The Intel Arc B570 is the kind of graphics card I desperately want to love, but my tech-addled PC gaming heart belongs to another.
I'm not talking about the recently-announced Nvidia RTX 50 series GPUs (though we'll see about those in due time). No, I've fallen for the Intel Arc B580, easily one of the best graphics cards on the market thanks to its fantastic 1440p and 1080p gaming performance. And, unfortunately, its price is so good that it's hard to really recommend the Arc B570 in good conscience.
To be fair, the Intel Arc B570's $219 / £219 (around AU$350) MSRP arguably makes it the best cheap graphics card going right now simply by default. The next cheapest current-gen GPU (as of January 2025) from AMD (the Radeon RX 7600) and Nvidia (the GeForce RTX 4060) are roughly 20% to 25% more expensive, and it's still $30 / £30 (about AU$90) cheaper than the Arc B580.
But the problem is that despite some impressive specs for a card this cheap, and solid 1080p performance, for just a little bit more you can get a far more future-proofed GPU that will let you game without compromise at a higher 1440p resolution if you go for the Arc B580. Of course, that's assuming you can get that card at its normal retail price and not the jacked-up prices being charged online by profiteering retailers and third-party sellers.
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
But looking at the Arc B570 strictly on its merits, ignoring any external factors that are subject to change, and it's undeniable that the Arc B570 is one of the best 1080p graphics cards you can buy, especially considering its price.
At this price price point, you really have to compare the Arc B570 against cards that are several years old, like the Nvidia GeForce RTX 1060 to really put things in perspective. For example, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 had a launch price $30 higher than the Arc B570, and even though I no longer have that card to compare Intel's latest against in a head-to-head matchup like I'd like, it really wasn't that good of a card to justify its price. Say what you will about the Arc B570, but in no universe can you say that you're not getting your money's worth with this GPU.
The heartbreak, then, is just that this card is simply overshadowed by its slightly more expensive sibling. If the Intel Arc B570 was priced at $199, it would be walking away with a definitive budget win. Hell, it still is, but with so little separating the B570 and the B580, pretty much every potential buyer is better off borrowing that extra bit of cash from a friend, sibling, parent, or even a stranger, and picking up the more powerful B580.
Intel Arc B570: Price & availability
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
How much is it? Starting at $219 / £219 (around AU$350)
When can you get it? You can get it from January 16, 2025
Where is it available? You can get it in the US, UK, and Australia
The Intel Arc B570 goes on sale in the US, UK, and Australia on January 16, 2025, for $219 / £219 (around AU$350).
This puts it at just $30 / £30 (about AU$90) cheaper than the Intel Arc B580 released in December 2024. That said, it is a good deal cheaper than the competing AMD Radeon RX 7600 and Nvidia RTX 4060, both of which run at least 20% more expensive for roughly the same performance.
I'll dig into the performance-per-dollar of this card in a bit, but I can tell you now that it's one of the best you find on a modern GPU, but it still comes in a distant second to the Intel Arc B580, making it hard card to recommend unless you are seriously strapped for cash or the B580 is being scalped at too high a price.
Value: 4.5 / 5
Intel Arc B570: Specs
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
10GB VRAM is a nice-to-have feature
Decently-sized memory bus
Specs: 4 / 5
Intel Arc B570: Performance
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Great 1080p performance
Doable 1440p (within reason)
Arc B580 is way better for not a whole lot more money
Ultimately, what matters is performance, and the top-line numbers for the Intel Arc B570 are impressive for a card at its price point, but it is almost exclusively a 1080p graphics card unless you make a lot of compromises for 1440p resolution that frankly aren't going to be worth it in the end.
In terms of creative workloads or AI, this isn't the card for you. I'd simply go for the RTX 4060 if you're really strapped for cash but need something more than a basic cheap gaming GPU.
It also has to be noted that its 1080p gaming performance isn't going to match its more expensive competition on a lot of games, so if you're looking for a graphics card that consistently gets you 60fps at 1080p on max settings without question, you might be better off with some of this card's more expensive competitors.
That said, on average across the several games in my testing suite, including titles like Cyberpunk 2077, F1 2024, Total War: Warhammer III, and others, this card did manage an average 1080p fps of 60. with an average minimum fps of 34.
Of course, it played better on some games more than others, and some games you won't be able to play at max settings for a playable frame rate (like Black Myth Wukong), but over the course of all the titles I played, it's more than passable for 1080p, with the occasionally playable 1440p experience.
For its price, it's genuinely excellent, especially for getting you a card capable of ray-traced gameplay, but for just a little bit more, you can get a lot better with the B580.
Performance: 3.5 / 5
Should you buy the Intel Arc B570?
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Buy the Intel Arc B570 if...
You are on a very tight budget There aren't a lot of current-gen GPUs available at this price point, and even then, this is the cheapest so far.View Deal
You only care about basic 1080p gaming If you are only looking for a cheap 1080p GPU with some modern extras like ray tracing, this card could be a compelling value at MSRP. View Deal
Don't buy it if...
You want to game at 1440p Despite its extra VRAM and decent memory bus, it just doesn't have the specs for consistent 1440p gaming without some serious compromises.View Deal
You have some wiggle room in your budget If you are even slightly flexible in your budget, the Arc B580 is a much, much better option for not a whole lot more money.View Deal
Also consider
Intel Arc B580 OK, so I'm going to be honest, the only other card you should be considering is the Arc B580. If you have any room in your budget, get this card instead. It's so much better for just a little more of an investment.
I used it primarily as a gaming GPU with some light creative work
I ran the Arc B570 thgouh my revamped testing suite
I tested the Intel Arc B570 using my newly revamped testing suite, including the latest 3DMark tests like Steel Nomad and Solar Bay, as well as the newest gaming benchmarks like Black Myth Wukong and F1 2024.
I used the Arc B570 as my primary GPU on my work PC, using it for basic productivity, creative, and moderate gaming in the office.
I've been testing GPUs for TechRadar for more than two years now, and have extensively benchmarked all of the latest GPUs several times over, so I am well aware of where this card's performance sits amongst its competition as well as how good of a value it is at its price point.
Lenovo's ThinkPad lineup has always been a significant grouping of offerings for business professionals. The Lenovo ThinkPad P16v Gen 2 is no different. It targets professionals who need workstation-grade performance on the go.
The ThinkPad P16 is one of the best Lenovo ThinkPad laptops around - ideal for heavy computational and graphical work. Compared to the P16, I view the P16v Gen 2 as a ThinkPad P16 lite. But that's not any official branding; it's just my viewpoint. It's a slightly less powerful P16, but still very much enterprise-focused and workstation-esque.
Lenovo ThinkPad P16v Gen 2: Price and Availability
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16v Gen 2 starts at $1,791.92 (pre-tax) and quickly scales up to well over $3,500 before any pre-installed software options if you want to max out the hardware offerings.
These and custom builds are available on Lenovo's website, and pre-built models are available in places like Amazon or other computer retailers.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Lenovo ThinkPad P16v Gen 2: Unboxing and First Impressions
The ThinkPad P16v Gen 2 laptop comes in the Lenovo packaging, a beefy yellow-tipped Lenovo charger (though you can also charge via USB-C, albeit slower), and other essential documentation. I was immediately reminded of the P16, though the P16v is a bit slimmer and lighter (4.89 lb vs. 6.5 lb).
Another thing that I noticed right away was the port offering and location. I'll discuss this more later, but right off the bat, I was surprised to see a full ethernet port and ports on the back; then again, though thin, this is a workstation. Lastly, I genuinely like the matte black finish on this laptop. It feels professional, and I like it for the same reasons. Though I love some sweet backpack colors, I will always choose black. I love some splashes of color from Apple these days, but I always prefer simple colors. It's clean, goes with everything, and it looks professional.
Lenovo ThinkPad P16v Gen 2: Design and Build Quality
Specs
CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 165H to Ultra 9 185H options GPU: NVIDIA RTX 2000 Ada Gen or RTX 3000 Ada Gen Display: 16” WUXGA (1920 x 1200), IPS, 100% sRGB to 16" WQUXGA (3840 x 2400), IPS, 100%DCI-P3, 60Hz Storage: 2x 2TB SSD M.2 drives RAM: 8GB DDR5, upgradable to 96GB .
Unsurprisingly, the Lenovo ThinkPad P16v Gen 2 is very similar to the ThinkPad P16 in design, much like the name. The P16v Gen 2 is slimmer and more portable than a ThinkPad P16. However, it still feels relatively robust and like any of the best mobile workstations I've tried, with actual portability in mind. Thanks to the real estate left behind due to the 16" screen, Lenovo could add a full numpad to the right of the entire keyboard, and better yet, it's comfortable to type on.
The port offering on this computer is excellent for the modern employee needing workstation-grade power. There is an SD Card Reader, an optional Smart Card reader, a full-size HDMI port, a USB-A Port, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, and a full RJ45 Ethernet port. What's fascinating and pretty brilliant is that one of the Thunderbolt ports and the Ethernet port are on the back of the ThinkPad P16v Gen 2. This makes it super easy to plug into a Thunderbolt Docking station and/or that ethernet port, both of which you'd want running away from your desk or workspace exactly how they will when plugged into the back of your laptop.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Lenovo ThinkPad P16v Gen 2: In use
I've had this laptop in my rotation for the last couple of weeks, and it has been a pretty good computer. It can easily handle my productivity suite of tasks, content creation and video editing, and photo editing. It can handle the 3D modeling software for my 3D printer and all of it at once. I really appreciate the ethernet port and Thunderbolt 4 port on the back, as I could have the not-so-flexible ethernet port run away from my computer when I needed to hardline into the internet at one of my job sites. Whenever I am at my desk, I can easily plug into the docking station I have set up running to my monitors and peripherals.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Another thing worth mentioning is the reliability and usability of the ThinkPad keyboards. While I never want to use the famous TouchPoint embedded within the keyboard, it's handy when I think about using it. On top of that, the typing experience is quite comfortable, even for all-day typing, as I do.
Lenovo has also chosen to utilize the space granted by the 16-inch screen to fit in a numpad. Some laptops, even with 16-inch screens, will just fit the exact size keyboard in the center of the allotted space. Lenovo chose to utilize that space fitting in a full-numberpad. For those who work with spreadsheets, phone numbers, or numbers in general, having a dedicated numpad makes data entry exponentially faster, and that's easy to do with the ThinkPad P16v Gen 2, adding to the allure for the business professional.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Lenovo ThinkPad P16v Gen 2: Final verdict
The ThinkPad P16v Gen 2 delivers an exceptional balance of power, portability, and professional features. While it doesn’t quite match the raw performance of the P16, its lighter build and price point make it an excellent choice for professionals on the move who need a reliable machine.
The Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 is Lenovo's take on an all-around perfect portable workstation machine. The Gen 7, of course, replaces the Gen 6 and now boasts up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H and an NVIDIA RTX 4070. However, it can also be built with integrated graphics and an Intel Core Ultra 5 with a light 16GB of RAM.
Much like Dell's Precision line-up, the ThinkPad P series is designed for professionals needing a computer that can handle computationally demanding tasks like 3D rendering, video editing, coding, data analysis, and things of that nature. Like many of the best Lenovo ThinkPad laptops I've reviewed, while casual users can use it, this price point focuses on professional users who rely on their machines to be workhorses and get work done.
Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7: Price and Availability
The Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 starts at the base level for under $2,000 with an Intel Core Ultra 5, 16GB of RAM, and integrated graphics. This can be upgraded to a machine that costs over $5,000 when equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 9, NVIDIA RTX 4070 Graphics, 64GB of RAM, and 4TB SSD. What's great about this is that yes. At the same time, this is not an entry-level computer. Thanks to the customization options available for processor, memory, storage, and graphics, it can be kitted to fit just about any professional need. That said, check out our Lenovo coupon codes to see if you can save on the ThinkPad P1 Gen 7.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7: Unboxing and First Impressions
Out of the box, it's clear this is not designed to be a super-lightweight-ultra-portable-thinnest-device-ever kind of machine. It's beefy. But not in a way that resembles the laptops of a decade ago. As we've seen from many of the best mobile workstations, it's sleek where it can be but houses a lot under the hood -- or keyboard. Depending on the GPU configuration, the P1 Gen 7 has a 135W or 170W charger, the appropriate manuals, and any accessories purchased at Lenovo. The minimalist matte-black design exudes sleek professionalism. However, one thing to note is that it is prone to smudges.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7: Design and Build Quality
Specs
CPU: Up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H GPU: Up to an NVIDIA RTX 4070 Display: Up to 4K OLED RAM: Up to 64GB LPDDR5X Storage: Up to 8TB SSD with built-in RAID options
Overall, the laptop is 17mm thick and 4.3lb. That's not huge in the world of laptops, though it is larger than some of the laptops I am working with. The P1 Gen 7 is made of a combination of Magnesium and Aluminum and has a durability rating of MIL-STD 810H. It can withstand your daily wear and tear and the burdens of being an everyday workhorse.
Completing the all-too-famous ThinkPad design, the TrackPoint is prominently in the center of the keyboard, and the overall design language matches what is frequently found with ThinkPad.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7: In use
I have used this computer extensively in my workflow for the past few months. Overall, it is an impressive machine. It is remarkably powerful, easily handles multitasking and demanding performance programs, and has a sleek and attractive design. What more could you ask for in a computer? It even has a better port offering than the ever-popular Dell Powerhouses and better port offerings than MacBooks. I have only heard the fans kick on during heavily intensive or many heavy tasks stacked together. Outside of that, I have not heard the fan kick on for my day-to-day professional work even once.
Some more features that make this computer great would be the Wi-Fi 7 antennae, great port offering, a solid trackpad, a comfortable keyboard, and a decent battery.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
I've enjoyed using this computer for everything in my day to day. The keyboard is comfortable enough for long email sessions or writing articles (like this one). The trackpad is responsive enough that I don't need to bring a mouse in my backpack when I am away from my desk for the day. The ports are fantastic. I can leave my dongles at home since this laptop has everything I could need on a given notice built into the computer. Another thing that makes this computer great is that it is super portable. Yes, it's powerful and practical, but it's also surprisingly easy to carry around from place to place in my studio, office, coffee shop, bag, house, and so on. It's simple, and it doesn't get in the way. It's great for my professional workflow.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7: Final verdict
The Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 is an impressive example of what mobile workstations can be. Though premium priced, its versatility, build quality, and performance justify its cost for professionals seeking the best tools to do their work reliably.
The Oppo Reno 12 FS 5G is a budget phone done the Oppo way – better-than-average specs, a great sense of style, and cost-cutting decisions that mostly land on the side of confusion rather than frustration. This is a phone that, despite its shortcomings, punches well above its weight, most obviously with its great 6.67-inch display. Though far from perfect, this is a capable budget handset that handles 90% of what we use our phones for every day without complaint.
At a fixed price point of £299, the biggest selling point the Reno 12 FS has is its excellent value for money. There are few other models on the market that offer this much utility for so little money, and a combination of 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage is almost unheard of in this price bracket.
The Reno 12 FS continues to impress with its software experience – that is, once you get clear of the awful bloatware the phone ships with. ColorOS 14 is otherwise a swift and snappy experience, with terrific customization, though slowdown can hold the phone back at seemingly random times. It’s clear that the included MediaTek Dimensity 6300 chipset can’t quite keep up with modern demands.
As for cameras, the Reno 12 FS struggles to keep pace with close competitors like the Samsung Galaxy A35, or even the iPhone SE. The main 50MP camera can be coaxed into producing photos that are acceptable, so long as conditions are ideal, but don’t bother with the 8MP ultrawide and 2MP macro camera. It would have been wiser for Oppo to have spent those resources on a better single-camera system.
Overall, the Reno 12 FS 5G will work for a specific type of user, and should appeal far more to media consumers than media producers. If you’re looking for a device to keep you connected, browse the internet, and watch videos, this is a solid choice – but those looking for photography power or totally impressive performance should look elsewhere.
Oppo Reno 12 FS 5G review: Price and availability
Costs £299, available in one configuration
Sole model comes with 512GB of storage
Not available in the US or Australia
The Oppo Reno 12 FS 5G marked Oppo’s re-entry to the UK market, and now forms a core part of the brand’s steadily growing phone lineup. It comes in a single model, with 12GB of RAM and a huge 512GB of storage for £299. It’s not available in Australia, where it’s missing from an otherwise fairly robust range of phones, including the base-model Reno 12 for AU$799 (about £400). Oppo doesn't sell its phones in the US, though sister company OnePlus sells very similar models.
Half a terabyte of storage and as much RAM as a Galaxy S24 for under £300 is no small feat, and while the Reno 12 FS doesn’t exactly sport a flagship chipset, it generally packs enough power for day to day use and even some gaming. That’s pretty phenomenal value for money already. Those who want a capable all-rounder for light use and the occasional session of Call of Duty Mobile won't be disappointed.
At the time of writing, the Reno 12 FS 5G sits towards the lower end of the Oppo smartphone lineup – I mention this because the Oppo phones for sale in the UK have changed continually over the last few months as the company establishes its presence once more. It walks the line between budget and mid-range tiers and aims for the best of both – with a great display and fresh design, but a lacking camera system and cheap-feeling construction. It would have benefitted from a simpler, more focused allocation of resources.
Value score: 4 / 5
Oppo Reno 12 FS 5G review: Specs
Oppo Reno 12 FS 5G review: Design
The Breathing Light on the Oppo Reno 12 FS (Image credit: Future)
Simple but solid silhouette
Breathing Light LED is a fun addition
Cheap materials that mark easily
For such a simple phone, I do quite like the design of the Oppo Reno 12 FS 5G. This is a wide, thin slab that fits a lot of screen onto a relatively efficient form factor, and has no trouble getting around bags and pockets thanks to its slim profile and rounded edges. I especially like the nearly flat camera housing, which is the subtlest I’ve seen on a smartphone this year.
The cameras therein may not be amazing (more on that later), but having a phone that almost lays flat on a table feels like some kind of nostalgia trip, especially compared to the awkwardly rocking iPhone, Samsung, and OnePlus flagships we’ve gotten used to. The ports and buttons are as basic as they come but the Reno 12 FS isn’t trying to be much more than usable, and at this price point that’s all I’d expect.
The circular camera module holds another secret, however. Around this housing lies a ring of LEDs, which Oppo calls the Breathing Light. This refers to the light’s ability to react to different sources of sound and information. It’ll flicker in time with music, for example, and fill up as the phone charges.
The Breathing Light is a surprisingly fun addition that adds a lot to what is otherwise essentially just a thin ingot. It’s not made of the most premium materials, with a rear panel that creates a weird amount of friction in the hand and plastic rails that pick up nicks and dents easily. The creatively titled Black Green color is the only option, and luckily exactly to my taste, but if you’re into other colors you’re out of luck.
The camera module follows the Xiaomi 14T school of thought by giving the flash its own lens-sized ring. I’m not opposed to the symmetry this provides, but it feels slightly like an effort to make the Reno 12 FS 5G seem more premium than it actually is. The same could be said for the phone’s curved bezels, which actually hold up a flat screen. It would be more reassuring to see a simpler design and more investment in performance: nobody is expecting a work of art at this price point anyhow.
Design score: 3.5 / 5
Oppo Reno 12 FS 5G review: Display
(Image credit: Future)
1080 x 2400 resolution
120Hz refresh rate
Peak brightness of 2100 nits
The Oppo Reno12 FS 5G comes equipped with an excellent 6.67-inch FHD+ OLED display, with a 120Hz refresh rate. It is easily the phone’s biggest selling point after its bargain price. For the money, this is a beautiful panel that’s ideal for games, watching videos, or simply scrolling through posts and articles.
With a maximum local brightness of 2100 nits, the Reno 12 FS gets plenty bright, and can just about hold its own in direct sunlight. In fact, I’d recommend using it at higher brightness levels most of the time, as colors can lose contrast and saturation towards the darker end of the slider. Colors are noticeably deeper here than on other displays, which will be a knock or a boost depending on taste.
The display feels responsive to use, which pays off during gaming sessions. Oppo is very good at shaving unnecessary milliseconds off of everyday tasks, and this display works in tandem with the smoothness of ColorOS to provide a genuinely nice experience when the hardware can keep up. It even comes fitted with a screen protector! There are panels with richer colors and sharper images, but for £299 this is one of the best you’ll get.
Display score: 4 / 5
Oppo Reno 12 FS 5G review: Software
(Image credit: Future)
Android 14 with ColorOS 14
Absolutely full of bloatware
Otherwise solid with great customization options
The software experience on the Oppo Reno 12 FS 5G makes the most of the phone’s limited hardware. ColorOS is fast becoming my favorite implementation of Android thanks to its swift navigation, easy-to-use settings, and exceptional customization options. However, as with other Oppo phones, what could be an entirely slick experience is marred by an unfortunate amount of bloatware.
Though the Reno 12 FS isn’t exactly a fast phone, ColorOS is generally responsive and loaded with useful options. There is some unpredictable slowdown in the UI, though, which is either down to hardware limitations or poor optimization. The phone comes loaded with Google Gemini, but not Circle to Search, and the pre-installed Oppo apps are fine, though most users will defer to Google’s options instead.
On the topic of apps, the amount of bloatware here really is an issue. Switching on the phone for the first time almost felt like I’d picked up someone else’s handset by mistake, with the pages of the homescreen taken up by apps and games I'd never heard of. The most offensive of these are the ones that are blatant advertisements – this robs the setup experience of its sheen and the user of a sense of proper ownership.
Some of that ownership can be reclaimed with the stellar customization options on the Reno 12 FS. ColorOS has some of the best wallpapers and theme settings of any phone OS I’ve used, Android or no, and they really bring the Reno12 FS to life. There are uniquely generated lock screens, wallpapers that react to your taps, and plenty of font options.
As a side note, The Oppo Reno 12 FS 5G is also the only phone I’ve ever used that has a 300% volume option. Pushing the volume past the normal maximum adds a menacing red “300%” to the top of the bar. The next time someone tells you “it goes up to 11”, you can tell them your phone goes up to 300.
Software score: 3 / 5
Oppo Reno 12 FS 5G review: Cameras
(Image credit: Future)
50MP wide camera
8MP ultrawide camera
2MP macro camera
The cameras on the Oppo Reno 12 FS 5G are, frankly, not great. Even holding the phone steady in brightly-lit conditions will produce images that range from just serviceable to unimpressive. It’s honestly disappointing that a 50MP main camera could produce pictures that are so lacking in detail – a reminder that resolution isn’t everything.
Using the camera app is no chore as it comes replete with plenty of options and modes, but the viewfinder consistently displays a grainy and unattractive image. The phone can produce decent final images if you give it a lot of light, but even these show a huge disparity from the preview, which leads me to believe there’s some very active post-processing going on. This theory is somewhat confirmed by the blurriness you’ll see in tree branches and grasses.
I don’t want to come down too hard on the Reno 12 FS, because it is firmly a budget phone, but some of the best cheap phones offer more in this department (the Samsung Galaxy A35 comes to mind). The secondary cameras on the Reno 12 FS – an 8MP ultra-wide and 2MP macro camera – are especially rough, to the point that I question why they were even included.
Still, for capturing home photos and videos, scanning documents, and the occasional holiday snap, the Oppo Reno 12 FS will manage. The selfie camera is also fine, but again doesn’t seem to live up to its 32MP resolution, and video recording at 1080p 60fps is serviceable. The Reno 12 FS doesn’t offer an offensively barebones experience, but those who care about photography should definitely look elsewhere.
Camera score: 2 / 5
Oppo Reno 12 FS 5G Camera Samples
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Oppo Reno 12 FS 5G review: Performance
(Image credit: Future)
MediaTek Dimensity 6300
GPU: Mali G57 MC2
12GB of RAM
The Oppo Reno 12 FS is something of an oddball performance wise. I’ve managed to get smooth 30fps gameplay from it when booting up Call of Duty Mobile, even in extended sessions, and yet it’ll stutter randomly when swiping into the discover tab or opening YouTube. It's bothersome, but the slowdown isn’t prevalent enough to ruin an otherwise usable device. Calls are clear and messages are delivered without issue.
The Reno12 FS runs on the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 chipset and comes equipped with a very healthy 12GB of RAM. That’s a reasonable handful of silicon at this price, and I’m especially impressed by the large amount of memory on offer. It shows in the phone’s surprising capacity for multitasking; I’ve yet to have an app crash on me.
Coming from a premium handset, the Reno 12 FS is noticeably slower to open apps, scroll through web pages, and complete searches. I can quite easily get the phone to stutter while switching between apps, too. From a more neutral perspective, the phone is powerful enough for 90% of what people use their phones for, and again I have to consider the price point. The Reno 12 FS finds a reasonable balance.
Performance score: 3 / 5
Oppo Reno 12 FS 5G review: Battery
(Image credit: Future)
Excellent battery life with monstrous standby times
Confidently an all-day phone
5,000 mAh capacity
The Oppo Reno12 FS 5G has a truly excellent battery life, bolstered by absolutely ridiculous standby times. I tested the Reno12 FS intermittently over the course of multiple weeks, and was frequently surprised by picking up a still-charged phone after a week or two away. In daily use, the efficient MediaTek chipset sips at the battery, never dropping by an alarming amount when browsing the web or social media. A 5,000 mAh cell powering a 1080p display is bound to last a while, but the Reno 12 FS still manages to impress.
In normal use, the Reno 12 FS offers a reassuring amount of battery, but when put to one side, the Reno 12 FS just refuses to run out of power. I appreciate standby times aren’t always at the front of buyer’s minds, but I’d be remiss to not mention it in this case – the phone seems to take up between 5% and 10% of its charge per day in standby.
When it does eventually come time to top up, the Reno 12 FS isn’t so impressive. The phone charges via USB-C and doesn’t support wireless charging. An official charging speed isn’t listed, but when plugged in to my 80W SUPERVOOC brick the phone says it's charging at 45W - a solid power draw by any measure.
Battery score: 4 / 5
Should you buy the Oppo Reno 12 FS 5G?
Buy it if...
You're on a budget
At £299, there are few phones that offer this much for so little. Not every feature is as refined as the display or operating system, but this is still a very capable phone for the price.
You want something stylish
From the classy Black Green colorway to the fresh new Breathing Light, the Reno 12 FS 5G is pure Oppo style. The software customization is top notch, too.
You want a large display
The 6.67-inch display fitted to the Reno 12 FS 5G is a big and bold green flag, and obvious evidence of the phone's value for money.
Don't buy it if...
You need strong performance
The Reno 12 FS 5G can handle the basics, but is prone to stuttering. It doesn't ruin the experience, but I wouldn't pick it for critical tasks.
You're a shutterbug
Photographers should look elsewhere - our list of the best cheap phones has plenty of options with much better camera systems than the misguided triple-camera setup on the Reno 12 FS 5G.
Oppo Reno 12 FS 5G review: Also consider
Samsung Galaxy A35
The Samsung Galaxy A35 brings similar value for money to the Reno 12 FS 5G, but with a more sophisticated camera system and the power of Samsung's platform. If you prefer to stick with well known brands, then this is a suitable swap.
If you can stretch your budget, the iPhone SE will be more consistent and powerful than the Reno 12 FS at every turn. The camera performance is notably much better than the Reno, and you get the benefit of accessing the Apple ecosystem.
I used the Oppo Reno 12 FS 5G intermittently over the course of several weeks. Over this time, I used the phone for everyday tasks, as well as more specific tests designed to push the handset’s performance. As mentioned, the phone only comes in one model, and as such my test unit came with 512GB of storage, 12GB of RAM, and the dashing Black Green colorway.
In terms of my everyday usage, I made phone calls, sent messages, and scrolled through articles on Chrome. I watched videos on YouTube and listened to music via Spotify (including testing the quirky 300% volume feature in person). I was able to get a sense of how the Reno 12 FS serves to keep users connected to others and the latest news.
I undertook more specific tests to determine the performance limits of the Reno 12 FS. These included extended play sessions on Call of Duty Mobile, a popular demanding mobile game, and stepping out in various weather conditions to test the phone’s camera system. I also observed battery levels throughout my usage.
After gathering this real-world experience, I applied my in-depth knowledge of smartphone specs and the wider phone market, as well as my journalistic training, to assess the value and performance of the handset, and help you decide whether the Reno 12 FS is for you.
When I reviewed the Arc A770 and A750, I said that these Alchemist GPUs were impressive first efforts for Intel's Arc range, but not yet at the level that they needed to be to compete with the likes of Nvidia and AMD in discrete graphics.
Well, with the release of the new Intel Arc B580 (2nd-gen Battlemage), there's no doubt that Intel has produced one of the best graphics cards of this generation, and given gamers on a budget an absolute gift just in time for the holidays.
For starters, let's talk about the price of this GPU. At just $249.99 / £249.99 / AU$439, the Arc B580 undercuts both Nvidia's and AMD's budget offerings, the RTX 4060 and RX 7600, while offering substantially better performance, making its value proposition untouchable at this price range.
While I'll dig deeper into the performance in a bit, I'll cut to the chase and point out the simple fact that neither the RTX 4060 nor the RX 7600 can game at 1440p without severely compromising graphics quality. Not only can the B580 perform this feat, it does so brilliantly.
This comes down to some very straightforward spec choices that Intel made with its Battlemage debut that, especially in hindsight, make Nvidia and AMD's respective decisions even more baffling. First, with a VRAM pool of 12GB, the B580 can hold the larger texture files needed for 1440p gaming, whereas the RTX 4060 Ti cannot, due to its 8GB VRAM loadout.
Then there's the B580's wider 192-bit memory interface, compared to the RTX 4060 Ti's and RX 7600 XT's 128-bit. While this might seem like an obscure spec, it's the secret sauce for the B580. This beefier interface allows it to process those larger texture files much faster than its competitors, so this GPU can fully leverage its bigger VRAM pool in a way that Nvidia and AMD's competing cards simply can't, even with larger VRAM configurations.
Boiling all this down, you end up with a budget-class GPU that can get you fast 1440p framerates the likes of which we haven't seen since the RTX 3060 Ti.
Even more impressive, in my mind, is that I did not encounter a single game where there was some kind of quirk or hiccup caused by the driver. With the Arc Alchemist cards last year, there were issues with some games not running well because of inadequate driver support, or a game's reliance on an older version of DirectX that the Alchemist GPUs weren't optimized for. I didn't encounter any of those problems this time around. The Intel graphics team's long, hard work on getting Arc's drivers up to par has definitely paid off.
If there's a criticism I can make of this graphics card, it's that its creative performance isn't as good as Nvidia's. But given the entire creative world's reliance on Nvidia's bespoke CUDA instruction set, neither Intel nor AMD were ever really going to be able to compete here.
Fortunately, the Intel Arc B580 is a graphics card for gaming, and for any gamer looking to play at 1440p resolution on the cheap, the B580 is really the only graphics card that can do it, making it the only GPU you should be considering at this price point.
Intel Arc B580: Price & availability
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
The Intel Arc B580 is available in the US, UK, and Australia, and has been from December 13, 2024, starting at $249.99, £249.99, and AU$439 respectively. Third-party graphics card partners like Acer, ASRock, and others will have their own variants of the B580, and their prices may be higher, depending on the card.
The closest competition for the Arc B580 in terms of price are the Nvidia RTX 4060 and AMD RX 7600, both of which have a $20-$50 higher MSRP. And while Nvidia and AMD are preparing to roll out their next-gen graphics cards starting next month, it will still be a few months after the initial flagship launches before either company's budget offerings are announced. So, the B580 is the only current-gen GPU available for under $250 / £250 / AU$450 at the moment, and will likely remain so for many months to come.
Value: 5/5
Intel Arc B580: Specifications
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Intel Arc B580: Architecture & features
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
The Intel Arc B580 is the first discrete GPU from Intel based on its new Xe2 graphics architecture, codenamed Battlemage, and there are a lot of low-level changes over the previous-gen Intel Arc Alchemist. Many of these are small tweaks to the architectural design, such as the move from SIMD32 to SIMD16 instructions, but when taken together, all of these small changes add up to a major overhaul of the GPU.
That, in addition to using TSMC's 5nm process, means that even though the GPU itself has become physically smaller in just about every measure, it's much more powerful.
The B580 has a roughly 17% reduction in compute units from the Arc A580 and about 10% fewer transistors, but Intel says that its various architectural changes produce about 70% better performance per compute unit (or Xe core, as Intel calls it). I haven't tested or reviewed the Intel Arc A580, so I can't say for certain if that claim holds up, but there has definitely been a major performance gain gen-on-gen based on my experience with the higher-end Arc Alchemist cards. We also can't ignore the substantially faster boost clock of 2,850MHz, up from 1,700MHz for the A580.
Outside of the GPU architecture, there is also a smaller memory bus, with the A580's 256-bit interface dropping down to 192-bit for the B580, but the B580 features a 50% increase in its video memory pool, as well as a faster memory clock.
Specs & features: 4.5 / 5
Intel Arc B580: Design
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
The Intel Arc B580 Limited Edition reference card is what you'd call the 'base' version of this GPU, but don't call it basic.
Despite its all-black-with-white-accent-lettering appearance, this is a good-looking graphics card, much like the initial Arc Alchemist GPUs before it, thanks to its matte, textured black shroud, dual-fan cooling, and rather understated aesthetic.
In a PC component world full of ostentatious, overly aggressive and flashy designs, there is something almost respectable about a graphics card in 2024 that presents itself without gimmicks, almost daring you to underestimate its capabilities due to its lack of RGB.
That said, there is one noticeable difference with this graphics card's design: the open 'window' over the internal heatsink to help with airflow and cooling. Unfortunately, the HWInfo64 utility I use to measure temperature and power draw for the GPUs I review couldn't read the Arc B580 during testing, so I can't tell you how much of a difference this window makes compared to something like the Intel Arc A750—but it certainly won't hurt its thermals.
Beyond that, the card also sports a single 8-pin power connector, in keeping with its 190W TBP, so you can pretty much guarantee that if you already have a discrete GPU in your system, you'll have the available power cables from your PSU required to use this GPU.
It's also not a very large graphics card, though it is larger than some RTX 4060 and RX 7600 GPUs (it's about 10.7-inches / 272mm), though third-party variants might be more compact. In any case, it's a dual-slot card, so it'll fit in place as an upgrade for just about any graphics card you have in your PC currently.
Design: 4.5 / 5
Intel Arc B580: Performance
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
OK, so now we come to why I am absolutely in love with this graphics card: performance.
Unfortunately, I don't have an Intel Arc A580 card on hand to compare this GPU to, so I can't directly measure how the B580 stacks up to its predecessor. But I can compare the B580 to its current competition, as well as the Intel Arc A750, which prior to this release was selling at, or somewhat below, the price of this graphics card, and has comparable specs.
In terms of pure synthetic performance, the Arc B580 comes in second to the Nvidia RTX 4060 Ti, performing about 10% slower overall. That said, there were some tests, like 3DMark Fire Strike Ultra, Wild Life Extreme (and Wild Life Extreme Unlimited), and Time Spy Extreme where the extra VRAM allowed the Arc B580 to pull ahead of the much more expensive Nvidia RTX 4060 Ti. The Arc B580 did manage to outperform the RTX 4060 by about 12%, however.
Creative workloads aren't the Arc B580's strongest area, with Nvidia's RTX 4060 and RTX 4060 Ti performing substantially better. This might change once PugetBench for Creators Photoshop benchmark gets updated however, as it crashed during every single test I ran, regardless of which graphics card I was using.
Notably, the Intel Arc B580 encoded 4K video to 1080p at a faster rate using Intel's H.264 codec in Handbrake 1.61 than all of the other cards tested using Nvidia or AMD's H.264 options, so this is something for game streamers to consider if they're looking for a card to process their video on the fly.
But what really matters with this GPU is gaming, and if you compare this graphics card's 1080p performance to the competition, you'll have to go with the nearly 40% more expensive Nvidia RTX 4060 Ti in order to beat it, and it's not a crushing defeat for Intel. While I found the Arc B580 is about 17% slower than the RTX 4060 Ti on average at 1080p (with no ray tracing or upscaling), it's still hitting 82 FPS on average overall and actually has a slightly higher minimum/1% FPS performance of just under 60 FPS.
The AMD RX 7600 XT, Intel Arc A750, and Nvidia RTX 4060 don't even come close to reaching these kinds of numbers, with the Arc B580 scoring a roughly 30% faster average 1080p FPS and an incredible 52% faster minimum/1% FPS advantage over the Nvidia RTX 4060, which comes in a very distant third place among the five GPUs being tested. All in all, it's an impressive performance from the Intel Battlemage graphics card.
Also worth noting is that the Intel Arc B580's ray-tracing performance is noticeably better than AMD's, and not that far behind Nvidia's, though its upscaling performance lags a bit behind AMD and Nvidia at 1080p.
Even more impressive, though, is this card's 1440p performance.
Typically, if you're going to buy any 1440p GPU, not even the best 1440p graphics card, you should expect to pay at least $400-$500 (about £320-£400 / AU$600-AU$750). And to really qualify as a 1440p GPU, you need to hit an average of 60 FPS overall, with an average FPS floor of about 40 FPS. Anything less than that, and you're going to have an uneven experience game-to-game.
In this regard, the only two graphics cards I tested that qualify are the Nvidia RTX 4060 Ti and the Intel Arc B580, and they are very close to each other in terms of 1440p performance. (I can give an honorable mention to the Nvidia RTX 4060, which almost got there, but not quite).
While Nvidia has certain built-in advantages owing to its status as the premiere GPU brand (so pretty much any game is optimized for Nvidia hardware by default), at 1440p it only barely ekes out a win over the Intel Arc B580. And that's ultimately down to its stronger native ray-tracing performance—a scenario which pretty much no one opts for. If you're going to use ray tracing, you're going to use upscaling, and in that situation, the RTX 4060 Ti and Arc B580 are effectively tied at 1440p.
And this 1440p performance in particular is why I'm so enthusiastic about this graphics card. While this is the performance section of the review, I can't help but talk about the value that this card represents for gamers—especially the growing number of 1440p-aspiring gamers out there.
Prior to the Intel Arc B580, gaming at 1440p—which is the PC gaming sweet spot; believe me, I've extensively tested nearly every GPU of the past four years at 1440p—was something reserved for the petit bourgeois of PC gamers. These are the folks not rich enough to really go in for the best 4K graphics cards, but they've got enough money to buy a 1440p monitor and a graphics card powerful enough to drive it.
This used to mean something approaching a grand just for these two items alone, locking a lot of gamers into incremental 1080p advances for two successive generations. No more.
Now, with an entry-level 1440p monitor coming in under $300 /£300 / AU$450, it's entirely possible to upgrade your rig for 1440p gaming for about $500 / £500 / AU$750 with this specific graphics card (and only this graphics card), which is absolutely doable for a hell of a lot of gamers out there who are still languishing at 1080p.
Ultimately, this, more than anything, raises the Intel Arc B580 into S-Tier for me, even though Nvidia's $399.99 RTX 4060 Ti GPU gets slightly better performance. The Nvidia RTX 4060 Ti just doesn't offer this kind of value for the vast majority of gamers out there, and even with its improved performance since its launch, the 4060 Ti is still very hard to recommend.
The Nvidia RTX 4060, meanwhile, can't keep up with the B580 despite being 20% more expensive. And with the AMD RX 7600 XT, laden with its $329.99 MSRP (about £250 / AU$480 RRP), falling noticeably behind the B580, the RX 7600 (which I haven't had a chance to retest yet) doesn't stand a chance (and has a slightly more expensive MSRP).
And, it has to be emphasized, I experienced none of the driver issues with the Intel Arc B580 that I did when I originally reviewed the Intel Arc A750 and Arc A770. Every game I tested ran perfectly well, even if something like Black Myth Wukong ran much better on the two Nvidia cards than it did on Intel's GPUs. Tweak some settings and you'll be good to go.
This was something that just wasn't the case with the previous-gen Arc graphics cards at launch, and it truly held Intel back at the time. In one of my Intel Arc Alchemist reviews, I compared that generation of graphics cards to fantastic journeyman efforts that were good, but maybe not ready to be put out on the show floor. No more. Intel has absolutely graduated to full GPU maker status, and has done so with a card more affordable than the cheapest graphics cards its competition has to offer.
Simply put, for a lot of cash-strapped gamers out there, the Intel Arc B580's performance at this price is nothing short of a miracle, and it makes me question how Intel of all companies was able to pull this off while AMD and Nvidia have not.
Even if you don't buy an Intel Arc B580, give Intel its due for introducing this kind of competition into the graphics card market. If Intel can keep this up for the B570, and hopefully the B770 and B750, then Nvidia and AMD will have no choice but to rein in their price inflation with the next-gen cards they plan to offer next year, making it a win-win for every gamer looking to upgrade.
Performance: 4.5 / 5
Intel Arc B580: Should you buy it?
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Buy the Intel Arc B580 if...
You want an extremely affordable 1440p graphics card A 1440p graphics card can be quite expensive, but the Intel Arc B580 is incredibly affordable.
You're looking for great gaming performance The Intel Arc B580 delivers incredible framerates for the price.
Don't buy it if...
You're looking for a budget creative GPU While the B580 isn't terrible, if you're looking for a GPU for creative work, there are better cards out there.
You want a cheap GPU for AI workloads The Intel Arc B580 might have dedicated AI hardware, but it still lags behind Nvidia by a good amount.
Also consider
Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 The Nvidia RTX 4060 is a better option for a lot of creative tasks on a budget, though its gaming performance isn't as strong despite the higher price.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Ti If you want a strong 1080p and 1440p gaming GPU, but also need some muscle for creative or machine learning/AI workloads, this card is what you'll want, so long as you're willing to pay the extra premium in the price.
Over the course of about three weeks, I used the Intel Arc B580 as my primary workstation GPU when I wasn't actively benchmarking it.
This included using the graphics card for various creative workloads like Adobe Photoshop and light video encoding work.
I also used the B580 for some in-depth game testing, including titles like Black Myth Wukong, Satisfactory, and other recently released games.
I've been doing graphics card reviews for TechRadar for more than two years now, and I've done extensive GPU testing previous to that on a personal basis as a lifelong PC gamer. In addition, my computer science coursework for my Master's degree utilized GPUs very heavily for machine learning and other computational workloads, and as a result, I know my way around every aspect of a GPU. As such, you can rest assured that my testing process is both thorough and sound.
The Precision 5690 is considered a flagship in Dell's Mobile Workstation line-up, and for good reason. And like all the best mobile workstations we've reviewed, this heavy-duty laptop caters to professionals who need the extra power, even at the cost. These individuals who need this kind of computer need exceptional portable computing power. The Precision 5690 boasts the latest Intel Meteor Lake processors, AI integration, NVIDIA's Ada-generation GPU, and a fantastic build quality, making it a highly versatile tool for even the most demanding tasks. Granted, it does take some design inspiration from the ever-popular Dell XPS range and some from the competitors at Apple; the Precision 5690 stands tall as a fantastic contender for serious productivity and workload.
Dell Precision 5690: Price and Availability
The base model costs around $2,300 and includes an Intel Core Ultra 5, integrated graphics, and an FHD+ non-touch display. Our test model is spec'd out with an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H 2.5GHz processor with 64GB of RAM, Windows 11 Pro, an NVIDIA RTX 5000 Ada Generation GPU, 4TB of internal storage, and a 4K OLED display. This test model comes in around $6,500.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Dell Precision 5690: Unboxing and First Impressions
Though this computer is quite robust in power, the packaging for the Dell Precision 5690 is humble. Its minimalistic approach reflects Dell's commitment to sustainability with recycled materials. Within the product box are the laptop, a 165W USB-C Charger, a USB-C to USB-A dongle, and some protective papers ensuring the computer makes it to you without a scratch. From the moment I took the protective sleeve off, I loved the anodized aluminum chassis. It looks premium and feels like it can be used daily and shouldn't get destroyed. it's right up there with the best business laptops I've tried.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Dell Precision 5690: Design and Build Quality
Specs
CPU: Intel Core Ultra 9 185H, 16 cores. GPU: NVIDIA RTX 5000 Ada with 16GB GDDR6. Display: 16-inch UHD+ OLED, 3840 x 2400, 400 nits, 100% DCI-P3. RAM: Up to 64GB LPDDR5x. Storage: Configurable up to 8TB SSD. Connectivity: Intel Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI 2.1, SD card reader.
The Dell Precision 5690 showcases a sleek yet professional design made of a Titan Gray anodized aluminum case material. It's hefty, yet it is pretty portable for the workstation at only 4.5 lbs. Just as importantly, it can maintain a sturdy build with overall minimal flex. This is not a flimsy device, which is excellent for those who use their laptops daily. It can be used without worrying about snapping or breaking the first time used in the real world.
Coming from a guy with a personal MacBook Pro, I am particular about my touchpads; I don't put up with anything less than excellent. And the Precision 5690's touchpad is fantastic. It has a tremendously wide shape and fantastic haptic feedback and feel in general. Further, the keyboard is another thing that needs to be excellent for a laptop to be genuinely great since part of the reason people choose a laptop over a desktop is to be able to use it on the go. If the keyboard is excellent and built-in, that's one less thing that needs to be carried alongside the laptop, further bulking up the otherwise portable setup. Much like the touchpad, the keyboard is also great on this computer. Granted, it's no Keychron custom mechanical keyboard, but it's a fantastic keyboard with backlit keys. If it had a numpad, it might've been perfect.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Dell Precision 5690: In use
I'll say it one more time. I am used to working on a MacBook Pro day in and out. So, I frequently compare laptops I test to that as a litmus test. The Dell Precision 5690 has made me confident that I could run with just the Precision 5690 and fly through every single thing in my workflow with the slightest of ease and then some, with only having to re-learn keyboard shortcuts. Jokes aside, this machine is incredible. Yes, there are even more powerful computers. Yes, there are more portable laptops, too. Many laptops are "more" of one thing or another, but the Dell Precision 5690 has been one of those unique computers that fits the sweet spot of being a device that does everything well.
It performs very well in all categories it's intended to. I've taken this as my only laptop for several days now, and I have zero hangups or hiccups when it comes to getting work done on this laptop, which is across all the various types of tasks I do. I have been able to do admin work, emails, spreadsheets, web-browsing, and project management, along with also getting a photo and some video editing done; I've been able to run programs, try my hand at some coding, I've gamed, I have run remote desktops, I have run benchmarks to know that this could be a serious contender even in engineering and running massive code bases, deliver exceptional performance across CAD, and CGI work,
And through all that, this laptop is still portable enough that I don't mind throwing it in a backpack and carrying it to wherever work takes me that day. Even the battery is excellent for this kind of machine. I'll keep a power bank and charger in my bag because that's the kind of person I am, but I don't feel like I need to top off every couple of hours; I can buckle down for a long working session without the anxiety of getting charged.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Because of the 4K OLED display, I enjoy using this display. Some professional laptops opt for a 1080p display, which is fine, but then I go from my iPhone 16 Pro's beautiful display and I find myself wishing for a better screen. I don't have this issue here. With the Precision 5690, that beautiful screen makes watching content feel right, and adds a little extra to editing photos and videos.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Dell Precision 5690: Final verdict
The Dell Precision 5690 is a workstation marvel, combining portability with uncompromising performance. While its price and limited port options may deter some, its sheer power, stunning display, and premium build make it a no-brainer for professionals needing the best. Whether you’re an architect, data scientist, creative professional, or someone who needs reliable power in their primary machine, the Precision 5690 delivers impressive results that justify its premium price tag.
The Oppo Find X8 Pro is built on truly excellent hardware. It sports a sleek premium design, a luxurious 6.78-inch display, and the best mobile camera system I’ve ever used. Its snappy performance and innovative UI animations also make it one of the smoothest-feeling phones on the market, and this combination of great hardware and slick software is reflected in the Find X8 Pro's high (but arguably competitive) retail price.
However, the Find X8 Pro has clearly taken one or two (or ten) design cues from the iPhone 16 Pro, and at several points during this review, I found myself asking how much originality counts for. In many ways, the Find X8 Pro blazes past its inspiration, with smoother software, more powerful cameras, and – to my eye – a more interesting design. But Oppo can only take so much credit for a phone so substantially built on another phone maker’s ideas.
Philosophizing aside, the Oppo Find X8 Pro is full to the brim with impressive tech. Its display is sharp, colorful, and immersive, and at 6.78 inches is about as large as I’d want a phone screen to get. The back of the phone is where the real magic happens, though – the quad-camera system on the Oppo Find X8 Pro is truly class-leading, with four 50MP snappers at various levels of optical magnification.
Internally, the phone is just as solid, with a MediaTek Dimensity 9400 chipset and 16GB of RAM. The Find X8 Pro handled everything I threw at it with aplomb. I felt like I was gliding through the ColorOS 15 Android wrapper in day-to-day tasks, and no game or app seemed to vex the system at all. This software experience is unfortunately marred by a large amount of bloatware.
Overall, whether the Find X8 Pro is for you comes down to how much you care about originality. People who want an iPhone will always get an iPhone, and because of that, I'm drawn to the idea that Oppo isn't so much chasing Apple customers as it is interpreting Apple features, which might even be a boost for those who prefer Android to iOS. However you feel about that debate, though, this is a great Android phone loaded with top-flight features; with a specs sheet like this, perhaps an identity crisis is forgivable.
The Oppo Find X8 Pro costs £1,049 in the UK. It comes in two colors – Pearl White or Space Black – and ships with a non-configurable 512GB of storage and 16GB of RAM. As with all Oppo phones, it's very unlikely that the Find X8 Pro will launch in the US, though the upcoming OnePlus 13 could offer similar (if not identical) specs.
At this price, the Oppo Find X8 Pro is directly challenging premium flagships like the iPhone 16 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus, both of which start at £999. Matching these established brands on price is a bold move from Oppo – Chinese manufacturers have traditionally sought to undercut Western competitors on price to compensate for weaker reputation. The Find X8 Pro is full of premium hardware, however, so the value is definitely there.
Oppo Find X8 Pro review: Specs
Oppo Find X8 Pro review: Design
(Image credit: Future / Jamie Richards)
Comes in two colors – Pearl White and Space Black
Rounded frame with new Quick Button – a shutter button for the camera app
Rounded quad-camera housing
The Oppo Find X8 Pro is a strikingly beautiful device. The unit I tested came in Pearl White, which casts a unique pearlescent pattern on each individual handset (there's also a muted Space Black option). It’s subtle in all but the most direct light, which for me strikes the perfect balance between understated and fascinating. Both color options are rated at both IP68 and IP69 for water resistance against both immersion and jets.
The Find X8 Pro is otherwise simple-looking, but keeps things feeling premium with well-chosen materials and attention to detail. The phone is weighty, at 215 grams, but doesn’t feel overly heavy. The camera housing on the Pearl White model is made of polished metal, rather than the glass found on premium OnePlus models, and I have to say, I’m a fan. It gives an industrial contrast to the artsy rear cover and everything on the rear panel a pleasant muted sheen.
The front panel hosts a 6.78-inch screen, curved slightly on each edge. The selfie camera is a reasonably inconspicuous punch-hole design that serves as the midpoint of the software-only Dynamic Cloud – which is, as it sounds, very similar in form and function to Apple’s Dynamic Island.
Ergonomically, the Find X8 finds a nice balance between the ultra-thin curved phones of five or so years ago and the blocky flagships of today. It feels great to hold, but is a little slippery. The phone also seems plenty durable, with weighty buttons and aluminum rails, and comes with a screen protector pre-installed.
On the topic of buttons, the new Quick Button can be found on the lower right-hand side of the frame. The Quick Button is a camera button in all but name, and currently only supports functions and shortcuts directly related to the camera. It’s a nice addition to have and sits flatter than the iPhone’s Camera Control, feeling overall less obtrusive as a result.
Design score: 4 / 5
Oppo Find X8 Pro review: Display
(Image credit: Future / Jamie Richards)
1264 x 2780 resolution (19.8:9 aspect ratio)
120Hz refresh rate
Ludicrous peak brightness of 4500 nits
The display on the Oppo Find X8 Pro is a sharp 1264 x 2780 panel with a 120Hz refresh rate that works in tandem with Oppo’s new animation technology to offer a truly fluid experience. At 6.78 inches, this is as large as I’d want a phone screen to be, and this size lends itself to dual senses of openness and immersion.
The display on the Find X8 Pro isn’t the highest resolution on the market, but it’s certainly enough to make images and video look razor-sharp. There’s plenty of color, and though I’ve definitely seen panels with richer contrast, the Find X8 is well beyond serviceable. The large size and overall sharpness of this panel lends itself well to all types of games, from the landscape shoot-em-up Call of Duty Mobile to charming vertical RPGs like Mousebusters.
The Find X8 Pro’s screen can reach a respectable 800 nits of brightness in typical use, with an absolute maximum of 4500 nits. That is ludicrously bright and far past the realm of actual usefulness. I found the phone to be reasonably bright in normal use, though colors can appear slightly blown out at the higher end of the brightness slider. I never found myself struggling to read the display outside, though the auto-brightness can sometimes make the screen a little too dim indoors.
Display score: 4 / 5
Oppo Find X8 Pro review: Software
(Image credit: Future / Jamie Richards)
Android 15 with ColorOS 15
Unacceptable amount of bloatware
Google Gemini-powered AI
ColorOS 15 is one of the smoothest experiences I’ve had with a smartphone operating system, neck-and-neck with OxygenOS 15 – which adds up, considering they’re basically the same thing. AI is provided courtesy of Google Gemini, with support for Circle to Search, writing tools, document summarization, voice memo transcription, and photo editing tools.
Oppo has imbued ColorOS with some of the highest quality animations I've ever seen on a mobile OS. This translates into exceptionally smooth navigation, and in combination with Oppo’s other fantastic UI animations, depth of field effects, and other visual tricks, gives the operating system a playful sense of elasticity and responsiveness I’ve seen nowhere else in the smartphone market, bar maybe the iPhone.
That leads us to an unavoidable fact about ColorOS 15 – the liberal inspiration it's taken from iOS. Everything from the default wallpapers to the way the date and time sit on the lock screen to the layout of the settings app feels like an echo of the iPhone. The Dynamic Cloud, while useful, is barely distinct from the iPhone's Dynamic Island, and the Quick Settings tab is almost a one-for-one recreation of the iOS 18 control center. Oppo is clearly well-versed in making fantastic software that runs like it's being chased, but it’d be nice to see more of the company’s own personality come through.
Another unfortunate mark on an otherwise exceptionally fast software experience is the absolutely unacceptable amount of bloatware the phone ships with; a ridiculous inclusion on a device of this price that regrettably tarnished my first impressions of the phone. I also couldn't get Google Wallet to enable contactless payments – unrelated, but important.
Software score: 3 / 5
Oppo Find X8 Pro review: Cameras
(Image credit: Future / Jamie Richards)
50MP wide camera
50MP ultra-wide camera
50MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom
50MP telephoto with 6x optical zoom
The camera system on the Oppo Find X8 Pro is absolutely superb. This is a robust, flexible, and staggeringly powerful camera setup that excels in most situations, particularly with its optical zoom and night photography. While there are a wealth of modes, features, and shooting options built into the Find X8’s camera app, the phone is truly brilliant at offering a fast and reliable point and shoot experience – I never had to consciously consider choosing night mode, or portrait mode, as the default photo tab worked so well. The new Quick Button – a shutter button in all but name – elevates this phone to something closer to a traditional digital camera, and the hardware is certainly there.
Each of the four cameras affixed to the Oppo Find X8 Pro has a 50MP sensor, ensuring consistent quality across its wide optical zoom range. You get an ultra-wide camera, main wide camera, 3x telephoto, and 6x telephoto. All of these cameras feel like powerful tools rather than tacked-on gimmicks, and despite my noted disdain for ultra-wide snappers I must say that this is the best one I’ve come across. Zooming in to the telephoto cameras feels like a natural extension of the main camera, and some excellent software trickery means the transition between lenses when zooming in and out is rarely noticeable.
The Find X8 Pro's optical zoom range of 6x is close to class-leading at this point, now that Samsung no longer fits its phones with 10x lenses. The Find X8 also offers a ludicrous digital zoom range of 120x, which is impressive up to about 40x and then serviceable up to 60x. Past that point, you’re relying on post-processing or an optional AI Telephoto Zoom mode to fill in the gaps and sharpen the blurry original image. The AI zoom isn't great at details, but can guess the outline of shapes and text with decent accuracy.
The camera system’s post-processing is very active overall – some people will prefer a less edited look, but I think it adds a nice amount of color depth, contrast, and sharpness, which directly opposes the brightened style favored by the iPhone and Galaxy flagships. As for video, the phone shoots in 4k at 60fps with the ability to shoot in slow-motion at up to 480fps in 720p.
And, of course, there’s a new way to control the camera system on the Find X8 Pro. The Quick Button appears in the same position and does some of the same things as the iPhone’s Camera Control – it’s seemingly a haptic-sensitive button that supports swiping touch gestures. The Quick Button only does a few things, though – a double press opens the camera app, wherein a single press takes a photo, a long press either takes a burst of photos or a video, and swiping back and forth in landscape mode zooms in and out.
Sure, this isn’t as deep a feature set as Apple’s version, but I still found the Quick Button to be massively effective in reducing the time from thought to photo. The only complaints I have are that the scroll-to-zoom can be a little ‘sticky’ sometimes or occasionally just not work, and that there’s no half-press-to-focus function (Oppo missed an open goal with that one).
Camera score: 4.5 / 5
Oppo Find X8 Pro Camera Samples
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Oppo Find X8 Pro review: Performance
(Image credit: Future / Jamie Richards)
MediaTek Dimensity 9400
GPU: Immortalis G-925
16GB of RAM
Day-to-day, the Find X8 Pro performs admirably, powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9400 chipset. I encountered no slowdown at all in general usage, and found I could swiftly switch between apps and games with no fuss from the hardware.
The phone also performs well across its array of AI tools, with reasonably fast load times and no real lag or slowdown. The Quick Button lives up to its name in accessing the camera app, which opens near-enough instantly from anywhere in the OS.
The Find X8 Pro comes equipped with 16GB of RAM, a generous allotment that means the phone has plenty of headroom for multitasking and AI. The phone's combination of strong internal specs and a large display also makes it a capable gaming machine, and I had no issues booting up games like Atom RPG or Call of Duty Mobile for sessions on the go, with little noticeable warming.
To put it simply, the Oppo Find X8 Pro just feels efficient. I didn’t notice anything putting more strain on the battery, and the phone seems happy to sustain a variety of concurrent processes. The phone excels in shaving milliseconds off of the hundred-a-day tasks: switching apps, opening files, installing software, and so on. This all adds up and makes using the Oppo Find X8 a fluid and satisfying experience.
Oppo Find X8 Pro review: Battery
(Image credit: Future / Jamie Richards)
5,910mAh battery
80W wired charging
50W wireless charging
The Oppo Find X8 Pro sports an all-day battery life, with power to spare. The 5,910mAh silicon-carbon battery gives the Find X8 Pro exceptional longevity. It handles busy days of mixed use with no issue, and doesn’t seem to drain too drastically during gaming sessions or when playing back longer videos.
The real magic comes when it’s time to plug in the Find X8 Pro to recharge – the phone doesn't only come with a charger, which is itself a major win in today’s market, but an 80W charger using Oppo’s own SuperVOOC technology. What that means in practice is blisteringly fast charging speeds and more flexibility for battery top-ups. I almost never saw the Oppo Find X8 Pro run out of battery, as even a cursory 5-minute charge could net me an extra 10% or so of battery life. The phone also supports 50W wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging.
When I tested the charging speed of the Oppo Find X8 Pro, I found that the phone reached 50% charge in about 20 minutes and 100% in around 45 minutes. I started the test, as despite my best efforts I couldn't get the phone to completely run out in a reasonable amount of time.
Standby times are also exceptional, and the phone will do everything in its power to prevent this with warnings at 20%, 10%, 5%, and 2%, before launching into Super Power Saving mode at 1%, limiting your usage to just six apps.
Battery score: 5 / 5
Should you buy the Oppo Find X8 Pro?
Buy it if...
You want the best cameras
The Oppo Find X8 Pro has a simply fantastic camera system that rivals any of our present choices for the best camera phones. The new Quick Button adds even more control.
You want a truly premium design
The Find X8 Pro makes some bold choices with its design, but ultimately feels as luxurious as it does aesthetically fresh. It hits a home run with its ergonomics and is clearly built to last.
You want a beautiful display
The Find X8 Pro comes equipped with a beautiful and immersive 6.78-inch display that rarely looks anything less than great. It's large enough to be a serious contender for watching TV shows and movies on, too.
You want impressive battery life
The Oppo Find X8 Pro lasts a full day of mixed use with energy to spare, with a huge 5,910mAh cell that simply refuses to run all the way down. Charging is absolutely rapid, too.
Don't buy it if...
You're on a budget
The Find X8 Pro offers a lot of high-quality hardware, but you'll certainly pay for it. Chinese phone makers can no longer be relied on to undercut Western brands at the top end of their lineups, and Oppo has proved no different.
You value originality
The Oppo Find X8 Pro does some things better than the iPhone 16 Pro, but it's fairly obvious that the phone was designed with some serious Apple inspiration. If you're someone who likes to reward originality, you might want to look elsewhere.
The real thing, as it were. Those who want an iPhone probably won't be swayed by the Find X8 Pro, but nevertheless it's worth considering paying a little extra to scratch the Apple itch if it's one you find yourself stuck with.
The Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus takes the premium design, exceptional cameras, and powerful AI tools of the base-model S24 and puts them into a larger frame, with a bigger display and even better battery life. If you want a large Android phone from a more recognizable brand, this is one to consider.
If you're more intrigued by the Find X8 Pro's Quick Button than anything else, it could be worth taking a look at the iPhone 16. Sure, it's got a humbler specs sheet than Oppo's new flagship, but the Camera Control is far more powerful than the Find X8 Pro's shutter button. It helps that it's a fair bit cheaper, too.
My testing of the Oppo Find X8 Pro included several specifically chosen test scenarios as well as more general day-to-day usage over the course of about one week. The model tested came in the Pearl White color option and came with 512GB of storage.
I used the Oppo Find X8 Pro as my everyday smartphone for about a week to test it, using it to chat with friends and family, scroll through websites and social media, watch videos, listen to music, and play games. I went out to test all four of the phone’s cameras in a variety of conditions. I then considered the performance and value proposition of the Find X8 Pro using my knowledge of the smartphone market and journalistic training.
For more on our smartphone test process, be sure to check out our guide to how we test phones for review.
Lenovo is a well-known brand in the world of professional business computing. They make phenomenal computers of all shapes, sizes, budgets, and performance. The ThinkStation P3 Ultra targets design, engineering, and video editing professionals who need high-powered machines capable of some serious computing power.
The ThinkStation P3 Ultra is on the higher end of Lenovo Workstations, and can be spec'd up to a 14th Gen i9, Windows 11 Pro for Business, NVIDIA RTX A5500, up to 128 GB RAM, up to 4TB of storage, and even an M.2 RAID. This can be a pretty hefty computer with a pretty hefty price tag. But how does it compare to the best workstations we've reviewed? We put the ThinkStation P3 Ultra to the test.
Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Ultra: Price and Availability
Since there are so many upgrades available to the ThinkStation P3 Ultra, there are even more possible price tags thanks to the different possible combinations of these upgrades. However, what is easy to state is that the starting price for all base features is $934.45 at the time of writing this article, and the price, of course, climbs from there. The highest-end model can reach nearly $5,000. Compared to similar PCs, there is some competitive pricing for some of the features.
The Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Ultra is available in multiple regions, such as the US and the UK. For more information on whether this computer is available for you, the best place to start looking is on Lenovo's website. However, it is available on multiple other retailers as well.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Ultra: Unboxing and First Impressions
Unboxing the Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Ultra was about like unboxing any other Lenovo computer. The box is simple and contains the workstation, a power cable, an adapter for Wi-Fi, and setup guides. Right away, I could tell this machine meant power, partly due to the abundance of DisplayPorts in the back and partially because it looked beefy, like every square millimeter of space packed with power on the inside. The compact nature was immediately noticeable, yet it does not feel compact when using it; instead, it feels quite expansive, powerful, and like a supercar at the start of an open highway.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Ultra: Design and Build Quality
As expected for a high-end workstation, the Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Ultra has excellent build quality. It seems durable -- though I don't feel any desire to push this to the limit due to the cost of this machine -- it feels like it cools pretty easily, the machine is relatively quiet even when under heavy loads, and it has easy to access ports, without any being hidden, or in dumb spots, as some compact units choose to do to save space. However, one thing that I did notice that I did not love was the absence of Thunderbolt ports at the back of the unit. There are two in the front, which is helpful, especially for large file transfers, but none in the back.
As someone who loves and gets to utilize some of the best Thunderbolt Docks on the market, I am pretty bummed none of mine will reach full potential unless the Thunderbolt cable is plugged into the front of the unit. Additionally, if I had a Thunderbolt or even a USB-C display I wanted to use, I would have to also run a DisplayPort cable up to my monitor of choice. But, especially with the newest Apple Computers releasing Thunderbolt 5, having the Thunderbolt 4 ports on the front of the machine will help with data transfer, and that's probably why they are there in the first place.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Ultra: In use
Specs
CPU: Intel 13th-gen Core (up to i9) or Xeon GPU: NVIDIA RTX A2000 to A5000 options RAM: Up to 64GB DDR5 ECC memory Storage: Up to 4TB SSD Ports: USB-C, USB-A, Ethernet, HDMI, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt OS: Windows 11 Pro
The Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Ultra is not the computer you would get to run a few Chrome (or any other browser) Tabs. It's different from one you would use for essential business or admin work. This is the kind of machine you get when you have advanced 3D rendering jobs, CAD projects, or even video editing that need to be done. During my testing, I pushed the RAM and GPU by exporting four lines of 4k footage through DaVinci Resolve, and it sliced through it like butter. I also used this to finish some CAD projects I had started for some 3D printing projects I am working on (for more, see our round-up of the best 3D printers). I found the workstation was able to render incredibly fast, and it sliced the .stl so I could send it to my 3D printer super quick, too.
I will be the first to admit I am a heavy and intense computer user, but at the same time, I am nowhere near the most powerful user there is. I wouldn't need this kind of power in my day-to-day, but it is very nice to have. This powerhouse would be helpful for professional video editors, those who use CAD for 3D renderings, and even some intense coders or programmers.
For the raw power that this computer can output, even when under heavy load, it remains pretty quiet. And, when it's not maxing out its cores, it's pretty quiet and could sit out on your desk without needing to be tucked away due to loud fans.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Ultra: Final verdict
Overall, The ThinkStation P3 Ultra from Lenovo is an excellent choice for those who prioritize power and want a compact form factor. Granted, there are some limitations in ports when it comes to Thunderbolt placement and lack of HDMI, but even with that being the case, this computer is still highly versatile and incredibly powerful for those who need a powerful compact desktop.
The Exynos 1480 was a cool mid-range chip – literally, its sustained performance was great. But it was only ever used in one phone, Samsung’s own Galaxy A55, which is a bit of a shame. Here’s what comes next – the Exynos 1580, likely to be used in the upcoming Galaxy A56.
This chip is a major upgrade over its predecessor – it’s built on a new node, with ARMv9 CPU cores and double the GPU hardware. Specifically, the chip is fabbed on Samsung’s third-generation 4nm EUV FinFET process.
The CPU of the Exynos 1580 moves to a three-cluster design with one prime Cortex-A720 core (2.9GHz),...
Following a lengthy leak campaign, the Snapdragon 8 Elite is official as the latest flagship chipset poised to power the next generation of Android flagships. As you might have guessed, Qualcomm is going for a unified naming scheme with its ARM-based X Elite laptop chips.
Like the Snapdragon laptop chips, 8 Elite brings an Oryon CPU with a custom eight-core structure consisting of 2x prime cores clocked at 4.32 GHz and 6x performance units working at up to 3.53 GHz. That’s paired with an industry-leading 24MB L2 cache and support for 5,300MHz LPDDR5X RAM.
The new chip is fabbed on...
