Organizer
Gadget news
Awara Natural Hybrid Mattress review: sustainable slumber at a fantastic value
10:54 am | November 5, 2023
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness Mattresses Sleep | Tags: | Comments: Off

Awara mattress review: Two-minute review

The Awara Natural Hybrid mattress is something of an anomaly among latex beds due to its affordable price. Most of today's best organic mattresses are expensive, but the Awara consistently sits in the mid-range price bracket – a queen size goes for less than $950 during regular sales. But does this affordable natural mattress have a glaring compromise in quality? Quite the contrary – it's an impressively durable bed.

In January 2022, I slept on a twin Awara mattress and assembled a panel of five diverse testers to help me assess its features. Our collective verdict? The Awara ranks among the best mattresses for those who favor a firmer sleeping surface with gentle pressure relief. My full review is below but if the Internet has spoilt your attention span, here's the two-minute version...

Awara mattress on a twin platform bed

(Image credit: Future / Alison Barretta)

The Awara is a mattress in a box constructed of 8-inch springs, two inches of Rainforest Alliance-certified Dunlop latex, and a blend of organic cotton and New Zealand wool on top. Setup is seamless – and four side handles make moving the mattress a much less taxing task. The Awara boasts a number of highly-regarded third-party environmental and safety certifications to add to its eco-friendly cred. 

When I first lay on the Awara, I was shocked by its firmer surface, but its latex comfort layer immediately molded to the shape of my body for ample support and just enough pressure relief – no matter if I rested on my side, stomach, or back. Everyone in my testing panel found it comfortable but side sleepers who crave more cushioning, as well as sleepers under 130lbs, may find it too unyielding (the best mattresses for side sleepers tend to be on the softer side, with plenty of contouring). 

Good news if you're prone to overheating at night (like me): the Awara is one well-ventilated mattress. It's not a specialty cooling mattress, but latex, cotton, and wool are some of the most breathable materials on the planet. The individually wrapped coils help keep the air flowing, too. 

Edge support is excellent so you can sprawl out or sit on the sides or corners without fear of falling off the bed. However, Awara's one area of weakness is motion isolation. The buoyant latex and springy coils make for a bouncy, responsive bed. Couples will be more inclined to feel each other's movements, which could lead to frequent and unpleasant nightly wakeups. On the other hand, solo sleepers who switch positions during the night will love it.

The amenities are impressive. Awara includes a one-year sleep trial plus a forever warranty with purchase. Returns are also free, and the brand will help you donate it to charity or responsibly dispose it. Among current Black Friday mattress deals, Awara's is already one of the best out there, yielding historical price lows after up to $765 off. Given the effects of inflation over the last several years, this is a rare thing to witness now.

Awara mattress review: Materials & design

  • A 10-inch hybrid mattress with three layers
  • Uses Rainforest Alliance-certified Dunlop latex
  • Includes four side handles for easy moving

There are three primary layers that make up the Awara Natural Hybrid mattress: a sturdy base of 8-inch individually wrapped coils, a 2-inch comfort layer of Rainforest Alliance-certified Dunlop latex, and a soft cover that's a blend of organic cotton and New Zealand wool. Combined, these layers offer a responsive and breathable sleep surface, with gentle contouring to ease your joints. Latex is often used in organic mattresses as a natural alternative to synthetic foams (see how the two compare in our memory foam versus latex mattress explainer). Bonus: latex is hypoallergenic so it's also great for sleepers with asthma or airborne allergies.

Setup is simple – just remove it from the box, unroll it on your bedframe, and remove the plastic (a process made easier thanks to the included credit card-sized cutter). Everything is structurally kept in place via a shift-resistant bottom cover. Four reinforced side handles will make the mattress much easier to move, which will be useful if you move house often.

Awara's commitment to producing an eco-friendly bed is highlighted by its array of environmental certifications, which include the aforementioned Rainforest Alliance, Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX, UL GREENGUARD Gold, and the Forest Stewardship Council. These standards ensure that the Awara's materials are sustainably sourced, low in volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and free from toxic chemicals. The Awara is also a fiberglass-free mattress; it uses a chemical-free flame retardant.

  • Design score: 4.5 out of 5

Awara mattress review: Price & value for money

  • Never sold at MSRP, sits in the mid-range price bracket
  • One of the cheapest and best value natural mattresses around
  • Full year's trial and forever warranty are very generous

Like many bed brands, Awara runs a perpetual discount; you'll never have to pay full MSRP. Based on the regular discounted price, the Awara Natural Hybrid sits in the mid-range price bracket, with a queen size costing around $999. That makes it one of the cheapest natural mattresses around, and excellent value for money.

Deals on the Awara don't tend to fluctuate as regularly as they do with other sleep brands, but if it is going to unveil an especially good price, it'll be for the Black Friday mattress deals in November. 

Awara is the natural mattress brand within the Resident Home umbrella, which also includes mattress heavyweights Nectar and DreamCloud. As such, you'll get basically the same, ultra-generous package of extras, including a full year's trial period and forever warranty. All of Resident's brands shine when it comes to value for money.

Awara mattress review: Comfort & support

  • A firm (8 out of 10) mattress with subtle contouring
  • Offers ample support and comfort for most sleepers
  • Side sleepers and petite individuals may want a plusher bed

In addition to myself – a 5-foot-4, 140lb side/stomach sleeper with back pain – I also asked five other adults to sleep on the Awara mattress. We have diverse body types and sleep preferences, which afforded me a broader look at how well this organic hybrid mattress performs.

Awara calls its mattress 'luxury firm,' or a 7 out of 10 on the firmness scale – but my group collectively rated it an 8 out of 10.  While some of us initially found it a bit too unyielding, we appreciated how quickly the Dunlop latex subtly contoured our bodies, offering just enough pressure relief without significant sinkage. 

Mattress tester lying on her side on the Awara mattress

(Image credit: Future / Alison Barretta)

My lone back-sleeping participant said he felt like he was floating on top of the mattress yet adequately supported. Meanwhile, the side sleepers in my panel (myself included) were comfortable on the Awara – despite its firmer-than-average surface, all of us felt just enough give along our shoulders and hips. Even the pregnant side sleeper in my group liked how the Awara gently cradled her belly.

As the only combi sleeper among all the testers, shifting from my side to my stomach was effortless thanks to the responsiveness of the Awara's Dunlop latex and springs. Plus, when resting on my front I didn't feel my pelvis dip below the rest of my body, helping me avoid my nagging lower back pain.

Pressure relief test using a 50lb weight on the Awara mattress

(Image credit: Future / Alison Barretta)

To further test the Awara's pressure relief, I placed a 50lb weight at the center of the mattress. This created a minimal dip (about an inch), and the bed quickly returned to form once I removed the weight. This assessment aligns with the minimal sinkage we human testers experienced.

While everyone in my testing group found the Awara's comfort to their liking, side sleepers who prefer a plusher feel and smaller-framed people who weigh under 130lbs might think it's too firm. For them, a memory foam mattress (or a memory foam hybrid) may be a better fit. 

  • Comfort score: 4.5 out of 5

Awara mattress review: Performance

  • Excellent temperature regulation – good for hot sleepers
  • Too much motion transfer so not ideal for couples
  • Edges are sturdy for sitting and sprawling

I slept on a twin Awara Natural Hybrid Mattress for one month, during which I tested it in all key areas of performance according to TechRadar's mattress methodology. Here's how it fared...

 Temperature regulation

I slept on the Awara mattress in the wintertime, so the real test here was to see how well it could regulate my body temperature upon cranking the heat and layering the fabrics. (I'm also prone to overheating at night, regardless of the season.)

Between latex's natural ability to draw away heat and the airflow created by the layer of coils, I didn't break a sweat once and remained perfectly cozy, even on the coldest nights. The organic cotton and New Zealand wool cover was not only lusciously soft, but it did a stellar job of wicking away moisture, too.

The Awara may not be a proper cooling mattress, but given the breathability of its materials, I think it's a sound choice for sleepers who don't want night sweats or hot flashes to keep them up at night. 

  • Temperature regulation score: 4 out of 5

Motion isolation

The Awara is a remarkably bouncy, responsive mattress. This appeals to me as a solo sleeper who switches positions at night. However, anyone who shares a bed with their partner, kids, and/or pets will feel less enthused. 

To gauge the Awara's motion isolation on my twin-size bed, I conducted a drop test using an empty wine glass and a 10lb weight. Mimicking the actions of a restless partner or a lively pet, I simulated three common bed disturbances: tossing and turning, getting in and out of bed, and jumping on the bed. I dropped the weight from 4, 8, and 12 inches above the bed to represent each scenario, respectively, and measured the effect roughly 25 inches away from the wine glass.

Awara mattress drop test for motion isolation with a 10lb weight and empty wine glass

(Image credit: Future / Alison Barretta)

The wine glass didn't topple too much but I did notice the surface dip slightly beneath the glass. More telling was the weight itself, which bounced several times before settling into the mattress. Given the natural buoyancy of latex, these results didn't surprise me.

Thus, the Awara isn't the best choice if you don't want to be disturbed by your partner's movements – whether they fidget a lot in their sleep or operate on a different schedule than you do. For an organic mattress with superb motion transfer properties, read TechRadar's Avocado Green mattress review.

  • Motion isolation score: 3 out of 5

Edge support

Sturdy edges are essential for any mattress, regardless of size. Whether you tend to roll towards the edges in your sleep or sit on the side prior to getting up out of bed, you don't want to feel as if you'll topple overboard. 

Unfortunately, some brands skimp on edge support, especially for solo sleeper beds. However, this isn't the case with the Awara. My testers and I experienced solid support whether we sat on the corners or the sides. Although the mattress did obviously compress under our weight, we never felt unstable or at risk of sliding off.

I also placed a 50lb weight along the middle perimeter, measuring about an inch of sinkage – the same amount I observed when I placed the weight at the dead center of the mattress. Ideally, the edges shouldn't dip lower than the middle, so the Awara gets a passing grade in this area.

The Awara ranks among the best mattresses I've tested for robust edge support. It's proof that stable edges are possible for even the smallest of beds.

  • Edge support score: 4.5 out of 5

Should you buy the Awara mattress

Buy it if…

✅ You're a fan of firm beds: The Awara's firm surface will appeal to to front and back sleepers – and even side sleepers who eschew overly plush beds will find it comfortably supportive.

✅ You use every inch of your mattress: The Awara's sturdy sides and corners will sufficiently accommodate those who like to sprawl out or need a stable edge to sit on. If you're prone to rolling toward the edge in your sleep, don't worry about falling overboard.

✅ You care about saving the planet (and your money): Organic mattresses often command a higher cost but the Awara's mid-range price makes eco-friendly sleep much more accessible. Add in a year-long sleep trial and a lifetime warranty and you have an tremendous value.

Don't buy it if…

❌ You share a bed: The Awara's bouncy, responsive surface is great for solo sleepers who toss and turn at night – but this could be bothersome for couples or anyone who shares a bed with a lively pet.

❌ You like the sink-in sensation of memory foam: Sleepers seeking the deep embrace of memory foam won't find it here. The Awara's latex comfort layer imparts a firmer touch with limited contouring. TechRadar's best memory foam mattress guide provides a range of alternatives at different price points, but in the #1 spot you'll find the Nectar memory foam mattress. 

❌ You weigh under 130lbs: Firmness is a matter of personal preference but if you're a smaller-framed individual who weighs under 130lbs, the Awara's firmness and limited give might be too rigid for your liking. Our organic mattress guide has models in a range of firmness profiles, including some that fall into the 'plush' category, like the WinkBeds EcoCloud hybrid. 

A tired tabby sleeps at the foot of the Awara mattress

(Image credit: Future / Alison Barretta)

How I tested the Awara mattress

I slept on a twin Awara Natural Hybrid mattress for four weeks in January 2022. Since I tested this mattress during the winter, I cranked my central heating system while layering my pajamas. I dressed the mattress in either 100% cotton or cotton/polyester bed sheets, with a mid-weight polyester comforter on top.

In addition to myself – a 5-foot04, 140lb side/stomach sleeper – I asked five other adults to nap on the Awara mattress for at least 15 minutes in their preferred positions. These testers ranged in size from 5-foot-4 and 126lbs to 6-foot and 215lbs – and one participant was even seven months pregnant at the time.

To supplement my real world experience, I also conducted several standardized tests to objectively gauge the Awara's performance. I used a 50lb weight to evaluate pressure relief and edge support, and a 10lb weight plus an empty wine glass to observe the motion isolation.

Garmin Forerunner 965 review: That AMOLED screen brings it all together –watch out Apple
6:00 pm | October 29, 2023
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness Smartwatches | Tags: , , | Comments: Off

Garmin Forerunner 965: One minute review

This is the watch that takes one of the best Apple watch features and adds it to Garmin – that stunning AMOLED display. Yet, this manages to offer at least five days more battery life than almost any of the other competition with the same display.

To be clear, this model comes as a screen upgrade following the release of the very similar Forerunner 955, nine months before. So while the upgrades from that to this aren't huge, it's worth noting that the model was a near-perfect jump forward anyway. Add this screen and it's a real heavy hitter. Garmin also released the Forerunner 265 alongside this model, also packing an AMOLED screen but at a lower price point.

For anyone who wants one of the best multisport watches you can buy, the 965 is – as you can see from the star rating – where it's at. As such the price is representative of what you get, meaning it's high.

For what you get this justifies that cost, as this review will clarify. In short, it's got astonishing battery performance, a beautiful display, super accurate location and heart rate tracking plus lots of other smart metrics including new running dynamics without the need for an extra sensor. This is one of the best Garmin watches, so is this the ultimate sports watch?

Garmin Forerunner 965: Specifications

Image 1 of 20

Garmin Forerunner 965

(Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 20

Garmin Forerunner 965

(Image credit: Future)
Image 3 of 20

Garmin Forerunner 965

(Image credit: Future)
Image 4 of 20

Garmin Forerunner 965

(Image credit: Future)
Image 5 of 20

Garmin Forerunner 965

(Image credit: Future)
Image 6 of 20

Garmin Forerunner 965

(Image credit: Future)
Image 7 of 20

Garmin Forerunner 965

(Image credit: Future)
Image 8 of 20

Garmin Forerunner 965

(Image credit: Future)
Image 9 of 20

Garmin Forerunner 965

(Image credit: Future)
Image 10 of 20

Garmin Forerunner 965

(Image credit: Future)
Image 11 of 20

Garmin Forerunner 965

(Image credit: Future)
Image 12 of 20

Garmin Forerunner 965

(Image credit: Future)
Image 13 of 20

Garmin Forerunner 965

(Image credit: Future)
Image 14 of 20

Garmin Forerunner 965

(Image credit: Future)
Image 15 of 20

Garmin Forerunner 965

(Image credit: Future)
Image 16 of 20

Garmin Forerunner 965

(Image credit: Future)
Image 17 of 20

Garmin Forerunner 965

(Image credit: Future)
Image 18 of 20

Garmin Forerunner 965

(Image credit: Future)
Image 19 of 20

Garmin Forerunner 965

(Image credit: Future)
Image 20 of 20

Garmin Forerunner 965

(Image credit: Future)

Garmin Forerunner 965: Price and Availability

  • £600 in the UK 
  • $600 in the US
  • AU$999 in Australia

The Garmin Forerunner 965 is definitely one of the more expensive options from the company but that's because it comes packing all the best features rolled into one wonder device. As such you're looking at a price of US$600 / £600 / AU$999.

Of course these are the at-launch prices, so you can expect these to drop as new models come out. It's also worth taking sales into consideration as you can often find deals on even the best Garmin models during these times.

That said, you may find that the Garmin Forerunner 955, which is nearly identical aside from that screen upgrade, can be had at a cheaper price. And if you go for the 955 Solar you'll get a bit more out of your battery performance too.

  •  Value score: 4/5 

Garmin Forerunner 965: Design and screen

Garmin Forerunner 965

(Image credit: Future)
  • 1.4-inch AMOLED display
  • Titanium bezel
  • Comfy silicone strap, 22mm QuickFit compatible

The Garmin Forerunner 965 is all about that superb 1.4-inch AMOLED display which looks superb. It's not only rich with colors and crisp definition between light and dark, but it also has a fantastic 454 x 454-pixel resolution, plus it's super bright. 

All that equates to a screen you can read in any light or situation – including underwater – with lots of data at a glance. You can also activate the always-on display and since this is super low energy consuming that won't even affect battery life much.

Plus it's all coated in a Gorilla Glass DX outer layer which should mean it stays scratch-free too. In our months of using this, including throwing it in bags, there's not a mark on it.

Upgraded from the previous generation is the bezel too, which is now made of lightweight and hardy titanium. This is the metal they put in your body if you have an operation – as it's so nonreactive and won't be affected by moisture – meaning this should stay in perfect condition longer than you're alive.

The strap comes in three options Amp Yellow/Black, Black/Powder Grey, or Whitestone/Powder Grey. In all cases, there is a double clasp, malleable and comfy silicone strap and it can be swapped out as it uses the Garmin 22mm QuickFit system. 

Since everything is waterproof to 50 meters it's also super simple to give it a clean by washing under the tap or in the shower – which in reviewing for months was found to keep it looking as good as new.

  • Design score: 5/5

Garmin Forerunner 965: Features

Garmin Forerunner 965

(Image credit: Future)
  • Offline maps
  • Heart Rate Variability
  • Contactless payments

The Garmin Forerunner 965 crams in nearly all the best features developed over the years, making this a powerhouse of a sports watch. That means it'll track most sports, with over 30 including triathlon and multisport-specific tracking with one-touch transitions. But it does all this with lots and lots of data.

Of course, you have the ever-impressive accuracy of the Garmin when it comes to multi-GNSS GPS but this also packs in heart rate monitoring which offers Heart Rate Variability, VO2 Max, stress tracking, sleep tracking, all-day HR tracking, and more. 

All that means lots of data to work with, not only while training, but also to help advise when you need to rest and even make suggestions on workouts to hit goals. This includes last year's Training Readiness score, recovery times, workload readouts, race predictions (a nifty running feature that uses your training to predict what time you'll get during a marathon, half-marathon, 10k etc), and more. 

That's a whole list of features and it can seem overwhelming, but the watch and Garmin Connect app do feed it to you in a way that is helpful. You can then decide to add more data or strip it back as needed to suit your workout style and goals.

You also have some great day-to-day functionality with contactless pay, onboard Spotify music, offline maps, find my phone, flashlight screen feature, sleep tracking, step tracking and plenty more to be found in the IQ App Store. This isn't comparable to Apple or Android app stores, so don't expect full smartwatch functionality. But it's enough to keep you focused while also being alerted when needed.

Everything can be organized well, and that means moving icons about on your watch or using folders, but also in data screens when training. Everything can be made bespoke, even the clock face, to suit what data you need to see. Plus you've now got more data options than ever, but more on that in the next section.

  • Features score: 5/5

Garmin Forerunner 965: Performance

Garmin Forerunner 965

(Image credit: Future)
  • Accurate heart rate data
  • Superb running metrics
  • Useful VO2 data

The Garmin Forerunner 965 sounds fantastic when you look at the specs but did that actually translate into real-world performance experience? The short answer is yes. As you can expect from Garmin, the GPS accuracy was fantastic as was acquisition – in fact, this would find satellites and be ready to go in just a few seconds. This was tested all over the country, and in one rural area, it found GPS and was ready to go in just two seconds. 

The only issue noticed was at the start of the Great North Run annual race, where my data was different to others running right next to me, but that could be down to their older watches versus this more accurate one.

Heart rate tracking was as impressive. When tested against a dedicated chest strap (Wahoo Tickr) it was found to keep up accurately, although, of course, there was a little more lag in sudden HR changes, since this is on your wrist not right by your heart. Even while swimming this offered excellent heart rate tracking which could actually be used thanks to that easy-to-glance-at display.

So a very accurate GPS and a reliable HR monitor all make for lots of data that can then be used with Garmin algorithms to work out more useful metrics. As such this watch offers Heart Rate Variability, so you can see how your actual cardiovascular fitness is changing as you train. There's a VO2 Max measurement to assess how well you can perform under strain. 

Plus, you have acute load measured to assess the impact on your muscles as you work. All that means the watch will let you know when to rest, and what training you need (cardio versus weights, for example) so you get to where you need.

Battery life is also worth a mention as this offers a massive 23 days on standby, 31 hours in GPS mode, and 10.5 hours with GPS and music playing. All that translates to a charge very rarely, even if you train a lot. So you won't need to take a charger if going away for a race weekend, for example. Plus it charges ridiculously fast, up to a percentage a minute.

This could go on for thousands of words, such is the depth of this watch. But just to mention this model adds in running dynamics without the need for an extra sensor. So you can now check your vertical oscillation, cadence, stride length, ground contact time, and more to improve running in a really effective way. Sleep tracking worked relatively well although its accuracy wasn't always spot on, but enough so as to help track if you're recovered and ready to workout again.

You also get smartphone notifications for WhatsApp, calls, messages, emails, calendar, Ring doorbell, and plenty more to make it a smartwatch of sorts, only kept to a minimum so you're not too distracted from its primary use as a training tool.

  • Performance score: 5/5

Garmin Forerunner 965: Should I buy?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Garmin Forerunner 965: How we tested

We wore the Garmin Forerunner 965 on one wrist, connected to an Android device, for months. This came on half marathons, long bike rides, swims, surfs, walks, yoga classes, weights sessions, paddle boarding and more.

The contactless payment features and wireless offline Spotify were both used plenty as was sleep tracking, heart rate monitoring in cold water baths, notifications from the phone and more.

In short this was lived with 24/7 for months to truly test how you would use the watch, and all its features.

Garmin Forerunner 965: Also consider

First reviewed: October 2023

DreamFoam Essential mattress review: A budget-friendly mattress to fit anywhere
11:55 am |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness Mattresses Sleep | Comments: Off

DreamFoam Essential mattress: Two-minute review

The DreamFoam Essential mattress, from parent company Brooklyn Bedding, is a basic, all-foam bed-in-a-box with some important distinctions. Formerly known as the Brooklyn Bedding Chill mattress, it doesn't trap heat like many foam mattresses do. 

What really sets this mattress apart is the wide variety of sizes from which to choose. The thickness you choose determines the firmness for the DreamFoam mattress. There are five different options, ranging from six to 14 inches, which translates to a range from 'firm' to 'medium-soft'. Most notably, there are 22 different mattress sizes available, many of which are especially for RV or boat spaces.

Brooklyn Bedding DreamFoam Essential mattress

(Image credit: Future)

My husband and I slept on the 10-inch thick, queen-sized mattress for three weeks. In my testing, I found the DreamFoam's motion isolation to be good, which is important for couples. Despite having different sleep preferences – I'm a side sleeper that prefers a softer mattress, he's a stomach sleeper that prefers a firmer mattress – we both found it to be comfortable. The 10-inch mattress falls in the middle of the range, and the company refers to it as 'medium-firm'. It is better suited for stomach and back sleepers than side sleepers, since it lacks the contouring of a softer mattress. If you depend on firm edges to sit comfortably on the edge of your bed, you may want to look elsewhere.

This isn't the most luxurious or exciting mattress around, but it is functional and very affordable. While it doesn't make the cut for TechRadar's overall best mattress guide, it does feature amongst its best cheap mattress picks – and is especially useful if you're shopping for an awkward space. Read on for my full Brooklyn Bedding DreamFoam Essential mattress review.

DreamFoam mattress review: Materials & design

  • All-foam mattress – two or three layers, depending on thickness
  • Simple but effective design
  • Huge range of sizes and several thickness options

One of the most notable things about the DreamFoam Essential mattress is that it comes in 22 different sizes, each of which can be purchased in one of five different thicknesses. Depth options range from six to 14 inches, with the sleep feel getting softer the thicker the mattress is. A number of Brooklyn Bedding's mattresses are available in a wide range of sizes, but this one might have the most options of them all. 

Brooklyn Bedding DreamFoam Essential mattress, press photo

(Image credit: Brooklyn Bedding)

The design is simple but effective. The DreamFoam mattress isn't removable for cleaning, although it is designed to be stain-resistant. Each mattress has at least two layers of foam: the thicker bottom foam layer is a high-density foam for firm support, while the top layer is Gel Swirl Memory Foam, which is designed to be responsive to your movement. 

This top layer of foam is infused with cooling gel, and also described as 'open-cell', to encourage airflow and heat dissipation. (In reality, pretty much all mattress foam is open-cell, but I was impressed with the temperature regulation here nevertheless – I'll get into that more in the Performance section of this review.) The 6-inch, 8-inch, and 10-inch models all have these two layers, and the layers get thicker as the mattress gets thicker.

The two thickest models, the 12-inch and 14-inch mattresses, have a third transitional foam layer in between the two mentioned above. This middle layer is a high-density foam designed for better contouring to your body. 

Close up of stitching coming loose on Brooklyn Bedding DreamFoam Essential mattress

(Image credit: Future)

Brooklyn Bedding recommends rotating the mattress every six to eight months, but it's not flippable. There are no handles to help with maneuvering. This isn't the most luxurious or complex mattress design around, but it offers decent quality for the affordable price tag (although there was a bit of loose stitching on our review model).

  • Design score: 3.5 out of 5

DreamFoam Essential review: Price & value for money

  • Budget or lower mid-range mattress, depending on thickness
  • Good value for the quality; respected brand name
  • Always discounted – expect 25% off or occasionally more

Like many mattresses, the DreamFoam Essential is never sold at full price. Expect 20% off MSRP, which takes this mattress into budget (for the 6 and 8 inch models) or lower mid-range brackets (for 10 inches or thicker). 

Here's the official pricing for the main sizes, alongside the prices you can expect to actually pay. I'll use the 10 inch model here. 

  • Twin: MSRP $449 (usually sold at $336.80)
  • Full: MSRP $574 (usually sold at $430.50)
  • Queen: MSRP $699 (usually sold at $524.30)
  • King: MSRP $899 (usually sold at $674.30)
  • Cal king: MSRP $899 (usually sold at $674.30)

If you're not in a rush to buy, you might be able to snag a bigger discount around national holidays. The Black Friday mattress deals in late November traditionally bring with them the lower prices of the year, but parent company Brooklyn Bedding typically bumps up its deals to 30% off for events like the Presidents' Day mattress sales and the Memorial Day mattress sales.

In terms of value for money, it's pretty good but not amazing. The most affordable options in TechRadar's best memory foam mattress guide are cheaper, but you are getting the reassurance and expertise of a well-known and respected sleep brand here (DreamFoam is an offshoot of Brooklyn Bedding). If you're considering the 12 inch version or thicker, there are similarly-priced alternatives that offer more for your money – for example, the DreamCloud mattress (no relation) has a more complex and luxurious feeling design, along with a much longer trial and warranty.

  • Value for money score: 4 out of 5

DreamFoam Essential review: Comfort & support

  • Firmness depends on thickness; 10" review model around 7/10
  • 10 inch version comfortable for any sleep position
  • Not a lot of body contouring

The DreamFoam Essential mattress comes in five different thicknesses, and each one has a different firmness profile. I tested the 10-inch model, which is the middle of the five. It's rated as 'medium-firm' by the company, rating it 6 out of 10 in terms of firmness. I think it's slightly firmer; more like a 7 out of 10. The following section of this review is based just on the 10-inch version; the thinner and thicker versions will feel different.

I found the DreamFoam Essential mattress to be the type of mattress where I lie on top rather than sinking in. I didn’t find that it contours to my body very much. The sleep surface is quite responsive, and springs back quickly when you remove pressure. While the mattress is made of two different foam layers of different densities, I couldn’t sense that while sleeping on it.

Brooklyn Bedding DreamFoam Essential mattress with weight resting on it, to show sinkage

(Image credit: Future)

To get a more objective record of firmness, I placed a 15-pound weight in the middle of the mattress and measured how far it sank in. The weight sank to a depth of two inches, which lines up with the medium-firm rating that Brooklyn Bedding gives the 10-inch model. I agree with the company’s medium-firm rating; it feels that way to me subjectively as well.

Mattress firmness preference is a matter of taste. But as a general rule, the best mattresses for side sleepers tend to be a little softer, with more pronounced contouring, to prevent pressure from building up around the hips and shoulders. Back and stomach sleepers generally get the support they need with a firmer mattress. Additionally, larger bodies will want the added support of a firmer mattress while lighter-weight bodies will be more comfortable on softer mattresses.

My husband and I both have lighter-weight bodies, but he is primarily a stomach sleeper while I’m primarily a side sleeper. We do both occasionally sleep on our backs as well. I found the mattress to be comfortable, even on my side, with just enough contouring for a good night’s sleep. My husband found it to be even more comfortable, since he prefers to sleep on his stomach.

While I think anyone could sleep comfortably on the medium-firm 10-inch version, it will feel most comfortable for stomach and back sleepers. It’s designed to support up to 950 lbs, so should be suitable for bigger bodies, too.

Brooklyn DreamFoam mattress review: Performance

  • Decent temperature regulation
  • Good edge support for sleeping; less for sitting
  • Minimal motion transfer

Foam mattresses can trap heat, rendering the sleeper uncomfortably hot. Both my husband and I tend to sleep hot, so we are especially sensitive to any mattress or bedding that might raise our sleeping temperature. Thankfully, we didn’t find this to be an issue with the DreamFoam Essential – I'd judge it to be temperature neutral, neither warming me up nor cooling me down as I slept. (If you really struggle with overheating at night, you might be better off investing in one of the best cooling mattresses, however.) For context, I tested this mattress during a midwestern spring, with the average temperature being about 68 degrees Farhenheit. 

Brooklyn Bedding DreamFoam Essential mattress with reviewer's hand resting on it

(Image credit: Future)

Motion isolation is an important factor for couples, especially if one or more of the partners tends to toss and turn. I’m very sensitive to my partner’s motion while I’m trying to sleep, and I found that the DreamFoam Essential offered pretty good motion isolation. I ran some tests to measure this more objectively, dropping the 15-pound onto the mattress near a wine glass to see if it would fall over. First, I dropped the weight 10 inches away from the wine glass; it jiggled but didn’t fall over. Second, I dropped it 25 inches from the glass; this time it barely moved at all. This confirms that the mattress will work well for people whose partners move around a lot at night.

Brooklyn Bedding DreamFoam Essential mattress with wine glass, tape measure and weight resting on it

(Image credit: Future)

Finally, I tested the mattress' edge support. This matters for a couple of reasons. First of all, you want to be able to sleep on your mattress right up to the edge, so you can make use of the whole mattress. Second, you want to be able to sit on the edge of the mattress and push up to standing. For sleeping purposes, I found the edge support to be quite good; I never felt in danger of rolling off. However, when I sat on the edge of the mattress, I sank in quite a bit. It wasn’t the best surface for pushing off from. 

I also tested all of the edges with the 15-pound weight, noting 1.5-inch sinkage all around. As a rule of thumb, you want for less sinkage around the edges than in the middle. The middle of this mattress had two inches of sinkage, so, overall, edge support isn't bad.

  • Performance score: 4 out of 5

DreamFoam Essential mattress review: Specs

Should I buy the DreamFoam Essential mattress?

Buy it if...

✅ You're shopping for an awkward space: The DreamFoam Essential comes in nearly two dozen different sizes, including ones especially for RVs and bunk beds. A few of this brand's mattresses come in some unusual sizes (the Brooklyn Bedding Signature Hybrid has 14 size options, for example), but this might be the widest range of them all. 

✅ You're on a budget: If you don't have tons of cash to splash and/or you just need something good quality and comfortable, this is a great pick. While this isn’t a high-end, lush mattress, both my partner and I were perfectly happy sleeping on it during our review period. 

✅ You need a guest room mattress: With a range of different firmness options and a high maximum weight limit, this is a mattress that can suit lots of different people, regardless of sleep position or body size. The price point is perfect for a spare room, too.

Don't buy it if...

❌ You want a luxurious mattress: The DreamFoam Essential, while perfectly fine, is more of a basic mattress-in-a-box model. If you want something a little fancier, check out the DreamCloud mattress. This hybrid sits in the lower mid-range price bracket (so depending on thickness may be cheaper than the DreamFoam) and is our top pick for affordable luxury. 

❌ You need a mattress with sturdy edges: While the edge support on the DreamFoam is okay, it's not exceptional. If you need something you can comfortably push up off to get up in the morning, look elsewhere. 

❌ You aren't shopping for an awkward space: If you don't need one of those weird sizes, be aware that there are plenty of budget-friendly all-foam mattresses to choose from. The DreamFoam might still win out in the end, but it's well worth taking a look at the TechRadar roundup of the best memory foam mattresses to make sure you're not missing out on something that would suit you better.

How I tested the Brooklyn Bedding DreamFoam Essential mattress

I tested the 10-inch thick, Queen-sized DreamFoam Essential Mattress. My husband and I slept on it for three weeks in the spring. We have central heating and air-conditioning,  so it was never too hot or too cold. The average temperature was 68 degrees Fahrenheit. We both tend to sleep hot, so we used minimal bedding: just a bottom sheet, a top sheet, and a light blanket.

In addition to my subjective feelings about the comfort of this mattress, and soliciting my husband’s opinions, I ran standardized tests to assess the softness, edge support, and motion isolation of this mattress. 

Read more about how we test

First reviewed July 2023

Saatva Latex Pillow Review: a luxurious yet supportive pillow that’s worth the investment
6:24 pm | October 28, 2023
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness Mattresses Sleep | Comments: Off

Saatva Latex Pillow: Two-minute review

Saatva Latex Pillow includes both shredded latex and down-alternative for cushioning. As such, you're getting the best of both worlds: the allergy-friendly fluffiness of synthetic stuffing, and the comfortable bounciness of latex. 

This is the brand behind TechRadar's #1 best mattress (read about it in its Saatva Classic mattress review), so I had high expectations for this pillow, and I wasn't disappointed. The Saatva Latex pillow is one of the very best pillows I've slept on. It provides a luxurious sleeping experience, with the blend of different fills creating the feeling of sleeping in a 5-star hotel bed.

Although you can't adjust the fill level as is possible with some pillows, there are two loft options, making it suitable for a wide range of sleepers. Most of the pillow is machine-washable, and I didn't have any issues with it trapping heat, either.

With prices starting at $165, this sits at the top end of pillows in general, but the build quality is excellent. If you can afford it, it might well be worth it. Read on for my full Saatva Latex pillow review.

Saatva Latex pillow on reviewer's bed

(Image credit: Future)

Saatva Latex Pillow review: Specs

Saatva Latex Pillow review: Price & value for money

  • Premium pricing – costs from $165, and rarely discounted
  • High quality
  • Comes with a 45-night trial and year's warranty

The Saatva Latex pillow sits firmly in the premium price bracket. In fact, it would be in the premium bracket even at half price. Although Saatva mattress deals and sales are common, they never really include accessories like pillows. Here's the pricing for the two sizes:

  • Queen size: $165
  • King size: $185

None of Saatva's products are especially cheap, nor is that the brand's general approach – instead, it focuses on high-end materials, strong build quality and excellent customer service, all of which help justify those higher prices.

When the Brooklyn Bedding Talalay Latex Pillow is on sale, it’s less than half the cost of the Saatva Latex Pillow. But keep in mind that the latter also includes down-alternative fill, so it’s almost like getting two pillows for the cost of one, here. Although, of course, only person can sleep on it at a time.

Saatva makes four different types of pillows. In addition to the Sattva Latex Pillow, the company also makes a Saatva down-alternative Pillow that starts at $115 for a standard/queen. In addition, there’s a Saatva Graphite Memory Foam Pillow that starts at $165 for a standard/queen, and Saatva Cloud Memory Foam Pillow starts at $135 for a standard/queen.

Saatva Latex pillow in original packaging

(Image credit: Future)

Saatva Latex Pillow review: Design & materials

  • Shredded natural latex core provides support
  • Fill layer of alternative down fibers is breathable 
  • Cover and down microdenier fiber pillow are machine washable

The Saatva Latex Pillow has three main design components, all of which work perfectly together. The main core is made from shredded natural latex, to support the head and relieve pressure. This is wrapped in a fill layer containing down-alternative fibers. Finally, there's the organic cotton cover, with gusseted sides that look smart and help the pillow maintain its shape. 

This isn't one of those pillows where you can remove filling until it's the perfect height and firmness for you. However, it is available in two different lofts, making it suitable for a wide range of sleepers. The standard loft – which is about 4 inches to 5 inches high – is recommended for stomach and back sleepers. The high loft pillow is 6 inches to 7 inches high, and is recommended for side and combination sleepers.

Saatva Latex pillow, unzipped, to show inner chambers

(Image credit: Future)

In TechRadar's Saatva Down Alternative pillow review, the reviewer found the loft too high for most people, so it's great to see that this option has two heights to suit different people.

My review pair of Saatva Latex Pillows arrived in one branded box, with the pillows enclosed in a strong plastic bag with two carrying handles. Since the pillows weren’t shrink-wrapped, I didn’t have to wait for them to expand, so I was able to put the pillows on my bed and start the testing process immediately. (And since they were not shrink wrapped, I didn’t experience any off-gassing smells.)

  • Design score: 4.5 out of 5

Saatva Latex Pillow review: Care & allergies

Most of the Saatva Latex pillow is machine-washable – both the outer cotton cover and microdenier fiber layer can both be tossed in the washing machine to launder. Synthetic down-alternative generally better at not aggravating allergies when compared to actual down.

Although the shredded latex core isn't machine washable, it is hypoallergenic, and dust mite- and mildew-resistant. This natural latex does not contain allergy-producing proteins, and it doesn’t come into contact with your skin, so it should also be safe for people (like me) who have latex allergies.

Saatva Latex pillow in reviewer's bedroom

(Image credit: Future)

Saatva Latex pillow review: Comfort & support

  • Can suit back, side, or stomach sleepers, depending on the loft 
  • Squishy yet supportive
  • Doesn't need re-fluffing

The Saatva Latex Pillow provided a comfortable level of firmness and support, while also being ridiculously comfortable. My preference is always a thick and squishy/spongy pillow that’s plush yet supportive, and this pillow checks all of the boxes.

If you want a pillow that you can bash into shape and fold over, this isn't it – the Saatva Latex pillows can't be folded over, and are full enough that they don't need to be refluffed.

Saatva Latex pillow, unzipped, to show inner chambers

(Image credit: Future)

Since the pillow is available in two lofts, it's a good option for back, stomach, and side sleepers. I’m a combination sleeper, alternating between my stomach and side. For my review I slept on the high loft pillow option, and it was the perfect hight for these positions. On my back, it was slightly high – not enough to be uncomfortable, but enough to notice the difference. However, had I been a stomach sleeper, I would have requested the standard loft pillow instead.

I actually enjoyed the pillows so much that after my two weeks of testing, I started using them to lounge on my sofa on the weekends – but I would always take them back to the bedroom at night. 

  • Comfort and support score: 5 out of 5

Saatva Latex Pillow review: Temperature regulation

I did not find the Saatva Latex Pillow to be 'cool to the touch', but neither are the vast majority of temperature-regulating pillows that I test. However, the pillows did provide a relatively cool sleeping experience. 

This is due to three factors. First, the pillow’s natural latex core is breathable. Also, the fill later of alternative down fibers is also breathable. In addition, the organic cotton cover is moisture-wicking. With all of these components working in harmony, the result was a temperature-relating experience that kept me comfortably cool during the night.

  • Temperature regulation score: 4.5 out of 5

Should I buy the Saatva Latex pillow?

But keep in mind that the Saatva Latex Pillow combines latex with down-alternative, so it’s almost like getting two pillows for the cost of one. So, I would definitely recommend trying it. 

Buy it if...

✅ You want the best of the best: This pillow is an investment, but the quality and comfort makes this pillow worth it. As someone who loves down pillows/alternative down pillows and also loves latex pillows, this is the best of best worlds. It's comparable to asking me to choose between chocolate and peanut butter versus letting me combine chocolate and peanut butter. Why choose one when you can have both? 

✅ You want to be able to pick your loft: The ability to choose a higher or lower loft means you can choose the best option for your build and sleep style – it can be suitable for almost anyone, including side, back, and stomach sleepers.

✅ You suffer from allergies: Both the cover and the down-alternative fill section are machine-washable, which is a win for those who struggle with allergies. The latex, though not washable, is hypoallergenic, dust mite- and mildew-resistant.

Don't buy it if...

❌ You want to be able to adjust your loft/firmness precisely: Although it's available in two loft options, once you've made your choice, you're locked in. Other options let you remove and re-add fill as desired. 

❌ You're on a budget: This is a premium pillow, and while I don't think it's overpriced, there are plenty of excellent pillows around for much less – the Brooklyn Bedding Talalay Latex Pillow, listed below in the Alternatives section, is half the price.

❌ You want a super-squishy pillow: The Saatva Latex pillow is full and soft, but you can't bash it into shape or fold it over. 

Saatva Latex pillow review: Also consider

Casper Down pillow
The Casper Down Pillow is a pure down pillow with a supportive 5-chamber design and is actually a pillow within a pillow that includes duck down and feathers. It’s fluffy and feels like sleeping on a cloud. And for those who sleep hot, it is always cool to the touch. It works well with back, stomach, and side sleepers – but some people may find it too soft.  And at the time of publication, the pillow is at least $30 less expensive than the Saatva Latex Pillow, and can be tossed into the washing machine. Read more in our Casper Down pillow review.

How I tested the Saatva Latex pillow

For over two weeks, I slept on a pair of the Saatva Latex Pillows to see how they fared in performance, testing for setup, comfort, support, and temperature regulation. I also slept in side, back, and stomach positions to see if the performance was the same.

Read more about how we test

  • First reviewed: October 2023
Garmin Venu 3 review: A perfect balance of smartwatch and health tracker
7:10 pm | October 16, 2023
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness Smartwatches | Tags: , | Comments: Off

Garmin Venu 3: One minute review

The Garmin Venu 3 is the third in a trilogy of watches which – unlike most movie trilogies – as the third is actually the best of the bunch. In fact, this is one of the best Garmin watches outright. 

Like the rest of the Venu series, this is a pretty balanced blend of smartwatch and health tracker. Primarily, that means the Garmin Venu 3 looks great with a rich and colorful AMOLED screen, that gives some of the best Apple watches a run for their money. Unlike Apple Watches, which can only go a scant 18 or 36 hours without a recharge, this watch can last for up to two weeks.

What you don't get here is some of the more premium running features like the Training Readiness score, or Race Predictor, like you would get on the Garmin Forerunner 265 for example. But you do get advanced sleep tracking and suggestions, an evening report, unique wheelchair user-specific training metrics, and more health insights.

This watch also features a speaker and microphone meaning you can take calls from a connected phone, right there on your wrist. It also means the meditation training is more immersive with audio guidance, music, and more.

So while this is on the expensive side for a Garmin watch without premium training features, this does manage to offer lots of smartwatch-style capabilities – like GPS tracking, offline Spotify, and contactless pay – while also focusing on lifestyle tracking, all day and all night.

Garmin Venu 3: Specifications

Garmin Venu 3: Price and Availability

Garmin Venu 3

(Image credit: Future)
  • £450 in the UK 
  • $450 in the US
  • AU$749 in Australia

The Garmin Venu 3 is a relatively high price compared to other Garmin watches and contemporaries like the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6, but it costs only slightly more than an Apple Watch and does a bit of everything (and it does it very well) while looking premium to boot. So you're looking at a price of US$450 / £450 / AU$749, slightly higher than most smartwatches, but still quite representative of what you're getting at this stage. 

Of course, these are the launch prices, so you can expect these to drop over time. You can often find great deals on Garmins, and we're betting the Garmin Venu 3 is no exception. Check out our Black Friday Garmin deals page for more information.

  •  Value score: 4/5 

Garmin Venu 3: Design and screen

Garmin Venu 3

(Image credit: Future)
  • 1.4-inch AMOLED display
  • Stainless steel bezel
  • Comfy silicone strap, 22mm QuickFit compatible

The Garmin Venu 3 is undeniably an attractive smartwatch that can be used as a fitness tracker and as a fashionable day-to-day wearable. The silicone strap is comfy, waterproof, and minimal in its design. That stainless steel bezel also gives it a premium finish, which other curved-screen wearables like Apple Watches and the Google Pixel Watch 2 are missing. 

But it's only when that screen lights up you really see the quality. This watch boasts a gorgeous 1.4-inch AMOLED display with a high 454 x 454 pixel resolution. This super-bright and colorful screen makes all your metrics show up clearly and attractively, no matter the lighting conditions. 

The Venu 3 works well with a touchscreen that not only makes menu scrolling easy but features lovely graphical transitions that create an intuitive way to explore the menus. It's all encased in Corning Gorilla Glass 3 to make sure it stays scratch-free – which was the case throughout our frankly harsh testing. 50-meter waterproofing does set your mind at ease: you can use it anywhere, including underwater, and it's dustproof to boot.

You also have three buttons to help menu interactions which are utilized well. For example, if you want to discard a workout you hit the red cross on the screen but then have to confirm using one of the buttons.

The Venu 3 comes in two sizes: 41mm (known as the Venu 3S) and the larger 45mm, just known as the Venu 3. Colorways for the Venu 3 include white, black, or black with a leather strap. Go for the Venu 3S and there are even more choices including soft gold, rose pink, sage gray, and others.

  • Design score: 5/5

Garmin Venu 3: Features

Garmin Venu 3

(Image credit: Future)
  • Pre-loaded guided meditation content
  • Wheelchair user specific tracking
  • Smarter sleep tracking

The Garmin Venu 3 is packed full of health, lifestyle, and fitness tracking features while offering some genuinely useful smartwatch apps from the Connect IQ store. One standout feature was the fact this AMOLED screen is taken advantage of when linked to the Ring doorbell app, showing a screenshot of who's there when you get an alert on your wrist. 

The return of Venu 2's speaker and microphone means you can get audio alerts and even take calls natively on the watch. It's not quite well refined enough to let you talk back using the Ring app, for example, but it's no surprise the mainly third-party apps aren't going to be as good as on other platforms – Garmin has never pushed too hard in that area, largely because it focuses on fitness training, and it's done that well here.

You can expect a plethora of tracking and training options including all-day heart rate tracking, deep sleep tracking with guidance, stress scores, HRV measurements, respiration tracking, and plenty more. All that equates to a clear overall picture of your health. As we've come to expect from a good Garmin watch, you can also track nearly any exercise you can think of too, including swimming and golf. Garmin has a dedicated Garmin Golf app available on your phone, which you can sync to the Venu 3. Garmin consistently makes some of its best golf watches around, and it's nice to see some of those features available here, such as downloadable courses and shot analysis.

The meditation content is worth mentioning as this is specifically tailored to this watch, offering audio and visual guidance without the need to connect headphones. That means guided meditations that track your respiration rate and heart rate so you can see the effects directly.

The wheelchair user-specific tracking is a fantastic option that lets you setup in that mode, right from the outset. This will then be able to track pushes as well as offer a selection of wheelchair-specific sports tracking.

You also have a selection of useful features day-to-day like contactless payments, Bluetooth headphone connectivity, offline Spotify playlists, and a handy flashlight mode that you genuinely do use when pottering about in the dark.

  • Features score: 5/5

Garmin Venu 3: Performance

Garmin Venu 3

(Image credit: Future)
  • Accurate heart rate data
  • Superb sleep support
  • Still Garmin setup issues

The Garmin Venu 3, like most Garmins these days, performed very well in practice. That means it had near faultless GPS acquisition, was fast, and offered accurate measurements. It also meant heart rate data was accurate when compared with a chest strap test.

How all that data is used is what makes the Venu 3 special. Sleep tracking, for example, is far more advanced here than in many of the more sports-specific Garmin watches. This watch not only offers you a Morning Report of how you've slept and recovered, but also an Evening Report, helping you consider ways to make that night's sleep the best it can be. All that equates to checking in more with your habits and adjusting accordingly – part of what makes this watch supportive of change. This even has nap detection for the first time, allowing you to pop this on to get a power nap where your recommended sleep duration that night is taken into account.

It was a surprise to find the speaker and mic weren't just a fad but proved genuinely useful. There was enough clarity to follow guided meditations, take phone calls, and even appreciate music. The microphone worked well too; if you think this feature might be appealing, perhaps as a busy parent in the kitchen who still needs to be connected while hearing what's going on in the room, this is a top solution.

So why bother going for a sports-specific watch over this? Well, you'll find the Venu 3 can track a lot of sports – over 30 – but it might not do so in quite as much depth as some sports-specific wearables. Running, for example, tracks speed, pace, HR and even has maps, but you won't get more complex metrics from running dynamics like ground contact time or race predictors, which are available for the best running watches.

This would be a five-star section, but phone connection and setup was a nightmare. Having reviewed Garmins for over a decade, using various Android phones, this has always been an issue. A recent Forerunner 965 review was so faultless in the setup that it seemed Garmin had fixed it, then this Venu 3 connection was plagued with issues involving restarting the phone, the watch, the app, factory resets, and more. It might not be an issue on your phone but it's an unfixed Garmin trend, and cannot go unmarked.

  • Performance score: 4/5

Garmin Venu 3: Scorecard

Garmin Venu 3: Should I buy?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Garmin Venu 3: How we tested

We wore the Garmin Venu 3 on one wrist, connected to an Android device, for months. This came on runs, bike rides, swims, walks, yoga classes, weights sessions, paddle boarding and more.

The contactless payment features and wireless offline Spotify were both used as was sleep tracking, heart rate monitoring in cold water baths, notifications from the phone and more.

In short this was lived with 24/7 to truly test how you would use the watch, and all its features.

Garmin Venu 3: Also consider

First reviewed: October 2023

Levitex Mattress review: a simple but very effective design to promote perfect posture
8:37 am | October 15, 2023
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness Mattresses Sleep | Comments: Off

Levitex Gravity Defying Mattress: Two-minute review

The Levitex Mattress – also referred to on the brand website as the Lexitex Gravity Defying Mattress and the Levitex Sleep Posture Mattress – is made from proprietary foam, and doesn't feature any memory foam or springs, making it different to other mattresses on the market. This brand is very focused on how sleep products can be used to create the ideal nighttime posture – i.e. one that delivers perfect spinal support and alignment – and it's with this in mind that the Levitex mattress has been developed. 

The Levitex includes 10cm high-resistance foam on the base and 10cm pure Levitex foam on the top and has been clinically trialled and proven (by Levitex) to reduce pressure and improve sleep posture. At 20cm, it’s slightly thinner in depth than most of our best mattresses, which tend to be closer to 25cm. This doesn't compromise on comfort, however, as it feels streamlined and has impressive edge support that provides maximum sleeping space from edge to edge. The mattress isn't temperature sensitive either – so it won't be affected by you or the room temperature, which is a major plus with an all-foam design.

The Levitex Gravity Defying Mattress on a bed

(Image credit: Emily Peck)

I trialled the Levitex Gravity Defying Mattress over the course of two months and rated it on pressure relief, motion isolation, edge support, cooling and ease of set up. I was keen to see if the mattress does, in fact, match up to its claim of reducing pressure and improving posture to make me wake up feeling rested and ache-free.

The thing I noticed most when first laying on the Levitex Gravity Defying Mattress is how evenly supported each part of my body felt. It instantly made my back feel at ease, with my spine feeling nicely aligned and comfortable. It's a medium-firm mattress that I think steers more on the firm side. But it does still have that nice bit of bounce, and excellent pressure relief in all the important areas, such as the hips, back and lumbar area. Read on to find out more on what I, and a selection of testers, thought about this all-foam design. Here's my full Levitex Defying Mattress review.

Levitex Gravity Defying Mattress review: Price

  • A mid-range mattress
  • Discount on the TikTok shop with flash sales every few months 
  • Expect Black Friday deals

This is an upper mid-range price mattress, with what I think feels like a premium finish. It's mindfully crafted and the only mattress design Levitex sells, to complement the equally supportive Levitex pillow. Here's what you'll generally pay for it:

  • Single: RRP £499
  • Double: RRP £689
  • King size: RRP £829
  • Super king: RRP £979 

Levitex seems to purposefully not be a discount brand so you won't see constant mattress sales like you do on some bed-in-a-box company websites. That said, you can benefit from sale prices at peak trading times such as Black Friday and if you're a TikTok user, you may want to take advantage of the TikTok shop where the brand tells me that there are flash sales every few months.

There are four sizes on offer at the time of writing: single, double, king size and super king, and the Levitex Gravity Defying Mattress costs £689 for a double. The company doesn't offer any bundle deals, but if you want to team the mattress with a complementary Levitex pillow, it will cost a further £75. Meanwhile, a Levitex mattress topper costs from £175.

Levitex Gravity Defying Mattress review: Specs

Levitex Gravity Defying Mattress: Materials and design

  • 20cm deep, all-foam foam mattress with removable cover
  • 5-year guarantee that the mattress retains its shape
  • Foams have an antimicrobial treatment

The Levitex Gravity Defying Mattress is unlike anything I've tried before. It's constructed from a layer of 10cm pure Levitex foam at the top, with a 10cm layer of high-resistance foam on the base. These foams have an antimicrobial treatment that means bacteria, mould and mildew can't live there. 

The cover has an interesting geometric design, and can be removed for cleaning. To be honest, I didn't attempt this as getting mattress covers back on their base after washing definitely isn't my forte. There are no handles for easy maneuvering, but as it's on the thinner side, this isn't too much of an issue. Overall, I'd say that although this is far from the most complex or exciting mattress design around, it is effective. 

Design score: 4 out of 5

Levitex Gravity Defying Mattress review: Comfort

  • Designed especially to promote good sleep posture
  • Medium-firm sleep surface keeps you well supported
  • Excellent for side sleepers, but equally good for back and front sleepers

The Levitex Mattress is the brainchild of James Leinhardt, who spent 10 years working in hospitals helping the chronically ill and injured and realised how important sleep posture is on our general health. With the help of medical director, Dr Ilan, the Levitex mattress and pillow were launched. Both are aimed at helping to ease back pain and improve sleep quality.

The mattress is officially medium-firm feel. I think overall it leans more on the side of firm, but with a top surface that's incredibly soft and feels luxurious to lie on. It contours a little to your shape, but you won't sink in and feel enveloped by it, like you would with a classic memory foam (it's also responsive enough that it's easy to change position on). The Levitex mattress offers excellent pressure relief in all the important areas such as the back and hips. At 20cm, the depth is thinner than anything I've tried before so I wasn't expecting to find the mattress so supportive and comfortable. 

To get more of an insight into how supportive the Levitex mattress, I used an 8kg weight to measure the sinkage of the mattress. The weight is meant to simulate the feel of a person's body sinking into the mattress and I measured it giving a 4cm sinkage value, which is a reasonable score for a medium-firm mattress.      

A kettlebell on the Levitex Gravity Defying Mattress

(Image credit: Emily Peck)

One of the most noteworthy features of the all-foam Levitex mattress is just how well it retains its shape. I asked a group of friends varying in height from 5ft 2 to 6ft to try out the mattress and tell me what they thought about its comfort and how well supported their bodies felt.

Overall it made my body feel light, comfortable from top to toe and suitably supported – especially when laying on my back and side. I teamed it with a Levitex pillow that is made from the same foam, so my body felt suitably balanced and at ease. The Levitex mattress is ‘clinically researched to make sure it provides you with pressure relief and postural management, so you can wake up rested and free from back pain'. I don't always have back pain, but on the nights that I was feeling particularly creaky I did find myself sleeping deeper and waking up feeling like I'd had a good 7 hours.

Close-up of the edge of the Levitex Gravity Defying Mattress

(Image credit: Levitex)

One of our front sleeping testers who weighs around 63kg liked how ‘held up' her body felt when she was laying on it, while the majority of side sleepers said they were able to quickly get into a really comfortable position. For anyone sleeping on their back, I'd suggest teaming it with the Levitex pillow, which really does a great job at holding your head in place and aligning your spine for a really comfortable sleeping position that feels effortless. With such positive feedback in all sleep positions, I'd say that this mattress might be the sweet spot for anyone who hasn't quite found their ideal sleep position.

Comfort score: 5 out of 5

Levitex Gravity Defying mattress review: Performance

  • Not temperature-sensitive, no issues with overheating
  • Isolates motion well – a good choice for couples
  • Great edge support around the perimeter

As well as assessing the Levitex mattress on its comfort and support levels, I also tested it is key areas of performance: temperature regulation (whether or not it sleeps hot), motion isolation (how well it absorbs movements on the surface) and edge support (whether it slopes around the perimeter). This mattress performed impressively well across the board. Here's a closer look...

Temperature regulation

Unlike a memory foam mattress, Levitex foam isn't temperature sensitive. With memory foam the longer you lie on it the softer it becomes and the more you immerse in the foam, the more you run the risk of getting too hot while sleeping. Levitex material properties aren't affected by heat, however, so you won't sink into the foam and will have less body contact with the surface.

There's also the issue that some foams have a tendency to trap body heat, and all-foam mattresses can also lack breathability because there's less space for air to circulate compared to models with springs. 

Despite this being an all-foam mattress, I had absolutely no issues with overheating on the Levitex. I found it kept me at a nice, even temperature throughout my testing period.

Temperature regulation score: 4.5 out of 5

Motion isolation

It's no fun being disturbed every time your partner moves in their sleep, and vice versa, which is why good motion isolation technology in a mattress is a must. To find out just how well the Levitex did at limiting movement from side to side, I slept alongside my 6ft partner whose long and lean legs tend to take up quite a bit of space on the king size mattress. As he's a side and front sleeper and I'm a back and side sleeper, we definitely put the mattress to task on this test. We can both report that it really did a good job to hold its structure, with no annoying wobbles or bounce affecting either side when either of us moved.

A wine glass and a dumbbell on the Levitex Gravity Defying Mattress

(Image credit: Emily Peck)

To further test just how good the mattress's motion isolation is, I conducted a test using an empty wine glass and 5kg weight. I placed the wine glass in the centre of the mattress and dropped the weight 4, 10 and 25 inches away from it. I was keen to see if the wine glass fell over due to the impact of the nearby weight. Impressively, it didn't at any of the distances and although the wine glass stem did wobble considerably at 4 inches away, it proves that the mattress is well constructed to deal with disturbance and motion.

Motion isolation score: 4.5 out of 5

Edge support 

If you've ever sat on the side of a mattress only to have the structure flatten and make you feel like you're slipping off, you'll know how important good edge support is on a mattress. The good news is the Levitex mattress definitely doesn't make you feel like you're at a child's soft play. In fact, we were all very pleased with just how well the edges held together when we sat on the sides. Our tallest tester told me that he felt like the mattress evenly supported his body and the streamlined surface gave him a lot of usable sleep space from edge to edge. Personally, I think the edges are above average in terms of being supportive and able to hold their shape.

A kettlebell on the edge of the Levitex Gravity Defying Mattress

(Image credit: Emily Peck)

To further test the edge support, I used the 8kg weight to measure the sinkage at the sides. The results were the same as in the middle of the mattress, which proves just how evenly supportive the mattress is from one edge to the other.

Edge support score: 5 out of 5

Levitex Gravity Defying Mattress review: Setup

  • Arrives boxed, folded, rolled and vacuum packed
  • Calculates shipping on purchase
  • Off-gassing took a while to clear

As Levitex only sells one mattress, clicking to buy is straightforward. There is lots of information on the website, however - on the brand, the importance of good sleep posture and the benefits of this mattress.

The mattress arrived promptly boxed and rolled up in vacuum plastic packaging. I had ordered a king size mattress that weighs 29.8kg so once I had taken it out of the cardboard box it was a two-person job to haul it up the stairs.

Image 1 of 3

The Levitex Gravity Defying Mattress rolled up and standing on its end

The Levitex Gravity Defying Mattress rolled up and standing on its end (Image credit: Emily Peck)
Image 2 of 3

The Levitex Gravity Defying Mattress vaccum-packed in plastic wrapping

Vaccum-packed in plastic wrapping (Image credit: Emily Peck)
Image 3 of 3

The Levitex Gravity Defying Mattress just after being opened

The Levitex Gravity Defying Mattress just after being opened (Image credit: Emily Peck)

I lay it onto a wooden slatted bed and cut open the plastic. The mattress comes folded and rolled so it's super compact when it arrives and takes a few hours to form shape, which it did nicely. The fold in the middle of the mattress took a little longer to smooth out, but once it had there were no signs that it had been rolled or folded at all.

Delivery and set up of the mattress was easy. Within a few hours the mattress had reached shape, but I left it for 72 hours to reach its full capability. One of the pros of this mattress is that it doesn't need turning as the foam is designed in such a way that it won't sag. That came as a welcome relief as I had become tired of having to turn my last new mattress once a week for the first three months. One con of this mattress, however, is that the off-gassing – that new factory smell you sometimes get with a new mattress – took a little longer than I'd like to clear.

With this in mind I'd suggest you factor in at least a few days to air the mattress – with a window open if possible - so that the off-gassing reasonably clears before sleeping on it. I also found that it took a couple more weeks of off-gassing lingering around before it really starts to go. 

Also note that at 44 days, the trial for this mattress is much shorter than you'll find at any of the big bed brands. Most offer a minimum of 100 nights, some much longer. I suspect that is because at the moment, Levitex is a relatively small company. The same goes for the warranty, which is only 5 years – less time than you'd expect a mattress to last for. Most brands offer a minimum of 10 years.

Setup score: 4 out of 5

Levitex Gravity Defying Mattress review: Customer reviews

  • 4.6 rating on 659 reviews on Reviews.io
  • 4.3 stars over 7 reviews on Trustpilot
  • Positive reviews for back-relieving benefits

I found some customer review comments displayed on the Levitex website that all come pooled in via the Reviews.io website. There are up to 659 to choose from that paint a positive picture of Levitex. These reviews aren't just for the mattress, however, but are based on the Levitex pillow too.

While they are all positive, there are currently only seven reviews about the Levitex brand on the Trustpilot reviews site. Customers state how quickly the products arrive, and there are many general comments on how the Levitex foam has helped with back and neck pain in general. One customer simply says: ‘My wife now sleeps'.

Should you buy the Levitex Gravity Defying Mattress?

The Levitex Gravity Defying Mattress on a bed

(Image credit: Levitex)

If you've been suffering from a bad back, have chronic pain or are just not able to get comfortable at night, I think this Levitex mattress is worth a try. While it does come rolled up and in a box, this is not your standard bed-in-a-box mattress company. The brand prides itself on having created a product that can provide the optimum sleep posture, and this is something that I felt the instant benefit from.

So if you're mindfully sourcing your mattress – rather than simply looking for a quick fix – I would recommend that you browse the Levitex site and read the clinical research. You will also find tips to help you improve your sleep posture to see whether the mattress could work for you. 

The brand also claims that the mattress can improve digestion and circulation, lessen tension in neck and shoulders, reduce snoring and boost your energy levels. Having trialled it for just two months, it's hard to say whether it could do this, but it definitely did a good job at improving my posture, which is where good sleep hygiene starts.

Overall, I think the mattress has excellent pressure relief, great edge support and has easy-care features. While it's not the deepest and plushest of mattresses I or my tester friends have ever tried, we all found it extremely comfortable and great at providing a reliable night's sleep. As a result, I think it's a good option for all sleeping types and makes it onto my top 5 of all-time favourite mattresses. It's only slightly let down by the short trial and warranty. 

Levitex Gravity Defying Mattress review: Also consider

How I tested the Levitex Gravity Defying Mattress

I tested this mattress over the course of two early summer months. The temperature in the room was comfortable and never went over 21 degrees C. I teamed it with Egyptian-cotton bed linen and a Levitex pillow and slept on the mattress alongside my partner.

To get a range of opinion, I asked a few friends varying in heights and weights to try the mattress and tell me how well they think it supported them.

I also ran standardised tests to objectively measure softness, edge support, and motion isolation. Overall, I was keen to see if the mattress does, in fact, match up to its claim of reducing pressure and improving posture to make me ‘wake up feeling rested and ache-free'. I am pleased to report that it did.

Google Pixel Watch 2 review: lighter, faster, and maybe better
6:20 pm | October 4, 2023
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness Smartwatches | Tags: , , | Comments: Off

Google Pixel Watch 2: One-minute preview

Google Pixel Watch 2 essentially steers the same course as its well-received first version, and that's mostly a good thing.

At a glance, the new smartwatch's design is unchanged. Google did redesign the digital crown a bit to enhance ease of use. Otherwise, the screen and dimensions are the same as they were on the original Google Pixel Watch. However, looks can be a bit deceiving. The cover glass is thinner (Google insists it's just as strong) and the body is now made of lightweight, recycled aluminum. Together, they decrease the weight by what Google insists is a noticeable amount.

More importantly (and maybe more noticeably) this watch has new components and a major platform update. It has a new quad-core processor and Wear OS 4.0, making it probably the best Wear OS watch around right now, if not one of the best smartwatches period.

There are critical new features like the new Personal Safety Check, and, finally, auto-recognition of when you start and stop working out. Google Pixel Watch 2 might also do a better job of recognizing your workout performance thanks to the watch's new multi-path heart rate sensor on the back.

This is just our first impressions of the Google Pixel Watch 2. If you want more from this year's October Made by Google Event, you can check out our early Google Pixel 8 review and our early Google Pixel 8 Pro review.

Google Pixel Watch 2

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

The display still has that too-large black bezel around its bright 320ppi face, but the screen is now running in Always On mode by default, while still maintaining 24-hour battery life (according to Google).

If you're up for sleeping with the watch (remember it's lighter for more bedtime comfort), you may appreciate that it can charge a lot faster now thanks to four physical charging pins on the back, which is a switch from the induction charging found on the last model.

Google claims you can get a 50% charge in less than 30 minutes, which means if you want a quick charge before bedtime and maybe don't want to charge up again when you wake up and head out to work, it's possible with the Pixel Watch 2.

Also, if you're looking for more sleep data, the Pixel Watch 2 has you covered with a new skin temperature sensor. And for when you're awake, the new continuous electrodermal activity (CEDA) sensor could help detect signs of stress

Overall this looks like a smart, albeit safe update. Google didn't attempt a wholesale redesign but they've basically changed almost everything else, from the CPU to most of the key sensors and even the charging methodology. With Wear OS 4.0, safety enhancements, and some new Fitbit capabilities, this may be the smartwatch update to watch.

Google Pixel Watch 2: Specifications

Google Pixel Watch 2: Price and availability

Google Pixel Watch 2

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
  • Starts from $349 (WiFi) $399 (LTE)
  • Prices £349 and £399 in the UK, AU$549 and AU$649 in AU
  • One size: 41mm

Google unveiled the new Google Pixel Watch 2, along with the new Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, on October 4. 

The Google Pixel Watch 2 starts at $349 in the US, £349 in the UK and AU$549 in Australia for the WiFi-only model. With LTE connectivity, it costs $399 / £399 / AU$649. 

Preorders started on October 4 and the watch ships on Oct. 12.  It's available in four color combinations: Polished Silver/Bay, Polished Silver/Porcelain, Matte Black/Obsidian, and Champagne Gold/Hazel.

Google Pixel Watch 2: Design

Google Pixel Watch 2 HANDS ON

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
  • Maintains elegance of original design
  • Lighter aluminum body
  • Redesigned digital crown 

Google's original Pixel Watch was one of the best-looking smartwatches on the market and its successor, the Google Pixel Watch 2, measures up to that standard.

The newly thinner glass cover and recycled aluminum body still look like they were poured out together. Its gumdrop shape looks and generally feels good. While lowering the overall weight by about 10%, Google didn't touch the dimensions of the one-size-fits-all 41mm watch.

There is one change that does incrementally improve the aesthetic appeal: Google redesigned the digital crown, mostly by changing the stem that leads to it, to give it a more watch-like look and more importantly make it easier to use it.

Google didn't make any changes to the sometimes challenging band attachment system, but there are some new bands, including six fitness bands. I didn't get to wear them but I can report that the material felt nice.

Google Pixel Watch 2: Features

Google Pixel Watch 2

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
  • New Safety features
  • Skin temperature sensing
  • New watch faces and complications
  • Better heart rate sensor

While I didn't get to spend much time with the new Pixel Watch 2, it's safe to assume that the new quad-core processor should result in smoother operation. However, some of the biggest changes will surely come from the new Wear OS 4.0.

The system change will bring new core apps like Calendar, Gmai, and an updated Google Assistant.

On the Health and Fitness front, the Pixel Watch 2 will match the Apple Watch Series 9 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 to automatically recognize when you start and stop working out. it's one of my favorite Apple Watch features and I'm happy to see it here.

There's a new heart rate zone for runners that can help with pace coaching and alert you when you drop in and out of your personal zone.

Google Pixel Watch 2

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

Speaking of heart, the new multi-path heart rate sensor is actually multiple sensors that, according to Google, can much more accurately track your heart rate during more vigorous workouts (Google claims it's up to 40% more accurate than the original Pixel Watch's optical heart rate sensor, just like the Fitbit Charge 6's 60% improvement on the Charge 5). It does this by taking the single-point sensor contact of the original Google Pixel Watch and multiplying it into four points of wrist contact.

There's also a new sweat detector (the CEDA) that the watch can use to measure your stress level.

In addition to all these health and activity adjustments, the Google Pixel Watch 2 now includes Personal Safety features. With Safety Check, you set a timer and if you have not responded by the end of it, the watch can automatically send a message to your emergency contact with your real-time location.

Normally, this feature would require not only an LTE version of the Pixel Watch 2 but a monthly carrier contract, as well. Google will be offering it, though, as a free feature for Fitbit Premium customers. Naturally, Fitbit Premium is not free – it normally costs $9.99 / £7.99 / AU$15.49 a month. However, all new Pixel Watch 2 customers get six months of Fitbit Premium for free.

I got a walkthrough of the new Safety Features and thought they looked clear, concise, and useful.

Google Pixel Watch 2: Early verdict

Having only spent a couple of hours with the new Google Pixel Watch 2, it's way too soon to offer a verdict. 

Still, I'm generally pleased with the look, feel, and function of Google's new smartwatch.

While I wish Google had enlarged the display, the new watch faces are packed full of information and much of the interface appeared clean and responsive.

I'm a little surprised that Google chose to swap out inductive charging capability for four physical pins, but the reasoning is sound. Who wouldn't want faster charging so they can get back to bed with their smartwatch for accurate sleep and temperature tracking?

The new quad-core processor and updated Wear OS 4.0 should make it a more responsive and easier-to-use wearable.

Google held the line on pricing though I can't help but think that the Pixel Watch 2 could be a best-seller if it drops the WiFi model price to $299.

More to come in our full review.

Coros Pace 3 review: This light running watch is better value than many Garmins
5:39 pm | October 2, 2023
Author: admin | Category: Computers Fitness Trackers Gadgets Health & Fitness | Tags: , , | Comments: Off

Coros Pace 3: One minute review

The Coros Pace 3 is a strong entry in the best cheap running watch stakes, and perhaps has even earned a place as one of the best running watches released this year. It’s a slender and lightweight device at 32g with a nylon strap (39g, if you opt for silicon), but it’s a powerhouse for evaluating your running performance, collecting plenty of information on stride length, cadence, heart rate zones, elevation and more, presenting it all in an accessible, legible format.

Music storage, a redesigned rear sensor array, a toggle on-off touchscreen functionality and improved satellite navigation tech have meant a small price increase, but it’s still an excellent buy unless you own its admittedly similar predecessor. It’s a superb stripped-back running companion and should serve most recreational road-runners very well indeed.

It isn’t perfect by any means: its light, plastic construction and lack of a properly raised bezel mean it isn’t particularly rugged and is unlikely to stand up to a great deal of punishment on your adventures. I wouldn’t wear it on the trails, or while scrambling up mountainsides, for instance. It falls flat next to the best Garmin watches and best Apple Watches, too, purely from a “smart” perspective, with both offering far superior notification and third-party app interfaces, on-wrist payment options, and more ways to interact with your watch in general. 

However, this is what I mean when I say “stripped-back”. It will be great in the middle of a race, and a terrific budget buy for fun-runners and annual marathon participants – but it has a long way to go as a lifestyle watch. Still, for under $250 / £219 / AU$399, it’s a wonderful running watch and I wouldn’t think twice about hitting the roads with the Coros Pace 3 on my arm. 

Coros Pace 3: Specifications

Coros Pace 3: Price and availability

  • Costs $229 in the US
  • £219 in the UK
  • AU$399 in Australia

The Coros Pace 3 is available worldwide, costing $229 in the US, £219 in the UK, and AU$399 in Australia. That’s pretty cheap compared to most of the best running watches, such as the Polar Pacer Pro – and I’d place the Coros Pace 3 in a similar bracket to the Polar. 

Some of the best fitness trackers such as the Amazfit Bip 3 Pro, higher-end bands such as the Fitbit Charge 5, and specialist running watches such as the Garmin Forerunner 55 all run cheaper. But these are a little more outdated, and not as feature-packed as the Pace 3.

More expensive running watches such as the Garmin Forerunner 265, Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, or even higher-end watches such as the Apple Watch Ultra, all feel less cheap, are far more durable, and offer better smart capabilities. However, you might be hard-pressed to get more running metrics from most watches that cost even twice as much as the Pace 3’s asking price. 

  • Value score: 5/5

Coros Pace 3: Design

Coros Pace 3 on wrist

(Image credit: Future / Matt Evans)
  • Lightweight plastic chassis
  • Simple to navigate watch
  • Intuitive app layout

The design of the Coros Pace 3 is fairly bare-bones, with a white polymer case and bezel that meets a mineral glass LCD screen. The screen is bright enough to see in most settings, although a little faint in bright, direct sunlight. Plus, it doesn’t have the charm of Garmin’s MIP display, nor the full-bodied brightness of a responsive OLED screen such as the Garmin Venu 2. The screen is touch-sensitive, which can be toggled from navigation-only to always-on, but more on that later. 

Bands are available in both silicon and nylon options – we were given the nylon strap to test. The rip-away nylon and velcro feels comfortable; it isn’t irritating and won’t budge on runs (at least, it didn’t during my tests). However, it isn’t the best-looking option for everyday wear. It can feel like a wide festival wristband at times, and really emphasizes its place as a running tool rather than an everyday watch. Which sounds fine in essence; but when it arrives with a long battery life that is in place to ensure the device can be exercised, slept and lived in to monitor recovery, you at least want something that looks nice. 

It’s lucky, then, that the design on the software side is nice and economical. Pressing the lower button on the watch’s right-hand side takes you out of your watch face and into a menu of workouts and other system settings, such as Music and Navigation. You can then scroll up, down and select these options with the Apple-style digital crown. Pressing the digital crown first, instead of the lower button, takes you to a widget stack. This displays your vital stats such as steps, floors, running fitness and so on.

It’s an elegant design and works well, and this ethos is shared in the companion Coros app. The “Progress” tab is your main port of call, showing you your vital stats, training calendar, running fitness and recovery metrics, including your sleep, HRV index and even body mass (if you’re diligent enough to continue recording it) at a glance. The “Activities” tab allows you to review your most recent workouts in more detail, while the “Explore” tab takes you to a GPS map feature that allows you to generate routes, which you can import into your watch as courses to be followed via breadcrumbs. 

  • Design score: 4/5

Coros Pace 3: Features

Coros Pace 3 on wrist

(Image credit: Future / Matt Evans)
  • Tons of excellent metrics
  • Not many smart features
  • No app-based music control

Features-wise, there’s a lot for runners to love here. The newly redesigned rear sensor array offers advanced heart rate metrics, including heart rate variability while you sleep, and BPM measurements taken at 10-minute intervals throughout the day. You can scroll back through the day on-watch using the rotating crown, or even further in the app. During a workout, those new optical heart rate sensors help to calculate aerobic and anaerobic power, your heart rate zones (explained in full, as opposed to simply numbered as they are in most watches), while the gyroscope looks at cadence and stride, and the GPS calculates elevation and distance. 

It’s all presented in granular detail, but never feels impenetrable. It isn’t quite as clean and slick as Apple or Samsung’s presentation, but it’s decent. Sleep tracking is present and feeds into recovery metrics, but no advice is given about how you can improve your sleep. As such, those looking for serious guidance or information about their chronotypes might be better off with one of the best Fitbit watches or the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6. 

Fitness tests can be taken and the results logged, and perhaps my favorite feature is “running fitness” – a catch-all widget that offers a granular score based on the performance of your most recent runs. It’s a bit like Garmin’s Endurance and Readiness scores all rolled into one, and the drive to push it up (it started me at 0! The cheek!) has kept me on the roads this week. 

However, as someone who doesn’t own a lot of music and mostly relies on Spotify these days, I was disappointed about the lack of music control features. Music storage is available, but if you want to toggle stuff on your phone from your watch, you’re out of luck. No loading your card onto your watch to make payments, either. If you want to do anything other than simply run, you’ll need your phone with you. Call and text notifications are available, but no third-party app widgets or interfaces (other than Strava, and so on) also means no Whatsapp. Like the Polar Pacer Pro, it feels very much like a training tool. 

  • Features score: 3.5/5

Coros Pace 3: Performance

Coros Pace 3 on wrist

(Image credit: Future / Matt Evans)
  • Super impressive battery life
  • Great performance on the road
  • Touchscreen a little laggy

I tested the Coros Pace 3 on several runs on holiday and at home, and was impressed with the quality, accuracy and breadth of the metrics collected. I was able to create a course in-app and follow it on the watch with little difficulty, although it’s in breadcrumb format rather than full-color maps such as those offered by the top Garmin devices. I was very pleased with the graphs of cadence and stride length, and the Pace 3 even produces on-wrist running power – a feature even the best Garmin watches have struggled with until relatively recently. 

Each metric provides not only a graph, but a breakdown of the reasons it matters to your running performance and how it’s measured. This might not sound like a big addition, but it’s massively important: it makes the watch and the information it collects so much less impenetrable and far more accessible. GPS maps of your routes are present, although I’d like a Garmin-style heat signature map of your effort at certain points along the way. I also tried some of the other workout profiles, such as pool swims, and was impressed: I attained information about water temperature and stroke counts, which are essential metrics for triathletes. 

I was also blown away by the battery life. After casual use of GPS mode over 10 days or so after its initial full charge, my watch is sitting pretty at 40%. It looks like those claims of a full 24 days in Smartwatch mode, and up to 38 hours in GPS mode, are pretty accurate after all. Expect the watch to last around 18-20 days or so with moderate use, and probably two weeks for power users. This isn’t to be sneezed at for any watch, but at this price point it’s a revelation. Coros has been hard at work to extend the Pace 3’s battery life, and it shows, even with an always-on display. 

However, one thing that did prove a little frustrating is the touchscreen. An LCD touchscreen was never going to match the silky refresh rate of an OLED Apple Watch, but I still ended up turning it off, using the buttons and rotating crown to move through the watch’s internal architecture with little difficulty.

I ended my test a little irritated at the lack of the watch’s smart features, but pleased overall with its performance on the road. 

  • Performance score: 4/5

Coros Pace 3: Scorecard

Coros Pace 3: Should I buy?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

Apple Watch Ultra 2 review: the smartwatch world’s best screen ever
2:47 pm | September 22, 2023
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness Smartwatches | Comments: Off

Apple Watch Ultra 2: One minute review

The original Apple Watch Ultra was the most radical redesign to the watch that Apple has ever attempted. It was something entirely new, a great innovation, one that was celebrated, and the best Apple Watch we'd ever seen. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is also very good, because it’s mostly the same watch. 

It has a brighter screen (Apple’s brightest screen ever, in fact) but Apple’s new S9 SiP chip and the watchOS 10 operating system are what’s bringing most of the changes. The S9 chip, just like it does on the Apple Watch Series 9, allows for a selection of new features such as the impressive hands-free Double Tap control. This innovative new gesture allows you to start workouts, dismiss timers, answer calls and more, all hands-free. 

A smattering of other features, including Siri, no longer needed to connect to the cloud, while a couple of alterations to the Depth app round out the changes. It’s also stepped up its eco credentials, with recycled materials both inside and outside the watch. New bands also share this ethos, with an increased emphasis on sustainability fostering new design.

However, when it comes to the Apple Watch Ultra 2’s core mission - an Apple Watch to take with you into the wilderness and under the sea - very little has changed. There has been no battery life extension, new workout functionalities, or navigation innovations you can’t also get on the original Ultra thanks to watchOS 10. It’s still an amazing Apple Watch - probably the best, in fact, from a specifications perspective, and a definite contender for our best smartwatch guide - but it’s falling into the same cycle of small annual updates as the standard Apple Watch models.

Apple Watch Ultra 2: Specifications

Apple Watch Ultra 2: Price and availability

Apple Watch Ultra 2 review

(Image credit: Future / Matt Evans)
  • $799 / £799 / AU$1,399
  • Only one model
  • Available now

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is available now. Your purchasing journey is pretty straightforward, this time: while the Apple Watch Series 9 comes with a whole host of choice attached to it (which color? Which size? Which band? GPS or cellular?) there’s just a single Apple Watch Ultra 2 to choose from. 

You get one size, 49mm, and one color, its standard Titanium, despite the rumors we’d be seeing a Black or Midnight version this year. It packs LTE cellular connectivity as standard. The only meaningful choice you need to make while buying it is which band it comes with, but we’ll get to those in more detail in the Design section below. 

If the $799 / £799 / AU$1,399 price for the Watch Ultra 2 is too high, or you don't need the extra adventure-focused features, you can of course look at the Apple Watch 9 range instead. Read more about that in our hands-on Apple Watch 9 review.

Apple Watch Ultra 2: Design

Apple Watch Ultra 2 review

(Image credit: Future / Matt Evans)
  • Recycled Titanium casing
  • 3,000 nit Retina Display screen
  • Otherwise identical

At first glance, just like the Series 9, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is more or less identical to its predecessor. Both share the same solid titanium body, the protruding casing housing the digital crown and the side button, and the now-iconic orange Action button. Microphone and speaker placement also match the original exactly. 

The key differences to look out for concern the screen and the bands. First off, the screen is even more beautiful than on the first version, capable of putting out an impressive 3,000 nits of brightness at full blast. It’s Apple’s brightest screen ever, the refresh rate is like water falling off a duck’s back, and it’s definitely Apple at its peak. It’s probably the best smartwatch screen I’ve ever seen in person from a purely technical standpoint. 

This world-beating screen is brought to life with a new customizable Ultra-exclusive watch face, showing the seconds ticking away around the screen in a very clever fashion. Meanwhile, your favorite complications - for instance movement rings, a weather widget, temperature, and a compass setting - can be mixed-and-matched to display on the watch face itself. It’s a smart alternative to the Wayfinder watch face from last year, and looks particularly great in Night Mode - although, if I had to make a choice right now, the Wayfinder still looks better. 

Apple Watch Ultra 2 review

(Image credit: Future / Matt Evans)

However, that’s pretty much everything we can say from a software design perspective, as most of the innovations present here are part of watchOS 10, which is also available on other Apple Watches. It’s a shame there’s nothing new or unique about what you can do with watchOS 10 and the Ultra 2’s Action button: it’s still programmable, able to map to different functions, but there’s no exciting new feature using the button this time.

The bands are driven by the same environmentally friendly message that dominated this year’s Apple releases. Like the original, three straps are available for the Ultra 2: Alpine, with a g-hook fastening, a nylon Trail strap, and a flouroelastomer Ocean band for dives.

I got to handle the Trail strap, and the design has been slightly tweaked, with a more rounded, clean end to it. Like the Series 9’s sport loops, the nylon band is made with some recycled wool now. The Alpine and Trail bands are emblazoned with a circle of green leaves on the packaging, signifying they’re part of Apple’s carbon neutral scheme, and this will also be made clear online. The watch’s titanium casing is also made from 95% recycled titanium, an impressive number if nothing else.

Apple Watch Ultra 2: Features

Apple Watch Ultra 2 review

(Image credit: Future / Matt Evans)
  • Last year's excellent adventuring suite
  • New Double Tap gesture
  • Night Mode switches on automatically

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 still has the same stand-out adventuring features its predecessor did, such as next-level GPS tracking, using the Action button to emit a warning siren for assistance, durability in high and low temperatures, and the Oceanic+ app, which turns the watch into a working dive computer. If you want to check that one out, we had a real diving instructor test the Apple Watch Ultra to see how it did. 

The Depth app, which is different from the Oceanic+ as it’s Apple’s in-house dive function, allows you to access logs of previous dives more easily on the watch now. It also supports free diving, although I’m unlikely to give that a serious go before I fully review the watch. The original Ultra’s slick, infrared-looking Night Mode had to be switched on manually with the digital crown, but it now turns on automatically thanks to ambient light sensors under the screen.

That’s it for adventuring gear, but in terms of other new features, the Double Tap gesture is the big winner here. Although it’s not available until October and I wasn’t able to try it on the Apple Watch Ultra 2, I was able to have a go with the feature on the Apple Watch Series 9, which uses the same chipset and sensor array. 

For those not in the know, by raising the watch as if you’re going to check the time and pinching your fingers twice, you can activate whatever widget or app you have open at any given time. If you’ve got a workout loaded up, you can start or finish it, for example. I tried answering a phone call, dismissing a timer, and scrolling through the new watchOS 10 widget stack using the feature, and it’s very impressive and easy to get to grips with. This could easily have been a useless gimmick, but Apple has made this a feature you’ll probably use daily. 

Other new stuff involves the S9’s use of its Ultra Wideband technology to improve the Find Devices functionality. If you use an iPhone 15, which is also equipped with Ultra Wideband, you can see not only the direction of your phone, but also how far away it is from you in feet. My live demonstration was great, but of course at the moment it’s predicated on you having access to both new devices. Ultra Wideband can also be used to control music on your Apple HomePod if you’re nearby, which is useful, I guess - but this isn’t a watch for staying at home. This is a watch for the great outdoors, and I would have liked to see more innovation here. 

Apple Watch Ultra 2: Early verdict

Apple Watch Ultra 2 review

(Image credit: Future / Matt Evans)

I've not tested the Apple Watch Ultra 2 in full yet, but from what I've seen of it it's still the best Apple Watch. In fact, it’s still up there with the best smartwatches ever. But while the S9 chip’s new functionalities have made the watch even better, this is ultimately a very iterative update, and it can’t be judged in the same way as its predecessor because it’s no longer a category-breaking shock to the system. 

Apple has already got an excellent suite of fitness features, and watchOS 10’s improved cycling metrics means this could be a must-have device for triathletes. It won’t do for all adventurous types, though: I’d have loved to see a bigger battery to solidify it as a top choice for wilderness weekends, but 36 hours of stamina won't be enough for me to pick it over a Garmin if I'm going to be without power for long stretches. 

I’ll look forward to testing it extensively to see if that 3,000-nit screen has a big effect on the battery, but for now, we’ll have to leave it at this: the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is technically the best Apple Watch ever, but it’s a small update. And that means it's only for people who don’t have the original model.

Apple Watch Series 9 review: tapping into a new era of gestures
2:47 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness Smartwatches | Tags: , | Comments: Off

Apple Watch Series 9: One-minute review

After several fairly iterative updates, the Apple Watch Series 9 finally brings a genuinely exciting, use-everyday new feature to the flagship Apple Watch in the form of Double Tap. The gesture is sure to make waves when it’s made available later this year, and I found it a delight to use in my brief time with the watch. 

A brighter screen and on-device Siri, ensuring that health queries are processed securely, are welcome changes, too. The Watch 9 may well prove to be the best Apple Watch for most people in the weeks to come.

The watch’s eco-friendly aspirations are admirable, and the move to Ultra Wideband radio technology is something that will pay dividends as subsequent iPhones make use of the tech. The Watch 9 offers a preview of Apple’s ambitions for the next few years, with a carbon-neutral approach to manufacturing (well, driven by marketing) and a growing list of devices linked by Ultra Wideband.

However, innovation can only go so far: the new Apple Watch shares the exact same 18-hour battery life, sizes, operating system, and design as its predecessors, and so – as we tend to say every year – the update is only iterative in many ways. As ever, it’s the iOS watch to get if you're looking for a new wearable, but if you already have the Apple Watch Series 8 or Series 7 you can probably be excused.

Apple Watch Series 9: Specifications

Apple Watch Series 9: Price and availability

Apple Watch Series 9 review

(Image credit: Future / Matt Evans)
  • Starts from $399 / £399 / AU$649 with aluminum case
  • Two sizes: 41mm and 45mm, with LTE options
  • Tougher stainless steel case also available

The Apple Watch Series 9 was announced at Apple's September 12 event and is available now, with prices starting from $399 / £399 / AU$649. That’s the price for the cheapest 41mm model with an aluminum case (with color options of Midnight (black), Starlight (a sort of silver/gold hybrid), Silver, Product Red or the new Pink offering) and GPS connectivity only, without cellular LTE connectivity. 

If you get this version you won't be able to connect to the internet without Wi-Fi or your phone handy, although you can still use GPS functions while you work out. For those who want a larger model, LTE connectivity, or a stainless steel case (which comes in a choice of attractive gold, silver and graphite finishes), you’ll pay an additional premium as usual. 

For example, a 45mm aluminum watch in Pink, with GPS only, costs  $429 / £429 / AU$699, while the GPS and Cellular LTE option costs $529 / £529 / AU$859. If you were to go with the stainless steel option, the price would increase again. This is nothing new in Apple Watch world, but it's worth noting if you’re thinking of picking one up for the first time. 

If you want an even more premium option, there's also the Apple Watch Ultra 2. This brings a raft of outdoor-focused features, a more rugged design and a better screen - but for a higher price still. You can read more about that in our hands-on Apple Watch Ultra 2 review.

Apple Watch Series 9: Design

Apple Watch Series 9 review

(Image credit: Future / Matt Evans)
  • Lots of recycled materials
  • Identical architecture to predecessors
  • New bands and pink aluminum case option

As you might expect from a flagship Apple Watch at this point, Apple isn’t reinventing the wheel. It got things right early on, and come hell or high water it's stuck to its guns (with the possible exception of the ‘radical’ Apple Watch Ultra design). Same two sizes, same rotating digital crown, same side button, the mic and speaker introduced several generations back are still present and correct… to look at its chassis, it’s virtually the same watch. Series 8 users hoping for a change are better off looking elsewhere.

Fortunately, the new watch is still incredibly simple to set up and use straight away. Using a combination of the digital crown, side button and touchscreen, our early navigation of the new watchOS 10 operating system was smooth and intuitive. Bringing up Settings with the side button feels like a logical move, and I love the new widget stack, which makes it far easier to jump to the one you want.

More than any other feature, the widgets have transformed the Apple Watch experience for me, but this isn’t unique to the Series 9 – any Apple Watch from the Series 5 or above will receive the watchOS 10 update.

What has changed is the composition of materials used in the Series 9. Apple is keen to emphasize the fact that each new Apple Watch produced is now ‘carbon-neutral’, in part thanks to a combination of recycled materials used both inside and outside the watch, such as the cobalt in its batteries and aluminum used in its casings.

Apple is also attempting to offset electricity used during charging and reduce shipping emissions – even the packaging is 25% smaller, so that more units can fit into shipping crates. 

Apple Watch Series 9 review

(Image credit: Future / Matt Evans)

We’ve covered Apple’s big carbon-neutrality claims extensively elsewhere, so we won’t go into much more detail in this review, but this eco-friendly ethos has also led to some cool redesigned bands. The standard sport loop is now made from 82% recycled yarn, while select versions of the swim-proof silicone-fluoroelastomer band are textured as a result of the recycling process, making each band unique. That’s pretty neat. 

A new Pink color, as mentioned, is sure to be snapped up by everyone that saw Barbie this summer, but the Midnight, Silver, Starlight, and Product Red colors all make a welcome return from last year. The premium stainless steel options can also be bought with a metal band matching the watch’s casing. 

Apple Watch Series 9: Features

Apple Watch Series 9 review

(Image credit: Future / Matt Evans)
  • Double Tap is an obvious standout
  • New Ultra Wideband use cases are great
  • On-watch Siri secures health data

Let’s get into the details. I tried the Double Tap feature, which garnered much of the attention during the announcement event, although it won't actually land on the Apple Watch 9 until October. Double Tap uses the accelerometer and gyroscope to detect intention: you have to raise your watch as if looking at the time before performing the two-pinch gesture with your watch hand, as this prevents it from being triggered accidentally. It can be used to perform any main action on any complication you happen to have open on your watch face, from starting and stopping a timer to snoozing an alarm, to answering a call

I really liked using it, and I firmly believe this is just the start. My nightmares of having to pinch the air over and over again like a crab while trying to get the thing to work were completely unfounded: I was able to stop a timer, answer a call and access other complications very easily, first time. 

Other notable new features include the use-cases for the new second-generation Ultra Wideband radio technology. The Find Devices app has changed: as long as you’re connecting to another device with a second-gen Ultra Wideband chip in it (so just an iPhone 15 model for now then), you’ll be able to see exactly how many feet away that device is on your Watch, along with a directional icon. You can then play Marco Polo until you get within a foot of it, at which point the Series 9 will issue a green tick to indicate that you’ve found it. 

I was very impressed by the demo, but at the moment it’s limited to just the Series 9, Apple Watch Ultra 2, and iPhone 15 models. As future devices come along with this technology installed, it’s going to become far more widely used (and rightly so, the feature’s great), even if relatively few of us are going to be lucky enough to snap up two new Apple gadgets this year.

On-device Siri is available for the first time, which means it doesn’t have to connect to the cloud in order to process your questions. This is a fairly niche change for most, but a big leap forward for those concerned about privacy is that you can now use Siri to access your health data.

Apple is very keen to emphasize that any data about your health either remains on your device or is encrypted before being shared. Having Siri available to read you your Move ring status or menstrual-cycle tracking data might sound like a minor thing, but it's a long-term win: we’re slowly realizing that, collectively, we’re far too cavalier with our health information these days. 

Apple Watch Series 9: Early verdict

Apple Watch Series 9 review

(Image credit: Future / Matt Evans)

It’s tough to nail down any other notable changes: most of the really transformative stuff, other than what’s been discussed above, is available on most other Apple Watches via an upgrade to watchOS 10. The Double Tap and improved Find My features won’t be available to the public until later in the year, while the 2,000-nit always-on Retina Display screen looks bright and lovely and can allegedly be read easier in full sunlight, but it’s a gloomy day in London and we’ve had only a few hours or so to test it to its fullest extent.

Nevertheless, for once when discussing an Apple flagship model, it seems like there’s at least one genuinely useful, game-changing new feature here that will be used every day. There was very little learning curve involved in getting the Double Tap feature to work from our end. 

The shift towards more environmentally friendly materials is a welcome one, and the option of a brighter screen is always nice, but I’m again frustrated by the lack of any improvement in battery life. Further testing will be needed to see if that beautiful bright screen drains the battery beyond an all-day charge, or whether the improved processing power of the S9 can mitigate it.

However, I feel confident in saying the Apple Watch Series 9 will prove to be a strong contender for the ‘best iOS watch for most people’ crown in the months to come. We'll bring you our final verdict in our in-depth full Apple Watch 9 review soon.

« Previous Page — Next Page »