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The Logitech G522 Lightspeed delivers high-end performance at an attractive price – here’s why it’s my new gaming headset of choice in 2025
5:39 pm | August 13, 2025

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

Logitech G522 Lightspeed: Two-minute review

The Logitech G522 Lightspeed is a very strong contender in the mid-range price bracket, delivering impressive audio performance.

Sound is crisp and clear, which makes it a good fit for everything from competitive shooters like Marvel Rivals and Counter-Strike 2 to more immersive single-player experiences à la The Last of Us Part 1. The headphones also support DTX Headphone:X on PC, provided you install the separate DTS Sound Unbound app, which offers very strong spatial audio.

My one complaint is that the bass is quite flat out of the box. It’s not bad by any means, but makes punchier music sound a little lifeless. Luckily, this is easily fixed with a quick trip to the expansive Logitech G Hub software which offers in-depth EQ customization with the option to select from a number of preset profiles, download settings from the community, or create your own.

The removable microphone is also no slouch, with high-quality sound to rival some of the best microphones for streaming. Whether you’re chatting with friends, communicating with your online team, or sending a quick voice message, it offers pristine, professional recordings that mean you won’t ever struggle to come through clearly.

It’s all wrapped up in a stylish design with a soft, adjustable headband and comfortable memory foam earcups. There are even two attractive RGB lighting zones on the outside of each earcup, both offering four LEDs that can be adjusted with a wide range of colors and animations. The headset feels good to wear, but does tend to look quite big and bulky on camera - and might be a poor fit if you have a particularly small head.

In spite of this, it’s easy to recommend the Logitech G522 Lightspeed. It manages to rival some of the best PC gaming headsets right now and, thanks to its PlayStation compatibility, is up there with the best PS5 headsets too.

The Logitech G522 Lightspeed wireless gaming headset.

(Image credit: Future)

Logitech G522 Lightspeed: Price and availability

  • Costs $159.99 / £139.99 / AU$229
  • Available via Logitech
  • Also at Amazon and other retailers

The Logitech G522 Lightspeed costs $159.99 / £139.99 and is available via Logitech. It can also be purchased from a wide range of retailers including Amazon and Best Buy in the US and Amazon, Currys and Argos in the UK. In Australia, it can be purchased at Amazon.

At this mid-range price point it comes in significantly cheaper than more premium wireless models like the Astro A50 X or Turtle Beach Stealth Pro, but more expensive than budget wired options such as the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1.

Its biggest competitors are the likes of the Razer BlackShark V3 or SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless - which both deliver similarly good audio performance. The stronger microphone and unique look of the Logitech G522 Lightspeed make it a good alternative, however, and give you a compelling reason to choose it instead.

Logitech G522 Lightspeed: Specs

Price

$159.99 / £139.99 / AU$229

Weight

10.23oz / 290g

Compatibility

PC, PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, Android, iOS

Connection type

Bluetooth, Lightspeed Wireless, Wired USB-C

Battery life

40 hrs (default lighting), 90hrs (RGB off)

Features

Detachable 48kHz / 16 bit omni microphone, Lightsync RGB

Software

Logitech G Hub (PC) / Logitech G app (mobile)

Logitech G522 Lightspeed: Design and features

  • Attractive white or black colorways
  • Comfortable, soft earcups
  • Looks a bit bulky

Like other Logitech G headsets, the Logitech G522 Lightspeed is primarily constructed from plastic.

Despite this it doesn’t seem particularly cheap in the hands, though alternatives like the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 do feel slightly more premium thanks to the incorporation of metal elements.

It’s not the lightest headset around at 10.23oz / 290g, but still manages to be extremely comfortable thanks to its large, cushioned over-ear earcups and adjustable cloth headband.

All of the expected controls are present, which is to say a power switch (accompanied by a small LED indicator), Bluetooth pairing button, a volume rocker, and microphone mute switch. I really appreciate the simplicity of this setup in a world of gaming headsets filled with extraneous features.

They’re all in one convenient location on the outside of the left earcup and the buttons are well spaced out with a variety of different tactile feels, like ridges on the microphone mute button, that make the controls easy to operate without looking.

There’s also a standard USB Type-C port for both charging and wired play, plus a small 3.5mm to attach the removable microphone. It’s made of a flexible, rubbery material that can be twisted into your desired position and even features a small red LED on its tip that illuminates when the microphone is muted - a convenient way to check its status at a glance

The Logitech G522 Lightspeed wireless gaming headset.

(Image credit: Future)

The headset offers Bluetooth connectivity, ideal if you want to use it with your phone or a Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2, and comes with a USB dongle to enable Logitech’s proprietary Lightspeed wireless connectivity.

The headset is available in both white and black colorways. Each offers customizable RGB lighting on the outside of the earcup, with a total of eight light zones that you can tweak. It’s a great looking headset on the whole, but definitely on the larger and more bulky side when worn.

It looks massive on my head, which is fine for gaming but makes it a bit awkward to wear to video meetings. Thankfully this doesn't affect the comfort.

The Logitech G522 Lightspeed wireless gaming headset.

(Image credit: Future)

Logitech G522 Lightspeed: Performance

The Logitech G522 Lightspeed offers good performance out of the box, whether you’re playing on PC or PS5. It’s quick and easy to set up and delivers clear and crisp sound with an impressive level of depth. My only real complaint is that the bass is on the flatter side, but this is only really noticeable when you’re listening to music or playing a game with a particularly punchy soundtrack.

Thankfully, this is easy to remedy in the compatible Logitech G Hub software as it offers an impressive number of customization options including the ability to create your own detailed equaliser (EQ) setting. I’d personally recommend cranking the low frequencies (20Hz, 50Hz and 125Hz) up by 3dB, 2dB, and 1dB respectively then adding 0.5dB at the higher end for a well-rounded sound profile that excels no matter what you throw at it.

There are also a number of presets available, including a bass boost mode, gaming mode, dedicated FPS mode, and a media mode, plus the option to browse and download a number of community creations. You can save up to three profiles directly on the headset too, so once you’ve found your favorite setup you can carry it across to any platform with ease.

The headset is also fully compatible with DTS Headphone:X spatial audio, which is turned on through the separate DTS Sound Unbound PC app. Turning it on leads to a slightly sharper and louder sound, but the trade-off is accompanied by a much more immersive sense of depth that’s ideal for atmospheric, single-player gaming.

This level of fine tuning also extends to the microphone, which is an impressively high-fidelity 48kHz beast. It picks up your voice clearly and cleanly, though tends to let in background noise. Enabling the noise reduction features in the Logitech G Hub software cleans this up tremendously though, and leaves you with stellar results suitable for chatting on a call or even streaming.

The Logitech G Hub desktop application.

(Image credit: Logitech)

In terms of battery life, the Logitech G522 Lightspeed isn’t shabby but certainly not as strong as market leaders like the absurd 300+ hour battery of the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless. Logitech promises up to 90 hours with RGB disabled, or 40 hours with it on, but these estimates seem on the conservative side.

I generally managed well over 40 hours of use (with RGB enabled) which is going to be more than enough for most. I’ve only needed to charge this headset a few times in the multiple months that I’ve been using it, so I’ve got no complaints here.

Should I buy the Logitech G522 Lightspeed?

The Logitech G522 Lightspeed wireless gaming headset.

(Image credit: Future)

Buy it if...

You want a strong performer
With clear and crisp sound right out of the box, the Logitech G522 Lightspeed is an excellent choice if you’re after great performance. A few tweaks to its audio profile in the compatible software makes it sound even better, too.

You need a killer mic
The microphone delivers fantastic, high-fidelity recordings. It’s really excellent, especially at this price, and would be a good fit for those that love chatting with friends or streaming.

You crave the spatial audio
The Logitech G522 Lightspeed is fully compatible with DTX Headphone:X spatial audio so is worth getting if you’re keen to get into the immersive world of spatial sound.

Don't buy it if...

You’re after more features
The Logitech G522 Lightspeed has a no-nonsense feature set, but if you’re after something more adventurous or the likes of active noise cancellation (ANC), you need to look at other options such as the more expensive Razer BlackShark V3 Pro.

Also consider...

Not sold on the Logitech G522 Lightspeed? Here are two other options to weigh up.

Logitech G522 Lightspeed

Razer BlackShark V3 Pro

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5

Price

$159.99 / £139.99 / AU$229

$249.99 / £249.99 / around AU$510

$129.99 / £129.99 / AU$139.95

Weight

0.63lbs / 290g

0.81lbs / 367g

9.5oz / 266g

Compatibility

PC, PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, Android, iOS

PC, Xbox Series X, PS5 (Xbox version), PC and PS5 (PC/PS5 version), iOS, Android

Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac, Mobile

Connection type

Bluetooth, Lightspeed Wireless, Wired USB-C

Bluetooth, 2.4GHz wireless (HyperSpeed dongle)

Wireless (2.4GHz via dongle), Wired (USB-C), Bluetooth 5.3

Battery life

40 hrs (default lighting), 90hrs (RGB off)

70 hours

Up to 60 hours

Features

Detachable 48kHz / 16 bit omni microphone, Lightsync RGB

Detachable microphone, hybrid active noise cancellation

360-degree spatial audio, retractable ClearCast 2.X mic

Software

Logitech G Hub (PC) / Logitech G app (mobile)

Razer Synapse

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Companion App (mobile), SteelSeries GG

Razer BlackShark V3 Pro
The Razer BlackShark V3 Pro is more expensive than the Logitech G522 Lightspeed, but offers Active Noise Cancellation. There’s also a dedicated Xbox version, which is compatible with every major platform.

For more information, check out our full Razer BlackShark V3 Pro review

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5
Coming in at roughly the same price as the Logitech G522 Lightspeed, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 is the mid-range headset to beat. The G522 has a better microphone, but the Nova 5 is more widely compatible and lighter.

For more information, check out our full SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 review

How I tested the Logitech G522 Lightspeed

  • Used for multiple months
  • Tested with PC and PS5
  • Tried the Logitech G Hub software

I tested the Logitech G522 for multiple months, using a sample provided by Logitech at a pre-reveal product briefing. I tested the headset extensively with both PC and PS5, using it for the vast majority of my gaming. Most recently this included my full playthrough of Mafia: The Old Country, plenty of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, and more.

Throughout my time with the headset, I compared my experience to that of my hands-on testing of a wide range of other audio products. This included similarly priced options like the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5, plus more expensive alternatives such as the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro and Astro A50 X.

I took full advantage of the compatible Logitech G Hub software, experimenting with all of the available settings and customization options in order to assess their performance.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed August 2025

Drag x Drive is a decently entertaining hooping experience – but bland visuals and tiring controls mean it’s not the slam dunk Nintendo hoped for
3:00 pm |

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

I think it’s fair to say that when April’s hotly anticipated Nintendo Direct swung around, Drag x Drive wasn’t on anyone's bingo card. Yes, one of the initial first-party releases on the Nintendo Switch 2 isn’t only a sports title – but one that’s based on wheelchair basketball.

Review info

Platform reviewed: Nintendo Switch 2
Available on: Nintendo Switch 2 only
Release date: August 14, 2025

Drag x Drive is, at its core, a game intended to show off the enhanced capabilities of the Joy-Con 2. In particular, their mouse controls are used to move your player around the court. It’s also massively centered around online play, almost positioning it as Nintendo’s rival to the hugely successful Rocket League.

So, a couple of major questions arise. Is Drag x Drive just a glorified tech demo? Or is it a fully-fledged Nintendo Switch 2 sports title with enough depth to hold down a loyal playerbase? I spent hours playing this unorthodox new release to find out.

A real workout

Player shooting a 3-pointer in Drag x Drive

(Image credit: Nintendo)

From the moment you open Drag x Drive, you’re thrown into a tutorial that teaches you all the basics of movement, hooping, and tricking. You can place the Joy-Con 2 controllers on a flat surface or even on your legs, and use mouse controls to mimic pushing wheels on a wheelchair.

The controls are intuitive and fairly easy to get to grips with, in my view. HD rumble also makes every turn and push feel a bit more true-to-life. There’s been some debate online about the best way to control your baller, but I found that holding the Joy-Con 2’s on top of my legs was the most comfortable, natural-feeling method.

However, after a few minutes of wheeling around as well as a couple of practice matches, I identified – well, felt, really – one of Drag x Drive’s key limitations. My arms were feeling beat.

Yep, this game’s a real workout, though I did wonder if this was intentional. Is Drag x Drive meant to immerse the player in the high-exertion reality of wheelchair basketball? Maybe. But the facts are, I felt pretty achey after a few back-to-back matches, which did make playing for longer than around 30 minutes feel tiring.

Aside from that, though, movement is solid. You can easily build up speed with long, relaxed strokes, and wheel up on-court halfpipes to dunk or obstruct a shot. The ZL and ZR buttons enable you to brake, and you can also use them to bunny hop, giving you some extra elevation when blocking or shooting.

On the topic of shooting, it’s also quite consistent. The more lined up you are with the basket, the more likely you are to score, which can be performed with a flick of the wrist – no buttons needed. I did find, on occasion, my baller would raise their hand to shoot, even when I hadn’t performed this motion. But most of the time, shooting is responsive.

Best bit

Player dunking in Drag x Drive

(Image credit: Nintendo)

I wheeled up the court’s half-pipe, flung myself into the air, and hit a gnarly dunk to help my team declare victory in the final seconds of a match.

I’d argue that the most underwhelming element of Drag x Drive’s core gameplay, however, is defending. In order to steal the ball, you must charge into an opposing player while facing them. But, when playing matches online during the game’s Global Jam trial event, I found that this didn’t always work – I’d clash into an opponent, but the ball would remain firmly in their grip.

On top of that, blocking didn’t feel very reliable. Ultimately, my games were rarely won by good defense. They were typically won by aggressively attacking. Speaking of, you can bag extra points with trick shots – think dunks and mid-air throws. And I have to say, winning a match with a mid-air 3-pointer is very satisfying!

Oh, and one final note on gameplay – I often found myself in 2v2 matches when playing online via Global Jam. Scrolling on Reddit, I discovered that other players encountered a similar occurrence, though games were still generally balanced, and I barely ever experienced any delays or performance issues.

I’m hoping 2v2s are a little less common when the full game is on general release, though, for the most action-packed experience possible.

Where’s the Nintendo magic?

Player approaching jump rope in Drag x Drive

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Let’s take a break from gameplay to chat about design. Now, I'm gonna be frank. I am not a fan of the way Drag x Drive looks. The world – or should I say, the courts – is too bland. Colors aren’t very vibrant, and there’s a generally dingy look to the environment, which is a real shame.

Given this is a Nintendo-developed title, you expect the vivid, character-filled presentation that so many of the best Nintendo Switch 2 games – and indeed, the best Nintendo Switch games – thrive off of. In addition, character models lack polish, meaning the game doesn’t really look like it was made for a flashy new console.

Not only is it visually underwhelming, but the overall Drag x Drive experience is pretty thin – perhaps to be expected given its low price tag. 3v3 online matches are generally competitive and entertaining to hop into, though, as I mentioned, a few games left my arms feeling lethargic. And other than those online matches, there’s not all too much to do.

There are a few minigames littered around the courts – stuff like cone courses and sprint time trials. If you complete these within a certain amount of time, you can earn a trophy. But after I did this, I didn’t feel particularly keen to return to them. Variety could be better, too, given that many of the minigames are variations of each other – there are a number of cone courses to finish, for instance.

Player customization page on Drag x Drive

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Something that’s undoubtedly positive, though, is that the trophies you obtain by clearing minigames help you unlock new customization options. For example, you can get new helmets – including one with a mohawk, which I took a liking to. Other than that, you can alter the texture and colors of your armor, frame, and wheels.

Combine this with the opportunity to switch between a speedy yet lightweight guard, a bulky yet slow center, or an all-rounder forward, and Drag x Drive ends up being a pleasingly personalizable time.

So, how about we go back to that question of ours: is Drag x Drive just a glorified tech demo? Well, that might be a touch harsh. But the finished product does feel a little underbaked. The core experience – the 3v3 online matches – is decently tense and end-to-end, and I can see myself dipping in from time to time for a quick game.

But a quick game is all I would really want from Drag x Drive. It’s a workout on the arms, minigames aren’t massively engaging, and the environment isn’t visually stimulating enough to draw me in for the long run.

Much like it did with Arms on the original Switch, Nintendo took a long shot early with Drag x Drive. And honestly, I appreciate the decision to create an original gaming experience based on wheelchair basketball – it’s refreshing to see more representation of sports such as this. But in the end, its tiring controls and unappealing aesthetic hold Drag x Drive back from being a total slam dunk.

Should you play Drag x Drive?

Team victory display on Drag x Drive

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Play it if...

You want an online game you can quickly dip in and out of
Drag x Drive is solid fun if you’re willing to just hop on for a couple of games. You can take on friends or global competitors for a few minutes without feeling fatigued, and just enjoy flexing your 3-point shooting or dunking skills.

You want to get the best out of mouse mode
One of the key missions of Drag x Drive is to showcase the smooth, intuitive nature of the Joy Con 2’s mouse controls. And that’s a mission that it accomplishes – controls are largely responsive, and it will be interesting to see how Nintendo makes use of them in future titles.

Don't play it if...

You’re looking to chill, rather than work out
If you’re hoping to relax after a long day at work or school, maybe even a gym session, say, Drag x Drive might not be what you're looking for. Wheeling around gets pretty tiring after a while, so extended play sessions can feel like quite the workout.

You want to experience the peak powers of the Switch 2
I’d argue that the most disappointing aspect of Drag x Drive is its visual presentation. Colors don’t pop, environments lack polish, and the graphics just generally fail to highlight the power of the Nintendo Switch 2. Want a beautiful title for your shiny new console? Maybe look elsewhere – my recommendation would be the absolutely smashing Donkey Kong Bananza.

Accessibility features

There aren’t all too many accessibility features to note from Drag x Drive. You can adjust the camera distance as well as the X and Y-axis configuration, and choose whether to use mouse or stick controls for menu navigation. But, disappointingly, that’s about it.

How I reviewed Drag x Drive

3 players lined up in Drag x Drive

(Image credit: Nintendo)

I played Drag x Drive for around 10 hours, mainly competing online during the Global Jam event and in matches against bots in single-player mode. I also completed the majority of the available minigames and played around with the customization options available.

For the most part, I played the game in docked mode on my Nintendo Switch 2, which is hooked up to the Sky Glass Gen 2 and a Samsung HW-Q800D soundbar. However, I did also spend some time playing the game in tabletop mode while connected to my Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones.

First reviewed August 2025

I’ve reviewed a lot of chairs in my career, but the OdinLake Ergo Butterfly 753 is one of the few I’d want for my own office
9:02 pm | August 12, 2025

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

OdinLake Ergo Butterfly 753: two-minute review

After spending a few weeks parked in the OdinLake Ergo Butterfly 753 at work, I can confidently say it’s one of the most thoughtfully designed ergonomic chairs I’ve used, and I’ve used many of the best office chairs in my time.

Much like the OdinLake Ergo Max 747 I reviewed last year, the all-mesh FlexBreath material is the major feature of this chair (apart from the design), as it is what you’ll spend all your time interfacing with. Fortunately, it's a much higher quality mesh than a lot of similar breathable chairs, almost like sitting in a comfy hammock. OK, maybe not that comfortable, but it’s not that far off.

Using it in TechRadar’s component testing lab, I was struck by both its excellent ergonomic support and its breathability. I spend a lot of time in that lab with components bleeding off heat into the air like you wouldn’t believe, but the chair kept me cool through most of it.

On the design front, the split-back butterfly spine of the chair isn’t just an aesthetic flourish—it moves with my body, offering targeted support for both my upper and lower back, something you really don’t get elsewhere, and once you feel it, you get it. The dynamic lumbar system also subtly shifts to match my posture, so whether I’m leaning forward to type or reclining to read, my spine stays supported.

An OdinLake Ergo Butterfly 753 in an office

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

The WireControl adjustment paddles in the armrests, meanwhile, are very intuitive. Instead of awkwardly fumbling under the seat, I can reach paddles just beneath the armrests to tweak height, tilt lock, and tilt tension. The seat depth is easy to adjust, and the recline range—up to about 135°—lets me shift from focused work to relaxed lounging without losing comfort. The headrest, while firm, provides consistent neck support during long video calls, and the optional footrest adds even more comfort to the mix if you want it.

Assembly was fairly straightforward, with only two large pieces taking up 80% of the work. These pieces, namely the seat itself and the back, are both rather heavy, so make sure you have some help if you need it to put the chair together.

Normally $999, the OdinLake O3 Ergo Butterfly 753 is often on sale for $899 on OdinLake’s website, sans footrest, which definitely puts it into the premium tier for office chairs. It's also available from OdinLake's European storefront, where it's currently discounted from €869 down to €782 at the time of review.

It’s undeniably an investment, but it’s an investment in your comfort and is backed by an impressive 15-year warranty on the frame (5-year warranty for other parts), so if you are tempted to invest in the chair, you’ll at least have some peace of mind about its longevity.

Unfortunately, the chair is only available to ship to the lower 48 states, so Hawaii and Alaska residents, as well as anyone outside the US, are out of luck. For everyone else in delivery range who spends serious time at their desk, the OdinLake Ergo Butterfly 753 delivers some seriously impressive comfort with durable construction and enough adjustability to set it exactly where you need it.

OdinLake Ergo Butterfly 753: Price & availability

The back of the headrest of the OdinLake Ergo Butterfly 753

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
  • How much is it? Currently $899 at OdinLake's website
  • When is it available? It is available now
  • Where can you get it? Only ships within the continental United States

In the US, the OdinLake Ergo Butterfly 753’s list price is $999 for the chair itself (currently discounted to $899), while adding the footrest will cost you extra, setting this in the premium tier as far as office chairs go. You can check it out by clicking here.

OdinLake doesn’t offer shipping to Hawaii, Alaska, or international addresses - those US buyers, though, do get free shipping on their orders.

However, there is a European store for UK and EU users. You can see it by clicking here.

Given all its features—the FlexBreath mesh, dynamic ergonomic support, 4D armrests, and back bar—as well as its robust warranty, this price isn’t out of line with its competitors.

  • Value: 4 / 5

OdinLake Ergo Butterfly 753: Specs

The backbar on the OdinLake Ergo Butterfly 753

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

Maximum height

32.7 ins

Weight

75 lbs

Materials

FlexBreath Mesh, aluminum alloy, plastic

Maximum recline

135 degrees

Armrests

4D

Maximum weight load

350 lbs

Warranty

Frame: 15-years | All other parts: 5-years

OdinLake Ergo Butterfly 753: Assembly

The assembly gloves included in the OdinLake Ergo Butterfly 753

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
  • Assembly took about 30 minutes
  • Two people might be required
  • Courtesy work gloves are a great touch

One thing I appreciated about the OdinLake Ergo Butterfly 753 is how straightforward it was to assemble. From unboxing to sitting down for the first time, the whole process took me just under 30 minutes—and I was fairly lackadaisical about it, too.

Every part was individually wrapped and labeled, which meant no guesswork about what went where, and the work gloves included with the hardware to keep my hands clean while assembling it is a fantastic touch that other chair makers really need to copy. The included hardware also came with some extra screws, which is a helpful touch, especially for those of us who are prone to drop and lose sight of the one piece of hardware that keeps everything together.

Instructions were clear and well-illustrated, and you can also watch OdinLake’s short assembly video online, which walks through each step visually. I’ve assembled enough chairs in my time that I barely had to look at the instructions, especially with so few parts to pull together. All this makes it almost impossible to make a mistake. The heaviest lift—literally—was attaching the seat to the base. This chair isn’t light, so lifting and aligning parts by yourself might be difficult. If you’re not comfortable handling bulky pieces alone, having a second person for that step would help.

All the pre-drilled holes lined up perfectly, and the included Allen wrench was comfortable enough to use without causing hand strain. Once assembled, the chair felt rock-solid immediately—no wobbles, no loose elements, no “settling in” period. Even the casters slotted in smoothly without resistance.

Overall, the assembly process reinforced the impression of quality. There was no cutting corners in how the chair was packaged, how the parts fit, or how easy it was to get it from box to office. If you’re going to have to assemble a chair yourself, this is exactly the kind of experience you want.

  • Assembly: 4.5 / 5

OdinLake Ergo Butterfly 753: Design

The back of the OdinLake Ergo Butterfly 753

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
  • Innovative 'winged' design for upper back support
  • Rather heavy, even with partial plastic construction
  • Clever controls positioning in the arm rests

The OdinLake Ergo Butterfly 753’s design balances modern ergonomics with innovative and eye-catching flourishes.

The FlexBreath mesh is the star of the show, in my mind. It’s tightly woven, so it’s supportive, but it never feels rigid or scratchy, which is a major problem with other mesh fabric chairs I’ve sat in. The mesh material also stays cool even when I’ve been seated for hours. From the front, the chair is sleek and professional; from the back, the butterfly-shaped support frame turns it into a bit of a conversation piece, and the optional footrest can really elevate your office game and make your coworkers jealous.

That said, those butterfly ‘wings’ on the back might look like they’re metal, but they are actually plastic, which is a slight letdown compared to the rest of the premium build. Unfortunately, I think a sacrifice had to be made here simply for physics’ sake, as the chair is heavy enough as it is, so adding substantially more metal probably isn’t practical (especially if you plan on leaning all 135 degrees back into the chair).

Another excellent design touch is the horizontal bar at the top of the chair’s back. While it looks like a visual flourish, it’s actually super convenient for moving the chair around while you’re not in it, providing a solid grip to reposition the chair. Given that the chair weighs about 75 lb, this handle makes maneuvering far less awkward.

The aluminum alloy base and internal frame give it a reassuring solidity, with casters that glide smoothly and silently across the hard flooring of our NYC office.

Controls are also incredibly intuitive. Height and tilt adjustments are handled by paddles under the armrests—no bending down and hunting for levers—, as the 4D armrests offer height, width, depth, and angle adjustments. The armrests are on the firm side, so there are definitely those who’ll want to have softer padding, but your mileage may vary.

Overall, the design of the OdinLake O3 Ergo Butterfly 753 feels like it was made by someone who actually uses a chair for 8–12 hours a day, from the comfort of the mesh to the dynamic lumbar and upper back support, delivering practical, stylish ergonomics that make getting through a workday much easier than it would otherwise be.

  • Design: 4.5 / 5

OdinLake Ergo Butterfly 753: Performance

The lumbar support on the OdinLake Ergo Butterfly 753

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
  • Dynamic lumbar support
  • Very comfortable FlexBreath mesh
  • Well-supported seat for long stretches of work

In daily use, the Butterfly 753 proved itself as more than just a pretty frame—it’s a genuinely high-performance ergonomic tool. The split-back design with its independent upper and lower sections allowed me to change postures frequently without ever feeling unsupported. The dynamic lumbar system was especially impressive.

The tilt function is equally adaptable. With the tilt lock disengaged, I could gently rock while reading, which felt more natural than being locked into a rigid position. The range—up to roughly 135°—is perfect for switching between deep focus and one of those office moments where you just need to lean back, run your closed eyes, and let out some kind of tired sigh. Meanwhile, the tilt resistance is adjustable, so I could fine-tune it to my body weight (it supports up to 350 lbs) and preferred recline position.

The seat comfort is likewise excellent. The mesh offers a slight flex that distributes my weight evenly, avoiding the pressure points I’ve experienced with padded foam seats over long sessions. The seat depth adjustment also let me keep my feet flat, which helps prevent circulation issues in the legs—as evolved hunter-gatherers forced to work long, stationary hours in an office, every little bit helps.

The headrest is supportive during calls and writing sessions, though it’s mesh and relatively firm, so if you’re the type who likes a little pillow or cushion on your chair, you’ll have to source that yourself.

The armrests, meanwhile, are adjustable in four dimensions but are definitely on the firm side. If you’re suffering from elbow pain due to resting them on hard surfaces, you might not like these armrests very much.

  • Performance: 4.5 / 5

Should I buy the OdinLake Ergo Butterfly 753?

The footrest on the OdinLake Ergo Butterfly 753

(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
OdinLake Ergo Butterfly 753 Scorecard

Value

While not cheap, this isn't the most expensive premium office chair on the market.

4 / 5

Assembly

While the back and seat parts of the chair are heavy enough to require two people to put it together, the chair is otherwise very easy to put together.

4.5 / 5

Design

The Ergo Butterfly 753 offers some excellent features and aesthetics that you won't easily find elsewhere.

4.5 / 5

Performance

At the end of the day, an office chair needs to be comfortable over a long stretch of time, and the Ergo Butterfly 753 has comfort for days.

4.5 / 5

Final score

The flexible mesh fabric of this chair is some of the best I've ever experienced, and the dynamic lumbar and butterfly upper back support make this chair a gamechanger.

4.38 / 5

Buy the OdinLake Ergo Butterfly 753 if...

You need truly customizable support
The various position settings and dynamic lumbar support make this incredibly comfortable for a lot of body types.

You need something breathable
If you spend a lot of time sitting in your office chair, getting air circulation on your back and legs can mean the difference between comfort and misery, and this chair has the former in spades.

Don't buy it if...

You're on a tight budget
While this isn't the most expensive office chair on the market, it's not cheap.

You need more actual cushioning
If you're someone who needs actual cushions to feel comfortable, especially on your armrests, this chair might not give you what you need.

Also consider

Herman Miller Aeron (Classic)
A trusted mesh office chair with polished adjustability and long-term durability, though it lacks a headrest and has a shorter warranty.

Read the full Herman Miller Aeron review

OdinLake Ergo Max 747
If the OdinLake Ergo Butterfly 753 is slightly too rich for your blood, the also very comfortable Ergo Max 747 is a slightly cheaper alternative.

Read the full OdinLake Ergo Max 747 review

  • Originally reviewed August 2025
I just spent a week with the Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360, and now I don’t want to give it back
6:33 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Gadgets Laptops | Tags: , , , | Comments: Off

Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360: Two-minute review

There's no denying that the Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 is a premium laptop. Everything about it screams 'high-end', from the sleek chassis to the fantastic performance. Is it one of the best ultrabooks? Having spent a week using it for this review, I feel confident saying so.

Of course, such premium design quality means a premium price tag to match, with even the base configuration starting at an eye-watering $1,699 / £1,599 (around AU$2,615). That's a high asking price, but the Book5 Pro 360 puts a lot of work into justifying it.

For starters, the overall performance here is strong. The Intel Core Ultra 7 256V processor powering this laptop performs admirably across a wide range of workloads, even capable of handling triple-A games with the help of resolution upscaling. The battery life is also truly top-notch.

In terms of build quality, the Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 feels like it belongs among the best laptops, with a premium feel to the chassis and a sturdy 360-degree display hinge (making it a prime candidate for one of the best 2-in-1 laptops). With a good range of physical ports and a gorgeous AMOLED display to boot, this is one laptop I was seriously reluctant to send back once my testing was complete.

The Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 photographed on a white desk.

(Image credit: Future)

Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 review: Price and availability

  • Starts at $1,699 / £1,599 (around AU$2,615)
  • Available now in the US and UK
  • Only one configuration available in the US

Starting at $1,699 / £1,599 (around AU$2,615), the Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 doesn't have a wealth of configurations to choose from. In fact, US shoppers can only purchase one specific model, which features a 1TB SSD, 16GB of RAM, and an Intel Core Ultra 7 CPU.

If you're in the UK, you can pick up that same configuration for £1,799, or a slightly less powerful version with 512GB of storage and a Core Ultra 5 chip for the aforementioned £1,599 price tag.

It's some pretty steep pricing, especially in the UK - although as always, it should be noted that British pricing includes tax, and there's no telling how the current tariff situation will affect the actual retail price in the States. I've seen costlier laptops, and the Book5 Pro 360 lives up to its price tag, but this isn't one for the faint of heart (or slim of wallet).

Sorry to our readers over in Australia, as it seems that Samsung hasn't seen fit to bring any of the Galaxy Book laptop series to the land down under (at least, not according to its own online store). That means you'll be looking at third-party importers if you want to get your hands on a Book5 model.

  • Price: 3 / 5

Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 review: Specs

Here are the specs for the Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360:

Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 specs

Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 (model reviewed)

Starting Price

$1,699 / £1,799 (around AU$2,615)

CPU

Up to Intel Core Ultra 7 256V

GPU

Intel Arc 140V integrated graphics

RAM

16GB

Storage

Up to 1TB SSD

Display

16-inch WQXGA+ (2880 x 1800) AMOLED 120Hz touchscreen

Ports

2x Thunderbolt 4 USB-C, 1x USB-A 3.2, 3.5mm combi audio jack, HDMI 2.1, microSD

Wireless

Wi-Fi 7 / Bluetooth 5.4

Weight

3.73lbs / 1.69kg

Dimensions

14 x 9.9 x 0.5 inches / 35.5 x 25.1 x 1.37mcm

Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 review: Design

  • Best-in-class build quality
  • Excellent display
  • Tablet functionality is merely alright

Upon first unboxing it, the Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 immediately feels like a high-end piece of hardware. It's just half an inch thick, and there's not an ounce of wasted space here; the chassis is carefully sculpted around the 16-inch display, with a tiny bezel that also houses the 1080p webcam. The whole thing feels durable and well-constructed.

Despite featuring a full-scale keyboard that features a numpad on the right-hand side, typing on the Book5 Pro 360 never felt cramped in my testing. The individual keys are sufficiently spaced and offer a decent amount of travel for a thin-and-light ultrabook. There's a fingerprint reader for more secure logins, and you can also use Windows Hello to unlock the laptop with facial recognition.

The trackpad is very responsive with a robust click and no noticeable flex in the housing, even with firm presses - although as usual, I'd recommend connecting a third-party mouse instead. I didn't notice any issues with the palm rejection while typing, which is always a relief.

The 360-degree hinge that lets you flip into tablet mode is pleasingly sturdy (no annoying wobbles here), though I'd perhaps say that tablet functionality is the weakest feather in Samsung's cap. The Book5 Pro 360 is simply a bit too large and heavy to really work as a tablet device; don't expect this to beat any of the best tablets in that regard.

The Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 photographed on a white desk.

(Image credit: Future)

That being said, the touchscreen is fantastic; a 3K AMOLED display with excellent brightness, sharpness, and color reproduction. The Samsung S Pen comes bundled with every Book5 Pro 360, and while I'm no artist, it seems to work very well, which could be a potential boon for digital creatives. It would be nice if the S Pen could be garaged or snap magnetically to the chassis, though.

In terms of physical connectivity, the Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 features a great selection of ports: two Thunderbolt 4-enabled USB-Cs, one USB-A, HDMI video output for connecting a second screen, headphone jack, and even a microSD card reader - a worthwhile inclusion for photographers. Wireless connectivity is handled by Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, exemplifying the cutting-edge nature of this laptop.

The Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 photographed on a white desk.

(Image credit: Future)

I also have to discuss the software side of things, since virtually every laptop manufacturer these days is dead set on cramming as many proprietary apps into their laptops as possible. These can range from somewhat useful to borderline malware, and are often among the first things I uninstall on a new device.

Mercifully, Samsung's integrated software is largely unobtrusive, and can be ignored entirely after the initial setup if you're so inclined. The tools on offer are best employed by users who already own another Galaxy device, with the Multi Control feature letting you access your Samsung phone or tablet directly from the laptop. You can even use a Galaxy Tab as a second screen, although I didn't have one on hand to test this myself.

The Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 photographed on a white desk.

(Image credit: Future)
  • Design: 4.5 / 5

Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 review: Performance

  • Strong all-round performance
  • Intel Core Ultra chip gives local AI functionality
  • Even capable of triple-A gaming (with some tweaks)

I was seriously impressed with the performance of the Intel Core Ultra 7 256V processor at the core of the Galaxy Book5 Pro 360. Outside of dedicated testing, I found the laptop remarkably fast and responsive, capable of handling multitasking workloads with ease.

Although the lack of a discrete GPU means that it's not best suited for seriously intensive work like video editing or 3D modeling, it can still handle a variety of daily tasks. My usual workload involves keeping a minimum of ten Chrome tabs open at once, usually with Spotify running in the background and the occasional bit of image editing in GIMP, and the Book5 Pro 360 had zero issues with that.

The Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 photographed on a white desk.

(Image credit: Future)
Samsung Galaxy Book5 360 benchmarks

Here's how the Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 performed in our suite of benchmark tests:
3DMark: Night Raid: 17,990; Fire Strike: 8,874; Time Spy: 3,891; Steel Nomad: 1,677
Cinebench R24: Multi-core: 588; Single-core: 124
Geekbench 6.4: Multicore: 10,630; Single-core: 2,635
Geekbench AI: Single Precision Score: 3,165; Half Precision Score: 1,412; Quantized Score: 6,286
PCMark 10: 6,767
Crossmark: Overall: 1,770; Productivity: 1,640; Creativity: 1,996; Responsiveness: 1,558
Sid Meier's Civilization VII: (1080p, Medium, No Upscaling): 34fps; (1080p, High, No Upscaling): 22fps
Cyberpunk 2077: (1080p, Low, No Upscaling): 39fps; (1080p, Ultra, No Upscaling): 23fps
Battery Life (TechRadar movie test): 20 hours, 3 minutes

Over on the test bench, the Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 scored well across the board, with good performance in synthetic rendering and productivity tests. It's not world-beating performance (the best MacBooks will give this laptop a run for its money), but it's certainly on par with comparable Windows laptops.

Gaming performance is seriously impressive considering that it's all running on integrated Intel Arc graphics. Cyberpunk 2077 was just about playable at 1080p with the lowest graphical preset, but turn on upscaling (either via Intel's own XeSS tech or AMD's open-source FSR 3.0) and you can easily get a stable 30+ frames per second even on medium settings.

You might notice above that the recorded scores for Civilization VII - a less demanding title than Cyberpunk - look a bit low. Despite multiple attempts with different settings, I couldn't coax any better performance out of that game, and turning on upscaling actually made the framerate worse. Other games (including Borderlands 3 and Alan Wake 2) ran as expected, so it's possible there was a driver issue or similar obstacle I simply didn't have time to properly diagnose and resolve in my testing.

Lastly, the Book5 Pro 360 features a dedicated neural processing unit (NPU) on its Intel Core Ultra 7 chip, designed to handle local AI workloads (like some of the functionality of Microsoft Copilot). The NPU performance is solid, but it's worth noting that for running more intensive AI tasks - like training your own LLM - you'll see better performance on a laptop with a discrete Nvidia GPU.

The Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 photographed on a white desk.

(Image credit: Future)
  • Performance: 4.5 / 5

Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 review: Battery life

  • Fantastic battery lifespan
  • Outlasts many competing laptops
  • Charges quickly

Samsung makes some bold claims about the 76Wh battery of the Galaxy Book5 Pro 360, suggesting that it offers up to 25 hours of continuous use. It didn't quite live up to that figure in my testing, but it still delivered a very respectable 20 hours and 3 minutes of looped video playback.

We run our battery test at 50% brightness with Windows 11's 'best efficiency' power preset enabled, so that 25-hour figure actually sounds pretty achievable if you really tried to squeeze every last drop from the battery with minimum brightness and Energy Saver turned on. Regardless, it's an impressive result that comfortably defeats many competing laptops. The only one to beat it in recent memory is the 2025 Intel Core Ultra Dell XPS 13, but that laptop crucially has a much smaller (and therefore less power-hungry) display.

Charging is also fast, with power delivery via Thunderbolt 4 taking the battery from empty to full in approximately 90 minutes. The only downside is having to sacrifice a USB-C port while charging, but with plenty of other ports available, it's a very minor concern.

  • Battery: 5 / 5

Should you buy the Samsung Galaxy Book5 360?

Samsung Galaxy Book5 360: Scorecard

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Price

The bundled S Pen is a nice extra, but the price tag is still fairly high - though not entirely unreasonable for a premium ultrabook like this.

3.5 / 5

Design

Although the tablet mode is a bit unwieldy due to the large screen, this is a fantastically designed laptop overall.

4.5 / 5

Performance

Performance is strong across the board, with good gaming capabilities and a discrete NPU for AI workloads.

4.5 / 5

Battery

20 hours of battery life places the Book5 Pro 360 among the best of the best when it comes to laptop longevity.

5 / 5

Overall rating

If you're looking for a premium Windows device that beats out most of the competition, the Galaxy Book Pro 360 is a strong choice.

4.25 / 5

Buy it if...

You want premium build quality
The Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 feels like an expertly engineered device, with a robust screen hinge and comfortable keyboard.

You want a fast and versatile laptop
With strong all-rounder performance and great responsiveness, plus a fantastic touchscreen, this Galaxy Book can handle almost anything you throw at it.

Don't buy it if... 

You really want a tablet
Although the touchscreen is great, the whole laptop is slightly too large to be practical as a tablet - it's fine for occasional use, but ill-suited as a dedicated tablet device.

You're on a budget
There's no avoiding it: the Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 is expensive. If you want an affordable system, you'll be better off checking out our best budget laptops guide.

Samsung Galaxy Book5 360: Also consider

Microsoft Surface Laptop 7
If you can make do with just a touchscreen, rather than a fully convertible laptop, the Surface 7 is an excellent choice. We found its performance very capable across multiple areas, while its design, battery life, and even sound quality are great as well. It uses an ARM processor, though, so beware of possible incompatibilities.
Check out our Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 review

Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M4 Pro, 2024)
For those who aren't too concerned about Windows and would be happy to make the switch to macOS, the 16-inch M4 MacBook Pro is the way to go - just bear in mind that it's even more expensive (and even more powerful) than the Galaxy Book5 Pro 360.
Check out our MacBook Pro 16-inch (M4 Pro, 2024) review

Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360

Microsoft Surface Laptop 7

Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M4, 2024)

Starting Price

From $1,699 / £1,599 (around AU$2,615)

From $999.99 / £1,049.99 / AU$1,899

From $2,499 / £2,499 / AU$3,999

CPU

Up to Intel Core Ultra 7 256V

Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite

Up to Apple M4 Max (16-core)

GPU

Intel Arc 140V integrated graphics

Qualcomm Adreno GPU

Up to 40-core integrated GPU

RAM

16GB DDR5

Up to 32GB LPDDR5x

Up to 48GB unified memory

Storage

Up to 1TB SSD

Up to 1TB SSD

Up to 1TB SSD

Display

16-inch WQXGA+ (2880 x 1800) AMOLED 120Hz touchscreen

13.8-inch 2304 x 1536, 3:2 120Hz HDR touchscreen

16-inch 3456 x 2234 Liquid Retina XDR display

Ports

2x Thunderbolt 4 USB-C, 1x USB-A 3.2, 1x 3.5mm combi audio jack, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x microSD card reader

2x USB 4 Type C, 1x USB Type A Gen 3.1, 1x 3.5mm combo jack, 1x Surface connect port, 1x microSD card reader

3x Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C), 1x HDMI, 1x SDXC card slot, 1x 3.5mm headphone jack, MagSafe 3

Wireless

Wi-Fi 7 / Bluetooth 5.4

WiFi 7, Bluetooth 5.4

Wi-Fi 6e, Bluetooth 5.3

Weight

3.73lbs / 1.69kg

2.96lbs / 1.34kg

4.8 lbs / 2.2kg

Dimensions

14 x 9.9 x 0.5 inches / 35.5 x 25.1 x 1.37mcm

11.85 x 8.67 x 0.69 inches / 30.1 x 22.0 x 1.75cm

14.01 x 9.77 x 0.66 inches / 35.6 x 24.8 x 1.7cm

How I tested the Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360

  • Replaced my usual laptop for one week
  • Performed a variety of everyday tasks
  • Ran our usual suite of synthetic and gaming tests

As I usually do for any laptop review, I replaced my daily driver (the ever-dependable HP Spectre x360) with the Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 for one week, using it for both my regular work and a bit of entertainment outside of the nine-to-five.

My day-to-day workload mostly involves editing spreadsheets and text documents, researching online in Chrome, and some light image editing (usually to produce fun pictures for spicy opinion articles). Beyond that, I also used the Book5 Pro 360 for some gaming, playing Borderlands and Stardew Valley with my partner, as well as finally catching up on Dandadan season 2 on Netflix.

I've got plenty of experience in testing laptops, as I've been professionally reviewing them (along with all other sorts of computer hardware) for more than eight years. I've learned what it takes to make a good laptop, and what potential drawbacks to keep an eye out for.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed August 2025

I tested Tribler, an ideal simple, secure torrenting solution
2:00 pm |

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

Tribler is a free, open-source torrent client with robust security. It uses an overlay network to search for content, meaning it doesn't need an external indexing service. Unlike some torrenting platforms, its index can’t be taken down, making it a favorite for people seeking to download content.

Although very secure, Tribler isn’t a 100% privacy-proof torrenting platform. It protects your privacy as much as possible, but there’s no perfect guarantee of shielding your identity.

We’re reviewing Tribler to help you decide whether it’s a good choice. We tested the app extensively to provide our readers with a detailed, unbiased review.

Tribler: Versions and platforms

You can download Tribler for free on your PC. It’s compatible with Windows, macOS, and Ubuntu. These are three popular desktop operating systems, with the first two accounting for most of the PC market.

Downloading Tribler is as simple as visiting its official website and clicking the download button. Once the download is complete, install Tribler with a few clicks, and you’re good to go.

Tribler 2

(Image credit: Future)

Tribler: Features

Tribler is a torrenting platform you can use to find and download free content. It has a simple dark-themed interface that you can quickly understand.

Though a standalone desktop app, Tribler works within your browser. This is merely a technicality. Tribler runs directly on your PC, but the graphic interface is accessed via your web browser.

Users can click the search button in the upper-middle corner to find specific content. As you type a letter in the search bar, you’ll see suggestions, making it easier to find what you want.

To demonstrate, we searched for “Jazz music” and got the results below.

Tribler displays your desired content in a list format. This list shows the size of the file and the date it was created. You can click on the file to download, choose the destination file, and press the download button.

Tribler supports download speeds of up to 100 Mbps. However, the speed you’ll experience depends on the number of seeders present on the network. Seeders are Tribler users who have downloaded a file and are uploading it to the next person, i.e., you.

Tribler 3

(Image credit: Future)

If the network has limited seeders during your download, you’ll experience slower speeds. However, if many seeders are present on the torrent network, you’ll get faster speeds.

Your network connection also helps determine the download speed. A slow network will throttle the speed regardless of how many seeders are online during your download.

Users can pause or stop a download that has already started. As a security-focused torrenting app, Tribler lets you choose your anonymity level when downloading files. You can select one, two, or three hops, with a hop referring to a layer of encryption. Note that the higher your hop (encryption level), the lower your download speed.

Tribler uses its internal distributed lookup protocol for file-sharing. By wrapping your downloads in multiple layers of encryption, it prevents third parties from knowing what you’re downloading. Anyone monitoring your network can tell you’re using Tribler, but they won’t discover what you’re downloading.

However, Tribler isn’t immune to large-scale network monitoring efforts. A motivated actor, such as an intelligence agency, can correlate your Tribler traffic to data from other sources. That’s to say, Tribler is secure but shouldn’t be used for illegal activities.

We like the fact that Tribler gives users considerable control over their torrenting activities. For instance, you can limit your file upload and download speeds. You can choose to be a seeder or not, although many recommend seeding to support the torrenting community and provide faster download speeds for everyone.

Tribler has a dark theme by default, but you can change it to a light theme if preferred. It's a multi-lingual tool available in English, Spain, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese, and Korean.

Tribler: Interface and in-use

Tribler has an intuitive interface that any layperson can easily understand. The features are neatly placed on the left side, and the dashboard lies on the right. All features are accessible from three main menus, with the search bar at the upper middle corner and language and theme configurations in the top-right corner.

You can download Tribler on your Windows, macOS, or Ubuntu PC. However, it does not have a mobile app.

Downloading and installing Tribler on your PC is easy. Visit the website, go to the download section, and click on the download button for your desktop operating system.

If you need help, you can check Tribler’s FAQ section and support documents. As an open-source tool, Tribler has detailed documentation that helps users understand its internal mechanisms and troubleshoot errors. There’s also an official forum where you can exchange solutions with other Tribler users.

Tribler: Security and privacy

We recommend Tribler for users who want to download files privately. It encrypts downloads in multiple secure layers, preventing third parties from monitoring what you do.

However, no torrenting solution is 100% secure. Your browsing activity can be exposed due to internal misconfigurations. Tribler shouldn’t be used for piracy or other activities that can invite legal consequences. TechRadar explicitly doesn’t endorse piracy.

Tribler: Final Verdict

Tribler is an intuitive, free, and secure torrenting solution for everyday users. Its intuitive interface makes it easy to find and download your favorite content. Although it’s not 100% foolproof, it provides more security than most torrenting apps. We recommend it to people looking to download files securely over the web.

We've listed the best free download manager and the best file manager.

Also check out the the best VPN service.

I tried out BiglyBT, and found it a reliable torrenting solution with an intuitive interface
1:29 pm |

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

BiglyBT is a free torrent client for PCs. It lets users find and download images, music, videos, software tools, and other digital content. This platform is based on Vuze, another popular torrenting tool. It offers basic features for downloading content but not premium ones like DVD burning.

Many torrenting platforms exist, and users often get confused about which to choose. We’re reviewing BiglyBT to help you decide whether it’s the best choice. We’ll dive into its features, user-friendliness, and security, among other factors.

BiglyBT: Versions and platforms

You can download BiglyBT on your PC or mobile phone by opening the website, clicking the download button, and selecting the package for your operating system.

BiglyBT is compatible with Windows, macOS, Linux, and Unix PCs. It also has an Android app that can be downloaded from the Google Play Store. Unsurprisingly, it is not available on iOS because Apple has an aversion to torrenting apps appearing on its App Store.

BiglyBT: Features

BiglyBT allows you to find and download content for free. Its intuitive interface is easy to understand. In the upper-middle corner, there is a search bar where you can find your desired content. Type what you want to download, and BiglyBT will search its extensive databases for it.

After completing the search, BiglyBT displays the results in a list format. The list shows the size, age, category, and ratings of the relevant files. For example, if you search for a movie, you’ll see its file size, ratings, and other information to help you decide whether to download it.

Click on the file you want to download and monitor the progress. When downloading torrents, BiglyBT will show you other torrents that people frequently download along with those torrents, similar to a search engine recommending new content for users.

We observed fast download speeds during our test, but your speed can vary depending on the number of seeders on the network. Seeders refers to other BiglyBT users sharing a file after downloading it.

BiglyBT 2

(Image credit: Future)

The more seeders on the network during your download, the faster it’ll be. The fewer the seeders, the slower the speed. Your broadband network speed also determines how fast you can download files.

After downloading a file on BiglyBT, you automatically become a seeder helping other users to download that file. Seeding is recommended because it makes torrenting easier for all users.

Yet, some people don’t like seeding because of the risks of consuming excessive bandwidth. To this end, BiglyBT lets you control your upload speed. You can set a specific limit, e.g., 2 MB/second, to avoid consuming much bandwidth when seeding files for other users.

BiglyBT gives users significant control over their torrenting activities. For example, you can block specific IP addresses to avoid downloading tainted files. You can upload blocklists, and BiglyBT will prevent every IP address on the lists from sending files to your PC or mobile phone.

We like BiglyBT’s anonymous sharing feature, wherein you can securely share files with other users via a chat interface. You can create a chat channel and invite other users to it. Then, you can upload files from your folders or drag and drop them into the chat interface. Every other user in your channel can quickly download these files with no logs of who sent or downloaded them. This feature provides a reliable way to share sensitive files.

BiglyBT lets you monitor your torrenting activities in detail. It keeps logs of all the files you’ve uploaded or downloaded via the network. You can view the size, download/upload speed, and the time taken to download all files. You can view a real-time location graph of all seeders available on the network, helping you know the optimal time to download large files.

BiglyBT 3

(Image credit: Future)

BiglyBT: Interface and in-use

BiglyBT's interface is simple and easy to grasp. It has the typical layout of the navigation menu on the left and the main dashboard on the right. The upper part of the interface is dedicated mainly to the search bar.

We appreciate that BiglyBT has a configurable interface. You can place specific menu items above others in the navigation menu, making it easy to access the features you use most. For example, if anonymous sharing is your most used feature, you can make it appear first on the menu.

BiglyBT’s minimalist interface makes it enjoyable to use. The drawback we observed is the lack of a dark-themed interface, but that’s not a major problem in the grand scheme of BiglyBT’s intuitiveness.

BiglyBT: Security and privacy

BiglyBT has sophisticated features to prevent torrenting activities from being exposed to unauthorized parties. For instance, it supports the Invisible Internet Project (I2P) protocol, which lets users share files anonymously and securely. I2P achieves anonymity by routing torrenting traffic through a network of distributed computers. However, I2P makes downloads slower because traffic is routed through multiple layers.

For maximum security, installing a VPN before using BiglyBT and turning it on before downloading torrents is advisable. VPNs encrypt traffic by routing it through remote servers. They prevent third parties, such as your internet service provider (ISP), from snooping on your browsing activities.

Though secure, BiglyBT isn’t flawless. Torrenting tools occasionally have security lapses that can expose users’ activities. BiglyBT shouldn’t be used for illegal activities and piracy. TechRadar doesn’t endorse content piracy.

BiglyBT: Final Verdict

BiglyBT is a decent torrenting platform. It makes finding and downloading torrents easy and facilitates anonymous file sharing with friends, family, and colleagues. However, we feel there’s not much differentiating BiglyBT from competitors. It’s a good, free tool, but don’t expect exceptional features.

We've listed the best free download manager and the best file manager.

Don’t buy a DualSense Edge if you’re after a premium PS5 controller; the Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded is better in almost every way
7:20 pm | August 11, 2025

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

Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded: one-minute review

The Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded is a new, upgraded version of the original Victrix Pro BFG, which was originally released back in 2023.

Compatible with PlayStation consoles, an Xbox version hit the market roughly a year later. Thankfully, the Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded is immediately available as two versions for either console family, so you won’t be left out in the cold whether you’re Team Blue or Green.

Our original Victrix Pro BFG review (and that of the Xbox version) covers pretty much everything you need to know about the controller. This Reloaded model is a very similar beast outside of some welcome improvements and some slight aesthetic changes, so that’s what this review is primarily going to be focused on.

If you’re in the market for a cream-of-the-crop PS5 controller, then, and you don’t own the original Victrix Pro BFG, then the Reloaded version is definitely the one to go for.

Thanks to the addition of Hall effect sticks and triggers, as well as an improved Fightpad module, it’s easily one of the best PS5 controllers I’ve ever tested, and as premium gamepads go, I vastly prefer it to the likes of the DualSense Edge and Scuf Reflex Pro.

Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded

(Image credit: Future)

Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded: price and availability

  • $209.99 / £179.99 (around AU$322)
  • Available from September 28, 2025
  • Slightly pricier than the original in the US

At $209.99 / £179.99, the Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded is 30 bucks pricier than the launch price of the original Pro BFG in the US, but retains the same price point in the UK. The controller is available to pre-order now at Turtle Beach’s website, and is currently slated to ship on September 28, 2025.

As far as premium PS5 controllers go, the Reloaded's price point is pretty ballpark. Similar luxury controllers like the DualSense Edge or Nacon Revolution 5 Pro come in at $199.99 / £199.99 / AU$399.95 and $199.99 / £199.99 (around AU$316), respectively.

Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded review: Specs

Price

$209.99 / £179.99 (around AU$322)

Weight

9.3oz / 265g

Dimensions

6.3 x 4.1 x 2.4in / 160 x 105 x 60mm

Compatibility

PS5, PS4, PC (Xbox version sold separately)

Connection type

Wireless (2.4GHz), Wired (USB-C)

Battery life

Around 20 hours

Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded

(Image credit: Future)

Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded review: design and features

  • Solid build quality
  • Some minor aesthetic differences compared to the original Pro BFG
  • Includes several accessories, modules, and a carry case

Put the Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded side by side with its older sibling, and you may need to squint to see the differences. Size and silhouette are the exact same, and this new pad is differentiated only by some slight aesthetic adjustments. Namely, the grips now have a greyish outline, while the thumbstick base swaps the original’s bold purple for a sleek grey. The ‘Victrix’ text on the right module also sees that color change, but that’s really it.

The similarities extend to the included parts and modules. The controller is still housed in that compact Victrix carry case. And inside that, you’ve got a swappable Fightpad module, two alternate d-pads (in addition to the excellent diamond-shaped one affixed to the pad by default), two swappable thumbsticks, and a pair of octagonal thumbstick gates. A 2.4GHz dongle and 30ft cable are also packed in, giving you two connectivity options.

Just like the first Pro BFG, the unique selling point here is those customizable modules. In brief, these can be taken out or slotted in using the included screwdriver.

There are plenty of use cases for such a feature, including choosing between symmetrical or asymmetrical stick layouts, opting for a southpaw layout for left-handed players, and, of course, using the included Fightpad module for play with the best fighting games.

The Fightpad module here is a definite improvement. The ‘Fightpad’ logo has been pushed to the bottom, with the six buttons now higher up. It’s a small change, but one that I found to be more comfortable and gave my thumbs a bit more room during gameplay.

Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded

(Image credit: Future)

Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded review: Performance

The Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded is, largely, aimed at competitively-minded players. All the hallmarks of such a pad are here: four remappable buttons on the rear, adjustable trigger stops, and a handful of swappable accessories as mentioned above. As with the original pad, these can all be customized on the fly, and you can even swap between profiles for different games.

Every multiplayer-focused controller should at the very least have Hall effect thumbsticks, and it was always a confusing omission to me with the original Pro BFG. Thankfully, they’re here now, along with Hall effect triggers, which should make for a much longer-lasting controller now that stick drift shouldn’t be a problem.

While the Pro BFG Reloaded is aimed at the competitive market, it’s still an impressively versatile controller that can be used casually. I tested a wide variety of titles across a broad range of genres on PS5 and PC, including Ninja Gaiden Ragebound, Zenless Zone Zero, Street Fighter 6, Tekken 8, Final Fantasy 14 Online, PUBG Battlegrounds, and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4. Across all games, the BFG Pro Reloaded offered a comfortable and responsive gameplay experience.

Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded

(Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded?

Buy it if...

You play a ton of online multiplayer
The Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded is designed primarily for you in this case. With Hall effect sticks, remappable buttons, and swappable modules, it’s a pro-minded player’s ideal controller in more ways than one.

You don’t have space for a traditional fight stick
Fighting game fans are likely to get plenty of use out of the Pro BFG Reloaded thanks to its revised Fightpad module. Its six-button is ideal for games like Street Fighter 6 and Guilty Gear Strive.

Don't buy it if...

You already own the original pad or a DualSense Edge
Given the commanding price tag of the BFG Pro Reloaded, it’s hard to justify paying for this one if you already own a similarly premium PS5 controller, especially when the upgrades are welcome but slight overall.

Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded review: Also consider

There are other premium controller options out there for PS5. Consider the following two options if the BFG Pro Reloaded isn’t quite what you’re after.

Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded

DualSense Edge

Nacon Revolution 5 Pro

Price

$209.99 / £179.99 (around AU$322)

$199.99 / £199.99 / AU$399.95

$199.99 / £199.99 (around AU$316)

Weight

9.3oz / 265g

11.4oz / 322g

10.9oz / 308g

Dimensions

6.3 x 4.1 x 2.4in / 160 x 105 x 60mm

6.3 x 4.2 x 2.6in / 160 x 106 x 66mm

7.5 x 7.4 x 3.5in / 190 x 189 x 89mm

Compatibility

PS5, PS4, PC (Xbox version sold separately)

PS5, PC

PS5, PS4, PC

Connection type

Wireless (2.4GHz), Wired (USB-C)

Wireless (PS5 native), Wired (USB-C)

Wireless (2.4GHz), Wired (USB-C)

Battery life

Around 20 hours

5-6 hours

Around 10 hours

DualSense Edge
An excellent, if pricey, upgrade over the standard DualSense. The Edge doesn’t offer Hall effect sticks, but includes all the DualSense’s marvelous features while adding some handy remappable buttons, trigger locks, and a set of accessories.

Read our full DualSense Edge review

Nacon Revolution 5 Pro
Developed in tandem with professional Street Fighter player Nathan ‘Mr. Crimson’ Massol, Nacon’s premium PS5 pad impresses with solid build quality and battery life, and is designed from the ground up for competitive play.

Read our full Nacon Revolution 5 Pro review

How I tested the Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded

  • Tested for a week
  • Played a wide range of PS5 and PC games
  • Compared directly to the original Pro BFG model

I tested the Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded over the course of a week for this review. In that time, I endeavored to play a smorgasbord of excellent PS5 and PC games, particularly ones with online multiplayer environments.

As I was already familiar with the original Pro BFG, I felt right at home testing this new model. It’s a familiar yet fresh-feeling pad thanks to its welcome upgrades. And as an avid Tekken 8 and Street Fighter 6 player, I had tons of fun playing with the included and improved Fightpad module.

First reviewed August 2025

Read more about how we test

I’ve played every game in the Mafia series – here’s why Mafia: The Old Country left me wanting more
7:17 pm |

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

It’s not easy being a Mafia fan. As someone who’s experienced the dazzling highs of the ground-breaking 2002 original and its strong sequel, the devastating lows of the incredibly rocky Mafia 3, and subsequent return to form in the brilliant Mafia: Definitive Edition remake, I know better than anyone that it’s not a franchise without its ups and downs.

Review info

Platform reviewed: PC, PS5
Available on: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X and Series S
Release date: August 8, 2025

In spite of any flaws, however, each entry has always been elevated by brilliant storytelling and strong cinematography that make them feel just like watching a classic mob movie. This is especially true in the case of Mafia: The Old Country, a new prequel from developer Hangar 13.

It delivers some serious narrative goods with a story that’s compelling right from the get-go, thanks to consistently excellent voice acting and well-shot cutscenes that ooze style and flair.

Unfortunately, there are some rough edges that hold the overall experience back - be that the many janky stealth segments or the noticeable lack of opportunities to explore its massive world. The result is an instalment that, while nowhere near the worst, falls short of some of the series’ best.

The old world

Mafia: The Old Country

(Image credit: 2K)

Set in 1900s Sicily, Mafia: The Old Country is centered around the fictional town of San Celeste - a setting that first appeared in the brief flashback scene at the start of Mafia 2. It’s a great location, with the small handful of areas seen in that older game lovingly recreated. It’s been significantly expanded, too, with a large surrounding countryside, detailed coastline, and a number of small nearby villages.

It all looks incredibly beautiful, with impressively realistic texture work, lifelike lighting, and numerous little details to help sell the period setting. Unfortunately, it’s quite underutilized due to the game’s incredibly linear structure. Don’t get me wrong, the best Mafia titles have never truly been open-world experiences, but the inability to soak in the sights at your own pace is a letdown and a step back.

I loved wandering around Lost Heaven and Empire Bay, either on foot or in a car while travelling between missions, but here you’re forced to turn around if you move even slightly outside the area of your current objective.

Best bit

Outfits in Mafia: The Old Country.

(Image credit: 2K)

Enzo is one fashionable fella. You can unlock loads of customizable outfits and headwear throughout the game, which presents an enjoyable way to change up your look.

It’s a bit baffling when you consider that there are plenty of collectibles out there to discover, from world-building notes to collectible photographs of key landmarks that you can take with an old-timey camera. There’s even a small store that sells upgrades for your gear, but you’re given few opportunities to actually visit it.

There is still a dedicated free-roam mode at least, where you can sight-see or shop to your heart’s content, but accessing it requires you to exit back to the main menu and choose it from the chapter select screen - a cumbersome and annoying thing to have to do if you just want to buy a new vehicle paint job.

Mafia: Definitive Edition nailed the structure of a modern Mafia game, offering just the right amount of freedom without ever overloading you with pointless busywork, and it’s a huge shame that the same kind of design wasn’t implemented here.

A little too familiar

Mafia: The Old Country

(Image credit: 2K)

On the plus side, the tightly controlled structure does help the breakneck pacing of the story shine. The main thrust is that it follows new protagonist, Enzo, a young boy sold by his parents to work in a dangerous, mob-operated sulphur mine.

After a dramatic opening that sees you cast out of the mine and become the sworn enemies of the gangsters that control it, you’re put under the wing of the powerful Torissi family.

In classic Mafia fashion, you soon rise through the ranks, gradually transforming from a scrappy laborer into a skilled mafioso. Missions are nicely varied, with plenty of enjoyable third-person shooting segments that have you experimenting with a good selection of ranged weapons, though there are some sore spots.

Chief among these are the mandatory stealth segments, which are incredibly basic and quickly become grating. There’s nothing particularly exciting about crouching behind cover waiting for guards to move, or tossing coins or bottles into corners to lure them out of your path.

Being detected results in an instant game over, which is especially annoying on the odd occasion when it all bugs out and a guard manages to impossibly spot you.

Mafia: The Old Country

(Image credit: 2K)

There’s a knife-fighting minigame that is frankly overused, too. Blocking and parrying incoming blows is perfectly responsive, and helps break up some of the longer periods of shooting, but it happens so frequently that it verges on ridiculous. Almost every mission culminates in a knife fight, even in moments when its inclusion doesn’t make any real sense.

There are also multiple race sequences, including two major ones that take place on horseback and in a car. They’re well designed but play out in an extremely similar way to the iconic race scene from the original Mafia (albeit significantly less difficult this time around). This is clearly an intentional homage, but it comes across more like an uninspired attempt to capitalize on nostalgia.

In fact, the whole of Enzo’s story arc feels incredibly reminiscent of Tommy’s in the first game. It’s hard to complain too much when it’s still thrilling to experience, but some more adventurous twists would have made some of its rather predictable emotional beats hit that much harder.

It’s a quibble that epitomizes my biggest issues with Mafia: The Old Country. There are the fundamentals of a fantastic Mafia game here, but it lacks the level of fine-tuning and polish needed to live up to the lofty heights of some of its predecessors.

Should I play Mafia: The Old Country?

Play it if…

You love a good crime or mob story
The narrative in Mafia: The Old Country is simple, but effective. If you live for movies about mobsters or organized crime, then you’re going to really enjoy this.

You’re craving a linear game
There’s something to be said about the need for more linear experiences in an age of open-world gaming. If you’re seeking a tightly-paced story-driven experience, then Mafia: The Old Country is worth playing.

Don’t play it if…

You’ve not played a Mafia game before
If you haven't tried a Mafia game before, then I’d still recommend starting with Mafia: Definitive Edition. It has an even more compelling story and a more well-realized world to explore.

You want a more well-rounded experience
The narrative and presentation shines, but other aspects of Mafia: The Old Country could do with some more polish. Consider playing something else if you want an experience that's fantastic across the board.View Deal

Accessibility features

Mafia: The Old Country has a dedicated accessibility menu containing options to adjust the size, color, and background opacity of subtitles. The scale of the HUD can also be adjusted, and there are three colorblind modes: deuteranope, protanope, and tritanope.

The game also features multiple difficult levels, the option to enable aim assist on PC, and a feature that allows you to skip driving between objective markers.

How I reviewed Mafia: The Old Country

Mafia: The Old Country

(Image credit: 2K)

I played Mafia: The Old Country on both PC and PlayStation 5. I played the PC version for more than sixteen hours, hitting the end credits and spending a little bit of time in the free roam mode.

I relied on my Lenovo Q24i-10 monitor, in addition to a Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro gaming mouse and Endgame Gear KB65HE Hall Effect Gaming Keyboard. For audio, I used a pair of Final VR500 earbuds.

I then spent roughly two hours in the PS5 version, comparing the performance my PC build which features a 12GB RTX 3060, an I5-11400F CPU, and 32GB of RAM. I found it satisfactory, but not exceptional, on both platforms.

Throughout my time with the game, I directly compared it to other entries in the Mafia series as a long-time fan. I also stacked it up more generally with other single-player story-based titles, including the likes of The Last of Us, Red Dead Redemption 2, and more.

First reviewed August 2025

I tested Free Download Manager, oOne of the finest download managers around
1:17 pm |

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

I download a lot of content online, and managing it can be hectic. Slow speeds, failing to keep track of files, and unstable connections are just a few of the issues I frequently face when downloading content. That’s why I always try to use the best download manager to mitigate these issues.

One of the best download managers available is Free Download Manager, which has a noticeably direct name. This app was initially proprietary and closed-source, but the developers later made it free and open-source.

It's important to use the website link above (https://www.freedownloadmanager.org/) to download it, as people often mistakenly download botched versions from external sources. Malicious actors can bundle open-source apps with malware programs, so downloading from the official source keeps you safe.

I comprehensively tested the Free Download Manager to give an honest opinion. My review mainly centered on its features and user-friendliness. Read on to learn more about this app and whether it’s a good download manager for you.

Free Download Manager: Versions

The Free Download Manager is compatible with popular desktop and mobile operating systems. You can download it on Windows and macOS directly from the official website. The Windows app is also listed on the Microsoft Store. I used a Mac PC for my test, and installing the app was smooth.

I also downloaded the Android app to test its mobile friendliness. However, there is no iOS app, which I consider a drawback.

Free Download Manager: Features

The Free Download Manager has rich features to help you manage your content downloads. I appreciate that it’s a free, open-source tool with no ads. I’ve encountered a handful of free download managers with excessive ads, and I was happy not to see that here.

I usually download a lot of content via torrents, so I was pleased to discover that this app supports downloads via the BitTorrent protocol. You can upload a .torrent file, and it’ll immediately download the relevant content. The .torrent file contains the metadata of your desired content, which the app reads and immediately fetches from seeders via the BitTorrent protocol.

Apart from uploading .torrent files, many torrenting clients let you download torrents by providing the magnet link or torrent hash. Unfortunately, the Free Download Manager lacks these capabilities. You can only download torrents by adding the .torrent file. However, you can still download standard files (not torrents) by providing a URL.

Free Download Manager 2

(Image credit: Future)

I appreciated this app’s download acceleration feature, which let me split files into several sections and download them simultaneously. This technique offers faster speeds than downloading the complete file in one package. With files split into smaller bits, you can download them more quickly on slower connections.

Broken downloads are a significant issue for many users. When downloading content via a web browser, a download can progress halfway and fail because of an unstable connection. Then, you’ll have to redownload the file from scratch.

However, the Free Download Manager solves this broken downloads issue. When downloads are interrupted, you can resume them later from the exact spot where the interruption occurred. You’ll no longer have to curse at your computer for restarting bandwidth-heavy downloads from scratch, or at least I’ll no longer do.

I enjoyed previewing audio and video files while downloading them. For example, if you’re downloading the latest episode of your favorite series and are too impatient to wait for it to complete, you can start watching it while the download is in progress.

I also liked being able to automatically convert files after downloads. I have this frequent issue where I download videos in the MKV format, which my native video player doesn’t support. Hence, I immediately converted all MKV videos to MP4 upon downloading them.

Free Download Manager 3

(Image credit: Future)

The Free Download Manager allowed me to organize downloads neatly and place them in specific folders or subfolders. I liked the remote control feature, which allowed me to create new downloads on my PC from my Android smartphone. While at work, I initiated movie downloads on my home PC, and the movies were available to binge once I arrived home.

Having these features for free gave me a lot to appreciate about the Free Download Manager. Most download managers with similar features charge for their software or make money by showing ads.

Yet, I have a complaint. The Free Download Manager didn’t support YouTube downloads, although it did so sometime ago. Understandably, YouTube has taken more aggressive copyright action against download managers, so many apps turn off YouTube downloads to avoid legal tussles. Yet, I wish I could download educational YouTube videos with this tool.

Free Download Manager: Interface and in-use

The Free Download Manager excelled in the user-friendliness criterion. Its simple interface was easy to understand. To download a file, you can copy and paste the URL or add the .torrent file. It's that straightforward.

Users can monitor all their downloads from a single dashboard and pause or stop them anytime. I could view the progress of every download along with the thumbnail for easy identification. Before downloading a video or audio, I was constantly prompted to choose a file name, format, and folder to store it in.

You can choose between light and dark modes depending on your preferences. The desktop and Android apps feel modern and responsive. The same applies to the browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari.

If you need help with this tool, you can visit the official community forum where users often exchange solutions to their issues. You can also check the official GitHub documentation to troubleshoot problems yourself.

Free Download Manager: Final verdict

I’ll recommend the Free Download Manager any day and anytime. It makes downloads management easy without paying a dime. Most comparable download managers are freemium or premium, but this one is entirely free and easy to understand.

I tested FrostWire a free, open-source torrenting solution with impressive download speeds and an extensive content library
10:54 am |

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

FrostWire is a popular torrent client that gives users access to a broad range of music, movies, software, and other digital content. It was first released as a fork of LimeWire, then a popular but now-shuttered torrenting client. Since then, FrostWire’s developers have added many features, and the app has long emerged from the shadows of LimeWire.

Many people use FrostWire because it’s free and has an intuitive interface. You don’t need to pay any dime to download content with this torrenting tool. As an open-source application, FrostWire is very customizable and has many features that global developers have contributed.

We’re reviewing FrostWire to help you decide if it suits your torrenting needs. We extensively tested the app and considered third-party opinions to give an unbiased review.

FrostWire: Versions and platforms

FrostWire is compatible with Windows and macOS PCs. It also has an app for Ubuntu, a popular Linux-based desktop operating system.

Likewise, FrostWire has an Android app for mobile devices. You can download the app for your relevant platform on the official website. The download button is the first thing highlighted on the homepage. Click on it, and you can immediately download the FrostWire app to your device.

FrostWire is compatible with Windows 10, macOS Big Sur, and Android 8.0 or later versions of these operating systems. Since Windows 10 debuted in 2015, Big Sur debuted in 2020, and Android 8.0 was released in 2017, any modern PC or smartphone should have newer versions of these operating systems, enabling you to download FrostWire without hassle.

FrostWire 2

(Image credit: Future)

FrostWire: Features

FrostWire is a torrenting tool that lets you download extensive content, such as your favorite movies and music. Upon launching this app, the first thing you’ll notice is its user-friendly interface. Unlike many torrenting tools with mangled graphical elements, FrostWire has a minimalistic and straightforward interface.

If you have specific content to download, you can search for it in the bar prominently displayed on the homepage. There’s also a search bar in the top-left corner, which makes it easy to find content.

We like that FrostWire provides suggestions as you type your query. Type the first two or three letters of the content you want, and you’ll likely see it suggested by FrostWire.

FrostWire is connected to the database of many torrent search engines. It also connects to other data sources to let users find freely downloadable files. Hence, FrostWire has one of the largest file databases we’ve encountered. Think of any fairly popular content, and you can find it on FrostWire.

The built-in music player is a unique feature we liked about FrostWire. When you search for music, you can stream it first before hitting the download button. This built-in music player lets you preview songs and ensure they fit your taste before downloading them.

With FrostWire’s music player, you can organize and easily access your music from one place. Users can create playlists and listen to music on the go, similar to music apps like Spotify. FrostWire has an Android app, so you can integrate the music player with your car's radio and listen to your favorite jams.

You can filter search results by source and size. For example, when you search for specific content, you can filter the results to only include files of less than 100 MB. You can do this by clicking the “Search Tools” button in the top-right corner to open the filtering box.

FrostWire 3

(Image credit: Future)

Though we appreciate FrostWire's filtering options, they are not as sophisticated as those of many torrenting apps. Some platforms let you filter search results by video resolution, audio quality, language, file format, and other factors.

We observed swift download speeds during our test. However, download speeds can vary depending on the availability of seeders on FrostWire’s network. If many seeders are present during your usage, you'll get very fast download speeds from the torrent swarm.

Sometimes, the network does not have many seeders, causing slower download speeds. Your internet connection also affects the download speeds you experience on FrostWire.

You can choose a specific folder to store FrostWire downloads. During the download, you can monitor the progress and speed from your dashboard. If necessary, you can pause or cancel the download.

FrostWire: Interface and in-use

User-friendliness is a criterion wherein FrostWire outshines many competitors. It has a simple, easy-to-understand interface that many rivals lack.

The features are neatly arranged into distinct tabs (Search, Transfers, and Library), making it easy to find what you need. Configuration options are placed neatly at the bottom.

FrostWire’s interface stands out in a niche where many tools are known for having complex interfaces. Its interface strikes an ideal balance between simplicity and functionality.

FrostWire can be accessed from a desktop or mobile app. However, the mobile app is only available for Android. Apple is famously unfriendly to torrenting apps being hosted on its App Store, so FrostWire’s lack of an iOS app is expected.

You can download FrostWire on your device directly from its official website. Downloading and installing the app took just a few clicks during our test.

FrostWire: Security and Piracy

Torrenting clients carry non-trivial security risks. Malicious actors often hide malware within torrent files for unsuspecting users to download. You can also expose your IP address to other users or inadvertently download pirated content. TechRadar doesn’t endorse content piracy or illegal downloads.

FrostWire is a trustworthy torrenting client, but it’s an open-source tool that doesn’t control the seeders on its network. Before torrenting, it’s advisable to use a VPN service to hide your IP address and encrypt your internet traffic.

FrostWire: Final Verdict

FrostWire is a reliable, free torrenting solution for downloading your favorite content. It has an extensive file library and an intuitive interface that makes finding files easy. FrostWire has some drawbacks, such as limited content filtering options, but its pros outweigh the cons.

We list the best file manager.

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