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This multi-faceted wet-and-dry vac is the best I’ve ever used
2:30 am | November 12, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances Vacuums | Tags: | Comments: Off

Roborock F25 Ultra: two-minute review

The Roborock F25 Ultra is a premium cordless upright wet-and-dry cleaner that seeks to outshine the competition with its three USPs: a sanitizing steam function, grease-busting hot water mopping and adjustable power-assisted wheels.

And outshine the competition it does: this is the best wet-and-dry vacuum I've tested. On test, I found the steam function excelled at lifting dried grime and killing bacteria, while the hot-water mopping dissolved sticky kitchen spills with ease. Powerful suction makes it an exceedingly dab hand at sucking up liquid and debris spills like cereal, porridge, soup and wine. There's a built-in floor cleaning fluid tank for even dispensing, too.

Although rather heavy, the power-assisted wheels make the F25 Ultra super-easy to drive, and you can even hook up the companion app, lie it down and remote-control it under low-slung furniture if you desire. Once you're finished cleaning, a thorough self-cleaning mode takes care of the majority of maintenance. All the user has to do is periodically empty the contents of its dirty water tank into the toilet bowl.

While I would have preferred a full-width roller for true edge cleaning, the F25 Ultra is an excellent performer in all disciplines. Whether all this state-of-the-art tech is worth the asking price is open to debate but I'm personally very much smitten.

Roborock F25 Ultra wet-dry cleaner in steam mode

(Image credit: Future)

Roborock F25 Ultra review: price & availability

  • List price: $599.99 / AU$1,499
  • Launched: Fall 2025
  • Availability: US and Australia

The Roborock F25 Ultra was unveiled at IFA in September 2025, and is available to buy in the US and Australia. At time of writing, the Roborock F25 Ultra isn't available in the UK or Europe but I suspect it'll be launched this side of the Atlantic in due course.

At full price, it costs $799.99 / AU$1,499 – although I'm not sure it'll be sold at that price very often, because while I've been writing this review I've seen it for $599.99 and $549.99 in the US, and AU$899 in Australia. It's available to purchase direct from Roborock as well as via a range of third-party retailers, including Amazon.

That's quite a slice of cash for a hard floor cleaner given that you can find something similar without the bells and whistles for substantially less, including Roborock's base-level F25 LT which comes with the bare essentials like standard mopping and a slightly lower suction power of 20,000Pa.

Nevertheless, if you want a true state-of-the-art hard floor cleaner that covers all bases from sucking up spills to hot water mopping and hygienic steaming, the F25 Ultra is most definitely worth splashing out on.

  • Value for money score: 4 out of 5

Roborock F25 Ultra specs

Type:

Cordless wet-and-dry vacuum

Water tank volume:

Clean 1L, dirty 0.72L

Weight:

11.5 lbs / 5.2kg

Dimensions (H x W x D):

43.1 x 10.4 x 9.7 in / 109.6 x 26.5 x 24.6cm

Max runtime:

60 mins

Max suction:

22,000 Pa

Modes:

Sponge, Auto, Steam, Hot Water

Detergent dispenser:

Yes

Lie flat:

Yes (4.9in / 12.5cm tall)

Hot water cleaning temp:

187F / 86C

Steam temp:

356F / 180C

Self-clean cycle:

Yes (steam at 356F / 180C; water at 194F / 90C)

Self-dry:

Yes (5 min fast dry; 30 min quiet dry)

Roborock F25 Ultra review: design

  • Hot water mopping and new steam function
  • Power-assisted wheels and the ability to remote control via an app
  • LED headlamps, and can lie flat to the ground

I always get a bit excited whenever Roborock announces a new product (this brand makes some of the very best robot vacuums I've tested) and, believe me, this new addition to its F25 range of hard floor cleaners is definitely cause for a spot of childlike jumping up and down.

But it wasn't always like this. I remember Roborock's first attempt at making a hard floor cleaner. It was called the Dyad and it wasn't great, it must be said, mostly because it was cumbersome, difficult to maneuver, and it couldn't stand up on its own. I'm sure the latest range of Dyads have improved but I still can't see them holding a candle to the newer F25 range.

I've already tried out the Roborock F25 ACE, but this newer model excites me even more because it comes with a 356F / 180C steam function and hot-mopping feature. These are a godsend for blitzing ingrained stains that most hard floor cleaners' standard mopping functions may have trouble removing.

Roborock F25 Ultra broken down into its component parts

(Image credit: Future)

While it's difficult to muster up much enthusiasm about the styling of most wet-and-dry cleaners, for my money the models in the F25 range are the best lookers I've laid eyes on in a long time. Nevertheless, it's what goes on beneath the skin that matters most and in this regard the F25 Ultra trounces much of the opposition by dint of its three main USPs: the aforementioned steam function, the newly added hot mopping option and its adjustable power-assisted wheels.

But before I discuss these in detail, let's take a closer look at the design, starting with the floorhead. While the F25 Ultra's 720ml dirty water tank is housed on the main body like most wet-and-dry models, its fresh water reservoir is positioned lower down on top of the brushhead housing, and this not only lowers the weight on the handle while providing instant line-of-sight to its water level, it also reduces the body's overall profile which means it can be lowered parallel with the floor for reaching deep under low-slung furnishings like sofas and beds. In fact, there's a tiny wheel behind the handle section for this purpose, but more on that in a moment.

Close up of floorhead on Roborock F25 Ultra

(Image credit: Future)

The 870ml clean water reservoir features two sealed fillers, one for fresh water and a much smaller one for adding the contents of Roborock's supplied 200ml bottle of floor cleaning solution. Both liquids are mixed automatically during cleaning and you'll be pleased to learn that the floor solution lasts for many cleaning sessions. To fill the fresh water tank, simply grab its rose-gold handle while pressing on a latch behind to lift it off its plinth.

The F25 Ultra's floorhead measures 10.5in / 26.6cm in width. However, the cloth roller itself measures 9.8in / 25cm with 0.4in / 1cm of space at one outer edge and 0.2in / 0.6cm at the other. That's par for the course for most models of this nature, but I recently reviewed a Eureka RapidWash 730 that uses a split roller that runs the full width of the housing, even protruding a couple of millimeters beyond the housing on one side. I'd like to see other manufacturers adopt this innovative approach because it allows for cleaning right to the very edge.

According to the product blurb, the F25 Ultra's brush housing is equipped with 32 outlets for heating the water to 187F / 86C as it hits the roller, and six steam outlets delivering a volume of 2,000mg/min at a whopping 356F / 180C. The roller itself exerts a force of 33 Newtons – equivalent to 7.4 lbs / 3.36kg of deep scrub-ability – while a pair of ‘jaw scrapers' behind the roller help keep the floor streak-free and the roller tangle-free. The floorhead also has a set of bright LEDs that emit a purple hue for cleaning the darker recesses of a home.

Roborock F25 Ultra emitting steam as it cleans

(Image credit: Future)

The F25 Ultra comes with four main cleaning modes – Sponge, Auto, Steam and Hot Water. All modes are accessed via the mode button positioned on the main handle, along with the on/off button and another button for selecting the self cleaning function when the unit is placed in the charging dock.

Although confusingly named, Sponge mode is for sucking up large liquid and debris-based spills so you don't have to get down on hands and knees with a handful of paper towels. This single suction task is one of the main reasons why these wet-and-dry machines are so popular. Spilt bowl of cereal or bowl of soup? Check. Small water leak around the sink? Check. Dog sick in the kitchen? Check. You get the gist.

Close up of controls on Roborock F25 Ultra wet-dry vacuum

(Image credit: Future)

In Auto mode, the F25 Ultra uses a sensor to detect dirt and automatically adjust cleaning intensity to clear it. This mode leaves only a thin veneer of dampness in its wake and is the best option for light day-to-day mopping duties. But when the going gets tough, you also have the option of either hot water mopping or, for deep down germ-killing cleanliness, the power of steam.

In fact, you can tell that the machine is steaming because there's a plume of the stuff wafting up from the front like some special dry ice effect at a rock concert. According to Roborock, this steam function is also suitable for use on wooden flooring and I second that because I detected no tell-tale signs of damage on my floors.

Close up of control screen on Roborock F25 Ultra wet-dry vacuum

(Image credit: Future)

If you find pushing and pulling vacuum cleaners around a bit of a workout, you'll love this model's adjustable power-assisted wheels. With a brushless motor in each wheel and some AI-enhanced tech to govern it all, Roborock's SlideTech 2.0 system functions like a power-assisted electric bicycle. As soon as you push or pull the cleaner, the wheels instantly provide a level of self-propulsion that feels extremely natural while making the unit feel really light in the hand.

The adjustable power assistance also applies to the turns, giving the F25 Ultra the ability to effortlessly glide around furniture and walls with 70-degree steering. And unlike its predecessor, the F25 ACE, the motorized wheels are disengaged the moment you stand it up.

Couple this dextrous motorized ability with the wherewithal to remotely control the F25 Ultra via the excellent Roborock app and you have a hard floor cleaner that you can quite literally drive under the entire length of a super king bed by lowering the handle to the floor and steering it using the app's virtual joysticks.

Whenever you have finished a task, simply place the unit into its square tub-shaped dock and tap the self-clean button on the vac's handlebar to automatically engage the cleaning process which washes the roller and areas around it with hot water at temperatures between 194F and 356F (90C to 180C) before drying the roller with hot air at a substantial 203F / 95C. When it's finished cleaning, chuck the contents of the F25 Ultra's dirty water tank into the toilet bowl.

The Roborock F25 Ultra weighs 11.46 lbs / 5.2kg which is about average for a hard floor cleaner. While it's light enough for most able bods to haul up a flight of stairs, a carrying handle on the rear wouldn't have gone amiss.

  • Design score: 4.5 out of 5

Roborock F25 Ultra review: performance

  • Stupendous suction power sucks up solids and liquids easily
  • Groundbreaking steam function clears even dried stains
  • Very easy to push, pull and maneuver

I tested this model in a number of disciplines. Firstly, I used it as a bog-standard mop on my engineered wooden flooring and was pleasantly surprised by how little water it left behind – just a thin perfectly uniform film with no streaking or signs of missed areas.

Some models I've tested have had a habit of leaving a small pool of water around the roller when turning the unit off. But, like the Eureka SpeedWash 730, this model gave a quick blast of suction just before it switched itself and I have no pools of water to report. I'm happy with that.

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Roborock F25 Ultra clearing a mess of egg, oats, ketchup and more from an engineered wooden floor

(Image credit: Future)
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Roborock F25 Ultra clearing a mess of egg, oats, ketchup and more from an engineered wooden floor

(Image credit: Future)
Image 3 of 4

Roborock F25 Ultra clearing a mess of egg, oats, ketchup and more from an engineered wooden floor

(Image credit: Future)
Image 4 of 4

Roborock F25 Ultra clearing a mess of egg, oats, ketchup and more from an engineered wooden floor

(Image credit: Future)

My second test was using the Sponge mode to collect a nasty spill using a variety of wet and dry ingredients, including oats, ketchup, milk, a crushed biscuit and an egg for extra grunginess. Cleaning up something as disgusting as this the conventional way involves a pile of paper towels and a pair of Marigolds. But not with this gunk swallower, which I would say performed better than any model of this nature that I've so far reviewed. It quite literally sucked up every last vestige of the mess without leaving any sign that anything was there.

Roborock F25 Ultra lying flat on a wooden floor as it cleans

(Image credit: Future)

All I had to do was unclip the dirty water tank and empty its revolting contents into the toilet. Hint: there's a recessed yellow handle on top of the firm-fitting dirty water tank that's designed to release the lid. If you try to force the lid off, there's a very good chance of spilling everything all over your legs.

For my third test I switched it to hot water mopping and it took about a minute for the roller to feel warm. While I was a bit nervous of using this mode for too long on my wooden floor (hot water seeps more easily), I was mightily impressed by the results when I tested it on some ingrained stains left behind by the dogs.

My final test used the new steam mopping feature on two patches of dried soy sauce stains on my bathroom's tiled floor, but they may as well have been wet because the combination of steam and the fast-spinning roller obliterated both stains in a single pass.

Roborock F25 Ultra emitting steam as it cleans

(Image credit: Future)

It's good to know that, according to Roborock, the F25 Ultra's steam function is wooden floor-friendly. My floors are made from engineered wood and I've seen no evidence of any harm after using this model's steam function. (As an aside: the act of mopping wooden floors can leave them looking tired and a bit dull, but I've started using Bona Wood Floor Gloss Finish, which works a treat to counter any dryness and leaves a beautiful sheen. Here's more on how to clean a hardwood floor, if you're looking for some general guidance).

The Roborock F25 Ultra's self-cleaning system automatically washes the roller mop in hot water followed by an efficient drying sequence using wafts of hot air to keep odors and mildew at bay.

In terms of battery usage, Roborock states a running time in Auto mode of 'up to 60 minutes'. I sadly don't have the floor space to have kept it running in Auto mode till the battery ran out or my wooden floors would have been soaked and possibly damaged. However, I did test both the hot water and steam modes which use a lot more battery power and the hot water function gave me 20 minutes of mopping while the steam function continued to operate for another five minutes. I call that a very decent set of stats and more than enough time to cover three or four average-sized rooms using a mix of all three cleaning functions.

  • Performance score: 5 out of 5

Should you buy the Roborock F25 Ultra?

Attribute

Notes

Rating

Value

Expensive at full price, but discounts are very common. You're getting an awful lot of practical and efficient tech for your money.

4 / 5

Design

Fully featured and looks great too. A smidge away from 5 stars due to its fractionally short roller.

4.5 / 5

Performance

Exceptional in all disciplines, whether it's mopping the kitchen, cleaning up big spills or steam-cleaning the bathroom.

5 / 5

Buy it if...

You want something for tough stains

With its mix of powerful suction, hot water mopping and steam cleaning, the F25 Ultra can handle the toughest of stains and spills.

You aren't as nimble as you used to be

The F25 Ultra's power-assisted wheels make it feel light and easy to maneuver, and you can even remote-control it into awkward spaces.

You need something to sanitize floors

The steam function here is ideal for sanitizing flooring, as well as for lifting dried dirt.

Don't buy it if...

You just need something for light cleaning

There are cheaper, less powerful wet-dry vacuums that can handle day-to-day cleaning of hard floors.

You have lots of stairs

The F25 Ultra is quite heavy to carry, and if you're going to be mopping on different levels, you might want to opt for something lighter.

Roborock F25 Ultra: alternatives to consider

Roborock F25 Ultra (reviewed)

Roborock F25 ACE

Dyson WashG1

Type:

Cordless wet-and-dry vacuum

Cordless wet-and-dry vacuum

Cordless wet cleaner

Water tank volume:

Clean 1L, dirty 0.72L

Clean 0.74L, dirty 0.72L

Clean 1L, dirty 0.8L

Weight:

11.5 lbs / 5.2kg

10.4 lbs / 4.7kg

10.8 lbs / 4.9kg

Dimensions (H x W x D):

43.1 x 10.4 x 9.7 in / 109.6 x 26.5 x 24.6cm

45.6 x 13.9 x 21.4in / 115.7 x 35.2 x 31.6cm

44.9 x 8.9 x 11.8in / 114 x 22.5 x 30cm

Max runtime:

60 mins

60 mins

35 mins

Max suction:

22,000 Pa

22,000 Pa

None

Hot water mopping:

Yes (at 187F / 86C)

No

No

Steam cleaning:

Yes (at 356F / 180C)

No

No

Self-clean cycle:

Yes (hot water, steam, hot air)

Yes (hot water, hot air)

Yes (cold water)

Detergent dispenser:

Yes

Yes

No

Roborock F25 ACE

The ACE sits lower down the F25 range. It's still an exceptional cleaner has most things the Ultra does, but lacks steam cleaning and hot water mopping.

Read TechRadar's full Roborock F25 ACE review.

Dyson WashG1

Dyson's wet cleaning effort relies on agitation and hydration to clear spillages and lift stains – there's no suction here. The WashG1 isn't as fully featured as the F25 vacuums, but it does have a clever separation system for solid and liquid waste.

Read TechRadar's full Dyson WashG1 review.

How I tested the Roborock F25 Ultra

I knew what to expect with the F25 Ultra since I reviewed its stablemate, the F25 ACE, earlier this year. Hence putting it all together and setting it up was a breeze.

The first thing I did was let it charge, before taking it for a spin in the kitchen to see how well it performed at general light-duty mopping. I then tried out the hot water mopping function on some dog stains followed by my main suction test using both liquids and solids. Finally, I tried out the steam function to see how well it removed a couple of dried soy sauce stains.

Read more about how we test

  • First reviewed November 2025
Nanoleaf LED face mask review: fantastic value for money, but only by cutting some corners
1:30 am | October 16, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness | Tags: | Comments: Off

Nanoleaf LED face mask: One minute review

Light therapy is all the rage, with claimed benefits to reduce fine lines, acne and even skin conditions like rosacea, and a new brand has entered the fray in famed smart lighting brand, Nanoleaf. The immersive lighting brand’s all-new LED light therapy face mask offers seven light therapy modes (red, green, blue, cyan, yellow, purple and white), offering deeper penetration with near-infrared light (NIR).

There are perhaps quite a few better-suited parties than a smart home brand to wrangle the complex world of beauty, and that might just show in the soft landing of Nanoleaf’s first-ever LED light therapy face mask. Don’t get me wrong; I liked the device, but some refinements to its offering could have nudged it into a slightly higher score.

For instance, it lacks the cool product identity of Shark’s CryoGlow LED face mask, but it also doesn’t quite match up in the specs department. I’ll go more into depth in the performance section of this review, but in short, Nanoleaf’s light technology is just shy of recommended peak performance wavelengths across the board, and features some colored light therapies that haven’t been extensively studied that I wouldn’t want to evaluate without some research to refer to.

Nanoleaf LED face mask

(Image credit: Future)

That being said, being a tech-first company does come with certain benefits, and Nanoleaf has clearly given some thought to how we use our devices. Unlike the CryoGlow and several other hard-shelled LED face masks on the market, Nanoleaf opts for a flexible silicone mask with cutouts for the eyes, nose and mouth, making it comfortable to wear and more easily portable.

Plus, you can detach the remote (which doubles as the battery housing), which means you can easily stow the mask in a suitcase when traveling, and it won’t bend or bruise as a result of being squeezed into your hand luggage.

As for the results; they’re not dramatic, but neither are the results I’ve seen from higher-grade LED face masks. If you want a value-focused LED mask, Nanoleaf will deliver, with some added frills you might not want or need. It’s a solid travel-friendly backup to a pricier model, too, if you’re an avid light therapy fan; but if you want to maximize results, you’re best off stretching your budget for a more effective mask.

Nanoleaf LED face mask

(Image credit: Future)

Nanoleaf LED face mask review: Price and availability

  • Announced and released in early 2025
  • Costs $249 / £129 / AU$249
  • Affordable among LED face masks

The Nanoleaf LED light therapy face mask has a list price of $249.99 / £129.99 AU$249, though it’s worth highlighting that it's often listed at $199.99 in the US (which was its pre-tariff pricing). It can be purchased directly from Nanoleaf as well as third-party retailers such as Amazon.

Out of the box, the Nanoleaf LED light therapy face mask comes with eye socket cushions, the rechargeable controller, the charging cable, and velcro straps.

Nanoleaf is offering a much more affordable mask than much of its competition by cutting some corners when it comes to specs. My recommendations for the product are to use it as an entry point into light therapy, or as a travel-friendly stand-in for a more expensive and fully featured mask; that said, its US price is a little steep.

  • Value score: 4.5/5

Nanoleaf LED face mask

(Image credit: Future)

Nanoleaf LED face mask review: Design

  • Flexible silicon
  • Detachable remote
  • Face fit will vary

Made from medical-grade silicone, Nanoleaf’s LED light therapy face mask offers a flexible form factor that’s nice and lightweight at just 258g. In use, it’s fairly comfortable; I found the eye holes to be too narrow and the mouth cutout to be too low, but for some, this won’t be an issue. The face fit otherwise is relatively good, though it’s pretty far from my chin.

The mask comes with silicone eye-socket cushions, which make the mask slightly more wearable and help to block out as much light as possible to protect your eyes during use; though some still seeps around. Its adjustable velcro head straps are fairly effective for keeping the mask in place, although if you have particularly silky hair or a lack thereof, it can slide around a little too much for my liking.

Image 1 of 3

Nanoleaf LED face mask

(Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 3

Nanoleaf LED face mask

(Image credit: Future)
Image 3 of 3

Nanoleaf LED face mask

(Image credit: Future)

On the underside of the mask are its 108 four-wick LED bulbs (432 LEDs total), which work across the mask's various light therapy programs to deliver results.

As the controller houses a lithium-ion battery, much like those for many light therapy masks, it’s unsuitable to be stowed in hold luggage during flights. This is where Nanoleaf’s understanding of tech-related lifestyle requirements is a benefit – you can unplug the controller to carry it in your hand luggage and stow the mask itself in your hold bag, making this one of the best LED face masks for travel.

  • Design score: 3.5/5

Nanoleaf LED face mask

(Image credit: Future)

Nanoleaf LED face mask review: How it works

Nanoleaf’s LED light therapy mask has seven preset light therapy routines that address different skincare goals. However, it’s worth highlighting that there are very specific color wavelengths that have been studied and identified as potentially beneficial in skincare, those being blue (415nm), red (633nm), and NIR (830nm). In Nanoleaf’s LED face masks, these three treatments all fall just outside of the recommended range for peak performance. That doesn’t mean they won’t work, but as a budget mask, you shouldn’t expect it to provide quite as good results as a pricier model with better LEDs.

The only other direct color included is green, and the rest are combinations of these primary LEDs. These settings, including green, lack clinical evidence for efficacy and studies into potential risks, so use at your discretion. The mask is FDA-cleared, however, meaning it has been approved as safe for use by US regulators, but not for its efficacy.

Nanoleaf claims the mask offers the following treatments and benefits, each paired with an 850nm wavelength NIR:

Lights, wavelengths and benefits

Red

640nm

Stimulates collagen production and improves circulation to promote skin repair and reduce fine lines and wrinkles.

Green

520nm

Soothes sensitive skin, minimizes redness, and boosts lymphatic flow to reduce swelling.

Blue

460nm

Evens skin tone by reducing pigmentation of scars and age spots.

Yellow

640nm + 525nm


Calms irritation and redness to promote a refreshed, brighter complexion.

Cyan

460nm + 525nm

Kills bacteria and reduces oil production to treat and prevent breakouts.

Purple

640nm + 460nm

Combines red and blue light benefits to promote overall skin healing and reduce general skin imperfections.

White

640nm + 525nm + 460nm

Stimulates cellular activity across multiple layers of the skin to allow deeper penetration of skincare products, maximizing their effectiveness.

Nanoleaf recommends using the mask for 5-10 minutes three to five times per week, depending on your skin’s needs, and says that with consistent use, “a noticeable improvement in skin texture and tone should be visible after 4 to 6 weeks.”

Nanoleaf LED face mask

(Image credit: Future)

Nanoleaf LED face mask review: Performance

  • Various treatments for different skin needs
  • Battery life sufficient
  • Decent results, but needs consistency

I tried two full cycles of Nanoleaf’s face mask in my testing: the blue and red light treatments, so I had a more solid comparison point against Shark’s Cryoglow. Worth highlighting up front is that these results are never permanent; all light therapy masks require continued regular use to reap the benefits.

Its red light therapy for inflammation reduction seems promising, and if that’s your priority, this more affordable mask might just be the best way to treat fine lines and wrinkles. After a 4-week cycle with four treatments per week, I noticed some small improvements to fine lines and repair to skin damage.

Blue light, for me, didn’t seem to work nearly as well, and I’d say overall there are better masks that offer more immediate results for acne sufferers; for me, I think my skin benefits from having room to breathe during treatment, which this skin-tight model doesn’t afford. After four weeks of use, my acne didn’t show any discernable changes as it had with the Shark Cryoglow, but there are of course ample outside factors that color results here.

As I’m writing this review I’m trying out the Cyan mode, as oily, acne-prone skin remains my biggest skincare challenge, but it’s too early to say if I’m seeing any significant results; however once again I feel the mask’s closeness to my skin might just negate any benefits from the light therapy here, as I’m often more oily after a treatment than before.

Where the Nanoleaf loses the most points is in comfort. It’s made of malleable silicone, which does make it more travel-friendly, but it’s a lot less enjoyable to wear. It gets a little warm under there, and especially given that I did some of my testing through sticky UK summer heat, that has made for some unpleasant me-time. It’s a bit loose around the jaw, too, and the velcro straps do slip around some.

Nanoleaf LED face mask

As you can see, the mask sits naturally about 1cm lower on my face than where it should (Image credit: Future)

The eye holes are also too small, meaning the light can leak out a fair amount, which isn’t the best thing for your eyes. Add to that the fact that, for my face at least, the holes don’t quite line up, particularly around my mouth, and this ill-fitting design can lead to further discomfort.

Battery life, at least, is more than sufficient; it lasts around three hours (enough for around 15 10-minute treatments) on a full charge, and recharges in just over an hour.

Despite some moderate results from treatment and mild discomfort, Nanoleaf’s mask is, at its price point, a solid performer and a great choice for those first-time light therapy users.

  • Performance score: 4/5

Nanoleaf LED face mask review: scorecard

Category

Comment

Score

Value

A fairly affordable mask for its relatively good specs.

4.5/5

Design

Not the most comfortable, but travels well.

3.5/5

Performance

Noticeable results, but not peak effectiveness

4/5

Nanoleaf LED face mask: Should I buy it?

Buy it if...

You’re looking for a travel-friendly mask

With its detachable battery and controller unit, Nanoleaf’s LED face mask is much easier to travel with than some alternatives.

You’re on a budget

Nanoleaf’s LED face mask is a great budget option, especially if you can find it on sale.

Don't buy it if...

You want peak power and performance

With some of the light therapies falling outside of recommended wavelengths, you’re not getting peak performance from this mask, though it’s by no means bad.

You want a relaxing spa companion

Sure, beauty is pain, but I’m not sure self-care needs to be uncomfortable, and this mask can run pretty hot, and may not fit your face comfortably.

Nanoleaf LED face mask

(Image credit: Future)

How I tested

I tried two full treatment cycles using Nanoleaf’s LED face mask with the scientifically backed Red and Blue light therapies in order to assess how well it performed over time.

Through my daily use, I was able to consider the comfort, design features and benefits for the device, but I also compared it against my experience with the Shark CryoGlow.

I’ve been testing beauty products for four years, informing myself on the latest trends and research in order to provide reliable, relatable recommendations based on my in-person experience.

First reviewed October 2025

I treated myself to a premium Philips electric razor – here’s my six month review
2:12 pm | October 14, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Hair Care Home Small Appliances | Tags: , | Comments: Off

Philips i9000 electric shaver: two-minute review

Before I splashed out on the Philips i9000 electric shaver, I was putting up with a generic $35 / £30 one I picked up at Amazon. Forking out 10x the price for a premium model was a painful idea, but not as painful as my shaving experiences with the cheap model, so I went for it. (By the way, that shaver at Amazon had a 4.5 star average rating over hundreds of user reviews, many of which are clearly bogus. That's a risk in trusting unknown user reviews.)

Six months later, my face is still thanking me that I spent extra on the Philips i9000, especially for the 50% off sale price that pushed the base model closer to $300 / £230. (There are also pricier 'Prestige' models in the series, which I haven't tested.) The i9000's agile triple-head electric shavers easily navigate tricky contours, including the jawline, maintaining a close shave along the way. It feels great in the hand, too.

This is the first electric razor I've used with pressure indicators, which are a genuinely useful feature: if the shaver lights up green then you're applying the right amount of pressure, if blue you're too soft, while orange is too hard. I've generally found that following the pressure indicators delivers an effective shave while minimizing irritation – this feature is no gimmick.

Battery life is decent, too. For an average shave, I'm seeing a 3% reduction in battery life on the digital display, and that's even six months down the line. I'd say the i9000 is good for 30 shaves before needing a recharge, for which Philips provides a wall mounted USB-A charging base (a minor complaint is that USB-C would be more convenient for travel).

Philips i9000 electric razor resting on a bathroom sink

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)

The razor is waterproof so can handle wet and dry shaves, while the flip-out trimmer on the razor's underside is a reasonable solution for tidying beard edges and precise cuts, which is something I regularly do (and deal with stray nose / ear hairs – apologies for the overshare).

I reckon the i9000's heads have gradually lost some of their cutting effectiveness over the 6 months, but they still cut fine, just with a little extra effort than was required on day one. Replacement heads are available for a not-too-unreasonable cost, but I suspect I'll need to swap mine yearly rather than every two years, as Philips suggests.

Don't buy into any user reviews on the brand's site about the i9000 being closer than a proper wet shave with a safety razor – it's simply not true. If you want the closest shave possible, with fewer missed hairs, old school is the way. However, I've been super happy with the i9000. I can't recall switching to a wet shave ever since, which definitely wasn't the case when I was using that cheap alternative.

You really do get more for your money with the Philips 9000 series, and my shaving routine has been a happier experience since I made the switch – for my money, this is one of the best electric razors on the market.

Philips i9000 electric shaver: price & availability

  • List price is $240 / £479.99 / AU$600
  • Regularly on sale for less than half the list price in the UK
  • Replacement heads available

I'm not sure anyone in their right mind would buy the Philips i9000 at full cost, but thankfully it's almost always available for less than half the list price, which is palatable. At the time of writing, I'm seeing the shaver for $240 / £225 on the Philips site. Even then, I'd hardly call it superb value, but then again you do get the better shaving experience versus a generic sub $45 / £35 model.

Replacement heads are available at the Philips site for $65 / £40 / AU$106 – prices will likely vary at independent stockists. The guidance is to replace the heads every two years, but on my experience I reckon every year is ideal, given 6 months use has seen a slight reduction in cutting efficiency. The product comes with a 5-year service warranty.

  • Value for money score: 3 out of 5

Philips i9000 electric shaver specs

Waterproof:

Yes

Battery life:

50 minutes

Charge time:

1 hour full, 5-min quick

Charger type:

Shaver/USB-A

Accessories:

Quick clean pod, charging stand, travel pouch, plus GroomTribe app

Suitable for:

Face or body

Philips i9000 electric shaver review: design

  • Ergonomic handle and handy pressure LED indicators
  • Pop-up trimmer for edges, or dedicated beard trimmer head
  • Charge dock and hard case for travel, but the latter only fits the razor

From the ergonomic handle to the agile heads and digital display plus LEDs, the i9000 is a premium shaving experience. Rightly so, given how pricey it is.

I've no real complaints in any area: the three heads pack what Philips dubs a triple action lift and cut system up to precisely 0.00mm skin-level, without the risk of cutting skin that comes with wet shaves – you'll certainly get a close shave, even if I found a few months down the line that the shaver regularly missed individual hairs.

Philips i9000 electric razor in user's hand

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)

The shaver integrates an LED light ring around the base of the shaver head. With the shaver active, those LEDs emit a blue light if the pressure your applying is too soft, orange for too hard, and green for the right amount of pressure.

Below that, an small non-touch color screen displays battery life and cycles through features such as the Philips app. I'll be honest, I didn't see the need to pair the shaver with my phone and explore the app, which Philips says will give you 'an even-better routine and technique' by offering 'real-time guidance and personalized shaving insights to help you look and feel your best every day'.

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Closeup of the Philips i9000 electric razor's triple flexi-head

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Closeup of the Philips i9000 electric razor's trimmer head

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Close up of the Philips i9000 electric razor's pop-up trimmer

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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Close up of the Philips i9000 electric razor's pop-up trimmer

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)

There's a pop-up trimmer on the shaver's underside, which is pretty basic but works well enough for quickly tidying up beard edges. If that's the main task though, the main head can be removed and swapped with a proper beard trimmer, which is much more powerful and effective.

Practically, I'd like to see a USB-C port which would make on the go charging much more convenient than lugging the charging base, which uses the proprietary shaver connector, on a trip. Although Philips supplies a hard travel case for the shaver, this will only fit the razor itself, and not any of the shaver or trimmer heads.

  • Design score: 4.5 out of 5

Philips i9000 electric shaver: performance

  • Around 30 shaves from a full charge
  • Triple flexing shaver head and trimmer head options
  • Modest pop-up trimmer

One cutback made versus the pricier Philips S9000 Prestige is in the charging department – the i9000 features the proprietary shaver connector (USB-A) only, while the Prestige model offers convenient wireless charging.

Still, a full charge should deliver around 30 shaves, so it's no real inconvenience to place the shaver in the dock at home once you're back from being away. And it'll charge quickly too – just 5 minutes returns the lion's share of the power, or it's an hour to fully juice it up.

Philips i9000 electric razor in its charging dock

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)

There are two heads supplied with the razor: the triple flexing head with what Philips says is 360-degree precision, plus a trimmer head to neaten edges. A basic pop-up trimmer in the shaver's underside supplements that trimmer head.

Overall, I've been really impressed with the performance of the i9000 electric razor. The flexing heads glide smoothly over every contour and have delivered close shaves, even if I'm getting stray hairs 6 months down the line, especially on my neck.

And the trimmer head is properly powerful, for doing the first stage of tidying edges, while the tiny pop-up trimmer take care of the finishing touches for a neat beard.

Philips i9000 electric razor in user's hand

(Image credit: Tim Coleman)

Philips says the flexing heads are good for two years use before being replaced (you can buy replacement heads on the Philips website). I'm not so sure – more than six months down the line and after regular use, I'm already thinking of replacing them. Of course the numbers depend on how regularly you shave, but I reckon the average person would want to replace the heads after one year for the best possible performance.

Overall, the Philips i9000 has given me the best electric razor experience I've ever had and the proof is in the pudding – I feel good after a shave and my wet razor has been left unused the entire time.

  • Performance score: 4.5 out of 5

Should you buy the Philips i9000 electric shaver?

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Design

Ergonomic handle, waterproof, pop-up trimmer.

4.5 / 5

Performance

Agile heads, powerful trimmer head, handy pressure indicators.

4.5 / 5

Value

Make sure you get it on sale – it's regularly available for less than half the list price.

3 / 5

Buy it if...

You want a premium electric shave experience
Triple action lift-and-cut heads combine with LED pressure indicators for a close shave with minimal irritation.

You're looking for a versatile razor
The triple heads are smaller than average and can cover relatively precise areas, while the powerful trimmer head can neaten edges.

Don't buy it if...

You want a cheap razor
The i9000 is a pricey razor. If you're less fussed about its premium features, there are cheaper alternatives.

You want something for travel

The i9000 relies on a proprietary shaver connector, whereas many alternatives can charge conveniently through USB-C or even wirelessly. The travel case only fits the razor itself.

Philips i9000: also consider

Philips Shaver S9000 Prestige
If you can spend a little extra, the 'Prestige' version in Philips 9000 tops the bill for features, including wireless charging and adaptive power tech.

Read our Philips Shaver S9000 Prestige review

Braun Series 9 Pro
Even pricier, the Braun Series 9 Pro is also beautifully designed and boasts an excellent shaving performance. It's charge and run times are similar, and you'll get a close shave whether wet or dry. Another stellar premium choice.

Read our full Braun Series 9 Pro review.

How I tested the Philips i9000

  • My primary razor for six months
  • I've used it most days, whether for shaves or trimming
  • Tested in both wet and dry environments

I used the Philips i9000 as my only shaver a few times a week over the course of six months. I generally tidy my neck and cheeks with the triple shaver head and trim beard edges daily with the trimmer head or pop-up trimmer, while full shaves are less frequent.

I have been able to use the razor in wet and dry shaving conditions, assessing how it performs in both scenarios and how effective its water resistance is. In general, I store the shaver in a wash bag and run the battery down to zero before docking it in the charging base to recharge. I have also used the supplied cleaning pod to give the device a deep clean.

I’ve used the Dreame U20 for months and it still surprises me how well this affordable cordless vacuum cleans pet hair
8:20 am | September 9, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances Vacuums | Tags: , , , | Comments: Off

Dreame U20 cordless vacuum: two-minute review

Hailing from parent company, Xiaomi, Dreame is fast becoming a popular sub-brand with an extensive product lineup. Ranging from wet-dry vacuums, air purifiers, robot vacuums (including a robot lawnmower), cordless stick vacuums and hair dryers, Dreame has it all, and across different budgets, too.

While its high-end robovacs are items to dream about (pun intended), as you can see in our Dreame X50 Ultra review, I’m in love with a much cheaper product that helps me clean up after my pets. The affordable Dreame U20 has become my lifesaver, combining Dyson-like tech with the signature Dreame style. It’s a versatile and lightweight cordless vacuum that delivers great performance for an exceptionally low cost, as it’s very frequently discounted.

Its color scheme belies its budget price point – available in a gorgeous gold and beige colourway, the Dreame U20 looks far more premium than its $249.99 / £250 / AU$399.99 price point suggests.

What I found even more impressive is its suction. For the price, its 120AW power isn’t bad at all, which isn’t too far off the Shark Cordless Detect Pro’s 123AW of suction, and yet it was more than enough to clean my pup’s fur off my sofa and carpets well. Needless to say, it handles hard floors very easily, making it a candidate for being one of the best cordless vacuum cleaners.

It comes with the standard attachments, including a multi-surface brush head with LED blue lights to illuminate dark areas, a mini motorized brush for cleaning upholstery, a crevice tool and a removable battery that's rated for up to 60 minutes.

Realistically, though, you'll get no more 37-40 minutes when using the two motorized attachments on the lowest suction, but that's fine for smaller homes – I can easily vacuum my living area, two bedrooms and two bathrooms within that time. However, if you mostly have carpets, I found it can take longer to get it clean as you may need to go back and forth a few times, thus consuming more battery. The only battery indicator on the U20 is a tiny light on the end cap, which is hard to see while in use, and it blinks when it’s running low. There’s also no quick charging here, and the vacuum can take up to 3.5 hours to fully recharge.

The only other downside to this otherwise great buy is that the dustbin capacity is only 0.5L, meaning you might need to empty it frequently if you have a large home with pets. If you don't need any more bells and whistles, the Dreame U20 is easy to recommend as a top-notch budget cordless vacuum cleaner.

Dreame U20 vacuuming with blue light

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Dreame U20 review: price & availability

  • List price: $249.99 / £250 / AU$399
  • Availability: Sold in the US, UK and Australia at third-party retailers

The Dreame U20 can be picked up in the US at Target for a list price of $249.99. It’s also available on Instacart, with supplies stocked at Costco and other smaller retailers. It is currently not available on Dreame's US store.

In the UK, the list price is £250, and you can pick it up from Amazon UK or Curry's, but again, the vacuum is currently unavailable at the brand's UK store.

For customers living in Australia, Amazon AU lists it for AU$399.99, but it's typically discounted to AU$199.99. Even in Australia, the U20 isn't available on the Dreame website.

The Dreame website lists 27 countries where its devices are available, including the U20. If you're having trouble finding the product, check their website to see if it's available where you live.

Even at full price, the Dreame U20 represents superb value for money, particularly if you can find it at a discounted price. Admittedly it's a very basic model, so if you want a touch more suction, Dreame has other mid-range models, with the Dreame R20 review scoring very well for balancing price and performance.

  • Value for money score: 5 out of 5

Dreame U20 review: specs

Type:

Cordless stick vacuum

Bagless:

Yes

Weight:

7.27 lbs / 3.3kg

Bin size:

0.5 liters / 500ml

Max runtime:

60 mins

Charge time:

3.5 hours

Tools:

Multi-surface brush head, motorized mini brush head, wide combination crevice tool and extension rod

Power:

120AW

Dreame U20 review: design

  • Compact cordless stick vacuum in a lovely color scheme
  • Five attachments, including LED multi-surface brush, mini motorized brush and combination tool
  • Can be used as a stick vacuum or a small handheld vacuum

I’m new to the world of vacuum testing, with just one other for sister site Tom’s Guide under my belt. Needless to say, the Dreame U20 has been quite the dream, especially when it came to design. For me, the gold and beige colorway was a winner, a stray away from the typical grey or black of other competitors. It lends the affordable vacuum a classy look.

Other than that, the Dreame U20 has a stock-standard design which allows it to become a handheld unit quickly for cleaning cars, sofas, mattresses and, hey, even dog beds. To pair with the handheld unit, there’s a motorized mini brush in the box that would be handy for said dog bed and the sofa. It could even be used on carpeted stairs.

Dreame U20 attachments in lifestyle

(Image credit: TechRadar)

It has a trigger, like most Dyson models, but you don’t need to keep this pressed at all times to run the machine – you just need to click it on and off. There’s just one other control button on the motor’s end cap to change suction modes and that should be easy to reach for most users with the thumb when holding the U20.

The main floor-cleaning attachment is called the Multi-Surface Brush, which features LED blue lights that help illuminate the floor in front of the brush head but don’t highlight miniscule dust particles like Dyson’s Fluffy tool does. And that’s OK because it still helps you see in dark areas – for example, I was able to see scattered kitty litter in an unlit bathroom.

The other attachment in the box is a combination crevice tool, but a wall-mount kit also ships with the vacuum in case you want to stow it away in a convenient place without compromising floor space.

Weighing 3.3kg / 7.27lbs, the Dreame U20 isn't exactly lightweight (in comparison, the Shark Cordless Detect Pro weighs 2.7kg / 5.9lbs), but it's still very easy to push around. It measures 16cm x 30cm x 68cm with the extension rod attached.

Dreame U20 speed modes

(Image credit: TechRadar)

The 120AW motor is capable of running at three different speed modes, indicated by three lights on the end cap of the motor. You can switch between the speed settings (low, medium and high) by tapping the button directly below the lights and switching it on by using the trigger. For most cleans, I found I tended to flick between medium and high, especially when cleaning carpets.

According to Dreame, the U20 motor has a multi-layer filtration system that captures up to 99.9% of fine dust and particles. Its HEPA filter also keeps debris out of the air and inside the bin while vacuuming, which is pretty standard for any cordless vacuum cleaner these days.

For its price point, the 0.5L bin is quite standard, but it'll likely fill up fast if you have, say, a two-bedroom or larger home with pets, meaning you'll need to make more trips to empty it. The bin has a handy sticker on the front (which I did refer back to many times) that indicates how to insert or remove it to empty, and its as simple as pushing the button on the base and twisting the canister clockwise. After detaching, all you have to do is unscrew the filter from the container to remove the debris – finer dust or crumbs fall out easily, but you may need to get your fingers inside to remove clumps of hair from the bin.

Dreame U20 attachments

(Image credit: TechRadar)

The detachable battery pack could be handy for some users as you can clip it into the wall-mount attachment and begin charging it while you’re emptying the vacuum for example. However, if you’re a renter who can't drill holes into your wall – like me – you can leave the battery attached to the U20 and keep the vacuum propped up against a wall or in a cupboard for topping up.

It lacks an LCD screen to show suction modes or time remaining before the next charge. Instead, the battery life is displayed by a small vertical light on the pack itself, which flashes when it needs charging. It's unfortunate that it faces forward, so it’s not visible to the user, and neither is it a very noticeable light – and this is my biggest complaint with the Dreame U20 as there were a few instances where the machine shut down mid-clean during my testing.

Dreame U20 on dog bed

(Image credit: TechRadar)

The U20’s multi-surface brush head is quite similar to many floor-cleaning attachments from other brands, but it features blue LED lights on the front that illuminate two small triangular sections of the floor immediately in front of the brush head. While it looks similar to Dyson’s green dust-illuminating light on the Fluffy Optic, this blue light doesn’t highlight invisible dust on the floor, but I found it’s bright and vivid enough to help walk around in a dark room without bumping into things. Case in point: it perfectly showed scattered kitty litter in an unlit bathroom that was, at the time, pitch dark.

The brush also has V-shaped bristles with comb-like teeth – in my experience, this not only prevents tangles effectively, but can pick up human hair and pet fur from low-pile carpets just as well.

This brush head is quite flexible, rotating 90º around chair legs and furniture. It’s also not as large as you’d find on other (more expensive) vacuum cleaners and I found it can get into corners, which is particularly helpful in my pet hair-filled home.

My favorite attachment, however, is the motorized mini brush, which clips in just under the bin for handheld use. It’s just right for sucking up fur from my couch and cushions – it’s both maneuvrable and anti-tangle.

If it wasn’t for the missing display to check battery life, I’d say that Dreame would deserve top marks for the U20’s design.

  • Design score: 4 out of 5

Dreame U20 review: performance

  • Excellent maneuverability
  • Impressive performance on hard floors and low-pile carpets
  • Lower suction than competitors but still tackles pet hair well

I've spent a few months with the Dreame U20 (as of publishing this review) and I still can’t get over how impressive its maneuverability is. The 90º rotating main brush head makes it very easy to clean around chair legs and furniture and I had no trouble handling the 3.3kg / 7.2lbs vacuum. That said, if you are using the extension tube to clean ceiling corners, the U20 could begin to feel heavy for some users quickly.

The controls are well placed, which are as simple as pushing the end cap button to select the speed and hitting the trigger underneath. And as I’ve mentioned previously, there’s no need to keep the latter depressed continuously for power like a Dyson.

Speaking of power: sure, we could ask for higher suction than its 120AW, but given its price point, it’s hard to argue with what it has. If you do need better performance, you could consider the Dreame R20 (if it’s available where you live), but I found the U20 does an admirable job nonetheless. It can struggle on some carpets as you will need to go over a particular spot multiple times to get a deeper clean, and I've found myself needing to push with full shoulder force on occasion.

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Dreame U20 hardwood floors with oats

(Image credit: TechRadar)
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Dreame U20 on hardwood

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Throughout my testing, the Dreame U20 impressed in more ways than one. I performed TechRadar’s standard tests for vacuum cleaners, sprinkling a smattering of oats and tea from a bag on both my hardwood and carpeted floors. As an extra measure, I also made sure the floors had extra pet debris – i.e. kitty litter and fur – which were my two motivations for purchasing the U20 in the first place.

During the hardwood mess test, the U20 performed remarkably well on the lowest speed setting in picking up most of the oats. I needed to boost the speed to the second (or medium) setting to do another pass to pick up every last speck of oats, though, but that left the hard floor entirely clean.

As for the tea, the U20 did a better job, sucking it all up in one go on the low setting, so it handles lighter and smaller dirt better than larger debris. It was the same for pet hair on hardwood – all strands got sucked up in one pass on the low setting. The vacuum struggled a touch with kitty litter, leaving a few specks behind on hard floors in a single pass, but it was cleaned up in the second go.

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Dreame U20 on carpet

(Image credit: TechRadar)
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Dreame U20 carpet

(Image credit: TechRadar)
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Dreame U20 on carpet

(Image credit: TechRadar)

I wasn’t expecting as impressive a performance on carpets, but the U20 did better than I had anticipated on a low-pile carpet in my tests, quickly removing the oats and tea dust from a bag in one pass on the low suction setting. It will, however, struggle with medium and high-pile carpets, particularly if the dust and debris is deep-seated, although loose dirt will come away if you give the area a few gos with the U20.

In terms of pet hair on carpet, the U20 did indeed struggle at the lowest setting, leaving more than a few strands behind after the first pass. The U20 performed the best with pet hair on the same low-pile carpet at maximum suction, and didn't require several passes to get the job done. The kitty litter yielded a similar result to the hardwood floor test, but I needed to boost suction again to pick up every last piece.

While it can tackle low-pile carpets with ease, pet hair embedded in medium- or high-pile carpets will remain even after several passes – you can expect about 80% off the fur to be sucked up from these kinds of flooring.

As a pet mum, it was important to me to own a vacuum cleaner with a tangle-free brush, as I’ve often painstakingly cleaned out wads of hair from cleaning attachments of older machines. I was thrilled to find that the U20's V-shaped bristles were especially impressive at leaving no evidence of entanglements. That's made ongoing maintenance of the vacuum easier.

This sentiment also rang true for the mini motor brush when cleaning my couch and cushions. It does, however, require several passes when using the handheld motor and mini brush to clean up pet hair due to its smaller footprint, but it still worked a treat.

The U20 collects a nice volume of hair in its 0.5L bin, and I have particularly enjoyed how easy it is to empty the bin with a twist of the base. If you are a pet owner with a shedding furry friend, then I would recommend the U20 for a quick, daily tidy-up, but you might want to consider other pet-focused vacuum cleaners, like the Shark Stratos Pet Pro (IZ400), as they usually have a larger-capacity bin and boast more suction power.

Despite its relatively lower suction and smaller bin, the U20 performs very well, given its budget price – it's very easy to recommend for quick clean-ups.

  • Performance score: 4.5 out of 5

Dreame U20 on carpet resting against white wall

(Image credit: TechRadar)

Dreame U20 review: battery life

  • Average battery life for an affordable cordless vacuum
  • 3.5-hour charging time
  • Expect shorter runtimes if the floor is dirty

According to Dreame, the U20 has a battery life of up to 60 minutes on a full charge, and takes around 3.5 hours to top up from practically empty. Take that number with a pinch of salt, as it indicates runtime when using non-motorized tools, which in this case is the combination crevice attachment only.

With a motorized head like the main floor cleaner and the mini brush, I found that it lasts a maximum of 37 minutes on its lowest setting – and there’s no dynamic suction here to drain the battery faster. At TechRadar, we've tested over a hundred vacuum cleaners over the last decade, and we've found that the average battery life for a budget cordless vacuum is around 40 minutes, which puts the U20 on par with others, including the Dyson V8 .

Higher the suction, the faster the battery will drain, of course and, in testing, I got about 17 minutes of runtime on a full charge when set to maximum. That’s not bad, considering some premium models like the Dyson V15 Detect can give you lesser runtime on Boost mode (about 8 minutes on a dirty mid-pile carpet), although it automatically adjusts suction power to suit the amount of dirt it detects.

So while the U20 has average battery runtime, I’d recommend it for smaller homes or something for the shed, perhaps.

  • Battery life score: 4 out of 5

Should you buy the Dreame U20?

Attribute

Notes

Rating

Value

Often on sale, the U20 is an excellent budget option with great performance.

5/5

Design

The color combination makes it look premium, and its attachments are useful. It would have been good if there was a better way to gauge battery life.

4/5

Performance

Great for everyday, quick cleaning, even of pet hair, on hard floors and low-pile carpets, but it may struggle on particularly dirty mid- and high-pile carpets.

4.5/5

Battery

Rated for up to 60 minutes, but expect about 35 minutes in real-world use on low power.

4/5

Buy it if...

You need something to quickly clean up after your pet

The U20 handled masses of pet hair quite well, thanks to its V-shaped multi-surface brush head.

You want something easy to maneuver

It might be heavier than the likes of the Shark Cordless Detect Pro (which weighs around 2.7kg / 5.9lbs), but its swivelling main brush head makes it very easy to move around, particularly on hard floors.

Don't buy it if...

You live in a large home

With average battery life for its price point, the U20 is better suited for smaller areas or homes that don't require extensive vacuuming.

You want the latest vacuuming tech

The U20 doesn't house the most advanced features, it even misses out on an LED screen to display battery life. If you don’t want something this basic, you’ll need to look elsewhere and spend more money.

Dreame U20: alternatives to consider

Product:

Dreame U20 (reviewed)

Shark Cordless Detect Pro

Dyson V8

Weight:

7.27lbs / 3.3kg

6lbs / 2.7kg

3.48lbs / 1.58kg

Bin volume:

0.5L

0.4L

0.54L

Max runtime:

60 mins

40 mins

40 mins

Accessories:

Multi-surface brush head, motorized mini brush head, wide combination crevice tool and extension rod

Duster, crevice tool, optional auto-empty dock (costs extra)

2 x floorheads, Hair screw tool, Combination tool, Crevice tool

Shark Cordless Detect Pro

The Shark Cordless Detect Pro costs a lot more than the U20, but it has better suction and, you can opt for the additional auto-emptying dock, which is handy as the onboard bin canister here is very small. However, it's often discounted and, until it was displaced by the Shark PowerDetect, it used to be our pick of the best cordless vacuum for most people.

Read our full Shark Cordless Detect Pro review

Dyson V8

Despite receiving a newer upgrade in September 2025, the older Dyson V8 is still a strong choice, especially since this too can be had for a good discount. It boast good performance and suction, with up to 40 minutes of runtime on its standard setting. It's extremely lightweight at 1.58kg / 3.48lbs, but it lacks some of the useful features of newer Dyson models, and it might not always represent the best value for everyone.

Read our full Dyson V8 review

How I tested the Dreame U20 cordless vacuum

TechRadar adopts a strict testing regime for all its products so potential buyers know exactly what they're getting. To comply with the testing, I used the machine for a few months before putting it through some rigorous carpet and hard-floor tests using common pantry items, such as tea and raw oats. I also took into account the device's ergonomics, design and overall experience to determine my final verdict.

Read more about how we test vacuum cleaners

  • First reviewed September 2025
This WiZ smart bulb may not be the brightest, but its colorful LED filament puts a modern twist on a vintage classic
12:00 am | September 7, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Smart Home Smart Lights | Tags: | Comments: Off

WiZ Filament Bulb review

The WiZ Filament Bulb Clear 25W ST19 E26 is a color-changing smart bulb that features a coiled LED strip in place of a traditional filament.

It’s available in the US and the UK under slightly different names to reflect the difference in wattage, bulb shape, and fitment, but they have the same feature set and look very similar.

Known as the WiZ Filament Bulb Clear 25W ST19 E26 in the US, or the WiZ Filament Bulb Clear 40 W ST64 E27 in the UK, it has a list price of $32.99 / £27.99, and can be found at WiZ and Amazon.

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A close-up of the WiZ filament bulb.

(Image credit: Future)
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A close-up of the WiZ filament bulb's fitting.

(Image credit: Future)

I love the Filament Bulb’s classic shape, and was pleased to find that it didn’t feel overly fragile. I have mixed opinions about the coiled LED strip. I found it looked nice in warmer whites and red, but due to the combination of different colored LEDs, it proved a bit of an eyesore when in other colors, with the brightness turned up when using it in my lamp.

If you want a light that can light up a room in addition to providing some nice mood lighting, then this bulb won’t be suitable. It’ll just about do as a reading light if your book is positioned right next to it, but it’s not ideal – although I believe this is often the case due to the nature of filament-style bulbs.

The WiZ filament bulb is lit up red on a concrete lamp base.

(Image credit: Future)

While it looks pretty on certain settings, the width of the LED strip may prove off-putting if you’re looking for a more authentic-looking filament bulb. If so, you may be better off looking for a non-color filament-style alternative, which you can also find from WiZ, Philips Hue, and various other brands.

The Filament Bulb was pleasingly straightforward to sync with the WiZ V2 app, as it was automatically detected, and it connected to my Wi-Fi quickly and without any fuss.

The LEDs are clearly visible on the strip inside the WiZ filament bulb.

(Image credit: Future)

Unfortunately, the WiZ V2 app isn’t as intuitive as the Govee and Nanoleaf companion apps – although it would take a lot for an app to compare to the Govee Home app, which you’ll have probably guessed if you’ve already read my review of the Govee Table Lamp 2. Despite this, the WiZ V2 app provides access to a variety of useful functions, such as the control menu, which offers some static presets that include warm and cool options, and night, TV, and relax lighting modes, along with a few others.

I could also choose hues from a color graph, adjust the color temperature using a slider, or choose one of the twenty-five dynamic presets, each offering different color palettes and motions. I could also alter the speed of the color changes, though this adjustment was applied to all of the dynamic presets, rather than individually.

The WiZ filament bulb is lit up green.

(Image credit: Future)

The brightness was easy to adjust using a slider on the home screen or when adjusting settings in the control menu. Thanks to the rhythm function, which I set to change between different modes based on the local time, I was able to get the brightness and color temperature to adjust automatically throughout the day. There’s also a schedule feature, which I used to get the Filament Bulb to turn off at a set time.

I found the Filament Bulb could be slow to respond when switching between the Dynamic lights. And it was also a bit long-winded applying each one, as it asked me which room I wanted to apply it to each time, despite only having one setup. But I could set four of my preferred light settings on the home screen, up to eighteen in the quick action folder, or save them as scenes, so at least the process was quicker once I’d picked my favorites.

The WiZ filament bulb is emitting a warm white.

(Image credit: Future)

On the subject of scenes, I found it far more efficient to fine-tune the lighting effect I wanted in the control menu before saving it as a scene. While the same settings are available when creating a new scene, the bulb didn’t immediately reflect any changes I made. Instead I would only get to check the result after creating and enabling the new scene, which wasn’t ideal, meaning it was often better to tweak the lighting settings first.

Connecting the Filament Bulb to my Echo Dot (5th Gen) was nice and simple, as it was automatically detected by my Alexa app. I needed to put the Filament Bulb into pairing mode, which was a case of switching the light off and on until it began to pulse blue, and the syncing process took just moments to complete. I could then use voice commands to get the Filament Bulb to change colors, temperature, and brightness, which was very convenient, especially as my requested changes were applied promptly.

The WiZ filament bulb is pictured switched off on a concrete lamp.

(Image credit: Future)

Despite the disappointing elements of the app, once I’d fine-tuned the lighting effects and set up the automations and voice control, I quite enjoyed testing the Filament Bulb. Overall, I was pleased with the quality for the price. So, if you’re looking for a vintage-style bulb with modern smart features and want to change up the ambience with a little color, it’s worth checking out the WiZ Filament Bulb Clear 25W ST19 E26.

If you love smart lighting as much as I do and want to explore some other fantastic options, then I highly recommend checking out our best smart lights buying guide.

WiZ Filament Bulb review: Price and specs

Price

$32.99 / £27.99

Model

US: Filament Globe Clear 25W ST19 E26

UK: Filament Bulb Clear 40 W ST64 E27

Colors

Multicolor

Lumens

US: 300 / UK: 470

Temperature

US: 1800-2100K / UK: 2200-6500K

Connectivity

2.4GHz WiFi, Bluetooth

App

Yes

Voice control

Yes

Dimmable

Yes, using the app

Additional features

Matter compatible, motion sensor (with 2+ bulbs)

Should I buy the WiZ Filament Bulb?

Buy it if...

You want vintage style with modern features
The shape of the bulb is gorgeous, and while the coiled LED isn’t exactly traditional, it has its own charm in the right setting. This, combined with the smart features, makes it an eye-catching choice.

You want automation and voice control
The rhythms and schedules are easy to set up and work well, and controlling the light becomes pretty effortless when synced to smart home devices like Alexa.

Don't buy it if...

You want to light up the room
This bulb’s definitely destined for mood lighting rather than illuminating a space, so it wouldn’t be the brightest choice if you plan to use it as a solo pendant light.

You want a traditional-looking filament
Although the LED strip allows for colorful lighting effects, it has a noticeably different aesthetic compared to white filament-style smart bulbs.

WiZ Filament Bulb review: Also consider

Nanoleaf Matter Essentials smart bulb
If you’re looking for an alternative smart light with a difference, this Nanoleaf bulb may do the trick, thanks to its quirky faceted bulb. It’s cheaper than the WiZ Filament Bulb, yet also Matter compatible, vividly colorful, and can mirror your PC or Mac screen when used with the desktop app. If you’d like the learn more, check out our full Nanoleaf Matter Essentials smart bulb review.

How I tested the WiZ Filament Bulb

  • I tested the WiZ Filament Bulb for one week
  • I tested the different features and customizable settings
  • I observed its performance and brightness levels

I used the WiZ Filament Bulb on my desk in my office and in my living room. I screwed the bulb into a table lamp before powering it on and evaluating the setup process on the WiZ V2 companion app.

I explored the features, testing how different colors and settings looked, and created my own presets and scenes. I also tested how bright the bulb was both in daylight and in a dark room.

I synced the WiZ Filament Bulb with my Alexa app to check how straightforward the process was and to test out voice commands, which I did by altering the brightness, colors, and powering the bulb on and off.

I tested LG’s new party speaker tuned by will.i.am and I Just Can’t Get Enough – here’s why
1:12 pm | September 1, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Hi-Fi Wireless & Bluetooth Speakers | Tags: , , , | Comments: Off

LG xboom Stage 301: two-minute review

If you’re looking to get the party moving, the LG xboom Stage 301 could be the perfect Bluetooth speaker for you. This floor monitor-inspired party speaker aims to unleash powerful bass, AI-optimized sound, and karaoke features – for casual users and performers alike. But can it live up to the hype? Well, yes – yes it can.

During my time testing the LG xboom Stage 301, I was hooked on its clean, impactful, yet controlled sound. Bass is meaty, sure, but it doesn’t overwhelm sounds elsewhere in the frequency range. There’s also AI calibration and EQ modes so that you can uncover the perfect tuning for your space and the genre of music you’re playing.

Even when blasting bass-heavy house tunes at top volumes, the LG xboom Stage 301 didn’t produce distorted or overly compressed audio – like the best Bluetooth speakers around, it’s a disciplined, talented sonic companion. It may not be capable of ‘hi-res’ Bluetooth audio, and its front-facing design means that you get pretty directional audio, but I was still very impressed with the speaker’s sonic capabilities.

This thing doesn’t only sound good, though, it’s also rammed full of features – most of which are accessible through the LG ThinQ companion app. Auracast, multi-speaker pairing, a sleep timer – you name it. There are even some fun (but kinda gimmicky) DJ sliders and sound effects, a karaoke mode (if you’ve got mics or a guitar to plug in), and Healing Therapy sounds, for when you want to wind down.

Design-wise, this model is a hit too. It has a quality dual-bar LED light system, which can be synced to your music or customized from scratch in LG’s companion app. Elsewhere, a classic black finish, well-sized buttons, and a classy speaker grille all combine for a solid overall look.

You can also angle this speaker upwards, stand it upright, or mount it on a stand, making it a very versatile option.

What’s more, this model is actually priced pretty well – something LG hasn’t always got right with its other Bluetooth speakers. It comes in with a list price of $299.99 / £299.99 / AU$449, but you’ll already spot it going for less in some territories.

Now, you probably won’t get the maximum 12 hour battery life LG quotes – that is unless you have lights off and play music at a low volume, but you can use this speaker plugged in, which also enables the speaker to hit its maximum power output. You can also replace the battery, which is handy if you run out of juice and want to slot a second in to keep the party going.

Overall, I’m feeling highly positive about this model. The IPX4 waterproof rating is average for a stage-style model, but won’t compete with typical party speakers like the IP67-rated Earfun UBoom X, for instance. There are a couple of small technical quirks in the app, too, but otherwise, it’s a really useful companion.

And in the end, the LG xboom Stage 301 stands tall as a versatile, fantastic-sounding, and feature-rich model that’s up there with some of the best party speakers I’ve tested. LG’s xboom range – produced alongside will.i.am – has been a bit of a mixed bag so far. But the Stage 301 is, without a doubt, one of the highlights of this line, and I’m more than happy to recommend it.

LG xboom Stage 301 angled upwards

(Image credit: Future)

LG xboom Stage 301 review: price and release date

  • $299.99 / £299.99 / AU$449
  • Launched in April 2025

The LG xboom Stage 301 was announced at CES 2025 as part of a new Bluetooth speaker range, alongside the LG xboom Bounce and LG xboom Grab. It’s the largest, and, as you’d expect, priciest speaker in the line-up, which was launched in collaboration with producer and artist will.i.am.

Although the Stage 301 has a list price of $299.99 / £299.99 / AU$449, I’ve already seen it going for less – it’s down to under £250 in the UK via LG's digital store, for instance. It’s worth noting that there’s no stand included for Concert Mode, so you’ll have to purchase one separately.

LG xboom Stage 301 review: specs

Weight

14.7lbs / 6.7kg

Dimensions

12.3 x 12.2 x 11.1 inches / 312 x 311 x 282mm

Connectivity

Bluetooth 5.4, 3.5mm, USB (MP3 playback)

Battery life

12 hours

Speaker drivers

2x 2.5-inch midrange woofers, 1x 6.5-inch subwoofer

Waterproofing

IPX4

Person pressing the play button on the LG xboom Stage 301

(Image credit: Future)

LG xboom Stage 301 review: features

  • Incredibly feature-rich companion app
  • Customizable lights and EQ, room calibration, DJ and karaoke modes
  • 12-hour battery life, but can play while charging

As is usually the case, LG has packed a ton of neat smart features into this speaker. There’s classic stuff like multi-point connectivity and multi-speaker pairing (with xboom models), for example. But with the LG ThingQ companion app, you can access so much more.

You can customize the speaker’s LED lights, with a variety of presets with differing colors and motion patterns. You can also enable AI Lighting, which analyzes playback and produces optimal lighting for your audio content. I made use of the AI mode and it worked great – it really made my music come alive.

The lights aren’t the only thing you can customize though. You can also adapt the speaker’s sound to fit your needs with EQ settings. There are a handful of presets here, such as Bass Boost and Voice Enhance, but the AI sound option was the one that piqued my interest the most. This performs a real-time “genre analysis” of the media being played, in order to output the best possible audio, and again, I could really hear the difference in the best way here.

One issue I had, though, is that while listening to music, changing to a different EQ causes playback to cut out for a split second. That was a bit jarring when I simply wanted to activate Bass Boost in a pinch, say. In addition, the custom equalizer option only uses three bands, which is a bit basic compared to a Bluetooth speaker like the Sony ULT Field 3, which has a seven-band alternative.

Anyway, let’s go back to the good stuff. Something I personally appreciated was an AI calibration tool, which tailors the speaker’s sound to your listening space. After you perform this, the app provides a before and after, making the difference more tangible to listeners. This is a really smart inclusion from LG, and it genuinely improved the clarity of my tunes.

And really, I could go on all day about the app’s copious options. I’ve not even mentioned the Healing Therapy sounds, which are great if you want a bit of ambience or just want to wind down at night. On top of that, there’s a sleep timer, Auracast, customizable shortcut button (called MY Button), and a tab that integrates locally stored music files. Whew. I did say there was a lot.

But perhaps some of the more unique options are the DJ and karaoke related modes. DJ mode allows you to alter playback with delay, wah, phaser, and flanger effects, play drum and ‘club’ sound effects, and even layer vocal samples that you can record in the companion app. These sounds aren’t perfectly responsive, but it's a fun little mode to play around with.

Meanwhile, karaoke mode can be accessed if you hook a microphone or guitar up to the Stage 301. It includes vocal effects like helium, robot, and soprano if you fancy switching things up a bit, and you can alter volume or reverb using control knobs on the reverse side of the speaker.

So, there’s a lot of options at your fingertips with the LG xboom Stage 301, but does it have the battery life to keep the party moving? Well, even though LG quotes battery life at twelve hours, your mileage will almost certainly vary. See, if you’re using AI sound mode with volume high and both lights on, you won’t get close to that. With this setup, I lost 20% capacity in about 40 minutes. If you’ve got the lights off and you’re keeping volume low-high in Clear Voice mode, though, you can expect a ton more playtime.

That max 12 hours is standard for this type of speaker, though most users will probably struggle to get that much. Instead, I found it best to keep the Stage 301 playing while plugged into the power socket. You get louder max volume and don’t have to worry about the speaker dying on you. It’s worth noting, too, that the battery is replaceable. So, if you’re not near a socket, you could insert a second battery to keep the tunes blasting well into the early hours.

  • Features score: 4.5/5

LG xboom Stage 301 with person holding phone next to it with the LG ThinQ app

(Image credit: Future)

LG xboom Stage 301 review: sound quality

  • Clean, rhythmic bass
  • Limited distortion and compression
  • By design, sound is pretty directional

When we tried the LG xboom Stage 301 at CES 2025, our Managing Editor of Entertainment, Matt Bolton, said that it offered “bass that felt suitably deep but not overwhelming at all”, while also providing “tons of space for the rest of the music to leap out at you”. So, after putting the speaker through its paces in our music testing space, does this still ring true?

Well, before I give a definitive answer, let’s talk bass, which is the most important aspect of the Stage 301’s sonic abilities. I’ll start by saying that our first impression was very much accurate. This speaker didn’t spit out the heftiest bass I’ve ever heard, but that’s not inherently a bad thing. Low-end output remains meaty, but it doesn’t smother sounds elsewhere in the frequency range.

In addition, bass output is both clean and responsive. When blasting Fascinator by Max Dean, the hard-hitting kick drum sounded pleasingly deep and rapid, never sounding lethargic or unrhythmic. Sub-bass entering the fray around the minute-mark was also handled really well – every note was clear and impactful, resulting in an immersive, almost hypnotic listening experience.

If you feel like you do want a bit more low frequency weight, you can always enable Bass Boost in the speaker’s companion app or set your own custom EQ.

When bumping various bass-heavy bangers, vocal chops in the mid-range – as well as high-pitched percussion – were both well-defined in the mix, so you’ll get a disciplined, yet exciting listen out of the Stage 301. Even with a ballad like Solji’s Rains again, rain sound effects were true-to-life rather than staticky, while the delicate vocal performance was replicated adeptly, indicating that this model has the talent to handle a range of genres.

I tested the Stage 301 at a range of volumes, even cranking it up to the max for a bit. Something I realized was that peak loudness is only available if you’re using the speaker while its AC adapter is plugged in – it’s a fair bit quieter while battery powered. But when listening at top volumes, I was impressed with the lack of distortion and noticeable signal compression.

One shortcoming here, which may seem obvious, is that the Stage 301’s front-facing design limits the soundstage to a degree. For example, I tried listening to music from behind the speaker, and both mid-range and treble sounds were a bit muffled and far less prominent. This speaker is designed to fire audio towards listeners, rather than be a true 360-degree stereophonic hub, like the Marshall Kilburn III, say, so just ensure you work around its build and most will love what they hear.

And as one final note, there aren’t any ‘hi-res’ Bluetooth codecs here. The best this speaker can manage is AAC – there’s no LDAC or Snapdragon sound to uncover, something LG has experimented with on other products like the LG Tone Free T90S earbuds, which are fantastic by the way.

But still, you can expect a decently detailed, full-sound from the Stage 301. For so many speakers, ‘hi-res’ Bluetooth audio really isn’t the bottleneck. It’s well engineered drivers and enclosures, quality materials, and intelligent tuning that make a world of difference.

  • Sound quality score: 4.5/5

Volume and reverb knobs on the reverse side of the LG xboom Stage 301

(Image credit: Future)

LG xboom Stage 301 review: design

  • Classy, customizable LED lighting
  • Three different ways to stand the speaker
  • IPX4 waterproof rating

When I reviewed the LG xboom Buds, I was very critical of their looks. How could a pair of buds designed alongside the fashion-savvy will.i.am look so plain and uninspired? Well, LG can consider itself redeemed, because I love the look of the Stage 301!

First of all, I’m a huge fan of the dual bar LED lights, which can sync up to your music for a highly immersive listening experience. Unlike a party speaker like the original Tribit Stormbox Blast, this model takes a much classier approach to LEDs. They’re housed behind a speaker grille and don’t appear cheap – there’s also a million ways to customize them via LG’s companion app.

The speaker itself also has a well-finished black exterior alongside red-detailed ‘xboom’ logos on either side. Being able to see the drivers behind the grille is a nice touch too. The handle is conveniently placed as well, and 14.7lbs / 6.7kg is fairly lightweight for a model of this size and shape, making it fairly easy to transport.

In addition, buttons on top of the speaker are well-sized and backlit, while the volume control can be twisted clockwise or anti-clockwise to crank things up (or tone them down).

Something I really loved about this speaker, though, was its ability to be stood in various positions, enabling you to find the optimal sound and display type. It can be placed flat like a regular Bluetooth speaker, but I personally enjoyed using it in Street Mode, an upward-angled configuration that made me feel like I was at a rave. There’s also Concert Mode, but this requires a stand, which is sold separately.

Finally, this speaker is IPX4-rated, essentially meaning it's splash resistant. Although that’s disappointing against IP67-rated party speakers like the JBL Xtreme 4, say, IPX4 is fairly standard for a stage speaker like this. It may not be the best for outdoor environments, though, so if you’re not totally sold on the wedge design, maybe look to a typical party speaker, such as those in the ‘Also consider’ section.

  • Design score: 4.5/5

Handle and xboom logo on the LG xboom Stage 301

(Image credit: Future)

LG xboom Stage 301 review: value

  • Competitively priced against rivals
  • Already on sale in some markets
  • Very good all-round quality

LG doesn’t always get it right when it comes to pricing. I can recall testing out the LG XBoom Go XG8T and being totally bamboozled by its sky-high $379.99 / £400 (about AU$600) list price. We weren’t quite bowled over by the $179.99 / £139 / AU$299 cost of the LG xboom Bounce, either, which couldn’t stack up to rivals in its price-class.

But when it comes to the LG xboom Stage 301, it’s a different story. This speaker is priced competitively if you stack it against rivals like the JBL Partybox range or the Bose S1 Pro+ PA system. It's even on par in terms of cost against Bluetooth speaker/karaoke machine hybrids like the Tribit Stormbox Blast 2, which has a list price of almost $300 / £260.

For new DJs looking for a stage speaker, it’s fairly affordable too, with a lot of the more industry-specific models costing well upwards of $300 / £300 for similarly designed alternatives. Considering the versatility of the Stage 301 for casual listening, karaoke, and even DJing, it’s a strong value pick.

It’s already on sale in some territories too. In the UK, for instance, you can scoop the speaker up for less than £250, which is well worth it. Sure, this isn’t a budget product, and if you want mics and a stand you’ll have to purchase them separately. But with a combination of great sound, features galore, and neat looks, you certainly get what you pay for.

  • Value score: 4.5/5

Person lifting tab on the reverse side of the LG xboom Stage 301

(Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the LG xboom Stage 301?

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

Standard battery life, but AI features rock and it has customizable sound and lights.

4.5/5

Sound quality

Clean, impactful, but disciplined bass, controlled audio at higher volumes.

4.5/5

Design

Attractive lights, neat positioning options, IPX4 waterproofing is average.

4.5/5

Value

Well-priced against rivals, strong quality all round, overall well-worth it.

4.5/5

Buy it if...

You want plenty of bass
The LG xboom Stage 301 produces clean, impactful bass, but it never sounds overwhelming or muddy. When blasting a range of house tunes, I was treated to rapid, responsive, and rhythmic low-end output that had me hooked.

You’re looking for a versatile party speaker
The LG xboom Stage 301 is ideal for parties thanks to its floor speaker style design, immersive lighting, and pumping bass output. It even has DJ and karaoke modes if you want to make use of those. Wired connectivity is also handy if you want low-latency audio for performances.

Don't buy it if...

You want a rugged audio companion
This model is only IPX4-rated, meaning it’s not going to be ideal for outdoor use if it’s raining, or if you’re poolside, for example. IPX4 is normal for a model like this, but I would’ve liked to see LG push the boundaries.

You’re expecting ultra-long battery life
The LG xboom Stage 301 is a powerful stage speaker and won’t have the battery life of typical party rivals, such as those listed down below. Even compared to rival options, it's got a fairly standard battery life, and you’ll have to keep things very minimal to get the max 12 hours of playtime, as listed.

LG xboom Stage 301 review: also consider

LG xboom Stage 301

Tribit Stormbox Blast 2

Sony ULT Field 7

Price

$299.99 / £299.99 / AU$449

$299.99 / £257 (about AU$490)

$499 / £399 (about AU$770)

Weight

14.7lbs / 6.7kg

19.2lbs / 8.7kg

14 lbs / 6.3kg

Dimensions

12.3 x 12.2 x 11.1 inches / 312 x 311 x 282mm

18.8 x 10.2 x 7.6 inches / 477.5 x 259.1 x 193mm

20 x 9 x 9 inches / 512 x 224 x 222mm

Connectivity

Bluetooth 5.4, 3.5mm, 6.3mm (mic/guitar) USB (MP3 playback)

Bluetooth 5.4, 3.5mm, mic ports

Bluetooth 5.2, 3.5mm, 6.3mm (mic/guitar), USB

Battery life

12 hours

30 hours

30 hours

Speaker drivers

2x 2.5-inch midrange drivers; 1x 6.5-inch woofer

2x 45W mid-range drivers; 2x 15W tweeters

2x 46mm tweeters; 2 x 114mm woofers

Waterproofing

IPX4

IP67

IP67

Tribit Stormbox Blast 2
It’s safe to say I was blown away by the Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 when I tested it at the start of 2025. It offers phenomenal thumping bass, customizable LED lights, and wonderful battery life – it really is the full package. Pair that with a karaoke mode, IP67 waterproofing, as well as a regularly discounted price, and you’re looking at a class-leading party speaker. Read our full Tribit Stormbox Blast 2 review.

Sony ULT Field 7
The Sony ULT Field 7 has a lot in common with LG’s party-ready speaker, and thanks to price-cuts, it’s now well-worth considering. Both the Sony and LG are almost equal in weight, each offer ports for guitars and mics, and they each assume a unique build in what is a fairly ‘same-y’ market. You’ll get better battery life and wraparound sound from the ULT Field 7, but its build isn’t as optimal for DJs as the LG speaker and the lighting isn’t as classy. Read our full Sony ULT Field 7 review.

How I tested the LG xboom Stage 301

Button controls on top of the LG xboom Stage 301

(Image credit: Future)
  • Tested across the course of one week
  • Mainly used in the music testing space at Future Labs
  • Predominantly tested using Tidal

I tested the LG xboom Stage 301 Bluetooth speaker across the course of one week, spending most of my time with the unit in our music testing space at Future Labs.

During the testing period, I spent hours on end blasting tunes from a variety of genres, though I did put more of an emphasis on bass-heavy tracks to get the best out of the model. On top of that, I ran through the TechRadar testing playlist, which is standard practice for me when trialing audio gear.

When listening to music, I typically used Tidal, but I also tried bumping some tunes from my library on Spotify. I listened at a variety of angles and volumes, exhausted all of the features in the LG companion app, messed around with various lighting calibrations, and used the speaker in its various standing positions.

  • First reviewed: September 2025
  • Read more about how we test
Groov-e’s Wave Glow Bluetooth speaker has a lot going for it, but sadly sound quality isn’t on the list
1:00 am | August 20, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Hi-Fi Wireless & Bluetooth Speakers | Tags: , , , | Comments: Off

Groov-e Wave Glow: two-minute review

The Groov-e Wave Glow is a very affordable portable speaker and one with sound quality to match that price tag. Yes, this is one that will infuriate the ears of audiophiles sounding somewhat tinny at times and slightly lacking any oomph across the course of my listening.

On the other hand, it has some funky looking lights which I found rather endearing, a comfy to grip strap, and some surprising ways to connect it to your music. Besides Bluetooth, you can also plug in a USB flash drive, slot in a TF card (both admittedly with a tight 64GB limit), and there’s an aux port. It’s not often you see these features in a tiny speaker any more. Granted, not everyone will need these but if you do, well, your options are limited making this more tempting.

Of course, don’t count on it rivalling the best Bluetooth speakers. This is a decidedly cheap speaker. It feels a little cheap to the touch and there’s that dodgy sound quality. I say dodgy; it’s reminiscent of buying a cheap radio or speaker years ago, before good speakers were affordable for the masses. It’s not hideous, exactly, but it’s also fairly ‘blah’.

Away from that disappointing audio quality, the Groov-e Wave Glow has some chunky, tactile buttons for play/pause, volume, and adjusting the lights, and the ports are all hidden behind a pull-out protective shell. Then there’s the lights up top and down bottom, and the elastic strap.

The Groov-e Wave Glow is priced at £23.99 and at the moment is only seemingly available in the UK, but that would make it under $35, or around AU$50. For that price, it’d be silly to expect too much, but if you can stretch further, you will find better options – more on those later. If money is that tight, however, or you’re looking for a cheap gift, the Groov-e Wave Glow still has some appeal.

Groov-e Wave Glow outside on tarmac, with a lawn in the background

(Image credit: Future)

Groov-e Wave Glow review: price and release date

  • Released May 2025
  • £23.99 at launch
  • Limited availability

The Groov-e Wave Glow was launched in May 2025 and is currently available to buy in the UK. It’s already seen some modest discounts but is generally available for £23.99.

That makes it one of the cheaper speakers around. The recently released Tribit Stormbox Mini Plus is close but is still usually priced at £39.99. If you’re able to increase your budget to that, there are a few other options like the JBL Go 4, but few as cheap as this one.

Groov-e Wave Glow review: specs

Weight

645g

Dimensions

13.7 x 8 x 7.5 cm

Connectivity

Bluetooth 5.3, aux-in, USB-C (charging)

Battery life

8 hours (quoted)

Speaker drivers

10W

Waterproofing

n/a

Groov-e Wave Glow review: features

  • AUX port, microSD slot, and USB flash drive support
  • LED lights
  • 8-hour battery life

The Groov-e Wave Glow is a fairly typical looking little Bluetooth speaker but with some surprising features. The highlight is its plethora of connections. Sure, you’ll be mostly using its Bluetooth connection, but it has other options. You can use its aux port to connect to other devices (and the speaker actually comes with a 3.5mm jack), while next to it is a TF (read: microSD) card slot, and the USB connection allows you to plug in a USB flash drive. Admittedly, both microSD and USB have a limitation of 64GB so you might have to search around for a compatible option, but it could be that specific situation that fits you perfectly.

There are no mics for speakerphone duties (although few speakers seem to offer that, these days) and battery life is a very unremarkable 8 hours. I’d have liked to have seen more here, especially as it takes 2 hours for a full recharge. Its Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity works fine and I had no issues using it with my iPhone 14 Pro but there were occasional dropouts on my PC – usually when I moved the speaker around.

Elsewhere, the LED lights are my favorite thing about the Groov-e Wave Glow. They visually bounce away while playing music and look suitably vibrant and exciting. They’re potentially more exciting than the audio quality, but I’ll get to that. It’s a neat touch either way and makes up for the lack of app support and thus in-app customization.

  • Features score: 4/5

Groov-e Wave Glow outside on tarmac, with a lawn in the background

(Image credit: Future)

Groov-e Wave Glow review: sound quality

  • 10W
  • Tinny sound
  • Weak bass

I didn’t expect much of the Groov-e Wave Glow but I have to be honest, it actually sounded a little worse than anticipated. It’s functional, of course, but pretty tinny at times. There’s no bass to speak of, but my word, do the lights try to atone for that. You're encouraged to feel like it’s doing its best, happily bouncing along. However, it’s pretty tame stuff.

Listening to spoken word – a podcast or YouTube video, say – is fine, but when you switch over to your favorite music, the limitations are much more noticeable. The volume can go pretty high, but that weakens the experience even more. I went for my cheesy favorite, Robbie William’s Let Me Entertain You to start, knowing exactly how it’s meant to sound and there was no urgency or strength in the mids.

I went bold then and loaded up some Muse and sighed as it sounded somewhat pitiful. The soundstage is weak but more importantly, the bass and general ambience is underwhelming.

  • Sound quality score: 2/5

Groov-e Wave Glow outside on tarmac, with a lawn in the background

(Image credit: Future)

Groov-e Wave Glow review: design

  • Comfy elasticated strap
  • Tactile buttons
  • Well hidden ports

The Groov-e Wave Glow is certainly exactly how you expect a speaker to look, but there are a few highlights. I’m a big fan of its buttons being attractive but tactile too, so anyone with visual impairments can find what they’re wanting to press. There are buttons for play/pause, volume, and for toggling the lights on or off.

There’s a chunky section for the ports too which blends in well and feels suitably snug. On another side is the strap which is elasticated but held in quite tightly. The idea is that you can easily hold it through the strap but also attach it to something like a hook. It feels nice in your hands which is the main thing here.

As with other similar speakers, the Groov-e Wave Glow is pretty lightweight to carry around. Up top and down the bottom is the lighting so you can place the Groov-e Wave Glow sideways as well as upright.

What lets it down in this section – and why not go higher than four stars? Well, any discussion on the design has to include the audio architecture under the hood, and as you'll know if you've read this far, this area is where the Wave Glow struggles. Also, unusually for a speaker in 2025, there's no mention of an IP rating for water or dust ingress – so it won't be joining the ranks of our best waterproof speakers buying guide any time soon.

  • Design score: 4/5

Groov-e Wave Glow outside on tarmac, with a lawn in the background

(Image credit: Future)

Groov-e Wave Glow review: value

  • Very cheap
  • Sturdy design
  • Useful for a specific situation

The Groov-e Wave Glow is certainly cheap but its sound quality demonstrates exactly why it’s so cheap. Having said that, the aux port, USB flash drive support, and TF card slot could make it exactly what you’ve been looking for. For those people, there’s not much else to rival the Groov-e Wave Glow at this price.

However, if you’re looking for good audio, it’s a smart move to spend a little more on the JBL Go range or something from Anker Soundcore. The Groov-e Wave Glow definitely isn’t the best choice for music lovers, but it is super cheap and for many, that's the priority.

  • Value score: 3/5

Groov-e Wave Glow outside on tarmac, with a lawn in the background

(Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Groov-e Wave Glow?

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

No app, but there are a few notable extras not on other models

4/5

Sound quality

The weakest element by far when considering the Wave Glow: tinny and lacking in low end

2/5

Design

Useful straps, fun lights and tactile buttons

4/5

Value

It's cheap, but given the sound quality, spending less doesn't always mean value

3/5

Buy it if...

You want extra connectivity options
Many speakers still retain an aux port but TF and USB flash drive support? That’s what potentially makes the Groov-e Wave Glow your dream option. Only you know what you need most.

You want something for the summer
Just need a short term solution? The Groov-e Wave Glow is cheap, easy to get hold of, and does the job. Just about.

You’re on a tight budget
If money is very tight and you need a speaker, the Groov-e Wave Glow is an impulse buy kind of price.

Don't buy it if...

You’re an audiophile
It’s been a while since I’ve heard something as underwhelming as the Groov-e Wave Glow which is a tragic shame, but true.

You want something to last all day
The Groov-e Wave Glow only has 8 hours of battery life which means it won’t last a busy day hiking or out and about. There are other cheap options with better battery life.

You want waterproofing
The Groov-e Wave Glow doesn’t confirm its waterproofing and while its ports are neatly hidden away, we wouldn’t trust it immersed in water. Go for something with guaranteed IPX7 waterproofing if you plan on heading to the pool.

Groov-e Wave Glow review: also consider

Groov-e Wave Glow

Tribit Stormbox Mini Plus

JBL Clip 5

Price

£23.99; limited availability in other markets

$39.99 / £32 / AU$65 (approx.)

$79.95 / £59.99 / AU$89.95

Weight

645g

545g

285g

Dimensions

13.7 x 8 x 7.5 cm

90.9 x 90.9 x 118.9 mm

86 x 134.5 x 46 mm

Connectivity

Bluetooth 5.3, aux-in, USB-C (charging)

Bluetooth 5.4 (SBC, AAC codecs), AUX-in, USB-C (charging)

Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C (charging)

Battery life

8 hours (quoted)

12 hours (quoted)

Up to 12 hours

Speaker drivers

10W (dimensions not stated)

48mm

Integrated class D digital amplifiers x 1

Waterproofing

n/a

IPX7

IP67

JBL Clip 5
If you can stretch that budget, buy the JBL Clip 5. It’s perfect for outdoor use while also sounding great for the price. There’s plenty of detail and bass here with an adjustable EQ and an ideal strap for carrying.
Read our full JBL Clip 5 review View Deal

Tribit Stormbox Mini Plus
A little more expensive but guaranteeing good waterproofing, the Tribit Stormbox Mini Plus could still sound better but it’s otherwise a robust option at a very affordable price.
Read our full Tribit Stormbox Mini Plus review

Groov-e Wave Glow review: how I tested

  • Tested over 14 days
  • Used with Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and Twitch
  • 15 years of audio equipment reviewing experience

I used the Groov-e Wave Glow across 14 days in a wide range of ways. I connected it to my PC initially and listened to Spotify, Apple Music and Twitch using that as a source device, then moved to my iPhone 14 Pro.

That meant a solid mixture of spoken audio and also music. My music taste is fairly varied so it went from Robbie Williams to Muse to Chet Baker to various pieces of classical music. I also checked how good battery life appeared to be and monitored how long it took to recharge.

I have 15 years of experience testing audio equipment, specialising in portable, affordable products just like the Groov-e Wave Glow.

Garmin Venu X1 review: The most innovative Garmin watch in years, and a genuine Apple Watch Ultra rival
11:00 am | August 9, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness Smartwatches | Tags: , | Comments: Off

Garmin Venu X1: One-minute review

Garmin Venu X1

(Image credit: Future)

When you think of the best Garmin watches, you think of thick, G-Shock-style rugged adventure watches, not a sleek full-screen bezelless smartwatch that sits slim on your wrist. The Garmin Venu X1 bucks the trend, offering a complete redesign, and it’s fun to get to grips with the Garmin experience in what feels like a whole new way.

Personally, I loved it. I’ll discuss the design and display, which of Garmin’s usual suite of metrics and features it gets, and how it performs, in detail below, but it’s an eminently usable watch that has very quickly become a fixture in my usual rotation. The slender nature of the watch and curved stainless-steel backing hugs the wrist and makes it comfortable, and that gorgeous full-color AMOLED display is perfect for viewing maps.

The battery life is a concern in comparison to more typical Garmins, however: if you’re used to a two-week battery, the always-on display will crush the Garmin Venu X1’s longevity down to just a few days. However, without the always-on display you’ll get a week (far more than even the best Apple Watch), even with multiple battery-sucking hour-long GPS workouts.

The other slight concern is the redesigned operating system. The list of widgets (or ‘glances’ in Garmin speak) are navigated via a combination of touchscreen and buttons, and have received a Liquid Glass-style facelift to make use of Garmin’s Apple Watch-style screen. However – and to keep the comparison going – sometimes the framerate can lag, and without Garmin’s five-button configuration or an Apple-style digital crown, swiping around can be cumbersome (especially mid-workout). It doesn’t spark joy, to quote Marie Kondo, in the same way that Apple’s form factor does.

Nevertheless, I’ve been wearing the watch for weeks, and I’ve finished my testing, and it’s still on my wrist – and once I’ve finished testing my next watch, I’ll probably strap it back on again. It’s light, it looks good, it’s comfortable, it lasts longer than an Apple Watch (with the latter two factors helping to make it practical to wear overnight for better sleep tracking), and it’s just a damn good watch. I still can’t get over how good full-color maps look on its enormous screen.

Garmin Venu X1: Price and availability

Garmin Venu X1

(Image credit: Garmin)
  • $799 / £799 / AU$1,399
  • One size
  • Around the same price as the Apple Watch Ultra 2

The Garmin Venu X1 is available in all regions, priced at $799.99 / £679.99 / AU$1,499. That’s around the same price as the Apple Watch Ultra 2, which is priced at $799 / £799 / AU$1,399.

Like the Apple Watch Ultra 2, the Garmin Venu X1 comes in just one size, as opposed to most other Garmin watches that are available in multiple sizes. However, the Ultra 2 does have one major feature the Venu X1 doesn’t: LTE support.

LTE support means you can add the Ultra 2 to your phone’s data plan (this usually costs extra), and allows you to make calls, send messages and even stream music directly without being connected to your phone. The Venu X1, despite being in the same premium price bracket as the Ultra 2, doesn’t have this functionality.

Then again, neither do other Garmin watches such as the Garmin Fenix 8, which actually costs more than the Venu X1. The difference between the two is that the Venu X1 is positioned as a smartwatch competitor, rather than an adventure watch.

  • Value score: 4/5

Garmin Venu X1: Design

Garmin Venu X1

(Image credit: Future)
  • Gorgeous, bright AMOLED display
  • Slim profile, highly unusual for Garmins
  • Stainless steel curved backing for comfort

The Garmin Venu X1 is slimmer than any other Garmin I’ve yet tried, and I’ve tried a lot. No chunky adventure watch here: Garmin has opted for a practically bezel-less slender watchwith just 7.9mm of thickness. The slim profile combines with the metal backing, which is curved to follow the wrist, for a fit that I found very comfortable, though people with smaller or larger wrists than mine might not find it quite as good a fit.

Most other smartwatches have straight backs, relying on straps to bind their boxy cases to your wrists, which can cause the sensor to dig into your wrist. I found the Garmin Venu X1 very comfortable indeed, more so than the Apple Watch Ultra series.

While the back is cambered, the wide display isn’t curved at all, unlike the Apple Watch Series 10. Instead, it’s completely flat, slightly reducing glanceability in theory, but the screen is big and bright enough that it doesn’t really matter. The display (a 51.2mm AMOLED Sapphire Glass display) is among the best I’ve ever seen on a smartwatch.

The velcro strap included with the watch isn’t particularly stylish, but it’s perfectly adequate performance-wise. It’ll need cleaning, as it’s fabric, and it got a bit dirty even during my first month of training.

The only real design flaw I’ve identified after using this watch for a month is Garmin’s operating system, which has had a bit of a facelift to better suit Garmin’s biggest, brightest display. It looks fine, but to navigate it you have to scroll through with two buttons and the touchscreen, as there’s no digital crown and only two buttons, unlike on most of Garmin’s other watches.

This is something that’s always been a problem with the Venu series for me; however, it’s by no means a dealbreaker. Occasionally you’ll need to swipe between screens during a workout, from heart rate and time to maps for example, with the touchscreen – and this can become smeared with sweat and dirt. However, it’s not enough to be a serious problem with the watch; it’s just a minor gripe.

  • Design score: 4.5/5

Garmin Venu X1: Features

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 and Garmin Venu X1 worn during run on separate wrists

(Image credit: Future)
  • Garmin’s top-tier training features
  • Full-color offline maps
  • LED torch

First up, all of Garmin’s best features, including Morning Report, Training Readiness score, Endurance and Hill scores, Garmin Coach, full-color maps, work brilliantly here, and the watch functions well as a workout companion that’s much lighter than the chunkier Forerunners and Fenixes, making it ideal for runners and swimmers as you’ll practically forget you’re wearing it.

The added comfort and reduced weight are especially beneficial for sleep tracking. The watch is so much more comfortable than watches with thicker profiles, which means it’s easier to wear in bed. You can get all your recovery metrics, such as sleeping heart rate variability and sleep quality, from the watch directly, rather than not wearing it (or even removing it in frustration during the middle of the night because it’s stopping you nodding off, as I’ve done with some chunky watches) and relying on Garmin’s estimations.

That massive display is transformative when viewing complex information such as multiple glances at once, or full-color maps. You can’t use the touchscreen for precision movements such as responsive pinches to zoom in and out, like you would on a phone, but the maps screen is still ideally suited for getting turn-by-turn directions on city walks, or long runs using the Create a Course functionality.

The Garmin Venu X1 offers a generous 32GB of onboard storage for music and GPX maps, and supports offline playback from apps such as Spotify. It’s also packing Garmin’s useful LED torch, with a red mode for wearing at night as a safety light, and three levels of white light. It can be used for anything from finding your way to the bathroom in the dark to signalling for help atop a mountain, perhaps when you’ve taken a wrong turn after a hike.

The torch uses a fair amount of battery, though, so if you’re going to be out overnight you might want to disable the always-on display to conserve power – more on that in a moment.

  • Features score: 5/5

Garmin Venu X1: Performance

Garmin Venu X1 vs Apple Watch Ultra 2

(Image credit: Michael Sawh)
  • Good battery life without always-on display
  • Easy to wear
  • I enjoyed training in it

I wore the Garmin Venu X1 for around a month, draining the battery completely, charging it multiple times and doing lots of running and resistance training while wearing it. I also competed in a 12K trail-running event, using the Primary Race training tool to fine-tune my plans for the day. I slept with it, took it out on the roads, and wore it during gym and yoga sessions.

I’ve seen some criticisms stating the battery is very bad with always-on display enabled, and they’re right: with this functionality on, you’re only getting a few days of battery life. However, as someone who found the raise-to-wake functionality more than suitable and sensitive enough for my needs, I’m living with the watch just fine. During testing, the battery lasted around a week with multiple GPS workouts, which is pretty much as advertised.

Using it as a running watch, I found that it’s one of the best I’ve tried this year. It’s not as powerful or rugged, or quite as feature-rich, as the Fenix 8, but it’s a much better all-rounder watch. I used the voice command functionality to set kitchen timers and so on, and it’s certainly easier than swiping through the OS. However, it’s not quite as seamless as the Apple Watch’s nigh-on futuristic raise-and-speak functionality, as it still takes a swipe and tap to set up.

As Garmin’s attempt at an Apple Watch, the Venu X1 very nearly succeeds, and it’s a lovely watch to wear and train with in its own right. However, I think that in order to truly succeed both as a training watch and a smartwatch, it needs to leave more of its Garmin trappings behind – among other things, Garmin needs to completely redesign the interface, and enable users to access its voice command feature with one fewer swipe.

  • Performance score: 4/5

Scorecard

Category

Comment

Score

Value

A premium watch with premium features, but not outrageous value.

4/5

Design

A beautiful screen with a transformative slim, light chassis.

4.5/5

Features

Garmin’s best features packed into a slender package.

5/5

Performance

A terrific running watch, but not quite the complete smartwatch package, and so-so battery life with always-on display.

4/5

Should I buy?

Buy it if...

You’re on Android

This powerful watch is the closest thing to a system-agnostic Apple Watch Ultra 2.

You want comfort

This slender watch is extremely light and comfortable for workouts, sleep tracking and daily wear.

You’re a power user

Are you a serious runner, cyclist, hiker or triathlete? You’ll love this watch.

Don't buy it if...

You’re on a budget

This is not a cheap watch, even by Garmin standards.

You like the traditional Garmin look

There are plenty of Garmin watches with the usual rugged aesthetic to choose from.

You need a two-week battery life

The Garmin Venu X1 lasts anywhere from two to nine days.

Also consider

Component

Garmin Venu X1

Apple Watch Ultra 2

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra

Price

$799.99 / £679.99 / AU$1,499

$799 / £799 / AU$1,399

$649 / £599 / AU$1,299

Dimensions

41 x 46 x 7.9 mm

49 x 41 x 14 (mm)

47.4 x 47.4 x 12.1mm

Weight

41g

61g

60.5g

Case/bezel

Titanium/Polymer

Titanium

Titanium

Display

51.2 mm AMOLED Sapphire Glass display

49mm poly-silicon always-on OLED Retina Display

480 x 480 full-color AMOLED

GPS

GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS

Dual-frequency (unspecified)

Dual-frequency GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo

Battery life

Up to 8 days

36 hours

590mAh, up to 100 hours

Connection

Bluetooth, Wi-Fi

Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi, LTE

Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi

Water resistant

Yes, 5ATM

Yes, WR100 (diveproof)

10ATM + IP68

Apple Watch Ultra 2

The best all-rounder running smartwatch for iPhone users.

Read our full Apple Watch Ultra 2 review

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra

As above, but for Samsung and Android phone users.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra review

How I tested

I wore the Garmin Venu X1 for a month, draining the battery multiple times and testing it against the Apple Watch Ultra 2. I used the Primary Race tool to complete a trail running event, slept with it, showered with it and completed gym, running and a variety of other workouts with it. I used its maps functionality in conjunction with running routes created on Garmin Connect.

Garmin Venu X1 review: The most innovative Garmin watch in years, and a genuine Apple Watch Ultra rival
11:00 am |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness Smartwatches | Tags: , | Comments: Off

Garmin Venu X1: One-minute review

Garmin Venu X1

(Image credit: Future)

When you think of the best Garmin watches, you think of thick, G-Shock-style rugged adventure watches, not a sleek full-screen bezelless smartwatch that sits slim on your wrist. The Garmin Venu X1 bucks the trend, offering a complete redesign, and it’s fun to get to grips with the Garmin experience in what feels like a whole new way.

Personally, I loved it. I’ll discuss the design and display, which of Garmin’s usual suite of metrics and features it gets, and how it performs, in detail below, but it’s an eminently usable watch that has very quickly become a fixture in my usual rotation. The slender nature of the watch and curved stainless-steel backing hugs the wrist and makes it comfortable, and that gorgeous full-color AMOLED display is perfect for viewing maps.

The battery life is a concern in comparison to more typical Garmins, however: if you’re used to a two-week battery, the always-on display will crush the Garmin Venu X1’s longevity down to just a few days. However, without the always-on display you’ll get a week (far more than even the best Apple Watch), even with multiple battery-sucking hour-long GPS workouts.

The other slight concern is the redesigned operating system. The list of widgets (or ‘glances’ in Garmin speak) are navigated via a combination of touchscreen and buttons, and have received a Liquid Glass-style facelift to make use of Garmin’s Apple Watch-style screen. However – and to keep the comparison going – sometimes the framerate can lag, and without Garmin’s five-button configuration or an Apple-style digital crown, swiping around can be cumbersome (especially mid-workout). It doesn’t spark joy, to quote Marie Kondo, in the same way that Apple’s form factor does.

Nevertheless, I’ve been wearing the watch for weeks, and I’ve finished my testing, and it’s still on my wrist – and once I’ve finished testing my next watch, I’ll probably strap it back on again. It’s light, it looks good, it’s comfortable, it lasts longer than an Apple Watch (with the latter two factors helping to make it practical to wear overnight for better sleep tracking), and it’s just a damn good watch. I still can’t get over how good full-color maps look on its enormous screen.

Garmin Venu X1: Price and availability

Garmin Venu X1

(Image credit: Garmin)
  • $799 / £799 / AU$1,399
  • One size
  • Around the same price as the Apple Watch Ultra 2

The Garmin Venu X1 is available in all regions, priced at $799.99 / £679.99 / AU$1,499. That’s around the same price as the Apple Watch Ultra 2, which is priced at $799 / £799 / AU$1,399.

Like the Apple Watch Ultra 2, the Garmin Venu X1 comes in just one size, as opposed to most other Garmin watches that are available in multiple sizes. However, the Ultra 2 does have one major feature the Venu X1 doesn’t: LTE support.

LTE support means you can add the Ultra 2 to your phone’s data plan (this usually costs extra), and allows you to make calls, send messages and even stream music directly without being connected to your phone. The Venu X1, despite being in the same premium price bracket as the Ultra 2, doesn’t have this functionality.

Then again, neither do other Garmin watches such as the Garmin Fenix 8, which actually costs more than the Venu X1. The difference between the two is that the Venu X1 is positioned as a smartwatch competitor, rather than an adventure watch.

  • Value score: 4/5

Garmin Venu X1: Design

Garmin Venu X1

(Image credit: Future)
  • Gorgeous, bright AMOLED display
  • Slim profile, highly unusual for Garmins
  • Stainless steel curved backing for comfort

The Garmin Venu X1 is slimmer than any other Garmin I’ve yet tried, and I’ve tried a lot. No chunky adventure watch here: Garmin has opted for a practically bezel-less slender watchwith just 7.9mm of thickness. The slim profile combines with the metal backing, which is curved to follow the wrist, for a fit that I found very comfortable, though people with smaller or larger wrists than mine might not find it quite as good a fit.

Most other smartwatches have straight backs, relying on straps to bind their boxy cases to your wrists, which can cause the sensor to dig into your wrist. I found the Garmin Venu X1 very comfortable indeed, more so than the Apple Watch Ultra series.

While the back is cambered, the wide display isn’t curved at all, unlike the Apple Watch Series 10. Instead, it’s completely flat, slightly reducing glanceability in theory, but the screen is big and bright enough that it doesn’t really matter. The display (a 51.2mm AMOLED Sapphire Glass display) is among the best I’ve ever seen on a smartwatch.

The velcro strap included with the watch isn’t particularly stylish, but it’s perfectly adequate performance-wise. It’ll need cleaning, as it’s fabric, and it got a bit dirty even during my first month of training.

The only real design flaw I’ve identified after using this watch for a month is Garmin’s operating system, which has had a bit of a facelift to better suit Garmin’s biggest, brightest display. It looks fine, but to navigate it you have to scroll through with two buttons and the touchscreen, as there’s no digital crown and only two buttons, unlike on most of Garmin’s other watches.

This is something that’s always been a problem with the Venu series for me; however, it’s by no means a dealbreaker. Occasionally you’ll need to swipe between screens during a workout, from heart rate and time to maps for example, with the touchscreen – and this can become smeared with sweat and dirt. However, it’s not enough to be a serious problem with the watch; it’s just a minor gripe.

  • Design score: 4.5/5

Garmin Venu X1: Features

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 and Garmin Venu X1 worn during run on separate wrists

(Image credit: Future)
  • Garmin’s top-tier training features
  • Full-color offline maps
  • LED torch

First up, all of Garmin’s best features, including Morning Report, Training Readiness score, Endurance and Hill scores, Garmin Coach, full-color maps, work brilliantly here, and the watch functions well as a workout companion that’s much lighter than the chunkier Forerunners and Fenixes, making it ideal for runners and swimmers as you’ll practically forget you’re wearing it.

The added comfort and reduced weight are especially beneficial for sleep tracking. The watch is so much more comfortable than watches with thicker profiles, which means it’s easier to wear in bed. You can get all your recovery metrics, such as sleeping heart rate variability and sleep quality, from the watch directly, rather than not wearing it (or even removing it in frustration during the middle of the night because it’s stopping you nodding off, as I’ve done with some chunky watches) and relying on Garmin’s estimations.

That massive display is transformative when viewing complex information such as multiple glances at once, or full-color maps. You can’t use the touchscreen for precision movements such as responsive pinches to zoom in and out, like you would on a phone, but the maps screen is still ideally suited for getting turn-by-turn directions on city walks, or long runs using the Create a Course functionality.

The Garmin Venu X1 offers a generous 32GB of onboard storage for music and GPX maps, and supports offline playback from apps such as Spotify. It’s also packing Garmin’s useful LED torch, with a red mode for wearing at night as a safety light, and three levels of white light. It can be used for anything from finding your way to the bathroom in the dark to signalling for help atop a mountain, perhaps when you’ve taken a wrong turn after a hike.

The torch uses a fair amount of battery, though, so if you’re going to be out overnight you might want to disable the always-on display to conserve power – more on that in a moment.

  • Features score: 5/5

Garmin Venu X1: Performance

Garmin Venu X1 vs Apple Watch Ultra 2

(Image credit: Michael Sawh)
  • Good battery life without always-on display
  • Easy to wear
  • I enjoyed training in it

I wore the Garmin Venu X1 for around a month, draining the battery completely, charging it multiple times and doing lots of running and resistance training while wearing it. I also competed in a 12K trail-running event, using the Primary Race training tool to fine-tune my plans for the day. I slept with it, took it out on the roads, and wore it during gym and yoga sessions.

I’ve seen some criticisms stating the battery is very bad with always-on display enabled, and they’re right: with this functionality on, you’re only getting a few days of battery life. However, as someone who found the raise-to-wake functionality more than suitable and sensitive enough for my needs, I’m living with the watch just fine. During testing, the battery lasted around a week with multiple GPS workouts, which is pretty much as advertised.

Using it as a running watch, I found that it’s one of the best I’ve tried this year. It’s not as powerful or rugged, or quite as feature-rich, as the Fenix 8, but it’s a much better all-rounder watch. I used the voice command functionality to set kitchen timers and so on, and it’s certainly easier than swiping through the OS. However, it’s not quite as seamless as the Apple Watch’s nigh-on futuristic raise-and-speak functionality, as it still takes a swipe and tap to set up.

As Garmin’s attempt at an Apple Watch, the Venu X1 very nearly succeeds, and it’s a lovely watch to wear and train with in its own right. However, I think that in order to truly succeed both as a training watch and a smartwatch, it needs to leave more of its Garmin trappings behind – among other things, Garmin needs to completely redesign the interface, and enable users to access its voice command feature with one fewer swipe.

  • Performance score: 4/5

Scorecard

Category

Comment

Score

Value

A premium watch with premium features, but not outrageous value.

4/5

Design

A beautiful screen with a transformative slim, light chassis.

4.5/5

Features

Garmin’s best features packed into a slender package.

5/5

Performance

A terrific running watch, but not quite the complete smartwatch package, and so-so battery life with always-on display.

4/5

Should I buy?

Buy it if...

You’re on Android

This powerful watch is the closest thing to a system-agnostic Apple Watch Ultra 2.

You want comfort

This slender watch is extremely light and comfortable for workouts, sleep tracking and daily wear.

You’re a power user

Are you a serious runner, cyclist, hiker or triathlete? You’ll love this watch.

Don't buy it if...

You’re on a budget

This is not a cheap watch, even by Garmin standards.

You like the traditional Garmin look

There are plenty of Garmin watches with the usual rugged aesthetic to choose from.

You need a two-week battery life

The Garmin Venu X1 lasts anywhere from two to nine days.

Also consider

Component

Garmin Venu X1

Apple Watch Ultra 2

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra

Price

$799.99 / £679.99 / AU$1,499

$799 / £799 / AU$1,399

$649 / £599 / AU$1,299

Dimensions

41 x 46 x 7.9 mm

49 x 41 x 14 (mm)

47.4 x 47.4 x 12.1mm

Weight

41g

61g

60.5g

Case/bezel

Titanium/Polymer

Titanium

Titanium

Display

51.2 mm AMOLED Sapphire Glass display

49mm poly-silicon always-on OLED Retina Display

480 x 480 full-color AMOLED

GPS

GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS

Dual-frequency (unspecified)

Dual-frequency GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo

Battery life

Up to 8 days

36 hours

590mAh, up to 100 hours

Connection

Bluetooth, Wi-Fi

Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi, LTE

Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi

Water resistant

Yes, 5ATM

Yes, WR100 (diveproof)

10ATM + IP68

Apple Watch Ultra 2

The best all-rounder running smartwatch for iPhone users.

Read our full Apple Watch Ultra 2 review

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra

As above, but for Samsung and Android phone users.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra review

How I tested

I wore the Garmin Venu X1 for a month, draining the battery multiple times and testing it against the Apple Watch Ultra 2. I used the Primary Race tool to complete a trail running event, slept with it, showered with it and completed gym, running and a variety of other workouts with it. I used its maps functionality in conjunction with running routes created on Garmin Connect.

OLED is great, but the Mobile Pixels 34-inch ultrawide has taught me to respect mini-LED monitors – here is my take after two weeks
2:00 pm | August 8, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Gadgets Monitors Peripherals & Accessories | Tags: , , , | Comments: Off

Mobile Pixels 34-inch mini-LED ultrawide gaming monitor: Three-minute review

GIF of Mobile Pixels 34-inch mini-LED

(Image credit: Future / Isaiah Williams)

Having used an OLED ultrawide for years now, specifically the Alienware AW3423DWF QD-OLED (a mouthful, I know), I've been curious about a switch to mini-LED. The idea of higher brightness while gaming is intriguing, to say the least, and in came the Mobile Pixels 34-inch curved mini-LED ultrawide gaming monitor.

This monitor left me impressed with its quality while gaming or watching content built for high brightness – so much so that I didn't miss using my main OLED monitor. For the first time ever, I've been able to push brightness very high in games and enjoy fascinating visuals, and most importantly, without too much exposure.

Images don't really do it much justice, as it will mostly seem too bright to view in images below. However, believe me when I say it's a treat to view in person – and it comes down to its HDR1000 VESA certification (allowing 1000 nits of peak brightness), and 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio producing incredible deep black levels.

With an 180Hz refresh rate, which is higher than what you might find on some of the best ultrawide gaming monitors, I was able to enjoy my favorite games easily.

Side view of Mobile Pixels 34-inch mini-LED ultrawide monitor

(Image credit: Future / Isaiah Williams)

It's important to note, though, that it's not all great. Dark level smearing (especially when reading white text against dark backgrounds) and ghosting in games are noticeable, and while that's to be expected for a VA panel, it will be bothersome for those who are accustomed to faster displays.

While it didn't completely spoil my gaming or movie viewing experiences, it was a lot more evident for me when playing fast-paced games, especially when using Frame Generation against darker backgrounds in-game. It gets worse (as expected) when enabling any of the overdrive settings via the monitor OSD menu – which I must add, is very finicky, as it sometimes won't save settings or simply undo them randomly.

The biggest examples for me were using path tracing in Cyberpunk 2077, and notably path tracing mods in Capcom's Dragon's Dogma 2, which comes with a lot of ghosting already and lacks a denoiser (but served as an easier way for me to notice the difference). When in lighter backgrounds, ghosting was noticeable, but it wasn't too extreme. When stepping into darker areas, the ghosting and smearing were seriously bad.

Perhaps it's a bit unfair coming from using an OLED to a VA mini-LED, but its price is in the same region as other OLED monitors that don't have this issue. It would have worked in Mobile Pixels' favor to use an IPS panel instead of VA for better response times, but that would potentially be a drawback on the great contrast available here.

Notice the ghosting is worse on the darker background? (Image credit: Future / Isaiah Williams)

In terms of blooming, it's kept to a minimum when sitting directly in front of the monitor. Bear in mind, what you're seeing below isn't the best representation of how well the haloing effect is kept to a minimum, due to different lighting conditions.

There's a 'Halo Control' setting in the OSD menu, but I found that adjustments weren't very necessary. I was quite happy with how well this monitor handles bloom. Compared to my mini-LED TV (specifically the TCL 55QM8B), which has 300+ full-array local dimming zones, I'd say the results were fairly similar.

I must reiterate that this is a VA panel, so viewing angles are narrow. Essentially, blooming is significantly worse when viewing from either side, but I've never used my ultrawide monitors when sitting away from my desk (unless it's a 32:9 display).

HDR is enabled here... (Image credit: Future / Isaiah Williams)

Lining this up with an OLED display, again, is pretty unfair, since the AW3423DWF is night and day ahead, but it gave me a good impression of how good the deep black levels are on the Mobile Pixels 34-inch ultrawide. If you've been using a regular LED display, mini-LED will still blow you away – and in my eyes, it's the best alternative to OLED.

And the comparison below is proof of that. The OLED's deep black levels are genuinely phenomenal, and while the mini-LED strays far behind due to blooming, it was still great enough for me to enjoy content – and that's even better when you throw in the benefit of very high brightness.

It's also worth noting that there's no worry of burn-in, unlike OLED monitors. It's been a breath of fresh air not to baby my Alienware display with OLED care and pixel refreshes. In some ways, you can almost say that makes mini-LED the better choice, as you're getting the best of the 'brightness world', while still taking some benefits of great contrast – and with an OLED, you're mostly getting the best of the latter.

Yes, multiple OLED monitors like the AW3423DWF can utilize HDR1000, and OLEDs are about to get brighter with True Black HDR1000 VESA certifications. However, my display has a very aggressive Automatic Brightness Limiter (ABL), which kicks in when trying to use HDR1000, and I've not had to deal with that on the Mobile Pixels ultrawide.

It's taught me to respect mini-LED monitors, which I once saw as too low of a step down from OLED, and I'd very much consider using one in a multi-display setup.

Top monitor is OLED, bottom is mini-LED (Image credit: Future / Isaiah Williams)

I'm very pleased with Mobile Pixels' decision to place the ports of the monitor directly on its rear, instead of the underside like most monitors do. I get that this is done to avoid strain on cables standing upright and prevent any damage, but it's so easy and convenient to reach if you need to unplug or plug any of them – and it's super beneficial if you have a cramped desktop setup like me.

The 90W USB-C reverse charging port is a welcome addition, and I could use it to charge other devices – and I really saw the benefit of this since I have tons of devices occupying power sockets.

It features 4-array microphones with DNC noise reduction, but no matter what I tried, I couldn't my PC wouldn't recognize this, so I had no luck with testing there.

Rear of Mobile Pixels 34-inch mini-LED ultrawide

(Image credit: Future / Isaiah Williams)

The RGB lighting is decent enough, but not bright enough to appreciate. I won't knock the monitor down for this, though. Most monitors I've used don't have RGB lighting that stands out, except for the Philips Evnia displays that have a special Ambilight feature to sync content on the screen to its RGB lights.

Mobile Pixels 34-inch mini-LED ultrawide gaming monitor: Price & Availability

  • How much does it cost? $899.99 / around £660 / AU$1,370 without import costs
  • When is it available? Available now
  • Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia (shipping from the US)

The Mobile Pixels 34-inch mini-LED ultrawide monitor retails at $899.99 / around £660 / AU$1,730, and while this display's high brightness and contrast ratio have left me impressed, I think it should be much cheaper. Some OLED ultrawide monitors are currently cheaper and don't have issues like dark level smearing or ghosting.

It's not a bad monitor despite some of its issues, but I'd have been more fond of it if it didn't cost this much. Import fees will also bump up the cost if you're outside of the US, which makes its potential total price even more unappealing.

Fortunately, it gets a lot right, specifically within the region of HDR brightness and contrast; there's hardly any loss of detail when looking at bright scenery in movies or games when at maximum brightness, so it's something to consider if you're looking to get your hands on it.

(Image credit: Future / Isaiah Williams)

Mobile Pixels 34-inch mini-LED ultrawide gaming monitor: Specs

Screen Size

34-inch

Aspect Ratio

21:9

Resolution

3440x1440

Brightness

450 nits (Min) 1000 nits (Max)

Contrast Ratio

1,000,000:1

Refresh Rate

180Hz

Color Accuracy

99% sRGB | 94% DCI-P3 | 99% Adobe RGB

Speakers

2x 5W Midrange, 1x 12W Bass

Microphone

4-array microphones with DSC noise reduction

Weight

18.51 lbs

Wall Mountable (VESA)

100 x 100 mm

FreeSync Premium technology

Yes

Power Consumption

Typ. 65W, Max. 270W

Panel Type

VA

Connections

2 × USB-A 3.0

1 × USB-C 3.1

2 × HDMI 2.0

1 × DP 1.4

1 × 3.5mm Audio out

Should you buy the Mobile Pixels 34-inch mini-LED ultrawide gaming monitor?

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Value

Plenty of high brightness to enjoy across movies, TV shows, and games, but could benefit from a slightly cheaper price tag.

3 / 5

Design

Bogged down by the mediocre speakers on the bottom of monitor, but is adequate in other areas.

3.5 / 5

Performance

Besides dark level smearing and ghosting, the high brightness with HDR 1000, significantly enhances visual experiences, standing as a great alternative to OLED.

4 / 5

Features

OSD needs an improvement, but a 180Hz refresh rate and USB-C 90W reverse charging port are a very welcome addition.

4 / 5

Average rating

The Mobile Pixels 34-inch mini-LED ultrawide would be much better with a lower retail price, repositioning of the speakers, and an IPS panel for less ghosting and smearing, but excels at high brightness for immersion, making it a good option for PC gamers.

3.5 / 5

Buy it if...

You desire an ultrawide with high brightness

The Mobile Pixels mini-LED monitor is ideal for those who crave bright and lively gaming experiences, with HDR1000 blending well with the 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio. It's best used in titles that are built for HDR.View Deal

You want to avoid burn-in care

While OLED is an easy choice at an affordable price, it's not for everyone, as there's always a risk of burn-in. OLED burn-in care has advanced, but not having to worry about the possibility at all with this mini-LED monitor is a big win.View Deal

You're upgrading from a regular LED monitor

The jump from a regular LED display to Mobile Pixels' mini-LED, is significant, and while it suffers a total loss to OLED deep black levels, it comes close enough while getting the best of brightness. View Deal

Don't buy if...

You're looking for a budget monitor

This monitor's biggest issue is its price, especially compared to OLEDs that are at the same price range or less expensive. It retails at $899.99, which is too high considering the issues it has with ghosting and smearing.View Deal

You prefer the best deep black levels

Like other mini-LED displays, the Mobile Pixels 34-inch mini-LED ultrawide gaming monitor does a great job with contrast, but it doesn't match up to OLED, which remains undefeated at producing the best contrast.View Deal

You find ghosting and smearing frustrating

If you're a competitive gamer or simply happen to notice dark level smearing and ghosting easily, you might want to reconsider purchasing this monitor. It's using a VA panel, so viewing angles and the response time aren't the best.View Deal

Also consider

Acer Predator X32QFS

If dark level smearing and ghosting are a big issue for you, and you don't mind a 4K mini-LED instead of an ultrawide, then the Acer Predator X32QFS should be on your radar. This features a mini-LED IPS panel, which handles ghosting much better, and compatibility for both PS5 and PC with HDMI 2.1.

Read our full Acer Predator X32QFS review

MSRP/RRP

£899.99 / AU$1,099 (No US availability)

Panel Size

31.5in

Panel type

Mini-LED IPS

Panel resolution

3840 x 2160p; 4K

Aspect ratio

16:9

Refresh rate

150Hz

Response time

0.5ms

Brightness

700 nits (native) / 1000 nits (peak HDR)

Contrast ratio

1000:1

HDR

VESA DisplayHDR 1000

Ports

1 x HDMI 2.1, 1 x DisplayPort 1.4, 1 x USB-C, 2 x USB-A, 1 x audio jack

Color gamut

99% Adobe RGB, 99% DCI-P3

Display colors

1.07 billion

Warranty

2-years

How I tested the Mobile Pixels 34-inch mini-LED ultrawide

  • Two weeks of usage on movies, TV shows, and games, notably titles that implement HDR well
  • Some examples are Assassin's Creed Shadows, Street Fighter 6, Dragon's Dogma 2, Resident Evil 4 remake, and Cyberpunk 2077
  • Multiple contrast tests and comparisons with Alienware AW3423DWF OLED ultrawide monitor

Throughout my two weeks of testing, especially when gaming, I had plenty of fun with the Mobile Pixels 34-inch monitor, and put my OLED monitor aside as a secondary display. Despite the drawbacks of blooming and ghosting, it was easy to enjoy bright content without losing much detail.

Testing Stellar Blade, Assassin's Creed Shadows, and Cyberpunk 2077 first left great initial impressions, specifically in Cyberpunk 2077, where neon lights and vivid streets provide exceptional visuals on any display, but it took things up a notch. The ghosting issues became far more noticeable when using Frame Generation in Cyberpunk 2077 and Dragon's Dogma 2, and even more so in fast-paced FPS games like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.

Placing this next to Dell's Alienware OLED monitor, allowed me to point out the mini-LED monitor's drawbacks more easily. However, in terms of deep black levels, I was impressed with the Mobile Pixels 34-inch display, with just how close it can get to OLED, albeit still quite far off.

I used it for work and multitasking, which proved to be beneficial, in comparison to OLED, which notoriously has readability issues – and the mini-LED was a breeze to use while deep into productivity.

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