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Dali Rubikore 2 review: excellent value for money in these big-sound, small-size stereo speakers
5:30 pm | November 10, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Hi-Fi Speakers | Comments: Off

Dali Rubikore 2: Two-minute review

A longstanding concept in hi-fi (and indeed many other product categories) is that of ‘trickle down.’ The idea is simple enough; technology and design ideas that first appear in the flagship products is gradually made available at more terrestrial levels as time goes on. It’s a very important dynamic because, while many people will move upward through a product range as time goes on, rather fewer of them will make it all the way to the top. Bringing flagship technology down to a level more people can access is very important – and many of the best stereo speakers we've tested have been able to do just that. 

The Dali Rubikore range is a physical manifestation of the trickle down concept, indeed the ideal is so important to the their existence it is reflected in the name. The replacement for the long running and highly regarded Rubikon series of speakers and some of the advancements are derived from the Kore (stylised to 'KORE') technology that first saw use in the Kore floorstander which is yours for a brisk $110,000 / £85,000. The resulting speakers have their name revised to reflect this and are now the Rubikore range of which the Rubikore 2 is the only standmount model. 

The Rubikore 2 pitches in at $4,000 or a little over £2,000; a key price point for standmount speakers and one which is contested by a very large number of companies. To stand out from the pack, the Dali will need to be very good indeed. The omens are good; The Kore technology is used to improve some already very capable drivers, the claimed measurements look excellent and the range has some up to date thinking in terms of multichannel as well as having some very attractive finishes. Does this on paper ability translate to real world greatness? 

Dali Rubikore 2 review: Price and release date

The DALI Rubikore 2 speaker next to a record player and a wooden surface.

(Image credit: Future)
  • Launched in May 2024
  • £2,200/$4,000/$4,200 AUD

The Rubikore range debuted in May 2024 with the wraps being taken off at the High End Show in Munich. The range comprises a pair of floortanding models, the standmount seen here, an LCR (a speaker engineered to be both a centre speaker and also operate as a stereo pair) and an on wall speaker. This range spans from £1,200 for the Rubikore On Wall to £6,000 for the Epikore 8. This is a fair amount of money but rather less than what Dali is asking for the Kore. 

The Rubikore 2 is available in the UK for £2,200. It is $4,000 in the USA and $4,200 in Australia. This price does not include a stand and neither does Dali make a dedicated version for the Rubikore 2. In a large number of the stock images, you’ll see the Rubikore 2 sat on stout bits of furniture which will work up to a point but you should budget for a pair of stands to get the best from them. I used a hefty if cosmetically unspectacular Custom Design stands throughout for testing. One positive attribute is that all four finishes have the same price, with none commanding a price premium.

Dali Rubikore 2 review: Specs

Dali Rubikore 2 review: Features

A close-up of the rear of the DALI Rubikore 2 speaker in white.

(Image credit: Future)
  • Kore Technology 
  • Clarity Cone Midbass driver 
  • Continuous flare bass port 
  • Lightweight dome tweeter 

As a passive speaker, the Dali is not as sophisticated as powered and active designs but, given it’s a relatively small speaker made out of fairly well established materials, there is a surprising amount going on inside them. Dali has used the enormous amount of data gained the development of the Kore speaker to improve the Rubikore models. Obviously, there are many parts of a $110,000 speaker that don’t make it down to this level, but a number of ideas do.

This is most apparent in the drivers. The Rubikore 2 uses a 6.5inch (155mm) mid bass driver that employs technology that Dali refers to as Clarity Cone. The cone itself is made from Dali's preferred wood fiber; something that have been doing for a very long time but here you can see a pattern on the cone itself. This increases the stiffness of the cone as a whole and improves the breakup behaviour. Behind the driver, Dali's Soft Magnetic Compound is used as it reduces eddy currents and other unwanted effects, lowering distortion overall. 

This driver is helped by a rear firing bass port that employs a continuous flare along its length (that is to say it isn’t the same diameter along its length). This helps to keep the flow of air out of the port quieter as the diameter increases as the air accelerates allowing it to expand. This port helps the Rubikore 2 to reach down to 50Hz at a +/-3dB measurement – a usefully demanding way of measuring this.   

This mid bass driver is partnered with a soft dome tweeter that is built around the principles of reducing mass; a very desirable attribute in a high frequency driver. Traditionally, tweeters used a substance called ferrofluid to cool them but this adds mass and increases the response time. The Rubikore 2’s 1.2 inch (29mm) dome does without this to reduce the mass. The Rubikore 2 is the only member of the Rubikore family to not partner the dome tweeter with a ribbon device although given that the quoted upper frequency roll off is 26kHz (or, quite a bit higher than human hearing actually goes), this is unlikely to be a huge issue. 

The crossover for the two drivers hands over between them at 2.8kHz (relatively high by the standards of many rivals) and is quite unusual in 2024 terms because it supports biwring should you wish. Sensitivity is in keeping with most things at the price at 87dB/w but this is achieved at a slightly trickier 4 ohm impedance which means this isn’t a truly difficult speaker to drive but needs a little power to do its best work. The cabinet that houses everything is a relatively conventional type made of MDF sections; although something that is quite unusual is that both the front and rear panels have a gentle curve to them. The cabinets are extensively braced and substantial things though and the whole speaker feels usefully solid. 

  • Features score: 4/5

Dali Rubikore 2 review: Sound quality

A close-up of the DALI Rubikore 2 speaker in white

(Image credit: Future)
  • Excellent bass 
  • Tonally superb
  • Some limits to soundstage and quiet running 
  • Consistently good fun 

Placed on stands with absolutely no toe in applied (Dali is adamant that its speakers should point dead ahead), the Rubikore 2 doesn’t need vary long to start to impress. The first and most immediately noticeable aspect of the performance is the bass extension and the scale that goes with it. The Dali gives Ben Howard’s Every Kingdom a weight and authority that makes the performance utterly convincing. This album is not a bass monster but plucked bass notes and the sparse percussion it possesses are given a weight you feel as well as hear and the effect this has on the believability of the track is considerable. 

Tonally, the Rubikore 2 is a class act. Across standard challenges like voices, violins, cellos and pianos, it has managed to sound consistently right. This is not a showy or attention grabbing speaker. It doesn’t go in for the sort of emphasis on parts of the frequency response that is superficially impressive but that becomes wearying after a while. Instead it presents a frequency response that feels even and consistent and allows the music to generate its own emphasis. The astonishing Emily King track Forgiveness on her Scenery album is presented with King being the absolute focus of your attention. Everything else that should there is there but it’s subsumed by what the recording regards as the important part and the Dali following those instructions perfectly. 

Something else that is very welcome is that the when the quality of the material being played drops, the Dali still maintains a level of realism and overall quality that is extremely impressive. A blast through Greta van Fleet’s Anthem of a Peaceful Army delivers a healthy dose of the ‘I can’t believe it’s not Led Zeppelin’ sound without drawing too much attention to the limitations of the mastering as a whole. Instead the Rubikore does a fine job of making things sound usefully exciting and energetic, with a very pleasing level of get up and go to its overall performance. 

So far so good, but there are some areas where the Rubikore 2 is less effortlessly composed. It had the misfortune of following Tannoy’s odd but immensely talented Autograph Mini through testing and while it convincingly beats the Tannoy in terms of bass extension, it simply doesn’t create the same almost three dimensional soundstage of the material being played. Some of this is a bit of a puzzle because viewed objectively, the Dali isn’t doing anything wrong. The handover between the mid bass and tweeter is seamless and there is no real perception of congestion to the sound, even when very complex material is being played. Nevertheless, the Dali tends to produce a sound that sits between the two speakers rather than extends beyond it. 

There is also an element of the Dali's performance that might be a benefit or a negative depending on your listening situation. For what is a relatively compact device, the Rubikore 2 is capable of playing impressively loud and sounding effortless while it does so. Even rivals that boast a similar driver complement can struggle to match the way that the Dali handles the huge crescendo of Public Service Broadcasting’s Broadcasting House. Without sounding strained or pushing the limits of the cabinet, the Dali simply keeps hitting hard and sounding utterly composed while it does so. The caveat to this is that at lower levels, the Rubikore 2 sounds a bit on the safe side. If you don’t have the scope to open the taps every now and again, some of the abilities of the Dali will be less easy to enjoy. 

When you do give them a bit of level though, the Dali is consistently good fun. This isn’t simply fun in the ‘play fast music and nod your head’ ideal but an ability to get to the crux of the emotional content of the material being played. It’s the difference between listening to My Baby’s Tribulations and thinking, ‘that’s a nice song’ and sitting there rapt at one of the most stunning vocal arrangements I’ve had the pleasure of listening to.  

  • Sound quality score: 4.5/5

Dali Rubikore 2 review: Design

The DALI Rubikore 2 speaker in white from a high angle next to a wooden surface.

(Image credit: Future)
  • Four finish options 
  • 350 x 195 x 335 mm
  • 9.5kg each 

Dali is a Danish brand and while I’m not sure that some sort of official document exists to the effect that no Danish brand is allowed to make unattractive equipment, it does seem to be a rule they all work to. The Rubikore 2 is elegantly proportioned, with a pleasing ratio to the width and depth that is balanced by the size of the drivers contained within it. There are four finish options, including two wood veneers that have been chosen to complement both the proportions and the drivers very well. Even the white of the review samples; a finish I’m not traditionally enthused about, looks good against the contrast provided by various sections of the speakers. 

This effect is enhanced by just how well made and finished the Dali is. These aren’t cheap speakers but even so, the care that has gone into how they have been assembled and finished is impressive. About the only thing I can really say against them is that, where the vast majority of rivals use magnetic tabs for the grilles, the Dali still uses lugs. They’ve cleverly used screw fittings to hide some of the holes but there is still a visible one above the tweeter which looks a little unsightly. 

  • Design score: 4.5/5

Dali Rubikore 2 review: Value

As noted a few times so far, $4,000 is not the sort of figure that most of us lose down the back of the couch, but it’s hard to argue with the feel or quality of the Rubikore 2 for this money. This is a brilliantly made and finished speaker that is built in Europe and comes with a five year warranty. It does a fine job of avoiding the nagging feeling of buyer’s remorse when you unbox them which is no bad thing. They will require decent quality equipment to partner them but not to the extent where they won’t improve an existing system of slightly less expensive electronics, so long as there is sufficient power to drive them. 

  • Value score: 4.5/5

Should you buy the Dali Rubikore 2?

Buy them if...

Tonality matters 

The Dali does a brilliant job of bringing voices and instruments to life. Even very talented rivals at this price can struggle to match their abilities in this regard. 

You like a bit of bass

Without ever sounding boomy or lacking in control, the Dali Rubikore 2 has tremendous low end for a sensibly size speaker. Very few rivals can hit as hard while matching the dexterity of the Rubikore 2.

Aesthetics are important to you

This is a good looking speaker that comes in four well judged finishes, none of which command a price premium. There a very few spaces where at least one of these options won’t look good and work well.

Don't buy them if...

You listen quietly 

At lower levels, the Rubikore 2 isn’t a bad speaker pair, but some of the attributes it shows at higher volumes are less apparent. 

Soundstage is everything 

The Dali never sounds congested or confused, but some rivals do a better job of extending their performance out beyond the speakers. 

You have a very low powered amp 

It would be a stretch to call the Dali truly insensitive but it will do its best work with a little bit of power and current behind it. If you have less than 40 watts on hand, this probably isn’t the best choice for you. 

Dali Rubikore 2 review: Also consider

The curious but lovely Tannoy Autograph Mini is the same price as the Dali. The product under review here completely demolished it in terms of bass extension and scale, but the stereo image it can produce is something that the Dali cannot match. The Monitor Audio Studio 89 is slightly less money but comes laden with technology and striking looks as well as an ability to resolve fine detail that very little near the price gets anywhere near. Outside of speakers we have looked at, Bowers & Wilkins, Neat and PMC are all formidable contenders at this price point and will keep the Dali honest. 

How I tested the Dali Rubikore 2

A close-up of the DALI Rubikore 2 speaker in white

(Image credit: Future)

The Dalis were placed on a pair of Custom Design stands and run in a system built around a Naim Supernait 3 integrated amp; a slightly more expensive device than the Dali but able to deliver plenty of power and show what the Rubikore 2 was doing at any given time. 

Source equipment took the form of an Eversolo DMP-A8 streamer. This formidable digital front end offers superb UPnP streaming but also has an HDMI ARC connection allowing an LG OLED to be connected and routed through the system to the Dali. I tend to use the Eversolo via the Roon software platform because I control most things through that and tend to prefer it. 

I also made use of not one but two turntables under testing. The first is a resident Rega Planar 10 using the company’s newly released Nd7 moving magnet cartridge. The second was the newly released Pro-Ject Debut Evo 2 for which the Dali acted as a test speaker. Both turntables used a Cyrus Classic Phono for the phono stage. Material used has been a variety of styles and genres via The test material has been FLAC, AIFF, Tidal, Qobuz and Spotify as well as some vinyl. 

Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas One review: a great beginner’s flight stick
4:00 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming | Tags: , | Comments: Off

Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas One: One-minute review

Can you believe the Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas One has been around for years? The entry-level stick offers everything you need to get started in Microsoft Flight Simulator or something more exotic, with a throttle, a comfortable stick, and the option to attach each or keep them separate.

The entire unit is cheaper than many flight sticks you can pick up without an additional throttle, meaning you’re getting plenty of bulk for your buck, if not bang. The throttle is lacking in resistance, and the casing of both halves is made of a relatively cheap-feeling plastic. Thankfully that does make it lightweight, meaning it’s easy to haul between desk and sofa setups across PC and Xbox.

Still, 14 buttons and 5 axes are more than enough for you to earn your pilot wings, and more intermediate features like a tactile hat switch and a nice, springy trigger make it feel much more comprehensive than rivals at this price point.

PlayStation gamers will also need to look elsewhere, but the Hotas One will work on PC and current generation Xbox consoles and will go as far back as the Xbox One. If you’ve got one of those platforms, the plug-and-play nature makes it easy to get started, and the Xbox buttons replicated across the unit can make it easy to make the jump for traditionally console-bound flyers.

All of this makes it an attractive entry-level flight stick that lacks additional axes and controls but offers a more cockpit-adjacent split throttle and stick form factor that it’s easy to feel impressed by. It’s not getting any younger, but with Thrustmaster continuing to re-release it in fresh colorways (including a Microsoft Flight Simulator option), it’s clear the company is standing by it as a first taste of flight stick for beginners.

The Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas One flight stick on a desk

(Image credit: Future/Lloyd Coombes)

Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas One: Price and availability

  • List price: $99.99 / £89.99
  • Available in black and Microsoft Flight Simulator options
  • Launched in October 2017

The T-Flight Hotas One has been around for a while (there was a PS3 version at one point, which should tell you how long it’s lasted), and this particular model has been getting PC and Xbox gamers in the air since 2017.

It’s getting harder to find the plain black version now, but the Microsoft Flight Simulator version is the same product with a white finish, suggesting the stick isn’t going anywhere. That new color option is a lot brighter and makes the stick look more modern.

Regardless, you’ll find either for under $100 with discounts, making it more than competitive with some throttle-less options like the Turtle Beach VelocityOne. It’s drastically cheaper than mid-range options like Logitech’s X56 Hotas RGB, too, and it remains a great starter option because of its price.

Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas One: Specs

Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas One: Design and features

  • Ideal for desk usage
  • Plastic feels cheap
  • Can collect dust on the throttle base

The Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas One was the first official flight stick released for the Xbox One (a console that launched in 2013), so it’s had some longevity. Still, its design feels very much of its time - it’s relatively sleek in all black, with some silver accenting and a striped F2 button on the stick.

Still, it’s very plasticky, which can lead to it audibly creaking during use - thank goodness it’s not a real plane! On the one hand that’s likely kept the price down, but on the other, it feels far from premium in comparison to more expensive sticks like Thrustmaster’s own T.16000M FCS Flight Pack.

While buttons can be remapped in your game of choice within their individual settings since the stick is a ‘generic’ option, I’m pleased to see the Xbox buttons represented here. So many flight sticks cater to PC almost exclusively that it’s nice to see the face buttons here, in color, for easier recognition. There’s even the Xbox button to call up the Xbox menu on PC or console.

The rubber under the stick helps prevent dust from getting into the mechanism, but the same can’t be said of the throttle which has no shielding from dust or the elements underneath - if you’re using it regularly that won’t be a problem, but it’s definitely worth mentioning that it’s likely to collect dust.

The stick plugs in via USB-A, with a breakaway cable that’s ideal in case someone yanks the cable while you’re playing. It calls to mind the original Xbox’s cables, and you’ll be thankful for it if it stops your console or PC from toppling.

The Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas One flight stick on a desk

(Image credit: Future/Lloyd Coombes)

Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas One: Performance

  • Plug and play on console and PC via USB-A
  • Splitting sections is easy, although cable management can get fiddly
  • Hat switch is a nice touch

Setting up the T.Flight Hotas One couldn’t be simpler - just plug it in via USB-A. While the industry is moving away from it, it lives on here, so bear in mind you may need a USB-C adapter depending on your port selection.

Once it’s plugged in, it just works, both on console and PC. I enjoyed Elite Dangerous on each, and was barrel-rolling and nosediving with reckless abandon within minutes either at my desk or on the couch. The stick is responsive, and the Z-axis rudder can be used via the rocker on the throttle which I found to offer more granular control when listing left or right.

One of my favorite parts is the hat switch, which comes in a four-way version here. This nifty input on the top of the flight stick can act as a D-Pad, letting you do things like open the landing gear in Elite Dangerous with a press. It’ll be hard to go back to mouse and keyboard or controller, that’s for sure, but naturally eight-way hat switches will double the available commands that are a thumb flick away.

It’s easy to take the stick and throttle apart, but the two are connected by a cable. Once you put them back together, you’ll likely want to run the wire underneath through a trench on the underside, and that can be fiddly in my experience.

The Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas One flight stick on a desk

(Image credit: Future/Lloyd Coombes)

The relatively low price of admission can also be felt in the throttle. It’s not bad, it’s just lacking any resistance which makes it feel less like a piece of aerospace equipment and more like a toy. It’s hard to escape the feeling that this is where corners were cut, and when pushing to hyperspace in a space sim like Elite Dangerous, it feels lacking in any meaningly pushback. It makes sense at this price point but it’s worth mentioning.

On the flip side, I will say the trigger on the stick feels nice and snappy, springing back into place in a way that feels nice and tactile while also ensuring you can line up those laser cannon blasts in something like Star Wars: Squadrons and have the trigger ready to fire again almost instantly.

I’m also pleased to report the T.Flight Hotas One is great for Microsoft Flight Simulator, which might be to be expected with its officially branded version. The split design means you can position a keyboard in the middle of the throttle and flight stick which then allows for a much broader array of commands than the T.Flight Hotas One is able to provide because of its lower button count.

As I mentioned earlier, though, the plastic construction can cause the stick to creak a little, and it’s lightweight enough that it’s not too difficult to accidentally shift it about the desk with relatively minor effort.

Should I buy the Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas One?

Buy it if...

You want to try a flight stick without spending too much money
What’s on offer here is great value, with a detachable throttle setup that similarly priced rivals simply can’t match.

You’re planning to play across PC and console
This helps save you from buying two sticks, so long as you’re on Xbox. PS5 players will need to look elsewhere. Still, its split sections make it ideal for couch and desk use.

Don't buy it if...

You want a stick geared more for experienced pilots
There are better, more premium sticks for anyone looking for something more extensive.

Also consider...

Still not sold on the T.Flight Hotas One? Here’s how it compares to two similar products.

Turtle Beach VelocityOne

The Turtle Beach VelocityOne is priced very closely to the T.Flight Hotas One but is just a stick with no additional throttle. Offering more buttons, the VelocityOne features an improved hat switch and a more premium feel but comes at the cost of a full-sized throttle. It does offer some satisfying resistance, however, and a nifty OLED display, and will also work on both PC and Xbox.

For more information, check out our full Turtle Beach VelocityOne review.View Deal

Thrustmaster Viper TQS Mission Pack

This Thrustmaster effort looks like it’s been ripped straight from a fighter jet. It’s incredibly premium-feeling, with a whole host of buttons and switches, but it does require a joystick, too - making it a pricey option. We’ll have a full review in the coming days, but if you’re looking for mechanical switches and a true-to-life throttle, you’ll struggle to find anything more realistic.

How I tested the Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas One

  • Tested over the course of two weeks
  • Used both in split and singular unit modes
  • Tested on multiple games across two platforms

I spent around 15 hours playing Elite Dangerous and Star Wars: Squadrons, both on PC and via an Xbox Series X.

I played each game for several hours, before switching platforms and switching back again to ensure consistent performance across games and platforms.

I also played Microsoft Flight Simulator on PC for a further five hours, splitting the Hotas One and using it as one unit to test its comfort in both configurations.

Read more about how we test 

First reviewed November 2024

T3 SinglePass Smooth X straightener review
4:00 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Hair Care Home Small Appliances | Tags: | Comments: Off

T3 SinglePass X: two-minute review

Product info

Note: The SinglePass Smooth X is not to be confused with the SinglePass X. The latter has wider, 1.5in / 38mm plates better best suited for thicker hair and has five temperature settings compared to the Smooth X’s nine. Due to these larger plates, the SinglePass X is less compact than the Smooth X, but still features the same SinglePass technology and CeraGloss plates.

The T3 SinglePass Smooth X may not be at the top of my best hair straighteners list, but when you factor in its design, functionality, tech and value for money, it's not far off. I love its Satin Blush color, and the sleek, pastel pink finish isn't just stylish but practical, as it resists fingerprints and smudges. The rose-gold accents on the hinge and logo add a touch of luxury, while the color of the ceramic plates blends well with the blush tone, giving it a cohesive, high-end feel.

The plates are 1in wide and 20% longer than standard straighteners, which allows for faster styling by covering more hair in each pass. This is a bonus for my long, thin hair and it took a little over two minutes to finish straightening my whole head. Made from T3's CeraGloss ceramic, these plates also help to smooth frizz and add shine and while they might not glide as effortlessly as other straighteners, like the GHD Chronos, (learn more in my GHD Chronos review) they still perform well, especially when curling. The StyleEdge design of these plates, which give them beveled edges, also makes sure curls and waves are created without leaving creases, which is welcomed.

Measuring 11.8in / 30cm long and weighing 14.7oz / 417g, the SinglePass Smooth X is compact, lightweight and well-balanced. I was initially concerned the added length might make it cumbersome, but it was easy to move around my head during styling. The PrecisionControl hinge keeps the plates gliding smoothly without the need for excessive pressure, too, which adds to the overall comfort.

The temperature controls are located near the base of the styler, with a row of nine LED indicators representing its nine heat settings – from 260F / 127C to 410F / 210C. This range gives flexibility for a host of hair types, with lower settings ideal for fine and fragile hair and higher settings best suited for thicker, coarser textures. The SinglePass technology and CeraSync heaters inside the styler then help distribute this heat evenly, reducing the need to go over the same section multiple times and helping to minimize heat damage. This also helps create more uniform curls that last.

During my tests, the SinglePass Smooth X lived up to its name, straightening my fine, naturally curly hair with minimal frizz. However, after straightening, I found my hair looked a little too sleek and flat, which is common for finer hair like mine but was a tad disappointing.

Overall, the T3 SinglePass Smooth X holds its own among the best hair straighteners, with its sleek design, ease of use, and strong performance for both straightening and curling. Minor drawbacks like the placement of the power button, which makes it easy to accidentally change the heat setting, plus the overly sleek results for my thinner hair weren't dealbreakers for me, but did lessen the appeal. However, if you prefer a straight, smooth, frizz-free finish or your hair is long and thick, then chances are you will love it.

Read on for my full T3 SinglePass X review...

T3 SinglePass Smooth X review: price & availability

  • List price: $149.99
  • Available: US only
  • Replaces the T3 Lucea 1" flat iron

The T3 SinglePass Smooth X replaces the Lucea 1in flat iron and costs $149.99. It's only available in the US, and is only sold in a single Satin Blush color.

Its price and technology positions the SinglePass Smooth X in the mid-range of T3's wider straightener lineup. It sits below the $249.99 Smooth ID styler, which has the added feature of real-time personalized heat settings, and the $189.99 Lucea 1.5in styling iron, which has wider plates.

It then costs more, and offers more, in terms of tech and performance than the travel-friendly SinglePass Compact Flat Iron, which retails for $89.99 and has a smaller, more portable design.

The closest model to the Smooth X is the T3 SinglePass Stylemax. It has the same plate size, same SinglePass, CeraGloss and StyleEdge technology and design, and costs the same. Yet it offers more customizable temperature options, and a Curl Mode, which optimizes the heat for curls and waves.

Outside of T3, similar rivals in terms of features and design include the $160 Moroccanoil Perfectly Polished Titanium flat iron, and the £109 mdlondon Strait which has similarly long, bevelled plates and multiple heat settings but is only sold in the UK and ROI.

In comparison to most of its siblings, and rivals, the Smooth X's price – which initially felt high – represents much better value than may first appear. Largely because of its built-in tech, and design as well as its performance. You get more features with the SinglePass Stylemax for the same price, but that model is less attractive, less sleek and doesn't have the longer plates, which are a bonus on the Smooth X.

You can buy the SinglePass Smooth X in the US directly from the T3 website, as well as third party retailers like Amazon US.

  • Value score: 4 out of 5

T3 SinglePass Smooth X specs

T3 SinglePass Smooth X review: design

  • 1-inch wide, ceramic-coated plates
  • 9 different heat settings
  • Longer-than-usual plates

T3 is renowned for making attractive and elegant stylers and the SinglePass Smooth X is no exception. It comes in a single, pastel pink-rose color, officially called Satin Blush, and has a soft, matte finish.

This not only looks and feels premium, but means it doesn't pick up fingerprints or show up grease like black stylers tend to do. Even the plates match the main blush color, and there are rose gold metal accents on the hinge, logo and controls.

T3 SinglePass Smooth X flat irons, photographed side-on, on reviewer's marble dressing table

(Image credit: Future)

The plates are noticeably longer – 20% longer than standard – than other straighteners I've used, including the GHD Platinum Plus, but are on par with plates on the mdlondon STRAIT. They're made from what the brand calls CeraGloss ceramic, which is ceramic material coated in a gloss-like finish.

This is the default for plates across the T3 straightener range and has been designed to smooth frizz and add shine without snagging or pulling the hair. In my experience, this works well and while it's not the smoothest flat iron I've tried (that prize goes to the GHD Chronos) it does a great job.

These plates also use a so-called StyleEdge design. This means their edges are beveled and smooth making them great for creating curls and waves without causing creases or kinks.

Close up of ceramic straightening plate on T3 SinglePass Smooth X flat iron

(Image credit: Future)

In terms of size, the plates are one inch wide and the overall dimensions of the straightener is ‎11.8 x 1.2 x 3.6 in / 30 x 3 x 9.1 cm in size. It weighs 14.7 oz / 417g. This makes it compact and light enough for easy handling and for packing in a suitcase or bag, without being too small to work on longer hair.

I found the straightener to be well-balanced. I was initially concerned that the added length would cause my wrist to ache or be slightly cumbersome while moving it around my head, but this wasn't the case. It isn’t too heavy, but it has enough weight to feel sturdy and comfortable.

The PrecisionControl hinge keeps the arm tension just right, allowing for a smooth, even glide without any stiffness or looseness. You don't have to squeeze too hard to get the best results, nor do the plates aggressively spring back into position. This all adds to the premium feel.

The Power button on the Smooth X doubles up as a temperature control and is found near the base of the styler near the 360-degree, 9ft / 2.7 meter swivel cord. Above this button is a slim row of nine LEDs, each one representing a different temperature setting as follows:

  1. 260F / 127C
  2. 280F / 138C
  3. 300F / 149C
  4. 320F / 160C
  5. 340F / 171C
  6. 360F / 182C
  7. 380F / 193C
  8. 400F / 204C
  9. 410F / 210C

The lower settings (1-4) are designed for fine or fragile hair, the medium settings (5-6) are better for normal or "medium-textured" hair, while the 7-9, high settings are ideal for thick or coarse hair. That said, T3 does suggest dropping the temperature down 1-2 settings if your hair color-treated.

Close up of power switch T3 SinglePass Smooth X flat irons

(Image credit: Future)

When the straightener reaches your chosen temperature, the flashing lights turn solid to let you know it's ready to use. The Smooth X will then remember your chosen setting for the next time you use it. A small downside is that the position of the power button makes it easy to accidentally change temperature mid-style.

If you have thicker or longer hair, or your hair has been damaged from chemicals or over styling, you'll likely get much more use and benefit from having a wide temperature range. I've never been overly fussed about having a range of temperatures choices as my fine hair is pretty malleable. However, I welcomed the ability to drop or increase the heat as and when needed.

Features-wise, the Smooth X uses the same SinglePass technology found in all of the stylers in the SinglePass range. This technology uses a microchip that continuously monitors the temperature, preventing hot or cool spots. This means you can style your hair in a single pass, reducing the need to repeatedly glide over the same section. This not only saves time but helps reduce heat damage.

The CeraSync Heaters inside the styler then make sure the heat is distributed evenly across the plates for fast and consistent styling. These heaters work in tandem with the ceramic plates and SinglePass tech to keep an optimal and steady temperature. All of this combines to make the Smooth X a good-looking, easy-to-use and effective styler for a wide range of hair styles and types.

  • Design score: 5 out of 5

T3 SinglePass Smooth X review: performance

  • One pass is enough to smooth hair
  • Longer plates allow for faster styling
  • Excellent straightener for curling

The well-thought-out design and functionality of the SinglePass Smooth X really comes to life when you start using the flat iron for different styles and finishes. For me, with my long, thin and naturally curly hair, the extra-long ceramic plates are a particular strength. They not only glide smoothly through the hair, for both straightening and curling, but the added length and SinglePass technology means I can finish styles quickly and efficiently.

It took a little over two minutes to straighten my long hair, and I styled the majority of sections with a single pass on my preferred temperature setting of 340F / 171C, or setting 5. Technically, my hair is fine and color-treated so, based on T3's advice, I should be styling on setting 2 or 3. However, I found that while it still styled my hair well at this temperature, the style didn't hold anywhere near as well.

The consistent, even heat across the plates seemed to make a difference in speed, but also in minimizing frizz. This was particularly noticeable when curling my hair; other straighteners tend to create curls that are uneven, the Smooth X heated every part of hair and curl evenly ,meaning the shape was more uniform from top to bottom.

The beveled edges of the plates then allow for smooth curling without leaving creases in the hair, something I’ve struggled with when using other straighteners with more blocky plates. The shape, size and design of the Smooth X also makes creating waves a doddle, and the results during my tests were always polished and consistent.

T3 SinglePass Smooth X straighteners, viewed from above, on reviewer's marble dressing table

(Image credit: Future)

Sadly I was underwhelmed with how my hair looked after being straightened. This is partly due to how thin my hair is, but also, ironically, because of how well the plates glide and flatten frizz. As my hair is naturally curly, I usually only use a flat iron to knock out this frizz. I don't like to create super sleek, straight styles as they tend to leave my thin hair looking limp, flat and greasy. This was the case with the Smooth X, unfortunately.

It almost straightened my hair into submission and there was very little movement. It is possible to bring movement to straight hair without having to sacrifice a smooth finish – as I experienced with the mdlondon Strait – but the Smooth X did not achieve this balance. That said, if you have thicker hair or love sleek looks, the Smooth X will likely work exactly as you expect, and want.

Reviewer holding T3 SinglePass Smooth X flat irons with a turquoise background

(Image credit: Future)

Plus, moving the tool around my head was always comfortable, no matter which style I created. The swivel cord gives plenty of room and movement, and the weight of the straightener is balanced enough that it didn’t feel too heavy, even after styling for a while. The heat-up time is fast too, reaching setting 5 in just 10 seconds and setting 9 in 15 seconds.

I found that the power button, though convenient for switching settings before styling, can easily be pressed during use, which can be a bit annoying mid-styling. Some online reviewers have also said that the hinge tension can loosen over time, which can make it harder to maintain even pressure across the plates. I didn’t experience this myself during my review, but it’s something to keep in mind for long-term use.

  • Performance score: 3.5 out of 5

Should I buy the T3 SinglePass Smooth X?

Buy it if...

You have long or thick hair

The extra-long plates coupled with the wide range of temperatures available make the Smooth X a great choice for people with thick, long hair.

You like to curl your hair with straighteners

The Smooth X's biggest strength is the way it creates curls and waves. The long plates, streamlined shape and even heat make it quick and easy to curl your hair in minutes.

You prefer or need multiple heat settings

With nine temperature settings, you can easily adjust the heat on the Smooth X to suit your hair type and avoid damage.

Don't buy it if...

You're on a budget

While you get a lot of tech, and quality with the Smooth X, its $150 price tag may push it out of the reach of people on a budget.

You need a travel-friendly tool

While compact, the Smooth X's extra length means there are other, smaller stylers that may be better for travelling. It's also not dual-voltage, which can be limiting for international travel.

You have short or mid-length

The Smooth X's extra-long plates are welcome for long and thick hair but if you have a style that takes little effort, you may not need the longer plates.

How I tested the T3 SinglePass Smooth X

  • Tested a range of temperature settings
  • Created a range of straight and curly looks

For my T3 SinglePass Smooth X review I spent a month using it as my main hot styling tool. I created a series of different looks for different occasions including straight, curly and wavy styles and put a range of temperature settings to the test. I timed how long the styles took to complete and monitored the finish and condition of my hair.

First reviewed: September 2024

Smeg Combi Steam Oven review: a multi-functional countertop oven that looks stunning and cooks well
3:00 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Air Fryers Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances | Comments: Off

Smeg Combi Steam Oven: one-minute review

There’s no denying that the SmegCombi Steam Oven is a sleek and beautiful piece of kitchen technology that cooks food well in a variety of ways. I tried out the bake, convection bake, air fry, and steamer functions as well as a number of the preset recipe functions. Every single item I made came out perfectly delicious, though I did need to keep an eye on my food and I took a couple of items out early to prevent overcooking.

However, there is one major issue I had with the Smeg Combi Steam Oven. I cannot figure out exactly who this countertop oven is for or what it might replace in one’s kitchen. I already own an oven and a toaster oven and the Combi can’t replace either of those. It’s too small to replace an oven, unless you live in space that doesn’t have room for a full-sized oven. I suppose it could replace a toaster oven, but it has a much larger footprint than the (similarly-sized on the inside) toaster oven I already own. And while I’m sure you can make toast in it, like in any kind of oven, there is no designated toast feature on the Combi.

Smeg Combi Steam Oven: price and availability

  • List price: $999.95 (about £770 / AU$1,500)

That’s right, the Smeg Combi Steam Oven is over $1,000 once you pay sales tax. It’s available at upscale kitchen stores like Williams-Sonoma and Crate and Barrel.

The Smeg Combi Steam Oven is only available in the US at the time of writing, but it may become available internationally at a later date.

  • Value score: 3/5

Smeg Combi Steam Oven: specifications

SMEG Combi Steam Oven: design and features

  • Beautiful mid-century aesthetic
  • Two knobs to access a variety of functions
  • Bake, air fry, steam, and more

The Smeg Combi Steam oven is advertised as a 10 in 1 oven. Just don’t call it a toaster oven! It’s a countertop oven that cooks in a whole bunch of different ways. According to Smeg, the oven uses "Galileo Multicooking technology: innovative airflow patterns and professional algorithms for outstanding results in a compact design.” It offers traditional cooking functions like bake and convection bake along with steam and air fry functions to perform a variety of cooking tasks.

The Combi has 33 automatic chef recipes that take the guesswork out of cooking meat, fish, vegetables, bread, pizza, and desserts. Just choose your preset, pop in your food, and get ready for some deliciousness.

Smeg Combi Steam Oven with accessories

(Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)

The enamel mid-century design is sleek and gorgeous. You can choose from five different colors: black, white, red, cream, and light blue. It comes with the following cooking accessories: two grill racks, an enameled cooking tray, and a perforated cooking tray. The guides along the sides of the oven have two different positions so you can cook on the upper level, lower level, or both at once. The guides can also be removed so you can easily access the sides of the oven for easier cleaning. The window is large and the light inside is always on while cooking so you can keep a close eye on your food’s progress.

The top of the Combi opens up to reveal a water compartment, where you pour in water for the steam function. The interior of the lid has a cheat sheet with all of the chef presets listed as well as a QR code so you can access the owner’s manual, how-to videos, and other information. This water tank is why the Combi is so large - much larger than any toaster oven I’ve ever seen. However, the interior is virtually the same size as my large toaster oven, just two inches wider.

Smeg Combi Steam Oven open water compartment

(Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)

There are two dials for controlling the SMEG Combi Steam Oven and a screen between them. There are three menus you can access via the left dial: Traditional Cooking Menu, Steam Cooking Menu, and Chef Menu. The Traditional Cooking Menu lets you choose broil, air fry, bake, convection bake, convection bottom bake, warm, and defrost.

Within the Steam Cooking Menu, you can choose convection (for pure steam cooking), convection bake (for bake plus steam), and convection broil (for broil plus steam).

When you enter the Chef Menu, you can choose from among 33 presets for a variety of meats, fish, vegetables, desserts, and breads. The use of the dials definitely takes some studying of the user manual and some practice. It’s not necessarily intuitive.

  • Design score: 4.5/5

Smeg Combi Steam Oven: performance

So how did the Combi perform? Overall, excellent. I cooked a bunch of meals in the Combi and there wasn’t a dud in the bunch.

There was definitely a weird smell the first couple of times I used it, even though I performed the one hour burn off (empty oven on highest setting) to get rid of any residues left from the manufacturing process. And it’s quite noisy, getting up to 65 dB(A) at times.

However, unlike every toaster oven I’ve used, it doesn’t get hot on the outside. Even when going full tilt, it only reached a very touchable 76 degrees on the outside. The fan stays on while the oven cools down after cooking is complete, presumably to help it cool down faster. It does take some time to cool down, and a progress bar on the screen lets you know how the cool down is progressing.

SMEG Combi Steam Oven cooking homemade sweet potato fries

(Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)

I made two different kinds of (sweet potato) french fries: from scratch and pre-made frozen. For the scratch variety, I cut up a sweet potato and coated the wedges in oil and seasonings.

SMEG Combi Steam Oven just cooked sweet potato fries from frozen

(Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)

The frozen ones I just dumped out on the tray. I used the French Fry Chef Menu preset for both, which was actually a traditional baking mode rather than an air fry mode as you might expect. In both cases, the fries came out crisp on the outside, soft on the inside, and totally delicious. I also baked a sweet potato whole using convection bake as I typically would and that also came out great.

SMEG Combi Steam Oven muffins

(Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)

I baked blueberry muffins using the Muffin preset from the Chef Menu, which includes steam. The muffins came out moist and delicious. I’d say the browning was a bit uneven; I took them out one minute early because I was afraid some of them might overcook. I probably didn’t need to do that, though.

SMEG Combi Steam Oven roasts brussels sprouts and peppers

(Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)

I used the Roasted Vegetables preset many times, since I eat them just about every day. The most challenging vegetables I made in the Combi this way were brussels sprouts. I make them all the time; when I make them on the stovetop they tend to be slightly soggy but when I make them in the oven they tend to dry out (unless I use a ton of oil.) In the Combi, I used a minimal amount of oil, just a quick spritz all over. They came out crisp, tender, and amazing.

Smeg Combi Steam Oven air fried vegetables and veggie burger

(Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)

I also tried making vegetables in Air Fry mode, using a recipe I found online. I put broccoli, red peppers, and a frozen veggie burger patty in for 10 minutes at 390 degrees. Again, the veggies were delicious: crisp and tender. The burger was fully cooked, just right.

SMEG Combi Steam Oven cooks up a frozen pizza

(Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)

I had to make pizza in the Smeg Combi Steam Oven. There is a dedicated Pizza preset in the Chef Menu, but since Smeg is an Italian company, I know it was talking about homemade pizza. I wanted to make frozen pizza. In fact, I made two different ones over the course of my testing period.

In both cases, I followed the directions on the box. I did one in convection bake mode and ended up taking it out a couple of minutes early so it didn’t burn. I did the second one in regular bake mode, and actually had to add a couple of minutes to the bake time. In the end though, both pizzas came out perfect: lightly browned, fully cooked in the middle, not burnt anywhere.

Smeg Combi Steam Oven steams pierogies

(Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)

I steamed frozen pierogies (potato dumplings) using the steam mode. The pierogies came out fully heated through, moist, and delicious.

I didn't make toast. Why? Because there is no dedicated toast function. Obviously you can Google how to make toast in any oven, but I cannot for the life of me figure out why Smeg didn’t include a toast setting in the Chef Menu.

Cleanup isn't exactly a breeze, because everything is hand wash only. The trays definitely take some elbow grease, but I was able to get them completely clean every time. The oven itself is another story. The instructions say to let the oven cool and then use a regular cleaner, nothing abrasive, to clean the Combi. I did exactly that, using Dawn Powerwash and a Scrub Daddy (gentle sponge).

When that wasn’t enough, I went out and bought some Dawn Professional Heavy Duty Degreaser. That didn’t do it either, despite plenty of elbow grease. I don’t want to damage it with an abrasive cleaner or steel wool, so it just isn’t as clean as I’d like.

  • Performance score: 4.5/5

Should you buy the Smeg Combi Steam Oven?

Buy it if

You want a sleek and stylish countertop oven

The Smeg Combi Steam Oven is a beauty for sure. Since it comes in five different colors, at least one of them will look amazing in your kitchen.

You want a multi-functional mini oven

The Combi lets you air fry, bake, steam, and more with a flick of the dials.

You want an easy way to cook quick and delicious food

I’m all about getting a good meal on the table without a lot of fuss and the Combi definitely helped make that happen.

Don't buy it if

Money is a consideration.

At over a grand (with sales tax) this costs more than some full-sized ovens and far more than a toaster oven.

You want to replace one of your current appliances

The Combi takes up a lot of counter space and I don’t know what appliance this would replace. Maybe your toaster oven, but only if you have no need of a dedicated toast function.

You want easy cleanup

I’ve cleaned and cleaned the Combi but it remains stained at the bottom. An abrasive cleaner might do the trick, but Smeg warns against using abrasives.

Smeg Combi Steam Oven: also consider

If you're not sure about the Smeg Combi Steam Oven, here are some other options to consider...

Ninja Double Oven Air Fryer

Cook two different items two different ways at the same time in this two-compartment air fryer oven. While not cheap, it’s a lot cheaper than the Smeg Combi Steam Oven, and earned a place in our roundup of the best air fryers.

Read our full review here.

Ninja Combi Multi-Cooker

This ultra-flexible countertop oven bakes, steams, air fries, and more. While it’s not nearly as pretty as the SMEG Combi Steam Oven, it has a lot of the same functionality for a lot less money.

Read our full review here.

How I tested the SMEG Combi Steam Oven

  • I used multiple Chef Menu functions
  • I tested air fry, bake, convection bake, and steam modes
  • I cleaned it after each use

I’ve tested quite a few kitchen appliances over the years, both for review purposes and in my private life as the primary cook in my family for several decades. I love a cool cooking gadget and anything that lets me get a nutritious meal on the table fast.

I tested the Smeg Combi Steam Oven for about two weeks. I cooked a variety of foods using a variety of cooking modes, as detailed in the Performance section above. I used a few different presets in the Chef Menu section, as well as the bake, convection bake, steam, and air fry modes. I cooked a variety of fresh vegetables, french fries (both fresh and frozen), muffins, pierogies, veggie burgers, and frozen pizzas. After each cooking session, I cleaned all the accessories and the oven itself to assess how easy it was to clean.

Read more about how we test.

Anker Nebula Mars 3 review: A powerful and truly portable projector
1:00 am |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Theater Projectors Televisions | Comments: Off

Anker Nebula Mars 3: two-minute review

If you’ve been looking for a projector you can wow your friends with, the Anker Nebula Mars 3 might be the one. Despite looking like a monster-sized flashlight, the Nebula Mars 3 is a portable projector designed for use both on the go and at home. To that end, it has a built-in battery that lets it operate at full brightness for upwards of two hours, plus the Android TV smart TV platform for streaming and fairly beefy speakers, though they regrettably play in mono. It’s well constructed, and works effectively, letting you set it down and get up and running quickly.

Where the Anker Nebula Mars 3 really impresses is its brightness, which knocks it out of the park compared to most other battery powered examples of the best portable projectors. It’s not enough to challenge daylight, but it’ll sizzle at night. At just over $1,000, it has competition, and you can also find 4K models around that price, though few have the portability on offer here. You can also get better color from triple-laser options like the LG CineBeam Q or JMGO N1S Pro, albeit at a lower brightness for the LG and no on-the-go use for the JMGO.

If you’re planning to do most of your viewing at home, it’s probably worth getting a projector that skips the battery and puts more effort into picture quality. But if you want a robust all-in-one theater you can tote anywhere, the Anker Nebula Mars 3 is a commendable option.

Anker Nebula Mars 3 review: price and release date

  • Release date: July 2023
  • Price: $1,099 (around £850 / AU$1,645)

The Anker Nebula Mars 3 launched in 2023 and is now readily available in the US for $1,099. It can occasionally be found for less, however, and was $50 off at the time of writing.

Anker Nebula Mars 3 close up of lens

The Nebula Mars 3 features a sliding lens door and is IPX3 water resistant (Image credit: Future)

Anker Nebula Mars 3 review: Specs

Anker Nebula Mars 3 with hand opening ports cover

The Nebula Mars 3's rear-panel ports cover and flashlight feature (Image credit: Future)

Anker Nebula Mars 3 review: design and features

  • Built for portability and durability
  • Convenient on-device controls
  • Built-in speakers and Android TV operating system

The Anker Nebula Mars 3 follows Anker’s Nebula series design language, bearing considerable resemblance to the Nebula Cosmos 4K SE projector. That said, there are considerable differences that make the Nebula Mars 3 stand out.

This model is built for more of a rough-and-tumble, on-the-go lifestyle. It features a hardened case that can withstand half-meter drops and has IPX3 water resistance. The front has a sliding lens cover and the rear includes a rubber cover over the ports. A sizable, hard handle stretches across the top of the projector, extending from the front to the back. While it includes a remote control, the handle also has built-in controls for volume and navigation of the projector’s onboard operating system. Neither of these control options is quite perfect though, as the remote is fairly limited in what you can access with a single press and the built-in buttons lack many of the typical controls for navigating the projector’s Android TV smart TV interface.

A key part of the portable nature of the Anker Nebula Mars 3 is its ability to operate outdoors. To that end, the projector integrates a beefy battery geared up to run for anywhere from 2 hours at full blast to 5 hours in a dimmer Eco mode. To help you keep track of power, the handle has a ring of lights that display battery level. The projector can also double as a Bluetooth speaker or a flashlight. A three-speaker built-in audio system resides near the front. It can pump out a good deal of sound, though only in mono and the dynamics are fairly weak. Meanwhile, an LED light bar sits along the rear, stretching out above a large exhaust vent and below the port cover.

Since the Anker Nebula Mars 3 isn’t designed to have a permanent home, it has a small, adjustable stand underneath to help angle it up at projection surfaces wherever it’s ultimately set up. It also features a quick and effective system for automatically adjusting image focus, keystone, and framing.

The projector’s Android TV 11 smart TV system is a little dated, but still effective as a streaming platform. Like many other projectors, though, it doesn’t get the Play Store version of Netflix, instead relying on a sideloaded version that offers a generally sub-par experience. If you’re off the grid and don’t have internet, the projector has a USB-A port and supports local media playback.

To upgrade the audio experience, you can wire it up to external powered speakers using the AUX port or wirelessly pair it to a Bluetooth speaker.

  • Design and features score: 4/5

Anker Nebula Mars 3 Android TV interface projected on screen

The Android TV platform is used by the Nebula Mars 3 for streaming (Image credit: Future)

Anker Nebula Mars 3 review: picture quality

  • Good, but not exceptional picture
  • Decent color and detail
  • Enough battery power for a 2-hour-plus movie

The Anker Nebula Mars 3 features an LED DLP projection system rated for 1,000 lumens and 1080p resolution. That’s about what should be expected from a projector sitting at around $1,000.

Anker’s battery powered portable has a good-looking picture, but not an exceptional one. It isn’t the type of projector you’ll want if you’re viewing in a bright room, since its 1,000 lumens just aren’t enough to handle much ambient light. You might get by if you’re watching bright cartoons, but you really should be viewing with it in a dark space, and that extends to the outdoors as well. Controlling ambient lighting outdoors is even more difficult than indoors, and if you’re expecting a good viewing experience with lots of urban lighting present, you’ll be disappointed. That said, if you’re in a more rural area without much light pollution, the Anker Nebula Mars 3 should provide ample brightness after sunset.

The color you’ll get from the Anker Nebula Mars 3 is decent, but no match for triple-laser portable projectors like the LG CineBeam Q. It doesn’t feel utterly lacking or poorly managed, and a show like Ru Paul’s Drag Race still had plenty of visual spark when I viewed it. Colors have modest vibrance, but just don’t get the same level of pop I’ve seen from HDR-capable projectors reaching toward 100% coverage of the UHDA-P3 color space. The same is true of its resolution. At a projected image size of around 65 inches, the projector's 1080p image looks reasonably crisp, but go far above that and you will seeing more softness unless you sit further back. A larger image will also show an artifact of the projector’s DLP chip, which shows up as noticeable dithering (an effect like writhing small dots) when displaying dark colors over a large portion of the screen.

The projector has a motion smoothing setting buried slightly in the settings menu under the label MEMC that is set to on by default. While it can smooth out certain motions, it creates all sorts of distracting effects, especially in action sequences like those in Gladiator. It’s worth turning off, which results in more natural motion.

Many of the image trade-offs are a result of Anker needing to squeeze a battery in for the $1,099 price. And the battery makes it worth it. At full brightness, the Nebula Mars 3 was able to run for the entirety of a two-hour movie at 50% volume with a little over 20% charge to spare, which let it go for nearly 30 minutes longer. Annoyingly, if you’re nearing the end of your movie or show and the battery power starts to get low, your experience will be thoroughly interrupted by several low-battery warnings in a window that occupies a large portion of the display.

  • Picture quality score: 3/5

Anker Nebula Mars 3 on table with remote control and toy for scale

A remote control is included, and there are also controls located on the projector's handle (Image credit: Future)

Anker Nebula Mars 3 review: value

  • Great for portable use
  • Brighter than other compact portables
  • Better options for picture quality, but not portability

The Anker Nebula Mars 3 is an interesting package. It’s not a great home theater projector for the money, as there are far more appealing options available in the same ballpark. But it’s an overall decent projector and a powerful portable one. The Nebula Mars 3 is quick to set up, and can run for hours at a time. It’s a knockout next to something like the Samsung The Freestyle 2nd Gen, which has a portable setup with an optional battery pack but isn’t nearly as bright.

A competent projector you can bring anywhere and easily get up and running is something special, and the Anker Nebula Mars 3 nails the concept. It’s built to withstand surprises and has clever elements (like the lens cover and waterproofing) that let you easily grab it and go without worrying about a protective case.

  • Value score: 4/5

Anker Nebula Mars 3 close up of handle controls

The carrying handle control buttons (Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Anker Nebula Mars 3?

Anker Nebula Mars 3 beaming image on screen

(Image credit: Future)

Buy it if...

You want an easy on-the-go projector: The key feature of the Anker Nebula Mars 3 is its ability to operate just about anywhere. Its handle is ready for travel and its battery lets it run for upwards of 2 hours at full brightness.

You’re rough with your gadgets: The Nebula Mars 3 isn’t indestructible, but it‘s a good deal more durable than other projectors. With hardware that can withstand 0.5-meter drops and rain, you can be a little more rough with this device.

You’re outdoorsy: The Nebula Mars 3 isn’t just a projector. It has a lamp that can come in handy at a campsite, and if you're not watching something, the built-in speaker can serve as a Bluetooth speaker. You can even use it as a power source for charging other electronics.

Don’t buy it if… 

You’re never taking it outdoors: The Nebula Mars 3 is decent, but not exceptional when it comes to home theater viewing. You can easily get a cheaper projector with equivalent picture quality.

You want a really big, bright picture: The Nebula Mars 3’s 1080p resolution and 1,000 lumens brightness don’t really cut it for big-screen viewing unless you’re not picky about picture detail and have a dark viewing space.

You want great built-in sound: The Nebula Mars 3 has some hard limits when it comes to audio. Its built-in speakers are regrettably mono and there’s no optical digital or eARC ports to tap into higher-quality sound devices.

Also consider...

LG CineBeam Q
The CineBeam Q is absolutely tiny next to the Anker Nebula Mars 3, and it’s nowhere near as bright, but benefits from a far more colorful projection system, 4K visuals, and a much better streaming platform. For viewing in the dark, it can work wonders.

Read our full LG CineBeam Q review

Samsung The Freestyle 2nd Gen
Samsung’s The Freestyle 2nd Gen is a smaller, somewhat cheaper alternative, though that depends on any discounts. It has greater portability size-wise, but requires an external battery pack. Next to the Anker Nebula Mars 3, it’s kind of a toy projector.

Read our full Samsung The Freestyle 2nd Gen review

Xgimi Horizon Ultra
The Xgimi Horizon Ultra is just about as compact, but isn’t portable. Instead, you get a much higher class of home theater projector. It’s stylish, bright, colorful, and just an altogether more competent machine for more static setups.

Read our full Xgimi Horizon Ultra review

Anker Nebula Mars 3 auto focus test pattern

(Image credit: Future)

How I tested the Anker Nebula Mars 3

  • Tested at home in multiple, real-world viewing conditions
  • Presented the display with a variety of media and formats
  • I have tested numerous projectors and displays over the last half-decade

I tested the Anker Nebula Mars 3 at home, in real-world conditions. This saw it faced with ambient light coming in from numerous windows, in-room lighting, as well as ambient noise that both the projector and speaker systems had to overcome. The projector was tested both against a bare, white wall and an Akia Screens CineWhite screen. It was presented with streamed content, both HDR and non-HDR.

My testing evaluates the projector’s performance with respect to its price and competition from other models I and colleagues at TechRadar have tested.

I have been testing projectors since 2021 and displays for even longer.

First reviewed: November, 2024

Sonos Arc Ultra review: the best one-box Dolby Atmos soundbar for the price, with one grating flaw
9:00 pm | November 9, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Soundbars Televisions | Tags: , , , | Comments: Off

Sonos Arc Ultra review: Two minute review

The Sonos Arc Ultra is the new flagship in Sonos’ soundbar line-up, and it takes everything that was good about the original Arc and cranks it up to the next level. Better Dolby Atmos effects, better bass, better speech clarity, better connectivity.

The Sonos Arc Ultra is a huge step up for music quality over the original Sonos Arc, and while it’s less of a jump up from the original with movies, it’s still a clear and obvious improvement, and ranks among the best soundbars.

Is it worth upgrading from the original Sonos Arc? I think that’ll depend on how much of a cinephile you are; I really appreciated the improved sound balance and the clearer speech, and the obvious improvement to Dolby Atmos effects positioning, and found it hard to go back – but the original Sonos Arc is no slouch, and more casual viewers may find the difference to feel less essential.

The Sonos Arc Ultra keeps the original’s biggest flaw, which is not having any HDMI passthrough port in an era when HDMI ports are becoming a bit of a premium, and effectively all its key rivals offer this. The lack of DTS is also a shame, but won’t be a big problem for most people. I still thoroughly recommend the Sonos Arc Ultra, but it just may not be the best fit for your setup because of its HDMI limitation.

For those wondering about Sonos’ app, I had no problems setting it up, playing with different configurations, and changing settings.

I’m reviewing the Sonos Arc Ultra as a single soundbar here, though I have tested it with the Sub 4 and rear speakers, and I’ll talk about that experience too.

I think the Sonos Arc Ultra gives you the best cinematic experience you can get from a single-unit soundbar for under $1000 / £1000. However, in the UK, you can get the Samsung HW-Q990D for around the same price during sales events, and if you’re happy having a four-box surround system, you’ll get a far more immersive experience. And Sony’s Bravia Theater Bar 9 is a key competitor around the world – it's a single-box soundbar like the Arc Ultra, but it offers the missing HDMI port, and with 4K 120Hz support, no less. It officially costs a lot more than the Sonos Arc Ultra, but sales season discounts bring it down to around the same price. It’s even bigger than the Arc Ultra, though.

Sonos Arc Ultra in front of a 55-inch TV

(Image credit: Future)

Sonos Arc Ultra review: Price & release date

  • Released on October 29, 2024
  • Priced at $999 / £999 / AU$1,799

The Sonos Arc Ultra is priced pretty well at $999 / £999 / AU$1,799, considering that other flagship one-box soundbars can be far higher, such as the $2,399 / £1,990 / AU$3,999 Devialet Dione, or the $1,399 / £1,399 / AU$1,795 of the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 9.

Obviously, it's not cheap, and you can find the Samsung HW-Q800D for significantly less, but that's not a one-box soundbar, and building high-quality sound into a single unit that isn't huge (which the Devialet Dione especially is) is hard. For a premium soundbar, the Arc Ultra is competitive.

Sonos Arc Ultra review: Specs

Sonos Arc Ultra showing the Sonos logo

The Sonos Arc Ultra features the first use of Sonos' Sound Motion driver tech. (Image credit: Future)

Sonos Arc Ultra review: Features

  • 9.1.4 speaker channels, with Sound Motion bass driver
  • All Sonos' usual special skills, plus Bluetooth
  • Dolby Atmos support, but no DTS

Much like the original Sonos Arc, this is a Dolby Atmos soundbar with HDMI eARC connectivity, Sonos multi-room wireless support, and optional voice control from Alexa or Sonos’ own more limited voice assistant.

The biggest new feature is the Sound Motion driver, which delivers big bass performance from a small speaker, and a generally improved speaker setup that now promises 9.1.4 channels of sound, compared to 5.0.2 from the original Sonos Arc.

There’s also Bluetooth connectivity in the Arc Ultra, which is a first for a Sonos soundbar, but is now standard on the best Sonos speakers at last, including the recent Sonos Era 100 and Sonos Era 300.

Naturally, the Sonos Arc Ultra works with Sonos’ Sub options (including the new Sub 4 as well as older models) and you can connect it to rear speakers for a real surround sound setup. The Arc Ultra is the first Sonos soundbar that doesn’t work with the Sonos Play:1 or Play:5 speakers – but it still works with Sonos One, Sonos Five, the Era models, or with two wired speakers connected to a Sonos Amp.

Sonos’ TruePlay room-tuning tech is here, and it’s finally available on Android in a new ‘quick’ version, which is also available on iOS. This new version will probably be preferable for a lot of people because it’s much easier. It uses the Arc Ultra’s own mic array to test your room using a series of pet-alarming tones, to adjust the system’s sound for better precision and Dolby Atmos surround effects. On iOS, it still asked me to hold my phone where I sit for a set of measurements there first, which is what the full TruePlay system does – but then I didn’t have to walk around the room waving my phone up and down.

The biggest flaw in the Sonos Arc is the lack of any HDMI passthrough ports. Most premium soundbars have more than one HDMI port – one to connect to your TV, and then at least one other that passes video through to your TV, so that you don’t lose the use of one of your HDMI ports for connecting consoles or other video boxes. This is doubly annoying in the majority of TV models available today, which only have two HDMI 2.1 ports for 4K 120Hz support at most, and the HDMI eARC is usually one of those ports, so you’re losing one of the most important ports. (Many LG and Samsung TVs have four HDMI 2.1 ports, so this is less of a problem, and in 2025 far more TVs will have four HDMI 2.1 ports thanks to a new chip from MediaTek – but that doesn’t help TVs today.)

Even ignoring the type of ports, four video devices is not an uncommon amount for people to want to connect to a TV here in 2024, and yet if you have the Sonos Arc Ultra, you can only connect three.

It’s so frustrating, given that it was a complaint I had about the original Sonos Arc when that launched in 2020. I’ve spoken to Sonos about the topic, and the company’s stance has been that HDMI passthrough adds complexity and it wants its soundbars to be as simple as possible. But that only holds true if someone doesn’t then have to deal with the headache of what a good solution is if they want to connect more devices than they have ports free, once the Arc Ultra is connected. I think Sonos has simply off-loaded the complexity to users. With an HDMI passthrough port, I’d have been seriously looking at giving the Arc Ultra a five-star rating overall.

The other notable issue is a lack of DTS decoding. This is not a big problem if your TV or playback device will decode DTS-HD to LPCM, as many will. I had a great time playing DTS-HD Blu-rays while testing the Sonos Arc, and getting the big, powerful, high-quality sound I was expecting. The lack of DTS:X is the more annoying part for purists, especially with it now used on Disney Plus for some movies, but it really isn’t a dealbreaker for the vast majority of people.

The Sonos Arc Ultra works with the audio-swap feature of the Sonos Ace headphones, so you can watch anything that plays on your TV with great spatial audio on the headphones to avoid disturbing others in the house – our Sonos Ace review has more on how well that works, but it’s not affected by the Sonos Arc Ultra's performance, so I won’t go into it here.

  • Features score: 4 / 5

Sonos Arc Ultra with Sonos Sub 4 and Sonos Era 300 speakers

I tested the Arc Ultra on its own, and with Sonos' complete Dolby Atmos setup. (Image credit: Future)

Sonos Arc Ultra review: Performance

  • Excellent dynamic range
  • Very strong Dolby Atmos effect
  • Very clear speech and detail

In my opinion, the Sonos Arc Ultra is the best-sounding single-box soundbar you can get for under $1,000 / £1,000. It delivers fulsome balance and exciting sound with clear speech, and superb height and width. The Devialet Dione maybe does this all better as a single-unit soundbar, but at around twice the price and twice the size, it’s a harder sell in several ways.

Dolby Atmos surround effects don’t seem like they’re coming from behind you, inevitably, but they do feel like they reach you when there are movement effects in particular. Height channels have motion and precision, despite being part virtual – Sonos claims four channels of overhead sound, but there are only two drivers, with the width drivers combining with the height drivers for a sense of four channels, and it works well.

Sound is layered very impressively in Dolby Atmos, with a sense of 3D positioning across the whole space in front of you.

Everything is an improvement over the original Sonos Arc. It’s not quite night and day, but it’s a clear step up anyway. That especially goes for speech clarity and Dolby Atmos effects in movies, with everything feeling just more expansive and more in the room than from the older soundbar.

I tried Sonos’ new and upgraded speech enhancement tools for the Arc Ultra, and they’re very effective, but they affect the sound balance (as do all such tools), and I found that I really didn’t need them anyway on the Arc Ultra. It’s a bit unoriginal to say that the speech in Christopher Nolan movies is hard to hear, but I tested the old and new Arc with them, and there was a big jump in legibility on the Arc Ultra that meant they really weren’t hard to follow any more (generally).

Surprisingly, the new bass driver didn’t create that big an effect compared to the original Sonos Arc in movies that already ramp up the bass, but it does help to make the sound feel fuller in general. It makes the bass that the Arc Ultra can generate better connected through to the mid-range, so the overall balance in low-end-heavy scenes is stronger – and just excellent overall. There’s a good dispersal of the bass so that it doesn’t feel too directional, and the impact is really pleasing for such a relatively compact soundbar.

The Sound Motion bass speaker did really jump out during music though. This actually was a night and day difference from the original Arc, with a massive improvement across the whole frequency range. For music, the original Arc sounded unclear and subdued compared to the Arc Ultra at the same volume. Having said that, I would still put the Arc Ultra essentially on par for music quality with the Sonos Era 300, which is half the price. It’s easier to fill out that sound when you can be thick and tall, unlike a soundbar.

Sonos Arc Ultra viewed from the side

(Image credit: Future)

Running TruePlay tuning helps the Dolby Atmos and finer details to come through more clearly, so I absolutely recommend it. There wasn’t a clear difference between the quick version and the full version in my setup, so as I mentioned above, the quick version should be all that most people need to bother with.

To repeat myself from the start of this section, I think the Arc Ultra delivers the best-value cinematic experience from a single-box soundbar. It’s the best combination of a demure design, effective sound reproduction and 3D effects, and a reasonable price given what it can do. More expensive soundbars may do better, but the audio package here is excellent.

I’m reviewing it as a single unit for all the scores here, but I also tested it with a Sub 4 and Era 300 speakers in Sonos’ full-power ultimate system. I also tested it with a Sub 4 only, and then slotted it and the Sub 4 into my existing setup using my Sonos One rear speakers.

Make no mistake – despite the Sound Motion tech being very impressive for bass, the Sub 4 adds a whole new dimension of bass you can feel, in frequencies the soundbar alone simply can’t touch. You will literally get more from your movies with a big sub, though obviously for a premium of $799 / £799.

In the full elite surround mode, with Era 300 units behind as well, you can really feel the overall power of the system. Even with one sub (you can connect a second to more fully spread the bass around) you can feel the power of the low frequencies everywhere, with excellent fullness through to the mid-range, and a clear separation of higher frequencies from that mix. It’s a really well-connected whole system, and testing against the Samsung HW-Q990C, I say you get a more satisfying overall sound profile from the Sonos setup. However, not by that much, considering you’ll pay a lot more for the Sonos system – it kind of proves why Samsung’s top-end soundbars are five-star products among the best Dolby Atmos soundbars. Still, for those with the ear, I think the Sonos system’s sound is superior.

Even with my Sonos Ones as rear speakers, I felt like I was getting a different sound profile from the rears (post TruePlay) than with my Sonos Arc and Sub Mini that I usually have. They felt punchier and with a little more bass added to them, perhaps to match the broader sound profile the bar is capable of compared to the original Arc. I feel that swapping the Arc for the Arc Ultra in my setup would be an upgrade, albeit one that I would enjoy as someone who’s obsessive over sound and setups – perhaps someone more casual about home theater wouldn’t find it to be as good value.

  • Performance score: 5 / 5

Sonos Arc Ultra volume control close-up

The concave volume control matches other recent Sonos releases. (Image credit: Future)

Sonos Arc Ultra review: Design

  • Very well made and subtle
  • Some key buttons hidden at the back
  • Shorter but wider than original Arc

The Sonos Arc Ultra is 18% smaller by volume than the original Sonos Arc, according to Sonos, and this manifests in it being less tall (which is very welcome) and less deep (also welcome for those with chunky TV stands, though it’s still somewhat deep because it has a chunky bar across the back). However, it’s actually wider than the Sonos Arc. It’s still good for TVs of 55 inches and up, though, and the shorter height can make a real difference with some TVs.

It comes in black and white, and the overall look is very simple and classy. A hard, curved grille covers the entire thing, and it’s good at just disappearing into the room, which is what most people will want. The new design seems to pick up fingerprints worse than the old one, so be warned if you’re fastidious and have handsy kids.

The button for activating Bluetooth pairing mode is on the back, which is inconvenient for a soundbar, especially if it’s wall-mounted. You can pair from the Sonos app instead, but it would be better still if the Bluetooth button was on top, for maximum flexibility – especially since the button layout here was redesigned anyway, including moving volume over to the right, for whatever reason. In the middle, you still have buttons to play/pause, and skip tracks.

The switch to kill the voice control mics is also on the back, and is turned on by default, so the privacy conscious should remember to hit this before getting it situated. Also on the back is an Ethernet port, and then the power and HDMI ports are on the sides of the bit port cutaway on the rear – just like the original Arc.

The Arc Ultra is wall-mountable and works on the same mounts as the original Arc, which is nice for upgraders – though some of the mount may be visible, due to the change in size.

  • Design score: 4 / 5

Sonos Arc Ultra rear, showing the mount and recessed connections.

The connections are all in that recessed area. (Image credit: Future)

Sonos Arc Ultra review: Setup & usability

  • Use Sonos app to get started
  • TruePlay is now easier, and very useful
  • Once connected to the TV, very little effort needed

If you have read or watched anything about recent Sonos releases, you will have seen strong opinions about the new Sonos app. We can’t post a video covering Sonos without a cascade of comments saying no one should ever buy Sonos again because of the state of the software. At launch, earlier in 2024, the app was missing a lot of features, and a lot of people had problems accessing or making changes to their systems.

At the time of writing this review, Sonos says that it has added 90% of the missing features back in, and is still committed to updates every two weeks to address bugs and performance while adding the remainder of the features.

I had no problems at all setting up the Arc Ultra at home through the app, making the settings adjustments I needed, and then adding/breaking multiple different surround setups while I tested different configurations of Sonos setups.

I did have trouble setting the surround system up in our office testing rooms, where the connection between the components would drop regularly – but this is pretty common on our office Wi-Fi outside of Sonos. I’ve had a problem getting Samsung’s soundbars to connect to register on the SmartThings app, and it can be difficult with smart home tech, so I don’t blame Sonos for this – but it’s only fair to note it if I’m going to dig into the experience. At home, on my normal mesh router setup, I had no problems at all.

The usability of Sonos’ soundbars continues to be a slightly mixed bag – I think if you designed an app for controlling a soundbar as its first priority, rather than playing music as its first priority, you probably wouldn’t bury settings like the Speech Enhancement that far down in the settings.

I’d love to see Sonos change how it approaches its Now Playing screen when you’re connected to HDMI, so it puts more emphasis on making settings available to you instead of a lack of artwork.

But setting it up was smooth, and most people won’t need to go back into the app, especially if you won’t connect other devices. As I mentioned, I found the speech clear enough without using the enhancement, and I didn’t think the EQ needed adjustment. TruePlay will be suggested as part of the setup too, and it worked with my remote (over HDMI-CEC, but infrared is also enabled by default) out of the box with no tinkering required.

  • Setup & usability score: 4 / 5

Sonos Arc Ultra with Sub 4

The Sonos Arc Ultra with the Sub 4. (Image credit: Future)

Sonos Arc Ultra review: Value

  • Premium, but competitive price
  • As good sound as you can get for the price
  • Surround-ready products available around the same price

The Sonos Arc Ultra isn’t cheap, but if you want powerful, expansive, clear Dolby Atmos sound from a single inoffensively-designed soundbar, you can’t do better for the price – as long as you’re not tight on HDMI ports.

You can get a full surround setup for a similar price to this, but the core Sonos Arc Ultra is designed for people who don’t want to deal with having four boxes including a hefty subwoofer. And I think it’s the best, most cinematic single box you can add to your TV for the price, making it very strong value.

But as I say, if you’re already filling your HDMI ports, that value is harmed, because the Arc Ultra may create a new problem for you. For the price, it should really offer you the solution.

  • Value score: 4 / 5

Should I buy the Sonos Arc Ultra?

Buy it if...

You want the best sound from a single-unit soundbar
At this price, and without extra satellite speakers, nothing beats what the Sonos Arc Ultra can do.

You want clearer speech and Dolby Atmos cinematic effects
The Arc Ultra is a big step up over the Arc for dialogue, and boosts Dolby Atmos positioning skill at the same time.

You want Sonos' extra skills
Part of a multi-room music system? Check. The ability to add other speakers in the future to improve the sound? Check. TruePlay room tuning? Sound check.

Don't buy it if...

You're short on HDMI ports
No HDMI passthrough really could be a dealbreaker.

You want the best value sound and could have more than one box
The Sonos Arc Ultra is very good value for a one-box system, but if you can live with more hardware, you can get bigger sound for the price.

You're a home theater purist about DTS
Sonos' continued lack of DTS support will irk those those with physical media in DTS:X.

Sonos Arc Ultra review: Also consider

Sony Bravia Theater Bar 8
We didn't rave about this soundbar overall in our Sony Bravia Theater Bar 8 review, but it's cheaper than the Sonos Arc Ultra and offers 4K 120Hz HDMI passthrough, so it might be the most practical option for some people – or its more expensive sibling, the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 9 is the beefier-sounding option, but is pricier than the Sonos.

Sonos Beam 2
Want to go even more compact and have Sonos' options for expansion? The Beam 2 delivers surprisingly full sound for such a compact soundbar, and supports Dolby Atmos, but not with anything like the effectiveness of the Arc Ultra. But it's half the price, so swings and roundabouts – definitely read our Sonos Beam 2 review if you want to know more.

Samsung HW-Q990D
Look, if you can find this full Dolby Atmos surround system for close to the Sonos Arc Ultra's price, know that it will give you a truly mind-blowing Dolby Atmos home theater experience – as long as you can live with four boxes instead of one. We gave it five stars in our Samsung HW-Q990D review.

How I tested the Sonos Arc Ultra

Sonos Arc Ultra with original Arc in front of a TV

The Arc Ultra sitting on top of the original Arc. I didn't test it like that, obviously… (Image credit: Future)
  • Tested over a week
  • Tested at home, in my usual setup
  • Tested with Sonos surround configurations

For the crucial portion of this review, I used the Sonos Arc Ultra at home, in the same setup where I usually use the original Sonos Arc, so I had a good point of direct comparison. I directly compared the sound of the two bars to gauge the difference, but mostly I just used the Sonos Arc Ultra for my normal viewing, which included 4K Blu-rays and streaming. I listened in both lossless quality and compressed, as well as in Dolby Atmos, regular 5.1 surround sound, and in stereo.

As mentioned above, I tested the Sonos Arc Ultra on its own mainly, but also tried it with the Sub 4, and then with the Sub 4 and different Sonos rear speaker options.

I also tested a Sonos surround setup for a short time compared to the Samsung HW-Q990C in TechRadar's TV testing rooms. On our corporate Wi-Fi systems, I had connections problems that meant I couldn't do longer-term comparisons; at home, I use a Google Nest Home mesh Wi-Fi system and had no problems with the Sonos app or network connectivity.

Herman Miller Aeron gaming chair review: premium, highly customizable comfort
4:00 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming | Tags: , , | Comments: Off

Herman Miller Aeron gaming chair: One-minute review

The Herman Miller Aeron has had a refresh and is now being marketed as a gaming chair. Now made with ocean-bound plastic, it's essentially exactly the same as its office döppelganger, with slightly different pricing. Still, whether I'm pitting it against those on our best office chairs, or best gaming chairs list, it has to do something really special to get my attention at a whopping $1,805 / £1,371.

The Herman Miller Aeron places itself as a premium, office-style gaming chair with ergonomics placed firmly at the forefront, and really makes an effort to deliver the goods. While it's certainly one of the most comfortable gaming chairs going, and brings a highly adjustable edge to a battle for ergonomic perfection, I can't help but expect a little more for my money.

In the premium gaming chair landscape, there are two kinds to look out for – those with headrests and those without. The Aeron sits firmly in the no-headrest classification, meaning as comfortable, ergonomic and adjustable as it might be, there's no way to kick back and have a nap when it all gets too much. The lack of width adjustability on the armrests is a little disappointing, and it's almost offensive to omit a headrest for the price, especially when you can get ergonomic wonders like the highly adjustable Humanscale Freedom chair for less.

Let's be fair, with a Herman Miller chair you're paying for a known variable. A brand name that's synonymous with comfort, and one you can expense to whatever corporate tower you're currently filing papers in. The Aeron really does exemplify Herman Miller's attention to detail and mechanical prowess, and it does so with time-poor gamers with corporate design sensibilities in mind. I just wish there was somewhere to lay my head and lament all that money I just spent.

The Herman Miller Aeron gaming chair on a grey floor with grey curtains behind it

(Image credit: Future)

Herman Miller Aeron gaming chair: Price and availability

  • List price: $1,805 / £1,371
  • Available at the Herman Miller online store
  • Available in the UK and US

The Herman Miller Aeron Gaming Chair comes in two sizes. Unlike its office counterpart, it isn't as configurable and isn't made to order, but it is cheaper. The Herman Miller Office Aeron with chair tilt, adjustable lumbar support, and 3D armrests costs $1,995/£1,558, but you can opt for less adjustability to push that price down a little. The Aeron Gaming chair, however, doesn't confuse us with configuration options. It's a single price point of £1,371 / $1,805.

There's a Herman Miller premium added to whatever configuration you choose, though I appreciate the fact that both sizes come in at the same price. It's also a bit cheaper than the Herman Miller x Logitech Emobdy gaming chair too ($1,995 / £1,570).

Unfortunately, the Herman Miller Aeron is not available in Australia, but UK and US residents can get hold of it on the Herman Miller online store. There are also more height options in the US.

Herman Miller Aeron gaming chair: Specs

Herman Miller Aeron gaming chair: Design and aesthetics

  • Highly adjustable
  • Kinda retro corporate design
  • Not as configurable as office counterpart

The first thing I noticed getting the Herman Miller Aeron out of the box – fully built might I add – is its retro design. The frame's intense curvature makes it look like it was designed for one of those '60s minimalist mansions. The mesh back and seat mean it could easily blend into a corporate office, but I've never seen mechanisms quite this… liquidious. It's almost like the armrests are melting like a clock in a Dali painting. Still, it's an attractive chair if you're going for that corporate vibe.

There are no colour options, just jet black and that's your lot. There's no option to have bright colour configs like the Herman Miller x Logitech Vantum, for example, but it's a lot more refined and unassuming.

As far as adjustable forward tilt and adjustability for something called PostureFit. It's essentially a fancy word for lumbar support, which has a nifty little roller handle that sits behind your back to push it in. While the mechanisms provide an immense amount of movement, it's missing a couple of things that other, cheaper chairs still manage to deliver. Namely, the lack of armrest width adjustability and an actual headrest.

The Herman Miller Aeron gaming chair on a grey floor with grey curtains behind it

(Image credit: Future)

Herman Miller Aeron gaming chair: Comfort and Adjustability

  • Premium feeling mechanisms
  • Lacking armrest width adjustability
  • Design forces ergonomics on you

There are a few things you want a gaming chair to do, other than be comfortable. You want the mechanisms to be intuitive and safe, you want it to fit against your desk, and you want it to be sturdy. The Herman Miller Aeron Gaming Chair does all this without any fuss. Sitting in it for a week straight, I can say I've had a blast using it. None of the mechanisms are clunky, and all are relatively intuitive. Their silicon handles give them a nice premium feel, too, and it means they don't slip through your hand while you're using them.

There's a lovely bounce when you sit down in the Aeron that's very satisfying. It's not like the clunk of sitting on your average office chair – there was thought that went into giving it butt suspension. The whole time I've been sitting in it, not once has it felt wobbly or unstable either. There's zero rattle on the arms, which are extremely well-padded and have a fantastic Y-axis rotation. They slide all the way back, too, so you can get right up against the desk. The arms do slide forward without locking which can be a problem for some chairs, but they're nowhere near as easy to trap your fingers with as the Herman Miller Vantum, for example. There's a slow, purposeful step to all the mechanisms that really exemplifies the impressive build quality.

The main problems I've encountered have been with the plastic surrounding the backrest and the bucket-style seat. Due to the lack of a headrest, I've found myself threading my fingers behind my head to make up for it. The issue is that I appear to be just the right height that my shoulder blades then dig into it. It might just be worth checking the exact back height versus where your shoulder blades rest before purchasing – thankfully the chair is the same price whether you choose small, medium, or large.

Similarly, any time I try to tuck my feed up under myself I'm thwarted by the plastic surround on the bucket seat that loops up and around my posterior. Essentially, its ergonomic prowess comes from forcing you to sit in a specific position to keep you from ruining your posture. Clever, though not the best for anyone who sits awkwardly like me.

The Herman Miller Aeron gaming chair on a grey floor with grey curtains behind it

(Image credit: Future)

Herman Miller Aeron gaming chair: Assembly

The fact the Aeron comes with no assembly necessary is also a blessing, especially if you can't spare the assembly time. For your average gaming chair that could be anything from 30 minutes to an hour. And who has that to spare during a busy day of ergonomic gaming?

Having no assembly necessary bar opening the box and rolling the chair out is convenient but also inspires confidence too: there's no need for you to even attempt at getting bits misaligned or connected wrong, and the experts have done it for you already.

The Herman Miller Aeron gaming chair on a grey floor with grey curtains behind it

(Image credit: Future)

Should you buy the Herman Miller Aeron gaming chair?

Buy it if...

You stand for impeccable build quality
The Herman Miller Aeron is one of the most sturdy and well-built chairs we've tested. While it's missing arm width adjustment, the suspension, and other mechanisms are fantastic.

You haven't got time to assemble
The Aeron comes fully assembled, which means you don't have to spend the best part of an hour on the floor with an Allen key putting it together.

Don't buy it...

You're trying to save money
Even in its most basic configuration, the Aeron is going to rip your wallet a new one. For less you can get far more adjustable chairs, though you'll forgo the Aeron's superior quality.

You prefer to sit askew
The Aeron is highly ergonomic, and forces you to sit with both legs bolted to the floor. It's for people who are serious about ergonomics.

Herman Miller Aeron gaming chair: Also consider

If you're still not sure whether the Herman Miller Aeron is for you, there are a few other options to consider that are more customisable, and might save you money. As far as premium build quality goes, though, the Aeron is very hard to beat.

Also consider the Herman Miller X Logitech Embody
While the Herman Miller Embody has even less adjustability on the armrests, it at least comes with a lovely headrest and just as much configuration around the rest of the chair. It's a little more on the expensive side, however.

For more information, check out our full Herman Miller X Logitech Embody review.

Steelcase Series 2 Task Chair
A highly configurable office chair alternative, and currently the one sitting at the top of our best office chair list is the Steelcase Series 2 Task Chair. In plain, monochrome colouring, you can get this sturdy beast with a headrest for a lot less.

For more information, check out our full Steelcase Series 2 Task Chair review.

The Herman Miller Aeron gaming chair on a grey floor with grey curtains behind it

(Image credit: Future)

How I tested the Herman Miller Aeron gaming chair

  • Tested over the course of a couple of weeks
  • Rocking back and forth, playing with the levers
  • Pushing it to its limits

Sitting in the chair several times a week for a couple of weeks, I got a good feel for the mechanics by switching them up a lot and trying to push them beyond their limits on purpose. I sat in a range of positions to see how well it coped with awkward sitters. Above, I made comparisons to cheaper chairs that almost match the level of adjustability and customisability of the Aeron and considered what you would need to sacrifice to get more out of an office chair for less money.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed October 2024

Shark Cordless Pro vacuum review: an almost-perfect budget-friendly vac
2:00 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances Vacuums | Tags: , , | Comments: Off

Shark Cordless Pro: two-minute review

Product info

This model has slightly different names and product codes in different territories:

US: Shark Cordless Pro Vacuum IZ562H (Amazon only)
UK: Shark Cordless Pro Vacuum IZ562H (Amazon only)
AU: Shark Cordless Pro With Clean Sense IQ IR300

For this review, I tested the US version. There may be minor differences between different countries' models.

The Shark Cordless Pro is one of this brand's most affordable cordless stick vacuums, and delivers excellent value for money. While not the most advanced Shark vacuum based on specs or features, it punches above its mid-range price tag with features such as automatic suction adjustment based on dirt levels. At full price it sits in the mid-range price bracket, but it's often heavily discounted in the US, taking it into the budget category.

Shark has an excellent track record when it comes to producing reliable, long-lasting products, and the Cordless Pro is no exception. If you want something fairly simple but effective and budget-friendly, I think this is one the best Shark vacuums you can buy, and perhaps even one of the best cordless vacuums overall.

Considering the Shark Cordless Pro is a budget-friendly cordless vacuum, it still packs in decent suction, cleaning up most debris on hard floors in just one to two passes while in its lowest Eco mode. The automatic suction adjustment worked as promised, and was genuinely useful because rather than only relying on my eyes, this so-called 'Clean Sense IQ technology' would let me know when a spot was clean and I could move on. It helped me tackle fine dust and hair that may not have been otherwise visible.

The Cordless Pro is an ideal vacuum for hard floors and lighter cleaning needs, and did a decent job on carpet too, although if you have lots of carpet you might want to invest in something a little more heavy-duty. During my tests, I found it could struggle with pulling concentrated debris on this type of flooring in my testing, even when in the highest Boost mode.

I found it relatively easy to maneuver with a good rotation range to get into nooks and crannies, but a flexible wand – included with most Shark vacuums – would've been helpful to reach under furniture. As with most cordless stick vacs, it can be converted into a handheld.

I should also give a special shout-out to the anti-hair wrap brushroll. Many brands make big claims about their tangle-busting features, but this actually delivered. It still looks as good as new after two weeks of testing. There are more useful design features too: when it's time to store the Shark Cordless Pro, it slots into a stable notch right on the wand, and the battery is removable for charging anywhere. Just don't expect to get a crazy long runtime out of this vacuum, as it taps out after a maximum of 40 minutes.

Sure, there are more powerful and feature-packed vacuums on the market if you're willing to shell out a bit more. But for your average, everyday cleaning needs, it's hard to beat the compact, solidly built Shark Cordless Pro. Read on for my full review.

Shark Cordless Pro vacuum cleaning edge of TV stand

(Image credit: Future)

Shark Cordless Pro review: price & availability

  • List price: $399.99 (regularly discounted) / £334 / AU$499.99
  • Available: US, UK and Australia

The Shark Cordless Pro has a list price of $399.99. Originally, it was available to buy direct from Shark, but it now seems to only be available via third party retailers like Amazon. Shoppers in the UK can also purchase it via Amazon, but it's an imported model from the US.

In addition to the main vacuum components, the US version I tested comes with two attachments: a Duster Crevice Tool and a Pet Multi-Tool. Additional accessories like replacement Odor Neutralizer cartridges, attachment tools, and wands are available, ranging in price from about $10 to $40.

The Shark Cordless Pro can also be found in Australia, retailing for AU$499.99. Both territories feature similar configurations, though in Australia, the attachment accessories are slightly different, with a Crevice Tool and Dusting Brush on offer.

If purchasing in the US, it’s common to find the Shark Cordless Pro discounted and often steeply. A discount of $100 off is common, and on Amazon it has occasionally dropped as low as $250. That's one of the very cheapest Shark vacuums you can buy, and especially if you want a cordless model – the Shark Stratos Corded Stick vacuum is cheaper at $299.99, but you'll have to put up with being tethered to the wall.

At ticket price, the Shark Cordless Pro sits in the mid-range price bracket, but it regularly dips into the budget category. Given the solid build quality and excellent performance, I think it's good value even at full price. There are also features that I'm surprised to see at this price point – namely, automatic suction adjustment based on dirt levels. If you're willing to pay more, you'll unlock features like longer battery life and higher levels of suction, but the Cordless Pro is excellent value for what it delivers.

Seasonal sales are always a good time to shop for home appliances, and I suspect this model will feature amongst the best Black Friday deals this year. Given that this model is no longer available to buy direct from Shark in the US, I'm not convinced it's going to be sticking around much longer, so if you do spot a deal, snap it up.

  • Value for money score: 4.5 out of 5

Shark Cordless Pro specs

Shark Cordless Pro review: design

  • Button-operated, with LEDs to indicate mode and battery level
  • No flexible wand, as found on most Shark vacuums
  • Notch to enable it to stand on its own when not in use

The Shark Cordless Pro doesn't revolutionize the design of cordless stick vacuums, keeping a look and size similar to most others with its floorhead, wand, and motor/dustbin – all of which come apart for use as a handheld vacuum. Weighing 8.25 pounds and measuring 11.42 x 10.43 x 51.18 inches, it's easy to handle. During testing, the only time it felt cumbersome was when attempting to clean a ceiling fan. A sleek light blue, white, and black finish helps differentiate the Shark Cordless Pro from the rest of the range, and the solid metal and plastic build held up perfectly over my few weeks of testing.

Setting up the Shark Cordless Pro was a breeze, taking me around 5 minutes; all that's required is to snap the stick vacuum components into each other. The most difficult aspect of the installation was popping in the Odor Neutralizer cartridge; it slots right into the floorhead and is meant to keep your vacuum smelling fresh.

Shark also recommends charging the battery to full before your first use. That battery is removable if you prefer to charge it detached from the vacuum. LED lights will pulse as it charges, indicating the current level of the battery, and shutting off when finished.

Shark Cordless Pro vacuum stored on its wand

(Image credit: Future)

There's no wall mount option, but Shark has added a notch on the front of the wand where the main part of the vacuum can be clipped when not in use. It remains relatively secure in that spot and can even be wheeled around.

The floorhead, referred to as the PowerFins Plus floorhead (this guide to the Shark vacuum technologies is a helpful companion when navigating this brand's various jargon), is ready to work on both hard or carpeted floors and is full of useful features.

On the underside is one plush, microfiber roller that features flexible silicone fins to help pick up various debris sizes including fine dust, while preventing hair wrapping. Should anything get stuck in the roller, it's removable, although it does take a bit of effort to unlock it from the floorhead. Unfortunately, there's no option for the brush to lift or stop spinning on certain flooring.

Around the front of the floorhead, two LED lights help highlight dust and dirt in your path that might otherwise be missed. These are helpful, although nowhere near as bright or effective as the lasers you'll find on the (far pricier) Dyson Gen5detect or Dyson V15. On top of the floorhead is the Clean Sense IQ Clean Indicator LED – part of a highlight feature on the vacuum.

Headlights and Clean Sense IQ indicator light on Shark Cordless Pro vacuum

(Image credit: Future)

Clean Sense IQ uses sensors inside the nozzle of the handheld vacuum to automatically boost power in areas with higher levels of dirt and debris. While testing, I could hear and feel the increase in suction, but an indicator light strip on the floorhead will also illuminate to show when the vacuum detects a particularly dusty bit of floor. The highest amount of dirt causes the strip to be fully lit. When the space is clean, the light will recede.

This is a surprising inclusion at the relatively low price point, but pricier Shark vacuums take things a step further on the automation front. The Detect Pro and PowerDetect lines can both adjust suction based on when they move from hard floor to carpet, and around the edges of rooms, for example.

Control panel on Shark Cordless Pro vacuum, with indicator lights showing automatic suction adjustment

(Image credit: Future)

Cleanse Sense IQ is switched on via the Mode button on the handheld part of the vacuum. The only other button on the vacuum is the power on/off button, so it's all straightforward and easy to navigate.

Beyond Clean Sense IQ, there are two other power modes: Eco to save on battery life and Boost for an extra burst to pick up the messiest of messes. An LED screen on the handheld vacuum will indicate the power mode it's in as well as the battery level.

Shark Cordless Pro vacuum with dust bin release open

(Image credit: Future)

The handheld vacuum component also houses the bagless dustbin, which holds 0.72L of dirt. An anti-allergen seal is in place to keep fine dust and dander from releasing back into your space. When the dustbin is ready to be emptied, there's a no-touch release to drop everything in the garbage without getting your hands dirty. However, you may need to reach your hands in the dustbin to remove stuck hair or dust occasionally. More advanced Shark vacuums, such as the Shark Detect Pro, have an optional auto-empty dock, but that's not available here.

The wand that holds the floorhead and handheld vacuum together is solid. The two vacuum components feel secure when slotted into the wand and easily release from the catch when needed. A rigid wand is actually fairly unusual for this brand – many Shark models have so-called 'MultiFlex technology', where you can press a button and the wand will bend forward, enabling you to reach easily under low furniture. I'd have loved it if that had been included here. At least the floorhead offers a wide swivel range for easier access to tight spots.

Duster Crevice and Pet Multi tool supplied with US version of Shark Cordless Pro vacuum

(Image credit: Future)

Beyond being a stick vacuum, the Shark Cordless Pro is an effective handheld vacuum. The US version has a Duster Crevice Tool and a Pet Multi-Tool, making cleanup even easier. Those tools slot into the handheld vacuum or the wand, providing extra versatility. However, there's nowhere to store them when not in use.

  • Design score: 4 out of 5

Shark Cordless Pro review: performance

  • Decent suction, great on hard floors
  • Clean Sense IQ's automatic power adjustments work commendably
  • Loud, and struggles to clean larger debris on carpets

The Shark Cordless Pro is an absolute breeze to use and performed admirably in most of my testing. Whether I had it in stick mode on my laminate hard floors with various low-pile rugs or cleaning my window sills and couch cushions as a handheld vacuum, it managed to pick up most of the debris in its path within one to two passes. Sure, it might not have the suction of a corded vacuum but it works great for lighter cleaning needs and is much easier to deal with. (Both the Shark Stratos Cordless and Shark PowerDetect Cordless Stick vacuum pack more power, too, but you will need to stump up more money for those.)

In stick mode, performing regular cleaning tasks, I often left the vacuum in the Clean Sense IQ setting, which allows the vacuum to recognize bigger messes and automatically increase suction. When there were obvious, larger amounts of debris in the floorhead's 10-inch path, the vacuum would increase the suction power.

It was handy that in addition to visibly hearing that change, I could see it represented on the light bar at the top of the floorhead. I knew I was clear to move on from a spot when the light subsided. Sometimes, the vacuum would notice the dirt that wasn't visible to my eye, which was a huge boon, ensuring the cleanest home possible.

Shark Cordless Pro vacuum cleaning close to the baseboards in reviewer's home

(Image credit: Future)

There are two other modes on the vacuum: Eco and Boost. Swapping to those modes involves pressing the mode button near the LED screen on the vacuum, and cycling until the desired mode is reached. Admittedly, I often pressed the power button, mistaking it for the other and vice versa. After becoming more familiar with the vacuum, this became less of a problem.

As for the other two modes, during daily tasks, I found Boost mode was unnecessary most of the time. It worked fine but is only needed for those large concentrated messes. Eco mode also easily cleans up dog hair and dust within one or two passes. Overall, I preferred the convenience of Clean Sense IQ mode automatically increasing the suction where needed, and I was happy to sacrifice battery life for the cause.

One feature I didn't think I'd love as much as I did was the two LED lights at the front of the vacuum. They did an excellent job highlighting fine hair and light dust that I couldn't initially see. It's amazing how much debris gets all over your space daily.

I'd also be remiss not to mention the self-cleaning brushroll. To my shock, no hair has gotten stuck around it yet. It looks almost completely new, with little to no wear after two weeks. If it needs to be removed for cleaning, a coin allows you to unlock and remove the brush. Just note that it does do a good job of sucking up power cords and rug edges, so be aware as you maneuver it around your space.

Anti-hair wrap brush roll for Shark Cordless Pro vacuum

(Image credit: Future)

Speaking of maneuvering, generally, the Shark Cordless Pro navigates with ease, even making sharp 90-degree turns to fit into corners (it's not quite as maneuverable as a Dyson). It feels almost effortless to use on hard flooring, only getting tripped up on certain rug edges and becoming a little more challenging to push on rugs and carpets. The floorhead is also relatively shallow, allowing it to squeeze under most furniture. Unfortunately, the wand isn't flexible like other Shark models, so it didn't reach completely under my couch or bed.

The bagless 0.72 qt dustbin holds a good amount of dirt. I only had to empty it every once in a while, depending on how often I was vacuuming. It's easy to take the vacuum off the wand and hold it over the garbage, pressing the release to open the bin door. Some hair can get wrapped around certain components, making it necessary to reach in and pull stuck-on gunk on occasion.

As with all vacuums, the filters require semi-regular cleaning (and must also be replaced periodically). Shark provides clear instructions for this: they just need to be rinsed with water. The Clean Sense IQ sensor inside the vacuum will also need to be wiped down occasionally, and an FO error code will flash on the display panel when the sensor is fully blocked.

For some reason, Shark continues to include the pointless (in my opinion) Odor Neutralizer, which releases a clean scent as you vacuum. The smell lasts all of two minutes, so I'd never waste my money replacing it. (Ed's note: other testers have been extremely enthusiastic about this feature, so your mileage may vary!)

Beyond daily vacuuming tasks, I put the Shark Cordless Pro through more vigorous testing to see how it handled fine dust using flour and larger debris with oats on both hard floors and carpet. Even on the lowest setting, Eco, the vacuum easily picked up the flour with just one pass. There was super light sprinkling left, that I had to touch to feel. A second pass picked up everything that was left. Using Clean Sense IQ and Boost mode, the flour was fully cleaned up after one pass. I had similar results on the rug.

Cleaning oats on hard floor using Shark Cordless Pro vacuum

(Image credit: Future)

As for the oats test, I was pleasantly surprised that most oats were cleaned in just one pass in Eco mode on the hard floor. However, on carpeting, it was a completely different story. It took multiple passes (around five or six) on Clean Sense IQ and Boost to pick up all of the oats. The vacuum even managed to throw some oats around. That's slightly disappointing, but not all that unusual – typically, I find corded vacuums are the way to go in heavily carpeted homes.

Shark Cordless Pro vacuuming oats on carpet

(Image credit: Future)

During testing, I also used a decibel meter to measure noise levels. In Eco mode, the Shark Cordless Pro averaged about 75 dB. It's definitely not quiet and on par with average vacuum cleaner noise levels (i.e. loud enough to disturb others in your space when it's in use). In Boost mode it got even louder, hitting around 80dB. The noise is tolerable but not pleasant. Luckily, I was usually not in this mode for long. The Clean Sense IQ setting tended to shuffle between 75dB and 80dB; usually staying towards the quieter side of the range.

Cleaning dog hair off couch with Pet Multi Tool and Shark Cordless Pro vacuum

(Image credit: Future)

Of course, this stick vacuum also converts to a handheld, and the attachments it comes with depend on the territory. I'm in the US, so I received the Duster Crevice Tool and Pet Multi-Tool. Both feature brush tops that can be removed. The Duster Crevice Tool gets into tighter spaces like between books on my bookshelf and the window sills, though it didn't always pick up all the dust or dirt.

During testing, I just so happened to start fostering a puppy with fine fur, and the Pet Multi-Tool was a godsend. It got the hair off my couch, duvet, and more with relative ease, though I found the tool tended to perform better without the brush attached. The only problem with the handheld vacuum is it gets a bit heavy at times, especially with the wand attached and reaching for higher spots like ceiling fan blades.

  • Performance score: 4 out of 5

Shark Cordless Pro review: battery life

  • Runs up to 40 minutes in Eco mode
  • Takes about three hours to recharge
  • Battery is removable

The Shark Cordless Pro's battery is located right on the back handle of the device. It can juice up while still attached to the vacuum or snap off to charge – a handy feature if you store the vacuum in an area away from an outlet, and also useful if you want to buy a second battery to hot-swap in.

Close up of battery clipped off the Shark Cordless Pro vacuum

(Image credit: Future)

On one charge, I found the battery lasted around 35 minutes in Eco mode using the floorhead with the rotating brush. A little more juice can be eked out of the vacuum as a handheld, putting it right at Shark's claim of 40 minutes. Clean Sense IQ and Boost mode will drain the battery quicker. On test, I got about 25 minutes of vacuuming time with Clean Sense IQ, but that time varies depending on how much dirt is detected in a space. Boost mode lasted just under 15 minutes, which isn't surprising given the strong suction power.

That battery performance is average for cordless vacuums. Most will find that's sufficient time to clean up your space. I had no problem hitting almost every inch of the floor in my sizable two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment when in Eco and Clean Sense IQ modes, and there was even enough juice for a quick handheld vacuum of the window sills and furniture. However, if you have a larger home, there are models that offer up to an hour of cleaning on one charge – or occasionally a little more. Those vacuums will cost you more, though.

Shark makes it simple to tell when the battery is running low, as the vacuum's LED screen has three bars to indicate the level of charge, and when the final bar begins blinking, your time is running out – I usually had four more minutes of vacuuming time once that started.

A slightly longer battery life would be nice, as it'd be great not to worry about charging the battery after almost every use. Recharging takes a while, at about three hours. You'll know it's done when the charging light on the actual battery goes out.

  • Battery life score: 4 out of 5

Should I buy the Shark Cordless Pro?

Buy it if...

You're on a budget

This is one of the cheapest Shark cordless vacuums, and often discounted too. Given the features and build quality, it's excellent value for money.

You want to be sure your floors are clean

This vacuum is able to automatically adjust based on how dirty the floor is, with indicator lights showing when there's no dust left. Dust-illuminating LED headlights also help ensure you don't miss any spots.

You want something simple but effective

This is a straightforward design, and on test I found the process of emptying, and charging the Shark Cordless Pro is as easy as can be. It's even set up for storage without wall mounting.

Don't buy it if...

You need a vacuum that reaches under low furniture

Although the floorhead on this vacuum is relatively shallow, the wand doesn't flex like other stick vacuums, making it hard to reach under deeper sofas, chairs, and beds.

Your home is heavily carpeted

The Shark Cordless Pro performs best on harder surfaces. It does a solid job of picking up finer dirt and dust on carpets and rugs but takes several passes to clean up larger debris.

You have a very large home

At the maximum, this vacuum offers around 40 minutes of cleaning time in Eco mode. That time drops significantly when using Boost mode. It's far from the worst battery life in a stick vacuum, but pricier models will deliver longer cleaning times.View Deal

How I tested the Shark Cordless Pro

I used the Shark Cordless Pro for over two weeks in my two-bedroom, two-bathroom home with hard floors and low-pile rugs. Beyond average, daily cleaning tasks like vacuuming messes in the kitchen in stick mode or using the handheld attachments to get my foster dog's hair off furniture, I did further testing. These tests involved scattering oats and flour on hard and carpeted flooring in a concentrated area, observing how well it picked up debris of varying sizes in each of the vacuum's three modes. I ran the battery fully down in each of the three vacuum modes as well to see how long it could be expected to last.

Read more about how we test vacuum cleaners

  • First reviewed October 2024
Belkin SoundForm Wired Earbuds with USB-C Connector review: sadly, these live up to their nominal price tag
12:30 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Earbuds & Airpods Gadgets Headphones | Comments: Off

Belkin SoundForm Wired Earbuds with USB-C Connector: Two-minute review

The Belkin SoundForm Wired Earbuds with USB-C Connector are spectacularly unspectacular. For a pair of cheap wired earbuds, they do everything you’d expect – nothing more, nothing less: audio that’s average at best, a basic yet decently practical design and a lightweight feel.

So, of course, it’s worth starting with a disclaimer. These earbuds have a very low list price of just $24.99 / £14.99 / AU$29.95. As a result, it’s unreasonable to expect great audio from these buds – even if Belkin itself insists that they offer “superior sound quality” (spoiler alert, they don’t). And perhaps unsurprisingly, the overall listening experience you get from the Belkin SoundForm Wired Earbuds with USB-C Connector – which will here-on be known as the Belkin SoundForm USB-C – isn’t a good one.

The key issue here is that audio is often pretty tinny. When I compared them to the Skullcandy Set USB-C – which sit on our list of the best wired earbuds – I found the Belkin buds to offer less clarity and instruments often sounded inauthentic. For instance, when I tuned into Holy, Holy by Geordie Greep with the Belkin buds, bass was quite muddy, the choppy guitar lacked sharpness and the usually theatrical, showstopping vocals couldn’t find their defined, satisfying position in the overall mix. Percussion in the treble frequency range would often sound quite grating at higher volumes too, making for a pretty unimpressive listening experience.

I should say, though, that if you’re not too picky on sound quality and just want cheap buds, these can certainly do the job. There were no horrible technical hiccups like audio cutting out, low volume levels or compatibility issues with devices. Sure, a lack of instrumental separation and narrow soundstage can leave music sounding pretty restricted, but bass has a decent (albeit not booming) kick and treble – although sometimes grating – can be bright when listening to more upbeat tracks.

However, some sonic shortcomings could admittedly be quite frustrating, even if you’re a more casual listener. When listening to Rains again by Solji, the vocalist’s high notes came through in a rather brash manner, which was a little uncomfortable on the ear. On a slightly different note, I found cable noise to be pretty prominent with the SoundForm USB-C. This is accentuated when you’re on the go or moving around a fair bit, making these far from ideal if you need some buds for workouts or walks. In fairness, however, cable noise is pretty typical with wired earbuds and you often have to splash a bit more cash to avoid this – pricier models like the Shure AONIC 3 are pretty competent in tempering the issue.

Other than cable noise, I had very few problems with the Belkin SoundForm Wired Earbuds with USB-C Connector’s design. The attached controller, although a little on the chunky side, is responsive, works well and has volume controls, as well as a play/pause button that can also be used to take calls or skip songs. The actual USB-C connector is decent too, didn’t protrude out of the port when using a Samsung Galaxy S24 FE and isn’t too large when holding the device in-hand. To cap that off, these have a pleasingly comfortable in-ear feel. Unlike a lot of cheap buds, I never felt that these were falling out of my ears, even when listening for multiple hours consecutively. Belkin also includes a selection of different sized ear tips, so no matter your ear size you can form a pretty tight seal for use.

On the topic of fit, it’s important to get a strong seal when using the SoundForm USB-C. As wired buds; they’re not going to offer active noise cancellation and instead rely on passive noise isolation for banishing external noise. I used the medium-sized ear tips and found passive noise isolation to be quite good. I could still hear some external noises such as typing with volume at around 60-70%, but this was pretty dulled. For the price you pay, I definitely felt that the quality of noise isolation was above average.

If you’re concerned about the SoundForm USB-C accruing damage when walking in the rain, you can rest assured. These have an IPX5 waterproof rating, meaning they can survive direct contact with water jets – so even if it’s raining cats and dogs you should be good here. Alas, this is where my praise meets its bitter end.

That’s because it’s time to talk about the actual look of these buds. In my view, these aren’t at all easy on the eye. Sure, the rounded shape of the buds is decent and pretty practical, plus the Pink and Blue color options (available in the US and Australia) are quite appealing, but that’s about it. The buds themselves look very plasticky and the glossy exterior only really accentuates that. In addition, the wire is flat, rather than rounded, making for a not-so-elegant appearance. Beyond that, I found the wire to kink pretty easily, so don’t expect peak durability. The “tangle-free” claim is also an exaggeration – I found, like most wired buds, the SoundForm USB-C could get in a twist after pocketing them or placing them into tight spaces.

Finally, a word on the inbuilt mic, which Belkin says can offer “clear” call quality. But it can’t. I tried making a voice recording and I won’t dress it up – the results were poor. My voice sounded pretty tinny and there was an audible hiss present throughout the recording. When making a phone call, my voice was clear enough to hear on the other end of the line, but it wasn’t particularly clean and there was static too. So, if you want an upgrade on your phone’s inbuilt mic, don’t expect to be satisfied by what the SoundForm USB-C have to offer.

So, despite the low price-point of the Belkin SoundForm USB-C are they really worth considering? In my view, no. There are definitely some positives here – noise isolation is pretty good, you get a comfortable fit and the IPX5 waterproof rating is a nice touch. But as always, what matters most is sound and these buds don’t fare well in this department. Overall audio is pretty tinny, narrow and treble can get quite grating too. On top of that, mic quality is disappointing and the buds’ design lacks finesse. Sure, these have an ultra-low price and are totally functional, but you’ll certainly find better quality from competitors in our guide to the best cheap headphones.

Belkin SoundForm Wired Earbuds with USB-C Connector against an orange background

(Image credit: Future)

Belkin SoundForm Wired Earbuds with USB-C Connector review: Price and release date

  • $24.99 / £14.99 / AU$29.95
  • Launched in 2019

The Belkin SoundForm USB-C earbuds released in 2019, so they’re not the freshest on the market, but will work perfectly well with any modern handset or device with USB-C. On Amazon UK they’re only available in Black and White, although Amazon US and Australia have them in more enticing Pink and Blue options.

These wired buds have a list price of $24.99 / £14.99 / AU$29.95, meaning they’re a super-cheap option. This is a pretty competitive space – there are some good options from the likes of Skullcandy and Final, so make sure to assess alternatives before snapping these up.

Belkin SoundForm Wired Earbuds with USB-C Connector review: Specs

Belkin SoundForm Wired Earbuds with USB-C Connector controller on orange background

(Image credit: Future)

Should you buy the Belkin SoundForm Wired Earbuds with USB-C Connector?

Buy them if...

You’re searching for decent passive noise isolation at a cheap price
For all of their shortcomings, the Belkin SoundForm USB-C do offer pretty solid passive noise isolation. They’re super cheap too, so if you’re not picky about audio quality, these could be an option for you.

You hate charging your wireless earbuds
If you’re someone that often forgets to charge wireless buds, then it could be time to re-familiarize yourself with the way of the wire. Of course, you won’t have to charge these, although there are better wired options about.

Don't buy them if...

You’re an audiophile
At this point it’s a given, but if you have a keen ear, don’t buy the Belkin SoundForm USB-C. Audio is regularly tinny, there’s a narrow soundstage and treble can come through in a harsh manner.

You want a fancy feature-set
If you want exciting features like active noise cancellation or EQ settings, you need to look beyond these wired buds. In fact, the vast majority of wired buds have little in the way of a feature-set, so you may be better off going for a cheap pair of wireless buds, such as the great JLab Go Pop ANC.

Belkin SoundForm Wired Earbuds with USB-C Connector review: Also consider

Skullcandy Set USB-C
If you’re looking for some better USB-C earbuds than these ones from Belkin, the Skullcandy Set USB-C are a very decent challenger. In honesty, they don’t offer amazing audio, but it is better than the SoundForm USB-C. The sound profile isn’t massively detailed and full-sounding, but grating sound and tinniness is less common with these – even at higher volumes. The main attraction here is the sleek, curved design of the buds, not to mention the diverse set of funk color options to choose from. Read our full Skullcandy Set USB-C review.

SoundMAGIC E80D
OK, reader, I’m fully aware that the SoundMAGIC E80D are a fair step up price-wise over Belkin’s buds, but these are still an incredible value pick. For less than $50/£40/AU$70 you get wired earbuds that boast detailed, balanced audio – in part thanks to an inbuilt DAC. You also get impressive noise isolation and a comfortable fit, making these a very strong option overall. Read our full SoundMAGIC E80D review.

Belkin SoundForm Wired Earbuds with USB-C Connector review: How I tested

Belkin SoundForm Wired Earbuds with USB-C Connector plugged into Samsung Galaxy A35, which is sat on top of an orange amp

(Image credit: Future)
  • Tested over the course of multiple weeks
  • Used in the office, while on walks and at home
  • Predominantly tested using Tidal on the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE

I put the Belkin SoundForm Wired Earbuds with USB-C Connector to the test over the course of multiple weeks. I predominantly used them while listening to music on Tidal with the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, but I also played tunes on Spotify and watched video content via YouTube. I used the buds in an office environment and while out on walks near busy roads to trial their noise isolation capabilities, but also at home for more zoned-in listening sessions.

When listening to tunes I played tracks from the TechRadar testing playlist, which contains tracks from a variety of genres, although I also spent hours blasting bangers from my personal library. When appropriate, I pitted these buds against the similarly priced Skullcandy Set USB-C, to compare audio quality, comfort and design choices, among other things.

  • First reviewed: November 2024
  • Read more about how we test
Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus review: a performance powerhouse for artists
8:09 pm | November 8, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Tablets | Tags: , | Comments: Off

Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus: One-minute review

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus is the best of both worlds, sitting between a phone and a laptop. It has perks if you prefer writing text, with its included S Pen stylus, and it aces tasks that take advantage of everything the stylus has to offer. But to the casual consumer, these specialized features would likely be a waste, and I'd instead push you in the direction of the Tab A series.

The Galaxy Tab S10 Plus has exceptionally rich sound to match its beautiful AMOLED display, and it's comfortable enough to hold for a while in its landscape form factor. It's no surprise that streaming content and listening to music with the Galaxy Tab S10 Plus is so satisfying.

Close rivals, particularly from Apple, also do this exceptionally well, and the Galaxy Tab S10 Plus's $999.99 / £999 / AU$1,799 price point puts it in heated competition with Apple’s iPad Pro ($999 / £999 / AU$1,699). Still, with the included S Pen stylus, and some retailers offering the Galaxy Tab keyboard as a bundle bonus , the Tab S10 Plus looks like a better deal all-around.

Samsung still sells the Galaxy Tab S9 Plus, and its price is now more accessible, even though that tablet is a generation old. But if you want the best, you'll want the Galaxy Tab S10 Plus, and if you want a bigger screen, then consider the Tab S10 Ultra, which is the same tablet just bigger.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus: price and availability

  • $999.99 / £999 RRP / AU$1,799 for the 256GB / 12GB RAM model
  • 256GB, 12GB RAM and 512GB, 12GB RAM storage options available
  • Wi-Fi and 5G options available in Moonstone Gray and Platinum Silver colorways (not all colorways available in all markets)

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus lying on a table

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly/TechRadar)

You get what you pay for with the Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus. The large, 12.4-inch screen surpasses most of its competitors (the similarly-priced iPad Pro is 11-inches), and if that is somehow not big enough, there's also the larger S10 Ultra (14.6-inches) to consider. The processing power – underpinned by a Mediatek Dimensity 9300+ SoC – is more than enough for an all-purpose device, but is especially capable when used to be creative.

If you’re more concerned about price, I would encourage you to consider the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Plus, as it has received a price drop now that it's not the cream of the crop. If you're a more casual user that doesn't need an art slate, you should consider something far less powerful, such as the Google Pixel Tablet (it’s still my pick of the bunch for my style of tablet use), or the 10th-generation iPad.

The Tab S10 Plus includes an S Pen as well as Samsung’s Galaxy AI suite of features, though these may eventually cost a premium at the end of 2025. Some retailers are including the Book Cover Keyboard attachment as a bundle, which makes the Tab S10 Plus an even more attractive prospect and maybe a laptop replacement. Samsung has offered this bundle with its tablets before and it’s a wonder they don’t just make it a part of every purchase.

The Galaxy Tab S10 Plus is still admittedly expensive. It costs as must as a 13-inch MacBook Air or a Microsoft Surface Pro 11. It's a brilliant device, but casual users should steer clear – it's more powerful (and more expensive) than you need. Professionals, this is for you.

  • Value: 5/5

Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus: specs

Though Samsung elected to use the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor in the Galaxy Tab S9 family, the tech giant has surprisingly chosen the Mediatek Dimensity 9300+ for the Galaxy Tab S10 Plus. It’s a confusing move that further separates its high-end smartphones from its high-end tablets. This year's tablet still launches at the same price as last year's.

I never noticed performance lacking. Putting quick images together in Canva, editing photos in Google Photos, and trimming and cutting up clips in CapCut never resulted in any hangups. Comparing performance through benchmarks, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor doesn't have a huge advantage. The Mediatek 9300+ chip performed better than, if not equal to, the Snapdragon on every test.

It’s worth noting that the Tab S10 Plus also comes with a MicroSD card slot in case you want to bump up the storage capacity or if you want to quickly transfer photos over from a camera. Additionally, during my testing over two weeks, I only charged the Tab S10 Plus a handful of times and it never felt like I needed to charge it every night. With such a big battery inside, charging speeds weren’t as quick as a smartphone, and 30 minutes was only enough to bump it up from 20% to 54%.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus: display

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus in landscape orientation

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly/TechRadar)
  • Huge, bright display with tons of detail
  • Great space for multitasking
  • Four strong speakers placed around the device

I can’t fault the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus on its display – it’s brilliant and easily ranks among the best tablets as far as visuals go (though the Tab S10 Ultra takes the Tab S10 Plus’s 12.4-inch screen and bumps it up to 14.6-inches).

The content I watched on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus included various Twitch streams, YouTube videos, Mad Max: Fury Road and Arcane on Netflix, and Avengers Endgame and Light and Magic on Disney+. At no point did anything look bad, blurry or washed out, with the display more than capable of showing enough color and creating enough light to fill an interesting scene.

Outside of simply describing the display, Samsung’s approach to multitasking is second to none. The freedom you’re given to adjust apps running concurrently, side-by-side on the screen, with easily adjustable boundaries, feels like the real laptop-rivaling feature of the Galaxy Tab S series.

To match the strong display, the four speakers located around the device offer powerful, room-filling sound. Every piece of content I viewed felt like it had the audio to match. While cleaning my house, playing Spotify from the tablet sounded equivalent to using a smart speaker with a screen.

  • Display: 5 / 5

Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus: design

The back side of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly/TechRadar)
  • Slightly slimmer than the Tab S9 Plus
  • S Pen attachment is a bit odd on the back
  • Feels awkward in portrait orientation

It’s the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus’s bread and butter to be big, with a beautiful display to match and powerful performance for any task. But parts of the design feel… Too big. Big is good for a tablet positioned as a powerful laptop rival and artistic tool, but some elements feel like they’re rubbing up against others.

It’s difficult to use the tablet in portrait mode, which I prefer when reading news articles online and taking notes. The back of the tablet looks nice but it isn't easy to hold in portrait orientation. The charging area for the S Pen, located on the back, feels rough against my fingers whether or not the pen is magnetically attached. Trying to get a better grip from the other end caused my hand to come into contact with the cameras, resulting in a similar hand feeling issue.

The pen charging on the back of the device is another issue. When the pen is attached, the tablet won’t sit flat on its back. Though the pen can magnetically attach to the edge of the display, it will not charge there – but at least it's out of the way.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus is meant to be used in landscape orientation, with the selfie camera located in the top middle, which is ideal for video calling. This mode feels perfectly comfortable.

  • Design: 3/5

Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus: software

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus being used for writing text

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly/TechRadar)
  • Brilliant tablet performance
  • Operating system is nicely designed
  • Not as casual as an iPad or Pixel Tablet

Samsung’s approach to tablets is probably my favorite. Having a persistent app tray at the bottom of the screen just rocks, especially for quickly switching between windows. I could get a lot of work done on the Galaxy Tab S10 Plus, but it still has quirks here and there that make it a bit less user-friendly than its rivals.

My love for the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus’ software mostly stems from multitasking. Being able to have two apps open concurrently, for example, having Spotify open on one side and Canva on the other, is brilliant. The Galaxy Tab S10 Plus let me drag windows freely around the screen to be placed wherever I want. I could also connect the tablet to a monitor to enable Samsung DeX, which makes the interface look a bit more like a desktop.

Samsung’s Galaxy AI suite is unimpressive. Circle to Search, which lets me circle something on the screen to instantly search for it with Google is something I use quite a lot, but I can’t think of a single other AI feature that I enjoyed using.

A lot of the features, such as Note Assist and Sketch to Image, are interesting for a moment but are ultimately inconsequential. The AI image generator feels particularly tacked on.

Handwriting Help, exclusive to the Notes app, is a handy feature for character recognition with the S Pen, cleaning up and aligning your pen handwriting and making it easier to read. A simple click in the app and your handwritten notes will convert to text. You can also convert writing to text on the fly, as you write.

As you'd expect, the Galaxy Tab S10 Plus aces its stylus support. It has good palm rejection, so I was more comfortable drawing. Navigating between tools feels simple in Samsung's native drawing and writing apps.

  • Software: 4/5

Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus: performance

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus being held in a hand

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly/TechRadar)
  • Galaxy S Pen feels great in-hand
  • Doesn’t feel slow despite axing the Snapdragon chip

Not once did I have a problem with the performance of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus. Capable of smoothly running every application I opened, including Canva, Spotify, Twitter (X), Messenger, Instagram, Samsung Notes, PENUP, Google Photos, Netflix, Disney+ and Crossy Road, the Tab S10 Plus handled everything a power user would want.

That’s a relief, considering Samsung skipped the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, after including the previous Snapdragon in the Galaxy Tab S9 Plus. Instead, this tablet is underpinned by a Mediatek Dimensity 9300+, which doesn’t skip a beat.

Creating and editing images on Canva was an exceptionally fluid experience and the application was responsive and fast the entire time – even with Spotify running in the background. The same can be said for editing pics via Google Photos or writing with Samsung Notes: no hold-ups whatsoever.

  • Performance: 5/5

Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus: battery

The side of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly/TechRadar)
  • Gigantic all-day battery
  • Faster charging would be nice

The mighty 10,090 mAh Li-Po battery in the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus is so immense that, during my review, I rarely had to charge it.

You’d obviously expect this from a device with such a large battery, but it comes with the obvious drawback of slower charging. From 0%, the tablet took one hour and 50 minutes to return to 100% charge.

In testing the battery against a fairly long movie, Avengers Endgame, the tablet drained to 59% after three hours of watching. Despite a shift to MediaTek, it doesn’t seem the Galaxy Tab S10 Plus is more power hungry than previous generations.

  • Battery: 5/5

Should you buy the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus?

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus leaning against a pot plant.

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly/TechRadar)

Buy it if…

You’re a professional in search of a tablet

With brilliant character recognition and optimisation for digital artists, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus is an attractive device for a professional.View Deal

You want a big, beautiful screen that’s not too big

The 12.4-inch size feels just right, smaller than the Tab S10 Ultra’s gigantic 14.6-inch display.View Deal

You’re team Samsung

iPadOS is brilliant, but this is one of your best options if you want a tablet outside of the Apple camp.View Deal

Don’t buy it if…

You want the easiest to use OS

Samsung’s OneUI is brilliant, but it’s not as intuitive as iPadOS and Google’s version of Android.View Deal

You’re just going to watch videos

It’s a waste to use the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus for just streaming content, and if this is what you’d be doing, you could get a serviceable tablet for much cheaper.View Deal

You want to save some money

The high price point of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus makes it a tough sell to a casual user or even a professional, especially when differences to the Tab S9 Plus aren’t very dramatic.View Deal

Also consider

Not convinced by the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus? Here are a few other options to consider:

Apple iPad Pro 2024

While the entry-level iPad Pro isn’t as large as the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus, it is fairly competitive in terms of performance while priced extremely similarly. You’ll just have to buy an Apple Pencil separately.

Read our full Apple iPad Pro review

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Plus

There are very few differences between the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Plus and the S10 Plus, so if you want to save some cash, there’s no shame in going for the older model.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra

If the Galaxy Tab S10 Plus isn’t big enough for you, the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra offers a gigantic 14.6-inch display, which may be a bit cumbersome for some, but would also function as an effective laptop or art tablet replacement for professionals.

How I tested the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus

From the moment I received the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Plus, I replaced my second monitor, a small 11-inch touchscreen monitor, with it as my companion screen, using it for Spotify, scrolling social media, and streaming content while I worked at my desk.

My time with the Tab S10 Plus didn’t include all-hours use, but I did find time to edit images with it via Google Photos and Canva. I edited a video with it in CapCut and streamed a lot of movies and TV shows with the device. As far as games went, I mostly played Crossy Road.

I brought the Tab S10 Plus with me on a trip to see my family where it functioned as a good distraction for my niece. On this trip, I touched base with friends on Messenger and Instagram and doomscrolled on social media often.

For battery testing, I avoided charging the tablet as much as I could, and ran my standard Avengers Endgame beginning-to-end test closer to the end of my review period. I’d check in on the tablet’s battery now and then on days where I wasn’t using it much, and kept an eye on it on days where I was. I also depleted the battery in its entirety and timed how long it took to charge to 100%.

Most of my performance relied on real-world use relative to how I use tablets in my day-to-day life.

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