It was love at first sight with the Journey Glyde. When I came across it, I was getting ready to embark on a four-week overseas holiday that involved road trips to different places. So I was rather excited that this MagSafe travel charger would not only work as a wireless stand for my iPhone, AirPods and Apple Watch, but also work as a portable charger with a 10,000mAh capacity.
While I’m not a fan of the matte white top panel that has the charging pads for a phone and AirPods – it picks up scratches very easily – I love the sliding panel underneath that pops up the charging pad for the Apple Watch. The splotchy grey finish is interesting, and I’d have preferred something similar for the top panel as well. Its weight and bulk, however, were concerning.
(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
While Journey lists the Glyde at 395g, it felt heavier in my hand and, weighing it myself, it tipped the scales at 411g. The extra 16g may not seem like much, but when you’re packing for an overseas trip, the grams quickly clock up. Its sliding design also makes it bulky for a travel charger.
Personally, I think it’s best to carry a smaller 20,000mAh portable charger instead, a capacity that pretty much every international airline allows in carry-on luggage. Most of these are smaller and lighter, so won’t eat away at your luggage allowance. I suppose if Journey increased the backup capacity on the Glyde to 20,000mAh, it would make the whole device even heavier.
For a long journey, 10,000mAh doesn’t sound like much but, in a pinch, it’s better than nothing at all. It was just enough to top up my Apple Watch SE 2 and my iPhone 13 Pro only once after use throughout the day. That would drain the Journey Glyde fully which, in my specific use case, wasn’t ideal as it would need time at the mains to top up. Otherwise it was just a bulky and heavy wireless charger. If I wasn’t going on multiple mini trips during my overseas holiday, I’d probably not have felt the need for more portable capacity than 10,000mAh, but that was exacerbated by the fact that, as a power bank, it was inefficient – something that a colleague proved through testing.
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The Glyde does not support newer efficient fast-charging protocols like PPS, but does output 20W, so can still do reasonably fast top-ups.And while most power banks typically offer 15% less of their advertised capacity due to conversion losses, the Glyde gave 34% loss during testing. Even at an easy slow charge, the losses were 27% – way above what’s expected.
This means that of the 10,000 mAh capacity, only about 7,000mAh is available in normal use – enough to give a phone and a smartwatch a single charge, but not a good result considering the price. It’s much better to use wired charging on the go, as wireless charging is even less efficient, and you can expect around 50% of the rated capacity. On the plus side, it works fine as a charging stand, and can hit the 15W Qi charging rate when plugged in.
(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
Journey Glyde: Price & specs
Should I buy the Journey Glyde?
Buy it if...
You want a good-looking travel charger
If you like tactile finishes, then you’ll love the Journey Glyde. The matte finish is lovely, and the white/grey color looks very minimalist. Most other travel chargers I’ve seen don’t look near as nice.
You want more than just a wireless charging stand
Not many travel chargers include a battery and can be used as a portable charger, which gives the Journey Glyde an edge over the competition. However, you will be paying more for this privilege.
Don't buy it if...
You don’t want to spend too much on a travel charger
The Journey Glyde might have its advantages when you’re traveling, but it doesn’t come cheap – and its value is diminished further by its lack of charging efficiency.
You won’t be spending much time in one place
If your travel plans mean that you won’t be able to keep the Journey Glyde plugged into the mains to top up the backup battery, it may not be worth your while at all as the 10,000mAh capacity drains quite quickly.
(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
Also consider
There isn't much else out there to compare the Journey Glyde directly to, but there are travel chargers aplenty. Below are a couple of alternatives, although neither will get you a backup battery.
For faster iPhone charging with a sturdier build, this premium 3-in-1 wireless charging set is a great choice. It's nowhere near as portable as the Mous charger, but it comes with a handy travel bag that holds all the components, plus the included 30W plug.
UPDATE 21 / 02 / 2025: Since the publishing of this review, Oppo has confirmed that the Find N5 will not be launching in the UK. We will update this review if and when availability information becomes known.
Additionally, the Find N5 supports 80W wired charging, not 90W as previously reported.
Oppo had one mission when making the Oppo Find N5: make the world's thinnest book-style foldable. It's a testament to the company's phone making skill that it not only succeeded, but produced such a powerful, enjoyable, and good-looking device along the way. For my money, this is the direction folding phones should be heading in, and using the Find N5 feels easier and more seamless than the folding devices I've used in the past. It's a strong contender for the best Oppo phone I've ever used.
The standout feature of the Find N5 is its design. The phone unfolded measures just 4.21mm thick, which is thinner than an iPad Pro and only beaten in the foldable space by the tri-fold Huawei Mate XT. It really is amazing to hold the Find N5 for the first time, and this slimness never stops being genuinely convenient. I'm here to tell you that this isn't a gimmick: the Find N5's profile is a big part of the reason the phone feels so useable. Even at a folded thickness of 8.93mm, it's barely bulkier than an iPhone 16 Pro Max. The displays are both great, and both the largest you'll find on a book-style phone, at 6.62-inches for the cover screen and 8.12-inches for the inner display.
The Find N5 has got the hardware power to challenge the premium slab flagships too. The Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage make the sole configuration a powerful one, and Oppo has made every effort to improve the historically middling battery life of the average folding phone with a huge 5,600mAh silicon-carbon cell. In the case of the Find N5, slim does not mean slow. Looking at the competition, the thicker and heavier Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, with its smaller battery and less powerful internals, seems a bit archaic by comparison.
It's not without compromise, though. In order to attain such a slim profile, the camera system has been scaled back compared to the previous generation Find N3 (still sold worldwide as the OnePlus Open) and results can vary from great to pretty undesirable. There are also a few software bugs, but I'm aware some of this will be due to developers not optimizing for the foldable form factor.
Overall, I'm very impressed with the Oppo Find N5. It's a huge step towards foldable devices that don't feel at all constrained by their form factor, with a barely-visible crease, two great displays, and a very reasonable battery life. Any imperfections aren't impactful enough to stop this feeling like the folding phone of the future. If it wasn't for its limited availability, the Find N5 would be a shoe-in for our list of the best folding phones.
Oppo Find N5 review: Price and availability
(Image credit: Jamie Richards / Future)
International pricing TBC
Availability TBC, not available in the UK
Costs around £1500 in Singapore
Oppo hasn’t revealed pricing for the Find N5 yet, so we haven’t yet got a take on the value for money the phone offers. The phone has been confirmed to cost the equivalent of around £1500 in Singapore, but we're still waiting for further details.
As for availability, Oppo has no distribution in the US so it’s overwhelmingly likely the Find N5 won’t launch there. We aren’t quite sure of the full extent of the Find N5’s availability, either.
We’ll update this section once the phone’s pricing is officially available, but until then keep reading for a detailed review of the Oppo Find N5.
Keep in mind that if and when we hear of the Oppo Find N5's official availability and launch price in other regions, our overall verdict and score could change.
Oppo Find N5 review: Specs
Oppo Find N5 review: Design
(Image credit: Jamie Richards / Future)
4.21mm unfolded thickness, 8.93mm folded
Comes in two colors, black and white
Crease is barely noticeable
The Oppo Find N5 is one of the most impressively designed phones I’ve ever used – actually, rewind that – the Oppo Find N5 is one of the most impressively designed things I’ve ever used. Unboxing the phone for the first time was one of those rare “wow” moments: the Find N5 is truly incrediblythin. At a folded thickness of 8.93mm it’s about half a millimeter thicker than an iPhone 16 Pro Max, and at an unfolded thickness of 4.21mm it’s even slimmer than a 2024 iPad Pro. Holding it side-by-side with the 5.8mm-thick OnePlus Open (the previous generation Find N3 in all but name) really highlights the progress Oppo has made in the past two years.
The Oppo Find N5 also nails the ever-crucial hinge: Oppo is calling its hinge the Titanium Flexion Hinge, and what this means is that Oppo has used 3D-printed titanium alloy to create a hinge that’s more resilient and rigid while being 26% smaller than the previous generation. I noticed that the hinge has real resistance to it, feeling solid when open between around 20 and 120 degrees, and snapping open or shut on either side of this range. Oppo says the hinge should last for 10 years of normal use, though this will naturally vary between users.
The Find N5 opens nearly completely flat, and that smaller hinge makes less of an impression on the inner display, too – the crease is really only visible when the screen catches the light in a certain way, and it’s effectively invisible when you’re actually using the phone. Oppo says the crease on the Find N5’s inner display is 10% narrower and 50% shallower than the already impressively unobtrusive crease on the OnePlus Open. The crevice running down the middle of theSamsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 looks absolutely comical by comparison.
It's difficult to get the crease on the Oppo Find N5's inner display to show up on camera (Image credit: Jamie Richards / Future)
The rest of the chassis is made of aluminum, with a glass cover screen and fiber rear panel. The bezel around the inner display is made of a thick plastic that conceals strong magnets to hold the phone shut, and the inner display itself is covered in a plastic coating. I had no durability concerns with the sturdy outer frame of the phone the inner display can be dented by anything hard, even a fingernail, so be cautious. Buttons are standard fare, with a volume rocker, ringer switch, and power button doubling as a fast fingerprint scanner.
The Find N5 pushes the boat out in terms of water resistance, and as far as I’m aware is the first folding phone to carry both an IPX8 and IPX9 rating for protection against water ingress. There’s no certified dust resistance though.
Oppo has a great track record when it comes to aesthetics, and the Find N5 is no different. In global markets the phone is available in either Misty White or Cosmic Black, and the white unit I tested featured a cool marble effect similar to the pearlescent material used for the Oppo Find X8 Pro. It’s a subtle touch that adds a hint of luxury, and contrasts nicely with the slimmed-down black camera island. Ergonomically, the phone’s rounded edges make it reasonably comfortable to hold when unfolded and decently usable one-handed, at least for right-handed users.
If I had one note about the design of the Oppo Find N5, it’s that the edges are so slim that it can actually be a little tricky to get enough purchase to open the phone. Then again, there’s not much Oppo can do about that while continuing to make these phones thinner, which if you ask me is a much more important goal. Overall, the Find N5 is a marvel of engineering that feels good to use – you can’t ask for much better than that.
Design score: 5 / 5
Oppo Find N5 review: Display
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6.62-inch cover screen
8.1-inch inner display
Both screens are bright and sharp with 120Hz refresh rate
Though Oppo has leaned on the Find N5 being the “world’s thinnest book-style folding phone” in marketing, the displays here are class-leading in a different way. The Oppo Find N5 sports the largest displays on any phone of its type, with a 6.62-inch cover screen and massive 8.12-inch inner display, and both are sharp, bright, responsive panels that make just about anything look excellent.
The Oppo Find N5 features an 8.12-inch folding inner display, with a resolution of 2248 x 2480 pixels, peak brightness of 2100 nits, and variable refresh rate of 1-120Hz. At an almost-square aspect ratio of 9.9:9, the Find N5 is a great choice for watching videos, taking photos, and reading articles. This screen is a touch dimmer than the inner display on the OnePlus Open, which is noticeable but not an issue: I found the Find N5 to be more than serviceable in a variety of indoor and outdoor lighting conditions.
Next to the OnePlus Open (right), the Oppo Find N5 (left) is visibly larger (Image credit: Jamie Richards / Future)
By surface area, the Find N5’ inner display is larger than an iPad mini’s, which makes it a great choice for multitasking. As for the cover screen, the Find N5 goes well beyond the idea of a backup panel, with a sharp and contrasty 6.62-inch panel that makes one-handed use not only viable, but genuinely enjoyable. Both displays support the Oppo Pen stylus, sold separately, which opens even more productivity possibilities.
The cover display boasts a resolution of 1140 x 2616 pixels, peak brightness of 2450 nits, and that same variable 1-120Hz refresh rate. At an aspect ratio of 20.7:9 it’s a touch slimmer than the conventional 19.5:9 employed by the iPhone 16 and Samsung Galaxy S25, but wider than the 22.1:9 cover screen on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6.
Google Maps is a fantastic experience on the large inner display. (Image credit: Jamie Richards / Future)
Switching between the two displays remains as easy as opening and closing the phone. Opening the phone will instantly continue your activity on the inner screen, while jumping from the inner to outer screen requires a swipe up to keep things going. These are two great panels that really feel like they work together as part of one cohesive system.
Display score: 4.5 / 5
Oppo Find N5 review: Software
(Image credit: Jamie Richards / Future)
Android 15 with ColorOS 15
Great multitasking features
Bloatware on a phone of this caliber is ridiculous
I’ve been a fan of the software experience on Oppo phones for quite some time now – ColorOS 15 (based on Android 15) is one of the cleanest, fastest, and most customizable implementations of Android on the market, and Oppo has gone out of its way to ensure the experience translates well to the folding form factor; the UI as a whole remains blisteringly fast. Default apps and AI are all fine, but I imagine most users will head for the pre-installed Google suite and Gemini for their general application and AI needs.
In many ways, ColorOS still feels like an imitation of iOS, and the projection of the OS onto the folding form factor can feel like a bizarro mashup of iPhone and iPad features. The three dot multitasking menu is here, directly lifted from iPadOS, and allows you to activate split screen or floating windows with as many as four apps at once (three in split view and one floating). Originality aside, this works very well, and I was surprised by just how much the Find N5 could handle. I also like the pop-up that appears when you switch between two apps frequently, which suggests putting the two in split screen.
There’s another unique productivity feature that Oppo has added to the Find N5, but it isn’t installed by default. The new O+ Connect app for Mac allows the Oppo Find N5 to control Apple computers remotely, with real-time screen mirroring and a virtual keyboard appearing on the phone screen. This, building on previous file sharing functionality between Oppo phones and iPhones and iPads via the same app. O+ Connect works wirelessly over LAN, though Oppo wouldn’t tell me the exact latency. I’m not sure how useful this is in practice, but the idea of seeing Adobe Premiere Pro or Ableton Live on such a small screen is genuinely novel.
As is standard with Oppo phones, the customization on offer is world-class, with gorgeous live wallpapers and various ways to change fonts and colors across the UI. Regrettably, though, the phone comes preloaded with a handful of bloatware apps that most people won’t use – frankly, it’s frustrating that a phone of this price and calibre comes with any bloatware whatsoever. This is a luxury phone: it’s more about respect for the customer than any sort of actual inconvenience. That said, once you get the app drawer looking how you want it, ColorOS sails smooth.
Software score: 3.5 / 5
Oppo Find N5 review: Cameras
(Image credit: Jamie Richards / Future)
50MP main camera
8MP ultra-wide camera
50MP telephoto camera with 3x zoom
The OnePlus Open – a.k.a the global version of the Oppo Find N3 – made waves by being the first folding phone to sport a properly flagship-grade camera system – it also had one of the largest camera bumps we’ve ever seen. With the Find N5, Oppo has prioritized a slim build to the point that the camera system has had to be scaled back. The cameras here are still usable, good even, but definitely where the compromises needed to produce the world’s thinnest book-style foldable are most acutely felt.
The Find N5 comes equipped with a 50MP main camera, 8MP ultra-wide camera, and 50MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. Across the board, we see a reduction in resolution compared to the previous generation, though the main and telephoto cameras have larger sensors (Oppo hasn’t shared the sensor size for the ultra-wide). This translates to brighter images at the cost of a bit of granular detail. The main camera is decent and reliable, producing expressive photos in daylight and holding its own in darker environments too. The reach and depth of field offered by the 3x telephoto camera is especially impressive, while the 8MP ultra-wide is a mystifyingly low-spec choice that is hard to get good images from.
Next to the OnePlus Open (left), the Oppo Find N5 has a visibly smaller camera system - but this comes at the cost of some performance. (Image credit: Jamie Richards Future)
The Find N5 also sports two identical selfie cameras – one punch-holed into each display – and they’re simply below par. Both are stuck at a measly 8MP and produce low-detail, low-contrast images. As the Find N5 is a folding phone, you can of course take selfies with the main camera, using the cover screen as a viewfinder, but that’s not really a replacement for a decent selfie camera – especially if you’re trying to be subtle.
As for the actual photography experience, the folding form factor allows for a lot of freedom with how you take your pics and videos. The inner screen works incredibly well as a massive viewfinder, and you can use the lower half of the screen as a gallery while shooting. Equally, the phone is slim enough that taking photos with the screen folded is just as pleasant. As for video, the phone maxes out at 4K 60fps.
The high-end cameras common to today’s flagship phones require a certain amount of physical space, which Oppo may have been unable to accommodate in such a slim frame. Alternatively, designing such a slim phone might have just been too expensive a process to make a better camera system cost effective. Either way, I respect that making the world's thinnest folding phone comes with some compromises, and the Find N5 can still take great photos – but this camera system is a noticeable backwards step.
Camera score: 3 / 5
Oppo Find N5 Camera Samples
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Oppo Find N5 review: Performance
(Image credit: Jamie Richards / Future)
Snapdragon 8 Elite (7-core variant)
16GB of RAM
512GB of storage
Oppo wasn’t messing around when it decided on the internal specs of the Find N5. This is a seriously powerful phone equipped with the latest mobile hardware and a massive amount of memory. There’s only one configuration to choose from, but with specs like these, you’re very unlikely to be disappointed.
Equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage, the Find N5 has more than enough hardware power to handle pretty much anything you can throw at it. The phone flew through day-to-day tasks and sessions of Call of Duty Mobile with no fuss, only warming slightly during the most intense multitasking.
The Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset found within the Find N5 is the lower-powered 7-core variant, but you wouldn’t notice it in normal use. The large screen, responsive UI, and powerful internals come together to provide a consistently excellent experience.
However, I did encounter some glitchy behavior during my testing period. On one occasion, the phone fully locked up when switching between the cover and inner screen, which required a restart. Other times, apps would become unresponsive due to a change in aspect ratio or switching screens. Some of this will be for app developers to sort out, and Android 16 should bring features that force developers to make apps that deal better with changing aspect ratios, but it’s still something to be aware of.
Overall, despite a few hiccups, you should find that the Find N5 flies through whatever you throw at it, with enough storage to last years of normal use and enough memory to keep up as applications and AI get more complex. It's the first folding phone I've seen that I'd consider a genuine productivity tool.
Performance score: 4 / 5
Oppo Find N5 review: Battery
(Image credit: Jamie Richards / Future)
5,600mAh silicon-carbon battery
80W wired charging
50W wireless charging
It’s generally accepted that folding phones will have a shorter battery life than their candy-bar counterparts, due to the use of inefficient split battery cells, and the increased power draw of a large inner screen. With the Find N5, Oppo has made every effort to counteract this trend, but there’s only so much that can be done within the bounds of folding phone design.
With a – say it with me – class-leading battery capacity of 5,600mAh, the Find N5 can make it through a day of mixed use without having to think too much about charging. That battery is larger than the cells found in either the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 or Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, and I found myself not really worrying about charging overnight or to 100% before leaving the house. That’s partly thanks to the adoption of silicon-carbon battery technology, which allows for a much higher power density. If you do get down to 1%, the phone enters an ultra-low power mode that keeps essential functions active until you can top up.
Charging is really no chore, as the Find N5 supports some truly rapid charging speeds. The phone supports up to 80W wired charging and 50W wireless charging over Oppo’s proprietary AirVOOC standard. That’s excellent, not just for a folding phone but for a smart device in general – there are laptops that don’t support charging this fast. Oppo quotes a 50-minute charge time from 0-100%, but I found this took around 45 minutes with an Oppo 80W charger.
I did notice the battery draining a touch faster than on modern slab flagships, but then again I also noticed an improvement versus the OnePlus Open. Relative to other folding phones, this is a winner, but compared to slab phones there’s still a little catching up to do.
Battery score: 4 / 5
Should you buy the Oppo Find N5
Buy it if...
You want the thinnest folding phone
The Oppo Find N5 is only beaten by the tri-fold Huawei Mate XT when it comes to thinness, and while we wait for the latter device to come to global markets the Find N5 reigns as the thinnest foldable money can buy. This is a futuristic piece of tech that feels very much ahead of the curve design wise.
You want a powerful mobile device
With the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and 16GB of RAM, the Oppo Find N5 takes on everything you throw at it with ease. The inner screen is great for multitasking, and games run very well so long as they support the squarer aspect ratio. You won't be left wanting for hardware power.
You want two great displays
The Oppo Find N5 stuns with both its cover screen and large folding display. Not only are these the biggest screens found on any book-style folding phone, they're bright, sharp, and rich with color and contrast, making the phone a winning choice for viewing videos, movies, and photos.
Don't buy it if...
You want the best cameras
The cameras on folding phones are rarely up to the standard of their slab phone counterparts, but the Find N5 takes another step back in the photography department to attain its slim profile. These cameras are fine, but nothing to write home about.
You want something familiar
I'm a big fan of Oppo's ColorOS Android wrapper, but for users who are more accustomed to Samsung or Google phones there may be a bit of a learning curve. Ironically, the amount of, ahem, inspiration Oppo takes from iOS may make jumping ship from iPhone a touch easier.
Oppo Find N5 review: Also consider
OnePlus Open
The OnePlus Open is still on sale from OnePlus directly, as well as select third-party retailers and networks. As mentioned, this is the Find N3 in all but name. Since OnePlus isn't releasing its own foldable this year, this is the closest you'll get to the Find N5 in the US.
Though the Find N5 bests the Galaxy Z Fold 6 in many ways, there's a reason so many people choose Samsung's iconic foldable over the competition. Great cameras, familiar software, and integration with the Samsung ecosystem make this phone a compelling choice.
Want a beautiful, powerful Oppo phone with none of this folding malarkey? Get the Oppo Find X8 Pro and enjoy one of the best camera phones ever produced.
I used the Oppo Find N5 as my main smartphone for a period of one week, putting it through daily use cases like watching videos, listening to music, scrolling through social media, and reading articles, as well as more intentional tests like gaming sessions and timed charging. The model I tested came in the white color option and came with the standard 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.
Using the Find N5 as my daily driver over a week or so also gave me a sense of how useful or annoying the positive and negative attributes of the Find N5 are, particularly how the phone holds up ergonomically over time. I then applied my broad knowledge of the smartphone market and journalistic training to assess the performance and value of the Find N5.
For more on our smartphone testing process, be sure to take a look at how we test phones for review.
A lot has happened in the mobile gimbal market since DJI launched the Osmo Mobile 6 back in 2022. At the time, the Osmo Mobile 6 could claim to be the best ultra-portable folding smartphone stabilizer around, but since then, the Insta360 Flow Pro and Insta360 Flow 2 Pro have provided strong competition – mostly due to the fact that their Apple DockKit compatibility means they can automatically track subjects on a range of iPhone apps, not just the gimbals’ own companion app. As a result, the Osmo Mobile 6, which could only track (albeit track very well) on its own Mimo app, started to feel quite outdated.
All that changes with the launch of the new DJI Osmo Mobile 7P, which includes a module allowing it to track using any app on any phone. That addition, which theoretically puts DJI back in pole position of the ultra-compact gimbal market, comes with a few other tweaks and improvements, but otherwise, the 7P feels very similar to the 6 – which is no bad thing.
The design is beautifully simple. The Osmo Mobile 7P folds down to a pocketable size (by which I mean it’ll fit in a coat pocket rather than a jeans pocket) but can be ready to shoot in a single movement, while the magnetic clamp phone mounting method and the gimbal’s clever auto-balancing means successfully attaching and detaching my phone takes moments rather than minutes.
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Stabilization works very well, with the three-axis gimbal following my movements intelligently and smoothly and the built-in 215mm extension rod enabling both extra distance for vlogging and higher and lower angle shots. The shape of the handle and the grippy material on its front, along with the light weight of the gimbal, make it very comfortable to use one-handed.
There are four gimbal movement modes to choose from: Pan Follow (which locks the tilt and roll axes while following horizontal pan movements), Pan Tilt Follow (similar but follows tilt as well), FPV (which follows motion across all three axes, for more dramatic videos), and SpinSpot (a specialist mode that enables Gaspar Noe-style rotation of the camera angle). There’s not much scope to adjust stabilization outside of the default settings for these modes, but I never found that to be an issue during my tests.
The gimbal’s onboard controls are basically the same as the Osmo Mobile 6’s, with a thumb stick supporting manual gimbal movement and a wheel allowing manual focus pulling and smooth zooming. There are also buttons for mode switching, start/stop recording, and flicking between front and rear cameras or horizontal/landscape phone orientation. The trigger on the front can be held down to fix the current gimbal angle or double-tapped to reset the angle to its default. All fine by me.
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As well as handheld stabilization, the Osmo Mobile 7P can act as an autonomous camera operator thanks to its tracking capabilities and mini tripod; after setting it up on a flat surface, a vlogger could perform a piece-to-camera while moving around and the gimbal will follow them.
The mini tripod now comes built into the handle, which is more convenient than screwing on the mini tripod that came with the Osmo Mobile 6; its short feet mean it’s not as stable, however, and I’d expect a strong gust of wind to knock it down. So, investing in a better tripod to screw into the standard tripod mount on the gimbal’s base might be advisable if you’re going to be shooting outdoors often.
In terms of tracking, the Osmo Mobile 7P represents a massive leap forward over its predecessor. When using the DJI Mimo app on your phone to capture video, the new ActiveTrack 7.0 tracking adds support for group tracking, fast subject reacquisition (if the subject ducks behind an object then re-emerges, for instance), and tracking while using zoom. It can also be set up so that the subject isn’t kept in the center of the frame but to one side, providing welcome new composition possibilities.
The only thing I didn’t like about the tracking was the gimbal's inability to rotate through 360º horizontally. The Insta360 Flow 2 Pro does offer this kind of ‘infinite’ rotation tracking, so be aware that you don’t get it here.
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Even better, perhaps, is the fact that the new Multifunction Module accessory adds support for simple human subject tracking with any smartphone app. So, I can fire up my iPhone’s native camera app, TikTok, BlackMagic Camera, Instagram, or Zoom and still have the Osmo Mobile 7P follow me around – albeit not with all the features I’d get from ActiveTrack tracking. The Module’s tracking uses an onboard camera, and it’s quite good at following a tricky subject around the room. This camera also recognizes gestures, allowing you to start/stop tracking, stop/start video, and adjust framing using your hands.
The Module, which fixes to the magnetic clamp and can be pointed front or backwards, also includes an LED fill light with four brightness levels (the brightest of which is surprisingly powerful) and four different color temperatures. It can also wirelessly pair with a transmitter from DJI’s Mic Mini to offer a quick, fuss-free way to get great audio for vlogs. Unfortunately, I don’t have a Mic Mini to test this with, and my DJI Mic 2 transmitter annoyingly doesn’t replicate the feat.
Battery life on the DJI Osmo Mobile 7P is roughly the same as you get from other small gimbals, with a full charge offering up to 10 hours of use. However, with the Multifunction Module attached, as well as tracking and more gimbal movement, I’d expect closer to five hours of use – or less if the LED fill light is blazing away.
Overall, I was hugely impressed by the DJI Osmo Mobile 7P, which keeps all that was good about the Osmo Mobile 6 while adding massive improvements to tracking. I’d say the addition of the Multifunction Module means the Osmo Mobile 7P now pips the Insta360 Flow 2 Pro for the title of best small folding gimbal, although both models are superb stabilizers for on-the-go video work.
DJI Osmo Mobile 7P review: Price and Availability
The Osmo Mobile 7P comes with a soft drawstring bag to store all its main elements (Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)
Announced February 18, 2025
Osmo Mobile 7P priced from $149 / £135 / AU$219
Lighter, Module-free 7 priced from $89 / £85 / AU$159
The DJI Osmo Mobile 7 series launched on February 18, 2025 and is available to order now. The range consists of two slightly different models: the Osmo Mobile 7P and the Osmo Mobile 7. The former, which I've reviewed here, is a little larger and heavier and comes supplied with the new Multifunctional Module accessory. However, it’s worth noting that the Module is available separately and compatible with the Osmo Mobile 7, so buyers can always upgrade their model later on down the line.
The Osmo Mobile 7P costs $149 / £135 / AU$219, while the Osmo Mobile 7 costs $89 / £85 / AU$159. These prices look like quite good value to me, given that the 7P’s closest rival, the Insta360 Flow 2 Pro, costs roughly the same (actually, ever so slightly more). The new model is actually a little cheaper than the Osmo Mobile 6 was at its launch in 2022 too; it’s good to see something beating inflation these days.
A range of accessories are launching alongside the gimbal, but at the time of writing, I have not been given prices or further details about them, merely their names. These are: the DJI OM Magnetic Quick-Release Mount; DJI Mic Mini Transmitter; DJI OM 7 Series Tracking Kit; and DJI OM Grip Tripod.
DJI Osmo Mobile 7P review: specs
DJI Osmo Mobile 7P review: Also Consider
Insta360 Flow 2 Pro Until the Osmo Mobile 7P showed up, this was undoubtedly the best compact mobile gimbal around. Now, it sits alongside it as a highly recommended option, although its lack of a tracking module means it only really offers extended tracking for iPhone users via Apple DockKit compatibility. Android users are better off with the Osmo.
Hohem iSteady M7 While it’s significantly pricier and bulkier than the Osmo Mobile 7, the iSteady M7’s beefy stabilization works with phones up to 500g in weight, and it offers a plethora of adjustment options for perfectionist creators – plus a brilliant built-in touchscreen remote control module. A more professional option for those who demand more than simplicity and portability.
You want the most flexible tracking on a small gimbal The Osmo Mobile 7P’s Multifunction Module allows it to track subjects with any camera app on both Android and iPhone, which hasn’t been available on a tiny folding gimbal until now.
You own a DJI Mic Mini The Module is also able to directly connect to DJI’s tiny Mic Mini wireless mic, giving vloggers clearer audio immediately. Sadly, it’s not compatible with the full-size DJI Mic 2 or Mic.
Don't buy it if...
You own a large, heavy phone Not many phones weigh more than 300g, but if yours does, you’ll need a bigger, stronger gimbal like the Hohem iSteady M7. The Osmo Mobile 7P works best with regular-sized handsets.
You like to heavily tweak settings The Osmo Mobile 7P keeps things simple when it comes to gimbal movement and stabilization, and if you want to make precise adjustments to the way these things work, a more pro-friendly gimbal is in order.
How I tested the DJI Osmo Mobile 7P
One week of use
Tested with iPhone 13 and various iOS apps
Used inside and outdoors both on tripod and in hand
DJI loaned me a review sample of the Osmo Mobile 7P, which included the gimbal, Multifunctional Module, magnetic clamp, cables and a soft storage bag but no additional accessories.
I tested it out using my Apple iPhone 13 in and around my home, using it both handheld and set up on its mini tripod indoors and outdoors. I tested all movement modes too.
Having recently reviewed several rival mobile gimbals for TechRadar, I’m in a good position to compare the Osmo Mobile 7P to its competitors.
The Anker Laptop Power Bank is designed to charge large devices on the go, thanks to its high 165W output, large 25,000mAh capacity, and convenient extra features. For such a heavy-duty battery, the Anker Laptop Power Bank does a good job of remaining slender, although it’s as weighty as you might expect it to be. It’s also quite thick, so certainly better stored in your bag than in your pocket.
The Anker Laptop Power Bank is very well built, with every material and panel feeling solid. The screen has hardly any flex either, so I would be confident in it withstanding normal wear and tear.
This display provides various readouts, including those for temperature and wattages for each of the four outputs, which is more than some of the best power banks offer. It’s a shame, however, that it only covers a small area – smaller than the physical size of the screen would lead you to believe, which seems like a missed opportunity to me.
As a result, some figures can appear quite small. This can lead to misreadings when, for instance, charging the bank itself; since it gives the battery percentage to two decimal places, 10% can look like 100% when you glance at it from afar.
It features one USB-C and one USB-A port, both located on the side. This might seem like a strange placement, but the Anker Laptop Power Bank has an ace up its sleeve – two, in fact.
This is because it comes with two inbuilt cables. One loops round into its own clip, creating a makeshift carrying handle (which Anker condones; it can withstand over 20,000 bends), while the other is retractable, with the jack end connecting magnetically to the base to keep it tucked away. This keeps cable clutter to a minimum, as well as saving you the trouble of bringing your own.
Both cables feel very durable and thick, as do the strain reliefs at the base of the jacks themselves. However, they’re flat and rectangular rather than round, which means that they tend to twist themselves when you go to use them, but I only found this to be a minor inconvenience.
The charging performance of the Anker Laptop Power Bank is good. All three USB-C outputs can deliver up to 100W, and Anker claims an M3 MacBook Pro or an iPhone 16 can charge to 50% in about half an hour each. While charging, the display also usefully tracks the output wattage in real time.
I managed to charge a Lenovo IdeaPad 4G in about two hours, which is an admirable performance. More impressively, though, the battery only dipped to about 50% – which means you might just be able to get two full charges out of it – and replenishing its battery from 0% to 100% took just 90 minutes.
The Anker Laptop Power Bank can also charge four devices simultaneously, with the power output dipping to a maximum of 130W. There’s also a trickle charging mode for devices that only need low currents, such as smartwatches and earbuds.
For $99 / £89, the Anker Laptop Power Bank represents good value, considering its power, versatility, and convenience. If you’re a power user who travels with large devices, you likely won’t be disappointed with the Anker Laptop Power Bank as your companion.
(Image credit: Future)
Anker Laptop Power Bank review: price & specs
(Image credit: Future)
Should I buy the Anker Laptop Power Bank?
Buy it if…
You have large devices All three of the Anker Laptop Power Bank's USB-C outputs can charge at 100W, which is more than enough for many modern laptops and tablets.
You're forgetful The two integrated USB-C cables, one of which doubles as a carrying handle, are handy additions if you regularly forget to bring your own.
Don't buy it if…
You want something light At over half a kilo, the Anker Laptop Power Bank isn't exactly light. The thickness means you probably can't carry it in your pocket either.
You're not a power user The 165W output and 25,000mAh capacity are probably overkill if you're only ever going to charge your phone and other small devices.
Anker Laptop Power Bank: also consider
Anker Prime 27,650mAh Power Bank (250W) As the best power bank for power users, the Anker Prime has the output and capacity for serious demands, eclipsing the Anker Laptop Power Bank on both fronts. It also features similarly detailed readouts. However, it has three outputs rather than four, it’s marginally heavier, and doesn’t have any inbuilt cables. But if power is your primary concern, you can’t do much better than the Prime.
If you're going to call a smartphone ‘ultra’, it needs to embody that adjective. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra has a top-tier camera system. The Motorola Edge 50 Ultra has mind-boggling charging speeds and a chic textured look. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra has a stylus (and lots more besides).
Throughout my testing of the Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra, I couldn't quite put my finger on what made it worthy of the 'ultra' designation. It’s undoubtedly a highly capable premium Android phone, but in the competitive mobile market, ‘good’ just isn’t good enough.
The latest entry in Asus’ one-per-year line of flagship Zenfone mobiles, the Zenfone 12 Ultra is another top-spec handset that costs a blisteringly large amount of money. On paper, it's a stablemate of the best Android phones and best iPhones – and it certainly competes with those devices in some areas.
Indeed, if you look at the specs sheet below, you’ll see that the Zenfone 12 Ultra bears all the hallmarks of a premium smartphone. Its Snapdragon 8 Elite processor provides a huge amount of processing power, and its giant 6.78-inch display is great for gaming or streaming movies. The phone's three-lens rear camera array also gives shutterbugs much to delight in.
Certainly, from a specs perspective, there's nothing to dispute the Zenfone 12 Ultra's status as an 'ultra' phone. But that's no longer enough.
All of those aforementioned ‘ultra’ phones go that extra mile to justify the suffix, offering unique features or specs that make their hefty price tags seem almost reasonable. I don’t see any such selling point in the Zenfone 12 Ultra. It’s not ‘ultra’, it just is. Ironically, the lack of a non-ultra Zenfone 12 seems to underline this fact.
If you were to ask Asus, the company would likely say that the killer additions here are the phone's AI features. Most new phones nowadays tout a long list of ‘AI features’, a buzzword given to what we’d otherwise call ‘new software tools’ or, less forgivingly, ‘unnecessary software extras’ – but you need to call everything ‘AI’ in today's tech landscape.
Among the Zenfone 12 Ultra’s AI features are an article summary tool, call translation, a feature that creates AI-generated wallpapers, and plenty of AI-powered camera tools. Now, regardless of the usefulness of many of these features (how many people actually phone someone else who doesn't have a language in common?) and the unproven interest of normal tech buyers in AI features, they don’t allow the Zenfone 12 Ultra to collect the 'ultra' suffix for one simple reason – so few of them are actually new. Honestly, the Zenfone 11 Ultra had most of them.
Speaking of the Zenfone 11 Ultra, the 12 Ultra barely brings any upgrades over it to the table. A newer chipset and some minor tweaks to the camera lenses are the only improvements I could discern. I checked the price of the now-year-old Zenfone 11 Ultra one week prior to the 12 Ultra’s release, and it was going for over a third off from Asus itself. So, you’d be saving loads of money on a pretty similar mobile.
What's more, the Zenfone 12 Ultra has even more similarities to the recent Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro. Their appearances are near-identical, as are their specs, with the scant differences being the 12 Ultra's smaller battery and a refresh rate that doesn’t go quite as high, and the ROG Phone's trigger sensors and LED back panel.
Okay, let's take a breath. I may sound down on the Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra in this review, but it's undoubtedly a good phone. It provides a top-tier experience across the board and I enjoyed using it throughout my testing process.
That said, Asus loaned me the device for review purposes, meaning I didn’t have to part with a scary amount of my salary to buy it. When you factor in the phone's high price, it’s hard to see why you should opt for the Zenfone 12 Ultra over its equally expensive rivals – or, for that matter, mid-range rivals that offer similar specs for a dramatically lower price.
Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra review: price and availability
(Image credit: Future)
Released in February 2024
Costs €1,099.99 in European markets
US, UK, and Australian availability unconfirmed for now
The Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra was launched in early February 2024, a year on from its predecessor, and with nary a standard or Pro sibling to speak of.
At the time of writing, it's only available in European markets for a price of €1,099.99, which will net you 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. "As for pricing and availability in the US, UK, and Australia", Asus told TechRadar, "we have yet to get a clear date or price at this moment." That said, we expect the Zenfone 12 Ultra to launch in at least some of these regions soon.
For a little bit of context, the Zenfone 11 Ultra started at $899.99 / £869.99 (around AU$1,450) for its 12GB/256GB starter model. There was also a 16GB/512GB model, which offers a better price comparison to the Zenfone 12 Ultra, but it was only on sale in the UK (for £949.99). The Asus Rog Phone 9 Pro, meanwhile, is available globally for $1,199.99 / £1,099.99 / AU$1,999.99.
Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra review: specs
Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra review: design
(Image credit: Future)
Blocky phone that looks like predecessor
Still has a 3.5mm jack
IP68 protection
There’s no getting around it: the Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra is a blocky phone. I won’t quite call it ‘ugly’, not when the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra lays claim to that term with such an iron rule, but it’s a little on the boring side.
It looks almost identical to the Zenfone 11 Ultra, and pretty similar to the ROG Phone 9 Pro, but without the lines pattern of the former and the ‘gamer chic’ of the latter.
It’s a big phone, measuring 183.8 x 77 x 8.9 mm and weighing 220g, so if you remember how Asus used to cater to the small-phone market with its Zenfones, you’ll be disappointed. It stretched my hands out and I’ve got fairly average-sized mitts, and it was a pretty big burden in the pocket too.
The right edge of the mobile has the power button – pretty easy to reach, despite the phone’s big size – and the volume rocker, which was a little harder to stretch to. There’s also an in-screen fingerprint sensor, positioned higher up than on other phones, which took a little getting used to.
Talking of acclimatizing, the USB-C charging port on the phone’s bottom edge isn’t right in the middle. Instead, it’s to the left – as far as I’m aware, Asus is the only company that uses this design quirk. There’s nothing wrong with it, once you get through the first few days of jamming your charger into the wrong place. There’s another novelty here too, in the form of a 3.5mm headphone jack. How many mobiles cater to wired headphone users these days?! Props to Asus for that.
I mostly used the Zenfone 12 Ultra in a protective case (provided) but even when I didn’t, it took drops and bumps like a champ. It has an IP68 rating, so it can withstand dust ingress, as well as brief drops in the tub or pool.
Design score: 3.5 / 5
Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra review: display
(Image credit: Future)
6.78 inches, 1080 x 2400resolution
144Hz refresh rate max, though usually at 120Hz
A few display customization features
The Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra has a nice big display: it’s 6.78 inches diagonally, which explains how much of a hand-stretch the mobile itself is.
The screen’s resolution is FHD+ or 1080 x 2400 — that’s pretty standard for most smartphones, although you’d be forgiven for wanting a little more at this price range.
Mind you, the phone's refresh rate is super fast at 144Hz (good luck finding many games to utilize that spec, though) and the max brightness is nice and high at 2500 nits. In typical use, you can expect a buttery smooth 120Hz refresh rate.
There's another feature here I love to see in smartphones: a color temperature and balance mode for adjusting the way the screen looks. Max saturation with the warmest possible temperature? Don't mind if I do!
Display score: 4 / 5
Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra review: software
(Image credit: Future)
Android 15 with optional Asus overlay
Only two years of OS updates
AI features aren't very useful
In a pretty unusual move for an Android phone, you actually have your pick between two software systems when you first boot up the Zenfone 12 Ultra. Both are technically Android 15, but you can choose between stock Android and Asus’ reskinned version. The differences are minimal but it's nice to be given the choice.
Stock Android is, if you don’t know, the standard Google-made version of the Android operating system, and it’s popular for being quite clean-looking. However, it misses many custom features that certain other versions of Android have. Asus doesn’t add any of these features in its own version, mind; it’s just a redesign for how menus and icons look.
Whether you pick stock or Asus Android, you’re getting software that’s quite minimal, which is a good thing; there are few pre-installed apps (beyond lots of Google ones) and a smartly laid-out quick-settings menu with big icons that are easy to press.
Asus has only promised two years of software updates for the Zenfone 12 Ultra, which isn’t a particularly ‘ultra’ commitment given how many years of updates rivals offer. That doesn’t mean it’ll stop working after two years, but you won’t get new features added after that point.
As mentioned in the introduction to this review, a few AI features on the Zenfone 12 Ultra seem to be its main selling point, but I wasn’t hugely impressed by any of them. The option to use them is often buried in menus (to use the AI article summarizer, for instance, you need to go into the browser’s ‘share’ menu to share it with the summary tool) and they were often pretty slow to work. In fact, for summarizing articles online, I found it quicker to literally just read the article than to wait for the summary tool to work.
You have to download extra kits for most of the AI features, too, and they’re pretty big, often several GB each. I can see these tools eating up a fair amount of storage space.
I’m always a little cynical of AI features on phones, with most of them seemingly designed to fix problems that no one actually has, and offered in lieu of actual improvements to a given device. Suffice to say, I never used these AI features on the Zenfone 12 Ultra beyond my obligatory testing of them.
Software score: 3.5 / 5
Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra review: cameras
(Image credit: Future)
50MP main, 13MP ultra-wide and 32MP telephoto lenses
32MP selfie snapper
Scene optimization comes in clutch
The Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra may not offer the megapixel overload of its rivals, but it covers its bases.
On the back of the phone is a 50MP main camera, which is joined by a 13MP ultra-wide and a 32MP telephoto, the latter of which can reach 3x optical zoom.
All three combine to give you a decent level of versatility and control over the shots you take (as long as you don't want to go above the 30x digital zoom cap), and there's largely a consistency between image quality at these ranges
Coming in clutch is the image optimization and HDR, which was quick to punch up the contrast and saturation of pictures to improve their vibrancy without making them look unnatural. Look at the curry bowl or football field images below as cases in point; neither looked as bright in real life as they do on camera.
These improvements increase the Zenfone's camera grade from 'fine' to 'good', even if the phone misses the extra lenses, sensitive sensors, and super-high-res MP counts of its competitors. That said, the latter would have been preferable for situations in which the AI optimization didn't step in, like in the pizza pic below.
Another thing to note is that photos often took longer to capture than I'd expect; I'd often press the shutter button and assume the photo had been taken, only to move the phone and end up with a blurry end image. My advice to owners would be to hold the Zenfone 12 Ultra in place for a few seconds longer than you think you need to, or else you'll end up with a long list of camera reel mistakes.
(Image credit: Future)
The selfie camera hits 32MP, and its result is largely similar to the rear ones: it has the potential to make some bright and bold pictures, and succeeds most of the time, thanks to software.
The phone can record video in 8K/30fps, 4K/60fps, or down to HD/480fps in the slow-mo realm.
The Zenfone 12 Ultra also has a small selection of extra modes. Some, like Night and Portrait, work well; the latter was great at balancing contrast and exposure, as you can see in the photo below, and Portrait was fantastic at adding a natural-looking bokeh and also balancing the colors and tones of a shot.
There are a few modes being touted as 'AI' ones too, despite the fact that almost all camera software features use artificial intelligence in some way or another. These include AI Panning, which creates a "dynamic focus effect" on a moving object, and in effect, this is very similar to Portrait mode. The other is AI Tracking, which lets you record a video of something moving and it'll output a zoomed-in photo that keeps the moving subject framed center. I can see this being situationally very useful, although I only ever found myself using it for testing's sake.
Camera score: 4 / 5
Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra camera samples
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Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra: performance and audio
(Image credit: Future)
Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset
Fast for gaming and everyday use (mostly)
Range of audio options
The Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra really embodies the ‘ultra’ in its name when it comes to performance: it’s a certifiable beast.
The processor at work here is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite, which is the chipset you'll find inside many of the current best Android phones (at the time of writing, at least) and it tells. It’s paired with 16GB RAM and 512GB storage.
Games were snappy to play, and could easily handle the highest graphical settings; they didn’t lag or stutter once and, in the most noticeable improvement (in my mind) over a lesser chipset, they were really quick to open too.
In a Geekbench 6 multi-core test, the Zenfone 12 Ultra returned a score of 9,818, putting it in the higher echelons of phones we’ve tested. For context, Geekbench’s own rankings mark the iPhone 16 Pro at a score of 8,528 (though no recent 8 Elite-toting phones are listed).
The speed is mostly noticeable in other parts of the phone, too, for example when you’re trying to edit a big photo. However, I noticed that the AI features could cause the phone to slow down noticeably. This isn't a deal-breaker, especially given that most of the features take only a second to use, but the minor slowdown was still noticeable.
The Zenfone 12 Ultra has stereo speakers and, in a surprisingly retro turn, a 3.5mm headphone jack. As a result, audio fans have a choice as to how they’d like to listen to content on this phone, which is a rarity in this day and age.
Performance score: 5 / 5
Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra review: battery life
(Image credit: Future)
Pretty big 5,500mAh battery
Lasts for over a day of use
65W charging, 15W wireless
The Zenfone 12 Ultra packs a 5,500mAh battery — that's pretty big, but it’s also necessary for a phone of this size and power.
When I used the Zenfone as a normal mobile (i.e. not as a gaming phone) it could reliably coast through a single day of use and reach mid-way into the second day without trouble, but I wouldn’t go quite so far as to say it’s got two-day battery life.
When I did go heavier on the gaming side of things, I was happy with how well the Zenfone 12 Ultra could handle a few hours of gaming without losing too much battery — it’s hard to be scientific when talking about experiential battery use, but the phone lost charge slower than lots of other handsets I’ve tested recently.
Charging is a little slow. That feels silly to say for a phone with 'fast charging', but it’s at 65W, which is slower than lots of its rivals. There’s also 15W wireless charging.
Battery score: 3.5 / 5
Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra review: value
(Image credit: Future)
The Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra is an undeniably pricey premium phone. While an argument could be made that no phones in this price range really offer value for money, it's doubly the case with the Asus.
I say this because it doesn't really offer any killer features, either over its predecessor or comparatively priced rivals, that make it a must-buy. When you cost this much, specs alone will only get you so far.
If you can find the Zenfone 12 Ultra at a meaty discount, it's potentially more deserving of your money, but I'm talking a 25% discount as a minimum for that to be the case.
Value score: 2.5 / 5
Should you buy the Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra?
Buy it if...
You need lots of processing power The Zenfone 12 Ultra is one of the most powerful phones on the market right now, and it'll stay a contender for years to come.
You're a wired audio fan Few Android phones come with headphone jacks these days, especially towards the premium end of the market.
You play 144Hz games Very select mobile games can play at 144 fps, but for the ones that do, it's hard to find mobiles that support this high refresh rate. The Zenfone 12 Ultra is one of them.
Don't buy it if...
You don't like big phones The Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra will stretch smaller hands; don't buy it thinking it's one of the compact Zenfones of old.
You find the Zenfone 11 Ultra discounted The Zenfone 12 Ultra doesn't offer that many upgrades over its predecessor, and that older phone is now poised for sizeable sales.
Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra review: Also consider
If you want other 'ultra' smartphones to compare the Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra to, here are some other similar-priced picks.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra The natural rival, this Android powerhouse has a wider array of cameras, a bigger and higher-res display, and a stylus. However, its chipset is the same as the one in the Asus, its battery is smaller, and it charges slower. Read our full Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra review
iPhone 16 Pro The other natural rival, the iPhone 16 Pro, costs roughly the same as the Asus. It has a smaller screen, a weaker battery, and, if the benchmarks are anything to go by, a lesser chipset. But I'd be remiss not to mention the Apple rival at a phone this costly.
Xiaomi 14 Ultra Another ultra-branded Android phone, this Xiaomi has an unbeatable camera array, a better display, and faster charging, but last year's chipset and software.
To properly test the Asus Zenfone 12 Ultra, I used it daily for two weeks; this doesn't include a short period beforehand when I set it up, took the review photos, and played a few games on it.
The testing of the handset occurred in two parts. The first saw me run benchmark tests, take sample photos, and run down the battery. The other was more experiential; I used the handset for personal things like music and video streaming, social media scrolling, mobile game-playing, and other everyday tasks.
At the time of this review's publication, I've been writing reviews for TechRadar for exactly 6 years (happy anniversary, me!). I've reviewed countless smartphones in that time, including multiple Asus models as well as headphones, smartwatches, and tablets.
INIU I212 Adjustable 15W Fast Wireless Charger review
The INIU I212 Adjustable 15W Fast Wireless Charger is listed at $32.99 / £26.99 on the INIU website and is also available to purchase at Amazon. This price makes it a more costly alternative to the similar non-MagSafe Anker 313 Wireless Charger Stand, but this is warranted due to its performance and flexible design.
As this isn't a magnetic charger (although phones do need to be MagSafe to charge on it), there's nothing to stop a phone from sliding off if knocked, but the design is otherwise pretty sturdy thanks to the charging stand's overall weight and square base.
The adjustable viewing angle is my favorite part of the INIU I212 Adjustable 15W Fast Wireless Charger's design. The phone cradle pivots on the top with a range of 90 degrees, so my phone could be positioned vertically or laid back almost flat. The included USB-C power cable is only a meter long – this may be adequate for some, but I would have preferred a longer length, as it limited my placement options.
(Image credit: Cesci Angell / Future)
At first, I was unimpressed with the charging speed of the INIU I212 Adjustable 15W Fast Wireless Charger, as it took over three hours to charge an iPhone 13 Pro from 0% - 100%, a test I perform on all chargers I review to be able to make a solid comparison. As this was a questionably long time for a charger that claims to be "fast", I had a read of the small print and found that INIU recommends using a charging adapter of 18 watts or higher.
Personally, I feel that any charger requiring a wall adapter above a specific output to achieve anywhere near the charging speeds stated should include one in the box. The INIU I212 Adjustable 15W Fast Wireless Charger does not. Naturally, I have plenty of spare plugs about, but the average buyer may not; so it's worth bearing this in mind, as a further purchase may be needed to get the most out of this charger.
(Image credit: Cesci Angell / Future)
Once I'd repeated the test with a suitable plug, the INIU I212 Adjustable 15W Fast Wireless Charger was able to fully charge the iPhone 13 Pro in 2 hours and 16 minutes, putting it in the same league as most of the MagSafe chargers I've tested so far. This also makes it much faster than the Anker 313 Wireless Charger Stand that currently features in our list of the best wireless chargers. This result made me do a 360 on my opinion of the INIU I212 Adjustable 15W Fast Wireless Charger, as this charging speed is good for the price.
Overall, this is a well-designed and versatile phone charging stand. The vast majority of the wireless chargers I test are compatible with iPhones only, so to test a charger that can charge a range of devices at a good speed with a sturdy and adjustable design has been refreshing. So if you're on the lookout for a decent and fairly priced phone charger that'll remain usable even if you switch your allegiance come upgrade time, the INIU I212 Adjustable 15W Fast Wireless Charger is a good shout.
Should I buy the INIU I212 Adjustable 15W Fast Wireless Charger?
Buy it if…
You want viewing flexibility If you're anything like me and will more often than not continue to use your phone as it recharges, then an adjustable stand is a must. The viewing angle on this INIU charger is easy to alter, making it easy to consume content while it's juicing up.
You want a versatile charger Whether you're rocking two phones, or want a simple charging solution located in a communal space, this INIU charger's compatibility with both iPhones and Androids means less cables and clutter.
Don't buy it if…
You're a die-hard iPhone user As much as I like this charger, as an avid iPhone user, I much prefer the reassurance that a MagSafe charger provides. It provides a more secure hold, which is appreciated by someone as klutzy as me.
You don't want to feel tethered Granted, this isn't the only charger that comes with a disappointingly short power cable, but the 3.3 ft / 1 m cable can limit placement options.
INIU I212 Adjustable 15W Fast Wireless Charger review: Also consider
Anker 313 Wireless Charger Stand If you're just looking for something cheap and cheerful, and aren't fussed about charging speeds or adjustable angles, then this Anker charger may just take your fancy. Like the I212, it's compatible with iPhones and Androids and can accommodate phones up to 5mm thick.
Iniu B43 MagSafe 10000mAh Compact Power Bank review
The Iniu B43 MagSafe 10000mAh Compact Power Bank is a low-cost portable phone charger compatible with the iPhone 12 – 16. Its list price is $59.99 / £59.99 / AU$93.99 on the official Iniu website; however, discounts are often applied. At the time of writing, a 55% – 57% discount is available, and it's also available for less than the list price at Amazon. Unlike some other brands' power banks, it comes with a USB-C cable and a little travel pouch, providing it a little protection against scuffs and scratches when on the go.
I would argue that the Iniu B43 MagSafe 10000mAh Compact Power Bank isn’t the most compact example of a MagSafe charger. Its dimensions are 3.8 x 0.9 x 2.7 inches / 97 x 23 x 69mm, which feels quite bulky in one’s hand when trying to continue using a phone as it charges. It feels pretty weighty, too, at 9.2oz / 261g.
(Image credit: Cesci Angell / Future)
The Iniu B43 MagSafe 10000mAh Compact Power Bank features a super-soft touch matt finish and smooth rounded corners. It offers both MagSafe charging, plus there is a USB-C in/out, and a USB-A out port for wired charging, too. The MagSafe charging area stands proud of the power bank’s surface by roughly 2mm.
The design of the Iniu B43 MagSafe 10000mAh Compact Power Bank isn’t a far cry from your typical power bank. On the front face of the charger, there is the Iniu logo in the top-right corner, while in the bottom left, there’s an animal paw print that acts as an indicator light to communicate the level of charge remaining in the battery pack.
Charging an iPhone 13 Pro with the Iniu B43 MagSafe 10000mAh Compact Power Bank proved disappointingly slow, taking three hours and ten minutes to achieve a full charge. To put this in context, it took the similarly priced Anker 633 Magnetic Battery just two hours and fifteen minutes to do the same, plus it has the added bonus of a built-in stand, so it’s easy to continue watching content as your phone charges.
(Image credit: Cesci Angell / Future)
Overall, if you’re not fussed about fast charging and like the novelty of the blue paw print, the Iniu B43 MagSafe 10000mAh Compact Power Bank wouldn’t be a bad choice. However, there are certainly faster alternatives within the same price range, like the UGREEN Uno Magnetic Wireless Power Bank 10000mAh 15W, for example, that have novelty value of its own, displaying cute little faces on its screen depending on the level of charge.
So it’s clear the Iniu B43 MagSafe 10000mAh Compact Power Bank isn’t up to the standard required to feature in our selection of the best wireless chargers or the best iPhone chargers, but it would make an adequate enough purchase if you’re prepared to forgo fast charging speeds.
(Image credit: Cesci Angell / Future)
Iniu B43 MagSafe 10000mAh Compact Power Bank review: Price & specs
(Image credit: Cesci Angell / Future)
Should I buy the Iniu B43 MagSafe 10000mAh Compact Power Bank?
Buy it if…
You don't want any bells or whistles Aside from the light-up paw print, there's nothing particularly fancy about this charger. There's no built-in stand or LED screen, so if you want something super simple, this charger would prove satisfactory.
You like tactile finishes One thing I liked about this power pack was the soft matt finish of the material and its nicely rounded corners.
Don't buy it if…
You want to use your phone as it charges Although marketed as a compact power bank, its depth makes it a little too bulky to be comfortable to hold when attached to your phone. I recommend checking out our pick of the best power banks if you'd like to continue scrolling as you juice up your phone.
You want a built-in stand Many portable chargers make terrific travel companions, but this power bank sadly isn't one of them. With no stand included, you're limited to lying it flat on a surface to charge, making it hard to binge-watch Netflix during a flight or hotel stay.
Iniu B43 MagSafe 10000mAh Compact Power Bank review: Also consider
Ugreen 5000mAh Magnetic Wireless Power Bank Not only is this power bank lower in price, it's also slimmer and lighter. It offers similar charging speeds, but would make an ideal alternative for anyone who struggles to put their phone down for extended periods of time. If you'd like to learn more, head over to the full Ugreen 5000mAh Magnetic Wireless Power Bank review.View Deal
Ugreen Uno Magnetic Wireless Power Bank 10000mAh 15W review: don't be fooled by its cute expressions, this power bank charges fast
Ugreen Uno Magnetic Wireless Power Bank 10000mAh 15W review: Quirky but quick, this expressive MagSafe power bank left me smiling
Ugreen Uno Magnetic Wireless Power Bank 10000mAh 15W review
Although the cute faces of the Ugreen Uno Magnetic Wireless Power Bank 10000mAh 15W may not be to everyone's taste, if you're looking for a fast-charging MagSafe power bank with character, this charger was made for you.
The Ugreen Uno Magnetic Wireless Power Bank 10000mAh 15W has a list price of $69.99 / £64.99 on the official Ugreen website, but this price is often cut due to regular deals. I have been advised that Ugreen is due to launch this charger in Australia around the beginning of 2025 at a list price of AU$89.99. The Ugreen Uno Magnetic Wireless Power Bank 10000mAh 15W can also be purchased at Amazon US but at present, only the 5000mAh version is available at Amazon UK.
Neither super compact nor over-sized, the Ugreen Uno Magnetic Wireless Power Bank 10000mAh 15W measures 3 x 0.9 x 4.3 inches / 75 x 23 x 109mm and weighs 8.1oz / 230g, which is pretty average for the best power banks. The surface of the MagSafe charging area appears to be soft-touch silicone, and the rest of the casing is metallic plastic, bar the TFT screen, which stands slightly proud from the back panel of the charger. There's a metal effect stand over the top of the charger which attaches to either side. This stand works well, but I found the marketing photos misleading, as I couldn't angle the Ugreen Uno Magnetic Wireless Power Bank 10000mAh 15W to show the display screen when my phone was in situ.
The various emoji faces that appear on the TFT smart display communicate the level of battery left in the power bank; for example, it shows heart eyes when it's at full power, and pulls a somewhat dismayed face when the power is below twenty percent. I feel I must tell you these faces aren't displayed all the time, and I was a little disappointed by the frequency at which they appear. If you're not a fan of this novelty display, you'll be happy to know that the display can be turned off simply by pressing the side button.
I was pleasantly surprised by the charging speed when juicing up an iPhone 13 Pro from 0% - 100%, as the Ugreen Uno Magnetic Wireless Power Bank 10000mAh 15W took just under two hours to do this, making it the fasted MagSafe power bank I've tested to date. I found that my phone got a little toasty on a couple of occasions, but nothing too drastic. There were also a few instances when my phone hadn't actually started to charge; I found that I either needed to click the power button again or remove and replace my phone. But, for the most part, there weren't any issues.
This may be down to personal taste, but the combination of fast charging speeds and the novelty of the emoji status symbols make the Ugreen Uno Magnetic Wireless Power Bank 10000mAh 15W a worthy candidate to feature in our selection of the best wireless chargers or the best iPhone chargers, in my humble opinion. If this MagSafe power bank isn't singing your tune, then it's worth taking a look at the aforementioned guides, as you may well spot something better suited.
(Image credit: Cesci Angell / Future)
Ugreen Uno Magnetic Wireless Power Bank 10000mAh 15W review: Price & specs
(Image credit: Cesci Angell / Future)
Should I buy the Ugreen Uno Magnetic Wireless Power Bank 10000mAh 15W?
Buy it if…
You want fast-charging You could be forgiven for thinking that Ugreen simply focused on the novelty aspect with this MagSafe power bank, but I'm delighted to say they've created a charger that's as fast as it is cute.
You want something whimsical It won't be for everyone, but for anyone like me who appreciates anything adorable and eccentric, these emoji battery status symbols will bring a smile to your face.
Don't buy it if…
You want something super compact I'm not complaining about the size of this power bank, its size and weight are pretty standard, but if you're after a super slim option that's barely noticeable when it's attached to your phone, this isn't the charger for you.
You need total reliability Now, this may have just been the case with my sample, but it was a shame that my phone didn't always begin to charge after I'd attached it to the MagSafe charging pad. It's worth keeping an eye out for this for the first few uses, just in case.
Ugreen Uno Magnetic Wireless Power Bank 10000mAh 15W review: Also consider
Anker 633 Magnetic Battery Another firm favorite of mine is this MagSafe power bank with its springy integrated stand. It took about fifteen minutes longer to charge the iPhone 13 Pro, but its charging time is still perfectly adequate. Plus, the weight and dimensions of this charger are roughly the same as this Ugreen Uno, but without a smiley in sight.
ESR Qi2 3-in-1 Watch Wireless Charging Set (HaloLock) review
The ESR Qi2 3-in-1 Watch Wireless Charging Set (HaloLock) has a list price of $74.99 / £71.99 / AU$134.99, which may seem expensive to some. However, when compared to the cost of other 3-in-1 MagSafe chargers by the likes of Anker, and indeed some other models from ESR themselves, it's a reasonable price to pay for a speedy and sturdy charger.
In use, the ESR Qi2 3-in-1 Watch Wireless Charging Set (HaloLock) was easy to lift and reposition on my desk. The weight of the stand, helped along by the sturdy metal post, meant that I didn't experience any issues with it toppling over. It did feel like it'd be easier to tip than the Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Stand, however.
I found it a bit frustrating that the charging area is static and cannot be angled for better visibility of my phone screen. The vast majority of the best wireless chargers I've tested so far have had adjustable angles, so I wasn't a fan of this limitation.
The matte finish of the ESR Qi2 3-in-1 Watch Wireless Charging Set (HaloLock) shows fingerprints easily, and they're not easy to remove once they're there. The shiny surface of the circular Qi2 charging area proved to be quite the dust magnet when the phone wasn't in situ, with dust particles being very noticeable on top of the deep black.
As with the ESR's Qi2 3-in-1 Travel Wireless Charging Set, the Apple Watch charger is a separate packaged component that comes within the main charger box. It has a magnetic cover to protect the USB-C connector, which connects to the area at the back of the iPhone charging pad with ease. I wasn't a fan of this in the travel set, as it seemed risky to have such a small and losable component as part of a portable charger; I don't mind it as much in the ESR Qi2 3-in-1 Watch Wireless Charging Set (HaloLock), though.
When it came to charging speed, I was impressed with how quickly the ESR Qi2 3-in-1 Watch Wireless Charging Set (HaloLock) charged an iPhone 13 Pro and Series 9 Apple Watch. It was able to juice up my Apple Watch from 0%-100% in an hour and 13 minutes, making it much faster than ESR's Qi2 3-in-1 Travel Wireless Charging Set, which took just under an hour longer.
It took an hour and 52 minutes to fully charge an iPhone 13 Pro, which is impressive. But it is lagging a little behind the Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Stand, which took an hour and 38 minutes to charge the same iPhone 13 Pro, and a commendable one hour and 14 minutes to charge up my Apple Watch.
As was the case with the ESR Qi2 Magnetic Wireless Car Charger (HaloLock), the iPhones I tested got warm while charging, but in this case, the watch got rather toasty too. It was also distractingly noisy, making various ticking and whirring noises as it charged, even after repositioning, something I'd never encountered before. My Apple Watch didn't appear to suffer any effects from this, but still, those noises made me nervous.
Overall, though, this charger proved its worth. With its speedy charging times, reassuring stability, and small footprint, it efficiently charges three types of Apple devices and other compatible earbud cases.
If you're interested in looking at alternative chargers, we have curated a selection of the best iPhone chargers and best wireless chargers. Within these guides, we suggest the most suitable option based on different needs, and you'll find plenty of options for charging the best iPhones in both.
Should I buy the ESR Qi2 3-in-1 Watch Wireless Charging Set (HaloLock)?
Buy it if…
You want to charge three devices without sacrificing space With the earbuds charging area inlaid in the base, and the iPhone and Apple Watch charging pads located at the top of the stand, this 3-in-1 charger is pleasantly compact, so won't take up too much valuable desk or nightstand space.
You want to look at things from a different angle It's a shame that the position of the charging pad is fixed, as it limits you to one viewing angle. The phone can still rotate into landscape mode without issue, but I would have liked to be able to position my phone to make it easier to use as it charged.
You want to keep things clean Unfortunately, due to the matte finish on the majority of the charger and the shiny surface of the MagSafe charging pad, this charger collects dust and fingerprints for a pastime. This is only a minor issue that may not prove an issue for some, but if this kind of thing gets your goat, this may be a charger to avoid.
ESR Qi2 3-in-1 Watch Wireless Charging Set (HaloLock) review: Also consider
Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Stand It takes up more space, but its design is aesthetically pleasing, and it offers speedier charging – taking just over an hour to fully charge a Series 9 Apple Watch and an hour and 38 minutes to charge an iPhone 13 Pro. Check out our full Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Stand review to see just why we awarded it four and a half stars.
If you’re looking to juice up multiple power-hungry devices at once, the UGreen Nexode Pro 160W 4-Port charger could be the perfect solution for you. This quad-port charger packs in ThermalGuard temperature control, multiple USB types (3x USB-C and 1x USB-A) and 160W of power, to ensure your phones, laptops, tablets and more can get back up and running in a flash.
You get access to super-speedy charging here, no matter how many devices you have plugged in. If you’re only charging one at a time in USB-C Port 1, you can access lightning quick charging speeds of up to 140W, that’s great for demanding devices like the newest MacBook or handsets like the Xiaomi 14T Pro. Even with three or four ports in use, the top USB-C ones can supply up to 65W each – not bad at all!
And when I tested out performance for myself, I found that the UGreen Nexode Pro 160W 4-Port charger could easily compete with some of the best Android phone chargers and best iPhone chargers. I tried charging up the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE in USB-C port 1, alongside the Soundcore Space One Pro headphones, LG Tone Free T90S earbuds and FiiO M11S hi-res music player. To my delight, this UGreen charger brought my phone back to life in under 80 minutes – exactly what I’d expect from a fast-charging wall plug like this.
Now, if you’ve seen my reviews of the other Nexode Pro chargers, you’ll probably know what I’m going to say about this one’s appearance. Once again, the prongs look shoehorned on with the UK model – I was wondering if there would be a way for me to detach the adapter, but it seems to just be attached in a not-so-elegant manner.
In addition, this is by some distance the chunkiest charger in the Nexode Pro family. That’s to be expected given it has the largest power output and four ports, but still, it may not fit into smaller spaces. Is it as big and bruising as some of the MacBook Pro chargers, for instance? No. But it's still quite a large plug.
This charger is perhaps not the cheapest out there, carrying a list price of $119.99 / £99.99 (about AU$190). Of course, you’re getting a lot of power, quad-port charging and modern GaN technology for a safe, heat-protected charging experience. But still, it’s a lot to pay for a charger with no display or charming design quirks.
All in all, the UGreen Nexode Pro 160W 4-Port charger is an excellent performer with lots of power to play with, but some may find it a little on the pricey side. It may not be the most stunning looker, either, but it does offer solid build quality, four-port charging and effective temperature control, making it worth considering – if you have the cash.
(Image credit: Future)
UGreen Nexode Pro 160W 4-Port charger review: Price & specs
(Image credit: Future)
Should I buy the UGreen Nexode Pro 160W 4-Port charger?
Buy it if…
You want top-of-the-range charging performance This charger has an almighty maximum power output of 160W, which is more than enough to revive all of your devices in a pinch. The top USB-C port is also capable of blindingly fast 140W charging – pretty cool.
You need a travel-friendly multi-port charger This may not be the smallest charger around, but it’s certainly compact enough to take on flights or train journeys. On top of that, you get four charging ports, meaning you could get your headphones, phone, laptop and smart watch back to life simultaneously, for instance.
Don't buy it if…
You’re working with a tight space But if you’re working with a really tight space, such as a socket placed behind your desk or couch, this UGreen charger might not be the ideal option. It’s considerably larger than the other models in the Nexode Pro family, so perhaps consider a slimmer option if you’re limited on room.
You’re working with a moderate budget And it might go without saying, but this is not a charger for those of you on a tight budget. At $119.99 / £99.99 (about AU$190) it’s a more premium option, but rest-assured, there are plenty of cheaper options available to you. It won’t pack in quite as much power, but the UGreen Uno Charger 100W has four ports and a fun display which I couldn’t get enough of – and it’s much cheaper than this Pro option.
UGreen Nexode Pro 160W 4-Port charger: Also consider
Anker Prime Charger (200W, 6 ports, GaN) OK, this one’s something a bit different, but it's well-worth considering if you need to charge lots of devices simultaneously. The Anker Prime Charger (200W, 6 ports, GaN) is a desk charger that can bring up to six devices back to life simultaneously. It’s equipped with 200W worth of power to ensure speedy charging and has a mixture of USB-C and USB-A ports too. Sure, it’s even less compact than this UGreen charger, but it's also cheaper, with a list price of $84.99 / £79.99 / AU$149.95, so if you just need a charger for desktop use, this is a better option in my view. Read our full Anker Prime Charger (200W, 6 Ports, GaN) review.
