ESR Qi2 Magnetic Wireless Car Charger (Halolock) review
The ESR Qi2 Magnetic Wireless Car Charger (Halolock) costs a reasonable $39.99 / £35.99 / AU$59.99 and is available direct from ESR, or at Amazon. This is cheaper than many alternatives I've tested, which may give it an edge over other models.
As per many other in-car chargers, the ESR Qi2 Magnetic Wireless Car Charger (Halolock) is available in black on the ESR website, but at Amazon (US only) it also comes in grey and titanium colors, curiously. The front face of the charger is 3.1 x 3.1 inches / 80 x 80mm, which felt a little oversized considering I've tested slimmer alternatives that held just as well. Even so, it's not visible past the edges of an iPhone 12 Pro, or an iPhone 13 Pro; it's perhaps just personal preference that I'd rather have something smaller that isn't so obvious when a phone isn't in situ. I wasn't a fan of the shiny circular MagSafe charging area either; I didn't like that it could reflect light, plus it gathers dust.
(Image credit: Future)
The ESR Qi2 Magnetic Wireless Car Charger (Halolock) comes with two attachment options. It has a sticky pad to apply it to the dashboard, and a separate clip-on attachment so it can be fixed onto the air vents. I found this to work well; the clip is stiff to open but I managed to open it enough to slide it on. It has a handy little stability arm that folds down, stopping it from bouncing about while I drive, which even some of the best iPhone chargers for in-car usage don't offer. The charger comes with a USB-C cable, which I powered through an adapter in my car's cigarette lighter.
As was the case with the Pitaka MagEZ Car Mount Pro 2 Qi2 I tested, the hanging cable proved a bit obtrusive as it comes from the bottom of the charging pad, meaning it hung in front of the dash controls and proved an occasional irritation as I shifted gear. As I already had the Pitaka in place, I simply hoiked the ESR Qi2 Magnetic Wireless Car Charger (Halolock) over that to get it out of the way, but in the long term, I would look to use some stick-on cable tidy clips.
Something I noticed – which I also encountered with the similarly designed ESR Qi2 3-in-1 Watch Wireless Charging Set – is that the phone gets warm while it charges. This may explain why ESR has released another of these charging sets with CryoBoost, for an additional cost.
(Image credit: Future)
Speaking of warm things: my commute to work is a bit of a trial by fire for the in-car accessories I review, with an obstacle course of potholes and some aggressive speed bumps to contend with. The ESR Qi2 Magnetic Wireless Car Charger (Halolock) proved a worthy adversary to these challengers, however, keeping a tight hold on my phone and holding its position valiantly.
The ESR Qi2 Magnetic Wireless Car Charger (Halolock) charged an iPhone 13 Pro from 0% to 40% in half an hour, meaning that in that time frame it charged the phone an extra 10% compared to the Pitaka MagEZ Car Mount Pro 2 Qi2.
Overall, despite the dustiness and the fact it warms the phone while charging, this is a fast-charging and reliable in-car charger. If you're looking for recommendations on other variants of MagSafe chargers to use at home or on the go, why not check out our pick of the best wireless chargers.
ESR Qi2 Magnetic Wireless Car Charger (Halolock) review: Price & specs
Should I buy the ESR Qi2 Magnetic Wireless Car Charger (Halolock)?
Buy it if…
You want a reliable holder Even through turbulent commutes, this ESR wireless charger kept a tight grip on my iPhone – and it didn't have an easy ride. Miles more efficient than a standard phone cradle, it stays where you want it as it charges your phone.
You want versatility The two included attachment mounts give peace of mind when ordering, as you have another option if one mount doesn't provide the ideal placement for your phone. The air vent clip was my personal favorite, but it's great to have the option to stick it on too.
Don't buy it if…
You don't want a dust magnet This is only a minor negative, which may not bother some, but I didn't like how much dust the protruding circular charging area collected, and its reflective surface proved to be a bit of a dust magnet too.
You don't want to get cable-tied This will vary depending on the position of the charger and your car, but I found the cable proved obtrusive at times, getting in the way of the radio controls and occasionally proving irritating when shifting gears.
ESR Qi2 Magnetic Wireless Car Charger (Halolock) review: Also consider
Pitaka MagEZ Car Mount Pro 2 Qi2 If you'd prefer a slimmer and more subtle profile, and you're willing to spend a little more, then I highly recommend this Pitaka hook-on car charger. Attached to your air vents, it offers a strong hold and easy repositioning on the move. Check out the full Pikata MagEZ Car Mount Pro 2 Qi2 review to learn more.View Deal
Ugreen MagFlow 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Station review
The Ugreen MagFlow 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Station is a budget-priced iPhone and AirPods charger, with a list price of $39.99 / £29.99 / AU$59.99 at Amazon. This is the cheapest MagSafe charging stand I've tested to date, albeit the majority of these wireless chargers have charged three devices rather than two. It's certainly nice to have a 2-in-1 option available though, if you're yet to be tempted by an Apple Watch.
In terms of design, the Ugreen MagFlow 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Station is simple but has some attractive little details. Aside from the charging pad and the top of the base, it has a slightly metallic charcoal grey finish, with dark mirrored sections at either end of the pencil-thin post. The only thing that lets it down aesthetically is the cheaper-looking black plastic finish of the top face of the base.
I was pleased that the circular charging pad sits on a robust-feeling hinge, so I could change the viewing angle easily. Some chargers lack this ability, such as the ESR Qi2 3-in-1 Watch Wireless Charging Set (HaloLock), despite it being around double the price – though this extra expense is reasonable enough considering the much faster charging speeds and added Apple Watch charger.
The charger proved suitably heavy and sturdy despite the compact circular base and skinny charging post. The charging pad has a soft matte finish that collects dust, but other than that it looks and feels nice. The base of the charger has a USB-C input for the included USB-C cable, and there's an inset AirPods charging area towards the front. There's also a small indicator light to indicate the charger has been powered on, and to act as a status light for AirPods or other compatible wireless earbud case charging.
The Ugreen MagFlow 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Station can charge iPhones 12 to 16, and AirPods 2 to 4. Unfortunately, it has been one of the slowest MagSafe chargers I've tested to date, taking three hours to fully charge an iPhone 13 Pro, making it over an hour slower than the average charging speed of the many wireless chargers I've tested. That being said, it's the cheapest charging stand I've reviewed so far, and by some margin, so if you're looking for a more budget-friendly option, perhaps slow charging can be forgiven.
Overall, the Ugreen MagFlow 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Station is an option worth considering if you're keen to get your hands on a MagSafe charging stand without breaking the bank, or if you don't need an Apple Watch charger. If the Ugreen MagFlow 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Station isn't quite ticking your boxes, we've got a bunch of other recommendations over in our best wireless charger guide, and it's worth checking out our pick of the best iPhone chargers too.
(Image credit: Future)
Ugreen MagFlow 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Station review: price & specs
(Image credit: Future)
Should I buy the Ugreen MagFlow 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Station?
Buy it if...
You want a compact charging station Some charging stations like to make a statement, and take up room while doing it, but this Ugreen 2-in-1 charger has a satisfyingly small footprint while remaining reassuringly stable.
You only want to pay for what you need There are a bunch of 3-in-1 MagSafe chargers out there, so it pays to have a cost-effective charging option designed to juice up just the devices you own.
Don't buy it if...
You don't like to be kept waiting There's no denying it, this is far from the fastest MagSafe charger out there. It was left straggling behind the other wireless chargers I tested, taking a leisurely three hours to fully charge an iPhone 13 Pro.
You want a high-end finish The design of this charger is by no means cheap and nasty, but the budget-looking black plastic finish at the top of the base plus the dust-collecting and slightly poor-fitting charging pad surface doesn't exactly scream premium quality.
Ugreen MagFlow 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Station review: also consider
Mous MagSafe Compatible 3 In 1 Portable Charger If cheap and compact are a priority in your quest for a new wireless charger, then this Mous charger might just be of interest. For a bit more investment you can get this charger that has the benefit of Apple Watch charging capability, plus it folds down to a satisfyingly small size, so it's effortlessly easy to carry with you on the go. You can check out the full Mous MagSafe Compatible 3 In 1 Portable Charger review here.
Platform reviewed: PC Available on: PC Release date: September 26, 2024
Mouthwashing has made a statement in late 2024. I wouldn't be surprised if you've seen it all over social media, as more streamers and gaming fans are diving straight into the latest indie horror game. It's easy to see why, even just saying the name of the game makes people go "Mouthwashing? What kind of name is that?". Well, nothing can quite prepare you for the next two hours or so worth of gameplay, I can tell you that much. A game with a title so strange deserves to be a wild ride and god, I'm going to be thinking about this for such a long time alongside many of the other best horror games out there.
Indie game developers Wrong Organ are the ones to blame for the inevitable onslaught of nightmares I'll have over the coming days, as they've burned their horrifying imagery into my retinas and they're probably feeling pretty gleeful about that. In fact, it's so utterly disturbing I've had a hard time picking out images for this article for fear of scaring away half our audience. I've spared you the worst of it, whether or not you go and see the rest for yourself is up to you.
In space no one can hear you... drinking mouthwash?
(Image credit: Wrong Organ)
Mouthwashing has a wonderfully sadistic premise. The five-person crew of the Tulpar, a freighter spacecraft owned by Pony Express, find their ship in a state of emergency. It was intentionally crashed, causing irreversible damage, and now its crew is stranded in space. We learn this in the first 30 seconds of the game where a little tagline in the captain's log reads I hope this hurts. It only gets darker from that moment on.
Not only are they stranded, and they've had their personal credits docked due to navigational incompetence (you will quickly learn Pony Express likes to dock worker's pay), but food and supplies are rapidly running out. But, hey, they're transporting cargo! Surely there's something of value in there right? They'll be penalized if they take a little peek at what they're transporting, but surely it's worth the risk if you're literally stranded?
Well, as the title foreshadows, their cargo is useless. It's just boxes and boxes of mouthwash. No food in sight, nothing useful. As if being stranded wasn't cruel enough. Sanity is in short supply too, and that soon begins to dwindle.
We play as Jimmy, the co-pilot of the Tulpar. He's Curly's second in command, and the captain has seen better days. When we meet Curly, we learn he bore the brunt of the damage from the crash, rendering him mute, physically scarred, and without any hands or feet. He's in a terrible condition and has a frightening appearance, something the game does not shy away from.
The rest is made up of Anya, the nurse and sole female member of the crew (yes, that is an uncomfortable experience), Daisuke the cheerful, naive intern whose parents forced him to get the job, and Swansea the gruff, recovering alcoholic mechanic. The game is non-linear and moves before and after the big crash, where we get to see the dynamics between the characters and Jimmy's worsening mental state. His inevitable breakdown is where the real horror comes in.
The descent into madness
(Image credit: Wrong Organ)
Best bit
(Image credit: Wrong Organ)
During the height of Jimmy's frightening breakdown, he hallucinates a party scene. I'm not going to include an image from the real scary moment, that would be a spoiler, but Curly looking ominous next to a cake should do the trick. You will know the party scene when you get there, and then you'll end up wishing you were anywhere but.
It's important to note that Mouthwashing is a very surreal game. You find yourself in impossible locations, you see things that don't exist, and much of the game is Jimmy hallucinating the most horrible stuff. There are a few jump scares here and there, especially the climactic vent scene near the end of the game, but much of the horror comes from the psychological aspects. Horrible visuals, sudden text popping up on-screen, and Jimmy's often deranged decisions are far scarier than things that go bump in the night. Or day. Frankly, it's hard to tell what time it is onboard the Tulpar and that's also pretty scary.
One of the Steam tags does describe the game as a walking simulator, but don't be surprised if it's more of a "frozen on the spot" simulator because you're bracing yourself for whatever horrors await behind closed doors or hidden inside vents. The game is dialogue-heavy in a lot of places - you'll read a brilliant monologue from Swansea late in the game - but the scares are in abundance too. It's hard to wax lyrical about how great this game is without going into full spoilers, so you're just going to have to see for yourself.
There's a limited amount of voice acting here but the sounds we do hear are crafted in such a way it'll make your skin crawl. Curly's wails and moans of pain, screaming sounds, and eerie corporate jingles are all this game needs to pack a very effective punch. It makes way for the haunting soundtrack to do most of the legwork, which only elevates the horror.
The less said about this, the better, as it really is a game you should go in and experience for yourself. You'll learn so much about the characters for better and for worse, and it leaves a lasting impression. You play for a couple of hours, but it will stay with you for much, much longer.
Should I play Mouthwashing?
(Image credit: Wrong Organ)
Play it if...
You like surrealism in games The game goes off the rails pretty quickly and you'll end up navigating some pretty baffling scenarios involving hallucinations, distortions, and strange landscapes. If you're put off by weird, unrealistic visuals, a different kind of sci-fi horror is better for you. View Deal
You like reading There's an absence of voice acting here, so you'll be expected to read a lot to figure stuff out. If you like piecing together stuff via text-based clues instead of skipping dialogue, Mouthwashing is right for you. Take your time, explore properly, and absorb everything you're told.View Deal
Don't play it if...
You're squeamish This game is incredibly grisly and dark. Expect scenes of violence, torture, references to sexual assault (note: this is subtle but still upsetting), as well as some really in-your-face imagery. Don't let the lack of high-fidelity graphics fool you, it's deeply unpleasant without a need for high definition.View Deal
You want combat Although the game is visceral and violent in places, there is no traditional combat in Mouthwashing. Instead, you walk around and interact with things, which might be too slow a pace for some players. The thrills and chills don't come from fighting here.View Deal
Accessibility
Mouthwashing is very easy to navigate. There are different language and subtitling options, and since 99% of the dialogue is not spoken and comes up as text, it's very clear and easy to understand. You can adjust your camera sensitivity too, but I played on the default settings and had no issues.
There are also quite a lot of flashing images and things suddenly popping up that are unavoidable, and visually it can be jarring and distorted, but that is simply the nature of the game rather than a technical issue. If you do find yourself affected by these things, just be aware it's a very unforgiving game in that sense.
How I reviewed Mouthwashing
I tested Mouthwashing for around two hours and finished the main game. I played the game using a Lenovo Legion 5-15ACH6H gaming laptop with Beats Flex wireless headphones and a PS5 DualSense Wireless Controller. I also did additional testing with the laptop’s built-in keyboard and Steelseries Aerox 9 wireless gaming mouse, to check that the game ran smoothly in both modes.
Headline 2: Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Stand review: a speedy and stable 3-in-1 MagSafe charger
Headline 3: Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Stand review: a speedy and steadfast 3-in-1 MagSafe charger that's perfect for the chronically clumsy
Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Stand review
The Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Stand has a list price of $99.99 / $89.99 / AU$199.95, making it considerably cheaper than the Anker 3-in-1 Cube with MagSafe, which takes over half an hour longer to charge an iPhone 13 Pro. It's available to purchase from the official Anker site in the US, UK, and Australia and is also available at Amazon, but only in the US and UK at the time of writing.
I was very impressed when the Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Stand charged up an iPhone 13 Pro in just 1 hour and 38 minutes thanks to Anker's signature wireless fast charging, Wireless PowerIQ. This makes it the fastest MagSafe charger I've tested, and I've tested a lot of them! It also proved the fastest at charging my Series 9 Apple Watch, taking just 1 hour and 4 minutes to juice it from 0% to 100%, making it a worthy contender to win a spot in our pick of the best iPhone chargers. It also had no problem charging AirPods Pro 2, and Motorola Moto Buds+ cases.
(Image credit: Future)
Although I like the black version I tested, in all honesty I prefer the look of the Shell White Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Stand. Still, it made an attractive addition to my desktop as I like its minimalist yet interesting aesthetic. However, quite quickly the circular base was starting to show dust, which made it somewhat less attractive. This may not be a bother for some but I wouldn't want to have to wipe down my charger regularly, and the silicone-type material of the earbuds charger seemed to become rather attached to the aforementioned dust, and wasn't keen on letting go.
It isn't exactly the most compact 3-in-1 charger you could buy though, with a base size of 5.5 x 5.5 inches / 140 x 140mm, so you'd need the space for it. The charger is available in Shell White and black on the official Anker site for the US and Australia, but it would appear it's only available in black for the UK, however, you can buy it in Shell White at Amazon UK.
(Image credit: Future)
Due to its wide base, I had no concerns about accidentally knocking this 3-in-1 stand over, and, even after some provoking, my phone just swiveled on the charger rather than falling off, which scored this charger some brownie points as I'm chronically clumsy. All three devices are easily accessed, unlike some other 3-in-1 chargers, such as the ESR Qi2 3-in-1 Travel Wireless Charging Set, which hides the watch and earbuds chargers behind the MagSafe phone mount. One little niggle I had with it was the firmness of the hold when I tried to use my phone as it charged. It swivels more than other MagSafe chargers I've tried out, not to a ridiculous extent, but at times it proved a little irritating. It does, however, make it super easy to change the phone's orientation from portrait to landscape, so it's not all bad.
In a nutshell, though, the Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Stand had a surprisingly fast charging time and was strong and sturdy enough to withstand my sometimes chaotic desk environment. While the price is higher than alternatives such as the ESR Qi2 3-in-1 Watch Wireless Charging Set, it has a more attractive aesthetic, provides easier access to all three devices, and charges a bit quicker too. If you want to look at other wireless charging options before making a decision, I recommend checking out our selection of the best wireless chargers to see what else is out there.
Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Stand review: Price & specs
Should I buy the Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Stand?
Buy it if…
You want something a bit fancier If you're tired of boring black desktop charging sets, then this Anker 3-in-1 charger might be what you've been searching for. With a large circular base and its shiny silver post and charging arms, it makes for something a little different, without being too "out there".
You want a quick charger I was thoroughly pleased with the charging speeds delivered during testing. This is the fastest MagSafe charger I've tested so far, and trust me, I've tested a lot of them. If you want to juice up your iPhone or Apple Watch in under two hours then this is the charger for you, just make sure you're using the included plug for the best result.
Don't buy it if…
You want something compact As sturdy and efficient as this charger is, it may prove too much of a space invader for people who don't have much room to spare on their desk or nightstand. If this sounds familiar, I have a space-saving recommendation in the Also Consider section below.
Dust gets you down I can't comment on how noticeable it would be on the Shell White variant, but in the first few minutes of having the charger on my desk, I started spotting pesky specs of dust on the black circular base.
Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Stand review: Also consider
ESR Qi2 3-in-1 Watch Wireless Charging Set A more compact solution to your desktop charging needs, this ESR charger features an earbud charger in the square base, a MagSafe charger on a post, and a clip-on watch charger behind. It's still a bit of a dust magnet, especially the shiny surface of the charging pad, but considering it only took fourteen minutes longer to charge an iPhone 13 Pro than the Anker charger, plus it's a fair bit cheaper, I think I can forgive that.View Deal
The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite is a mainstay on our list of the best Kindles, and the new Paperwhite offers just enough improvements to keep the e-reader feeling fresh while still leaving me wanting a bit more. It’s a little brighter, a little sharper, and a lot faster, and it turns out that speed truly makes a difference if you read a lot.
The main factor behind your choice of e-reader is where you get your books. If you buy books from Amazon or subscribe to Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited service, the Kindle is your only choice, and the Kindle Paperwhite is the best Kindle for most people. It’s bright, durable, and even water-resistant enough to survive a splash of salt water if you want to read in the sand.
Of course, the color Kindle is here, but don’t look at the Kindle Colorsoft if you don’t yearn for color when you read. It’s hard to go back to black and white once you’ve seen it, and the Colorsoft costs a lot more than the Kindle Paperwhite.
The Amazon Kindle Colorsoft is basically a Paperwhite in color (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
That’s fine because the Kindle Paperwhite does everything you’d expect from a Kindle, no more and no less. If you want a bit more, my review sample was the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, which includes wireless charging and maxes out the storage. I didn’t once charge the Kindle wirelessly except to test that it works, but you can buy a dock from Amazon to prop your Kindle at your bedside and let it charge while it shows you the cover of the book you’re reading.
That’s if you pay a little extra for the Kindle Paperwhite without lockscreen ads. I’m not a fan of Amazon’s common lockscreen ad scheme. I don’t like my phone, tablet, or e-reader serving me ads as a privilege of ownership. It feels cynical, and even though you can save $20 / £10 (and why is it so much cheaper in the UK?!) by allowing Amazon to take over your Kindle lockscreen with advertisements, I’d rather see my book covers or even just Amazon’s pleasant reading-themed wallpapers. Thankfully, the Signature Edition doesn't have lockscreen ads.
If you get your books from the library (yes, your local library will lend you an e-book) or if you buy from a seller other than Amazon, you have more choices, but the Kindle Paperwhite is still one of the best. I wish it had real buttons to turn pages, like the Kobo Libra e-reader. Buttons just feel more reliable than tapping or swiping, especially if I’m in the tub and my fingers are soapy.
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition exceeds other e-readers in its speed and responsiveness. Turning pages feels fast now, much faster than it was on older Kindle devices, and zooming into a chart or a picture happens almost as quickly as it would on a smartphone. I didn’t think a performance boost would make such a huge difference for a Kindle, but it’s really noticeable and makes the e-reader better.
Besides the library, Amazon’s Kindle book store is also the most robust place to buy books. You’ll find every title you want, and the store is great at making suggestions. I was slightly disappointed by the Kindle Unlimited content offering, though, so I wouldn’t recommend the subscription service unless reading is your passion and not just a pastime.
The new Kindle Paperwhite is an easy e-reader to recommend because the Paperwhite wasn’t broken, and Amazon didn’t fix it. It’s just a bit better, but it does everything I need an electronic book to do. The only thing I miss is color, and I suspect that the next Paperwhite upgrade that comes along in a few years will satisfy that craving.
Kindle Paperwhite SE review: price and availability
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
$159.99 / £159.99 for the Kindle Paperwhite with 16GB of storage, with ads
$199.99 / £189.99 for the Signature Edition with 32GB and wireless charging
No Australia launch date yet
The Kindle Paperwhite and Paperwhite Signature Edition are a bit more expensive than the Kindle Paperwhite from 2021, and you don’t really get anything new. It’s a better device, to be sure, with a brighter screen and a more responsive interface, but I don’t like that it’s creeping up in price, especially since it’s an excellent vessel for Amazon to sell you more Kindle books.
Never fear! Because the Kindle Paperwhite will likely get discounted often. I’m finishing this review just before the 2024 Black Friday deals season starts, and the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition already has its first discount: it’s $45 / £35 off at Amazon. That’s a good start! I’m sure we’ll see this e-reader drop in price every time Amazon has a sale day, or a holiday, or a day that ends in 'y.'
Is it worth the price? Compared to what? There aren’t any other e-readers that synchronize perfectly with Amazon’s book store, unless you buy a more expensive device that runs Android and can load the Kindle app. That’s a bridge too far, on my reading journey.
The Kobo Clara Color costs less than a Kindle Paperwhite (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
You can find a Kobo Clara e-reader with a smaller display for less money; you can even get a Kobo Clara Color e-reader for less than a Kindle Paperwhite, let alone the Signature Edition Paperwhite. The Clara has a smaller display, and you should definitely explore Kobo’s book library before you commit if you’re making a switch.
Value score: 4 / 5
Kindle Paperwhite SE review: Specs
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Kindle Paperwhite SE review: design
(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)
Looks nicer with Signature Edition metallic paint
No page turning buttons, and power button is poorly placed
The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite is a very simple e-reader, and Amazon hasn’t improved the design at all except to offer some brighter paint options, especially if you spring for the Signature Edition with its metallic paint. That’s the review sample I have, and I like the look much more than the basic matte black finish, as you’ll find on the Paperwhite and the Kindle Colorsoft.
What happened to Kindles that felt premium? The Kindle Oasis lingered for years as a premium model, clad in metal with real page-turn buttons. I guess Amazon gave that all up to cut prices, or maybe readers just didn’t want to pay more for a luxurious electronic book. In any case, I hope Amazon offers an alternative to the bland plastic Kindle Paperwhite slab in the future.
The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition from the side (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
I also hope Amazon brings back page buttons because pressing a button is easier than swiping or tapping on the correct spot. If I held the Kindle Paperwhite SE too high, I’d open a menu instead of turning the page. Just give me a button.
There's only one button on the Kindle Paperwhite SE, and it’s the unfortunately placed power button. If you rest the Paperwhite on a desk while reading or rest it heavily on a finger for balance, you might turn off the screen by accident.
The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is certainly simple; I just wish there were more elegance to be found.
Design score: 2 / 5
Kindle Paperwhite SE review: display
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
E Ink Carta 1300 display
Full set of white and amber LEDs for reading at night
The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition uses the latest E Ink black and white Carta 1300 display, which doesn’t offer more sharpness than past Kindle screens, but the Kindle already looks great when it’s displaying text and writing. Pictures look good enough in 16 levels of grey, but if you want better graphics, you should go for the Kindle Colorsoft.
The display does an impressive job keeping up with the improved performance inside. I expected to see a lot more ghosting and residual characters as I zoomed in and out of a page, but the Paperwhite SE gave me a lighter version of my screen for panning, then flashed briefly and gave me a darker, final version when I was steady.
The Kindle Paperwhite SE can get plenty bright, so be warned that the incredible 12 weeks of battery life only applies when you are reading at half brightness. If you are in a well-lit room you won’t need any light at all, but reading before bed is my personal habit, so I use the light frequently. There’s a full set of amber lights and white LEDs inside so that you can eliminate all the blue light before bedtime.
Display score: 4 / 5
Kindle Paperwhite SE review: software
The Kindle has direct access to Goodreads to rate your books (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Amazon’s Kindle software keeps things very simple
Better performance makes menus and libraries move faster
If you buy books through Amazon, the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition does a perfect job delivering those books to your device. The Kindle can synchronize your progress easily if you read across multiple devices. It can also report your reading to Goodreads automatically or connect you to the social service to write your own reviews.
There isn’t much more to the Kindle Paperwhite SE. If you have books from other sources, you can connect the Kindle Paperwhite to your computer directly or just synchronize through Amazon’s web-based software.
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
There is a web browser, but it’s dreadfully simple, maybe thankfully so. You won’t find yourself distracted and browsing your favorite websites on this e-reader. I could barely get TechRadar.com to load beyond some text boxes.
The big thing that I’m missing with Kindle software is the ability to annotate my books right on the page. The Kobo Libra can use a stylus to take notes on a book. Not just highlighting or sticky notes but actually drawing in the margins and on the page. It’s a nifty trick that Amazon really needs to adopt, especially for the Kindle Scribe.
User experience score: 4 / 5
Kindle Paperwhite SE review: performance
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Surprisingly fast performance on E Ink
Improved scrolling, moves faster than before
Amazon gave the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition a dual-core processor inside, which makes this electronic book more powerful than the Apollo 11 lunar lander. That means it can turn pages very quickly. I joke, but in fact, the difference is noticeable if you’ve ever owned a Kindle and been annoyed by slow page turns.
The only place where the Kindle still lags behind modern technology is in touch sensitivity. The E Ink display is not very sensitive, and I still felt a delay between tapping the screen, like when I needed to enter my Wi-Fi password, and when the character appeared. Menus were faster when I was scrolling, but still not totally reliable when tapping through them.
Frankly, there’s not much more I could ask for with Kindle performance. I’ve seen E Ink displays that try to do a lot more, and they overcomplicate simple technology like e-paper. I’m happy that Amazon made the interface more responsive. The next frontier is touch response.
Performance score: 4 / 5
Kindle Paperwhite SE review: battery
USB-C charging or go wireless with the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Excellent battery life, if you follow the rules
Avid readers will get a week of battery life or more
The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition will last for 12 weeks on a single charge, if you’re a casual reader. Amazon’s 12-week claim calls for 30 minutes of reading with the screen at just under half brightness. If you read all day in bright sunshine, the Kindle Paperwhite SE might last longer. If you read in the dark New England winter nights, the Paperwhite will need to charge more often.
The good news is that you will get over 40 hours of screen time between charges, and the battery won’t die if you put the book down for a few weeks. If you read at a good pace, you’ll be able to read a couple of books before you need to charge the Kindle Paperwhite, and that’s exceptional for any modern electronic device.
The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition features wireless charging. I like the wireless option as an elegant solution for keeping your Kindle topped up on a bedside stand, but it’s not essential at all.
Battery score: 5 / 5
Should I buy the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition?
Buy it if...
You want a new Kindle Amazon hasn’t given us a proper new Kindle for reading in years. Time to rejoice! New Kindles have arrived.
You’re a serious reader You can buy the cheaper Amazon Kindle, but serious readers want brighter displays with better battery life, and the Paperwhite is the one.
You’ll be reading in harsh, beach-like conditions The Kindle Paperwhite is IP67 rated, so it can resist sand and even salt-water (with a proper rinse after).
Don't buy it if...
You read comics or graphic novels If you don’t care about color, don’t worry about the Kindle Colorsoft. But who doesn’t care about color?!
You want to take notes on your books E-readers from Kobo can write directly on the pages, and there’s always the Kindle Scribe if you need a pen.
You expect a real web browser The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite still keeps things simple. This device is for reading without distractions, not doomscrolling.
Also consider
Kobo Clara Colour You can save a bit of money and even check out a color E Ink display with the Kobo Clara Color. As long as your books aren’t all on Kindle, it’s worth a look. Read our in-depth Kobo Clara Color review
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024) The base model Kindle Paperwhite doesn't have wireless charging, which I never needed, and it comes with only 16GB of storage, which is more than enough for most avid readers.
How I tested the Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition
(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)
Testing period - three weeks
Subscribed to Kindle Unlimited and Comixology
Tested books, comics, audiobooks, and bathtub reading
I used the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition for three weeks before I published this review. I read two novels, multiple short stories, Japanese manga, and a number of other materials, including cookbooks and magazine.
I used the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition for listening to audiobooks from Audible, and for listening while I read the same book. I used the Paperwhite in the bathtub to test its water resistance, and because reading in the bathtub is the main reason I like to review Kindle Paperwhite devices.
I did not have a dedicated wireless charging dock, but I tried charging the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition with a Qi-compatible wireless charging adapter that attaches magnetically to the back of a smartphone. Before my review period I charged the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition using the USB-C port, and I only charged it one more time before this review was completed, even though I read daily and usually for more than an hour a day.
I used the Kindle Paperwhite without a case, and the photos in this review reflect its condition after daily use without a case, which is pretty good. I subscribed to Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited service and Comixology, and I also loaded books into my collection through the Overdrive library borrowing system and my local library.
The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite is a mainstay on our list of the best Kindles, and the new Paperwhite offers just enough improvements to keep the e-reader feeling fresh while still leaving me wanting a bit more. It’s a little brighter, a little sharper, and a lot faster, and it turns out that speed truly makes a difference if you read a lot.
The main factor behind your choice of e-reader is where you get your books. If you buy books from Amazon or subscribe to Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited service, the Kindle is your only choice, and the Kindle Paperwhite is the best Kindle for most people. It’s bright, durable, and even water-resistant enough to survive a splash of salt water if you want to read in the sand.
Of course, the color Kindle is here, but don’t look at the Kindle Colorsoft if you don’t yearn for color when you read. It’s hard to go back to black and white once you’ve seen it, and the Colorsoft costs a lot more than the Kindle Paperwhite.
The Amazon Kindle Colorsoft is basically a Paperwhite in color (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
That’s fine because the Kindle Paperwhite does everything you’d expect from a Kindle, no more and no less. If you want a bit more, my review sample was the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, which includes wireless charging and maxes out the storage. I didn’t once charge the Kindle wirelessly except to test that it works, but you can buy a dock from Amazon to prop your Kindle at your bedside and let it charge while it shows you the cover of the book you’re reading.
That’s if you pay a little extra for the Kindle Paperwhite without lockscreen ads. I’m not a fan of Amazon’s common lockscreen ad scheme. I don’t like my phone, tablet, or e-reader serving me ads as a privilege of ownership. It feels cynical, and even though you can save $20 / £10 (and why is it so much cheaper in the UK?!) by allowing Amazon to take over your Kindle lockscreen with advertisements, I’d rather see my book covers or even just Amazon’s pleasant reading-themed wallpapers.
If you get your books from the library (yes, your local library will lend you an e-book) or if you buy from a seller other than Amazon, you have more choices, but the Kindle Paperwhite is still one of the best. I wish it had real buttons to turn pages, like the Kobo Libra e-reader. Buttons just feel more reliable than tapping or swiping, especially if I’m in the tub and my fingers are soapy.
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
The Kindle Paperwhite exceeds other e-readers in its speed and responsiveness. Turning pages feels fast now, much faster than it was on older Kindle devices, and zooming into a chart or a picture happens almost as quickly as it would on a smartphone. I didn’t think a performance boost would make such a huge difference for a Kindle, but it’s really noticeable and makes the e-reader better.
Besides the library, Amazon’s Kindle book store is also the most robust place to buy books. You’ll find every title you want, and the store is great at making suggestions. I was slightly disappointed by the Kindle Unlimited content offering, though, so I wouldn’t recommend the subscription service unless reading is your passion and not just a pastime.
The new Kindle Paperwhite is an easy e-reader to recommend because the Paperwhite wasn’t broken, and Amazon didn’t fix it. It’s just a bit better, but it does everything I need an electronic book to do. The only thing I miss is color, and I suspect that the next Paperwhite upgrade that comes along in a few years will satisfy that craving.
Kindle Colorsoft Signature review: price and availability
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
$159.99 / £159.99 for the Kindle Paperwhite with 16GB of storage, with ads
$199.99 / £189.99 for the Signature Edition with 32GB and wireless charging
No Australia launch date yet
The Kindle Paperwhite and Paperwhite Signature Edition are a bit more expensive than the Kindle Paperwhite from 2021, and you don’t really get anything new. It’s a better device, to be sure, with a brighter screen and a more responsive interface, but I don’t like that it’s creeping up in price, especially since it’s an excellent vessel for Amazon to sell you more Kindle books.
Never fear! Because the Kindle Paperwhite will likely get discounted often. I’m finishing this review just before the 2024 Black Friday deals season starts, and the Kindle Paperwhite already has its first discount: it’s $30 / £35 off at Amazon. That’s a good start! I’m sure we’ll see this e-reader drop in price every time Amazon has a sale day, or a holiday, or a day that ends in 'y.'
Is it worth the price? Compared to what? There aren’t any other e-readers that synchronize perfectly with Amazon’s book store, unless you buy a more expensive device that runs Android and can load the Kindle app. That’s a bridge too far, on my reading journey.
The Kobo Clara Color costs less than a Kindle Paperwhite (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
You can find a Kobo Clara e-reader with a smaller display for less money; you can even get a Kobo Clara Color e-reader for less than a Kindle Paperwhite. The Clara has a smaller display, and you should definitely explore Kobo’s book library before you commit if you’re making a switch.
Value score: 4 / 5
Kindle Colorsoft Signature review: Specs
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Kindle Colorsoft Signature review: design
(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)
Looks nicer with Signature Edition metallic paint
No page turning buttons, and power button is poorly placed
The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite is a very simple e-reader, and Amazon hasn’t improved the design at all except to offer some brighter paint options, especially if you spring for the Signature Edition with its metallic paint. That’s the review sample I have, and I like the look much more than the basic matte black finish, as you’ll find on the Paperwhite and the Kindle Colorsoft.
What happened to Kindles that felt premium? The Kindle Oasis lingered for years as a premium model, clad in metal with real page-turn buttons. I guess Amazon gave that all up to cut prices, or maybe readers just didn’t want to pay more for a luxurious electronic book. In any case, I hope Amazon offers an alternative to the bland plastic Kindle Paperwhite slab in the future.
The Kindle Paperwhite from the side (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
I also hope Amazon brings back page buttons because pressing a button is easier than swiping or tapping on the correct spot. If I held the Kindle Paperwhite too high, I’d open a menu instead of turning the page. Just give me a button.
There's only one button on the Kindle Paperwhite, and it’s the unfortunately placed power button. If you rest the Kindle Paperwhite on a desk while reading or rest it heavily on a finger for balance, you might turn off the screen by accident.
The Kindle Paperwhite is certainly simple; I just wish there were more elegance to be found.
Design score: 2 / 5
Kindle Colorsoft Signature review: display
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
E Ink Carta 1300 display
Full set of white and amber LEDs for reading at night
The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite uses the latest E Ink black and white Carta 1300 display, which doesn’t offer more sharpness than past Kindle screens, but the Kindle already looks great when it’s displaying text and writing. Pictures look good enough in 16 levels of grey, but if you want better graphics, you should go for the Kindle Colorsoft.
The display does an impressive job keeping up with the improved performance inside. I expected to see a lot more ghosting and residual characters as I zoomed in and out of a page, but the Paperwhite gave me a lighter version of my screen for panning, then flashed briefly and gave me a darker, final version when I was steady.
The Kindle Paperwhite can get plenty bright, so be warned that the incredible 12 weeks of battery life only applies when you are reading at half brightness. If you are in a well-lit room you won’t need any light at all, but reading before bed is my personal habit, so I use the light frequently. There’s a full set of amber lights and white LEDs inside so that you can eliminate all the blue light before bedtime.
Display score: 4 / 5
Kindle Colorsoft Signature review: software
The Kindle has direct access to Goodreads to rate your books (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Amazon’s Kindle software keeps things very simple
Better performance makes menus and libraries move faster
If you buy books through Amazon, the Kindle Paperwhite does a perfect job delivering those books to your device. The Kindle can synchronize your progress easily if you read across multiple devices. It can also report your reading to Goodreads automatically or connect you to the social service to write your own reviews.
There isn’t much more to the Kindle Paperwhite. If you have books from other sources, you can connect the Kindle Paperwhite to your computer directly or just synchronize through Amazon’s web-based software.
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
There is a web browser, but it’s dreadfully simple, maybe thankfully so. You won’t find yourself distracted and browsing your favorite websites on this e-reader. I could barely get TechRadar.com to load beyond some text boxes.
The big thing that I’m missing with Kindle software is the ability to annotate my books right on the page. The Kobo Libra can use a stylus to take notes on a book. Not just highlighting or sticky notes but actually drawing in the margins and on the page. It’s a nifty trick that Amazon really needs to adopt, especially for the Kindle Scribe.
User experience score: 4 / 5
Kindle Colorsoft Signature review: performance
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Surprisingly fast performance on E Ink
Improved scrolling, moves faster than before
Amazon gave the Kindle Paperwhite a dual-core processor inside, which makes this electronic book more powerful than the Apollo 11 lunar lander. That means it can turn pages very quickly. I joke, but in fact, the difference is noticeable if you’ve ever owned a Kindle and been annoyed by slow page turns.
The only place where the Kindle still lags behind modern technology is in touch sensitivity. The E Ink display is not very sensitive, and I still felt a delay between tapping the screen, like when I needed to enter my Wi-Fi password, and when the character appeared. Menus were faster when I was scrolling, but still not totally reliable when tapping through them.
Frankly, there’s not much more I could ask for with Kindle performance. I’ve seen E Ink displays that try to do a lot more, and they overcomplicate simple technology like e-paper. I’m happy that Amazon made the interface more responsive. The next frontier is touch response.
Performance score: 4 / 5
Kindle Colorsoft Signature review: battery
USB-C charging or go wireless with the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Excellent battery life, if you follow the rules
Avid readers will get a week of battery life or more
The Kindle Paperwhite will last for 12 weeks on a single charge, if you’re a casual reader. Amazon’s 12-week claim calls for 30 minutes of reading with the screen at just under half brightness. If you read all day in bright sunshine, the Kindle Paperwhite might last longer. If you read in the dark New England winter nights, the Paperwhite will need to charge more often.
The good news is that you will get over 40 hours of screen time between charges, and the battery won’t die if you put the book down for a few weeks. If you read at a good pace, you’ll be able to read a couple of books before you need to charge the Kindle Paperwhite, and that’s exceptional for any modern electronic device.
My review sample was a Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, which comes with wireless charging. I like the wireless option as an elegant solution for keeping your Kindle topped up on a bedside stand, but it’s not essential at all.
Battery score: 5 / 5
Should I buy the Kindle Colorsoft Signature?
Buy it if...
You want a new Kindle Amazon hasn’t given us a proper new Kindle for reading in years. Time to rejoice! New Kindles have arrived.
You’re a serious reader You can buy the cheaper Amazon Kindle, but serious readers want brighter displays with better battery life, and the Paperwhite is the one.
You’ll be reading in harsh, beach-like conditions The Kindle Paperwhite is IP67 rated, so it can resist sand and even salt-water (with a proper rinse after).
Don't buy it if...
You read comics or graphic novels If you don’t care about color, don’t worry about the Kindle Colorsoft. But who doesn’t care about color?!
You want to take notes on your books E-readers from Kobo can write directly on the pages, and there’s always the Kindle Scribe if you need a pen.
You expect a real web browser The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite still keeps things simple. This device is for reading without distractions, not doomscrolling.
Also consider
Kobo Clara Colour You can save a bit of money and even check out a color E Ink display with the Kobo Clara Color. As long as your books aren’t all on Kindle, it’s worth a look. Read our in-depth Kobo Clara Color review
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature (2024) The Kindle Paperwhite Signature gives you twice the storage and wireless charging, plus nice metallic paint and no ads. It might be worth the upgrade. Check out the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition at Amazon
How I tested the Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition
(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)
Testing period - three weeks
Subscribed to Kindle Unlimited and Comixology
Tested books, comics, audiobooks, and bathtub reading
I used the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition for three weeks before I published this review. I read two novels, multiple short stories, Japanese manga, and a number of other materials, including cookbooks and magazine.
I used the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition for listening to audiobooks from Audible, and for listening while I read the same book. I used the Paperwhite in the bathtub to test its water resistance, and because reading in the bathtub is the main reason I like to review Kindle Paperwhite devices.
I did not have a dedicated wireless charging dock, but I tried charging the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition with a Qi-compatible wireless charging adapter that attaches magnetically to the back of a smartphone. Before my review period I charged the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition using the USB-C port, and I only charged it one more time before this review was completed, even though I read daily and usually for more than an hour a day.
I used the Kindle Paperwhite without a case, and the photos in this review reflect its condition after daily use without a case, which is pretty good. I subscribed to Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited service and Comixology, and I also loaded books into my collection through the Overdrive library borrowing system and my local library.
The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite is a mainstay on our list of the best Kindles, and the new Paperwhite offers just enough improvements to keep the e-reader feeling fresh while still leaving me wanting a bit more. It’s a little brighter, a little sharper, and a lot faster, and it turns out that speed truly makes a difference if you read a lot.
The main factor behind your choice of e-reader is where you get your books. If you buy books from Amazon or subscribe to Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited service, the Kindle is your only choice, and the Kindle Paperwhite is the best Kindle for most people. It’s bright, durable, and even water-resistant enough to survive a splash of salt water if you want to read in the sand.
Of course, the color Kindle is here, but don’t look at the Kindle Colorsoft if you don’t yearn for color when you read. It’s hard to go back to black and white once you’ve seen it, and the Colorsoft costs a lot more than the Kindle Paperwhite.
The Amazon Kindle Colorsoft is basically a Paperwhite in color (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
That’s fine because the Kindle Paperwhite does everything you’d expect from a Kindle, no more and no less. If you want a bit more, my review sample was the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, which includes wireless charging and maxes out the storage. I didn’t once charge the Kindle wirelessly except to test that it works, but you can buy a dock from Amazon to prop your Kindle at your bedside and let it charge while it shows you the cover of the book you’re reading.
That’s if you pay a little extra for the Kindle Paperwhite without lockscreen ads. I’m not a fan of Amazon’s common lockscreen ad scheme. I don’t like my phone, tablet, or e-reader serving me ads as a privilege of ownership. It feels cynical, and even though you can save $20 / £10 (and why is it so much cheaper in the UK?!) by allowing Amazon to take over your Kindle lockscreen with advertisements, I’d rather see my book covers or even just Amazon’s pleasant reading-themed wallpapers.
If you get your books from the library (yes, your local library will lend you an e-book) or if you buy from a seller other than Amazon, you have more choices, but the Kindle Paperwhite is still one of the best. I wish it had real buttons to turn pages, like the Kobo Libra e-reader. Buttons just feel more reliable than tapping or swiping, especially if I’m in the tub and my fingers are soapy.
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
The Kindle Paperwhite exceeds other e-readers in its speed and responsiveness. Turning pages feels fast now, much faster than it was on older Kindle devices, and zooming into a chart or a picture happens almost as quickly as it would on a smartphone. I didn’t think a performance boost would make such a huge difference for a Kindle, but it’s really noticeable and makes the e-reader better.
Besides the library, Amazon’s Kindle book store is also the most robust place to buy books. You’ll find every title you want, and the store is great at making suggestions. I was slightly disappointed by the Kindle Unlimited content offering, though, so I wouldn’t recommend the subscription service unless reading is your passion and not just a pastime.
The new Kindle Paperwhite is an easy e-reader to recommend because the Paperwhite wasn’t broken, and Amazon didn’t fix it. It’s just a bit better, but it does everything I need an electronic book to do. The only thing I miss is color, and I suspect that the next Paperwhite upgrade that comes along in a few years will satisfy that craving.
Kindle Colorsoft Signature review: price and availability
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
$159.99 / £159.99 for the Kindle Paperwhite with 16GB of storage, with ads
$199.99 / £189.99 for the Signature Edition with 32GB and wireless charging
No Australia launch date yet
The Kindle Paperwhite and Paperwhite Signature Edition are a bit more expensive than the Kindle Paperwhite from 2021, and you don’t really get anything new. It’s a better device, to be sure, with a brighter screen and a more responsive interface, but I don’t like that it’s creeping up in price, especially since it’s an excellent vessel for Amazon to sell you more Kindle books.
Never fear! Because the Kindle Paperwhite will likely get discounted often. I’m finishing this review just before the 2024 Black Friday deals season starts, and the Kindle Paperwhite already has its first discount: it’s $30 / £35 off at Amazon. That’s a good start! I’m sure we’ll see this e-reader drop in price every time Amazon has a sale day, or a holiday, or a day that ends in 'y.'
Is it worth the price? Compared to what? There aren’t any other e-readers that synchronize perfectly with Amazon’s book store, unless you buy a more expensive device that runs Android and can load the Kindle app. That’s a bridge too far, on my reading journey.
The Kobo Clara Color costs less than a Kindle Paperwhite (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
You can find a Kobo Clara e-reader with a smaller display for less money; you can even get a Kobo Clara Color e-reader for less than a Kindle Paperwhite. The Clara has a smaller display, and you should definitely explore Kobo’s book library before you commit if you’re making a switch.
Value score: 4 / 5
Kindle Colorsoft Signature review: Specs
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Kindle Colorsoft Signature review: design
(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)
Looks nicer with Signature Edition metallic paint
No page turning buttons, and power button is poorly placed
The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite is a very simple e-reader, and Amazon hasn’t improved the design at all except to offer some brighter paint options, especially if you spring for the Signature Edition with its metallic paint. That’s the review sample I have, and I like the look much more than the basic matte black finish, as you’ll find on the Paperwhite and the Kindle Colorsoft.
What happened to Kindles that felt premium? The Kindle Oasis lingered for years as a premium model, clad in metal with real page-turn buttons. I guess Amazon gave that all up to cut prices, or maybe readers just didn’t want to pay more for a luxurious electronic book. In any case, I hope Amazon offers an alternative to the bland plastic Kindle Paperwhite slab in the future.
The Kindle Paperwhite from the side (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
I also hope Amazon brings back page buttons because pressing a button is easier than swiping or tapping on the correct spot. If I held the Kindle Paperwhite too high, I’d open a menu instead of turning the page. Just give me a button.
There's only one button on the Kindle Paperwhite, and it’s the unfortunately placed power button. If you rest the Kindle Paperwhite on a desk while reading or rest it heavily on a finger for balance, you might turn off the screen by accident.
The Kindle Paperwhite is certainly simple; I just wish there were more elegance to be found.
Design score: 2 / 5
Kindle Colorsoft Signature review: display
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
E Ink Carta 1300 display
Full set of white and amber LEDs for reading at night
The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite uses the latest E Ink black and white Carta 1300 display, which doesn’t offer more sharpness than past Kindle screens, but the Kindle already looks great when it’s displaying text and writing. Pictures look good enough in 16 levels of grey, but if you want better graphics, you should go for the Kindle Colorsoft.
The display does an impressive job keeping up with the improved performance inside. I expected to see a lot more ghosting and residual characters as I zoomed in and out of a page, but the Paperwhite gave me a lighter version of my screen for panning, then flashed briefly and gave me a darker, final version when I was steady.
The Kindle Paperwhite can get plenty bright, so be warned that the incredible 12 weeks of battery life only applies when you are reading at half brightness. If you are in a well-lit room you won’t need any light at all, but reading before bed is my personal habit, so I use the light frequently. There’s a full set of amber lights and white LEDs inside so that you can eliminate all the blue light before bedtime.
Display score: 4 / 5
Kindle Colorsoft Signature review: software
The Kindle has direct access to Goodreads to rate your books (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Amazon’s Kindle software keeps things very simple
Better performance makes menus and libraries move faster
If you buy books through Amazon, the Kindle Paperwhite does a perfect job delivering those books to your device. The Kindle can synchronize your progress easily if you read across multiple devices. It can also report your reading to Goodreads automatically or connect you to the social service to write your own reviews.
There isn’t much more to the Kindle Paperwhite. If you have books from other sources, you can connect the Kindle Paperwhite to your computer directly or just synchronize through Amazon’s web-based software.
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
There is a web browser, but it’s dreadfully simple, maybe thankfully so. You won’t find yourself distracted and browsing your favorite websites on this e-reader. I could barely get TechRadar.com to load beyond some text boxes.
The big thing that I’m missing with Kindle software is the ability to annotate my books right on the page. The Kobo Libra can use a stylus to take notes on a book. Not just highlighting or sticky notes but actually drawing in the margins and on the page. It’s a nifty trick that Amazon really needs to adopt, especially for the Kindle Scribe.
User experience score: 4 / 5
Kindle Colorsoft Signature review: performance
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Surprisingly fast performance on E Ink
Improved scrolling, moves faster than before
Amazon gave the Kindle Paperwhite a dual-core processor inside, which makes this electronic book more powerful than the Apollo 11 lunar lander. That means it can turn pages very quickly. I joke, but in fact, the difference is noticeable if you’ve ever owned a Kindle and been annoyed by slow page turns.
The only place where the Kindle still lags behind modern technology is in touch sensitivity. The E Ink display is not very sensitive, and I still felt a delay between tapping the screen, like when I needed to enter my Wi-Fi password, and when the character appeared. Menus were faster when I was scrolling, but still not totally reliable when tapping through them.
Frankly, there’s not much more I could ask for with Kindle performance. I’ve seen E Ink displays that try to do a lot more, and they overcomplicate simple technology like e-paper. I’m happy that Amazon made the interface more responsive. The next frontier is touch response.
Performance score: 4 / 5
Kindle Colorsoft Signature review: battery
USB-C charging or go wireless with the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Excellent battery life, if you follow the rules
Avid readers will get a week of battery life or more
The Kindle Paperwhite will last for 12 weeks on a single charge, if you’re a casual reader. Amazon’s 12-week claim calls for 30 minutes of reading with the screen at just under half brightness. If you read all day in bright sunshine, the Kindle Paperwhite might last longer. If you read in the dark New England winter nights, the Paperwhite will need to charge more often.
The good news is that you will get over 40 hours of screen time between charges, and the battery won’t die if you put the book down for a few weeks. If you read at a good pace, you’ll be able to read a couple of books before you need to charge the Kindle Paperwhite, and that’s exceptional for any modern electronic device.
My review sample was a Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, which comes with wireless charging. I like the wireless option as an elegant solution for keeping your Kindle topped up on a bedside stand, but it’s not essential at all.
Battery score: 5 / 5
Should I buy the Kindle Colorsoft Signature?
Buy it if...
You want a new Kindle Amazon hasn’t given us a proper new Kindle for reading in years. Time to rejoice! New Kindles have arrived.
You’re a serious reader You can buy the cheaper Amazon Kindle, but serious readers want brighter displays with better battery life, and the Paperwhite is the one.
You’ll be reading in harsh, beach-like conditions The Kindle Paperwhite is IP67 rated, so it can resist sand and even salt-water (with a proper rinse after).
Don't buy it if...
You read comics or graphic novels If you don’t care about color, don’t worry about the Kindle Colorsoft. But who doesn’t care about color?!
You want to take notes on your books E-readers from Kobo can write directly on the pages, and there’s always the Kindle Scribe if you need a pen.
You expect a real web browser The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite still keeps things simple. This device is for reading without distractions, not doomscrolling.
Also consider
Kobo Clara Colour You can save a bit of money and even check out a color E Ink display with the Kobo Clara Color. As long as your books aren’t all on Kindle, it’s worth a look. Read our in-depth Kobo Clara Color review
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature (2024) The Kindle Paperwhite Signature gives you twice the storage and wireless charging, plus nice metallic paint and no ads. It might be worth the upgrade. Check out the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition at Amazon
How I tested the Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition
(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)
Testing period - three weeks
Subscribed to Kindle Unlimited and Comixology
Tested books, comics, audiobooks, and bathtub reading
I used the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition for three weeks before I published this review. I read two novels, multiple short stories, Japanese manga, and a number of other materials, including cookbooks and magazine.
I used the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition for listening to audiobooks from Audible, and for listening while I read the same book. I used the Paperwhite in the bathtub to test its water resistance, and because reading in the bathtub is the main reason I like to review Kindle Paperwhite devices.
I did not have a dedicated wireless charging dock, but I tried charging the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition with a Qi-compatible wireless charging adapter that attaches magnetically to the back of a smartphone. Before my review period I charged the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition using the USB-C port, and I only charged it one more time before this review was completed, even though I read daily and usually for more than an hour a day.
I used the Kindle Paperwhite without a case, and the photos in this review reflect its condition after daily use without a case, which is pretty good. I subscribed to Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited service and Comixology, and I also loaded books into my collection through the Overdrive library borrowing system and my local library.
Moana 2 is not the follow-up we expected, as it was originally meant to be a Disney Plus show and instead arrived as a feature film. I must admit it was lovely seeing it on the big screen, especially during a gloomy December evening in London, but I can't help but imagine what a full series would've looked like.
Personally, I rather like the idea of an entire series dedicated to Hei Hei, a la Forky Asks a Question which centers on the much-loved toy fork character from Toy Story 4. An eight-episode series about a stupid chicken is right up my street.
I did have high hopes going into this movie, and I am happy to say that most of my expectations were met. Such bright and beautiful visuals are always a welcome treat. For example, I am fascinated by how well they seem to animate water. With this in mind, I would encourage you to see this on a big screen or at least have a great at-home setup for maximum immersion, as it's easy to find yourself swept away to the island of Motunui and what lies beyond.
Three years later...
(Image credit: Disney)
Moana 2 picks up three years after the first movie, where Moana is still fully connected to the ocean she adores so much. When she receives an unexpected call from her ancestors, she assembles a crew as a wayfinder where she hopes to track down the hidden island of Motufetu, reconnecting the people of the ocean once again.
As ever, she is enthusiastic about the mission, perilous as it may be, and would have been quite happy going off and doing it all by herself. She is encouraged to form a crew instead, and this merry band of misfits is thoroughly entertaining to watch. So much so, I think it will be worth rewatching when it arrives on Disney Plus.
The four-person crew is made up of Moana, Moni (Hualālai Chung), who is a superfan of the demigod Maui, Loto (Rose Matafeo), who is an engineer of sorts, and Kele (David Fane), a farmer who is grumpy and not massively thrilled to be recruited. This mismatch of personalities is excellent fun, resulting in some expected chaos, especially when you throw in Hei Hei and Pua. They say to never work with animals for a reason, right?
I really loved Moana's crew and all the performances. Still, one that stood out to me the most was Moana's little sister Simea (Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda), who stole the show despite her limited screen time thanks to her feisty, lovable personality. If Moana 3 does happen, I'd certainly like to see more of her!
Exploring familiar shores
(Image credit: Disney Plus)
Along the way, they do locate Maui, of course, because Moana simply would not be complete without Dwayne Johnson's cocky, reckless demigod figure. When Moni finally meets Maui, there are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments.
While the plot of Moana 2 is centered around finding a new, long-lost island, it's quite ironic that many of the beats feel similar to what we've seen before. This is a journey we have undertaken as viewers, but I didn't mind following along for a second time!
Going on a voyage with Moana is always wonderful, I adore the songs, the atmosphere, everything about it. Even though we didn't quite reach the memorable heights of "You're Welcome", I have had some of the songs stuck in my head this week, especially "What Could Be Better Than This?", so it's not like any of the songs were complete duds.
While predictable in places, there is plenty of action, especially when it comes to the third act, where I did actually start crying, the mark of any good Disney movie, in my opinion. If I'm not sobbing into my popcorn, I do find myself kind of disappointed. There is also more than room for a follow-up movie, and I sincerely hope it happens.
Just give me more Hei Hei next time, please, I really do love him!
You might not realize it, but Xiaomi's gotten pretty good at making foldables. Although not every entry has launched internationally, the company is now on its fourth generation of Mix Fold. Despite playing in this space since 2021, one thing Xiaomi has never attempted is a clamshell. Until now.
The Xiaomi Mix Flip made its international debut alongside the Xiaomi 14T and Xiaomi 14T Pro, with relatively modest fanfare, but that doesn't detract from what looks to be a capable competitor to the Motorola Razrs and Galaxy Z Flips of the world, not to mention an impressive first foray into what is a new form factor for the company.
The Mix Flip nails the fundamentals, with an expansive 4.01-inch cover display and a killer main display that work beautifully in concert. Performance is top-tier, however, the phone's form factor hinders prolonged performance, from a thermal perspective.
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
A large battery ensures all-day use, in spite of those demanding screens, while fast 67W wired charging can refill the phone in less than an hour. The company wasn't able to squeeze in wireless charging, or IP68 certified protection against dust or water, for that matter.
Xiaomi's famed image processing holds up what is, underneath, modest camera hardware. Add in Leica's involvement and you've got arguably the best clamshell camera phone currently on the market, though there is room to improve, in terms of detail and clarity.
As I've seen with other Xiaomi phones, it's Xiaomi's software that lets the Mix Flip down. HyperOS is leaner than its predecessor, MIUI, but the end result still plays host to occasionally confusing and restrictive user experience paradigms, paired with app bloat and too many baked-in ads. A shame, especially for a phone at this price.
Offering only one storage and memory configuration might seem restrictive, but Xiaomi chose wisely from a value perspective (12GB RAM + 512GB storage), relative to the likes of Samsung and Motorola. That said, unlike those big-name rivals, and despite an international launch, you won't be able to get your hands on the Mix Flip natively in the US and Australia.
Xiaomi Mix Flip review: Price and availability
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
Priced at £1,099 / €1,300
On sale from September 26, 2024
Limited international availability compared to rivals
The Mix Flip went on sale internationally on September 26, alongside the aforementioned Xiaomi 14T series. That was a couple of months after its initial debut in China.
Despite launching at a higher starting price compared to its most prominent rivals – the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Motorola Razr Plus 2024/Razr 50 Ultra – the Mix Flip with 12GB RAM / 512GB storage might be a better value than Samsung's latest clamshell.
Although you can pick up a Z Flip 6 for around £50 less in the UK, at £1,049 you get half the storage, in comparison to the Mix Flip. And, if you're looking at like for like, the 512GB Flip 6 actually clocks in at £50 more than Xiaomi's offering, which likely isn't a coincidence on Xiaomi's part.
Motorola's latest entry is £100 more affordable, but that can be explained, in part, by its use of a modest Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset and its shorter OS update roadmap.
Despite being a global release, Xiaomi's smartphone presence doesn't extend to markets like the US or Australia. That means it remains out of reach for those in such regions looking for alternatives to the likes of Motorola or Samsung.
Value score: 4 / 5
Xiaomi Mix Flip review: Specs
Xiaomi Mix Flip review: Design
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
Side-mounted fingerprint sensor
Functional hinge between 45° and 120°
No IP-certified dust or water resistance
Xiaomi didn't simply translate the existing design language already established by its long-running Mix Fold line, when deciding on a look for its first clamshell foldable. Instead, the Mix Flip has an aesthetic all its own.
It's distinct from its most obvious rivals, with pillowed glass and a body that – although thicker than Moto's or Sammy's latest clamshells – still makes for a pleasingly slim and comfortable handset to wield in the pocket or hand.
That lightly textured glass on the back works in contrast to the polished metal frame and glossy outer screen of the Mix Flip, to great effect. Its incredibly neat 'dual-link' hinge, meanwhile, reveals an additional microphone when the phone is closed; highlighting a design optimized for functionality, without having to fully open up. I had a blast taking calls and making contactless payments, without ever having to open up the Mix Flip.
Hinge feel: good, volume rocker placement: less so (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
Speaking of opening, the Mix Flip's all-important hinge offers up a really nice feel when folding or unfolding, while its construction also allows for easy placement anywhere between 45° and 120°; ideal for watching content without a stand or taking snaps without a tripod.
That said, after testing the phone for a few weeks, I did notice the most subtle lateral shift in the hinge when grabbing the phone out of my pocket. Although a near-imperceptible wiggle that could only be felt and not obviously observed, it isn't something I've run into since the early clamshell days of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3. I've seen no talk of this defect elsewhere, so it's likely unique to my review unit, but I'd be remiss if I didn't mention it.
A couple of other notable quirks include the phone's middling button placement, which leaves the volume rocker awkwardly high up the phone's right edge when unfolded, as well as a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, though it admittedly works quickly and was reliable during my review.
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
Unlike notable competitors, Xiaomi hasn't sought certification for ingress protection (IP) against dust or water with the Mix Flip, so while it boasts the company's tough Shield Glass (also branded as Dragon Crystal Glass) across its outer display (the main screen relies on UTG or ultra-thin glass, in order to remain flexible) and comes bundled with a color-matched case, the phone doesn't appear to sport any additional protection, beyond some pleasingly-tight tolerances, when it comes to keeping dust or water out of that all-important hinge.
On the subject of color, Chinese buyers have the choice of four finishes, including a fabric-backed variant and silver model, while the Mix Flip's international dressings fall to only a black option or a purple number (pictured), with textured glass that suffers from less grip but offers a nice contrast to the glossy glass of the outer display.
Design score: 4 / 5
Xiaomi Mix Flip review: Display
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
Consistent viewing experience across inner and outer screens
Sharper display than rivals
AOD support on both screens
Despite being a new form factor for Xiaomi, it's clear that the Mix Flip isn't your basic first-gen foldable, by any means. That's perhaps most evident with the near edge-to-edge outer display, which wraps around the phone's dual main cameras: more Moto Razr than Galaxy Z Flip in its execution.
As is often the case with Xiaomi's high-end handsets, you're treated to a killer viewing experience, but here the company has also ensured that it's consistent across both the internal and outer screen, which isn't always the case with this form factor, based on other devices I've reviewed.
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
Whether you're looking at the near-square 4.01-inch outer screen or the expansive 6.86-inch 21.4:9 main display, you're treated to a pleasingly crisp 460ppi (pixels per inch) and the same adaptive 1 to 120Hz refresh rate, made possible by the use of LTPO AMOLED tech.
Xiaomi teamed up with fellow Chinese electronics giant TCL to develop the C8 Plus displays used by the Mix Flip, and they deliver solid viewing angles, and great color depth and contrast.
The AOD is available across both screens (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
They offer consistently superb visibility, with a quoted panel-wide max brightness of 1,600nits and a peak brightness of 3,000nits (the Z Flip 6 peaks at 2,600nits), while the main display also has 2,160Hz PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) dimming, to help prevent eye strain in low light (the outer screen relies on more conventional DC dimming).
To top it off, the phone's display settings serve up heaps of control over things like color balance, app-specific dark mode behavior, and access to the always-on display, which functions across both screens, making the Mix Flip a great nightstand clock too.
Display score: 5 / 5
Xiaomi Mix Flip review: Software
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
4 years of OS & 5 years security updates
Launches with HyperOS 1.0 atop Android 14
To many ads within Xiaomi apps and experiences
At the time of writing, Chinese Mix Flips are already making the move to HyperOS 2.0, but it'll be a little while longer for international units, which come running HyperOS 1.0 atop Android 14, out the box.
With Xiaomi's shift from MIUI to HyperOS – which coincided with the launch of the Xiaomi 14 series near the beginning of 2024 – the company had the chance to rework the approach taken by its mobile user experience.
While there's no denying that HyperOS takes up significantly less of your device's storage relative to the previous MIUI, the experience feels decidedly familiar and is fast falling foul of bad user design practices that are either too rigid to be helpful, or prioritize monetization over quality. That's particularly damaging on a phone that costs four figures.
Examples include the absence of access to native Android features – like Automatic Brightness and Extra Dim – within the phone's quick settings, without the use of third-party apps that resurface such controls. More egregious, though, are the growing number of ads within native Xiaomi experiences.
I wish Game Bird would fly away (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
App Mall, the Theme Store and Game Center all repeatedly fired unwanted notifications to purchasable assets or apps that I had no interest in, while the useful Game Turbo overlay (which grants quick access to performance management controls when gaming) has now been capped by the addition of Game Bird, which serves up game trailers for poor quality, ad-riddled mobile games; the sort you often see as in-app ads or online.
It's not all naming and shaming, though. Tons of native customization, supported by an active Theme Store, filled with user-made submissions, makes for endless and effortless personalization. iPhone users, in particular, will appreciate the way HyperOS lays out its home screen apps, notifications and quick settings.
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
You'd think the unique aspect ratio of the Mix Flip's outer display might have posed a challenge for the HyperOS team, but the implementation they actually came up with is pretty brilliant.
While about a sixth of the panel is occupied by the phone's main cameras, the rest of the display is divided up into two sections. When unlocked, the small portion next to the cameras plays host to a dedicated widget, which you can swipe through to view the weather, various clock styles, recent apps used and more.
Apps are nicely formatted on the Mix Flip's outer screen (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
Not unlike Oppo's Find N3 Flip, the remainder of the display works out to about a 16:9 aspect ratio, meaning apps scale far more naturally, compared to the squat, square screen real estate offered up by most of the other best foldable clamshell phones.
As such, the outer screen experience is really nice and natural to use, with great continuity, if you want to switch to the main screen mid-app, by opening the phone up. Typing is understandably cramped but not impossible and Xiaomi cites support for over 100 apps, which in testing included key experiences like Instagram, Spotify, YouTube, TikTok and Google Maps.
Barely any apps offer additional functionality when the phone is half open (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
If you want to color outside the lines with that cover display, however, there's very little the Mix Flip lets you do. Unlike Motorola's Razrs – which let you try most apps out on the cover display, even if they don't format well, the Mix Flip is more locked down.
There's a one-click tool to enable this feature, but it only works on the Chinese variant of the Mix Flip, while some have managed to rename APK files to trick the Mix Flip into thinking it's running an already-whitelisted app, but neither solution is exactly accessible to international users.
AI Expand uses on-device processing, which is more secure but takes longer and is less reliable than cloud-based processing (Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
HyperOS also heralds the introduction of AI into Xiaomi's user experience in a meaningful way. The phone's on-device photo editing tool set – including AI Expand (which lets you crop outwards on an photo, filling in the gaps created around the edges) – is one of my favorite additions.
The Mix Flip's AI repertoire also includes object removal, speech-to-text transcription when using the native Recorder app, translation, formatting and summarization within the Notes app, and Google's own Circle to Search functionality.
Performance is on-par with the status quo, in terms of feature diversity and reliability. All the Mix Flip's AI functionality works as advertised, but seldom will a feature deliver a 100% accurate result first try. Something Xiaomi is, no doubt, working to improve across its devices, by improving the quality of its on-device and cloud-based AI models.
Software score: 3.5 / 5
Xiaomi Mix Flip review: Camera
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
50MP main and 2x external cameras
32MP front-facing camera
Up to 8K at 24fps video recording
Xiaomi is responsible for some of the best camera phones on the market, but the clamshell form factor poses some unique challenges to maintaining a compact design while still including large camera sensors able to deliver a noteworthy photographic experience.
The company's expertise and image processing are what grant the Mix Flip probably the best cameras of any clamshell foldable I've seen, even if they remain hamstrung by the same limitations as this phone's rivals.
The two cameras on the phone's exterior each clock in at 50MP a piece, then use pixel binning to spit out 12.5MP stills, as well as 8K video recording at 24fps.
Xiaomi Mix Flip camera samples
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1x zoom
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2x zoom
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4x zoom
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20x zoom
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Portrait mode at 2x
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Macro shooting at 1x
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Selfie (front camera)
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Portrait mode selfie (front camera) w/ Beautification (on by default)
The Mix Flip is fronted by Xiaomi's Light Fusion 800 sensor (a tweaked OV50E sensor, called the OVX8000). Measuring 0.64-inches, it's a fraction bigger than the main sensor on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6. This sensor crops up in Poco F6 Pro too: a phone that costs half as much and doesn't place much emphasis on photography.
In spite of what looks like middling camera hardware, the Mix Flip delivers a pretty well-rounded photographic experience. Color and contrast are the system's best assets; with punchy shots that – unlike the latest iPhones and Pixels – don't suffer from heavy-handed HDR processing that tries to eliminate shadows and flatten everything.
Xiaomi's long-standing partnership with Leica persists on the Mix Flip, with the familiar ability to shoot in Leica Vibrant (my preference) or Leica authentic digital film stocks, along with a set of Leica-approved filters that can be applied at or after capture. Still, the sensors' limitations make me question whether the Mix Flip is worthy of toting the Leica name.
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
A lack of detail and sharpness are what hold the Mix Flip's cameras back from the true top snappers of the moment, but even so, you can still take great shots with this phone. That's made all the better by the ability to snap selfies with the external cameras, using the outer screen as a viewfinder.
The form factor also allows the phone to stand up hands- and tripod-free and, like the Galaxy Z Flip series, the phone can also be held half open when shooting video, like an old-school camcorder, which genuinely with grip and stability.
Camera score: 4 / 5
Xiaomi Mix Flip review: Performance
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
4nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset
12GB LPDDR5X RAM + Memory Extension up to 8GB
Sole 512GB UFS 4.0 storage option
Like the cameras, the unique convenience of the Mix Flip's form factor is a double-edged sword when it comes to performance.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, paired to 12GB of RAM, delivers true flagship-class performance, which ensures split-screen or floating window multitasking is fast and fuss-free, and app load times are consistently brief.
Benchmarks place the Mix Flip on par with the brand's current best, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, while high-end games, like Zenless Zone Zero default to 'high' graphical settings.
That said, I wouldn't readily recommend the Mix Flip as a go-to gaming phone. While it can run the latest mobile games with high frame rates and excellent graphical fidelity, the cramped innards makes cooling tricky and sustained performance (like long gaming sessions) are the fastest way to see the phone throttle back to keep heat under control.
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
In everyday use, however, you're unlikely to run into any sort of major performance ceilings for quite some time, with the chip helped by a heap of fast and power efficient LPDDR5X RAM.
Although not expandable, 512GB of internal storage is more than likely to satiate most users. In China, Xiaomi offers versions of the Mix Flip with 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage, however, I don't think international audiences will be too cut up about the single variant on offer.
Performance score: 4.5 / 5
Xiaomi Mix Flip review: Battery
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
4,780mAh battery
67W wired charging
No wireless charging
Despite all of this talk of size limitations, one piece of hardware that Xiaomi hasn't gone small on is the phone's battery. In the clamshell foldable market, the Mix Flip's capacious 4,780mAh cell is second only to the fractionally-larger 4,800mAh battery inside the Honor Magic Flip V, which released earlier in 2024.
As for real-world use, screen-on time is respectable enough to get most users through a day, at around 6.5 to 7 hours. While I was expecting it to last a little longer, considering the size of the battery, the more demanding display setup is likely what balances longevity against rivals with smaller power packs, like the 4,000mAh offering inside the Z Flip 6.
Thankfully, Xiaomi has paired it with characteristically snappy 67W wired charging, and using the in-box power adapter, I was able to refill the Mix Flip to full under an hour (55 minutes), with two-thirds of the battery topped back up after just 30 minutes.
The only other caveat is that the Mix Flip forgoes wireless charging of any kind; a small hit to the phone's convenience.
Battery score: 4 / 5
Should you buy the Xiaomi Mix Flip?
Buy it if...
You want a clamshell foldable with killer displays The outer screen is intuitive and attractive, while the main display is well sized for enjoying media, without compromsing this foldable's portability.
You want the best cameras on a clamshell foldable While Xiaomi makes better camera phones, in the clamshell foldable space, the Mix Flip's Leica-bolstered snappers are among the best.
Don't buy it if...
You're accident prone Foldables are more fragile than standard candy bar phones, but the absence of any certified water or dust protection means you need to be extra careful around water with the Mix Flip.
You need a fast-charging foldable If you're in the market for a foldable like the Mix Flip, convenience is likely important to you. As such, all-day battery and respectably quick fast-charging are notable inclusions here.
Xiaomi Mix Flip review: Also consider
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 It should come as no surprise that Samsung's latest Z Flip is the one to beat. A similar price and performance are balanced by fractionally weaker cameras, but superior software support and wider global availability.
Motorla Razr Plus 2024 / Razr 50 Ultra Another good-looking clamshell foldable, the latest and greatest Razr offers a more flexible outer screen experience, cleaner software, a lower asking price and wider global availability. It comes with weaker performance and cameras, though.
How I tested the Xiaomi Mix Flip
(Image credit: Future | Alex Walker-Todd)
Review test period = Three weeks
Testing included = Everyday usage, web browsing, social media browsing, video streaming, gaming, photography
Tools used = Geekbench 6, Geekbench ML, native Android stats
I lived with the Xiaomi Mix Flip as my main device, using it in the day to day for the duration of the review period for everything from social media and gaming, to contactless payments and navigation, when out and about.
I made sure to trial all of the HyperOS and Mix Flip-specific features, and used it in scenarios comparable to situations in which I've put previous clamshell foldables, like Z Flips and Razrs.
I used a standard run of industry-used benchmarking apps to help assess CPU and GPU performance, while also timing battery drain under specific use cases (an hour of HDR video streaming at 50% brightness, for example), along with Android's native screen-on time metrics and timed recharge testing at 15-minute intervals, until full, using the provided 67W in-box charger.
As a reviewer with 13 years experience, and having reviewed previous Xiaomi phones as well as numerous foldables, I felt confident assessing and scoring the Xiaomi Mix Flip, relative to other clamshell foldables on the market, and in the context of the wider smartphone market.
The Steelseries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3 is a premium gaming keyboard with analog switches, designed to provide the most accurate and tweakable gaming experience possible.
It certainly looks the part: its understated appearance doesn’t scream gaming prowess, but when you peer further, the quality is evident from every angle.
The chassis is relatively thick but not as weighty as you might expect, and it feels solid and expertly put together, easily among the best gaming keyboards around. The same is true of the wrist pad and the stock double-shot PBT keycaps, which have a slight but smooth texture that’s satisfying to touch.
The inbuilt Smart Screen sits in the top right corner, and can be used to select profiles, change the global actuation point and toggle Rapid Trigger. It can also be customized to display information pertaining to your system or popular games and apps. You can even upload your own images and GIFs too.
Further customizations can be made via Steelseries peripheral software, GG. Here, you can tinker with the actuation points further, on a global or key-by-key basis. You can also set functions to trigger on press or release, and add two binds to a single key, with each triggered at different actuation points of your choosing.
It’s a shame, though, that GG provides no visual feedback when making such adjustments, and there’s no option to emulate the joysticks or triggers of a controller, as can be done on some other analog keyboards, such as the Turtle Beach Vulcan 2 TKL Pro.
However, the gaming performance of the Apex Pro makes up for this omission. The switches are extremely responsive yet offer enough feedback to make hitting actuation points easy. The relatively compact layout also makes the bottom row accessible, as does the sloped nature of these keys. All keycaps are also nicely indented, making for secure presses. The only gripe I have is with the short, flat wrist rest, which caused my palm to hang off the edge when in the WASD position.
I didn’t find the Apex Pro to be as amenable for typing. However, I generally prefer shallow keycaps to glide around on, so those who prefer thicker keycaps may have no issue here.
The Apex Pro is expensive, costing the same as the Razer Huntsman V3 Pro, another analog offering. But with the high price tag comes supreme build quality and performance, and although it misses out on a few analog tweaks, it’s still well worth your consideration.
(Image credit: Future)
SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3 review: price and availability
$219 / £209 (about AU$336)
Available now in black
Same price as Razer Huntsman V3 Pro Tenkeyless
The Apex Pro TKL Gen 3 costs $219 / £209 (about AU$336) and is available now. It comes in one colorway, black. It also includes a wrist rest and a keycap puller, with Steelseries selling replacement keycaps on its website.
Unsurprisingly, it’s less expensive than the wireless variant, which costs $269 – but as well as ditching the wires, that model offers multiple connectivity modes, meaning you can easily switch it between multiple devices.
The Apex Pro is certainly towards the top end of the wired gaming keyboard market. It’s the same price as the Razer Huntsman V3 Pro Tenkeyless, for instance, which uses Hall-effect analog technology as well. That board can also be tweaked using Razer Synapse, the brand’s excellent, feature-packed peripheral software.
If you’re after a more budget-friendly analog keyboard, then the Turtle Beach Vulcan 2 TKL Pro is a possible contender. Unlike the Apex Pro, it offers controller emulation, although its switches aren’t as precise as we would’ve liked for this purpose. Even though it has its issues, it’s still one to consider.
Value: 3 / 5
SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3 review: specs
(Image credit: Future)
SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3 review: design and features
Superlative build quality
Useful inbuilt screen
Some analog tweaks missing
The Apex Pro is a fairly imposing slab, with a thick yet sleek chassis, and its muted looks belie its gaming intentions; the RGB lighting is about the only giveaway in this regard.
The build quality is where the Apex Pro really stands out, though. It’s quite weighty, although not as heavy as you might expect, but every material and joint is exquisite. There’s also a handy compartment underneath housing the keycap puller, with a rubber flap to close it that works well.
The double-shot PBT keycaps feel premium to the touch, with a slight yet smooth texture. The overall layout is reasonably compact, but I didn’t have any issues with mispresses.
The Apex Pro also features Steelseries’ own modifier key, called the Meta key. This allows you to perform various shortcuts, such as adjusting the actuation point and selecting profile slots.
Such alterations can also be made via the Smart Screen. This uses a black and white OLED display, with navigation controlled via a scroll wheel and a small button below – both of which are just as well engineered as the rest of the Apex Pro.
You can set the global actuation point from anywhere between 0.1mm and 4mm, and toggle Rapid Trigger. The Smart Screen can also be used to display certain system information, including workloads for the CPU, GPU and RAM, which is very useful. In-game information can be displayed too, with many popular games having their own default layouts, including those for Counter-Strike 2, Minecraft, and League of Legends. You can even upload your own images and GIFs to display.
(Image credit: Future)
Further actuation settings can be adjusted in SteelSeris’ GG software. You can change the actuation of individual keys, and set keys to trigger on press or release. There’s also a dual actuation mode, letting you bind two functions to a single key, each triggered at certain actuation points of your choosing.
Other rebinding options include those for common shortcuts, media playback and system-level functions, although there aren’t as many on the latter front as some other peripheral tools offer. You can also customize the information the Smart Screen displays with a pleasing amount of depth and detail, selecting the timings for when certain information is displayed and what triggers it.
In Counter-Strike 2, for example, you can view your health, as well as your K/D ratio at the end of each round. As well as games, some apps are also integrated, such as Discord, which can display messages.
Overall, GG is easy to navigate and responsive. One aspect that is disappointing, though, is the lack of visual feedback when adjusting settings, which would’ve been useful when setting actuation points to see how your inputs actually translate in real time.
Design & features: 4 / 5
SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3 review: performance
Excellent keycaps and switches
Actuation points easy to hit
Wrist rest issues
Put simply, the Apex Pro is a joy to use. The damping of the switches is superb, feeling incredibly satisfying to use while still being snappy enough for fast movements. The indentations of the keycaps also makes them secure and easy to use, and the bottom row is easy to hit with your thumb and little fingers, thanks to the slope of these keys and the aforementioned compact layout.
Hitting certain actuation points is also much easier than I’ve experienced with other analog keyboards, as there’s enough feedback to get a good feel as to how far down you’ve pressed. Rapid trigger also works brilliantly, letting you make those twitchy movements even quicker, by dynamically raising the actuation point when repeated presses are registered.
(Image credit: Future)
My chief nag from an ergonomic standpoint, though, is with the wrist rest. Given the aforementioned thickness of the Apex Pro’s chassis, I found the rest was definitely needed. However, since it’s quite short and provides very little slope, I found that the edge of my palm would hang awkwardly off the end when in the WASD position.
Also, when it comes to typing, I didn’t find the Apex Pro to be easiest to use. However, I should say that I mostly prefer shallow, laptop-style keyboards, as I find them easier to glide around on, which the stock keycaps on the Apex Pro are not particularly conducive to. But if you’re someone who prefers thicker keycaps for typing, then you’ll likely not have an issue here.
Performance: 4.5/ 5
Should I buy the SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3?
Buy it if…
You want precise analog control The analog switches are a dream, providing plenty of feedback for accurate actuation-point hitting.
You want the best gaming performance Aside from that analog control, the switches are snappy when needs be, so there’s no gaming situation that catches it out.
Don’t buy it if…
You want to use it with multiple devices Since there’s only a wired connection, you can’t easily hotswap between multiple devices, as you can with the wireless variant.
You want to emulate a controller Despite the analog switches, you can’t emulate controller joysticks or triggers (not natively anyway).
SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3 review: also consider
Razer Huntsman V2 Analog If you have your heart set on an analog keyboard, then the Razer Huntsman V2 Analog is a worthy choice (it’s our pick as the best gaming keyboard around, after all). With its excellent performance and myriad of customization options courtesy of Razer Synapse, you can’t go far wrong with this board. And since the release of version 3, the V2 can be found for a good price. Read our Razer Huntsman V2 Analog review.
SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Wireless Gen 3 For $50 more, you can get the wireless version of the Apex Pro TKL, which helps to eliminate the clutter from your desk, and allows you to do some sofa gaming too. And since it features Bluetooth and wired options in addition to the 2.4GHz dongle, you can use it with multiple devices and switch between them with ease.
How I tested the SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3
Tested for several days
Used for gaming, work, and general use
Over 10 years of PC gaming experience
I tested the Apex Pro for several days and used it to game, work, and browse. I used both with and without the included wrist rest.
I played games such as Counter-Strike 2, which is a great test for a keyboard’s responsiveness and accuracy. I also made sure to try out as many features as possible, and tinker with as many settings as I could using the GG software.
I have been PC gaming for over a decade, and I have used plenty of keyboards during that time. I have also reviewed a number of keyboards with varying price tags, sizes, and switch types.
