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iQOO 15 to receive five years of OS updates

10:09 am | November 11, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Tags: OS | Comments: Off

The iQOO 15, which launched in China last month, is set to arrive in India on November 26. Ahead of its debut, a new report has surfaced revealing details about the flagship’s software support. According to the report, the iQOO 15 will receive five years of OS updates and seven years of security patches. Considering the phone is set to ship with Android 16-based OriginOS 6, users can expect software support up to Android 20. The move sets a new benchmark for iQOO flagships. Notably, iQOO recently extended the software support on the iQOO 12 from three to four years of OS...

I’ve been a PC gamer for decades, and the Alienware Aurora gaming desktop is the only gaming PC you need

12:48 am | October 28, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Gadgets Gaming Computers Gaming PCs | Tags: CPU, GPU, OS, PC | Comments: Off

Alienware Aurora (ACT1250): Two-minute review

When the rebooted Alienware Aurora R16 launched some years ago, we praised it as a capable pre-built gaming desktop that balanced a unique design with capable performance.

This time around, the Alienware Aurora gaming desktop (ACT1250) brings the same distinctive and compact design that feels more office-friendly, yet still has that Alienware flair, thanks to its sleek aesthetic.

Starting at $1,399.99 / £1,699 / AU$2,798.40, the Aurora delivers solid performance across the configuration stack, though higher-spec configurations will obviously see the best performance. It also features some really clever ventilation alongside easy access to its internals, though the interior is rather uninspiring.

For many, the proprietary motherboard and limited upgradability, once configured, are also slightly problematic.

All that said, one thing that just might make this the best gaming PC around is the wide variety of configurations on offer, split between RTX 5060, RTX 5060 Ti, RTX 5070, RTX 5070 Ti, and RTX 5080 GPUs, and Intel Core Ultra 7 and Core Ultra 9 CPUs, with lots of options for storage and memory.

My $2,049.99 / £2,148.98 / AU$3,699.30 review build came packed with an Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF, Nvidia RTX 5070, 32GB DDR5 RAM, and 1TB SSD. That’s just enough for 1440p gaming at respectable frame rates, though our benchmarks showed that there hasn’t been much of a framerate gain in many games over the Aurora R16 from 2023.

An Alienware Aurora gaming desktop on a desk with a view of the Aurora branding — (Image credit: Future / Ural Garrett)

However, the latest models can play more recently released games like Doom: The Dark Ages and Black Myth: Wukong at good frame rates if settings expectations are managed.

On the other hand, a game like Cyberpunk 2077, which was already fairly old back in 2023, doesn’t gain significant FPS with the 50-series GPU either, unless you use multi-frame generation, which can sometimes introduce a distracting input latency under heavy load.

That said, the new RTX GPUs do feature better AI upscaling through DLSS 4, and the Alienware Command Center app does help a bit when attempting to fine-tune performance.

Other customization options, such as the various RGB lighting settings for the power button, light ring, and other lights, can be managed through the app, too.

Right now, the Aurora R16 remains a striking desktop that blends futuristic design with solid performance, but its limited, post-purchase upgradability and plain interior may disappoint enthusiasts. And while the new 50-series GPUs bring improved AI upscaling and reliable 1440p gameplay, raw framerate gains over the previous generation are modest.

However, for gamers who prioritize style, customization, and dependable out-of-the-box performance, the Alienware Aurora gaming desktop (ACT1250) still stands as one of the best pre-built options on the market.

Alienware Aurora (ACT1250): Price & availability

An Alienware Aurora gaming desktop on a desk from a top-down angle — (Image credit: Future / Ural Garrett)

How much does it cost? Starting at $1,399.99 / £1,699 / AU$2,798.40
When is it available? It is on sale now
Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia

The Alienware Aurora (ACT1250) gaming PC is available now in the US, UK, and Australia, starting at $1,399.99 / £1,699 / AU$2,798.40.

My review configuration costs $2,099.99 / £2,198.98 / AU$3,749.30, and is built for solid 1440p performance, though there are cheaper and more expensive builds available that target 1080p and 4K gaming.

The cheapest option for US buyers is a rig featuring an Intel Core Ultra 7 265F, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060, 16GB RAM, and 1TB SSD for some quality 1080p gaming, while those looking for a more maxed-out gaming desktop can get an Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, Nvidia RTX 5080, 64GB, and up to 8TB (2x4TB) SSD storage.

My review configuration is actually cheaper than the 2023 Aurora gaming desktop that featured the mid-tiered 40-series of Nvidia’s GPU by around $100, so the price of the Aurora desktop hasn't really gone up.

Despite the new CPU and GPU, though, benchmarks aren’t necessarily better, which means users could find a mid-tier 40-series version of the gaming desktop somewhere for cheaper and get roughly the same native performance, so the biggest draw here is the multi-frame generation.

Value: 4.5 / 5

Alienware Aurora (ACT1250): Specs

Alienware Aurora (ACT1250) specs
	Base configuration	Review configuration	Max configuration
Price	$1,399.99 / £1,699 / AU$2,798.40	$2,099.99 / £2048.99 / AU$3,498	$4,009.99 / £4,410.19 / AU$5,663.90
OS	Windows 11 Home	Windows 11 Home	Windows 11 Pro
CPU	Intel Core Ultra 7 265F	Intel Core Ultra 7 265F	Intel Core Ultra 9 285F
GPU	Nvidia RTX 5060	Nvidia RTX 5070	Nvidia RTX 5080
Memory	16GB DDR5-5200	32GB DDR5-5200 (16GB in Australia)	64GB DDR5-6400 (32GB DDR5-5200 in Australia)
SSD	1TB SSD	1TB SSD	2 x 4TB SSD (8TB total, 1TB in Australia)
PSU	500W	1000W	1000W
CPU Cooling	Air Cooler	240mm AIO Liquid Cooler	240mm AIO Liquid Cooler
Chassis	Solid side panel	Clear side panel	Clear side panel

With a wide array of configuration options on offer with the latest Nvidia RTX 50-series and Intel Core Ultra 200-series chips, you won't have any trouble configuring a system to your specific performance needs.

The lack of easy upgradability once you have the system in hand, though, does take away from the overall package, but for a prebuilt system, it's hard to beat.

Specs: 4 / 5

Alienware Aurora (ACT1250): Design

An Alienware Aurora gaming desktop on a desk seen from the front — (Image credit: Future / Ural Garrett)

No major design changes from last year's model
Plenty of ventilation and easy access to internals
Rather boring internals make the glass panel less appealing

The 2025 refresh of the Alienware Aurora gaming desktop carries forward the Alienware Aurora R16’s familiar strengths and weaknesses, setting the stage for its enhanced cooling and port design.

This includes the extensive cooling and ventilation system, which combines a side hexagonal array, top exhaust, and front stadium intake. According to Alienware, this makes the desktop around 20 percent quieter and about seven percent cooler than the Alienware Aurora R15.

Beyond the looks is a rig that also offers plenty of ports in both the front and rear, which should serve users of all kinds, from content curators to the most serious gaming enthusiasts.

The front ports include a global 3.5mm headset jack, three USB-A ports, and one USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) with PowerShare technology. In the rear, there’s a line-in and line-out port, optical audio port, two USB-C ports, four USB-A ports, and a 2.5 gigabit Ethernet port. Unfortunately, there’s no six-channel 3.5mm audio connection for those who want surround sound set-ups.

It doesn’t help that the cramped space inside will make it difficult for anyone who wants to add something like a sound card into the mix. That extends to how hard it’ll be to upgrade to bigger GPUs in the future as well. At least access to the inside is made easy through one simple screw and latch.

All together, the latest Aurora gaming desktop keeps the sleek, futuristic look of its predecessor while delivering improved cooling, quieter operation, and a wide range of ports. However, limited internal space and upgrade challenges remain its biggest drawbacks, making it best suited for gamers who prioritize style and ready-made performance over long-term expandability.

Design: 4.5 / 5

Alienware Aurora (ACT1250): Performance

An Alienware Aurora gaming desktop on a desk seen from the side — (Image credit: Future / Ural Garrett)

1440p performance doesn’t significantly improve over the 40-series edition
Alienware Command Center can help fine-tune performance
Higher-spec or base-spec configurations provide a better value

When looking at the performance of the latest iteration of the Alienware Aurora gaming desktop, the 1440p performance of my review unit looks and feels very impressive, but if you look back to the 2023 benchmarks on this system's predecessor, the refreshed CPU and GPU pairing doesn’t translate into a dramatic leap in raw power.

CPU benchmarks
	Alienware Aurora ACT1250	NZXT Player PC	Lenovo Legion Tower 5
Geekbench 6 (Single)	3,071	3,081	2,594
Geekbench 6 (Multi)	20,010	18,984	13,554
Cinebench R23 (Single)	2,257	2,263	1,693
Cinebench R23 (Multi)	35,446	35,226	17,376
Cinebench R24 (Single)	136	137	104
Cinebench R24 (Multi)	1,979	1,923	934
Crossmark Overall	2,301	2,298	1,846
Crossmark Productivity	2,152	2,159	1,734
Crossmark Creativity	2,548	2,495	2,127
Crossmark Responsiveness	2,069	2,166	1,454

For instance, Cyberpunk 2077, which remains one of the most demanding titles despite its 2020 release, manages only about 16fps at native 4K on the older build, and with the new Core Ultra 7 and RTX 5070 combo, performance nudges only slightly higher to 17fps. That makes DLSS upscaling essential, though even then, don’t expect substantial gains in titles from the past couple of years.

In more recent tests, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II averaged below 30fps at 1440p max settings (rising to roughly 40-50fps with DLSS), while Doom: The Dark Ages delivered 40-50fps with path tracing enabled.

Meanwhile, Forza Motorsport (2023) held a steady 60fps at 1440p with ray tracing on, maintaining the same level with DLSS active. One great thing about the 50-series is that DLSS 4 does a much better job at preventing (or at least greatly reducing) the ghosting effect that has plagued upscaling tech since the beginning.

GPU benchmarks
	Alienware Aurora ACT1250	NZXT Player PC	Lenovo Legion Tower 5
3DMark Fire Strike	44,913	45,049	43,845
3DMark Steel Nomad	5,224	4,967	5,495
3DMark Speed Way	5,741	5,855	5,960
3DMark Port Royal	14,062	14,139	14,302

One factor that can boost CPU performance is the option to choose between air or liquid cooling, which not only supports higher frame rates but also helps extend the overall lifespan of the components.

Another way to boost frame rates is through the Alienware Command Center app that comes pre-installed. Here, users can customize settings for games, change performance settings, and customize the RGB lighting too.

Gaming benchmarks (Average FPS)
	Alienware Aurora ACT1250	NZXT Player PC	Lenovo Legion Tower 5
Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p, Ultra preset)	69	70	72
Shadow of the Tomb Raider (1080p, Highest)	202	201	207
F1 2024 (1080p, Very High, DLSS Quality)	104	97	119
Total War: Warhammer III: Mirrors of Madness (1080p, Ultra)	181	182	172

Outside of gaming, the Aurora R16 handles creative tasks with ease. It smoothly manages Adobe Photoshop projects with multiple high-resolution layers with no slowdown, while 10-minute 1080p videos in Premiere Pro render and export in seconds, and 4K projects finish within just a few minutes.

This makes it a reliable option not only for gamers but also for content creators who need a system that balances performance across both worlds.

Though the Alienware Aurora ACT1250 may not deliver a massive performance leap over past generations, it refines the experience with smarter cooling, better DLSS support, and versatile software controls.

For gamers and creators alike, it remains a sleek, capable desktop that balances style with reliable all-around performance.

Performance: 4.5 / 5

Should I buy the Alienware Aurora (ACT1250)?

Alienware Aurora (ACT1250) gaming desktop scorecard
	Notes	Score
Value	The Alienware Aurora ACT1250 balances style and power across a wide range of price points. For gamers who value design and performance over long-term upgrades, it’s an easy recommendation.	4.5 / 5
Specs	With a lot of configuration options available and the most up-to-date hardware, you have a wide range of specs available with this PC. The proprietary motherboard and limited expandability isn't great though.	4 / 5
Design	Though there haven’t been any tweaks to the Aurora Desktop over the past couple of years, it still stands out as something futuristic despite issues with the proprietary motherboard, which limits upgradability in areas.	4.5 / 5
Performance	Don’t expect max settings at 1440p resolution without using DLSS upscaling, as native performance is good but not great compared to other mid-tier offerings. Those who want 1080p and 4K performance will be satisfied on that end of the spectrum for sure.	4.5 / 5
Final Score	The refreshed Alienware Aurora ACT1250 gaming desktopremains a futuristic-looking gaming desktop that delivers solid 1080p and 4K performance across price points, even if its mid-tier value and limited upgradability hold it back.	4.38 / 5

Buy the Alienware Aurora (ACT1250) if…

You want a gaming desktop with a stunning design
The sleek compact design blending an all-black colorway with smart RGB lighting feels so above what’s out there with other gaming desktops, and it’s backed by smart ventilation.

You need specific spec options for 1080p, 1440p and 4K gaming
Regardless of what potential buyers are looking for, there are a wide variety of performance options split between CPU, GPU, RAM and storage. Despite utilizing the Nvidia’s new 50-series of graphic cards, the prices remain respectable.

Don’t buy it if…

You want a desktop with a bit more space
The more compact gaming desktop may look fantastic, but while finding space for upgrades is possible, it’s limited.

You want the best 1440p performance
My benchmarks show that 1440p performance was only marginally better than the previous Aurora R16 with 40-series GPU, despite the upgrade to the newer RTX 5070.

Also Consider

If my Alienware Aurora (ACT1250) review has you considering other options, here are two gaming desktops to consider...

NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition)
With very similar specs to the Aurora ACT1250, the NZXT Player PC is a little cheaper than the Aurora PC I tested, but it has nowhere near the configurability of the Aurora either.

Read the full NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition) review

Lenovo Legion Tower 5 (2025)
The Lenovo Legion Tower 5 also features comparable specs to the Aurora ACT1250, as well as a similar starting price and a good degree of configurability, but its smaller chassis likewise makes expandability a challenge.

Read the full Lenovo Legion Tower 5 (2025) review

How I tested the Alienware Aurora gaming desktop (ACT1250)

I tested it using games like Doom: The Dark Ages, Ninja Gaiden Black II, Forza Motorsport (2023), and Senua's Saga: Hellblade II
I ran TechRadar's standard suite of PC benchmarks
I used creative software like Adobe Photoshop and Premiere Pro for long stretches

built-inOutside of the standard PC benchmarks I run for my reviews, including builkt-in gaming benchmarks in titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Black Myth: Wukong, I also tested modern games including Doom: The Dark Ages, Ninja Gaiden Black II, Forza Motorsport (2023), and Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II for its real-world gaming performance.

For day-to-day tasks, I used it as my day-to-day work PC for about two weeks, including extensive creative work through Adobe Photoshop and Premiere Pro.

Apple Vision Pro M5: Two-minute review

Even now, more than two years since Apple first launched its spatial computing revolution, the Apple Vision Pro remains the most advanced and, in some ways, exciting technology Apple has ever produced. There is simply nothing else like it in Apple's device portfolio – and it borrows a bit from all the other major product lines in that portfolio, from the iPhone and iPad to the Mac, and even the Apple Watch and AirPods Pro.

It's a full-blown computer that you wear on your face and which transports you to immersive inner (VR) and outer (AR) worlds, and even connects you to the world of work in a way that feels boundless.

@techradar
♬ original sound - TechRadar

The Apple Vision Pro is a mixture of premium materials, from glass to aluminum, tungsten, silicone, and foam and mesh fabrics. There is no way you can wear and experience it and not feel the almost fanatical attention to detail. Not a pixel, a byte, or a speck of silicone is out of place.

Much of what I learned when testing the original device for my Apple Vision Pro review a couple of years ago remains. In fact, the majority of all that premium hardware is unchanged. But in this new model, the powerful R1 chip, which takes all that information from the 12 cameras and creates the spatial experience, is now paired with a far more powerful engine: the Apple M5 processor.

Apple Vision Pro M5 REVIEW — It took me no time to setup the Vision Pro M5, because the interface and control metaphors are now so familiar to me. (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

This chip improves app-loading speeds, images transformed into a spatial, 3D experience, and widgets, and adds the horsepower necessary to stuff more pixels into the full experience. Apple hasn't updated its OLED stereo displays; it simply has a CPU that's now capable of taking full advantage of the display panels' capabilities. The new silicon is also far more efficient, virtually guaranteeing at least two hours of operation. and possibly three hours if you only watch video.

The other major change might be for many the most significant. There's now an included and fully-redesigned Dual Knit headband that finally spreads out and balances the headset's 600 grams of weight (most of which lives in the goggles) across your whole noggin. I can now wear the Vision Pro for two hours, and, when I remove it, not feel like my face is going to slide off my skull. It's a vast improvement.

The Vision Pro is still good at everything from spatial gaming to entertainment, immersion, blending your real world with the virtual, communication, and work. It's also still $3,499 / £3,199 / AU$5,999. To be honest, I'm shocked that Apple didn't make any sort of adjustment. After all, it's fairly clear that Apple will soon not be the only spatial game in town. Samsung (in partnership with Google and Qualcomm) is preparing Project Moohan.

At the very least, Apple should adjust the price of the new Vision Pro to reflect its age and the competitive landscape. Yes, it has the latest and greatest Apple silicon, but if Apple has any aspirations for the Vision Pro to become a popular consumer product, it needs to do something about the price.

It may also be time to acknowledge that there's a basic, human social barrier to wearing the Vision Pro around other people. No one in my house wants to talk to me when I wear it (the odd EyeSight representation of my eyes on the outside doesn't help), and the last thing we need in our sometimes too distracted and disconnected world is to be cut off from other people who are right there in the room with us.

I'm not necessarily arguing that the Vision Pro is not worth $3,500, but consumers have shown they won't plunk down that much money for something they may, for reasons listed above, only use occasionally.

Looking purely at the updates, though – the M5, visionOS 26, and that headband – this is a strong update for Vision Pro fans.

Apple Vision Pro M5: Price and availability

Still expensive

If you wear glasses you'll pay extra for inserts

The price does include an indispensable new headband

Apple unveiled its first major update to the Vision Pro wearable spatial computer on October 15, 2025, with the new model featuring the new M5 chip. Pricing and availability remain the same as for the original model. The headset starts at $3,499 / £3,199 with 256GB of storage. The new adjustable Dual Knit headband is included.

While we're still wowed by the technology, it's become clear in the last two years that consumers are not thrilled about the price of the Vision Pro, and are not purchasing it in droves. So, while we can see the dollars in the build, it's hard to justify that price for most consumers.

Value score: 3.5

Apple Vision Pro M5: What's in the box

The Vision Pro spatial, wearable computer
Battery with an attached cable
USB-C charging cable and adapter
Dual Knit Headband
Two light-seal cushions
A fabric cover
A polishing cloth

Apple Vision Pro M5: Specs

	Apple Vision Pro M5	Meta Quest 3	Meta Quest Pro
Dimensions	Est: 152 x 101 x 101mm / 6 x 4 x 4 inches	184 x 160 x 98mm / 7.2 x 6.3 x 3.9 inches	265 x 127 x 196mm / 10.4 x 5 x 7.7 inches
Weight	From 1.3lbs / 600g	1.14lbs / 515g	1.6lbs / 722g
Display	Dual mico-OLED	Two LCD displays	Two LCD displays
Display resolution	4K per eye (23 million pixels)	2064 x 2208 pixels per eye	1920 x 1080 per eye
FOV	Est 100-degree	110-degree horizontal, 96-degree vertical	120-degree
Refresh rate	90Hz, 96Hz, 120Hz	72Hz, 80Hz, 90Hz, 120Hz	90Hz
Chipset	Apple silicon M5, R1	Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2	Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2+
RAM	16GB	8GB	12GB
Storage	256GB, 512GB, 1TB	128GB or 512GB	256GB
Battery life	3 hours (rated for video)	2 hours 12 minutes	2 hours

Apple Vision Pro M5: Performance

M5 chip
R1 juggles the camera input for a full spatial experience
Everything is a little faster and all imagery is a bit crisper
That price should get you double the base storage

You can't really run benchmarks on the Vision Pro, but if you can imagine giving a sports car a tune-up and then taking it out on the open road you get a little bit of an idea of what it's like to switch from the Apple Vision Pro running the M2 chip to the new Apple Vision Pro M5.

Based on my nearly constant use over the last few days, it's clear the system is taking advantage of the increased number of cores and more powerful GPU (every GPU core has its own neural accelerator). There's faster memory storage, and the M5 is built on a 3-nanometer process, while the M2 was a 5nm process chip. That last bit is what makes the entire Vision Pro system more efficient and able to operate for over two hours in mixed use, and three hours if you only watch video.

This is a visual system, or rather a wearable visual system, and one of the most noticeable benefits of the new M5 silicon is the upgrade in visual quality in everything from photos and video to the Mac Virtual Display.

When I hooked up the Vision Pro to my MacBook Pro 14-inch I was instantly stunned by the visual quality. Gone was any graininess. My virtual, curved, ultra-wide display looked amazing, and it was a pleasure to work on for two hours and 10 minutes, at which point the battery ran out and my Vision Pro M5 shut down.

Performance score: 5

Apple Vision Pro M5: Design

Still premium materials and a top-notch build
It's still 600g on your face
External battery pack and cable

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By now, most people are familiar with the Vision Pro's mix of premium materials and ski-goggle design. The body is made of aluminum, magnesium, and carbon fiber. There's enough mesh fabric and fiber to make much of headset soft to the touch, and the part that touches your face is a foam-covered light-seal band (there's a slightly thicker spare one for more sensitive faces, and they attach to the headset via magnets). Under the glass front are main, side, and downward-facing cameras, and IR sensors.

Jutting out of the headset on each side are the thick stems that contain a pair of excellent spatial speakers (you can also use the headset with your AirPods). On one side is the proprietary, bayonet-style power-attachment port where you connect the 3/4-pound battery pack. Again, this is all the same as it was on the original Vision Pro.

There are vents in the body to move air through the system and keep it cool, and two buttons, or rather a button and a digital crown. The button is on the left side, and the digital crown, which can be pressed and turned, is on the right. While you will use these buttons occasionally, they're not entirely integral to the Vision Pro's operation; it's primarily a gaze and gesture-based control system.

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The biggest design change comes in the form of the new Dual Knit headband, which replaces the original knit band. Basically, these two bands are like cousins. The old knit band was designed to hug just the back of your head. It never provided enough support for me, so this time around I opted for the strappier dual-band, which provided a stretchy band to go over the top of my head. It uses Velcro, and I found it a bit fiddly to adjust to get the best fit.

The Dual Knit headband is like the old band in that it has a very similar knit design to the first one, but instead of one band, there are two knit bands. The tension of each one is controlled by a single knob. When pressed in, the knob tightens the back band, and when pulled out, it tightens the top. This offers just enough incremental control to deliver a near-perfect fit. It's a shame that Apple didn't figure this out two years ago, but I appreciate the update.

Design score 4.5

Apple Vision Pro M5: Set-up

There isn't too much of a set-up process for the Vision Pro. You have to find the right fit for the headband and, if you wear glasses and not contacts, you'll need to purchase Zeiss inserts (usually $99 / £99).

Since there's no integrated battery, one of the first things you'll do is charge the external battery pack via its USB-C port, and once that's done, you attach the proprietary cable to the headset.

As soon as you put it on, the headset powers up (there's no power button). You'll be asked to hold down the crown as this headset measures your pupil distance and adjusts the displays, and it also automatically recognizes the lens inserts if you have them.

There's nothing complicated here, and as someone who's used the Vision Pro for two years, it was all second nature to me.

During set-up, the Vision Pro works with you to ensure that all the gaze and gesture control is as precise as it needs to be. You go through a trio of tasks where you look at a circle of dots, and use your fingers to pinch each one.

Since there are cameras located along the bottom edge of the Vision Pro frame, it can see your hands and their gestures even when they're sitting on your lap. Basically, no wild gestures are needed to control the headset.

Set-up is also where you create your 'persona'. Not only has visionOS 26 radically improved the visual fidelity of these avatars, which now include the front and sides of your face, as well as your shoulders and hands, but the creation of them is now much faster and easier than it was in the early days of the Vision Pro.

As instructed, I took the headset off and pointed the front (and all those cameras) at my face. Because there are also displays embedded in the front of the Vision Pro, I could see a faint representation of my face dead-center on the screen (this helped me guide my framing). I was told to look forward, then left, right, and up and down before smiling with my mouth closed, then with my teeth, raising my eyebrows, and finally closing my eyes.

All of this took maybe 30 seconds, tops, before my shockingly realistic persona was ready for use. Oh, I forgot to say that I had to scan my face without glasses; fortunately, Apple lets you add a pair of frames of your choice to the persona.

Apple Vision Pro M5: Software and experience

Still excellent intuitive OS
visionOS 26 adds widgets, spatial scenes, and new controls
Virtual desktop transforms your workspace

It can be hard to explain just how intuitive the Vision Pro and visionOS 26 platform are to someone who's never worn one, or one of the growing generation of VR headsets and smart glasses.

The headset is designed to see everything around it, and the wearer inside it. It makes a near-perfect marriage between intention and action that can be conveyed with something as small as a glance, or as distinct as typing on a virtual keyboard.

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The most obvious way of accomplishing gesture-based tasks is invariably the answer in Vision Pro. If at any moment the wraparound interface objects seem out of reach, a long press of the digital crown brings them into frame.

VisionOS 26 also added a new Control Center gesture where I look at my palm, pinch my finger, and turn my hand over. I can then quickly access the full Control Center, Mac virtual display connection, or volume control. Oddly, this is the one gesture I sometimes struggled to remember, maybe because it's just a tiny bit more complicated than 95% of the other gestures on the system.

Intuitive as the interface is, Siri and artificial intelligence are not necessarily at the heart of it, as AI is promised to be in the upcoming spatial computer competition, Samsung's Project Moohan. That wearable is built around Google Gemini, making it an intrinsic part of the experience.

In the Vision Pro, Siri is an occasionally useful companion which doesn't know what you're looking at but can do some system-level tasks, like opening the home screen with a voice command.

Yes, Apple Intelligence works in the headset, and I did use it in Image Playground to generate silly images. There's also a ChatGPT Vision Pro app that works separately, but the Vision Pro doesn't feel like an AI wearable.

This is not to say that I don't find the Vision Pro incredibly useful and fun.

I had many experiences with it. I played ping pong against a robot on a virtual ping pong table superimposed onto the view of my home office.

I drew, or at least tried to draw, with Sketch Pro. It's a powerful, layer-ready illustration app with many tools and palette options, but I still found it difficult to precisely control the virtual drawing implement with just my fingertips. There is an option to connect an iPad and use the Apple Pencil, but then why not just draw without the headset?

I had tremendous fun, and a real workout, with Beat Punch Fun and Fitness, punching at floating squares while also dodging incoming walls – yes, it'll remind you of Beat Saber if you've ever played that. I played a little golf in the frustrating What the Golf? and drove a cartoon car poorly in What the Car?

Simply Piano was a pretty wild experience. I put a virtual piano on my desk and tried to learn how to play. I love how the system can attach virtual numbers to your fingertips so you know which finger to use for each key. Not having physical feedback of a real keyboard made the effort, at least for me, almost impossible. I hope to try it on a real keyboard in the future.

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I watched movies and HBO's Last Week Tonight with John Oliver and thought it looked incredibly crisp. The spatial audio means that, however I turned my head, the audio would always come from the spot where I placed the HBO Max screen.

Apple's immersive theater and content efforts hadn't captured my imagination previously, but I think Apple may have finally found the right mix of in-your-face immersion and documentary style with MotoGT Tour de Force. I've never watched a motocross race, but there was something about the French racer's story. Also, the moments when he's in the middle of a throng of fans gave me just a glimpse of what it must be like to face that level of adulation. It's a worthwhile 30-minute watch.

I've never been a big fan of widgets on a desktop, but I find them useful in visionOS 26. My virtual space has News, a clock, the remaining Vision Pro Battery Life, and Calendar all stacked on a wall to my left so I can glance at them at any time. On my right are the pinned widgets for Weather and Notes. They all look as if I'd pinned them to the wall.

VisionOS 26's ability to turn any photo into a spatial scene is truly impressive. I used it on my collection of New York Comic Con photos, where it turned the cosplay images into spectacular stereoscopic photos. Sadly, it's not something I can properly convey here on the 2D page.

One of my most eye-opening experiences was joining a group FaceTime meeting featuring four other people wearing Vision Pro headsets. We all appeared as our Personas in a group environment, and we could sit in a circle or for a presentation, all facing a floating screen. If someone stood up to present, their persona rose up. As we gestured and pointed, our hands appeared. At one point, we all examined a 3D object in the center, and any one of us could rotate and adjust it. Then one of us grabbed it and we started passing it from one virtual set of hands to another.

For remote workers, this could be a true game-changer.

Software and Experience score: 4.5

Should you buy the Apple Vision Pro M5?

Attributes	Notes	Rating
Value	Exquisite build and design, but still far too expensive for most people.	3.5
Performance	The M5 enhances most every aspect of operation, but the upgrades are subtle and not necessarily transformative. The efficiency and longer batter life is very welcome, though.	5/5
Design	Still an excellent design, and the materials are top notch. It's still heavy, but the new and included Dual Knit band finally makes the Vision Pro wearable for long stretches. We're now used to the external battery.	4.5/5
Software and Experience	VisionOS 26 only serves to enhance the already intuitive interface that connected your gestures and gaze with action, and it's a still unmatched window to a world of entertainment, communication, and utility. It's a shame that Siri and Apple Intelligence can't yet play a larger role here.	4.5/5

Buy it if...

Money is no object and you're ready to enter a whole new lane of computing

Yes, the Vision Pro is expensive, but once you use it you may stop arguing with the price. The latest software enhances the fun and utility, and the new headband makes it wearable for two hours or more.

You're an Apple fan who wants a spatial computer

The Vision Pro is deeply integrated into the Apple ecosystem, and brings all your software and services across your Apple products into one gesture and gaze-friendly space.

You want to experience the best of Apple silicon
Apple's best computer may, in fact, be the Vision Pro, which combines spatial computing (gesture and gaze control) with the fastest and best Apple silicon, the M5 chip. It's a fast and smooth experience that makes every operation, from the practical to the frivolous, effortless.

Don’t buy it if…

You're on a budget
The Vision Pro is an ultra-premium product that will cost you (even if you choose the monthly payment plan), and that price is why the majority of consumers are yet to adopt spatial computing.

You want an AI-centric experience
Apple has yet to complete Apple Intelligence, and Siri is just an okay digital companion for the headset. The Vision Pro may have a tough time competing when Project Moohan and its Gemini-centric system arrives.

Also consider

PlayStation VR 2
TechRadar Gaming called the PSVR 2 headset "an experience that’ll be well worth your hard-earned cash." If you have a PS5 already and want a VR headset, this is the headset to check out.

Check out TRG's PSVR 2 review

Meta Quest Pro
An excellent VR headset with great passthrough, mixed reality, and some hand-tracking that's also a fraction of the Vision Pro's price, and is supported by a well-baked ecosystem and a rich collection of apps.

Meta Quest 3
We call this the best VR headset for most people, and considering the far more affordable price and vast number of apps built specifically for the platform, this might be, even with less visual quality, be a more attainable and reasonable option than the Vision Pro.

Nreal Air AR Glasses
The Nreal Air AR Glasses are nothing like the Vision Pro (or any other VR headset, for that matter), but they're nevertheless an intriguing AR gadget that effectively offers you your own private theater viewing of whatever is happening on your connected device's screen. It's pretty neat, and potentially a great pick for commuters.

How we test

For my Apple Vision Pro M5 review I spent four days wearing and using the mixed-reality headset. I watched movies, played games, communicated with friends and co-workers, drew, played games, and did a lot of work on my giant MacBook Pro virtual display.

Honor MagicBook Art 14 2025: 30-second review

The Honor MagicBook Art 14 2025 is a direct update to last year's impressive MagicBook Art 14 2024, and as you would expect, it boosts almost every aspect of the specifications and performance.

The new model is just as slim and light; however, the performance takes a huge leap forward. When it comes to the performance, it's worth noting that the "Art" is more in the name rather than indicating a creative focus for its use.

The ultrabook's slimline profile and weight are key features, which meant that throughout the review period I was able to take it comfortably with me without it adding too much weight or bulk; an additional kilo really doesn't feel like a great deal in a backpack.

There's also the build quality to consider, which once again feels good and robust. The main chassis is made from aerospace-engineered magnesium alloy, while the keyboard utilises titanium. The ceramic-style surface also gives the machine one of the best aesthetic finishes I have seen, especially with the way it reflects the light.

Away from the build and style of the machine, the performance is equally impressive. Although the "Art" label is once again a little confusing, this really refers to the art of the machine rather than it being aimed at the creative market, such as the ASUS ProArt series.

This laptop is aimed at those looking for a high-end office, lifestyle or general machine that looks great and has a decent amount of power to match.

Through the benchmark and real-world tests, the high-level performance became apparent, and there was no doubt about just how good the new Intel Core Ultra CPUs are. Microsoft Office apps ran quickly, with the high-resolution display affording greater screen real estate for spreadsheets and Word documents. Likewise, utilising cloud-based office applications proved strong with a stable internet connection.

Used for general office work, the machine is exemplary, keeping up with demands placed on it as well as enabling superb audio for media playback. The integrated Arc graphics handled all day-to-day tasks with ease, although it did start to struggle under more intensive tasks such as video production and gaming.

However, as an office-focused machine that's slimline, lightweight and looks great, there is little to fault in one of the best ultrabooks (and best-looking) on the market.

HONOR MagicBook Art 14 2025: Price & availability

How much does it cost? $950 / £950
When is it out? Available soon
Where can you get it? Widely available

The Honor MagicBook Art 14 2025 will be available soon with several different iterations. No US pricing is available yet, but in the UK, it's retailing for £1499.99.

You can check it out on Honor's official site by clicking here.

Value: 4 / 5

Honor MagicBook Art 14 2025: Design

Specifications

CPU: Intel Core Ultra 5 225H / Ultra 7 255H
Graphics: Intel Arc Graphics 140T (integrated)
RAM: 32 GB LPDDR5x
Storage: 1 TB or 2 TB SSD
Left Ports: Webcam dock, USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, Thunderbolt 4
Right Ports: USB‑A 3.2, HDMI 2.1, 3.5 mm audio
Connectivity: Wi‑Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3
Audio: 6-speaker setup, DTS spatial audio
Camera: 1080p removable magnetic webcam
Size: 316.8 × 223.6 × 11.3 mm
Weight: 1.03 kg
OS installed: Windows 11 Home
Accessories: USB-C charger, cable, webcam, documentation

The quality of the build, style, design and materials really do stand out. Like the previous version that offered an attractive matte green surface, my review sample of the Art 2025 features a white ceramic finish that accents colours in different environments. It's instantly striking, sometimes looking like a flat colour and other times as though there's a gradient.

The size and weight of ultrabooks are always important factors, and here the machine measures 316.77 x 223.63mm x 11.5mm and weighs approximately 1.03kg, much the same as the previous version. Once again, the chassis is made from aerospace-grade magnesium alloy with a triangular topology that helps provide the strength of the design. Titanium alloy is used for the keyboard, and there's an aluminium alloy fan inside, helping to keep the components cool while also keeping the weight down.

Around the edges of the machine, there's a small but good selection of ports including USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, USB4/Thunderbolt 4, USB-A 3.0, HDMI 2.1 and 3.5mm audio jack.

The screen is one of the big features of this machine. At 14.6 inches with a resolution of 3120x2080, it's also a touchscreen and offers a massive 1600 nits of brightness, making it a great solution for use at a café or other outdoor venue.

While the laptop isn't designed for creative use, it still offers decent colour accuracy with 100% DCI-P3, 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio and 60/120Hz refresh rate.

Another feature I liked in the previous model that once again appears here is the removable webcam. This inserts into the side of the laptop and can be removed and popped on top as required. This means there's no break in the screen or thick bezel to house the camera, it's a great solution and one that obviously increases security as well.

On biometrics, the laptop features a dedicated fingerprint recognition key in the top right of the keyboard, enabling fast access when needed.

Design: 5 / 5

Honor MagicBook Art 14 2025: Features

Delving into the features of this ultrabook, there's a little bit more to this machine than most. Firstly, there's the ultra-slim design that houses the Intel Core Ultra 7 Processor 255H and integrated Intel Arc 140T GPU. The machine is available in a series of configurations depending on your needs, with the review sample featuring a 1TB SSD and 32GB of LPDDR5x 8400MT/s.

One of the fetaures that I liked when I reviewed the precious version was the small detachable magnetic webcam. While the quality is relatively low at 2.1MP and a maximum resolution of 1920 x 1080, this is more than enough for most conference calls. What I do like is that it can also be placed to face forward or backwards.

The screen is superb and fully touchscreen, and the hinge has been designed to enable easy one-hand opening and offers a good range of movement, although it won't lie fully flat.

In use, complementing the screen are the six small DTS audio speakers that give good depth of sound in line with other premium laptops.

Despite the sleek design, the keyboard and touchpad are full-sized, with only the up and down cursor key half sized. The touchpad is also large and responsive, with several preset gestures for volume, brightness, screenshots and more.

Alongside the impressive array of features, there's enough processing potential to take the workflow beyond spreadsheets. As this machine offers the latest AI-enabled CPU, it can handle more than most machines of this size. HONOR has ensured the internal cooling can cope and it stays impressively quite at just 3dB.

Overall, when it comes to features, from aesthetics, build materials to ports and connectivity, this is a machine clearly focused on those looking for a premium work laptop with plenty of power.

Features: 5 / 5

Honor MagicBook Art 14 2025: Performance

CrystalDiskMark Read: 7114.89MB/s
CrystalDiskMark Write: 6352.79MB/s
Geekbench CPU Multi: 2659
Geekbench CPU Single: 13615
Geekbench GPU: 32073
PCMark Overall: 5752
Cinebench CPU Multi: 14375
Cinebench CPU Single: 1970
Fire Strike Overall: 8436
Fire Strike Graphics: 9128
Fire Strike Physics: 27605
Fire Strike Combined: 3233
Time Spy Overall: 4323
Time Spy Graphics: 3933
Time Spy CPU: 9884
Wild Life Overall: 25169
Steel Nomad Overall: 839
Windows Experience Overall: 8.4

From the outset, the MagicBook Art 14 2025 impressed, especially with Windows 11 Home edition installed as standard. Opening apps and general use felt fast and responsive, and the quality of the screen and touchscreen responsiveness stood out.

One aspect that impressed me was the power of the small speakers, that despite the slim chassis, they delivered a decent depth of sound.

Opening large spreadsheets, I found that the increased resolution enabled easier viewing of more content than expected from a laptop this size. The screen throughout is a strong feature, with the 1600 nits maximum brightness allowing it to be seen in most situations, even outside a café. However, as is common with office-focused machines, the reflective surface did reduce visibility in bright environments.

For office and Windows-based tasks, including web browsing and multimedia playback, this machine performs as well as any I've used. This was reflected in a Windows Experience score of 8.4, one of the highest I've recorded.

RAM and storage are well balanced, and during testing, the machine easily handled switching between multiple apps. When using CapCut to edit a quick video, the speed of the SSD really stood out. While it doesn't quite reach PCIe 5.0 speeds, with read speeds of 7114MB/s and write speeds of 6352.79MB/s, it is still one of the fastest laptop SSDs I've used, this also means it boots up exceptionally fast.

As I started to push the system further, the CPU performance boost became clear. The Cinebench Multi result of 14375 showed that CapCut, Lightroom and Photoshop were all handled easily. Even with multiple layers and high-resolution images from the Canon EOS R5 C, performance remained good. However, storage became an issue, and I needed an external SSD. Fortunately, the Thunderbolt 4 port enables ultrafast SSDs, such as the LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5, to be connected.

Impressed by the image enhancement, I moved on to video editing. iPhone 15 Pro 4K footage was handled well in CapCut, allowing fast social media edits with some complexity. However, switching to Log3 footage from a Sony A7 IV pushed the machine to its limits, and performance began to falter.

Having reached the limits for work, I tested a few games. I was initially surprised that Indiana Jones and the Great Circle loaded, but while initially playable, there were plenty of dropped frames and frequent crashes. Other newer titles also struggled, though I did manage a round of DiRT Rally.

When pushed, the fans do kick in, but they remain well-balanced and quiet.

The final note is on the 60W battery, which provided around 4 to 6 hours during multimedia, office and light creative work. For pure office use, I'd expect closer to the quoted 10 hours. Gaming would naturally yield much less.

Performance: 4.5 / 5

HONOR MagicBook Art 14 2025: Final verdict

The Honor MagicBook Art 14 2025 is an impressive ultrabook that will suit anyone looking for a powerful, premium machine for office and general use.

The aesthetics are stunning, and I think that this is one of the best-looking ultrabooks available, with a slimline design and lightweight build that means it will easily slip into a backpack or laptop bag without adding much bulk.

In the office or on the move, there are plenty of connectivity options, and while there's no network port, Wi-Fi speed and signal strength proved impressive during testing.

In use, the screen really impressed with its large, bright, crisp display and touchscreen functionality. I just wish it would fold flat or, better yet, fold over to be used as a straight tablet.

The power for most tasks is impressive. As long as you don't plan on playing the latest games or editing high-bitrate, high-resolution video, it can handle most creative applications. When it comes to Windows and Microsoft Office, this laptop handles everything with ease with the best Windows Experience score I've seen which was ultimately reflected in the real world use.

If you're after a premium ultrabook, the MagicBook Art 14 2025 is a great option.

Should I buy a HONOR MagicBook Art 14 2025?

Value	A premium laptop with a price and build quality to match	4
Design	The materials ensure that the laptop remains lightweight and strong, with one of the nicest finishes I've seen	5
Features	A strong set of features for a powerful laptop for general use, while remaining compact	5
Performance	Keeping in mind this is a high-performance office machine, it supplies power where needed	4.5
Overalls	Outstanding machine for office and general use with a great look and premium feel	4.5

Buy it if...

You need a work-focused machine.

Everything from the premium build to the hardware configuration has been optimised for business use and portability.

You need something small and ultra-light

The fact that this laptop is so thin and light makes it ultra-portable, yet it still offers good levels of connectivity.

Don't buy it if...

You're a creative

While this machine packs plenty of power, it shouldn't be seen as a creative option, as that integrated GPU and the storage will struggle.

You want to play games.

Again, while the Intel Arc graphics are exceptionally good for all-around use, they lack the power required for modern gaming.

For more professional picks, we've reviewed the best business computers and best business laptops around.

Samsung Galaxy A07 (4G) unveiled with Helio G99, 6 years of OS updates

3:27 pm | August 25, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Tags: OS | Comments: Off

Without much fanfare, Samsung launched the Galaxy A07. This model deserved better than such a quiet launch as it brings several important upgrades that will extend the longevity compared to its predecessor, the Galaxy A06. Samsung Galaxy A07 (4G) The Samsung Galaxy A07 is powered by the Helio G99, which may be old, but it is a major improvement over the 12nm G85 that was in last year’s model. This chip is fabbed on a newer 6nm node and features a newer architecture with Cortex-A76 CPU cores and Mali-G57 MC2 GPU (vs. A55 and G52). Even better, the A07 launches with Android...

I tested Ulefone’s budget-friendly Armor X16 Pro and discovered a rugged smartphone perfect for outdoor adventures

4:02 pm | August 16, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Gadgets | Tags: CPU, OS, RAM | Comments: Off

Ulefone Armor X16 Pro: 30-second review

I started this test not overly taken with the colour scheme of this phone, although I did really like the textured surface on the back as well as the overall aesthetic. It was more the brown, gold and black colour scheme; however, I was pleased to see that alongside this colour profile, there is also a pure black version, which looks amazing.

As I looked through the specifications, it came with all the usual rugged credentials, which is great to see, meaning that I could drop and submerge the phone in water as I pleased. Whatever the conditions, I could be sure that the phone would survive, making it a great option for use in the field on photographic projects.

The only issue is that this is the middle of summer, and outside temperatures are topping 30 °C, so there are few puddles to drop the phone into. I did my best to drop the phone, finding what was left of a stream of stream in order to test just how waterproof it was, alongside the usual performance test using various Google applications, media creation and games to test out the full spectrum of uses for the mobile phone.

From the outset, it was apparent that for general use, this phone was perfectly optimised. What I really liked was the large screen, which had a decent brightness up to 900 nits, meaning that even in the abnormally bright conditions we have here in the UK at present, scrolling through documents and reading content online was possible. Whilst the screen is reflective, that brightness just cuts through the reflections enough to easily make out what is on screen.

I also found the 5G connection was good and robust, and whilst most of the test was carried out on a 4G connection, popping up to the local town of Salisbury proved that it could cope with good, fast network connections, providing decent transfer rates and speeds.

Call clarity also seemed good. Even when used out in the New Forest, where there was little to no signal, voice calls came through clearly, and I was impressed by the clarity of the small internal speaker.

That speaker proved to be exceptionally good for watching back media and listening to music, although it isn't quite the quality of a decent consumer smartphone.

One area that suffered slightly was gaming, as highlighted by the benchmarking results. Through all of the 3DMark benchmarks, including Steel Nomad, Wild Life and Sling Shot, frame rates were slightly reduced compared with more expensive models with many of the more intensive games highlighting the mid performance GPU. Need for Speed: Asphalt ran absolutely fine; however, if you want to play Call of Duty, this might not be the best option for you.

For the most part, performance was excellent. One area that really stood out was the cameras, which were lower in megapixels compared with many rugged smartphones that top out at 200 million pixels. Here, the 64 million-pixel Sony-backed camera produced excellent results, far better than I would usually expect. Crossing over to video, the clarity of the visuals was equally impressive.

The audio quality of the video recordings varied greatly depending on whether you were recording with the rear or front camera. Oddly, filming with the rear camera captured far better vocals than when using the front-facing selfie camera.

Overall, after using this phone for a few weeks, I was generally impressed by the overall performance - it's up there with the best rugged phones I've used. As long as you are thinking about using this for work situations where a standard consumer phone would struggle due to the physical demands placed on them, or alternatively it's a great option for adventuring.

Ulefone Armor X16 Pro: Price & availability

How much does it cost? $279 / £206
When is it out? Now
Where can you get it? Widely available

The Ulefone Armor X16 Pro is widely available and can be purchased at US$279 / £206 from the Ulefone official site by clicking here.

I'm also seeing with major online retailers including Amazon.com for $230 at time of review, and £230 on Amazon.co.uk.

Value: 4 / 5

Ulefone Armor X16 Pro: Design

Specifications

CPU: MediaTek Dimensity 6300
Graphics: Mali-G57 MC2
RAM: Up to 16 GB (plus 8 GB extended virtual)
Storage: 256 GB ROM, microSD up to 2 TB
Ports: USB-C (33 W), dual-SIM slot, Waterproof-plugged ports for charging/audio
Connectivity: 5 G, dual-SIM, IR blaster, NFC & Google Pay
Audio: Mono speaker (rugged) + front camera microphone
Camera: Rear 64 MP (Sony IMX682, f/1.9), 25 MP night vision (Sony IMX550), 2 MP macro; Front: 16 MP Samsung
Size: 173.78 × 83.4 × 17.95 mm
Weight: 394.5 g
OS: Android 15 with Google Gemini AI assistant, AI Recorder, Widevine L1
Accessories: 33 W charger included, optional rugged case/holster/mounts available

The design of the Ulefone Armor X16 Pro really stands out, with its textured back, brown and gold accents, and an aesthetic that is also available in pure black. It gives a slightly sci-fi-inspired and decidedly rugged look inline many other rugged smartphones on the market.

I have to say, this particular phone feels a lot more comfortable in the hands. Although it’s still quite wide and large, it is a decent proportion for most people’s grip.

The weight is also well balanced considering the size of the internal battery and the robustness of the device, which makes it far more usable than many of its larger alternatives.

In terms of size and weight, measuring 173.78 × 83.4 × 17.95 mm, it can easily slip into a jacket or pocket without adding too much bulk. Considering it weighs 394.5 g, it isn’t overly heavy either.

On the front, the phone is dominated by the large 6.56-inch screen with a 120 Hz refresh rate. Integrated into the screen is the selfie camera, which offers a 16 million-pixel sensor, perfect for video calls and vlogs.

On the back, the octagon-shaped cluster of cameras features a 64 million-pixel main camera, a 25 million-pixel night camera and a 2 million-pixel macro camera. There’s also a built-in LED flash, which is handy when camping, as well as a standard camera light.

One of the main features of any rugged smartphone is its rugged credentials, and the phone offers IP69K, IP68 and MIL-STD-810H certification, meaning that it is waterproof, dustproof and drop proof, as tested in this review.

It’s also nice to see that outputs such as the 3.5 mm headphone socket and USB-C data/charging port are both covered with secure rubber flaps.

On the left-hand side of the handset, as you look at the screen, there is a TF/SIM card slot with space for two SIMs and a microSD card to expand storage. Below this is a customisable button that you can assign to different apps. Over on the right-hand side are the volume toggle, power button and biometric fingerprint recognition button. That’s all, keeping it nice and simple.

Design: 5 / 5

Ulefone Armor X16 Pro: Features

The Armor X16 Pro sits at the entry level of rugged smartphones, yet despite that, it packs in plenty of features to suit most people looking for a phone that can survive more than a standard consumer unit.

Some of the key features highlighted by Ulefone for this smartphone include a dedicated flashlight, which is great if you’re working outdoors and need a torch to throw a decent spread of light.

Powering the phone is a 10,360 mAh battery that offers 33 W fast charging and 5 W reverse charging, so not only does it power the phone, but it can also give other devices a boost.

Inside there’s a MediaTek Dimensity 6300 eight-core CPU with a 6 nm advanced process and clock speed of up to 2.4 GHz, including Cortex-A76 gaming cores. This is partnered with a Mali-G57 MC2 GPU. There’s also up to 16 GB of RAM, 8 GB on board and a further 8 GB accessible through dynamic RAM.

For storage, there’s 256 GB of ROM, which can be expanded up to 2 TB using a separately purchased microSD card.

On the back of the phone is the octagon design cluster of cameras detailed in the Build and Handling section, offering decent quality far beyond most other smartphones of this type.

Dominating the front of the phone is the 6.56-inch IPS display with a 720 × 1612 resolution, 120 Hz refresh rate and 910 nits of brightness. This is protected by Gorilla Glass 5, which in testing proved to be exceptionally tough.

Tying all the hardware together is Android 15. The version on this phone is relatively lightweight, so it’s not bogged down by proprietary apps, and also features the latest Google Gemini, so you can use the phone’s AI potential, including the AI Recorder, which is a handy additional feature.

Surprisingly this phone is also Widevine L1 certified, meaning it has full digital rights management certification, enabling you to stream higher quality from major providers such as Disney+ and Netflix. For an entry-level rugged smartphone, the visuals and audio quality are surprisingly good.

Features: 3.5 / 5

Ulefone Armor X16 Pro: Performance

Getting started with the smartphone, the first thing I did was check the reception quality. Putting it side-by-side against an iPhone 15 Pro on the Vodafone network, the Armor X16 Pro actually proved to have better reception with four bars over the iPhone’s three.

When it came to browsing the internet, where the iPhone 15 Pro was slow to respond, page load speed on the Armor X16 Pro was relatively fast.

Using both 4G and 5G networks, the Armor X16 Pro proved to be exceptionally robust. Making voice calls demonstrated how clear the audio quality was, both from my perspective and to my caller, clear and crisp in both directions.

Starting with basic performance tests, I opened Google Docs and reviewed this part written document. It was easy to read through the text on the bright, clear screen. While the resolution is lower than I’ve come to expect from many smartphones, the text was still very clear and readable.

One thing I noted was that as you scroll, the quality of the screen stands out. With plenty of adjustment over brightness, tone and clarity, it offers exceptional viewing for a phone at this level.

Exploring the options and settings, I was impressed with the ease of use and the speed with which the phone navigated Android 15’s menus. The MediaTek Dimensity 6300 CPU provided plenty of performance for general use.

Pushing performance further, I used Lightroom to adjust images I had taken during a work outing. The clarity of the images was impressive, and unlike some phones I’ve used in the past that struggle when applying effects, the Armor X16 Pro handled it with relative ease. The screen clarity also made the adjustments easier.

Using CapCut to quickly edit video content shot with the phone, I was again impressed with the speed. Although CapCut is highly optimised for mobile, some phones still struggle. For basic edits, the phone handled 1080p video without issue. Pushing to 4K and adding graphics, the phone began to slow down, and the limits of its processing power became apparent.

Gaming performance followed a similar pattern. Need for Speed: Asphalt ran perfectly smoothly, but Asphalt 9: Legends, Call of Duty Mobile, and PUBG Mobile all began to drop in graphics quality. This was reflected in the 3DMark scores, Steel Nomad Light: 145, Wild Life: 4,137, and Sling Shot: 3,657.

While these scores aren’t particularly high, they are in line with most rugged smartphones. What gives this phone a slight edge is its exceptionally high read speed of 1,246 MB per second.

Benchmarks

Disk Speed Test Read: 1246 MB/s
Disk Speed Test Write: 347 MB/s
Geekbench CPU Single: 731
Geekbench CPU Multi: 1975
Geekbench GPU: 1401
3D Mark Steel Nomad Lite: 145
3D Mark Wildlife: 1373
3D Mark Slingshot: 3657

Performance: 4 / 5

Ulefone Armor X16 Pro: Final verdict

After using the phone solidly for a few weeks, I’ve been really impressed, firstly by the build quality and the comfort of using this phone. It is far more usable and ergonomic than many other rugged smartphones.

Secondly, the battery life was exceptional for the size and weight. At the start of the test, I charged it to 100%, and after three weeks it had only dropped to 25%, highlighting just how robust that internal battery is, although I wasn’t in full use all the time.

Overall, the battery performance was excellent, and the fact that I could reverse charge my iPhone using the 5 W reverse charging feature was very handy.

The standout features for me were the cameras. I wasn’t expecting the clarity of images that the 64 million-pixel main camera produced. The stills were great, and the video capture was equally impressive. Coupled with some wireless mics, it’s a great option if you need to capture video out in the field, perfectly suitable for most social media platforms.

When editing media using CapCut or Lightroom, I was impressed by the performance of this mobile phone. Considering that it’s at the entry level of the rugged phone market, it performs surprisingly well.

At the end of the test, having submerged the phone in water, dropped it from a height and tested it in the field, I’m surprised at how inexpensive this rugged smartphone is. While graphics performance and for that matter the screen resolution is at the lower end of the scale, for Google Docs and multimedia content, it works absolutely fine.

If you’re looking for a decent rugged smartphone for work and you don’t want to spend too much, then this is a great option. Likewise, if you’re heading off on an adventure, and need a solid phone with good battery life that’s isn't too heavy then again this also an ideal solution.

What really makes it stand out for me is the quality of the camera. While it can’t rival premium smartphones, it’s still decent enough to satisfy most people who want to take great images. The Armor X16 Pro is one of the best-performing budget rugged smartphones out there today.

Should I buy a Ulefone Armor X16 Pro?

Value	Excellent value for money and a great option if you need a simple, rugged smartphone.	4.5
Design	Stylish design with a textured surface that makes this one of the most comfortable rugged smartphones to hold.	4
Features	Decent range of features, with the camera and battery life being the standout.	3.5
Performance	Considering the entry-level price tag, this phone packs a decent amount of power for day-to-day tasks.	4
Overalls	Excellent rugged smartphone that provides power for everyday use, but is limited for higher-end gaming.	4

Buy it if...

You want a great option for working outdoors

The price, build quality, and the fact that it can stand up to all sorts of conditions make this a cheap and well-balanced option for anyone working outdoors.

You want a tough backup phone

The large capacity battery in a relatively small and lightweight form makes this a superb option to take as a main or backup phone if you’re heading off on an adventure.

Don't buy it if...

You need a phone for gaming.

While you can play many games at moderate quality, if you want to play anything that relies heavily on graphics processing, you should consider another option.

You need something small and lightweight.

While in this review I’ve said this is a small and relatively lightweight rugged smartphone, compared with general consumer phones, it is still larger and more bulky.

For more durable devices, we've tested and reviewed the best rugged laptops and best rugged tablets.

The Nubia Red Magic 10S Pro takes on the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro with comparable power, incredible battery life, and a much cheaper price tag

6:25 pm | August 8, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Phones | Tags: OIS, OS, UFS, UI | Comments: Off

Nubia Red Magic 10S Pro: Two-minute review

If the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro is too much of an investment for you, there are cheaper ways to get your mobile gaming kicks. The Nubia Red Magic 10S Pro offers a comparable gaming experience for literally half the price.

As the first phone to run on Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 8 Elite Leading Version chipset, paired with a bolstered cooling system, the Red Magic 10S Pro can technically outperform any other phone on the market, even if that fact doesn’t particularly manifest itself in general use.

The phone also features a fine 6.85-inch 144Hz AMOLED display offering a blissfully unimpeded view of the action – though you’ll pay for that with terrible selfie pictures.

Indeed, Nubia’s phone continues to be suboptimal for those who don’t prioritize gaming above all else. Its camera system is fine, but not competitive with the best midrange smartphones. Meanwhile, its design, while nice and flat, is big and heavy, with a gamer aesthetic that remains an acquired taste.

Nubia Red Magic 10S Pro product shots — (Image credit: Future)

In a similar vein, Nubia’s UI remains a little on the clumsy side, with ugly icons and too much bloatware. With that said, its gamer-focused features are as potent as ever, and the company’s software update promise has taken a big step forward – especially in the EU.

The phone’s level of stamina is truly outstanding, thanks to the inclusion of a huge 7,050mAh battery. This thing could conceivably get you through two days or even more, at least when you’re not indulging in those epic gaming sessions. You’ll be able to get up to speed nice and quickly, too, with an 80W charger included in the box, though you’ll have to make do without wireless charging.

The Nubia Red Magic 10S Pro remains a very specific tool for a very specific job. As impressive a value proposition as it is, we wouldn’t dream of recommending it to anyone who isn’t intent on doing a serious amount of gaming on the go. Most flagship or even midrange phones will probably be a better pick for most people on balance.

For that narrow slice of mobile gamers, however, Nubia’s top gaming phone offers the best bang-to-buck ratio out there.

Nubia Red Magic 10S Pro review: price and availability

Released on June 17
Priced from $699 / £579 / AU$649

The Red Magic 10S Pro hit shelves on June 18, 2025, with prices starting at $699 / £579 / AU$649 for the matte black Nightfall model, which comes with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The model tested here is the midrange option with 16GB/512GB, which will set you back $849 / £709 / AU$799

The range-topping 24GB/1TB model costs $999 / £879 / AU$999.

As always with Nubia’s gaming phone range, this represents excellent value for the level of raw performance you’re getting here. Our pick for the best gaming phone on the market, the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro, costs $1,199 / £1,099.99 / AU$1,999.

Value score: 5 / 5

Nubia Red Magic 10S Pro review: specs

Nubia Red Magic 10S Pro specs

Dimensions:	163 x 76 x 9mm
Weight:	229g
Display:	6.85-inch Full HD+ (1216 x 2688) up to 144Hz BOE AMOLED
Chipset:	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Leading Version
RAM:	12GB / 16GB / 24GB (LPDDR5X)
Storage:	256GB / 512GB / 1TB (UFS 4.1)
OS:	Android 15
Primary camera:	50MP Samsung OV50E 1/1.55-inch sensor w/ OIS
Ultra-wide camera:	50MP Samsung OV50D 1/2.88-inch sensor
Macro camera	2MP
Front Camera:	16MP under-display
Battery:	7,050mAh
Charging:	80W wired
Colors:	Nightfall, Dusk, Moonlight

Nubia Red Magic 10S Pro review: design

Toughened glass and aviation aluminum middle frame
Completely flat with no camera bump
520Hz capacitive shoulder trigger buttons
Dedicated gaming mode switch

Suggesting that the Red Magic 10S Pro sports a similar design to the Red Magic 10 Pro is underselling things somewhat.

They’re identical to look at and hold, barring a couple of very minor cosmetic touches: a subtle chevron finish rather than a dappled one; a Red Magic logo switching to a different side; a new ‘Leading Version’ decal reflecting the new chip type, and so on.

This is another large, flat, straight-sided phone measuring 163 x 76 x 9mm and weighing 229g. Once again, it features an “aviation aluminum” frame with toughened glass to the front and back. And, once again, perhaps the most pleasing element of this is the total lack of a sticky-outy camera module.

The aesthetic is the same, too, with a slightly cheap-looking semi-transparent effect that shows you elements of the phone’s internal workings – or at least, elements that broadly represent the internal components.

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Nubia still hasn’t managed to bolster the water and dust resistance rating beyond IP54, likely thanks to the continued presence of whopping great vents on either side of the phone. These facilitate the phone’s physical cooling fan, which kicks in during gaming and charging, and which is highlighted by several RGB lighting elements.

The right edge of the Red Magic 10S Pro is particularly busy. Besides the aforementioned cooling vent, it also houses a volume rocker, a circular power button, and three extra gaming-oriented controls.

There’s a pair of capacitive 520Hz buttons that can be mapped to game controls – particularly handy in competitive shooters like Call of Duty: Mobile and Delta Force. You also get a physical Gamespace switch here, which instantly brings up Nubia’s gaming UI.

Another gaming-oriented inclusion is a 3.5mm headphone jack on the top edge. This negates the issue of audio lag, which even high-end wireless headphones will struggle with, to varying degrees.

The Red Magic 10S Pro, like its predecessors, sports a striking all-screen design with extremely small display bezels and an under-display selfie camera, producing a high 95.3% screen-to-body ratio. This doesn’t leave room for dual front-firing speakers, which means you can cover the speaker on the bottom edge with your hand.

In terms of sound output, you’re looking at speakers that get plenty loud and offer decent stereo separation, but which are somewhat piercing and lacking in low-end depth – certainly compared to many flagship phones.

Design score: 3.5 / 5

Nubia Red Magic 10S Pro review: display

6.85-inch OLED
1216 x 2688 ‘1.5K’ resolution
144Hz refresh rate
2000 nits peak brightness

After changing things up with the Red Magic 10 Pro, Nubia has gone with the exact same display for the 10S Pro. This is a large 6.85-inch OLED with a nicely balanced ‘1.5K’ resolution, which works out to 2,688 x 1,216.

This also produces a 144Hz maximum refresh rate. The list of games that can actually support such fluidity is pretty slender, but it’s one of the few use case scenarios for such a spec. The Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro has it beat at 185Hz, but then, you’re paying double the money for such diminishing returns.

In peak HDR scenarios, this display is capable of hitting 2,000 nits, though in general use, you won’t get anywhere near that mark. It’s bright enough for clear outdoor usage, however.

As we’ve already discussed, the Red Magic 10S Pro Display is notable for being completely unhindered by a selfie notch. Experiencing video and gaming content in such an unobstructed way feels good, and you might question why more phones don’t take such an approach.

The answer to that question is very simple indeed, but we’ll leave off answering it until the camera section.

Display score: 4 / 5

Nubia Red Magic 10S Pro review: cameras

50MP main with OIS
50MP ultra-wide, 2MP macro
16MP in-display selfie camera still terrible
Up to 8K/30fps video

It probably won’t surprise you to learn that the camera system here is identical to that of the Red Magic 10 Pro.

There’s the same 50MP 1/1.55" OmniVision OV50E main sensor with OIS and a 7P lens. This is accompanied by a 50MP 1/2.88" OV50D ultra-wide, and an all-but-pointless 2MP macro sensor. There is no dedicated telephoto camera.

You also get the same 16MP in-display front camera.

There’s an unspoken deal you strike with every gaming phone manufacturer: they will give you an extremely fast phone with a level of sustained performance and stamina well in excess of your average flagship phone. In return, you will give up any expectations of taking really good photographs.

That holds as true with the Red Magic 10S Pro as it did with its predecessors (for the record, the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro takes decent shots, though it’s well short of the very best camera phones). This is a competent mid-range performer, though you could spend about £100 less on the Google Pixel 9a and have a much better time if photography is your priority.

With that main sensor, shots look sharp and contrasty in good lighting, if a little over-processed and unnaturally vibrant. Night shots look nice and clear, though again, there’s a slightly false note to the level of brightness.

Ultra-wide shots take a notable hit to quality, with a drabber, flatter look compared to the main sensor. This can occasionally work in its favor, producing more natural-looking shots, but in general, the disparity is just distracting.

Zoomed shots all crop in on that main sensor, but they’re not worth using beyond 2x. Even at 4x, the drop-off in detail is stark.

It’s a familiar story by now, but the decision to go with an in-display front camera results in flat-out terrible selfies, lacking in detail and contrast. Nubia claims that the AI algorithm has been upgraded here, and I suppose if I were being charitable, I’d concede that the selfies I took were the best I’ve seen from a Red Magic phone.

But you have to understand that this is a very low bar indeed, and almost any affordable phone released in 2025 should be able to top it in the selfie stakes.

Nubia is one of those manufacturers that implements a couple of annoying settings straight out of the box. One is an inexplicable watermark (as you can see in some of my sample images), while another is an obnoxious beautifying mode for selfies. You can turn both off easily enough, but it should really be this way out of the box.

Video recording is very solid here, with Nubia putting that flagship chip to good use in supporting 8K recording at 30fps or – more practically – 4K at 60fps. Footage shot using the latter configuration was nice and smooth, courtesy of that OIS.

Camera score: 3 / 5

Nubia Red Magic 10S Pro review: camera samples

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Nubia Red Magic 10S Pro camera samples — (Image credit: Future)

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Nubia Red Magic 10S Pro review: performance

Souped-up Snapdragon 8 Elite Leading Version
12GB, 16GB, or 24GB of LPDDR5X RAM
256GB, 512GB, or 1TB of UFS 4.1 storage
Sustained performance takes a step back, though average performance is still better

The one component that explains and even justifies the Red Magic 10S Pro’s existence is the move to a new chip. Kind of.

In fact, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Leading Version found here is merely an overclocked version of the chip from the Red Magic 10 Pro – and most other 2025 flagship phones, for that matter.

Nubia claims that it supplies a 30% power boost, with the CPU clock speeds moving up from 4.32GHz to 4.47GHz and the GPU from 1,100MHz to 1,200MHz. The NPU, meanwhile, provides an AI performance boost of 40%.

This is supported by a bolstered Liquid Metal 2.0 cooling system, which rejigs things for a 5°C reduction in temperature compared to the 10 Pro.

None of this is noticeable in day-to-day performance, nor even when gaming. There’s a very simple reason for that: the Snapdragon 8 Elite was already more than enough to handle the very best games that the Google Play Store has to offer.

Graphically advanced games such as GRID Legends already run fabulously on the Red Magic 10 Pro, while you can blast opponents on Call of Duty: Mobile at high frame rates and graphical settings.

Indeed, even using our usual suite of benchmark tests, the Red Magic 10S Pro performed no better than its predecessor. That still positions it as one of the fastest phones on the market, of course, but know that the main advantage to buying this phone is performance headroom.

Sustained performance was unimpeachable on the Red Magic 10 Pro, and it seems Nubia hasn’t quite managed to maintain such a high level here. A score of 84.8% in 3D Mark's Solar Bay Stress Test falls 15% short of its predecessor, suggesting that it can’t quite maintain peak performance across an intensive 20-minute workout.

However, it’s worth digging deeper into the figures here. A peak loop score of 12568 is quite a bit higher than the Red Magic 10 Pro’s 10032. Indeed, the 10S Pro could beat that with its lowest loop score of 10654. In other words, the Red Magic 10S Pro can’t stay at its maximum level as long as the 10 Pro, but its output is still better at any given moment.

Needless to say, general navigation and day-to-day use don’t pose a problem for the Red Magic 10S Pro. Especially not with the 16 GB of RAM that my test model comes bundled with.

Performance score: 5 / 5

Nubia Red Magic 10S Pro review: software

Red Magic OS 10.5 on Android 15
UI is ugly but solid enough
Dedicated Game Space gaming UI
Up to 5 years of OS and security updates

In keeping with the Red Magic 10S Pro’s half-step nature, it ships with Red Magic OS 10.5. It’s much the same as Red Magic OS 10 in the previous model, sitting atop the same Android 15 operating system.

That’s not necessarily a positive, as Nubia’s UI still needs a lot of work. It’s a fairly clunky experience, with ugly icons and wallpapers, and an unnecessarily huge fan widget. Nubia’s Google Feed replacement to the left of the Home Screen continues to be a tacky collection of random news stories and apps.

While it’s a lot less buggy and janky than it used to be, there are still some rough edges. On my test model, that manifested itself most obviously with a pair of app icons on the second Home Screen mysteriously labelled ‘Unknown’.

I’m not sure why, but I was required to dive into Gmail’s Settings just to make this default email app sync up.

Bloatware is still an issue, too. Even deselecting all the terrible games at the set-up phase doesn’t clean things up completely. Rather hilariously, there are two dedicated folders filled with download prompts for said unwanted apps.

TikTok, Facebook, MoboReader, MoboReals, WPS Office, and Booking.com are all there at set-up, whether you like it or not.

With all that said, Red Magic OS 10.5 runs snappily, and Nubia's Game Space game management UI remains a comprehensive way to organize and manage your gaming. Flip that switch, and you’ll enter a landscape interface that lets you tweak performance, screen sensitivity, screen ratios, and individual game plug-ins that verge on the cheat-y.

Google Gemini is pre-installed, alongside some now fairly standard AI tools for photo search, image editing, real-time translation, and the like. Circle to Search is also here.

Ongoing support continues to fall behind the best, but is now much improved over the Red Magic 10 Pro. There are now three years of OS and security updates in the global and US models, and five years in the UK and EU models.

Software score: 3.5 / 5

Nubia Red Magic 10S Pro review: battery life

7,050mAh battery
Multi-day usage
80W wired charging

Nubia really stepped things up with the Red Magic 10 Pro, squeezing in a huge 7,050mAh battery. The 10S Pro has the same, and it remains one of the biggest cells on the market.

With this battery on board, I was able to blast through two days of moderate usage, and even well into a third before I felt compelled to plug it in.

When the phone finally did run out of juice entirely, the bundled 80W charger got me back up to 72% in just 30 minutes. A full charge took me 45 minutes, which isn’t too shabby at all given the battery’s capacity.

There’s no wireless charging here, which we’ve come to expect from Nubia’s gaming sub-brand. That’s not to say it should be let off the hook entirely – the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro includes a wireless charging provision – but it’s an understandable omission in the name of prioritizing gaming-friendly features on a strict budget.

Indeed, it’s probably a more apt criticism to note that there’s no secondary USB-C port on the long edge, which makes charging while gaming so much more viable in the ROG.

Battery score: 5 / 5

Should I buy the Nubia Red Magic 10S Pro?

Nubia Red Magic 10S Pro score card
Attributes	Notes	Rating
Design	It’s big and unwieldy, and the gamer aesthetic grows a little tiresome, but it’s also nice and flat.	3.5 / 5
Display	This screen is big, sharp, fluid, and it gets reasonably bright. It’s also unobstructed by a bothersome notch.	4 / 5
Performance	As the first phone to feature the Snapdragon 8 Elite Leading Version, this is one of the very fastest phones around.	4.5 / 5
Camera	It’ll take solid pictures in good lighting, but you don’t buy a gaming phone if you’re seriously interested in great photos.	3 / 5
Battery	This phone has one of the largest batteries around, and it’s good for multi-day use.	5 / 5
Software	Nubia's custom UI is reasonably fast and fluid these days, but it’s still ugly and cluttered.	3 / 5
Value	You simply won’t find this level of performance at this price anywhere else on the market.	5 / 5

Buy it if...

You're a gamer who doesn’t have cash to burn
The Red Magic 10S Pro offers top-level gaming performance, but it costs about half the price of our favorite gaming phone, the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro.

You’re anti-notch
Sick of display notches spoiling the view? The Red Magic 10S Pro doesn’t have one.

You want the biggest battery possible
At 7,050mAh, the Red Magic 10S Pro's battery is the biggest on the market.

Don't buy it if...

You like selfies
That in-display front camera might look cool, but it takes truly terrible selfies.

Subtlety and style matter to you
Nubia’s design language is big, brash, and slightly tacky.

You prefer a clean UI
Red Magic OS is ugly, cluttered, and a little glitchy.

Nubia Red Magic 10S Pro review: also consider

The Nubia Red Magic 10S Pro is a great-value gaming phone, but there are some excellent alternatives if you want to spend more or less.

Nubia Red Magic 10 Pro
The previous model should be available at a lower price right now, despite being only six months older and broadly as capable.

Read our full Nubia Red Magic 10 Pro review

Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro
This step-up option gives you similar gaming performance, but a lot of quality-of-life features on top – albeit at a much higher price.

Read our full Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro review

How I tested the Nubia Red Magic 10S Pro

Review test period = 1 week
Testing included = Everyday usage, including web browsing, social media, photography, gaming, streaming video, music playback
Tools used = Geekbench 6, GFXBench, 3DMark, native Android stats, bundled Nubia 80W power adapter

First reviewed: June 2025

Latest report contradicts previous rumors about vivo V60’s launch date and OS

12:26 pm | July 22, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Tags: OS | Comments: Off

Last week, we heard that the vivo V60 will launch in India on August 19 with OriginOS, making it the first vivo smartphone in the country to run Funtouch OS instead of OriginOS, which is currently China-exclusive. A new report contradicts those leaks, claiming that the vivo V60 will debut in India on August 12 and run Funtouch OS based on Android 16. Additionally, the source claims that the vivo V60 will be powered by the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 SoC and have UFS 2.2 storage onboard without specifying the storage capacity. The smartphone will feature a 6.67" 120Hz 1.5K AMOLED display with...

I spent weeks with the Synology DiskStation DS925+ NAS box and it didn’t miss a beat, no matter what I threw at it

3:20 am | June 11, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro | Tags: CPU, OS, RAM | Comments: Off

Synology DiskStation DS925+: Two-minute review

Specs

Synology DiskStation DS925+ side — (Image credit: Nick Ross)

CPU: AMD Ryzen V1500B
Graphics: None
RAM: 4GB DDR4 ECC SODIMM (Max 32GB)
Storage: 80TB (20TB HDD x4), 1.6TB (800GB M.2 x2)
Ports: 2x Type-A (5Gbps), 1x Type-C (5Gbps), 2x 2.5GbE Ethernet ports
Size: 166 x 199 x 223mm (6.5 x 7.8 x 8.8 inches)
OS installed: DSM 7
Accessories: 2x LAN cables, 2x drive-bay lock keys, AC power cord

Synology has been producing network attached storage (NAS) technology for over 20 years, and its devices have maintained a consistent look and feel. In that time, the company has developed a highly polished operating system that’s packed with a wide variety of bespoke and third-party apps that do everything from simply backing up files on a home or office network, through managing a household’s multimedia requirements, to running a business’s entire IT stack. The latter includes enterprise-grade backup, all kinds of server functionality, email and web-hosting, virtual machine management, surveillance camera management and much, much more.

In more recent years, Synology has hunkered down in its own segment of the NAS market – eschewing broad compatibility with third-party hardware providers and a Wild-West application community in favor of a more closed and professional operating environment, where you have to buy expensive Synology drives to populate the boxes. While these compatibility changes have driven some users away, what remains is still an incredibly robust, well-supported and well-documented ecosystem that has a huge community following.

The new DiskStation DS925+ is something of a popular, sweet-spot size that can suit new users and network admins alike. At a glance, it looks exactly like several generations of its predecessors and it operates very much like them. Its most significant features include four bays that support both 3.5-inch and 2.5-inch drives and two M.2 NVMe SSD slots. Its tool-less design and simple setup wizards make it quick and easy to build, and you can be up and running in less than 15 minutes. It runs quietly and can be positioned on top of a desk or hidden away (in a ventilated location) discreetly. To casual users (with deep pockets) who want access to Synology’s apps and need only basic NAS functionality, we could stop there. Enthusiasts will want to know more.

Synology DiskStation DS925+ close up on a desk — (Image credit: Nick Ross)

The list of compatible drives is now smaller than ever. While Synology has kicked certification of third-party drives over to vendors like Seagate and WD, it doesn’t appear to have resulted in more choice… yet. At the time of writing, you’re still limited to Synology’s latest Plus Series consumer drives (which go up to 16TB), its Enterprise drives (up to 20TB), its 2.5-inch SSDs (up to 7TB) and its Enterprise-level M.2 NVMe drives (up to 800GB). All of them are considerably more expensive than incompatible third-party counterparts.

The DS925+ comes with one of its two SO-DIMM slots populated with 4GB of DDR4 ECC RAM. You can upgrade to two sticks of Synology’s own 16GB ECC RAM (for 32GB total) if required, but not if you’re looking to save money. The introduction of error-correcting (ECC) RAM at this level is a boon, nonetheless.

It should be noted that if you’re looking to the DS925+ as an upgrade for an older Synology NAS, it will allow third-party drives if it recognizes an existing DSM installation. However, you’ll get constant drive compatibility warnings in return.

Positive new hardware features include a beefed-up, quad-core, eight-thread AMD Ryzen V1500B processor (note that there’s no integrated GPU) and its two network ports are finally 2.5GbE. There are both front and rear-mounted USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports plus a new, slightly controversial, USB-C port for connecting an external, 5-bay extension unit (replacing old eSATA-connected options). What’s most bothersome, though, is the lack of a PCIe network expansion for upgrading to 10GbE connectivity, which limits the possible network transfer speeds.

Ultimately, the initial outlay for a DS925+ can be enormous compared to rivals on the market. However, if you’re going to make use of the vast libraries of free software applications and licenses, it’ll represent great value.

Synology DiskStation DS925+: Price & availability

Synology’s DiskStation DS925+ only recently launched and has limited availability in only a few markets. It’s listed at $830 / £551 / AU$1,099.

Overall, it's well priced compared to its closest competitors such as the TerraMaster F4-424 Max, as well as other Synology NAS devices.

Value score: 4.5 / 5

Synology DiskStation DS925+: Design & build

While the DiskStation DS925+ looks like its predecessors, I felt that it was somewhat more robust and less rattly than some of its forebears. Regardless of that, it’s still a small and discreet black box that will not draw attention to itself, wherever it’s located.

Synology DiskStation DS925+ rear — (Image credit: Nick Ross)

The tool-less design makes adding hard drives simple. For 3.5-inch drives, you just lift up the drive bay door, pull out the drive tray, unclip the tray’s side bars, put the drive in the tray, clip the bars back on (they use rubber grommets to reduce sound and vibrations) and slide it back in. If you want, you can ‘lock’ each drive bay with a key to deter opportunistic thieves.

Adding RAM involves removing the drive bays and adding SO-DIMMs to the internal slots on the side. Adding the M.2 NVMe drives involves simply unclipping the covers on the base and sliding them in. Adding six drives takes less than five minutes.

A fully populated DS925+ runs very quietly – Synology says just 20dB – and I can attest that there’s only a very quiet whooshing noise made by the dual 92mm fans, and the drives only make occasional, very low clicking and popping sounds.

Installing the operating system is also simple. A QR code in the box provides access to an online setup document with a link that automatically finds your NAS on the network before offering to install everything for you. After a quick firmware update, it reboots and you’ll be looking at the DSM desktop, in a web browser, just a few minutes later. The NAS will then prompt you to sign into a Synology account, set up SSO and MFA log-ins and install some basic apps.

Newcomers might struggle at first with the terminology surrounding the initial setup of the drives, but (at the basic level) the NAS walks you through the process. It involves organizing the drives into a storage pool, then creating a volume and then adding folders. You’ll also be prompted to list which users can have View, Read or Write access. At this point you’ve got functional network-attached storage that can be accessed across your network.

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Synology DiskStation DS925+ DSM — (Image credit: Nick Ross)

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Synology DiskStation DS925+ setup — (Image credit: Nick Ross)

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The operating system is well-polished and installing bespoke and third-party apps is simple thanks to the Package Center application which operates like a free App Store. It’s also simple to enable remote access using Synology’s QuickConnect ID short-web-link system.

An interesting change with the DiskStation DS925+ is the removal of the (6Gbps) eSATA port for connecting Synology’s optional, legacy, external drive bays and its replacement with a single (5Gbps) USB-C port which connects to a Synology DX525 5-bay expansion unit. I didn't have an expansion bay on hand to test this, but the performance difference should be minimal.

While there are only two 2.5GbE network ports, you can combine them in various ways, with the easiest (load balancing) becoming operational in just a few clicks. It’s more suited to multiple connections rather than improving top speed, though.

Finally, it’s worth noting that compatibility with third-party drives is now strictly limited. At the time of writing, the DS925+ was only compatible with its own (up to 16TB) prosumer Plus Series hard drives, its (up to 20TB) Enterprise Series hard drives and (up to 7TB) SSDs, plus its 400GB and 800GB M.2 NVMe drives. All of these cost considerably more than third-party equivalents. Synology is blunt about why it has limited compatibility so much – it got sick of dealing with support requests that often boiled down to conflicts and crashes caused by drive failures and subsequent arguments with third-party drive vendors. While it’s annoying, I can sympathize with that.

Design & build score: 5 / 5

Synology DiskStation DS925+: Features

Synology DiskStation DS925+ SSD drive covers removed — (Image credit: Nick Ross)

It’s tricky to know just where to start with the numerous features that are available with the DiskStation DS925+. It performs just about every business and consumer task you can imagine. For many smart-home users, the various multi-device backup utilities, multimedia organization tools and media-server functionality (including Plex, Emby and Jellyfin) will be used more than anything else.

For prosumer and business users, it can be your full-stack IT service provider. There are apps that can transform your NAS into an enterprise-grade backup solution with off-site (third-party and Synology C2) cloud capabilities; email server; web server; Synology Office application provider; surveillance camera manager; anti-malware protection; virtual machine manager and a VPN server.

In all of these applications, multiple user licenses are included, which boosts the value proposition through the roof.

There’s a multitude of third-party applications and high-quality documentation (covering just about everything) that has been created by a large and mature Synology-enthusiast community.

Network admins will also like the numerous drive-formatting options, granular user permission management and SSO and MFA security options.

Storage capacity can be increased via a USB-C connected, five-drive-bay expansion unit.

The two USB-A ports (front and rear) have had many functions removed so they can no longer be used to connect potential security nightmares like printers, media devices, or network adapters, but they can still be used for connecting external USB storage devices.

The twin 92mm fans are quiet and, in conjunction with well-designed vents, do a good job of cooling the NAS. That said, be sure to place it in a location where airflow isn’t impeded and the vents won’t get clogged with dust.

Features score: 5 / 5

Synology DiskStation DS925+: Performance

Synology DiskStation DS925+ HDD bay — (Image credit: Nick Ross)

To test the DiskStation DS925+, I installed four Synology 3.5-inch, 4TB hard drives and formatted them with Synology’s own RAID-5-like Btrfs file system which offers striped performance boosts, disk-failure redundancy protection and numerous enhancements that work with Synology’s backup utilities. It left me with a 10.4TB volume and meant I could lose/remove any one drive without suffering data loss.

I also installed two 400GB M.2 NVMe SSDs as a single Btrfs storage volume (they can also be used for caching) which gave me a usable capacity of 362.4GB.

I transferred files from one volume to the other and hit sustained transfer speeds that peaked at 435MB/s, but most people will be moving data externally.

I subsequently performed multiple tests to find its real-world limits, see what doing without a 10GbE port option meant and discover what benefits the two (configurable) 2.5GbE LAN ports offered. I did this by connecting the NAS to a high-end, TP-Link Deco BE85 Wi-Fi 7 Router (with 10GbE LAN ports) via Ethernet and downloading large video files using various wired and wireless configurations.

I compared the DS925+’s performance to that of an older, two-bay Synology DiskStation DS723+ that has a 10GbE wired connection, a dual 3.5-inch hard drive volume and a newly fitted, single, 800GB Synology M.2 NVMe SSD-based volume.

I tested using a high-end Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D gaming laptop with a 2.5GbE LAN connection and Wi-Fi 6E, as well as a new Core Ultra (Series 2) Asus Vivobook 14 Flip with Wi-Fi 7.

I started with the DS723+ which I’ve been using for testing Wi-Fi routers. With the Scar’s 2.5GbE Ethernet port connected by wire to the Deco router, I saw sustained transfer speeds that hit 245MB/s for both the DS723+’s HDD volume and its NVMe volume. Over a 5GHz Wi-Fi 6E wireless connection, this dropped to 194MB/s for both volumes. Over a 6GHz Wi-Fi 6E wireless connection, it achieved 197MB/s using the HDD volume and 215MB/s for the NVMe volume.

Switching to the Wi-Fi 7 VivoBook, on the 5GHz wireless connection, it managed 180MB/s for both the HDD and NVMe volumes. However, when using the 6GHz Wi-Fi 7 network, it achieved 244MB/s for the HDD volume and an astonishing 347MB/s for the NVMe volume. That right there is the power of having a 10GbE-equipped NAS (with an NVMe drive) connected to a Wi-Fi 7 network. Cables, schmables! That’s more than enough for editing multiple streams of UHD video at once.

Synology DiskStation DS925+ drive bays removed — (Image credit: Nick Ross)

So, how did the newer DS925+ compare? When it was connected to the Deco via a single 2.5GbE port, the 2.5GbE LAN connected Asus laptop reached 280MB/s for the HDD volume and 282MB/s for the NVMe volume – a good 35MB/s quicker than the two-bay DS723+. Over 5GHz Wi-Fi these scores both dropped to 190MB/s which is similar to the DS723+, illustrating a likely 5GHz Wi-Fi bottleneck. Interestingly, performance was consistently slower during the Scar’s 6GHz tests, where it hit 163MB/s (HDD volume) and 172MB/s (NVMe volume), but this is again likely caused by the network, not the NAS.

When the VivoBook connected via the 5GHz network, it managed 186MB/s transfers for both volumes. Over Wi-Fi 7 this jumped up to 272MB/s for the HDD volume and 278MB/s for the SSD volume. So, thus far, the file transfer performance benefits of having NVMe storage on the DS925+ aren’t significant when passing through the bottleneck of its 2.5GbE LAN port.

Consequently, I bonded the two 2.5GbE connections together to form a ‘single’ 5GbE connection in an effort to boost performance. This takes just a few clicks in DSM’s control panel. I opted for the basic Adaptive Load Balancing option, but there are several other configurations for various types of network topology.

Synology DiskStation DS925+ dual 2.5GbE setup — (Image credit: Nick Ross)

So, with the DS925+’s two Ethernet cables forming a single 5Gbps connection to the Deco router, I ran the tests again. The 2.5GbE-connected ROG Strix Scar saw transfer speeds (to both the HDD and SSD volumes) only reach 168MB/s, which is around 120MB/s slower than when the NAS was connected via a single 2.5GbE wired connection. Over 5GHz Wi-Fi this boosted (slightly) to 188MB/s for both volumes and over the 6GHz network, it dropped back to 170MB/s for both volumes. It’s fair to say that combining the DS925+’s two 2.5GbE ports is better suited to handling multiple network streams rather than boosting performance of a single connection.

Nonetheless, I repeated the test with the VivoBook. Over 5GHz Wi-Fi, both volumes saw transfer speeds of 176MB/s. Over 6GHz Wi-Fi 7, it hit 283MB/s.

So, what have we learned about the DS925+’s file transfer-speed potential? Using a 2.5GbE wired connection to and from the router, it tops out at 280MB/s. Connecting the laptop via 5GHz Wi-Fi typically sees transfer speeds of between 160MB/s and 185MB/s, but over 6GHz Wi-Fi 7, up to 283MB/s is possible. This means that, in the right circumstances, Wi-Fi 7 can match 2.5GbE connection speeds.

We also learned that combining the DS925+’s two 2.5GbE connections (at least, in my particular setup) reduces the top transfer speed. Most importantly, that means losing the option for a 10GbE upgrade stops us hitting insane 347MB/s speeds over Wi-Fi 7, and 283MB/s is the reduced ceiling. As such, it’s straight-up not worth using the M.2 drives for file transfer performance boosting as the 2.5GbE connection(s) act as a bottleneck.

That all said, the M.2 drives can still improve performance through caching functionality and Synology notes it can give a 15x improvement to random read and write IOPS. This will be a much bigger deal in situations with multiple connections occurring simultaneously.

While some high-end users will miss the option to upgrade to a 10GbE performance ceiling, I found it’s still more than enough to facilitate very high bitrate, 60FPS, UHD+ video playback (and multiple UHD video stream editing) in addition to having multiple simultaneous connections performing numerous lesser tasks.

Performance score: 4.5 / 5

Should you buy the Synology DiskStation DS925+?

It has become normal to gripe about the design decisions and limitations that Synology imposes on each generation of its prosumer NAS boxes. However, if we eliminate the potential purchasers it won’t suit – i.e. those who need a 10GbE connection and those who cannot afford all the expensive Synology hard drives required to populate it – it’s absolutely worth buying.

Its highly evolved chassis is deceptively well built in terms of tool-less access, rigidity, cooling and airflow. Its operating environment remains secure, robust and intuitive and is packed with features. Its software library will satisfy casual and demanding consumers plus network admins alike and almost all of it is free.

While it’s lost the hodgepodge, stick-your-old-hard-drives-in-a-box-and-hack-a-NAS-together old-school vibe, it’s now a reliable (and scalable) professional backbone for any business or smart-home.

As an all-around package, it’s the best on the market for its target audience. Yes, it can be expensive to populate with drives, but the subsequent total cost of ownership borne through reliability, software licensing and built-in security features help offset the burden of the initial outlay. This means that the DS925+ is, once again, a highly desirable winner from Synology.

Attribute	Notes	Score
Value	A closed market makes buying drives expensive. But, the free software library can make it a bargain, regardless.	4.5
Design	It’s incredibly simple to put together thanks to its tool-less design. The software is voluminous, polished, mature, secure and reliable. It also runs cool and quiet.	5
Features	Whether you’re an undemanding consumer or a network admin, the DS925+ can do it all.	5
Performance	The lack of an upgrade option to a 10GbE port limits peak performance, but it’s still not slow.	4.5
Total	Synology’s latest 4-bay NAS is as attractive as its predecessors, which is high praise indeed.	5

Synology DiskStation DS925+ with one drive bay partially open — (Image credit: Nick Ross)

Buy it if...

You want a one-stop box that can support your smart home

Its ease of setup, friendly multimedia apps, security, reliability and ability to operate almost every facet of a smart home make it a winner.

You want a one-stop box that can support your entire organization

Whether it’s enterprise-grade backups, hosting web or email servers or virtual machines or even providing free office software, this one box can do it all.

Don't buy it if...

You need the fastest file transfers

The lack of 10GbE connectivity means that top transfer speeds are no longer available.

You're on a tight budget

Getting access to Synology’s incredible value and mostly free software library now involves an even heavier initial outlay for compatible drives.

For more network-attached storage options, we've also tested the best NAS & media server distro.

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11:19 am | May 29, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Tags: OS | Comments: Off

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