Operating system support: AlmaLinux, CloudLinux, Rocky Linux and Ubuntu
Portability to different platforms
cPanel is probably one of the most popular admin panels, so it’s no surprise that it’s supported by many hosts. They also include migration tools to migrate between servers and even from a Plesk control panel. Since cPanel is so popular, most alternative admin panels have a migrato,r meaning that if you decide cPanel isn’t for you, you can still easily switch to other admin panels such as Plex or sPanel.
Instead of charging by website, cPanel offers unlimited websites and chargers based on the number of users you have. If you’re planning on hosting a lot of websites, but all for your own use, then it can make it slightly cheaper, although not as cheap as SPanel. However, if you plan on hosting just a few websites or having lots of user accounts, then it will be more expensive than the alternatives. Reselling is available for their plans starting at 46.99/mo, making it slightly cheaper than Plesk for reselling.
Ease of use
cPanel’s ease of use is a mixed bag. It has areas that can be a little daunting for new users, but once you’re familiar with it, it becomes pretty easy to work out where things are. There’s no mobile-specific app, but that’s not required since the web version works well on mobile. The server admin part of cPanel is a lot more daunting than the individual website management section, and the server admin part definitely feels like it would be daunting to non-technical users - although it is nice to have the additional flexibility you get from exposing the raw, technical, internals. The beauty of cPanel’s popularity is that there are plenty of tutorials and videos you can watch if you’re not quite sure how to do something.
Support
Web server support
Nginx is supported via free plugins and some command line dabbling, but we’d expect to see a server as popular as Nginx to be supported out of the box. Lightspeed is available but that is a commercial application and requires an eye-watering $25/month license. It would be nice to see support for the free alternative OpenLightSpeed, which is available in sPanel. Overall, cPanel doesn’t offer the breadth of web server support that Plesk does, and it doesn’t provide the performance-optimized web server support that sPanel offers. It does offer clustering, meaning you can join multiple servers together and split the load between them, but that’s quite an advanced feature and not something the vast majority of users will need.
Database support
Supports both MySQL/MariaDB out of the box. Postgres is supported but involves running a command line script, which, again, isn’t ideal for less-technical users - although once it’s installed, then the user interface has very good support for it.
Language support
Supports PHP, Java, and Ruby out of the box, with support for more if you’re willing to install and manage them yourself. We’d expect a mature admin panel such as cPanel to support many more languages.
Backups
Supports offsite backups. Has a good selection of remote backup providers: S3, BackBlaze, FTP, Google Drive, Rsync and WebDAV.
Extensions and apps
Supports Softaculous. It also has a number of paid extensions but nothing that isn’t supported by Plesk. It is very extensible if you’re willing to dabble with the command line, and there’s lots of documentation provided on how to tweak things, but really, an admin panel as mature and expensive as cPanel should have more click-and-play extensions to justify its cost.
Security
Clam AV virus scanner, which is a good virus scanner, with support for more advanced ones such as ImunifyAV (at a cost). 2 factor auth, which is good. Automatic updates are an additional $3/month. This includes ModSecurity as a web application firewall, which I personally trust over an AI solution.
Final verdict
Hosting has changed a lot in the last decade, with new performance-focused web servers, advanced databases and powerful new languages becoming increasingly popular. Unfortunately, cPanel has done little to keep up with these advances, supporting pretty much the same setup it has for the last decade or more. Whilst there is plenty of documentation covering how to install these newer alternatives, it’s really something that cPanel should be supporting out of the box by now. Given the increase in pricing cPanel has seen over the years, it costs just as much as considerably better alternatives such as Plesk. cPanel is historically a very popular and well-known admin panel, so it will be familiar to a lot of seasoned hosters and, despite its shortcomings, its familiarity is often enough to make it people’s go-to admin panel. The bottom line is: unless you already feel most comfortable in cPanel or you plan on reselling, there’s no real reason to choose it over sPanel or Plesk.
In a year packed with big-budget blockbusters and standout indie gems, South of Midnight carves out its own space by delivering the polish of a AAA title while embracing the bold, stylized vision often found in smaller-budget games. Since being acquired by Microsoft Game Studios some years ago, Montreal-based developer Compulsion Games has refined its knack for high-concept mid-tiered AA release through a mythic adventure of the American South. Simply put, there are games released at twice the price point of South of Midnight ($39.99)that don’t provide this well-rounded experience.
Review info
Platform reviewed: Xbox Series X Available on: Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC Release date: April 8, 2025
Players step into the role of Hazel, a young woman caught in the middle of a magical conspiracy as she searches for her mother following a hurricane while uncovering her family’s legacy. A captivating story filled with rich characters alongside fascinating world-building, South of Midnight stands out thanks to vivid stop-motion-inspired visuals, outstanding music, and heartfelt voice acting stand out in presentation alone. Most importantly, the Game Pass exclusive feels authentic and honest about its point of view.
Thankfully, there’s also an incredibly solid game beneath the audio/visual package and a charming story. South of Midnight doesn’t radically innovate in the gameplay department, nor does it even try to. What matters most in the action adventure is the execution which is led by tight controls during traversal and combat.
Across the 10-15 hours of the single-player game, players will guide Hazel through the Southern town of Prospero as she searches for her mother. Earlier on in the story, our heroine learns of her destiny as a Weaver, magical individuals who battle evil creatures called Haints with enchanted crochet hooks. As Hazel embarks on her hero’s journey, she’ll also find her way by learning about the past of many past and present residents of Prospero besides her own family history. Along the way, she'll befriend a talking catfish(who also serves as the narrator), fight her mother’s bartending ex-boyfriend, who transforms into a monstrous flying creature, understand the mysterious disappearance of a pleasure boat in a swampland occupied by a giant mermaid looking for her lost son and much more.
(Image credit: Compulsion Games)
Tight Combat and traversal
During exploration, controlling Hazel is fairly simple with the left stick used for movement, the left stick used for camera control, A button for jump. As the story goes along, there are layers added to that through double jumps, dashes, wall-running, and the like. Like many of its inspirations like Prince of Persia or Uncharted, there’s plenty of climbing, wall shimming, and balancing as well. All of these feel fantastic when used, even if the core mechanics aren’t necessarily new. However, the way it's used to push the story keeps things moving along without getting boring. For example, the early moments of Hazel learning about her powers in the earlier chapters (there are 14 chapters in total) is through the last Weaver who helped Black slaves escape captivity.
Once the third chapter comes along, this is where the main gameplay loop comes into play where players collect spirits in blue glass bottles that relate to a local legend within a specific location. This is done through combat sections that have players enter an arena and fight the Haints. Destroying the dark creatures wreaking havoc on the land of Prospero is a fluid, accessible, and visually rewarding experience. Using those magical crochet hooks, players attack and initiate combo-based attacks via the X button and dodge with the B button which if done at the right time can turn into a parry. Later on, players can also manipulate enemies using trigger and bumper inputs to push and pull them, adding depth to encounters. Many of those powers have cooldown moments in order to avoid exploitation while also serving as a tool for fairly simple puzzles.
Once enemies are weakened, purifying them with the Y button finishes them off while also restoring a bit of health. A lock-on system enhances targeting precision too by clicking on the left thumb stick. Defeating all enemies in a combat scenario transforms thorn-covered corrupted areas into vibrant, flower-filled landscapes—an eye-catching reward that enhances the game’s visual appeal. Combat is relatively simple and doesn’t necessarily get complex until the narrative’s midway point where Hazel can face six or seven enemies at once. During the later combat scenarios, it does get a bit difficult for the camera to keep up with Hazel which can lead to some light moments of frustration. Even in death, checkpoints are generous with a really silly respawn animation.
(Image credit: Compulsion Games)
The stand-out moments of combat does come in the form of big boss fights that will challenge players' understanding of Hazel’s powers with some offering some light puzzle elements. One surprising boss battle even features a clever twist during its conclusion and defines the real antagonist of South of Midnight even if that character is fairly obvious during the first couple of chapters. That final confrontation with the antagonist definitely goes left into a finale that does somewhat come off as anti-climactic yet well-meaning.
Following combat, players also begin to learn more about the mystery of a particular area they’re trying to get through such as how a boy transformed into a tree or how a mysterious giant spider got attached to several missing children among others. After Hazel collects enough spirits for the bottle and begins to discover the mystery of a particular area, this leads to a chase sequence from a mysterious creature as she makes her way to the bottle tree.
The flow of the game usually consists of traversal looking for spirit bottles and other collectibles later down the line, combat scenarios, and the big chase sequence after all the required spirits are collected. Though the game is incredibly linear, players can get a guide on where to go next with the press of a button. Interestingly enough, there are some beaten paths where players can upgrade an incredibly light combat skill tree or enhance their life bar.
A nice switch-up roughly halfway through the game comes in the form of an overwhelmingly cute stuffed crochet doll named “Crouton.” The cuddly individual serves as a companion one can control during exploration by hitting the right bumper. Crouton can also be thrown into other areas to explore where it can be controlled directly by the player. It can also get through spaces Hazel is too large to crawl through to activate different switches and can even be used in combat. When fighting the Haints, Hazel can use the doll to possess enemies to attack others. This later addition does a better job of keeping combat and traversal somewhat fresh.
(Image credit: Compulsion Games)
Art and audio that doesn’t miss
With an incredibly cool story and lore alongside solid gameplay, holding all of those elements together is the presentation. Visually, South of Midnight is one of the best-looking games of the year so far when it comes to art direction. The first introductory stop-motion animation before the start screen sets a fantastic tone that transitions well into the real-time gameplay and cut scenes.
The game embraces a distinctive stop-motion aesthetic, enhanced by rich art direction and clever technical choices. Its animation style features intentional frame skips, giving it a handcrafted, cinematic feel reminiscent of Coraline, The Nightmare Before Christmas the Spider-Verse films. This unique approach blends artistic flair with modern performance, running smoothly at a consistent 60 frames per second. Other more technical highlights of the visuals include great lighting, texture work without any noticeable pop-in, and shadow work. The result is a game that looks like a beautifully animated film coming to life, setting it apart visually from a lot of games released this year.
South of Midnight’s audio is just as captivating as its visuals, delivering a rich, immersive soundscape that elevates the entire experience. The soundtrack, already praised for its deep-fried charm, consistently maintains a high standard of quality from start to finish. Drawing from American roots genres like blues, jazz, and country, the music is layered with a sweeping orchestral touch that adds emotional depth.
Best bit
The mid-game introduction of Hazel’s absurdly cute enchanted crochet doll and companion named “Crouton.” adds new warmth to the story while cleverly elevating gameplay.
This sonic blend is the result of recordings done in both Nashville and London’s legendary Abbey Road Studios, merging Southern soul with cinematic grandeur to create a sound that’s both grounded and transcendent. That doesn’t even count moments during gameplay and most boss fights where music features lyrics that move the narrative along in a major way. Then there’s fantastic voice acting that truly brings these characters to life. In addition to the magnificent script writing, every single character from lead to supporting cast is perfectly cast including Adriyan Rae as Hazel. The Southern accents can get really thick too.
South of Midnight is a rare gem that seamlessly blends imaginative storytelling, satisfying gameplay, and top-tier presentation. Compulsion Games delivers a title that feels as if it punches above its weight, offering a visually stunning, emotionally rich journey through a myth-laced Southern gothic world. From the moment Hazel begins her search for her mother to the last climactic battles against haunting enemies both big and small, the game constantly surprises with its heart rooted in deep respect for American Southern culture. While it may not reinvent the wheel, South of Midnight executes its vision with precision and flair, proving that a thoughtfully crafted experience can rival—and even surpass—many of its higher-priced contemporaries.
(Image credit: Compulsion Games)
Should you play South of Midnight?
Play it if...
You need an affordable action adventure with a rich narrative that won’t take up too much of your time South of Midnight delivers a focused single-player experience that keeps things concise, offering an engaging story with several standout moments along the way.
You love magnificent visuals and audio components that are truly unique The stop-motion-inspired visuals and striking art direction are definite highlights, but it’s the blues-infused orchestral soundtrack, complete with lyrical moments that echo the story, that truly steals the show.
You like solid platforming and combat Though the mechanics themselves don’t reinvent the wheel, the controls are tight and feel great regardless of traversal or combat.
Don't play it if...
You want something a bit more challenging and explorative outside of the linear path There are some light exploration moments for players who want extra experience points to spend on additional combat skills or health and lore extras, but South of Midnight is a linear experience.
You need a game that offers up something fresh Players familiar with the traversal and combat of many 2000s decade of action adventures and the like know exactly what to expect; for better or worse.
Accessibility
South of Midnight offers a robust suite of accessibility features. Players can expect customizable menu narration, detailed subtitle and caption options, and adjustable fonts to support those with audio or visual needs. This even extends to removing the animation frame skip in favor of smoother animation. While the game is relatively approachable on its default difficulty, it also includes a variety of gameplay tweaks designed to accommodate players with different disabilities. Some of these include help from in-game navigation and combat tweaks to exploration help.
(Image credit: Compulsion Games)
How I reviewed South of Midnight
I played a finished build of South of Midnight on Xbox Series X and my playtime lasted nearly 15 hours. After completing the game on normal difficulty, I spent additional time exploring its harder modes and diving into the rich lore woven throughout the experience.
Operating system support: CentOS, Linux and Windows
Portability to different platforms
Whilst SPanel is a purpose-built admin panel by ScalaHosting, it is actually available as a standalone tool. It claims to support any virtual or private server and can even be managed by ScalaHosting on Digital Ocean, AWS, and, of course, ScalaHosting itself. The panel is cPanel compatible, which means migration to the platform should be easy, and if you need to migrate by hand, Scala also offers “unlimited migration.” Since it’s a fairly niche admin panel, not many other admin panels have automated importers, so in the rare case that you want to switch to another one, you may have a bit of extra work on your plate.
SPanel offers a no-nonsense pricing structure, which we really appreciate. Instead of holding back features for more expensive plans, it offers the kitchen sink, including unlimited websites, on all plans and instead charges per user. This makes it great if you’re looking for a budget-friendly control panel and have lots of websites to host, but primarily for your own use. Even for reselling, it works out slightly cheaper than the alternatives. However, reselling often demands a more flexible control panel to match customers’ varied demands, so we’d still recommend resellers splash slightly more money on a more mature control panel such as Plesk or cPanel. All plans also include 24/7 server management and support, which can be worth the monthly fee alone for those who need a little extra hand-holding.
Ease of use
When software is designed for both technical and non-technical users, there’s always a risk that an overly simplified user interface can limit the control you have over the underlying software. Thankfully, SPanel does a great job explaining the technical parts without removing any control. SPanel’s creators, ScalaHosting, have a wealth of experience dealing directly with hosting customers, and that really shines in their user interface. Whilst the user interface does work on mobile, it would be nice to have it optimized so there’s less zooming involved.
Support
Web server support
Supports the usual Apache but has a single-click setup for faster drop-in replacements like Lightspeed. It also supports nginx as a reverse proxy, meaning you can have the best of both worlds - using nginx’s lightning-fast performance for static files such as images and CSS files whilst retaining Apache’s flexibility. SPanel really stands out here. There are a lot of easy to setup options and a clear focus on PHP performance.
Database support
Currently, it only supports MySQL/MariaDB, which is enough to host a lot of the most popular apps (WordPress, Magento, Joomla, and Drupal, to name a few), but it would be great to see support for alternative databases such as Postgres, which is gaining in popularity due to the more powerful features they offer. Again, it’s clear that SPanel is laser-focused on traditional PHP & MySQL setups, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing if that’s your preferred tech stack.
Language support
Supports PHP and nodejs/Javascript, which is pretty essential. Languages such as Python require manual setup.
Email support
Includes Spam Assasin which is a pretty standard anti-spam tool.
Backups
Every account gets automatic offsite backup.
Extensions and apps
Being an admin panel that is focused on being optimized, SPanel understandably doesn’t boast a huge range of extensions. Like most other panels, there’s support for Softaculous so you have a whole host of apps you can install, but if you’re looking for extensibility in the admin panel itself, then it might be worth looking into cPanel or Plesk.
Security
Automatically set up SPF, DKIM & DMARC for emails, which are special anti-spam records to help prevent your emails from ending up in other people’s spam boxes. It includes 2-factor authentication, which is essential for a high-value target like a server. Regular automatic updates are a welcome addition, even if it does increase the risk of another CrowdStrike debacle. Built-in Let’s Encrypt support means free and easy SSL certificates. It includes a built-in web firewall called SShiel, which uses “AI” to determine malicious visitors. This means potentially more malicious visitors blocked but opens up more scope for false positives.
Final verdict
SPanel is a welcome new player to the market. It clearly has a narrower focus than some of the more traditional admin panels like Plesk and cPanel, but that narrow focus allows it to offer a considerably more optimized experience. Performance has been greatly enhanced with SPanel, which provides very easy options to speed up your website, which is vital for potentially computing-hungry applications such as WooCommerce. It also comes with a fantastic support offering, borrowing expertise from SPanel’s hosting company, ScalaHosting. While you will sacrifice a bit of flexibility with a simpler admin panel like SPanel, if you want to host a standard PHP and MySQL/MariaDB application and you want it to be fast, then your best bet is SPanel. I'd recommend this to people who are hosting their own PHP & MySQL/MariaDB apps and care about performance. It could also be a good option for seasoned hosters who want something easy but aren't afraid to install system packages directly when they need something not supported out of the box.
With RSS.com having a stable 4.9 rating on all major review platforms, we put it to the test to see how it works.
For this RSS.com review, we began with the mindset of a complete beginner to see how easy the features are to use, how easy it is to set up and monetize our podcast, and how much it costs.
Our results? A “complete” podcast hosting provider with all the features you need to easily start and keep your podcast running within a few minutes.
Advantages of RSS.com (Pros)
Beginner’s Best Friend
If there is one thing I love about a podcasting hosting service, it's a clean UI. This, together with features that are not only easy to find but also use, makes setting up a podcast easier.
From uploading your audio file to the description, you can make your podcast live within a minute, even without any experience.
(Image credit: Rss.com)
Affordable Plans With Unlimited Uploads
With RSS.com, you get more for your money. Their plans start at just $11.99/month ($4.99/month for students and NGOs), offering unlimited episode hosting—a feature that many competitors, like Buzzsprout and Podbean, limit by capping upload hours. This means you can create and publish as many episodes as you want without worrying about hidden costs or overage fees, making RSS.com a cost-effective and scalable solution for podcasters of all levels.
Free Podcast Website
As soon as your podcast is live, your episode will be listed on your own website, which is desktop- and mobile-friendly. The website is free and has a media player embedded in it so your visitors can listen to your podcast directly on your site.
Automatic Distribution To Major Podcast Directories
RSS.com automatically distributes your episodes to the majority of its directories and offers guided options for the ones that don’t support automatic requests.
Easy Social Media Sharing
Easily share your podcast episodes across different social media platforms with a click of a button.
Who Is RSS.com For?
After thoroughly testing RSS.com, I found that it is good for beginners. If you’re completely new to the podcasting world, you don’t have to stress out where to start if you choose RSS.com. From signing up until you upload your podcast, the hosting provider will walk you through its visible option and easy-to-understand interface.
It also takes care of the majority of your tasks, like distribution, podcast website, etc., so you can focus on recording your podcast. All it takes is less than 2 minutes to have your podcast up and running.
Using RSS.com: Super Easy User Interface
One thing that stood out about RSS.com was its user interface.
The interface is clean, minimal, and clutter-free. The best part? There is zero learning curve, and the support bell is right at the top-right corner in case something gets difficult (but I doubt you’d find anything too confusing to understand).
If it’s your first podcast, RSS.com helps you navigate the entire process with the options visible on your screen.
After you’ve made your podcast live, the dashboard looks like this:
RSS.com interface
Think of this dashboard as your complete podcast ecosystem that allows you to access any episode/show and helps you create your public website for your show. It shows scheduled podcasts with their date. In the header, you can navigate through the analytics, distribution, monetization, and settings of your podcast, and it also shows scheduled podcasts and the date they’re due to go live.
You can publish new episodes or start a new podcast series from the dashboard.
When it comes to publishing your podcast, RSS.com allows you to either create a separate page (website link) or share a direct link through social media.
RSS.com (Image credit: Future)
You can check analytics and distribution at the click of a button, too. Overall, I’m quite impressed with RSS.com, which is extremely easy to use and understand for non-tech users.
Features Breakdown
1. Auto Transcription
When you upload your podcast, RSS.com gives you the option to generate a free transcript for your podcast. This powerful AI-powered feature supports 14 languages and generates SEO-friendly transcripts for your podcast for better accessibility.
2. Podroll
Love a show and want to share it with your audience? Pin up to 4 shows directly on your profile and let your listeners also tune into them. The feature is available in both plans.
3. Easy Scheduling & Publish URL
For people who love batch creation and busy individuals, you can schedule your episodes in advance. You also get a sharable public URL of your scheduled episode, allowing you to plan promotions and campaigns across social media ahead of the release.
RSS.com (Image credit: Rss.com)
4. Convert Audio to YouTube Video Podcasts
RSS.com uses PodViz to convert your audio podcast to automatically turn into engaging videos that you can share on YouTube. The video podcast contains dynamic visual elements and supports high resolution. Moreover, if you use chapters inside your audio podcast, they will be added atomically in your video, making it easier for your viewers to see them.
5. Embeddable Podcast Player
RSS.com offers a customizable podcast player that you can embed on your website to boost your podcast. This player is fully responsive across all devices, so even if your audience views your website on their mobile or desktop, they can still enjoy the experience.
Furthermore, you can even customize the color palette to meet your brand guidelines. For instance, I embedded my podcast in my blog post, and this is how it looks:
RSS.com (Image credit: Rss.com)
How to Get Started With RSS.com?
Once you set up your RSS account, use the steps below to make your podcast live!
Step 1: After signing up, your blank dashboard will appear. Click on “New Podcast.”
Step 2: Add your podcast title, description, and cover art. Next, set up your custom URL.
Add title (Image credit: Future)
Step 3: Add categories, primary categories, and author details. You’re all set with your podcast. It’s time to add episodes inside, and surprisingly, it’s easy too.
Step 4: Click on “New Episode” from your dashboard.
New episode on RSS.com (Image credit: Future)
Step 5: Add your audio file. Following this, fill in all the details of your episode.
Adding details of epsiode (Image credit: Future)
Step 6: Choose whether you want to publish the episode right away or want to schedule it later. You’ll be able to track the process either way.
Podcast Distribution
RSS.com makes podcast distribution easy with automatic to majority podcast directories. You can publish your episode in one place and let RSS.com take care of the rest.
For instance, once you upload your episode, head over to “Distribution” and click on “Submit now.”
RSS.com (Image credit: Future)
The submission usually takes up to an hour, but my first episode was submitted within 30 minutes.
RSS.com automatically submits your podcast on:
Spotify
Amazon Music
Podcast Index
Listen Notes
RSS.com Community
For other directories that don’t support automatic submissions, such as Apple Music, iHeartRadio, etc., RSS.com offers a complete guide on how to do it. You can automatically submit your podcast to these directories using the guided methods.
On the other hand, if you want to submit your podcast manually, you can directly copy the RSS feed.
Migration From Other Podcast Hosting to RSS.com
Migrating from one podcast host to another is tricky, but RSS has really made it easy, along with 6 months of free access.
All you need to do is enter your podcast name/RSS feed and submit your email. RSS.com will verify your email and import your show automatically. And the best part of migrating? Your shows will still be available despite being under migration, allowing your followers to not miss out on anything.
(Image credit: Future)
Note: To be eligible for a 6-month free offer for migrating, your show must have at least one episode, and it must be a minimum of 30 days old.
Monetization Options
RSS.com provides plenty of monetization options for your podcast, such as:
Apple Podcasts Subscriptions
Sponsorship opportunities
Donation and Funding
For sponsorships, you need a minimum of 1,000 downloads per month. RSS.com regularly partners with potential sponsors who might be interested in funding your show.
It’s important to note here that sponsorships are not guaranteed despite your meeting the eligibility criteria. The team will reach out when they find the right opportunity for you, and you can decide if you want to proceed with the same.
On the other hand, Apple subscriptions and donations are available for everyone, irrespective of the number of downloads.
RSS’ “Value 4 Value” stood out for me and caught my attention. Through its direct partnership with Alby, you can receive real-time payments in bitcoins through ‘bootstagram’ from your listeners.
Simply set up a free account on Alby, and you’ll be able to activate Value 4 Value monetization option.
Lastly, RSS.com is also releasing dynamic ad insertion for larger shows. However, there is still no update on the official release yet.
Analytics and Data By RSS.com
RSS.com has detailed analytics that you can see from your dashboard. The analytics gives you data for up to the last 180 days. You get data for:
Downloads
Listeners
Apps, Directories & Browsers (downloads by countries)
Data & analytics by RSS (Image credit: Future)
You also get a heatmap that showcases unique downloads by week and day.
The data and analytics are clearly displayed and are easy to read. Let’s say you’re a complete beginner. The analytics given by RSS.com will definitely not give you a tough time understanding how your episodes are performing, your audience demographics, etc.
RSS.com Pricing Plans & Options
The pricing and plans of RSS.com are extremely affordable and come with 30 days refund policy.
Compared to other podcast hosting providers that put limits on how much content you can upload in a month (upload hours), all the plans of RSS.com offer unlimited episodes, audio, and unlimited podcast shows (for the top-tier plan).
RSS.com comes with a free trial that lets you set up your account and publish one podcast episode. You don’t need to enter your card details to get the free version. Additionally, it even includes distribution for the first episode as a part of their free basic version.
For the paid versions, it comes with three plans:
Student & NGO at $4.99/month: Applicable only for students and NGO’s globally
All in One Podcasting at $11.99/month: Best For beginners and small businesses
Podcast Network at $18.75/month: Ideal for large businesses or podcasters to host multiple shows
Note: All prices are in USD and for the annual plan. The monthly plan is 25% higher.
RSS.com pricinng (Image credit: Future)
Free vs Paid Plan: Do You Really Need to Pay?
The free version of RSS.com sounds great if you’re just testing out the features of the hosting provider before committing to the paid plan. However, you’ll be able to upload only one episode on the free version, and this even restricts you from trying out its scheduled feature (if you’re hitting the publish button for your first one).
Our tip is to thoroughly use the free version to its best and explore all the available features. Once done, go with the monthly plan before committing to the annual one. Although you can cancel your plan anytime without being bound by contracts, we’d still want your money to fall into the right hands that align with your needs.
You can enter your query, and RSS will automatically show up all the related guides. If the DIY option doesn’t solve your issues, you can submit a ticket to the customer support team with a turnaround time of a few hours to business days, depending on the complexity.
However, I received a response within 23 minutes to my query since it was a short question.
RSS.com customer support response (Image credit: Future)
Final Verdict: Is RSS.com Worth It?
RSS.com is a value-for-money podcast hosting packed with all the necessary and stellar features you need to start your podcast. From having your custom podcast page to one-click distribution, it’s a great pick for anyone who is entirely new and wants to start a podcast without any technical know-how.
Podbean comes at an affordable price and includes all the necessary features you need from a podcast host. So, we decided to put it to the test and explore its features, value for money, customer support, migration process, etc.
For this Podbean review, we tested its basic version and researched other people’s experiences with the platform.
Find out our results and how well Podbean performed in our real-time podcast hosting test below!
Advantages of Podbean (Pros)
1. Easy to Use & Set up
Podbean is beginner-friendly, and setting up everything will take you less than 5 minutes (if you have your audio files ready). Even if you’re a complete novice in podcasting, you will find Podbean quite easy to begin with and host your first podcast.
2. Unlimited storage and bandwidth
Except for the free plan, all Podbean plans come with unlimited storage and bandwidth, meaning they can host an unlimited number of podcasts. And it will even cope with thousands of downloads without hampering your podcasts’ performance.
3. Free podcast recording app
Available on the App Store and Google Play Store, you can download the podcast recording app Podbean, which lets you record, edit, and publish your podcast right from your mobile device. Through the app, you can also invite guest speakers without needing to use your laptop.
4. Excellent monetization tools
Podbean is packed with powerful monetization tools without putting you under restrictions. You can earn money through subscriptions, sponsorships, advertisements, fan clubs, etc., via Podbean.
5. Budget-friendly
Podbean stands as our top pick when we speak about podcast hosting providers due to its value for money. The free plan lets you test out its features, and once you’re enjoying it, you can upgrade to the paid plan, which starts at $9/month.
Who is Podbean Right For?
Podbean is great for people looking for a budget podcast host and video podcasters.
The plan starts at $9/month and includes all the essential features you need from a podcast host. Within a fair price, you get AI-powered features, unlimited storage and bandwidth, advanced statistics, a blog to podcast, video to podcast, etc.
Similarly, certain plans are tailored for video podcasters, and you can easily record or convert your existing video to a podcast with a few clicks. You can also record a new video podcast and upload it on YouTube directly through Podbean.
Using Podbean (Interface)
Podbean has a clean and easy-to-understand user interface, making it easier to publish your episodes.
One-click import audio makes it easier to upload your audio without any learning curve.
User interface of Podbean (Image credit: Future)
Setting up your account and publishing your first episodes took us less than 2 minutes. Similarly, the dashboard comes with all the options to view your podcast, distribute, monetize, etc., at the sidebar.
Upon publishing your episode, you get a free custom landing page that you can share with your audience and even customize as per your branding colors.
Podbean interface (Image credit: Future)
Lastly, you can directly manage (install or deactivate) plugins at the click of a button through your dashboard.
Overall, we’d rate Podbean's interface as beginner-friendly, packed with all the necessary features that are easy to access.
Features Breakdown
Podbean AI
The Podbean AI turns your bad-quality audio into the highest quality automatically, but that’s not all it does. The AI-driven solution allows you to optimize, edit, and generate within a few clicks. Podbean AI will cut extra noise, remove filler words, and take care of the filtering.
On the other hand, it can automatically generate titles, notes, transcripts, etc.
Livestreaming & Live Podcasts
Start live streaming and conducting live podcasts where you control everything. Through this feature, you can directly interact with your audience by answering them live. Moreover, your audience can send you virtual gifts that you can monetize and also allow you to create a fan club for recurring revenue.
Convert blog posts into a podcast
Podbean lets you repurpose your blog posts into podcasts easily with the support of 150+ languages and 500+ different accents. You can choose the AI voice, and Podbean will automatically convert it into an audio format, boosting accessibility and repurposing. Note that you get a limited number of credits to use this feature, depending on the plan you pick.
YouTube Video To Podcast
If you already have YouTube videos, you can convert them into podcasts and upload them directly. This is actually great if you want to repurpose your videos for your listeners to hear on the go and diversify your revenue streams through podcasts.
How to Get Started With Podbean?
RSS.com's Super Easy User Interface
Once you’ve signed up with Podbean, you can use the following steps to make your episode live.
Step 1: Go to episodes and click on “Publish Episode.” Now, import your audio file or simply generate one from AI with Podbean.
Step 2: Once you import the audio file, add your title and description of the episode.
Using Podbean (Image credit: Future)
Step 3: Once you’re done, click on publish now.
Podcast Distribution With Podbean
Podbean helps you submit your episodes/podcasts to multiple directories, but the process isn’t entirely automatic. Whether you’re on the free plan or the paid one, your podcast will be automatically submitted to Podbean's own directory. However, for other directories, such as Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube, etc., you need to manually submit them.
Podcast distribution (Image credit: Future)
Podbean offers a centralized dashboard to simplify submissions to major podcast directories. So, with one click, you can manually submit them.
Note that if you’re on the free plan, you won’t be able to submit your podcast to any directory (except Podbean’s own) unless you upgrade to the paid one.
While submission is one-click, the distribution feature could have been improved with automatic submissions, even for the free plan users. For example, BuzzSprout, its competitor, offers automatic submissions to all major directories, even for free users. In the same way, Podbean could use some fine-tuning here.
Migration from Other Podcast Hosting to Podbean
Step 1: Click on Import Existing Project
Step 2: Tap on Import Existing Podcast and enter your RSS feed URL.
Import existing podcast to podbean (Image credit: Future)
Step 3: Now, select your import option. Note that this process may take some time, depending on your existing podcast size.
Step 4: Once your import is completed, set 301 redirect. You can also customize the URL to fit your requirements.
set 301 redirect (Image credit: Future)
Step 5: Wait for the email, as RSS will update you as soon as the final import is done.
Note here: If you only have a couple of episodes, it’s faster to migrate to Podbean. For instance, we had one episode up, and it took us less than 5 minutes to migrate.
Monetization Options
Podbean has multiple monetization options to make podcasting an active revenue stream, such as:
Podcast Advertising
Apple Podcasts Subscriptions Integration
Dynamic Ad Insertion
You can list your podcast on the Podbean marketplace and allow potential advertisers to find you. Further, you can also charge subscriptions to your readers to access your podcast through Apple podcasts subscription integration, making it easier to make extra money from your podcast directly.
Analytics & Data
Podbean offers quite detailed analytics into how your podcast is performing and also gives detailed insights into your listeners. You can find your analytics under the “statistics” tab on the left side of the dashboard.
Analytics (Image credit: Future)
Through analytics, you can also track your downloads up to the last 24 months. Other than that, you can get:
Where Your Audience Comes From
Downloads by Time of Day (GMT)
Download Sources
Most downloaded episodes
User Retention
Listeners data
Further, you can review the performance of episodes and compare performances from a set period. However, complete insight is only available to paid users. The free version can only have a small overview of their overall analytics.
Podbean Pricing & Plans
Podbean offers a range of pricing plans catering to different types of podcasters, from beginners to large networks.
The free plan offers basic features to test the podcast hosting service, but it comes with limited features. You only get 5 hours of total storage and 100GB monthly bandwidth with the free plan. You also don’t get access to directory submissions. So, if you’re serious about podcasting, you’ll have to upgrade to its paid plan.
Coming to its paid plan, they start at $9/month, offering unlimited storage and unmetered bandwidth. It’s affordable and offers amazing features, including Podbean AI, blog posts to audio, videos to podcasts, etc.
If you’re working with both audio and video, the Unlimited Plus (at $29/month) is a great option that adds 20GB of monthly uploads, though it might feel a bit pricey for those who don’t need video.
Lastly, the Network plan, priced at $79/month, is great for large podcasters and packed with essential scaling features.
Overall, Podbean offers competitive pricing plans with unlimited storage. It’s great for anyone looking for an affordable yet robust podcast hosting provider.
Customer Support & Resources
Podbean has excellent customer support and resources and has positive feedback from people. One of its users also shared their experience (screenshot below), highlighting their prompt response, and we had a similar experience.
Customer support review via TrustRadius (Image credit: Future)
Whether you’re stuck somewhere and need a DIY solution or are starting your first podcast, you can join its dedicated Podcast Academy. This academy contains:
24 tutorials
8 webinars
57 events
18 interviews
And all of these are free to check out. You can also check out their separate 70+ articles for help.
Lastly, if DIY doesn’t work, you can raise a ticket with the customer support team, and the average turnaround time is 2-3 business days.
Verdict: Is Podbean Worth It?
Overall, Podbean is worth paying for people looking for an affordable yet feature-loaded podcast hosting provider. It’s especially an excellent option if you want to do video podcasts since it comes with a dedicated plan that offers the same.
You can try its free version to see if it aligns with your requirements before upgrading to the paid version.
A new Bluetooth speaker has erupted, boasting booming bass output that will make you “feel the heartbeat of the earth”. So yes, enter the Tribit Stormbox Lava. This semi-cylindrical party speaker aims to supply powerful sound and a rugged build in one budget-friendly package. It comes in with a list price of $129.99 / £111 (about AU$200) which is really quite modest for a medium-large sized option like this.
As some of you may have suspected given that low price-tag, feeling the earth’s heartbeat may be a slight exaggeration. And you’d be correct. Sure, you can get bold, room-filling low-end output from the Tribit Stormbox Lava, but it struggles to knock those really deep notes out of the park, even after some EQ adjustment.
General audio quality is decent, but hardly as red-hot as some of the best Bluetooth speakers. Out of the box, the standard tuning is a little bloated, with sounds in the mid-range often smothered by rumbling low-end frequencies. That can often be the case when you activate XBass too – a mode which ramps up low sounds even further and will cause the speaker’s solid 24 hour battery life to deplete at a faster rate.
With a bit of tuning, you can get relatively clean sound for a speaker close to $100 / £100. It’s never going to get ultra-detailed or airy, especially with the lack of ‘hi-res’ codecs like LDAC, but it’s certainly clear enough for house parties or outdoor events with lots of background noise.
And this speaker truly is party-ready, no matter the surroundings. It has a rugged build – similar to that of the JBL Xtreme 4 and, like the best waterproof speakers, has the IP67 dustproof and waterproof rating, protecting it against grime and underwater submersion. Other practical elements include an interchangeable handle and strap, AUX port for wired listening and a USB-A port for charging external devices – though I would’ve preferred to see a more 2025-friendly USB-C slot substituted in.
The basic but handy Tribit app is back too, opening up access to a ten-band equaliser and a bunch of EQ presets, voice prompt settings and multi-speaker pairing. Speaking of, you can actually link more than 160 of the same model together. I didn’t get the chance to validate that, of course, but still…I’m sure 160 of these at once could create quite a racket.
I think the most disappointing aspect of the Tribit Stormbox Lava is that really, it does very little to appear on-theme and validate its strong name. Yes, the whole Lava thing may be more in reference to bass than anything else, but surely it could’ve inspired a more volcanic, explosive design? The Stormbox Lava is a plain, black speaker that does very little to stand out from the crowd.
Another issue I ran into was that sound would cut out for half a second whenever I adjusted volume, but I’d hope this will be remedied in a future firmware update. Otherwise, there’s a lot to like about this affordable party speaker. It can’t compete with more sonically talented speakers like the Bose SoundLink Max or even its cousin, the Tribit Stormbox Blast 2. But if you can grab it for around $100 / £100 it's a reasonable, cheap option that’s worth a look.
I’d argue that the original Tribit Stormbox Blast is a stronger alternative thanks to its regimented bass floor, eye-catching looks and USB-C out port. And given it's regularly available for less than $200 / £150, it beats the Stormbox Lava for sound-for-pound value – so long as you’re OK with a more boombox-like appearance.
(Image credit: Future)
Tribit Stormbox Lava review: Price and release date
$129.99 / £111 (about AU$200)
Launched in March 2025
The Tribit Stormbox Lava is the latest addition to the audio manufacturer’s speaker range, having launched in March 2025. Pricing already seems to be in flux, but at the time of writing, Tribit is shipping the Stormbox Lava for $129.99 / £111 (about AU$200). I’d expect to see discounts coming thick and fast though, as this is regularly the case with Tribit products in my experience.
At the moment, it’s only available in black, but a grey version is said to be coming in May 2025. For a speaker of this size, the Stormbox Lava is very modestly priced. It’s strikingly similar in form to the JBL Xtreme 4, which for reference, has a list price well in excess of $300 / £300.
Tribit Stormbox Lava review: Specs
(Image credit: Future)
Tribit Stormbox Lava review: Features
Handy app with nice EQ options
USB-A charge out
Solid 24-hour battery life
Tribit hasn’t done anything crazy with the Stormbox Lava’s feature-set, but it’s still got the basics down. Of course all the usual stuff is here, be that multi-speaker pairing, Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity or XBass – a feature which ramps up low-end power for bass-heavy bangers.
But you also get EQ settings that have been fleshed out pretty nicely. There are six presets, including genre-specific options like Rock or Jazz, but there’s also space to save some custom calibrations via a ten-band equaliser. You’ll likely want to make use of that custom EQ option to achieve the best sound, but we’ll get more into that later…
There are a few other small options to mess around like toggles for voice prompt or remotely adjust volume and play/pause music. But a more prominent addition is a USB-A charge out port that enables the Stormbox Lava to double up as a power bank for other devices, including the best phones. I would’ve preferred to see a more modern USB-C port used for this function, something the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus offers, among others.
Another big talking point is battery life – an area in which the Stormbox Lava performs decently. It can offer 24 hours of playtime, so long as you’re listening at 50% volume with XBass on. That’s very much in-line with competitors in this size class – it’s nothing mind-blowing, but more than enough if you want a speaker that’s going to keep the party moving into the early hours.
Features score: 4/5
(Image credit: Future)
Tribit Stormbox Lava review: Sound quality
Relatively clean audio possible with some tuning
Bass is fairly meaty, but the deepest notes can prove challenging
Can struggle a little at top volumes
At around $100 / £100, I really wasn’t expecting any miracles from the Tribit Stormbox Lava and although there were definitely some sonic shortcomings, it still put up an adequate performance.
I knew what I was in for with the Stormbox Lava; a whole lotta bass. And that’s exactly what it delivers. XBass was on by default and I realized the room instantly filled with an impactful, in-your-face low end rumble. When tuning into Black Eye by Allie X, the thump of the drum machine had commendable depth and didn’t sound too lethargic. But with XBass on, there was a slightly muddy audio profile and that deep bass smothered other sonic elements like electronica and vocals – the latter was given much more room to breathe after flicking XBass off.
Bass response, though big, wasn’t the most beautiful however. Comparing it to a more expensive and slightly more powerful model, the JBL Xtreme 4, I picked up on a lack of dynamism with the Stormbox Lava. Bass didn’t connect up to the mid-range quite as effectively, resulting in a slightly thin and cluttered sound at points, to the extent that the track’s trademark bounce felt less defined.
And although the Stormbox Lava can reach frequencies as low as 43Hz, it really struggled to belt out some ultra-deep notes. In Yung Gravy’s The Boys Are Back In Town, the deep dark sub-bass that blasts throughout sounded feeble, especially at high volumes. And although you can adjust EQ to improve this slightly, the Lava still won’t be able to go quite as far into depth as more premium competitors.
Everything from the mid bass and up does sound relatively clear though and even if you’re missing out on the absolute deepest notes in their fully-fledged glory, bass is generally powerful. Unfortunately, I found the standard XBass off EQ mode to sound a little uneven and slightly bloated, though. Thanks to Tribit’s easy-to-use app, though, I was able to adapt the speaker’s EQ to have a slight bump to deep bass and treble for a more balanced, albeit still exciting sound.
This made for an improved listening experience overall, especially for tracks that are less centred around thumping bass. For instance, when listening to SAMBA DO MARCOS by Sadao Watanabe, the intro’s raw, emotive guitar was tonally accurate and the accompanying piano layered nicely. Samba drums also entered the fray rhythmically with gusto. Some of the finer details, like light percussion in the background were understated. There are no ‘hi-res’ Bluetooth codecs here, such as LDAC, which can offer up a less compressed performance either.
Another factor worth noting is that this speaker can get pretty loud thanks to its 80W maximum power output. However, at top volumes audio quality is going to take a bit of a dip. This is pretty standard and to be expected for what is ultimately, a budget Bluetooth speaker, but at peak loudness, treble could be a touch grating and vocal clarity took quite the hit to boot. If you’re looking for the ultimate party speaker, that may be problematic, but if you’re unlikely to venture into ear-splitting volume territory, this may not bother you all too much.
And one more note before I wrap up on sound. I realized that when altering volume on the Stormbox Lava, sound would cut out for half a second or so, which was pretty frustrating. I’m sure Tribit will fix this with a firmware update in the near future, but it’s still a frustrating quirk that I’m sure would frustrate a lot of users.
So, it’s a bit of a mixed bag for the Stormbox Lava. Does it sound terrible? No. With a bit of tuning, you can get decently clean audio out of this $100 speaker without sacrificing its room-filling low-end presence. But the combination of audio cutting out, sub-bass troubles and high-volume distortion will be hard to ignore for audiophiles.
Sound quality score: 3.5/5
(Image credit: Future)
Tribit Stormbox Lava review: Design
Plain design that lacks a creative spark
But it is conveniently IP67-rated
Interchangeable handle and strap attachments
For me, the Tribit Stormbox Lava sounds like it should be a pretty cool-looking speaker – I pictured some red details or maybe even some fiery LED lights that could sync up to bass output. Unfortunately, this is a totally basic looking speaker with no real design quirk. It’s a plain, black model with no lights or splashes of color and I’m not sure why Tribit played it so safe.
Having said that, it’s undeniable that this model is a pretty practical beast. It’s got a rugged build – very much reminiscent of the JBL Xtreme line of speakers. And it also has an IP67 rating, meaning it's both dustproof and waterproof. That rating even ensures that the Stormbox Lava can be submerged in one meter of water for a period of up to 30 minutes – ideal for beach-side listening or pool parties.
Another practical inclusion is the Stormbox Lava’s accessories box, which includes both a handle and a strap for carrying the speaker around. The handle has an elastic-like property to it and is comfortable to hold, while the strap is adjustable and is useful for carrying the Stormbox Lava over longer distances.
The speaker is also adorned with seven button controls, all of which are well sized and responsive, these include buttons for volume/play controls, Bluetooth pairing, toggling XBass and even multi-speaker pairing. On top of that, you can find a tab on the reverse side of the speaker for accessing its AUX and charging ports.
Design score: 3/5
(Image credit: Future)
Tribit Stormbox Lava review: Value
Low price for a speaker of this size
And you can expect to see discounts in coming months
But that will come with a few hiccups in performance and design
The Tribit Stormbox Lava is available at a point ever-so-close to $100 / £100. It's a medium-to-larged sized option that sounds decent with some tuning and plates up both a good battery life and feature-set. At that price, this is an option worth your consideration.
I wouldn’t be surprised, either, to see this speaker available for less in the coming months as has so often been the case with Tribit’s products, including the Tribit XSound Plus 2 and Tribit Stormbox Blast. You’ll be able to find other low-priced alternatives in this ballpark, like the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 or even the giant Earfun UBoom X when it’s one sale. But these both take more of a boombox form, which might be a dealbreaker for some.
As I mentioned earlier, this speaker feels far more reminiscent of the JBL Xtreme line of speakers, with its pseudo-cylindrical looks and similar scale. But the most recent iteration from it, the JBL Xtreme 4, will set you back $379.95 / £329.99 / AU$499.95 if you’re buying at full price – and I wouldn’t expect it to get anywhere near as cheap on sale.
Of course, this thing isn’t going to challenge the Xtreme 4 on sound quality, let alone looks or feature-set. But if you’re not the most analytical listener and you just want a bass-heavy, budget-friendly Bluetooth speaker for parties, the Tribit Stormbox Lava will still get the job done.
Value score: 4/5
(Image credit: Future)
Should I buy the Tribit Stormbox Lava?
Buy it if...
You want a Bluetooth speaker for parties The Tribit Stormbox Lava is a capable party speaker with impressive loudness, prominent bass output and multi-speaker pairing. It’s also able to survive beach-side or pool-side environments thanks to its hardy IP67 rating – even underwater submersion won’t faze this fella.
You’re on a budget Perhaps the most obvious draw of the Tribit Stormbox Lava is its fantastic low price. For a speaker of this size you’re gonna struggle to find many cheaper options – especially ones that sound this good. Of course, there are still flaws in the audio department and you’re not getting the most stylish beast out there, but when it comes to value, this Tribit speaker scores well.
Don't buy it if...
You’re an audiophile I touched on it there, but if you’re a more analytical listener, the Tribit Stormbox Lava is not for you. It lacks ‘hi-res’ audio codecs like LDAC, it struggles with ultra-deep notes, you may experience distortion at high volumes... you get the idea. If you want a more talented speaker in the sound department but don’t want to compromise on size, an option like the JBL Xtreme 4 could be very tempting – read more below.
You want a speaker with a bit of flair Unfortunately, this thing isn’t gonna win a beauty contest any time soon. It has a pretty plain design and it’s only available in black for now. Gray is on the way, sure, but I doubt that’s gonna set the world alight either. If you want a more stylish option, check out the Ultimate Ears Epicboom, or basically anything UE – they really know how to stand out from the crowd.
Tribit Stormbox Lava review: Also consider
JBL Xtreme 4 The JBL Xtreme 4 has it all. Highly capable audio skills, a water-resistant rugged design and plenty of battery life. But that comes at a cost. This model has a high list price – well over $300 / £300. Luckily, though, it can regularly be found on sale for far less – I spotted it for £250 on Amazon UK while writing this and at that price, you’ll struggle to do much better. Read our full JBL Xtreme 4 review.
Anker Soundcore Boom 2 If you’re looking to keep expenditure at a minimum but you’re still hoping for room-filling, bass-heavy audio, the Anker Soundcore Boom 2 could be the ideal candidate for you. I often see it on sale for less than $100 / £100, but don’t be deceived by this model’s price – you won’t have to sacrifice niceties like EQ adjustment, multi-speaker pairing or water resistance. Audio isn’t the most controlled and the boombox-like design might not be for you, but this bold Bluetooth speaker is still worth considering for those on a tight budget. Read our full Anker Soundcore Boom 2 review.
Tribit Stormbox Lava review: How I tested
(Image credit: Future)
Tested for one week
Mainly used at our music testing facility at Future Labs
Predominantly tested using Tidal
I put the Tribit Stormbox to the test over a one week period, exhausting all of its features, blasting out tune after tune and closely critiquing all aspects of its design. I predominantly tested it out at our music testing room at Future Labs in order to test audio quality in a quiet, controlled environment.
When listening to music, I mainly used Tidal, though I occasionally played songs via Spotify after connecting up my Samsung Galaxy S24 FE. To start with, I streamed tracks from our carefully curated TechRadar reference playlist, but I also listened to music from my own personal library. Where appropriate, I tested the Stormbox Lava alongside the JBL Xtreme 4 to compare sound quality and ease-of-use.
The new Pi Terminal from Elecrow integrates a 7” IPS touchscreen, a Raspberry Pi CM4 module, and sockets for mini-PCIe cards into one platform. The module packs so many connectors and onboard peripherals that there is no need to add anything else. The acrylic case provides antenna slots for Wi-Fi and GSM, while a small fan ensures the CPU always works within its recommended temperature.
The module's main selling point remains the bright 7” HD display with a five-point touchscreen. With a 400cd/m2 light intensity, it easily outshines similar displays, and at 9W, the module does not consume more than a regular Raspberry Pi board. Targeting the IoT industry, the screen is IP65-rated and comes with optional stereo speakers. The display uses one of the CM4 HDMI outputs, leaving an extra HDMI connector for an external screen.
(Image credit: Future)
Elecrow Pi Terminal: Price and availability
Elecrow sells displays to connect to embedded platforms such as the Raspberry Pi through the HDMI port. The Pi Terminal costs $179.90 without the processor module or accessories. Other cheaper displays support only USB peripherals.
Elecrow Pi Terminal: Design
The Pi Terminal ships between two foams that protect the glass panel. Accessories include four antennas, one 12V 24W power supply, and block connectors with screws. The acrylic panel surrounding the display protects the screen's top and bottom. Four metal spacers hold the unit, providing a robust feeling to it. A small fan at the back can be loud at times. The unit measures 19.2 cm x 12.5 cm x 4.6 cm and weighs 665 grams.
Five screws secure the screen to the acrylic back panel. Four antenna connectors, in the form of SMA connectors, are located at the top. The bottom case has laser engravings showing connector pinouts, which is handy if one needs to quickly find where to insert the Raspberry Pi SD card, for example.
Unfortunately, Elecrow has not provided a schematic for the main PCB. The user manual states that the power supply can range from 12V to 18V, while the engraving on the case shows a maximum of 36V. An on/off switch on the left allows powering down the unit while not in use. A push button on the top helps to wake or sleep the OS. Three LEDs on the left give status such as power or Ethernet activity, or can act as a user-actionable indicator.
The PCB design is straightforward under the hood, with the Pi CM4 module located off-center to the left. Two mini PCIe sockets fully utilize the Pi’s high-speed interfaces. A small 5V fan provides airflow to the CPU. A buzzer and a battery holder for a CR1220 lithium cell are present, avoiding time loss when power is removed. Finally, a 40-pin header makes the PI’s GPIOs accessible to the end-user.
(Image credit: Future)
Elecrow Pi Terminal: Use
The terminal power consumption depends on the peripherals to which it is connected. With only the Pi connected, the unit consumes about 10W. A complete system with two mini PCIe cards, a USB keyboard, and a mouse brings the total to 15W. The supplied power adapter should be sufficient for doing software development on an IoT product. Deploying the unit in a production environment will require a more robust power adapter. Elecrow has included an option for installing a PoE module next to the Ethernet connector.
We recommend replacing the small fan with something less noisy. The stock 5V fan buzzes a lot, reaching 45 dBA at one meter. A passive cooling solution is superior in all aspects for an industrial setting and should provide a longer lifetime. Screen control for brightness and contrast is nonexistent, and IO voltage protection is unavailable on the Pi’s 40-pin header.
Elecrow does not provide any source code for the UI demo on the micro SD card. Even though the Raspberry Pi compute module has plenty of applications to demonstrate its use as a graphical unit, having example code for peripherals such as the LoRaWan module or the 4G module to test right out of the box would have been great. The newer CM5 compute module provides an easy upgrade to the CM4 since it is almost pin-compatible in the same footprint. The CM5 improves from the previous generation by having over twice the processing power.
(Image credit: Future)
Elecrow Pi Terminal: The competition
Elecrow’s Pi Terminal does not lack competitors. Seeedstudio’s Pi screen, the reTerminal, offers similar characteristics, with a multitouch 5” screen powered by the CM4. It provides passive cooling but costs $200, slightly higher than the Pi Terminal. It also lacks a standard PCIe interface like the mini PCIe connector available on the Pi Terminal.
Elecrow Pi Terminal: Final verdict
The Pi Terminal is an excellent example of integrating off-the-shelf parts into a product. Elecrow has extensive experience building embedded displays, which is evident in this product. The CM4 module provides ample processing power, while the abundance of connectors will cover many IoT use cases. The board layout is small, well-organized, and solid. The only drawback is the tiny but noisy fan. Documentations such as the schematic or project source code are also lacking, making repairing or troubleshooting the unit harder.
Buy the Pi Terminal if you need a robust screen and a CPU with excellent support and documentation.
Don’t buy the Pi Terminal if you need an economical, simple-to-use display.
I’ve been reviewing AR smart glasses for a few years, and while they’ve been some of my favorite gadgets to test, I haven’t found a pair that offered a value proposition which I felt made them something I could recommend to the masses. That is, until I tested the RayNeo Air 3s glasses, which are a shoo-in for inclusion on our best smart glasses list.
Costing just $269 (they're only available in the US at the moment) these AR specs punch well above their pay grade with generally solid visuals, good audio quality, and a very comfy design.
The Full-HD image created by its dual-micro-OLED setup boasts generally strong color accuracy and contrast, though there are times when the image can appear washed out, and because the mirrored outer lens doesn’t block out all external light brighter environments can disrupt the glasses’ image to the point that it’s tough to make out what you’re watching.
As for the audio, you can hear a stark difference between the sound of these glasses and models that have come before. RayNeo’s Air 3s glasses take things up a level to the point that headphones feel like they aren’t a necessity if you want decent midtones, highs, and bass. Though, while Whisper Mode 2.0 generally keeps what you’re listening to private at louder volumes it does fail so if you like to be drowned in sound you’ll still need some cans.
(Image credit: RayNeo)
Design-wise these specs are comfy, look fairly stylish, and come with a hard carry case that’s perfect for transporting these specs in your bag so you can always have them with you when you travel – based on my experience taking them on trips in testing I can confirm that they're the best travel companion you could have.
While you can spend more to find better AR smart glasses – such as the Xreal One glasses – RayNeo has seriously knocked it out of the park with RayNeo Air 3s glasses when you factor in how affordable they are. If you’ve been keen to get a pair, and don’t want to break the bank, there’s never been a better time to finally experience what these kinds of AR specs can do.
RayNeo Air 3s glasses: Price and availability
The RayNeo Air 3s glasses are available to buy in the US for $269 from RayNeo’s online store. That converts to about £205 / AU$435 – there's no word yet on whether they'll get a release in the UK or Australia, but previous models have been sold in those countries, and the Air 3s ship internationally.
That US price puts them at the budget end of the scale, but that doesn’t mean RayNeo’s latest specs don’t pack a punch with solid visuals and sound. If you’re after excellent value for your money in the AR glasses world, this is it.
Value score: 5/5
RayNeo Air 3s glasses: Design
Wired USB-C connection
76g, comfy to use for long sessions
No shades or electrochromic dimming for a black backdrop
The RayNeo Air 3s specs follow the tried and tested design approach of pretty much all smart glasses of their ilk. By that I mean they look, at a glance, just like a pair of sunglasses, with the frame coming complete with mirrored lenses.
Take a closer look and you’ll spy a USB-C port on the tip of their right arm – you plug a cable into this to pair them with a compatible device like a phone, PC or games console (which either support DisplayPort via USB-C or by using an adapter like an HDMI-to-USB-C cable) – as well as buttons and large reflective prisms behind the lenses.
(Image credit: Future)
The buttons control screen brightness and volume, and access an image settings menu depending which you press, and the prisms allow the wearer to view a pair of micro-OLED panels which deliver an impressive full-HD image (more on that in a moment).
These glasses are also outfitted with a quad-speaker setup (two on each arm) which RayNeo says only takes up the space of two single speakers while enhancing audio performance (again, more on that below).
All of this is crammed into a lightweight 76g package that, thanks to two nose-pad options and three adjustable lens viewing angles, can sit comfortably on your face for hours on end. You also get a handy hard carry case for the glasses and their USB-C cable.
Overall, the design is great, but the one big flaw is the lack of a lens cover or electrochromic dimming. That’s because while the mirrored lens setup does cut out a fair amount of light, it doesn’t create a black backdrop, which can ruin the contrast and color vividness of what you’re watching on the screens – especially in brighter environments.
Design score: 4/5
RayNeo Air 3s glasses: Performance
Full HD, 650-nit image
Good audio quality
Pairs with a good number of USB-C devices
The RayNeo Air 3s glasses offer good performance that’s unfortunately let down by the aforementioned lack of a black backdrop.
The Full HD image they produce generally boasts bright colors and good contrast – even in darker scenes where poor contrast can mean you miss out on the action.
Though aren’t perfect, though. For one thing, there's blurring at the edges without the option of screen adjustments to fix this, as on some of their competition.
What’s more, there were times when scenes looked washed out, with muted colors that broke me out of my immersion. And thanks to the always translucent background it can be hard to use the glasses in brighter environments, as light from the real world will dilute the OLED screen’s image, ruining the picture.
(Image credit: Future)
Audio quality is impressive, and it's taken a serious step up with RayNeo’s new quad speaker setup. According to RayNeo the specs boast 200% better audio compared to the previous generation’s Air 2S glasses, with crisper highs, more detailed mids, and deeper bass.
In my tests I’d say they live up to the general promise, even if that 200% claim is impossible to measure, with impressive sound that's only bested by the Xreal One glasses when it comes to smart glasses I’ve tested. This means that while headphones can still improve your experience, they don’t feel like a necessity here, which is something I can't say for many smart glasses.
Whisper Mode 2.0, a feature which promises less sound leakage, also seems to perform well, as at moderate volumes you can’t easily make out what the glasses are playing unless you’re wearing them or very close by. However at higher volumes whisper mode does fail to keep your audio private, so keep that in mind.
Some drawbacks are to be expected at this price, but what you do get from the RayNeo Air 3s glasses is very good when you consider how much they cost compared to their competition – so yes, they could do better, but they’re still doing very well.
Performance: 4/5
Should you buy the RayNeo Air 3s glasses?
Buy it if…
You’re on a budget but want AR specs If you’re after cheap AR specs that are still worth your time and money, these are what you’ve been waiting for.View Deal
You travel a lot This type of AR glasses is perfect for travelers, as they allow you to carry around a pocket-sized movie theatre with you wherever you go.View Deal
You like privacy These smart specs allow you to watch content on your phone or work on your laptop without showing everyone around you what’s on the screen.View Deal
(Image credit: Future)
Don’t buy it if…
You want the best performance The RayNeo Air 3s glasses are good, but there are glasses that offer better performance out there, although they do cost more.View Deal
You want a standalone device These AR glasses, like their rivals, need to connect to an external device in order to function.View Deal
You want 4K The Full HD quality is fine, but if you’re looking for 4K visuals you’ll need to keep waiting until a pair of AR smart glasses comes along with that resolution.View Deal
Also consider
Xreal One The Xreal One AR smart glasses cost more at $499 / £449, but they deliver better audio and a better picture, although I’m not sure the improvement is worth the added cost.
Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses These glasses don’t come with AR functions; instead they boast AI and a camera. If you’re after smart glasses you can wear all the time and that take a jack-of-all-trades approach, these specs could be a better fit for you. Read our Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses review
Meta Quest 3 While it's not a direct competitor to AR smart glasses like RayNeo's, the Quest 3 is an XR product you should consider if you want to experience what VR and MR have to offer – it’s frankly fantastic. Read our Meta Quest 3 review
How I tested the RayNeo Air 3s glasses
I spent a few weeks testing the RayNeo Air 3s glasses ahead of their release, trying them in a variety of use cases. I took them with me on my commutes to work, and on a press trip to Copenhagen so I could try them out on a flight. I used them at my desk at home to work, and while relaxing on my couch to play games on my PS5 with an HDMI adapter.
I made sure to test them over long sessions to check on the comfort quality over an extended period of time (sessions lasting at least two hours), and used them with and without headphones to test their audio quality.
I knew that the Sigma BF would frustrate me at times, but what I wasn't prepared for was how much I would enjoy making pictures with the camera.
This unique and boldly minimalist camera, which has been likened to Apple's products, oozes character, and despite its many design and performance concessions I've come to love it.
Yes, the 24.6MP full-frame Sigma BF's minimalist design polarizes opinion – for some it's an object of desire, for others it's a firm no. However, even hardened fans of the camera, who now include me, will admit there's maybe one concession too many.
Rated using a conventional scoring system, the Sigma BF comes up short because its limitations are many. It doesn't have a viewfinder; its touchscreen is fixed; memory is internal only (a 230GB SSD and no card slot); the 24MP full-frame sensor isn't stabilized; its ergonomics could be better; battery life is modest; and key connections ports for video, such as mic in and a headphone jack, are absent.
That said, cameras can't be reviewed purely by ticking boxes. They're creative tools, and if you find one that gets you, and brings out the creator in you, then what it scores in a review is less relevant.
Isn't she lovely? (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
A similarly-priced, conventional mirrorless camera like the Nikon Z6 III gives you all the tools you need, wrapped in a sensible design with superb ergonomics, and it 'scores' better. However, if you want a bit of excitement, and a stunning and unique camera that can delight, frustrate, then delight again from one beat to the next, the BF is the ticket.
For seasoned photographers, there’s a re-learning process with the Sigma BF in terms of navigating its nondescript controls and minimalist menus. You need to spend some time getting to know the BF. Familiarize yourself with its quirks and its joys, and most other cameras feel somehow dull and characterless by comparison.
It's also a sensational pairing with Sigma's Contemporary I-series lenses – I had a new silver version of the 35mm F2 DG lens to match the silver BF. Sigma, if you're reading this: producing a pancake lens next, that pairs with the BF's compact body, should be a top priority.
Sigma says the BF stands for 'Beautiful Foolishness', I've read other reviewers liken it to a 'Best Friend'. For me, it’s Brilliantly Flawed and I'm a Big Fan.
Whatever its technical compromises, the Sigma BF is a design masterstroke. It's a beautifully imperfect thing that deserves its place in your hand. Relationship status? Seeing someone.
Sigma BF: price and release date
The Sigma BF body-only costs $1,999 / £1,969 / AU$3,995
It's available for pre-order in silver or black versions
Sigma has also launched silver versions of multiple I-series lenses
Sigma lenses are typically around half the price of proprietary brand equivalents, but what of the brand's cameras? Well, the BF costs $1,999 / £1,969 / AU$3,995 body-only, which on the one hand is pretty steep for a 24MP full-frame camera with no viewfinder.
However, this is no ordinary camera. When you consider the BF's build quality – the chassis is machined from a single ingot of aluminum, and the camera has premium touch-sensitive controls – then suddenly it feels more reasonable.
Pre-orders are open now, and the BF is available in silver or black versions – interest in the silver version has been particularly high. However, reportedly Sigma can only make nine Sigma BF units per day, and so the lead times for orders could dwarf even those for 2024's most sought-after camera, the Fujifilm X100VI.
Price score: 4/5
Sigma BF: specs
Sigma BF: design and handling
Chassis machined from a single ingot of aluminum
Nondescript controls, some of which are touch-sensitive, plus simple menus
Internal SSD memory only, no card slot
No mic or headphone port, just a USB-C port
A camera that's machined from a single ingot of aluminum in a process that takes seven hours, with production limited to nine units per day, should be special. The BF is just that.
It's true that the Sigma BF's minimalist design won't be for everyone. It's distinctly Apple-like in terms of its design, at a time when retro cameras like the Fujifilm X100VI are trending. Personally, I've found the BF to be one of the most fascinating cameras in recent memory.
Its premium quality is obvious, right down to the smallest details – even the the metal body cap, which I dedicated an entire article to. The camera is weather-proof and feels rock-solid – I'd fear more for any surface it came into contact with, even though of course I wouldn't want to thrash such a lovely camera around.
With its clean lines and stripped-back control layout come various design concessions, particularly if you've been spoilt by other mirrorless cameras that place plentiful controls at your fingertips.
There's no grip to speak of, just a textured front half; a design choice that feels more aesthetic than anything else, and which complements the matte finish beautifully.
As such, the BF is best used with small lenses, especially Sigma's I-series of Contemporary primes. Sigma was on the ball in launching silver versions of some I-series lenses to match the new silver BF – I had the new silver 35mm F2 DG for this review.
These I-series lenses are pretty small, none more so than the 45mm F2.8. That said, there's no true pancake lens for Sigma's L-mount, and I'd like to see one to full complement the BF's ergonomics.
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The BF employs a back illuminated 24.6MP full-frame sensor (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Its textured front half provides a little grip, but is more for the looks (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Half textured, half matt finish – the striking BF from the front (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Notches on the body cap complement the camera's front (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Even the camera's body cap is beautiful (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
Each button and control is beautifully dampened, and – get this – two of the buttons are touch-sensitive: the menu button and the playback button. If you half-press the playback button, your latest image pops up on screen until you let go. Fully press the button in and you enter playback mode. Quality.
Markings on the buttons are suitably nondescript, so it'll take you a while to workout what each one does. Also, once you're in a menu, it's not all that obvious how to make exposure changes – a prize goes to whoever works out how to select or deselect the auto option in exposure settings the fastest.
Finding commonly used settings is no problem, though. There are three simple menus to navigate: the main one with your most-used settings, and two sub-menus. This simple setup feels very Hasselblad X2D 100C.
In that top menu, you can scroll through the options using the control wheel, with the latest setting being displayed on a charming, tiny LCD. Via this, quick changes to settings like color profiles are possible.
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In bright sunlight, at various angles, there can be blinding glare from the silver version of the Sigma BF. (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Clean lines, just a single USB-C slot (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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A large 3.2-inch touchscreen dominates the camera's rear (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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There's a loop just on one side of the BF, suitable to attach a wrist strap (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Minimalism at its best – the top of the camera features a large shutter button only (and built-in stereo mics). (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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The premium matt finish feels lovely (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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There's that shutter button, and below it a thumb grip (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Watch out when in the sun - the silver version reflects sunlight, with particularly strong glare (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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There's a recess in the BF's corner where the camera rests in your palm. (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Each control is beautifully dampened, while some are touch senstive. (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
Arguably Sigma's most controversial design choice was to limit storage to an internal SSD only. That's fine, so long as the SSD is reliable – and we've no reason to believe it won't be – but if there's an issue with it the camera becomes useless without a costly repair (assuming that is indeed possible).
I love cameras that include built-in memory as a fail-safe, but that's when it'sin addition to removable media such as an SD card. Internal memory only will be a dealbreaker for some people.
To upload photos from the BF you'll need to connect it via the USB-C port, which is also used to charge the camera. I found the upload process super straightforward, and speedy to a MacBook Pro.
The exterior is suitably stripped-back too, meaning there's no mic input, headphone jack, HDMI or even loops on both sides for a shoulder strap, just on one side for a wrist strap.
I don't mind all of the above. What I did miss the most is having a viewfinder or a tilt / vari-angle screen. In bright sunlight I naturally found myself bringing the camera up to my eye as if a viewfinder was there to compose the shot, while at awkward low angles I wished for a tilt screen.
Both or either of those display features would make the BF more practical, but I understand why they're absent – how could Sigma otherwise make such a beautifully minimalist camera?
Design score: 4.5/5
Sigma BF: features and performance
8fps with continuous AF, recorded onto rapid internal SSD
Below-average 260-shot battery life
No IBIS, just electronic stabilization for video
If you want an all-singing all-dancing mirrorless camera, the Sigma BF is not for you. Sure, its startup time is rapid, but it lacks many of the powerful features that we've come to take for granted in cameras at this price point and above.
Take the 24.6MP sensor – it's not stabilized. That's not a dealbreaker for what will surely be an everyday camera for photographers, and used with fast-aperture prime lenses, but I'd love to see it – after all, in-body image stabilization is part of an internal component, and so including it wouldn't impact the BF's minimalist design.
For video, there's the option for electronic stabilization, which imposes a 1.25x crop to the image area, meaning it's not available for the 6K option.
The burst shooting with continuous AF drive mode maxes out at 8fps, so it's not the quickest. However, sequences can run for longer than you'll likely ever need: up to 350 raw images or 1,000 JPEGs. Buffering time for those sequences, before the camera is ready once more to perform fully, is shorter than on most rivals too.
As mentioned, there's no card slot, and images are saved to an internal 230GB SSD. You can upload photos via the multi-purpose USB-C 3.2 port, which is rated up to 10Gbps and can also be used for any one of the following functions at a time: external video output, charging and power delivery, cable release, external mic, and headphone output.
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The 24.6MP full-frame back illuminated sensor; there's no stabilization (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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The BF's multi-purpose USB-C port, with functions including image upload, charging and for external accessories (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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The BF's underside, including a lock for the pop-out battery (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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You'll need to crank the screen's brightness to its maximum when shooting in bright light (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Built-in stereo mics (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
Sigma has created a new BP-81 battery for the BF – it's a tiny 3,300mAh unit that's rated for a meagre 260 shots, although I don't mind the lower-than-average shot life when you consider how compact the BF is.
Autofocus is a hybrid phase-detection and contrast-detection system, with subject tracking for humans and animals. It's proven pretty reliable overall during my testing, especially for close-up portraits, but I've certainly used more sophisticated systems from the likes of Sony, Canon and Nikon.
Part of the issue with autofocus is relying on a fixed touchscreen that's not always the easiest to see, depending on the shooting conditions. You hope focus is spot on, but it isn't always.
Another element that limits autofocus performance is that the focus options you have to choose from are relatively basic – this is a minimalist camera in just about every way. I'd also say, based on my experience of both cameras, that the Nikon Z6 III is much better at picking up subjects that only take up a small portion of the frame.
As for video, the BF features built-in stereo mics, but no dedicated mic input, just mic connection via the multi-purpose USB-C; and the stereo mics are particularly susceptible to wind distortion. In short, many of the features that video users rely on are absent – the BF is more a photographer's camera that happens to shoot lovely-quality 6K video.
Features and performance score: 3.5/5
Sigma BF: image and video quality
24.6MP photos in detail-rich 14-bit raw universal DNG format
6K video from the full width of the sensor, no EIS available at this resolution
13 color profiles for photos, L-log for video
Despite its rather conventional-sounding 24MP full-frame sensor, the Sigma BF is capable of producing highly-detailed images with gorgeous color.
Special mention must go to the superb 35mm F2 DG lens I was testing the camera with – detail is pin-sharp from center to edges, with a lovely focus fall-off when you're shooting at the maximum f/2 aperture.
There are plenty of other superb L-mount lenses to pair with the BF, and Sigma lenses are reasonably priced too. That said, I do think that Sigma needs to prioritize producing a pancake lens that truly complements the BF's compact body, especially while sales for the camera are likely to be strong. A tiny 35mm f/2.8 should be doable.
The photos in the gallery directly below are a selection of the kind of everyday images that the Sigma BF is so adept at capturing.
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As with Leica, I always appreciate that a Sigma camera's raw files are the universal DNG format, meaning that just about any editor happily accepts the files; and they're detail-rich 14-bit files, no less.
Shoot in raw and JPEG simultaneously, and the standard color settings and full image area is kept for raw files, but your active color mode is applied to JPEGs. There are 13 modes to choose from for photos, and there are a few crackers amongst them.
The Calm color profile is Sigma's version of natural / muted, while Rich is a vibrant profile. I'm a fan of the BF's natural '709 Look' for photos, even though it's based on the Rec.709 profile traditionally used for video, plus the punchy and trendy Teal and Orange. It's easy to scroll through these options quickly to make your selection.
Here's the entire list of color modes: Standard, Rich, Calm, Powder Blue, Warm Gold, Teal and Orange, FOV Classic Blue, FOV Classic Yellow, Forest Green, Sunset Red, Cinema, 709 Look and Monochrome.
Street photography is a forte of the Sigma BF, as you can see from the collection of images below.
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Would I prefer the BF had a 61MP sensor, like the one in Sigma's own fp L? Sure. And a stabilized sensor too. Those extra pixels would give greater scope for cropping into images taken with a lens like the 35mm F2 I had for this test, for the times you can't get close enough, while in-body image stabilization makes handheld shooting easier in various conditions.
All the photos you can see below were taken with the BF's autofocus with subject tracking active, and the close-up portraits are reliably pin-sharp on the eyes. My hit ratio in low light was less reliable, but impressive nonetheless.
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Video specs are decent, with 6K 30fps video in Sigma's L-log profile looking particularly lovely after grading, though you'll miss out on electronic stabilization in 6K, which rules out handheld footage on the move – the sample video below includes shaky unstabilized clips as I walk through London, plus a selection of the color profiles so you can appreciate the different styles.
However, it's the distinct lack of supporting features for video that plants the BF firmly in the photography camp, rather than it being a hybrid model.
Image and video quality score: 4.5/5
Sigma BF: testing scorecard
Should I buy the Sigma BF?
Buy it if...
You love minimalist tech I thought the Hasselblad X2D 100C was peak minimalism, but the Sigma BF is another level – there isn't even a memory card slot!
You want a camera that stands out from the crowd The camera market is flooded with conventional DSLR-style mirrorless cameras; the Sigma BF couldn't be more different.
You want a small everyday camera Considering its full-frame sensor, the BF is compact, and pairs nicely with Sigma's dinky Contemporary I-series lenses.
Don't buy it if...
You value function over form Design is the BF's selling point... if you want something different. However, other cameras at this price point will offer more control and more features.
You shoot video a lot The BF can record lovely-looking 6K video with Sigma's L-log color profile, but it lacks most supporting features needed for video, such as in-body image stabilization, and mic in and headphone out ports.
You need removable storage The BF doesn't have a memory card slot, just an internal SSD, so if something goes wrong with the internal memory it's game over. We wouldn't expect any issues, but it's something to worry about.
Sigma BF: also consider
Sigma fp
The BF follows two other Sigma full-frame cameras with similarly compact form; the fp (24MP) and the fp L (61MP). The fp L is more readily available and has the pricier, higher-resolution sensor yet costs the same as the BF, while the fp costs around 20% less, but is harder to find new. The BF wins for design, while the fp models arguably have better features and more conventional controls, even if the BF has improved in certain areas, such as autofocus performance. All three cameras use the same L-mount.
Full-frame 24MP cameras at the BF's price point are plentiful. Most have a conventional design, such as the Canon EOS R6 Mark II and Nikon Z6 III. However, there are other cameras that pack a similar punch but whose design and user experience are key, such as the Nikon Zf. Unlike the modern, minimalist Sigma BF, the Nikon Zf is a retro model with exposure dials and faux leather finish.
Sigma loaned me the silver version of the BF for one week
I tested it with the Sigma 35mm F2 DG Contemporary lens
I mostly used it for everyday and street photography, taking between 500-1,000 photos and videos, and I also tested its video features
I tried to use the Sigma BF as much as possible during a oneweek loan period, taking it with me everywhere, including on city commutes and walks. As you can see from the photos, I had the silver BF, which was the version I was hoping for, together with a new silver version Sigma 35mm F2 DG Contemporary lens.
I've used the BF in bright sunlight and on cloudy days, as well as at night. I've made photos using the various color profiles and autofocus modes, as well as videos at the various resolutions.
Dreame H15 Pro Wet and Dry vacuum review: two-minute review
Officially unveiled at CES 2025, the Dreame H15 Pro Wet and Dry vacuum boldly promises “a completely clean, untangled and spotless home with zero effort". While the claim might seem audacious, on test I found it almost completely held true. This is one of the very best wet and dry vacuums on the market.
The Dreame H15 Pro boasts several notable upgrades over its predecessor, the H14 Pro. Suction power has increased to 21,000 Pa (up from 18,000 Pa), the battery life is 20 minutes longer (an impressive 60mins) and the roller drying heat has been dialed up from 60C to 90C, which is great for swerving mold and nasty odors.
While it no longer includes the H14 Pro's LED-illuminated brush head or automatic detergent dispenser, these omissions are hardly deal-breakers. Not least because the H15 Pro has one unique feature that no other cordless wet and dry vaccum is currently offering – a retractable squeegee. This is a squeegee style strip at the front of the roller mop that automatically drops down to sweep excess water and debris back towards the roller mop and into the machine. It then automatically retracts to prevent streaks. The aim is to get closer to the walls, and it works extremely well.
Although heavy to lift, the auto-traction (powered) wheels mean its pretty easy to push around in use, and it also boasts excellent limbo-skills – it can slink under the lowest furniture, thanks to a lie-flat design.
There are four power modes, including a low-effort automated mode, and one you can customize via the Dreamehome app, and a vacuum-only mode. On test, was outstanding for cleaning spillages on hard floors, and great for deep-cleaning carpet with water too. Like almost all wet-dry vacuums, it's not effective on uneven flooring, and approach with extreme caution on delicate floors too – in Turbo mode it marked my engineered timber flooring with its over-zealous cleaning (sob).
Price-wise, it's one of the more expensive wet-and-dry vacuums on the market, but if you have a lot of (tough) hard floors and are looking for a low-effort, ultra-effective cleaner, it's worth the investment. Read on for my full Dreame H15 Pro Wet and Dry vacuum review.
Dreame H15 Pro Wet and Dry vacuum review: price & availability
List price: £599
Launch date: January 2025
Availability: UK
The Dreame H15 Pro officially launched in January 2025, and at time of writing it's currently only available in the UK. I've asked about US launch plans and will update this review when I hear back.
With a list price of £599 (equivalent to around $775 / AU$1,230), the H15 Pro is one of the priciest wet and dry vacuums on the market. It's available to buy direct from Dreame, and at various third party retailers like Amazon and Very.
Its price reflects the advanced technology on offer – think AI-driven robotic arm, retractable squeegee and hot water bath brush washing. You might also be able to avoid paying full price – I've already spotted a £100 off discount on the Dreame UK website. With its recent market debut, it's likely that additional deals and promotions will emerge over time, potentially making for a more palatable price-tag moving forwards.
In terms of the wider market, one of the biggest competitors is Tineco, whose priciest wet-dry vacuum is $699.99 / £599 (head to our Tineco Floor One S7 Pro review to find out more about that one). Alternatively there's the well-established Shark HydroVac, which is our favorite budget option with a list price of $199 / £199.
Ultimately, if you’re after the latest cleaning technology and are willing to invest in a high-performance device, the H15 Pro is well worth a gander. For those on a tighter budget, however, it might be wise to wait for further discounts or consider less tech-packed alternatives.
Value for money score: 4 out of 5
Dreame H15 Pro Wet and Dry specs
Dreame H15 Pro Wet and Dry vacuum review: design
180-degree lie-flat design and self-cleaning base
Range of cleaning modes, including automated and vacuum-only
Large, intuitive display panel, and optional audio commentary
The Dreame H15 Pro arrived in a large cardboard box – quite heavy but manageable for one able adult – and, once removed, was easy to put together. I just had to slot the handle into the main unit and plug the floor/cleaning base into the wall. Besides the main unit and charging base, it arrived with a bottle of detergent, a replacement filter, spare roller and cleaning brush.
The overall design isn't quite as slick-looking as I expected (Image credit: Future)
My initial impression of the design was a little underwhelming. The black and grey color scheme, accented with chrome trim, isn’t ugly, but it doesn’t quite convey the high-tech aesthetic I expected from a product boasting cutting-edge innovation. The floorhead feels large and boxy, while the main unit lacks the refined, streamlined look of competitors like Dyson.
The LED display is bright and intuitive (Image credit: Future)
Things improved once I’d charged the battery to full juice and turned it on. The bright, LED display panel is generous and intuitive, making it easy to keep an eye on battery life, cleaning modes and error codes (such as empty water and blocked tube). During self-cleaning cycles, the display counts down progress.
There’s also a running audio commentary of every move you make, including turning on, drying, set cleaning mode etc, with a rather irritating robotic accent. You can’t change it, but I did turn the volume down in the app, and you can turn it off altogether if preferred.
Speaking of which, connecting to said app (Dreamehome) was relatively painless, I just needed to make sure I used our 2.4 GHz connection. The App platform is well designed and set out, though not terribly exciting in terms of functions – but this is not a robot so I guess there’s only so much you can set it up to do. (But if you really want zero effort and a multitude of control options, check out the best robot vacuums with mopping capabilities – Narwal’s Freo Z Ultra is my current favorite.)
I did tweak a few settings, such as personalizing a custom mode (with the most water and power of course) and changed the drying process to high speed, which takes it from 30mins to 5mins, because I’m impatient like that! But if you can’t be bothered with another app in your life, I don’t think you’d be missing too much by not connecting it.
The vacuum can lie flat to the floor to shimmy under furniture (Image credit: Future)
The main design highlight in terms of user ease is the 180-degree, lie-flat design, which as the name suggests, means the whole thing can limbo right down to the ground to scoot under any furniture or gap measuring a minimum of 5.5in (14cm). This was handy for getting under my kitchen sofa and wall-hung toilets, but the floorhead was too bulky to slink under my kitchen island unit.
It's a bit of a leaning tower when docked (Image credit: Future)
The charging base is quite large and not in any way beautiful – I’d need it to live in the utility room or other out of the way spot if it was a permanent resident in my home. I also didn’t like how the vacuum pitches forward when docked, like a drunkard, rather than sitting up straight.
Looks aside, the charging base does way more than just top up the battery – it’s a full-on cleaning station. When docked, it acts like a bath for the roller mop, using 240ml of 100C water to clean away dirt and bacteria, before drying with hot air. The idea is you’ll never have a smelly old water situation and the next time you reach for the cleaner, it’ll be ready with a clean mop, and it works really well.
The charging base also works as a water bath to clean the roller mop (Image credit: Future)
Overall, the design is average, and the build quality could be better, but the functionality is superior, so I guess it depends on your priorities in life. Personally, I like everything in my home to look beautiful – shallow, I know – but the fact that the Dreame H15 Pro is exceptionally good (more on that next) and not offensive to look at, means I’d happily make an exception here.
Design score: 3.5 out of 5
Dreame H15 Pro Wet and Dry vacuum review: performance
Excellent cleaning (including edges) on almost all hard floor types
Struggles with uneven floors, and so-so suction on carpet
Beware: Turbo mode can damage delicate floors
I do have a robot mop that I love for day-to-day use but if I want my floors really clean, I’ve always found it hard to beat a good old-fashioned mop and bucket. While I am still not ready to ditch that completely, I’ll admit that on performance, the Dreame H15 Pro exceeded my expectations.
Right from the start, I was impressed by its decent suction power, and once I’d tweaked the water output to max on the app, the mopping performance matched it. With multiple cleaning programs at my fingertips (a button in the handle), I could easily switch between a deep clean Turbo mode for tougher stains to Smart mode for general use.
This latter mode automatically adjusts cleaning according to the surface/dirt levels and seemed to work well. Movement is self-propelled backwards and forwards, which makes light work of pushing it around the floors, and the head pivots smoothly, too.
There are no edge gaps! (Image credit: Future)
Edge cleaning is often a challenge for vacuum/mop devices, but the Dreame H15 Pro truly excels in this area thanks to its innovative squeegee feature and adaptive cleaning technology. I particularly enjoyed watching the squeegee in action – it automatically lowered as you pull back, and rose moving forwards, dragging dirt away from the edges and corners as it went. During my testing, I placed flour right up to the skirting board, and the H15 Pro managed to pick up every last bit with impressive precision.
Roller mark damage on wood flooring (Image credit: Future)
One of the first things I discovered, to my absolute horror, was that the Turbo mode marked my engineered timber flooring (sob), creating random ridges where the mop roller was presumably spinning too fast in one spot. Once I’d realized, or rather my husband pointed them out (he was not impressed), I went into the App and changed the custom mode to the gentlest power (soft) and the lower of the two water settings, and made sure I kept it moving at all times while the roller was rolling.
This did prevent any additional damage but made me quite nervous to use it on our wood flooring, especially since it was one of the main expenses of our renovation. If you have any kind of real timber flooring, I’d recommend you avoid the Turbo mode like the plague.
On terracotta, it's a fail (Image credit: Future)
Beside the wood flooring, I also have vinyl laminate floors, porcelain tiles, reclaimed terracotta tiles and carpets through my home. I’d say the best results were on the vinyl and porcelain – truly excellent and easily as good, if not better, than using a manual mop. (The wood floor cleaning results were also good to be fair, but the fact they got badly marked wasn’t ideal – here's more on how to clean wooden floors.)
Our terracotta floors have such deep grout lines and so much rugged texture, the Dreame H15 Pro only really licked the surface, even in Turbo mode, so I still had to reach for my faithful mop and bucket. That's not surprising – figuring out how to deal with not-flat floors is a challenge that wet-dry vacuum makers have yet to overcome.
This particular floor cleaner can also be used on carpet. I gave the beige colored 100% wool carpet in my living room a quick mop in Turbo mode and was astonished by the dirt that came out – very satisfying. The stains stayed put sadly, and probably need specialist cleaning.
It can also used in Suction Only mode for carpets, but I'd say it was only so-so in this setting. I’d occasionally use it on the living room carpet if I was already busy mopping everywhere else, but if I really needed to get deep into the pile and dig out all the dog hairs, I had to bring out my normal cordless vacuum.
Mine is a Miele and super sucky, but TechRadar's best cordless vacuum guide has more recommendations if you need them. There’s also the issue of no detail tools for upholstery, cobwebs, skirting boards and so on. In short, I don’t think you could use this as your only vacuum cleaner.
Cleaning tests
During my standard vacuuming tests – using flour to simulate fine debris and oats for larger particles – the performance truly surpassed my expectations. For the flour test on engineered wood flooring, I used Smart mode so the machine could choose the setting that would offer the best results. And it clearly knows its onions because it only took one pass to completely clear away the flour, including those hard-to-reach grooves between the planks. The efficiency was nothing short of impressive.
(Image credit: Future)
Next came the oats test, again on engineered wood, and this time the Smart mode wasn’t quite cutting it – the oats were being pushed around rather than suctioned up – so I switched to Turbo mode, and they were eradicated in just a few more passes.
In Auto mode, the H15 cleared all this flour in a single pass – impressive (Image credit: Future)
Next, I spilled the beans, literally, on the porcelain tiles in our cloakroom (I wasn’t risking staining our wood flooring I’m afraid; divorce is too expensive these days!). In Smart mode, the Dreame H15 Pro gobbled them up in two sweeps: mind = blown.
I also tried a puddle of blackcurrant squash on the porcelain and the same results, gone in two passes. Over the weeks of reviewing, I reached for the Dreame H15 Pro whenever there was a liquid spill (usually around the dishwasher and dog bowls), and it never once failed me.
Maintenance
Filling and emptying the unit was hassle-free thanks to a smart design that separates the wet and dry compartments. The latter did get pretty grim because the contents were all mushy and wet but that’s where the brush accessories comes in handy.
You do have to put the detergent in the water reservoir each time, but the bottle comes with a handy dosing cap and it really wasn’t difficult. I found I could mop my entire ground floor (five rooms plus hallway) before needing to refill the reservoir, usually before it could clean the mop roller. The App and audio alert tells you when to refill and empty the waste-water unit. Both clip in and out easily.
Cleaning the waste tanks is a little gross, but straightforward (Image credit: Future)
After each mopping session, the self-cleaning base kicked in. It was rather noisy – my decibel meter App recorded cleaning at 74 dBA, which is pretty intrusive given that I’d located the base in my open-plan kitchen/living space. To cut down on disruption, I mostly used the rapid 5 minute program. I also turned off automatic cleaning, preferring to do it myself as and when I felt it was required, because it seemed a bit excessive to go through a clean cycle if I’d just mopped up one small spill.
Another bonus of this model is the hair-evading mop roller, which has some kind of hidden cutting tool that ensures hair doesn’t tangle around it. I can confirm it works perfectly.
Performance score: 4.5 out of 5
Dreame H15 Pro Wet and Dry review: battery life
I found the battery life on the Dreame H15 Pro to be more than adequate for our four-bedroom home – admittedly I didn’t use it as much on the carpeted bedrooms or living room but I could cover the rest of the house, including the two upstairs bathrooms and play room, without running out of power if I stuck to Smart mode. The battery lasts an impressive 60 mins and the LED panel kept me updated on the current charge, so I could tell if I’d need to recharge but I never did. I did notice the power draining more quickly in Turbo mode, but that’s to be expected.
Battery score: 5 out of 5
Should you buy the Dreame H15 Pro Wet and Dry vacuum?
Buy it if…
You have plenty of vinyl, stone or porcelain tiles
On scratch-resistant hard flooring this machine is an absolutely beast – taking no prisoners when it comes to stains, spills and general dirt.
You have lots of leggy furniture
Getting down and dirty under furniture is a specialty of this machine – those dust bunnies will be history.
You want a low-effort option
With its effective auto mode, anti-hair wrap features and automatic mop cleaning, this is an impressively effort-free solution.
Don't buy it if…
It will be the only vacuum you own
While it can be used to vacuum carpets, it's not as impressive in its vacuum-only mode, and the lack of detail tools means it's limited in what it can clean. It's fine for the occasional dust-bust, but it won't replace a dedicated vacuum.
You have lots of stairs
I am reasonably strong, but the unit is bottom-heavy, especially when the water tank is full. I think my elderly mother-in-law would struggle to lift it in and out of the charging base or up any steps/stairs.
You like a quiet life
The sound levels aren’t great – around 70dBA in Turbo Mode and higher when self-cleaning/drying the mop roller. I found the 30 min self-cleaning program especially annoying on the noise front too (I'm pleased there's a 5 minute option).
How I tested the Dreame H15 Pro Wet and Dry cordless
I put the Dreame H15 Pro Wet and Dry vacuum through its paces for four weeks this spring in our Victorian, four-bed detached family home, which hosts two messy children and two even messier and especially hairy spaniels. With an open-plan downstairs and a mix of flooring – porcelain, terracotta, luxury vinyl, engineered oak, wool carpets, and plenty of flat-weave rugs – I had the perfect testing ground. I used it as my main vacuum (except on the staircase – too heavy!) and tried every cleaning mode. I even ran some messy tests with flour, oats, and baked beans, measured noise levels with my iPhone, studied edge-closeness and tracked battery life and charging times.
