If you need a ton of power for a ton of devices, the UGreen Nexode 500W 6-Port Charger could be the ultimate solution for you. This multi-port desktop charging station is equipped with five USB-C ports and one USB-A alternative, GaN smart tech, and a premium build. But the question is: should you really spend more than $200 / £200 to get hold of it?
Well, if you don’t have a lot of power-hungry devices like modern laptops, tablets, handsets, and more, the 500W maximum power output may mean the answer to this question is “no”. But if you’ve got a high-demand setup, I think you’ll get great value from this model.
Yes, if peak performance is what you’re after, it won’t get much better than this. You can activate 240W single-port charging for devices like gaming laptops or e-bikes, and even charge 5 laptops with 100W of power at once. I tried juicing up my Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, LG Tone Free T90S, the Motorola Edge 50 Neo, and the Marshall Kilburn III – and every device bounced back to 100% in no time.
(Image credit: Future)
My 4,700 mAh Samsung phone charged in under 80 minutes with every port in simultaneous use, and something I picked up on was that the Nexode 500W never got too hot. That’s largely thanks to inbuilt sensors that execute real-time temperature monitoring for protection against overheating and support of secure, stable charging.
And there’s just so much tech rammed into this desktop charger. It harnesses the might of six GaN chips, helping it to offer maximum charging efficiency while also maintaining a compact build. There’s everything else you could want too, from short-circuit prevention through to electrostatic protection.
Still, given the high-spec nature of this charger, it’s quite hefty, weighing in at just under 5lbs (2.2kg). I’d argue it's compact, though, given its 500W of power, so unless you have a particularly small desk, it should fit your setup.
The only other aspects that could disappoint are the charger's lack of a display or companion app compatibility – something its main rival, Anker, has implemented into some of its desktop chargers. Additionally, there are no USB-C cables included – I would have really appreciated at least one, and I think many buyers would too.
Otherwise, I’ve got no complaints about this UGreen powerhouse. It has both a durable and premium feel, serving up excellent performance, and although the price tag is high, it has the capabilities to justify it.
Should I buy the UGreen Nexode 500W 6-Port Charger?
Buy it if…
You need a ton of power If you want to charge multiple laptops simultaneously or simply juice up all the devices at your desk, the UGreen Nexode 500W 6-Port Charger is ideal. If you’re holding a meeting, say, and both you and your colleagues need to charge your devices, it’s a great solution thanks to its efficient, speedy multi-port performance.
You want access to 240W charging A real draw of this model is its ability to deliver 240W of power through a single port. That means you can optimally charge some seriously power-hungry devices without compromise – think gaming laptops, e-bikes, or the Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M4 Pro).
Don't buy it if…
You don’t have an especially high power demand 500W, simply put, would be overkill for most people. This product is designed for those with intensive power needs – businesses and pro gamers, for example. If you’re an individual user, you may want something like the Anker Prime Charger (200W, 6 ports, GaN), which has enough juice to recharge your laptop, phone, and a handful of smaller devices. I use this one myself, and absolutely love it!
You’re on a budget As a result of its gigantic power and high-caliber tech, the UGreen Nexode 500W is pretty pricey. Yep, at over $200 / £200, this isn’t ideal for those on a budget. Having said that, you can sometimes find this model on sale, so make sure to keep your eyes peeled for a deal if you’re sold on it.
UGreen Nexode 500W 6-Port Charger review: also consider
Anker Prime Charger 6-Port Desktop Charging Station 250W 500W a little much? Looking for something a little cheaper, too? Then this multi-port desktop charger from Anker is an awesome option. You get 250W of power, six ports (4x USB-C; 2x USB-A), a useful display with power consumption info, and app compatibility. It’s also a fair bit smaller, making it ideal for smaller desks. Read our full Anker Prime Charger 6-Port Desktop Charging Station 250W review.
If you're tired of personal smoothie makers that struggle with ingredients tougher than milk and bananas, the Beast Mighty 850 Plus could be the best blender for you. Rather than running on a rechargeable battery like many of its rivals, the 850 Plus is mains-powered and has a considerably more powerful motor, paired with a tough blade unit.
That means you won't be able to blend a protein shake in the changing room after a gym session, but if you're interested in making green juices and fresh smoothies using tough fruits and vegetables, it'll produce much smoother and more palatable results.
During my tests, it turned kale, oat milk, and blueberries into a very drinkable beverage with no flecks of leaf to get stuck in my teeth. It also totally blitzed frozen blackcurrants, eliminating the gritty seeds that usually make them a troublesome ingredient.
The Beast Mighty 850 Plus can tackle ingredients that lesser blender leave in lumps (Image credit: Future)
The disadvantage of this power is that the 850 Plus is relatively noisy. However, a single blending cycle is enough to tackle just about anything you can throw at it, so you'll only have to endure the noise for one minute.
This is an attractive appliance that comes in a range of colors, so you can pick one to suit your kitchen. (I chose white, but black, muted blue, and sand are other options.) It comes with three different-sized blending vessels (the small one is particularly good for salad dressings), plus a choice of lids for carrying your creations on the move.
The vessels have ridges on the sides that look interesting, but can be an issue if you're using a sticky ingredient like peanut butter, which can get a bit stuck. Beast supplies a long-handled cleaning brush to remove this debris, but almost all the components are dishwasher-safe, and I found this a much easier way to get everything squeaky clean.
Beast Mighty 850 Plus: price and availability
Available in the US and UK for $149 / £149.99
Beast Health also offers a more affordable model and a premium one
Costs more than most personal blenders, but is more powerful
The Beast Mighty 850 Plus is available direct from Beast, and from third-party retailers, including Amazon, for $149 / £149.99. At the time of writing, Beast Health blenders aren't available in Australia. You'll find today's best prices listed below.
The 850 Plus sits in the middle of Beast Health's range of personal blenders. If you want something a little more affordable and don't mind sacrificing some power and accessories, the Beast Mighty 650 costs £119.99 and is only available in the UK.
The company's top-end model is the Beast Mega 1200 Plus, which is priced at $199 / £199.99. Extra blender vessels in various sizes are available to buy separately.
The Beast Mighty 850 Plus is relatively pricey for a personal blender (for example, the Ninja Blast Max and Nutribullet Flip are both around $89.99/£89.99), but the price difference is understandable considering what you're getting for your money. The 850 Plus has a more powerful motor than those other two, and runs directly from the mains rather than a rechargeable battery. It also comes with a bigger set of accessories, including three different-sized blending vessels.
Value score: 4.5/5
Beast Mighty 850 Plus: design
Stylish blender with three vessels and a choice of lids
Controls are very simple to use
Ingredients can stick in ridges after blending
Dishwasher-safe components
The Beast Mighty 850 Plus is a particularly stylish blender with a large base that houses its powerful motor and a set of three blending vessels with ridged sides. It comes in a variety of colors, including Cloud White (shown here), Mist (slate blue), Sand, and Carbon Black.
Its vessels have capacities of 415ml, 638ml, and 786ml; the larger two are ideal for smoothies and protein shakes, while the smaller one works well for portions of salad dressing or sauce. You also get a screw-on lid, a drinking lid with a carry cap and straw lid, two drinking straws, and a set of two cleaning brushes (a large one for the vessels and a small one for the straws).
The 850 Plus comes with three blending vessels and an assortment of lids (Image credit: Future)
The large brush is particularly useful if you plan to wash the blender vessels by hand because ingredients (especially sticky ones) have a tendency to accumulate in the grooves on the sides. Many personal blenders can be cleaned by adding water with a squirt of dish soap and running a blending cycle, but the Beast blender needs more thorough cleaning.
Thankfully, the blade unit, blending vessels, and caps are all safe to wash in the top drawer of a dishwasher. and came out perfectly clean during my tests. The only parts of the blender that aren't dishwasher-safe are the base unit and the straws.
Unlike some personal blenders we've tested here at TechRadar, the Beast 850 Plus doesn't have a rechargeable battery. This means you can't use it to blend ingredients on the move, but the fact that it runs directly from the mains means it can offer more blending power than portable smoothie makers.
Its controls are very simple to use, with a large yellow power button at the back and a 'blend' button on the front. Pressing this button once will pulse the blender, and holding it briefly will initiate a minute-long blending cycle.
Design score: 4.5/5
Beast Mighty 850 Plus: performance
The Beast Mighty 850 Plus lives up to its name, with the best blending performance of any personal smoothie maker I've tested to date.
I started by testing the blender with a particularly tough ingredient: mixed frozen berries. These pose two challenges: first, frozen strawberries are essentially big chunks of dense ice that many blenders struggle to break through, and second, blackberries and blackcurrants are full of tiny seeds that can leave a smoothie feeling gritty in the mouth if not completely blended.
Image 1 of 2
Gritty blackcurrant seeds are no challenge for the powerful motor and tough blades of the 850 Plus (Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 2
One of the lids has a hole for a drinking straw (two of which are provided with the blender) (Image credit: Future)
I added a good handful of the frozen fruit to the blender along with oat milk and a scoop of vanilla protein powder, and was pleasantly surprised when a single minute-long blending cycle obliterated even the largest strawberries to create an icy shake, while also obliterating the gritty seeds.
The 850 Plus crushes ice cubes equally well, and one blending cycle turned a double shot of espresso with ice and milk into a perfect iced coffee.
I also tried the 850 Plus with our standard testing smoothie – Nutribullet's Banana Kale Blueberry Freeze, which often poses a challenge for blenders due to its high content of fibrous green veg. I added the ingredients to the largest blending vessel, then ran a single blending cycle to see how well everything was combined.
Image 1 of 2
TechRadar's standard test smoothie includes generous amounts of raw kale (Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 2
A single blending cycle produced a smooth and palatable drink, with no flakes of kale (Image credit: Future)
Some blenders (such as the Nutribullet Flip) require a second cycle to break up the kale, but the 850 Plus thoroughly blitzed all the ingredients first time, creating a very drinkable smoothie with no flecks of leaf to stick to my teeth.
The blender averaged around 80dB at the start of a blending cycle. dropping to 75dB once the ingredients started to break down. This makes it one of the loudest blenders I've tested to date, which can be explained by its more powerful motor, but is worth bearing in mind if you're particularly sensitive to noise.
Performance score: 5/5
Beast Mighty 850 Plus: also consider
If you're not sure that the Beast Mighty 850 Plus is the right blender for you, here are two others to consider.
Nutribullet Flip
The Nutribullet Flip has its blades and motor in the lid, meaning you can easily carry the whole appliance wherever you go. Its smooth design makes it hard for ingredients to become stuck, and it generally works well, though it didn’t handle tough kale and frozen strawberries as well as the Beast Mighty 850 Plus.
One of the most powerful portable blenders available right now, the Ninja Blast Max makes light work of most ingredients and can be carried around for blending on the move, making it ideal for post-workout protein shakes.
One of the more expensive personal blenders I've tested, but you're getting a lot for your money.
4.5/5
Design
Very stylish and supplied with three different sized vessels. Ingredients can get stuck on the ridged sides, but the cups are dishwasher-safe.
4.5/5
Performance
Makes light work of difficult ingredients like fibrous vegetables and frozen fruit with a single blending cycle. Quite loud, but very effective.
5/5
Buy it if
You want serious power
The Beast Mighty 850 Plus has a lot more blending power than the average smoothie maker, so it's a great pick if you want to use more challenging ingredients than protein powder and bananas. Frozen fruit and tough veggies are no match for its motor and blades.
You value versatility
This blender's different-sized vessels make it great for more than just drinks. The smallest one is particularly good for whipping up salad dressing and cold sauces.
Don't buy it if
You want to blend on the move
The 850 Plus doesn't run from a battery, so you'll be restricted to blending in the kitchen. If you want to whip up a shake at the gym after your workout, take a look at the offerings from Nutribullet and Ninja instead.
You're watching the pennies
This is a premium personal blender. You're getting a lot for your money, but if you're on a tight budget, then there are cheaper, though less powerful, alternatives available.
How I tested the Beast Mighty 850 Plus
I used the Beast Mighty 850 Plus for a week, making a variety of recipes, including TechRadar’s standard banana, blueberry, and kale smoothie, which we make with all the personal blenders we test.
I used the blender to tackle ingredients I knew to be particularly tough, including large frozen berries and ice, making sure to select the most appropriate blend setting each time.
I measured the volume of the blender during use with a decibel meter app on my phone.
If you're tired of personal smoothie makers that struggle with ingredients tougher than milk and bananas, the Beast Mighty 850 Plus could be the best blender for you. Rather than running on a rechargeable battery like many of its rivals, the 850 Plus is mains-powered and has a considerably more powerful motor, paired with a tough blade unit.
That means you won't be able to blend a protein shake in the changing room after a gym session, but if you're interested in making green juices and fresh smoothies using tough fruits and vegetables, it'll produce much smoother and more palatable results.
During my tests, it turned kale, oat milk, and blueberries into a very drinkable beverage with no flecks of leaf to get stuck in my teeth. It also totally blitzed frozen blackcurrants, eliminating the gritty seeds that usually make them a troublesome ingredient.
The Beast Mighty 850 Plus can tackle ingredients that lesser blender leave in lumps (Image credit: Future)
The disadvantage of this power is that the 850 Plus is relatively noisy. However, a single blending cycle is enough to tackle just about anything you can throw at it, so you'll only have to endure the noise for one minute.
This is an attractive appliance that comes in a range of colors, so you can pick one to suit your kitchen. (I chose white, but black, muted blue, and sand are other options.) It comes with three different-sized blending vessels (the small one is particularly good for salad dressings), plus a choice of lids for carrying your creations on the move.
The vessels have ridges on the sides that look interesting, but can be an issue if you're using a sticky ingredient like peanut butter, which can get a bit stuck. Beast supplies a long-handled cleaning brush to remove this debris, but almost all the components are dishwasher-safe, and I found this a much easier way to get everything squeaky clean.
Beast Mighty 850 Plus: price and availability
Available in the US and UK for $149 / £149.99
Beast Health also offers a more affordable model and a premium one
Costs more than most personal blenders, but is more powerful
The Beast Mighty 850 Plus is available direct from Beast, and from third-party retailers, including Amazon, for $149 / £149.99. At the time of writing, Beast Health blenders aren't available in Australia. You'll find today's best prices listed below.
The 850 Plus sits in the middle of Beast Health's range of personal blenders. If you want something a little more affordable and don't mind sacrificing some power and accessories, the Beast Mighty 650 costs £119.99 and is only available in the UK.
The company's top-end model is the Beast Mega 1200 Plus, which is priced at $199 / £199.99. Extra blender vessels in various sizes are available to buy separately.
The Beast Mighty 850 Plus is relatively pricey for a personal blender (for example, the Ninja Blast Max and Nutribullet Flip are both around $89.99/£89.99), but the price difference is understandable considering what you're getting for your money. The 850 Plus has a more powerful motor than those other two, and runs directly from the mains rather than a rechargeable battery. It also comes with a bigger set of accessories, including three different-sized blending vessels.
Value score: 4.5/5
Beast Mighty 850 Plus: design
Stylish blender with three vessels and a choice of lids
Controls are very simple to use
Ingredients can stick in ridges after blending
Dishwasher-safe components
The Beast Mighty 850 Plus is a particularly stylish blender with a large base that houses its powerful motor and a set of three blending vessels with ridged sides. It comes in a variety of colors, including Cloud White (shown here), Mist (slate blue), Sand, and Carbon Black.
Its vessels have capacities of 415ml, 638ml, and 786ml; the larger two are ideal for smoothies and protein shakes, while the smaller one works well for portions of salad dressing or sauce. You also get a screw-on lid, a drinking lid with a carry cap and straw lid, two drinking straws, and a set of two cleaning brushes (a large one for the vessels and a small one for the straws).
The 850 Plus comes with three blending vessels and an assortment of lids (Image credit: Future)
The large brush is particularly useful if you plan to wash the blender vessels by hand because ingredients (especially sticky ones) have a tendency to accumulate in the grooves on the sides. Many personal blenders can be cleaned by adding water with a squirt of dish soap and running a blending cycle, but the Beast blender needs more thorough cleaning.
Thankfully, the blade unit, blending vessels, and caps are all safe to wash in the top drawer of a dishwasher. and came out perfectly clean during my tests. The only parts of the blender that aren't dishwasher-safe are the base unit and the straws.
Unlike some personal blenders we've tested here at TechRadar, the Beast 850 Plus doesn't have a rechargeable battery. This means you can't use it to blend ingredients on the move, but the fact that it runs directly from the mains means it can offer more blending power than portable smoothie makers.
Its controls are very simple to use, with a large yellow power button at the back and a 'blend' button on the front. Pressing this button once will pulse the blender, and holding it briefly will initiate a minute-long blending cycle.
Design score: 4.5/5
Beast Mighty 850 Plus: performance
The Beast Mighty 850 Plus lives up to its name, with the best blending performance of any personal smoothie maker I've tested to date.
I started by testing the blender with a particularly tough ingredient: mixed frozen berries. These pose two challenges: first, frozen strawberries are essentially big chunks of dense ice that many blenders struggle to break through, and second, blackberries and blackcurrants are full of tiny seeds that can leave a smoothie feeling gritty in the mouth if not completely blended.
Image 1 of 2
Gritty blackcurrant seeds are no challenge for the powerful motor and tough blades of the 850 Plus (Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 2
One of the lids has a hole for a drinking straw (two of which are provided with the blender) (Image credit: Future)
I added a good handful of the frozen fruit to the blender along with oat milk and a scoop of vanilla protein powder, and was pleasantly surprised when a single minute-long blending cycle obliterated even the largest strawberries to create an icy shake, while also obliterating the gritty seeds.
The 850 Plus crushes ice cubes equally well, and one blending cycle turned a double shot of espresso with ice and milk into a perfect iced coffee.
I also tried the 850 Plus with our standard testing smoothie – Nutribullet's Banana Kale Blueberry Freeze, which often poses a challenge for blenders due to its high content of fibrous green veg. I added the ingredients to the largest blending vessel, then ran a single blending cycle to see how well everything was combined.
Image 1 of 2
TechRadar's standard test smoothie includes generous amounts of raw kale (Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 2
A single blending cycle produced a smooth and palatable drink, with no flakes of kale (Image credit: Future)
Some blenders (such as the Nutribullet Flip) require a second cycle to break up the kale, but the 850 Plus thoroughly blitzed all the ingredients first time, creating a very drinkable smoothie with no flecks of leaf to stick to my teeth.
The blender averaged around 80dB at the start of a blending cycle. dropping to 75dB once the ingredients started to break down. This makes it one of the loudest blenders I've tested to date, which can be explained by its more powerful motor, but is worth bearing in mind if you're particularly sensitive to noise.
Performance score: 5/5
Beast Mighty 850 Plus: also consider
If you're not sure that the Beast Mighty 850 Plus is the right blender for you, here are two others to consider.
Nutribullet Flip
The Nutribullet Flip has its blades and motor in the lid, meaning you can easily carry the whole appliance wherever you go. Its smooth design makes it hard for ingredients to become stuck, and it generally works well, though it didn’t handle tough kale and frozen strawberries as well as the Beast Mighty 850 Plus.
One of the most powerful portable blenders available right now, the Ninja Blast Max makes light work of most ingredients and can be carried around for blending on the move, making it ideal for post-workout protein shakes.
One of the more expensive personal blenders I've tested, but you're getting a lot for your money.
4.5/5
Design
Very stylish and supplied with three different sized vessels. Ingredients can get stuck on the ridged sides, but the cups are dishwasher-safe.
4.5/5
Performance
Makes light work of difficult ingredients like fibrous vegetables and frozen fruit with a single blending cycle. Quite loud, but very effective.
5/5
Buy it if
You want serious power
The Beast Mighty 850 Plus has a lot more blending power than the average smoothie maker, so it's a great pick if you want to use more challenging ingredients than protein powder and bananas. Frozen fruit and tough veggies are no match for its motor and blades.
You value versatility
This blender's different-sized vessels make it great for more than just drinks. The smallest one is particularly good for whipping up salad dressing and cold sauces.
Don't buy it if
You want to blend on the move
The 850 Plus doesn't run from a battery, so you'll be restricted to blending in the kitchen. If you want to whip up a shake at the gym after your workout, take a look at the offerings from Nutribullet and Ninja instead.
You're watching the pennies
This is a premium personal blender. You're getting a lot for your money, but if you're on a tight budget, then there are cheaper, though less powerful, alternatives available.
How I tested the Beast Mighty 850 Plus
I used the Beast Mighty 850 Plus for a week, making a variety of recipes, including TechRadar’s standard banana, blueberry, and kale smoothie, which we make with all the personal blenders we test.
I used the blender to tackle ingredients I knew to be particularly tough, including large frozen berries and ice, making sure to select the most appropriate blend setting each time.
I measured the volume of the blender during use with a decibel meter app on my phone.
Graywind offers a wide variety of smart blinds, including zebra, panel track, vertical, Ventian, and wood blinds. They also have a variety of smart shades, including roller, Roman, cellular, dual, and more. They even have smart curtains. Within each category, you can choose from selection of sizes, fabrics, and colors.
Then you choose your motor from five options: Eve Apple HomeKit Motor, Rechargeable BLE RF Motor, Zigbee Alexa Motor, Matter Smart Motor, or Hardwired WiFi Motor. I selected the zebra blinds and the Eve Apple HomeKit motor, since I'd be using my iPhone and HomePod to control the blinds.
I can't say that getting the Graywind Smart Blinds up and running was easy. The screws that were included for installation were not great quality, which meant that they stripped easily. Setup was also a little tricky. Still, I managed to get everything up and running. Once completed, the blinds work exactly as expected. You can set up scenes or automations which allow you to set opening and closing to a schedule or situation of your choosing. You can also control the blinds using your smartphone, voice, or just your hands.
(Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)
Graywind Smart Blinds: price & availability
Starting price is relatively inexpensive
Can get pricey with upcharges
Custom fit to many sizes
You can order Graywind Smart Shades, Curtains, and Blinds directly from the Graywind website or you can buy them from Amazon. Prices start at $109.99 (£82.04/169.88 AUD.) I selected the zebra blinds in the charcoal blackout fabric and the Eve Apple HomeKit motor. I also added a solar panel and an extra-long wall charging cable. Blinds in the size and style you see in my photos go for $276.99(£206.59/427.97 AUD) each. It's important to measure your windows carefully if you want the blinds to fit correctly. I chose the outside mount style and made my measurements accordingly.
Value score: 4.5/5
Graywind Smart Blinds: design
Tricky installation and setup
Goes up and down smoothly and quietly
Blinds can get caught in solar panel charging cable
You'll need to be pretty handy and have access to a drill in order to install the Graywind Smart Blinds. You'll also need to be patient and careful, since the included screws are soft and strip quite easily.
Note that if you're charging the blinds via the solar charger, the blinds can get tangled with the charging cord pretty easily. I've gotten around that issue by not opening the blinds 100%. But I shouldn't have to do that.
(Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)
Once you get the blinds installed and charged via solar panel or wall charger, you're ready to set them up with your smartphone. I ordered two sets of identical blinds for windows right next to each other; I was able to set up the first one using only the Home app on my iPhone.
(Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)
For some reason, I wasn't able to set up the second set that way. I had to download the Eve app on my iPhone and set it up there. Once that was done, I was able to control both sets of blinds via either the Home or Eve app.
(Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)
There is also a pull cord that you can use for manual operation, if you wish. One tug on on the pull cord gets the blinds moving in one direction, a second tug stops them, and a third tug gets them moving in the other direction.
Are these the most beautiful blinds I've ever seen? No, and the 'fabric' is plastic. But they look fine, and they do what they are supposed to do.
Design score: 3.5/5
Graywind Smart Blinds: performance
Can be controlled so many different ways
Use with Google, Amazon, or Apple
Opening and closing mechanism works beautifully
As mentioned above, there are five different types of motors, so you'll want to make your selection carefully. I chose the Eve Apple HomeKit motor, since I have both an iPhone and a HomePod. But you can also choose BLE RF Motor (works directly with the Graywind app via Bluetooth, no bridge needed), Hardwired WiFi Motor (no bridge needed), Zigbee Alexa Motor, or a Matter Smart Motor (which allows use of Alexa, Google, HomeKit or SmartThings). A detailed guide on the site can help you choose the right one for your home if you're not sure.
As mentioned above, I was only able to set up one of the blinds using the Apple Home app; to set up the other one I had to use the Eve app. Another little blip was that one of the blinds wanted to roll the wrong way initially, but I was able to fix that by troubleshooting with the owner's manual.
Once your blinds are all set up, it's easy to control them. You can use your smartphone and tap to select how far open you want them, down to an exact percentage. You can also use the cord to control them. If you don't like the look of the cord and you're not going to use it, you can easily remove it.
(Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)
You can also set up scenes and automations, so that your blinds open and close at specific times or in specific situations of your choosing. For example, you could have the blinds open at sunrise and close at sunset. Or, you can set your blinds to open when you say, "Good morning!" and close when you say, "Good night!" Or have them them close automatically when you leave the house and open when you arrive home. I just set mine to open and close to a specific percentage at a specific time. But there are endless ways you can set them up. I tried several different ways and they all worked great.
Performance score: 4.5/5
Should you buy the Graywind Smart Blinds?
Graywind Smart Blinds score card
Attribute
Notes
Score
Value
They start pretty inexpensively for custom smart blinds
4.5/5
Design
Design is fine but there are some minor yet annoying flaws
3.5/5
Performance
Once you get everything set up, the blinds are simple to use and perform beautifully
4.5/5
Buy it if
You want to be able to control your window covering in a variety of ways
Graywind offers five different motors so you can use Bluetooth, Alexa, Apple, Matter, or connect directly to your home's Wi-Fi. You can also control them manually with a cord.
You want customization
Graywind has you covered with smart blinds, shades, and curtains in a huge variety of styles, sizes, fabrics, and colors.
Don't buy it if
It's not in the budget
Graywind's prices actually start quite reasonably, but can ramp up quickly for bigger windows and other customizations.
You want ultra-easy installation, setup, and removal
I found these a little tricky to install and set up. You need a drill and some patience to fiddle around. This might not be ideal for renters, since they do have to be screwed in to the window frame.
Graywind Smart Blinds: also consider
Want some other, similar options to check out? Here are a couple of TechRadar favorites to consider.
SmartWings Smart Blinds
These are pretty similar to Graywind's offerings but, but you may find a particular style more appealing. Read our SmartWings Smart Blinds review to learn more.View Deal
SwitchBot Blind Tilt
Looking to spend a lot less? You can use your existing blinds and just add this little guy. You don't even need a drill, which makes this a renter-friendly option. Check out our SwitchBot Blind Tilt review.View Deal
How I tested the Graywind Smart Blinds
I placed Graywind Smart Blinds in two bedroom windows. I tested out the blinds in a number of different ways. I tapped them open and closed using the Apple Home app, Eve app, and Control Center on my iPhone, both at home and away from home using a HomePod mini as a hub. I told Siri to open and close the blinds. I set up an automation to open the blinds a certain percentage 8:00 a.m. and close them at 9:00 p.m. each day. I also used the manual cord to open and close the blinds.
I’ve noticed that lately, possibly since the introduction of SSDs, if the power is cut to a PC, a file might become corrupted, but the operating system is usually unaffected.
But would you take that chance with a server or network hardware on a customer-facing or point-of-business system?
If the answer is no, then the Eaton SmartPro Tripp Lite UPS I’m reviewing here might be worth including on the budget, as it’s built specifically for providing the time to shut a system down gracefully.
The catchily named Eaton SMX1500XLRT2UN is a 2U high industrial UPS that can be rack mounted or floor standing, has power outputs for up to eight mains-powered devices, and 1500VA of battery capacity on tap to keep those devices running should mains power fail.
That capacity can be increased either with one of the other SmartPro Tripp Lite models or with an expansion battery that connects to a 48V/50A connector on the rear.
This top-of-the-line model also supports WEBCARDLXE, USB, and even a DB9 serial cable for those who prefer to telnet into infrastructure.
It allows the Eaton SMX1500XLRT2UN to be part of a greater disaster management plan, giving IT professionals the ability to make the best strategic choices in the event of power loss.
This equipment isn’t easy to handle, and the price isn’t especially low, but it's built for the job and not a battery borrowed from an alternative purpose, making one of the best UPS around.
Eaton SmartPro Tripp Lite UPS: Price & availability
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
How much does it cost? $1454 / £1460
When is it out? Available now
Where can you get it? Direct from Eaton or through online retailers like Amazon.
The cost of a UPS of this type is directly impacted by the size of the battery, and what features for managing that stored power are provided.
As the Eaton SMX1500XLRT2UN is a top-tier unit in its particular series, it comes at a slight premium due to the extra features like WEBCARDLXE.
That makes the basic price around £1460 Inc VAT in the UK, and $1454 in the USA. In the UK and Europe, Eaton sells mostly through retail partners, but in the USA, this hardware can be bought directly from Amazon.
It should be noted that although the same model number, the US version is designed for 120V equipment, whereas in the UK and throughout Europe it outputs 230V.
Personally, if you are unfamiliar with UPS technology and want to get the right one for your installation, it is best to talk to a partner, because they’ll provide you with all the options and additional information about replacement batteries and expansion.
If you don’t need their expertise, then Amazon will work if you live in a region where these devices are sold through them.
The immediate response to many seeing this price will be that a 1500VA battery can be found for $225, so why pay this much for this equipment?
The devil is in the details, as they say. However, the battery component of this equation is a relatively small part of the exercise, and a 1500VA battery with this type of management, configuration, and expansion potential is likely to cost much more than $1500.
The APC SRT1500RMXLA is similar, with an asking price of $ 1,473 for the 120V model, for example.
There are only a limited number of brands that make these types of devices, and therefore, the price variance is limited.
You can buy cheaper units with roughly the same battery capacity, but they won’t have the features of this hardware and generally aren’t intended to handle the power demands of an entire rack at a moment's notice.
Value: 4 / 5
Eaton SmartPro Tripp Lite UPS: Specs
Hardware
Eaton Tripp Lite series SmartPro UPS
Part No.
SMX1500XLRT2UN
Rack Size
2U
Topology
Line-interactive
Phase
Single-phase
Nominal output
208V
Voltage options
200/208/220/230/240V
Max current
10A
Outlets
8x C14
Size
591.8 x 505.5 x 223.5 mm (W x D x H)
Weight
?19.5kg
Accessories
Mounting rails, legs, power cables, USB cable, D89 cable
Warranty
2-year warranty, 3-year with registration
Extended battery
Yes, 48V/50A
Eaton SmartPro Tripp Lite UPS: Design
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
Heavy duty
Floor or rack
Excellent connectivity
The elephant in this room, or something almost as heavy, is the size and mass of this UPS. Its quoted weight is 43.1lb (19.5kg), but if you deploy it to a rack, then the mounting rails add even more weight.
My recommendation would be to never install one of these without the help of another person, because even removing it from the packaging isn’t easy.
Once this giant square metal box is extracted, it can be oriented in two different ways. It can be vertically mounted using two L-shaped feet, provided that they screw into the sides. Alternatively, it is sized to be installed in a 19-inch rack, being 2U high.
For those wanting to rack mount this UPS, I’d strongly suggest putting it in the lower section of the rack, because having this much mass high up is inadvisable. On the subject of stability, it comes with sliding rails that enable easier access to the rear once it's installed. But again, since this will move the centre of gravity, it's another reason not to put this high up in a rack. There are side brackets that securely attach it to the rack, but my concern is that if the rack isn’t securely bolted to the floor, it might overbalance.
On the front of the unit is a plastic facia panel that must be removed before installation; it simply pulls off. Behind it is the battery, and for safety reasons, it is shipped disconnected.
A notable feature of this design is that the entire battery pack can be replaced, extending the unit's life. Once the battery is connected, the facia can be replaced.
One significant feature of the front is a small display on the right side of the unit that features simple button controls. As the UPS can be floor-standing, this would put the display on its side; however, Eaton's approach to this problem made me chuckle.
The obvious solution would be a menu feature for orientation, but Eaton engineers made a cradle for the display that, with the help of a screwdriver, the panel and buttons can be popped out and then put back in after being rotated by 90 degrees.
Interestingly, the Eaton Tripp Lite logo on the other end can also be twisted to be readable in an upright position.
My only issue with the screen is that it isn’t especially bright, and the menu system it allows for navigation is remarkably basic. However, most IT professionals using this equipment are likely to utilise more feature-rich interfaces.
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
Where this UPS becomes substantially more interesting is on the rear, where all the external connections are located.
Using standard IEC male-to-female cables, the SMX1500XLRT2UN features eight power outlets on its rear, and retaining clips are provided to prevent accidental disconnection. That’s great, but unless the server or other hardware has similar retainers on its power inputs, then it's only half the answer.
What the rear panel also offers is a wide range of potential connections, including two flavours of USB, Ethernet, and even DB9 serial.
Most engineers will probably be fine with LAN access, but the USB option adds the possibility of a server shutting down before the battery is exhausted, even with the use of a software tool.
There is also a substantial port for adding an additional battery, and these come in some large capacities that might keep a substantial server cluster up for more than a few minutes.
From a design perspective, the SMX1500XLRT2UN is built for purpose, possibly overbuilt, and it offers all the bells and whistles that server admins are looking for.
Design: 4 / 5
Eaton SmartPro Tripp Lite UPS: User experience
Command line
WEBCARDLXE
Lots of things about this hardware made me laugh, but not in a bad way.
I’ve not been an IT Manager for twenty-five years, but there are features in the SMX1500XLRT2UN designed for exactly the type of thinking that was prominent when I was, and even before that.
What I’m referring to here is the PowerAlert Device Manager (PADM) Version 20 Command Line Interface, for its full title. Once you’ve established a network connection to the UPS, it’s possible to connect via SSH via a terminal tool and issue commands.
How many commands? A ridiculous number. The Eaton provided PDF that documents them and what they do runs to 230 pages, and some pages have multiple commands.
Since I left all this insanity behind me some considerable time ago, it’s a struggle to understand why anyone would want to do this. However, conversely, I could imagine a scenario where installing a large number of these and being able to create a script that runs through all the settings you might want to make for all of them could be useful.
Another approach to that problem is a software tool called the PowerAlert Mass Configuration Utility, which allows you to log in to each UPS by its IP number and then make global changes. To implement multiple changes, an XLM file containing a configuration can be saved and then executed on new hardware devices when they are added.
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
The only issues I have with this software are that it looks like it was designed when Windows XP was supported, and it can’t cope with making changes to different UPS models.
While it doesn’t offer the granularity of the command line or mass-appeal of the app, there is a much more approachable web interface, WEBCARDLXE, that provides the monitoring and easy access that more modern IT professionals would probably gravitate.
What’s missing here is a Cloud service model, although Eaton does offer the PowerAlert Element Manager, which consolidates management utilities for Eaton LX Platform devices.
PowerAlert software offers a complete set of tools designed for overseeing and safeguarding power across different settings, whether from an individual computer or a whole network.
From an IT perspective, the user experience, with the exception of WEBCARDLXE, is somewhat dated. However, Eaton is selling into an ultra-conservative environment that is decidedly anti-change. And therefore, their support for older-thinking and methods is probably serving them well.
User experience: 4 / 5
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
Eaton SmartPro Tripp Lite UPS: Final verdict
When I first received this item, I was slightly underwhelmed with it, because compared with a battery system like those offered by EcoFlow for home use, it seemed positively prehistoric.
However, I’ve come to appreciate this hardware more, even if I think there are some things to be learned from the likes of the EcoFlow Delta line and similar products.
What this hardware does exceptionally well is provide a decent window of opportunity to elegantly achieve the landing with servers and other network devices, rather than everything entirely faceplanting when the power suddenly disappears.
What it isn’t built for is to keep that equipment running for a sustained period, although Eaton has some alternative options directed more towards those objectives.
With all the connectivity, the servers should be aware of the power loss scenario and have a failsafe that can shut them down in a controlled manner before the SMX1500XLRT2UN is entirely exhausted. Additionally, it's possible to expand the unit to provide a larger time window before that becomes necessary.
What concerns me is that, should you shut a system down during a power loss and then power returns, you need to pray that the power doesn’t go out again within the next 4.5 hours. That seems an inordinate amount of time to restore 1,500VA of power, something the EcoFlow Delta 2 can achieve in under an hour.
That said, the SMX1500XLRT2UN is designed to remain on trickle charge for long periods, whereas the battery architecture of the EcoFlow equipment was designed to be fully exhausted daily. That might well be the reason it takes so long to restore, so I can’t make an apples-to-apples comparison. Faster recovery should be something that Eaton needs to consider, as it creates a significant period of vulnerability after a power loss.
Another point that surprised me about this hardware is that it lacks wireless networking or Bluetooth capabilities, which would enable remote monitoring without the need for physical wires.
I’m not sure why Eaton isn’t interested in wireless networks, but interference can’t be the issue, I’m sure.
An interactive phone application that alerts IT staff to a potential power loss would be ideal, but to achieve that with this equipment is somewhat convoluted. Additionally, it assumes that the computer running the Webcard application, along with its network hardware, including the Internet, is also protected from power loss.
The interconnected nature of this UPS and the hardware it maintains is part of the strategic thinking that needs to be established before it's deployed; otherwise, this is merely an expensive battery.
Eaton SmartPro Tripp Lite UPS: Report card
Value
For this hardware spec, this is the price
4 / 5
Design
Built to last and can have its battery replaced
4 / 5
User experience
CLI, global update app and Web UI
4 / 5
Overall
Lacks modern thinking, but does what it needs to
4 / 5
Should I buy a Eaton SmartPro Tripp Lite UPS?
(Image credit: Eaton)
Buy it if...
You need a power loss strategy This isn’t a cheap UPS that promises to keep the power on for a few minutes and your PC safe; it’s much more than that. If you want to have a complete power-loss plan, this is a building block for precisely that.
You like flexible solutions The ability to bolt extra battery capacity to the basic UPS, and extend battery running time, enables the power support to expand with the hardware it's maintaining.
Don't buy it if...
You don’t use racks While this UPS can be floor-standing, it’s designed for racking, and not just any cheap model. If it were accidentally knocked over and hit someone, it could easily break an ankle.
If you need to do graphic design, you need dedicated software, ideally installed on a powerful computer.
But CoreDRAW Go is turning that idea on its head, by offering you graphic design software, but from a web browser… so let’s check it out.
CoreDRAW Go: Pricing & plans
(Image credit: Corel // Future)
This is an online service so you can only access it via an ongoing subscription, although the 15-day free trial is welcome, and so’s the 30-day money back guarantee
Being an online service, CorelDRAW is, you’ve guessed it, only available as a subscription, although you do have two options: you can choose to pay on a month by month basis, which would cost you $10 (or £9) each time, or select a yearly contract, which will set you back $100 (or £95).
There are often discounts on offer, like at the time of writing, Corel reduced the price of each of these by 30%. You’re also free to try CorelDRAW Go for 15 days without even having to hand out your credit card details, and Corel do offer a 30-day money back guarantee, should you decide the service isn’t for you.
So many templates and presets are available to you to start a new project with ease. It’s just a shame this service is limited to only two browsers
Whether you grab yourself a subscription immediately or dip your toes in with the free trial, you need to also set up an account with Corel. It's free and can be done at the same time, and will allow you to save your projects to a dedicated personal space on Corel’s servers.
One potential issue is the limited number of browsers that CorelDRAW Go supports: it will only work with Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome. If you’re not a fan of either, and prefer one of the other many options, I’m afraid you’re out of luck: choose one of these two, or look for another service.
The first place you get to once logged in, is the Home page. From here, you have the option of starting with a handful of blank presets broken down by category, such as Social Media, Poster, and more, or choose to open a file stored on your computer (only .cdr and .svg files are supported).
The bulk of the Home page however is devoted to Templates, and there are more than just the few on display: click on ‘Explore More Templates’ at the bottom of the page, to reveal hundreds more, all organised by categories, with a handy search field to help find what you’re looking for quicker.
The same is true for those blank Presets. Click on ‘More’ to their right, and find a similar pop-up window with hundreds of options for you to choose from.
Score: 3.5/5
CoreDRAW Go: Interface
(Image credit: Corel // Future)
A nicely designed interface that offers nothing new to an experienced user, yet makes it easy to immerse yourself into this service
You’ll find the interface extremely simple and well organised. In fact if you’re familiar with other graphic design apps, you’ll feel right at home in no time, delving into CorelDRAW Go. Your tools are located in three sidebars, two of which are collapsable to increase the space devoted to your project.
On the left you have the various tools you’ll be using all the time, from Shapes, Brushes, and Text, to Stock Assets, the ability to import your own objects, as well as your project’s Settings.
Top right is your Properties panel, where you can change various parameters of a selected item. Lower right, that’s where you have control over your layers, where you can select one, create new ones, move them around, and delete them, lock them to prevent further changes, or hide them.
There’s also a menu at the top where you’ll find undo and redo commands (also accessible via keyboard shortcuts), as well as an export option.
All in all, there’s nothing new here, yet that’s a definite advantage, as the muscle memory you developed elsewhere will be of great value here as well.
Score: 4.5/5
CoreDRAW Go: Tools
(Image credit: Corel // Future)
A wide range of tools to help you create complex designs in next to no time
CorelDRAW Go has a wealth of tools to help you create projects, and caters to beginners and advanced users alike. Any creation tools you might need can be found in the sidebar on the left. From there, you have access to a myriad of shapes, brushes and text tools.
Clicking on one of these reveals a secondary menu, where you can choose exactly the one you’re after. The shapes for instance are vectors, so you can resize them, without any loss in quality, until they look perfect for your needs by dragging one of the outside handles, or clicking and dragging on a little dot inside the shape to alter its configuration further.
You can do the same with Stock Assets object. You’ll find thousands of ready-made vector images, and millions of photos to choose from and add to your project, and when it comes to fonts, there are thousands waiting for you, ensuring your designs are as unique as they can be.
Of course, the Properties panel is there to make sure you’re able to change an object's colour, or add a gradient, control its outline, transparency and shadow, easily covering the basics of what you need to do. However, CorelDRAW Go has a few fancy tools up its sleeve. It can, for instance, turn a shape into a ‘Mask Frame’, allowing you to drag an image into it, creating a complex masking effect in seconds.
Score: 4.5/5
CoreDRAW Go: Exporting
(Image credit: Corel // Future)
CorelDRAW Go has a surprisingly generous number of exporting options, from dpi to file formats
Once you’ve completed your project, it's time to share it with others. That’s where the Export menu comes into its own. You’re offered various choices, from its size (in pixels), to its resolution (from 72 to 600dpi). You also have a selection of formats, including JPEG, PNG, PDF, and SVG.
All in all, CorelDRAW Go is a well rounded graphic design application which has a wide range of tools to help you create unique projects, but perhaps what’s most impressive, is that you’re doing all of that inside a web page. It’s amazing how far web development has gone that you easily forget you’re not working in a dedicated app installed on your computer.
Score: 4.5/5
Should I buy CorelDRAW Go?
(Image credit: Corel // Future)
Buy it if...
If you’re looking for a graphic design service you can access from anywhere, with a generous number of powerful tools and an interface that’s similar enough to other competing products to hit the ground running.
Don't buy it if...
You don’t fancy subscribing to yet another service, don't like the idea of working within a web browser, or you're using an incompatible browser.
There are a few different M5 options – the robot is the same, but the dock is different:
Q7 M5: Charge-only dock Q7 M5+: Auto-empty dock Q7 M5 Max+: Auto empty and water refill dock
For this review, I tested the Q7 M5, with the charge-only dock.
The Roborock Q7 M5 is a relatively basic option from within the Roborock robot vacuum lineup, aimed at the more budget-conscious consumer. Despite the affordable pricing, it's still a capable bot, offering the kind of suction specs I'd expect from a much pricier model.
The design may lack the bells and whistles (and robotic arms) of the brand's newest offerings, but it's still effective in use. As well as sporting a robust build, it has a generously sized dust cup and water tank and bouncy suspension that enables it to clear relatively tall room thresholds with confidence. Navigation is also reliable and mapping accurate.
In my vacuuming tests, the Q7 M5 proved up to the task of clearing up debris, large and small, and sucked up an impressive volume of dog hair from my carpets, too. It did struggle a little with getting right into the edges of rooms, however – more advanced robot vacuums typically have a side brush that can extend outwards, whereas the one on the Q7 M5 is fixed.
The mop setup is rather basic, although the bot still managed to clean up a dried ketchup smear surprisingly effectively. Overall I felt mopping was rather wetter than expected, so it perhaps isn't the best choice if you have delicate wooden floors, for example. The Q7 M5 also lacks the capacity to lift its mop when traversing carpet (not surprising at this price point, though).
The model I tested comes with a compact, charge-only dock, and is perfect for those with small homes, or if you want a cleaner for a less-used floor of a multi-storey home. However, owners of larger homes and/or pets should seek out the "Plus" model where possible; it arrives with an auto-empty dock, which will save you from having to empty the onboard bin too frequently.
That's the short version; read on for my full Roborock Q7 M5 review.
The basic Q7 M5's compact dock means it can be tucked out of the way (Image credit: Future)
Roborock Q7 M5 review: price & availability
List price: $299.99 / £239.99
Launched: April 2025
Available: US and UK (AU alternatives available)
The Roborock Q7 M5 launched in April 2025, as an upgraded version of the previous Q7 Max. The brand has plenty of fancier, pricier bots (see the arm-equipped Saros Z70, for example) in its lineup, but the Q7 M5 is designed to appeal to a more budget-conscious consumer.
In the US, the Q7 M5 costs $299.99 direct from Roborock, but was discounted to £239.99 at time of writing. In the UK, the list price when purchased direct from Roborock is £239.99, but at time of writing it was reduced to £179.99. Even at full price, it falls into the budget bracket.
Having tested a few budget bots now, I'd say that even at full price this vacuum offers decent value for the features and performance it delivers, with the discounted prices making it more appealing still. My current favorite robot vacuum around this price level is the Dreame D9 Max Gen 2, which costs $299.99 / £219 at full price. However, the Roborock offers stronger suction specs and slightly more advanced mopping – in that you can switch off that functionality without having to remove the mop pad.
Upgrading to the Q7 M5+ with the auto-empty dock pushes the price up to $429.99, while the Q7 M5 Max+ – with a dock that not only empties dust but also refills the water tanks – is $599.99. Those upgraded options don't appear to be available in the UK, though. In both cases, the list prices are on the high side for what you're getting – although, at time of writing, both models were already available at generous discounts, bringing them more in line with the price I'd expect to pay.
The Q7 M5 doesn't seem to be available in Australia, but there is a Roborock Q7B for AU$399, which looks very similar but has slightly less suction. There's also a Q7T Plus for AU$799, which looks the same as the Q7 M5+ with its auto-empty dock.
Value for money score: 4 out of 5
Roborock Q7 M5 specs
Max suction:
10,000Pa
Robot diameter:
12.8in / 35.3cm
Robot height:
3.9in / 9.9cm
Dock dimensions (W x D x H):
6.3 x 4 x 2.8in / 16 x 7 x 10.1cm
Dust bin volume (onboard):
Requested
Water tank volume:
Requested
Base type:
Charge only (more advanced docks available)
Roborock Q7 M5 review: design
Robovac with raised LiDAR puck, chunky wheels and charge-only dock
Fixed, D-shaped, removable mop
Dust cup and water tank form one removable unit at side of bot
The Roborock Q7 M5 looks similar to other budget-friendly robot vacuums –except, perhaps, a little more robust. A chunky bumper encircles the perimeter, and there's a raised LiDAR turret for navigation (newer Roborock models such as the Saros 10R have done away with this, in favor of a different navigation method, thus offering a lower overall profile). The top surface is a mix of matte and very shiny black plastic, the latter of which attracts much dust – perhaps not the best choice for this type of gadget.
This shiny surface is a magnet for dust and fingerprints (Image credit: Future)
Flip the whole thing over and you'll find the brushroll, which has a "JawScrapers comb" to prevent hair from tangling around it – although it didn't prove very effective in practice. There's also a rotating side brush to catch dirt from around the edges of rooms. On more advanced bots this will kick out to the side as required, but the version on the Q7 M5 is fixed. Roborock has placed the brushes at an angle, so hair slips off rather than becoming tangled – and from my experience, it seems to work quite well in practice.
The wheels are thick with a deep tread, and sit on a spring-loaded hinge, presumably to allow the robot to bounce its way over tall thresholds. Other bots have more hi-tech solutions for this – the Dreame X50 Ultra Complete has little extending feet, for example – but Roborock's approach seems perfectly effective as a budget alternative.
The chunky wheels are set on a spring-loaded hinge, providing bouncy suspension (Image credit: Future)
Slotted into the side of the bot is a unit that holds the dust cup and water tank. The mop pad itself is a fixed, D-shaped style pad, and it can be clipped on and off the main robot. It doesn't feel enormously secure when clipped on, although it didn't fall off at any point in my tests. The pad part can be removed and popped into the washing machine for cleaning.
This unit houses a generous dust dup and water tank (Image credit: Future)
It's a very basic style of mop in that the pad is simply dragged along the floor, wiping as it goes. Fancier bots have mops that press on the floor or vibrate to dislodge dirt, or have dual-rotating discs.
With some budget bots, the mopping is automatically "on", whenever the mop pad is attached. That isn't the case here: you can switch the water off from within the app. However, the Q7 M5 isn't advanced enough to be able to lift up its mop pad when it encounters carpet, which means you might still end up with slightly damp carpets if the bot is making its way over them after a mopping session. (Some premium bots can even drop off their mop pads at their base station when they're not needed.)
Mopping is courtesy of a removable, D-shaped pad (Image credit: Future)
Speaking of the base station, the one included here is very basic and pleasingly compact. It simply charges the robot. In some territories there are sister models available with more advanced docks. If you're dealing with larger amounts of dust, or have a pet, I'd definitely recommend opting for a version with an auto-empty dock.
Design score: 3.5 out of 5
Roborock Q7 M5 review: performance
Navigation accurate, but object avoidance is patchy
Vacuuming is very good; mopping is fine but not amazing
Sucks up hair (pet and human) well, but it does wrap around the roller
As ever with Roborock, mapping was smooth and navigation reliable. Initial setup simply involved sending it on its way on a "Quick mapping" run, where the bot scoots around – not cleaning, just looking – and builds a map of the space as it goes. On this run, it approached the edge of the top of the stairs repeatedly (and at speed), but stopped itself every time. Good cliff sensors should be a given for any robot vacuum, regardless of price, but I felt reassured nonetheless.
With the map compiled, I could name the rooms and make necessary adjustments. Note that some parts here were slightly buggy, but I'll get into that in the App section.
The bot approached the step edge at speed, but never once took a tumble (Image credit: Future)
To kick things off, I sent the bot out on a whole-floor vacuum, just to get an initial feel for performance. There's a maximum of 10,000Pa of suction here, which is decent, and more in line with what I'd expect from a mid-range robovac. Having checked the dustbin after the run, I could see it had done a stellar job of pulling dust and pet hair from the carpet – the latter of the two being particularly challenging. I'd rate its performance among the best robot vacuums for pet hair, if you're on a budget.
The robot vacuum picked up pet and human hair impressively well (Image credit: Future)
Then it was time for some more formal suction tests. For these, I scattered a teabag's worth of dry tea leaves and a handful of oats onto the carpet, and performed a zone clean of the area. There are five suction modes to choose from: Quiet, Balance, Turbo, Max and MAX+ (I can't help thinking Roborock has gone too hard, too soon, with the naming choices here).
A single pass in Turbo mode cleared most of the oats, but only the top layer of tea. Two more passes in MAX+ and the oats were history, and only a fine scattering of tea remained. That's a super solid result – the tea is purposefully a very tricky test, and it's rare for even expensive robovacs to clear it all.
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Tea and oats on a carpeted floor ready for the carpet suction test (Image credit: Future)
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Results after a single pass in Turbo suction mode... (Image credit: Future)
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... and after two more passes in MAX+ mode (Image credit: Future)
Hard floors are far less challenging to vacuum, so I used the Balanced mode when repeating the test on the tiled bathroom floor. This time, almost all the oats were sucked up on a single pass, and the vast majority of the tea, too. The only real issue was with debris being pinged about; but, thankfully, the robot vacuum would catch any wayward remnants on a later run.
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(Image credit: Future)
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(Image credit: Future)
Moving on to the mopping tests. For this, I smeared a tiny amount of tomato ketchup on the tiled bathroom floor and left it to dry. I then set the bot on a mopping run to see if it could clear it.
There are three options for water level, or you can set the bot to mop and vacuum simultaneously (I prefer to vacuum first, then mop, to minimize the amount of gunk that ends up stuck to the damp mechanisms.)
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Dried ketchup smeared on the floor ready for the mopping test (Image credit: Future)
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(Image credit: Future)
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(Image credit: Future)
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(Image credit: Future)
Despite having a relatively basic mopping setup, the Q7 M5 actually did a pretty good job here. One pass in medium wetness mode was enough for the robovac to begin to lift the smear, and a couple more in max mode saw only a tiny bit remaining.
This is one of the wetter mopping mechanisms I've used, so it wouldn't be a great choice if you wanted something for hard floor that can only stand a little bit of water. Beware, too, that the mop pad doesn't lift, so if the route back from your hard floor to your dock is carpeted, said carpet will end up a bit damp. Overall, the mopping is fine here, but if that's your priority then there are better choices out there.
The fixed side brush couldn't get right into the edges of rooms (Image credit: Future)
Like most robot vacuums, the Roborock Q7 M5 has a spinning side brush designed to flick debris from the edges of rooms into the path of the suction. Here, it worked fairly well but not amazingly – perhaps because it's fixed rather than being able to extend. The bot shifted some of the tea sprinkled along the edge of the bathroom floor, but left more behind.
Roborock says this bot has anti-hair wrap features built into the brushroll. However, on test I found my long hair tangled around the roller. However, the anti-tangle design of the side brush was more effective on this front.
The main brushroll quickly got tangled with hair (Image credit: Future)
Finally, I ran some object avoidance tests. These involved laying out a series of objects – charge cable, socks, dog bowl – on the floor and seeing if the bot would avoid them. Unfortunately, it confidently ploughed into everything I put in front of it, so a bit of a fail on this front. (One useful hack is to activate a "Pet" mode to increase sensitivity to objects, but there was no such option I could find here.
That said, in my real-life tests the bot performed much better. For instance, it skirted the perimeters of chair legs and the base of the toilet cistern, for example, rather than bumping into them. Nevertheless, I still wouldn't recommend this bot to those who have a lot of clutter in their homes.
Performance score: 4 out of 5
Roborock Q7 M5 review: app
Encountered a few bugs that I assume will be fixed
Otherwise well-designed and intuitive
I've used plenty of Roborock robot vacuums and the app has always been great. So I was surprised that things weren't entirely smooth when testing it with the Q7 M5. While there weren't any glaring issues, I did run into several glitches: I was unable to resize a zone properly; the app would forget room names; plus it failed to save a customized cleaning routine, for example.
There was also a strange bug where the text wasn't resizing properly, so the ends of words would routinely be cut off – do you want to "Mo" or "Vacuu"? I assume most of these are temporary glitches and should be fixed before long.
Otherwise, it's the same well-designed app I'm used to. It's pretty intuitive, well-laid out and easy to figure out from scratch.
App score: 3.5 out of 5
Should you buy the Roborock Q7 M5?
Attribute
Notes
Rating
Value
Budget price bracket and deals are common. Not the most advanced, but performance is good for the price.
4 / 5
Design
Robust-looking robot with strong suction specs, raised LiDAR tower, bouncy wheels and a basic mop mechanism. Simple but solid design, lacking the advancements of pricier Roborock bots.
3.5 / 5
Performance
Accurate navigation and very good vacuuming, but mopping is a little wet and object avoidance patchy.
4 / 5
App
Unusually glitchy, but otherwise well designed and intuitive.
3.5 / 5
Buy it if...
You're on a budget It's not the most advanced robovac on the market, but it's very affordable and deals are common – and performance is solid for the price.
You're short on space for a dock The dock here is very compact – small enough to comfortably pop under a bed, for example. It's the charge-only type, but if you're okay emptying your own dust bin, it's an ideal space-saving solution.
You mainly want to vacuum The vacuuming here is excellent. There's an impressive 10,000Pa of suction and it performed very well in my real-world vacuuming tests, too.
Don't buy it if...
You want a really capable mop Mopping functionality is basic, and quite wet – it's fine for occasional cleanups, but if you're going to be using this function more regularly, I'd suggest opting for a model with more advanced mopping capabilities.
You have a large house or lots of dust The model on test here has a charge-only dock – if you're dealing with lots of dust or pet hair, you should opt for a model with an auto-empty dock (in some territories you can pick up a M5+, which has an auto-empty dock).
How I tested the Roborock Q7 M5 robot vacuum
I used the Q7 M5 as my main robot vacuum for a week, stationing it on a higher level of my house, which includes a carpeted hall and master bedroom (where a hairy spaniel also sleeps) and a tiled en-suite bathroom. As well as getting a feel for how well it performed in general, I ran specific mopping and vacuuming tests, which included sucking up oats and/or dry tea, and using the mop to clear a smear of dried ketchup off a tiled floor. I also tested obstacle avoidance by laying out common objects to see if the bot would spot and avoid them. I compared the performance, general usability and value for money to other robot vacuums I've tested in the past.
Taking photos of documents with your phone is an incredibly convenient thing to do. But you know what would be better? Being able to convert those photos into PDFs, recognise the letters on the page, turn them into selectable and editable text, and more.
Now most phones come with a document scanning app that allows you to do some of that, but why not try an app that does it all, like Adobe Scan can?
Adobe Scan: Pricing & plans
(Image credit: Adobe // Future)
A free app is always enticing, but as expected, the best features are locked behind a paywall. The good news is if you already pay for Creative Cloud, those premium features will be unlocked immediately, otherwise, you’ll have to pay the Adobe Piper
Adobe Scan is free. You can download and install it with ease. You will need an Adobe ID though, which is free too, and you’ll have to log in before you can use Adobe Scan. If you already have another Adobe app on your device, you’ll be automatically logged into your Adobe account when you first launch Adobe Scan.
One thing worth mentioning, is as you’ll be using your phone’s camera through this app, you’ll need to grant it permission to do so first. If you’ve had to do this for other apps, the process is exactly the same: you’ll get a message asking you to ‘Allow’ the app access. Once you’ve done it once, you won’t need to do it again.
Adobe Scan will also ask you for permission to send you notifications messages. This one is less crucial, and you could easily use the app without ever having granted it that capability. Your mileage may vary of course, but don’t we already have far too many notifications on our phones as it is?
Now free Adobe Scan might be, but its more advanced features only come with a subscription. These features include being able to combine files, export to other formats, password protect your files, edit text in scanned documents, and high-speed scanning, among others. Yes, the coolest features are locked behind a paywall. Now if you already have a subscription to Creative Cloud, those features will be unlocked automatically. On its own, Adobe Scan’s premium side will cost you $10 a month (with a free 7-day trial available).
Score: 4.5/5
Adobe Scan: Interface
(Image credit: Adobe // Future)
A simple and well-organized interface with a ridiculously frustrating bug that lets the whole thing down
Adobe Scan’s main interface looks for all the world as a camera app, aside from the various options at the bottom of the screen, which aim to facilitate the type of information you wish to scan. Each is pretty self explanatory. You have Whiteboard, Book, Document, ID Card and Business Card. Each uses the tools in different ways, which we’ll look at further down.
Top left is a ‘Home’ button which takes you to your library of previously scanned documents. This is also where you get to edit the text contained within those documents, and share and export them.
Simple and straightforward enough, although bear in mind this app only works in portrait. Change the phone’s orientation and nothing happens to the interface. Although you can of course take photos in landscape, there is a puzzling and frustrating restriction when in ‘Book’ mode. That option allows you to take the facing pages of a book at the same time, lining up an overlay so you can be sure to capture the left page and the right page as best as possible based on its guides…
Except the overlay restricts you to holding your phone with the camera button on the right. Turn your phone so that button’s on the left and the result is a mess with upside down pages saved in the wrong order which you’ll have to fix manually later. An irritating bug - or is it a feature to primarily annoy left-handers?
Score: 3/5
Adobe Scan: Tools
(Image credit: Adobe // Future)
Lots of nice touches in the app’s various sections, like it being able to automatically scan a page for you, and the copying and editing of a scanned document’s text is unexpected and a great addition
Despite the flaw mentioned above, Adobe Scan is a well organised app, and separating the various functions makes sense when scanning a document. ‘Book’ works well (when your phone is forced in the right orientation) and the app cuts your image into two based on the vertical overlay line in the middle - so make sure your book’s spine is placed in that general area as well. ‘ID Card’ expects the card you’re scanning to have text on both sides, and then combines both shots into a single file for convenience. And ‘Business Card’ will create a new contact for you and place it in your address book, should you want it to.
By default, Adobe Scan will take a shot automatically for you once you’ve positioned your camera over the document correctly, which can help you scan multiple pages in quick succession (although we also ended up having shots of us turning a page if we weren’t quick enough - something we had to fix later). However, you can also override that and take a shot manually yourself.
When it comes to editing, Adobe Scan has a wealth of tools. From the basics, such as deleting unwanted pages, or reordering them, to more intricate features such as cleaning up an image, adjusting its brightness and contrast, and erasing unwanted parts of a photo with a ‘magic eraser’ which will attempt to fill the removed area with the same surrounding background.
You also have a markup tool for quick hand drawn annotations, but perhaps the app’s most impressive tools are its OCR capabilities. When you’re in the ‘Edit Text’ mode, Adobe Scan automatically detects the text on the page, and not only does it allow you to copy it, you can also alter the original content, even changing the font, colour and alignment. Being able to password protect your scanned document is also possible, as is the ability to fill in a scanned form and sign it.
All in all, Adobe Scan makes use of many of Acrobat’s premium features, but allows you to take advantage of them on the go, directly from your phone. It’s not perfect and has some frustrating interface decisions, but overall it’s darn good at what it does.
Score: 4/5
Should I buy Adobe Scan?
(Image credit: Adobe // Future)
Buy it if...
You take a lot of photos of documents, receipts, books, etc, love the idea of copying and editing text from a scanned image, and greatly appreciate how free most of the service is.
Don't buy it if...
You don’t like the tease of giving you some features for free but expect you to rent the best ones on a monthly basis, and you’re happy enough with the tools offered by default on your phone.
The GuliKit Elves 2 Pro is heavily inspired by the Sega Saturn gamepad, yet it’s embellished with enough modern-day features to make it playable with today’s games and platforms.
Its soft curves look good, as did the colorway I had, with its retro off-white base and multicolored accents. It’s also available in all-black, which lends it a more menacing appearance.
Its shape is more than just for show: it also helps with ergonomics. It fitted the contours of the hand very well, and I found the pronounced dips housing the face buttons and D-pad made it easy to use those inputs.
However, the small overall size of the Elves 2 Pro, coupled with the short length of handles, might deter those who prefer something more substantial. In this regard, the Elves 2 Pro falls short of the best PC controllers.
The build quality, on the other hand, is level with those gamepads. The chassis feels sturdy, and all the buttons are solid yet easy to press. The analog sticks are of a similarly high standard, although they’re shallower and have a smaller traveling circumference than many other modern controllers.
Despite the lack of customization software, there are a surprising number of tweaks you can make on the fly. There’s a settings button that’s used in conjunction with other buttons to adjust various parameters, such as stick sensitivity, D-pad modes, and the Motion Aim Assist.
In action, the Elves 2 Pro performs better than its looks might lead you to believe. The buttons are snappy and responsive, although they’re less damped than you might expect, but satisfying nonetheless. The D-pad is the real highlight, with its thick, circular design allowing for precise inputs and easy rolls without mis-presses – aspects that make it great for fighting games.
Despite their small size, the analog sticks are also a joy to use, with plenty of tactility and accuracy. When I tested the Elves 2 Pro on my Nintendo Switch, I also found the motion controls to be very accurate, although the tracking was worse when using the Motion Aim Assist mode in PC games.
Connectivity is good, and the Bluetooth seemed reliable. Switching between various devices on the fly can be a bother, though, requiring re-pairing at times. Battery life is admirable, lasting for several days in my experience.
The Elves 2 Pro sits somewhere in the middle of the third-party wireless controller market. However, it’s a little disappointing that it lacks certain common features, such as analog triggers, 2.4GHz connectivity, and companion software.
There are better value rivals that offer greater versatility, but if you want a good balance between retro design and modern performance, the Elves 2 Pro is a fine example in the space.
(Image credit: Future)
GuliKit Elves 2 Pro review: Price and availability
$49.99 / £59.99 (about AU$76)
Available now in two colorways
Middling value compared to rivals
The GuliKit Elves 2 Pro costs $49.99 / £59.99 (about AU$76) and is available now in two colorways: Retro and Black. It comes with a USB-C cable for charging.
This is a middling price for a wireless third-party controller. The multiplatform support is nice to have at this price point, but it’s a shame there are no analog triggers, no 2.4.GHz option, and no software.
You can find more controllers for the same price or less with more features. The GameSir Cyclone 2, for instance, has superior TMR sticks and Hall effect analog triggers, as well as both 2.4GHz and Bluetooth connectivity options. It also has a shape similar to the best Xbox controllers, which means it should accommodate more hand sizes.
If you want a gamepad with even more retro appeal, though, Retro-Bit’s Sega Saturn Wireless Pro Controller is probably the better pick. This costs about the same as the Elves 2 Pro, but has the advantage of 2.4GHz connectivity, and it even works with the original Sega Saturn console.
GuliKit Elves 2 Pro review: specs
Price
$49.99 / £59.99 (about AU$76)
Dimensions
5.8 x 3.4 x 1.8in / 147 x 87 x 45mm
Weight
6.7oz / 190g
Compatibility
PC, Nintendo Switch, Android and iOS
Connection type
Wireless (Bluetooth), wired (USB-C)
Battery life
About 20 hours
Software
None
(Image credit: Future)
GuliKit Elves 2 Pro review: design and features
Retro looks
Small with short handles
Surprising number of on-board tweaks
The Elves 2 Pro leans heavily into the retro aesthetic, aping the Sega Saturn controller from 30 years ago. I liked the finish of my review unit, with its off-white base offset nicely by the red shoulder buttons and multicolored face buttons. An all-black colorway is also available, though, if you’d prefer something a bit more menacing.
It’s also just as small as an old controller, which might be a problem for larger hands. I found the handles too short to get a sufficient grip on them, which contrasts drastically with many modern controllers. The diminutive size does at least help with portability, and so does the lightweight construction.
Thankfully, the Elves 2 Pro has plenty of modern touches to redress the balance: the layout is fit for contemporary games, complete as it is with two analog sticks and two shoulder buttons. However, the triggers lack analog capability, which keeps the Elves 2 Pro somewhat rooted in the past – although Nintendo fans won’t be phased by this omission.
Overall build quality is impressive. Despite its light frame, the Elves 2 Pro feels sturdy, while the buttons are solid yet light to press. I also liked the craters on either side housing the face buttons and D-pad, which make for more comfortable thumb placement.
(Image credit: Future)
The analog sticks feel premium, and their soft coating helps with grip. They’re smaller and shallower than those on many other controllers, but I found them to be a good fit for my thumbs nonetheless.
There are a few buttons related to connectivity, which are clear and easy to use. There’s a pairing button on the front and a selector switch on the back to choose the appropriate platform for the Elves 2 Pro to work with.
There’s also a settings button on the front that works in combination with other buttons to give you access to an admirable number of tweaks. You can alter stick sensitivity and vibration modes, as well as swap the A and B buttons with X and Y, and toggle the D-pad between four- or eight-direction mode.
You can also adjust parameters for the Motion Aim Assist on PC and set up Continuous Fire mode. What’s more, there’s a dedicated button on the pad for the Auto Pilot Gaming (APG) mode, which is GuliKit’s name for its macro function. You can record 10 minutes-worth of inputs, which is quite astonishing, by holding this button for three seconds, and playback the sequence by pressing the same APG button. Double-tapping the button lets you play back the macro on a continuous loop.
GuliKit Elves 2 Pro review: performance
Snappy and responsive buttons
Excellent D-pad
Inconsistent device switching
The overall performance of the Elves 2 Pro is pretty good. The face buttons are responsive and satisfying to use, despite their lack of dampening relative to many other controllers.
The sticks also feel as smooth and as accurate as you would expect given their Hall effect technology, and I personally didn’t find their small size and confined travel an issue – but hardcore console FPS fans might feel differently.
However, it’s the D-pad that stands out most on the Elves 2 Pro. Personally, I usually prefer pronged hats rather than circular ones, as I tend to find them more accurate and less prone to unintended inputs.
But the Elves 2 Pro’s are an exception, as it allows for easy multi-directional rolls while maintaining high levels of accuracy, which I certainly welcomed when playing Tekken 8. It's also well-damped and has a light actuation, which makes it effortless to use.
I also found the motion controls to be excellent when playing The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom on Switch, matching the performance of the best Nintendo Switch controllers in this department. You can also turn on motion controls when playing PC games by activating the Motion Aim Assist mode.
(Image credit: Future)
This allows the gyroscope to replace right stick movements when either L or ZL is held (your typical aim-down-sights buttons). However, when I played Atomfall on PC, the motion controls failed to track with anything like the same levels of accuracy as when using motion controls on Switch.
The Elves 2 Pro’s lack of 2.4GHz connectivity might deter those after pro-level performance, since this standard generally provides better response times. However, I can’t say I experienced any notable lag over Bluetooth with this gamepad, on any platform.
Connecting to various systems is also easy. I had no issues pairing the Elves 2 Pro to my Nintendo Switch or PC. It also connected to my Android phone with the same ease as the best mobile controllers.
Hot-swapping between PC and Switch was also a cinch, requiring a mere flick of the underside selector switch. However, switching between my phone and Switch for some reason proved more onerous, as I had to re-pair the Elves 2 Pro with my Switch. Thankfully, due to the aforementioned pairing process, this isn’t too bothersome, but it’s an aspect worth pointing out all the same.
The battery life of the Elves 2 Pro is admirable, lasting several days according to my testing. GuliKit claims it can last up to 20 hours, and I’m inclined to believe this figure.
Should I buy the GuliKit Elves 2 Pro?
Buy it if...
You’re feeling nostalgic The retro charm of the Elves 2 Pro is appealing, but it’s still modern enough to cut it with today’s games.
You want a great D-pad The floating, circular D-pad is a joy to use and offers precise and rapid inputs – vital when playing fighters.
Don't buy it if...
You have large hands While the Elves 2 Pro is pleasingly ergonomic in some regards, the small size and short grips might be a problem for those who want more of a handful.
You want more features With no 2.4GHz connectivity, no analog triggers, and no software, the Elves 2 Pro might not be enough for more serious gamers or those who play a diverse range of genres.
GuliKit Elves 2 Pro review: Also consider
Here are some alternatives to the GuliKit Elves 2 Pro Controller if it doesn't sound right for you:
GuliKit Elves 2 Pro
GameSir Cyclone 2
Retro-Bit Sega Saturn Wireless Pro Controller
Price
$49.99 / £59.99 (about AU$76)
$49.99 / £49.99 / AU$79
$49.99 / £44.99 (around AU$78)
Dimensions
5.8 x 3.4 x 1.8in / 147 x 87 x 45mm
6.1 x 4.1 x 2.5in / 156 x 103 x 63mm
5.91 x 3.54 x 1.18in / 150 x 90 x 30mm
Weight
6.7oz / 190g
8.1oz / 229g
13.8oz / 390g
Compatibility
PC, Nintendo Switch, mobile
PC, Nintendo Switch, Android and iOS
PC, Nintendo Switch, Sega Saturn
Connection type
Wireless (Bluetooth), wired (USB-C)
Wireless (Bluetooth, 2.4GHz), wired (USB-C)
Wireless (2.4GHz, V2 for Sega Saturn), Wired (USB-C)
Battery life
20 hours
10 hours
15-20 hours
Software
None
GameSir Connect
None
GameSir Cyclone 2 For about the same price as the Elves 2 Pro (or even less in some territories), you could get the Cyclone 2 instead. This has TMR sticks, Hall effect analog triggers, a 2.4GHz option (in addition to Bluetooth), and software for customizing just about every parameter you can think of. Its D-pad might not be as sophisticated, but with all these features, it represents great value.
Retro-Bit Sega Saturn Wireless Pro Controller If you want to go full-retro, then the Retro-Bit Sega Saturn Wireless Pro Controller is the pad for you. Not only does it have the looks of its namesake, it also has the same layout, which includes no less than six face buttons. You do get two analog sticks as a concession to modernity, though, as well as 2.4GHz connectivity.
I tested the Elves 2 Pro for several days, during which time I used it to play multiple games on various platforms.
I played Tekken 8 on PC, which provides a stern test for D-pads and the overall responsiveness of inputs. On Nintendo Switch, I played The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, which I used to test the motion controls, among other inputs. I played Atomfall on PC to test the Motion Aim Assist mode, and I played Alien: Isolation on my Google Pixel 7a to test the Elves 2 Pro’s mobile gaming credentials.
I’ve been gaming for decades across all manner of platforms, from retro consoles to the modern PC. I have experienced a number of controllers during this time, and have reviewed a diverse selection of them, too.
The S95AR with its included accessories (Image credit: Future)
The LG S95AR is the successor to the already great LG S95TR soundbar system. There are a few good improvements, but at a couple of hundred dollars more, it can also seem redundant.
That said, if you don’t already own the LG S95TR, then I can enthusiastically recommend the LG S95AR, as it ranks among the best soundbars available, not to mention one of the best Dolby Atmos soundbars. This 9.1.5-channel system not only offers incredibly immersive surround sound and spatial audio, but it does so with plenty of power and clarity.
The LG S95AR’s feature set is about as impressive as on any soundbar I’ve tested, with AI Room Calibration that’s good enough to rival Sonos soundbars. On top of all of that, it’s very easy to set up.
I have some small nitpicks with the S95AR, such as its use of basic LED indicators to let you know when the volume or settings have changed instead of having a full LED display. And, of course, its price is going to be prohibitive for a lot of people. But if you can handle the high price, you’ll be impressed.
LG S95AR soundbar review: Price & release date
The S95AR soundbar with its included wireless subwoofer (dog not included) (Image credit: Future)
Price: $1,699.99 (about £1,260 / AU$2,610)
Released in April 2025
While I wouldn’t call it a soft launch, the LG S95AR Soundbar is currently only available in the US. If you’re located in one of the fifty states (or Puerto Rico and Guam), getting the LG S95AR will set you back a hefty $1,699.99 (about £1,260 / AUD$2,610).
The LG S95TR, this model’s predecessor, was also originally available only in the US, but has gone worldwide with a slightly better (but not by much) pricing of $1,499.99 / £1,699 / AU$1,699.
Both models come with a large soundbar, two rear speakers with multiple drivers, and a powerful subwoofer. They’re almost exactly the same, except that the S95AR has a redesigned subwoofer and better integration between the soundbar system and LG TVs. Oh, and there’s a new app, but more on that later.
LG S95AR soundbar review: Specs
Dimensions (W x H x D)
Soundbar: 49.2 x 2.5 x 5.3 in (1250 x 63.5 x 134.6mm); subwoofer: 7.9 x 16 x 15.9 in (200 x 406 x 404mm); rear speakers: 6.3 x 8.8 x 5.6 in (160 x 223.5 x 142mm)
Speaker channels
9.1.5
Connections:
2x HDMI (1 with eARC), optical, digital, Bluetooth, USB type-A
Dolby Atmos/DTS:X
Yes/Yes
Sub included
Yes
Rear speakers included
Yes
Features
4K @ 120Hz passthrough, Wi-Fi Streaming, Voice assistant support, AI room calibration, LG WOW Orchestra, LG WOW Interface, WOW Cast
LG S95AR soundbar review: Features
Ports include two HDMI (one with eARC/ARC) and optical digital (Image credit: Future)
First-party features for LG TVs
Wi-Fi Streaming and Alexa/Google Assistant support
AI Room Calibration
There are several features of the S95AR that only owners of compatible LG TVs can access, which I wasn’t able to test with my non-LG TV. (You can tell which ones they are, because they start with the prefix “WOW.”) WOW Orchestra, for instance, combines an LG TV’s speakers with the LG S95AR for an even more immersive audio experience. And the WOW interface allows you to use one remote to control the soundbar’s functions as well as the TV’s via an onscreen interface. Lastly, WOW Cast lets you make a lossless wireless audio connection between the soundbar and specific LG TVs.
Luckily, there are plenty of features still accessible for non-LG TV owners. Wi-Fi streaming via Apple AirPlay 2 is available, as is Alexa and Google Assistant support. There are some gaming-related features as well, such as Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), as well as 4K, HDR10, and Dolby Vision support on the HDMI passthrough port.
Along with supporting Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, the LG S95AR can handle high-resolution audio, making this soundbar as capable of giving an immersive listening experience for music as it is for movies. There’s even what LG calls Smart Up-mixing that utilizes all the speakers for stereo audio playback.
What really puts the LG S95AR over the top in the feature department is its AI Room Calibration Pro, which I also appreciated when I reviewed the LG S95TR. Using LG’s app, you sit in the ideal listening spot (most likely your couch), and the soundbar will send out test tones. The app then measures the response and calibrates the soundbar’s audio output for your room. It’s pretty cool!
After calibration, the soundbar’s “AI Sound Pro Mode” will reflect the calibration. Speaking of sound modes, all the usual suspects are here, such as Cinema, Sports, etc., but the two I like to highlight are Night Mode and Clear Voice Mode. Both work very well, with Night mode compressing the audio to limit spikes without losing sound fidelity and Clear Voice mode pushing the dialogue level without distorting the frequency range, something that often happens with these types of modes.
Most of these features are only accessible through LG’s control app, which is fairly easy to navigate. You can even individually adjust the volume of the rear speakers, subwoofer, upward-firing speakers, and the center channel here. My only real gripe is that there’s only a three-band EQ for adjusting audio to taste.
Features score: 5 / 5
LG S95AR soundbar review: Performance
The system's rear speakers feature left, right, and upward-firing drivers for Atmos height effects (Image credit: Future)
Sound is a little mid-forward, but clear
Incredibly immersive soundstage
Stereo upmixing to all channels
The S95AR’s sound quality is very, very good – only the most nitpicky audiophiles will find some fault with it. I consider myself audiophile-adjacent, and the only issue I could hear is that its midrange was just a bit forward-sounding. Of course, there is a three-band EQ in the app to help with that.
That said, the midrange is generally well-balanced. This is particularly true with dialogue. You can enhance dialogue, either by turning up the center channel level or using the dialogue mode in the app, but I never really felt the need to. Whether it was when watching a scene from The Batman or Deadpool &Wolverine, or playing a game like Dead Rising 2 where the main character is often talking while a lot of various audio elements (well, zombies) are occupying sonic space, dialogue was consistently clear.
The S95AR’s bass is nice and present. At default settings, it has that “you can feel it before you can hear it” effect, so it blends in nicely with the rest of the frequency range. When watching a blockbuster like Deadpool & Wolverine, there’s a lot of low-end information since half of every set is exploding, but even without turning the subwoofer up and having the soundbar set at a modest volume, I could sense the impact of everything and anything that is supposed to go boom.
The high-end also resolves nicely so that I didn’t miss any details, whether watching a movie, listening to music, or playing a game.
As far as the S95AR’s soundstage goes, it was just as immersive as when I reviewed the S95TR. The surround sound works perfectly – I was a bit unnerved to hear zombies behind me when I booted up Dead Rising 2 – and the upward firing speakers give all the audio elements a sense of height along with the left to right and front to back directionality. It’s quite the experience.
Performance score: 5 / 5
LG S95AR soundbar review: Design
LG's sub has a 8-inch side-firing woofer that’s helped along with a forward-facing port, which helps with bass extension and output (Image credit: Future)
Soundbar is fairly large
Wireless connectivity
Basic LED indicator display
The LG S95AR is not a small soundbar, and that’s without getting into the fact that this is a four-piece system. The main soundbar is almost fifty inches wide with ten drivers in it – three of them pointing up for Dolby Atmos height effects – and requires a fairly large entertainment console to properly hold it.
The rear speakers are sizable as well, but there’s a good reason for that. Unlike most rear speakers, these don’t have just one driver. They use three – one slightly angled to the right of the speaker, one to the left, and one out of the top for spatial audio or Dolby Atmos effects.
The subwoofer houses an 8-inch side-firing woofer that’s helped along with a forward-facing port, which helps with bass extension and output.
A nice design feature is that all units have recessed power ports with angled power cables so that everything looks flush when installed. Soundbar connections, meanwhile, include optical digital, two HDMI (one of which supports Dolby Vision HDR passthrough), and a USB port.
The soundbar does have a set of capacitive buttons so that everything looks clean, but you can still power on the soundbar, change the volume, change inputs, connect Bluetooth, or enable Wi-Fi (necessary for pairing to the app) without using the remote.
I also want to mention that, like the S95TR before it, there is no display other than three LED indicator lights on the right side of the soundbar that light up and change color depending on what you’re doing, whether it’s adjusting the volume or changing to Bluetooth connectivity.
Speaking of the remote, it has a good feel in the hand and comes with a decent set of controls, though it’s not as robust as the app. Since the soundbar itself just has the three indicator lights, cycling through certain settings via the remote, like different sound modes, is somewhat of a guessing game.
Design score: 4.5 / 5
LG S95AR soundbar review: Setup & usability
The S95AR's remote lets you control basic functions, but more advanced ones are only available in LG's app (Image credit: Future)
Removing the various pieces from the box takes the longest
Physical setup is incredibly easy
Mounting brackets included
The S95AR comes in a big box. It takes a minute to get all the pieces out as they’re very well packed, with the rear speakers and subwoofer bound in recyclable packing material. But getting all the pieces out of the box (and putting the box away) is the most time-consuming part of the whole setup process. I would estimate it probably took me about 10 minutes at most.
Connecting the soundbar to the TV via the included HDMI cable and power, and then connecting the various other speakers to power (remember, they’re all wireless) took half that time. And, since the rear speakers and subwoofers are paired out of the box, there was no other physical setup besides placing the included batteries into the remote.
I did have to go through one more step, which is connecting the app to the soundbar system. It does take an additional 5 to 10 minutes, but it is mostly just following instructions on a screen. This is a necessary step, however, as the remote can't access all the features and fine-tuning capabilities found in the app.
If you want to wall-mount the soundbar and rear speakers, LG has helpfully included brackets and screws for both without an extra charge.
Setup & usability score: 5 / 5
LG S95AR soundbar review: Value
All speakers in the system feature recessed power ports for neat installation (Image credit: Future)
Similar-specced soundbars come with similar price tags
Building out a home theater sound system probably costs more
Cheaper surround sound and Dolby Atmos systems available
With a price tag of $1,699.99 (about £1,260 / AUD$2,610), the LG S95AR is expensive. However, that’s par for the course for a flagship soundbar system. The Samsung Q990D, for instance, retailed for $1,799 / £1,699 / AU$1,995 when first released and covers a lot of the same ground, being a feature-filled 11.1.4-channel system.
Of course, building out an actual home theater setup with individual speakers is probably going to cost even more if you get decent speakers. That said, there are cheaper options if you want surround sound and Dolby Atmos, such as the Hisense AX5125H. Being a 5.1.2-channel system, it is not as robust as the LG S95AR, but it goes for a much, much cheaper $299 / £349 (roughly AU$449). Of course, you’re giving up a lot in terms of features as well
Value score: 4 / 5
Should I buy the LG S95AR soundbar?
Section
Notes
Score
Features
Even if you can’t use the features that only work with LG TVs, there’s a lot to take advantage of, including AI Room Calibration
5 / 5
Performance
The sound quality is immersive and clear, with plenty of low-end rumble
5 / 5
Design
Big, with lots of drivers, including upward-firing ones on the rear speakers. Unfortunately, the LED display is very limited
4.5 / 5
Setup & usability
Easy to set up and quick, too, though you’ll need to use an app to get at more sophisticated setup functions
.5 / 5
Value
Expensive, but priced in line with other flagship soundbar systems
4 / 5
Buy it if...
You want immersive audio With seventeen drivers pointing every which way, the sound on the LG S95AR is very immersive, even with stereo audio, thanks to stereo up-mixing.
You’re looking for lots of features Just about every feature one could want is provided on this soundbar. The AI Room Calibration is great, but so are the various sound modes, Wi-Fi Streaming, and Alexa and Google Assistant support.
You need easy As much as this soundbar is capable of, it’s also easy to set up and easy to use. You can probably get it fully set up in 20 minutes.
Don't buy it if...
You’re looking for value I don’t necessarily think the LG S95AR is overpriced, but it’s not cheap, and it’s not really a value proposition. If you’re trying to stretch your cash, there are other options that are cheaper.
You’re not in the US At the time of writing (June 2025), the S95AR is only available in the US. Luckily, the S95TR is very close in most aspects and is available in other territories.
LG S95AR soundbar review: Also consider
LG S95AR soundbar
Samsung HW-Q990D
Hisense AX5125H
Price
$1,699.99 (about £1,260 / AUD$2,610)
$1,799 / £1,699 / AU$1,995
$299 / £349 (roughly AU$449)
Dimensions (w x h x d)
Soundbar: 49.2 x 2.5 x 5.3 in (1250 x 63.5 x 134.6mm); subwoofer: 7.9 x 16 x 15.9 in (200 x 406 x 404mm); rear speakers: 6.3 x 8.8 x 5.6 in (160 x 223.5 x 142mm)
Soundbar: 1309.0 x 595.0 x 277.0 mm (51.3 x 23.4 x 10.9 in), Subwoofer: 220.0 x 413.0 x 410.0 mm (8.6 x 16.2 x 16.1 in), Rear speaker: 129.5 x 201.3 x140.4 mm (5 x 7.9 x 5.5 in)
Soundbar: 36.2 x 18.8 x 3.5 in (920 x 478 x 90mm); Subwoofer: 8.5 x 12.3 x 11.9 in (210.5 x 310 x 300mm); Satellites: 3.6 x 5.7 x 4.3 in (90.1 x 140.5 x 110mm)
Speaker channels
9.1.5
11.1.4
5.1.2
Connections
2x HDMI (1 with eARC), optical digital audio, USB type-A
11.1.4
1x HDMI Out (eARC), 1x HDMI in, optical, USB, 3.5mm AUX
Dolby Atmos/DTS:X
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
Samsung HW-Q990D If you want a powerful, all-encompassing surround sound and Dolby Atmos-equipped soundbar, the Samsung HW-Q990D has about as much going for it as the LG S95AR. Like the LG soundbar, it’s also a bit pricey and has an obscured LED display.
Hisense AX5125H The Hisense AX5125H is a fraction of the price of the LG S95AR, and that is probably the main reason to consider this 5.1.2 system over something more robust. It’s still immersive with clear dialogue and punchy bass, but it is much more limited when it comes to features.
The S95AR's indicator lights offer basic control feedback, but a front-panel alphanumeric display would have been a better option (Image credit: Future)
I used the LG S95AR Soundbar for several weeks
Tested with both TV, movies, and music
I used the LG S95AR Soundbar regularly for several weeks with TV, movies, and music. I listened to the different sound modes and I tested the various features.
As has been hopefully expressed in the review, this is a powerful, immersive soundbar that does a very good job of offering an immersive home theater experience and should work for anyone with the budget for it who wants the convenience of a soundbar.
I’ve tested a lot of tech gear over the years, from laptops to keyboards and speakers, and so have been able to use my expertise towards giving an honest and fair opinion, not to mention a critical eye, to any product I test.
