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I tested Motorola’s cheaper iPhone Air alternative, but it still didn’t win me over to team thin-phone
6:00 pm | November 16, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Motorola Phones Phones | Tags: , , | Comments: Off

Motorola Edge 70 two-minute review

The Edge series from Motorola has been one of the most consistently interesting lines of Android phones for cost-conscious buyers; they’re not always the best smartphones around, but they look classy and get you unrivaled value for money in the Android world. But I’m not so sure about the Motorola Edge 70, which has fallen in with the wrong crowd by trying to follow the new thin-phone ‘trend’.

Super-thin smartphones are starting to feel like a new bandwagon that tech companies are leaping on, apparently after having noticed the huge lack of interest buyers had in the last bandwagon: AI. This bandwagon’s turning out no better: we didn’t love the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, and the iPhone Air was lambasted online, and so the Motorola Edge 70 has a lot to prove.

Before testing the Edge 70, I thought Moto would be preaching to the choir; I gave the Edge 60 a glowing review (I think it's my favorite phone of the year), and was fond of the Edge 60 Pro too. Perhaps it should have been telling that the previous generation of Edge mobiles came out only six months prior, because this new Edge is nothing to write home about.

Yes, it’s thin, and yes, it’s light, but it’s still just as wide and tall as your average Android smartphone, so these two tweaked specs don’t exactly amount to a revolutionary redesign.

Beyond its chassis, this is another solid mid-range Android phone. There’s a decent processor and enough RAM to blast through games, a good-looking screen, a classy color scheme, and a competent camera array (albeit with a few downgrades from the Edge 60 Pro in certain areas).

However, the huge price jump up from the Edge 60 – and the solid increase on the Edge 60 Pro too – throws my ‘mid-range’ argument into disarray; this is an expensive mobile which doesn’t go nearly far enough in justifying that price.

Bear in mind the number of downgrades from the still-very-fresh Edge 60 line: the new Edge 70 loses a camera from the 60 and 60 Pro, and also misses out on the fast charging and strong performance of the latter. And remember: the 60 Pro is a cheaper phone.

That’s doubly painful when you consider how much bloatware there is on this newer device; it's a symptom of a cheap phone that feels out of place when you’re buying a phone that’s only a little less pricey than the Samsung Galaxy S25 or iPhone 17.

Generally speaking, the Edge 70 runs smoothly, and there are a few things to like. I like how the Water Touch feature makes the phone easy to use when your hands are wet, the screen looks good, and the amount of on-board storage and RAM is great. And there's no denying that the Edge 70 is cheaper than its thin-phone rivals, even if that's simply because they're even more ludicrously priced.

A slightly-thinner-than-average body doesn’t make the price make sense, though, especially when the Motorola Edge 60 is basically half the price. Even though it’s a solid phone all around, the cost makes it hard to recommend the Edge 70 over its six-month senior.

Motorola Edge 70 review: price and availability

The Motorola Edge 70's home screen, while the phone is being held in a hand.

(Image credit: Future)
  • Released in November 2025
  • £699.98 (roughly $920, AU$1,400)
  • No US release expected; AU possibly

Motorola announced the Edge 70 on November 5, 2025, and put it on sale shortly afterwards.

You can buy the Motorola Edge 70 for £699.98 (roughly $920, AU$1,400). The phone won’t be released in the US, as Moto has a different Edge strategy there, but I’m expecting it to come out in Australia at some point in the near future based on precedent.

That’s a massive price increase from the £379 (roughly $520, AU$700) asking price of the Edge 60, but also more than the £599 (around $800, AU$1,250) of the Edge 60 Pro.

The Edge is, at least, cheaper than its rivals: the Galaxy Edge (Samsung’s phone, not the Star Wars theme park) begins at $1,099 / £1,099 / AU$1,849, while the iPhone Air goes for $999 / £999 / AU$1,799. Yikes.

Motorola Edge 70 review: specs

Motorola Edge 70 specs

Dimensions:

159.9 x 74 x 5.9 mm

Weight:

159g

Screen:

6.7-inch FHD (1220 x 2712) 120Hz P-OLED

Chipset:

Snapdragon 7 Gen 4

RAM:

12GB

Storage:

512GB

OS:

Android 16

Primary camera:

50MP, f/1.8

Ultra-wide camera:

50MP f/2.0 120-degree

Front camera:

50MP, f/2.0

Audio:

Dolby Atmos stereo speakers

Battery:

4,800mAh

Charging:

68W wired, 15W wireless

Colors:

Gadget Grey, Lily Pad, Bronze Green

Motorola Edge 70 review: design

The Motorola Edge 70 face-down on a brown table.

(Image credit: Future)
  • Thin (5.9mm) and light (159g)
  • Comes in three Pantone colors
  • Military-grade protections

I spent the introduction to this review comparing the Moto Edge 70 to its thin-phone contemporaries; it’s 5.9mm thick, and you can feel how svelte it is just by picking it up. It's so thin, in fact, that I felt duty-bound to protect it with the rigid plastic in-box case, thereby mitigating the benefits of a slender mobile in the first place.

The rest of the dimensions are more in line with your standard smartphone: it's 74mm wide and 159.4mm long. Mind you, in weighing 159g, it feels lighter in the hand than the average mobile.

Color company Pantone continues its quest to paint all the Edge phones in various distinct hues; this time around, we’ve got Gadget Grey (a mostly-boring grey but with some blue highlights), Lily Pad (olive green with some orange highlights), and the one I used, Bronze Green (dark green with lighter-green highlights – there’s no bronze to speak of).

As always, the use of some interesting colors immediately makes this Moto one of my favorite-looking phones of the year, and the textured back just adds something to the panache. I do wish that Motorola had given the Edge 70 a curved-edge screen like in some of the past generations, but presumably, this wouldn’t work with the thin body. The lack of it means that, visually speaking, the Edge 70 is ‘one of’ my favorites, but the Edge 60 family pips it to the post.

Let’s talk about ports and buttons. There’s a USB-C port on the bottom edge (no 3.5mm jack for audio), a power button and volume rocker on the right edge, and, right out of reach on the left, the AI button.

The Edge 70 is IP68/69 protected against dust and water submersion, and is also compliant with the military MIL-STD-810H standard, which means it’s tough against the knocks and bumps that a military-grade piece of kit would need to be.

If you decide to use the in-box case to protect the phone, you're not making a bad decision because it's nice and solid (not a cheapie silicon thing that many phone makers put in the box). But it's also incredibly hard to get onto the phone, and nearly as hard to remove, so you're going to need some good luck and brute strength. If you're buying this phone for your grandma, you should stick around to help her get the thing on!

  • Design score: 4 / 5

Motorola Edge 70 review: display

The Motorola Edge 70's home screen.

(Image credit: Future)
  • 6.7 inches, 2712 x 1220 resolution
  • 120Hz refresh rate, 20:9 aspect ratio
  • Water Touch adds some extra usability

The Motorola Edge 70 has a 6.7-inch screen, which is roughly the average size for an Android smartphone. The resolution (2712 x 1200) is also what you’d expect from such a mobile.

A few other specs and features help the phone’s display stand out, though. It has a nice high max brightness of 4,500 nits, a 120Hz refresh rate, support for HDR 10+, and some optimizations from Pantone.

A feature I really appreciate is Water Touch, which basically just means the screen will pick up your touches better if you’ve got wet hands or if the display has droplets on it. No longer does bathtime prohibit the use of screens.

Breaking up the display at the top is a punch-hole cut-out for the front camera, but it’s so small and unobtrusive that you’ll easily forget it was there.

  • Display score: 4 / 5

Motorola Edge 70 review: software

The Motorola Edge 70's software immediately upon booting up the device.

Here are the apps pre-installed on the Edge 70 (although I can excuse Ecosia, since that's the one I picked as my browser on load-up). (Image credit: Future)
  • Android 16 with four guaranteed updates
  • Bloatware (pre-installed apps) abounds
  • Moto's AI app has yet to prove itself

While Motorola phones have long used stock Android as their operating system, the company has slowly been tweaking the formula in myriad ways over successive generations of Edge. So, while the Edge 70 technically has stock Android 16, it’s not exactly the same as the stock Android software you’d see on Pixel phones – mostly for the worse.

The worst is that, at least on first start-up, Motorola has opted to copy some cheap Chinese phone makers in plastering its devices with bloatware. When you first boot up the Edge 70, it’s already full of apps like Amazon Music, TikTok, and Booking.com, and while you can delete them all, it doesn’t help but make it feel like your own mobile is one walking billboard.

Most of these apps are innocuous, at least, but some raise eyebrows. Perplexity is one – an AI search engine with myriad active lawsuits and accusations against it – and controversy-laden e-retailer Temu is another. It bears repeating that this phone isn’t that different in price from the iPhone 17 – seeing pre-installed apps at all, especially ones of this caliber, leaves a bad taste in the mouth.

Motorola’s also pushing harder into its own AI tools than most other companies, mostly with its Moto AI, an assistant that’s slowly gaining skills and tools with each new Moto phone I test.

However, its feature list is still quite eclectic (note-taking, playlist generation, and file organization seem to be its main tools, according to Moto’s website), and none of them really solve problems I’d otherwise have on my smartphone. I used Moto AI when I was testing the Edge 70, but I no doubt would have ignored it if I were using the phone normally.

Not all the changes to stock Android are terrible, and I’ve long liked Motorola’s customization and navigation features. And if you ignore the AI and delete the bloatware, the phone runs decently well. It’s set to get four years of security updates (presumably up to Android 20), and five years of security updates.

  • Software score: 3 / 5

Motorola Edge 70 review: cameras

The Motorola Edge 70's camera bump.

(Image credit: Future)
  • 50MP main and 50MP ultra-wide cameras
  • 50MP front-facing
  • Some odd over-brightening issues

Motorola’s marketing materials make a point of how the Edge 70 has three 50MP cameras; this is technically true, but don’t imagine for a moment that the Edge 70 has three rear cameras like the Edge 60 members did. Instead, it only has two, with that third high-res snapper being the one on the front, and I’m disappointed that Moto opted to drop the telephoto lens that made the last generation surprisingly solid camera phones.

On the back, then, we’ve got a 50MP main snapper with OIS and a 50MP ultra-wide with a 120-degree field of view. Nope, no telephoto lens.

I've previously been quite negative about the cameras on Motorola phones, as the optimization software doesn't match that on rival mobiles, making pictures look a little dull. Usually, the low price of the phone justifies these shortcomings, but that's obviously not the case here. Thankfully, I wasn't too put out by the snaps either.

With sufficient lighting, pictures have a fair amount of color and detail, and autofocus was fairly quick to find objects. Manual focus was a bit of an issue, though; usually, I find tapping on an object in the viewfinder does the job, but when I tried it in the Edge 70's camera app, it also changed the brightness of the shot... quite dramatically.

Look at the two snaps of cookies in the camera sample section; the first one is default, the second is when I pressed on the snack. I like a bright picture as much as the next guy, but it's a little too much in that particular case.

The Motorola Edge 70's camera app, while the phone is pointed to plants.

(Image credit: Future)

I took quite a few low-light photos with the camera; it's that period of the year where we have about three minutes of sunlight, after all. The camera held up well, presumably thanks to a solid sensor that takes in lots of light.

Around the front, the selfie camera uses pixel binning to ensure snaps have enough light; you can see the results on a pretty gray day below.

Taking a stroll through the rest of the phone app, you'll find most of the standard options you've come to expect on a smartphone: night vision, panorama, portrait photography, slow-mo and time-lapse videography, and so on.

You can record video at 4K at 30fps or FHD at 60fps, and slow-mo switches between 120fps at FHD or 240fps at HD.

  • Camera score: 3.5 / 5

Motorola Edge 70 camera samples

Motorola Edge 70 review: performance and audio

The Motorola Edge 70 face-down on a brown table.

(Image credit: Future)
  • Mid-range Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 chipset
  • 12GB RAM and 512GB Storage
  • Dolby Atmos-tuned stereo speakers

Looking under the hood, the Motorola Edge 70 has a Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 chipset, which is a mid-range piece of kit we’ve seen in a handful of Androids, including the Realme 15 Pro and Vivo V60. While seeing ‘mid-range’ may cause you to be wary, let me win you back over: there’s 12GB RAM and a hearty 512GB storage. Now those are specs I like to see!

I took the Edge for a whirl (well, many whirls over two weeks) playing Call of Duty: Mobile and Northgard, and was impressed by how close the performance was to that of phones with top-end chipsets or more RAM. Playing hectic online games, I never felt like I was lagging or dropping behind in a way that affected my performance, and the phone seemed fine to render loads of assets or enemies at once.

When I put the Edge 70 through the Geekbench 6 multi-core benchmark test, it returned an average score of 4,115 (though, notably, with a bigger variation in results than I normally see with this test). That reflects the mid-range status of the mobile, with Snapdragon 8 Gen chipsets scoring in the 5,000-6,000 range (or even higher), though it is a little way behind the Edge 60 Pro, which used a top-end chipset from a different company.

Honestly, though, when you get to a certain point, these numbers are just numbers. I never felt that the Edge 70 lacked performance when I was gaming, and that’s what matters.

Audio-wise, the Edge 70 has dual stereo speakers, which were tuned with some Dolby Atmos magic. Otherwise, for listening to music, you can use the Bluetooth 5.4 to connect wirelessly, or via a wired connection if you can find an adaptor to plug your cans into the USB-C port (there’s no headphone jack).

  • Performance score: 4 / 5

Motorola Edge 70 review: battery life

The Motorola Edge 70's Google folder.

(Image credit: Future)
  • 4,800mAh battery
  • 68W wired charging
  • 15W wireless powering

Despite being a thin smartphone, the Edge 70 has a battery that’s roughly average in capacity: 4,800mAh, which a few years ago we’d have called positively huge.

I’m not going to pretend it grants the Edge a miraculously long battery life, as it’s powering a pretty big display, but it ensures the handset will easily last a full day of use. During my testing, the Edge 70 reliably waltzed through half of day two before needing to be powered up.

Charging is done at 68W, which is the same as most past Moto Edge phones, and 15W wireless charging has been thrown in for good measure. You’re getting from empty to full in about 40 minutes if you charge with a compatible cable.

  • Battery score: 3.5 / 5

Motorola Edge 70 review: value

The Motorola Edge 70's AI button.

(Image credit: Future)

Thin phones are, unfortunately, exceedingly expensive devices. When you consider that, in the Edge 70, you’re getting one for substantially less than the iPhone Air, perhaps you can convince yourself that you’re getting a good deal.

But if you look at the Motorola Edge 70 as the sum of its parts, it’s hard to deny that it doesn’t offer great value for money. Its specs are mostly all mid-ranged, with much cheaper alternatives from various rivals beating it six ways from Sunday.

So, if you absolutely need a smartphone that’s a few millimeters thinner than your current one, no matter the price, at least this is getting you better value than the iPhone or Samsung. But if you’re happy to consider all your options, no matter their thickness, skipping the Edge 70 is a no-brainer.

  • Value score: 3 / 5

Should you buy the Motorola Edge 70?

Motorola Edge 70 score card

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Value

From another brand, a phone with the same specs would have a price tag that's half of the Edge 70's.

3 / 5

Design

Pantone wins again, but the slender body helps too.

4 / 5

Display

It's just as good-looking as the last time we saw this screen on a Moto phone.

4 / 5

Software

The bloatware's getting worse, and Moto's more preoccupied with its AI tool than fixing it.

3 / 5

Camera

The cameras are fine for the price, though I miss the better hardware of the Edge 60.

3.5 / 5

Performance

You get a solid set of power specs for the price.

4 / 5

Battery

Any kind of reliable battery is a miracle in a thin phone like this.

3.5 / 5

Buy it if...

You must have a thin phone
If you're looking at the iPhone Air or Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge with envy, then the Moto Edge 70 is your way to get a thin phone without breaking the bank.

You need lots of storage
With 512GB of on-board storage, you're never going to need to choose which photos you need to delete to get more space, or pick and choose the apps that take up that space.

You like the look
Honestly, all of Moto's Edge phones have a little extra pizzazz thanks to Pantone's decorations; they're a splash of color in a monochromatic market.

Don't buy it if...

You don't care about your phone's thickness
All thin phones are expensive... but if thinness isn't an important thing for you, your money will go a lot further with a different device.

You're on a budget
Many people associate Motorola with cheap phones, because it makes some of the best. But the Edge 70 is certainly a premium model.

You're not an AI fan
Moto's been very gung-ho about its own AI tools, but the Edge 70's bloatware includes lots more, like Copilot and Perplexity. If you're on the righteous anti-AI train, this isn't the right phone for you.View Deal

Motorola Edge 70 review: Also consider

Let's take a proper look at those phones I've been comparing the Motorola Edge 70 to:

Apple iPhone Air
Apple's thin phone is 0.3mm more slender than the Edge 70, but a little heavier. It's the one to buy if you want an Apple phone, although it's not the strongest specs-wise.

Read our full Apple iPhone Air review

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge
This is a powerful phone with top specs across the board, and it's also thinner than the Moto, though not as light. It's super slow to charge, though.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge review

Motorola Edge 60
It's cheaper and it's weaker, but otherwise this slightly older phone matches or exceeds the specs of its newer relative. So, it's certainly well worth keeping on the wishlist.

Read our full Motorola Edge 60 review

Motorola Edge 70

Apple iPhone Air

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge

Motorola Edge 60

Starting price (at launch):

£699.98 (roughly $920, AU$1,400)

From $999 / £999 / AU$1,799

From $1,099 / £1,099 / AU$1,849

£379 (roughly $520, AU$700)

Dimensions:

159.9 x 74 x 5.9mm

156.2 x 74.7 x 5.6mm

158.2 x 75.6 x 5.8mm

161.2 x 73.1 x 7.9mm

Weight:

159g

165g

163g

179g

OS (at launch):

Android 16

iOS 26

OneUI 7, Android 15

Android 15

Screen Size:

6.7-inch

6.5-inch

6.7-inch

6.67-inch

Resolution:

2712 x 1220

2736 x 1260

1260 x 2736

2712 x 1220

CPU:

Snapdragon 7 Gen 4

A19 Pro Bionic

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy

Mediatek Dimensity 7300

RAM:

12GB

Unconfirmed

12GB

12GB

Storage (from):

512GB

256GB / 512GB / 1TB

256GB / 512GB

512GB

Battery:

4,800mAh

Unconfirmed

3,900mAh

5,200mAh

Rear Cameras:

50MP main, 50MP ultra-wide

48MP main

200MP main, 12MP ultra-wide

50MP main, 10MP telephoto. 50MP ultra-wide

Front camera:

50MP

18MP

12MP

50MP

How I tested the Motorola Edge 70

  • Review test period = 2 weeks
  • Testing included = Everyday usage, including web browsing, social media, photography, video calling, gaming, streaming video, music playback
  • Tools used = Geekbench 6, Geekbench ML, GFXBench, native Android stats

I used the Motorola Edge 70 for two weeks in order to write this review. That's the usual TechRadar test period, and a figure I use as an absolute minimum in order to ensure I've given every gadget a fair shake.

In that time, I used the Edge 70 as my normal smartphone for tasks like social media, photography, and gaming. Outside of full testing, I also took it for a few camera tests to collect more samples for the gallery. Alongside experiential use, I used a few lab tests to gauge certain metrics of the phone.

I've been reviewing mobiles at TechRadar for over six years now. I tested both members of the Edge 60 family, and have used most previous Moto Edge devices, as well as countless other handsets made by the company (and, of course, non-Moto phones too!).

Read more about how we test

First reviewed November 2025

Star Wars: Beyond Victory somehow makes VR podracing boring, and I don’t understand how
7:00 pm | October 7, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming Virtual Reality Gaming | Tags: , | Comments: Off

Star Wars: Beyond Victory has the makings of a perfect Star Wars buffet and a contender for one of the best VR games of recent times.

The promise of a VR story delving into the previously one-inch deep lore of podracing is enticing – especially to someone for whom the prequel trilogy was a hallmark of their childhood.

Review Info

Platform reviewed: Meta Quest 3
Available on: Meta Quest 3, Meta Quest 3S
Release date: October 7, 2025

Podracing not only provides the opportunity for exhilarating VR gameplay, but gives storytellers the chance to expand on characters like Sebulba – a key antagonist of the Phantom Menace, who we only spend about 5 minutes with before he's benched in favor of a dual-blade-wielding Sith – and explore the seedy underworld that would facilitate this dangerous and deadly sport.

After plating up, however, you realise Beyond Victory's buffet has gone stale, and there’s not nearly enough of it to satiate your hunger.

Beyond Boring

Like a growing number of titles this generation, Star Wars: Beyond Victory blends virtual and mixed reality elements in its gameplay and storytelling. Unfortunately, every segment you'd want to be in VR is instead relegated to MR, and the remaining first-person segments left me wishing there wouldn't be more.

Effectively cutscenes, the VR sections have you mostly standing around in one of a few tiny locations that you can hardly explore, with the occasional ‘puzzle’ to solve – tedious minigames where you use tools to fix up vehicles, but which require next to no thought to work out.

Everything else plays out in MR via a virtual table you can place in your room. This includes exploration of more expansive spaces (though the exploration wasn't super enjoyable, so I always just made a beeline for the objective) and podracing.

Yes, that's right. In this VR podracing game, you never sit in a podracing cockpit; instead, you look down at the virtual table as you race through a track using your controllers to accelerate, steer, and boost your podracer from a bird's-eye view.

Star Wars: Beyond Victory gameplay showing of mixed reality podracing and playset features

(Image credit: Industrial Light and Magic)

While somewhat enjoyable, the simplistic podracing gameplay feels like it was lifted from a mediocre mobile game – right down to the table offering only a limited view of what's ahead, like a smaller phone screen restricting your vision.

Oh, and there’s only three podraces – and one car chase. You can replay them in arcade mode with unlockable characters, but there's only so much enjoyable replayability to be extracted from repeating the same few tracks over and over.

A Star Wars Short Story

Star Wars: Beyond Victory gameplay showing of mixed reality podracing and playset features

(Image credit: Industrial Light and Magic)

A common theme for Star Wars: Beyond Victory is that its ingredients sound an awful lot more delicious than the final concoction.

Story-wise, things start well. You have a podracer desperate to become a champion to honor his friend, allies who support him but who believe podracing is a vile sport and are willing to face arrest (or worse) to stand up for their beliefs, and Sebulba's criminal crew – led by the former podracing champion looking to raise a champion of his own, and also pull him down into his villainous activities.

The issue here is that the game is far too short – I finished it in about an hour. You don't spend long enough with any of these factions to do anything more than rush through cliché story beats and conflicts that start and resolve in mere minutes.

I would love to have seen our protagonist Volo evolve more gradually over a longer story. Perhaps seeing his racing style adapt to be more aggressive across a series of races to reflect him turning into a true member of Sebulba's crew before eventually standing up for his friends.

Star Wars: Beyond Victory gameplay showing of mixed reality podracing and playset features

(Image credit: Industrial Light and Magic)

Or heck, give us some kind of basic choice-based story for different endings and race abilities based on who we side with.

That way, at least the short experience could be replayable a few times to get different outcomes, and make this game feel more worthwhile.

Unfortunately, lackluster gameplay and story left me frustrated at the time I'd spent reviewing this game – with one of my favorite moments being when the credits rolled and I could finally go back to Hades 2 on my Nintendo Switch 2.

A single star in the night

There was nowhere else in my review to work this in, but I also want to talk about the playset feature. So I'm tacking it on the end here.

This alternative to the campaign and arcade modes is a full MR experience that allows you to move, scale, and place 3D models of Star Wars characters and vehicles in your home to construct static dioramas. You can even add explosive effects to bring your models to life.

Star Wars: Beyond Victory gameplay showing of mixed reality podracing and playset features

(Image credit: Industrial Light and Magic)

I did think the models were well-crafted – with a good level of detail that works with the sculptures at tiny all the way up to human scale – however, while it would be a neat add-on to an already good game, it doesn’t do enough to save Beyond Victory in my books.

If you’re a Star Wars mega fan and see Beyond Victory on sale for a heavily discounted price, then I think playset does just enough to be worth playing around with – it helped me feel like a kid again playing with action figures.

Otherwise, this is still a Star Wars game worth skipping over.

Should you play Star Wars: Beyond Victory

Buy it if...

You want to play with MR action figures
Playset is the only mode in Star Wars: Beyond Victory that I actually enjoyed playing around with. Unfortunately, it’s quite simplistic and isn’t enough to justify buying the whole game at full price.

Don't buy it if...

You want a VR podracing game
The mixed reality podracing gameplay is not what you’d expect from Beyond Victory if you came into it blind. You’ll find the classic Star Wars: Racer series does a better job of scratching that immersive itch – and the first came out in 1999.

You aren’t a mega Star Wars fan
There’s not a lot here to love, and even less if you care little about Star Wars. Sometimes these sorts of games can find ways to appeal to non-fans, but that’s certainly not the case here.

Accessibility

For everything negative I’ve had to say about Star Wars: Beyond Victory, the game is quite accessible by VR’s standards.

You can enjoy the experience entirely seated, you can turn on settings like teleportation movement and screen shake to make the few VR segments less motion sickness-inducing if you’re still new to the medium, and the mostly mixed reality gameplay is even better for managing your motion sickness.

You could even play the game with only one controller if you need to. I used both, but all of the controls are doubled up across each handset, so you could put one down and still have every button you’d need.

How I reviewed Star Wars: Beyond Victory

I played this game on my Meta Quest 3, using a Kiwi design battery strap and controller grips. I played through the entire story from start to finish in two sessions (as I hadn’t charged my Quest 3 up before diving in for the first time) after completing the tutorial. Afterwards, I went straight into arcade mode and then spent a bit of time in playset mode.

I completed a few achievements to unlock some bonus racers for the arcade, and models for my playset, but decided to call it quits after no more than two and a half hours with this title, as I had sampled everything it had to offer.

First reviewed October 2025

I tested the Samsung HW-Q990F and it proves that Samsung still delivers the best Dolby Atmos soundbar system around
2:00 pm | July 6, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Soundbars Televisions | Tags: , , | Comments: Off

Samsung HW-Q990F review: Two minute review

The Samsung HW-Q990F is the successor to the Samsung HW-Q990D, a five-star Dolby Atmos soundbar that earned a top spot in our best soundbars guide. The Q990F doesn’t change much of Samsung's formula, with the main change being a redesign of the subwoofer to a smaller compact size, but it continues Samsung's legacy of excellent Dolby Atmos soundbars.

The Samsung HW-Q990F features 11.1.4 channels across four separate units, including a soundbar, a subwoofer and two rear speakers. It supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X passthrough, along with 4K 120Hz on multiple HDMI 2.1 ports.

The Q990F’s sound-enhancing features include SpaceFit Sound Pro to tune the system for your specific viewing space. Plus, owners of some of the best Samsung TVs can make use of its Q-Symphony for even bigger and better sound.

Performance is nothing short of brilliant on the Q990F. Its smaller subwoofer doesn’t sacrifice any power or detail and is arguably more nuanced than its predecessors. Elsewhere, the system delivers immersive and engaging surround sound, an impressively wide soundstage, and a dynamic presentation of Dolby Atmos height effects up there with the best Dolby Atmos soundbars.

The Q990F is especially great for Atmos music, and while it won’t beat the likes of the Marshall Heston 120 or Sonos Arc Ultra, it’s still a solid option for music playback.

The Q990F’s new, more compact subwoofer is a dream for those looking to save on space. The system’s size is identical to its predecessor, but its overall finish and materials don’t quite feel as premium as the Q990D’s. Still, the Q990F feels well-built, sturdy, and premium enough for the money.

Setting up the Q990F is a breeze. Once connected to the TV via HDMI eARC, the four units sync wirelessly, and you’re on your way. The SmartThings app is necessary for setup, and it allows you to fine-tune the Q990F and access some of its best features. If you don’t want to use the app, Samsung’s supplied remote is more than adequate for control.

The Q990F is undoubtedly a premium-priced soundbar. There are cheaper surround soundbar packages available, along with powerful all-in-one solutions, but the Q990F justifies its price with its performance. It’s not a big step up over its predecessor, which is the better value choice while it’s still available, but once that stock runs out, the Q990F is ready to fill the gap. Expect some big deals on the Q990F throughout the coming year as well, as prices are already dropping.

Samsung HW-Q990F review: Price & release date

Samsung HW-Q990F soundbar under TV

The Samsung HW-Q990F isn't the smallest of soundbars, but it should be able to fit under most TVs (Image credit: Future)
  • Release date: May 2025
  • Price: $1,999 / £1,699 / AU$2,099

The Samsung HW-Q990F is Samsung’s 2025 flagship soundbar. It sits above the HW-Q930F, HW-Q900F, HW-Q800F, HW-Q700F, and the Samsung QS700F, a redesign of the mid-range Q700 series.

Since its launch in May 2025, prices for the HW-Q900F have dropped, and it is now regularly available for $1,599 / £1,499 / AU$1,599, a healthy discount.

Samsung HW-Q990F review: Specs

Dimensions (W x H x D)

Soundbar: 1232 x 70.8 x 138 mm (48.5 x 2.8 x 5.4 inch); Subwoofer: 249 x 251.8 x 249 mm (9.8 x 10.0 x 9.8 inch); Rear speaker: 129.5 x 201.3 x140.4 mm (5.1 x 8.0 x 5.5 inch)

Speaker channels

11.1.4

Connections:

1x HDMI out (with eARC), 2x HDMI 2.1 in, optical digital audio, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth

Dolby Atmos/DTS:X

Yes/Yes

Sub included

Yes

Rear speakers included

Yes

Features

Q Symphony, SpaceFit Sound Pro, Adaptive Sound, Game Mode Pro, Tap Sound, AirPlay 2, Chromecast, HDMI 2.1 120Hz pass-through, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision pass-through, wireless Dolby Atmos

Samsung HW-Q990F review: Features

Samsung HW-Q990F ports

The Samsung HW-Q990F has an HDMI out eARC port, as well as two HDMI 2.1 in ports, which both support 4K 120Hz for gaming. (Image credit: Future)
  • 11.1.4 channels
  • Dolby Atmos & DTS:X passthrough, including wireless Dolby Atmos
  • HDMI 2.1 with 4K 120Hz support

The Samsung HW-Q990F has much the same impressive feature set as its predecessor, the Samsung HW-Q990D. It has 11.1.4 channels but increases the total number of speakers by one to 23, and it features a new, sleeker, dual-driver subwoofer (more on that below).

The Q990F supports both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, along with Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby 5.1 and DTS: HD-Master Audio.

For connections, there is an HDMI eARC port for connection to displays, as well as two HDMI 2.1 in ports that support 4K 120Hz for gaming. There is also Wi-Fi and Bluetooth streaming for music playback, including Dolby Atmos music support.

The Q990F's audio-enhancing features include SpaceFit Sound Pro, which can optimize the sound for your living space; Private Audio, which uses the rear speakers for late-night listening; Adaptive Sound, where the sound is tweaked in real time; Active Voice Amplifier Pro, which uses AI to boost the level of voices in soundtracks; and Q-Symphony, a feature that combines the built-in speakers of compatible Samsung TVs with the Q990F’s sound for boosted audio.

Wireless Dolby Atmos support lets you stream Dolby Atmos soundtracks from compatible Samsung TVs to the Q990F soundbar, albeit in a compressed format. Also, there is Tap Sound, which lets the Q990F instantly stream the music you’ve been listening to when you tap your smartphone on it.

The Q990F can be controlled using the supplied remote control or with the Samsung SmartThings app, where more in-depth sound and EQ adjustments can be made. The app is also where features such as Active Voice Amplifier Pro, SpaceFit Sound Pro and Adaptive sound can be accessed.

  • Features score: 5 / 5

Samsung HW-Q990F review: Performance

Samsung HW-Q990F connected to the Samsung S95F with The Batmobile from The Batman on screen

The Samsung Q990F's immersive sound is perfect for high-octane scenes like the Batmobile chase from The Batman (pictured) (Image credit: Future)
  • Expansive, powerful sound
  • Weighty, tightly controlled bass
  • Excellent gaming performance

Despite having only minimal changes on paper from its predecessor, the Q990F has mighty shoes to fill, and Samsung’s change to subwoofer was a risky move. Thankfully, the move paid off.

Samsung’s new subwoofer may be smaller, but it’s just as powerful as its predecessors. It delivers impactful, meaty bass and has room-shaking power. Watching the Batmobile chase from The Batman, the roar of the Batmobile’s engine produced plenty of glorious rumble, with each rev of the engine reminding me just how engaging this small but mighty subwoofer is.

The subwoofer sound is also tightly controlled and nuanced. Musical numbers such as Defying Gravity from Wicked still had plenty of detailed low-end, giving instruments and vocals \room to breathe in the mix.

Placement of sound effects is another area where the Q990F excels. During the same Batmobile chase in The Batman, the direction of sound as Batman and Penguin weaved in and out of traffic was tracked across the front soundbar with stunning accuracy and precision. The same was true in Star Wars: A New Hope on Disney Plus as X-Wings and TIE Fighters flew around and overhead, making full use of the rear speakers.

The Q990F’s sound balance also impressed me. In Wicked, the higher-pitched vocals were front and center, and reproduced with real clarity, while the strings sat perfectly with the lower bass tones, creating a wonderfully balanced mix. And the system’s beautifully wide soundstage easily filled our testing lab.

Samsung HW-Q990F connected to the Samsung S95F with Elphaba from Wicked on screen

Musicals, like Wicked (pictured), sounded great on the Samsung HW-Q990F (Image credit: Future)

Testing out the Q990F’s features, I found that SpaceFit Sound Pro not only added volume but tightened the sound up without affecting the expansive soundstage. The results may vary depending on your room (our testing lab is well laid out for soundbars), but it’s worth giving it a try.

I tested the Q990F with the Samsung S95F, one of the best OLED TVs of 2025. This allowed me to test out Q-Symphony, and it added extra volume and power and widened the soundstage even more, something that was particularly noticeable with subtle effects such as gear changes or engine revs from the Batmobile in The Batman.

Switching from movies to music, the Q990F sounded great with Dolby Atmos tracks. Listening to an Atmos mix of Riders on the Storm by the Doors via Tidal, the rain was perfectly placed overhead while Jim Morrison’s low vocals, the guitars, and the high notes of the keyboard were clear, precise, and well-balanced. And when I listened to Barry White’s I’ve Got So Much To Give, the guitars, bass and drums felt like they were coming from different areas around the room.

Stereo music performance wasn’t as show-stopping as Dolby Atmos music, but it was good nonetheless. Thelonious Monk’s Japanese Song displayed impressive width, with the piano sounding bright and clear and the smooth, punchy tones of the saxophone accurately positioned. It’s not going to beat the likes of the Marshall Heston 120 for musicality, but it does a good job.

Playing Battlefield V at 4K 120Hz, with an Xbox Series X running through the Q990F to the S95F TV, the action felt smooth and responsive during chaotic gunfights and sequences. It even had a 9.5ms input lag time when I measured it, proving that there was no added latency when the Xbox’s signal passed through the Q990F.

  • Performance score: 5 / 5

Samsung HW-Q990F review: Design

Samsung HW-Q990F subwoofer

The Samsung HW-Q990F's subwoofer (pictured) is significantly more compact than previous generations (Image credit: Future)
  • New, more compact subwoofer
  • Soundbar as wide as a 55-inch TV
  • Not as visually appealing as predecessors

The Q990F comprises four units: the main soundbar, the subwoofer, and the two surround speakers. Each unit has undergone a redesign, and while the new subwoofer is much more visually appealing, the other units somehow feel and look cheaper than the ones in last year’s Q990D system.

The metal grille-type design of the soundbar remains the same at the front, but on top, it has been replaced by a cheaper-looking, lined, grated design, and the same is true of the rear speakers.

The subwoofer is the biggest change in terms of scale. Samsung has scrapped the bulky, weighty upright subwoofer design of past systems in favor of a more compact, cubed build. The new subwoofer measures 249 x 251.8 x 249 mm (9.8 x 9.9 x 9.8 in), compared to the Q990D’s subwoofer, which measured 220 x 413 x 410 mm (8.6 x 16.2 x 16.1 in). It’s almost half the size of the Q990D’s sub, allowing much more freedom for placement. The main soundbar and rear speakers are the same size as the Q990D’s.

The soundbar has the same alphanumeric display found in previous generations, and while still challenging to read, it’s a welcome feature.

  • Design score: 4 / 5

Samsung HW-Q990F review: Setup & usability

Samsung HW-Q990F remote

The Samsung HW-Q990F is easy to control with both the SmartThings app and supplied remote (pictured) (Image credit: Future)
  • Easy setup
  • Useful SmartThings app for control and features
  • Wireless connection between units

The Q990F is an excellent option if you’re looking for a surround sound system without the cable hassles you’d find in a traditional wired home theater setup.

The setup of the Q990F was easy, despite it having multiple units. After plugging the main soundbar into the S95F TV’s HDMI eARC port, I next plugged in all the units, and they wirelessly synced up.

The Q990F can be controlled either using the supplied remote or the SmartThings app. The remote is more than adequate, but using the SmartThings app gives access to all the sound and setup features described above and more. It’s worth giving the app a go, though the Q990F’s sound is also good out of the box.

  • Setup & usability score: 4.5 / 5

Samsung HW-Q990F review: Value

Samsung HW-Q990F soundbar, subwoofer and speakers on a dark bench

The Samsung HW-Q990F comprises four units: a soundbar, subwoofer and rear speakers. Although sold at a premium price, its performance justifies its cost (Image credit: Future)
  • Complete soundbar system
  • Premium price
  • A minor upgrade over its predecessor

At $1,599 / £1,599 / AU$1,599 at the time of writing, several weeks after its launch, the Q990F is at the premium end of the soundbar market. All-in-one solutions that provide a superb cinematic experience, such as the Marshall Heston 120 and Sonos Arc Ultra, are priced at $999 / £999. And there are even budget surround sound options, such as the Hisense AX5125H ($299 / £299), that give you surround sound at a fraction of the cost.

But the Q990F delivers superior performance, with serious power and engaging and immersive sound, thanks to its 11.1.4 channels and 23 speakers.

There is the small matter of the Q990F’s predecessor, the Q990D, still being available for $1,199 / £799 as it nears the end of its life cycle, and outside of the Q990F’s sub, there are not a great deal of upgrades. Right now, the Q990D is better bang for your buck, but as stock depletes, the Q990F is a more than worthy successor to the Q990D.

  • Value score: 4 / 5

Should I buy the Samsung HW-Q990F?

Samsung HW-Q990F soundbar from left angle

(Image credit: Future)

Section

Notes

Score

Features

An extensive list of sound enhancing features, plus 4K, 120Hz support for consoles

5 / 5

Performance

Immersive, dynamic, expansive and powerful sound

5 / 5

Design

A more compact and visually appealing subwoofer, but the rest of the design feels like a step back

4 / 5

Setup & usability

Simple setup and plenty of control via remote or SmarThings app

4.5 / 5

Value

Delivers on its price, but undoubtedly still a premium soundbar

4 / 5

Buy it if...

You want an immersive, cinematic experience
The Q990F delivers expansive, detailed and weighty sound, especially with Dolby Atmos soundtracks.

You want to use your soundbar for gaming
The Q990F's HDMI ports support 4K 120Hz for current-gen consoles, which delivers responsive and snappy gameplay.

You want to be able to hide your subwoofer
The redesigned subwoofer supplied with the Q990F is compact and saves space, and it does so without sacrificing any sacrifice to sound quality.

Don't buy it if...

You're trying to save money
Because it is a full surround sound soundbar package, the Q990F comes at a premium that will outstretch most budgets.

You want a clear front display
If you're not going to use the app, you'll need to rely on the front display when switching inputs. Sadly, it's not the easiest thing to read.

You own the Samsung HW-Q990D
Other than the redesigned, smaller subwoofer, there are minimal changes or upgrades in the Q990F compared to its predecessor, the Q990D. If you own the latter, you don't need to upgrade. View Deal

Samsung HW-Q990D review: Also consider

Samsung HW-Q990F

Samsung HW-Q990D

LG S95TR

JBL Bar 1300X

Dimensions

Soundbar: 1232 x 70.8 x 138 mm (48.5 x 2.8 x 5.4 inch); Subwoofer: 249 x 251.8 x 249 mm (9.8 x 10.0 x 9.8 inch); Rear speaker: 129.5 x 201.3 x140.4 mm (5.1 x 8.0 x 5.5 inch)

Soundbar: 1309.0 x 595.0 x 277.0 mm, Subwoofer: 220.0 x 413.0 x 410.0 mm , Rear speaker: 129.5 x 201.3 x140.4 mm

Soundbar: 1249.68 x 63.5 x 134.6 mm (49.2 x 2.5 x 5.3 inches) Subwoofer: 200.6 x 406.4 x 403.8 mm (7.9 x 16 x 15.9 inches), Rear speakers: 160 x 223.5 x 142.2 mm(6.3 x 8.8 x 5.6 inches)

Soundbar: 1000 x 60.9 x 139.7mm (39.4 x 2.4 x 5.5 inches), Surround speakers: 203.2 x 60.9 x 139.7mm(8 x 2.4 x 5.5 inches), Subwoofer: 365.7 x 480 x 365.7mm (14.4 x 18.9 x 14.4 inches

Speaker channels

11.1.4

11.1.4

11.1.4

16

Connections

Two HDMI 2.1 input, One HDMI output, optical output, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth

Two HDMI 2.1 input, One HDMI output, optical output, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth

1x HDMI out (with eARC), HDMI 2.1 in, optical digital audio, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth

4 HDMI inputs (1 with eARC), optical digital audio, USB type-A

Dolby Atmos/DTS:X

Yes/Yes

Yes/Yes

Yes/Yes

Yes/Yes

Samsung HW-Q990D (2024)
The Samsung HW-Q990D is the Q990F's predecessor and delivers similarly impressive performance. Because it came out in 2024, you can now regularly find the Q990D for half the price of the Q990F, and it's not a real step-down. If you find a deal, the Q990D is a superb choice.

Read our full
Samsung HW-Q990D reviewView Deal

LG S95TR (2024)
The LG S95TR is LG's flagship soundbar system from 2024 and is the LG equivalent of the Samsung HW-Q990D. It delivers clear, powerful and immersive sound and is better suited for LG TV owners than Samsung's models thanks to its WOW Orchestra feature. Price-wise, it's close to the current Q990F, so it'll come down to what TV you own.

Read our full
LG S95TR reviewView Deal

JBL Bar 1300X
The JBL Bar 1300X also has four units including detachable surround speakers from the bar itself, for a space saving solution when not in use. The Bar 1300X is a full surround sound package for those without a Samsung TV but still want an expansive and weighty sound.

Read our full JBL Bar 1300X review

How I tested the Samsung HW-Q990F

Samsung HW-Q990F connected to Samsung S95F with Panasonic DP-UB820 underneath

(Image credit: Future)
  • Connected to the Samsung S95F
  • Tested with different sources
  • Dolby Atmos, 5.1 surround and stereo sound tested

To test the Samsung HW-Q990F, I connected it to the Samsung S95F, Samsung's flagship OLED TV for 2025. This allowed me to use Q-Symphony and other Samsung-related features.

I tested the Q990F using the same reference scene I use when testing the best TVs, particularly 4K Blu-rays of The Batman and Wicked. I also used 4K streaming, which has compressed sound mixes, to see how it fared, particularly the Star Wars space battle sequences. I also analyzed the system's sound balance, as well as speech and sound effects placement.

I tested the Q990F's music streaming capabilities with both Dolby Atmos and stereo mixes through Tidal and Spotify, over both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. I also tested the Q990F's gaming performance using an Xbox Series X and Battlefield V.

I’ve spent over 300 hours in Fortnite, and the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is slowly becoming my favorite way to play the game
10:00 pm | June 17, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming | Tags: , , , | Comments: Off

Launching alongside the Nintendo Switch 2, Fortnite Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is quite simply the same game, but better. Bless developer and publisher Epic Games for trying, but Fortnite on the original Nintendo Switch is hardly the most elegant way to play and feels like you’re at a significant disadvantage thanks to the decreased graphical fidelity, framerate, and draw distance. It’s forgivable on handheld, but with TV mode, it looks rough and feels rougher. But I’m glad to say the Nintendo Switch 2 edition is a great way to play, no matter where you are.

Review info

Platform reviewed: Nintendo Switch 2
Available on:
Nintendo Switch 2; Non-Switch 2 version available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, PS5, PC, Android, iOS (in some regions)
Release date:
June 5, 2025

I mean, what can you even say about Fortnite at this point? Epic Games’ 100-person Battle Royale game has taken over the world over the last eight years, and it’s only grown larger in the time since. In the vein of something like Roblox, Fortnite is both a battle royale and a user-generated game platform where you can find an endless amount of custom maps to play with your friends on.

But let's get into why the Fortnite Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is such a great way to play.

Chug jug with you

Fortnite screenshot

(Image credit: Epic Games)

To really hammer that “you can play Fortnite without even touching its main mode” point home, I don’t like Battle Royale – the marquee mode – thanks to the game's building mechanics. However, when it comes to the Zero Build mode, it’s undoubtedly the best Battle Royale game on the market right now. Over the years, Epic has augmented the core mechanics of the game with a host of new movement options like wall kicking and roll landing that keep things fluid in what used to be the jankiest of movement systems.

Of course, the problem with any ‘evolving game’ is that it’s tough to give a review of the main mode because of how it changes. Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 1 was peak, while Chapter 4 and Chapter 5’s third seasons were two of the absolute worst seasons of a live service game I’ve played. This means there could be three-month stretches where you just simply don’t like the game. And considering Epic Games has been experimenting with seasons based around media franchises like Marvel, Star Wars, and a rumored upcoming Simpsons season, if you don’t like those, that’s all you get for months.

Thanks to the use of the Nintendo Switch 2’s feature set and specs, it's one of the best ways to play the game on console and by far the best handheld version.

Outside of that, there are the Epic Games-created modes. There’s Fortnite OG, which brings back the original Chapter 1 map (which can also be played in Zero Build, thankfully); Reload, which is a faster-paced 40-player battle; and Ballistic, a first-person mode that is a take on Counter-Strike. While none of these stand up to the core mode, they offer different ways to take on the mechanics of Fortnite and are solid games in their own right.

Then there are non-shooting modes like the Minecraft-inspired Lego Fortnite, Rocket Racing, and the best side mode, Fortnite Festival, which is a rhythm game mode and the closest thing we’ll get to a new Rock Band game, considering it was developed by Guitar Hero and Rock Band creator Harmonix. This mode gets constantly updated with songs and artists, with a new singer taking center stage with a skin and big song drop every few months or so (with the likes of Sabrina Carpenter, Metallica, and Hatsune Miku showing up).

And despite having so many options, the player base for each main mode is really healthy, meaning you’ll never wait too long to find a game of anything, with some custom games even having dedicated player bases. A few of these Epic-made modes have their own seasons and battle passes, too, which does add up if you don’t subscribe to the Fortnite Crew. However, Epic recently changed it so XP earned in any mode goes towards every single pass, which is a massive step up.

Mouse trap

Fortnite screenshot

(Image credit: Epic Games)

Fortnite Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is the same game as it is everywhere else; there are no exclusive modes or anything of the sort. However, thanks to the use of the Nintendo Switch 2’s feature set and specs, it's one of the best ways to play the game on console and by far the best handheld version of Fortnite.

Compared to the Nintendo Switch version, which ran at 880p docked and 660p in handheld mode, Fortnite Nintendo Switch 2 Edition runs at 1224p docked and 900p in handheld, so it still isn’t 4K / 1080p, but it is a significant boost. However, the resolution isn’t where the upgrade matters; the improved textures as well as a far greater draw distance, which was one of the original console’s biggest hindrances – especially with how big the Fortnite map is. Most importantly, Fortnite Nintendo Switch 2 Edition runs at a solid 60fps as opposed to the 30fps of the Nintendo Switch – which in an online shooter that has cross-play with more powerful platforms – makes a world of difference.

Gyro aiming returns from the Nintendo Switch edition of Fortnite, but new to the Switch 2 version is support for mouse controls via the Joy-Con 2 controllers. Effectively, this allows you to use a mouse setup for aiming with the movement capabilities of an analogue stick, and is a wonderful combination.

Best bit

Fortnite screenshot

(Image credit: Epic Games)

As I was writing this review, Epic released a Hank Hill skin alongside an emote recreating the King of the Hill intro: my best bit can only be that and even how it looked on the Switch 2, which was excellent.

However, the mouse implementation is a touch awkward. Due to the lack of buttons available, you’ll still need to access the face buttons on your Joy-Con to jump and reload, which creates some uncomfortable moments as you crane your hand. Plus, the mouse controls need to be activated from the in-game menu, as opposed to just sticking the Joy-Con in mouse position like in other games. This isn’t the biggest pain in the world, but it doesn’t revert back once you use a controller that doesn’t support mouse controls (such as attaching your Joy-Con 2 to the Switch 2 itself), which means you’ll need to get the controller off and go through the menu with the mouse to deactivate it.

Fortnite is a phenomenon for a reason; if you let yourself get by the “popular game bad” noise that you often see with this and the likes of Call of Duty, you’ll find what is probably the best Battle Royale game in the genre. And even outside of that, it’s a massive game platform that has an endless supply of whatever you like, from racing, rhythm games, and even custom Fall Guys games.

However, the risks of an ongoing game persist because you’ll occasionally be hit with a season that makes the game bad for months, and there’s not much you can do to help it.

Having said that, Fortnite Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is easily the best way to play on the go or on a handheld device, and while it’s outclassed in power by the PS5 and Xbox versions when it comes to TV mode, it’s still solid to look at, and the mouse controls give it an edge that those consoles don’t have.

Should you play Fortnite Nintendo Switch 2 Edition?

Play it if...

You want to play Fortnite on a handheld
Fortnite Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
outclasses the version on the original Switch in every way, taking what is a means to an end and making it a fantastic way to play in its own right. Plus, the mouse controls make tabletop mode a great way to play, too.

You want something free to play on Switch 2
Fortnite
has a seemingly endless amount of modes and content, and is being updated constantly. And unless you want to pick up a skin of John Cena or Raiden from Metal Gear Solid, you don’t have to pay a single penny to play all of the game’s modes.

Don't play it if...

You need the best graphics and performance from Fortnite
While the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of Fortnite has a perfectly fine resolution and – in my experience – sticks at a solid 60fps, that’s where you cap out. The current-gen console versions and PC ultimately look better and support higher framerates.

Accessibility

Fortnite has a ton of accessibility options, including multiple color blindness filters, the ability to remap controls however you like, alongside multiple control options like gyro aiming and mouse controls.

A standout feature is the visual sound effects toggle, which displays a ring around your character to indicate the source of sound effects and their corresponding representations (footsteps, loot, gunfire, etc.). This is particularly beneficial for those with hearing difficulties or when playing the game with the sound muted.

How I reviewed Fortnite Nintendo Switch 2 Edition

I played around eight hours of Fortnite Nintendo Switch 2 Edition on top of a good 300-400 hours played across PlayStation, PC, and Nintendo Switch. During my time with the Nintendo Switch 2 edition, I tested Zero Build mode, Fortnite Festival and a number of custom games.

I played this in a mixture of handheld mode on the Nintendo Switch 2 itself and on a Samsung Q60D TV and a Samsung HW-T450 soundbar using the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller and the Joy-Con 2 controllers when using mouse mode.

First reviewed June 2025

I tested Samsung’s best mini-LED TV, and its Glare-Free screen tech makes it perfect for gaming and sports
3:00 pm | June 8, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Televisions | Tags: , | Comments: Off

Samsung QN90F: Two-minute review

The Samsung QN90F is the company’s flagship mini-LED TV series for 2025. It’s available in 43-inch to 98-inch screen sizes, and is a showcase for the full range of new features Samsung is bringing to market in its 2025 TV lineup.

A key feature found in the Samsung QN90F and other 2025 flagships, such as the Samsung QN990F 8K TV and Samsung S95F OLED TV, is a ‘2.0’ version of Glare-Free technology. Previously limited to the S95F, one of the best TVs of 2024, this effectively eliminates screen reflections, and does so while retaining the deep black levels needed to maintain picture contrast when watching movies in a bright room – something the S95F stopped short of delivering.

The QN90F also has a new NQ4 AI Gen3 Processor, which allows for a range of AI-driven picture enhancements to improve picture upscaling of lower-resolution sources and motion handling for sports. It even adds HDR to standard dynamic range programs being upscaled to 4K, giving them a high dynamic range-like look.

Picture quality on the QN90F is stunning. The TV’s powerful, refined local dimming delivers images with strong contrast and deep, detailed shadows. This is the kind of performance we expect to see from the best mini-LED TVs, and the QN90F has set the bar high for 2025.

The QN90F’s 4.2.2-channel built-in speakers provide clear and dynamic sound over a wide volume range. Dialogue clarity is good at the default settings, but there are also processing modes, such as Active Voice Amplifier Pro, to further improve clarity. The TV’s Object Tracking Sound Pro+ feature ensures that both dialogue and sound effects accurately follow the onscreen action.

As with other high-end Samsung TVs, the QN90F has a full suite of gaming features, including support for 4K 165Hz across its four HDMI 2.1 ports, FreeSync Premium Pro, and Samsung’s Gaming Hub, which offers cloud-based, console-free gaming. The TV’s ultra-low input lag makes gaming performance as responsive as one can expect from the best gaming TVs.

The QN90F’s Tizen smart TV platform is among the most advanced in the industry, and Samsung has given it a range of tweaks for 2025 to improve navigation and expand content offerings. The company’s own Samsung TV Plus free ad-supported TV portal provides a wide range of channels. There’s also the Samsung Art Store, a subscription-based service previously limited to Samsung's The Frame TVs that lets you view a wide range of art offerings when the TV is in standby mode.

At $2,499.99 / £2,499 / AU$3,499 for the 65-inch model I tested, the Samsung QN90F isn’t cheap, and it faces stiff competition from the flagship mini-LED TVs from Hisense and TCL. However, the QN90F more than holds its own when it comes to picture quality, features, and design, making it a premium choice for discerning viewers.

Samsung QN90F review: Price and release date

Samsung QN90F showing image of light saber battle from Star Wars

The Samsung QN90F's Glare-Free tech eliminates screen reflections when viewing in bright rooms (Image credit: Future)
  • Release date: March 2025
  • 43-inch: $1,299.99 / £1,199
  • 50-inch: $1,499.99 / £1,299
  • 55-inch: $1,799.99 / £1,699
  • 65-inch: $2,499.99 / £2,499 / AU$3,499
  • 75-inch: $2,999.99 / £3,499 / AU$4,499
  • 85-inch: $4,499.99 / £4,999 / AU$5,999
  • 98-inch: $14,999.99 / £8,999

The Samsung QN90F is the company’s flagship 4K mini-LED TV series for 2025. Launch prices are lower compared to 2024’s Samsung QN90D series, with the 65-inch QN90F I reviewed priced at $2,499.99 / £2,499 compared to $2,699.99 / £2,699 for the 65-inch QN90D.

Pricing for new Samsung TVs typically takes a substantial drop by mid-year – the same 65-inch QN90D was priced at $1,899 / £1,999 / AU$3,995 when we reviewed it in September 2024, for example – so buyers can expect discounts going forward.

Such discounts will let the QN90F compete more effectively with affordable brands such as Hisense, which at the time of writing had reduced the price of its new 65-inch flagship Hisense U8QG mini-LED TV to $1,399 in the US.

Samsung QN90F review: Specs

Screen type:

QLED with mini-LED

Refresh rate:

Up to 165Hz

HDR support:

HDR10+, HDR10, HLG

Audio support:

Dolby Atmos

Smart TV:

Tizen

HDMI ports:

4 x HDMI 2.1

Built-in tuner:

ATSC 3.0 (USA)

Samsung QN90F review: Benchmark results

Samsung QN90F review: Features

Samsung QN90F back panel ports

The QN90F has four HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 165Hz support (Image credit: Future)
  • Glare-Free screen
  • NQ4 AI Gen3 Processor with 4K AI Upscaling Pro
  • 4K 165Hz gaming support

The Samsung QN90F’s headline feature is its Glare-Free screen. This anti-reflection tech was previously limited to the Samsung S95D OLED but has migrated to all of the company’s flagship TVs in 2025. It very effectively reduces screen glare from ambient room lighting and can even minimize reflections from direct lighting sources such as lamps.

Samsung’s new NQ4 AI Gen3 Processor is used in the QN90F series and enables features such as 4K AI Upscaling Pro, Auto HDR Remastering Pro (upscales standard dynamic range programs to high dynamic range), and AI Motion Enhancer Pro (reduces motion blur in sports and other fast-action content).

Other picture enhancements include Wide Viewing Angle, which improves screen uniformity when viewing from off-center seats, and Real Depth Enhancer Pro, which analyzes scenes to emphasize the difference between foreground objects and backgrounds for a more 3D effect.

The QN90F has a similar audio feature set as its predecessor, including a 4.2.2-channel speaker array powered by 60W, Object Tracking Sound Pro+ for accurate dialogue and sound effects placement, and Active Voice Amplifier Pro to enhance dialogue in complex movie sound mixes. The Q-Symphony feature requires a compatible Samsung soundbar to unlock and combines the TV’s speakers with the soundbar’s output for an expanded soundfield.

Samsung’s Tizen smart TV platform supports both Samsung’s own Bixby and Amazon Alexa voice assistants, and the TV features built-in far-field mics for hands-free voice control. Samsung has added a wide range of custom apps to Tizen for 2025 – everything from the Samsung Art Store (a feature previously only available on its The Frame TVs) to Dr. Tail, an online pet care consultation platform.

The QN90F series supports FreeSync Premium Pro for gaming, with up to a 165Hz refresh rate across its four HDMI ports. There’s also Samsung Gaming Hub for cloud-based gaming, with a wide array of selections from apps like Xbox, Nvidia GeForce Now, Boosteroid and Luna.

  • Features Score: 5/5

Samsung QN90F review: Picture quality

Samsung QN90F showing aerial image of tulip farm

The QN90F's picture looks consistently great when viewing in bright and dark lighting conditions (Image credit: Future)
  • High brightness and refined local dimming
  • Good off-axis picture uniformity
  • Effective Glare-Free screen tech

My measurements of the Samsung QN90F were made with its Movie picture mode active. While the Filmmaker Mode provided a slightly more accurate picture, the extra brightness from Movie mode made it a better all-round option for both dark and bright room viewing, and I found myself subjectively preferring it.

Peak brightness measured on a white 10% window pattern with HDR was 2,086 nits in Movie mode, and 1,987 nits in Standard mode. Fullscreen brightness measured on a white 100% window pattern with HDR was 667 in Movie mode and around the same level in Standard.

Those are excellent brightness results, and roughly similar to what we measured on last year’s Samsung QN90D.

UHDA-P3 and BT.2020 color gamut coverage results in Movie Mode were 93.6 and 76.5, respectively, marking a slight improvement over the Samsung QN90D. Color accuracy, meanwhile, averaged out to a 6.3 Delta-E value (the margin of error between the test pattern source and what’s shown on-screen), which is a higher level than the 3 threshold we normally look for, though Filmmaker Mode showed better results.

After calibrating the QN90F’s grayscale, its picture looked fantastic. Colors were rich and detailed, and the TV’s high brightness and contrast gave the picture a strong visual punch in both dim and bright room lighting conditions.

Watching the movie Mountainhead (streamed on Max in 4K HDR), the bright orange outerwear worn by the tech bros wandering the grounds outside the mountain retreat popped nicely against the snowy background. The white sky and snow-filled trees displayed an impressive level of highlight detail, and the picture had good uniformity even when watching from off-center seats.

The QN90F’s strong contrast also gave excellent depth to darker shots in movies like Oppenheimer. Shadows looked deep, and I saw almost no evidence of backlight blooming effects. While the QN90F’s rich color display carried over to Oppenheimer, the movie's black-and-white scenes also revealed excellent uniformity across the picture’s full range of black, white, and gray tones.

Motion handling on the QN90F was also very good, with only a minimal level of judder and blur visible in a reference scene from No Time to Die where James Bond walks across a craggy hillside cemetery. To evaluate this scene, I selected the TV’s Filmmaker Mode, which disables all motion processing, but setting the judder and blur adjustments to 3 in the Custom menu fully eliminated motion artifacts without adding any unnatural “soap opera” effect.

As mentioned above, I preferred the QN90F’s Movie picture preset for its extra brightness kick, a factor that helped bring out shadow detail and highlights when viewing in both dim and bright rooms. With my room's overhead lights turned on, the TV’s Glare-Free screen was completely free of reflections. And even when I turned on a lamp in front of the screen to see how it could handle strong light sources, the light was effectively diffused.

The QN90F’s Glare-Free screen performs as advertised. And, unlike the version used in last year’s Samsung S95D OLED TV, it manages to maintain solid black levels, even when viewing in a bright room.

  • Picture quality score: 5/5

Samsung QN90F review: Sound quality

Samsung QN90F shown from the side to illustrate its slim design

The QN90F (side view shown above) has impressively clean, full sound for such a slim TV, but a soundbar is recommended to take movie viewing to the next level (Image credit: Future)
  • 4.2.2-channel, 60W speaker array
  • Clean, well-defined sound
  • Object Tracking Sound Pro+ and Active Voice Amplifier Pro features

The QN90F has a 4.2.2-channel, 60W speaker array, along with Samsung’s Object Tracking Sound Pro+ feature to optimize dialogue and sound effects placement. Active Voice Amplifier Pro uses AI to analyze, separate, and amplify dialogue in sound mixes. There are two preset sound modes, Standard and Amplify, with the latter also giving dialogue levels a general boost.

I found the QN90F’s sound to be clean and well-defined, even when played at fairly loud levels. Bass, while lacking the weight and extension you’d get from using one of the best soundbars with a separate subwoofer, was also suitably punchy.

Sound effects, while well-delineated, were mostly contained to the screen area, with little in the way of a surround effect. Dolby Atmos height effects were also modest, though certain scenes, such as one from No Time to Die with a close-up shot of clanging church bells, proved more effective here than others.

The QN90F supports Samsung’s Q-Symphony feature, which combines the TV’s speaker output with a Samsung soundbar for enhanced and expanded sound. As good as the QN90F’s built-in sound is, this slim TV would definitely benefit from being paired with a Samsung soundbar or one from another brand.

  • Sound quality score: 4/5

Samsung QN90F review: Design

Samsung QN90F pedestal stand on TV stand

The QN90F's sturdy aluminum pedestal stand (Image credit: Future)
  • Ultra-slim, bezel-free design
  • Sturdy pedestal stand with cable management
  • Solar-powered remote control

The Samsung QN90F has a remarkably slim design for a mini-LED TV. The panel depth is a mere 1.1 inches, and the TV’s ‘bezel-free’ display means there’s a disappearingly slim black border surrounding the screen.

Samsung’s ‘Sharp Neck Hexagon’ aluminum pedestal stand provides firm support, and a cable management system on the back makes for tidy installation. The side-mounted input section features four HDMI 2.1 ports plus an antenna connection for the TV’s ATSC 3.0 tuner (US-only).

The QN90F’s battery-free SolarCell remote control draws power from ambient room lighting, but can also be charged via its USB-C port. I’m of two minds about this compact, minimalist remote. On the one hand, its small size and uncluttered layout fit with the design philosophy of the QN90F. On the other, it lacks a dedicated input button – something I complained about in my LG G5 OLED TV review – and it mostly facilitates onscreen menu navigation to perform functions, along with voice-controlled searching.

  • Design score: 5/5

Samsung QN90F review: Smart TV and menus

  • Samsung Tizen Smart TV platform
  • Samsung Art Store
  • Some settings buried deep in menus

As with all Samsung TVs, the QN90F series uses the company’s Tizen Smart TV platform. This presents a mostly uncluttered ‘For You’ homescreen, with program recommendations, a customizable row of app selections, and tabs to access additional Live TV and App screens.

A vertical row of icons on the homescreen’s left side provides access to the Search, Art, Daily+, and Gaming hubs. The Art Hub now features the full Samsung Art Store, which costs $4.99/month or $49.90/year in the US, and offers selections from partners such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museo del Prado, the Tate, and, new for 2025, Star Wars and Disney. Think of this as a streaming service for artwork, which looks fantastic on the TV’s Glare-Free screen.

Daily+ is Samsung's lifestyle hub, and you’ll find a wide range of fitness and productivity apps here, along with telehealth services for you (HealthTap) and your pets (Dr. Tail).

The Live tab on the homescreen features programming from Samsung’s own Samsung TV Plus and other free ad-supported TV channels. There are an almost ridiculous number of free channels here to explore, and you can also view a program grid that integrates live channels received via the TV’s ATSC 3.0 tuner in the US.

With most picture settings buried deep in the TV’s menu structure, it can be difficult to access even basic picture adjustments like brightness. Some of the drudgery is lessened by the QN90F’s quick menu, which presents a compact screen overlay with a customizable range of settings and setup options, including sound and picture preset modes and, yes, brightness.

Another advantage of the quick menu is that by selecting the All Settings icon, along with a full list of menu options for picture, sound, advanced features, and more, you’ll see a list of your five last used settings for easy access. There's also a search option here, with voice control support, if you don’t want to scroll deep through menus.

  • Smart TV & menus score: 5/5

Samsung QN90F review: Gaming

  • Four HDMI 2.1 ports
  • 4K 165Hz, FreeSync Premium Pro, and HDR10+ gaming support
  • 9.5ms input lag

Higher-end Samsung TVs regularly rank among the best gaming TVs, and that’s still very much the case with the QN90F. With four HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 165Hz support, FreeSync Premium Pro, HGiG, and Samsung’s Gaming Hub, which features apps such as Xbox, Nvidia GeForce Now, Boosteroid, and Luna, there’s little here that’s been overlooked, with the exception of Dolby Vision Gaming (HDR10+ gaming is supported, however).

The QN90F’s ultra-low 9.5 input lag results in highly responsive gaming performance. Gaming is also enhanced by the TV’s game bar menu, which lets you quickly make gaming-related picture and sound adjustments and access the Super Ultra Wide Game View and MiniMap Zoom features.

  • Gaming score: 5/5

Samsung QN90F review: Value

Samsung QN90F SolarCell remote held in hand

The QN90F's compact SolarCell remote control has a limited button count and is mainly designed for navigating onscreen menus (Image credit: Future)
  • Great performance and features help justify the price
  • Impressive competing TVs available for less
  • A complete package for TV perfectionists

Making a value call on the Samsung QN90F can be tough. It’s an excellent all-around TV with great picture and sound quality, a complete set of gaming features, and an attractive, living room-friendly design.

The QN90F faces stiff competition from other TV brands, such as Hisense and TCL, which also make great mini-LED TVs and ultimately sell them at a much lower price. As mentioned above, the 65-inch Hisense U8QG that earned 4.5 out of 5 stars in our review now costs $1,399 in the US. We haven’t yet reviewed the new TCL QM8K, but if its pricing history follows the same trajectory as last year’s TCL QM851G, that model will eventually cost around the same as the Hisense U8QG.

Nevertheless, the QN90F scores value points over its competition with better overall picture and sound quality, a superior smart interface, a more advanced feature set, and a sleeker design. It really is the complete package and an excellent option for watching movies and sports, gaming, or even scheduling a telehealth appointment for your pet.

  • Value score: 4/5

Should I buy the Samsung QN90F?

Samsung QN90F showing bulletin board format screen

(Image credit: Future)
Samsung QN90F

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

Feature-packed, with AI picture and sound enhancements and a wide array of gaming features

5/5

Picture quality

High brightness and refined local dimming plus a Glare-Free screen make this a great TV for viewing in a range of lighting conditions

5/5

Sound quality

A built-in 4.2.2-channel speaker array provides clear, and reasonably full sound, but it's light on bass and immersion

4/5

Design

A wonderfully sleek design with sturdy pedestal stand, but the SolarCell remote provides few options for direct control outside the menu system

5/5

Smart TV and menus

Samsung's relatively uncluttered Tizen smart interface is easy to navigate and there's a wide range of apps plus the Samsung Art Store

4/5

Gaming

An impressive suite of gaming features plus cloud-based gaming and fast, responsive performance

5/5

Value

Pricey compared to the mini-LED competition, but great performance, features, and design for the money

4/5

Buy it if...

You want a TV for viewing in bright rooms: The QN90F has a powerfully bright picture, and its Glare-Free screen tech eliminates screen reflections when viewing in bright rooms.

You want a great TV for movies: The QN90F’s powerful local dimming delivers pictures with deep blacks and refined shadows. And its Glare-Free screen ensures that blacks remain solid over a range of room lighting conditions.

You want a great TV for gaming: The QN90F has a full suite of gaming features: four HDMI ports with 4K 165 Hz support, FreeSync Premium Pro, HGiG, and Samsung’s Gaming Hub. Its ultra-low 9.5ms input lag also ensures fast and responsive gaming.

Don't buy it if…

You want Dolby Vision HDR: Like all Samsung TVs, the QN90F doesn’t support Dolby Vision high dynamic range. However, it does support the HDR10+ format, which can now be found on shows from Amazon and Netflix.

You want to save money: The QN90F faces strong competition from mini-LED TV makers like Hisense and TCL. If you can tolerate a small step-down in performance and features, you’ll save a fair amount of money by buying a TV from one of these brands.

Samsung QN90F: Also consider...

Samsung QN90F

Hisense U8QG

Samsung QN90D

TCL QM851G

Price (65-inch)

 $2,499.99 / £2,499 / AU$3,499

 $2,199 / £TBC / AU$2,999

$2,699 / £2,699 / AU$4,299

$2,999 / £2,999

Screen type

QLED w/ mini-LED

QLED w/ mini-LED

QLED w/ mini-LED

QLED w/ mini-LED

Refresh rate

165Hz

165Hz

144Hz

144Hz

HDR support

HDR10+/HDR10/HLG

DolbyVision/HDR10+/HDR10/HLG

HDR10+/HDR10/HLG

DolbyVision/HDR10+/HDR10/HLG

Smart TV

Tizen

Google TV / VIDAA

Tizen

Google TV

HDMI ports

4 x HDMI 2.1

3x HDMI 2.1

4 x HDMI 2.1

4 (2x HDMI 2.1)

Hisense U8QG

The U8QQ is Hisense’s top mini-LED for 2025, and it offers very impressive picture quality for the price. There are areas where it comes up short against the QN90F, such as its sound quality and off-axis picture performance, but it’s still a very solid, high-value bet.

Here’s our Hisense U8QG review

Samsung QN90D

Samsung’s top 2024 mini-LED is still available, and it delivers nearly as good picture quality as the QN90F. You won’t get the QN90F’s Glare-Free screen or 4K 165Hz gaming support, but you will save money as the QN90D is now discounted.

Here’s our Samsung QN90D review

TCL QM851G

TCL’s top mini-LED from 2024 is another high-brightness TV that also performs very well with movies. It’s only available in the US, where it's now seeing steep discounts.

Here’s our TCL QM851G review

How I tested the Samsung QN90F

Hisense U9N TV being measured for brightness by reviewer

Measuring a 10% HDR white window pattern during testing (Image credit: Future)
  • I spent about 15 viewing hours in total, measuring and evaluating
  • Measurements were made using Calman color calibration software
  • A full calibration was made before proceeding with subjective tests

When I test TVs, I first spend a few days or even weeks using them for casual viewing to assess the out-of-box picture presets and get familiar with the smart TV menu and picture adjustments.

I next select the most accurate preset (usually Filmmaker Mode, Movie or Cinema) and measure grayscale and color accuracy using Portrait Displays’ Calman color calibration software. The resulting measurements provide Delta-E values (the margin of error between the test pattern source and what’s shown on-screen) for each category, and allow for an assessment of the TV’s overall accuracy.

Along with those tests, I make measurements of peak light output (recorded in nits) for both standard high-definition and 4K high dynamic range using 10% and 100% white window patterns. Coverage of DCI-P3 and BT.2020 color space is also measured, with the results providing a sense of how faithfully the TV can render the extended color range in ultra high-definition sources – you can read more about this process in our guide to how we test TVs at TechRadar.

For the Samsung QN90F, I used the Calman ISF workflow, along with the TV’s advanced picture menu settings, to calibrate the image for best accuracy. I also watched a range of reference scenes on 4K Blu-ray discs to assess the TV’s performance, along with 4K HDR shows streamed from Max, Netflix, and other services.

Andor season 2 is a devastating near-masterpiece that rebels against the argument that Star Wars has passed its peak
7:00 pm | April 21, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Disney Plus Gadgets Streaming | Tags: | Comments: Off

This is a spoiler-free review of all 12 episodes of Andor season 2.


There's no question that Andor season 2 is one of my most anticipated shows of 2025. Ever since Disney announced the release date for Andor's second and final season last November, I've been counting down the days until the critically acclaimed show's return.

In the two and a half years since the Star Wars TV series' first season ended, my excitement levels have only grown. That could've presented a problem if, like many a crashed starship in the famous galaxy far, far away it inhabits, the political spy thriller didn't stick the landing with its second and final installment.

Join me in breathing a sigh of relief, then, that it does. Andor season 2 is a near-masterpiece that, a couple of faults aside, cements the show's position as the best piece of Star Wars live-action media since the original movie trilogy.

Rebel leaders, standing by

Dilan, Cassian, and Enza searching for something in a tunnel in Andor season 2

Andor season 2 takes a different storytelling approach to its predecessor (Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney Plus)

Initially picking up events after its predecessor's finale, Andor season 2 takes a different storytelling approach to the Disney+ series' first outing.

Where season 1 followed its ensemble cast across a single year, this season's 12-episode run is divided into four trilogy-style events. Each three-episode block depicts a specific event within the four years leading into Rogue One: A Star Wars Story – the 2016 film that connects Andor to Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope.

Andor season 2 is... the best piece of Star Wars live-action media since the original movie trilogy

Previously described as "very sexy" time jumps by showrunner Tony Gilroy, episodes 1 to 3 cover three days, four years before Rogue One happens. Then, chapters 4 to 6 depict a week-long event three years out from the aforementioned movie. Next, entries 7 to 9 tackle a 14-day period two years before the Gareth Edwards-directed flick. Finally, episodes 10 to 12 take place in the five days leading up to Rogue One.

With both seasons reportedly costing an eye-watering $645 million, it's clear Disney, which has tightened the purse strings during Bob Iger's second stint as CEO, wanted to wrap up this expensively-assembled program.

That's bad news for fans who loved Andor's first season and craved more of its thrilling, character-driven storytelling. It also presented a creative conundrum for Gilroy and company to overcome – how to cram four seasons' worth of character evolution and plot progression into a dozen episodes.

Mon Mothma standing in front of Luthen Rael and Perrin in Andor season 2

Mon Mothma is as integral to Andor's story as the titular character (Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney+)

Some teething problems in season 2's first act notwithstanding, it's a storytelling approach that, hesitant though I was over how well it'd work, I actually warmed to. Sure, season 2 is fast-paced at times (I'll get into this more later as part of my wider criticism of this season), but the beauty of its four-year cycle is its ability to show the ever-evolving nature of the show's key relationships at annual intervals.

Be it friendships, romances, uneasy alliances, or another type of interpersonal dynamic, season 2's multi-year plot approach – one largely devoid of filler material – highlights the rollercoaster ride that each one goes on.

Sure, character dynamics can change within TV show seasons whose events play out over weeks and months rather than years. It's a process that worked wonders for Andor's first season, but armed with its multi-year format, the series' sophomore outing not only demonstrates how its tentpole moments impact these relationships but also the in-flux nature of its core dynamics in all of their soul-stirring, melodramatic, and tear-jerking glory.

The beauty of this season's four-year cycle is how it showcases the ever-evolving nature of the show's key relationships

Predictably, a lot of the shifting dynamics revolve around Cassian Andor (Diego Luna). As the show's titular character, season 2 takes a purposeful approach to examining the ebb and flow of his personal associations.

Indeed, there's underlying tension, occasional levity, and soul-piercing drama to the bonds he shares with those he's closest to and works for, as well as clear affection and/or respect amid the oft-times messiness of these dynamics. Understandably, that includes ones he has real stakes in, with Bix (Adria Arjona), Luthen Rael (Stellan Skarsgård), Wilmon (Muhanned Bhair), and, as confirmed by an appearance in Andor season 2's first trailer, his eventual android bestie K-2SO.

Bix and Cassian putting their foreheads together in Andor season 2

Bix and Cassian's relationship dramatically shifts as season 2 plays out (Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney Plus)

That said, while the series bears his name, season 2 is as much, if not more so, an ensemble piece than its predecessor was. (By the way, it's worth watching the season 1 finale again, or streaming last season's 14-minute recap, to refamiliarize yourself with the sheer number of characters in the show. My head was spinning throughout season 2's opening salvo as I tried to remember who everyone was, what they were doing, and where they were!)

Fascinated though I was by Cassian's relationships with some of Andor season 2's cast, I found myself more hooked by the politically dicey dynamics involving Mon Mothma (Genevieve O'Reilly), who's arguably this season's stand-out. She's certainly the most interesting character in season 2's first act and, spoilers notwithstanding, episode 9 fully cements O'Reilly's place as one of the finest actors to grace the Star Wars universe.

The engrossingly uncomfortable dynamic between Galactic Empire officers Dedra Meero (Denise Gough) and Syril Karn (Kyle Soller) that slithers with reptilian delight, plus the compelling expansion of Luthen's fraught surrogate-style relationship with Kleya (Elizabeth Dulau), are equally worthy of praise. I never tired of seeing these particular dynamics play out and, given another season or three, I'm sure they would've been even more intoxicating to watch.

Heirs to the Empire

Dedra Meera standing in a hallway in Andor season 2

Denise Gough's Dedra Meero is captivatingly unlikeable once more in the show's second season (Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney Plus)

Season 2 successfully navigates its expansion of, and call backs to, the wider Star Wars galaxy, too.

There is, despite what Gilroy previously suggested, some character and plot-based winks to the camera, but they're not as egregious as references in other Star Wars projects.

In fact, whether it's the return of Rogue One's main villain Orson Krennic (Ben Mendelsohn), who steals scenes with his terrifying unpredictability, or subtle nods to Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith and Rogue One itself, they're easily forgivable inclusions that actually enhanced my viewing experience.

Orson Krennic looking at someone off-screen in Andor season 2

Ben Mendelsohn reprises his role as Death Star overseer Orson Krennic in Andor's final season (Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney Plus)

The addition of new worlds also expands on the grandeur of Lucasfilm's vast galaxy, which the Galactic Empire dominates during this time. The live-action debut of one planet is especially key as it allows for the exploration of an emotionally devastating event that should also clear up fan confusion over said incident's Star Wars canonicity.

I won't tease much else about it for those with little knowledge of wider Star Wars lore. Believe me when I say, though, that season 2 episode 8, which showcases this event in such soul-crushing fashion, might be the best – if that's the right word to use – chapter since the season 1 finale. If nothing else, it certainly rivals last season's 12th episode for sheer emotional impact, and I'm not afraid to admit that I shed a tear or two as its end credits rolled.

Season 2 episode 8... rivals last season's 12th episode for sheer emotional impact

If there was a problem with one of the best Disney+ shows' final season – and this might slightly contradict what I wrote earlier – it's the condensed and at times rushed feel of some of its four acts.

I appreciate it's been a costly endeavor for Disney. I also understand that showrunner Tony Gilroy had the unenviable task of compressing four seasons' worth of content into the show's last installment. So, the fact that he achieved this seemingly impossible task should be applauded.

Syril Karn wearing an ISB suit in Andor season 2

The compelling character complexities of Kyle Soller's Syril Karn are on full show in season 2 (Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney+)

Still, the sheer number of narrative hoops that season 2 has to jump through, the quick-paced nature of some three-episode events, and the occasional sidelining of important supporting characters make this season feel a tad scattershot in its storytelling approach.

Act 1, for instance, feels largely untethered and tonally different from its fellow volumes. The severe cuts between scenes are often jarring, while the lack of narrative and character-based pay-off delivers an abrupt end to season 2's opening three-part chapter. It comes across as a standalone trilogy that feels out of place among its brethren.

It's not the only act marred by niggling issues. Act 4 is more closely connected to acts 2 and 3 than act 1 is, and plays the role of direct link to Rogue One. However, it's a little on the short side, and I'll admit I was expecting a bit more suspense or shock value in a three-parter where the Rebel Alliance finally learns about the Death Star.

Don't get me wrong, some moments are genuinely thrilling, dramatic, action-packed, and heart-wrenchingly sad, and I certainly wasn't unsatisfied with how season 2 ends. Indeed, its final scene will make you view Rogue One in a whole different light. I just think that, with a few extra minutes here and there, act 4 would've been even better than it was.

My verdict

Andor season 2 is a devastating and epic tour de force – one filled of potent political drama, weighty ethical dilemmas, and captivating character introspection – that rebels against the notion that Star Wars is a dead franchise walking.

In my view, nothing comes as close to matching the awe, shock value, and prestige nature of the original films – which turned Lucasfilm's iconic sci-fi universe into the powerhouse franchise it is today – as this epic and expertly crafted show.

Would it be even better as a three-season event (a Star Wars trilogy, you say?) comprising eight episodes apiece to fully explore its characters, their dynamics, the impact of their decisions, and help things feel less rushed? Yes, but this is the hand that Gilroy and company were dealt, and there's no debate that they've pulled off an almighty task in making one of 2025's new Star Wars shows as breathtakingly good as it is.

In my Andor season 1 review, I labeled it "a blood-pumping spy thriller that might be the best Star Wars shows yet". Now, I'd replace "might be" with "is". If Disney learns anything from Andor, it's that there's an entire galaxy's worth of more mature, creative, and original stories that deserve to be explored.

The question now is: will the House of Mouse be brave enough to pursue similar ideas? If it does and they're as good, if not better, than Andor, I'll be a Star Wars devotee for a long time yet.


Andor season 2 launches with a three-episode premiere on Tuesday, April 22 (US) and Wednesday, April 23 (UK and Australia). Three new episodes arrive each week until the show's finale in mid-May.

I tested the Dangbei Atom, and it’s a bright, smart portable projector that’s overshadowed by LG and Samsung
9:12 pm | April 8, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Theater Projectors Televisions | Tags: , | Comments: Off

The Dangbei Atom is a 1080p-resolution portable projector. Priced at $899 / £899 (with prices often falling to $699 / £699), it’s pricier than the Samsung Freestyle Gen 2 and similarly priced to the LG CineBeam Q, two of the best portable projectors available.

The Dangbei Atom uses a laser DLP light engine and supports the HDR10 and HLG HDR formats, but only via streaming and not through an HDMI or USB connection, which is a shame for those looking to connect one of the best 4K Blu-ray players. It has auto keystone and auto focus, although its manual keystone adjustment is more effective. It also comes with Google TV built in, providing access to some of the best streaming services such as Netflix and Disney Plus. Connections on the Atom consist of one HDMI 2.0 and one USB port.

Picture quality is a mixed bag with the Atom. Its bright image gives more colorful scenes a vivid enough look, contrast is decent and it handles sports motion well. However, given its struggles with black levels and darker scenes, its picture won’t beat the best projectors anytime soon. Sound quality is better than expected, with a solid punch, but is still limited by the projector’s size.

The Atom is light and compact with an appealing blue, square design. For those who want to take a projector with plenty of smart features and capabilities on-the-go, it’ll do the job and easily fit in most small bags.

Dangbei Atom projector review: Price & release date

Dangbei Atom projector showing city landscape at night

Contrast on the Dangbei Atom is decent overall, but textures appear too sharp in most picture presets other than Movie, where they look too soft. (Image credit: Future)
  • First released: February 2024
  • Price: $899 / £899

The Dangbei Atom’s $899 / £899 list price puts it in a similar price bracket to other portable projectors such as the LG CineBeam Q and Samsung Freestyle Gen 2. Prices for the Atom have dropped to $699 / £699 since its release.

Dangbei Atom projector review: Specs

Dangbei Atom review: Design & features

Dangbei Atom with Google TV on screen

The Dangbei Atom has access to Google TV alongside other smart features such as Chromecast (Image credit: Future)
  • Sleek, portable design
  • Google TV smart platform
  • Laser DLP (ALPD)

The Dangbei Atom is a slim, compact portable projector. It measures 7.6 x 7.6 x 1.8 inches (19.5 x 19.5 x 4.75 cm) and weighs 2.8lbs (900g). The Atom is mains-powered only, with no battery option.

The 1080p-res Atom's DLP laser (ALPD - Advanced Laser Phosphor Display) light engine delivers a specified 1,200 ANSI lumens brightness. It can beam images up to 180 inches, which is impressive for a projector this small, and has both auto and manual keystone correction and focus. I found the auto focus to be very effective, but also found it best to use manual keystone correction.

The Atom’s Google TV smart platform features major streaming services including Netflix, Disney Plus and Prime Video. It has Google Voice Assistant for voice control and Chromecast for a wireless connection to phones and tablets. Physical connections include one HDMI port for video only and one USB-A port.

Both the HDR10 and HLG high dynamic range formats are supported, but only through the built-in streaming apps and not HDMI or USB. There is also support for 4K input, which is downscaled to the Atom’s native Full HD resolution. For audio, the Atom features 2 x 5W speakers.

  • Design & features: 4/5

Dangbei Atom projector review: Picture & sound quality

Danbei Atom displaying Elemental

Where the Dangbei Atom's picture succeeds most is with brighter, more colorful images, such as from movies like Elemental (pictured) (Image credit: Future)
  • Bright, colorful image
  • Picture lacks detail
  • Passably good sound

For my testing of the Atom, I used an 80-inch, 1.0 gain matte white Optoma screen. Measuring the Atom’s brightness on a 10% white window pattern, it hit 109 nits in Movie mode – a significant step-up compared to the LG CineBeam Q, which hit 60 nits in Filmmaker Mode, but lower than the JMGO N1S Pro 4K, which hit 161 nits.

The Atom’s main strength is its surprisingly bright out-of-the-box image, which served more colorful scenes well. Watching Elemental, streamed on Disney Plus in HD and HDR10, colors looked punchy, particularly in scenes where Ember created glass sculptures. In Star Wars: The Last Jedi’s throne room lightsaber fight, reds mostly looked accurate, but were slightly too vivid.

Dangbei’s projector did a solid job displaying sports. The Standard mode provided the best picture and motion handling when I watched a football game streamed from Prime Video – a welcome result as there are no motion adjustments to work with in the setup menu.

The Atom struggled with dark movies. Watching a 4K Blu-ray of The Batman revealed an acceptable balance between light and dark tones, but black levels were raised, looking more gray than black. (I measured the Atom's contrast ratio at 181:1.) Shadow detail was solid overall, with elements in clothing such as Batman’s chest plate still visible.

The Atom also struggled with textures. Throughout most viewing in Movie mode, these appeared soft, even by portable projector standards. In other picture modes, textures appeared too sharp, giving them a fake look, with few picture settings available to fix this.

The Atom’s dual 5W speakers don’t create a room-filling sound, but are solid enough considering the projector’s size. Watching the Batmobile/Penguin chase scene in The Batman, the sound was clear, and there was some impact during explosions and car crashes. However, the soundstage was narrow, and the bass was limited.

The Atom has a game mode for gaming, but that’s the only related feature. Playing Battlefield V was a perfectly fine experience, but some lag was noticeable. When I measured it, the Atom's input lag was 60.4ms, an average score for a portable projector that's not specifically designed for gaming.

  • Picture and sound quality: 3.5/5

Dangbei Atom projector review: Value

Dangbei Atom remote

The Dangbei Atom's included remote is typical for a Google TV remote. (Image credit: Future)
  • Smart features
  • Sleek design
  • Better priced rivals

Priced at $899 / £899 upon release, the Atom is nearly double the price of the Samsung Freestyle Gen 2 in the UK but doesn’t deliver twice the performance. (It's similarly priced in the US.) Even the LG CineBeam Q, a 4K portable projector, can be found for $799 / £799.

The Atom's price has since dropped to $699 / £699, which is more palatable for the smart features and performance it offers. LG's CineBeam Q and Samsung's Freestyle Gen 2 are still better value overall, but the Atom is still a decent enough portable projector.

  • Value score: 3.5/5

Should I buy the Dangbei Atom projector?

Dangbei Atom top

The Dangbei Atom can be taken anywhere thanks to its slim, light design. (Image credit: Future)

Buy it if...

You want a seriously portable projector
Thanks to its light weight and square design, the Dangbei Atom easily lends itself to on-the-go viewing.View Deal

You want a bright image
The Atom's picture thrives with bright, colorful scenes (think animation), which look great for a projector this size and price. View Deal

Don't buy it if...

You want the best value portable projector
Although priced well for its features, the Samsung Freestyle Gen 2 and LG CineBeam Q provide better bang for your buck. View Deal

You want a consistent picture
Although bright, the Atom's picture ultimately struggles, most notably with black levels and textures. View Deal

Also consider

LG CineBeam Q
The LG CineBeam Q delivers an excellent 4K resolution picture plus a comprehensive list of smart features for a portable projector. It's often priced the same or marginally higher than the Dangbei Atom, and is a better value. Read our full LG CineBeam Q review.

Samsung Freestyle Gen 2
The Samsung Freestyle Gen 2 isn't as bright as the Dangbei Atom, but it's more well-featured and its picture quality is better overall. Plus, it's much cheaper in the UK. Read our full Samsung Freestyle Gen 2 projector review.

Xgimi MoGo 3 Pro
Cheaper than the Dangbei Atom, the Xgimi MoGo 3 Pro offers a lot of the same features and better performance for less. Its not as portable or bright as the Atom, but those are the only places it falls short. Read our full Xgimi MoGo 3 Pro review.

How I tested the Dangbei Atom projector

Dangbei Atom projecting Google TV home screen

(Image credit: Future)
  • Tested with an Optoma 80-inch, 1.0 gain matte white screen
  • Tested using Blu-ray, streaming sources
  • Measurements taken using Portrait Displays' Calman calibration software

To test the Dangbei Atom, I used streaming and disc sources. Watching reference scenes, I tested the Atom's picture quality, focusing on color accuracy, black levels, brightness and contrast, and textures.

To record measurements for color and grayscale accuracy, brightness, and contrast ratio, I used a colorimeter, test pattern generator and Portrait Displays' Calman color calibration software.

The Atom was primarily tested in pitch-black conditions in TechRadar's testing room. It was also tested in varying lighting conditions to see how it would handle ambient light in other viewing situations.

Audio-Technica announces limited edition Star Wars themed ATH-CKS50TW2 earbuds
12:24 am | March 28, 2025

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

Premium audio brand Audio-Technica has announced limited edition Star Wars themed versions of its ATH-CKS50TW2 wireless earbuds to mark the Star Wars Celebration, which takes place in Japan this year. The Mandalorian Grogu The limited edition earbuds will be available in four different variants. The Mandalorian edition will feature a metallic silver and gray to match the masked bounty hunter's armor. Next is the Grogu edition, which naturally features a green and beige color scheme to match the beloved character. On the other side of the spectrum is the...

I reviewed the LG C5 OLED TV for over a week, and it’s one of the best TVs of the year – but with one big reason not to buy it yet
10:13 pm | March 19, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Televisions | Tags: , , , | Comments: Off

LG C5 OLED TV review: Two minute review

The LG C5 is a feature-packed, mid-range OLED TV that continues the LG C-series legacy of offering real bang for your buck. Launching at $2,699.99 / £2,699.99 / AU$4,299, the 65-inch model I tested is priced exactly the same as its predecessor, the LG C4, one of the best TVs of 2024.

The LG C5 comes with a host of new AI features and an Alpha 9 Gen 8 AI Processor that leads to a modest picture brightness boost over its predecessor. LG’s C-series continues to lead the way when it comes to features in a mid-range OLED, and while there are not many new additions, it carries over what made the C4 great.

Picture quality is superb on the LG C5. Its vibrant, accurate color, strong contrast, and lifelike textures all combine to rival what you see on the best OLED TVs. Motion handling is good overall, but I did find some scenes where the C5 stumbled. (This was fixed with a quick trip to the picture settings.) One area where the C5 struggles is screen reflections in well-lit environments, which can impact darker images. It looks brilliant when viewed in dimmed conditions, however.

Sound quality has never been a strong point of LG C-series OLED TVs, and while the C5’s built-in 2.2-channel Dolby Atmos system sounds punchy and well-balanced, it won’t beat one of the best soundbars, which I’d recommend for the C5.

The C5 is easily going to be one of the best gaming TVs of 2025. It has a full suite of gaming features, including 4K 144Hz, VRR, ALLM and Dolby Vision gaming, smooth and responsive performance, and a ton of cloud gaming options for those without a console.

LG’s webOS 25 is the C5’s smart TV platform and alongside the previously mentioned new AI features, it continues to be one of the better interfaces on the market. Quick Cards in webOS 25 is a useful feature and LG’s Quick Menu continues to be excellent for those who like to regularly adjust picture settings.

The C5’s design is basic and safe, though a faux-marbled rear panel, solid aluminum stand, and trim profile help to give it a premium appearance. LG’s new AI Magic Remote is sleeker and more modern looking than previous Magic Remote versions but is only available in select regions.

LG C-series OLEDs are regularly among the best TVs when it comes to value for money. While pricey at launch, they will become more affordable over time as prices drop. It’s hard to ignore, however, that the still-available LG C4 is the better value option after numerous price drops as the C5 is only an incremental upgrade. Still, for anyone looking for a new TV, the C5 is a fantastic option.

LG C5 OLED TV review: Prices & release date

LG C5 with AI Voice search on screen

The LG C5 shows accurate colors (Image credit: Future)
  • Release date: March 2025
  • 42-inch: $1,399.99 / £1,399.99 / AU$2,199
  • 48-inch: $1,599.99 / £1,499.99 / AU$2,499
  • 55-inch: $1,999.99 / £1,899.99 / AU$3,299
  • 65-inch: $2,699.99 / £2,699.99 / AU$4,299
  • 77-inch: $3,699.99 / £3,699.99 / AU$5,999
  • 83-inch: $5,399.99 / £5,799.99 / AU$7,999

The LG C5 was released in March 2025. It is the mid-range series in LG’s 2025 OLED TV range, sitting above the LG B5 and below the flagship LG G5 and LG M5 series. It is available in 42 to 83-inch screen sizes.

Launch pricing for the LG C5 is nearly identical to that of its predecessor, the LG C4, except for the 42-inch model, which is $100 cheaper in the US. All other sizes in the US, UK and Australia have exactly the same launch price as the C4.

LG C5 OLED TV review: Specs

LG C5 OLED TV review: Benchmark results

LG C5 OLED TV review: Features

LG C5 ports

The LG C5's connections include 4 HDMI 2.1 ports (Image credit: Future)
  • Alpha a9 Gen 8 AI Processor
  • New AI features including AI Sound Wizard
  • Four HDMI 2.1 ports with up to 144Hz support

The LG C5 uses the same OLED Evo (EX) panel as its predecessor, the LG C4. It features LG’s upgraded Alpha a9 Gen 8 AI processor, which introduces new AI capabilities (more on those below) as well as a Brightness Booster that is not supported in the smaller 42- and 48-inch models. The C4 supports the Dolby Vision high dynamic range format, but not HDR10+. It also supports the Dolby Atmos and DTS:X sound formats.

For audio, the C5 features the same 2.2-channel, 40W Dolby Atmos built-in speaker system as the previous C4. Its range of sound modes includes Standard, Cinema and AI Sound Pro, as well as a new AI Sound Wizard (more on that below).

LG TVs are typically well-equipped for gaming and the C5 is no exception. While there are no upgrades from its predecessor, it still carries a full-suite of gaming features including 4K 144Hz, VRR (AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync), HGiG, Dolby Vision gaming and ALLM. It also features a Game Optimizer mode where settings can be adjusted, including a boost mode to reduce input lag.

LG C5 with AI Voice search on screen

The LG C5 comes with a number of AI features, such as AI Search, AI Concierge and more. (Image credit: Future)

The LG C5 uses the latest iteration of LG’s smart TV platform, webOS 25. This offers a plethora of AI capabilities including AI Search, an advanced search feature that looks for content based on the user’s criteria and questions; AI Concierge, where content is recommended based on a user’s viewing history; and an AI Art feature where users can create AI artworks (creating artworks cost credits that can be bought, but 100 credits are provided to start with).

Alongside AI Picture Wizard, a feature that lets users create a personalized picture mode based on visual prompts, LG has introduced AI Sound Wizard, a similar feature where users react to audio clips to establish a personal sound profile. For the home screen, Quick Cards (a feature introduced in webOS 24 that lets users organize apps based on categories such as Sports, Games, etc.) has been further streamlined.

  • Features score: 5/5

LG C5 OLED TV review: Picture quality

LG C5 with Elemental on screen

The LG C5 delivers bold, vibrant and dynamic colors, as shown on Disney's Elemental. (Image credit: Future)
  • Vibrant color and strong contrast
  • Superb detail
  • Reflections in brighter environments

The LG C5’s peak HDR brightness (measured on a 10% white window) was 1,180 nits in Filmmaker Mode and 1,198 nits in Standard mode. Those results are an increase over the LG C4, which hit 1,065 nits and 925 nits in Filmmaker and Standard modes, respectively. Fullscreen HDR brightness (measured on a 100% white pattern) was between 195-200 nits, a slight drop from its C4 predecessor.

The LG C5’s upscaling of lower-resolution sources is impressive. An HD stream of Fight Club that I watched on Disney Plus got both a brightness and sharpness boost, giving the picture a 4K-like makeover. For standard-definition content (480p and below), the C5’s upscaling also managed to clean up textures, though they were still understandably on the fuzzy side.

Color on the LG C5 is superb. Watching a Dolby Vision stream of Elemental on Disney Plus, colors looked vibrant and dynamic, particularly in the scenes where Ember demonstrates her glass-making abilities and dances across the shimmering minerals. Another Dolby Vision stream, of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, showcased an abundance of reds in the throne room fight scene, which were displayed with real clarity and punch.

When I measured the C5’s HDR color gamut coverage, it hit 99.4% of the UHDA-P3 color space and 75.1% of BT.2020. These are both superb results and explain the C5’s excellent color.

LG C5 with The Batman on screen

The LG C5 has superb contrast between bright and dark tones, as shown here in The Batman. (Image credit: Future)

Shadow detail and contrast were also brilliant on the C5. Watching the opening crime scene investigation sequence on a 4K Blu-ray of The Batman, detail in clothing was maintained in even the darkest of scenes without compromising deep blacks. In the same sequence, the bright lamps and torches contrasted well with the dark surroundings, with an accurate balance between bright and dark tones. Also, aerial shots of Gotham displayed punchy highlights in street lamps and neon signs while still maintaining the murky, dark tones in the surrounding buildings.

In the black and white scenes in Oppenheimer, shadows and highlights looked refined and authentic, with a wide range of gray tones in between. For these scenes, I turned Dynamic Tone Mapping on (it’s off by default in Filmmaker Mode), which gave white highlights a bolder, brighter look without sacrificing the balance of the gray and black tones.

I found that textures and details were refined and lifelike in pretty much all my viewing on the C5. Facial features and skin tones looked accurate, particularly in close-up shots in movies such as The Batman and Top Gun: Maverick. Textures in objects and clothing were also realistic and gave pictures a real sense of depth.

LG C5 with snow covered fence on screen

The LG C5's textures and details are refined and natural. (Image credit: Future)

Motion is well handled on the C5. The intense flight sequences and long panning shots in Top Gun: Maverick looked smooth with only minimal blurring. I did find that the C5 struggled in some scenes, such as a panning shot of a rocky landscape in No Time To Die, but turning on Cinematic Movement in the TruMotion picture settings helped with this.

For viewing sports, I generally found Standard picture mode with TruMotion set to Natural to be the best option. With these settings active, back-and-forth action during a football game was accurately displayed. Those wanting a ‘smoother’ look can choose their own de-blur and de-judder settings, though I found it was best to keep these numbers low (around 3).

One area where the LG C5 does struggle is with reflections. With overhead lights on in our testing room, screen glare was very obvious compared to the best mini-LED TVs and more premium OLEDs such as the LG G4 and Samsung S95D, and resulted in a loss of black depth and shadow detail in darker scenes.

  • Picture quality score: 4.5/5

LG C5 OLED TV review: Sound quality

LG C5 with AI Personalized sound wizard on screen

The new Personalized Sound Wizard is a useful tool, but doesn't quite beat the built-in sound presets. (Image credit: Future)
  • 2.2-channel Dolby Atmos speaker system
  • Clear, detailed sound but limited bass
  • New AI Sound Wizard is hit-and-miss

The LG C5’s built-in 2.2-channel, 40W speaker array supports the Dolby Atmos and DTS:X (via pass-through) sound formats, and its AI Sound Pro mode upmixes soundtracks to 11.1.2 channels – a step-up from the C4’s 9.1.2-channel upmixing.

My default choice for sound modes on TVs is usually the Movie/Cinema preset. With this active, placement of screeching tires and swerving traffic during the Batmobile chase in The Batman was accurate and well connected to the action on screen. There was a decent level of bass and good rumble to the Batmobile’s engine, but it still felt restrained compared to some of the best TVs for sound, such as the Sony Bravia 8. Dolby Atmos height effects were also limited and the soundstage could have been wider.

Interestingly, I found myself drawn to the TV’s AI Sound Pro mode. When activating this in the same scene of The Batman, everything was enhanced: the soundstage became wider and deeper, and bass, while still limited, was more tightly controlled. The overall sound was brighter, which some people may not like, but it felt more immersive. Still, the C5 could benefit from one of the best Dolby Atmos soundbars to complement its picture.

One of the new AI features in webOS 25 is AI Sound Wizard (the audio equivalent of the AI Picture Wizard). This lets you create a personal sound mode, which is done by listening to different audio clips to select your preferred sound profile. I tested three different profiles: Balanced, Natural and Rich, and Rich and Vivid but found they were all a little flat-sounding and still preferred the AI Sound Pro and Movie presets. Still, having that level of customization available is appreciated.

  • Sound quality score: 4/5

LG C5 OLED TV review: Design

Image 1 of 2

LG C5 with AI Voice search on screen

(Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 2

LG C5 rear panel with marble effect

(Image credit: Future)
  • Sleek, premium design
  • Solid, decent stand
  • New AI Magic Remote, but only for some regions

The LG C5’s design is what you’d expect from a mid-range OLED TV. Its slim frame gives it a sleek look, with a trim profile and bezel-less screen that allows the picture to take center stage. The connections, including four HDMI 2.1 ports, are all easily accessible on the side of the screen – something you don’t always find in TVs from other brands.

The C5 doesn’t beat the premium design of flagship OLEDs such as the Samsung S95D or the Philips OLED909, but it has a solid aluminium pedestal stand and a new AI Magic Remote (only available in select regions, including the US) that’s sleeker, with a matte finish, a less cluttered layout and new AI Home Hub and Accessibility buttons. UK users will have to settle for a slightly updated version of the old Magic Remote which looks the same (even the numbered buttons are still present) but does come with the new buttons.

  • Design score: 4.5/5

LG C5 OLED TV review: Smart TV & menus

LG C5 with webOS 25 home menu on screen

LG's webOS continues to be one of the best smart TV platforms on the market. (Image credit: Future)
  • webOS 25 smart TV platform
  • Quick Cards in home menu
  • Extensive AI features

The C5 uses LG’s webOS smart TV platform. The latest iteration, webOS 25, mainly adds a ton of AI features, including AI Search, AI Concierge, AI Art and AI Sound Wizard. There are also upgrades and improvements to the AI Chatbot introduced in webOS 24.

When I posed questions to the Chatbot about improving picture brightness or sound, it provided advice on how to make those improvements. It struggled with more in-depth questions, but is still undeniably a good tool for some users.

LG has taken customization and personalization a step further with the new Voice ID, which is a very useful feature for families. The C5 supports multiple profiles to make sure content recommendations and settings are personal for each user, and if Voice ID is enabled, webOs will automatically recognise who is talking and adjust to that user accordingly.

LG C5 with Game Quick Card on screen

Quick Cards, such as the Game one shown here, are still a great way to organise apps based on certain categories. (Image credit: Future)

Elsewhere, webOS 25 retains the Quick Cards feature, which provides useful hubs for categories such as Sports, Game and Accessibility. Choosing your favorite teams in Sports will link to any live or upcoming games, scores, and related content from YouTube and other streaming sites. The home screen’s layout looks very similar to webOS 24 and while the large banner image at top is annoying, the overall layout is user-friendly.

LG stands tall above the competition primarily through its Quick Menu, where settings can be quickly adjusted without moving away from the action on screen. There are plenty of picture and sound settings for those who like to experiment, and they are organized in a way that’s not too overwhelming for more casual users.

  • Smart TV & menus score: 4.5/5

LG C5 OLED TV review: Gaming

LG C5 with Battlefield V and Game Bar on screen

The LG C5 is a brilliant TV for gaming with responsive performance and handling with games such as Battlefield V (pictured). (Image credit: Future)
  • Full suite of gaming features
  • Game Optimizer menu
  • 9.2ms input lag time

The LG C5 is an excellent gaming TV. Its full suite of features include 4K 144Hz, VRR (both AMD FreeSync Premium and Nvidia G-Sync), HGiG, Dolby Vision gaming and ALLM support, all across four HDMI 2.1 ports. There is also a Game Optimizer mode where gaming settings can be adjusted, and the home menu’s Game Quick Card houses cloud-based gaming apps such as Amazon Luna and Nvidia GeForce Now as well as other gaming features and settings.

Gaming performance on the C5 is superb. Playing Battlefield V on Xbox Series X, intense battle sequences that required fast movement and targeting felt smooth, resulting in a seamless gaming experience with no screen tearing or blur. The C5’s picture quality added an extra layer to the game, displaying gorgeous visuals filled with vibrant color, stunning contrast and refined detail.

  • Gaming score: 5/5

LG C5 OLED TV review: Value

Image 1 of 2

LG C5 AI Magic Remote

The latest LG AI Magic Remote has a design change from previous generations. But it's only available in certain regions including the US. (Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 2

LG C5 Magic Remote with AI button

UK users will have to settle for the original Magic Remote with a new AI button instead. (Image credit: Future)
  • Feature-packed for the price
  • Premium performance
  • LG C4 still available for significantly cheaper

LG’s C-series OLED is always tough to judge on value. On the one hand, it’s a feature-packed TV with nearly everything you could need for movies and gaming and an excellent set of smart features to match. Although we have no 2025 model prices yet for the C5’s usual mid-range Samsung, Sony and Panasonic OLED competitors, the C5 is most likely to deliver the best bang for your buck of the lot.

On the other hand, while boasting a slight brightness boost and a new set of AI features, the C5 is very similar to its C4 predecessor. At the time of writing, the 65-inch C5 I tested will set you back $2,699.99 / £2,699.99 (at launch), whereas a 65-inch C4 now costs $1,499.99 / £1,499.99 – a very significant price difference. The price gap between the C4 and its C3 predecessor was easier to justify as the new model was such a step-up, but the same can’t be said for the C5.

However, the C5 is undeniably an excellent TV that justifies its price. Prices are also sure to drop over the coming months, but while the C4 is still available, that’s the model we’d recommend. Once it’s gone, though, the C5 is a worthy replacement.

  • Value score: 4/5

Should I buy the LG C5 OLED TV?

LG C5 with landscape shot of city at night on screen

(Image credit: Future)

Buy it if...

You want exceptional picture quality
With the LG C5's amazing contrast, bold colors and realistic detail, it feels more premium than its mid-range status suggests. View Deal

You want an OLED for gaming
With a full stock of gaming features, superb performance and a picture to match, the C5 is a perfect gaming TV. View Deal

You want an intuitive smart TV platform
webOS 25 is user-friendly with a great menu layout and now comes with a load of AI features that some will find very useful. View Deal

Don't buy it if...

You own the LG C4
While it is a great TV, the LG C5 is only an incremental upgrade over last year's LG C4. If you own the C4, you won't need to buy the C5. View Deal

You want HDR10+ support
The C5 supports Dolby Vision but does not support HDR10+, which is becoming a more widely used HDR format on streaming services. View Deal

You want the best built-in sound
While the C5's sound will be fine for most people, it doesn't match the C5's other aspects such as picture quality. View Deal

Also Consider

LG C4
The LG C4 is the C5's predecessor and while the C5 has some AI upgrades and other new features, the C4 is a very similar TV that delivers the same versatility and can now be found for a significantly cheaper price. Read our full LG C4 review.

LG G4
The LG G4 is the flagship 2024 OLED TV for LG, and it delivers higher brightness, better picture quality and better built-in sound than the mid-range C-series. You do usually have to pay a more premium price for the G-series, but at the time of writing, the C5 will be pricier at launch. Read our full LG G4 review.

Sony Bravia 8
Sony's mid-range OLED TV, the Bravia 8, is one of the LG C-series' closest rivals, offering similar picture quality but better built-in sound than the C-series. However, LG's C-series models offer better gaming performance and features and a better smart TV platform. This choice will come down to preference and price. Read our full Sony Bravia 8 review.

How I tested the LG C5 OLED TV

LG C5 with testing equipment connected

(Image credit: Future)
  • Tested over a week
  • Tested using SDR and HDR sources
  • Measurements taken using Portrait Displays' Calman color calibration software

I first began testing the LG C5 OLED TV over a couple of days with casual viewing to determine its most accurate picture and sound modes.

After this, I moved on to critical viewing, using reference scenes from movies and TV shows. This included SDR sources (broadcast TV, HD streaming, DVD) and HDR (4K streaming and 4K Blu-ray). I used these to test the C5's picture quality, looking at elements such as color, black levels, contrast, detail, motion and upscaling.

I used a Panasonic DP-UB820 4K Blu-ray player when playing discs including 4K Blu-ray. I also used an Xbox Series X to test the TV's gaming features and performance.

LG C5 with testing equipment attached and man testing

(Image credit: Future)

Moving onto objective testing, I took measurements using a colorimeter, test pattern generator and Portrait Displays' Calman color calibration software to record measurements.

I first took measurements of the C5's brightness using both HDR and SDR white window patterns ranging in size from 1-100%. I also tested the C5's grayscale and color accuracy, taking an average of the Delta-E values (the margin of error between the test pattern source and what's shown on screen), looking for a result below 3.

I also tested the C5's coverage of the UHDA-P3 and BT.2020 color spaces. Finally, I used a Leo Bodnar 4K HDMI Input lag Tester to test the C5's input lag in milliseconds.

You can read an in-depth overview of how we test TVs at TechRadar at that link.

The Electric State could have been a great Netflix sci-fi movie, but it’s just more evidence that it’s Marvel or bust for the Russo brothers
6:01 pm | March 7, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Netflix Streaming | Tags: | Comments: Off

It's not easy being a Russo brothers fan. On the one hand, the venerable filmmakers are not only responsible for directing some of the best Marvel movies ever made but also for helming two of the top three most-profitable films of all time in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.

The siblings have struggled to replicate that success outside of the Marvel sandbox, though. Yes, there have been notable wins in a producing capacity, such as 2024's multi-award-winning Everything Everywhere All at Once; but the critical and/or commercial failure of the other projects they're attached to, including Citadel on Prime Video, Cherry on Apple TV+, and The Gray Man on Netflix, outweigh those triumphs.

It's on the last of those streaming services that The Electric State will attempt to arrest that slide. Unfortunately, Netflix's latest sci-fi spectacle is another generic, narratively dull flick that adds more weight to the argument that it's Marvel or bust for Joe and Anthony Russo.

Rise (and fall) of the robots

A vehicle being driven down a road with a giant dead robot on the roadside in Netflix's The Electric State movie

The Electric State opens with a prologue that isn't in its graphic novel namesake (Image credit: Netflix)

It's 1994. On an alternate-reality planet Earth, two years have passed since the Human-Robot War ended. That conflict, started by the Worldwide Robot Rebellion led by the Robot Equality Coalition's de-facto leader Mr. Peanut (voiced by Woody Harrelson), drew to a close after Sentre Technologies CEO Ethan Skate's (Stanley Tucci) Neurocaster invention turned the tide in humanity's favor.

In the present, these devices have been repurposed for consumer and educational means to allow Neural Bifurcation, which lets a person's mind be in two places at once. Picture a clunkier version of any real virtual reality (VR) device, such as the Meta Quest 3S or Apple Vision Pro, and you'll get the idea.

Netflix's adaptation frustratingly casts aside the book's biggest strengths

Some haven't become addicted to Skate's creation, though – including headstrong and cynical orphan Michelle (Millie Bobby Brown). A technophobe at heart, Michelle's isolated life is turned upside down when a robot version of Kid Cosmo – the android hero of a cartoon that Michelle watched with her genius younger brother before he died – suddenly shows up and convinces Michelle that he's her brother. Thus begins a cross-country road trip as Michelle and her new robot companion try to track down her human sibling.

Michelle and Kid Cosmo watching a video projected onto a screen in Netflix's The Electric State movie

I was unmoved by all aspects of Michelle and Kid Cosmo/her brother's relationship (Image credit: Netflix)

Narratively, The Electric State's setup isn't dissimilar to the graphic novel it's based on. Its literary namesake, written and illustrated by Swedish artist Simon Stålenhag, also tells the tale of a teenager who, with the aid of a sentient robot, searches for her lost brother in a technologically ravaged United States.

Disappointingly, that's where the commonalities end. Stålenhag's original work is as profound as it is gorgeous; its stunning imagery belying its thematic exploration of artificial intelligence (AI). This topic is not only particularly timely, but also permeates the graphic novel's understated, introspective, and mystery-filled story.

Netflix's adaptation frustratingly casts aside the book's biggest strengths. Instead of letting The Electric State's important ideas percolate, the streaming giant prioritizes a brash, big-budget spectacle that, while it'll appeal to a wider audience, is all style and little substance.

There are world-building aspects that pleased me. The individual designs of the robot ensemble are creatively satisfying, and the care taken to perfectly and precisely capture the art that inhabits The Electric State's pages is wonderful to see. It's just a pity that the rest of Stålenhag's novel wasn't afforded the same luxury.

Playing the part

Michelle and John hiding in an underground storage facility in Netflix's The Electric State movie

Michelle teams up with John Keats, a former army sergeant who fought in the Human-Robot War (Image credit: Netflix)

That lack of substance applies to the characters who populate one of March's new Netflix movies.

I won't say Brown has been typecast as Michelle. However, while The Electric State's human protagonist plays to her strengths as an actor, it's yet another role that tasks her with playing a teenage rebel. Brown's acting back catalog already includes characters of that ilk, such as Strangers Things' Eleven, the eponymous hero of the Enola Holmes film franchise, and Elodie in Damsel, so it's dissatisfying to see that she isn't given a different or more expansive role to sink her teeth into.

Michelle is yet another role that tasks Brown with playing a teenage rebel

Brown isn't the only actor who fits the archetypal character mold. As army sergeant-turned-black marker smuggler John Keats, Chris Pratt finetunes his acting paradigm as a wisecracking, lovable buffoon-style individual. Giancarlo Esposito's Colonel Bradbury, a so-called hero of the Human-Robot War, is equally at home as he tackles his latest complex villain role. Bradbury is tasked with tracking down Michelle and her automated bestie by Skate, the movie's secondary antagonist.

Colonel Bradbury and Ethan Skate standing opposite each other in Netflix's The Electric State movie

Colonel Bradbury and Ethan Skate are the film's two main antagonists (Image credit: Netflix)

And therein lies the biggest issue I had with The Electric State's casting. The aforementioned trio, along with Tucci's latest turn as an arrogant and unlikable evil-doer, aren't terrible choices for the characters they play. Their performances aren't unwatchable, either – apart from being lukewarm to Michelle and John's undercooked dynamic, I'd say all of them deliver mid-tier to solid performances. Heck, I'll even admit I was entertained by Keats' odd-couple dynamic with his own robot bestie Herman (voiced by Anthony Mackie). Sure, the MCU veterans occasionally ham it up, but the dysfunctional levity and occasional heartfelt moments they bring to the table are worth mentioning.

The dysfunctional levity and occasional heartfelt moments Pratt and Mackie bring to the table are worth mentioning

Nevertheless, I would've preferred to see Brown and company flex their acting muscles in roles they're not used to portraying. Nobody expected Malcolm in the Middle's Bryan Cranston, who played the sitcom's well-meaning but inept father, Hal, to deliver one of the most compelling anti-hero performances of all time as Walter White in Breaking Bad. To that end, I would've enjoyed The Electric State far more if, say, Pratt had played someone like Skate and Esposito was given the chance to break his own acting mold as Keats.

Crossed wires

John stepping onto Herman's right hand during a battle in Netflix's The Electric State movie

The Electric State's action is par for the course (Image credit: Netflix)

Given its retro-futuristic and dystopian sci-fi vibes, not to mention its explicit sociopolitical commentary on AI and autonomous robots, it would be easy to compare The Electric State to similar genre fare, such as the Terminator and The Matrix franchises.

The Electric State lacks the childlike wonder and awe that perfuse those classic Steven Spielberg-directed features

It was The Electric State's clear homage to fan-favorite Amblin movies from the 80s, though, that I immediately picked up on. It doesn't mask its respect for those classic flicks, either – indeed, that much is obvious by its not-so-subtle tribute to E.T: The Extra Terrestrial upon Kid Cosmo's introduction.

That said, The Electric State's attempts to reproduce the magic those timeless Amblin movies capture are substandard at best. It lacks the childlike wonder and awe that perfuse those fantastical Steven Spielberg-directed features. While Star Wars: Skeleton Crew didn't perform as well as I expected on Disney+, the latest small-screen adventure set in the Star Wars universe did a better job of recreating that unmistakable Amblin aura.

Michelle, Keats, and Doctor Amherst looking unimpressed and worried in The Electric State

The Electric State fails to capture the magic of the 80s sci-fi movies that inspired its look and feel (Image credit: Netflix)

But there's one comparison above all others that cements my overall dislike for The Electric State's movie adaptation, and that's with Tales of the Loop. (TftL).

Amazon's criminally underrated anthology series of another of Stålenhag's eye-catching works did right by its source material. Its depiction of TftL's 'new weird' setting, disquieting tonality, stunning cinematography, and beguiling individual stories that are not only loosely linked but also richly rewarding in their exploration of human connection and curiosity, was as enthralling as it was heart-breaking. To say I was enraptured by TftL would be an understatement

The Electric State is sorely lacking in all of those departments. Would it have harmed its creative vision if, say, it had been shot like movies of yesteryear to elicit an 80s or 90s film-grain aesthetic? This style is used, briefly, during the film's prologue sequence, so why not use it throughout to evoke that nostalgic moviemaking feeling and present Stålenhag's world in a creative light?

As for the aforementioned prelude: sometimes it's better not to spell out everything for your audience. The beauty of Stålenhag's works is that he leaves things open to readers' interpretation to let their imaginations run wild. The Electric State's extensive, expository preamble robs us of the opportunity to wonder why the robots rebelled in the first place, how the war shook out, and more. Sometimes, less is just better.

My verdict

Even though I wasn't sure what to make of it when its first-look images dropped, I really wanted to like The Electric State. But, as this review suggests, it's a fault-riddled flick that doesn't justify its expensive assembly. Its genre wires get crossed too often, it lacks emotional weight, its pacing is incredibly jarring (the middle act is an absolute drag), and – worst of all – it rehashes classic storytelling tropes that have been done better elsewhere. Suffice it to say, it won't be joining our best Netflix movies guide.

I'm sure the Russo brothers will come good with a non-MCU project. That won't happen for a while, though, as the pair prepare to helm two more Marvel films in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. For now, unfortunately, this is not the robot odyssey everyone's been waiting for.

The Electric State releases exclusively on Netflix on Friday, March 14.

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