The Cuktech 20 Power Bank has a high power output and large capacity, designed for charging laptops and similar devices while traveling. As you would expect from a battery of this ilk, it’s quite a handful. It’s thick across its depth, although thankfully it’s not as wide, nor is it as heavy as I was expecting.
This makes the Cuktech 20 Power Bank reasonably portable all things considered, although it’s slightly more cumbersome than some rivals with similar specs.
Thankfully, the Cuktech 20 Power Bank is still airline safe despite its size, since it falls below the TSA’s 100Wh limit. It’s also useful that this is clearly labelled on the side, so if an agent is ever doubtful, you can at least show them.
Cuktech has tried to inject some interest into its appearance as well, with its two-tone design and translucent front panel, and I did appreciate the linear texture on the sides, which aids grip and feels premium to the touch. However, this is still a rather austere looking brick, albeit one that’s perhaps a bit more sleek than some of the best power banks.
One of the standout features of the Cuktech 20 Power Bank is the screen, which displays various information, such as the battery life and estimated charging time, as well as the wattage, voltage, and amperage for each port in real time. There’s also a handy indicator to tell you whether a port is delivering or receiving power.
Although this information is certainly useful, it’s a shame the display area is quite small. It’s also a shame that given its size, the Cuktech 20 Power Bank only has three ports, as other power banks of this ilk can squeeze in one or two more. Still, at least two of them are USB-C, and both are input and output capable.
The first USB-C port has an output of 140W, whereas the second tops out at 60W. The USB-A port, meanwhile, has a maximum power output of 30W. Despite this, the maximum output doesn’t quite add up to 230W, but 210W – which is still plenty of power for a brick this size.
Charging via all three ports simultaneously is also supported, while an additional trickle charging mode is available for charging low current devices, such as earbuds and smartwatches, which can be activated by double pressing the power button.
It took just under two hours for the Cuktech 20 Power Bank to charge an HP Chromebook Plus, which has a 58Wh battery, from empty to full via the most powerful USB-C port, which is a solid performance. The estimated time given by the bank was accurate for the most part too, closely matching that of the Chromebook’s, although figures went awry at the tail-end of the charge.
The Cuktech 20 Power Bank lost 82% of its charge in the process, which unfortunately means you’ll likely only get one laptop charge out of it, but this is expected given the capacity – and if it did have more juice in the tank, it would likely exceed flight limits. Charging the bank itself took two hours from empty to full in, which is another impressive performance.
When charging the bank itself, it’s a shame that the screen goes off, although fortunately this can be changed in the settings. Also, there’s a handy LED strip running vertically below it that repeatedly fills up to indicate charging, which also looks stylish – for what that’s worth.
I should mention, however, that my first attempt to charge the Cuktech 20 Power Bank failed. After 30 minutes or so, I noticed it wasn’t receiving any charge, despite my cable being attached correctly. I’m not sure if this was because the bank was expecting to deliver an output rather than receive an input, but a simple re-plug fixed the issue. I can also report that I only experienced this once during my testing, so I can only presume this was a one-time glitch.
If you’re looking for another large yet flight-ready power bank, the Anker Laptop Power Bank is a great alternative. It’s slightly cheaper than the Cuktech 20 Power Bank, but it has more convenient features, such as two built-in USB-C cables, one of which can be looped to create a carrying handle. It has less total power than the Cuktech 20 Power Bank (165W), but this is still plenty for many people’s needs.
But if you do need over 200W of total power, in a reasonably portable and flight-ready package, the Cuktech 20 Power Bank is a solid pick for charging laptops and the like on the go.
(Image credit: Future)
Cuktech 20 Power Bank review: price & specs
(Image credit: Future)
Should I buy the Cuktech 20 Power Bank?
Buy it if…
You want plenty of power With 210W of total power, the Cuktech 20 should be enough for all kinds of devices.
You still want to fly with it Despite its power and size, the Cuktech 20 is still airline safe, which is helpfully labelled on one side.
Don't buy it if…
You want something small The Cuktech 20 does a good job of keeping things compact, but it's undeniably thick, which can be inconvenient.
You want something cheap With all that power comes a high price, and there are some equally capable but slightly cheaper alternatives out there.
Cuktech 20 Power Bank review: Also consider
Anker Laptop Power Bank Not only does it have the same capacity as the Cuktech 20 Power Bank, the Anker Laptop Power Bank has features two integrated USB-C cables, one of which doubles as a handy carrying loop. It’s about the same size and weight as the Cuktech 20 Power Bank, and is similarly flight-ready, but costs slightly less. At 165W, it’s less powerful – but still not exactly what you’d call weak. Read our Anker Laptop Power Bank review.
Logitech’s Astro sub-brand has a sizeable lineage, offering competition-grade audio solutions for years now, and the A50 Gen 5 is able to easily maintain that status quo at a (slightly) lower price point than the Astro A50 X, one of the best wireless gaming headsets we tested last year.
Much of the Astro A50 Gen 5 is built on the same very impressive foundation. It’s packing graphene drivers, which not only sound great but also contribute very little in terms of weight, while the whole design feels well-built without ever feeling uncomfortable for longer periods of use.
Audio sounds excellent, with a broad soundstage that packs in plenty of bass without distortion and plenty of high-end without tinniness, and I found myself using it for listening to music almost as much as I did for gaming.
Dolby Atmos and Windows Sonic are included, as well as the option to pipe in Bluetooth audio from an external source — ideal for anyone looking to crank up a podcast or playlist while grinding in their favorite game.
That flexibility is a common theme with the A50 Gen 5, too, since it can be connected to multiple platforms. While its pricier ‘X’ branded sibling can switch HDMI inputs with a button press, the A50 Gen 5 can do the same for audio.
The same mic from the A50 X is here, too, crystal clear in pressurized competitive moments (or as competitive as you can get within my own skill level) and easy to fold up if you’d prefer to just use the headset as a pair of very nice headphones.
Add to that a fantastic 24 hours of battery life, plus the convenience of being able to rest the headset on the docking station so it’s always ready to go and you’ve got a compelling package — and that’s before touching on Logitech’s G Hub software, which features custom equalizers and Blue voice adjustments.
It’s still not exactly affordable, but if you’re looking for a headset that can work across all platforms, it may be cheaper than buying a dedicated one for each.
Astro A50 Gen 5 review: Price and availability
List price: $299.99 / £299.99
Cheaper than Astro A50 X by around £70/$80
Available worldwide
For $300 / £300, you get a solid package here. Aside from the fantastic headset, that base station really is nifty.
It's well constructed, offering a really handy way to keep your headset charged, while it’s hard to find fault with the build quality of the A50 Gen 5 headset itself.
It’s more premium than mid-range headsets that lean on plasticky shells, and similarly priced SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro.
That rival arguably feels more headphone-like in its design, but offers similar versatility from multi-platform and dual-source output. If you want something that looks a little less like a gaming peripheral, that might be the way to go.
(Image credit: Future)
Astro A50 Gen 5 review: Specs
(Image credit: Future)
Astro A50 Gen 5 review: Design and features
Lightweight headset with fold-down mic
Graphene drivers are lightweight but offer big sound
Fabric ear cups are comfortable and avoid sweat build-up
Sat next to the pricier A50 X, you’d be hard-pressed to spot the differences, although the red cables on the Gen 5s versus the black cables on the A50 X are a bit of a giveaway.
The A50 Gen 5 comes in black or white, with magnetic cushions that can be taken off and swapped if you feel they’re getting to the end of their life (although even after well over a year of the premium version, it’s not ever felt that way to me).
The mic is identical, too, folding down to mouth level, while the side panel on the other side contains all the inputs. There’s chat and audio mixing on the headset itself, as well as Bluetooth functionality for piping your music through.
It’s comfortable for long periods thanks to being lighter than the old Logitech Pro X headsets I’ve used in the past, while the ear cups never feel like they get too hot. In fact, I prefer them to the colder, more leather-like alternatives (although you can buy a leatherette conversion kit from Logitech).
Onto the docking station, then, and while there’s no HDMI connectivity on the back, there are four USB ports. One is reserved for power, so the math enthusiasts will recognize that there are three ports left.
The ports are labeled for PC, PS5, and Xbox, meaning Switch is absent, but you can plug it into any of them.
You may need to provide your own USB-C cables, though — Logitech only provides one for power and a single cable to connect up other consoles.
(Image credit: Future)
Astro A50 Gen 5 review: Performance
24-hour battery life plus added convenience of docking station
24-bit PC audio, 16-bit on consoles but you’re unlikely to hear the difference
Connects via USB-C to docking station, but no HDMI ports
The Astro Gen 5, at least to my relatively trained ears as a musician, sounds the same as its premium sibling.
Footsteps from enemies in Call of Duty: Warzone and Black Ops 6 are crisp and easy to place, while the direction of gunfire is discernible even with short bursts.
Overwatch Hero callouts sound crisp, while more cinematic titles like Assassin’s Creed Shadows feel particularly impressive, notably when rain is falling on rooftops.
It’s worth noting that there’s no Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), but despite having a relatively large head, I felt the seal around my ears was tight enough where that never felt like a major concern. Your mileage may vary, though.
Perhaps most impressively, the A50 Gen 5s are fantastic for non-gaming audio, too. If you want to kick back with music, the balanced soundstage pairs with the comfortable headset to make everything feel nice and fresh.
I found listening to rock epics was a great experience, with piano and percussion dancing around each other nicely, while there’s plenty of bass when the situation calls for it, but without the distortion you may get from cheaper headsets.
You can play around with a mixer in the Logitech G app, too, while the aforementioned earcup controls are ideal for adjusting chat and game audio.
Still, audio output is only one-half of the coin, and while I have tended to keep mics folded up in favor of a desktop option with older setups, the mic here is crystal clear at all times.
The Logitech G app on PC can tap into the company’s Blue mic filtering to adjust to get you sounding sweet as a whistle, but even right out of the box, it feels as though you could be standing right next to a teammate as you work on strategies.
(Image credit: Future/Lloyd Coombes)
Should you buy the Astro A50 Gen 5?
Buy it if...
You’re a console and PC player Being able to switch between your console and PC audio at ease is a huge help for multiformat setups.
You want a clear mic Whether on Discord or console-based party chat, the mic on the Astro A50 Gen 5 is one of the best we’ve tested.
Don't buy it if...
You’re not looking for multiformat functionality The Astros are great, but there are comparable headsets with a focus on a single platform that will set you back a lot less.
Also consider...
Still not sold on the Astro A50 Gen 5? Here’s how it compares to two similar products.
Astro A50 X It’s hard not to compare the pricier variant of the Astros with this version. The main draw is those HDMI ports on the base station, which means you can switch between inputs with a button press. If you’re not looking for that functionality, though, you’ll lose very little with the A50 Gen 5s.
Razer BlackShark V2 Pro Less interested in the multiformat chops of the Astro Gen 5s? The BlackShark V2 Pro remains top of our list of the best wireless headset list thanks to fantastic audio, great battery life, and a premium build — but it’s only for PC.
Used on a gaming PC with an RTX 4070 Ti, PS5 Pro, and Xbox Series X
Party chat across multiple games used to test the mic, as well as Discord on PC
I spent my time using the Astro A50 Gen 5 across PC and console, switching between Call of Duty Warzone and Black Ops 6, indie multiplayer title The Headliners, and EA FC 25.
For testing the mic, I played some heated games of Overwatch 2, Marvel Rivals, and Destiny 2 to ensure comms were clear.
Logitech’s Astro sub-brand has a sizeable lineage, offering competition-grade audio solutions for years now, and the A50 Gen 5 is able to easily maintain that status quo at a (slightly) lower price point than the Astro A50 X, one of the best wireless gaming headsets we tested last year.
Much of the Astro A50 Gen 5 is built on the same very impressive foundation. It’s packing graphene drivers, which not only sound great but also contribute very little in terms of weight, while the whole design feels well-built without ever feeling uncomfortable for longer periods of use.
Audio sounds excellent, with a broad soundstage that packs in plenty of bass without distortion and plenty of high-end without tinniness, and I found myself using it for listening to music almost as much as I did for gaming.
Dolby Atmos and Windows Sonic are included, as well as the option to pipe in Bluetooth audio from an external source — ideal for anyone looking to crank up a podcast or playlist while grinding in their favorite game.
That flexibility is a common theme with the A50 Gen 5, too, since it can be connected to multiple platforms. While its pricier ‘X’ branded sibling can switch HDMI inputs with a button press, the A50 Gen 5 can do the same for audio.
The same mic from the A50 X is here, too, crystal clear in pressurized competitive moments (or as competitive as you can get within my own skill level) and easy to fold up if you’d prefer to just use the headset as a pair of very nice headphones.
Add to that a fantastic 24 hours of battery life, plus the convenience of being able to rest the headset on the docking station so it’s always ready to go and you’ve got a compelling package — and that’s before touching on Logitech’s G Hub software, which features custom equalizers and Blue voice adjustments.
It’s still not exactly affordable, but if you’re looking for a headset that can work across all platforms, it may be cheaper than buying a dedicated one for each.
Astro A50 Gen 5 review: Price and availability
List price: $299.99 / £299.99
Cheaper than Astro A50 X by around £70/$80
Available worldwide
For $300 / £300, you get a solid package here. Aside from the fantastic headset, that base station really is nifty.
It's well constructed, offering a really handy way to keep your headset charged, while it’s hard to find fault with the build quality of the A50 Gen 5 headset itself.
It’s more premium than mid-range headsets that lean on plasticky shells, and similarly priced SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro.
That rival arguably feels more headphone-like in its design, but offers similar versatility from multi-platform and dual-source output. If you want something that looks a little less like a gaming peripheral, that might be the way to go.
(Image credit: Future)
Astro A50 Gen 5 review: Specs
(Image credit: Future)
Astro A50 Gen 5 review: Design and features
Lightweight headset with fold-down mic
Graphene drivers are lightweight but offer big sound
Fabric ear cups are comfortable and avoid sweat build-up
Sat next to the pricier A50 X, you’d be hard-pressed to spot the differences, although the red cables on the Gen 5s versus the black cables on the A50 X are a bit of a giveaway.
The A50 Gen 5 comes in black or white, with magnetic cushions that can be taken off and swapped if you feel they’re getting to the end of their life (although even after well over a year of the premium version, it’s not ever felt that way to me).
The mic is identical, too, folding down to mouth level, while the side panel on the other side contains all the inputs. There’s chat and audio mixing on the headset itself, as well as Bluetooth functionality for piping your music through.
It’s comfortable for long periods thanks to being lighter than the old Logitech Pro X headsets I’ve used in the past, while the ear cups never feel like they get too hot. In fact, I prefer them to the colder, more leather-like alternatives (although you can buy a leatherette conversion kit from Logitech).
Onto the docking station, then, and while there’s no HDMI connectivity on the back, there are four USB ports. One is reserved for power, so the math enthusiasts will recognize that there are three ports left.
The ports are labeled for PC, PS5, and Xbox, meaning Switch is absent, but you can plug it into any of them.
You may need to provide your own USB-C cables, though — Logitech only provides one for power and a single cable to connect up other consoles.
(Image credit: Future)
Astro A50 Gen 5 review: Performance
24-hour battery life plus added convenience of docking station
24-bit PC audio, 16-bit on consoles but you’re unlikely to hear the difference
Connects via USB-C to docking station, but no HDMI ports
The Astro Gen 5, at least to my relatively trained ears as a musician, sounds the same as its premium sibling.
Footsteps from enemies in Call of Duty: Warzone and Black Ops 6 are crisp and easy to place, while the direction of gunfire is discernible even with short bursts.
Overwatch Hero callouts sound crisp, while more cinematic titles like Assassin’s Creed Shadows feel particularly impressive, notably when rain is falling on rooftops.
It’s worth noting that there’s no Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), but despite having a relatively large head, I felt the seal around my ears was tight enough where that never felt like a major concern. Your mileage may vary, though.
Perhaps most impressively, the A50 Gen 5s are fantastic for non-gaming audio, too. If you want to kick back with music, the balanced soundstage pairs with the comfortable headset to make everything feel nice and fresh.
I found listening to rock epics was a great experience, with piano and percussion dancing around each other nicely, while there’s plenty of bass when the situation calls for it, but without the distortion you may get from cheaper headsets.
You can play around with a mixer in the Logitech G app, too, while the aforementioned earcup controls are ideal for adjusting chat and game audio.
Still, audio output is only one-half of the coin, and while I have tended to keep mics folded up in favor of a desktop option with older setups, the mic here is crystal clear at all times.
The Logitech G app on PC can tap into the company’s Blue mic filtering to adjust to get you sounding sweet as a whistle, but even right out of the box, it feels as though you could be standing right next to a teammate as you work on strategies.
(Image credit: Future/Lloyd Coombes)
Should you buy the Astro A50 Gen 5?
Buy it if...
You’re a console and PC player Being able to switch between your console and PC audio at ease is a huge help for multiformat setups.
You want a clear mic Whether on Discord or console-based party chat, the mic on the Astro A50 Gen 5 is one of the best we’ve tested.
Don't buy it if...
You’re not looking for multiformat functionality The Astros are great, but there are comparable headsets with a focus on a single platform that will set you back a lot less.
Also consider...
Still not sold on the Astro A50 Gen 5? Here’s how it compares to two similar products.
Astro A50 X It’s hard not to compare the pricier variant of the Astros with this version. The main draw is those HDMI ports on the base station, which means you can switch between inputs with a button press. If you’re not looking for that functionality, though, you’ll lose very little with the A50 Gen 5s.
Razer BlackShark V2 Pro Less interested in the multiformat chops of the Astro Gen 5s? The BlackShark V2 Pro remains top of our list of the best wireless headset list thanks to fantastic audio, great battery life, and a premium build — but it’s only for PC.
Used on a gaming PC with an RTX 4070 Ti, PS5 Pro, and Xbox Series X
Party chat across multiple games used to test the mic, as well as Discord on PC
I spent my time using the Astro A50 Gen 5 across PC and console, switching between Call of Duty Warzone and Black Ops 6, indie multiplayer title The Headliners, and EA FC 25.
For testing the mic, I played some heated games of Overwatch 2, Marvel Rivals, and Destiny 2 to ensure comms were clear.
Fujifilm's GFX100RF is the brand's first-ever compact camera with a medium-format sensor, marrying the image quality of the 102MP GFX100S II with an impossibly-small Fujifilm X100 VI rangefinder-style body.
'Compact' is perhaps a stretch, but that's the category that this premium camera falls under by virtue of its built-in lens, which is a super-sharp 35mm f/4 optic with a 28mm equivalent focal length.
Fujifilm has prioritized compact lens proportions over aperture versatility, and the maximum f/4 aperture and lack of optical stabilization are potential dealbreakers. However, for pixel peepers and resolution-craving photographers, the GFX100RF's quality is unmatched in this class, even outdoing the Leica Q3.
Here is the silver version of the GFX100RF. It's also available in an all-black version. (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
Beyond its image quality, the GFX100RF feels premium in every way. The top plate, machined from a single 500g block of aluminum, is a delight and packed with useful controls, some of which are unique and add a touch of flair, such as the aspect ratio dial.
Fujifilm has somehow managed to include a vast number of external controls without the camera feeling crowded, and it's both unfussy and versatile in use – and a special mention must go to the bright tilt touchscreen that neatly folds away into the body.
Armed with Fujifilm's latest X Processor 5 chip and autofocus skills, the GFX100RF is also a capable performer, even if this medium-format snapper doesn't compete with the speed of smaller-format rivals.
Ultimately, this is a camera that makes a lot of sense, even if its quality will be overkill for most people, as is it price (though I reckon it's good value for what you get). Professional photographers with a penchant for street and landscape photography in particular will find no better compact camera than the characterful GFX100RF.
Fujifilm GFX100RF: price and release date
List price is $4,899 / £4,699 / AU$8,799
It's available from early April 2025 in two versions, with a silver or a black top plate
A premium strap, protective lens filter, lens hood and lens adapter are included
The GFX100RF is a premium medium-format compact with a price tag to match, costing $4,899 / £4,699 / AU$8,799. Still, that's cheaper than the full-frame Leica Q3, and you get a bunch of accessories in the box: a premium strap, protective lens filter, lens hood and lens adapter.
When you consider it's an all-in-one medium-format package with its built-in lens, the GFX100RF feels like pretty good value – other GFX cameras will cost you more, without a lens. For example, the GFX100S II, which shares the same sensor, launched at $4,999 / £4,999 / AU$8,699. However, the GFX100RF is triple the price of the APS-C format Fujifilm X100VI compact camera.
The GFX100RF is available from early April 2025 in two versions, one with a silver top plate, the other all-black.
Price score: 4/5
Fujifilm GFX100RF: specs
Fujifilm GFX100RF: design and handling
Top plate is machined from a 500g ingot of aluminum
All-new aspect ratio dial offers popular aspects from legendary analog cameras, including 65:24
Rangefinder-style body with a 5.76m dot EVF and tilt touchscreen
Cameras machined from a single ingot of aluminum are like buses – you wait an age for one, and then two come along together. First there was the Sigma BF, and now we have the Fujifilm GFX100RF – and I can't overstate just how lovely Fujifilm's premium compact feels in the hand.
It's effectively a premium Fujifilm X100VI, with a negligible size difference between the two cameras (at least when it comes how comfortably you'd carry these cameras around), and is available in black, with a silver or a black top plate – I had a first look with the former, and completed my in-depth review with the latter, and the black-and-silver version gets my vote.
Given that the GFX100RF is a medium-format camera, it's staggering just how compact and lightweight it is. It weighs just 26oz / 735g with battery and card included – that's lighter than any other Fujifilm GFX camera body without a lens attached, and that weight of course includes the built-in lens.
Fujifilm has seemingly prioritized compact lens proportions over aperture versatility. The lens is tiny, and it's super-sharp (more about that in the image quality section of this review), but its maximum aperture is f/4, and it isn't stabilized. Also, if you'd like the GFX100RF fully weather-sealed and lens flare minimized you'll need to add the protective lens filter and hood, which bulk the package out.
Image 1 of 6
(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
Image 2 of 6
(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
Image 3 of 6
(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
Image 4 of 6
(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
Image 5 of 6
(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
Image 6 of 6
(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
Fujifilm has allowed itself some design touches, such as a dedicated aspect ratio dial, that at first feel quirky but which are very well implemented and ultimately logical given the tech inside, and could just transform how you approach composition.
The front switch, which on the X100VI is used to switch between its optical (OVF) and electronic viewfinder (EVF) displays, here toggles between various aspect ratio and digital teleconverter display options. These include the following: a frame line of your chosen ratio and crop over the full 4:3 image area; the cropped-out area greyed out but still visible; and the cropped-out area black – meaning all you see is the image area of your chosen aspect ratio.
Personally, I would have much preferred the same type of hybrid viewfinder as that utilized by the X100 series of cameras, but here we have an EVF alone.
I know plenty of X100VI users that only use its EVF, but I'm a fan of its optical display, especially since it allows you to see a little outside your frame, which is super-handy for timing street photography shots as your subjects walk into the frame. T
Still, the 5.76m-dot 0.5-inch display works like a charm, and I really appreciate those aspect ratio and digital crop display options. What's more, the 3.2-inch tilt touchscreen is beautifully designed, sitting flush in the body yet easily pulled out, and is clear and bright – Leica should be taking notes.
Image 1 of 7
(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
Image 2 of 7
(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
Image 3 of 7
(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
Image 4 of 7
(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
Image 5 of 7
(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
Image 6 of 7
(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
Image 7 of 7
(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
Then there's the stacked set of controls that include the crop lever, a command dial and the on/off switch – a lovely design touch, as is the shutter speed / ISO dial.
A joystick makes menu navigation and autofocus selection a doddle. Every control is well made and built to last, while a raised bump on the camera's front provides some grip, though I'd hardly call this a grippy camera.
Ports-wise, on the left side as you're holding the camera there are mic input and headphone out, plus USB-C and micro HDMI, while on the right side are twin SD card slots. There's a hotshoe on the top for accessories such as an external flash.
Overall, it's a comprehensive set of controls for this type of camera, without creating the feeling that there's too much going on around the camera's exterior. I've been able to make quick adjustments with ease, and I haven't really come across any niggles throughout my review period.
Design score: 5/5
Fujifilm GFX100RF: features and performance
6fps with continuous AF, for up to 1,000 JPEGs
Incredible 820-shot battery life
Fujifilm's best autofocus performance
No optical or in-body image stabilization, just electronic stabilization for video
It's fair to say the Fujifilm GFX100RF prioritizes quality over outright speed – such are the trade-offs with a high-resolution medium-format camera.
Still, the GFX100RF is one of the speedier medium-format cameras around, with 6fps burst shooting that'll keep going for up to 296 JPEGs or 40 raws – not bad for such big file sizes. Naturally, you'll need to fit the best possible memory card into the camera, which would be a UHS-II V90 SD card.
You also get Fujifilm's latest autofocus system, which is packed with subject-detection tracking modes that cover humans, various animals and vehicles. Fujifilm hasn't quite got autofocus speed and accuracy to Sony and Canon levels yet, but it's not too far off, plus there's arguably less need for such power in a compact camera with fixed wide-angle lens.
It was good to know, though, that when I composed portraits, focusing was pin-sharp on my subject's eyes.
Image 1 of 3
(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
Image 2 of 3
(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
Image 3 of 3
(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
When I was first being briefed on the GFX100RF, I had to ask Fujifilm if it had its numbers right when I saw an 820-shot battery life quoted – that's 2-2.5x the number of shots you'd typically expect from such a camera, so it seemed unlikely.
I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Fujifilm does indeed have its numbers right. Such staying power could be attributed to the camera's leaf shutter, which is a typically less power-hunger shutter than the type used in most other cameras – this is a camera that'll comfortably last all day.
I've already mentioned how the maximum f/4 aperture is, for me, the biggest drawback to the GFX100RF, and the fact that there's no optical stabilization would be a close second. I'm typically a handheld photographer, preferring not to use a tripod, and optical stabilization is a saving grace for maintaining sharp image quality, especially given such high-resolution output.
Neither is there in-body image stabilization (IBIS), which is understandable for such a camera; but no optical stabilization? That's a big miss for photographers. Should you dabble with video, there is digital stabilization, which does a decent job of smoothing out camera shake.
Features and performance score: 4/5
Fujifilm GFX100RF: image and video quality
102MP sensor and 35mm f/4 lens combine for class-leading edge-to-edge clarity
Maximum f/4 aperture will be a drawback for many users
Fujifilm's full suite of Film Simulations; video resolution maxes out at 4K
If image resolution and edge-to-edge clarity matter most to you, there's no better camera than the Fujifilm GFX100RF. It marries a class-leading 102MP medium-format sensor with a super-sharp lens – trust me, I've pixel peeped a range of images, and detail is pin-sharp from the center of the frame right out to the very edges.
And I noted these findings while directly comparing the GFX100RF with the Leica Q3, which is an even pricier 61MP full-frame premium compact that previously set the bar for image quality.
Such quality means the GFX100RF is ideal for street and landscape photography, especially given its 28mm full-frame equivalent focal length. Furthermore, the 102MP sensor unleashes unmatched cropping potential; even if the dedicated 36mm, 50mm, and 63mm effective focal length digital crop options don't reach as far as the Leica Q3's 35mm, 50mm, 75mm and 90mm options, each option has more pixels.
Image 1 of 6
This photo utilizes the crop mode with an effective 50mm focal length to get the framing I hoped for from the position I had to take the photo from. Image size is still a huge 35MP. (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
Image 2 of 6
Here's the full 4:3 image area of the 102MP sensor (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
Image 3 of 6
This is the 65:24 panoramic aspect ratio, which I think works really well here (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
Image 4 of 6
To finish my process, I opted for the Acros Film Simulation with red filter – a monochrome color profile that brings out the richness in sunny skies (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
Image 5 of 6
The aspect ratio dial is an addictive tool. Sure, you can bring in such an effect in editing software, but doing so at the time impacts your creative process. (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
Image 6 of 6
Back to the full 4:3 aspect ratio (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
I had a blast experimenting with different aspect ratios via the dedicated dial, too, and became hooked on the 65:24 panoramic aspect ratio, constantly seeing the world around me in panorama.
Still, the GFX100RF won't be for everyone. For me, despite its quality, the limitations of the lens' maximum f/4 aperture are a major drawback. That, and the complete lack of image stabilization for photography, both optically and sensor-based, limited the scenarios in which I could get sharp handheld images, even with the lens' subtler leaf shutter.
Furthermore, I love using a lens' maximum aperture for shallow depth of field, even with a lens as wide as this, and for that the 28mm f/1.7 lens of the Leica Q3 is the better pick.
Within its practical use-cases, however, and with the the help of Fujifilm's known and much loved Film Simulations color profiles, I've been able to create images that you'd struggle to believe were made with a compact camera.
Image 1 of 7
Fujifilm's standard color profile has a high-contrast look. I'm a bigger fan of the natural look (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
Image 2 of 7
Despite the limited f/4 maximum aperture, it's still possible to get shallow depth of field if the focus distance is close (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
Image 3 of 7
I was able to get properly sharp detail in this night scene using a 1/75sec shutter speed and ISO 3200 sensitivity (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
Image 4 of 7
The GFX100RF's impressive dynamic range has kept detail in the sunkissed top left of the building here. Many other cameras would rely on a HDR mode to do the same. (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
Image 5 of 7
The 28mm focal length is ideal for street photography (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
Image 6 of 7
I'd rather a shallower depth of field for this portrait, but alas it's not possible with the GFX100RF (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
Image 7 of 7
Detail is pin sharp, everywhere in the frame (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
Optically, if I was to nitpick – and I say this having made direct comparisons with the excellent Q3 – the GFX100RF is slightly prone to lens flare with the sun in the shot. In such instances it's all the more important to utilize the lens hood that comes with the camera, and keep the lens and / or protective filter clean from dust.
Chromatic aberration is well controlled, while bokeh is only okay – the GFX100RF's lens is not the one to pick for buttery smooth backdrops.
Image 1 of 3
Chromatic aberrations are essentially absent in this scene – impressive. However, bokeh is only okay (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
Image 2 of 3
You get lovely sunstars with the GFX100RF, but it is a little prone to lens flare. (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
Image 3 of 3
Slightly underexposed here, but tones are really nice. (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
Video specs are solid if unspectacular. Fujifilm has focused on getting 4K quality right, rather than wowing us with 8K resolution. There's 4K up to 30fps in H.265 All-Intra 4:2:2 10-bit, or Full HD up to 60fps, with bitrates up to a staggering 720Mbps.
Using such a high-quality bitrate will naturally create huge file sizes, for which you'll need to use the fastest possible UHS-II V90 SD card. It's also possible to shoot 4K in the even higher-quality ProRes format with a 1,877Mbps bitrate and up to 60fps, but only to an external SSD.
This video quality is backed up by handy video tools, such as a 4EV ND filter and digital-only image stabilization (only for video) that smooths out shake in handheld footage. So while most users will be shooting primarily photos with the GFX100RF, it's possible to shoot some lovely looking 4K video too.
Image and video quality score: 5/5
Fujifilm GFX100RF: testing scorecard
Should I buy the Fujifilm GFX100RF?
Buy it if...
You want the best possible detail The GFX100's 102MP sensor and high-quality lens render detail to a scale – and with edge-to-edge sharpness – previously unseen in a compact camera.
You like experimenting with different looks Don't be fooled into thinking the fixed 35mm f/4 is restricting – with 102MP to play with, you can crop into images for a perceived tighter lens, and play with various aspect ratios.
You love the retro Fujifilm vibes From its rangefinder style design to its range of Film Simulations color profiles, the GFX100RF embodies what has made Fujifilm so popular over the last decade.
Don't buy it if...
You want a bright lens For me, the single biggest drawback is the limitations that come with the maximum f/4 aperture, specifically low-light performance and shallow depth of field potential.
You lack a steady hand The GFX100RF is should be ideal for handheld use, except that there's no optical or sensor-based stabilization on board. For sharp images, you'll need to utilize a fast shutter speed, a very steady hand, or a tripod.
You're as interested in video as photography It's possible to squeeze lovely video quality out of the GFX100RF, but there's no doubt that it's primarily designed for photographers.
Fujifilm GFX100RF: also consider
Leica Q3
I thought compact camera quality peaked with the 60.3MP Leica Q3, but then along came the 102MP Fujifilm GFX100RF. That said, there's plenty going for the Q3, especially its gorgeous 28mm lens with a wider f/1.7 maximum aperture, and its macro focus mode. Want to know more? I've directly compared these two premium compacts in real-world tests in a GFX100RF vs Q3 article.
The GFX100RF will be overkill for most people, and for those people its smaller cousin, the popular X100VI, could be a wiser, thriftier choice if you can stomach back-order lead times. Both are rangefinder-style cameras, with the X100VI featuring a hybrid viewfinder that can switch between optical and electronic displays, whereas the GFX100RF just has an EVF. It's 40MP APS-C sensor and 35mm f/2 lens impress too – for many scenarios you might not really notice a quality difference between the pair, and the smaller X100VI is a third of the price. For outright image quality though, the GFX100RF is unmatched.
I had a pre-launch briefing session and hands-on time with the camera
Fujifilm subsequently loaned me the camera for a 10-day period
I've used the camera extensively, and made direct comparisons with the Leica Q3
My time with the GFX100RF was briefer than I would have liked, but plenty long enough for me to get a real feel for the camera and its capabilities.
Taking a deep dive into its key features, including that incredible 102MP sensor, the digital crop and aspect ratio options, and color profiles, has led me to write separate articles, as has my direct comparison with the Leica Q3, another premium fixed-lens compact.
I've also pushed the camera's performance, namely its burst shooting and video recording, and pixel-peeped the quality of the f/4 lens, analysing edge-to-edge detail and bokeh.
The GameSir Cyclone 2 is a wireless gamepad compatible with PC, Nintendo Switch, and mobile, thanks to its various connectivity options.
Its design hardly pushes the boat out, with a near-identical form and layout to the Xbox controller. However, the translucent panels and RGB lighting at least add some vibrancy.
It’s also hard to fault the Cyclone 2 for build quality. It’s light yet solidly constructed, while the plastics are refined for the most part; however, in some areas – notably the grips – the Cyclone 2 fails to match the premium feel of some of the best PC controllers around.
The buttons, on the other hand, are engineered to a higher standard. I personally liked their mouse-click-esque actuation, which eschews the heavily damped approach of more traditional gamepads – although I’m sure there will be gamers who won’t find this as desirable. Thankfully, the sticks should prove less divisive, as I can’t imagine any who wouldn’t appreciate their smooth operation and premium feel.
One aspect of the Cyclone 2 that’s less impressive, however, is the charging dock. Unlike the excellent dock included with the GameSir Super Nova, the one here is less stable, takes up more real estate, and is too difficult when aligning the charging pins, which can easily result in the Cyclone 2 failing to charge even when seated.
GameSir Connect can be used to customize the functions and features of the Cyclone 2, with a wealth of options available – more so than I’ve seen in other gamepad software, in fact. There are multiple curve profiles and deadzone settings for the sticks and triggers, as well as plenty of rebinding options; you can even substitute motion controls for mouse and joystick inputs.
The Cyclone 2 is also impressive when it comes to performance. Those clicky buttons are certainly responsive, while the D-pad offers slightly more dampening but still provides plenty of feedback – a combination that results in accurate and easy actuation.
(Image credit: Future)
The TMR sticks also live up to their promise with their ultra-precise and smooth inputs, while the triggers offer plenty of control despite having less travel and resistance than your typical gamepad.
I didn’t experience any connectivity issues with the Cyclone 2: it linked easily to my PC, Nintendo Switch, and Android smartphone. However, switching between devices on the fly isn’t the most seamless and requires you to memorize various button combinations to achieve this.
I wasn’t able to test the battery life to its limits during my time with the Cyclone 2, but I can say that after a couple of days of varied use, it remained green. Unfortunately, I can’t be more accurate than this, as no percentage is given for battery life in Connect, which is an oversight. GameSir does claim it can last around 10 hours, though, which is on the lower end of the spectrum.
In line with GameSir’s other offerings, the Cyclone 2 is well-priced compared to some of its rivals. It costs the same as the GameSir Super Nova, which uses the technically inferior Hall effect stick technology rather than TMR, but slightly less than the GameSir Tarantula Pro, which has the latter.
GameSir Cyclone 2 review: Price and availability
$49.99 / £49.99 / AU$79
Available now in two colorways
Well-priced compared to rivals
The Cyclone 2 costs $49.99 / £49.99 / AU$79 and is available now in two colorways: Phantom White and Shadow Black. The edition that includes the charging stand is only slightly more at $55.99 / £55.99 / AU$89. All editions come with a 2.4GHz USB-A dongle and a USB-A-to-C cable.
It’s the same price as the Super Nova, another gamepad from GameSir with a similar design and feature set. This uses Hall effect joystick technology, though, which isn’t considered quite as accurate or as energy efficient as TMR.
If you’re after another TMR controller, then GameSir has another offering in the form of the Tarantula Pro. This is more expensive than the Cyclone 2, but not by much, and it has more buttons to play around with. However, it adopts a layout akin to the best PS5 controllers (despite not being compatible with the console), with its symmetrical sticks and long grips, which some gamers may balk at.
GameSir Cyclone 2 review: specs
(Image credit: Future)
GameSir Cyclone 2 review: design and features
Familiar design
Good build quality
Many customizations available
The Cyclone 2 has a familiar look and layout, following the fashion of the best Xbox controllers (despite not being compatible with the platform), with its asymmetrical joysticks and thick body.
Two colorways are available to choose from, although I personally prefer the white option with its red and gold accents, which looks more slick than its black counterpart. Both variants feature a translucent front plate and underlying RGB strips, which add more interest to proceedings.
Build quality is impressive too, considering the price of the Cyclone 2. The light yet solid chassis feels good in the hand, as does its smooth texture. There’s some pitting on the handles to aid grip, but this doesn’t feel as luxurious as the rubberized and silicone materials used by more premium gamepads.
The buttons and sticks are all generously spaced apart yet still easy to access, and feel solid with little wobble. The sticks follow suit, and their thumb pads offer sufficient levels of grip and comfort while feeling durable at the same time.
The two back buttons are similarly well-designed, and they perfectly align with my natural finger placement. Combined with their large size and ergonomic shape, they’re more practical than other back buttons I’ve experienced.
One design drawback concerns the charging dock, which is included with certain editions. It tries to adopt a more interesting form with its splayed legs, but this makes it impractical as it takes up an unnecessary amount of space.
(Image credit: Future)
It also fails to provide a stable platform for the Cyclone 2, as it’s all too easy to knock the controller from it. What’s more, the charging pins are awkward to align, and there were numerous occasions where I’d failed to seat the pad correctly to initiate charging. The dock included with GameSir Super Nova is far superior, and I wish the same design had been used here.
It’s also a bit of a shame that the face buttons can’t be swapped around to match the platform you’re playing on, as you can with the Super Nova, since the Cyclone 2 lacks the same magnetic, removable face plate.
The Cyclone 2 can be customized using GameSir Connect, the brand’s peripheral software for PC. There are an impressive number of tweaks available here, more so than in other tools I’ve tried. You can rebind the buttons to other controller inputs, or to mouse and keyboard inputs. There’s also a macro creator, and up to three inputs can be assigned to a single button, with Continuous Trigger and Turbo modes available.
There are curve and deadzone adjustments for the triggers and sticks as well, while motion controls have plenty of parameters to tinker with, including the ability to substitute them for joystick inputs or even mouse movements. However, this latter feature failed to work with the first review unit I received, even after troubleshooting, so another test unit was issued, which thankfully did work. Hopefully, this isn’t a pervasive issue, but it’s worth mentioning given it’s a potential cause for concern.
GameSir Cyclone 2 review: performance
Responsive inputs
Super smooth joysticks
Clicky buttons won’t be for everyone
In the main, the Cyclone 2 is a joy to game with. Those clicky face buttons feel very snappy and precise, although I’m sure there will be gamers out there who’ll lament the lack of dampening and prefer the more traditional feel.
The D-pad, however, provides slightly more dampening, but still retains the snappy, tactile feel that provides plenty of feedback. It’s also very easy to use, with plenty of accuracy to avoid mispresses. When playing Tekken 8, it was very conducive to the rapid succession of directions, including quarter-circle rolls, which were comfortable to perform.
What’s more, the TMR joysticks held true to their claim, as they felt smoother and more precise than their Hall effect counterparts – although the difference isn’t massive. This was a real boon when I played FPS games such as Goldeneye 64 on the Switch.
The triggers on the Cyclone 2 are quite light and have less travel than those on other controllers. However, I didn’t have any issues performing controlled movements, such as when modulating the throttle and braking while playing Art of Rally. The motion controls proved accurate as well, as I found when aiming bows in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
Connecting the Cyclone 2 to various platforms was easy enough, even via Bluetooth, and was as amenable in this regard as the best Nintendo Switch controllers. Hot-swapping between platforms, however, is a little more onerous, as you have to remember various button combinations for changing modes; at least the Home button LED provides some indication on this front. It’s a shame the Cyclone 2 doesn’t include a handy flip switch on the back to toggle between 2.4GHz and Bluetooth modes, as the Super Nova does. But from a performance perspective, I found little wrong with its connectivity.
I didn’t manage to test the battery of the Cyclone 2 to exhaustion, and rather annoyingly, Connect relies on imprecise color codes rather than percentage points for life remaining.
I can say, though, that after a few days of play, the Cyclone 2 remained green, which seems reasonable. However, having reached out to GameSir, it estimated that the Cyclone 2 can last about 10 hours, which is disappointingly low compared to many other wireless controllers – and surprising given that TMR technology is supposed to be more energy efficient.
(Image credit: Future)
Should I buy the GameSir Cyclone 2?
Buy it if...
You want plenty of customization I don’t think I’ve come across gamepad software that offers more customizations than Connect – just about every tweak you could want is here.
You want precise inputs The clicky buttons and ultra-responsive TMR sticks make the Cyclone 2 a sharp and smooth gamepad.
Don't buy it if...
You want plenty of dampening If you like soft, cushioned button presses, then the Cyclone 2 probably isn’t for you.
You wanta long battery life GameSir’s 10-hour estimate is nothing special, and many other wireless controllers can do better than this.
GameSir Cyclone 2 review: Also consider
If you're after some great alternatives to the Cyclone 2, then take a look at these recommendations:
Xbox Wireless Controller The default for many PC and Xbox players, Microsoft’s first-party pad is simple yet capable. Its ergonomics are excellent, while its ubiquity means you can often find one for well below its original price. It doesn’t have anywhere near the same customization options as the Cyclone 2, though, and relies on traditional potentiometer stick technology.
GameSir Tarantula Pro If you want another TMR option, the Tarantula Pro is a great alternative to the Cyclone 2. We found its performance excellent, offering plenty of precision and feedback, while we were also impressed with its sheer number of buttons and features. It’s more expensive than the Cyclone 2, but not by that much.
I tested the Cyclone 2 for several days, during which time I used it on PC, Nintendo Switch, and Android.
I played a variety of games, including Tekken 8, Art of Rally, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and GoldenEye 64, all of which provide a thorough test for the various inputs of controllers.
I’ve been gaming for over two decades, and during that time, I’ve experienced many different gamepads across many different platforms. I’ve also reviewed a number of controllers previously, including other GameSir models.
Frame Material and Build Quality: Made with a powder-coated aluminum base, with scratch-proof nylon casters. Dimensions: Height: 87cm, Width: 51cm, Depth: 56cm Weight: 8.5kg Upholstery Options and Materials: Made from a wide range of premium materials, leather, vegan leather, and mesh. Maximum Payload: 110kg (approximately 17 stone)
Straight away, the chair’s packaging gives an idea of its quality - it is well packed, with each piece individually protected, and the parts are heavy and fit well together.
Admittedly though, this chair is difficult to assemble. Undoubtedly the chair takes two people to put together, and it isn’t an easy task. The instructions weren’t as clear as they could’ve been, and all-in-all, this took about 30 minutes for us to build. We actually managed to assemble it back-to-front at first, but we'd had a long day, so that's probably user error.
The chair is assembled in two halves, so make sure you have a fair bit of room before you start. It's a little fiddly, and there are a fair few parts that you need to keep track of - but it's worth the effort.
The quality of the seat is undeniable, the backrest is thick but breathable, and the material is cool and comfy. As you first sit down, there’s no wobbles or flimsiness, and you can definitely feel the care that has gone into the design.
At $499, the Branch Ergonomic Chair Pro covers the middle ground between some of the most expensive chairs around, and the most premium office chairs.
It is a bit of a step up from the Ergonomic chair ($359), but comes with six more points of adjustment, and a much sturdier build - having taken on five years of customer feedback.
Value: 4 / 5
Design & Build quality
The Branch Ergonomic Chair Pro looks simple and elegant, you wouldn’t guess it was such a hassle to assemble.
The premium quality of the parts gives the chair a durable feel and a clean appearance, with the mesh design means the chair has great airflow, and the materials give it a really cool feel - even in direct sunlight.
I'm a one of those people who can never sit still, but with all the adjustments that this chair allows, I can get comfortable however I'm sitting, even if I do then switch my position a few minutes later!
I've also got a cat who loves to sit on my lap, and I'm happy to report that the base of the chair is more than wide enough for me to comfortably cross my legs (and for anyone wondering - the material does not collect cat hair at all!).
Particularly great for me (although probably not great for my posture), is the back rest, which you can adjust to pretty much any angle - and the ergonomic support means my back hasn't hurt even after 9 hours of use - and sadly, yes, I have tested this.
The wheels are bigger than expected, but make the chair feel very stable and allow me to swivel off to the printer when I need to.
The chair also has the option for vegan leather, so is suitable for a wide range of customers.
There’s very little wobble at all in the build, except a slight shake in the arms - but the height-adjustable armrests have a nice smooth surface and padding, and are wide and secure enough to keep things like notepads, pens, or even mugs on if you're feeling risky and have your hands full.
A small piece of the back support did snap off quite soon after unboxing the chair, which looked to have been damaged in transit (see below) but overall the quality is fantastic.
(Image credit: Future)
In use
The chair sits quite low, I’m 5”7 on a tall day, and the highest the chair goes isn’t as high as I would expect. I can plant my feet firmly on the floor when its at its highest, which isn’t usual in my experience.
There are a lot of options to adjust the chair, with the height, the headrest, arms rests, the recline, and also the seat position. This can make the process of adjusting slightly fiddly, since there are so many different levers. However, it’s great to have such a customizable experience.
The arms rests are a little too easy to adjust for my liking - and knocking them a little means they sometimes rotate a bit by accident. That being said, the arm rests are wide and comfortable, and can even be removed if needed.
The recline on the chair is easy to navigate, but can be a little sticky. I've definitely had a few hours stuck in an ever so slightly too relaxed position so far, but eventually managed to get it sorted.
(Image credit: Future)
Final verdict
On the whole, I’ve had a great experience with this chair. I've been using it for a few months now and can say it has made my work from home days a lot more comfortable.
I've personally chosen to remove the top head rest, as it sat a little awkwardly against my neck, so if you're on the shorter side, bare that in mind. That being said, it was easy to remove, it is adjustable, and I don't find myself feeling like anything is missing.
As long as you can find a friend (or maybe two) willing to help with the set-up, it’s worth it. The chair is sturdy and fantastically comfortable, and stays cool even if you’ve been using it all day. I've moved house since I first got this chair, and must admit this was one of the most difficult things to transport thanks to its size and weight, but I did make sure to bring it with me since I enjoy it so much.
It's on the expensive side and it is a little bulky, but if you're looking to invest in a good quality chair that will last, then I recommend considering this chair as an option.
If you’re looking for a reliable chair for everyday use, the Ergonomic Chair Pro is certainly worth considering.
The BenQ GP520 is a promising projector for those on a tight budget. At $1,499, it provides a much cheaper alternative to the Hisense C2 Ultra and JGMO N1S Pro 4K. While there are plenty of other examples of the best projectors that can compete near its price, the BenQ GP520 has a solid edge where brightness is concerned. An LED light source lets it hit a high of 2,600 ANSI Lumens, and that’s plenty to provide a pleasing image even if you don’t completely black out your viewing space.
The GP520 beams a sharp and modestly colorful 4K picture and supports HDR10+ high dynamic range. In the right viewing conditions, it can look downright great for a projector at this price, and even has solid motion handling.
BenQ rounds out the GP520 with a potent pair of speakers that will do the job when you don’t have time to sort out a better sound system, and it has integrated Google TV for streaming. The projector is small and easy to move about, making it viable as a go-anywhere all-in-one theater system. While there are plenty of ways the GP520 could be better, it’s a great option for those on a budget.
BenQ GP520 review: Price & release date
There are no optical adjustments on the GP520, which uses automatic keystone and autofocus, and even framing and obstacle avoidance, to configure its picture for new setups (Image credit: Future)
Release date: October 2024
Price:$1,499 / £1299 / AU$ 2,199
The BenQ GP520 is a recent entry to the market and comes in at a modest price. At $1,499, it’s a small bargain next to the BenQ W2720i, and is cheaper than the BenQ X300G and BenQ X3100i in the company’s gaming projector lineup. It doesn’t have the gaming chops of those latter projectors, but it delivers a big, bright 4K picture for the money.
BenQ GP520 review: Design & features
The GP520's included Google TV remote control (Image credit: Future)
Compact, all-in-one design
Multiple tripod holes for mounting
Google TV
Like many recent mainstream home projectors, the BenQ GP520 has a simple, boxy design. With a compact, gray case and a blue accent around the lens, it looks a lot less like office equipment than other BenQ projectors. Inside, it packs an LED DLP projection system, dual 12-watt speakers, and the Google TV streaming platform. It’s a compact projector that’s easy to move and set up in new positions.
While some competitors have started including gimbal stands for angling their projectors, the GP520 has simple rubber feet that can extend to make small angle and tilt corrections. That said, the GP520 is equipped with tripod holes on the top, bottom, and rear for adaptable setups. You’ll want a rather sturdy tripod to secure this projector, though.
The GP520 will automatically configure its picture for new setups, including keystone and autofocus adjustments, and even framing and obstacle avoidance. Aside from focus, these are all digital adjustments that reduce the resolution of the 4K picture.
The BenQ GP520 runs the Google TV smart TV system, and while this provides plenty of functionality for finding and streaming content, the hardware running it isn’t so capable. After making a selection or trying to access a menu, the OS will hang up for one or several seconds. For instance, trying to access the picture settings menu from the main menu, the delay was long enough for me to be convinced the system had glitched (it didn’t).
Around back, the GP520 offers up a pair of HDMI 2.1 ports (one with eARC), a 3.5mm audio output, two USB-A ports (one for service only), and a USB-C port. That last one is special, as it not only supports 20 watts of charging power for a connected device but also serves as a DisplayPort input.
The back of the projector also features a small vent for exhausting heat, and while plenty of heat comes out of the back, the fans are not very loud. On top, it has buttons for volume, Bluetooth pairing, and power. The sides of the projector are covered in large grills that allow air to flow in and sound to come out of the speakers. While the GP520 is compact, BenQ uses a large and heavy external power brick that could get in the way of a convenient and tidy setup.
The remote included with the GP520 is basic and feels a bit cheap, but it does the job. It has the typical Google TV layout with a circular navigation dial, a microphone button for voice controls, and quick buttons for home and back. Interestingly, it includes a zoom control to quickly shrink the image down and blow it back up, and also has a dedicated button to automatically adjust keystone and focus. Thankfully, the remote has a shortcut button to change inputs, making it much quicker to jump from the somewhat slow Google TV operating system to any other input without getting bogged down in unresponsive menus.
Design & features score: 3.5/5
BenQ GP520 review: Picture & sound quality
Black levels can look elevated on the GP520, but it manages to easily draw out detail from dark shadows in movies like Dune(Image credit: Future)
Crisp, bright 4K picture
Color is a bit lacking
No gaming features
The BenQ GP520 puts on a good show, beaming a picture with 2,600 lumens of brightness. In a well-lit room, you’ll want to stick with content like cartoons and TV, but if you can draw the curtains and dim your space, the GP520 is good for movies. Enemy of the State had great visuals and solid contrast on my 100-inch screen, even with light slipping through my blinds during the day. Black levels weren’t incredibly deep, but it still looked good.
Watched in these same conditions, a 4K Blu-ray of Dune looked excellent in the GP520’s HDR10 picture mode. The picture had sharp detail, and there was also detail in dark shadows, such as fabrics and the Harkonnen armor. Occasionally, the projector exhibited judder during panning and tilting shots, but it was very subtle. There’s also an Auto HDR picture mode, but this shifts to a cooler color temperature and introduces the soap opera effect along with other odd motion artifacts.
Elevated black levels seen on the GP520 can be a little distracting when it displays letterboxed movies or larger areas of black, but contrast is nonetheless quite good. The GP520 performed well in Paul’s duel with Jamis toward the end of Dune. I’ve seen other projectors struggle greatly with this fairly dark scene, but the GP520 presented it clearly and brought out plenty of detail, including in Jamis’ face.
The GP520's Google TV smart interface (Image credit: Future)
The GP520 falls a bit short on color, though, with its LED light source only covering 81% of the DCI-P3 color space. That leaves plenty of room for improvement, but such improvement will generally come from more expensive triple laser projectors, like the JMGO N1S Pro or Hisense C2 Ultra. This won’t hold the GP520 back with some movies, such as the aforementioned Enemy of the State, but it loses a little punch with content that benefits from especially vibrant color, like Cyberpunk Edgerunners.
The speakers on the GP520 pack a punch for a system of this size. The balance is a little crisp, putting a lot into the mids and rolling off the bass. Sub-bass is absent, so you’ll miss some meat from movies, TV, and games.
While the projector can run games with a reasonably low latency, it can’t switch to 1080p display and bump up the frame rate like some of its competitors. Regardless of resolution, the refresh rate is capped at 60Hz.
Picture and sound quality score: 3.5/5
BenQ GP520 review: Value
Connections include two HDMI 2.1 ports (one with eARC) and a USB-C port with DisplayPort support (Image credit: Future)
Brighter than similar options
Affordable price for a 4K projector
All-in-one design enhances value
The BenQ GP520 may not be the best projector around, but it’s offering an excellent value. For one thing, it’s a complete package with integrated speakers and a streaming software that lets you power it up and start watching without any extra gear. It’s also offering solid performance for the money, with a picture that’s plenty bright, crisp, and with HDR10+ support. It could use a bit more color richness, a deeper black floor, and the option to increase refresh rate at lower resolutions, but for straightforward movie and TV watching, it’s quite good.
At $1,499, the BenQ GP520 sits in a proper place, steering clear of some of its more colorful triple-laser competition but offering better brightness compared to similarly priced projectors.
Value score: 4.5/5
Should I buy the BenQ GP520?
(Image credit: Future)
Buy it if...
You want a bright picture The BenQ GP520 scores high marks for its brightness, which helps it perform better in rooms with some ambient light. View Deal
You want a solid all-in-one at a great value The BenQ GP520 checks all the boxes. It’s a bright 4K beamer with robust stereo sound and integrated Google TV. You can find this combination in other systems, but BenQ drives a hard bargain at $1,499.View Deal
You want setup flexibility The BenQ GP520 may not have any optical adjustments, but it does have some decent flexibility thanks to its support for multiple tripod mounting locations and its ability to flip upside down, stay upright, or even tilt vertically. View Deal
Don't buy it if...
You want a gaming projector BenQ may be a big name in gaming, but the GP520 isn’t particularly well-suited for it. It caps out at 60Hz while some of its competitors can jump up to 120Hz or even 240Hz and deliver lower lag in the process.View Deal
You want the best picture for your money Rivals from JGMO and Hisense may not be able to go as bright as the GP520 at the same price, but their triple-laser light sources make for absolutely stunning visuals. As long as you can control the ambient light in your viewing area, they’ll prove more impressive. View Deal
You like motion smoothing Some devices do motion smoothing well, but the GP520 isn’t particularly adept at it. It can make panning shots and moving objects look smoother, but it introduces obvious visual artifacts into other sorts of motion. View Deal
Also consider
JMGO N1S Pro This triple-laser projector won’t beam quite as bright, but that may not be obvious when you’re appreciating its absolutely stunning color.
BenQ W2720i At a considerable markup, the BenQ W2720i steps up the visuals with better color and more advanced optics. This also allows for better positioning control for the image without relying too much on digital adjustments. It’s a little dimmer and a lot bigger, though, so it won’t work for everyone.View Deal
Xgimi Horizon Ultra This model combines LED and laser projection for a bright and colorful picture, plus it has a more elegant design to fit in with your decor. But it also won’t be as bright for the money.
Tested at home in multiple, real-world viewing conditions
Presented the display with a variety of media and formats
I have tested numerous projectors and displays over the last half-decade
I tested the BenQ GP520 at home, in real-world conditions. This saw it faced with ambient light coming in from numerous windows, in-room lighting, as well as ambient noise that both the projector and speaker systems had to overcome. The projector was tested both against a bare, white wall and an Akia Screens CineWhite screen. It was presented with streamed content, HDR and non-HDR, and PC gameplay.
My testing evaluates the projector’s performance with respect to its price and competition from other models I and colleagues at TechRadar have tested.
I have been testing projectors since 2021 and displays for even longer.
For this review, I tested the US version. There may be minor differences between different countries' models.
The Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo is a lightweight, portable fan that is outfitted with a rechargeable battery, meaning you can unplug it and take it out and about with you on warm-weather excursions. But the most exciting thing about it is that it comes with a misting function for extra cooling clout.
When you live in a state like Texas, you understand the need for a fan. They're not just indoor necessities. During the summer, my family always has a fan on the porch to cool us down – but we've never had a misting fan. As a result, I was ecstatic to test the Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo Misting Portable Fan.
Testing this compact fan was a joy, especially in April when the days grew warmer here in North Texas. The tiltable design made it easier to focus the airflow and I was thoroughly impressed by how far away I could feel the five different fan speeds and the BreezeBoost mode. While the battery life won't last you all day (far from it) and the fan can't oscillate, it's still an excellent cooling companion. I'm also a fan of the design. There's a range of cute colors (in the US only – sorry UK shoppers), and overall it's more attractive than others on the market.
I plan on using the Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo Misting Portable Fan all summer. Keep reading to see why it's the best fan I've tested this season. Or, if you want more power and are happy to sacrifice some portability to get it, check out this fan's larger sibling – read about that model in TechRadar's Shark FlexBreeze fan review.
The Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo Misting Portable Fan launched in March 2025 and is available in the US, Canada, and the UK. It comes with a list price of $129.99 / £129.99 and can be purchased direct from Shark or via a range of third party retailers like Amazon, Walmart and Target. In the US, the fan is available in six colors (all the same price), but in the UK it's charcoal or nothing.
At that price, it's a mid-range fan. Considering it's rechargeable, portable, and has misting capabilities, I'm inclined to say that the price of the fan is decent, though not exactly amazing value. The full-sized FlexBreeze is a fair bit pricier at $199.99 / £199.99 / AU$249.99.
If you just want a basic desk fan, you'll be able to find one for much cheaper. Similarly, corded non-portable fans in that price bracket deliver far more features, including things like oscillation, a timer function and app control. However, you're paying for the convenience of it being portable here, and if that's your priority then it's a decent buy.
Also bear in mind that Shark runs regular sales, so you could well snag it for less than list price.
Value for money score: 4 out of 5
Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo specs
Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo review: design
Small, lightweight fan with handle to easily transport
Vertical tilt design up to 45 degrees
Integrated refillable mister
The Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo Misting Portable Fan is a small tabletop fan that's less than 12 inches tall and weighs only 5lbs. It has a rechargeable battery, allowing you to unplug the fan and move it from one place to the next with the handle on the top.
Lookwise, it's an attractive modern fan that comes in six different colors. I tested the 'dove' option, a cream color that matches the lighter tones in my house. Pink, purple, and soft mint green colors could add some fun to your space. (Note, in the UK it's charcoal only.)
Image 1 of 2
(Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 2
(Image credit: Future)
There is no assembly necessary with the Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo Misting Portable Fan. It comes put together, so you only need to charge it fully before the first use. The charging cord plugs into the back of the fan and then into the wall.
The fan can tilt up or down within 45 degrees, allowing you to narrow the focus of the airflow however you see fit. There are no oscillating features. In that way, it's very different from something like the Shark TurboBlade, which launched around the same time, and is designed to shoot out jets of air in any different direction.
Buttons that control the different settings can be found along the top of the fan. The power button in the center. To the left of that is a fan button that lets you cycle between fan speeds of 1-5, and a BreezeBoost mode. Green indicator lights correlating to the fan speed and boost mode sit below the buttons.
(Image credit: Future)
There is also a battery symbol next to the lights, and the color of the battery symbol indicates the amount of battery left. If it's green, the fan's battery is 70-100% charged. An amber light indicates that the battery is 30-69% charged, while a steady red light notes a 6-29% charge. When the battery light blinks red, the fan is about to die because the battery is 5% or lower.
To the right of the power button is a button with three droplets. This is the misting setting. There is a fill port at the top of the fan, right below the handle. The water mists from a port on the face of the fan, which must be opened when the mister is in use.
Sound wise, the fan emits a 46 dB rating on the lowest setting, and a 63 dB rating on the highest speed of 5. When placed on BreezeBoost, a turbo-like mode, the fan emitted a 67 dB sound rating. If none of those numbers mean anything to you, just know that the fan isn't loud or bothersome. I could barely hear it when sleeping at night and I had to go in the room where it was located to make sure it was still on (even if I was in the next room over).
Design score: 4 out of 5
Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo review: performance
Can feel the airflow of the fan 30 feet away when on BreezeBoost
Two misting modes, lasting a max of 55 mins before needing a refill
Vertical tilt is useful, but I'd love an oscillation option
There is a lot more to the Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo Misting Portable Fan than meets the eye. Though this tabletop fan is small, it packs a big punch in terms of airflow and power.
The first thing I wanted to see was how far away I could feel the airflow. When placed on BreezeBoost – the most powerful mode – I could feel the airflow 30 feet away. That's the full length of my house, so I didn't really have a way of testing if I could feel the airflow further away. When set on the lowest fan speed, I felt the airflow 17 feet away.
Depending on the layout of your house, you could likely feel the airflow between a couple of rooms. The only thing that would make this fan better would be the ability for it to oscillate horizontally or even vertically. At the moment, you can only tilt the fan up or down 45 degrees by hand to direct the airflow. This is not the biggest drawback, but something to note.
(Image credit: Future)
I tested the mister outside. I wasn't sure how much water it would create, though after testing it, I'd say you could use the mister inside for a bit and you shouldn't have a problem with damp floors.
There are two mister modes – consistent and interval. As you'd expect, the consistent mode pushes out a constant stream of mist, while the interval mode stops and starts. When the water drop flashes, that's when you know the interval mode is on.
(Image credit: Future)
The mister isn't overwhelming. In fact, you need to be about 2-4 feet from it to really feel the spray. I found that the wind typically blew it away (usually upwards) at about the four foot mark. This isn't a mister that will soak you.
The water emptied in 20 minutes when I used the consistent setting. According to Shark, the mister has a maximum misting time of up to 30 minutes per tank on any speed, but it looks like that figure is a little optimistic. On interval, the mister is meant to last up to 60 minutes on any fan speed; it lasted about 55 minutes for me.
Performance score: 4 out of 5
Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo review: battery life
Lasted 1hr 30 on max fan speed, and 4hrs 13 on middle mode
Shark states up to 12 hours of use on lowest speed
Takes 2 hrs 30 mins to charge from flat
While I could have kept the Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo Misting Portable Fan plugged in and had an infinite source of power, because it's a portable fan, I wanted to test the battery life. The fan takes 2 hours 30 mins to charge. It lasted 4 hours and 13 minutes on the 3 fan speed level, which is better than what Shark estimates (a four-hour battery life on that level) The fan also exceeded the estimated battery life of 1.5 hours on the fan speed of 5.
I set the fan on BreezeBoost, and the battery lasted 1 hour and 50 minutes. I'm inclined to believe that the battery might last longer than Shark's reported maximum cordless run time of 12 hours on fan speed 1.
In terms of battery run time, this Shark fan is about what I expected. If you took this fan to a tailgate, four hours of battery life is fairly good, as long as it's a comfortable enough temperature to keep the fan speed at 3. If you live in super-hot areas, you might want the fan to last more than 1 hour and 50 minutes when using the BreezeBoost option.
Hopefully, there's an outlet nearby to recharge the fan. I wouldn't say this portable fan is a great choice for a day at the lake, especially since the 1 or 2 speed level likely won't offer enough airflow to keep you super cool, but it's better than nothing if the wind isn't blowing. Plus, at those two speed levels, you'll get a lot more hours of use.
Performance score: 4 out of 5
Performance score: 4 out of 5
Should you buy the Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo?
Buy it if...
You want a fan you can take out and about
This fan can be used cordless, and comes with a handle for on-the-go cooling. It also looks good, and if you're in the US you can choose from a range of summery pastel color options.
You want a misting fan
Misters are great for summer days, especially when you want to sit on your porch without dying of a heat stroke. This portable fan lets you enjoy mist anywhere in your yard or house without needing an outlet nearby.
You want a powerful fan that can reach long distances.
No matter the fan speed, this fan can direct airflow long distances. On the lowest fan setting, I could feel the airflow 17 feet away – and on BreezeBoost mode, 30 feet away.
Don't buy it if...
You aren't bothered about portability
If you don't need it to be lightweight, you'd be better off with this fan's big sibling: the original FlexBreeze. It can still be used cordlessly, and unlike the HydroGo, it does oscillate.
You want to control your fan remotely
If you want to change the fan speed or turn on the mister, you're going to have to walk over to the fan and press a button. It would have been nice to at least have had a remote control, and even better if the fan settings could be adjusted within an app.
You need a portable fan with a super long battery life
Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo's battery life is decent but it's not going to last you all day at the lake, unless you're willing to use the lowest fan speeds. In fact, you only get a little over four hours on the 3-speed level and less than two hours on BreezeBoost mode.
How I tested the Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo
Testing the Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo Misting Portable Fan was easier than testing most fans due to its portable nature. I used it around my house – in my bedroom, living room, and kitchen, as well as in outdoor spaces like my backyard and on my front porch. I even packed it in my car and tested it two hours away at my parent's house. Testing occurred in April when temperatures reached the mid-80s in Texas, so it was nice to experience the misting feature on warm days.
Glide is a no-code platform that allows users to create web apps without writing any code. It helps non-programmers build functional and responsive apps by leveraging data from Google Sheets, Airtable, and several other data sources.
In this review, we will examine Glide’s core features, user interface, ease of use, integration and extensibility, deployment and maintenance, pricing, documentation, and its competitive landscape.
Glide: Features
Glide allows you to build apps directly from your existing data. The platforms can connect to your data from various sources, including spreadsheets like Google Sheets, Microsoft Excel, Airtable, data warehouses like BigQuery, relational databases like MySQL, PostgreSQL, Microsoft SQL Server, and cloud databases like Google Cloud SQL.
If you’re starting from scratch, you can also use the platform’s own Glide Tables, or Glide Big Tables if you need an enterprise-scale database.
Best of all, you can use the platform to visually create relationships, and look up values across all your tables. And whenever your data changes in Glide, it instantly syncs directly back to your original data source.
(Image credit: Glide)
To keep your data safe, Glide lets you control who can manage, view, and edit your apps with granular permissions. You can also restrict who can access or download specific rows of data based on an email address.
Another advantage with Glide is that you don’t have to rely on external automation tools. You can instead use Glide Workflows to automate tasks, which comes in handy when you need to manage processes such as sending emails, and data updates.
You can start these workflows from app interactions, schedules, emails, and more. There’s also a Webhook workflow that kicks in when it receives data from external services, such as Stripe, or TypeForm.
The platform also keeps a track of all the workflow runs to help you review their execution, and rectify any errors. That said, you can still use external workflow builders like Zapier and Make, with Glide.
In addition to starting with existing data, you can also create an app from an AI prompt, or from its existing collection of templates. Glide has templates for common business apps including CRMs, customer portals, inventory management systems, sales dashboard, and more.
Glide also lets you roll AI capabilities like natural language processing, and computer vision into your apps. The platform, very helpfully, also has a set of AI templates that you can customize as per your requirements. The platform is also beta testing a new feature that will help you build custom components that don’t exist in Glide by prompting AI.
Glide: Interface and Ease of Use
When you first sign into Glide, it’ll ask you to create an app using an AI prompt. The platform will then build the app, and suggest ways to improve your app.
As we mentioned earlier, in addition to using the AI prompt, you can also create an app from existing data. In this case, you’ll have to point Glide to your data wherever it resides. It’ll then look through the data, and automatically create an app for you.
In either case, you’ll end up in the Layout editor that’ll help you refine, and fine tune your apps.
(Image credit: Glide)
Here, use the left sidebar to add, and manage screens to your apps, and also add components to the screens. The platform has several different kinds of screens, and each one relates to your data in a different way. There’s a Data tab on the bottom of the sidebar that you can use to quickly view the data for the currently selected screen.
In the middle of the screen you can preview, and interact with your app. You can switch between the mobile, and desktop views, and also view the screen as it would appear to different users.
On the right side of the interface, you can configure each screen and its components, tweak their appearance, and bind them to your data.
From the top of the interface, you can switch out from the Layout editor to tweak other aspects of your app. The Data tab takes you to the Data editor where you can view and edit the data. On the left, it’ll list all the imported and synced tables. From here you can modify your data, add new tables, sync external data sources, and more.
The Workflows tab brings up the Workflow editor, where you can create different types of custom Workflows. You can either create a workflow from scratch, or customize one of the six existing ones. For instance, there’s one that will intercept emails, and use AI to extract data and add them to your tables. Another will automatically respond to an email with AI.
Then there’s the Settings tab from where you can adjust your apps’ name, appearance, and other settings. When you’re done, use the Publish button in the top right corner to make your app public. All apps created with Glide are responsive, which means they look good on both desktops, and smartphones.
Glide: Integration and Extensibility
Glide not only allows you to connect to various data sources, but you can connect multiple data sources to a single Glide app. For instance, you could combine data from a PostgreSQL database with business data stored in Google Sheets.
You can also use Glide to connect your apps to all over 50 useful third-party business tools. For instance, you can get your app to interact with Asana to create, and delete tasks, and projects, or with DocuSign to sign a document, generate content with Google Gemini, and OpenAI, and a lot more.
(Image credit: Glide)
Integrations in Glide can provide different features that can be used in various ways. Depending on the integration, you may need to grant permissions or enter secrets such as an API key. The project has detailed documentation on how to add and configure each of the supported integrations.
Glide: Deployment and Maintenance
Once you’ve created an app, use the Publish button to make it live. As it is with most no-code platforms, by default, all apps are published to a Glide subdomain.
The platform will also generate a QR code that you can scan to access the app from your smartphone. All Glide apps are Progressive Web Apps (PWAs), which means your device will give you the option to install, and use it like a native app.
Once an app is published, you can move it to a custom domain, or unpublish it. By default, all apps will be available to a restricted set of users. However, you can easily make the app accessible to anyone.
(Image credit: Glide)
Also, since Glide apps are basically web-based, any changes you make to the app, or to the data in the connected data source, will automatically be reflected in the app without any manual intervention. This makes maintenance incredibly easy, and ensures that all users have access to the latest version of the app.
Glide: Pricing and Documentation
Glide has a tiered pricing model, starting with a feature-restricted Free tier. For instance, Free users can browse through the list of Free templates, but will need to upgrade to a paid plan to use them.
Paid plans start with the $60/month ($49/month billed annually) Maker plan. You can use this plan to connect your app with Google Sheets, import data from Excel, or CSV files, or use Glide’s own data sources.
The $249/month ($199/month billed annually) Business plan lets you use Airtable, and Excel as additional data sources over the Maker plan. To unlock all of the supported data sources, you’ll have to switch to the Enterprise plan, which is priced according to usage.
Also, remember that each plan also restricts the number of rows you can have in your app, and the list of available features. Furthermore, with the Maker plan you can only make your app available to users who sign in using a public email service, such as Gmail, or an education domain (.edu).
To complicate matters further, each plan has a limited number of updates. These are like credits that you consume to change, and sync data from external sources like Google Sheets, and Airtable. However, these don’t apply if you use Glide’s own data sources.
In terms of documentation, Glide has enough text and video resources to help you get started with the platform. It’ll teach you how to use the platform’s essential functions such as automations, and workflows. You can take your questions with the platform to Glide’s forum boards, though users on the paid tiers get priority support as well.
Glide: The Competition
There are lots of other no-code platforms, but Glide mainly competes with Softr, which also allows you to build apps from your existing business data.
While it originally started as an interface on top of Airtable, Softr too can now work with popular third-party databases, ranging from simple options like Google Sheets, to relational databases like PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, and more. Glide however offers its own in-house data sources.
When compared to Softr, Glide offers a more robust platform with built-in workflow capabilities, and very handy AI-powered features. But that also gives it a stepper learning curve as compared to Softr.
Then there’s Bubble. Unlike Glide, which helps create data-driven apps for internal use, Bubble is more versatile, and can help create all kinds of SaaS platforms. Also, while Glide can create PWAs, if you want to create native mobile apps, there’s Adalo, which like Bubble can be used to spin up all kinds of business apps.
Glide: Final Verdict
Glide is a good option if you’re looking to quickly build data-driven apps without much effort. The platform combines ease of use with powerful features, which help make it appealing to both beginners and experienced users.
However, Glide has a complex pricing plan, and might turn out to be a little more expensive than its peers, depending on your exact use case.
That said, it has a lot going for it in terms of its seamless integration with popular data sources, intuitive interface, visual editors, and built-in automations, and customization options. These features make Glide a must try option for anyone looking to convert their existing business data into visually appealing PWAs.
Thunkable is a popular cloud-based no-code platform that helps users build mobile apps even without having any prior coding experience. It has gained considerable attention due to its intuitive interface, powerful features, and support for both Android and iOS app development.
In this review, we’ll analyze various aspects of Thunkable, including its features, interface and ease of use, integration and extensibility, deployment and maintenance, pricing, documentation, and competition.
Thunkable: Features
Thunkable offers a wide range of features that cater to the needs of different users, from beginners to more advanced builders.
One of Thunkable's biggest strengths is its ability to build apps for both Android phones and iOS devices, and tablets, at the same time. Users can create apps that work across both platforms without needing to write platform-specific code.
Thunkable's core strength lies in its intuitive drag-and-drop interface. The platform also offers a large collection of pre-built components to cover a wide range of functionalities. Users can easily add essential user interface components like buttons, sliders, as well as media components, sensors, and more, to their apps, with a simple drag-and-drop.
(Image credit: Thunkable)
This visual approach helps make the platform highly intuitive, particularly for those with little or no coding experience. While it doesn’t offer templates as many of its peers, there are also sample apps that you can remix and customize to meet your requirements.
Another wonderful feature is Thunkable’s Scratch-inspired block-based programming system, that you can use to define your app’s logic. You create logic by dragging and connecting blocks to create event handlers, control flow, and perform actions. This makes programming easier and more accessible.
Another interesting feature is Thunkable’s ability to let you infuse Artificial Intelligence (AI) into your apps for things like image and voice recognition. The platform can also integrate with OpenAI for adding generative AI functionality to your apps.
Thunkable: Interface and Ease of Use
Thunkable's interface is clean and intuitive, which makes it fairly user-friendly and accessible to beginners. As we’ve said before, the platform's drag-and-drop system makes it easy to design and build apps without any coding knowledge.
Thunkable’s interface is broadly divided into two tabs, namely Design, and Blocks.
You use the Design tab to create the UI of your app by dragging elements like buttons, labels, switches, and such to the canvas. You can also customize each element's properties, such as color, size, and layout, to match your app's branding and requirements.
Each app can have multiple screens, and each screen has its own Design tab. This allows you to create different views or pages within your app, each with its own layout and components.
The Blocks tab is where you add the logic and functionality to the app. Again, you just drag and drop to connect code blocks to define the app's behavior, which can be everything from reacting to a button press, and handling user input, to accessing device’s sensors, and interacting with external services.
(Image credit: Thunkable)
Similarly, the other sections, particularly, Data, Assets, and Cloud Variables, help you easily manage various aspects of your app's data and resources. There’s also the Settings section where you define different details of your app, such as its name, default layout, some important Android and iOS publishing settings, and more.
Thunkable also provides a couple of mechanisms to test and preview your apps. There’s the Web Preview that you can use to test the app from within the browser itself. Then there’s the Live App that can help test your apps in your mobile phone. Any changes you make to the app are reflected instantly in the device.
Thunkable: Integration and Extensibility
Thunkable offers a wide range of integrations with popular services and tools, such as Google Maps, Stripe, Firebase, Airtable, Google Sheets, Xano, RevenueCat (for in-app purchases, and subscriptions), and more.
The platform also allows you to connect your app to any Application Programming Interface (API). You can also use it to connect to a database, or integrate with external data sources, including Google Sheets, and Airtable, to store and manage data within your app.
There’s also the Web Viewer component that allows you to display websites in your apps. More importantly though you can use this component to run HTML and JavaScript commands. This flexibility enables you to extend the platform's capabilities and customize apps beyond the platform’s built-in capabilities.
Thunkable also integrates with Figma, a popular web-based design tool that offers more design versatility. You can compose the interface for your app in Figma, and then import it into Thunkable.
Thunkable: Deployment and Maintenance
Thunkable also helps simplify the deployment and maintenance process for all mobile apps you create with the platform. Once an app is ready, you can easily publish it to the Google Play Store and Apple App Store directly from Thunkable.
Remember though, the Apple and Android app publishing processes are quite different. For instance, to publish with Apple, you first complete the process in the Thunkable publishing wizard, and the app file is sent directly to your Apple TestFlight.
On the other hand, to publish with Android, you receive an email from Thunkable with your app's Android App Bundle (AAB) file, which you download and then submit to the Google Play Store for review.
(Image credit: Thunkable)
You’ll still have to do some running around to register, and submit the app to the relevant app store. However, Thunkable provides step-by-step guidance to help you submit new apps and subsequent updates. This helps streamline the otherwise complex app submission process, especially for first timers.
Thunkable: Pricing and Documentation
Thunkable offers a tiered pricing structure, including a free tier with limited features, and paid tiers with more advanced capabilities. The free tier is suitable to explore, and experiment with the platform, while the paid tiers are necessary if you want to deploy your apps.
Premium plans are priced on a monthly or annual basis. The Builder plan costs $59/month or $37/month billed annually, and can be used to put custom branding, and publish one app each on the Apple or Google app stores.
If you want to publish multiple apps, you’ll need to switch to the Advanced plan that costs $189/month or $99/month billed annually. In addition to unlimited apps, this plan will also let you roll in in-app payments, and ads in your apps.
Thunkable provides comprehensive documentation, including text and video tutorials, to help users get started and make the most of the platform. The documentation covers everything from the basics of app creation to advanced integration, database management, and app deployment.
Thunkable also maintains an active community forum where users can share projects, ask questions, and get help from other users.
Thunkable: The Competition
Thunkable faces competition from several other no-code platforms that also cater to mobile app development, particularly Adalo, which too primarily focuses on mobile apps, and offers a similarly intuitive drag-and-drop interface.
One area where Adalo scores over Thunkable is in terms of the number of third-party integrations. Thunkable, on the other hand, is good for defining more advanced backend capabilities. This means you can build more versatile apps with Thunkable, while Adalo is easier to get started with.
However, Thunkable’s lack of templates can be an issue for first timers, though of course they can remix one of the demo apps to get a rolling start. And although both platforms don't let you publish mobile apps on the free plan, Thunkable’s free plan is more restrictive than Adalo's.
Thunkable: Final Verdict
Thunkable has everything you need to build and roll out mobile apps without coding. It’s both easy to use and offers advanced functionalities to experienced campaigners. The drag-and-drop interface, pre-built components, and the Scratch-inspired logic system makes it a good option for both beginners and intermediate users.
That said, as with any platform, there is a learning curve when it comes to more complex functionality. For example, while the drag-and-drop interface simplifies app design, integrating third-party APIs, creating, and managing complex database structures, or building advanced app logic might require a bit of time to master.
Also, while the block-based logic system is relatively easy to learn, it can make it quite cumbersome to define complex app logic, especially when working on larger projects.
