This review first appeared in issue 359 of PC Pro.
I Drive Business is a great cloud backup solution for SMBs concerned about hidden costs as its subscriptions are based only on cloud capacity. Available in a wide range of flexible plans, you can start small and scale up as and when you need to.
Prices start at only £56 per year for 250GB, rising to £838 for 5TB, with options to go up to 50TB and beyond. It has even more appeal as all plans include unlimited workstation and server support so you can secure Windows, macOS and Linux desktops, iOS and Android mobiles, Windows Server, Hyper-V and VMware hosts, and business apps such as Exchange, SQL Server, SharePoint and Oracle.
Features keep on coming as IDrive’s hybrid backups can secure data to local drives or network shares, apps are provided for protecting Qnap and Synology NAS appliances, and it offers disk image backups, cloning and continuous data protection (CDP). Cloud file syncing between IDrive computers is also included, and subscriptions enable an equal amount of sync space.
The desktop app can protect all popular business apps and systems(Image credit: Future)
The only optional features are cloud-to-cloud (C2C) backup services for Google Workspace and Microsoft 365. These are managed from a dedicated portal, with the MS365 component costing £16 per user per year to secure OneDrive, Exchange, SharePoint and Teams accounts.
Client deployment is simple: you send email invitations from the portal, which provide links for users to create backup accounts, select AES-256 encryption and download the desktop app. Businesses with remote workers will find a lot to like here as the price includes unlimited users, and admins can remotely access their desktop app, create or edit backup jobs, set schedules and run restore tasks.
The client opens with a default backup set for common files and documents. We modified file and folder sources by adding or deleting them in the Backup pane and scheduled tasks for regular intervals. Files and folders can be easily restored using the local agent or web portal, and IDrive provides ransomware protection by retaining up to 30 file versions.
To secure our VMware ESXi virtual machines (VMs), we provided the IP address and credentials of our vCenter host and selected VMs from the list presented. Jobs default to running hybrid local and cloud backups and, for the former, IDrive can use a storage location on the system running the app or a mapped drive.
The same procedures apply for securing local SQL Server databases, while Exchange Server and Hyper-V VM backups need the desktop app installed directly on the hosts. When restoring data to any of these hosts, IDrive requires access to the local backup folder and, if it isn’t available, you can copy the relevant files back from cloud storage using the client or web portal.
Remote users can be managed from the web portal(Image credit: Future)
The Microsoft 365 protection service is just as easy to use; once we’d authorised access to our account, it immediately started full backups for the four suite components and all users. The dedicated portal can be accessed directly from the main IDrive web console or desktop app and provides an overview of all activities and protected items.
You can’t control the schedule as IDrive automatically runs incremental backups three times a day, but you can run extra manual backups for selected users and teams whenever you want. The portal’s recovery panel is easy to use, and we had no problems finding and restoring items such as emails for Outlook users, OneDrive files and Teams documents.
IDrive Business is a top cloud backup choice for SMBs that want to protect on-premises systems and remote workers. Platform and business app support is outstanding, it’s easy to use and the simple capacity-based subscriptions are incredibly good value.
This review first appeared in issue 359 of PC Pro.
The first sign of any product’s quality comes when you unpack it from its box, especially when it’s honed to hit a budget. Does it feel too light, look too plasticky? Have corners been cut that make it horrible to use? In short, does it feel cheap?
So it was with an inward sigh of relief that I started assembling the HP All-in-One 27. Finished in all white, it looks classy, while the stand not only includes 100mm of height adjustment but a felt-covered base. That may sound trivial, but it shows the attention to detail often lacking in budget laptops and PCs.
HP has also taken account of this machine’s environmental impact, using 40% post-consumer recycled plastic, 10% recycled metal and even using “recycled” coffee grounds as speckles in the plastic. Sadly, that isn’t reflected in any kind of smell.
The stand includes 100mm of height adjustment(Image credit: Future)
Another nice touch is the 1080p camera built into the top bezel. You slide this up when needed – I kept it up as it’s great for face recognition – and down if you’re worried about privacy. It isn’t the world’s finest webcam, capturing a grainy image with such a wide angle that I had to lean in close to fill the frame, but at least the mic works well.
A basic wireless keyboard and mouse set come in the box. The keyboard’s plastic keys have the same cushioning as a park bench, and it’s so light that it will be pushed out of position by an extra vigorous keypress. But it includes useful function keys, particularly the brightness up/down for the screen: I looked in vain for other physical controls for the display, or software control in the various HP utilities. The mouse is a simple two-button affair, unless you count the clickable scroll wheel, and both it and the keyboard connect to the PC via the same USB dongle.
This leaves three USB-A ports free, with a solitary USB-C port keeping it company. Aside from one USB-A 2 port, all these are limited to USB 3.2 Gen 1’s 5Gbits/sec transfers, which is unnecessarily mean. Especially when the supplied SSD offers only 512GB of storage. While you can theoretically get inside this device to replace the drive, as well as the 16GB of RAM (supplied via two 8GB DDR4 SODIMMs), you’ll need time, patience and skill.
The 1080p camera built into the top bezel is a nice touch(Image credit: Future)
HP sticks to Wi-Fi 6 rather than 6E, but it’s always nice to see a physical Ethernet port (gigabit, not 2.5GbE), and there’s a bonus in the form of an HDMI 1.2 output. This spec is getting on for 20 years old, which is reflected in the fact that the highest-resolution screen you can connect at 60Hz is 1,920 x 1,080. Still, if you have a 1080p screen knocking around it could be useful.
I could be critical of the HP’s 27in panel, as it’s a non-touch 1080p unit with a pixel density of 82ppi. Not great, but at typical viewing distances I was never irritated by a lack of sharpness. It helps that colors are a strong point: it covers 95% of the sRGB space with good accuracy – its average Delta E is 0.68 – while a peak brightness of 275cd/m2 is fine for use indoors.
The HP All-in-One is a surprisingly strong choice for films, too, with a pair of beefy 2W speakers that handle explosive scenes and music equally well. Not to the point of audiophilic delight, perhaps, but enough that you can listen to Spotify while working. Their only weakness is lack of volume, but there’s enough oomph to fill a study.
Some might criticize this PC’s power, too, as it includes a relatively timid Core i7-1355U. That’s now been usurped by Intel’s Core 7 processor 150U, but this would only give you a minor speed bump; they share the same basic design of two P-cores and eight E-cores, but the 150U’s peak frequency is higher (5.4GHz vs 5GHz). Besides, this machine is extremely nippy; you’ll only wish you had a more powerful CPU, such as the Ryzen 9 in the Geekom A8 opposite, is if you max out the cores when coding or editing.
(Image credit: Future)
HP relies on the Iris Xe graphics built into the processor, and that means any modern game is out of bounds. To make Shadow of the Tomb Raider playable I dropped to 720p resolution and Lowest settings for an average of 37fps; at 1080p, it was a shaky 23fps.
But this machine isn’t designed for games, and despite its year-old processor and elephant’s graveyard of old standards – HDMI 1.2, really? – I ended up enjoying my time with the HP All-in-One 27. Would I have liked it more if the screen was 1440p, the keyboard less Lego-like and there was a shade more power inside? Yes, undoubtedly. At this price, however, I’m willing to overlook such flaws. It offers quality where it counts – the design, the build quality, the screen, the speakers – and £799 is extremely competitive.
Reader, I want you to cast your mind back to the 2010s, maybe even the noughties – I’m sure many of you will have fond memories of plugging your wired Apple earbuds into your iPod, or perhaps even an early-gen iPhone. And my mind was cast back to this exact period as soon as I got my hands on the Apple EarPods USB-C. These wired earbuds may not fit your iPod anymore, but they’ll work with almost any modern handset – Apple or not – thanks to their USB-C connector. But do these buds merely open a window to the past, or do they craft a strong sonic experience in their own right?
Well, to find out, let’s start with sound quality. Perhaps unsurprisingly, you’re not going to get next-level performance from the Apple EarPods USB-C; after all, they only cost $19 / £19 / AU$29. But for the most part, they do still offer adequate audio. I rarely felt that treble was too grating or that overall sound was tinny – an issue that a lot of cheap competitors are guilty of. On top of that, you get a decent helping of bass – even if it’s not ultra-clear or able to stretch to extreme depths. Given these also support Apple lossless audio, at a glance they seem decent for general audio quality – but let’s drill into the details.
I tried listening to Young Blood by The Naked and Famous and quickly identified one key issue. The electric guitar that blares throughout the track is meant to have a well-defined position in the mix – in the lower-mid range, separated from the bass – to uphold the track’s powerful, full-sounding profile. However, it really didn't sound all too distinct, coming through slightly muddied with sounds in the low-end – an issue that you won’t experience with some of the best wired earbuds.
And speaking of that low-end, you’re not going to be blown away with incredibly clear quality. For instance, I played Ma quale idea by Pino D'Angiò and the iconic, funky bassline was uncharacteristically muddy. This muddiness almost smothered D'Angiò’s smooth, deep vocals, cluttering the soundstage. Despite that, actual bass levels are respectable – you get a solid amount of low-end weight for some super-cheap wired buds, even if clarity isn’t top-drawer. You won’t get tasty sub-bass though. I tried listening to The Boys Are Back In Town by Yung Gravy and although sub-bass was audible, it lacked its imposing, ground-shaking boom.
The lack of bite was also apparent with treble elements in Rains again by Solji and the vocalist’s high notes – despite avoiding the abrasiveness some cheap buds inflict – failed to reach their grandiose, showstopping potential, sounding slightly dulled and restrained.
Something that I feel diminishes the listening experience significantly is actually nothing to do with audio quality, though. That’s right: I’m talking about the fit of the Apple EarPods USB-C. These earbuds don’t have eartips, so you don’t get a proper seal with them. This looser fit means that sound isn’t perfectly concentrated and the buds will sometimes feel as if they’re falling out of your ears. This can be quite frustrating when you’re on the move; I found myself readjusting to get a more snug feel a little too often for my liking. It is worth noting, though, that some may find wearing buds with eartips for extended periods uncomfortable – so your impression of the fit itself will vary depending on personal preference.
A less debatable flaw of the relatively loose fit of the EarPods is that it allows a lot of external noise to seep through. Again, the lack of eartips removes what is typically a passive protective layer, so I often heard colleagues talking in my office or cars zooming by while on walks. If shutting out the wider world is a top priority, I’d simply recommend not grabbing these – there are better wired options for noise isolation, like the SoundMagic E80D or cheap wireless buds with active noise cancellation, like the Earfun Air Pro 3.
But on a positive note, these are a very elegant pair of wired buds – in fact, a lot of budget competitors can’t even come close in the style department. They are a fair bit heavier than a lot of competitors at 1.1oz / 30g, but they never felt heavy in-ear or irritating to wear for longer listening sessions. The drivers are encased in the classic white glossy housing that Apple fans will be well accustomed to. The wire is also slim, rounded and not too bad of an offender when it comes to cable noise – which is still noticeable, but not overwhelming. The USB-C connector here is also pleasingly compact and never got in the way when I was holding my phone.
Finally, the included controller is sleek and well-sized, though it did sit a little closely to my cheek – if it was slightly further down the wire it would be perfect. It includes volume and play/pause controls for music and taking phone calls, as well as a mic. And in terms of quality, the mic is pretty standard. Vocals were decently clear on a voice recording and phone call, although there is some noticeable static in the background – something that’s typical for cheap and even some less cheap buds.
So, at the end of it all, where do I stand on the Apple EarPods USB-C. Did they provide a fun, nostalgic ride for me? Sure, they still have the token Apple charm, sleek looks and minimalist design, and the wired look is aesthetically pleasing, in my view. But did they impress me in terms of audio quality? Well, not quite. The soundstage is a tad messy, with instruments often failing to find a defined pocket to play in. But having said that, there’s not too much tinniness or unpleasantly aggressive treble sounds that you get with a lot of cheap wired buds. Overall, then, the Apple EarPods USB-C are pretty solid given their low price – that is if you can deal with their lack of ear tips.
(Image credit: Future)
Apple EarPods USB-C review: Price and release date
$19 / £19 / AU$29
Launched in 2023
The Apple EarPods USB-C released in 2023 and are the tech giant’s debut in the wired USB-C world. One of the most attractive things about these buds is their super-low price. They’re available for just $19 / £19 / AU$29 – that’s in-line, or cheaper than a lot of competitors. You can only get them in one color, White, but that was no issue in my book, given the glossy, bright look suits them to a tee.
Apple EarPods USB-C review: Specs
(Image credit: Future)
Should you buy the Apple EarPods USB-C?
Buy them if...
You love the way Apple products look If you typically like the white, glossy look of Apple’s peripherals, you’ll surely be a big fan of these buds – well, design-wise at least. If your top priority is style, these hit the right notes, thanks to a diminutive connector, sleek curved buds and a slim wire.
You’re on a tight budget These buds subvert the preconception that many have of Apple products – they’re not expensive at all. At just $19 / £19 / AU$29, they’re ideal if you’re working with a limited budget.
Don't buy them if...
You’re an audiophile If top-drawer audio quality is what you’re after, keep looking. I didn’t find these buds to produce grating, nasty sound, but I didn’t feel that they offered well-defined, separated or dynamic audio either. They’re just decent sound-wise – fine for cheap buds, but not good enough for the keenest of listeners.
You want decent noise isolation Because of their shape and design, the Apple EarPods USB-C won’t keep sound out effectively whatsoever. If you want passive noise isolation, you’re better off choosing some buds with ear tips in order to form a sound-repelling seal.
Apple EarPods USB-C review: Also consider
Skullcandy Set USB-C The Skullycandy Set USB-C offer a sleek, curved design, excellent color options and IPX4 waterproofing, making them a worthy budget pick. Audio isn’t going to wow and the controller lacks volume controls, but if you just want some stylish, cheap buds, that likely won’t be a real dealbreaker. Read our full Skullcandy Set USB-C review.
SoundMAGIC E80D If you want to take a step-up on the Apple EarPods audio quality-wise, the SoundMagic E80D could be the perfect fit. They’re a fair bit more than Apple’s buds, but for less than $50/£40/AU$70, you still get detailed, balanced audio – partially thanks to a built-in DAC. You also get solid noise isolation and a comfortable fit. Sure, the controller is a little fiddly, but otherwise these are a great pair of wired earbuds. Read our full SoundMAGIC E80D review.
Apple EarPods USB-C review: How I tested
(Image credit: Future)
Tested for one week
Used in the office, at home and while on walks
Listened using both Apple Music and Tidal
I tested the Apple EarPods USB-C over the course of one week. I used them while using Apple Music on the iPhone 16 as well as with Tidal on the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE. I also played tunes on Spotify and watched video content via YouTube. I tested the EarPods USB-C in the office, at home and while out on walks near busy roads.
When listening to music I played tracks from the TechRadar testing playlist, which contains songs spanning a variety of genres – though I also spent hours blasting bangers from my personal library. When appropriate, I compared these buds to the similarly priced Skullcandy Set USB-C, in order to better assess audio quality, comfort and elements of design.
Smartphone stabilizers, which use a self-levelling gimbal to keep a mounted phone movement’s smooth, steady and shake-free while it captures video, have become an essential part of many content creators’ toolkits. As a result, there are now dozens of options for anyone who wants to transform their smartphone into a cut-price Steadicam – and Zhiyun has as much experience in this sector as any of its rival manufacturers.
The Smooth 5S AI is Zhiyun’s current flagship mobile stabilizer, putting it in direct competition with models like the Insta360 Flow Pro and DJI Osmo Mobile 6. As its name suggests, it’s an upgraded version of the Smooth 5, sporting a very similar design but incorporating a few improvements – most notably an AI-powered tracking module that I think represents its most appealing selling point.
I’ll get into why shortly, but in terms of general design I found the Smooth 5S AI to be pretty impressive. Constructed of lightweight but sturdy black plastic, it sports a professional look that suggests it’s built for serious creative work. The handle is textured to aid grip and I was pleased by the way the control layout puts a remarkable number of buttons and dials within easy, comfortable reach when it was in my hand. While a tripod attachment allows the gimbal to stand on a flat surface, there’s no extension rod to increase its length (something you get with many rival stabilizers), which makes it less useful for self-shooting vlog recording.
When not in use, the Smooth 5S AI’s gimbal arm can be locked in place. Part of me wishes it folded down as well as the Insta360 Flow Pro and DJI OM 6 (which are both verging on pocket-size when not in use) but Zhiyun would doubtless argue that the Smooth 5S AI’s larger, more complex gimbal offers a greater range of movement and stability than these competitors’ equivalents (NB: Zhiyun also offers a smaller folding stabilizer, the Cinepeer CQ5, for those that require something more portable than the Smooth 5S AI).
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(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)
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(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)
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(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)
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(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)
To use the stabilizer, your phone is placed within the ‘jaws’ of a gripping mechanism; the hold is secure, but mounting and dismounting is much quicker and easier with the magnetic clamp method used by the DJI and Insta360 stabilizers. The Smooth 5S AI’s clamp can hold phones up to 10mm thick and 300g in weight and can be manually rotated 90º to switch between capturing portrait and landscape content. Some balancing is required on the gimbal’s roll axis arm once your phone is in place, to improve stabilization performance, but it takes only a few seconds.
When the gimbal is powered on, it’ll automatically self-balance, holding the phone level with the horizon; it’ll also connect to the phone via Bluetooth, provided it’s already been paired before. If you feel the levelling is slightly off, you can manually adjust it using the ZY Cami companion app (more on this later) or ask the app to recalibrate things automatically. I found that I did need to manually adjust to get it satisfactorily level, but once set up properly I didn’t need to touch it again.
Stabilization works very well – to a point. The 3-axis gimbal succeeded in keeping my iPhone 13 level and followed my movements smoothly, but if I tilted the handle more than around 40 degrees in either direction the gimbal would abruptly give up, and the phone would tilt too. This isn’t too much of an issue as long as you’re aware of it, but I was expecting a little more robustness in the stabilization.
There are several stabilization modes to choose from. I generally found Pan Follow, which follows your movements while preventing the phone from tilting up and down, to be the most useful for standard vlog or b-roll content, but other users might enjoy the more dramatic movements offered by the Point Of View or Vortex modes.
Gimbal movement can also be adjust manually using the on-board thumbstick control, while tapping the trigger on the front of the handle twice resets it to its standard position; tapping it three times flips the phone around to face the opposite direction. Other controls of note include an on/off button for the useful front-facing LED fill light and a chunky wheel which can be used to adjust camera zoom and gimbal tilt.
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(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)
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(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)
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(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)
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(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)
The app-agnostic tracking is what really sets the Smooth 5S AI aside from its competitors. Thanks to a small magnetic ‘AI’ module with a built-in camera, which sits on the clamp and can be faced either towards or away from the user, the gimbal is able to track human faces when using any app. Some rival models, like the DJI OM 6, will only track people when using their own companion app, while the Insta360 Flow Pro’s DockKit-enabled tracking means it can track while using the native iPhone camera app (and many third-party apps), but the Smooth 5S AI’s tracking is hardware-based, which means it’ll work with any phone or camera app around.
That’s great for anyone who’d rather use third-party apps, of course, but I’d caution that the tracking is noticeably smoother and more responsive when using the ZY Cami app than it is when using with the AI module. With the latter, the gimbal movements are jerkier and more delayed, which does take the shine off the AI module somewhat (interestingly, the same is true of the Insta360 Flow Pro’s DockKit tracking versus its companion app tracking).
The AI module supports gesture controls: make the ‘OK’ sign to start tracking (a green light indicates that it’s locked onto you), hold up your palm to stop tracking and use the ‘victory’ sign to start and stop recording. These all worked well, in my experience.
The ZY Cami app can be used for capturing video and photos, offering several special shooting modes like panorama, dolly zoom and slow motion. It also allows you to adjust image quality, add beauty filters, adjust gimbal settings, share content via social media and more. I found it to be a decent enough camera app, and using it isn’t a huge disadvantage over, say, the iPhone’s built-in camera app.
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(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)
Finally, a quick word about battery life. It’s impressive, with Zhiyun claiming seven hours of use with the AI tracker and fill light on – and my real-world testing suggests that figure is accurate. You can also use the Smooth 5S AI as a power bank, using a second USB-C port on the gimbal arm to top up your phone’s battery while it’s mounted.
While I find the simpler and more compact likes of the Insta360 Flow Pro and DJI Osmo Mobile 6 more appealing on the usability and portability fronts, the Zhiyun Smooth 5S AI is undoubtedly an impressive alternative with solid stabilization and, via its AI tracking module, better built-in subject tracking than either of its rivals.
Zhiyun Smooth 5S AI: price and availability
The Zhiyun Smooth 5S AI costs $249 / £169 / AU$309 and is available now. Do look out for cut prices, as we do see this gimbal on sale from time to time. You can see the live prices in the links above.
Zhiyun Smooth 5S AI: specs
Zhiyun Smooth 5S AI: Also consider
Insta360 Flow Pro Insta360’s compact foldable gimbal feels like the pick of the current mobile stabilizer bunch. With excellent battery life, a handy power bank function and the ability to subject track when using third-party iPhone apps (or the native iPhone camera), it’s an impressive all-rounder – and cheaper than the Zhiyun Smooth 5S AI.
DJI Osmo Mobile 6 While only able to track subjects when using its Mimo companion app, the OM 6 offers a more ergonomically pleasing and slicker user experience than both the Smooth 5S AI and the Insta360 Flow Pro; it just feels better in the hand and smoother with its movements. Its 6.5-hour battery life isn’t quite as long as either, however.
You need a stabilizer that’ll track with any app Some stabilizers only track with certain camera apps. Not this one: its AI module allows it to keep you centred in the frame no matter what app you’re using to film yourself.
You need a fill light built-in The integrated LED light makes filming in dark conditions possible without the need to add additional light modules (although these are sold separately if you want things even brighter).
Don't buy it if...
You need an ultra-portable stabilizer While it does lock up for storage, the Smooth 5S AI doesn’t fold over to an almost pocketable size. You’ll need a fairly large amount of bag space to transport it.
You’re a vlogger who wants to walk and film With no extension rod inside the handle, it’s harder to film yourself while walking and holding the Smooth 5S AI than with some other mobile stabilizers. Vloggers beware.
How I tested the Zhiyun Smooth 5S AI
One week of use
Tested with iPhone 13
Used for B-roll and vlogs
I used the Zhiyun Smooth 5S AI in and around my home for a week, using it to record footage both on the move and with it sat on a desktop using its tripod. I tested it with my Apple iPhone 13 and a variety of camera apps including Zhiyun’s own ZY Cami and the native iPhone camera app, and used the phone’s front and rear cameras to record b-roll and vlog-style videos.
This review first appeared in issue 359 of PC Pro.
A highly modular approach makes Commvault’s Cloud an attractive choice for businesses that want a hybrid backup solution they can tailor precisely to their needs. Originally launched a few years ago as Metallic and now integrated into Commvault’s cyber resiliency and recoverycloud platform, it comprises 16 distinct components so looks to have every data protection requirement covered.
For essential off-site backup, you can use Commvault’s cloud storage as a backup destination or choose from 26 third-party providers including Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure and Google. Commvault gives ransomware attacks a hard time, as its Azure-based cloud storage is air-gapped and immutable, with modules now provided for risk analysis and backup content malware scans.
The Security IQ feature presents a security posture rating plus options to enforce extra authorization for restores and deletions. The unusual file activity service alerts you if it detects ransomware attacks and presents the last good recovery point for swift data recovery.
The Security IQ feature keeps your data safe(Image credit: Future)
The cloud portal presents a service catalogue list, and selecting a module takes you to a dedicated configuration page. Plenty of help is at hand as each one provides details of all prerequisites and clear setup instructions.
After assigning the systems, applications or services the module is to protect, you choose your storage locations; for hybrid backup, Commvault supports local storage or network shares as the primary location and a cloud repository as the secondary stage. Next, you assign a backup plan that defines your recovery point objective (RPO), backup window and data retention periods.
We wanted to protect the lab’s Hyper-V and VMware hosts, which required the Commvault gateway component installed on a Windows Server host on the same network. Downloaded from the portal, this manages communications between sources and destinations and handles all caching, deduplication and hash tables. For Hyper-V backups, you’ll also need Commvault’s VSA package installed on each host server.
We declared a Synology NAS for our primary backup location, used Commvault’s cloud for secondary storage, and each plan started by backing up selected virtual machines (VMs) to our NAS appliance. On completion, they ran an auxiliary job to replicate the local store to the cloud, and the transfer process is speeded up by only sending deduplicated data.
VMware recovery services are outstanding: we could browse and restore guest files, the entire VM or its VMDK files. The live recovery and live mount services can quickly reinstate a failed VM, with the latter loading them directly from a backup on primary storage.
Commvault’s cloud portal has a data protection module for every occasion(Image credit: Future)
A fine choice of cloud-to-cloud backup modules are available, and we found the MS365 option a cinch to deploy. You do need to authenticate separately with Exchange, SharePoint, OneDrive and Teams, but the entire process is handled very smoothly and we had our entire MS365 account backed up in 15 minutes. For item recovery, you select the required MS365 component, choose a recovery point, view all available versions and restore it to the original location or another MS365 user.
The Endpoint module supports Windows, macOS and Linux clients. Once users have installed Commvault’s Edge Monitor app and logged in to their account, it applies your predefined plan. This backs up their system to the cloud, creates a local drive letter for drag-and-drop restores and provides access to a personal self-service web portal.
Pricing could be more transparent, but Commvault Cloud is a great choice for businesses that want a highly customizable cloud backup solution. It offers an impressive range of easily deployed modules so you only pay for what you need, and it has a keen focus on data security and ransomware protection.
This review first appeared in issue 359 of PC Pro.
Businesses worried about managing a hybrid data protection strategy may want to consider Barracuda’s Backup appliances, as they do everything for you. These all-in-one physical and virtual solutions provide on-site backup, cloud replication and full data restoration services, as well as optional site-to-site replication, all managed from one cloud portal.
Barracuda offers a wide choice of hardware appliances, with the entry-level Backup 290 on review presented as a low-profile 1U rack appliance fitted with a single 2TB SATA hard disk. This may not sound like very much, but the appliance’s variable block-level deduplication is very efficient; during testing we backed up 1.7TB of data, which Barracuda squashed down to 331GB for an 82% reduction.
Prices for the Backup 290 start at £2,000, with unlimited cloud storage costing £996 per year. Barracuda’s Energize Update service costs £335 per year, with an Instant Replacement subscription adding a further yearly cost of £480.
The Backup 290 is fitted with a single 2TB SATA hard disk(Image credit: Future)
To install the appliance, you initially connect a local monitor and keyboard and link it to your Cloud Control account. Barracuda provides agents for Windows, macOS and Linux in the portal, and it’s good value as the price includes support for unlimited clients as well as a number of common business apps.
You use the same agent for all Windows workstations and servers. Once installed, we declared each system as a backup source. The beauty of this solution is that during job creation, you tick one extra box so local backup jobs are automatically replicated to the cloud.
The agent identifies all hosted applications and offered us options to select SQL Server databases and virtual machines (VMs) on our Windows Server 2022 Hyper-V server. An agent isn’t required for VMware hosts as we declared our vCenter server using its IP address and were presented with all VMs on our managed ESXi servers for selection as backup sources.
Once systems are registered, you can assign them to the default backup schedule, which automatically backs up everything on them once a day. It’s easy enough to create custom schedules, assign specific systems and items, and repeat jobs as often as every 15 minutes.
Barracuda employs an “incremental forever” system, which runs one full backup for each host followed by regular incrementals. Ransomware protection is provided as you can use the default retention policy for all hosts or apply custom ones that define the daily, weekly, monthly and yearly periods you want data kept for.
For file recovery, we selected systems from the portal, chose files and folders and restored them to their original location or to another system. The same window provides access to the cloud repository, where the Download option copies the data back to the system running the Cloud Control portal.
The cloud portal keeps you informed of all backup activity(Image credit: Future)
We could restore selected Hyper-V and VMware VMs directly from the appliance to their respective hosts or to alternative locations, and if the appliance isn’t available you can download their virtual disks from your cloud repository. An Energize Update subscription enables the LiveBoot feature so you can swiftly restore VMs directly to the appliance if the hypervisor is down.
The Cloud LiveBoot feature has an Instant Replacement subscription and allows VMs to be hosted in Barracuda’s cloud for up to seven days for testing, backup validation and file recovery. Internet outages are covered, too, as the appliance has a local web console that provides restore browser and Live Boot management tools.
Barracuda’s Backup 290 makes light work of managing a hybrid data protection strategy and is an attractive option for time-poor SMBs. It’s simple to deploy and manage, the block level deduplication can make big storage savings, and it offers an impressive range of data recovery features.
This review first appeared in issue 359 of PC Pro.
Acronis’ Cyber Protect teams up hybrid backup services with full-strength cybersecurity and endpoint protection. One subscription takes care of everything, and it’s all managed from a single cloud portal.
Cyber Protect 16 Advanced takes the Standard edition and adds features such as Windows patch management, backup malware scans and an endpoint detection and remediation (EDR) service that provides event correlation, threat containment, incident investigation, kill chain analysis and endpoint rollback recovery. Ransomware protection comes with tamper-proof immutable backups and a compliance mode that stops malicious actors from changing account settings and deleting backups.
There are a lot of activities to keep track of, but the cloud portal helps by presenting a customizable dashboard. You have lots of widgets to choose from, including ones for protected system overviews, backup storage usage, vulnerable systems, alerts, detected malware, patch remediation status and blocked website categories.
Platform support is extensive and the EDR service keep ransomware attacks at bay(Image credit: Future)
Platform support is outstanding and includes Windows, macOS and Linux systems, iOS and Android mobiles, many popular business apps, ten virtualization hosts, and cloud apps such as Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace. Agent deployment for workstations and servers is a lengthy affair, though, as they must be downloaded from the portal and manually installed, after which they generate a unique registration code and appear in the portal’s devices page.
Hyper-V virtual machine (VM) backups require a dedicated agent installed on the host, and you now have two choices for VMware systems. You can install an agent VM directly on the host and register it with your cloud account or use the new Windows remote agent.
Applying settings is much simpler. You place similar systems in groups and assign protection plans that include your backup settings, encryption passwords, schedules and all cybersecurity settings. For hybrid backups, primary and secondary storage locations can be assigned. We used local Synology NAS shares for fast local backups and the Acronis cloud repository for off-site storage.
Synology NAS appliances can now be protected by a DSM agent app. It temporarily needed root access to register with our Acronis account, and we could then access the appliance from the cloud portal, create a protection plan and choose the shares we wanted backed up to the cloud.
Along with swift file and folder recovery services for remote servers and workstations, the portal provides an impressive range of restore features for Hyper-V and VMware. You can recover an entire VM back to its original location, as a new VM on the same host or another one. For even faster recovery, a temporary VM can be created on the host from a local backup.
(Image credit: Future)
Within workstation and server plans, you can enable real-time malware scanning, apply URL filtering using up to 44 categories, schedule vulnerability assessments, run patch management remediation tasks and enforce removable device controls. When EDR is activated, you can view all incoming alerts from the portal, see lists of all incidents filtered by severity and mitigation status and browse a threat investigation page which provides a kill chain diagram, details of how the attack developed and the processes it interacted with.
Businesses that want all their data backup and cybersecurity in one place will love Acronis Cyber Protect 16 Advanced. Its flexible subscriptions keep costs under control, the EDR service stays one step ahead of cybercriminals and it’s easy to manage.
What if you were alone in a giant open world littered with bandits and mutants, with few resources to get you where you need to go? That question is at the heart of Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl, one of the most haunting survival horror games I have ever played and unlike anything else in the genre.
Review info
Platform reviewed: Xbox Series X Available on: Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC Release date: November 20, 2024
The game’s chilling sound design, incredible storytelling, and demanding combat come together to deliver on that central premise. It effortlessly entrusts you to find your way own way through its technically impressive recreation of Chornobyl. That trust is woven into every aspect of the experience offering a radioactive sandbox full of dangers, rewards, and opportunities for you to discover and make the most of.
In that sense, Stalker 2 is the purest form of a survival horror experience there is, because at all times it is unpredictable, deadly, and terrifying in a multitude of ways. It is one of the boldest Xbox Series X games and PC games I have seen this generation. However, its lack of handholding and rugged, realistic approach to gameplay is not going to be for everyone. Plus, the storage chest of small visual bugs I saw in my time playing keeps it from being spotless.
Stories of Chornobyl
(Image credit: GSC Game World)
As Skif, you are just another Stalker fighting for your own survival in The Zone - the barren and deadly landscape surrounding the Chornobyl power plant which suffered two explosions, one in 1986 and another in 2006. However, one seemingly simple task, to activate a Scanner and meet someone named Sodler, doesn’t go to plan and you're ambushed and knocked out. After waking up you have none of the gear you entered The Zone with and your Scanner has been stolen by your attackers.
So you walk. Alone, you move from settlement to settlement, hearing a rumor here or there when others are friendly enough to help you. Eventually, you come across large towns that allow you to discover more about The Zone, the political dynamics between factions, and the dangers in the wild that are whispered around the campfire.
Best bit
(Image credit: GSC Game World)
The way Stalker 2 executes the clear vision the developers obviously had during development is impressive and leads to a fresh experience, devoid of a lot of the clutter found in modern open-world games. The map isn’t dotted with icons, you don’t have a litany of progression trees to sort through and manage. It’s a remarkably focused game, despite its huge open world.
These moments interacting with entire outposts or individuals in the world are key focal points for how Stalker 2 tells its narrative. Whether it was small stories about an encounter someone had with a bandit or key cutscenes where characters would deliver these almost Shakespearian monologues about The Zone, I kept wanting to learn more, explore more, and meet more people.
You may stumble upon a faction baron who isn’t too happy with you stepping on his turf, an interaction that ends up leading you down an entire core questline, or you might find a lone survivor surrounded by mutants that you can choose to save or let die, and, either way, never cross paths with them again.
The delivery of the narrative in this way means that such moments of discovery are the driving force behind Stalker 2’s exploration and open world. The possibility of who I might find kept me moving and the excellent Ukrainian voice acting (English, not so much) breathes life into the individuals you meet. On top of that, The Zone is a character in itself. The way individuals talk about it as a mythical, breathing creature they love, fear, or want to escape from is unlike anything else I have seen done in a game before. The writing here is truly impressive.
Loneliness of Chornobyl
(Image credit: GSC Game World)
That novel approach to storytelling echoes throughout the rest of the experience. The Zone is a barren expanse full of not much, making it an incredibly isolating experience. There are rarely companions by your side and on each excursion I set out on I would feel on edge.
Sometimes I would hear roars of mutants in the distance, causing me to jump up and start looking around frantically to see if I had accidentally stumbled upon something I should run away from. Or, I would accidentally end up in the middle of a terrifying storm and try to dart to my destination while praying lightning didn’t strike me, as the wind whistles through my headphones.
The Zone in Stalker 2 feels like it is alive; alive in an organic, realistic way that most open-world games can only dream of. The intense atmosphere created by developer GSC Game World is heightened by Stalker 2’s visuals as well as its sound design.
It has one of the best dynamic weather systems I have ever seen, and there’s always a stunning demonstration of landscape or environment whether it is raining, sunny, or cloudy (again, feeling almost lifelike in how it has been realized). There are also Emissions, huge deadly radioactive storms that can occur as you are exploring, coating The Zone in a thick red smog that will kill you in moments if caught outside in one. These offer some of the most impressive visuals in the game and my jaw dropped the first time I came across one.
Similar breath-taking moments both big and small are scattered throughout, demanding that you stop and take it all in.
Dangers of Chornobyl
(Image credit: GSC Game World)
The final piece of Stalker 2’s puzzle is its combat which is taxing, yet fascinating. Guns and weapons are weighty and inaccurate, so your approach to encounters requires a lot of thought before you commit, and as a result, feels very realistic. You can’t just run in and spray your way to survival. Instead, you have to precisely place shots and keep an eye on your surroundings.
Weapons are bulky and can jam at any moment creating a sense of panic. There aren’t any grenade indicators telling you someone threw a frag your way, so you have to be aware of the sounds to hear it clink along the ground, for example, only serving to add to the intense atmosphere coursing through the game. Enemy indicators regularly disappear if you lose sight of them for a few seconds, so you’ll also have to be prepared and predict where they might be as you flank them.
Bandits won’t always know where you are at. So, they will organically guess where you might be. One standout moment I had was when I ended up starting a fight with half a dozen enemies outside a small rail station. While fighting the main group, one of them flanked me quietly, then finished me off with one shotgun blast.
That moment forced me to change my approach to combat. From here I embraced the intensity of zipping from cover to cover or unjamming a gun in the middle of a firefight. It’s chaotic and the combat demands a lot of patience to learn and adapt in a way that goes beyond most other survival-focused first-person shooters. But that lack of hand-holding is what kept me hooked as the encounters never felt scripted or formulaic. However, this style of combat will be a dealbreaker for some who don’t want to feel dragged down by the gameplay and simply want to explore or lose themselves in the world. Combat is fundamental to Stalker 2 and you can’t really ignore it.
However, combat and these interactions with other people are also where I noticed the most bugs. Some were small like the UI regularly not showing up. Others were more substantial, never game-breaking but certainly immersion-breaking; characters clipping through geometry in settlements, or a pair of headphones floating in mid-air during a cutscene instead of sitting atop someone’s head. Occasionally, I would also see an enemy teleport spawn somewhere in front of me out of nowhere, which was less than ideal.
A lot of these will be addressed in a day one patch, but each time I came across one I was slightly disappointed because, for a moment, it ruined the immersion Stalker 2 offers, which is its biggest asset.
Should I play Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl?
(Image credit: GSC Game World)
Play it if…
You appreciate great world-building This experience is for you if you love survival horror games with excellent world-building and storytelling, and enjoy an unguided open-world experience.
You're up for a challenge Play this if you enjoy survival games and aren’t turned off by unapproachable mechanics and punishing gameplay that isn’t easily accessible.
Don’t play it if…
You want a more guided experience You won't enjoy it if you want a more traditional open-world RPG that is filled with map markers and checklists telling you where to go and what to do.
Accessibility
Stalker 2 has a number of basic accessibility options like subtitle sizes which are varied and the ability to add a background. You can also change your crosshair color and setting, and turn off or on almost every UI element like threat indicators, hit markers, and health information. Protanopia, Deuteranopia, and Tritanopia are also available.
However, it lacks the advanced accessibility features you may find in other big open-world role-playing games (RPGs) like adjustments for those who are partially sighted, blind, or have hearing problems. Its difficulty options are also formulaic with a “story” option called Rookie, a standard mode simply named Stalker, and a harder, veteran mode with no deeper ability to customize them.
How I reviewed Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl
I played Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl for nearly 50 hours encompassing the main story, side missions, and exploration. I played the game mostly in performance mode on Xbox Series X with a standard Xbox Wireless Controller, and I enjoyed the sights and sounds of the game with a Gigabyte M28U monitor and Steelseries Arena 3 speakers.
The P20 is Engwe’s most refined model so far. The company’s bikes are known for their large and brutalistic design style, so making a compact e-bike like this might seem like a deviation from its core values. In reality, this e-bike still looks remarkably Engwe-esque. It’s chunky and robust where it needs to be while still featuring a surprisingly lightweight build for carrying around.
Folding the e-bike can be done in as little as 10 to 15 seconds thanks to a couple of easy-to-use clips and the unique magnetic adapter system. The latter stops the e-bike from unfolding and is far better than the clip design of Brompton bikes. Unfortunately, it’s not quite as easy to maneuver as a typical Brompton, but it’s not far off. If you want a foldable e-bike with a little more power than a Brompton, then the P20 is a fantastic option.
At £1,199, you’ll be hard-pressed to find anything of such quality, and with the same attention to detail, elsewhere. It’s too early to tell whether the Engwe P20 will make it onto our list of the best e-bikes but it’s certainly a strong contender.
Engwe P20: Price and availability
(Image credit: Future)
£1,199 / €1,299
Not available in the US
Available from the manufacturer directly
The Engwe P20 is only available in UK and EU markets. The 250W motor and 15.5mph / 25kph speed limiter make it road-legal everywhere it’s sold. There won’t be a US version as this e-bike is specifically positioned for the UK market. Unlike many other Engwe e-bikes, there’s no option to upgrade the battery.
It’s available in black, white or a lovely mint green, which is the model I tested. The price is the same no matter which colour you go for. Engwe also offers a range of accessories at an additional cost, including a rack bag, bike pump, and lock.
Value score: 4/5
Engwe P20: Design
(Image credit: Future)
Reliable and well-engineered folding mechanism
Carbon drive belt
Upright riding position
Let's begin with the folding process for the P20, which is a five-step operation. This is achieved through a five-step process, although I tended to only perform two of these steps for most folds. The steps comprise adjusting the handlebar, folding the riser, folding the frame, lowering the saddle, and finally folding the pedals. Most of the time, steps two and three are sufficient, although you might also need to make the saddle adjustment if you need to fit the e-bike into tight spaces.
I prefer not to adjust the handlebars too much, because that involves messing around with a clamp mechanism that I don’t believe would stand the test of time if it was used regularly. I also don’t see a huge benefit in tucking them away any more than is already the case in their natural position.
The riser rotation mechanism is nice and robust while allowing for the rider to rotate the riser and handlebars down to the front wheel. Unfortunately, there’s no way of locking the riser into position when the bike is folded. The frame folds in half at the midpoint with a seriously sturdy and robust folding mechanism. Engwe is getting so much better at implementing intricate design features, and it really shows on the P20.
One of the standouts of the whole design is that the two halves of the e-bike connect together through magnets that are mounted to each wheel. It’s a really ingenious solution that eliminates the need for any moving parts, which could fail over time.
It’s almost impossible to review a foldable e-bike without comparing it to the folding mechanism of the Brompton. With both e-bikes in my possession, I decided to fold one after the other and there’s no clear winner. I think Engwe’s system is simpler to operate and I love the magnetic catch, but the Brompton is smaller and lighter and therefore easier to maneuver. I think it all comes down to what overall e-bike size you want, and what your budget is.
Moving on from folding, the P20 is single-speed, with a long-lasting carbon belt drive and disc brakes. There are no major performance issues with this setup, although you do lose a little efficiency with the carbon drive compared to a metal chain. The 20-inch puncture-proof tires are perfect for city cruising, but lack the bulk required for going up and down curbs or off-road. Don’t judge it too harshly, though, as this e-bike knows exactly what it is and what it isn’t designed to do.
Design Score: 4.5/5
Engwe P20: Performance
(Image credit: Future)
Cadence is too high
Top speed of 25kph / 15.5mph
No suspension
The first thing I noticed was how easy it was to get up to the top speed of 25kph / 15.5mph. This is due to the power of the motor, available torque, and the achievable cadence of the single-speed setup.
This is good news in the sense that it takes minimal effort while using minimal battery. The downside to this is that it’s very difficult to ride beyond 30kph / 18.5mph, because the cadence is just too high. The experience left me wanting a gear with lower cadence, or three or four extra speeds to cycle through. I think the Brompton 4-speed has it perfect, although greater resistance on the P20’s single speed would also be sufficient.
The issue was particularly noticeable when going downhill, but the e-bike really came into its own when I was nipping around flat city streets, on which the P20 is responsive, quick, and a joy to ride. If you’re looking for a simple, good-looking, foldable bike for cruising around a town or city, the P20 is one of the best options I’ve tried.
The motor is completely silent, so at times it feels like you’re riding a standard pushbike. You’re also not subject to any sudden jerky movements thanks to the torque sensor, which picks up the rotation of the pedals perfectly. The P20 responds quickly and efficiently, so it’s always ready to go when you are.
As there’s no suspension, and given the size of the tires, you’ll want to avoid off-roading or going up and down too many curbs. That being said, I did find that the e-bike was remarkably capable of cushioning almost every bump I threw at it.
The carbon belt is a winner, and I’m a big fan of these types of belts because they’re less susceptible to problems with grease or dirt. I’m sure we’ve all experienced those times of getting our clothes dirty from getting on or off a bike, and this is all avoided with the P20. The belt promises to deliver 330,000km of distance, although it’s worth noting that carbon belts are generally less efficient than standard chains.
I think most people will love the P20, although you might, at times, find yourself wanting an extra gear or two.
Performance score: 4/5
Engwe P20: Battery life
(Image credit: Future)
100km range
36V 9.6A battery
Five-hour charge per battery
The advertised range of 100km is only achievable in perfect conditions, at the lowest pedal assist, and with minimal rider weight. In reality, you’ll be looking at nearer 50km / 30 miles per charge. This is still more than enough for most daily commutes, especially considering that this e-bike is designed for shorter rides rather than for long journeys.
You’ll only be able to attach the single 36V 9.6A battery to this frame, so there’s no option to double the range. Engaging and disengaging the battery is very easy thanks to Engwe's attention to engineering an effective clip mechanism.
Removing the battery will let you charge it at home or at work during the day. It also reduces the chances of the battery being stolen, although there is an integrated anti-theft battery lock. Charging from empty to full takes in the region of five hours.
Battery life score: 3.5/5
Engwe P20: Scorecard
Buy it if...
You want a foldable e-bike
The Engwe P20 offers robust folding mechanisms and a lightweight frame that will make your daily commute an absolute breeze.
You need an affordable e-bike
At £1,199, it’s not the cheapest e-bike on the market, but it offers better build quality and parts than cheaper alternatives.
You love Engwe
Engwe is creating one of the broadest and best ranges of e-bikes out of any e-bike manufacturer out there. It’s producing fantastic e-bikes and the brand is here to stay.
Don't buy it if...
You want the lightest foldable e-bike
I would opt for a Brompton e-bike if you want something that is as portable as they come.
You go off-roading
With no suspension and small wheels, you’ll feel every bump you go over
Also consider
Brompton C Line Electric Explore
One of the best folding e-bikes for most commuters. An e-bike that is really easy to fold up, has a good level of power on tap, and is of excellent overall quality.
I rode the Engwe P20 on and off over the course of a couple of months. I rode it around city streets, up and down main roads, as well as along my daily 7-mile commute which takes me through the countryside. I covered almost every type of terrain except off-roading.
With its blend of impressive suction power, rotating mop pads, expert navigation and obstacle avoidance, self-cleaning ability and smorgasbord of AI and software features, the Dreame L40 Ultra is a solid hybrid vac-and-mop system for those looking to simplify their home cleaning regime. In fact, it's one of the best robot vacuums I've tested.
Equipped with advanced LiDAR navigation, the L40 Ultra efficiently and very quickly maps your rooms, cleans in precise patterns and is better than average when it comes to dodging obstacles. With its ample suction power (up to 11,000Pa – up there with the highest you'll find anywhere), the L40 Ultra handles dust, pet hair and small debris very efficiently, whether it's on hardwood, tile or low- to medium-pile carpet. It mops exceptionally well, too.
Personally, I would always recommend opting for a robot model with a self-emptying cleaning system, especially if you have pets. Well the L40 Ultra's dock not only automatically empties the robot's tiny onboard bin but it washes its mops, too, and then dries them using warm air. No, it's not the prettiest looking cleaning station in town but it is equipped with oversized water containers and a much larger dust bag than much of the competition. And that means you'll spend less time doing maintenance.
You can read more about the Dreame L40 Ultra below but, if you're in a rush, take it from me that this model is well worth the investment if you're looking for a competent, reliable and mostly fuss-free hybrid bot to perform the mundane tasks of keeping your floor spaces in tip-top condition on a daily basis.
(Image credit: Future)
Dreame L40 Ultra review: price & availability
List price: $1,499.99 / £999
Launched: October 2024
Available in white only, the Dreame L40 Ultra comes with a list price of $1,499.99 / £999 (although when it first launched it was cheaper, at $1,249.99 / £899). Even though that puts it in TechRadar's premium price bracket, I think it still represents strong value for money.
The L40 Ultra sits just below the company's flagship X40 Ultra, which costs around $350 (£250) more, mostly because it comes with an extra laser for improved obstacle avoidance.
In terms of other brands' offerings, it's very comparable feature-wise to the Qrevo Master ($1,200 / £949) from Roborock (another Xiaomi-linked company), which sports roughly the same level of suction power and very similar onboard tech, including an extendable side brush arm and rear mop for precise edging.
You can buy direct from Dreame, or head to a third party retailer like Amazon. Seasonal shopping events always include strong robot vacuum deals, and the Black Friday sales can be a particularly good time to shop.
Value for money score: 4.5 out of 5
Dreame L40 Ultra specs
Dreame L40 Ultra review: design
Superb vacuuming and mopping features
Full self-cleaning dock
Large, jarring clean base
Backed by Chinese behemoth Xiaomi, Dreame is fast becoming a major player in the ever-expanding arena of robot vacuum cleaners and robot mops, and this high-end hybrid model comprising a 2-in-1 vacuum and mopping system is a sterling example of just how much attention to technical detail the company applies to its products, especially when it comes to features, navigation and onboard smarts. In fact, there are many similarities between the L40 Ultra and class-leader Roborock's premium Qrevo Curv and S8 MaxV Ultra models, only this one's for affordable to buy.
(Image credit: Future)
Before I get down to the nuts and bolts, I should address the elephant in the room – namely the size and design of the L40 Ultra's charging dock-cum-cleaning station. This white-only model's dock is 59cm in height, 41cm in depth and 34cm in width, and it's clad almost entirely in plastic that attracts pet hair and dust like a cowpat attracts flies. To break up the monotony of so much white, the L40 Ultra also comes with a blingy, rose gold-tinted dustbin cover that some users may actually like. I don't.
Moving on to the robovac itself. Let's start with the little side rotating brush that all robot vacs are equipped with to fling any debris that sits outside of their chassis into the path of the main brush roller. In the vast majority of models the brush is fixed in position and its bristles can only stretch an inch or so beyond the machine's bodywork, which makes cleaning right-angled corners near impossible.
(Image credit: Future)
Well, like some of the top end Roborock models, this one is equipped with an articulating side brush mount that pops out on an arm by a few inches so the spinning bristles can reach deep into corners. This is a game-changer because it means you might not need to reach for a hand vac to finish the job. Also, unlike any other model I've tested, this one's side brush doesn't engage when on carpet and that means its bristles will last longer and will be less likely to snag on a rug tassel or wrap itself in a wayward shoelace.
(Image credit: Future)
The same thing applies to the L40 Ultra's mopping system, which uses two magnetically attached circular spinning mops on the rear that do an impressive job of keeping hard floors dust- and stain-free. Like Roborock's flagship models, the L40 Ultra's right-hand mop automatically protrudes beyond the chassis by several inches when the device is cleaning around chair legs and along skirting boards. But more than that, this model's mops are automatically ejected and left behind in the base station whenever the bot is out on a vacuum-only run.
Yes, the L40 Ultra's mops will retract when on carpet by 10.5mm, but the thinking behind this particular system is that it's better for any carpet that the bot may need to cross en-route to a vacuum-only session to not have any mops fitted at all. And so it leaves them behind in the dock, just in case. After all, you ideally don't want any dirty wet mops possibly touching the fibers of your favorite deep-pile rug lest they leave some unsightly marks.
(Image credit: Future)
Like most modern hybrid units, the L40 Ultra's dock not only charges the robot's ample 5,200mAh battery between cleaning sessions, it also sucks debris from the robot's tiny 300ml bin into a much larger 2.3-liter dust bag. This should happily last a month or two before needing to be disposed of, unless, like me, you have a menagerie of hairy pets.
(Image credit: Future)
Because this model also mops, it has two huge water tanks – 4.5 liters for the clean water and an equally voluminous 4 liters for the dirty stuff. I should also add that this model ships with a small 200ml bottle of Dreame-branded floor cleaning solution, which you pour into a separate reservoir next to the dust bag section. This solution is then added to the water that's pumped into the robot's small water tank before it heads out on a mopping run. Like all similarly styled premium hybrid robot vacuums, the L40 Ultra's mops are automatically cleaned in the station on its return and then dried using wafts of warm air.
The robot itself uses LiDAR, an RGB camera, sensors and AI to help it map and navigate around the home, and it's one of the very best systems this writer has so far come across. Its initial mapping run was not only fast but exceptionally accurate, too. In fact, it was the first bot to accurately divide my downstairs open-plan flooring into four separate rooms where others have either joined two rooms together or made the entire ground floor one large room. Incidentally, the same LiDAR, sensor and camera set up is also used to detect obstacles, and very good it is, too. You can read more about my obstacle testing in the Performance chapter below.
(Image credit: Future)
One of the biggest issues I have with robot vacs is the propensity of loose rugs I have in every room, and rugs are the robot vac's arch nemesis, especially if they're not fixed down with some of that sticky stuff IKEA sells to keep rugs from slipping on hard floor. Well I'm pleased to report that at no time has the L40 Ultra snagged itself on any rug tassels or ruffled up any rugs while traversing them. I put this down to some extra height at the front of the unit that allows it to ride over almost any rug, no matter how thin and slippery it is. Top marks in this regard.
For some reason, most robot manufacturers still insist on producing circular bots instead D- or square-shaped models. As a result, the main suction area on this model is positioned between its two side wheels with 9cm or non-suction space on either side of its single rubber roller. This is normal for most bots and invariably why they are equipped with a side brush to fling wayward matter into the path of the suction roller. And speaking of suction, this model produces 11,000Pa of power, which is above average and more than enough oomph for hard floors and all but the deepest of carpet pile.
Unlike Roborock and a few other manufacturers that equip their bots with two rubber brush rollers that run in tandem, this model has just one 17cm roller. Nevertheless, I haven't seen any significant reduction in dust collection as a result of having just one. As an added bonus, this model also ships with what Dreame calls a TriCut Brush, specifically designed for cutting loose hair so it doesn't bundle together and block the main suction tube in the cleaning base when it's drawing debris from the robot's bin. It's worth fitting this replacement roller if you have cats or dogs of the shedding variety.
(Image credit: Future)
You get ultrasonic automatic carpet detection and five levels of vacuuming power with this model – Quiet, Standard, Turbo, Max and Max+ – and a sliding scale of mop wetness depending on how dirty your hard floor is and whether it's tile, vinyl or delicate wood. I always set vacuum power to either Turbo, Max or Max+ for full efficiency and, because I have engineered wooden floors, somewhere in the middle of the moistness chart when mopping.
Robot vacs of this nature are usually really easy to set up and this one is no different. Simply remove the dock and robot from the box, place the dock somewhere with good access to all your rooms and fill up the fresh water tank (the dust bag is pre-fitted). Next download the Dreame app (iOS and Google), tap the plus sign, select the L40 Ultra and follow the on-screen instructions. A voice assistant will chip in with odd vocal announcements during both setup and day-to-day use, and it goes without saying that this model will also respond to your own voice commands if that is your wont.
Design score: 4.5 out of 5
Dreame L40 Ultra review: performance
Excellent vacuum skills
Decent mopping, too
Impressive self-cleaning dock
The model Dreame L40 Ultra is an excellent navigator and a stalwart performer when traversing loose rugs. But how well does the L40 Ultra actually clean? Well, if the contents of the dock's dust bag are anything to go by, I'd say it's a winner, especially at collecting the wayward dog and cat hair that my home seems to be engulfed in.
In fact, I can often hear that reassuring whoomph sound as another cardigan's worth of hair is being sucked out of the bot's bin and into the dock's larger-than-average dust bag. What's more, this bin-emptying sequence isn't too loud either. This, alongside the TriCut Brush feature, means I'd rate the L40 Ultra amongst the best robot vacuums for pet hair.
(Image credit: Future)
I have no issues to report regarding this model's efficiency at collecting dust and debris whether it's on my hard wooden flooring, the especially hairy carpeted rug sitting in front of my dogs' bed or the entire floorspace of our village hall. It just heads out, cleans the edges first before embarking on systematic parallel lines for the rest of the room and then returning to its dock like clockwork. You can even adjust the frequency with which it returns to its dock to empty the bin.
I've been especially impressed with how well the L40 Ultra has tackled our large village hall. After mapping the 110 square meter area in about seven minutes, it then proceeded to start cleaning the edges and under any tables and chairs before sweeping the main floorspace in perfect parallel lines and what's more, in the direction in which the floorboards were laid. Granted it seemed to skirt around three small areas for some bizarre reason but I still call it a great success.
To date, the L40 Ultra has held enough juice to vacuum the hall's entire floorspace in one fell swoop, while in Turbo mode. That's a remarkable statistic. It took 95 minutes to complete what I consider a huge task for any robot vac with an amazing 54% of battery power still remaining.
(Image credit: Future)
The same level of efficiency applies to its mopping system, which is better than any static pad-based moppers out there. No, it won't replace a mop and bucket (or one of the best wet-dry vacuums) for rapid stain removal, mostly because it's too much hassle commanding a robot to mop a specific area that's only a few inches square.
By the time you've opened the app, selected a rough zonal area and waited for the bot to get there, you could have reached down with a damp paper towel and cleaned it up in a thrice. Nevertheless, I did perform such a test on a dried soy sauce stain and was impressed by how well the L40 Ultra dealt with it in three short passes. I put that down to those spinning mops and the downward pressure exerted on them.
(Image credit: Future)
Of course, the idea with robot mops is that, if scheduled, they will ensure that any hard floors are kept clean and tidy on a regular basis – and in this case right to the very edge – without any need for reaching for a wet mop, tea towel or paper toweling.
For most of my review period, I generally let the L40 Ultra use its CleanGenius method which purportedly uses AI to identify particularly grubby areas for extended cleaning. I mainly set different vacuum-only and mop-only schedules, even though the bot will happily perform both methods of cleaning during the same time frame. And as I've mentioned above, if performing a dual vac-and-mop function, the L40 Ultra's mops are raised by a couple of centimeters whenever it's crossing a patch of carpet and, if vacuuming only, it will leave the mops in the charging dock.
(Image credit: Future)
Obstacle avoidance is a key element when it comes to robot vacs because the last thing you want is a jammed up robot sitting there doing nothing while you're out and about. I give this model almost full marks for obstacle avoidance, though I wouldn't trust it with avoiding dog mess or some items below about two-inches in height.
I noticed this when I laid out an obstacle course comprising a trainer with wayward laces, a neck buff, a woolen glove, a small dog toy and a phone cable. Amazingly, the L40 avoided the trainer and its two extended laces, the neck buff and the phone wire in three different tests. However, it pushed a small soft dog toy forward on two occasions and rode over the glove, thankfully without it jamming up the suction roller.
Hence, like most robot vacs, this model is not infallible when it comes to items less than about two-inches in height. And that means I wouldn't want to trust it with dog mess of any variety. Other than that common anomaly, I give this bot full marks for performance.
Performance score: 5 out of 5
Dreame L40 Ultra review: app
Easy to navigate
Good customization options
Could be improved here and there
While you can perform two very simple commands – clean and return to home – by tapping two buttons on the robot itself or by shouting ‘Hey Dreame, clean the kitchen' and the like, the vast majority of setting up and customization must be done via the Dreame app, which you can download to your phone for free from Google Play or the Apple App Store.
(Image credit: Future)
The Dream app is very reminiscent of that from Roborock and it's very well thought out and easy to navigate. However, there are some elements I'd like to see improved, especially zone cleaning – which doesn't save the command for later use – and the ability to set routines along with daily schedules. That's what I love about the Roborock app. It allows me to create a bunch of manually programmed routines and specific zone cleaning regimes and it saves them all for instant recall from the home page of the app.
(Image credit: Future)
On the plus side, the Dreame app lets you see the entire map of your floor plan in either 2D or 3D, and make adjustments like room merging, division and renaming, plus handy stuff like being able to add virtual walls and no-go zones. You can even select the direction of your wooden floors so the bot moves in the direction of the seams for more effective dust collection.
The app also allows you to drive the bot around the home remotely while viewing the scene from the front camera – a handy feature for checking on pets when you're away from home. In the pantheon of robot vacuum apps I'd say it's one of the better ones but still a little way off the wholesale customization possibilities provided by the likes of Roborock.
App score: 4.5 out of 5
Should you buy the Dreame L40 Ultra?
Buy it if...
You want excellent cleaning
With its strong suction and very effective mopping, the Dreame L40 Ultra delivers an excellent clean, including the edges of rooms.
You want a hands-off experience
The L40 Ultra comes with a do-it-all dock that takes care of the vast majority of maintenance tasks, including cleaning and drying the mop pads.
You've got a decent budget
This robovac isn't cheap, but if you have the budget for it, it's well worth the investment for the amount of features and how strong the performance is. View Deal
Don't buy it if...
You're on a tight budget
While good value for what you're getting, there are plenty of cheaper and less feature-rich robot vacuums on the market if you're on a tighter budget.
You're short on space
The L40 Ultra's dock is massive and ugly. You'll need space to store it, and possibly somewhere it's not too on-show.
You have delicate wooden floors
Although the water levels are adjustable, you probably won't want to mop delicate wooden flooring. If that's what you have, then you'll be fine with a vacuum-only model, and you'll be able to save some cash and get a smaller dock, too. View Deal
How I tested the Dreame L40 Ultra
As per usual, I spent two weeks living with the Dream L40 Ultra and noted where possible any anomalies in its cleaning patterns. Thankfully there are none to report. I also performed a number of spot checks by programming it to clean a specific dog rug and a section of hard flooring with an ingrained stain. I also took into consideration its overall performance and whether or not it fitted comfortably within a home environment.
