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I tested the affordable GoPro Lit Hero — and it might be the brand’s most confusing action cam yet

4:00 am | March 7, 2026

Author: admin | Category: Action Cameras Cameras Computers Gadgets | Comments: Off

GoPro Lit Hero: two-minute review

GoPro is a name that's synonymous with the action cam market, with the brand having largely been responsible for the explosion in popularity of such cameras over the past two decades. The brand has come a long way since its first Hero camera, a 35mm film-compatible wearable model released in 2004.

Now the likes of the GoPro Hero 13 Black and GoPro MAX 2, are considered amongst the best action cameras available, and largely dominate the market. And despite rumors that the company intends to kill off the Hero Black range, GoPro has dismissed the speculation. In other words, the GoPro family seemingly has a bright future ahead. In fact, as I completed this review, GoPro announced the next generation GP3 processor which will power a new wave of GoPros for 2026 and beyond.

That being said, the direction of the range can sometimes take an odd turn, and one such example is 2025’s GoPro Lit Hero, a sort of replacement for the GoPro Hero (2024), which was itself a weird compromise of price over specification.

You certainly can’t criticize the camera’s portability — it’s one of the smallest and lightest action cameras you can find anywhere, and there’s no danger of it weighing you down whilst out on a cycle ride or when travelling. Before hopping on a plane, there was none of the usual "Should I, shouldn’t I?" dilemma I often experience when choosing what to take on a trip, and it was a simple case of "Why not?" and throwing it into my camera bag.

The GoPro Lit Hero action camera — The Lit Hero is unmistakably a GoPro product, albeit a much stripped-down one (Image credit: Peter Fenech)

There haven’t been many compromises in terms of build quality, and the Lit Hero feels rugged despite its diminutive size.

However, the tiny screen makes changing settings a challenge, while there isn’t a lot of room for camera controls on the body, making the handling experience frustrating at times. The screen itself isn’t always easy to use for image previews and is quite fiddly. It’s not a camera you can use in a hurry, which is a problem given the type of content you’d probably shoot with it.

There's very little in the way of manual controls: if you just want a point-and-shoot camera, you'll be fine, but if you hope to take control over the image-making process, there isn’t much here to satisfy a creative appetite.

Image quality is passable, but not mind-blowing. The camera struggles in low light thanks to its tiny imaging sensor, and despite offering 4K shooting, footage is anything but pro-level. Stills and video are sharp enough, but quickly lose detail as the sensitivity is increased. Meanwhile, colors are quite natural.

Overall, the GoPro Lit Hero is an affordable entry to the action cam market, and is a good take-anywhere choice. It won’t draw too much unwanted attention, or take up room in a bag. The problem is that too much has been stripped away to facilitate the small size. If you were expecting a simplified Hero Black, with similar properties, just smaller, you would probably be disappointed.

I'm not sure who the Lit Hero was designed for, specifically. Yes, it's an entry-level camera, so beginners might benefit. However, the naming convention is confusing, and I'm uncertain as to why such a powerful LED was incorporated. It's also still not that cheap, which I fear is more because of the brand name than any real premium advantages it offers.

As a result, the camera doesn't really hit any target market well. It sounds mean, but it might be best suited for filmmakers who want a camera that they're happy to risk destroying in the pursuit of extreme shooting angles. Otherwise, I can't think of anyone in particular to whom I'd recommend the Lit Hero.

GoPro Lit Hero specs

GoPro Lit Hero specs:
Type:	Action camera
Sensor:	1/2.8-inch CMOS
LCDs:	1x rear 1.76-inch touchscreen
Memory:	Micro SD
Lens:	15mm equivalent, f/2.3
Battery:	Embedded rechargeable 1255mAh Enduro Lithium-Ion
Video:	Up to 4K/60p, 4K/30p (4:3)
Photo:	12MP (4000 x 3000 pixels)
Dimensions:	56.6 x 48.4 x 29.45mm (W x H x D)
Weight:	3.3oz / 93g

GoPro Lit Hero: Price and availability

Released October 21 2025 worldwide
The GoPro Lit Hero retails for $269.99 / £239.99 / AU$419.95
The Starter Bundle includes a Shorty mini tripod, bike mount and case for $344.99 / £304.99/ AU$539.95

The GoPro Lit Hero went on sale from October 21 2025 for a price of $269.99 / £239.99 / AU$419.95, but months later and with the next generation of GoPros set for 2026 it can be purchased for less. The camera is available in kits too, including the Starter Bundle, which includes a bike mount and camera case and retails for $344.99 / £304.99 / AU$539.95.

Other activity-specific bundles are available, such as the Water Activities Bundle ($332.99 / £296.99 / AU$519.95), Bike and Camp Bundle ($349.99 / £399.99 / AU$ 546.95) and a Kid’s Bundle for $359.99 / £322.99 / AU$ 572.95, which supplies a Shorty mini tripod, case and Flexible Grip Mount.

Price score: 3.5/5

GoPro Lit Hero: Design

Small 1.76-inch LCD touchscreen
Waterproof to depths of 16ft / 5m
Super-lightweight at 3.3oz / 93g

The Lit Hero certainly looks the part, and has many of the traditional design markers of a GoPro product. The rear of the camera is dominated by the 1.76-inch LCD screen, with no physical buttons or controls whatsoever. This isn’t unusual for an action camera, and the same is true of a higher-end model like the DJI Osmo Action 6. The difference there is the screen size, which at 2.5 inches is much easier to interact with and operate.

The monitor on the Lit Hero is so small that my fingertips dwarfed some of the icons, making the precise selection of settings tricky when on the move and when outside in winter, digits numb from the cold. The active area of the screen is much smaller than the back of the camera, too, so there really isn’t much control real estate to be working with. If, like me, your hands are on the large side, it’s something to be aware of if the Lit Hero is on your shopping list.

It’s also not the most detailed LCD I’ve ever used, and it’s not ideal for judging the sharpness of captured images and footage. A few times, I thought I’d got the subject in focus, only to find the camera had back-focused upon opening the images and footage on the large screen of my laptop.

The touch function is useful (well, actually essential as it happens), but it isn’t hugely responsive, and it can take a few taps to get the desired menu to open, or multiple swipes with wet or muddy fingers to scroll through previews. Overall, it’s definitely a good idea to download the dedicated GoPro Quik app onto your phone, via which you can more accurately quality-control your footage.

The rest of the body is incredibly simple, which is both a negative and a positive. On one hand, this means you have to rely on the tiny screen to operate most of the camera’s functions, frozen fingers or not, but it also gives the Lit Hero a reassuringly unintimidating layout for beginners. There aren’t so many buttons that you might be worried about accidentally changing a setting you subsequently can’t figure out how to reset.

The Polycarbonate and TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) construction material is easy to grip, with a good amount of texture to provide friction even when the camera is wet. At no point did I worry about it slipping from my hands while using it handheld.

The other inescapable side-effect of such a small body is that when handling it, even just to remove it from a bag, it’s easy to touch the lens and leave behind fingerprints. It’s easily wiped clean, but this can be irritating.

Design score: 4.5/5

GoPro Lit Hero: Performance

Quick startup for rapid shooting
Lack of built-in digital or optical stabilization is frustrating
Super-powerful LED lamp is too intense for most uses

The camera itself is quick to start up, which was something I was concerned about, given the expected shrinking of the processor assembly to allow for the Lit Hero’s tiny dimensions. There’s very little delay between pressing the power button on the top of the camera and it being capture-ready.

Focus is also quick, at least as far as I could tell from my ‘hit rate’, looking back through captured images – looking at the screen, it’s very difficult to see the focusing in action, especially given the wide focal length. This was impressively maintained in low light and I didn’t notice a significant increase in out-of-focus shots in poor ambient lighting.

A big downside for me is the lack of integrated image stabilization. Rather than using an optical or sensor-shift IBIS system, you must first transfer footage to your smartphone using the GoPro Quik app, then apply algorithmic stabilization there. I’m not a fan of digital stabilization anyway, but not having it applied in-camera means you can’t preview how the final footage will actually look at the point of shooting. It’s a laborious extra step that slows things down.

An added frustration is that the connection between my phone and the Lit Hero was fairly unstable. It kept dropping out, meaning that live previews of what the camera could see using my phone screen were so pixelated as to be largely useless. The transfer speeds were also predictably sluggish. Yes, it’s possible this is due to the age of my handset, or even a model-specific compatibility issue, but I’d experienced no such issue when pairing it to the Insta360 X4 Air and Insta360 X5 the day before.

The ‘Lit’ element of the camera’s name stems from the powerful LED torch on the front of the body. It’s really the only instantly noticeable change from the GoPro Hero (2024). I wasn’t sure a camera could ever be defined by its built in flash or continuous light, but oh wow, did this thing get my attention.

It’s inexplicably bright. For the size of the camera, the light output is impressive if not completely overkill. It’s so bright at the maximum setting that I found it impossible to perform a piece to the camera with it shining in my eyes. Of course, it might come in useful in dark conditions, but I found it just looked ugly in most cases. I found it helped when shooting underwater clips in a sediment-filled stream, but the exposure fall-off is very obvious and unsightly.

On a positive note, the battery life is decent, and I could easily get around an hour and a half of continuous use out of it, in chilly outdoor temperatures, before it ran out of juice. Since the battery is integrated and can't be swapped, this is good news.

I found the body warmed up pretty rapidly when shooting longer video clips; not problematic, but a little uncomfortable when using it handheld. I found the more powerful DJI Osmo Action 6 heated up less quickly after prolonged use.

Performance score: 3.5/5

GoPro Lit Hero: Image quality

4K video looks good in brighter light, with natural color rendition
Photo and video quality drop significantly at higher sensitivities
No log mode for later color grading

With such a small (1/2.8-inch) imaging sensor at its heart, the Lit Hero is limited in its light-gathering capacity. As such, noise levels are quite high at every sensitivity. There are very few manual controls, with no true PASM modes that allow the user to manipulate exposure settings, meaning you’re at the mercy of the camera’s own decisions, often resulting in grainy footage.

While it’s easier to hide in fast-moving video, the mushiness of detail is clearly visible in stills. In daylight conditions, results are actually quite sharp, but this isn’t maintained for long as ambient light falls.

The autoexposure system is fairly dependable, and it was able to quickly assess each scene during my testing and correctly adjust the parameters to prevent obvious overexposure. Similarly, the auto white balance does a good job of keeping colors natural, even under mixed lighting. This is all good news since there’s little opportunity to amend these settings yourself.

Images take using the GoPro Lit Hero — The LED creates a strong exposure fall-off in low light situations (Image credit: Peter Fenech)

I’d equate the experience and resulting images to those from a basic smartphone or compact camera – I wouldn’t recommend the Lit Hero for ‘serious’ still photography work, but it’s good enough for off-the-cuff content creation and vacation shots.

There isn’t much latitude for post-processing work either. Shadows can be blocked quickly, probably because the camera seems to be biased towards underexposure to keep the highlights in check, but it’s not a good idea to lift these too far. There is no Log mode so color grading must be applied to the pre-processed video, which can break down the tones if pushed too far.

Image quality score: 3.5/5

GoPro Lit Hero: testing scorecard

GoPro Lit Hero
Attributes	Notes	Rating
Price	As one of the most affordable action cameras available, the Lit Hero won't break the bank, but it's still questionable value for the spec on offer	3.5/5
Design	I have no real complaints about the design. Yes, it's fiddly but that's the trade-off for such a portable size	4.5/5
Performance	The screen isn't particularly responsive, the camera isn't that quick to operate, and it gets warm quite quickly after extended shooting	3/5
Image quality	While not terrible, the small sensor struggles in low light and detail turns mushy. Colors are good though, if not punchy.	3/5

Should I buy the GoPro Lit Hero?

Buy it if...

You're married to GoPro

If you have plenty of existing GoPro accessories and are very familiar with the system, the Lit Hero might make a useful, extra-small addition to your collection. It could also serve as a B-roll camera or backup model in the field.View Deal

You're on a tight budget

If you aren't ready to invest in a high-end action camera such as the GoPro Hero 13 Black, the Lit Hero is an ideal entry point to the GoPro ecosystem. If you need a model for occasional use, or alternatively, a sacrificial camera for extreme punishment that you don't mind being destroyed, the price of the Lit Hero is appealing.View Deal

Don't buy it if...

You need top-level quality

There's only so much a 1/2.8-inch sensor can achieve, and if you need footage and stills for a professional project, you'd be better off with a less entry-level specification. Images from the Lit Hero probably won't cut it for anything other than casual, everyday needs.View Deal

You like creative control

There isn't much to the Lit Hero's menu system, indicating a lack of any true manual intervention in the image creation process. There's a limited choice of frame rates and no log mode for later grading. View Deal

Also consider

Insta360 Go 3S

In many ways the Go 3S is the best of both worlds: you get both an incredibly portable, wearable action camera and the benefits of the Action Pod, including easier handling and improved battery life. You get 4K resolution at up to 30p, waterproofing up to 33ft / 10m, and a slow-motion mode in 1080p of 200fps. If you want a truely tiny action cam that is tough enough to withstand some punishment, the Go 3S has no true rival beyond the DJI Osmo Nano (see below).

Read our in-depth Insta360 Go 3S review

DJI Osmo Nano

Proving there's life beyond GoPro, the DJI Osmo Nano offers some brilliantly modular features. Not only does it weigh a mere 52g, but you also get the benefit of some professional features, like the excellent DJI D-Log M mode for advanced color grading possibilities in post-processing. It also provides 4K recording, using a larger 1/1.3-inch CMOS sensor – the same one featured DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro. If you want a camera that's light enough to go everywhere with you, without compromising heavily on spec, this is a great choice.

Read our in-depth DJI Osmo Nano review

How I tested the GoPro Lit Hero

I used the GoPro Lit Hero over one week, both indoors and out
I worked in a range of lighting conditions and weather to test the durability of the body and functionality
The camera was submerged to analyze the waterproofing capability

While I always like to subject action cameras to some degree of punishing conditions, I like to use them as I might as part of an average shoot for which it was designed. As such, I don't make a habit of dropping them out of windows or running them over with a Jeep.

Instead, I took the GoPro Lit Hero with me on several outdoor shoots, in a range of weather, from rainy to full sun. I used the camera to capture behind-the-scenes content of my shoots and environmental imagery. This included submerging it in a stream and getting it down and dirty in muddy undergrowth.

I left the camera recording for extended durations to test battery life and heat management. I shot both still photos and video, then processed these in Adobe Lightroom and DaVinci Resolve to see how much detail I could recover from the extreme ends of the tonal range. Images shown here are the unprocessed out-of-camera Jpgs and video (cut together in the case of the latter).

First reviewed February 2026

I tried Logitech’s new G325 Lightspeed gaming headset, and it was so comfortable I forgot I was wearing it

5:00 pm | March 6, 2026

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

Logitech G325 Lightspeed: Two-minute review

Logitech definitely knows the strengths of the G325 Lightspeed, its new budget wireless gaming headset.

Advertised as a model that’s “just as suitable for an OOTD selfie or wearing out and about” as gaming, the impressively lightweight design and unique look make it well worth considering if you're after something more stylish than your standard gamer fare.

This is an incredibly comfortable headset that you should have no trouble wearing for extended periods of time, whether you’re gaming or taking calls at the office. Its memory foam earcups are super soft, and the thin plastic headband is reinforced with some effective padding.

The fact that it’s made almost entirely from thin plastic means that it doesn't feel anywhere near as premium as competitors like HyperX Cloud III or Razer BlackShark V3 X, but this is a reasonable compromise given the high level of comfort the resulting lightness brings.

The Logitech G325 Lightspeed on a white table. — (Image credit: Future)

The microphone represents a similar trade-off. On one hand, I love how streamlined the built-in beamforming microphone is - in fact, it’s almost invisible aside from a tiny little grille on the left earcup. There’s no messing around with a retractable arm or removable parts that you might end up losing.

On the other hand, there’s no denying that those models with dedicated microphone arms sound much better, even if they are a bit more frustrating to use. The mic of the G325 Lightspeed picks up a lot of background noise, despite the best efforts of Logitech’s “AI-powered noise reduction”, and leaves you sounding quite distant and grainy.

It’s perfectly adequate if you’re chatting with friends on a Discord call, but there are gaming headsets with much better microphone performance out there at this price, like those aforementioned alternatives.

This is also a very basic headset when it comes to features. The built-in controls are a volume rocker, Bluetooth pairing button, microphone mute switch, and that’s your lot. The headset is compatible with Logitech’s brilliant G Hub software, but it doesn’t offer much here aside from some EQ options and a couple of extra settings. This is going to be more than enough for most casual gamers.

The sound here is also good for the asking price, but not exceptional. Like other Logitech headsets, it sounds a bit flat out of the box without much bass, but it’s decently detailed and performs well in games.

With all of this in mind, you should already know whether the G325 Lightspeed is for you. If comfort and aesthetics are your priority, it’s an easy recommendation given the relatively low asking price - but those after booming sound or a crystal clear mic are better served with other options.

Logitech G325 Lightspeed: Price and availability

Costs $79.99 / £69.99 / AU$199.95
Three colors available
One of Logitech’s cheapest wireless models

Priced at $79.99 / £69.99 / AU$199.95, the G325 Lightspeed is one of the cheapest wireless gaming headsets Logitech makes right now.

This price point puts it in budget territory and, given the brand’s frequent generous discounts on other products, I wouldn’t be surprised you could scoop it up for around the $50 / £50 / AU$95 mark in the future.

At full price, it still represents quite good value, though, with much of the cost accounted for in the wireless capabilities and attractive design. There are three colorways available: a black with subtle purple accents, white with grey and mint green highlights, and a cute lilac with hints of orange.

Logitech G325 Lightspeed: Specs

	Logitech G325 Lightspeed
Price	$79.99 / £69.99 / AU$199.95
Weight	7.4oz / 212g
Compatibility	PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, mobile
Connection type	Wireless (Lightspeed, Bluetooth 5.2)
Battery life	~24 hours
Features	Beamforming microphone
Software	Logitech G Hub (PC / Mobile)

Logitech G325 Lightspeed: Design and features

Attractive overall look
Very lightweight
Basic set of features

The design of the Logitech G325 Lightspeed eschews the usual gamer aesthetic of most headsets in favor of a more subtle look.

They’re sleek and seem more like a pair of music listening headphones than a gaming headset, which I quite like. You could easily wear these out of the house or in the office without embarrassment, which is certainly one of the biggest reasons to choose this model over others.

At only 7.4oz / 212g, the G325 Lightspeed is impressively lightweight, though it’s easy to see where Logitech has made the biggest sacrifices to achieve this. The headband feels particularly thin and cheap, with lots of flex to it. Importantly, it is still comfortable thanks to generous memory foam padding. The earcups, which can be adjusted up and down by a few inches, are similarly well-padded with memory foam cushioning.

The right earcup is completely plain aside from some subtle G325 branding, with all of this headset’s controls located on the back of the left one. There’s a power switch (situated beneath an LED indicator to denote battery level and charging status), a Bluetooth pairing button, a volume rocker, and a button to mute the microphone with a built-in and flush design on the front of the earcup.

The headset is compatible with the Logitech G Hub app, though it doesn’t give you access to many extra features. You can turn on side tone (which lets you hear yourself as you speak) or enable the microphone’s AI noise reduction features. There are also a number of audio presets to choose from, but the default one is well-balanced and a good fit for most uses.

Logitech G325 Lightspeed: Performance

Decent, balanced sound
As suitable for office work as gaming
Microphone could be better

Like other Logitech gaming headsets, the G325 Lightspeed sounds quite neutral out of the box. There is definitely some bass, but not overemphasized, and the mids and highs are decently presented. Is it the most detailed or breathtaking sound I’ve ever heard? No, but it’s firmly in line with what you should expect at this price.

I’ve been using the Logitech G325 Lightspeed for a few weeks now, and I never found the listening experience unpleasant, even when bobbing along to music as I worked. In games, the sound is more than sufficient for an enjoyable experience for a casual player, and this has been my go-to throughout my recent co-op playthrough of Resident Evil 6 and daily Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 matches.

Although I do have access to much better-sounding models, the ease of use of this one, not to mention the sheer comfort, is hard to argue with. Just plug the USB dongle in, and you’re ready to go.

I even like the built-in microphone despite its obvious flaws, too. This is not a gaming headset that you should use to start your streaming career, but the fact that the microphone is always present and incredibly unobtrusive is a plus. When I’m using the Astro A20 X, for example, I always have to dig the removable microphone out of my drawer and consciously attach it to my headset before I play - often struggling to find it in the process. Here, you just put the headset on, and you’re ready to go.

I do wish it did a better job of picking up your voice, though. I found that I often sounded quite quiet in comparison to other headsets, with a noticeably grainy quality to my voice. It also lets in an awful lot of background noise, with everything from typing to controller button presses picked up. This is easy to remedy with something like the Krisp noise suppression built into Discord, but still a clear area for improvement.

The battery life here isn’t anything special, but it’s good enough. Logitech claims that this headset will last more than 24 hours at 50% volume, and, in normal use, I found that it easily lasted about 20 hours at a time.

Should I buy the Logitech G325 Lightspeed?

Buy it if…

You want a light and comfortable headset
The Logitech G325 Lightspeed is incredibly comfortable thanks to its lightweight and generous memory foam padding. It’s one to choose if you want something that you can wear for hours and hours at a time.

You love the look
This headset also has quite a unique look that’s very different from most gaming models. Pick it up if you want something understated.

Don’t buy it if…

You need better sound
The sound here is good, but you can still get better performers for around the same price from brands like Razer or HyperX - especially if you don’t mind going for a wired alternative.

You want a great mic
The microphone here could do with some work. It gets the job done, but the performance isn’t as good as most models with a microphone arm.

Also consider...

Not sold on the Logitech G325 Lightspeed? See these two alternatives.

	Logitech G325 Lightspeed	Razer BlackShark V3 X	HyperX Cloud III
Price	$79.99 / £69.99 / AU$199.95	$99.99 / £99.99 / around AU$141	$99.99 / about £99.99 / AU$150
Weight	7.4oz / 212g	9.5oz / 270g	10.9oz / 310g
Compatibility	PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, mobile	PC, Xbox Series X/S (Xbox version), Playstation 4/5, (PlayStation version), mobile	PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, mobile
Connection type	Wireless (Lightspeed, Bluetooth 5.2)	2.4 GHz Wireless / Bluetooth / USB Wired	Wired (3.5mm)
Battery life	~24 hours	70 hours	N/A
Features	Beamforming microphone	7.1 virtual surround sound, unidirectional detachable cardioid mic	Detachable 10mm mic, DTS Headphone:X Spatial Audio
Software	Logitech G Hub (PC / Mobile)	Razer Synapse (PC)	HyperX NGENUITY (PC)

Razer BlackShark V3 X
This budget-oriented BlackShark headset from Razer is more expensive and heavier than the G325, but it offers significantly better battery life and much punchier sound, not to mention plenty more features.

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

HyperX Cloud III
The HyperX Cloud III might be getting on in years, but it’s still a top contender and regularly on sale for around the same price as the G325. It’s wired, but it comes with a phenomenal microphone.

For more information, check out our full HyperX Cloud III reviewView Deal

How I tested the Logitech G325 Lightspeed

Tested for multiple weeks
Used with PC, PS5, and Xbox
Relied on for both work and play

I tested the Logitech G325 Lightspeed for multiple weeks, using it as my primary wireless gaming headset for both work and play.

I used it with my PC in addition to my PS5 and Xbox Series X consoles, squeezing in plenty of game time with friends to test out the built-in mic. I also wore it daily while working, wearing it for online meetings and while listening to music, and found it to be a worthy companion.

I frequently compared its performance to a range of other models that I’ve tested, including the Logitech G522 Lightspeed, Astro A20 X, and SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5, plus more premium alternatives like the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro and Astro A50 X.

DuelSense-fueled fighting

Avowed player character attacking a skeletal wizard with a war hammer. — (Image credit: Microsoft / Obsidian Entertainment)

While I began an Avowed playthrough on my Xbox Series X a year ago, I didn't get to dig very deep into its rich, potential-packed universe. What I remember most from my brief time braving the Living Lands as an envoy of the Aedyr Empire is the game's rewarding combat, which feels better than ever on the PS5.

Fast, fluid, and superbly supported by weighty impacts of blades, bullets, and arcane abilities, the monster-slaying action was already satisfying as hell. But the combat's been amped up significantly thanks to the DualSense's immersion-ratcheting capabilities.

Obsidian didn't sleep on the gamepad's proprietary tech, fully leveraging its adaptive triggers and haptic feedback to make every input – from meaty melee strikes to slow simmering spells – feel as fantastic in your hands as they look on the screen.

Of course, this also folds in that fresh content I mentioned above, as the game's massive anniversary update introduces a new Quarterstaff for wizard builds. No mere reskin of an existing melee weapon, this two-handed tool of destruction allows mages to crack skulls up-close – as well as unleash powerful spells – in an epic fashion that'd make Gandalf proud.

Coupled with its next-level DualSense effects, it's quickly become my favorite way to bring death to the Living Lands.

An update worthy of the gods

An Avowed location showing off a serene pond and a mountain in the background. — (Image credit: Microsoft / Obsidian Entertainment)

While the Quarterstaff is my personal favorite addition, this sorcerer's best friend barely scratches the surface of the brimming update.

A deep photo mode – with plenty of options for customizing effects, filters, and color gradients – as well as a New Game+ option, will keep both existing envoys and new recruits busy. Beyond that, a trio of new races – Orlans, Aumaua, and Dwarves – join the Humans and Elves, bringing more character customization, perks, and fresh personality and lore to this already layered fantasy universe.

Best bit

Wielding Avowed's new Quarterstaff weapon feels fantastic, allowing mage-leaning envoys to fluidly mix magic and melee attacks. More than just a flashy new tool to test out and toss back in my inventory, the two-handed death-dealer changed the way I approached combat, while also making the game's excellent enemy encounters even more engaging.

A slew of new difficulty modifiers also invite adventurers of all skill levels to tweak and tailor their experience to their hearts' content. Factor in the past year of smaller updates – adding everything from polish, bug fixes, and quality of life touches – and PlayStation fans are getting yet another definitive take on a title that was born on Xbox.

If the PlayStation version stumbles at all, it's in its lack of PS5 Pro-specific enhancements. It packs the now-standard quality (30 frames per second) and performance (60 frames per second) options, as well as a more in-the-middle setting for those with 120Hz displays. You can also chase faster performance by unlocking the frame rate, a welcome inclusion for sure. But there are no meaty ray-tracing features or other enhancements that allow you to truly harness everything under the Pro's hood.

And what is offered didn't seem to make much of an impact during my testing. In terms of both visuals and performance, my time playing on the Pro looked and felt pretty comparable to my Xbox Series X experience. Similarly, the standard PS5 and Pro seem to offer near-identical visual quality and performance, with no notable differences between the two.

Don't sleep on it a second time

While Pro owners might pine for more features to justify their pricey hardware purchase, the finger can be partially pointed at the fact that Avowed already played smoothly and impressed visually upon its release a year ago. That same sentiment translates to many other elements of the game, including its fantastic storytelling, colorful character interactions, and vibrant, varied world, covered extensively in TechRadar Gaming's original review of the game.

Unsurprisingly, upon its release, Avowed was another compelling, polished action-RPG from a studio that's been honing and perfecting its craft for over two decades, starting with 2004's Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords. Sadly, it got somewhat lost in the sea of last year's acclaimed genre entries.

Thankfully, that oversight can now be remedied with its PS5 release, which not only reintroduces everything that was great the first time we faced its fungal plague but also brings a brimming treasure chest of fresh features, enhancements, and content.

Whether you're a PlayStation owner craving the most immersive experience from behind the DualSense or an existing envoy ready to wield the Quarterstaff as one of the new races, Avowed's second coming is as impressive as a Living Lands sunset…which you'll definitely want to capture in photo mode.

Should you play Avowed on PS5?

Play it if...

You missed out on Avowed the first time
Given the glut of awesome RPGs that landed last year, you could be forgiven for overlooking Avowed's original release. That said, there's no excuse not to jump in now, as one of 2025's best genre entries is better than ever. If you're a fantasy RPG fan who missed this one the first time around, you're in for a real treat.

You've played Avowed, but have been craving fresh content
Even if you've already conquered the Dreamscourge, Avowed's anniversary update is reason enough to dive back in. Its New Game+, photo mode, and a trio of additional races offer fresh ways to experience the game, while its awesome, two-handed Quarterstaff is worth the price of admission (which is free if you already own the game) for wizard-wannabes.

You don't own an Xbox
If you're a PlayStation stalwart pining for a new action-RPG, Avowed has you covered and then some. Like last year's Stalker: Heart of Chornobyl and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Obsidian's fantasy-fueled romp is another previous Xbox exclusive that arguably plays better on Sony's console thanks to its immersion-cranking controller.

Don't play it if...

You're a PlayStation 5 Pro owner looking to justify your purchase
Avowed offers up a visual feast running at a peppy framerate on the PS5 Pro, but the same can largely be said for its standard PS5 and Xbox Series X versions. If you're looking for meaningful Pro features and enhancements, you won't find them here.

Avowed player character fights a bear with a sword and spellbook — (Image credit: Microsoft)

Accessibility features

Prior to its PS5 release, Avowed already offered an admirable slate of accessibility options for camera adjustments, subtitle settings, difficulty levels, and even an arachnophobia mode for those averse to creepy crawlies. But the game's new version builds further on this solid foundation, especially in the difficulty department.

A new "custom" difficulty setting allows players to tweak over two dozen modifiers, adjusting everything from player damage and stamina to carrying capacity, enemy attack speed, and much more. But while Avowed more than delivers in most accessibility areas, it still doesn't offer the suite of colorblind options that have become pretty standard in other games.

How I reviewed Avowed on PS5

I explored The Living Lands for just over 40 hours, adventuring primarily on my PlayStation 5 Pro, but also putting plenty of time into my standard PS5 and Xbox Series X for visual and performance comparisons. I found the best, most balanced experience playing on my Pro in quality mode with the framerate unlocked.

I focused on testing the game's anniversary update additions, specifically its custom difficulty settings, new Quarterstaff weapon, races, and photo mode. I played primarily on my budget TCL 4K display, with HDR enabled and using its built-in stereo speakers, paying particular attention to the game's DualSense controller integration for vibration and audio effects. I also played a few hours on my PlayStation Portal with PlayStation Pulse Explore earbuds.

First reviewed February 2026

Kensington SD7100T5 EQ Pro docking station review: Easier to buy than a laptop or PC that has the ports you need for the full Thunderbolt 5 experience

8:16 pm | March 5, 2026

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

Kensington SD7100T5 EQ Pro: 30-second review

I still have questions about the cart-before-horse nature of Thunderbolt 5 docks, where we have so many dock choices when there are virtually no TB5 peripherals, and a tiny percentage of laptops have this port.

Ignoring those salient points, the Kensington SD7100T5 EQ Pro is yet another slice of Thunderbolt technology for those lucky enough to have a TB5-capable system and can afford a top-tier docking station to go with it.

Straight up, this is easily the nicest Thunderbolt dock I’ve ever seen from Kensington, combining some elegant chamfered corners and a cool-to-the-touch metal exterior.

The front side has a great selection of ports, including card readers for three different standards. And at the back are even more connection options, including a few I’ve never seen on a dock, such as a TOSLINK optical for digital audio.

Having nineteen ports is an important selling point, but this dock can also operate as a Thunderbolt-connected SSD using a provided M.2 PCIe 4.0 slot, if you install an SSD.

However, when you combine this level of build quality with unique features, the first casualty is the budget, and this is one of the more expensive TB5 docks. And that price might easily be doubled if you want one for home and work.

Throw in some Thunderbolt-to-DisplayPort or HDMI adapters, and you might easily exceed $1500 for two docks and a 2TB NVMe drive.

If you need only one dock and have monitors that can accept Thunderbolt directly, then the outlay might be easier to justify. But with TB4 docks hovering around $200, the performance benefits of this dock might need to be documented.

Ignoring the price, this is easily one of the best laptop docking stations I’ve tested with Thunderbolt 5, even if it doesn’t have any direct HDMI or DisplayPort outputs.

Kensington SD7100T5 EQ Pro: Price & availability

How much does it cost? $279/£223/€260
When is it out? It’s available now
Where can you get it? Direct from WavLink

From what I understand, there are two variants of this dock: K33611NA (standard) and K33612NA (Mac-optimised). That makes little sense, since Thunderbolt 5 is meant to be a standard, and not something that needs to be optimised for on a particular platform. Unless Apple took it on themselves, uncharacteristically, to adopt a piece of technology and then break it?

You can get either directly from Kensington in the USA, but these are oddly missing from the European Kensington websites. The cost of both models directly from the maker is $449.99, which serves as an MSRP for this hardware.

However, it's cheaper via the Kensington outlet on Amazon.com, where it's available for only $404.99. The Newegg price is $435, curiously.

UK pricing via Amazon is only £389.10, and the EU price is around €430.

That $449.99 MSRP price is the single biggest conversation point of this dock, and with good reason. That is roughly double the cost of a well-specified Thunderbolt 4 dock, and it puts the SD7100T5 firmly in the corporate IT procurement bracket rather than the individual buyer market.

The justification for the price is the unique combination of features. As no other TB5 dock at any price currently bundles a PCIe M.2 SSD slot, CompactFlash reader, optical audio, programmable hotkeys, and three Thunderbolt 5 downstream ports into a single unit.

The bottom line is that if you can afford a laptop with TB5, you probably won’t be concerned about the cost of this hardware, and it is easily one of the best docks available.

Value: 4 / 5

Kensington SD7100T5 EQ Pro: Specs

Feature

Specification

Compatibility

Thunderbolt 5, Thunderbolt 4, USB4, USB-C (Windows 11 23H2+, macOS 14.5+)

Total Ports

19-in-1

Thunderbolt 5 (upstream)

1x TB5 host port (80Gbps / 120Gbps Bandwidth Boost)

Thunderbolt 5 (downstream)

3x TB5 ports — support up to 140W PD and display output

USB-A ports

4x USB-A 3.2 Gen2 (10Gbps)

USB-C ports

2x USB-C 3.2 Gen2 (10Gbps); 1x up to 30W charging

Video — Windows

Triple 4K@144Hz or Dual 8K@60Hz

Video — Mac

Dual 6K@60Hz (M-Series Pro/Max required)

Power Delivery

Up to 140W (USB PD 3.1 EPR, 28V/5A)

KonstantCharge

Yes

Storage Slot

1x PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD slot (lockable, SSD not included)

Card Readers

CF 4.0, UHS-II SDXC, UHS-II microSDXC

Network

1x 2.5GbE Ethernet

Audio

3.5mm headphone jack, 3.5mm mic jack, 3.5mm speaker jack, TOSLINK optical

Hotkeys

2x programmable (iPhone backup + DND on Mac; custom on Windows)

Mounting

Pre-drilled holes for optional bracket (K34050WW, sold separately)

Security

Kensington lock slot (cable lock sold separately)

Thermal

Passive cooling

Construction

97% post-consumer recycled (PCR) aluminium

Warranty

3-year limited

Kensington SD7100T5 EQ Pro: Design

Recycled aluminium construction
Lockable M.2 slot
No display outputs

The SD7100T5 represents a design departure for Kensington, moving away from the brand's more conservative corporate aesthetic towards something that looks more at home on a creative's desk.

The marketing presentation declares that the case is constructed from 97% post-consumer recycled aluminium, a genuine sustainability credential if true.

The metal used in this dock is critical to the heat dissipation from the Thunderbolt electronics and the SSD, if you mount one. It did get slightly warm in use, but not too hot to touch, even after several hours of activity.

Due to the SD7100T5's lateral design, it is intended exclusively for horizontal desktop use, and Kensington sells a secure mounting plate accessory that attaches to the threaded holes on the underside.

Without that accessory, which isn’t included in the box, there are two security slots on the left side that work with Kensington's own cable locks, unsurprisingly.

The top panel is removable via a single screw, revealing the M.2 SSD slot beneath. This screw is small and requires a tiny Phillips screwdriver, which Kensington doesn’t include with the dock. With the screw removed, the M.2 slot can be populated with any PCIe 3.0 or 4.0 specification NVMe drive, and made accessible from the computer.

Thermal pads inside the slot thermally connect the drive to the case, but these don’t allow for drives that have attached heatsinks to be used. The counter to that downside is that the slot supports drives of different sizes, with 2232, 2240 and 2260 being supported alongside 2280.

Getting a drive installed and running takes a relatively short amount of time, assuming you have a suitably sized screwdriver.

I’m not going to list all the ports, because it's tedious, but there are some unusual ones that need to be mentioned. I’ve already spoken about TOSLINK Optical Audio, but for those using headphones and a microphone, 3.5mm audio jack inlets are included.

The typical arrangement for Thunderbolt docks is to have a single uplink port to the laptop that carries power and data, with two downlink ports usually on the rear of the dock. That’s not the case here, because there are three downlink ports, with one conveniently on the front.

My only issue with downlink ports is that the maximum power they can deliver is 30W, which makes them less than useful for charging phones. However, this dock does have KonstantCharge, another made-up word for keeping power available to attached hardware when the host system is turned off or disconnected. I like that idea, and I wish more docks had that feature.

There are two programmable hotkeys on the top surface, which some might find useful. On macOS, one handles iPhone photo backup and the other acts as a Do Not Disturb toggle; on Windows, both are customisable via the Kensington Konnect software.

Overall, this is an extremely nice dock with plenty of useful features and a few things that are less than must-have. Of these, the M.2 slot and the three TB downlinks are the ones that customers will probably buy this hardware for.

Design: 3.5 / 5

Kensington SD7100T5 EQ Pro: Features

TB5 Bandwidth Boost
Built-in M.2 SSD slot
CompactFlash + optical audio

The SD7100T5's feature list is what separates it from every other dock on the market. Starting with the connection: Thunderbolt 5 delivers 80Gbps bidirectional bandwidth as standard, increasing to 120Gbps under Bandwidth Boost when driving video-intensive workloads.

To put that in context, a decent USB-C dock, like the WavLink WL-UG75PD1-DH2, operates on 10Gbps USB-C, which gives the SD7100T5 twelve times the bandwidth available to share across its ports.

The built-in PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD slot is arguably the dock's most distinctive feature. It is lockable (the top panel is secured by a screw rather than friction), making it suitable for shared or office environments where physical security matters.

Often, laptops are given a modest amount of storage, like 1TB, but sometimes even less, and having another 2TB, 4TB or even 8TB of drive space when you connect to the dock could make data-intensive tasks easier to handle.

The SSD is not included and must be purchased separately, but even if it merely provides a means to back up the laptop, it's probably worth the investment.

The card reader selection goes further than any competing dock: CF 4.0 (CompactFlash), UHS-II SDXC, and UHS-II microSDXC. I’ll be honest and admit that I haven't used Compact Flash in at least 14 years, but I also know that some professional photographers still use older high-end DSLRs that require it. If you are one of those, then this might be another reason to invest in this design.

Audio connectivity is similarly comprehensive: separate 3.5mm headphone, mic, and speaker jacks plus a TOSLINK optical output. The optical connection enables lossless audio passthrough to external DACs and high-end audio systems, making it extremely helpful for anyone editing video or audio.

Features like the CF support and TOSLINK are quite unique for a TB5 dock, and while it could easily be argued that they’re somewhat niche, those that need them won’t care.

However, the lack of any direct HDMI or DisplayPort might also put off those looking for a more general-purpose device, since that requires additional budget to add adapters for monitor connectivity.

Features: 4 / 5

Kensington SD7100T5 EQ Pro: Performance

80Gbps upstream bandwidth
No DisplayLink compression
TB5 Bandwidth Boost for video

The fundamental performance story of the SD7100T5 is the inverse of those docks that use USB-C or even Thunderbolt 4. On those devices, the issue of bandwidth management becomes critical, as they might be trying to service 55Gbps worth of ports (or more) with as little as a 10Gbps uplink.

The SD7100T5 operates on 80Gbps, rising to 120Gbps under Bandwidth Boost. The bandwidth pie is dramatically larger, which means port oversubscription is far less of a practical concern in real-world use. Bandwidth boost, in particular, enables display data not eat into the bandwidth for other devices, which it would on lesser docks.

In USB-C and Thunderbolt 4 docks, this is often mitigated using DisplayLink, which uses CPU-side video compression to minimise the amount of bandwidth required to support displays.

Critically, the SD7100T5 does not use DisplayLink. All video output goes through native Thunderbolt 5 signalling, meaning there is no CPU-side video compression, no software driver requirement for display output, and no compression artefacts or lag on moving content. Triple 4K@144Hz on Windows is native and uncompressed, a capability that is fundamentally impossible on DisplayLink-based solutions.

The proof in this pudding is that it is possible to connect a monitor via a Thunderbolt-to-HDMI or Thunderbolt-to-DisplayPort adapter, have that running, transfer a large file to an NVMe drive installed in the M.2 slot, and still achieve full speed. And critically, there is no impact on the image quality on the display.

The caveat to all this functionality is that the host system must have a Thunderbolt 5 port. Running this dock from a Thunderbolt 4 host rather than TB5 will still work, but the connection will be capped at TB4's 40Gbps, which means the Bandwidth Boost is unavailable and maximum display configurations are reduced.

The dock is fully backwards-compatible; you simply won't be able to access the full specification without a TB5 laptop, and, as a good TB4 dock is half the price, the extra cost of this device was largely pointless.

Performance: 4 / 5

Kensington SD7100T5 EQ Pro: Final verdict

The Kensington SD7100T5 EQ Pro is the most comprehensively specified docking station available today. Its combination of three TB5 downstream ports, built-in M.2 SSD slot, CompactFlash reader, optical audio, 140W power delivery, and programmable hotkeys in a single recycled aluminium chassis is, at the time of writing, without direct competition.

If you have a Thunderbolt 5 laptop and can make use of what this dock offers, it is worth the $449.99, even if that’s a significant investment.

The problem, and it’s an awkward one, is that TB5-capable laptops are like hens' teeth. Normally, this is part of the review where I say that this situation will get better when X, Y and Z happen, but I’d be lying in this instance.

Intel's 2026 Panther Lake will not natively support TB5, meaning the total addressable audience remains primarily Apple M4 Pro/Max MacBook users and a relatively small number of Intel Core Ultra 200H/HX Windows users. For everyone else, a Thunderbolt 4 dock at $200-250 will deliver 80% of the practical benefit at half the cost.

For the right user, however, this dock genuinely transforms a single-cable laptop setup into a fully featured workstation. The M.2 SSD slot alone is a workflow improvement that has proven difficult to go back from, once experienced. The three-year warranty and Kensington's established reliability record add further confidence for IT procurement decisions.

If you are lucky enough to have the right platform to attach it to, the Kensington SD7100T5 EQ Pro is probably the best dock so far, if you can afford one.

Kensington SD7100T5 EQ Pro: Report card

Value	Expensive but no other dock matches this feature set at any price	4 / 5
Design	Premium recycled aluminium, lockable SSD slot, thoughtful hotkeys	4.5 / 5
Features	Best-in-class: M.2 slot, CompactFlash, optical audio, 3x TB5 downstream, KonstantCharge	4 / 5
Performance	Native TB5 video, no DisplayLink, full PCIe 4.0 SSD speed, consistent throughput	4 / 5
Overall	The most capable dock available, but only for those who genuinely need what it offers	4 / 5

Should I buy a Kensington SD7100T5 EQ Pro?

Buy it if...

You have Thunderbolt 5
Apple M4 Pro/Max MacBook users or Intel Core Ultra 200H/HX Windows users will access the full 80–120Gbps bandwidth and unlock the complete display configuration options.

You need 140W charging
Very few docks deliver USB PD 3.1 EPR at 140W, a power level that’s essential for high-performance mobile workstations that require more than the standard 100W. View Deal

Don't buy it if...

You have Thunderbolt
While this dock might work with a Thunderbolt port if it downgrades to USB 3.2, a much better experience can be had with a Thunderbolt dock. And, they don't cost any more.

Your laptop has Thunderbolt 4 only
The dock is backwards-compatible but caps at 40 Gbps on a TB4 host. A CalDigit TS4 or a similar TB4 dock costs roughly half as much and will serve you better today.

Also consider

Kensington SD5000T5 EQ
More of a hub than a dock, but overall, it is a well-specified dock for those planning to head down the TB5 rabbit hole. However, the lack of machines with this port and peripherals to connect does make it largely overkill at this point. But cheaper than the SD7100T5 EQ Pro.

Check out our Kensington SD5000T5 EQ reviewView Deal

CalDigit Thunderbolt Station 4
The CalDigit Thunderbolt Station 4, or TS4 as it is also known, is a full-featured Thunderbolt dock that works with Thunderbolt 4/3 and USB-C. It is not designed to be a portable dock but specifically to support a laptop user who comes to the office and wants a single cable connection to the network and a host of peripherals. To that objective, it has no less than 18 ports and can deliver up to 98W for charging a connected system. If you don't have TB5, then this is a good alternative.

Check out our CalDigit Thunderbolt Station 4 (TS4) review

Adobe Lightroom Classic (2026) review: Perfect photo organization with time-saving AI at its best — but it can be hit and miss

7:58 pm |

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

It’s been a while since I last reviewed Adobe Lightroom, and as always with Adobe, many features have been added and a host of others have been improved, so let’s take a look at Lightroom 9.2 and see what it’s all about.

But before we do, I need to point out that there are two versions of Lightroom: Lightroom, and Lightroom Classic.

Lightroom is a simpler, more user friendly version, whereas Classic is aimed at the professional user or someone demanding a higher degree of control, who prefers to store their media on their local hard drives. I’ll be primarily covering the Classic side of things here.

Adobe Lightroom Classic: Pricing & plans

Three subscription options
No perpetual license
Additional AI credits available

As with most of Adobe's professional software, Lightroom Classic is subscription-only - and here, there are three options available.

Grab Adobe’s entire portfolio with Creative Cloud Pro for US$70 a month. Alongside Lightroom, this unlocks other popular apps such as Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, After Effects, the works.

For a less expensive, photo-focused subscription plan, there's the Photography bundle. This brings together both versions of Lightroom as well as Photoshop for $20 a month. Alternatively, you could just limit yourself to Lightroom and Lightroom Classic for $12 a month.

These are monthly costs, based on a year-long contract. They also come with Generative Credits, from 250 a month for the cheapest option to 4,000 for the high end plan. Those credits don’t roll on: if you don’t use them in a month, they don’t get added to your next allotment the following month.

If you’re really into generative AI creation, Adobe has add-on plans to suit your appetite, from an additional 2,000 credits for $10 a month, to 50,000 for $200 a month.

Pricing & plans: 3.5/5

Adobe Lightroom Classic: What is it?

Adobe Lightroom Classic during our review process — (Image credit: Adobe // Future)

Very well designed app
Easy to organize, alter, and share your work

Let’s start with the basics: what is Lightroom Classic?

Quite simply, it has the dual purpose of storing and cataloging your photos, while also allowing you to make alterations to them and prepare them to share with others. Any change is non-destructive, so the original photos are never altered, and you can go back to the source to make additional tweaks without ever suffering from quality degradation.

I feel the interface is very well designed - and interacting with interfaces is what I do most of the time! You have seven different sections, all accessible through a large menu bar, top right. By default, you’re in ‘Library’, which is where you can see all the photos you’ve imported and worked on.

You can actually do a fair amount of work there, such as rotating an image, adding tags, a star rating, keywords, and even perform some light colour correction. But if you want to get fully immersed in image manipulation, then ‘Develop’ is the place to be.

This is where you get to apply in-depth colour correction, cropping, remove red-eye, correct for lens distortion, completely remove an object from a scene, and mask specific sections to fine tune which part of an image to alter - among many others. You’ll find the tools at your disposal are quite extensive.

But Lightroom Classic goes beyond that. You have the ‘Map’ section where you can see all the photos you took in a specific location (and alter a shot’s metadata should you need to), there’s a section dedicated to designing a ‘Book’, or creating a ‘Slideshow’, ‘Print’ selected photos, or upload them to the ‘Web’. Although, truth be told, this is something consumer software like Apple’s Photos offers too.

All in all, Lightroom Classic makes it easy to organise your shots, make them look their best with a wide range of tools, and share them in numerous ways. But what does its latest release bring to the table? Let’s find out.

Score: 4.5/5

Adobe Lightroom Classic: What’s new?

New AI features can save time
But I found results vary in quality
And it’s not like you get your credits back if you’re not happy

While the general workflow remains unchanged from previous versions, the big new features are primarily AI-based. This will delight some, and send shivers down the backs of others.

The most useful application of AI is ‘Assisted Culling’. Currently in Beta (Adobe calls it ‘Early Access’), it’s designed to accelerate the photo selection process upon import, by automatically filtering out blurry, closed-eye, misfired images, and more. You’re given a few sliders to determine the intensity of the cull, and can choose which options to filter for. After a few seconds (depending on how many images you’re importing and your computer’s capabilities), the results are ready to be reviewed.

I found the process works very well, identifying with ease any issues it’s designed to look for, and if it made a mistake, you can alter the decision shot by shot. This makes looking through a series of very similar photos a much quicker process (and if you don’t like a machine doing that kind of work for you, you can always disable the feature). As an added bonus, this AI tool is free… Unlike Lightroom Classic’s new ‘Generate using Firefly’ options.

Now why would we want Generative AI in Lightroom? Well, if you’re not well-versed in Photoshop, then it’s a quick way for somewhat clever algorithms to perform relatively complex actions for you… but I admit having a few issues with such technology.

As an example, I asked AI to colorize a black and white photo of my brother and I when I was just a baby. It should’ve been a simple process, and indeed the colours used do look good. However, it added an object on top of a chest of drawers, and changed my brother’s face. In another shot, it cleaned up a tray. Although I can appreciate the virtual maid having tidied up, it’s not what I had asked for. Plus if you’re not satisfied, you don’t get your generated credits back.

To be fair, other results were better, and Firefly didn’t alter the faces of other ancient family members of mine - even my great great grandmother was faithfully updated. The resolution of the resulting version can be set up to a maximum of 2K. Great for older images that have lower resolutions, but not so good for more modern shots.

If you have credits to burn, you can bring a photo to life by turning it into a video. I found this a bit disturbing, although others around me loved it. And it must be said, Firefly did an impressive job of bringing my long-gone relative to life (Dr Frankenstein would be proud).

Score: 4/5

Adobe Lightroom Classic: Classic vs Lightroom

Lightroom is much simpler
Generative Upscale tool is better than Classic’s gen AI features

Before finishing up, I wanted to quickly dip into the simpler Lightroom, as there’s a feature there that’s worth mentioning: ‘Generative Upscale’.

It’s worth mentioning as this AI-based upscaling isn’t actually done by Adobe but in partnership with Topaz Gigapixel instead, and unlike the Firefly option we explored above, you don’t leave Lightroom when using it, which is a definite plus.

The feature not only tells you how many credits you’ll need, but also how many you have left - a useful addition which is sorely missed in Classic’s Firefly. The downside though is, as with Firefly, you have no control over the process. You get what you get, whether you’re happy with it or not.

Overall, Lightroom Classic is a very good image management and manipulation tool, and its new AI-based additions will no doubt please some, but aside from the useful Assisted Culling feature, you have next to no control over the output of AI.

Score: 4/5

Should I buy?

Buy it if...

You’re looking for a high-end, easy to use and feature rich image management tool, and appreciate the growing proliferation of AI tools within it.

Don't buy it if...

You don’t like subscriptions, and having more and more AI in your software irks you, not to mention that you have to pay extra for those tools.

We tested out the best photo editing PCs and the best laptops for photo editing and these are our top picks.

Munbyn RealWriter 405B dual-color thermal printer review: More expensive than I’d like, but performance and build quality are excellent

7:24 pm |

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

Specs

Type: Thermal label printer

Connectivity: Bluetooth, USB

Max print speed: 72 labels/min

Max paper size: 4-inch

Print quality: 203 dpi

Apple AirPrint: no

Consumables included: 20 4x6-inch labels; 40 dual-color labels

Dimensions: 8.19 x 3.54 x 2.95 in / 208 x 90 x 75 mm (WxDxH)

Weight: 1.49 lbs / 676g

An inkless label printer that can print color? Well, sort of. Thermal printing works by heating special thermal media so there’s no ink, making it ideal for portable printing. The downside is it can only make black marks on thermal paper — until now.

Munbyn’s latest printer is compatible with dual-color thermal paper which adds either blue or red, but not not both. You have to choose between red/black or blue/black media, so it’s not like Hollywood discovering Technicolor, but dual-color labels are certainly more impactful and allow some cute creativity.

The other potential advantage of the Munbyn RealWriter 405B, is its readily replaceable printhead. With no ink cartridges to consider, and relatively few moving parts, this is probably the most cost effective way to print shipping labels, box stickers and price tags.

How does the RW405B compare to the best label printers? I took tested it out to see how it stacks up.

Munbyn RealWriter 405B: Design and build

The Munbyn RealWriter 405B during our review in a home office — (Image credit: Munbyn // Future)

This is a portable desktop label printer rather than a handheld, so it’s small enough to pack up and carry, but not in your pocket. Like the simpler Munbyn RealWriter 403B I reviewed, you feed paper through its intake rather than loading rolls of paper inside the printer.

But with this step-up model, you are getting the crucial roll dispenser that attaches to the printer. That doubles the footprint, although it’s still very easy to separate and store the whole assembly in a drawer whenever you want to clear your desk. It also has the advantage of ensuring your labels feed through smoothly so fewer are wasted through misalignment.

The smooth white and silver plastic looks good and feels sturdy enough when you lift the panel. Unlike the previous model, the printhead on this one unclips so you can clean or replace it more easily. There are just three buttons: paper feed, reverse feed and power.

Munbyn RealWriter 405B: Features & specifications

The Munbyn RealWriter 405B can print on a wide range of thermal media from large 6x4 inch panel labels down to one-inch round price tags. And now the list includes dual-color labels.

These look just like regular white stickers, but embedded in the white thermal paper is either blue dye or red dye, depending on which roll you choose. In other words, Munbyn’s color innovation has nothing to do with hardware and everything to do with software and paper. I expect the black and white Munbyn RealWriter 403B will be updated to dual-color compatibility at some point.

Auto-calibration is another key feature that allows this printer to line up each label with surprising accuracy. So long as you load the paper roll with some care to keep the feed straight rather than diagonal, the leading edge will always be automatically lined up just right. That’s an important point for a label printer without internally loaded paper.

With no display of its own, the Munbyn RealWriter 405B is best controlled by the free Munbyn Print app designed for MacOS, Windows, iOS or Android. I found the software quite convoluted, but with it you can design your own dual-color labels and choose from a wide selection of templates and graphic elements.

In the box with your printer and roll holder are some blank thermal media to get you started. These include 4x6-inch fan-fold labels, a standard size for parcel labels, and some red/black and blue/black 1-inch round stickers.

Munbyn RealWriter 405B: Setup and operation

This is a true plug and play device. With no ink to install or Wi-Fi to connect to, it’s a simple case of connecting the power cable, downloading the Munbyn Print app to your phone and connecting the two devices via Bluetooth.

The label holder is easy to assemble with its three plastic parts, so you probably won’t need the printed quick-start guide at all. It’s actually quite fun to use.

Munbyn RealWriter 405B: Performance

The Munbyn RealWriter 405B printed quickly and reliably throughout the test, with no misprints or jams. The image quality is very good for a thermal printer, which is to say that it’s nowhere near as sharp as an inkjet or laser, but it achieves a darker and more consistent imprint than a lot of inkless solutions. Munbyn’s claim of “crystal clear prints every time” is optimistic.

The 203dpi print resolution is pretty low, but it’s good enough to print readable bar codes and QR codes. There is a limit though. Print your postage label too small, as I did experimentally, and it won’t scan. Always print at the correct size and you may never again have to wait in line at the post office.

Black imprints appear nice and dark, on the whole, with the quality being on par with the Munbyn RealWriter 403B, but there are times when the thermal process leaves a less than bold black finish. Take a closer look at my test stickers to see what I mean.

Feed in some dual-color labels, and the advantage of the Munbyn RealWriter 405B is revealed. Adding red, or blue to the design can make your stickers way more impactful. With just these colors, you might be able to print your brand logo or highlight a keyword in a label.

On the downside, there are limitations to which design elements you can color and the dual-color paper itself lets some ghostly red or blue show through unintentionally, so it’s not perfect.

Munbyn RealWriter 405B: Consumables

With no ink to think about, your only consumables cost is the thermal paper. It comes in the form of rolls, or fan-folds, or stickers and naturally, thermal stickers are more expensive than regular ones.

And dual-color thermal stickers are more expensive again, but on the whole, ink is more expensive than paper, so thermal printing will usually work out as the more cost effective way of labelling. Munbyn suggests a figure of 3 cents per label.

The RealWriter 405B comes with some dual-color two-inch round stickers and some 6x4-inch labels in the box. When you come to buy more, you’ll discover a pretty broad range of compatible stickers in varying shapes and colors.

Munbyn RealWriter 405B: Maintenance

The only maintenance this little printer needs is an occasional wipe with a dry cloth along its print head to keep it clean. The print head detaches easily, which is good news as it’s the only component of a thermal printer that’s likely to need replacing. Munbyn says it should last around six times longer than rival printers and won’t need replacing for at least 970,000 labels.

Munbyn RealWriter 405B: Final verdict

There’s no denying the convenience of a dedicated label printer and this practical application of thermal print tech is a perfect example. For me, the Munbyn RealWriter 405B turned out crisp parcel labels that scanned reliably every time and made it possible to print a very wide range of stickers.

Could the accompanying Munbyn software be improved? Definitely. The app makes it possible to print all kinds of great stickers with plenty of graphic elements to play with - and now that includes red/blue dual-color designs too. I found the app unintuitive and frustrating, but for simply printing parcel labels or plain tags, it’s a pleasure to use.

As a reliable, low maintenance, and low cost labeller, the Munbyn RealWriter 405B is hard to beat.

For more, I've tested out the best home printers and the best small business printers.

Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man review — new Netflix movie manages to destroy the best British TV show of the 2010s in less than two hours

5:00 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Netflix Streaming | Comments: Off

Cast your mind back to 2022, when BBC smash hit period drama Peaky Blinders was wrapping up its sixth and final season. Loveable local gangster Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) was tricked into believing that he was about to die from syphilis, making himself a recluse in the process.

However, this was all a lie, with Tommy tracking down the doctor responsible but failing to kill him. In this moment, Tommy learned the ultimate lesson of grace, and his legacy was forever changed (and more importantly, left on a high).

At least, this was the case until new Netflix movie Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man. We've picked up with who's left of the gang in 1940, with Tommy's now grown-up eldest son Duke (Barry Keoghan) involved in a plot to foil the Second World War. In short, he's helping the Nazis distribute counterfeit money across the country, making him rich to the tune of £70 million in the process.

But never fear! It's Tommy to the rescue... well, at least after he's done dithering over whether it's the right thing to do. Duke's aunt Kaulo (Rebecca Ferguson) and Tommy's sister Ada (Sophie Rundle) are on hand to try and coax him back to Birmingham, and I bet they wish they hadn't bothered.

The biggest problem with The Immortal Man is how overwhelmingly depressing it is. The first half struggles to get itself going, with the second half abruptly ending in unnecessary tragedy.

If you're looking for jaunty fights, slick laughs and Tommy back on fighting form, you've come to the wrong place. Netflix has instead penned a funeral to the show we once loved, and simultaneously paved the way for an incredibly uninspiring sequel series.

I'm not joking when I say that I never want to watch Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man again

It breaks my heart to be the bearer of such bad news after an agonizing four-year wait, but let's dig deeper into what's gone so wrong. More than anything else, it's the actual storyline that The Immortal Man has chosen to flesh out.

Fans have been waiting a long time for a spectacular Tommy Shelby comeback, wanting more of the same explosive energy that we got during the original series run. Instead, Tommy has become a man who is incredibly unsure of himself.

He's got good reason to be, as fans will find out in the first 20 minutes. But sadly, this all makes for incredibly drab viewing. It's easy to sum the entire movie up as this:

The first 45 minutes is Shelby continuous saying "No, I can't possibly go back to Birmingham" to the few people on hand to listen. The middle 25 minutes is Tommy at his best, punching and shooting layabouts who don't respect their elders. For the final 40-odd minutes, we're back to misery, as Tommy has all but given up the ghost.

Our original crew has practically dissipated before our eyes, too. By the time The Immortal Man closes out, we're largely left with new or B-plot characters, none of whom we actually give a damn about. That's not amazing news if the BBC does intend to develop a sequel series in the future…

In essence, it's out-and-out dread, which isn't exactly what you want to sit down and stream after a long week. Tommy's ending in season 6 was much more fitting too, and I really wish it remained his final hurrah. The Immortal Man ends suddenly, sadly, and with little resolution for the characters we dedicated almost a decade to.

Not everybody else is a great fit either

The Peaky Blinders gather around a dimly lit table — Stephen Graham is onscreen for all of 5 minutes. (Image credit: Netflix)

When we talk about period dramas, the term 'iPhone face' is sometimes bandied about. This describes someone who looks so modern that you just know they've seen an iPhone, therefore is not a successful fit for a story set in the past. Barry Keoghan suffers from something I'm going to term 'iPhone haircut'.

Sporting an on-trend fade and more sticker-style tattoos than I could count, Keoghan's styling completely takes us out of the 1940s moment. Thanks to Saltburn, Eternals, Master of the Air, The Banshees of Inisherin, Crime 101 and the upcoming four Beatles movies, the man is absolutely everywhere, so perhaps it was already going to be difficult to buy him as anyone other than a modern actor.

Even so, it speaks to the disjointed feeling that The Immortal Man hosts, a patchwork of old and new that sits in a no-man's land in between. There's light to be found in the dark, including multiple touching tributes to Helen McCrory's character Polly Gray and, ironically for something so bleak, the best lighting in a Netflix movie I've possibly ever seen.

On the whole though, these minor wins don't make up for the dull and depressing bigger picture. My advice? Watch The Immortal Man's trailer before binging Peaky Blinders season 1-6 all over again. Trust me, it's a much better use of your time.

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Nothing Headphone (a) review: excellent cans that fix all the problems of the original while being way cheaper

2:15 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Headphones Wireless Headphones | Comments: Off

Nothing Headphone (a) review

The Nothing Headphone (a) are just about the dream tech version 2.0 launch. As the follow-up to the Nothing Headphone (1), launched in 2025, they fix the sound problems I had with those headphones, they keep the excellent stuff I liked, and they somehow cut the price in half in the process (in one country, at least).

What more could you ask from something that's looking to go from audio also-ran to ranking among the best headphones available today? At their official price of $199 / £149 / AU$329, I think the Nothing Headphone (a) are arguably the best cans in their category — just with a few reasons why you might want to choose something else over them.

Let's start with the most important area: the sound. As soon as I fired these up, I felt a sense of relief. Nothing's first headphones baffled me in my Nothing Headphone (1) review with their oddly narrow soundstage that felt like the breadth of a song's traffic was being crammed down a single-lane road.

The Nothing Headphone (a) immediately feel like a big expansive highway in comparison – it's an open, wide and free-flowing soundstage that allows songs to spread out and to feel more energetic, emotive and satisfying. And when I say "in comparison", I mean I broke out the original $299 / £299 / AU$549 model for a listen, and while they have their strengths (a nicely refined frequency balance), the new model is so much more enjoyable to listen to.

The Nothing Headphone (a) ear cushions and mesh inside them — There are 40mm drivers under the mesh (Image credit: Future)

And this improvement has come without any major downsides, though there's one quirk worth discussing. My unit came with the 'More Bass' setting activated out of the box, and this was certainly much more generous with the bass than the Headphone (1) was, to the point of wandering into the 'bass-heavy' category.

This was no problem at all with electronic or pop music — the strength of the lower frequencies gives a glorious foundation to deep drum machines or sinking synths. It's also well integrated into the overall balance, despite being so muscular, with the Headphone (a) having no problems delivering lower mids that can stand up to, or transition from, the bassier parts.

But it was too much for some tracks with real instruments. In Regulars by Allie X, the double bass that opens the song sounded like the instrument was collapsing under its own vibrations. I pulled up the EQ in the Nothing app, saw it was set to 'More Bass', switched to 'Balanced' instead, and immediately the double bass went back to sounding like a double bass, instead of a quadruple bass.

This took a bit of a punch out of electronic songs when I switched back to those, but the bass still had good depth, its integration with the rest of the sound was still excellent. But Nothing's superb app gives a nice option here that I decided to take it up on: I set one of the controls to be an instant EQ switch, so I could get the extra bass if I wanted it.

The Nothing Headphone (a) earcups in close-up — The oval section is more rounded on these headphones than the original (Image credit: Future)

The Headphone (a) provide loads of space for the mid-range to express itself, with a nice chunkiness to guitars, the ability to handle a lot of complex instruments going on at once, and a nice clarity to vocals through it all.

Moving to the treble, it's again just very well worked into the sound, able to stand up for itself without ever feeling harsh or like it's overblowing in order to be heard even when songs get really energetic.

But there is a slight softness of detail to the Headphone (a)'s sound. They're not poor in this area by any means, but switching to the similarly-priced Sennheiser Accentum Plus reveals a slightly more convincing edge to the guitar strings and tambourine in Fleetwood Mac's Go Your Own Way, and more texture to the beat of sticks on drumskins in Sonny Rollins' St. Thomas. There's also better instrument separation in the mix.

The Sennheiser Accentum Plus also have a more neutral sound overall, but this comes alongside a shortfall in bass depth and less dynamic attack in playback. I probably prefer the Nothing Headphone (a) overall for sound given my personal predilection for electronic music, but if you're more of an acoustic fan, you may be better off leaning towards the Sennheiser.

This doesn't change when switching to Hi-Res Audio and listening over USB-C, or with LDAC higher-quality wireless, both of which are supported here (along with a 3.5mm headphone jack). The USB-C mode maybe had a little extra lightness of touch with instrument separation and detail, but any difference was minor.

The Nothing Headphone (a) held in a man's hand — The overall design vibe is a little more 'regular' than the original Nothing headphones (Image credit: Future)

The Sennheiser cans are also much lighter than the Headphone (a) at 227g, versus 310g for the Nothings. That's an improvement on the 329g that the Headphone (1) weigh, but is still higher than most of the competition, and means they still need a stronger clamping force to stay on your head than lighter competition.

Again, this isn't inherently a bad or good thing, but you will 'feel' them more than other headphones, and the synthetic pads aren't designed to be particularly breathable, so left the sides of my head feeling warm over time.

It's probably worth talking about the overall design for a moment here, which is very similar to the original, but has been 'softened' in a way that makes them feel less like they make you look like a cyborg (a good thing), but the ear cups look less like cassette tapes (a shame). Aluminum is now plastic, and gentler curves to the raised section in the middle of ear cups makes all the difference.

Nothing Headphone (a) next to Nothing Headphone (1) — Original flavor on the left, new flavor on the right (Image credit: Future)

Sadly, I don't love the new yellow and pink colorful options. I think there's not enough color for it to really work – the yellow in particular looks like a fried egg, because the rounded yellow mound is surrounded by white. I think there needed to be more color throughout. I love the changes in the white and black models, though – undeniably Nothing, but more mainstream than the divisive Nothing Headphone (1).

Nothing has kept a quirk of headphone design that I don't like here, in that the size is adjusted at the top of the head, rather than by the ears, which I find makes it harder to make micro-adjustments, but isn't a big deal overall.

The Nothing Headphone (a) headband — The headband adjustment is way higher up than on most cans (Image credit: Future)

What is a big deal is that Nothing has kept the fantastic set of controls from the Headphone (1). In particular, the roller for volume control is my favorite control system on any pair of headphones, period. It feels so high quality, it moves reliably under the thumb, and audible clicks tell you that it's moving up through volume tiers. Anything else feels crude in comparison.

That is paired with a 'rocker' control underneath, which is also super-intuitive. Nudge it one way to skip forward, and the other way to skip back. At the top of the right ear cup is a round multi-function custom button that was set to trigger your Voice Assistant by default; I changed it to EQ control, as I mentioned, but it can also work as a camera remote trigger (a new feature for this model) or a mic mute button, or a few other options.

The Nothing Headphone (a) roller and rocker controls on the side — The roller control at the top, with the rocker underneathFuture

The Nothing Headphone (a) customizable button — The roller control at the top, with the rocker underneathFuture

And you'll absolutely want to play around with this, because Nothing's app is so good. Not only are the headphones customizable in so many ways — different noise cancellation options, different spatial audio types, multiple EQ controls — it's also just really simple to find the key features you want to turn on and off, such as the low-lag mode for gaming, or dual-device connectivity (which really should be on by default, but most devices have it off, so I won't knock Nothing hard for that).

We recently knocked the Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds for making it hard to find its essential features, so it's nice to see Nothing show how it should be done.

I mentioned spatial audio options before, and while you don't get head tracking or Dolby Atmos here, there are two options with processing handled by Nothing: Concert and Cinema. Concert does a good job of moving sound out from the ear cups, and making it feel like more of a speaker setup across and in front of you.

Cinema adds more left and right sound to that, while also pushing the EQ a little more towards the treble — going for more of a 'surround sound' experience and boosting voices, I suspect — and I found it useful for picking dialogue out of movie soundtracks, so I'd happily use it when watching while traveling.

Speaking of traveling, the noise cancellation here is strong, though not mind-blowing, and that's just fine for this level. Walking along a busy road while listening to music, I wasn't bothered by outside sounds at all. I could hear podcasts clearly while on public transport. The Transparency profile also works as advertised, and never makes things robotic or tinny.

But I want to briefly call out here that Nothing provides the best sounds to indicate what noise mode you're in. Switching to Transparency is announced by an exhaled breath as if sound is escaping; noise canceling is announced by the sound of something being sucked down and then slammed shut. There's no ambiguity here, and no annoying voice.

Nothing promises a phenomenal 75 hours of battery life with active noise cancellation turned on, and 135 hours with it turned off. I couldn't possibly test both claims fully in my time with them so far, even if I used them every waking hour. But I can say that they seem to live up to it, with the battery indicator dropping by 20% after around 13 hours of use.

This makes them essentially best in class, and phenomenal value. In general, I'd say these are about as good as headphones value gets in this space between the budget and premium options. There are only really two knocks against their value worth mentioning.

The first is that it's a shame they don't have an auto-pause feature (also called wearer detection) for when you take them off. It's pretty standard even in affordable stuff these days and while I'm not mad about it since they offer so much elsewhere, it's still surprising.

The second is that in lieu of a hard case (presumably dropped for cost reasons; again, it's understandable) they come with what I can only describe as a swimbag. Yes, it's like a smooth plastic fabric. Yes, it closes with a drawstring. Yes, it made me kind of nostalgic. No, it doesn't feel like a premium addition.

The Nothing Headphone (a) plastic bag — (Image credit: Future)

The thing with the Nothing Headphone (a) is that all the knocks I have against it are either minor like the above, or are more subjective, like the weight and clamping force.

There are enough little downsides or quirks that I can't quite give them full marks, but make no mistake that I think these are excellent headphones, that they'll be ideal for a lot of people, and that they're superb value.

Nothing Headphone (a) review: Price & release date

Released on March 13th, 2026
$199 / £149 / AU$329

The Nothing Headphone (a) arrive with an impressive price of $199 / £149 / AU$329, meaning that they come in at half the price of the earlier Nothing Headphone (1) and their £299 launch price in the UK, while they're a third cheaper than the $299 Headphone (1) price in the US. In Australia, the drop from AU$549 for the Headphone (1) is between those two percentages.

I should note that they Headphone (1) have been available for as little as $254 / £199 / AU$350 in sales events, though — but I have no doubt the Headphone (a) will see juicy discounts too.

Instead of putting them in direct competition with high-end releases from the likes of Bose and Sony, the Headphone (a)'s mid-to-low price tag puts them up against the likes of Sennheiser's Accentum Plus or Soundcore Space One Pro.

Nothing Headphone (a) review: Specs

Drivers	40mm
Active noise cancellation	Yes
Battery life (ANC off)	135 hours
Weight	310g
Connectivity	Bluetooth 5.4, LDAC, USB-C audio, 3.5mm jack
Frequency response	20Hz - 40kHz
Waterproofing	IP52

The Nothing Headphone (a) close-up of the ear cup — (Image credit: Future)

Should I buy Nothing Headphone (a)?

Attribute	Notes	Score
Features	They're generally best-in-class for features, but miss just a few minor options.	4.5 / 5
Sound quality	Expansive and exciting with excellent balance, but a little soft on detail.	4.5 / 5
Design	The best controls of any headphones, and a premium build – but a little heavy.	4 / 5
Value	An excellent mix of features and performance for a very fair price.	4.5 / 5

Buy them if…

You want excellent all-rounders for Android or iPhone
No matter which platform you're on, the Headphone (a) deliver an excellent range of features, great sound, and their mighty battery life.View Deal

You like a big and energetic sound
The Nothing Headphone (a) deliver fun and dynamic audio that's finely balanced, and is much more expansive than the Nothing Headphone (1).View Deal

You don't like to think about charging
75 hours with ANC on, and 135 hours without it, are as good as it gets in headphones right now.View Deal

Don’t buy them if…

You want a neutral, hi-fi sound
They're well-balanced, but still like to juice up songs a little — the Sennheiser Accentum Plus can deliver a more neutral sound with a little more instrument separation.View Deal

You don't like to 'feel' your headphones
Nothing has made these lighter than its first pair, but they're still heavier than most other options, and clamp the head more firmly as a result.View Deal

You need a protective case
If you don't treat your headphones very well in your work or gym bag, the flimsy plastic drawstring sack the Nothing Headphone (a) come with won't do much to help them.View Deal

Nothing Headphones (a) review: Also consider

Sennheiser Accentum Plus
If you'd like a more 'hi-fi' sound than the Nothing provide, in a lighter body, then these are ideal. They're a bit more detailed and neutral, and battery life is great at 50 hours. You'll miss out on a lot of features in comparison, though – but we do like them, as our Sennheiser Accentum Plus review explains.View Deal

Sony WH-1000MX4
Still available to buy over five years since they launched, and now available for a price in the same range as the Nothing Headphone (a). Good sound, great noise cancellation, a super-comfortable fit, and a hard case, for those who want one. They have a solid range of features, but not as many as the Nothing – and the battery life is 30 hours with ANC on. Still, they're great cans – you can read our original Sony WH-1000XM4 review there.View Deal

How I tested the Nothing Headphone (a)?

The Nothing Headphone (a) worn on a man's head — These look a little more natural on the head than the Headphone (1), thanks to some tactical curvier design (Image credit: Future)

Used for a week in my day-to-day life
Tested largely over standard Bluetooth and USB-C hi-res wired audio
Tested with a pre-release update to the Nothing X app

To test the Nothing Headphone (a), I started carrying them everywhere with me and made them part of my normal life. I used them on both walking and public transport commutes, around the house, and at the office.

I compared them directly to the Nothing Headphone (1), Sennheiser Accentum Plus and Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones, switching back and forth, as the headphones I think are the biggest alternative options. I had access to an early version of the Nothing X app with support for their features, so some details may change there before launch.

I lead TechRadar's AV team, and I've been reviewing audio gear for well over a decade, from the budget end of things all the way to up to high-end audiophile tech. I reviewed the earlier Nothing Headphone (1), as well as this newer model.

Read TechRadar’s reviews guarantee
First reviewed: March 2026

WWE 2K26 review: The game keeps getting better, the monetization keeps getting worse

2:00 pm |

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

My favorite thing about WWE 2K26 is a relatively minor feature. At the start of every match, you get the choice of what actions your character will take. Do you bumrush your opponent and try to knock them down out of the gate? Do you go in for a staredown or a handshake? Or do you hang back and play to the crowd? Yearly sports games don't tend to feature massive overhauls, but this implementation of a little bit of psychology shows me that deep down, Visual Concepts gets it.

Review info

Platform reviewed: PS5
Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Nintendo Switch 2
Release date: March 13, 2026 (Early access on March 6, 2026)

Since returning with WWE 2K22, these games have gotten steadily better with each release, and WWE 2K26 is no different. The grappling feels better thanks to the aforementioned change and an updated stamina system that forces you to play tactically; the roster is huge, and the updated match types are mostly winners. But as is the tale with the WWE 2K series, its improvements are undercut by what feels like new ways to make money.

Hotdogging and grandstanding

In-game screenshots from wrestling game WWE 2K26, showing wrestlers in the ring, making entrances, and the arena — (Image credit: Visual Concepts/2K)

One major change to WWE 2K26 is the absence of the traditional "buy a pack, get x wrestlers" DLC model. This year introduces the ringside pass, of which there will be 6 across the entire year. There's also a free route, which is how you unlock WWE Legends this year as opposed to previous years, where there was an in-game shop or unlock-everything DLC to grab. I don't blindly hate battle passes in games, but in 30 hours of playing WWE 2K26, I've barely hit the halfway point of the first pass.

Sure, there are ways to gain levels faster, such as your MyRise playthrough or Showcase mode – the latter of which is one-and-done – while the quickest ways seem to be through The Island and MyFaction, two modes that are playable without spending a penny but far easier for those who do invest. Paired with the ability to buy level skips, it feels like a rough trade from simply getting the characters you pay for – especially when there are still characters locked to MyFaction card drops through random number generating (RNG) on top of that. And while you can complete these battle passes at any time across the year, you can only work towards one at a time, meaning anyone who isn't playing consistently from day one will get left behind.

This is paired with another symptom of the yearly sports release, that some things just don't get touched. Aside from the ability to book intergender matches, MyGM – which should be my favorite mode as someone who was begging for a booker mode in these games from 2008-2022 – remains practically unchanged from WWE 2K25, and thus my same issues persist (namely, the super restrictive class and alignment systems).

Best in the World

The highlight of this year's modes is 2K Showcase – the yearly mode focusing on a story, be that of a wrestler, a family, or a show in which you play recreations of classic matches – with this year's focusing on cover star CM Punk. While there are some notable omissions from the mode, like the absence of Jeff Hardy, Chris Jericho, and Daniel Bryan from WWE, stopping those feuds from being included, it's a lengthy selection that covers the bases.

Punk notably had a very public falling out with WWE in 2014 before returning in 2023, and part of this year's Showcase is imagining what would happen if he didn't leave. These include the likes of his planned showdown with Triple H at Wrestlemania 30, taking on AJ Styles at his first Wrestlemania, and fighting Bray Wyatt as The Fiend. These are the absolute highlights of this mode and made me wish deep down we could've seen them happen in real life.

I typically prefer MyRise – a storyline featuring a created character – most years, but sadly, I'm a bit let down by this year's edition. Don't get me wrong, The Comeback and the story of The Archetype is one of the best stories told in the series to date, but you can feel the budget ripped out of this mode as you play.

As opposed to the separate men's and women's division stories of previous years, it's pretty much the exact same story across both, with recurring dialogue and events, just with women instead of men in roles. And like last year, side quests are gone entirely; instead, you play Rise matches, which are simple exhibition matches against wrestlers to earn stars. These are fine as a side thing to buff your character, but you're forced to play them between pretty much every main storyline, and it feels like tedious, artificial padding.

Boy Stable

After hating it last year (I called it "a superfluous mode that feels focused on money"), The Island returns this year, and shockingly, it feels a lot more interesting. Instead of still images and text, the mode features actual cutscenes this year, making it feel like an extension of MyRise in ways.

But once again, you create a new character for The Island, and this character’s stats are upgraded via VC – the game’s premium paid currency, which can also be earned in-game. So if you want to play one of the mode's towers, which challenge you to play a gauntlet of matches on one health bar, you're going to have a far rougher time with your base stats. Plus, you can battle other players online on The Island, and I don't need to tell you that the person who spends money will have a better time.

Best Bit

The CM Punk Showcase mode, filling in the blanks of his decade-long WWE absence, was filled with genuinely great 'What If?' moments, like him retiring Kurt Angle at Wrestlemania 35 or answering John Cena's US title open challenge.

But ultimately, I think, why would I want to spend money on this? I received a review code for the Monday Night Wars Edition of the game, which comes with a substantial amount of VC anyway, but I still feel like I'm wasting it to buff up a character I frankly don't care about. And given MyRise has gotten smaller both years The Island has been included, I can't say I'm a fan of this tradeoff from one of my favorite modes to one I can't see myself thinking about too often.

I'd much rather save the VC for MyFaction – the game's Ultimate Team equivalent. But not because I'm madly into MyFaction, but because exclusive versions of superstars are often locked behind this mode's RNG. Do you want Drew McIntyre's 2010 version with his fantastic theme song? Better hope you get him. What about Booker T's iconic King Booker gimmick? Well, you're going to need to get five Oddities cards, which are random drops. Plus, you straight up can't play certain missions or challenges without having access to certain cards, so get spending, I guess.

WWE 2K26 continues the series tradition of frustrating me with every entry. There's a fantastic wrestling game in there; the roster is great, the showcase is an excellent piece of throwback and fantasy about one of the best wrestlers of all time, and MyRise continues to be a fun story despite feeling majorly cut back. But the Ringside Pass is another red flag on top of the existing red flags of previous years and something that will need to be significantly tweaked for me to consider it a suitable replacement for the previous method.

Should you play WWE 2K26?

Play it if...

You want a great wrestling game
WWE 2K26 is great grappler that improves upon last year's entry in solid iterative ways. It's not going to be a major overhaul for series regulars, but smart changes make for a more engaging battle system. And there's a lot of it among the specific modes.

You're a fan of wrestling history
The CM Punk Showcase mode is already a brilliant edition in its own right, but the inclusion of those "what if I never left" matches offers an interesting take on what is one of the most significant events in wrestling history.

Don't play it if...

You get fomo
You won't unlock everything in WWE 2K26. It's updated all year with new exclusive characters locked to MyFaction cards, and with the addition of grindy battle passes this year, that's only going to get worse.

You're extremely averse to microtransactions
You can play WWE 2K26 entirely without spending a penny, but some of the modes are made far more accessible and easier for those willing to put a bit of coin in.

Accessibility features

WWE 2K26's accessibility features are mainly focused around mini-games. You can change the timing-based pinfall minigame to a rapid press motion if you please, or change the rapid press submission game to a slider, alongside the option to include held inputs for both, but these won't be changed for any online modes. Outside of that, there's not much to write home about, with four difficulty options and manual AI sliders. However, there are no options for colorblindness, unfortunately.

How I reviewed WWE 2K26

I played 30 hours of WWE 2K26 on PS5 Pro using a DualSense Wireless Controller, and an LG C5 OLED TV with its built-in sound.

During this time, I played all of Showcase mode, a Babyface men's division run of MyRise, and the first few chapters of a Heel women's division run. I played a few months of My GM and Universe mode, a few chapters of The Island, and about four hours of MyFaction – mostly the towers. I also played a good few regular matches along the way.

First reviewed February-March 2026

Stream Vladimir at your own risk — there’s not a messed up, steamy or uncomfortable new Netflix show quite like it

11:01 am |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Netflix Streaming | Comments: Off

There has never been a better time to be Rachel Weisz, or indeed, a Rachel Weisz fan. Since The Favorite in 2019, she's been in a string of steamy TV sessions from Prime Video's Dead Ringers remake in 2023 to brand new Netflix show Vladimir, based on the hit novel of the same name.

I could wax lyrical about how refreshing it is to see a woman over 50 consistently and unashamedly explore her sexuality onscreen until the cows come home, but the projects Weisz is picking are so much more than that. For one thing, Vladmir is possibly the most uncomfortable binge watch of my entire adult life.

Let me explain. Weisz's character, simply know as The Protagonist (let's call her P for clarity) is a professor at a university with her husband John (John Slattery), who has been suspended after numerous sexual assault allegations against him have come to light.

At the same time, new professor Vladimir (Leo Woodall) arrives on campus — and despite them both being married, P becomes infatuated with him, fantasizing about the idea of Vladimir whenever she can.

It's a morally conflicting watch, making it something you can barely tear your eyes from. Much like P, we can't fight the pull of overwhelming desire, but we know what's unfolding is abhorrently wrong at every level. For that alone, I think Vladimir is the first truly unmissable TV show of 2026.

In Vladimir, sex has never been more sordid or scandalous

Netflix invites us to "descend into sexy madness" while watching Vladimir, and that's an incredibly apt summary. P is clearly an academically smart and well-educated woman, but when it comes to her moral compass, she's operates like a clueless teenager.

It's hardly a spoiler to say P throws her family, career and sanity out of the window in order to objectify and clamor over Vladimir while he shows very little signs of reciprocation. When we meet him, he's a true family man, putting his daughter and marriage to fellow troubled colleague Cynthia (Jessica Henwick) before professional ambition.

I like that there's no real reason for P self-sabotaging, as we often don't understand those who choose to in real life. She hates John for putting her in such a precarious position, but equally uses him as a vessel to act on her feelings for the version of Vladimir she's created in her head.

You might think this sounds like a modern feminist icon, shunning the conventions of marriage and professionalism in order to be fully liberated by sex and passion. However, her stance on the female complainants against her husband puts an end to this, with P making it clear that she believes the women in question are just as at fault.

We're left with a complicated soup of unadulterated mess to sift through, making us critically engage in ways we're normally afraid to... and this is our real breath of fresh air moment.

Content is arguably taking the safe route, trying not to ruffle any feathers or give viewers any pause for thought. There's a reason why the likes of Virgin River and Sweet Magnolias are championed by Netflix, and with Vladimir, it's going against the grain.

Don't get me wrong, it's an incredibly uncomfortable binge

Leo Woodall pins Rachel Weisz to a bookcase — Reality, or an illusion? (Image credit: Netflix)

Don't get me wrong, though... you'll likely find Vladimir an incredibly tough watch. Not just because the subject matter is morally dubious, but because the new Netflix show really turns up the spice.

Almost all of the 8 episodes feature a hot and heavy sex scene, and showrunner (and original author) Julia May Jonas has spectacularly nailed the spice. Nothing is gratuitous or unnecessary, and desires are explicitly explored with nothing off-limits. Honestly, it's all you could ever ask for.

By this point, it hopefully goes without saying that Weisz is completely mesmerizing, and she's head and shoulders above the additional cast. In a way that brings Notes on a Scandal, Misery and Fleabag together, she frequently breaks to fourth wall to talk directly to viewers, yet it remains difficult to understand exactly what she's going to do next.

Jonas frequently distorts P's imagination and reality, combining them into the same indistinguishable scene. Vladimir is an incredibly easy binge watch too, with all 8 episodes coming in under the 30-minute mark. It's all like taking a medicine you know isn't really any good for you.

Sure, John inserts himself too heavily into the story when he's the last thing we care about, but everything else about Vladimir is sexy from start to finish. Sexy is often unhinged when you take off the rose-tinted glasses, and this is truly a warts-and-all experience.

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