This review first appeared in issue 358 of PC Pro.
Q NAP makes so many NAS enclosures that it can be hard to place specific models within the range. The TS-264 comes under the “Mid-range First Choice” bracket, which is QNAP’s way of saying it’s intended for small offices, homes and micro businesses. The “2” tells you this is a two-bay device, accepting up to two 3.5in or 2.5in drives.
Inside there are NVMe slots capable of accepting up to two 2TB SSDs, which can be used as storage or an SSD cache for the hard disks. QNAP pairs an Intel Celeron N5095 processor with 8MB of onboard RAM, which can’t be further upgraded. At the back you’ll find an HDMI socket, two 2.5GbE connectors, two USB-A 2 ports and a USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 port, with another Gen 2 socket on the front panel.
That’s not at all bad for this price, but if needed you can upgrade with a dual-port PCI-E 10GbE network card. There’s also support for various tower and rackmount storage expansion units, some of which require a mini SAS connector card that takes up the PCI-E slot.
QNAP’s TS-264 is packed with ports, including two 2.5GbE connectors(Image credit: Future)
In theory you can set up this NAS entirely without tools, but you’ll struggle to fit NVMe drives without taking off the side panel, which requires a screwdriver. Even with it removed, the two slots are partially obstructed by the hard drive cage, making it hard to insert SSDs. Put it all back together and you can run Qfinder Pro to locate the NAS on your network, connect to its web admin interface and begin configuring QNAP’s QTS operating system.
While QTS is generally excellent, it feels more technical and less slick than some rivals – particularly Synology’s DSM software. It’s great to have the choice between thick and thin provisioning, or using a more conventional static disk volume, but this does complicate things compared to its great rival. If using NVMe drives, you’ll need to provide their physical security ID (PSID) number to securely erase them in the setup process, so it’s a good idea to photograph them in situ before you put the case back on.
The gold and black TS-264 may not look businesslike, but it’s happy to work(Image credit: Future)
We loaded up the TS-264 with 14TB and 12TB NAS disks and two 1TB NVMe SSDs provided by WD, initially configuring these as two separate RAID1 volumes formatted with Btrfs (you can choose EXT4 if you prefer). Over a single 2.5GbE connection, it recorded competitive PCMark 10 Data Drive scores of 487 for the disk performance and 482 for SSDs. In ATTO Disk Benchmark, the TS-264 was level with competing two-bay enclosures for 4KB and 16KB file operations, but some distance ahead for 2MB files thanks to its faster network connection.
File-copy tests confirmed that the TS-264 is fast in real-world use, but the margin over 1GbE devices wasn’t as great as we were expecting. That said, with disk caching configured this NAS put a little more daylight between itself and the 1GbE competition, particularly when copying larger files.
QTS is full of usability and connectivity features, including myQNAPcloud, which makes it easy to access and manage the NAS remotely. You’ll also find a wide range of high-quality apps in the AppCenter – we counted 107, spanning content management, dev tools, security, networking and entertainment. Unlike the home-focused TS-233, you get a full suite of surveillance apps including QVR Pro, and extensions covering face recognition and even automated door access.
The QTS operating system is capable of handling any task(Image credit: Future)
Despite its diminutive size, the TS-264 makes sense for demanding users. Like other QNAP NAS enclosures, it can act as a DHCP, web or proxy server, and even a domain controller. Other apps let you configure it as a proxy, web or backup server, and even to host and manage containers. Its ability to scale and upgrade is also a bonus, although it’s not badly specified out of the box.
While we wouldn’t choose this NAS as a starting point for a small business, it is a good choice as a home NAS if you’ll be using it for both work and entertainment. The TS-264 has the grunt to handle media serving and transcoding, while its twin network interfaces can be bonded to preserve network speeds as you gain users.
Before this year’s Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, developer Asobo achieved something momentous in 2020: they found a way to make a Flight Simulator game feel not just relevant to a mainstream audience, but vital. For at least a few weeks there in that strangest of masked-up, doomscrolling times, we were all budding pilots, exorcising our lockdown cabin fever by exploring a virtual Earth from above.
Review info
Platform reviewed: PC Available on: Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC Release date: November 19, 2024
The tech - some dark wizardry that pulled Bing Maps data from the cloud via Microsoft Azure - was eye-catching enough that even people who’d never dreamed of buying their own cockpit stopped what they were doing and paid attention. The trouble was, of course, there wasn’t much game to it.
That might sound like an unfair thing to say about a game that gave you an entire planet to fly around, and just about every known airport to take off or land on, but it’s true. Outside of a few scenarios and challenges, the experience was down to you to sculpt and define in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020.
Asobo’s 2024 follow-up addresses that point with a laser focus, introducing an all-new career mode that’s so astoundingly deep and varied that you can even play it purely as a business sim and take all the actual flying out of the equation entirely. If you do that, though, you’re missing out on – deep breath – firefighting, search and rescue, helicopter cargo transport, air ambulance, agricultural aviation, mountain rescue, skydiving, and aerial construction missions, each requiring a different set of disciplines and familiarity with numerous cockpits and flight models.
It’s here that the developer can really show you what all this ambitious streaming tech and map data can do. The locations are hand-picked for gorgeousness and just the right amount of flight challenge. It’s an absolute treat and an extremely shrewd addition from a studio that didn’t have to go this extra mile in order to impress. Career mode provides a clear mandate for a sequel, in an age when most simulators just whack a few new vehicles into the mix and tout ‘improved physics’. It’s going to keep the non-hardcore engaged for longer, and might even drive a few flight stick sales.
Failure to take off
(Image credit: Microsoft/Asobo)
Now to address… the unpleasantness. Career mode remained a mystery to me through launch week, not because it’s particularly impenetrable, but because I simply wasn’t able to access it. n the 16 years I’ve been reviewing games, I’ve never wrestled with a launch quite this bad. For the first 24 hours I couldn’t even say definitively whether the game had even managed to fully install itself, such was the labyrinthine mess of loading screens that I was presented with.
On the rare occasion that I did manage to fly a plane in that launch window, I was greeted by flip-book frame rates, random crashes, planes that seemed to have a life of their own, yet more life-sapping loading screens between menus, and poorly calibrated pad controls.
Most bizarre of the lot are certain landing challenges – and this persists to the present build – in which the plane takes a sudden, unnerving change of direction just before you take control of it and turns a simple test of skill into a harrowing air disaster, every warning indicator blaring in your ears as you try to wrestle control of the plane in time to avoid terra firma. Odd and nightmarish in equal measure.
The loading screens are much quicker now. The (technical) crashes have all but abated. But even on my 1GB internet connection, I’m all too often greeted by heinous low-res textures where an impressive view should be for too long. The streaming tech powering Flight Simulator 2024 simply can’t prop up the ambitions of the game for many of its users. I hope that changes, but during the process of reviewing the game I can’t simply assume that it will, nor ignore such an abysmal launch experience.
The first rule of flight club...
(Image credit: Microsoft/Asobo)
Now that what must be said has been said, we can transition back into the content. Where else does the new Flight Simulator build on its predecessor? Well, airports are notably more detailed now. And that’s just the auto-populated ones, not the bespoke ones Asobo offers in the various higher-priced editions of this game. Vehicular and human traffic is much higher, and the overall experience of taking off and landing is much more immersive.
The flight model, too, has had a tune-up. I must confess I didn’t notice this when using a pad, but with a HOTAS flightstick you can feel a bit more detail about the plane’s reaction to your inputs and the weather conditions around it. It’s especially satisfying to feel the gentleness of your inputs rewarded and to fly in a more precise manner afforded by some increased responsiveness.
There’s a ‘but’, of course. Particularly with a pad, but also with a flightstick, it took a long time to dial in the level of assists that made sense, and quite often I was left baffled by unresponsive controls or confusing results to my inputs that were down to a) I didn’t know that they were turned on and b) I didn’t understand the workings of.
Best bit
(Image credit: Microsoft/Asobo)
Virtual tourism’s always been this series’ big strength and when everything’s working, the sights look sharper, better tessellated, and rendered more accurately to scale than before. Check out the Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone Park, the Pyramids of Giza, and Lisbon’s Pena Palace and you’ll agree.
To an extent, that comes with the territory. Planes are tremendously complicated things, and my penchant for flying commercial jets only exacerbates that phenomenon. Could you imagine actually piloting such a behemoth using an Xbox controller? What would that feel like? Terrifying. Confusing. A bad idea. Imagine boarding a flight and seeing the pilot charging up his controller before take-off. You’d be getting off that flight. With that in mind, this game does a pretty marvelous job of mapping such a complex array of instruments to a pad and having it feel fairly logical and responsive, most of the time.
But the fact remains that until you figure out each plane’s characteristics, you’re often wrestling with assists as much as physical forces. This befuddling assist situation also belies a weakness in Flight Simulator 2024’s Flight School mode. Learning to fly is the core activity of this experience, and the dedicated tutorials should go so much deeper than they do. More than that, they should explain which assists are on by default and let you experience what it feels like to fly with them turned on and off. They’re not particularly responsive to how you perform in each lesson, either. It’s nice to get a grade at the end, but I’ve been given Bs for terrifying near-death ordeals and what seemed to me to be nigh-perfect procedures alike.
Where I ended up having the most fun was in a slightly less forensically minded kind of experience, not trying to understand the subtleties of an Airbus A330, not trying to put out a forest fire in the most business-efficient manner, but taking photos.
Snap to it
(Image credit: Microsoft/Asobo)
World Photographer mode exists for the player who just wants to take in the best bits of that astonishing world map. You embark on short flights to picturesque locations, frame photographs according to a few specific criteria, and enjoy the views. It’s meditative, non-taxing, and demonstrates what the tech can do beautifully.
It couldn’t have been a worse take-off, but now that Flight Sim 2024’s airborne, the real work begins. There’s the blueprint for a fantastic experience in here, one that satiates hardcore sim heads and aspiring real-world pilots and also caters to casual players looking to sample the incredible tech without having to take an aeronautical engineering degree. Career mode is such a pleasant surprise, full of bespoke experiences that remold this sim sandbox into different shapes.
But the blueprint hasn’t been realized properly yet. I won’t pretend to understand the vagaries of how Microsoft’s Azure cloud data streaming actually makes this title work, but I can categorically say that it can at present be summed up as ‘not as intended’. There are still significant, miserable performance issues even after some emergency patching work - alt-Tab this game at your peril - and they simply don’t let you enjoy Flight Simulator 2024’s best qualities yet.
Should I play Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024?
Play it if...
You’ve got the wanderlust The world map remains Flight Simulator 2024’s strongest asset, and the new career and photo modes give you a fresh excuse to see more of its best bits. If your internet connection can keep up, the scenery can be gorgeous.View Deal
You’re in it for the long haul Once you dial in the right peripheral mappings, deadzones, assists, and display settings, there’s a deep treasure trove of content waiting for you. But it’s not a pick-up-and-fly experience, despite the pad functionality and photo mode. View Deal
Don't play it if...
Your internet’s spotty The cloud streaming tech powering this sim has been unstable so far, even on lightning-quick connections. If you’re still alternating between AOL free trial disks, it’s probably not worth it. View Deal
You’re a frame counter Performance issues persist beyond launch, and although in perfect conditions this game’s easier to run than its predecessor at 4K, it’s still extremely demanding and temperamental. View Deal
Accessibility
Never shy of adding menus and options, Flight Simulator 2024 has a welcome array of accessibility options that include text-to-speech functionality allowing players with differing setups to communicate, and an in-game text chat translation tool to that same end.
There’s screen narration, subtitles, and adjustable HUD opacity, along with scalable text size. Mercifully for the motion sickness, you can turn off camera shake, too.
A range of different input options are available here, from pad and peripheral inputs to old-school mouse and keyboard, including the ‘Legacy’ mode that uses the old ‘90s control layout.
Finally, colors can be adjusted to accommodate protanopia, deuteranopia, and tritanopia, and you can find high-contrast menu schemes to aid visibility.
(Image credit: Microsoft/Asobo)
How I reviewed Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
I logged around 20 hours of flight time using either an Xbox controller or a Logitech G X56 HOTAS, dividing that time between Flight School, Career, World Photographer, and the surprisingly compelling Landing Challenges.
The virtual cockpit for this one was my gaming PC, outputting to a 30-inch display via my RTX 2080 TI. This isn’t a resource-light title, but I typically found that connection speed was a greater deciding factor on performance than GPU, whereas its predecessor seemed more bound to local hardware performance.
If you’re shopping for an Xbox external hard drive, then you can’t go wrong with this officially licensed model from Seagate. Although a little more expensive than non-Xbox branded options, it’s still one of the best Xbox Series X hard drives and SSDs right now, delivering a solid level of performance and plenty of space for many of the best Xbox Series X games.
The Seagate Game Drive for Xbox is significantly more affordable than the Seagate Xbox Storage Expansion Card and comes in much larger capacities, including 4TB and 5TB, but it has some extra limitations due to its form factor. First and foremost, as an external hard drive it cannot be used to play Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S optimized games.
Its primary use case is to store large game installations between uses, cutting down on the need to constantly redownload files. This makes them particularly suitable for those with slow or limited internet connections. It’s a fantastic fit for Xbox Game Pass too, giving you the option to keep a considerable number of games on hand at a time.
It’s worth noting that older titles for the Xbox One, Xbox 360, or original Xbox will still run off the external hard drive - albeit with increased loading times compared to internal storage in most cases. If you have a large library of backwards compatible games that you don’t want clogging up your internal drive, this will be the perfect solution. This also means that those still sticking with an Xbox One can rest easy knowing that they will have no issues accessing their entire libraries.
As far as hard drives are concerned, the Seagate Game Drive for Xbox also looks superb overall. It’s constructed from a sleek black plastic, decorated with an Xbox logo and a small strip of green LED lighting. It fits perfectly next to a black Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S 1TB console, though owners of white variants like the launch Xbox Series S or recent Xbox Series X Digital Edition might prefer to go for a white alternative to better fit their systems instead.
(Image credit: Future)
Seagate Game Drive for Xbox: Price and availability
2TB costs $89.99 / £79.99
4TB costs $134.99 / £116.99
5TB costs $149.99 / £132.99
The Seagate Game Drive for Xbox is available in 2TB, 4TB, and 5TB capacity options which come in at roughly $89.99 / £79.99, $134.99 / £116.99, and $149.99 / £132.99 respectively. The 4TB model is the best value model, as it frequently receives substantial discounts to around the $90 mark. If you’re able to find it on sale for this price, I would definitely recommend snapping it up.
While it is the cheapest, I would try to avoid the 2TB model as that more limited storage capacity is going to fill up quite quickly - especially if you intend to use it for a few large, modern games.
Seagate Game Drive for Xbox: Specs
Seagate Game Drive for Xbox: Design and features
Matches black consoles very well
Green LED lighting is bright and attractive
But looks out of place next to white consoles
As far as external hard drives go, the Seagate Game Drive for Xbox is a stylish choice. It is constructed from sleek black plastic, which is pleasant to the touch and looks perfect placed next to a black Xbox console. In addition to small embossed Xbox and Seagate logos, there is a bright green LED positioned on the front of the drive lending it some extra flair.
I don’t have any complaints about the design, but I will say that it really stands out next to a white console. Given this drive’s price compared to a generic external hard drive, it’s undeniable that you’re paying a little more for the look. This makes sense if you own an Xbox Series X (or the black Xbox Series S 1TB) and want a fully color-coordinated setup, but not when it’s going to look out of place.
There are, of course, other reasons to choose this hard drive like its strong performance but it’s just something that owners of Microsoft’s white machines should bear in mind. Seagate also makes a white Starfield Special Edition hard drive in 2TB and 5TB capacities, which could be a better choice in purely aesthetic terms.
Setup is easy right out of the box, as the drive comes packed with a Micro USB that can be slotted into a free USB port on the back of your console. It also comes bundled with a free month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate which is a fun little bonus.
(Image credit: Future)
Seagate Game Drive for Xbox: Performance
Faster than a game download
But slower than internal storage
Still a good fit for Xbox Game Pass
I tested the 5TB model of this external hard drive and found it to be perfectly sufficient as a game storage medium, though noticeably slower than both external SSD options and the console’s internal storage.
To give some real-world examples of what it can do, I moved a handful of games to and from the drive on my personal Xbox Series S 1TB. Moving to the drive, a 14.5GB installation of Dustborn was transferred in just 1 minute 54 seconds while a 16.8GB installation of Mirror’s Edge Catalyst was copied over in just 2 minutes 8 seconds.
Increasing the file size yielded roughly proportional results, with a 40.3GB copy of Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2accomplished in 5 minutes and 14 seconds. The two largest games I tested, the 74.3GB Dead Island 2and the 104GB Forza Motorsportwere then transferred in 9 minutes 49 seconds and 14 minutes 19 seconds respectively.
Speeds were similar moving games back from the drive. A 48.1GB copy of Agents of Mayhem, for example, took 5 minutes 40 seconds while a smaller 5.2GB installation of Rumble Roses XX was fully playable from the internal storage in just 39 seconds.
Unless you have some kind of NASA-level connection, all of these times are going to be significantly faster than an internet download - which is exactly what you want from the external hard drive. This would be especially useful if you’re an Xbox Game Pass subscriber who loves downloading new games to try, as you will be able to keep a vast library of included titles saved and on hand whenever you want to dip back into them.
(Image credit: Future)
Should I buy the Seagate Game Drive for Xbox?
Buy it if...
You want a more affordable storage expansion The Seagate Game Drive for Xbox comes at a significantly lower cost than a Seagate Xbox Storage Expansion Card, letting you increase the number of games you can save locally on the cheap.
You’re sick of waiting for game downloads An external hard drive like the Seagate Game Drive for Xbox is a great alternative to uninstalling your games. If you find yourself running out of space often and are sick of waiting for big game downloads each time you want to return to an old favorite, this is for you.
Don't buy it if...
You want to play modern games natively An unavoidable drawback for any external hard drive is the inability to play Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S optimized games natively. If that’s what you want from a storage device, you’ll have to look at an Expansion Card instead.
Also consider...
Consider these three alternatives if you’re not sold on the Seagate Game Drive for Xbox.
Toshiba Canvio Flex This budget-friendly hard drive comes in a sleek silver color. You lose the Xbox branding, but it’s small, portable, and is available in a range of capacities up to 4TB. It’s also a fair amount cheaper.
WD Black P40 Game Drive This external SSD from WD is smaller and lighter than the Seagate Game Drive for Xbox, with significantly better speeds. It is much more expensive, though, and is only available in capacities up to 2TB.
Seagate Xbox Storage Expansion Card If you want to play Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S games on your storage device, and can afford its lofty price tag, then the Seagate Xbox Storage Expansion Card is for you.
I tested the Seagate Game Drive for Xbox predominantly with my Xbox Series S 1TB console, but I also spent a few hours checking compatibility with an Xbox Series X. I tested the external hard drive for over a month, using it as my primary external storage device for all things Xbox.
During my testing of the drive, I compared the performance to that of other hard drives, including the Seagate Game Drive for PS5 and WD Black P10. I also checked how it would stack up against external SSD options, such as the WD Black P40 Game Drive, and the official Xbox Storage Expansion Card.
I'm a keen hobbyist runner living in the countryside with a particular running shoe in mind; a trail-first shoe that can also fly on the roads, lightweight as possible yet grippy to handle technical terrain, also durable so I can clock up the kms, all for a double-digit price. Impossible demands, right? Well, no – after multiple shoes from various brands down the years, I might've just found my best running shoes of 2024: the Inov-8 Trailfly G270 V2.
The Trailfly G270 V2s launched Q1 in 2023 and are, as the name suggests, a second-generation trail shoe by Inov-8 with minor tweaks to the wildly popular original. With three months and around 350km under my belt wearing these shoes, I can see why.
These shoes deliver in all areas for mixed terrain – at 270g, they are lightweight for a grippy shoe, though the very quickest road shoes are lighter. They are also durable – seriously, I've clocked up around 60 hours of running and they feel as good as new.
As for the fit, these shoes are noted as '5' on Inov-8's width scale, which is the widest possible from the running specialists. However, I have an average-width foot and the fit is perfect, meaning these shoes aren't for those with particularly wide feet.
In the UK I run in all kinds of terrain and weather, covering anything from technical hills, to boggy footpaths and dry roads; these shoes transition between such scenarios with ease.
(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)
The Inov-8 Trailfly G270 V2's are the best running shoes with a double-digit price that I've ever used. That said, they won't be for everyone.
In my experience Inov-8 shoes generally take a little more wearing in than other brand shoes, such as Asics. In this particular case, the outer felt too snug along the side of my little toe, but they are fine now.
There are also two key design attributes to note that might put you off: these are zero drop shoes, meaning the heel is the same height as the front of your foot. Most shoes have some form of drop, typically around 5-8mm.
With zero drop you're more likely to strike the ground with the middle of your foot rather than the heel first, resulting in a lower impact running gait that is kinder to your joints. However, zero drop isn't ideal for all foot types, such as flat feet. Ultimately, it's best to do your research on what is best for your feet. In practice, zero drops works a different part of your calves in the early days, but as your legs adjust you soon won't notice a difference.
The other point is that the cushioning is firmer than most. If you are particularly heavy-footed, and prefer minimal impact as your feet hit the ground, the Trailfly G270 V2's possibly aren't for you. These are firm.
With that firmness comes a decent spring. As you accelerate you get decent encouragement, which is impressive for such a grippy trail shoe.
(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)
One other minor point is that the laces are on the slippier side, and so getting a tight knot can take a couple of efforts. Not a biggie, but if you're like me you might need to stop and re-tie.
That's all the bad stuff out of the way. I should re-emphasize that these are my favorite trail-focused shoes, for the money. They are available in three colors; all-black, lime green or a blue with orange – I opted for the latter. And they are regularly discounted – I got them on sale in the UK for around half their $170 / £149.99 list price, and I've since seen them even cheaper. That's fantastic value for such a well-made, high performing and durable shoe.
The bottom line is that the Trailfly G270 V2's are up there with the best running shoes especially for runners who spend more time on the trails, and I'll be keeping an eye on the sale prices to pick up a second pair soon.
Inov-8 Trailfly G270 V2: Specifications
Inov-8 Trailfly G270 V2: Scorecard
(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)
Inov-8 Trailfly G270 V2: Should I buy?
Buy it if...
You cover all terrains but are primarily a trail runner
Designed to tackle all terrain, the G270 V2's offer superb grip, decent spring and are relatively lightweight, but dedicated road shoes will be even lighter.
You want a durable shoe
With graphene soles and superb design, these shoes can tackle technical terrain and will go the extra mile.
Don't buy it if...
You like a cushioned shoe
The G270 V2's cushioning is harder than most and will take a little getting used to if you typically run with a cushioned shoe.
You're a road runner
If you mainly run on roads, then there are lighter and quicker alternatives available, designed for speed over durability.
Also consider
Nike Ultrafly
Nike Ultrafly's are also primarily designed for the trails, even if they look like a road shoes. They probably have the edge for speed, but won't handle technical trails as well as the G270 V2s, and they are much, much pricier.
Approximately 60 hours of running on technical trails, footpaths and roads, flat and hilly
I used the Inov-8 Trailfly G270 V2 as my primary running shoe for around 3 months, during which time I was typically clocking up around 30kms per week.
I typically cover mixed terrain and run in all kinds of weather: trails, footpaths and roads; wet and dry; flat and hilly.
The Kaleidescape Strato V is the latest Movie Player from Kaleidescape, and it represents a definite shift for the company. Kaleidescape is synonymous with a premium movie experience at home, offering a proprietary ecosystem based around its own hardware and servers. While no one questions the quality of Kaleidescape’s products, the price of admission has been steep and the lack of Dolby Vision support has been a glaring omission given the brand’s pursuit of high-end video and audio performance.
The new Kaleidescape Strato V addresses both of these issues by offering Dolby Vision support and lowering the cost of entry. To achieve this, the Strato V integrates a 960GB solid-state hard drive, and while that means it can only store around ten 4K movies downloaded from the company’s Movie Store at any one time, at least it combines the movie player and movie server into a single, more affordable device that's an excellent alternative to the best 4k Blu-ray players.
With Kaleidescape, you can immediately access a huge library of films, TV shows, and concert videos, with new titles often available months before any disc release. The picture and sound quality are exceptional, with stunning 4K HDR10 and Dolby Vision images and full lossless audio that includes Dolby Atmos and DTS:X – something you don’t get from the best streaming services, which only provide compressed soundtracks. The result is a performance that’s at least equal to a disc but without taking up all your shelf space. So if you want convenience without any compromise look no further than the Strato V.
The new Strato V combines a movie player with built-in 960GB SSD storage – enough to hold 10 movies at a time (Image credit: Future)
KALEIDESCAPE STRATO V review: Price & release
Price: $3,995 / £5,379
Release date: September 2024
The Kaleidescape Strato V is available now through registered dealers and online sellers like Best Buy in the US and retails for $3,995 / £5,379. While this certainly isn’t cheap it’s definitely more affordable than the alternative of buying the Kaleidescape Strato C Movie Player. The latter costs about the same but doesn’t support Dolby Vision and requires you to buy one of Kaleidescape’s Terra Prime servers, which are very pricey. Of course, if you want to expand the storage of the Strato V you can add a Terra Prime server, although the extra cost does rather defeat the whole point of buying one.
KALEIDESCAPE STRATO V review: Specs
The Strato V uses wired Ethernet for a network connection; it has no Wi-Fi option (Image credit: Future)
KALEIDESCAPE STRATO V review: Design
Great build quality
Kaleidescape remote app
Control over Ethernet
The Kaleidescape Strato V certainly looks like a premium product with a sleek, stylish and very well-made cabinet that uses a combination of a 3mm-thick black anodised aluminium chassis combined with a 3mm-thick black glass front with an illuminated Kaleidescape logo. The unit is silent in operation and includes a 960GB solid-state drive, along with a powerful system-on-chip (SoC).
The unit is only 20cm wide, which might disappoint those who like their AV equipment full width, but there’s an optional faceplate for mounting in an equipment rack. There’s also a dual faceplate for use with a compact Terra Prime server, along with a wall bracket for mounting behind a TV.
The connectivity is at the rear, with a gold-plated HDMI 2.1 output, a coaxial digital audio output using a gold-plated RCA phono connector, and an optical digital output. There’s also a gigabit Ethernet port, a USB 3.0 port, an IR input, a service port, and a 12V input for the included power adapter brick. There is no Wi-Fi connectivity, so you will need a wired Ethernet connection for downloading movies, accessing the web interface, updating firmware and using the control app.
The included remote is small and simple but gets the job done. There’s no backlight, which can be annoying in a pitch-black home cinema, but given Kaleidescape’s target market, chances are you’ll be using a third-party control system over Ethernet like Crestron, AMX, Savant or Control4. There’s also the Kaleidescape app (iOS or Android) which makes an effective controller, providing an alternative to the remote with its handy swipe function and access to the Kaleidescape Movie Store.
Design score: 5/5
The Kaleidescape Movie Store features new releases that aren't yet available on VOD services (Image credit: Future)
KALEIDESCAPE STRATO V review: Features
Scalable storage options
Highest quality video
Fully lossless audio
The Kaleidescape Strato V’s primary function is as a high-end movie player that offers the best video and audio compared to any device on the market. To achieve this it supports every resolution up to 4K (3840 x 2160), and frame rates up to 60p. It also supports HDR10 and Dolby Vision high dynamic range, plus lossless audio up to and including Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.
Crucially, it isn’t limited to certain file sizes as with a 4K disc, nor is it restricted to lower bit rates like streaming services – supporting file sizes of over 100GB and speeds up to 100Mbps. As a result, when you buy or rent movies, TV shows or concerts from the Kaleidescape Movie Store you’re guaranteed the best picture and sound possible from a home entertainment product.
The Strato V is primarily designed to operate as a standalone unit, which is why it has a built-in solid-state hard drive. The downside is that the number of movies you can store at any one time is limited to around 10, and if you want to watch something else you have to download it. Once you purchase a title from the Kaleidescape Movie Store it remains accessible in your collection for download, even if it isn’t stored locally on the Strato V.
If you would rather store your entire collection on a drive for instant access you can connect to one of Kaleidescape’s Terra Prime servers. While doing so is obviously more expensive, and the built-in SSD is no longer available, the process is simple and won’t affect the Strato V’s performance in any way. It’s great to have the option to scale up the storage, even if you never actually need to.
Features score: 5/5
A Strato V setup menu page (Image credit: Future)
KALEIDESCAPE STRATO V review: Setup
Web-based interface
Selectable aspect ratios
Cataloging your discs
The Kaleidescape Strato V is incredibly easy to set up, and all you need to do is plug in the power brick, attach an Ethernet cable and connect to your display, or in my case an AV processor. Kaleidescape even includes a THX Certified HDMI cable, which is a nice touch. Once powered up, just follow the onscreen instructions and you’ll be up and running in no time.
The initial options allow you to set up the Strato V as a standalone player, configure it as a new system with a Terra movie server, or add it as a new zone to an existing Kaleidescape system. When set up as a standalone player it operates independently, only playing movies stored locally on its internal drive, and can’t be grouped with other Strato V units for additional storage.
After I selected standalone mode, the activation page appeared. You then either enter your email address if you already have a Kaleidescape account or create a new one. Once you’ve entered your email address you’ll receive a confirmation email to activate the player. You’ll obviously need to add your credit card details as well for making purchases from the Kaleidescape Movie Store.
The web-based interface offers access to all of the Strato V’s setup options and is my preferred choice for the initial installation, although once completed the remote is fine for accessing your movies on the player (Ready to Play), and navigating the Kaleidescape Movie Store and general settings.
In terms of the initial settings you can leave most at their defaults because the Strato V will read the EDID from your display, receiver or processor and optimise accordingly. The one area you may need to adjust manually is the aspect ratio, especially if like me you use a 2.35:1 projector screen. This feature works brilliantly, not only formatting the screens and menus for the wider aspect ratio, but also automatically rescaling 1.85:1 content within the ‘Scope ratio screen.
The main reason for buying a Strato V is access to the Kaleidescape Movie Store, and here your experience will really depend on on where you live. In the US the choice is huge and new films are added months before they’re released on disc, whereas elsewhere the choice isn’t as impressive, and films take longer to be added. I appreciate that studio agreements will differ from territory to territory, but given the store is the main feature it’s a bit frustrating if you live outside the States.
One final feature that Kaleidescape offers is the option to catalog your physical Blu-ray and DVD collections into a digital format. You’ll need to connect an external disc drive via USB, but once connected, the Strato V enters Recognition Mode. Insert a disc into the drive, and the Strato begins cataloging it. The process only takes a few seconds, and you can then see the title in the Store under Digital Offers – sometimes with a discount for the digital version.
The Strato V provides detailed info on video and audio formats during playback (Image credit: Future)
KALEIDESCAPE STRATO V review: Performance
Well-designed and intuitive interface
Exceptional picture and sound quality
Excellent upscaling of lower resolutions
The Kaleidescape Strato V is a rock-solid media player thanks to its intuitive user interface, and is also very responsive in operation. The Ready to Play page has titles from the Store along the top, a second layer showing the unwatched titles currently on the internal drive, followed by a layer of paused movies, then the played movies, and finally any movies you’ve marked as favourites.
Unlike the Strato C, the Strato V doesn’t show you all the films you’ve bought on the home page, only those on the internal drive. If you want to see the complete collection you’ll need to go to your account on the Movie Store, but this keeps things neat and tidy. The system automatically deletes the oldest played content to free up space, unless you mark a title as a favourite.
When you click on a title you get information about it, along with options to play, pause or choose a specific scene. When something is playing you can also press the up button on the remote and see additional information such as audio options and subtitles. The entire process is completely seamless, and I never had any issues with playing, pausing or stopping movies. It’s also worth pointing out that the Strato V runs completely silent and cool in operation.
The process of buying titles from the Movie Store couldn’t be easier, and you can access it via the Kaleidescape website, through the player’s interface or even using the app. There are thousands of titles available for purchase or rental, many of which haven’t even been released on 4K disc yet.
I found deleting existing films off the internal drive and downloading new ones onto it to be straightforward. If you decide to rent rather than purchase a title, it will remain on your system for 30 days, and once you begin watching it there’s a 48-hour window. If you like the film and decide to buy it within the 30-day rental period, half the rental price is credited towards the purchase.
The speed of download will depend on your internet connection – if you’re lucky enough to have gigabit speeds you can download movies in around 10 to 15 minutes. Unfortunately, I live in the countryside and only have speeds of 50Mbps, so it took about two hours to download a movie.
When you buy a title it might offer 4K Dolby Vision and 4K HDR10 versions, but even if your display doesn’t support Dolby Vision you still download the former. The Strato V will automatically output whatever your display is capable of handling, while the 4K HDR10 version is only intended for the Strato C because that player doesn’t support Dolby Vision at all.
Kaleidescape’s use of larger file sizes and higher bit rates results in stunning images that are at least as good as the equivalent 4K Ultra HD disc, if not better. I watched a number titles, including Top Gun: Maverick, Dune Part 2, and Furiosa, and the picture quality is simply stunning. The 4K images are sharp and detailed, the HDR10 or Dolby Vision is delivered precisely, and the overall presentation is free of any compression artefacts or other issues.
While you can obviously watch movies on streamers, or via VOD services like iTunes and Prime Video, Kaleidescape offers a quantum leap in quality. In fact, the larger file sizes mean it can even surpass 4K Blu-rays at times. A good example is Once Upon a Time in the West, which is a three-hour movie that gets crammed onto a 66GB 4K Blu-ray disc. Kaleidescape’s file is significantly larger, providing more space and a higher bit rate, which results in a better-defined image when directly comparing this film on both formats.
The audio is equally impressive, with full lossless support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. While streaming services may offer Atmos, it is usually delivered via lossy Dolby Digital Plus, but with Kaleidescape you’re enjoying the same full lossless experience you get with Blu-rays. Hans Zimmer Live in Prague sounds amazing in Atmos, while Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban benefits from a DTS:X soundtrack that really brings the wizarding world to life. The scene where the dementors search the Hogwarts Express is doubly scary thanks to the genuine scale and really deep bass.
While I expected the 4K images to look superb, I was equally impressed by the quality of the Strato V’s upscaling. When watching lower-resolution content the picture is clean and well-defined, with no obvious scaling artefacts. The same is true when the player automatically re-scales 1.85:1 content within the 2.35:1 aspect ratio – the process is seamless and the results are free of any scaling artefacts.
Performance score: 5/5
(Image credit: Future)
KALEIDESCAPE STRATO V review: Value
It’s a significant investment
There’s no direct competitor
The idea of value for money is always relative, and there’s no denying the Kaleidescape Strato V represents a significant investment. However, once purchased the ability to buy new movies months before they arrive on 4K disc in quality that’s at least as good, if not better, and without taking up shelf space is very appealing. This is especially true if you live in the United States, where the Movie Store library is genuinely impressive.
If on the other hand you’re the kind of person who prefers owning physical media, just to be on the safe side, and you don’t mind waiting for the disc to come out, then you could simply buy a media player and storage, rip your own discs and create a custom server for significantly less. The beauty of Kaleidescape’s unique ecosystem is that they do everything for you, so all you have to do is sit back and enjoy your favourite movies.
Value score: 5/5
KALEIDESCAPE STRATO V review: Should I buy it?
Buy it if…
You want the best video and audio quality: The larger file sizes offered by Kaleidescape, along with bit rates up to 100Mbps, ensure that 4K and HDR10/Dolby Vision performance is the best of any device on the market.
You want a slick and intuitive user interface: The Strato V’s intuitive user interface and high-powered processing ensure that downloading and watching content is a seamless, responsive and enjoyable experience.
You want early access to the latest movies: In the US in particular the Movie Store offers films months before they are released on UHD disc, and there are even 4K titles available that aren’t currently on physical media.View Deal
Don't buy it if…
You want to collect physical media: Kaleidescape’s system is based on a download model with titles accessed from an online account and stored on built-in drives. If you prefer physically owning content, discs are still your best bet.
You want to rip your disc collection: The cataloguing feature aside, the Strato V is designed to access Kaleidescape’s Movie Store and download content. if you want to rip discs you’re better off buying a media player and storage.
You want a streaming service: This is not a subscription streaming service like Netflix. Instead, you buy titles as very large files that, depending on your internet, can take a long time to download, but the picture and sound quality is significantly better.View Deal
(Image credit: Future)
How I tested the KALEIDESCAPE STRATO V
Reviewed in a dedicated home cinema
Video evaluated using 4K, HDR10 and Dolby Vision
Audio evaluated using Dolby Atmos and DTS:X
I tested the Kaleidescape Strato V in my reference home cinema where the video is handled by a JVC DLA-NZ900 projector, and the audio is configured in a 9.4.6-channel configuration using a Trinnov Altitude16 AV processor and 16-channel power amplifier.
I extensively tested 4K and HDR10 video, along with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X lossless spatial audio in the home cinema, although for completeness I also used an LG G4 OLED TV in my living room to test the Kaleidescape Strato V’s Dolby Vision capabilities.
Kaleidescape was kind enough to include a number of films pre-loaded, as well as more in the account, along with a credit for additional purchases and rentals. This provided me with an opportunity to test every aspect of the store and overall ecosystem.
It seems something of an oxymoron that bird feeder cameras are another way that technology is helping us become one with nature, but that is what the Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo does. The previous generation Netvue Birdfy Feeder AI camera already features in our round-up of the best bird feeder cameras, but the latest Birdfy camera takes the technology to a whole new level.
The premise of the device is simple; it is a bird feeder with a weatherproof Wi-Fi-enabled camera in the centre. Think of the camera in much the same way as a smart security camera, like a Amazon Blink or Ring Camera, in that it sends you an alert every time it detects motion. In this case that motion comes in the form of a bird (or squirrel, or possibly even a bear depending on your location). Using AI technology, the Birdfy app will even identify the bird for you and create a list of visitors to your feeder that day.
The new version of the Birdfy Feeder brings enhanced cameras. The primary camera now houses two camera units. The first is a wide-angle camera that shows the entire perch, whilst the second offers a closer view and is motorized to pan and track any detected bird. You can even view the footage from either camera through a live feed in the app.
(Image credit: Future)
In addition to the primary dual-camera unit, the Feeder 2 Duo has a second camera unit, which mounts onto the side of the feeder and offers a wide angle side view of whatever bird has landed. This second camera is great for larger birds, or if you simply want to edit between two different camera angles.
The image quality of the secondary Feeder 2 Duo camera isn't quite as good as the main one, and if you don't need it then the main camera alone can be purchased as the Birdfy Feeder 2 Pro instead. The second camera suffers a little from chromatic aberration, which can affect the quality, but this is all relative to the fact it is really a camera meant for monitoring rather than providing photographic excellence.
Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo: price and availability
$419.99 / £379.99 / AU$665 - but regularly on offer
There are also Birdfy Feeder 2 and Feeder 2 Pro options
The Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo is the most advanced bird feeder camera system on the market, with two camera units hosting three cameras. However, it's also the priciest at $419.99 / £379.99 / AU$665 on the Birdfy site, prohibitively so for some people. Thankfully, there are different options using the same feeder but with different camera combinations.
The first is the Birdfy Feeder 2 which costs $259.99 / £204.99. Its one camera is the secondary camera mentioned throughout the Feeder 2 Duo on test. This kit doesn't include the solar panel, which can be purchased separately for $29.99 /£22.99. It also doesn't include AI recognition, which can be purchased separately, if wanted, through the Birdfy app.
Then there is the Birdfy Feeder 2 Pro. This uses the same improved main dual-camera unit as the Feeder 2 Duo on test, which includes the tracking camera. It also includes a solar panel and can be purchased without the AI subscription (which can be added in the app) for $279.99 / £249.99, or with a lifetime AI subscription for $299.99 / £279.99.
Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo: specs
Birdfy Feeder 2 Pro: design
Two camera units, with the main unit being an improved dual-camera setup
Multiple ways to mount
Wi-Fi connection, plus solid battery life further expanded with a solar panel
Setting up the whole unit took me less than 10 minutes. The only construction needed was mounting the cameras, including screwing on a small arm for the secondary camera. The cameras themselves can be fixed in to position using thumb screws.
My only disappointment with the design is that the new secondary side camera can only be positioned on one side because the mounting arm is set at an angle. Try mounting it on the other side, where there are mounting threads and the camera isn't angled at the perch correctly. Hopefully, Birdfy will come up with a solution, as it seems like an easy fix.
The feeder is mounted to a quick-release plate, which can be screwed to a wall or fence, or it can be fixed to a strap and fixed around a tree trunk or post. I opted to put it around a tree trunk (see below), with the whole installation taking a matter of minutes. As I write this, the feeder has securely been fixed in the tree for over two months in all sorts of weather and with birds and squirrels using it almost hourly.
(Image credit: Future)
The camera connection is simple, and via the app, the cameras can connect to your home Wi-Fi system. My feeder is around 20ft / 6m from the rear of my house and probably another 5ft / 2m from where the nearest Wi-Fi router is connected , and both cameras maintained a stable connection without any dropouts.
Both cameras feature an internal battery that can be charged via a USB-C port, and the battery life is respectable. How long the battery lasts depends on how active the cameras, for example, how many birds land on the feeder, whether you use the built-in light at nighttime and whether you try to scare off unwanted visitors using the alarm. Generally, though, I have found that a couple of weeks passes before the battery dies, at which point they need to be taken down and charged.
Additionally to solid battery life, the Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo also comes with a solar panel which has two USB-C ports on it, enabling you to power both cameras continuously, hopefully without the need to ever bring them in for charging.
The solar panel has a screw-on mount to attach to a wall or fence or a flexible mount to wrap around a tree branch or similar. Wherever you position it, you will of course want to maximize the amount of light reaching it for the best possible performance.
I have used a similar solar panel with the original Birdy feeder camera, and in over 18 months I haven't once had to charge the camera, and its battery rarely drops below 80%. Depending on where you live, you'll need to be smart where you position the feeder and panel in the garden during winter when sunlight hours can significantly drop, assuming you don't want to have to charge the batteries manually.
(Image credit: Future)
As I have found with every bird feeder camera I have tested, none of them are particularly squirrel-proof, and where there is birdseed, a squirrel will try and get to the last of it, even if that means breaking the feeder.
After a couple of weeks of use, squirrels broke some of the plastic in the feeder to get to the last few remaining seeds (see above). The damage doesn't affect its use at all, and to be honest, it is just something you have to accept will happen if you have larger mammals trying to get to a food source.
Sadly, the lights and alarm did little to deter the squirrels. However, screaming into my phone, which then played the audio through the Birdfy camera's built-in microphone, was successful, albeit not a permanent solution. I also got some funny looks when doing this out in public!
Overall, I have enjoyed having the Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo in my garden and seeing various birds visiting. The new camera system is a great way to see the birds up close, and the primary camera's image quality seems to be an improvement over the predecessor, particularly the addition of the close-up camera. The secondary camera is a nice add-on, but I wish it could be mounted on the opposite side; for me, it would produce a nicer image where it isn't directly in the sun's light.
Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo: performance
The Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo is a two-camera unit setup with three individual cameras. I couldn't find the exact specifications for the camera sensor. However, based on the still images and video resolution, it is fairly safe to say that the sensor is a generic smartphone sensor, most likely the same as used in security cameras made by Birdfy's parent brand, Netvue.
Although the resolution may not be huge, the cameras are designed for observation and sharing images on social media, not for creating large prints, so the size and quality of the images are perfectly acceptable.
The large-capacity batteries in each unit last for a week or two, but the solar panel included should always keep them charged.
The cameras are also IP65-rated for weatherproofing, and I can attest to this, having had the cameras outside in the pouring rain. I've also had the previous generation of the camera outside in hot and freezing conditions for over a year, and it is still fully working, and the battery is still holding its charge.
Video and photo samples
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(Image credit: Future)
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Should you buy the Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo?
(Image credit: Future)
Buy it if...
You want a great bit of garden tech
Garden tech can be underwhelming, but the Birdfy cameras can be connected to Amazon Alexa to do some neat things for security as well as watching wildlife on other devices such as TVs with Amazon Alexa built-in.
You love Birds and wildlife
This one is obvious, but if you love the wildlife in your garden, the Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo is great. You can collect the birds that have visited like they are Pokemon, and it is always great when you see something rare that you haven't seen before.
You want the best
The Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo is the most functional and advanced bird feeder camera system on the market.
Don't buy it if...
Megapixels matter most to you
Both cameras only output Full HD resolution footage. This isn't a problem, but if you're set on 4K, I'd hold back. It wouldn't surprise me if the next-generation cameras had this resolution.
You are on a budget
The Feeder 2 Duo is expensive, but if you want similar functionality, consider the standard Feeder 2 and Feeder 2 Pro options.
You want something squirrel-proof.
Having tested six bird feeder cameras I can attest that none are squirrel-proof... at least not yet.
How I tested the Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo
Mounted the feeder in a tree for 3 months
Connected to my home Wi-Fi
Monitored the birds visiting daily via the Birdfy app
I tested the Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo by mounting it in a tree that garden birds (and squirrels) regularly visit. The feeder was strapped to the tree, and the camera was set up using an iPhone and the Birdfy app.
I left the feeder up there for three months through all weather conditions. During that time, I monitored the birds visiting via the app in real-time and reviewed photos and videos that had been captured.
I have also looked at AI recognition and have seen and corrected a few mistakes. Hopefully, this will help improve bird recognition accuracy in the future.
Photoshop has long been our benchmark for what a photo-editing app should be capable of, and that doesn’t change with the 2024 edition. Whether you work with graphics or photographs, it’s a comprehensive solution for manipulating images in pretty much any way you can think of.
As we covered in our in-depth Adobe Photoshop CC 2023 review, the last edition of Photoshop introduced a range of significant AI-powered upgrades. Those included generative features for creating visual assets using simple text prompts, as well as object-selection and removal tools supercharged by AI.
The 2024 version of Photoshop is an evolution of last year’s release. Rather than introducing any groundbreaking features, it builds on the existing toolkit to offer users an even more polished, accessible and powerful editing app.
Adobe sticks with a proven interface, and Photoshop CC 2024 will feel familiar to anyone who's used an older version of the app in recent years. The useful Contextual Task Bar returns, now with enhanced support for the transform, shape and gradient tools. Nothing is dramatically different, and the app is all the better for it.
Chief among the updates is Adobe’s Firefly Image Model 3, which drives the generative AI tools in Photoshop CC 2024. The net gain here is more realistic and consistent AI imagery from text-based prompts. Photoshop’s AI is far from infallible, but its best output is significantly more believable and convincingly integrated when compared to Photoshop CC 2023.
New generative tools help in this regard. Generate Similar allows you to create further variations based on your favorite of three generated images, letting you get closer to a visual that fits. When you find one that does, the Enhance Detail option boosts detail in a generated image for better clarity.
It’s all very effectively executed. You’ll still encounter errant output, sometimes to a laughable degree, and an eagle-eyed inspection will still pick up inconsistencies and smudginess in the best of Photoshop’s efforts. But if you want to incorporate generative AI into your workflow, Photoshop CC 2024 has the most complete set of tools to let you do so.
That includes a new Selection Brush option, which allows you to more easily make selections using a hybrid of the brush and lasso tools, as well as an Adjustment Brush for selectively applying granular tweaks to parts of an image.
Further refining the formula is the Distraction Removal tool, which can automatically detect, select and paint out people and wires from your photos with remarkable effectiveness.
With more updates in the pipeline, including a Generative Workspace that’s currently available in Photoshop Beta, Photoshop continues to set the standard for photo-editing apps in 2024. Adobe’s payment model might not be popular with everyone, but we think a Creative Cloud subscription offers a lot of value.
If you need an all-in-one image-editing solution with the latest generative AI features implemented to genuinely useful effect, Photoshop CC 2024 is the app to beat.
Available as part of an Adobe Creative Cloud subscription
From $22.99 / £21.98 / AU$32.99 per month for the Photoshop plan
From $19.99 / £9.98 / AU$28.59 per month for the Photography plan
As with all Adobe apps, Photoshop is only available to use via a Creative Cloud subscription. There’s no option to buy a one-off license, so you’ll need to keep paying for this subscription to maintain your access. You can sign up for plans on a monthly or an annual basis, with significant savings offered if you pay for the full year up front.
Photoshop is also available as part of several Creative Cloud plans, including the All Apps bundle. You can also choose to take out a single-app subscription for Photoshop alone, but this isn’t actually the most cost-effective way to access the app. Strangely, you’re better off with the Photography plan, which combines Photoshop and Lightroom, together with 20GB of cloud storage
Adobe Photoshop CC 2024 review: Interface
(Image credit: Future)
Interface largely unchanged from Photoshop Creative Cloud 2023
Contextual Task Bar supports more shape, transform and gradient settings
Photoshop’s interface has undergone iterative refinements over the years, but it remains fundamentally familiar for anyone who’s used a version of Photoshop – or, indeed, any desktop photo editor – in the past. Tool shortcuts reside in a vertical column down the left-hand side, while panels on the right are where you’ll find layers, image adjustments and color controls. Granular settings for your chosen tool can be found in the options bar along the top of the workspace.
The interface is largely unchanged from Photoshop CC 2023. Seasoned users won’t notice any major changes, which is the kind of consistency that keeps people paying for a Creative Cloud subscription. It does also mean that the same learning curve is present in 2024, with a degree of tuition required to fully get to grips with everything that Photoshop has to offer. It’s not the most beginner-friendly photo editor, but that’s inevitable when you’re dealing with such a capable and comprehensive piece of software.
Returning in Photoshop CC 2024 is the Contextual Task Bar, which floats at the bottom of the workspace. It can also be dragged around, pinned in place or disabled if you don’t need its input. Wherever you place it, the Contextual Task Bar displays shortcuts relevant to your current task or selection, genuinely streamlining editing workflows.
The Contextual Task Bar has been improved for 2024 to support fill and stroke settings for shapes, rotate and flip tools when transforming objects, as well as the ability to change color, opacity, type, and presets when working with gradients. These aren’t groundbreaking additions, but they are genuinely useful refinements that contribute to a slicker user experience.
(Image credit: Adobe)
That user experience is going to evolve in future iterations, and you can get a preview of this by downloading the Photoshop Beta version through Creative Cloud. Choose Generative Workspace from the welcome screen and you’ll find a space where you can create visual assets from text prompts and browse through previously generated elements. You can have several prompts running simultaneously, and everything is saved to a timeline, which allows you to go back and add variables.
Photoshop’s Generative Workspace is not dissimilar to the interface used by some of the best AI image generators. In our experience, it adds a useful cataloging function to Photoshop’s AI toolkit, allowing you to easily generate, manage and build on a library of generated creative assets in real time.
Interface score: 4.5/5
Adobe Photoshop CC 2024 review: generative AI features
Generative features powered by Firefly Image Model 3 for greater realism
New Generate Similar feature lets you create more image variations
One of the most significant additions to Photoshop CC 2023 was its suite of generative tools, which use Adobe’s Firefly Image Model to drive AI-powered image generation. We covered the effectiveness of these features at length in our review of Photoshop 2023, and they return with even greater potential in 2024.
Generative Fill and Generative Expand are now driven by the latest version of Adobe’s Firefly Image Model. The tools themselves still function in the same way: Generative Fill creates AI imagery in a selected area based on a descriptive text prompt, which can include adding and removing objects, while Generative Expand allows you to increase the dimensions of an existing image using generated content.
(Image credit: Future)
What the upgrade means for Photoshop users is more realistic generated imagery, complete with enhanced control over detail and composition. This bears out in practice: while Photoshop’s generative tools aren’t perfect, results in the 2024 edition are consistently more believable. We encountered far fewer uncanny effects, particularly when text prompts included living creatures.
In our review of Photoshop CC 2023, we commented that the unreality of AI-generated imagery could be spotted fairly easily upon closer inspection, particularly when larger objects were added or generative adjustments were made to bigger areas of an image. These issues have been significantly improved in the 2024 version.
We still encountered smudging of detailed textures, as well as warped edges and occasional freakish shapes, particularly in mixed lighting. It also struggles with reflections. Certain prompts simply produce hilarious results, like when we tried to change a blue-sky background for a fiery one over a volcano. On the whole, though, we were very impressed with the realism of generated elements in Photoshop CC 2024.
(Image credit: Future)
What struck us is that when we compared the ‘best’ result from the same prompt in the 2023 and 2024 versions, we had to look much closer in the latest edition before spotting any telltale signs that AI was involved. Everything from shadows and tone to general detail is more consistent – and that’s particularly the case if you hover over the thumbnail of a generated variation in the Properties panel and hit the Enhance Detail icon, which boosts detail further.
The Generate Similar option also allows you to refine generated content by choosing the best variation and generating more iterations from it. Say you prompt Photoshop to create a red truck – it will give you three variations to begin with. Pick the one of these that best fits your vision, click the three dots icon on the Contextual Tool Bar and select Generate Similar. You’ll then get three more images based on that variation, allowing you to steer the AI model towards what’s in your mind’s eye.
Generative AI features score: 4.5/5
Adobe Photoshop CC 2024 review: selection
(Image credit: Future)
Selection Brush is a hybrid of Brush and Lasso tools
Photoshop already has some of the most powerful selection features of any photo editor, including the AI-driven Object Selection Tool and ‘select subject’ shortcut found on the Contextual Task Bar. While some tidying up is often still required when using these tools to mask off parts of an image, they can significantly accelerate workflow and, depending on the object you’re selecting, can sometimes automate it entirely.
Photoshop CC 2024 doesn’t introduce any groundbreaking selection features, but there are a few new and improved tools which enhance the existing offering. First is the enhanced Selection Brush Tool, which is designed to simplify the selection process for trackpad users. It’s really a combination of masking and lasso tools, executed in a more user-friendly way.
Choose the Selection Brush then simply paint over an area as you would when masking. You can adjust the brush hardness, opacity and color from the toolbar, as well as toggling between add and subtract modes to amend your selection. Switch to another tool and your selection will change from a pink overlay to a classic ‘marching ants’ outline, as if you’ve lassoed your way around the object. Both visually and practically, it’s an effective change that’s genuinely useful.
(Image credit: Future)
Joining it is the Adjustment Brush tool, which allows you to apply non-destructive edits to specific areas of an image. Select the tool, then use the Contextual Task Bar to select the kind of adjustment you want to make. You can then paint over part of your image or select ‘Apply to object.’ You can change the hardness and size of the brush, as well as subtracting from your selection. You can then make granular changes to that new adjustment layer in the adjustments panel.
Again, this isn’t a groundbreaking feature. Instead, it’s one more way in which Adobe is making Photoshop more intuitive and accessible, through new applications of existing editing mechanics. While seasoned users may prefer to stick with traditional selection and application techniques, we think these brush tools tools will be easier for beginners to grasp. The good thing about Photoshop is that the choice is yours.
Selection score: 5/5
Adobe Photoshop CC 2024: Removal tools
(Image credit: Future)
Distraction Removal automatically takes away distracting elements
Generate Background Tool can simulate photorealistic settings
We talked extensively about the effectiveness of the Remove Tool in our review of Photoshop CC 2023. In short, it’s a powerful feature that’s able to make unwanted elements disappear from your images in just a few clicks. Paint over anything in your image that you want gone and Photoshop will replace it with AI-generated pixels which, more often than not, blend effortlessly into the existing scene as if the original element was never there.
This feature returns in Photoshop CC 2024, with added functionality. Rather than manually painting over unwanted wires and people in your image, you can now use the Distraction Removal Tool to detect and remove them with a couple of clicks.
Select the Remove Tool from the sidebar, then select ‘Find distractions’ from the toolbar at the top. Here you can select ‘Wires and cables’ or ‘People’. Choose the former and Photoshop will try to remove all telephone and power lines from a scene. Select the latter and it will highlight all the people it can find, giving you the option to deselect any that you want to keep in the image.
(Image credit: Future)
When it works, it’s an impressive feature that genuinely saves time. We found it incredibly effective for removing wires and cables, even where these run across different backgrounds. For example, in an image in which multiple cables were running away from the camera, in front of several buildings and the sky, every single wire was seamlessly removed, and it wasn’t possible to trace where they’d been.
People selection is also powerful. Even out-of-focus figures in the background were picked up by the tool, and it was also able to detect people walking side-on to and away from the camera, only once missing someone with their back turned. The effectiveness of the actual removal depends on the given scene, with complex textures resulting in a few floating faces. Nevertheless, it’s a useful and convincing enhancement to Photoshop's object removal arsenal.
Firefly improvements are also evident when using the Generate Background Tool. Background removal was another big introduction in Photoshop CC 2023. After removing a background, the Generate Background tool lets you swap in a completely different setting which matches the position and lighting of the subject. Once again, it isn’t faultless by any means, but in our tests we did find it a particularly effective shortcut for changing the background of product shots and flatlay photography.
Removal tools score: 4.5/5
Should you buy Adobe Photoshop CC 2024?
Buy it if...
You want the latest generative AI tools Powered by Firefly Image Model 3, the generative tools in Photoshop CC 2024 are at the cutting edge of what AI can do, creating realistic visuals from short text prompts.
You want powerful removal tools Complementing the Remove and Background Removal tools, Photoshop’s new Distraction Removal feature uses AI to instantly and seamlessly remove unnecessary elements from your compositions, as if they were never there.
You want a complete image editor From adjustment presets to comprehensive layer tools, Photoshop is the most complete image editor available. Whether you’re working with graphics or photographs, Photoshop is the ultimate all-in-one app.
Don't buy it if...
You like to own your apps outright As with all Creative Cloud apps, Photoshop is only available as part of a subscription, and you’ll need to keep paying to maintain access to the software. If you prefer to pay a one-off fee you’ll need to look elsewhere.
You only need to make basic edits Photoshop is an incredibly powerful app with a learning curve and price tag to match. If you only want to make simple adjustments to your images, there are cheaper and easier-to-use software options out there.
You don’t have a modern computer Because of its powerful feature set, Photoshop demands a pretty significant amount of computer processing power. Even some relatively recent models don’t officially meet the spec benchmark specified by Adobe, so do check that your hardware is up to the task.
Adobe Photoshop CC 2024: Also consider
Serif Affinity Photo 2022 It might not have the cutting-edge features of Photoshop, but if you want a solid set of photo-editing features at a very fair price Affinity Photo is a great desktop alternative that’s available for a one-off fee. Read our Serif Affinity Photo 2022 review.
Corel PaintShop Pro 2023 A comprehensive image editor with a generous set of tools to rival Photoshop's, PaintShop Pro is a reasonably priced option to consider if you don’t need the generative AI features offered by Adobe’s app. Read our Corel PaintShop Pro 2023 review.
How I tested Adobe Photoshop CC 2024
(Image credit: Future)
I tested it for more than three months
I used it as my primary image-editing app
I created a range visuals in different styles
As I regularly edit images for work, Photoshop was already an important part of my visual toolkit. Having updated the app to version 26, I continued to use it as my primary editing tool for both photo and graphics work. Because I’m familiar with the software’s interface and capabilities, I was able to focus on the new features and compare these to previous versions.
I spent a lot of time exploring the capabilities of Firefly Image Model 3. This included making adjustments to a range of photos, as well as removing objects, to see how Photoshop’s updated generative tools could streamline my workflow. I also tested these extensively with a wide range of text prompts, to assess how realistically and seamlessly Photoshop was able to integrated generated content into compositions.
Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2 review: two-minute review
If you’re looking for a sleek, stylish portable Bluetooth speaker, you’ll struggle to find a better-looking alternative than the Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2. This small speaker assumes a compact, curved form with a durable rubber body and attractive metallic-looking grille. But it’s more than just a pretty face.
The Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2 plates up impressively powerful audio for its size, with commendable levels of detail and surprisingly good instrument separation. As a result, you get a layered, clear listening experience that will keep you tuned into your favorite tracks for hours on end. Sound quality can get a touch harsh and unstable at top volumes, but for the vast majority of the time, it steers well clear of tinniness and distortion.
Audio in the treble is communicated with delicacy and finesse, with mids also sounding as rich as you’d hope to hear from some of the best Bluetooth speakers in this size and weight class. Bass – although not delivering as much impact as a large-sized party speaker – has solid depth and dynamism too. You can, unlike its original gen predecessor, alter EQ settings on the Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2. Just download the Bose app and switch things up to your liking. However, there is a disappointing lack of presets (four that increase or reduce either bass or treble), so you’ll likely need to manually adjust audio with the app’s three-band equaliser.
But you don’t only get a strong audio performance from the SoundLink Flex Gen 2, you also get excellent build quality and durability. This Bluetooth speaker has the IP67 dustproof and waterproof rating, meaning it can survive being dunked under a meter of water for half an hour. Pretty impressive. On top of that, it has a durable exterior, discreet feet that keep it standing and a customizable shortcut button, which I personally used to activate my voice assistant. Design-wise, this really is the full-package.
And even in the features department, the SoundLink Flex Gen 2 has a solid amount to work with. Of course, the Bose app opens up a lot of this, including the aforementioned EQ settings and shortcut button customization. But it also enables you to view devices connected via multi-point, change auto-power off time and even name the speaker from a list of random names (mine was Pint Size Party). And like its first generation ancestor, the SoundLink Flex Gen 2 harnesses PositionIQ tech, which optimizes audio output depending on the speaker’s orientation.
The re-utilization of PositionIQ is welcome, but it does hammer home something undeniable about the SoundLink Flex Gen 2. It’s very similar to the original Bose SoundLink Flex. Not only does it look almost identical, but it also has a like-for-like sound profile. Perhaps most frustratingly, the newer variant has the same battery life – just 12 hours – which is a little underwhelming when you consider recently-released rivals, like the Beats Pill, offer a much longer playtime.
Having said that, the addition of EQ options and a more up-to-date Bluetooth version is a noticeable improvement. Is it worth upgrading for owners of the original SoundLink Flex? Perhaps not. But if you want a new Bluetooth speaker, this certainly stands on its own four feet as a very strong option. So, if you’re new to the SoundLink Flex line and want a great-sounding portable speaker for all environments, I’d recommend this one. Otherwise, you may be better served by an alternative in our guide to the best waterproof speakers.
(Image credit: Future)
Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2 review: price and release date
$149 / £149.95 / AU$249.95
Already appeared on sale
Launched in September 2024
The Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2 is a mid-priced option in the portable Bluetooth speaker market. It’s available in a nice range of colors, including: Alpine Sage (green); Black; Sandstone (brown); and my personal favorite, Blue Dusk.
It has a list price of $149 / £149.95 / AU$249.95, although I’ve already seen it available for $119 / £119 (about AU$180). Given it only launched in September 2024, that’s quite an enticing price – though it still has hot competition. Rivals like the JBL Flip 6, for instance, have been discounted to as little as $79 / £79 on Amazon.
(Image credit: Future)
Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2 review: specs
Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2 review: features
Companion app compatibility
Speaker pairing for stereo mode
PositionIQ tech
Perhaps the biggest upgrade the SoundLink Flex Gen 2 has over its predecessor is that it actually has a companion app. It’s not got a ton of fancy features, but it’s pretty much a must-have for modern Bluetooth speakers in my view – and this is a pretty slick, clean-looking app too.
So, let's start with the most important function – EQ settings. These were absent last time, and although it’s nice to have some customizability, they’re actually pretty disappointing. There’s a grand total of four presets: Bass Boost; Bass Reducer; Treble Boost; and Treble Reducer. Wow, really? Sure, you can manually adjust EQ across three bands (Bass, Mids, Treble), but I would’ve preferred to see more depth here – maybe some genre-specific presets, for instance.
So what else does the app have? Firstly, it has a Source option, to toggle Multi-point – a handy feature – on or off and view connected devices. It also has an option to change the function of the Shortcut button to Speaker Link (to pair Bose speakers), Voice Assistant or Spotify Resume – pretty neat. These are nice additions in my view, making for a decently well-rounded in-app experience – even if EQ options are a bit lacking.
But there’s more: the SoundLink Flex Gen 2 continues the use of PositionIQ. This essentially provides positional compensation, meaning that the speaker can optimize audio output depending on its placement and orientation – pretty cool for a small Bluetooth speaker like this that’s made for use in a range of environments. In addition, you can pair this speaker with another in order to access Stereo audio output – but frustratingly, this is locked to Gen 2 models alone. I can’t help but think that backwards compatibility with the original model would’ve been a real incentive for owners to opt for the upgrade, so this feels like a bit of a missed opportunity.
Although this speaker has a USB-C port, you’re not able to use this for music output. There’s also no 3.5mm port, so it’s going to be wireless play only, guys. For me, this isn’t an issue, but the option would be a nice touch.
Finally, this speaker offers fairly average battery life. It can deliver approximately 12 hours of playtime with music at around 50% volume – the same as its predecessor and similarly-price competitors like the JBL Flip 6. Some may feel that simply matching its predecessor isn’t enough and what’s more, there are a lot of similarly-sized Bluetooth speakers that can offer superior numbers. Just look at the Beats Pill, for instance, which supplies an awesome 24 hours of playtime.
Features score: 3.5/5
(Image credit: Future)
Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2 review: sound quality
Balanced, punchy sound
Impressive dynamism and instrument separation
Bass may be a little thin for some
On the SoundLink Flex Gen 2’s box, Bose says that “you’ve never had a sidekick that sounds this good”. And for many, that may well be true – this speaker does offer balanced, pleasingly nuanced audio. But despite its talents, I would argue that audio isn’t quite S-tier quality.
One reason for this is that music can be a little rough around the edges at high volumes. When tuning into As If Waltz by Geordie Greep, I felt that the track sounded almost compressed at 90%-100%, with treble a touch abrasive and vocals lacking the crisp clarity I heard at lower volume levels. This was an issue we also identified in our review on the SoundLink Flex Gen 2’s predecessor, but like that model, volume can climb surprisingly high for the speaker’s size, so if you’re not maxing out loudness, this likely won’t affect you.
Additionally, some may find that bass isn’t quite as impactful as they’d like, especially for larger rooms or more open spaces. Although bass is responsive and sharp, it can be a touch thin, especially out of the box. You can remedy this, in part, by upping bass levels in the Bose app, just don’t expect the boom of a larger party speaker. When listening to The Boys Are Back in Town by Yung Gravy, I found that the imposing, in-your-face low-end felt a little constricted. A significant factor here is, of course, the SoundLink Flex Gen 2’s size – it’s no beefy Boombox. If your main focus is ground-shaking low-frequency audio, you might want to consider a larger option, like the Earfun UBoom X or Bose SoundLink Max, for instance.
But anyway, that’s enough moaning. I want to be clear, the Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2 does, in fact, sound very good and it’s going to offer a significant sonic step-up from almost any budget portable speaker. Why? Well there are a few key reasons. First of all, instrument separation is pretty strong. When playing St. Thomas by Sonny Rollins, the warm double bass, forward-sounding sax, sporadic percussion and cool keys all occupied surprisingly separate spaces, combining for a satisfying listen.
On top of that, instrumental and vocal elements sound natural and detailed. For instance, the drum solo in St. Thomas sounded authentic with even the weight of each drum hit sounding discernible and true to life. The rainfall at the start of Rains again by Solji also maintained its intended sound, without coming through like static or a muffled, crackling mess. Vocals also had a breathy, delicate quality that many cheap alternatives miss out on.
I’ll circle back to bass as well. As I mentioned earlier, it’s not exactly thunderous, but it does have solid depth and a respectable bite for a small speaker. I listened to I Want You by Moloko on both the Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2 and a budget option – the Tribit Stormbox 2 – to identify the key benefits of splashing some extra cash. And bass clarity was one of the key improvements. With the Bose speaker, bass was neatly separated and had a more accurate tone than Tribit’s alternative – which served up a slightly muddied, muffled sound in comparison.
Another song with a lot of low-end emphasis – Black Eye by Allie X – produced similar results. The depth of the drum machine was replicated with far more finesse using Bose’s speakers, with the Tribit offering a more dulled sound. The dynamism of the bass connecting up to the lower mids was also far more impressive with the SoundLink Flex Gen 2, so if you’re willing to spend more on a Bluetooth speaker, you’ll certainly hear the difference, that much is certain.
Sound quality score: 4/5
(Image credit: Future)
Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2 review: design
IP67 waterproof and dustproof rating
Attractive look with classy color options
Simple, well-sized button controls
So perhaps unsurprisingly, I’d argue that the Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2’s design is actually its standout aspect. It looks very similar – no, almost identical – to its predecessor, but I’m not complaining; it was a very nice-looking model.
This speaker has smooth, curved corners, a rubbery body and beautifully finished speaker grille. It’s available in a really nice set of colors too. These aren’t eye-poppingly vibrant, more-so classy and refined. The unit I reviewed came in Blue Dusk – a really beautiful medium-blue color that is neither boring or overbearing. It’s oriented to sit lengthways too and has four subtle bumps that act as a base for the speaker to stand on.
And that ties into a fantastic aspect of the SoundLink Flex Gen 2 – it’s equally as practical as it is pretty. Firstly, it has a pretty durable design, in part thanks to its rubber outer casing, which means it should be fine to throw around (to an extent) and capable of taking a few falls. It also has the IP67 dustproof and waterproof rating, meaning it won’t succumb to an untimely death, even when submerged under a meter of water for up to 30 minutes. It also has a handy fabric tab that you can use to attach the speaker to a bag or belt.
Finally, the SoundLink Flex Gen 2 has a solid set of onboard controls. You get power, Bluetooth, shortcut, volume up/down and play/pause buttons. All of these are perfectly sized and are super clear – there’s no second-guessing what does what. There is, however, a user manual and tips section in the Bose app, so you’ll be able to get the best out of your speaker. Really, there’s nothing I didn’t like about the SoundLink Flex Gen 2’s design – it’s a true thing of beauty – but it doesn’t skimp on ease-of-use or durability either.
Design score: 5/5
(Image credit: Future)
Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2 review: value
Not the cheapest speaker out there
But already available on sale
Clear quality improvement over budget options, too
When it comes to value, the Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2 finds what I’d call a happy medium. The bottom line is, this isn’t a cheap, budget product – but it’s not a top-of-the range, premium pick either.
And I’d argue that the quality you get here matches that price profile nicely. Audio quality – although not mind-blowing – is very good and skips on the muddy, constricted sound you get from a lot of budget options. But you also get a stunning design and a decent enough feature-set to boot, which really help to justify the price tag.
You can already get this bad boy on sale too. I headed over to Amazon in the US and the UK and spotted this thing on discount, so you won’t have to spend a lot more than $120 / £120 if you’re savvy. That’s really not too bad given the quality on show – and given it’s predecessor was only a touch less. So again, it may not be the ultimate budget-friendly pick, but the SoundLink Flex Gen 2 still earns its keep.
Value score: 4/5
(Image credit: Future)
Should I buy the Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2?
Buy it if...
You want a step-up from budget audio quality If you’re fed up of the restricted, muddy sound a lot of budget options produce, the Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2 could be the step-up you’ve been looking for. Audio quality isn’t quite top-of-the-range, but instrument separation is solid, sound is clear and the general balance here is strong.
You’re all about style This speaker is undoubtedly a sleek, elegant-looking one. Given it also comes in a range of fresh, albeit not so vibrant colors, you’ll likely love what’s on show here. It’s compact and portable too, so you get practicality as well as good looks. Everyone’s a winner, really.
Don't buy it if...
You’re on a tight budget This speaker isn’t ideal if you’re working with a limited budget – it’s been on sale a few times, but it’s still never exactly been cheap. And there are so many quality, low-cost Bluetooth speakers to choose from. For instance, the super-impressive (yet admittedly smaller) JBL Clip 5 has a list price of just $79.95 / £59.99 / AU$89.95, but it’s regularly on-sale for less.
You want ground-shaking bass If you’re someone that wants incredible low-end power, the Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2 might not be for you. Sure, bass is clean and output is decently meaty given its size, but if you really want to bring the boom, I’d recommend choosing one of the best party speakers instead. I’d particularly single out the JBL Charge 5, which has great bass and is only a bit larger.
Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2 review: also consider
JBL Flip 6 The JBL Flip 6 is a strong mid-range Bluetooth speaker that has a lot in common with the Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2. It’s got an IP67 waterproof rating, offers up to 12 hours of battery life and even weighs about the same. What’s more, it has an outdoorsy, rugged design and distinctly powerful bass. There’s no voice assistant and similarly to this Bose speaker, audio can be a touch edgy at top-volumes, but it’s still a great option if you’re in the market for a portable speaker. Read our full JBL Flip 6 review.
Sonos Roam 2 We rate the excellent Sonos Roam 2 as our top overall pick for the best Bluetooth speaker. Why? Well, you get rich, powerful audio, Wi-Fi connectivity alongside Bluetooth 5.3 compatibility and a sleek, highly portable design. You don’t get quite as much battery life as the Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2 and it’s a touch more expensive – but it may well be worth those sacrifices. Read our full Sonos Roam 2 review.
Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2 review: how I tested
(Image credit: Future)
Tested for one week
Predominantly used at the Future Labs music testing space
Mainly tested using Tidal on FiiO M11S
I spent hours listening to music on the Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2, testing it across various EQ modes and volume levels. I predominantly used the speaker in our music testing room at Future Labs to best judge audio quality and validate battery life claims.
When listening to tunes, I predominantly tapped into Tidal on the Fiio M11S hi-res music player. I streamed tracks from our carefully curated TechRadar reference playlist as well as a bunch of songs from my personal library. This included songs with deep bass, high-pitched vocals, and complexly layered mixes, enabling me to hear the speaker’s full range capabilities and dynamism across different frequencies. I also used the Tribit Stormbox 2 to closely assess the improvements this Bose speaker can offer over a more budget model.
Every Mini PC is trying to make its mark, and now the focus seems to be on high-powered machines with mass appeal. The GMKtec NUC Box K8 Plus is an interesting option, with a spec sheet that pitches it at the mid to higher end of this style of machine. Inside, the AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS CPU and AMD Radeon 780M graphics provide ample processing and graphical power to handle day-to-day tasks, as well as a decent level of creative work such as high-resolution photo and video editing. That combination will also see you through mid-level gaming, although a few settings may need slight reductions.
However, then you come to the build quality. The main metal casing, finished in matte black, initially gives you a good impression of the machine and the high-quality. However, the transparent twist off top adds little to the design, and if anything cheapens and otherwise stylish mini PC. What this design does allow, however, is easy access to the inside in case you need to upgrade the RAM or SSD.
The outside of the machine is similarly designed with ease of use and functionality at its heart, featuring plenty of ports and even the Oculink PCIe 4.0 on the front, which enables you to plug in an eGPU to boost the graphics processing and overall performance of the machine. This makes the NUC Box K8 Plus a very different proposition from many of the best mini PCs we've reviewed and, at the price, makes it an absolute bargain. What GMKtec has done is balance absolute performance with cost, resulting in a mediocre-looking machine, due to that transparent top, that can actually hold its own against machines almost double its price.
GMKtec Nucbox K8 Plus: Price and availability
How much does it cost? $424.97
When is it out? Now
Where can you get it? Widely available
TheGMKtec Nucbox K8 Plus is widely available and can be purchased directly from the GMKtec for £424.97
Value: 5 / 5
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
GMKtec Nucbox K8 Plus: Specs
GMKtec Nucbox K8 Plus: Design
The design of the NUC Box K8 Plus is understated, featuring the usual compact, box-like form that makes it easy to position on a desk or take with you when you need something small and portable, that has more ports and expansion options than your average laptop.
The build quality is solid, with a metal casing that gives the machine a premium feel. The transparent top, which cheapens the design, covers the large Hyper Ice Chamber 2.0 cooling system—essentially a large top and bottom fan with a copper base—that helps to keep heat in check. The transparent top is positioned slightly above the body of the machine to enable airflow. While the dark grey transparency could add to the aesthetics, it seems to lack impact here.
In terms of size, this Mini PC is about average, measuring 127 mm x 132 mm x 58 mm and weighing 640g. This compact size makes it easy to position on your desk or mount using the included VESA mount. Its weight and dimensions also make it perfectly portable for users who need a machine on the go and makes it a great Van life option.
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
The rest of the machine is neatly laid out. At the back, you'll find a good range of ports, including 2 x USB 2.0, HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 2.1, 2 x RJ45 2.5G, USB4.0 Type-C, and a Kensington Lock for security. Below these ports is additional venting, highlighting GMKtec's focus on effective cooling. More vents appear on either side of the machine, further aiding airflow.
At the front, there's the signature green GMKtec power button, an Oculink PCIe 4.0, USB4.0 Type-C, 2 x USB3.2, and a 3.5mm audio-out for headphones. The most impressive design feature is the inclusion of the Oculink display port. While this might not be the most intuitive display connector out there, the port does offers performance and reliability that few other connectors can match, making it perfect for those working with 4K or 8K video or high end gaming where the connection of a powerful eGPU can be used.
Design: 4 / 5
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
GMKtec Nucbox K8 Plus: Features
Mini PCs have recently leapt forward in performance and features, and again here, the GMKtec NUC Box K8 follows this recent trend with an AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS CPU with 8 cores, 16 threads, 54W TDP, 16MB L3 Cache and 4nm processor tech. This is coupled with AMD Radeon 780M graphics which seems to be the choice for high performance mini PCs. While this mini PC is priced in the mid-range, the performance, components and features all seem to hit well above its weight. The CPU and GPU are joined by PCIe 4.0 M.2 2280 SSD, and a nice feature here is that there are dual slots, which will enable you to maximise the internal storage with the ultrafast SSDs to a maximum of 8TB, 4TB in each. Alongside the ROM is a DDR5 5600MHz SO-DIMM dual channel, which means that you could potentially increase the RAM to 96GB, which is again impressive for a small machine. Our review sample came equipped with a 1TB SSD and 32GB of RAM.
One of the big features of the machine is the ability to connect up to four displays, two from the USB4.0 ports and one each from the HDMI 2.1 and DP (2.1). While this would have been unusual in the past, it's a feature that is becoming progressively more common. Although, it's worth noting that while three of the ports are at the back of the machine, the fourth is the USB4.0 on the front.
Connectivity for the machine is a big feature, with Intel i226V dual 2.5G LAN ports, WiFi 6, and Bluetooth 5.2 offering plenty of connection options for both networks and gaming.
One of the issues with all this power in a small box is inevitably heat, and here is the GMKtec Hyper Ice Chamber 2.0, which is all part of the cooling system. This sees a mini fan at the top which vents air under the twist top and draws heat away from the main components, then under the main board is a larger cooling fan with a heat sink that pulls heat away from the base of the motherboard and the CPU and GPU. This cooling is essential for the smooth running of these compact machines.
When it comes to power draw, the small machine can actually be quite power-hungry in comparison with some of the latest mini PCs. However, you do have the option to adjust the power draw with different performance settings, with the sleep mode consuming 35W, compared with full performance at 70W. This makes it a great solution if you need to manage your power consumption out in the field, and it will enable you to balance computer use with performance.
If you're looking for a machine for gaming or higher-end video work, then the addition of the Oculink port is really exciting. The nature of the port means that it's more complex to use than a standard HDMI, DP or USB4.0, but the quality of the connection, as well as its versatility, is a step up. To make use of the port, however, you will need the correct type of eGPU, and while these are less common than your standard eGPUs, they are generally cheaper and easy enough to set up.
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
Features: 5 / 5
GMKtec Nucbox K8 Plus: Performance
Considering this is a mid-range mini PC with the AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS CPU, the performance of this small machine is outstanding. When the demands on the machine increase, such as rendering 4K video in DaVinci Resolve, you can hear the fans fire up, and things start to slow slightly. However, considering how much this mini PC costs, the performance is exceptionally well-balanced and pretty close to far more expensive models.
Starting with a few easy tests, the Microsoft Office suite was loaded, and documents from Word and Excel were opened, edited, and saved. The power of this PC is more than enough to handle large multi-sheet spreadsheets with calculations without issue. Likewise, opening large Word documents as well as working on PowerPoint presentations was well within its abilities. The benchmark Windows Experience score of 8.2 mirrors the smooth use of the machine for day-to-day admin.
Digging a bit deeper into the higher-end performance and starting with the SSD: as standard, there's just one SSD installed used for the OS and base storage, and a second SSD can be added. Checking the results of the SSD and CrystalDiskMark results in scores of 5190.23MB/s for read and 4741.77MB/s for write, which demonstrate the speed at which data is accessed from the drives and made available to the applications. In DaVinci Resolve, this presented itself with fast loading times for video within the timeline along with fast render speeds, especially when converting MXF video ready for use within the application. This speed from the SSDs was apparent throughout the test.
Taking a look at the processing power, we noticed that in applications for editing video and images, the machine handled higher-resolution files with relative ease. In Photoshop, the machine didn't have an issue with applying brushes and filters as being able to handling multi-layer files. Likewise, all options in Lightroom ran smoothly. In DaVinci, scrubbing through 4K footage and editing it on the timeline was again surprisingly smooth for edits up to 10 minutes without too many graphics, text, or effects applied. When it came to more complex tasks such as applying effects and rendering videos, the multi-threads worked well, and again, while there is a bit of a wait for renders, the speeds are surprisingly fast considering the pricing of the machine.
Switching to gaming to push the abilities of the GPU, the results were interesting. In Hogwarts Legacy, with the resolution set to 1080p and medium-to-high settings, the gameplay was excellent with steady frame rates, although ray tracing was reduced. In Cyberpunk 2077, this was also playable at 1080p with low-to-medium settings without ray tracing. Finally, in Tekken 8, again at 1080p and high settings, smooth frame rates and excellent gameplay were achieved. Increasing the resolution of these games to 4K showed the system beginning to struggle. Hogwarts Legacy required all settings to be reduced, and the same was true for Cyberpunk 2077 However, both games were still very playable, while Tekken 8 ran without issue!
Performance: 5 / 5
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
GMKtec Nucbox K8 Plus: Final verdict
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
The performance of the NUC Box K8 Plus for general day-to-day tasks is exceptional, handling Microsoft Office apps effortlessly, as well as browsing the internet and most other office-based applications. Taking a look at applications that require a little more processing power, the compact K8 Plus was able to handle the additional load from creative application with ease. Editing in DaVinci Resolve or Photoshop proved just how powerful this machine is. As long as you're sensible about its abilities, it packs in more than enough power for everyday editing of short-form high-resolution video. However, some render times may take a while.
When used for gaming, the performance is impressive again, with all games tested running well at 1080p and only starting to struggle as the resolution was boosted to 4K and the settings increased.
Overall, considering the price, the NUC Box K8 Plus is an exceptional machine with the bonus that the USB4.0 and Oculink ports enable a huge amount of flexibility when it comes to the upgradability of this machine.
Should I buy a GMKtec Nucbox K8 Plus?
Buy it if...
You want a machine you can upgrade
This is one of a new breed of machines that enables not just the standard upgrades of ROM and RAM but also connected devices such as eGPUs and hard drives, vastly expanding its potential.
You like the idea of Oculink
HDMI or other display ports are more complex, but what you sacrifice in convenience, you more than makeup for in performance.
Don't buy it if...
You're on a restricted budget
While the machine itself is relatively affordable, once you start to look at the upgrade and expansion options, the price will quickly rise. What initially looks like a budget-friendly option might not remain so in the long run.
It would help if you had a tidy machine.
The upgradability and expansion of this machine are key features, but this does mean it will become the heart of a larger system of connected boxes. If you prefer a neat setup, this is for someone else.
Looking for something larger? We've tested the best business PCs around.
Despite the high-end build quality, the 2-in-1 iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max is quite some way behind the competition in terms of mapping, vacuuming, auto bin emptying and mopping. And although its price has dropped from an initial $1,399 / £1,499 to a more reasonable $999.99 / £799, I still consider this bot too expensive for what it offers, especially when compared to the almost sci-fi level of tech that companies like Roborock, Eufy, Dreame and Narwal are fitting to their products.
Although it isn't equipped with an extendable side brush, the iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max is very capable at vacuuming hard floors. However, it struggles on carpet, especially if there's a lot of pet hair on it. Its bin-emptying and mopping system, too, are very underwhelming.
In iRobot's defense, the company apparently has some of the best troubleshooting tech support in the business, but then the secret to any good tech is to not require any troubleshooting at all – technology like this should work efficiently, reliably and logically which, sadly, this bot isn't especially good at, at least when compared to the extremely high level of futuristic smarts from the majority of its nearest competitors.
iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max review: price & availability
List price: $1,399 / £1,499 (regularly discounted to around $999.99 / £799)
Launched: July 2024
The iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max was announced in July 2024 and went on sale in the US, UK and elsewhere shortly afterwards. It's available to buy direct from iRobot, or via third party retailers like Walmart or Amazon.
At time of writing, this model sits right at the top of the iRobot Roomba range in terms of price and specs. The official list price is $1,399 / £1,499 – firmly in the premium price bracket, and up there with the most expensive models on the market. However, by the time my UK review unit arrived, the price had dropped to £999. At time of submitting this review it's now it's £799 – a huge drop that suggests that iRobot looked closely at the Chinese competition from Dreame, Roborock, Eufy, Deebot and Narwal and felt they had no option but to bring the price crashing down. In the US the price-drop is less, but not insignificant: it's now $999.99.
That's still in the premium bracket, but lower down. And yet, I still think that even the current, discounted price is too big an ask given how far the vast majority of the competition is ahead of the game.
Value for money score: 2.5 out of 5
iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max specs
iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max review: design
Low-profile bot and attractive dock
Fixed mop that shifts to sit on top of the bot when not required
Loud in operation
There's a fair bit to get into here, so I've split the design section into the robot design and the dock design.
Robot design
With its long history in both industrial and military-use robots, US-based iRobot has been at the forefront of robot vacuum design for over two decades. But like any industry that finds favor with the public on a massive scale, it wasn't too long before a flurry of copycats jumped on the bandwagon with a host of new innovations and improved software design, to the point that today iRobot finds itself competing with around 15 other companies, mostly from China, a world–leader in robotics.
Sadly, on evidence of the company's latest machine, the iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max, it seems that the brand everyone went to as a first port of call has begun to lag behind the mainstream, with some reused technology and not many striking new innovations.
Let's start with the robot itself. It's fitted with a twin rubber roller system that should work wonders on carpet by beating deep into the pile to release as much dust and debris as possible.
Underneath, you'll find two rubbery brushrolls and a fixed side brush (Image credit: Future)
However, while the rollers seemed perfectly capable on hard floor, they struggled at collecting pet hair from carpet (more on that later). I'm also wondering whether there's a lack of suction power. iRobot is pretty much unique amongst robot vacuum brands in not releasing suction specs, arguing that it's not a good indicator of pickup power. All I have to go on is that the unit offers three suction levels – Quiet, Balanced and High – and that it offers double the 'Standard' pickup power of most of the rest of the iRobot range.
It's a shame iRobot didn't opt for an extendable spinning side brush because this new innovation is very good at stretching into corners where the robot's centrally located brush rollers cannot reach. It's also a shame that iRobot only ever made one robot vac that was D-shaped – the excellent Roomba s9+ – so that even its fixed side brush could reach into any right-angled corner. But then again almost all robot vac manufacturers other than Dyson and Eufy continue with a circular design for their robots, and I know not why.
On the plus side, I'm thrilled to see that this bot is capable of riding over loose hard floor rugs without ruffling them up too much or worse, getting stuck in the middle of a rug mountain.
This bot has a fixed mop pad rather than rotating one (Image credit: Future)
Where things fall away considerably is in the design of the Combo 10 Max's rear-mounted mopping system, at least by today's standards. When robot vacuum manufacturers originally discovered that they could include a wet pad on the rear to mop a floor while the front end did the vacuuming, they opted for a static wet pad that just dragged along behind as the robot moved around.
Then someone noticed that the wet pad was being dragged across any carpet that the robot needed to traverse en route to its next place of work. Roborock solved this conundrum by fitting a mechanism that raised the rear mop a few centimeters whenever the robot was on carpet. It was a revelatory innovation that others would soon adopt for their own products.
However, iRobot went even further with its earlier Combo j7+ model and instead of just raising the mop a few centimeters – which is plenty enough on all but the deepest of carpet pile – it developed a convoluted system that not only raised the mop but placed it on top of the rear of the machine.
Rather than simply raising the mop when not in use, this bot repositions it on top of the machine (Image credit: Future)
The very same system is in use on the Combo 10 Max. Which brings me to one of the biggest disappointments with this machine. You guessed, the nature of static mop itself. Anyone who has ever removed a floor stain using their hand and a wet cloth will know that a few tight circular swirls is more efficient than just swiping from one side to the other.
Consequently almost every other manufacturer has already dropped old-fashioned static mops like this for spinning towel-covered dual circular mop pads or, as in the case of Eufy, a cylindrical spinning towel. Moreover, some models like the Dreame L40 Ultra and Roborock Qrevo Curv even use extendable rear mops that pop out the side to run along skirting boards and around chair legs. By stark contrast – for a premium-spec model at least – the Combo 10 Max sticks to the old dyed-in-the-wool method of simply dragging a very thin and watery mop pad around behind it, albeit with some pressure applied by the weight of the robot itself.
While a static mop like this will sweep a floor clean of most light stains, it's no match for a pair of fast-spinning mops. Furthermore, the act of positioning the mop above the bot when it's not in use leaves unsightly splashes of water all over the top of the bot's shiny rear surface.
The retracting mop pad leaves the top of the robot wet (Image credit: Future)
When it comes to navigation around the home, almost all robot vacs these days use LiDAR, a radar-like laser-based range finder that maps an entire home in mere minutes. Like Dyson, iRobot has stuck to SLAM technology using its tried-and-tested RGB camera, LED headlight and sensor system, but this makes it painfully slow to map an entire floor plan.
However, one good thing with this bot is that its front-mounted RGB camerais pretty good at detecting obstacles. It will often pick up obstacles smaller than those detected by most other models, even those fitted with both LiDAR and a camera. Also, having no LiDAR on top of the machine means the bot can venture under low slung furniture and – if it feels like it – punch through sofa and bed valances, which is something LiDAR-based models cannot do.
A front-mounted RGB camerais used for object detection (Image credit: Future)
The Combo 10 Max is equipped with all the usual technology to detect obstacles like stairs, drop-offs, walls and, as mentioned above, most small items like shoes and cables. However, as you'll read in my performance chapter, this robovac's obstacle avoidance is no better than the excellent Dreame L40 Ultra, though I would say that it's still a cut above some of its competitors.
The Combo 10 Max is also armed with a feature called ‘Dirt Detective' and according to iRobot, it 'creates a cleaning plan based on how often each room is cleaned and how frequently dirt is detected in each room. Selecting Dirt Detective to start cleaning will enable your robot to automatically prioritize the dirtiest rooms and use the most optimal cleaning settings for each.' To be honest, this function is very difficult to analyze since there are no real signals to suggest when it's in operation. But I'll give iRobot the benefit of doubt in this regard.
The great thing about most robot vacs is that they're pretty quiet while they go about their daily chores. Invariably all you will hear is a low-pitched hum as it passes by. Conversely, this model's sound frequency is higher pitched and, while it measures at an average 62dB, the nature of its higher frequency whine can be annoying when it's in the same room.
Dock design
The Roomba Combo 10 Max's AutoWash Dock gets an immediate star for great aesthetics. In fact, iRobot has consistently provided some of the best looking docking stations since the launch of the J7+. Yes, at 44cm in height, 50cm in depth and 40cm in width, it's a pretty large thing to have in the lounge or hallway, but in its favor the ribbed matt black plastic surround is a lot better looking than most other docks I've seen and, of course, the color black is far less noticeable in a home situation.
Like most contemporary robot vacs, this model's dock charges the robot, empties its small bin and cleans its mop. Although iRobot doesn't state the size of the AutoWash Dock's dust bag, it seems to be about average (around 2.5 liters).
The bot empties dust into this dock dust bag (Image credit: Future)
Accordingly, it should hold enough debris in a non-pet household for over a month's worth of cleaning before you need to think about discarding it and fitting a new one (a spare bag is provided in the package). However, if you have shedding pets, you can expect to change dust bags much more frequently – possibly every two weeks.
Since this model also mops, it comes with two larger-than-average rectangular water tanks hidden behind a front door, one for clean water (2 liters) and the other for the dirty stuff (about 1.8 liters).
The dock contains two water tanks hidden behind a door (Image credit: Future)
However, both water tanks have horizontal lids and both tanks are positioned horizontally instead of vertically, which means that the weight of the water forces the back of the containers downward as you pull them out.
If, for instance, the simple clip on the dirty water tank isn't firmly in place and you pull it out without bracing for the weight, the whole contents could easily tip backwards as it leaves the plinth and pour the dirty contents all over the floor. Unlike other models, removing and carrying these tanks to the sink is most certainly a two-handed operation.
The tanks need to be held flat as they pull out horizontally (Image credit: Future)
The Combo Max 10s also performs a weird mop-cleaning routine whereby the robot moves in and out of its housing to run its mop over a ribbed rubber roller. That's in contrast to the way other systems work, where the cleaning mechanism moves back and forth across the mopping pad or, as is the case with most modern hybrids, a spinning system that scrubs the circular mops. This dock also uses a soft fan to dry the dock area after washing the pad but since the pad itself is positioned face down above the robot unit, the pad itself doesn't benefit from much drying at all.
The iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max uses SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) navigation technology, which isn't terrible but also is nowhere near as efficient as LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), specifically when it comes to fast and accurate navigation in all levels of light, even complete darkness.
For instance, it took about 30 minutes for the Combo 10 Max to map my open-plan floorspace comprising living room, dining area, kitchen, hallway and passage. A LiDAR-equipped model takes about eight minutes to map the same space.
This bot had real trouble mapping my home (Image credit: Future)
Also, the map it producedwas nowhere near as defined as a LiDAR-equipped machine, which produces maps of such accuracy you can see exactly where to select a specific cleaning zone, like a small rug or highlighted section of flooring. LiDAR also allows you to see the robot work in real time and pinpoint its whereabouts using a phone app. Conversely, with this product you may find it tricky to accurately divide one room from another, because it's not particularly clear which bit of the map is which.
To give you some idea how confusing it is to decipher the iRobot map, I endured the following scenario. Firstly, I created a ‘kitchen vac & mop' routine under ‘Favorites' and it mopped the first few feet of kitchen floor, then retracted the mop and vacuumed the kitchen rug. So far so good. However it then completely forgot about the rest of the kitchen (amounting to 70% of the floor space) and went back to its dock to wash the mop. I thought it was just doing a mid-session clean but, no, that was it.
After mop cleaning, this bot left my floors too wet (Image credit: Future)
Round two. I set it off on the same task and this time it went straight to the kitchen rug to vacuum it. Then it started mopping the same section as before, only this time the amount of water left behind on the floor was unacceptably high due to the mop having just been washed. It then trundled back to the dock as before.
This confused me, so I checked the map which, at a glance looked okay until I examined it more closely and noticed that the bot had never fully mapped the kitchen during the dry mapping run it performed the moment I set it up. I expected it to at least learn about this unmapped space when it was in the kitchen vacuuming and perhaps think ‘oh, here's a new part of the floor plan I didn't see earlier. I'll go ahead and amend the map'.
In the end I resorted to resetting the whole system to get it back to the start and remapped the whole house again. Bizarrely, it mapped the entire home accurately the second time around, albeit with weirdly-shaped walls that still make it hard to work out what's what.
Obstacle avoidance
I then performed some obstacle avoidance tests and the results were varied but not too bad it must be said.For my first two obstacle tests I perhaps placed too many obstacles in the bot's path because it cut short both rug cleaning sessions and scuttled back home. Test three with reduced clutter proved more successful, though the Combo 10 Max did ride over the circular dog chew that has similarly flummoxed every other bot in previous tests. Sadly, it also failed to notice the wayward shoe lace.However, it did avoid the sock and the phone cable.
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(Image credit: Future)
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Would I rely on it to avoid dog mess? Despite iRobot stating that, like many of its forebears including the j7+ and j9+, the Combo 10 Max will avoid dog waste, I would never trust it to avoid it 100%. But then again, I'd never trust any robot vac to avoid pet waste – it's already happened to me with a previous product and I'm not going down that horrendously smelly toothbrush road again. The moral is – if you have a puppy in the home that hasn't been housetrained yet, do not rely on any robot vac to avoid any messes it makes.
I should finally add that the Combo 10 Max also bumps into walls and furnishings as part of its daily routine and this inevitably adds so many scuffs and scratches to the sides of the unit that it may look 5 years old after just a few weeks of use. However, there is a setting that will reduce this pinball issue at the expense of not performing as thorough a cleaning job along edges and around table legs.
Vacuum performance
I expected much better carpet performance from this machine, especially as it's equipped with twin rubber brush rollers. During my basic rug and living room carpet test, the Combo 10 Max occasionally ruffled up some Labrador hair into long bundled strands that it left behind and, while the robot's small internal bin showed some evidence of hair collection, it turned out that it hadn't collected as much as I expected.
The Roomba Combo 10 Max occasionally left remnants of Labrador hair bundled on the carpet (Image credit: Future)
To check this, I sent the Roborock Qrevo Curv to the same sections of carpet and its bin contained even more hair than the Combo 10 Max – after it had already been there. If you have a lot of hairy pets, this might not be the best robovac for you (head to TechRadar's best robot vacuum for pet hair guide for bots that can handle pet hair).
This what the Roborock Qrevo Curv picked up after the Roomba Combo 10 Max had done a vacuuming cycle on this rug (Image credit: Future)
I then proceeded to embark on some proper pickup tests on both carpet and hard floor using TechRadar's menu of ingredients: raw oats, flour and biscuit crumbs. My Persian-style rug is only about 2.3 x 1.4m but the robot seemed to miss some sections entirely and the areas it did clean – including the specific test area – it didn't do very well. It literally made one speedy pass over the test patch and then started to erratically clean some but not all of the rest of the rug, leaving plenty of flour in its wake. It then went back to base.
The Roomba Combo 10 Max made one speedy pass over my purposeful spillage, then proceeded to head off elsewhere (Image credit: Future)
Worse, while doing this test, it also proceeded to smear more rolled strands of pet hair that had clearly been shed since a previous test. After returning, the dock's incredibly loud suction kicked into action to remove the contents of the bot's bin and you can read about the results of this in a chapter below.
My final test included the same ingredients on my kitchen's wooden floor and it collected the vast majority of detritus in the first pass and then went back and forth over the section several times. It also trundled back to base midway through the kitchen session to have its bin emptied and then headed back to finish the task. Good result.
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One especially annoying aspect with this system is the level of noise it creates. Firstly, the bot's side brush makes an irritating scuttling noise on hard floor and the high frequency whine of the vacuum section is audible from the other side of a room. By comparison, my Roborock Qrevo Curv is almost as quiet as a church mouse.
Mopping performance
Unlike much of the competition that has already moved over to plush spinning mop pads, the Combo Max 10 sticks to the old-fashioned method of dragging a thin, damp mop around behind it. Yes, the mop lifts completely off the floor and out of the way – but then the few centimeters that other models raise their mops is sufficient to prevent any damage to most carpet, bar, say, the deep pile variety. And anyway, some of the very latest bots with revolving mop heads now simply leave them in the dock if not being used.
The retractible mop pad in mopping mode (Image credit: Future)
To give it its dues, the Combo Max 10's mopping is actually pretty decent, despite the lack of any dirt agitating vibration tech like that fitted to some earlier Roborocks. In my kitchen test, it mopped efficiently enough and no worse than some cheaper models I've tested. I also noticed that it also made a few back-and-forth passes over the stain I created so its SmartScrub system feature seems to work okay. Was it as good as a pair of spinning toweling mops? No, but for light mopping duties it'll do.
Simultaneous vacuuming and mopping will leave the suction inlet clogged with damp dust and dirt (Image credit: Future)
However, if set to vac and mop at the same time, this bot will still vacuum over areas it has already mopped and this causes extra dampness around the suction intake which will start to look very messy after a few tasks.Many robot vacs do that, but at least some models now provide the option to vac then mop, rather than do both at the same time.
Dock performance
Perhaps one of the most surprising disappointments I've experienced with the Combo Max 10 is the poor level of the AutoWash Dock's suction when emptying the robot's bin. Aside from being much louder than the norm (around 83dB), it has had continuing trouble emptying a full bin's worth of pet hair.
Firstly, it made a racket with a sound of rushing air and no whoomph sound that all robots make when a clump of hair is sucked from the robot's bin into the cleaning station's dust bag. When I removed the robot's bin, I noticed a large semi-circular clump of pet hair sticking out. This can happen with some robot vacs, especially those with poor docking station suction. So I removed the protruding clump and the rest of the contents were eventually sucked into the AutoWash Dock's large dust bag. Or so I thought.
Hair blocked the onboard bin and prevented it from emptying properly (Image credit: Future)
When I checked the robot's bin again, I noticed a lot of large sand-like particles and a few small pieces of gravel.These should have also been sucked into the main dust bag like every other robot vac I've ever reviewed. This very same anomaly occurred after my carpet and hard floor tests using raw oats, flour and crushed biscuits.
I regularly found debris left in the onboard bin after the auto-empty process (Image credit: Future)
As my photos illustrate, the dock simply refused to suck the majority of oat flakes out of the robot's bin.And that's a major fail in my opinion. Put another way, I wouldn't recommend this vac if you live by the seaside or its cleaning station may struggle to remove all traces of beach sand from the bot's bin.
Regarding the dock's mop cleaning ability, I'm not convinced that a robot moving back and forth over a simple ribbed rubber roller is an efficient way to clean a mop. Yes it removes a lot of detritus and most signs of discolor but in no way can this system compete with the competition for cleanliness. Perhaps worse is the fact that, after having been washed, the mop itself is well and truly sodden, which means any subsequent mopping sessions will have it dragging around a soaking mop instead of a dampened one.
The mop cleaning process leaves mop pads (and subsequently, my floor) soaking wet (Image credit: Future)
Also, the amount of water the cleaned mop leaves on top of the robot is unacceptable for a product in this price band. Yes there is that drying cycle I mentioned earlier, but all that really does is dry the cleaning area in the dock and not the mop itself. And, as we all know, a damp mop usually leads to mustiness and mold, especially after a few days of non-use.
Performance score: 3 out of 5
iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max review: app
Decent home screen
Basic customization
Quite buggy
While there are some elements of the iRobot app that impress – like the instant home page access to pre-programmed favorite routines – I find it mostly confusing to use, clunky and full of bugs. For instance, I've received error messages whenever I tap on a Favorite routine while that particular routine is in operation. It should either allow you into that setting or remain inoperative. Instead you just get an unhelpful error message that says ‘please try again'.
The lack of LiDAR means the maps lack detail and accuracy (Image credit: iRobot / Future)
As alluded to above, I also find the floor plan map quite tricky to read because it's nowhere near as detailed as that of a LiDAR-based model. In fact, it's primitive and quite blocky. Take my dining room map, for instance. I have a large dog bed against the window but that area is represented by a slanted wall that makes no sense. This made it tricky to locate a precise area in front of the dog bed so I could create a specific zone-cleaning routine.
As you'd expect, the iRobot app provides options to create room dividers, room labels and – if you can work out the map – cleaning zones. It also lets you adjust various parameters like whether you want the dock to dry the mop pad (it doesn't totally dry it), set a child lock and locate the unit when it's lost by emitting a faint sound. You can also command this model using Alexa and Google.
App score: 2.5 out of 5
Should you buy the iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max?
Buy it if...
You value aesthetics This bot has one of the best-looking docks on the market.
You have more hard floor than carpet The vacuuming is decent on hard floor, and the light mopping is fine too.
You find a really good deal This robovac is very overpriced at full price, but if you find a good discount, it could be worth considering.
Don't buy it if...
You have pets in the home The pet hair pickup on this model isn't great, and can easily clog the self-empty mechanism.
You want a no-fuss option This robot can be hard to control, and the app has a few annoying quirks, too.
You want ultra-quiet operation Both the robot and cleaning base are noisy in operation.View Deal
How I tested the iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max
TechRadar has a set testing regime which I followed to a tee. Aside from having it set to perform some daily cleaning routines, I also tested the model's vacuuming ability using oats, crushed biscuits and floor on both hard floor and medium-pile carpet. I also tested its mopping function on engineered hard wood flooring and how well it navigated various obstacles. Finally, I made notes on the cleaning station's performance at bin emptying and mop cleaning, measured the noise levels of both the robot and its docking station and spent a lot of time getting to know the iRobot app.
