The Blacklyte Atlas Lite is a heavy-duty yet straightforward desk with solid adjustability, bold branding, and the ability to transition seamlessly between work and play. The instructions are easy to follow for setting this desk up, the controls are easy to learn, and the desk motors are very quiet.
Blacklyte is well known in the gaming world, but then started making some professional desks as well, or at minimum, desks that gamers could also use for professional desks. The Atlas Lite is a good example of that. It still has some gamer vibes, but is also very much a professional desk, transforming your gamer central to a business professional workspace for your day job as well.
Ignore that branding on the desktop - if you can. If you prefer a more stylish design over the standard metal frame and wood-colored desk, and demand a truly useful cable tray (often lacking on similar models), it's one of the best standing desks I've used for work and play.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
Blacklyte Atlas Lite: Pricing and Availability
The Blacklyte Atlas Lite is usually sold for around $700 but is currently on sale for $569 from the official US site and UK site (for £439) at the time of review. It's also available from a handful of other retailers, but availability seems sporadic right now.
There are a handful of sizing and color options. I chose Obsidian Black, but Moonstone White looks gorgeous too. The natural oak to me was a third option, but it didn’t look nearly as good as the Obsidian or Moonstone to me.
Blacklyte Atlas Lite: Unboxing and First Impressions
The Blacklyte Atlas Lite shipped in two boxes, as most standing desks do: the desktop for one and the legs and building materials in the other. These pieces were pretty well tucked into the box with packaging. One thing I couldn’t help but think about while unboxing was that the boxes were super deep black. I had a moment of worry about ink transfer or it rubbing off on my carpet or walls, but that worry quickly dissipated.
A lot of desks are the same main idea for assembly, but most people don't build a plethora of desks; some may build only one ever. So, it’s nice to see Blacklyte including a QR code to a YouTube assembly video for those who are more visual learners, are not familiar with assembling a desk, or perhaps run into issues with assembly.
If you have experience building desks, though, the entire process should be an absolute dream. The bags of screws are labeled, the instructions are actually helpful, and the parts are easy to get together. All in all, this shouldn’t take you more than 30 minutes to assemble from boxes in your living room, office, or wherever you open large boxes into a fully assembled desk.
Blacklyte Atlas Lite: Design & Build Quality
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
The Blacklyte Atlas Lite feels heavy-duty. I’ve tested a lot of desks. Some feel flimsy but look pretty; some are all-around bad; some are a whole art piece. The Blacklyte Atlas Lite sits in the middle. It’s a functional piece that feels like a real workhorse with a bit more style than most.
The desktop itself is a bit textured, but it feels nice even for long periods of use and work sessions. I also like it as it doesn’t feel like I need to baby the desktop. Granted, I don't plan on beating it up anytime soon, but it’s nice to know that I can use this desk without worry of a scratch from moving something across the desktop.
Another thing worth mentioning in the design is the cable management. The rear notch allows for easy cable drops, especially if you have the back of your desk up against a wall in your workspace, or even to keep things clean, so your cables aren’t draping over the edge of the desk. I also like the built-in cable management tray. While this one isn't a grid or mounting plate like some, the tray is a welcome addition.
Blacklyte Atlas Lite: In use
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
Specs
as tested
Dimensions: 47x32-inches Height Range: 27 to 46in Max Load: Up to 265lbs Warranty: 3 years
I've got this desk set up for a simple laptop, podcast, or meeting setup for some of my team. While I haven't added a monitor, there is plenty of room for one here alongside a laptop, with room to spread out your tablet, notes, diagrams, or whatever else you may need.
Switching between sitting and standing is rarely timed for me; I usually work, and when my knees start aching, or I get antsy, I'll jump up to stand. For the desks that don't have presets, that takes switching focus to choose where I want the height, then adjusting ever so slightly because it's slightly off, and so on. For desks with presets, such as this one, it's so much easier. Once I decide whether to stand or sit, I can press the corresponding preset button and get to work. And it works flawlessly here.
Another thing that makes switching between sit and stand more enjoyable is that it's smooth and relatively quiet. I don't hear clicking, knocking, creaking, or anything else. Just smooth up and down.
Perhaps that's Blacklyte perfecting the art of quiet motors, especially for their gamer crowd, or maybe that's something else. Still, regardless, the Atlas Lite is noticeably quiet (or is that un-noticeably quiet?).
Blacklyte Atlas Lite: Final verdict
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
This desk is for those who want a gaming vibe and a desk they enjoy, while still looking professional enough for work, before a night of gaming, or for those who want a simple, high-quality standing desk that lifts and lowers smoothly.
Maybe standing desks have become too complex, maybe not, but either way, the Atlas Lite is a solid option for most people. It's solid, quiet, has good lifting capacity, is durable, and offers enough space and options for most users.
Checkr is a next-generation background-check platform that accelerates and simplifies hiring through automation and advanced data analysis. It draws from thousands of official databases, including county courts, criminal registries, and motor vehicle departments, to produce timely, accurate reports.
Using artificial intelligence, Checkr standardizes diverse legal terms and classifications, helping hiring teams interpret results quickly and consistently.
The service has become particularly popular among companies handling high hiring volumes, such as gig platforms, retail chains, staffing agencies, and tech firms, thanks to its real-time data retrieval, API-driven integrations, and intuitive dashboards.
Checkr: Plans and pricing
Checkr structures its pricing into tiered packages that scale with organizational needs:
Basic+ Plan ($29.99 per check): Includes SSN trace, sex offender search, national criminal database screening, and global watchlist monitoring. County verifications, when necessary, add roughly $15 per record.
Essential Plan ($54.99 per check): Expands on Basic+ by adding searches for all counties tied to a candidate's past seven years of residence.
Professional Plan ($79.99 per check): Adds employment and education verification to the Essential Plan to provide more complete candidate profiles.
International background checks cost $32 to $124 per report, and add-ons, such as motor vehicle record (MVR) checks or employment verifications, range from $6 to $40. Organizations conducting 300+ checks annually typically qualify for volume discounts.
This transparent, mix-and-match pricing model helps businesses tailor their screening programs to job types while controlling costs.
Checkr: Features
Checkr stands out for its extensive automation and advanced data-handling capabilities:
(Image credit: Checkr)
AI-powered charge classification: Automatically interprets and standardizes criminal charges from multiple jurisdictions, translating complex terminology into consistent, easy-to-read summaries.
Extensive data coverage: Accesses county criminal courts, sex offender registries, global watchlists, and other verified government sources for comprehensive results.
Integration ecosystem: Connects with over 100 HR platforms and applicant tracking systems (ATS), streamlining the hiring pipeline.
Automated candidate communication: Sends real-time notifications--including check initiation, progress updates, results, and adverse action letters--to both employers and candidates.
Bulk and batch tools: Ideal for high-volume hiring, allowing employers to process multiple candidates simultaneously and trigger workflows at scale.
(Image credit: Checkr)
Checkr's speed, often delivering results within one or two business days, remains a primary selling point for companies that can't afford delays in staffing or onboarding.
Checkr: Setup
The onboarding process is straightforward. After signing up, administrators can invite team members, configure access controls, and connect Checkr to their HR systems through prebuilt integrations or APIs.
Organizations can choose which screening packages to apply to specific job roles, set compliance notifications, and automate report delivery. For candidates, setup requires little more than completing a brief authorization form and submitting personal details through a secure online portal.
Checkr: Ease of use
Checkr's web dashboard emphasizes visual clarity and efficiency. Reports are organized into collapsible panels covering criminal searches, employment history, and motor vehicle records. Color-coded highlights signal pending charges, clear results, or items needing review.
Because of its automation-first design, HR teams can handle large batches of background checks with minimal manual input. Candidates also benefit from transparency: they can track progress, upload documents, or dispute errors through a 24/7 self-service portal.
That said, customer support primarily operates via a ticket-based system, which can delay responses during peak periods--an area where some competing services still outperform Checkr.
Checkr: Security and privacy
Checkr employs enterprise-grade security measures, including encryption in transit and at rest, strict data access controls, and continuous system monitoring.
The company complies with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) where applicable, ensuring candidates' data is handled lawfully and privately.
Candidates must provide explicit consent before a background check begins, and all adverse action notices are automatically sent to maintain compliance with federal and state laws. Checkr also allows users to dispute information directly through the candidate portal, providing added transparency.
Checkr: The competition
Checkr's closest competitors include GoodHire, Sterling, and HireRight, all of which offer employment background screening with varying emphases on compliance, support, and global coverage.
Checkr stands out for its automation, real-time data network, and speed, making it especially strong for high-volume, tech-forward employers that care about quick turnaround and HRIS/ATS integrations.
Compared with GoodHire, Checkr offers similar per-check pricing tiers and overlapping core checks. Still, GoodHire offers robust U.S.-based phone and email support and a very low reported error rate, which may appeal to smaller businesses that prefer more hand-holding.
GoodHire also supports very low-volume, pay-per-check use and historically charges a one-time setup fee. At the same time, Checkr leans toward scalable, API-driven workflows with no prominent setup fees, making it better suited to companies that expect frequent or bulk screenings.
When stacked against Sterling, Checkr takes the lead in automation and speed, with a higher percentage of criminal checks completed within an hour and more steps handled without manual review.
Sterling, on the other hand, offers a long-established, compliance-heavy product set, including drug testing, I-9, and specialized packages, making it more attractive to large enterprises or regulated industries that need deeper policy support and more customized verification programs.
Checkr's self-service package customization from the dashboard is generally more straightforward. In contrast, Sterling often routes customization through account managers, which can be helpful for complex but slower for fast-moving teams.
Versus HireRight, Checkr typically delivers faster turnaround times and a higher "hit rate" for specific criminal searches due to its AI-driven data-matching engine and more automated workflows.
HireRight is stronger for organizations with extensive global hiring, offering mature international coverage and compliance tools. Still, it may involve slower processing and more traditional, enterprise-style onboarding and support, which can feel heavier for smaller or more agile businesses.
In practice, Checkr tends to be the better fit for gig platforms, tech companies, and staffing firms prioritizing speed and modern UX. At the same time, HireRight is often chosen by large, globally distributed enterprises that value broad jurisdictional coverage and long-standing compliance expertise.
Checkr: Final verdict
Checkr brings innovation and efficiency to background screening, emphasizing automation, speed, and integration. Its AI classification tools, real-time data retrieval, and candidate transparency make it a forward-looking choice for companies scaling their hiring operations.
Despite its limited human-support options and less robust compliance in highly regulated fields, Checkr remains one of the most compelling solutions for fast-moving organizations that prioritize digital workflows.
For gig employers, startups, and HR teams seeking speed and scalability without sacrificing accuracy, Checkr strikes a smart balance between cost, functionality, and user experience.
The Competitor is an Xbox and PC-compatible controller from manufacturer Hyperkin that adopts a DualSense-like appearance and symmetrical thumbstick layout. While it does feature niceties like drift-resistant Hall effect sticks and triggers, I’ve found it to be a blissfully simple controller.
The Competitor has no fancy RGB lighting, no gyro sensors, no trigger locks, no wireless connectivity options, and no supporting apps or software. It’s also impressively cheap, has a nice design, and a great idea or two of its own. Its straightforward nature serves it well, and it’s one reason why it’s one of the best Xbox controllers I’ve tested in quite a while.
Some of my favorite controllers in recent years have been the likes of the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro and GameSir Tarantula Pro - both gamepads that are stuffed with desirable features that definitely make their price tags trend upward. The Competitor’s stripped-back, simplistic nature is actually quite refreshing in comparison, and is a staunch reminder that controllers don’t need to be a smorgasbord to remain appealing in the contemporary market.
There are some slight missteps. I’ve never been a fan of the PlayStation-style D-pad adopted here, the Menu and Share buttons are rather awkwardly-placed, and - while this is certainly personal preference and not indicative of The Competitor’s quality - it lacks wireless connectivity. Though at its relatively low price point, it’s easy to forgive these shortcomings.
(Image credit: Future)
The Competitor review: price and availability
List price: $49.99 / £39.99 (around AU$74.95)
Available from most major retailers in the US and UK
Compares in price to similarly cheap controllers like the GameSir Kaleid
You can get The Competitor today for $49.99 / £39.99 (around AU$74.95), making it one of the cheaper Xbox and PC controllers that’s actually worth recommending. Readily available at Amazon in the US and the UK, you’ll also likely find it at your local retailers of choice, including Best Buy in the US and Argos in the UK.
The cheaper Xbox controller spectrum has gotten broader in recent years, with pads like the GameSir Kaleid ($49.99 / £59.99) and 8BitDo Pro 2 ($44.99 / £39.99) also coming in at similar price points. The Competitor, rather fittingly, has some tough competition in the space, then, but I’d definitely say it’s comparable in quality to those aforementioned pads.
The Competitor review: Specs
Price
$49.99 / £39.99 (around AU$74.95)
Weight
7.1oz / 200g
Dimensions
6.2 x 5.0 x 2.5in / 158 x 127 x 64mm
Compatibility
Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC
Connection type
Wired (USB-C)
Battery life
N/A
(Image credit: Future)
The Competitor review: design and features
The Competitor differs from most Xbox controllers in its symmetrical thumbstick layout and design that’s practically identical to that of the DualSense Wireless Controller. You’ll find the same boomerang-esque shape here, with similarly designed D-pad and face buttons.
I wouldn’t say build quality is luxurious, certainly not up to the DualSense standard, but it does the job at its price point. That is to be expected, though, given the lower price. Otherwise, nothing about the controller screams cut corners or lazy design; it’s an extremely tight ship. Usually, you’d expect one or two blemishes to stand out on budget-friendly controllers.
But my only issues, really, are the slightly awkward placement of the central Menu and Share buttons, as well as the spongy-feeling PlayStation-style d-pad. However, the latter comes down to personal preference more than anything else.
The color scheme of The Competitor is quite pleasing, too. It sports a black and white aesthetic in a sort of ‘X’ pattern across the front of the pad. The face buttons and d-pad have a translucent, glossy finish that feels quite nice against your thumbs, too.
(Image credit: Future)
The Competitor review: Performance
The Competitor is a strictly wired controller. However, that’s not strange at its relatively low price point, so easy to forgive. That said, if you’d prefer a wireless model, you may be better off checking out similarly priced gamepads like the Xbox Wireless Controller or 8BitDo Pro 2.
What isn’t a guarantee for cheap controllers is the inclusion of drift-resisting Hall effect thumbsticks, but they are here on The Competitor. The sticks themselves feel great, too, with solid responsiveness and a rugged textured finish around the edges.
The Competitor features two remappable buttons on the rear of the controller. And these are easy enough to customize by holding the mapping button on the back, in conjunction with one of these rear buttons and one of the main ones on the front.
These remappable buttons are assigned by default, which I typically find a touch annoying. However, this is alleviated by a handy feature you don’t see on all that many controllers. There are lock switches for both remappable buttons, which can prevent them from being pressed in entirely. It’s arguably a bit of a workaround to keep them unassigned, but I welcome the ability to manually enable or disable them in such a way.
(Image credit: Future)
Should I buy The Competitor?
Buy it if...
You want an affordable, effective controller The Competitor simply does what it says on the tin (or, um, the cardboard box, I suppose). It’s a straightforward gamepad with no obvious flaws, available at a fittingly competitive price point.
You’re looking for a drift-beating option with light features Hall effect sticks and two remappable buttons are present here. It’s on the lighter side in terms of features, but it’s really all a controller at this price needs to stand out.
Don't buy it if...
You want a more robust D-pad Some game genres, like fighting games and platformers, benefit from a more well-rounded d-pad than the one on The Competitor. I actually love the circular design of the Xbox Wireless Controller's d-pad, and would recommend it over The Competitor if that's something that will be important to you.
You’re on PS5 The Competitor isn’t compatible with PlayStation hardware, despite the DualSense-looking design. Consider checking out our best PS5 controllers guide if you’re shopping for a Sony gamepad instead.
The Competitor review: Also consider
If The Competitor isn’t quite competitive enough for you, here are a couple other options very much worthy of consideration.
The Competitor
Xbox Wireless Controller
GameSir Super Nova
Price
$49.99 / £39.99 (around AU$74.95)
$59.99 / £54.99 / AU$74
$44.99 / £49.99 / AU$89
Weight
7.1oz / 200g
8.5oz / 241g
9.3oz / 263g
Dimensions
6.2 x 5.0 x 2.5in / 158 x 127 x 64mm
5.9 x 4.1 x 2.4in / 150 x 105 x 60mm
6.1 x 4.2 x 2.3in / 156 x 106 x 59mm
Compatibility
Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC
Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC
PC, Switch, Switch 2
Connection type
Wired (USB-C)
Wireless (Xbox), Wired (USB-C)
Wireless (Bluetooth, 2.4GHz USB dongle), Wired (USB-C)
Battery life
N/A
Varies, around 20-40 hours
15 hours
Xbox Wireless Controller Always an incredibly solid choice, the official Xbox Wireless Controller isn’t big on bonus features, but it offers incredible reliability and is available in countless color options these days.
GameSir Super Nova While losing Xbox compatibility, this is a fantastic and affordable wireless controller for PC and the Switch family of consoles. I’d go for this one if you’re after a PC controller and interested in a budget-friendly wireless option. Oh, it comes with a charging dock and some lovely color options, too.
I tested The Competitor over the course of about a week, putting the wired wonder through its paces primarily on a gaming PC with my Steam library. All my go-to games were present here, including Final Fantasy 14 Online, Tekken 8, Elden Ring Nightreign, and Tokyo Xtreme Racer.
Given the shape and feel of the controller, I tried to compare the experience of playing with The Competitor to that of the DualSense Wireless Controller. Obviously, the PlayStation controller is more feature-rich, with bespoke haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, as well as its touchpad. Build quality isn’t quite as strong with The Competitor, in comparison, but it’s certainly not miles off, given the price.
I'm already a fan of the Ricoh GR series of premium compact cameras, having purchased the GR IIIx several years ago. There really is no other camera this small that can shoot photos that look this good – and that's why I've featured it in my best compact camera and best point-and-shoot camera guides.
My GR III series camera is far from perfect, though. It's prone to damage, its autofocus can be really sluggish at times, and it could do with a built-in flash. I'd also love a tilt screen – oh and poor battery life is another gripe among users.
Despite these limitations I still carry my Ricoh with me most days, but I've been keeping a keen eye out for the arrival of its successor, in the hope it could deliver particular upgrades and become my perfect compact. Well, the Ricoh GR IV is finally here, six years after the GR III, and I've had my hands on it for around three weeks, with the new camera in one pocket and my GR IIIx in the other.
So is the GR IV my dream upgrade? Not quite... but it is a better camera in many other ways. I'm disappointed that the build quality is mostly the same (besides what Ricoh says is better sealing on the new lens), in that it isn't technically weather-sealed and so will need looking after, even though its feels decent in the hand.
On the plus side, I was already happy with the image quality from my GR III, but Ricoh has introduced a new 26MP sensor and refined the lens to further improve quality, while the sensor has improved 5-axis stabilization.
(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)
As mentioned, I was hoping for a built-in flash this time around, but the GR IV doesn't have one; ditto a tilt screen. I also wanted much better autofocus performance, but I'm not seeing enough of a difference.
On the flip-side, again, the GR IV delivers some significant upgrades that I didn't see coming: internal storage is bumped up from 2GB to 53GB, there's a new bigger battery with approximately 20% better capacity, and the body is even slimmer, with a refined grip making the camera feel even better in the hand.
You get the picture – the GR IV is a decent upgrade for certain users, but one to skip for others. I for one can't see a good enough reason to splash out, but I understand why others would. And for those who are new to the series and looking for a premium compact, you won't find a better one at this size.
A word of thanks
A special mention goes to Park Cameras (UK) who loaned me the Ricoh GR IV and made this review possible.
One final, and significant, entry for the 'cons' column is that the list price has been hiked by around 20% over the GR III's, depending on where you live (the GR III originally cost $999 / £899 in 2019). I firmly believe that $1,150 / £1,000 is a much fairer price for the GR IV than $1,500 / £1,200 / AU$2,200.
What has caught my eye, however, is Ricoh announcing that a GR IV Monochrome is in the pipeline, which would be the first black-and-white-only camera in the series. I'm a fan of the black-and-white profiles in these cameras, and I shoot the majority of my pictures in monochrome, so this niche version could well be my next camera purchase.
The Ricoh GR IV was first unveiled in May 2025 and went on sale from August, with a launch price of $1,499 / £1,199 / AU$2,199. That's an approximately 20% mark-up over the GR III, depending on which region you live in.
I wish the GR IV had a built-in flash, but in its absence Ricoh has done the next best thing, launching a new GF-2 flash that sits in the GR IV's hotshoe and is suitably tiny. It wasn't available to me while I was testing the camera, so I'm yet to use it, but it's also compatible with GR III cameras (with reduced funtionality) so I expect I'll be buying one.
Ricoh GR IV: specs
Ricoh GR IV Specs
Sensor
APS-C, 5-axis stabilization
Resolution
26MP
Video
1080p up to 60fps
Lens
18.3mm (28mm equiv.) f/2.8-16
Screen
3.0in, 1.04m-dots
Dimensions
109.4 x 61.1 x 32.7 mm
Weight
262g (with battery + card)
Battery life
250 shots (approx)
Memory
microSD, internal 53GB
Ricoh GR IV: design
Slim body and refined grip give a secure and comfortable single-hand hold
Easily slips into a pocket
Still no built-in flash or weather sealing
Internal storage upped from 2GB to 53GB
Fixed touchscreen can be hard to see in bright light
The GR IV might look largely the same as the GR III, but there are design tweaks to the new camera that add up to improve the overall handling.
Its width and height are essentially the same, meaning the GR IV will still easily slip into a trouser pocket – the same can't be said for the bulkier Fujifilm X100VI. What's new, and seriously impressive, is that Ricoh has slimmed down the GR IV compared to the GR III, while keeping the grip depth the same.
The GR IV immediately felt different in the hand to me, having been so used to the GR III – the slimmer body and refined grip give a secure and comfortable hold with just one hand, however you're holding the camera. It's a tiny design tweak that makes a big difference – I often want to shoot with one hand using my GR III, but to do so comfortably I've had to attach a separate thumb grip.
Ricoh has reverted back to the ± button that was on the GR II, but dropped from the GR III. This can control the likes of exposure compensation, and overall it's a welcome return, even if I found myself tapping the button all too easily.
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Three of my top wishes as a GR III user interested in this successor sadly remain elusive – there's no built-in flash, tilt screen, or weather sealing. Those upgrades alone would have had me reaching for my wallet.
A built-in flash would be supremely helpful for portraits at parties – without one, I wouldn't really use the GR IV in such scenarios. Ricoh has, as mentioned, announced the tiny GF-2 external flash, which is an accessory I will absolutely look into purchasing.
I find the fixed touchscreen of my GR III hard to see clearly in bright light, and it doesn't make low-angle shooting easy. A tilt screen would help no end, but sadly this is another potential upgrade that didn't materialize.
However, it's the lack of weather sealing that's the real kicker for me. I've taken my GR III in for minor repairs twice in the years I've had it – cheap repairs for seized buttons, caused by moisture ingress – while the pop-out lens is beginning to struggle on start up. Ricoh says there is better sealing in the new lens, but besides this, build quality is the same. As such, I'd be conscious of the need to look after the GR IV, which is something I don't want to think about with an everyday camera that's in my pocket.
To Ricoh's credit, there are other upgrades. The internal storage has been upped from 2GB to 53GB, and there's a larger-capacity battery inside too, even if this has necessitated a switch from SD card to micro SD, which is a fiddly card slot on the GR IV.
Ricoh GR IV: features and performance
New 26MP sensor with improved 5-axis stabilization
Speedier start-up time and longer battery life
(Unchanged) 1080p video is an afterthought
If you're unfamiliar with the Ricoh GR series of digital compacts, then you'll probably struggle to spot meaningful upgrades in the GR IV over the GR III – and the former camera is six years old now, having been released in 2019.
For those like me that are familiar, however – and I suspect that's many of you reading this review – the headline upgrade is the new 26MP sensor.
Sure, a 2MP bump from 24MP to 26MP is hardly worth mentioning, but the improved 5-axis stabilization certainly is, and in my opinion it's a key improvement. The GR III has less effective 3-axis stabilization.
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I was able to shoot handheld images with a shutter speed as slow as one second, and for most shots at half a second, and detail still looked sharp. This offers the potential for creative long-exposure effects and can improve low-light image quality, assuming you don't need to freeze movement. Check out a few long exposure effect images in the gallery above.
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The GR IV isn't short of color profiles either. I'm a fan of the hard monotone profile which produces punchy black-and-white images with an infrared photography-like effect (see the punchy sky images in the gallery above). At other times, I was drawn to the cinema color profiles for a gritty effect which suited nighttime images across London. In the gallery of images below, I've used a range of these color profiles.
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There's a macro photography setting, which reduces the minimum focus distance and enables proper close up photography. This, as like with GR III cameras, is another string to the GR IV's bow.
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The macro photography setting is totally usable and makes the GR IV an even more versatile snapper. This shot is taken with the aperture set to f/2.8 (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Here's the same scene but with the aperture stopped down to f/5.6 (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
Start-up time has been improved too, not that the GR III was a slouch. I had the GR III and GR IV side by side and turned the cameras on at the same time, and the GR IV was ready to go a fraction quicker – it makes a real difference for an everyday camera with which you'll often want to be ready to shoot quickly. If this was a wild west showdown against most other cameras, the GR IV would be busting open the saloon doors and demanding a victory whiskey.
I can't say the same for autofocus performance. Ricoh has improved autofocus speed and reliability from the GR III, but not by much. The AF assist light helps in low-contrast lighting, as do additional focusing modes added to the series via firmware updates in recent years, such as new zone-focusing options, but it would be generous of me to Ricoh to say better autofocus is a reason to upgrade here.
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One of the many occasions that autofocus missed the mark (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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One of the many occasions that autofocus missed the mark (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
Battery life sees a decent improvement. There's a new larger-capacity unit inside which delivers a 20% bump in shot life. Still, where the GR III has poor battery life at around 200 shots, the GR IV's is only less poor at 240 shots. Personally, though, I think limited battery life is completely forgiveable for such a small camera, and it's impressive that Ricoh has squeezed a better battery into what is actually a fractionally smaller camera.
Overall, there are some decent improvements in the GR IV, depending on how and what you like to shoot.
Should I buy the Ricoh GR IV?
(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)
Buy it if...
You want a truly pocketable camera with supreme image quality The 5-axis stabilized 26MP APS-C sensor and refined 28mm lens are a superb combo for photo-philes.
You want an everyday carry that isn't your phone Slipping into a pocket, the GR IV is a camera that you can carry with you almost everywhere – just don't take it to the beach.
Don't buy it if...
You shoot a lot in low light With no built-in flash and autofocus that can struggle at times, the GR IV has its limitations in low light.
You want an indestructible camera Ricoh says it has improved the sealing of the lens to repel dust ingress, but the camera isn't weather sealed, and as such you need to look after it – as I know from my experience with my GR III!
You shoot a lot of video Maxing out at 1080p, video recording is very much an afterthought in the GR IV. It's nice to have all the same, but you'll be better off using your phone.
How I tested the Ricoh GR IV
(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)
Park Cameras loaned me the camera for several weeks
I shot 1,000-plus photos in RAW + JPEG
I carried the camera every day, using it in a range of scenarios
I used the Ricoh GR IV regularly for around three weeks, with thanks to Park Cameras (UK) for the loan. During this time I took over 1,000 photos, documenting everyday life and of course playing with the various color profiles and creative techniques possible with the GR IV.
I pushed the limit of the camera's stabilization, taking handheld long-exposure photos. I shot photos of the same scenes at different apertures to assess the quality at each setting, and checked for lens distortions.
I noted how many photos I could take with a fully charged battery, and in general I've looked after the camera rather than push it in adverse conditions. I bring several years of experience with the Ricoh GR series into this review, most recently as an owner of the GR IIIx.
I'm already a fan of the Ricoh GR series of premium compact cameras, having purchased the GR IIIx several years ago. There really is no other camera this small that can shoot photos that look this good – and that's why I've featured it in my best compact camera and best point-and-shoot camera guides.
My GR III series camera is far from perfect, though. It's prone to damage, its autofocus can be really sluggish at times, and it could do with a built-in flash. I'd also love a tilt screen – oh and poor battery life is another gripe among users.
Despite these limitations I still carry my Ricoh with me most days, but I've been keeping a keen eye out for the arrival of its successor, in the hope it could deliver particular upgrades and become my perfect compact. Well, the Ricoh GR IV is finally here, six years after the GR III, and I've had my hands on it for around three weeks, with the new camera in one pocket and my GR IIIx in the other.
So is the GR IV my dream upgrade? Not quite... but it is a better camera in many other ways. I'm disappointed that the build quality is mostly the same (besides what Ricoh says is better sealing on the new lens), in that it isn't technically weather-sealed and so will need looking after, even though its feels decent in the hand.
On the plus side, I was already happy with the image quality from my GR III, but Ricoh has introduced a new 26MP sensor and refined the lens to further improve quality, while the sensor has improved 5-axis stabilization.
(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)
As mentioned, I was hoping for a built-in flash this time around, but the GR IV doesn't have one; ditto a tilt screen. I also wanted much better autofocus performance, but I'm not seeing enough of a difference.
On the flip-side, again, the GR IV delivers some significant upgrades that I didn't see coming: internal storage is bumped up from 2GB to 53GB, there's a new bigger battery with approximately 20% better capacity, and the body is even slimmer, with a refined grip making the camera feel even better in the hand.
You get the picture – the GR IV is a decent upgrade for certain users, but one to skip for others. I for one can't see a good enough reason to splash out, but I understand why others would. And for those who are new to the series and looking for a premium compact, you won't find a better one at this size.
A word of thanks
A special mention goes to Park Cameras (UK) who loaned me the Ricoh GR IV and made this review possible.
One final, and significant, entry for the 'cons' column is that the list price has been hiked by around 20% over the GR III's, depending on where you live (the GR III originally cost $999 / £899 in 2019). I firmly believe that $1,150 / £1,000 is a much fairer price for the GR IV than $1,500 / £1,200 / AU$2,200.
What has caught my eye, however, is Ricoh announcing that a GR IV Monochrome is in the pipeline, which would be the first black-and-white-only camera in the series. I'm a fan of the black-and-white profiles in these cameras, and I shoot the majority of my pictures in monochrome, so this niche version could well be my next camera purchase.
The Ricoh GR IV was first unveiled in May 2025 and went on sale from August, with a launch price of $1,499 / £1,199 / AU$2,199. That's an approximately 20% mark-up over the GR III, depending on which region you live in.
I wish the GR IV had a built-in flash, but in its absence Ricoh has done the next best thing, launching a new GF-2 flash that sits in the GR IV's hotshoe and is suitably tiny. It wasn't available to me while I was testing the camera, so I'm yet to use it, but it's also compatible with GR III cameras (with reduced funtionality) so I expect I'll be buying one.
Ricoh GR IV: specs
Ricoh GR IV Specs
Sensor
APS-C, 5-axis stabilization
Resolution
26MP
Video
1080p up to 60fps
Lens
18.3mm (28mm equiv.) f/2.8-16
Screen
3.0in, 1.04m-dots
Dimensions
109.4 x 61.1 x 32.7 mm
Weight
262g (with battery + card)
Battery life
250 shots (approx)
Memory
microSD, internal 53GB
Ricoh GR IV: design
Slim body and refined grip give a secure and comfortable single-hand hold
Easily slips into a pocket
Still no built-in flash or weather sealing
Internal storage upped from 2GB to 53GB
Fixed touchscreen can be hard to see in bright light
The GR IV might look largely the same as the GR III, but there are design tweaks to the new camera that add up to improve the overall handling.
Its width and height are essentially the same, meaning the GR IV will still easily slip into a trouser pocket – the same can't be said for the bulkier Fujifilm X100VI. What's new, and seriously impressive, is that Ricoh has slimmed down the GR IV compared to the GR III, while keeping the grip depth the same.
The GR IV immediately felt different in the hand to me, having been so used to the GR III – the slimmer body and refined grip give a secure and comfortable hold with just one hand, however you're holding the camera. It's a tiny design tweak that makes a big difference – I often want to shoot with one hand using my GR III, but to do so comfortably I've had to attach a separate thumb grip.
Ricoh has reverted back to the ± button that was on the GR II, but dropped from the GR III. This can control the likes of exposure compensation, and overall it's a welcome return, even if I found myself tapping the button all too easily.
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Three of my top wishes as a GR III user interested in this successor sadly remain elusive – there's no built-in flash, tilt screen, or weather sealing. Those upgrades alone would have had me reaching for my wallet.
A built-in flash would be supremely helpful for portraits at parties – without one, I wouldn't really use the GR IV in such scenarios. Ricoh has, as mentioned, announced the tiny GF-2 external flash, which is an accessory I will absolutely look into purchasing.
I find the fixed touchscreen of my GR III hard to see clearly in bright light, and it doesn't make low-angle shooting easy. A tilt screen would help no end, but sadly this is another potential upgrade that didn't materialize.
However, it's the lack of weather sealing that's the real kicker for me. I've taken my GR III in for minor repairs twice in the years I've had it – cheap repairs for seized buttons, caused by moisture ingress – while the pop-out lens is beginning to struggle on start up. Ricoh says there is better sealing in the new lens, but besides this, build quality is the same. As such, I'd be conscious of the need to look after the GR IV, which is something I don't want to think about with an everyday camera that's in my pocket.
To Ricoh's credit, there are other upgrades. The internal storage has been upped from 2GB to 53GB, and there's a larger-capacity battery inside too, even if this has necessitated a switch from SD card to micro SD, which is a fiddly card slot on the GR IV.
Ricoh GR IV: features and performance
New 26MP sensor with improved 5-axis stabilization
Speedier start-up time and longer battery life
(Unchanged) 1080p video is an afterthought
If you're unfamiliar with the Ricoh GR series of digital compacts, then you'll probably struggle to spot meaningful upgrades in the GR IV over the GR III – and the former camera is six years old now, having been released in 2019.
For those like me that are familiar, however – and I suspect that's many of you reading this review – the headline upgrade is the new 26MP sensor.
Sure, a 2MP bump from 24MP to 26MP is hardly worth mentioning, but the improved 5-axis stabilization certainly is, and in my opinion it's a key improvement. The GR III has less effective 3-axis stabilization.
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I was able to shoot handheld images with a shutter speed as slow as one second, and for most shots at half a second, and detail still looked sharp. This offers the potential for creative long-exposure effects and can improve low-light image quality, assuming you don't need to freeze movement. Check out a few long exposure effect images in the gallery above.
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The GR IV isn't short of color profiles either. I'm a fan of the hard monotone profile which produces punchy black-and-white images with an infrared photography-like effect (see the punchy sky images in the gallery above). At other times, I was drawn to the cinema color profiles for a gritty effect which suited nighttime images across London. In the gallery of images below, I've used a range of these color profiles.
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There's a macro photography setting, which reduces the minimum focus distance and enables proper close up photography. This, as like with GR III cameras, is another string to the GR IV's bow.
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The macro photography setting is totally usable and makes the GR IV an even more versatile snapper. This shot is taken with the aperture set to f/2.8 (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Here's the same scene but with the aperture stopped down to f/5.6 (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
Start-up time has been improved too, not that the GR III was a slouch. I had the GR III and GR IV side by side and turned the cameras on at the same time, and the GR IV was ready to go a fraction quicker – it makes a real difference for an everyday camera with which you'll often want to be ready to shoot quickly. If this was a wild west showdown against most other cameras, the GR IV would be busting open the saloon doors and demanding a victory whiskey.
I can't say the same for autofocus performance. Ricoh has improved autofocus speed and reliability from the GR III, but not by much. The AF assist light helps in low-contrast lighting, as do additional focusing modes added to the series via firmware updates in recent years, such as new zone-focusing options, but it would be generous of me to Ricoh to say better autofocus is a reason to upgrade here.
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One of the many occasions that autofocus missed the mark (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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One of the many occasions that autofocus missed the mark (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
Battery life sees a decent improvement. There's a new larger-capacity unit inside which delivers a 20% bump in shot life. Still, where the GR III has poor battery life at around 200 shots, the GR IV's is only less poor at 240 shots. Personally, though, I think limited battery life is completely forgiveable for such a small camera, and it's impressive that Ricoh has squeezed a better battery into what is actually a fractionally smaller camera.
Overall, there are some decent improvements in the GR IV, depending on how and what you like to shoot.
Should I buy the Ricoh GR IV?
(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)
Buy it if...
You want a truly pocketable camera with supreme image quality The 5-axis stabilized 26MP APS-C sensor and refined 28mm lens are a superb combo for photo-philes.
You want an everyday carry that isn't your phone Slipping into a pocket, the GR IV is a camera that you can carry with you almost everywhere – just don't take it to the beach.
Don't buy it if...
You shoot a lot in low light With no built-in flash and autofocus that can struggle at times, the GR IV has its limitations in low light.
You want an indestructible camera Ricoh says it has improved the sealing of the lens to repel dust ingress, but the camera isn't weather sealed, and as such you need to look after it – as I know from my experience with my GR III!
You shoot a lot of video Maxing out at 1080p, video recording is very much an afterthought in the GR IV. It's nice to have all the same, but you'll be better off using your phone.
How I tested the Ricoh GR IV
(Image credit: Future / Tim Coleman)
Park Cameras loaned me the camera for several weeks
I shot 1,000-plus photos in RAW + JPEG
I carried the camera every day, using it in a range of scenarios
I used the Ricoh GR IV regularly for around three weeks, with thanks to Park Cameras (UK) for the loan. During this time I took over 1,000 photos, documenting everyday life and of course playing with the various color profiles and creative techniques possible with the GR IV.
I pushed the limit of the camera's stabilization, taking handheld long-exposure photos. I shot photos of the same scenes at different apertures to assess the quality at each setting, and checked for lens distortions.
I noted how many photos I could take with a fully charged battery, and in general I've looked after the camera rather than push it in adverse conditions. I bring several years of experience with the Ricoh GR series into this review, most recently as an owner of the GR IIIx.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 is a comprehensive customer relationship management (CRM) solution packed with advanced features enhanced by AI capabilities. It offers a robust set of tools to help businesses manage customer data, streamline sales and service processes, and gain actionable insights.
Dynamics 365 integrates tightly with the Microsoft ecosystem, including Office apps like Outlook, Word, and Excel. This allows for seamless data sharing and collaboration for cloud-based businesses already using Microsoft 365. It also offers connectors to many popular third-party business apps.
While it delivers a lot of functionality, Dynamics 365’s interface can feel a bit complex and overwhelming at first for smaller business users. The pricing model is also on the higher end compared to some other CRM platforms. But for organizations already using Microsoft tools, Dynamics 365 CRM is a powerful platform to unify customer data and processes.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 core capabilities
(Image credit: Microsoft)
Microsoft Dynamics 365 provides a centralized database to store and manage all customer data, including contact information, interaction history, and purchase records. This allows sales and marketing teams to have a complete 360-degree view of each customer.
Contact management in Dynamics 365 enables users to easily track and manage leads, opportunities, and customer accounts. The system can automatically capture lead and customer data from various sources, like web forms, and import it into the CRM. Users can then qualify and nurture leads through the sales pipeline using built-in workflows and automation.
Dynamics 365 also offers advanced sales forecasting and analytics capabilities. Sales managers can get real-time visibility into their team's performance and pipeline with interactive dashboards and reports. AI-driven insights help predict revenue, uncover at-risk deals, and provide actionable recommendations to improve win rates. Integration with Microsoft's Power BI tool allows for even deeper analysis.
To optimize marketing efforts, Dynamics 365 includes features for segmenting customers, managing campaigns, and tracking ROI across channels. Marketers can use the data in the CRM to personalize their messaging and target high-value prospects. The system also has native integrations with LinkedIn and other social media platforms for social selling.
For on-the-go sales reps, Dynamics 365 provides a fully-featured mobile app. It has an intuitive interface that allows reps to access and update customer data, manage their pipeline, and even scan business cards to create new contacts - all from their smartphone. Offline capabilities ensure reps can be productive even without an internet connection.
Another powerful aspect of Dynamics 365 is the ability to automate repetitive sales and marketing tasks. Workflows can be set up to automatically assign leads to reps, send follow-up emails after key events, and create tasks or reminders. This frees up the team's time to focus on higher-value activities.
Integration is also a strong point of Dynamics 365. The platform has pre-built connectors for popular business apps like Office 365, Outlook, SharePoint, and Power Automate. This allows for seamless data syncing and extends the capabilities of the CRM. Custom integrations can also be built using the system's open API.
To help businesses develop strong, lasting relationships with their customers, Dynamics 365 offers a complete customer service module as well. It includes features like case management, knowledge base, and SLAs. Chatbot and self-service portal functionalities enhance the customer experience while also reducing support costs.
In my experience testing Dynamics 365, I've been impressed with the platform's comprehensiveness and flexibility. It has all the core features needed in a CRM with the bonus of Microsoft's familiar interface and robust integration with the rest of its software ecosystem. Setup and navigation are very user-friendly.
However, for smaller businesses, the vast capabilities may be overkill. The pricing model can also get expensive quickly, especially when adding on premium features like AI analytics. Customization and configuration require a partner or significant technical expertise to fully tailor the system.
How easy is Microsoft Dynamics 365 to use?
(Image credit: Microsoft)
Microsoft Dynamics 365 offers an intuitive and modern user experience. The interface leverages key design principles like consistency, simplicity, user-centricity, and efficiency to streamline operations and boost user satisfaction.
In my experience, the clean layout and logical organization make it easy to navigate and find what you need. The UI presents vital data and functionalities based on your Microsoft 365 role, saving time and reducing errors.
Dynamics 365 also provides robust accessibility features for users with disabilities. These include compatibility with screen readers, high contrast modes, keyboard-only navigation, and voice recognition. So the platform can be tailored to individual needs.
Another strength is the wide range of customization options. From simple configurations to custom code, you can adapt it to closely fit your organization's terminology, processes, and unique requirements. I've found the ability to customize entities, forms, views, dashboards, and workflows especially useful.
To help users get up to speed quickly, Microsoft offers extensive onboarding and training resources. These cover everything from basic setup to advanced customization. Highlights include step-by-step guides, how-to videos, and self-paced online courses through Microsoft Learn.
However, it’s worth remembering that Dynamics 365 is a fully-featured enterprise CRM, unsuited for most small business needs. Its learning curve, feature set, and pricing structure all reflect that. If you don’t have use for the advanced capabilities that this platform offers, the added complexity will just hold you back.
Integrations
Out of the box, Dynamics 365 has pre-built connectors for many popular business apps like Office 365, Outlook, Power BI, SharePoint, and LinkedIn. These connectors allow data to flow between the systems, enabling powerful automation and streamlined workflows.
Dynamics 365 also provides an extensive API that allows developers to build custom integrations with virtually any other application or data source. The API is well-documented and supports industry standards like REST and OData, making it straightforward for integration projects.
For those who prefer a low-code approach, Dynamics 365 works well with iPaaS tools like Zapier. Zapier has a dedicated Dynamics 365 app that enables you to connect it to thousands of other apps without writing any code. You can set up "Zaps" to automatically sync data, trigger workflows, and more. This opens up huge possibilities for extending Dynamics 365 outside the Microsoft ecosystem.
In my experience testing the various integration options, I've found the data syncing to be quite reliable and performant. The pre-built connectors "just work", and data flows smoothly in both directions without any lag. Microsoft has obviously put a lot of engineering effort into optimizing the sync infrastructure.
Integration is an area where Dynamics 365 shines. I'd give it top marks here. The possibilities really are endless in terms of what you can connect and automate. It's one of the product's key selling points compared to the competition.
How good is Microsoft Dynamics 365 support?
Microsoft provides a range of support options for its Dynamics 365 customer service platform. All customers get access to the standard support plan at no extra cost, which includes the ability to submit service requests via web or phone, access self-service resources like community forums and the admin center portal, and receive responses to critical issues within 2 hours during business hours.
For organizations with more extensive support needs, Microsoft offers the Professional Direct and Unified Support plans at an additional cost. These provide 24/7 phone support with under 1-hour response times for the most severe issues, along with additional services like escalation management, proactive advisories, and access to a designated Service Delivery Manager.
In terms of self-service options, Dynamics 365 users can turn to an online knowledge base with how-to articles and tutorials, community forums to discuss issues with other customers and Microsoft experts, and the admin center to manage their instance and submit service requests.
When it comes to the perception of Microsoft's support for Dynamics 365, opinions seem to be somewhat mixed. While I did find some positive comments praising the helpfulness and capability of Microsoft support agents, others expressed frustration with slower-than-expected response times, especially for non-critical issues, and having to escalate issues to get a full resolution. Several reviews mentioned that the quality of support can vary quite a bit depending on the individual agent you get.
Overall, Microsoft appears to offer a fairly comprehensive support program for Dynamics 365, with multiple live support and self-service channels. However, the more responsive service levels are limited to the paid support plans, and the consistency of support quality seems to be hit or miss based on anecdotal user reviews. Specific details on resolution times and customer satisfaction ratings are also hard to come by.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 pricing and plans
Plan
Sales Professional
Sales Enterprise
Customer Service Professional
Customer Service Enterprise
Price
$65/user/month
$95/user/month
$50/user/month
$95/user/month
Best For
Small to medium businesses, basic sales needs
Large enterprises, advanced sales features
Small to medium businesses, basic customer service
Large enterprises, advanced customer service
Features
Sales automation
Opportunity management
Outlook integration
AI-driven insights
Advanced analytics
Customizable workflows
Case management
Knowledge management
SLAs
AI-powered chatbots
Omnichannel support
Extensible platform
Limitations
Limited customization and analytics
Higher price point
Limited automation and AI capabilities
Higher price point
Microsoft Dynamics 365 offers several different pricing plans and licensing options depending on the specific CRM applications and features needed.
The Sales Professional plan starts at $65 per user per month, providing core sales force automation, Microsoft 365 integration, reporting, and dashboards. The Sales Enterprise plan is $95 per user per month for the base license.
There are additional attached licenses available to add to other Dynamics 365 apps at a discounted rate. For example, you can get both the Sales and Customer Service apps together for $68 per user per month under a current promotion. Field Service is a popular add-on, with plans starting around $95 per user per month.
For small to medium-sized businesses, the Business Central Essentials plan provides an affordable entry point at $70 per user per month. This includes key accounting and operational features. Stepping up to the Business Central Premium plan at $100 per user per month unlocks advanced functionality like service management and manufacturing.
On average, customers typically spend between $5,000 and $10,000 annually on their Dynamics 365 subscription, with implementation costs around $15,000 according to one Microsoft partner. Of course, the total cost scales up based on the number of user licenses needed.
Microsoft does make it easy to try out Dynamics 365 before committing to a purchase. Most of the CRM and ERP apps offer a 30-day free trial, while some, like Dynamics 365 Guide,s provide an extended 60-day evaluation period. These trials give full access to explore the features and capabilities.
Discounts may also be available for certain customers. Nonprofits can get donated and discounted licenses for many of the Dynamics 365 apps. Microsoft also runs promotions from time to time, such as a current offer bundling Sales and Customer Service together for a reduced price.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 review: Final verdict
Microsoft Dynamics 365 delivers a powerful and comprehensive CRM solution, particularly well-suited for medium to large enterprises already using other Microsoft technologies. Its tight integration with familiar tools like Office 365 and Power BI is a key strength.
Dynamics 365 earns high marks for its extensive set of features across sales, marketing, customer service, and field service. I found the AI-powered sales insights, automated workflows, and customization options especially impressive during my hands-on testing. The thoughtful, accessible user interface also helps flatten the learning curve.
However, all this functionality does come at a relatively high price point compared to some other CRM options. And despite the user-friendly design, Dynamics 365 is still a highly sophisticated platform that will require significant training to fully master. Some users have reported that the sheer breadth of capabilities can feel overwhelming.
Small businesses with basic CRM needs may find Dynamics 365 overkill — they should probably consider more lightweight alternatives like Monday or Sage. But for organizations with complex sales processes and customer lifecycles, particularly those already using Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365 is a top choice. Just be prepared to invest the time and resources needed to properly implement and learn the system.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 is a comprehensive customer relationship management (CRM) solution packed with advanced features enhanced by AI capabilities. It offers a robust set of tools to help businesses manage customer data, streamline sales and service processes, and gain actionable insights.
Dynamics 365 integrates tightly with the Microsoft ecosystem, including Office apps like Outlook, Word, and Excel. This allows for seamless data sharing and collaboration for cloud-based businesses already using Microsoft 365. It also offers connectors to many popular third-party business apps.
While it delivers a lot of functionality, Dynamics 365’s interface can feel a bit complex and overwhelming at first for smaller business users. The pricing model is also on the higher end compared to some other CRM platforms. But for organizations already using Microsoft tools, Dynamics 365 CRM is a powerful platform to unify customer data and processes.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 core capabilities
(Image credit: Microsoft)
Microsoft Dynamics 365 provides a centralized database to store and manage all customer data, including contact information, interaction history, and purchase records. This allows sales and marketing teams to have a complete 360-degree view of each customer.
Contact management in Dynamics 365 enables users to easily track and manage leads, opportunities, and customer accounts. The system can automatically capture lead and customer data from various sources, like web forms, and import it into the CRM. Users can then qualify and nurture leads through the sales pipeline using built-in workflows and automation.
Dynamics 365 also offers advanced sales forecasting and analytics capabilities. Sales managers can get real-time visibility into their team's performance and pipeline with interactive dashboards and reports. AI-driven insights help predict revenue, uncover at-risk deals, and provide actionable recommendations to improve win rates. Integration with Microsoft's Power BI tool allows for even deeper analysis.
To optimize marketing efforts, Dynamics 365 includes features for segmenting customers, managing campaigns, and tracking ROI across channels. Marketers can use the data in the CRM to personalize their messaging and target high-value prospects. The system also has native integrations with LinkedIn and other social media platforms for social selling.
For on-the-go sales reps, Dynamics 365 provides a fully-featured mobile app. It has an intuitive interface that allows reps to access and update customer data, manage their pipeline, and even scan business cards to create new contacts - all from their smartphone. Offline capabilities ensure reps can be productive even without an internet connection.
Another powerful aspect of Dynamics 365 is the ability to automate repetitive sales and marketing tasks. Workflows can be set up to automatically assign leads to reps, send follow-up emails after key events, and create tasks or reminders. This frees up the team's time to focus on higher-value activities.
Integration is also a strong point of Dynamics 365. The platform has pre-built connectors for popular business apps like Office 365, Outlook, SharePoint, and Power Automate. This allows for seamless data syncing and extends the capabilities of the CRM. Custom integrations can also be built using the system's open API.
To help businesses develop strong, lasting relationships with their customers, Dynamics 365 offers a complete customer service module as well. It includes features like case management, knowledge base, and SLAs. Chatbot and self-service portal functionalities enhance the customer experience while also reducing support costs.
In my experience testing Dynamics 365, I've been impressed with the platform's comprehensiveness and flexibility. It has all the core features needed in a CRM with the bonus of Microsoft's familiar interface and robust integration with the rest of its software ecosystem. Setup and navigation are very user-friendly.
However, for smaller businesses, the vast capabilities may be overkill. The pricing model can also get expensive quickly, especially when adding on premium features like AI analytics. Customization and configuration require a partner or significant technical expertise to fully tailor the system.
How easy is Microsoft Dynamics 365 to use?
(Image credit: Microsoft)
Microsoft Dynamics 365 offers an intuitive and modern user experience. The interface leverages key design principles like consistency, simplicity, user-centricity, and efficiency to streamline operations and boost user satisfaction.
In my experience, the clean layout and logical organization make it easy to navigate and find what you need. The UI presents vital data and functionalities based on your Microsoft 365 role, saving time and reducing errors.
Dynamics 365 also provides robust accessibility features for users with disabilities. These include compatibility with screen readers, high contrast modes, keyboard-only navigation, and voice recognition. So the platform can be tailored to individual needs.
Another strength is the wide range of customization options. From simple configurations to custom code, you can adapt it to closely fit your organization's terminology, processes, and unique requirements. I've found the ability to customize entities, forms, views, dashboards, and workflows especially useful.
To help users get up to speed quickly, Microsoft offers extensive onboarding and training resources. These cover everything from basic setup to advanced customization. Highlights include step-by-step guides, how-to videos, and self-paced online courses through Microsoft Learn.
However, it’s worth remembering that Dynamics 365 is a fully-featured enterprise CRM, unsuited for most small business needs. Its learning curve, feature set, and pricing structure all reflect that. If you don’t have use for the advanced capabilities that this platform offers, the added complexity will just hold you back.
Integrations
Out of the box, Dynamics 365 has pre-built connectors for many popular business apps like Office 365, Outlook, Power BI, SharePoint, and LinkedIn. These connectors allow data to flow between the systems, enabling powerful automation and streamlined workflows.
Dynamics 365 also provides an extensive API that allows developers to build custom integrations with virtually any other application or data source. The API is well-documented and supports industry standards like REST and OData, making it straightforward for integration projects.
For those who prefer a low-code approach, Dynamics 365 works well with iPaaS tools like Zapier. Zapier has a dedicated Dynamics 365 app that enables you to connect it to thousands of other apps without writing any code. You can set up "Zaps" to automatically sync data, trigger workflows, and more. This opens up huge possibilities for extending Dynamics 365 outside the Microsoft ecosystem.
In my experience testing the various integration options, I've found the data syncing to be quite reliable and performant. The pre-built connectors "just work", and data flows smoothly in both directions without any lag. Microsoft has obviously put a lot of engineering effort into optimizing the sync infrastructure.
Integration is an area where Dynamics 365 shines. I'd give it top marks here. The possibilities really are endless in terms of what you can connect and automate. It's one of the product's key selling points compared to the competition.
How good is Microsoft Dynamics 365 support?
Microsoft provides a range of support options for its Dynamics 365 customer service platform. All customers get access to the standard support plan at no extra cost, which includes the ability to submit service requests via web or phone, access self-service resources like community forums and the admin center portal, and receive responses to critical issues within 2 hours during business hours.
For organizations with more extensive support needs, Microsoft offers the Professional Direct and Unified Support plans at an additional cost. These provide 24/7 phone support with under 1-hour response times for the most severe issues, along with additional services like escalation management, proactive advisories, and access to a designated Service Delivery Manager.
In terms of self-service options, Dynamics 365 users can turn to an online knowledge base with how-to articles and tutorials, community forums to discuss issues with other customers and Microsoft experts, and the admin center to manage their instance and submit service requests.
When it comes to the perception of Microsoft's support for Dynamics 365, opinions seem to be somewhat mixed. While I did find some positive comments praising the helpfulness and capability of Microsoft support agents, others expressed frustration with slower-than-expected response times, especially for non-critical issues, and having to escalate issues to get a full resolution. Several reviews mentioned that the quality of support can vary quite a bit depending on the individual agent you get.
Overall, Microsoft appears to offer a fairly comprehensive support program for Dynamics 365, with multiple live support and self-service channels. However, the more responsive service levels are limited to the paid support plans, and the consistency of support quality seems to be hit or miss based on anecdotal user reviews. Specific details on resolution times and customer satisfaction ratings are also hard to come by.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 pricing and plans
Plan
Sales Professional
Sales Enterprise
Customer Service Professional
Customer Service Enterprise
Price
$65/user/month
$95/user/month
$50/user/month
$95/user/month
Best For
Small to medium businesses, basic sales needs
Large enterprises, advanced sales features
Small to medium businesses, basic customer service
Large enterprises, advanced customer service
Features
Sales automation
Opportunity management
Outlook integration
AI-driven insights
Advanced analytics
Customizable workflows
Case management
Knowledge management
SLAs
AI-powered chatbots
Omnichannel support
Extensible platform
Limitations
Limited customization and analytics
Higher price point
Limited automation and AI capabilities
Higher price point
Microsoft Dynamics 365 offers several different pricing plans and licensing options depending on the specific CRM applications and features needed.
The Sales Professional plan starts at $65 per user per month, providing core sales force automation, Microsoft 365 integration, reporting, and dashboards. The Sales Enterprise plan is $95 per user per month for the base license.
There are additional attached licenses available to add to other Dynamics 365 apps at a discounted rate. For example, you can get both the Sales and Customer Service apps together for $68 per user per month under a current promotion. Field Service is a popular add-on, with plans starting around $95 per user per month.
For small to medium-sized businesses, the Business Central Essentials plan provides an affordable entry point at $70 per user per month. This includes key accounting and operational features. Stepping up to the Business Central Premium plan at $100 per user per month unlocks advanced functionality like service management and manufacturing.
On average, customers typically spend between $5,000 and $10,000 annually on their Dynamics 365 subscription, with implementation costs around $15,000 according to one Microsoft partner. Of course, the total cost scales up based on the number of user licenses needed.
Microsoft does make it easy to try out Dynamics 365 before committing to a purchase. Most of the CRM and ERP apps offer a 30-day free trial, while some, like Dynamics 365 Guide,s provide an extended 60-day evaluation period. These trials give full access to explore the features and capabilities.
Discounts may also be available for certain customers. Nonprofits can get donated and discounted licenses for many of the Dynamics 365 apps. Microsoft also runs promotions from time to time, such as a current offer bundling Sales and Customer Service together for a reduced price.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 review: Final verdict
Microsoft Dynamics 365 delivers a powerful and comprehensive CRM solution, particularly well-suited for medium to large enterprises already using other Microsoft technologies. Its tight integration with familiar tools like Office 365 and Power BI is a key strength.
Dynamics 365 earns high marks for its extensive set of features across sales, marketing, customer service, and field service. I found the AI-powered sales insights, automated workflows, and customization options especially impressive during my hands-on testing. The thoughtful, accessible user interface also helps flatten the learning curve.
However, all this functionality does come at a relatively high price point compared to some other CRM options. And despite the user-friendly design, Dynamics 365 is still a highly sophisticated platform that will require significant training to fully master. Some users have reported that the sheer breadth of capabilities can feel overwhelming.
Small businesses with basic CRM needs may find Dynamics 365 overkill — they should probably consider more lightweight alternatives like Monday or Sage. But for organizations with complex sales processes and customer lifecycles, particularly those already using Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365 is a top choice. Just be prepared to invest the time and resources needed to properly implement and learn the system.
SharpSpring is a powerful yet user-friendly marketing automation and CRM platform that caters to the needs of small to mid-sized businesses. As an all-in-one solution, it offers a solid set of features, including lead management, email marketing, social media management, and a built-in CRM at no extra cost.
SharpSpring's key strength lies in its intuitive interface, which makes it easy to create complex automation workflows without requiring extensive technical knowledge. The visual campaign builder allows marketers to design multi-step campaigns with ease, while the opportunity management and task tracking features enable sales teams to stay on top of their pipeline.
However, SharpSpring is not without its drawbacks. Some users have reported occasional glitches and slower performance compared to other platforms. Additionally, while the feature set is comprehensive, it may not be as advanced as some enterprise-level solutions. Despite these minor shortcomings, SharpSpring remains a solid choice for businesses seeking an integrated marketing automation tool with CRM features.
Sharpspring core capabilties
SharpSpring packs a powerful punch when it comes to its core CRM capabilities. At the heart of its CRM functionality is robust lead management. The platform allows you to track, score, qualify, and convert leads, giving you a 360-degree view of your prospects' journey.
A standout feature is SharpSpring's ability to de-anonymize website visitors and track their behavior, enabling deep personalization. You can tailor experiences to each lead contextually based on their interests and actions.
The CRM also excels at email management, with tools to build custom emails and automate personalized outreach at scale. You can set up targeted campaigns triggered by specific lead behaviors or statuses.
For lead capture, SharpSpring provides flexible form and landing page builders. These allow you to craft custom assets that feed prospects' information directly into the CRM. Progressive profiling helps gradually build out lead profiles over time.
I'm impressed by how SharpSpring has seamlessly integrated core CRM functionality with its marketing automation capabilities. Having both in a single platform streamlines operations and aligns sales and marketing, which is great for tightly-knit startups.
However, some long-term users indicate that it may lack a few of the more advanced features you'd find in a standalone system. For many small or midsize companies, though, SharpSpring's CRM will be more than sufficient for their use case.
Overall, SharpSpring delivers on the CRM essentials — lead management, email outreach, and custom form capture — while surrounding them with strong marketing automation. This combination makes it a compelling central revenue platform for SMBs.
How easy is Sharpspring CRM to use?
SharpSpring's user interface aims to simplify navigation and reduce the learning curve for new users. Key customization options allow the platform to adapt to various business needs and use cases.
I found SharpSpring's visual campaign builder to be very intuitive once you get oriented. However, for non-marketers or those new to marketing automation, the workflow may be a bit overwhelming at first. SharpSpring does provide an excellent knowledge base to help users get up to speed, though.
SharpSpring's onboarding is one of its standout features. You get paired with an Onboarding Specialist who guides you through training over your first 60 days. The process starts with goal-setting and expectation-setting calls. Then you move into the thick of it with platform setup, data and system integration, as well as instance configuration.
After that, SharpSpring offers a menu of 30-60 minute training sessions on key platform capabilities that can be mixed, matched, and ordered to your needs. Topics include the CRM, marketing campaigns, landing pages, forms, automation, analytics, and more.
So while the workflow UI might not be immediately intuitive for all, SharpSpring compensates with strong training and onboarding. With guidance from the onboarding team, most users seem to gain proficiency within the first couple of months.
A potential downside is the flip side of customization; it may take more time to configure the platform to your needs than a more standardized tool. But if you want that flexibility and are willing to invest some upfront effort, it pays off in the long run.
Overall, I give SharpSpring high marks for its user interface, training resources, and customization options to fit diverse business cases. With a bit of time to orient and personalized onboarding, new users can harness its power.
SharpSpring integrations
(Image credit: SharpSpring)
SharpSpring offers a robust set of integration options to connect it with other business applications and extend its functionality. The CRM integrates with a wide variety of popular apps out of the box through its App Marketplace. Here you can find connectors for marketing tools like Facebook Lead Ads, Unbounce, Eventbrite, SurveyMonkey, and more.
I found the integration with Unbounce particularly useful, as it allows marketing leads captured on Unbounce landing pages to automatically sync into SharpSpring for follow-up. The Facebook Lead Ads integration is also handy for pulling in leads generated from social media campaigns.
For more custom integrations, SharpSpring supports popular automation platforms Zapier and Make (formerly Integromat). With these iPaaS (integration platform as a service) tools, you can connect SharpSpring to over 1000 other apps without needing to write any code. I was able to use Zapier to set up an integration that sends new leads from my website's contact form directly into SharpSpring, then creates tasks for a hypothetical sales team to reach out to.
SharpSpring also provides a full-featured REST API that allows developers to integrate the CRM with any other system. The API documentation is comprehensive, and the platform uses standard OAuth 2.0 authentication. Advanced users suggest that the API is relatively straightforward to work with when building a custom integration.
One thing I would like to see is more granular user permissions around integrations. Currently, any user can set up an integration, which could potentially lead to data being unintentionally exposed. It would be nice to have admin-level controls over what integrations and connected apps each user can access.
But in the end, SharpSpring's integration capabilities are quite strong. The combination of pre-built app connectors, iPaaS support, and a robust API means the platform can fit into most any tech stack. And based on my experience, the integrations are stable, and the data syncing between systems is reliable. SharpSpring has clearly put a lot of thought into making its CRM as extensible as possible.
How good is SharpSpring customer support?
SharpSpring provides a robust customer support experience for its CRM users. They offer a variety of channels to get help, including phone, email, and live chat support. Live chat is especially responsive and helpful for getting quick answers to questions.
The company also has a well-organized knowledge base with tutorials, training resources, and FAQs to help users self-serve and troubleshoot issues on their own. The articles are clear and include helpful screenshots. There's a handy search feature to find relevant content quickly.
However, SharpSpring could improve a few areas of its support. First, the live support channels are not 24/7 - you can generally only get real-time help during extended business hours. Off hours, you have to rely on their ticket system and wait for a response.
But, while many customers rave about the quality and friendliness of the support, some reviews mention that the first response time can occasionally be a bit slow, and complex issues may require some back and forth to fully resolve. SharpSpring doesn't publish official response time averages that I could find.
SharpSpring pricing and plans
Plan
1K Contacts
10K Contacts
20K Contacts
Agency
Enterprise
Price
$449/month
$999/month
$1,449/month
Custom pricing
Custom pricing
Best For
Small businesses needing basic automation
Medium businesses seeking comprehensive CRM features
Large businesses requiring extensive lead management
Marketing agencies managing multiple clients with diverse needs
Large enterprises needing advanced CRM with marketing automation
Features
Unlimited users
Marketing automation
Social media management
10X more contacts
Dynamic landing pages
Advanced reporting
Advanced automation
Custom integrations
Enhanced analytics
Rebrandable interface
Unlimited users
Client management tools
Advanced analytics
Custom workflows
Extensive integrations
Limitations
Limited customization options
May lack advanced integrations
Higher cost for additional onboarding
Requires a setup call for pricing and onboarding
Requires contact with SharpSpring for detailed pricing and onboarding
SharpSpring offers a simple and straightforward pricing model based on the number of contacts in your database. Their plans start at $449 per month for up to 1,000 contacts, scaling up to $999 per month for 10,000 contacts and $1,449 per month for 20,000 contacts.
One appealing aspect of SharpSpring's pricing is that all plans include unlimited users, support, training, and a dedicated onboarding specialist at no extra cost. This provides great value for growing teams that need multiple logins without incurring additional per-user fees.
SharpSpring's pricing is all-inclusive with no hidden charges or add-ons required to access advanced features. Every plan gives you its complete suite of sales and marketing automation tools. However, annual contracts are required to get the advertised monthly rates; otherwise, the month-to-month pricing is a bit higher. SharpSpring also does not publish the month-to-month costs, so you'll need to contact sales for a quote if you don't want an annual commitment.
For larger enterprises with over 20,000 contacts, SharpSpring offers custom plans tailored to your needs and scale. Again, you'll have to get in touch with their team for a personalized price quote.
While not as cheap as some entry-level CRMs, I think SharpSpring provides a good balance of robust features and affordable, predictable pricing that can scale with your business. The lack of extra charges for basics like additional users and customer support is a big plus.
But a huge downside is the lack of a free plan for solo entrepreneurs and small businesses to get started. There's also no pricing information for their month-to-month plans or enterprise tiers. More transparency would be nice.
But overall, SharpSpring's cost is reasonable for the functionality you get, especially with the generous allotments for users and support on all plans.
SharpSpring CRM review: Summary
SharpSpring is a solid, intuitive, and easy-to-use CRM solution that provides good value for small to mid-sized businesses and marketing agencies. The platform offers a robust set of features, including lead management, email marketing, social media management, and a built-in CRM at an affordable price point compared to some competitors.
Its intuitive visual campaign builder is a key selling point, which makes it easy to design multi-step automation workflows for marketing and sales. CRM functionality, while relatively limited, is also well-integrated, enabling a seamless handoff between marketing and sales.
However, SharpSpring is not without some shortcomings. While the core feature set is solid, it may fall short for companies with very advanced sales automation needs. Some users have also reported occasional performance issues and bugs.
You would think the concept of a mature superhero story would be played out by now; who has room for yet another ragtag team of outcasts with questionable morals and a habit for swearing, but come together against all odds and become one messed-up found family? And yet, AdHoc Studio's episodic, choice-based narrative game, Dispatch, has proved me wrong.
Review info
Platform reviewed: PC Available on: PC, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2 Release date: October 22, 2025
Set in an alternate Los Angeles where enhanced individuals, demons, and aliens are the norm, in Dispatch, you play as Robert Robertson, a superhero who goes by the name Mecha Man. But after his mission to take down the supervillain Shroud goes wrong, Robert is forced to take a break from his hero duties.
Feeling dejected and forced into early retirement, he's soon approached by the celebrated hero Blonde Blazer, and in exchange for repairing his suit, Robert joins the Superhero Dispatch Network (SDN), an organization aiding the people of LA.
(Image credit: AdHoc Studio)
Tell-your-own-adventure games are so back
AdHoc's first game was created by a team of Telltale Games alumni along with other industry veterans, so it makes sense that it manages to capture the spirit of what made Telltale's stories so memorable in the first place. From the very first episode, I was taken with Dispatch, and it made me realize how much I've missed these interactive stories after their long absence.
With its eight-episode runtime, Dispatch is structured like an animated TV series and looks the part, too, with its remarkable animation and fluid art style that pop like the panels of a comic book. Thankfully, though, this isn't just another run-of-the-mill mature superhero drama that has become popularized these past few years. Yes, it does have the dark humor and violence that are typically present in these stories, but this gamemanages to successfully set itself apart from shows like Invincible, The Boys, or Peacemaker by being original enough.
Dispatch is workplace comedy and also a redemption story at its core. But it's not Robert who is looking for it; rather, the team he is forced to take under his wing.
At the SDN, it's Robert's job as a dispatcher to oversee the Z-Team, a group of former villains and anti-heroes that have been recruited to do some good. There's drama, rivalry, and some hilarious interactions to be found with this bunch, as well as frequent sex jokes, but at its core, Dispatch tells a sincere story about second chances and proving to yourself that you're more than your past mistakes.
(Image credit: AdHoc Studio)
Since he's leading the team, choosing how to approach Robert's personality is up to the player, and choices will have a rippling effect on those around you. My version of Robert was a compassionate, all-around good guy who believed in his team, and through certain dialogue options, the game does a great job of humanizing these ex-villains through witty banter, corny yet genuinely funny gags, heartfelt moments that offer an insight behind the mask, and the natural familial environment that comes with it all.
While all this is going on, there's also the looming threat of the primary antagonist, Shroud, voiced by the excellent Matt Mercer. Shroud's overall presence in the main narrative is lacking until late in the game, and I would have liked to have spent more time exploring his history with Robert. That being said, when he eventually makes his reappearance, his arrival presents an exhilarating conflict that pays off thanks to the game's solid build-up and how invested I became in rehabilitating the Z-Team.
Similarly, I was hoping for more about Robert's backstory, too, more so a deeper look into his relationship with his absentee superhero father and what his life was like as Mecha Man before he became entangled with the Z-Team, and it's something I would love to delve more deeply into in a potential follow-up season.
(Image credit: AdHoc Studio)
Clocking in to save the day
As an interactive narrative adventure, Dispatch lets you sit back and watch the story play out while clicking your preferred dialogue options throughout. But outside of this, and executing quicktime event (QTE) scenarios that feel genuinely thrilling when they're combined with flashy fight scenes, the game offers additional ways to make you feel more involved in creating your preferred world state.
During Robert's SDN shifts is where the core gameplay takes place and where you must use your wits to strategically assign heroes to missions across LA by matching the requirements to the character traits and their respective attributes for maximum success.
It's a sort of management sim, with different mission types that present unique challenges, requiring you to use your initiative to figure out the best course of action while also completing a series of hacking mini-games that feel incredibly rewarding when you achieve your tasks.
For players who are looking for a more relaxing time, the game also offers a Cinematic Mode, which disables QTEs during the main story, and an option for unlimited hacking attempts, so there's no need to stress about messing up and ruining your playthrough.
Missions and hero training also go hand in hand. Depending on your performance during shifts, heroes can earn XP that can be used to level up their attributes, as well as unlock additional skills that increase their chances of top marks.
(Image credit: AdHoc Studio)
Synergy abilities between a pair of heroes can also make or break a job, and reaching max synergy will add another major buff to the success rate. Heroes also have specific characteristics that will make them the right fit for a caller's request, like a runaway train that needs someone with high Vigor and Combat stats; that's a job for Punch Man or Golem. Having trouble with a demonic threat? Malevola is your best bet.
Personal choices, low morale, and narrative events like someone leaving work early or heroes sabotaging each other can also impact your daily shifts. At one point, the game asks you to pick a new addition to the Z-Team, newcomer Waterboy or the famous Phenomaman, and either choice will have a positive and negative impact on missions due to their attributes.
If you choose Waterboy, he's a weak character from the start with poor attributes, but he's a clean slate, meaning you can build him up however you like, and I ended up pouring his XP into making him an agile fighter. On the other hand, if you add Phenomaman to your team, he's incredibly strong from the start and can complete a variety of missions easily, but he has a terrible debuff that makes him depressed whenever you fail a mission.
The entire concept is an inspired idea that feels like an evolution in the long-standing, tailored narrative genre, offering more autonomy to the player beyond simply selecting certain dialogue options.
(Image credit: AdHoc Studio)
Building bonds
The game consists of eight episodes, with every cliffhanger leaving me at the edge of my seat, but, oh, how I wish there were more, if only so I could spend more time with these characters. Before even reaching the finale, every single member of Robert's circle, whether it be the anxious yet charming Waterboy, the charismatic Prism with her illusion powers, the devil from down under Malevola, or the literal bat man Sonar, had grown on me.
There wasn't a single member of the Z-Team that I disliked enough to wish I could boot from my team, and that's mainly thanks to the endearing way each distinctive hero is written and presented within the group, and the fantastic cast that voices them.
The bonds that Robert builds with the Z-Team, as well as the accompanying characters like Chase and Royd, feel so authentic by the final episode that I didn't want to say goodbye.
But the shining star for me was Invisigal, voiced by the amazing Laura Bailey, an abrasive and complicated ex-thief with a desire to be a hero. Her chemistry with Robert is one of the strongest facets of the game and overall storyline, and she quickly became a standout character among the bunch by matching Aaron Paul's sarcastic energy, who is also excellent in his role.
(Image credit: AdHoc Studios)
Dispatch excels in almost every way, but its endearing superheroes are the highlight of the game for me. Robert Robertson, every member of the Z-Team, and even the accompanying characters like Chase and Royd, stand out thanks to their distinctive personalities and the excellent voice work from an all-star cast.
Yes, Dispatch also features romance, but it's not a deeply rooted aspect of the game, unlike other personally tailored adventure games that let you smooch your companions. This isn't necessarily a negative thing, but your options are very limited to either Invisigal or Blonde Blazer, and both are equally enjoyable as the other.
The thing is, the Z-Team is comprised of a bunch of great personalities that I would have loved to explore in additional playthroughs if given the chance beyond platonic relationships.
Nevertheless, despite being all-in on winning Visi's heart from the get-go, at times, it felt as if the game was pushing me towards her anyway, so much so that it almost feels like her and Robert are the canon pairing.
There are also many points in the game where your decisions will make or break your potential bond with Visi, and even if you don't romance her, her prominent role in the narrative presents major repercussions depending on your decisions, including an ambiguous outcome that leaves questions about the possibility of a season 2.
Should you play Dispatch?
Play it if...
You enjoy superhero stories told in episodic format Dispatch is a workplace comedy set in a universe where superheroes are the norm, but thanks to its remarkable animation and a heartfelt storyline, it sets itself apart from what we're already familiar with.
You're looking for a game with lovable characters Dispatch's characters are the highlight of the game, so if you're looking for a chaotic group of former villains turned heroes, turned found family to fall in love with, you're in for a treat.
You're a fan of choice-based narrative games If you've previously enjoyed Telltale Games, you'll love AdHoc Studio's Dispatch, which takes place over the course of eight bite-sized episodes with impactful choices to be made.
Don't play it if...
You're not a fan of choose-your-own adventure games Dispatch is a choice-based narrative game and structured like an animated superhero TV series, so if you don't want to sit back and watch the story play out or only interact through dialogue options and mini-games, this game might not be for you.
Accessibility
Dispatch offers a ton of accessibility features, including a Cinematic Mode that turns off QTEs during scenarios, an Unlimited Hacking Attempts option, a colorblind mode with intensity options, visual warping and additive FX monitoring, and subtitle size options.
Some filters also replace licensed music and offer options to censor profanity and mature visuals.
I also tested the Cinematic Mode, which turns off QTEs, on my Gigabyte M28U 28-inch 4K gaming monitor, repeated some scenarios to discover alternative outcomes, and compared the game's gameplay elements to Telltale's The Walking Dead and The Wolf Among Us.
The Alldocube IWork GT Ultra is a 2-in-1 Windows tablet designed to deliver a blend of portability, performance, and versatility for both professional and personal use. At its core, the device is powered by the Intel Core Ultra 5 125H processor, which features a hybrid architecture with 4 performance cores, 8 efficient cores, and 2 low-power efficient cores, totalling 18 threads. This configuration ensures robust multitasking capabilities and efficient power consumption, making it suitable for demanding productivity tasks as well as everyday computing.
Equipped with 16GB of LPDDR5 memory and a useful 1TB PCIe SSD, this device provides ample storage and swift data access. The GPU in this CPU generation is the integrated Intel Arc Graphics, making it suitable for creative work, media consumption, and light gaming.
In terms of connectivity, the IWork GT Ultra is well-optioned with one USB 3.0 Type-A port, two USB 3.1 Type-C ports (supporting charging) and a 5-pin magnetic PogoPin keyboard interface. Wireless connectivity is provided by Bluetooth 5.2 and Wi-Fi 6, ensuring fast and reliable network access.
The device features a robust magnesium-aluminium alloy chassis, weighing only 850g and less than 1cm in thickness. This makes it highly portable without compromising on durability. The battery is rated at 42.72Wh, supporting Type-C PD100W fast charging for extended use on the go.
Additional features include dual digital microphones, dual speakers, front and rear 5MP cameras (the rear with autofocus), and essential sensors such as a gravity sensor and Hall effect sensor. The IWork GT Ultra ships with Windows 11 Home, though it could run Windows 11 Pro or Linux, easily.
While Alldocube isn’t a familiar brand, the hardware is professionally designed and assembled, and as this is a recent Intel platform, it should be fully compatible with Windows and its apps.
The only technical caveat to this machine, and something I cover later in the review, is how long it lasts on battery, which is a little disappointing. That’s the one thing stopping the Alldocube IWork GT Ultra from being one of our choices for best business laptops.
Alldocube IWork GT Ultra: Price and availability
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
How much does it cost? From £700, €800
When is it out? Available now
Where can you get it? Amazon in most European countries
Often, 2-in-1 laptops are initially available only in the USA and maybe China before becoming more widely available. But this one is available via the global website for Europe via Amazon in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain.
You can buy this machine in Europe, and I did notice that ordering it from the German Amazon, it was possible to set my address in the UK, so it's probably purchasable in any part of Europe. The UK cost is £703.50, and the EU cost is €799.99.
While Alldocube does have a store as part of the US Amazon.com, this machine isn’t on that currently. I suspect that tariffs have impacted the potential pathway for this product to come to the USA.
And, Alldocube has regional websites for China, Russia and South Korea. I should mention that Intel customers aren’t supposed to ship systems containing Intel processors to Russia, at this time. Together with AMD, they have been litigated against in Texas for “willful ignorance” that allowed US semiconductors into Russian and Iranian weapons.
For a machine with this specification, the price is extremely aggressive, and you would be lucky to find a branded system with this capability for less than £1000.
I recall when various pieces of classic Apple hardware were launched, and fans of that brand declared that only that company could make and design that level of quality. Except Apple didn’t make those items, and the Alldocube IWork GT Ultra is a decent example of how Chinese factories can turn out things just as well-crafted as anything with a fruit logo on it when the need arises.
While not quite the absolute best quality, the IWork GT Ultra is a beautifully engineered 2-in-1 system which can operate as a 13-inch tablet or with its flexible keyboard cover, a laptop.
The only caveat is that, like the original Microsoft Surface machines, the flexible keyboard makes it practically impossible to type with it balanced on your lap, irrespective of what rabid Microsoft marketing people insist.
This machine apes the Surface considerably, except it doesn’t try to oversell its capabilities, and it's significantly cheaper. For those interested in a comparable Surface, the Surface Pro 10 for Business does have the series 2 Core Ultra processor and Thunderbolt ports, but you will be spending more than double the cost of the iWork GT Ultra, and that’s for a machine with only 256GB of storage.
One of the evident changes of this design for Alldocube’s engineers was heat dissipation, because on the top and side of the tablet are vents, and it does get warm in use and while charging. Under duress, the fan can also be on the noisy side.
The one edge without vents is the bottom, where the flexible keyboard attaches. I’ve had plenty of 2-in-1 systems where the keyboard will detach at the slightest encouragement, but this design with two engaging lugs stays put neatly.
The keyboard is USB, and the pogo pins along that interface connect it effectively when the two are brought together.
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
Connectivity on this tablet design is predictably limited, with only three USB ports and no HDMI out or LAN ports. Two of the ports are USB 3.2 Gen 2 USB-C, and the other USB-A port is Gen 1. It would have been nice to have had USB4, but given the price point, I’m not surprised that wasn’t included.
With Gen 2 ports, you can add LAN and HDMI out, but note that one of these ports is required for charging.
The big disappointment, which isn’t uncommon in tablet designs, is that there’s no obvious way to get inside this system, which rules out any memory or storage upgrades. I suspect that the memory is soldered, but a removable panel to get to the M.2 module would have been helpful. Therefore, the maximum memory this system will ever have is 16GB, and should the 1TB storage fail, the system is junk, unless you are a ninja with a spudger.
While I can’t directly confirm the maker of the SDD, or how the drive is connected, so trying to open it to replace that module would be an act of desperation.
Design: 4 / 5
Alldocube IWork GT Ultra: Hardware
Intel Core Ultra 5 125H
Intel Arc Graphics
28 PCIe Lanes
This machine uses the Intel Core Ultra 5 125H processor, from the first generation of Core Ultra models that were released in December 2023.
The thinking behind these chips was to make Intel king of power efficiency, while not bothering so much about performance. And they succeeded in dramatically improving laptop battery life, but they were technically slower than the Intel 13th Gen silicon they replaced. Since then, these Meteor Lake designs have been superseded by the second generation, where Intel tried to rebalance the performance and efficiency equation.
In the Core Ultra 5 125H design, there are only four performance cores, and only those cores support hyperthreading. The other Efficient-cores (8) and Low Power Efficient-cores (2) do not have hyperthreading, giving a total of 18 potential threads. Many demanding applications ignore the Efficient-cores, since getting threads to sync and not waiting for slower cores is inherently inefficient.
One good thing about this platform is that it has Arc Graphics, a reworking of the Xe architecture from its Iris Xe era. This implementation of Arc Graphics has seven Xe cores and can deliver 10 TOPS (int8) performance for AI processing. This isn’t very different from what the replacement Core Ultra 5 135H offers, since the Arc in that chip only adds an extra Xe core to make 8, and increases the execution units from 112 to 128, TMUs from 56 to 64 and ROPs from 24 to 32.
For typical office graphics requirements, the Arc Graphics in the Core Ultra 5 125H is more than adequate, unless you are trying to use dedicated CAD or develop AI models.
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
The best aspect of the Core Ultra 5 125H is its 28 PCIe lanes, but unfortunately, in this system, more of those lanes go unused. All of the USB probably uses less than a couple of PCIe Gen 4 lanes, and the storage uses a maximum of four lanes. Even with WiFi and Bluetooth, probably twenty of these lanes never see any traffic.
This is why the Core Ultra 5 125H has been popular in Mini PC designs, since those can use the lanes for Thunderbolt and multiple storage devices, but here they’re largely superfluous.
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
Another strong aspect of this hardware is the display, which isn’t something I’d usually call out on a low-cost solution.
This 13-inch IPS panel has a natural resolution of 2560×1600 and a brightness of 500 cd/㎡m², which is probably the highest resolution you might practically want in a screen of this size.
Its colour accuracy isn’t amazing, so I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone working with exacting hues, but it's bright, and the 10-point touch sensor is configured for a 4096-level USI pressure-sensitive pen. There wasn’t a pen in my review model, but I have noticed that some of the retailers selling them do include this item.
Overall, the specification of the IWork GT Ultra is better than the price might suggest, although some of the better aspects, like the PCIe lanes, are largely moot.
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
Hardware: 4 / 5
Alldocube IWork GT Ultra: Performance
Laptops
Alldocube IWork GT Ultra
Asus Expertbook
CPU
Intel Core Ultra 5 125H
Intel Core Ultra 5 226V(Engineering Sample)
Cores/Threads
14C 18T
8C/8T
TPD
28W
17W
RAM
16GB LPDDR5X
16GB DDR5 (8x 2GB)
SSD
1TB Brand Unknown
512 GB Samsung MZVL8512HELU
Graphics
Intel Arc GPU
Intel Arc GPU
NPU
Intel NPU (11 TOPS)
Intel NPU (40 TOPS)
3DMark
WildLife
16,267
13,247
FireStrike
5607
6273
TimeSpy
2638
3047
Steel Nomad.L
2156
1908
CineBench24
Single
89
113
Multi
378
520
Ratio
4.25
4.59
GeekBench 6
Single
2163
2543
Multi
9923
9881
OpenCL
28337
25163
Vulkan
26454
27541
CrystalDIsk
Read MB/s
7062
5035
Write MB/s
6397
2804
PCMark 10
Office
5979
6137
Battery
6h 23m
18h 18m
Battery
Whr
42.72
50
PSU
100W
100W
WEI
Score
8.2
8.3
It was difficult to find another laptop in my data collection that used a similar platform, so I chose to offer the Asus Expertbook, a machine that uses a more recent Intel Core Ultra 5 226V processor. However, the Asus hardware is significantly more expensive.
What’s interesting is that the Asus Expertbook was clearly calibrated for the best possible battery life, whereas the Alldocube IWork GT Ultra was oriented more to raw performance.
A significant change that Intel executed between the Core Ultra 5 125H and Intel Core Ultra 5 226V was that the latter chip has no hyperthreading at all, reducing the thread count to eight, four each from the performance and efficiency cores.
The end result is that the Core Ultra 5 226V performs well at single-thread operations and better in multithreading, but it doesn’t push its Arc Graphics GPU as hard.
But the parts of this data that tell the most revealing story are those to do with power consumption, and that’s not good news for the IWork GT Ultra. Admittedly, the iWork GT Ultra has less battery, just 42.72 Whr, but the running time of the expert book is almost three times as long, with only 50 Whr.
Therefore, if you can’t guarantee a place to recharge during a working day, then the Expertbook is a much better proposition. The recharging of the expert book was also slower than it might have been, recovering just 24% of capacity in 30 minutes.
In short, the IWork GT Ultra is fine for the short sprint, but not ideal for the long haul.
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
Performance: 4 / 5
Alldocube IWork GT Ultra: Final verdict
If it weren’t for the lacklustre battery life, this would be a system I’d strongly recommend. The need to carry a power pack or the PSU with you undermines the ultra-lightweight profile of this machine.
That one rather critical point aside, this is an excellent piece of equipment if an Intel Series 1 processor, 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage work for your use.
The inspiration for the IWork GT Ultra is obviously the Microsoft Surface, and it does a decent job of offering a workable solution if you like that concept.
I do hope that Alldocube now makes an Intel Core Ultra Series 2 or modern AMD Ryzen version, and brings the power efficiency that is the Achilles heel of this device.
Should you buy a Alldocube IWork GT Ultra?
Value
An affordable option for ultra portable
4 / 5
Design
No upgrades and limited ports, but a terrific display
4 / 5
Hardware
A Core Ultra Series 1 CPU and GPU with plenty of power
4 / 5
Performance
A decent processor and GPU, but battery life is limited
4 / 5
Overall
Not ideal for a working day on battery, but an affordable option
4 / 5
Buy it if...
You need a cheap 2-in-1 The true strengths of this design are that it is only 800g, and it's a reasonably powerful laptop. The downsides are the limited ports and battery life. With a limited budget, this could be made to work.
You are on a tight budget For the money, this is a decent laptop with some nice features and a good hardware platform, and at a price that doesn't get you much these days.
Don't buy it if...
You like upgrades There are no possible upgrades here, at all. What the machine comes with is what it has.View Deal
You need good battery life The battery life of this machine isn't good, mostly because it doesn't have a large battery, and the system is set up for performance.
