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I was blown away by this robot vacuum’s mopping performance, but it’s let down by frustrating software quirks

9:30 pm | October 5, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Robot Vacuums Smart Home | Tags: US | Comments: Off

Narwal Flow: two-minute review

The Narwal Flow is a high-end, self-emptying hybrid robotic vacuum with an especially unusual and impressive mopping system. I've been testing one out for the past fortnight, and the performance is such a mixed bag that coming to a definitive conclusion is tricky. On one hand, its mopping is among the best of any robovac I've tested. The mop pad is mounted on a wide roller, which extends outwards to reach into corners, and uses hot water to clean both your floor and itself. The system works remarkably well.

The Flow's vacuuming abilities are also strong, and it performed very well in TechRadar's standardized tests. It's not only very powerful (up to 22,000 Pa of suction), but cleverly adjusts the speed of its rotating side brushes to prevent dry debris from being flung across hard floors. It also performed very well at in my obstacle avoidance tests. There don't seem to have been any negative results of installing the LiDAR module in the back of the bot instead of in a raised puck on top. The benefit is that the overall profile is relatively shallow, which means the bot can clean beneath low furniture.

On the other hand, the Flow occasionally let itself down. During one cleaning task, it spilled a large amount of debris from its dust bin onto the floor, despite being set to automatically empty itself into the base station. The robot then drove over the mess, lifting itself off the ground enough to trigger its cliff sensors, and requiring help. Another time, it repeatedly failed to enter a room and, despite not vacuuming a single square centimeter, returned to its charger and declared the task a success.

The app is also so packed with adjustable settings that it'll likely feel intimidating to robovac rookies – an issue compounded by numerous examples of poor translation. I have no doubt these issues can be addressed by software updates, and I was ultimately still very impressed by the Flow's cleaning performance. The fundamentals are sound, it just needs a little finesse to reach perfection.

That's the short version – read on for my full Narwal Flow review, including an in-depth look at the design, performance and value for money, plus how it compares to the rest of the best robot vacuums on the market.

Narwal Flow robot vacuum in its dock — (Image credit: Future)

Narwal Flow review: price & availability

List price: $1,499.99
Launched: August 2025
Available: US

The Flow launched in August 2025, and a month later its price fell from $1,499.99 to $1,299.99. That's for what Narwal calls the basic dock, which contains a dust bag and tanks for clean and dirty water. A smaller dock that plumbs into your water supply for a full hands-off experience costs $1,599.99, but was discounted by $200 during the pre-order phase.

Currently, the Narwal Flow is only available in the US. The brand hasn't announced plans to bring the Flow to the UK just yet. However, it's available in some European countries, including Germany, for €1,299 with the standard dock and €1,499 for the smaller, plumbed-in dock. Those prices were cut for a limited time at launch to €899 and €1,099 respectively. The Flow is not currently available in Australia.

Even at the new, lower list price, the Narwal Flow is firmly in the premium price bracket for robot vacuums. It sits above other high-end robovacs, like the $1,099 Ecovacs Deebot X8 Pro Omni, but below the lofty $1,599.99 recommended retail price of the Roborock Qrevo Curv. However, discounts are common in the robot vacuum market, so in many cases you'll be able to take list price with a pinch of salt.

If you're comfortable with the idea of a four-figure vacuum – something we've all had to get used to as their features and performance continue to grow – then the Flow feels like good value. This is especially true when you start digging through the spec sheet and the many, many pages of features and settings accessible in the app. Things like the use of hot water with the mopping system – to clean the floor, not just the pad itself – and an extending, track-based mop help the Flow stand apart. I'll come back to these features in more detail later.

Like other robotic vacuums, the Flow will require replacement parts over time. Examples include dust bags and detergent for the mopping water, and the spinning side brushes can also be replaced if they wear out or break. Narwal sells a kit of parts that includes two mops, two filters, a replacement roller brush, three dust bags, two bottles of detergent, two pairs of side brushes and other accessories. But it's rather expensive, at $259.99.

Value for money score: 4 out of 5

Narwal Flow specs

Max suction:	22,000Pa
Robot diameter:	13.8in / 35.1cm
Robot height:	3.7in / 9.5cm
Dock dimensions (W x D x H):	16.9 x 15.6 x 18.2in / 43 x 40 x 46.1cm
Dust bin volume (base):	2.5L
Water tank volume:	Requested
Base type:	Charge, auto-empty, wash mop pads with hot water, dry mop pads with hot air, refill clean water, self-clean
Max threshold clearance:	1.6in / 4cm
Mop type:	Roller track with hot water mopping
Mop pad lifting:	0.5in / 1.2cm
Max runtime:	190 mins

Narwal Flow review: design

Hybrid robot vacuum with LiDAR integrated to give a shallower profile
Track-style roller mop that can extend, with hot water mopping
Comprehensive dock with hot water mop cleaning and self-clean cycle

The Narwal Flow is a robotic vacuum cleaner and mop with a self-emptying charge station that also cleans and drys the integrated mop. As well as emptying the robot's onboard dust bin, the charge station empties the robot's dirty water tank and refills it with clean water. For an even more hands-off approach, there's an option that has a dock that can be plumbed in (I didn't test this version).

Dock for the Narwal Flow base — (Image credit: Future)

The standard base station is comprehensive. It'll take care of basic things like charging the bot and emptying the dust, but also tasks like refilling the onboard water tank, washing the mop pads with hot water and drying them with hot air. It'll even clean itself, rinsing the dirty water tank and pipes with hot water. It's a shame, then, that there's no automatic detergent dispenser; instead you just add cleaning solution to the clean water tank.

I like how the robot is housed almost entirely inside the charge station, instead of protruding out the front when parked. This makes for a neater appearance, and means the system takes up less floor space than some rivals.

As with other robovacs, the Flow asks for plenty of free floor space around the base station, though. Officially, you should keep 18 in / 45cm free to each side and in front of the dock. This isn't critical though, so you can put the dock in a corner of the room (or next to a kitchen cupboard, as I have) and the robot will still drive in and out just fine.

Narwal Flow robot vacuum with internal dust cup removed and placed on top — (Image credit: Future)

The underside of the robot houses a rotating, anti-tangle brush, a pair of spinning side brushes, two wheels that promise to lift the robot over thresholds up to 1.57 in / 4cm tall, and a reusable mopping pad.

Unlike some other robotic vacuums, the Flow's spinning LiDAR unit is housed within the body instead of mounted on top, which reduces its height to 3.74 in / 9.5 cm, which is on the shallower side for a robot vacuum and means it's able to drive beneath low furniture.

When in use, the mop pushes down onto the floor with a force of 2.7 lbs / 1.22 kg to help it scrub at dirt and dried-on stains, while grime is scraped off, and the pad is fed with clean water. The mop uses water warmed to 113F / 45C while in use, then lifts by 0.47in / 1.2cm to keep clear of carpet and rugs.

Narwal Flow flipped over to show roller mop — (Image credit: Future)

Unlike some other robotic vacuums, the rotating side brushes of the Narwal Flow do not pivot outwards to reach further into corners. Instead, there's a clever mechanical solution: one brush on each sweeper has a hinge halfway up. When the bot approaches the edge of a room, the sweeper changes direction of rotation, causing the hinge to open up and extend the reach of the brush.

The mop does extend outwards, getting it closer to walls but not quite within touching distance.

Setup

Setting up the Narwal Flow is relatively quick and easy. The spinning brushes clip into place, then it's just a case of picking a good spot for the charging station, filling the water tank, letting the robot charge its battery, and using the Narwal app to connect the robot to your Wi-Fi network. After that, you're prompted to send the Flow out on a mapping mission, where it quickly drives around, without cleaning, and uses its vision system to map your property.

The Flow performed this quickly and did a decent job of splitting the floor plan into rooms. It even correctly labeled the kitchen and living room, spotted how the latter is carpeted, and placed icons to represent a dining table, chairs and sofa. I had to adjust some of the wall locations, then split the hallway and downstairs toilet into two rooms, but this process is all quite intuitive.

Narwal Flow dock with lid open to show internal water tanks — (Image credit: Future)

The Flow also spotted a couple of obstacles – a cable and some shoes – and marked them with relevant icons on the floor map. Narwal says the Flow can recognize 200 different types of objects this way – and yes, that includes pet mess. This system was inconsistent, as it later mistook a stainless steel kitchen bin for a mirror and labelled a single table leg as 'other' despite previously adding the same table and chairs to its map of the kitchen. Up to four maps can be saved, which is handy if you live in a multi-storey house instead of an apartment.

Lastly, the Flow offers smart home integration and support for voice commands via Siri, Alexa and Google Home. However, there's a bit of clunky Chinese-to-English translation going on here, which can make some settings nonsensical. That aside, I like being able to ask Alexa to 'clean the kitchen', for example, or set up a Siri Shortcut to control the Flow.

Design score: 4.5 out of 5

Narwal Flow review: performance

Strong vacuuming and excellent mopping when you get the settings right
Occasional navigation failures
Impressively thorough self-cleaning from the dock

Narwal suggests the Flow is best left to think for itself. This is because, while there's lots of granular customization of cleaning schedules and mopping strategies to sink your teeth into, Narwal's artificial intelligence, called Freo Mind, can be summoned to do the thinking for you.

The AI adjusts the cleaning strategy based on the room and how much dirt there is. It'll adjust the suction power, mopping water usage, cleaning frequency and other variables on the fly, and work especially hard on tougher stains.

Narwal Flow on carpet in tester's home — (Image credit: Future)

This is most obvious when tasked with mopping dried-on stains, which the robot will scrub at repeatedly, sometimes with multiple trips back to the docking station to clean the mop and grab more warm water, before the job is done.

The Flow's intelligence and navigation skills are mostly good, driving very close to walls but rarely crashing into them, and cleaning in neat, straight lines.

But it isn't perfect. On one occasion the Flow pushed a chair about 12in / 30.5cm across the kitchen floor, then seemingly got stuck, unsure of where to go or how to get back to its charger. I was also disappointed to see how the Flow once dropped a large amount of debris onto the carpet after cleaning, and another onto its own dock when returning to base. The robot can be set to empty its bin either after every clean, or intelligently based on how full it is, but in neither scenario should the bin be overflowing. Those minor hiccups aside, during general use I found the Flow to clean very well indeed.

Vacuuming tests

Now for the specific cleaning tests. I started by challenging the Narwal with a mixture of crushed digestive biscuit and flour on a wooden floor. I set the robot to its lowest suction setting and asked it to vacuum the area just once, and with what the app refers to as 'standard coverage precision', instead of the more meticulous option.

I started on the lowest of four suction settings (this is called 'Quiet, and lives up to its name, reaching just 58 dB.) Most of the debris was collected after a single pass. But, while the Flow managed not to flick dirt around the room, as some other robovacs are guilty of, larger pieces of food were missed, and there's no doubt I could have done a better job with a handheld vacuum or a dustpan and brush. The bot then returned to its dock and disinfected the internal bin. I measured this process at 42 dB; noticeable in a quiet room, but only slightly louder than a refrigerator.

I repeated the test at the next suction level, called Normal. This picked up more debris, but still left some behind – and I also noticed how the robot left two sizable trails of crumbs at the entrance to its charging dock. I then selected the highest setting, called Super Powerful, but before starting the app suggested I try 'Vortex suction power', which was previously hidden but, the app said, was suitable for the current area I was cleaning. Vortex suction is much louder, at 76 dB, but did an excellent job, picking up almost all of the crumb mix and leaving behind only a few faint trails.

As a final test, I scattered some more of the crumb mix and this time selected the Narwal Flow's Freo Mind setting, which promises to intelligently adjust depending on the environment and dirt level.

The robot drove in a more meticulous way, but left quite a few patches of crumb in its wake, plus some trails of debris spread around by its tank tracks. Honestly, I was expecting a little better here. As is almost always the case with robovacs, the best approach is to have it vacuum the entire room twice, rather than focus on a single area from which it is likely to flick dirt. This approach produced the best results.

Next, I repeated this test in a carpeted lounge. Strangely, the robot repeatedly failed to even leave the kitchen, yet twice proudly told me it had completed the task (and stated how it had cleaned 0.0 square meters in the app).

After the third failure, I asked it to vacuum the entire lounge instead of a custom zone. This also failed, and – after deleting the map and creating a new one – I discovered the Flow had designated the lounge carpet as an area to 'Cross' instead of 'Clean'. This is intended for rugs, creating the option to avoid them, but in this case it meant the robot refused to enter the room. A notification explaining this would have been helpful.

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Crumb mix on a carpeted floor before the suction test (Image credit: Future)

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Clean carpet after the suction test — ... and the results of the crumb test (Image credit: Future)

Issue resolved, and even the lowest suction mode did a fantastic job of vacuuming the carpet, with only very small patches of the crumb mix left behind. It was an impressive performance, and I liked how, even in 'standard' coverage precision, the Flow methodically drove twice across the selected zone. I repeated the task using Normal suction with two vacuuming cycles, and the carpet was cleaned perfectly.

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Oats on a carpet ahead of suction test (Image credit: Future)

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All the oats cleared away after the suction test (Image credit: Future)

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Oats on a wooden floor before the oat suction test — Oats on a wooden floor before the suction test (Image credit: Future)

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Hard floor after suction test, with oats cleared — ... and the results (Image credit: Future)

For my next test, I used oats to see how the Flow performed with larger debris. On a hard floor it passed with flying colors, even with the lowest suction level. Crucial here is how the Flow's rotating side brushes vary their speed depending on the task, so instead of flicking the oats around – as many other robovacs do – the Flow slowed down and picked up almost everything.

On carpet I saw similarly impressive results, with just a single pass on the lowest suction enough to leave the floor totally spotless.

Mopping tests

Next, the mop test. For this I tested the Flow with some spilt water, then a few drops of ketchup smeared across a wooden floor and left to dry. For every mopping task, the bot first cleans its mop with hot water inside the base station, then sets off. The Flow did a great job of wiping away the spilt water, without pushing it around and creating more mess, but the rotating side brushes are dragged through the liquid (and, later, the ketchup too), so could start to smell over time.

The Flow's Freo AI function didn't scrub at the ketchup as much as I'd hoped, and instead returned to base after one pass without properly cleaning the area.

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Water and ketchup on a hard floor, ready for the mopping test (Image credit: Future)

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Results of mopping test, after one pass — .. after one pass (Image credit: Future)

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Results of mopping test, after two passes — ... and after two passes (Image credit: Future)

I tried again – this time with the mopping set to 'meticulous' and with increased water usage to help loosen and remove the ketchup stain – and the floor was left spotless. Worth noting is how the Flow comes with a bottle of detergent, but this is added manually to the base station water tank, instead of being administered automatically, via a separate tank, as is the case with some premium robovacs.

Especially impressive is how the mop uses hot water to clean the floor, then is itself washed with more hot water and dried inside the base station after every task. Remarkably, even after a few weeks' use and the ketchup test, the mopping pad still looked like new.

Obstacle avoidance tests

Finally, obstacle avoidance. I tasked the Flow with vacuuming my lounge and placed a shoe, a sock and a USB charge cable in its way. The robot did an excellent job of avoiding every object, while still vacuuming very closely to each of them.

Narwal Flow robot vacuum avoiding a sock — (Image credit: Future)

I was particularly impressed by how it dodged the charge cable, since most robovacs fail at this test. The app showed an icon of a cable on the map, but strangely didn't identify the sock and shoe.

Performance score: 4 out of 5

Narwal Flow review: app

Some poor Chinese-to-English translations
A ton of settings to explore – in fact, an overwhelming number
Drains phone battery quickly when left open

The Narwal app is a complex beast, packed with adjustable features and settings. It's designed nicely though, and most of the menu system is logical enough, although some questionable translation into English will have you scratching your head.

Ideally, you'd leave the Freo Mind AI to work everything out for you. But I found the Flow vacuumed best when configured to perform two cycles with strong suction and the coverage precision set to meticulous. Mopping worked best when set to two cycles, with normal water usage and, again, the meticulous coverage mode.

Beyond that, there are pages and pages of settings to read through and tinker with. There's even a setting to increase suction power to compensate for living at high altitude, a graph to show the 'health index' of the dust bag over time, and three options for how intensely the mop is dried. A 'simple mode' that strips out most features would be welcome.

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Screenshots from Narwal robovac app — (Image credit: Narwal / Future)

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More helpfully, you can create and save up to four maps, so using the Flow across multiple floors is possible, and there's a page showing you when each consumable accessory will need replacing.

One of the app's best features is how shortcuts can be created for common cleaning tasks. I made one called After Meal, which is configured to vacuum the entire kitchen with normal suction and two passes. These shortcuts live on the home page of the app, and begin with a single tap.

It's a good app, but there's too much going on for the average user. I'd urge most buyers to take manual control of the various cleaning functions, see what works best in your home, then set up a handful of shortcuts to fit your use case. I prefer this approach to relying on the Freo AI and trusting the robot to always do the right thing. Lastly, I noticed the Narwal app runs quite hot and quickly depleted my iPhone battery when left open.

App score: 3.5 out of 5

Should you buy the Narwal Flow?

Attribute	Notes	Rating
Value	Expensive, but justified at least in part by an extensive feature list and generally very strong performance.	4/5
Design	Hybrid robot vacuum and mop with integrated LiDAR and extending, track-style roller mop. Comprehensive dock.	4.5/5
Performance	Vacuuming is strong, mopping excellent, and the dock's cleaning functions are impressively thorough. Let down by occasional bugs and navigation issues.	3.5/5
App	Nicely designed, but overflowing with far too many features and settings and some poor translation into English. A resource hog that makes your phone run hot.	3.5/5

Buy it if...

You need a great mop

For homes with predominantly hard floors, the Flow is a great robot – the mopping is amongst the best I've tried, and it's remarkably good at keeping itself clean, dry and odor-free. Get the plumbed-in dock for a fully hands-off experience.

You rely on obstacle avoidance

The Flow is very good at avoiding obstacles, then plots their location on the floorplan and even takes photos of whatever it encounters. It didn't once ingest a stray sock or charge cable during my testing.

You want minimal maintenance

The Flow empties its dust bin, but also disinfects itself after vacuuming, then washes its mop with hot water and dries it too. After several weeks of use, and producing two tanks' worth of filthy used water, the mop still looked like new.

Don't buy it if...

Your priority isn't mopping

Much of the cost here is related to the advanced mopping and mop maintenance features. If you don't have a ton of hard floor or intensive mopping needs, this probably isn't the robot vacuum for you.

You want simplicity

With pages of settings to adjust, function names that don't always make sense, and some poor translation, the Narwal app can be overwhelming. One-tap shortcuts can be created, and work well once you've spent some time configuring them, but the app could be more user-friendly.

You're on a budget

Naturally, a four-figure robovac won't appeal to consumers who want to spend less. Thankfully, there are plenty of more affordable options from brands like SwitchBot, Roborock, Tapo and Eufy, although not all can mop as well as the Narwal Flow (or at all).

How I tested the Narwal Flow

I set up the Narwal Flow and used it as my own vacuum cleaner and mop for a couple of weeks, before conducting a series of specific tests. During the initial period, the Flow was tasked with vacuuming and mopping the entire ground floor of my home. I experimented with the Flow's ability to create additional maps, and used it to clean my first floor bedrooms and bathrooms too. The specific vacuuming, mopping, navigation and obstacle avoidance tests are outlined in the Performance section above.

Read more about how we test robot vacuum cleaners

First reviewed September 2025

I tested the Uplift V3 Standing Desk and everything I loved about the previous models is upgraded and updated

7:47 pm |

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

I've worked with Uplift in the past, so when I heard they released a new desk, I, of course, had to try it out for myself.

I've tried out their V2 Standing Desk with commercial legs, and the team has reviewed the V2 standing desk with standard legs. Both desks scored 4.5 and are widely recognized by the TechRadar Pro team as fantastic standing desk options. Sometimes when companies knock it out of the park, they swing too far in a different direction and lose touch with what made their original product so successful. Uplift, on the other hand, did the right move - they listened to their customers.

The Uplift V3 is everything that made the V2 great, everything that the V2 Commercial refined, and made it just a little bit better. Assembly is improved, stability is enhanced, and we still have the same great desktop and accessory options. We also have a sturdier frame and the same high-quality materials. For me, this might be the best standing desk around right now.

Uplift V3 Standing Desk: Price and availability

The Uplift Standing Desk V3 offers some of the most customizable options I have seen, including material choices and built-in features. Depending on what you choose, you'll adjust the price and time it takes to get to you drastically.

With the base-level desk in the smallest size, without any modifications, you'll come in around $700 and will get it shipped that day, free of charge. However, if you want to, and your budget allows of course, you could go all out and get a desk, and come out to over $2000 without accessories.

There are so many combination options that we could all make unique desks if we wanted to, and that is one of the things that sets Uplift apart.

Uplift V3 Standing Desk: Unboxing and First Impressions

I've customized and ordered numerous standing desks. Uplift still has the most robust number of options for me to choose from when I build, making it feel like I have a truly customized and almost one-of-a-kind desk.

I get to design it to be precisely what I want. Granted, there are other companies, such as Oakywood, that allow you to customize down to the exact inch, but when it comes to options for materials, Uplift may have just about everyone else beat. Even with this incredible selection of desktops and accessories, delivery time is still within a week, which is insane, sometimes as quickly as three days.

Everything comes well-packaged, with all the accessories you chose, and easy-to-follow directions to help with setup. Right off the bat, the desk feels sturdier than the V2, providing the rigidity I wanted with the V2 and even the V2 Commercial, while still maintaining a sleek and minimal appearance. The biggest game changer for me is the inclusion of the FlexMount Cable Manager.

I am the kind of person who loves a clean desk, even if it's cluttered; I still like it to be tidy and have the cables organized. The FlexMount cable Manager is the cable management solution that FlexiSpot added to their E7 Pro, except on the back of the desk, which works out well, as that's where most of the cable mess is.

Uplift V3 Standing Desk: Design & Build Quality

Specs

Height range: 22.6” – 48.2” (BIFMA-certified)
Lift capacity: ~355 lbs
Frame: dual-motor, steel, crossbar stability design
Noise: <50dB
Keypad: programmable memory, hush or RGB options
Warranty: 15 years

For my V3 desk, I built out a beautiful Heritage Oak desktop paired with the V3 C-Shaped legs, a handful of accessories, and powered grommets. The Heritage Oak is lovely. It looks excellent from a distance, and even up close, it still looks great for a laminate. It is worth noting that it is laminate, so it's not solid wood, but for what it is, it feels very nice.

I wanted to see how good their laminate could be, and I'm glad I did. If a more accessible desk can be this good, and I've also tested a solid wood option from Uplift, I know that their desks, overall, are solid and worth suggesting and promoting now.

Another element I really like about the design is the ability to add features like powered grommets at the point of purchase. These wouldn't be as beloved as they are, but the powered grommets are frequently the most notable feature of this desk, according to my team. We use them all the time to plug in whatever we are working with, all without having to run an extension cord, leave out a cable mess, or look for an outlet. We can pop up the grommet, plug in, and get to work.

The upgraded V3 legs still feature the same four programmable presets, and we also have a selection to choose from when it comes to the controller, which is quite impressive. We can choose the variant that best suits our working style and aesthetic, and it will work seamlessly with the desk out of the box.

Uplift V3 Standing Desk: In use

I've had this desk set up and in use for my team and I for the past 39 days at the time of writing this review. In that time, we have had numerous people rotate using it.

We have had multiple meetings, working sessions, and full days of work at this desk. We have it set up with dual monitors, an external Logitech MX Keys Keyboard, and the Logitech MX Master 3. We added a desk pad to protect the desk and enhance its aesthetic appeal. We also built out dual docking stations, one to run dual monitors for a Mac (that shouldn't be able to run dual monitors) through DisplayLink Manager, and another Thunderbolt Dock pulled forward for easy port access.

On top of this, we added a lamp, speakers, and multiple power options with under-mounted power strips and both grommet power solutions all running to where the desk itself can be powered with a single cable, and one ethernet port for wired internet (though it could be wireless if required).

This is how I like to build my desks, over-built but ready for modifications in the future if desired. Creating this way also highlights the limitations of a desk, if any exist. So far, this desk has withstood the hefty build beautifully, and it is working precisely as intended. The privacy screen blocks exactly where we'd want it to, and provides some lovely pouches for quick access to books or documents.

The grommets are easy to use and highly convenient. The desk has not bowed or sagged at all. The cable management solution keeps everything in place without allowing any cables to come into contact with the ground. Additionally, the wheels provide super-easy maneuverability.

After using this for a month and walking into the office every day, looking at the desk as I do in the photos, I wish that the cable management solution were either black to blend in or a more rigid and refined metal to match the desk frame. Everything looks so high quality, and then that stands out as an outlier. But not in a terrible way - just a little room for growth for V4.

Uplift V3 Standing Desk: Final verdict

The Uplift V3 is a significant and highly welcomed update from the Uplift V2 and V2 Commercial lines. Not to say that those are bad by any means, but the V3 is a definite step above. This desk has been excellent for all kinds of office work and would work beautifully in a dedicated office or a home office space. If you're investing in a standing desk, consider one that offers not only a fun, customizable option but also a quality, well-tested desk.

Should you buy an Uplift V3 Standing Desk?

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Value	Can be built out to be very affordable, or very bougie depending on your budget	4 / 5
Design	Beautiful and sturdy design, with room to grow	4.5 / 5
Hardware	Dual motors, great range, sturdy, and high lift capacity	5 / 5
Performance	Quiet, responsive, stable, great to build a setup with	5 / 5
Overall	The V3 continues the line of greatness with Uplift's standing desk, giving us a fantastic desk all around	5 / 5

Buy it if...

You want a customized desk
The Uplift Standing Desk V3 builder allows for what feels like a custom desk, without paying absurd amounts of money for other companies. You get to choose most elements, creating a one-of-a-kind piece for your space.

You need a buy-it-once kind of desk
Sometimes you want a cheap desk that fits a space, sometimes you want to buy a desk that will last for a decade without even batting an eye.View Deal

Don't buy it if...

You need to adjust the size down to an inch
While Uplift has a ton of options, you do have a set number of options for sizing, if you need custom sizing, you'll have to look elsewhere

You expect the best cable management solution to come first party
There are a few desk companies that have better cable management solutions, but you could also grab those and add them to this desk, which is what we'd suggest

For more office furniture essentials, we've tested and reviewed the best office chairs.

The LiberNovo Omni is a minimalist chair with electronic adjustments, an external battery, impressive comfort – and it has me rethinking what an office chair can be

1:03 am |

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

When I first saw the LiberNovo Omni announced, I thought that if they delivered half of what I am seeing in the previews in real life, I'd be impressed.

Now, I've reviewed some of the best office chairs for the home and office, but this? This is something very different. Let me explain.

LiberNovo Omni: Price and availability

The LiberNovo Omni began on Kickstarter and has recently emerged from that initial phase. The next round of chairs will start shipping on October 21, 2025, and LiberNovo is still accepting more pre-orders until October 20th.

The basic bundle is currently on sale for $848 through the LiberNovo website, originally priced at $ 1,099.

If you want to get your hands on this chair before the price increases or before there is a delay in shipping due to high demand, grab one from LiberNovo directly by clicking here.

LiberNovo Omni: Unboxing and First Impressions

The Omni arrived in a large box and took 10 minutes to assemble with minimal frustration or strain. The hardest part was coping with the realization that I had missed a step in the directions and hadn't moved the wire controls to the side before attaching the seat to the frame, meaning I had to undo everything.

That brings up another point -- the assembly was straightforward, partially due to a design and setup process that I have yet to see among my 50+ chairs that I have reviewed over the last several years. Most chairs I have tested have a backpiece that mounts directly to the seat of the chair, usually with three bolts.

This chair, though, has what I can only describe as a spine that extends to the top of the backrest, and then seats directly onto the pedestal. Then, a base is added on top of the spine, and a backrest is attached to the top section of the spine. This assembly and design method, while unique, also provides a tremendous amount of stability to the chair, making assembly a breeze.

From the moment I first sat in this chair, I have absolutely loved it. It's different than what I expected in feel, but in a good way. The seat is firm yet comfortable, the backrest functions well, and the adjustments are excellent. The shock for me was that the seat felt a bit narrower than expected.

Without taking too long, I was able to dial it in to be exactly what I wanted, and I got back to work, forgetting about needing to make any further adjustments, which speaks to just how comfortable the chair is.

LiberNovo Omni: Design & Build Quality

Specs

Height range:
Lift capacity:
Dimensions:
Warranty:

As I mentioned above, the frame for the LiberNovo Omni is unique. It has three main components, with the primary structure of the frame spanning where most chairs have a gap.

The spine portion of the chair effectively conveys the stability it offers. The mesh seat is comfortable, even for all-day use, the backrest is incredibly supportive, and the frame is stable.

The footprint is small enough to fit even in smaller setups, to the point where I moved this chair to my smallest desk setup, and it works perfectly.

LiberNovo Omni: In use

The LiberNovo Omni has a backrest that is not only comfortable but also hugs my spine when I sit. Most chairs require adjustment throughout the day, but I've spent several long days sitting in this chair without any issues.

Admittedly, even when I'm at my standing desk, I haven't stood up in a few days (while working, of course). The headrest can be adjusted to push forward or back, helping to support my neck when I'm sitting. I can recline when thinking or on a virtual call, and I can get a quick massage by pressing a simple button.

One more thing worth mentioning is that this chair features a nice lumbar support, unlike many chairs that have a gap. Right at the lower back, where your seat meets the backrest, most chairs have a gap, or some padding is used to try to make up for it.

Since this chair is designed in such a unique way, there is not only an option for a small gap, but also a zero-gap option, utilizing electronics to close that gap, meaning you are supported all day without slouching to relieve pressure on your spine.

It wouldn't be a non-biased review without some cons. After a few days of using this chair, I noticed that the headrest drops too easily, and it moves side to side more easily than expected. This is probably due to the thin, small piece of plastic holding the headrest in place. If you're the kind of person expecting that to be rigid, you'll be sadly disappointed in this headrest's level of maneuverability.

LiberNovo Omni: Final verdict

The LiberNovo Omni is impressive. This is the kind of quality that I would expect from a well-established company, and several variations of a chair.

But, instead, I have found it within a chair that is still technically on Kickstarter at the time of writing this review. Yes, it's expensive, but it truly is worth the money if you spend all day at a desk.

If you're looking for a comfortable chair that supports your lower back all day long, consider LiberNovo's Omni offering before making your decision. It may change your mind - or at least make you reconsider what an office chair can be.

Should you buy the LiberNovo Omni?

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Value	Good level of ergonomics for the price	4.5 / 5
Design	Simple design, clean, aggressive lumbar support	4 / 5
Hardware	Basic armrests, and adjust-less lumbar are simple. They work but are not for everyone	3.5 / 5
Performance	Great for budget buyers, also for average height to shorter users	4 / 5
Overall	Not perfect, but one of the better wallet-friendly chairs you can buy today if you like lumbar support	4 / 5

For more office furniture, we've reviewed the best standing desks.

I’ve tested more than 50 air purifiers, and this is the model is my hands-down favorite – here’s my long-term review

11:30 pm | October 4, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Air Quality Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances | Tags: US | Comments: Off

Levoit EverestAir air purifier: two-minute review

Air purifiers designed for large rooms tend to be big and bulky – but the Levoit EverestAir Air Purifier is an exception to that rule. It's a slim machine that can fit into tight spaces, and fit flush against a wall, but which packs enough power to use in extra-large spaces.

Inside, you'll find a 3-stage filtration system that includes a washable pre-filter, and a H13 True HEPA filter and an activated charcoal filter combo. I have an open plan home with no walls separating the living room and kitchen, and the EverestAir did an excellent job of purifying the space quickly and effectively, including clearing my neighbor's cigarette smoke. In fact, this is one of the most effective air purifiers I've ever reviewed – and I've tested over 50 of the best air purifiers on the market.

The mode I used most often was Auto, where a laser dust sensor scans for airborne particles and increases or decreases the fan speed as necessary. There's also a Sleep mode and a Turbo mode.

The control panel includes plenty of options, but they're clearly presented and the information is easy to navigate and digest. The air quality score, along with color-coded rings, provide you with an at-a-glance overview. At the touch of a button, you can also cycle through readings for specific particulate matter, such as PM 1.0 (fine dust and microtoxins), PM 2.5 (dust, smoke, and pet dander) and PM 10 (pollen, ash, and airborne allergens). There's no remote control, but you can control the EverestAir from a distance using the companion app, which includes options to turn the device on or off, switch modes, create a schedule and more.

Normally, the airflow on an air purifier is in a fixed position. However, the Levoit EverestAir has adjustable vent angles, which is ideal for directing the clean air to suit the position of the purifier. Cleverly, when the air purifier is not in use, the vents close completely to keep dust out.

That's the short version – read on for my full Levoit EverestAir review.

Levoit EverestAir air purifier in reviewer's kitchen-living room — (Image credit: Future)

Levoit EverestAir review: price & availability

List price: $499
Available: US

The Levoit EverestAir has a list price of $499.99 and is available to purchase direct from Levoit US via Amazon. While Levoit does have a presence in the UK and Australia, at time of writing this model wasn't available in either territory.

The Levoit EverestAir replacement filter is rather expensive ($99). However, it only needs to be replaced every 12-15 months with normal use… so you could think of it like a $50 filter that needs to be replaced every 6 months, if that helps.

In the air purifier market, the Levoit EverestAir is considered a mid-range purchase. It's more expensive than the Levoit Core 300S, which is TechRadar's top budget air purifier choice. On the other hand, it's significantly less pricey than the likes of the Dyson Purifier Big+Quiet Formaldehyde BP04. For me, the features, functions, and build quality certainly justify the price, and it delivers strong value for the money.

Value for money score: 4.5 out of 5

Levoit EverestAir specs

CADR:	354 CFM / 601 m³/h
Size:	18.9 x 8.5 x 23.2in / 48 x 21.6 x 58.9cm
Control:	Buttons, app, voice
Filters:	Pre-filter, H13 HEPA, activated carbon
Modes:	Low, medium, high, Auto, Sleep, Turbo
Contaminants detected:	PM1, PM2.5, PM10
Model code:	LAP-EL551S-AUS

Levoit EverestAir review: design

Sleek, compact design with easy filter access and wheels for moving
Vents can be angled to suit the position of the purifier
Can be controlled via touchscreen buttons, a companion app, or voice

Air purifiers can be bulky, but the Levoit EverestAir Air Purifier has a sleek design that's less than 9 inches / 22.9cm wide. When I'm working at my desk, it's usually positioned in the tight space between my desk and sofa.

The EverestAir has a white front, stainless steel back, and black top, and the design is unique enough that visitors to my home often point to the machine and ask what it is. (For context, I also have a TruSens air purifier that looks like a speaker, and a Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin speaker that looks like a football, so you can understand how it's easy for guests to get confused.)

Levoit EverestAir air purifier with filter casing removed — (Image credit: Future)

As well as looking stylish, it's very functional. Levoit has added wheels underneath, which make it easy to roll the whole thing around (it weighs 20.7lbs / 9.4kg, so it's not really heavy, but I wouldn't want to pick it up). Some purifiers have to be turned upside down to access and remove the filter. However, with this air purifier, I merely need to gently pull the panel door and it comes off immediately.

I also appreciate the fact the vents are adjustable, enabling me to customize my airflow. By touching the Angle icon, I can choose to set the vent angle to 45 degrees, 60 degrees, 75 degrees or 90 degrees. So if I put the air purifier under my kitchen island, I can angle the vent so the clean air flows out and away from the island rather than blowing upwards into the bottom of the countertop.

Levoit EverestAir air purifier in reviewer's hallway — (Image credit: Future)

On the top of the purifier you'll find a touchscreen control panel. With white text and icons on a black background, the display panel is clear and easy to read, and the contrast is sharp enough that the items are visible in bright light as well as no light. On the left hand side of the panel, you'll find options to toggle between three special modes (Sleep, Auto and Turbo), as well as buttons to access 'Air info' and filter info. To the right of the control panel are the controls for speed, vent angle, and the timer function, as well as the on/off button.

Of course, you don't have to use the touchscreen panel for control if you don't want to. You can also adjust settings using the companion app, where you'll find options to turn the purifier on or off remotely, change the mode, create a schedule, explore air quality, or check on remaining filter life. There's also support for voice control via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.

Design score: 4.5 out of 5

Levoit EverestAir review: performance

User-friendly display with useful information
Cleans air quickly and effectively, even in large spaces
Auto mode works well to detect pollutants

One unique feature of the Levoit EverestAir is that it provides a clean air score as a percentage. The air purifier works this number out based on the concentration of particles and changes in detected particles during the purification process. Keep in mind that the clean air percentage is based solely on particles, not odors or gases. Typically, in my home, the score is between 98% and 99%.

By default, the Air Info button displays the clean air score as a large percentage, in the center of the control panel, and surrounded by rings that are color-coded to indicate air quality. The ring is blue when the air quality is very good, green when it's good, orange when the air quality is moderate, and red when the air is bad.

Press the Air Info button again and it'll show you PM (particulate matter) information. One press shows PM 1.0 (fine dust, micro-toxins), a second press shows PM 2.5 (dust, smoke, pet dander), and a third press shows PM 10 air info (pollen, airborne allergens).

When the air purifier is in Auto mode, it will automatically detect a change in the air's quality and boost or lower the airflow in response. There have been plenty of occasions where I've noticed a change in fan speed, looked down to see what was happening, and noticed that the air quality indicator rings had turned orange. That usually means my neighbor is smoking, and the air purifier is working hard to clean my air.

The Levoit EverestAir does an excellent job of removing pollutants from the air. That's due, in part, to the combination of filters. The washable pre-filter captures dust, lint, hair, and pet fur. I love to see pre-filters on an air purifier, because they help to extend the lifespan of the filter.

Behind the pre-filter is the H13 True HEPA main filter, and it is designed to trap such pollutants as fine dust, smoke, pollen, and pet dander. Lastly, the high-efficiency activator carbon filter is what makes the air smell so clean. The carbon absorbs smoke, fumes, and odors, ranging from secondhand smoke to smells from food and pets.

Filters removed from Levoit EverestAir air purifier — (Image credit: Future)

The average air purifier has a CADR (clean air delivery rate) in the 200 range. However, the Levoit EverestAir has a much higher CADR: 354 CFM (cubic feet per minute). In my bedroom, the air purifier can clean/change the air around 5 times per hour when it's on the highest setting and my bedroom door is closed. In the living room, which is open to the kitchen and the steps leading downstairs, it cleans the air around twice an hour.

The Levoit EverestAir does an excellent job of clearing odors. This is due, in part, to the activated carbon filter, which is specifically designed to absorb odors. One pleasant surprise I discovered as I was testing: most air purifiers have to be set on high to clean the air and remove odors. However, even on a medium setting, the Levoit EverestAir effectively cleans the air.

For the purposes of this review, I recorded how long it took for the purfier to clear the smell of second-hand smoke in various spots in my home. It completely removed smoke from my bedroom in roughly 10 to 12 minutes, and took 20-30 minutes to clear the smell from my large, open-plan living space.

Don't let anyone fool you. Air purifiers on high tend to be noisy. On Turbo, this one gets quite loud as well – although not as loud as many others that I've tested. The noise level ranges from 24db on the lowest setting to 56dB on the Turbo setting.

If you're looking for a setting that creates minimal disturbance, you'll want to activate Sleep mode. This turns off the display and uses a fan speed that is lower than the Low speed. It's great for people who like to keep the air purifier running all night, but are easily bothered by lights and noise. However, I tended to use a higher setting overnight.

Screenshots from companion app for Levoit EverestAir air purifier — (Image credit: Levoit / Future)

As a general rule, I'm quite happy to manually operate the control panel on the top of the machine. However, for testing purposes, I also downloaded the app to my smartphone and controlled the air purifier by this method. The app was easy to set up and integrated seamlessly, providing the same level of control as the touch controls.

Regarding maintenance, every two to four weeks, I've wiped the exterior with a dry cloth, and vacuumed the pre-filter. On other occasions, I've also rinsed the pre-filter in the sink, and washed it with a damp cloth and liquid detergent. Every three months I use the vacuum cleaner attachment to clean the dust sensor on the side of the air purifier.

The process for changing the filter is really easy and entails removing the front cover, removing the old filter, cleaning any dust or hair with a vacuum hose, and inserting the new filter.

Performance score: 5 out of 5

Should you buy the Levoit EverestAir?

Attribute	Notes	Rating
Value	It's not a budget pick but considering the features, it's well worth the money.	4.5 / 5
Design	Slim and compact considering how powerful it is. Adjustable vents, and manual, app, and voice control options.	4.5 / 5
Performance	User-friendly with controls that are easy to read and understand. It also cleans the air quickly and efficiently, and app integration is seamless.	5 / 5

Buy it if...

You want a purifier you can tuck out of the way

The Levoit EverestAir Air Purifier has a slim design that doesn't take up much space, and it can fit into tight spaces and still work effectively. Also, since the vents are adjustable, you can angle them so the clean air is directed out into the room.

You want a purifier for a larger space

The Levoit EverestAir has a higher-than-average CADR (clean air delivery rate) to quickly remove pollutants from the air, and the pre-filter, HEPA filter, and activated charcoal filter combine to trap particles of various sizes.

You want something you can control from afar

The EverestAir can be controlled remotely, via the companion app, and it's also possible to set a schedule. If you're in the same room, there's support for voice control.

Don't buy it if...

You have small kids

Admittedly, many air purifiers may not be ideal to use around curious toddlers and small kids. My primary concern with the Levoit EverestAir is the adjustable vents, since their tiny fingers may get caught in the vents if they accidentally tap the adjustment button.

You're on a budget

While there are plenty of air purifiers that cost more than the Levoit EverestAir, there are also cheaper and simpler options that might be absolutely fine if you're on a budget or only need something for a relatively small space.

You want something simple

The Levoit EverestAir is very user-friendly, but there are nine different items on the display panel. Not everyone wants that level of insight or control – and there are plenty of simpler options if that includes you.

How I tested the Levoit EverestAir purifier

I've been using the Levoit EverestAir in my home for the past two years and 5 months. My house was built in 2016 and includes an open living room/kitchen and two bedrooms, and a HVAC system. During this time, I've used the EverestAir in the living room/kitchen to clear cooking smells and second-hand smoke from my neighbor. I’ve also used it – to great success – in my bedroom.

For this review, I made note of how quickly it responded to and cleared pollutants. I also explored all the various special modes and control options, including digging into the companion app. I compared my findings to other air purifiers I've tested – I've reviewed over 50 different models in my years as a consumer tech journalist – to get a feel for how it compares to the wider market and if it offers good value for the money.

First reviewed October 2025

I reviewed Adobe Premiere and saw the future of video editing on the iPhone

8:17 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro Software & Services | Tags: AI | Comments: Off

To me, as a video editor, being able to shoot, edit, and share a short film all from a small handheld device has always been these slabs of glass’ revolutionary concept. I’ve been editing and experimenting with them since I downloaded iMovie for the iPod Touch.

Since then, I've tested out all the best video editing apps, with some focusing on simplicity, while others try to cram a desktop video editor into a phone. There’s truly something for everyone. Even Adobe was on the scene with Rush.

But there's a new Adobe app in town that, I think, might be a massive game-changer for creators on the go. Adobe Premiere, also known as ‘Premiere on iPhone’, likely to differentiate it from its desktop big brother, Premiere Pro.

Adobe Premiere on iPhone: Pricing & plans

Most tools are free. What isn’t are the AI features and online storage, but if you already have a subscription with Adobe, it’s possible it could now include this new app, meaning you won’t have to fork out more of your precious money to take full advantage of Premiere.

Competing in the mobile market is hard, what with most apps being sold for so little… How can you expect to make a profit? That doesn’t seem to be too much of a concern for the mighty Adobe, as they’ve released Premiere on iPhone for free (henceforth just referred to as Premiere for simplicity). You can download it by clicking here.

Yes, there are in-app purchases in the form of monthly and annual subscriptions. These unlock some features on the app, including online storage, and likely a certain number of generative credits each month.

Do be aware however that these unlocked features can also be accessed simply by login into your Adobe ID, and if you already subscribe to one of their other plans, you might not even need to pay for an additional subscription.

For instance, I have access to the Creative Cloud All Apps package, and I’ve encountered no limitation in my use of Premiere. I realise this is quite nebulous: as of this writing I haven’t received a response from Adobe about what you get with a Premiere Mobile subscription, and which other subscriptions grant you the same access to this new app.

Score: 4.5/5

Adobe Premiere on iPhone: Interface

Adobe Premiere on iPhone during our review — (Image credit: Adobe // Future)

An excellent, well polished interface, which makes it easy to control, while getting out of your way when editing, letting you see only what you need to see, when you need it.

Although Adobe refers to this app as ‘Premiere on iPhone’, it’s a bit of a misnomer as it’s also designed to work perfectly on iPad. Sorry Android users, you’ll have to wait a little longer for yours; it’s coming, but it’s just not quite ready.

On iPhone, just like Rush was, you’ll be working exclusively in portrait orientation. The iPad is way more flexible, and the interface will work in either portrait or landscape.

When you first launch the app, you’ll be greeted with a handful of tutorials, and a series of 8 icons at the top of the screen. Any project you’ve worked on will appear beneath them, represented by large thumbnails.

These icons allow you to start a new project, either one from scratch, or by choosing some clips from your Photos library. You also have dedicated tools, like being able to extract audio from a file, adding captions, or even access AI tools such as generating an image, turning a photo into a video, or expand an image beyond its original borders.

Once you’re working on a project, the screen is divided into two parts. The top section is for a Preview of your film, and the lower part represents the Timeline. There’s a very handy slider to the left which lets you resize both sections, which is a very clever addition, especially when your project becomes very complex with multiple layers, and you need to see all of them to fine tune your edit.

At the bottom is a contextual toolbar: by default, this is where you get to add additional video clips, audio files and titles. Tap on a clip in the Timeline, however, to reveal adjustment tools instead; tap on an edit point to see a paltry number of transitions. It’s a simple concept: you only see the tools you need when you need them.

You’ll also find a handful of icons at the top of the screen, and perhaps the most interesting one offers you various aspect ratios for your project. By default, it’ll take on the format based on the first clip you add to it, but if this isn’t right for you, this button enables you to override that.

Overall, the interface is simple, uncluttered and clean, and allows you to control your project with ease.

Score: 4.5/5

Adobe Premiere on iPhone: Video editing

The interface is designed to make editing easy and fluid, and it works great, offering you surprising frame-accurate precision, whether you’re on an iPad or iPhone.

Editing is really nice and fluid. You can effortlessly zoom in and out of your project, select a clip, trim it, move it around, the works. I did mention when the app was announced, that it felt a lot more like Apple’s Final Cut Pro (FCP) than Adobe’s desktop Premiere Pro. The clips’ rounded look for one.

The fact clips reorder themselves when you drag one to another location, reminded me very much of Final Cut’s magnetic timeline. I’m obviously biased as I love the magnetic timeline, as it allows you to edit much quicker in my opinion, and here, it makes it so easy to work using only a finger or two. Also, just like FCP, the layers aren’t numbered; new ones appear as you need them. Good to see Adobe being comfortable with being inspired by its competitors, for the benefit of its users.

When it comes to altering clips, you have a handful of tools at your disposal. With them, you can change their speed, reverse them, alter their opacity, create a freeze frame, or perform some colour correction, among others. It’s all done through icons and sliders, and that interface resize tool I mentioned earlier to see more or less of the viewer and timeline, works great for this too, as you can see those parameters, your Timeline and the Viewer all at the same time, even on an (large) iPhone.

Some tools, such as Transitions and Adjust also have an ‘apply to all’ button which greatly speeds up your workflow if you wish to paste the same effects across the board. It’s impressive and very well done. Working with Premiere was slick and smooth, even on a 7 year old iPhone XS.

Score: 4.5/5

Adobe Premiere on iPhone: AI

A good selection of AI tools which, along with the usual generative text prompts, are designed to enhance your project in useful and creative ways, especially the ‘generate sound effect’ one.

A sleek interface is already a big plus, and you get that for free, without having to log in to or create an Adobe ID. But if you don’t mind opening your wallet, or if you’ve already got an eligible subscription, then Adobe offers a string of very impressive tools, most based on some kind of AI.

Take ‘Enhance Speech’. It’s designed to improve the quality of spoken audio if you recorded something with a lot of background noise. It works extremely well, enriching the quality of the spoken audio immensely. You’re also offered a couple of sliders so you can choose how much of the background noise to keep.

You also have the ability to generate images and stickers, but perhaps the most impressive AI tool is ‘Generate Sound Effect’. On the surface, it looks like any other AI feature: you’ve got a text prompt where you input the description of what you hope to get, but what sets it apart is the optional extra: you can use your voice to ‘perform the sound’, and the AI will base the effect on your performance. It works surprisingly well, and could become quite addictive.

Score: 4.5/5

Adobe Premiere on iPhone: Exporting video

Two easy to use options, one offers simple changeable parameters when exporting your project to your Photos library, the other is a way to send your project to the beta version of Premiere Pro via the Cloud.

You also have the ability to generate images and stickers, but perhaps the most impressive AI tool is ‘Generate Sound Effect’.

On the surface, it looks like any other AI feature: you’ve got a text prompt where you input the description of what you hope to get, but what sets it apart is the optional extra: you can use your voice to ‘perform the sound’, and the AI will base the effect on your performance. It works surprisingly well, and could become quite addictive.

Should I buy Adobe Premiere on iPhone?

Buy it if...

You’re on the lookout for a very easy to use, and elegantly designed video editing app for your iPhone or iPad, with most tools being available for free.

Don't buy it if...

To be honest, there’s no real reason not to get this app, at least to try it out. Most of the features are free, and you don’t need to subscribe to it if you don't need to use those advanced AI-driven tools. Shame it’s not available for Android just yet.

For more essential creative tools, we've reviewed the best video editing software, best free video editing software, and the best video editing software for beginners.

I reviewed Adobe Premiere and saw the future of video editing on the iPhone

8:17 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro Software & Services | Tags: AI | Comments: Off

Adobe Premiere on iPhone: Pricing & plans

Most tools are free. What isn’t are the AI features and online storage, but if you already have a subscription with Adobe, it’s possible it could now include this new app, meaning you won’t have to fork out more of your precious money to take full advantage of Premiere.

Score: 4.5/5

Adobe Premiere on iPhone: Interface

An excellent, well polished interface, which makes it easy to control, while getting out of your way when editing, letting you see only what you need to see, when you need it.

On iPhone, just like Rush was, you’ll be working exclusively in portrait orientation. The iPad is way more flexible, and the interface will work in either portrait or landscape.

Overall, the interface is simple, uncluttered and clean, and allows you to control your project with ease.

Score: 4.5/5

Adobe Premiere on iPhone: Video editing

The interface is designed to make editing easy and fluid, and it works great, offering you surprising frame-accurate precision, whether you’re on an iPad or iPhone.

Score: 4.5/5

Adobe Premiere on iPhone: AI

A good selection of AI tools which, along with the usual generative text prompts, are designed to enhance your project in useful and creative ways, especially the ‘generate sound effect’ one.

Score: 4.5/5

Adobe Premiere on iPhone: Exporting video

Two easy to use options, one offers simple changeable parameters when exporting your project to your Photos library, the other is a way to send your project to the beta version of Premiere Pro via the Cloud.

You also have the ability to generate images and stickers, but perhaps the most impressive AI tool is ‘Generate Sound Effect’.

Should I buy Adobe Premiere on iPhone?

Buy it if...

You’re on the lookout for a very easy to use, and elegantly designed video editing app for your iPhone or iPad, with most tools being available for free.

Don't buy it if...

For more essential creative tools, we've reviewed the best video editing software, best free video editing software, and the best video editing software for beginners.

I’m a big fan of 5K displays for Macs and the stunning but flawed Philips 27E3U7903 is a much cheaper alternative to Apple’s Studio display

6:08 pm |

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

Pixel density is something Apple pays far more attention to than most PC builders. Problem is, achieving Apple's signature "Retina" display experience with one of the brand's own monitors is very pricey. But you can now get the very same 27-inch 5K form factor from the Philips 27E3U7903 for not far off half the price.

Up front and centre, this monitor matches the Apple Studio Display's 5K resolution and 218DPI pixel density. It's similar to the Apple panel in other ways, too. There's a comparable feature set with excellent connectivity including Thunderbolt 4, plus an integrated webcam and microphone array.

This Philips even apes Apple with its boxy, metallic chassis aesthetic, and flat-wide base and stand. What's more it even outstrips the Apple display by some measures. Philips has used the latest IPS Black panel tech to offer 2,000:1 static contrast, notably higher than the 1,200:1 ratio of the Studio Display.

Add in VESA DisplayHDR 600 certification, broad colour support and other features aimed at creative pros and you have a super strong on-paper package. The one catch is that while the Philips 27E3U7903 is much cheaper than the Apple Studio Display, there are some very good 4K monitors available at a significant discount among our pick of the best monitors for MacBook Pro. You're going to have to really want that 5K thing to justify this new Philips panel.

Philips 27E3U7903: Design and features

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Philips 27E3U7903 during our review — (Image credit: Philips // Future)

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Apple-aping design…
…but not quite quality
Excellent connectivity

Specs

Panel size: 27-inch

Panel type: IPS Black

Resolution: 5,120 by 2,880

Brightness: 500 nits SDR, 600 nits HDR

Contrast: 2,000:1

Pixel response: 4ms GtG

Refresh rate: 70Hz

Colour coverage: 99% DCI-P3

HDR: VESA DisplayHDR 600

Vesa: 100mm x 100mm

Connectivity: HDMI 2.1 x1, 1x Thunderbolt 4 with 96W PD upstream, 1x Thunderbolt 4 downstream,1x USB-C upstream, 1x USB-C downstream, 2x USB-A, headphone out

It's obvious from the get go that the Philips 27E3U7903 is aimed squarely at the Apple Studio Display. That extends well beyond the basic 27-inch 5K form factor. The boxy, metallic-looking chassis and flat, wide stand and base, and glass screen cover all scream "Studio Display." Even the way the fixed power cable sticks out of the rear is awfully Appley.

Where Philips can't quite match Apple is for perceived quality. The 27E3U7903 is mostly plastic where the Apple monitor uses actual metal. So, it doesn't feel nearly as expensive.

The Philip's particularly chunky bezel also separates it slightly from the marginally slimmer Studio Display. To be clear it doesn't feel cheap, either. But to at least some extent, you can see where the extra money goes on the Apple alternative.

Connectivity is both another strong point and another overlap with Apple. Philips has given this monitor Thunderbolt 4 with 96W of power delivery, plus Thunderbolt out for display daisy chaining, another three USB-C ports, USB-A, HDMI and ethernet.

That's all tied together with full KVM switch functionality, picture-in-picture support and the aforementioned display daisy chaining. So, if you have multiple PCs, Mac, laptops, whatever, this display has you covered.

Next up, there's a webcam with AI-enhanced autoframing and a microphone array, which again is redolent of the Studio Display's Center Stage camera, plus stereo speakers.

For creators, there are features like a wide range of preset colour spaces including Apple's favoured Display P3 support, 99% coverage of the DCI P3 gamut, support for Calman Ready automatic calibration.

The Philips 27E3U7903 is also VESA DisplayHDR 600 certified. That level of HDR certification requires some level of local dimming. Philips doesn't quote the number of zones. But as we'll see this monitor almost certainly is limited to a very small number of edge-lit zones, as opposed to full-array local dimming.

Philips 27E3U7903: Performance

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Crispy 5K visuals
Very punchy backlight
Limited HDR capability

For 5K neophites, the first question is whether the upgrade in terms of pixel density compared to a 4K 27-inch monitor is obvious. And the simple answer is no, it's not an immediately apparent and dramatic improvement in subjective, experiential terms.

No question, fonts and text are that little bit crisper and clearer. But 4K on a 27-inch panel is pretty good in that regard too. So, the benefits of 4K are a touch more subtle than that. One benefit, for instance, is that the 3,008 x 1,692 virtual resolution option in MacOS works particularly well.

For some creative workflows, it's also very handy to be able to display a full 3,840 by 2,160 pixel 4K video stream in a window with space to spare for toolbars and controls.

But these are relatively niche upsides. For most users, it's questionable whether the price premium versus numerous cheaper 4K monitors is worth it purely for 5K, and I say that as someone who really appreciates high pixel density in computing displays.

With that in mind, the Philips 27E3U7903 needs to justify itself in broader terms. For starters, it's certainly very punchy. The maximum brightness in SDR mode is well beyond what most users will ever want to dial up.

However, it's good to have some brightness in hand, especially if you want to use this display in a setting with lots of ambient light. You'll have no problem burning that off with the Philips 27E3U7903.

That said, in that context you'll also have to contend with a fair bit of reflectivity from the glassy screen cover. That's a very Apple feature and something you either like or dislike. But it certainly adds to a sense of heightened contrast.

On that note, this is an IPS Black panel with getting on for double the static contrast performance compared to most IPS monitors. From that spec alone, you might expect a dramatic improvement in black levels. The reality is much more marginal. This monitor still has more light bleed than a VA monitor, let alone an OLED panel with perfect per-pixel lighting.

That's relevant for HDR performance, a notable weak point for this display. It has VESA DisplayHDR 600 certification and basic local dimming. But while Philips doesn't quote the number of zones, it's very likely to be around 16 edge-lit zones.

You can toggle the level of local dimming in the OSD. But in all honesty, this type of local dimming is barely any different from a dynamic backlight. Ultimately, this is not a true HDR monitor, even if it is pretty bright.

As for broader accuracy and factory calibration, that's a slight weak point. It's most noticeable when using an Apple laptop where the sRGB preset is actually a better visual match for Apple laptop than the Apple-default Display P3 colour space. To be clear, this is not a poorly calibrated display. But given the lofty price tag, it could be a touch better.

Finally, the integrated webcam is superior to a typical laptop camera, but not truly comparable to the Center Stage camera in the Apple Studio Display.

Philips 27E3U7903: Final verdict

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If you're a tech enthusiast, the very notion of 5K computing is pretty exciting. 5K has to be better than 4K, right? Yes it is, but the difference on a 27-inch display isn't hugely dramatic.

There are advantages, such as slightly crisper fonts and the ability to view 4K content with screen real estate to spare for toolbars and other interface elements. But the benefits are relatively marginal. And I say that as something of a high-DPI aficionado.

With all that in mind, the Philips 27E3U7903 needs to be absolutely excellent in broad terms to justify its premium pricing and not just by virtue of delivering that Apple Studio Display-style 5K experience.

Well, it certainly is excellent in terms of connectivity thanks to a plethora of ports, plus KVM switch and daisy chaining support. Elsewhere, the Philips 27E3U7903 is certainly good, but arguably not exceptional.

The IPS Black panel is certainly nice, with vibrant colours and a very powerful backlight. But the subjective experience doesn't quite deliver on the expectations raised by the on-paper 2,000:1 contrast spec. Likewise, as with most, perhaps even all, HDR 600 monitors, the HDR experience is limited.

Slightly harder to forgive is the factory calibration. This is not a poorly calibrated display. But it's not as excellent as you might expect at this price point, albeit for the most demanding workflows, you'll be calibrating this monitor yourself, something for which it provides good support.

All of which means the Philips 27E3U7903 is ultimately a niche offering. If you're tempted by Apple's Studio Display but don't fancy the price, this is a very appealing and effective alternative. If you want the absolute best possible pixel density, then likewise. But for most users, there's better value to be had from a wide range of 27-inch 4K displays.

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For more high-resolution displays, we've reviewed the best 5K and 8K monitors.

The Aqara Doorbell Camera Hub G410 is much more than just a video doorbell – but remember it’s not waterproof

6:00 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Smart Home | Comments: Off

Aqara Doorbell Camera Hub G410: two-minute review

Whereas most of the best video doorbells are sleek, with the look and feel of a traditional doorbell, the same can’t be said of the Aqara G410. Like its predecessor, the G4, this is a decidedly chunky unit. The reason why soon becomes clear when you realise it’s powered by no less than six AA batteries (even the latest ‘long-life’ Blink device only has three and most have two).

While this might not be a massive issue when it comes to operation, it does make installation a little more challenging. Aqara provides a wedge mount for installing on a door architrave but the likelihood is you will have to install it on a flat surface because of its large size.

Aqara Doorbell Camera Hub G410 video doorbell — (Image credit: Chris Price)

Furthermore, lack of waterproofing (IPX3 provides very modest protection against splashing) means you have to install in an enclosed or semi-enclosed (storm) porch rather than exposed to the elements – at least in the UK. Aqara provides screws and wall plugs for installation or alternatively there is a large and strong adhesive strip on the back of the device for placing directly onto a wall or front door.

Unusually, the indoor chime is also the hub of the Aqara system. It is here where you scan one QR code to sync the doorbell to the Aqara iOS/Android app and another to connect to various smart home platforms including Google Home. It is also here where you insert a MicroSD card (up to 512GB) to store video clips rather than paying Aqara from £3.99 (about $5 / AU$8) a month to store all of your clips in the cloud. However, Aqara only provides a USB-C to USB-A cable so you will need a mains plug with a USB-A port to use.

Once set up, a 4:3 image appears in the app alongside a range of options to help you take control of your video doorbell. As well as the usual settings that allow you exclude or include parts of the image or adjust doorbell and/or chime volume, AI-based facial recognition is also included as standard. This allows you to add images of people who live in the house for the camera to store. It will then send you an alert if it spots that person leaving the house (and if it’s someone it doesn’t recognise it will say ‘lingerer detected’!)

Subscribers to the Aqara’s HomeGuardian service can also access additional functionality such as AI Video Search where you can enter keywords to search through videos more easily and AI Video Summary which will provide a one sentence summary of the video created – for example ‘courier in red T-shirt carrying parcel'.

Aqara Doorbell Camera Hub G410: subscription options

Aqara HomeGuardian (1 device): £3.99 (about $5 / AU$8) or £39.99 (about $55 / AU$80) per year
Aqara HomeGuardian (unlimited cameras): £7.99 (about $10 / AU$15) per month or £79.99 (about $110 / AU$160) per year

Aqara Doorbell Camera Hub G410: price and availability

How much does it cost? Aqara G410 £129, $129
When is it available? Available from August 2025
Where is it available? UK/US

When the original Aqara G4 video doorbell was released back in 2023, it cost £119/$119 (although it is now available online for under £100 / $100). With the new model, Aqara has managed to maintain the same price point (give or take £10 / $10), at the same as making a shed-load of improvements. These include much better viewing angle, dual-band Wi-Fi capability and much improved video resolution (2K rather than 1080p) to name but a few.

Nevertheless, the new Aqara G410 is actually towards the upper end of the price range for a video doorbell with many devices now retailing for under £100/$100, albeit without local storage so you have to pay a monthly subscription fee to store video clips in the cloud. The advantage of the new Aqara model is that, while a monthly-subscription fee is available for advanced AI-detection features, you don’t have to pay it to store video clips. Instead, you can insert a MicroSD card in the smart home hub/chime and get pretty much all of the functions without having to pay extra.

So is the Aqara video doorbell worth the investment? Much depends on how you intend to use it. If you want to use it just as a standard video doorbell to talk to whoever comes to the front door then we’d say probably not. There are simply better, and definitely nicer looking, video doorbells out there. There’s no getting around the fact that the G410 looks cheap and plasticy, like something you would have bought from a Tandy store back in the day (if you are old enough to remember them!)

However, if you want to use it as part of a home automation system so, for example, the doorbell unlocks a compatible smart lock when it sees a face it recognises, then the Aqara G4 does represent much better value for money. For example, in this scenario it’s possible to imagine the Aqara doorbell taking centre stage – effectively becoming the brain of your smart home. Just don’t get it too wet as the limited IPX3 weather resistance means this ‘brain’ could stop working completely if you return from work in a downpour.

Value score: 3.5/5

Aqara Doorbell Camera Hub G410: design

Easy installation
Chunky design
IPX3 weather resistance

Measuring 14.2 x 6.5 x 3cm (5.57 x 2.56 x 1.2 inches), there is no getting around the fact that the Aqara is big and ugly. Whereas most video doorbells on the market have the form factor of a chunky traditional doorbell, the Aqara has no such pretensions. Instead, it’s more like the shape of an old-fashioned door entry phone. At least it means it has a nice big, illuminated doorbell that visitors simply can’t miss.

That it’s so big is largely down to how it is powered. Though it is possible to hard-wire the doorbell into your existing doorbell system, most people will probably use it as a stand-alone doorbell. This means installing no fewer than six AA batteries by unscrewing the panel in the back of the unit (standard AA batteries are provided).

That’s considerably more than most battery-powered video doorbells, which usually only require two or three AA batteries unless they’re powered by a rechargeable lithium Ion battery.

Installation is relatively straightforward. Aqara provides wall plugs and screws for mounting on the door or door frame. Alternatively, there’s a very strong adhesive strip for sticking both the doorbell and chime to a suitable surface. Also provided is a wedge-mount for installing at an angle though the likelihood is that this video doorbell is simply too wide to mount on most door architraves.

Importantly, the chime/smart home hub needs to be installed on the same Wi-Fi network as the doorbell, close enough so they can communicate with one another, but also in an area of the house where you are most likely to hear it from several rooms – such as a hallway. As noted earlier, the Aqara G410 will need to be enclosed in a semi-enclosed or enclosed porch to prevent it getting wet. It also shouldn’t be mounted too high in order to get the best view from the 4:3 shaped image. Aqara recommends a height of between 1.4 and 1.5m from the ground (around 4.5 to 5ft).

Design: 3/5

Aqara Doorbell Camera Hub G410: performance

Good image quality
mmWave radar detection reduces false alerts
Complete smart home hub

There’s no doubt that when it comes to performance, the G410 represents a massive leap forward from its predecessor, the G4. Whereas the former unit offered 1080p resolution, the G410 boasts much sharper 2K (2048 x 1536 pixel) resolution. Aspect ratio too has been changed from a wide 16:9 to squarer 4:3 which is more suitable for capturing people coming to the door (although some of the latest doorbells now favour the square 1:1 aspect ratio for head-to-toe footage).

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On the downside, the video doorbell still lacks HDR support. However, we generally we found the dynamic range was more than sufficient for recognising visitors and monitoring deliveries during the day. More problematic was night vision which was not always that clear unless the PIR on my porch light was triggered. Alternatively, it is possible to program the Aqara to trigger a smart porch light if anyone approaches your door at night.

One really useful addition is mmWave Radar detection. We recently saw the technology used to great effect on a Baseus Security S2 outdoor security camera and the same’s true here. Indeed, the technology seems a big improvement over older PIR detectors which tend to be a little overly sensitive.

This feature drastically reduces the number of false alerts from passing cars and pedestrians walking past your house which can be a problem with some video doorbells.

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Other plus points include a very loud indoor chime (up to 95dB) – handy if you can’t always hear someone coming to the front door – and a reasonable speaker and microphone for talking to whoever is at the door. In fact it’s even possible to disguise your voice with various settings (anonymous, robot and clown). This may be useful, if say, you are a vulnerable woman and don’t want whoever is at the door to know you are home alone or simply for having fun with family and friends.

Finally, where this model really comes into its own of course is as the engine room of a home automation system. The G410 is now a fully-fledged smart home hub with a built in Matter Bridge and controller, a Zigbee Hub, a Thread border router and a dual-band Wi-Fi adaptor.

However, it’s worth noting that while the camera is technically capable of 2K resolution, this is only available if the device is used exclusively within the Aqara app. For example, if it’s added to Apple HomeKit (or any other ecosystem), the resolution is downgraded to just 1600 x 1200 pixels. As a result, images via Apple Home Kit look less sharp.

Performance score: 3.5/5

Should you buy the Aqara Doorbell Camera Hub G410?

Aqara Doorbell Camera Hub G410 score card
Attribute	Notes	Score
Value	Reasonable value for money if you just want to store video clips on a MicroSD card. However, if you want full AI functionality you will need to pay a sub from £3.99 a month.	3.5/5
Design	Powered by six AA batteries, this chunky unit feels quite cheap and plasticky. It doesn’t offer full waterproofing either – a failing for a video doorbell.	3/5
Performance	A big improvement over its predecessor with dual-band WiFi, better resolution and radar detection. However, image quality is reduced when viewing via smart home platforms.	3.5/5
Overall	While the Aqara offers reasonable performance and flexibility especially for fans of home automation, ultimately it is let down by poor, cheap design and lack of waterproofing.	3.5/5

Buy it if

You want to use as part of a smart home setup

Compatible with all the major smart home platforms (including Alexa, Google Home and Apple Home), the Aqara is ideal for pairing with home automation products.

You want a loud doorbell chime

The Aqara comes with a very loud doorbell chime (95dB) making it ideal for those who can’t always hear if someone is at the door.

Don't buy it if

The doorbell is likely to get very wet

Designed for an enclosed or semi-enclosed porch, the Aqara is not suitable for all homes because it only has very modest IPX3 weather resistance.

You're looking for compact unit

Powered by six AA batteries, the Aqara is a very chunky unit indeed – considerably larger than most video doorbells that fit neatly on a door architrave.

Aqara Doorbell Camera Hub G410: also consider

	Aqara G410 Doorbell Camera Hub	Blink Video Doorbell (Gen 2) and Sync Module	Yale Smart Video Doorbell and Doorbell Chime	Ring Battery Video Doorbell Plus
Subscription price	From £3.99 a month	From £2.50 a month	From £3.50 a month	From £4.99 a month
Viewing angle	175° horizontal	150° horizontal	154° horizontal	150° horizontal
Network connection	Wi-Fi (2.4GHz/5GHZ)	Wi-Fi (2.4GHz)	Wi-Fi (2.4GHz)	Wi-Fi (2.4GHz)
Audio	Two-way audio	Two-way audio	Two-way audio	Two-way audio
Video	2K resolution	1440p Full HD resolution	1080p Full HD resolution	1536p Full HD resolution
Power	Mains or battery (6x AA batteries)	Battery (3x AA batteries)	Mains or rechargeable battery	Rechargeable battery
Hardware price	£129 (with chime/smart hub)	£59 (with Sync Module Core)	£129 (video doorbell), £29 (chime)	£129 (video doorbell), £139 (with basic chime)

If you're not sure whether the Aqara Doorbell Camera Hub G410 is right for you, here are some other options to consider:

Blink Video Doorbell (Gen 2)

Powered by three lithium AA batteries, this latest video doorbell promises a long battery-life. Featuring a 1:1 shaped image, it’s ideal for capturing a head-to-toe image of people coming to the door.

Read our full Blink Video Doorbell (Gen 2) review

Ring Battery Video Doorbell Plus

Amazon-owned company Ring has firmly established itself as the ‘go to’ company for video doorbells. It offers several models including this wire-free model which also features a head-to-toe view.

Read our full Ring Battery Video Doorbell Plus review

Yale Smart Video Doorbell and Doorbell Chime

A solidly built video doorbell, the Yale device offers good image and sound quality. However, streaming recorded content and speaking to people at the door can be a little slow.

Read our full Yale Smart Video Doorbell review

How I tested the Aqara Doorbell Camera Hub G410

I used the doorbell every day for 10 days
I installed it myself
The doorbell was set up in a storm porch to the side of the door

I regularly test video doorbells, much to the confusion of local postmen when I have several up at once and they don’t know which one to press! As an experiment, I decided to leave two up for a short while, a Blink Generation 2 video doorbell on the front of the door and the Aqara at the side of the storm porch.

Interestingly, I found that most couriers/postmen rang the Aqara drawn no doubt by the extremely large doorbell button in the centre. Ideally, I would have installed the doorbell in the centre of the door, but it’s extremely wide design made this impractical. For many, it’s lack of waterproofing will also prove a massive obstacle (it seems essential for any outdoor product, at least in the UK).

It’s a shame because there is much to like about this product, including its compatibility with all the major smart home platforms, accurate motion detection and local as well as cloud storage. But without waterproofing and an impractical design it is simply difficult to recommend the Aqara G410 to TechRadar readers.

For more details, see how we test, review, and rate products at TechRadar.

First reviewed October 2025

The Humanscale Freedom is the most luxurious chair I have ever experienced – and I have fallen in love

5:07 pm |

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

The Humanscale Freedom is not your average chair. It's not just another ergonomic chair. It's designed by ergonomics pioneer Niels Diffrient to remove complexity. Diffrient removed levers, knobs, dials, switches, and other controllers and created a chair that adjusts to your body naturally, along with any movement you make.

I have tested many of the best office chairs and have yet to find one like this. It feels like a different class of luxury, like moving from a budget car to a luxury vehicle. The Humanscale Freedom is luxurious, iconic, ergonomically excellent, and wildly expensive.

Humanscale Freedom: Price and availability

The Humanscale Freedom Headrest that I have here can be customized to stay just under the $2,000 mark at $1,997.00, on sale now for $1,605.00. However, if customized to the max, this chair could cost nearly $6,000. My build included the standard task chair, the advanced duron arms with textile, graphite frame color, the Corvara Chrome-Free Leather in Onyx with Vanilla Stitching, a standard foam seat pan, the tall cylinder 5", standard hard casters, fireproofing, and the standard matching base. Due to the leather, this took a longer time to create, especially since it was custom all around, but once I got it delivered, I was floored. It's an art piece, it's exquisite. It's unlike anything else that I have or will ever have in the future. Depending on your material choice, this kind of chair could take beyond 8 weeks for delivery, but if you choose the right materials, you could get this down to two weeks.

Humanscale Freedom: Unboxing and First Impressions

Once I waited my eight weeks to get this chair, I was eager to use it. Thankfully, unboxing was unbelievably easy. I opened the box, added the chair to the base, cut a few ties holding the moving pieces together, and I was good to go.

Right off the bat, I knew this chair would stand out among all of the chairs that I have tested. This one is unlike anything else I have tried. It looks unique, functions uniquely, and is made with the most genuine and premium materials I have experienced. This chair feels like that classic car that someone has in their collection, or the luxury furniture that is meant for looking, not touching, and for sure not sitting on, except it's very much made to sit on, and then uniquely conforms to your body. This piece isn't just a chair, it's art you can experience.

Humanscale Freedom: Design & Build Quality

Specs

Height range: Fits 5'0"–6'4", 100–300 lbs
Recline: Weight-sensitive, self-locking recline at 20°
Arms: Moves with the back, no knob or button adjustment
Headrest model: +5-inch adjustment
Warranty: 15 years
Weight: ~43–49lbs depending on model

At the end of the day, this can be described as an ergonomic chair. However, when you start to look at functionality, features, materials, and design language, you see that this chair was re-imagined from that basis on. This is an ergonomic chair, yes, but unlike almost all other ergonomic chairs, this one does not have dials and knobs and tension controls -- no, it moves with your body, as your body does. Its contoured cushions roll backward as you do, leaning with you, while supporting you. The armrests move with the backrest, staying in a helpful position even when reclined. Additionally, with my leather materials, I can be assured that not only is this piece made with luxury materials, but I'm also covered by a warranty, knowing that this chair will last for well over a decade and beyond.

Humanscale Freedom: In use

Visually, I love this chair. It's gorgeous. It's a statement piece I hope to always have in my home office from now on. Sitting in it, though, does take a moment to get used to. I've gotten so familiar with the functionality of so many chair companies that the lack of functionality is as shocking as a new Tesla owner getting into their vehicle for the first time. The change from a gas and brake pedal operating as it does in a standard vehicle, the familiarity with a key, or at minimum a key fob, and the need to shift, start the car, and more being stripped away in the push for minimalism and seamless usability is much reflected in the push from other chairs to the Humanscale Freedom. It's the Tesla of the ergonomic chair market. Instead of shifting into gear, adjusting the settings with knobs, or feeling like you need to press buttons to begin your experience with this chair, you can sit down without thinking, and the chair handles the adjusting. It's that easy.

Comfort-wise, it takes a minute to get used to, I won't deny that. But once you get used to it, I've really enjoyed the chair overall. I've had this chair in my rotation for a month now, and I still love it just as much. The weight-sensitive recline feels natural, the lumbar support is excellent, but my headrest feels a tad loose, which may be because I extend it to maximum due to my height. Much like in a Tesla, once you trust the design and intentionality of the vessel, the experience improves. And that is precisely what I have found to be the case with the Humanscale Freedom.

Humanscale Freedom: Final verdict

The Humanscale Freedom is not the chair for most people. I would rarely recommend this chair to the average Joe or to a mass purchaser. But, once you know that this level of customization, this quality level, this comfort level, and this ease of use exist, you'll wish you could have it. If you want to have the ease of not having to adjust every dial precisely to your needs or else the chair won't work right, if you want to be able to customize a chair, if you want to have premium materials and you are okay with the premium price, then this chair would be very hard to beat if you tried.

Should you buy a Humanscale Freedom?

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Value	Luxury pricing for a luxury item, but solid long term option if you want something that will last	3.5 / 5
Design	Iconic look that feels more like art than a chair	5 / 5
Hardware	Unique adjustments, and futuristic feel when making changes to how you sit	4.5 / 5
Performance	Excellent support once you learn how it works and get used to it	4 / 5
Overall	Ergonomically wonderful, while also doubling as a featured art piece. This piece is wonderful if your budget is equally accommodating.	4.5 / 5

Buy it if...

You want a beautiful, aesthetic, fabulous chair
The Humanscale Freedom won't just blend in with other chairs, it's unique looking and feeling, made with quality materials

You want a chair that will last
With a massive warranty and genuine leather, minimal moving parts and quality engineering, this chair is sure to last longer than cheap chairs with poor materials.View Deal

Don't buy it if...

You like having controls to adjust
While the adjustments are mostly still there, the controls, dials, knobs and switches to maneuver your chair around are not.

You have a budget
If money is going to play a factor in your chair choice, this one probably won't make the cut, unless your "Budget" is very high, or if the chiar is the most important part to your renovation

I tested the TCL QM9K, and this pricey flagship mini-LED TV’s exceptional picture is worth the money

2:00 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Televisions | Tags: AI, TV | Comments: Off

TCL QM9K: Two-minute review

The TCL QM9K is the final TV series the company launched in 2025, and it was clearly saving the best for last. As the company’s flagship mini-LED TV series, it arrives packed with the highest level of performance, along with the latest and greatest features, with some of those exclusive to the QM9K.

A key exclusive feature of the TCL QM9K at launch is Google TV with Gemini. This adds the Gemini AI chatbot to what is otherwise the same Google TV smart interface found on many of the best TVs. Gemini enables you to conduct not just content searches, but research on essentially any topic, from dinner recipes to ancient Roman civilization, using the TV’s built-in far-field mic.

The contextual, conversational Gemini lets you ask follow-up questions without losing the thread, and for those concerned about privacy, queries get deleted after 10 minutes. Other Gemini capabilities include image generation, and the screensavers you create can pop up on the screen automatically when you enter the room, thanks to the TV’s built-in presence sensor (another QM9K exclusive).

On the picture-quality front, the QM9K features a mini-LED panel with up to 6,500 local dimming zones, and TCL’s Halo Control System works to minimize incidences of backlight blooming – something it does remarkably well. The result is an exceptionally bright picture with powerful contrast, deep, uniform blacks, and detailed shadows.

Other features that enhance the QM9K’s picture are an AIPQ Pro processor, a wide viewing angle feature, and an anti-reflective screen. Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+ high dynamic range formats are both supported, and the TV features Filmmaker Mode and is IMAX Enhanced.

The QM9K’s Audio by Bang & Olufsen speaker system provides potent Dolby Atmos sound with clear dialogue and an impressive level of bass for a TV. And if you want even better sound, the QM9K is one of the first TVs to support Dolby FlexConnect, which can output wireless Atmos sound to the company’s Z100 speakers and Z100-SW subwoofer, as well as automatically configure the system for optimal performance.

TCL’s Zero Bezel design for the QM9K reduces the screen’s bezel width to 3.2mm for a striking, “all-picture” look. An adjustable height pedestal stand provides solid support and can clear space for a soundbar, and the TV's edges taper in at the sides to give it a slim profile.

A respectable number of gaming features are provided on the QM9K, including two HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 144Hz support, FreeSync Premium Pro, ALLM, and Dolby Vision gaming. A pop-up Game Bar menu lets you make quick adjustments, and a Game Accelerator 288 feature enables 288Hz gaming at 1080p resolution.

TCL QM9K review: Price and release date

TCL QM9K showing image of exotic trees — The QM9K's high brightness and refined local dimming help to bring out fine details in images (Image credit: Future)

Release date: September 2025
65-inch: $2,999.99
75-inch: $3,499.99
85-inch: $3,999.99
98-inch: $5,999.99

The TCL QM9K is available in 65- to 98-inch screen sizes. As TCL’s flagship TV, it is priced higher than other series in the company’s mini-LED TV lineup, with the 75-inch model I tested priced at $3,499 at launch. To put the QM9K’s price in perspective, the step-down TCL QM8K mini-LED launched in May at $3,199 for the 75-inch size, and is now selling for around $2,000.

Similar to the QM8K, prices for the QM9K are already starting to drop, with the 75-inch model having been reduced to $2,499. Other flagship mini-LEDs in a 75-inch size that the QM9K is competing with include the Samsung QN90F (currently selling for $2,099) and Hisense U8QG (currently selling for $1,899).

TCL QM9K review: Specs

Screen type:	QLED with mini-LED
Refresh rate:	144Hz
HDR support:	Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG
Audio support:	Dolby Atmos
Smart TV:	Google TV
HDMI ports:	4 (2x HDMI 2.1)
Built-in tuner:	ATSC 3.0

TCL QM9K review: Benchmark results

TCL QM9K review: Features

TCL QM9K rear panel ports — The QM9K has two HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 144Hz support, plus two HDMI 2.0 ports (Image credit: Future)

Wide viewing angle and anti-reflective screen
Audio by Bang & Olufsen
Google TV with Gemini

The TCL QM9K features a high-contrast display panel with a wide viewing angle and an anti-reflective screen. A Halo Control System with a 23-bit controller and dynamic light algorithm is used to minimize blooming from the TV’s mini-LED backlight, which provides up to 6,500 local dimming zones, and the company’s AIPQ Pro processor is used for upscaling and noise reduction.

High dynamic range support includes both the Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+ formats. The QM9K is also IMAX Enhanced certified and features a Filmmaker Mode picture preset, a new addition to TCL TVs in 2025.

The QM9K’s Audio by Bang & Olufsen built-in speaker system features Dolby Atmos support, and there's pass-through for DTS:X. Upfiring speakers for Atmos height effects are located on the TV’s top surface, and there are dual subwoofers on the back panel.

TCL’s Zero Border design for the QM9K provides a disappearingly thin bezel that allows for virtually the full screen area to be filled with the picture. A built-in sensor can be configured to turn the TV on when it detects your nearby presence, and it will then be switched to ambient mode, displaying artwork or photos. A built-in far-field mic lets you use voice commands to control the TV, and there’s also a built-in mic on the backlit remote control that lets you do the same.

The QM9K is the first Google TV with Gemini AI, which lets you carry out contextual, voice-based content search, among other things. Gemini can be used to control Google Assistant smart home devices, and the TV additionally works with Alexa and Apple HomeKit and jas AirPlay and Chromecast built-in support.

Gaming features include 4K 144Hz support on two of the TV’s four HDMI ports, FreeSync Pro, and Game Accelerator 288, which lets you game in 1080p resolution at a 288Hz refresh rate. There is also a Game Bar onscreen display that lets you make gaming-related adjustments without having to exit to a menu.

Features Score: 4.5/5

TCL QM9K review: Picture quality

TCL QM9K showing image of red flowers — The QM9K's high brightness and anti-glare screen make it a great option for bright room viewing (Image credit: Future)

Exceptional brightness and contrast
Rich color and excellent detail
Wide viewing angle

When I previously reviewed the TCL QM9K’s step-down sibling, the TCL QM8K, one of that TV’s high points was its exceptional brightness. In my testing, the QM9K proved to be even brighter than the QM8K, with a measured peak HDR brightness of 3,322 nits in Filmmaker Mode and 3,811 nits in Standard mode. Fullscreen HDR brightness was also impressive, with the QM9K hitting around 660 nits in both Filmmaker and Standard modes.

The QM9K’s HDR color gamut coverage was also very good, with the TV measuring 96.7% for UHDA-P3 and 79.7 for BT-2020. Color point accuracy was similarly good, with the Delta-E value (the margin of error between the test pattern source and what’s shown on-screen, with a result lower than 3 being undetectable by the human eye) averaging out to 1.8, and to 2.8 for grayscale accuracy.

The QM9K’s high brightness, combined with its extended, accurate color and refined local dimming translated into an exceptional picture. Watching the animated Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse on 4K Blu-ray, a scene where Spider-Man battles the Green Goblin had powerful contrast, and it caused the scene’s psychedelic color palette to pop more than I’m used to seeing on most TVs. The film’s animated textures were also displayed with a high level of detail, giving it a near 3D-like effect.

The QM9K’s impressive detail carried over to Ripley, which I streamed in 4K with Dolby Vision from Netflix. Watched in the TV’s Dolby Vision Dark picture mode, textures in clothing and objects were clearly visible, and it gave the picture a strong sense of depth. The show’s black and white images looked completely uniform, and subtle gray tones were easily revealed.

Test patterns on the Spears & Munsil Ultra HD Benchmark 4K Blu-ray confirmed that the QM9K’s CrystGlow WHVA Panel worked as well in maintaining uniform color and contrast over a wide viewing angle as the TCL QM8K did when I tested it. The disc’s local dimming torture tests also confirmed the effectiveness of TCL’s Halo Control System at minimizing backlight blooming in high contrast images.

TCL QM9K showing image of desert rock formation and sunset — With its Ultra Wide Angle feature, the QM9K's picture looks uniformly good over a range of seating positions (Image credit: Future)

The only area where the QM9K stumbled a bit was in its motion handling. Watching a scene from the James Bond film No Time to Die, where Bond walks across a craggy hillside cemetery, there was a fair amount of judder, although this could be eliminated by making adjustments to the Custom mode in the TV’s Motion menu without introducing too much “soap opera” effect.

There was also a very slight degree of vignetting at the edges of the screen, an effect likely related to its Zero Border design. This was mostly visible on test patterns, however, and I rarely spotted it on TV shows or movies.

The QM9K’s anti-reflection screen proved effective at reducing screen glare from overhead lights and maintaining picture contrast. I did see some reflections from lamps when placed in the path of the screen, but it was minimal and mostly an issue for dark images.

Picture quality score: 4.5/5

TCL QM9K review: Sound quality

TCL QM9K rear panel subwoofer drivers — The QM9K's Audio by Bang & Olufsen speaker system features upfiring drivers for Dolby Atmos height effects and dual subwoofers on the TV's rear (shown) (Image credit: Future)

Audio by Bang & Olufsen with Beosonic interface
Dolby FlexConnect support
Potent sound with good directional effects

TCL doesn’t provide much in the way of audio specs for its TVs, but the QM9K does have an Audio by Bang & Olufsen Dolby Atmos speaker system with upfiring drivers and built-in subwoofers. There’s no DTS Virtual:X processing, but DTS:X pass-through is supported.

The QM9K is also compatible with Dolby FlexConnect, which lets you use the TV with the company’s Z100 wireless FlexConnect speakers and Z100-SW wireless subwoofer. FlexConnect automatically configures and calibrates the system from the TV, and it gives you the freedom to position the speakers anywhere you want in the room, not just in the standard home theater positions to the side of the screen, or behind you to the sides.

One notable feature related to the Audio by Bang & Olufsen on the QM9K is its Beosonic interface, which becomes available when you select the TV’s Custom sound preset.

The graphic interface features a cursor that allows you to move between Relaxed, Energetic, Bright, and Warm quadrants to adjust the sound to your liking. Using this, I was able to warm up the TV’s too-bright sound, though I ended up leaving the Movie preset in place for most of my testing.

Overall, I found the QM9K’s sound to be pretty potent, with clear dialogue and a good helping of bass. When I watched the chase scene through the town square in No Time to Die, the crashes and gunfire had good impact and directionality, and the sound of ringing church bells in the Dolby Atmos soundtrack had a notably strong height effect.

I imagine many viewers will be fine with using the QM9K’s built-in speakers, though I’d recommend adding one of the best soundbars or taking advantage of its FlexConnect feature to get sound quality that equals the picture.

Sound quality score: 4.5/5

TCL QM9K review: Design

TCL QM9K pedestal stand on TV stand — The TV's pedestal stand can be installed flush or at an elevated height (shown) to accommodate a soundbar (Image credit: Future)

ZeroBorder design
Height-adjustable pedestal stand
Full-size, backlit remote control

TCL’s ZeroBorder design minimizes the QM9K’s bezel to a vanishingly small 3.2mm, giving it a true “all-picture” look. The panel itself has a two-inch depth, although its sides taper inward in a manner that gives the TV a slimmer look when viewed from the side.

A pedestal stand comes with the QM9K in screen sizes up to 85 inches, while the 98-inch version features support feet. The stand is made of metal covered with a faux brushed metal plastic, and it has two height positions, with the higher option clearing space for a soundbar.

Connections on the QM9K include four HDMI ports (one with eARC), two USB type-A, Ethernet, and an optical digital audio output. There is also an ATSC 3.0 tuner input for connecting an antenna.

TCL’s full-size remote control features a backlit keypad. The layout is uncluttered, and includes three direct access buttons for apps (Netflix, Prime Video, and YouTube) plus an input select button, and a Free TV button that takes you to the TV’s free and ad-supported streaming channels portal.

Design score: 4/5

TCL QM9K review: Smart TV and menus

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TCL QM9K Google TV smart TV interface screens — The QM9K's Google TV smart interface with the Gemini AI icon, (Image credit: Future)

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Google TV with Gemini AI
Live program grid with broadcast channels
Quick menu for basic adjustments

The QM9K is notable for being the first Google TV with Gemini AI chatbot support. This feature lets you essentially carry on a conversation with the TV using either the set’s built-in far-field mic or the remote control’s mic.

Using Gemini, you can ask a question like, “Show me a list of Samurai movies from the 1960s to the present.” The contextual nature of Gemini search lets you then ask follow-up questions to drill down deeper, such as “Show me the ones with an 80% or higher Rotten Tomatoes score that are available on HBO Max or Netflix.”

Gemini has much more in its bag of tricks: You can ask about anything you want, from questions about astronomy or astrology to recipes to top attractions to see when visiting cities. It can create news briefs with video links and also generate images from prompts (“Fantasy twilight landscape with white deer”) to use as screensavers.

The QM9K features a built-in presence sensor, and it can be configured to activate your AI-generated screensavers, or even a rotating photo gallery drawn from a Google Photos account, automatically when you enter the room.

A Live TV portal in Google TV provides a grid guide of broadcasts pulled in by the QM9K’s ATSC 3.0 tuner, including NextGen channels, and these are displayed along with Google TV Freeplay and TCL free ad-supported TV channels. Google TV gives you multiple options to sort these, including by genre (Reality TV, News, etc.) or antenna-only.

Both AirPlay and Chromecast built-in are supported by the QM9K, which also works with Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple HomeKit.

TCL QM9K quick menu overlay on image from No Time to Die — The QM9K's quick menu lets you easily adjust basic settings (Image credit: Future)

There are extensive settings in the QM9K’s menus to satisfy picture and sound tweakers. The Brightness section of the Picture menu provides multiple gamma settings and contrast adjustments. For sound, there are various audio presets, including a custom Audio by Bang & Olufsen Beosonic adjustment that lets you EQ the sound based on parameters like Bright, Relaxed, Energetic, and Warm.

Accessing these settings is done by pressing the gear icon on the remote control or by clicking the same icon in the Google TV home screen. Another option is to press the quick menu icon on the remote, which calls up a menu at the screen’s bottom with a range of picture and sound setup options.

Smart TV & menus score: 4.5/5

TCL QM9K review: Gaming

TCL QM9K Game Bar menu — The QM9K's Game Bar menu (Image credit: Future)

Two HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 144Hz support
FreeSync Premium Pro and Game Accelerator 288
12.9ms input lag is average

Gaming features on the QM9K include two HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 144Hz support, FreeSync Premium Pro, ALLM, and Dolby Vision gaming. There is also a Game Accelerator 288 feature that lets you game at 288Hz in 108p resolution and a Game Bar onscreen overlay for making quick adjustments to gaming-related settings.

The QM9K’s bright, contrast-rich picture makes all manner of games look great. Performance is also responsive, with the TCL measuring at 12.9ms when tested with a Leo Bodnar 4K input lag meter.

Gaming score: 4/5

TCL QM9K review: Value

TCL QM9K remote control held in hand — The QM9K's full-size, fully backlit remote control (Image credit: Future)

Priced higher than top mini-LED competition
Less extensive gaming features than competition
Google TV with Gemini enhances value

The TCL QM9K is a fantastic TV, but its raw value is taken down a notch by the fact that there is plenty of great mini-LED TV competition in 2025.

At the time of writing, TCL had already lowered the price of the 75-inch QM9K by $1,000 to $2,499. Even so, other 75-inch flagship mini-LED TVs such as the Samsung QN90F are now selling for $2,099. The QM9K has higher peak HDR brightness than the Samsung, and it also beats competitors such as the Hisense U8QG on that test. But the Samsung has superior gaming features and performance, and its great overall picture quality was one of the main reasons why it earned a five out of five stars overall rating in our Samsung QN90F review.

TCL’s own step-down mini-LED TV, the TCL QM8K, also provides very impressive picture quality, and it features the ZeroBorder screen, ultra wide viewing angle, and anti-reflection screen features found in the QM9K.

I’d have said that Google TV with Gemini, which is currently exclusive to the QM9K, was its ace-in-the-hole when it comes to value, but that feature is also coming to the QM8K at some point in 2025, and it should also be available as an upgrade for the Hisense U8QG. The QM9K is the only TV of the three with a built-in presence sensor, so that is one exclusive feature the QM9K can claim.

Value score: 4/5

Should I buy the TCL QM9K?

TCL QM9K showing image of white deer in fantasy forest — A Gemini-generated fantasy image, used as a screensaver (Image credit: Future)

TCL QM9K
Attributes	Notes	Rating
Features	Google TV with Gemini, Dolby FlexConnect and comprehensive HDR support	4.5/5
Picture quality	Exceptional brightness and refined local dimming combined with a ultra wide viewing angle feature and anti-reflective screen make this a great all-around TV	4.5/5
Sound quality	Very good built-in sound from Audio by Bang & Olufsen Dolby Atmos speaker system	4.5/5
Design	ZeroBorder screen minimizes bezel for all picture look. Adjustable height pedestal stand can clear space for a soundbar	4/5
Smart TV and menus	Google TV is enhanced by Gemini AI, plus the quick menu provides easy access to basic settings	4.5/5
Gaming	4K 144Hz and FreeSync Premium Pro supported, but only on two HDMI ports	4/5
Value	A bit pricier than most of the current flagship mini-LED TV competition. Step-down QM8K model is a better overall value	4/5

Buy it if...

You want to watch in a bright room
The QM9K’s high brightness and anti-reflective screen make it a good option for viewing in bright rooms. An ultra wide angle feature also makes it a good choice for viewing sports with groups.

You don’t want to use a soundbar
The QM9K’s built-in Audio by Bang & Olufsen speakers deliver clear dialogue, good bass, and immersive Atmos effects. Many viewers likely won’t feel the need to add a soundbar.

You want a TV with sophisticated AI
The QM9K’s Google TV interface features the Gemini AI chatbot, which takes content searching and other smart TV-related activities to the next level.

Don't buy it if…

You want to save some money
The QM9K’s step-down sibling, the QM8K, also delivers a bright picture with refined local dimming and has many of the same picture quality and sound features. TCL says the QM8K will also be getting Gemini in a future update.

You’re nervous about AI
Google says that any queries made to Google TV using the Gemini AI feature are erased after 10 minutes, but those with serious privacy concerns may want to tread lightly.

TCL QM9K: Also consider...

	TCL QM9K	Samsung QN90F	TCL QM8K	Hisense U8QG
Price (65-inch)	$2,999	$2,499.99	$2,499.99	$2,199
Screen type	QLED w/ mini-LED	QLED w/ mini-LED	QLED w/ mini-LED	QLED w/ mini-LED
Refresh rate	144Hz	165Hz	144Hz	165Hz
HDR support	DolbyVision/HDR10+/HDR10/HLG	HDR10+/HDR10/HLG	DolbyVision/HDR10+/HDR10/HLG	DolbyVision/HDR10+/HDR10/HLG
Smart TV	Google TV (with Gemini)	Tizen	Google TV	Google TV
HDMI ports	4 (2x HDMI 2.1)	4x HDMI 2.1	4 (2x HDMI 2.1)	3x HDMI 2.1

Samsung QN90F
Samsung’s flagship mini-LED TV is priced even lower than the QM9K following a series of discounts. This TV has superior gaming features and an even more effective anti-reflection screen, though it lacks TCL’s Google TV Gemini feature.

Here’s our Samsung QN90F review

TCL QM8K
The QM8K is the step-down model in TCL’s mini-LED TV lineup, but it also has a bright picture with effective local dimming, plus an ultra wide viewing angle feature and an anti-reflective screen. The QM8K is also slated to get Gemini added to its Google TV interface in a future update.

Here’s our TCL QM8K review

Hisense U8QG
The Hisense U8QG also has exceptional brightness and is slated to get the Gemini feature added to its Google TV interface in an update. Compared to the TCL QM9K, its picture quality isn’t as good at off-center seats, and its built-in speakers aren’t as good.

Here’s our Hisense U8QG review

How I tested the TCL QM9K

TV brightness being measured by a TV reviewer — Measuring a 10% HDR white window pattern during testing (Image credit: Future)

I spent about 15 viewing hours in total measuring and evaluating
Measurements were made using Calman color calibration software
A full calibration was made before proceeding with subjective tests

When I test TVs, I first spend a few days or even weeks using it for casual viewing to assess the out-of-the-box picture presets and get familiar with its smart TV menu and picture adjustments.

I next select the most accurate preset (usually Filmmaker Mode, Movie or Cinema) and measure grayscale and color accuracy using Portrait Displays’ Calman color calibration software. The resulting measurements provide Delta-E values (the margin of error between the test pattern source and what’s shown on-screen) for each category, and allow for an assessment of the TV’s overall accuracy.

Along with those tests, I make measurements of peak light output (recorded in nits) for both standard high-definition and 4K high dynamic range using 10% and 100% white window patterns. Coverage of DCI-P3 and BT.2020 color space is also measured, with the results providing a sense of how faithfully the TV can render the extended color range in ultra high-definition sources – you can read more about this process in our guide to how we test TVs at TechRadar.

For the TCL QM9K, I used the Calman ISF workflow, along with the TV’s advanced picture menu settings, to calibrate the image for best accuracy. I also watched a range of reference scenes on 4K Blu-ray discs to assess the TV’s performance, along with 4K HDR shows streamed from Max, Netflix, and other services.

First reviewed: October 2025
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