Lite UPS?
(Image credit: Eaton)
Buy it if...
You need a power loss strategy This isn’t a cheap UPS that promises to keep the power on for a few minutes and your PC safe; it’s much more than that. If you want to have a complete power-loss plan, this is a building block for precisely that.
You like flexible solutions The ability to bolt extra battery capacity to the basic UPS, and extend battery running time, enables the power support to expand with the hardware it's maintaining.
Don't buy it if...
You don’t use racks While this UPS can be floor-standing, it’s designed for racking, and not just any cheap model. If it were accidentally knocked over and hit someone, it could easily break an ankle.
