Here is the Tecno Megabook T1 configuration sent to TechRadar for review:
CPU: Intel Core i7-1195G7 Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EU RAM: 16GB DDR4 RAM Display: 15.6 Inch IPS FHD 350nits, sRGB 100% Storage: M.2 2280 1TB NVMe SSD Ports: 1x USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A, 2x USB 3.0 Type-A, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (10Mbit), 1x USB 3.2 Type-C (for charging), 1x HDMI 1.4, 1x universal audio jack, MicroSD card reader Connectivity: Dual-Band WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.1 Battery: 70Wh/11.4V Size: 132.9 x 156.1 x 71.8 mm (W x D x H) Weight: 1.48kg OS installed: Licensed Windows 11 Home. Accessories: 65W charger, Type-C cable, user manual Colours: Moonshine Silver / Rome Mint / Galaxy Silver / Monet Violet / Space Grey / Champagne Gold / Denim Blue
While they occasionally surprise us, many laptop brands make much the same thing that they did a decade ago, but with fresher stickers attached.
What’s inside these machines is dictated by AMD or Intel, and selling specifically to the corporate market becomes a pricing exercise largely.
Tecno isn’t one of these familiar brands, and therefore it isn’t playing by those agreed-on-a-golf-course rules. Therefore, it doesn’t fit the typical specifications and pricing that Dell, Lenovo, Acer and other brands often deliver.
Available with either a Core-i5 or Core-i7 Intel 11th Gen processor, the T1 is based on relatively recent hardware that was first made available in Q2 of 2021.
Our review machine came with the excellent Core i7-1195G7 CPU, 16GB of DDR4 RAM and 512GB of NVMe storage. Those that go with the Intel Core i5-1155G7 version will find that it typically comes with 8GB of RAM but the same SSD capacity.
The pleasing inner surface and outer lid are both essentially plastic but with a thin metal skin that is nice to touch and relatively easy to clean. However, this isn’t a laptop for someone not prepared to take care of it, and it badly needs a cushioned case.
The success or failure of these types of designs is often down to the display, and Techno provided a good 15.6-inches 1920 x 1080 panel rated with a high brightness of 350 nits that gives good colour representation. Not being a touch screen allows for skinny borders along the sides and a wider top border that includes a 2MP webcam.
At 36cm wide, there is also sufficient space for a full-sized keyboard with a numeric pad along with an ample touchpad. This makes the transition from a desktop system less challenging, and the performance of this system with its Iris Xe graphics is comparable with many 10th Gen desktop processors, if not better in some respects.
Often a weakness in thin Ultrabook designs, the T1 also has a good and varied selection of ports on the left and ride sides. These include plenty of USB in both forms, HDMI out, an audio jack and a MicroSD card slot.
The only minor complaint is that the USB-C port used for charging is exclusively for that purpose and won’t take an external drive or phone of that connector type.
And, to top out what is a generally good specification, Techno gave the T1 a 70Wh battery, allowing it to make it through a working day without demanding mains power for lunch. Techno quotes 17.5 hours, but depending on what you are doing, your mileage may vary.
The issue with this machine isn’t quality or design, its availability. At the time of writing, the T1 can only be bought in the Philippines, and it seems only the Core i5 variant for around $550.
Tecno Megabook T1: Price and availability
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
How much does it cost? From $550
When is it out? It is available now, in the Philippines
This machine was launched in September 2022 initially in the Philippines, which at this time appears to be the only place it can be sourced. The makers, Tecno, intend to bring it to the EU soon. But the exact dates when that will happen are currently unclear.
We also don’t have a price for the Core-i7 version reviewed here, although we’d expect that it would be roughly $700-850 based on the $550 price of the Core-i5 version with 8GB of RAM.
The value-for-money aspect of the T1 is strong, or it would be if you could more easily buy it.
Value: 3 / 5
Tecno Megabook T1: Design
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
Thin and elegant
Great keyboard size
NVMe can be upgraded
Since Apple created the MacBook Pro, every laptop maker has fallen over themselves to make an Ultrabook design thinner than all those that came before.
The trick, and one that Tecno engineers mastered quickly, is to make it thin yet strong enough to be useable and not excessively heavy.
Where it immediately scored high from this reviewer was in the user experience when opening the machine to use for the first time. The keyboard is very large, with easy-to-differentiate keys, and the power button, doubling as a fingerprint reader, is located in the corner where it is easy to reach.
The touchpad is large and easy to navigate and uses the flexible front edge method to emulate mouse buttons. Users that have had a previous laptop shouldn’t have any issues getting to grips with the T1, as almost everything is where you would expect.
The 1080p screen is big and bright while avoiding viewing angle issues. It’s connected via a hinge that almost translates through 180 degrees, allowing the T1 to be made entirely flat. Not sure if that is something useful, but it can do it.
Where some makers seem to think that every port added is some sort of design failure on their part, Tecno gave the T1 a good suite of ports that are located on the sides.
These include USB-A, USB-C and HDMI, along with a 3.5mm audio jack and a MicroSD card slot reader. There is no Ethernet, but fitting one in a machine this thin would be problematic, if not impossible.
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
Charging is via USB-C, and a 65W charger is provided in the box for this purpose.
Having reviewed many Lenovo and Toshiba laptops recently, it was shocking to discover that the underside of the T1 didn’t have any sticker to dissuade us from going inside.
The undertray is a lovely design with an extensive grill that is located over where the warmer parts of a running system are, and removing it requires the removal of nine Torx T6 screws and the spudgering of some edge clips.
Once inside, this is a very compact design where almost all the space is occupied with something useful, with the 70Wh battery dominating the rest of the system.
While it appears that the RAM is soldered, making it effectively impossible to upgrade, the M.2 NVMe drive is a standard 2280 variety and easy to remove and replace.
Design: 4 / 5
Tecno Megabook T1: Features
Good Platform
Odd USB choice
Fingerprint security
The 11th Gen Intel Core i7-1195G7 is an effective processor and the top of its Tiger Lake U3 series that also includes the 1185G7 and 1165G7 options.
Its four cores can throttle between 1.3GHz and 2.0GHz, and a single core can be boosted to 5GHz until thermal throttling becomes necessary.
Maximum power consumption is 28W, but it can use as little as 12W.
Depending on what tasks you have, the four cores and eight threads aren’t likely to be overmatched by typical Office software tasks. The Iris Xe GPU is a significant improvement over the Graphics HD GPU that Intel plied for so many years.
Overall, unless you intend to game, run CAD applications or 3D modelling and animation, this platform is more than adequate, providing a smooth and responsive user experience.
One curious aspect is the ports on the T1 is that the USB-C ports aren’t all interchangeable. What we mean here is that the one port allocated for charging is exclusive to that task and does no other. Why do this?
To confuse matters further, plugging the PSU into the data-capable USB-C port alongside the charging one also powers the laptop. Therefore, the USB-C system is designed for data and charging, other than the one port designated as charging only.
That’s very helpful because it allows this laptop to use a USB docking station and be externally connected to services while being charged.
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From a security viewpoint, the only biometric option is the fingerprint reader, as the webcam isn’t Windows Hello capable. We need to mention that the privacy mechanism for this camera is a software-only option, leaving those with privacy concerns to deploy the electrical tape.
At this price, the cost savings on the camera were to be expected.
It’s easy to look at these numbers and then at systems that use later and more expensive silicon, like the Intel Core i7-1260P, and think the performance here isn’t that special.
But, given that this CPU only has four cores and eight threads, holding its own in many tests, especially against the AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 6650U platform.
Single-core tests on CineBench 23 and GeekBench are strong, and the PCMark 10 numbers are only 10% below the most expensive Intel Core i7-1260P (12 core, 16 thread) machines.
The limitations of this design appear in the GeekBench OpenCL results, where this system is only about 60% the performance of the Intel Core i7-1260P and less than 30% of a laptop using the AMD Ryzen 7 Pro 6850H (8 core, 16 thread, Radeon GPU).
But these are all much more expensive machines that easily cost double or triple the asking price of the T1, so those aren’t apples-for-apples comparisons.
The T1 does well with the platform it uses, but one weakness is the chosen NVMe SSD, the Intel 670p, a distinctly lacklustre offering. This is a QLC NAND NVMe design with a PCIe 3.0 interface rated at 3,500MBps reads and 2,700MBps writes.
In this machine, the best we got was just over 3,000Mb/s reading, and 1,600Mb/s writes.
The inability to hit higher write speeds, even for short periods, impacted the PCMark 10 test score and the Windows Experience Index.
Although the 670p isn’t terrible by SSD standards, a faster drive might benefit the user, and it's one of the few things that can be relatively easily upgraded.
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Battery life was a revelation, although it didn’t hit the 17.5 hours quoted by Tecno. Using the PCMark 10 Office battery test, we achieved 11 hours and 23 minutes on a full charge, which is beyond respectable. By setting the CPU to maximum battery life, it might well be possible to get closer to the quoted longevity.
Performance: 4 / 5
This ultrabook isn’t built like a MacBook, have a 12-core processor and a discrete GPU, but it's far from being underpowered. There is a nice balance between the parts and the build quality, and the price is modest for this user experience.
The problem is availability. Because unless the T1 comes to the USA and EU in quantity, it is just another sidenote in the laptop releases of this era.
Doogee believes that ‘more is always better’, and proof of that is the V Max.
This is a rugged phone with everything set to 11 on the dial. Big screen, powerful SoC, lots of RAM and storage, an impressive camera selection, 5G, and the biggest battery we’ve seen in a phone so far.
This is our first phone review covering a design that uses the new MediaTek Dimensity 1080 SoC. An option increases the clock speeds and RAM capacity seen on the Dimensity 900 series and includes 5G comms.
But by far, the one headline feature of this phone is its 22000 mAh battery, a capacity that
dwarfs that in other phones, including many rugged designs.
When you put a battery in a phone that dwarfs that in some laptops, there are significant physical changes that make the V Max either the phone you must have or make it entirely impractical.
The obvious advantage of a battery this large is that it can operate for a week or more without a recharge. With management, this could be extended to a considerable time without mains power. That could be critical for a camping break or adventure holiday where the nearest power socket might be a long walk away.
The flip side of having all that battery time is that this is a very heavy and bulky phone that doesn’t easily fit in a typical pocket. The weight is 543g or nearly 1.2 lbs for those that like those measurement systems.
Wielded as a blunt instrument, the V Max has sufficient mass to seriously injure someone unlucky enough to be stuck with one.
If the brick-like nature of the V Max doesn’t put you off, what you get is a very capable design with an excellent camera cluster, 5G comms, 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.
The processor and GPU combination makes the V Max suitable for gaming, and it supports dual Nano SIMs for a convenient combination of work and play potential.
In short, if it wasn’t for its gargantuan size, everything else about this phone would be pretty useful, especially at the current asking price.
Just don’t buy one for a person who has anger management issues and likes to throw things.
When is it out? It is on pre-order after an initial release
Where can you get it? It can only be bought from Doogee directly
Normally we’d provide a range of regional pricing for a phone like the V Max. But currently, this phone is on a restocking pre-order from Doogee, and the price is in dollars irrespective of where you order it from.
According to Doogee, the V Max has already been reduced from $749, although it makes little sense that you would cut the price of a design that is currently out of stock.
The asking price is $559, although Doogee is offering a code for an extra $100 off at this time, presumably to prime the sales channel ahead of its return to stock.
When this design becomes more widely available, we suspect the discounted cost is likely to become the asking price, predictably.
There are three colour choices; Classic Black, Moonshine Silver and Sunshine Gold.
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
Value score: 4/5
Doogee V Max design
Built to last
By-the-numbers buttons
No audio jack
One can’t help but sympathise with the designer of the V Max, saddled with the challenge of getting the contents of this phone inside a case.
However approached, this solution was never going to be elegant or stylish, and the V Max is neither of those things.
The best description of this phone is techno-brutalism, a monolithic block that has some chamfered corners and bevelled edges added to make it seem less like a brick.
That said, the metallic sides are pleasing to touch, and the overall shape fits neatly in hand, assuming you’ve got shovel-sized appendages like your reviewer.
The thickness of this design allows for speakers to be mounted at both top and bottom, allowing for a mild stereo effect when playing games in landscape mode.
While the camera cluster is slightly raised, the back is mostly flat, suggesting that this phone might wirelessly charge, but according to the specifications, it doesn’t.
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
The button layout is the now de facto model that all rugged phone makers have gravitated to, where they place a thumb-print reader/power and volume rocker on the right and a custom button with the SIM card slot on the left.
On the bottom edge is a carabiner slot for connecting the phone to a belt strap and the USB-C port. That’s the only way this phone can be charged, and to protect it from water and dust ingress, Doogee covered it with a rubber plug.
The plug is relatively easy to dislodge with a fingernail, but each removal and reinsertion does reduce the likelihood that the port will be fully protected. The designers did make the cover small to minimise exposure, but this negated the possibility of a 3.5mm audio jack on this model. No adapter to provide this functionality through USB was included.
Overall, those who designed this did their best but avoided anything remarkable or groundbreaking in the context of such a large phone.
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
Design score: 3/5
Doogee V Max hardware
Dimensity 1080
5G Comms
Massive battery
Specs
The Doogee V Max that was sent to us for review came with the following hardware:
CPU: Dimensity 1080 / Octa Core / 2.6GHz / 6nm / 5G GPU: ARM Mali-G68 MC4 RAM: 12GB LPDDR4X Storage: 256GB Screen: 6.58-inch IPS LCD Resolution: 1080 x 2408 SIM: Dual Nano SIM (+microSDXC up to 2TB) Weight: 543g Dimensions: 178.5 x 83.1 x 27.3 mm Rugged Spec: IP68, IP69K and MIL-STD-810H Rear cameras: AI Triple camera (108MP+20MP+16MP) Front camera: SONY 32MP Front Camera Networking: WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.2 OS: Android 12 Battery: 22000 mAh
The specification of this phone elevates it above almost all the rugged Chinese designs we’ve seen so far.
MediaTek’s new Dimensity 1080 SoC provides an excellent computing platform as its previous 900 series, but with marginally higher clock speeds and a generally better instruction set.
While it uses the same Mali-G68 MC4 GPU as its predecessor, the extra processing power in the two Cortex-A78 cores pushes the GPU harder, and it achieves a little more.
For those that live in a region with coverage, the 5G support in this design boosts mobile data performance significantly. And, with WiFi 6, it’s also swift when you have a suitably specified router at home or in the office.
One curiosity of this design is the amount of RAM, as most phones tend to be capped at 8GB, whereas this has 12GB. It’s also one of the new designs with the potential to take some storage and make it work as RAM, adding up to 8GB if the user sets that option.
Therefore, unless you spend your days endlessly loading new apps, it seems unlikely that you’ll quickly run out of space to store them or RAM for them to run.
The camera cluster is also impressive, but the stand-out feature of this hardware is the 22000 mAh battery. This battery scale provides not only extreme longevity but using the OTG capability of the USB-C port the power can also be utilised to power other devices.
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
The only feature weakness we noted was that the dual Nano SIM card tray only takes one SIM if you use a MicroSD card. A better solution might have been to offer e-SIMs on this phone, allowing the MicroSD card not to limit the phone to a single SIM.
But conversely, this phone has a feature we’ve not seen before in that it uses a dual-frequency GPS, allowing for even greater positional accuracy even in urban environments.
We’ve seen the 108MP Samsung S5KHM2 sensor before, and while it has limitations in that the full resolution comes without all the clever features, it is still an excellent picture-capture device.
If you want special beauty modes, then pictures are limited to 12MP, although these modes operate with shake compensation and other enhancements.
Alongside the headline 108MP Samsung sensor are a 16MP OmniVision OV16B10 Ultra-Wide lens and a 20.2MP Sony IMX350 Night Vision sensor, extending the camera repertoire further.
Like the Doogee V30, which uses the same Samsung S5KHM2 sensor, the V Max can capture video up to 4K in resolution. And like the V30 and the Ulefone Armor 17 Pro, it isn’t possible to have any control over the frame rate.
Not being able to trade resolution for frame rate is possibly one of the few things keeping the likes of GoPro in business, as many of the phone makers don’t exploit the sensor hardware fully.
As for the results, with a sensor this big, they’re generally very good, and it only made a mess either because of focusing issues to do with sunlight refraction or exposure compensation for highlights. The camera has a full PRO manual mode where ISO, EV, WB, manual focus and shutter speed can all be directly controlled.
In short, like the V30 that came before it, the V Max has a high-quality camera that could have been incredible with a better camera application.
We should also mention that while you can capture 4K video and play it back scaled down on the 1080 x 2408 resolution screen, you won’t be watching streaming content in 4K or even 1080p. Like it appears all rugged Chinese phones are, the V Max doesn’t support Widevine L1 security, reducing the service offered by Netflix and Disney+ to 480p resolution.
Camera samples
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Camera score: 4/5
Doogee V Max performance
Excellent performer
Strong GPU
Power and efficiency
Benchmarks
This is how the Doogee V Max performed in our suite of benchmark tests:
For the short story, this is the most potent rugged phone we’ve tested so far, and it is easily head and shoulders over those that use Helio-based SoCs.
Looking at it from a Qualcomm Snapdragon perspective, it falls fractionally short of the performance of the 778G, but the difference is less than a single percentage point in many tests.
The only caveat is that many games have been specifically coded to use the Snapdragon instruction set for enhanced performance, which might make them run better on Qualcomm SoCs.
But back to the numbers, there are many highlights here, so let’s look at a few especially impressive results.
In the Geekbench single thread task, a score of 734 is a first, with the previous best being the Dimensity 900-powered Doogee V30 achieved 694. And, the Geekbench multithreaded and OpenCL scores are equally beyond what we’ve seen on Dimensity 900 and Helio G99-powered devices.
To give an impression of how much better gaming is on the V Max over an Helio G99 SoC phone like the Ulefone Armor 17 Pro is relatively easy. The 3DMark Slingshot scores are 5315 on the V Max against just 3675 on the 17 Pro. That’s nearly 45% faster.
Compared with an Helio G85 phone, the V Max is almost twice as fast across the board.
Performance on this phone is not an issue, regardless of what you want to use it for.
Performance score: 5/5
Doogee V Max battery
22000 mAh
33W Fast charging
No Qi charging
The battery on this phone is both a blessing and a curse. Having 22000 mAh converts, according to Doogee, into 2300 hours of standby (96 days), 240 hours of ‘normal use’, 19 hours of calling, 40 hours of video, 90 hours of music and 25 hours of gaming.
That’s plenty of capacity, although the battery is a major contribution to making this design so large and heavy.
Where things are less wonderful is in respect of recharging. With a battery so large, getting it charged becomes an issue. Doogee did include a 33W charger, and using that does speed up things somewhat.
But typically, we’d estimate that charging 5000 mAh using 33W charging takes around 90 minutes, and scaling that up, the V Max could easily take more than six hours to reach its full potential. And, if you don’t use the 33W charger, it could take considerably longer.
The Doogee V30, as a good example, offered 66W charging and also 15W wireless charging, and both these options would have been appreciated on the V Max, but neither was used.
It may be that using 66W charging on such a large battery for a least three hours has implications for the generating of heat within the phone, but whatever the reason, charging is a limitation of this phone.
Battery score: 4/5
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
With so many great features and excellent performance in this phone, it seems churlish to talk about some of the obvious failings, but these need to be aired.
The scale and weight of the V Max do push it into a place where practicality becomes an issue, and for many people, this device is just too big and heavy.
Those that don’t mind lugging such a large phone around are rewarded with a feature-rich design that ticks many boxes, including 5G comms, a 108MP camera, top-tier SoC performance and a massive battery capacity. All this for a very reasonable price.
Just make sure that you have huge pockets to put it in.
The Acer Predator Orion 7000 is an absolute beau of a gaming machine, with gorgeous RGB lighting and exquisite cable management. Of course, its massive size and heavy weight are also nothing to sneeze at, making it difficult to move around or lift without a second person. Once it’s in place, however, the massive chassis will be most likely under your desk meaning that it shouldn’t be an issue. And it’s designed to pull apart easily for tool-less access to the insides.
The internals aren’t just for show, though they make quite the gorgeous one, as the state-of-the-art fans and liquid cooling system ensure that this PC will never overheat even when overclocking it with high-end titles. And if you need a handy way to overclock and ramp up the fans in response, the PredatorSense feature allows for precise control over both.
Acer Predator Orion 7000 Key Specs
Here is the Acer Predator Orion 7000 configuration sent to TechRadar for review:
CPU: Intel Core i7-12700H Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 RAM: 32 GB DDR5 Storage: 1TB M.2 PCIe Gen 4 SSD and 2TB 7200RPM SATA III hard drive Optical drive: 2.5-inch USB 3.2 Gen2 Type C hotswap drive bay Ports: 6 USB 3.2 Type-A, 2 USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, 2 USB 2.0 Type-A, 1 Universal Audio Jack, 1 HDMI 2.1 port, 3 DisplayPorts 1.4a Connectivity: Intel Wireless WiFi 6E AX211, Bluetooth 5.2
In terms of pure performance, the Predator Orion 7000 is a top contender for the best gaming PC you can buy off the shelf out there, with some truly solid benchmark performances. For instance, it completely blows away the Maingear Turbo in both the Geekbench5 and CinebenchR23 benchmarks thanks to its more powerful processor, and it more or less matches the Turbo across the 3DMark suite of GPU tests.
However, those same impressive scores don’t translate to improved gaming performance, since even though the general performance is excellent it doesn’t reach the standards of the Turbo’s extremely high framerates playing the best PC games. But gaming is still effortlessly smooth on the Orion 7000, even when pushing it to the max, so only those running endless benchmarks will notice any nuances in the performance
For all these premium specs and features built into the PC, you’re sure to pay a premium price for them. The setup we were sent will set you back $3000 and includes an Intel Core i7-12700H, Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080, 32GB DDR5 RAM, and 1TB of storage.
The configurations being offered in Australia and UK are quite different from the US ones, with the former offering an Intel Core i9-12900K, Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080, 16GB DDR5 RAM, and 512GB of storage. The latter has an Intel Core i9-12900K, Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090, 32 GB DDR5 RAM, and 1TB of storage. This means that the configurations outside the US are more powerful and expensive machines at the cost of more choices in the configuration.
But considering what’s under the hood, the starting prices are mostly a steal. As, despite falling prices for the best GPUs and best CPUs, these prebuilt and customizable PCs are the best value ways to get your hands on some top-tier specs.
Acer Predator Orion 7000: Price and availability
(Image credit: Future)
How much does it cost? $3,000 (£3,300 / AU$5,500)
When is it out? It is available now
Where can you get it? You can get it in the US, UK, and Australia, though it's difficult due to low stock
As expected from a high-end gaming PC, the Acer Predator Orion 7000 fetches a pretty penny on the market. In the US, the one we received is $3,000, while the cheapest ones in the UK and Australia respectively are priced at £3,300 and AU$5,500, with prices going as high as AU$7,200 for the latter region.
However, considering the chips, cooling system, and aesthetics we would argue that this is a PC worth investing in if you want to essentially future-proof it.
Value: 4.5 / 5
Acer Predator Orion 7000: Design
(Image credit: Future)
Stunning RGB lighting and see-through chassis
Great port selection and cable management
Too heavy
Watching the glow of the RGB lighting illuminate the RTX 3080, fans, and beautifully managed cables never gets old. Then there’s also the fact that said chassis is built for practicality as well, as it can be pulled apart without the use of tools.
It’s a well-made machine, with a sturdy chassis that houses an excellent port selection. It includes six USB 3.2 Type-A ports, two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports, two USB 2.0 Type-A ports, one headphone jack, one microphone jack, one HDMI 2.1 port, and three DisplayPort 1.4a. Even better, three of the Type-A, one of the Type-C, the disc drive, and the headphone/microphone jack are located at the top front of the chassis for convenience.
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The only real complaint against the Orion 7000 is its size and weight. This is a gamer’s gaming PC and as such all that hardware, including the state-of-the-art fans and liquid cooling system, plus the size of the casing itself makes it bulky and hard to transport. We found it requires at least two people to safely move the PC around.
With the powerful combination of fans and liquid cooling, near-perfect circulation is all but guaranteed. We didn’t notice as much as a whisper of heat coming from the PC, and this was on the standard settings without using the PredatorSense tool to further modify the fan speeds. The sound while wearing headphones is phenomenal, crisp and sharp audio that’s perfect for picking up subtle cues or for feeling dropped right in the middle of all the action.
And the fact that it comes with a decent gaming keyboard and mouse is just icing on the cake.
Design: 5 / 5
Acer Predator Orion 7000: Performance
(Image credit: Future)
No game can stand against it
No overheating issues
Has ray-tracing, HDR, and more
Benchmarks
Here's how the Acer Predator Orion 7000 performed in our suite of benchmark tests:
The Acer Predator Orion 7000 is a beast when it comes to playing PC games, no matter how demanding the task is. For instance, we completely maxed out every option in Final Fantasy VII Remake including 4k resolution, HDR, ray-tracing, and 120FPS.
To our extreme surprise, the Orion 7000 exceeded all of our expectations, performing at max 256FPS with all those settings turned on. Meanwhile, it runs Hitman 3 butter smooth, at 84FPS on average for the Dartmoor benchmark, and a whopping 103FPS on average for the Dubai benchmark.
Then there’s the PredatorSense tool, which allows you to both overclock your PC and increase fan speeds to overcompensate for it, to your exact specifications. It’s a great feature that’s incredibly easy to use and customize.
The Orion 7000’s configuration, which is equipped with the RTX 3080 and Core i7, churned out some phenomenal benchmark scores. Not even the Maingear Turbo, which uses a stronger graphics card, could beat this computer.
It’s interesting how the mostly tied or superior scores didn’t translate into superior framerates for the suite of PC games we benchmarked with, compared to the Turbo. Though considering the slight improvement in the chips department it makes sense.
That said, the Orion 7000 is still a high-quality, high-end gaming PC that eats demanding and poorly optimized games for breakfast. And thanks to the well-constructed cooling system, it keeps running smoothly without turning into a furnace under your desk.
We pride ourselves on our independence and our rigorous review-testing process, offering up long-term attention to the products we review and making sure our reviews are updated and maintained - regardless of when a device was released, if you can still buy it, it's on our radar.
If you don’t know already, Corsair just launched its very first PC Build Kits, so naturally we had to test them out for you.
Now, I should preface this by saying that the last time I built my own computer was back in college – practically an entire lifetime ago. And, back then, we didn’t really have things like Wi-Fi/Bluetooth cards and these massive graphics cards that look less like cards and more like portable weapons of mass destruction sent from the future. So, essentially, my knowledge of modern PC building is just slightly above that of an average person – and only because I know about all the components that one needs to build it.
Then again, that just makes me the perfect consumer to invest in one of these Corsair PC Build Kits. Those that know their stuff, after all, are more likely to pick out every component and part themselves, which is a big part of the appeal of building your own PC.
The question is, are the new Corsair PC Build Kits well worth it for lay people, whether its those who have zero experience but want to learn sans the pressure of getting the right parts, or those who simply do not have the time to do the digital legwork?
The one thing that might discourage potential customers is the price of entry of these gaming PC kits. The cheapest of the three configurations will set you back $1,199.99 (about £995 / AU$1,740), which is admittedly a lot for casual users. However, that isn’t anything different from what you’d expect from Corsair, as the brand does, in its own words, aim to “deliver a great gaming and PC experience with every build. We did not want to sacrifice quality, warranty, and performance” just for the sake of offering budget-friendly options.
And, you’re also paying for convenience here. The Corsair PC Build Kits essentially takes the amount of painstaking research behind building a PC (and the risks that come with not doing it properly) off your hands and into theirs. So that when you get all the components and parts at your doorstep, you only need to lay them all out and follow the instructions diligently.
I am a massive fan of that, and as someone who is essentially a newbie, the kit that Corsair sent me not only made it easy for me to build my own PC, but it also turned me into a convert.
Getting a pre-build PC? Please! Where’s the fun in that?!
Corsair PC Build Kit: Price and availability
How much does it cost? $1,199.99, $1,499.99, $1,999.99
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Only available in North America at the time of writing
Corsair PC Build Kit: SPECS
Here is the Corsair Novice PC Build Kit configuration sent to TechRadar for review: CPU: Intel Core i5-13400F Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 RAM: Asus B660-PLUS 16GB DDR4 Storage: 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.0 Chassis: Corsair 4000D Airflow Fans: 2x non-RGB fans PSU: Corsair CX550M
To make this hobby more accessible, Corsair is not launching one but three different potential builds. The most affordable, which is the one I put together, goes for $1,199.99 and includes a 13th-gen Intel Core i5 CPU, 16GB of RAM, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060, a 1TB M.2 SSD and the basic essentials for the rest of the build.
Moving to the $1,499.99 version means upgrading the GPU to an RTX 3070 as well as getting RGB-equipped liquid cooling and case. Finally, the most expensive build, which goes for $1,999.99, will upgrade that CPU to an Intel Core i9, the RAM to 32GB, and GPU to one of the latest from Nvidia, the GeForce RTX 4070.
As pricey as that may seem, other PC build kits are not necessarily going to give you a better price for the same level of components. For instance, picking the same or similar parts on PCPartPicker resulted in a slightly higher price tag.
Value: 4 / 5
(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
Corsair PC Build Kit: Packaging
Neatly packed
Not a lot of wasteful packaging materials in the main box
I personally appreciate products that come neatly packaged, and that’s how my Corsair PC Build Kit arrived. Every single component came in its own packaging – apart from the SSD card and the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth card, which came in their own plastic bags for some reason (though this might just be for test units) – then piled neatly on top of each other next to the Corsair PC case that occupied half of the box.
Another thing I appreciated is the lack of packing peanuts or styrofoam in this main box. Though Corsair could have chosen to use those to really secure all the individual boxes, it went with packing pillows instead. Less packaging waste, less things to put away.
Packaging: 4.5 / 5
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Corsair PC Build Kit: Assembly
Unpack, organize and build
Video tutorial needs improving
Instructions missing some bits
One thing to know about Corsair’s PC Build Kits is that you’re not getting that PCPartPicker iBuyPower experience here of picking out every single internal component yourself (you can check out Corsair’s custom PC builder for that too). However, being a building PC newbie who also doesn't have the time to do proper research on things like compatibility, I appreciated the fact that because Corsair already picked out all the stuff for me, all I need to do is build the PC.
Not that that part doesn’t have its share of challenges either. I do feel that building a PC is easier for me as I already know the technical terms and basic foundations like how everything should be connected to the motherboard. I can imagine how getting started might be a bit of a head-scratcher for those who absolutely have zero knowledge of what’s inside a computer, however.
Before you do get started on building the PC, my biggest advice here is to give yourself a lot of space – space to lay out all the components so that you’ll easily find every single bit you need without needing to dig through piles, and space to do the building. That should ease any stress you might encounter during the process.
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Corsair also really does try to make things more palatable and less challenging for the uninitiated. You don’t need to deal with things like applying thermal paste (it’s pre-applied to the CPU), which is something that some folks find a little daunting. Corsair’s PC cases, which are obviously the PC cases it’s using for these pre-builds, also already come with fans – with Novice kit having the Corsair 4000D Airflow case and the second and third tiers coming with the RGB version – so that’s also less work for you.
For the rest, you just have to read through and follow the instructions. Just know that Corsair is using an older video tutorial, which seems to be geared towards folk who kind of already know the basics. It’s more of an overview rather than a step-by-step process, so I’m really hoping that Corsair will roll out a new one that’s much easier to follow if you know pretty much nil about PC building.
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Luckily, Corsair’s online instruction manual has instructions specific to each kit. And, while I didn’t take a look at the other two, I can tell you that the instructions for the Novice kit are mostly easy to follow, taking you through every step and even providing images, which prove very useful when you’re figuring out which ports you should be plugging those I/O cables into, for example. It takes you through most things from beginning to end, essentially from which panels of the PC case you should remove to prep it to setting up Windows 11 after your PC’s very first boot.
But fair warning; the instructions are not perfect. There were missing bits here, like where exactly to insert the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth card on the motherboard. This wasn’t a big deal to me as I knew where it was supposed to go, but this is also something that a complete novice would definitely not know.
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The hair-pulling bit for me, trying to follow every single step in the instructions faithfully, is the missing bit about the I/O (input/output) plate. The instructions tell you how to install the motherboard, but it doesn’t remind you to make sure to secure the I/O plate first before you install the motherboard. I also forgot about the plate, having accidentally buried it in all that discarded packaging (this is why you have to almost be meticulously organized when building a PC).
So, what ended up happening was me completing all the steps only to find out that there was a very unattractive gaping hole in the back of the PC. And, trust me, there’s no way that plate was going in there after the motherboard had been secured with screws, which meant that, you guessed it, I had to unplug everything, unscrew the motherboard, put that pesky plate in place, then redo the whole thing again! The second time was a lot faster, since I already knew where everything went, but it was still a time drain.
I admit that I was very apprehensive at first about whether or not I did everything correctly, so much so that when I had everything ready, I literally grabbed a bucket of water and brought it to my desk because I was scared that my build was going to burst into flames and burn the house down. This is why I think that Corsair should roll out kit-specific video guides that really take you through everything.
But, everything worked perfectly the first time I turned the thing on and took me right through the Windows 11 setup, which says a lot about Corsair’s instruction manual.
Assembly: 4.5 / 5
(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
Corsair PC Build Kit: Performance
Novice kits delivers good performance at 1440p
Doesn’t get too loud or too hot
Don’t expect an Intel Core i5 13400F chip and an Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics card to take you very far in gaming, even if you’ve got a 16GB DDR4 memory backing it all up. This is exactly what you’re getting, however, if you go for the Novice kit – the same basic configuration that I received as my “test unit”. Corsair itself recommends this kit to those who are “interested in building their first gaming PC,” which means that it was never going to be kitted out with cutting-edge tech.
Still, Corsair has done a great job of putting these components together. I wouldn’t recommend this kit for 4K gaming, with the middle one being better-suited to meet such demanding gaming needs, but it performs admirably whenever I’m gaming on high or ultra settings at 1440p.
Playing Hogwarts Legacy on it is a favorable experience, even with ray tracing at low, as it delivers a smooth performance with no noticeable lags. I have seen the occasional minor stutter and noticed that the fans tend to get a little louder – though not too loud to be distracting. Same deal with Kena: Bridge of Spirits, which it handles beautifully, giving me smooth gameplay even when I’m battling the bosses.
Of course, setting everything on ultra, including ray tracing, then removing the frame rate cap is a slightly different deal. Both games start to fumble a little with stuttering and lags becoming more apparent and frequent. However, they’re still more than playable and would, in my opinion, satiate most folks out there, especially those who aren’t massive gamers.
Performance: 4 / 5
Should I buy the Corsair PC Build Kit?
(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
Buy it if...
Don't buy it if...
Corsair PC Build Kit: Report card
First reviewed February 2023
How I tested the Corsair PC Build Kit
We pride ourselves on our independence and our rigorous review-testing process, offering up long-term attention to the products we review and making sure our reviews are updated and maintained - regardless of when a device was released, if you can still buy it, it's on our radar.
The latest entry-level chipset from MediaTek is here with the Helio G36. For most intents and purposes it’s a rebranded Helio G37 with a 100Mhz clock reduction on its Cortex-A53 cores which now operate at 2.2GHz instead of 2.3GHz. The rest of the provided specs show no difference between the old chip and the newly released one.
The MediaTek Helio G36 is expected to debut on a budget gaming phone set to launch in India soon. Last year’s Helio G37 debuted on the Moto G22 but there’s no indication which maker will debut the newer Helio G36.
Source
The latest entry-level chipset from MediaTek is here with the Helio G36. For most intents and purposes it’s a rebranded Helio G37 with a 100Mhz clock reduction on its Cortex-A53 cores which now operate at 2.2GHz instead of 2.3GHz. The rest of the provided specs show no difference between the old chip and the newly released one.
The MediaTek Helio G36 is expected to debut on a budget gaming phone set to launch in India soon. Last year’s Helio G37 debuted on the Moto G22 but there’s no indication which maker will debut the newer Helio G36.
Source
Das Steam Deck kam im Februar 2022 auf den Markt. Seit seiner Veröffentlichung hat Valve das Gaming-Handheld regelmäßig aktualisiert, um einige der Probleme zu beheben, die bei der ersten Nutzung des Systems auftraten.
Für das Steam Deck sind drei verschiedene Speichertypen erhältlich: 64 GB, 256 GB und 512 GB. Das 64GB Steam Deck hat eine eMMC-Speicherkarte und die 256GB und 512GB Steam Decks sind mit einer NVMe-SSD ausgestattet, aber alle drei werden mit einer Tragetasche für den einfachen und sicheren Transport geliefert. Je höher deine Speicherkapazität ist, desto mehr "Extras" bekommst du auf oder mit dem Steam Deck.
Vorbestellen konnte man das Handheld bereits im Juli 2021 und die meisten mussten sich bis zum Oktober 2022 gedulden, bis die ersten Steam Decks ausgeliefert wurden. Als das Steam Deck zum ersten Mal auf den Markt kam, wurde vor allem die Akkulaufzeit bemängelt – oder vielmehr das Fehlen einer solchen. Valve hat das Steam Deck durch Software-Updates verbessert, die nicht nur Patches waren, sondern auch die Benutzerfreundlichkeit, die Zugänglichkeit und die Spielbarkeit von PC-Spielen auf dem Handheld verbessert haben.
Steam Deck: Updates
Die Steam Deck-Updates von Valve umfassten alles von Fehlerbehebungen über Controller-Konfigurations-Updates bis hin zu neuen Optionen für die Anzeige der Framerate. Die Updates wurden im März und April kontinuierlich veröffentlicht, um das Steam Deck-Erlebnis der Spieler noch angenehmer zu machen. Das jüngste Update ermöglicht es den Nutzern nun, Windows 11 zu installieren und ihren eigenen Sperrbildschirm und Pin-Passcode zu erstellen, wenn sie dies wünschen.
Es gab mehrere Updates für die Steam Deck-Tastatur, so dass nun 21 verschiedene Sprachen und verschiedene Layouts neben der englischen QWERTY-Standardtastatur verfügbar sind. Valve arbeitet auch an anderen Tastaturlayouts, darunter Koreanisch, Japanisch und Chinesisch. Nutzer können jetzt zwischen Fenstern in derselben Anwendung wechseln, z. B. zwischen Tabs im Webbrowser.
Ein Problem, das noch nicht ganz gelöst ist, ist das heulende Geräusch des Lüfters des Steam Decks, das hoch und nervig sein kann, auch wenn es nicht besonders laut ist. Es heißt jedoch, dass das neueste Steam Deck-Update versucht hat, das Heulen des Lüfters zu korrigieren, indem es die Tonhöhe des Lüfters verringert und ihn fast geräuschlos laufen lässt. Der einzige Nachteil des Lüfter-Updates ist die leicht erhöhte Temperatur der Steam Deck CPU.
Die kontinuierlichen Updates des Steam Decks zeigen, dass es sich um ein Handheld-System handelt, das sich in seinen ohnehin schon beeindruckenden Kritiken stetig verbessert. Als wir das Steam Deck im Februar 2022 zum ersten Mal getestet haben, hat es uns trotz einiger Mängel sehr gut gefallen und die jüngsten Updates zeigen das Potenzial des Steam Decks. Schau dir unseren Originalbericht unten an, um herauszufinden, ob das Steam Deck für dich geeignet ist.
Steam Deck: 2-Minuten-Rezension
Spezifikationen
(Image credit: Valve)
CPU: AMD Zen 2 Vierkernprozessor 2,4-3,5GHz Grafik: AMD RDNA 2 RAM: 16GB LPDDR5 Bildschirm: 7-Zoll-Touchscreen, 1.280 x 800, 60Hz Speicher: 64GB (eMMC), 256GB, 512GB (NVMe-SSD) Anschlüsse: USB-C, 3,5-mm-Kopfhöreranschluss, microSD Konnektivität: Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5 Gewicht: 667g Abmessungen: 29,8cm x 11,7cm x 4,9cm (B x T x H)
Das Steam Deck ist eine der am sehnlichsten erwarteten Produkteinführungen der letzten Zeit, denn Valve versucht sich an einer Handheld-Konsole. Das ist sicherlich ein ehrgeiziges Vorhaben, das Valve aber größtenteils gelungen ist. Auch wenn du vielleicht denkst, dass das Steam Deck mit der Nintendo Switch konkurriert, ist es in Wirklichkeit eher eine Alternative zu Gaming-Laptops.
Das heißt, wenn du ein PC-Spieler mit einer großen Steam-Bibliothek bist und dich an die Macken und Ärgernisse gewöhnt hast, die mit dem Spielen von PC-Spielen einhergehen, dann wirst du das Steam Deck wahrscheinlich lieben und über seine Ecken und Kanten hinwegsehen. Wenn du jedoch ein Konsolenspieler bist, der an ausgefeiltere Produkte gewöhnt ist, die alles so einfach und unkompliziert wie möglich halten, wirst du vielleicht enttäuscht sein.
Einige der Ecken und Kanten des Steam Decks sind jedoch Teil seines Charmes und in einigen Fällen auf die Flexibilität des Geräts zurückzuführen, die traditionelle Konsolen einfach nicht bieten können. Du kannst so ziemlich jeden USB-C-Hub anschließen, einen Monitor oder Fernseher anschließen und Spiele auf dem großen Bildschirm spielen. Du kannst das Steam Deck auch im Desktop-Modus verwenden, um eine Vielzahl von Linux-Apps zu installieren und das Steam Deck in einen vollwertigen Mini-PC zu verwandeln. Du kannst sogar andere Betriebssysteme installieren, wie z. B. Windows 11.
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Mit dieser Vielseitigkeit hebt sich das Steam Deck von seinen traditionellen Konkurrenten ab, und während Leute, die ein Nintendo Switch-ähnliches Erlebnis suchen, vielleicht nicht begeistert sind, ist das Steam Deck für PC-Spieler, die über einen Gaming-Laptop nachdenken, ein brillantes Gerät mit einem riesigen Potenzial, vor allem für Leute, die gerne experimentieren.
Die Spieleunterstützung ist eine dieser rauen Kanten. Wenn du ein Nintendo Switch-Spiel kaufst, kannst du davon ausgehen, dass es auch auf deiner Nintendo Switch funktioniert. Wenn du jedoch ein Spiel auf Steam kaufst, bedeutet das nicht unbedingt, dass es auch auf dem Steam Deck läuft. Das liegt vor allem daran, dass das Steam Deck unter Linux läuft – genauer gesagt unter Steam OS 3.0 – während viele Steam-Spiele nur unter Windows laufen. Valve hat an einer cleveren Lösung namens Proton gearbeitet, mit der du Spiele auf Linux spielen kannst, aber sie ist nicht perfekt. Und einige Spiele – vor allem solche, die Anti-Cheat-Software verwenden – laufen nicht.
Valve hat eine einfache Methode, um festzustellen, welche Spiele auf dem Steam Deck laufen können. Spiele mit einem grünen Häkchen in der Steam Library UI bedeuten, dass sie für das Steam Deck verifiziert sind und ohne Probleme laufen. Die Standard-Grafikeinstellungen und Steuerungsoptionen funktionieren einwandfrei, und alle Menüs und Texte sind lesbar.
Es gibt auch Spiele, die ein gelbes Häkchen haben. Diese Spiele sind "spielbar", aber nicht vollständig getestet, und es kann Probleme geben, sie zum Laufen zu bringen. Im Moment fällt wahrscheinlich der größte Teil deiner Steam-Bibliothek in diese Kategorie.
Dann gibt es noch die Kategorie "Unbekannt", bei der es nicht genug Informationen gibt, um zu wissen, wie gut ein Spiel funktioniert. Es gibt auch eine Kategorie "Nicht unterstützt", die bedeutet, dass Spiele definitiv nicht laufen werden. Diese Kategorie ist im Moment zum Glück relativ klein und betrifft hauptsächlich Spiele, für die du bestimmte Hardware benötigst, die vom Steam Deck nicht unterstützt wird, wie z. B. Virtual Reality-Titel. Auf der Steam Deck Compatibility Website von Valve kannst du überprüfen, wie viel von deiner Bibliothek auf dem Steam Deck spielbar ist.
Das lohnt sich, denn eines der wichtigsten Verkaufsargumente für PC-Spieler ist, dass deine Steam-Bibliothek auf dem Steam Deck gespielt werden kann, ohne dass du deine Spiele neu kaufen musst. Wenn du bereits eine große Bibliothek an Steam-Spielen hast, ist der Startpreis von 419 Euro viel günstiger.
Wir sagen "Einstiegspreis", da es sich um das Einsteigermodell mit 64 GB eMMC-Speicher und einer Tragetasche handelt. Wir empfehlen dir jedoch, in das 256-GB-SSD-Modell für 549 Euro zu investieren, das viel mehr Speicherplatz bietet und zudem schneller ist. Es gibt auch ein Modell mit 512 GB SSD für 679 Euro, das ebenfalls mit entspiegeltem Glas ausgestattet ist. Alle Modelle verfügen über einen microSD-Kartenslot zur Speichererweiterung, was eine gute Option ist, aber mit langsameren Ladezeiten für Spiele einhergeht.
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Das Steam Deck ist solide gebaut. Obwohl es groß ist, ist es nicht unbequem, auch wenn du mit kleineren Händen Probleme haben könntest. Das Erstaunlichste am Steam Deck ist jedoch die schiere Menge an Spielerlebnissen, die es bietet. Es bewältigt das visuell beeindruckende God of War ohne Probleme und ist ein großartiges Schaufenster für Indie-Spiele. Letzteres ist der Grund, warum das Steam Deck wirklich beeindruckt: Spiele, die in kurzen Intervallen gespielt werden sollen, und stilvolle Grafiken, die die Hardware des Steam Decks nicht überfordern.
Die Suspend-Funktion, mit der du Spiele schnell wieder aufnehmen kannst, wenn du sie spielen willst, ist sehr willkommen. Weniger erfreulich ist die Tatsache, dass die Akkulaufzeit des Steam Decks ziemlich schlecht ist: Beim Spielen von God of War hält es gerade einmal eineinhalb Stunden durch. Bei weniger intensiven Spielen kannst du mit etwa vier Stunden rechnen.
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Steam Deck: Preis & Verfügbarkeit
Das Steam Deck gibt es in drei Versionen: eine Basisversion für 419 Euro, die mit 64 GB eMMC-Speicher und einer Tragetasche geliefert wird. Die Mittelklasse-Variante kostet 549 Euro und enthält eine 256 GB große NVMe-SSD für schnelleren Speicher, eine Tragetasche und ein exklusives Steam-Community-Profil-Bundle. Dies ist die Version, die wir zum Test hatten. Die höchste Stufe schließlich kostet 679 Euro und umfasst 512 GB internen NVMe-SSD-Speicher, hochwertiges entspiegeltes Schutzglas, eine exklusive Tragetasche, ein exklusives Steam Community-Profilpaket und ein exklusives virtuelles Tastaturdesign.
Ursprünglich sollte das Steam Deck im Dezember 2021 auf den Markt kommen, aber Valve gab bekannt, dass es sich auf den 25. Februar 2022 verschiebt. Auch konnte man sich das Steam Deck lediglich reservieren. Die erste Auslieferung der Handhelds erfolgte schließlich im Oktober 2022. Inzwischen kannst du es ganz einfach über die Steam-Webseite bestellen.
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Steam Deck: Design
Das Steam Deck ist zwar eine Handheld-Konsole, aber auch eine der größten, die wir je benutzt haben. Es ist deutlich größer und schwerer als die Nintendo Switch. Im Vorfeld der Veröffentlichung behauptete Valve, dass es viel Zeit darauf verwendet hat, das Steam Deck so zu gestalten, dass es bequeme und lange Spielsitzungen ermöglicht.
Die Größe ist sicherlich gewöhnungsbedürftig, vor allem, wenn du an kleinere Handhelds oder traditionelle Gamepads gewöhnt bist. Rasante Spiele wie Hades können sich etwas unbequem anfühlen. Aber je länger wir mit dem Steam Deck spielen, desto bequemer wird es. Auf der Vorderseite des Steam Decks befinden sich auf jeder Seite des Bildschirms zwei Sticks mit eingebauten kapazitiven Touchsensoren, die laut Valve "ein Maß an Präzision und Komfort bieten, das es bei anderen tragbaren Spielgeräten nicht gibt".
Sie fühlen sich auf jeden Fall robust, reaktionsschnell und präzise an und sind die Steuerungsmethode, die wir am häufigsten verwenden. Unterhalb der Sticks befinden sich zwei quadratische Trackpads, die bei Spielen, die sie benötigen, die Maussteuerung ermöglichen. Sie ähneln dem Trackpad des Steam Controllers und bieten subtile haptische Vibrationen, was eine nette Idee ist. Wir benutzen sie jedoch nur selten.
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Etwas oberhalb des linken Sticks befindet sich ein D-Pad, das für 2D- und Retro-Spiele sehr praktisch ist, und in der gleichen Position über der rechten Hand befinden sich vier Tasten: A, B, X und Y, die in der gleichen Position angeordnet sind wie auf einem Xbox-Controller. Außerdem gibt es eine Ansichtstaste, eine Menütaste, eine Steam-Taste und eine Schnellzugriffstaste. Das wirkt manchmal etwas übertrieben, denn es ist nicht immer klar, was die Tasten in bestimmten Situationen bewirken, und manchmal haben sie eine Doppelfunktion.
Aber wenn du Knöpfe magst, wirst du das Steam Deck lieben! Auf der Oberseite des Steam Decks befinden sich zwei Lautstärketasten, eine Einschalttaste, zwei Schultertasten (L1 und R1) und zwei Auslöser (L2 und R2). Außerdem gibt es einen Kopfhöreranschluss, einen USB-C-Anschluss zum Aufladen und Anschließen eines USB-Hubs sowie eine Status-LED.
Immer noch nicht genug Tasten für dich? Die gute Nachricht ist, dass es auf der Rückseite vier weitere gibt. Das gibt dem Steam Deck zwar eine gewisse Vielseitigkeit, vor allem bei PC-Spielen, die Hotkeys erfordern, die normalerweise auf einer Tastatur zu finden sind, aber wir benutzen sie in unseren Spielen eigentlich nie. Zwar ist es besser, mehr Tasten als nötig zu haben, als nicht genug, aber diese zusätzlichen Tasten sind manchmal im Weg, da du sie versehentlich drücken kannst. Beispielsweise, wenn du das Steam Deck hältst oder in die Hand nimmst, was unerwünschte Folgen beim Spielen haben kann.
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An der Vorderseite des Steam Decks befinden sich außerdem Stereolautsprecher und zwei Mikrofone, mit denen du auch ohne Headset deutlich mit deinen Mitspielern sprechen kannst. Das Steam Deck hat ein 7-Zoll-Display mit 1.280 x 800 Pixeln und einem Seitenverhältnis von 16:10. Es hat auch einen Touchscreen, was eine weitere nette optionale Eingabemethode darstellt. Wir benutzen es zwar nicht in Spielen, aber es ist praktisch, um in Menüs schnell Optionen auszuwählen.
Der Bildschirm ist größer als das 6,2-Zoll-Display der Nintendo Switch und hat die gleiche Größe wie der OLED-Bildschirm der Switch. Beide Switch-Modelle haben eine Auflösung von 1280 x 720, das Steam Deck hat also eine etwas höhere vertikale Auflösung. Während viele Spiele verschiedene Seitenverhältnisse unterstützen, bleiben einige bei 16:9, was bedeutet, dass oben und unten auf dem Bildschirm des Steam Decks schwarze Balken zu sehen sind, sodass du nicht von der zusätzlichen Auflösung profitierst.
(Image credit: Future)
Zum Glück kommen die meisten modernen PC-Spiele mit einer Vielzahl von Auflösungen und Seitenverhältnissen zurecht, sodass sie perfekt auf den Bildschirm passen. Auch die Auflösung ist sehr sinnvoll. Auf einem 7-Zoll-Bildschirm sieht es scharf und lebendig aus (allerdings nicht so gut wie auf dem OLED-Display der aktuellen Switch), und die relativ niedrige Auflösung bedeutet, dass die Spiele die Hardware des Steam Decks nicht zu sehr beanspruchen, was zu einer besseren Leistung und Akkulaufzeit führen kann.
Im Gegensatz zu den meisten anderen Handheld-Konsolen ist das Steam Deck mit Lüftern ausgestattet, die die Wärme an der Oberseite der Konsole ableiten. Wenn das Steam Deck anfängt, hart zu arbeiten, surrt es auf. Es ist nicht das lauteste, aber es ist spürbar, und während PC-Spieler das vielleicht nicht stört, könnten Fans von leisen Handhelds etwas abgeschreckt sein.
(Image credit: Future)
Steam Deck: Leistung
Die Leistung des Steam Decks ist eine gemischte Angelegenheit, die uns manchmal ernsthaft beeindruckt und manchmal frustriert. Ein Großteil der Frustrationen ist auf die frühe Version von Steam OS zurückzuführen, für die Valve fast täglich Updates und Korrekturen herausgibt.
Viele Spieleentwickler arbeiten auch daran, ihre Spiele als Steam Deck zu verifizieren. Diese Spiele, die in deiner Bibliothek mit einem grünen Häkchen angezeigt werden, wurden ausgiebig auf dem Steam Deck getestet und bieten ein flüssiges Gameplay sowie Interface-Optionen, die auf dem Bildschirm des Steam Decks gut lesbar sind. Wenn du eines dieser Spiele lädst, kannst du sicher sein, dass es auf dem Steam Deck gut läuft, ohne dass du an den Einstellungen herumfummeln musst.
Die Zahl der für das Steam Deck geprüften Spiele wächst ständig und umfasst große Veröffentlichungen wie God of War, aber auch Klassiker wie Portal 2. Als wir anfingen, das Steam Deck zu testen, war Hades – ein brillantes Rogue-Lite, von dem wir dachten, dass es sich perfekt für das Steam Deck eignen würde – nicht Steam Deck Verified. Nach ein paar Tagen veröffentlichten die Entwickler jedoch ein Update, mit dem es verifiziert wurde. Aber auch im nicht verifizierten Zustand spielte es sich sehr gut.
(Image credit: Future)
Diese Erfahrung kannst du bei vielen Spielen machen, die als "spielbar" gekennzeichnet sind. Das bedeutet, dass sie noch nicht verifiziert wurden, aber trotzdem auf dem Steam Deck laufen sollten. Es gibt einige Spiele, die als "spielbar" gekennzeichnet sind und genauso gut laufen wie verifizierte Spiele. Es gibt aber auch Spiele wie Monkey Island 2, die ärgerliche Bugs haben. Im Fall des Point-and-Click-Klassikers von LucasArts können wir das Spiel nicht über das Hauptmenü hinaus laden.
Außerdem gibt es einige Spiele, die als "nicht unterstützt" gekennzeichnet sind. Aufgrund der schieren Größe der Steam-Bibliothek wird es wahrscheinlich viele Spiele geben, die unter diese Kategorie fallen, vor allem obskure Titel. Das bedeutet nicht, dass die Spiele nicht funktionieren, aber es kann sein, dass sie Bugs haben, die Benutzeroberfläche nicht funktioniert oder der Text nicht ganz richtig aussieht.
Zum Glück gibt es im Steam-Deck viele Optionen, mit denen du das Spiel so einstellen kannst, dass es besser läuft. Manche Spiele laufen besser, wenn du sie im Vollbildmodus statt im Fenster spielst und die Auflösung anpasst. Es gibt auch zahlreiche vorgefertigte Controller-Optionen, die dir helfen, das beste Steuerungsschema für ein Spiel zu finden, vor allem für ein Spiel, das nicht für die Verwendung von Controllern entwickelt wurde.
Diese Art der Anpassung ist ein fester Bestandteil des PC-Spiels, so dass es PC-Spieler vielleicht gar nicht stört. Für Konsolenspieler, die ein ausgefeilteres Spielerlebnis gewöhnt sind, könnte dies jedoch abschreckend wirken. Die gute Nachricht ist, dass wir im Allgemeinen keine Probleme haben, Spiele zu spielen, die mit dem Steam Deck verifiziert wurden. Wenn du nicht gerne an den Optionen herumspielst, solltest du dich an diese halten.
(Image credit: Future)
Schon jetzt ist der Umfang der verifizierten Spiele auf dem Steam Deck beeindruckend und es ist ein echter Nervenkitzel, ein grafisch intensives Spiel wie God of War auf einem Handheld zu spielen. Dann zu fesselnden Indie-Spielen wie Hades und Hotline Miami zu wechseln (die perfekt für das Steam Deck geeignet sind), ist eine Freude und bedeutet, dass das Potenzial des Steam Decks extrem spannend ist.
Wir haben God of War von "Ultra" auf "Hoch" heruntergeschaltet, um eine konstantere Leistung zu erzielen. Auf dem 7-Zoll-Bildschirm sieht es phänomenal aus, es sinkt nie unter 30FPS und bleibt meist bei 40FPS.Obwohl es beeindruckend ist, ist es eindeutig kein Spiel, das für Handhelds gedacht ist. Auch einige Ego-Shooter fühlten sich umständlich an, aber das mag daran liegen, dass wir für diese Art von Spielen Tastatur und Maus bevorzugen.
Aber schnelle und rasante Spiele, die du für kurze Zeit in die Hand nehmen und spielen kannst (wie die bereits erwähnten Hades und Hotline Miami), funktionieren wirklich gut. Wenn du die Power-Taste drückst, geht das Steam Deck in den Suspend-Modus. Wenn du erneut auf den Einschaltknopf drückst, schaltet sich das Steam Deck nach ein paar Sekunden wieder ein und du bist sofort wieder da, wo du warst.
Das ist eine tolle Funktion, die das Steam Deck noch attraktiver macht. Die schnelle Wiederaufnahme ist etwas, an das Konsolenspieler gewöhnt sind, aber nicht auf dem PC. Ein Spiel, das auf dem Steam Deck eine besonders angenehme Überraschung war, ist Portal 2. Valves kultiger FPS-Puzzler wurde hier zu neuem Leben erweckt. Wir haben zwar schon erwähnt, dass einige FPS-Spiele nicht so recht auf das Steam Deck passen, aber Portal 2 funktioniert hervorragend. Das liegt zum Teil daran, dass es ein langsameres Spiel ist, bei dem das Lösen von Problemen wichtiger ist als schnelle Reflexe, aber auch daran, dass das Spiel im Wesentlichen aus kurzen, separaten Rätseln besteht, was es ideal macht, um es zum Beispiel unterwegs zu spielen. Obwohl es ein älteres Spiel ist, sieht es immer noch fantastisch aus, und es ist eine wahre Freude, nach so langer Zeit zu diesem Spiel zurückzukehren. Da es sich um einen Titel von Valve handelt, ist es nicht verwunderlich, dass das Spiel Steam Deck Verified ist.
(Image credit: Future)
Die Leistung ist jedoch nicht perfekt, und selbst bei weniger grafikintensiven Spielen kann es gelegentlich zu Stottern kommen. Aber im Großen und Ganzen ist die Leistung gut und wir haben das Gefühl, dass diese kleinen Probleme mit der Aktualisierung von Steam OS, Proton (dem Tool, mit dem Windows-Spiele unter Linux laufen) und den Spielen selbst behoben werden.
Valve hat das Steam Deck nicht umsonst als Handheld-PC angepriesen. Du kannst vom Big Picture-Modus (der Standardeinstellung) zur Desktop-Ansicht von SteamOS 3 wechseln und von hier aus andere Anwendungen installieren und nutzen. Diese können entweder über einen Webbrowser oder über das Discover Software Center installiert werden.
So kannst du das Steam Deck wie einen vollwertigen PC nutzen. Dank einer engagierten Community von Open-Source-Entwicklern gibt es eine riesige Auswahl an Anwendungen, die du unter SteamOS nutzen kannst. Du kannst das Steam Deck auch an einen USB-Hub anschließen und eine Maus, eine Tastatur und einen Monitor damit verbinden, so dass es als Mini-Desktop-PC verwendet werden kann. Das ist beeindruckend und es ist toll, dass Valve sich für Offenheit und Flexibilität einsetzt, denn du kannst so ziemlich jeden USB-C-Hub verwenden, anstatt teures proprietäres Zubehör.
Anders als bei der Nintendo Switch bringt das Andocken des Steam Decks jedoch keine Leistungsverbesserungen mit sich, und wenn du einen hochauflösenden Bildschirm, wie z. B. einen 4K-Fernseher, verwendest, werden die Hardwarebeschränkungen des Steam Decks deutlicher. Trotzdem kannst du mit Tastatur und Maus Spiele auf dem großen Bildschirm spielen, und auch hier sind die Ergebnisse sehr gut.
Linux, insbesondere eine Arch-basierte Distribution, ist jedoch nicht das benutzerfreundlichste Betriebssystem für Anfänger. Wenn du also nicht damit vertraut bist, solltest du das Steam Deck im Steam Big Picture-Modus betreiben. Im Desktop-Modus bleibt alles, was du tust, getrennt. Das bedeutet, dass größere Updates von Steam OS deine Arbeit nicht zerstören sollten. Allerdings besteht beim Herumspielen in Linux immer die Gefahr, dass du etwas kaputt machst und einen Neustart brauchst.
Du kannst auch Windows 11 auf dem Steam Deck installieren. Dadurch hast du eine größere Auswahl an Spielen, da du auch Spiele von Entwicklern wie Ubisoft und Activision Blizzard installieren kannst, die nicht auf Steam veröffentlicht werden und die es nur für Windows gibt. Zum Zeitpunkt dieses Tests war die Unterstützung von Windows 11 mit einigen Treiberproblemen etwas problematisch, aber auch das wird sich dank kontinuierlicher Updates wahrscheinlich mit der Zeit verbessern.
Selbst bei unserem 256-GB-Modell mit Solid State Drive waren die Ladezeiten für Spiele ziemlich lang. Wenn du von einem Gaming-PC mit einer superschnellen SSD (oder einer Konsole wie der PS5) kommst, werden die Ladezeiten zu einer spürbaren Belastung. Noch schlimmer ist es, wenn du eine microSD-Karte verwendest, da die Geschwindigkeit auf UHS-I begrenzt ist, was etwa 104 MB/s entspricht. Das ist viel langsamer als jede SSD und kann bei großen Spielen zu längeren Ladezeiten führen.
Auf der SSD brauchte Portal 2 – ein mittlerweile ziemlich altes Spiel – 51 Sekunden, um das Menü zu laden, und weitere 23 Sekunden, um unseren Spielstand zu laden. Das sind insgesamt 1 Minute und 14 Sekunden vom Starten des Spiels bis zum Spielen. Das scheint zwar nicht viel zu sein, wenn man es aufschreibt, aber es fühlt sich so an, wenn du das Steam-Deck benutzt und darauf wartest, dass ein Spiel geladen wird.
Bei älteren Titeln oder Indie-Spielen ist die Ladezeit weniger ein Problem. Das Steam Deck hat auch eine nette Abhilfe in Form der bereits erwähnten Suspend-Option. Wenn du das Steam Deck aufweckst, wird das Spiel, das du gerade spielst, innerhalb weniger Sekunden geladen, ohne dass dein Fortschritt verloren geht.
Das macht es besonders für PC-Spieler interessant, die normalerweise ihren PC einschalten, auf den Start von Windows warten und dann ein Spiel laden müssen. Abgesehen von diesem ersten Ladevorgang oder dem erneuten Laden eines Spielstands, wenn das Spiel stirbt, bedeutet die "Suspend"-Funktion, dass die Ladezeiten kein Problem darstellen. Auch der Akku wird nicht übermäßig beansprucht – er hat im Suspend-Modus 16 Stunden lang 8 % verloren, während wir ihn benutzt haben.
Valve hat während unserer Zeit mit dem Steam Deck auch eine Funktion hinzugefügt, mit der mehrere Apps gleichzeitig ausgeführt werden können. Das kann praktisch sein, um Musik-Apps abzuspielen und gleichzeitig Spiele zu spielen, aber es bedeutet auch, dass du zwei Spiele gleichzeitig laufen lassen und zwischen ihnen wechseln kannst, ohne dass sie geladen werden.
Das belastet das Steam Deck natürlich stärker, vor allem den Arbeitsspeicher und den Akku, und es gibt sogar eine Warnmeldung, wenn du versuchst, ein zweites Spiel zu starten, in der erklärt wird, dass dies die Leistung beeinträchtigen könnte, aber wir hoffen, dass mit der Weiterentwicklung der Software für das Steam Deck zwei gleichzeitig geöffnete Spiele weniger ressourcenintensiv sein werden.
Die Spiele auf dem 7-Zoll-Bildschirm sehen gut aus, vor allem 2D-Spiele. Während das spiegelnde Display der 512-GB-Topversion sicherlich sehr schön ist, fanden wir das Standard-Display völlig in Ordnung. Die Audioqualität aus den beiden Lautsprechern war jedoch eine angenehme Überraschung, mit einer ordentlichen Portion Druck und Stereotrennung. Selbstverständlich kannst du auch Kopfhörer (entweder über die Audiobuchse oder Bluetooth) als Audioausgang verwenden.
Die Gesamtleistung des Steam Decks hat uns beeindruckt, da es sowohl mit grafisch beeindruckenden AAA-Titeln als auch mit Indie-Spielen gut zurechtkommt. Aufgrund des Formfaktors und der gesamten Hardware fanden wir, dass das Steam Deck besonders gut für Indie-Spiele geeignet ist, die du einfach in die Hand nehmen und spielen kannst, und nicht für cineastische Spiele oder Titel mit übermäßig komplexer Steuerung.
(Image credit: Future)
Steam Deck: Akkulaufzeit
Während unserer Zeit mit dem Steam Deck war die Akkulaufzeit leider ein Problem. Beim Spielen von God of War hält das Steam Deck nur anderthalb Stunden durch und liegt damit unter dem von Valve angegebenen Minimum von zwei Stunden. Offensichtlich handelt es sich um ein besonders intensives Spiel, aber das bedeutet, dass es nicht möglich ist, über einen längeren Zeitraum zu spielen, ohne das Steam Deck aufzuladen.
Das wird viele Leute verärgern, die das Steam Deck z. B. für lange Flüge nutzen wollten. Es gibt zwar Möglichkeiten, das Steam Deck zu verlängern, z. B. indem du die Einstellungen herunterdrehst oder ein Akkupack verwendest, und da es über USB-C aufgeladen wird, sollte es einfach sein, es bei Bedarf ein wenig aufzuladen, aber dadurch fühlt sich dieses portable Spielsystem sicherlich weniger... nun ja, portabel an.
PC-Spieler, die sich seit Jahren mit der schlechten Akkulaufzeit von Gaming-Laptops abfinden müssen, werden an dieser Stelle weise nicken. Denn wenn du ein kleines, aber leistungsstarkes Gerät brauchst, um moderne Spiele zu spielen, wird die Akkulaufzeit darunter leiden. Für Konsolenspieler, die an längere Akkulaufzeiten bei ihren Handhelds gewöhnt sind, werden anderthalb Stunden allerdings ein herber Schlag sein.
Die gute Nachricht ist, dass die Akkulaufzeit bei weniger intensiven Spielen viel besser ist und wir mit 2D-Spielen über mehrere Spielsitzungen hinweg stundenlang Spaß haben können.Wenn du deine Erwartungen nicht zu hoch schraubst, ist die Akkulaufzeit des Steam Decks keine Katastrophe, aber wenn du stundenlang AAA-Spiele spielen willst, wirst du ein Ladegerät brauchen.
Each time Doogee comes out with a new flagship design, it moves the bar for numerous companies in the rugged phone sector.
The new V30 takes features exclusive to premium branded phones only months ago and delivers them in an affordable package for those that work outdoors or yearn to adventure.
Ticking the rugged phone boxes, this is an IP68, IP69K and MIL-STD-810H compliant design that can handle dust and water, including full submersion for limited periods and shallow depths.
But the parts of this phone that will interest the discerning customer are all inside. Specifically, the Dimensity 900 SoC, 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage and 108MP camera.
These make the V30 a potent and capable phone that can connect using 5G when available and capture the world around it in astounding detail.
On the rear are a 108MP Samsung S5KHM2SP03 main camera (F1.79, 90-degree FOV, PDAF) a 20MP Sony IMX350 night vision camera (F1.8, 70-degree FOV) and a 16MP wide-angle & macro camera (F2.2, 130-degree FOV).
For selfie-takers, the front has a 32MP IMX616-AAJH5-C front camera (F2.0, 90-degree FOV).
Like we’ve seen before with this sensor, the taking of 108MP images negates some of the special features like HDR and Bokeh, but you can get those things in a 12MP mode.
However, other phones don’t offer 4K video capture, and the V30 does, along with lower resolutions.
Viewing those pictures or streamed content is easy on its 6.58-inch IPS 120Hz display with a natural resolution of 2408 x 1080, similar to one of that we’ve seen before on the Ulefone Power Armor 17 Pro.
With a battery capacity of 10800mAh, the V30 should operate for more than three days of normal use without needing a recharge. And, using the included 66W charger, it can recover 50% of its battery capacity from empty in around 30 minutes.
These features and its 5G functionality make the V30 an exceptionally good choice for anything travelling abroad, capturing images and video and then securing them over cellular or WiFi connections.
It might not be the cheapest rugged phone design, but the amount of technology that Doogee shoehorned into it makes it easily worth the asking price.
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
Doogee V30 price and availability
How much does it cost? $449.99 / £407.99/ $AU 779
When is it out? It is available now
Where can you get it? You can get it in most regions direct from AliExpress or on Amazon.com
The Doogee V30 costs $449.99 directly from Doogee or $529.99 on Amazon.com for next-day delivery. European costs from online retailers are slightly better, with the Amazon.co.uk cost being just £407.99.
Whereas direct from an Australian online retailer, the V30 costs AU$ 779.
But if you want a real bargain Doogee has this phone at its own outlet on AliExpress, and it costs only £329.16 or $395.24, although delivery might take 30 days or more.
Considering the features of this phone, the price is very competitive.
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
Value score: 5/5
Doogee V30 design
Built to last
By-the-numbers buttons
No audio jack
From the outside, there isn’t much radical about the V30, as it falls into the familiar tropes where most large rugged phones fall.
One unique aspect is that the phone's body has a boat-like profile, making it slightly easier to handle than some thicker phone models. Having its sides elevated also helps when picking up, which might otherwise be a challenge.
The construction uses a combination of a milled metal frame covered largely in impact-resistant plastic and dense TPU. This has been texturized for better grip and to match a section of ‘leather’ on the flat underside.
One curiosity is the side panels that have a wood grain finish, although it's hard to determine what they’re actually made from. It all looks nice, and with the ‘Leather’ underside, it gives the phone the feel of a luxury car interior.
Every phone maker seems to be glued to this layout with the thumb-activated power button, and Doogee engineers didn’t buck that trend. It works well for right-handed users and less elegantly for left-handed.
Typically, rugged Chinese-made phones come with a SIM tray that can accept two Nano SIMs and a MicroSD card, but the V30 only supports one Nano alongside the MicroSD or, alternatively, two Nano and no MicroSD.
However, as we’ll cover elsewhere, this phone supports eSIMs, so it can have up to five different numbers and services if required.
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
The charging and data port is the USB-C variety placed on the centre of the bottom edge and covered in a rubber plug. We’ve seen designs by Ulefone recently that dispensed with the rubber plug but still offering to waterproof, something Doogee needs to consider offering in its designs.
However, the phone will wirelessly charge at 15W with a suitable Qi wireless charger if repeatedly removing the plug annoys you.
What is missing is any 3.5mm audio jack. Doogee assumes music fans will be using Bluetooth or buy their own USB-C-to-audio adapter, as one isn’t included in the box.
What you get with the phone is a plastic tool to avoid breaking a nail opening the SIM tray, a Euro pinned wall-socket PSU rated to 66W, USB-C to USB-C OTG cable, some screen protecting accessories and a User Manual.
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
Design score: 4/5
Doogee V30 hardware
Powerful
High specification
eSIM flexibility
Specs
The Doogee V30 that was sent to us for review came with the following hardware:
CPU: MediaTek Dimensity 900 GPU: Mali-G68 MC4 RAM: 8 GB (15 GB with Memory Fusion) Storage: 256GB (expandable to 1TB with MicroSD) Screen: 6.58" FHD+ 120 Hz IPS waterdrop display Resolution: 2408 x 1080 SIM: Dual Nano SIM (or 1 and MicroSDXC) and eSIM (4) Weight: 376g Dimensions: 177 x 80 x 18 mm Rugged Spec: IP68, IP69K and MIL-STD-810H Rear cameras: 108MP main, 20MP night vision, 16MP ultrawide Front camera: 32MP Networking: WiFi 5, Bluetooth 5.0 OS: Android 12 Battery: 10800mAh
The MediaTek Dimensity 900 is the SoC of choice for flagship designs for those companies unwilling to pay Qualcomm for the latest Snapdragon silicon. We’ve seen it used in the V30 and the Ulefone Power Armor 18T, and it impressed us in both devices.
This is a third-generation MediaTek APU that combines dual ARM Cortex-A78 performance cores with six ARM Cortex-A55 cores for efficiency. Its integrated GPU is Mali-G68 MC4 can handle 4K video encoding/decoding and supports OpenGL3.1 and Vulkan for 3D rendering.
As an SoC and not just a CPU/GPU, this 6nm chip can connect to LPDDR4X or LPDDR5X, and supports UFS 2.1 and 3.1 storage.
In this phone, the memory type is LPDDR4X, and this is one of those designs where the amount of RAM can be expanded by sacrificing some of the storage. This memory fusion mode enables up to 15GB of RAM to be allocated, nearly doubling the amount available for apps.
But it isn’t just the SoC and memory model that is premium on this design. The networking technology is also state of the art, with WiFi 6 (2x2 MIMO), Bluetooth 5.2, and mobile comms for 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G cellular services.
Using the dual SIM mode can choose from physical SIMs and eSIMs, and if the service provider supports the mode, it can communicate over dual 5G links at up to 2.7Gbps download speeds.
Where the eSIM model used in the V30 is truly revolutionary is that the whole process of getting a service can be achieved from the phone. If you imagine wanting to go to a distant country and needing a local number and service, this would normally involve sourcing a physical SIM and paying for that service when you arrive.
Using the pre-installed eSIM store, you can simply select the country and the required data plan, sanction the payment and magically, you’ve now got access to the local service and a mobile number. And, if you are involved in some shuttle diplomacy or the like, it is possible to have four eSIM numbers active at any time.
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
The only disappointment in the hardware is that the V30 doesn’t support the Widevine L1 video decryption standard, only L3. With only L3 decryption streaming services like Netflix and Disney+ reduce the best resolution available to just 480p. 1080p playback on YouTube and with capture videos is possible, but not over the mainstream services.
This limitation appears to be the norm among Chinese phones, regrettably.
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
Hardware score: 4/5
Doogee V30 cameras
108MP sensor on the rear
Wide-angle, macro and night vision
Four cameras in total
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
The Doogee V30 has four cameras:
Rear cameras: 108MP Samsung S5KHM2, 16 MP OmniVision OV16B10 (Ultra-Wide), 20MP Sony IMX350 (Night Vision) Front camera: 32MP SONY IMX616 Sensor (Wide)
We’ve seen the 108MP Samsung S5KHM2 main sensor before on the Ulefone 17 Pro, and it can deliver some amazing resolution images if you need the highest levels of detail.
The trade-off for getting 12000 x 8992 resolution pictures is that it will only do this in a basic snapshot mode, with all the clever Pro and specialist capture being limited to 12MP.
With such a large sensor and all the light it can capture, the 12MP results are excellent, but it would be nice to extract more resolution without losing all the shooting modes.
Where this camera design differs from that in the Ulefone 17 Pro is it uses 8MP supporting wide-angle sensors, while the ones in the V30 are 16MP and 32MP. This results in better close-up and macro results, along with better selfies.
But it isn’t only the supporting sensors that are generally better, but also the way that the main 108MP is exploited is superior in the V30.
We’ve seen designs that use this sensor and then offer only 2K video resolution, but the V30 does offer 3840 x 2160, aka 4K UHD. The screen might not have the resolution to display these capture without scaling, but it can grab video at 4K.
There is still work to be done here, Because irrespective of what video resolution you pick, the only framerate available is 30fps. Not only is this not helpful for those that like 25fps, but it also ignores all the possibilities for slow motion.
That point aside, the results from this camera are outstanding, with exceptionally crisp images and natural colours, and they’re relatively artefact-free.
While I’m sure that the latest Apple or Samsung premium design might be able to do better, there isn’t much that is substandard about the images the V30 can capture.
Camera samples
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Camera score: 4/5
Doogee V30 performance
All-round performer
Strong GPU
Power and efficiency
Benchmarks
This is how the Doogee V30 performed in our suite of benchmark tests:
The performance of this phone is terrific, as across the benchmarks. These results display its superiority to MediaTek Helio series SoCs and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 5G in every test. The Dimensity 900 is equivalent to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 in a few respects, though it is marginally better in many areas.
Where often Octo-core SoCs are good at multi-thread tests but less wondering at single-task challenges, the 2.5GHz Cortex-A78 performance cores deliver excellent single-thread performance. But when two of these are combined with the six Cortex-A55 cores, it can also achieve excellent results in multi-threaded scenarios.
Compared to the MediaTek Helio G99 phones, the V30 is around 30% faster at single-thread tests and up to 25-30% better at multi-threaded. And it entirely crushes lower G and P series SoCs.
The Mali-G68 MC4 is also a dramatic improvement over the Mali-G57 MC2 used in the G99 designs, delivering an improvement of around 40% in most of the 3DMark benches and closer to 80% in Wild Life.
Overall, the performance of this phone is fantastic, as the configuration of the SoC allows for high performance and power efficiency when priorities change.
There is nothing low-budget about the performance of the V30.
Performance score: 5/5
Doogee V30 battery
Good battery size
66W Fast charging
15W Qi charging
When phones get more than 10,000 mAh, they’ve got enough battery for extended use without a recharge, and this one has 10800 mAh of battery inside.
According to Doogee, the V30 should operate for more than three days of typical use without needing a recharge, and it might make it to a fourth.
The included 66W charger can recover 50% of its battery capacity from empty in around 30 minutes, although if you use the 15W wireless charging, it will take four hours to reach the same level.
There are rugged designs that offer more battery, but they trade weight for that advantage, and the physical mass of the V30 isn’t so great that it becomes impractical.
The available capacity is enough for a camping holiday, and the power efficiency of the platform makes the most of it.
Battery score: 4/5
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
The V30 is easily the best Doogee phone we’ve tested so far, with many positive aspects and relatively few caveats.
It has a powerful platform, an impressive camera, decent battery life and 5G communications. But the stand-out feature is the inclusion of eSIM technology, which makes international use significantly less of a hassle.
We’d like to see more camera options at 108MP, framerate control on the video, and L1 Widevine decryption, but those things could all be added with firmware and software enhancements.
Doogee has set a new high watermark for rugged phones, and we can’t wait to see how its competitors react.
The PS5 has some high expectations to meet when it launched, especially following the success of the PS4, but we can safely say that Sony's current-gen console has massively exceeded every standard set by its predecessor. There's a huge amount to discuss when showcasing what makes it so impressive, which includes everything that comes with it rather than exclusively the console.
The DualSense controller is nothing short of a revelation with its haptic feedback and adaptive triggers. It's a phenomenally clever bit of tech that, in itself, is a selling point for the console. Sony has also since released an upgraded version, named the DualSense Edge, which is equally as impressive as its counterpart.
With the combination of a fresh UI, rapid SSD-fuelled load times, immersive 3D audio, and incredibly powerful hardware, the PS5 takes some generational strides over the PS4. For these reasons and more, once you've started playing the PS5, it's hard to stop.
But there's no avoiding that the console itself is an eyesore, largely due to its wing-like faceplates and bulky size. The plus side to this is that the PS5's gargantuan size ensures that it's quiet and runs suitably cool. You can still place the console vertically or horizontally, though we really wish it didn't need a stand when on its side. More importantly, we haven't experienced any major hardware issues since launch, like hard crashes or storage corruption.
One area where the PS5 has been slow on the uptake is support for the best 120Hz TVs with HDMI 2.1. However, the games that support 120fps is steadily growing, including first and third-party hits like Horizon Forbidden West, Fortnite and Ghostwire Tokyo.
Equally fantastic is the addition of VRR support to PS5. VRR (or variable refresh rate) keeps the action running smooth on compatible TVs. With PS5 VRR enabled, the console is able to maintain high framerates, without screen tearing, and with little to no hits to overall performance. It's an awesome feature we're very happy to see on PS5.
However, you won't need a top-shelf TV to feel the benefits of the PS5’s substantial horsepower. You can still enjoy unbelievably fast load times, significantly better performance, and a greater level of visual fidelity in new and older games alike.
From a simpler setup to a well-thought-out user interface, Sony has also re-imagined the key parts of the user experience with some pleasing extras to boot: PS Plus Essential members can enjoy a curated selection of games straight away, while Plus Extra and Premium can access an additional Game Catalog and Classics Catalog. Backward compatibility also ensures that your old collection of the best PS4 games works on day one.
The end result is a console that we're impressed with, which is ultimately strengthened by the PlayStation 5's compelling line-up of exclusive games that continues to grow.
We'd love to have seen more first-party games at launch (there were only four if you include pack-in game Astro's Playroom). It would also have been wonderful to see further support for previous generations of PlayStation titles, like PS2 and PS3. Still, the PlayStation 5 feels like a solid investment and with a growing library of the best PS5 games, we're confident this experience will only improve with age.
The library of compelling titles has certainly grown since the PS5’s release. Returnal takes full advantage of the console’s feature set, Horizon Forbidden West and Gran Turismo 7 both look stunning on the new-gen hardware, while Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart is a visual spectacle that needs to be seen to be believed.
PS5 one year on
(Image credit: Sony)
We've updated our PS5 review to reflect our initial impressions after spending two years with the console. Sony has made a few pleasing changes via system updates, and the quality of its exclusive games continues to impress. There are a few outstanding issues, though. The lack of 1440p support continues to frustrate but we'd still fully recommend picking a PS5 if you can find one.
The PS5 caters to people ready to jump into the new generation of video games, alongside PS4 owners who don’t want to leave their collection of games behind. It's a console that seamlessly bridges the gap between the last generation and the new, so you probably won't need to boot up your PS4 ever again.
There's big upgrades like the super-fast NVMe SSD and powerful GPU that enable higher frame rates and ray tracing. But you'll also appreciate the subtle touches like the built-in microphone on the controller that can serve as a quick stand-in for a headset. The PS5 feels like it was built for ease of use as well as pure power.
The PS5 Digital Edition is exactly the same as the standard PS5 but removes the 4K Blu-Ray drive to offer a cheaper price point at $399 / £389.99 / AU$649.95 and a more symmetrical look. We've pitted the two PS5 consoles against each other in this PS5 vs PS5 Digital Edition comparison, so you can determine which one is right for you.
Whichever PS5 model you choose, though, we can wholeheartedly recommend the console as a welcome upgrade over the PS4, and an exciting portal to new-gen gameplay. Read on for our full PS5 review.
Watch our PS5 video review below:
PS5 review: price and release date
PS5 release date: Out now (released on November 12/19, 2020)
PS5 price: $499.99 / £479.99 / AU$799.95
PS5 Digital Edition price: $399.99 / £389.99 / AU$649.95
The PS5 was released in North America, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand on November 12, 2020. It came two days after the release of Microsoft’s new-gen consoles, the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. For the rest of the world, the console became available one week later on November 19.
For the PS5’s price, it originally cost $499.99 / £449.99 / AU$749.95 for the standard version of the console with a 4K Blu-ray disc drive. However, if that’s more than you want to spend, there’s also the PS5 Digital Edition, which is exactly the same apart from the fact it removes the disc drive entirely. At launch, that cost $399.99 / £359.99 / AU$599.95, which is a saving of $100 / £90 / AU$150 over the standard model.
The PS5 is more expensive than the launch price of the PS4, PS4 Slim, and PS4 Pro, which both came in at $399.99, but they arrived seven and four years ago respectively now, and you're getting a generational leap in hardware here for $100 more. The PS5 is still expensive, don't get us wrong, but the jump in price does feel warranted for what you’re getting.
However, much like the Oculus Quest 2, we've seen the PS5 get a price hike with Sony blaming this on soaring inflation globally. The US remains unaffected but that's gone up to £479.99 / €549.99 / AU$799.95 for the standard PS5, and £389.99 / €449.99 / $649.95 for the digital PS5.
Sony isn't the only console maker with new hardware on the block, though – you also have to consider the Xbox Series X/S, which is the closest competitor to Sony’s PlayStation 5. Priced at $499 / £449 / $AU749 and $299 /£249 / $AU499 respectively, this makes PS5 more expensive than Microsoft's latest consoles, and Xbox won't follow PlayStation with price hikes. Not yet, anyway.
We’ve delivered our verdict in their respective reviews linked above, so we won't spend much time talking about them here. But if you’re interested in how these two compare, be sure to check out our PS5 vs Xbox Series X breakdown for more details.
PS5 review: design
(Image credit: Future)
Huge for a modern gaming console
Space-age aesthetic is polarizing
But the size means more space for air ventilation and a bigger fan
If gaming consoles had weight classes, the PS5 would be in the heavyweight division. We measured it to be around 39 x 10.4 x 26cm (H x W x D) – though the curved surfaces make getting an exact measurement difficult. The PS5 isn’t light, either. It weighs in at 4.5kg, giving it a noticeable heft when you pick it up.
With those measurements in mind, it's easy to see how the PlayStation 5 is the largest console Sony has ever made, and it teeters on the brink of being simply too big for a device that's supposed to sit under your TV. Many will have to rethink their current setup to accommodate Sony's new machine, and that's a problem that no one should have to worry about when picking up a new console.
As for the colors and shape of the console, well, they can be kind of polarizing, too. Some of us on the team absolutely love the PS5 design, while some of us hate the PS5 design. There's no denying, however, that its gargantuan size and two-tone color scheme demands attention in any home. Thankfully, since launch Sony has allowed us to buy new PS5 console covers, coming in five different colors.
One element that's a delightful touch, and universally liked by the TechRadar team, is the system's subtle lighting effect, which creates a soothing hue when the console is in operation or rest mode.
The light strip adds to the PS5's space-age look and feel, and represents a nice touch of continuity from the PS4. Much like the PlayStation 4, when the console is in rest mode the light turns orange, and when the PS5 is turned on it changes from blue to white.
(Image credit: Future)
We’re a bit bemused by Sony's choice to put glossy plastic down the center spine of the console, though, particularly as that's where the front USB ports are located. After over a year of use, we can confirm that the plastic can become scratched over time, even though we were extremely careful when plugging in any devices into the front of the console.
We were worried that this might be the case when we first reviewed the PS5, and we’re kind of surprised that Sony didn’t contemplate this happening during development. The glossy finish is also a big dust and fingerprint magnet, which makes the choice all the more bewildering. Thankfully, it's relatively easy to clean your PS5.
Due to its curves and tall stature, it's not just a case of placing the console down and playing once you pull the PS5 out the box. You'll need to wrap your head around the PS5's attachable stand first, which isn’t exactly the most user-friendly experience.
The console can't be placed horizontally without the PS5’s stand, and you risk impeding airflow if you don't use it when the PS5 is standing vertically. It's an extra step that, while necessary, will hopefully be omitted when the inevitable PS5 Slim version arrives in a couple of years as it’s a bit of a faff.
The stand, while functional, feels slightly cheap in the hand too. It has a small compartment to hold one lone screw (don’t lose this, as you'll need it when placing the console vertically) and at first glance, it doesn't look like the setup will actually work when laying the console flat.
To its credit, though, it does the job in a no-thrills fashion – however, we found the stand slipped off the small lip that it clamps onto multiple times when we shifted our unit into position.
In terms of ports, the front of the PlayStation 5 has a USB-A and USB-C port, while the back sports two USB-A ports, a HDMI 2.1 port, an Ethernet port and a power port. There are no proprietary ports on the console, which is always a bonus if you need to replace the odd cable.
PS5 review: performance
(Image credit: Future)
Capable of 4K/120fps gameplay as well as support for 8K/60
Faster loading times thanks to new SSD
System runs cool and quiet nearly all the time
When it comes to specs, the PS5 is a technically impressive piece of hardware. There's the new custom RDNA 2 GPU that can push 4K resolution at 120 frames per second, and the octa-core AMD Zen 2-based CPU with a 3.5GHz clock speed.
Throw in 16GB of GDDR6 memory and a 825GB NVMe SSD, and this is a machine with some seriously impressive specs. The PS5 is also capable of outputting 8K resolution, however, we'll need to wait for a firmware update from Sony before it's able to do so.
PS5 specs
(Image credit: Future)
CPU: AMD Zen 2-based CPU with 8 cores at 3.5GHz (variable frequency) GPU: 10.28 TFLOPs, 36 CUs at 2.23GHz (variable frequency) GPU architecture: Custom RDNA 2 Memory interface: 16GB GDDR6 / 256-bit Memory bandwidth: 448GB/s Internal storage: Custom 825GB SSD Usable storage: 667.2GB IO throughput: 5.5GB/s (raw), typical 8-9GB/s (compressed) Expandable storage: NVMe SSD slot External storage: USB HDD support (PS4 games only) Optical drive: 4K UHD Blu-ray drive
In fact, the only real issue we have with the PlayStation 5's spec sheet is the amount of storage available. It's only using an 825GB SSD instead of, say, a 1TB or 2TB SSD. That decision was clearly made to cut down on the cost of the console, but it means that you can run out of storage quickly if you're not being judicious about which games you keep installed.
The console comes with 667.2GB of usable storage, which we found held around 16 games: two PS5 titles, which were Astro's Playroom and Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales, and various PS4 games like God of War and Detroit: Beyond Human. The available space actually went further than we thought, although your mileage will vary depending on the size of the games you have installed.
It may have taken over eight months after launch, but it's now possible to upgrade the internal storage with an NVMe SSD. You can pop off the PS5's plastic faceplates to reveal the empty SSD bay and secure a compatible M.2 SSD in place using a screwdriver. We've rounded up the best SSD for PS5 and created a detailed guide showing you how to upgrade your PS5 internal SSD storage.
Adding more storage via the SSD bay isn't the most intuitive of methods, and feels like a slight oversight on Sony's part - but hopefully, it's only something you'll need to do once. It’s also handy that you'll at least be adding storage onto the existing 667GB, instead of starting from scratch.
The good news is that you're also able to use external hard drives and SSDs by plugging them into the USB port. You won't experience the same lightning-fast load times that you get from the built-in SSD and optional (not to mention locked) SSD bay. But if you use an external SSD, you'll still see a massive boost to load time performance over a regular mechanical hard drive.
We plugged in an external SSD into one of the PS5's USB ports and the process of getting things set up was effortless. The console detected that an external drive had been connected, and once it was formatted, we were able to store and transfer PS4 games to it. After a PS5 system update in April 2021, you can now also store PS5 games or save data to external storage. However, you’ll need to transfer games back onto the internal drive if you wish to play them.
(Image credit: Sony Interactive Entertainment)
While few of the launch games really gave the new hardware a run for its money, we can already see the potential in Sony's upgraded hardware. Crucially, more titles designed with PS5 specifically in mind are on the way.
Load times are where most new PS5 users will see a stark difference, to begin with. In Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered, for example, load times have gone from 15-20 seconds on the PS4 to less than a second on the PS5, and Demon’s Souls takes literally seconds to load entire, sprawling levels. Returnal is another game that benefits greatly from the PS5’s super-fast SSD, with not a load screen in sight as you traverse countless biomes.
Graphical improvements, particularly when it comes to resolution, are the next immediate highlights when it comes to playing on PS5. Astro's Playroom runs at a rock-solid 60 frames per second at a 4K resolution, and almost every title we’ve played is either playable at 60fps by default or provides a 30fps mode with more visual flourishes. It's a dramatic and pleasing shift from the PS4, where games were often 1080p / 30fps.
In the future, more titles will run 4K resolutions at 120 frames per second, too, and there's the potential that less graphically intensive games could reach 8K/60fps. For now, though, we don't expect many games to hit that ambitious target (most will drop the resolution from 4K to achieve a higher frame rate), but there's a chance some titles will be able to achieve that coveted 4K/120fps output down the line.
A small slice of the PS5 launch library supported 120fps, and included Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, Devil May Cry V: Special Edition, Dirt 5, Rainbow Six Siege and WRC 9. It's worth noting that you'll need a HDMI 2.1-compliant TV to display the 120Hz refresh rate at higher than 1080p resolution. Here's how to enable 120Hz on PS5.
Unfortunately, we haven’t seen as many 120fps enabled games as we’d hoped since the PS5 launched. Still, things are slowly improving, though you'll find far more 120fps games on Xbox Series X|S.
(Image credit: Future)
So what can you expect if you pick up a PS5 today? For now at least, most games will be capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30fps or 60fps when using a game's Performance Mode (which we'll explain below). Many will also utilize 4K image assets for crisper textures, while HDR support helps to provide better colors and contrast.
Combine that with ray tracing and improved particle effects that are now possible with the current suite of development tools. Games look leaps and bounds better now than they did a decade ago.
Even though not every PS5 launch game will have it, most should feature the aforementioned Performance Mode, which prioritizes higher frame rates over resolution and extra graphical features. With many games, this sacrifices various graphically-intensive effects like ray tracing or higher shadow quality, and drops the base resolution, in order to achieve higher frame rates like 60fps instead of 30fps.
But why would you want the extra frames at the expense of resolution? Well, higher frame rates make games feel far more responsive – which is a must for first-person shooters that require twitch-based reflexes and split-second decisions.
For some gamers, higher frame rates are the holy grail for consoles – something that has been hard to achieve for decades due to weaker hardware. To have this finally be an obtainable goal feels like a monumental achievement, even if it comes at the cost of some graphical flourishes.
If you'd prefer not to use Performance Mode, you can always choose Resolution Mode. This prioritizes higher resolutions, better rendering techniques like ray tracing, and more detailed graphics. We got a taste of that with Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales, and we loved what we saw. Lighting was improved substantially: windows glistened in the sunlight and contained realistic reflections, and the particle effects looked stunning.
What you can expect from this new generation of gaming, then, is faster load times, better framerates in Performance Mode, and higher target resolutions everywhere else. Simply choose which option you prefer.
(Image credit: Future)
How good is PS5's 3D Tempest Audio?
Adjust your 3D audio profile
(Image credit: Sony)
If you head into the PS5 settings, you can adjust the 3D audio to suit your preference. There are five levels of height to choose from, so select the option that sounds closest to your ear level. Remember that 3D audio works on any headset, either wirelessly or when plugged into the DualSense controller, and can also be enabled using your TV speakers.
The PS5's 3D Tempest Audio is Sony's take on Dolby Atmos, or spatial audio in general. It works on any headset, with 3D audio support for TV speakers now available thanks to a recent update.
We've tested various spatial audio solutions in the past, ranging from Windows Sonic to Dolby Atmos, and we've found that PS5's 3D Audio is a comparable experience overall, though it isn’t quite the revelation we hoped it might be.
We enjoyed hearing ships fly past and over our head in Astro's Playroom, and appreciated being able to pick out thugs that were closing in on us in Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales. It's not as detailed or as realistic as Sony made out, though, at least not at this stage, and it will be up to developers to get the most out of the technology as it matures.
Returnal has shown that 3D audio can be a powerful tool when it comes to increasing immersion and that it can also be beneficial in fast-paced games where audio cues are just as important as what you see on screen.
It’s the best implementation of the technology yet, and we hope Sony continues to support it. Right now, these are the best PS5 headsets for 3D audio. You can expect to experience Tempest 3D audio in all of Sony's first-party titles, like Sackboy: A Big Adventure.
(Image credit: Future)
What about heat and noise?
The PS5's monstrous footprint gives it one significant advantage over its predecessor in that the console is basically silent – and heat production is also minimal. We have noticed a bit of coil whine on some units, which is where the console emits a faint electrical noise during certain games, but compared to PS4 it’s a monumental improvement.
The PS4 and PS4 Pro were renowned for their ability to kick up the system fans to obnoxious levels and output lots of heat, particularly on the earlier models, so those looking to pick up a PS5 will be relieved to hear that those problems have been eradicated.
We held our hand near the system during a long play session, and although the PlayStation 5 was clearly outputting hot air (as it's designed to do) it was emitting far less than what the PS4 Pro would push out.
Very rarely in our testing did the fans reach an audibly loud level to the degree that the PS4 Pro did when running games like Horizon: Zero Dawn or God of War. However, that could simply be due to the fact that we haven't seen any resource-heavy PS5 games yet. Sony has also promised that it plans to optimize the PS5's fans using over-the-air updates, so the machine could get louder, or indeed quieter, when playing certain games later down the line.
PS5 review: DualSense controller
New DualSense Controller feels like a revolution over the DualShock 4
Highlights are the adaptive triggers and haptic feedback
Mute button can mute your mic or, if your TV has HDMI CEC, your TV
(Image credit: Future)
To navigate this brave new world of console gaming, you'll need a new gamepad – namely, the new Sony DualSense controller.
You'll be pleased to hear that you get a DualSense controller in the box with your PS5, and the DualSense feels oddly similar in the hand to the DualShock 4 that shipped with the PS4. We found it to be incredibly comfortable to hold for extended periods, and were shocked that when we went back to our trusty DualShock 4, it felt plain wrong to hold after using the DualSense.
Picking it up for the first time, the DualSense is fairly weighty and balanced, with most of the heft resting in the grips of the controller. While the majority of the controller features a matte white plastic finish, the bottoms of the grips themselves have a slightly rougher texture that actually makes the controller easier to hold, and less likely to slip out of your hands.
In fact, if you look closely, the texture is made up of tiny PlayStation face buttons, which is a neat little touch. The two-tone PS5 controller color scheme extends to the four face buttons, which still consist of the classic Triangle, Circle, Square and Cross (or X); however these are now devoid of color, and remind us of the PS Vita's minimalist approach.
(Image credit: Future)
There's a pop of color around the side of the central touchpad, though, as the PS4 Lightbar has thankfully been moved from the top of the gamepad to a less problematic position – thanks to its new placement, you won't now see an annoying glow reflecting off your TV.
Where early PlayStation controllers sported a convex analog design, the PS5 DualSense controller has concave control sticks, just like the DualShock 4, and they feel noticeably more durable this time around, with a pleasing textured finish on the outer ridge.
On early models of the PS4 the rubber analog sticks would sometimes wear away under vigorous gameplay sessions, and we’re pleased to report that even after six months of use, we haven't seen it reoccur with the DualSense. You'll notice a few new buttons you haven't seen before on Sony's new pad, too – like the mute button that turns off the microphone that’s built into the controller.
(Image credit: Future)
When this is held down, it can mute your television speakers or headset, which we found to be a useful quality-of-life feature. When speaking into the mic, we found it worked best when we kept the controller in our usual playing position, instead of holding it towards our mouth. We wouldn’t recommend using the DualSense microphone for voice chat, though – it isn’t the highest quality and has a tendency to pick up a lot of environmental sounds.
The highlights of the new DualSense controller, however, are the adaptive trigger buttons that allow developers to add resistance to certain in-game actions. The adaptive triggers can use resistance to create various sensations that mimic real-life actions, like pushing down on the pedal of a car or pulling back a bow string.
It's a huge step forward for haptics in Sony's hardware, and we found that the haptic feedback itself is a vastly superior replacement for the traditional rumble of old. When a character runs across a certain surface, like metal, it manages somehow to replicate that feeling in the palms of your hands – it's a truly wonderful sensation.
So far, we've seen a variation of haptic feedback support integrated into every PS5 game we've played so far, and hope to see it supported by more games in the future; we expect the feature to shine most in first-party titles, though. Returnal uses the DualSense to great effect, mimicking the effect of rainfall using haptic feedback, and the trigger performing two fire types by pressing it either halfway or all the way down.
Battery life, so far, has been a massive improvement over the DualShock 4. We played through a handful of PS5 and PS4 titles during our testing, including Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Astro's Playroom, and the controller eventually ran out of charge after 12 hours and 30 minutes. This will obviously vary depending on the types of games you’re playing and how much they use the DualSense’s features, of course, so that 12 hour figure could end up a lot lower.
Still, it's an impressive feat when you consider the DualShock 4 lasted around five to eight hours at a stretch. While internal batteries can degrade over time, it's a strong start for Sony's new pad, particularly when you consider how much technology is packed into it. Of course, you can also use the controller wired if you prefer.
To charge the DualSense, you have two options: either connect it to the PlayStation 5 itself with the USB-C to USB-A cable that comes inside the box, or shell out for the optional PS5 DualSense Charging Station, which can charge two controllers at a time using the metal conduits on the bottom of the pad near the 3.5mm audio jack.
You can also charge the controller, or your USB headset, via the rear USB ports, or opt to use a USB-C to USB-C cable when using the front USB-C port to charge the DualSense controller.
Either option works well, but the Charging Station does certainly look nicer sitting on the shelf, and more cost-effective third-party charging stations will likely become available in the coming months. We'll also need to test whether charging the controller via a USB-C to USB-C cable is quicker than using the USB-C to USB-A cable that comes with the console.
Still, if that doesn't sound entirely appealing, there's always the recently announced DualSense Edge, Sony's rival to the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller and the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2. Presenting a more premium build with customizable options and bespoke features, we don't have a release date just yet for this, but we'll keep this updated once we know more.
(Image credit: Future)
PS5 review: features
Redesigned user interface with beautiful splash screens for every game
PlayStation button has all new features
Party chat allows you to screen share
Design is one thing, but what can really elevate a console to the next level is its feature set – and thankfully the PS5 delivers here.
The PS5 innovates on what Sony's consoles have done in the past and, as a result, it might take a minute or two to get used to some of the new controls – pressing and holding the PlayStation button on the controller no longer brings up the quick menu, for example, but instead brings up a new Control Center.
This operates in much the same way as the quick menu did, and lets you view various sub-menus such as your Friends list, downloads in progress, notifications and, if you have your account linked, Spotify.
One of the more prominent new features is the PS5's Cards, with the most impactful being Activity Cards. Cards have various functions, allowing you to track trophy progress, jump into specific parts of a game like a challenge or multiplayer mode, see how far along you are on a game level, or simply see news from a developer. You can even watch a livestream of your friend’s gameplay using a picture-in-picture mode, which is pretty cool.
Cards are also present as you delve further into a game’s information, which is now displayed beautifully on the home screen.
By pressing down on the D-pad or flicking down on the analog stick, you can see the available Cards at a glance, circumventing the need to visit a game's main menu or particular mode to find out what's going on. They should prove useful for gamers of a lesser ability, too, as they can contain in-game hint videos in supported titles that help you overcome specific challenges or find that one last collectible.
Since launch, we've already seen Sony retiring this PS5 launch feature, Accolades. Designed as a community awards feature to lets players commend fellow gamers for their assistance, Sony revealed that it hasn't received much use as anticipated, so it's now been dropped.
(Image credit: Future)
Overall, we found Cards to be a useful addition, though horizontally scrolling through each one did feel cumbersome at times.
There's also a slight delay before they appear, which is at odds with the speed of the system as a whole. But, while not essential by any means, they help to add another layer of next-gen gloss to PlayStation 5 experience that you won’t find anywhere else.
Outside of the interface, you can expect the return of groups and other social-based features from the PS4, like SharePlay, as well as easy video sharing. You'll be able to jump straight into the game your friends are playing from the menu, or invite them to larger groups. Video sharing on the PS5 works similarly to how it did on the PS4, but it's nice to be able to see a preview in Cards.
Speaking of social features, if you're tired of typing out messages using a D-pad or analog stick, the PS5 also supports voice dictation for messaging thanks to the DualSense controller's built-in mic. You can also use PS5 voice commands to open games, apps and put the console in Rest Mode.
While your mileage may vary when it comes to the accuracy of the dictation (as with all voice recognition software), it could prove handy when you need to fire off a quick message to a friend. We did find it to be inconsistent in our testing, though, and not as accurate as something like Google Assistant.
We also like the fact you can choose system-wide settings for certain aspects on PS5 such as your preferred difficulty level or whether you invert the x or y-axis on your controller during games. You can even choose which graphical mode you prefer games to automatically select: performance or resolution.
PS5: streaming video services and other apps
(Image credit: Nick Pino)
Of course, game consoles can do more than just provide your thumbs with something to do - modern consoles are also full-on streaming video players.
Right now, you'll find over a dozen supported streaming services on the PS5 including most major services like Netflix, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Peacock and Apple TV, as well as a few more niche services like Twitch, NFL Sunday Ticket, ESPN, Vudu, Tubi, WWE Network and Crunchyroll. The selection here isn't as big as you'd find on, say, a Roku streaming player, but it should be enough for most.
The worse news is that, as it stands, there's no support anywhere on the console for Dolby Atmos or Dolby Vision. We thought we might see them appear on launch day, but neither materialized and Sony appears to be shunning the popular HDR and audio formats for now.
What that means, unfortunately, is that the PS5 is really only a middling media player - it can't best dedicated streamers like the Nvidia Shield, Amazon Fire TV Cube, Apple TV 4K or the new Roku Ultra, and isn't the console we'd recommend to our cinephile friends looking to host movie night with the highest fidelity films.
PS5 review: game library
(Image credit: Sony Interactive Entertainment)
Every PS5 comes with Astro’s Playroom installed
PlayStation Plus Collection is a great introduction to new players
Limited backwards compatibility with PS3, PS2 and PS One games
Most consoles don't launch with a full library of games right off the bat, so the launch bar was pretty low for the PS5. That being said, what you make of the PlayStation 5's current game library largely depends on if you finished the masterpieces from the PS4's era – games like God of War, The Last of Us Part II, Marvel's Spider-Man, andUncharted 4: A Thief's End.
If you haven't finished them, or haven't played them at all, you could have over a dozen excellent games to play from the second you turn on the PS5 via backwards compatibility, a number of which have been improved thanks to a 60fps update, like Ghost of Tsushimaand Days Gone.
If you have PS Plus, you might also have access to some older games that passed you by, as Sony's new PlayStation Plus Collection includes 19 defining games from the last generation that you can download on day one. Every PS5 comes pre-installed with Astro's Playroom, too, and it's a thrilling showcase for what the system can do.
(Image credit: Future)
A fully fleshed-out sequel to Astro Bot: Rescue Mission, Astro's Playroom is a platformer that features exotic locales in which are hidden artifacts from Sony's PlayStation hardware catalog. You'll find a PlayStation VR Aim Controller hidden in a snowbank somewhere in one level, for example, while another level might contain a PlayStation Portable for you to discover.
It's a nice homage to the PlayStation hardware that's come and gone, but we expect some folks will play through it, then uninstall it to reclaim the 10GB of storage space it takes up on the console. You can always re-download it from your games library or the PlayStation Store should you wish to play it again.
But what else is there to play if you pick up a PS5 today? Well, the PS5 library mostly consists of cross-generation titles at the moment and is helped greatly by the fact it’s fully backward compatible with PS4.
There are also various independent games that are worth a shout, like the indie charmer Bugsnax (that one with the infuriatingly catchy theme tune), which was available as the console's first PlayStation Plus downloadable game.
We'll continue to keep an eye out for the best PS5 games as the console matures and you can keep track of all the new PS5 games on the way.
PS5: backward compatibility
(Image credit: Guerrilla Games)
Those masterpieces that we mentioned earlier? Those are all part of Sony's new PlayStation Plus Collection: a small library of hits from the PS4 that Sony's making free to PlayStation Plus subscribers on the PS5.
Some real mainstream classics are included, but also some less-popular gems that are well worth checking out, like Persona 5 and The Last Guardian. The PlayStation Plus Collection might never swell to the size of Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass lineup, but even with the 19 games available right now, it's a great perk for PS Plus subscribers.
What about folks who want to play older games? Well, the PlayStation 5 can play almost any PS4 game but not everything is compatible, though the incompatible games list is miniscule. There's no way to pop in a PS3 disc and have it work or transfer over your PlayStation Classics purchases you made on the PS Vita a few years ago.
We're as disappointed as you are with the lack of backward-compatibility support for Sony’s previous generation of games, particularly as Xbox 360 and original Xbox games (physical discs included) work on the Xbox Series X, but it's not uncommon for a new console to only support the last generation of games as manufacturers look to the future.
It used to be that you could choose select PS3/PS2 titles via PlayStation Now… but that's been replaced with a revamped PS Plus service, which also includes PS1 and PSP games. Accessing your old PS4 games is thankfully a cinch on Sony's new system, though. Simply select the Library icon and the PS5 will automatically pull in all your digital purchases and previously installed games, providing you're signed in to your PlayStation Network account.
You'll need to redownload them to the console, of course, or insert the physical disc to activate a game's license. Some games have been upgraded to run better than ever on PS5, too, like Days Gone, which now runs at a silky-smooth 60fps, while God of War can now comfortably hit its 60 frames per second target using the game’s performance mode.
One thing to note is that you may notice your save file is missing when you boot up a PS4 game that you previously owned for the first time – that's because you'll need to redownload your save files from the cloud onto your PS5 console first. Here's how to transfer PS4 save data to PS5.
PS Plus members have access to cloud saves, but if you haven't been backing up your save files over the air, then you may notice your data won’t be there initially. It's not the most seamless system, admittedly, and is bound to confuse some users, but support for carrying over your save files appears to be there for most of the older titles we tested – however, this will vary on a case by case basis.
We pride ourselves on our independence and our rigorous review-testing process, offering up long-term attention to the products we review and making sure our reviews are updated and maintained - regardless of when a device was released, if you can still buy it, it's on our radar.
The Xbox Series S is a far more affordable alternative to the Series X, and despite its smaller size it still boasts some incredibly impressive capabilities without breaking the bank. Due to this, it's a fantastic gateway into current-gen gaming without costing anywhere near as much as you might expect.
The Xbox Series S is designed to take the same generational leaps as the Series X, such as being capable of ray tracing, sporting lightning-fast load times, and showcasing higher frame rates, yet it remains to be significantly cheaper than its competitor, but there's certainly a hit to overall power and features.
The Xbox Series S is praised for its digital-only build, but surprisingly there is significantly less storage than the Xbox Series X. The console also targets a 1440p resolution rather than 4K, with the opportunity to upscale when connected to an Ultra HD display. But the console is designed to run optimally at lower resolutions. So you should take your display setup into account when thinking of purchasing the Series S.
Microsoft's more affordable Xbox also does away with the 4K HD Blu-Ray drive of the Xbox Series X, making this a digital-only affair. If you've amassed a large library of the best Xbox Series X games over the years, this alone could be a deal-breaker and means you're at the mercy of Microsoft's store pricing when it comes to buying new titles.
Xbox Series S one year on
(Image credit: Shutterstock/m.andrei)
We've updated our Xbox Series S review to reflect our impressions after using the console for nearly two years. Microsoft has rolled out a few welcome improvements to the Series S, and we now finally have exclusive titles that take full advantage of the hardware's power like Halo Infinite and Forza Horizon 5.
These cutbacks might be too much for some users, then, but it makes the Xbox Series S a much cheaper and less hefty device as a result. Crucially, it's still capable of playing new-gen games, making this a great entry point into the Xbox ecosystem.
Each one impressed us, with smoother frame rates, increased resolutions (when compared to Xbox One, and Xbox One S), and faster load times, even if the games didn't look quite as pretty as they did running on the Xbox Series X. But that's mostly due to Xbox Series S targeting a lower resolution.
That said, for gamers who have no qualms about buying games digitally, or subscribing to Xbox Game Pass, you’re getting the full suite of next-gen features on Microsoft's cheaper console: Quick Resume, Auto HDR, 120Hz, you name it. The Xbox Series S is a great option for those wanting to experience new-gen gaming, without the sizable financial outlay required to own a full-blown console.
(Image credit: Future)
As we've alluded to already, there are drawbacks to consider. If you prefer to purchase games physically, or have amassed a large collection of Xbox One games over the years, the Xbox Series S's lack of disc drive may put you off.
You only get a 512GB SSD, too, as there's no higher-capacity option. And while the console's SSD is dramatically faster than the old mechanical drives in the Xbox One X and Xbox One S, it can fill up fast. The five games we mentioned above almost took up the entire 512GB SSD on our review unit (you only get 364GB of usable space), leaving us with just 30GB of storage to play with.
That means if we wanted to install a game of that size to the system's internal drive, we'd likely have to delete something first (or additionally purchase the Seagate Xbox storage expansion card, which costs nearly as much as the Xbox Series S itself).
Xbox Series X review
(Image credit: Future)
The Xbox Series X utilizes its powerful specs to significantly reduce load times and increase overall game performance and visual fidelity. But, while features such as Quick Resume, Smart Delivery, and backward compatibility give it that extra boost, it's hard to deny that it’s lacking in key areas, notably significant UI improvements and captivating exclusive launch titles.
What may deter people from buying Microsoft's more affordable Xbox is the fact that it outputs at 1440p for gaming. This lower resolution is a firm favourite in the PC gaming space due to the superior image quality it provides over 1080p, and the lower amount of graphical grunt it requires from developers to achieve. This has allowed Microsoft to create a lower-spec machine that still boasts next-gen features.
If you own an Xbox One X, the drop to 1440p from native 4K can be noticeable. The Xbox One X could deliver games like Forza Motorsport 7 at 4K/60fps and is still capable of some sumptuous visuals. It's easy, then, to think that the Xbox Series S is a step back – however, it's capable of a lot more than Microsoft's aging Xbox One X, even if it doesn't always beat it in terms of resolution.
Looking at the system internals, the Xbox Series S separates itself from the One X with its vastly more powerful CPU and more technically capable GPU, courtesy of AMD's RDNA 2 architecture which enables cutting-edge features like ray tracing. Yes, the Series S has fewer teraflops than the Xbox One X (four compared to six), but teraflops are no longer the defining factor in how GPU power is determined.
For Xbox One owners looking to upgrade without breaking the bank, the Xbox Series S is a great option, if you can accept what it's been designed to achieve. If you've already got the Xbox One X and a 4K display at home, however, we suggest considering the Xbox Series X instead. Read on for our full Xbox Series S review.
Considering the bigger sibling? Check out our Xbox Series X video review below.
Xbox Series S: price and release date
Xbox Series S release date: Out now (released November 10, 2020)
Xbox Series S price: $299.99 / £249.99 / AU$499
Can be bundled with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for $24.99 / £20.99 / AU$33 a month
The Xbox Series S is available now for $299.99 / £249.99 / AU$499 and was released on November 10, 2020. That's the same release date as the Xbox Series X, though the price is significantly cheaper than the Series X's price of $499 / £499 / AU$749. Thankfully, Xbox won't follow PlayStation with price hikes, so while Xbox doesn't rule out future price hikes just yet, this isn't changing anytime soon.
Keep in mind however that, without a disc drive, you won't be able to buy used games or trade games with your friends: you're dependent on the Xbox Store for any purchases, which means you won't always get the best deal.
That issue is negated somewhat if you subscribe to Xbox Game Pass (a separate expense, but exceptional value nonetheless), or if you only buy the occasional game at full price around launch. Still, it's not ideal for those who rely on physical game sales or trade-ins to fund their favorite pastime.
Xbox Series S is also available on Microsoft's Xbox All Access subscription service in select regions, including the US, UK, and Australia. Xbox All Access bundles the console with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate on a 24-month plan (giving you access to the latter for the duration) for $24.99 / £20.99 / AU$33 a month, with no upfront costs – that's a good deal which proves cheaper than buying the console and 24 months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate separately.
Of course, Microsoft isn't the only one with newer hardware out. Sony released the PS5 and PS5 Digital Edition soon after the Xbox Series S and Series X dropped, so if you're still on the fence then it's worth checking out our PS5 review before committing.
(Image credit: Future)
Xbox Series S review: design
Looks great when placed horizontally or vertically
Can comfortably fit into any setup
The console and controller look great in white
While the hardware powering the Xbox Series S is brand-new, the Xbox Series S design is reminiscent of the now-discontinued Xbox One S All-Digital Edition.
The Xbox Series S has a distinctive black fan vent, almost like a speaker grille, on the top that breaks up the swathe of white which encases the rest of the console, and it's where the majority of heat is exhausted. It's the smallest Xbox that Microsoft has ever made, with a plain front face that sports a single USB port and a power button. It's a clean, understated, and functional design.
For ports, you’ll find an HDMI 2.1 output, two USB 3.2 ports, an Ethernet port, a storage expansion slot, and an AC input. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Xbox Series S doesn't have a port for Kinect, Microsoft's now-defunct motion-sensing camera, or a HDMI input for cable boxes. However, that the Xbox Series S only ships with a High-Speed HDMI cable, not an Ultra High-Speed HDMI cable.
With weight and size, the Xbox Series S measures in at 6.5 x 15.1 x 27.5cm and 4.25 pounds (around 2kg). Its size should ensure it easily fits into most entertainment center cabinets and on TV stands, and it's light enough to pack up and bring to a friend's house or take with you on vacation.
As we mentioned above, the Xbox Series S is smaller than the Xbox One S. That's an impressive feat considering that it’s packing a 4 TFLOP GPU and an octa-core Custom Zen 2 CPU that needs to be cooled.
While some might not like the way Microsoft has aped its own design from the last generation, we're okay with it. It's nice to have some continuity, especially in products that are advertised as a family of devices, although it is fairly straightforward and industrial-like in its appearance.
(Image credit: Future)
Xbox Series S review: performance
Upscaled 4K looks great, and native 1440p is a nice compromise
Offers smooth and fluid 120fps gameplay
Xbox Velocity Architecture is fast… but not instantaneous
The Xbox Series S's strong suit is its value proposition – it's a compact powerhouse. It can offer either upscaled 4K gaming, native 1440p resolution, or a 1080p picture.
Its GPU, while not as powerful as the one in the Xbox Series X, can upscale games to 4K (in a similar way to the Xbox One S) and still run games at 120fps at 1440p, but you'll need a HDMI 2.1-compliant TV if you want to keep the resolution at 1440p. It's also capable of ray tracing, and loads games faster than ever, thanks to Microsoft's Xbox Velocity Architecture.
Combine Velocity Architecture with the 10GB of GDDR6 memory and built-in SSD, and you’ve got all the makings of a powerful console. Better still, Microsoft recently gave a performance boost for Xbox Series S games, which frees up hundreds of additional megabytes of memory. Crucially, this should help improve graphics performance.
Xbox Series S specs
CPU: 8-core 3.6GHz (3.4GHz with SMT) custom AMD 7nm GPU: 4 teraflops at 1.565GHz RAM: 10GB GDDR6 Frame rate: Up to 120fps Resolution: 1440p with 4K upscaling Optical: No disk drive Storage: 512GB NVMe SSD Usable storage space: 364GB
But do you actually need a 4K TV? And furthermore, do you need one that supports HDMI 2.1 for its 120Hz refresh rate? Let’s walk through all the scenarios.
If you're using a 1080p TV, the Xbox Series S uses a technique called supersampling to create better-looking images, even on less-capable displays. Supersampling is a complex process, but the basic idea is that the game is rendered at a higher resolution, and then the console downscales the image to match the output of your TV.
The end result is a noticeable boost in image clarity and anti-aliasing (the removal of jaggies and pixelated edges) and means that gamers who aren't using a 4K or 1440p -capable screen will still benefit from improved image quality from the Xbox Series S.
Most folks though, we expect, will be pairing the Xbox Series S with a 4K HDR TV – potentially one with a 120Hz native refresh rate, although the majority of displays sold over the last few years are likely to only support 60Hz at 4K and 1440p. If you do have a capable display, here's how to enable 120Hz on Xbox Series S.
Hook the Xbox Series S up to a 4K panel, and the console uses a technique called upscaling to convert a non-native 4K signal to 4K. While there's a stark difference between rendering in 4K, and rendering in 1440p and then upscaling to 4K – especially if you've got a keen eye for detail – it still makes games on the Xbox Series S look better than if the console was locked to a 1440p output.
It's worth noting that the Xbox Series S can render some games in native 4K if a developer chooses to enable that option. Just be aware it's done on a game-by-game basis, and isn't something you’re going to see on every game on the system.
The upshot here is that the console can utilize HDR (high dynamic range), which enables a wider color palette, higher peak brightness, and better contrast levels. Skies look bluer, the grass looks greener and colors pop in every scene. If you haven't had the opportunity to game in HDR yet, you're in for a treat.
If you are fortunate enough to have a display that's compliant with HDMI 2.1, you can enable 120fps at 1440p without having to drop down to 1080p resolution. To enable 120fps, simply pop into the console's audio and visual settings, where you can choose from various frame rate and resolution options.
It's pretty straightforward, but it's worth noting that not all games can hit 120fps, though Microsoft has amassed a handsome collection of titles since launch including Halo Infinite, Gears 5's multiplayer, and Call of Duty: Vanguard. Check out the full list of Xbox Series S games with 120fps support.
Even if you don't invest in a new TV, you're still going to see the benefits of the new SSD and Microsoft's Xbox Velocity Architecture. The latter is a multi-step solution that combines the Series S's custom NVMe SSD, hardware-accelerated decompression blocks, a brand-new DirectStorage API layer, and Sampler Feedback Streaming (SFS).
That's a lot to parse, but the gist of it is that data is stored in a more efficient way, and can be loaded into memory faster thanks to both the physical storage medium and the software algorithms that Microsoft has implemented to load the data.
(Image credit: Future)
The result is significantly faster load times compared to Xbox One X – we're talking about games that now load in a matter of seconds. The SSD also enables features like Quick Resume, which we’ll get to shortly. Of course, the one area that's less impressive here is the meager 512GB of storage capacity, which most people will fill up fast.
While 500GB was sufficient early on during the last console generation, game file sizes have expanded exponentially in the years since, making anything less than 1TB of storage seem like a raw deal. It gets worse when you realise that you can't access the full 512GB of storage. The system OS takes up 148GB of space, meaning you've only got 364GB of usable storage to play with from the outset.
By the time you've installed four or five games, you'll need to start thinking about what to uninstall, which is never a fun experience. While Microsoft claims that games on Xbox Series S will be up to 30% smaller due to not having 4K texture files, this won’t stop the system's internal drive from rapidly filling up.
The good news is that Microsoft has released an add-on storage solution at launch, in partnership with Seagate, that can add 2TB, 1TB or 500GB of extra storage if you run out of room. The bad news? The 1TB Seagate Storage Expansion Card costs $219.99 / £219.99 / AU$359 – money that could be spent on buying an Xbox Series X instead, which has 1TB built-in storage and better 4K support.
Xbox Series S review: controller
More tactile than before thanks to careful refinement
Triggers are shorter, controller is easier to grip thanks to new textured finish
Share button is a welcome addition, and the 360-degree D-pad feels great
Still uses AA batteries, unfortunately
Coming from the Xbox One Controller, you'd be forgiven for thinking that the Xbox Wireless Controller for Series X/S isn't that different. However, it's now more comfortable and easier to use than ever before, due to subtle changes in the controller's ergonomics.
Its overall dimensions have been tweaked ever so slightly, reducing the size of the controller as a whole, but not to the point where it's noticeable to the average user. It means more hand sizes can use the new Xbox pad comfortably. Other changes include a textured and matte finish on the handles, triggers, and bumpers, that help you get more purchase on the controller during tense gaming sessions.
Probably the biggest change for the controller itself, though, is the new D-pad, which has been revised to be a full 360-degree pad that feels great on the thumb. Each direction clicks with a satisfying sound and tactile feedback (though some might find it noisier than they'd like). Its smooth finish makes pulling off half-circle sweeps in fighting games a real pleasure.
Another minor change is that the triggers have been shortened to make them more accommodating for smaller hands. These triggers still have haptic feedback in the form of rumble motors, but it's not the same as the adaptive triggers in the PS5 DualSense controller, which can change resistance on the fly.
The new Share button does exactly what you'd expect – it captures and shares moments in your game for posting in your Xbox Feed or on social media. One click takes a snapshot, while holding the button down longer captures a 15-second video (you can adjust the duration in the Capture settings).
It's much easier than on the Xbox One, where you had to press the home button twice and then X or Y, but it takes some getting used to if you’re accustomed to the old way.
(Image credit: Future)
Overall though, it's mostly what you remember, with two asymmetrical analog sticks, the menu and view buttons that fill in for start and select, and the four face buttons (A, B, X, Y).
The Xbox Series S controller keeps its 3.5mm audio jack and expansion port at the bottom, but it now uses a USB Type-C charging port instead of microUSB. You'll also find the pairing button at the top, which you use to sync the controller to the console, or for pairing when using Bluetooth.
The new Xbox pad is still a comfortable controller to play with, but its biggest weakness is the fact that it still uses AA batteries. That's instead of a rechargeable lithium-ion cell like the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller or Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 houses. We found a pair of AA batteries lasted for around 10 days or so of heavy gaming.
If you're appalled by the idea of a controller using AA batteries in 2020, you can also pick up Microsoft's play-and-charge kit, which comprises a rechargeable battery and USB-C cable, for $24.99 (£20.99 / AU$29.95 ) to save you money in the long term (you can also use rechargeable AAs).
While the kit is obviously an extra expense that may irk some, there's an element of flexibility at least – and you're also not at the mercy of a lithium-ion cell battery, which can degrade over time, and which is more costly to replace should anything go awry.
Our advice? Pick up rechargeable batteries, or Microsoft's play-and-charge kit, if you plan on doing more than 40 hours of gaming a week.
Xbox Series S review: features
User interface feels a bit overcrowded and, in some places, slow
Quick Resume feels really cutting-edge
Smart Delivery ensures you get the best possible version of a game
Good selection of streaming apps, plus Dolby Vision and Atmos support
If it's been a few years since you bought an Xbox console, and you're worried that the process of setting it up might be confusing, don't be. Setting up the Xbox Series S proved to be a streamlined process, thanks in no small part to the new-and-improved Xbox app for Android and iOS. We've even seen Discord become available for all Xbox Series S players.
You’ll need to download the Xbox app from the App Store for iOS or Google Play Store on Android devices, and log in to your Microsoft account. Once you're in, power on the console and type in the code you see in the app, which appears on your TV screen – this pulls in all your data without you having to type it all in. You'll still need to enter a few details via the console, like Wi-Fi password, but then you're off to the races after waiting for an update to land.
The UI that greets you when you’ve finished setting up the Xbox Series S will be instantly familiar to anyone who's used an Xbox One in the last three months. The 'new' Xbox Dashboard rolled out in August 2020, and is the same across both Xbox Series X and S and the older hardware. It isn’t the most intuitive of interfaces, though.
There's a lot of information on display at once, and it's fair to say there's a small learning curve when it comes to figuring out how to navigate the UI effectively. The downside to the new consoles having the same user interface as the One series is that the Xbox Series S doesn't feel any different right away. It doesn't feel that new, even if navigating the dashboard feels snappier than before thanks to the extra power underneath the hood.
Moreover, the new UI still presents some of the same problems we've noticed in the past with Xbox One's interface: some images on the screen take a few seconds to load as content is pulled from the internet, and it's generally a bit too busy for most tastes, with far more information on the screen than you actually need at one time. Look past the UI, however, and you'll begin to see some areas where the Xbox Series S really innovates, though they're admittedly more subtle.
We can expect further changes to come for the UI, too. If you're an Xbox Insider, Microsoft recently rolled new Xbox Series X homepage layouts but fans aren't happy. While this introduces some quality of life changes, some players weren't so keen on the "tile clutter" this introduced, while others aren't fond of ads still taking up homepage space. As a feature currently in beta testing, this could change, so we'll keep this updated as we learn more.
(Image credit: Future)
Smart Delivery from the Xbox Store means you'll always get the best possible version of a game when you download it, or if it's upgraded in the future. Your save data also carries over seamlessly, even if you jump back and forth between your old Xbox One / One X / One S and new Xbox Series S. It's simultaneously backward and forward compatibility, which is reassuring.
Jumping between multiple games is now possible thanks to Quick Resume, a new feature that allows the Xbox Series S to hold multiple game states in the memory at one time, so you can jump back and forth between games without having to reload them.
The number of games that can be suspended varies – we had as many as eight in rotation at one point – and it won't work with every title, especially those with ever-changing online worlds, like Sea of Thieves. It's a handy, time-saving feature that's only possible thanks to the console's SSD, and game states are preserved even if the console is completely powered down.
Lastly, we have to talk about the console's multimedia capabilities. As a streaming device, the Xbox Series S carries most major services. That goes between Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, and others that are available on existing Xbox One consoles, plus some that are new to the platform, including Apple TV Plus. There's also region-specific apps such as Hulu in the US, and Sky Go in the UK.
Accessing these requires navigating to the Apps section of your library. Or, if you frequently use particular apps you can pin them to the home screen or create a specific group that can be accessed from the Xbox guide. We noticed that, like games, apps stayed in a suspended state when we flicked between them.
It's important to note that while the Xbox Series S only outputs at 1440p resolution when you're gaming, the console is capable of displaying streaming apps in 4K HDR. That means the likes of Netflix, Disney Plus and Apple TV Plus will output in 4K if you're using a compatible display.
As on the Xbox One X, some of these services are available in Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, giving you access to advanced HDR and 3D surround sound respectively, but you may have to pay for a higher subscription tier in order to access those formats.
Xbox Series S review: game library
Scarce launch lineup with few exclusives
Backwards compatibility with three generations of Xbox consoles
Xbox Game Pass is a great way to instantly build up your library
We won't mince words here: the Xbox Series S's game library got off to a bad start. With the delay of Halo Infinite, there weren't any first-party exclusives available at launch on the Xbox Series S, other than titles that have previously been available on Xbox.
More third-party and first-party exclusives have since arrived like The Medium and Microsoft Flight Simulator, but Microsoft's first-party output is slowly catching up. Halo Infinite, Forza Horizon 5, Psychonauts 2, Grounded, and As Dusk Falls are all now available.
Instead of releasing new experiences on day one, Microsoft mainly opted to improve the existing library of games via Xbox Series S optimizations. Games like Gears 5, Forza Horizon 4, Ori and the Will of the Wisps, and Sea of Thieves have all been optimized to either increase their base resolution or frame rates or to offer greater visual fidelity.
If you want to quickly see which games have been optimized for the Xbox Series S, head to 'My Games & App' > 'Games' > and then select 'Group by console type'. You can then see all the games optimized for Xbox Series X/S at a glance.
If you're someone who loves having access to the entire library of Xbox games past and present, the Xbox Series S will be appealing because it supports four generations of Xbox titles, stretching all the way back to the original Xbox. Being able to jump back and forth between Xbox 360 classics like Viva Piñata and Red Dead Redemption to more modern-day blockbusters is comforting.
It's nice not having to break out the old hardware or track down an old CRT TV but the caveat here is big. Because the Xbox Series S doesn't have a disc drive, you'll need digital versions of those older games in order to play them – and for that reason alone, Xbox Game Pass is great.
On it, you'll find over 100 games available to download on the Xbox Series S, with a mix of new first-party titles like Halo: The Master Chief Collection, Gears 5, and Forza 7, and some indie gems from the Xbox 360 era. If you're someone who loves the Xbox Games with Gold program but wished you had a few more options to download, Game Pass is really satisfying.
While Game Pass can't make up for that lack of exclusives, it does enable you to pad out your library and gives you a chance to see some of the best previous-gen games in a new light. You also get access to all of Microsoft's first-party games the day they release, which represents a huge long-term saving in itself.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can also stream games via Xbox Cloud Gaming. It means that rather than take up storage space, you can play games instantly without having to wait. This is a great option if you simply want to try something out, but we still prefer gaming natively as opposed to via the cloud due to increased input latency and some image issues that can occur.
If you're hoping to get Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for an even cheaper price, we've got good news. While this is currently being trialled in just the Republic of Ireland and Colombia, Microsoft is looking to launch an Xbox Game Pass family plan, allowing you and four players to jump in for a monthly cost of €21.99 – which comes to around $21.99 / £19.99 / AU$32.99
