TechRadar is dedicated to helping you choose the best software tools. Hence, I reviewed one of the most popular torrent clients to help you decide if it’s worthwhile.
You might have heard of Vuze, formerly called Azureus. Its name frequently appears when people search for torrenting clients on Google and across the web. I tested the app extensively to judge whether it lives up to its fame. Read on to learn about its features, pricing, security, user-friendliness, and other crucial factors.
Vuze: Pricing
I’ve tested endless torrenting clients, and many of them are completely free. However, Vuze is not. It has a free version that includes ads (which I often found annoying), but an ad-free interface requires paying $3.99 monthly for Vuze Plus.
To be fair, Vuze Plus includes other features like DVD burning and the ability to play media files while they’re still downloading. Yet, I’m not a fan of paying for a torrenting client when many free alternatives are available.
Vuze: Versions
Vuze is available on the three major desktop operating systems: Windows, macOS, and Linux. But, something feels odd about this app. It was officially released in 2017, and development seems to have stalled since then.
Vuze used to have an Android app available on the Play Store, but I checked endlessly for it and found none. The app was removed from the Play Store for unclear reasons, making it only accessible by directly downloading the APK file. I think the APK process is too much work for the average user.
(Image credit: Future)
Vuze: Features
Vuze is a feature-rich torrenting client whether you’re using the free or paid version. The free version includes a search bar to find torrents right from the app. This feature is important because many torrenting clients don’t provide help in finding .torrent files to download. Instead, you’ll have to visit an external site to get the files.
The search feature is split into a torrent search and web search. The former encompasses .torrent files stored on Vuze’s database, and the latter helps you find .torrent files across the web. For instance, if you search for Jazz music, you can view torrent files for them across the web or the results directly from Vuze’s database.
If you have the relevant .torrent file already installed on your PC, you can add it to Vuze and begin the download. The .torrent file contains the metadata of the larger file you want to download, and Vuze quickly begins the process.
You can also download torrents via their magnet links, which are hyperlinks containing the metadata of the relevant file. Paste this link into Vuze, and it’ll quickly begin downloading the file.
Likewise, users can download files by providing the torrent hash. I liked that Vuze offers flexible ways to discover and download .torrent files. I encountered variable speeds when downloading content from this app. Some files downloaded much faster than others, likely due to the availability of more seeders for those files.
(Image credit: Future)
Seeding in torrenting is the process of uploading a file for other users. When you download any content on Vuze, you automatically become a seeder uploading that same content for other users. That’s how the network maintains enough capacity to offer reliable downloads for users. Uploading content can consume considerable bandwidth, so Vuze lets you cap your upload speed to conserve bandwidth.
Though downloading the APK file for the Android app seemed tedious, I had to do it to provide a rigorous review. After setting it up, I used it to control torrent downloads on my PC. The Android app lets you start, stop, and pause downloads remotely from any location. For instance, you can be at work and control downloads on your home PC.
I enjoyed testing Vuze Plus even if I wish I didn’t have to pay for the extra features. It includes a built-in DVD player that lets users play media directly while downloading. I couldn’t wait to watch my favorite movie when downloading, so I had to press that play button.
Vuze Plus also removes ads, which I mostly found distracting. I’m not a fan of ads, so maybe that’s why I found them annoying. However, I think an average user can easily tolerate and ignore the ads on the free Vuze version.
Vuze has an outstanding feature called Swarm Discoveries. This feature searches for similar content based on what you've previously downloaded on Vuze, akin to an algorithm recommending related content to download. It recommends related content that you may enjoy, helping you discover the best movies, music, and more at no cost.
Vuze: Interface and in-use
I didn’t have issues navigating Vuze’s interface on the desktop and Android apps. It’s a well-designed app with a modern, sleek interface. The features are arranged on the left, and the main dashboard is on the right.
Vuze is a lightweight app that didn’t consume significant computing resources, which I can’t say for many torrenting clients. Some clients I’ve tested hijacked my PC’s resource space and left little room for other apps, but not Vuze.
However, I think Vuze has a steep learning curve for the average person. You’ll likely need some time to get used to its numerous features.
Vuze: Security
Security is paramount when using any torrenting client. ISPs don’t like torrenting and often want to identify users downloading torrents. Hence, you should switch on a VPN before downloading torrents to protect yourself from third-party snooping.
I liked that Vuze Plus has a built-in antivirus scanner (based on Bitdefender). This tool scans all incoming torrents for viruses and alerts you if any are detected. It’s vital, given that torrents are a common vector through which malicious actors spread malware.
Vuze: Final Verdict
I enjoyed Vuze’s feature richness and user-friendliness. I have some complaints, such as the free version including distracting ads, but we don’t always get what we want. Overall, I’ll recommend Vuze as a torrenting solution for everyone.
DrayTek keeps raising the bar for small-to-medium business networks with powerful routers and cutting-edge features. The Vigor2865Lax-5G is the newest member of the (extended) 2865 family, adding to the multi-WAN flexibility with a built-in dual SIM quad-antenna 5G/4G LTE modem for the fastest possible mobile broadband.
We have previously reviewed the DrayTek Vigor2865ax (with similar specs but no 5G) and found it excellent. The Lax-5G model has a few key feature upgrades, but also retains (almost) everything that we liked about the 2865 series. For a start, you get a VDSL2 modem with 35b Supervectoring and ADSL2+ backward compatibility, so you can still pull up to 300 Mbps from a fiber-to-the-node line.
There’s also a switchable Gigabit Ethernet WAN/LAN port, plus a USB 2.0 socket for extra 4G/3G fallback, a printer, storage or even a temperature sensor.
Of course, where the 2865Lax-5G really stands out is the inclusion of a dual Nano-SIM slot and an integrated Cat 19 5G/LTE modem. You can set it up as a backup with automatic failover or load balancing between other connections, including VDSL and WAN.
Wireless performance remains the same as the 2865ax, with AX3000-class Wi-Fi 6 radios running 2×2 MU-MIMO with dual antennas. That gives you up to 2,402 Mbps on 5 GHz and 574 Mbps on 2.4 GHz. While we would have liked to have seen a Wi-Fi 6GHz 6E or 7 update, we respect the decision to keep it simple and reduce costs. Especially since the router is best networked to an array of Wi-Fi access points, and in fact DrayTek also sells the router as a 2865L-5G model with no Wi-Fi at all.
Under the hood you’ll find hardware acceleration to keep multi-WAN traffic and encrypted tunnels from becoming a bottleneck. Like the 2865ax, IPsec throughput can hit 800 Mbps and SSL VPN sessions manage 130 Mbps. With up to 32 VPN tunnels (including 16 SSL VPN) available, the router makes it easy for remote teams to tap into their company's main network.
This router maintains the series’ robust feature set: support for 16 VLANs and eight LAN subnets, a high-performance firewall with content filtering and QoS, plus zero-touch management of up to 20 DrayTek access points and 10 switches. If you run the VigorACS 3 network management software, you also get SD-WAN orchestration for even smarter traffic routing.
So the spec is good, but how is it to actually use in the real world? Setup was straightforward, and I always enjoy using DrayTek’s plain but robust web interface. As expected, wired performance is rock-solid, and in our tests Wi-Fi throughput peaked at around 578 Mbps at close range, tapering to roughly 377 Mbps at ten meters.
Using the 5G connection we saw maximum downlink speeds of 304 Mbps, with uplink around 121 Mbps – though keep in mind that this is highly dependent on your 5G service provider, cellular bands used, signal strength and the capabilities of the cellular tower you are connected to. While the modem itself is capable of very high speeds in theory, it’s connected into the router via USB 2.0, which limits the maximum throughput to about 400 Mbps.
All told, I was quite impressed with the Vigor2865Lax-5G. Sure, there are little niggles that I expand on further down, but it does manage to combine the 2865 series’ enterprise-grade routing and security with the flexibility of high-performance 5G. So all in all, I think it’s an excellent choice for businesses that need cutting-edge mobile broadband along with a lot of flexibility.
DrayTek Vigor2865Lax-5G: Price & availability
The Vigor2865Lax-5G looks like a standard router without the 5G antennas installed (Image credit: Future)
How much does it cost? $799 / £699 / AU$1,250
When is it out? Available now
Where can you get it? Stocked in most major markets including the US, UK and Australia
The DrayTek Vigor2865Lax-5G isn’t always the easiest to find, but head to your local DrayTek website (or your country's authorized reseller) for more info on local purchase options.
While comparatively easy to find in Australia and the UK, the Vigor2865Lax-5G is harder to buy in the US and at times has been unavailable.
There’s not a huge amount of competition in the 5G-capable VDSL2 modem-router space, but overall the Vigor2865Lax-5G is priced well against similar products.
Value: 4 / 5
DrayTek Vigor2865Lax-5G: Specifications
Cellular: RxCat 19, Tx Cat 18 5G/4G LTE Antenna: 4 external LTE/5G, 2x external Wi-Fi Wi-Fi: 802.11ax 2×2 MU-MIMO Interfaces: 1x GbE WAN/LAN, 4x GbE LAN, 1x RJ-11, 1x USB 2.0 Wireless Speed: 2.4 GHz up to 574 Mbps, 5 GHz up to 2402 Mbps Dimensions: 241 × 145 × 44 mm Weight: 650 g
DrayTek Vigor2865Lax-5G: Design
The Vigor2865Lax-5G puts most of the status LEDs and wired port interfaces on the front (Image credit: Future)
Four external magnetic 5G antennas
Wall and rack mountable
Easy to access front ports
The DrayTek Vigor2865Lax-5G looks just like the rest of the 2865 series, albeit with a few minor differences and the addition of the cellular antennas. The router puts all the ports and status LEDs on the front, while the antennas, SIM card slot and power are at the rear.
The cellular antennas can be mounted directly to the router, but space is tight, or they can use the included bases with 100 cm cables. The bases are solidly weighted and include a magnet and are easy to spread out and securely attach to metal surfaces.
The SIM card slot has a cover secured by two screws, and once removed, the tray can be pressed to release and it pops out. The SIMs themselves sit on each side of the tray. Note that there is no eSIM support.
The power connector, Wi-Fi antennas, 5G antenna connections and sim card slot are all on the rear (Image credit: Future)
The 2865Lax-5G is powered by the included 12V, 3A PSU. It can be wall mounted using the attachment points on the underside and includes two screws for this. Alternatively, it can be rack-mounted with the optional DR101 rack-mount bracket.
You also get an RJ11 and RJ45 cable in the box. Other optional accessories include an external USB thermometer for temperature monitoring and alternate Wi-Fi antennas.
Overall, the design is good, with everything easily accessible but not unnecessarily showy for a device that will likely be out of sight.
Design: 4 / 5
DrayTek Vigor2865Lax-5G: Features
The Vigor2865Lax-5G web interface is comprehensive yet laid out in an easy to use way (Image credit: Future)
Dual SIM cellular modem
VDSL2 modem
Flexible multi-WAN management
The key design goal of the Vigor2865Lax-5G is flexibility, with its combination of 5G connectivity, a VDSL2 modem, fast Wi-Fi and loads of management options. The need for a VDSL modem varies, but for businesses (or remote offices) without fiber, being able to extract the most from a VDSL connection is critical. With 35b Supervectoring, the router can handle up to 300 Mbps over VDSL, making it ideal for those still reliant on fiber-to-the-node or copper-based services. The inclusion of ADSL2+ compatibility is also great, as it gives useful support for legacy connections.
Of course, what sets the Lax-5G apart is its integrated 5G modem and dual Nano-SIM slots, which offer native mobile broadband support without the need for USB dongles. The modem’s 5G connection is rated for a maximum NSA (non-standalone) downlink rate of 3400 Mbps, with an uplink of 550 Mbps. For standalone (SA) 5G, it is rated for 2400 Mbps downlink and 900 Mbps uplink. It uses the 5G bands n1, n20, n28, n3, n38, n40, n5, n7, n77, n78 and n8. Supporting both NSA and SA 5G means the router is relatively future-proof, as it can operate entirely on 5G as needed.
For LTE (4G), you get category 19 for downlinks (up to 1600 Mbps) and Cat 18 for uplinks (up to 200 Mbps). It supports FDD (Frequency Division Duplexing) bands 1 (2100MHz), 20 (800MHz), 28 (700MHz), 3 (1800MHz), 5 (850MHz), 7 (2600MHz), 8 (900MHz), plus TDD (Time Division Duplexing) bands 38 (2600MHz), 40 (2300MHz), as well as WCDMA (3G) bands 1 and 8.
While the cellular modem here is excellent, with the latest technology, it is connected internally in the router via USB 2.0, which will limit throughput to under 400 Mbps. But more on that later. The Vigor2865Lax-5G also supports sending and receiving SMS, using SMS for hotspot verification, as well as sending SMS alerts for status changes, such as loss of WAN or VDSL connection.
While the router accepts dual SIMs, only one can be used at a time, but they can be set to failover. This is ideal as a backup when relying on cellular, as you can have services from two providers. It also allows flexibility if traveling between areas with varying coverage. You can even add an external USB 4G/5G dongle as an entire extra backup mobile connection that can run at the same time as the built-in 5G connection, including using load sharing.
The cellular connections can also be managed alongside the other internet options, so the router can maintain internet access via VDSL, Ethernet WAN or 5G, with automatic failover and load balancing to switch between them as required. These capabilities are backed by robust traffic management tools like bandwidth limiting, QoS prioritization and advanced routing rules. Not to mention, you can still add in an extra USB 4G dongle for a secondary backup mobile connection.
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The rear card slot takes two SIMs (one on each side of the holder) (Image credit: Future)
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The 5G antennas can can be position at various angles to maximize the connection speed (Image credit: Future)
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The 5G antennas have a weighted magnet base, so can be easily position in a variety of ways (Image credit: Future)
Wi-Fi is handled by an AX3000-spec dual-band radio supporting Wi-Fi 6. While you don’t get access to the 6GHz band, it’s still enough for excellent wireless performance. Plus, the router also supports wireless WAN modes and mesh networking, and is ideally set up to act as a central manager of additional DrayTek access points.
As always, DrayTek’s overall ecosystem approach is a major benefit. The 2865Lax-5G can manage up to 20 Vigor access points and 10 switches, making it an ideal base for expanding small to medium business networks with simplified, centralized control. The USB port also adds further flexibility by supporting external devices such as printers, temperature sensors or storage drives.
To ensure top-notch performance, the Vigor2865Lax-5G incorporates hardware acceleration to maximize routing and VPN throughput. Dual-WAN configurations get the benefit of up to 1.3 Gbps of NAT throughput, and IPsec VPN sessions can hit up to 800 Mbps. The idea here is that even when combining VDSL, 5G, and Ethernet WAN, network traffic won’t hit any major internal bottlenecks.
Like the rest of the 2865 series, the Lax-5G includes a comprehensive array of business-focused features. These range from an advanced captive hotspot portal with custom landing page options, to a full-featured firewall, web content filtering and secure remote access via SSL or IPsec VPNs.
The online Draytek Vigor ACS 3 demo is a good way to see if this management option is the right fit for your business (Image credit: Future)
One of the key features of the Vigor2865Lax-5G for business users is its ability to manage a wider DrayTek-based network. Directly through the router’s interface, you can control up to 20 Vigor access points and 10 Vigor switches, including support for mesh networks with up to seven wireless nodes. This makes it a strong foundation for small to medium-sized deployments that may need to scale over time.
Even before reaching a high number of devices, network management can start to feel complex. While the router supports TR-069 provisioning tools, DrayTek also offers a more advanced option in the form of VigorACS 3. This server-based management platform unlocks SD-WAN features on supported hardware, including the Vigor2865Lax-5G. SD-WAN is a practical choice for businesses with remote staff, offering secure and flexible access to company resources from home or while traveling.
There’s a lot to unpack, but overall the Vigor2865Lax-5G offers a well-rounded mix of modern wireless, fixed-line, and cellular connectivity in a single, business-ready device without jumping to enterprise price tiers.
But don’t take my word for it – the DrayTek website has online demos available that let you poke around the interface and explore the features yourself. I highly recommend you take a look, as I don’t have the space here to cover everything the 2865Lax-5G can do. Check out the 2865 series demo at http://eu.draytek.com:22865/.
DrayTek also makes it easy to give VigorACS a try, and buying a compatible device means you get a free 30-day trial. Or, if you want to take a look right now, there’s also an online demo.
Features: 4.5 / 5
DrayTek Vigor2865Lax-5G: Performance
The Vigor2865Lax-5G has a variety of easy to read status lights on the front panel (Image credit: Future)
Excellent failover and load balancing
Useful hardware acceleration
Decent performance for the spec
Getting the Vigor2865Lax-5G up and running was straightforward and entirely handled through the web interface. For basic setups it’s quick, but once you start digging into more advanced features, the interface does get dense. That said, DrayTek provides an excellent range of support materials, including detailed manuals, step-by-step guides and a knowledge base that is very helpful if you get stuck.
DrayTek also has an app available, and while I preferred the web interface, it lets you handle most of the setup and control, with some limitations for the more advanced configuration changes, diagnostics and firmware updates.
For hands-on testing, I slotted the 2865Lax-5G into a mixed network that included DrayTek access points, a Vigor switch, a NAS, IP cameras and a wide variety of connected devices. I tested with both 5G as the primary WAN, and as a backup, combined with a connection via the WAN port. The router handled multiple WAN sources without issue and automatic failover and load balancing worked as expected.
Testing in Australia, I used a Telstra data SIM on the 5G network with high signal strength. At peak, downloads reached 304 Mbps and uploads hit 121 Mbps, with latency averaging around 35 ms. I ran the 5G as my primary connection for a week, and had no issues at all, even with sustained high throughput. As mentioned earlier, the cellular modem uses an internal USB 2.0 connection, which limits the maximum bandwidth to no more than about 400 Mbps. Considering the modem is capable of much more, this is a potential bottleneck for the future, but in the real world right now not many setups would sustain more than this anyway. Load balancing across 5G and WAN during this test worked reliably, with the router distributing traffic as needed.
The Vigor2865Lax-5G includes a 1Gbps LAN/WAN port, plus 4x 1 GbE ports and an RJ11 DSL port (Image credit: Future)
Wi-Fi performance was solid overall. Mesh setup with other DrayTek access points was fast using the built-in wizard. Once connected, mesh handover between nodes worked well. At short range on a Wi-Fi 7 laptop, I measured top speeds of 578 Mbps. Two internal walls dropped that down to 404 Mbps, and at a distance of ten meters it managed 377 Mbps.
That’s a respectable result for Wi-Fi 6, though not exceptional, and at longer range, performance was decent but nothing spectacular – likely due to the relatively low-gain stock antennas. For those who want to optimize wireless coverage, DrayTek offers optional higher-gain and directional patch antennas that can help improve the experience in more demanding spaces.
I also tested with large network file transfers, though these were capped by the speed of the Gigabit LAN ports. As the LAN/WAN port is also Gigabit Ethernet, the router won’t suit faster 1Gbps+ internet connections.
Overall, the Vigor2865Lax-5G handled everything I threw at it with aplomb, and there were no failures or even hiccups, to report. Bandwidth allocation, VPN tunnels, VLAN separation and WAN prioritization all worked exactly as described and managing the wider test network of DrayTek devices through the 2865’s interface was straightforward.
Of course, getting the router set up the way you want takes time, but once configured, the Vigor2865Lax-5G is a workhorse, and gives stable multi-WAN connectivity with the added benefit of built-in 5G for backups and in the field connections.
Performance: 4 / 5
DrayTek Vigor2865Lax-5G: Final verdict
The Vigor2865Lax-5G is a capable and well-rounded router that brings built-in 5G to the already versatile 2865 router series. For businesses without access to fiber, or those needing a reliable backup or mobile WAN option, the combination of VDSL2, Ethernet WAN, 5G and even USB 4G fallback makes it a very flexible option.
While some of the hardware is not cutting-edge, performance is solid overall with no issues encountered during testing. Hardware acceleration gives the router enough throughput to comfortably handle high network usage, VPN connections, load balancing and a range of management and QoS options without choking under pressure. It is limited by its Gigabit-only ports, so it will not suit offices with multi-gigabit fiber plans, but for typical SME use cases, it has more than enough headroom.
It’s important to reiterate that the 2865Lax-5G works best when used as part of a wider DrayTek setup. With support for managing access points, switches and full integration with the VigorACS management platform, it becomes a practical core device for branch offices, mobile sites, or retail networks. SD-WAN functionality, VPN policy control and centralized monitoring all add significant value for those who need a lot of flexibility.
DrayTek continues to deliver strong support and the router is backed by extensive online documentation, setup guides and a responsive help site, which makes it easier to unlock the full range of features. While the web interface and app are not exactly glamorous, both are reliable, easy-to-use interfaces with excellent depth of control.
There are some limits to be aware of, like the lack of multi-gig ports, USB 2.0 connections and old Wi-Fi 6 spec, but these are understandable trade-offs at this price point. So if your business needs dependable, multi-WAN connectivity and 5G as part of its network, the Vigor2865Lax-5G delivers exactly what it promises with very little fuss.
Should you buy the DrayTek Vigor2865Lax-5G?
Value
Well priced for the fairly unique set of features
4 / 5
Design
Simple yet effective
4 / 5
Features
Loads of business-focused features that give excellent management and internet redundancy options
4.5 / 5
Performance
Some limits due to the hardware chosen but well suited to its target audience.
4 / 5
Overall
A versatile modem-router that will suit small to medium businesses with varied networking needs
4 / 5
Buy it if...
You need a fast primary or backup 5G connection The dual SIM 5G makes for very cheap yet versatile backups, or enables high-speed connections where there are no wired options.
Your business uses an FTTN or copper-based connection The built-in modem with 35b Supervectoring support means you can max out the VDSL speeds, while ADSL2+ backward compatibility is still surprisingly important in many regions.
Don't buy it if...
You don’t need the VDSL modem For those who want the 5G and the other WAN options, but don’t need the built-in DSL modem, consider options like the DrayTek Vigor2927Lax-5G instead.
You don't need a cellular connection Having built-in 5G backup is fantastic, but if you don’t need it, then the DrayTek Vigor2865ax has all the same features (minus the cellular connection) for half the price.
German manufacturer Bosch has been a long-standing name in home appliances since it released its first refrigerator back in 1933. So, it's no surprise that the company finally took the plunge into the lucrative air fryer market with the release of the Bosch Series 6 Air Fryer.
You'd perhaps forgive Bosch for having some teething issues with its first-ever air, but the Series 6 has very few. Instead of prioritizing a surplus of extra cooking programs, modes, and features, the Series 6 offers a more streamlined experience, focusing on the quality of life features and cooking programs the average user needs rather than unnecessary add-ons.
The Bosch Series 6 doesn't have dozens of modes, but those it does offer produced consistently good results (Image credit: Vic Hood)
There are eight cooking programs, which cover the most typical food types cooked in an air fryer: Keep Warm, French Fries, Poultry, Meat, Fish, Vegetables, Bread, and Small Pastries (because who doesn't love an air-fried croissant?) We found each program to cook food consistently well, though some tweaking may be required for taste, especially when it comes to meats.
These programs are straightforward to use thanks to the air fryer's clear touch controls, while a handful of quality-of-life features make the Series 6 a joy to use. Its illuminated drawer and window allow you to check food without letting out heat, its Shake alert lets out clear, loud chirps, and its included grill rack and skewers allow you to grill food with ease. It's also generally easy to clean with minimal elbow grease and fairly compact given its 7.2-liter capacity.
The included grill rack and skewers make cooking easy (Image credit: Vic Hood)
While the Series 6 is a great appliance overall, it's not perfect. It's one of the louder air fryers this reviewer has tested (hitting 68dB in some cases), and removing the aforementioned metal grill rack and skewers from the basket safely can prove a bit of a struggle. We'd also have loved for the aforementioned grill rack to be securable within the basket to prevent rubbing on the non-stick plate. We also found that it struggled to balance keeping chicken moist inside while crispy outside.
These are minor issues, however, and the Bosch Series 6 Air Fryer provides an excellent experience otherwise. Though it is perhaps more suited to smaller households or those who only wish to cook one food item at a time.
Bosch Series 6 air fryer: price and availability
Price: £159.99 (roughly $212.58 / AU$329.16)
Available in the UK, but not available in the US and Australia
Unfortunately, this appliance isn't currently available in the U.S. or Australia, but those in the UK can purchase it from Bosch directly or a range of trusted third-party retailers, such as Argos and Amazon.
If its current price tag is a little over your budget, don't fret. Regular discounts at Bosch and other retailers see this air fryer's price dropping to around the £100 mark, saving you nearly £60 on the usual RRP.
Value score: 5/5
Bosch Series 6 air fryer: specifications
Review model
MAF671B1GB
Number of baskets
1
Number of cooking programs
8
Cooking programs
Bread, Fish, French Fries, Keep Warm, Meat, Small Pastries, Poultry, Vegetables
Extra functions
Shake signal
Smart control
No
Wattage
1,800W
Capacity
7.6 quarts / 7.2 liters
Temperature range
104F-392F / 40C-200C
Time range
1 min-2 hours, up to 8 hours on keep warm or 40C-80C
Dimensions (including handles)
12.4 x 12.2 x 15.3in / 314 x 309 x 388mm
Dishwasher-safe
Yes
Weight
13lbs / 5.9kg
Bosch Series 6 air fryer: design
7.2-liter capacity, but fairly combat
Illuminated drawer basket with window
Removable handle
Comes with metal grill rack and five skewers
The Bosch Series 6 offers a 7.2L capacity in a relatively compact design (compared to its competitors). The body of this air fryer is glossy black, with a silver rim around the top, a single drawer basket, and a removable handle. The touchscreen interface is easy to use, with the temperature adjustable in five-degree intervals.
The drawer is illuminated, meaning a light (which you can turn off and on at the touch of a button) comes on when you remove it, and thanks to an oven-like window, you can easily check your food without stopping the cooking process.
The drawer is illuminated, and the fryer has a clear window so you can check on your food during cooking (Image credit: Vic Hood)
The included physical user manual is thorough, making it easy to set up and use this appliance – even if you're a beginner. A physical food guide is also included, which provides a rough cooking guide and tips for each of the air fryer's eight programs. We do wish the food guide were slightly more detailed and included more food types, especially when it comes to cooking vegetables.
The food guide does come with a QR code, though, that leads you to a Quick Start Guide that features a handful of excellent recipes for this specific air fryer. We just wish there were more of them.
The basket and its crisper plate are dishwasher-safe, though we generally prefer to hand-wash anything with a non-stick coating (Image credit: Vic Hood)
This air fryer also comes with a metal grill rack accessory and five skewers that fit into the grill rack. These are a welcome addition for grilling, but we found removing the hot grill rack difficult after cooking due to the depth of the basket and its metal design. We also wish the grill rack could be locked into the basket's plate to avoid it moving around and potentially damaging the plate's non-stick coating long-term.
While the 7.2L basket is a bit bulky, it's easy to hand wash with minimal elbow grease – though, inside the window is slightly trickier to reach. Fortunately, the basket and its plate are dishwasher-proof, though we at TechRadar tend to recommend hand washing anything with a non-stick coat.
The main design drawback of this air fryer is its volume. We logged a max 68dB reading when the appliance was running at its maximum temperature, making it loud enough that we couldn't hear our kitchen TV and could hear it from our living room next door. This is particularly loud for an air fryer (based on those we've tested) and several decibels louder than the 63dB Bosch claims.
Design score: 4/5
Bosch Series 6 air fryer: performance
Quality performance across cooking programs
Useful Shake alert
Some foods could be crispier
We found the Bosch Series 6 air fryer performed consistently well across its eight cooking programs: Bread, Fish, French Fries, Keep Warm, Meat, Small Pastries, Poultry, and Vegetables.
We started our testing with 500g of frozen fries , utilizing the air fryer's French Fries preset, while tweaking the time slightly as recommended by the food guide. After 23 minutes, we had fairly evenly cooked fries (a couple were slightly over for my taste), but overall, the fries were fluffy inside and golden outside.
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A couple of the frozen fries were slightly overdone for my liking, but for the most part they were golden and crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside (Image credit: Vic Hood)
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Home-made fries turned out well too, and unlike some other air fryers, the Bosch didn't burn the ends (Image credit: Vic Hood)
Following the frozen fries, we tried 700g of handmade fries, soaked and with one tablespoon of oil, on the same setting, using the exact preset time and temperature. Again, the fries were fluffy inside and golden outside but could have been a little crispier. Unlike other air fryers, however, the Bosch Series 6 didn't leave our fries with overdone ends – a common issue we've encountered with testing.
Next, we tested the grill and skewer accessories. We loaded up each of the five skewers with chicken, onion, tomato, and peppers – but may have overloaded them a little as the five skewers struggled to fit beside each other. My advice: make sure your cuts of veggies and meat are smaller to avoid this.
Make sure the meat and vegetable pieces threaded onto the skewers aren't too large (Image credit: Vic Hood)
The skewers sit on indents in the grill rack, which is placed in the basket. We've mentioned our issues with the grill rack generally, but despite the overcrowding, we found our skewers cooked well on the Poultry preset, though some of the vegetables were becoming overdone and the chicken slightly overdone, so we had to remove them a few minutes early. You likely need to adjust this timing based on what you skewer.
We also tried cooking a couple of chicken breasts on the grill rack (with some seasoning and a tablespoon of oil) on the Poultry preset. They came out slightly dry and with not quite enough crisp on the outside for our taste, but overall very tasty.
Image 1 of 2
Chicken turned out tender, though the outside wasn't quite as crisp as I would have liked (Image credit: Vic Hood)
Image 2 of 2
Chicken turned out tender, though the outside wasn't quite as crisp as I would have liked (Image credit: Vic Hood)
We had this same crisping issue with drumsticks prepared using a Bosch recipe and dry-rubbed wings (my go-to Cosori recipe), both cooked well and were juicy inside, but the skin didn't crisp up quite enough. The pre-baked petit pains we cooked on the Bread preset, too were soft inside, but not quite crunchy enough outside.
The Bosch recipes are a great starting point for this air fryer, and we particularly enjoyed its roasted cauliflower and egg omelette muffin recipes (both turned out perfect). The apple turnover recipe, while very tasty, resulted in turnovers with overly soggy bottoms – though that's likely down to chef error on my part.
Image 1 of 3
Roasted cauliflower turned out brilliantly (Image credit: Vic Hood)
Image 2 of 3
Bosch's recipe for omelette muffins was a success as well (Image credit: Vic Hood)
Image 3 of 3
Apple turnover wasn't such a success, but that may have been due to user error (Image credit: Vic Hood)
Other presets may require some tweaking of the timings. Sausages on the Beef preset were slightly underdone after seven minutes, which may be down to the fact that they were chunky Cumberlands.
Vegetables, too, like most air fryers, require some experimentation. The food guide isn't very detailed on how long to cook certain vegetables and just covers "Grilled Vegetables." While this was the perfect preset for my chantanay carrots, my broccoli, onions and peppers needed to be removed early to avoid becoming too charred. Again, this is something we've encountered with several air fryers.
Image 1 of 1
Our sausages were a little underdone at the end of the cooking time, but that may be because they were particularly chunky (Image credit: Vic Hood)
Now, if you've read our air fryer reviews before, you'll know we love an air fryer that can bake. The Bosch Series 6 can manage that feat for small cakes and muffins, so we used our usual Ninja muffin recipe with the Muffin preset to test its capabilities. It was perhaps the best result I've had for this test, with the muffins perfectly golden on top, not too dry inside, and little to no overspill.
Overall, the Bosch Series 6 performs brilliantly; however, you may need to experiment a bit to get the right balance of crispness and doneness for certain foods.
Performance score: 4.5/5
Should you buy the Bosch Series 6 air fryer?
Bosch Series 6 Air Fryer report card
Attribute
Notes
Score
Value
This air fryer is excellent value for its price tag, and thanks to regular sales, you can pick it up for closer to £100.
5/5
Design
The design is pretty compact for its 7.2L capacity, plus it's easy to use and clean. While the accompanying grill rack and skewers are welcome accessories, we wish they could lock into the basket plate and were easier to remove after cooking. This is also one of the louder air fryers we've reviewed.
4/5
Performance
Performance across all eight cooking programs is solid, though some foods could be slightly crispier on the outside. You may need to experiment a bit for optimal results on certain presets.
4.5/5
Buy it if
You want a decent capacity air fryer, but haven't space for a dual-basket
The Bosch Series 6's 7.2L capacity is pretty sizeable, and while it's not compact enough to be counted as a small air fryer, it's nowhere near as big as some competitors. Plus, the handles are detachable, making it slightly easier to store.
You're looking for a solid, budget air fryer
With its £159.99 price tag, the Bosch Series 6 is already great value for money, but regular discounts see that price knocked down to roughly £100, making it an ideal choice for those on a £100 budget.
You want a streamlined air frying experience
The Bosch Series 6 is a great entry-level air fryer for those who want a straightforward, streamlined experience. It comes with enough features to make it pleasant to use without overwhelming you with extras.
Don't buy it if
You want to cook more than one food at once
The Bosch Series 6's capacity means you can fit a decent amount of food in, but if you've got a larger household that plans to make larger quantities or food or you want to cook more than one type of food at once, you may struggle with this.
You want a bunch of extras
This is down to personal preference. While this air fryer comes with a grill rack, it only air fries, and the cooking programs cover the basics. If you want features like smart control, synced cooking, or different cooking modes (like grilling and steaming), then this may not be the best choice for you.
How I tested the Bosch Series 6 air fryer
I used the Bosch Series 6 air fryer for a week, cooking a wide variety of foods including fries, sausages, fresh vegetables, and pastries. I tested all the air fryer's various modes and cleaned the air fryer in line with the instructions provided in the manual. For more details, see how we test, rate, and review products at TechRadar.
German manufacturer Bosch has been a long-standing name in home appliances since it released its first refrigerator back in 1933. So, it's no surprise that the company finally took the plunge into the lucrative air fryer market with the release of the Bosch Series 6 Air Fryer.
You'd perhaps forgive Bosch for having some teething issues with its first-ever air, but the Series 6 has very few. Instead of prioritizing a surplus of extra cooking programs, modes, and features, the Series 6 offers a more streamlined experience, focusing on the quality of life features and cooking programs the average user needs rather than unnecessary add-ons.
The Bosch Series 6 doesn't have dozens of modes, but those it does offer produced consistently good results (Image credit: Vic Hood)
There are eight cooking programs, which cover the most typical food types cooked in an air fryer: Keep Warm, French Fries, Poultry, Meat, Fish, Vegetables, Bread, and Small Pastries (because who doesn't love an air-fried croissant?) We found each program to cook food consistently well, though some tweaking may be required for taste, especially when it comes to meats.
These programs are straightforward to use thanks to the air fryer's clear touch controls, while a handful of quality-of-life features make the Series 6 a joy to use. Its illuminated drawer and window allow you to check food without letting out heat, its Shake alert lets out clear, loud chirps, and its included grill rack and skewers allow you to grill food with ease. It's also generally easy to clean with minimal elbow grease and fairly compact given its 7.2-liter capacity.
The included grill rack and skewers make cooking easy (Image credit: Vic Hood)
While the Series 6 is a great appliance overall, it's not perfect. It's one of the louder air fryers this reviewer has tested (hitting 68dB in some cases), and removing the aforementioned metal grill rack and skewers from the basket safely can prove a bit of a struggle. We'd also have loved for the aforementioned grill rack to be securable within the basket to prevent rubbing on the non-stick plate. We also found that it struggled to balance keeping chicken moist inside while crispy outside.
These are minor issues, however, and the Bosch Series 6 Air Fryer provides an excellent experience otherwise. Though it is perhaps more suited to smaller households or those who only wish to cook one food item at a time.
Bosch Series 6 air fryer: price and availability
Price: £159.99 (roughly $212.58 / AU$329.16)
Available in the UK, but not available in the US and Australia
Unfortunately, this appliance isn't currently available in the U.S. or Australia, but those in the UK can purchase it from Bosch directly or a range of trusted third-party retailers, such as Argos and Amazon.
If its current price tag is a little over your budget, don't fret. Regular discounts at Bosch and other retailers see this air fryer's price dropping to around the £100 mark, saving you nearly £60 on the usual RRP.
Value score: 5/5
Bosch Series 6 air fryer: specifications
Review model
MAF671B1GB
Number of baskets
1
Number of cooking programs
8
Cooking programs
Bread, Fish, French Fries, Keep Warm, Meat, Small Pastries, Poultry, Vegetables
Extra functions
Shake signal
Smart control
No
Wattage
1,800W
Capacity
7.6 quarts / 7.2 liters
Temperature range
104F-392F / 40C-200C
Time range
1 min-2 hours, up to 8 hours on keep warm or 40C-80C
Dimensions (including handles)
12.4 x 12.2 x 15.3in / 314 x 309 x 388mm
Dishwasher-safe
Yes
Weight
13lbs / 5.9kg
Bosch Series 6 air fryer: design
7.2-liter capacity, but fairly combat
Illuminated drawer basket with window
Removable handle
Comes with metal grill rack and five skewers
The Bosch Series 6 offers a 7.2L capacity in a relatively compact design (compared to its competitors). The body of this air fryer is glossy black, with a silver rim around the top, a single drawer basket, and a removable handle. The touchscreen interface is easy to use, with the temperature adjustable in five-degree intervals.
The drawer is illuminated, meaning a light (which you can turn off and on at the touch of a button) comes on when you remove it, and thanks to an oven-like window, you can easily check your food without stopping the cooking process.
The drawer is illuminated, and the fryer has a clear window so you can check on your food during cooking (Image credit: Vic Hood)
The included physical user manual is thorough, making it easy to set up and use this appliance – even if you're a beginner. A physical food guide is also included, which provides a rough cooking guide and tips for each of the air fryer's eight programs. We do wish the food guide were slightly more detailed and included more food types, especially when it comes to cooking vegetables.
The food guide does come with a QR code, though, that leads you to a Quick Start Guide that features a handful of excellent recipes for this specific air fryer. We just wish there were more of them.
The basket and its crisper plate are dishwasher-safe, though we generally prefer to hand-wash anything with a non-stick coating (Image credit: Vic Hood)
This air fryer also comes with a metal grill rack accessory and five skewers that fit into the grill rack. These are a welcome addition for grilling, but we found removing the hot grill rack difficult after cooking due to the depth of the basket and its metal design. We also wish the grill rack could be locked into the basket's plate to avoid it moving around and potentially damaging the plate's non-stick coating long-term.
While the 7.2L basket is a bit bulky, it's easy to hand wash with minimal elbow grease – though, inside the window is slightly trickier to reach. Fortunately, the basket and its plate are dishwasher-proof, though we at TechRadar tend to recommend hand washing anything with a non-stick coat.
The main design drawback of this air fryer is its volume. We logged a max 68dB reading when the appliance was running at its maximum temperature, making it loud enough that we couldn't hear our kitchen TV and could hear it from our living room next door. This is particularly loud for an air fryer (based on those we've tested) and several decibels louder than the 63dB Bosch claims.
Design score: 4/5
Bosch Series 6 air fryer: performance
Quality performance across cooking programs
Useful Shake alert
Some foods could be crispier
We found the Bosch Series 6 air fryer performed consistently well across its eight cooking programs: Bread, Fish, French Fries, Keep Warm, Meat, Small Pastries, Poultry, and Vegetables.
We started our testing with 500g of frozen fries , utilizing the air fryer's French Fries preset, while tweaking the time slightly as recommended by the food guide. After 23 minutes, we had fairly evenly cooked fries (a couple were slightly over for my taste), but overall, the fries were fluffy inside and golden outside.
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A couple of the frozen fries were slightly overdone for my liking, but for the most part they were golden and crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside (Image credit: Vic Hood)
Image 2 of 2
Home-made fries turned out well too, and unlike some other air fryers, the Bosch didn't burn the ends (Image credit: Vic Hood)
Following the frozen fries, we tried 700g of handmade fries, soaked and with one tablespoon of oil, on the same setting, using the exact preset time and temperature. Again, the fries were fluffy inside and golden outside but could have been a little crispier. Unlike other air fryers, however, the Bosch Series 6 didn't leave our fries with overdone ends – a common issue we've encountered with testing.
Next, we tested the grill and skewer accessories. We loaded up each of the five skewers with chicken, onion, tomato, and peppers – but may have overloaded them a little as the five skewers struggled to fit beside each other. My advice: make sure your cuts of veggies and meat are smaller to avoid this.
Make sure the meat and vegetable pieces threaded onto the skewers aren't too large (Image credit: Vic Hood)
The skewers sit on indents in the grill rack, which is placed in the basket. We've mentioned our issues with the grill rack generally, but despite the overcrowding, we found our skewers cooked well on the Poultry preset, though some of the vegetables were becoming overdone and the chicken slightly overdone, so we had to remove them a few minutes early. You likely need to adjust this timing based on what you skewer.
We also tried cooking a couple of chicken breasts on the grill rack (with some seasoning and a tablespoon of oil) on the Poultry preset. They came out slightly dry and with not quite enough crisp on the outside for our taste, but overall very tasty.
Image 1 of 2
Chicken turned out tender, though the outside wasn't quite as crisp as I would have liked (Image credit: Vic Hood)
Image 2 of 2
Chicken turned out tender, though the outside wasn't quite as crisp as I would have liked (Image credit: Vic Hood)
We had this same crisping issue with drumsticks prepared using a Bosch recipe and dry-rubbed wings (my go-to Cosori recipe), both cooked well and were juicy inside, but the skin didn't crisp up quite enough. The pre-baked petit pains we cooked on the Bread preset, too were soft inside, but not quite crunchy enough outside.
The Bosch recipes are a great starting point for this air fryer, and we particularly enjoyed its roasted cauliflower and egg omelette muffin recipes (both turned out perfect). The apple turnover recipe, while very tasty, resulted in turnovers with overly soggy bottoms – though that's likely down to chef error on my part.
Image 1 of 3
Roasted cauliflower turned out brilliantly (Image credit: Vic Hood)
Image 2 of 3
Bosch's recipe for omelette muffins was a success as well (Image credit: Vic Hood)
Image 3 of 3
Apple turnover wasn't such a success, but that may have been due to user error (Image credit: Vic Hood)
Other presets may require some tweaking of the timings. Sausages on the Beef preset were slightly underdone after seven minutes, which may be down to the fact that they were chunky Cumberlands.
Vegetables, too, like most air fryers, require some experimentation. The food guide isn't very detailed on how long to cook certain vegetables and just covers "Grilled Vegetables." While this was the perfect preset for my chantanay carrots, my broccoli, onions and peppers needed to be removed early to avoid becoming too charred. Again, this is something we've encountered with several air fryers.
Image 1 of 1
Our sausages were a little underdone at the end of the cooking time, but that may be because they were particularly chunky (Image credit: Vic Hood)
Now, if you've read our air fryer reviews before, you'll know we love an air fryer that can bake. The Bosch Series 6 can manage that feat for small cakes and muffins, so we used our usual Ninja muffin recipe with the Muffin preset to test its capabilities. It was perhaps the best result I've had for this test, with the muffins perfectly golden on top, not too dry inside, and little to no overspill.
Overall, the Bosch Series 6 performs brilliantly; however, you may need to experiment a bit to get the right balance of crispness and doneness for certain foods.
Performance score: 4.5/5
Should you buy the Bosch Series 6 air fryer?
Bosch Series 6 Air Fryer report card
Attribute
Notes
Score
Value
This air fryer is excellent value for its price tag, and thanks to regular sales, you can pick it up for closer to £100.
5/5
Design
The design is pretty compact for its 7.2L capacity, plus it's easy to use and clean. While the accompanying grill rack and skewers are welcome accessories, we wish they could lock into the basket plate and were easier to remove after cooking. This is also one of the louder air fryers we've reviewed.
4/5
Performance
Performance across all eight cooking programs is solid, though some foods could be slightly crispier on the outside. You may need to experiment a bit for optimal results on certain presets.
4.5/5
Buy it if
You want a decent capacity air fryer, but haven't space for a dual-basket
The Bosch Series 6's 7.2L capacity is pretty sizeable, and while it's not compact enough to be counted as a small air fryer, it's nowhere near as big as some competitors. Plus, the handles are detachable, making it slightly easier to store.
You're looking for a solid, budget air fryer
With its £159.99 price tag, the Bosch Series 6 is already great value for money, but regular discounts see that price knocked down to roughly £100, making it an ideal choice for those on a £100 budget.
You want a streamlined air frying experience
The Bosch Series 6 is a great entry-level air fryer for those who want a straightforward, streamlined experience. It comes with enough features to make it pleasant to use without overwhelming you with extras.
Don't buy it if
You want to cook more than one food at once
The Bosch Series 6's capacity means you can fit a decent amount of food in, but if you've got a larger household that plans to make larger quantities or food or you want to cook more than one type of food at once, you may struggle with this.
You want a bunch of extras
This is down to personal preference. While this air fryer comes with a grill rack, it only air fries, and the cooking programs cover the basics. If you want features like smart control, synced cooking, or different cooking modes (like grilling and steaming), then this may not be the best choice for you.
How I tested the Bosch Series 6 air fryer
I used the Bosch Series 6 air fryer for a week, cooking a wide variety of foods including fries, sausages, fresh vegetables, and pastries. I tested all the air fryer's various modes and cleaned the air fryer in line with the instructions provided in the manual. For more details, see how we test, rate, and review products at TechRadar.
The Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 is a very capable projector. It comes in one of the more stylish designs I’ve seen for this class of projector, separating itself even from the latest group of more design-conscious models.
The Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 features a powerful RGB laser projection system that beams a bright enough picture for use in different environments. Its color is excellent, and it benefits from an optical zoom for more flexible placement.
For gamers, the VisionMaster Pro 2 can switch to a low-latency mode or even drop down to 1080p resolution to run at 240Hz. Alas, its speakers don’t quite live up to the visual performance, but that’s typical even for the best projectors.
All that capability comes at a price, with the VisionMaster Pro 2 listed for $2,999. This places it on the high end for this type of compact enthusiast home projector, even surpassing the Hisense C2 Ultra, which is nearly as capable and features an integrated gimbal stand and an additional speaker. Because of that, I’d point most people to the Hisense instead, but the VisionMaster Pro 2 still has the edge in terms of connectivity and looks, and it doesn’t disappoint when it comes to picture quality.
Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 review: Price & release date
Valerion's remote control is larger and more polished-looking than the ones you’ll typically find on Android and Google TV projectors (Image credit: Future)
Release date: December 2024
Price: $2,999
The Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 was released at the end of 2024. It launched with a price of $2,999, but has seen some discounts since then, including the July Amazon Prime Day sales event, where it dropped to the $2,599 range. The VisionMaster Pro 2 is available directly from Valerion as well as from Amazon.
A mute switch is provided on the projector's top surface for turning off the built-in mic used for Google voice commands (Image credit: Future)
Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 review: Design & features
The projector's extensive connections include two HDMI 2.1 ports plus a third with HDMI eARC support (Image credit: Future)
Elegant design with a simple kickstand
Built-in speakers and Google TV
Optical zoom
The Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 is gorgeously built. It has a metal chassis with ribs wrapping all around the sides and top of the device, giving it the appearance of a metal heat sink. The front and back are simpler, flat slabs of what feels like high-quality plastic (almost to the point that it could be glass).
Interestingly, Valerion includes a cover on the back to conceal its ports. This does give it a cleaner look, but only when it’s not in use, as you can’t even plug in the power if the cover is in place.
The VisionMaster Pro 2 includes a simple, heavy-duty foot underneath near the front that can prop it up to adjust the angle, and the back has two more little feet that can screw out to adjust the tilt. This isn’t quite as useful as the gimbal stands found on some competitors like the Hisense C2 Ultra, but Valerion does sell a quality metal unit of its own (a $139 option) that can attach to the VisionMaster Pro 2 and give it full-range tilting capabilities, and even the option to flip completely upside-down — helpful if you’re doing a mantel or bookshelf placement).
While the gimbal or foot can help adjust the projection somewhat, the projector’s optical zoom can be even more useful. This lets the VisionMaster Pro 2 shift from a 0.9:1 throw ratio up to 1.5:1. The projector can perform plenty of automated setup adjustments, like focus, keystone correction, and obstacle avoidance as well.
The VisionMaster Pro 2 supports the Dolby Vision and HDR10+ high dynamic range formats and is IMAX Enhanced. The projector offers Wi-Fi 6E connectivity for fast and stable wireless networking, though Ethernet is also available.
For this class of projector, the VisionMaster Pro 2 has a surprising selection of ports. Where many competitors would offer just two HDMI ports, the VisionMaster Pro 2 has three: two HDMI 2.1 and one HDMI 2.0 with eARC support. There’s also a 3.5mm audio jack, an optical digital audio output, and two USB-A ports for data or powering dongles.
Like other laser projectors, the VisionMaster Pro 2 has an eye protection feature that is meant to dim the laser if someone stands in its path. But this feature proved incredibly inconsistent in my use. Sometimes the system's eye protection feature activates for no reason, and other times it's not nearly sensitive enough about things obviously out in front of it. Even when it seems to be working as intended, it’s rather slow to kick in.
To get up and running quickly, the projector offers Google TV and has a pair of built-in speakers, giving you everything you need to start streaming. And since this is the kind of projector you might take on the go, Valerion has included a carrying case made out of rigid styrofoam.
Valerion has put a bit of extra effort into its remote control, which is larger and more polished-looking than you’ll typically find on Android and Google TV projectors. It offers the standard navigation controls, a Google Assistant button, volume buttons, shortcuts to a handful of streaming services, and a dedicated input source button. There’s even some backlighting, but it doesn’t cover all of the buttons. The volume buttons are also not differentiated from a handful of other buttons, so you can’t just feel them out without also memorizing where they are.
The projector can also listen for voice commands, responding to a quick “Hey, Google.” And if you don’t want the projector to listen, there’s a mute switch on the top.
Design & features score: 4/5
Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 review: Picture & sound quality
An RGB laser light engine gives the picture the potential for dazzling color (Image credit: Future)
Bright and colorful picture
Strong contrast
Smooth-running operating system
The Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 beams an excellent-looking picture. It's plenty bright for even fairly well-lit rooms, though dark scenes don’t look as good. It also has strong contrast that can be further enhanced by changing some of the default picture settings.
The triple-laser light source has the same advantages I’ve seen from other projectors like the Hisense C2 Ultra and Hisense PX3-Pro, giving the picture the potential for truly dazzling color. The VisionMaster Pro 2 isn’t inclined to overdo the color in its main HDR and SDR picture presets, however, instead keeping it more balanced and natural.
Like many other projectors, the VisionMaster Pro 2 comes out of the box with some unfortunate motion smoothing enabled. This may serve to smooth out panning shots in movies, but it also introduces so many weird motion artifacts that it calls for disabling. The lowest motion setting, Film, avoids the most distracting artifacts while still looking smooth with camera movement. The projector also provides an option to customize the motion smoothing with two adjustable settings, letting you dial it in as you like.
Black levels are decently low, but not low enough that the letterbox bars in widescreen movies look truly black. But with a few tweaks to the settings, specifically enabling active contrast and dynamic laser luminance, the overall brightness can dim down for wonderfully deep black levels in dark scenes. This doesn’t play well with subtitles, however, as they’ll sometimes brighten the picture up.
The display is also up to snuff for gaming. It can deliver 4K 60Hz with reasonably low input lag in its game mode. And for those who want to really dial up the gaming performance, it can drop down to 1080p and run at up to 240Hz for ultra-smooth visuals.
Two adjustable feet can be used for tilt correction during setup (Image credit: Future)
The speakers inside the VisionMaster Pro 2 aren’t bad, putting out enough sound to fill a small room. They sound fairly full, too, but there’s little getting around the narrow soundstage they present. Even simple stereo sound isn’t presented well. And occasionally, deeper voices can sound a little resonant, giving them an unnatural quality.
One easy-to-overlook aspect of projector performance that the VisionMaster Pro 2 deserves credit for is its operating system. It runs Google TV like many other projectors, but appears to have a faster processor and more memory to help it run smoother than some of its competition. This makes it much easier to use the projector, whether you’re browsing Google TV or just want to quickly switch over to another input.
Picture and sound quality score: 4/5
Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 review: Value
The projector's sturdy styrofoam case can be used for transport (Image credit: Future)
Highly integrated package
On the expensive end for projectors in this class
All-in-one design enhances value
The Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 is expensive, but you get a lot for that money. It presents a more colorful and bigger image than most TVs, and compared to 100-inch TVs, it’s not so expensive. That said, it is on the expensive side for this category of projector. The Hisense C2 Ultra is just as pricey, though it has an integrated gimbal stand. It has also seen more discounts in the time since its launch than the VisionMaster Pro 2 has.
Still, the VisionMaster Pro 2 can do plenty. Its projection system is flexible, and it’s good for casual viewing in bright rooms, while delivering cinematic quality in dark rooms. You can opt for 4K with broad HDR support or zoom along at 1080p 240Hz for high-speed gaming. Also, having the Google TV smart TV system baked in never hurts, especially when it runs as smoothly as it does here.
It’s just a shame the VisionMaster Pro 2’s speakers aren’t better, and that it doesn’t come with a more adjustable stand.
Value score: 4/5
Should I buy the Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2?
(Image credit: Future)
Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 review
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Design and features
Simple but elegant design, and packs plenty of features for a fully-integrated system. The remote could be better, as could the eye protection
4/5
Picture and sound quality
An excellent picture with plenty of tools to adjust it to your liking. It even runs Google TV well, but the speakers don’t keep up
4/5
Value
Faces the diminishing returns of high-end products, but is still a good value thanks to its ability to beam a huge, bright, and colorful image from an all-in-one device.
4/5
Buy it if...
You want a powerful and flexible The VisionMaster Pro 2 has an excellent projection system. It beams brightly and has rich color and strong contrast. Thanks to its zoom lens, you should have an easier time placing it without having to crop the imageView Deal
You want a gaming projector While the VisionMaster Pro 2 is fantastic for home cinema, it’s also strong for gaming. If you want a projector that can do both quite well, it has you covered.View Deal
You like your tech to be pretty One thing that sets the VisionMaster Pro 2 apart is how elegant it looks. The metal chassis is something to behold, and the remote looks pretty classy as well. View Deal
Don't buy it if...
You’re not too picky about visuals The VisionMaster Pro 2 provides an excellent picture, but it comes at a high price. If you don’t need all the brightness and color this projector offers, there are much cheaper models that can otherwise tick a lot of the same boxes.View Deal
You don’t care for Google TV For some, Google TV will be an advantage. But if you don’t need it, the Hisense C2 Ultra offers just about everything that the VisionMaster Pro 2 does, has a few extra features (like a “subwoofer” and gimbal stand), and tends to be cheaper.View Deal
You want one projector to handle everything The VisionMaster Pro 2 is brilliant as far as visuals go, and it even has a good, smooth-running streaming platform. But its speakers don;t come close to matching the projection quality.View Deal
2x HDMI 2.1 (1 with eARC), 1x USB-C (PD Out, DP In, 2x USB-A 1x 3.5mm
2x HDMI 2.1 (1 with eARC), 2x USB-A, 1x S/PDIF, Ethernet, 1x 3.5mm, Bluetooth
HDMI x2 (x1 eARC), USB-A (power), 3.5mm
BenQ GP520
At half the price, the BenQ GP520 naturally makes some trade-offs. It’s not as elegant, not as bright, not as colorful, and doesn’t have as extensive support for HDR formats. But if you just want to go big with 4K, it can do that job pretty well.
If you’re watching in a dark room anyway and don’t mind a little slower Google TV experience, the JMGO N1S Pro will let you save a good deal of money while still getting a gorgeous 4K picture from an RGB laser projection system. You’ll miss out on optical zoom and 1080p 240Hz capabilities, though.
Almost the VisionMaster Pro 2’s equal in every way (including price), the Hisense C2 Ultra is a solid alternative. It runs its own VIDAA OS, but it’s a quick one. It also has a built-in gimbal stand and a bonus “subwoofer” speaker. And since the C2 Ultra is a little bit older (don’t worry, not by much), it has had an opportunity for discounts.
Tested at home in multiple, real-world viewing conditions
Presented the display with a variety of media and formats
I have tested numerous projectors and displays over the last half-decade
I tested the Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 at home, in real-world conditions. This saw it faced with ambient light coming in from numerous windows, in-room lighting, as well as ambient noise that both the projector and speaker systems had to overcome. The projector was tested both against a bare, white wall and an Akia Screens CineWhite screen. It was presented with streamed nsd Blu-ray content, HDR and non-HDR, and PC gameplay.
My testing evaluates the projector’s performance with respect to its price and competition from other models I and colleagues at TechRadar have tested.
I have been testing projectors since 2021 and displays for even longer.
The Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 is a very capable projector. It comes in one of the more stylish designs I’ve seen for this class of projector, separating itself even from the latest group of more design-conscious models.
The Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 features a powerful RGB laser projection system that beams a bright enough picture for use in different environments. Its color is excellent, and it benefits from an optical zoom for more flexible placement.
For gamers, the VisionMaster Pro 2 can switch to a low-latency mode or even drop down to 1080p resolution to run at 240Hz. Alas, its speakers don’t quite live up to the visual performance, but that’s typical even for the best projectors.
All that capability comes at a price, with the VisionMaster Pro 2 listed for $2,999. This places it on the high end for this type of compact enthusiast home projector, even surpassing the Hisense C2 Ultra, which is nearly as capable and features an integrated gimbal stand and an additional speaker. Because of that, I’d point most people to the Hisense instead, but the VisionMaster Pro 2 still has the edge in terms of connectivity and looks, and it doesn’t disappoint when it comes to picture quality.
Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 review: Price & release date
Valerion's remote control is larger and more polished-looking than the ones you’ll typically find on Android and Google TV projectors (Image credit: Future)
Release date: December 2024
Price: $2,999
The Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 was released at the end of 2024. It launched with a price of $2,999, but has seen some discounts since then, including the July Amazon Prime Day sales event, where it dropped to the $2,599 range. The VisionMaster Pro 2 is available directly from Valerion as well as from Amazon.
A mute switch is provided on the projector's top surface for turning off the built-in mic used for Google voice commands (Image credit: Future)
Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 review: Design & features
The projector's extensive connections include two HDMI 2.1 ports plus a third with HDMI eARC support (Image credit: Future)
Elegant design with a simple kickstand
Built-in speakers and Google TV
Optical zoom
The Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 is gorgeously built. It has a metal chassis with ribs wrapping all around the sides and top of the device, giving it the appearance of a metal heat sink. The front and back are simpler, flat slabs of what feels like high-quality plastic (almost to the point that it could be glass).
Interestingly, Valerion includes a cover on the back to conceal its ports. This does give it a cleaner look, but only when it’s not in use, as you can’t even plug in the power if the cover is in place.
The VisionMaster Pro 2 includes a simple, heavy-duty foot underneath near the front that can prop it up to adjust the angle, and the back has two more little feet that can screw out to adjust the tilt. This isn’t quite as useful as the gimbal stands found on some competitors like the Hisense C2 Ultra, but Valerion does sell a quality metal unit of its own (a $139 option) that can attach to the VisionMaster Pro 2 and give it full-range tilting capabilities, and even the option to flip completely upside-down — helpful if you’re doing a mantel or bookshelf placement).
While the gimbal or foot can help adjust the projection somewhat, the projector’s optical zoom can be even more useful. This lets the VisionMaster Pro 2 shift from a 0.9:1 throw ratio up to 1.5:1. The projector can perform plenty of automated setup adjustments, like focus, keystone correction, and obstacle avoidance as well.
The VisionMaster Pro 2 supports the Dolby Vision and HDR10+ high dynamic range formats and is IMAX Enhanced. The projector offers Wi-Fi 6E connectivity for fast and stable wireless networking, though Ethernet is also available.
For this class of projector, the VisionMaster Pro 2 has a surprising selection of ports. Where many competitors would offer just two HDMI ports, the VisionMaster Pro 2 has three: two HDMI 2.1 and one HDMI 2.0 with eARC support. There’s also a 3.5mm audio jack, an optical digital audio output, and two USB-A ports for data or powering dongles.
Like other laser projectors, the VisionMaster Pro 2 has an eye protection feature that is meant to dim the laser if someone stands in its path. But this feature proved incredibly inconsistent in my use. Sometimes the system's eye protection feature activates for no reason, and other times it's not nearly sensitive enough about things obviously out in front of it. Even when it seems to be working as intended, it’s rather slow to kick in.
To get up and running quickly, the projector offers Google TV and has a pair of built-in speakers, giving you everything you need to start streaming. And since this is the kind of projector you might take on the go, Valerion has included a carrying case made out of rigid styrofoam.
Valerion has put a bit of extra effort into its remote control, which is larger and more polished-looking than you’ll typically find on Android and Google TV projectors. It offers the standard navigation controls, a Google Assistant button, volume buttons, shortcuts to a handful of streaming services, and a dedicated input source button. There’s even some backlighting, but it doesn’t cover all of the buttons. The volume buttons are also not differentiated from a handful of other buttons, so you can’t just feel them out without also memorizing where they are.
The projector can also listen for voice commands, responding to a quick “Hey, Google.” And if you don’t want the projector to listen, there’s a mute switch on the top.
Design & features score: 4/5
Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 review: Picture & sound quality
An RGB laser light engine gives the picture the potential for dazzling color (Image credit: Future)
Bright and colorful picture
Strong contrast
Smooth-running operating system
The Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 beams an excellent-looking picture. It's plenty bright for even fairly well-lit rooms, though dark scenes don’t look as good. It also has strong contrast that can be further enhanced by changing some of the default picture settings.
The triple-laser light source has the same advantages I’ve seen from other projectors like the Hisense C2 Ultra and Hisense PX3-Pro, giving the picture the potential for truly dazzling color. The VisionMaster Pro 2 isn’t inclined to overdo the color in its main HDR and SDR picture presets, however, instead keeping it more balanced and natural.
Like many other projectors, the VisionMaster Pro 2 comes out of the box with some unfortunate motion smoothing enabled. This may serve to smooth out panning shots in movies, but it also introduces so many weird motion artifacts that it calls for disabling. The lowest motion setting, Film, avoids the most distracting artifacts while still looking smooth with camera movement. The projector also provides an option to customize the motion smoothing with two adjustable settings, letting you dial it in as you like.
Black levels are decently low, but not low enough that the letterbox bars in widescreen movies look truly black. But with a few tweaks to the settings, specifically enabling active contrast and dynamic laser luminance, the overall brightness can dim down for wonderfully deep black levels in dark scenes. This doesn’t play well with subtitles, however, as they’ll sometimes brighten the picture up.
The display is also up to snuff for gaming. It can deliver 4K 60Hz with reasonably low input lag in its game mode. And for those who want to really dial up the gaming performance, it can drop down to 1080p and run at up to 240Hz for ultra-smooth visuals.
Two adjustable feet can be used for tilt correction during setup (Image credit: Future)
The speakers inside the VisionMaster Pro 2 aren’t bad, putting out enough sound to fill a small room. They sound fairly full, too, but there’s little getting around the narrow soundstage they present. Even simple stereo sound isn’t presented well. And occasionally, deeper voices can sound a little resonant, giving them an unnatural quality.
One easy-to-overlook aspect of projector performance that the VisionMaster Pro 2 deserves credit for is its operating system. It runs Google TV like many other projectors, but appears to have a faster processor and more memory to help it run smoother than some of its competition. This makes it much easier to use the projector, whether you’re browsing Google TV or just want to quickly switch over to another input.
Picture and sound quality score: 4/5
Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 review: Value
The projector's sturdy styrofoam case can be used for transport (Image credit: Future)
Highly integrated package
On the expensive end for projectors in this class
All-in-one design enhances value
The Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 is expensive, but you get a lot for that money. It presents a more colorful and bigger image than most TVs, and compared to 100-inch TVs, it’s not so expensive. That said, it is on the expensive side for this category of projector. The Hisense C2 Ultra is just as pricey, though it has an integrated gimbal stand. It has also seen more discounts in the time since its launch than the VisionMaster Pro 2 has.
Still, the VisionMaster Pro 2 can do plenty. Its projection system is flexible, and it’s good for casual viewing in bright rooms, while delivering cinematic quality in dark rooms. You can opt for 4K with broad HDR support or zoom along at 1080p 240Hz for high-speed gaming. Also, having the Google TV smart TV system baked in never hurts, especially when it runs as smoothly as it does here.
It’s just a shame the VisionMaster Pro 2’s speakers aren’t better, and that it doesn’t come with a more adjustable stand.
Value score: 4/5
Should I buy the Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2?
(Image credit: Future)
Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 review
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Design and features
Simple but elegant design, and packs plenty of features for a fully-integrated system. The remote could be better, as could the eye protection
4/5
Picture and sound quality
An excellent picture with plenty of tools to adjust it to your liking. It even runs Google TV well, but the speakers don’t keep up
4/5
Value
Faces the diminishing returns of high-end products, but is still a good value thanks to its ability to beam a huge, bright, and colorful image from an all-in-one device.
4/5
Buy it if...
You want a powerful and flexible The VisionMaster Pro 2 has an excellent projection system. It beams brightly and has rich color and strong contrast. Thanks to its zoom lens, you should have an easier time placing it without having to crop the imageView Deal
You want a gaming projector While the VisionMaster Pro 2 is fantastic for home cinema, it’s also strong for gaming. If you want a projector that can do both quite well, it has you covered.View Deal
You like your tech to be pretty One thing that sets the VisionMaster Pro 2 apart is how elegant it looks. The metal chassis is something to behold, and the remote looks pretty classy as well. View Deal
Don't buy it if...
You’re not too picky about visuals The VisionMaster Pro 2 provides an excellent picture, but it comes at a high price. If you don’t need all the brightness and color this projector offers, there are much cheaper models that can otherwise tick a lot of the same boxes.View Deal
You don’t care for Google TV For some, Google TV will be an advantage. But if you don’t need it, the Hisense C2 Ultra offers just about everything that the VisionMaster Pro 2 does, has a few extra features (like a “subwoofer” and gimbal stand), and tends to be cheaper.View Deal
You want one projector to handle everything The VisionMaster Pro 2 is brilliant as far as visuals go, and it even has a good, smooth-running streaming platform. But its speakers don;t come close to matching the projection quality.View Deal
2x HDMI 2.1 (1 with eARC), 1x USB-C (PD Out, DP In, 2x USB-A 1x 3.5mm
2x HDMI 2.1 (1 with eARC), 2x USB-A, 1x S/PDIF, Ethernet, 1x 3.5mm, Bluetooth
HDMI x2 (x1 eARC), USB-A (power), 3.5mm
BenQ GP520
At half the price, the BenQ GP520 naturally makes some trade-offs. It’s not as elegant, not as bright, not as colorful, and doesn’t have as extensive support for HDR formats. But if you just want to go big with 4K, it can do that job pretty well.
If you’re watching in a dark room anyway and don’t mind a little slower Google TV experience, the JMGO N1S Pro will let you save a good deal of money while still getting a gorgeous 4K picture from an RGB laser projection system. You’ll miss out on optical zoom and 1080p 240Hz capabilities, though.
Almost the VisionMaster Pro 2’s equal in every way (including price), the Hisense C2 Ultra is a solid alternative. It runs its own VIDAA OS, but it’s a quick one. It also has a built-in gimbal stand and a bonus “subwoofer” speaker. And since the C2 Ultra is a little bit older (don’t worry, not by much), it has had an opportunity for discounts.
Tested at home in multiple, real-world viewing conditions
Presented the display with a variety of media and formats
I have tested numerous projectors and displays over the last half-decade
I tested the Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 at home, in real-world conditions. This saw it faced with ambient light coming in from numerous windows, in-room lighting, as well as ambient noise that both the projector and speaker systems had to overcome. The projector was tested both against a bare, white wall and an Akia Screens CineWhite screen. It was presented with streamed nsd Blu-ray content, HDR and non-HDR, and PC gameplay.
My testing evaluates the projector’s performance with respect to its price and competition from other models I and colleagues at TechRadar have tested.
I have been testing projectors since 2021 and displays for even longer.
I don’t envy CD Projekt Red. The task of cramming a gigantic open-world role-playing game (RPG) into a highly compressed package for a new portable console in time for launch day must have been a daunting one.
Even so, the developer has managed something spectacular with Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, which stands apart as easily the most ambitious and accomplished Nintendo Switch 2 port yet.
Review info
Platform reviewed: Nintendo Switch 2 Available on: Nintendo Switch 2 Release date: June 5, 2025
This is the definitive Cyberpunk 2077 package, complete with its superb Phantom Libertyexpansion and almost five years of content updates. I must admit that I was less than thrilled with the game backat launch in 2020 thanks to its abysmal performance, bugs, and countless missing features, but today, having been thoroughly polished up, it's without a doubt one of the best RPGs around and offers hundreds of hours of entertainment.
Play your way
(Image credit: CD Projekt)
If you’ve never tried Cyberpunk 2077 before, the Switch 2 version is a worthy place to start. Set in a nightmarish vision of the not-too-distant future, you are V - a fully customizable protagonist. The character creator here is fantastic, thanks in no small part to the sheer number of post-launch additions like new hairstyles and make-up options that it received, and equips you with everything that you need to achieve your desired look.
You could easily spend hours carefully tweaking its many, many sliders, or simply opt for something from the robust selection of presets to jump right in. After nailing your appearance, you’re asked to select a Life Path, effectively your character backstory.
Best bit
(Image credit: Nintendo)
In a world of Game-Key Card releases, you have to give some credit to CD Projekt Red. The physical Nintendo Switch 2 version of Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition comes loaded on a 64GB cartridge, letting you play without a download right out of the box.
There are three to choose from: a wandering nomad, a high-flying corporate fixer, or a basic street thug. Each one dramatically alters the game’s opening, which can spice up subsequent playthroughs, but has a limited impact outside of that. You get a few new dialogue options every now and then, plus the odd unique quest or too, but you shouldn’t expect a radically different experience.
Thankfully, the massive skill trees offer more than enough variety to make repeat playthroughs worthwhile. They’re packed with interesting abilities and cater to a wide range of playstyles. I’ve been an unstoppable axe-wielding giant with the ability to take hits like a fridge, a nimble hacker picking off opponents one at a time completely undetected, and a flashy gunslinger landing deadly critical hits with my pistols.
The option to outfit your character with a range of Cyberware (futuristic body enhancements) brings an even greater level of fine-tuning. From enhanced eyesight to super-powered jumps and electric punches, you may be spoiled for choice, but you’re not going to struggle to find one that suits your desired approach.
Back in the neon streets
(Image credit: CD Projekt)
The Night City setting has always been a visual treat, and it holds up surprisingly well on Nintendo Switch 2. You have two graphics presets to choose from; the standard Quality and Performance modes, but, uniquely, the option to choose a different one for either handheld or docked play. Both target a 1080p picture when docked, with Quality aiming for 30fps and Performance going for 40fps.
Although you do benefit from slightly prettier lighting and reflections in Quality, I would recommend Performance mode all the way when docked, as the framerate is not only higher but less prone to small drops. The resolution can take a noticeable hit every now and then, especially in busier firefights, but never enough to truly spoil the experience.
It’s a huge improvement compared to the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 versions of Cyberpunk 2077 either way, and doesn’t feel too far off from the kind of performance you would expect on the Xbox Series S - a great result for a portable, slim machine.
(Image credit: CD Projekt)
Performance is also my preference in handheld mode, where it targets 720p at 40fps. The resolution is a little higher in Quality mode, but I don’t think it’s worth losing performance over. Visuals have been noticeably dialed down in handheld compared to docked, but honestly it can be hard to spot many of the cutbacks on the far smaller 7.9inch Nintendo Switch 2 screen compared to a 4K TV.
The game certainly holds up significantly better than The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, another sprawling RPG from the same studio, did back on the original Nintendo Switch. That was undeniably an impressive port too, but the much lower-power hardware led to far more compromised visuals.
Unfortunately, it does fall apart a little when you get to the content from the Phantom Liberty expansion. The neon-lit district of Dogtown pushes the Nintendo Switch 2 to its absolute limits, especially if you start trading fire with its many armed goons. Again, the performance never renders the game unplayable - but it’s noticeably more jagged.
Overall, this handheld performance still puts the Nintendo Switch 2 firmly ahead of its biggest competitor: the Steam Deck OLED. Moving from my Steam Deck to Nintendo Switch 2, the difference was night a day. Playing on Nintendo Switch 2 felt smoother and the visuals were much more consistent throughout.
The higher resolution 1080p screen of the Nintendo Switch 2 also leads to a significantly more crisp picture, though the Steam Deck OLED’s OLED panel does offer brighter colors on the whole.
Hack and slash
(Image credit: CD Projekt)
Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition also takes full advantage of a wealth of Nintendo Switch 2 hardware features. There’s support for motion controls with the Joy-Con 2 controllers, allowing you to slash enemies with melee weapons by swinging your arms or aim weapons more precisely with the in-built gyroscope. Mouse controls are also present, which is a blessing if you like to run around with a sniper rifle.
The smart progression sharing system even lets you seamlessly continue your saves from PC, PlayStation, or Xbox. This is a game changer for a title of this size, and a fantastic reason to buy on Nintendo Switch 2. Nothing quite beats the feeling of playing for a few hours on PC before heading out for a flight safe in the knowledge that you can pick up exactly where you left off on the move.
This all results in a Nintendo Switch 2 launch game that’s easy to recommend. It’s a real showcase of the system’s technical chops, utilizes its exclusive features well, and, on top of all that, hosts a rich RPG experience with plenty to do and lots of reasons to replay.
Should I play Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition?
Play it if…
You’ve never played Cyberpunk 2077 before This Ultimate Edition is the perfect starting point if you’ve never tried Cyberpunk before. You get all of the content right out of the box, including the Phantom Liberty expansion. You also benefit from many past content updates and fixes.View Deal
You already adore the game and want to play it on the move Thanks to the progression sharing system, you can jump straight into your existing saves from PC, PlayStation, or Xbox which makes the Nintendo Switch 2 version a great way to continue playing while you’re out and about.View Deal
You want a meaty launch title Cyberpunk 2077 is a massive experience that you can easily sink hundreds of hours into. If you’re only buying a few Nintendo Switch 2 launch games and want the most bang for your buck, this one is a must.View Deal
Don’t play it if…
You want the very smoothest performance Look, the Nintendo Switch 2 isn’t the PS5 Pro. In fact, it performs worse than even the base PS5 even when it's in docked mode. Don’t go into this version expecting the smoothest possible performance or the best looking visuals or you’ll be disappointed.View Deal
Accessibility features
Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition features a dedicated accessibility menu with plenty of options. This includes interface customization, such as the ability to enable different colorblind modes (protanopia, tritanopia, and deuteranopia), increase the size of HUD elements, or remove visual effects.
Subtitles are featured throughout the game, with options to change the size and appearance of them. There are also plenty of difficulty options, plus aim assist features for those who find the combat a challenge.
How I reviewed Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition
I played Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition for more than 15 hours on Nintendo Switch 2. During this time I endeavoured to complete as much content as possible and compared my experience to my testing of the PlayStation 5 and PC versions of the game.
I tested both docked and handheld mode, taking the Nintendo Switch 2 out and about on a variety of trips. While on planes or trains, I relied on my trusty pair of Final VR500 earbuds for audio. When playing in docked mode, I used either the Joy-Con 2 controllers or the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller.
For this review, I tested the Mini 600 UK version. There may be minor differences between different countries' models.
The Mammotion Yuka Mini is a relatively compact, simple and affordable robotic mower for small to medium-sized lawns. There are a few different options, but for this review I tested the Mini 600 (called the Mini S in the US) for yards that are 0.15 acres / 600㎡ in size.
While it's far from the fanciest lawnbot on the market, it handled various obstacles impressively well. My parents' yard comprises uneven areas, trees, awkwardly placed beds, and a brook; but none of these posed an issue for the Yuka Mini during tests. It navigated accurately, avoided unexpected obstacles impressively well, and never got lost or tried to take a swim.
I was also extremely happy with the mowing itself. It left the yard looking far neater than if I'd cut it manually, with the grass evenly trimmed and faux-stripes created by the logical mowing route. It operated quietly enough that I could happily read a book nearby, and while not exactly lightning-fast, it has proved sufficiently speedy to tackle the lawn size for which it's designed in an efficient manner.
The impressive performance is hampered somewhat by the brand experience. The app feels basic and a little unintuitive. The instructions provided for setup aren't clear enough for lawnbot newbies – who should also note that finding a good spot for your charge station and RTK receiver is key. During tests I also found the bot would sometimes lose connection, needing to be carried back to within Wi-Fi range before it could be instructed.
Nevertheless, once I'd managed to get everything up and running, I found myself forgetting the minor pain of setup very quickly. I really can't overstate how much time and effort this little bot has saved over the past few weeks, and the lawn looks neater than ever. Overall, for the price it's a very solid investment.
That's the short version; read on for my full Mammotion Yuka Mini review.
(Image credit: Future)
Mammotion Yuka Mini review: price & versions
List price: from $1,099 / £849 / AU$1,499
Launched: February 2025
Available: US, UK, AU, Europe
In the US, you have a few options in the Yuka Mini range. The equivalent to the model I've reviewed here is the Mini S, which costs $1,099 and is designed for yards of 0.15 acres / 600 square meters in size. Alternatively, you can opt for a H-series model, which can deal with taller grass. In that line is the Mini 600H for $1,099 or the Mini 800H for $1,299.
In the UK and Australia, you have the Mini 600 (reviewed here) for £849 / AU$1,499. If you have a slightly larger garden, you can go for the Yuka Mini 800 for £1,049 / AU$1,899. I've spotted discounts in all territories; it's not too difficult to avoid paying full whack if you're patient.
While not an especially cheap purchase, I think it offers decent value for money. Build quality is solid and performance is reliable, and this compact lawnbot really is a big effort-saver.
In terms of rival brands, Husqvarna's bots are geared towards larger yards. At time of writing, it has its Automower 115H (which can mow up to 0.4 acres) for $699.99, then prices hop straight up to $1,999.99 for the Automower 415X (up to 0.37 acres).
The Eufy E15 is suitable for yards up to 0.2 acres and is much pricier, at $1,799.99 / £1,499. However, it's a different kind of bot because it uses self-drive car tech rather than satellites to navigate, and therefore is significantly easier to set up.
Value for money score: 4 out of 5
Mammotion Yuka Mini specs
Product:
Yuka Mini S (US) / Yuka Mini 600 (UK)
Recommended lawn size:
0.15 acres / 600㎡
Max lawn size:
0.2 acres / 800㎡
Cutting width:
7.5in / 19cm
Cutting height:
0.8-2.4in / 2-6cm
Drivetrain:
2-wheel drive
Max zones:
15
Incline ability:
50% / 27 degrees
Waterproof:
IPX6
Lawnbot size (L x W x H):
20.7 x 16.3 x 11.1in / 52.5 x 41.3 x 28.1cm
Lawnbot weight:
23.4 lbs / 10.6kg
Mowing area per charge:
0.04 acres / 150㎡
Charge time:
90 mins
Mowing time per charge:
55 mins
Mammotion Yuka Mini review: design
Relatively compact, lightweight bot with five cutting blades
Comes with an RTK receiver and charge station (garage roof is extra)
AI-equipped, front-mounted camera for object avoidance
The Mammotion Yuka setup comprises three elements: a charge station, an RTK receiver and the lawnbot itself.
Let's start with the robot. It's fairly compact in size, with a plastic upper shell and two chunky, deep-tread wheels to help it traverse uneven ground. On the top is a large control panel that includes a knob to manually adjust cutting height, some simple press buttons, and a big red emergency stop button. There's also an AI-powered camera to help with object identification and avoidance. The whole thing is waterproof to IPX-6 (i.e. it will be fine even in a downpour).
Flip it over and you'll find two smaller front wheels and a spinning cutting deck that holds five ultra-sharp blades. Mammotion has thoughtfully included a ridged grip section at the front and back – well away from those blades – to enable you to safely and securely pick up the robot, if you need to move it past an area that isn't accessible by driving. It's compact and light enough that most able-bodied people should be able to carry it without too much trouble.
The battery tucks in the back of the bot and is detachable, should you need to replace it further down the line.
(Image credit: Future)
The charge station is where the bot returns to dock. It's a black plastic base with raised charge contacts, and plastic ground screws are provided to secure it into the ground. It's potentially worth investing in a "garage roof" to provide protection; despite being waterproof, prolonged exposure to the elements will surely limit the lawnbot's lifespan in the longer term.
You'll want to think about where the charge station will live before buying. It can't go just anywhere, but the literature that comes with the lawnbot isn't great at explaining this. The charge station needs to be somewhere relatively flat, with a clear route to mowing areas, and access to a power outlet. While it doesn't need line-of-sight to the lawnbot (it will communicate via radio signal), it does need at least some view of the sky, so that the bot can talk to the satellites when docked. I struggled to find somewhere suitable initially.
(Image credit: Future)
Finally, the RTK station. This essentially helps make the satellite positioning data more accurate, and is important if you don't want your bot to end up in a flower bed. It looks like a small-ish rounded dome with an antenna protruding downwards – not too obtrusive, but I set it up in my parents' garden and the feedback from my mum was that she wished it wasn't white, because it sticks out too much and spoils her view. (I think she has a point.)
You'll also want to figure out where the RTK station will live before making your purchase. It's best positioned high up, with a clear view of the sky in as many directions as possible. It also needs to be connected to a power source.
There is an option that means you don't need to install the RTK receiver. The Yuka Mini can map and navigate using a "NetRTK and 4G module" – at the time of writing it's free to use, but this added functionality typically comes with a subscription fee. I did not test this option, and I'm not sure if it's suitable for any garden or if there are requirements.
Design score: 4.5 out of 5
Mammotion Yuka Mini review: performance
Neat, even cutting and impressively quiet in use
Navigation was accurate throughout my testing period
Setup and initial use can be confusing if you're not familiar with lawnbots
Moving on to how well the Yuka Mini performed in practice. I'll start with setup, and the results of my cutting tests.
Setup
The Yuka Mini was the first robot lawn mower I'd tested, and I found initial setup rather painful. Information is lacking from Mammotion (I feel this area could do with improvement), so if you're in this boat too, prepare to do a bit of independent research before embarking on setup. The key things are to find a good spot for your charge station and RTK receiver, as I've discussed above.
With that done, it's a case of mapping your space. There are two options here: manual (for complex mowing areas) and automatic (for simple areas with clear boundaries). My parents' yard, where I tested this bot, includes various grassy areas. The main one includes uneven areas of green, large mid-lawn beds, and has a brook running down one side, so I mapped it manually.
This involved driving the bot carefully around the perimeter of the lawn, using my phone as the remote control. Once I was done, I added no-go zones around any fixed obstructions (trees, beds, patio areas) within the lawn, again by driving over and around them. If you're used to robot vacuums, this mapping process feels much more old-school, but there's no denying it's pretty fun.
(Image credit: Future)
The yard at the front of the house is simpler, with no waterways for the bot to fall into, so I took a chance on automatic mapping. I was impressed – the lawnbot mapped the space quickly and figured out the borders of the beds accurately. Note that you can't map very small areas.
I added routes between connected areas, to enable the bot to find its way back to the base. For some areas – for example, that front yard – it wasn't possible to create a path back to the charge station. I was still able to map and mow these areas, but I had to carry the robot back to the charge base area once it was done, and it would yell at me that the robot was tilted as I did so.
(Image credit: Future)
Cutting and navigation performance
I was very impressed with this robot's cutting performance. It mowed each lawn zone neatly and evenly, leaving faux stripes in its path. It appeared to take a logical path, too, mowing in parallel lines over the main body of each lawn area and then looping around the perimeter to catch the edges.
There were very occasionally narrow strips between lines that remained uncut, but these could be taken care of by remote-control mowing after the task was complete, or (more commonly for me) left to be caught on the next mowing session.
The Yuka Mini also proved very quiet in operation, and significantly quieter than a traditional mower. I was able to happily sit on a sun lounger on the patio and read my book while it took care of the adjacent lawn – surely, the ideal scenario anyone is hoping for when they purchase one of these.
(Image credit: Future)
Once everything was set up properly, I didn't encounter any issues with navigation; the lawnbot never got lost or ended up somewhere it should not be, and it reliably returned to its base once a task was complete – or if it ran out of juice mid-mow. It had no trouble traversing really quite steep ground, and was able to mow quite close to the sloped edge of the brook without taking a dip. (Initially, I left a large border for fear the Yuka Mini would go for a swim, but once I'd used it for a while and seen how well it navigated, I shifted the perimeter closer to the water.)
Object avoidance is solid, too. If I stood in front of the bot while it was mowing, it would duly pause and make its way around me before continuing.
Performance score: 4 out of 5
Mammotion Yuka Mini review: app
App is fine but on the basic side, and lacks some fine-tuned controls
Not the most logical layout, with some functions hard to find
Functional, once you've figured out the quirks
Most control for the Yuka Mini comes via the companion app. Overall I found it fine, but not amazing. I'm more used to testing robot vacuums, and in comparison to most of the robovac apps I've used, the Mammotion app felt a little clunky and simplistic. Settings aren't always where you'd expect to find them; there were some spelling errors in the text (not the end of the world, but indicative of a lack of care); and the instructions weren't always clear.
For example, the bot is apparently designed to straddle the edges of paths, so you don't end up with an uncut border. I expected this to be an option you could toggle on or off in the app, but it's not. (It's only suitable for paths that are perfectly flat, and the ones in my test yard don't fit this requirement.) There's a decent range of adjustment options, but they're a little tucked away and not accessible if the bot has lost connection to the internet.
The map is also very simplistic; just a cutting area, with nothing else specified. I imagined you might be able to indicate a tree, a flower bed or a pond – if not to adjust how the lawnbot behaves at that border, then at least to help you understand where you are on the map. This is not an option, however.
I found if I was a long way from the lawnbot, the app would regularly lose contact. If the robot wasn't cutting at the time, I'd have to carry the bot back to within Wi-Fi range before I could instruct it. If it was cutting at the time, it would continue on with its task, but I couldn't watch its progress. This felt a little risky, although I guess I'd only be getting very basic information anyway.
All that said, once I'd figured out where things were, the app was usable and did what I needed it to. Middling marks.
App score: 3 out of 5
Should you buy the Mammotion Yuka Mini?
Attribute
Notes
Rating
Value
Not cheap, but relatively affordable in the market, and there are deals to be had. Product feels high quality.
4 / 5
Design
Relatively compact and lightweight lawnbot. Navigates using satellites and an RTK receiver, although there is also a paid-for 4G navigation option.
4.5 / 5
Performance
Neat, quiet and thorough mowing, and reliable navigation and object avoidance. Setup a little confusing.
4 / 5
App
Rather basic, slightly unintuitive and lacks fine controls, although generally does what you need it to do.
3 / 5
Buy it if...
You have a small to medium-sized yard The Yuka Mini I tested is designed for spaces of around 0.15 acres / 600㎡ in size, and there's also a version for up to 0.2 acres / 800㎡. The relatively compact design won't overwhelm a smaller yard.
You're looking for something affordable A lot of lawnbots cost thousands, whereas this bot is far more affordable – especially if you snag one of the semi-regular deals.
Don't buy it if...
You want the crème de la crème of the range This little bot performed great in my tests, but it isn't as advanced as the Mammotion Luba 2, which has all the latest bells and whistles you could hope for.
You have a very large yard The bot I tested is designed for yards of around 0.15 acres / 600㎡, although alternatives in the Yuka Mini range can manage up to 0.2 acres / 800㎡. There are plenty of options that cater to bigger yards, offering wider cutting decks and longer runtimes, if that won't suffice.
You're a total technophobe I found setup a little painful, and the basic app and lack of clear instructions from Mammotion don't help. If you want a lawnbot that will do it all for you, take a look at the Dreame E15.
Mammotion Yuka Mini: alternatives to consider
Mammotion Yuka Mini 600
Mammotion LUBA 2 AWD 1000
Recommended lawn size:
0.15 acres / 600㎡
0.25 acres / 1,000㎡
Max lawn size:
0.2 acres / 800㎡
0.3 acres / 1,012㎡
Cutting width:
7.5in / 19cm
15.7in / 40cm
Cutting height:
0.8-2.4in / 2-6cm, mechanical
1 - 2.7in / 2.5-7cm, motorized
Drivetrain:
Two-wheel drive
All-wheel drive
Max zones:
15
10
Incline ability:
50% (27°)
80% (38°)
Waterproof:
IPX6
IPX6 & IPX7
Lawnbot size (L x W x H):
20.7 x 16.3 x 11.1in / 52.5 x 41.3 x 28.1cm
27.2 x 20.2 x 10.7in / 69 x 51.3 x 27.3cm
Lawnbot weight:
23.4lbs / 10.6kg
37.7lbs / 17.1 kg
Mow time per charge:
55 mins
120 mins
Mammotion LUBA 2 robot mower
The LUBA is an altogether fancier, more tech-packed option from Mammotion. There are various versions that can manage large yards, and it offers longer runtimes and four-wheel drive for trickier terrain.
I set up the Mammotion Yuka Mini in my parents' yard, which includes three main grassy areas. There are various obstacles, including patio areas, beds in the middle of the lawn, trees and a brook. I set it up using the instructions provided (supplemented by my own research, when that didn't go to plan), mapped the area, and ran several mowing tests over the course of a few days. It was then used as the primary mower over the course of the month that followed, with me visiting regularly to check on progress. I assessed it based on the neatness of cutting, accuracy of navigation, and ease of use.
I must admit I wasn’t a huge fan of the Saucony Ride 17. While it was a solid all-rounder, I found the internal molding quite intrusive and it always felt like I was wearing a support shoe rather than a neutral trainer. In the end, it just didn’t work for me, and I passed it on to a friend (who loved it!).
As a result, I was hesitant to try the Ride 18, even though I knew it was a popular model with plenty of great credentials, but I was pleasantly surprised. With just a few subtle tweaks, Saucony has created a far more comfortable shoe which seems to mold to my feet perfectly.
It just goes to show that small changes can make all the difference. Increased structure in the upper, a touch more heel cushioning and bonus foam content are particular highlights. Best of all, the trainer comes at an affordable price, meaning it’s a great value-for-money workhorse, perfect for those easy and long runs.
Much like Brooks Ghost, the Ride 18 is likely to remain a firm favorite for those looking for a cushioned ride. It’s been a complete game changer for me and the Ride 18 is now my go-to road shoe for easy runs and everyday training.
Saucony Ride 18 review: Specifications
Component
Saucony Ride 18
Weight
Around 228g (Womens) 259g (Men’s)
Upper
Engineered mesh with inner sleeve
Midsole
PWRRUN+Foam
Outsole
Durable Rubber
Heel-to-toe drop
8mm
Saucony Ride 18 review: Price and availability
$145 USD / £130 GBP / AU$239.99
Affordable considering it's a workhorse
Frequently found on sale
The Saucony Ride 18 is one of the more affordable road shoes. Priced at $145 USD / £130 GBP / AU$239.99, it can be found at discounted prices, but limited sizes are available.
The Saucony Ride 18 retains much of the DNA that made its predecessor popular, yet introduces a series of subtle refinements that combine to deliver a more responsive and comfortable ride. The trainer still employs an 8mm heel-to-toe drop, a specification that appeals to runners seeking a balanced transition without the feeling of a pronounced incline. Underfoot, the PWRRUN+ midsole material has been enhanced with additional cushioning foam, resulting in improved energy return despite a marginal reduction in overall weight. This increased foam content not only makes the shoe feel livelier underfoot, but also boosts the comfort factor.
A closer look at the outsole reveals more pronounced grooving compared with the Ride 17. The more numerous flex grooves provide enhanced grip on a variety of surfaces and encourage a more stable, confident stride. The redesigned tread pattern also appears more wear-resistant, suggesting it will maintain performance over a longer lifespan.
Above the midsole, the engineered knit upper has been reworked to offer greater stretch and conformity around the foot. The device-knit construction wraps the midfoot snugly, eliminating the noticeable internal arch of the previous model and providing a smoother, more uniform pressure distribution. An extra layer of padding in the heel collar further secures the foot in place, preventing slippage without causing discomfort or hotspots during extended runs.
In the forefoot, the generous yet not cumbersome toe-box volume allows natural toe splay without feeling loose. The tongue padding has been optimized to strike a balance between comfort and minimalism, offering enough cushioning to prevent lace-bite without bulking up. The lace system now includes an additional eyelet, enabling various lockdown configurations for a personalized fit. The heel pull-tab has been removed, but this always appeared to be superfluous to me, anyway.
Overall, the Ride 18’s design updates – enhanced foam, refined tread, adaptive upper and tailored fit – combine into a package that feels soft, light and supportive.
Design score: 4/5
Saucony Ride 18 review: Performance
(Image credit: Lily Canter)
Solid track shoe
Handles light trails as well as roads
Good for most distances
I put the Saucony Ride 18 through its paces on both my regular road runs and interval track sessions, where I was doing 400m and 800m reps, or pacing athletes to smash 5k PBs. On the track, the shoe felt exceptionally smooth and consistent, offering just enough pop from the responsive midsole to sustain a metronomic pace without fatigue. Transitions from heel to toe remained fluid, even when shifting speeds between repeats.
Despite its track prowess, the Ride 18 proved versatile enough for road outings and light trail adventures. The reliable cushioning and grip inspired confidence on varied surfaces, making the pair trustworthy for anything from a brisk parkrun to a 20-mile long run. The outsole’s traction handled damp tarmac and gravel alike.
Although capable in general interval sessions, the Ride 18 does still lack the ultra-lightweight feel and snappy responsiveness of a dedicated racing flat or carbon-plated shoe (but then again, it’s not designed for this kind of running). But for everyday training, tempo runs and mixed-surface routes it strikes an impressive balance of comfort, stability and performance.
Performance score: 4.5/5
Saucony Ride 18: Should I buy?
Buy it if...
You value everyday versatility
The Ride 18 adapts from road to light trail, and from speed to easy running, without missing a beat, making it your go-to trainer for mixed workouts.
You appreciate consistent cushioning
Its balanced PWRRUN Plus midsole delivers a soft, reliable bounce mile after mile, keeping your legs feeling fresh.
You need a snug, secure fit
An adaptive knit upper and padded heel collar hold your foot comfortably in place, so you can focus on your stride.
Don't buy it if...
You demand razor-sharp responsiveness
For race-day flats or super-snappy speed sessions, the Ride 18 feels a touch too plush and mellow.
You’re tackling ultras
While it’s durable, the cushioning isn’t as luxurious as specialist long-distance models, so your feet may tire on very long runs.
You prefer hardcore off-road
For technical trails or deep mud, you’ll want deeper lugs and reinforced protection that this pair can’t provide.
If you enjoy drip coffee, this machine should be right at the top of your list. Sold under the brand name Sage in the UK, and Breville elsewhere in the world, the Luxe Brewer Thermal is a compact machine that does the basics extremely well, while also offering a set of carefully curated customization options, yet never making things unnecessarily complicated.
As the name suggests, one of the Luxe Brewer Thermal's standout features is its insulated carafe, which is the best I've ever used. All companies claim that their double-walled carafes will keep your freshly brewed drinks hot for hours on end, but this one actually does. Even four hours after brewing, the outside of the jug was cold to the touch and the coffee within remained the optimal temperature for drinking, despite having prepared a half quantity (larger volumes hold their heat even better).
Want to wake up to freshly brewed coffee? There's a delayed start timer, too, which can be easily set in a couple of seconds.
The Luxe Brewer Thermal offers hot and cold brewing, with customizable brew settings (Image credit: Future)
The removable water tank is another great feature, and is easy to lift away for refilling at the sink. No more struggling to pour water into your machine when it's on the kitchen counter. The only downside is that the tank's handle is quite small and not particularly ergonomic, although that's quite a minor quibble.
The handles on the carafe and basket assembly are far more robust, and the machine is supplied with flat-bottomed and cone-shaped filters so you can make your choice depending on how large a batch you're planning to prepare. A handy printed guide will help you pick the appropriate shape, as well as measure out the optimum quantities of ground coffee and water.
You can tweak hot brewing options (including brew time and temperature) or try cold-brewing your coffee over 24 hours for a more sweet and mellow flavor.
There's nothing excessively complicated here – just the fundamentals executed extremely well. If you're a filter fan, you won't be disappointed.
Sage Luxe Brewer Thermal: price and availability
The Sage Luxe Brewer Thermal (known as the Breville Luxe Brewer Thermal outside the UK) launched in June 2025 with a list price of $349.95 / £249.95. It isn't sold in Australia at the time of writing, but will soon be available for AU$579. You'll find today's best deals listed below.
In the US, the Luxe Brewer Thermal launched alongside the Luxe Brewer Glass, which (as its name suggests) comes with a glass jug rather than an insulated carafe. The Luxe Brewer Glass is slightly cheaper, at $319.95.
For American coffee-drinkers, this is about the same price as the Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker, which costs $365. The Aiden has some advanced features such as automatic water temperature adjustment and bloom time, which the Luxe Brewer Thermal lacks. However, in my experience, the Aiden doesn't have such a well-insulated carafe. During tests, coffee brewed with the Aiden began to go noticeably cold within an hour.
In the UK, the Aiden is considerably more expensive than the Luxe Brewer Thermal, with a list price of £365.
Sage Luxe Brewer Thermal: specifications
Dimensions (H x W x D)
16 x 14.7 x 7 inches / 40.77 x 37.24 x 17.7cm
Weight
10.3lbs / 4.68kg
Water tank capacity
60floz / 1.7 liters
Filter baskets
Two (cone and flat-bottomed)
Brewing modes
Two (hot and cold)
Timer
Yes
Insulated carafe
Yes
Hotplate
No
Sage Luxe Brewer Thermal: design
The Sage Luxe Brewer Thermal is a smart, modern-looking drip coffee machine with a brushed metallic finish and a surprisingly small footprint (just 14.7 x 7 inches / 37.24 x 17.7cm), which makes it a good option for compact kitchens. If you like the idea of having a drip machine alongside your espresso maker, but had been wondering how to fit it in, it could be the perfect solution.
One of its best features is its removeable water tank, which you can easily carry to the sink to refill. Its wide opening makes it easy to fill without spills and splashes. The tank has a small handle on the side that's just large enough to loop a finger through. It helps with removing the tank from the machine, but isn't enough to support its weight once full, so you'll need to support the tank with your other hand.
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The Luxe Brewer Thermal has a removable water tank, which is very convenient, although its handle is quite small (Image credit: Future)
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The machine is supplied with a filter, and replacements are available to buy direct from Sage (Image credit: Future)
For users with mobility issues, it might have been nice if the tank had a larger, more ergonomic handle like those on the basket and carafe, which are both robust and easy to carry (even when the carafe is full).
The Luxe Brewer Thermal is supplied with a water hardness testing strip (the results of which are used for the machine's initial configuration) and a water filter that connects to an adapter and pushes into the bottom of the tank. Most filter machines I've tested don't come with a filter, so this is an added boon.
The machine cones with a reusable mesh flat-bottomed filter, plus filter papers if you want easier cleanup and finer filtering (Image credit: Future)
The machine comes with two filter baskets – one cone and one flat-bottomed – plus a set of flat-bottomed filter papers, and a reusable mesh cone filter. The instructions warn you to use either paper filters or the mesh one, but not both together. Cone filter papers are readily available from supermarkets, so I don't think it's a problem that these aren't supplied.
The Luxe Brewer Thermal is available in several different colors, although your options will vary depending on where you buy it. In the UK, it's only available in Stainless Steel; but coffee fans in the US can also choose Black Truffle, Sea Salt (white), Damson Blue, and Olive Tapenade. When it launches in Australia, it will be available in Stainless Steel and Black Truffle.
Sage Luxe Brewer Thermal: performance
The Sage Luxe Brewer Thermal is super simple to set up and use. You start by using the water testing strip to determine the hardness of your tap water; then soak the water filter in water for five minutes, fit its adapter, and twist it into place at the bottom of the water tank. You'll then be able to set the water hardness on the machine, along with the time, which will be used for the delayed start function. Allow it to run a quick rinse cycle, and you're ready to brew.
Using the Luxe Brewer Thermal is pretty self-explanatory, particularly thanks to a chart that lists how much water and ground coffee to use when brewing a particular number of cups, and whether to use the cone or flat-bottomed basket.
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The lid of the carafe can be locked to prevent accidental pouring (Image credit: Future)
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The carafe is extremely well insulated, keeping freshly brewed coffee hot for hours (Image credit: Future)
Once you've hit "brew", the machine will quickly and quietly get to work; the only particularly noticeable noise comes at the end of the brewing cycle, when the pump is draining the last few dregs of water from the tank. Once complete, the Luxe Brewer Thermal will beep to let you know your coffee is ready.
The thermal carafe is particularly impressive. The more coffee you brew, the better it will hold its heat. Having said that, even when I prepared only half a carafe, the contents were still at 149ºC / 65ºF after four hours. That's slightly hotter than you'd want for drinking immediately without a splash of cold milk. In fact, the first time I used the Luxe Brewer Thermal, I wasn't sure it had actually finished because even though it was full of piping-hot coffee, the outside of the jug was cold to the touch.
Once you've brewed a pot, the machine’s display will show how long ago it was made, which is handy for households with multiple coffee-drinkers.
Brew settings are adjustable if you want to tweak the flavor of your coffee, with options including bloom time and brew temperature (Image credit: Future)
I also like its large, ergonomically designed handle, which matches that of the brew basket assembly, and makes it easy to carry and pour even when full.
The default settings worked very well with my freshly bought and ground beans, but if you find the flavor isn't quite to your taste, selecting the "custom" option will let you tweak the bloom volume (the amount of hot water dispensed onto the ground coffee for pre-infusion), bloom time (how long the coffee is allowed to pre-infuse), brew temperature, and flow rate (how rapidly the water is dispensed onto the coffee).
The Sage Luxe Brewer Thermal is also capable of cold-brewing, but you might not be able to see this option on the screen at first. That's because the coffee needs to steep in the basket for 24 hours, and the basket has a maximum capacity of four cups. If there's too much water in the machine's tank, it won't be offered.
The Sage Luxe Brewer Thermal has a dedicated button for delayed start. Just tap it, use the dial to set the timer, and it's ready to go (Image credit: Future)
Before cold-brewing, you'll be prompted to remove the lid from the carafe so the water remains in the brew basket, and the timer will begin counting down. Once the 24 hours are up, you can position the lidded carafe to release your brew. As you would expect from cold-brew made the conventional way, the flavor is pleasingly rounded and rich, with a sweeter profile than coffee prepared hot.
It's simple, but very well executed, like all of this machine's features. Although there’s a selection of customization options, there are no unnecessary frills. Drip coffee shouldn’t be complicated, and with the Luxe Brewer Thermal, it isn’t.
Should you buy the Sage Luxe Brewer Thermal
Buy it if
You really enjoy drip coffee
The Luxe Brewer Thermal will do your beans justice, and keep your batch brew hot for hours without stewing it on a hotplate. You can fine-tune brew settings if you want; but, ultimately, it keeps things simple and does them very well.
You enjoy authentic cold-brew
There's no shortage of coffee makers that claim to make authentic-tasting cold-brewed coffee, but the Luxe Brewer Thermal does it the traditional way by steeping the grounds for 24 hours. It's easy, convenient, and makes virtually no mess.
Don't buy it if
You want a traditional-looking batch brewer
The Luxe Brewer Thermal has a distinctly modern look with its brushed metal finish and clean lines. If you want a more conventional-looking brewer, take a look at the Moccamaster KBGV Select instead (see below).
You want the cheapest option
The Luxe Brewer Thermal carries a mid-range price tag, and there are definitely cheaper options available, although they don't offer the same performance.
Sage Luxe Brewer Thermal: also consider
If you're not sure whether the Sage Luxe Brewer Thermal is the right coffee maker for you, here are two other options to consider:
Moccamaster KBGV Select
The Moccamaster comes highly recommended if you want a more striking machine, although it relies on a hotplate rather than an insulated carafe to keep your drink hot, and stewing for 100 minutes can have a detrimental effect on the taste of your drink.
I really wanted to love the super-smart Aiden, which automatically calculates the optimum brew settings for your beans, but it's let down by an insulated carafe that just doesn't hold the heat like the Luxe Brewer Thermal's pitcher.
I used the Sage Luxe Brewer Thermal with tap water and the supplied water filter, with the machine set to the recommended water hardness setting. I used freshly bought coffee from a local roaster (a blend of Brazilian and Columbian beans), ground at home immediately before using.
I used the machine on its default hot brewing settings, then experimented with adjusting options including bloom temperature, bloom time, and brew temperatures. I also used the delayed start function to start brewing first thing in the morning, and used the cold-brew function several times, comparing the taste of coffee brewed this way to prepared hot.
After brewing a batch of hot coffee, I tested the temperature every hour with a chef's thermometer to see how well the carafe retained heat.
