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Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2024 review: an in-ear update that deliver arguably best-in-class value
3:30 pm | November 27, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Earbuds & Airpods Gadgets Headphones | Comments: Off

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds: Two-minute review

Bose clearly likes the name 'QuietComfort Earbuds', because this is the third pair of earbuds to which the brand assigned the name – and that's not even counting suffixes! To clear up confusion, we've slapped the '2024' on the end up in the headline and our section headers. Got it? Good.

Following on from 2020's Bose QuietComfort Earbuds, 2022's Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 and 2023's Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, these could be called 'Gen 3' or simply '3', but Bose has decided to simplify things but dropping the descriptor entirely. For all intents and purposes, then, these are the new QCE (until newer ones come out).

It's no wonder that audio powerhouse Bose loves this name, though, because it's a very literal description of the two principal selling points of its earbuds. When you wear them, things are quiet (because of the Active Noise Cancellation) and comfortable (because of the design).

First up, the ANC: Bose's earbuds have noise cancellation that beats out anything else I've tried at this price – and many earbuds that cost much more. It completely eradicates all but the most incessant and loud background noises, and its Aware mode is fantastically smart in isolating and amplifying voices while hiding other sounds.

I was surprised by just how dramatic the two modes were. On a stormy day, on Aware mode, I could hear someone talking to me perfectly but didn't hear a peep from the trees which were almost blown at a 90-degree angle. Turn on full Quiet mode and I couldn't even tell if someone was talking to me.

Onto 'comfort', then. Again the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds knock it out of the park, with a snug and sturdy fit. Bose has brought back its stability bands from previous models, but has redesigned them to look slightly less like velociraptor talons – these ridges ensure the buds stick firmly in your ear. During testing, I was constantly surprised by just how secure the earbuds felt; in fact near the end I did an 8km run and never did the earbuds come close to falling out.

But the name isn't all, and the Bose have a few other tricks up their sleeve: they sound great, the battery life is surprisingly good, the app has plenty of features and the price is pretty low all things considered.

A few minor annoyances detract from the experience of using the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds, but not by much. I found the case a little too big, and it really bulged out of my pocket. Plus, the buds support the SBC and AAC codecs for music streaming, but audiophiles will miss the likes of aptX, FLAC and WMA.

My personal biggest gripe, though, was that the earbuds' voice controls were far too sensitive, to the point that other people nearby me would accidentally control my earbuds when saying words similar to the voice commands. This was easily remedied by me turning the feature off, but it's a shame for there to be a feature that I can't use.

These issues aside, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds are some of the best mid-range buds you can buy for the price, and might even sway you into spending your hard-earned cash here, instead of on something plenty more expensive but not that much better.

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2024 review: Price and release date

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2024 held above a wooden table.

(Image credit: Future)
  • Unveiled in October 2024
  • Sells for $179 / £179 (roughly AU$270)

Bose announced the QuietComfort Earbuds in October 2024, following the biannual release schedule of the other two earbuds of the same name.

You can buy the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds for $179 / £179 (roughly AU$270, though I couldn’t find them on sale in Australia). This price puts them as more affordable alternatives to the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, which sell for $299 / £299 / AU$449.

Ignoring the premium alternatives, the ‘standard’ QuietComforts’ price places them in the mid-range earbuds sector – you can’t call them 'cheap' but they’re certainly not expensive either, bringing some top-end features to a lower price point. Importantly, they're about $/£100 cheaper than their two namesakes.

It’s a surprisingly scarce market segment compared with other gadget types' mid-ranges but the JBL Live Beam 3, Creative Aurvana Ace 2 and Sony LinkBuds Fit are some of the few options at that same rough price area.

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2024 review: Specs

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2024 review: Features

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2024 case on a wooden table.

(Image credit: Future)
  • Fantastic ANC
  • 5-band equalizer with presets
  • Overexcitable voice controls

To make the most of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds, you need to use the bespoke Bose QCE headphones app – not any of the other Bose apps on your chosen app repository – and I’d strongly recommend you download it because it’s your ticket to most of the headphones’ features.

Let's deal with the first half of the QuietComfort name. Bose knocks the 'quiet' bit out of the park – it’s almost like the company names its products based on its fantastic noise cancellation. The QCE use a similar Active Noise Cancellation tech to Bose’s other products, many of which we rate as the best ANC earbuds. In fact, the company’s website implies, but doesn’t go so far as to explicitly say, that it’s exactly the same tech.

Either way the ANC is fantastic, drowning out sounds which I thought would be impervious to the best ANC-ing; no more chatty office spaces, rattling of train carriage or roar of wind in trees. I also found the earbuds’ Aware mode more accurate than many companies’ equivalents – this cancels most background noises but isolates and amplifies certain noises like oncoming traffic or people talking nearby.

The app also has an equalizer – it mostly offers you presets but there’s a custom mode that lets you adjust low, low-mid, mid, high-mid and high sounds to your taste. It’s not quite as in-depth as many earbud EQs but I’d say it’s the most complex you can make an EQ like this while making it usable by non-audiophiles.

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2024, and case, on a wooden table.

(Image credit: Future)

Other features enabled by the app include multi-point pairing, the ability to change the touch control functions, a way to set up the earbuds to be remote camera triggers for your phone, a low-latency gaming mode, a battery prediction feature – which was really useful, so much so, I wish there were a way to find it that wasn’t buried in menus! – and voice control.

If you’ve read the introduction, you’ll know that I had an issue with this latter feature. It’s intended to let you use voice commands to control the buds hands-free (rejecting or accepting calls, playing or pausing music, skipping tracks, changing the volume, adjusting the ANC and so on) but it was far, far too sensitive. When I tested the buds in my office or in public, people around me would (accidentally, I presume) trigger these voice functions, and I kept finding my music stopping, or getting louder. It's really annoying. The only way to stop this happening, I found, was to turn off voice commands.

At some point, the QCE are getting a feature from their Ultra sibling: Bose Immersive Audio is on its way, though it wasn’t on the buds as of this review. This feature is basically Bose’s own version of Spatial Audio, so movies, games and sometimes music sound like they're coming from all around you. However the buds miss another feature of the Ultra, CustomTune technology which scans your ears to deliver sound mixed for you, a sign of the lower price.

Bose predicts the battery life of the buds to be 8.5 hours with the case getting you an extra 31.5 hours (or 2.5 charges). In my testing, the buds actually hit nine hours with ANC on, so presumably they'd last even longer with it turned off. I presumed 8.5 hours would be ANC off, with an ANC on figure of around six hours, and was very pleasantly surprised.

  • Features score: 4.5/5

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2024 review: Design

A close up of the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2024, held in the hand.

(Image credit: Future)
  • Comfortable and secure fit in-ear
  • IPX4 rated against sweat and showers
  • Chunky case

Given this section is about design, it's time to deal withe the second half of the QuietComfort name.

Each bud weighs 8.5g, and they’re bigger than some other earbuds I’ve used but the center of mass is towards the ears so they don’t wobble when you’re walking. They felt secure and comfortable to wear, even for long period of time, and I never felt any worry about them falling out.

Helping the security of fit is the fact that each earbud has a ‘stability band’, a protruding rubber ridge which helps ensure that the bud is wedged into your ear. There are multiple sizes of this in the case, as well as different ear tip options, and I imagine most people would be able to use these to find a fit as stable as mine.

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2024 case on a wooden table.

(Image credit: Future)

Further helping the 'comfort' descriptor are the buds' incredibly easy-to-use buttons, which you can activate with just a tap of the flat part of the body.

Unlike many other earbuds, you don’t need to push the buds so far into your ear that they hit skull, nor do they require a finger manoeuvre so complex that you need to be double jointed. However, the sensitive button did pick up accidental touches quite a bit, especially when I was was putting the buds in my ear.

The buds are IPX4 resistant, which Bose says they repel sweat and ‘water’, albeit the latter is more likely to be splashes instead of immersion.

A small gripe I have with the new QuietComfort Earbuds is that the case is a fair bit bigger than most other true wireless cases I’ve tested. It’s not exactly football-sized but its 3.2 x 8.9 cm x 5.1 cm body made it feel like a rock in my pocket.

The case also feels like a questionable element as the buds audibly rattle around in it. I don’t think they could ever sustain damage from this wiggle room but it makes you question whether or not there’s a lot of empty space there…

  • Design score: 3.5/5

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2024 review: Sound quality

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2024 in-ear.

(Image credit: Future)
  • Warm and energetic audio
  • Wide sound stage
  • Not all codecs supported

Though Bose hasn’t added a word into its earbuds’ name for sound quality, prospective buyers will be happy to know the QuietComfort Earbuds don’t cost you a premium price.

The QCE have a crackling warm tone, with rich and meaty bass, though not to the extent that these will only cater to bass-heads. I’ve used earbuds that turn the bass up to 11 to the detriment of everything else, but these buds are more nuanced. Mid tones remain energetic and excitable and for the most part, treble did too, although in certain songs I did find the vocals missed some sparkle that other earbuds could provide.

The QuietComforts go nice and loud too – not ear-blisteringly loud when you crank it to the max, but I never found myself going near to the max volume in everyday use.

My favorite aspect of the buds’ audio, though, was a much more dramatic sound stage than many other buds I’ve tested. You can hear the different instruments spread around you like dishes at a tapas restaurant, and if you close your eyes you feel like you could point to where each one is. In fact, I’d say these Bose provide perhaps the best sound stage of any earbuds that don’t support top-end audio codecs.

Oh yeah, about that – support for some fancier codecs and features are missing, which ensures the Bose Earbuds Ultra still maintain some relevance, but if you listen to your music on Spotify you might not even mind.

  • Sound quality: 4/5

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2024 review: Value

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2024 on a wooden table.

(Image credit: Future)
  • Rare earbuds that justify the price
  • Bose's best value-for-money proposition

I previously referred to the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds as some of the best non-premium in-ears. Though this is true, in that they’re definitely cheaper than the top-end buds you can find on the market, they’re still pricier than loads of other options out there.

If you want to save money, you can find earbuds with pretty good fit or ANC or sound quality for about half the price of the QCE. They won’t do the job quite as well as these buds, but they’ll save you money.

But if you want features as advanced as the QuietComfort offer, you’d be hard-pressed to find a rival as capable on all fronts and costs any less.

I'd add that, being cheaper than previous QCEs and the Ultras, these are arguably the best-value earbuds Bose has put out recently.

  • Value: 4/5

Should I buy the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2024?

Buy them if…

You need quality noise cancellation
If you work somewhere noisy or hate hearing annoying sounds on your commute, the QuietComfort Earbuds' ANC will be a blessing.

You have trouble finding well-fitting earbuds
Sometimes, it can be really hard to find earbuds that fit you well. Not so much with the QCE, which come with multiple ear tips as well as stability loops for a secure fit.

Don’t buy them if…

You're buying them for the voice controls
The Achilles' Heel of the Bose QCE is the voice controls, which are far too sensitive. If that's the reason you're buying, I'd advise looking away.

You want to listen on high-res codecs
With the Bose QCE only supporting SBC and AAC codecs, people who want high-quality sound from top-tier apps will be disappointed..

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2024 review: Also consider

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
A year after going on sale, these Ultra earbuds have reduced to nearly as low as the new buds. They have some extra features and a slightly different design.

See our full Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds review

JBL Live Beam 3
This same-priced alternative have a cool case screen, a great battery life and pretty good audio, even if the QuietComfort win for quietness and comfort.

See our full JBL Live Beam 3 review

How I tested the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2024

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2024 pictured in the palm of the hand.

(Image credit: Future)
  • Tested for two weeks
  • Tested at home, in the office and on trips

The testing period for this Bose QuietComfort Earbuds review lasted two weeks, not counting time spent reviewing. I used them alongside my Android smartphone with many different music and video streaming apps, and also games.

The Bose got to enjoy a few different environments over those two weeks including my home, my office, various trips to the local neighborhood and gym, bus and train trips and even a run at one point.

I've been testing gadgets for TechRadar for nearly six years now, including audio products for much of that time, and that includes some of the earbuds I compared the Bose to earlier.

  • First reviewed in November 2024
Samsung HW-Q800D review: one of the best mid-range Dolby Atmos soundbars around
2:43 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Soundbars Televisions | Tags: | Comments: Off

Samsung HW-Q800D: Two-minute review

The Samsung HW-Q800D is a mid-priced soundbar, carrying a list price of $999 / £749 / AU$1,099, but don’t be fooled: you won’t get middle-of-the-road quality. In fact, this is a truly excellent 5.1.2 channel Dolby Atmos soundbar, which boasts crisp vocals, rumbling bass and engrossing expansiveness. If you’re looking to unleash truly cinematic sound into your living space, look no further than the Samsung HW-Q800D.

The Samsung HW-Q800D is a soundbar and subwoofer combo – rear speakers are available, but must be purchased separately. But despite the absence of rear channels, this soundbar still asserts a striking spatial impression. That’s in part thanks to fantastic Dolby Atmos and DTS:X effects, both of which are bolstered by upfiring speakers. When watching movies, the positioning of on-screen characters and objects is mapped beautifully by the Samsung HW-Q800D. Atmos helps to create plenty of width and verticality, so you can be enveloped in the action at all times. Overall audio quality is top-drawer too, with super-clear voices, punchy deep bass and detailed musical performance all rolled into one.

On top of that, the Samsung HW-Q800D has a feature-set that is well up to par with many of the best soundbars. For instance, there’s SpaceFit Sound Pro, which uses the soundbar’s built-in mic to tailor audio to fit your room’s acoustics. But there’s also Samsung Q-Symphony, which can integrate your recent Samsung TV’s speakers with the soundbar output for an even more expansive sonic experience.

That’s not to mention a bunch of other options, such as wireless Dolby Atmos with compatible Samsung TVs, Game Mode Pro and Voice Assistant compatibility. But these features may, to some, seem extremely familiar. And that’s because all of them were available with this soundbar’s predecessor, the Samsung HW-Q800C. This 2023 release offers almost the exact same user experience, just without non-region-locked Chromecast compatibility, and with upgraded Bluetooth connectivity (Bluetooth 5.2). So really, the Samsung HW-Q800D is a slight refinement of an already great product – so owners of the HW-Q800C need not upgrade.

For a lot of gamers, the HW-Q800D will be a wonderful companion. You get a specialized game mode which optimizes surround sound for in-game action and 4K HDR passthrough. However, there’s no 4K 120Hz HDMI passthrough – meaning you don’t get the ultimate next-gen gaming experience via the HW-Q800D. That’s a shame, when Sony's mid-range Bravia Theater Bar 8 offers this.

But this isn’t a game-breaking omission. And there were none of those, in my view. Apart from a slight issue with subwoofer pairing, which I swiftly overcame, I had a blast during my time testing the Samsung HW-Q800D. The only other aspect some may feel unsatisfied with is its design. That’s because the soundbar has quite an angular, chunky design, rather than a sleek, curved look you’d see with the Sonos Arc Ultra, for instance. However, I personally felt that the soundbar’s high build quality and durable build made up for what is a solid-looking, but perhaps not stunning appearance.

Overall, the Samsung HW-Q800D is a beautiful-sounding, immersion-inducing soundbar system with a very fair price tag. If you have the cash – along with a desire for rear speaker channels – you may actually find that the slightly more premium Samsung HW-Q990D is better for you. And if you already have the Samsung HW-Q800C, the small incremental improvements aren’t worth an upgrade. But for anyone else, this is a soundbar that I can wholeheartedly recommend. Awesome Atmos, incredible movie or music performance, and a fountain of features – you can’t ask for much more.

Samsung HW-Q800D review: Price & release date

  • List price of $999 / £749 / AU$1,099
  • But regularly available for considerably less
  • Launched in July 2024

The Samsung HW-Q800D is the South Korean company’s mid-range soundbar offering for 2024. It has a list price of $999 / £749 / AU$1,099 – by no means cheap, but not all too expensive given the inclusion of a highly competent subwoofer.

But good news – even if it only released this year, you’re probably not going to have to pay quite so much for the HW-Q800D. I’ve already seen it listed for $699 / £699 on Samsung’s US and UK site, making for a very tidy saving on a shiny new soundbar – and there seem to be further discounts around during sales events.

End of Samsung HW-Q800D showing the words 'Dolby Atmos', 'DTS:X' and 'HDMI'

(Image credit: Future)

Samsung HW-Q800D review: Specs

Samsung HW-Q800D review: Features

  • 5.1.2 channel system with 360W total power output
  • Effective Dolby Atmos and DTS:X
  • 4K HDMI passthrough, but not at 120Hz

The Samsung HW-Q800D is a true 5.1.2 channel system. Firstly, it has five channels on the main soundbar: one in the center; two more on the front, on either side of the center; and two on each end of the bar. Alongside that, it has two upfiring speakers on the top of the soundbar and a dedicated subwoofer.

This configuration helps to deliver fantastically immersive audio – something only improved by Dolby Atmos and DTS:X functionality. When watching movies, I found Atmos to be very effective – you get incredible width from audio output, which follows on-screen action very competently. The upfiring speaker drivers also add impressive verticality for movies and TV shows – but I’ll go into more depth on that in the next section.

If you want even more expansive sound, you can add the Samsung SWA-9500S rear speakers, but extra spend may not be necessary for a surround sound boost. That’s because you can harness the power of your TV – well, if it’s a select Samsung model from 2022-2024 – with Q-Symphony. This feature allows your HW-Q800D to work in tandem with your TV’s inbuilt speakers for even more of a three dimensional output.

Q-Symphony, of course, is a Samsung TV-exclusive – as is another feature, dubbed Wireless Dolby Atmos. Again, you need a compatible Samsung TV released after 2022 to use this, but it enables "pinpoint" delivery of sound effects wirelessly without HDMI. It’s worth noting, however, this will be compressed, unlike the Atmos TrueHD available with one of the best 4K Blu-ray players and a wired connection. If you only ever stream movies, though, it won't make a difference.

Perhaps my favorite feature that this soundbar offers though is SpaceFit Surround Pro. This harnesses the soundbar’s inbuilt mic, which listens to your room’s acoustics and optimizes sound for your space. SpaceFit Surround Pro is automatically on, so you get spatial audio that’s fine-tuned to you from the get-go. The effects of this are excellent and I found that no matter where I sat in my small-medium-sized living room, I was able to experience immersive sound without fail.

Not to exhaust you, reader, but there’s so much more. Some highlights include sound modes, which include: Standard; Adaptive; Surround; and Game. Adaptive uses AI in order to assess the on-screen action and deliver tailored audio depending on content. I found this mode to be particularly pleasing when watching news channels – with impressive vocal clarity on offer. And vocal clarity is improved further thanks to Active Voice Amplifier, or AVA. AVA identifies background noise in your environment and calibrates audio in a way that emphasizes vocal clarity – ideal if someone’s vacuuming in the room across, for instance.

I want to focus on Gaming, though. One sound setting, Game Mode Pro, adjusts audio output to offer a more three-dimensional soundstage, so you can get a better sense for where in-game sound effects are coming from. When playing Final Fantasy VII Rebirth on PlayStation 5, I got a great spatial impression, especially during combat, which helped me to ascertain the movement, actions, and whereabouts of my foes. Samsung TVs with Game Hub support are also able to switch the soundbar to Game Mode Pro automatically, which is a neat addition.

Unfortunately for gamers, however, the HW-Q800D leaves out one very handy feature. I’m talking, of course, about 4K 120Hz HDMI passthrough. Sure, you get 4K HDR 60Hz passthrough here and that’s going to be enough for a lot of people, but if you want full next-gen capabilities, this won’t cut it.

This speaks to something more generally – as strong as this soundbar's feature-set is, almost everything that’s here was already present in the HW-Q800C. The only ‘major’ additions are non-region-locked, built-in Chromecast and an upgraded Bluetooth version (5.2). That’s it. Does that take-away from the HW-Q800D’s feature quality? No, it truly is exhaustive and brimming with options. But what it does mean is that there’s pretty much no reason to upgrade if you already have last year’s model.

  • Features score: 4.5/5

Samsung HW-Q800D subwoofer on table

(Image credit: Future)

Samsung HW-Q800D: Audio performance

  • Crisp vocal clarity and booming bass
  • Great for movies and music alike
  • Fantastic Dolby Atmos effects

This soundbar serves up a mighty sonic performance thanks to its 11 speakers and total power output of 360W. And you really feel that power at all times, whether watching movies or even just listening to music – with the included sub providing some serious low-end boom.

For instance, I tried watching Top Gun: Maverick and the sound of jet engines firing up was deep, imposing and room-filling. Low-frequency audio was never thin or lethargic either – I found it to be pleasingly deep and responsive when jets soared through the skies, which added serious impact to combat-filled action scenes.

Similarly, I found bass to be excellent when listening to music. The drum machine in Black Eye by Allie X is intended to be strikingly deep and the HW-Q800D does a phenomenal job of replicating that. The dynamism of the song’s bass connecting up to the lower mid range was also captured beautifully – so if you’re into bass-heavy bangers, this soundbar will likely cut it for you.

Sticking with music, I found Standard mode was perfectly up to the task, although Dynamic worked nicely too. Beyond bass, things are equally awesome. I tuned into Clair de Lune by Kamasi Washington and felt that organ in the background had a subtle yet super clear sound profile, with the sporadic piano playing also occupying a well-defined sonic pocket and the trumpet sounding pleasantly forward. On top of that, percussion was clean, rhythmic and tinniness free, tying up a non-grating, highly enjoyable listen. As you’d hope, there’s well-defined separation on offer from the HW-Q800D with a wide, nuanced soundstage that kept me listening for hours.

But let’s move onto arguably the most crucial aspect – spatial audio performance. This soundbar supports both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, but I was mainly viewing content with the former. And Atmos effects are brilliant here. When watching The Boy and the Heron, the trajectory of the heron’s flight was very well mapped and during the tension-filled opening, the roar of flames and sound of the protagonist – Mahito – running were traced and fed back to me accurately and impactfully. In a fire-consumed area, both the width from the soundbar’s side speakers and verticality from its upfiring ones played into the frightening, heart-racing atmosphere of the opening scene, so you can have no doubts about the immersive nature of Atmos here.

The only real negative in terms of audio presentation is that you’re not getting rear speakers from the off. That lack of rear staging may feel a little unbalanced for some – but you can purchase SWA-9500S rear speakers separately and pair them if you want to boost expansiveness further. For me, sitting in a small-medium-sized room, however, I felt highly satisfied with the soundbar and sub combo alone.

More generally, the sound quality on offer from the HW-Q800D is amazing. I tuned into live news and found that vocal clarity was very good, especially in Adaptive mode – there was no tinniness or distortion to be found, even at high volumes. I also found instrumental and vocal separation to be top-notch when playing Final Fantasy VII Rebirth on PS5. Near a ranch, I could hear the sound of Chocobos walking, wind flowing, soft strings playing and characters speaking – but all of it was easily discernible and expertly weighted. I briefly flicked back to my TV speakers and the quality difference was astonishing – the HW-Q800D really can transform your listening, viewing and gaming experiences.

Overall, the HW-Q800D is just more of the same from its predecessor – but that’s a highly positive thing. You’re getting deep, immersive audio, ultra-crisp vocals and tasty Atmos effects to boot. Given you’re not actually paying top-of-the-range price, performance isn’t going to come a whole lot better – especially if you have the cash to add those rear speakers into the mix.

  • Sound quality score: 5/5

Button controls on the Samsung HW-Q800D soundbar

(Image credit: Future)

Samsung HW-Q800D review: Design

  • Strong build quality
  • Though slightly chunky and angular
  • Metallic grilled finish is attractive

This isn’t the largest soundbar and sub combo ever, but it’s definitely on the hefty side of things. The soundbar itself is pointed, angular and fairly chunky – in fact I had to place it on a shelf below my TV as it was too big for my usual setup. However, if you have a decently wide and long TV unit, you shouldn’t have too much trouble fitting it in.

For some, the aforementioned angular, slightly chunky look might be a bit of a turn-off. And I’d certainly argue it’s not the most elegant or pleasing to the eye. What its aesthetic does say to me, though, is that you’re getting a sturdy, durable, high-quality bar – and it’s certainly all three of these things.

Similarly, the included woofer is quite a tall, broad beast. It’s got a felt-covered driver on its side, as well as a vent on its reverse side and looks pretty clean overall. Both the sub and main soundbar have the same color code as their predecessor – a slightly grayish matte black that in my view, is classy-looking and suits its more chunky appearance to a tee.

  • Design score: 4/5

Reverse side of Samsung HW-Q800D subwoofer

(Image credit: Future)

Samsung HW-Q800D review: Setup & usability

  • Easy to control in-app
  • Neat, simple-to-use remote
  • Personally experienced an issue with sub pairing

OK, one slight gripe I had with the Samsung HW-Q800D was related to the setup process. After hooking up the soundbar and sub to power outlets, I strapped in and got ready to listen… but I instantly noticed something. A distinct lack of low-end punch. I soon discovered, however, that this was due to the subwoofer failing to sync up with the soundbar out of the box. Happily, a simple unplug and replug was enough here – meaning this was a pretty small issue overall. Nonetheless, this was a setback and although most are unlikely to encounter this, it was slightly frustrating for me.

Otherwise, though, the Samsung HW-Q800D was straightforward to setup. I connected it to my TV using HDMI eARC, meaning I could use my typical TV remote to alter volume – a super-handy feature. There’s also an included wall bracket if you need that for a mounted setup.

This soundbar is very easy to use, too. I used the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE to download the Samsung SmartThings app, which is well laid-out and simple to use if you want to adjust soundbar settings. You can also change surround sound, tone, volume and channel level settings with the included remote, which is diminutive, sleek and super responsive.

The soundbar itself also has controls, if you need them. It has an inbuilt mic which can be used to activate Amazon Alexa or Google voice assistants – and there’s a button to activate or deactivate this on top of the bar. Alongside that, there’s also a volume up and down button – both of which are well-sized and again, very responsive.

  • Setup & usability: 4/5

Person holding Samsung HW-Q800D remote

(Image credit: Future)

Samsung HW-Q800D review: Value

  • Outstanding performance for the price
  • Additional rear speakers don’t come cheap
  • Upgrades on predecessor extremely minimal

For the price you pay, the Samsung HW-Q800D offers incredible performance for movies and music alike. If you want detailed, expansive and super-clear audio, you get all of that, so even if it's still quite the investment to spend approximately $699/£699/AU$1,099, you’re certainly getting your money’s worth.

Having said that, it’s not all good news in the value category. Now, if you decide that you do want to add rear speakers to the base offering, you’re going to have to cough up more. Specifically, the Samsung SWA-9500S rear speakers cost around $199/£199/AU$349, making the overall cost here quite hefty. Of course, this is merely an option, but it’s worth bearing in mind if you want the full package.

Something I am more critical of, however, is the real lack of improvements over 2023’s already incredible Samsung HW-Q800C. Other than some small incremental additions, this is almost the same product, so it’s not worth upgrading to and if the last-gen model is available for less, you’re getting almost equal amount of bang for less buck. So, even if it's excellent for its class, the lack of improvement is a slight dampener here.

  • Value score: 4/5

Should I buy the Samsung HW-Q800D?

Buy it if...

You want cinematic sound, powered by Atmos
The Samsung HW-Q800D offers punchy, immersive sound with ‘true’ Atmos, DTS:X and fantastic vocal clarity. You’re getting the full package here – that is, unless you want rear speakers from the off.

You’ve got a modern Samsung TV
If you have a selected Samsung TV released between since 2022, you’ll be able to access Samsung Q-Symphony and Wireless Dolby Atmos. Q-Symphony puts your soundbar to work alongside your TV speakers’ audio, whereas Wireless Dolby Atmos supplies “pinpoint” sound effects, taking the 3D audio experience to the next level.

Don't buy it if...

You need 4K 120Hz HDMI passthrough
For gamers that want the most premium sonic performance when playing, this soundbar might not quite cut it. That’s because – like its predecessor – it doesn’t offer 4K 120Hz HDMI passthrough. You might have to splash a bit more cash if you’re craving that from your soundbar.

You’re on a tight budget
If you want a truly cinematic listening experience but find this soundbar a touch expensive, worry not, reader – there are some great options out there. For example, the Hisense AX5125H plates up quality, powerful audio with Atmos and DTS:X, and it’s often available for around half of this Samsung soundbar system.

Samsung HW-Q800D: Also consider

Sonos Arc
OK, so the Sonos Arc may be a standalone soundbar, but if you want a top-drawer all-in-one option, it’s incredibly hard to beat. With strong speech clarity, great Atmos effects and brilliant performance across both music and movies, it’s sure to impress most listeners. If you’re sold on Sonos but want to add more units for true surround sound, you can purchase them separately, although things could get quite pricey if you decide to take that route. Read our full Sonos Arc review.

Hisense AX5125H
If you want truly incredible value for money, it doesn’t get much better than the Hisense AX5125H. This 5.1.2 channel system comes with a soundbar, sub and rear speakers but also delivers both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X sound. It doesn’t skimp on quality either, offering immersive Atmos, punchy bass and clear vocals. We’ve often spotted the AX5125H available for as little as $299 / £349 (around AU$449), so if you want surround sound at a considerably cut price, this could be the best option for you. Read our full Hisense AX5125H review.

How I tested the Samsung HW-Q800D

  • Tested over a week
  • Integrated the soundbar into my usual setup
  • Used while watching movies, streaming music over Bluetooth, and gaming

When testing the Samsung HW-Q800D, I had it hooked up to my Hisense U7K TV via HDMI eARC. I also connected to the soundbar using the Samsung SmartThings app on the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, which allowed me to alter settings and play music over Bluetooth.

The soundbar was placed on a shelf below my TV in a small-to-medium-sized room, with the subwoofer positioned beside my TV unit. I tested only the included soundbar and subwoofer, without any add-ons.

I tried viewing, playing and listening to a wide variety of content during my testing time – which spanned over a week-long period. I watched a number of movies and TV shows, played games on my PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch and listened to music on Tidal with the Bluetooth connectivity option. I tuned into the TechRadar testing playlist when assessing the quality of music on the HW-Q800D – which includes songs from a wide variety of genres.

  • Read more about how we test
  • First reviewed: November 2024
Rank Math review
2:39 pm | November 26, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro | Tags: , , | Comments: Off

Rank Math is gaining traction as one of the best WordPress SEO plugins, offering a robust suite of features aimed at improving website visibility and performance.

Launched by MyThemeShop, Rank Math has quickly become popular among bloggers, marketers, and website developers who seek a comprehensive SEO tool that's both powerful and user-friendly. The plugin excels in areas like keyword tracking, Google Analytics integration, and AI-driven content optimization, making it a formidable player in SEO.

However, it's worth noting that while the plugin is mostly praised for its expansive features and ease of use, some users may find the lack of live chat support and the premium plan's cost a bit of a downside. Nevertheless, Rank Math remains a compelling choice for those serious about elevating their SEO game.

Rank Math: Plans and pricing

Rank Math pricing

(Image credit: Rank Math)

Rank Math's pricing structure is designed for a range of users, from individual bloggers to large agencies. The free version is packed with features, making it a great choice for many users who prefer not to spend money.

For those looking for more advanced options, Rank Math offers three premium plans. The Pro plan costs $4.92 per month and is perfect for individual users and small businesses, providing features like unlimited personal websites and keyword tracking. The Business plan, priced at $20.99 per month, is for larger teams and includes extras like client website support and more keyword tracking. Finally, the Agency plan at $49.99 per month is tailored for high-volume users with extensive client and keyword needs.

With its wide range of features, Rank Math provides excellent value. The combination of free and premium plans means that users at all levels can take advantage of its powerful SEO tools without overspending.

Rank Math: Features

Rank Math offers several key features that appeal to both new and experienced SEO professionals. It goes beyond typical plugins by providing tools that help improve website performance easily.

Easy setup wizard

Rank Math’s intuitive setup wizard simplifies the installation process, making it incredibly user-friendly. With just a few clicks, users can efficiently configure their SEO settings, link their social media profiles, and seamlessly connect various Google services. This ensures that their site is not only optimized right from the start but also positioned for success in search engine rankings, allowing users to focus on creating great content instead of getting bogged down in technical details.

Rank Math setup wizard

(Image credit: Rank Math)

AI assistant

The AI assistant integrated into Rank Math is a game-changer for users looking to craft SEO-friendly content. By suggesting relevant keywords and phrases tailored to their specific niche and audience, AI empowers content creators to optimize their posts effectively. This helps improve their chances of ranking higher in search engine results, making it significantly easier for them to connect with their target audience and drive organic traffic to their websites.

Rank Math AI assistant

(Image credit: Rank Math)

SEO analytics

Rank Math enhances the user experience by integrating Google Search Console directly into the WordPress dashboard. This feature provides comprehensive SEO analytics, allowing users to monitor crucial metrics such as keyword rankings, sitemap status, and indexing issues without the need to toggle between different platforms. By streamlining this process, Rank Math makes it simpler for users to stay informed about their site's performance and make data-driven decisions to boost their SEO efforts.

Advanced schema generator

The Advanced Schema Generator in Rank Math is designed to simplify the process of adding structured data to posts and pages. Users can choose from a wide variety of schema types — such as articles, local businesses, products, and more — which enhances content visibility in search engine results. By implementing structured data, users can improve their chances of achieving rich snippets, ultimately increasing click-through rates and attracting more visitors to their sites.

Google Analytics integration

With built-in integration for Google Analytics 4, Rank Math offers users the ability to track important website metrics directly from their WordPress dashboard. This powerful feature provides valuable insights into user behavior, traffic sources, and overall site performance. By leveraging this data, users can make informed decisions to enhance their site's functionality and optimize their content strategy, ensuring continued growth and success in the competitive online landscape.

Rank Math: Setup

Setting up Rank Math is quite simple, thanks to its guided setup wizard. New users are welcomed with an easy-to-use interface that guides them through the installation step-by-step. The wizard automatically identifies your site's settings, suggests the best configurations, and helps connect your social and webmaster profiles. This ensures a smooth integration that meets your website's needs right from the beginning.

The user interface is clean and organized, making essential information and tools easy to find. Rank Math's dashboard displays important SEO metrics and actionable insights beside your posts, which simplifies content optimization as you write. For those who are new to SEO, the plugin offers plenty of resources, including detailed documentation and video tutorials, to help users understand each feature and setting.

While the setup process is user-friendly, beginners may feel a bit overwhelmed by the numerous options at first. However, Rank Math provides clear explanations and recommendations that help ease this learning curve, allowing users to take full advantage of the plugin without much trouble.

Rank Math: Customer support

Rank Math customer support

(Image credit: Rank Math)

Rank Math provides several customer support options, with assistance levels varying by user plan. Free users can access extensive documentation, FAQs, and community forums, which are helpful for troubleshooting common issues. There's also an active Facebook group where users can get advice from peers and Rank Math staff.

Premium users receive priority support via email, leading to quicker responses for more complex questions. While this tiered system works well for many, some users wish for live chat support, which is not currently offered. Nonetheless, Rank Math's support team is generally well-regarded for being responsive and willing to help users resolve their issues efficiently.

Overall, Rank Math offers a solid support experience with ample resources to help users make the most of the plugin. However, adding a live chat option could improve customer satisfaction and provide a more comprehensive support solution.

Rank Math: Final verdict

Rank Math is a powerful SEO plugin for WordPress that provides a wide range of features to boost website performance. Its easy-to-use interface and advanced functions make it a great option for both beginners and professionals who want to improve their SEO efforts.

While the plugin has many strengths, it does have a couple of drawbacks, like the absence of live chat support and the potential complexity of some features for new users. However, these issues are minor compared to the overall advantages Rank Math offers.

In short, Rank Math is an excellent choice for anyone wanting to enhance their website's search engine ranking. Its affordability, functionality, and user-friendly design make it especially suitable for bloggers, businesses, and agencies looking to stay competitive online.

Mixbook photo book review: an easy-to-create photo book with competitive prices, but a disappointing finish
12:59 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Cameras Computers Gadgets Photography | Comments: Off

Mixbook photo book review

There's a huge variety of options for online printed photo books available on the market with different price points, finishes, and formats, so it can be tricky to choose which one will garner the best results. Mixbook is a well-known brand specializing in customizable printed gifts. They offer a range of different photo books in themes such as weddings, holidays, school yearbooks, and more; plus the option to create one from scratch, which is what I attempted for this review.

The list price of a 12 x 12 inch blank canvas photo book is $88 / £66.99 for a 20-page spread hardcover book, and additional pages can be added for $3 / £1.99 per page. There are often offers on the Mixbook site, so it’s worth holding out if the price isn’t discounted. When we purchased this sample book, there was a promotional offer that brought the 20-page 12 x 12 inch hardcover book down to $57.25 / £48.55.

The Mixbook photo book sits on a light wooden surface with the back cover facing upwards.

(Image credit: Future)

I evaluated the Mixbook Studio editor thoroughly to see how well it performed when creating various different layouts and when using different elements. Creating photo books using the existing layouts was effortless, but Mixbook Studio lacked some simple features when it came to creating my own.

The interface of the Mixbook site was attractive and user-friendly, if a little clunky when navigating between tabs or customizing elements. There were editing tools available in the toolbar on the left, viewing, sharing, and purchasing buttons on the top bar, and easy-to-navigate page spreads on the right-hand side of the page.

The Mixbook photo book sits open, turned to pages featuring an Aurora Borealis photo with a large caption and a pink rectangle spanning the height of the image.

(Image credit: Future)

On occasion, I needed to use some workarounds when positioning elements on the page, and the lack of a center line between the pages made life a little more difficult, but overall it was a nice system to use. I found a variety of preset layouts available in the toolbar, where I found a vast array of design options, from full-page spreads to overlapping collage-style arrangements.

Adding a background color was simple and there were plenty of ways for me to select a color. I had the option of using colors from an existing palette, a color slider, a color picker, or by entering a hex code. Plus, there was also a range of textured backgrounds available. The option was available to flip the background image or alter the opacity using a slider.

A close-up of the spine of the Mixbook photo book.

(Image credit: Future)

I wanted to see how easy it was to add blocks of color to the pages and found it to be a little more complicated than expected. The best way to achieve this was to add one of the square stickers to the page and drag it to the required size. It was unfortunate that the Mixbook Studio doesn’t give any specific dimensions for photo or sticker sizes, but this is unlikely to prove an issue for most.

My main niggle with this process was that the stickers defaulted to having a white border and a shadow, which took a fair few clicks through different tabs to remove. This was easy to get around though, fortunately, by simply copying and pasting one that I’d already edited. Another thing that I found curious was the lack of alignment between a sticker with a photo, and vice versa. This meant I had to arrange the elements by eye, which got a bit tiresome after a while.

The Mixbook photo book sits open, turned to pages featuring close-ups of fish and a pale blue square.

(Image credit: Future)

The page spread navigation bar made it easy to, duplicate, delete, or drag and rearrange pages. The duplication function made it effortlessly easy to reuse page layouts and simply switch photos out. I simply needed to drag from the photos tab in the toolbar, and the replacement image populated the existing space before I moved it into the correct position within the frame.

Under the text icon, I found all the settings I expected, like alignment and changing text into bold or italic, plus there were some caption ideas, too. There was a dropdown list for the fonts, but unfortunately, it didn’t allow me to begin typing the font name in to save me from scrolling through them all. It was also frustrating that the font sizes weren’t standardized, so if I wanted 64pt text, for example, it would appear to be one size in one font, but totally different in another.

The Mixbook photo book sits open, turned to pages featuring three profile shots, the middle image distorts into the binding.

(Image credit: Future)

I have to admit I was really not a fan of the zoom function on Mixbook Studio. Zoom was controlled by basic plus and minus buttons at the top of the page, and instead of being able to pan around once I zoomed in, I needed to drag the page within the preview box that appeared below the zoom tool, which proved a faff when I was trying to check a lot of details on a page. The pop-up toolbars for images, stickers, and text boxes proved obstructive on occasion. They are static at the bottom of the element selected, which made alignment tricky at times.

The preview button at the top of the page allowed me to check the finished item before proceeding to the ordering stage. When I did, a brightly colored pop-up banner at the top of the order page highlighted that there was an error in the book. This was simply a blank page that I’d colored pink at the beginning of the book, so was not an issue; however, it’s good to know this feature is here to flag errors before proceeding.

A close-up of damage from the manufacturing process.

(Image credit: Future)

I had mixed feelings about the finished article. The print and matt finish on the hardback covers were vivid and looked nice. There was some very minor fuzziness around the lettering, and the cover image overlapped onto the spine slightly, but these were within the margins I’d expect from a printed item.

One unfortunate and avoidable mistake was the clamp marks on some of the pages from the assembly process. These were only visible in the light on paler pages, but clearly visible on the dark full-coverage photo pages, which ruined the finish. There were also clear dents from handling on many of the pages indicating that they weren’t handled with care during the creation process; these indentations distracted from the images and were disappointing to see when I was expecting the pages to be in pristine condition as the book was brand new.

A close-up of damage from the manufacturing process.

(Image credit: Future)

Aside from the regrettable markings that resulted from the manufacturing process, the finished book looked nice for the cost. These types of services perhaps aren’t suitable for those who want high-quality prints, but for those of us who just want to gather memories in one place, this Mixbook photo book is perfectly adequate. When taking advantage of a discount, the price is rather good for a large, vividly printed hardback book. Just be prepared to check for marks before gifting one, and order in advance if you can in case a replacement is needed. If you’d like to explore alternative photo book suppliers we’ve collated a selection of our favorites in our best photo books guide.

Should I buy the Mixbook photo book?

Buy it if…

You want family and friends to purchase their own
Within the Mixbook Studio, there’s a handy share button that enables you to share a preview of your book, invite others to make edits, and enable them to purchase one for themselves.

You want a simple-to-use interface
With the included layout templates, it’s incredibly easy to get a photo book set up by simply adding your photos into the Mixbook Studio and dragging and dropping them into place.

You don’t want to fork out lots of money
Photo books are rarely cheap due to their customized nature, but with regular discounts and sales, you get a pretty good deal from a Mixbook photo book.

Don't buy it if…

You want a premium finish
As mentioned, my sample featured some marks from the manufacturing process, which spoiled the magic a little. This may not be something that occurs in all orders, but it's something to bear in mind when choosing between services.

You want high-quality prints
This is not the photo book to use for your photography portfolio. For wedding photos or holiday snaps, it’ll be perfectly fine, but you can’t expect top-notch picture quality.

You want to get into the specifics
The Mixbook Studio is a great interface to use when utilizing the existing layout templates, but if you want create elements at an exact size, design an unusual layout, or use standardized text sizes, this is not the service for you.

Mixbook photo book review: also consider

Artifact Uprising
If you’re looking for a more premium finish, then Artifact Uprising is worth your consideration. These photo books are naturally more expensive, but you get fantastic quality and a special finish for the price. This service would make the perfect choice if you want to create a keepsake gift, and, what's more, they offer lovely add-ons such as walnut storage boxes too.

Cewe
Offering great design software, plus a Creator Assistant to help you get your photo book up to scratch, Cewe makes the creation process straightforward and delivers quality finished articles, too. We’re a fan of Cewe because they’re committed to taking a sustainable approach, claiming to be 100% climate-neutral with a net-zero carbon footprint.

How I tested the Mixbook photo book

  • I created a photo book from scratch to recreate our TechRadar photo book
  • I explored the Mixbook Studio, testing the different features and tools
  • I ordered a photo book and assessed the quality of the finished product

I spent time testing out the different features in Mixbook Studio, seeing how easy their pre-made elements were to use, and the different elements they included for free. I also investigated other services providing photo books to compare prices and features.

I started with a blank canvas and used the tools available to recreate our TechRadar photo book. Recreating an existing design is important so that we can assess how capable the different services are when faced with different requirements.

I ordered my completed photo book and evaluated the finished product, paying close attention to quality, print finish, alignment, and made notes of any imperfections.

  • First reviewed: November 2024
  • Read more about how we test
Manba One review: a tweakable controller with a few design issues
5:00 pm | November 24, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming | Tags: , | Comments: Off

Manba One: one-minute review

Back of Manba One on table

(Image credit: Future)

The Manba One is a wireless controller with an inbuilt screen for accessing the various tweaks available to tailor the gaming experience to your preferences.

Its design mimics the Xbox Wireless Controller, although the white variant features a removable transparent front cover that reveals some of the inner workings – which, along with the RGB lighting on either side, helps to make the Manba One more distinctive.

However, the relatively short grips caused me some discomfort, mainly due to the sharp angle at which they tail off towards the triggers. Those with smaller hands may be fine (although mine aren’t even that big), but I prefer the grip designs of popular controllers, such as the aforementioned Xbox controller and PlayStation’s DualSense.

The overall build quality is good: the face buttons are more akin to mouse clicks, but pleasingly tactile all the same, while the D-pad is more damped and operates smoothly. However, the rear 'M' buttons are too small and thin to be convenient, and all too easy to mispress. The bumpers are also a little awkward to reach given their thickness, and the triggers are quite short and less indented than those on some of the best PC controllers.

Worst of all, though, is that the left stick – on my unit at least – can stick in an elevated position, in turn causing it to get stuck in certain directions when using it, which is a serious problem. Thankfully, this issue was resolved easily by pressing the stick back into place, but it’s a design fault that needs to be addressed, if indeed it affects all units.

Since there’s no software for the Manba One, all adjustments are made via its onboard display, and thankfully the interface is clear and easy to use. From here, you can rebind buttons, activate turbo mode, and assign the four remappable M buttons to a series of button presses. You can also adjust trigger travel, as well as the deadzone and curve for the joysticks. Four profile slots are available to save your configurations, including one dedicated to Switch controls.

In practice, the Manba One performs well, on both PC and the Nintendo Switch. The buttons are snappy and easy to use, although the triggers don’t offer the most feedback, since their travel is quite short. However, the ability to lock the travel is a welcome addition, and proves very useful for shooters when you want to perform quick taps.

The joysticks are also precise and smooth, and the curve options do make a difference. I found that the High Performance curve, for instance, was especially useful for racing games, as it allowed for both precise micro-adjustments and full-lock steering quickly.

Given its asking price, the Manba One represents good value considering its features and performance. The official Xbox Wireless Controller is cheaper, but barebones in comparison, and it doesn’t even come with a rechargeable battery. If you’re after similar levels of customization, then you’ll usually have to part with a lot more cash. The Manba One, therefore, is a worthy choice for those after a precise, tweakable controller.

Manba One review: Price and availability

  • $69.99 (about £54 / AU$105)
  • Available now in Black and White colorways
  • Good price compared to the competition

The Manba One costs $69.99 (about £54 / AU$105) and is available now. It comes in two colorways, black and white, the latter of which features a transparent front cover. The joysticks are replaceable, with a taller pair included in the box. Also included is a dock for wireless charging.

It’s more expensive than the Xbox Wireless Controller, one of the best PC controllers around and a popular choice for many PC players, but not by much. It has more features than this pad, including a built-in display, four programmable rear buttons, and numerous other tweaks and customizations. However, unlike the Xbox Wireless Controller, the Manba One has no 3.5mm headphone jack.

Compared to more feature-laden controllers, the Manba One looks like a veritable bargain. The Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra, for example – our pick as the best PC controller for those with cash to splash – is considerably more expensive. However, this gamepad is more advanced, featuring mechanical buttons and the headset audio control.

The Manba One matches it for joystick hardware, though, as both pads use Hall effect technology – but the thumbsticks themselves can’t be switched out on the Stealth Ultra, as they can on the Manba One. Also, as mentioned in our Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra review, we weren’t fans of its companion software.

Manba One review: specs

Manba One in charging dock on table

(Image credit: Future)

Manba One review: design and features

  • Inbuilt screen
  • Snappy, tactile buttons
  • Some comfort issues

The Manba One adopts a rather classic controller design, with a similar shape and layout to Xbox controllers, but with a slightly more angular, aggressive appearance. There’s also some customizable RGB lighting on the sides to liven up proceedings, as well as some subtle gray accents on the white variant.

This colorway also features a transparent front cover, letting you see the exoskeleton lurking beneath, which fades to silver towards the bottom. The rear of the pad is lightly textured on the grips, but there’s no additional padding as some of the best PC controllers and best Xbox controllers feature.

The grips themselves are also quite short and curve abruptly towards the triggers. As a result, I didn’t find the Manba One as comfortable to hold as more popular controllers, such as the Xbox controller and PlayStation’s DualSense. However, those with smaller hands may have no issue.

Compared to those other controllers, the face buttons on the Manba One are less damped as well, feeling and sounding more like mouse buttons, but satisfying to use nonetheless. The D-pad, though, feels more cushioned and is smooth to operate. The sticks are average in size and feature a soft rubber material on top, offering just enough grip. A taller pair of sticks are included in the box and are easy to replace.

The triggers are another point of departure for the Manba One. They’re quite short with shallow indentations, and offer less travel and resistance than you might expect. However, the stroke lock is a clever addition, as it reduces travel considerably to allow for rapid firing.

Another welcome feature is their dotted texture, which does help with grip. This can also be found on the bumpers, although it’s a shame these are bulky with an awkward shape, as it makes them uncomfortable to use for long periods. Thankfully, the same can’t be said about the home buttons: these are positioned right at the bottom of the controller, below the D-pad and right analog stick. This keeps them out of the way, yet they’re still easy to access when needed.

The build quality of the Manba One is hard to fault – in most places. The screen is prone to micro-scratches all too easily, but more worrying is an issue I experienced on my test unit: the left analog stick managed to get stuck in a raised position, and in this state, it would in turn catch in certain directions when operating it – a cardinal sin for any joystick. Thankfully, this was a one-off problem, and simply pushing the stick back down into its original, intended seat was enough to prevent it reoccurring. However, it’s still a fault worth noting.

The included charging station matches the simple yet sleek design of the controller itself, into which the Manba One fits like a glove. It also features a compartment underneath to store the sizable Bluetooth dongle.

There’s no external software app for the Manba One on either PC or mobile: every adjustment and tweak is made via a menu displayed on its screen. There are options to rebind buttons and toggle turbo mode, as well as assign the four back M buttons to a series of up to 20 buttons in a row.

You can also adjust the deadzone for the analog sticks, as well the curve. There are four options to choose from on this front, ranging from a default, linear curve to a High Performance option, which Manba claims is ideal for racing and shooting games.

There are four profile slots to store your setups, including one dedicated to Switch controls, but unfortunately, you can’t rename them. There are also tools for testing buttons and calibrating the joysticks, triggers, and motion control (for the gyroscope when playing certain Switch games). You can set the vibration strength too, with four levels to choose from, or turn it off completely.

Back of Manba One on table

(Image credit: Future)

Manba One review: performance

  • Snappy and responsive
  • Useful adjustments
  • Triggers lack feel

Gaming with the Manba One is mostly an enjoyable experience. The sticks offer smooth and precise movements, while the buttons are responsive and tactile. However, the triggers fail to offer the best feedback, as their travel is too short to offer the kind of finely graded control you want from analog inputs. The underneath M buttons are also hard to use in the heat of the moment, given their small size and awkward position; you can’t use a more flat-fingered approach, as you can with a more traditional, paddle-like designs.

Personally, I’ve always preferred D-pads with separate buttons for each direction, rather than the integrated design on the Manba One, as I find they give me more control and precision in games where such inputs are crucial. I needn’t have worried, though. When playing Tekken 8, for instance, where D-pad inputs are complex, I had little issue hitting the directions I wanted to hit. That circular shape also helps to roll seamlessly between multiple directions, yet each is still easy to actuate individually without accidentally triggering adjacent directions, which can happen on D-pads with a singular component.

The various tweaks available on the Manba One also made a difference. Using the High Performance curve for racing games, for instance, was a marked improvement. When playing Assetto Corsa, it offered much better car control, as I could make minute steering corrections and drastic changes of direction equally well, depending on how far I moved the stick.

This same curve is also recommended for shooters, although I found that the default, linear curve offered less sensitive and more precise looking and aiming. The locks on the back that shorten the trigger length also work for enabling rapid shooting.

One of the great advantages of the display is the ability to adjust settings on the fly. Accessing the menu mid-game works well for the most part, although having to hold the home button for three seconds to activate it is a little inconvenient; I wish it were a little quicker.

It’s a shame also that the M buttons can’t be programmed as modifiers; to toggle the curve of the analog sticks, for instance, which would be useful for situations requiring momentary decreases in sensitivity, such as aiming, acting like a sniper button on a mouse. I found the M buttons all too easy to trigger too, especially when using the D-pad or face buttons intensely, as I naturally tightened my grip on the back of the controller.

In addition to PC, I also used the Manba One with a Nintendo Switch, connecting via Bluetooth without needing the included dongle. Like the best Nintendo Switch controllers, connecting the Manba One to the console is easy, and it worked flawlessly.

The battery life of the Manba One is claimed to be about 10 hours or more, and this was roughly in line with what I experienced, although it was hard to get an accurate measurement of battery levels, since no percentage is given on the inbuilt screen. Charging via the included dock takes about four and a half hours according to Manba, and again this proved relatively accurate.

Close-up of Manba One d-pad and left joystick

(Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Manba One?

Buy it if...

You want solid performance
The buttons are mostly great to use, and the Hall effect joysticks offer precise movements and different curves to choose from.

You want tweakable inputs
There are plenty of adjustments you can make on the Manba One, plus the display means you can make them on the fly.

Don't buy it if...

You want the most comfortable pad
Personally, I found the contours of the Manba One didn’t fit my hand as neatly as I would’ve liked, and the rear M buttons can get in the way.

You want console play
Although it’s compatible with the Switch, PS5 and Xbox gaming are out of the picture here.

Also consider...

If the Manba One isn't doing it for you, here's a couple of other controllers we recommend

Microsoft Xbox Wireless Controller
As the best PC controller and best Xbox controller, the official Microsoft Xbox Wireless Controller is hard to beat for unadulterated gaming. There’s no fancy features to be found here, but it nails the basics: it’s comfortable, practical, versatile and performs very well. It’s also reasonably priced, although a few missteps, such as no rechargeable battery as standard, go against it.

Read our Microsoft Xbox Wireless Controller review

Victrix Pro BFG
If you want modularity, then the Victrix Pro BFG is hard to beat. Not only is it compatible with PC, it’s also one of the best PS5 controllers you can buy, thanks to its multiple face buttons, joystick, and D-pad upgrades – including a module designed for fighting games. There’s four reprogrammable back paddles as well. It will set you back, though.

Read our Victrix Pro BFG review

How I tested the Manba One

  • Tested for several days
  • Played a variety of genres on PC and Switch
  • 25+ years gaming experience

I tested the Manba One for several days. During that time, I used it to play a variety of titles, including shooters, racing simulators and fighting games, in order to test every aspect of the controller. These included Black Mesa, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater - Master Collection Version, Assetto Corsa, and Tekken 8. I tested the Manba One on PCs – both Windows 10 and 11 – and the Nintendo Switch.

I also made sure to use and tweak every available feature and setting on the Manba One via the built-in display. I also tried out the included replaceable joysticks and the wireless charging dock.

I have been gaming for over 25 years across numerous platforms, all the way from the NES and other Nintendo consoles to most generations of PlayStation and PC. During that time I have used a number of controllers, from official devices to third-party ones. I’ve also tested many other gaming peripherals, including mice and keyboards.

Alice Camera review: reinventing the camera for the smartphone age
6:01 pm | November 23, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Cameras Computers Gadgets Mirrorless Cameras | Tags: | Comments: Off

Alice Camera: one-minute review

As someone who proudly runs a YouTube channel named “All The Gear, No Idea”, I'm always on the lookout for tech that promises to simplify the art of photography. Enter the Alice Camera: a camera body with Micro Four Thirds sensor and lens mount, powered by a Snapdragon chip, and that uses your smartphone as its viewfinder, all controlled through an app. Not a camera as we know it – something smarter.

A UK-based start-up brought this bold idea to life, and as one of the first 100 backers, I've spent three (very long) years waiting to see if it could live up to the hype. Spoiler alert: it's been quite the ride.

The experience has been a mix of awe, impatience and ultimately, satisfaction. The Alice Camera is a deceptively simple concept: it pairs the processing power of a smartphone (a Qualcomm Snapdragon with 8-core CPU to be exact) with the optical performance of a proper camera like the Lumix G9 II. This setup provides access to a wide range of affordable and lightweight lenses, while making the notoriously cumbersome menus of traditional cameras a thing of the past.

For anyone who’s wrestled with the cryptic menus and camera settings on a Panasonic Lumix or Sony, this camera is a breath of fresh air. The interface is as intuitive as using your phone’s camera app, with the added benefit of real-time sharing of your shots. Refreshingly, Alice Camera's software is open source, meaning if you're smart enough, you can build extra features and settings, unlike the leading brands like Canon and Sony that maintain all the control.

Admittedly, the Alice Camera is facing some production delays - something I’ve experienced firsthand, having waited three years for mine. But as frustrating as the wait might be, I can assure you it’s worth it. For those still waiting for their camera, stay patient. The Alice Camera offers a unique blend of convenience, innovation, and quality that makes it stand out in a crowded market.

If you put the Alice Camera in the right hands, it can deliver professional-grade results that you simply wouldn’t achieve with one of the best camera phones alone. Personally, I believe it’s worth every penny. I took some sample shots with the Leica SL3, which is one of the best professional cameras available, with a 180mm lens and then used the Alice Camera with an equivalent Leica 90mm on it to achieve the same focal length. I couldn’t really tell the difference unless I went pixel-peeping, and who really does that on social media anyway?

As someone who usually fumbles with new tech, I’m completely sold on this one. Delays receiving the product aside, I'd have no hesitation recommending the Alice Camera to any photographer.

Alice Camera in a studio

(Image credit: Rashid Ahmad)

Alice Camera: price and availability

  • $845 / £1,026 at time of writing
  • Pre-orders for batch 4 at time of writing
  • Prices could be different depending on which batch of backers you're in

The Alice Camera isn’t cheap, but I think any criticisms that I've read about its price are a bit unfair. You have to bear in mind that this is a small company that doesn’t have the economies of scale of a larger traditional camera manufacturer. They are not Sony. They cant sell TV’s to make up the losses they could incur on a camera division. It’s $850 / £1,000 approx for the camera itself, and some argue that when paired with a high-end smartphone, you’re looking at a total of over $1,800 / £2,000. But here’s the thing: most of us already own a smartphone, so it's really only the cost of the camera and lens you're looking at. And for that outlay, you get the ability to instantly share and livestream high-quality smartphone-beating photos and videos. You really cannot factor in the cost of your smartphone. And if you really must do that, then buy an old iPhone 12 and it’s still compatible – at best that will cost you another $400 / £500.

Alice Camera: specs

Alice Camera: Design

  • Premium metal body that is lightweight and with an ergonomic handle
  • Secure phone grip that fits smartphones as small as the iPhone mini all the way to an iPhone 16 Pro max
  • Simplified user interface and user experience making setup easy

Alice Camera in a studio

(Image credit: Rashid Ahmad)

Unboxing the Alice Camera felt like discovering a hidden gem. The sleek, lightweight design is deceptive - it feels premium, despite its featherlight build. The metal finish adds a level of robustness that’s reassuring. Inside the box, you’ll find a unique identifier that links the Wi-Fi on your phone to the camera, essential for pairing them up. The camera strap and build quality only add to the premium feel. However, what stands out most is the sensor: a micro four thirds unit that’s significantly bigger than anything you’d find on a standard smartphone. This offers more professional and realistic looking background separation, not the digitally created artificial bokeh that phones create.

Setting up the Alice Camera is as easy as it gets. You attach your phone via the extremely secure clamps (in my case, an iPhone 15 Pro Max) and pair the camera through the Alice Camera app, which is available for both iOS or Android. Once connected, you’re ready to shoot in seconds. The app has an intuitive user interface and experience. As a user you’re able to toggle between basic or advanced settings where you’re able to control everything from shutter speed to white balance, tint, colour enhancements and dynamic range.

Image 1 of 1

Alice Camera in a studio

(Image credit: Rashid Ahmad)

Alice Camera uses a Micro Four Thirds lens mount – the same used by OM System cameras such as the OM-5 and Panasonic Cameras including the Lumix G9 II – and you can use a whole variety of lenses for this system. When you put the Alice Camera into manual focus mode a digital rangefinder graphic appears and offers a more tactile experience than I expected. That said, using manual focus can be tricky, particularly outdoors where the phone’s screen contrast struggles to differentiate between the subject and background. I found this especially frustrating when trying to focus on finer details. The shots looked great at first glance, but once zoomed in, the lack of precision became apparent - though that may have more to do with the budget Olympus (OM System) lens I was using. Autofocus is rolling out in the next few weeks and I cant wait!

Alice Camera in a studio

(Image credit: Rashid Ahmad)

Alice Camera: Performance

  • Qualcomm Snapdragon and Google AI chip for running computational photography on device
  • 11MP photos, while not the highest, are perfectly suitable for everyday photography and social media
  • 4K 30fps and 2k 60fps video captures high-quality video footage, ideal for content creators and vloggers

Female model with dark hair, red lipstick and in red dress, outdoors at night, taken with the Alice Camera

(Image credit: Rashid Ahmad)

Despite the occasional hiccup with manual focusing, I’ve managed to capture some stunning images by my standards. A particular highlight was photographing my friend Hannah using a Leica 90mm lens. The smooth resistance in the focus wheel made manual focusing far more satisfying than the cheaper alternatives, and the final images were sharp and full of character. I own a couple of Leicas and I’ve gotta say, in my incapable hands, I could seldom tell the difference in shots! In the right hands, gear really can make all the difference, but Greg Williams could take better shots with this than I could with a Hasselblad!

As for video, one complaint I’ve seen online is that the Alice Camera isn’t suitable for vlogging. Honestly, I’m not sure where that criticism comes from - vlogging with the Alice Camera is perfectly feasible. Using a wider lens like the Panasonic Lumix 9mm or a 12-60mm would cover most use cases. Yes, my 25mm lens was too tight, but no one would vlog with an equivalent of 50mm.

Image 1 of 3

Closeup of a female model's eyes, taken with the Alice Camera

(Image credit: Rashid Ahmad)
Image 2 of 3

Female model with dark hair, outdoors, taken with the Alice Camera

(Image credit: Rashid Ahmad)
Image 3 of 3

Female model with dark hair in red dress, outdoors at night, taken with the Alice Camera

(Image credit: Rashid Ahmad)

When you take a photos, the JPEGs are immediately sent to your smartphone’s camera roll, which means they’re ready to share instantly. Also because of Alice Camera’s AI-driven computational photography software pipeline my photos look great straight out of camera with very little editing. These JPEGs are 3MB in size so they don’t eat up too much storage on your phone.

The team behind the Alice Camera say that the software is open source, which in theory gives it unmatched potential for customization, with their own plans to add autofocus in the near future, in addition to the ways others can enhance the user experience. I find that extremely exciting.

Image 1 of 3

Rear of a yellow Bentley car in a showroom, taken with the Alice Camera

(Image credit: Rashid Ahmad)
Image 2 of 3

Modern gearbox panel of a supercar, taken with the Alice Camera

(Image credit: Rashid Ahmad)
Image 3 of 3

Modern gearbox panel of a supercar, taken with the Alice Camera

(Image credit: Rashid Ahmad)

Should you buy the Alice Camera?

Alice Camera in a studio

(Image credit: Rashid Ahmad)

Buy it if...

You’re fed up of complicated camera menus and workflows

Alice Camera is a breeze to use. If you’re someone graduating from a smartphone to a mirrorless camera for the first time then this would be very intuitive compared to the complex camera menus of traditional cameras.

You want an affordable fun camera

Alice Camera attaches to your smartphone and is frankly very fun to use. You have immediate access to your files. If you’re happy to let the camera take control you can, but you can also get fine-grained control.

You want to be part of the next wave of innovation

In my view Alice Camera is pushing the boundaries of mirrorless-and-smartphone integration. If you want to take part in that journey then join the ride!

Don't buy it if...

Megapixels matters most to you

Alice Camera doesn’t offer the highest megapixels available so if this is important to you then consider this before purchasing.

You prefer traditional buttons and dials

Alice Camera has a minimalistic design. There are only two buttons - a shutter button and an on/off button, not a single dial to speak of.

You work in wet or rainy environments

One thing to highlight is that the camera is not technically weather sealed. Although I have used it outside with some mild drizzle and it did not affect its performance, this is not the camera for the Amazon.

How I tested the Alice Camera

  • Used as primary camera for over a month
  • Paired with a variety of lenses
  • Photos shot in RAW & JPEG

I bought two Alice Cameras and used them as my primary cameras for over one month. I've taken it on early morning photo walks, portrait photo environments, and used it mostly for stills but sometimes in video scenarios. It's able to handle moving subjects, although I did struggle a bit with manual focusing. I avoided using the camera in heavy rain or difficult conditions but I did feel comfortable using it in cold and drizzly rain.

I paired the camera with the Lumix 25mm f/1.7 and the Leica 90mm f/2 APO-Summicron (via an adapter, the M-mount and MFT). The resolution for all the images was 11MP. I took all photos in RAW format. Shooting mostly with wide apertures I was able to get a nice blurry background but for some landscape photos I stopped down the aperture.

  • First reviewed November 2024
SwannBuddy4K review: a video doorbell with its own voice assistant
6:00 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Home Security Smart Home | Comments: Off

SwannBuddy4K: two-minute review

Founded in Melbourne in the 1980s, Australian company Swann may not be a household name. However, it does have an excellent reputation across the security industry thanks to a wide range of smart indoor and outdoor security cameras. We’ve reviewed many of them here at TechRadar, and though they they’re not always the most stylish, they tend to be some of the most reliable on the market – solidly built with intuitive software and offering decent performance (see our guide to the best home security cameras for our top recommendations).

The Swann 4K Video Doorbell appears to be no exception. Visually it’s quite similar to the Yale Smart Video Doorbell we reviewed recently. That’s to say it’s chunkier than some of the doorbells out there, but feels well made.

Setup is reasonably straightforward. Once the doorbell fully charged using the USB-C charging port, simply download the app to your smartphone. Then, using the QR code on the back of the device, you can pair the device with your Wi-Fi network (compatible only with 2.4GHz wireless networks, not 5GHz).

Alternatively, for those who don’t want to have to remove the device for charging every few weeks, and who have a bit of DIY skill, it’s possible to connect the Swann to an AC (mains) power supply using the terminals supplied. However, we didn’t test this out, preferring to use the device’s rechargeable battery instead.

One problem we faced was with the mounting bracket which the video doorbell slots into. Because it is made of metal, it’s slightly little less flexible to install on the architrave of a Victorian door - ie. the wooden mouldings of the frame – than if it’s made out of plastic. It’s also quite fiddly screwing the anti-tamper screw in at the bottom of the doorbell – useful if you want to prevent people from stealing the device from your front door!

SwannBuddy4K video doorbell

(Image credit: Chris Price)

Certainly, when it comes to features, the SwannBuddy 4K ticks most of the boxes. Probably the most useful of all is the built in MicroSD storage. A 32GB card is provided with the doorbell as standard, but it will support up to 128GB. This means you don’t have to pay an expensive monthly subscription to store video clips as you do with other models (although a subscription plan is available if you want it).

Less useful, but much more likely to grab headlines, is SwannShield. Described somewhat prosaically as an ‘AI-driven voice assistant’ by the manufacturer, it’s really little more than a set of pre-recorded messages at present, though it’s still in beta mode.

Basically, when someone presses the video doorbell at your property, a screen appears on your phone with a series of options underneath the video image. These include ‘push to talk’ so you can talk to the person at the door and a ‘voice prompts’ option that brings up various pre-recorded voice messages.

SwannBuddy4K video doorbell

(Image credit: Chris Price)

As soon as someone presses the doorbell, a ring can be heard from the speaker at the bottom of the video doorbell as well as the small, standalone battery-powered chime provided. Designed to be placed in the room where you are most likely to hear the doorbell, this features several melodies including one of a cuckoo clock and another of a dog barking menacingly (great for deterring intruders.)

Of course, the video doorbell is much more than a device for talking to people at the door. It can also be used as a standard security camera, recording footage as soon as the motion detection sensor is triggered. Capable of distinguishing between different types of movement (person, pet, car, package etc), it’s possible to store videos by type – particularly handy if you want to find out when a parcel was left on the doorstep. Alternatively, you can store videos in chronological order on the built-in MicroSD card.

SwannBuddy4K: subscription plans

Includes 60 days cloud recording, priority support, 36-month extended warranty, device insurance, exclusive offers. Costs £3.99 a month/£39.99 a year

SwannBuddy4K: price and availability

  • How much does it cost? $199 / £169 / AU$299
  • When is it available? Available since March 2024 (with SwannShield since October 2024)
  • Where is it available? US / UK / Australia

When you consider everything that video doorbells offer in terms of functionality, they really aren’t that expensive. Currently available online for around £129 (but with a recommended price of £169), the SwannBuddy is a little more pricey than some of its competitors, including the Yale Smart Video Doorbell (about £99).

However, a huge advantage is that, although you can sign up to a subscription package for £3.99 a month or £39.99 a year should you wish (see details above), it’s not necessary in order to use the camera fully.

Instead, on the back of the video doorbell behind a plastic panel lies a MicroSD card slot with a 32GB card fitted for storing your recordings (the SwannBuddy supports up to 128Gb). Another benefit is that a doorbell chime is included as standard whereas sometimes these are sold separately - though it’s worth noting the battery powered chime isn’t the best.

  • Value score: 4/5

SwannBuddy4K: design

  • Sturdy well-built model
  • Metal mounting bracket
  • IP65 water resistance

Made in China, the Swannbuddy 4K is very similar in looks to other video doorbells we’ve tested. Water resistant (IP65 rating), it’s certainly quite a sturdy unit – solid in the hand and measuring around 14cm long, 5.5cm wide and nearly 3cm thick.

At the top of the device is the camera while underneath are the microphone and night detection sensor. In the middle is the doorbell button itself which lights up different colours according to its mode (for example, solid blue during charging and red when recording footage). Underneath the doorbell button is the passive infrared (PIR) sensor which detects movement and a speaker button which enables the user to hear the doorbell when pressed. Behind a rubber cover on the back of the unit lies the MicroSD card slot, set/reset buttons and the USB-C charging port. Alternatively, it can be hard wired into the AC mains.

SwannBuddy4K video doorbell

(Image credit: Chris Price)

Swann recommends mounting around ‘chest height’ – between 1.2m and 1.6m high. Provided is a small metal mounting bracket which the doorbell slots into. However, this isn’t great if you are trying to install at a slight angle on the architrave of a door because it doesn’t provide enough flexibility. And while the double-sided sticky tape provided may be an alternative option, it’s not really ideal for a device of this size (it also removes the paintwork).

To help stop the doorbell from being stolen, an anti-tamper screw connects the bottom of the bracket to the video doorbell itself. However, we found this slightly difficult to insert when the camera was mounted on the door frame and had to move the device to a flat surface instead.

  • Design score: 3.5/5

SwannBuddy4K video doorbell

(Image credit: Chris Price)

SwannBuddy4K: performance

  • 4K ultra high-definition resolution
  • Two-way audio
  • SwannShield voice prompts

Like most Swann models we’ve reviewed, the SwannBuddy 4K doesn’t disappoint. Thanks to clear, intuitive instructions complete with voice commands, pairing the device with your home’s Wi-Fi is simple (though it only supports 2.4GHz networks). The software on the app is straightforward too with well laid out menus.

Various options are provided to help you customise the video doorbell, including a detection setting which allows you to exclude certain parts of the camera’s view from being recorded. That’s useful, especially if you live on a busy road and don’t want to record passers-by or cars going past. Adjustable sensitivity settings and recording schedules are also provided to limit unnecessary recording time.

SwannBuddy4K video doorbell

(Image credit: Chris Price)

At first, I thought the video quality of the SwannBuddy 4K was extremely poor, until I realised the device had defaulted to low quality mode. However, in high quality 4K the image is excellent even when recording at night. Unlike traditional security cameras which tend to offer more landscape images, video doorbells are obviously much more portrait in orientation. That said, the viewing angle is still a respectable 165 degrees, more than adequate for most set-ups.

As soon as someone presses the doorbell, a push notification is sent to your smartphone telling you the front doorbell is ringing. Once you answer, it then ‘wakes up the camera’ in a matter of seconds so you can see who is at your door. Included are various options including ‘push to talk’ which enables you to speak directly to whoever’s at the door. Alternatively, the SwannShield feature allows you to play pre-recorded messages to your visitors.

SwannBuddy4K video doorbell

(Image credit: Chris Price)

To set this up you can choose from one of three demeanours (polite, interested or disinterested) with various pre-recorded messages available, all delivered in a slightly scary Australian accent. There’s even one telling the person to leave your property as the police are on their way! And if that doesn’t do the job there’s always the siren button to scare them off. It all feels a little unwelcoming and probably not entirely suitable for most interactions.

  • Performance score: 4/5

Should you buy the SwannBuddy4K?

Buy it if

You want pre-recorded voice messages

This video doorbell offers several pre-recorded voice messages to play to those who come to your door.

You don’t want to pay for a monthly plan

The Swann 4K video doorbell is one of the few to feature local storage (up to 128GB).

Don't buy it if

You want to install at an angle

The device’s smallish metal bracket and fiddly anti-tamper screw are tricky to install on the architrave of a front door.

You are on a limited budget

Although it’s not expensive by any means, there are cheaper video doorbells out there to choose from

SwannBuddy4K: also consider

Ring Spotlight Cam Pro (battery)

Available in black or white, this outdoor security camera from Amazon-owned Ring boasts two 3000°K spotlights. You can also buy a mains-powered version as well as a separate solar panel.

Read our full review of Ring Spotlight Cam Pro

Yale Smart Video Doorbell and Chime

A solidly-built camera from a well-respected name in the security industry. We particularly like the fittings provided with the camera for easy installation, and the doorbell’s clear images.

Read our full review of the Yale Video Doorbell

How I tested the SwannBuddy4K

  • I used the SwannBuddy 4K for three weeks
  • I set it up myself using the fittings supplied by the manufacturer
  • The video doorbell was installed in two places on my front door

I set up the SwannBuddy 4K in two locations on my front door. Firstly, on the door frame itself and then on the side of the porch covering an existing analogue door entry system. During testing many people came to the door, although I only used the pre-recorded voice messages with people I knew.

On one occasion a friend who came round was quite shocked by the response of the SwannShield feature when I deliberately played a message telling him (in an assertive Aussie accent) to ‘leave my property’ before sounding the siren loudly. But he later saw the funny side when I explained it was an experiment for a product test!

After two weeks on the front door, I brought the video doorbell indoors to test it as a security camera in my home office. During this time, I noted that despite being very responsive to movement and recording plenty of footage, it still had nearly 50% charge left on the battery after three weeks.

Read more about how TechRadar tests products.

Majority Naga 60 Review: a solid soundbar for a ridiculously cheap price
5:00 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Televisions | Tags: , | Comments: Off

Majority Naga 60 Soundbar: Two-minute review

The Majority Naga 60 is an enigma. This relatively small $64.95 soundbar offers a significant upgrade over the built-in speakers on most TVs while costing the equivalent of a dinner at a semi-cheap restaurant. I would consider it among the best soundbars for the price. It does have more than the low price going for it, however, as its sound quality is solid and benefits from basic 3D audio processing and a built-in subwoofer.

That low price tag also makes it easier to ignore that the Majority Naga 60 tends to not perform all that well when close to its max volume. It also makes it easy to live with the fact that there’s no HDMI passthrough – something I don’t expect in cheaper soundbars anyway.

Overall, the Majority Naga 60 is an impressive addition for anyone looking to upgrade their TV sound without going the full home theater system route. It’s never going to measure up to something like the LG S95TR soundbar, for instance, but it’s not supposed to. If your bedroom TV sound is a bit dull and you want to bring some life to your next viewing of NCIS, or want something a little better for the TV in your one-bedroom apartment, you’ll find its low, around-$60 price more than worth it.

On the surface, the Majority Naga 60 looks like a normal soundbar. It’s got an all-black colorway with a metal grille covering the front half and top of the body. At first glance, there’s nothing remarkable about its design outside of the outward-pointing tweeters on either end.

Those tweeters provide the soundbar’s limited 3D audio effect. Two 2.25-inch drivers provide the majority of the sound and there are also two upward-facing 2.5-inch drivers and an internal 2.5-inch subwoofer.

Regarding ports, there’s not a whole lot going on. There’s no HDMI passthrough, but at least there’s HDMI ARC and optical digital for connection to a TV, plus a 3.5mm aux input, USB-A, and a subwoofer output. Bluetooth wireless connectivity is also on hand.

For controls, there are four buttons on top for power, input, and volume up and down. The remote is much more involved, as it also can toggle 3D audio on and off, as well as select between four different EQ modes. You can boost or cut the bass and treble, and there are also some play, forward, and rewind controls that work to control playback of a TV or other device over the HDMI ARC connection.

Lastly, before we move on to how the Majority Naga 60 sounds, I do want to mention there’s a very basic LED indicator visible through the metal grill to show changes to volume, input, and other settings.

Majority Naga 60 soundbar on sofa with accessories

The Majority Naga 60 comes with a full package of accessories including an HDMI cable and wall-mount hardware (Image credit: Future)

While all of that is important, what’s even more important in a soundbar is its sound quality. I should first mention that there is plenty of volume on tap on the Naga 60, which is rated at 120 watts. Second, it does sound good for the most part, but the audio gets distorted and blown out when close to maximum volume. You’re not going to get a full home theater experience here, especially if you’re boosting the bass.

Otherwise, the Naga 60’s sound is a noticeable step up from most TV speakers. It’s not audiophile quality, but the highs are fairly defined and clear, and the mid-range has plenty of body to it. Bass is somewhat limited since there’s such a small driver acting as a subwoofer. The specified frequency range is 30 - 20kHz, so you do get some bass, but it’s not very deep.

When testing, I was quite impressed when listening to music. I didn’t get any rumble with hip hop or EDM, but there was still plenty of punch. Just about all genres seemed to fare well. You’ll only be disappointed if you want big bass or audiophile quality – remember, this is a $60 soundbar, so keep those expectations in line.

With TV and movies, dialogue was front and center and plenty clear, and soundtrack effects were just as present. However, since this is an all-in-one 2.1-channel soundbar, the audio can get a bit cluttered and lose some definition when there’s a lot of action. For example, scenes in The Beekeeper and My Spy The Eternal City tended to overwhelm the soundbar (and don’t shame me for not pulling up Blood Simple).

Since the Naga 60 is compact, its soundstage isn’t all that wide – another probable factor in the cramped audio during busy scenes in action movies. Of course, this is where its 3D sound comes in. There’s only 3D sound on and off, not to mention that it’s the most basic spatial audio (there’s no Dolby Atmos processing or anything like that), but it does add a bit of depth to the proceedings. So, it’s a setting I happily leave on most of the time.

Majority Naga 60 soundbar top panel control buttons

The Naga 60's top surface control buttons (Image credit: Future)

Majority Naga 60 Soundbar review: Price & release date

  • Price $64.95
  • Date first available: December 2023

While Majority Audio also sells soundbars in the UK, the Naga 60 is currently only available in the US. It is ridiculously cheap, coming in at $64.95, but frequently on sale for as low as $49.95. Of course, it’s not perfect as I’ve discussed above, but it’s a competent soundbar, especially for a smaller TV and viewing space.

One of my go-to recommendations for cheap soundbars has been the Roku Streambar, which retails for $130. It’s even smaller than the Naga 60 and comes with the Roku interface built-in, making it a great value even when it’s still double the price of the Majority Naga 60.

Cheap soundbars are typically more flawed than the Majority Naga 60. The Saiyin DS6305 goes for $59.99 in the US with a subwoofer, which is certainly cheaper, especially taking the inclusion of the subwoofer into account. Yet, its build quality leaves a lot more to be desired, and doesn’t have 3D audio processing.

Majority Naga 60 soundbar rear panel ports

Ports include HDMI ARC, optical digital and 3.5 analog audio inputs and a subwoofer output (Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Majority Naga 60 Soundbar?

Buy it if...

You’re on a budget: It’s tough to get this kind of sound quality in this price range. If you’re on a very limited budget, this is probably your best bet.

You want a good amount of volume: It doesn’t compare to expensive soundbars, but make no mistake, it sounds good with plenty of volume on tap.

Don't buy it if...

You want HDMI passthrough: Yes, the Majority Naga 60 does have HDMI ARC, but there’s no HDMI passthrough here – a small but unfortunate omission.

You want an immersive soundstage: While the 3D audio does make things sound more expansive, you’re just not going to get a wide soundstage with a soundbar of this size.

Majority Naga 60 Soundbar: Also consider

Roku Streambar
The Roku Streambar has surprisingly loud and clear sound for such a small soundbar. Add in its built-in Roku interface and Bluetooth connectivity, along with a very reasonable price, and it’s a great option for smaller setups. Just don’t expect any kind of spatial audio or strong bass.

Read our full Roku Streambar review

Saiyin DS6305
The main thing the Saiyin DS6305 has going for it is an incredible price. It also has a good amount of power. It also offers some rumble – something most cheap soundbars don’t have – thanks to the inclusion of a subwoofer. The build quality does leave something to be desired, not to mention there’s no HDMI connectivity.

Read our full Saiyin DS6305 review

Majority Naga 60 soundbar on table showing side-firing tweeters

(Image credit: Future)

How I tested the Majority Naga 60 Soundbar

  • Listened with it for one week
  • Tested with TV, movies, and music

I listened with the Majority Naga 60 Soundbar regularly for a week. I used it with TV and movies, along with plenty of music. I tested it with and without its 3D audio feature to see how much it affected the sound.

After spending some time with it, it’s clear that the Majority Naga 60 is ideal for those on a budget with a smaller setup as it sounds surprisingly good for the price. The sound quality and soundstage, however, won’t quite fit the needs of those looking for a fuller home theater audio experience.

I’ve tested a lot of tech gear over the years from laptops to keyboards and speakers, and so have been able to use my expertise towards giving an honest and fair opinion, not to mention a critical eye, to any product I test.

First reviewed November 2024

Read more about how we test

Thrustmaster Heart controller review: a competent Hall effect gamepad that fails to stand out in a competitive space
4:00 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming | Tags: , , | Comments: Off

Thrustmaster Heart: one-minute review

The Thrustmaster Heart is being positioned by the Oregon-based hardware specialist as an entry-level, performance-focused controller for Xbox consoles and PC. But ‘entry-level’ is more of a half-truth. It’s certainly very simple and straightforward but comes in at a rather lofty price tag that betrays that description somewhat.

That’s not to say the Thrustmaster Heart isn’t necessarily a controller you should avoid; there’s really a lot to like about it. From its comfortable Hall effect thumbsticks and tactile buttons to that lovely juxtaposed aesthetic dividing black and white colors with a strip of LED lighting, it could be one of the best PC controllers or best Xbox controllers for you if you’re looking for a simple gamepad that’s a cut above the standard Xbox Wireless Controller.

On the other hand, the Thrustmaster Heart doesn’t do a whole lot to justify its price. Cheaper controllers from competing brands like GameSir and Turtle Beach have the Heart beaten on features, and the complete lack of a wireless connectivity option is genuinely quite baffling at this price point - as it is with the brand’s even more expensive eSwap range.

That being said, the things the Heart does well, it does very well. It’s an impressively responsive controller that (aside from the disappointingly spongy feel of the triggers) provides rapid actuation. The face buttons and mechanical d-pad both feel fantastic, and the Hall effect sticks are exceptionally well-designed and comfortable to rest your thumbs on.

All in all, the Thrustmaster Heart is a very solid controller, but not an absolute must when other products are offering more at significantly lower prices.

Thrustmaster Heart

(Image credit: Future)

Thrustmaster Heart: price and availability

  • Retails at $99.99 / £89.99
  • Available from October 2024
  • Fairly pricey given its relative lack of features

The Thrustmaster Heart is available to buy now for $99.99 / £89.99. It’s purchasable at Thrustmaster’s own website, as well as Best Buy, Amazon US, and Amazon UK. It appears that it currently is not available for purchase in Australia, though.

On the overall price spectrum, the Thrustmaster Heart finds itself in a pretty awkward spot. It’s not a premium product, but certainly not budget-friendly by any means. And when you consider that other PC controllers like the GameSir Tarantula Pro are doing more for less at $69.99 / £69.99, the Thrustmaster Heart becomes a tough sell.

That said, if Thrustmaster is a go-to brand for you, then the Heart is one of its cheaper options available. Especially when you factor in the likes of the Thrustmaster eSwap X2 and its $169.99 / £169.99 sticker price. The eSwap controllers also don’t ship with Hall effect controls; you’ll need to buy a separate module for that. In that regard, the Thrustmaster Heart provides decent value over its premium siblings.

Thrustmaster Heart: specs

Thrustmaster Heart

(Image credit: Future)

Thrustmaster Heart: design and features

  • Incredibly pleasing in the aesthetics department
  • Convenient on-board multifunction options
  • ThrustmapperX software is simple, convenient, and available on console and PC

On the design front, the Thrustmaster Heart really impresses. I’m a huge fan of the divided black-and-white look, separated down the middle by a strip of LED lighting. That strip tapers off to the left about halfway up, giving the controller’s aesthetic a stylish uneven split.

I don’t particularly care for the Thrustmaster and ‘H.E.A.R.T.’ (which stands for Hall Effect AccuRate Technology) logos plastered onto either side of the controller, but they don’t overpower the overall design here. The controller is then accentuated with some lovely textured grips that offer a comfortable fit in your hands. That said, the Heart is an extremely light controller, which lends it a hollow feel.

Otherwise, you’re getting a fairly standard Xbox Wireless Controller-esque layout with some key differences. Flanking the Menu and Share buttons are two unique buttons. One of these is a multifunction button used to switch profiles and adjust LED color and brightness. The other is a mapping button used to assign the two rear remappable buttons. The bottom of the controller has a 3.5mm headphone jack and a mic mute button which is a welcome addition.

The Thrustmaster Heart lacks any on-board trigger lock settings. However, trigger travel time as well as stick sensitivity can be adjusted in the ThrustmapperX software which can be downloaded for free on PC and Xbox consoles. You can also set individual profiles here which you can swap between with that aforementioned profile button.

Thrustmaster Heart

(Image credit: Future)

Thrustmaster Heart: performance

  • Overall pin-sharp responsiveness
  • D-pad, face buttons, and sticks all feel fantastic
  • Triggers are a letdown with a bit of a spongy feel

While I’ve had some issues with the Thrustmaster Heart’s feature set and price point, few such frustrations exist with its overall performance. Thrustmaster has nailed what it sets out to do here, offering a sublime play experience with some of the best feeling Hall effect thumbsticks in the business. The amount of concavity on each stick feels just right, and there’s not even a pinch of stiffness to be found. If you’re looking for a controller with immensely precise stick movement, then the Thrustmaster Heart is it.

That same high level of quality applies to the mechanical buttons and satisfyingly tactile d-pad. The latter is quite simple in its design, but extremely effective thanks to its clicky and speedy feedback. The buttons and bumpers are similar here, with lightning-quick travel time that again will be a boon to players after utmost precision.

It’s a slight shame that the triggers are the weakest aspect of the performance package. They’re fully analog which isn’t a problem in and of itself. It’s more in how they feel - in this case, they’re a touch on the loose side, lacking that feeling of precision shared by other elements of the play experience. I think the lack of trigger locks (especially at this price) compounds this issue; it would’ve been great to have them for the option to switch to instant, digital trigger input which also would offset that overly spongy feel.

It’s also a shame that there’s no option for wireless connectivity with the Thrustmaster Heart. Like the Thrustmaster eSwap X2 - an otherwise excellent controller - the Heart is strictly wired via USB Type-C connectivity. Obviously, this is in line with the objective of peak responsiveness, but when even cheap pads like the 8BitDo Ultimate C Bluetooth controller are offering wireless connectivity for less, I don’t see any real reason why Thrustmaster can’t either.

Thrustmaster Heart

(Image credit: Future)

Should you buy the Thrustmaster Heart controller?

Buy it if...

You’re a multiplayer gamer after peak performance
It’s a joy to play online with the Thrustmaster Heart thanks to its high responsiveness and lightning-fast actuation. Titles like Fortnite, Apex Legends, and PUBG Battlegrounds really shine with the Heart because of this.View Deal

You enjoy tactile button feedback
The Thrustmaster Heart’s d-pad and buttons simply feel excellent to press due to their mechanical nature, offering satisfyingly clicky and responsive feedback that’s seriously tough to beat.View Deal

Don't buy it if...

You’re on a budget
The Thrustmaster Heart is very expensive for what you’re getting. It provides a great play experience, but its lack of features and no wireless connectivity hurt its value proposition.View Deal

You like controllers with lots of extra features
If you enjoy features like trigger locks, multiple remappable buttons, and so on, then you’ll want to look elsewhere. Even cheaper gamepads like the GameSir Tarantula Pro seriously excel in this regard. The Heart also lacks the modular design of the eSwap range, so I’d consider that one if you’re after something more customizable.View Deal

Also consider...

If the Thrustmaster Heart isn’t quite what you’re looking for, you should also consider these other two excellent controller options.

GameSir Tarantula Pro
With a symmetrical thumbstick layout, Hall effect, tons of remappable buttons, great build quality, and a nifty button layout-switch feature, the Tarantula Pro is the full PC controller package. And it’s cheaper than the Thrustmaster Heart.

Read our full GameSir Tarantula Pro reviewView Deal

Thrustmaster eSwap X2
Thrustmaster’s premium modular controller is absolutely fantastic, and superbly accessible thanks to its swappable module layout. It is pricey, but a brilliant option for those who like to tinker with their overall controller layout in an accessible manner while retaining premium features.

Read our full Thrustmaster eSwap X2 reviewView Deal

Thrustmaster Heart

(Image credit: Future)

How I tested the Thrustmaster Heart

  • Tested for one week
  • Platforms tested: Xbox Series X, PC
  • Played a mixture of single-player and multiplayer titles

I tested the Thrustmaster Heart controller over the course of a week across Xbox Series X and PC. On console, I played a wide variety of multiplayer games including Fortnite and PUBG Battlegrounds, finding that the controller’s pinpoint responsiveness is a perfect fit for intense multiplayer environments. Over on PC, I extensively played games like Final Fantasy 14 Online, Slitterhead, and Ys Origin to get a feel for the controller’s sublime Hall effect sticks.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed November 2024

Keychron Q6 Max review: Quality control
2:15 am |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Gadgets Keyboards Peripherals & Accessories | Comments: Off

Keychron Q6 Max: Two-minute review

The Keychron Q6 Max mechanical keyboard against a blue background.

(Image credit: Future)

The Keychron Q6 Max is a premium mechanical keyboard that doesn’t come cheap. But nor should it, considering how many high-quality features Keychron has managed to cram into it. You’ll pay a pretty penny, but this is a board that will give you years of typing satisfaction.

From the rock-solid aluminum construction and ear-pleasing acoustics to the superb typing feel and hot-swappable switches, this is a keyboard made for those who want the best. Its large size isn’t for everyone, but chances are you’ll love it.

While there are a few drawbacks – aside from the price, its software quirks and phenomenal weight are worth considering – they’re not enough to do any serious damage to our final assessment. This is one of the best mechanical keyboards you can buy right now.

Keychron Q6 Max: Price & availability

  • How much does it cost? $219 / £193 / $349 AUD
  • When is it available? Available now
  • Where can you get it? Available globally

The Keychron Q6 Max costs $219 (£193 or $349 AUD). It’s undoubtedly expensive, but this is an unashamedly premium board. You can buy it from Keychron’s website, Amazon, and other third-party retailers.

Keychron Q6 Max: Design

The Keychron Q6 Max mechanical keyboard against a blue background.

(Image credit: Future)

Let’s get straight into the first thing you’ll notice about the Keychron Q6 Max upon unboxing it: this thing is built like an absolute tank. Its chassis is made from heavy, dense aluminum, weighing in at 4.85lbs (2.2kg) on my scales. It’s far too heavy to sling around in a backpack, and I’m honestly not sure if it would be more accurate to characterize it as a keyboard or an offensive weapon. All that weight isn’t necessarily a bad thing, though, as it feels incredibly well made and is a far cry from the cheap plastic builds of more affordable keyboards.

Its quality is felt in other ways. The keycaps are made of double-shot PBT plastic, which gives them a subtle texture and means that the legends will never rub off. They come in an absolutely gorgeous off-white and navy blue “Carbon Black” design with teal highlights on the Esc and Enter keys (there’s a creamy gray alternative color scheme, but I only have eyes for Carbon Black). It looks even better with the south-facing RGB enabled, which comes with 22 different lighting styles.

This is a full-size keyboard, which means there’s a numpad and four macro keys on the right-hand side. This is ideal if you work with data or just like having the numbers close to your mouse hand, but it can get in the way, especially during gaming.

The Keychron Q6 Max mechanical keyboard against a blue background.

(Image credit: Future)

Nestled at the end of the function key row is a control knob. By default, turning it adjusts your computer’s volume and pressing it in mutes or unmutes your sound. Its function can be adjusted using Keychron’s Launcher web app, which I’ll come back to in the Performance section.

Around the back are two switches: one to flip between Bluetooth, wired or 2.4GHz connectivity, and another to change from Windows to macOS keyboard layouts (there are also Windows and macOS-specific keycaps in the box). These switches are quite stiff, and the former is particularly problematic because it’s very difficult to find the middle (wired) position. They would also be easier to access if they were on the side of the keyboard, as is the case with some of Keychron’s other products.

There aren’t many other things to criticize about the design, but a wrist rest would be a welcome addition (you can purchase a Keychron wrist rest separately, but none come included with the Q6 Max). You also can’t adjust the height of the board, and I had to wedge a thin book underneath to get it to the height I’m used to. With its current weight, perhaps it’s no surprise that the Q6 Max lacks height-adjustable feet or stands.

Keychron Q6 Max: Performance

Image 1 of 2

The Keychron Q6 Max mechanical keyboard against a blue background.

(Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 2

The Keychron Q6 Max mechanical keyboard against a blue background.

(Image credit: Future)

One of the most important aspects of any keyboard is the way it feels to type on, and the Q6 Max is excellent in this regard. My review unit shipped with Gateron Jupiter Brown switches, which provide a tactile bump without being loud and clicky. They feel brilliant to type on all day long. I also didn’t find any issues with key ghosting in my testing.

As for gaming, the Q6 Max performs pretty well here too. The Jupiter Brown switches are fast enough in FPS games for all but the most hardcore of pro gamers, while remaining comfortable during long sessions. The main issue, though, is the numpad, which can get in the way of your mouse from time to time.

The Q6 Max has hot-swappable switches that can be quickly and easily replaced thanks to the included keycap/switch puller. My review unit came with a set of tactile Gateron Jupiter Banana switches as well as the Browns, and they feel firmer to the touch and require a little more force to press. They also produce a very slightly deeper, more “thocky” sound. Keychron says the Q6 Max will work with almost any 3-pin and 5-pin MX-style switches on the market, giving you a great deal of flexibility and customization.

The Keychron Q6 Max mechanical keyboard against a blue background.

(Image credit: Future)

Aside from feel, how does the keyboard perform acoustically? Well, the good news is that the Q6 Max sounds fantastic in use. Keychron has built in a double-gasket mount and stuffed the board with acoustic foam, and the result is a soft, clacky acoustic profile that is satisfying to the ear without driving your coworkers mad.

Keychron has a Launcher web app that taps into the board’s QMK compatibility and is used to adjust backlighting, create macros, change key bindings, and more. It requires the keyboard to be in wired mode and only works in Chromium based browsers like Chrome and Edge, which is less than ideal. You can also use the VIA web app to perform many of the same tasks. While these web apps are powerful and straightforward, they feel like a half-baked solution compared to a dedicated desktop app.

For instance, these web apps can’t display the keyboard’s battery life, so you have to look elsewhere for that. You’ll find it on the system Bluetooth settings page in Windows and macOS, or by pressing Fn+B, which lights up the numbers one to zero to indicate battery level (each key represents 10%). Having to open a different app to find out your battery status feels sub-optimal, although the keyboard shortcut is a neat trick.

Should you buy the Keychron Q6 Max?

Image 1 of 2

The Keychron Q6 Max mechanical keyboard against a blue background.

(Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 2

The Keychron Q6 Max mechanical keyboard against a blue background.

(Image credit: Future)

Buy the Keychron Q6 Max if…

Quality is all-important to you

Everything from the keycaps to the internal structure screams premium quality, and you’re rewarded with a brilliant all-round package.View Deal

You’re a fan of customizable keyboards

With QMK/VIA compatibility and hot-swappable switches, there’s a lot of room to make this device your own.View Deal

You appreciate keyboard acoustics

Keychron has worked hard to ensure that using this keyboard doesn’t just feel great – it sounds excellent too.View Deal

Don’t buy it if…

You travel a lot

This keyboard is big, heavy, and simply isn’t built for travel.View Deal

You need height adjustment

With no height-adjustable feet or stands, you’ll be relying on DIY solutions to raise the keyboard’s typing angle.View Deal

You frequently switch connectivity methods and operating systems

The switches on the back of the Keychron Q6 Max are very stiff and a little awkward to reach.View Deal

Keychron Q6 Max: Also consider

Razer Pro Type Ultra

Razer is best known for its gaming peripherals, but this keyboard is aimed squarely at typists. There’s a lot to love about it, from its responsive switches to its long-lived battery. It offers plenty of value for the price, too.
Read our full Razer Pro Type Ultra reviewView Deal

Das Keyboard 6 Professional

With a supreme typing experience and premium touches everywhere you look, this board is tailor made for professional users. It’s wired only, but that just means you don’t have to worry about the backlighting draining your battery.
Read our full Das Keyboard 6 Professional reviewView Deal

How I tested the Keychron Q6 Max

I spent a week with the Q6 Max, using it as my daily driver for everything from writing articles to playing games. I changed out its switches to see how easy the process was, and tested Keychron’s web app and QMK/VIA functionality.

First reviewed November 2024

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