Gadgets - Organizer

I tested the Kodak Ektar H35N half-frame film camera – it’s cheap, it’s crude… and I loved it

8:00 am | November 11, 2025

Half-frame cameras have garnered a bit of a cult following – enough for Pentax to make the Pentax 17 half-frame film camera (which we love) and for Fujifilm to make the X half, which is more of a digital ‘tribute’ to half-frame cameras than a faithful replica.

Film cameras have become a big thing among photographers trying to recapture the feel and mood of analog media, and the camera designs that went with it. Check out our guide to the best film cameras to see a long list of all the new film cameras on the market, and some classic oldies that are definitely worth seeking out on the used market. If you're new to all this, we also have a guide to camera film sizes and types.

The basic principle of a half-frame analog camera is that it uses regular 35mm film, but instead of capturing images horizontally using the 24mm height of the film and a horizontal width of 36mm, it captures images vertically, so they're 24mm high and 18mm wide (or 17mm if you allow for the extra gap between the half frames).

You get twice as many shots on the roll as they're roughly half the size – and the camera takes vertical rather than horizontal photos (of course, you can rotate the camera to swap from vertical to horizontal if you need to).

Kodak Extar H35N — Looks like a regular 35mm film camera inside, right? Not quite – usual horizontal 35mm film gate is replaced with a vertical 'half-frame' format. (Image credit: Rod Lawton)

You do get twice as many exposures on a roll of film, which sounds like a cost saving, but then you have to find a lab that will do half -frame prints, and printing will cost more because there are more prints.

But by a strange twist of fate, half-frame cameras are particularly well suited to social sharing because they match the vertical orientation of mobile devices in a way that camera makers of old could never have anticipated.

Back, then, to the Kodak Ektar H35N. This is an improved version of the Ektar H35 we reviewed in 2024, replacing that camera's plastic lens with a glass one. We weren't over-impressed with the Ektar H35 at the time, but since then we've been swept along by a huge surge of interest in analog photography, so maybe this improved point and shoot Kodak deserves a second look.

Where half-frame cameras have so far been a somewhat expensive hipster fad, the Kodak is about as cheap as it’s possible for a camera to get. It’s also extremely crude, and is essentially no more sophisticated then a disposable single-use film camera.

The difference is that you can open the back to load and unload film, and you can swap out the single AAA battery for the flash. If you don’t use the flash, you don’t need the battery.

And in case you’re wondering what kind of exposure system it has and how the focusing works, it doesn’t really have either. It relies on the huge latitude of analog negative films to capture images in daylight ranging from bright sun to heavy overcast, and indoors you simply have to use the flash and stick to close-range subjects. The harsh flash look is really trending right now for its retro vibes, and this little Kodak does it brilliantly.

The focus is fixed. The lens has an aperture of f/11, so it has enough depth of field for distance of 1m and beyond, depending on how much sharpness you expect. This camera is all about the look, not technical precision.

This may not sound like the kind of camera you could be even remotely interested in, but hold on. You do have to shoot in the right kind of light (daylight or with flash), and you do have to trust your film to deal with degrees of overexposure and underexposure which would send a digital sensor into a tailspin. But you adapt surprisingly quickly. It’s a simple camera designed to do a simple job, and it does it brilliantly. If you could even contemplate using an Instax, this is cheaper and gives you much bigger and better prints with all the same character and more.

Bottom line? I started out in film photography and I know the limitations of analog film and its particular charm. The Kodak H35N took me straight back to simpler times and simpler cameras. I thought I would hate it, but I loved it.

Kodak Ektar H35N: price

$64.99 / £67 (around AU$98)
Factor in the cost of developing and printing – half-frame is more specialized and expensive

The Kodak Ektar H35N is a cheap camera! Its price is a million miles from the (expensive) sophistication of the Pentax 17 half-frame camera. The Kodak is also very basic. In fact, you can think of it as a bit like a disposable camera that you can re-use. It's available in a variety of colors and styles, and at a typical price of $64.99 / £67 (around AU$100), it’s a cute, inexpensive buy.

It’s crude, but at this price you probably won’t care. Do factor in the cost of developing and printing, though. You’ll need to find a lab that will process film from half-frame cameras, and the cost of prints will double – after all, there are twice as many per roll of film!

Kodak Ektar H35N: specs

Format:	35mm half-frame
Lens:	22mm f/11 (approx. 30mm effective)
ISO:	ISO 200 or 400 film recommended
Focus:	Fixed at approx. 1m-infinity
Flash:	Built in
Exposure:	Auto plus bulb
Battery:	1x AAA (for flash)
Viewfinder:	Optical, direct vision
Size:	110mm x 62mm x 39mm, 110g

Kodak Ektar H35N: design

Plastic build but looks smart
Simple controls (well, no controls really)
No issues with film loading, shooting and rewinding
Small but effective optical viewfinder

The Ektar H35N might be lightweight plastic, but the front panel has an attractive metallic finish that looks rather smart. Kodak has a knack for making cheap cameras look rather better than they are.

The lens is surrounded by a switch to activate the flash mode. This was extremely stiff on my review sample, so not exactly as convenient as it should be. To one side of the lens there’s another switch for the built in ‘star filter’. Is this useful? Possibly.

On the top, there’s not much to see at all. There’s a big shutter release, a cable release socket for bulb exposures – so you can actually do night shots if you don’t mind estimating how long you need to hold the shutter open for – and there’s also a frame counter to let you know how many shots you’ve taken.

Round the back it’s all semi-matte black plastic. There’s a somewhat stiff and vague switch at the side for opening the back to load and unload film, but you do not want to open the back accidentally, so it’s no bad thing if it is a little fiddly.

Once the film is loaded you use a thumbwheel at the bottom left to advance the film. In standard film camera style, you can’t take a shot until the film is wound on and the shutter is cocked – and once you’ve taken the shot, you have to wind on again to re-cock the shutter. It’s foolproof. And, plastic or not, the film advance and shutter release worked perfectly.

Even film loading is straightforward. I had to pull out just a little more of the film leader to engage properly with the take-up spool, and then I did my usual thing after the back was closed, which is to take up the tension on the rewind crank and check it’s turning as I advance to the first frame. It worked fine.

You know when the film is at the end because you can’t wind on any further, so you press a button in the base to disengage the film transport mechanism, and wind it all back into the film canister with the crank handle.

The Ektar H35N might be cheap, but mine worked fine, with no film jams, no accidental double exposures, and no dramas at all.

Kodak Ektar H35N: performance

Good picture quality
Surprisingly tolerant to changing light
Nice vintage flash look
Good colors and contrast (I used a good lab)

Kodak Ektar H35N sample image — If you fancy Lomography style images without Lomography prices, this is your camera! (Image credit: Rod Lawton)

I started out in film photography before switching to digital right when digital cameras first came in – and there are a few things I'd forgotten about shooting with film.

First, there's nothing quite like opening a pack of prints from the photo lab and looking through them. It doesn’t matter what kind of monitor you have on your desktop – I have a 27-inch 4K BenQ – or what kind of phone or tablet; a digital display is simply not the same as holding a stack of prints in your hand and going through them one by one. Maybe you don’t care – that’s fine – but for me it was a reminder of just how much value simple physical objects can have.

Of course, you can get your digital camera or smartphone images printed too. But they don’t look like this. Digitally-captured images are so technically superior that there’s almost no comparison. By contrast, my images from the Ektar H35N were softer, with crushed shadows and a faint ethereal glow characteristic of analog color negative films. I review photo-editing software as well as cameras, and I haven't yet found a film simulation or plug-in that can give quite the same look.

And here’s the thing. Imperfect and murky as they sometimes are, the photographs from this camera are just like the ones in the photo albums of your mum and dad, your aunts and uncles. The Kodak's images have a kind of connection with these old photos.

Have you noticed that we’ve all got pictures separated by a great digital divide, when digital cameras took over from film? Your digital photos have a clinical ’now-ness’ that separates them from these older analog photos. Does that make sense? The Kodak H35N, for all is cheapness, crudeness and its limitations, shoots in that older style, and fits right in with your analog family archives.

No, I’m not going to shoot with it every day. My photography is digital now. But that doesn’t stop me from appreciating just what this cheap little Kodak does, and what it brings back that perhaps we'd forgotten.

Should you buy the Kodak Ektar H35N?

Buy it if…

You want to get a taste of the analog look

The Kodak Ektar H35N is so cheap there’s nothing to lose. Film, developing and printing can be expensive, but you can still just try it once to see if it’s your thing.

You want a break from digital overload

Once you’ve got the film loaded, the Ektar H35N is incredibly simple to use. There are literally no controls – you wind it on, look through the viewfinder, press the shutter button.

You want album- or frame-ready prints

This is the beauty of analog negative film – prints come as standard. There's nothing like the anticipation and satisfaction of opening a packet of prints fresh from the photo lab.

Don’t buy it if…

You’re expecting high-quality art

The Ektar is a snapshot camera, pure and simple. The prints you’ll get back have that classic lo-fi snapshot look. You could scan the negatives, but you won’t be printing them big.

You want to learn about analog photography

You won’t learn anything from this camera. It’s as basic as a camera can get, with no shutter speed, aperture or focus control. You might, however, learn how amazingly tolerant film can be.

You’re looking for a classy classic camera

The Ektar H35N looks cute enough, but this is not a camera you’ll want to show guests at a dinner party or flash around at photo meets (unless you like winding people up).

Also consider

The Pentax 17 is a ‘proper’ half-frame camera; in other words it has a good lens, proper focusing and exposure controls, and is built to last. If the Ektar H35N inspires you, the Pentax is the obvious step up.

If you like your photography truly hands-on, get the Lomography Konstruktor F (best film cameras), a plastic 35mm camera you have to make yourself. It’s cheap to buy, though a little challenging to make (yes, I’ve made one).

The Olympus Trip 35 (in our best film cameras round-up) is an all-time classic 35mm compact with auto exposure, zone focusing and a selenium metering cell around the lens that requires no batteries. A good used one won’t cost the earth and will give you great results.

How I tested the Kodak Ektar H35N

I tested it in different lighting conditions, inside and out
I checked the flash illumination in low light
I assessed how well it coped with subjects near the camera
I also checked that the film transport/rewind worked properly

I took the Kodak H35N on a series of days out and family outings, as well as testing it out in different lighting conditions at home. I used it on bright sunny days, overcast days, the gloom of late afternoon in October and even at dusk with flash.

It’s not like a digital camera where you can check to see what’s worked straight away. Instead, you have to trust in the inherent latitude of color negative film, and a big part of this test was to find out just how many prints I would lose, which makes a difference when you’re paying for developing and printing.

I tested how easy it was to load and unload films – a key point for novice analog users – and the reliability of the film advance/shutter release mechanism. I also tested the in-built flash and even the ‘star filter’, choosing shots with the sun in the frame or showing through trees.

I chose typical ‘snapshot’ subjects that families might shoot, but also the kind of compositions made popular by Lomography and its legions of analog fans. Could you really use a cheap camera like this for this kind of anti-mainstream retro-graphy?

Anno 117: Pax Romana is a beautiful and refined city builder, but its simplicity might disappoint returning fans

8:00 pm | November 10, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Consoles & PC Gadgets Gaming | Comments: Off

Anno 117: Pax Romana is a marked return to simplicity for the long-running city-building strategy game franchise. Some returning fans might find what it offers a little basic, but for others, the more relaxed progression will be a welcome, more relaxed change of pace - especially paired with the countless quality of life features that are available from day one.

Review info

Platform reviewed: PC
Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X and Series S, PC
Release date: November 13, 2025

In contrast, its forbear Anno 1800 is one of the most complex city builders that I’ve ever played. The act of constructing a civilization is an intricate dance of lengthy supply chains that has you micromanaging the production of resources across two continents (or more with all the downloadable content) while simultaneously juggling a wealth of overlapping effects generated by the buildings in your town center.

It was incredibly rewarding to master, but doing so required plenty of YouTube tutorials, and a fair number of panicked searches on the community wiki.

A fresh start

An Anno 117: Pax Romana gameplay screenshot on PC. — (Image credit: Ubisoft)

Anno 117: Pax Romana is much more approachable for newcomers, an area that was clearly a key concern for developer Ubisoft. This is especially evident in the campaign, which is one of the most engaging in series history.

Don’t get me wrong, the story mode in Anno games has always been little more than a glorified tutorial - basically showing you what you need to do to get started in a safe environment before setting you loose into the wider sandbox - and that’s no different here, but the choice to have you playing as a named character does add an extra layer of narrative detail.

Best bit

Anno 117: Pax Romana is absolutely gorgeous, and will delight true history nerds. Its Roman setting is recreated wonderfully with intricate details that lead to stunning and life-like streets. There are even some authentic painted statues, which is always great to see.

Out of the two options, I picked Marcia Tertia, a wealthy Roman daughter who has been married off to a troubled governor whom she’s never met. After a series of events in Latium (the game’s Roman region) that I won’t spoil, she winds up banished to Albion (Celtic England), where she ends up acting as the governor in secret to try and get back into the emperor’s good books. In typical Anno fashion, dialogue is comedic throughout, and I found myself enjoying some of the twists and turns.

This is a much shorter campaign than 1800's, lasting just over six hours rather than about 15, though it’s tightly paced and doesn’t overstay its welcome as a result. I couldn’t resist diving into my own sandbox games once I hit the end, though I’m still eager to try the story as the other protagonist - Marcus Naukratius. There are a handful of narrative decisions and some side activities that I wouldn’t mind going back to for a replay, too.

The best thing I can say about the mode, though, is that it does a very good job of telling you what you need to know. I finished the 1800 story with more questions than answers, but a new player here would feasibly be fully qualified to dive into sandbox or even online multiplayer.

Soggy sandals

But what exactly is it that you’re doing exactly? Anno fans will know the drill, but for everyone else, this is a city-building game that’s all about constructing supply chains to collect the resources that your citizens need to level up. Anno 117: Pax Romana lets you choose whether to start your game in Latium or Albion, and each region plays out in a slightly different fashion.

In Latium, there are four population tiers: Liberti, Plebeians, Equites, and Patricians. Needs become more complex as you move between the levels, with citizens that initially required porridge and straw sandals eventually demanding access to running water for communal baths, education through libraries, flashy jewellery, and even yummy bird tongues in aspic to nibble.

The map is split into multiple islands, with each island only capable of harbouring specific resources. No one island will offer every resource that you need late in the game, so at some point, you will inevitably need to load up a ship and start settling them. Funnelling resources back to your main city center becomes a game in and of itself, as you set up trading routes and, on higher difficulties, deal with the disruption caused by frequent attacks from raiders.

It’s the same formula that fuelled 1800, but importantly, in 117, you don’t actually need to fulfill all of a specific group’s needs to progress.

If you’re struggling to get enough fine glass, for example, you can ignore it and focus on olive oil instead. It cuts down the complexity massively, and while you are rewarded for meeting all needs at once, so less confident players don’t need to worry about overwhelming themselves with too many types of resources to manage.

More refined than ever

You shouldn't take all this to mean that Anno 117: Pax Romana feels incomplete, though. There’s plenty here, including a wealth of quality of life changes that long-time fans will love.

This ranges from small things like a day and night cycle (which wasn’t available in 1800 at launch) and the ability to play using a keyboard and mouse on consoles, to substantial changes such as the option to place buildings diagonally for the first time and a planning mode that lets you visualize your city with blueprints.

Some major DLC features from past games are also included for free. Your governor villa, for example, is effectively identical to the Palace from 1800’s Seat of Power expansion, allowing you to buff parts of your island with well-placed Specialists. Once built, the villa is also the primary target for invaders because land combat, a feature entirely missing from Anno 1800, is back too.

Fighting has always been the weakest part of any Anno game in my eyes. It largely boils down to clicking on enemies, and battles are usually won by whichever side has more soldiers. Unfortunately, there haven’t been many strides in this regard, though I hope the fact that ground combat is back will prove a good foundation for some combat-focused DLC or updates in the future.

There were also some weird bugs that I hope will be addressed. The most annoying of these was with my island’s fire safety rating, which would randomly decrease a few thousand points without warning. Hovering over the icon told me that this was due to “City Status", whatever that means, and there was seemingly very little I could do to remedy it.

I tried moving all my most flammable buildings, like bakeries and kilns, to a separate island, making sure that they were well spaced to avoid their areas of effect, and filling every street corner with Vigilies (the Roman fire department) in vain.

Actual fires didn’t even seem that much more frequent, but this big red number did cause some frustrations with diplomacy as other leaders looked down on my apparently highly combustible settlement.

That aside, I’ve been very much enjoying my time with Anno 117: Pax Romana. It's a more relaxed take on the Anno formula than 1800, and while not as complex, it’s still easy to lose track of the hours as you watch your city grow.

Should I play Anno 117: Pax Romana?

Play it if…

You want a high-quality city builder
Anno 117: Pax Romana is more polished than lots of competing city builders like Cities: Skylines 2. It also offers significantly more content in the form of a single-player story and online multiplayer.

You love the Roman setting
Both Rome and England are beautifully recreated in Anno 117: Pax Romana, with plenty of details that will delight history nerds and lovers of the past.

You were overwhelmed by 1800
Anno 117: Pax Romana is much easier to manage than 1800, with fewer complex supply chains needed to progress. If you love the idea of an Anno game but bounced off the last entry, then this is the perfect time to come back.

Don’t play it if…

You expect even more complexity
If you go into Anno 117: Pax Romana expecting a game that’s even more complicated than Anno 1800, then you will be disappointed. Stick with that past entry and wait for some new expansions to up the difficulty.

Accessibility features

There is no dedicated accessibility menu in Anno 117: Pax Romana, which is a bit of a shame given Ubisoft’s leading track record in the area.

There are still some useful options in the settings, though, such as the ability to rebind your keys and increase the scale of the UI. Dialogue features subtitles throughout, with the option to use only sans-serif fonts for reliability or to remove italics.

How I reviewed Anno 117: Pax Romana

I played close to 20 hours of Anno 117: Pax Romana on PC using a copy provided by Ubisoft, with a small amount of time spent also trying the PS5 version, including testing its mouse and keyboard support.

My system is a 5070 Ti-powered model from retailer Scan that features a compact Corsair 2000d RGB Airflow case, Asus ROG Strix B860-I Gaming Wifi motherboard, Intel Core Ultra 7 265K CPU, a 2TB WD Black SN770 SSD, 32GB of DDR5 Corsair Vengeance RAM, and an Nvidia 5070 Ti manufactured by Asus.

This setup allowed me to play the game smoothly on its highest graphics settings with the use of Nvidia DLSS. For peripherals, I relied on my trusty Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro mouse and Cherry XTRFY K5V2 keyboard, plus an Astro A20 X PC gaming headset for audio.

Throughout my time with the game, I constantly compared my experience with my significant experience playing other Anno games, including 1800, 2205, 2070, and 1404.

First reviewed November 2025

This Bluetooth speaker’s battery life impressed me in testing, but it’s irredeemably bad in one vital respect

6:30 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Hi-Fi Wireless & Bluetooth Speakers | Tags: AO, US | Comments: Off

AO mini portable wireless speaker: two-minute review

If you don’t live in the UK, you’ve probably never heard of AO, so allow us a brief explainer. AO is a Bolton-based online electrical retailer that sells white goods – fridges, dishwashers, ovens, TVs, hi-fi equipment and the like – for a fraction of their store price. For an annual membership of £39.99, you get discounted prices when buying from its website because it cuts out the middle man and sells direct to the customer. It also has a natty advertising campaign that features the soundalike “Hey, hoh – let’s go!” refrain from The Ramones’ Blitzkrieg Bop. Got it? Good.

What AO has never done is make the audio gear it also sells. Until now. In the summer of 2025, the AO mini portable wireless speaker (yes, this really is its does-what-it-says-on-the-tin name) was part of a suite of releases to change that and try to provide an inexpensive entry to the best portable Bluetooth speakers on the market.

So, how does it fair? Well, the £29 price – $40 / AU$59, but only available in the UK (and only direct from AO) at the time of writing – is a strong start for a portable speaker with Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity. Indeed, for AO members in the UK, it's cheaper still at £19. Better still, a 25-hour battery life dominates some of the biggest competition in the budget market such as the JBL Go 4 (seven hours), the five-star Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 (12, already four more than the first-gen model) or the Edifier ES20 (15 hours).

The AO mini portable wireless speaker is also nicely built, with sturdy buttons plus appreciated answer/end/reject call options (with decent accompanying call quality) that is increasingly absent from the competition. Plus, its IP67 waterproofing means it more than does the job in the shower or down at the beach.

Unfortunately, though, there’s the biggest of elephants in the room – the way the AO sounds. It’s not good. In fact, I’d rather listen to tunes coming out of my iPhone 15’s speakers or even my retro MacBook Air's pretty limited sound-producing alternative. For a bit of tech whose primary purpose is to elevate sound, add depth and make it louder – nope, it doesn’t do that, either – this is quite a big problem.

Is it going to be your primary Bluetooth speaker to while away hour upon hour? Definitely not, but that’s not to say it doesn’t warrant a place in your lineup of listening apparatus. The AO mini portable wireless speaker’s flexibility, solid build and near-peerless battery life make it a decent bet to accompany a long weekend away or just be left in the shower so you can sing along to Wham! to help wake you up, before you go-go. After all, that aggressive price is pretty hard to ignore…

Black AO mini portable wireless speaker on a rock, with a beach and the sea in the background — (Image credit: Future / Andy Murray)

AO mini portable wireless speaker review: price and release date

£29 (not on sale in US or AUS)
Launched in summer 2025

The AO mini portable wireless speaker was launched in the summer of 2025 as part of the retailer’s debut line of self-made audio products and costs £29 (£19 for AO members) in the UK. It isn't available in the US or Australia, but that equates to $40 / AU$59. Just to confirm, you haven’t misread that price – it really is that cheap.

TechRadar's review sample is black, but it also comes in white, which was the only color available to purchase on the AO website at the time of writing. It’s an opposite Model T Ford, then.

AO mini portable wireless speaker review: specs

Drivers	1x 20mm
Dimensions	82 x 47 x 98mm
Connectivity	Bluetooth 5.3
Battery life	25 hours
Waterproofing	IP67

Top panel of the black AO mini portable wireless speaker, on a craggy rock — (Image credit: Future / Andy Murray)

AO mini portable wireless speaker review: features

Excellent 25-hour battery life
Shower-tested IP67 waterproofing
Easy setup but no multi-point connectivity

For what is a pretty small bit of kit, the AO mini portable wireless speaker undeniably packs plenty in. Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity isn’t industry-leading – and a 3.5mm line-in for wired listening would’ve been nice – but it’s decent for a speaker as emphatically entry-level as this, while at no stage in testing did I encounter any drop outs.

It’s solid and reliable, the only minor gripe being its lack of multi-point connectivity option. At one point I needed to switch from music listening via Tidal on my iPhone to Match of the Day football watching on my laptop – technically, that’s still work, but only just – and discovered that I’d need to disconnect from the former to be able to connect to the latter. Sure, it’s not the greatest of impositions, but it’s nevertheless unwieldy.

At least the AO is quick and easy to set up. Within minutes of turning on the AO for the first time, my partner and I were dancing around the front room to Going Places by Teenage Fanclub – she effortlessly magnificent, me shufflingly dreadful, thanks for asking. Gerard Love’s lilting vocal complemented his erstwhile bandmates’ harmonies well enough but without a clarity or depth to be expected even at this low price point. More on which later, and the fault certainly doesn't lie with the Scottish group Kurt Cobain once called “the best band in the world”.

Black AO mini portable wireless speaker as part of a knitted autumnal post box cover — (Image credit: Future / Andy Murray)

Better still, the AO’s IP67 waterproof rating makes it borderline impervious to dust and water ingress. Short of trying to bury it at the bottom of the Atlantic, or subjecting it to extended periods in your teenager’s never-cleaned dust box of a bedroom, you’ll do very well to stop it from working. I used the AO constantly in the shower for over a week and (much like me) it got absolutely soaked, but at no stage did the superb improv podcast Three Bean Salad featuring Taskmaster alumnus Mike Wozniak cut out or the speaker lose connection from my phone in the adjoining bedroom. A trip to my local beach also presented no issue for water ingress either from Portland Harbor or the heavens as an unexpected Dorset shower passed overhead.

No less sturdy is the battery life, which is nothing short of relentless. In testing, the AO’s claimed 25 hours proved plenty accurate – I used the speaker throughout three full seven-hour working days, plus aforementioned trips to the beach and in the shower, and it still had half its juice remaining according to the battery indicator on my phone.

Compare those figures with the as the JBL Go 3’s notorious five-hour lifespan, the updated Go 4’s seven and even the recent Edifier ES20’s 15 hours and the AO dominates the competition for half the (already pretty insignificant) price in some cases. Stuff it in your rucksack on a camping trip and it’ll neither take up much space, nor will it fail you across a week’s medium use before its next charge, a vital consideration when living off-grid in a field. Just 1.5 hours’ charging from the included USB-C cable gets it back to full power, too.

My only other issue is the lack of accompanying app, so there’s no option to tweak EQs or come up with your own presets to get the sound just how you like it. But at this price point what did you expect? This little box is packed with plenty.

Features score: 4/5

Black AO mini portable wireless speaker on a rock, surrounded by a sandy beach — (Image credit: Future / Andy Murray)

AO mini portable wireless speaker review: sound quality

Almost no bass
Lacks clarity
Limited top volume

Sadly, though, we can ignore the obvious no longer. The AO sounds dreadful, and you don’t need me to tell that this is a bit of a problem for a speaker. No separation, very little bass, a tinny sound and generally just not loud enough. This is regardless of the quality of source device music, too – I tried streaming hi-res FLAC content on Tidal but still to no avail.

A level of compression for a portable Bluetooth speaker this size is to be expected – it measures 82 x 47 x 98mm and though no weight is quoted, it feels lighter than the Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 I used as a comparison – but it is definitely possible to make a better sound than this within the dimensions. The AO’s 20mm driver soon hits a ceiling that others glide beyond and, though its timing is OK and it doesn’t feel too jumbled, the lack of definition and depth are immediately obvious.

Rich by Yeah Yeah Yeahs comes across as one-dimensional – something bordering a war crime – with no separation between Nick Zinner’s synth promptings, lead singer Karen O’s exultant, imploring vocal and Brian Chase’s percussive beat. Switching between the AO and the Tribit mid-song only serves to highlight the difference further – the latter delivers a clearer, punchier vocal and the frequencies are more faithful to the original.

The bass, hardly the thing you most associate with Yeah Yeah Yeahs, is broader, deeper and much more noticeable with the Tribit, so I switch to a band known for allowing its four-string to drive tracks. New Order’s All the Way features arguably Peter Hook’s most melodic and rhythmic high-fretted bassline – thanks in part to the band’s increasing use of sequenced synthesizers and Hooky still wanting to be heard – but the AO strips all that away and it sounds tinny. Even the notoriously lo-fi band Guided By Voices, and the stellar Game Of Pricks, lacks oomph.

More infuriating still, the ‘power-down’ sound the AO makes when you turn the speaker off features a demonstrably bassy effect that is completely absent when listening to music. If the AO is capable of making that noise, why do we only hear it when turning it off? Here’s what you could’ve won.

Keen to find out what the AO could do in the open air, I took the speaker on a 10-minute walk to my local beach. Sadly, it’s no different. The gradual 40-second jangle-guitar intro of Star Sign by Teenage Fanclub from 1991 classic album Bandwagonesque is barely audible, then Brendan O’Hare’s driving bass drum lacks attack. The AO is quiet, too – I fire it up to maximum volume and it hits another ceiling all too quickly. Whack the Tribit up to a Spinal Tap-approved 11 on the same song, and two nearby seagulls take their immediate. It feels instructive.

Weirdly, the spoken word is better. The Elis James and John Robins podcast on BBC Sounds, featuring the two titular comedians and producer Dave, comes through impressively and sounds true-to-life. Even the choral theme tune to regular feature Cymru Connection, in which Elis has to find a mutual acquaintance with a fellow Welsh person inside 60 seconds, sounds well-rounded.

It's just a shame about, well, everything else.

Sound quality score: 2.5/5

Side panel, with the blue light showing Bluetooth connection, of the black AO mini portable wireless speaker on a jagged rock. — (Image credit: Future / Andy Murray)

AO mini portable wireless speaker review: design

Small enough to fit in a hoody pouch, but not a jeans pocket
Tactile buttons
Loop is small and not very versatile

The AO mini portable wireless speaker certainly lives up to its name. Its 82 x 47 x 98mm dimensions make it smaller than the Edifier ES20 (90.4 x 93.7 x 49.7mm) or the Tribit Stormbox Micro 2 (104 x 99 x 41mm) – it's perfect to pop in a bag to enjoy on the move. You could just about fit it in a hoody pouch, but a jeans pocket is probably a stretch too far, unlike the squarer Tribit which can squeeze into a back pocket with a bit of encouragement.

Simple to use, the AO has four buttons that sit on top of the speaker – 'on/off', 'volume up/skip track', 'volume down/skip back track' and 'play/pause'. Unlike some headphones' on-ear controls, where a double tap skips a track instead of increasing the volume by two, there’s no danger of an errant press, either. It’s a single press for each volume increment you want (no matter how quickly you push), and press and hold for three seconds to skip forward and backward – never once did I err, a minor miracle in itself.

A much-appreciated feature was the 'answer/reject call' option, something sorely lacking from similar products such as the JBL Flip 7 and Go 4. A quick press of the 'play/pause' button answers the call, a three-second hold rejects it – once on a call, the quality is good and stable.

It’s pretty well built, too. The AO’s unobtrusive rubber feet mean it isn’t going to go sliding off tables with an accidental knock, and even if you are on the clumsy side – guilty as charged, your honor – then it’s still plenty sturdy enough to cope with a few knocks on the floor.

There are, though, some flaws. If you’re planning on using the green plastic-covered coiled loop to hang the AO from something – a pole in the roof of your tent, or from a strap on a backpack, for instance – you’re going to need a carabiner of some kind to attach it because there’s almost no space in the loop itself. No rucksack release buckle is small enough to slide through.

There’s also good reason why you wouldn’t want to leave the AO suspended in midair. And, yep, it comes back to the sound. Though AO claims ‘multi-directional audio’ for its mini portable wireless speaker, in testing I didn’t encounter anything so aurally 360. Put the speaker next to your ear and it’s immediately obvious out of which side the sound emits, and it sure doesn’t come out of both sides, despite the impression given from a fabric jacket that covers 80 per cent of the product.

On a desk in front of you that isn’t much of an issue – just turn the AO to face you and you’re sorted – but if you’re taking advantage of the speaker’s brilliant battery life and it’s accompanying your outdoorsy endeavors then the situation is different. Assuming you’ve got the aforementioned carabiner, the AO’s sound pings off in whatever direction it happens to be hanging from a rucksack or your tent roof. Essentially, you’ve got three options: deal with it, try to balance the AO in an adequate position or adjust the gradient of the field in which you’ve pitched your tent.

Design score: 4/5

Top panel of the black AO mini portable wireless speaker, showing its four button and hanging loop. — (Image credit: Future / Andy Murray)

AO mini portable wireless speaker review: value

Astonishing price point…
... at which you shouldn’t expect too much

You might argue it’s a bit unfair to rag on something that costs as little as £29 (£19 if you’re an AO member in the UK, the only territory it's currently on sale) but I’ve done so anyway.

That being said, if you can look past the AO mini portable wireless speaker’s shortcomings in sound representation and volume, and aren’t going to use it for anything other than to listen to some tunes or a podcast on-the-go, then the price makes it an attractive option nevertheless.

The AO sits squarely in the gray area where ‘cheap’ and ‘good value’ merge.

Value score: 4.5/5

A hand holding the black AO mini portable wireless speaker on a raised promontory, with an island in the background. — (Image credit: Future / Andy Murray)

Should I buy the AO mini portable wireless speaker?

Attributes	Notes	Rating
Features	Unbelievable 25-hour battery life; IP67 waterproofing; Bluetooth 5.3 but no 3.5mm line-in.	4/5
Sound quality	Severely lacking bass; limited top volume; compressed and tinny sound.	2.5/5
Design	Well built, compact with tactile buttons; small hanging loop and no multi-directional sound.	4/5
Value	Astonishing price point but in a gray area as to whether 'cheap' equates to 'value'.	4.5/5

Buy it if...

You like camping
The battery life is beyond excellent. Even with moderate-to-extensive use, the AO will survive a week on just one charge, especially useful if you regularly spend vacations in a field with next-to-no plug sockets.

You get lots of calls
I’m not popular enough, but if your phone is ringing off the hook then you can answer, talk and hang up with seamless efficiency using the integrated buttons on top of the AO. And that’s rarer than you think in many recent Bluetooth speakers.

You like singing in the shower
The AO’s IP67 waterproofing makes it the perfect morning accompaniment. You can even drop it in the bath and it’ll survive.

Don't buy it if...

You appreciate sound quality
The small 20mm driver can only deliver so much. There’s almost no bass (apart from the 'on/off' wake-up noise), limited separation and a general lack of attack.

You want to turn it up to 11
The top volume just isn’t loud enough, especially when you consider the AO will be most often listened to outdoors.

You want to hang it
The loop hole is too small to be used without a carabiner, and even if you do, there’s no omni-directional functionality.

AO mini portable wireless speaker review: also consider

	AO mini portable wireless speaker	JBL Go 4	Edifier ES20
Price	£29.99 (£19 for AO members, not available in other territories)	$49.95 / £39.99 / AU$59.95	$89.99 / £49.99 / AU$99.99
Drivers	20mm	45mm driver, integrated class D digital amplifier	43mm full-range driver
Dimensions	82 x 47 x 98mm	94 x 78 x 42mm	90.4 x 93.7 x 49.7mm
Weight	Not supplied	190g	326g
Connectivity	Bluetooth 5.3	Bluetooth 5.3 / USB-C (charging)	Bluetooth 5.4
Battery life	25 hours	7 hours	15 hours
Waterproofing	IP67	IP67	IP67

JBL Go 4
If it’s an ultra-cheap Bluetooth speaker for under $50 / £50 you’re after, the JBL is the one to go for. Punchy, clear audio in a tiny form, even if the aforementioned battery life could do with improvement.
Read our full JBL Go 4 review.

Edifier ES20
The Edifier offers punchy sound, ambient lighting and sturdy waterproofing in a perfectly styled box, all for the $50 bracket. EQ options are lacking, but it represents excellent value for money.
Read our full Edifier ES20.

How I tested the AO mini portable wireless speaker

Black AO mini portable wireless speaker perched on the side of a wet rock on a beach. — (Image credit: Future / Andy Murray)

Over two weeks as my primary Bluetooth speaker
On my office table, in the shower, at the beach
With a variety of music styles, sources and podcasts

I had just over two weeks with the AO mini portable wireless speaker, listening to various different music styles and resolutions via streaming service Tidal. I also listened to podcasts downloaded from Apple Podcasts and BBC Sounds onto my iPhone 15, plus music from my Apple MacBook Air.

I tested the AO indoors while writing and editing words about everything from audio to football, in the shower and at the beach. In short, in most everyday conditions possible (if you’re lucky enough to live by the sea, that is).

First reviewed: November 2025
Read more about how we test

The Seduction is the new HBO Max series you need to stream in November – and it’s as explicit as you’d expect

5:00 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets HBO Max Streaming | Comments: Off

The best prequels are the ones that have clear ties to an existing world we know and love, but ultimately have a separate identity... and that's something the new HBO Max series The Seduction has achieved effortlessly.

Starring Diane Kruger, Anamaria Vartolomei, Lucas Bravo and Vincent Lacoste, we follow Marquise Isabelle de Merteuil's (Vartolomei) rise to power in the French cultural elite. If you think you've heard that name before, it's the character Glenn Close played in the 1988 movie Dangerous Liaisons (based on the book of the same name).

Therefore, it tracks that Vicomte de Valmont (Lacoste) was played by John Malkovich, with Madame de Rosemonde (Kruger), the old lady who frequently regaled on opulent couches with judging eyes. It took me the entirety of episode 1 to make this connection, and that's to The Seduction's huge credit.

We can see the lore links as the series continues (including to Michelle Pfeiffer's character Madame Tourvel), but the HBO prequel feels like an entirely different beast. Sure, all of the sex and scandal is still there, but it's much more calculated and considered this time around.

As far as legacy prequels go, The Seduction on HBO Max impressed me

Anybody who has an issue watching foreign language shows and movies is going to need to get off their high horse for this one. With all six episodes solely in French, The Seduction takes the drama of 16th century France all the way back to its native language and location, and I think the overarching story is a lot richer for it.

Enemies-to-friends Isabelle and Rosemonde are navigating a man's world, and finding out how to hold power within it. The result? Risky alliances, illicit affairs and plans that could bring entirely families crashing down with one wrong move.

All of our characters are enigmas, proving incredibly difficult to read. Isabelle hides her vulnerability to everyone around her, orchestrating multiple schemes at once to make up for the fact she doesn't trust a soul. Rosemonde has her own agenda, and that threatens in the only genuine friendship she has in her live at every turn.

Then we've got the boys. Valmont starts off causing the biggest betrayal of Isabelle's life, and that's ammunition against him for years to come. Positioned as an elitist playboy, it's difficult to tell whether his feelings for Isabelle are every genuine or not (and to be honest, I still don't buy them).

Gercourt (Lucas Bravo) is presented as our evil pantomime villain. However, I think it's a case of honesty – he isn't actually the most malicious, he's just not cloak and dagger about it. Regardless, he's the embodiment of the worst patriarchal traits in human form.

Between the four, personal vendettas make way for rich and intimate drama. Truthfully, this loses impact as the series reaches its conclusion, but the build-up is so well structured and dynamic that any lulls are easy to overlook.

Lucas Bravo is the real hero in The Seduction, and I'm thrilled for him

Lucas Bravo sits in a filled shirt with his left hand to his mouth — Lucas Bravo is Gercourt in *The Seduction*. (Image credit: HBO)

I've always had a sneaking suspicion that Lucas Bravo isn't the biggest fan of Emily in Paris – and every interview with him in the lead-up to Emily in Paris season 5 all but confirms that. He's existed under the Netflix character's shadow on a global scale for years now, but his performance in The Seduction comes with night and day difference.

Everything that constrains him in Emily in Paris (namely having to fit the on-off romantic interest TV mould) isn't present in The Seduction, leaving him free to play with stereotype and identity. Bravo is a ridiculously good villain, both vindictive and charming in a single breath. He acts solely on selfish whims, but yet he's weirdly not the worst of the bunch.

For me, he's the standout performance of the series. Perhaps that purely because I'm so thrilled that he's been given a chance to do something so different, but it's equally clear that he's been underused in previous roles. Vartolomei is the other clear standout, and if the Wonder Woman rumors surrounding her are true, I think she's more than proved her craft here.

Given that period drama could so easily fall into a safe TV series blueprint, The Seduction has pushed the boundaries. And don't get it twisted – there's sex in what feels like every other scene, and while it's always explicit, it's never gratuitous.

The Seduction premieres on HBO Max on November 14, with episodes airing weekly until December 19.

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Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro review: this restricted RTX 5080 machine holds its own thanks to 5070 Ti pricing

4:22 am |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Gadgets | Tags: CPU, GPU, RAM, RTX | Comments: Off

Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro: Two-minute review

Powered by an RTX 5080 and featuring a large 16-inch, 165 Hz display, the A16 Pro delivers excellent gaming performance while doubling as a capable workstation. At the time of writing, there are two A16 Pro variants for sale – both equipped with the Intel Core 7 240H CPU, 32GB of (soldered) 5600MHz LPDDR5x RAM, a 1TB SSD and either an RTX 5070 Ti or, as tested, the RTX 5080.

The large screen folds back through 180 degrees to lie flat, has a 2560 x 1600 resolution, a 3 ms response time, a decent 400 nits of brightness and displays an excellent 100% of the sRGB color gamut. Ports include HDMI 2.1, a 5 Gbps USB-C port with power delivery and DisplayPort 1.4, 2x USB-A 5 Gbps (plus a USB-A 2.0 port), Gigabit Ethernet and a 3.5mm headset jack.

For the Gaming A16 Pro, Gigabyte includes a MUX switch but caps the GPU TGP for the 5080 at 115W. The laptop RTX 5080 can run at up to 150W, so a 115W limit means raw performance sits about halfway between that of an unfettered 5080 and a 5070, and is similar to a 5070 Ti.

While this seems like a major downside, what matters is performance for your dollar, and the Gaming A16 Pro is cheaper than a lot of higher TGP 5080 machines. At 36 x 26 x 2.3 cm, and weighing 2.3 kg, it’s also slimmer and lighter, making it a better choice for those who want to carry it every day. In fact, most thin and light laptops that feature powerful GPUs limit the TGP to keep heat under control.

For demanding games at the screen's native resolution, you will need to scale back the quality settings to maintain over 60 fps, while older ones will happily run at over 100 fps. To push towards the 165 Hz the screen is capable of, you will need to drop back to 1080p or use frame generation.

It depends on your game (or app) of choice, but in less demanding titles the 115W TGP 5080 is about 25% slower than one at 150W, and up to 22% faster than a 5070. In more intensive games, I saw the CPU create a bottleneck, bringing frame rates closer to that of the 5070. At full tilt, the Gaming A16 Pro emits a fairly loud roar from the cooling fans, but despite this, for sustained loads, performance is limited by the cooling capacity.

The A16 Pro is also a very capable workstation and we measured up to 90W charging via USB-C, so it can provide decent productivity performance without having to lug the larger power brick around. We wish it had a larger battery than the 76Wh models used, as while the 10 hours, 37 minutes of video playback is a decent result, we were disappointed by under five hours of light-duty work.

The keyboard and trackpad are both excellent, and the customizable RGB lighting modes are fun but also easily toned down to white if you want to blend in at the office. The 1080p webcam is nothing special in terms of image quality, but it does facial recognition for fast logins.

While the A16 Pro is an excellent machine overall despite a few foibles, the purchase decision comes back to price. If you can buy it for 30% less than a comparable full TGP 5080 machine (or on par or less than a full TGP 5070 Ti laptop) then it’s a solid buy, but otherwise wait for a sale.

Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro lie flat screen — The A16 Pro display can fold through 180° to lie flat (Image credit: Future)

Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro: Price & availability

How much does it cost? Starting from $1,899 / £1,699 / AU$3,299
When is it available? It's available now
Where can you get it? You can get it in the US, UK and Australia

At the full list price, the Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro doesn’t offer standout value, but third-party retailer prices can be considerably lower, making it a good buy.

Gigabyte does not list a recommended retail price for the A16 Pro in every market, but below is a table of typical non-discounted pricing for the RTX 5080 and 5070 Ti variants at the time of writing.

When on sale, we have seen it at up to 25% less than these prices.

	RTX 5080	RTX 5070 Ti
US List Price	$2,199	$1,899
UK List Price	£2,099	£1,799
AU List Price	AU$4,299	AU$3,299

Value score: 4 / 5

Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro: Specs

Availability is the same in the US, UK and Australia, with the main difference being the inclusion of an RTX 5070 Ti GPU or the RTX 5080 card. If comparing models, be aware there is a non-Pro Gigabyte Gaming A16 available as well that has lower spec and TGP.

Below is the specs list for the A16 Pro models available.

Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro specs
	RTX 5070 Ti variant	RTX 5080 variant
US Price	$1,899	$2,199
UK Price	£1,799	£2,099
AU Price	AU$3,299	AU$4,299

CPU	Intel Core 7 240H	Intel Core 7 240H
GPU	RTX 5070 Ti	RTX 5080
RAM	32GB LPDDR5x 5600 MHz	32GB LPDDR5x 5600 MHz
Storage	1TB	1TB
Display	2560 x 1600 IPS, 100% sRGB, 400 nits, 165 Hz	2560 x 1600 IPS, 100% sRGB, 400 nits, 165 Hz
Ports	1x USB-C 5 Gbps, DisplayPort 1.4, PD charging, 2x USB-A 5 Gbps, HDMI 2.1, 1 Gb Ethernet, 3.5mm headset jack.	1x USB-C 5 Gbps, DisplayPort 1.4, PD charging, 2x USB-A 5 Gbps, HDMI 2.1, 1 Gb Ethernet, 3.5mm headset jack.
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 6E, 802.11ax 2x2 + BT5.2	Wi-Fi 6E, 802.11ax 2x2 + BT5.2
Battery	76Wh	76Wh
Dimensions	358.3 x 262.5 x 19.45 - 22.99 mm (14.11 x 10.33 x 0.77 - 0.91 inches)	358.3 x 262.5 x 19.45 - 22.99 mm (14.11 x 10.33 x 0.77 - 0.91 inches)
Weight	2.3 kg (5.1 lbs)	2.3 kg (5.1 lbs)

Specs score: 4 / 5

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Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro left side ports — Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro open on desk showing left hand side ports (Image credit: Future)

Image 2 of 3

Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro right side ports — (Image credit: Future)

Image 3 of 3

Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro keyboard from above — (Image credit: Future)

Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro: Design

Conservative power ratings
Customizable lighting
Facial recognition webcam

The A16 Pro is a large 16-inch laptop, but the display has fairly slim bezels and overall it fits into a footprint small enough that I think it’s reasonable to carry it on the go every day. This is helped by Gigabyte’s inclusion of 100W USB-C PD charging, so you can leave the big power brick at home if you’re not going to be gaming.

The laptop measures in at 358.3 x 262.5 x 19.45 - 22.99 mm, but this is at the most optimistic points. At the front, I get about 20 mm, and 25 mm at the rear, and 28 mm if you include the feet. On the scale, it weighs 2.36 kg (not far off the 2.3 kg from Gigabyte) and the power brick is another 0.54 kg.

The A16 Pro stands out with a display that can fold through 180 degrees to lie flat. I love this design for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it means you can toggle the display upside down and share it with someone sitting across from you. Secondly, it makes it easy to use the laptop in your own unique way.

For example, with the A16 Pro plugged into a second screen or dock, and using a keyboard and mouse, I liked to open the screen fully, and place the laptop in a vertical stand. That way the laptop screen is raised to the right level to be placed next to a second screen, plus it leaves the vents unobstructed and takes up very little desk space.

The A16 Pro includes a MUX switch for Advanced Optimus graphics switching. This means the laptop can optimize graphics performance and power use automatically based on need, such as shutting down the discrete GPU, without needing to restart when switching modes.

Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro rear vents with screen open — Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro rear vents (Image credit: Future)

The A16 Pro opts for plastic on the main chassis and display to save weight. While I like the strength of metal, the stiff plastic used is still pretty good and the laptop feels capable of handling any bumps or drops. The laptop is equipped with a large keyboard with 1.7 mm key travel, but there’s no numpad. Still, it’s pleasant enough to type on despite a little bounce. The keyboard has customizable RGB 1-zone backlighting that can be used to add some bling, or toned down to muted colors (or white) if trying to blend in at the office or university.

Port selection is reasonable but not outstanding, with a single USB-C that includes DisplayPort output and USB-C charging. At 5 Gbps, the data rate is lower than I would like and I’d ideally want to see at least one 40 Gbps USB4 port for a laptop in this class, and at the very minimum 20 Gbps USB-C. You also get two 5Gbps USB-A ports, plus a standard USB 2.0 port.

It also has HDMI 2.1, plus Ethernet and a 3.5mm headset jack – though no card reader. The ports are well located on the sides of the laptop, with plenty of spacing between them ensuring easy access.

The choice to include Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax 2x2) means the A16 Pro doesn’t have the absolute fastest networking, but is still relatively future-proof in terms of high-speed connectivity. The A16 Pro doesn’t include a privacy e-shutter on the webcam, but on the plus side it’s capable of facial recognition for fast Windows login.

The 76Wh battery is decently sized but I’d have much preferred to have seen a larger 99Wh battery – as is featured in some competitors – to help eke out a little extra time unplugged.

Design score: 4 / 5

Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro keyboard close up — The A16 Pro keyboard has 1-zone RGB (plus white) LED lighting (Image credit: Future)

Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro: Performance

Solid gaming results
Somewhat noisy under load
Decent CPU performance for workstation use

I’ve tested a range of similarly priced laptops that use the RTX 5080 GPU and, generally speaking, for the same GPU thermal design power (TGP) and similar CPU / RAM spec, gaming results don’t vary a huge amount if the cooling is up to the task. But subtle differences in how manufacturers configure their CPU and GPU power profiles, as well as other design choices, can lead to consistent differences overall.

For the A16 Pro, Gigabyte caps the GPU TGP for the 5080 at 115W. The 5080 can run at up to 150W (plus dynamic boost), so the 115W limit in the A16 Pro means performance sits about halfway between that of an unfettered 5080 and a 5070, and is similar to a 5070 Ti. While this seems like a major downside, what matters is performance for your dollar, and the Gaming A16 Pro is cheaper than a lot of higher TGP 5080 machines. Gigabyte does not confirm the TGP of the RTX 5070 Ti, though it can likely run at the full 115W the GPU is rated for, but without higher dynamic boost power levels.

Now, it’s important to mention that a capped 115W RTX 5080 still has major benefits over a full power 5070 Ti or 5070. You get 16GB of VRAM instead of 12GB or 8GB, which means you can run higher quality textures at 2560 x 1600 and keep ray tracing on in games like Cyberpunk 2077. The 5080 also has a wider 256-bit memory bus, so busy scenes with path-traced lighting or dense city areas will drop the frame rate less than with the 128-bit 5070 or 192-bit 5070 Ti.

The 5080 has more ray-tracing and Tensor hardware too, so DLSS 4 can run at a higher preset without impacting playability. Plus, it’s more powerful for creator work. The GPU will stay relevant longer too, as more new titles call for loads of VRAM, so the 16GB 5080 will handle them better than a 12GB 5070 Ti or an 8GB 5070.

Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro underside cooling vents (Image credit: Future)

Overall, the A16 Pro manages decent gaming performance but does run at the limits of its cooling. In most scenarios, we found that the CPU hit its thermal throttling point before the GPU, limiting performance. Older or less intense games still tended to have the CPU thermally throttled, but the GPU could still run flat out. On more demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077, the performance was bottlenecked by the CPU and the 5080 was often running up to 20% or so behind its full potential.

The Core 7 240H isn’t a bad CPU, but as a refreshed Raptor Lake-H part launched in late 2024, it’s not the most efficient option. This isn’t a problem normally, but with the limited thermal ability of the laptop, heavy load on the CPU and GPU push heat levels to the point the CPU has to throttle itself.

This can be helped somewhat by scaling back settings that put more load on the CPU, like reducing crowd depth, but ultimately the 5080 is still often limited by the CPU. This meant that for games like Cyberpunk 2077, we struggled to push frame rates to the 165 Hz the display is capable of (with frame generation), even when dropping detail or resolution back.

Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro rear screen closed — (Image credit: Future)

To give some context, I have compared the A16 Pro benchmark results to the Alienware 16X Aurora with a 5070 and the Alienware 16 Area-51 with a 150W TGP 5080. In synthetic benchmarks (which don’t get CPU bottlenecked), the A16 Pro sits right between the two, as expected. But for gaming benchmarks, the A16 Pro has a smaller lead over the 5070.

Now, this is not necessarily a problem, as, for example, the A16 Pro is significantly cheaper than the RTX 5070 equipped Alienware 16X Aurora, making it a much better bang for buck machine. While we wish Gigabyte had used a more efficient CPU, ultimately the design trade-offs here are fine overall.

Still, it does mean you need to be slightly more careful when comparing pricing, and make sure the A16 Pro is on par with or slightly less than a 5070 Ti-based machine with a more powerful cooling system, and significantly less than a full TGP 5080 laptop.

One potential wildcard is the performance of the A16 Pro with 5070 Ti. While the 5070 Ti will likely experience the same CPU bottleneck as the 5080, the overall performance difference may be small. We will update this review once we can test the 5070 Ti variant or confirm third-party benchmark results.

Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro benchmark results
	Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro	Alienware 16X Aurora	Alienware 16 Area-51

CPU	Intel Core 7 240H	Intel Ultra 9 275HX	Intel Ultra 9 275HX
GPU	RTX 5080 (115W TGP)	RTX 5070 (115W TGP)	RTX 5080 (150W TGP)
RAM	32GB	32GB	32GB
Battery	76 Wh	96 Wh	96 Wh

General performance
PCMark 10 - Overall (score)	7,523	8,437	8,639
Geekbench 6 - Multi-core	13,503	19,615	20,244
Geekbench 6 - Single-core	2,744	3,068	3,149
Geekbench 6 - GPU	177,521	136,686	213,178
Cinebench R24 - CPU Single Core	117	133	133
Cinebench R24 - CPU Multi Core	832	1,964	2,106

Battery
PCMark 10 - Battery Work (HH:MM)	3:19	6:01	3:09
TechRadar video test (HH:MM)	10:37	6:16	4:27

Graphics performance
3DMark SpeedWay	4,247	3,664	5,610
3DMark Port Royal	10,744	9,031	11,999
Steel Nomad	3,967	2,846	5,109

Cyberpunk 2077 - 1600p RT Low (DLSS)	84	76	114
Cyberpunk 2077 - 1600p RT Low (DLSS off)	52	50	79
Cyberpunk 2077 - 1600p RT Ultra (DLSS)	55	54	72
Cyberpunk 2077 - 1600p RT Ultra (DLSS off)	25	16	37

Black Myth: Wukong - 1600p Cinematic (DLSS)	77	76	104

Shadow of the Tomb Raider - 1600p (DLSS off)	137	131	175

Storage
CrystalDiskMark Read/Write (MB/s)	6,982 / 6,481	6,939 / 6,740	6,575 / 5,890

Overall, even at 115W the RTX 5080 is a solid choice for 2560 x 1600 gaming, and can run most games at very playable frame rates without dropping back the details. For especially demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077 set to ultra ray tracing and high texture detail, the A16 Pro manages 55 fps, or 84 fps if the ray tracing is on low. Turn on frame generation, and you can be gaming at the display's 165 Hz limit with no problems at all.

While the fan profiles keep the A16 Pro quiet in non-gaming use, at full tilt they are quite loud and if gaming, we highly recommend using a headset. Heat is directed out of both the sides and rear of the laptop, and after an intense gaming session, the trackpad reached a low 24.6°C / 76.3°F, the keyboard hit a toasty 41.3°C / 106.3°F and the underside was the hottest part at 42.4°C / 108.3°F. The keyboard temp here is significantly hotter than many competing gaming laptops, though not at the point it is uncomfortable to use.

The A16 Pro uses the GiMate control software and includes five modes – Balanced, Game, Creator, Power Saving and Online meeting – which vary the performance levels, as well as the amount of noise and heat created. For each mode, you can also adjust the individual settings, like fan control profile, display brightness and more. Stability is also good and I had no glitches or strange behavior from the Gigabyte software, or problems running any games, benchmarks or applications.

Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro keyboard close up with trackpad — The trackpad stays cool, but the keyboard gets a little toasty under load (Image credit: Future)

The A16 Pro cooling system may struggle with the GPU, but is good enough to let the grunty Intel Core 7 240H CPU use up to 85W in our testing. It’s not as powerful as the Core Ultra series CPUs, or the new AMD Ryzen AI processors, but still makes for a competent workstation when not gaming, and it will happily handle heavy workloads such as video editing.

If you leave the software in charge of profile selection, performance on battery takes a hit compared to being plugged in, and is about 60% slower in CPU workloads.

The A16 Pro can also be run on or charged from USB-C using PD spec 100W (20V/5A) and we saw a max of 90W in use. Unlike the questionable USB-C power profiles on the otherwise excellent Gigabyte 16X, the A16 Pro gives solid performance on USB-C, and is about 50% faster than on battery for CPU workloads and about 35% behind full performance. Gaming on USB-C is about half the performance compared to using the main PSU.

In other words, workstation use feels snappy when running on USB-C (such as when plugged into a dock) or if charging from a power bank, but don’t expect to do much more than casual gaming without the larger PSU.

Performance score: 4 / 5

Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro: Battery life and Charging

4 hours and 49 minutes of regular use when unplugged
10 hours and 37 minutes of video playback
58 minutes of gaming

Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro power supply size comparison at rear of laptop — (Image credit: Future)

The Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro uses a 76Wh battery, which is decent size but not quite as good as the 99Wh featured in some competing models.

Still, five hours or so of work unplugged (and around an hour longer if just browsing the internet or watching YouTube videos) is enough to be useful, but still not a great result overall. In contrast, other gaming laptops I've tested with similar spec hardware (including more powerful CPUs) use a 96Wh battery and can last up to 7 hours unplugged. The A16 Pro doesn’t handle medium level loads too well on battery (like video editing), and I saw run times at under three hours. On the plus side, the A16 Pro offers relatively quick charging and it gets back to full charge in under an hour.

The PSU is medium sized (and not as chunky as many gaming laptops) and weighs 537 grams (including the cable), so it has a measurable impact if carried around all day. Fortunately USB-C charging is decent and it could top up in just over an hour. The A16 Pro also charges well from a power bank and a large, but flight safe, 27,000mAh (99Wh) model will just give the laptop a full charge.

Battery life and charging score: 3.5 / 5

Should you buy the Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro?

Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro scorecard
Attributes	Notes	Rating
Value	Expensive at list price, but great value when discounted	4 / 5
Specs	Reasonable but not standout	3.5 / 5
Design	Decent features but some compromises like noisy fans	4 / 5
Performance	Solid gaming and workstation performance	4 / 5
Battery	Short battery life for work but decent video playback	3.5 / 5
Overall	A gaming laptop that is also very well equipped for workstation or creator use – but don’t pay full list price	4 / 5

Buy it if…

You want decent gaming performance in a relatively portable package
The A16 Pro isn’t exactly tiny, but considering the large 16-inch screen and full performance GPU, it’s still pretty good for carrying every day.

You want CPU performance
The Intel Core 7 240H CPU is grunty enough for demanding Uni students, or workstation and creator use.

You want to use it for more than just gaming
Options like the fold-flat screen mean the Gigabyte is also a great option for plugging in alongside a second monitor.

Don’t buy it if...

You want a very portable gaming option
The A16 Pro isn’t too heavy or thick, but if portability is a prime concern, then consider a slimmer model, or a 14-inch gaming machine.

You want a more powerful GPU
The A16 Pro caps the 5080 to 115W, and you will need to look at models like the Aorus Master 16 or 18 for better gaming frame rates.

You want a very affordable laptop
The A16 Pro is a great-value machine (when discounted), but it’s still a pricey laptop. If you crave affordable RTX 5050 and 5060 focused gaming, check out the non-Pro Gigabyte Gaming A16.

Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro: Also consider

If my Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro review has you considering other options, here are some more gaming laptops to consider:

Razer Blade 14 (2025)
Smaller and lighter than the 16-inch Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro, the Razer Blade 14 offers pretty good performance in a small package.

Check out the full Razer Blade 14 (2025) review

Alienware 16 Area-51
A powerful 16-inch gaming laptop that’s sold with an RTX 5060, 5080 or 5090, this is a chunky machine that’s all about performance.

Take a look at the full Alienware 16 Area-51 review

I tested the Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro for two weeks
I used it both on a desk and carried it in a backpack for travel
I used it for gaming, as well as office productivity work and video editing

I ran the Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro through the usual comprehensive array of TechRadar benchmarks, as well as using it for actual day-to-day work at a desk and on the go. I used the TechRadar movie test for assessing battery life during video playback, and a range of productivity battery benchmarks to further gauge battery life. I also logged power use in a variety of scenarios, including when charging from USB-C, and tested the laptop with a variety of USB-C chargers and power banks.

Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro: Two-minute review

Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro: Price & availability

How much does it cost? Starting from $1,899 / £1,699 / AU$3,299
When is it available? It's available now
Where can you get it? You can get it in the US, UK and Australia

At the full list price, the Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro doesn’t offer standout value, but third-party retailer prices can be considerably lower, making it a good buy.

Gigabyte does not list a recommended retail price for the A16 Pro in every market, but below is a table of typical non-discounted pricing for the RTX 5080 and 5070 Ti variants at the time of writing.

When on sale, we have seen it at up to 25% less than these prices.

	RTX 5080	RTX 5070 Ti
US List Price	$2,199	$1,899
UK List Price	£2,099	£1,799
AU List Price	AU$4,299	AU$3,299

Value score: 4 / 5

Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro: Specs

Below is the specs list for the A16 Pro models available.

Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro specs
	RTX 5070 Ti variant	RTX 5080 variant
US Price	$1,899	$2,199
UK Price	£1,799	£2,099
AU Price	AU$3,299	AU$4,299

CPU	Intel Core 7 240H	Intel Core 7 240H
GPU	RTX 5070 Ti	RTX 5080
RAM	32GB LPDDR5x 5600 MHz	32GB LPDDR5x 5600 MHz
Storage	1TB	1TB
Display	2560 x 1600 IPS, 100% sRGB, 400 nits, 165 Hz	2560 x 1600 IPS, 100% sRGB, 400 nits, 165 Hz
Ports	1x USB-C 5 Gbps, DisplayPort 1.4, PD charging, 2x USB-A 5 Gbps, HDMI 2.1, 1 Gb Ethernet, 3.5mm headset jack.	1x USB-C 5 Gbps, DisplayPort 1.4, PD charging, 2x USB-A 5 Gbps, HDMI 2.1, 1 Gb Ethernet, 3.5mm headset jack.
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 6E, 802.11ax 2x2 + BT5.2	Wi-Fi 6E, 802.11ax 2x2 + BT5.2
Battery	76Wh	76Wh
Dimensions	358.3 x 262.5 x 19.45 - 22.99 mm (14.11 x 10.33 x 0.77 - 0.91 inches)	358.3 x 262.5 x 19.45 - 22.99 mm (14.11 x 10.33 x 0.77 - 0.91 inches)
Weight	2.3 kg (5.1 lbs)	2.3 kg (5.1 lbs)

Specs score: 4 / 5

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Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro: Design

Conservative power ratings
Customizable lighting
Facial recognition webcam

The 76Wh battery is decently sized but I’d have much preferred to have seen a larger 99Wh battery – as is featured in some competitors – to help eke out a little extra time unplugged.

Design score: 4 / 5

Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro: Performance

Solid gaming results
Somewhat noisy under load
Decent CPU performance for workstation use

Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro benchmark results
	Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro	Alienware 16X Aurora	Alienware 16 Area-51

CPU	Intel Core 7 240H	Intel Ultra 9 275HX	Intel Ultra 9 275HX
GPU	RTX 5080 (115W TGP)	RTX 5070 (115W TGP)	RTX 5080 (150W TGP)
RAM	32GB	32GB	32GB
Battery	76 Wh	96 Wh	96 Wh

General performance
PCMark 10 - Overall (score)	7,523	8,437	8,639
Geekbench 6 - Multi-core	13,503	19,615	20,244
Geekbench 6 - Single-core	2,744	3,068	3,149
Geekbench 6 - GPU	177,521	136,686	213,178
Cinebench R24 - CPU Single Core	117	133	133
Cinebench R24 - CPU Multi Core	832	1,964	2,106

Battery
PCMark 10 - Battery Work (HH:MM)	3:19	6:01	3:09
TechRadar video test (HH:MM)	10:37	6:16	4:27

Graphics performance
3DMark SpeedWay	4,247	3,664	5,610
3DMark Port Royal	10,744	9,031	11,999
Steel Nomad	3,967	2,846	5,109

Cyberpunk 2077 - 1600p RT Low (DLSS)	84	76	114
Cyberpunk 2077 - 1600p RT Low (DLSS off)	52	50	79
Cyberpunk 2077 - 1600p RT Ultra (DLSS)	55	54	72
Cyberpunk 2077 - 1600p RT Ultra (DLSS off)	25	16	37

Black Myth: Wukong - 1600p Cinematic (DLSS)	77	76	104

Shadow of the Tomb Raider - 1600p (DLSS off)	137	131	175

Storage
CrystalDiskMark Read/Write (MB/s)	6,982 / 6,481	6,939 / 6,740	6,575 / 5,890

If you leave the software in charge of profile selection, performance on battery takes a hit compared to being plugged in, and is about 60% slower in CPU workloads.

Performance score: 4 / 5

Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro: Battery life and Charging

4 hours and 49 minutes of regular use when unplugged
10 hours and 37 minutes of video playback
58 minutes of gaming

The Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro uses a 76Wh battery, which is decent size but not quite as good as the 99Wh featured in some competing models.

Battery life and charging score: 3.5 / 5

Should you buy the Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro?

Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro scorecard
Attributes	Notes	Rating
Value	Expensive at list price, but great value when discounted	4 / 5
Specs	Reasonable but not standout	3.5 / 5
Design	Decent features but some compromises like noisy fans	4 / 5
Performance	Solid gaming and workstation performance	4 / 5
Battery	Short battery life for work but decent video playback	3.5 / 5
Overall	A gaming laptop that is also very well equipped for workstation or creator use – but don’t pay full list price	4 / 5

Buy it if…

You want CPU performance
The Intel Core 7 240H CPU is grunty enough for demanding Uni students, or workstation and creator use.

You want to use it for more than just gaming
Options like the fold-flat screen mean the Gigabyte is also a great option for plugging in alongside a second monitor.

Don’t buy it if...

You want a very portable gaming option
The A16 Pro isn’t too heavy or thick, but if portability is a prime concern, then consider a slimmer model, or a 14-inch gaming machine.

You want a more powerful GPU
The A16 Pro caps the 5080 to 115W, and you will need to look at models like the Aorus Master 16 or 18 for better gaming frame rates.

Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro: Also consider

If my Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro review has you considering other options, here are some more gaming laptops to consider:

Razer Blade 14 (2025)
Smaller and lighter than the 16-inch Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro, the Razer Blade 14 offers pretty good performance in a small package.

Check out the full Razer Blade 14 (2025) review

Alienware 16 Area-51
A powerful 16-inch gaming laptop that’s sold with an RTX 5060, 5080 or 5090, this is a chunky machine that’s all about performance.

Take a look at the full Alienware 16 Area-51 review

I tested the Gigabyte Gaming A16 Pro for two weeks
I used it both on a desk and carried it in a backpack for travel
I used it for gaming, as well as office productivity work and video editing

Nintendo Switch 2 Carrying Case & Screen Protector: review

Want to take your beloved Nintendo Switch 2 on the road without the fear of damage and destruction? Well, the official Nintendo Switch 2 Carrying Case & Screen Protector could be the ideal fit for you.

This package provides you with a case that can hold your Switch 2 console (including the Joy-Con 2 controllers), six game cartridges, and some smaller accessories, like Joy-Con straps, for example. Of course, you also get a screen protector thrown in for good measure – more on that later.

I want to start by discussing the case, which I found to be very solid indeed. It’s well finished, with the Switch 2 logo front and center, and aptly, it has red and blue colored handles on the two zips, which feel smooth and easy to do up. The case also has a pleasantly durable feel to it, and when dropping it a couple of times and giving it a good scratching, I couldn’t see even a spec of wear – that’s the sort of quality I’d expect from the best Nintendo Switch 2 accessories.

Inside, there are three compartments: one on each side of the case to hold the console, and another that can hold small accessories, with room for six cartridges above. Could there be a few more game card slots? Yes, but personally, six physical slots will be enough for me if I’m taking a short trip – there’s enough room for some party games like Mario Kart World and Super Mario Party Jamboree + Jamboree TV, as well as a few single-player adventures.

Person holding the official Nintendo Switch 2 Carrying Case — (Image credit: Future)

The amount of storage in that third compartment is limited – you’re not gonna get your dock in here. I could fit a pair of earbuds or Joy-Con straps without issue, but if you’re hoping to store an item like a USB camera or the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller, you might want to check out a larger option. One upside here is that the case remains slim and tight to the console, meaning you can easily slot it in a bag without worrying about it being too bulky.

I did generally really like this case, and I might use it instead of my official Nintendo Switch 2 All-in-One Carry Case if I'm not planning to play docked. But one thing I did realize is that it's very prone to fingerprints. Even when shooting the photos you see in this guide, I had to wipe it down a few times – it’s a small thing, but worth flagging.

As I mentioned earlier, this package also includes a screen protector, but I was feeling much less positive about this. You’ll have to temper your expectations here – after all, you’re not getting a tempered glass screen protector! Instead, it’s an anti-scratch piece of film, which is hardly the most protective option on the market.

You don’t get a frame to help apply the screen protector – you have to fit it freehand. But even though I lined it up pretty nicely, I still ran into some issues, like excessive air bubbles, which were a struggle to squeeze out. I put it through the same testing process as the Genki Aegis Shield, for example. And although my console got out unscathed, I would still recommend getting a tempered glass option for better protection and peace of mind.

Person applying screen protector from the Nintendo Switch 2 Carrying Case & Screen Protector package — (Image credit: Future)

Ultimately, I’m going to treat the screen protector more as an extra. The focus for me is on the case, which I consider to be good value, especially for UK and Aussie buyers who are spending £20.99 / AU$39.95 at most to get this model – I’ve already seen it on sale for less. In the US, availability appears to be inconsistent, and the proportionally higher $39.99 price tag is a bit of a shame.

Still, you’re getting a slim, well-finished, and durable case that’s ideal for taking on the go. And in the end, I think Nintendo's official case remains well worth considering.

Nintendo Switch 2 Carrying Case & Screen Protector review: price & specs

Price	$39.99 / £20.99 / AU$39.95
Dimensions	13.4 x 5.6 x 1.7in / 340 x 142 x 42mm
Weight	310g
Number of game card slots	6
Compartments	3
Handle	No
Color	Black

Nintendo Switch 2 Carrying Case open showing Switch 2 console on the home menu — (Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Nintendo Switch 2 Carrying Case & Screen Protector?

Attributes	Notes	Rating
Design	Sleek look with nice finish and durable build, but a little prone to fingerprints.	4/5
Storage	Could have some more game card slots, but for a slim case stores console and Joy-Con 2s effectively.	4/5
Value	A tad pricey in the US, but solid durability, good looks, and decent storage in this size class.	4/5

Buy it if…

You want a lightweight Switch 2 case
If you don’t need a case that’s big enough to fit your dock, and you just need a lightweight option, then this model could be perfect for you. It's slim, stylish, and can easily slot into a bag for on-the-go play.

You want something with dashing looks
A few of the third-party options we’ve tested here at TechRadar aren’t the prettiest, but personally, I’m a fan of how Nintendo’s official carrying case looks. The red and blue zip handles playfully contrast the case’s textured black exterior, and it's got a slightly curved look that’s very easy on the eye.

Don’t buy it if…

You want a great screen protector
Sure, the screen protector here is functional, and it's a decent extra considering the moderate pricing of this package. But it's not the most durable protective layer on the market, and fitting it freehand isn’t ideal. I’d instead recommend checking out the DBrand Prism 2.0 for Nintendo Switch 2 or the Belkin Tempered Glass Anti-Reflective Screen Protector separately.

You need everything to play in TV mode
If you need a case that can fit all the gear for TV mode play, this ain’t it. Instead, I’d recommend picking up the official Nintendo Switch 2 All-in-One Carry Case, which can fit your dock, cables, console, a Pro Controller, and more with ease.

Nintendo Switch 2 Carrying Case & Screen Protector review: also consider

Nintendo Switch 2 All-In-One Carrying Case
This one comes at quite the cost, but if you need one case for everything Switch 2, it doesn't get a whole lot better. With seven compartments custom-built for your dock, controllers, console, and more, you'll have oodles of space to play with. This case is pretty hardy too, and even comes with a handle for improved portability. It's the model I use the most, and if you like to play in TV mode, it will suit you to a T.

Read our full Nintendo Switch 2 All-In-One Carrying Case review.

Nacon Protection Case XL for Nintendo Switch 2
OK, it isn't being sold in the United States just yet, but if the Nacon Protection Case XL is available in your region, I highly recommend it. It's got enough room to house all the gear for TV mode play, but it’s only a little more expensive than this slim model. Great value, great durability, and lots of storage – what more could you want?

Read our full Nacon Protection Case XL for Nintendo Switch 2 review.

How I tested the Nintendo Switch 2 Carrying Case & Screen Protector

Person closing the Nintendo Switch 2 Carrying Case — (Image credit: Future)

Tested over the course of multiple days
Took with me on public transport and to the office
Trialled by a Nintendo Switch 2 owner and life-long gamer

I tested the Nintendo Switch 2 Carrying Case & Screen Protector over the course of a few days. I packed it with my Nintendo Switch 2 console, Joy-Con 2 controllers, and a charging cable, and it held out well, as expected.

In order to judge the case’s durability, I tried dropping it from a decent distance, and also gave the exterior a scratch. I then checked for any wear and tear after the testing period came to a close. Where appropriate, I compared this case to rivals on aspects like sturdiness and storage space.

I’m a Switch 2 owner, a lifelong gamer, and an experienced tech reviewer with plenty of experience with Switch 2 accessories. Since grabbing my Switch 2 at launch, I’ve trialled a range of products, including cases like the Nacon Protection Case XL for Nintendo Switch 2, screen protectors such as the DBrand Prism 2.0, and cameras, like the Hori Piranha Plant Camera for Nintendo Switch 2.

Read more about how we test
First reviewed: November 2025

I tested the official Nintendo Switch 2 carry case, and it’s a slim and stylish option well worth considering

4:00 am |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming Gaming Accessories | Tags: Nintendo Switch, TV | Comments: Off

Nintendo Switch 2 Carrying Case & Screen Protector: review

Still, you’re getting a slim, well-finished, and durable case that’s ideal for taking on the go. And in the end, I think Nintendo's official case remains well worth considering.

Nintendo Switch 2 Carrying Case & Screen Protector review: price & specs

Price	$39.99 / £20.99 / AU$39.95
Dimensions	13.4 x 5.6 x 1.7in / 340 x 142 x 42mm
Weight	310g
Number of game card slots	6
Compartments	3
Handle	No
Color	Black

Should I buy the Nintendo Switch 2 Carrying Case & Screen Protector?

Attributes	Notes	Rating
Design	Sleek look with nice finish and durable build, but a little prone to fingerprints.	4/5
Storage	Could have some more game card slots, but for a slim case stores console and Joy-Con 2s effectively.	4/5
Value	A tad pricey in the US, but solid durability, good looks, and decent storage in this size class.	4/5

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

Nintendo Switch 2 Carrying Case & Screen Protector review: also consider

Read our full Nintendo Switch 2 All-In-One Carrying Case review.

Read our full Nacon Protection Case XL for Nintendo Switch 2 review.

How I tested the Nintendo Switch 2 Carrying Case & Screen Protector

Tested over the course of multiple days
Took with me on public transport and to the office
Trialled by a Nintendo Switch 2 owner and life-long gamer

Read more about how we test
First reviewed: November 2025

Quella Imperial Electric Courier Bicycle review: A nippy e-bike that is damn good looking

10:00 pm | November 9, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness | Comments: Off

Quella Imperial Electric Courier Bicycle : One minute review

The best electric bikes come in many shapes and sizes. Some e-bike manufacturers embrace a brutalist and utilitarian design philosophy, while others try and keep their e-bikes looking as much like traditional push bikes as possible. The Quella Imperial Electric Courier before us today most definitely falls into the second category.

Quella is a British-based bicycle brand with a passion for fixed-gear bikes. It continues Quella's focus on creating stylish, minimalist bicycles. The Imperial is unlike a lot of other e-bikes on the market in that it features a rear hub that contains both the motor and the battery. This leaves the rest of the e-bike to adopt any design Quella decides, rather than being limited by bulky batteries and trailing cables. I loved the bike from my first ride.

Quella Imperial Electric Courier Bicycle: Specifications
Component	Quella Imperial Electric Courier Bicycle
Size range:	51cm, 54cm, 58cm, 61cm
Motor:	Zehus Gen 2 all-in-one rear hub motor
Top speed	15.5mph / 25kmh (UK)
Power:	155Wh (watt-hour) battery unit
Control:	Phone app
E-bike classification:	Pedelec
Speeds:	Single-speed
Brakes:	Radius dual-pivot caliper brakes
Frame material:	4130 chromoly steel, with track geometry
Weight:	15.2 kg / 33.5 lbs
Range:	60 km / 37 miles

Quella Imperial Electric Courier Bicycle: Price and availability

$2,289 USD / £1,699 UK / $3,500 AUD
Located in the middle of the market
Fantastic spec for the price

The Quella Imperial sits comfortably in the mid-range of the e-bike market, competing with brands like VOLT and some models from manufacturers like Trek and Cube. These bikes, like the Imperial, offer a balance of features, performance, and price.

Even though the price will put a lot of people off, if you’re not comfortable spending more than this for a higher-spec e-bike, then the Imperial is an incredible offering.

Value score: 4/5

Quella Imperial Electric Courier Bicycle: Design

Rear hub with integrated motor and battery
Regenerative braking feature
Classic aesthetic with a modern twist

One of the most important features of the Quella Imperial e-bike is that the electric motor and the battery are integrated into the rear hub. This creates a beautifully clean and minimalist aesthetic, to the point that many would think it was a standard push bike. As a result, the frame is not cluttered by a battery, which means that the top, down, and seat tubes are free from electronic clutter.

There are, however, two distinct downsides to this type of hub design. The first is that the battery can't be removed, and therefore you need to bring the whole e-bike to mains power. I'm a big fan of removable batteries, as I can separate the battery from the frame and therefore charge it wherever I like. The other downside to this design is that if the battery fails, then you'll need a complete hub replacement or, worse, potentially a whole new bike.

While we're on the subject of the battery, it includes a Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) that recharges the battery as you pedal backward. This is similar technology to that used in Formula One engines, and even though I didn't find myself using it very much, it is a clever and simple way to extend the bike's range.

Moving onto the design of the bike itself, Quella has created a modern e-bike that still embraces a classic, minimalist aesthetic. I love the vintage-inspired track frame made from 4130 chromoly steel that continues Quella's heritage style. In particular, it features a unique and eye-catching chrome-plated finish, giving it a polished, premium, luxurious look.

Quella has also inserted aggressive-looking deep-section rims and bullhorn handlebars, and I loved the riding position that this afforded me. The single-speed design won't be for everyone, but I love its simplicity, and the lack of derailleurs, shifters, and multiple sprockets means it's super low maintenance.

Design Score: 4.5/5

Quella Imperial Electric Courier Bicycle: Performance

Smooth and reliable power assistance
Perfect for city living
Effective regenerative braking feature

The Quella Imperial e-bike is far from a powerhouse, but despite this, it’s a very clever, lightweight, and efficient city commuter. Having tested numerous e-bikes, it doesn't get much better than this, especially if you have an aversion to heavy and bulky e-bikes that are hard to manoeuver around.

The assistance comes from a 250W motor and 40Nm of torque, which serves up smooth, subtle, and natural-feeling power delivery. It won't zoom around but rather provides a "helping hand" to make starts easier, maintain speed on flats, and take the sting out of minor inclines. The motor kicks in rapidly after you begin pedaling and is reliable enough to give you the assistance you need when pulling away from standing still.

The rear-hub motor is less efficient than mid-drive alternatives, especially when riding routes with a lot of inclines. This is further compounded by the single-speed design that restricts the rider to only one gear. As a result, the motor has to work much harder, which can lead to rapid battery drain and the risk of overheating. This makes it a less ideal choice for riders who frequently encounter hilly terrain.

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But given this isn't the target market of this e-bike, I don't see a problem with that. I actually really loved the simplicity of the single-speed design that meant I wasn't faffing around with gears all the time. This is an e-bike that you can just jump on and ride, and in all honesty, that's my favorite type of ride.

The regenerative braking, KERS, is one of its best features. In terms of functionality, when you backpedal, the motor acts as a generator, not only slowing the bike down but also recharging the battery. This worked incredibly well and was a serious game changer when I needed to finely manage any remaining battery life.

The Quella Imperial is about simplicity and efficiency, rather than brute force. It provides a seamless, non-intrusive power assist that makes urban cycling a breeze.

Performance score: 4.5/5

Quella Imperial Electric Courier Bicycle: Battery life

Small battery located in the rear hub
A range of 37 miles (60 km)
Two to three hours to recharge the battery

The Imperial e-bike has a 155Wh (watt-hour) battery unit that is significantly smaller in capacity compared to many other e-bikes that feature 400Wh batteries or more. The small battery is due to Quella's integration of the battery into the hub. This has the added benefit of reduced weight and minimalist design, but it does have an impact on range.

Quella claims the e-bike has a maximum range of 37 miles (60 km) on a single charge. I always find it near impossible to achieve an e-bike manufacturer's range claims because there are too many varying factors. These include the terrain, wind strength, temperature, and, of course, my weight. I gave it a go, though, and managed to achieve around 75% (just under 30 miles) of the advertised range. That's still not bad.

The limited range, compared to many competitors, can be offset by the fact that this is primarily an urban city bike and that journeys are likely to be much shorter between charging locations. If you're doing those types of rides, then you'll have no issues at all. If you're doing long daily commutes, then you will find that a daily charge is required – but you’ll need an extension cord, or to lug the whole bike over to a mains socket to do so, rather than removing the battery.

The battery takes approximately two to three hours to charge due to the smaller battery size, which is really quite fast for an e-bike.

Battery life score: 3.5/5

Quella Imperial Electric Courier Bicycle: Scorecard

Category	Comment	Score
Value	A high-spec e-bike that sits in the middle of the market.	4/5
Design	A rear hub with an integrated motor and a seriously classy frame.	4.5/5
Performance	Smooth and reliable power assistance with a cool regenerative braking feature.	4.5/5
Battery Life	A small battery that yields around 37 miles / 60 km of range	3.5/5

Buy it if...

You prefer a classic look to your e-bikes

With an integrated motor and battery in the rear hub, the Quella Imperial looks much like a traditional push bike.

You value smooth power delivery

It doesn’t get much smoother than the Quella Imperial. I found it to be reliable and consistent and couldn’t ask for anything more.

Don't buy it if...

You need a top-range

37 miles (60 km) the Imperial is far from the highest performing in this area.

You want a removable battery

The battery is located in the rear hub and therefore can’t be removed for charging purposes.

Also consider

Quella Imperial Electric Courier Bicycle: Also consider
Component	Quella Imperial Electric Courier Bicycle	Brompton Electric G Line	ENGWE MapFour N1 Air
Size range:	51cm, 54cm, 58cm, 61cm	Small, medium, large	Not specified
Motor:	Zehus Gen 2 all-in-one rear hub motor	250W	250W In-Rotor Motor
Top speed	15.5mph / 25kmh (UK)	15.5mph / 25kmh (UK)	15.5mph / 25kmh (UK)
Power:	155Wh (watt-hour) battery unit	345-wh. 4-hour full charge using included 2A charger	360Wh 10Ah high-capacity battery
Control:	Phone app	LCD Display	LCD Display
E-bike classification:	Pedelec	Class 3	Class 3
Speeds:	Single-speed	4-speed + 3-speed (electric assist)	Shimano 7 speed
Brakes:	Radius dual-pivot caliper brakes	Tektro Hydraulic Disc brakes with 140mm Front / 160mm Rear	Hydraulic Disc Brakes
Frame material:	4130 chromoly steel, with track geometry	Steel	Carbon
Weight:	15.2 kg / 33.5 lbs	16.1 kg / 35.5 lbs	15.6kg / 34 lbs
Range:	60 km / 37 miles	30-60km / 20-45 miles	100 Km / 62 miles

Brompton Electric G Line

A foldable e-bike with off-roading smarts. For anyone who wants the classic Brompton experience with a little bit more comfort.

Read our full Brompton Electric G Line review.

ENGWE MapFour N1 Air

The lightest 100 km range carbon e-bike around. A perfect e-bike solution for commuters.

Read our full ENGWE MapFour N1 Air review.

How I tested the Quella Imperial Electric Courier Bicycle

I had the e-bike in my possession for around one month and used it to carry out a variety of different rides. I focused on shorter rides rather than longer commutes, as I wanted to be fair to the e-bike's core target market.

First reviewed: November 2025

I tested Marshall’s new mini Dolby Atmos soundbar and I adore its crystal-clear dialogue, expansive sound, and classy design

9:00 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Soundbars Televisions | Tags: Dolby Atmos, DTS, TV, US | Comments: Off

Marshall Heston 60: two-minute review

The Marshall Heston 60 is a small Dolby Atmos soundbar that aims to deliver immersive sound for movies and music alike – something that’s proven to be quite the challenge for a number of rivals in this size-class.

But luckily, the Heston 60 has risen to that challenge. Sure, it may be limited in size, but its performance would suggest otherwise. It nails the basics, with ultra-clear dialogue and a nice variety of sound modes to suit whatever content you’re consuming. But it also gets those tricker elements right too.

For instance, the level of expansiveness on offer makes the Heston 60 one of the best Dolby Atmos soundbars in its weight class, I’d argue. It isn’t going to wow you with the incredible width of the Marshall Heston 120 or other larger rivals, but the Heston 60 still creates an impressive sense of height while watching Atmos movies, and the width of the soundstage is strong given the bar’s physical confines.

Like its larger sibling, the Heston 60 is also musically astute. It separates out instruments and positions them beautifully in the Atmos format, and takes a relatively impactful, nuanced approach to stereo.

Something that a lot of smaller soundbars struggle to do, is muster up weighty, hard-hitting low-end output, but the Heston 60 certainly bucks that trend. I was taken aback by the rumble of jet engines and roar of explosions when watching movies, and pumping bass in my favorite tracks.

You won’t get the same room-swallowing bass the Heston 120 serves up, and you may want to add the Marshall Heston 200 or a separate sub for enhanced low end, but for a model of this size, it sure packs a punch.

If you want to adapt the Heston 60’s sound, you can do so via the Marshall app. This opens up a range of features, like EQ adjustment, sound mode alteration, room calibration, and so on. I did encounter a few issues with setup, with a few bugs rearing their head from time to time. But for the most part, the app felt intuitive and easy to use – pretty important, given the omission of a physical remote.

Person holding the Marshall Heston 60 — (Image credit: Future)

Something that really makes the Heston 60 stand out is its design. Like the Heston 120, this has a gorgeous, amp-inspired aesthetic with frets and stunning golden details. However, the Marshall logo and control panel are now magnetic, meaning you can optimize the look of this model for wall-mounted use. Parts are also repairable, making this bar worth investing in for the long-haul.

And I don’t use the term ‘invest’ lightly here – this is a pretty pricey option. The Heston 60 comes in at just under $700 / £500 / AU$1,000. In the US, that’s quite a bit more than its clear competitor, the Sonos Beam Gen 2, but you do get DTS:X compatibility, a far more premium look, and a wider range of connectivity options.

It’s worth noting that you could get a strong multi-box soundbar at a similar cost to the Heston 60 – including models that support HDMI passthrough (unlike Marshall’s smaller soundbar).

But if you’re a little tight on space or using a smaller-sized TV, then the Marshall Heston 60 is one of the best soundbars in its class. It delivers on Dolby Atmos and punchy audio, it’s a classy looker, and it's built to last. Combine all of that, and the Heston 60 is easy to recommend.

Marshall Heston 60 soundbar on table with TV beside Marshall Heston Sub 200 — (Image credit: Future)

Marshall Heston 60 review: price & release date

$699.99 / £499.99 / AU$999
Launched in September 2025

The Marshall Heston 60 released in September 2025, about three months after the Marshall Heston 120, upon which I bestowed the elusive five star rating. It's a smaller version of its larger sibling, but has a largely similar design and also uses the revamped Marshall app.

You can purchase the Heston 60 in either black or cream, and it costs $699.99 / £499.99 / AU$999. That’s pretty competitive against its main rival, the Sonos Beam Gen 2, which has a list price of $499 / £499 / $799.

Ports on the reverse side of the Marshall Heston 60 — (Image credit: Future)

Marshall Heston 60 review: specs

Dimensions	28.7 x 4.9 x 2.7 inches / 730 x 124 x 68mm
Speaker channels	5.1
Connections	HDMI eARC, RCA Mono (sub out), USB-C, 3.5mm, Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi
Dolby Atmos / DTS:X	Yes / Yes
Sub included	No
Rear speakers included	No

Marshall Heston 60 review: features

5.1 speaker configuration with seven active drivers
Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support
App opens up strong set of features

The Marshall Heston 60 has a 5.1 speaker configuration, but is powered by seven active drivers. There are two 25W and five 5W class D amplifiers on board, and the soundbar is capable of a 56W maximum power output.

This is an all-in-one offering from Marshall, you won’t get a subwoofer or rears included from the off. However, you are now able to purchase the Heston Sub 200 – a wireless sub that I tried pairing to the Heston 60, and this can give you some extension below the 45Hz mark – the lowest the soundbar can go.

Even as a one-box option, the Heston 60 aims to create spacious, immersive audio with the inclusion of Dolby Atmos, as well as DTS:X. That latter format is missing on the Sonos Beam Gen 2, making the Heston 60 an attractive option for cinephiles.

On top of that, there are a number of ways to connect up to the Heston 60. Of course, there’s HDMI eARC, which I used for the majority of my testing time. However, you can also connect via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, as well as USB-C and 3.5mm, plus RCA – which can be used to add a third-party subwoofer.

Unfortunately, there’s no HDMI passthrough here, something that was included on the larger Heston 120. This would be a nice touch for those who want to unlock extra space for an HDMI-reliant device like a PS5 or Nintendo Switch 2, though it is pretty common for smaller models to leave this out.

If you head on over to the Marshall app, you’ll also discover that there’s Auracast compatibility – a type of Bluetooth technology that enables you to tune into an audio broadcast transmitted from a phone, TV or similar device without any pairing.

But there’s more! Marshall has once again integrated a wide range of music services, such as: Google Cast; Spotify Connect; Internet Radio; Tidal Connect; and Apple AirPlay 2. If you’re going to return to Internet Radio or Spotify on the reg, you can set the ‘Prog’ button to a specific service and gain easy access.

Let’s talk a little more about the Marshall app – this is revamped, but separate to the software used for Bluetooth speakers including the Marshall Kilburn III and Marshall Bromley 750. It supplies a five-band equalizer, AV sync to adjust audio delays, and Room correction, which cycles through an array of sounds to optimize performance for your listening space. It also lets you change between the Movie, Music, Voice, and Night modes – all of which are very well differentiated.

I’ll speak more about my experience with the app in the ‘Setup & usability’ section, but I will say that it was a little buggy. When it got into gear, I was very pleased with the options on offer, though.

As we saw with the Heston 120, there’s no physical remote control lumped in the box – you’re going to be using the app only. The app lets you adjust volume, manually switch between different sound modes or sources, and view whether Atmos or DTS:X are in-use or not. If you’re connected to the soundbar via HDMI eARC, you can also use your standard remote to ramp up or dampen volume too.

Features score: 4.5/5

Person pressing button on the Marshall Heston 60 — (Image credit: Future)

Marshall Heston 60 review: performance

Fantastic vocal clarity
Impressive bass for a small soundbar
Fairly expansive too

The Marshall Heston 60 performs pretty admirably for such a small soundbar. Of course, there are a few limitations due to its small size and moderate maximum power output of 56W. Still, the power the Heston 60 does have is used to great effect.

Let’s start by talking about dialogue quality, an area I always expect significant improvement over plain TV audio. And I was very impressed by the clarity and definition of vocals in the mix while using the Heston 60. While watching a 4K UHD Blu-Ray of Top Gun: Maverick, I was struck by the separation of voices in a large open space, as well as the natural replication of echo and breathy details.

Even when layered with a grand score and booming sound effects, voices remained clear-cut throughout the movie’s runtime, making for a great viewing experience.

Another area the Heston 60 held its own, was in the bass department. For such a lil’ guy, this soundbar can produce pretty imposing low-end sound. Sticking with Top Gun: Maverick, and the roar of jet engines firing up was both impactful and attention-grabbing.

Sure, it wasn’t that room-swallowing bass that the Heston 120 offers, and when I paired up the Heston Sub 200, rumble was considerably enhanced. But for its size, the Heston 60 performs pretty well in the bass department. For instance, when watching The Batman, an explosion during a chase scene erupted with intent, despite the soundbar’s confined physical form.

I was really hoping the Heston 60 would deliver on the Dolby Atmos front, especially as a lot of small models either struggle here or skip on it entirely. Luckily, Marshall has done a good job here once more, and the soundbar whipped up a very solid spatial impression.

With The Batman, I flicked to a scene with bats flying towards me, and the sense that they soared over my shoulder was captured with commendable accuracy. Back to Maverick, and the classic scene of the jet flying overhead came through effectively, and provided more vertical extension than you’d expect from such a compact product.

In The Boy and the Heron on Netflix Premium, the Atmos effects were pretty convincing too, with the flight of the Heron mapped fairly well. The Heston 60 didn’t have the pinpoint accuracy of its larger sibling – but I was still well immersed in the on-screen action.

Let’s also take a moment to speak about music – something that Marshall’s audio engineers paid close attention to on the Heston 120. Performance is very good in this area, again, and I enjoyed a range of my favorite tracks in both the Dolby Atmos and standard stereo format.

Let’s start with Atmos, and although I don’t always love these mixes, a few tracks impressed me on the Heston 60. For instance, in Song for my Father by Horace Silver, I was satisfied with the positioning and separation of various instruments, with percussion playing rhythmically on the right side, while keys panned across the left side of the bar.

In I'm Gonna Love You Just a Little More Baby by Barry White, I enjoyed deft keys and well-balanced percussion, as smooth vocals oozed from the center. Guitars weren’t as prominent in the mix as I’d like, and didn’t have the expansive quality I experienced with the 120. Bass was perhaps a touch overeager too, though luckily EQ options can be accessed in the app to tailor audio to your taste.

Moving over to the stereo format, I was instantly hit by pumping bass in Never Would by M-High, although lighter electronic elements were a touch overshadowed. The soundbar produced controlled audio, however, even at higher volumes. On tracks where sub-bass came into the equation, those ultra-low notes didn’t come through with all too much force. Of course, if you pair the soundbar with the Heston Sub 200, you’ll get the low-end extension required for that, but the soundbar still sounded strong overall.

Sound quality score: 4.5/5

Top of the Marshall Heston 60 — (Image credit: Future)

Marshall Heston 60 review: design

Gorgeous fret-infused aesthetic
Simple yet effective button controls
Magnetic features for wall mounting

If you read my Marshall Heston 120 review, it won’t surprise you to find that I love the look of this soundbar too. The Heston 60 is, in essence, the same as its sibling, just smaller. I’m a huge fan of the amp-inspired look and eye-catching golden details, and it's nice to see the option to grab this in cream – a nice break from the homogeneous swathe of plain black competitors.

One key difference on the Heston 60, though, is that the tactile control knobs from the Heston 120 have been ditched. This time around, there are simple button controls. These are easy to use and effective, and although they’re not as satisfying to use as the Heston 120’s physical controls, they're less prone to catching reflections from the TV.

Another is the inclusion of a magnetic Marshall logo and control panel. This enables you to optimize the look of the soundbar for a wall-mounted configuration,which is highly practical and considered. Wall mount grommets are also included in the box, which I was glad to see, as rivals will often sell these separately.

Unlike its larger cousin, the Heston 60 is a lightweight, highly compact option. It’s just 28.7 inches / 730mm wide and 6.1lbs / 2.8kg in weight, making it easy to install and slot beneath smaller-sized TVs. All in all, it's an ideal pick for those working with limited space, or if you’re not looking for a full-length behemoth.

One more thing – I also liked the inclusion of a panel on the reverse side, which protects the various ports and enables improved cable management. It’s an all-round great effort from Marshall, and I’ve never tried a small soundbar with so much style and care injected into its design.

Design score: 5/5

Person lifting magnetic Marshall Logo up on the Marshall Heston 60

(Image credit: Future)

Marshall Heston 60 review: setup & usability

Plug and play setup
Companion app could be improved
Wide variety of connectivity options

The initial part of the setup process here was as easy as it comes. I simply plugged the Heston 60 into the power, and connected an HDMI lead from the soundbar to a TV. Using the HDMI eARC connectivity option, you’ll be able to use your standard TV remote to alter the soundbar’s volume, which is very convenient.

Unfortunately, I did experience a few issues when pairing the soundbar to the Marshall app, though. I wasn’t getting a pairing request on my phone, and neither the wireless or Bluetooth methods functioned at first. After trying again the following day, these woes were resolved, and I was able to proceed with room correction, play around with EQ options and more, but I did encounter a few other small bugs and loading issues with the app.

For the majority of my testing time, everything worked just fine, thankfully. And when the app behaves itself, it’s a fantastic tool, filled with plenty of personalization settings, and integrated services.

This soundbar has a range of connectivity options too, and it's very easy to stream songs over Wi-Fi, connect to a phone over Bluetooth, or hook up devices using RCA or an analogue method.

Setup & usability score: 3.5/5

Cable cover on the reverse side of the Marshall Heston 60 — (Image credit: Future)

Marshall Heston 60 review: value

Priced competitively against Sonos – albeit less so for US buyers
Though you can still get a great multi-box option at a similar cost
Repairability ensures long-term return on investment

I suspect that the sticking point a lot of people will have with the Marshall Heston 60 is its price, which – for a small model like this – is undoubtedly high. It comes in at $699.99 / £499.99 / AU$999, so US buyers are proportionally splashing out a fair bit more, although I still think there’s plenty of value here.

Firstly, this soundbar is priced competitively against the Sonos Beam Gen 2 – the Heston 60’s clear and obvious competition. The Beam Gen 2 comes in with a list price of $499 / £499 / $799, and although it has a higher peak power output, it doesn’t support DTS:X, Bluetooth connectivity, plus we felt that the height of its Atmos effects were lacking.

Meanwhile, the Heston 60 still has plenty of power and effective Dolby Atmos effects, but it also supports DTS:X and Bluetooth. In my view, it also has a more premium design, and many will appreciate its RCA sub out port.

Marshall’s ramped-up sustainability efforts are also being demonstrated with the Heston 60, which is largely repairable. Head over to the manufacturer’s site, and you can access repair services and get spare parts, including frets, end-caps, and drivers. This gives additional longevity to the soundbar, which will make your investment more worthwhile in the long run.

Despite all of this, it’s still worth pointing to the fact that the $700 / £500 / AU$1,000 you spend on the Heston 60 could equally be spent on a very capable multi-box option. In the US and Australia, the same sum of money can net you the Samsung HW-QS700F, which comes with a full length bar, as well as a dual-driver sub.

If we’re talking about soundbars in this weight class, though, few can compete with the Heston 60. Its surprisingly good Atmos performance, imposing bass, and ultra-clear dialogue make it a real standout. Pair that with a pretty exterior and admirable repairability, and I’d still argue it's a good value pick.

Value score: 4/5

Person altering position of control panel on Marshall Heston 60 — (Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Marshall Heston 60?

Attributes	Notes	Rating
Features	Atmos and DTS:X, feature-rich companion app, good connectivity options but no HDMI passthrough.	4.5/5
Sound quality	Clear dialogue, larger bass than you’d expect, fairly expansive Atmos effects.	4.5/5
Design	Beautiful appearance, effective controls, compact build.	5/5
Setup & usability	Easy to install, app is feature-rich but has a few bugs.	3.5/5
Value	It’s undoubtedly pricey, but still competitive against the Beam Gen 2 and feels worth the investment long-term.	4/5

Buy it if…

You want great performance but you’re tight on space
If you’ve got a smaller TV or you’re tight on space, you don’t have to sacrifice on quality. And the Heston 60 proves that. It offers surprisingly immersive Dolby Atmos effects, impactful bass, and ultra-clear dialogue in a single, highly compact model.

You want your soundbar to be a statement piece
Sure, the Heston 60 sounds good, but it looks even better! This thing is just as much a statement piece as it is a soundbar, boasting a gorgeous amp-inspired design and golden details. The magnetic logo and control panel also ensure it looks top-class while wall mounted too.

Don’t buy it if…

You want the true surround sound experience
So, if you’re looking for an enveloping surround sound experience, the Heston 60 might not quite do it for you. Sure, it does well with Atmos for movies and music alike, but there’s no sub or rear speakers for that true wraparound sound. If that’s what you’re after, I’d highly recommend the Samsung HW-Q990F.

You’re expecting thunderous power
Similarly, the Heston 60’s physical restrictions mean that it can’t quite blast out the roaring power some may well crave. I’d suggest grabbing an option that pairs a sub, or maybe even spending a bit more to get the Heston Sub 200.

Marshall Heston 60 review: also consider

	Marshall Heston 60	Sonos Beam Gen 2	Samsung HW-QS700F
Price	$699.99 / £499.99 / AU$999	$449 / £449 / $699	$699.99 / £749 / AU$999
Dimensions	28.7 x 4.9 x 2.7 inches / 730 x 124 x 68mm	25.6 x 2.7 x 3.9 inches / 651 x 68 x 100mm	Main soundbar: 43.7 x 2.4 x 4.7 inches / 1110.7 x 60.4 x 120mm; subwoofer: 8.3 x 15.9 x 15.9 inches / 210 x 403 x 403mm
Speaker channels	5.1	5.0	5.1.2
Connections	HDMI eARC, RCA Mono (sub out), USB-C, 3.5mm, Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi	HDMI eARC, Ethernet, Wi-Fi	HDMI eARC, HDMI input, digital optical, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.2
Dolby Atmos / DTS:X	Yes / Yes	Yes / No	Yes / Yes
Sub included	No	No	Yes
Rear speakers included	No	No	No

Sonos Beam Gen 2
It’s four years old now, but the Sonos Beam Gen 2 is still a great option for anyone seeking out cinematic audio in a condensed package. With decent Dolby Atmos effects, a surprisingly wide soundstage, and a classy build, it’s still easy to recommend.

Read our full Sonos Beam Gen 2 review.

Samsung HW-QS700F
Looking for a little more power? Then the Samsung HW-QS700F is a top choice. In the US and Australia, you can get this for the same as the Heston 60, even though it adds a dual-driver sub and the bar itself is full-sized. I’d also recommend checking for the Samsung HW-Q800D if you can find it on sale, although I omitted it due to low stock in a lot of territories. Read our full Samsung HW-QS700F review.

How I tested the Marshall Heston 60

Marshall Heston 60 under a TV on table — (Image credit: Future)

Tested across a week-long period
Used in our TV testing space at Future Labs
Sometimes tried in conjunction with Marshall Heston 200 sub

During my time testing the Marshall Heston 60, I had it connected to the TCL C6K mini-LED TV via HDMI eARC.

In my time with the Heston 60, the soundbar was placed beneath the display at our TV testing space at Future Labs. I watched – and indeed listened – to a variety of content during an intensive testing period. This included a number of movies on both Netflix Premium and on 4K UHD Blu-Ray via the Panasonic DP-UB820. I also listened to music via Tidal Connect in both Dolby Atmos and stereo formats.

I also made extensive use of each listening mode: Movie; Music; Voice; and Night. Of course, I also exhausted the soundbar’s additional settings through the Marshall app, ensuring each feature functioned as advertised.

More generally, I've tested tons of soundbars here at TechRadar – everything from ultra-cheap options like the Hisense HS214 through to pricier models like the Samsung HW-Q800D. I also reviewed the Marshall Heston 120, which released earlier this year, and have interviewed audio engineers at Marshall on its home cinema tech, so have a strong understanding of the product.

First reviewed: November 2025
Read more about how we test

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