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I spent a month testing the affordable, feature-packed TCL QM6K mini-LED TV, and the picture is great for the price
3:00 pm | March 22, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Televisions | Tags: , , | Comments: Off

TCL QM6K: Two-minute review

Affordable Premium is the modus operandi of the TCL QM6K TV, and it fits that bill quite well. It offers a handful of features that you won’t find on budget TVs like Dolby Vision IQ and Dolby Atmos support. And the company’s own Halo Control technology does a great job of minimizing backlight blooming in pictures.

Combined with its affordable price, it should rank among the best TVs for those wanting to thread the needle between premium performance and value.

This TCL does have some shortcomings that may paint other, slightly more expensive TVs as worth the extra cash. The speakers aren’t all that great, though very few TVs have mastered this and you should get one of the best soundbars regardless. More concerning is the fact that the screen has some minor vignetting in the corners.

That said, those issues are very small ones that you probably won’t even notice if you’re not doing a head-to-head comparison. It mostly does everything right, especially from an end-user point of view. Its picture is vibrant and sharp. It has a speedy 144Hz refresh rate. And it’s easy to use.

TCL QM6K remote control held in hand

The TCL QM6K's remote control is sturdy and serviceable, but lacks a play/pause button for streaming (Image credit: Future)

TCL QM6K review: Price and release date

  • Release date: February 2025
  • 50-inch: $749.99
  • 55-inch: $799.99
  • 65-inch: $999.99
  • 75-inch: $1,299.99
  • 85-inch: $1,999.99
  • 98-inch: $2,999.99

The TCL QM6K series is TCL’s first TV release of 2025 and is only available in the US. The series ranges in size from 50 to 98 inches.

The 65-inch version I tested retails for $999.99, while the other models range from $749.99 to $2,999.99. At those prices, the value of the QM6K series is good, but all sizes are already seeing discounts, with the 65-inch model I tested now selling for around $800.

TCL QM6K review: Specs

TCL QM6K review: Benchmark results

TCL QM6K side panel ports

The QM6K's connections include two HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 144Hz support (Image credit: Future)

TCL QM6K review: Features

  • Dolby Vision IQ helps in bright rooms
  • IMAX Enhanced for IMAX content
  • Hands-free Google voice assistant

There’s quite a handful of features on offer here. I’ll touch on things like HDR, hands-free voice support, Halo Control, and the game accelerator in other sections, but there’s still plenty to talk about.

Dolby Vision IQ is something I always appreciate, but especially with this TCL since the only logical place for me to set it up was in a room that gets a lot of ambient light. What Dolby Vision IQ does is adjust the brightness of the TV according to the level of ambient light in your room so you can still see what’s on the screen when it’s bright, and then dim the picture for a more pleasurable viewing experience at night.

Along with the ‘Adaptive Brightness,’ as Dolby Vision IQ is called in the menu, you can toggle a blue light filter to minimize eye strain.

In the same vein as Dolby Vision IQ is the non-IQ version which adapts the brightness according to the content on the screen, whether it’s sports, a movie, or a video game. The QM6K also supports the HDR10+ high dynamic range format.

While there are the usual picture mode suspects including Filmmaker mode, there’s also an IMAX Enhanced mode to support IMAX content on 4K Blu-rays and streaming services such as Disney Plus.

  • Features Score: 4.5/5

TCL QM6K showing image of honey dripper

The QM6K's Halo Control technology is great at eliminating blooming effects in high-contrast pictures (Image credit: Future)

TCL QM6K review: Picture quality

  • Good color and contrast
  • Very good at eliminating blooming
  • Some minor vignetting in the corners

Our TCL QM6K benchmarks cite HDR peak brightness at 559.8 nits (Filmmaker mode) and 695.5 nits (Standard mode). For HDR fullscreen brightness, it measured 476.8 nits (Filmmaker mode) and 594.4 nits (Standard mode). Both of those results are about average for a budget mini-LED TV. For color gamut coverage, the QM6K benchmarked at 94.7% for UHDA P3 and 71.2% for BT.2020, both of which are average results.

In use, the results are more impressive, especially for those upgrading to mini-LED from an older standard LED TV. The QM6K’s brightness can’t quite outmatch the sun in a brightly lit room, and there are screen reflections, so be aware of that when figuring out the TV placement. However, it’s bright enough for most applications and the contrast with or without HDR (this TV supports Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+, HDR10, and HLG) not only allows colors to pop but also reveals shadow details in dimly lit scenes. I used the Disney movie Coco as a touchstone for colors and found that they were clear, distinct, and vibrant.

The QM6K’s 500 local dimming zones allow the backlight to turn off completely enough that deep blacks blend into the TV’s bezel. On a more budget TV, black might appear as more of a dark gray, but here it came across as a true, deep black.

On top of that, the QM6K utilizes TCL’s Halo Control technology so that bright objects on the screen won’t bleed into dark backgrounds, an effect referred to as halos or blooming. Sometimes, I find proprietary tech to be a gimmick or something that makes just a subtle difference. That’s not the case here. Halo Control technology performs exactly as advertised.

The QM6K has a native 120Hz refresh rate with up to 144Hz VRR (Variable Refresh Rate). Between this and the motion blur-related settings in the menu, programs were consistently pretty smooth looking. For instance, the testing of this TV started with a Super Bowl party via YouTube TV. The action on the field was clear and solid the entire time. I also did a little gaming and will discuss that below.

About the only issue I have with this TV’s picture quality is that there is some very minor vignetting in the corners of the screen. Now, if I’m looking at it head on, I can’t see it, but go off axis just a little bit and it’s fairly visible. It is millimeters of vignetting so you’ll barely notice it, but it’s there.

  • Picture quality score: 4/5

TCL QM6K back panel speakers

The back-mounted speakers in the QM6K's built-in 2.1-channel Onkyo speaker system (Image credit: Future)

TCL QM6K review: Sound quality

  • Built-in 2.1-channel Onkyo speaker system
  • Audio is boxy-sounding
  • Virtual spatial audio support

The sound quality on the TCL QM6K unfortunately doesn’t buck the trend slim modern TVs have with poor audio. Its 2.1-channel, 40W Onkyo speaker system is mostly good, but its limitations are also noticeable.

Highs are clear and have plenty of resolution and detail. If you’re watching a live performance like a Tiny Desks Concert on PBS, sounds like cymbals and flutes are properly reproduced. Also, dialogue is very easily understood, even without the dialogue boost available in the settings, as there’s a little bit of a mid-range boost. The mid-range is fairly rich and full, though a very noticeable frequency dip makes everything sound boxy and a bit cheap.

The bass is there but is fairly muted. Even though there’s a built-in subwoofer, you get just a little bit of low-end rumble. The soundstage is not exceptionally wide, being confined to the size of the TV’s screen, though the trajectory of sounds is accurately tracked.

Lastly, there is virtual processing for Dolby Atmos and DTS: X. It’s nice having these features on hand as it gives a sense of space to any supported content. But as is typically the case, the sound is limited by the physical confines of the speakers and their placement.

  • Sound quality score: 3.5/5

TCL QM6K support feet held in hand

The QM6K's support feet (Image credit: Future)

TCL QM6K review: Design

  • Relatively thin
  • Ports including two HDMI 2.1 with 144Hz support
  • No dedicated remote play/pause button

The TCL QM6K series comes in a wide range of screen sizes, so whether you want something for a smaller(ish) setup or a home theater, there are options.

From the front, there’s not a whole lot that sets it apart from the competition. The bezels are thin enough to disappear during viewing, except on the bottom where it’s a little thicker. It’s a little more interesting in the back where it has a slightly sloped shape that not only keeps it fairly thin but allows the two raised speaker ports situated near the top room to breathe. More importantly, its ports are situated so they face directly to the side for easy access.

As far as the ports go, there are four HDMI inputs (two HDMI 2.1 with one supporting eARC), an optical digital audio output, Ethernet and RF inputs, as well as USB 3.0 and USB 2.0.

Navigating the TV is mostly done through the remote. Most of the usual suspects (in terms of buttons) are here, from a directional wheel with a button in the center to settings, input source, and sponsored buttons (Netflix, etc.). There’s also a voice button for hands-free usage that in my testing mostly went well, though I apparently don’t always enunciate as clearly as it wants me to. The only thing I don’t like about the remote is that there’s no dedicated play/pause button for streaming.

  • Design score: 4/5

TCL QM6K Google TV home screen

The QM6K's Google TV smart interface (Image credit: Future)

TCL QM6K review: Smart TV and menus

  • Nice mix of recommended content on home page
  • Menu diving is easy
  • Hands-free voice control

The TCL QM6K uses Google TV for a Smart TV interface, and it’s a treat to use. While I’m used to the Roku or Apple TV way of interfacing – namely, a grid of app tiles – the Google TV Smart OS gives a nice variety of information, and is a less ad-filled OS than one would get with an Amazon Fire TV stick. The menu options are For You (you need to sign in with your Google Account to get tailored content recommendations here), Apps, TCL ( free content) plus a few other selections on the left side while the more utilitarian selections such as Settings are on the right.

Below that and taking up the upper half of the screen is a rotating carousel of featured content. Continuing below are various rows of content such as “previously watched,” installed apps, “continue watching,” genre groupings, and several other suggestions. The interesting thing is that most of the selections on the screen link to the actual content instead of the apps to get to the content, making things just a bit more convenient.

Of course, not everything is going to pop up on this main page, so you’ll still want to go digging if you’re like me and like more esoteric content. I subscribe to the Criterion Channel, for instance, and have yet to see any suggestions from that service pop up.

The settings menu, which is integrated into the Google TV Smart OS, is intuitive. So, despite there being a bunch of different settings to play with, from different modes, and contrast options, to presets like Gamma, I never got lost when I was in the menu settings.

Being a Google TV, hands-free voice control is available. Just say “Hey Google” to interact with the far-field mic array built into the TV if you don’t feel like messing with the remote.

  • Smart TV & menus score: 4/5

TCL QM6K showing game and game menu screen overlay

Gaming is smooth and responsive on the TCL QM6K (Image credit: Future)

TCL QM6K review: Gaming

  • Fast refresh rate that benefits even more from a game accelerator
  • Ation always looks smooth and clear
  • Has a dedicated settings menu when gaming

Gaming on the TCL QM6K TV is a treat. It not only has a 120Hz native refresh rate, but supports up to 4K 144Hz VRR (with Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync) and 288Hz at 1080p resolution. Our benchmarks show an input lag (Game mode) of 13.1ms, which is not the best we’ve seen, but in practice didn’t affect the gaming experience.

When testing the TV, I connected a PlayStation 5 and played several games including Uncharted Legacy of Thieves Collection (the only PS5 game I have been able to get to run at 120 fps), Ride 5, and Dead Island 2. As I discussed earlier, the colors are vibrant and the contrast lets images pop off the screen. No matter how fast the action, the gameplay was smooth and clear no matter if I was turning the corner on a course or trying to fight off an overwhelming horde of zombies.

It helped that when I turned on the PS5, the TV automatically changed to a Game Mode that also allowed me to mess with the refresh rate as well as turn on higher contrast settings. There’s also a dedicated ‘Game Master’ menu overlay that you can pull up using the remote to change settings without exiting the game. It’s a nice feature.

  • Gaming score: 4.5/5

TCL QM6K with accessories on floor

The QM6K with included accessories (Image credit: Future)

TCL QM6K review: Value

  • Punches above its weight in terms of value
  • Some comparable models with similar features
  • Better at eliminating blooming than other budget mini-LED TVs

The TCL QM6K punches above its weight in terms of value. And that’s even before considering the price has already dropped from the current $999 for the 65-inch size to around $800.

For comparison’s sake, the 65-inch version of the Hisense U7N is priced similarly at $999 and has many of the same features. It has higher peak and fullscreen brightness but also suffers from some backlight blooming – something TCL has managed to minimize with the TCL QM6K.

The Roku Pro Series TV fits into a similar value category but was released at a slightly higher price of $1,199 for the 65-inch. Of course, we’re seeing $400 off at the time of writing, which lets the Pro Series directly compete with the TCL. This TV also comes with some of the most important features like Dolby Vision IQ and has better sound thanks to a shadow box design that also allows for it to sit flush on the wall when mounted. However, the TCL again has that Halo Control tech and more extensive gaming support.

  • Value score: 4.5/5

TCL QM6K showing image of trumpet on screen

(Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the TCL QM6K?

Buy it if...

You want premium but at a value price
The TCL QM6K offers much more than cheaper TVs, and is a great upgrade for those who don’t want to spring for the price of a flagship TV.

You want an easy-to-use TV
Google TV and the settings menus are straightforward to navigate. Most people will find this TV easy to interact with.

You’re a gamer
Not only is there a 144Hz refresh rate but a gaming accelerator that upscales to double the refresh rate along with support for Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync

Don't buy it if…

You’re very fussy about picture quality
While the picture looks good, the slight vignetting and less-than-average brightness will be irksome if you’re used to looking at top-of-the-line TVs

You want a TV with great sound
The QM6K has good overall sound, but a slightly boxy quality makes it best paired with an external soundbar.

Also consider...

Roku Pro Series
The Roku Pro Series falls into a similar almost premium but reasonably priced category. While it has limited HDMI ports and the brightness is nothing to write home about, it has a wonderfully intuitive remote with hands-free voice control and a shadowbox design that not only allows for better sound but flat positioning when mounted.

Read our full Roku Pro Series review

Hisense U7N
The Hisense U7N might have some backlight blooming, unlike the TCL QM6K, and also suffers from poor audio quality. But it has quite a bit more brightness, not to mention many of the same features such as Dolby Vision IQ, 4K 144Hz support, and Google TV.

Read our full Hisense U7N review

Samsung Q60D
Samsung's budget QLED TV is cheaper than the TCL QM6K and delivers good overall picture quality, but lower brightness. This TV's Tizen smart interface is more sophisticated than the TCL's Google TV, and it also provides built-in cloud-gaming, which is a feature the TCL lacks.

Read our full Samsung Q60D review

Samsung QN900D showing test pattern

(Image credit: Future)

How I tested the TCL QM6K

  • I used the TCL QM6K TV for a month
  • Tested with both TV, movies, music, and games
  • Benchmark measurements conducted by Future US testing lab

I used the TCL QM6K TV regularly for a month, testing it with movies, TV shows, sports events and games. I tested the various features, such as Dolby Vision IQ, to see if they work as advertised. I also spent time listening to the audio as well as paying attention to the picture quality.

After spending some time with this TV, it’s clear that it is meant for more budget-minded consumers looking to upgrade to a premium experience but don’t want to spend quite what most flagship TVs go for.

I’ve tested a lot of tech gear over the years from laptops to keyboards and speakers, and so have been able to use my expertise towards giving an honest and fair opinion, not to mention a critical eye, to any product I test.

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

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 Honor Pad V9 is the mid-range, Android-powered iPad rival you’ve been looking for
7:16 pm | March 11, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Tablets | Tags: | Comments: Off

Honor Pad V9 review: One-minute review

It’s hard not to view the Honor Pad V9 through the lens of its potential as a rival to the new base-model iPad (2025) – it came out just days before (for roughly the same price), has comparable specs, and half of the best Android tablets on the market are trying to take on Apple’s market-dominating juggernauts, anyway.

The more I used the Honor Pad for this review, the more I recognized its strengths – it takes the basic iPad principle, strips away the unnecessary extras, and adds in some useful productivity tools.

Take, for example, performance: instead of burdening its tablet with more processing power than you’d ever practically be able to use, Honor has given the Pad V9 a more restrained mid-range processor. But it’s compensated with twice the storage of the basic iPad, and more RAM. From my testing, using the device felt as smooth and snappy as anyone would need it to.

Software is another important thing to note. In the tablet space, Android used to struggle compared to iOS, but a lot has changed in the last few years, with plenty of similar productivity and multi-screen features between the two operating systems. What's more, instead of burdening the slate with a million first-party apps that you may or may not ever use, Honor has only added a few useful apps to the default Pad V9 package. Some of these proved pivotal to my experience, too.

Specifically, there's a suite of pre-installed Microsoft Office-like apps that each offer some useful functions, like the ability to convert your docs into PDFs (or other file formats), compile documents from various apps, and also mark up PDFs. Where was this technology when I was doing my degree?

The Pad V9 is a dab hand at entertainment, too: it has eight speakers, unlike the iPad’s two, and I found it great for streaming music or creating a surround-sound effect when streaming movies and TV shows. The display, while only using LCD tech, supports a 144Hz refresh rate and 2.8K resolution, which should sate spec-heads.

Most of my gripes with the Honor Pad V9 are pretty minor, and ones you can level at the vast majority of Android tablets: there’s no 3.5mm headphone jack, you can’t expand the storage, and there are some irritating software quirks – I’m talking specifically about the weird design of the quick settings menu, which is unduly cramped.

Like its Apple rival, I can see the Pad V9 being useful to students, or people who need a lightweight business companion and think a laptop is too bulky. It’s not as fully featured as it needs to be to be classed as a creativity powerhouse, and it’s a bit too advanced for those who want a simple on-the-go movie tool. That said, a few extras over the new base-model iPad mean it manages to beat Apple’s tablet at its own game (on paper, at least – we're currently in the process of reviewing the latter).

Honor Pad V9 review: price and availability

The Honor Pad V9 on a bronze table.

(Image credit: Future)
  • Costs £399.99, but only on sale in limited regions
  • Bundled with some accessories, depending on region

You can pick up the Honor Pad V9 for £399.99 (roughly $515, AU$820) in the UK. At the time of writing, it’s only on sale in a handful of European countries, as well as in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, though Honor does sell some tech in the US and Australia.

The device you get varies by country. In the UK, there’s only one variant on sale, which has 8GB RAM and 256GB storage, and you get a flip cover and stylus included in the box. Other countries have different combinations of storage, memory, and bundled accessories. So, in the interests of fairness, I’ve treated the tablet as independent of its accessories when weighing up its value.

At the time of writing, Honor's website (in the UK, at least) doesn't actually list any accessories to buy individually. So make sure you don't lose or break the ones you get in the box, because replacements may be hard to find.

The price roughly puts the slate in the mid-range of Android tablets, a fact reflected in its positioning in Honor’s line-up: it beats the Honor Pad 9 and Honor Pad X9, but doesn’t match the Honor MagicPad 2. For context, Apple’s new base-model iPad starts at $349 / £329/AU$599 for 128GB storage.

Its price marks the Honor Pad V9 as pretty good value for money when you consider its specs and features. It doesn’t quite veer right into ‘drop what you're doing and buy it now!’ territory, but if you find a deal that reduces its price tag by a healthy margin, I'd say it's a must-buy.

The Honor Pad V9 was announced at the global tech expo MWC 2025 in February 2025, and went on sale shortly afterwards.

  • Value: 4 / 5

Honor Pad V9 review: specs

Here are the Honor Pad V9's specs at a glance:

Honor Pad V9 review: design

The Honor Pad V9 on a bronze table.

(Image credit: Future)
  • Lightweight and easy to carry or hold
  • USB-C port but no 3.5mm jack
  • Camera bump creates some wobble

Honor hasn't shaken up the tablet world with the V9's design, but it echoes the premium cleanliness of iPads (and most other Android tablets on the market right now).

The dimensions of the Honor Pad V9 are 259.1 x 176.1 x 6.1mm – yes, it’s nice and thin, so it won’t take up much space in a backpack. It weighs 475g, so it’s pretty light, and I found it easy to hold for long periods of time (at least, the length of time it takes to watch a movie in bed).

You can pick up the tablet in gray or white, and as you can see in the images included throughout this review, my sample was a gray model.

The Honor Pad V9 on a bronze table.

(Image credit: Future)

When holding the tablet in landscape, the power button is on the left edge while the volume rocker is on the top-left corner. There’s a USB-C port on the right edge but no headphone jack to speak of. Holding the slate in this orientation means that the front-facing camera is in the top bar of the bezel, which I find to be the best positioning for video calls.

On the back are two circular mounds. One, which barely sticks up from the surface of the slate, houses the flash, while the second holds the camera lens. It doesn’t stick too far up, but it does mean the slate has a little wobble when put flat on a table.

As far as I can tell, the Honor Pad V9 doesn’t have an IP rating against dust or water ingress, so keep it protected.

You can get some extra use out of the Pad V9 with some accessories; the slate supports a keyboard folio and a stylus, the latter of which comes with its own features. As mentioned, though, I didn’t receive either, so didn’t test them, and can only see them on sale in some regions. In other regions, they come bundled with the tablet in various combinations – it’s a bit confusing, in all honesty. If you can’t pick up the keyboard or stylus in your region, it’s very possible that third-party equivalents will go on sale before too long.

  • Design: 4 / 5

Honor Pad V9 review: display

The Honor Pad V9 on a bronze table.

(Image credit: Future)
  • Large 11.5-inch display
  • 1840 x 2800 resolution and 144Hz refresh rate
  • Range of eye comfort overlays

The Honor Pad V9 is pretty big, as mid-range Android tablets go – don’t go taking that ‘9’ in the title to be its screen size. Instead, the display measures 11.5 inches diagonally.

The display has a 2800 x 1840 pixel count, which is billed by Honor as a 2.8K resolution, and it supports a refresh rate of up to 144Hz (though you'll struggle to find an app or game that supports such a high figure). I couldn’t find a figure on the max brightness but suffice it to say, it’s really bright.

The screen uses LCD tech so it’s not got the same contrast or sharpness that your phone (or a more premium tablet) may have, but this kind of display is easier to see in direct sunlight if you’re working, say, in a well-lit cafe or coffee shop. And Honor is clearly pulling out all the stops to ensure it’s still valid as a streaming device.

The Honor Pad V9 on a bronze table.

(Image credit: Future)

The brand touts that the screen supports DCI-P3 color gamut and 10-bit color (basically, it can show a wide range of colors, making videos look realistic) and it’s also certified by IMAX Enhanced. This basically means that it reaches a set of standards in the visual and audio departments to accurately play IMAX content – this is mostly available on Disney Plus, according to IMAX’s website, though Bravia Core, iQIYI, and Rakuten TV also have some such content.

Like most rivals, Honor offers a few screen modes to benefit eye comfort or battery life. These include eBook mode (which makes the display grayscale), eye comfort (which reduces the prevalence of blue colors), and Dark mode (you've probably used this before, and it's a decent battery-saving option).

  • Display: 4.5 / 5

Honor Pad V9 review: software

The Honor Pad V9 on a bronze table.

(Image credit: Future)
  • Android 15 with MagicOS 9.0 laid over the top
  • Range of useful pre-baked working apps
  • A few user interface quirks to be ironed out

The default software for the Honor Pad V9 is MagicOS 9.0 – that’s Honor’s own skin, which is based on Android 15, and while it’s largely a graphical overhaul of Android, it brings a few useful extras.

One of these is Honor Docs, a pre-installed suite of document processing apps that look near-identical to the Microsoft Office equivalents (and may actually be them). There are extra tools, too, like the ability to convert various documents to PDF and the aggregation of documents across your tablet into one place, no matter their file format.

If you’re buying the Pad V9 for productivity reasons, I can see these tools being a core part of your user experience, and it was pretty handy to have them pre-installed on the tablet. They'll be especially useful for students, or people who already own Honor tech, as docs will be shared between devices.

The Honor Pad V9 on a bronze table.

(Image credit: Future)

Android software used to be poorly implemented on tablets, but in 2025, that’s not the case, with useful features that make the most of the large display size. It's still not perfect, though.

Case in point, the quick-settings menu on the Pad V9, which is summoned when you swipe down from the top-right edge of the screen, is unnecessarily cramped and clustered. It makes it rather hard to use, and I don’t see a reason why it has to be shoved so far to the side. Hopefully, an update can fix this. You can see it in the image above, and I don't understand why it can't be a bit wider to use more of the empty screen space.

All tech companies tout ‘AI features’ nowadays, and Honor has a few too, like the ability to create meeting minutes from your notes, summarize documents, or automatically add typesetting. They’re pretty light-touch, but that’s how I like it, and Honor hasn’t staked the entire use case of its tablet on a few AI features.

  • Software: 4 / 5

Honor Pad V9 review: performance and cameras

The Honor Pad V9 on a bronze table.

(Image credit: Future)
  • MediaTek Dimensity 8350 Elite offers middling processing power
  • 8GB RAM and 256GB storage (depending on region)
  • Impressive octo-speaker offering

Powering the Honor Pad V9 is a MediaTek chipset called the Dimensity 8350 Elite. Despite the name, this is a mid-range chipset that we’ve seen in a few Oppo phones and tablets before.

Multi-core benchmark results attest to this: over multiple tests, I got an average score of 4409, while the best chipsets on phones and tablets right now reach up to 6000. That goes to show that this is a tablet designed more for streaming and working than intensive processing.

Most games I tested on the tablet ran just fine, but noticeably not as snappily or quick as tablets or phones running top chipsets. When graphical options were available, I didn’t push to the top graphics due to fear of how the slate would respond, and the same was true of framerate. So, the Pad V9 will be fine for gamers, but there are better options out there.

The Honor Pad V9 on a bronze table.

(Image credit: Future)

The slate has various memory configurations depending on where you live. In the UK, it’s on sale in a sole 256GB storage and 8GB RAM model, but the version I tested had 12GB RAM, and certain regions have models ranging from 128GB to 512GB storage. There’s no memory card slot, so you’ll have to stick to the storage of whichever variant you pick up.

I mentioned earlier that the tablet is IMAX Enhanced; that extends to the speakers too, with a whopping eight of them around the slate (on other tablets, you’re lucky to get four). They make movies and TV shows sound a little bit better, with audio spread out to the left and right as well as up and down (depending on the video you watch). However, the max volume isn’t exactly deafening – streaming a movie in bed was fine, but when I tried to put on some Netflix while I was cooking, I sometimes struggled to hear what was being said over the various cooking noises.

On the camera front, you’re looking at a 13MP rear camera and an 8MP front-facer. They’re fit for scanning documents, conducting video calls, and facial recognition, but you’re not exactly going to take artistic snaps with sensors like these. There was noticeable noise in darker areas of pictures (even fairly well-lit ones), and I couldn’t see a difference in images taken in portrait mode versus the standard mode.

  • Performance: 3.5 / 5

Honor Pad V9 review: battery

The Honor Pad V9 on a bronze table.

(Image credit: Future)
  • 10,100mAh battery will see you through multiple days of use
  • 33W charging is slow for a battery of this size

The Honor Pad V9 packs a 10,100mAh battery, which is a sliver bigger than the ones seen on some comparably priced rivals.

Practically, this gets you about two days of heavy use before the tablet needs to be charged. In my testing period, which saw me replicate my usual tablet use (some word processing here, a movie night there, and a fair amount of music streaming), I reached about five days of charge before the slate needed powering up.

If there’s a slight disappointment with the Pad V9's battery, it’s the charging speed, which caps at 35W – on the global release of the slate, at least, though the Chinese version gets 66W. You’re looking at a charging time of several hours to fill that big battery, so remember to plug it in early if it needs a charge!

I found it easiest to charge the tablet up in dribs and drabs, so I could ensure it always had some charge, but never needed to part with it for an entire working day.

  • Battery: 4/5

Should you buy the Honor Pad V9?

Buy it if…

You're a student
If I'd bought the Honor Pad V9 when I was a student, I'd have saved hours of wrangling various apps and trying to use various features that the tablet can handle out the gate.View Deal

You like streaming movies and TV
Its display is good, but its speakers are great: the Honor Pad V9 is dependable for streaming entertainment.View Deal

You want an iPad, but running Android
Are you an Android fan who wants an iPad-like tablet? The Honor Pad V9 is one of your best picks, and it roughly matches its Apple rivals in price.View Deal

Don’t buy it if…

You need lots of storage space
While the Honor's 256GB built-in memory is extensive, that's all you'll get without relying on cloud space or external hard drives.View Deal

You like wired audio
There's no 3.5mm headphone jack on this tablet, so audiophiles will have to rely on USB-C converters, which can be annoying if you also want to charge the slate.View Deal

Also consider

Not convinced by the Honor Pad V9? Here are a few other options to consider:

iPad 11 (2025)
The natural rival, Apple's newest iPad will win fans simply by being an iOS device. But it's more expensive (when considering like-for-like storage), doesn't offer the same speaker quality, and will make you pay more for accessories. We've currently got the device in for review, so we'll have a full verdict on its quality soon.

Oppo Pad 3 Pro
For only a little bit more, you can get Oppo's new tablet, which boasts a more powerful chipset, a higher-res display, and faster charging.

Read our full Oppo Pad 3 Pro review

How I tested the Honor Pad V9

I tested the Honor Pad V9 by using it in lieu of my normal tablet (an iPad Pro from years ago) for several weeks, for all the tasks I normally use my iPad for.

This included typing up and editing documents, watching movies, playing games, and checking out the news. The model I tested had 12GB RAM and 256GB storage, and I used it without first-party accessories.

I've been reviewing products for TechRadar since early 2019, covering everything from tablets and smartphones to headphones, fitness trackers, and electric scooters.

Why you can trust TechRadar

☑️ 100s of smartphones reviewed
☑️ 15 years of product testing
☑️ Over 16,000 products reviewed in total
☑️ Nearly 200,000 hours testing tech

First reviewed March 2025

It’s no dud, but this cheap Bose soundbar I reviewed felt a little outdated for this one reason
9:00 pm | March 4, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Soundbars Televisions | Tags: | Comments: Off

Bose Solo Soundbar 2 review

The Bose Solo Soundbar 2 is a diminutive yet powerful 2.0 channel soundbar that sets out to take your viewing experiences to the next level. With a list price of $199 / £179.95 / AU$359.95, it’s certainly on the affordable side for Bose – but there are a lot of budget soundbar competitors doing their thing for even less. So, is the Bose Solo Soundbar 2 hot enough to compete in a fiery market?

Well, before we jump to any conclusions, let’s talk about setup. Getting the Bose Solo Soundbar 2 hooked up to your TV is easy enough. It comes with a digital optical cable and an AC adapter that you can plug in for instant access to Bose soundbar goodness. Alternatively, you can use coaxial or AUX connections, but as is often the case, the cables for this aren’t included in the box.

But although setup is straightforward, you’ve probably picked up on a standout omission. That’s right: there’s no HDMI here. Now don’t get me wrong, I understand this isn’t the newest model on the market – specifically, the Bose Solo Soundbar 2 was released in 2021. But still, by then, I’d expect a soundbar at this price point to have HDMI ARC as a connectivity option. It’s an absolute must to qualify as one of the best cheap soundbars.

Bose Solo Soundbar 2 and remote

(Image credit: Future)

The lack of HDMI means you won’t be able to adjust the soundbar’s volume with your usual TV remote – instead you’ll have to use the included separate remote. I also typically find digital optical cables to be more fiddly and awkward than larger, easier-to-handle HDMI cables. One final note on HDMI: without it, you’re going to be locked out of fancy audio features like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X – something that doesn’t always work out with small, cheap soundbars – but that’s worth noting if you’re expecting truly immersive three-dimensional audio.

So, look, the Bose Solo Soundbar 2 and I didn’t get off on the best foot. But I wasn’t going to write it off without a good listen and test session first. And I’m glad to report that the sound quality on offer is a major redeeming factor. I tried watching the movie Smile on Netflix and found that the dialogue was clear and natural-sounding when two women conversed in an isolated room.

At one point during this exchange, tensions flare as one woman falls to the floor – and imposing bass ripples through the scene. I felt that the low-end power on offer was substantial for a small soundbar like this. It grabbed me instantly and filled our medium-sized TV testing room effectively. Some of the lowest notes sounded a touch thin, however.

Ports on reverse side of the Bose Solo Soundbar 2

(Image credit: Future)

I threw on The Matrix and during the famous rooftop showdown scene, deeper bass didn’t have that rumble you’d get from more premium models, especially those with a standalone subwoofer. But given a lot of cheap, standalone soundbars struggle with bass, this can be forgiven – low-end output remains steady. I would say, however, that there was pretty limited width to the soundstage, perhaps accentuated by this soundbar’s small size. So when watching epic movies such as this, don’t expect that room-filling, immersive surround sound that more talented standalone soundbars, like the Sony HT-S2000 can imitate pretty effectively.

It’s also worth noting that you can raise (or lower) bass levels to your liking using the Solo Soundbar 2’s remote. That’s something that even some fantastic budget rivals, like the Sony HT-SF150, skip on. And although this model will still struggle to hit those super-low depth notes, the bass controls still work nicely and provide some much-needed weight to blockbuster movie soundtracks and gaming scores.

Person holding Bose Solo Soundbar 2 remote

(Image credit: Future)

Enough about bass, though. I’d like to loop back around to dialogue. This is generally quite crisp, but you can improve things further by activating Dialogue Mode. The most noticeable effect here is that volume is given a substantial boost. But I tried watching a scene in Smile where four characters were chatting in a busy outdoor seating area and the difference was considerable. With Dialogue Mode on, the characters of interest had their speech lifted a layer above, relegating background chatter to… well, the background. When listening to the Kermode & Mayo’s Take podcast in Dialogue Mode, I certainly felt satisfied with the crispness and forwardness of the hosts’ vocals.

So, if you’re fed up of turning subtitles on to understand what’s being said in your favorite movies or TV shows, the Bose Solo Soundbar 2 will certainly supply a way out of that life. Even some of the best small TVs, for example, tend to have limited audio capabilities, so if you own one of those, the mini, solid-sounding Solo Soundbar 2 could be right for you. Especially if you’ve used up all of your HDMI ports.

Sound rarely gets harsh or abrasive, even at higher volumes. And this thing can get pretty loud, thanks to its maximum power output of 100W. Not bad for a small lil’ fella. The only time I felt sound quality took a significant dive was when I played some music over Bluetooth. For instance, I blasted Electric Tooth Brush by Toronto and was met with an almost ‘boxed-in’ sound and bass didn’t have the thump I’d usually look for. Similarly when tuning into Black Eye by Allie X, the soundbar lacked the dynamism required to faithfully replicate the track – especially as the bouncing bass running throughout the track sounded a touch flat.

Reverse side of the Bose Solo Soundbar 2

(Image credit: Future)

Having said that, music didn’t sound tinny or horrible and vocals in Black Eye were certainly clear enough. I just wouldn’t recommend using this as your main way to stream music at home, especially when there are some excellent options to pick from in our guide to the best Bluetooth speakers.

Something I did like about the Solo Soundbar 2, though, is its design. It’s a fairly attractive mini bar with a classy black speaker grille and famous Bose logo imprinted front and centre. OK, it’s a little plasticky – but that’s to be expected at this price point. And the included remote is pleasingly slim and sleek, which adds a few more style points anyway. Of course, the soundbar's compact size can limit the expansiveness of audio, but in terms of practicality, it doesn’t get a whole lot better.

All in all, the Bose Solo Soundbar 2 is a decent, small-sized option if you’re looking to upgrade your TV’s underwhelming audio. It sounds surprisingly powerful and looks pretty sweet too. And if you’re all out of HDMI slots, then it might be worth a look.

But in my view, it’s not the best value for money option, let alone the best quality one in its class. You can get the Hisense HS214 – a cheaper, more modern, HDMI-ready mini bar if you’re short on space. You could even grab the Panasonic SC-HTB100 if you want clear audio with a bit more width. And both of these alternatives are considerably cheaper than the Solo Soundbar 2, so make sure to weigh up your options before pulling the trigger on a purchase. Speaking of options, you can check out our list of the best soundbars if you want a best-in-class soundbar for truly cinematic sound.

Bose Solo Soundbar 2 with LED light on

(Image credit: Future)

Bose Solo Soundbar 2 review: Price and release date

  • $199 / £179.95 / AU$359.95
  • Launched in 2021

The Bose Solo Soundbar 2 (sometimes stylised ‘Bose Solo Soundbar Series II’) released in 2021 with a list price of $199 / £179.95 / AU$359.95. Now, a few years later, you can often find it at a discounted price. For instance, I spotted this model for less than £150 directly through the Bose UK website, so keep your eyes peeled for a tasty price drop.

Bose Solo Soundbar 2 review: Specs

Person using Bose Solo Soundbar 2 remote

(Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Bose Solo Soundbar 2?

Buy it if...

You want to add some power to your TV setup
It didn’t always hit the lowest notes and audio wasn’t pitch perfect all of the time, but it’s hard to deny this Bose soundbar’s power. Considering its short length and slim build, it plates up a solid 100W maximum power output with impressive bass levels and general loudness.

You’re a little short on space
If you’re a little limited in terms of room, the Bose Solo Soundbar 2 will likely be a fantastic fit. It’s pretty slim and not long at all, meaning it should seamlessly slot into your TV unit.

Don't buy it if...

You want premium sound quality
Considering its miniature size and low price, you’ll likely not be expecting audiophile-grade audio from the Bose Solo Soundbar 2. And you’d be correct to expect that. It doesn’t sound bad at all, but if you’re looking for detailed, rich, expertly controlled sound, you’ll be better served by an option like the Sony HT-S2000.

You’re on the search for surround sound
If you want true surround sound, the Bose Solo Soundbar 2 isn’t going to be the answer. It’s a basic 2.0 channel soundbar with no surround or virtual surround capabilities. If you want truly immersive, three-dimensional sound, I’d recommend checking out our guide to the best Dolby Atmos soundbars.

Bose Solo Soundbar 2 review: Also consider

Sony HT-SF150
I loved my time with the Sony HT-SF150. It’s a premium-looking standalone soundbar with surprisingly good virtual surround sound technology. There’s nothing like Dolby Atmos or DTS:X compatibility here, but audio is decently expansive, dialogue is clear and there are loads of ways to connect. That includes HDMI ARC, by the way. Read our full Sony HT-SF150 review.

Hisense HS214
The Hisense HS214 is pretty similar to this bar from Bose. It’s a small, slim soundbar that musters up an impressive amount of power and keeps dialogue nice and clean. Its built-in surround mode is poor, but there’s a built-in subwoofer to offer a leg up to low-end sound. Again, this one has HDMI ARC connectivity among a number of other options, so it's a bit better equipped for the modern era. Read our full Hisense HS214 review.

Bose Solo Soundbar 2 review: How I tested

  • Tested across one week
  • Used in our TV testing space at Future Labs
  • Connected up using the soundbar’s digital optical port

I spent hours testing the Bose Solo Soundbar 2 at our TV testing space at Future Labs. During this time, I used the digital optical connectivity option and hooked the Solo Soundbar 2 up to the excellent Panasonic MZ1500 TV.

For my tests, I viewed a variety of TV shows, videos and movies – mainly using streaming services like Netflix and YouTube. In addition, I connected the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE to the soundbar to assess audio quality over Bluetooth. I made sure to play tracks from the TechRadar testing playlist as well as my own personal library to judge the capabilities of the soundbar’s Bluetooth mode.

  • First reviewed: February 2025
  • Read more about how we test
Asus’ new high-end ROG Pelta gaming headset is one of the most impressive (and comfortable) I’ve ever tested – and the price ain’t bad either
6:39 am | February 27, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Gadgets Peripherals & Accessories | Tags: , | Comments: Off

Asus ROG Pelta: one-minute review

The ROG Pelta is another banger device from Asus’ gaming division. Compatible across most platforms with wired (via USB-C, no 3.5mm in-line sound) and wireless (Bluetooth and 2.4GHz dongle) connectivity, the Pelta gets the important things right and skips the over-the-top extras.

The headphones, which are a step down in price and features from the flagship ROG Delta II, axe things like an extensive battery life, full-range size adjustment, extra cushioning and excessive RGB (though you’ll still find a programmable, glowing ROG logo on both sides).

Simplifying the things that made the Delta II such an attractive headset into a more affordable unit makes sense when it feels like everything is getting expensive around us. The same microphone and 50mm audio drivers are used between the Delta II and the Pelta, so you’re not missing out on sound and performance, but perhaps you’ll miss the comfort and battery life boasted by the top model.

Moreover, the greater points of adjustment present on the Delta II would have been welcome on the Pelta, as it can be difficult to find that comfort sweet spot when you only have three size options instead of telescopic arms. The microphone will also be tiresome if you’re the type to remove it when it’s not in use, as its plastic exterior needs to align perfectly with that of the headset if it’s to make a successful connection.

Finally, there’s no 3.5mm headphone jack for audio between your machine and your headphones (again, unlike the Delta II), so if you want to connect this thing over a wired connection, you’ll need to settle for a USB-C cable. Not a huge issue, but it may be a dealbreaker for some users.

For me, though, I’ve been very satisfied with this headset and its feature set. I’ve enjoyed it for the features it offers, including a useful pause/play button on the side and a slider that toggles between Bluetooth/off/2.4GHz, and I’d happily continue to use it instead of my Logitech G Pro X2 headset.

The Asus ROG Pelta gaming headset lying on a table with a glowing red logo

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

Asus ROG Pelta: price and availability

  • How much does it cost? $129.99 / £124.99 / AU$269
  • When is it available? Available now in US/UK, coming soon to Australia
  • Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, Australia and other regions

Coming in at a much lower price point than the ROG Delta II headphones (those were priced at $229 / £219 / AU$369 when they released late last year), the Pelta streamlines a lot of what made the top-end ROG headset so good. In our ROG Delta II review, we criticized the headphones for perhaps being a bit feature light, and the Pelta keeps this up but at a much more attractive cost.

That being said, even the ROG Pelta is in hot competition with more feature-rich rivals, such as the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 ($129.99 / £129.99 / AU$299) and its companion app. The Pelta, though, doesn't give the impression it's losing out on the features front.

The Asus ROG Pelta gaming headset help by a hand, with the microphone inserted

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

Asus ROG Pelta: Specs

Asus ROG Pelta: Features

  • 50mm titanium-Plated Diaphragm Drivers
  • Immersive stereo sound
  • Great physical buttons on the left cup

The Pelta recontextualizes the ROG headset offering. The Delta II was already skimping on extras when it was released last year, but the Pelta adapts the Delta II’s impressive upgrades (in particular its titanium drivers) into a much more affordable package.

That means, for the most part, you’re getting the same high-end beast but cheaper. The 20Hz - 20KHz audio frequency response is the same across both units, as is the 100Hz - 10KHz microphone.

I’ll swear by the sound quality and microphone quality of the Pelta. It’s rich, deep and loud, maintaining high-quality sound to its loudest volume and allowing for a lot of customization in ROG’s Armory Crate application. Though heavy bass does suffer compared to a headset like the Logitech G Pro X2.

The 900mAh battery capacity is impressive, offering up to 90 hours with lighting off and 60 hours with it on. Using the headset casually across four weeks, between games and watching TV shows and Twitch streams, I only needed to charge it twice while having the RGB enabled. It’s an acceptable battery life and a welcome downsize from the enormous 1,800mAh battery in the Delta II.

The Asus ROG Pelta gaming headset from the front

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

The microphone is removable and can be bent around freely, though I found putting the microphone back into the jack could be a pain if you don’t align it just right, due to its unique triangular shape.

Finally, the buttons present on the headset feel very sensible. A volume wheel is there with a decent amount of travel for your fingertip, alongside a microphone off/on button and, my favorite, a pause/play button. Given I'd been using a keyboard that doesn’t have media controls during my testing period, this has been a fairly useful feature and one that I hope more headsets adopt. The off/on slider is mixed with a connection toggle – the central position selects off, sliding up selects Bluetooth, and down selects 2.4GHz. A soundbite played through the headset will indicate if it’s turning on or off and if it’s connecting to either the dongle or Bluetooth.

Just keep in mind that the ROG Pelta uses a USB-C dongle – in case you don’t have a free USB-C port on your device, this may present itself as an issue.

  • Features: 5/5

Asus ROG Pelta: Sound quality

  • High-end audio in a cheap unit
  • Terrific adjustment options
  • Good but not the best deep bass

Carrying over the audio quality from Asus’ top gaming headset, the ROG Pelta doesn’t disappoint where it matters. The standard stereo sound profile is well balanced for all kinds of audio-visual media, which of course includes games, but it’s also fit for music streaming, TV shows and movies. Sound is crystal clear even with the volume cranked to maximum, though bass depth may leave you craving something with a bit more punch.

Asus’ ROG Armory Crate app offers a decent user experience for making sound quality adjustments. For the most part, I set the headset to the ‘communication’ sound profile as it offered the balanced mix I preferred the most (as I switch between a racing, shooting, RPG and sim game quite readily), though I was pretty blown away with the depth of the FPS preset, which made projectiles and explosions in Marvel Rivals really jump out at me. Still, finding the mode that set the best experience across all uses kept me from constantly dipping in and out of Armory Crate, so that’s what I did.

A side shot of the Asus ROG Pelta gaming headset

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

Of course, you don’t merely have to use a preset. There are plenty of sliders to fiddle with so you can tailor the sound to your ears, and there’s also some useful sliders for bass boosting, voice clarity and voice compression.

The microphone quality was a bit middle-of-the-road, but I didn’t expect breathtaking clarity. The much more expensive Logitech G Pro X2 has the same microphone arrangement and produces similar results. You’ll have no problem being understood with this microphone, but it’s certainly not broadcast spec.

On the whole, the headset's sound quality is immersive and had no trouble bringing the worlds of Avowed, Marvel Rivals, Forza Horizon 5, The Headliners and other games to life.

  • Sound quality: 4.5/5

An up-close shot of the Asus ROG Pelta gaming headset, showing the 3.5mm jack used for microphone audio

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

Asus ROG Pelta: Design

  • Comfortable ear cushions
  • Only three points of adjustment
  • Microphone can get a bit annoying

I’m content saying that these are extremely comfortable headphones, particularly for long gameplay sessions in the summer. My home doesn’t have air conditioning, and I’ll typically play games at my computer for hours, often leading to discomfort in and around my ears from the sweat and the constant contact. The ROG Pelta headset hasn’t been irritating my skin as much as other headsets have in the past, and I feel like I can play for longer durations with its comfortable cushioning.

Still, design is another area where the Pelta took a noticeable step down from the Delta II. It features slightly lower-end mesh fabric cushioning around the ears (as above, I personally found this fine), along with only three points of size adjustment for the headband as opposed to the telescoped design you’ll find on many other high-end headsets. This means that it can be difficult to find that comfort sweet spot and, unlike telescoping headsets, you’re stuck with the one size you’ve selected unless you go through the (admittedly easy) process of removing and reapplying the headband. This is no dealbreaker and, indeed, the sizing options are far reaching enough to satisfy a good range of users.

An up-close shot of the Asus ROG Pelta headset, showing its adjustment ribbon for over-head comfort

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

The only other thing that irked me on the design front was the microphone. It’s surrounded by a triangular plastic casing and needs to be inserted at the exact angle. It’s not easy if you aren't looking at the port while plugging it in, and it’ll feel firmly inserted even if the jack isn’t making proper contact with the port. This led to some audio technical difficulties on Discord a couple of times, but once you catch it, it’s easy to identify.

The inclusion of a red light on the end of the microphone boom to indicate if you’re muted or not is also a great feature and I appreciated it being there.

  • Design: 4/5

Should you buy the Asus ROG Pelta?

Buy them if...

You want high-quality sound without the price tag

Sporting the same drivers as the ROG Delta II, you’ll likely be comfortable with the sound achieved by the Pelta.

You’re already in the ROG-o-sphere

For the sake of lowering the amount of peripheral programs on your computer, you may want to skip these if you don’t want Armory Crate.

Don’t buy them if…

You’re an Xbox gamer

Due to the lack of a 3.5mm jack, the Pelta isn’t natively compatible with Xbox consoles.

You’re concerned about it fitting on your head

The three size options may be a bit limiting if you tend to take some time to find the perfect fit for your head.

Also Consider

Asus ROG Delta II

More premium and more expensive, the ROG Delta II might be attractive for its longer battery life, greater comfort and more flashy RGB.

Read our full Asus ROG Delta II review

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5

Available at the same price in many markets, the Arctis Nova 5 is considerable for its great battery life, build quality and brilliant companion app.

Read our full Steelseries Arctis Nova 5 review

Razer Barracuda X Chroma

Similar to the ROG Pelta, the Barracuda X Chroma offers top-end audio quality as a more budget-friendly model.

Read our full Razer Barracuda X Chroma review

How I tested the Asus ROG Pelta

  • Tested for four weeks
  • Used across various Windows PCs
  • Mostly used for gaming, also used for watching TV and music streaming

From the moment I received the Asus ROG Pelta for review, I immediately got to work testing them. I used the headset across a mix of Windows devices and my Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra phone, but I primarily used them for gaming.

The games I tested the headset with include Marvel Rivals, Avowed, The Headliners, Forza Horizon 5. Across these games, I changed up my audio settings with the ROG Armory Crate app, and used both the Bluetooth and 2.4GHz connections, along with the wired connection. I would play games and watch shows for hours on end with the Pelta headset and often wear them while doing housework and cooking.

  • First tested in February 2025
The Echo Show 15 (2024) can’t decide if it’s a Fire TV or a smart home hub, and it fails to excel at either
11:01 pm | February 25, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Smart Home Smart Home Hubs | Tags: , | Comments: Off

Two-minute review

The Echo Show 15 is back, with some moderate hardware upgrades and quality-of-life improvements that make for a slightly more rounded offering. The original Echo Show 15 sat a little on the periphery of Amazon’s smart display range, with the more popular Echo Show 8, Echo Show 5 and the more snazzy Echo Show 10 taking center stage. So, does the new Echo Show 15 (2024) earn a place alongside its siblings on our list of the best smart displays you can buy today?

The first Echo Show 15 found itself on the sidelines following a slightly lackluster launch and early performance – at least that was the case until Amazon released a Fire TV update. Despite its weak sound and underwhelming display, that upgrade made the Echo Show 15 a far more interesting proposition as a smart display for kitchens, offices and other rooms where even a small TV might be too obtrusive.

The 15-inch smart display has always suffered from a bit of an identity crisis, having been designed to cater to the relatively small niche market of “small TV-shaped smart hubs” by offering app support for various streaming services in addition to the standard array of music streaming platforms supported by the best smart speakers, as well as some basic smart home controls.

Amazon Echo Show on a counter displaying the home screen, with sports news alongside the widgets panel.

(Image credit: Future)

However, following the release of the Echo Hub in early 2024, which arrived rocking a new user interface and features specifically designed for smart-home control, I had high hopes that some improved smart-home… well, smarts, from the Echo Hub’s user interface would make an appearance in the second-generation Echo Show 15 as well as the all-new Echo Show 21.

Sadly, that’s not the case. Instead, the Echo Show 15 once again serves the dual purpose of being an entertainment and smart-home hub, this time made complete with built-in Fire TV at launch, widgets, and an Alexa Voice remote and a few added hardware upgrades. It also totes an improved camera, display and audio, as well as connectivity supporting Matter, Thread and Zigbee, all in response to customer feedback from the first generation and to ensure that the hardware meets current smart home and entertainment needs.

By and large, Amazon has addressed the bare minimum upgrades needed to make the Echo Show 15 a more attractive option; unfortunately, not enough has changed for me to recommend the device as a must-have smart display. Especially with the release of the all-new Echo Show 21, the Echo Show 15 doesn't even have "being the biggest Amazon Echo Show" going for it anymore. It is, however, a nice-to-have screen that might fill a relatively small gap in your smart-home ecosystem, and is plenty capable for what it is.

Amazon Echo Show on a counter displaying the widgets library

(Image credit: Future)

Echo Show 15 (2024): Design

  • Simple picture frame design
  • Super easy setup
  • Includes Fire TV remote
Echo Show 15 (2024): Specs

Screen size: 15.6 inches

Dimensions: 15.8 x 9.9 x 1.4 inches / 40 x 25 x 3.5cm

Resolution: 1080p resolution

Connecivity: Matter, Wi-Fi, Thread, Zigbee, Bluetooth

Voice assistant: Alexa

Camera: 13MP

Weight: 4.85lbs / 2.2kg

The design of the Echo Show 15 (2024) is suitably unassuming for a device that’s intended to be functional rather than being a centerpiece, retaining the simple, picture frame-esque form of the original model. The main frame is black, with a white matte surrounding the 15.6-inch screen.

It’s wall-mountable out of the box, with a super easy sub-five-minute setup – or, if you owned the original model, you can switch it straight out as it uses the exact same frame – and it’s also compatible with standardized VESA mounts, which are widely available. It can be set up in either a horizontal or vertical orientation, but you’d need to re-fit the included bracket to do change the orientation. It’s a nice option, though I’d imagine most users would opt for horizontal to use its screen for TV and film, and you can opt to buy a third-party rotating wall mount if you regularly want to switch between the two.

A variety of stands are also available, including the official stand made by Sanus (sold separately for $33 / £34; it’s not yet sold in Australia) which allows you to use the Echo Show 15 in tabletop mode. Whichever way you set it up, the main thing to consider other than visibility is the camera field of view – this has seen a significant upgrade in the newer model, but if you want to make use of Vision ID and video calls you’ll need to make sure the camera is unobstructed and has a good view of the room.

Amazon Echo Show on a counter, with focus on its front-facing camera.

(Image credit: Future)

Along the top edge are the manual controls: a physical switch for the camera’s privacy shutter, as well as volume and mute buttons. At 15.8 x 9.9 x 1.4 inches / 40 x 25 x 3.5cm, its footprint is considerable, and that only increases if you opt to use the tilt stand, which adds a further 7.5 inches / 19cm to its depth. Along the top edge (in horizontal orientation), the camera is seated centrally in the white matte instead of in the top-left corner per its predecessor.

Also included is the Alexa Voice Remote, which can be used to control the new Fire TV interface – this is just a standard Alexa remote, which you’ll be familiar with if you own one of Amazon’s Fire TV sticks.

Amazon Echo Show on a counter displaying the widgets menu.

(Image credit: Future)

Echo Show 15 (2024): Performance

  • Bright and vivid screen
  • Improved audio and camera specs...
  • ... however audio quality is still lacking

Thanks to some moderate hardware upgrades, performance is the area where the Echo Show 15 (2024) stands above the first-generation device, although unfortunately not by enough to make it a meaningful upgrade if you already have the original Show 15.

Let’s start with the display. It’s bright and clear, and the 1080p resolution is perfectly passable for a screen of this size, and is well-suited to streaming, web browsing and reading from any distance. However, the lack of HDR is something we had a complaint about in the original model, and, unfortunately, Amazon didn’t deign to upgrade the display specs for the second generation to boost contrast and color saturation. Still, black levels are plenty good enough, and given that this isn’t the kind of screen I’d expect users to have their eyes glued to, it’s a forgivable omission.

Audio specs saw a significant upgrade in the second-generation Echo Show 15, with the newer model housing dual 2-inch woofers in addition to two 0.6-inch tweeters, versus the original model’s two 1.6-inch full drivers.

Does this change have a noticeable impact? Absolutely – the new Echo Show 15 is certainly louder than the first-generation model, and the bass is more pronounced. However, it suffers from issues that seem common to many of Amazon’s speakers: a lack of detail in the highs, muddy bass that’s lacking in dynamics, and boosted mid frequencies which mostly serve to create considerable distortion at high volumes.

Amazon Echo Show on a counter displaying the Spotify app.

(Image credit: Future)

Listening to Fleetwood Mac’s The Chain, there’s a whole lot of bass – enough to overpower the already-subdued vocals – but the audio lacks the drive and meat needed to compliment the track. Complex and textured tracks like Radiohead’s 15 Step are all too easily muddied, with the Echo Show 15 lacking the fidelity and stereo separation to handle the mix. The scratchy electric guitar strums and bass sit right up front alongside Thom Yorke’s mournful vocals for much of the track, which would be fine were it not for the fact that the rest of the track feels muddy and directionless, with dull highs and flat percussion letting down the Echo Show 15.

While its handling of music might not be the most balanced, I will say that the Echo Show 15 is well suited to the spoken word, and in this regard it’s again leaning into its role as a small smart TV rather than a smart display. Still, I’d have hoped to see a little more improvement and bang for your buck in this second-generation model, and a little more range.

Also upgraded in this new model is the now-13MP wide-angle camera, which is primed for improved Alexa video calls, using Amazon’s Drop In feature, as well as for calls using Zoom or Skype. It’s a notable step up from the previous model’s 5MP camera, especially thanks to the new auto framing and 3.3x zoom, and as with all camera-equipped Echo devices the Echo Show 15 doubles as an in-home security camera that you can check in on when you’re away.

Amazon Echo Show on a counter displaying the smart light brightness widget.

(Image credit: Future)

Echo Show 15 (2024): Software

  • Quick and clear Alexa responses
  • Fire TV support out-of-the-box
  • Customizable widgets make smart home control quicker

Alexa’s responses are zippy, offering all the usual Alexa Skills and commands we’ve come to expect from Amazon’s smart speaker and displays thanks to its Octa-core AZ2 system-on-chip. Much like other available Echo Show devices, by default the Echo Show 15 displays a customizable widget control center, framed by a rotation of content from default images to your own photos, news, and content suggestions.

In a similar vein, the screen UI is pretty clean and runs smoothly, benefitting from years of Echo Show software development despite using the same hardware as the original Echo Show 15. By comparison, the Echo Hub’s newer, smart home-first interface was a little on the buggy side, but I would still have much preferred to have the option to switch to a more smart home-device-oriented alternative.

The included Alexa Voice Remote is a nice touch that serves to drive home the fact that this screen is well suited for streaming, but a slight niggle I have is that it can only control the Fire TV interface and music. Especially during the evening, when I don’t want to quarrel loudly with Alexa, I prize manual control features that don’t involve me standing; I’d love if the remote was configured to control the entire UI, inclusive of smart-home devices to this end.

Amazon Echo Show on a counter playing Studio Ghibli's Spirited Away

Any excuse to re-re-re-watch Studio Ghibli's Spirited Away... (Image credit: Future)

However, the remote is handy for Fire TV navigation, especially given that the display doesn’t always play ball with touch controls. The Echo Show 15 comes pre-loaded with many of the best streaming services and support for a wide range of platforms, but Amazon again misses a trick hereby not leaning further into its smart TV functionality and incorporating Miracast/WiDi support for screen mirroring.

Widgets are great, but once again they’re underutilized in Amazon’s smart display interface. With woefully few customization options to reshape, resize, configure or create your own widgets, this feature still feels half-baked. Amazon’s first-party widgets are naturally the most useful, and there are a decent amount to choose from, but it’s not the magic bullet the Echo Show 15 very much needs for its smart-home offering.

However, I really appreciate the option to customize widgets and interfaces based on user profiles, meaning whole families and households alike can benefit from the assistive tech on board the Echo Show 15. During my testing, I switched out with my partner several times in an hour, and Vision ID correctly identified each time who had just walked in, showing them their personalized content suggestions.

Echo Show 15 (2024) setting up Visual ID

(Image credit: Future)

Echo Show 15 (2024): Price and availability

  • Release date: December 2024
  • Price: $299 / £299 / AU$549

The Echo Show 15 is available from Amazon in the US, UK and Australia for $299 / £299 / AU$549 respectively. That’s a small price increase over the original model, and while you do now get an included remote and slightly better specs, I’m very much ‘whelmed’ by Amazon’s efforts here, in terms of value for money.

That’s especially true of the stand situation; it would have been perfectly reasonable, given the volume of customers who don’t have the option or desire to wall-mount their screens, to include a small, stable kickstand. Instead, you have to opt for either the official Sanus stand (sold separately for $33 / £34. It’s not yet sold in Australia) or for one of the many alternative – and often pricey - VESA mounts.

Amazon Echo Show displaying home screen with shopping lists next to widgets menu.

(Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Echo Show 15?

Buy it if...

You want a small, smart TV

If you fit into the relatively small niche of people who want a smart entertainment hub that also houses Alexa, this is the screen for you.

You mostly want to stream video

Between its moderate audio and display specs and the included Fire TV remote, the Echo Show is well suited to streaming TV shows and movies.

Don't buy it if...

You want to upgrade your original Echo Show 15

Unless you’re really desperate, not enough has changed nor improved from the original model to justify this upgrade.

You want a smart-home-first display

The Echo Show 15 leans more towards entertainment than it does granular, accessible smart-home control.

Amazon Echo Show 15: also consider

If you're not sure the Amazon Echo Show 15 is the right smart hub for you, here are further options to consider:

Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd gen)

The latest generation model boasts better audio, faster performance and added support for Matter, Thread and Zigbee. The only big thing that holds it back is its uptick in price.

Read our full Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) review

Amazon Echo Show 21

The new 21-inch Amazon Echo Show offers much the same as the new Echo Show 15, but in a bigger frame.

Read our full Echo Show 21 review

Echo Show 15 (2024)

(Image credit: Future)

How I tested the Echo Show 15 (2024)

  • I used the Echo Show 15 as my primary smart home hub for one month
  • I tested its display, audio, and camera specs with real-world testing
  • I used all of its various smart-home control features

To put the Echo Show 15 through its paces I tested all of its significant feature and hardware upgrades against the first-generation model, other Echo displays and speakers in my home, and Google Nest devices.

I watched and listened to a variety of media to test the range and performance of the smart display, as well as trying out all of the various features and unique selling points. I incorporated the Echo Show 15 into my wider smart home ecosystem, which is also populated with smart security cameras, lights and appliances, and used it to control my home.

I’ve been testing smart-home devices for three years and using them personally for even longer, during which time I’ve learned everything there is to know about what makes a good smart display or speaker. I use Alexa and other smart assistants every day to run my home.

The Amazon Echo Show 21 is big and beautiful, and it’s changed how I control my smart home
7:05 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Smart Home Smart Home Hubs | Tags: , , , | Comments: Off

Amazon Echo Show 21: two-minute review

The idea of combining a smart speaker with a flat screen is certainly not a new one for Amazon. Amazingly, it’s over seven years since the first-generation Echo Shows launched, and three since the original Echo Show 15 first arrived in homes. At that time, its 15-inch display made it the largest Echo device inside Amazon’s stable. But not anymore. That accolade now goes to the newly-launched Echo Show 21.

Essentially, the Echo Show 21 is a larger version of the latest Echo Show 15, complete with Alexa, built-in Fire TV, and an Alexa voice remote. It even features the same mounting bracket as the Echo Show 15, which is handy if you have multiple devices you want to swap over. Capable of being installed in portrait or landscape orientation, it’s best to think of the Echo Show as a rather large web tablet (albeit one with much better speakers). So, in the same way you might use an iPad to display a recipe in the kitchen or control your home’s heating, so you might use an Echo Show to do these things.

It’s much more than that, though. Once you’ve gone through the setup process, pairing the Echo Show with your home’s Wi-Fi and the Alexa voice remote, there’s the option of customizing it all. Usefully, because the Echo Show 21 has Fire TV built in, you can use it much like you would a smart TV. Buttons are provided on the Alexa voice remote for accessing Prime Video, as well as Netflix. Alternatively, you can press the app button to access other apps you have downloaded to your device such as Apple TV, Disney+, and YouTube. You also have the option to display images from your Amazon photo library when the device is not use.

However, the Echo Show really comes into its own with all the other widgets you can add. Just swipe down from the top of the display and hit ‘widget gallery’. There you will find everything you need to help you organize your life, from sticky notes to shopping lists and from calendars to daily reminders. It can also display local weather, so you're fully prepared when you leave the house.

Amazon Echo Show 21 running Spotify app

The Amazon Echo Show 21 is a good-looking device with an attractive wooden frame (Image credit: Chris Price)

Once you’ve made your choice, each of the widgets is then displayed on the home screen. And if you want more details, you only have to touch the screen to bring up more information. For example, while the weather widget shows the temperature for the next four hours, you can find out more information (such as the likelihood of rain and whether you need an umbrella) by pressing the weather option on the home screen to bring info up across the entire display.

Want to control connected devices within your home, such as your smart thermostat, lights, and home security cameras? There’s a ‘smart home favorites’ widget for that. Not only will this allow you to control options such as the temperature of your property, it will also do things like display footage from a connected video doorbell if someone comes to the door. Support is provided for Matter and Thread, which means you can use the Echo Show 21 as a Zigbee Hub.

Finally, also on board is the Echo Show 21 is a 13MP selfie camera (complete with privacy shutter) for video calls. This includes Alexa Drop Ins, which lets you get in touch via video or voice using other connected devices in the household. It’s particularly handy if you want to tell the kids that dinner is ready and they’re not responding to yells from the kitchen because they are on their devices.

Amazon Echo Show 21: price and availability

  • $399/£399.99 without stand, $100/£100 extra with stand
  • Available now
  • Available in the US and UK

Released in November 2024, the Amazon Echo Show 21 costs £399 or $399 direct from Amazon for the standard wall-mount installation (at the time of writing it's not available in Australia). However, if you want a desktop/counter stand you will have to pay an additional $100/£100 on top of that. That makes the Echo Show 21 the most expensive device in Amazon’s line-up, at $100/£100 more than the smaller Amazon Echo Show 15.

It’s not an excessive amount of money for what it is, but it's not an absolute bargain either. A decent 43-inch smart TV will now set you back less money, so it does seem a little pricey.

That said, the Amazon Echo Show 21 is much more than a smart TV. It offers much greater functionality and interactivity for starters, including the ability to control your smart home, music and calendars, as well as being able to stream content from video services.

Importantly, it also feels very solid and well made, with an attractive wooden frame around the outside. It certainly makes a nice addition to the kitchen, living room or office, especially if you are looking for all of the features of an Echo Show device, but with a bigger screen.

  • Value score: 3.5 / 5

Amazon Echo Show 21: specs

Amazon Echo Show 21: design and installation

  • Mounting bracket for portrait/landscape orientation
  • Solid design with black wooden frame around 21.5-inch screen
  • Alexa voice remote

Designed to be mounted on the wall, the hefty Amazon Echo Show 21 comes with a metal bracket in the box (alternatively, you can buy a desktop stand but our review sample didn’t include one). This means you will need a drill, a level, and hammer for installation. Four screws and four wall plugs are provided in the pack, as well as paper wall-mount template that helps you drill holes into the right places.

Amazon Echo Show 21 on floor with wall mount, power adaptor, and remote

The Echo Show 21 is supplied with a bracket that lets you mount it vertically or horizontally on a wall (Image credit: Chris Price)

Once the bracket is installed, you simply slide the Echo Show 21 into place in either landscape or portrait orientation. I used it extensively in both modes, but personally preferred it in portrait because I found it better for displaying the widgets. Around the actual screen is a white background and around that is a black wooden surround, giving the Echo Show the look and feel of a large photo frame. Large speakers are built into either side of the display and on top (in landscape mode) are buttons for volume up/down as well as two pinhole microphones.

For privacy, there’s also a button that switches the microphones on and off (this glows red when activated) and a privacy shutter that covers the 13MP camera. The power cable needs to be inserted into a recess on the back of the display before it’s mounted to the wall, but at 1.5m it’s not overly long, which could limit your options when it comes to positioning it. Finally, you will need to pair the display with the Alexa Voice Remote (it is the same as the one you get for Amazon Fire Sticks).

Amazon Echo Show 21 power adapter connected

The power cable plugs into the back of the Echo Show 21, but isn't very long (Image credit: Chris Price)

This can only be paired with one device at a time, and can’t control skills and services outside the Fire TV experience. Also, while some video streaming services such as Amazon Prime can be fully controlled using the touch screen display, other services such as Netflix provide only limited functionality without the remote.

In addition to the circular navigation pad and usual forward/rewind and home buttons, the remote includes an Alexa option with a pinhole microphone for use instead of the smart display’s far-field microphones. As with other Alexa devices, you can change the wake word of the Echo Show 21 – handy if you have several Amazon devices near to one another.

  • Design score: 4.5/5

Amazon Echo Show 21: performance

  • Crisp 1,920 x 1,080 display
  • Maybe a little too bright
  • Much improved sound system and onboard 13MP camera

The largest display in Amazon's Echo series, with nearly double the viewing area of the Echo Show 15, the Echo Show 21 certainly cuts an imposing figure once mounted on the wall. In fact, it seems more like a much larger smart TV than a glorified touch screen display with built-in Alexa, especially when mounted in landscape mode.

Amazon Echo Show 21 mounted on wall

With double the viewing area of the Amazon Echo Show 15, the Echo Show 21 makes a real statement when mounted on the wall (Image credit: Chris Price)

Boasting a highly reflective 1,920 x 1,080 display, the Echo Show 21's picture quality is excellent, delivering crisp, bright images. However, it’s arguably a little too bright especially when watching video content. The first thing I had to do once I switched the display on was to swipe down from the top to turn the brightness down. However, switching adaptive brightness does help a little, automatically adjusting brightness levels based on the ambient light levels in the room. Turn down the room’s lights and the screen will dim too, turn them up and the screen will brighten.

Also on board is a proximity sensor, which adjusts what’s on the screen when you aren't actively using it. When no one is nearby, it closes the control panel and rotates through a variety of screens. For example, it could display various content suggestions such as jokes or football scores or act as a large photo frame, cycling through images in your Amazon picture library. It will also support multiple users, switching between different profiles using facial recognition when the camera is active or via voice recognition instead.

Split image showing two setup screens on Amazon Echo Show 21

The Amazon Echo 21 features various widgets that let you see information at a glance, and what's displayed can change depending on your proximity (Image credit: Chris Price)

One of the criticisms of previous Echo Show devices was the poor quality of the onboard camera. Thankfully this has been addressed with the Echo Show 21. Supporting auto-framing, 3.3x zoom and noise reduction technology, the built-in 13MP camera works extremely well – whether you're using Alexa Drop In to tell the kids that the dinner is ready, or calling someone for a business meeting. However, if you are worried about privacy you can always cover up the camera using the Camera Shutter button on top of the display, as well as switch the onboard microphones off.

Some reviewers thought sound from the first Echo Show 15 was poor, Amazon has decided to improve it considerably on the new generation smart displays (both 15- and 21-inch versions). In fact, sound on the latest 21-inch model is surprisingly punchy, thanks to reasonably large side mounted speakers complete with two 2-inch woofers and two 0.6-inch tweeters (the previous Echo Show 15 only had two 1.6-inch tweeters).

Split image showing side profiles of Amazon Echo Show 21

The Echo Show 21 works well in landscape mode for entertainment, but it really shines as a smart home hub in portrait mode (Image credit: Chris Price)

Over a period of three weeks, I listened to a range of music from various streaming services, including Spotify and Amazon, and found the experience really enjoyable. However, it’s fair to say that the Echo Show 21 still only offers sound quality as good as a modest smart TV, so if it’s a high-quality home cinema system you want, you're best looking elsewhere.

In summary, when it comes to performance, the Echo Show 21 comes highly recommended. And while I think it is rather more successful in portrait mode as a touchscreen home hub, it also doubles as a pretty decent smart TV in landscape mode for sitting back and watching streaming video content.

  • Performance score: 4/5

Should you buy the Amazon Echo Show 21?

Buy it if

You want a large touchscreen display

At 21.5 inches, this is the largest of all the Echo Show devices, offering nearly double the viewing area of the Amazon Show 15. This makes it an excellent choice if you want to display lots of widgets or simply want a bigger picture for streaming video content.

You need to consult recipes while cooking

Ideal for mounting in the kitchen, the Echo Show 21 is a perfect companion for when you're cooking. It’s also great for looking up recipes on the internet or listening to music when you are preparing the ingredients for a meal.

You want to control smart home devices

Providing support for Matter and Thread, the Echo Show 21 is a really good way of controlling your home. And because it has such a big display, you can see footage from connected security cameras really clearly.

Don't buy it if

You just want to watch TV

Put simply, there are much better and cheaper displays out there for watching TV/streaming services. Unlike the Echo Show 21 these can be connected to a TV aerial too for those who still like to watch good old fashioned TV channels.

You want a portable smart display

Designed to be mounted permanently on the wall, the Echo Show 21 is a big heavy beast requiring specialist installation, unless you pay even more for the table-top mount.

Amazon Echo Show 21: also consider

If you're not sure the Amazon Echo Show 21 is the right smart hub for you, here are a couple of other options to consider:

Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd gen)

The latest generation model boasts better audio, faster performance and added support for Matter, Thread and Zigbee. The only big thing that holds it back is its uptick in price.

Read our full Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) review

Amazon Echo Show 15 (2nd gen)

The new generation 15-inch Amazon Echo Show offers much better audio quality than its predecessor, putting it on a par with the new 21-inch model. Amazon has also upgraded the auto-framing camera for improved video calls.

How I tested the Amazon Echo Show 21

  • I mounted on the wall in my home office for three weeks
  • I used it in both landscape and portrait modes
  • I tested it both as a home hub and smart TV

To get a good grasp of what a product like the Echo Show 21 can do, you really need to spend as much time with it as possible. That’s because it offers so much functionality! Even after three weeks I’m still finding apps I can download and new things I can do with it.

As I installed it in my home office, I used the Echo Show 21 mostly for listening to classical music while I was working and for features such as the checking the weather before taking the dog out for a lunchtime walk. But I also used it for other things too, including watching video content, turning the heating up and down and viewing images from Amazon Photos.

Personally, I preferred it in portrait mode, although using it landscape mode might work better if you have it installed in the living room or a bedroom. However, you ideally need to use the Echo Show for its advanced smart home control features to get the most out of it. Read more about how we test.

First reviewed February 2025

I’ve used the Hori Split Pad Pro with my Nintendo Switch for years and it’s still great, but there are some better options in 2025
7:00 pm | February 21, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Computers Consoles & PC Gadgets Gaming Nintendo | Tags: , , | Comments: Off

Hori Split Pad Pro: One-minute review

The Hori Split Pad Pro was easily one of the best Nintendo Switch controllers when it first launched in conjunction with Daemon X Machina over five years ago, offering a fantastic wired-only Joy-Con alternative that delivered superior comfort and performance at the cost of a few nice-to-have features like HD Rumble, motion controls, and wireless compatibility. It remains a decent option in 2025, especially given its relatively modest price point, but the rise of absolutely killer, feature-packed alternatives like the CRKD Nitro Deck or CRKD Nitro Deck+ mean it’s not quite the titan that it once was.

The full-size thumbsticks, larger face buttons, and massively improved shoulder buttons are among its biggest advantages still, especially compared to the standard Joy-Con controllers. It’s hard to overstate just how much this can improve some games, especially shooters like Borderlands 3 or Doom Eternal where the limited thumbstick motion and shallow triggers of the Joy-Con are a constant frustration. Even so, the absence of motion controls is a real shame in this regard, especially when most Nintendo Switch shooters now support them for more precise aiming, and makes it unsuitable for the likes of Splatoon 3 if that’s your preferred input method.

The D-pad of the Hori Split Pad Pro is a strong point too and perfect for precise platforming in games like Super Mario Bros. Wonder. It’s joined by some handy extras, like two remappable rear inputs and an optional turbo mode, though I don’t find myself reaching for either of these that often. All of this can be configured on the controllers themselves, which eliminates the need for any extra software.

There’s also the matter of the controller’s overall shape, which is significantly larger than that of the Joy-Con. Does this make your Nintendo Switch harder to stash in a bag? Absolutely, but I think this trade-off is worth it given the greater level of comfort that it brings. It makes the Nintendo Switch a joy to play over extended periods of time and can be a lifesaver if you're trying to game throughout a long journey.

Image 1 of 2

The Hori Split Pad Pro on a desk mat.

(Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 2

The rear of the Hori Split Pad Pro.

(Image credit: Future)

Hori Split Pad Pro: Price and availability

  • Plain models go for $49.99 / £39.99
  • Licensed versions get expensive
  • Accessory pack available for TV mode wired play

The plain black version of the Hori Split Pad Pro is easy to find for $49.99 / £39.99 at online retailers like Amazon in addition to Best Buy and Walmart in the US or Argos and Currys in the UK. There are also a plethora of licensed versions available, though these are generally more expensive. To give an example, the The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom variant that I tested costs $59.99 / £53.99 at the time of writing, so only spring out for these editions if you’re willing to pay more for the aesthetic.

This price point puts the Hori Split Pad Pro in close competition with the $59.99 / £59.99 CRKD Nitro Deck, especially when you bear in mind that the latter is almost perpetually on sale for as low as $39.99 / £37.99. Having tested both extensively, I can say the CRKD Nitro Deck is definitively better thanks to a slightly more comfortable shape (though the Split Pad Pro is still comfy) and the addition of features like motion control and rumble. Still, the Hori Split Pad Pro is worth choosing if you prefer its smaller form factor - or want something that doesn’t need a mobile app to tweak.

You can also buy the Hori Split Pad Pro in a bundle that comes with a small attachment that goes in between the controllers for wired TV mode play and also enables PC compatibility. This comes in at $79.99 / £69.99 and is the only way to buy that attachment as it is not sold separately.

Hori Split Pad Pro: Specs

A close up shot of the Hori Split Pad Pro.

(Image credit: Future)

Hori Split Pad Pro: Design and features

  • Much more comfortable than the Joy-Con
  • But light weight feels quite cheap
  • Turbo mode, plus remappable buttons featured

Taking the Hori Split Pad Pro out of the box, the first thing you’ll notice is its light weight. These controllers come in at just 0.18 lbs / 80 g each - which is actually a little more than the standard Joy-Con but, because of the increased size, feels a lot less substantial in the hands. They come across as almost hollow, which isn’t the best first impression given the price. Thankfully, this is barely noticeable once you slot them into the Joy-Con rails, and they slide in seamlessly before securing in place with a reassuring click.

Hori has opted for an unusual, almost squashed look with the Split Pad Pro, giving the impression of a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller that someone has accidentally sat on. The grips are tiny, lumpy protrusions on the corner of each side of the gamepad, which honestly looks pretty ridiculous. That said, the company must be on to something here as the Hori Split Pad Pro is seriously comfortable to hold.

The grips fit nicely in my palms and the chunky depth gives you loads to grasp on to. The shoulder buttons are a massive improvement over those found on the Joy-Con, coming in larger and with a much softer press to them. The triggers are also enhanced, with a bit of extra movement for a more satisfying pull. Likewise, the thumbsticks have a great range of motion, allowing for more precise inputs than the fiddly tiny ones on the Joy-Con - though they are unfortunately not Hall effect like those of the CRKD Nitro Deck. There’s also a proper D-pad, with a satisfying, spongy feel (not too dissimilar to that of the Nintendo 2DS) and a slight concave shape that’s pleasant on the thumb.

When it comes to features, you have a modest selection to choose from. Each side of the Split Pad Pro has its own rear input, which can be mapped by holding the tiny ‘Assign’ button on the front. This can only be achieved while your Nintendo Switch is powered on but, thankfully, does save your selection in between uses. There’s also a turbo button, which you can hold to simulate rapid button presses without ruining your thumb - handy if you play a lot of arcade shoot-’em up style games.

As I’ve previously mentioned, this is a wired controller that can only be used attached to the Switch. Unlike the Joy-Con, you also don’t get HD Rumble (or any vibration for that matter), gyroscope controls, an IR camera, or Amiibo support which is a shame but not too surprising in the realm of third-party controllers.

A close up shot of the right hand side of the Hori Split Pad Pro.

(Image credit: Future)

Hori Split Pad Pro: Performance

  • Very comfortable to use
  • Perfect for shooters
  • Outclassed by the CRKD Nitro Deck

There’s very little I can fault the Hori Split Pad Pro on in raw performance. It feels great in the hands and remains so over extended sessions. I often find my fingers become cramped after multiple hours with the Joy-Con and that’s not at all the case here.

The buttons and D-pad are perfectly responsive and a great size for those with larger hands too, further adding to the comfort factor. The larger thumbsticks don’t have a lot of resistance so are ideal for quick motion, whether that’s in 3D adventures like Super Mario Odyssey or fast-paced driving games such as Rocket League.

My only complaint with the buttons is the use of a very soft rubbery material for the start, select, home, ‘Assign’ and turbo buttons, which makes them fairly dull and slow to press. These aren’t buttons that you’re going to be using all the time, of course, but plastic would be a big improvement. Although I do miss the ability to tweak settings like thumbstick sensitivity, the fact that you don’t need an app to access the rear button assignment and turbo is refreshing and would make this a particularly good fit if you’re shopping for a child.

Unfortunately, the Hori Split Pad Pro suffers because of its relative age. The CRKD Nitro Deck and CRKD Nitro Deck+ have launched over the last couple of years and outclass it in almost every regard - be that the presence of motion control, rumble, two more rear inputs, a HDMI port, or Hall effect components. Having tested both extensively, I even found that the Nitro Deck is a tad more comfortable thanks to its increased heft and certainly has a more premium build. The one area where the Hori Split Pad Pro comes up on top is the fact that it is smaller and easier to remove, so slightly more portable overall.

The Hori Split Pad Pro being used to play a Super Mario game on Nintendo Switch OLED.

(Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Hori Split Pad Pro?

Buy it if...

You want a simple Joy-Con alternative
If you want an easy-to-use handheld grip that doesn’t require an app to access any of its features, then the Hori Split Pad Pro is for you.

You love handheld play
The Hori Split Pad Pro is excellent for handheld play, offering a huge improvement over the Joy-Con controllers included with the Nintendo Switch.

You love the licensed designs
With designs inspired by The Legend of Zelda, Pokémon, and more, the Hori Split Pad Pro is definitely worth picking up if you’re a fan of the look.View Deal

Don't buy it if...

You want a wireless controller with all the features
If you want a controller with all of the features of the Joy-Con, you’re going to need to look elsewhere. The Hori Split Pad Pro can only be used in a wired capacity, and also lacks features like rumble, gyroscope controls, and Amiibo support.View Deal

The CRKD Nitro Deck is on sale
When it’s on sale, the CRKD Nitro Deck is practically the same price as the cheapest version of the Hori Split Pad Pro. It’s also noticeably better, with Hall effect components and a more premium build, plus loads of extra features.View Deal

Also consider...

Considering the Hori Split Pad Pro? These alternatives should also be on your radar.

CRKD Nitro Deck
The CRKD Nitro Deck is the closest equivalent to the Hori Split Pad Pro and offers a wider set of features, plus more remappable buttons, at a very similar price.

Read our full CRKD Nitro Deck review

Nintendo Switch Pro Controller
If you want a fully-featured, wireless controller for your Nintendo Switch then you can never go wrong with the official option. The Nintendo Switch Pro Controller feels great in the hands and has best-in-class battery life.

Read our full Nintendo Switch Pro Controller review

A close-up of the Hori Split Pad Pro.

(Image credit: Future)

How I tested the Hori Split Pad Pro

  • Tested this unit for two weeks
  • Tried with a huge a variety of Nintendo Switch games
  • Compared to other Nintendo Switch accessories

Although Hori provided the The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom edition for the purposes of this review, I have owned the black version of the Hori Split Pad Pro for years with it being my main Nintendo Switch controller between 2021 and 2023, at which point I upgraded to the CRKD Nitro Deck. I have spent literally hundreds of hours with it, testing all of its functions and playing a huge variety of Nintendo Switch games.

For this review, I compared my experience with the Hori Split Pad Pro to that with other Nintendo Switch controllers and accessories - namely the CRKD Nitro Deck.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed February 2025

I test TV antennas for a living, and the Antennas Direct ClearStream Eclipse is the best choice for most people
9:00 pm | February 20, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Televisions | Tags: | Comments: Off

Antennas Direct ClearStream Eclipse: Two-minute review

Antennas Direct ClearStream Eclipse on wood table

The ClearStream Eclipse is a reversible design that gives you black and white color options (Image credit: Future)

The Antennas Direct ClearStream Eclipse is a simple, yet powerful indoor antenna with an unobtrusive design. Like other examples of the best indoor TV antennas, its only function is to “pull” the stations you want at your particular location. Still, until you try a given model at yours it’s impossible to predict the results. That said, Antennas Direct makes it a bit easier with its free Antenna Point iOS/Android app, which uses your phone’s location data to display a map showing transmitter locations, and thus your aiming direction, and lists all their main and sub-channels sorted as Strong, Fair, or Weak (based purely on distance, with no considerations for elevation or obstructions, but it’s a start).

The Antennas Direct CleStream Eclipse’s packaging claims a “50-plus-mile range,” but remember that any antenna’s performance is largely dictated by its elevation and by the presence or absence of intervening hills or tall buildings. Note that this review also covers the amplified Eclipse: the same antenna is offered without the signal amplifier for about $15 less.

The Eclipse antenna is a flexible vinyl halo about 8 inches across, meant to be fixed to a smooth surface — typically, a windowpane or painted wall — using the supplied crescent of clear double-sided adhesive plastic. (Since my trials were strictly temporary, I used blue painter’s tape instead, and suggest others do likewise until they finalize their installation.) One side of the antenna is white, the other black, so decor-wise you can pick your poison.

Antennas Direct ClearStream Eclipse on wood table

Flip the antenna around for the white option (Image credit: Future)

A housing at the bottom about a half-inch thick — the antenna itself is not much more than a half-millimeter or so thick – provides a standard coaxial F-connector plus the supplied coax cables. ClearStream packs two: 3-foot and 12-foot lengths, intending the shorter one to connect the antenna to the included signal amplifier, and the longer one to the amp to your TV (other lengths are available at most hardware stores). The amp module, about the size of a pack of gum, has two F-connectors (antenna input and signal output), and a mini-USB port for power. A supplied 8-foot power cable supplies the juice, which can come from any open USB port on the TV or another component, or from the small wall charger packed with the Eclipse. (The amp supplied with my Eclipse sample looked slightly different than the one shown in ads, but is likely to be electrically identical.)

Before we report on the ClearStream Eclipse’s performance, it’s worth repeating: real-world reception is overwhelmingly affected by your location’s elevation, and by any obstructions, natural or man-made, that intervene between it and your desired stations’ transmitters. Our results reflect a semi-rural spot at about 700 feet above sea level, in a second-story window with a clear line-of-sight southeast, where a variety of signals emanate from the east, south, and southwest, at distances ranging from 17 miles to more than 75 miles. This is a pretty excellent site, so your mileage will vary.

With that caveat, in my trial the Eclipse pulled in 16 main signals, delivering a total of 61 main and sub-channels combined – impressive results. Of these, the most distant one (nearly 70 miles) was occasionally “blocky” enough to be only borderline usable, while the rest were solid, though this is likely to vary from day to day and even hour to hour as atmospheric conditions change.

Antennas Direct ClearStream Eclipse amplifier on table

The included amplifier module attaches to the antenna and to your TV's USB port for power. (Image credit: Future)

Antennas Direct ClearStream Eclipse: Price and release date

  • First available: June 2016
  • Price: $49.99

With its very fine performance (especially on UHF-band signals), the ClearStream Eclipse Amplified is very fairly priced at $50, and it can regularly be found for less. Nonetheless, spending half to twice as much on a larger design incorporating VHF elements may deliver a few more fringe signals.

Antennas Direct ClearStream Eclipse on table with accessories and box

The antenna plus included accessories (Image credit: Future)

Should you buy the Antennas Direct ClearSstream Eclipse?

Buy it if...

You need fringe-suburban to edge-rural reception: The Eclipse managed to pull in signals from 17 to nearly 70 miles in our test setting.

You want an unobtrusive antenna: The Eclipse's surface-mount design lets it easily be hidden in a window or on a wall outside of view.

Don't buy it if...

You need to receive signals much beyond 50 miles: The Eclipse may not be able to pull in signals from long distances, especially if your home is in a low spot or obstructed by hills or buildings.

You need a VHF (channels 2-13) station at some distance: In this case, a larger indoor antenna with VHF elements may well do better.

Mohu Vibe review: Also consider

Mohu Arc
A slightly pricier antenna with a decor-friendly design. It lacks amplification, so is best suited for urban and suburban enviroments where stations are within a 40-mile radius.

Read our full Mohu Arc review

Mohu Vibe
The Vibe is another design-friendly option with good signal-pulling abilities, though its range comes up short compared to the Eclipse.

Read our full Mohu Vibe review

Winegard FlatWave Amped Pro TH-3000
A pricier amplified antenna that provides very good range at 60-plus miles, It also features a useful Bluetooth setup app to assist in installation. 

Read our full Winegard FlatWave Amped Pro TH-3000 review

Antennas Direct ClearStream Eclipse in window

(Image credit: Future)

How I tested the Antennas Direct ClearStream Eclipse

  • Tested at semi-rural location
  • Compared with powerful "reference" antenna

I test indoor TV antennas at a semi-rural, hilltop location with good elevation and a clear line-of-sight over nearly 360 degrees to TV transmitters ranging from about 15 to about 70 miles. This testing environment gives me the ability to evaluate models catering to a full spectrum of indoor antenna needs.

For the testing process, I first place the antenna high up in a south-facing window and run the tuning process on a TV with an ATSC 3.0 “next-gen TV” tuner. I then record the number of carriers tuned, along with the total number of sub-channels. A powerful inside-the-attic rooftop-type antenna at the same location is also used as a reference for comparison.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed February 2025

I’m amazed by the Bose Smart Soundbar’s features for the money, and am also impressed with its Dolby Atmos sound
9:01 pm | February 19, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Soundbars Televisions | Tags: , , , | Comments: Off

Bose Smart Soundbar: Two minute review

The Bose Smart Soundbar is a great way to elevate your TV experience in the bedroom or other small room. It’s not up to the task of a home theater setup, especially without a subwoofer, but that’s not its purpose. if you’re looking to bring Dolby Atmos sound to a smaller setup, it’s one of the best soundbars you can buy.

The Bose Smart Soundbar’s lack of low-end will frustrate action and superhero movie fans and its narrow soundstage keeps it from truly elevating the audio experience, especially when listening to music. However, it still is one of the best Dolby Atmos soundbars, with two upward-firing speakers that provide a sense of space and immersion that somewhat offsets that narrow soundstage. In a smaller setup, it almost completely masks it.

Just as important, this soundbar is stacked with features. There’s an A.I. dialogue mode, Alexa and Chromecast support, plus a whole lot more. My favorite feature lets you use specific Bose earbuds as the rear speakers in a surround sound setup for a unique experience. Unfortunately, those are sold separately. And, of course, the Smart Soundbar has the typical Bose markup, so this is not necessarily a great deal, though I wouldn’t call it overpriced either.

If you’re looking to upgrade your TV experience in a smaller space like a bedroom or small apartment, the Bose Smart Soundbar is an ideal option, especially with all the features on hand. Just be willing to shell out some extra cash and be aware of its shortcomings.

Bose Smart soundbar on table with accessories

The Bose Smart Soundbar comes with everything you need to quickly get up and running (earbuds cost extra) (Image credit: Future)

Bose Smart Soundbar review: Price & release date

  • Price: $499.00 / £499.95 / AU$799.95
  • First available: September 2024
  • Available in the US, UK, and Australia

Having been released in September of 2024, the Bose Smart Soundbar is the newest addition to the company’s soundbar lineup. And at $499.00 / £499.95 / AU$799.95, its price tag is about what one would expect from Bose since you’re paying a little bit for the name. You might get more in terms of features or even a subwoofer and surround speakers for that price if you go with models from other companies, but you might be trading off some quality for those extras.

We reported around the time of release that the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds can work as rear speakers for this soundbar. And while that is certifiably a very appreciated feature, you won’t get a pair for free when purchasing the soundbar but will have to pay an extra $299 / £299 / AU$449.95 for the earbuds.

The Bose Smart Soundbar and Bose Ultra Open Earbuds are available in the US, UK, and Australia.

Bose Smart Soundbar review: Specs

Bose Smart soundbar top surface control buttons

Power and mic control buttons are located on the soundbar's top surface (Image credit: Future)

Bose Smart Soundbar review: Features

  • Personal Surround Sound (requires optional Bose earbuds)
  • App is easy to navigate and use
  • Wi-Fi and Voice assistant support

My favorite feature of the feature-filled Bose Smart Soundbar is Personal Surround Sound, which uses Bose’s Ultra Open Earbuds as rear speakers so you can get an actual surround sound experience without needing to use rear speakers. Plus, you can adjust how subtle or strong the effect is in the app as well as boost different settings like center channel level for those with issues hearing dialogue. This feature requires you to purchase Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, however, and they’re not exactly cheap.

I particularly liked this feature for gaming. I used Personal Surround Sound while playing Star Wars: Jedi Survivor and found it created a fairly integrated soundscape for the main character to run around in – half the time I couldn’t tell if what I was hearing was coming from the soundbar or the earbuds.

In a way, Personal Surround Sound is even better than a traditional surround sound system since you don’t have to be locked into a specific seat to hear all the audio elements in the soundtrack at the proper distance. On the other hand, this feature only works for anyone wearing the earbuds – not exactly great for group viewing.

The app, which is easy to navigate and use, has plenty of other features on tap. Of course, there are some basic EQ settings. While there’s no parametric EQ, you can adjust the treble, bass, center channel, and height effect, aka spatial audio. You can even toggle on a Wall EQ setting to adjust for when the soundbar is installed against a wall.

Speaking of spatial audio, this soundbar does support Dolby Atmos, and physically reproduces it via those upward-firing speakers. Some soundbars support Dolby Atmos but don’t have any upward-firing speakers, instead using virtual trickery to give a sense of spaciousness. The difference is noticeable.

Bose TrueSpace also takes advantage of those upward-firing speakers, upscaling sound so that you’re getting a spatial audio experience even when the source isn’t Dolby Atmos encoded. (It’s like listening to mono audio on a stereo set of speakers.) As far as I could hear, it’s the same audio going upwards as out whereas Dolby Atmos audio has specific elements that are designated height effects.

If you’re hard of hearing or just find the modern mixes of movies to be hard to understand, the AI dialogue mode might be the feature for you. It’s supposed to automatically adjust dialogue for clarity’s sake. When testing – I watched the beginning of The Dark Knight for this feature – I found that dialogue was clearer since there was a subtle boost to the midrange where voices typically sit. It wasn’t obnoxious the way some dialog boosting modes are, but it still boosted sounds that sit in a similar frequency range that weren’t voices. It’s not perfectly executed, but still is done well.

Lastly, the Bose Smart Soundbar has Alexa support as well as both Chromecast built-in and AirPlay. With Alexa, you can talk to the soundbar the way you would an Amazon Echo, even asking what the weather is or setting a timer. I did find that I had to articulate the wake word a little more for the soundbar to hear me, but that’s not all that big of a deal.

During testing, I found the built-in Chromecast and AirPlay to work seamlessly, which is something I always worry about as in the past I’ve had connectivity issues with Wi-Fi streaming on some devices.

  • Features score: 4.5 / 5

Bose Smart soundbar upward-firing speakers

The Bose Smart soundbar features two upward-firing speakers for Dolby Atmos height effects (Image credit: Future)

Bose Smart Soundbar review: Performance

  • Light on bass
  • Balanced mids and crisp highs
  • Somewhat narrow soundstage

The Bose Smart Soundbar sounds about as good as a soundbar can. You have to remember that these types of audio devices exist mostly for convenience’s sake.

With that in mind, let’s discuss its audio limitations. First up is the bass. While I could turn up the bass level in the app, the low-range boost affects the mid-range frequencies. Since there are just some bass ports on the back and no actual subwoofer-specific drivers, not to mention that the drivers are necessarily compact, the lack of a strong bass response is unsurprising.

There was no rumble on hand when I tested it with The Batman, The Dark Knight, and Deadpool & Wolverine (400 Blows doesn’t lend itself to testing soundbars). Whenever there are big fights in these kinds of movies, there’s always a lot of very punchy low-end information. But here, all that information is very muted if not gone. At least, there’s a subwoofer output to correct that by adding an external subwoofer, and Bose also offers wireless subs (and surround speakers) that can be paired with the Smart Soundbar.

The other parts of the frequency range fare better. The mid-range is not quite rich and full, but it is well-balanced. I generally didn’t need the A.I. dialogue mode, for instance, as the dialogue was consistently intelligible. It also helped that I could boost the center channel level in the app to help with that.

The high-end is nice and crisp on the Smart Soundbar. Whether it was the string arrangement in movie scores or even dialogue when I tested it, everything had a nice clarity as opposed to being overly pronounced or even painful to listen to.

This soundbar's soundstage is inherently limited by its form factor. That said, the sound did feel like it has more width than other similarly sized soundbars I’ve tested and used. This was helped quite a bit by the spatial audio capabilities, as everything sounded a little bigger and wider, even though I didn’t hear as much left-to-right movement as I expected.

  • Performance score: 4 / 5

Bose Smart soundbar rear ports

The Bose Smart Soundbar's main connections are HDMI eARC and optical digital audio, along with a line output for a subwoofer (Image credit: Future)

Bose Smart Soundbar review: Design

  • Upward-firing speakers
  • On-unit controls just for voice assistant
  • No alphanumeric LED display

Bose is not breaking the mold design-wise with the look or color of the Bose Smart Soundbar. This is a long rectangular, matte black soundbar with a grill that covers the front and wraps around the side to cover the center tweeter and the racetrack transducers on each end. There’s a grill on the top of the unit as well where the two upward-firing transducers are.

Speaking of all those speakers, despite it being technically a 3.0.2 system (the left, right and center speakers along with the two upward-firing ones), the audio decodes at 5.1.4. There are some ports on the back to help with bass but there aren’t any drivers dedicated to the low end.

The on-unit controls are fairly limited as just two buttons are sitting on top of the left side for voice assistant support. There’s a microphone button to turn the internal mic on or off and an Alexa action button to interact with Alexa in a few different ways including stopping the feature.

Most of the physical controls are available through the remote. You have the usual ones like power, mute, and volume controls as well as three source buttons (TV, Bluetooth, App) and a play/pause button. Nothing too crazy. The remote itself is fairly small and light, which is nice, though its small size makes it the kind of remote that’s very easy to lose.

As far as ports go, it has the necessary optical and HDMI ports as well as a subwoofer out, an IR port, and a USB

There’s no front panel alphanumeric LED display – something I always wish I had when it’s missing – just an LED light when the soundbar turns on or is listening when listening to a voice assistant command. While I did miss it, I didn’t miss it all that much.

  • Design score: 4 / 5

Bose Smart soundbar app screens

The Smart Soundbar's control app gives you access to a wide range of EQ settings (Image credit: Future)

Bose Smart Soundbar review: Setup & usability

  • HDMI eARC connection to TV
  • Easy, app-based setup
  • One-remote use with Roku TVs

Setup of the Bose Smart Soundbar is very straightforward, even if it takes just a little longer from beginning to end. If you just want to get to it and don’t care about all the features, connecting the soundbar to either your TV’s optical or HDMI eARC port is most of the work. Put some AAA batteries into the remote (unfortunately not included) and you’re good to go.

There are a few more steps if you want to get the full experience. After downloading the Bose app, you pair it to the soundbar (and the Ultra Open earbuds if you have them) and then set up Wi-Fi on the soundbar for AirPlay, Chromecast Built-in and Alexa.

The Bose Smart Soundbar is made to pair seamlessly with Roku TVs. Luckily, I have one so I was able to go through the process – just follow the onscreen instructions – which allowed me to use my TV remote for basic functionality. On that note, once Alexa was set up, I was able to manipulate the soundbar just by using the wake word and speaking to it.

  • Setup & usability score: 5 / 5

Bose Ultra open earbuds on table

Using the Smart Soundbar's Personal Surround Sound feature requires the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds (not included) (Image credit: Future)

Bose Smart Soundbar review: Value

  • Features boost value
  • Can get more advanced systems for same price
  • Cheaper standalone soundbars available

If you’re looking at features, the Bose Smart Soundbar has a lot going for it with the Personal Surround Sound feature (which, again, requires a separate purchase), A.I. dialogue mode, and app support.

For a similar price, however, you can get a 5.1-channel system like the maxed-out version of the Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus, which also gives you a subwoofer and rear speakers for true surround sound. As nice as Bose’s personalized surround sound feature is, only one person can use the earbuds at a time. Amazon’s system is lacking features and doesn’t have voice assistant support – not even Alexa. Its audio quality is not quite as crisp, nor does it have the upward-firing speakers of the Bose soundbar. Of course, if you’re on a budget, you can skip the subwoofer and rear speakers and just get the standalone Amazon Soundbar Plus soundbar for $249.99 / £249.99 (about AU$400).

Another option is to spend $349 / £299 (originally $499 / £449 / AU$695) to get the Sony HT-S2000, a 3.1-channel standalone soundbar that includes virtual spatial audio and good bass response. It costs a little less for something that gets you 80% of the way there. But again, you’re giving up a lot as it doesn’t have voice assistant support, the personalized surround sound that’s unique to this Bose soundbar, or one of the many other features on hand.

  • Value score: 4 / 5

Bose Smart soundbar in box on floor with earbuds

The Bose Smart Soundbar and Ultra Open Earbuds (Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Bose Smart Soundbar?

Buy it if...

You need all the features
The Bose Smart Soundbar is about as feature-filled as it gets, from Alexa and Chromecast built-in to a personal surround sound feature accessible if you have a pair of Bose Ultra Open Earbuds.

You’re looking for great sound in a single soundbar
This soundbar has the typical Bose audio quality one expects. While a bit light in the bass, it has good clarity and dynamics.

You want true Dolby Atmos
Thanks to the inclusion of two upward-firing speakers, this soundbar offers a real spatial audio experience. On top of that, it can upscale non-Dolby Atmos tracks into faux spatial audio.

Don't buy it if...

You want a full surround sound system
While you can use the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds for a great surround sound experience, it’s just for one person. If you want a full surround sound experience, especially with guests, look elsewhere.

You’re on a budget
For a single soundbar, you’re paying quite a premium here. There are decent soundbars, albeit with less features and lower-quality sound, at a fraction of the price.View Deal

Bose Smart Soundbar: Also consider

Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus
The Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus system costs about the same as the Bose Smart Soundbar. And while it’s not nearly as feature-packed, it does come with a subwoofer and surround speakers for a more immersive experience (discounting the Bose’s personal surround sound feature).

Read our full Amazon Fire TV Soundbar Plus review

Sony HT-S2000
While its Dolby Atmos is virtual, this soundbar still punches above its weight thanks to its impressive sound. There’s no voice assistant support or Wi-Fi streaming, but its price has dropped a bit from when it was released.

Read our full Sony HT-S2000 review

Hisense AX5125H
Hisense's soundbar system offers 5.1.2 channels in a compact package with wireless surround speakers and a subwoofer. It also has an alphanumeric front panel LED display and costs less than Bose's soundbar.

Read our full Hisense AX5125H review

How I tested the Bose Smart Soundbar

Bose Smart soundbar on TV stand

The Nakamichi Dragon with its two subs in my home. (Image credit: Future)
  • I used the Bose Smart Soundbar for a couple of weeks
  • Tested with TV, movies, games, and music

I used the Bose Smart Soundbar regularly for a couple of weeks. I watched movies, shows, gamed and listened to music with it. I tested all the various features, especially the Personal Surround Sound feature to see what it could do.

After having tested the Bose Smart Soundbar, it still surprises me all that this soundbar has to offer. It’s that feature-packed. This is an ideal soundbar for someone with a smaller, not-quite home theater setup, but who still wants a premium experience, and not just because of the name.

I’ve tested a lot of tech gear over the years from laptops to keyboards and speakers, and so have been able to use my expertise towards giving an honest and fair opinion, not to mention a critical eye, to any product I test.

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