Chinese manufacturer IMOU offers a wide range of consumer IoT products, including home security cameras. The Rex 3D is slightly unusual in that, unlike most indoor models, it has a camera that can move either manually or automatically from side to side as well as up and down.
As with most home security cameras, setup is relatively straightforward. Simply plug the camera into the mains (a relatively long power lead is provided) and download the IMOU Life app online before syncing the device to your home’s Wi-Fi (2.4GHz only, not 5GHz) and setting a strong password (essential for these devices). Alternatively, there is an ethernet connection for hooking up the camera directly to a broadband router if you prefer.
Where the IMOU really comes into its own is its dizzying array of features. I’ve been testing the Rex 3D in my kitchen for a couple of weeks now and I’m only just getting to grips with everything it can do. That said, you will need to pay for the IMOU subscription to be able to store footage in the cloud, share the device with up to 20 users, and access some of the AI-based features beyond an initial two-week free trial.
The camera can be tilted manually or automatically (Image credit: Chris Price)
Prices start at around £2 (about $2.50/AU$4) a month for the basic plan if you commit to a one-year subscription, but you can pay up to £6 (about $8/AU$12) a month for the comprehensive plan (IMOU Protect Plus – see below). Alternatively, footage can be stored on a MicroSD card (not supplied). The slot is discreetly located within the camera housing underneath the lens.
Given the name Rex (a common dog’s name), I’d naively assumed the device was intended purely for pet monitoring. But actually, it can be used for human or pet detection. Footage is captured as soon as the camera senses movement, whether it’s human or animal. Clips are displayed within the app, either by going into the calendar view and clicking on the thumbnails within the live image or scrolling through a timeline. You can also set up the device to sound an alarm when motion is detected, though this is incredibly annoying if it’s an area of the house where there’s a lot of movement, such as the kitchen.
Captured video can be downloaded to your phone or a screenshot from the footage can be taken by pressing the camera icon. Up to 8x zoom is provided so you can close in on a particular part of a recording or live footage, while ‘smart tracking’ will automatically move the camera to follow, say, a baby crawling across the floor or a dog playing with a ball.
The relatively long lead makes this particularly convenient for a wired camera (Image credit: Chris Price)
Other features include an ‘activity zone’ for excluding motion being captured in certain parts of the frame (for example, a road where it might capture moving cars) and a ‘detection schedule’ for selecting which hours you want the camera to be in operation – such as only at night if you want to monitor a child’s bedroom or external door.
The IMOU Rex 3D also works with Amazon Alexa, so you can say ‘Alexa, show me the nursery’ and footage from that camera will be displayed. When the device is put in privacy mode, it will place the lens down to deactivate some of the functionality, such as live view.
IMOU Rex 3D: price and availability
Prices start from $64.99/£36.99 (about AU$100)
Available now in US and UK
Given everything the IMOU Rex 3D offers, it is quite simply astonishing value for money. It’s even possible to find the model on special offer for even less than the prices displayed above. That said, it’s so cheap because, like most security camera manufacturers, IMOU makes its money from getting people to sign up for its subscription plans.
These enable you to view recordings in the cloud (after the free trial ends) and access additional features, such as enhanced AI detection that can send you an alert if a person, pet, vehicle, or package is detected. Alternatively, for more basic functionality you can simply store recordings on a MicroSD card up to 256GB, which you will have to buy separately. This can be used for streaming up to 24 hours of constant footage (once storage is full it will be overwritten by new footage).
Value for money score: 5/5
You can use the mobile app to define times when the camera should be active (Image credit: Chris Price)
IMOU Rex 3D: subscription options
IMOU Protect Basic: Seven days of storage in the cloud, share devices with 10 users - £26 (about $30/AU$50) per year.
IMOU Protect Plus: Enhanced AI detection, 30 days of storage in the cloud, share devices with 20 users - £5.99 (about $8/AU$10) per month or £60 (about $80/AU$120) per year.
IMOU Rex 3D: design
Easy DIY setup
Long power cable provided
Can be mounted to ceiling
Given the low price, you might expect the IMOU Rex 3D to feel a bit cheap, but actually, it’s pretty solid and sturdy. It’s also not overly large, about the size and shape of a softball. I’m not a massive fan of the piano black finish but it’s largely a matter of personal taste.
Running the long 3m cable from a power supply in the kitchen, I mounted the camera in the kitchen facing the back door. A bracket and screws are provided for installing the device on the ceiling if you prefer. This is a good way of optimizing the 360-degree camera as well as keeping the device out of reach of sticky-fingered children and thieves.
Design score: 4.5/5
Picture quality is excellent, even in low light (Image credit: Chris Price)
IMOU Rex 3D: performance
High quality 1080p image resolution
Extremely sensitive movement detection
Stable connection
It’s fair to say that the IMOU Rex 3D is one of the best security cameras I’ve looked at in terms of performance. Many are tricky to set up and don’t always offer a stable connection, especially if they are located some distance from the wireless broadband router. However, even though the router was on the other side of the house, the IMOU connected first time and has been working constantly during the two weeks of testing.
If I have one complaint, it’s that the IMOU Rex 3D is a little too good in that it seems to record every little movement it detects. Indeed, it’s so sensitive I’ve had to turn detection sensitivity down to 2 out of 5 so it isn’t triggered every time a leaf blows across the lawn or a spider scurries across the floor! Also, while the AI detection is very good for detecting humans, it’s not always reliable for pets. On numerous occasions, it told me it had detected a pet even though my dog wasn’t in the room at the time!
Finally, the picture quality is excellent. As well as offering 1080p resolution for high-quality images during the day, it has a night vision setting which is very accurate for IR recording in low light. If you are mounting the camera on the ceiling, it’s possible to flip the image 180 degrees so it’s the right way round. There’s also an HDR (High Dynamic Range) setting for capturing high-contrast scenes – for example, if the camera is indoors facing a window.
Performance score: 4.5/5
With an IMOU Protect Plus subscription, you'll get the ability to differentiate between packages, pets, parcels, and vehicles using AI (Image credit: Chris Price)
Should you buy the IMOU Rex 3D?
Buy it if...
You want to regularly track humans and pets Pan and tilt camera with smart tracking makes it a great choice for capturing movement.
You want two-way audio
Great for communicating with loved ones while you're away.
Don't buy it if...
You only need a simple security solution
The vast array of features and functionality could prove a little overwhelming for some.
You're looking for an outdoor camera
The IMOU Rex 3D is intended for indoor use, and isn't waterproof.
IMOU Rex 3D security camera: also consider
How I tested the IMOU Rex 3D security camera
I used the camera every day for two weeks
I set it up myself without any assistance
The camera was set up to focus on the kitchen
To really put an indoor security camera through its paces you need to put it in a well-trafficked part of a property. That’s why I opted to locate mine in the kitchen. Plus, I made sure it was in motion tracking mode so it followed any movement around the room from either a person or a dog.
While this may not be ideal in the longer term – it does feel a little intrusive with a camera whirring round the room – it meant that I could see just how good the camera is at capturing movement. Over the last two weeks, it must have recorded more than 1000 clips and while some of these were false positives, I don’t think it ever dropped the connection during the testing period.
With its latest mid-range Android phone, Oppo seems to be going after Google’s latest affordable camera phone the Pixel 8a with a similar range of smart AI photography features. And it’s a great attempt, with some solid magic eraser action and a few other cool tools, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
The Oppo Reno 12 Pro is the latest entry in Oppo’s middle tier of smartphones, the Reno range, which sits below the top-end Find mobiles and above the A line. The Reno family offer mobiles at middling prices with some impressive features but with corners cut, and generally only the even-numbered options launch in the West.
I tested the Oppo Reno 10 when that came out just under a year prior to the 12 series, and the newest member of the line comes on leaps and bounds thanks to its improved camera sensors (and faster charging). It’s a shame that Oppo has ditched the curved-edge look of the Reno 10 series though, which makes the phones much more comfortable to hold.
Sitting just above the Oppo Reno 12, the Pro distinguishes itself from its sibling and from many other mid-rangers in one key way: it has a telephoto camera lens for zoom photography.
This camera hardware brings huge benefits to the photography potential of the Reno; you can take better portrait, macro and long-distance pictures than on any similar-priced rival thanks to the presence of a zoom camera.
If you want a great camera phone that doesn’t cost as much as the iPhone 15 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S24 or OnePlus 12, the Reno 12 Pro will be a blessing. Even the Pixel 8a doesn't have a telephoto lens.
The signature selling points here, though, are the AI photography features. While top-end mobiles have had these for a while, it’s taking time for them to trickle down to mid-rangers in any serious way, but the Reno performs admirably in this department. It’s great at removing background people from your photos, whether it’s vanishing a lone wanderer or bigger crowds, and replacing them with a background so realistic you’ll forget which image is real.
It’s slower to use than the Pixel alternative, but that’s not the end of the world. And I’d say this is one of the best Pixel 8a rivals for people who don’t want a Google phone or want a zoom camera on their mobile.
The Oppo charges quickly, lasts for ages, and feels pretty snappy for gaming. Its display is big and attractive, while being fairly easy to use one-handed. Best of all, you’re getting all these features at a really competitive price.
It’s not the perfect phone though, showing some signs of its mid-range positioning. I was frustrated by how many pre-installed apps (bloatware) clutter up the phone when you first turn it on, making your first 15 minutes a game of ‘weird-knock-off-app-whack-a-mole’ as you try to delete them all. The design also feels a little cheap, even though it emulates the two-texture Pixel back on certain color options.
Even with those issues I can recommend the Reno 12 Pro as one of the best mobiles at its price, especially if you’re looking for an affordable camera phone that won’t break the bank. And with the possibility of software updates bringing improvements to the AI, the handset could prove to be a real rival of the Pixel 8a in the future.
Oppo Reno 12 Pro review: price and availability
(Image credit: Future)
Released in UK and AU in June 2024
Costs £499 / AU$999 (roughly $640) for sole variant
Different versions of mobile in different regions
The Oppo Reno 12 Pro has seen a few different releases in different parts of the world, and of slightly different phones too. The western version of the mobile, which I tested, was announced in mid-June 2024.
You can buy the phone for £499 / AU$999 (roughly $640) cementing this firmly in the mid-range phone bracket. Oppo generally doesn’t sell its smartphones in the US and evidently, that’s unchanged with the Reno.
There’s only one version of the phone available in the UK, with 12GB RAM and 512GB storage, though a reduced-storage model is available in other regions. Oppo’s website also sells one color, even though it offers a different one on Amazon.
At that price, you can see why I compared this mobile to the Google Pixel 8a – that costs $499 / £499 / AU$849, so it’s a really close rival. Other mobiles at this rough price point include the iPhone SE, Samsung Galaxy A55 and Xiaomi 13T.
Oppo Reno 12 Pro review: specs
The Oppo Reno 12 Pro has roughly mid-range specs, and here's what we're playing with:
Oppo Reno 12 Pro review: design
(Image credit: Future)
Big but thin and light
Plastic body feels cheap
Three color options but depends on region
If you were to pick up the Oppo Reno 12 Pro without knowing what it was, you might confuse it with a Moto or Nokia phone — it gives off budget ‘vibes’. This is mostly down to the plastic frame and back of the body, the latter of which has a two-texture partition that closely resembles a Google Pixel a phone of yore.
Measuring 161.5 x 74.8 x 7.4mm it’s wider than a Pixel, though it’s nice and thin so it won’t weigh you down like a really big phone will. On that topic it weighs 180g which isn’t much for its size – the first time I picked it up I was surprised as I expected it to be heavier.
No 3.5mm headphone jack in sight — there’s a USB-C port for all your connectivity needs instead. The power button and volume rocker are both on the right edge of the device, well within reach for people with average-sized hands.
On the back of the phone, the camera bump protrudes slightly from the panel; it doesn’t stick out so far that I’ll get caught on the side of your pocket as you slip it in.
The screen houses an under-display fingerprint scanner and it worked reliably, although if I’d last used the phone on an app that requires a horizontal orientation (for example, a game), the scanner would appear at 90 degrees to where it should, oddly.
The phone is available Space Brown (black), Sunset Gold (rose) or Nebula Silver (pinkish silver) hues, though depending on your region not all options may be available. I tested the former which is why I know it’s black and not brown.
An IP65 rating ensures that the phone is protected from dust and fine particles, as well as water splashes like rain or an accidental hit from the garden hose. It won’t stand up to immersion in water though, so don’t drop it in, say, a bath.
Design score: 3 / 5
Oppo Reno 12 Pro review: display
(Image credit: Future)
6.7-inches with 1080 x 2412 resolution
AMOLED display shows punchy colors
120Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling
The Oppo Reno 12 Pro screen clocks in at 6.7 inches diagonally, so it’s a nice big phone — a hand-stretcher for sure, but big too for your Netflix or gaming needs.
The resolution is 1080 x 2412, or FHD+, the same as you’ll see in almost every phone save for the cheapest or priciest rivals. It’s the resolution that most apps output at, so you don’t really need more pixels anyway.
The display refresh rate hits 120Hz, which again is pretty standard for most smartphone in this day and age. It ensures that motion feels nice and smooth when you’re scrolling around the menu, and on supported apps it has the same effect.
A few extra specs make sure that the screen displays vibrant colors: it uses AMOLED tech and supports HDR10+, with a color gamut spanning a billion colors and a fairly high max brightness of 1,200 nits.
Display score: 4 / 5
Oppo Reno 12 Pro review: software
(Image credit: Future)
Android 14 with Oppo's ColorOS laid over the top
No confirmed number of software updates
A huge number of pre-installed apps
And here I was thinking the bloatware infestation on Chinese Android phones was going away: when you boot up the Oppo Reno 12 Pro it’s chock-full of pre-installed apps. There are big names like Netflix, Facebook and TikTok, games I’d never heard of in a folder titled ’Must Play’, countless Oppo-made apps that don’t have an obvious function and even apps titled in Chinese characters that I just don’t understand.
It’s hard to feel like a phone is ‘yours’ when, upon first booting it up, you’re met with an array quite like this.
It’s a shame, too, because under the layers of tacky bloatware ColorOS (Oppo’s own Android fork) is decent. With the Reno 12 Pro you’re getting ColorOS 13.1 by default, laid over Android 14, though Oppo has been quiet about how many Android updates the phone will get.
There’s a wide range of customization options for things like font, always-on display, the layout of the quick settings menu (the swipe-down one) and the edge lighting when you get a notification.
This quick settings menu has a pretty easy-to-understand layout, more so than on most Android forks, so you can easily toggle whatever function you want quickly. The phone also has an app drawer so by default, your phone’s main menu pages look relatively clean.
Software score: 2.5 / 5
Oppo Reno 12 Pro review: cameras
(Image credit: Future)
50MP main, 50MP telephoto and 8MP ultra-wide cameras
50MP selfie camera rounds out the suite
Magic eraser AI tool is useful for spritzing up pictures
Oppo named one of its first Reno phones the ‘Reno 10x Zoom’ before promptly dropping telephoto cameras from the series; well zooming is back and better than ever in the Reno 12 Pro.
I’m getting ahead of myself; the main snapper is a 50MP f/1.8 unit with a few bells and whistles like PDAF (for quick focusing) and OIS (which compensates for your shaky hands).
Pictures taken on the main camera are nice and bold and bright. Maybe they lose a little more detail in darker areas than I’d like but the vibrancy of colors more than makes up for it. Focusing was a little more scattershot than I’m used to with PDAF though and I found myself jumping into the Pro app once or twice just to have better control over it. Overall, though, this is a nice camera that returns pleasing social media-ready pics.
Its 50MP companion is the f/2.0 telephoto lens, which supports 2x optical zoom — that’s not quite the 5x of the optical zoom but it’s still a breath of fresh air given how few mid-range mobiles include zoom cameras at all.
When analysing my camera samples to write this section, I kept needing to refer to the metadata to remember which were the zoomed-in snaps – this is to say that they look great, missing on loads of the tell-tale signs of other phone camera zooms like grain, washed-out colors, a lack of dynamic range or a different color profile than the comparable 1x image.
(Image credit: Future)
While 2x zoom is the optical limit you can go up to 5x hybrid or 20x digital zoom, and pictures taken on the latter actually look decent. You could easily use some of the 20x snaps I took on social media – I know because I did.
The third rear camera drops the resolution considerably. It’s an 8MP f/2.2 ultra-wide camera with a 112-degree field of view — as you can imagine pictures are a little lower-res than on the main camera, so you’re missing some quality, and they are a little less vibrant too. This lens can be used sparingly and situationally and ignored most of the rest of the time.
We jump back up to 50MP for the f/2.0 front camera, so you can expect high-res selfies.
Selfies look bright and detailed, with fairly realistic-looking color replication. Jump into Portrait mode and there’s mostly (though not always totally) accurate bokeh background blur (sometimes I lost some hairs). However the default beautification is very zealous about smoothing over your skin so I’d recommend playing around with it a bit.
Oppo has been putting the Reno 12 Pro’s AI photo features at the forefront of its marketing, in a clear attempt to rival the offerings Google includes with its Pixel phones. According to the marketing, it has tools to remove unwanted background elements of photos, save aspects of a snap as stickers, open closed eyes in selfies, add clarity and upscaling to objects or completely change a selfie into a different art style or location.
I say ‘according to the marketing’ because the current version of the software as of my testing of the mobile (July 2024) only has the first two… at least, as far as I could find. Maybe they’re hidden deep in menus but I did a lot of searching to find them.
The smart features present are pretty smart, though, as long as you’ll forgive them being a little slow to use in certain circumstances. Magic eraser is easy to use and you can select individual objects to delete or a ‘mass erasure’ option that identifies all humans in the background. It’s really accurate too.
Equally accurate is the replication part, so when you remove a person from your picture, the phone is great at identifying what should be there and filling in the blanks. Even if a person straddles different backgrounds, there’s no problem.
Beyond the smart features, you’re getting the same features that most modern mobiles have: Pro, Portrait, Night, Full-Res, Slow-Mo, Time-Lapse round out what you’re used to.
In terms of video, you can record up to 4K at 30fps or 1080p at 60fps on the front or rear cameras; don’t expect 8K recording here.
Oppo Reno 12 Pro camera samples
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A sunset picture taken on the Oppo Reno 12 Pro (Image credit: Future)
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A beer picture taken on the Oppo Reno 12 Pro. (Image credit: Future)
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An ultra-wide picture of a church across a river. (Image credit: Future)
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A 1x picture of a church across a river. (Image credit: Future)
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A 2x zoom picture of a church across a river. (Image credit: Future)
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And getting even closer with the Oppo Reno 12 Pro's zoom camera. (Image credit: Future)
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A close picture of some berries taken with the telephoto camera. (Image credit: Future)
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A selfie taken on the Oppo Reno 12 Pro with standard mode (Image credit: Future)
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A selfie taken on the Oppo Reno 12 Pro with Portrait mode (Image credit: Future)
Camera score: 4 / 5
Oppo Reno 12 Pro: performance and audio
Dimensity 7300 Energy provides middling power
12GB RAM and an impressive 512GB storage
Stereo speakers plus Bluetooth 5.4
The power in the Oppo Reno 12 Pro comes from the MediaTek chipset it uses, called the Dimensity 7300 Energy, which as the name suggests focuses on energy efficiency. Alongside the non-Pro model, this is the first phone to use the chipset.
In the Geekbench 6 benchmark tests, the Reno returned an average multi-core score of 2,005, which is the kind of lower mid-range score that you’d expect to be associated with a phone at this price point – it’s not exactly blazing power but it’s enough for normal tasks.
(Image credit: Future)
That score is reflected in the gaming power of the phone – it could handle most normal titles like Call of Duty: Mobile and PUBG Mobile quite well, but there were the occasional bouts of lagging or slow loading that gives away that this isn’t a top-power phone.
The mobile comes with 12GB RAM which handles your everyday tasks, and I never found the phone slow when using social media apps, playing around with the camera app or scrolling through menus. That’s paired with 512GB storage, which is a huge amount for a phone at this price point. There’s no expandable storage but with 512GB space at your fingertips, you might not need it.
On the audio front, there’s no 3.5mm headphone jack, so you’ll have to use the USB-C port and an adaptor for wired audio. Wirelessly, you can use the Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity to pair headphones or earbuds, and there are also stereo speakers on the top and bottom of the mobile. These are positioned well enough that I didn’t find myself covering them when holding the device landscape.
Performance score: 3.5 / 5
Oppo Reno 12 Pro review: battery life
Long-lasting 5,000mAh battery
Phone lasts at least a day and a half
80W wired charging is pretty fast
(Image credit: Future)
On paper, the Oppo Reno 12 Pro’s 5,000mAh is big but also pretty standard for phones at this price; it’s rare to see mid-range mobiles with any other size of battery.
However in the field (ie, in testing), I was pretty surprised by the Reno’s lasting power. I’m used to phones like this having battery life’s of roughly a day and half, but the Reno comes closer than most at turning that ‘half’ into something like ‘two thirds’ through normal use.
In more handy terms, it meant that I could indulge in long gaming sessions without having to worry about the battery running too low for me to use the handset for the rest of the day.
Charging is fast too, at 80W, which will top you up in no time. Oppo says that it’ll power the phone to full in just under 50 minutes, but I had enough charge to last me a full day of use in about half an hour of charging.
The Reno 12 Pro also offers reverse wired charging, so you can plug a cable into the phone’s USB-C port and then into another gadget to power it up. It’s not fast, but it’s a useful way to keep your smartwatch or headphones powered on the go.
Battery score: 4 / 5
Oppo Reno 12 Pro review: value
(Image credit: Future)
The Oppo Reno 12 Pro has a few rough edges, but they’re all in the areas where it tries to outstep its bounds. Looking at what you’re getting for the price, the Reno offers great value for money.
For a distinctly price you’re getting a display, camera array, battery and charging department and design that feels better than you’d expect at the cost.
None of the Reno 12 Pro’s weaker areas are any worse than you’d expect for the price either; bloatware is annoying but the Oppo is far from the only mobile to have it, and while the design is uninspired, you have to pay twice as much for a really good-looking mobile.
Value score: 4 / 5
Should you buy the Oppo Reno 12 Pro?
Buy it if...
You want an affordable camera phone A zoom camera? AI smart features? Vibrant scene optimization? The Oppo has it all, making it one of the best cheap camera phones I've tested.
You need a long-lasting battery The Oppo Reno 12 Pro lasts longer than most other 5,000mAh battery phones I've tested, probably thanks to the efficient chipset, which is a blessing for people who aren't always near a charger.
You need lots of storage With a default storage space of 512GB, the Oppo Reno 12 Pro ensures you won't need to buy an SD card for extra space.
Don't buy it if...
You need blazing-fast processing speeds The Dimensity 7300 Energy is fine for most tasks, but passionate gamers or people who need blazing-fast power will find it's not enough.
Bloatware annoys you Even compared to other low-budget Android mobiles, the Oppo Reno 12 Pro has loads of pre-installed apps that you'll need to delete.
Oppo Reno 12 Pro review: Also consider
If you're split on whether or not to buy the Oppo Reno 12 Pro, here are some other mobiles you might want to consider.
How I tested the Oppo Reno 12 Pro
Review test period = 2 week
Testing included = Everyday usage, including web browsing, social media, photography, video calling, gaming, streaming video, music playback
The testing period for the Oppo Reno 12 Pro was two weeks, which began with product testing (hence there not being many of my apps).
Over the testing period I used the Reno like my normal phone: taking pictures, streaming music and videos, contacting people on social media, and playing lots of games. The testing period fell across a holiday so I got to take the phone out and about on a few trips.
I've been reviewing smartphones for TechRadar for over five years now, including using the original series of Reno mobiles and plenty more since then, as well as rivals across the mobile market.
There are a number of ways in which the Calista AirGlide Cool Breeze Styler stands out from the crowd, and the majority are positive. Firstly, there's its unique blue ombre design with a matte finish which is a welcome change; not only from the typically basic black and white models seen elsewhere, but even among the small but growing number of single-color stylers.
It measures 11 x 1.5 x 1.7in (28 x 3.8 x 4.3 cm), and it's lightweight at 10oz (285g). It has two buttons near the base: one for power and temperature control (280 - 430F / 138 - 221C), and another for the built-in cooling fan, which reduces heat damage and sets the style. This temperature range has been designed to suit various hair types, but I found the default 350F (180C) setting to be more than sufficient, so I rarely took full advantage of this range.
(Image credit: Future)
Instead of a traditional hinge, the AirGlide uses buttons to control the 1.5in (3.8 cm) tourmaline plates, which are clamped shut by default. This design is another standout feature and helps manage the amount of hair styled at once, not to mention the fact that the plates deliver smooth, sleek results with reduced frizz. Plus by holding your hair in place, coupled with the AirGlide's rounded edges, this design gives you much more freedom and precision, especially when creating curls and waves.
Finally, the use of cooling vents is a nice touch because they help to set your style, so this sleek finish lasts much longer than with other stylers I've used. However, these pros are accompanied by a couple of cons. The styler doesn't have an automatic shut-off feature, which I've become accustomed to during my years testing the best hair straighteners. I missed the peace of mind this gives.
The narrow plates and cooling vent feature can significantly increase styling time. For instance, it takes about 15 minutes and 35 seconds on average to straighten long, thin hair, compared to just over three minutes with other stylers like the GHD Chronos. Curling takes even longer, around 20 minutes. If you then add the fact you need to hold the hair in place for 5-10 seconds to set the style with the cooling vents, you're looking at long styling times.
The Calista AirGlide Cool Breeze Styler has a lot going for it. It's not the cheapest styler on the market, but it's also far from the most expensive and offers great, long-lasting performance which goes a long way. My only concern is that it will be a hard sell for many now there is a newer, redesigned model called the Calista AirGlide Pro Cool that only costs $10 more.
The Calista AirGlide Cool Breeze Styler costs $99 / £79 / AU$150 and is available in one color – Brilliant Blue. It was previously sold in other colorways including Peach Mai Tai, Bluewater Green, Berry Spritzer and Cool Blue Pink but these are no longer available on the official Calista site, and you can only seemingly buy them from eBay and similar second-hand retailers.
The styler is not to be confused with the Calista AirGlide Pro Cool Breeze Styler, a newer, redesigned model released in June 2024 that costs $109 / £88 / AU$166, comes with more vents and plates that open wider, and is available in Rose Quartz, Blue Topaz, White Pearl and Lavender Topaz.
There isn't a huge selection of flat irons at this price point and the closest, like-for-like stylers I found range from the $69.99 VAVOOV Pro Airflow Styler to Conair's $79.99 Cool Air Styler Luxe, all the way up to the Cortex Beauty $249.99 AirGlider. All of these Calista rivals double up as curling tongs; a feature the AirGlide Cool Breeze Styler is missing, despite the fact it costs more than the majority of these alternatives.
You can buy the styler from Calista, or Amazon in the US. It is possible to buy it in the UK and Australia, but Calista ships it from the US and this comes with additional costs. At the time of writing, shipping to the UK adds £30 to the price. To ship it to Australia, you'll pay an extra $70 on top of the styler's price. Any relevant customs charges are then applied separately.
In my opinion, the Calista AirGlide and AirGlide Pro sit a little higher on the price range than they should, especially considering the lack of the explicit curling tong functions seen on rivals. That said, you can still use the AirGlide for curling, as you can all straightening irons. It also looks more stylish than some of its cheaper alternatives.
All things considered, it's decent value for money, but not great, especially given that you can now get a newer, redesigned model for almost the same price.
In a sea of black, white and even one-tone stylers, the Calista AirGlide's ombre design stands out, as does its smooth, matte finish. Colored stylers have a tendency to look cheap or child-like, but Calista has managed to make the AirGlide look and feel premium. It's an incredibly attractive straightening iron that sets off against the white cord brilliantly. It's a shame that only one color seemingly remains because the peach, pink and berry-colored versions all look equally great.
(Image credit: Future)
Near the base of the 11 x 1.5 x 1.7in / 28 x 3.8 x 4.3cm (L x W x D) body are two buttons – one to turn the AirGlide on and off, and the other to control the built-in fan. You press and hold the Power button to switch the styler on. You can then press this button to cycle through the different temperature settings, from 280 - 430F / 138 - 221C. If you don't want, or need, to change these settings, the styler's default temperature is 350F / 180C.
You can then choose to have the cool air vents running, by pressing the fan button, or leave them off. The purpose of these vents is to run cool air over your style to both reduce heat damage, and set your style in place. I had expected the addition of a fan to add to the weight of this styler, but it's instead incredibly lightweight at 10oz / 285g. The vents aren't designed to dry your hair, like the vents seen on the GHD Duet Style or Dyson Airstrait; they're purely for cooling the hair. Don't be tempted to use the Calista AirGlide on wet hair because you'll destroy the strands.
Instead of the hinge seen on the majority of flat irons, which causes the straightener's arms to stay in the open position, the AirGlide's 1.5in / 3.8cm plates are controlled by buttons positioned either side of the body. When you're not using the AirGlide, these plates are clamped shut by default. To open them wide enough to place your hair inside, press these buttons together.
(Image credit: Future)
On first impression, I couldn't see how the hair could fit inside such a narrow gap but not only does it fit, this feature helps you control the size of the hair sections you're styling. Calista recommends styling sections that measure 2in / 5cm and 1in / 2.5cm thick but you can't get much more hair than that inside the plates anyway so this is slightly moot. The AirGlide Cool Breeze Styler doesn't have an automatic shut-off feature, which is becoming increasingly standard of hot tools, but the contained design of the plates does at least add a layer of safety.
The plates themselves are made of tourmaline and are floating, meaning they can respond and move based on the hair's thickness. This prevents them gripping the hair too hard and causing unnecessary damage.
If you're looking for a quick styler or have long thick hair then I'd give the Calista AirGlide Cool Breeze a miss. The narrow gap between the plates is great for controlling how much of your hair you style each time, which – if you have time and patience – adds a welcome level of precision. However, if you're short on time or have a lot of hair to style, this design adds a significant amount of time to the styling process. To put this into perspective, it takes an average of 3 minutes and 15 seconds to straighten my long, thin hair with the GHD Chronos. It took me almost five times longer – 15 minutes and 35 seconds on average – with the Calista. This is even with only needing to pass the straighteners over your hair once to achieve the desired finish.
Curling my hair took longer, unsurprisingly, at 20 minutes, but the actual process of creating the curl was straightforward. This was, in large part, because the design of the AirGlide's plates means you don't have to grip the styler tightly to keep them clamped on the hair. Once you let go of the buttons, the plates come back together. This gives you more freedom to move the styler around your hair – a particular benefit for curling or adding waves – because you don't have to grip and twist. This frees up your other hand for greater control. It also prevents you accidentally clamping the hair too tight and causing unnecessary damage.
Despite these long styling times, though, whether I was using the AirGlide to straighten, curl or create waves, the results always looked great. My hair was smooth and sleek, and thanks to the cool air vents setting the style, frizz was vastly reduced and the style held its shape for hours. Even when I left the house. I'm not sure it's quite worth the extra styling time but it softens the blow considerably.
(Image credit: Future)
I also appreciated the fact that the styler ranges from 280 to 430F (138 to 221C), but my hair is too thin for the highest temperature setting and I didn't want to unnecessarily fry my hair. At the same time, the lower temperatures weren't hot enough to create the desired styles. The default 350F / 180C setting was more than enough for my fine hair, so if you're like me, you may end up paying more for a specification you don't need. However, if you have damaged, thick or natural hair, or if it's naturally straight, you'll likely get more use out of this temperature range than I did.
I had worried that the air vents on the Calista would blow the hair in all directions and cause flyaways, but the airflow is gentle enough to simply cool and set, living up to the use of the word 'breeze' in the styler's name. If you want to get the most out of this feature, the brand recommends you hold the hair in place for between five to 10 seconds to set the hair properly. This can add to the already long styling times, not to mention expose the hair to potentially more damage, plus in my experience it's not entirely necessary, but it's worth noting.
Performance score: 4 out of 5
Should you buy the Calista AirGlide Cool Breeze Styler?
Buy it if...
Don't buy it if...
How I tested the Calista AirGlide Cool Breeze Styler
Used as my main styler for four weeks
Experimented with different heat settings
Created curly and straight styles
To test the Calista AirGlide Cool Breeze Styler, I used it as my main styler over the course of four weeks. Initially, I straightened my long, thin hair to test its basic functionality and performance. I timed each session to compare it with other stylers, like the GHD Chronos. I also used it to create waves and curls.
Throughout those four weeks, I experimented with a range of temperature settings, to see how the styler performed and how long the style lasted. I made a note of how well the cooling vents reduced frizz and set different styles. Throughout the testing period, I tracked the styler's ease of use and overall performance in achieving smooth, sleek results, and monitored how my hair felt and looked at the start and the end.
The Honor Magic V3 unveiled last week is currently exclusive to China, but that's about to change since Honor has teased the Magic V3's UK debut.
Honor has set up a promo page for the Magic V3 on its UK website, and while it hasn't revealed the foldable's launch date, the brand said the Magic V3 is "Coming soon" to the country.
Honor has also announced a "Magic Insider" program that allows users to "try the Magic V3 at home for a whole month" at no cost. Additionally, there's a prize draw to win a £1,000 Honor voucher and a trip for two to Germany.
You can click on the source...
Our Prime Day deals section continues with discounts on smartwatches across Amazon UK and Amazon Germany.
Kicking things off is the Apple Watch Series 9 which is down to €414/£344. This is the baseline 45mm model with GPS and no cellular connectivity.
Apple Watch Series 9
GPS, aluminum
Read our review
45mm - €414 at Amazon DE
45mm - £344 at Amazon UK
If you want a smaller form factor, then the 40mm Apple Watch SE (2022) is also available at...
It’s day two of Amazon Prime Day 2024 and there are plenty of tablet deals on deck. We’ve prepared a list of some of the best options across varying budgets. As a reminder, you'll need an active Prime subscription to get these deals.
Amazon Germany is offering the Microsoft Surface Pro 9 for €699. This 2-in-1 launched in late 2022 but it’s a full-fledged PC replacement capable of running all of your Windows X86 apps as well as less demanding games. It boasts a 13.5-inch touchscreen, 12th Gen Intel Core i5-1235U, 8GB RAM, and 256GB storage. It also supports and has some decent I/O with 2x...
It may not be an official public holiday, but Prime Day is one of the best days of the year to pick up some new goods at a discount. We’ve scoured the listings and are bringing you some of the best deals on smartphones across Amazon Germany and the UK.
The first phone on the list is the Google Pixel 8 Pro – the flagship phone from the Android maker is currently down to €725 (34% off) in Germany and £560 in the UK.
Google Pixel 8 Pro
specs review
[#InlinePriceWidget, 12545#]
If you prefer the...
If you’re in the market for wire-free robotic lawn mower that cuts grass as well as a human using a good-quality mower, the new Mammotion LUBA 2 AWD is an absolute shoo-in. I’ve been using this F1 racing car-inspired mowbot for the past three weeks and I’m struggling to come up with anything negative to say about it.
The LUBA 2 AWD’s inch-accurate GPS RTK navigation and grass-cutting technology is so dependable that every time I look at the finish of my lawn I wonder how on earth an autonomous robot could be so capable of such a flawless job without me having to endure any major technical shenanigans. If you want unswervingly straight and wide 15.7" / 40cm grass stripes 24/7, this is the lawnbot for you. Yes, it’s extremely expensive but then again the level of engineering on display here is near Formula One spec.
(Image credit: Future)
The LUBA 2 features all-wheel drive and has the ability to scale inclines up to a ridiculously steep 80%. It can also traverse very rough terrain, turn on a sixpence and negotiate borders and obstacles with aplomb. It is, to all intents and purposes, one of the very best pieces of technological kit this reviewer has seen over the years.
Mammotion LUBA 2 AWD review: price & availability
Price: from $2,099 / £2,149
Available now
On sale in the US and UK
Are you sitting down? Good, because even the cheapest model, the LUBA 2 AWD 1000, costs a whopping $2,099 / £2,149. However, given the huge amount of advanced technology on board, the enormous amount of time saved mowing the lawn yourself and possibly the cost of employing a human gardener to do it for you, this seemingly high price is actually pretty reasonable, especially given how well it does the job.
So where can you buy one of these sci-fi machines? If you’re in America, try Mammotion, Amazon or Walmart where the LUBA 2 AWD costs from $2,099. If you’re in the UK, head to the Mammotion store or Amazon where prices start at £2,149.
Value for money score: 4.5 out of 5
Mammotion LUBA 2 AWD specs
Mammotion LUBA 2 AWD review: design
Formula One styling
3D camera
Omni-directional front wheels
Robotic lawn mowers have been around since the early 90's but they’ve always been regarded as a bit of a niche product, due to the fact that they have all required having a long, complicated boundary wire installed to prevent them from straying into flower borders, ponds, swimming pools and other no-go zones. But that’s all set to change with the advent of the latest slew of self-navigating robot mowers that no longer need a perimeter wire.
Not only do the latest autonomous wire-free lawnbots require very little setup, they’re also incredibly efficient at keeping a lawn and, in many cases, several interconnected lawns perfectly manicured on a daily basis. With their advanced sensors, GPS navigation and smart connectivity, these cutting-edge sward scythes will negotiate a wide variety of complex lawn designs with ease, leaving you to get on with some of the more important things in life. I have one such technological marvel mowing my lawn right now, so let me tell you more about it.
(Image credit: Future)
I’m a sucker for a well-designed piece of kit and the sterling LUBA 2 AWD is right up there when it comes to looks. Just seeing a photo of this robot mower’s striking Formula One-inspired body makes you want to rush out and buy one. And should you do that, you’ll doubtless be thrilled to discover during the unboxing process that it’s not just the body that screams high-end quality but practically every on-board component, too.
Let’s start at the beginning. After you’ve manhandled the giant box onto your lawn and sliced through the sealing tape, you’re presented with the gleaming robot in most of its glory. I say most because you will need to screw on the provided 3D camera and clip in the front bumper – but more on that in a moment. Reach down to the sides of the robot to get a hold of its two hidden grab handles and haul the 38.9lb / 17.12kg beast out of the box. Spend a little time at this juncture to admire what might turn out to be one the best purchases you’ve ever made.
Before I get to setting it up, here are a few tantalizing specs that make this mower such a stand-out product. Firstly, because this model uses ultra-accurate RTK GPS and a camera to navigate, there are no perimeter wires involved so you won’t need to spend hours on your knees digging silly little trenches around the edge of the lawn – a major bonus that cannot be ignored. Secondly, the LUBA 2 comes with a 15.7" / 40cm motorized cutting deck with remote-controlled height adjustment from 1 to 2.7" / 25 - 70mm in 5mm increments. The deck itself comprises two spinning discs, each equipped with four razor blades that cut and mulch grass almost as well as a cylinder mower, and as close to the edge of the lawn as any conventional mower.
Since the deck is the same size as a standard medium-sized push lawn mower, it means that the specific LUBA 2 model on review here will cut lawns up to 0.25 acre / 1,000 square meters in next to no time. Fear not if your lawn is on the large size because the same unit is available in three other variants – 0.75, 1.25 and 2.5 Acres / 3,000, 5,000 and 10,000 square meters.
(Image credit: Future)
The LUBA 2 AWD is renowned for its ability to traverse even the gnarliest of terrain and inclines up to a phenomenal 80% (38˚) – trust me, that’s steep! It manages this feat by dint of its all-wheel drivetrain, a pair of wide ribbed wheels on the rear, two grippy omnidirectional front wheels designed for zero turns and front suspension to help keep all four wheels on the ground.
Since practically all functions of the LUBA 2 are controlled via an app, there are just five buttons on the unit itself – on/off, mow, home, start and emergency stop. Facing straight ahead is the all-important 3D camera which is used for three levels of obstacle avoidance – direct touch, slow touch and less touch – plus self navigation when there is poor satellite reception. Meanwhile, various onboard sensors on the body and in the bumper help with further navigation, obstacle avoidance and detection of rain.
The LUBA 2 AWD features a long-lasting battery that provides ample runtime for extensive mowing sessions – up to two hours. When it runs low, the robot makes a bee-line for the charging station in readiness for the next task or, if the plot is extra large, completion of the current mowing session.
Most wire-free lawnbots are equipped with a range of security features. While there’s no guarantee this model won’t be lifted off the lawn, it does at least securely lock itself to the individual’s wi-fi network making it redundant to anyone beyond the wi-fi range. Mammotion also provides a slot for a 4G sim to further enhance its security by making the LUBA 2 trackable, though I haven’t been able to test that. For extra peace of mind, Mammotion also suggests fitting an Apple AirTag under the camera housing.
(Image credit: Future)
When it comes to setting it up, the LUBA 2 arrives with what seems like a daunting bunch of accessories. However, you’ll find the setting up process a veritable breeze. For the record, the package includes the robot, a top-mounted camera and obstacle bumper that need to be screwed into position, a charging base station (optional roof advised to keep sun off the bot), a 12v transformer for the charging base, a circular satellite receiver on a 1.7m pole with ground spikes for positioning next to the charging base, two lengths of 10m low-voltage cable, a bunch of ground screws to hold the base in position and a box of eight spare razor-style cutting blades.
Once you’ve mounted the aforementioned camera and bumper, installed the charging station and satellite receiver as instructed, and logged into the Mammotion app (iOS and Android), it’s time to map your lawn – or lawns, as the case may be, since this mowbot can handle up to 10 different lawns (or zones) by linking them all together using virtual passageways.
(Image credit: Mammotion)
To map a lawn, simply tap ‘map’ in the app and create an area. Now drive the LUBA 2 around the perimeter of the lawn using the app’s virtual joysticks – just like an RC car. And that’s all there is to it – the LUBA 2 is now ready to roll out and do its first cut. I should add at this point that you should first mow the lawn yourself using your old-fashioned lawn mower so the grass is down to about 40mm in height. That way, the LUBA 2 can continue cutting the lawn at a height of, say, 35mm on a regular basis, without the sight of grass clippings littering the lawn. Instead, these tiny clippings will work their way into the soil, adding lots of lovely nitrogen which in turn will keep the lawn looking swanky throughout the summer.
There are two main types of navigation that today’s wireless robotic mowers employ: an HD camera like the Worx Landroid Vision and, as in the case of the LUBA 2 and others like the Segway Navimow iSeries, military-style RTK GPS which provides unerringly accurate navigation to within a few centimeters. This amazing pin-point accuracy allows RTK GPS-enabled mowbots like the LUBA 2 to mow the lawn in perfectly straight lines, leaving beautiful Wimbledon-style stripes in their wake. GPS guided lawnbots also work in a very logical manner, rather like a human being.
However, a good line of sight to at least 20 satellites is imperative for the system to work as advertised; the good news is that, even on a garden like mine where nearly two sides of the lawn are completely surrounded by tall trees, the LUBA 2’s RTK GPS aerial and the receiver in the bot itself have been able to see between 20 to 26 satellites at any given time, so all is not lost.
Design score: 5 out of 5
Mammotion LUBA 2 AWD review: performance
Game-changing navigation
Creates pristine stripes
Excellent obstacle avoidance
When it comes to cutting performance, the LUBA 2 AWD truly excels. Its powerful but surprisingly quiet 60dB motor and AWD capabilities enable it to tackle steep inclines and grass as tall as the unit itself, though the latter isn’t advised unless you don’t mind clumps of grass littering the lawn. Crucially, the LUBA 2’s intelligent RTK GPS navigation system ensures extraordinarily efficient and very logical mowing patterns which cover every inch of the lawn without the mower ever venturing off into the flower beds. This beast’s wide 40cm cutting deck can handle large areas quickly, making it an ideal choice for sizeable properties.
(Image credit: Future)
My main lawn is about half the size of a tennis court and pretty much square so it posed no challenge to the LUBA 2. It has been out every two days and, aside from one anomaly where it would stop in front of a border bush, it has performed impeccably well, cutting right to edge with its wide rear wheels leaving incredible pseudo stripes in their wake. And by stripes I mean truly stunning, perfectly straight lines that have been noticed by every guest who’s popped in for a visit.
It turns out the aforementioned hiccup was due to my poor mapping in that area so I pulled up the app and edited it by steering the bot around that area once more, this time leaving more space to the border. I have had no stopping issues since.
(Image credit: Future)
My next test involved programming the LUBA 2 to cut our smaller front lawn and that of our adjoining neighbor, whose small lawn is much more complex and separated by a driveway. Unfortunately there’s a set of steep stairs between my main lawn – where the charging station and GPS receiver are situated – and the front lawn, so I wasn’t able to connect the two unless I created a permanent ramp between them. Had I done that, I could have theoretically connected all three lawns together by creating a set of different zones and connecting them all using the app’s clever virtual passageway function.
Instead I simply carried the LUBA 2 to the other side of the house and drove it RC-style around the perimeters of both lawns to create two different maps. I then created a virtual passageway between them. Given that the RTK GPS station was on the other side of the house I was amazed that it seemed to make no difference to how the LUBA 2 performed. Just like my main lawn, it cut the front section in straight lines, then did a perimeter lap before raising its cutting deck and crossing the driveway to my neighbour’s lawn where it dropped the deck again and performed the same exquisite cut while negotiating the curvy borders without its wheels falling into the flower bed. This truly amazed me because I spent very little time on the mapping of both lawns and didn’t expect the LUBA 2 to perform nearly as well as it did when used on my main lawn. In the pantheon of autonomous lawnbots, this thing is astonishingly competent and a bit like being thrust into the future.
(Image credit: Future)
Another thing that has impressed me is the noise level, or rather the lack of it. Like most robot mowers, the LUBA 2 is unbelievably quiet. It can be passing you within a few feet and all you might here is the sound of grass being snipped – the motor itself is practically silent. This means you can mow the lawn at any time of day and your neighbors need never know.
In terms of any improvements to the overall cutting system, I personally would like to see Mammotion offer a similar automatic method like the Segway Navimow iSeries I recently reviewed for TechRadar’s sister publication T3. Without asking, the Navimow cut my lawn differently each time it went out. For instance, day one was vertical as expected but on sessions two and three, it cut the lawn horizontally and then diagonally. This method of cutting is thought to be good for the lawn so it would be great to have a feature like that with the option to turn it off if not required. You can still perform a multi-directional sequence like this with the LUBA 2 but you will have to program it yourself to cut in different directions each time and therefore create several different schedules in the process.
Performance score: 5 out of 5
Mammotion LUBA 2 AWD review: Mammotion app
Provides full remote access
Highly customisable
Perhaps too complex for some
Like most modern wire-free lawnbots, the LUBA 2 AWD is best used with the Mammotion app which allows you to control and monitor the bot, schedule mowing sessions, adjust an insane amount of settings including cutting height, angle of cut, speed of cut and the number of perimeter laps. You can even drive the LUBA 2 around FPV-style while viewing the image from the front camera. Furthermore, a brand new feature was recently launched that enables the user to create patterns and even words on the lawn.
(Image credit: Mammotion)
It’s called ‘lawn printing’ and, although I haven’t tried this function, it shows just how accurate the LUBA 2 is at inch-perfect navigation. The app also provides the wherewithal to install firmware updates and these should not be ignored because they not only address known minor issues but chances are they will also include some features that will enhance the experience of using the mower.
However, while I find the app relatively easy enough to navigate, some users consider it too complex and confusing, especially with some of the terminology used. I agree that there is room for improvement in this regard. Nevertheless, like the comprehensive Roborock app for its robot vacuum cleaners and DJI’s Fly app for its drones, it's definitely worth spending time in the Mammotion app so you can familiarize yourself with its myriad features and functions. At first it may seem overly convoluted with all its customizable settings, but judicious scrutiny of the app will bear fruit and you’ll soon be setting the LUBA 2 up in exactly the way you want it.
App score: 4.5 out of 5
Should you buy the Mammotion LUBA 2 AWD?
Buy it if…
You want reliable performance
The LUBA 2 AWD comes with rock solid hardware and receives regular software updates for increased reliability.
You want beautiful lawn stripes
This mowbot leaves stunning grass stripes – and at any angle you prefer.
You want full remote control
Control LUBA 2 from anywhere in the world and even drive it around the lawn using the FPV camera.
Don't buy it if…
Your lawn is too small
If your lawn is of typical small urban size, the LUBA 2 may be overkill.
You want to keep to a tight budget
The LUBA 2 is expensive with a capital E.
You are a bit of a technophobe
The LUBA 2’s app may be too comprehensive for some users.
How I tested the Mammotion LUBA 2 AWD
I’ve been putting the LUBA 2 AWD 1000 through its paces for the past three weeks on a simple large square lawn layout plus a test of its multi-zone functionality and ability to pass from one zone to another without any input by the user. In many respects, the LUBA 2 has been one of the easiest of products to test because it hasn’t thrown up any conundrums or done anything out of the ordinary. It has just worked – and that’s quite a rarity.
The Miele Classic C1 vacuum cleaner comes in three very similar and identically-priced options: a Junior version with a sectioned suction tube, a standard version with a telescopic tube and XXL handle, and a Flex version with a telescopic tube and an extra long, flexible crevice nozzle for cleaning difficult-to-reach places. In this review I tested the Miele Classic C1 Flex vacuum cleaner.
Although the Miele Classic C1 Flex is very well engineered and comes with an enormous amount of suction power – 800 watts of it – one questions whether a corded cylinder vac of this nature still has a place in the 21st century, let alone among the best vacuum cleaners. Aside from having to keep plugging it into different power outlets around the home and the extra baggage of having a long suction hose that makes it tricky to carry, the most awkward facet of this vacuum cleaner is the static brush head that makes it very strenuous to push on anything other than smooth hard flooring.
(Image credit: Future)
Budgetary concern may sound like a very valid reason for opting for a corded model like the Classic C1 Flex but when you bear in mind that today's marketplace is filled with many modern cordless alternatives from the likes of Shark, Samsung, Vax and Tineco that cost roughly the same while performing just as well on hard floor and even better on carpet, it starts to look like the Classic C1 Flex may have passed its sell-by date.
Available in a few variants (C1, C1 Flex, C1 Junior) for the same price
Flex version only available in the UK
The pricing and options for the Classic C1 depend on where you live. In the UK, there are a few variants – the C1, C1 Flex, C1 Junior – all for the same price of £199. In the US, there's a Classic C1 for a list price of $349 or a C1 Turbo Team PowerLine for $469 (this one comes with an added 'Turbobrush' aimed at tackling pet hair specifically). In Australia the range isn't as clear-cut because it's not listed on the official Miele website, but there are various options available at third party retailers, at a range of prices.
In terms of value for money, it's acceptable but not amazing. There are plenty of competitors' options in a similar ballpark, which I think offer better performance.
Value for money score: 3 out of 5
Miele Classic C1 Flex specs
Miele Classic C1 vacuum cleaner review: design
Excellent build quality
Easy to pull around
Disappointing multi-floor head
Ask any modern tech-savvy householder whether they would ever consider buying a corded vacuum cleaner and they will probably tell you that that ship has sailed. I would tend to agree given that I am now so fully invested in everything cordless, from my stick vacs and robot vac to every outdoor garden power tool I have in the shed, including the lawnmower. Let’s face it, a corded cylinder vac like the Miele Classic C1 Flex I have on review here could never match a cordless stick for outright convenience and the ability to quickly vacuum a room before guests arrive.
On the flip side, corded cylinder vacs are quite often cheaper to buy than their equivalently powered cordless brethren and they'll never run out of power, which means you could vacuum every floor of a country mansion and then do the gatehouse and the rest of the neighborhood while you’re at it. Try that with a cordless stick vac and see how far you get.
(Image credit: Future)
When it comes to household items, Miele is unquestionably one of the most prestigious brands around, and this is due in no small part to the overall quality of everything the company’s design team turns its hands to. After all, German-made Miele products are known to last for years – decades even – and this is testament to both the quality of materials used and the way they’re put together.
Take the Classic C1 Flex. Miele doesn’t advertise the types of plastic used in its vacuum cleaner bodies, but take it from me, this model is tough enough to withstand a fall down the stairs. I know this because I accidentally pulled my test model down a short flight and the body survived unscathed, even after clouting the wall at the bottom.
However, I am also mindful that there are are couple of oddities with the Classic C1 Flex that I find disheartening given Miele’s generally impeccable design ethos. For instance, other Miele cylinder vacs I’ve reviewed or owned have always had a handy little hideaway area under the lid to store away the provided detail tools. By contrast, this one comes with a plastic tool holder that clips on to the base of the concertina hose.
(Image credit: Future)
This not only looks incongruous but the tools have a tendency to fall off if snagged against furnishings when pulling the unit along. I have since resorted to removing the holder and storing the tools in a bag along with the other 1,001 detail tools I’ve gathered over the years. For the record, the Classic C1 Flex ships with a rectangular upholstery nozzle, a crevice nozzle, a dusting brush and, as the ‘Flex’ moniker suggests, a long flexible nozzle tool for cleaning in hard-to-reach places.
Another element I’m not at all keen on is the main brush head. This is a much more serious anomaly in my opinion because this sole item is key to how well the cleaner works and how easy it is to push and pull, especially when used on carpet. Where most modern vacs are equipped with an optimally-positioned motorized brush head that swallows most larger items while beating its bristles deep into carpet pile, the Miele Classic C1 Flex ships with an old-fashioned static head comprising a single layer of stiff bristles at the front and two flexible plastic strips just behind it.
(Image credit: Future)
I’ll tell you more about this floor head in the performance chapter but, in short, it is extremely grippy when used on carpet and very difficult to push without breaking into a sweat. Given that its stablemate, the Miele Complete C2 Cat & Dog, ships with an easier-to-push motorised head for just £40 more, it seems like a missed opportunity on Miele’s part to not to equip all of its corded vacs with a motorised floor head.
The Classic C1 Flex features six levels of suction power which are accessed via a dial on the rear. Each setting is illustrated with an icon – curtains, upholstery, rugs, energy-saving, carpet and hard floor – but you can ignore that and just go for the most suitable level of suction for the task in hand. You can also reduce suction power further by opening the vent on the handle, though this increases the vac’s volume from a standard 71dB in full-power mode to an unpleasant 84dB.
Since this is a mains-powered model, you get 5.5 meters of spring-loaded cable tucked away inside its rear housing and this amounts to an operating radius of around 9m. To release the cable you simply pull it out to your required length and it will lock itself automatically. When finished, give the cable a short tug to release the locking mechanism and it’ll scoot back into its housing with the speed of an angry snake. However, you’re advised to hold the main unit in position with your foot when pulling the cable on hard floors or the whole vac will roll towards you. This is because the spring mechanism itself is strong enough to counteract the vac’s three extremely smooth-rolling, multi-directional micro castors. It’s not ideal, I know, but virtually every self-retracting cylinder vac I’ve ever used has had this very same issue.
(Image credit: Future)
At 12lbs / 5.8kg, the Classic C1 Flex is light enough to carry from the under-stairs cupboard to its place of work and it can be stored either horizontally or vertically. Crucially, the floor head with ungainly hose attached can be clipped to the main unit in either orientation though it’s still a cumbersome package to transport from room to room.
One of the main highlights of all Miele cylinder vacs, including this one, is the way their stainless steel suction tubes can be lengthened or shortened by pulling on a sheath. It’s inarguably the most tactile element on this machine and a system I’d love to see on all vacs, including sticks.
Heading into the enclosed bin section, the Classic C1 Flex is fitted with a substantial 4.76qt / 4.5L microfibre HyClean GN dust bag and just behind it, Miele’s excellent AirClean filter which helps keep carpet dust smells to a minimum. As I explain in my Bagged vs Bagless article, I’m a big fan of bagged vacuum cleaners because they produce almost zero dust when emptying, are better at collecting fine dust particles like ash and they require very little filter maintenance. That’s true of the Classic C1 Flex. However, you only get one dust bag with this model and a set of four extra bags will set you back $22.99 / £13.99.
I remember the days before cordless stick vacs took hold and you had to wrestle with a snake-like hose while pulling the main unit around behind you, which in turn was connected to a mains plug. It was a system of many foibles, including the cable getting snagged on furniture and the main unit turning turtle because you yanked it so hard out of frustration. You also had to keep unplugging it and plugging it back in every time you changed rooms.
Sorry to report, but this is one such model. However, the Miele Classic C1 Flex isn’t totally devoid of merit because it’s a sterling dust sucker on hard floors, even though it’s not great at collecting larger pieces of detritus like biscuit crumbs.
Power is something the Miele has in spades – all 800 watts of it. In fact, even in lower ‘carpet mode’, this vac’s limpet-like suction is strong enough to lift a rug off the floor. Which is why I say to ignore Miele’s power level guidance and just use the most suitable power level for the job in hand.
(Image credit: Future)
As per usual, my first hard floor test involved a good sprinkling of flour and crumbed biscuit with the main brush head set to ‘hard floor’ mode – i.e. with the front-mounted stiff bristle brush engaged. This brush is constructed like a castle battlement with nine small 5mm gaps positioned at regular intervals so larger items can slip through and up the suction tube.
(Image credit: Future)
As anticipated, the floor head snowploughed most the flour and larger biscuit crumbs on the forward stroke so I simply lifted the rear of the head by a few centimeters and pulled it backwards. Everything vanished up the tube. I then tried it using a handful of Crunchy Nut corn flakes and, again as predicted, the head simply pushed everything ahead of it with no evidence of even a single flake making its way to the suction area. Again, I was able to collect every last flake when using the head in reverse and lifted at a short angle. No it’s not ideal, but that’s generally what happens when you don’t use a motorized head with a decent gap between the front of the head and the floor.
(Image credit: Future)
I then proceeded to perform the same test on a medium pile rug and had to reduce the suction to level three – two levels lower than the recommended setting – because the head was impossible to budge. Despite still being very stiff to push, the brush head made a surprisingly good fist of collecting most of the crumbs and all the flour, though I did have to perform a few back and forth sweeps to collect the cornflakes. I also tried the same test with the handle’s suction reduction vent open and this made it easier to push at the expense of a massive increase in volume – from 71dB to 84dB – that made it sound like a jet engine during take off.
As it stands, Miele’s universal floor head is perfectly useable on most hard floors bar, say, delicate polished concrete or premium wood. After all, it picked up all dust – right to the very edge – and most items smaller than an oat flake. However, I’m not convinced that this is the right type vac for carpets or rugs of any depth because it takes far too much effort to push. In fact, I can’t see anyone other than the very fittest managing to finish a single carpeted room without needing to have a little lie down. By comparison to most cordless stick vacs, this specific model’s brush head felt outdated and of another age.
On the plus side, the Miele has oodles of suction power for tasks like vacuuming down the side of sofa cushions, while its extra long and flexible suction tool is one of the very best for sucking up crumbs and crisps between car seats and the center console.
Performance score: 2.5 out of 5
Should you buy the Miele Classic C1 vacuum cleaner?
Buy it if...
You have a lot of hard flooring
The Classic C1 Flex is a decent performer on hard floors.
You have a lot of rooms to clean
This vac will vac till the cows come home.
You want reliability
Miele is renowned for the high quality of its products.
Don't buy it if…
Your home is mostly carpeted
The Classic C1 Flex’s static brush head is not suitable for carpet.
You don’t want to be tethered to a mains plug
You will need to keep plugging this vac in from room to room.
You don’t have much storage space
The hose and long suction tube make it ungainly to store.
How I tested the Miele Classic C1 vacuum cleaner
Having hauled all parts out of the box, I first tested this model on hard engineered wood flooring using a combination of fine flour and crumbed biscuits, a handful of raw porridge oats and some Crunchy Nut corn flakes.
I then carried out the same test on a medium pile rug. I also gauged the amount of hassle it posed when using it, plugging it into various power outlets and carrying it upstairs and storing it away.
The Noblechairs Legend might just be the slickest gaming chair out there. Yes, it’s white, and yes it’s PU leather, but it’s nothing if not classy. From its ergonomic design to plush padding and silver accents the Noblechairs Legend White Edition is an outstanding premium option for anyone looking for a no-fuss gaming chair. This could have been ripped from a modern sports car, it looks that good.
There is one caveat to that though, and it all depends on where you pick one of these up. The pricing is a little haywire depending where you are in the world. Grab one of these in the UK and you’re looking at paying £400 including tax up front, jump over the Atlantic to the US however, and the price lands at $630, that’s a 25% price increase.
It does lack some of the features of its competitors like SecretLab or AndaSeat. Speaking very specifically of the AndaSeat Kaiser 3 XL. By comparison to that chair, the Noblechairs Legend doesn’t bag you magnetic pillows or armrests, and it’s a little less plush, and a little more drab in some of its finer build elements. The overall material quality, particularly with its armrests is also somewhat underwhelming. But then it looks a lot classier, and as it’s a similar price to the Kaiser 3 XL, you can sort of let that slide.
Bump that price up by 25% though, as seen in the US, and it becomes a case of spending considerably more for far less. That’s particularly compounded by the fact that you can pick up a Kaiser 3 XL for just under $470. So the question is, is it one of the best gaming chairs out there? Well, it entirely depends on which part of the planet you’re sat.
(Image credit: Future/Zak Storey)
Noblechairs Legend: Price and availability
Pricing varies wildly between regions
Good value in UK
Special editions cost more
Buying from Noblechairs directly, the Legend will set you back a whopping $630 minimum (Amazon currently sells these for $680) before tax. That’s 25% higher than the UK pricing, and again that’s before tax. In that scenario, comparing it to something like the SecretLab Titan Evo, or AndaSeat Kaiser 3 XL which come in at $100 - $200 less, for arguably a far better spec, and similar design language, really puts a dent in the overall appeal of the Legend.
The Australian market is somewhat more reasonable, seeing only a 12.5% increase in overall cost, but we can forgive Noble here, given the distance these chairs have traveled to reach that point, but even so, that’s still a price increase.
Noblechairs Legend: Specs
(Image credit: Future/Zak Storey)
Noblechairs Legend: Design and Features
Less ergonomic, more cushion
Super clean design
Looks fantastic in white
Noblechairs has been in the business of chairs for nearly a decade now. It arguably was one of the first brands to really cement itself in that custom PC gaming chair space, with products such as the Hero and Icon, in particular leading the charge. The Legend, however, is categorically quite different from those designs. It moves away from the 'gamer-y' bucket seats designed to hold in all of those extreme G-Forces you experience during your Helldivers 2 descents and looks to be a more refined office executive styling instead.
I’ve been testing gaming chairs like the Legend, since 2015, and have in fact been there since the very beginning, sitting in all manner of Noblechairs as well. The Legend, unlike a lot of those that came before it has redefined its overall style.
That said, it’s not perfect, and the gaming chair market has now become quite competitive with the likes of AndaSeat, SecretLab, Vertagear, and even the big brands such as Corsair, Razer, and Logitech getting in on the action too.
Anyway, let's get to the brass tacks here. What is the Noblechairs Legend like to use on the day-to-day? If I’m honest, it’s an absolute treat. For reference, I’ve had the Noblechairs Hero for around five years at this point. It’s stylish, classy, and plush, as you’d expect for a chair of that caliber, but the one thing that’s always put me off about it is the seat base. Namely, the fact that it’s seriously stiff and over time can become quite uncomfortable.
(Image credit: Future/Zak Storey)
Now, Noblechairs did say back in the day that this was an ergonomic consideration more so than a cost reduction, as stiffer bases typically meant your muscles wouldn’t atrophy quite as badly compared to a soft supportive cushion base, and there is evidence in the scientific literature to support that. However, it was a heavily criticized point at the time, and it seems the company has relented on that fact. The Legend in contrast is far more comfortable than my aging five-year-old Hero is. The seat base itself is slightly more rounded, more supportive by design, and plush as a result.
On top of that, you still get the usual array of gaming chair staples as well, including adjustable lumbar support, four-dimensional arm-rests, a five-wheel steel framed base, tilt, and recline adjustments, as well as some solid overall construction too (the stitching and branding are seriously top-tier).
Noble also sells the Legend in a number of colorways (admittedly not quite as many as Secretlab) including, Black, Dark Brown, Red/White/Black, and White (as shown here), alongside two special editions, (namely a Starfield variant, along with a Shure version as well). The latter two are a touch more expensive as a heads-up. If fake leather’s not your thing, you can opt to go for a cut-down fabric variant instead, which is slightly more affordable, you can read our full Noblechairs Legend TX review here.
(Image credit: Future/Zak Storey)
Noblechairs Legend: Performance
Unboxing could be better
Build straight out of 2015
Needs more magnets
The construction process for the Noblechairs Legend, is, generally, pretty average, as is the packaging. It’s not out of this world, like the Andaseat Kaiser 4, (relatively speaking for a gaming chair), but you get all the components you need, and an easy-to-follow instruction manual.
Construction is generally a breeze, assembling the base and adding the castor wheels is easy enough, although it gets somewhat trickier when you get around to attaching the seat back to the base. There are no sliding brackets or anything to help align your chair here, you have to carefully line it up with the bracket hinges on the side of the base, hold it in place one-handed, thread the bolts through with the other, and secure them with the included allen screws (Noble, like pretty much all manufacturers, do provide you with everything you need to do this). In my model, one of the topmost bolts was a bit troublesome to install, and it did require a lot of back and forth loosening all the other bolts, and eventually using a larger Allen key to secure them in place, but, otherwise, it’s a fairly seamless process.
(Image credit: Future/Zak Storey)
The bracket covers aren’t magnetic like those found in Andaseat or Secretlab’s chairs, however, and there are no special screw cover caps here either. It’s all very basic. If you built this chair today, and one in 2016, the process, and features would be basically identical.
That said, once it’s built, the Legend looks and feels immaculate, the PU leather is surprisingly plush, and breathable, not too fine a grain, and there’s some serious comfort here overall, in fact, it may well be one of the most comfortable gaming chairs out there. If you’re thinking about the white version and have any form of household pet that sheds hair, be prepared for a fur-covered chair almost immediately, but a quick blow duster will clean that up sharpish.
Otherwise, over long periods the Legend is fantastically comfortable. The base is far superior to that of the similarly priced and styled Noblechairs Hero, and it really does look the part, even without all the mod-cons of some of its competitors. All-in-all, it’s an impeccably well-rounded chair, the only issue is of course those price discrepancies per region throwing a particularly large spanner into the works.
(Image credit: Future/Zak Storey)
Should I buy the Noblechairs Legend?
Buy it if...
You want a classy-looking office chair The Noblechairs Legend has a fantastically clean design that looks just as good in a professional enterprise office as it does in a sophisticated gaming den. It’s comfortable too, and packs in a lot of ergonomic considerations that you’d expect for a chair at this price.
You live in the UK Without a doubt, if you’re in the UK, and see this chair at £400 or less than that, it’s a fantastic deal. Ok, it doesn’t have some of the mod cons, but they just aren’t that important at this price point.
Don't buy it if...
You want all the mod cons Without a doubt, the Noblechairs Legend’s overall build is starting to show its age. Aside from slightly tweaked cushioning and overall design shape changes, there’s little here that differentiates it from chairs launched seven years ago.
You live in the US Similar to the above, the Legend is only available in the States for 25% more than what you’d find in the UK. This greatly impacts the value proposition it offers in the US at its standard pricing. As a result, it’s one to keep an eye out for during sales periods.
Also consider...
If you're not completely sold on the Noblechairs Legend, or just want to weigh up some more options then check out these other two chairs that we've reviewed as fine alternatives.
Andaseat Kaiser 3 XL Larger than life and designed for the taller human, the Kaiser 3 XL is brimming with all the mod-cons and packs in some serious comfort too. It’s not flawless, and there are a lot of similarities between it, and the Secretlab Titan Evo range, but it’s quite a bit cheaper, and well worth considering.
Razer Iskur Razer may be a relatively new name in the world of gaming chairs, but that’s not stopped it from producing some top-quality seats. The Iskur is all about that robust lumbar support and lets you fine-tune it to the max. Add all of that juicy Razer styling and the Iskur XL is a surefire pick for any looking for a larger gaming chair.
I spent two weeks with the Noblechairs Legend using it as my daily office chair. I’m a 5’8.5” human (174cm) and weigh 165lb / 75kg. I completely built the Legend in my home office on my own and tested it sitting in a number of different positions over the two week period. I used it in video calls and during long gaming sessions in an office varying in temperatures from 20 to 30 degrees Celsius. I also tried a number of different lumbar positions and pillow configurations as well, documenting the entire process.
Additionally, I got a number of friends and colleagues to sit and try the chair, giving me their feedback, people ranging from 5’5" to 6’2" (165 to 180cm) and all manner of shapes and sizes in between, to get a good varied gauge on how it performs regardless of the person sat in it.
