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Reolink Altas PT Ultra review: a security camera that’s great for continuously monitoring your property

8:00 pm | October 27, 2024

Reolink Altas PT Ultra: two-minute review

A brand new model from a company that has been producing security solutions since 2009, the Altas (not Atlas) PT Ultra is intended for those who are serious about security. A bulky model featuring a 355-degree pan and 90-degree tilt camera, it’s ideally suited for small businesses and individuals wanting to monitor their premises on a regular, or even constant, basis.

However, it’s not the most straightforward to install, requiring a little bit of DIY skill to mount the bracket which the camera then slots into. Thankfully though, mounting templates, screws, and wall plugs are all provided in the box. Various mounting options are catered for, including a ceiling and wall mount. It’s even possible to install on a tree using the tree mounting strap provided.

Reolink Altas PT Ultra camera and accessories removed from box — (Image credit: Chris Price)

As with most of the best home security cameras these days, the Altas is controlled via your smartphone. Simply download the Reolink app and scan the QR code printed on the device to go through the setup instructions, complete with voice commands. Unlike many security cameras, the Reolink Altas PT Ultra supports both 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi frequencies. It can also store footage on a MicroSD card up to 512GB (not supplied) or the company’s Home Hub/Home Hub Pro server (also not supplied).

Alternatively, you can pay for a subscription to store footage in the cloud. Currently the standard plan costs $6.99 / £3.49 / AU$4.99 per month or $69.99 / £34.49 / AU$49.99 a year for 30-day cloud video history, 30GB video storage and support for up to five cameras.

Using the app, you can set the pan and tilt camera both to record and track different types of movement automatically (human, animals, cars etc.) or you can control the camera manually via the app using the up and down arrow keys. There’s even a 10-second pre-record option which, like a body-worn camera or dashcam, constantly records in the background (this can be switched off if the battery falls to below a certain level).

Reolink Altas PT Ultra camera mounted outside — (Image credit: Chris Price)

Notifications can either be pushed to your mobile phone or via email if you want to go old school. If you want to record more than just motion-triggered events, you can set the camera up for continuous recording. Alternatively, it’s possible to set up a timer schedule of when you want recordings to take place using the slider controls in the menu.

Finally, in addition to recording footage there’s also the option of talking to potential intruders via the built-in microphone. And if reasoning with them doesn’t work there are also options to trigger the onboard alarm or switch the camera’s bright lights on all at the touch of a button.

Reolink Altas PT Ultra: subscription options

Reolink Cloud, Classic Plan Series. Standard Plan: Up to 30-day cloud video history, up to five cameras supported, up to 30GB cloud storage. $6.99 / £3.49 / AU$4.99 per month or $69.99 / £34.49 / AU$49.99 per year.

Reolink Cloud, Classic Plan Series. Premier Plan: Up to 30-day cloud video history, up to 10 cameras supported, up to 80GB cloud storage. $10.99 / £6.89 / AU$9.99 per month, $104.99 / £68.19 / AU$99 per year.

Reolink Altas PT Ultra: price and availability

How much does it cost? $229 / £229 / AU$359
When is it available? Available since October 2024
Where is it available? UK / US / Australia

Given you can now get an outdoor security camera for under £100 (such as the £89 Ring Stick-Up Cam) the Reolink seems very expensive at first glance. But then this device isn’t just intended for personal use. It’s also ideal for small businesses who want to keep an eye on their premises.

Another benefit is that you don’t have to pay the monthly subscription fee which often helps to subsidise the price of security cameras, rather like expensive printer cartridges subsidise cheap printers. Instead, you can use a MicroSD card or a ReoLink home hub to store footage rather than paying to store it in the cloud.

Also, unlike other models, the Reolink Altas PT Ultra combines a very large integrated lithium ion battery with a stand-alone solar panel as standard whereas often this is an optional extra. And while the solar panel didn’t prove particularly useful in the UK during a rainy and overcast couple of weeks in Autumn, it’s a great way of supplementing the device’s power in sunnier times.

Of course, the Reolink Atlas PT Ultra isn’t for everyone. There are much certainly much cheaper models on the market if you just want to track occasional motion. But if it’s constant monitoring combined with high performance video you are after then it’s certainly worth paying the premium.

Value score: 3.5/5

Reolink Altas PT Ultra: design

Solidly built
Hefty mounting bracket provided
Large integrated camera

The first thing you notice about the ReoLink Altas PT Ultra is just how big and heavy it is. Not that this is a criticism necessarily, just that it feels much chunkier than other models on the market. It also requires some DIY skills to drill all the necessary holes to install the mounting bracket into which the camera slots.

We installed the ReoLink Atlas on the front of a back garden office, but equally it could have been mounted on a ceiling. The only thing you need to be mindful of is leaving enough room for the built-in antenna which is designed to be angled directly upwards from the pan and tilt camera.

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Rear view of Reolink Altas PT Ultra camera — (Image credit: Chris Price)

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Reolink Altas PT Ultra camera — (Image credit: Chris Price)

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Side view of Reolink Altas PT Ultra camera — (Image credit: Chris Price)

A waterproof cover beneath the lens hides the MicroSD storage while above the lens are the powerful white lights. These lights are triggered by motion when it’s dark or can be switched on by pressing a button on the app. A microphone hole and daylight sensor are also provided in the main camera housing with a large speaker and USB-C charging port located on the underside of the unit close to the mounting bracket.

You can simply slide the camera out of the mounting bracket to charge it via the mains using the USB-C cable provided (you will need your own USB plug as this isn’t supplied). Alternatively, you can connect the camera via the same USB-port to the solar panel for additional power on sunny days. A generous amount of cable is provided for the solar panel and it’s surprisingly easy both to install (just three screws required), as well as angle towards the sky.

Design score: 4/5

Reolink Altas PT Ultra: performance

4K ultra high-definition resolution
Large battery for continuous recording
Color night vision

Undoubtedly, it’s when it comes to performance that the Reolink Altas PT really comes into its own. Testing the video quality during the day, I was impressed with the 4K resolution which displayed the flora and fauna of my garden in rich detail as well as capturing family members and pets in high resolution (no intruders were spotted during the test period!)

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Footage from Reolink Altas PT Ultra camera on an iPhone screen — (Image credit: Chris Price)

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Screen grabs of Reolink Altas PT Ultra camera app on an iPhone — (Image credit: Chris Price)

However, it’s at night where the camera really excels. Whereas most security cameras only display poor black and white images at night, the Reolink features ColorX technology enabling full-color footage without the need for spotlights (though in extremely dark environments the built-in spotlights will come on to enhance visibility).

Obviously, because the Reolink Altas PT is a 355-degree pan and 90-degree tilt camera it’s able to track and record movement from various sources without worrying about any blind spots. Another bonus is the large built in 20,000 mAh battery – over twice the size of the battery in the Eufy 4K S330 security camera, for example. This enables continuous recording 12 hours a day for over a week.

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Solar panel for Reolink Altas PT Ultra camera — (Image credit: Chris Price)

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Reolink Altas PT Ultra camera and solar panel mounted outside — (Image credit: Chris Price)

Reolink claims that the 6W solar panel can charge up to 35% of the battery with just one day of sunshine. However, we found that the solar panel actually contributed very little during rainy Autumn days in London – certainly not more than a couple of percent in a day. Nevertheless, even without the solar panels contributing much power, we found that during a 10 day period outdoors we didn’t need to remove the camera from its mount once for charging.

Performance score: 4.5/5

Should you buy the Reolink Altas PT Ultra?

Buy it if

You want to monitor your property constantly

The large rechargeable battery combined with solar panel means that can record footage 12 hours a day for over a week.

You want high quality video footage

The Reolink offers exceptional video quality, particularly at night thanks to its color night vision facility.

Don't buy it if

You want a lightweight plug and play solution

The Reolink is a bulky unit which requires DIY installation.

You're on a limited budget

Featuring a wealth of features, the Reolink is more expensive than some of its lower-specification competitors.

Reolink Altas PT Ultra: also consider

Not completely sold on the Reolink Altas PT Ultra? Here are two more options to consider.

Ring Spotlight Cam Pro (Battery)

Available in black or white, this outdoor security camera from Amazon-owned Ring boasts two 3,000K spotlights. You can also buy a mains-powered version as well as a separate solar panel.

Read our full Ring Spotlight Cam Pro review

Eufy 4K S330 Security Camera

An extremely innovative battery and solar-powered camera, the Eufy can be used with the supplied 4G Sim card to capture recordings, making it ideal for those who live in areas with poor Wi-Fi/broadband.

Read our full Eufy 4K S330 Security Camera review

How I tested the Reolink Altas PT Ultra

I used the Reolink every day for two weeks
I set it up myself using the fittings provided by the manufacturer
The security camera was installed on the outside of my garden office (the solar panel was set up temporarily)

I installed the Reolink Altas on the front of my garden office for around 10 days so it could capture footage from the garden. After this period I then brought it indoors so I could use it to track movement a little more and also check battery usage.

Before setting up I made sure that the camera only focused on my own property by excluding parts of the frame that could capture the neighbour’s garden using the app. I also switched off the siren and only used the powerful spotlights briefly outdoors. Both the siren and spotlights were tested more thoroughly indoors.

Because it was autumn in the UK and the solar panel was largely ineffective, this was installed only temporarily on an outdoor table and also on the garden office door for a few days.

Learn more about how we test on TechRadar.

First reviewed October 2024

Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro review: a wired gaming headset low on features but high in price

4:00 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming | Comments: Off

Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro: Two-minute review

The Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro hopes to distill the brand’s sonic pedigree into a gaming headset, by adopting a minimal design in every sense, devoid of extra features, and focusing completely on audio quality and comfort.

The appearance is certainly spartan. The total-black design is only offset by a few dashes of orange, but that’s about the only giveaway as to its intended gaming audience. Overall, I think it is a smart-looking headset that doesn't draw attention to itself.

This minimalism extends to its overall form, as the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro cuts a rather slender profile, at least compared to some of the best wired gaming headsets. It also feels quite light, and the thick cable surprisingly doesn’t weigh it down.

The whole headset feels premium and engineered to a high standard, but as I’ve found with other Beyerdynamic headsets, the mechanism for adjusting the driver position feels clunky. Also, the strain reliefs on the cable fail to reassure me that they’ll prevent fraying over time.

As you would expect from Beyerdynamic, the MMX 300 Pro has excellent sound, with all frequencies coming through clearly. However, the bass is a little weak compared to headphones designed for music, so the headset wouldn’t be my go-to choice for audio playback alone. However, compared to other gaming headsets, it’s still among the best in this regard – it’s a shame, though, that there are no listening modes to choose from or EQ adjustments to make.

The microphone is well-made and very sturdy, yet the gooseneck design still allows for flexible adjustments. This makes getting it in the optimal position easy. While it doesn't detach or retract, it does fold out of the way quite well. The vocal quality is excellent, and it does a great job of blocking unwanted sounds coming through.

As for comfort, the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro excels in this department too. Although the fit is tight, the ear cups and headband provide enough cushioning for extended use. However, the inside of the drivers did make slight contact with my ears, which can cause fatigue after a while – but this takes a very long time to manifest.

The connectivity and usability flaws found on the Beyerdynamic MMX 200 Wireless are non-existent here, with the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro making for a slimmer, easier-to-use headset with arguably even better sound. However, given its hefty price tag, it’s hard to recommend it over other wired gaming headsets, as the competition is so fierce in this sector, making for better value alternatives than the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro.

Case in point: the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro, which is the best wireless gaming headset in our view, is cheaper but still has great sound and packs in more features. Meanwhile, the Epos H3, our pick as the best wired headset, is considerably cheaper and performs brilliantly in most areas.

Close-up on Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro driver and mic — (Image credit: Future)

Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro review: Price and availability

$299 / £259 / AU$499
Available now
Black only (unless customized)

The Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro costs $299 / £259 / AU$499 and comes in one stock color: black. If you order from the company’s website, you can customize the look of the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro in a variety of ways, with intricate patterns and engraving options available.

Beyerdynamic’s wireless gaming headset, the MMX 200 Wireless, is considerably cheaper than the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro, despite its multiple connectivity options and extra features. However, by keeping things simple with wired connectivity, the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro avoids many of the pitfalls of the MMX 200 Wireless. It’s also less bulky and more comfortable, yet still offers Beyerdynamic’s trademark audio quality, albeit with less low-end impact than you might expect. Whether these advantages of the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro justify the steep price increase, I’m not so sure – especially when you consider the lack of features.

For those looking for more out of a gaming headset, the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro could fit the bill: not only does it come with software to adjust various parameters, but it’s also wireless and cheaper than the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro. And if you’re after one of the best PC gaming headsets specifically, then the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is our top pick in this sector: although it’s considerably more expensive than the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro, it does feature multiple connectivity options and a long battery life, in addition to great sound.

Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro review: Specs

Close-up of Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro mic — (Image credit: Future)

Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro review: Design and features

Austere looks
Thin, light and comfortable
Lacking features

Much like Beyerdynamic’s other gaming headsets and headphones, the MMX 300 Pro cuts an understated figure. The black finish is enlivened slightly by some orange accents, but these are the only concessions to its gaming audience. Most aspects of the headset look and feel premium. The hard plastic shells of each driver have a smooth matte finish, while the headband and ear cups are plush yet durable.

The drivers are supported by heavy-duty metal hooks which again are solidly built. However, the mechanism used to adjust their position fails to match the same level of engineering, as it feels clunky to operate – an issue I’ve found with other Beyerdynamic headsets and headphones.

However, the form factor of the MMX 300 Pro represents an improvement over other Beyerdynamic models. It has a relatively slim profile, being less wide and unwieldy than the MMX 200 Wireless. The divers and ear pads are thinner, and the whole headset feels lighter too.

The Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro is also more comfortable to wear, offering plenty of cushioning around the ears and the headband. The materials used here feel durable, but both the headband and the ear pads are replaceable should they perish.

I’m usually not fond of circular driver designs, preferring an oval shape, but here, thanks to the lack of bulk, I had no trouble wearing them, even with glasses. Unlike the MMX 200 Wireless, the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro didn’t get in the way when I leaned back in a chair or sofa. However, I did notice the inside of the drivers touching my ears slightly, which can cause aches after very long sessions exceeding two or three hours. They also don’t swivel, which means hanging them around your neck or storing them isn’t as easy as with other headsets.

Close-up of Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro driver hook — (Image credit: Future)

The analog cable is thick and strong, yet it doesn’t weigh down the headset; I could barely tell it was there, which is exactly what you want from a headphone cable. There’s some strain relief around the jacks, but these don’t seem to be the strongest, so I’m not completely confident they’ll prevent fraying in the long run. Another drawback is the rubber material on these reliefs, as it picks up dust and debris far too easily.

The jack secures tightly into the left driver, which is deeply recessed. However, it doesn’t offer an audible click when inserted, which can make it tricky to know if it’s inserted all the way. The instructions say to twist it slightly when inserting, but there is no feedback indicating how much this needs to be done, and it didn’t seem to make a difference whether I twisted it in or not.

The inline control module, which features output and input volume controls and a mute mic slider, is chunky but unobtrusive. The buttons and wheel feel premium here too and are easy to operate, although perhaps a touch too small for my liking.

The microphone on the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro is similarly well-built. The swivel function is smooth yet sturdy, and the cloth tip cover is thicker than on some other gaming headsets, which bodes well for its longevity. The gooseneck is easily adjustable and stays in position once fixed, making for the perfect blend of flexibility and security.

One drawback of the mic, however, is that it still can’t be detached or folded away completely, although it can be rotated upwards to keep it out of the way. In contrast, the MMX 200 Wireless has a detachable mic, and the PlayStation Pulse Elite, one of the best PS5 headsets, has a retractable mic for an even more elegant solution.

In focusing on high-quality audio, the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro appears to have sacrificed features. There are no options to adjust the sound, other than volume, either via buttons or software. For a wired headset at this price, you would expect more; even the cheaper MMX 200 Wireless has an Augmented Mode for ambient noise passthrough, but the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro gets no such endowments.

Close-up of Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro driver inside — (Image credit: Future)

Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro: Performance

Superb gaming audio
Great mic clarity
Low-end lacking slightly

The sound produced by the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro is impressive. The STELLAR.45 drivers render all frequencies with clarity, especially the highs and upper mids. The closed-back design helps to improve the sense of space and immersion as well.

However, while there is some punch to the low end, it still lacks the depth of bass you would expect. This isn’t such a problem for gaming, but it’s more disappointing when listening to music. Other headsets feature different modes for different scenarios, but this isn’t an option with the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro – you get what you are given.

The integrated microphone claims to maximize vocal clarity thanks to the high-quality condenser capsule, and during my tests, this did indeed prove to be the case. Voices come through with a high degree of fidelity, and unwanted noises, such as coughs and other plosive sounds, are all but eliminated.

However, as with the output of the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro, there are no adjustments for the microphone, save for the standard volume controls. The closed-back design and natural noise isolation mean that you can barely hear your own voice, which some gamers, including myself, may find a little disconcerting, so the option to allow some sort of input monitoring would’ve been welcomed.

Close-up of Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro ear pads — (Image credit: Future)

Should you buy the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro?

Buy it if...

You want stellar gaming audio
There’s no denying the sound quality of the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro, and although the bass may be a tad weak, it’s still excellent for a gaming headset.

You want something comfortable
The ear pads and headband provide hours of wearing comfort – only extremely long sessions will cause fatigue.

Don't buy it if...

You want to cut the cords
There’s only wired connectivity here, which, at this price, is a shame.

You want multiple features
There are no adjustments you can make to the sound, and no feature to allow you to hear your own voice through the mic.

You’re on a budget
For a wired gaming headset, the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro sits right at the top end of the market. Whether the excellent sound quality alone is worth this much, I’m not sure.

Also consider...

Razer BlackShark V2 Pro
If you want to ditch the cables, then the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro is our pick as the best wireless gaming headset around. As a renowned peripheral maker, it’s no surprise this headset from Razer offers high build and audio quality, and we were especially impressed with its battery life too.

Read our Razer BlackShark V2 Pro review

Epos H3
As our best wired headset, the Epos H3 is perfect for those who want an ultra-reliable connection and aren’t worried about a trailing cable. A wireless version is available in the form of the H3Pro Hybrid. Naturally, this is more expensive, but its amazingly still cheaper than the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro.

Read our Epos H3 review

How I tested the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro

Tested for several days
Used with multiple platforms
20+ years gaming experience

I tested the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro for several days, using it on a Windows 11 PC, a PS5, and a Nintendo Switch. I played a variety of games, including Silent Hill 2 Remake, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and Sea of Thieves – the latter of which I played online to test the microphone. I also recorded my own voice via the mic and played it back to hear how I sounded.

As well as playing games, I also used the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro to listen to music and watch video content on YouTube and Netflix.

I have been gaming for over twenty years, and have experienced many headsets and headphones during this time. These include various Beyerdynamic models, such as the DT 770 Pro, and I have previously tested the MMX 200 Wireless gaming headset.

FiiO FH19: Two-minute review

Another day, another pair of FiiO headphones, and this time it’s the FiiO FH19, a pair of wired in-ear monitors. The FH19 are, by FiiO standards, a fairly expensive proposition and so it follows that the company, as is its established practice, has thrown the kitchen sink at them where specification and design are concerned. If FiiO has overlooked anything here, I’m not at all sure what it might be.

As is appropriate for a product with such a big specification – a couple of dynamic drivers plus half a dozen balanced armatures per earbud, enhancement technology for most parts of the frequency range, high purity sterling silver cable, you name it – the FiiO FH19 are quite physically large, too. The provision for 22 pairs (count ‘em!) of various ear tips helps to get the best fit, but at 12g a side these are chunky earbuds despite the liberal use of aluminium and titanium in their construction. And despite their carefully ergonomic shape, plenty of FH19 will protrude from all but the most generously sized ear-hole.

A contender for best wired earbuds? Perhaps – they have plenty to them, after all – but may fall down on that top-end sound. It's a close-run thing.

FiiO FH19 review: Price and release date

FiiO FH19 wired earbud on a white surface — (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

$599; £549; AU$999
Launched in July 2024

The FiiO FH19 wired in-ear monitors are on sale now, and as you can see from the asking price in various territories, the company is not afraid of lining up against some of the biggest names in all of IEM-land. From the eccentricity of the Campfire Audio Cascara to the dead-eyed pro credentials of Sennheiser IE 600 and Shure SE535, you’re not short of choice if you’ve big money to spend…

FiiO FH19 review: Specs

Fiio FH19 review: Features

FiiO FH19 wired heaphones showing 3.5mm port and silver cable — (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Hybrid dynamic driver/balanced armature arrangement
Midrange notch filter and ‘S.Turbo’ bass enhancement
High-purity sterling silver cable

The biggest news here as regards ‘features’ has to be the driver array FiiO has specified – each FH19 earbud features no fewer than eight drivers. A pair of 13.7mm dynamic drivers are arranged in a push/pull layout in an effort to maximize phase consistency and reduce the amount of power required to achieve optimum sound pressure level, and six Knowles balanced armature units deal with midrange and treble reproduction. FiiO has worked closely with Knowles, specifying acoustic vents at the rear cavity of the midrange drivers to maximize sound energy, and with Onkyo to ensure the cleanest possible sound from the dynamic driver arrangement.

And just in case this seems a bit tentative, the company has added a midrange notch filter to minimize the overlap between the sound produced by the midrange and high-frequency balanced armatures. There’s also the racy-sounding ‘S.Turbo’ technology that literally acts like a turbocharger by guiding low-frequency soundwaves through a turbine-like structure to deliver (according to FiiO) deep and vibrant low frequencies.

What else? Well, rather than resistor-based ceramic capacitors, the FH19 feature film capacitors for greater crossover accuracy. And a suspended voice coil reduces both the adhesive load and reduces the possibility of unnecessary contact – instead, there ought to be smooth, uniform diaphragm movement.

FiiO suggests the entire FH19 arrangement results in a pair of in-ear monitors with a frequency response of 8Hz - 40Khz, a sensitivity of 109dB and an impedance of 16 ohms. Which means the FH19 really ought to be delivering full-range sound from pretty much any source of music without too much difficulty.

Getting audio information into this almost performatively complex arrangement happens via 1.2m of high-purity sterling silver cable. It consists of eight braided strands, each carrying 28 wires for a total of 224 wires - each individual wire is enamelled, and the cable is twisted in Litz braids. It connects to each earbud using stainless steel MMCX connectors, and the connection to a music source can be made using either of the ‘twist/lock’ unbalanced 3.5mm or balanced 4.4mm jacks that are supplied.

Features score: 5/5

Fiio FH19 review: Design

FiiO FH19 wired earbud accessories, including extra tips, red carry case, pins and stickers — (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Semi-open housing
Swappable audio filters
Titanium and aluminium construction

First things first: these are relatively large, relatively heavy in-ear monitors, and despite the fact that FiiO provides no fewer than 22(!) pairs of ear tips of various sizes and materials, if you’re on the smaller-eared side the FH19 are going to feel like quite an uncomfortable earful.

Let’s assume, then, that your ears are no smaller than ‘a bit smaller than average’. In this scenario, the FH19 are easy to fit securely and, thanks to the carefully ergonomic shape of the housing, comfortable too. Yes, they protrude from the ear in a slightly inelegant fashion, but that just allows bystanders to get a good look at the semi-open design with its aluminium shell and titanium midframe.

There are sound reasons why the FH19 feature a semi-open housing, of course – they’re mostly to do with the balance of internal air pressure and the prevention of pressure on the eardrum. Equally, FiiO has selected aluminium for the earbud shell because of its light weight, durability and willingness to be formed into relatively complex shapes, while titanium’s rigidity and resistance to corrosion make it a wise choice for the midframe. The fact that they combine to deliver a product that looks upmarket and even quite dramatic doesn’t do any harm, though.

Obviously, by allowing the wearer so much scope to get a comfortable fit, FiiO is hoping to maximize the audio performance of the FH19, but it’s also taken more direct steps. The FH19 are pre-installed with a ‘green’ audio filter which, according to the company, “delivers refined and detailed treble”. But it also supplies two alternative pairs that can be fitted by the wearer: ‘red’ (which “enhances low frequencies, providing powerful and impactful bass”) and ‘black’ (“offers balanced sound that is clear and transparent”). A little tool is supplied to make the changeover as simple as possible.

The tool itself arrives in a fairly large, hexagonal travel case that features some branding and also contains a magnetic cable-tie, a small brush to help keep your FH19 clean, and the alternative 3.5mm cable termination. It, like the earbuds themselves, looks and feels like a premium item.

Design score: 4.5/5

FiiO FH19 review: Sound quality

FiiO FH19 wired earbuds plugged into a music player playing Billie Eilish — (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Spacious, well-defined sound
Rapid, punchy and entertaining presentation
Can be goaded into top-end unruliness

Like any pair of in-ear monitors, the FiiO FH19 will perform most agreeably when they fit correctly. Unlike most pairs of in-ear monitors, the FiiO offer you well over a dozen options where ear tips are concerned, so getting to the point of identifying the most appropriate pair takes a little longer than normal.

Similarly, the audio filter options need to be investigated in order for you to establish what your preference is – although, as I will discuss just a little later, the pre-fitted ‘green’ pair are likely to be the least commonly deployed. But once you have reached the point whereby you’re happy with both the physical fit and the audio filters fitted to the FH19, there’s an awful lot to like about the way they sound.

A 24bit/44,1kHz FLAC file of Bad Guy by Billie Eilish, for instance, sounds energetic, wide-open and rapid. There’s proper control of the attack of low-frequency sounds, so even when they’re coming thick and fast there’s proper definition and separation. Rhythmic expression is confident, and momentum is maintained at every turn. Similarly the midrange is detailed and packed with variation, so the close-mic’d vocal is expressive and information regarding technique, timbre, attitude and all the rest of it is available in spades.

The semi-open arrangement allows the FH19 to sound more spacious than the usual ‘directly into your ear’ sensation of monitors that are, to be fair, directly in your ear. There’s an airiness and openness to the soundstage they present, a sensation of the gap between specific elements of a recording and more than enough elbow-room for each of those elements to do their thing in something approaching isolation. But there’s no overall sense of isolation or remoteness to the sound the FH19 serves up: instead it’s quite tightly unified and unarguably ‘together’. The recording is presented as a performance, as individual elements acting with a common aim rather than simply doing their own thing while other things happen nearby.

Switch to a 24bit/96kHz FLAC file of Chick Corea’s Return to Forever and the FH19 continue to impress. They pay close attention to the harmonic variations in specific instruments and the wordless vocalizations, and dispatch the bigger dynamic shifts in volume or intensity with the sort of casual effortlessness that lets you know there’s plenty more where that came from.

The tonality here is basically neutral, your choice of audio filter notwithstanding, and despite the numerousness of the drivers, the FH19 integrate the frequency range well. Where the audio filters come into play most obviously, though, is where treble response is concerned.

A 24bit/44.1kHz FLAC file of LesAplx by Floating Points has plenty of high-frequency activity, of many different tones and substances, to offer. There’s no two ways about it, with their default ‘green’ audio filters fitted, the FiiO FH19 are altogether too happy to get hard and edgy at the top of the frequency range. Even with one of the other filter options selected (my preference is for the ‘black’ option, FWIW), it doesn’t take a lot for the treble response here to get a bit overexcited. Dial in more volume and things just get shinier and, in extremis, abrasive.

Still, this is easily mitigated against. Leave the ‘green’ audio filters well alone, don’t listen at the sort of volumes you shouldn’t really be listening at anyway, and all will be well.

Sound quality score: 4.5/5

FiiO FH19 review: Value

FiiO FH19 wired earbud showing silver cable on a white surface — (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Stack up well against the competition for price
…But only if they fit

If you’ve read this far then I’m going to go ahead and assume you don’t think your ears are too small for FH19 ownership. So as long as they fit, there’s plenty to suggest the FiiO offer very acceptable value for money

The quality of materials used and the way they’re constructed, the engineering prowess that’s been brought to bear and, most of all, the open and engaging sound quality they’re capable of delivering in almost every circumstance see to that. Hear them against the best of their rivals and you’ll quickly realise what FiiO is offering here is not to be sneezed at.

Value score: 4.5/5

Should you buy the FiiO FH19?

Buy them if...

Balanced and open sound seems your sort of thing
The clever semi-open configuration allows the FiiO FH19 to sound more spacious than your average in-ear monitor.

Don't buy them if...

You’re especially sensitive to high-frequency sound
At bigger volumes, or when connected to unsympathetic sources of music, the FH19 can get quite carried away where the top of the frequency range is concerned.

FiiO FH19 review: Also consider

How I tested the FiiO FH19

FiiO FH19 wired earbuds, without a cable, on a white surface — (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Connected to a FiiO M15S DAP
Connected to an iFi iDSD Diablo 2 headphone amp
With a big range of digital audio content of all types and file sizes

I won’t pretend it has been any kind of hardship, not really. Using the 4.4mm balanced connection I joined the FiiO FH19 to a FiiO M15S digital audio player and to an iFi iDSD Diablo 2 headphone amp – this way I was able to listen to digital audio files of all sizes (320kbps to 24bit/192kHz) and to music of all styles. I also connected them directly to the 3.5mm unbalanced headphone socket of an Apple MacBook Pro – not an experiment I’m in any kind of hurry to repeat.

Anker Nebula Cosmos 4K SE: two-minute review

The Anker Nebula Cosmos 4K SE is a laser and LED smart projector capable of projecting 4K Dolby-Vision-enhanced imagery up to 200 inches. It was first released in the US, followed by the UK in August and September 2024 for a list price of $1,299.99 / £1,299.99.

It's cheaper than its predecessor, the Anker Nebula Cosmos 4K, which has an extra 400 ANSI lumens of brightness, and a full laser light source, compared to the 4K SEs laser and LED HybridBeam. The Nebula Cosmos 4K SE has plenty to boast about though, with Google TV built-in, offering effortless access to popular streaming apps like Netflix and Disney+, and many other useful apps, as one would expect from Google. There’s decent support for external content too, with HDMI and USB-C ports making it simple to connect a disc drive or laptop.

The Nebula Cosmos 4K SE has a stated brightness of 1,800 ANSI lumens – this is some way short of most of the best 4K projectors. Our testing didn’t provide results to get excited about, with measurements taken including 122 nits peak brightness, which wasn’t radically different from the BenQ v5000i, and grayscale accuracy of 8, plus a color accuracy of 3.4.

Coverage of the UHDA-P3 color gamut came in at 88.9%, with BT.2020 reading 76.3%. The input lag measured up, with 35ms of lag in Game Mode Standard, and 18.5ms in Game Mode Extreme.

A close-up of the lens and sensors on the front of the projector. — (Image credit: Future)

Real-time autofocus, auto keystone correction, and auto screen fit worked well when projected onto small targets, but I found I had to manually alter the four keystone points to get the image to sit centrally (just about) on my 100-inch screen. I could only watch at 60 inches, as I lacked the space to have the projector the required 7.8ft / 2.4 meters away from the screen. If you have your heart set on getting the full movie theatre experience without having to shell out on a house extension, I’d recommend taking a look at our pick of the Best ultra short throw projectors instead.

When it comes to the performance of the contrast and brightness when watching content, darker scenes in movies and TV shows with a dark aesthetic were plagued by pixelated grays where darker areas would otherwise be visible while watching on a TV. This isn’t entirely uncommon for projectors, as producing dense blacks is naturally difficult given how the image is generated, but I can’t say that it didn’t subtract from the otherwise fabulous viewing experience. Scenes in Damsel and Prometheus in particular showcased the Cosmos 4K SE’s ability to deliver stunningly vivid color and intricate details, no doubt thanks to the addition of Dolby Vision. This, along with the two built-in 15-watt Dolby-Audio-enabled speakers made watching movies and series with this projector a satisfyingly immersive experience. You can read further details about this in the Picture Quality section below.

In a nutshell, provided you have the space to achieve the screen size you want, you’re happy watching content in little more than a dim light, and you have the space to place this chonky example of a portable projector, I’d highly recommend the Nebula Cosmos 4K SE.

A close up of the silicone-lined handle. — (Image credit: Future)

Anker Nebula Cosmos 4K SE review: price and availability

List price: $1,299.99 / £1,299.99
Available in the US and the UK
Released in August / September 2024

The Nebula Cosmos 4K SE became available in the US in August 2024, followed by the UK in September 2024, at a list price of $1,299.99 / £1,299.99. Apart from the Amazon Prime Day sales, when it dropped to $999 / £999, which Anker matched on the Nebula website, the cost of the Nebula Cosmos 4K SE looks to have remained at its usual price. At the time of writing, the Cosmos 4K SE is not available in Australia.

While unlikely to be a spontaneous purchase at this price, the Nebula Cosmos 4K SE is still miles cheaper than all but one in our choice of the best 4K projectors.

Anker Nebula Cosmos 4K SE review: specs

Anker Nebula Cosmos 4K SE review: design and features

Google TV built-in
Large but technically portable
Efficient auto-correction and calibration features

The Nebula Cosmos 4K SE just about classes as portable, though it is a bit of a chonk, weighing in at 4.5kg /9.9lb, and with dimensions of 10.4 x 8.7 x 6.5 inches / 264 x 221 x 165mm. I was able to pick it up and carry it about, but I had to be careful about it. It would be even more of a hassle if it wasn't for the helpful, and comfortable silicone inbuilt handle that protrudes from the top of the projector body.

This projector is solely mains-powered, with no built-in battery or compatible battery pack. So while you might be able to carry it outside, you'll need to have access to a suitable power outlet for al fresco viewing.

The Nebula Cosmos 4K SE uses its HybridBeam, which is a combo of laser and LED, to generate images with up to a specified 1,800 ANSI lumens of brightness. The auto screen adjustment, auto keystone, and autofocus features did a great job of projecting images that were rectangular and crisp for the most part, especially when projecting onto smaller targets, which for me in particular was the wall space next to my bed. However, I found I was limited to just 60 inches when trying to watch on my 100-inch screen. This forced me to make use of the four-point manual keystone correction, as the Cosmos 4K SE insisted on fixing the 60-inch projection to the upper-left corner of the screen each time, which looked all kinds of wrong. After some investigating, I learned that the 4K SE needs to be at least 7.8 feet / 2.4 meters away from the target to project at 90 inches or above. I was using the projector in quite a large room, so this seems fairly limiting.

A close-up of the lense and the depth sensor. — (Image credit: Future)

Anker claims that it’s possible to watch a 60-inch projection in a well-lit room with windows and indirect daylight, but unfortunately, I must disagree. The issues I’ve already mentioned regarding the contrast and black density were when watching in darkness. When I tried to watch with additional light sources any stronger than the colorful LED strips behind my TV, this contrast issue got worse, and anything more than very dim sunlight made it very difficult to see most of what was going on in whatever I was watching.

Having a light source in the room also plays havoc with the Wall Color Calibration feature, which is intended to alter the coloring of the projection so that it still looks correct regardless of the color of the wall you’re projecting against. I tested this out in our TechRadar music room, which is painted a deep teal color. When I tried this with some indirect sunlight coming from the small window far over to the right on the same wall I was projecting onto, the “color corrected” image had an off-putting blue tint to it. When I repeated the calibration with the lights off, it worked perfectly, and I was really impressed.

The Anker Nebula Cosmos 4K SE's remote control sits on a stone-effect surface with a pink background. — (Image credit: Future)

I found the Nebula Cosmos 4K SE easy to control thanks to the backlit remote control's handy voice assistant feature, as I could ask Google to whisk me straight to the content I wanted. The Nebula Connect app also worked well as a remote control, too.

I love that the Nebula Cosmos 4K SE comes with Google TV built-in, as in my experience it has proven to be the most efficient Android TV OS by far. As expected, it provides access to all of the popular streaming apps like Netflix, Disney Plus, Prime Video, and Apple TV, plus easy access to YouTube, naturally. It's simple to access content from external sources too, thanks to the USB-C input and the two HDMI ports, one of which is a HDMI 2.1 (eARC), supporting 4K visuals at 60 hertz, with lossless transmission.

When it comes to audio output, the Nebula Cosmos 4K SE has two built-in 15-watt speakers enabled with Dolby Audio. I didn't observe any issues with the sound quality during my testing, I was very satisfied with the quality. I would have picked up quite quickly if there were any issues that a typical user would notice – I've tested a lot of Bluetooth speakers in my time so I will spot from a mile off poor clarity or if the bass and treble are below par.

Design score: 4/5

Anker Nebula Cosmos 4K SE review: picture quality

Beautifully vivid color
Disappointing lack of contrast
Immersive cinematic experience

When I got my hands on the Cosmos 4K SE, I was really excited to try it out. I'd previously tested the Nebula Mars 3 Air back in my freelancing days, which I loved, so I was expecting big things from the 4K SE.

After letting it warm up for an hour, myself and my colleague James conducted tests to evaluate the projector's capabilities. The peak brightness, when viewing in Movie Mode and measured on a white 10% window pattern, was 122 nits in SDR, which isn't far off the peak brightness reading we got for the more expensive BenQ v5000i, and 119 in HDR, surpassing the reading we got for the BenQ.

The color performance figures that resulted from our testing didn't blow me away, but at this price and for casual viewing, I can forgive the Cosmos 4K SE for this. The projector achieved a Grayscale accuracy of 8, and a 3.4 for color accuracy, which was just a whisker off our target level of 3.

Coverage of the BT.2020 scored 76.3%, and the UHDA-P3 color gamut coverage was also nothing to shout about at 88.9% meaning that, although the colors were satisfyingly vivid, they weren't as rich and varied as those projected by the LG CineBeam Q, which gave an impressive reading of 98.7%. These test figures were obtained while viewing in HDR Movie Mode. The input lag in Game Mode Standard was 35ms, and in Gaming Mode Extreme was 18.5ms, which supports Anker's claims of the 4K SE being low latency with under 19ms of lag and should satisfy the majority of casual gamers.

A close-up of the projector's ports. — (Image credit: Future)

In terms of the brightness and contrast when viewing there were mixed results. In lighter scenes, the whites and colors were satisfyingly bright and dazzling, but the handling of the contrast in dark scenes left a lot to be desired. The first film I watched on the Cosmos 4K SE was Damsel on Netflix, starring Millie Bobby Brown. I can easily jump straight into all the positives, as I was stunned by the beautiful imagery that the projector delivered, but I'll get the negative out of the way first. It was clear fairly early on that there was a contrast issue.

When the main character Elodie enters a dark cave, all detail is lost around her, with stonework being replaced with grey pixelated sections. Achieving a quality deep black can prove difficult for projectors, especially those that don't possess full laser optical technology – with a 238:1 contrast ratio reading from the Cosmos 4K SE, it’s hardly surprising that it didn’t perform brilliantly in this area. Aside from this, there were so many scenes that took advantage of the projector's strengths, likely due to the presence of Dolby Vision. The scenes involving the luminescent grubs and the crystal caves were visually stunning, with the vivid colors and clarity making Damsel a delight to watch.

During the opening sequence of Prometheus, the level of brightness was impressive, as was the color density. The delicate details on the spaceship as it came in to land were visible and clear, as were the pores and veins on the Engineer's face. The level of intricacy in the DNA scenes when the strands were getting affected by the black pathogen highly impressed me too. The scene that really caught my attention, though, was when David has a drop of Chemical A0-3959X.91 on the tip of his finger. The close-up shots of this were visually stunning, so much so that I started to calculate quite how I could incorporate a projector screen into my living room on a permanent basis. Despite the darker scenes in Maleficent and Damsel noticeably lacking contrast, similar scenes appear to be handled better in Prometheus; they still weren't perfect, but darker details were more visible.

A close-up of the power button. — (Image credit: Future)

Despite my undeniable admiration of the Nebula Cosmos 4K SE, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who regularly enjoys programs with a darker aesthetic. Series like Marvel's Daredevil take a real hit due to the lack of good contrast, making the scenes appear grainy and low-quality.

In Avengers: Age of Ultron, playback was smooth during intense fight scenes, with the images remaining crisp and high quality, despite the fast movement. The detail is fantastic once again, with the intricate weave of the fabric of Hawk Eye's suit clearly visible.

Despite my undeniable admiration of the Nebula Cosmos 4K SE, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who regularly enjoys programs with a darker aesthetic, even when watching in the dark. Series such as Marvel's Daredevil take a real hit due to the lack of good contrast, making the scenes appear grainy and low-quality, which is a real shame considering the projector's fabulous performance in other areas.

Picture quality score: 4/5

Anker Nebula Cosmos 4K SE review: value

Good picture quality for the price
Delivers a satisfying at-home cinema experience
Uses Laser and LED hybrid optical technology

At $1,299.99 / £1,299.99, the Nebula Cosmos 4K SE is $400 / £400 cheaper than the previous model, the Nebula Cosmos 4K, despite the 4K SE having a large projection range, Google TV built in, and Dolby Vision. This price difference is likely due to the 400 additional ANSI lumens and, more importantly, due to the original 4K utilizing a laser light source, compared to the 4K SE's laser and LED HybridBeam, which could explain its lackluster brightness.

Overall, the viewing experience was fantastic when in a dimly lit room, and the sound quality was spot on. It was like having a pop-up cinema, with beautifully vivid colors and no problems with fast-paced scenes. The downsides can't be ignored, however, with a lack of contrast in some darker scenes when watching in the dark, and a distractingly bad lack of contrast and brightness issues when watching in the light, despite viewing at the projection size that Anker claims would be visible in a well-lit environment.

While it's pretty chunky, and not exactly an attractive addition to the decor unless it's situated in a casual TV and gaming den, it feels suitably robust for the price. While the size and weight initially made me question its apparent portability, this weight pales in comparison to other 4K projectors such as the Samsung The Premiere 9, and the carry handle definitely makes moving it about a simpler task. If the Nebula Cosmos 4K SE might upset your Feng Shui, then fear not, as more attractive alternatives are available, such as the LG CineBeam Q, which you can learn a little more about in the Also Consider section below.

Value score: 4/5

A close up of the front face of the projector. — (Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Anker Nebula Cosmos 4K SE?

Buy it if

You don’t want to spend several thousand
While $1,299.99 / £1,299.99 is still a high price to pay, you get a lot of bang for your buck with the Cosmos 4K SE. Built-in Google TV, competent auto-correction features, and impressive imagery and sound are well worth the cost if you can spare it.

You want popular apps at your fingertips
The advantage of the built-in Google TV is the ease of the interface and the distinct lack of bug and lag-related issues that I’ve experienced with so many Android-based OS. It’s satisfyingly simple to get set up, so you can get to streaming content without the frustration.

You want an immersive cinematic experience
Picture this, relaxing comfortably in the dark, bag of popcorn in hand, as you watch a feature-length film in 4K on the big screen, all from the comfort of your own home. The stunning visuals and immersive sound the 4K SE delivers are worth splashing out on.

Don't buy it if

You want the big picture but have a small space
A short-throw projector the Cosmos 4K SE is not. You need at least 5.5ft / 1.69m of space to achieve a screen size over 60 inches, which, for me personally, is a must, as I love the big-screen experience.

You want an easily portable projector
While it wouldn’t be difficult to maneuver for most, this projector is big and weighty. The carry handle makes life easier, but if you’re going away for the weekend it’s going to take up valuable trunk space, and there’s no way you’d want to lug it around on public transport.

You don’t want to be kept in the dark
Although Anker claims that you can watch a 60-inch projection in a well-lit room and indirect daylight, I found that watching with just one small window a few feet from the projection on an overcast day caused the quality to reduce drastically, the projected image looked washed out, and darker scenes that lacked contrast in optimum conditions became practically invisible.

Anker Nebula Cosmos 4K SE review: also consider

Anker Nebula Cosmos Laser 4K
The 4K SE’s older sibling is almost identical in size and weight, and while it doesn’t possess some of the more desirable features, such as Dolby Vision and Google TV, it’s brighter and utilizes laser DLP optical technology, rather than a laser / LED hybrid. Check out the full Anker Nebula Cosmos Laser 4K review.

Hisense PX3-Pro
A far pricier option, but if you want a top-quality, ultra-short-throw projector, then this could be the one for you. It’s not portable like the other alternatives listed here, but it performed well in various lighting conditions, delivered bright, rich colors, and a higher standard of contrast when compared to the 4K SE. Why not take a look at the Hisense PX3-Pro review to find out more.

LG CineBeam Q
If you want a projector that’s not a space invader, and can even make an attractive addition to your decor, then the LG CineBeam Q would be a good fit. While it’s not perfect, with limited brightness and poor audio quality, it looks stylish, projects in good-quality 4K, and can provide access to popular streaming apps, whether you’re watching at home or on your travels. If this has piqued your interest, there's plenty more detail in the full LG CineBeam Q review.

How I tested the Anker Nebula Cosmos 4K SE

Tested at home and in the TechRadar music and TV testing rooms
Tested in different lighting conditions
Measurements were made using Calman color calibration software

I got the Anker Nebula Cosmos 4K SE setup and had an explore around the available features, apps, and settings. I tried out the various display presets to determine the most satisfying option for casual viewing. I watched several films, series, and online content to establish how well the projector handled the different aesthetics. I tested the visibility of the projection by watching in total darkness, minimal lighting, and daylight.

My colleague, TV expert James, and I, measured the white balance (grayscale), gamma, and color point accuracy using Portrait Displays’ Calman color calibration software. The results provided Delta-E values (the margin of error between the test pattern source and what’s shown on-screen) for each category, providing us with figures to assess the projector’s overall accuracy.

We also ran tests to obtain measurements of the peak light output in both standard and high dynamic range modes, and measured the coverage of DCI-P3 and BT.2020 color space, to obtain readings that determine how well the projector can render the extended color range. Finally, we measured the contrast ratio, determining the brightest white to the darkest black that the projector is capable of displaying, and the input lag, which is an important reading if you’re looking for a gaming projector in particular.

Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam review: two-minute review

The Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam is suitably priced at $79.99 / £69.99 / AU$129. It offers a range of customizable features and can rotate and tilt, providing a good insight into the goings-on at home.

The Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam is available in black and white for all regions, but the US has the added benefit of Blush, Charcoal, and Starlight color options, too. As the name suggests, the rotating and pivoting mount beneath the camera allowed 360-degree panning and 169-degree tilting, providing a larger viewing area than static cameras.

The Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam has many things in common with the Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen), which at the time of writing holds the top spot in our selection of the best indoor security cameras. Although its days may be numbered, as the Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam can do the same job, plus is capable of viewing a far wider area.

The privacy cover worked well, cutting off the camera feed and audio instantly whenever required, then sending word via the Ring app, meaning I’d know straight away if it was being tampered with.

The Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam sits on light-colored wood surface against a pink background. — (Image credit: Future)

There is no way to store recordings locally, so if one wanted to see an occurrence after the fact, paying for a subscription would be the only way to do this. Without a subscription, the Ring app can still send instant notifications, show a live view, and access the two-way talk feature.

The pan and tilt functions worked well, and I got a clear view thanks to the 1080p HD resolution, but the Color Night Vision didn’t live up to its name. Unlike some cheaper cameras, the Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam had no problem handling movement, with no visible pixelation or lag, but it’s a real shame that the Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam is missing motion-tracking.

The audio wasn’t exceptional, but I was still impressed with the quality on the live view and recorded footage; conversations were easy to decipher and I didn’t find the sound not aligning with the image at any point.

The Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam isn’t the cheapest option out there, but it’s suitably priced for the features and app support it offers. It’s regrettable that there’s no way to store footage locally so an extra fee is required for access, and that Ring has missed a trick by not including a motion-tracking function, but overall it’s good value for money.

If you’re in the market for something different, such as an outdoor-suitable camera or one with motion tracking, we have some highly-rated recommendations in our pick of the best security cameras.

Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam review: price and availability

List price: $79.99 / £69.99 / AU$129
Availability: US, UK, and Australia
Release date: mid 2024

Released in 2024, the Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam has a list price of $79.99 / £69.99 / AU$129, putting it toward the premium end for a single indoor camera. However, with its ability to sync with multiple other Ring home security devices, great picture quality, and good audio, it’s not overpriced. The Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam is available at Amazon, Ring, and other third-party retailers.

Something to bear in mind when considering the Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam is that there is no option to store recordings locally, so if you want to review footage after the event has happened, you’ll need to pay for a subscription. You do get a complementary 30-day subscription to Protect Plus, though. If you intend to use your Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam without a subscription, you’ll still have access to Instant notifications, the live view, and the two-way talk feature via the Ring app or website, plus a one-year limited warranty.

Value score: 4.5 / 5

Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam subscription options

Ring Protect Basic:
Up to 180 days of video storage, download up to 50 videos at once, snapshot capture, package alerts, person alerts, and rich notifications.
Price: $4.99 / £4.99 / AU$4.99 per month, or, $49.99 / AU$49.95 per year per, Ring device.

Ring Protect Plus:
Has the same benefits as Protect Basic, plus (no pun intended) advanced video features, enhanced notifications, Home and Away modes, and extended warranties.
Price: $10 / £8 / AU$15 per month, or $100 / AU$150 per year. Covers all Ring devices at one location in the UK and Australia, or all Ring Home cameras and doorbells at one location in the US.

Ring Protect Pro (currently US only):
Offers everything in Protect Plus, as well as 24/7 alarm monitoring, alarm cellular backup, 24/7 backup internet with optional extra data, digital security by Eero Secure, and Ring Edge with local video storage. Please note an additional purchase of the Ring Alarm Pro is required to make use of some of these benefits.
Price: $10 per month or $100 per year, for all Ring devices at one location, US only.

A close-up of the pan and tilt mount and USB-C port. — (Image credit: Future)

Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam review: specifications

Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam review: design and features

360-degree panning and 169-degree tilting
Efficient privacy cover
No motion-tracking

In the UK and Australia, the Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam is available in either black or white. I’m a little jealous of our friends over the pond because in the US there are additional options like Blush, Charcoal, and Starlight, which is a cream color.

Setting up the Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam was blissfully quick and simple, in essence, all I needed to do was install the Ring app, scan the barcode on the back of the camera, connect it to my phone via Bluetooth, and then connect it to the Wi-Fi. Voila.

Unsurprisingly, as Ring is owned by Amazon, the Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam can be linked to an Amazon account, and accessed through devices like the Amazon Show 8 (3rd gen).

Being able to access the camera through a browser is a big plus in my book because it enabled me to see the live view and recorded footage on a bigger screen. I had no problem viewing things on my phone though, as it was easy to zoom into areas on the app, on both live and recorded footage.

The Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam is shown attached to the wall and ceiling mount. — (Image credit: Future)

The camera itself doesn’t look dissimilar to the Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen), except now it has the new mount that allows it to, you guessed it, pan and tilt, offering a far broader coverage when viewing live. The Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam has a couple of placement options, either on a flat surface, or attached to the wall or ceiling using the included mounting plate, bracket, raw plugs, and screws.

I was surprised there isn't a motion tracking feature on the Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam; some older and cheaper indoor cameras have this function. It’s curious to me that the camera has the benefit of being able to see almost anywhere, but there’s no way for it to be set to track a potential intruder (or a mischievous pet) unless it’s moved manually using the directional arrows through the app.

Despite this, the motion sensors proved effective on the lowest sensitivity setting out of the three available. I would quickly get a ping on my phone and Apple Watch whenever a person was spotted in the space, and I was able to set privacy and activity zones so that I wouldn’t get constant notifications when I was testing the Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam in our busy office.

A close-up of the connectors of the wall and ceiling mount and the base of the Ring Pan-Tilt indoor camera. — (Image credit: Future)

Customizable home and away modes are available as part of the Plus subscription, so I could change the settings using just one button on the dashboard. By default, Home mode is set to stop detection motion, and recording, and Away mode enables these settings again.

The attached privacy cover was easy to open and close, instantly disconnecting the video and microphone feed when shut and notifying me whenever it was shut or reopened. In addition to this, for added privacy, there was another handy feature available that enabled me to disable the microphone at all times so only visual footage was captured.

In all, the Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam is feature-packed and well-designed, but I can’t help but wonder why Ring neglected to include a motion-tracking feature, considering the scope of view this camera has to offer.

Design and features score: 4 / 5

Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam review: performance

Good quality audio and video
Notifications kept me well informed
Efficient activity and privacy zones

The Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam kept me in the loop with all the comings and goings at home and in the office, and once I’d mastered the settings, I could pretty much be left to do its own thing.

Speaking of the settings, the app wasn’t the most user-friendly in that respect, but otherwise, it’s responsive and worked well. There seemed to be a few ways to access similar things, and occasionally it took some hunting around to find a specific setting that I wanted to change.

Setting up the privacy and activity zones was straightforward; unlike some other cameras that can be limited to square zones, the Ring app offers a six-point selection area, so I had a bit more control to fit the zones around awkward spaces. There was one occasion when the app had a wobble, and got stuck on updating the snapshot to apply the zones onto, but the simple trick of turning the app off and on again solved the issue. These zones did their jobs well in action and helped to stop constant notifications of a person being detected, as I was working within view of the camera.

A close-up of the top of the camera and privacy cover. — (Image credit: Future)

The recordings were easy to access through the history button on the dashboard. Each recording was labeled; for example, it stated if it was recorded through live view, or a person was detected, and the device the recording came from, which would come in handy if I had a complete Ring setup. The event history can easily be filtered from tabs at the top of the screen, making it easy to view certain event types, such as motion or person detection, device types including alarms and smart lighting, and single devices.

I was pleased with the picture quality on the live view and recorded footage. A slight fisheye distortion was present toward the edges due to the wide lens, but apart from this, the images looked clear and high-quality. The camera handled movement well, with no lag or pixelation.

I tested out the siren, which was easily enabled by pushing a button on the app via the device's home screen; this caused the camera to make a loud security alarm sound, which I imagine could be capable of scaring off an unwanted guest.

A view of the camera and privacy cover against a pink background. — (Image credit: Future)

The name Color Night Vision is a little misleading; in low light, say, when shutting the blinds and turning off the lights in the office, it enhanced the colors on the live view really well, but we had the ambient light from our monitors to help this along. In full darkness, the feed is black and white just like many other night-vision-enabled cameras. The image quality is still great, but it is not in color like the name of this feature suggests.

I was pleased with the audio quality, other than a little bit of tinniness. Words and activities were easy to identify, and I didn’t experience any issues with the alignment of the audio and footage; whereas with past cameras I’ve encountered misalignments between what’s happening on screen and the audio recordings.

Overall, the Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam did a great job, though I’d have preferred to have the ability to track motions, rather than staying static. A decent amount of customization options were available for me to fine-tune, and it detected and recorded everything I expected it to, providing me with a high-quality visual and satisfactory audio representation of what had been going on in its vicinity.

Performance score: 4.5 / 5

Should I buy the Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam?

Buy it if...

You want a good view
With the Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam, you get a better view of its surroundings thanks to its 360-degree rotation and 169-degree tilting, making it a better option than static cameras for keeping an eye on things.

You want a built-in alarm
If you’re looking at the live view and you spot something untoward, this camera has a siren built in that can be enabled through a button on the app. It makes a lot of noise, so should make for a good deterrent.

You want to see the details
The picture quality is really good on the live view and recordings, and it’s possible to zoom in with both. The footage didn’t display any lag or pixelation from movement either, which is a big plus.

Don't buy it if...

You require motion-tracking
Surprisingly, the Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam doesn’t have motion-tracking capabilities. Considering its impressive viewing range when moved manually, it seems that Ring really missed a trick here.

You don’t want to pay a subscription fee
While the subscription makes sense if you have a range of Ring security devices, giving access to stored footage in one place, if you want a one-off camera for a single purpose, it would be beneficial to have a local storage option such as a microSD card.

Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam review: Also consider

Wyze Cam v3
A good alternative if you want to store footage without needing to pay, the Wyze Cam v3 has the added benefit of local storage of up to 128GB via a microSD card. However, the footage is limited to twelve seconds without a subscription. It also offers sound detection, though its sensitivity is limited, and audio quality was unsatisfactory. It also has IP65-rated water resistance and a rubber sleeve around the camera's inlet, so it can be used outdoors too. You can see the full review of the Wyze Cam v3 here.

Imou Rex 3D
Another alternative with local storage is the IMOU Rex 3D. It offers 355-degree rotation plus 90-degree tilt capabilities, so is a great option to consider if you’re looking for well-performing motion tracking, something that the Ring Pan–Tilt Indoor Cam is sadly lacking. Unfortunately, this camera only appears to be available in the UK at present, although it looks to be available from third-party retailers in the US. Why not take a look at how the Imou Rex 3D performed in the full review?

How I tested the Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam

I tested it for a week at home and in a busy office
I tested the sound and video quality, live and recorded
I tested the ease of setup, usability, privacy settings, and motion detection

I reviewed how easy the Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam was to set up, and tested its panning and tilting capabilities.

I tested the Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam in our busy TechRadar reviews office along with a quieter area of my home to establish how sensitive the motion detection was, and how efficient the privacy and activity zones were.

I tested the frequency of notifications and reviewed live and recorded footage, paying close attention to the visual and sound quality, and evaluating how well the camera handled movement.

I observed how well the Night Color Vision worked in different environments, testing how well it performed in darkness and with varying levels of ambient lighting.

I compared the Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam against our previous camera reviews, and benchmarked it against other indoor cameras I am currently testing.

Beyerdynamic MMX 200 Wireless: Two-minute review

The Beyerdynamic MMX 200 Wireless is one of the company’s recent forays into the gaming market, with the brand leaning heavily on its reputation in the professional audio space as it boasts studio-grade sound quality for players.

The MMX 200 Wireless doesn’t exactly cut a slim figure; every aspect of its form is bulky, from the headband to the drivers and even the ear pads, which can get in the way when you lean back in your chair, due to their rounded shape. There’s also no way to fold the drivers away, so you’ll need a good amount of space to store it.

However, the thickness of the padding does elevate comfort levels. Both my ears and head remained comfortable for long sessions, despite the relative heaviness of the MMX 200 Wireless compared to some of the best wireless gaming headsets.

I did experience slight fatigue around the ears after several hours, though, and while the MMX 200 Wireless is generally conducive to glasses wearers, I noticed a slight ache from the arms of my frames being pressed into my head – although this wasn’t as egregious as I’ve experienced with other headsets.

The overall build quality is of a high standard, with the buttons, volume wheel and ports feeling solid yet easy to use. However, the mechanism for adjusting the height of the earcups lacks the same level of engineering.

In use, the MMX 200 Wireless renders sound with the high fidelity it claims. All frequencies are clear and balanced, and while some may find the low-end lacking somewhat, there’s still just enough punch. I did find that using the analog input offered marginally better sound quality, but not substantially. The Low Latency adapter also offers slightly improved response times as claimed; but, again, there isn’t much difference. Another win is Augmented mode, which achieves its aim of letting your voice and ambient noise come through clearly when you want it to.

The microphone, too, is of a high quality. Voices are clear with minimal distortion, although fidelity isn’t overly impressive. Superfluous noises are well blocked, though.

There are a few usability issues with the MMX 200 Wireless. First, connecting wirelessly via Bluetooth or the Low Latency adapter isn’t the most seamless experience, and I experienced issues with various devices failing to connect on my initial attempts. The button required to switch between Bluetooth and Low Latency modes also failed to register consistently, requiring firmer and slower presses than you might expect.

Connecting via USB-C from my PC also resulted in a constant, high-pitched whine, resembling that of electronic interference, which is obviously an annoyance. Thankfully, though, it’s quiet enough to be masked by game audio.

The claimed 35-hour battery life of the MMX 200 Wireless does seem to hold true, as I managed several days of varied use during my time with the headphones. Charging to full from empty takes somewhere under three hours, which is about average.

Although it may have other headsets beat for audio quality, and the multiple connectivity options and handy features work well for the most part, this is a fiercely competitive space, and the MMX 200 Wireless' various user interface and connectivity flaws mean rival models – such as the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro and the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro – offer a better gaming experience for a similar price or less.

Close-up on Beyerdynamic MMX 200 Wireless driver — (Image credit: Future)

Beyerdynamic MMX 200 Wireless: Price and availability

$199 / £169 / AU$399
Released September 28, 2023
Black and gray variants available

The MMX 200 Wireless costs $199 / £169 / AU$399. It’s available now in two colors: black and gray. The detachable microphone and Low Latency adapter, as well as the USB-C to 3.5mm analog and USB-C to USB-A cables, are all included.

Whichever way you slice it, this is an expensive headset. The Razer BlackShark V2 Pro, one of the best wireless gaming headsets in our view, costs the same at $199 / £199 / AU$349, although it can be found for less. Despite being a few years old at this point, the BlackShark V2 Pro continues to impress with its excellent build and sound quality. It also features Razer’s spatial audio engine, THX, which really does add an extra layer of immersion.

If you’re only concerned about PC gaming and want to spend even less, the Corsair HS65 Surround may be a better choice. It’s our pick as the best PC gaming headset for those on a budget, thanks to its surround sound compatibility and lightweight construction. You can’t go wireless with it, though.

Beyerdynamic MMX 200 Wireless: Specs

Close-up of Beyerdynamic MMX 200 Wireless driver — (Image credit: Future)

Beyerdynamic MMX 200 Wireless: Design and features

Bulky design
Circular cups not ergonomic
Switchgear feels premium

Unlike other gaming headsets, the MMX 200 Wireless sports a moderate aesthetic, with the flashes of orange adorning the earcups being the only nods to its target market.

It isn't what you’d call discreet, though, because every part of the MMX 200 Wireless is large. The earpads are thick, which does at least make them comfortable for extended session; it prevents the inside of the drivers from pressing against the ear lobes – something I have experienced with numerous headsets and headphones, including the Beyerdynamic DT770s. Glasses-wearers should also find the MMX 200 Wireless comfortable, although I did notice a slight ache in my temples after a few hours of continuous use, caused by the pressure of the drivers. It’s still far better than I’ve experienced with other headsets, though.

Annoyingly, the circular shape of the drivers means they can press on the back of your chair when you rest back your head. I generally prefer oval-shaped drivers for this reason, usually finding them more comfortable overall. Also, they don’t rotate laterally, which makes stowing them away a chore. This also means the MMX 200 Wireless are a little cumbersome to hang off your neck, but it still isn’t what I’d call uncomfortable in this position.

While the headband padding is well cushioned, I would recommend moving the drivers a little further down than you typically might: I found that failing to do so caused the top of my head to ache. Admittedly, this is an issue I experience with many headphones, so others may not have the same experience.

The mechanism for adjusting the position of the drivers isn’t the most elegant or well made. The notches are overly stiff, and don’t feel the most seamless to operate. Also, the wires coming from the drivers are exposed, whereas they're generally hidden and protected on other premium gaming headsets.

Close-up of Beyerdynamic MMX 200 Wireless microphone — (Image credit: Future)

The switches and ports on the MMX 200 Wireless are well made, however. All the buttons feel solid, being firm yet easy to operate. The USB-C and microphone ports are deeply recessed, offering an extra level of assurance that they won’t get damaged, although this is arguably a case of over-engineering. The included cables are also premium, with a thick rubberized casing and solid connections; but their lack of strain-relief could spell trouble in terms of longevity, making them more susceptible to fraying.

The detachable microphone is of a similarly high standard to the rest of the MMX 200 Wireless. The connection to the headset feels very secure thanks to that aforementioned recessing, and the infinitely bendy cable seems very durable yet easy to manipulate, making it a cinch to get in position and out of the way when desired. The cloth cover may be the only weak point in the headset's design, as it isn’t particularly thick nor cushioned; but it’s on par with other headset microphone cloths.

There are a few extra features on the MMX 200 Wireless. First, there’s Low Latency mode, accessible when using the included dongle, which can connect via USB-C or USB-A. This aims to cut the lag between audio and video, although microphone delay times will still apply.

There’s also an Augmented mode, designed to let ambient sound in more clearly, with the main benefit being a more natural perception of your own voice when speaking. This is achieved by holding the volume button for two seconds. However, the lack of any kind of audio cue means switching in and out of this mode is a little tricky, with testing it being the only way to tell.

There’s no real software for the MMX 200 Wireless, other than an updater tool that can be downloaded from Beyerdynamic’s website. It also tells you whether and how you're connected to your PC, but provides no other information, not even battery level, which is disappointing. Having a more in-depth tool would have helped to clarify the various modes and states of the MMX 200 Wireless, since it isn’t always obvious from the buttons, LEDs and audio cues alone.

Close-up of Beyerdynamic MMX 200 Wireless buttons — (Image credit: Future)

Beyerdynamic MMX 200 Wireless: Performance

Bluetooth connection clumsy
High-quality audio
Low Latency and Augmented modes

Getting started with the MMX 200 Wireless wasn’t the easiest of experiences. Connecting via Bluetooth to various devices took a couple of attempts each time. Pressing the Bluetooth button to switch between Bluetooth and Low Latency adapter modes was sometimes required to kick it into life, and the lack of voice-over stating the mode you’re in made things more difficult.

What’s more, pressing the connection button the correct amount of times to switch between the two modes didn’t always work – presses have to be very deliberate and spaced out in order for mode switching to work. In short, it’s far from being the most efficient process in practice.

Rather worryingly, when I first connected successfully to my PC, the volume was set to 100 by default and I couldn’t change it for the first 30 seconds or so. This could’ve been a quirk of my particular system, and indeed I didn’t experience the same issue when connecting to another PC (Windows 11 instead of 10 this time) or various consoles, but it’s worth mentioning all the same.

Pairing with an Android phone also proved unsuccessful initially. My Google Pixel 7a stated that an incorrect PIN or passkey was the reason for the failure, despite not asking for one (and the impossibility of typing with headset – you’ll be surprised to learn there’s no keyboard function on the MMX 200 Wireless). It did eventually pair with my device, though. I experienced a similar issue connecting to an Android tablet, so perhaps it’s an Android-related issue.

While it’s compatible with the PlayStation 5, you can’t connect via Bluetooth, although this is the case for even the best PS5 headsets. You can connect wirelessly via the Low Latency dongle, though, as well as via the 3.5mm analog jack on the DualSense. Both of these connections were instant and stable.

Connecting to my Nintendo Switch was also straightforward, requiring the lowest number of attempts to establish a connection. Beyerdynamic says that connecting to a Switch is only possible using the Low Latency dongle or the analog cable, but I was able to successfully connect via Bluetooth alone, much like the best Nintendo Switch headsets.

Beyerdynamic MMX 200 Wireless on desk with microphone detached — (Image credit: Future)

Once you're connected via Bluetooth, the sound is clear, with all frequencies being very well balanced; there are no muddy mids or harsh highs. There’s also enough power in bass frequencies to lend real impact to in-game music and effects, but it still lacks somewhat in this area compared to other regular headphones, even those made by Beyerdynamic. Still, compared to other gaming headsets, the MMX 200 Wireless performs admirably.

When connected via the analog cable, there does appear to be a slight increase in the presence of higher frequencies, resulting in a sound with a seemingly greater fidelity, although the difference is marginal. It’s much better suited to playing music than some other headsets, too, so if you plan on using the MMX 200 Wireless for various applications, it’s versatile enough to meet your expectations – exactly what you’d expect from a company famed for its attention to sonic detail.

Using the Low Latency adapter does indeed reduce lag, but the effect is only minimal, and I doubt the majority of gamers will ever notice it. Sound quality does seem slightly improved over Bluetooth as well, but again, not by much.

Augmented mode opens up the headset to outside ambience, with the benefit of making your own voice and ambient noises audible. I could even hear the clacking on my keyboard.

The microphone renders voices well, with minimal distortion, although the fidelity doesn't exactly beat that of other premium headsets. Its claim to block out ambient noises, such as typing, does appear to hold true according to my tests. However, it's a shame that the Low Latency mode doesn’t appear to have any effect on microphone inputs, since the inevitable delay between speaking and the sound reaching other players remains the same regardless of the mode you’re in.

The claimed battery life of 35 hours does seem to be accurate. I managed to get several days of use out of the MMX 200 Wireless between charges, and that involved using it with multiple devices, connecting to them in all wired and wireless modes. Charging performance is fairly average, with the headset getting back to full from empty in about two and a half to three hours. It’s a shame that there’s no easy way to tell how much battery life remains, though: the light guide around the volume wheel only indicates a few percentage increments, while the voice-over also doesn’t always give an exact figure, so it’s hard to determine remaining levels precisely.

Should you buy the Beyerdynamic MMX 200 Wireless?

Buy it if...

You want great sound
The MMX 200 Wireless offers great sound. It might not live up to the heights of Beyerdynamic’s other audio gear, but it’s still better than other gaming headsets.

You want to connect various ways
Multiple wired and wireless options are available, so it’s hard to imagine a device you wouldn’t be able to connect to.

Don't buy it if...

You want a low profile – in all senses
The MMX 200 Wireless is bulky and doesn’t fold away, making it hard to store; and others will definitely notice you wearing them. It's best kept indoors.

You want something easy to use
You can’t exactly plug and go with the MMX 200 Wireless. Initial setup proved a little tricky, and the lack of clear instructions, either in the manual or in the headset, made matters worse.

Also consider...

Razer BlackShark V2 Pro
The Razer BlackShark V2 Pro claims our top spot as the best wireless gaming headset. It offers great build quality and sound, and it features the brand’s THX spatial audio for a more immersive experience. It can also be found for less than the MMX 200 Wireless.

Read our Razer BlackShark V2 Pro review

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro
As our best PC gaming headset, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro features a Hi-Res certified GameDAC Gen 2 and has spatial audio capability. The wired version is more expensive than the MMX 200 Wireless, although it can be found for less.

Read our SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro review

How I tested the Beyerdynamic MMX 200 Wireless

Tested for one week
Tested on multiple platforms and devices
Plentiful gaming experience

I tested the MMX 200 Wireless for one week. During that time, I used it to game, chat, listen to music and watch video content.

I tested all its features and connection methods. I used it with numerous devices, including PCs (both Windows 10 and Windows 11), a PlayStation 5, a Nintendo Switch OLED, a OnePlus Pad Go tablet and a Google Pixel 7a.

I played both online and offline games, using voice chat in the latter case to test the microphone. I tried to spread my testing across a varied selection of titles, which included Sea of Thieves, Counter-Strike 2, Gran Turismo 7, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and Hollowbody.

I have experience testing audio devices, including headphones and speakers, as well as other gaming peripherals, such as mice and keyboards. I also own a pair of Beyerdynamic DT770s, and have used them for audio production for several years. I have been an avid gamer for decades.

Sony UPB-X700 review: One minute review

The Sony UBP-X700 is an affordable 4K Blu-ray player ($199 /£199 / AU$369 at the time of writing six years on from its release) that supports Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos and DTS:X soundtracks. It also supports a wide range of media, including 3D Blu-ray discs, SACDs, DVDs and CDs and has Wi-Fi for streaming from apps such as Netflix and Prime Video.

Performance-wise, the Sony UBP-X700 is an all-around brilliant player. It doesn’t quite manage the jack-of-all-trades excellence of the Panasonic DP-UB820, but it delivers superb 4K images with punchy color, accurate and refined textures and contrast up there with the best 4K Blu-ray players, especially when fed Dolby Vision discs. Upscaling is generally effective – more on Blu-ray rather than on the lower-resolution DVD format - and while it does enhance certain colors and applies some artificial cleaning to film grain, the UBP-X700 still offers excellent image reproduction, especially compared to the Panasonic DP-UB154 – a solid, similarly priced player.

The UBP-X700 effectively handles Dolby Atmos soundtracks and has balanced and accurate sound reproduction. CD playback is also effective.

The UBP-X700’s interface is easy enough to navigate, although a little on the plain side. A good number of settings for video and audio are provided. Design-wise, the UBP-X700 is compact, making it ideal for smaller spaces, though its physical design is plain – an LED display with playback info would have been welcome – and its remote feels very dated.

It’s tough to argue against the value of the UBP-X700 as it’s an overall fantastic performer for an affordable price. Pairing this with one of the best TVs, particularly one of the best OLED TVs such as the Samsung S95D or LG C4, will lead to a match made in heaven.

Sonu UBP-X700 home menu — The Sony UBP-X700's home page is a little on the plain side (Image credit: Future)

Sony UBP-X700 review: Prices & release date

Release date: January 2018
Prices: $199 / £199 / AU$369

The Sony UBP-X700 is a mid-range model in Sony’s 4K Blu-ray player lineup, sitting below the Sony UBPX-800MKII. At the time of its release in 2018, the UPBX700 was priced at $249 / £249 / AU$399.

Several years on prices have dropped overall, with the UBP-X700 sitting at roughly $199 / £199 / AU$369 at the time of writing, though it has previously sold for as low as $149 / £149 / AU$225.

Sony UBP-X700 review: Specs

Sony UBP-X700 rear connections panel — The Sony UBP-X700 offers a good number of connections, including dual HDMI and coaxial digital audio outputs (Image credit: Future)

Sony UBP-X700 review: Features

Dolby Vision HDR support
Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support
Built-in Wi-Fi and streaming capability

The Sony UBP-X700 supports 4K Blu-ray, regular Blu-ray, DVD and 3D disc playback. It also plays not only audio CDs but SACDs – a disc format the more premium Panasonic DP-UB820 and many other 4K Blu-ray players don’t support.

The UBP-X700 supports the Dolby Vision and HDR10 high dynamic range formats, but not HDR10+. For comparison, the cheaper Panasonic DP-UB150 supports HDR10+, but not Dolby Vision, while the pricier Panasonic DP-UB820 supports both Dolby Vision and HDR10+.

For audio, the UPBX700 supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X soundtracks (bitstream only) and can decode Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD soundtracks. There is also support for High-res audio file formats including ALAC, DSD and FLAC.

The UBP-X700 isn’t as well stocked with connections as more premium 4K Blu-ray players such as the DP-UB820, but has two HDMI ports – one for video and audio and one audio-only – as well as a coaxial digital audio output. There is also an Ethernet port and a front USB port. Built-in Wi-Fi allows access to streaming services including Netflix, Prime Video and YouTube, and there’s BBC iPlayer for UK customers.

In terms of performance, navigation was easy enough without any stutter or slowdown. A good number of settings are provided for both picture and sound, including a 4K upscaling setting with three different modes, a Digital Music Enhancer, audio dynamic range control and more.

One frustration I had involved the player’s Dolby Vision menu setting. With Dolby Vision turned on, the UBP-X700 indicated it was displaying Dolby Vision movies even when it wasn’t – even leaving it on when watching regular Blu-ray discs without HDR. I could see no obvious related picture issues, but it was still frustrating having to turn this on and off as there are some SDR-specific picture settings to improve quality which are locked when Dolby Vision HDR is activated. If you regularly switch between 4K and standard Blu-ray/DVDs, that’s something worth bearing in mind.

Features score: 4.5 / 5

Sony UBP-X700 with Panasonic MZ1500 connected with La La Land on screen — The Sony UBP-X700's color display is fantastic, filled with vibrancy as shown here on *La La Land* (Image credit: Future)

Sony UBP-X700 review: Performance

Short disc load time
Bold, vibrant colors
Effective 4K upscaling

The UBP-X700 demonstrated surprisingly short load time for a cheaper 4K Blu-ray player. Loading a disc into the disc tray to seeing the first logos on screen took roughly 30 seconds – some 5-10 seconds faster than the Panasonic DP-UB820 and nearly 30 seconds faster than the Panasonic DP-UB154.

For testing, the UBP-X700 was connected to a Panasonic MZ1500 OLED TV.

Starting with 4K Blu-rays, the UBP-X700 demonstrated excellent picture quality. In La La Land (HDR10 format) colors were bright and vibrant, with plenty of dynamic punch throughout. Colors with the Sony had a more vivid look than with the Panasonic UB820 and UB150, both of which had a more natural, subdued appearance. This isn’t to say colors were oversaturated on the UPBX700, but they definitely had a glossier look than on the Panasonic players.

I did notice during the ‘A Lovely Night’ scene in La La Land that the UBP-X700 favored a cooler color palette, accentuating the blues and purples of the night sky in the background. The colors were still accurate and crisp, but it’s worth noting.

Moving on to The Batman on 4K Blu-ray in Dolby Vision, the UBP-X700 demonstrated superb black levels and contrast, with the opening crime scene showcasing a great balance between the lights in the room and hallways and the darkened floors and walls. Shadow detail was also excellent, with details in clothing maintained even in the darkest shots.

Moving onto standard Blu-ray, I used the same scene from The Batman to test the effectiveness of the UBP-X700’s upscaling. Although it was not as good as the Panasonic UB820, the UPBX700 still did an impressive job. Textures were a touch softer and contrast wasn’t quite as good as you’d find on more premium players, but the Sony’s upscaling did improve the overall sharpness of the picture.

The UBP-X700 even did a decent upscaling job with a DVD of The Amazing Spider-Man, improving textures and colors. It was more effective here than the Panasonic UB154 but not as effective as the Panasonic UB820.

I also analyzed how much film grain the UBP-X700 left intact with older movies. Watching a Blu-ray of Thief, particularly shots at dawn in the opening, the UBP-X700 did maintain some grain but there was less present compared to the same scene played through the Panasonic UB820. I also found this to be the case when watching 4K Blu-rays of The Batman and La La Land. Film purists may want to make note of this.

For audio, I had no issue playing Dolby Atmos soundtracks through the UBP-X700. I also tested a CD in the UPB-X700 and found no issues with stutter or load times.

Performance score: 4.5 / 5

Sony UBP-X700 with disc tray open with La La Land loaded into tray — The Sony UBP-X700 has short loading times of under 30 seconds from when the disc is inserted to first logos appearing on screen (Image credit: Future)

Sony UBP-X700 review: Design

Very light and compact
No front LED display
Old-school, cheap remote

The UBP-X700 is a lightweight and compact player compared to the wider and deeper Panasonic UB820 and UB154, making it more versatile for smaller spaces. It feels less premium and uses cheaper materials than players such as the UB820, but looks and feels sturdy enough for the price.

One thing to note is there is no front LED display to notify of timing while watching a movie, a feature found on the Panasonic UB820. Timing and other info can be shown on your TV by pressing the info button on the remote, however.

The UPBX700 features two HDMI ports and a coaxial digital audio output alongside an Ethernet and a front USB port. This is a respectable number of connections and while it doesn’t match up to more premium players, it’s more than found on the budget Panasonic UB154.

The small supplied remote feels a little dated and cheap. While I wasn’t expecting a premium remote, I found the smaller buttons to be a little more difficult to use compared to those found on Panasonic player remotes.

Design score: 4 / 5

Sony UBP-X700 remote — The Sony UBP-X700 has a small, cheap-feeling remote (Image credit: Future)

Sony UBP-X700 review: Value

While the Sony UBP-X700 isn’t going to beat the workhorse-like Panasonic DP-UB820, it does offer great performance and a good number of features including Wi-Fi for streaming, which is a rare feature in an affordable player.

At $199 / £199 / AU$369 – even dropping as low as $149 / £149 / AU$369 – the UBP-X700 is great value for money and while it lacks the full HDR support of the Panasonic DP-UB820, Dolby Vision is an excellent feature in a cheaper player.

Value score: 4.5 / 5

Sony UBP-X700 with sunset on screen of Panasonic MZ1500 — Contrast in the Sony UBP-X700's picture is also very rich (Image credit: Future)

Should you buy the Sony UBP-X700?

Buy it if...

You want excellent picture quality: The Sony UBP-X700 produces excellent picture quality with any disc format, especially 4K Blu-rays with Dolby Vision.View Deal

You want streaming options: The Sony UBP-X700 supports Wi-Fi and comes pre-loaded with streaming apps such as Netflix if your TV doesn't support them.View Deal

You want bang for your buck: With everything it delivers, the Sony UBP-X700 is an excellent value 4K Blu-ray player.View Deal

Don't buy if it...

You regularly swap between different disc formats: An annoying setting means Dolby Vision needs to be turned on and off every time you switch from Dolby Vision-supported discs to unsupported ones. View Deal

You need HDR10+ support: While the Sony UBP-X700 does support Dolby Vision, it doesn't support HDR10+, a format supported by the Panasonic DP-UB820 along with Dolby Vision. View Deal

Also consider

Panasonic DP-UB820: The workhorse of the 4K Blu-ray player world, the Panasonic DP-UB820 covers all the HDR formats you need and delivers phenomenal picture quality, but is pricier than the Sony UBP-X700. If you can stretch your budget, the UB820 is worth the investment.
Read our full Panasonic DP-UB820 review View Deal

Panasonic DP-UB150/154 - Cheaper than the UBP-X700, the Panasonic DP-UB150/154 (name varies by region) is a capable 4K Blu-ray player that supports HDR10+. It doesn't support Dolby Vision and is lighter on features than the Sony UB-PX700, so only go for this if you're trying to save money.
Read our full Panasonic DP-UB154 review View Deal

Sony UBP-X800M2: The step-up model of the Sony UBP-X700, the UBP-X800M2 comes equipped with more features, somewhat improved picture quality and a sturdier design, but also a higher price. It's worth the upgrade if you can stretch your budget for the better performance. View Deal

Sony UBP-X700 settings menu on Panasonic MZ1500 — The Sony UBP-X700's settings menu (Image credit: Future)

How I tested the Sony UBP-X700

Tested using a variety of discs formats including 4K Blu-ray, Blu-ray and DVD
Tested with Panasonic MZ1500 OLED TV

To test the Sony UBP-X700, I connected it to the Panasonic MZ1500 OLED TV, which supports Dolby Vision.

For picture quality testing, I primarily used reference scenes from 4K Blu-ray discs I use for testing TVs such as The Batman, La La Land, Top Gun: Maverick and more. I also used a Blu-ray version of Thief to test the UBP-X700's film grain accuracy.

I used standard Blu-rays and DVDs to test the UBP-X700's upscaling ability and a CD to test the UBP-X700's audio playback.

I also tested the UBP-X700's software by navigating through different menus, testing response times, and exploring the level of settings. I also streamed content via Netflix and BBC iPlayer to test the UBP-X700's streaming capabilities.

First reviewed: October 2024
Read TechRadar's Reviews Guarantee

Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 review: portraiture on a budget

7:54 pm | October 25, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Camera Lenses Cameras Computers Gadgets | Comments: Off

Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4: two-minute review

The nifty-fifty lens is a staple in many a photographer's camera bag – a typically compact lens for portraiture that offers good control over depth of field to make your subjects stand out. It's the lens that I would recommend to beginner photographers having grown out of their kit lens and looking for a second lens to elevate the quality of their photos – and if they have a Nikon camera I would recommend the new Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.4.

Where mirrorless lenses can often be much pricier than DSLR equivalents – the classic 50mm f/1.8 lens for Canon and Nikon DSLR cameras is just about the cheapest lens you can buy at around $100 / £100 secondhand – Nikon is looking to buck this trend by creating affordable options for mirrorless, and the new Z 50mm f/1.4 is its cheapest Z-mount f/1.4 lens so far.

This isn't Nikon's first 50mm lens for its mirrorless cameras. It follows the optically-excellent Z 50mm f/1.8, which was one of Nikon's first lenses for its Z-mount, launched back in 2018, while there's also the 50mm f/1.2 pro lens with 'S' moniker, and the beastly 58mm f/0.95 Noctilux which costs a cool $9,000. However, the new Z 50mm f/1.4 is a stripped-back variation, with minimal external controls, a lightweight build, and offering decent rather than spectacular image quality.

Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 lens in the hands — (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

It's pretty much in the same mold as the Nikkor Z 35mm f/1.4 lens which I reviewed recently – the pair share practically the same size, weight, 62m filter size and design. One on hand I respect what Nikon is doing; where Canon launches the pro-grade RF 35mm f/1.4 for mirrorless which costs around $1,500 / £1,820 / AU$2,699, Nikon is launching a lens for enthusiast photographers for around a third of the price.

The downside, however, is that optical quality, while very sharp, is decent rather than outstanding, especially when it comes to bokeh. You're not getting buttery-smooth out-of-focus light balls, but a slightly 'fussy' bokeh instead. I pitted it against the F-mount Nikon 50mm f/1.4G AF-S lens for DSLRs launched in 2008 (you can see the two lenses side by side, below) and the older lens has smoother bokeh.

However, bokeh is more circular in shape with the new Z-mount 50mm f/1.4, while its clarity wipes the floor with the F-mount 50mm f/1.4 G when shooting at f/1.4, which is what I suspect many photographers will be doing. In-focus detail is so much sharper at f/1.4, and even skin tones are more accurate – there can be a slight yellow-ish hue with the DSLR version of the lens.

That superior performance when shooting with the aperture wide-open is what you can expect with the best Nikon mirrorless cameras and lenses, while autofocus is snappier and more reliable too.

Nikon Z 50mm F1.4 alongside Nikon's F-mount 50mm f/1.4G lens — Nikon's new Z 50mm F1.4 lens alongside Nikon's F-mount 50mm f/1.4G lens with Nikon Z-mount to F-mount adaptor (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

My F-mount 50mm f/1.4G AF-S, which by the way is almost the same price as the Z 50mm f/1.4, has notoriously bad back-focusing issues when used with a DSLR – you think the focus is on the eyes of your subject, only for it to be on the ears. When you're shooting at f/1.4 with such shallow depth of field, it's noticeable. This issue is somewhat improved when the lens is used on a mirrorless camera via an adapter, but the mirrorless lens still has the edge.

With mirrorless cameras, such as the Nikon Z6 III for which the Z 50mm f/1.4 is a perfect fit, you get the latest subject-detection and eye-detection autofocus, which will nail sharp focus on the eyes. And it's this performance which makes a Nikon mirrorless camera with this new 50mm lens an easy recommendation, even if the icing on the cake would be slightly better bokeh.

Like the 35mm f/1.4, I expect the 50mm f/1.4 to prove popular, even if it's not one of Nikon's best lenses. If you're upgrading from existing DSLR gear, of the two, I would buy the 50mm lens before the 35mm.

Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 specs

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Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 lens viewed from above — (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

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Profile of the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 lens attached to a Nikon Z6 II

(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

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Closeup of the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 lens' control ring — (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

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Closeup of the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 lens front element — (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

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Closeup of the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 lens aperture blades — (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4: Design

Small and simple
Decent pairing with Nikon's smallest mirrorless cameras like the Z6 III
Quick and quiet autofocus
Maximum 0.17x magnification ratio for moderate close-up photography

The Z 50mm f/1.4 design is pretty much a copy-and-paste of the Z 35mm f/1.4, meaning it's a small and simple lens. The lenses are practically the same in size and weight, with the Z 50mm a hair's breadth longer at 88.5mm in length, and tipping the scales at 14.9oz / 420g – that's just 5g more than the 35mm lens.

Nikon's equivalent F-mount lens for DSLRs – the 50mm f/1.4G – is smaller and lighter still, but so far as Nikon Z-mount lenses go, this is one of the smaller ones.

I tested the lens with a Nikon Z6 III and the Nikon Z6 II, mid-sized cameras for which the Z 50mm f/1.4 is perfectly balanced, being compact in form. Unlike those cameras, however, the Z 50mm f/1.4 isn't officially weather-sealed, and so it's probably best to treat it with care. Sure, the occasional light shower is no problem, but sand, dust, and heavy downpours could eventually prove the lens' undoing.

There's not a single button or switch on the lens, and as someone who regularly switches between manual and autofocus, I've missed having a direct control on the lens. I'd love to know Nikon's reasoning for omitting a MF / AF switch – surely it can't be a cost-saving exercise.

The only exterior controls are a generously-sized focus ring, plus a customizable control ring. The latter can be set to various functions, one of which is as a click-less aperture ring, which is a particularly handy control for filmmaking.

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Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 lens in the hand — (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

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Closeup of the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 lens rear mount — (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

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Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 lens attached to a Nikon Z6 II, in the hand — (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

The minimum focus distance is 1.22ft / 0.37m, which results in a magnification ratio of 0.18x, which again is very similar to the Z 35mm lens. In real terms, you can easily fill the frame with close-up subjects like flowers, but this is no macro lens.

Autofocus is impressively quick and quiet. Pair this lens with the Z6 III, which boasts eye-detection autofocus and Nikon's best subject-detection autofocus performance, and you have a powerful tool for portraiture. Put simply, you can rely on this lens, mounted on one of Nikon's latest mirrorless cameras, to hit sharp focus where it matters most.

Autofocus is a refreshing and reliable experience when compared to shooting with my Nikon D800 and 50mm f/1.4 G AF-S lens, which I can't trust and; to be blunt, using it can be a little stressful, especially in pressure moments such as a portrait shoot or a wedding. I'm so glad that I upgraded from DSLR to mirrorless years ago, and it's lenses like the new Z 50mm f/1.4 that make the experience so enjoyable.

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Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 lens on a Nikon Z6 II — (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4: Performance

Very sharp detail
Handy wide aperture for shallow depth of field and low-light scenes
Bokeh quality is just 'good'

Autofocus is quick and reliable with one of Nikon's latest mirrorless cameras, like the Z6 III, which is an excellent foundation for portraiture photography. Knowing that you're getting sharp focus on the eyes is one less thing to worry about, helping you relax into portrait shoots. But what is optical quality like beyond accurate focusing? Overall, it's just decent rather than spectacular.

Detail is very sharp. If you're shooting with the aperture set anywhere between f/2 and f/8 you can expect tack-sharp detail across the entire frame for subjects within the field of focus. Even at f/1.4 detail is very sharp, and this lens wipes the floor with the F-mount DSLR equivalent, the 50mm f//1.4G, which is much softer at f/1.4.

The optical construction, as with most 50mm lenses, is relatively basic. There are nine aperture blades for a rounded aperture, and bokeh is nice and round at f/1.4, especially when compared to the bokeh produced by the F-mount 50mm f/1.4G, which is more cat's-eye in shape in the corners of the frame. However, if you stop down the Z-mount lens to f/2.8 you'll see the more octagonal-like shaping.

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Head and shoulder portrait, outdoors, shallow depth of field, dappled light through tree leaves — Detail from the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 is sharp at f/1.4, and bokeh rounded. With lens corrections active, aberrations are controlled better. Stop the aperture down and bokeh becomes less rounded (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

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It's the bokeh quality that could be a deal-breaker for professional portrait photographers, for whom the Z 50mm f/1.2 is the better choice, provided you can afford it (it's almost five times the costs of the f/1.4 lens). For everyone else, bokeh quality is fine.

If you look closely at images with the f/1.4 lens, the edging of bokeh 'balls' is a little pronounced, rather than them having a nice smooth fall-off. Thankfully there's little sign of aberrations in those edges, which would otherwise be impossible to fix at the click of a button. Only in the most extreme scenarios, like backlit water droplets (see above), will you see pronounced aberrations.

Vignetting – which is the light fall-off in the corners of images – is pretty standard. At f/1.4 it's clear to see, while those darker corners significantly brighten at f/2, and the effect is all but gone by f/4. Below you can see the same image shot at f/1.4, f/2, f/2.8, f/4 and f/5.6, so you can compare bokeh, aberrations, and vignetting.

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Backlit heather and dew-covered grass closeup — Left: f/1.4 aperture and aberrations in bokeh Right: f/5.6 fussy bokeh less rounded in shape Note, all lens corrections are switched off (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

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Backlit heather and dew-covered grass, taken with the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 at its various apertures — f/1.4 (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

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Nikon Z 35mm f/1.4: sample images

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Footpath lined with long grass at first light, taken with the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 lens — (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

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Deatils of heather and cobwebs, taken with the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 lens — (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

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Grass and flowers in morning light, taken with the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 lens — (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

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Head and shoulder portrait, taken with the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 lens — (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

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Backlit portrait, taken with the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 lens — (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

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Mushroom, taken with the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 lens — (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

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Mushroom from ground perspective, taken with the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 lens — (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

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Tips of grasshead covered in dew, taken with the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 lens — (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

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Cobweb on heather, taken with the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4 lens — (Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)

Should you buy the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4?

Buy it if...

You take a lot of portraits

There's a reason that wide-aperture 50mm lenses are popular for portraiture – you get a flattering perspective and shallow depth of field.

You want an affordable fast-aperture lens

This is Nikon's most affordable Z-mount lens with a f/1.4 maximum aperture.

You don't need the bells and whistles

Its stripped back design is best suited to those who are happy to let the camera take control, for instance mainly relying on autofocus.

Don't buy it if...

Bokeh matters most to you

Slightly fussy bokeh is the singular biggest disappointment in this low-cost portrait lens.

You like to take control over focusing

With no direct manual / autofocus switch, it's a time sink switching between the two through the camera.

You work in tough environments

No official weather sealing means you'll need to act with a degree of caution in inclement weather and tough environments.

How I tested the Nikon Z 50mm f/1.4

Regular use over one month
Paired with the Nikon Z6 III and Nikon Z6 II
Like-for-like tests with the F-mount Nikon 50mm f/1.4 for DSLRs

Nikon loaned me the Z 50mm f/1.4 for a whole month, and it was my primary lens during this period. I've taken it on early morning photo walks, made portraits, and used it in a wide range of stills and video scenarios. It has tackled some tough tasks, such as shooting close-up photos of water droplets into the light.

All in-camera lens corrections were turned off, and I took all photos in raw and JPEG format to compare the results un-corrected and the processed results. As always, I took several series of an identical image, working down the aperture range (in this case f/1.4, f/1.8, f/2, f/2.8, f/4 and f/5.6) to see how sharpness and bokeh compares at the various settings.

I also dug out my old F-mount 50mm f/1.4 lens, which I've previously used with a Nikon D800 DSLR, and took like-for-like photos with it alongside the Z 50mm f/1.4 on the Nikon Z6 III (via an adaptor for the F-mount lens). The resolution of the full-frame cameras used for this test was 24MP. I avoided using the camera in heavy rain, but felt comfortable using it in cold and moderately wet weather.

First reviewed October 2024

MSI MPG 491CQP QD-OLED review: gorgeous gaming display for a great price

7:00 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Gadgets Monitors Peripherals & Accessories | Comments: Off

MSI MPG 491CQP QD-OLED: Three-minute review

The MSI MPG 491CQP QD-OLED is easily one of the best gaming monitors I've ever used, although it's going to struggle against the best ultrawide monitors for just about all other tasks other than gaming and watching video content.

A clue as to why it's so good for the latter is in the name: OLED. The Samsung QD-OLED panel on this monitor is spectacular to look at, offering a snappy 0.03ms response time and 144Hz refresh at a 5120 x 1440p for ultrafast high-end gaming. The 1800R curve of the panel is also the perfect match for the 32:9 aspect ratio, so you don't lose detail in your peripheral vision.

What's more, at just $1,099 / £1,099 / AU$1,699, you're going to feel like you're getting a much more premium product for your money than its visuals might suggest.

The Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 ultrawide, for example, offers slightly better specs, but comes with a price tag that's nearly 50% more, making the MSI MPG 491CQP QD-OLED appear something of a bargain.

However, look under the hood, though, and you'll spot where some compromises have been made.

An MSI MPG 491CQP QD-OLED on a desk — (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

For one, OLED panels are notorious for suffering burn-in, so if you didn't register and activate that copy of Windows you've been using, this monitor will have you found out, even if you eventually do give Microsoft the money it's due.

What's more, in order to prevent burn-in, you'll need to let the monitor run its OLED Care routine after about six hours or so. While you might be able to opt out when the monitor first notifies you that it's time to run the routine, you'll only be delaying the inevitable – and, when you least expect it, the monitor will go ahead and run the routine and you can't stop it (nor should you).

While this will extend the useful life of your monitor, this unpredictability will be a nightmare for, say, Final Fantasy XIV fans who are in the middle of a boss raid. That's because once the routine starts, the monitor effectively shuts off, and you have to wait anywhere from five to thirty minutes for the routine to complete.

Of course, this could also be a benefit, since it does force you to get up and maybe pet your cat or run to the store and get in some exercise; but it will be incredibly frustrating when it happens in the middle of something you'd rather not interrupt.

This isn't an MSI-exclusive problem, of course. All OLED monitors have to deal with such issues, but considering the investment here, it's best that you know what you're in for.

An MSI 491CQP QD-OLED on a desk — (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

In terms of features, you do get a good number of ports, with the USB-C capable of 90W power delivery. There's also a USB hub built-in with a KVM feature, which is handy – although the USB-A ports are limited to USB 2.0.

Note that you don't get any speakers with this monitor, so you'll have to settle for discrete PC speakers or a PC gaming headset, which might be a nuisance for those without either.

With regards to the screen itself, the nature of the pixels in the Samsung QD-OLED panel the MSI MPG 491CQP uses also tend to make text and Windows UI elements a bit wonky around the edges. If you're planning to do a lot of non-gaming work on this monitor, then, your experience might not match the price you're paying.

However, let's be clear, this is a gaming monitor through and through – and it's here that the MSI MPG 491CQP really shines. Rated for 0.03ms pixel response and 144Hz max refresh, this monitor will look and feel incredibly fast compared to even the best LCD monitors, and because it's an OLED panel, you'll get fantastic HDR with pure black color and no perceptible screen glow to ruin a scene.

Its color gamut coverage is excellent, too, rated for 98% AdobeRGB, 99% DCI-P3, and 146% sRGB. So, whether you're working or gaming, you'll be on the receiving end of incredibly vibrant colors.

Of course, it's also important to recognize that a monitor such as this will require the best graphics card to really push frame rates high enough to take advantage of what the MSI MPG 491CQP QD-OLED has to offer.

Anything less than the Nvidia RTX 4070 Super or AMD RX 7900 GRE won't be able to keep up with the texture sizes required for its native resolution, and even entry-level 4K graphics cards such as the RTX 4070 Ti Super or AMD RX 7900 XT won't be able to push frame rates into the hundreds without seriously scaling back the graphics quality. If you want to get the most out of this monitor at 5120 x 1440p, you'll need an RTX 4080 or RX 7900 XTX to get there.

If you're covered on that front then the MSI MPG 491CQP QD-OLED monitor is a fantastic buy for gamers, so long as you can handle the quirks of using an OLED display. If not, there are plenty of IPS and mini-LED displays out there that will work for you, but you'll be hard-pressed to find any that look this good.

MSI MPG 491CQP QD-OLED: Price & Availability

The MSI MPG 491CQP QD-OLED is available now in the US, UK, and Australia, with a retail price of $1,099 / £1,099 / AU$1,699, respectively.

This is substantially cheaper than the competing Samsung Odyssey OLED G9, which at $1,599.99 in the US is roughly 45% more expensive.

However, since both monitors have been on the market for several months now, it should be possible to find the models at lower cost – which makes a direct price comparison a bit of a moving target right now, especially during major sales events like Black Friday.

MSI MPG 491CQP QD-OLED: Specs

Should you buy the MSI MPG 491CQP QD-OLED?

Buy the MSI MPG 491CQP QD-OLED if...

The MSI MPG 491CQP looks stunning with sharp contrast, speedy performance, and vivid colors.

While this monitor isn't cheap, for what you get, it's a bargain that offers premium performance at a more affordable price.

Don't buy it if...

If you're used to playing PC games on your day off for several hours or more, be prepared to have the fun interrupted by the very necessary OLED Care feature.

This monitor is a great value for its class, but this is still a premium item.

MSI MPG 491CQP QD-OLED: also consider

The Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 is the premier super-ultrawide OLED monitor, sporting a faster refresh and extra features, but for a more premium price.

Read the full Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 review

How I tested the MSI MPG 491CQP QD-OLED

I used the MSI MPG 491CQP QD-OLED for a few months, playing games, working on photo and video content, as well as productivity work.

Since this is a gaming monitor first and foremost, I made sure to play a variety of games, from competitive shooters such as Call of Duty: Warzone as well as more laid-back titles such as Satisfactory. I have a very high-end PC, so I was able to consistently push the monitor's full resolution at 144fps to really challenge the display's performance.

I've been reviewing computer hardware for nearly five years now with TechRadar, including dozens of monitors, so I know what makes for a great gaming display and what will likely disappoint most gamers. I do my best to leverage that knowledge to deliver the best assessment of any products I review.

First reviewed October 2024

Xbox Series X Digital Edition review: a compelling option that slightly misses the mark on price and storage

3:00 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming | Tags: Forza Horizon, HDMI, Xbox Game Pass | Comments: Off

Xbox Series X Digital Edition: two-minute review

The Xbox Series X Digital Edition is one of the new additions to Microsoft’s current-gen console family, ditching the disc drive entirely in order to offer the gaming console at a lower, potentially more compelling price point.

There’s certainly strong appeal to this; for folks who want Microsoft’s most powerful current-generation console without needing to pay the biggest bucks, the Xbox Series X Digital Edition is a compelling option as it comes in $50 / £50 cheaper than the flagship Xbox Series X. And if you’re not at all fussed about owning physical copies of the best Xbox Series X games, then this all-digital console will be the one to go for.

It’s also an excellent choice if you like the appeal of Xbox Game Pass, Microsoft’s digital games-on-demand subscription service that lets you download hundreds of games at a monthly (or annual) fee. The less-powerful Xbox Series S console is great for Game Pass, too, but with this Series X model, you’ll be getting full-fledged current-gen gaming experiences with no graphical compromises.

Moreover, it’s a slick bit of kit from an aesthetic standpoint. I actually prefer the Robot White color scheme of the Digital Edition over the Carbon Black of the disc-drive console (not to mention the rather gaudy Galaxy Black of the new 2TB model). Of course, the aesthetic difference has no bearing on overall performance. And on that note, you’re getting an identical experience compared to the disc-drive model - and just like it and the Xbox Series S, this new all-digital console is impressively quiet during play.

That being said, I think the Xbox Series X Digital Edition’s price tag still errs on the higher side, coming in at $449.99 / £429.99. While that does match the price of the PS5 Slim Digital Edition in the US, it’s £40 more expensive than Sony’s all-digital machine in the UK. On top of that, the Xbox Series X Digital Edition only comes with around 800GB of usable storage (roughly 200GB is claimed by the operating system) compared to the PS5 Slim’s approximate 850GB. That’s also more or less the same as what is usable in the Xbox Series X disc-drive console.

That isn’t anything new for this console generation’s 1TB machines; all of them have had to reserve space for the essential software needed for them to function. Without some extra storage capacity, however, the value proposition of the Xbox Series X Digital Edition isn’t massively fantastic when compared to the disc-drive model or even the 1TB Xbox Series S. Granted, the latter is a less powerful system, but it is a much cheaper digital option ($349.99 / £299.99) with the same amount of storage.

You will also likely want to avoid the Digital Edition if you don’t have particularly good download speeds via your internet service provider. The lack of a disc drive here means you aren’t able to rely on physical media, and thus won’t be able to install games offline so are fully dependent on a strong internet connection.

In summary, then, the Xbox Series X Digital Edition is great for folks after optimal graphical capabilities from the current crop of Xbox consoles at a reduced price - especially if you don’t mind the absence of a disc drive or want to fully embrace Xbox Game Pass. But if you feel you’d miss the option for physical games, it’s worth stumping up that extra $50 / £50 for the base console instead.

Xbox Series X Digital Edition: Price and availability

$449.99 / £429.99 / AU$699
That’s $50 / £50 cheaper than the disc-drive Xbox Series X
Meanwhile, the 1TB Xbox Series S costs $349.99 / £299.99

The Xbox Series X Digital Edition retails at $449.99 / £429.99. It’s available to buy from the official Xbox online store, as well as plenty of big box retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, Argos, and Currys.

Despite the lack of a disc drive, the Xbox Series X Digital Edition still finds itself towards the higher end of the Series X|S price spectrum. As mentioned above, the standard Xbox Series X costs $499.99 / £479.99 after a price hike in 2023. For further comparison, the 1TB version of the Xbox Series S comes in at $349.99 / £299.99, making the Xbox Series X Digital Edition the priciest discless option within the Series X|S ecosystem.

You are at the very least getting the full brunt of the Series X’s graphical chops here, so those wanting a cheaper option for that will find value here. But, if your main drive for owning a current-generation Xbox is to play a lot of games at a significantly lower price point, then that 1TB Xbox Series S model may be the one to go for here.

Xbox Series X Digital Edition: Specs

Xbox Series X Digital Edition: Design and features

Robot White color scheme fits the Series X like a glove
No disc drive, but otherwise identical in terms of appearance and features
3 USB-A ports as well as HDMI, power, ethernet, and another for storage expansion

The Xbox Series X Digital Edition maintains the striking cuboid design of the original model. In fact, if you’ve ever laid eyes on an original Xbox Series X, this new one is essentially that without the disc drive and in a slick Robot White color scheme. I’m quite a fan of this aesthetic change; not only does it distinguish the model from its Carbon Black counterpart, it’s also more in line with other all-digital models like the Xbox Series S (especially with the Carbon Black Xbox Series S being phased out and not available for purchase in Australia). I think it also looks quite nice contrasting against my black TV stand.

Everything else about the console is identical to the 2020 model. The lack of a disc drive means the front of the unit is without any indentations, save for the Xbox logo power button and a solitary USB port which are both in the same place. It's also worth noting that Microsoft hasn't opted to add any USB-C ports here like Sony has with the PS5 Slim Digital Edition. That certainly would've made connecting certain third-party controllers or headsets via wireless dongle much easier. Otherwise, the built-in vertical stand is also present, resting at the bottom of the console, with ventilation here as well as at the top of the unit.

The back side of the console is also the same as its disc-drive brethren. Ports for power, HDMI, ethernet cable, and a slot for storage expansion like the Seagate Xbox Storage Expansion Card or the WD Black C50 are here, as well as two more USB ports. There are also more ventilation holes back here, ensuring that the console runs cool and quiet throughout your play sessions.

The Xbox Series X Digital Edition is also the same in terms of dimensions and, according to the official Xbox website, weighs the same 9.8lbs (around 4.5kg) as the disc-drive model. However, this digital console should be ever so slightly lighter than that due to the absence of the disc drive. In the grand scheme of things, this doesn’t have any bearing on the overall bulkiness or form factor of the console; while certainly smarter and more compact than the unwieldy PS5 silhouette, you still won’t want to move your Xbox around too much given its size and weight.

Boxed contents for the console are very straightforward. As well as the console, you get a Robot White Xbox Wireless Controller - which I feel looks much nicer than the fairly bog-standard Carbon Black. The contrast of the black thumbsticks, d-pad, and face buttons pops out really nicely here on the Robot White controller. Otherwise, you’ve got a power lead and HDMI cable for hooking the console up to your TV.

Unfortunately, there’s no inclusion of an Xbox Game Pass subscription, which I think would’ve been a welcome addition given the console’s all-digital nature, and with it largely being aimed at folks who’re looking to buy into the current Xbox generation at a lower price point.

Once you boot up the console and have it all set up, you’ll be greeted with the usual Windows 11-based Xbox dashboard. There are no changes here from other current-generation Xbox units which is to be expected.

Xbox Series X Digital Edition: Performance

Full fat Series X experience, including support for 4K and framerates up to 120fps on supported TVs
Impressively quiet performance while gaming
800GB of usable storage space doesn’t go very far

Thanks to teardown videos, we know that the Xbox Series X Digital Edition has slightly revised internal components, opting for a smaller motherboard, a different cooling system, and overall slightly lower wattage than the launch Series X. However, there are no notable shifts in performance here. The Digital Edition is not a PS5 Pro-style upgrade; you’re getting Xbox Series X performance albeit in all-digital form.

The Xbox Series X Digital Edition supports resolution up to 4K, though you will find that most games compromise on framerate in order to achieve this target. As a result, many of the best Xbox Series X games offer performance mode options, allowing you to opt for higher framerates at the cost of image quality. On that front, the Xbox Series X Digital Edition can target framerates of up to 120fps.

There are even some games that offer performance modes targeting this. But do keep in mind that you’ll need a compatible gaming TV in order to make use of this. Just like the launch model, the Digital Edition also boosts performance for the best Xbox One games by default, so you’ll be getting the very best out of those older games too.

The Xbox Series X Digital Edition also has support for high dynamic range (HDR) and variable refresh rate (VRR). The former leverages the tech of compatible TVs (typically OLED and QLED models) to provide a much richer and crisper color palette. Meanwhile, VRR is able to smooth over games with rocky performance at 40fps or higher, creating a more stable play experience overall.

As with the base model, the Xbox Series X Digital Edition is phenomenally quiet during gaming. You’ll only ever hear the fans whirring on a fresh boot. I tested everything from lightweight indie games like Hollow Knight and Vampire Survivors all the way up to more demanding AAA releases like Lies of P and Forza Horizon 4. Unless you’re really listening out for it (even then you’d practically have to press your ear up against the console itself), you won’t hear a peep from your console during gameplay, downloads, or installs.

The one thing in terms of overall performance that could be a dealbreaker for you is the amount of usable storage space available on the console. As mentioned, you’re getting around 800GB of usable space. It’s absolutely a 1TB SSD in the console, but roughly a fifth of that space has to be taken up by its operating system and essential software.

The reality is that you’re not gaining any more storage space by going all-digital; on versions of the console with a disc drive, physical games still need to be installed in order to be played. And even though it’s a cheaper console relative, that’s not by much. I would of course recommend investing in one of the best Xbox Series X hard drives and SSDs, but the $50 / £50 price drop in comparison to the base Series X console does not offset the high cost of those internal storage cards from Seagate or WD Black.

You can of course opt for a cheaper external storage solution, but it’s worth noting that these will not be able to run Xbox Series X|S games or enhanced titles; you’ll strictly be limited to storing them here until you transfer them to the console’s main SSD.

If the Xbox Series X Digital Edition was slightly cheaper or offered a true 1TB after the essential installs, then I would feel much more comfortable recommending it. In summary, I feel that Microsoft could have done more especially with the console still costing well above $400 / £400.

On a better note, it’s worth noting that console setup is extremely simple and, if you have an existing Microsoft account, you can carry over your entire game library, save files (including cloud saves), subscriptions, and payment details if you’ve owned Xbox consoles prior. You don’t even need to have any previous consoles switched on simultaneously for this, and the whole process can be done via the Xbox app on your iOS or Android phone.

Should I buy the Xbox Series X Digital Edition?

Buy it if...

You plan on getting Xbox Game Pass to play your games
The Xbox Series X Digital Edition is clearly tailor-made for Xbox’s game subscription service. The cheaper price of the console does somewhat offset the cost of your first couple of months with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, making the console a great choice for playing hundreds of games at a relatively lower monthly or annual fee.

You simply want an Xbox Series X for less
Not too fussed about the lack of a disc drive? The Xbox Series X Digital Edition, in this case, offers the best value for money by matching the original model on specs at $50 / £50 less.

You want full-fat Xbox Series X performance in digital form
This all-digital option does not compromise on graphical capability unlike the Xbox Series S. If you truly have no use for a disc drive then this is the option to go for.

Don't buy it if...

You want the option for physical games
Unlike the PS5 Slim Digital Edition, there’s no way to add a disc drive to your Xbox Series X Digital Edition after the fact. If you’d prefer to at least have the option to go physical, stick with the regular model.

You require plenty of storage for a large existing digital gaming library
800GB of usable storage is not a lot and is at odds with the focus on only being able to download games through Xbox Game Pass. You could invest in an internal storage card, but at that point, you’re paying close to the price of the 2TB Galaxy Black Xbox Series X which retails at $599.99 / £549.99. Cheaper USB external SSDs are another option, but these will only be able to store your games - not run them.

Your internet connection isn’t great
If you find you have lackluster download speeds, I’d suggest purchasing or sticking with the original Xbox Series X instead, so that you can at least install games via a physical, offline option. With a digital-only console, you’ll need decent speeds in order to download games in a reasonable amount of time, which can be a struggle for those larger 100GB+ titles.

Also consider...

The Xbox Series X Digital Edition isn’t your only option when it comes to current-generation Xbox consoles. You may also want to consider the following options.

Xbox Series X
The standard Xbox Series X model comes in a Carbon Black color scheme and matches the Digital Edition on specs. It’s $50 / £50 more expensive, but it does feature a built-in disc drive that would be better suited to players who prefer or rely on physical media.

For more information, check out our full Xbox Series X review.

Xbox Series S (1TB)
The 1TB variant of the Xbox Series S is exceptional value for money, coming in at $100 / £130 less than its Xbox Series X digital counterpart. That is largely because it’s the less powerful console, but it does share 120fps support, as well as support for HDR and VRR. It’s also a much smaller and lighter unit which will fit better if your gaming setup doesn’t have much real estate.

For more information, check out our full Xbox Series S review (note that this is for the 512GB original model, but specs and performance are identical otherwise).

How I reviewed the Xbox Series X Digital Edition

I tested the Xbox Series X Digital Edition over a period of a week and a half, pairing it with the included Robot White Xbox Wireless Controller and my LG CX OLED TV, which let me make use of features like 4K/120fps support as well as HDR and variable refresh rate.

I tested a variety of games from my existing Xbox library, including AAA hits like Forza Horizon 4, Sea of Thieves, and Elden Ring alongside indie favorites like Hollow Knight and Vampire Survivors. I also played backwards compatible titles including Ridge Racer 6, Sonic Unleashed, and Crimson Skies.

Overall, I found performance to be in step with the original Xbox Series X when comparing the two models directly, with no noticeable downgrades or improvements. Rest assured that if you’re opting for the Digital Edition, you’ll be getting a true Xbox Series X experience at a lower price point.