Suri 2.0 Sustainable Sonic Toothbrush: One minute review
The Suri 2.0 Sustainable Sonic Toothbrush continues the environmentally-friendly mission of its predecessor, while upgrading everything that could help offer a better brushing experience. The end result is an upgraded model worthy of inclusion in our list of the best electric toothbrusheswith its balance of performance, portability and sustainability.
Suri's mission statement is all about creating a toothbrush that lasts, stopping landfills piling up with disposable plastic brushes. As such, it uses recycled materials in construction, the heads are plant-based and can be recycled – for free by Suri in some countries – and it's made to last.
The sonic brush has a redesigned and strong motor that offers a powerful-yet-gentle 33,000 movements per minute sonic vibration. The pressure sensor detects a user is brushing too hard and lowers the force of the pressure and vibrates subtly so you know to ease off, keeping your gums and teeth safe while also gently training you to brush better.
The case has had a battery added to it, which can charge the brush and also power the UV cleaning light that kills 99.99% of bacteria within one minute. It's a superb feature that helps it compete even against the tech-crammed top-tier toothbrushes like the Oral-B iO Series 10 and the Philips Sonicare DiamondClean 9000.
Once again, this comes with the sticky-backed magnet that lets you mount your brush neatly anywhere in your bathroom.
Suri 2.0 Sustainable Sonic Toothbrush review: Price and availability
(Image credit: Future)
Priced at $135 in the US
£105 in the UK
Australia price yet to be announced
The Suri 2.0 Sustainable Sonic Toothbrush has a launch price in the UK of £105. That puts it only a bit higher than its predecessor which was £95 with the full kit.
The US price at launch is $135. Considering the original model was $116 at launch, with the UV case, this price isn't a big jump up and represents a great value for money amount.
The Australian pricing, at time of publishing, has yet to be announced, but we estimate it'll be around AU$200 based on the prices above.
The company says the brush is made to be easily repaired, so you shouldn't need another for a very long time. Plus, if you do change up, Suri will recycle it all for free.
The heads are sustainable but are still going to wear down, so you'll need to factor in replacement costs. A pack of three new heads will cost you $18.45 / £14.40 / AU$28. That includes fast and free shipping as part of the charge.
Value score: 4.5 / 5
(Image credit: Future)
Suri 2.0 Sustainable Sonic Toothbrush review: Specifications
Component
Value
Battery life
40+ days
Sonic vibrations
33,000 per minute
Charging stand
USB
Timer
Yes, two minute with 30-second haptics
Noise
50 dB
Charge time
4 hours
Suri 2.0 Sustainable Sonic Toothbrush review: Design
(Image credit: Future)
Upgraded motor
Aluminium body
Plant-based heads
The design of the Suri 2.0 closely adheres to the sustainable ethos of the company, with plant-based heads, a build comprised of recycled materials and a seeming focus on minimal environmental impact in both short and long term.
You still have that slim aluminium build that feels both comfortable and premium, with durability to last long-term. The base is flat allowing it to stand easily, and offers wireless charging either with the included mount charger, or via the case.
The sticky-backed magnetic mount charger allows the brush to 'float' wherever you choose to stick it, whether that's neatly next to your bathroom mirror or inside a drawer. Short of going on the ceiling, there are very few limitations here. I didn't try it on the ceiling, but the mount was so strong I dare say that would probably work too.
The brush uses brush heads made from cornstarch and castor oil instead of synthetic plastic. These are shaped into a wave-shaped bristle pattern to take care of interdental cleaning, and you also get a return envelope so you can send them back, free of charge in some countries, for recycling.
The new case is a great evolution as it still features a UV-C light to clean the head, but now also packs in a battery so charging can be done anywhere – more on that below.
Design score: 5 / 5
Suri 2.0 Sustainable Sonic Toothbrush review: Features
(Image credit: Future)
40-day battery
Case based charging
UV-C cleaning light
I would describe the 2.0 as a frontrunner when it comes to battery life, even when compared to its more expensive competition. This fast charges in hours and then keeps going for well over a month, in my experience. The company says it's good for 40 days, but I found that my review unit could exceed this, even when brushing twice daily.
The charging case works with a UV light to clean the brush head, tackling 99.99% of harmful bacteria in a single minute. This is a reassuring feature, especially when travelling. On other brushes a quick rinse under the tap is all I could hope for, whereas with the included UV cleaner, I know my brush head is truly clean and safe.
(Image credit: Future)
The case now charges your brush, which was a much-requested feature on the last model that required you to plug the charger in. The charger case offers a good two months of use between charges, even with the UV light being used.
The brush head has a wave design for the best possible cleaning, while the back of the head has a rubberized pattern used for the now-standard tongue cleaning with just the right amount of abrasion.
There are still only two brush modes: Clean or Polish. While that is minimal, it offers strong or sensitive which (in my opinion) is enough. You have a standard two-minute timer with 30-second interval alerts via a gentle haptic vibration, all helping get the ideal clean to achieve a plaque-free finish.
Features score: 4.5 / 5
Suri 2.0 Sustainable Sonic Toothbrush review: Performance
(Image credit: Future)
33,000 sonic vibrations per minute
Superb long battery life
Simple but effective cleaning
When I saw the motor on this was upgraded, I was surprised it still offers the same 33,000 sonic vibrations of the original model. I assumed a better motor meant 'faster'. Yet when I used it, I immediately felt the difference from the original Suri; it felt more deliberate in its delivery of that power, while remaining as sensitive and gentle as the experience I had with the first brush. This is likely thanks to the new pressure sensor that during testing, meant a deeper cleaning experience I couldn't get from the first Suri.
It stays quieter than the first brush at just 50dB compared to 54dB. The case is USB-C friendly so you'll likely be able to use your phone charger during traveling, making this brush very travel-friendly.
Then there's that UV cleaning light, operated via a single button press. In reality you can't see any difference so there is an element of trust in the process. The 2.0 also comes with a cover for the brush heads, which is ideal if you're traveling with a spare. You can also long press the main button to activate a lock or travel mode, so it won't start vibrating in your bag and causing trouble with security.
Suri includes the recycling packaging to send heads back to the company easily. This makes it a more realistic process for most people, as does designing the brush to be easily repaired. This is potentially the last brush you'll ever need to buy, especially as its repairable.
Performance score: 4.5/5
Suri 2.0 Sustainable Sonic Toothbrush: Scorecard
(Image credit: Future)
Category
Comment
Score
Value
A decent price for what you get
4.5/5
Design
Clean, easy to hold and effective
5/5
Features
That light cleaning and battery performance
4.5/5
Performance
Great cleaning, top battery and super sustainability
4.5/5
Suri 2.0 Sustainable Sonic Toothbrush: Should I buy?
Buy it if...
You want to stay sustainable
With plant-based materials, a repairable design and included return envelopes for recycling, this is as close to perfectly green as a brush can get right now.
You don't want to think about charging
The 40+ day battery life combined with a few hours charge time banishes battery anxiety.
You want sonic powers
This brush delivers a powerful 33,000 sonic vibrations per minutes for a more effective deep clean of plaque and mouth muck.
Don't buy it if...
You like oscillating heads
To be clear, this is a sonic head, meaning the brush itself won't oscillate as some options do. So if you want that extra movement automated this might not be for you.
You don't want to buy heads online
At time of publishing you can only get replacement heads online for delivery, so if you like the option of picking yours up in-store, this might not suit you.
Also consider
Component
Oral-B iO Series 6
Colgate Hum Smart Rhythm
Battery life
20+ days
90 days
Movement
8,800 oscillations+ 20,000 pulsations per minute
30,000 vibrations per minutes
Charge time
12 hours
AAA batteries
Modes
Five
Two
Oral-B iO Series 6
An affordable way to get all the power of the iO Series with its pulsations and oscillations combination, to get the ultimate clean as well as that display for helpful feedback and mode selection.
For a well-price sonic toothbrush, that offers replacement batteries as an option, this is a powerful pick with 30,000 vibrations per minute and two modes for decent brushing control.
I used the Suri 2.0 Sustainable Sonic Toothbrush for weeks in order to test the effectiveness of the brush itself as well as that battery performance. I also visited the dentist during this time and was complemented on my cleaning efforts - reflecting well on this brush's performance.
I used the case for travel, over-night, as well as making use of the UV-C light cleaning feature. I mounted the magnetic holder to test its usefulness and was left surprised at how helpful this small addition was.
My brushing was twice daily with that two-minute timer and haptic half-minute guidance vibrations used to get a full and fair brush.
I was also testing other brushes from Oral-B and more which allowed me to see the difference between features like extra modes, oscillations versus sonics, battery life, screes, apps and more.
A few hours into Cronos: The New Dawn, I saw it. A corpse slumped against the wall, a message scrawled in blood above him: “Don’t let them merge”. If it wasn’t already clear that the latest survival horror game from Bloober Team was drawing from some of the genre's greats, that warning, a nod to “cut off their limbs” seen in equally foreboding lines of jagged crimson in Dead Space, hammered the point home as subtly as a boot stomp to the skull.
Review info
Platform reviewed: PS5 Available on: PS5,Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, Nintendo Switch 2, Mac Release date: September 5, 2025
A feeling of déjà vu was a running theme in my time playing through Cronos. Here’s the main character, gun hoisted high in Leon S. Kennedy’s iconic pose from Resident Evil 4. Here are my limited crafting resources straight out of The Last of Us, ones I must choose to make either ammo or health items. Here are my gravity boots, pinched from Isaac Clarke’s locker on the USG Ishimura.
It’s perfectly fine to be influenced by other works, especially when they are as iconic and genre-defining as the ones I’ve listed above. But when it just feels like you’re retreading the same path with less confidence and not bringing enough new ideas, what’s really the point of it all?
Following in their footsteps
(Image credit: Bloober Team)
Now, that opening may read like I came away massively disappointed by Cronos: The New Dawn. In some aspects, I certainly did. It is painfully derivative in many areas, to the point where it made me question if anything has changed in sci-fi survival horror games in the last 20 years.
But, unsurprisingly, given its influences, it’s also a game that plays well. Combat is tense, shooting is solid, resource management is challenging, exploration is unsettling, and the environments drip with atmosphere. And there are kernels of ideas that, if only they were more fully realised or executed better, could have elevated the game beyond a decent – if standard – survival horror.
Let’s start with the premise: you play as the Traveler, an undefined being encased in a cross between a spacesuit and a diving suit. The game starts as you're activated by a mysterious organisation known as The Collective and told to travel through time to extract important survivors after an apocalyptic infection dubbed the ‘Change’ turns most people on Earth into grotesque and amalgamated monstrosities.
The nexus point of the disaster is Poland in the 1980s, which at least makes for a unique setting that’s far from the spaceships and abandoned mining planets we usually find ourselves stomping around. There’s an inventiveness to the world design, too, which not only sees the infestation overrun dilapidated buildings, roads, and subways with a gloopy and pulsating biomass, but also fractures entire structures to create floating, twisted, and mind-bending new forms.
Add to that violent sandstorms and heavy snowfall, and safe to say, it’s not a pleasant stroll. I had to seriously pluck up some courage to carefully inch forward in many locations, especially towards the latter half of the game, when everything is so consumed by the effects of the infection and dotted with poisonous pustules that you feel suffocated by it – even if this trap is overplayed a dozen too many times.
Skin-crawling
(Image credit: Bloober Team)
Visually, it is disgusting (in all the right ways), but huge credit has to go to the audio. It masterfully ramps up that oppressive and stomach-churning atmosphere with all sorts of sloshing and wheezing and bubbling that gives a terrifying sense of life to the coagulated mass that surrounds you. One of the best gaming headsets is recommended.
If Cronos was all just trudging through fleshy corridors, then Bloober Team would have smashed it. Unfortunately, other parts of the game don’t excel in the same way and are merely fine or disappointing in comparison.
Combat is one. The gimmick here is that dead enemies remain on the ground and can be assimilated by other creatures to become larger and stronger foes – hence the bloody message of “don’t let them merge”. Fortunately, you come equipped with a torch. Nope, it’s not a bright light, but a burst of flames that can incinerate corpses and stop this merging from taking place.
Best bit
(Image credit: Future)
Cronos: The New Dawn finds its identity more as the game progresses and the section in the Unity Hospital is when the game hits its stride. It’s one of the scariest and creepiest places to explore, as you descend further into the bowels of the building, where the infection has taken even greater hold and you uncover some horrifying secrets about the impact of the Change.
That leads to the main flow of combat. Take down targets with your weapons, then prevent any survivors from merging by setting the bodies ablaze. It’s a setup that can create some tense encounters – ones where you’re busy dealing with one target, only to hear the awful sounds of two bodies smushing together in the distance (shoutout to the audio design again), and knowing there’ll be an even greater threat if you don’t introduce them to the cleansing flames immediately.
The problem is that I could count on one hand the number of times I felt seriously threatened by the risk of enemies merging. Too many encounters had too few enemies, were in too small spaces, or were littered with too many (respawning) explosive barrels, that I could comfortably handle the situation. It was only towards the end of the game when I felt overwhelmed in some encounters, needing to more strategically pick my targets, hurriedly craft ammo on the fly, and regularly reposition to burn dead enemies so they couldn’t merge.
Burn, baby, burn
(Image credit: Bloober Team)
It isn’t a disaster, just a shame that Cronos doesn’t really make the most of its main idea. Instead, the overwhelming feeling I had was that I was just playing Dead Space again, swapping between the limited ammo in my pistol, shotgun, and rifle to blast away everything. Outside of rare encounters, the mechanics of merging and burning feel like massively underused and unimpactful parts of the game.
It’s a common feeling. Take your main objective of ‘rescuing’ the specific survivors. I use quotation marks there because the actual process of saving them is kept ominously vague, and is instead best described as extracting and absorbing their soul to gain the knowledge needed to save humanity.
It’s here when I thought Cronos might step up from its clear inspirations with some fresh ideas. Not only is there a morbid mirroring at play (wait, are we the baddies?), but those other lives bouncing around inside your head lead to all sorts of different visions and hallucinations, depending on the characters you choose to save.
In its cleverest moments, who’s knocking about in your noggin can influence the environment or completely change how you perceive things in the world to create some genuinely spooky moments. Once again, though, outside of less than a handful of instances, this idea isn’t explored any further when it’s rife for some really interesting, exciting, and unique possibilities.
It frustrates and disappoints me more than anything. I really want to be clear that Cronos: The New Dawn isn’t a bad game: it plays fine, looks good enough, and runs well. Although I’d stick to performance mode on consoles if you can to get a smooth 60fps, as the quality mode feels far too jittery.
I just can’t help but feel that with the way it relies so heavily on what worked in classic survival horror games from yesteryear, I may have travelled back two decades myself to play it.
Should I play Cronos: The New Dawn?
(Image credit: Bloober Team)
Play it if…
You’re looking for your next survival horror fix Survival horror fans who are craving a new game will find enough to enjoy here, even if it’s mostly just playing the hits.
You want a different setting and an intriguing story Signalis this ain’t, but the setting, story, and commentary in Cronos does tickle the brain in new ways, even if some aspects are too enigmatic
Don’t play it if…
You want an action game This isn’t the bombastic and set-piece rollercoaster of a modern Resident Evil. Cronos is tense, slow, full of dread, and light on ammunition.
You have any aversion to body horror Cronos relies heavily on body horror for its story, enemy design, and environments, so if you find this overly unsettling, then it’s best to avoid.
Accessibility
Cronos offers a range of standard accessibility options, including three color blind modes for green, red, and blue color blindness, as well as the option to add clear interaction indicators and subtitles in multiple languages that can be fully customised in terms of size and color.
The game has one Normal difficulty setting, with a Hard mode unlocked after you finish the game once. To customise the difficulty, though, you can adjust settings to get a more generous aim assist and alter whether you hold or tap for quick time events.
A center dot can be added to help alleviate motion sickness, while the game also provides options to reduce or turn off camera shake and sway.
How I reviewed Cronos: The New Dawn
I played Cronos: The New Dawn for around 16 hours on a PlayStation 5 Pro on a Samsung S90C OLED TV using a DualSense Wireless Controller. I mainly played in Performance mode, but I also tried Quality mode for a brief time and found the graphical improvements minimal compared to the benefits of a smoother frame rate.
I swapped between playing audio through a Samsung HW-Q930C soundbar and a SteelSeries Arctic Nova 7, and I definitely suggest headphones for the best experience.
I completed the main game and spent a lot of time exploring the environment to uncover as much of the story and as many hidden extras as I could find.
Everybody's Golf Hot Shots is the latest entry in the beloved casual sports franchise. Developer Hyde (Digimon Survive) is taking over from stalwart Clap Hanz here, but it nonetheless retains the series' captivating charm.
Review information
Platform reviewed: PS5 Available on: PS5, Nintendo Switch, PC Release date: September 5, 2025
If you've felt let down by the recent run of Mario Golf entries and aren't keen on more sim-like titles such as PGA Tour 2K25, then Everybody's Golf Hot Shots occupies a satisfying middle ground. It's a more fulfilling and content-rich outing than, say, Mario Golf: Super Rush, but also has plenty of shotcraft depth. Wrapped in a pleasingly colorful art style, it's almost a best of both worlds situation.
Right out of the box, Everybody's Golf Hot Shots packs tens - if not hundreds - of hours of content. There's a boatload of characters to unlock, courses to play on, and a variety of balls, clubs, costumes, and caddies to gradually add to your roster. Throw in some party-esque modes like Wacky Golf, and you have a game that's suitable for both solo and social play. And yes, both offline and online multiplayer are supported here.
That's not to say there aren't a few bogeys to contend with, however, particularly when it comes to progression. There are around 30 characters to play as in Hot Shots, with just two playable at the start. You'll have to unlock the rest, and while that's no bad thing in isolation, you'll also need to level up each character individually to gain access to their skills, costumes, and ancillary items. When you're only getting one or two levels per 9 or 18-hole run, you'll realize that progression feels like it's stuck in the rough.
Characters, despite having plenty of charming and high-quality animations associated with them, can also be very annoying. Voice lines are at a premium here, so you'll be hearing the same four to five quips on every single hole. At least you can turn voices off in the options menu.
Tee time
(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
There are two big single-player modes in Everybody's Golf Hot Shots. Challenge Mode is broken down into ascending ranks, with each offering 9-18 hole events under a variety of conditions. These can include differing times of day and specific rule sets.
These special rules can be quite fun, and range from casual-friendly modifiers like 'tornado' cups, which magnetize the ball towards it, to rather devilish ones like increasing stroke penalties for hitting hazards like the rough or bunkers. But my favorite has to be the 'impossible pin' rule, which ups the challenge by placing the pin in deliberately awkward spots on the green.
Completing these events increases your rank gauge, and when it's full, you can progress to the next tier and face off against an unlockable golfer.
Challenge Mode should be your first port of call, as it will aid in unlocking scenarios for the other main single-player mode: World Tour. This is a more story-focused mode, presenting simple cutscenes and challenges for the game's cast of golfers. This is also where you'll be able to unlock them as permanent additions to the roster - and thankfully, you typically only have to clear a golfer's first challenge to get them.
You've also got traditional and highly customizable match and stroke play modes, where you get full freedom in choosing course, time of day, weather conditions, and those aforementioned special rules. Then, there's solo play if you just fancy practicing your drive alone.
Wacky Golf is another great, party-centric addition that throws traditional golf rules out of the window. During Wacky Golf, you'll witness things like clubs swapping between opponents, randomized rule sets, and full-on explosives that'll send your ball unpredictably flying. It's great fun, and a suitably Mario Party-esque take on the standard golf formula.
Call me Albert Ross
(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
Of course, heaps of content would mean nothing if the act of golfing wasn't fun to engage with. And thankfully, Everybody's Golf Hot Shots offers some of the series' most satisfying play. The three-button-press system returns here, and is very casual-friendly. Simply hit the button once to begin charging shot power, again to lock that power in, and then one more time to hit the ball.
Best bit
(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
Everybody's Golf Hot Shots really nails the feeling of a perfect drive. Animation and sound design come together to create the perfect feedback here, meaning your best shots always feel incredibly satisfying. The same goes for chip-ins and hole-in-ones, which the game celebrates appropriately with awesome replays.
There are nuances within, though. You'll need to time the hit carefully in order to ensure the ball doesn't veer off course in the air. On top of that, you'll have wind to contend with, and you can add top, back, and side spin to further influence the ball's travel and carry. The ball's lie (or how sloped the surface it's resting on is) will also impact its trajectory, so accounting for this is crucial, especially on the trickier courses.
Putting can also be tricky, albeit in a satisfyingly challenging way. You do get some friendly assistance here via a grid on the green that highlights whether your shot will be uphill, downhill, or flat, as well as if it'll veer off to the left or right. Once again, accounting for this can be all the difference between birdie, par, or the dreaded bogey.
You will find that most of the game's initial characters feel quite weak in terms of their drive distance and stats like impact and spin effectiveness. This is by design, and you may even struggle to get birdies on a par 4 hole. But in theory, I like the style of progression here. These 'weaker' characters are a bit easier to handle, more predictable, thus allowing the player to get a better grasp on golfing as a whole.
You can also permanently improve a golfer's stats by purchasing food items from the main menu's shop. Food, as well as club and ball selection, will influence your stats and means that you can eventually make a beast out of your favorite golfer and caddy pairing.
Stuck in the sand
(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
I say 'in theory' earlier in regards to progression because while I like the general structure, improving any given character's capabilities is a frustratingly glacial process. Characters and caddies will have their loyalty levels improve as you complete courses and challenges with them. However, you'll mostly be getting just one or two levels at a time. And with full courses taking anywhere from 15-30 minutes to complete, the pace of improvement slows to a crawl.
It sucks because said progression is the most efficient way of unlocking new items in the shop, including costumes, clubs, balls, perk-like stickers for your caddy, and so on. You'll need to be in it for the long haul and have some patience with Everybody's Golf Hot Shots, then. Thankfully, the core game always feels excellent to play, but it's an experience best played in short bursts, in my experience.
Although the experience is somewhat tarnished by grating voice lines, and game performance isn't always up to par. For example, hitting a perfect shot can awkwardly freeze the game for a moment before connecting with the ball. Furthermore, the frame rate can dip to as low as 30fps while you watch the ball travel to its destination.
These small blemishes aside, as well as a rather big bugbear in the slow progression, Everybody's Golf Hot Shots is an easy game to love. While the usual series developer isn't behind this one, Hyde seems to fully understand its loveable fundamentals and has created a fulfilling and long-lasting golfing experience, so long as you're the patient type.
Should you play Everybody's Golf Hot Shots?
Play it if...
You want the best casual golf game in years Handily putting Mario Golf in its place and giving sim-heavy titles something to think about, Everybody's Golf Hot Shots marries a charming visual style with in-depth golfing gameplay.
You want a metric ton of content There are plenty of courses, characters, costumes, and more to unlock in Everybody's Golf Hot Shots. It's a game that could potentially last you years if you're after an all-in-one golf game.
Don't buy it if...
You prefer much faster progression If you can't get used to the slow rate at which you unlock things in Hot Shots, then this may be one to miss. Especially as you'll spend your first 10-20 hours with incredibly basic characters and gear.
Accessibility
Everybody's Golf Hot Shots is light in the accessibility department, but there are some handy options to make note of. The 'gimme putt' setting will automatically putt the ball past bogey if it's close enough to the hole. Plus, there are various styles of shot gauge if you're having trouble with the default three-point button system.
How I reviewed Everybody's Golf Hot Shots
I played Everybody's Golf Hot Shots for 12 hours for this review. I played on PlayStation 5, primarily using the DualSense Wireless Controller. During play, I mainly tackled Challenge Mode and World Tour to rank up and unlock various things such as characters, courses, and costumes.
I also spent some time in standard stroke and match play, as well as Wacky Golf, to get a general feel of all modes and the game's performance across its many courses.
Hohem’s new smartphone stabilizer, the iSteady V3 Ultra, is the latest in the manufacturer’s long-running range of mobile gimbals. Like most products of this type, clamping your phone onto the arm will keep its movements smooth and level while you’re filming content – but here, the main selling point is the built-in AI-assisted tracking functionality.
The iSteady V3 Ultra comes with a tracking module that, through the use of a built-in 2MP camera, is able to keep the attached phone constantly pointing at a tracked subject, no matter how much they move. The V3 Ultra’s handle has 360 degrees of motion so, when set up on its built-in mini tripod, it can track a moving subject even if they circle right around it multiple times. And, unlike some of the other tracking modules, this one is able to follow not only human faces and bodies, but other objects too.
I should also note that all of the above applies not only when capturing content using Hohem’s own camera app, but also first-party and third-party camera apps like Zoom, TikTok, and Instagram. And, because the tracking module can be pointed forwards or backwards, it’ll work with both the main rear camera(s) and front-facing camera of any smartphone.
Image 1 of 4
(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)
Image 2 of 4
(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)
Image 3 of 4
(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)
Image 4 of 4
(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)
While testing the iSteady V3 Ultra, I found this tracking to be the clear standout feature. It’s accurate and reliable, and surprisingly adaptable too.
I was able to use the gimbal’s joystick to manually adjust my position in the frame, and the module would continue tracking me while keeping me in the new position rather than just in the dead center of the frame, which is brilliant for those times you want to use the rule of thirds and keep yourself off-center.
I should point out that you can also track using software, via the Hohem Joy app – but it will keep subjects centered at all times. I much preferred the versatility and adaptability of the module-based tracking. And as a nice bonus feature, the AI tracker module doubles as a fill light with a choice of cool, warm, and neutral tones, plus fully adjustable brightness.
There’s a lot to like about this stabilizer besides its tracking capabilities, too. The compact, folding design of the device isn’t anything I haven’t seen before on competitors or Hohem’s own range, but it’s easy to unfold and set up. The built-in mini tripod, which consists of three metal rods that are pulled out of the handle, is sturdy, and a standard tripod thread mount on the base means you can attach the entire thing to an even sturdier full-size tripod or similar should you wish.
An extension rod, concealed in the handle, provides up to about 20cm of extra reach on the gimbal arm. It’s useful if you want to fit more in the frame while using the iSteady V3 Ultra handheld.
I’m also a big fan of the removable remote control module, which comes with a 1.22-inch touchscreen. I first encountered one of these on the Hohem iSteady M7, a larger and pricier smartphone stabilizer, and was pleased to see the concept transferred down the range to a more portable and affordable model.
Image 1 of 3
(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)
Image 2 of 3
(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)
Image 3 of 3
(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)
The controller has a wireless range of up to 10m / 33ft, and its joystick, button, and touchscreen let you adjust the gimbal arm angle, change settings, and stop/start recording from a distance. The screen also provides a live view from the AI tracker module’s camera, so you can set tracking subjects remotely too.
In my time with the Hohem iSteady V3 Ultra, I’ve only encountered one major issue: sound from the gimbal’s motor gets picked up by my iPhone 13’s mic. This results in a quiet, but noticeable, background noise in all the videos I’ve recorded using the built-in mic; when I recorded using the DJI Mic 3 instead, the noise wasn’t audible.
It’s an irritating issue, but it’s not exclusive to this model. I went back and re-tested the Hohem iSteady M7 and Insta360 Flow Pro 2 with the same phone, and found the noise got picked up on these gimbals too. Still, if you’re going to rely on your smartphone’s built-in mic to record videos while using the iSteady V3 Ultra, do be aware that you’ll likely hear this sound in the background. I’ve included a short video clip below so that you can hear it for yourself.
While it’s really the only major problem I have with the iSteady V3 Ultra, it’s a fairly notable one. If you’re using an external microphone for vlogging, it’s not going to be an issue for you; if you’re relying solely on your phone’s mic, you may want to look elsewhere.
The only other potential flaw with the V3 Ultra is that it uses a standard grip on the arm rather than a quick-release magnetic grip of the type seen on the recent DJI and Insta360 smartphone gimbals. This is more of a preference thing, however – some may prefer having the grip built into the gimbal arm, as it reduces the number of components required.
All in all, I’m generally impressed with the Hohem iSteady V3 Ultra. Its standout tracking skills and remote control make it the best small stabilizer around at the moment – although I expect the likes of DJI and Insta360 to offer strong competition in the near future.
Hohem iSteady V3: price and availability
Priced from $169 / £169
Black and white color finishes available
Available to order now
The iSteady V3 Ultra has an MSRP of $169 / £169 / AU$299 and is available to order now at Amazon or the Hohem online store. I’m also told by Hohem’s PR representative that it will be sold at Best Buy from September 14, 2025. An Australian launch will follow – expect an update to this review once it's confirmed.
Given the gimbal's specs and features, that feels like a competitive price to me. In comparison, the Insta360 Flow 2 Pro currently retails for $159.99 / £144.99 / AU$199.99, and the DJI Osmo Mobile 7P is $149 / £135 / AU$219, so you’ll pay a slight premium for the iSteady V3 Ultra, but in my opinion, its tracking capabilities and remote control module make it worth the extra outlay.
Hohem iSteady V3 Ultra: specs
Dimensions:
98 x 44 x 160.5mm (folded)
Weight:
428g / 15.1oz
Compatible phone weight:
Up to 400g / 14.1oz
Compatible phone thickness:
Up to 12.5mm
Compatible phone width:
58 to 98mm
Connectivity:
Bluetooth, USB-C
Battery life:
4 hours (with AI tracking and fill light) / 9 hours (balanced and stationary)
Should I buy the Hohem iSteady V3 Ultra?
(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)
Buy it if...
You want the best small stabilizer for tracking Not only does the AI module offer the best tracking we've seen on a compact gimbal, it lets you track more than just people and pets.
You like to shoot from a distance The tracking talent, combined with the remote control unit, makes this a great gimbal for remote shooting. It's basically a camera operator that fits in your pocket.
Don't buy it if...
You’re on a tight budget The V3 Ultra is a little pricier than its DJI and Insta360 flagship rivals, and a lot pricier than entry-level alternatives.
You don't want to use an external mic If you don't want unwanted gimbal motor noise in your videos, you'll need some kind of external microphone.
Hohem iSteady V3 Ultra review: Also consider
Insta360 Flow 2 Pro The Flow 2 Pro’s big party trick is native support for subject tracking in hundreds of third-party iPhone camera apps, plus an included LED fill light. With no tracking module, Android users are left out in the cold, however, and trackable subjects are limited to people and pets. The iSteady V3 Ultra is a little more advanced in this regard.
DJI Osmo Pocket 3 The Osmo Pocket 3 is a self-contained camera rather than a smartphone gimbal, but offers much of the same functionality – superbly stabilized 4K capture and subject tracking – in a much more compact and easier to deploy package. You’ll pay a little more for it, but it’s a great all-in-one alternative for vlogging.
I used the Hohem iSteady V3 Ultra for around a week in total, testing it out both handheld and set up on its built-in mini tripod. It was used with my Apple iPhone 13's front-facing and rear cameras, both indoors and outdoors, and I recorded video using a range of apps (the iPhone camera, Hohem Joy, Instagram) and both the iPhone's own microphone and a DJI Mic 3.
The reMarkable Paper Pro Move embodies everything I want in a writing tablet. The size is perfect. The features are focused. The writing experience is divine. This is the tablet I’ve been hoping somebody would create, and it’s both surprising and not surprising that reMarkable has created it.
It's surprising because reMarkable doesn’t make many products. Its first mainstream (read: not a Kickstarter) tablet was the reMarkable 2, which launched in 2020, and the colorful follow-up, the reMarkable Paper Pro, arrived only last year. For reMarkable to launch another tablet so soon after its last one is uncharacteristic, and the Paper Pro Move must have been in the works since before the Paper Pro was announced.
I spent a few weeks using the reMarkable Paper Pro Move, and it mostly replaced the reMarkable Paper Pro that I use daily. The Paper Pro Move is much easier to carry – it even fits in the pockets of some of my pants. It’s taller than a Moleskine notebook, but also more narrow across and thinner front to back. I kept the Paper Pro Move enclosed in a Folio, and it was the perfect size and weight.
Having a reMarkable tablet that's pocket-sized is a dream come true, because it means I can truly take my writing tablet everywhere. The Paper Pro and the Paper 2 tablets are too large to carry to the grocery store, for instance, or keep on a nightstand if you want an uncluttered look.
Journaling is easy enough with the bigger reMarkable tablets, but if you want to keep a food journal during the day, or track your workout progress at the gym, a smaller tablet like the Paper Pro Move is ideal.
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
The Paper Pro Move came with me everywhere, and I used it to do everything I do with my Paper Pro tablet, and so much more. Like most reMarkable owners, there are one or two other things I wish it could also do, but I love the simplicity the Paper Pro Move offers.
It’s unsurprising that the Paper Pro Move is such a fantastic experience, because the Paper Pro was nearly perfect. It delivered on reMarkable’s singular focus – a distraction-free sheet of digital paper that will help you gather your ideas and access them from nearly anywhere. No more and no less than that lofty ambition… now in color.
If you’re looking for an electronic reader like a Kindle, look elsewhere. If you want to run your favorite apps, or chat with an AI, or browse the web… this is the wrong tablet. The reMarkable Paper Pro Move is focused, refined, and it doesn’t do much, by design.
At least, if you’re new to reMarkable, it won’t appear to do much, but fans of previous reMarkable Paper tablets will find the most advanced reMarkable yet in the Paper Pro Move.
What doesn’t it do? There's no clock, for instance. You won’t be hassled by the time. There are no alerts or notifications. It won’t ever buzz or vibrate for your attention. It also won’t serve you ads in any way, or spam you with messages you don’t care about.
A reMarkable Paper Pro Move in front of a reMarkable Paper Pro (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
What can it do that's new to reMarkable? There are features coming to all reMarkable tablets, leading with the Paper Pro Move. Now reMarkable tablets will convert your text to type, and finally the search feature will look through the handwriting in your documents, not just typed text and the tags that you append.
Both of those features are powered by machine learning – aka AI – but you don’t have to care about AI on the reMarkable Paper Pro Move. It won’t offer to draw doodles for you with AI, and it won’t prompt you with insipid AI journal queries.
Nope, the reMarkable Paper Pro Move experience is restrained, and though most reMarkable fans have one or two features they wish were included (I’d kind of like to read my books on the tablet), reMarkable software remains distraction-free by design, and slow to evolve.
I hope it stays that way, because the reMarkable Paper Pro Move does just enough to be the perfect writing tablet. If you want more, keep looking. If you need less, the Paper Pro Move gets less just right.
reMarkable Paper Pro Move review: price and availability
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Very expensive – this is a luxury device, not a bargain
The required subscription stings a bit at this price range
The reMarkable Paper Pro Move is an expensive writing tablet, there's no doubt, and it justifies the price by giving you less, not more. It’s much less expensive than the reMarkable Paper Pro, which has a display that's more than twice as large, and even more expensive than the reMarkable 2 monochrome writing tablet. Color is pricey, apparently.
The Paper Pro Move costs $449 / £399 / AU$779 for the bundle with a Marker and $499 / £439 / AU$849 for a bundle with a Marker Plus, which adds an eraser function to the opposing end. Is $50 / £40 / AU$70 worth having a dedicated eraser? If you’re asking that question, you’re considering the wrong tablet. This is a luxury device, not a practical tool.
It’s hard to measure the reMarkable Paper Pro Move against the competition, as there isn’t any real competitor at this size. The Amazon Kindle Scribe is the closest competitor on features, but the Kindle Scribe is a big and chunky (albeit gorgeous in green) reading tablet, and its price is very close to the Move at $399.99 / £379.99 / AU$649.
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
You can find smaller ereader tablets with a pen from Boox, like the Boox Go Color 7 Gen II that we recently reviewed. That tablet costs $299.99 / AU$439 (about £245), which might seem like a bargain compared to the Paper Pro Move, but read our review first – it’s not exactly our favorite writing tablet.
The Paper Pro Move launches with new folio options, and reMarkable supplied me with a leather folio and a recycled cloth folio. Surprisingly, I may prefer the cloth; it’s a fantastic color with a unique design that's very appealing. There’s a discount on folio accessories at launch, but no cheap bundle with a folio.
The larger reMarkable tablets have a type folio keyboard option, but reMarkable has skipped this accessory for the Paper Pro Move, at least for now. I think it would be cool to see a mini keyboard for this tablet, but reMarkable had nothing to show me.
reMarkable Paper Pro Move pricing
reMarkable Paper Pro Move
reMarkable Paper Pro
reMarkable 2
With Marker
$449 / £399 / AU$779
$629 / £559 / AU$929
$399 / £389 / AU$669
With Marker Plus
$499 / £439 / AU$849
$679 / £599 / AU$999
$449 / £429 / AU$749
reMarkable Connect
$2.99 / £2.99 / AU $4.99 /month
Value score: 4/5
reMarkable Paper Pro Move review: specs
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
The reMarkable Paper Pro Move uses a dual-core processor that runs at a higher clock rate than the quad-core processor in the larger Paper Pro. You can see the difference when you use the two tablets side by side, as I discuss in the Performance section below.
The Paper Pro Move isn’t as thin as other reMarkable tablets. The reMarkable 2 is still one of the thinnest tablets you can buy overall at 4.7mm, while the Paper Pro is a svelte 5.1mm. The Paper Pro Move is 6.5mm, which is just a bit thicker than an iPad mini (6.3mm), and thinner than an iPhone 16 (7.8mm).
The Paper Pro Move also weighs much less than an iPad mini, at 235 grams versus the iPad’s 293 grams. More importantly, it weighs less than a standard Moleskine notebook.
reMarkable Paper Pro Move specs
Starting price
$449 / £399 / AU$779
Operating System (as tested)
reMarkable OS - Linux-based
Chipset
1.7GHz dual-core Cortex A55 chipset
Memory
2GB LPDDR4 RAM
Storage
64GB
Display
7.3-inch Canvas Color, based on E Ink Gallery 3
Weight
235g
Battery
2,334mAh
Supported File Formats
PDF, ePUB
Supported Cloud Services
Google Drive; Microsoft OneDrive; Dropbox; Slack
reMarkable Paper Pro Move review: display
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Great for writing with a unique feel
Caveats apply – this is not a bright, illuminated screen
The color E Ink display on the Paper Pro Move is probably not what you’re expecting, and while it’s a fantastic display for a writing tablet, you should be prepared before you buy one.
E Ink technology does not use light to create an image, it uses tiny particles that float closer or farther from the surface – including transparent color bits and reflective white particles. Because the particles actually move, E Ink displays react slower than a normal display – by a lot! You can see the ink move, and if you draw in color, you’ll see the display shift a few times as it forms the final image.
Some folks find this distracting – I think it looks cool. I love E Ink technology; it reminds me of steampunk and alternate future concepts that don’t rely on bright, irritating LCD and OLED panels. It’s not for everybody, though.
The reMarkable Paper Pro is admittedly dark to read. The panel is not a perfect white when it's blank; it looks more like light-grey newspaper. There are lights on the Paper Pro Move – just like on the Paper Pro – but they're not bright enough to even light the screen adequately at night. You’ll need extra light if you want to write in the dark (and you can’t use the Paper Pro Move as a flashlight to get to the bathroom – I tried).
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
If you're expecting an iPad or even an e-paper display like the TCL NXTPaper, this will be a disappointment. If you're looking for a screen that looks – and more importantly feels like real paper, this is the tablet for you.
Writing on the reMarkable tablet feels exactly like writing with a pen on paper. I feel like I'm using my favorite Pilot Precise roller ball pens on a thick Moleskine notebook. When the results appear, looking remarkably like ink on paper and not bright lights on a display, the effect seems magical.
I'm astonished that reMarkable continues to refine its writing experience with each new device. While reMarkable tablets become even more pleasing and paper-like, the competition… doesn't exist? It doesn't even seem like any other tablet maker cares about the feel of writing and making its tablets feel like pen and ink on the page. So reMarkable is only improving to impress itself and its return customers.
Display score: 4 / 5
reMarkable Paper Pro Move review: Design
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Tall and thin like a great reporter's notebook
Pocketable, even inside a folio case
The reMarkable Paper Pro Move is a thin and very lightweight writing tablet that feels incredibly solid for its subtle heft. I had no trouble holding the tablet in the palm of my left hand and writing comfortably across the whole page with my right. Then I just tucked the tablet into the back pocket of my jeans.
I've always wanted a writing tablet like this. The Kindle Paperwhite might be a good candidate for a pen some day, but it's wider than the reMarkable Paper Pro Move, and just a bit harder to stuff in a pocket, especially with a nice cover.
The Paper Pro Move fit easily in my larger pockets, even with the leather or recycled cloth cover attached. I kept a cover on my device because it's looks great and keeps the pen in place, not because I was worried about durability. The Paper Pro Move feels very sturdy, even though it sadly lacks the IP water and dust protection you'll find on a smartphone or a fancy Samsung Android tablet.
Image 1 of 3
Compared to a standard Moleskine notebook (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Image 2 of 3
Compared to a standard Moleskine notebook (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Image 3 of 3
Compared to a standard Moleskine notebook (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
There's only one button on the Paper Pro Move – the power button – because the tablet doesn't have speakers. It doesn't make any noise, so there's no need for volume rockers. There's a USB-C port for charging on the bottom.
The pen attaches magnetically, and I need a case to feel secure with this arrangement or else I'm sure to lose my pen. The pen is proprietary technology, like the Paper Pro tablet, and not common EMR technology, like the reMarkable 2 tablet and the Samsung S Pen, so it's expensive to replace.
Design score: 5/5
reMarkable Paper Pro Move review: Software
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
There's more things it can't do than things it can – by design
New AI features are disappointing, but could be improved easily
The easiest way to think about the reMarkable Paper Pro Move is as digital paper, and little more. You can create notebooks, then save them in folders. You can also insert tags throughout notebooks to make them easier to search.
What reMarkable does best, besides the luxurious hardware and writing experience, is the background templates it offers for your writing. The selection is enormous, better than you'll find on the Amazon Kindle Scribe or other writing tablets. That selection is growing fast, too – but there's a catch.
Sadly, reMarkable has become friendly with two of the evil villains of the digital world: subscriptions and AI. These are bugbears for the Move tablet.
Some of the best features on the reMarkable Paper Pro Move require a monthly subscription. It isn't much money – $2.99 / £2.99 / AU$4.99 per month – and it adds good value if you use the new templates reMarkable offers only to subscribers, called Methods. But it stings that this ultra-simple tablet needs a subscription plan at all.
Other new features will use AI machine-learning tools, but these don't run on the Paper Pro Move. If you want to convert your handwriting to typed text, that happens in the cloud.
The handwriting recognition results ranged from useless to dangerously hilarious. When I wrote a checklist of items and asked the tablet to convert my writing, I got a paragraph of items, not a list.
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
The reMarkable AI doesn't format text neatly. In fact, instead of converting my writing on the page where I wrote it, the tablet would create a new page with my converted text. I suppose reMarkable expects me to cut and paste those results into the right spot. No thanks; I'll stick to writing.
The actual results were bad, too. My handwriting can be terrible, but I've been a teacher and I know students can read my scratch off a blackboard, so it's not a terminal case.
The remarkable Paper Pro Move got many words wrong, and in one case it got R-rated. Instead of a “Vertical kitty” toy from my list, it typed “vertical titty.”
Ummm, what the what!?! You can't say that, reMarkable tablet! You can't make a mistake that offers one of the seven words you can't say on television! Even on a simple writing tablet like this, AI proves once again that it can be horrible and useless.
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Since this happens in the cloud, I'm hopeful that reMarkable can just hook up with a better service. Handwriting recognition is a useful tool for a writing tablet, and it drives better features like searching through handwritten text.
I've seen much better AI-based handwriting recognition on the Kindle Scribe, so if your main goal is converting your scribbles into type, that's the tablet to choose.
Software score: 3/5
reMarkable Paper Pro Move review: Performance
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Best performance of any reMarkable tablet so far
It doesn't do much, so there isn't much to worry about
The reMarkable Paper Pro Move is not an Android tablet running apps. Still, it has a unique interface, and the display technology from E Ink is very complicated and requires some formidable hardware development. I’m happy to say the Paper Pro Move is the most responsive and fastest reMarkable tablet I’ve used, for whatever that’s worth on a writing tablet.
That means the tablet opened faster from sleep, and it was more responsive to typing from the moment I tapped out my passkey. Menus respond faster to touch, and I can pan and zoom on documents faster on the Paper Pro Move than on the Paper Pro tablet. The difference is noticeable.
If you're just writing with the tablet the response feels instantaneous – there's no perceivable delay between touching the Market Plus to the screen and the E Ink appearing. If you write calligraphy or draw with the paint brush tools, you'll appreciate the responsiveness.
Of course, adding color adds a delay, but this happens after you lift the pen. Some folks have told me they find this too distracting, as there's a slight flash of color once or twice as the different layers activate. I actually find the effect kind of cool-looking, but your mileage may vary.
Performance score: 5 / 5
reMarkable Paper Pro Move review: Battery
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Doesn't last as long as the big reMarkable tablets
Still lasts for days and days, not just hours
I'm not disappointed with the battery life I got from the reMarkable Paper Pro Move, but it didn't blow me away like the Paper Pro. I've had the tablet for more than two weeks and I've charged it twice, including the initial charge time. That's pretty great for modern electronics.
Of course, the reMarkable Paper Pro lasted through my entire review period without needing a recharge, but that tablet is more than twice the size – and weight – of the Paper Pro Move. I think the trade-off is fair. I still get more than a week of battery life, and I can stuff this tablet in my back pocket.
It's possible the Paper Pro Move died faster because I used it more. Since it's so portable, it was easier to use in more places, like I said. If I used it as sparingly as I used my Paper Pro, it may have lasted another few days.
The reMarkable Marker has a battery inside, which makes it different than the Marker on the reMarkable Paper 2 tablet or styluses for other tablets like Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S11 devices. I would rather not have another battery to charge, but the Paper Pro Move juices up the pen when you attach it magnetically to the side. It charges very quickly, too, in case you let the pen battery drop to zero.
Battery score: 5 / 5
Should I buy the reMarkable Paper Pro Move?
reMarkable Paper Pro Move scoreboard
Attribute
Notes
Score
Value
It’s expensive, but not shockingly so. Still, it’s price is more for the luxury than for a wealth of features on offer.
3/5
Dsplay
A display that makes writing feel like pen on paper. The unusual refresh may be offputting to some, but I found it charming. It’s not bright enough for nighttime writing.
5/5
Design
Thin and light enough to keep in the back pocket of my 501 jeans, but big enough to be useful for journaling and all sorts of writing tasks.
5/5
Software
Simple and elegant at best, with tons of template options and perfect writing tools. At worst, you’re paying subscription fees and relying on AI for handwriting recognition – yuck.
3/5
Performance
Perfectly responsive writing, and now the interface responds faster to touch than any previous reMarkable tablet could. It keeps things simple and that pays off in performance.
5/5
Battery
Amazing battery life means you can forget to charge it for days, it lasts at least a week after tons of writing. Too bad you have to charge the pen, but at least it charges very quickly.
5/5
Buy it if...
You want a digital notepad to effectively, simply organize your thoughts That’s the promise of reMarkable – it’s a simple pad for gathering your thoughts and storing them digitally, locally and in the cloud.
You love the feel of writing, but you've left paper behind A reMarkable tablet doesn’t feel like dragging plastic over glass; it feels like writing with a real pen on thick paper: tactile and wonderful.
You’ve been eyeing writing tablets but they’re all too big My dream tablet is an elegant writing tablet I can take anywhere with ease. That makes the reMarkable Paper Pro Move the tablet of my dreams.
Don't buy it if...
You want to read books, browse the web, yada yada yada This tablet is only for writing. You can’t even make shapes easily, you can only write with the pen. Want more? Look elsewhere.
You like to write but want to convert your writing to type The Paper Pro Move can convert handwriting to text, but the results aren’t reliable and the layout is ruined. The Kindle Scribe does this better.
You want a bright, shiny display that's colorful and bright and shiny The Paper Pro Move looks more like newsprint on greyish paper than the glossy magazine you’d expect from an iPad. It’s not for reading, it’s for writing.
Also consider
Amazon Kindle Scribe The Kindle Scribe doesn’t have as many writing tools or templates, but it does a better job of handwriting recognition, and you can read your books on it.
reMarkable Paper Pro The bigger Paper Pro gives you more battery time, more screen size, and even more writing and drawing tools. You can even buy a keyboard folio for it.
☑️ 100s of tablets and e-readers reviewed ☑️ 15 years of product testing ☑️ Over 16,000 products reviewed in total ☑️ Nearly 200,000 hours testing tech
How I tested the reMarkable Paper Pro Move
I've had the reMarkable Paper Pro Move for almost three weeks of testing, during which time I used it as my primary writing tablet for note taking, making lists, and journaling. I use a writing tablet daily, multiple times a day, even when I am not reviewing a new tablet, so you can trust I have experience with these devices.
I used the reMarkable Paper Pro Move to write notes for work that I would then send to my Google Drive, my work phone and tablet, and my laptop web browser. I sent web pages and documents to the reMarkable Paper Pro Move from my web browser and from the app. I shared doodles and notes on Slack using the new Slack integration.
I paid for a reMarkable Connect subscription to test reMarkable’s new Methods templates, as well as the advanced sharing features it offers. I also tested handwriting recognition by connecting the reMarkable to my home Wi-Fi.
For battery testing, I charged the reMarkable Paper Pro Move completely on the morning after I first received it, then measured the days until it ran out of battery. In 20 days of testing the tablet, I charged it twice.
I used the reMarkable Paper Pro Move in a leather folio and cloth folio provided by reMarkable. To keep the tablet secret and because I liked the feel, I kept the tablet in the folio for the entire review period.
Metal Eden is Doom meets Ghostrunner with a little bit of Metroid thrown in. It’s a fast-paced sci-fi shooter all about clearing dense combat arenas, wall-running and jumping through parkour challenges, and occasionally turning into a large metal ball and rolling around.
Review information
Platform reviewed: PS5 Available on: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X and Series S Release date: September 2, 2025
It’s easy to see the inspiration behind each of its constituent elements, but that doesn’t mean that the resulting formula isn't a lot of fun. It's elevated by a strong art direction, some surprisingly slick shooting that wouldn't feel out of place in some of the best FPS games, and a couple of unique mechanics that help the game form an identity of its own.
Still, there is room for improvement, namely in the narrative department. The dialogue feels strangely written and occasionally hard to follow, almost like it's been poorly translated. It's unfortunate and undermines an enjoyable experience that I would otherwise wholeheartedly recommend.
Back to the future
(Image credit: Deep Silver)
Hailing from the developers of the criminally underrated twin-stick shooter Ruiner, Metal Eden takes us to another far-flung future where things have gone seriously wrong. Humanity has developed Cores, little robotic disks that store an uploaded consciousness and can be slotted into artificial bodies, and the technology paved the way for space travel.
You play as Aska, a high-tech android warrior with a special regenerating core that effectively allows her to be repeatedly reprinted after death. Stranded on an abandoned lunar city, it’s your job to mow down legions of rogue security robots on a mission to rescue millions of colonists trapped as cores in storage.
The narrative focus on Aska’s regeneration seems like it would lend itself naturally to a roguelike format, but Metal Eden is actually a wholly linear experience with eight total levels that vary between about twenty to forty minutes in length. I love shorter games, but this brevity was a little disappointing.
I hit the credits in a single sitting and, while there is scope for some repeat playthroughs to chase high scores and find the small number of hidden resources scattered around each map, I don’t think it’s unreasonable to expect more given the $39.99 / £32.99 asking price.
That brief length does at least lead to a campaign that’s very tightly paced and engaging. The bulk of each mission is a combination of shooting and parkour, both of which are well-implemented.
The shooting is tight with high-quality animations and meaty sound effects across an impressively varied arsenal. This includes a range of projectile weapons such as your basic machine pistol, a shotgun, and an SMG, plus some more futuristic energy launchers.
Getting to the core of it
(Image credit: Deep Silver)
Stronger enemies are equipped with powerful armor that absorbs the bulk of projectile damage, forcing you to switch to an energy weapon to break through it, which lends encounters an enjoyable sense of rhythm. Combat arenas are compact, with walls that you can leap off and sometimes vertical layers to keep things interesting, and staying perpetually on the move is essential for survival.
With a foe’s armor out of the way, you can rip out its Core and consume it for a quick health top-up and to charge a powerful armor-destroying punch or throw it to trigger an explosion. You’re soon equipped with a jet-pack and elemental grenades, too, and quickly chaining all of your moves together to survive wave after wave of adversaries is a source of constant satisfaction.
(Image credit: Deep Silver)
It’s all so good that I really wish there was some kind of separate survival mode that challenges you to last as long as possible available after the credits roll. Fingers crossed, we’ll see something like that added in a future update.
Combat success is rewarded with vials of Dust, a currency used to upgrade your gear. Each weapon has two distinct upgrade paths that dramatically alter its abilities.
Your SMG, for example, can be outfitted with a powerful grenade launcher for taking out groups or a set of iron sights that enable a long-range semi-automatic sniper mode. These upgrades can dramatically affect the appearance of each weapon, too, so every choice feels satisfyingly substantial.
Aska has a robust skill tree, too, with plenty of impactful options that do everything from automatically reloading your last weapon when it’s not in use to causing you to regenerate armor on top of health with every core consumed.
Absolutely balling
(Image credit: Deep Silver)
New enemies and environmental hazards are introduced at a steady pace, forcing you to frequently tweak your strategies to maintain an advantage. The larger levels also unlock the imaginatively named Ball Mode, which, as the name would suggest, lets you transform into a fast-moving metal orb whenever you wish.
Rolling into enemies at high speed deals huge amounts of damage, and if that wasn’t enough, you’re armed with an electric blast and homing missiles too. It’s a tad overpowered, but it provides a refreshing break from the more intense encounters of other areas.
Best bit
(Image credit: Deep Silver)
Multiple levels feature rail riding mechanics. Whizzing down neon blue ziplines is a blast, especially when you add obstacles that you need to dodge and shooting flying enemies into the mix.
Unfortunately, every mission is filled with jarring, awkward dialogue that lets the overall package down. In early segments, Aska frequently chats with Nexus, an almost comically edgy companion that spouts melodramatic, cringeworthy cliches. His constant wittering is like nails on a chalkboard, and I almost cheered when he was replaced by a substantially less annoying figure later on.
The voice acting is serviceable on the whole, but line deliveries have very strange intonation that I found distracting at times. Conversations are also written in a manner that feels inescapably off. They’re sometimes hard to follow and have this stilted quality to them that’s reminiscent of dodgy machine translation. I can’t quite decide whether this is an intentional stylistic choice; most of the characters are robots after all, but it's disappointing nevertheless.
It's especially noticeable in the cutscenes, which are otherwise extremely high quality and absolutely gorgeous to look at. On that note, the whole game is visually impressive with a minimalist, industrial look, though there are occasional stutters even in console performance mode.
All of this would be a lot easier to forgive at a lower price point, but as it stands, it stops me from making a more wholehearted recommendation.
Should you play Metal Eden?
Play it if…
You want fast-paced shooting The shooting action in Metal Eden is superb. There’s loads of depth thanks to the large variety of weapons and a substantial upgrade system, and learning how to best use all your abilities is a blast.
You loved Ghostrunner The parkour is also a highlight. If you enjoyed the likes of Ghostrunner, then you’re going to feel right at home here.
Don’t play it if…
You’re interested in the story The world of Metal Eden certainly looks the part, but it’s undermined by awkward, cringeworthy dialogue.
You crave something more long lasting There’s no getting around the fact that this is a particularly short game. If you’re after an experience that will last more than a few hours, you’ll need to look elsewhere.
Accessibility features
There are a few accessibility options in Metal Eden. This includes a few color blindness filters, the ability to enable subtitles, and adjust their size and background color. The game also features four difficulty levels to choose from.
In that time I reached the end credits on the standard difficulty and experienced the vast majority of what the game has to offer. I fully upgraded each of the weapons in my arsenal and unlocked the bulk of Aska’s upgrade tree, too.
It still seems surreal that Helldivers 2 is 18 months old. A year and a half on from the PlayStation 5 and PC release of a co-op shooter that captured millions of players, it’s finally come to Xbox consoles as well.
Review info
Platform reviewed: Xbox Series X Available on: Xbox Series X and Series S, PS5, PC Release date: August 26, 2025 (Xbox)
Back in February 2024, we awarded the game four out of five stars and have since called it one of the best PS5 games, but if there’s one title that’s shown the potential of live service gaming, it’s Helldivers 2. Arrowhead’s third-person shooter has grown exponentially, meaning that Xbox players have entirely new systems and mission types to play with, as well as a whole new faction.
That means it’s easily one of the best Xbox Series X games and a smorgasbord of pseudo-fascistic flag-raising, but it does come with some growing pains.
A winning formula remains
(Image credit: PlayStation Publishing LLC)
If you’re new to Helldivers 2 and have only an Xbox console, what’s all the fuss about?
Basically, Helldivers 2 is a co-op shooter that has you landing on different locations on planets, completing objectives, then working to ‘get to the chopper’ and extract via dropship.
No two excursions play out quite the same way. Different biomes offer unique challenges, like thick fog or biting cold, while you’ll also come up against one of three enemy factions. All of this plays out against the backdrop of ‘The Galactic War’, which sees you and every other player across PS5, PC, and now Xbox, working to liberate planets.
Back in 2024, that meant a series of mission types that were fairly predictable, carried out against bug-like Terminids and Terminator-esque Automatons. Both carried their own challenges, but anyone jumping in now will also be tasked with fighting the Illuminate.
The most technologically advanced of all foes encountered thus far, they range from carpet-bombing ships and flying enemies to the genuinely pretty scary zombie-like creatures that can easily overrun a squad.
New toys, new problems
(Image credit: PlayStation Publishing LLC)
Thankfully, there’s plenty of firepower granted by Super Earth, with rifles, explosives, and much more that were there from launch.
Tailoring your loadout to the objective at hand remains just as important as ever, like popping a turret down while you’re uploading important data, or having a suite of rapidly reloading air support when on a hunting mission.
Much of this is tackled in the game’s tutorial (which remains just as chortle-worthy as it ever was), but the game beyond has outgrown that initial gauntlet. For example, there are new vehicles and even mechs to pilot, which have been added since launch, but there’s no room for them in the tutorial, so you’re left to your own devices once you unlock them.
That wouldn’t be so bad if you didn’t have to start from scratch on Xbox. When Helldivers 2 launched on PS5 and PC, I bemoaned the lack of cross-progression, but a year and a half on, it seems it’s still not coming.
(Image credit: PlayStation Publishing LLC)
That means if you have the game on PC and want to pick up where you left off on Xbox, you can expect to complete the tutorial and start off as a level one trooper again, shorn of all your shiny toys.
Given how many fun things I’ve been playing with on PS5, many of which are tied to premium Warbonds, it’s a shame there’s no option to pick up where I left off on Xbox. Then there’s the Warbonds themselves.
For the uninitiated, Warbonds act like battle passes, although they thankfully don’t expire. Each is themed on a certain type of weapon or damage type, and there are now well over a dozen. If you’re jumping in fresh, that’s a lot to catch up on, and while it’s hardly mandatory because so many of the free weapons are fun to use, it’s worth mentioning that it could be overwhelming.
The new Halo-themed Warbond is included, too, and offers weapons like the assault rifle and SMG, but it’s a ‘Legendary Warbond’, so it’ll set you back around $15.
Hellacious
(Image credit: PlayStation Publishing LLC)
Still, one upshot of being stripped back to basics is that it highlights just how right Arrowhead got it when developing Helldivers 2’s shooting and movement mechanics.
Best bit
(Image credit: PlayStation Publishing LLC)
It’s still a treat to drop an airstrike on just about anything, but there’s a special kind of magic when it accidentally lands on your teammates' heads and your entire party groans in voice chat.
Weapons are fun to use but have heft, and walking while shooting, or letting off lengthy bursts, can cause a huge penalty to accuracy. With some weapons requiring two players to load, or you to be totally stationary to change mags, there’s a ton of subtle intricacies to learn while you do your best to defend Super Earth.
Then there are the stratagems, which still produce screen-filling explosions and are an absolute rush to drop on a whole fleet of enemies (or, as is often the case, your own comrades through fluke or foolishness).
Outrunning a bunch of bugs or an Illuminate bombing run, triggering a cinematic artillery drop behind you, and just making it to the dropship on time for departure remains an experience unmatched in co-op gaming, and it’s somehow even funnier when you realize one buddy didn’t make it after all.
Should I play Helldivers 2 on Xbox?
Play it if…
You missed out thus far Helldivers 2 was a cultural phenomenon last year for a reason, and the Xbox version has lost none of its magic in the jump between platforms.
You’ve got a group of friends to play with It’s not a prerequisite, but having friends to play Helldivers 2 with makes the entire experience more rewarding. It’s the perfect game for regaling friends with war stories of heroism and stupidity, and it’s hard not to play with a smile plastered on your face.
You’re a fan of Halo ODST Helldivers 2 has a neat Warbond for Halo’s ODST, and it pays reverence to an underrated entry in a franchise that’s sadly lost its way in recent years. The big draws are the weapons, like the firecracker-like SMG and the classic Halo assault rifle, both of which feel great to use.
Don’t play it if…
You’re already playing on another platform If you wanted to pick up Helldivers 2 on a second platform because you want to play away from the PC and don’t have a PS5, it’s worth remembering there’s no cross-progression. That’s a real shame, but levelling up to earn weapons (and purchasing warbonds) is a fly in the ointment.
Accessibility features
As with the PS5 version, there are a few accessibility features on offer in Helldivers 2 on Xbox.
Reticules can be changed in shape and color, while subtitles are available and in multiple sizes. There’s also text-to-speech and speech-to-text functionality.
How I reviewed Helldivers 2 on Xbox
Having spent countless hours spreading Managed Democracy on PS5 (and a chunk on PC, too), I jumped into the Xbox Series X version of the game and played for a few days across conflicts with all three enemy factions and playing with friends and strangers alike.
Whether it was the sound of airstrikes in my Logitech Astro A50X headset or making use of the adjustable triggers in my Xbox Elite Controller Series 2, I had a blast but also tried to come at the game from the perspective of someone that’s new to the series.
Kaleidescape is a California-based company that has been at the forefront of digital home movies since 2001. While its brand name is likely known predominantly in the custom-install market for those with the space (and budget) for dedicated home theaters, the Strato E represents the most accessible route for anyone wanting to experience the best possible video and sound quality at home.
It’s an entry-level 4K movie player, slotting itself between the Strato M 2K player and the Strato V 4K player. By this, I mean the Strato E supports 4K Ultra HD movies, along with HDR10 and Dolby Vision HDR formats and is the cheapest Kaleidescape product to do so. The more expensive Strato V does the same, so to get the Strato E down to a more approachable price, Kaleidescape has dropped the internal storage from 960GB to 480GB and removed a few of the connections from the player’s rear panel.
The limited storage is something any potential buyer should think carefully about, as it’s only enough space to store around six 4K movies, downloaded from the Kaleidescape Movie Store, at any one time. The only way to expand the storage is to invest in one of the company’s Terra Prime servers, but with prices for these starting at $6,955 / £5,910 / AU$12,499, it’s a huge extra expense.
Aside from the players’ abilities, Kaleidescape’s other key selling point is its Movie Store. Not only is it the only way of obtaining content to watch, but it’s a gorgeous and fun interface to interact with. Content is displayed in rows that can be scrolled through quickly, with posters looking vibrant and sharp. It provides plenty of information for each title, including video and sound quality, cast and crew and even Rotten Tomatoes critic ratings. A nifty way of displaying related content also makes it great for discovering new titles.
As with many of the best streaming services, however, the content you have access to depends on where you live. The US gets the best version of the Movie Store, with several titles available to buy and download before they’re released on physical media. While limited, I was happy with the amount of content available in Australia, where I’m based, and I was pleasantly surprised by the cost of movies, which is comparable to (and sometimes cheaper than) 4K Blu-ray discs.
The content looks and sounds stunning via the Strato E. Colors are exemplary, blacks and shadow detail are the best I’ve seen from any home-entertainment source device and Dolby Atmos soundtracks – which are delivered in full lossless audio – more than prove why Kaleidescape demands the money it does. If picture and sound quality are important to you, you’ll notice a night and day difference between what the Strato E can offer compared to what you get from streaming services and, to an extent, 4K Blu-ray discs. You just need to be able to make your budget stretch to do so.
(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
Kaleidescape Strato E: Price and availability
Released May 2025
List price: $2,995 / £3,399 / AU$5,299
The Kaleidescape Strato E movie player was released in the US and Australia in May 2025, with a launch in the UK following soon after. It’s available in all three territories from registered dealers and select online sellers.
The Strato E has been introduced as a more affordable, entry-level 4K movie player and now finds itself sitting in the middle of Kaleidescape’s current three-strong lineup, between the Strato M 2K player ($1,995 / £2,395 / AU$3,499) and higher-specced Strato V 4K player ($4,495 / £5,389 / AU$7,999).
At $2,995 / £3,399 / AU$5,299, it’s certainly still a pricey bit of kit, but considering the quality Kaleidescape offers, combined with the fact it has a similar spec sheet as the Strato V, it does present as good value.
One of the key differences between the Strato E and Strato V is the amount of onboard storage – 480GB vs 960GB – and so if you want to download a large library of movies or TV shows, you’ll almost certainly need to factor in the additional cost of one of the company’s Terra Prime servers – which start at $6,955 / £5,910 / AU$12,499 for a 12TB HDD – or make the leap to the Strato V.
1.78:1 and 2.35:1 (automatic or user interface selectable)
Connectivity
HDMI 2.1
Dimensions
16.26 x 2.8 x 16.26 cm / 6.4 x 1.1 x 6.4 inches
Kaleidescape Strato E: Design
Excellent build quality
Superb remote app
Limited connections
The Strato E adopts a slightly different aesthetic to the Strato V, yet still very much looks like a premium product. Where the higher-end Strato V is made from anodized aluminum, the Strato E is built with black perforated steel. The perforations allow you to take a peek at the circuitry inside, and upon startup, a blue light glows through them. The light turns off during use so as not to distract you from the main event.
The ventilation afforded by the perforations means the Strato E remains cool and completely silent during use too. It has 480GB of onboard storage, which is enough for around six 4K movies downloaded from the Kaleidescape movie store.
This is my first time experiencing a Kaleidescape product, and, having read reviews of the company’s other models and salivating over various images on its website, I was a little taken aback by just how compact the Strato E was when I opened the box. Its diminutive dimensions make it easy to accommodate in/on TV units, and, thankfully, an optional faceplate is available for mounting onto an equipment rack, along with a dual faceplate for use with a compact Terra Prime server. You’ll likely need the latter if you want to hold on to more than the six 4K titles that you can save locally on the device itself.
(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
Connecting the Strato E to your TV or home theater system is via HDMI only and Kaleidescape provides a THX Certified cable in the box. The only other connections on the rear of the unit are an Ethernet for a wired connection – essential, as there’s no Wi-Fi connectivity – a USB-A port for connecting external storage devices or a disc drive, and the 12V power input. The power cable integrates a brick, and both cables at either end of it are relatively long, so you should have little issue getting everything connected in your space.
A remote control is also supplied. It’s a simple unit, although it adopts a trapezoid shape for a touch of style. It does the job well, although it would’ve been nice for it to have been backlit (my colleague Stephen Withers said the same of the Strato V’s remote), although I spent the majority of my testing using Kaleidescape's smartphone app.
The latter offers a seamless connection to the player, provides access to the movie store and can be used as a remote to navigate menus. Plus, it has the added benefit of letting you use the phone’s built-in keyboard to type in search terms.
Design score: 5 / 5
Kaleidescape Strato E: Features
Highest video quality
Full lossless audio
Extra storage options available
With the Strato E effectively arriving as a more affordable alternative to the Strato V, and being capable of supporting 4K HDR content, it’s ultimately designed to offer the best possible video and audio quality of any home entertainment device available. It supports resolutions up to 4K (3,840 x 2,160) at a maximum frame rate of 60p. Dolby Vision and HDR10 support is also here, as is lossless audio, including Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.
The key factor allowing the Strato E to deliver such high quality is that it’s not limited to a file size or bit rate. Compare this to 4K Blu-ray discs that have storage limitations or the best streaming services that compress movies so they can run with minimal buffering, and you start to realize why Kaleidescape movie players command the price tags attached.
(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
As mentioned earlier, the 480GB of solid-state storage means there’s only enough space for up to six 4K movies, but the Strato E can upscale HD or SD movies to great effect and allow you to save more files in the bargain. For the absolute best quality, however, you’ll want to stick with 4K.
Any movies you buy will remain on your account in the cloud, so if you run out of space and want to download something new, an older movie can be removed from storage to be accessed and downloaded again at a later date.
If you want to build a larger library of movies, you’ll need to invest in a Terra Prime server, with prices starting at $6,955 / £5,910 / AU$12,499 for a 12TB HDD. Prices currently max out at $79,995 / £55,500 / AU$139,999 for 123TB. A server can provide simultaneous playback to up to 25 Kaleidescape players in one home, should you have the space, need, and, importantly, budget.
While the Kaleidescape Strato E is likely to be something only those with dedicated home cinema spaces gravitate towards, the fact that it can work as a standalone unit, and that it’s compact, means anyone who values the best possible video and audio quality can get involved.
Features score: 5 / 5
Kaleidescape Strato E: Setup
Web-based interface provides more in-depth setting adjustments
Owned discs can be catalogued
Movie Store content is location-dependent
Kaleidescape has made the Strato E as fuss-free to set up as possible. Simply plug it into mains power, insert an Ethernet cable and connect it to your TV or AV processor via HDMI and you’re away. You’ll be met with some onscreen instructions that are easy to follow and understand, and you’ll soon be able to access the movie store and enjoy the content.
You will need to set up an account with Kaleidescape, including providing card information as a means of payment to purchase movies or TV shows from the online store on an ongoing basis. While you can access essential settings via the player itself, a web-based interface offers greater control. To access this, you’ll need to enter the player’s IP address (found in the settings menu) into a browser on your computer.
You’ll soon learn that the majority of settings on the web interface can be left as is because the Strato E can determine what your system is capable of in terms of video and audio quality, and optimize itself accordingly to perform at its best. For example, it will be able to determine if you have a 4K display with a 5.1-channel speaker system. If you use a projector, you can adjust the aspect ratio to fit a 2.35:1 screen.
(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
Aside from the physical capabilities of the Kaleidescape Strato E, one of the biggest selling points of the ecosystem as a whole is the Movie Store, as it’s the only method of obtaining content. Where you live will determine what you have access to due to licensing agreements, but this is also the case with many streaming services. As expected, the US store has the greatest range of content, including movies that have only just left cinemas. In Australia, where I’m based and this review was conducted, I could tell early on that the library wasn’t particularly vast, although many of my favorite flicks were available.
Kaleidescape says there are currently about 15K titles on the US store, around 12K and 7K on the Canadian and UK stores, respectively, and just about 5K on the Aussie store. However, since the Australian store only launched in April 2025, the amount of content already available is commendable. The company promises it will continue to populate the store with more titles in all territories where Kaleidescape players are available.
To help build your collection, the company offers the option to catalog any Blu-rays or DVDs you already own. I wasn’t able to test this feature, but in essence, you can connect an external disc drive with the USB input to trigger the Strato E to enter a Recognition Mode. (I wasn’t able to test this feature as I don’t have an external disc drive.) Insert a disc, and the player will search the Movie Store for a digital version that you can then purchase to download.
The company says that you can usually download that title at a discounted rate, although pricing is influenced by each production studio. What’s more, if you own a DVD and the Movie Store has a 4K version, you can purchase the higher-quality version if you wish.
Kaleidescape Strato E: Performance
Outstanding picture and sound quality
Interface is simple to navigate, but not always easy to search
High-speed internet connection is ideal
As soon as you finish setting up your new Kaleidescape Strato E, you’re presented with the Movie Store. It’s a good-looking interface that’s quick to navigate using either the supplied remote or the smartphone app.
Content is logically laid out, with a selection of recommended titles along the top row, content you’ve downloaded but not yet watched on the next row down, followed by sections for paused movies, content you’ve watched and anything you’ve saved to your favorites list. After this are categories for genres, along with a dedicated section for 4K Dolby Vision titles.
(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
Searching for something specific is mostly a fuss-free affair, especially when using the smartphone app, because, as previously mentioned, you can quickly type in a title using your phone’s keyboard. I was surprised (and a little disappointed) to find, however, that typing in ‘Dolby Atmos’ didn't return any results. I eventually found filters when browsing the Movie Store within the smartphone app, including one for Dolby Atmos, among many others, so the search isn’t as intuitive as I had hoped.
One particularly good feature of the Movie Store is the ability to summon related content when hovering over a particular title. For example, when highlighting Top Gun: Maverick, press the Kaleidescape logo button on the smartphone app, or navigate to Explore > Related Content on the movie’s information page using the physical remote, and the Movie Store interface kicks into action, reorganizing all available and related content around it.
This includes movies similar in style and genre; for the Top Gun example, I was presented with Tom Cruise movies and other content either from the same director or starring supporting actors. It’s a quick and easy way to instantly discover new titles and a feature I found myself using an awful lot – not least for the aforementioned discovery, but also because watching poster thumbnails float around my TV screen was just cool to see.
Once you’ve found something you want to watch, then, as mentioned, you need to first download it. Due to the large file sizes, a very high-speed internet connection is practically a necessity if you want to minimize the time it takes from selecting a movie to watching it. Where I’m based in Australia, I can only achieve a maximum download speed of 100Mbps (multi-gigabit plans are available, just not in my apartment building), which made me nervous that it would take days to download a single title.
(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
When I set The Batman to download, it had an immediate effect on my network, and shows I was trying to watch on other services kept buffering – all of the available bandwidth was going to Kaleidescape.
To get around this problem, I set The Batman, along with Wicked and Gravity, to download overnight and sure enough, when I woke up the next morning, they were there. Remember when you’d wake up as a kid on Christmas morning to see presents under the tree? That was the exact feeling I had that morning.
The app lets you know how long each piece of content took to download, with The Batman taking the longest at just under three hours (Gravity, being an HD movie, finished in 40 minutes). Kaleidescape says if you have at least a 1Gbps internet connection, you can reduce the download time of a 4K movie to around 10 minutes.
If you have a high-speed internet connection, you can also set the maximum download speed for Kaleidescape. For example, with a 1Gbps plan, you could set Kaleidescape to max out at 600Mbps, leaving you with bandwidth so you can continue to watch other content at the same time.
Having read reviews of other Kaleidescape products, and having a good understanding of what makes the brand so appealing to home theater enthusiasts, it’s safe to say I had high expectations of the Strato E. And those expectations were exceeded. For context, I had the Strato E connected to an 83-inch LG G5 TV and a Sonos home theater system comprising the Sonos Arc Ultra soundbar, two Sonos Era 300 speakers for surrounds and a Sonos Sub 3.
Image 1 of 3
(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
Image 2 of 3
(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
Image 3 of 3
(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
Watching the opening scene of Wicked, the Wicked Witch of the West’s hat sitting in a puddle looked absolutely stunning. I compared it to the 4K Blu-ray version and noticed extra sharpness and detail when watching on the Strato E. Blacks were slightly deeper and the light reflection on the puddle glistened with greater intensity.
What took me by surprise the most, however, was the Dolby Atmos soundtrack. When the flying monkeys swooped in from behind the viewing position and smashed out of the window, I was blown away by the pinpoint accuracy of the movement from behind my seated position and towards the screen. It really was like being in a cinema; in comparison, the effect just wasn’t as pronounced when watching the Blu-ray version with the same home-theater setup.
It was a similar story when watching Gravity. Not only did the picture look incredible – the Strato E did a fantastic job of upscaling HD content, with the deep blacks of space well-defined and brighter lights shining with great intensity – but the Atmos mix was conveyed expertly through my speaker system. When Sandra Bullock and George Clooney’s characters are spinning out of control at the beginning of the movie, the soundtrack panned around my living room to great effect.
The Strato E truly shines with live concert recordings. As I mentioned in this issue’s lead-in, I downloaded and watched Hans Zimmer: Live in Prague — available in 4K Dolby Vision and, crucially, recorded in Dolby Atmos. I’d seen the soundtrack maestro perform in Sydney earlier this year — if you ever get the chance, grab a ticket, you won’t regret it — so I was curious whether a Kaleidescape playback of one of his shows could capture the same energy.
It did. The scale of the music hit me from the first note. My Sonos home theatre system was finally given a soundtrack that pushed its limits — I hadn’t realised how convincingly it could handle the dynamics of Zimmer’s iconic scores. When The Dark Knight Trilogy suite kicked in with Like a Dog Chasing Cars, the Strato E expertly reproduced the shifts from hushed, delicate passages — a lone violin or a subtle electronic texture — to the thunderous crescendos of the full orchestra, all without sounding compressed or strained.
That sense of contrast gave the performance real drama and made the experience feel startlingly lifelike. While I didn’t have a Dolby Atmos passive speaker system to test the Strato E’s talents — nor do I have a dedicated home cinema space — the player was able to deliver an impactful performance in my modest setup. Those with full Atmos rigs are in for a treat.
Performance score: 5 / 5
Should you buy the Kaleidescape Strato E
Kaleidescape Strato E 4K Movie Player Score Card
Attribute
Notes
Score
Value
It’s highly subjective, but as an ‘affordable’ entry point to the best picture and sound quality available, it’s worth the investment
5/5
Design
Excellent build quality and a superb smartphone app; more outputs would be nice, but the cost would inevitably increase
5/5
Features
Unrestricted file size for the best quality, and can be paired with servers for more storage
5/5
Performance
Unmatched picture and sound quality, especially content in 4K Dolby Vision and with object-based soundtracks
5/5
Buy it if...
You want the best possible video and sound quality
The unrestricted file sizes mean the Kaleidescape Strato E is able to receive more information for a movie or TV show, resulting in the best possible quality of any home entertainment product.
You want early access to the latest movies:
The US gets the best version of the Movie Store, with multiple titles available before their physical release. Other countries reap some of the same benefits.
Don't buy it if...
You’re on a budget
It goes without saying the Strato E isn’t cheap, and if you want to build a large movie collection, you’ll realistically need to invest in an even more expensive Terra Prime server.
You don’t have the AV system to take advantage
The Strato E – and the wider Kaleidescape ecosystem – is best suited for people with high-quality home AV setups that benefit from the player’s capabilities.
How I tested the Kaleidescape Strato E
Tested over a period of 4 weeks
Connected to LG G5 OLED TV and Sonos home theater system
4K Dolby Vision and HD content used
I tested the Kaleidescape Strato E at home in my living room, connected to an LG G5 OLED TV, partnered with a Sonos home theater system in a 7.1.4-channel configuration to take advantage of Dolby Atmos soundtracks. I wasn’t able to evaluate DTS:X soundtracks, however, as my Sonos system can’t decode it.
Kaleidescape kindly provided me with some credit to spend in the Movie Store, as opposed to preloading it with content, so that I would have the same experience as any new customer.
Fortect may not be one of the biggest names when it comes to the best antivirus and security, but this German business demands attention thanks to an ethos that prizes transparency, trust and user empowerment.
They’re all good qualities when trying to identify your next piece of security software, and it means that we’re eager to evaluate the company’s specific antivirus credentials in this review.
If you need a free antivirus product, then Fortect does have one option available – but it’s very limited. You can view and fix issues one-by-one using a manual repair system, but automatic repairs are only supported in the paid versions of the product.
Fortect’s paid antivirus module is found within a wider product called PC Suite, which also includes a slate of PC tweaking, optimization and repair tools alongside security features.
Fortect’s most affordable paid product, Essential, protects one system for one year and includes all of the app’s core features for $38.
Upgrade to the multi-device plan for $47 and you get unlimited annual usage for three devices. The Ultimate product, which costs $65, includes licenses for five devices.
Those single-device and three-device plans are priced reasonably, but the Ultimate product feels a tad expensive: Norton 360 Deluxe supports five devices for $49, for instance, and you can get Sophos Home Premium protection for ten devices for $44.99.
(Image credit: Fortect)
Fortect: Interface
Installation is easy and, once it’s complete, Fortect runs through a comprehensive system scan. Because this is a PC suite rather than just an antivirus scanner, its results outlined a host of issues, but Fortect was comprehensive when tackling security: it detected a vast array of potential privacy issues, for instance.
Get beyond that initial scan and Fortect has one of the best interfaces we’ve seen on a PC security and tweaking app.
It’s modern and mature, with navy blue shades throughout, and the dashboard has a huge “On” button that starts a full system scan.
The front page has indicators so you can see if malware and real-time protection are both activated, and on the left-hand side there are links to the app’s performance, security, privacy and VPN modules.
(Image credit: Fortect)
Delve into the Security section and you can deploy quick and custom scans and toggle malware and real-time protection, and drag and drop folders and files for custom scans.
In the Security settings menu you can enable real-time protection, cloud-based analysis and the browsing shield, which blocks harmful sites. You can also customize the frequency of security reports and tweak file quarantine settings.
The app’s Privacy module includes browser cache cleanup, and a unique tool that enables users to remove traces of Office apps from their system. You’re also invited to install an effective, free Chrome browser extension that monitors your browsing activity and highlights any issues.
(Image credit: Fortect)
Fortect: Antivirus and Protection
Fortect’s Antivirus module delivers real-time malware and web browser protection, comprehensive scanning for malware and unwanted apps, and cloud-based technology that provides the app with updates of new and emerging threats.
The app automatically fixes and removes threats, repairs your system if it becomes unstable, and can be used to create system restore points. Malicious files, folders and apps can also be quarantined.
Fortect’s macOS version also includes real-time protection, cloud-based security, full system scanning, quarantine management and detailed security reports, and its Android and iOS apps include all of those abilities alongside network scanning, website blocking, data breaches alerts and a system advisor.
To access these features across multiple devices, you’ll have to pay for one of the pricier tiers that supports multi-device usage.
(Image credit: Fortect)
Most of the antivirus products we cover have been independently tested by AV-Comparatives and AV Test – or a reputable alternative like SE Labs.
Sadly, none of those organizations have evaluated Fortect, so we’re turning to Virus Bulletin and AppEsteem.
VirusBulletin is a global authority on the antivirus industry and has been testing consumer and enterprise security software for over two decades. VirusBulletin’s publications include reports by leading researchers and details about new threats, with archives going back to 1989.
VirusBulletin’s VB100 certification is awarded to apps that “meet the basic standards required to be recognized as legitimate and properly functioning anti-malware solutions.” Fortect has earned that certification with a Grade A result, with 99.19% of malware detected and only 0.007% false positives.
AppEsteem certifies apps using the Anti-Malware Testing Standards Organization’s protocols to provide consumers can see which apps offer effective antivirus performance without false positives and over-aggressive monetization tactics.
AppEsteem’s testing saw Fortect rated as a Contender, with an 88% rating for Deceptors and a 94% pass mark for certification. That’s not the best score and it means you’ll likely see some upselling attempts in this app – and we can vouch for that, given that upon installation we were presented with an offer to upgrade to a multi-device app.
Apps from Avast, AVG, Sophos and others provided a cleaner experience than Fortect, but tools from Malwarebytes, Bitdefender and Norton received poorer ratings – so Fortect is not the worst offender here, and you shouldn’t let the occasional special offer put you off.
(Image credit: Fortect)
Fortect: Other features
As Fortect Antivirus is included in a wider PC Suite, that means you get a solid range of additional features in the app.
Fortect’s Performance Scan identifies junk files and crashed apps that can slow your PC down, and the app also has a Driver Updater that will make sure your system is always up to date.
Those PC performance features are not particularly extensive, though, and there are plenty of features missing elsewhere if you compare Fortect to apps like Norton 360 and Sophos Home Premium.
(Image credit: Fortect)
Norton, for instance, included an unlimited VPN, dark web monitoring, parental controls, a password manager and a private browser. Sophos had more in-depth web filtering. None of that is available with Fortect.
Support options are underwhelming, too. If you need help with Fortect, you can complete a web form and get a response within 48 hours – below the industry standard in 2025. Norton has live chat and phone support options and paid options for more extensive help, and Sophos has chat options.
It’s worth mentioning that Fortect is a slightly different product to those two rivals: it concentrates on PC optimization and security. But given the pricing parity between all of these tools, it makes Fortect’s value proposition look a little underwhelming.
Fortect: Final verdict
The antivirus testing that we’ve found indicates that Fortect does an excellent job of protecting devices from the latest threats.
That said, its lack of testing from our favored testing sites means that we’re reluctant to give a wholehearted recommendation when compared to tools that have scored well across a wider array of testing services.
There’s no doubt that this app is a slick, easy to use tool: it’s got an excellent interface with straightforward design and sensible organization. But that does mean that Fortect lacks the in-depth tweaking and customization options that are commonplace on tools that will appeal for a more technical audience.
Go beyond its core antivirus and PC performance functionality, though, and there’s not much on offer here compared to other tools – rivals routinely include VPNs, password managers, parental controls and more, alongside better support.
Fortect may do a good job with antivirus abilities, but rivals offer more functionality and customization. Fortect is not bad, but there are better options available.
OpenNMS has carved out a solid position in ourbest network monitoring tools roundup as a compelling open-source alternative to commercial solutions. The platform offers two distributions — Horizon for rapid innovation and Meridian for enterprise stability, both completely open source. You'll find comprehensive fault, performance, and traffic monitoring capabilities that rival expensive proprietary tools.
Techradar reviewers spend several weeks researching each major IT platform in the market. We found that OpenNMS excels at handling large-scale networks, with Fortune 500 companies using it to monitor tens of thousands of devices. While LogicMonitor remains our pick for the best network monitoring tool of 2025, OpenNMS delivers exceptional value for teams with strong technical skills.
OpenNMS: Features
OpenNMS packs an impressive array of monitoring capabilities that rival commercial platforms costing thousands more. You get comprehensive network discovery, fault detection, performance monitoring, and traffic analysis in a single platform.
The feature set is well-suited for large enterprises and technical teams who need deep customization options. While some competitors offer more polished interfaces, OpenNMS compensates with raw power and flexibility. At $44,100 annually for enterprise support, the pricing reflects the platform's enterprise-grade capabilities.
Network discovery and auto-discovery
OpenNMS automatically discovers devices across your network using industry-standard protocols like SNMP, HTTP, and JDBC. You can configure discovery ranges and let the platform map your entire infrastructure without manual intervention. The system integrates with over 2,000 networking vendors, ensuring compatibility with your existing hardware.
Fault management and alerting
The platform excels at fault detection with intelligent path outage analysis. Instead of flooding you with alerts when a core device fails, OpenNMS sends a single notification for the root cause. You may also appreciate features like escalation policies and contact groups that ensure the right people get notified at the right time.
Performance monitoring and graphing
Real-time performance data collection covers everything from CPU utilization to custom metrics. OpenNMS generates comprehensive graphs that integrate beautifully with Grafana for advanced visualization. The system handles up to 300,000 data points per second, making it suitable for the largest enterprise networks.
Flow analysis and traffic monitoring
Built-in support for NetFlow v5/9, IPFIX, and sFlow provides deep traffic analysis capabilities. You can track bandwidth utilization, identify top talkers, and analyze traffic patterns across your entire network. This feature alone justifies the platform for many organizations.
Business service monitoring
OpenNMS maps network performance to business services, helping you understand how technical issues impact operations. You can create custom service definitions and track their health across multiple network components. This business-focused approach sets OpenNMS apart from basic monitoring tools.
(Image credit: OpenNMS)
OpenNMS: Ease of use
OpenNMS demands significant technical expertise, and you'll need to invest time learning its configuration approaches. The web interface handles basic tasks, but advanced features require editing XML files and command-line work. We found the learning curve particularly steep for teams coming from simpler monitoring tools. However, once you master the basics, the platform's flexibility becomes a major advantage.
The interface itself feels dated compared to modern alternatives like LogicMonitor or Datadog. You'll spend time navigating between different sections to accomplish tasks that other platforms handle in single dashboards. OpenNMS has acknowledged this limitation and continues improving the web UI, but significant configuration work still happens outside the browser. The rigorous community documentation helps, but expect weeks of learning before you're fully productive.
OpenNMS: Pricing
Plan
Starting price (paid annually)
What's included
Horizon (Community)
Free
Open source version, community support, all core features
Meridian Core
Contact for pricing
Basic enterprise features, email support
Meridian Essential
Contact for pricing
Installation consulting, guaranteed SLAs, regular support
Meridian Premier
Contact for pricing
Enhanced SLAs (2hr critical response), priority support
Meridian Premier+
Contact for pricing
1hr critical response, 24/7 support options
OpenNMS offers an attractive pricing structure with a completely free open-source option that includes all core monitoring features. But the jump to enterprise support is significant at about $44,100 annually, which gives you installation consulting and guaranteed response times.
This pricing model works well for organizations that either have strong internal expertise (free version) or can afford to pay for the enterprise-grade support guarantees. Compared to competitors like LogicMonitor starting at $375 monthly, OpenNMS provides better value for large deployments where per-device pricing becomes expensive.
OpenNMS: Customer support
OpenNMS provides tiered support options ranging from community forums to enterprise-grade SLAs. The free community version relies on extensive documentation and active user forums. You'll find helpful resources, but response times depend on community availability. They also maintain a detailed knowledge base and video tutorial tfor common issues.
Enterprise customers get dedicated support portals with guaranteed response times. Critical issues receive 1-4 hour responses depending on your plan, with business-hours coverage standard across paid tiers. Support tickets integrate with internal development processes, ensuring bug fixes and enhancements get proper attention. However, enhancement requests don't carry SLA guarantees, which may frustrate teams expecting rapid feature development.
OpenNMS: Alternatives
OpenNMS occupies a unique position as the most capable open-source network monitoring platform, competing directly with commercial giants like SolarWinds and PRTG. You'll find it particularly valuable if you need enterprise-scale monitoring without per-device licensing costs. The platform works best for large organizations with dedicated network teams who can invest time in proper configuration and customization.
Key competitors include LogicMonitor for cloud-native environments, Datadog for application-focused monitoring, and Nagios for simpler network oversight. OpenNMS differentiates itself through comprehensive flow analysis, business service mapping, and the ability to handle massive device counts without licensing restrictions. However, teams wanting plug-and-play simplicity should consider commercial alternatives that prioritize ease of use over raw functionality.
OpenNMS: Final verdict
OpenNMS delivers exceptional value for organizations willing to invest in proper implementation and training. You get enterprise-grade monitoring capabilities that rival solutions costing significantly more, plus the flexibility that comes with open-source software. The platform works best for sprawling networks where customization and scalability matter more than interface polish.
However, you shouldn't underestimate the learning curve and ongoing maintenance requirements. Small teams or organizations lacking dedicated network expertise may find commercial alternatives more cost-effective when factoring in implementation time. For the right use case, technical teams monitoring large, diverse networks — OpenNMS represents one of the best values in enterprise monitoring.
FAQs
What's the difference between OpenNMS Horizon and Meridian?
Horizon is the community version where new features are developed and tested rapidly, making it ideal for organizations wanting the latest capabilities. Meridian focuses on long-term stability with enterprise support options, receiving thoroughly tested features after they've proven stable in Horizon deployments.
Can OpenNMS monitor cloud infrastructure and hybrid environments?
Yes, OpenNMS supports distributed monitoring through Minion collectors that can be deployed in remote locations or cloud environments. You can monitor AWS, Azure, and other cloud services alongside traditional on-premises infrastructure from a single platform.
How does OpenNMS licensing work for commercial use?
The core OpenNMS software is completely open source and free for commercial use. You only pay for enterprise support, consulting services, and additional commercial components if needed. There are no per-device licensing fees, making it cost-effective for large deployments.
What level of technical expertise is required to implement OpenNMS?
You'll need solid networking knowledge and Linux administration skills for successful deployment. While basic monitoring can be configured through the web interface, advanced features require XML editing and command-line configuration. Plan for several weeks of learning and configuration time.
Does OpenNMS integrate with other IT management tools?
OpenNMS offers extensive integration capabilities through its REST API, supporting connections with ticketing systems like Jira, messaging platforms, and visualization tools like Grafana. The platform can also integrate with configuration management systems and other network tools through various protocols and APIs.
