The Nike Pegasus 41 isn't the best running shoe in nearly any of the specialist categories you can think of, and for that reason, it's probably the best shoe for nearly everyone.
The Pegasus 41 is a mainstay, your only dance move, ol' reliable. There's a reason this shoe has been around since 1982. It doesn't have a carbon plate or a super light upper, it's not a race-day shoe or a high-mileage hero with more foam than a mattress. Quite simply, it's the one running shoe that I'd recommend for almost everyone in nearly every situation.
Of course, if you're an experienced runner with multiple shoes in rotation and a bandolier full of Kendal Mint cake, the Pegasus 41 might not be on your radar. Even still, I'd argue it's a brilliant middle-distance everyday trainer and a perfect starting point for beginners and enthusiasts looking to return to running. There's a running shoe for every distance and discipline these days, but if you only ever buy one, I'd probably make it the Pegasus 41.
(Image credit: Future)
I've had the Nike Pegasus 39 for a number of years, variously used for running, the gym, grocery shopping, and beyond. I couldn't quite believe just how much the Pegasus had improved when I first laced on the Pegasus 41.
New for the latest Pegasus is a full-length foam midsole made from Nike's ReactX foam (the first Pegasus to feature it). My 39s definitely feel pretty squashed and battered, so it's great to see Nike boosting overall durability and responsiveness, an upgrade that is immediately evident underfoot.
At any pace, there's a lot more cushioning than I expected with the Pegasus 41. It's not going to offer the ultra-plush ride of the Nike Invincible 3 or the upcoming Vomero 18, but I was pleasantly surprised nonetheless.
The cushioning is loaded towards the heel, as you can probably tell from the profile of the shoe, and this is definitely a shoe engineered more for heel strikers. The heel stack clocks in at 37mm, 4mm more than the previous trainer, a good indicator of how much more cushioning Nike has added.
If you fall somewhere in the middle you should be fine, but anyone running on the forefoot might find the sensation a little strange because there's not much cushioning up front. You do get a forefoot (and heel) Air Zoom unit, but I found this leads to a pretty firm feel at the front. At the back, it works much better.
(Image credit: Future)
The entire upper of the Pegasus 41 is really very comfortable. There's a more breathable mesh compared to previous versions, and something Nike calls the Dynamic Midfoot Fit system. The laces are tied to an internal midfoot band that wraps around your entire foot. The shoe feels really snug and secure from heel to toe and comes laced, out of the box, so you can get running without doing any rewiring.
I also think the Pegasus 41 is unbelievably stylish. I normally wouldn't go for a black colorway, but even the dark option I was sent is a head-turner in my opinion. There are a ton of colorways including the stunning Blueprint and the electric Racer Blue, which is new for 2025.
(Image credit: Future)
You'll find that the Pegasus is a little heavier than other everyday shoes like the Saucony Ride 17, but it's not clunky or cumbersome.
As mentioned, this isn't really a specialist shoe. If you're a runner looking for the softest, plushest ride possible, then there are far squishier and more pliable options on the market. Likewise, if you want something with a bit more rock and responsiveness underfoot, you'll definitely find zippier shoes out there. For races and speedwork, any speed shoe or carbon-plated alternative will give you the edge, and the Pegasus 41 isn't a shoe for lighting up the timesheets.
(Image credit: Future)
During my runs I found the Pegasus 41 to be extremely neutral. The ride is very inoffensive and pretty comfortable, but it doesn't give you a sense of being propelled along the ground. There's certainly a bit more response compared to my Pegasus 39s, and the rocker motion is also a lot more noticeable than that older shoe. Nike has definitely improved the formula relative to that model, though it's still modest compared to the wider market.
It's also noticeably more stable than my previous Pegasus. I found very little lateral movement inside the shoe, and even over bumpier or uneven ground, stability felt very solid.
I'd say for longer distances the Pegasus 41 will probably start to fall off; that firm and thin forefoot just doesn't offer enough cushioning. However, I think it's excellent as a short and middle-distance shoe. While it can't match the best gym shoes on the market, it's also perfectly good for your warmup and stretching, and even a bit of strength and agility work.
The shoe is snug but pretty spacious, I have fairly large feet and didn't feel any cramping in the toe box or any discomfort.
Nike Pegasus 41: price & availability
$140/£129/$200 AUD
Men's and women's options, myriad of colors
Frequently discounted
The Nike Pegasus 41 is available from Nike.com and a plethora of third-party retailers. Its list price sits at $140 / £129 / AU$200 but even a cursory glance around the web will score you a pretty hefty discount.
There's a huge range of colors, these vary depending on whether you're picking men's, women's, or juniors. There's also an Extra Wide variant for the larger-footed among you. The Pegasus 41 runs true to size, so no need to size up or down.
(Image credit: Future)
Nike Pegasus 41: specifications
Nike Pegasus 41: Scorecard
Should I buy the Nike Pegasus 41?
(Image credit: Future)
Buy if it...
This is your first running shoe
With its decent price point, neutral ride, and good comfort, this is a great starter shoe if you're ready to take the plunge and see if running is for you.
You want an everyday trainer
The Pegasus 41 will excel in shorter, everyday runs.
You're a heel striker
There's plenty of cushioning underneath the heel, which makes this an ideal everyday shoe for heel strikers.
Don't buy it if...
You want a specialized running shoe
While it excels at the everyday, there are plenty of options out there with more cushioning, speed, or response if you're a more experienced runner.
You want a shoe for the gym
This is a running shoe at heart, and won't serve you well long-term for weight training, strength and conditioning, or anything that isn't running.
You're a toe striker
This firm toe and bulky heel make this shoe one to avoid for toe strikers.
Also consider
(Image credit: Future)
Saucony Ride 17
The latest iteration of Saucony’s popular all-rounders.
This review first appeared in issue 356 of PC Pro.
Representing the entry point of Qsan’s new NAS appliance family, the XCubeNAS XN5104R offers SMBs a small footprint storage solution with plenty of room to grow. This competitively priced 1U rack NAS presents four hot-swap LFF/SFF SATA drive bays at the front, secretes a pair of NVMe SSD slots inside and teams them up with four 2.5GbE multi-gigabit ports.
A quad-core 2.3GHz Intel Xeon D-1714 CPU sits in the driving seat and is partnered by 8GB of DDR4 which can be expanded hugely to 256GB. There’s room for more network ports, as the spare PCI-E Gen4 slot accepts Qsan’s dual-port 10GbE and 25GbE cards.
A compelling feature of Qsan’s NAS appliances is their enormous expansion potential, and the XN5104R is no exception. Fit Qsan’s SAS3 PCI-E card and you can daisy-chain a mix of external disk shelves for a total of 414 drives and a maximum raw capacity of 9PB.
It may have a small footprint, but the XCubeNAS has huge potential(Image credit: Future)
For deployment, we loaded four 22TB Western Digital Red Pro NAS drives and used the XFinder app to discover the appliance and install the latest QSM software. From the custom setup option, we created a big RAID5 storage pool and, if you install NVMe SSDs, you can assign one or both to a pool as a hybrid cache, which accelerates both read and write operations.
QSM offers plenty of storage management and data integrity features. The ZFS-based OS includes copy-on-write snapshots for NAS shares and iSCSI LUNs, in-line data deduplication, intelligent real-time data tiering and facilities for applying one of three WORM (write once read many) policies to NAS share data. You can use a policy to guarantee nothing already in a share can be modified, set it so that only new files copied to the share have the retention date applied, or stop anything from ever being modified or deleted by applying a WORM forever policy.
The QSM web console is easy to navigate but apps are in short supply, with Qsan only including ones for file and media management, hardware monitoring, antivirus, backup and cloud syncing. It used to offer VPN, SQL database, web services and hypervisor manager apps, but these were dropped from QSM a while ago.
The apps Qsan does provide are easy to use, however. The Backup app manages snapshot scheduling and can secure appliance data to any Rsync-compliant remote appliance, as well as Amazon S3, Alibaba OSS and HiCloud S3 cloud accounts. It can replicate folders between XCubeNAS appliances using the Xmirror service, while the Cloud Sync app handles one-way and two-way sync jobs with Dropbox, OneDrive and Google Drive.
The XN5104R can be remotely managed using Qsan’s XInsight web server(Image credit: Future)
Qsan fans will like the free XInsight app, which offers central management for all their AFA, NAS and SAN appliances. Run as a web service on any Windows host, its web console provides an overview of all activity, storage usage and alert notifications plus quick access to each appliance’s management console.
Performance over 2.5GbE is good.
A share mapped to a Dell PowerEdge R760xs Windows Server 2022 host returned 2.3Gbits/sec and 2.2Gbits/sec for both Iometer sequential and random read and write tests, and the XN5104R delivered identical results in our 2.5GbE IP SAN tests. For the latter, we increased the pressure with a dual 2.5GbE MPIO link to our 1TB iSCSI target and recorded sequential reads and writes of 4.6Gbits/sec and 4.2Gbits/sec, while random operations held firm at 4.6Gbits/sec and 4Gbits/sec.
SMBs looking for a good-value rack NAS appliance with an enormous potential for capacity expansion will find a lot to like about Qsan’s XCubeNAS XN5104R.
It’s light on apps but big on 2.5GbE performance, and Qsan’s QSM software delivers great data integrity and storage management features.
This review first appeared in issue 356 of PC Pro.
The Chromebook Enterprise Flip CB5 comes across as both a reinvention of Asus’ excellent Chromebook Flip CX5 convertible, and as a premium, supersized version of its CM34 Flip. Like the former, it’s a big-screen, 2-in-1 convertible with a metallic shell and a fast Intel Core i5 spec. Like the latter, it’s switched to a squarer display with a 16:10 aspect ratio and 1,920 x 1,200 resolution, only here the screen is a massive 16 inches. Using it as a tablet is a slightly bizarre experience and there’s no USI stylus for notes and doodles. But it’s brilliant used in tent mode for ad hoc presentations or entertainment.
Tent mode is ideal for presentations and entertainment(Image credit: Future)
There’s a lot to like about this design, including the thin “nano-edge” frame around the display, and the way the hinge pitches the rear of the laptop upwards for a more comfortable working position. Compared to many of the plastic-heavy Chromebooks on test, the materials feel premium and the build extremely solid, with the near-black finish looking exceptionally smart. Like the old Flip CX5, it meets MIL-STD-810H certification for durability.
Connectivity goes beyond the usual basics, with two 10Gbits/sec USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 ports, a single USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 port and an HDMI 2 video output, plus a microSD card slot and headphone socket. The keyboard is one of the best on test, with 1.4mm of travel and a fantastic light but slightly clicky feel. There’s little to quibble about with the layout, bar a tiny split left-Shift key and a pint-sized number pad. The touchpad is wider than average, at 128 x 74mm, and although it’s precise don’t expect the glass coating of the best units.
Unlike many Chromebooks, the finish feels premium(Image credit: Future)
Let’s get the bad stuff about the screen out of the way. Like too many Chromebook displays, color depth is poor, covering only 59% of the sRGB gamut and 43% of DCI-P3. You might not notice the difference in isolation, but whack up the brightness and put it next to the Acer Chromebook Spin 714 or the Lenovo IdeaPad 5i Gaming Chromebook Plus and suddenly both stills and video look rather drab. What’s more, the 1,920 x 1,200 resolution can look stretched at this screen size, so this screen doesn’t have the same clarity as you’ll find on the Lenovo. Yet it’s fairly bright, reaching 325cd/m2, and low black levels mean plenty of punchy contrast. This and the sheer size work particularly well for video streaming and gaming, though it’s also easy on the eyes when you’re trying to get some work done: there’s no need to squint on a screen this big.
There’s no need to plug any headphones in, either, at least if you’re not out in public, as the Harman Kardon audio system dishes out good sound at sensible volumes, with great mid-range clarity and even some bass. Throw in sensitive mics and a 1080p webcam that produces crisp and well-exposed video, and you’ve got a fine platform for calls and meetings.
The screen is large, but don’t expect a huge range of vibrant colors(Image credit: Future)
This is one of three laptops on test with the Intel Core i5-1235U processor, and it’s an ideal choice for Chromebook use. It provides more than ample performance across web-based and Android apps, plus basic 3D graphics capabilities, without the expense of the more powerful Core i7 CPUs. The Enterprise Flip CX5 came second in many of our benchmarks, just behind the Core i7-powered Acer Chromebook Vero 514. Where it didn’t it wasn’t far behind, and even the Acer Chromebook Spin 714, with its newer 13th-generation Core i5, couldn’t shake it off. What’s more, battery life is stronger than you might expect with such a big screen, with 11hrs 40mins of 1080p video playback in our tests.
It’s touch and go which is the best of this month’s big-screen Chromebooks; the IdeaPad 5i Gaming Chromebook Plus has the better screen and the lower price, but the Asus has the edge on ergonomics and design. Either way, this is an excellent option whether you’re buying for business or for home.
The Dyson Car+Boat is a handheld vacuum with suction and battery life that put other handhelds to shame. The reason for that is that it's not really a handheld at all; it's a V8 bundled with different attachments. At time of writing, it's the only handheld option in the Dyson lineup. I put it to the test to see how it compares to the rest of the best handheld vacuums on the market, and if it's worth the extra investment.
I'll start by making it clear that despite being called the Car+Boat, this is not a wet-dry vacuum – Dyson is just suggesting it would be well suited to that. I don't have a boat, so I tried it out on my Fiat Panda.
Overall, it fared well. The suction is powerful, picking up dust and mud with ease, and – if I unleashed Max mode – also sucking up the many little stones that had collected in my footwells. The dust cup is generously sized and you'll get three attachments bundled in. Of those, the most interesting is a small, motorized head that's perfect for tackling larger, relatively flat surfaces like seat cushions and car mats. The Crevice tool is also essential for getting into narrow gaps. Battery life is far longer than most handhelds, offering up to 50 minutes on a single charge.
The compromise you'll have to make for the extra suction and longer battery is that the Car+Boat is a little bulky and heavy compared to many of today's best car vacuums. I was also annoyed by the fact that the trigger must be continually compressed for use – this is tricky when you're trying to maneuver the vacuum into small, awkward spaces.
It's expensive, although that's partly justified by the excellent performance, and that you're getting the mechanics of a full-sized vacuum. You'll need to weigh up whether it's worth just paying a little more for a Dyson stick vacuum (which, after all, can easily be converted into handheld mode). Alternatively, for less intensive cleaning tasks, there are plenty of far cheaper handhelds on the market.
If you're looking for a more heavy-duty handheld, though, the Car+Boat is a strong choice. It's great for larger cleaning sessions, and I'd especially recommend it to pet owners who need that extra suction, and a dust cup that can handle plenty of hair. That's the short version; read on for my full Dyson Car+Boat review.
(Image credit: Future)
Dyson Car+Boat review: price & availability
List price: $279.99 / £249.99 / AU$449
Launched: February 2025
The Dyson Car+Boat was announced in late January 2025 and went on sale in the US, UK and Australia at the start of February. It's available direct from Dyson as well as via a selection of third-party retailers. At list price it costs $279.99 in the US, £249.99 in the UK, or AU$449 in Australia. That puts it in the premium price bracket for a handheld vacuum.
It's no surprise that this is an expensive option, but is it worth the extra outlay? It's certainly an excellent handheld. The specs are well above most handheld vacuums, and the design and build quality are high, too. If you're on a budget, there are certainly plenty of cheaper handheld vacuums to choose from. Rival vacuum brand Shark's top handheld model – the Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro handheld vacuum – is a third of the price at $89.99 / £79.99 (about AU$150).
You'll need to factor in that the Car+Boat isn't really a handheld – it's a full stick vacuum, without its wand and floorhead. That means the mechanics are in line with what you'd get with a full-sized vacuum, and you'll also want to consider if you'd be better off just buying a stick vacuum, when it comes to value for money. The base model for this is the Dyson V8, and prices for that start at $349.99 / £329 / AU$799.
Value for money score: 3.5 out of 5
Dyson Car+Boat specs
Dyson Car+Boat review: design
Base model is a Dyson V8
Crevice tool, Combination tool and new handheld tool included
On the bulky / heavy side for a handheld vacuum
The base model for the Dyson Car+Boat is the Dyson V8 – the only difference is the attachments included. That model launched in 2016, and as a result, you're getting a slightly older configuration and motor here. There are cylones, the motor, dust cup, and removable battery, and the attachments can easily be swapped on and off. The motor spins at 110,000rpm, and there's a whole-vacuum filtration system that can capture 99.99% of particles as small as 0.3 microns.
Operation is via a trigger that needs to be continually depressed, and there are two suction modes (regular and Max), which you can toggle using a switch. The 0.54L dust cup is generous for a handheld, and empties by pulling the whole cyclone array upwards, at which point a flap at the base of the bin will drop open.
Pull the whole cyclone section upwards to empty the generous dust cup (Image credit: Future)
You get three attachments bundled in with the Car+Boat. Two are standard tools included with almost all other Dyson stick vacuums: a long, narrow Crevice tool for getting into tight spaces, and a Combination tool that looks like a wider nozzle with retractible brush surround. (More on these in my Dyson vacuum tools guide.)
The third looks like it's new to the Car+Boat, and it's a small motorized head for cleaning relatively flat surfaces like car seats, boat cushions and car mats. It includes a brushroll, and a cover that will move to sit flush with the surface as you clean, to maintain suction.
The new handheld-specific attachment (left) and Combination tool (right) (Image credit: Future)
It probably goes without saying, but there's no long wand or full-sized floorheads, as you'd get with the regular V8.
Dyson stick vacuum comparison
Because the Car+Boat is essentially a V8, and because all of Dyson's stick vacuums can be used as handheld models, it makes sense to briefly cover how the Car+Boat compares.
The V8 was released in 2016, and at time the launch of the Car+Boat, there are three newer vacuums in the lineup – the Dyson V11, the V15 Detect and Gen5detect – all of which have more powerful motors and longer battery life. There are further design differences: all have a more suction-efficient in-line configuration of bin, wand and motor, all have useful LCD screens to provide information, and all have a slightly simpler and more efficient bin-empty mechanism.
Although the V8 isn't the best Dyson vacuum by specs, it is perhaps the best option for handheld use. It's lighter than all the newer models (considerably so, in some cases), and more compact.
Design score: 4 out of 5
Dyson Car+Boat review: performance
Excellent suction and tools work very well
Slightly bulky in small spaces
Awkward to keep the trigger compressed in use
I used the Dyson Car+Boat to clean my embarrassingly dirty Fiat Panda, and overall I was impressed. The suction is excellent, picking up mud and dust easily, and even pulling up various small stones that had collected on the carpets. I found the Max mode useful for tackling tougher, more ingrained dirt.
The attachments are useful and, for the most part, very well designed. The Crevice tool is long enough to get right into small gaps like down the side of the seats, and the new motorized tool great for larger, flatter areas. The rotating cover works well to maintain a 'seal' around the roller and maximize suction efficiency. I found myself using the Combination tool the least, but it's still useful to have as an option.
The new motorized tool is great for flatter surfaces (Image credit: Future)
All of these tools are well designed, although not quite perfect. The brushroll can be prone to getting tangled with hair, which isn't a massive issue but is something Dyson has addressed elsewhere – its Hair Screw tool has a conical brushroll that directs hair straight into the dust cup. I think you could use a Hair Screw tool as an effective alternative to this new attachment. I also found the button that locks the brush surround on the Crevice tool into place could be a little fiddly.
The Car+Boat is on the chunky side for a handheld vacuum, and could be awkward for getting into tight spaces. I couldn't use it to dust my dash, for instance, because the motor wouldn't fit far enough under the windscreen, and it was a little tricky to maneuver under the seats, too.
A long Crevice tool gets right into tight corners (Image credit: Future)
My main complaint is that the trigger must be continually pressed in when using the vacuum – there's no clip or switch for continuous running. That's annoying even on a floor vacuum, but doubly so here, where you're trying to shift it at awkward angles spaces. (Dyson has upgraded this to a button on the newest Gen5detect, but none of the others.)
The design is excellent for larger, flatter spaces, however. I also think it'd be a great choice for pet owners, because the suction is powerful enough to handle pet hair, and the dust cup large enough to hold relatively large volumes of it (especially compared to other handhelds). The battery life is also outstanding, but I'll get to that in a second.
Performance score: 4 out of 5
Dyson Car+Boat review: battery life
Up to a quoted 50 minutes on one charge; less in Max mode
Far longer runtimes than the majority of handheld vacuums
Battery removable and swappable
Battery life is one of the areas where the Car+Boat really stands out from competitors. Dyson quotes a maximum of 50 minutes cleaning on a single charge. That's way above average – most cordless handheld vacuums offer a maximum of 30 minutes of cleaning, but sometimes it's more like 15 minutes. 50 is in line with some of today's best cordless vacuums. Note that Max mode will bleed the battery much faster, but that's to be expected – this mode is really only for tough spot cleans.
On test, I really appreciated this longer runtime. Cleaning cars and furniture is fiddly – it takes time to do it properly, and there's nothing worse than running out of battery halfway through the job, once you've wedged yourself into a footwell. I imagine it's the same with boats.
The battery is removable and swappable, so theoretically if you wanted to extend runtimes further, then you could purchase a spare.
Battery life score: 5 out of 5
Should you buy the Dyson Car+Boat?
Buy it if...
You want to clean large areas The long battery life and relatively large dust cup (for a handheld) make this model perfect for bigger cleaning jobs.
You're dealing with pet hair You might not need such powerful suction if you're just clearing dust from your car floors, but if you have molting pets that travel with you, it might be worth the extra investment in a Car+Boat.
Don't buy it if...
You already have a V8 The Car+Boat is just a V8 without the floorhead and wand – so if you have that model (or even a different Dyson one) you could just use that in handheld mode.
You have a small car and are on a budget If you don't need the long battery, there are lots of alternatives at a far lower price.
How I tested the Dyson Car+Boat
I used the Dyson Car+Boat to clean my Fiat Panda, including seats, carpets, footwells and as many nooks and crannies as I could get into. I also tested it on furniture in my home. I used all the various attachments, and compared it to other vacuums I've tested out in terms of both specs and usability.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is, put simply, a masterpiece and easily one of the best role-playing games (RPGs) of the last decade. It offers an incredible experience that, aside from its ambitious 2018 predecessor Kingdom Come: Deliverance, feels wholly unique and is quite unlike anything you might have played before.
Review info
Platform reviewed: PS5 Available on: PS5,Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC Release date: February 4, 2025
It demonstrates a new level of immersion and interactivity achieved through detailed simulation and a considered commitment to realism. Its brilliance comes not from its engaging, though occasionally convoluted, story, nor its polished life-like visuals, but rather a web of complex, interwoven mechanics that blend seamlessly with one another to create ingenious moments of emergent play.
Tasks that would be nothing short of mundane in other games become memorable escapades that unfold in a grounded, yet often unpredictable, fashion. I’ll never forget my hour-long hunt for a simple spade, the time my pricey shoes got stolen by local ne’er-do-wells after a chaotic tavern brawl, when I haggled with a shady roadside merchant for the spear that stabbed Jesus, or the hundreds of other amusing moments that left me grinning from ear to ear.
Making history
(Image credit: Deep Silver)
Set in medieval Bohemia (part of modern day Czechia), Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 picks up the moment that the previous installment ended. You are Henry of Skaltiz, an everyday villager who we saw transformed into something of a hero after his home was destroyed and his parents murdered by a horde of foreign raiders under the command of the invading King Sigismund. Having worked your way up the social ladder, you’re now in charge of protecting your friend, the young nobleman Hans Capon, as he delivers an important message to a lord in the nearby region of Trosky.
This simple task quickly spirals out of control as a band of roving criminals attacks your party and slaughters everyone aside from you and Capon. You narrowly escape, but sustain heavy injuries that, in typical European RPG fashion, knock your overall character level right back down. You’re forced to build yourself back up, finding work nearby and eventually reuniting with Capon before an even grander narrative unfolds.
Best bit
(Image credit: Deep Silver)
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is considerably greater in scope than its predecessor. The constant switching between political sides can be confusing early on, but it soon gives way to a fantastic, almost heist movie-like narrative filled with challenging battles and incredible set pieces.
Right off the bat, the inconsistent quality of the voice acting is going to be apparent. The voice work for major characters like Henry and Capon is superb and conveys a believable partnership, but non-playable characters (NPCs) can be very hit or miss. Some sound quite emotionless, while others place strange emphasis on certain words and phrases. I even found a couple that I became convinced are alternating between lines voiced by different people, which is quite jarring to say the least.
That said, it’s easy to forgive a lot of this given just how much voice acting there is throughout. Dialogue is branching, with multiple options depending on your previous actions or character stats. The ability for even the most insignificant of NPCs to respond to your behavior is awe-inspiring, commenting on how well you’re dressed, what you’ve just done, or even whether you’ve managed to get a wash recently. This is not only immersive but also has some interesting gameplay ramifications.
Decked out in a heavy suit of armor your attempts at intimidation are more likely to succeed, while investing all of your cash into a fine set of clothes and a trip to the bathhouse makes it easier to pass yourself off as a noble and talk your way out of sticky situations.
Living and breathing
(Image credit: Deep Silver)
This is just the start, however, as there are countless careful touches that make the open world feel truly life-like. The many traders, which range from butchers to cobblers and armor makers, can be haggled with, with your overall appearance and local reputation affecting just how low they're willing to go. Town criers travel between rural communities, recounting tall tales of the world beyond Bohemia for anyone willing to stop and listen. There are plenty of activities to try with their own in-depth mechanics, be that blacksmithing new gear, crafting new potions to add to your arsenal, or pinching trinkets for some quick coin.
Time constantly progresses and most NPCs even follow a daily routine, waking up at a set time before going to their place of work for a few hours and then visiting a local tavern or returning home for the evening before bed. Part of the way through the story you’re transported from the huge open fields around Trosky to a second map that contains the burgeoning city of Kuttenberg. It’s filled with beautifully modeled buildings and wandering through its bustling streets watching everyone engaging in a realistic day-to-day life feels like being transported back in time in the very best of ways.
These kinds of systems are paired wonderfully with very open quest design. Sure, some quite linear sections in the main story force you to play a certain way, but most side quests have a range of solutions and can play out very differently depending on your actions.
One such quest saw me tasked with assassinating a farmer and, while it’s definitely possible to run up to him and whack him with a sword in broad daylight, I opted to carefully study his movements. After working out the location of his house, I waited until about 11pm and crept through it silently knocking out all of its inhabitants before arriving at his bed. Hilariously, in all my planning I had forgotten to actually bring a knife for this crucial juncture, so ended up having to loudly beat him with a mace before running off under the cover of darkness.
Daily bread
(Image credit: Deep Silver)
You also have to watch Henry’s stats, making sure that you get enough sleep and keep your belly full. This might seem a tad annoying at first, but I found that it really encouraged deeper roleplaying than almost any other RPG I’ve experienced. I started planning my virtual days around stopping off at taverns for lunch or to rent a room for the night. Before embarking on long journeys to the starting location of the next story quest, I would routinely go out hunting and smoke my collected meats for longevity - an essential action unless you intend to die of severe food poisoning on the road.
Taking things slow also gives you time to properly recover in between bouts of combat, which is itself a highlight. There are loads of weapons to try, from the conventional one-handed and two-handed swords, axes, and picks, to ranged options like bows, crossbows, and some early, very impractical, firearms. Swords can be swung in five directions, selected by highlighting part of an on-screen star shape. Generally, your goal is to watch an opponent's positioning, swinging the sword in a direction that they have exposed.
It takes a lot of time to master, but visiting trainers will unlock advanced swordplay techniques like combos or ripostes to help hone your skills. I loved the Master strike, an unblockable move that you can trigger by attacking in the opposite direction of a foe just as they begin to swing. It’s tricky to pull off, potentially leaving your vulnerable, but incredibly powerful so presents the perfect balance of risk and reward.
The other weapon types are similarly well thought out and generally a little easier to manage, with fewer swinging directions to keep track of. Still, the most complex attacks are only accessible to those wielding a sword which gives you a good reason to invest the time in getting the hang of them.
This encapsulates the very essence of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. It is not an experience that can be rushed, and doing so would only hamper your enjoyment. Go in willing to truly immerse yourself in medieval life and you will be rewarded with an engaging story and one of the richest, most life-like worlds ever put in a video game.
Should I play Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2?
(Image credit: Deep Silver)
Play it if…
You love immersive RPGs Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 succeeds at fully immersing you in a medieval world, with beautiful environments and an impressive set of systems that respond realistically to your actions.
You want to see where the story of the first game goes Without spoiling too much, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 provides a satisfying conclusion to the plot of the first game. It even includes plenty of recaps for those who haven’t experienced it before.
You want to master a unique combat system Your arsenal is incredibly varied in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, with plenty of authentic medieval weapons to try out. Combat isn’t always easy, but it is very rewarding if you put in the time to learn how it works.View Deal
Don’t play it if…
You lack the patience Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is not a game that can be rushed. If you’re looking for an RPG that you can blaze through, you’re better off sticking to something like The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim.
Accessibility
Sadly, there is no dedicated accessibility menu in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2.
On console you can edit the control scheme somewhat, inverting the vertical and horizon axis and altering look sensitivity.
Subtitles are present throughout the game by default and have a range of display options including text size and high-contrast color settings.
During that time, I completed the entire main story, reaching the end credits, and explored a lot of what its two maps had to offer through a handful of side quests.
That said, there is still a lot that I didn’t manage to see, so I’m looking forward to diving back in to finish more optional tasks and maybe even replay the story to see how choosing other options at key decision points would play out.
After more than fifty hours of Sid Meier's Civilization 7and the complete annihilation of my sleep routine thanks to one too many light night sessions, I can confidently say that the latest entry in the legendary turn-based strategy franchise from genre masters Firaxis Games is as strategically rich and unapologetically moreish as ever.
Review info
Platform reviewed: PC Available on: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch Release date: February 11, 2025
I can’t deny that I went in rather sceptical too, as Civilization 7 is comfortably the most radical take on Civilization yet. Where previous installments have relied on just a handful of new mechanics to keep things feeling fresh, Civilization 7 makes several fundamental changes to the series’ core formula that are, by and large, masterfully handled. The decision to separate Leaders and Civs (the many playable historical groups), for example, is a bold one but opens the door to a whole new level of planning.
Employed aptly, swapping between Civs allows you to pivot your strategy on the fly, helping to prevent those painful, protracted losses that were once almost guaranteed to occur if you were unlucky enough to mess up early on. Competitors such as Humankind have experimented with a similar mix-and-match formula in the past but only demonstrated the potential pitfalls of such systems with uneven, poorly balanced matches.
These problems are thankfully nowhere to be found in Civilization 7, though, while it is one of the best PC games, that’s not to say that it's perfect and there aren’t a few areas with room for improvement.
Urban planner
(Image credit: 2K)
Civilization has always been the archetypal 4X (Explore, Expand, Exploit, Exterminate) strategy game, heavily employing all the elements of the genre’s namesake. You play as a historical leader in a procedurally generated hexagon-tiled map, exploring your surroundings before founding cities and beginning to expand your empire.
Placing buildings within cities provides useful yields, namely Science (which is tied to how fast you can work your way through a technology tree to unlock increasingly modern units or amenities), Culture for acquiring Civics (advancements in ideology with their own unique bonuses), and Production (simply how quickly you can build things). This is on top of more material resources, like Food (for increasing the population and number of tiles that your cities occupy), gold (which allows you to instantly buy buildings or units), and Influence (points you can spend interacting with other leaders).
Learning how to properly exploit the environment is key, as tiles have unique qualities that make them best suited to a certain yield. Paired with a plethora of adjacency bonuses and the new ability to overbuild (replace early buildings with superior versions when they become available), managing your cities is a tricky but thoroughly engaging challenge in and of itself.
(Image credit: 2K)
It was something that I always found a tad overwhelming in Civilization 6, but one small tweak makes city management in Civilization 7 that much easier to keep on top of. Now, new settlements are automatically founded as small towns, which are far more limited than full-blown cities and thus don’t require anywhere near the same level of micro-management. You can upgrade towns to cities for a fee, but I was content focusing all my attention on maximizing the output of just a couple of major cities for the majority of my games.
Spending time developing your metropolises is especially rewarding this time around, as Civilization 7 is by far the best looking strategy game I’ve ever played. Each miniature tile is incredibly detailed, allowing you to zoom in and see your chosen buildings as they’re constructed. Whether it’s the animated farm animals, bridges over the flowing rivers, or the wide variety of period-appropriate architectural styles that line the tightly-knit streets, everything looks like a beautiful museum diorama come to life.
Make your mark
(Image credit: 2K)
Of course, Civilization 7 is about far more than just managing where your subjects live and each match sees players working towards a range of victory types - with the first to fulfill any one’s conditions crowned the overall winner. The simplest is Domination, where you build up armies and exterminate every other player by capturing all of their territories. Generals, a new unit type that can band together nearby troops for easy transport, are a fantastic addition and eliminate the frustration that was moving large armies in previous games.
Other victory types are now tied to four new legacy paths (Military, Culture, Science, and Economic), which provide a constant set of objectives to pursue. Matches in Civilization 7 are themselves split into three distinct chunks that roughly reflect a key historical period (Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern) and the legacy paths have their own unique goals for each. The Military path, for example, focuses on capturing settlements in Antiquity, dominating the new world in Exploration, and, eventually, successful development of the atomic bomb in Modern.
Best bit
(Image credit: 2K)
There are multiple new progression systems in Sid Meier's Civilization 7, including one that gives you useful buffs you can take into future games. The most compelling, however, is leader Attributes, which are unlocked as you progress through a match. They help enhance your capabilities in specific areas, letting you finely tweak your leader to support your own playstyle.
Culture, meanwhile, is all about constructing one-of-a-kind World Wonders, founding an influential religion, and finally, a mad rush to dig up historical artifacts from all around the map. They all feel very distinct and successfully completing the objectives of the two initial ages provides useful bonuses for the next like some free population or enhanced versions of buildings. As a result, each age unfolds almost like its own small-scale game of Civilization, with players racing to complete these mini-goals. It lends matches a fantastic sense of pace, finally addressing the tendency for things to drag after the first hundred or so turns.
Still, I did notice that following a legacy path does start to become quite repetitive in time. Each legacy path always has the same goals, so realistically you’re going to end up performing the same actions a lot. By the end of my 50 hours, I felt like I had completely mastered all stages of both the Military and Economic legacy paths and was hesitant to start fresh games pursuing them. After 100 hours, I can imagine really needing some new ways to win - something that I hope will be introduced in the expected barrage of post-launch downloadable content.
Tag team
(Image credit: 2K)
It's not like every match unfolds in entirely the same predictable pattern, however, as the ability to switch your current Civ at the start of each age does add a lot of changeability. This is an absolute highlight and has been implemented impressively well. Each age has its own roster of historical Civs with their own unique buffs, buildings, and units and your choice of leader affects which ones you can pick after your initial selection in Antiquity. Those playing as renowned abolitionist Harriet Tubman, for example, will always be able to access America in the Modern age, which is a clever way to encourage more historically accurate pairings.
You can unlock more Civs by fulfilling certain criteria in each age, too. I played a game where I ended up building a lot of fortifications to protect myself against an aggressive neighbor in Antiquity, which unlocked the option to choose the Normans in the Exploration Age who partly specialize in defense. This is, in a word, brilliant, as it allows you to entirely shift your strategy if something isn’t working out.
If you go into a game intending to pursue an Economic victory and pick one of the corresponding first Civs only to end up wanting to pivot to Culture, you can simply unlock and switch to a more Culture-oriented Civ when you get the chance. It’s easier to pursue multiple victories this way too and means that you can often turn things around if you're not succeeding.
It definitely helps that there is an expansive selection of leaders available at launch, with returning military staples including Napoleon and Augustus joined by unconventional new picks like scheming author Machiavelli and traveled chronicler Ibn Battuta, as well as just over 30 Civs. To top it all off, both leaders and Civs have some really quite unique powers, like Battuta’s Trade Maps Diplomatic Endeavour that lets you spend Influence to see another leader’s explored land or America’s strong resource-grabbing prospector unit.
Code red
(Image credit: 2K)
Towards the end of the first two ages, you also have to deal with a crisis, which can range from the appearance of hordes of invading barbarians to deadly plagues that wipe out entire armies in just a few turns.
You combat these by enacting mandatory Crisis Policies, which generally provide some relief in one area while massively hampering your progress in another. Working out exactly which of the policies you’re offered will affect you the least is a welcome puzzle and the looming threat of a crisis ups the ante at a time when you would otherwise be winding down.
In spite of all these bombastic new additions, the one major area where Civilization 7 trulyfalls short is in its diplomacy system - which is baffling as, in my book, it was almost perfect in Civilization 6. Your interactions with other leaders feel unnecessarily limited, mainly focused on forming simple alliances and open border agreements. You can no longer directly trade gold, which means no bargaining for another leader’s cities or leveraging piles of money to bribe greedy leaders into initiating losing wars with others. It’s a real shame, as those systems opened the door to some seriously amusing scenarios and even helped spice up offline matches against AI.
Otherwise, I have very few reservations about recommending Civilization 7. If you’re a lover of strategy games, you will undoubtedly have a fantastic experience. As an evolution of the series, it’s an admirable success, and, like its predecessor, I’m confident my few complaints will at least be remedied through both free and paid content updates in the months and years to come.
Should I play Sid Meier's Civilization 7?
(Image credit: 2K)
Play it if…
You’re craving a fresh challenge Sid Meier's Civilization 7 is the freshest feeling Civilization game that I’ve played since Beyond Earth, and I would highly recommend it if you’re a fan of the series seeking a new challenge.
You’re a history lover Civilization has always been a fantastic franchise for history lovers, and 7 is no exception. With an expansive selection of leaders and Civs, you live out your own historical fantasy and maybe even learn a thing or two about the past in the process.
You want a beautiful strategy game The art direction of Sid Meier's Civilization 7 is absolutely top-notch, with highly detailed models that looked ripped straight out of a stunning museum diorama.
Don’t play it if…
You intend to play for thousands of hours right away The legacy path system makes strides when it comes to keeping games well-paced, but it does feel samey after many many hours. If you want to devote your life to this game, I’d recommend waiting for a few new additions rather than diving straight in right out of the gate.
Accessibility
There are a solid number of accessibility options in Sid Meier's Civilization 7 which can be found in a devoted accessibility menu. Keyboard and mouse controls can be remapped on PC, and there is also full support for custom controller layouts.
On top of this, you are able to increase or decrease the font scale, enable colorblind filters, turn on dialogue subtitles, and enable in-game menu or chat narration. There are a range of difficult options to choose from when playing with AI and a comprehensive tutorial system.
How I reviewed Sid Meier's Civilization 7
(Image credit: 2K)
I played Sid Meier's Civilization 7 for almost 60 hours on PC, experimenting with a wide range of leader and Civ combinations. I managed to succeed at each possible victory type, learning their mechanics and following the various legacy paths.
Key specs of my PC build include an Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU, i5-11400F CPU, and 16GB of DDR4 RAM. In terms of peripherals, I relied on an Asus ROG Harpe Ace Aim Lab Edition mouse and an Endgame Gear KB65HE keyboard, plus a Lenovo Q24i-10 Monitor and a SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 gaming headset for audio.
Throughout my time with the game, I compared my experience to that of not only Civilization games but also a wide range of other 4X strategy titles including Humankind, Ara: History Untold, Endless Legend, and more.
Beginner content creators on a shoestring budget who are looking to up their audio quality will struggle to find better value than that offered by the Boya Mini wireless mic. For less than half the price of leading models like the DJI Mic Mini you get a reliable twin-mic kit, and while the 16-bit audio is admittedly modest, it's quality is perfectly acceptable for the likes of TikTok and Youtube Reels.
Naturally, for such a low price, there are a few compromises; build quality is so-so, there's no option for a 3.5mm connection (just USB-C or Lightning, which counts out most dedicated cameras), nor is there audio monitoring of any kind, or manual control over levels. This is a simple plug-and-go mic that, much like the Rode Wireless Micro, is designed for smartphones, laptops, or even the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 – basically any USB-C device. And for such users, the Boya Mini's simplicity works a treat.
The mics are super-tiny and weigh just 5g, so they don't tug on clothing. The receiver is also tiny, which means it doesn't get in the way when connected to your phone's charging port. I've found the mics quick to connect and reliable time and again, while the audio quality for vlogging is perfectly acceptable, and certainly much better than a phone's built-in mic. The fact that noise reduction features is a nice bonus too. If you're looking for a no-frills, reliable and cheap wireless mic, the Boya Mini is an easy recommendation.
The Boya Mini is the tiniest wireless mic of them all (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
Boya Mini: price and release date
Prices start at $45 / £52.99 / AU$83 for kits with charging case
Available in kits with USB-C and / or Lightning adaptors
Available now, in black or white finishes
The Boya Mini's list price is $45 / £52.99 / AU$83 at Amazon for the twin mic kit with charging case and USB-C connector. The kit is also available with Lightning connector instead, or in some regions for $59.99 / £69.99 with both connectors; or you can save money by opting for just a single mic and receiver kit. Should you click through to the Boya website, then you get redirected to a discount site where the price is even lower.
The mics feature clip-on foam covers, and all the components fit inside the charging case, while a soft case is also included. For the money, you'll struggle to find a better-value wireless mic.
Here are all of the Boya Mini components included in the complete kit. In some regions, you can opt for a single mic and receiver, for about half the price. (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
Boya Mini: specs
I like how the two mics fit in the charging case even when the foam covers are attached (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
Boya Mini: Design
World's smallest and lightest wireless mic, weighing just 5g
Components are available in black or white finishes
Tiny receiver, available in USB-C or Lightning versions
'Mini' is doing a slight disservice to the Boya Mini wireless mic kit – It's billed as the world's tiniest wireless microphone, measuring just 31 x 15 x 16.4mm. And given that it weighs just 5g, it might just be the lightest of its kind too.
Such miniscule proportions are handy in two ways; the mics are discreet, and nor do they tug on clothing. The mics are clip-on only, unlike pricier rivals that feature versatile through-clothing magnetic mounting. That means you need to find an edge in clothing, like a collar or pocket or button hole to attach the mic to.
The clip is metal, so if you source your own magnet you could fix the Boya Mini magnetically through clothing. The only reason I can think of why Boya didn't include magnets in the kit is that the mic and its clip are so small that it wouldn't be possible to securely fix it to clothing that way.
Build quality of the Boya Mini's components is so-so, and over the month or so testing the gear I've been conscious to treat it with care, especially the mic's clip, which is small enough to struggle to gain a secure hold on thicker clothing.
I was using the Rode Wireless Micro alongside the Boya Mini, and there's an obvious gulf in build quality – the pricier Rode model looks and feels the business.
As mentioned, you can buy the Boya Mini as a complete kit which comprises two transmitters (mics), a receiver (you choose which type you need – USB-C, Lightning or both) and a charging case.
Here's the Boya Mini alongside the Rode Wireless Micro (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
The mics utilize clip-on foam covers to dampen audio that, handily, can remain in position on the mics and the components will still fit into the charging case. The Rode Wireless Micro comes with clip-on wind muffs, but these don't fit it in the case so, you'll have to find somewhere else to stow them when not in use. Boya has the practical advantage here.
Like the mics, the receiver is super-tiny. It attaches to your phone, laptop or tablet's charging port, and you'll barely notice it's there while filming. You need the receiver for the mics to work because, unlike the DJI Mic Mini, they don't feature Bluetooth connectivity.
If you're a wireless mic first-timer, you'll be up and running with mic'd audio in no time at all. Once you attach the receiver and select the video option in your camera app, you should get a prompt to select the wired mic option in the settings menu (rather than the phone's built-in mic) – that's my experience using a Pixel 8 Pro. Then you're good to go.
The whole process from unboxing to getting started is as easy as can be, and consistently reliable. It might be cheap, but it's certainly worth it.
Here you can see how small the receiver is connected to a Pixel 8 Pro, and the video settings menu where I selected the wired mic option to get sound from the mics instead of my phone's built-in mic (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
Boya Mini: Performance
Transmission range up to 100m
6 hours operating time, with an additional four charges from the charging case
Three-level noise cancellation, plus a gimmicky Human Voice Enhancement mode
Despite its tiny size, battery life is practically on a par with bulkier, pricier alternatives. You get up to six hours record time per mic, and Boya says the charging case with its 260mAh battery provides additional charges that total 30 hours record time. That's enough juice for several days of moderate vlogging.
Transmission range is rated up to 100m in clear sight. I haven't personally tested the limits of the Boya Mini's transmission range, but I can vouch for the stability of the connection when vlogging. Note, you'll get interference at a much closer proximity than 100m if your device and the mic lose line of site, for example if you turn your back to the camera.
Where the Boya Mini most obviously comes up short as a cheap wireless mic is that audio bit-depth maxes out at 16-bit, and output is mono only. Splash out thrice the cash on a leading alternative, and you'll be getting richer 24-bit audio with the option for stereo output. Oh, and there's no low-cut filter, either, so low frequencies such as the hum of an air conditioner aren't filtered out.
I had the white version of the mic, but it's also available in black (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
No low-cut filter isn't a big deal, though – the Boya Mini features one-click noise cancellation, activated through the one physical button on the mic. There are three levels of strength, though honestly I didn't notice a huge difference in any of the settings. You'll know when noise cancellation is active because the blue light on the receiver that indicates an active connection turns green.
There's also Boya's version of voice enhancement, which sounds impressive but don't be fooled – it's a gimmick. Think of it as voice distortion – one setting makes your voice deep, one high-pitched, and one normal. It might be a fun feature to play with once or twice for the laughs, but that's the extent of it.
So what do I make of the audio quality of the Boya Mini? I think the maximum possible quality has been squeezed out of its humble hardware.
If you're a casual vlogger, and need clear and crisp vocals across a range of scenarios, you'll get that with the Boya Mini. It lacks the finesse of a 24-bit alternative, but it certainly is a mark-up from your smartphone's mic. In fact, I've been happy enough with the quality that I've mic'd up with the Boya Mini for a few videos that I've shot for TechRadar's TikTok channel.
It's also versatile in that you can use it easily with a camera like the Osmo Pocket 3 (especially given how small the receiver is), with a laptop for work calls, and yes, with your smartphone for shooting Youtube, TikTok and Instagram content.
I'd be remiss not to address the technically-minded, so here are a few of the mics audio specs: it has a 20Hz to 20kHz frequency range, a maximum 120db SPL, and a 80db signal-to-noise ratio. Those are solid specs for such a cheap device.
Should I buy the Boya Mini?
Buy it if…
You want the cheapest possible wireless mic that's worth buying It might be mega cheap, but the Boya Mini is also the real deal, with decent-quality audio and reliable performance.
You're a beginner smartphone content creator
The Boya Mini is primarily designed for use with smartphones, while its quality and automated audio features are sufficient for beginners.
You want a tiny wireless mic
Billed as the world's smallest and lightest wireless mic, the Boya Mini is positively tiny and discreet, and available in black or white version.
Don’t buy it if…
You'll eventually need a mic for cameras
The Boya Mini lacks a 3.5mm connector, meaning that you wont be able to use it with a dedicated camera, unlike the DJI Mic Mini.
You'll likely want audio-level monitoring and gain control
Its simple and therefore restricted in some ways – you can't easily monitor audio levels while recording for peace of mind, as you can with pricier alternatives like the DJI Mic 2.
You want the best possible audio quality
The Boya Mini punches above its weight, but it's not one for audiophiles, who will prefer the richer audio quality of pricier rivals.
Boya Mini: also consider
Rode Wireless Micro
Our favorite wireless mic primarily designed for smartphones is the Rode Wireless Micro. It's more than twice the price of the Boya Mini and has superior 24-bit audio quality, plus Intelligent Gain Assist for clear vocals, and impressive build quality. However, it doesn't include noise cancellation, and the mics themselves are a little bulkier.
DJI Mic Mini A premium and versatile alternative, the Mic Mini features 24-bit audio and Bluetooth connectivity, meaning you can bypass the receiver altogether, plus a 3.5mm connector for use with cameras. You can also dial in audio levels manually using the receiver. However, the Mic Mini feels more designed for both phones and cameras, with a bulkier receiver better designed for cameras.
I had the complete kit with charging case, plus USB-C and Lightning connectors
I used it regularly for a variety of vlogs for over a month
Tested alongside the rival Rode Wireless Micro
Paired primarily with a Google Pixel 8 Pro
With its automated audio recording plus one-click noise reduction and voice enhancement features, there's not a lot to get your head around, and that's the beauty of simple wireless mics like the Boya Mini.
I had the complete kit with charging case, and found the kit to be completely reliable, with the receiver connecting securely to my Pixel 8 Pro phone. I drained the battery of the mic and recharged it through the charging case to test the battery life.
I tested audio quality in a range of scenarios, both indoors and outdoors, and in quiet and noisy environments. I ran comparison tests with the Rode Wireless Micro.
If you’re looking to juice up multiple power-hungry devices at once, the UGreen Nexode Pro 160W 4-Port charger could be the perfect solution for you. This quad-port charger packs in ThermalGuard temperature control, multiple USB types (3x USB-C and 1x USB-A) and 160W of power, to ensure your phones, laptops, tablets and more can get back up and running in a flash.
You get access to super-speedy charging here, no matter how many devices you have plugged in. If you’re only charging one at a time in USB-C Port 1, you can access lightning quick charging speeds of up to 140W, that’s great for demanding devices like the newest MacBook or handsets like the Xiaomi 14T Pro. Even with three or four ports in use, the top USB-C ones can supply up to 65W each – not bad at all!
And when I tested out performance for myself, I found that the UGreen Nexode Pro 160W 4-Port charger could easily compete with some of the best Android phone chargers and best iPhone chargers. I tried charging up the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE in USB-C port 1, alongside the Soundcore Space One Pro headphones, LG Tone Free T90S earbuds and FiiO M11S hi-res music player. To my delight, this UGreen charger brought my phone back to life in under 80 minutes – exactly what I’d expect from a fast-charging wall plug like this.
Now, if you’ve seen my reviews of the other Nexode Pro chargers, you’ll probably know what I’m going to say about this one’s appearance. Once again, the prongs look shoehorned on with the UK model – I was wondering if there would be a way for me to detach the adapter, but it seems to just be attached in a not-so-elegant manner.
In addition, this is by some distance the chunkiest charger in the Nexode Pro family. That’s to be expected given it has the largest power output and four ports, but still, it may not fit into smaller spaces. Is it as big and bruising as some of the MacBook Pro chargers, for instance? No. But it's still quite a large plug.
This charger is perhaps not the cheapest out there, carrying a list price of $119.99 / £99.99 (about AU$190). Of course, you’re getting a lot of power, quad-port charging and modern GaN technology for a safe, heat-protected charging experience. But still, it’s a lot to pay for a charger with no display or charming design quirks.
All in all, the UGreen Nexode Pro 160W 4-Port charger is an excellent performer with lots of power to play with, but some may find it a little on the pricey side. It may not be the most stunning looker, either, but it does offer solid build quality, four-port charging and effective temperature control, making it worth considering – if you have the cash.
(Image credit: Future)
UGreen Nexode Pro 160W 4-Port charger review: Price & specs
(Image credit: Future)
Should I buy the UGreen Nexode Pro 160W 4-Port charger?
Buy it if…
You want top-of-the-range charging performance This charger has an almighty maximum power output of 160W, which is more than enough to revive all of your devices in a pinch. The top USB-C port is also capable of blindingly fast 140W charging – pretty cool.
You need a travel-friendly multi-port charger This may not be the smallest charger around, but it’s certainly compact enough to take on flights or train journeys. On top of that, you get four charging ports, meaning you could get your headphones, phone, laptop and smart watch back to life simultaneously, for instance.
Don't buy it if…
You’re working with a tight space But if you’re working with a really tight space, such as a socket placed behind your desk or couch, this UGreen charger might not be the ideal option. It’s considerably larger than the other models in the Nexode Pro family, so perhaps consider a slimmer option if you’re limited on room.
You’re working with a moderate budget And it might go without saying, but this is not a charger for those of you on a tight budget. At $119.99 / £99.99 (about AU$190) it’s a more premium option, but rest-assured, there are plenty of cheaper options available to you. It won’t pack in quite as much power, but the UGreen Uno Charger 100W has four ports and a fun display which I couldn’t get enough of – and it’s much cheaper than this Pro option.
UGreen Nexode Pro 160W 4-Port charger: Also consider
Anker Prime Charger (200W, 6 ports, GaN) OK, this one’s something a bit different, but it's well-worth considering if you need to charge lots of devices simultaneously. The Anker Prime Charger (200W, 6 ports, GaN) is a desk charger that can bring up to six devices back to life simultaneously. It’s equipped with 200W worth of power to ensure speedy charging and has a mixture of USB-C and USB-A ports too. Sure, it’s even less compact than this UGreen charger, but it's also cheaper, with a list price of $84.99 / £79.99 / AU$149.95, so if you just need a charger for desktop use, this is a better option in my view. Read our full Anker Prime Charger (200W, 6 Ports, GaN) review.
The UGREEN Nexode 12,000mAh 100W Power Bank is designed for charging all manner of devices, from smartphones to laptops, thanks to its powerful 100W output. Despite its capabilities, it’s surprisingly light; I’ve tested other, less capable power banks that weigh more. It’s also quite narrow, but very thick too, meaning it won’t be one to carry around in your pocket. This is justifiable, though, given it’s designed for charging big ticket items.
The UGREEN Nexode 12,000mAh 100W Power Bank looks smart with its dark grey finish, the signature colorway of Ugreen’s Nexode series. Unfortunately, this premium look belies its actual build quality: the chassis is a little too flimsy for my liking, even audibly creaking when I pressed its sides. Suffice to say it wouldn’t be my first choice of power bank for taking on more rugged excursions.
One of the standout features of the UGREEN Nexode 12,000mAh 100W Power Bank is its display. This provides useful information in a large format, making it clear to see. The percentage figures adopt a dot-matrix format, which may divide some users, but I didn’t have an issue with this. However, clarity is somewhat compromised by its matt finish, which is rather hazy in certain viewing angles and lighting conditions.
It has one USB-C port and one USB-A port, which is a little disappointing for a power bank with this much power on offer; there are many, less powerful power banks on the market with greater port selections.
The UGREEN Nexode 12,000mAh 100W Power Bank managed to charge a Lenovo IdeaPad 4G 14 inch laptop from 50% to 100% in about 90 minutes, which is a decent performance. It also stayed cool throughout, which again is also impressive. However, it depleted the bank’s battery from 100% to 12% in the process, which disappointingly means you’ll only get a single charge out of it for large devices.
Thankfully, the UGREEN Nexode 12,000mAh 100W Power Bank only takes about the same amount of time to fully replenish, thanks to its 65W input via the same USB-C port.
The USB-A port provides 22.5W of power, and charging from this and the USB-C port at the same time is possible, although this drops the output of both to just 10W. The UGREEN Nexode 12,000mAh 100W Power Bank also features trickle charging, used for devices with low current draws, such as wireless earbuds and smartwatches. This can be easily toggled by holding the power button.
With a price of $49.99 / £49.99 (about AU$80), the UGREEN Nexode 12,000mAh 100W Power Bank sits admirably close in the market to less powerful rivals. Its 100W power output is useful if you need to charge larger items – but you’ll only be able to charge them once. It really needs a capacity higher than 12,000mAh to make it practical for charging large devices on the go, and more ports wouldn’t go amiss either.
(Image credit: Future)
UGREEN Nexode 12000mAh 100W Power Bank review: price & specs
(Image credit: Future)
Should I buy the UGREEN Nexode 12000mAh 100W Power Bank?
Buy it if…
You want to charge big devices Laptop charging is possible with the Nexode, and it can top them up with relative speed.
You want something simple Simply plug in your device and away you go. The readout is simple to understand, and activating trickle charging is easy as well.
Don't buy it if…
You want the best build quality Although it’s pleasingly light, it isn’t as solidly built as some of its rivals, such as those from Anker.
You want to charge multiple times Yes, you can charge power-hungry devices with that high output, but the relatively low capacity means you’ll only be able to do so once.
UGREEN Nexode 12000mAh 100W Power Bank review: also consider
Anker Prime 27,650mAh Power Bank (250W) If it’s power you need, then this Anker Prime model is for you. We think it’s the best power bank for power users, thanks to its massive 250W output and 27,650mAh capacity. However, it’s large and heavy compared to other power banks, and expensive too, so this is only for those who’ll need days of charging available to them.
The PS5 Slim picks up where the original launch model of the PS5 left off and offers a brilliant current-generation gaming experience. Adding a couple of quality-of-life improvements to the original and shrinking the footprint right down, while maintaining the excellent performance and experiences you would expect from a PS5, means this is still one of the very best gaming consoles to buy.
The PS5 Slim launched at the same price that the original launch model PS5 had. This differs from the last generation when the PS4 Slim arrived with a slightly lower price tag, which was very welcome at the time. While that’s disappointing, the PS5 Slim is now the dominant variant of the console - coming in both disc and digital editions too -and discounts and deals are now frequent. As such, while we heartily recommend it at its list price, it can offer exceptional value for money.
The biggest changes with the PS5 Slim are indeed as its name would imply: its small footprint and form factor mean the PS5 Slim is around 30% smaller, which is welcome given the original’s heft. It’s of the same design language, but not exactly the same either. While the form of the PS5 Slim still features the fanned, larger end, the console’s shell is now split by a gap (‘filled in’ by the black plastic of the console’s main body underneath), making for four separate plates.
(Image credit: Future/Rob Dwiar)
One small difference is the front ports both being USB-C on the Slim too, trading the launch model’s USB-A port for the second USB-C one. And apart from a slightly larger hard drive - the PS5 Slim sports a 1TB SSD as opposed to the original’s 825GB - it has the identical PS5 specs within it that offer that wonderful performance we’re used to from Sony’s current console. You’ve also got a host of customization options with the PS5 Slim, thanks to Sony releasing a wide number of different console covers that can be easily slotted on.
It is that performance, combined with the new design, that makes the PS5 Slim so easy to recommend. PS5 games run like a dream and with a library that’s bigger than ever, now offers more adventures than before. Sony’s first-party titles in particular are dreamy from a performance standpoint - whether you prefer resolution and detail or frame rate speed and smoothness. PlayStation 4 games also still run like a dream which means your backlog can be taken onto PS5 Slim with ease. The DualSense Wireless controller is still the same original one which is great for the haptic features that help make the PS5 stand out, but its battery life is still underwhelming.
The PS5 Slim doesn’t reinvent the PS5 by any means - that evolution is handled by the new PS5 Pro - but its new design makes it an exceptionally sleek version of Sony’s current-gen machine. With the same great performance, quality hardware and specs, and a larger-than-ever library, it’s an easy console to recommend.
Same price as the original PS5; regular offers are often available
The PS5 Slim is now the default PlayStation 5 model and is widely available in every region, replacing the launch model almost entirely. It took over the same price point and is thus a straight swap.
However, since the PS5 launched, several regions have been hit by PS5 price rises (sometimes multiple price rises) and the PS5 Slim represents the newer, adjusted price points in those countries, not the original one. The US price has remained the same, however. Offsetting this somewhat, now we’re into the console’s fifth year, is that deals and discounts on the PS5 Slim are becoming more frequent, with genuinely good bundles and offers being put on by Sony itself, as well as various retailers.
In the market, it’s priced almost identically to the Xbox Series X console, which has also seen some regional price rises. The PS5 Slim Digital Edition also now has direct competition from an Xbox Series X Digital Edition console but undercuts its Microsoft counterpart in price considerably.
Within the PlayStation 5 ecosystem itself, we now have the PS5 Pro to factor into the equation. Coming in at a mighty $699.99 / £699.99 the Pro is considerably more expensive than the Slim, and its performance and benefits are a little more niche, and for an enthusiast audience. As a result, the PS5 Slim offers good value in relation to its more powerful brethren, given the experiences it offers are still excellent.
(Image credit: Future/Rob Dwiar)
PS5 Slim review: Specs
(Image credit: Future/Rob Dwiar)
PS5 Slim review: Design & features
Slick and chic design, more compact than that of the original
Detachable disc drive, and excellent controller
Wide choice of replaceable console covers for personalization
The main selling point of the PS5 Slim is indeed in its design, aesthetic, and form factor. Sony has a history of making refined, smaller, and slimmer versions of all its home consoles. so the PS5 getting the trimming-the-fat treatment was expected - and it delivers too, coming in at around 30% smaller than the launch model PS5.
There’s a similar design language here, however, with a flare remaining at one end (for the fans) and the sweeping curves of the PS5 hardware family remain across the Slim, making for a slick-looking form. The console’s covers are now in four parts, not two, with a gap between the plates forming a striking ‘black’ line across both the console’s top and bottom.
These, like the original, can be removed and swapped for others that Sony has made (or other third-party ones, if you fancy), meaning there are plenty of customization options to personalize your PS5 Slim. The disc drive is detachable by default too, so if you buy a digital variant and later decide to add a disc drive then that’s some extra flexibility right there.
(Image credit: Future/Rob Dwiar)
While the vertical stand for the PS5 Slim is a nicer-looking, slicker metal ring, compared to the original’s bulky black plastic model, it doesn’t come with the console by default which is a mark against the console’s value. If you do buy the stand, the result is a console that looks sharper when standing upright compared to its predecessor. If you stick with horizontal orientation, you can rely on the two small cheapish-lookin plastic feet that are provided.
In terms of features present on the Slim, it is exactly the same, spec-wise, as the original model apart from two minor quality-of-life amendments; one internal, one external. The internal change is that of a boost to storage, with the PS5 Slim being equipped with a 1TB SSD compared to the launch model’s custom 825GB drive.
PS4 games run like a dream on the PS5 Slim too, and the same backward compatibility level with the previous gen’s discs and digital titles remains a simple part of the day-to-day PS5 experience. I’ve been revisiting Doom (2016) recently, for example, and the extra boost to loading times in particular makes it a joy to play. The PS5 Game Boost mode will also improve performance across the board (in principle) for PS5 games, and makes some games run smoother, with faster frame rates, or in higher resolution - or a combination of all of those.
You can even experience older games on your PS5 with the updated and modern arrangement of Sony’s PS Plus subscription. The top premium level can give you access to PS3 game streaming from the cloud, as well as some select PS1 and PS2 games to download. While perhaps not quite as generous or deep as Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass, a PS Plus subscription does make the experience of having a PS5 Slim even better and feels essential.
On that note of streaming and downloading games, it is worth noting that in all my testing, on Wi-Fi and Ethernet, I still never get close to my actual download speed on the PS5. This is something I have experienced on every PS5 I have owned sadly, and not a problem on Xbox Series X.
(Image credit: Future/Rob Dwiar)
On a practical performance level, using the PS5 Slim is a joy too. It’s incredibly simple to set up, and transfer files from one to another if need be, and removing the console covers to access the M.2 PS5 SSD slot or change them entirely is very easy, and quite satisfying. The extra USB-C port and slightly larger SSD means that day-to-day usage is improved too, and benefits the whole experience.
The DualSense, while exactly the same as it was in 2020 - there’s no V2 like there was with the PS4’s DualShock 4 controller, sadly - remains absolutely excellent. While a generally top gamepad, the haptic feedback and adaptive triggers continue to feel brilliant. The PS5 Slim is compatible with all PS5 (and almost all PS4) accessories too, so if you own any from a previous machine from this or last generation then these will be able to be used on a PS5 Slim.
This is made extra simple because the UI and operating system layout are identical to the launch PS5 - and PS5 Pro. Navigating the PS5 Slim, from games to screenshots, and from streaming apps to save files and deeper settings is simple and intuitive. There are also now more customization options on offer with the UI being honed and enhanced since the launch model’s initial release.
Thus, the PS5 Slim is an easy recommendation. It’d be an easy recommendation if the launch model of the PS5 existed still, but now that it has taken over the position of the ‘standard’ console from its predecessor - and improved on it slightly - it’s the easiest current-gen console recommendation I can make right now.
(Image credit: Future/Rob Dwiar)
Should I buy the PS5 Slim?
Buy it if...
You want the best value PlayStation console available With the PS5 Pro now out in the wild, but the PS5 Slim offering an exceptional gaming experience still, this is the model to get if you want great bang for your buck and aren’t chasing the most powerful console going.
You’re looking for a customizable PS5 console With it being the standard model, there are now multiple options for console cover colors that also match with an expanded set of DualSense controllers giving you more control over your setup’s aesthetic than ever before.
You’re looking for a top console packed with great experiences The PS5 game library is larger than ever in 2025 and is filled with awesome, memorable, and expansive experiences and the PS5 Slim is easily the best way to enjoy these - and best value way when regular discounts and deals come around too.
You want the best current controller The PS5’s DualSense controller is one of the most interesting and best-ever pads made for a console, and you’ll get the absolute most and best out of it on PS5. The haptic feedback in particular is a dream, while the adaptive triggers also offer further immersion.
Don't buy it if...
You need the most powerful PlayStation console going right now If you do want the most performant console from Sony right now, then you’re better off considering the PS5 Pro with its beefier specs and a more capable feature set, and quality of life improvements offering the best PlayStation experience money can buy right now.
You are happy with your launch model PS5 If you’re content with your launch model PlayStation 5 then there’s almost literally no reason to change to the Slim, with the two models being almost identical apart from a port, and a bit of internal storage.
Also consider...
If you’re still undecided about committing to the PS5 Slim, then here are two fine alternatives to consider for console gaming in 2025.
PS5 Pro Sony’s mid-generation upgrade to the PS5 Slim is a great alternative to the Slim for those looking for more power and to be on the cutting edge of PlayStation tech. If you’re looking to get the absolute maximum out of your PlayStation games, and have the most performant console giving the most complete PlayStation experience then the Pro could be for you.
Xbox Series X Microsoft’s most powerful current-generation console is a great machine in 2025 and is perfect for anyone looking to combine a fine library of Xbox games with Xbox Game Pass. If you’re on the lookout for the best Xbox experience on the market right now, complete with its excellent asymmetrical controller, then this is the console to go for.
Tested over the course of months, replacing my original PS5
Compared to PS5 Pro and launch PS5
Used it multiple days a week for months playing a variety of games, transferring data, and with a range of accessories
I’ve tested and lived with the PS5 Slim for several months now with it being my office PS5, and regular ‘normal’ PS5 console (alongside my main PS5 Pro machine). As a result, it’s been used for testing hardware, and games, and has been used for regular gaming of PS5 and PS4 titles in my own time when not using my PS5 Pro.
I have been able to compare it to my PS5 Pro, as well as the original PS5 model I have owned from physical footprint and design to performance and everyday use. I have engaged with the console on multiple levels; using the SSD bay, using it in both horizontal and vertical positions, and also changing the console covers from white to Volcanic Red.