The new Sennheiser HD 505is a refresh of one of the cornerstones of its model ranges: entry-level, open-backed, hard-wired over-ear headphones. This new design uses a variation on a proven transducer, and makes pragmatic choices where materials are concerned to produce a headphone that’s light, comfortable and built to last.
The Sennheiser HD 505 are fine-sounding headphones in many ways, too. The open-backed element of the design of these headphones allows them to sound open and expansive, and they’re organized and authoritative too.
Their tonal balance is just somehow correct, their frequency response is judicious and they have the sort of dynamic headroom that allows the changes in volume or intensity in your favorite recordings to be completely apparent.
They’re far from the last word in bass heft or punch, though – so despite the amount of low-frequency detail they reveal and the naturalistic way they have with rhythms and tempos, there’s no doubt some listeners will want more, bass-wise, than the HD 505 are prepared to give.
Those listeners are invited to check out other options among the best wired headphones – and notably the company’s own HD 600, which have been around long enough to be available at regular discounts that bring them very close to the price of the HD 505.
The rest of us, though, can just go ahead and marvel at how open, revealing and, yes, entertaining the HD 505 sound.
(Image credit: Future)
Sennheiser HD 505 review: Price and release date
Release date: February 10th 2025
Price: $249 / £229 / AU$449
Obviously the HD 505 have had no time to become any more affordable, so they find themselves competing with the likes of Beyerdynamic (with its DT 900 Pro X) and Grado (with its SR325x). They also, rather unfortunately, find themselves competing with their HD 600 siblings, which have had plenty of time to come down from their £399 launch price to something much closer to HD 505 money…
Sennheiser HD 505 review: Specs
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Sennheiser HD 505 review: Features
38mm dynamic drivers
1.8m cable with 3.5mm/6.3mm termination
120Ω nominal impedance
Given that this is a fairly affordable pair of wired over-ear headphones, you shouldn’t really expect a whole host of features – and, sure enough, the HD 505 focus on the essentials. That doesn’t mean that those features aren’t entirely fit for purpose, though.
Sennheiser has drawn on the relatively long-serving 500-series transducer in an effort to maintain sonic transparency, but added a little low-end heft and substance. And the result, so it says, is that the 38mm dynamic driver design is now good for a frequency response of 12Hz - 39kHz – which in layman’s terms is ‘extremely deep’ to ‘very high indeed’.
A nominal impedance of 120Ω isn’t the most promising number you ever heard, but nevertheless the HD 505 won’t be difficult for all but the most weedy smartphone or laptop to drive.
And really, there’s only the cable left to discuss where ‘features’ are concerned. The left earcup is hard-wired with a 2.5mm jack that connects via a ‘twist and lock’ method that ensure it won't be yanked out.
At the other end of the 1.8m cable there’s a 3.5mm termination with a screw-on 6.3mm adapter supplied. It would have been nice to see a balanced cable as an option too, but I guess you can’t have everything…
Features score: 4.5 / 5
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Sennheiser HD 505 review: Sound quality
Detailed, dynamic and direct sound
Spacious, organized presentation
Will not satisfy bass-fanciers
The pluses, it’s fair to say, comfortably outweigh the minuses where the sound of the HD 505 is concerned. So while the deficiencies are not insignificant, it seems only polite with all the many things these Sennheiser cans get right.
Thanks in no small part to their open-backed configuration, the HD 505 are an expansive, wide-open listen – and they can control a soundstage just as confidently as they lay it out in the first place. Even in a recording with lots going on (Fela Kuti’s Colonial Mentality, for instance), the soundstage is properly defined and easy to follow.
Every element of the recording has a pocket of space to itself in which it can spread out and express itself, and the spaces in between are given the weighting and emphasis they deserve too.
They’re a fairly dynamic listen, too, able to put a lot of distance between the most contemplative and the most intense passages of a recording without sounding in any way stressed. They’re just as skilful when it comes to handling the dynamic aspects of harmonic variation, too – the moments of unaccompanied bass guitar during the Fela Kuti tune have their fluctuations described in eloquent fashion.
Tonality is pleasantly neutral, which allows the sound of a recording to take precedence over the sound of the headphones. Detail levels are high at every point of the frequency range – the top end is bright but substantial, and enjoys just as much variation as the swift, properly controlled bottom end.
In between, voices are given the space and the positivity to reveal the minutiae of their character and technique – a listen to Doechii’s Alligator Bites Never Heal lets you know the HD 505 are very adept indeed when it comes to allowing vocalists to properly express themselves.
The frequency range is handled with confidence, too – nothing is underrepresented, nothing is overstated, and the sweep from bottom to top and back again is smooth. But it’s at the bottom of the frequency range that the Sennheiser reveal themselves to be slightly less than the finished article.
The control of bass sounds is straight-edged and direct, so the headphones have no problem describing rhythms in a natural and unforced manner. Detail levels here, and tonal variation, are just as satisfying as they are elsewhere in the frequency range.
But there’s a definite lack of substance and weight to the bottom end, a bony and flimsy quality that is going to disappoint listeners who are used to (and probably expect) something approaching ‘punch’ from their new headphones. Certainly the Doechii album is done no favours whatsoever by this flyweight attitude.
Sound quality score: 4 / 5
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Sennheiser HD 505 review: Design
Covered memory foam at the contact points
Steel mesh earcup coverings
Concealed headband adjustment mechanism
There’s nothing especially luxurious about the Sennheiser HD 505 – they’re mostly made of plastic – but they’re built and finished to the sort of high standard the brand established ages ago.
Without the cable, they weigh just 237g, and allied to some nicely judged clamping force they prove a comfortable proposition even for longer listens. The amount of memory foam that makes up the inside of the headband (where it’s covered in synthetic leather) and the earpads (which are covered with synthetic velour) doesn’t do any harm in this respect, either.
The headband adjustment mechanism is concealed inside the headband itself, and operates with a sort of clicky positivity. The rear of the earcups is covered with a quantity of metal mesh, and carries some understated branding – but as design flourishes go, that’s going to have to do.
The details in the majority of the world are in a nice copper color – in China, there's a model with gold-colored details that certainly provides more bling.
Design score: 4.5 / 5
(Image credit: Future)
Sennheiser HD 505 review: Value
Informative, entertaining but slightly lightweight sound
Properly built and finished, although far from tactile
Light and comfortable
In truth, the HD 505 aren’t much to look at, and they’re not exactly tactile either. This doesn’t mean that they’re not properly built, you understand, or that they won’t last for the long haul – and there’s always the cachet of that brand name to add to your the pride of ownership.
Add in the trim weight of the headphones and, even more so, the deftly accomplished sound they make, and there’s unarguable value for your money on offer here.
However, as I mentioned further up, you can get the Sennheiser HD 600, which are the 'step-up' versions of these headphones, for very close to the same price as these in the real world. So it's hard to say the HD 505 are the bargain of the century when the HD 600 might actually qualify for that moniker.
Value score: 4 / 5
(Image credit: Future)
Should I buy the Sennheiser HD 505?
Buy them if…
You admire an open, rapid and informative sound If this sort of money buys a more spacious sound, allied to such impressive detail levels and outright drive in a pair of headphones, I’ve yet to hear them.View Deal
You want a comfortable listen A light (but appropriate) amount of clamping force, a relatively light weight, and well-padded headband and earcups all mean that the HD 505 are good for longer listening sessions.View Deal
Don't buy them if…
You like a bit of bass To be fair, the HD 505 create varied, textured bass and properly control it in every circumstance. What they don’t do is punch with any sort of conviction.View Deal
You’re blessed with larger-than-average ears A circumaural ear coupling is all well and good, but the HD 505 is on the tight side if you’ve even biggish ears…View Deal
You're in a shared space Just because the HD 505 aren’t the leakiest open-backed headphone around, that doesn’t mean they should be worn in the office.View Deal
Sennheiser HD 505 review: Also consider
Sennheiser HD 600 You should keep an eye out for one of those occasions when the Sennheiser HD 600 dip down very close to HD 505 money – because it happens more often than you might think. They're excellent headphones for that price.View Deal
Grado SR325X The Grado SR325X are a bit of an acquired taste where looks are concerned, but there’s no denying they’ve got it where it counts – and in a pretty big way. They're the same price as the Sennheiser HD 505, but have more of an on-ear fit, so if that's your preference, they're a great choice.View Deal
Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X Notably cheaper than the HD 505 – if a rather more judicious, pseudo-studio emphasis sounds like your sort of thing, the Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X will work very nicely.View Deal
How I tested Sennheiser HD 505
Connected to a FiiO M15S, to an Apple MacBook Pro and to a Naim Uniti Star
With a lot of different types of music, from a number of different formats
Alone, of course, because to do otherwise would be rude
‘Quiet time’ is necessary to listen to the Sennheiser HD 505, if for no other reason than they let a distracting amount of sound leak out of the back of their earcups, as all open-back cans do.
So I sat at my desk with them attached to my laptop and to my digital audio player (via its unbalanced output, tragically) and sat rather more comfortably with the headphones attached to a network streamer that also preamplified a turntable and a CD player.
So lots of different formats were available, as were lots of different types of music – and a week of this (on and off) was long enough to learn all there is to know about these headphones.
Every lens comes with some kind of compromise, but Sony’s done well to disguise it on the FE 16mm F1.8 G. Yes, it lacks the versatility of a wide-angle zoom like the FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II. But if you’re in the market for a super wide-angle prime with plenty of creative potential, it’s a real box-ticker.
You’ve got the 16mm focal length favored by architecture and landscape fans, plus a fast f/1.8 aperture to satisfy night-sky enthusiasts. You’ve got speedy autofocus and a good set of manual controls. Then you’ve got the dimensions: Sony has cleverly packaged the FE 16mm F1.8 G to make it a lens that’s easy to travel with. All at a price that’s firmly in the reasonable bracket.
Sony might be marketing its 16mm prime at your traditional wide-angle users, but that list makes it a compelling proposition for anyone keen to experiment with a wider field of view. So where’s the catch?
In the minor category, there are a couple of marks against the FE 16mm F1.8 G. To achieve its low weight and matching price, Sony has used a fair amount of plastic in the build. And while it’s a moisture-resistant lens, it doesn’t have full weather seals. But this isn’t a G Master lens. For the money, neither one of those factors should be a dealbreaker.
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What could be is the barrel distortion. While prime optics mean the FE 16mm F1.8 G can shoot sharp in the center at its widest aperture, detail drops off to softness in the corners. This is because of how much correction is taking place at the very edges of the frame. Shoot in RAW and you’ll need to compensate quite heavily, costing you sharpness in the stretched pixels.
While this reliance on lens corrections might not sit well with purists, Sony is not alone in leaving software to address optical imperfections. Nor is it an issue which only affects prime glass. It’s a growing trend among wide-angle lenses as a whole, as we found in our review of the Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8L IS USM. Sony’s own FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II is guilty of it, too.
In reality, if you’re willing to live with some corner softness, the FE 16mm F1.8 G is an excellent super wide-angle prime for the price. Shooting at f/1.8 not only lets you make the most of the available light, but also allows you to play with defocused backgrounds when your subject is close to the lens.
It’s true that videographers and travel photographers will probably be better served by a 16-35mm zoom, even if that means accepting a slower maximum aperture. The Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II has the versatility to cover both wide angles and tighter 35mm street shots with edge-to-edge detail. For those who want get creative at 16mm, though, the FE 16mm F1.8 G isn’t far off the sweet spot.
Sony FE 16mm F1.8 G specs
Sony FE 16mm F1.8 G: Design
Compact and lightweight for a wide-angle prime
Protected against dust and moisture
Tactile focus and aperture control rings
It’s not a pancake prime, but Sony’s done some very clever packaging to keep the FE 16mm F1.8 G compact. By super wide-angle standards, this is about as small as they come with an f/1.8 aperture. It weighs in at a very manageable 10.7oz / 304g and measures just 73.8 x 75 mm (or roughly 3 inches on each axis). That makes it almost 10mm shorter than the Sony FE 20mm F1.8G.
Its lean build is achieved in part by use of plastic in the construction. The result is a barrel that doesn’t feel especially premium, but Sony hasn’t done a cheap job either. There’s no sense that corners have been cut here: the body is creak-free and the controls are nicely tactile. While you don’t get the weather seals of the G Master series, resistance against dust and moisture also adds to the sense of robustness.
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The overall impression is one of functionality. That extends to the controls, most of which are thoughtfully placed within a finger’s reach. This is an easy lens to feel your way around one-handed. A few touches help to elevate the user experience above that of a basic prime, too: you’ve got a switch which gives you the option of clicked or smooth aperture ring rotation, for example, plus a programmable function button.
Some users might like a little more weight to the manual focus ring, but the resistance of the aperture ring feels perfectly judged. Together with switches for focus mode and Iris Lock, the FE 16mm F1.8 G is a lovely lens to use. It paired neatly with a Sony A7C II body in testing for a convenient wide-angle shooting setup.
Sony FE 16mm F1.8 G: Performance
Fixed ultra-wide 16mm focal length
Fast f/1.8 maximum aperture
Rapid autofocus with two linear motors
Frame up with the FE 16mm F1.8 G and you’ll instantly see just how wide a 16mm focal length really is. Whether you’re shooting buildings, interiors or landscapes, this is a lens designed to give you dramatic perspectives. And thanks to its wide maximum aperture, you can shoot those perspectives in a range of scenarios.
At f/1.8, this is pretty fast glass. Fast enough to capture sharp results in low lighting, whether that’s an evening street scene or a starry sky. Sony reckons the FE 16mm F1.8 G is a good option for astrophotography. Paired with a full-frame Sony E-mount camera, the 16mm’s light-gathering abilities certainly mean you can make the most of any available lumens.
The wide aperture also means you can play with a very shallow depth of field. The effect is strongest when shooting close-ups: with the right composition, you can draw a near subject into clear focus against a striking defocused background. This impression is enhanced by the fact that the wide field of view includes more of the backdrop than a standard macro lens.
Bokeh could be smoother and we did encounter some false color in blurred backgrounds. All the same, its close-focusing abilities add an additional string to the bow of Sony’s super wide-angle prime. It’s not a macro lens, but with a minimum focus distance of just 0.15m, the FE 16mm F1.8 G lets you get very close.
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It helps that the autofocus system is rapid in all conditions. Driven by dual linear motors, focusing response is pretty much instant. That’s just as true up close and in low light as it is when shooting big subjects in broad daylight. Paired with a Sony A7C II, the lens demonstrated a commendable hit rate, giving no reason to doubt that it would find its target.
All of that translates to video, too. It’s easy to see why Sony touts the FE 16mm F1.8 G as a lens with vlogging potential. Its ultra-wide focal length and close-focusing abilities are both well-suited to self-shot videography, allowing users to comfortably record themselves at arm’s length. The proportions of the lens itself also make it easy to wield when paired with a vlogging-first camera like the Sony ZV-E1.
Focus breathing is kept to a minimum: shift focus while recording and the field of view stays consistent enough for most eyes. If you have a compatible Sony body, you can use the breathing compensation function to eradicate it entirely by applying a slight crop. Shooting video with a 16:9 aspect ratio also crops out any softness in the corners from the application of distortion correction (see below).
Sony FE 16mm F1.8 G: sample images
Images shot with the Sony FE 16mm F1.8 G are broadly superb. As with most prime lenses, there’s a sweet spot in the aperture range that nets you edge-to-edge sharpness with no vignetting. That’s exactly what you’ll find at f/4.
Wide open at f/1.8, the story is a little bit different. There’s some minor vignetting evident in RAW stills, which can be addressed in post or reduced significantly by stopping down to f/2.8. That’s unless you want the effect to complement the wide-angle look, leading the eye to the center of the frame.
More problematic is barrel distortion. This isn’t a surprise for such a wide-angle prime, but the result is a loss of detail where correction stretches pixels in the corners. Whether this is applied in-camera to JPEG stills or in the edit for RAW files, the result is the same: softness at the far reaches of the frame.
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How much this loss of corner clarity is an issue will often come down to the composition. Naturally, the results of distortion correction are less noticeable when the area is defocused. In any case, you still get excellent center sharpness at f/1.8 and resolution remains decent across the frame up to f/11. Venture beyond that and you’ll find that sharpness drops off significantly, particularly as you approach f/22.
In stills captured facing into the sun, the FE 16mm F1.8 G displays a strong ability to deal with backlighting. There can be some washout at the widest apertures, but contrast is retained at f/4. The lens also keeps flaring under tight control and renders soft but attractive sunstars at narrower apertures.
Should you buy the Sony FE 16mm F1.8 G?
Buy it if...
You want to shoot wide angles in different lights
Thanks to its fast maximum aperture, Sony’s super-wide prime has the light-gathering abilities to shoot sharp in dim conditions. It can handle the bright stuff too, with attractive sunstars and decent flaring control.
You want a wide-angle that’s easy to wield
Courtesy of a polycarbonate construction, the 16mm weighs in at a relatively light 304g. It’s also compact for a super wide-angle prime, making it a tidy choice for shooting both travel stills and video.
You want to experiment with soft backgrounds
Blurred backgrounds aren’t a speciality for wide-angle lenses, but its wide aperture and short minimum focus distance mean the FE 16mm F1.8 G can produce strikingly soft backdrops when shooting close to a subject.
Don't buy it if...
You need total sharpness across the frame
Center sharpness is good on the whole and strong at the center of the frame, but drops off heavily in the corners when shooting at wide apertures, resulting in softness and a loss of detail.
You want perfection out of the camera
Substantial barrel distortion is the trade-off for a compact design. In-camera correction takes care of this for JPEGs, but it needs to be fixed in post for RAW files, along with noticeable vignetting.
You want the versatility of a zoom
Prime optics might be brighter, but a fixed focal length is less versatile. Many users will find the Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II zoom lens a more flexible choice for travel and video.
How I tested the Sony FE 16mm F1.8 G
Tested comprehensively for a week
Paired with a Sony A7C II body
Used in a range of conditions
Sony was only able to loan the FE 16mm F1.8 G to me for a seven-day period, during which time I shot with it extensively. Thankfully the weather was good during my time with it, so I was able to fully assess how it handles different lighting conditions, from bright backlighting to dimmer evening scenes.
As a 16mm would traditionally be considered a lens for shooting landscapes and architecture, I did both of those. But because Sony’s super wide-angle prime also boasts the defocusing potential of a fast maximum aperture, I also made sure to shoot up close with a range of subjects.
I used the lens with a Sony A7C II body. By shooting with it heavily over the course of a week, I was able to get a good understanding of the build quality and usability of the lens, particularly the feel of its focus and aperture rings.
Full spoilers follow for The Wheel of Time season 2. Mild spoilers also follow for season 3's first three episodes.
I have a complicated relationship with The Wheel of Time's(TWoT) TV adaptation. The first season of Amazon's live-action series was terrific – indeed, I said it was everyone's next fantasy show obsession ahead of its April 2021 launch.
The Wheel of Time's second season was less impressive. Yes, it belatedly found its feet as it raced towards its thrilling finale, but it wasn't the epic second chapter I expected it to be. The so-called 'sophomore slump' was most certainly in effect.
So, thank goodness that, based on its three-episode premiere, The Wheel of Time season 3 is a magical return to form for a show whose future rests on its ability to prove that The Rings of Power isn't the only terrific high fantasy program in Amazon's TV arsenal.
Aes Sedai: civil war
Season 3 kicks off with an almighty and brutal scrap in The White Tower's central chamber (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)
One month has passed since Rand al'Thor (Josha Stradowski) was officially declared the Dragon Reborn in Falme. However, despite the defeat of Ishamael and his Seanchan allies, the Shadow looms larger than ever over The Wheel of Time's world.
To prepare for the forthcoming Last Battle, Rand, Moiraine (Rosamund Pike), and company need to divide and conquer once more. Cue our heroes splitting up to not only tackle the threat that the Dark One and his subordinates pose, but also acquire the knowledge, skills, and weapons to defeat them once and for all.
The Aes Sedai battle is an astoundingly cold-blooded and brave entry point to this season
Before those events are set in motion, there's the small matter of a civil war erupting among the Aes Sedai. Trouble has been brewing at the all-female magic wielders' stronghold in Tar Valon since the show began. And, like the merciless Thanedd Coup event in The Witcher season 3 on Netflix, episode 1 of TWoT's third entry is the stage for tensions boiling over.
The extended opening sequence of season 3's first episode is as incendiary as it is brutal (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)
Season 3, then, wastes no time throwing us into the thick of the action. Political infighting (there's still plenty of this once the dust settles on this bout, FYI) between The White Tower's various factions makes way for bloody, One Power-based warfare as those loyal to the Aes Sedai's leader Siuan Sanche (Sophie Okenedo), aka 'Mother', fight literal fire with fire against Liandrin (Kate Fleetwood) and her Black Ajah compatriots – i.e., the Aes Sedai who've now sided with the Dark One.
A microcosm of the wider war that'll eventually envelop TWoT's universe, it's an shockingly cold-blooded and brave reintroduction to one of the best Prime Video shows around. Nonetheless, I welcome any and all courageously creative entry points to new movies and shows or, the latter's case, new seasons, so consider me highly satisfied by this venture.
A dune prophecy
Rand (middle right) and Moiraine (second right) travel to the Aiel Waste in season 3 (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)
But the Prime Video show's primary heroes aren't side-lined for long. As the dust settles on the conflict within The White Tower's walls and before they part ways to cover as much ground as possible, Rand and company actually spent a significant – well, significant by TWoT's standards – amount of time together in episode 1.
It's a pleasing albeit temporary respite from the dangerous adventures they've embarked on and will soon undertake again. Not only that, it also serves as a reminder of the tight bonds – especially between The Two Rivers quintet of Rand, Egwene (Madeleine Madden), Perrin (Marcus Rutherford), Nynaeve (Zoe Robins), and Matt (Donal Finn) – that they forged before the show began and have been seriously tested since.
Season 3 sacrifices the frustratingly slow and meandering start of its forebear in favor of faster-paced storytelling
The lull between last season's finale and the beginning of season 3's questing doesn't disrupt the pacing, though.
Episode 1's explosive opening, plus the plot exposition dumps we thankfully receive through character conversations, which fill in the narrative gaps between seasons, season 3 hits the ground running. Sure, it might feel like we've skipped an episode, but I'm relieved that TWoT's latest chapter sacrifices the frustratingly slow and meandering start of its forebear in favor of faster-paced storytelling with perpetual forward momentum.
Matt, Nynaeve, Min (all pictured), and Elayne travel to Tanchico in the series' third entry (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)
That much is clear in how quickly Rand, Moiraine, Egwene, Lan (Daniel Henney), and Aviendha (Ayoola Smart) journey to and arrive at the Aiel Waste. A vast and mysterious desert region that's steeped in history and home to the Aiel people (they call it the Three-Fold Land, FYI), its introduction in episode 2 is testament to propel the story into darker, narratively absorbing, and enigmatic territory.
Three episodes in, I'd argue this storyline is the most interesting so far in season 3. That might be down to the unmistakable parallels between this particular plot, and Frank Herbert's Dune book series and its live-action movie franchise – the pair of which I adore. After all, TWoT and Dune tell the tale of a prophesized messiah who reluctantly embraces their so-called destiny by traveling to an unknown land and unites its quarrelling factions. Stark comparisons between Rand and Paul Atreides notwithstanding, the Aiel Waste storyline is also full of compelling melodrama and fantastical revelations that'll please new and old fans alike.
The dark arts
Lanfear's return – and the arrival of more Forsaken – means nowhere is safe for our heroes (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)
That doesn't mean season 3 prioritizes one storyline over its brethren. Rand's arc is particularly important – you know, what with him being the Dragon Reborn and all – but, aware of its overreliance and favoring of some plots over others last season, TWoT's latest installment takes a proactive approach to managing the time it spends between its multiple narratives.
Whether it's Perrin's cathartic albeit life-threatening return to The Two Rivers, Nynaeve and Elayne's (Ceara Coveney) appointment as Siuan's 'hounds' to track down the Black Ajah and The One Power-infused relics they stole from The White Tower, or Matt battling his inner demons, season 3 skilfully maneuvers between its various storylines with confidence. That was something its forebear lacked, so I'm glad this season doesn't suffer from the same issue.
Season 3 skilfully maneuvers between its various storylines with confidence
That said, I was vexed by season 3's penchant for dragging out problems that have affected certain characters since season 1's second half. Sure, only a month has elapsed in-universe, so it's understandable that traumatic events that impacted some heroes, such as Egwene's post-traumatic stress disorder from her Seanchan imprisonment and torture, and Matt's ongoing mental health issues, in season 2 would continue to afflict them.
However, plot threads like Nynaeve's ongoing struggles to channel the One Power are growing tiresome. True, this is dictated by the storylines and character arcs that comprise season 3, but it's frustrating that plot elements like this, which began in TWoT's first season, haven't been resolved yet, nor allow for much character evolution for individuals who sorely need it.
Season 3 makes more changes from the novels, such as a budding romance between Elayne and Aviendha, that might annoy some fans (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)
TWoT devotees are sure to be disgruntled by further deviations from what's depicted in Robert Jordan's beloved book series namesake as well.
Again, such diversions are determined by the story that showrunner Rafe Judkins wishes to tell. That'll be of scant consolation to fans of Jordan's literary works, though, who may bristle at changes like Matt not being part of Rand's Aiel Waste-bound party. However, some tweaks to the source materials, such as the budding romance between Elayne and Aviendha – an evolution of the close friendship they share in the novels – feels less intrusive.
The natural expansion of TWoT's world and the character that inhabit it in season 3 is handled with purposeful precision, too. The introduction of new locations like Tanchico, Rhuidean, and Andor upscale the size and scope of Amazon's adaptation. Meanwhile, the live-action debut of Andor's royal family – aka Elayne's relatives – and more of Lanfear's (Natasha O'Keeffe) fellow Forsaken, plus devoting of more screentime to characters with bit-part roles in season 2 like Aviendha and Siuan, raise the stakes and suggest I should be worried for more characters than just Rand and Moiraine this season.
My verdict
With The Wheel of Time season 3, Prime Video not only conjures up the show's best season yet, but also finally cements its position as one of the greatest Amazon TV Originals.
Like many of the characters that inhabit its world, it's a coming-of-age success story that proves TWoT has the style and substance – and, whisper it quietly, longevity – to go toe-to-toe with Amazon's Lord of the Rings prequel series.
It remains to be seen if a wider audience will be receptive to the Prime Video series' bleakest and most daunting season yet. After all, TWoT's future hinges on how its third chapter performs on one of the world's best streaming services. Based on the spellbinding effect that its three-episode premiere had on me, though, I'm confident it'll perform well enough to keep its storytelling wheel spinning for some time yet.
The Wheel of Time season 3 launches exclusively on Prime Video with a three-episode premiere on Thursday, March 13. New episodes air weekly.
How do you make the best MacBook, and arguably one of the best laptops on the market, better? You could redesign it, but that’s a move fraught with potential downsides; if the current design is popular, you risk disenfranchising fans. In that case, making small changes, especially under-the-hood ones, is probably the smart move, and it’s clearly Apple’s strategy.
The MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) is virtually indistinguishable from the M3 model. Apple has left the exquisite keyboard and responsive trackpad untouched, and the same goes for the brilliant Liquid Retina display. The 2.7lbs. weight is unchanged, and even the two Thunderbolt 4 ports are essentially the same. Visually, the only thing that's new is a new color option, and the Sky Blue finish is a subtle hue that can, depending on the light, look almost gray, but a second glance always reveals that pleasing almost pastel-like azure. It’s a color that should sell out fast.
The other two significant changes are to the hardware. Replacing the FaceTime camera is the new 12MP Center Stage Camera. It’s an ultra-wide lens in a screen notch that can keep you in the frame during video calls, and it’s a nice-to-have though not earth-shattering update.
There’s also the M4 chip, which adds cores and performance over the M3 Apple silicon it replaces. Like the M3, this is a fast, efficient, 3-nanometer chip with plenty of headroom for AAA gaming, video editing, music creation and, of course, Apple Intelligence.
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From one perspective, the biggest upgrade might be in the value space. Apple doubled the base memory from 8GB of unified memory to 16GB while reducing the price to $999 / £999 / AU$1,699. That’s a shocking, and very welcome, turn of events. The best MacBook is now back to its pre–MacBook Air M3 price, and better value because of it.
It really is hard to find any fault with the MacBook Air 13-inch (M4). It’s lightweight, attractive, powerful, easy to use, and up for anything. I gamed, streamed video, browsed the web, answered email, texted friends, conducted FaceTime calls, edited video, practiced guitar, and wrote this review on it. I’m not concerned about the lack of design changes, and I like the new color, the Center Stage Camera, and especially the price. I would not be surprised to see the MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) rise to the very top of our best laptops list.
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) review: Price and availability
Starts at $999 / £999 / AU$1,699
Lower launch price than the discontinued M3 model
M2 and M3 models no longer on the Apple Store, but M2 MacBooks can be found at third-party retailers
Rarely do I get to write about a price drop for a new product that arrives with feature enhancements. Usually, we get the same or sometimes a little less for the money. That is not the case with the MacBook Air 13-inch M4.
Even though Apple hasn't radically refreshed its best MacBook, the updates in performance, memory, and video conferencing, plus a new color, hit all the right notes – and when paired with a now $100 (in the US) lower price, they have me singing a happy tune.
Funnily enough, the first 3lb MacBook Air – the one that slid out of a manilla envelope in 2008 – cost $1,799. It would take a few years for it to hit that $999 sweet spot, which it maintained until recently.
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Sometimes that $999 got you a lower-end Intel Core I, but in the age of Apple silicon we’re getting great performance and efficiency at an excellent price.
The MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) comes in three base configurations. If you upgrade to the $1,199 / £1,199 model the GPU gets a bump from eight to 10 cores, and the storage doubles to 512GB. Go for the $1,499 / £1,499 / AU$2,399 top-tier model and the base unified memory is increased from 16GB to 24GB, and you can get up to 2TB of storage. Whichever option you go for, you can upgrade the RAM to 32GB.
It’s available in the new Sky Blue (like my 256GB review unit), Midnight, Starlight, and Silver. Apple has discontinued Space Gray (for now).
Apple unveiled the MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) on March 5, 2025, and the laptop starts shipping on March 12.
Price score: 4.5/5
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) review: Specs
The Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) comes in three pre-configured options.
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) review: Design
No major redesign
Sky Blue is subtle but attractive
Excellent construction, materials, keyboard, and trackpad
There are still some who mourn the passing of the original MacBook Air’s wedge design, the one that started at a more than half inch (1.61 cm) at one end and ended at 0.16 inches (4.064mm) at the other. That design remains so popular that the M1 model featuring it is still a top seller at Walmart.
I’ve moved on. The MacBook Air M4 is just 2.7lbs / 1.24kg, and at 11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44 inches / 30.41 x 21.5 x 1.13cm, is thinner than the OG MacBook Air was at its thickest point. This is a laptop that's built for your backpack and, yes, it’s light enough that you might forget it’s there.
Everything about the MacBook Air M4 feels premium. The 100% recycled aluminum enclosure is light but solid and has all the exacting tolerances Apple is known for. It’s a finely machined, eye-catching piece of hardware, and few laptops can match its elegance.
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The backlit keyboard is an absolute pleasure to type on, and has remarkable travel and response for such a thin design. It includes all your function keys and a multipurpose power / sleep / Touch ID button that’s useful for unlocking the MacBook Air and logging into various apps and services with your registered fingertips.
I do prefer the Microsoft Surface Laptop’s Windows Hello feature, which lets you log on using your face in much the way you do with Face ID on any of the best iPhones, although I don’t have to touch anything because I set the MacBook Air to unlock automatically with my Apple Watch.
While Apple hasn't redesigned the keyboard, there is one small change that you might not notice at first glance: the mute key now features a speaker icon with a line through it, which matches what you see on-screen when you press the key. It's a small but clarifying change.
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There’s ample room to rest your palms, and the glass-covered multi-touch trackpad is huge and responsive.
Ports and other elements are unchanged from the last two MacBook Air generations. There are two Thunderbolt 4 ports on the left side with up to 40GBps of throughput and which are capable of driving two external screens, even with the MacBook Air lid open. Next to those is the MagSafe charging port, and on the right side is the 3.5mm headphone jack.
The four-speaker stereo sound system is hidden in the hinge below the display. It can fill a room with bright, crisp audio, although it mostly lacks bass (the 15-inch model offers a 6-speaker sound system with force-cancelling sound woofers).
Design score: 4.5/5
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) review: Display and Center Stage
With one exception, the 13-inch M4 MacBook Air’s display is identical to the last generation. It’s still a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina panel with 2560 x 1664 resolution and 500 nits of sustained brightness, which in my experience is viewable in direct sunlight, and support for one billion colors. It’s a fantastic display for everything from gaming to streaming to content creation.
There is a notch at the top for the camera, but most apps do not wrap around that cutout, and it’s not distracting on the desktop.
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The notch also contains the new 12MP Center Stage Camera. The idea here is that the lens is an ultra-wide camera, but for the purposes of video conferencing it crops to an undistorted rectangle. Then, as you move around, the frame moves around to keep you in the frame. If you like to get up and walk around, or people walk in and out of the video conversation, this can be tremendously useful, and it worked well for me as long as I didn't stray too far out of frame. If you need the camera to stay still (as I do when I use the 1080p camera to go on TV), you can easily turn Center Stage off.
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Compared to Microsoft’s excellent Surface Laptop 7, the screen is missing one feature: touch. I used Surface laptops for years, and I did enjoy being able to touch and even draw on the display with a dedicated Bluetooth pen. Apple has steadfastly resisted introducing touch on its MacBook line – and Apple co-founder Steve Jobs didn’t think it made sense. If you require that kind of multipurpose device, you may want to consider the M4 iPad Pro 13-inch plus a Magic Keyboard.
Display score: 4.5/5
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) review: macOS and Apple Intelligence
macOS Sequoia is a rich, deep, and well-organized platform
Everything is well integrated into Apple's wider ecosystem
Apple Intelligence can be useful, but it's not yet compelling
With macOS Sequoia, Apple has built one of the most consistent and stable desktop platforms on the planet. It virtually never crashes, and it’s full of useful features.
The latest version is mostly a refinement of the platform, but if it’s been a while since you’ve upgraded you will notice feature enhancement like better widgets and window-management tools, the excellent new Passwords app, and audio transcription on Notes.
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What’s more, macOS makes excellent use of the M4’s power.
At one point I ran Garage Band, and I was pleased to discover that not only could I use the MacBook Air to tune my guitar, but it could also tell me if I was playing my chords correctly. I also used Pixelmator Pro image and video editor (now owned by Apple) to effortlessly apply complex masks.
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Of course, the big news on the software side is Apple Intelligence, Apple’s own brand of AI, which is supported by the M4’s 16-core neural engine.
It enables features like Image Playground, which lets you imagine wild scenes that can include representations of you and others from your Photos library. It’s good fun, but I still struggle to see the utility, and I wonder when Apple will offer a more open-range image-generation platform, one that enables me to describe a complex scene in a prompt and get a result. Most Windows laptops running Copilot can do this.
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Writing Tools, which is available in Apple's native text composition apps like Notes and Mail, is useful, especially if you struggle to write clear, cogent sentences. It's of limited utility to me.
Similarly, Siri got a few nice upgrades, like the ability to respond to text prompts and better handle broken speech patterns, but it's still unable to carry on longer conversations or learn anything about you, and you still can't use it to comprehensively control your MacBook. What’s worse is that promised updates to Siri that would have made it a more able competitor to ChatGPT and Gemini have failed to materialize. At least Siri can now tap into ChatGPT (if you allow it) for more complex queries.
Safari is an excellent browser, but I still find myself using Chrome.
Software score: 4/5
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) review: Performance
M4 has more CPU cores than the M3 that preceded it
Ample power
Decent but not massive performance upgrade
Excellent platform and increasing Apple Intelligence capabilities
Benchmarks
Here’s how the MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) performed in our suite of benchmark tests:
Geekbench 6.2.2 Single-Core: 3679; Multi-Core: 14430 Geekbench Metal score (8-core GPU): 48515 Cinebench 2024 Single-core: 165; Multi-core: 652 Battery life (web surfing): 14 hours 51 minutes, and 59 seconds
For comparison, here’s how the MacBook Air 13-inch (M3) performed in our suite of benchmark tests:
Ever since Apple switched from Intel to Apple silicon we’ve seen significant gains in performance and efficiency. The power of these lightweight laptops and the M-class chips can appear limitless, and all-day battery life is now usually a given.
Of course, the world has not stood still. Some Windows laptops are now arriving with the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite, and these ultraportables often nearly match Apple silicon for performance and battery life.
The M4 10-core CPU and 8-Core GPU backed by 16GB of unified memory inside my test system generally outperformed the X Elite on single-core scores but are now matched for multi-core performance.
These are just numbers of course, and I prefer to rely on real-world performance. In my tests, the MacBook Air 13 and its M4 chip handled everything I threw at it. It can be difficult to stress out the system – I played the AAA game Lies of Pi at maximum settings and it was smooth as butter, thanks no doubt in part to the new Game Mode that optimizes performance for gaming.
I highly recommend getting a controller (I use one designed for the Xbox), but regardless, the new MacBook Air offers a great gaming experience with thrilling, smooth graphics, and excellent sound.
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I often ran the game alongside multiple background apps, including Final Cut Pro. I had no trouble editing four 4K 30fps streams at once, but when I loaded up four 4K 120fps clips, I did notice some stuttering on video playback, although as this is not a considerably more expensive MacBook Pro, that doesn’t concern me.
I noticed in my benchmarking that the Metal Score on the MacBook Air M3 was slightly higher than that of the M4 system, but that’s because I had a 10-core GPU on the older MacBook and just an eight-core GPU on the new M4 system. You can, as I noted earlier in the price section, pay a bit more for the two extra cores. It’s worth noting, though, that the differences in performance between the M3 10 Core and M4 8-Core GPU were minimal.
The system supports WiFi 6e and Bluetooth 5.3, which is good, if not entirely forward-leaning – I'd like to see WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4.
Performance score: 4.5/5
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) review: Battery life
14 hours battery life (web activities)
Effectively lasts all day (mixed use)
Charges to 50% in 90 minutes; 100% in three hours
Apple is promising up to 18 hours of battery life from the MacBook Air 13-inch (M4), which is mostly a test of how long the laptop can play 1080p video for; for comparison, Microsoft promises 20 hours from its Surface Laptop 7 for a similar task. The MacBook Air 13 M4’s real-world battery life numbers will vary significantly when performing a mix of sometimes CPU-intensive tasks.
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In my tests, which included playing games (which made the base of the laptop quite warm), editing video, opening multiple browser windows and streaming video, battery life came in around eight hours. That’s quite good for a hard day of work, and especially for such a thin and light laptop. In our Future Labs test, which is primarily web browsing, the MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) managed 14 hours, 51 minutes, which is about 30 minutes longer than the M3 but for slightly different tasks.
Overall, you're getting good, all-day battery life, but your experience will vary based on the tasks you perform.
After I drained the laptop to zero, I recharged it with the included 30W charger (the more expensive 24GB model comes with a 35W charger) and (matching Sky Blue) woven MagSafe charger to 50% in 90 minutes, and 100% in three-and-a-half hours.
Battery score: 5/5
Should you buy the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4)?
Buy it if...
You want the best ultraportable experience The MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) might look the same as last year's model, but it's a definite upgrade – and that price makes it a winner.
You like your laptops thin and light At 0.44 inches / 1.13cm thick and just 2.7lbs /1.24kg, the new 13-inch Air is a perfect backpack companion.
You need a good blend of power and efficiency The MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) packs more than enough power for most users and you can bank on all-day battery life.
Don't buy it if...
You want a touchscreen Apple may never introduce a touchscreen MacBook. For that, look to the Surface Laptop, or an iPad Pro paired with a Magic Keyboard.
You want more AI Apple Intelligence is showing promise, but it still pales in comparison to what you'll find on some Windows Laptops with the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite.
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3) review: Also consider
If our Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) review has you considering other options, here are two laptops to consider...
Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) The MacBook Air 15-inch (M4) is virtually the same as the 13-inch model in every aspect except size (and screen size), but the base model does start with two extra GPU cores. It also gets a price reduction compared to the M3 model, so if screen real estate matters to you, this is the MacBook Air to go for.
Dell XPS 13 Plus Its thin and light design, stunning OLED screen, great sound quality, and comfortable keyboard make this a premium Windows 11 laptop that in many ways rivals the MacBook Air. However, it’s prone to overheating, and the touch bar is divisive.
I used the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) for five days
I worked, played, listened, edited, and wrote this review on it
I usually ran multiple apps at once
After receiving my MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) review unit I immediately unboxed it and began testing, and it did not leave my side for much of the next five days.
I ran benchmarks, installed multiple apps, and then began using it to edit images and video, play AAA games, listen to music, stream movies and shows, answer email, browse the web, and generate words and images with Apple Intelligence.
I've been reviewing technology for over 30 years, and I've tested everything from DOS-based word processors to Apple's Vision Pro. I've reviewed laptops of all stripes, including traditional clamshells and convertibles. I regularly work on macOS but also use the Windows platform almost every day – I like to keep my hands in all the ecosystems.
Apple’s announcement of a new Mac Studio for 2025 took a lot of people by surprise. While many of us had assumed (correctly) that Apple was gearing up to announce new M4-powered MacBook Airs, few were expecting a new Mac Studio.
That’s understandable – by its very nature, the Mac Studio is a product that's aimed at a more niche market than a thin and light laptop. Mac Studio devices are powerful, professional-grade computers that offer a level of performance that was once only found in Mac Pro desktop PCs, but built into a stylish and compact body that looks like a super-sized (yet still small) Mac mini.
The latest Mac Studio continues that tradition. The design keeps the iconic (and technically impressive, considering the hardware) compact look of previous Mac Studios, with dimensions of 3.7 x 7.7 x 7.7 inches (9.5 x 19.7 x 19.7cm) and a weight starting at 6.1lbs / 2.74kg. It’s a device that would look at home in any modern office or studio, and its size means it can be easily installed, and moved, wherever and whenever you want.
You are, however, missing out on the modular and upgradable nature of desktop PCs. You won’t be able to swap out the GPU or increase the internal storage in a few year’s time – two upgrades which are relatively simple with traditional PCs.
That said, for many people one of the upsides of buying a Mac is that they don't need to fiddle around with internal components, and a lack of upgradability is a small price to pay for a compact device that's well-built and works dependably. And, depending on the configuration options you choose when buying your Mac Studio, it’s unlikely that you’ll need to upgrade for a long, long time.
The new Mac Studio comes with a choice of two chips – one that was expected, and one that has come as quite a surprise.
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The base model of the new Mac Studio features the M4 Max chip – the same chip that debuted late last year in the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros. There’s no option to have the standard M4 or M4 Pro chips, which is in line with Apple’s pitching the Mac Studio at power users and professionals who need the very highest levels of performance. If your requirements (and budget – I’ll get to prices in a moment) are more modest, then the aforementioned MacBook Pros will be better picks; or if you want a desktop PC, then the brilliant Mac mini from last year will do the trick, and can be configured with either an M4 or M4 Pro chip.
According to Apple, the Mac Studio with M4 Max offers 1.6x faster image processing in Adobe Photoshop compared to the Mac Studio with M1 Max, and 2.1x faster code compilation in Xcode. Video transcoding in the Compressor app is claimed to be 1.2x faster, and video processing in Topaz Video AI 1.6x faster.
While any speed increase that makes workloads faster is welcome, those aren’t mind-blowing numbers, so most people using the now three-year-old Mac Studio (M1 Max) won’t feel any pressing need to upgrade to the M4 Max model, and that will be even more true for owners of the Mac Studio (M2 Max). Apple hasn’t supplied performance comparisons for that model, but you’d imagine the differences are even smaller. That said, you could argue that this speaks to the longevity of these devices, and the high price tag and lack of upgradability of the new Mac Studio becomes easier to swallow if it’s still going strong in 2028 and you have no need or desire to upgrade it.
As with previous M-class releases, the real leap in performance comes when comparing the Mac Studio with M4 Max to an Intel-based Mac, which Apple stopped producing in 2020 with the launch of the M1 chip.
Again according to Apple, you’re getting around 3x the performance with the Mac Studio M4 Max compared to a 27-inch iMac with an Intel Core i9 CPU, with Topaz Video AI processing seeing up to 5x faster video rendering. These are all vague performance promises by Apple, so take them with a grain of salt and refer instead to our benchmark tests below, where you'll be able to see just how well the new Mac Studio performs. Still, taking Apple’s claims as hints of the kind of performance the new Mac Studio is capable of suggests that people using Intel-based Macs will see the biggest benefit from upgrading.
Apple also surprised us by announcing an even more powerful Mac Studio, powered by the brand-new M3 Ultra chip. The reason why this is particularly surprising, and potentially confusing, is that the M3 Ultra is, as the name suggests, based on the previous generation M3 chip architecture, rather than the newer M4.
As with previous Ultra chips, the M3 Ultra is made up of two Max chips (in this case, two M3 Max chips), which are connected via an ultra-fast bridge to turn them into a single, extremely powerful, chip.
So, while you’re getting up to a 16-core CPU, 40-core GPU, 128GB unified memory, 546GB/s memory bandwidth, and 16-core Neural Engine with the M4 Max, the M3 Ultra offers up to a 32-core CPU, 80-core GPU, 512GB unified memory, 819GB/s memory bandwidth, and 32-core Neural Engine.
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Essentially, even with previous-gen tech (the M3 Max was launched in October 2023), the M3 Ultra blows past the M4 Max. Apple hasn’t explained why it went with M3 rather than M4 as the base, though there have been suggestions that the M4 Max lacks the high-speed bridge (known as UltraFusion) needed to combine two of the chips into an M4 Ultra. However, we also heard similar rumors about the M3 Max, and that has been proven to be incorrect with the announcement of the M3 Ultra.
The M3 architecture has seen a few additions with the M3 Ultra, which makes it able to compete feature-wise with the M4 Max. The M3 Ultra now supports Thunderbolt 5 USB-C ports and speeds of up to 120Gbps, and supports up to 512GB of unified memory, both upgrades over the M3 Max.
So, currently, the most powerful Apple silicon is not an M4 chip, but an M3 chip, and that could be a bit confusing – as such, I’m pleased that Apple is being transparent about the M3 Ultra being based on M3 Max chips, rather than fudging the naming conventions to call it an M4 Ultra.
While the Mac Studio with M4 Max will offer performance that most people might not ever need, the M3 Ultra Mac Studio goes even further, promising to offer the kind of performance that will only be needed by large enterprises – think the likes of Pixar when it comes to 3D animation, rather than smaller businesses and individuals, for whom the M4 Max model will likely be more than enough.
Price will also be a factor here, as unsurprisingly these are expensive machines that are professional investments rather than something you’d buy on a whim. The Mac Studio with M4 Max starts at $1,999 / £2,099 / AU$3,499 while the Mac Studio with M3 Ultra starts at $3,999 / £4,199 / AU$6,999 – and these can all be configured to add more power (and cost).
Apple Mac Studio (M3 Ultra): Price and availability
How much does it cost? M4 Max model starts at $1,999 / £2,099 / AU$3,499
What about the M3 Ultra? M3 Ultra model starts at $3,999 / £4,199 / AU$6,999
When is it available? Available to pre-order now, ships March 12, 2025
Apple announced the new Mac Studio on March 5, 2025, and opened preorders at the same time, with the compact PC going on sale on March 12, 2025 globally.
The base model of the new Mac Studio comes with an M4 Max chip featuring a 14-core CPU, 32-core GPU and 16-core Neural Engine, plus 36GB of unified memory and a 512GB SSD, and costs $1,999 / £2,099 / AU$3,499.
This is essentially the same starting price as the previous Apple Mac Studio (M2 Max, though there's a slight price increase for Australian buyers (the M2 Max model cost AU$3,299). It’s good to see launch prices remain the same in the US and UK, and the new Mac Studio remains a lot cheaper than the $6,999 / £7,199 / AU$11,999 Mac Pro, while offering a more compact design and similar, if not better, performance.
The more powerful M3 Ultra model of the new Mac Studio, meanwhile, starts at $3,999 / £4,199 / AU$6,999. That’s quite a leap, but the specs go some way to justify the high price (while also hopefully making it clear that this machine will be overkill for most people). You get the new M3 Ultra chip with a 28-core CPU, 60-core GPU, and 32-core Neural Engine, plus 96GB unified memory, and a 1TB SSD for storage.
As usual, you can configure the new Mac Studio before you buy, and considering that it’s basically impossible to upgrade the hardware within the machine, it’s important to make sure you take this opportunity to adjust the configuration to suit both your needs and your budget. Adding more powerful components does increase the price, sometimes considerably. The fully-maxed-out Mac Studio comes with an M3 Ultra chip with a 32-core CPU, 80-core GPU, and 32-core Neural Engine, 512GB unified memory and 16TB SSD – those are stunning specs, and they come with an equally stunning price tag of $14,099 / $14,299 / AU$22,149.
Of course, you don’t have to max out all of the specs, so you do have some flexibility; but make no mistake, any configuration of the Mac Studio is going to be extremely expensive. You need to see it as an investment for a business or creative professional. For individual users who want a great-performing compact PC, but don’t need nearly the power on offer with the Mac Studio, then I highly recommend the latest Mac mini, which comes with an M4 chip starting at $599 / £599 / AU$999, or with an M4 Pro starting at $1,399 / £1,399 / AU$2,199. In my view, the M4 Mac mini remains the best Mac Apple has ever made thanks its combination of price, performance, and an all-new design, but creative professionals looking for more power will likely need to choose between the Mac mini M4 Pro or the Mac Studio M4 Max, and in that case the price difference is smaller, though still substantial.
What about non-Mac alternatives? The fact is that there remains no real rival to the Mac Studio in the world of Windows PCs – no one else is making compact workstation PCs that offer professional-grade performance. However, if the size of the machine doesn’t matter, and you don’t mind doing a bit of tinkering, you could put together a workstation PC (or get someone to build it for you) that offers similar levels of performance for less money, although you'd miss out on the Mac Studio’s compact design and ease of use.
Price: 3.5 / 5
Apple Mac Studio (M3 Ultra): Specs
Here are the specs for the Apple Mac Studio (M3 Ultra) at a glance.
Apple Mac Studio (M3 Ultra): Design
Looks the same as previous models on the outside
Now comes with Thunderbolt 5 ports
M3 Ultra model is slightly heavier
Perhaps the biggest selling point of every generation of Mac Studio has been its design, and while the new Mac Studio doesn’t feature any major changes, that remains true.
It’s a testament to Apple’s designers and engineers – and to the power efficiency of M-class chips like the M4 Max and M3 Ultra, which enables Apple to put powerful hardware into compact designs without them overheating.
The latest Mac Studio is unmistakably an Apple product. Its compact dimensions of 3.7 x 7.7 x 7.7 inches / 9.5 x 19.7 x 19.7cm, with a weight starting at 6.1lbs / 2.74kg means it’s easy to find space for it on a desk, and you can hide it behind a monitor if you want, and it also means it’s easy to pick up and move if needed.
The silver body (you don’t get any fun color choices with the Mac Studio, this is all about professionalism) is sleek and minimalist, with a black Apple logo on the top. On the front of the Mac Studio are two USB-C ports (which if you get the model with the M3 Ultra will be Thunderbolt 5), alongside an SDXC memory card slot (always welcome for professional photographers) and a small white LED power light.
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The rear of the Mac Studio features four Thunderbolt 5 USB-C ports, a 10Gb Ethernet port, two USB-A ports for legacy peripherals, a HDMI port and a headphone jack. Much of the rear is a grille-like vent that's used to expel hot air.
The most recent Mac mini got a major design overhaul to make it look more like the Mac Studio, and for the most part the new look was a triumph. However, Apple’s decision to place the Mac mini's power button on the underside of the device did frustrate some people, as you have to lift up the Mac mini to turn it on or off.
The good news is that Apple hasn’t seen fit to move the Mac Studio's power button to the underside of the device to match the new Mac mini – it’s still located on the rear of the Mac Studio on the left.
As someone who likes using big, ugly desktop PCs I’ve never had a problem with having a power button on the front of a device for easy access, and some people might find having the button hidden at the rear makes it a little awkward to reach. It does mean, though, that the Mac Studio’s front looks clean and minimalist, which many Apple fans will appreciate, and at least you don’t have to lift up the Mac Studio to reach the button. If you have other Apple devices, particularly the Studio Display, then the new Mac Studio will fit in brilliantly.
The Mac Studio is made with 30% recycled content, according to Apple, with 100% recycled aluminum used for the case, and doesn’t contain mercury or PVC. The packaging is also entirely fiber-based, and is part of the Apple 2030 project, which aims to make the company’s entire carbon footprint neutral by the end of the decade.
Overall, while some people might be clamoring for a bold redesign, the reason why the latest Mac Studio still looks identical to the first one launched back in 2022 is because, frankly, Apple nailed the design first time. It looks modern, and more stylish than any Windows-based compact PC; and with the Mac mini having recently been redesigned to look more like the Mac Studio, I think this look is going to stick around for a long time.
(Image credit: Future)
The one major drawback with the design is that it’s essentially impossible to open up the Mac Studio and upgrade or repair components. This might not come as a surprise to anyone familiar with Apple’s products, but it does impact the flexibility of the Mac Studio when compared to traditional tower desktop PCs, which are usually quite straightforward to upgrade. It also undermines Apple’s environmental credentials a little, though the company does offer an upgrade program whereby you can trade in your older Mac for money off the new model.
Also, despite the new Mac Studio coming with some of the latest and most powerful components on the market, Apple's designers have for some reason decided to stick with older wireless technology: Wi‑Fi 6E (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.3, which means you're missing out on the performance benefits of Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4.
While the wireless tech in a professional-grade workstation might not be at the top of most people's list of priorities (you'll likely be using an Ethernet cable for networking), it's still a bit of an odd omission considering the no-holds-barred design approach Apple has taken to the rest of the Mac Studio's design.
Design: 4.5 / 5
Apple Mac Studio (M3 Ultra): Performance
The M3 Ultra is now the most powerful chip Apple has ever made
It's likely to be overkill for most people
The new Mac Studio remains quiet even when under load
When I learned that Apple was sending me the new Mac Studio with the M3 Ultra chip, I was both excited and apprehensive. Excited because I really wanted to see what such a powerful, even over-the-top, piece of silicon could do.
While the M4 Max chip is certainly no slouch, we’ve had the chance to see how it performs since the launch of last year’s MacBook Pros. However, the M3 Ultra, despite being based on the older M3 Max chip, is entirely uncharted territory, and has the potential to blow Apple's other chips out of the water when it comes to pure performance. The idea that I could play around with this ridiculously powerful hardware and try to push it as hard as possible got my nerd senses tingling.
So why was I also apprehensive? Mainly because how do you begin reviewing a hardware configuration that will be overkill for the needs of maybe 98% of our readers? No matter how good the M3 Ultra is (and I’ll get to just how good it is in a moment), for the vast majority of people I would still recommend they don’t buy it, and instead get the M4 Max model – and for most, the M4 Mac mini would be a much more sensible buy.
In some ways this is Apple’s problem – and it’s a good problem to have. Because its M-series chips have been so good, generational leaps can be less visible to mainstream customers. If you still use a Mac with an M1 or M2 chip there’s a good chance that it’ll still do almost everything you need it to. If not, then upgrading to an M4 Mac, such as the new MacBook Air or the Mac mini (sorry, I keep mentioning it, but I really love that little PC) is a much more affordable option that will keep you chugging along nicely. A smaller percentage of people who need more power for creative applications will find the M4 Max in the MacBook Pro or new Mac Studio more than enough; and if it isn’t enough power, then the M3 Ultra will be extremely welcome.
(Image credit: Future)
To be blunt, the number of people who will need the full power of the Mac Studio with M3 Ultra will be limited. But, if you do need an extremely powerful PC for rendering complex 3D models, animating feature-length films, or even developing and testing games, then the new Mac Studio with M3 Ultra will be a very attractive package indeed.
The Mac Studio Apple sent me to review comes with the highest-end M3 Ultra chip with a 32-core CPU (made up of 24 performance cores and eight efficiency ones), an 80-core GPU and a 32-core Neural Engine. It also has 256GB of unified memory, and a 4TB SSD. While it's not completely maxed out, this is an incredibly powerful bit of kit. The 256GB unified memory doesn’t just act like standard RAM in a PC, but is shared with the 80-core GPU, which means the Mac Studio I’m reviewing is an incredibly powerful device for graphic-intensive tasks. The fact that all this power is contained in a compact body that remains impressively quiet, even when under stress, is particularly impressive.
So it’ll come as no surprise to learn that for regular day-to-day tasks, the Mac Studio absolutely zips by, with macOS Sequoia and apps such as Photoshop running incredibly smoothly. Web browsing with Safari and Chrome, with multiple tabs open, certainly doesn't challenge the Mac Studio. Chrome might still be a memory hog, but with 256GB of the stuff you’re not going to miss a beat.
Even if you buy the Mac Studio in a less powerful configuration, the results will very likely be the same. Of course, you’re not buying an uber-powerful computer like the Mac Studio to browse the web and write up documents. The Mac Studio has been built to handle demanding creative tasks, and it’s here that it really excels.
Editing high-quality 4K footage in Adobe Premiere Pro was extremely quick and smooth, and I was able to scrub through the footage quickly to find points in the timeline, while previewing any changes I made instantly. The super-fast SSD meant that video files were loaded and complex projects saved very, very quickly (using the Blackmagic Disk Speed Test app, the SSD hit write speeds of 7,115.6 and read speeds of 5,799MB/s).
Even when working with large 4K video files and multi-scene projects (while browsing the web and writing up this review at the same time), I never felt like I was ever really pushing the Mac Studio (hence the apprehension I mentioned earlier), as I don’t have access to files and projects from professional movie studios, to pick a more demanding and likely use case for the new Mac Studio.
(Image credit: Future)
Apple Mac Studio (M3 Ultra) benchmarks
Here's how the Apple Mac Studio (M3 Ultra) performed in our suite of industry-standard benchmarks and game tests.
Geekbench 6: Single - 3,240 Multi - 28,485 Blackmagic Disk Speed Test: Read: 5,799MB/s Write: 7,115.6MB/s Cinebench: Single-core - 150 Multi-core - 3,015 GPU - 19,663
What I could see, however, is that the real value of the new Mac Studio lies in its potential to speed up creative workflows. If you can create, code, compile and more, so much more quickly, it means projects can be completed more quickly. This could in turn reduce costs for large-scale businesses, and it also allows professionals to take on more clients. Even with the lowest memory configuration for the M3 Ultra model, 96GB, there's plenty of headroom to run multiple tasks simultaneously, which again potentially makes a huge difference to productivity.
Throughout all my testing with the Mac Studio it remained incredibly quiet – a welcome change from the desktop PCs I usually use, which have fans that like to whirr into life at the drop of a hat. During some particularly demanding benchmarks I did notice the top of the Mac Studio got quite hot to touch, but it certainly wasn't alarming – and the fans still remained all but silent. I also didn’t notice any instances of the M3 Ultra being throttled (a process whereby components are deliberately slowed down to avoid overheating, which impacts performance), though again I wasn't subjecting the Mac Studio to industry-level workloads – but I really can’t imagine too many scenarios where the Mac Studio’s performance wouldn't be enough.
This is of course great news for people who need that performance, but it also underscores why the Mac Studio won’t be for everyone, especially considering the price.
Performance: 5 / 5
Should you buy the Apple Mac Studio (M3 Ultra)?
Buy it if...
You want a compact productivity powerhouse The small size combined with the incredible amount of power the M3 Ultra chip provides means the new Mac Studio really doesn’t have any competition.
You need professional-grade graphics power The new Mac Studio, especially with the M3 Ultra chip, offers a level of performance that will seriously please demanding power users, particularly when it comes to graphics work.
You have an Intel-based Mac Pro or iMac Pro The biggest gap in performance is between the new Mac Studio and Intel-based Macs, so if you’re still using a device with Intel hardware, now might be the perfect time to upgrade.
Don't buy it if...
You don’t need pro-grade performance Even in the case of the M4 Max model, the level of performance the Mac Studio offers is beyond what most individual creatives will need.
You’re on a budget The Mac Studio is an expensive bit of tech, and while the design and performance justify the asking price, if you’re on a tight budget you may be better off looking at more affordable options.
Upgradability is important The compact chassis comes at a price: you’re not able to open up the Mac Studio and swap out components later on. If you want a computer that lets you upgrade and fix the hardware, then a traditional desktop PC will be a better choice.
Apple Mac Studio (M3 Ultra): Also consider
Mac mini (M4) If you love the idea of a compact PC that's also powerful, but you don't need the raw performance of the Mac Studio, then the latest Mac mini is an absolutely fantastic choice, especially considering the price.
MacBook Pro 16-inch (M4 Pro/M4 Max) Want a powerful Mac that you can use while traveling? The 16-inch MacBook Pro is a great choice, and if you go for the M4 Max model you're going to get similar levels of performance to the M4 Max version of the Mac Studio.
I used the Mac Studio for editing raw 4K footage and high-resolution photos, as well as other intensive tasks
I've been using the Mac Studio since our review sample came in, using it as my primary work computer. As well as writing this review on it, and using it to perform my regular day-to-day tasks, I used it for intensive workloads, including editing and exporting raw 4K video footage in Adobe Premiere Pro, and photos in Photoshop, with the Mac Studio connected to an Apple Studio Display monitor. I also ran our suite of synthetic benchmarks to help give me an overall view of the Mac Studio's performance. I've been reviewing Macs for TechRadar for the past decade, including the original Mac Studio, as well as a range of Windows-based creative workstations, and my experience has enabled me to thoroughly evaluate Apple's latest Mac Studio.
So the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D has something of a high bar to clear given the strength of AMD's first Zen 5 3D V-Cache chip, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, but having spent a week testing this chip, I can say unequivocally that AMD has produced the best processor ever made for the consumer market.
Whether it's gaming, creating, or general productivity work, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D doesn't suffer from the same hang-ups that held its predecessor, the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D, from completely dominating its competition among the previous generation of processors.
Like its predecessor, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D will sell for $699 / £699 / AU$1,349 when it goes on sale on March 12, 2025. This makes it the most expensive consumer processor on the market, so definitely be prepared to invest quite a bit for this chip, especially if you're upgrading from an Intel or AMD AM4 system. As an AM5 chip, you'll need to upgrade some major components, including motherboard and possibly RAM.
Unlike nearly all other X3D chips besides the 9800X3D and 9900X3D, however, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D is fully overclockable thanks to AMD rearchitecting the way the 3D V-cache sits on the compute die, so there's a lot more that this chip can do that other X3D chips can't.
That includes beating out the current champ for the best gaming CPU, the 9800X3D, in most games while also offering substantially better general and creative performance thanks to twice as many processing cores.
That doesn't mean that the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D is flawless, as there are some things to caveat here (which I'll get into in more depth below), but as an overall package, you simply won't find a better CPU on the market right now that will let you do just about anything you want exceptionally well while still letting you run a more reasonable cooling solution. Just be prepared to pay a premium for all that performance.
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D: Price & availability
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
How much will it cost? US MSRP is $699 / £699 / AU$1,349
When is it available? It goes on sale on March 12, 2025
Where is it available? It will be available in the US, UK, and Australia at launch
The Ryzen 9 9950X3D goes on sale March 12, 2025, for a US MSRP of $699 / £699 / AU$1,349 in the US, UK, and Australia, respectively, making it the most expensive processor on the market.
It comes in at the same price as its predecessor, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D when it launched, and costs $100 more than the Ryzen 9 9900X3D that launches on the same day.
This is also just over $200 more expensive than the Ryzen 7 9800X3D which has nearly the same level of gaming performance (and in some cases surpasses the 9950X3D), so if you are strictly looking for a gaming CPU, the 9800X3D might be the better value.
Compared to Intel's latest flagship processor, meanwhile, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D is just over $100 more expensive than the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, though that chip requires a whole new motherboard chipset if you're coming from an Intel LGA 1700 chip like the Intel Core i9-12900K, so it might represent a much larger investment overall.
Value: 3.5 / 5
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D: Specs
128MB L3 Cache (96MB + 32MB)
Fully overclockable
Not all processing cores have access to 3D V-cache
Compared to the Ryzen 9 7950X3D, there don't seem to be too many changes spec wise, but there's a lot going on under the hood here.
First, the way the 3D V-cache is seated over the CCX for the 9950X3D differs considerably than with the 7950X3D, specifically that its seated underneath the processing die, rather than above it.
This means that the processing cores are now in 'direct' contact with the lid and cooling solution for the chip, allowing the 9950X3D to be fully overclocked, whereas the V-cache in the 7950X3D sat between the lid and the processing cores, making careful thermal design and limiting necessary and ruling out overclocking.
The 9950X3D does keep the same two-module split in its L3 cache as the 7950X3D, so that only one of the eight-core CCXs in the chip actually has access to the added V-cache (32MB + 64MB), while the other just has access to 32MB.
This had some benefit for more dedicated, directy access for individual cores in use more cache. In the last-gen, this honestly produced somewhat mixed results compared to the 7800X3D, which didn't split the V-cache up this way, leading ultimately to high levels of gaming performance for the 7800X3D.
Whatever issue there was with the 7950X3D looks to have been largely fixed with the 9950X3D, but some hiccups remains, which I'll get to in the performance section.
Beyond that, the 9950X3D has slightly higher base and boost clock speeds, as well as a 50W higher TDP, but its 170W TDP isn't completely unmanageable, especially next to Intel's competing chips.
Specs: 4.5 / 5
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D: Performance
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Almost best-in-class gaming performance
Strong overall performance
While the Ryzen 7 7800X3D was indisputably a better gaming chip than the Ryzen 9 7950X3D by the numbers, I was very curious going into my testing how this chip would fare against the 9800X3D, but I'm happy to report that not only is it better on the whole when it comes to gaming, it's a powerhouse for general computing and creative work as well, making it the best all-around processor on the market right now.
On the synthetic side, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D goes toe-to-toe with the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K in multi-core performance, coming within 2% of Intel's best on average, and chocking up a 10% stronger single-core result than the 285K.
Compared to its predecessor, the 7950X3D, the 9950X3D is about 15% faster in multi-core and single-core performance, while also barely edging out the Ryzen 9 9950X in multi-core performance.
Compared to the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, the eight-core difference between the two really shows up in the results, with the 9950X3D posting a 61% better multi-core performance, and a roughly 5% better single core score compared to the 9800X3D.
On the creative front, the 9950X3D outclasses Intel's best and anything else in the AMD Ryzen lineup that I've tested overall (we'll see how it fares against the 9900X3D once I've had a chance to test that chip), though it is worth noting that the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K is still the better processor for video editing work.
The AMD Ryzen X3D line is all about gaming though, and here, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D posts the best gaming performance of all the chips tested, with one caveat.
In the Total War: Warhammer III Mirrors of Madness benchmark, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D only scores a few fps higher than the non-X3D Ryzen 9 9950X (331 fps to 318 fps, respectively), while also scoring substantially lower than the 9800X3D's 506 fps in that same benchmark. That's a roughly 35% slower showing for the 9950X3D, and given its roughly where the non-X3D chip scored, it's clear that Total War: Warhammer III was running on one of those cores that didn't have access to the extra V-cache.
This is an issue with the Windows process scheduler that might be fixed in time so that games are run on the right cores to leverage the extra cache available, but that's not a guarantee the way it is with the 9800X3D, which gives all cores access to its added V-cache so there aren't similar issues.
It might be a fairly rare occurence, but if your favorite game does take advantage of the extra cache that you're paying a lot of money for, that could be an issue, and it might not be something you'll ever know unless you have a non-X3D 9950X handy to test the way I do.
With that in mind, if all you want is a gaming processor, and you really don't care about any of these other performance categories, you're probably going to be better served by the 9800X3D, as you will get guaranteed gaming performance increases, even if you don't get the same boost in other areas.
While that's a large caveat, it can't take away from the overall performance profile of this chip, which is just astounding pretty much across the board.
If you want the best processor on the market overall, this is it, even with its occasional blips, especially since it runs much cooler than Intel's chips and its power draw is much more acceptable for midrange PCs to manage.
Performance: 4.5 / 5
Should you buy the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D?
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Buy the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D if...
You want spectacular performance no matter the workload While gamers will be especially interested in this chip, it's real strength is that it's strong everywhere.
You want the best gaming performance When using 3D V-cache, this processor's gaming chops are unbeatable.
Don't buy it if...
You want consistent top-tier gaming performance When games run on one of this chip's 3D V-cache cores, you're going to get the best performance possible, but Windows might not assign a game to those cores, so you might miss out on this chip's signature feature.
You're on a budget This chip is crazy expensive, so only buy it if you're flush with cash.
Also consider
AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D If you want consistent, top-tier gaming performance, the 9800X3D will get you performance nearly as good as this chip's, though more consistently.
I used the chip as my main workstation processor and used my updated battery of benchmarks to measure its performance
I used it for general productivity, creative, and gaming workloads
I spent about a week with the Ryzen 9 9950X3D as my main workstation CPU, where I ran basic computing workloads as well as extensive creative work, such as Adobe Photoshop.
I also spent as much time as I could gaming with the chip, including titles like Black Myth: Wukong and Civilization VII. I also used my updated suite of benchmark tools including industry standard utilities like Geekbench 6.2, Cyberpunk 2077, and PugetBench for Creators.
I've been reviewing components for TechRadar for three years now, including more than a dozen processor reviews in that time, so you can trust my testing process and recommendations if you're looking for the best processor for your needs and budget.
The Logitech G915 X Lightspeed TKL is a wireless mechanical gaming keyboard with low-profile keys and multiple connectivity options for added convenience.
For a gaming peripheral, it looks fairly restrained, although the RGB lighting, especially against the white variant, does help to make it more vibrant. The thin chassis with its rounded sides and brushed-metal effect adds an element of class too.
It’s also built quite well, feeling sturdy yet surprisingly light, although it’s perhaps not quite as premium as the best gaming keyboard constructions. In particular, the double-shot PBT keycaps feel cheaper than you might expect, with a texture that’s less satisfying compared to others I’ve experienced.
The very top row buttons feel better though, with their rubber finish and heavily-damped presses feeling satisfying to use. The volume wheel also operates very smoothly, yet still provides enough control.
The Logitech G915 X Lightspeed TKL can be customized using Logitech’s G HUB software, which offers plenty of remapping options, from system functions to custom key combinations. There’s also a macro creator and RGB tweaking, as you might expect from a gaming keyboard. While the software is stable enough and laid out well, navigation can be a little too laborious at times, and more explanations wouldn’t go amiss either.
When gaming, the Logitech G915 X Lightspeed TKL performs reasonably well. The tactile switches are snappy, but offer a fair amount of resistance; fortunately, the actuation point is low enough that you don’t have to approach that point where you feel that weight. The texture of the keycaps doesn’t offer much in the way of grip though, which can make finger placements less than secure.
For typing, I found the Logitech G915 X Lightspeed TKL less impressive. That cramped layout made things awkward for me, as did the lack of tilt provided by the feet. I did appreciate the low-profile keycaps, though, as I generally prefer these for typing.
I had no issue connecting to devices via Bluetooth or the 2.4GHz wireless dongle, and switching between the two is easy thanks to the dedicated buttons on the top row. However, it’s a shame there’s no hot-switching between multiple devices connected via Bluetooth.
The battery life of the Logitech G915 X Lightspeed TKL is good, as after several days of use – during which time I used it for gaming and working, and switched frequently between 2.4GHz and Bluetooth modes – it dipped to just below 50%.
One of the main issues with the Logitech G915 X Lightspeed TKL, though, is the price. It sits at the top-end of the market, competing with some of the best keyboards around. However, it can’t match their level of performance, especially those with analog switches, such as the Razer Huntsman V2 Analog, which isn’t much more expensive. There’s also the Razer Pro Type Ultra, which is a versatile keyboard for both gaming and work, and is available for even less.
(Image credit: Future)
Logitech G915 X Lightspeed TKL review: price and availability
$199.99 / £199.99 / AU$369.95
Available now in black and white colorways
Top-end of the market
The Logitech G915 X Lightspeed TKL costs $199.99 / £199.99 / AU$369.95 and is available now in two colorways: black and white. There are three different switch types to choose from: Tactile, Linear, and Clicky.
This places the Logitech G915 X Lightspeed TKL at the higher end of the market, competing with other top-draw gaming keyboards. The best gaming keyboard in our view, the Razer Huntsman V2 Analog, is more expensive, but not by much. However, as the name suggests, this board has analog switches, which allow for greater speed, precision and customization than traditional mechanical switches. It also has a full-size layout.
The best keyboard with a premium feel, the Razer Pro Type Ultra, costs less, yet we found it to have excellent all-round performance, whether you’re gaming, working, or browsing.
Value: 3 / 5
(Image credit: Future)
Logitech G915 X Lightspeed TKL review: specs
(Image credit: Future)
Logitech G915 X Lightspeed TKL review: design and features
Smart, light, and thin
Keycaps don’t feel the best
Good customizations via G HUB
The Logitech G915 X Lightspeed TKL adopts a mild gaming aesthetic, with its muted appearance making it more formal than others in the sector. The white colorway certainly adds more vibrancy – and enhances the RGB lighting just that little bit more – yet it still retains a smart demeanour.
The floating keycaps are a nice touch, and so too is the brushed metal of the face plate and the rolled edges of the chassis. Fortunately, the build quality matches its premium appearance: the whole body feels sturdy, despite being very light and thin for a gaming keyboard.
However, the double-shot PBT keycaps let things down, as I found their texture a little too scratchy and not the most pleasant to touch. The shortcut buttons above the keys, though, feel much better, as they’re soft, rubberized, and damped very well. The volume wheel is very smooth and easy to operate, yet has controlled spins.
(Image credit: Future)
Like many modern keyboards, the Logitech G915 X Lightspeed TKL has two-stage feet that offer different tilting angles. However, I found that even the highest setting was still a little too shallow, so those who like a steep rake might be disappointed.
Logitech’s G HUB software can be used to customize the Logitech G915 X Lightspeed TKL, with the usual options available, such as RGB lighting adjustments and key remapping, the latter of which features assignments for mouse buttons and scrolls, key combinations involving modifiers, and macros. There are also various media playback controls available, including a function to cycle available audio inputs and outputs. However, other common system-level functions are absent, which is a shame. As well as multiple profile slots, FN and G Shift layers are available too.
While G HUB runs very smoothly for the most part, navigating it can take one too many clicks, and it lacks explanations for certain default shortcuts and how they work, such as those for profile switching.
Design & features: 3.5 / 5
Logitech G915 X Lightspeed TKL review: performance
Responsive yet heavy-feeling switches
Keycaps issues
Cramped for typing
The Tactile switches I had installed on the Logitech G915 X Lightspeed TKL felt and sounded quite clicky. Despite having a snappy response, they offered more resistance than I expected when depressing fully, considering their low profile. However, the actuation point feels low, so I didn’t experience much fatigue when holding down keys for long periods.
Adopting the WASD position is comfortable enough, with all important keys, including the bottom row, being easy to reach and use; again this is thanks to that low profile, which is something I personally prefer in most cases.
However, despite the aforementioned texture of the keycaps, they offer very little grip, and it’s too easy to slide out of position – an issue made worse by shallow indentations, which of course isn’t ideal for more intense sessions.
(Image credit: Future)
For typing, I didn’t find the Logitech G915 X Lightspeed TKL conducive to my style. Even though the low profile keycaps allowed me to glide around the board, I found the layout too cramped. I also couldn’t get the angle steep enough using the feet, which added to the discomfort I was feeling. What’s more, things can get quite loud when tapping away.
Connectivity over both 2.4GHz and Bluetooth is solid, and switching between them is easy with the top hotkeys. However, it’s a shame there’s no option to switch quickly between multiple devices connected via Bluetooth, as some of the best keyboards feature, including Logitech’s own models.
The battery life of the Logitech G915 X Lightspeed TKL is quite good, as after several days of varied use, which included gaming, working, and browsing – as well as switching between Bluetooth and 2.4GHz modes regularly – it dipped to just below 50%.
Performance: 3.5/ 5
Should I buy the Logitech G915 X Lightspeed TKL?
Buy it if…
You want thin keys The low profile keycaps make it easy for gliding and hitting all the important keys when gaming, at least for me.
You want multiple connectivity options Wired, 2.4GHz and Bluetooth are all welcome connectivity options – although it’s a shame you can only have one Bluetooth connection at a time.
Don’t buy it if…
You want the best typing experience Despite the low profile keys, I found the layout a little too cramped, and the feet didn’t offer enough angle for me to type comfortably.
You want a hot-swappable keyboard Although there are three switch types to choose from when you configure your Logitech G915 X Lightspeed TKL, they aren’t hot-swappable, so your choice is permanent.
Logitech G915 X Lightspeed TKL review: also consider
Razer Huntsman V2 Analog The Razer Huntsman V2 Analog uses analog switches, which means plenty of tweaking options when it comes to actuation points, as well as various modes that take advantage of that graduated operation. It’s wired only and more expensive than the Logitech G915 X Lightspeed TKL, but it’s full-size and we found the performance good enough to justify the price tag. Read our Razer Huntsman V2 Analog review.
Razer Pro Type Ultra If you want a keyboard that’s equally capable of gaming and working, then the Razer Pro Type Ultra fits the bill. We found it performed brilliantly on both fronts, as well having great connectivity options and battery life. What’s more, it’s cheaper than the Logitech G915 X Lightspeed TKL. If you don’t like a steep angle for your keys, though, this might not be for you. Read our Razer Pro Type Ultra review.
How I tested the Logitech G915 X Lightspeed TKL
Tested for several days
Used for gaming, working, and browsing
Plentiful gaming keyboard experience
I tested the Logitech G915 X Lightspeed TKL for several days, during which time I used it for gaming, working, and general browsing.
I played games such as Counter-Strike 2, which is a good test for keyboards since it requires quick and accurate inputs.
I have been PC gaming for over a decade, and during that time I have experienced many keyboards. I have also reviewed a good number across a broad spectrum of brands, switch types, and price points.
The JBL Tune 310C are a budget pair of wired earbuds designed to bring "hi-res" audio directly to you, for less than $25 / £15 / AU$30. At this price, you’re unlikely to be expecting a whole lot – and you're not wrong; buds this cheap can often falter with tinny audio, a flat design and limited feature-set. But this isn't the case here.
I’ll be upfront: you’re not going to get stunning sound quality out of the JBL Tune 310C. Sure, they can decode hi-res-quality files thanks to their built-in digital to analogue converter (DAC), but I rarely felt that I was getting a massively detailed listen. Despite that, I wouldn’t say the JBL Tune 310C are an unpleasant-sounding pair of in-ears.
When tuning into Black Eye by Allie X, bass displayed solidity, but the swift kick of the drum machine sounded a touch lethargic, meaning the track didn’t quite have its distinctive "bounce" – something the best wired earbuds are able to replicate. Meanwhile, vocals were clear, neither muffled nor distorted, although when switching to I Want You by Moloko, the singer’s breathiness was fairly muted, resulting in a less detailed, natural-sounding listen.
However, given their price, I’d still argue that the JBL Tune 310C offer adequate audio. The resonant bass and clean vocals alone make for a decent all-round listen, even if subtle intricacies are missing. Treble is pretty bright, too, when listening to Electric Tooth Brush by Toronto; I was struck by the snappy high-pitched percussion. While such delivery might wear you down after some time, it's suited to songs with a more excitable sound signature. And even with that brightness, I'd argue that these buds rarely become grating, inflicting tinny audio onto your ears, such as the Belkin SoundForm Wired Earbuds with USB-C connector, for example.
Note that if you’re not loving the sound of the JBL Tune 310C, you’re able to tweak it to your liking. That’s because these buds come with three built-in EQ options – something that isn't an option even in high-calibre, pricier alternatives such as the Master & Dynamic ME05. The EQ preset options included are Default, which offers a more balanced sound; Bass, for ramped up low-end power; and Vocal, for focusing on voices in podcasts, news broadcasts, or similar.
And they do all sound unique, which is a big plus point in my view. Having said that, I did mostly find myself sticking with Default. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a lover of bass-heavy bangers, but the Bass mode can occasionally sound a little bloated in the low-end. For instance, the drum machine in Black Eye hit with more depth in this mode, but in turn, also sounded less agile and a touch muddy.
Meanwhile, Vocal mode works very nicely when watching dialogue-heavy content, whether that’s a documentary on one of the best streaming services or a podcast on Spotify. It isn't the best for listening to music, however, since it sometimes casts a tinny layer over your favorite tracks; I'd use it sparingly.
One feature that improves the overall user experience is the inclusion of multiple sizes of ear gels, ensuring a comfortable listen regardless of your ear shape. Unlike the loose-fitting JBL Tune 305C, this enables you to form a proper in-ear seal, opening you up to the world of passive noise isolation. Is this super effective? Not really. I could still hear the odd nugget of speech when listening at around 50% volume. Nevertheless, it did dull excess noise – the sound of colleagues typing, for example. And far more effectively than the Tune 305C can.
One final feature worth mentioning is the JBL Tune 310C’s built-in mic and controller. The controller allows you to adjust volume, toggle play/pause, take calls or adjust EQ (by holding the volume up and down buttons simultaneously). Pretty neat! And the built-in mic is surprisingly good, too. When making a call and taking a voice recording, my speech could sound a little on the quiet side, but my voice was clear and pretty uninterrupted by static – something even the more expensive buds can suffer from.
In terms of looks, these wired earbuds are pretty middle of the road. The flat wire, despite being conveniently tangle-resistant, is pretty prone to bending, which isn’t so pretty to look at. And similarly to the Tune 305C, there’s plastic casing on the outside of the buds that looks a little cheap, in my opinion. I'm a fan of the small-sized USB-C adapter and handy controller, though – neither of which suffered any connectivity issues. The buds also arrive in some neat color options, including black, blue, red and white.
In my view, there are only a couple of hold-ups in terms of design. First, I experienced quite a lot of cable noise when on-the-go. Sure, that’s an inherent issue with many buds that have eartips; but it could become quite distracting when I was moving around. Second, there’s a lack of waterproofing – something I always like to have for added peace of mind if using these buds in the rain, for example.
Otherwise, though, I was pleased with what the Tune 310C could provide. They’re pretty comfortable in-ear and aren’t too hefty, meaning they won’t slip out all too easily. Audio, although unremarkable, is certainly solid given the Tune 310C’s budget cost, especially when you consider the tuning available through their three EQ modes.
So, if you’re looking for some cheap, feature-rich earbuds, then these JBL buds are worth considering. The SoundMagic E80D are better still, if you have a little extra cash – simply for the upgrade in sound quality. Plus the Skullcandy Set USB-C are a decent alternative, if you want some waterproof buds.
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JBL Tune 310C review: Price and release date
$24.95 / £14.99 / AU$29
Launched in 2024
The JBL Tune 310C released in 2024 around the same time as the JBL Tune 305C. The latter are a looser-fitting variant more akin to the Apple EarPods. They have a very modest list price of $24.95 / £14.99 / AU$29, which is pretty much inline with the 305C and competitors like the Apple EarPods, for instance. That price is typically the same regardless of the color option you pick. For reference, these are available in black, blue, red and white.
JBL Tune 310C review: Specs
(Image credit: Future)
Should I buy the JBL Tune 310C?
Buy them if...
You’re looking for some inexpensive buds EQ options, a built-in DAC and solid mic quality, all for less than $25 / £15? Oh, go on then. If you’re looking for a cheap wired option, you’ll struggle to find buds with so many features packed in. Sound quality –although not out of this world – isn’t bad either, making the 310C an excellent choice for those on a tight budget.
You’re into bass-heavy bangers Considering the cost, I found the JBL Tune 310C offered impressively impactful bass. If you enjoy tracks with imposing low-end power, you won't go far wrong with the Tune 310C. You can even activate Bass mode by holding the volume up and down buttons simultaneously for some real low-end weight.
Don't buy them if...
You want earbuds for runs and workouts If you want earbuds that are totally workout-ready then the JBL Tune 310C are to be avoided. They don’t have a waterproof rating to give you peace of mind for those sweaty moments, and you’ll experience quite a lot of cable noise when you’re moving about. If you want a better suited audio companion, I’d recommend checking out our guide to the best open ear headphones.
You’re an audiophile If you value excellent, top-tier audio quality, the JBL Tune 310C aren’t going to cut it. Bass output is powerful for the price, but can get a little muddy. Vocals aren’t beautifully natural, and finer sonic details sometimes remain under wraps. Sure, they sound solid for the price, but these certainly aren’t audiophile-grade.
JBL Tune 310C review: Also consider
SoundMagic E80D For me, the SoundMagic E80D are among the best cheap wired earbuds money can buy. Sure, they’re a little more pricey than the JBL 310C buds, but if you want a more controlled, detailed listen, they deliver with ease. They’re also comfortable in the ear and block out external noise fairly well. There really is a lot to love about the E80D, but don’t just take my word for it. Read our full SoundMagic E80D review.
Apple EarPods USB-C Want something a bit more loose fitting? Well, the Apple EarPods USB-C are among the best budget options for you. You get decent all-round sound, a relaxed in-ear fit, and classic Apple sleekness – all for less than $20 / £20 / AU$30. Note that the open-style fit does leave you more exposed to external noise, however, so bear that in mind if you want a more focused listening experience. Read our full Apple EarPods USB-C review.
JBL Tune 310C review: How I tested
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Tested for one week
Used in the office and while on walks
Predominantly tested using Tidal
I put the JBL Tune 310C to the test over the course of one week. When trying out these buds, I predominantly spent my time listening to music, which I did in the main through Tidal on the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE. However, I also tried them out with YouTube and Spotify on my Windows laptop.
When listening, I played through all the tracks in our TechRadar testing playlist, which contains songs from a variety of genres – read our guide on how we test earbuds for more. In addition, I spent hours tuning into songs from my personal library, while also using them in a variety of environments, including busy streets and the office at Future Labs.
If you want to get things done with precision, slick ergonomics and outstanding connectivity, try the new HP Series 7 Pro 727pm for size. It's a 27-inch 4K monitor with fantastic connectivity, plus a few extra useful frills that help it rank among the best business monitors.
The main attraction is a 27-inch 4K LCD panel using LG's IPS Black technology for heightened contrast. To that HP has added a suite of features aimed at maximising utility. That starts with truly comprehensive connectivity, including both Thunderbolt 4 and DisplayPort in and out, monitor daisy chaining, a KVM switch, and full hub functionality with ethernet.
You also get a pop-out 5MP webcam with Windows Hello and AI head tracking capability. In productivity and connectivity terms, this monitor really has all your bases covered. However, it's slightly less impressive from a multimedia perspective.
HDR support is limited to DisplayHDR 400 and this monitor only runs at 60Hz. But those are expected limitations for this class of display, even if higher refresh rates of 120Hz and beyond are arguably becoming more mainstream and do have benefits beyond just gaming.
HP Series 7 Pro 727pm: Design & features
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Slick, slim-bezel design
Outstanding connectivity
Above-average integrated webcam
Specs
Panel size: 27-inch
Panel type: IPS Black
Resolution: 3,840 by 2,160
Brightness: 400 cd/m2
Contrast: 2,000:1
Pixel response: 5ms GtG
Refresh rate: 60Hz
Color coverage: 98% DCI-P3
HDR: VESA DisplayHDR 400
Vesa: 100mm x 100mm (bracket included)
Inputs: DisplayPort 1.4 x1 in, DisplayPort 1.4 x1 out, HDMI 2.0 x1, Thunderbolt 4 in with 100W PD, Thunderbolt 4 out with 15W PD, USB-C with 65W PD
The HP Series 7 Pro 727pm conforms to HP's latest premium productivity design language. So, it's clean, modern and minimalist. The slim and symmetrical bezels on all four sides of the display make for a contemporary looking and compact monitor. You won't need a huge amount of desktop space to accommodate this 27-inch monitor. It's also nicely engineered with a metal stand and base that offers a full range of adjustment and thus excellent ergonomics.
The plentiful range of ports on the rear are likewise especially easy to access, with all ports located on the chassis back panel with cables and connectors exiting straight out the back as opposed to directly downwards. That includes the power cable, which slots neatly into the rear with neat flush-fitting attachment.
You can also plug a standard kettle-style power cable into the rear, but the bundled connector with its flush attachment is a nice touch and speaks to the attention to detail to which HP has gone with this display. Speaking of those connections, there's quite the array of them on the rear. You'll find two Thunderbolt 4 ports, one input with 100W PD and one output with 15W PD, another USB-C in, USB-C out, DisplayPort in and out, HDMI, ethernet and two USB-A out.
That little collection means you have support for everything from single-cable laptop connectivity to sharing this monitor across two PCs or Macs via the integrated KVM switch, plus monitor daisy chaining that allows you to run a dual-display setup via just one cable. It really is a comprehensive setup.
To that you can add the integrated 5MP webcam. It pops out of the top bezel manually, which means it can be hidden away for totally reliable security and offers both Windows Hello support for quick and secure Windows logins and AI head tracking.
The latter works better than some competing cameras with similar functionality, tracking you accurately as you move around the camera frame. Admittedly, the tracking is a little slow and laggy, but it does offer you a little more freedom of movement than a conventional fully static webcam.
What's more, the image quality is a clear step above both most integrated monitor webcams and those typically found in laptops. In other words, you'll very likely benefit from the HP Series 7 Pro 727pm's webcam almost regardless of what laptop you're currently using.
HP Series 7 Pro 727pm: Performance
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Crisp, precise 4K visuals
IPS Black tech isn't that impressive
Limited HDR support
In theory, the main visual attraction of the HP Series 7 Pro 727pm is its 27-inch panel. Partly that's because it offers a full 4K resolution of 3,840 by 2,160 pixels. Sure enough, that translates into excellent pixel density of 163DPI.
The result is really crisp, clean fonts and razer-sharp image detail. That applies to both Windows and MacOS, the latter being particularly good at making the most of this HP's pixel density when it comes to rendering really lovely looking fonts.
In practice, the other key element from an image quality perspective isn't quite so successful. HP has gone for LG's latest IPS Black panel tech. On paper, it offers all the usual benefits of IPS panel technology, including excellent colour accuracy, good viewing angles and fast response (in an LCD as opposed to OLED context) and adds increased contrast.
It's contrast where IPS is weakest versus VA panel technology, with most IPS panels coming in at 1,000 or 1,300 to one ratios. This IPS Black panel increases that to fully 2,000 to one. That's a big boost even if it's still well short of the 3,000 or 4,000 to one of most VA-equipped monitors, never mind the perfect per-pixel lighting and effectively infinite contrast of an OLED display.
Anyway, as we've found with all other IPS Black monitors, the subjective experience doesn't really match the on-paper advantages. For sure, this is a lovely 4K IPS monitor. It's vibrant, punchy and accurate. It just doesn't look obviously superior to other high-quality IPS monitors. As with all IPS panels, there's still a little light bleed and the contrast and black levels are subjectively very similar.
As for HDR performance, this monitor lacks local dimming and only offers HDR 400 certification, which is entry-level stuff. Ultimately, this isn't a true HDR monitor, but it can at least decode an HDR signal.
Elsewhere, the limitation to 60Hz is largely expected for this class of productivity rather than gaming monitor. But refresh is one area where this monitor ends up feeling a little dated in years to come. Once you've used a 120Hz-monitor as your daily driver, 60Hz panels like this do feel a tiny bit sluggish.
That said, the pixel response is zippy enough. HP has included four levels of pixel-accelerating overdrive in the OSD menu. The fastest setting really is pretty nippy and only suffers from a touch of overshoot. If you want to game on this monitor, you will actually get a pretty good experience, albeit it won't be a high-refresh experience.
HP Series 7 Pro 727pm: Final verdict
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The new HP Series 7 Pro 727pm isn't cheap, especially not for a "mere" 60Hz 27-inch monitor using LCD as opposed to OLED technology. However, the 4K resolution makes for super crisp and precise visuals and lots of working space.
Admittedly, the supposedly next-gen IPS Black panel doesn't move the game on much, in subjective terms, compared with existing IPS screen technology. ANd the HDR support on offer is limited. But in terms of the clear productivity remit, this is a lovely monitor to use daily thanks to its vibrant, accurate visuals and excellent image detail.
But arguably the star of the show here is connectivity. HP has covered off just about every eventuality, with Thunderbolt 4, 100W charging, daisy chaining, a KVM switch, USB-C hub support, ethernet, the works—you name it, this monitor has it when it comes to connectivity.
The pop-out 5MP webcam is likewise a very welcome inclusion. Along with Windows Hello support, it sports AI-enabled head tracking that works better than many similar systems. It also offers much better image quality than most integrated webcams, be they in other competing monitors or in laptops.
All told, the HP Series 7 Pro 727pm offers a very strong productivity proposition. It's not the cheapest 4K 60Hz IPS panel out there. But if you're going to make use of a decent subsection of its feature set, it's definitely worth the extra cash over a screen with more basic connectivity and no webcam. Just don't go buying it expecting that IPS Black panel tech to be revolutionary.
Apple hasn’t changed much with the latest generation iPad Air, and for good reason. In 2024, Apple expanded the Air to two sizes, moved the front-facing camera, tossed in support for the Apple Pencil Pro, and upgraded it to the M2 chip.
This year – and not even 12 months have passed since the last upgrade – Apple keeps the same prices and color options but equips the Air with an even better chip – the M3. The result is a faster yet refreshingly familiar experience that checks off the right boxes, whether you want a tablet just for entertainment or one for both work and play. The only caveat is that the Magic Keyboard, which you'll really benefit from if your focus is more on productivity, is an additional purchase and doesn't come bundled with the iPad Air, although it's cheaper year over year.
In my five days with the iPad Air, I really noticed and enjoyed the speed boost. It stretches the value proposition that bit further, and puts any concerns about power – both now and likely for the foreseeable future for most people – pretty much to bed for me. I was able to edit photos in Photoshop and Pixelmator, draw my wildest dreams in ProCreate, and even edit a movie in Final Cut Pro, and export those media files swiftly, with the Air sometimes outpacing a MacBook Air.
When it was time to get to work, I could dive into Slack, Safari, Gmail, and Google Docs to quickly write, edit, and produce stories to get them live without missing a beat. And I could also fit in time for a FaceTime call, a quick game – be it a AAA title or an Apple Arcade one – and stream any TV show or movie on the services I subscribe to.
Apple Intelligence in its current state is fully supported here, and future upgrades, including the AI-infused Siri and other yet-to-be-revealed ones, should run here without issue. I had no problems creating my emojis, removing objects from photos, and even dabbling with writing tools to clean up copy.
All this is to say that the latest generation iPad Air blurs the line between who this is for and who the iPad Pro is for. Yes, it’s more powerful than the iPad mini or the entry-level iPad, but it lacks some of the flair of the iPad Pro. If you need the best-in-range screen from Apple, and for some reason need even more power than the new Air, or really want the ultra-thin look and feel, the Pro is worth consideration if you can afford it.
Otherwise, the latest iPad Air might be a bit thicker and heavier, but it makes less of a dent in your wallet – and really isn’t that heavy. I normally would have opted for the larger-screen option, but the 11-inch iPad Air stretched its mileage for me. It’s proved to be an excellent working companion when teamed with the Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil Pro, allowing me to leave my Mac at home and more than get by with just the super-portable combo.
If you invested in the iPad Air with M2 you won’t need to make the jump just yet, but if you have an M1 or older iPad Air, or own an entry-level iPad and feel the need for more power, now’s an excellent time to upgrade.
Apple iPad Air 11-inch (2025): Specs
Apple iPad Air 11-inch (2025): Price and Availability
(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)
How much does it cost: $599 / £599 / AU$999 for the 11-inch or $799 / £799 / AU$1,299 for the 13-inch
When does it ship: Apple’s iPad Air with M3 in both sizes formally launches on March 12, 2025.
Here’s some good news: Apple’s 11-inch iPad Air with M3 starts at $599 / £599 / AU$999, and the 13-inch at $799 / £799 / AU$1,299, which is the same price as last year’s M2 model. Both start at 128GB but can be configured with 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB of storage if you’re willing to spend the money.
Apple also offers an LTE model with 5G connectivity if you need it. The iPad Air comes in Purple, Blue, Space Gray, or Starlight regardless of connectivity or storage size.
My test unit is an 11-inch iPad Air with M3 with cellular connectivity and 1TB of storage in a lovely shade of purple.
Value score: 4.5 / 5
Apple iPad Air 11-inch (2025): Design
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The 11-inch size is very portable without compromising on features or power
It's a nearly identical build to the 2024 model aside from slightly less branding
Considering that Apple updated the design of the iPad Air in 2024 and rolled out a new super-sized 13-inch model, there isn’t a whole lot new about the M3 iPad Air design-wise. After all, the most significant change does lie within the name.
The dimensions year over year for both sizes remain essentially the same. The 11-inch iPad Air I’ve been using is 247.6 x 178.5 x 6.1mm and weighs 460 grams – that’s actually two grams lighter than last year’s model, but the difference is indiscernible in everyday use.
For those keeping track, that’s heavier and thicker than the 11-inch iPad Pro, but the iPad Air still feels effortlessly modern. I still dig the pastel-y shade of purple that it comes in and appreciate that, thanks to its matte aluminum finish, the rear gets easily covered in fingerprints. That distinct shade of purple can also change depending on how the light hits it.
The most noticeable design change that Apple has made to the iPad Air is removing the name from the tablet's rear. On previous models, ‘iPad Air’ was stamped above the Smart Connectors on the rear (when held vertically, it was centered on the bottom), but that’s no longer the case. Now, the whole rear is quite clean, aside from a shiny Apple logo in the center and a 12-megapixel camera aperture in the upper-right corner (when held vertically).
Little has changed in terms of button and port placement, which is to be expected, especially since the power button with the embedded Touch ID sensor was already in a location that works great for either orientation. When the Air is held horizontally or docked in the Magic Keyboard, that button lives at the top on the left-hand side, making it easy to unlock the iPad and authenticate for purchases or password fill-ins, and when you’re holding the tablet held vertically Touch ID is a beat away at the top on the right-hand side.
Touch ID is fast here, and I’d highly recommend setting up a finger from each of your hands, as it makes it a bit easier to get the most out of the button in both orientations; it will also save you from playing Twister when it comes to unlocking. You’ll also find the stereo speakers – which get quite loud – on the shorter sides of the iPad Air, so on the top and bottom when it’s vertical or left and right when horizontal. It makes this tablet excellent for enjoying content, be it in an episode of Bluey with my niece, the latest episode of Severance, or Bruce Springsteen’s Road Diary on Disney Plus.
The speaker volume is controlled by the up and down buttons that are on the top when horizontal or right side when vertical, or via Control Center. For charging or data transfers, the USB-C port is still on the bottom when the tablet is vertical or on the right side when it’s horizontal. You get a USB-C to USB-C cable and wall plug in the box.
Right below the volume controls is the magnetic connector for the Apple Pencil. The iPad Air supports both the Apple Pencil Pro or Apple Pencil with USB-C, but I’d recommend the former if you can afford it, as it will wirelessly charge when attached to the side. As we noted with the 2024 refresh of the iPad Air, reconfiguring the wireless charging spot here required some heavy lifting on Apple’s part.
Apple has made this change not only to facilitate easier Pencil charging, but also so that it could move the front-facing 12-megapixel wide camera that supports CenterStage, which is now in a better position when you're using the iPad Air horizontally. The microphone now sits directly next to it, and you won’t risk muddying up the lens with fingerprints, which can be an issue given that the bezels on tablets are relatively thick. The bezels are identical in size to those on the 2024 model, and despite their relative thickness and the Liquid Retina display here, which I’ll talk about more in the next section, is almost all screen.
Even if it’s no longer the thinnest or lightest iPad, the 11-inch iPad Air was never a chore to take with me. While I usually use a 13-inch iPad Pro, I really like the flexibility this size of iPad affords – I could easily toss it in a bag or backpack wrapped in either the Smart Folio or the Magic Keyboard. It will easily fit on a tray table on an airplane, but more importantly, it didn’t take up too much space when I was working in a cafe or at a kitchen island. The 11-inch size has its perks.
So, the iPad Air is still the name, but maybe ‘Air’ reflects the price more than the design. Either way, the iPad Air is still a modern-looking tablet that has all the buttons in the right places and is won’t weigh you down, whether you’re using it to watch something in bed, working at your desk or from the kitchen, or touting it around in a bag.
The Liquid Retina display is still excellent with punchy colors
No ProMotion high refresh rate here
I’ll cut to the chase here: the 11-inch Liquid Retina display is excellent. No, it’s not a Dynamic OLED like on the iPad Pro, but it’s more than enough for everything from streaming content to editing photos or videos or drawing in Procreate, playing games like Asphalt 9 or Mini Metro, browsing the web, and responding to emails in between all of the above. The colors are vibrant and punchy, contrast is good, and whether it was typed or handwritten via an Apple Pencil, text is rich and inky.
Apple is also one of the best at creating anti-reflective coatings for its screens, and the oleophobic coating here effectively blocks fingerprints from being visible when you’re using the tablet. That’s something that I think is pretty important – and remember, the 11-inch Air only hits 500 nits at its peak (that’s up by 100 to 600 nits on the 13-inch iPad Air), so the coating is doing its thing here.
As on the 2024 model, this year’s display still has a 2360 x 1640 resolution at 264 pixels per inch, with support for the P3 Wide Color Gamut and Apple’s True Tone tech.
For the lower price, I think the Liquid Retina display here isn’t too much of a concession – it’s a great tablet screen that lets you make the most of iPadOS and your various apps.
The only thing missing is a higher refresh rate courtesy of the ProMotion designation, but as on the iPhone and Mac, Apple reserves that for its higher-tier products.
Still, whether you’re using the 11-inch iPad Air for education, work, or play, you’ll be happy with the screen here. And if you want a super-sized experience, the 13-inch Air gives you a more expansive canvas.
Display score: 4 / 5
Apple iPad Air 11-inch (2025): Cameras
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No major upgrades to either the front or rear camera
Center Stage is still great for video calls
Like every other iPad in Apple’s lineup, the iPad Air features two cameras, and as on every other model but the iPad mini, the front camera is on the landscape/horizontal side. It’s still a 12-megapixel camera that supports Center Stage, Apple’s onboard software that responds swiftly to keep you in the center of the frame for video calls. That, plus the better location for the camera, especially if you use it docked in the Magic Keyboard, makes this an excellent device for video calls or at-home recording.
For instance, one night, while cooking dinner, I rested the iPad Air on the counter in one position. As I moved around to the stove and back to the countertop, including draining a pot while cooking pasta, Center Stage kept me in the frame while on a FaceTime call with friends.
The rear camera on the new iPad Air is still a 12-megapixel wide lens that can zoom in up to five times digitally and supports video recording at up to 4K at 60 frames per second. It performs pretty well, and considering some folks insist on taking photos with an iPad, the Air does a good job here.
Cameras score: 4 / 5
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Apple iPad Air 11-inch (2025): Software
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It's the familiar iPadOS experience
The iPad Air supports the advanced Stage Manager multitasking mode
It works really well with the new Magic Keyboard; it's more laptop-like than before
Just as with the iPad, iPad mini, iPad Pro, or the iPad Air that came before this iPad Air, one of the best parts of the Apple tablet experience is the vast array of things you can do on your device.
In my testing time so far, I’ve been writing – including this review – on the iPad Air with it docked in the Magic Keyboard, streaming movies and TV shows, playing games like Mini Metro, RFS+ (a flight simulator), Asphalt 9, and Disney Dreamlight Valley, editing photos and videos in Pixelmator, Photoshop, Final Cut Pro, and Detail, drawing in Procreate, practicing organization in Notability, and even dabbling with some 3D modeling to see what the M3 chip is capable of in the likes of Uniform.
I’ve pushed iPadOS pretty much to the limits, using just one app, multitasking on a split screen with a third app hanging on the side, and even using Stage Manager. iPadOS 18 is still a very familiar experience; it’s another year older, but Apple is still differentiating it from its other OSes – it’s not entirely different from iOS, though it has clear benefits for the tablet form factor, and still uniquely different from macOS. There’s sufficient continuity between iPadOS and Apple’s wider ecosystem, though – I can use my Mac’s trackpad and keyboard on the iPad thanks to Universal Control, and even extend my display to the iPad with Sidecar.
The M3 chip here is very, very powerful, and ensures that nothing so much as stutters, other than a larger 4K export file in Final Cut Pro, which took some time. For the most part, any typical productivity or entertainment task really flies, allowing you to get a lot done with the iPad Air in a little time – and it also blurs the lines as to who might need this model versus the iPad Pro with the M4.
While the iPad Air with M2 was released before Apple unveiled Apple Intelligence and began its staggered release – one that’s still ongoing – it does support the suite of features, as does the iPad Air with M3.
A lot of what you can do with Apple’s take on AI right now is complimentary to the rest of iPadOS – you can remove photo bombers and objects from photos directly in the app under ‘Clean Up’, you can opt to have your notifications summarized, create unique emojis on the fly, and even have Siri route your queries through ChatGPT.
You’ll also find Siri’s new look – a colorful glow that surrounds the whole display as a digital bezel – here on the iPad Air, but the truly AI-infused Siri is still a promised feature. On March 7, Apple announced that the smarter Siri was taking a bit longer that expected, and that it would arrive “in the coming year.” Whenever it does come, the iPad Air with M3 will support ot, as well as future Apple Intelligence features
Another way in which the iPad Air with M3 really shines is when it’s docked into the redesigned Magic Keyboard, which costs $269 / £269 / AU$449 for the 11-inch iPad, and $319 / £299 / AU$499 for the 13-inch model. Regardless of size, the new Magic Keyboard is slightly cheaper, and you’re getting a much more Pro experience that almost takes you into MacBook territory. Apple has kept the same form factor for the Magic Keyboard, but there’s now a 14-key function row, which gives you easy access to shortcuts like multitasking, playback control, volume control, and even focus mode engagement. You also get a full QWERTY keyboard with arrow keys and a larger trackpad. I spent two days using just the 11-inch iPad Air as my main work device, tabbing between Slack, Gmail, Google Docs, and Sheets, as well as Safari, Messages, Photoshop, Notes, FaceTime, and countless other apps.
Even though I usually use a 13-inch or 14-inch MacBook, I didn’t feel all that cramped on the iPad Air, even at the 11-inch size, and this is something I want to test more while traveling. I especially liked that I could literally reach out and touch iPadOS when I needed to, and I felt at home with the more laptop-like experience as well.
Another key and needed upgrade to the Magic Keyboard is an upgrade to the charging speed, and the keyboard’s USB-C port now supports up to 60W charging, the same as the iPad’s own USB-C port. Bravo, Apple! To make room for the extra row of keys and larger trackpad, the oval hinge – the mechanism by which the iPad attaches and the case closes – has been redesigned to accommodate the extra functionality. It’s really well designed, and my only complaint is that the Magic Keyboard only comes in white, which will undoubtedly get dirty.
It adds cost to the iPad Air, but it’s an excellent accessory that will let you stretch the mileage and capabilities of the tablet itself; and paired with the M3 chip inside, the excellent, punchy display, and iPadOS, it will most certainly let you get a bunch of years of use out of your device.
The Apple Pencil Pro is also an add-on at $129 / £129 / AU$219, and one that I found enjoyable to use for note-taking, navigating iPadOS, and for creative acts like drawing. Way back when Apple first launched the original Apple Pencil and super-sized 12.9-inch iPad, I ditched a Retina MacBook Pro for the iPad and used it with the Pencil and eventually a Smart Keyboard as my main device combo – and the note-taking experience is still effortless here, and basically identical to writing on paper, with no visible latency. The addition of Squeeze to the Pencil Pro lets you easily engage options like an eraser, which is quite helpful considering Apple never added one to the top.
Software score: 4 / 5
Apple iPad Air 11-inch (2025): Performance
(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)
M3 chip lets the iPad Air fly with nearly any task
Even more intense video edits or AAA game perform without hiccups
Not a night and day difference over the M2 iPad Air, but older models will see a big improvement
The biggest change with Apple’s 2025 iPad Air refresh is the newer, faster, and better-equipped M3 chip under the hood. It also blurs the lines between the iPad Air and the M4-powered iPad Pro a bit more, as both are very powerful – and it was already a close race last year between the M2-powered Air and the M4 Pro. Apple’s silicon is just very, very good.
I threw pretty much everything at the M3 iPad Air, and it was almost impossible even to slow it down, never mind make it buckle. It’s not leagues better than the iPad Air with M2, but it’s closing the gap with the Pro, and has me questioning exactly which specific use cases might require you to make that jump – the overall thinner build and OLED screen might be better selling points for the Pro.
Considering that the Air in iPad Air doesn't mean slower speeds or a super light build, I think it really denotes that this tablet is closer in terms of features and power to the MacBook Air. The new iPad Air is more affordable, but it still delivers a stellar experience in nearly every department, especially performance. I could perform all my daily tasks for work, from email to writing and editing written words, as well as producing GIFs and editing photos, then exporting them at my normal speed, if not faster. I could also have a FaceTime call running during this or even take a break for a quick game – maybe, just don’t tell my boss that. Testing, though, am I right?
In my daily experience, the M3 iPad Air flew, and quantitatively, it also bettered the results we got from the M2 iPad Air in 2024. Apple hasn’t put an underpowered version of the M3 in the iPad Air – it’s still an M3 chip with an 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine as well as 8GB of RAM – that’s plenty for an iPad in pretty much any use case.
The chip enables hardware-accelerated ray tracing for AAA titles like Death Stranding and Resident Evil. Using GeekBench 6, which runs the iPad Air through a number of tests, the iPad Air scored very well, achieving 3,023 single-core and 11,716 multi-core scores. That jumps past the iPad Air with M2, which scored 2,591 on single-core and 10,046 on multi-core, and puts it closer to the iPad Pro with M4, which scored 3,700 on single-core and 14,523 on multi-core.
Suffice to say, those are impressive numbers from Apple’s mid-range iPad, at a much more affordable price of $599 / £599 / AU$999 11-inch or the $799 / £799 / AU$1,299 for the 13-inch then compared with the iPad Pro. You’ll also find that really any iPad task runs well here, assuming you have the app to make it happen.
Given that it’s not a huge leap over the M2-powered iPad Air, I don’t see any need for folks who bought that model last year to rush out and upgrade. But if you have an older standard iPad, and find your needs pushing past its capabilities, or even an M1-powered iPad Air or older, the iPad Air with M3 makes a whole lot of sense, offering power and performance that will last you for many years to come.
Performance score: 4.5 / 5
Apple iPad Air 11-inch (2025): Battery and Connectivity
(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)
The iPad Air can still last a full work day on a charge
It's the same battery performance as the prior generation
No Wi-Fi 7 support
Still powering the 11-inch iPad Air is a 28.93Wh battery (the 13-inch Air has a larger 36.59Wh battery), and Apple again promises up to 10 hours of web surfing or watching a video on Wi-Fi. That essentially translates as all-day battery life, and that’s largely what I got out of the iPad Air with M3, even when docked in the Magic Keyboard, which didn’t seem to drain much more of the battery. What battery depletion I did experience was generally the result of a more power-hungry process or app – for example, exporting a bunch of photos or videos, or a AAA game.
I could get through between eight to 10 hours of work with brightness at about 70% using various productivity apps, and some music playback and video calls in between, which is pretty good for a tablet of this size, all things considered. When needed, I could also plug in the iPad Air or utilize the port on the Magic Keyboard with a USB-C cable to charge.
Connectivity is identical to the previous version, meaning that Wi-Fi 7 is still missing here, with Apple opting for Wi-Fi 6E. There’s also Bluetooth 5.3 and, on LTE models, support for 5G Sub-6 GHz and Gigabit LTE.
Battery and Connectivity score: 4 / 5
Apple iPad Air 11-inch (2025): Should you buy it?
Buy it if...
You have an older iPad or tablet
The M3 chip ensures you’ll have no concerns about power or performance, and makes this an especially good upgrade if you have an M1 iPad Air or older, an entry-level iPad, or another tablet, and are craving more power.View Deal
You don’t want to break the bank
At $599 / £599 / AU$999 for the 11-inch Air and $799 / £799 / AU$1,299 for the 13-inch model, you can get the screen size you want, along with excellent cameras, software, and power, without spending thousands.View Deal
Don't buy it if...
You don’t need M-series power
If you don’t need a laptop replacement, aren’t planning on playing AAA games, or are alright with some load times, go with the entry-level iPad.View Deal
You want a jaw-dropping display
If you want the best visuals and can stomach the price tag, consider the iPad Pro with M4 with its Dynamic OLED screenView Deal
Apple iPad Air 11-inch (2025): How I tested
I spent five days testing the 11-inch M3 iPad Air, supplemented with a Magic Keyboard, a Smart Folio, and an Apple Pencil Pro. After unboxing the tablet and accessories I set the iPad Air up as new, and then downloaded my usual apps to make it feel like home.
I mostly put my 14-inch MacBook Pro to one side, and put the iPad Air to the test by using it as my primary device productivity and entertainment device. I used it for most of my daily tasks, from responding to emails, writing articles, and communicating on Slack to editing photos and videos. I also played several games on the device, from more basic titles to AAA ones, and streamed hours of content, including music, TV shows, and movies.
