Laptops are the new normal in today's working world. PCs, especially desktops, are kept for high-powered machines or other reasons that may need to stay. Most of today's workers, especially remote workers, operate from a laptop. And, while laptops are great, they do not promote the best ergonomics on their own; that's where ProtoArc chose to step in and create an all-in-one combo pack that can help with the ergonomics and functionality of laptop users on the go.
This combo pack includes a carrying case, a laptop stand, a folding keyboard, and a mouse. Each piece is good, nothing outstanding, but they are all good. What makes this pack special, though, is the bundle into a single carrying case, providing an easy-to-use solution for those who want a mouse and keyboard on the go or don't want to stare down at their laptop all day long.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
ProtoArc XKM01 CaseUp: Pricing and Availability
You can grab this setup from ProtoArc's website by clicking here, where it's priced between $80 to $100 (or £55 to £68). It' also widely available from online retailers like Amazon.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
ProtoArc XKM01 CaseUp: Unboxing & first impressions
The keyboard and mouse feel sturdy despite their lightweight design. Additionally, the carrying case adds a nice and easy way to protect the gear when moving or tossed into a bag.
I was able to quickly and easily get up and running with this setup; no instructions are necessary, though some guides are included. I paired the mouse and keyboard to my MacBook and my iPad Mini, and I have the dongle accessible so I can plug it into any of the computers I am testing at the time.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
Right away, I was mesmerized by the tri-fold keyboard, wanting to see how it could be so smooth; once I looked at it for a while, I started fiddling with the stand and the mouse, appreciating how compact and minimalist they all were.
ProtoArc XKM01 CaseUp: Design & Build Quality
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
Specs
Keyboard Folded Dimensions: 8.48 x 4.71 x 0.82 inches Expanded Dimensions: 15.21 x 4.71 x 0.49 inches
Mouse Dimensions: 0.92 x 2.32 x 4.25 inches
ProtoArc XKM01 CaseUp: In use
This portable productivity kit has been with my team for 173 days. We have gotten a good amount of testing in. Over that time, it has become a staple in one of my team member's arsenal of focus and daily work. So much so that when I want to use it myself, I have to convince him not to use it for a bit so I can get some work done with it.
The best part about this combo is that each part can be used by itself, or you can use the combo. That becomes essential for how I use this gear in a moment. As a whole kit, it genuinely transforms whatever laptop into a more ergonomic, full-keyboard, external mouse setup, all with the ability to collapse back down to a backpack setup. Especially if you already have a larger laptop, this could be all you need to take your productivity to the next level.
If you have a portable screen with you or a tablet, like an iPad that you use in sidecar, you could prop your laptop up at the highest angle, put your tablet or portable screen on your laptop's keyboard, and then use the ProtoArc keyboard as your keyboard, creating a dual-screen, stacked setup all without expensive or hefty equipment that would slow you down. In short, adding this combo to your workflow can enhance your productivity with very little extra gear in your bag.
The keyboard is comfortable; it's not fancy mechanical, but it is easy to type on, even for extended periods. Impressively, it also has a full numpad, making it stand out even among most laptop keyboards. If you're working remotely and inputting many numbers, having a true numpad may be an absolute game-changer for you.
The mouse is decent. If you are used to an MX Master 3 or some other high-end mouse, this is not that; it is a good basic mouse with good tracking and basic ergonomics.
The last use case that I didn't even think of at first until I was working on my iPad to finish up this review is that I could use the stand to prop up my iPad (regardless of the model) and then use the mouse and keyboard paired to the iPad making a full-on productivity set up out of a slab of glass and this combo.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Design
Great compact design
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ease of use
Easy to use
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Practicality
Great for most
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Price
Priced well for the product
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
ProtoArc XKM01 CaseUp: Final verdict
The ProtoArc XKM01 CaseUp is a well-designed and well-thought-out combo to enhance productivity. Whether you're a commuter trying to fit in every ounce of productivity, you can, or if you are a remote worker trying to make an efficient setup in a cafe on the coast of some tropical island, the ProtoArc XKM01 CaseUp can help you get there.
This thing is heavy, seriously... (Image credit: Future / Isaiah Williams)
It's simple. If you're out for a powerful gaming laptop, capable of reaching high and smooth frame rates with minimal performance issues, the MSI Vector A18 HX A9W is your answer. Using Nvidia's RTX 5080 laptop GPU and AMD's Ryzen 9 9955HX processor, gaming is a breeze at its native 2560x1600 resolution without using Team Green's DLSS upscaling technology; however, when it is used, achieving high frame rates is a cakewalk.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 had very little trouble reaching over 100fps, and edged close to the 100fps mark when running on ECO-Silent mode (which is incredible as I'll dive into later), helping reduce the workload and high temperatures, thanks to MSI Center's user scenario options.
With a 240Hz refresh rate, playing less demanding titles like Hades that can reach such frame rates, was an immersive and astonishing gaming experience. I know I've previously said that 144 or 165Hz refresh rates are more than enough for gaming, but with any game that can stay at 240fps without any significant dips, it's very impressive.
It's not all perfect though; this laptop is not ideal for long trips or playing on the go, as it's incredibly heavy (especially when including its 400W power adapter), and you'd need a large backpack to fit the 18-inch laptop in for travels. I found it difficult to use for long hours on a sturdy mini bed desk, with worries that it would snap its legs in pieces, and even at my main gaming desk, with its power adapter taking up space – so, portability isn't the best here.
This isn't an inexpensive system either - however, if you can afford the expense and you're looking for one of the best gaming laptops to provide great gaming performance, look no further.
MSI Vector A18 HX A9W: Price & Availability
How much does it cost? Starting at $2,999.99 / £3,199 / AU$6,599 (for RTX 5080 configuration)
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? In the US, UK, and Australia
There's no denying that the MSI Vector A18 HX A9W is a very expensive piece of hardware, instantly locking most gamers out of a potential purchase. However, for those who can afford it, you're getting the bang for your buck with a system that is capable of matching a variety of desktop builds.
With both a powerful AMD processor and Nvidia GPU, it's more than enough to satisfy most gamers' performance needs; the Ryzen 9 9955HX excels at single-core and multi-core processes, which you'll see later below.
With this configuration (A9WIG-006UK), there is no OLED or mini-LED display available, which would've slightly softened the blow of the high price, with an immersive and brighter screen – but that shouldn't hinder the gaming experience here.
The issue is that it's more or just as expensive as some pre-built gaming PCs, which is somewhat reasonable since it's using a CPU as powerful as those in high-end desktops – but the RTX 5080 discrete desktop version is the stronger GPU.
Regardless, this is a gaming laptop that packs plenty of processing power in a beefy and sturdy chassis, cooled very well with its Cooler Boost 5 tech using a 'Dedicated Cooling Pipe', so it's not very surprising to see it cost so much.
Still, the point remains; unless you're adamant on travelling with the Vector A18 HX A9W and using it on the go (which I wouldn't recommend because portability isn't that great here), or just want a PC you can move around your home easily, it might be a better choice to buy a desktop rig.
Value: 2.5 / 5
MSI Vector A18 HX A9W: Specs
You knew you'd see Resident Evil 4 at some point in this review... I'm obsessed with it (Image credit: Future / Isaiah Williams)
I absolutely love the chassis of the Vector A18 HX A9W as it has a sturdy build, and perhaps most importantly, a great cooling pipe design. Even when gaming on Extreme Performance, temperatures were never too high, often hitting a maximum of 77 degrees Celsius.
Its speakers aren't particularly a standout, but are serviceable and get the job done, especially with an equalizer and 3D surround sound available to improve audio immersion. It's also always easier to use Bluetooth speakers or headphones that have much better bass and clarity.
The two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports present are ideal for fast file transfers and for those who aren't keen on expanding internal storage with a new SSD, who would rather use an external one. It also features an HDMI 2.1 port on its rear, right next to its power adapter port – and one particular aspect I don't like is the slightly short length of the wire, which often forced me to place the chunky adapter on the desk.
With an 18-inch screen, you're getting the best you could possibly ask for when it comes to portable gaming – and if you've got a spacious desktop setup, it's a great experience.
However, the screen size and the weight are the only two main issues I have in this region, as you're going to have trouble fitting this in most backpacks for travel, and it's very heavy to carry around.
At 7.9 lbs, it had me paranoid that it would make my mini desk meet its demise, and while it's understandable considering all the powerful components, you should be aware that this laptop isn't built for portability (especially while carrying the adapter around, too).
Regardless, this is a beefy gaming laptop power-wise, and these gripes weren't too significant to spoil my experience overall.
Design: 4 / 5
MSI Vector A18 HX A9W: Display
(Image credit: Future / Isaiah Williams)
My review model of the Vector A18 doesn't exactly have the best display available, as it's neither OLED nor mini-LED – both of which offer greater contrast and brightness. However, that doesn't stop it from being an immersive display that I found ideal for intense and competitive multiplayer gaming sessions.
It's thanks to the 240Hz refresh rate and 2560x1600 resolution, which matches up well with the horsepower of the RTX 5080. There aren't many games that are going to run at 240fps (unless you significantly lower graphics settings or resolution), but the ones that do, look absolutely incredible.
I must admit, coming from the consistent use of an OLED ultrawide, it took a little bit of an adjustment to become accustomed to an IPS LCD panel again – but that's to be expected when scaling down from one of the best display types (and it would be unfair to knock points off here because of that).
It's worth noting that HDR isn't present either, which often goes a long way at providing better color accuracy and detail in both brighter and darker images.
Regardless, the Vector A18 HX A9W has a 100% DCI-P3 coverage, so I never once felt dissatisfied or urged to calibrate or adjust color profiles. It also helps that you're getting a full 18-inch screen, which I believe is the sweet spot for portable laptop gaming (besides it probably being why it's so heavy).
The one downside I ran into is playing games that don't have 16:10 aspect ratio support. To put it simply, if you dislike black bars filling out portions of your screen while gaming, you're not going to like it here. So, it's definitely worth considering before committing to a purchase, but there are no other gripes from me.
Display: 4 / 5
MSI Vector A18 HX A9W: Performance
Sweaty Call of Duty lobbies... we love to see it (Image credit: Future / Isaiah Williams)
RTX 5080 is a beast of a laptop GPU
The combo with AMD's Ryzen 9955HX processor is fantastic
The CPU's performance is incredible, matching desktop processors
The biggest highlight of the MSI Vector A18 HX A9W is its performance, almost across the board. It shouldn't come as a surprise for me to say that the RTX 5080 laptop GPU is an absolute powerhouse, and crushes the 2560x1600 resolution in most triple-A games – and DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation is a game changer when used where necessary (essentially anything as demanding as Cyberpunk 2077).
In CPU-bound games, AMD's Ryzen 9955HX processor shines bright with 16 cores and 32 threads, ensuring the Blackwell GPU can do its job without any major bottleneck. In synthetic tests, both single-core and multi-core scores soared above chips like Apple's M1 Max in Cinebench 2024, and in real-world gaming tests, the results were consistent, as I didn't notice anything ominous regarding performance frame rates and frame pacing.
Most importantly, MSI Center features three different user scenario modes: ECO-Silent, Balanced, and Extreme Performance, which can all be used in any of the three Discrete, MSHybrid, or Integrated Graphics modes.
For the best results, I stuck with Discrete Graphics mode, and I must say I was pleasantly surprised at how great ECO-Silent was, in particular. Using a lower TDP (power consumption), temperatures are significantly decreased, and the fans are silent, hence the name ECO-Silent – but I came away shocked at the frame rates I was hitting using this mode.
At 1600p on ECO-Silent, Cyberpunk 2077 at maximum graphics settings without ray tracing and DLSS Quality, it ran at a solid 77fps, sometimes reaching the low 80fps mark, with a 1% low of 66fps.
In Assassin's Creed Shadows – a game that is arguably nearly as demanding on PC hardware as Cyberpunk 2077, and frankly, needs Frame Generation for higher FPS – ran at an average of 40fps on maximum graphics settings at 1600p, using DLSS Quality on ECO-Silent.
With the same graphics settings applied to Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, it hit an average of 62fps; if that doesn't indicate how impressive ECO-Silent mode is, then I don't know what will. It's the best option for gamers who are bothered by fan noise and higher temperatures, while you still get very impressive performance results.
It gets even better with Balanced and Extreme Performance; the former has fans only a little louder than ECO-Silent, and is the way you should use the Vector A18 HX A9W for gaming (it's also MSI's recommended option), as it gives you a true reflection of what this machine is capable of, evident in the performance charts above.
Sticking with Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Balanced mode was 41% faster than ECO-Silent, with an average of 94fps and 1% low at 77fps.
In the case of Extreme Performance, expect a whole lot of fan noise and higher temperatures, in favor of the best possible performance. In most cases of casual play, I hardly needed to use this mode, as the FPS boost wasn't significant enough coming from Balanced mode. However, it's absolutely essential for gaming at 4K, especially if you're using ray tracing.
It mustn't go without mention that DLSS Multi Frame Generation (when you have a decent base frame rate) is an absolute treat. It makes Cyberpunk 2077's Overdrive path tracing preset playable without needing to adjust graphics settings; yes, increased latency is worth noting, but I honestly didn't think it was too impactful in this case.
Performance: 5 / 5
MSI Vector A18 HX A9W: Battery
This heavy adapter is your best friend... forget about the battery (Image credit: Future / Isaiah Williams)
As it is with most gaming laptops I've used, the battery life isn't terrible, but it's also not great either – so, decent at best. We're still seemingly a long way off from battery tech improving, especially for gaming laptops and handheld gaming PCs, but I give the Vector A18 HX A9W its plaudits for being at least average here.
It has a 99.9WHr battery, and switching MSI Center's user scenarios, battery life can vary. While playing Resident Evil 4 remake on Hybrid mode and Extreme Performance, the laptop lasted a full hour, starting at 85% before draining. Knocking the scenario settings down to Discrete mode and Balanced (with 50% brightness) allowed it to last another 10 minutes from the same battery percentage.
If you ask me, I wouldn't even bother gaming without the power adapter because, as expected, performance is significantly worse. Bear in mind, there's a 400W power adapter ready to handle the combined 260W of power from the RTX 5080 and the Ryzen 9 9955HX.
On the other hand, while web surfing in Balanced mode and Integrated Graphics, results were a little bit more impressive; at 59% battery, it took exactly 51 minutes to fall to 6%. When at 100%, it lasted 3 hours and 25 minutes during YouTube playback, so it's decent enough for those who want to use this laptop for work or multitasking.
However, the biggest downside is the charging time, as it takes a total of 2 hours to fully charge. It's already not great that the battery drains within 3 hours outside of gaming, but the addition of a long charge time isn't beneficial if you're looking to use it while on the go.
Portability isn't a strong suit, and these battery results are one of the main reasons why, especially when paired with the hefty design.
Battery: 3 / 5
Should you buy the MSI Vector A18 HX A9W?
Buy it if...
You're looking for one of the best gaming laptops
The MSI Vector A18 HX A9W is one of the best gaming laptops you can find on the market, providing fantastic performance results in games with Nvidia's powerful Blackwell RTX 5080 GPU and AMD's desktop-rivalling Ryzen 9955HX processor.
You want an immersive high refresh rate display
It's great for games like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 or Counter-Strike 2, which rely on fast refresh rates, with access to 240Hz here. The laptop GPU is capable of achieving high frame rates with the right graphics settings.
You plan on moving around your home with a powerful gaming machine
The Vector A18 HX A9W is great for those who wish to move around their home using different displays in different rooms, without a big desktop PC case taking up space.
Don't buy if...
You need a laptop with long battery life
While the Vector A18 HX A9W's battery life isn't bad, it's also not the best either, as you might find with most gaming laptops, and you shouldn't consider this if that is a dealbreaker.
You want to game or work on the go
Coinciding with its average battery life, you won't get great performance without using its 400W power adapter, which is required to utilize the RTX 5080 and Ryzen 9955HX's combined 260W of power.
It's also very heavy and won't fit in most backpacks due to the display's 18-inch size.
You want an affordable gaming laptop
Affordability and the MSI Vector A18 HX A9W are completely distant, as all configurations have an eye-watering cost using either the RTX 5070 Ti or the RTX 5080.
How I tested the MSI Vector A18 HX A9W
I tested the MSI Vector A18 HX A9W for three weeks, running multiple games and synthetic benchmarks. It kept me away from my main desktop gaming PC for a while, with Multi Frame Generation being a significant reason in why, and while I don't want game developers to become over-reliant on Nvidia's DLSS tech, it's great when implemented properly.
Navigation and web browsing was a breeze too, with 32GB of RAM and a powerhouse CPU giving me all I needed to acknowledge that this was a gaming laptop that enthusiasts won't want to miss out on.
The BenQ RD280U is the 28-inch variant without the cool ergo arm of the BenQ RD320UA.
With this RD line-up, BenQ has clearly focused on the engineering front, delivering some of the best monitors for programming I've seen, and effectively perfect for those who spend most, if not their entire days, coding software.
Another area that is super helpful with this style monitor is that it is 3:2, meaning that you'll get more vertical space than you would on a typical 16:9 display, and for coding, that's usually fantastic news. It means you can fit more lines of code, helping you finish that script faster.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
BenQ RD280U: Pricing and Availability
The BenQ RD280U is priced at $659.99, making it a premium display for those looking for an engineering monitor. You can pick one up through BenQ's official website or one of their many distributors and online retailers.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
BenQ RD280U: Unboxing & first impressions
BenQ's packaging is pretty straightforward. In the box is the monitor itself, packaged neatly so that it won't be damaged in transit, the monitor arm, the base for the monitor, and any helpful cables you could want. Since this is the standard version and not the Ergo-Arm version, I decided to put the display on a VESA arm quickly, but to each their own.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
I am so used to 16:9 monitors that it took me a second to get used to looking at a 3:2 display. Not as long as it took me to adjust to the LG Dual Up, but it still took me a minute. It looks similar to the 16:9 aspect ratio monitors, but you immediately notice a difference once you start using it.
Outside of using the monitor itself, the display's physical casing is solid and durable, and the light ring in the back is a charming touch. I am one who semi-regularly writes late at night or early in the morning depending on the season and how busy I am - I'm writing this at 11:56pm on a Monday. So, with that being said I enjoy the light ring and using it to bounce light off the wall behind my display to alleviate some eye strain from a bright display and the dark wall behind it.
BenQ RD280U: Design & Build Quality
Specs
Screen: 28.2-inch Panel: IPS Resolution: 3840 x 2560. RefreshRate: 60Hz ResponseTime: 5ms Brightness: 400 nits. ColorCoverage: 95% DCI-P3 Connectivity: HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.4, USB-C with 90W PD, and USB-A ports.
I've been a fan of BenQ monitors for a while now. They are hitting above their weight class if you ask me. The RD models are no exception to this rule either. I don't personally love the giant chin, but I understand what they were going for. Outside of that, though, I love this monitor.
The 3:2 aspect ratio is growing on me, and I notice myself missing the extra height when I am not using this monitor. The matte finish on the screen reduces glare, much like my Paperlike screen protector on my iPad, which I cannot live without now. It also helps enhance visibility if your office is in a room with a lot of natural light, a window, or a lamp behind you. If you had a non-matte screen in those environments, you'd get a crazy glare, but with that matte finish, you can still see the screen.
The stand with this display is super simple and good if you don't need anything fancy. I usually like to put my monitors on a monitor arm to give them a more ergonomic orientation. For this monitor, I have it on a Corsair desk with a built-in rack and monitor arm that's ideal for this display and desk setup.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
BenQ RD280U: In use
I've had this monitor on my team, and it's been rotating for a while now. So far, it has been an absolutely fantastic monitor for day to day use, while over-featured for basic users, for those who do any coding and want a coding mode, for those who would benefit from the halo light built into the back, or those who wish to that matte screen, this monitor is a great option.
As mentioned above, the 3:2 aspect ratio has been excellent for day-to-day productivity tasks and standard work. It seems like such a small change, but it makes a massive difference in the right contexts. I can fit a lot more vertical space on the screen, meaning I can see more on a webpage, more of my windows arranged during a work day, or more of a terminal, GitHub, Postman, and project management tools. It's been a great little productivity hack for the last few months. You notice it more if you are in a full-screen application, but the vertical space is super helpful even if you have multiple windows open.
The clarity of text on this display is outstanding, making long working hours comfortable for your eyes, whether you're working during the day or at night. This is especially true when paired with the soft light reflecting off the wall behind the display, which helps to reduce eye strain even further.
One thing that I have come to appreciate in the last year is monitors that have USB-C connectivity. Now, I still will put one of the best laptop docking stations on a few of my desk setups, but on a simple setup like this one, I love the ease of a single cable setup. Even for my more complex setups, like my main setup that is truly a beast of a setup, I utilize the USB-C connection to the display so I can run the USB ports on the monitor, control the monitor with Display Pilot 2, and so on. No matter which setup it is, I love how easy the USB-C cable setup is, reducing cable clutter, and making the whole setup feel seamless.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Design
Technical, high quality
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ease of use
Easy to use
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Practicality
Right for the right people
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Price
Priced well for the product
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
BenQ RD280U: Final verdict
The BenQ RD280U is a niche monitor, there is no doubt about that. Take one look at it and you can tell right away if this monitor is marketed to you or not.
I have some people on my team that do not like the look of this monitor and will quickly tell you this is not for them, yet I also have other people on my team who absolutely love the look, functionality, aspect ratio, and design of this display. So, to each their own.
It might not rank among the best business monitors I've tried, but if you're in coding, engineering, or have the same style tastes, then this monitor will be a fantastic option.
Platform reviewed: PC Available on: PS4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PC Release date: May 16, 2025
What makes Capcom Fighting Collection 2 extra special is its diversity. The first Capcom Fighting Collection was very Darkstalkers/Vampire Savior flavored. This latest compilation, however, manages to deliver something for everyone, with some games that fans have been pining to have re-released on modern platforms for years now.
The big draw in this collection is, of course, Capcom vs. SNK 2: Mark of the Millennium 2001. Fighting game legends and casuals alike largely consider it to be one of the greatest the genre has ever seen - owing to its large crossover roster, exceptional soundtrack, and the innovative Groove system.
But that’s not to say the rest of the collection is a dud. You absolutely shouldn’t sleep on the original Capcom vs. SNK and its glorious presentation, nor 3D curiosities like Project Justice and Plasma Sword: Nightmare of Bilstein. Both Power Stone games are here, too, and those are among the best party platforming fighters of all time.
The only real stinker in Capcom Fighting Collection 2 is Capcom Fighting Evolution. It’s a bizarre inclusion given its infamous reputation, confusing systems, and roughshod presentation. On the other hand, it’s an interesting one from a curiosity standpoint, and it is still worthy of preservation.
You can also expect the usual smattering of extras, including concept art galleries, achievements, and sound test options. Some games also have fully remixed soundtracks courtesy of the CAP-JAMs team, and there’s plenty of bangers here, especially for Capcom vs. SNK 2.
Go for broke
(Image credit: Capcom)
Before diving into the review proper, here’s a quick rundown of the eight games you can expect to play in Capcom Fighting Collection 2.
Capcom vs. SNK: Millennium Fight 2000 Pro
Capcom vs. SNK 2: Mark of the Millennium 2001
Street Fighter Alpha 3 Upper
Project Justice
Plasma Sword: Nightmare of Bilstein
Power Stone
Power Stone 2
Capcom Fighting Evolution
I won’t be giving a full review of each game individually, as to be quite honest, I’d need around 5,000 words to do so. But what you should know is that - aside from Capcom Fighting Evolution - each game in this collection is absolutely worth playing, whether you’ve done the rounds with fighting games before or not.
For most players, the first port of call will almost certainly be Capcom vs. SNK 2: Mark of the Millennium 2001. What seems like a simple crossover fighter on its surface quickly reveals itself as perhaps one of the deepest fighting games ever made. And it’s all thanks to the Ratio and Groove systems.
First of all, Ratio determines the power scaling of the character(s) you select. You have four Ratio points with which to build your team, with higher numbers granting your characters more health and attack strength. For example, you can pick a single Ratio 4 character, or one Ratio 2 and two Ratio 1 fighters.
The Groove system is vastly more complex and will fundamentally change how your team operates. There are six grooves: C, A, P, S, N, and K. Each can apply different properties and abilities, but there are unique quirks within each. C-Groove, for example, is the only Groove that grants you access to Level 2 Super moves. P-Groove gives you a Street Fighter 3: Third Strike-style parry, while K-Groove lets you enter a powered-up rage state. You can only select one Groove, and learning which you like best (not to mention which works best with your chosen characters) is an incredibly rewarding process for those willing to put the time in.
The original Capcom vs. SNK may not be as fondly remembered, but skip on it at your peril. It arguably has the stronger presentation of the two, with charming stage intro animations and one of the slickest attract screens to ever grace the arcades. There are some limitations here compared to its sequel, though. Characters have a preset Ratio, for one, and there are just two Grooves to choose from (either Capcom or SNK). It’s still well worth checking out, though, if only for its mesmerizing Y2K-style presentation.
Party on
(Image credit: Capcom)
If you prefer more casual-friendly 3D fighters, this collection has you covered there, too, in the forms of Project Justice and Plasma Sword. The former is a team-based fighter that pits characters from rivaling high schools against each other, making use of powerful team synergy attacks to quickly turn the tables.
The latter is an interesting one; Plasma Sword (and its predecessor, Star Gladiator) was, allegedly, originally envisioned as a Star Wars fighting game. You’ll be able to see that influence in many of its character designs, too. A four-button fighter not dissimilar to the Soul Calibur games, it’s not the most complex game out there, but it is well worth experiencing for its lighthearted sci-fi charm and bonkers special moves.
Best bit
(Image credit: Capcom)
The crown jewel of the package is undoubtedly Capcom vs. SNK 2. It’s a highly technical fighting game, but certainly one of the most rewarding to this day. Fine-tuning your team and matching them with one of six Groove styles is incredibly satisfying, if only to see what kinds of crazy synergies you can come up with. It truly feels like a game of limitless possibilities, and I can only hope Capcom and SNK revisit the concept in the future.
Then you have Power Stone and Power Stone 2, both of which are a real treat and - for those who prefer less technical fighters that flourish in casual multiplayer environments - perhaps the best games in this collection. The Power Stone games combine melee fighting with a range of fun items, including gatling guns, lasers, and hammers. Both are an unbelievably fun time despite their age, with a cast of charming characters, a lovely art style, and stages that evolve over time. Power Stone 2 does bump things up from two players to four and features all-new stages. But you can’t go wrong with either title, really.
Rounding out the package is Street Fighter Alpha 3 Upper, a fantastic arcade version of Alpha 3 with balance changes and extra characters. Then there’s Capcom Fighting Evolution, which - to be polite - is the black sheep of the collection. It’s one you can safely skip due to its frankly horrible presentation, with muddy low-resolution backgrounds and a grossly unbalanced roster.
It’s a curiosity for sure, as a game that chucks in characters from Street Fighter, Darkstalkers, Red Earth, and more, but also one that simply isn’t as fun or rewarding as the other titles in Capcom Fighting Collection 2.
Should I buy Capcom Fighting Collection 2?
(Image credit: Capcom)
Buy it if...
You want to play classic Capcom fighters online Online play works fantastically in Capcom Fighting Collection 2. In my online sessions, I found the connection to be very stable, and ranked play provides incentive to keep on pushing and improving, as it does in all the best fighting games.
You love browsing development material Capcom Fighting Collection 2’s Museum is chock full of interesting concept art, marquee cards, and promotional material - some of which has never been publicly released before. You can also experience the full soundtracks of all games, with some receiving superb remixes from the CAP-JAMs music team.
You’re looking for a new couch staple Capcom Fighting Collection 2 fully supports local play with friends across all titles. The Power Stone games are, of course, excellent for this, but the rest all provide offline multiplayer fun in addition to their online suites.
Don't buy it if...
You’ve no interest in older games Cynical as it might be to say, there’s nothing objectively ‘new’ in Capcom Fighting Collection 2 when it comes to the games. If you prefer more modern fighters or simply have no interest in turn-of-the-century titles, you can give this a miss. Though missing out, you certainly would be, in my opinion.
Accessibility
Capcom Fighting Collection 2 does have a couple of noteworthy accessibility options. One-button supers apply to most games here, letting you input your favorite characters’ flashiest and most damaging moves with little effort - perfect for casual and beginner play. You can also access various CRT filters or disable them entirely based on your preferences.
JBL has pitched its new Tour One M3 wireless over-ear noise-cancellers right into the heart of the action. They’re priced to compete with hitters as big as Bose and Sony, but the company hasn’t just slapped a premium price-tag on and hoped for the best. These headphones are specified to compete, and even have an optional extra that elevates their functionality beyond that of any price-comparable rival.
Wireless connectivity, frequency response and battery life are all well up to standard. Control options are numerous and well implemented. And with the optional Smart Tx transmitter, JBL is able to turn the Tour One M3 into a wireless receiver of non-wireless sources, as well as facilitating group listening for as many people who have Auracast-compatible headphones would like to participate.
There’s no arguing with the standard of build and finish that’s on display here, either, though the majority of the plastics used in the construction don’t feel as expensive as you might expect in a product as pricey as this. Still, at least the comfort quotient is high, thanks to some judicious padding and a low overall weight.
And if you like your sound punchy, upfront and animated, there’s plenty to enjoy here and the JBL don’t scrimp on the details, either. Their spatial audio effect is subtle and effective, and the noise cancellation puts them up there among the best noise cancelling headphones mix with anything that hasn’t got the word ‘Bose’ on it.
Don’t venture into bigger (higher) volume levels, though, because no good can come of it. The treble response, which is assertive at the best of times, can become unruly and the overall sound becomes two-dimensional and rather shouty.
You don’t need me to tell you this is serious money for a pair of wireless over-ear noise-cancellers, even before you add in the cost of the Smart Tx transmitter – $349 ($399 with the transmitter); £329 (£379); AU$479 (AU$549).
JBL has picked a fight with brands as credible as Bose, Bowers & Wilkins, Sennheiser and Sony (to name just four) by pricing the Tour ONE M3 this way, which can mean one of only two things. Either JBL is completely confident or JBL is utterly rash.
There are boxes to be ticked when you’re charging this sort of money for a pair of wireless noise-cancelling over-ears, most of which are marked ‘the best version of X’, and the JBL Tour One M3 ticks all of them.
For instance, they use Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless connectivity, and feature multipoint connectivity as well as compatibility with LC3 and LDAC codecs as well as SBC and AAC. They will run for as much as 70 hours (at moderate volume and with noise-cancellation switched off) between charges, and you can expect 40 hours even if you listen at high volume and with ANC switched on.
The ANC itself is a three-stage system: choose between ‘ambient aware’ (an in-app slider controls how much of the outside world is allowed in), ‘talk-thru’ (which pauses music while significantly boosting external sounds, voices in particular) and ‘noise-cancelling’. There’s another slider here, to adjust ANC intensity - or you can switch on ‘adaptive ANC’ to automatically adjust the level based on ambient conditions. ‘Auto compensation’, meanwhile, assesses the headphones’ position on your ear relative to your ear canal in order to adjust ANC on the fly.
JBL suggests the Tour ONE M3 have a frequency response of 10Hz to 40kHz, which, if it’s anything like accurate, should be ample. Sound is served via a couple of 40mm mica dome dynamic drivers.
(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)
The control app itself has plenty of functionality beyond fiddling with active noise-cancellation, of course – ‘JBL Headphones’ is free for iOS and Android and is one of the most comprehensive apps around.
For instance, it allows you to select a ‘spatial audio’ setting (‘fixed’, ‘head-tracking’ or ‘off’) and investigate your EQ options (there are six presets and the ability to specify some custom settings using a 10-band equalizer). You can take a hearing test to help the headphones adapt to your specific hearing profile, exert some influence of the physical methods of control, set a volume limiter and plenty more besides. These include checking on firmware updates and remaining battery life, plus adjusting the length of time without an incoming signal required before the headphones power down – basically, this app is a model of usefulness and stability.
Then there's the Smart Tx transmitter (a cost option, let’s not forget), through which JBL has an authentic Point of Difference. If you’re familiar with the ‘retransmission case’ that the top-end Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 true wireless in-ears have been supplied with for the past few years, you’ll know one of the things the Smart Tx can do – attach it to a non-wireless source of music, such as the in-flight entertainment system, via one of its USB-C slots and it will wirelessly stream to the headphones.
But there’s more to this little brick than that. It also uses Auracast to allow multiple devices to listen to whatever is playing into it (as long as all headphones are Auracast-compatible, of course). Its full-colour touch-screen duplicates quite a lot of the app’s functions, too, so to make changes you don’t have to fish your phone out of the pocket on the back of the seat in front of you. Yes, it needs charging (via its second USB-C) and, also yes, it’s another thing to disappear down the back of the sofa or something, but for those who fancy its functionality, it’s a very useful little device indeed.
Features score: 5 / 5
(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)
JBL Tour One M3 review: Sound quality
Punch, drive and detail in fairly equal measure
Effective and quite nuanced spatial audio effect
Easily spooked by bigger volumes
Some headphones don’t really mind the sort of stuff you listen to, or how you choose to listen to it – they just get on with the job, regardless. The JBL Tour One M3, I think I can safely say, are not those headphones.
As far as music styles are concerned, they’re not especially fussy, but where quality of recording is concerned, they have definite preferences. It’s mostly due to their treble response – the top end as reproduced by the Tour One M3 is absolutely as bright and bitey as is acceptable. So if you provoke it with a recording that shares that same high-end edginess – Nick Lowe’s You Got the Look I Like is a good example – things can get compounded into something very close to hardness.
There’s no shortage of detail revealed at the top of the frequency range, though, and that’s the case throughout. At every point the JBL are an observant and insightful listen, able to identify even the most fleeting episodes in a recording. Midrange resolution is impressive, and at the bottom end they punch with the sort of weight and determination we’ve all come to expect from JBL equipment. There’s a slight bias towards the bottom of the frequency range when EQ settings are left alone, but this can be mitigated a little in the app. What EQ adjustment can’t do, though, is affect tonality that’s nicely naturalistic right until the top end gets involved.
(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)
Dynamic impetus is considerable, especially where the biggest shifts in volume or intensity are concerned, and the upheavals in Fiona Apple’s Fetch the Bolt Cutters are described in full. The smaller, but no less significant, harmonic variations get appropriate weighting, too. Soundstaging, when listening in straight stereo, is organized and reasonably expansive, but there’s a pleasant unity to the stage, an idea of performance, that makes for a confident and convincing presentation.
Switch on spatial audio and the effect is much less showy than some rival designs shoot for, and it’s all to the good as far as I’m concerned. The stage opens up in every direction without losing too much of its definition, and the sensation of space doesn’t feel in any way artificial.
No, the major issue here concerns volume, and the Tour One M3's inability to cope with it. Turn up the volume and the sound becomes two-dimensional and rather too assertive – every part of a recording seems to rush to the front of the stage, and the top-end tonality (which is problematic all the time) becomes quite abrasive and almost glassy. ‘Composure’ is the word I’m after, and it deserts the JBL the moment you decide to listen at big levels.
The active noise-cancellation, by way of contrast, needs no excuses making for it. Does it cloak you in an eerie blanket of silence like the equivalent Bose headphones can manage? No, it doesn't. Does it bear comparison to the very best alternatives out there that aren’t by Bose? Most definitely. Without altering their sonic characteristics or introducing a suggestion of counter-signal, the Tour One M3 deal with the vast majority of external distractions and leave you free to get on with listening.
Not too loud, though, obviously.
Sound quality score: 3 / 5
(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)
JBL Tour One M3 review: Design
Fold flat and inwards, so have quite a small carry-case
Choice of three finishes
Perceived value is not all it might be
Don’t get me wrong, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with the way the JBL Tour One M3 are built and finished. Despite having so much articulation in the frame that they can fold up into a winningly compact carry-case, they give every impression of being carefully constructed and ready to last. But when it comes to perceived value, the embodiment of the word ‘premium’ that comes from the look, the feel and, let’s face it, the smell of a pair of headphones, the Tour One M3 don’t have it in anything like the quantities of their price-comparable rivals.
In terms of the look, that might be down to the fact that my review sample is in an insipid finish called ‘mocha’ – perhaps the appearance is a bit classier in the black or blue alternatives. But the color has nothing to do with the way the Tour One M3 feel and the plastics which make up a lot of the frame are hard and feel inexpensive. All of which is unfortunate, given how expensive these headphones actually are.
(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)
The practicalities of the design are absolutely fine, though. The contact points are pleather-covered memory foam, and they’re softly pliant. The headband adjusts with a very positive action, and the clamping force it exerts is nicely judged. These 278g headphones are easy to wear and it’s simple to get and remain comfortable inside them. JBL isn’t quoting an IP rating, though, so it’s worth making sure you don’t get too comfortable in inappropriate environments.
On the left earcup there’s a slender ‘volume up/down’ rocker switch. On the right, meanwhile, a ‘power on/off/Bluetooth pairing’ slider is positioned above an ‘action’ button that cycles through ‘noise-cancelling’, ‘ambient aware’ and ‘talk-thru’. The surface of this earcup also has a touch surface that allows control over ‘play/pause’, ‘skip forwards’, ‘skip backwards’ and ‘summon voice assistant’, and this is where telephony functions are accessed, too. It’s possible to unintentionally trigger touch controls when feeling for that ‘action’ button, but broadly speaking these are effective, well-implemented user interfaces.
The USB-C slot can be used both for charging the battery and for data transfer - which means the Tour One M3 are genuinely high-resolution headphones if hard-wired to an appropriate source. And there are eight mics spread over the two earcups taking care of voice-assistant interaction, telephony and noise-cancellation.
Design score: 4 / 5
(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)
JBL Tour One M3 review: Value
Variable sound
So-so perceived value
Excellent control options, including the Smart Tx transmitter
Ultimately, the JBL Tour ONE M3 can’t be said to offer cast-iron value for money. They have a lot going for them where comfort is concerned, their noise-cancelling is very good, their control options are all very well realized and, in some ways, they sound very enjoyable and entertaining, too.
But the hard, quite cheap-feeling plastics that make up a lot of the frame, the tendency to lose a little self-control at volume, and the sheer strength of the products they’re competing against all conspire to make the JBL a diverting alternative rather than a nailed-on candidate for your ‘value for money’ shortlist.
Value score: 3.5 / 5
(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)
Should I buy the JBL Tour One M3?
Section
Notes
Score
Features
Bluetooth 5.3 with LDAC codec compatibility; optional Smart Tx transmitter a potential game-changer
5 / 5
Sound quality
Excellent ANC; dynamic impetus; nuanced spatial audio; but too easily spooked at high volumes
3 / 5
Design
Fold flat into neat carry-case; comfortable; hard plastic don't lend premium finish
4 / 5
Value
Very good control options; so-so perceived value
3.5 / 5
Buy them if…
You like quite forceful sound There’s no denying the upfront and vigorous nature of the JBL sound in general, and that goes double for the Tour One M3.
You enjoy a USP The Smart Tx transmitter brings a lot of additional functionality to the headphones (as long as you remember to keep it charged).
Comfort is important These headphones are relatively light, the fit is nicely judged, and the contact points are all nice and soft.
Don't buy them if…
You’re especially sensitive to treble sounds At best, the JBL are lively at the top end; at worst, they’re quite hard and unyielding.
You’re big on perceived value It’s not about the build or the finish, they’re both fine. It’s just that the JBL don’t look or feel anything special.
You like to listen at bigger volumes The Tour One M3 are prone to over-excitement at high volume, and lose some of what makes them an enjoyable listen in the first place.
JBL Tour One M3 review: Also consider
Sony WH-1000XM5 Sony’s ubiquitous-for-a-reason WH-1000XM5 are now routinely available at around $299 / £249 (they launched at $399 / £299) and, on a pound-for-pound basis, wireless over-ear noise-cancelling cans don’t get any more rounded or across-the-board excellent than this. Read our full Sony WH-1000XM5 review
Bose QuietComfort Ultra You may prioritize noise-cancelling, of course, and if that’s the case then don’t look any further than the Bose QuietComfort Ultra. Where ANC is concerned, everyone else is playing catch-up. Read the full Bose QuietComfort Ultra review
Edifier Stax Spirit S5 If you prefer the road less traveled, though, and you can live without active noise-cancellation, the Stax Spirit 5 from Edifier uses their planar magnetic driver technology to deliver the sweetest of sounds. Read our full Edifier Stax Spirit S5 review
How I tested JBL Tour One M3
Connected to iOS and Android music players, wired and wirelessly
Connected using the Smart Tx transmitter to a laptop
Lots of different music, lots of different file types and sizes
I listened at my desk, connecting the Smart Tx transmitter to a laptop, I listened while out and about and I listened on public transport, to lots of music of many different file types and sizes. I spent over a week critically to get the best feel possible for the JBL.
I love a good permanent desk setup. However, something that is also very real in my life is that I am always on the go, working away from my principal, beloved home office, and I cannot risk losing productivity, nor slowing down while working away from home.
So, I went down the rabbit hole of finding the best portable monitors a few months ago. I had spent time using my iPad as a second screen, but since moving to an iPad Mini 7 from my M1 iPad Pro 11-inch, I lost the screen real estate I wanted.
When I found the Sotsu FlipAction monitors, I snagged the Pro variant without hesitation. I thought it would be perfect for me, but I only upgraded it to the flagship Elite Model shortly after. That was 166 days ago from writing this review (whilst using the Flip Action Elite 16 and my MacBook Pro). Since then, I've had this monitor go everywhere in the laptop sleeve of my 20L Nomatic Backpack, and I have used it almost every day. I have some thoughts.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
Sotsu FlipAction Elite 16: Pricing and Availability
The Sotsu FlipAction Elite 16 Portable Monitor can be purchased through the Sotsu website by clicking here. It's currently priced for pre-order at $789 / £594, and is available in a silver or space black, perfectly complementing a MacBook colorway.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
Sotsu FlipAction Elite 16: Unboxing & first impressions
Right away, when I opened the box, I was struck by just how Apple-esque the Sotsu FlipAction Elite 16 looked, and in the best way. The silver color, the rounded edges, the black bezel matching the silver edge, and the gorgeous display. I
immediately noticed that without changing any settings, I plugged the display into my MacBook Pro, which perfectly matched my MacBook screen. Then, I saw the base and stand. At first, it looked like it would be complex or not exactly what I wanted, but I was sold when I noticed that I could extend the monitor out and have it raise above my MacBook.
When I realized I could set the display in portrait, horizontal, next to my MacBook display, above my MacBook display, or on its own, I was hooked.
As I mentioned, this looks like an Apple product. If Apple were to make a portable monitor, it should buy out Sotsu and make this display itself. It's that good, and matches that well.
The build quality is spectacular and still looks brand new after nearly 200 days of daily use. The hinges work great, the IO is still tight, and the display has had zero issues.
The design is fantastic, and I find myself returning to this portable monitor repeatedly, even when testing others, or having other co-working setups I could plug into.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
Sotsu FlipAction Elite 16: In use
After nearly 200 days of use, I found the absolute sweet spot for this display. I've made a straightforward modification; other than that, I am using this screen as intended, and it has been a dream to use. My single modification was swapping the cable that came with it to a 1m Thunderbolt 4 cable. I added a 40 Gbps right-angle adapter to it, so I still got the cable pointing to the back of my Mac towards the portable monitor.
I did this simply with the ease of my EDC in mind. There was nothing wrong with the cable Sotsu sent, but I knew I'd have some bigger files to transfer that I would want a Thunderbolt 4 cable in my bag for, so I may as well have one that is multi-purpose.
For many reasons, the Sotsu FlipAction Elite 16 has been my secret to productivity. First of all, I can now easily get a two (or three) screen setup, all out of my sleek EDC backpack, all powered with a single power in, one cable connecting my Mac to the display, and then if I want zero latency, one cable running from my Mac to my iPad Mini. Second of all, depending on what I am working on, I can swap between having a stacked monitor layout, to a portrait monitor next to my Mac, to a second display for my iPad, to a completely independent monitor for a Mac Mini, a camera setup, or another device I am working on.
Third, it is lightweight and easy to fit in my backpack without needing to reorganize or shove things in there; it just collapses to almost nothing and slides into a sleeve in my bag. And fourth, it has better screen resolution than the average monitor and most monitors that would even be available. At the same time, I travel, making this an even easier no-brainer to use.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
My daily setup experience now includes the Sotsu FlipAction Elite 16-inch. Setting up my entire workspace only takes seconds, and I can do it nearly anywhere. I usually spend most of my time with the display above my MacBook, at a more ergonomic eye level, and operating as my primary display. My 13-inch MacBook screen below is for my secondary things, running two virtual screens, one for admin, and one for project management. Then my iPad Mini runs anything from research to Spotify, Reminders, Slack, or sometimes Notion.
When I am working on something where I want more vertical space, I'll rotate the display to portrait mode so I can see more lines of whatever I am working on, and then when I am done, I'll rotate it back and move it back to above my MacBook.
If I'm working in an area where stacked monitors don't make sense for some reason, then I'll put it to the left and still have a multi-display setup.
There are a few things that I wish this display had, that would simply be icing on the cake. First, would be a USB-A port. Since I am on a newer MacBook Pro, I don't have any USB-A ports and there have been two instances where I have had to pull out a dongle to use that USB-A device. I wish that up by my SD Card slot reader on the base there could also be a USB-A port.
Secondly, I wish that there was an app integration with the display much like DisplayPilot 2 on any newer BenQ Monitor. However, I have gotten around needing to control display brightness by using an app called Monitor Control. Third, I wish the panel was OLED for the added brightness, and fourth, I wish there was a nano texture display option too, much like what I have on my iPad with a Paperlike screen. However, none of those qualms are cons, just wishes for a customized option.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Design
Beautiful, High quality
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ease of use
Easy to use
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Practicality
Right for most people
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Price
Priced well for the product
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Sotsu FlipAction Elite 16: Final verdict
In short, this display has become a staple in my EDC Setup for a reason. It has been the perfect portable monitor for me, and its largely due to the design, the 4K panel, and the remarkable multi-function stand. I have no plans to take this out of my everyday carry bag anytime soon, and I plan to continue using this panel nearly daily.
The Coros Heart Rate Monitor is a strap-based monitor designed for your upper arm that uses optical tracking tech to measure blood volume, rather than electrocardiograph or ECG, which measures the heart's electrical signals. While many of the best heart rate monitors use ECG, optical sensors are found in the best smartwatches. Which begs the question: why does Coros' stand-alone HRM use optical sensors instead of ECG?
The short answer, from Coros, is that optical heart rate monitoring works by using light shone through your skin to see your blood flow. While watches can do a reasonable job on the wrist, there is a lot more blood higher up the arm, making a dedicated strap – which can be affixed tightly yet comfortably to that higher arm position – more accurate.
So, for your money, you are getting a more accurate optical heart rate monitor than a smartwatch, yet with arguably a more comfortable wearing position. Unlike a chest strap, it's a comfortable wear for both men and women of all body types and sizes, and to top it off you get a decent 38 hours of use with its rechargeable battery.
Thanks to Bluetooth connectivity, this can be used with many different devices from smartwatches and phones to bikes and gym machines. There's also a useful wear detection feature which means this can auto-power on and connect. All you need to do is put it on.
There is basic waterproofing, to 3ATM, but this is more to make it sweat and rain-proof – so don't expect this to be usable for swimming. You also won't find connectivity options like ANT+ here, so that may limit some people in terms of which devices this can be used with.
Coros Heart Rate Monitor key specs
Component
Coros Heart Rate Monitor
Dimensions
42.5 x 28.4 x 9.1mm
Weight
19g with strap
Fit
18-32cm standard, 24-43cm large
Case material
Plastic unit, with polyester fibre, nylon and spandex band
Connectivity
Bluetooth
Compatibility
3 simultaneous
Water resistance
3 ATM
Accelerometer
No
Battery
Rechargeable USB-A
Coros Heart Rate Monitor: Price and release date
Available to buy now in the US, UK, and Australia
Priced at $79 / £69 / AU$140 RRP
A similar price point as Garmin's HRM Pro
The Coros Heart Rate Monitor launched on June 27, 2023 and is available across the globe. It launched with a price of $79 in the US, £69 in the UK and $140 in Australia.
The Coros HRM is available in several colours thanks to a selection of band options, which you can pick at purchase. These include Grey, Lime and Orange. There is also an option to get a large version of the Grey if needed – more details on that in the design section.
You can buy the Coros HRM directly from Coros via sites like Amazon.
Price-wise, it's comparable to the Garmin HRM-Pro, so it's in line with the rest of its competitors without being either outstanding value or egregiously expensive.
Value score: 3.5/5
Coros HRM (Image credit: Future)
Coros Heart Rate Monitor: Design
Comfortable to wear
Easy to fit
Simple design
The Coros Heart Rate Monitor is all about simplicity and as such this is a doddle to wear. Since this is made to go on your bicep, once you've got the right size adjusted to suit you using the velcro fitting, it's a simple case of sliding it up your arm to pop it on.
The strap materials are a combination of polyester fiber, nylon and spandex, which all equate to a very comfortable feel. But, crucially, this is flexible enough to slip on and off with a stretch, but tight enough to stay in place without it feeling too tight or uncomfortable.
At 19g the total weight is barely noticeable. When you consider people run with large phones in arm strap cases and barely notice them, you can imagine how unobtrusive this feels.
Does this feel more comfy than a chest strap? The answer in my case was a yes, but that may vary from person to person. I certainly like the fact this slips on easily, and thanks to that auto-wear detection sensor it'll connect up quickly and easily too.
This is made to fit biceps of sizes between 18 and 32cm. So unless you're very slim or a bodybuilder, this is likely to fit you comfortably regardless of gender. If you are bigger in the arm area then there is the option to go for a larger variant of the strap at point of purchase, which accommodates 24-43cm biceps.
Coros HRM (Image credit: Future)
The sensor setup itself comprises five LEDs with four photodetectors. That combination, representing the best optical heart rate sensors from Coros right now, should mean this is fairly future-proof, unlikely to be eclipsed by more accurate technology for a while. That said, it won't offer SpO2 measurements, so if you're after O2 features then you may want to keep looking elsewhere.
There is an LED light on the side of the main unit which acts as a useful communication light. When on charge this will glow orange until the battery is full after two hours, and it then turns solid green so you know it's good to go.
The charger is USB-A at one end and a proprietary magnetic attachment at the end of the HRM connection. While it's easy to plug into many different power sources, we would have preferred the more efficient, up-to-date USB-C.
The strap is also washable, where the main unit can slide off, making it possible to keep that looking fresh for long periods.
Design score: 4/5
Coros HRM (Image credit: Future)
Coros Heart Rate Monitor: Features
App is minimal
Lots of third-party app compatibility
No swim tracking
The Coros Heart Rate Monitor can be paired to many devices and works with the app you want to use. But there is an included Coros app that you can use, ideal if you've already got other Coros devices like the Coros Pace Pro.
The Coros app is fine for analyzing data, but it won't track you while you're out exercising. So you will need to use a third-party app, like Strava. I connected the HRM by opening the Coros app, and once connected, I could just open Strava, slip on the armband, and it would pull in the HR data directly.
I found this helpful for heart rate training or zone tracking. Generally speaking, I used the phone to collect the data and then only looked at it when analyzing my effort after I was back and showered off, so you'll need to take your phone in a chest, waist or arm-mounted running case.
Coros HRM (Image credit: Future)
It's also worth noting that if you already have a smartwatch and simply want to add a more accurate heart rate tracker than the built-in optical option, this can connect to your smartwatch too. And yes, this did prove more accurate than wrist-based options during our testing, so this could be a viable alternative to a chest strap.
The app is the only way to know an accurate measure of the HRM's battery life. Sure the light on the side can give you rough guidance, but that's not likely to serve you before a run or ride where you'll want reassurance you have enough juice to go the distance. A push notification would have been helpful when connected too.
It's worth noting that this can broadcast heart rate to up to three devices simultaneously. So you could have your watch and phone connected to your bike computer at the same time, for example. I haven't tested this feature yet, but it's good to have the option should the need arise.
Features: 3/5
Coros app (Image credit: Future)
Coros Heart Rate Monitor: Performance
Good accuracy
Easy to use
Very comfortable
One of the most important things to mention here is comfort. This is more comfy to wear than a chest strap, while offering almost the same level of accuracy. It's easy to slip on and off, less noticeable to wear and can also be kept hidden to avoid knocks – with the option to slide it under your sleeve.
While a wrist-worn heart rate monitor in a watch can be useful, wearing this on your bicep is so much more accurate. As mentioned it's a better spot, with more blood, for clearer readings. But it's also higher up the arm with far less movement when running and way less bumping when riding a bike. All that combines to offer great levels of accuracy across sports while staying comfy.
Where this falls down compared to a chest strap is battery life. It's decent, hitting close to the claimed 38 hours in real-world use, but still doesn't compare to the one or two year battery power of some chest straps.
Coros HRM on the left and chest strap on the right. (Image credit: Future)
In one run (image above), with an early hill climb which I use to beat any chance of averaging explaining accuracy, I did spot some issues. I had a competitor chest strap on in addition to the arm-based Coros HRM connected to my phone. On the hill climb, my heart quickly jumped to 170 and the chest strap kept up. However, the Coros strap lagged behind, reading 155. It did catch up, but was a few seconds behind.
After that, as the distance lengthened and those averages came into play, it got even closer, but I was aware of that initial blip.
So while you can see the early discrepancy, generally both the Coros and chest-mounted HRM show similar readings with near-identical max and average heart rate data. It was certainly noticeably more accurate than a wrist-worn optical heart rate sensor is capable of offering.
Performance score: 4/5
Coros HRM: Scorecard
Category
Comment
Score
Value
In line with competition, making it reasonable.
3.5/5
Design
Very well designed to be comfy, work well, be easy-to-use and accurate.
4.5/5
Features
Great app compatibility but loses points on lack of swim support.
3/5
Performance
Accurate, comfortable and easy to use.
4/5
Total
A superb option for accuracy and comfort with charge support.
4/5
Coros HRM (Image credit: Future)
Coros Heart Rate Monitor: Buy it if...
You're need true heart rate training A dedicated HRM detects changes to your heart rate more accurately than a watch alone, allowing you to zone train with quality.
You want comfort and ease The Coros HRM is very comfortable and easy to slip on and off with that auto turn-on and -off functionality, making it a pleasure to use.
Coros Heart Rate Monitor: don't buy it if...
You want to see your data Unless you own a Coros or other smartwatch, then seeing your data isn't easy when phone connected to this HRM.
You want the best battery While battery life here is good, it's not chest strap level performance so consider that charging will be a part of this use.
Designed for multi-sport use, the HRM-Pro is the most advanced heart rate strap Garmin produces, although it’s probably of greater interest to those who already own Garmin products.
The MyZone MZ-Switch isn’t just a chest strap. The center sensor node features an ECG monitor as well as an optical sensor and pops out so it can be worn on the wrist like a smartwatch.
I used the Coros HRM for a few weeks to test. I did this across running and cycling mainly and mixed in longer steady trips out as well as hills and sprints to get a range of results. I compared using a wrist-worn Garmin, a chest strap and, at one point, an optical armband too. I used this with a few different apps to try out how the data could be used, shared and analyzed.
The Samsung 25W 10,000mAh Wireless Battery Pack is a power bank designed for charging Galaxy and other small devices.
It has quite a sleek design with an organic-looking finish, emphasized by the beige colorway of my unit, which is mottled for a pebble-like appearance. It also feels quite solid, although there is some flexing to the panels, so it isn’t the most rugged power bank around.
However, it’s pleasingly thin and light, and combined with the rounded edges at one end, this makes the Samsung 25W 10,000mAh Wireless Battery Pack relatively easy to carry around. However, it’s quite long, even for a wireless power bank, and many of the best power banks with similar power and capacity specs are smaller than this.
What also mars its seamless design is the hump of the wireless charging pad, although its soft material offers extra cushioning and grip for your device, and seems quite resistant to tears and scratches.
There’s no real interface to speak of on the Samsung 25W 10,000mAh Wireless Battery Pack. It features a single power button and five LED dots: one indicating charging activity and the other four representing battery life. These are placed at the end of the unit, next to the USB ports, and are large and bright enough to be seen clearly.
The wireless charging feature is capable of outputting 7.5W of power. It also features two USB-C ports, both of which serve as inputs and outputs. These offer Super Fast Charging, providing 25W of output power each when charging a single device.
Three-way charging is also supported when using both ports and the wireless pad, although the power output drops to 7.5W for all outputs in such cases. It’s also a shame that while charging, the battery life indicators don’t remain lit, so you can’t tell how much battery the Samsung 25W 10,000mAh Wireless Battery Pack has left without pressing the power button first, which is somewhat inconvenient.
It managed to wirelessly charge a Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus, which has a 4,755mAh battery, from empty to full in about three and a half hours, which is quite a good performance. In the process, the Samsung 25W 10,000mAh Wireless Battery Pack lost all but one of its LED dots, indicating that it had between 5-20% left in reserve.
This is somewhat disappointing, since it means you’ll only get one full wireless charge out of it. What’s more, charging the bank itself from empty to full took over three hours, which isn’t particularly fast; other 10K power banks are faster at charging themselves than this.
The Samsung 25W 10,000mAh Wireless Battery Pack is reasonably priced considering its wireless charging capability and the inclusion of two USB-C ports for additional charging. However, there are other wireless chargers out there with smaller form factors that perform just as well, such as the Anker MagGo Power Bank (10K), which even includes a handy flip stand for propping up your phone.
Should I buy the Samsung 25W 10,000mAh Wireless Battery Pack Battery Pack?
Buy it if…
You want to charge multiple devices at the same time Thanks to the two USB-C ports and three-way charging support, you can charge all your small devices at the same time.
You want to charge wirelessly The wireless charging capability is quite good, and the soft pad is durable and provides plenty of stability.
Don't buy it if…
You want multiple charges With its 10,000mAh capacity, the Samsung 25W 10,000mAh Wireless Battery Pack won’t be enough for charging your phone more than once.
You want the best value There are cheaper power banks out there with similar specs, and sometimes with extra features to boot.
Samsung 25W 10,000mAh Wireless Battery Pack review: Also consider
Anker MagGo Power Bank (10K) If you’re looking for another power bank with wireless charging capabilities, then the MagGo Power Bank is a great choice, given its small dimensions and integrated stand. Although primarily designed for MagSafe iPhones (hence the name), it works with Android phones as well, although it won’t provide the same magnetic security. MagSafe cases are available for Android phones, but since these aren’t officially endorsed, there’s no guarantee they’ll work with MagSafe chargers. Read our full Anker MagGo Power Bank (10K) review.
I have not heard a lot about X-Chair before I found out about the X4 Executive Chair. I had heard of them as a company, but I haven't done any deep research into who they were or what they produced until this chair. So, I went into it pretty oblivious.
After spending a few minutes customizing what my dream chair would be, I saw the price and the features and thought, let's see if this is worth the money, or if this is an overpriced leather cushion as I have seen in the past. The only other research I did was to check where this nearly $1500 chair was in the line-up regarding other X-Chair offerings.
Surprisingly, this was not the flagship model but the one below. This made me all the more intrigued about how this chair would perform against the best office chairs I've tested - especially given the price-point puts it on par with the likes of the Branch Verve or Herman Miller's offerings.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
X-Chair X4 Leather Executive Chair: Pricing and Availability
The base model of this chair is retailing for $1428. But that price can be pushed up a whole lot more once you add extras, from headrest to heating and cooling pads.
My review unit clocks in at around $2052 in the Cognac leather variant, the X-HMT heat and massage, the headrest, the full rotational arms, the extended seat, the memory foam cushion, and the locking wheels.
You can buy this chair from online retailers like Amazon, as well as X-Chair's website by clicking here, and at the time of review, it's currently discounted by $345.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
X-Chair X4 Leather Executive Chair: Unboxing & first impressions
Even after the unboxing experience, this chair was surprisingly heavy. I was shocked at how heavy this box was when I carried it to my home office from my front step.
In the box, X-Chair sends the chair pieces, the proper assembly tools, and clear instructions for assembly. My setup also came with a power cable to recharge the heat/cool/massaging feature.
The Cognac colorway is a tad more orange than I expected, but then again, maybe that's just in comparison to the dark walnut wood in my office.
Overall, the assembly was straightforward, and I could enjoy this chair within about 38 minutes. Once I got everything together, I appreciated how beautiful this chair was. It's expensive because it's gorgeous and incredibly high-quality.
I chose the cognac because I love the lighter leather look. This one came out a bit oranger than expected, but it is still absolutely beautiful. The stitching and leather quality are spectacular, and the frame is rigid and clean.
This chair feels premium all around, even at the connection points. It feels like it will last a lifetime and is a flagship premium chair. If nothing else, you'll feel like you're getting what you paid for.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
X-Chair X4 Leather Executive Chair: In use
This chair is interesting; I don't know if it's that the Dynamic Lumbar support took a bit to get used to or if it's because I've been in a season of working out of a lot of cafes in terrible chairs, but this chair took me a minute to get used to. Once I dialed in the tension, armrest locations, and other features, I found that I enjoyed the chair. It's comfortable for long periods, the lumbar support holds me in all the right places, and the recline is smooth and comfortable.
The features I was most excited about though are the heating, cooling, and massaging element. This little section is rechargeable with a barrel connector that has a long cable to a USB-A plug. The battery lasts a pretty decent amount of time before needing a recharge too which is great. The massaging feature is much more prominent than I expected it to be, I expected a slight vibration, but it actually does feel like a small massage for my lower back.
Same with the heating and cooling features. I thought that I would barely be able to notice these temperature changes, but in reality I could absolutely tell the heat, it even got a bit too warm for me, and the cool was excellent, especially for me since I usually run a bit warm to start with.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
I've used this chair at my secondary workstation for 159 days as of the time of writing this paragraph. So far, there have been zero issues with any of the components, it's still as clean and beautiful as the day I first got the chair, and I still love it to this day.
It's for sure a very expensive chair. However, if your budget is pretty extreme, or if you are simply looking for a fantastic office chair with some great features and the cost does not matter, then this is a fantastic option for you to look at. It's great, it's pretty customizable, and it should last you quite some time. In line with a lot of premium chairs, the frame itself has a 15-year warranty.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Design
Beautiful, professional design
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ease of use
Easy to utilize
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Practicality
Bougie, but brilliant
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Price
Hefty price for an impressive chair
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
X-Chair X4 Leather Executive Chair: Final verdict
The X-Chair X4 Leather Executive Chair is a robust, beautiful, and feature-packed office chair for those looking for a chair that offers beautiful leather combined with ergonomic comfort and fun features like heated, cooled, and massaging lower backs. The frame is sturdy, it can hold a lot of weight, and it's a chair that you'll love to have your friends, family, and co-workers test out on off hours while you enjoy the comforts during business hours.
The Anker 20K 87W power bank has a large capacity and power output, as well as an inbuilt USB-C cable for ease of use. It’s a sleek-looking brick, although it’s quite big. Thankfully, it’s not too thick or too heavy, both of which help to make it more portable than it otherwise would be.
It features a small screen that displays the battery life as a percentage, which is bright and clear, making it easy to glance at. There’s also a relatively large power button next to it, which is very accessible owing to its size.
True to many of Anker’s products, it feels solidly constructed, equal in durability to the best power banks. This extends to the inbuilt USB-C cable, which Anker claims has 11lbs of pulling resistance, and is rated for over 10,000 bends and 5,000 twists during its lifetime.
It folds away neatly, sitting flush with the side panel, and it also feels secure in this housing, so I wasn’t concerned it would come loose or expose the jack to damage. What’s more, the cable is still easy to unsheathe when needed.
However, it isn’t that long, which, given the overall size of the bank itself, can make it a little awkward to use. It also has to be twisted around when connecting to devices in a way that feels unnatural, since the cable is flat rather than cylindrical.
In addition to this integrated cable, the Anker 20,000mAh 87W Power Bank also features a USB-C port, which is capable of input and output (as is the cable), and a USB-A port, which is output only.
The Anker 20,000mAh 87W Power Bank provides 87W of power in total, with a maximum of 65W for single-port charging, which is more than enough to charge large devices, including many modern laptops. It managed to charge my Google Pixel 7a, which has a 4,385mAh battery, in about two hours, which is respectable.
In the process, it lost 30% of its battery life, which means you should be able to get at least three charges out of it, which is acceptable, although some other 20,000mAh banks I’ve tested previously appear to retain slightly more in the tank than this.
Still, the Anker 20,000mAh 87W Power Bank is reasonably priced considering its high power output, build quality, and integrated cable. However, it might not represent great value unless you intend on charging very power-hunger devices; even many modern laptops don’t need 65W to charge quickly. But, if you do, the Anker 20,000mAh 87W Power Bank is a very solid portable and convenient option.
(Image credit: Future)
Anker 20,000mAh 87W Power Bank: price & specs
Price
$69.99 / £49.99 / AU$119.99
Capacity
20,000mAh
Total wattage
87W
Number of ports
3
USB-C
2 (1 x inbuilt cable)
USB-A
1
Wireless charging
No
Weight
15.5oz / 439g
Power-to-weight
46mAh/g
(Image credit: Future)
Should I buy the Anker 20,000mAh 87W Power Bank?
Buy it if…
You want plenty of power 87W is a lot of power, meaning you should be able to charge many laptops and other similarly sized devices comfortably.
You want a solid build The Anker 20,000mAh 87W Power Bank certainly feels durable, and even the housing for the integrated cable seems to offer plenty of security.
Don't buy it if…
You want something small The Anker 20,000mAh 87W Power Bank is a sizable unit, and although it’s admirably thin, there are smaller 20K power banks out there.
You don’t need all that power The 87W total power is probably too much for many, and even the 65W single-charging capability is overkill for many modern laptops.
Anker 20,000mAh 87W Power Bank review: Also consider
INIU P51L-E1 If you’re looking for a bank with the same capacity as the Anker 20,000mAh 87W Power Bank but in a much smaller package, the INIU P51L-E1 could be the ideal solution. It too features a built-in USB-C cable, but also includes a flashlight for even better practicality. However, it has a lot less power (22.5W), so it’s really only suitable for devices no bigger than iPads and the like. Read our full INIU P51L-E1 review.
