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The Philips Hue Play Wall Washer transformed my home cinema setup, and it makes a perfect wake-up light, too
4:00 pm | August 6, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Smart Home Smart Lights | Tags: , | Comments: Off

Philips Hue Play Wall Washer: two-minute review

When I first set eyes on the Philips Hue Play Wall Washer, I saw it as a more advanced alternative to the Philips Hue Play Light Bars, which are designed to sit on either side of your TV and add ambience to your home entertainment setup. The Wall Washer can certainly do that – and with more atmospheric results thanks to its wider projection area – but it can do a lot more, too.

Like the Light Bar, the Wall Washer is a discreet-looking device that's designed to be positioned with its light source shining against a wall, rather than into the room, producing a diffuse glow that (as the name suggests) washes your room with color. However, unlike the Play Light Bar, which can only show one color at a time, each Wall Washer contains three lights, stacked vertically, which overlap to form a smooth gradient.

As the video below shows, the three lights can also dim and brighten independently to create shimmering effects, which is a nice feature if you choose to use a single Wall Washer as a table lamp to set the mood as part of a larger Philips Hue lighting setup.

You can use the Wall Washer via Bluetooth, but to unlock all its features (and to justify its price), you'll also need a Philips Hue Bridge. This small hub device plugs into your router and uses the Zigbee wireless protocol to create a mesh network that connects all of your Hue lights, switches, and cameras to one another, and to the internet.

Provided you have that, setting up your Wall Washer is straightforward. Just select the "Add" option within the Hue mobile app, scan the QR code on the base of your Wall Washer when prompted and then choose a room or zone for it (you'll be prompted to create an area if none already exist). If you have more than one Wall Washer, you'll need to add each one separately, but that takes only a few seconds.

Setting up Philips Hue Play Wall Washer lights using Philips Hue app on Android phone

You can add Wall Washers to any room or zone in the Philips Hue app, sync them with other lights, and apply scenes across them all (Image credit: Future)

Once that's done, you can change the color of each Wall Washer by choosing a shade from the app's color wheel. You can also apply a preset color scheme (known as a "scene") from the Hue library; create your own scene by picking colors or importing a picture; or apply an animated dynamic scene such as the shimmering purple effect above.

You can customize your Wall Washer by itself, or apply a scene to all the lights in a room or zone.

Despite its small size, the Wall Washer projects light a long way, and when it was positioned on a table, I found the color reached all the way to the ceiling. If you like the idea of a Philips Hue Signe Floor Lamp, but don't have the space, the Wall Washer would be a good alternative for around the same price. Although there are only three lights in each Wall Washer, the color gradient is totally seamless, as you can see in the image at the top of this review.

As mentioned earlier, the Philips Hue Play Wall Washer can also sync with your TV, extending the colors from the screen in the same way as a Philips Ambilight TV to create a more immersive viewing experience by effectively blurring the edges of the picture.

To do this, you'll need at least one Wall Washer, plus either a Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box, or a smart TV that's compatible with the Philips Hue Play Sync app. The app was initially only available for selected Samsung TVs, but in February 2025, Signify (Philips Hue's parent company) launched a version for LG sets as well.

The advantage of using the app is that there's less to setup, and you can use it to sync your Hue lights with content from your TV's native apps. If you use a Sync Box, you can only sync with content from HDMI sources.

As you can see in the video and images above, there's very little latency when using the Wall Washer lights with a Philips Hue HDMI Sync Box connected to a set-top box, and colors look natural rather than distracting. The lighting is effective, even in daylight, and the gradient means the Wall Washers create a more seamless look than the Philips Hue Play Light Bars, which can only average out the color on each side of your screen.

The main disadvantage of the Wall Washer compared to the Philips Hue Play Light Bar is that it only stands upright, and it isn't designed to be mounted horizontally. As such, it isn't well suited for use underneath your TV. You'll probably want at least two for a home entertainment setup (and possibly another for elsewhere in the room), which will be considerably more expensive.

If you have just one Wall Washer, it also works well as a wake-up light on your nightstand. The Hue app contains automations that are designed to wake you with a simulated sunrise, with the lamp gradually becoming brighter and the light becoming cooler, reaching full brightness by a set time. I'm very sensitive to light at night, and the Wall Washer is the first lamp I've found that doesn't shock me awake by increasing brightness abruptly. It's more like waking gradually as the sun comes through your tent on a camping trip.

At the end of the day, you can wind down with a sunset automation, which runs the same sequence in reverse. The video above shows the last 20 seconds of a five-minute sleep automation, during which the light color shifts from warm white to orange to red, while gradually decreasing in brightness.

Overall, it's the most versatile smart light I've tested to date, and although it certainly isn't cheap, there's no denying its performance, whichever room you're using it in.

  • Performance: 5/5

Philips Hue Play Wall Washer: price and availability

  • Costs $219.99 / £169.99 for one, or $384.99 / £299.99 for two
  • Not yet available in Australia
  • Works best with Philips Hue Bridge

At the time of writing, the Philips Hue Play Wall Washer is available direct from the Philips Hue website in the US and UK, and from Amazon in the US. It isn't yet on sale in Australia, but FAQ pages on the Australian Philips Hue site indicate that its launch there is imminent.

A single Philips Hue Play Wall Washer has a list price of $219.99 / £169.99 (about AU$340), and if you're planning to use the lights on either side of your TV (as shown in some of the photos here), you can pick up a two-pack for $384.99 / £299.99 (about AU$600).

That makes it one of the most expensive Philips Hue lights around, but it's also the most versatile, serving as a filler light to add ambience, a backlight for your home entertainment system, and a wake-up light. Most Hue lights only fill one niche, so the Wall Washer's adaptability makes its price tag more palatable.

For comparison, the Philips Hue Play Light Bar has a list price of $89.99 / £64.99 / AU$129.95 each. If you're considering the Wall Washer as a wake-up lamp, the Philips Hue Twilight (which also has a front-facing LED for reading) costs $279 / £249 (about AU$430).

If you want to use the Wall Washers with your TV, you'll also need a Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box and Philips Hue Bridge, so factor these into your budget calculations if you don't already own them.

  • Value score: 4/5

Philips Hue Play Wall Washer: specifications

Wattage

60W

Maximum brightness

1,035 lumens

Colors

2,000-6,500K Hue White Colour Ambiance

Control options

Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant (via Philips Hue app)

Max lights per power supply

3

Connectivity

Zigbee/Bluetooth

Size (H x W)

6.2 x 3.6 inches / 15.7 x 9.1cm

Philips Hue Play Wall Washer: design

Each Philips Hue Play Wall Washer is nearly cylindrical, and measures 6.2 inches / 15.7cm tall and 3.6 inches / 9.1cm in diameter. This is considerably shorter than the Philips Hue Play Light Bars, which stand at 11.5 inches / 29.2cm high; but the design of the Wall Washer and its improved LEDs means that it can throw light over a larger area.

The Wall Washer has an aluminum case (rather than plastic for the Play Light Bars), and has a smart-looking matte finish. It's available in black (shown here) or white, so you can pick an option that will blend well with your décor.

The back of the Wall Washer has a flat surface, and contains three Philips Hue White & Color Ambiance lights arranged vertically. That might not sound like much, but the lights overlap in such a way that they shine a super-smooth gradient onto your wall, with no banding whatsoever.

Philips Hue Wall Washer in dark room, showing three lights on rear

The Wall Washer contains three lights that overlap to create a smooth gradient (Image credit: Future)

This technology, called ColorCast, is the same used by the Philips Hue Twilight wake-up lamp – and like the Twilight, the Wall Washer can be dimmed to an extremely low level for use at night.

You can connect up to three Philips Hue Play Wall Washer lights to a single power supply, although they're only sold in packs of one or two.

  • Design score: 5/5

Should you buy the Philips Hue Play Wall Washer

Philips Hue Play Wall Washer: score card

Attribute

Notes

Score

Value

One of the most expensive Philips Hue lights around, but also one of the most versatile.

4/5

Design

Small and discreet, with cleverly positioned overlapping LEDs that produce a super-smooth color gradient.

5/5

Performance

Easy to use, and works brilliantly whether adding ambience to your home cinema, serving as a fill light, or waking you up with a natural sunrise effect.

5/5

Buy it if

You already have some (or are planning to buy) other Philips Hue products

To get the most out of the Wall Washer you'll need a Philips Hue Bridge and possibly an HDMI Sync Box, so if you're not planning to build a whole Philips Hue setup then it's hard to justify the price of this lamp plus all the accessories.

You want a versatile smart light

Unlike some Philips Hue Play lights, the Wall Washer isn't just for use with your TV.

Don't buy it if

You want task lighting

This is a light for creating a mood, not for boosting visibility. If you want something similar for task lighting, take a look at the Philips Hue Twilight, which has the same ColorCast tech, but also has a front-facing reading light.

You want a statement piece

The Wall Washer can create a dramatic effect, but the device itself is designed to be discreet. If you want something that makes a statement, something like the Govee Table Light 2 might work better.

Philips Hue Play Wall Washer: also consider

If you're not sure whether the Philips Hue Play Wall Washer is right for you, here are two other options to consider.

Philips Hue Play Light Bars

If you only want a light to add ambience to games and movies, the Play Light Bar is a much more affordable alternative. It doesn't project a gradient and it doesn't throw light as far, but if you catch it in a sale then you can pick up a pair for almost half the price of two Wall Washers.

Read our full Philips Hue Play Light Bar review

Philips Hue Signe Gradient Table Lamp

If you want an attractive light gradient for your walls but aren't interested in syncing it with your TV, this minimalist lamp is a more affordable option.

Read our full Philips Hue Signe Gradient Table Lamp review

How I tested the Philips Hue Play Wall Washer:

I connected the Philips Hue Play Wall Washer to my Philips Hue Bridge, and used it in various rooms in my house (alone, and as a pair). First I connected it to a Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box, which was linked to a digital set-top box, and experimented with viewing different films and TV shows to assess color-matching and latency. The screengrabs above show content from TechRadar's YouTube channel for copyright reasons, but I tested the lights with a wide variety of media.

I also used a single Wall Washer as a fill light together with a pair of Philips Hue White & Color Ambiance bulbs in ceiling fixtures. I experimented with applying different scenes to all the lights in the room, and creating new ones.

Finally, I tested a single Wall Washer on my nightstand, using the Wake Up and Sleep automations to assess how smoothly the color and brightness of the light can change, and how dim it can become before switching off. I compared its performance to a purpose-made wake-up light.

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

First reviewed July 2025.

Compact, well-made, and dependable, the Bosch Series 6 Air Fryer is the perfect choice for small households
10:00 pm | August 3, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Air Fryers Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances | Tags: , , | Comments: Off

Bosch Series 6 air fryer: one-minute review

German manufacturer Bosch has been a long-standing name in home appliances since it released its first refrigerator back in 1933. So, it's no surprise that the company finally took the plunge into the lucrative air fryer market with the release of the Bosch Series 6 Air Fryer.

You'd perhaps forgive Bosch for having some teething issues with its first-ever air, but the Series 6 has very few. Instead of prioritizing a surplus of extra cooking programs, modes, and features, the Series 6 offers a more streamlined experience, focusing on the quality of life features and cooking programs the average user needs rather than unnecessary add-ons.

Food cooked using Bosch Series 6 Air Fryer

The Bosch Series 6 doesn't have dozens of modes, but those it does offer produced consistently good results (Image credit: Vic Hood)

There are eight cooking programs, which cover the most typical food types cooked in an air fryer: Keep Warm, French Fries, Poultry, Meat, Fish, Vegetables, Bread, and Small Pastries (because who doesn't love an air-fried croissant?) We found each program to cook food consistently well, though some tweaking may be required for taste, especially when it comes to meats.

These programs are straightforward to use thanks to the air fryer's clear touch controls, while a handful of quality-of-life features make the Series 6 a joy to use. Its illuminated drawer and window allow you to check food without letting out heat, its Shake alert lets out clear, loud chirps, and its included grill rack and skewers allow you to grill food with ease. It's also generally easy to clean with minimal elbow grease and fairly compact given its 7.2-liter capacity.

Bosch Series 6 Air Fryer with drawer open

The included grill rack and skewers make cooking easy (Image credit: Vic Hood)

While the Series 6 is a great appliance overall, it's not perfect. It's one of the louder air fryers this reviewer has tested (hitting 68dB in some cases), and removing the aforementioned metal grill rack and skewers from the basket safely can prove a bit of a struggle. We'd also have loved for the aforementioned grill rack to be securable within the basket to prevent rubbing on the non-stick plate. We also found that it struggled to balance keeping chicken moist inside while crispy outside.

These are minor issues, however, and the Bosch Series 6 Air Fryer provides an excellent experience otherwise. Though it is perhaps more suited to smaller households or those who only wish to cook one food item at a time.

Bosch Series 6 air fryer: price and availability

  • Price: £159.99 (roughly $212.58 / AU$329.16)
  • Available in the UK, but not available in the US and Australia
  • Regular discounts bring it down to around £100

The Bosch Series 6 Air Fryer offers top-tier quality for its budget price tag. At £159.99 (roughly $212.58 / AU$329.16), it costs £40 less than our current best budget air fryer, the Russell Hobbs Satisfry Dual Basket Air Fryer (though it offers less capacity), and is considerably more affordable than premium options, such as the Ninja Double Oven and Dreo ChefMaker.

Unfortunately, this appliance isn't currently available in the U.S. or Australia, but those in the UK can purchase it from Bosch directly or a range of trusted third-party retailers, such as Argos and Amazon.

If its current price tag is a little over your budget, don't fret. Regular discounts at Bosch and other retailers see this air fryer's price dropping to around the £100 mark, saving you nearly £60 on the usual RRP.

  • Value score: 5/5

Bosch Series 6 air fryer: specifications

Review model

MAF671B1GB

Number of baskets

1

Number of cooking programs

8

Cooking programs

Bread, Fish, French Fries, Keep Warm, Meat, Small Pastries, Poultry, Vegetables

Extra functions

Shake signal

Smart control

No

Wattage

1,800W

Capacity

7.6 quarts / 7.2 liters

Temperature range

104F-392F / 40C-200C

Time range

1 min-2 hours, up to 8 hours on keep warm or 40C-80C

Dimensions (including handles)

12.4 x 12.2 x 15.3in / 314 x 309 x 388mm

Dishwasher-safe

Yes

Weight

13lbs / 5.9kg

Bosch Series 6 air fryer: design

  • 7.2-liter capacity, but fairly combat
  • Illuminated drawer basket with window
  • Removable handle
  • Comes with metal grill rack and five skewers

The Bosch Series 6 offers a 7.2L capacity in a relatively compact design (compared to its competitors). The body of this air fryer is glossy black, with a silver rim around the top, a single drawer basket, and a removable handle. The touchscreen interface is easy to use, with the temperature adjustable in five-degree intervals.

The drawer is illuminated, meaning a light (which you can turn off and on at the touch of a button) comes on when you remove it, and thanks to an oven-like window, you can easily check your food without stopping the cooking process.

Fries cooking in Bosch Series 6 Air Fryer

The drawer is illuminated, and the fryer has a clear window so you can check on your food during cooking (Image credit: Vic Hood)

The included physical user manual is thorough, making it easy to set up and use this appliance – even if you're a beginner. A physical food guide is also included, which provides a rough cooking guide and tips for each of the air fryer's eight programs. We do wish the food guide were slightly more detailed and included more food types, especially when it comes to cooking vegetables.

The food guide does come with a QR code, though, that leads you to a Quick Start Guide that features a handful of excellent recipes for this specific air fryer. We just wish there were more of them.

Bosch Series 6 Air Fryer drawer open

The basket and its crisper plate are dishwasher-safe, though we generally prefer to hand-wash anything with a non-stick coating (Image credit: Vic Hood)

This air fryer also comes with a metal grill rack accessory and five skewers that fit into the grill rack. These are a welcome addition for grilling, but we found removing the hot grill rack difficult after cooking due to the depth of the basket and its metal design. We also wish the grill rack could be locked into the basket's plate to avoid it moving around and potentially damaging the plate's non-stick coating long-term.

While the 7.2L basket is a bit bulky, it's easy to hand wash with minimal elbow grease – though, inside the window is slightly trickier to reach. Fortunately, the basket and its plate are dishwasher-proof, though we at TechRadar tend to recommend hand washing anything with a non-stick coat.

The main design drawback of this air fryer is its volume. We logged a max 68dB reading when the appliance was running at its maximum temperature, making it loud enough that we couldn't hear our kitchen TV and could hear it from our living room next door. This is particularly loud for an air fryer (based on those we've tested) and several decibels louder than the 63dB Bosch claims.

  • Design score: 4/5

Bosch Series 6 air fryer: performance

  • Quality performance across cooking programs
  • Useful Shake alert
  • Some foods could be crispier

We found the Bosch Series 6 air fryer performed consistently well across its eight cooking programs: Bread, Fish, French Fries, Keep Warm, Meat, Small Pastries, Poultry, and Vegetables.

We started our testing with 500g of frozen fries , utilizing the air fryer's French Fries preset, while tweaking the time slightly as recommended by the food guide. After 23 minutes, we had fairly evenly cooked fries (a couple were slightly over for my taste), but overall, the fries were fluffy inside and golden outside.

Following the frozen fries, we tried 700g of handmade fries, soaked and with one tablespoon of oil, on the same setting, using the exact preset time and temperature. Again, the fries were fluffy inside and golden outside but could have been a little crispier. Unlike other air fryers, however, the Bosch Series 6 didn't leave our fries with overdone ends – a common issue we've encountered with testing.

Next, we tested the grill and skewer accessories. We loaded up each of the five skewers with chicken, onion, tomato, and peppers – but may have overloaded them a little as the five skewers struggled to fit beside each other. My advice: make sure your cuts of veggies and meat are smaller to avoid this.

Food on skewers inside Bosch Series 6 Air Fryer

Make sure the meat and vegetable pieces threaded onto the skewers aren't too large (Image credit: Vic Hood)

The skewers sit on indents in the grill rack, which is placed in the basket. We've mentioned our issues with the grill rack generally, but despite the overcrowding, we found our skewers cooked well on the Poultry preset, though some of the vegetables were becoming overdone and the chicken slightly overdone, so we had to remove them a few minutes early. You likely need to adjust this timing based on what you skewer.

We also tried cooking a couple of chicken breasts on the grill rack (with some seasoning and a tablespoon of oil) on the Poultry preset. They came out slightly dry and with not quite enough crisp on the outside for our taste, but overall very tasty.

We had this same crisping issue with drumsticks prepared using a Bosch recipe and dry-rubbed wings (my go-to Cosori recipe), both cooked well and were juicy inside, but the skin didn't crisp up quite enough. The pre-baked petit pains we cooked on the Bread preset, too were soft inside, but not quite crunchy enough outside.

The Bosch recipes are a great starting point for this air fryer, and we particularly enjoyed its roasted cauliflower and egg omelette muffin recipes (both turned out perfect). The apple turnover recipe, while very tasty, resulted in turnovers with overly soggy bottoms – though that's likely down to chef error on my part.

Other presets may require some tweaking of the timings. Sausages on the Beef preset were slightly underdone after seven minutes, which may be down to the fact that they were chunky Cumberlands.

Vegetables, too, like most air fryers, require some experimentation. The food guide isn't very detailed on how long to cook certain vegetables and just covers "Grilled Vegetables." While this was the perfect preset for my chantanay carrots, my broccoli, onions and peppers needed to be removed early to avoid becoming too charred. Again, this is something we've encountered with several air fryers.

Now, if you've read our air fryer reviews before, you'll know we love an air fryer that can bake. The Bosch Series 6 can manage that feat for small cakes and muffins, so we used our usual Ninja muffin recipe with the Muffin preset to test its capabilities. It was perhaps the best result I've had for this test, with the muffins perfectly golden on top, not too dry inside, and little to no overspill.

Overall, the Bosch Series 6 performs brilliantly; however, you may need to experiment a bit to get the right balance of crispness and doneness for certain foods.

  • Performance score: 4.5/5

Should you buy the Bosch Series 6 air fryer?

Bosch Series 6 Air Fryer report card

Attribute

Notes

Score

Value

This air fryer is excellent value for its price tag, and thanks to regular sales, you can pick it up for closer to £100.

5/5

Design

The design is pretty compact for its 7.2L capacity, plus it's easy to use and clean. While the accompanying grill rack and skewers are welcome accessories, we wish they could lock into the basket plate and were easier to remove after cooking. This is also one of the louder air fryers we've reviewed.

4/5

Performance

Performance across all eight cooking programs is solid, though some foods could be slightly crispier on the outside. You may need to experiment a bit for optimal results on certain presets.

4.5/5

Buy it if

You want a decent capacity air fryer, but haven't space for a dual-basket

The Bosch Series 6's 7.2L capacity is pretty sizeable, and while it's not compact enough to be counted as a small air fryer, it's nowhere near as big as some competitors. Plus, the handles are detachable, making it slightly easier to store.

You're looking for a solid, budget air fryer

With its £159.99 price tag, the Bosch Series 6 is already great value for money, but regular discounts see that price knocked down to roughly £100, making it an ideal choice for those on a £100 budget.

You want a streamlined air frying experience

The Bosch Series 6 is a great entry-level air fryer for those who want a straightforward, streamlined experience. It comes with enough features to make it pleasant to use without overwhelming you with extras.

Don't buy it if

You want to cook more than one food at once

The Bosch Series 6's capacity means you can fit a decent amount of food in, but if you've got a larger household that plans to make larger quantities or food or you want to cook more than one type of food at once, you may struggle with this.

You want a bunch of extras

This is down to personal preference. While this air fryer comes with a grill rack, it only air fries, and the cooking programs cover the basics. If you want features like smart control, synced cooking, or different cooking modes (like grilling and steaming), then this may not be the best choice for you.

How I tested the Bosch Series 6 air fryer

I used the Bosch Series 6 air fryer for a week, cooking a wide variety of foods including fries, sausages, fresh vegetables, and pastries. I tested all the air fryer's various modes and cleaned the air fryer in line with the instructions provided in the manual. For more details, see how we test, rate, and review products at TechRadar.

Compact, well-made, and dependable, the Bosch Series 6 Air Fryer is the perfect choice for small households
10:00 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Air Fryers Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances | Tags: , , | Comments: Off

Bosch Series 6 air fryer: one-minute review

German manufacturer Bosch has been a long-standing name in home appliances since it released its first refrigerator back in 1933. So, it's no surprise that the company finally took the plunge into the lucrative air fryer market with the release of the Bosch Series 6 Air Fryer.

You'd perhaps forgive Bosch for having some teething issues with its first-ever air, but the Series 6 has very few. Instead of prioritizing a surplus of extra cooking programs, modes, and features, the Series 6 offers a more streamlined experience, focusing on the quality of life features and cooking programs the average user needs rather than unnecessary add-ons.

Food cooked using Bosch Series 6 Air Fryer

The Bosch Series 6 doesn't have dozens of modes, but those it does offer produced consistently good results (Image credit: Vic Hood)

There are eight cooking programs, which cover the most typical food types cooked in an air fryer: Keep Warm, French Fries, Poultry, Meat, Fish, Vegetables, Bread, and Small Pastries (because who doesn't love an air-fried croissant?) We found each program to cook food consistently well, though some tweaking may be required for taste, especially when it comes to meats.

These programs are straightforward to use thanks to the air fryer's clear touch controls, while a handful of quality-of-life features make the Series 6 a joy to use. Its illuminated drawer and window allow you to check food without letting out heat, its Shake alert lets out clear, loud chirps, and its included grill rack and skewers allow you to grill food with ease. It's also generally easy to clean with minimal elbow grease and fairly compact given its 7.2-liter capacity.

Bosch Series 6 Air Fryer with drawer open

The included grill rack and skewers make cooking easy (Image credit: Vic Hood)

While the Series 6 is a great appliance overall, it's not perfect. It's one of the louder air fryers this reviewer has tested (hitting 68dB in some cases), and removing the aforementioned metal grill rack and skewers from the basket safely can prove a bit of a struggle. We'd also have loved for the aforementioned grill rack to be securable within the basket to prevent rubbing on the non-stick plate. We also found that it struggled to balance keeping chicken moist inside while crispy outside.

These are minor issues, however, and the Bosch Series 6 Air Fryer provides an excellent experience otherwise. Though it is perhaps more suited to smaller households or those who only wish to cook one food item at a time.

Bosch Series 6 air fryer: price and availability

  • Price: £159.99 (roughly $212.58 / AU$329.16)
  • Available in the UK, but not available in the US and Australia
  • Regular discounts bring it down to around £100

The Bosch Series 6 Air Fryer offers top-tier quality for its budget price tag. At £159.99 (roughly $212.58 / AU$329.16), it costs £40 less than our current best budget air fryer, the Russell Hobbs Satisfry Dual Basket Air Fryer (though it offers less capacity), and is considerably more affordable than premium options, such as the Ninja Double Oven and Dreo ChefMaker.

Unfortunately, this appliance isn't currently available in the U.S. or Australia, but those in the UK can purchase it from Bosch directly or a range of trusted third-party retailers, such as Argos and Amazon.

If its current price tag is a little over your budget, don't fret. Regular discounts at Bosch and other retailers see this air fryer's price dropping to around the £100 mark, saving you nearly £60 on the usual RRP.

  • Value score: 5/5

Bosch Series 6 air fryer: specifications

Review model

MAF671B1GB

Number of baskets

1

Number of cooking programs

8

Cooking programs

Bread, Fish, French Fries, Keep Warm, Meat, Small Pastries, Poultry, Vegetables

Extra functions

Shake signal

Smart control

No

Wattage

1,800W

Capacity

7.6 quarts / 7.2 liters

Temperature range

104F-392F / 40C-200C

Time range

1 min-2 hours, up to 8 hours on keep warm or 40C-80C

Dimensions (including handles)

12.4 x 12.2 x 15.3in / 314 x 309 x 388mm

Dishwasher-safe

Yes

Weight

13lbs / 5.9kg

Bosch Series 6 air fryer: design

  • 7.2-liter capacity, but fairly combat
  • Illuminated drawer basket with window
  • Removable handle
  • Comes with metal grill rack and five skewers

The Bosch Series 6 offers a 7.2L capacity in a relatively compact design (compared to its competitors). The body of this air fryer is glossy black, with a silver rim around the top, a single drawer basket, and a removable handle. The touchscreen interface is easy to use, with the temperature adjustable in five-degree intervals.

The drawer is illuminated, meaning a light (which you can turn off and on at the touch of a button) comes on when you remove it, and thanks to an oven-like window, you can easily check your food without stopping the cooking process.

Fries cooking in Bosch Series 6 Air Fryer

The drawer is illuminated, and the fryer has a clear window so you can check on your food during cooking (Image credit: Vic Hood)

The included physical user manual is thorough, making it easy to set up and use this appliance – even if you're a beginner. A physical food guide is also included, which provides a rough cooking guide and tips for each of the air fryer's eight programs. We do wish the food guide were slightly more detailed and included more food types, especially when it comes to cooking vegetables.

The food guide does come with a QR code, though, that leads you to a Quick Start Guide that features a handful of excellent recipes for this specific air fryer. We just wish there were more of them.

Bosch Series 6 Air Fryer drawer open

The basket and its crisper plate are dishwasher-safe, though we generally prefer to hand-wash anything with a non-stick coating (Image credit: Vic Hood)

This air fryer also comes with a metal grill rack accessory and five skewers that fit into the grill rack. These are a welcome addition for grilling, but we found removing the hot grill rack difficult after cooking due to the depth of the basket and its metal design. We also wish the grill rack could be locked into the basket's plate to avoid it moving around and potentially damaging the plate's non-stick coating long-term.

While the 7.2L basket is a bit bulky, it's easy to hand wash with minimal elbow grease – though, inside the window is slightly trickier to reach. Fortunately, the basket and its plate are dishwasher-proof, though we at TechRadar tend to recommend hand washing anything with a non-stick coat.

The main design drawback of this air fryer is its volume. We logged a max 68dB reading when the appliance was running at its maximum temperature, making it loud enough that we couldn't hear our kitchen TV and could hear it from our living room next door. This is particularly loud for an air fryer (based on those we've tested) and several decibels louder than the 63dB Bosch claims.

  • Design score: 4/5

Bosch Series 6 air fryer: performance

  • Quality performance across cooking programs
  • Useful Shake alert
  • Some foods could be crispier

We found the Bosch Series 6 air fryer performed consistently well across its eight cooking programs: Bread, Fish, French Fries, Keep Warm, Meat, Small Pastries, Poultry, and Vegetables.

We started our testing with 500g of frozen fries , utilizing the air fryer's French Fries preset, while tweaking the time slightly as recommended by the food guide. After 23 minutes, we had fairly evenly cooked fries (a couple were slightly over for my taste), but overall, the fries were fluffy inside and golden outside.

Following the frozen fries, we tried 700g of handmade fries, soaked and with one tablespoon of oil, on the same setting, using the exact preset time and temperature. Again, the fries were fluffy inside and golden outside but could have been a little crispier. Unlike other air fryers, however, the Bosch Series 6 didn't leave our fries with overdone ends – a common issue we've encountered with testing.

Next, we tested the grill and skewer accessories. We loaded up each of the five skewers with chicken, onion, tomato, and peppers – but may have overloaded them a little as the five skewers struggled to fit beside each other. My advice: make sure your cuts of veggies and meat are smaller to avoid this.

Food on skewers inside Bosch Series 6 Air Fryer

Make sure the meat and vegetable pieces threaded onto the skewers aren't too large (Image credit: Vic Hood)

The skewers sit on indents in the grill rack, which is placed in the basket. We've mentioned our issues with the grill rack generally, but despite the overcrowding, we found our skewers cooked well on the Poultry preset, though some of the vegetables were becoming overdone and the chicken slightly overdone, so we had to remove them a few minutes early. You likely need to adjust this timing based on what you skewer.

We also tried cooking a couple of chicken breasts on the grill rack (with some seasoning and a tablespoon of oil) on the Poultry preset. They came out slightly dry and with not quite enough crisp on the outside for our taste, but overall very tasty.

We had this same crisping issue with drumsticks prepared using a Bosch recipe and dry-rubbed wings (my go-to Cosori recipe), both cooked well and were juicy inside, but the skin didn't crisp up quite enough. The pre-baked petit pains we cooked on the Bread preset, too were soft inside, but not quite crunchy enough outside.

The Bosch recipes are a great starting point for this air fryer, and we particularly enjoyed its roasted cauliflower and egg omelette muffin recipes (both turned out perfect). The apple turnover recipe, while very tasty, resulted in turnovers with overly soggy bottoms – though that's likely down to chef error on my part.

Other presets may require some tweaking of the timings. Sausages on the Beef preset were slightly underdone after seven minutes, which may be down to the fact that they were chunky Cumberlands.

Vegetables, too, like most air fryers, require some experimentation. The food guide isn't very detailed on how long to cook certain vegetables and just covers "Grilled Vegetables." While this was the perfect preset for my chantanay carrots, my broccoli, onions and peppers needed to be removed early to avoid becoming too charred. Again, this is something we've encountered with several air fryers.

Now, if you've read our air fryer reviews before, you'll know we love an air fryer that can bake. The Bosch Series 6 can manage that feat for small cakes and muffins, so we used our usual Ninja muffin recipe with the Muffin preset to test its capabilities. It was perhaps the best result I've had for this test, with the muffins perfectly golden on top, not too dry inside, and little to no overspill.

Overall, the Bosch Series 6 performs brilliantly; however, you may need to experiment a bit to get the right balance of crispness and doneness for certain foods.

  • Performance score: 4.5/5

Should you buy the Bosch Series 6 air fryer?

Bosch Series 6 Air Fryer report card

Attribute

Notes

Score

Value

This air fryer is excellent value for its price tag, and thanks to regular sales, you can pick it up for closer to £100.

5/5

Design

The design is pretty compact for its 7.2L capacity, plus it's easy to use and clean. While the accompanying grill rack and skewers are welcome accessories, we wish they could lock into the basket plate and were easier to remove after cooking. This is also one of the louder air fryers we've reviewed.

4/5

Performance

Performance across all eight cooking programs is solid, though some foods could be slightly crispier on the outside. You may need to experiment a bit for optimal results on certain presets.

4.5/5

Buy it if

You want a decent capacity air fryer, but haven't space for a dual-basket

The Bosch Series 6's 7.2L capacity is pretty sizeable, and while it's not compact enough to be counted as a small air fryer, it's nowhere near as big as some competitors. Plus, the handles are detachable, making it slightly easier to store.

You're looking for a solid, budget air fryer

With its £159.99 price tag, the Bosch Series 6 is already great value for money, but regular discounts see that price knocked down to roughly £100, making it an ideal choice for those on a £100 budget.

You want a streamlined air frying experience

The Bosch Series 6 is a great entry-level air fryer for those who want a straightforward, streamlined experience. It comes with enough features to make it pleasant to use without overwhelming you with extras.

Don't buy it if

You want to cook more than one food at once

The Bosch Series 6's capacity means you can fit a decent amount of food in, but if you've got a larger household that plans to make larger quantities or food or you want to cook more than one type of food at once, you may struggle with this.

You want a bunch of extras

This is down to personal preference. While this air fryer comes with a grill rack, it only air fries, and the cooking programs cover the basics. If you want features like smart control, synced cooking, or different cooking modes (like grilling and steaming), then this may not be the best choice for you.

How I tested the Bosch Series 6 air fryer

I used the Bosch Series 6 air fryer for a week, cooking a wide variety of foods including fries, sausages, fresh vegetables, and pastries. I tested all the air fryer's various modes and cleaned the air fryer in line with the instructions provided in the manual. For more details, see how we test, rate, and review products at TechRadar.

This compact lawnbot saved me from a summer of strenuous mowing
11:00 am |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances | Tags: , , , | Comments: Off

Mammotion Yuka Mini: two-minute review

Product info

This model is available in a few slightly different variant:

US: Mini S, Mini 600H, Mini 800H
UK: Mini 600, Yuka Mini 800
AU: Mini 800, Mini 600

For this review, I tested the Mini 600 UK version. There may be minor differences between different countries' models.

The Mammotion Yuka Mini is a relatively compact, simple and affordable robotic mower for small to medium-sized lawns. There are a few different options, but for this review I tested the Mini 600 (called the Mini S in the US) for yards that are 0.15 acres / 600㎡ in size.

While it's far from the fanciest lawnbot on the market, it handled various obstacles impressively well. My parents' yard comprises uneven areas, trees, awkwardly placed beds, and a brook; but none of these posed an issue for the Yuka Mini during tests. It navigated accurately, avoided unexpected obstacles impressively well, and never got lost or tried to take a swim.

I was also extremely happy with the mowing itself. It left the yard looking far neater than if I'd cut it manually, with the grass evenly trimmed and faux-stripes created by the logical mowing route. It operated quietly enough that I could happily read a book nearby, and while not exactly lightning-fast, it has proved sufficiently speedy to tackle the lawn size for which it's designed in an efficient manner.

The impressive performance is hampered somewhat by the brand experience. The app feels basic and a little unintuitive. The instructions provided for setup aren't clear enough for lawnbot newbies – who should also note that finding a good spot for your charge station and RTK receiver is key. During tests I also found the bot would sometimes lose connection, needing to be carried back to within Wi-Fi range before it could be instructed.

Nevertheless, once I'd managed to get everything up and running, I found myself forgetting the minor pain of setup very quickly. I really can't overstate how much time and effort this little bot has saved over the past few weeks, and the lawn looks neater than ever. Overall, for the price it's a very solid investment.

That's the short version; read on for my full Mammotion Yuka Mini review.

Mammotion Yuka Mini 600 in reviewer's yard

(Image credit: Future)

Mammotion Yuka Mini review: price & versions

  • List price: from $1,099 / £849 / AU$1,499
  • Launched: February 2025
  • Available: US, UK, AU, Europe

In the US, you have a few options in the Yuka Mini range. The equivalent to the model I've reviewed here is the Mini S, which costs $1,099 and is designed for yards of 0.15 acres / 600 square meters in size. Alternatively, you can opt for a H-series model, which can deal with taller grass. In that line is the Mini 600H for $1,099 or the Mini 800H for $1,299.

In the UK and Australia, you have the Mini 600 (reviewed here) for £849 / AU$1,499. If you have a slightly larger garden, you can go for the Yuka Mini 800 for £1,049 / AU$1,899. I've spotted discounts in all territories; it's not too difficult to avoid paying full whack if you're patient.

While not an especially cheap purchase, I think it offers decent value for money. Build quality is solid and performance is reliable, and this compact lawnbot really is a big effort-saver.

In terms of rival brands, Husqvarna's bots are geared towards larger yards. At time of writing, it has its Automower 115H (which can mow up to 0.4 acres) for $699.99, then prices hop straight up to $1,999.99 for the Automower 415X (up to 0.37 acres).

The Eufy E15 is suitable for yards up to 0.2 acres and is much pricier, at $1,799.99 / £1,499. However, it's a different kind of bot because it uses self-drive car tech rather than satellites to navigate, and therefore is significantly easier to set up.

  • Value for money score: 4 out of 5

Mammotion Yuka Mini specs

Product:

Yuka Mini S (US) / Yuka Mini 600 (UK)

Recommended lawn size:

0.15 acres / 600㎡

Max lawn size:

0.2 acres / 800㎡

Cutting width:

7.5in / 19cm

Cutting height:

0.8-2.4in / 2-6cm

Drivetrain:

2-wheel drive

Max zones:

15

Incline ability:

50% / 27 degrees

Waterproof:

IPX6

Lawnbot size (L x W x H):

20.7 x 16.3 x 11.1in / 52.5 x 41.3 x 28.1cm

Lawnbot weight:

23.4 lbs / 10.6kg

Mowing area per charge:

0.04 acres / 150㎡

Charge time:

90 mins

Mowing time per charge:

55 mins

Mammotion Yuka Mini review: design

  • Relatively compact, lightweight bot with five cutting blades
  • Comes with an RTK receiver and charge station (garage roof is extra)
  • AI-equipped, front-mounted camera for object avoidance

The Mammotion Yuka setup comprises three elements: a charge station, an RTK receiver and the lawnbot itself.

Let's start with the robot. It's fairly compact in size, with a plastic upper shell and two chunky, deep-tread wheels to help it traverse uneven ground. On the top is a large control panel that includes a knob to manually adjust cutting height, some simple press buttons, and a big red emergency stop button. There's also an AI-powered camera to help with object identification and avoidance. The whole thing is waterproof to IPX-6 (i.e. it will be fine even in a downpour).

Flip it over and you'll find two smaller front wheels and a spinning cutting deck that holds five ultra-sharp blades. Mammotion has thoughtfully included a ridged grip section at the front and back – well away from those blades – to enable you to safely and securely pick up the robot, if you need to move it past an area that isn't accessible by driving. It's compact and light enough that most able-bodied people should be able to carry it without too much trouble.

The battery tucks in the back of the bot and is detachable, should you need to replace it further down the line.

Mammotion Yuka Mini 600 in reviewer's yard

(Image credit: Future)

The charge station is where the bot returns to dock. It's a black plastic base with raised charge contacts, and plastic ground screws are provided to secure it into the ground. It's potentially worth investing in a "garage roof" to provide protection; despite being waterproof, prolonged exposure to the elements will surely limit the lawnbot's lifespan in the longer term.

You'll want to think about where the charge station will live before buying. It can't go just anywhere, but the literature that comes with the lawnbot isn't great at explaining this. The charge station needs to be somewhere relatively flat, with a clear route to mowing areas, and access to a power outlet. While it doesn't need line-of-sight to the lawnbot (it will communicate via radio signal), it does need at least some view of the sky, so that the bot can talk to the satellites when docked. I struggled to find somewhere suitable initially.

Mammotion Yuka Mini 600 in reviewer's yard

(Image credit: Future)

Finally, the RTK station. This essentially helps make the satellite positioning data more accurate, and is important if you don't want your bot to end up in a flower bed. It looks like a small-ish rounded dome with an antenna protruding downwards – not too obtrusive, but I set it up in my parents' garden and the feedback from my mum was that she wished it wasn't white, because it sticks out too much and spoils her view. (I think she has a point.)

You'll also want to figure out where the RTK station will live before making your purchase. It's best positioned high up, with a clear view of the sky in as many directions as possible. It also needs to be connected to a power source.

There is an option that means you don't need to install the RTK receiver. The Yuka Mini can map and navigate using a "NetRTK and 4G module" – at the time of writing it's free to use, but this added functionality typically comes with a subscription fee. I did not test this option, and I'm not sure if it's suitable for any garden or if there are requirements.

  • Design score: 4.5 out of 5

Mammotion Yuka Mini review: performance

  • Neat, even cutting and impressively quiet in use
  • Navigation was accurate throughout my testing period
  • Setup and initial use can be confusing if you're not familiar with lawnbots

Moving on to how well the Yuka Mini performed in practice. I'll start with setup, and the results of my cutting tests.

Setup

The Yuka Mini was the first robot lawn mower I'd tested, and I found initial setup rather painful. Information is lacking from Mammotion (I feel this area could do with improvement), so if you're in this boat too, prepare to do a bit of independent research before embarking on setup. The key things are to find a good spot for your charge station and RTK receiver, as I've discussed above.

With that done, it's a case of mapping your space. There are two options here: manual (for complex mowing areas) and automatic (for simple areas with clear boundaries). My parents' yard, where I tested this bot, includes various grassy areas. The main one includes uneven areas of green, large mid-lawn beds, and has a brook running down one side, so I mapped it manually.

This involved driving the bot carefully around the perimeter of the lawn, using my phone as the remote control. Once I was done, I added no-go zones around any fixed obstructions (trees, beds, patio areas) within the lawn, again by driving over and around them. If you're used to robot vacuums, this mapping process feels much more old-school, but there's no denying it's pretty fun.

Mammotion Yuka Mini 600 in reviewer's yard

(Image credit: Future)

The yard at the front of the house is simpler, with no waterways for the bot to fall into, so I took a chance on automatic mapping. I was impressed – the lawnbot mapped the space quickly and figured out the borders of the beds accurately. Note that you can't map very small areas.

I added routes between connected areas, to enable the bot to find its way back to the base. For some areas – for example, that front yard – it wasn't possible to create a path back to the charge station. I was still able to map and mow these areas, but I had to carry the robot back to the charge base area once it was done, and it would yell at me that the robot was tilted as I did so.

Mammotion Yuka Mini 600 in reviewer's yard

(Image credit: Future)

Cutting and navigation performance

I was very impressed with this robot's cutting performance. It mowed each lawn zone neatly and evenly, leaving faux stripes in its path. It appeared to take a logical path, too, mowing in parallel lines over the main body of each lawn area and then looping around the perimeter to catch the edges.

There were very occasionally narrow strips between lines that remained uncut, but these could be taken care of by remote-control mowing after the task was complete, or (more commonly for me) left to be caught on the next mowing session.

The Yuka Mini also proved very quiet in operation, and significantly quieter than a traditional mower. I was able to happily sit on a sun lounger on the patio and read my book while it took care of the adjacent lawn – surely, the ideal scenario anyone is hoping for when they purchase one of these.

Mammotion Yuka Mini 600 in reviewer's yard

(Image credit: Future)

Once everything was set up properly, I didn't encounter any issues with navigation; the lawnbot never got lost or ended up somewhere it should not be, and it reliably returned to its base once a task was complete – or if it ran out of juice mid-mow. It had no trouble traversing really quite steep ground, and was able to mow quite close to the sloped edge of the brook without taking a dip. (Initially, I left a large border for fear the Yuka Mini would go for a swim, but once I'd used it for a while and seen how well it navigated, I shifted the perimeter closer to the water.)

Object avoidance is solid, too. If I stood in front of the bot while it was mowing, it would duly pause and make its way around me before continuing.

  • Performance score: 4 out of 5

Mammotion Yuka Mini review: app

  • App is fine but on the basic side, and lacks some fine-tuned controls
  • Not the most logical layout, with some functions hard to find
  • Functional, once you've figured out the quirks

Most control for the Yuka Mini comes via the companion app. Overall I found it fine, but not amazing. I'm more used to testing robot vacuums, and in comparison to most of the robovac apps I've used, the Mammotion app felt a little clunky and simplistic. Settings aren't always where you'd expect to find them; there were some spelling errors in the text (not the end of the world, but indicative of a lack of care); and the instructions weren't always clear.

For example, the bot is apparently designed to straddle the edges of paths, so you don't end up with an uncut border. I expected this to be an option you could toggle on or off in the app, but it's not. (It's only suitable for paths that are perfectly flat, and the ones in my test yard don't fit this requirement.) There's a decent range of adjustment options, but they're a little tucked away and not accessible if the bot has lost connection to the internet.

Screenshots from Mammotion Yuka Mini app

Click to see large version (Image credit: Mammotion)

The map is also very simplistic; just a cutting area, with nothing else specified. I imagined you might be able to indicate a tree, a flower bed or a pond – if not to adjust how the lawnbot behaves at that border, then at least to help you understand where you are on the map. This is not an option, however.

I found if I was a long way from the lawnbot, the app would regularly lose contact. If the robot wasn't cutting at the time, I'd have to carry the bot back to within Wi-Fi range before I could instruct it. If it was cutting at the time, it would continue on with its task, but I couldn't watch its progress. This felt a little risky, although I guess I'd only be getting very basic information anyway.

All that said, once I'd figured out where things were, the app was usable and did what I needed it to. Middling marks.

  • App score: 3 out of 5

Should you buy the Mammotion Yuka Mini?

Attribute

Notes

Rating

Value

Not cheap, but relatively affordable in the market, and there are deals to be had. Product feels high quality.

4 / 5

Design

Relatively compact and lightweight lawnbot. Navigates using satellites and an RTK receiver, although there is also a paid-for 4G navigation option.

4.5 / 5

Performance

Neat, quiet and thorough mowing, and reliable navigation and object avoidance. Setup a little confusing.

4 / 5

App

Rather basic, slightly unintuitive and lacks fine controls, although generally does what you need it to do.

3 / 5

Buy it if...

You have a small to medium-sized yard
The Yuka Mini I tested is designed for spaces of around 0.15 acres / 600㎡ in size, and there's also a version for up to 0.2 acres / 800㎡. The relatively compact design won't overwhelm a smaller yard.

You're looking for something affordable
A lot of lawnbots cost thousands, whereas this bot is far more affordable – especially if you snag one of the semi-regular deals.

Don't buy it if...

You want the crème de la crème of the range
This little bot performed great in my tests, but it isn't as advanced as the Mammotion Luba 2, which has all the latest bells and whistles you could hope for.

You have a very large yard
The bot I tested is designed for yards of around 0.15 acres / 600㎡, although alternatives in the Yuka Mini range can manage up to 0.2 acres / 800㎡. There are plenty of options that cater to bigger yards, offering wider cutting decks and longer runtimes, if that won't suffice.

You're a total technophobe
I found setup a little painful, and the basic app and lack of clear instructions from Mammotion don't help. If you want a lawnbot that will do it all for you, take a look at the Dreame E15.

Mammotion Yuka Mini: alternatives to consider

Mammotion Yuka Mini 600

Mammotion LUBA 2 AWD 1000

Recommended lawn size:

0.15 acres / 600㎡

0.25 acres / 1,000㎡

Max lawn size:

0.2 acres / 800㎡

0.3 acres / 1,012㎡

Cutting width:

7.5in / 19cm

15.7in / 40cm

Cutting height:

0.8-2.4in / 2-6cm, mechanical

1 - 2.7in / 2.5-7cm, motorized

Drivetrain:

Two-wheel drive

All-wheel drive

Max zones:

15

10

Incline ability:

50% (27°)

80% (38°)

Waterproof:

IPX6

IPX6 & IPX7

Lawnbot size (L x W x H):

20.7 x 16.3 x 11.1in / 52.5 x 41.3 x 28.1cm

27.2 x 20.2 x 10.7in / 69 x 51.3 x 27.3cm

Lawnbot weight:

23.4lbs / 10.6kg

37.7lbs / 17.1 kg

Mow time per charge:

55 mins

120 mins

Mammotion LUBA 2 robot mower

The LUBA is an altogether fancier, more tech-packed option from Mammotion. There are various versions that can manage large yards, and it offers longer runtimes and four-wheel drive for trickier terrain.

Read our full Mammotion LUBA 2 robot mower review.

How I tested the Mammotion Yuka Mini

I set up the Mammotion Yuka Mini in my parents' yard, which includes three main grassy areas. There are various obstacles, including patio areas, beds in the middle of the lawn, trees and a brook. I set it up using the instructions provided (supplemented by my own research, when that didn't go to plan), mapped the area, and ran several mowing tests over the course of a few days. It was then used as the primary mower over the course of the month that followed, with me visiting regularly to check on progress. I assessed it based on the neatness of cutting, accuracy of navigation, and ease of use.

Read more about how we test

  • First reviewed July 2025
The Sage Luxe Brewer Thermal is the drip coffee maker I’ve been waiting for all my life
8:00 pm | August 2, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Coffee Machines Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances | Comments: Off

Sage Luxe Brewer Thermal: two-minute review

If you enjoy drip coffee, this machine should be right at the top of your list. Sold under the brand name Sage in the UK, and Breville elsewhere in the world, the Luxe Brewer Thermal is a compact machine that does the basics extremely well, while also offering a set of carefully curated customization options, yet never making things unnecessarily complicated.

As the name suggests, one of the Luxe Brewer Thermal's standout features is its insulated carafe, which is the best I've ever used. All companies claim that their double-walled carafes will keep your freshly brewed drinks hot for hours on end, but this one actually does. Even four hours after brewing, the outside of the jug was cold to the touch and the coffee within remained the optimal temperature for drinking, despite having prepared a half quantity (larger volumes hold their heat even better).

Want to wake up to freshly brewed coffee? There's a delayed start timer, too, which can be easily set in a couple of seconds.

Sage Luxe Brewer Thermal brew options

The Luxe Brewer Thermal offers hot and cold brewing, with customizable brew settings (Image credit: Future)

The removable water tank is another great feature, and is easy to lift away for refilling at the sink. No more struggling to pour water into your machine when it's on the kitchen counter. The only downside is that the tank's handle is quite small and not particularly ergonomic, although that's quite a minor quibble.

The handles on the carafe and basket assembly are far more robust, and the machine is supplied with flat-bottomed and cone-shaped filters so you can make your choice depending on how large a batch you're planning to prepare. A handy printed guide will help you pick the appropriate shape, as well as measure out the optimum quantities of ground coffee and water.

You can tweak hot brewing options (including brew time and temperature) or try cold-brewing your coffee over 24 hours for a more sweet and mellow flavor.

There's nothing excessively complicated here – just the fundamentals executed extremely well. If you're a filter fan, you won't be disappointed.

Sage Luxe Brewer Thermal: price and availability

The Sage Luxe Brewer Thermal (known as the Breville Luxe Brewer Thermal outside the UK) launched in June 2025 with a list price of $349.95 / £249.95. It isn't sold in Australia at the time of writing, but will soon be available for AU$579. You'll find today's best deals listed below.

In the US, the Luxe Brewer Thermal launched alongside the Luxe Brewer Glass, which (as its name suggests) comes with a glass jug rather than an insulated carafe. The Luxe Brewer Glass is slightly cheaper, at $319.95.

For American coffee-drinkers, this is about the same price as the Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker, which costs $365. The Aiden has some advanced features such as automatic water temperature adjustment and bloom time, which the Luxe Brewer Thermal lacks. However, in my experience, the Aiden doesn't have such a well-insulated carafe. During tests, coffee brewed with the Aiden began to go noticeably cold within an hour.

In the UK, the Aiden is considerably more expensive than the Luxe Brewer Thermal, with a list price of £365.

Sage Luxe Brewer Thermal: specifications

Dimensions (H x W x D)

16 x 14.7 x 7 inches / 40.77 x 37.24 x 17.7cm

Weight

10.3lbs / 4.68kg

Water tank capacity

60floz / 1.7 liters

Filter baskets

Two (cone and flat-bottomed)

Brewing modes

Two (hot and cold)

Timer

Yes

Insulated carafe

Yes

Hotplate

No

Sage Luxe Brewer Thermal: design

The Sage Luxe Brewer Thermal is a smart, modern-looking drip coffee machine with a brushed metallic finish and a surprisingly small footprint (just 14.7 x 7 inches / 37.24 x 17.7cm), which makes it a good option for compact kitchens. If you like the idea of having a drip machine alongside your espresso maker, but had been wondering how to fit it in, it could be the perfect solution.

One of its best features is its removeable water tank, which you can easily carry to the sink to refill. Its wide opening makes it easy to fill without spills and splashes. The tank has a small handle on the side that's just large enough to loop a finger through. It helps with removing the tank from the machine, but isn't enough to support its weight once full, so you'll need to support the tank with your other hand.

For users with mobility issues, it might have been nice if the tank had a larger, more ergonomic handle like those on the basket and carafe, which are both robust and easy to carry (even when the carafe is full).

The Luxe Brewer Thermal is supplied with a water hardness testing strip (the results of which are used for the machine's initial configuration) and a water filter that connects to an adapter and pushes into the bottom of the tank. Most filter machines I've tested don't come with a filter, so this is an added boon.

Sage Luxe Brewer Thermal with reusable mesh filter and filter papers

The machine cones with a reusable mesh flat-bottomed filter, plus filter papers if you want easier cleanup and finer filtering (Image credit: Future)

The machine comes with two filter baskets – one cone and one flat-bottomed – plus a set of flat-bottomed filter papers, and a reusable mesh cone filter. The instructions warn you to use either paper filters or the mesh one, but not both together. Cone filter papers are readily available from supermarkets, so I don't think it's a problem that these aren't supplied.

The Luxe Brewer Thermal is available in several different colors, although your options will vary depending on where you buy it. In the UK, it's only available in Stainless Steel; but coffee fans in the US can also choose Black Truffle, Sea Salt (white), Damson Blue, and Olive Tapenade. When it launches in Australia, it will be available in Stainless Steel and Black Truffle.

Sage Luxe Brewer Thermal: performance

The Sage Luxe Brewer Thermal is super simple to set up and use. You start by using the water testing strip to determine the hardness of your tap water; then soak the water filter in water for five minutes, fit its adapter, and twist it into place at the bottom of the water tank. You'll then be able to set the water hardness on the machine, along with the time, which will be used for the delayed start function. Allow it to run a quick rinse cycle, and you're ready to brew.

The printed instructions supplied with the machine are quite basic, with Ikea-style illustrations, but there are much more detailed directions available online, which will cover anything you're uncertain about.

Using the Luxe Brewer Thermal is pretty self-explanatory, particularly thanks to a chart that lists how much water and ground coffee to use when brewing a particular number of cups, and whether to use the cone or flat-bottomed basket.

Once you've hit "brew", the machine will quickly and quietly get to work; the only particularly noticeable noise comes at the end of the brewing cycle, when the pump is draining the last few dregs of water from the tank. Once complete, the Luxe Brewer Thermal will beep to let you know your coffee is ready.

The thermal carafe is particularly impressive. The more coffee you brew, the better it will hold its heat. Having said that, even when I prepared only half a carafe, the contents were still at 149ºC / 65ºF after four hours. That's slightly hotter than you'd want for drinking immediately without a splash of cold milk. In fact, the first time I used the Luxe Brewer Thermal, I wasn't sure it had actually finished because even though it was full of piping-hot coffee, the outside of the jug was cold to the touch.

Once you've brewed a pot, the machine’s display will show how long ago it was made, which is handy for households with multiple coffee-drinkers.

Adjusting brew settings on Sage Luxe Brewer Thermal

Brew settings are adjustable if you want to tweak the flavor of your coffee, with options including bloom time and brew temperature (Image credit: Future)

I also like its large, ergonomically designed handle, which matches that of the brew basket assembly, and makes it easy to carry and pour even when full.

The default settings worked very well with my freshly bought and ground beans, but if you find the flavor isn't quite to your taste, selecting the "custom" option will let you tweak the bloom volume (the amount of hot water dispensed onto the ground coffee for pre-infusion), bloom time (how long the coffee is allowed to pre-infuse), brew temperature, and flow rate (how rapidly the water is dispensed onto the coffee).

The Sage Luxe Brewer Thermal is also capable of cold-brewing, but you might not be able to see this option on the screen at first. That's because the coffee needs to steep in the basket for 24 hours, and the basket has a maximum capacity of four cups. If there's too much water in the machine's tank, it won't be offered.

Setting delayed start on Sage Luxe Brewer Thermal

The Sage Luxe Brewer Thermal has a dedicated button for delayed start. Just tap it, use the dial to set the timer, and it's ready to go (Image credit: Future)

Before cold-brewing, you'll be prompted to remove the lid from the carafe so the water remains in the brew basket, and the timer will begin counting down. Once the 24 hours are up, you can position the lidded carafe to release your brew. As you would expect from cold-brew made the conventional way, the flavor is pleasingly rounded and rich, with a sweeter profile than coffee prepared hot.

It's simple, but very well executed, like all of this machine's features. Although there’s a selection of customization options, there are no unnecessary frills. Drip coffee shouldn’t be complicated, and with the Luxe Brewer Thermal, it isn’t.

Should you buy the Sage Luxe Brewer Thermal

Buy it if

You really enjoy drip coffee

The Luxe Brewer Thermal will do your beans justice, and keep your batch brew hot for hours without stewing it on a hotplate. You can fine-tune brew settings if you want; but, ultimately, it keeps things simple and does them very well.

You enjoy authentic cold-brew

There's no shortage of coffee makers that claim to make authentic-tasting cold-brewed coffee, but the Luxe Brewer Thermal does it the traditional way by steeping the grounds for 24 hours. It's easy, convenient, and makes virtually no mess.

Don't buy it if

You want a traditional-looking batch brewer

The Luxe Brewer Thermal has a distinctly modern look with its brushed metal finish and clean lines. If you want a more conventional-looking brewer, take a look at the Moccamaster KBGV Select instead (see below).

You want the cheapest option

The Luxe Brewer Thermal carries a mid-range price tag, and there are definitely cheaper options available, although they don't offer the same performance.

Sage Luxe Brewer Thermal: also consider

If you're not sure whether the Sage Luxe Brewer Thermal is the right coffee maker for you, here are two other options to consider:

Moccamaster KBGV Select

The Moccamaster comes highly recommended if you want a more striking machine, although it relies on a hotplate rather than an insulated carafe to keep your drink hot, and stewing for 100 minutes can have a detrimental effect on the taste of your drink.

Read our full Moccamaster KBGV Select review

Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker

I really wanted to love the super-smart Aiden, which automatically calculates the optimum brew settings for your beans, but it's let down by an insulated carafe that just doesn't hold the heat like the Luxe Brewer Thermal's pitcher.

Read our full Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker review

How I tested the Sage Luxe Brewer Thermal

I used the Sage Luxe Brewer Thermal with tap water and the supplied water filter, with the machine set to the recommended water hardness setting. I used freshly bought coffee from a local roaster (a blend of Brazilian and Columbian beans), ground at home immediately before using.

I used the machine on its default hot brewing settings, then experimented with adjusting options including bloom temperature, bloom time, and brew temperatures. I also used the delayed start function to start brewing first thing in the morning, and used the cold-brew function several times, comparing the taste of coffee brewed this way to prepared hot.

After brewing a batch of hot coffee, I tested the temperature every hour with a chef's thermometer to see how well the carafe retained heat.

For more details, see how TechRadar tests, rates, and reviews products.

First reviewed July 2025

Reliable, neat and user-friendly, the Anthbot Genie lawn mower is a wish come true
8:00 am | July 31, 2025

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

Anthbot Genie: two-minute review

Like the very best in the latest tranche of self-guided robot lawn mowers, the Anthbot Genie requires no perimeter wires and no professionals to install it. Simply take it out of its box, set up its charging station and RTK receiver in a suitable spot and set it off on its way.

There are three versions to choose from, with different battery capacities making them suited to different lawn size. The Genie 600 is designed for lawns up to 0.22 acres / 900m², the Genie 1000 is for up to 0.49 acres / 2000m² and the Genie 3000 is for up to 0.89 acres / 3600m². For this review, I tested the 3000.

Although the Genie's 7.9 inch / 20cm cutting width isn't the widest on the market – that accolade goes to the five-star Mammotion LUBA 2 – what it lacks in size it makes up for in accuracy. Thanks to RTK-GPS and its AI-empowered 3D four-camera recognition technology, the Genie cuts in straight lines and navigates neatly around edges without the typical zig-zag chaos of older robot mowers. It's a sterling obstacle avoider, too.

However, its success may depend on the RTK receiver having a good line of sight to a range of satellites in the sky, and to that end it's a bit of a shame that a wall-mounting kit (to place the receiver above the tree-line) is an added extra rather than being included as standard. That said, positioning mine in the lawn next to the charge station – the only setup possible with the included equipment – worked just fine to me, even with a fair amount of tree coverage.

Like the vast majority of robot mowers, the Genie doesn't have a grass collector. Instead, its five-blade cutting disk snips off millimeters at a time, leaving the nitrogen-rich cuttings to fertilize the lawn. Its motorized cutting deck is easily adjustable in the app and lets you fine-tune your grass from a crisp trim to a lush, longer look.

If you're in the market for an easy-to-use robot that's reliable and easy to operate, you've found it. Read on for my full Anthbot Genie robot lawn mower review.

Anthbot Genie 300 robot lawn mower in reviewer's yard

(Image credit: Future)

Anthbot Genie review: price & availability

  • List price: $999 to $1,359 / £999 to £1,699
  • Launch date: Spring 2025
  • Available: US and UK

The Anthbot Genie went on sale in Spring 2025, following a successful Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign. They're available to buy direct from Anthbot and Amazon in the US and the UK, and at list price they cost $999 / £999 for the Genie 600, $1,199 / £1,299 for the Genie 1000 and $1,599 / £1,699 for the Genie 3000.

Given that wire-free yard robotics is a relatively new thing, right now you can expect to pay big money for the privilege of never having to mow the lawn again. However, prices have already started to tumble and this will likely continue as more competition enters the market. In fact, at time of writing, all sizes of the Genie were heavily discounted in both the US and the UK. In the pantheon of robot lawn mowers, the Anthbot Genie's price structure can be considered quite reasonable given the huge amount of sci-fi tech involved.

  • Value for money score: 4 out of 5

Anthbot Genie specs

Max lawn size:

0.22 acres / 900m², 0.49 acres / 2,000m², 0.89 acres / 3,600m²

Cutting deck width:

7.9 in / 20cm

Cutting height adjustment:

1.18 - 2.8 in/ 30-70mm, motorized

Bot dimensions:

24.8 x 16.1 x 10.6in / 63 x 41 x 27cm

Navigation:

RTK GPS + 4-camera 3D Vision

Climbing ability:

45% (24°)

Drivetrain:

Rear wheel drive

Waterproof:

IPX6

Rain sensor:

Yes

Noise:

58dB

Connectivity:

Wi-Fi (2.4G), 4G, Bluetooth

Obstacle avoidance:

3D Vision (4 Cameras) + All-round Physical Obstacle Avoidance

Maximum zones:

20 - 30

Anthbot Genie review: design

  • 3 variants with different batteries for different lawn sizes
  • Navigates using RTK GPS and AI powered cameras
  • Wall mounting kit for RTK station is sold separately

Funny how the world of technology works. It takes just one company to create a new type of innovative product and within a year everyone's at it. Just look at robot vacuum cleaners. Once there was iRobot, then the likes of Roborock followed suit and, before we knew it, we were being bombarded with hundreds of robot vacs from companies we'd never heard of. Well the same thing is happening in the world of robot lawn mowers.

Although robot mowers have been out since the 1990s, I've never had the desire to review one because they've all required getting down on hands and knees and fixing, or burying, a ridiculously long boundary cable around the entire perimeter of the lawn and every outdoor ornament and piece of furniture. But that's all changed with the recent advent of RTK GPS-, camera-, and LiDAR-guided lawnbots that not only navigate a lawn – and any obstacles – with gobsmacking precision but cut grass in beautifully straight lines that make any lawn look immaculately snazzy.

Anthbot Genie 300 robot lawn mower in reviewer's yard

(Image credit: Future)

Anthbot is one of those young upstarts and I've got to say that its design team has done its homework and designed one of the very best lawnbots I've so far tested – and a great looker to boot. In fact, it's getting rather difficult to write these reviews because every robotic lawn mower I receive to test seems to be a bit better than the last, and there are only so many stars one can give as commendation.

The Anthbot Genie is the latest addition to the fast-evolving world of smart robotic lawn mowers, and it brings some serious tech to the yard. This model is available in three battery capacities, which equate to the amount of lawn space they can realistically handle without having to return to recharge too often.

Anthbot Genie 300 robot lawn mower in reviewer's yard

(Image credit: Future)

If you have a small urban-sized lawn, opt for the Genie 600 which has a reach of 0.22 acres / 900m² . If your lawn's a lot larger or you want the robot to cut an entire space without heading back to base for a recharge (remember, fewer recharge cycles equals a longer battery life) then opt for either the Genie 1000 which is suitable for lawns up to 0.49 acres / 2,000m² or the Genie 3000 which is capable of trimming a whopping 0.89 acres / 3,600m². All three variants are exactly the same size and have the same features, except the 3000 model can cut up to 30 different lawn zones while the other two can manage 20.

Unlike traditional robot mowers that rely on cumbersome boundary wires, the Genie uses advanced RTK-GPS combined with an AI-empowered navigation system comprising four cameras (including one on each side) that are said to provide '300-degree human-like vision and 360-degree collision sensing'. I believe it having seen it in operation.

RTK station for Anthbot Genie 300 robot lawn mower

(Image credit: Future)

RTK-GPS uses an RTK receiver to correct satellite signals, making them accurate to within a few centimeters. The system requires the bot and the receiver to have direct line of sight to a large proportion of the sky. The idea is that if the GPS signal is weak or lost due to overhead obstructions, the lawn bot will switch over to camera-based navigation.

I should add that RTK-GPS, which is accurate to just a few centimetres, isn't suitable for every home layout because the package requires having an aerial spiked into the lawn within a foot of the charging station and with a clear line of sight to as many satellites as possible. My own lawn is surrounded by very tall trees and the RTK stations of every lawnbot I've so far tested have all been positioned to the side of two 80-foot beech trees.

In theory my yard should be the worst case scenario but, against all odds, I'm receiving signals from between 12 and 25 satellites at any given time – and with just 50 per cent or so of visible sky. So don't write off this model or any other without taking a good look at the sky around your home.

Close up of cameras on Anthbot Genie 300 robot lawn mower

(Image credit: Future)

If your land space looks unsuitable, Anthbot sells a wall-mounting kit that enables you to attach the RTK receiver to a structure up high (so there's wider direct line of sight to satellites in the sky), and plug it into a separate power source to the charge station. Some other lawnbots, include wall-mounting kit with the initial bundle, but here it's an additional purchase.

When it comes to obstacle avoidance, this model features three levels of sensitivity (low, medium and high) and it's worth playing around with the settings to find the best solution for your lawn. I've been very impressed with the Genie's obstacle avoidance and you can read more about it in the Performance chapter below.

Anthbot Genie 300 robot lawn mower on its side, showing blades and wheels

(Image credit: Future)

Right, let's get down to the stats. The Genie's 7.9 inch / 20cm cutting width may sound modest, but it's more than capable of maintaining a consistently neat finish on the lawn sizes it was designed for. Like all robot mowers, the Genie uses a spinning horizontal disc with razor blades attached to the outer edge. Some models like the Eufy E15 have just three blades, but this one has five.

The Genie's motorized cutting height is fully adjustable between 1.2-2.8 inches in 0.2in increments (30-70mm in 5mm increments), allowing you to switch between a close-cropped summer lawn or a longer, lusher look in the cooler months. However, you won't see the 0.2in / 5mm increments on the app unless you tap on the dividing lines between each main measurement. Please fix this Anthbot.

Like 99 per cent of robot mowers, the Genie is a mulching model, so it finely chops grass into tiny nitrogen-rich clippings that naturally fertilize your lawn. That means no messy grass collectors and no piles of cuttings to dispose of. If the mower is set to perform two to three cuts a week, it will simply snip off a few days' worth growth and therefore not litter the lawn in cuttings.

All robot mowers are whisper-quiet when working; so quiet that you can hardly hear them from just a few meters away. This model's drive motor is a fraction louder than other lawnbots I've tested (around 58dB), but it's hardly audible when you're more than 8 meters away.

I sadly wasn't able to test the Genie's multi-zone function since I only have one lawn, but from what I've seen online, it behaves in the same way as other robot mowers and involves steering the robot like an RC car using the Bluetooth connection from one zone to another. As long as the path between the two zones is free of clutter – and especially gates and steps – the Genie will follow the same path every time it's out on a cutting spree. Impressively, this mower provides the option to create between 20 and 30 zones depending on the variant you've chosen.

Anthbot Genie 300 robot lawn mower under cover on its charge station

(Image credit: Future)

If there are permanent obstacles within the lawn (beds, for example), you can create no-go zones so the mower doesn't try to cut them. As a step up from some competitor models, you can create these in-app with a few taps, just as you would with a robot vacuum cleaner. I should add that the Genie's navigation system will cover the vast majority of obstacle avoidance but it's good to have the no-go option for those who wish to make doubly sure that the robot will always avoid pitfalls like drop offs and ponds.

Like all robot mowers and vacs, the Genie can be easily programmed to run a regular schedule so the grass is always kept in tip-top condition. However, the Anthbot Genie app also features a Smart Lawn Care function, which automatically selects the best mowing strategy based on growth of the grass. I wasn't able to try out this function properly because my test period coincided with an ongoing drought that has prevented most UK grass from growing.

I did select the option but found it very confusing because it leapt straight into a schedule and the whole point of the function is that it chooses when to mow. If it's like Worx's Landroid Vision system, it should require input of grass type and then check local weather to create an automatic schedule.

Perhaps this feature will be improved going forward but for now I would suggest ignoring it and stick to your own schedules. Incidentally, like every other bot on the market, a rain sensor on top of the body automatically pauses mowing during wet weather and you can change the delayed mowing time from between one hour and eight hours.

Close up of side camera on Anthbot Genie 300 robot lawn mower

(Image credit: Future)

Most mowers are capable of climbing inclines of 30% to 40% but this rear-wheel-drive model goes 5% more, meaning it's suitable for a slightly wider variety of landscapes. The two large and chubby front caster wheels help in this regard, but it's the oversized and heavy treaded rear wheels that provide all the traction. Nevertheless, there will be some lawns that are still too steep for this mower to handle. If that's your lawn, consider the all-wheel-drive Mammotion LUBA 2 or LUBA Mini which both boast amazing 80% incline ability.

Like most modern wireless robot mowers, the Genie is initially bound to one's WiFi and Anthbot account so any light-fingered thieves will basically have a brick on their hands. To further enhance security, a four-digit code is also required and if the robot is moved beyond its preset boundary, an alarm sounds on the robot and the user receives an emergency alert. Top marks in this respect.

According to the US and UK websites, Anthbot already has an after sales repair service in place in many territories – including the UK and US – with a 10 day turnaround in most cases. In fact, I've been very impressed by Anthbot's activity on Facebook in seeking feedback from current users regarding any improvements the company can make going forward.

Setup

The Genie arrived in a large box containing the mowing unit, a charging base, ample electrical cabling for an outdoor mains output and the RTK GPS antennae. I selected a space next to my Mammotion LUBA 2 and placed the antennae beside the charging station. This area is right beneath two 80-foot beech behemoths, a large horse chestnut and a small damson tree but, against all odds, every RTK system I've used has worked.

This one worked too, though it took a few minutes for the RTK receiver to log on to the prerequisite number of satellites. I'm actually amazed that these RTK-based lawnbots work at all on my lawn given the amount of trees surrounding it, and that just goes to show that there are a lot more satellites up there than you might think.

Anthbot Genie 300 robot lawn mower in its garage

(Image credit: Future)

After turning it on and hearing the musical fanfare, you'll be asked to select the default pin code (0000). Even though the machine is also bonded to the owner's Wi-Fi and email address, this code is an extra line of defence against theft of the machine and should be changed to a personal code using the keypad on the unit or, better still, via the app. Just make sure to make a note of your own pin code because the product is a brick without it, and the only way to fix it is by contacting the manufacturer with proof of purchase.

All robots need to map the space they'll be working in; in this model's case, the Genie uses its RTK GPS and multi-camera system. Anthbot provides two methods for mapping a lawn: auto or manual. In auto the robot analyses the lawn's borders automatically, while manual involves driving the bot around the perimeter like an RC car.

I initially chose auto and the Genie mapped the lawn quickly without any messing about. It simply went to the nearest edge and mapped the entire lawn in about five minutes. That's a record! However, I've since discovered an excellent feature in the app that lets you manually expand the map by driving the robot even closer to the perimeter. Nice one Anthbot.

Anthbot Genie 300 robot lawn mower in reviewer's yard

(Image credit: Future)

At this juncture I wish to give a shout out to the tailored Rain Cover for the Genie because it not only keeps the robot dry (even though its IPX6 waterproof) but, perhaps more importantly, it blocks out hot summer sun which could feasibly mess around with the bot's battery and electronics. The Anthbot garage is an impressive piece of kit in its own right since the main body is cast from solid steel and is so robust that I sense it would stand up to a tornado, let alone a gale.

Once the Anthbot Genie is all set up and ready to roll, it's simply a case of going into the app and setting a two- or three-day schedule, your preferred cutting height and obstacle sensitivity, and whether you want the robot to mow in vertical or horizontal stripes. And that's it. You can now retreat, safe in the knowledge that your lawn will always look neat and tidy, even when you're away on holiday.

  • Design score: 4.5 out of 5

Anthbot Genie review: performance

  • Impressive cutting performance
  • Superb navigation system
  • On-par obstacle avoidance

Every perimeter wire-free robot mower I've reviewed to date has performed surprisingly well, at least given the relative newness of this particular field of robotics. The Genie's 7.9 inch / 20cm cutting width may seem compact compared to the 15.7 inch / 40cm Mammotion NUBA 2, but I've been impressed by the precision of its cut – its five-blade disc spins at around 3,000rpm, slicing through grass stems like a pair of sharp scissors, leaving only the tiniest of mulched clippings in its wake. If programmed to perform regular cutting sessions during the main season, the nitrogen-rich clippings will soon disappear back into the lawn where they'll act as natural fertilizer.

Whether you set it to 1.2in / 30mm for a UK-style summer trim or 2.8in / 70mm for a longer cut that's more suited to US grass varieties, the Genie should maintain a consistent finish across varied lawn surfaces. The Genie's simple, replaceable blade system certainly handled my lawn's thick early summer growth with ease, leaving no clumps or uneven patches. However, it sadly hasn't seen much use during the past two weeks because the UK has been experiencing a series of heatwaves and all lawns in the southern region have shut down to some extent.

Anthbot Genie 300 robot lawn mower in reviewer's yard

(Image credit: Future)

I've been especially impressed by the Genie's navigation system, which has never faulted in four weeks of using it. My base station is set to one side of my 170 square metre lawn with a gap of around 15 meters / 49ft to the side border and when the Genie leaves its station, it starts mowing in a straight vertical line from that point, missing the 1.5 metres of lawn width to its left and continuing to cut the largest section of lawn to its right.

It then moves to the left side of its first path to complete the rest of the lawn before moving to the edges, which it cuts remarkably well. I should add that its border cutting improved tenfold since I engaged the new 'edge-cutting' option and manually expanded the map by driving the robot closer to the border.

Anthbot Genie 300 robot lawn mower in reviewer's yard

(Image credit: Future)

Granted, the Genie employs an unusual cutting pattern when compared to other lawnbots I've tested but, hey, it has always finished the task in about an hour so I have nothing to grumble about in this regard. All I know is that it creates lovely stripes in its wake. Yes, I still prefer the much wider tract of the Mammotion LUBA 2 but I'm getting more and more used to the narrower stripes that the majority of current bots create.

I've also been impressed by the Genie's better-than-average obstacle avoidance. I tested it using a variety of objects – from dog toys and tennis balls to a chewed-up plastic plant pot – and it avoided all of them with deft precision (the two extra side-mounted cameras most definitely helped in this area). In fact I was so impressed I decided to bring out the ping-pong ball that no robot mower has so far avoided. Unfortunately, this was too small an item even for the Genie, which makes me think that manufacturers adjust their respective robots to ignore the smallest of objects on purpose lest they mistake scattered leaves for obstacles and avoid them entirely.

Anthbot Genie 300 robot lawn mower avoiding obstacles in reviewer's yard

(Image credit: Future)

I should add that my test lawn is perfect for any robot since it's rectangular shaped and with no inclines and no major obstacles in the way. Nevertheless, I have watched a few videos by other users with more challenging terrain and they've also been impressed with the Genie's performance.

One thing I have noticed is that the Genie 3000 I was sent to review has been able to cut my entire lawn and the edges with 72 per cent of battery remaining. Yes, this model is overkill for my lawn size but it just goes to show how energy-efficient the model's battery and motors are. If you can afford it, perhaps opt for a larger model than you need so you can cut down on battery charging cycles and have the available juice to cut extra lawn zones in the future.

  • Performance score: 5 out of 5

Anthbot Genie review: app

  • Easy to use
  • Receives quite regular updates
  • Some room for improvement

The Anthbot app is mostly excellent. This easy-to-use app allows the user to set cutting heights and angle of cut, create up to 30 mowing zones, programme different schedules for each and define no-go areas with a swipe of the finger. The app also includes real-time monitoring so you can check the mower's location, battery level and progress at any time, even if you're away from home.

Screenshots from Anthbot Genie app

(Image credit: Anthbot)

My test model recently received a comprehensive update with additions to cut horizontally, edit the lawn's boundary and choose from three levels of obstacle avoidance. However, I would love to see Anthbot improve its cutting angle feature so that it behaves more like Eufy's E15 model, which provides an animated map with an adjustable arrow that swivels the entire map of the lawn on its axis so you can easily view the direction in which the robot will cut.

Given that Anthbot's reps are very responsive and eager to address current users' suggestions, you can be sure there'll be more tantalising updates along the way.

  • App score: 4 out of 5

Should you buy the Anthbot Genie lawnbot?

Attribute

Notes

Rating

Value

In the arena of smart lawnbots, the Genie is very competitively priced. Deals are already easy to come by.

4/5

Design

Navigates using RTK GPS and 4 cameras on front and sides. Available in 3 battery capacities for different-sized lawns.

4.5/5

Performance

Exceptional performance with neat mowing, very accurate navigation and commendable obstacle avoidance.

5/5

App

Despite a few required tweaks, the Anthbot app is easy to use and pretty comprehensive.

4/5

Buy it if...

You want an easy time

This model is a breeze to use, with no major foibles to report.

You want lawn stripes

The Genie cuts in uniform parallel stripes.

You value reliable obstacle avoidance

With three levels of avoidance, this bot is a top dodger.

Don't buy it if...

Your lawn looks like the foothills of the Himalayas

With a 45% maximum gradient, this bot isn't suitable for very steep inclines.

You have lots of overhead obstacles

The Genie uses an RTK GPS navigation system, which relies on a decently clear view of the sky to allow it to talk to the satellites.

How I tested the Anthbot Genie

TechRadar employs a strict routine when testing equipment. Firstly I live with the robot for a week or two, letting it do its thing while observing its behavior. Then I get down to enacting some real-world scenarios like obstacle avoidance and introducing it to various types of borders to see how well it behaves. Robots can be very unpredictable so these tests can take a few hours to complete with lots of written observations. Once I'm satisfied that there aren't any major concerns, I'll start writing the review while very carefully considering the amount of stars each area of the product deserves.

Read more about how we test

  • First reviewed July 2025
This >$500 robot vacuum is one of the very best budget bots I’ve tested – the edge cleaning is top-notch and it rarely needs emptying
10:00 pm | July 27, 2025

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

3i G10+ robot vacuum: two-minute review

The 3i G10+ is a hybrid robot vacuum and mop that has a clever USP that makes it an especially good choice for small homes: the onboard dust cup is around twice the usual size, and compresses its contents to fit even more in. It's an ideal solution for those people who don't have space for a massive self-empty base station taking up their living room, but equally don't want to have to manually empty dust after every clean.

While it lacks the fancier features found on today's best robot vacuums, it's certainly one of the best budget robovacs I've tested, punching above its affordable price tag. There are several features I wouldn't expect in this price bracket, including an extending side brush and a mop pad that kicks out to get closer to the edges of rooms and can lift when traversing carpet. The result is very thorough vacuuming, strong edge cleaning, and solid mopping too.

It's not perfect. I found the 3i G10+ struggled to mount the charger when the dock was placed on a carpet, and the object avoidance is a little hit-and-miss. It's also not the best choice if mopping is your priority – the small onboard tank needs refilling regularly, and the fact the mop pads can't be removed from their base for machine-washing is annoying.

However, given the overall balance of performance to price, I think the 3i G10+ is a very solid recommendation. For me, the pros vastly outweigh the cons. Read on for my full 3i G10+ robot vacuum review.

3i G10+ robot vacuum in use

(Image credit: Future)

3i G10+ robot vacuum review: price & availability

  • List price: $449 (about £560 / AU$1,110)
  • Available: US only
  • Launched: January 2025 (on sale June 2025)

The 3i G10+ was unveiled at CES 2025 and then went on sale in June that year. It's only available in the US, and any way you slice it, the 3i G10+ is very well-priced for what you're getting. At full list price, it's $449, but at time of writing it was reduced to $399 (about £560 / AU$1,110). Both fall into the TechRadar budget price bracket for robovacs. Sure, you can go cheaper with some robot vacuum models, but to get one with mopping capability, this is about as low as you can go.

There's also the innovative dust compression, enabling you to avoid having to make space for a bulky dock. There are only a few other bots that offer this. One example is the Narwal Freo X Plus, which costs about the same as the G10+ (going for $399.99 / AU$899), but has some unwelcome quirks that the 3i doesn't suffer from. There's also the Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo for $469.99 / £399, but the least said about that bot and its performance, the better.

The Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 goes for the same price when discounted, but has a higher MSRP of $699.99 / £449.99. It does have a bigger auto-self emptying base station with a 1.9 quart (about 1.8L) dustbin capacity, so requires a bit more space. It's also a bit older of a model, which at the time of review had a glitchy app and just average mopping. With the 3i G10+, you get 1 still very good 1L dustbin without having to set aside the space for such a big base station. And that's Shark's most reasonably priced mopping robot vacuum.

The Ecovacs Deebot N10 Plus might be the robot vacuum that the 3i G10+ reminds me of most. The Ecovacs has a higher MSRP of $649.99 / £499 / AU$999, but can be regularly found at the same price as the 3i G10+. It also has a small auto-self emptying base station. It, however, has an annoying quirk in that you have to physically remove the mop pad for use on carpet. And in that regard, the 3i G10+ is easier to use, as I'll get into below.

While the 3i G10+ isn't quite perfect, it sets a high bar for anything around $400.

  • Value for money score: 4.5 out of 5

3i G10+ robot vacuum specs

Max suction:

18,000 Pa

Robot diameter:

14 in / 35.6 cm

Robot height:

4.3 in / 10.9 cm

Dock dimensions (W x D x H):

5.9 x 5.3 x 3.8 in / 15 x 13.5 x 9.7 cm

Dust bin volume (bot):

1L

Water tank volume (bot):

0.2L

Base type:

Charge only

Noise level (average):

52dB

Runtime:

180 minutes

3i G10+ robot vacuum review: design

  • Large capacity onboard dustbin with compression
  • Water tank is small but easy to access
  • Extendable side brush and mop pad

The 3i G10+ might have the typical disc shape, but it doesn't look like most robot vacuums. Instead of the little raised navigation tower poking out of the top, this robot vacuum has a much larger, almost egg-shaped raised portion that not only contains sensors (the typical reason for these raised areas), but also the power button and, most importantly, the dustbin.

That dustbin is unusual in that not only does it have a supersized 1L capacity – most robot vacuums have less than half of that – but also an internal mechanism to compress all the dirt and debris coming in. That means that even though there's no auto-empty dustbin in the dock (instead, it's a compact, charge-only setup), you won't need to empty the onboard bin too regularly. Because the dust is potentially sitting around in the bot for a while, 3i has built in a UV light to keep things hygienic.

Getting back to the exterior of the 3i G10+. The water tank hugs the back of the unit and pulls off and snaps back into place via magnets, making it very easy to access and fill up. It has a small capacity – just 247ml – so it needs regular refilling.

(If you're using the mop on a regular basis then a bigger, more comprehensive clean station that can wash and dry the mop pads for you, as well as refilling the tanks, is a big effort-saver. Although you will of course have to make space for it.)

3i G10+ robot vacuum in use

Select manual controls can be found on top of the robot (Image credit: Future)

Underneath, there's a single side brush, a brush roll, and a stationary mop pad. However, there's more going on here as well. That side brush can extend out to reach further into the edges of rooms. The mop pad is just a stationary one, but the 3i G10+ can move the whole pad out a bit for more thorough edge mopping too. Those kinds of features are unusual for robot vacuums at this price point.

  • Design score: 4.5 out of 5

3i G10+ robot vacuum review: performance

  • Very good vacuuming and solid mopping, including edges
  • Mop pad can't be removed from mount for machine-washing
  • Quiet operation

While I usually prefer robot vacuums to have two side brushes, one on each side, the single brush and brush roll on the 3i G10+ proved more than up to the job of vacuuming whatever dirt, dust, and debris was lying around. It helps that the side brush actually extends out, sweeping anything away from the edge of the room and into the bot's suction path.

I used this robot vacuum on hardwood flooring, tile and carpet, and found it did a very solid job on all three. I also ran TechRadar's usual suction tests, sprinkling flour, sugar, and breakfast cereal on the floor and seeing how efficiently it cleared it. It took two passes to get everything, but once those were complete, you couldn't tell that anything had been spilled.

3i G10+ robot vacuum in use

This bot is especially good at edge cleaning (Image credit: Future)

The mopping performance is pretty good as well, though not quite up to the standard of the vacuuming. The mop pad is the flat kind that gets dragged across the floor. It's great for surface-level cleaning but not tough enough for anything more challenging – I find dual, spinning mop pads offer more thorough clean.

In general use I found the coverage was good, and not streaky the way that this kind of mop pad can be. Because the mop pad can kick out to the side, the si G10+ is great at mopping into the edges of rooms. Also a plus is the fact that it will lift the mop pad up a few millimeters when going onto carpet to keep said carpet from getting wet – you don't always get that kind of functionality with a bot at this price point.

3i G10+ robot vacuum in use

The 3i G10+ tackling my mopping tests (Image credit: Future)

I ran some mopping tests that involved spilling soda and coffee on the floor and seeing how well the bot handled it. While it cleared the area effectively, my whole floor ended up smelling like coffee and soda afterwards. I'd recommend tackling spillages manually, to avoid this.

Because the base station doesn't have mop-cleaning capabilities, you'll also need to stay on top of washing the mop pads fairly regularly. Annoyingly (and unusually), while the mop and its mount can be removed from the bot, the cloth part doesn't come off its mount. That means you can't throw it in a washing machine, but instead have to hand-wash. I was annoyed to find the mop cloth-and-mount took nearly a day to dry, though it went a lot quicker when I put it in the sun.

3i G10+ robot vacuum in use

Object avoidance is hit-and-miss (Image credit: Future)

The object avoidance is unfortunately not as good as advertised. While the G10+ did manage to register and avoid some objects, I also watched it push around a bag clip, bump into a dog water bowl, and climb up on the base of a chair and end up stuck. Overall, the object avoidance is rather hit and miss. I've found that to be par for the course with more budget and mid-range models, though.

On the bright side, operation is relatively quiet, registering at 52dB during regular use and 56dB when extending side brush. I've used some robot vacuums that get much, much louder and it can be distracting. Having one with a quiet drone, especially when I'm trying to work or do something when it's running, is appreciated.

3i G10+ robot vacuum in use

Emptying the onboard dust bin (Image credit: Future)

The battery lasts a very decent 240 minutes – enough time to clean the full 700 square feet area it could reach without having to recharge.

Lastly, though it vacuums just fine on carpet, it can't seem to get back onto its base station when on carpet (medium pile for reference). It's as if the 3i G10+ can't catch onto the ramp attached to the base station to reach the charging contacts. It's a bit strange and one of the drawbacks of not having a bigger mat for the robot vacuum to go up on.

  • Performance score: 4 out of 5

3i G10+ robot vacuum review: app

  • Straightforward to set up and use including maps
  • Has an AI Auto Mode to make things even easier
  • Comes with pet camera and manual controls

I typically don't find a lot of issues with robot vacuum apps these days, and it's no different with the 3i app. It's intuitive to get started, from pairing to going through the various instructions to complete the setup process. Other than waiting for the app and vacuum to pair and connect to WiFi, it's also a straightforward process.

Part of setting it up is also mapping your space and, though the 3i G10+ takes its time, it does a thorough job and even guesses the names of different rooms (not always correctly). Editing the map does take a tiny bit of menu diving, but once you get the screen to make changes, it works well and is happy to let you partition certain spaces more than once – an issue I've actually had with some models.

Screenshots from 3i app

(Image credit: 3i / Future)

As far as using the app, the 3i G10+ home page is straightforward with the map top center, important info at the top, menu diving icons top right, as well as the more specific cleaning functions on the lower half of the screen.

There's a lot of flexibility for adjusting how you want your space cleaned including whether you want to vacuum or vacuum and mop, along with suction power, water level, cycles, and more. But if you don't want to manually set the cleaning mode, 'AI Auto' will decide the various settings for you. I found it useful for spaces with different types of surfaces – for example, it'll adjust automatically when going from hardwood to carpet.

Beyond the meat and potatoes of the app, there are more useful features including Alexa and Google Voice Assistant support. You can even take over the camera and motor functions to check on a pet when you're not home.

  • App score: 4.5 out of 5

Should you buy the 3i G10+ robot vacuum?

Attribute

Notes

Rating

Value

Budget bracket, with a very solid feature list for the price.

4.5 / 5

Design

The large onboard dustbin with compression is just part of what sets this bot apart. It also has an extendable side brush and mop pad.

4.5 / 5

Performance

Very solid vacuuming, good mopping and thorough edge cleaning. Quiet in operation, too. However, struggles to return to dock if dock is placed on carpet.

4 / 5

App

The interface and mapping, along with everything else, is easy.

4.5 / 5

Buy it if...

You don't have a lot of space

The dustbin has such a large capacity (for an on-board dustbin) that the base station can be and is tiny. You won't need nearly the same amount of space that mopping vacuums with bigger base stations need.

You're on a budget

The 3i G10+ sits in the budget bracket and offers a very strong featureset. You're getting a lot for your money.

You care about the edges

With both an extendable side brush and an extendable mop pad, the 3i G10+ is able to reach your room's edges when vacuuming and mopping.

Don't buy it if...

You want deep mopping

The mopping performance is fine, but for more thorough scrubbing you're better with dual rotating mop pads than the stationary pad on this bot.

Your entire place is carpeted

It might just be my medium pile carpet, but this robot vacuum could not return to its base station when on carpet. Unless you also want to get a mat to put underneath the base station, you'll want to avoid if your whole place is carpeted.

Your priority is mopping

If you're going to be mopping a lot, the small water tank and lack of automatic mop-cleaning features is going to get annoying – not to mention the fact you can't chuck the mop pad into the washing machine.

3i G10+ robot vacuum review: alternatives to consider

Ecovacs Deebot N10 Plus

The Ecovacs Deebot N10 Plus is an affordable mopping robot vacuum with an auto self-emptying dustbin that does the job well. It has a longer battery life than the 3i G10+, but it also has the annoying quirk of needing its mop pad removed for use on carpet.

Read our full Ecovacs Deebot N10 Plus review

Yeedi C12 Pro Plus

Originally set at the same price point, the Narwal Freo X Plus also vacuums and mops without a towering base station. Of course, it doesn't have the 3i G10+'s dustbin, but it does come with a mat so it doesn't have the issues getting to its base station on carpets.

Read our full Narwal Freo X Plus review

How I tested the 3i G10+ robot vacuum

To test the 3i G10+, I used it for a couple weeks, testing its vacuum and mop capabilities not only on hardwood floors, but also when going from hardwood floors to carpets (with some intentionally dropped objects here and there). I also tested its cleaning abilities with spillages of various types. I went through every nook and cranny of the app, looking at things like mapping and ease of use.

Read more about how we test robot vacuum cleaners

  • First reviewed July 2025
I tested the Philips LatteGo 5500 Series, and it’s the perfect espresso machine for one or two people
6:00 pm | July 26, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Coffee Machines Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances | Tags: | Comments: Off

Philips LatteGo 5500 Series: two-minute review

The Philips LatteGo 5500 Series is a compact fully automatic espresso machine that's a solid choice for couples and individuals. It has a relatively small water tank and bean hopper that's perfect for making a couple of cups, so you won't have large quantities of coffee and water going stale.

The built-in ceramic grinder offers some super-fine grind settings, and with just a little adjustment you should be able to brew consistently well-extracted espresso, which you can enjoy alone or as the foundation of over 15 different drinks. The most popular options (such as cappuccino and americano) are accessible via buttons beside the color display, while others can be found by tapping "other drinks" and selecting either hot or iced beverages.

It's worth noting that the LatteGo 5500 Series doesn't offer cold coffee extraction. Instead, you're prompted to add six to eight ice cubes to your cup, and the machine pours over a shot of hot espresso (followed by cold-foamed milk, if appropriate for your chosen drink). The results are OK, but you don't get the same mellow flavor you do from coffee infused using cold water, and the melting of the ice means drinks usually made without water can taste weak.

Philips LatteGo 5500 Series

The LatteGo milk system works well, producing a thick and creamy foam from plant or dairy milk (Image credit: Future)

For me, the most interesting feature is the LatteGo's automatic milk-foaming system. Unlike most other coffee makers I've tested, the 5500 Series has a milk carafe that clips onto a steam nozzle on the front of the machine, and is designed to be filled while attached.

This might seem odd at first, but it actually makes a lot of sense. Not carrying containers of milk across the kitchen means less risk of spillage, and this carafe isn't intended for storing milk in the fridge between brews. Instead, it has markers on the side that show you exactly how much to add for different drinks, meaning there won't be any left at the end, and the carafe can be washed out, ready for next time (either by hand or in a dishwasher). It's a smart system for making just one or two drinks.

You do have to be very careful with how you position your cup, though. There's no way to adjust the LatteGo system's spout, and your cup needs to be further forward on the drip tray than you'd expect. Move it over the red water-level indicator, then a bit further still to avoid your milk spilling over the edge.

Overall, this is a well-made bean-to-cup machine for small households (or ones with just one coffee-drinker), and it does the basics very well. It wouldn't be my top choice if you want to make cold drinks regularly, however. For that, you'd be better opting for a machine that can handle cold extraction, so your drink isn't watered down. Take a look at my list of the best cold-brew coffee machines for some suggestions.

Philips LatteGo 5500 Series: price and availability

  • List price $1,099.95 / £649.99 / AU$1,194
  • Available globally
  • Often discounted in the UK

The Philips LatteGo 5500 Series is available globally, and has a list price of $1,099.95 / £649.99 / AU$1,194 (although it’s often reduced to £549.99 in the UK). It’s the top-tier model in the LatteGo series, with 20 hot and cold drink options compared to 12 drinks for the less expensive 4400 Series. You’ll find all today’s best deals on the LatteGo 5500 Series listed below.

That price is about standard for a compact bean-to-cup espresso machine, and is roughly the same as the De’Longhi La Specialista Touch. However, the La Specialista Touch offers greater control over brewing options, along with both manual and automatic milk-foaming.

  • Value score: 3.5/5

Philips LatteGo 5500 Series: Specifications

Name

Philips LatteGo 5500 Series

Type

Fully automatic bean-to-cup espresso machine

Dimensions (W x H x D)

9.7 x 14.6 x 17in / 24.6 x 37.1 x 43.3cm

Weight

17.6lbs / 8kg

Water reservoir capacity

1.9qt / 1.8 liters

Milk frother

Yes (automatic)

Bars of pressure

15

User profiles

4 (plus guest)

Philips LatteGo 5500 Series: Design

  • Well suited to individuals or couples
  • LatteGo system is easy to use and clean
  • Simple button-based interface

At just 9.7 inches / 24.6cm wide, the Philips LatteGo 5500 Series is one of the narrowest espresso machines I’ve tested to date. It's ideal for tucking into small spaces – particularly because the water tank slides out of the front, so you only need to access the side of the machine when it’s time to clean the brewing group.

Although it has four user profiles (plus a guest option for visitors), this machine is best suited to individuals or couples who only want to make one or two drinks at once. Its 1.9qt / 1.8-liter water tank is quite small, and the optional (but recommended) water filter supplied with the machine takes up quite a lot of space, effectively making it smaller still.

At first that sounds like it could be a problem, but when you’re only making a couple of drinks at once it’s fine, and refilling the tank regularly is always a good idea. Most of your coffee is made of water, so you want to keep it fresh.

As the name suggests, one of the LatteGo 5500 Series’ key features is its milk system, which comprises a small carafe that pushes onto a steam nozzle on the front of the machine. Unlike every other automatic espresso machine I’ve tested, you fill this container while it’s attached to the machine. This feels odd at first, but it actually makes sense; no carrying containers of milk across the kitchen means no potential for spillage.

Markings on the side of the carafe show how far to fill it for different drinks, whether you’re preparing one or two cups. The idea is that you’ll use all the milk in one go. Unlike most other machines (such as the Jura J10, for example), the LatteGo’s carafe isn’t airtight. Nor is it intended to be stored in the fridge with milk inside between uses. Instead, you add just the amount of milk you need, then wash it out for next time (either by hand or in the top drawer of the dishwasher) to keep everything fresh.

The bean hopper doesn’t have a huge capacity either. Again, this is no bad thing for a machine intended for just one or two people, because it means you won’t have unused beans hanging around for too long.

The hopper has a tinted plastic lid to help stop light degrading the flavor compounds in the beans, and an airtight seal to keep them fresh. The seal also helps muffle the noise of the machine’s ceramic grinder. Indeed, this espresso machine is one of the quietest I’ve tested, with both the grinder and milk system making very little noise.

The grind size is adjusted using a small dial inside the hopper. I would have preferred this to be on the outside for accessibility, but that’s a minor quibble. For me, the bigger issue was the height of the hopper, which made it tricky to open and refill when the machine was under a cabinet. The machine is quite light, but if you don’t have much headroom, you’ll have to shimmy it out when it’s time to refill.

Just in front of the hopper, you’ll find a chute for adding a scoop of pre-ground coffee if you’d like to switch to something different, such as decaf for after lunch.

The drip tray is nice and deep, which again helps to avoid spillage, with a pouring spout at the back for easy emptying, plus a level indicator so you can see at a glance when it’s time to empty it. There’s also a deep detachable container for used coffee grounds, and the LatteGo 5500 Series will alert you when it needs emptying.

Philips LatteGo 5500 Series drip tray

The drip tray has high sides to prevent spillage, and there's a generously-sized container for used coffee grounds (Image credit: Future)

This alert will appear on the machine’s TFT display, which is surrounded by a set of buttons that provide quick access to the most popular drink options. The rest are accessed by pressing the "More drinks" button, which presents you with a choice of two lists: one for hot beverages, and one for iced.

Selecting the "Setting"' button will reveal more comprehensive brewing options, including the ability to change the temperature, plus various energy-saving settings such as toggling the lights above your cup, and determining how long the machine should wait before powering off.

It was refreshing to see that the machine’s packaging was mostly cardboard, with only a few plastic bags for components. Even the best coffee makers are often packaged in large pieces of polystyrene

  • Design score: 4/5

Philips LatteGo 5500 Series: performance

  • Brews well-balanced espresso once grinder is dialled in
  • Iced coffee isn't cold-extracted
  • LatteGo milk spout is somewhat awkward

The LatteGo is very simple to use, and the buttons around the display will be all most users need on an everyday basis. Select a beverage, and you’ll be able to tweak a few options to determine the strength and volume of your drink, then the machine will handle the rest.

There’s no equivalent of De’Longhi’s BeanAdapt system for configuring the brew settings to suit your chosen coffee, but adjusting the grinder and tweaking the options when preparing your coffee should allow you to create consistently well-extracted espresso.

Each time you change the brew settings for a drink, your adjustments will be saved to the currently selected profile (red, blue, yellow or green). You can switch between profiles by tapping a button on the left of the screen, and there’s an extra guest profile, so visitors don’t accidentally override your custom cappuccino settings.

Person selecting user profile on Philips LatteGo 5500 Series coffee maker

There are four colored profiles to store custom drink preferences, plus a guest profile so visitors don't override your favorites (Image credit: Future)

You can use the LatteGo system with any type of milk you choose. During my tests, whole and full-fat dairy milk foamed well, as did oat milk – although the results were less impressive when using one of the iced drink options, which dispense cold milk. An iced cappuccino had some foam on top, but not very much compared to the same drink brewed hot.

I particularly like that the LatteGo system is so easy to keep clean. The carafe comes in two parts, which are easy to unclip, and there are no awkward tubes to clean. Milk never enters the body of the coffee machine either, so you don’t need to worry about bacteria breeding inside.

My biggest complaint about the LatteGo 5500 Series (and it’s one that’s easily avoided) is that you can’t change the angle of the milk spout, so you have to position your cup just right to avoid milk spilling down the side. The perfect position is much further forward than you might expect, and your cup needs to be completely covering the red level indicator on the drip tray.

It helps to use quite a wide cup for your milky beverages; otherwise, you may not be able to position it just right for both the coffee dispenser and the milk spout, causing one or the other to miss.

Iced coffee is one of the biggest trends in home espresso machines right now, so it’s no surprise that the top-tier LatteGo comes with plenty of options for chilled beverages. Select one and the machine will tell you how many ice cubes to add to your glass or cup, then pour coffee and milk on top.

However, it’s worth noting that the espresso used in the LatteGo 5500 Series’ iced drinks isn’t actually brewed cold. It’s hot, and relies on the ice to bring the temperature down. This means it doesn’t have the same mellow flavor profile as true cold-extracted coffee, and you may find that your drinks taste watered-down due to the melted ice. You can get around this problem by increasing the strength of the shot, but it’s something to be aware of.

Philips LatteGo 5500 Series dispensing espresso onto ice cubes

The machine doesn't make cold-extracted espresso, instead dispensing hot-brewed espresso onto ice cubes to make chilled drinks (Image credit: Future)
  • Performance score: 4/5

Should you buy the Philips LatteGo 5500 Series?

Attribute

Notes

Score

Value

Typical price for a fully automatic espresso machine, but there are other great options available more cheaply if you shop around.

3.5/5

Design

Very compact and well suited to small households. Milk nozzle position can't be adjusted,.

4/5

Performance

Easy to use and maintain and brews excellent espresso. Hot drinks are very good, but iced options are diluted by hot espresso melting ice cubes.

4/5

Buy it if

You're brewing coffee for one (or two)

If you're only brewing in small quantities, a large bean hopper and water tank will just allow the beans and water to go stale. This compact machine is a smarter choice, and the LatteGo system helps you measure out only the milk you need.

You have a small kitchen

This is a particularly narrow machine, and you don't need to access the sides to remove the water tank, so you can push it up against a cabinet without any issues.

Don't buy it if

You want cold-brewed coffee

The LatteGo 5500 Series makes perfectly acceptable iced drinks, but the espresso is extracted using hot water and cooled by pouring it over ice. For mellow coffee extracted using cold water, take a look at my list of the top three coffee machines for cold-brew.

Philips LatteGo 5500 Series: also consider

If you're not sure that the Philips LatteGo 5500 Series is the right coffee maker for you, here are two other options for your consideration.

De'Longhi Primadonna Aromatic

If you're serious about iced coffee, the Primadonna Aromatic offers true cold extraction that creates a similar flavor profile to coffee steeped overnight in the fridge. It also has two milk carafes (one for foaming hot milk and one for cold) – and you can adjust the angle of their spouts. No puddles of milk here.

Read our full De'Longhi Primadonna Aromatic review

KitchenAid KF6

Looking for something more stylish? The KF6 is a great-looking bean-to-cup machine with a sleek, streamlined chassis and simple touch controls. It brews sublime espresso too, but it's a pricier proposition than the Philips LatteGo 5500 Series.

Read our full KitchenAid KF6 reviewView Deal

How I tested the Philips LatteGo 5500 Series

I used the Philips LatteGo 5500 Series with my favorite espresso blend from a local coffee roaster, bought fresh that week. I tested the water hardness using the strip supplied in the box, and fitted the water filter in the tank following the instructions provided. I used fresh water each time I began using the machine.

I tested the LatteGo system using fridge-cold whole and semi-skimmed dairy milk, as well as barista oat milk.

I tested the machine's various hot and cold drinks, using the amount of ice specified by the machine for chilled recipes.

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

I tested Dreame’s answer to the Dyson Airwrap and ended up as deflated as my curls
1:27 pm | July 23, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Hair Care Home Small Appliances | Comments: Off

Dreame AirStyle Pro: two-minute review

The Dreame AirStyle Pro is a multistyler that can operate as a dryer, or to create smooth, curly or bouncy styles using the various attachments supplied in the box. On paper, it looks like one for TechRadar's best hair styler roundup, but when I actually put it through its paces, a couple of design flaws quickly revealed themselves – and they're annoying enough to make this styler difficult to recommend.

The first is that the maximum temperature just isn't hot enough. I have collarbone-length, wavy hair that isn't overly thick, yet I wasn't able to use the Dreame AirStyle to dry it – it just took far too long. I also found that the styles created using the Dreame (in particular, the curls) lacked staying power. I'm as concerned about heat damage as the next person, but you do need some heat for these kinds of tools to be useful.

The second issue is that the attachments don't clip on securely enough. They twist on, but there's no 'click' at the end of that motion, which means they have a tendency to twist off again as you're using them to style.

It's a shame because, as I've said, the Dreame AirStyle Pro shows plenty of promise. The attachments are varied and well designed, and include those all-important auto-wrap curl barrels that position this styler as an Airwrap alternative. It's also stylishly designed and comfortable to use, with controls that are well positioned.

Price-wise, it isn't cheap, but it's far more affordable than Dyson's Airwrap i.d., and in line with rival products. While the Dreame AirStyle Pro's issues might not be insurmountable – you could rope in one of the best hair dryers for the start of the styling process, and take extra care not to dislodge the attachments when styling – there's no real reason to choose it over a tool such as the Shark FlexStyle, which comes in at a similar price and doesn't suffer the Dreame AirStyle Pro's issues.

That's the short version; read on for my full Dreame AirStyle Pro review.

Dreame AirStyle Pro review: price & availability

  • List price: $399.99 / £299 / AU$599
  • Available: US / UK / Australia
  • Launched: May 2025

The Dreame AirStyle Pro is available worldwide, with a list price of $399.99 / £299 / AU$599. However, at time of writing, it was reduced in all territories to $279.99 / £269 / AU$399. Such widespread discounts suggest you won't often find it at full price.

By comparison, the Dyson Airwrap i.d. costs $599.99 / £479.99, while the Shark FlexStyle comes in at $279.99 / £269.99. While Dyson's styler delivers a step up in quality and features, it looks like Dreame is looking to position itself more directly as a competitor to Shark. (There are cheaper Dyson Airwrap dupes, but if you want one with the auto-wrap curl barrels, it will typically fall into a similar price bracket.)

While the AirStyle Pro looks good, feels high quality, and comes with a solid range of accessories, there are a couple of flaws at a functional level (a top temperature that's far too cool, and attachments that don't clip on securely) that make it difficult to recommend over the similarly priced Shark version.

There's a clear jump up in quality and functionality with the Dyson i.d., but I appreciate that not everyone is looking to splash that amount of cash on a styling tool (I compare all three in a bit more depth in this article, if you're interested).

  • Value for money score: 3 out of 5

Dreame AirStyle Pro specs

Weight (styler only, no cord):

0.6lbs / 0.3kg

Dimensions (styler only):

1.8 x 1.8 x 10.2in / 4.5 x 4.5 x 26cm

Cord:

9.2ft / 2.8m

Temperatures: 

2 (50C and 80C) + cool shot (room temperature)

Speeds:

3 (50m/s, 55m/s, 60m/s)

Wattage:

1,300W

Attachments:

Fast dryer, flyaway attachment, 32mm auto-wrap barrels (L+R), hard smoothing brush, soft smoothing brush, round volumizing brush

Dreame AirStyle Pro review: design

  • Tubular dryer with six styling attachments and storage box
  • Attachments twist on, but aren't secure enough
  • Stylish, premium design with leather-look finish

The Dreame AirStyle Pro has a similar look to most modern multistylers: it comprises a tube-shaped dryer onto which different attachments are clipped.

At the end of the barrel that you hold it are the controls. Two press buttons (with indicator lights) let you toggle though two temperatures and three windspeeds. Slightly unusually, the "cool shot" isn't a separate button, but included as an extension of the on/off slider.

Closeup of button controls on Dreame AirStyle Pro styler

(Image credit: Future)

At the base is a removable filter cage, covering a stainless steel mesh filter that traps any fine hair and particles and keeps them out of the motor. Dreame provides a cleaner brush to help with maintenance. The cable is 9.2ft / 2.8m.

Closeup of open filter cage on Dreame AirStyle Pro styler

(Image credit: Future)

If you want to use the AirStyle Pro as just a dryer, you clip on the fast dryer attachment. This widens the airflow to 90-degrees to the dryer.

Aside from that, the key attachments are the 32mm auto-wrap curl barrels. Used on slightly damp hair, they attract the strands around the barrel, shaping them into curls as they dry. The idea being that this damp to dry styling is far better for your hair than using traditional hot tongs.

If you want to switch from clockwise to anticlockwise curls then you'll need to swap over the barrels. Currently, the only styler of this kind that can achieve two directions of curl on one barrel is the Dyson Airwrap; all the cheaper alternatives require a manual swap-over.

All the attachments for the Dreame AirStyle Pro, lined up on a shelf in reviewer's bathroom

(Image credit: Future)

Elsewhere, there's an impressive range of attachments. Alongside the fast dryer and auto-wrap barrels (L+R), you get a flyaway attachment, hard smoothing brush, soft smoothing brush, and round volumizing brush.

To attach a tool to the dryer section, you line up spots on the base of the attachments, then twist to clip them on. Most examples of this kind of styler have a release switch around the back, but there isn't one here – you simply twist in terms of opposite direction to take off the attachment. Unfortunately, this setup isn't that secure, and in my time with the tool I often experienced attachments becoming loose mid-styling.

  • Design score: 3.5 out of 5

Dreame AirStyle Pro review: performance

  • Not hot enough to be used as a hair dryer
  • Controls are well positioned and easy to use
  • Attachments work well, but lack of heat limits performance

I started by using the Dreame AirStyle Pro with the fast dryer attachment – and I immediately ran into problems. While the windspeed felt decent, it just wasn't getting hot enough to dry hair, even on the higher of the two temperatures. (For context, I have collarbone-length hair that I'd towel-dried from wet, so it wasn't soaking.) After several long minutes of ineffectually waving the AirStyle over my head, I gave up and switched to a dedicated hair dryer.

Dreame AirStyle Pro with dryer attachment on

(Image credit: Future)

I wondered if my review model was faulty, but a closer look at the specs revealed this wasn't the case. The AirStyle's two heat options are 122ºF / 50ºC and 176ºF / 80ºC. In comparison, the Airwrap has a low heat setting of 140ºF / 60ºC and a high heat setting of 194ºF / 90ºC.

That cooler temperature might be better for your hair, but for anyone other than those with super-fine hair, the AirStyle Pro will prove ineffective and you'll need to have a separate hair dryer on hand for this part of the styling process.

Tester holding Dreame AirStyle Pro with curl barrel attached

(Image credit: Future)

I then tried out the auto-wrap curlers. They worked well, effectively pulling around the barrels and holding it there as it finished drying. In this part, they were similar to the Airwrap (although the Airwrap has some extra features to make the process more straightforward). As a general rule, auto-wrapped curls don't last as long as those created using hot tongs, but I found the curls created with the AirStyle Pro dropped especially quickly – again, I think this is something to do with the lower temperatures used.

Dreame AirStyle Pro in display case on shelf in reviewer's bathroom

(Image credit: Future)

On the plus side, the styler is comfortable to hold and balanced in weight. The buttons are well positioned, making them easy to find mid-styling and difficult to press accidentally.

I especially like the way the cool shot is activated. It's at the top of the on/off slider, so you can easily locate the raised button by feel alone, and since it's spring-loaded, it pings back when you let go.

Display case for Dreame AirStyle Pro on shelf in reviewer's bathroom

(Image credit: Future)

Over the course of my review period, I tested out all the other attachments. Broadly, I felt they were well designed and did what they were meant to do. However, as mentioned, they don't attach securely – they simply twist on and off, with no clipping involved.

This proved an issue when doing anything that involved twisting the tool, and when creating curls using the round volumizing brush, I found it became loose and fell off on more than one occasion.

The hard smoothing brush and soft smoothing brush both feature prongs that can pivot slightly – I'm not sure of their purpose – and they worked well in practice. In fact, the two are virtually identical, except the latter has bobbles on the end of the prongs, so I'm not sure I needed both.

  • Performance score: 2.5 out of 5

Should you buy the Dreame AirStyle Pro?

Attribute

Notes

Rating

Value

Not cheap but relatively affordable. In line with other similarly designed tools that perform better.

3 / 5

Design

Looks stylish and is comfortable to use. Attachments are varied and well designed, except for the fact they don't clip on securely.

3.5 / 5

Performance

Maximum temperature too cool for effective drying, and means curls drop quickly. Attachments can also fall off in use.

2.5 / 5

Buy it if...

You have very fine hair
Those with fine or short hair may find the AirStyle Pro's cooler temperatures in hair dryer mode perfect for their hair type.

You want an stylish tool
With its tasteful tan, faux-leather finish, this is one of the most stylish hair tools I've tested.

You're worried about heat damage
The Dreame AirStyle Pro gets far less hot than rival stylers I've tested, so if you have heat-damaged hair and don't trust yourself to stick to lower temperatures, it might be a good pick.

Don't buy it if...

You have thicker or longer hair
The AirStyle Pro's lower temperatures likely won't cut it to dry and style thicker or longer hair.

You have tangle-prone hair
I found the attachments here didn't clip on very securely, so those with denser or more tangle-prone hair might find themselves losing tools while they try to style.

Dreame Airstyle Pro (reviewed)

Dyson Airwrap i.d.

Shark FlexStyle

Weight (styler only, no cord):

0.6lbs / 0.3kg

1.4lbs / 0.6kg XXCHECK

1.5 lbs / 0.7kg

Styler dimensions (L x W):

10.2 x 1.8in / 26 x 4.5cm

10.7 x 1.9in / 27.2 x 4.8cm

11.3 x 1.7in / 28.7 x 4.4cm

Cord:

9.2ft / 2.8m

8.5 ft / 2.7m

8ft / 2.4m

Temperatures: 

2 + cool shot

2 + cool shot

3 + cool shot

Speeds:

3

3

3

Wattage:

1,300W

1,300W

1,400W (US), 1,600W (UK)

List price:

$399.99 / £299 / AU$599

$599.99 / £479.99 / AU$849

$279.99 / £269.99 / AU$499.99

Dyson Airwrap i.d.

The Airwrap i.d. is king in this category, both in terms of price and features. This multistyler comes with a switch that launches an automated wrap > curl > cool shot sequence, for maximum ease. It can also do clockwise and anticlockwise curls on the same barrel.

Read my full Dyson Airwrap i.d. review

Shark FlexStyle

The FlexStyle is a very similar proposition to the AirStyle in that it isn't as good as the original AirWrap, but it's a solid alternative if you don't want to spend megabucks. It looks slightly less stylish than the AirStyle but is all-round a more effective tool in my opinion.

Read my full Shark FlexStyle review

How I tested the Dreame Airstyle Pro

I used the AirStyle Pro as my main styling tool for a week. During this time I used it to dry my hair, and tested all the different attachments, paying particular attention to the auto-wrap curlers. I compared the styling results to what I managed to achieve with other similar stylers I've tested – including the Dyson Airwrap i.d. and Shark FlexStyle. I also assessed how easy the styler was to use and the effectiveness of its design and features.

Read more about how we test

  • First reviewed July 2025
The powerful Beast blender lives up to its name, and it’s even made me a kale smoothie fan
11:00 pm | July 20, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Juicers & Blenders Small Appliances | Tags: , | Comments: Off

Beast Mighty 850 Plus: two-minute review

If you're tired of personal smoothie makers that struggle with ingredients tougher than milk and bananas, the Beast Mighty 850 Plus could be the best blender for you. Rather than running on a rechargeable battery like many of its rivals, the 850 Plus is mains-powered and has a considerably more powerful motor, paired with a tough blade unit.

That means you won't be able to blend a protein shake in the changing room after a gym session, but if you're interested in making green juices and fresh smoothies using tough fruits and vegetables, it'll produce much smoother and more palatable results.

During my tests, it turned kale, oat milk, and blueberries into a very drinkable beverage with no flecks of leaf to get stuck in my teeth. It also totally blitzed frozen blackcurrants, eliminating the gritty seeds that usually make them a troublesome ingredient.

Beast Mighty 850 Plus blender blending smoothie

The Beast Mighty 850 Plus can tackle ingredients that lesser blender leave in lumps (Image credit: Future)

The disadvantage of this power is that the 850 Plus is relatively noisy. However, a single blending cycle is enough to tackle just about anything you can throw at it, so you'll only have to endure the noise for one minute.

This is an attractive appliance that comes in a range of colors, so you can pick one to suit your kitchen. (I chose white, but black, muted blue, and sand are other options.) It comes with three different-sized blending vessels (the small one is particularly good for salad dressings), plus a choice of lids for carrying your creations on the move.

The vessels have ridges on the sides that look interesting, but can be an issue if you're using a sticky ingredient like peanut butter, which can get a bit stuck. Beast supplies a long-handled cleaning brush to remove this debris, but almost all the components are dishwasher-safe, and I found this a much easier way to get everything squeaky clean.

Beast Mighty 850 Plus: price and availability

  • Available in the US and UK for $149 / £149.99
  • Beast Health also offers a more affordable model and a premium one
  • Costs more than most personal blenders, but is more powerful

The Beast Mighty 850 Plus is available direct from Beast, and from third-party retailers, including Amazon, for $149 / £149.99. At the time of writing, Beast Health blenders aren't available in Australia. You'll find today's best prices listed below.

The 850 Plus sits in the middle of Beast Health's range of personal blenders. If you want something a little more affordable and don't mind sacrificing some power and accessories, the Beast Mighty 650 costs £119.99 and is only available in the UK.

The company's top-end model is the Beast Mega 1200 Plus, which is priced at $199 / £199.99. Extra blender vessels in various sizes are available to buy separately.

The Beast Mighty 850 Plus is relatively pricey for a personal blender (for example, the Ninja Blast Max and Nutribullet Flip are both around $89.99/£89.99), but the price difference is understandable considering what you're getting for your money. The 850 Plus has a more powerful motor than those other two, and runs directly from the mains rather than a rechargeable battery. It also comes with a bigger set of accessories, including three different-sized blending vessels.

  • Value score: 4.5/5

Beast Mighty 850 Plus: design

  • Stylish blender with three vessels and a choice of lids
  • Controls are very simple to use
  • Ingredients can stick in ridges after blending
  • Dishwasher-safe components

The Beast Mighty 850 Plus is a particularly stylish blender with a large base that houses its powerful motor and a set of three blending vessels with ridged sides. It comes in a variety of colors, including Cloud White (shown here), Mist (slate blue), Sand, and Carbon Black.

Its vessels have capacities of 415ml, 638ml, and 786ml; the larger two are ideal for smoothies and protein shakes, while the smaller one works well for portions of salad dressing or sauce. You also get a screw-on lid, a drinking lid with a carry cap and straw lid, two drinking straws, and a set of two cleaning brushes (a large one for the vessels and a small one for the straws).

Beast Mighty 850 Plus blender with accessories

The 850 Plus comes with three blending vessels and an assortment of lids (Image credit: Future)

The large brush is particularly useful if you plan to wash the blender vessels by hand because ingredients (especially sticky ones) have a tendency to accumulate in the grooves on the sides. Many personal blenders can be cleaned by adding water with a squirt of dish soap and running a blending cycle, but the Beast blender needs more thorough cleaning.

Thankfully, the blade unit, blending vessels, and caps are all safe to wash in the top drawer of a dishwasher. and came out perfectly clean during my tests. The only parts of the blender that aren't dishwasher-safe are the base unit and the straws.

Unlike some personal blenders we've tested here at TechRadar, the Beast 850 Plus doesn't have a rechargeable battery. This means you can't use it to blend ingredients on the move, but the fact that it runs directly from the mains means it can offer more blending power than portable smoothie makers.

Its controls are very simple to use, with a large yellow power button at the back and a 'blend' button on the front. Pressing this button once will pulse the blender, and holding it briefly will initiate a minute-long blending cycle.

  • Design score: 4.5/5

Beast Mighty 850 Plus: performance

The Beast Mighty 850 Plus lives up to its name, with the best blending performance of any personal smoothie maker I've tested to date.

I started by testing the blender with a particularly tough ingredient: mixed frozen berries. These pose two challenges: first, frozen strawberries are essentially big chunks of dense ice that many blenders struggle to break through, and second, blackberries and blackcurrants are full of tiny seeds that can leave a smoothie feeling gritty in the mouth if not completely blended.

I added a good handful of the frozen fruit to the blender along with oat milk and a scoop of vanilla protein powder, and was pleasantly surprised when a single minute-long blending cycle obliterated even the largest strawberries to create an icy shake, while also obliterating the gritty seeds.

The 850 Plus crushes ice cubes equally well, and one blending cycle turned a double shot of espresso with ice and milk into a perfect iced coffee.

I also tried the 850 Plus with our standard testing smoothie – Nutribullet's Banana Kale Blueberry Freeze, which often poses a challenge for blenders due to its high content of fibrous green veg. I added the ingredients to the largest blending vessel, then ran a single blending cycle to see how well everything was combined.

Some blenders (such as the Nutribullet Flip) require a second cycle to break up the kale, but the 850 Plus thoroughly blitzed all the ingredients first time, creating a very drinkable smoothie with no flecks of leaf to stick to my teeth.

The blender averaged around 80dB at the start of a blending cycle. dropping to 75dB once the ingredients started to break down. This makes it one of the loudest blenders I've tested to date, which can be explained by its more powerful motor, but is worth bearing in mind if you're particularly sensitive to noise.

  • Performance score: 5/5

Beast Mighty 850 Plus: also consider

If you're not sure that the Beast Mighty 850 Plus is the right blender for you, here are two others to consider.

Nutribullet Flip

The Nutribullet Flip has its blades and motor in the lid, meaning you can easily carry the whole appliance wherever you go. Its smooth design makes it hard for ingredients to become stuck, and it generally works well, though it didn’t handle tough kale and frozen strawberries as well as the Beast Mighty 850 Plus.

Read our full Nutribullet Flip review

Ninja Blast Max

One of the most powerful portable blenders available right now, the Ninja Blast Max makes light work of most ingredients and can be carried around for blending on the move, making it ideal for post-workout protein shakes.

Read our full Ninja Blast Max review

Should you buy the Beast Mighty 850 Plus

Beast Mighty 850 Plus score card

Attribute

Notes

Score

Value

One of the more expensive personal blenders I've tested, but you're getting a lot for your money.

4.5/5

Design

Very stylish and supplied with three different sized vessels. Ingredients can get stuck on the ridged sides, but the cups are dishwasher-safe.

4.5/5

Performance

Makes light work of difficult ingredients like fibrous vegetables and frozen fruit with a single blending cycle. Quite loud, but very effective.

5/5

Buy it if

You want serious power

The Beast Mighty 850 Plus has a lot more blending power than the average smoothie maker, so it's a great pick if you want to use more challenging ingredients than protein powder and bananas. Frozen fruit and tough veggies are no match for its motor and blades.

You value versatility

This blender's different-sized vessels make it great for more than just drinks. The smallest one is particularly good for whipping up salad dressing and cold sauces.

Don't buy it if

You want to blend on the move

The 850 Plus doesn't run from a battery, so you'll be restricted to blending in the kitchen. If you want to whip up a shake at the gym after your workout, take a look at the offerings from Nutribullet and Ninja instead.

You're watching the pennies

This is a premium personal blender. You're getting a lot for your money, but if you're on a tight budget, then there are cheaper, though less powerful, alternatives available.

How I tested the Beast Mighty 850 Plus

I used the Beast Mighty 850 Plus for a week, making a variety of recipes, including TechRadar’s standard banana, blueberry, and kale smoothie, which we make with all the personal blenders we test.

I used the blender to tackle ingredients I knew to be particularly tough, including large frozen berries and ice, making sure to select the most appropriate blend setting each time.

I measured the volume of the blender during use with a decibel meter app on my phone.

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

First reviewed July 2025.

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