The Wahoo Trackr heart rate monitor chest strap comes from a company known for working with Team GB athletes. As such this is a professional-grade bit of kit which now offers a rechargeable battery, making it more accessible for everyone than the last generation Tickr.
From running and cycling to fitness classes, athletics - and beyond - the Trackr makes for a super accurate way to get the most clear heart rate data. Since most metrics on smartwatches are now extrapolations from heart rate data, it pays to have the most accurate start point and this is what the Trackr is all about.
Sadly, it does lack the oxygen sensing capabilities of the more modern wrist-worn smartwatches, so data like SpO2 is lacking. For this, you'll need a separate bit of kit in the form of a muscle oxygen sensor.
The Wahoo Trackr is compatible with the company's own Wahoo app suite and plenty of popular third-party fitness apps including Cardio Mapper, Endomondo, and Runtastic. It also works with both ANT+ and up to three Bluetooth connections at once making it highly compatible in terms of hardware.
When it comes to battery life, this model goes for a solid 100 hours on a charge. This model is rechargeable (unlike the other Wahoo heart rate monitors before it) and the supplied USB 3.0 cable packs an LED to show charge status at a glance.
In terms of water use, it's not for swimming with just an IPX7 rating. That's not the best and means it's rated for a depth of one meter for 30 minutes, so it's not designed as a swim tracker and doesn't have onboard memory to make that a feature.
Overall this is one of the most convenient and compatible heart rate monitors that's also comfortable and super accurate - making it clear why this is used by professional athletes.
Wahoo Trackr: Price and release date
Available to buy now in the US, UK, and Australia
Priced at $89.99 / £79.99 / AU$149.95 RRP
The Wahoo Trackr launched on June 25 and is available across the globe. It launched with a price of $89.99 in the US, £79.99 in the UK and $149.95 in Australia.
The Trackr is a more affordable option than the other top-end options from the competition in the likes of Garmin and Polar. You can buy the Trackr directly from Wahoo or on sites like Amazon.
Wahoo Trackr (Image credit: Future)
Wahoo Trackr: Design
Comfortable to wear
Small strap length
Simple design
The Wahoo Trackr unit itself is pretty standard in terms of shape and size, although it is definitely one of the lighter options at 39g including the strap. As such it feels like it's barely there and you won't need to worry about it moving around due to its minimal weight.
The Trackr comes in one size with a strap that extends between 68cm and 91cm (27 inches to 36 inches) which sounds like plenty when you consider Wahoo says this works for up to 50-inch chest sizes. The reality felt quite different though as it was a snug fit even on a 42-inch chest.
Wahoo Trackr (Image credit: Future)
The straps feature skin-sensitive materials that work to detect your heart rate, without the need to wet them or do anything before getting started. There is a clasp system to attach the strap around your chest which is very easy to use and allows for quick adjusting as needed to find the right fit.
The fact that this model features LED lights for status and charging feedback is a really useful addition. As is that magnetic charging port, which makes it very easy to attach to the cable and get charged up.
The unit is IPX7 rated for water making it splash and sweatproof. Technically it's capable of withstanding being submerged in water at one meter depth for up to half an hour, but since it doesn't store data this won't work for swimming unless perhaps you have your phone poolside – although I didn't test that as the device isn't sold as a swim tracker.
Crucially, the Trackr is comfortable, if a little snug, and you won't notice it once you get going. That's the key, isn't it? So unless you specifically want this for water-based tracking there is very little to complain about.
Design rating: 4/5
Wahoo Trackr (Image credit: Future)
Wahoo Trackr: App and features
App is simple but effective
No swim tracking
Lots of third-party app compatibility
The Wahoo Trackr comes with its own app which offers some useful tracking metrics, with some helpful heart rate-specific screens. Of course, you can do this with your training app of choice, so it might seem a little redundant. But for anyone new to this who wants to use the dedicated Wahoo app then it makes sense to have that available.
As mentioned, the Trackr requires an app to work, but it will also pair with a smartwatch. So it's possible to go out without a smartphone and still track all data associated with GPS while getting the chest strap level of accuracy. Usefully, the watch can then store that data so you have it uploaded on your apps of choice when you get back to a connection.
The readouts on the Wahoo app are decent with nice big display data and the ability to pull in more from other hardware. So you could use this with a power monitor, for example, and that will also be displayed in the Wahoo apps. In the case of cycling that can be great for a connected bike and various data monitors all working at once. This is where that ability to use ANT+ and three Bluetooth connections at once comes in handy.
Wahoo Trackr (Image credit: Future)
The LED lights are helpful when charging to get your status, but are even more helpful when connecting to see what the device is doing – as well as getting a battery level update. That said, it connects quickly and easily and is always pairing-ready when you clip in and strap on, so the lights are more for to indicate isn't going as planned. I didn't have that issue as this connected first time with many devices.
Features are few, to be honest, but that's not a bad thing. This is a very smart and accurate heart rate monitor that doesn't try to reach beyond its core task, but rather focuses on doing that to the best possible ability – and in my testing across running, cycling, and HITT, it achieved this.
Features & app rating: 3.5/5
Wahoo Trackr (Image credit: Future)
Wahoo Trackr: Performance
Super accurate
Easy to setup and use
Wide connectivity
Thanks to this HRM's electrocardiography (ECG) heart-rate sensor, you can expect a 99.6% accuracy as standard. While wrist-worn light-based monitors are better than ever, they're still reliant on less accurate input – making all the data extrapolated from that, using algorithms, less accurate too. In that way, this is a very powerful heart rate monitor that's superb for anyone that wants a greater level of accuracy.
All that said, when out running with the Garmin Forerunner 965 and the Trackr connected to an iPhone 15 Pro Max, the compared data was very similar. As heart rate changed, on a hill climb, for example, the chest strap stayed with me accurately and the watch took a little longer to adapt. As the run went on and averages were more detailed that became less varied between the two – but the watch did still have some lag behind the Trackr.
When glancing in a race situation or training hard where you can only spare less than a second to use the energy to crane your neck and move your wrist, the chest strap reliability and responsiveness were really welcome.
Wahoo Trackr (Image credit: Future)
The results were not quite so similar when it came to faster runs – the chest strap really stood out as better here. On doing a fast 5K race with both of these units on, it was clear that the optical Garmin sensor was not as good. It had my heart rate never topping zone three, even though I was all-out and set a PB. The chest strap, on the other hand, was far more accurate, detecting zone four at the back end of the race and my zone five kick-up at the finish. Perhaps this is due to arm movement while going at speed, and sweating, but whatever the reason this put the chest strap into a league of its own.
So, if you're looking to accurately track high-speed, sweaty running, or HIIT classes, then a chest strap is a must and this model makes it easy to set up, monitor, and use with whatever app or device you want. I now run with the Garmin as my display but use the Trackr as the HRM, disabling the optical sensor on the watch in favor of the chest strap's accuracy.
Wahoo Trackr (Image credit: Future)
Wahoo Trackr: Buy it if...
You're serious about heart rate training A chest strap detects changes to your heart rate more quickly than a watch, which makes it a more accurate tool if you're training by heart rate zones.
You hate having to charge your fitness tracker The Wahoo Trackr’s battery is rechargeable meaning you get a decent 100 hours of use and can then quickly charge back up, rather than faffing about with battery replacements.
Wahoo Trackr: Don’t buy it if…
You like to see your data presented to you in real-time The Wahoo Trackr must be paired with a device to view the read-out. A phone can be awkward to view while running so you'll need a watch too. Although for cycling, with a mount, that doesn't apply.
You want ultimate ease If accuracy isn't so important then a wrist-based sensor may be enough for you, with no need to put on the chest strap before you go out to exercise.
Designed for multi-sport use, the HRM-Pro is the most advanced heart rate strap Garmin produces. It’s also one of the most expensive options available. With the ability to connect to multiple devices via Bluetooth and ANT+, capture insights into your running form, and store workout data to its internal memory, the Garmin HRM-Pro has everything you need from a heart rate monitor strap. Although it’s probably of greater interest to those who already own Garmin products.
The MyZone MZ-Switch isn’t just a chest strap. The center sensor node features an ECG monitor as well as an optical sensor and pops out so it can be worn on the wrist like a smartwatch, your arm or even your swimming goggles, giving you the best of both worlds. And, when used in chest strap mode, the MZ-Switch’s accuracy compares with that of the Garmin HRM-Pro. A great alternative if you want to mix it up a bit.
The Xiaomi 14T offers the design language and beautiful display of a current ultra-premium smartphone in a more affordable package, giving users a simply stunning screen and reliable performance for around half the price of a typical flagship. The compromises, notably in the camera department, are clear, but the 14T's display, battery life, and performance show Xiaomi isn’t just skimping, but making considered choices to deliver excellence in key areas.
The gorgeous 6.67-inch AMOLED display is the star of the show here. Photo and video content looks amazing on this panel, which packs a punch in terms of both contrast and detail. The tall, high-resolution screen makes the lightweight 14T a reliable and portable gaming machine – I found it could sustain demanding games like Call Of Duty: Mobile and Race The Sun with no drops in performance and without overly depleting the battery.
In day-to-day use, performance is snappy across the OS, though the phone can stutter a touch when switching between apps. The impressively large 5000mAh battery keeps the 14T going all day with regular use, and easily into the next with lighter usage; I found it genuinely difficult to run the phone down to 0% over the course of a normal day.
A price tag like this necessarily implies compromises, and Xiaomi has made clear concessions in two areas. The telephoto and ultra-wide cameras, while nice to have, do not live up to the main camera’s standard. And the phone’s premium aesthetics don’t preclude concerns about durability – the front panel picked up a good amount of scratches in the course of normal use during my testing.
Overall, however, Xiaomi has produced a solid mid-range flagship with the 14T. This is a big, responsive, feature-rich phone, and a reminder that the gap between standard and premium smartphones is narrowing.
Xiaomi 14T review: Price and availability
Not available in the US
Starts at £549
The Xiaomi 14T starts at £549. As with most Xiaomi phones, it’s very unlikely that the 14T will be released in the US. It comes with 256GB or 512GB of storage and 12GB of RAM.
As a mid-range flagship, the Xiaomi 14T sits next to rivals like the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, which starts at £649, and the Google Pixel 8a, which starts at £499. The 14T’s starting price of £549 feels appropriate when you factor in the specs sheet and Xiaomi’s weaker brand recognition in Western markets.
Here's a Xiaomi 14T price guide for the UK and EU.
Xiaomi 14T review: Specs
Xiaomi 14T review: Design
(Image credit: Future / Jamie Richards)
All-aluminum chassis
Four-ring camera housing
Comes in four colors: Titan Gray, Titan Black, Titan Blue, and Lemon Green
The Xiaomi 14T has a blocky aluminum-alloy construction, with squared edges that round ever so slightly into the back panel. It’s lightweight, with just enough heft to allay any feelings of cheapness, and the rounded corners and matte finish on the rear panel make the 14T comfortable to hold in either landscape or portrait for extended periods of use.
Xiaomi calls the specific material used a “metallic aluminum alloy”, which comes in three colors: Titan Gray, Titan Black, and Titan Blue. Xiaomi also offers a variant of the 14T in Lemon Green: the company says this variant uses vegan leather made from 50% bio-based materials, including lemon fiber, with 100% recycled PET in its construction. The unit I tested was the standard Titan Blue model, but I commend Xiaomi for offering a more environmentally conscious option.
The 6.67-inch display and 20:9 aspect ratio from last year’s 13T and 13T Pro are unchanged – this remains an undeniably large phone. The Xiaomi 14T generally feels great to hold, but I can see reachability being an issue for those with smaller hands – you can enable a slightly fiddly gesture to access one-handed mode.
A volume rocker and textured power button are built into the right side of the phone, with a USB-C port and dual-SIM tray along the bottom. A speaker on the bottom edge and the earpiece cutout along the top bezel of the display form a stereo pair for audio, which is serviceable for videos but a bit tinny for music.
As with its predecessor, the Xiaomi 14T features a large camera bump. In contrast to the 13T’s futuristic black camera module, the 14T’s camera housing seems to be made of the same aluminum-alloy as the rest of the phone, and this gives the 14T a refreshingly industrial aesthetic.
The camera bump houses three cameras and a flash that gets its own lens-like ringed frame – initially, this seemed like an effort to make the device seem more premium than it actually is, but with time I’ve come to appreciate the visual symmetry this choice provides.
Design score: 4 / 5
Xiaomi 14T review: Display
(Image credit: Future / Jamie Richards)
6.67-inch AMOLED
144hz adaptive refresh rate
4,000 nits peak brightness
The 6.67-inch display on the Xiaomi 14T is its best feature and true selling point. It seems to be the same display as on the Xiaomi 13T Pro, but that’s no issue with a phone of this price: as we found in our 13T Pro review, this is a gorgeous AMOLED panel that is consistently bright, sharp, and contrasty in a range of environments. Videos, photos, games, and anything else you can put on this screen all look fantastic. The 20:9 aspect ratio means the punch-hole selfie camera sits right on the edge of 16:9 video content, a considerate piece of design.
With a resolution of 2712 x 1220 and an adaptive refresh rate of up to 144Hz, the 14T’s display is fluid and detailed. The display reaches a peak brightness of 4,000 nits, which is probably unnecessarily bright, but it means you certainly won’t have any issues using it outdoors.
The tall aspect ratio and high resolution make the Xiaomi 14T’s display great for gaming, too – that extra space on either side gives your thumbs a place to sit without obscuring much of the screen’s center. Web browsing, social media, and other day-to-day activities are smooth, with several color profiles and in-depth display settings allowing users to calibrate the look of the 14T’s display to their liking.
An under-display fingerprint scanner offers biometric security for unlocking the phone and creating passkeys.
One area where the display appears to fall down, unfortunately, is durability. I noticed a few clusters of scratches on the front panel in my week or so of regular use. These aren’t noticeable in the vast majority of situations, but it does leave me wondering how well the 14T will hold up over time.
Display score: 4 / 5
Xiaomi 14T review: Software
(Image credit: Future / Jamie Richards)
Android 14 with HyperOS
Google Gemini out of the box
The Xiaomi 14T ships with Android 14, styled as the company’s proprietary HyperOS user experience. It’s a responsive and uncomplicated implementation of Android that comes with some great customization options.
HyperOS is a slick Android wrapper that keeps the amount of extras to an acceptable level. Some of the inbuilt apps are compatible with Xiaomi’s account system but they’re far from essential – Xiaomi’s App Mall and Mi Browser sit alongside the Google Play Store and Chrome on the home page, and it's likely most users will head straight for Google’s platforms. The Xiaomi 14T also comes with Google Gemini pre-installed, accessible via a half-second press of the power button, though I didn’t find much use for these AI features during testing.
There is some pre-installed bloatware, which robs the 14T of some of its premium sheen, but for the most part these can be easily dispatched or consigned to the app drawer. As a deployment of Android 14, HyperOS is smooth and rich in customization features, and Xiaomi’s own animated wallpapers and overall aesthetic choices add a sense of flair and excitement to using the 14T.
Software score: 4 / 5
Xiaomi 14T review: Cameras
(Image credit: Future / Jamie Richards)
50MP main camera
50MP telephoto with 4x optical zoom
12MP ultra-wide
Xiaomi has put photography at the forefront of the marketing push for the 14T and 14T Pro, but I found the cameras to be a mixed bag. The main camera takes great photos – pleasantly colorful and decently detailed with especially great results in bright conditions – but zooming in with the telephoto camera or out with the ultra-wide lens produces results of varying quality.
As with last year’s model, Xiaomi partnered with Leica to develop the 14T’s camera module. The main 50MP wide camera produces vibrant, contrasty photos even in overcast conditions, but can struggle with finer details. The telephoto camera gives the 14T a 4x optical zoom and 20x digital zoom, controlled by an intuitive scroll wheel. Colors and contrast feel contiguous across the main and telephoto cameras.
However, taking photos at higher zoom levels seems to trigger an aggressive post-processing routine, which returns an overly smoothed and brightened image. The camera app’s settings don’t seem to have any options to curb this processing, meaning long-range photos are more limited in their detail than images taken at lower zoom levels and subsequently cropped in on. The ultra-wide camera is also just okay, offering a useful 0.6x magnification but producing a much warmer and less detailed picture.
The camera app is brimming with settings and options that give you a satisfying amount of control over the final image. Leica lends its name to two toggleable ‘styles', Leica Authentic and Leica Vibrant, which respectively produce a more grounded or more colorful image; I preferred the contrast and saturation of Leica Vibrant. There’s also a HDR option (on Auto by default), a range of tasteful filters, and a Pro mode stacked with controls. An impressive night mode delivers photos that feel both visible and realistic.
As for video, the 14T can record 1080p footage at 60fps or 4K at 30fps. Videos capture a lot of detail, but come out a little over-sharpened. There’s a Movie mode that applies a depth-of-field effect to people in the frame, similar to Apple’s Cinematic Mode, and a Director mode with a camcorder-style interface. I noticed the 14T getting a little warm when using the camera for an extended period of time, but not uncomfortably so.
Some of the 14T’s photography limitations are explained by its pricing, but even within this price range there are higher-resolution sensors and more reliable image processing pipelines. Still, the 14T is very much capable of producing great photos, and the control the software offers allows for some real creativity.
Cameras score: 3.5 / 5
Camera samples
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(Image credit: Future / Jamie Richards)
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(Image credit: Future / Jamie Richards)
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(Image credit: Future / Jamie Richards)
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(Image credit: Future / Jamie Richards)
Xiaomi 14T review: Performance
(Image credit: Future / Jamie Richards)
MediaTek Dimensity 8300-Ultra chipset
GPU: Arm Mali-G615 MC6
12GB of RAM
In typical use, the Xiaomi 14T is snappy and responsive, handling web browsing, social media, and system apps with ease. The MediaTek Dimensity 8300-Ultra chipset that powers the 14T comprises an octa-core CPU and dual-core GPU, enabling the 14T to power through demanding games like Call of Duty Mobile and PUBG with ease.
In fact, it’s kind of surprising that Xiaomi has pushed the 14T as a camera phone when it’s clearly so good for gaming. This reliably strong performance works in tandem with the unit’s relative light weight and excellent display to offer a portable, powerful mobile gaming platform. This feels like the 14T’s secret power, and I’m confused as to why the company has made next to no noise about this aspect of the phone, instead focusing almost exclusively on photography.
The phone can get a bit warm during extended gaming sessions, but not unbearably so, and battery life takes a noticeable hit when driving multiple demanding apps. I did experience the occasional stutter when switching between apps, too. However, the 14T’s performance remains impressive overall, especially considering its price bracket.
Performance score: 4 / 5
Xiaomi 14T review: Battery
(Image credit: Future / Jamie Richards)
5,000mAh battery
All-day battery life
67W wired charging, no wireless charging
As seems to be the case for Xiaomi phones, the 14T can easily sustain a day of use on a single charge. It’s equipped with an impressively massive 5,000mAh lithium-polymer battery, and it shows. I actually struggled to drain the battery in the course of a normal day, and standby times are truly impressive.
The Xiaomi 14T supports 67W wired charging, which is certainly fast, but far from on a par with the 120W speeds the 14 Pro can handle. Somewhat annoyingly, the base 14T misses out on the 14T Pro’s 50W wireless charging upgrade, and in fact doesn’t support wireless charging at all. That’s not a huge concern given the fast wired charging speeds and reliably long battery life, but it’s a little disappointing nonetheless.
You get a USB-A to USB-C cable in the box, but not a wall plug. I tested the phone’s charging speed with a Huawei 40W power adapter and found it charged reasonably quickly. I’ll update this review when I’m able to test the 14T’s maximum charging speed.
Battery score: 3.5 / 5
Should you buy the Xiaomi 14T?
Buy if...
You’re a mobile gamer
The Xiaomi 14T has all the components of a great gaming phone – its high-resolution display, long battery life and reliably fast performance make it ideal for modern titles.
You want a long and reliable battery life
With an immense capacity of 5,000mAh, the Xiaomi 14T confidently boasts all-day battery life. It’s something of a challenge to bring the battery from 100% down to 0% in the span of a normal day.
You want premium aesthetics
The Xiaomi 14T's visage is reminiscent of its more premium contemporaries – the aluminum-alloy construction and moderate curves make this phone both beautiful and ergonomic.
You want a cost-effective all-rounder
The Xiaomi 14T is a strong reminder that mid-range handsets are inching ever closer to pro standards, and while I wouldn’t call it cheap, it’s certainly more wallet-friendly than a premium flagship.
Don't buy if...
You need something rugged
The Xiaomi 14T may have a premium look, but it’s clearly not built to the same durability standards as some of its peers. The display, while beautiful, picks up scratches easily.
You want the very best cameras
The Xiaomi 14T’s 50MP main camera takes reliably great photos, but the 50MP telephoto and 12MP ultra-wide cameras leave something to be desired. It’s a shame, too, because the phone comes with a comprehensive array of camera settings and photography controls.
The latest phone in Samsung’s long-running line of cheaper FE flagships, the S24 FE features a 6.7-inch 120hz display and Samsung’s iconic triple camera system.
Taking one or two steps up the price ladder, we find Apple’s latest flagship. The iPhone 16 is a clear choice for photographers with its new Camera Control button.
Testing included: Everyday use: social media, web browsing, photography and video recording, gaming, calls and messages, music playback, and charging tests
My testing of the Xiaomi 14T included a number of specific usage tests as well as everyday use over the course of about one week. The model reviewed had 512GB of storage and 12GB of RAM in the Titan Blue color option.
I put the Xiaomi 14T through its paces with games like PUBG, Call of Duty: Mobile, and Race the Sun, streamed video with YouTube and music with Spotify, and scrolled through Instagram and Google Chrome. I went out to take photos with all three cameras in a variety of conditions. I then applied my knowledge of smartphone specs and journalistic training to assess the qualities and overall value proposition of the Xiaomi 14T.
For more on our smartphone testing process, check out our guide to how we test.
The era of AI phones has well and truly arrived, and the Xiaomi 14T Pro proves that mid-range phones don't have to miss out on all the fun. As with previous generations of T Pro models, Xiaomi hasn't skimped on the hardware included in this latest edition, meaning the door is more open than ever for accessible, and affordable, AI exploration.
Unlike many of the latest phones, however, Xiaomi hasn't put all its focus into AI, and it's for the better. Straight out of the box, you can see some of the new thought that's gone into the 14T Pro's design, with the phone sporting a clean aluminum frame and what Xiaomi describes as a "3D curved back". These changes, partnered with a traditionally large (if now a tad less obvious) camera bump, give the 14T Pro a superbly premium feel and weightiness in the hand.
Get it loaded up and frankly, AI is the last thing you'll be thinking about. Xiaomi's HyperOS is smoother than ever, and the continued priority given to the phone's display and processing capabilities means you'd easily be fooled into thinking you're handling a much more pricey device than it is.
Xiaomi's new 14T Pro in Titan Grey features an improved design, with a glass back and color matched camera bump. (Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne)
Xiaomi's ventures into AI are much more measured than we've seen from the likes of Google and Samsung, and, in fairness, what you're given here is a pretty good starting point if you're looking to AI-ify your day-to-day life. While Xiaomi has, of course, added Android-wide features such as Circle to Search and Gemini to the 14T Pro, it has taken positive, if potentially cautious, steps in its own direction in terms of what's offered uniquely on its devices. Rest assured, though, that the Xiaomi 14T Pro is a more than capable scalpal with which to enter the AI world.
Whether your focus is on AI or some of the other more necessary advancements Xiaomi has made in recent years – I'm looking at you, wireless charging – then you're unlikely to be disappointed with the Xiaomi 14T Pro. In fact, as ever, you'll likely find yourself seriously impressed with just how much can be packed into a device whose price tag doesn't even come close to those of its flagship competition.
Xiaomi does, however, continue to limit the markets in which it operates (by choice or otherwise), which does a disservice to the Xiaomi 14T Pro. Lacking availability in America leaves a market gap that the likes of Samsung or OnePlus can quite happily fill, and while the price of the 14T Pro is impressively cheap for a phone of this quality, there are plenty more premium options out there for, in some cases, only a fraction more money.
Xiaomi 14T Pro review: price and availability
Starts at £650 for 256GB and 12GB RAM
Unavailable in the US or Australia
No rise in price from the previous model
As a value proposition, the Xiaomi 14T Pro stands strong. No price rise from its predecessor, but a host of increase-worthy upgrades such as an aluminum alloy frame and wireless charging mean you're now getting even more bang for your buck than you'd once have expected, which is something we rarely see from mobile phone manufacturers nowadays.
Here's how much the Xiaomi 14T Pro costs in each of its available regions:
Despite being an extremely high-value phone, the 14T Pro's availability in other regions is frustratingly limited. Since Xiaomi's US presence became muted in the wake of the controversy surrounding Huawei, there's never been a direct route through which to buy a Xiaomi phone in the US. This alone is seriously annoying given how well the 14T Pro fares against similarly priced competition from the likes of OnePlus and Samsung. Maybe next time, US readers.
Value score: 4 / 5
Xiaomi 14T Pro review: specifications
The Xiaomi 14T Pro boasts some impressive specs given its price tag. Take a look at the full breakdown below:
Xiaomi 14T Pro review: design
(Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne)
New aluminum frame with 3D-curved back
Smaller camera bump than previous models
Some fingerprint issues
The Xiaomi 14T Pro takes a notable step up in terms of design versus its predecessor, but that doesn't make it flawless. Coming in three colors – Titan Grey, Titan Blue, and Titan Black – you'd almost expect the phone to be built from titanium, right? Well, despite pre-launch rumors hinting at such an upgrade, there is, in fact, no titanium on the Xiaomi 14T Pro, which, while disappointing, isn't necessarily a bad thing.
All three colors look positively premium, and with the aluminum alloy frame and 3D-curved back, the phone possesses a flagship-like feel in the hand, much like the Google Pixel 8, which isn't bad company to be in whatsoever. One thing I did find in testing, however, was that while the back of the phone is indeed lovely, it was an absolute fingerprint magnet. I mainly used the phone in the case that comes with it, but my Titan Gray test model became covered in fingerprints the moment it left that case, which is somewhat of an annoyance when frankly the phone is otherwise rather pleasing to the eye.
The camera bump on the Xiaomi 14T Pro has seen serious improvements versus the 13T Pro. (Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne)
The biggest improvement in terms of design comes to the phone's camera bump. The best Xiaomi phones are known for their cameras, mainly due to the brand's partnership with Leica (which we'll come to later), but also due to the sheer size of their camera bumps. In reality, the Xiaomi 14T Pro is no different; the bump covers over 50% of the width of the phone and, by rough maths, over a third of the length, from its position in the top left of the back panel. Despite this, the bump is a huge upgrade from prior models, with this year's cameras not only protruding less far from the rear of the phone, but also being housed in a color-matched bump.
Gone are the days of a large, garish black block on the back of your device. Instead, you get a lovely, Lego brick-esque square in a color that matches your back panel seamlessly. What's more, the reduced depth and increased width of the bump means you experience very little wobble should you choose to use your phone without a bump-eliminating case or any case at all, which is a nice (if a tad niche) benefit.
Design score: 4 / 5
Xiaomi 14T Pro review: display
(Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne)
Bounds of brightness with viewing angles to match
Great responsiveness thanks to adaptive 144Hz capabilities
The 14T Pro continues the Xiaomi trend of putting superb displays on phones you wouldn't expect. The display resolution sits between FHD and QHD at 1220 x 2712 pixels, a resolution unique to Xiaomi, Xiaomi Redmi, and Xiaomi Poco devices.
It's near impossible to find fault with a display like this; CrystalRes AMOLED technology and adaptive refresh rates up to 144Hz meant, more often than not, I had a seriously smooth and vibrant experience. Whether gaming, streaming, or simply scrolling Instagram, the adaptability of the phone's display meant I rarely saw any choppiness that impacted my experience, and I mostly enjoyed 120Hz of seriously pleasant viewing. What's more, if you want to save battery, there's always the option to lock the display to a maximum of 60Hz. That is, if the app you are using doesn't automatically limit your refresh rate, should you choose to simply use the default refresh rate settings.
One limitation I found of the 14T Pro's unique display composition was the compensation some apps made to accommodate it. Most often this came in the form of black bars on either side of applications in landscape mode, which is a frustrating, but not fatal, flaw, especially if you're trying to see the full benefit of the now 93.3% screen-to-body ratio when streaming, for example.
Despite this, the display's 4,000 nit peak brightness and lack of glare make for a very consistent viewing experience at almost any angle. With phones such as the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, manufacturers boast about readability, but this seems to have gone especially under the radar with the Xiaomi 14T Pro, despite it being continuously impressive and something that day-to-day use benefits from tremendously during brighter days.
Display score: 4.5 / 5
Xiaomi 14T Pro review: software
(Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne)
HyperOS with Android 14
Steady but well-thought-out steps into the world of AI
Every phone right now seems to be throwing all its eggs in the AI basket, but Xiaomi seems to be taking a more measured approach to its AI rollout. Despite this, there are still some fundamental qualms I have with Xiaomi's approach that tarnish the near-premium experience the rest of the phone provides. While the days of being greeted by tens of preinstalled apps on Xiaomi devices are long gone, it seems that Xiaomi isn't quite ready to give up on them entirely.
On loading up the phone, you're not only greeted by the array of on-device tools and features, which I'll get to in a second, but you're also met with apps such as AliExpress, TikTok, WPS Office, and LinkedIn. Plus, in the same app folder, you're bombarded with a host of recommended apps and games that aren't yet installed but could be downloaded from the Mi Store via a shortcut, which overall seems a tad messy and unnecessary in an otherwise impressively clean layout.
Pre-installed qualms aside, there's very little to take offense to about Xiaomi's HyperOS or the tools that come installed with the Xiaomi 14T Pro. Instead, this is where we start to see Xiaomi's slow and steady approach to introducing AI come into its own. First and foremost, your digital assistant comes preset to Google Gemini rather than Google Assistant, and, while it wasn't available during our review, Circle to Search will also be rolling out to these devices.
Xiaomi's HyperOS offers a superbly clean experience, including what it calls Super Wallpapers such as the Mars example above, which spins as you flick between pages. (Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne)
Outside of what Google adds to the device, Xiaomi's app offerings have become evermore positive since the launch of HyperOS. The biggest benefactor for mobile users of the HyperOS upgrade was the Gallery, which not only saw a number of small feature improvements to improve efficiency and add easy access to auto-generated folders and media types, but also gave prominence to Xiaomi's Best Take feature, which can analyze multiple similar photos and tell you which of the shots is, you guessed it, the best.
The general theme of HyperOS was always to improve the interconnectivity of Xiaomi devices, which essentially boiled down to making everything look clean, work efficiently, and interact seamlessly with each other, no matter what device you were using. The downside of having the nicest user experience on Android, however, is that HyperOS hides some of its best features in the depths so as to not look overly messy – which is made more baffling by the array of apps you're shown on receiving the device.
One of the best examples of this is Xiaomi's AI Subtitles feature, which you can use to translate conversations either in-person using the microphone, or even to translate films and TV shows by configuring it to translate system audio. Pretty cool right? The issue is, to find this feature, which worked impressively well in testing, you need to go into the depths of the settings menu, apply for beta access (as it is yet to be fully released), and then add a shortcut to your home screen.
Xiaomi's Control Center was one of the biggest benefactors of HyperOS, gaining this new, clean layout with an array of customizable options. (Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne)
Xiaomi is, however, remaining steady with its AI releases, and we're expecting AI Recorder and some AI Film features to arrive in the near future. One thing's for sure, though: this is the most polished HyperOS we've seen since launch and the Xiaomi 14T Pro is, arguably, the perfect example of this software given just how smoothly you can access everything, from settings in the updated Control Center to your favorite photos via improved image searching.
If the slow, steady, and simple approach does one thing very well for HyperOS and the Xiaomi 14T Pro in particular, it's the extent to which simplicity is combined with effectiveness throughout its apps and interfaces. Whether you're using the Control Center to control your music or the redesigned weather app to check the forecast, there is little to no excess in terms of what you're shown, and yet you can quickly access anything you might need. When partnered with the Xiaomi 14T Pro's hardware, this gives you a seriously impressive mobile experience.
Software score: 4 / 5
Xiaomi 14T Pro review: cameras
(Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne)
Leica partnership continues to impress with standard shooting
Some strange variations in light capture and vibrance
If there's one thing the Xiaomi 14T Pro is supposed to excel at, it's photography, but right now I'm constantly flitting between loving it and hating it. Since Xiaomi brought its Leica-partnered camera systems to its T series with the 13T and 13T Pro, it has probably set the bar for mid-range photography. With these latest phones, however, it seems to play jump-rope with this bar a little too much, with some features seriously pushing the mark, and some falling annoyingly beneath.
Take, for example, close-up photographs. There's no denying that the results I was able to achieve were extremely positive, especially when you consider that the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, aka the best camera phone from the brand, offers similar close-up performance. However, I often found myself resorting to standard camera modes rather than the usually more effective portrait mode to take the best shots, as I was having difficulty getting the right levels of focus and exposure otherwise. This isn't a major issue, but if one mode can get into focus in less than half the time that another can and produce equal – if not better – results, why wouldn't I use that?
Xiaomi's partnership with Leica brings into focus several features that supposedly enhance your shooting capabilities. The first of these you'll likely encounter is the shooting styles: Leica Authentic, and Leica Vibrant. Shooting with the 50MP wide lens is the best opportunity to see the variations in style in action, as the results can be starkly different. Something that became immediately apparent using the Xiaomi 14T Pro was that, whether you chose Authentic or Vibrant, you were guaranteed an immense amount of color. In either mode, shooting in wide made each color almost excessively saturated, with greens of grass making England seem much more beautiful than it was in reality, and, in fairness, making a much more visually appealing scene out of something that was otherwise rather grey. All in all, superb photos, but not necessarily the most honest to the colors in the scene.
In our tests, our best results came in close-quarters shooting scenarios, with impressive colours and crisp focus. (Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne)
Something this color-frenzy does help with, however, is the 14T Pro's night photography. This was something that Xiaomi put immense focus on in the build-up to launch, and, with its AI processing systems helping along the way, is an element they've pulled off impressively. There's little to complain about on the night photography front: great colors, impressive light collection, and all-around enjoyable results.
If there's one thing that continues to irk me about Xiaomi's camera systems, it's the interface. Xiaomi continues to assume that you'll instantly understand everything about its cameras, and when I say everything, there's a lot! Take shooting video, for example. You have a standard video mode, and film mode. Within these, you've then got options for Xiaomi's Master Cinema mode, which is given zero explanation anywhere in the camera app itself and requires a Google to work out what it is, as well as options for functionalities such as Motion Tracking Focus and Steady Video. Other settings can also be found in the Camera settings area and the same goes for photos and other modes, too.
When you take into consideration the likely increase in AI functions coming to Xiaomi phones in the next few years, I hope this design gets a rethink. Some of Xiaomi's AI-related photo tools are already hidden in the icons menu of Gallery, and others are annoyingly poorly marked in the editor windows, which isn't an issue once you find everything, but it could take you a while to do just that.
The bottom line is this: Xiaomi's cameras continue to elevate what we expect from phones at this price. While, yes, there are definitely some areas that frustrate – most notably some strange instances of smoothing and occasional extreme amounts of light being pulled in – there's no denying that the results you get are often some of the most stunning among mid-range competitors. In the same way, although there are annoying limitations in terms of camera layout, there's no denying the Leica partnership has played a key role in driving overall quality forward. The 14T Pro, then, is a great all-round camera phone.
Cameras score: 4 / 5
Camera samples
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Xiaomi 14T Pro review: performance
(Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne)
Dimensity 9300+ chipset benchmarks seriously well
Impressive performance in intense gaming scenarios, if a tad hot
As it doesn't come from Snapdragon or Apple, the Xiaomi 14T Pro's Dimensity 9300+ chipset could be easily overlooked, but, if our testing is anything to go by, there's a seriously impressive bit of kit powering this phone, and I struggled to find any scenarios that put this in any doubt.
In our benchmark testing, the Dimensity 9300+ scored only just under the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra in single-core testing, and above the S24 Ultra in multi-core, so I wasn't joking when I said it could hold its own. Whether it's the focus on simplicity and efficiency behind HyperOS, sheer performing power, or, most likely, a combination of both, I struggled to create any scenario that caused a genuine performance impact, so you don't need to worry about killing the 14T Pro off with Chrome tabs or your daily Wordle.
The sheer amount of RAM available on the Xiaomi 14T Pro could also play a big part in these benchmark scores, with the device having up to 12GB physical LPDDR5X RAM onboard, plus the option to extend this by up to a further 12GB using the device's internal memory. For the majority of the testing period, I ran the 14T Pro with 6GB of Memory Extension as Xiaomi calls it, meaning it totaled 18GB of available RAM at any time with the model I was reviewing, but, in all honesty, that's probably as much as anyone would need, so having a further 6GB of extension available is just an added bonus.
In gaming scenarios, most notably with the likes of Call of Duty Mobile and Mortal Kombat, I saw very little in terms of performance drops or impact post-session, with the phone able to comfortably play these more graphically intense titles at maximum settings without impacting my ability to smoothly demolish my foes. One thing to note, however, is that the phone was playing games while running at between 38 and 40 degrees Celsius – or 100 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit, if that's your preferred unit of measure. Not exceptionally hot, but hot enough that even with a case on you could tell there was some serious work happening under the hood. Either way, the lack of any performance drops no matter the circumstance puts the Xiaomi 14T Pro in strong company in terms of performance.
Performance score: 4.5 / 5
Xiaomi 14T Pro review: battery
(Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne)
120W wired HyperCharge continues to impress
Wireless charging finally available with 50W wireless HyperCharge
For me, perhaps the best upgrade available on the Xiaomi 14T Pro is the arrival of wireless charging. What for many phones has seemed like a reasonably standard feature for several years now has long been missing from Xiaomi's mid-range phones, but now it has arrived with truly Xiaomi-worthy power capabilities.
With 50W wireless charging, the Xiaomi 14T Pro instantly puts the cat among the pigeons in terms of wireless capabilities across both Android and Apple devices. The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, for example, only offers 15W wireless charging, also for a 5000mAh battery, so this is a serious step in the charging game for Xiaomi, whose flagship phones were, frankly, already among the best available from a charging perspective.
The Xiaomi 14T Pro continues to offer Xiaomi's 120W HyperCharge when wired, meaning you can get a full charge in around 20 minutes, though Xiaomi is yet to confirm any official charge times. Partner this with a 50W wireless charging alternative, and a 5000mAh battery, and you needn't worry about regularly charging the 14T Pro.
Regular day-to-day use saw me comfortably get multiple days' worth of runtime from the 14T Pro, while more intense use from gaming saw a battery drain of roughly 10% per hour, which, when you consider the strain of maximum graphics settings and online gameplay, is seriously impressive. Nice work, Xiaomi.
Battery score: 4.5 / 5
Should you buy the Xiaomi 14T Pro?
Buy if...
You love a beautiful display While the resolution is a tad strange, there's no denying that the display on the Xiaomi 14T Pro is one of the most enjoyable to use for day-to-day mobile tasks, gaming, and, streaming.
You never want to worry about charging again Xiaomi's offering of both 120W wired charging and 50W wireless charging on a phone with a 5,000mAh battery and some serious efficiency features means you'll never be left wanting for battery life.
You want serious gaming performance In our tests, the Xiaomi 14T Pro handled even some of the most intense games with ease, and without completely wiping out your battery after one round.
Don't buy if...
You want an infinite array of AI capabilities While a whole host of AI capabilities are available from Xiaomi, with more to come too, it's still behind some competitors in terms of the variety and amount of AI-oriented features available.
A pricier but more premium alternative. The Honor Magic 6 Pro offers an equally, if not slightly more, premium experience in the same regions as the Xiaomi 14T Pro.
If you don't quite fancy escaping the safety of Samsung in terms of Android, the newly released Samsung Galaxy S24 FE offers a toned down and affordable version of Samsung's flagship device that will be sure to suit.View Deal
How I tested the Xiaomi 14T Pro
I spent around 10 days with the Xiaomi 14T Pro prior to its launch, using the device as my day-to-day machine. During this time, I tested every feature, and was able to conduct benchmarking tests and more technical testing surrounding temperatures, refresh rates, and battery drains.
Day-to-day use of the phone saw me test features such as calling, texting, gaming, Android Auto, and playing music via Bluetooth-connected devices and the built-in speakers. I also performed work-based tasks like searching the web, and using Google tools such as Sheets, Docs, Drive, and Photos. Finally, I used the phone to take pictures, videos, and selfies, while editing these with both the in-built editing tools and Google's editing tools.
My CPU and GPU benchmarking tests were carried out using Geekbench, while temperature and refresh rate tests were conducted using the developer tools built into the Xiaomi 14T Pro. My battery tests were completed using a standardized process for all TechRadar phone reviews.
You can find out more about how we test devices such as the Xiaomi 14T Pro in our dedicated how we test guide.
The PowerA OPS v1 is a wireless PC controller that's also compatible with mobile devices and cloud gaming services. Being a cheaper alternative to the PowerA OPS v3 Pro, it understandably misses out on some of that controller's standout features. Those include Lumectra RGB lighting, 'quick-twist' thumbsticks and the remappable bumper buttons.
That said, the OPS v1 is still a decent option if you're on a budget. Drift-resistant Hall effect thumbsticks are present here, as well as four remappable buttons on the rear which can be programmed on the controller itself with a dedicated button. You're also getting a Turbo button function and support for 2.4Ghz, Bluetooth and USB-C connectivity.
One particularly impressive aspect of the OPS v1 is that the textured grips on this controller actually feel nicer than on the OPS v3 Pro. On the more expensive gamepad, I found the textured grips to be a touch too rough over longer play sessions. Here, they are unintrusive and provide the perfect amount of grip for comfortable sessions of any length.
The controller itself - and its various buttons, bumpers and triggers - do feel quite cheap overall with some rather flimsy-feeling plastic being used. It's not horrendous by any means, but certainly a downgrade when compared to the v3 Pro and many of the best PC controllers out there today.
(Image credit: Future)
PowerA OPS v1: Price and availability
$49.99 / £49.99 for the standard model
Special Fortnite edition for $54.99 / £54.99
Available at PowerA in the US and Amazon in the UK
The PowerA OPS v1 launched in August 2024, and is available to purchase for $49.99 / £49.99. It's available at PowerA's own website in the US, but those in the UK will need to rely on retailers like Amazon to secure the bag there. A Fortnite edition is also available (pictured throughout the review) which features a distinct livery. This one comes in slightly pricier at $54.99 / £54.99.
This is significantly cheaper than the PowerA OPS v3 Pro which costs $99.99 / £99.99 and is a solid alternative at half the price. As mentioned, the lower price point does mean that the OPS v1 is pared back when it comes to features, so you may wish to keep that in mind when comparing the two models.
Admittedly, at this price point, the OPS v1 has some very stiff competition in the form of the GameSir T4 Kaleid which goes for $41.99 / £41.99. You are losing out on wireless connectivity with GameSir's pad, but it's more than made up for in excellent build quality, superb micro switch buttons, and a lovely RGB profile.
PowerA OPS v1: Specs
(Image credit: Future)
PowerA OPS v1: Design and features
Cheap-feeling build
Textured grips are preferable compared to the OPS v3 Pro
Rather plain, all-black aesthetic
As a more budget-friendly controller, you can expect the PowerA OPS v1 to be slightly pared back in terms of design and feature set, especially compared to the OPS v3 Pro. Firstly, build quality on the OPS v1 is lacking in comparison, with a cheaper plastic presumably to keep the gamepad's costs down.
Much like with the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro, I'm also not a fan of the plain, all-black aesthetic for the OPS v1's standard model. The special edition Fortnite version is certainly more eye-catching, though, and is the model I'd recommend going with if you're willing to spend 5 bucks extra (and, naturally, if you're a fan of the free-to-play shooter).
One aspect of the OPS v1's design I do really like is the texture on the rear of the grips themselves, and on the bumpers and triggers. The textured grips on the OPS v3 Pro were a little too rough for my liking. Here, though, they're a comparatively light touch and actually feel far more comfortable as a result. The added texture on the bumpers and triggers is also a really nice touch.
(Image credit: Future)
As for features, the OPS v1 shows up with the Hall effect thumbsticks that are swiftly becoming the standard for third-party controllers. It's now quite rare that I test a controller that lacks Hall effect, but it is great to see more affordable gamepads adopt the technology. Sony and Nintendo, please take notes.
The OPS v1 also shares some features with its pricier counterpart. You're still getting four remappable buttons on the rear of the pad, as well as three-stage trigger locks and three types of connectivity (2.4GHz, Bluetooth and wired via USB-C). The box includes a USB-C cable, too. But unlike the v3 Pro, there's sadly no charging dock bundled with the OPS v1.
PowerA OPS v1: Performance
Perfectly responsive during wireless play
A decent 20 hours of battery life
Like the OPS v3 Pro, trigger locks don't work great
There's really not much to complain about when it comes to the PowerA OPS v1's performance while actually gaming. I tested games across a wide variety of genres in my Steam library, including Street Fighter 6, Final Fantasy 14 Online, Cyberpunk 2077 and Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance. All that is to say the OPS v1 is a perfectly adequate controller no matter what kind of single-player games you're into.
A 2.4GHz wireless adapter is included in the box, offering 500Hz polling rate which is solidly responsive for wireless play. I'd still recommend going wired if you're interested in playing the best fighting games or the best FPS games for peak responsiveness, but you can't go wrong either way here.
(Image credit: Future)
Unfortunately, as was the case with the v3 Pro, the OPS v1's trigger locks are hit-and-miss. When unlocked, or set to lock halfway, the triggers work perfectly fine. However, I found that the highest notch simply didn't work for any of the games I tested. That's a huge shame as it's a feature that's always nice to see on cheaper gamepads.
As for battery life, you're getting around 20 hours here according to the manufacturer. I did find this to be accurate during my time testing the controller, as I did have to charge up from empty after around a week of play that consisted of 2-3 hour sessions each day. Expect the OPS v1 to take a few hours to charge back to full, too, when hooked up via USB-C. For optimum efficiency here, I'd recommend charging with the cable included and potentially leaving it hooked up overnight so you don't have to wait.
Should I buy the PowerA OPS v1?
Buy it if...
You’re looking for a solid and affordable PC controller Coming in below the $50 / £50 mark, the PowerA OPS v1 offers good value and a decent feature set given its price tag.
You’re after a versatile and customizable PC controller With Hall effect sticks, remappable buttons and trigger locks, there's plenty of options for customization on the OPS v1.
Don't buy it if...
You're hoping for better build quality The PowerA OPS v1 sadly falters in the build quality department, with cheap-feeling plastic for its casing, buttons, and triggers.
Also consider...
If the PowerA OPS v1 misses the mark for you, we’ve got a couple of other suggestions that we’ve tested and reviewed for your consideration below.
PowerA OPS v3 Pro This smartly-priced Pro controller locks in with Hall effect sticks and gorgeous Lumectra RGB lighting, making it worth checking out at the sub-$100 / £100 price tag. There are some design frustrations here, but it's still a very capable gamepad.
GameSir T4 Kaleid This is still my favorite budget-priced PC controller that's also compatible with Nintendo Switch. It's wired only, but comes in slightly cheaper than the OPS v1 and offers excellent build quality, sublime micro switch buttons and a lovely RGB profile.
Played primarily on PC across a wide variety of games
Compared and contrasted to the pricier PowerA OPS v3 Pro
I tested the PowerA OPS v1 over the course of about a week, tackling 2-3 hour gaming sessions each day. During my time with the gamepad, I found I only needed to charge it up once. That total time lasted around 20 hours, lining up with PowerA's battery life claim.
I made sure to test a wide variety of games on PC, including Cyberpunk 2077, Fields of Mistria, Vampire Survivors, Street Fighter 6 and Final Fantasy 14 Online. This is a mix of my go-to games and some I determined to be a great fit for the budget OPS v1.
Air purifiers can be considered yet another unnecessary gadget adding to the clutter in our homes, but if you want to dull strong odors, or try to reduce levels of hayfever-causing pollen indoors, the Molekule Air Pro could actually prove helpful.
I had the pleasure of testing a unit to see how it compared to the best air purifiers on the market. I loved its simple and aesthetically pleasing app, which kept me well informed with real-time and historical indoor air quality readings, but, at this price point, I expected more features. Check out my review below for the full story.
Molekule Air Pro review: price & availability
List price: $1,014.99 / £799.99
Available in the US, only available via Amazon in the UK
Listed at $1,014.99 on the official Molekule website, and £799.99 on Amazon, the Air Pro is, without doubt, a premium-priced air purifier. During my time reviewing it, I did see it discounted on the Molekule website and Amazon US, with a sale price of $749.99 initially, further dropping down to $649.99 over the Labor Day sales – so it’s worth keeping an eye out for deals if you’re in the US.
I won’t lie, I winced the first time I became aware of the Molekule Air Pro's price. I felt sure it must be massively overpriced; but its FDA 510(k) Class II medical device clearance, impressive detection and responsiveness, and informative companion app have changed my tune, albeit begrudgingly.
It’s worth bearing in mind that Molekule recommends that the filters are changed every six months, with replacements costing $174.99 / £159.99, so this cost will need to be factored in, too.
Value for money score: 4 out of 5
Molekule Air Pro review: specs
Molekule Air Pro review: design
Medical grade without the medical aesthetic
Satisfying opening mechanism
Touchscreen display
The aesthetics of the Molekule Air Pro are simple yet satisfying. The outer housing is made from substantial-feeling aluminum and medical-grade polycarbonate. A tan-colored faux leather handle is attached at the front and back of the purifier using large metal pins.
As is to be expected of a metal-cased appliance standing at 23 inches / 586mm tall and 11 inches / 278mm wide, the Air Pro weighs a fair bit at 23lbs / 10.4kg. It comes packaged in a large cardboard box with cardboard fitments – and, helpfully, the reusable pull-string bag has handles that make it easier to take out of the box.
The faux leather handle on the unit itself can happily take the Air Pro's weight, but it still isn’t the easiest to carry around. As a shorter-than-average woman with limited upper body strength, I was able to lift it and carry it up and down stairs, but I certainly didn’t look the most dignified doing it.
(Image credit: Future)
The top face of the Air Pro is encircled by slanted vent holes, with a black circular touch display at the center. There are five screens to swipe between. The first is color-coded according to the IAQ (indoor air quality) level: green for good; yellow for moderate; red for bad; and blue for very bad. On the second screen, the levels of VOC (volatile organic compounds), particle matter, carbon dioxide, and relative humidity in the air are detailed. Screen three has Auto Protect mode and five individual fan speeds. The filter condition can be found on the fourth screen and, finally, screen five offers various functions and settings including standby, languages, purifier details, and so on. While this method of operation is efficient, and at first the shiny finish looks nice, after some time you'll notice fingerprints on the screen and dust and debris on the Air Pro's shiny surface and inside the vent fins – which is particularly visible over the white.
The display screen automatically goes to sleep when it isn’t being used and takes a touch or two to awaken again. There isn’t a Dark mode on the Air Pro, or the option to turn off the blue light when the fan is operational. This is because it isn't possible to contain all of the UV-A light from the PECO technology, meaning that there's a subtle blue glow visible beneath the slanted vent holes.
(Image credit: Future)
Access to the filter is simple: gently push down on the top of the air purifier and twist counter-clockwise. This top piece will slowly rise up, allowing you to remove it and reach the filter. To replace it again, I simply needed to align the red lines on the top section and the inside of the main purifier body, before gently pushing and twisting the top section in a clockwise direction to fix it in place again.
Overall, other than being somewhat cumbersome and a bit of a fingerprint and dust magnet, the Air Pro looks and feels premium, which is only fair given its high price.
Design score: 4.5 out of 5
Molekule Air Pro review: features
Good range of contaminants detected
FDA Class II medical device clearance
Lack of features in the app
The Molekule Air Pro offers a greater number of features than its smaller and lower-priced companion, the Air Mini+. Not only can the Air Pro detect particle matter, but it can also identify, record, and tackle more airborne nasties, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as formaldehyde and benzene. The levels of VOCs, PM1.0, PM2.5, and PM10 are detailed on the display on the top of the purifier and in the Molekule app.
The Molekule app allowed me to view the current air score, and switch between fan modes. These included Auto Protect, which has the option of running on Standard, or Quiet for night-time use, and manual speeds from one to five. It was pretty straightforward to keep an eye on air quality using the daily and weekly history, which is plotted onto a graph using colored lines to indicate the indoor air quality (IAQ) at that time. There are also colored rings below the graph that represent the different air scores, which note the number of minutes or hours the air quality was at that level over the time period.
(Image credit: Future)
It’s only a shame that the app settings are quite basic. With much cheaper purifiers such as the AiDot Welov P200 Pro, it’s possible to adjust display brightness, enable screen lock, and set timers and schedules without the use of third-party smart tools such as Alexa. At this price point, I expected a greater number of features. I was happy to see that there were notification settings – until I discovered that this was only to notify when the filter is nearing the end of its life. It would have been helpful to have notifications about changes in air quality, which cheaper purifiers such as the Levoit 300S provide.
One big selling point of the Molekule Air Pro, and a bit of an explanation for the sky-high cost, is the PECO-HEPA Tri-Power filter. Photo Electro Chemical Oxidation (PECO) is Molekule’s patented technology that it states can destroy viruses, bacteria, mold, allergens, VOCs, and more. This technology supposedly creates a powerful chemical reaction, which occurs when the filter is exposed to the built-in UV-A light located in the center of the Air Pro’s body, to destroy organic pollutants. This is teamed with a true HEPA filter, which is said to have a 99.97% particle-capture efficiency rate, along with a layer of carbon to help reduce odors and toxic gases.
(Image credit: Future)
The Molekule Air Pro has been granted FDA 510(k) Class II medical device clearance, which means that it’s suitable for medical purposes since it can capture 95% of particulate matter and destroy contaminants by exposing them to UV radiation. It is caveated on the Molekule website that this is when the purifier is operated in Standard Auto mode, or on at least fan speed two when using manual settings.
The Air Pro has an impressive working range, capable of purifying spaces up to 1,000 sq ft / 93 sq meters. This is the biggest range we’ve seen in all of the air purifiers we’ve tested to date.
Features score: 4 out of 5
Molekule Air Pro review: performance
Cleared odors quickly
Some app glitches
Slow but steady air purification
Setting up the Molekule Air Pro was relatively straightforward, I simply needed to unwind the power cable and plug it in, following the instructions on the Molekule app to get it connected. It took a couple of attempts to connect the purifier to the app, and then further attempts to get the purifier connected to Wi-Fi since it kept getting stuck, leading me to have to restart the app multiple times. It got there eventually, though.
It’s curious that an air purifier at this price doesn’t have Bluetooth connectivity as well as Wi-Fi. The AiDot Welov P200 Pro is over $800 cheaper than the Air Pro, and yet it arrives with Bluetooth for instances where a Wi-Fi connection isn’t possible, meaning that you don’t miss out on IAQ data when you’re within range of the purifier.
I used the Air Pro for a couple of weeks, both in the office and in my bedroom at home. Its readings aligned with our air quality monitor, and it reacted quickly to changes in the office environment and at home. It was clear to see the changes in air quality when there were more people in the office, or when we were eating our lunch. Variations were also picked up by the purifier at home, with the air quality dipping when I sprayed on some perfume, for example.
(Image credit: Future)
Other than a few little niggles, the Molekule Air Pro performed well when I tested its reactions following air contamination from dry shampoo. I left the purifier on Standard Auto Protect mode to see how quickly it would detect the change in air quality, and how quickly it could clear the air. After I sprayed some dry shampoo around the Air Pro, it took a few seconds to detect the reduction in indoor air quality, causing the air score to change to Very Bad.
Unlike the Molekule Air Mini+, this change in IAQ was accurately recorded on the air quality graph in the Air Pro’s app, showing a clear spike in the level of particulate matter and VOCs within a minute. That said, it doesn’t show the reading of "very bad"; but this is likely because it was at this level for less than a minute.
A little side note: I liked how the app shows the “Top 3 offenders in your air”, which after the dry shampoo assault showed Chemicals (VOC), Microfine particles (PM1.0), and Fine particles (PM2.5).
(Image credit: Future)
The fan upped its speed gradually in response to the "very bad" air score, dropping to "bad" in less than a minute. At this point, the air quality graph in the app had a little wobble. Whenever I tried to view which contaminants were affecting the air score, the graph would revert to the "good" reading from earlier that hour, while still showing that the current air score was "bad" up above. This wasn’t the end of the world at the time, since I could view the detailed readings on the purifier itself; but this glitch wouldn’t be ideal if you were trying to view this detail away from home.
The fan didn’t speed up as high as I'd expected. Other air purifiers I’ve tested tended to go up to the max fan speed when a similar IAQ rating had been recorded. The fan speed of the Air Pro seemed to remain at a moderate level, so it took about 20 minutes for the IAQ to return a "moderate" reading; and a further half an hour for it to return to "good".
While other air purifiers I’ve tested have returned a reading of good IAQ within minutes, it’s worth remembering that while many of these cheaper models have the ability to filter VOCs, they can’t detect them, so their readings aren't as in-depth as given by the Molekule Air Pro.
(Image credit: Future)
In terms of odor control, the Air Pro did a decent job of removing the strong fragrance of the dry shampoo within 15 minutes. In the first few days of testing, I agitated an old rug in our music testing room to see how the Air Pro would respond. Its was similar to when it encountered the dry shampoo, seemingly taking a low-and-slow approach to clearing the air. As part of this test, the purifier was left on Auto Protect for a few hours, which in my opinion left an odor similar to a freshly painted room, although my colleague said it just smelt of fresher air to him. It could be the filter that gives off this odor during its first few hours, or perhaps that’s actually what our unventilated little testing room smells like once the dusty air has been handled!
Unlike the Air Mini+, I was able to sleep with the Air Pro on Standard Auto Protect mode without issue. There were no surprise increases in fan speeds that interrupted my slumber, gaining it some bonus points from me. I did find a similarity to the Air Mini+ in that when it changed from manual speed three via Standard Auto Protect to Quiet Auto Protect, it took a couple of minutes for the fan speed to reduce to a low level, despite the air score being "good".
I used a decibel meter on my iPhone 12 Pro to measure the sound level of the lowest, middle, and top fan speeds. Fan speed one gave a reading of 38dB, which is equivalent to light rain; fan speed three was 51dB, which is roughly the same volume as the noise from a refrigerator running, and the highest setting, fan speed six, was 78dB, which is as loud as a coffee grinder.
Performance score: 4 out of 5
Should I buy the Molekule Air Pro?
Buy it if...
You want an FDA-recognized air purifier The Air Pro has FDA 510(k) Class II medical device clearance, offering some added reassurance that your air quality is genuinely being improved.
You want easy-to-decipher IAQ readings Thanks to the color-coded line graph and associated timings displayed below, it’s really easy to view real-time changes to your air quality, as well as a clear timeline and summary of when the quality changed and the duration.
You want more than just particle detection The problem with budget air purifiers is they're often limited to detecting particle matter. VOCs can have a big impact on air quality; the Air Pro can detect changes to VOC levels and react accordingly. This can be better for clearing odors that cheaper purifiers might miss.
Don't buy it if...
You’re on a budget This probably goes without saying, but this air purifier is not cheap. While it does a good job and looks good for the money, it’s an awfully large investment.
You want something portable The Air Pro would work well in an open-plan living space, but it won’t be so convenient if you intend to use it in different rooms, such as your living space during the day, and the kitchen when cooking, due to its size and weight.
You have unreliable Wi-Fi For some strange reason, the Air Pro doesn’t have Bluetooth connectivity. While this isn’t the end of the world, it can prove frustrating if you’re encountering Wi-Fi issues, because there’s no way to record the air quality data as the purifier can no longer communicate with the app.
Molekule Air Pro review: Also consider
Levoit Core 300S True HEPA air purifier A fraction of the price, this four-and-a-half-star-rated air purifier comes with a range of controls and features on its useful companion app. The Levoit Core 300S is perfect for smaller spaces, and it keeps you in the loop at home or away, thanks to the push notifications informing you of significant drops in air quality so you can choose to power it on or adjust the settings from wherever you may be.
Shark NeverChange Air Purifier If the capabilities of the Molekule Air Pro go above and beyond what you need, and you’d rather not pay out twice a year for pricey filters, then the Shark NeverChange may be more up your alley. With a washable DebrisDefence filter on either side, the life of the HEPA filter can be extended by up to five years, plus a replacement filter is only $89.95 / £39.99.
How I tested the Molekule Air Pro
I used the Molekule Air Pro for two weeks
I tested it in multiple environments
I observed its reaction to aerosols
I tested the Molekule Air Proin the TechRadar reviews office and music testing room, as well as in my bedroom at home.
I monitored how effectively it detected and purified airborne contaminants such as dust and dry shampoo, and how well it tackled the strong fragrance of the latter.
I left it running in my bedroom overnight to determine whether it disturbed my sleep. I tested the sound levels using a sound level meter on my phone and assessed the controls and how easy it was to change the filter.
Samsung is launching the Galaxy Tab S10 tablets soon, and we know they will be more expensive in Europe, or at least in Switzerland. However, the United States is not facing a price increase.
According to a few prematurely published pages on the Samsung website, the Tab S10+ will have two storage options, while the Tab S10 Ultra will have three. We have to point out once again that there is no mention of a vanilla Tab S10, which might not appear at this time.
Here's how much each version will cost. Bear in mind that those are for the Wi-Fi-only versions:
United States
...
US: Shark Cordless PowerDetect Clean & Empty System IP3251 UK: Shark Detect Pro Cordless Vacuum Cleaner Auto-Empty System 1.3L IW3510UK AU: Shark Cordless PowerDetect Clean & Empty System IP3251
For this review, I tested the IP3251. There may be minor differences between different countries' models.
The Shark PowerDetect Cordless Stick Vacuum comes with a whole host of smart detection features. It knows whether it's on a hard floor or carpet, how dirty said floor is, whether it's near the edge of a room, and whether it's going into a dark corner, and will respond accordingly by adjusting suction, speeding up its roller or brightening its headlights. New to this model is a redesigned floorhead will clean just as well on the pull-back as it does when being pushed forwards.
The PowerDetect Cordless also incorporates the most popular features from today's best Shark vacuums, including a wand that bends forward to help you get under furniture without having to stoop down. Within the wider Shark range, it's designed to combine the smarts of the Detect Pro range (which has almost all the same detection capabilities) with the outright suction power of the Stratos line, theoretically making it the best cordless vacuum for most people.
On test, I was very impressed. It delivered great suction, and had no issues picking up fine materials like flour, and larger ones like bits of dried dirt, cereal, leaves, and more, from both hard floor and a thick rug. All the detection features worked as advertised and meant an efficient, low-effort cleaning session. I was interested to note that it doesn't seem to be an option to use the lower-powered Eco mode on soft flooring; the vacuum automatically kicks into a higher mode. It's good but not amazing at tackling hair, and while the 'suction in reverse' feature worked well, plenty of other (non-Shark) vacuums do this but don't advertise it as a special addition.
Price-wise, it sits in the mid-range of the wider market, and I think the quality and features more than justify that price (similar detection features from Dyson will set you back a lot more).
The review model I tested was the version with an optional auto-empty base, where the onboard dustbin automatically empties into a larger bin when the vacuum is docked. I think it's well worth investing in this extra, because it's a great effort-saver – and it might be a particularly good choice for allergy sufferers who want to minimize potential for particles to make their way back into the air.
That's the short version; read on for my full Shark PowerDetect Cordless Stick Vacuum review.
Note: Shark has released a robovac in the same range, but other than the name, there aren't too many similarities. Read about that one in our Shark PowerDetect Robot Vacuum and Mop review.
Everything that came in the box for my review model (with auto-empty dock) (Image credit: Future)
List price (vacuum-only): $429.99 / £499.99 / AU$849.99
Launched: Summer 2024
Also available with optional auto-empty base
In the US, the Shark PowerDetect Cordless Stick Vacuum sells for $429.99, or $499.99 if you go for the version with the auto-empty base.
In the UK, it's £499.99 for just the vacuum, or £549.99 for the version with the special base.
Australian shoppers can pick up the vacuum for AU$849.99 or with an upgraded base for AU$999.99.
Based on TechRadar's price brackets, this is around the lower-premium / upper mid-range band (anything over $500 / £400 is counted as premium). Overall, I feel like the build quality and the features make this a well-priced vacuum. The DirtDetect system alone is well worth the investment. If you're on the fence about whether to shell out for the auto-empty base, I think the added convenience is well worth the slightly higher price.
(Image credit: Future)
In general, Shark vacuums are much more affordably priced than, for instance, the best Dyson vacuums on the market – the Dyson V15 Detect has similar dirt-detection features, and a list price of $749.99 / £649.99.
In terms of comparable models within the Shark range, the Shark Detect Pro Cordless costs $379.99 / £349.99. It's a bit less powerful than the PowerDetect and it doesn't have the reverse-suction feature, but otherwise the detection/auto features are similar.
Alternatively, there's the Shark Stratos Cordless, which costs $499.99 / £349.99. It doesn't have the same detection / auto features as the PowerDetect, and I found the suction comparable too, so I'm not sure why you'd opt for a Stratos over a PowerDetect.
Shark offers discounts on occasion for its products. However, at time of writing this model is new out, so you might not see it discounted except during holiday and special sales events. Till then, look to the TechRadar Shark promo codes page for a deal.
Value for money score: 4 out of 5
Shark PowerDetect Cordless specs
Shark PowerDetect Cordless review: design
Operated by button; battery and mode info provided on a screen
Bendable wand lets you effortlessly clean under furniture
Optional auto-empty base
If you’ve used a Shark cordless vacuum before, you’ll quickly realize that the PowerDetect Cordless has many of the same Shark vacuum technologies that appear on other models, with a few improvements. Like most cordless vacuums, you can remove the wand and swap in another attachment for use as a handheld vacuum.
In stick vacuum mode, the PowerDetect Cordless is 46.3 inches long with a cleaning path width of 10.19 inches, and it weighs around 8 lbs. That's on the larger and heavier side for a cordless stick vac, although not excessively so.
The wand itself is unique among vacuums in that it is bendable (this is one of the most well-received Shark features, and it's included on many of its vacuums – not just the expensive ones). Click a button and it’ll bend forwards, allowing you to vacuum further under beds, couches, and other low furniture.
A screen indicates mode, dirt levels and battery life (Image credit: Future)
The Shark Cordless PowerDetect vacuum has a host of different detection features. The DirtDetect system can recognize hidden dirt and automatically boost the suction power in response. You can see when the floor is dirty and clean based on the colors – purple or white – that appear on the screen and around the vacuum head. With EdgeDetect, this Shark vacuum can sense edges and double the suction power along the side of the floorhead when it’s moving alongside an edge.
FloorDetect recognizes the differences between carpets and hard floors and adjusts the power depending on which one you’re vacuuming. Then there is LightDetect, which automatically increases the light on the vacuum when you clean in dark spaces (they're not as bright as you'll find on the – far more expensive – Dyson Gen5detect, though).
New to this model is 'reverse cleaning' – namely, while most vacuums just push larger debris around when the floorhead is being pulled backwards, the PowerDetect has some patented teeth that are designed to actively pull it in.
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The floorhead has been redesigned (Image credit: Future)
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It's meant to work just as well going forwards as backwards (Image credit: Future)
The vacuum is operated by a one-press button, and there's a trigger under the handle that lets you switch between the three modes. There's a low-powered Eco mode, high-powered Boost, and a DirtDetect, which is the one that auto-adjusts suction based on how dirty the floor is. The other 'detect' features, like EdgeDetect and LightDetect will kick in on any mode.
When the vacuum is turned on, the a circular screen shows which mode you’re in (a green leaf for Eco mode, red circle for Boost, or a radar graphic for DirtDetect), as well as a rectangular symbol noting battery life. It's not quite as clear as Dyson's version, which will literally spell out how many minutes of cleaning you have left in the mode you're currently using, but it's still useful.
The version I reviewed came with a charge base that the vacuum empties into when docked (Image credit: Future)
Tools can vary by region – my review model came with an 8-inch Crevice Tool and a Pet Multi-Tool. It's worth flagging that that there is an optional auto-empty base that I tested out. This is a new thing that Shark has been embracing lately. Dock the vacuum and the dirt from the bin will automatically be sucked into a larger chamber in the base, so you don't need to do it manually nearly so often. It also creates somewhere to store the vacuum, and charges it too.
Some of the PowerDetect's detail tools (these may vary by region and version) (Image credit: Future)
To determine the vacuum’s performance capabilities, I started by vacuuming my entire house, which is made up of historic hardwood floors, rugs, and laminate flooring. I noticed right away that the vacuum floorhead lights up automatically when the machine is running.
I found the vacuum easy to use, no matter whether I was using it as a handheld or in its typical cordless stick form. It switches on with the single press of a button, so you don't have to worry about holding down a trigger while vacuuming (a perpetual complaint with all but the very newest Dyson vacuums).
Despite being on the heavier side, it's comfortable to use and doesn't feel unbalanced. The floorhead pivots well and it's pretty easy to maneuver, although noticeably less nimble than the lighter Shark Detect Pro. It's also worth flagging that overall the vacuum is really quite tall. The wand provides a lot of length, which is nice for someone like me with 10-foot ceilings, although a little unwieldy in tighter spaces like hallways.
Part of the reason for the taller build is that the wand has a hinge built in to allow it to bend forwards with the push of a button. With this feature, I could reach under couches and chairs without having to lean over or squat down. The lights on the floorhead also got brighter when I vacuumed in low light spaces, which made it easier to see dirt, dust, and debris.
My favorite aspect of this vacuum is the DirtDetect system, because it increases the suction automatically when it detects dirt or debris. When this happens, the loop around the screen changes colors from white to purple (Shark claims the color is blue and not white, but I guess it could be a light gray blue), and the LED lights on the vacuum head match the colors on the screen. It is assumed that when the suction power returns to normal, the floor is free of dirt.
One of the advertised features is that this vacuum is meant to be able to vacuum just as well in reverse as forwards. On test, this worked very well, as you can see in the video clip above. The only time it struggled was with chunky breakfast cereal.
Whether this reverse cleaning it's a feature that's exclusive to the PowerDetect is another thing. It's noticeably better than the Shark Detect Pro, which has a floorhead that pools debris into little piles when pulled backwards, but I've definitely tested other stick vacuums that are just as good at vacuuming forwards as backwards, but it's not advertised as a specific feature.
With the 'EdgeDetect' feature, the vacuum will boost suction automatically near the edges of rooms. On test, I could hear the power ramping up when the floorhead reached a baseboard, and the lights on the relevant side would brighten to show what was happening, too.
Suction tests
It was important for me to run a number of tests to see just how well the vacuum could pick up various items from the ground. To do this, I taped a four-by-four-foot square on my laminate floor and on one of my large, thick rugs. I sprinkled each square with flour and then used the vacuum’s lowest setting – Eco – to suck up the flour.
When it came to the laminate floor, the vacuum picked up nearly every bit of flour on a single once-over. I saw only three specks of flour remaining when I was done. I didn’t notice any difference when vacuuming forward or backward over the flour.
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The PowerDetect did a great job of clearing fine dust from laminate floor... (Image credit: Future)
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(Image credit: Future)
When doing this same test on a thick rug, I realized quickly that I was not able to use Eco mode, even though that was the setting I'd selected. The Shark vacuum recognized that I was vacuuming a rug and increased its suction automatically. There does not seem to be any way to prevent this. However, the vacuum did an even better job removing the flour from the rug in a single pass than it did on the laminate floor, as I didn’t see any flour remaining behind when I was done.
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The PowerDetect also handled chunkier debris well... (Image credit: Future)
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... although some debris did get stuck under the wheels (Image credit: Future)
Next, I crunched up breakfast cereal (Cheerios, to be precise) and sprinkled them in both squares. Whether it was laminate flooring or the rug, the vacuum did a similarly superb job, especially when I vacuumed forward. If I pulled the vacuum backwards over the grinded cheerios, some of the larger pieces got stuck behind the wheels and thus were not suctioned up until I made a forward pass.
Like many cordless stick vacuums, it can be used as a handheld (Image credit: Future)
I didn’t notice any change in the suction capability of the vacuum when I switched it from a stick to a handheld with or without the wand attached. Two attachments were included with my review model – a Pet Multi Tool and a crevice tool. I don’t have pets, but a lot of my dark brown hair gets on my cream-colored couch. I used the Pet Multi Tool to remove my hair, and it did an average job.
I found myself scraping the hair a few times before it was suctioned into the machine. The Pet Multi Tool performed better on Boost mode. Admittedly, I’ve never tested a vacuum that could easily pull my hair off the couch, but I still wouldn't necessarily recommend it to pet owners (TechRadar's best vacuum for pet hairlist has some alternative suggestions here).
The pet hair tool was okay, but couldn't pull all the (short-ish, human) hair from my cream couch (Image credit: Future)
As for the crevice tool, I used this one quite a lot as I have a lot of furniture set in the corners of rooms. I was glad to see that the tool also has a brush. I used it to clean my baseboards and blinds with great success.
In DirtDetect mode, the vacuum has a 72-80 dB sound rating when cleaning hard floors and a 76-79 dB rating when moving over my rugs (this is due to the fact that the suction automatically increases when dirt is detected, which makes it noisier). The dB rating on Eco mode is 74 (you can’t use Eco mode on carpets, only hard floors). Boost mode has an 82 dB and 83 dB rating on hardwood and carpet respectively.
While not everyone will necessarily need it, I was so thankful for the convenience of the auto-empty system. When I was finished vacuuming, I placed the vacuum on the station and not only did it start charging automatically, but it emptied the dust and dirt from the vacuum into a sealed container. Whenever the container is full, I can remove it and dump the dust and dirt in the trash. It would be a strong recommendation for allergy sufferers, because there are fewer opportunities for particles to escape back into the atmosphere.
(Note that is it possible to store the vacuum freestanding without the dock: you can fold it over, using the bendy wand, for a more compact storage option.)
If you don't have the auto-empty dock, you'll need to remove the wand first and then hit a button when the bin is placed over a trash can.
(Image credit: Future)
Maintenance is easy enough, even if there are a few tasks that you’ll need to do about once a month, like cleaning the brushroll and checking the wand for blockages. The onboard dust cup will need to be cleaned out, and you should also check the HEPA filter on the handheld to see if it needs to be rinsed or replaced. The filter on the auto empty station should also be rinsed and dried once a month and replaced regularly too.
Lastly, you’ll need to occasionally clean the sensors – the DirtDetect system sensor is inside the dust bin of the vacuum, while the LightDetect sensor is on top of the vacuum head, and the two EdgeDetect sensors sit along the sides of it.
Performance score: 4.5 out of 5
Shark PowerDetect Cordless review: battery
4 hours to fully recharge the battery (using auto empty station)
Battery lasts 14 mins in Boost, 1hr 7 mins in Eco
Eco option not possible on carpet
One of the most impressive aspects of this vacuum is the battery life. Shark claims it'll last a maximum of 70 minutes in Eco mode, although that's in handheld mode. On test, it managed almost that long: I clocked 67 minutes, although that was with a wand attached. Anything over an hour is a really strong battery time for a cordless vacuum (assuming the suction is still decent, which is true here). However, remember that Eco mode won't work on carpets or rugs, so if you have a home with soft flooring you won't achieve these times.
When I ran the PowerDetect entirely in Boost mode, the battery lasted 14 minutes. That's actually not bad for a maximum power mode; it's only designed to be used on the toughest, ingrained dirt. If you use DirtDetect mode, runtimes will vary based on how dirty your floors are an how much suction the vacuum needs to use.
On an average clean, I found this vacuum lasted around 47 minutes, which involved me switching between the lowest and highest power settings. That'll be more than enough time to clean most homes in one go.
It took about four hours for the vacuum to completely charge. Shark doesn't provide recharge times, but a listing on Best Buy said it'd take 6 hours. I was glad to discover that charging did not actually take that long. Over time, it’ll likely take longer for the battery to charge. It’s not unusual among vacuums on the wider market to take 4-6 hours to charge.
Battery life score: 4.5 out of 5
Should you buy the Shark PowerDetect Cordless?
Buy it if...
You want a hassle-free cleaning experience With the DirtDetect technologies, this vacuum automatically increases suction when it detects dirt and debris, or even just the edges of rooms. That means an efficient clean without having to manually switch suction modes.
You have a lot of furniture to clean under The bendable wand allows you to reach further under furniture without having to move it or bend over.
Don't buy it if...
You need a vacuum that's great for pet hair While the Pet Multi tool does a decent job vacuuming pet hair, there are vacuums on the market better designed for pet owners.
You're just need something basic While the PowerDetect is good value for money, you're paying extra for those clever detection features. If you just want something with good suction, there are cheaper options on the market.
How I tested the Shark PowerDetect Cordless
I tested this vacuum for over a week in my house, which has a mix of historic hardwood and laminate flooring, some of which is covered in large, thick rugs. I ran a number of tests such as using the vacuum to pick up flour and crushed Cheerios, and utilized the attachments to clean my couch of hair and dust from hard-to-reach places. I compared the results to other vacuum cleaners I've reviewed in the past. By running these tests and others, I was able to provide an in-depth review.
Samsung's Galaxy S24 FE was supposedly coming next month, according to a past rumor, then last week we heard it could drop this week, but that hasn't happened yet. In the meantime, the phone just keeps on leaking, as it's been doing for quite a long time now.
An official unboxing video has been outed by legendary leakster Evan Blass over on X. It confirms the spartan box, also the fact that it's black cardboard. You aren't getting a charger, but hopefully by this point you weren't expecting one anyway. The S24 FE will be offered in blue, Graphite, gray, Mint, and yellow.
The video...
Philips 7000 Series Video Doorbell: two-minute review
The Philips 7000 Series Video Doorbell is a stellar video doorbell that’s mostly a pleasure to use. Its quick detection might be as quick as the best home security cameras. And its clear image at all times of day, not to mention ability to be used both wired and wirelessly, makes it worthy of discussion among the best video doorbells. It’s pretty easy to install as well, especially if you go the wireless route.
It is among the more expensive models out there, at least compared to offerings from the likes of Ring and Eufy, and has a bit of a delay that can make communicating with anyone at the door a bit frustrating. Plus, if your Wi-Fi connection has issues, audio will cut in and out so that anyone waiting at the door will have a tough time understanding you.
That said, the Philips 7000 Series Video Doorbell has enough going for it to offset those issues. The video quality is sharp at 2K and has HDR support along with night vision, not to mention that the dual-camera setup allows the user to get a full view of what’s happening at their doorstep. There are a whole host of settings available through the app as well as features such as voice assistant support.
Overall, as long as you don’t plan on having long conversations with people at your doorstep and are willing to drop around $230, the Philips 7000 Series Video Doorbell is quite the catch.
(Image credit: James Holland)
Philips 7000 Series Video Doorbell: specs
Philips 7000 Series Video Doorbell: price & availability
List price: $229.99 (about £180 / AU$350)
Available in the US
Despite having quite the presence in the UK and Australia, Philips currently only sells the 7000 Series Video Doorbell (specific model number is DDA270X02103/37) in the US. For those that do have access to purchasing it (aka Americans or anyone with access to American marketplaces) can pay $229.99 (about £180 / AU$350) to get one. That’s admittedly on the high end.
Sure, you’ll pay the same price for the Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2, which is only available wired, making the Philips model a better deal, not to mention the Ring model requires a subscription to save video. However, something like the Eufy Video Doorbell 2K (Wireless) has a similar resolution, and likewise doesn’t need a subscription (though Eufy does offer one), for a cheaper rate of $199.99/£159.99 (around AU$285). Of course, it comes with a bulky base station that you have to make space for.
Value score: 4/5
Philips 7000 Series Video Doorbell: design
Straightforward wireless installation. Wired is almost as easy
Includes an indoor chime unit
Comes with a good amount of storage
Since the Philips 7000 Series Video Doorbell is made to accommodate both wired and wireless connectivity, the amount of parts in the box can seem like a lot. It comes with the video doorbell itself, a chime unit, a flat mount, an angled mount, a USB-C charging cable along with an assortment of cables to be used if you go the wired route, and wood anchors with two sets of screws of different lengths depending on which mount you choose to use.
(Image credit: James Holland)
The actual installation is pretty straightforward, especially if you go the wireless route like I did. Philips offers some basic instructions on placement along with a rectangular piece of paper with pre-drawn mounting positions.
Once you know where you want to place the doorbell (and this might be different if you go the wired route as you’ll reuse the wires from an existing doorbell), you just need to drill a hole at those pre-drawn mounting positions. Of course, the Philips 7000 Series Video Doorbell doesn’t come with a drill or a screwdriver and you’ll need those. Also, depending on the type of surface you’re using, you might need to make bigger holes to insert the wood anchors.
(Image credit: James Holland)
The next step is to place the mounting plate you want to use and screw that in. If you need the angled one – maybe the doorbell’s positioning is off to the side – then you use the longer screws provided. You’ll still use the flat mounting plate on top of the angled plate. Once the mounting plate(s) is installed, you clip in the video doorbell and plug the chime unit in a power outlet inside and the physical part is done.
You also need to download the Philips app and pair both the chime and video doorbell. But other than scanning a QR code, the steps are basically just to follow the on-screen directions. It’s all pretty straightforward.
(Image credit: James Holland)
If you do want to go the wired route, it’s a little more complicated as you not only connect the positive and negative wires going from your existing doorbell to the Philips 7000 Series Video doorbell, but you need to shut off your breaker and insert a wire along the circuit as well. It’s not all that much more complicated, but does require a little more work (and a properly labeled breaker box).
The actual video doorbell is sizable without being obtrusive, as it measures 6.29 in. x 2.16 in. x 1.22 in. (160mm x 55mm x 31mm) and weighs 9.87 ounces. It comes just in black with a dual camera and a single doorbell on the front.
(Image credit: James Holland)
It has a USB-C port underneath a silicon covering for charging if you go the wireless route, so it retains an IP67 rating. That means it should survive all but the toughest of storms. It also comes with 8GB of storage so that it can save about clips for quite awhile locally. That’s greatly appreciated since the company doesn’t offer a subscription for cloud-based storage.
Also worth noting is that the chime unit, which comes in white, has an ethernet port if you want to physically connect it to your router.
Design score: 4.5/5
Philips 7000 Series Video Doorbell: performance
Sharp video quality that shows both face and foot-level views
Has about a 10-second delay
Audio sometimes cuts in and out
The performance of the Philips 7000 Series Video Doorbell is mostly very good. Since it’s always active and not just when it’s rung, it’s very responsive telling the user as soon as someone has passed by it. Its motion detection is immediate. Plus, it will light up at night the way a motion sensing light would.
It also will tell you right away when the doorbell has been pressed on the off chance you can’t hear the chime from the phone or the chime unit. It’s also very accurate at only detecting humans when that preference has been set in the app (you can also set it to detect any motion).
(Image credit: James Holland)
The video quality is also quite excellent. Its 2K resolution with HDR and night vision support means that you’ll be able to easily identify who or what is in front of the Philips 7000 Series Video Doorbell at all times. For example, I was able to see from one of the recorded events (more on that later) that my sister came home with burgers from Freddy’s without telling me. Now, I’m not saying to use the Philips 7000 Series Video Doorbell as a way to spy on your family’s eating habits. However, I was able to read the writing on the packaging that she brought with her.
The video setup is actually a dual camera one so, along with its wide 157 degree field of view, you can see everything going on at your doorstep. One camera is pointing, as long as the doorbell is positioned correctly, at face-level, while the other is at the feet. This is particularly useful if someone is dropping off (or, more concerningly, taking) a package.
(Image credit: James Holland)
There are really only two big issues with the Philips 7000 Series Video Doorbell. The first is the fact that there’s about a ten-second delay between what I saw and heard and what was actually happening. While this is somewhat necessary for recording purposes, it’s frustrating when trying to communicate with whoever’s at the door.
The second is the fact that sometimes the audio from the app to the doorbell cuts in and out. This makes communicating with whoever is at the door even more frustrating considering there’s already that ten second delay. When the voice comes through uninterrupted, it is clear at least.
On the upside, there are some interesting features on hand including some preset audio responses. With a press of a button, you can tell a delivery driver to just leave a package, for instance. The Philips 7000 Series Video Doorbell can also be paired with Alexa and Google Assistant, though you won’t get the full video feed. And if you need to set specific zones for detection, you can do that too.
(Image credit: James Holland)
The app will also record events by default in 15 second increments. You can adjust the length of each video clip, but it’s a good length. Now, you’re not getting super smooth video since this is going on 8GB or storage instead of the cloud as there’s no subscription. But, it’s useful to look at past events to see what’s happened – for instance, when someone gets a burger without offering to get you one.
Performance score: 4/5
Should you buy the Philips 7000 Series Video Doorbell?
Buy it if...
You want a clear view With a 157-degree field of view, dual-camera setup that shows both face- and feet-level, not to mention HDR support and night vision, you’ll clearly see everything happening at your doorway.
You want the option to go either wired or wireless The Philips 7000 Series Video Doorbell can be used both wired and wirelessly (many models only offer one type of connectivity), so you can choose after the fact how you want to install. Plus, installation is easy regardless.
You don’t want to pay for a subscription Since it has a decent amount of onboard storage, it can save events for a long time without the need of a subscription. With a lot of the competition, you often need that subscription to hold onto recordings for a significant amount of time.
Don't buy it if...
You’re on a budget Though the price is worth it, the Philips 7000 Series Video Doorbell is not cheap, especially compared to some of the competition.
You need immediate communication Though its 10-second delay is probably just due to it also recording, that latency can make interacting with those at your door frustrating.
Philips 7000 Series Video Doorbell: also consider
Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2
The Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 is a premium video doorbell that not only looks the part, but offers a wider field of view and sharp video quality. It is, unfortunately, wired only and is pricey as well, though it often goes on sale since it’s a bit older.
While the Eufy Video Doorbell 2K (Wireless) doesn’t have HDR, it still has that sharp 2K resolution, not to mention it’s a little less expensive than the Philips. It also can be used without a subscription, though one is on offer. This model is wireless only.
How I tested the Philips 7000 Series Video Doorbell
To test the Philips 7000 Series Video Doorbell, I used it for a couple weeks to not only answer the door, but to monitor all activity coming in and out (mostly my brother-in-law letting the dogs out to pee). I also played around with and tested the various settings in the app to see how they work. Read more about how we test products.
The PowerA OPS v3 Pro controller makes a strong case with a variety of desirable features. Those include Hall effect sticks with novel ‘quick-twist’ tech, six remappable buttons, micro switches in the face buttons and d-pad, and the brand’s patented Lumectra RGB lighting.
It’s a solid effort on paper, but there are a few things that hold the OPS v3 Pro back from becoming one of the best PC controllers out there. The gamepad simply falls short in many of its design aspects. Its remappable buttons on the rear of the controller feel awkwardly placed, and the ones at the top jut out just a little too broadly. Elsewhere, the micro switch face buttons aren’t particularly tactile, and the relatively low trigger lock sensitivity prevents the highest setting from working across most games I tested.
It’s definitely not all bad news, though, and there’s still plenty to like about the OPS v3 Pro. As ever, I’m a huge fan of PowerA’s customizable Lumectra lighting. The quick-twist thumbsticks are intuitive and a genuinely great addition, allowing you to play with taller shafts without the need to swap them out entirely. Furthermore, the clicky d-pad and bumpers are a delight, and that 30-plus hour battery life seriously impresses.
A bit of a mixed bag overall, then, but if you’re looking for a sub-$100 / £100 PC controller, the PowerA OPS v3 Pro still offers plenty of great features to offset those negatives.
(Image credit: Future)
PowerA OPS v3 Pro: Price and availability
$99.99 / £99.99 / AU$179
Cheaper than other controllers with comparable feature sets
Available at PowerA in the US and Amazon in the UK
The PowerA OPS v3 Pro launched in August 2024, and is available to purchase for $99.99 / £99.99. In the US, it can be bought directly from PowerA, whereas UK shoppers will need to rely on Amazon to secure the gamepad. In Australia, JB Hi-Fi is your best bet.
The relatively lower price point of PowerA’s controller naturally comes with some caveats, such as lesser build quality overall and a lack of polish on features like the trigger locks and textured grips. However, those looking for a competent ‘Pro’ level controller with a robust feature set will find one here.
PowerA OPS v3 Pro: Specs
(Image credit: Future)
PowerA OPS v3 Pro: Design and features
Innovative quick-twist thumbsticks
Textured grips feel quite rough
Lumectra RGB is still very impressive
There’s plenty to like about the PowerA OPS v3 Pro’s design. One of the controller’s headline features is its ‘quick-twist’ thumbsticks. This lets the player raise or lower the height of the stick’s shaft without needing to swap it out entirely. It’s a really handy solution that makes the controller a great option for folks who value no-fuss customization.
As was the case with the PowerA Enhanced Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch, the v3 Pro also features the brand’s bespoke Lumectra RGB lighting. Lumectra lets players do a few fancy things with their RGB preferences. By holding the dedicated ‘LED’ button on the rear of the gamepad, you can cycle through six different RGB zones - the d-pad, face buttons, left and right sides of the controller, and both thumbsticks) and apply different colors and patterns to each. You can be quite reserved with Lumectra, or go buck wild with various RGB flavors should you choose, and I’ve always been a fan of it because of this. Above all, it’s fun to mess around with.
(Image credit: Future)
In terms of features, you’re getting the usual ‘Pro’ controller setup. Micro switch face buttons and d-pad, Hall effect thumbsticks, six remappable buttons, three-stage trigger locks and textured grips. The rear of the gamepad has buttons dedicated to Lumectra customization and remappable button input assignment, as well as a three-way switch that lets you swap between 2.4GHz, Bluetooth, and USB-C connectivity. A 3.5mm headphone port rounds off the feature set in terms of design. It is worth noting here that the OPS v3 Pro is strictly a PC controller and won’t work on consoles. For platform-specific pads, consider browsing our guides to the best PS5 controllers or the best Xbox controllers instead.
While there is plenty to like here, the PowerA OPS v3 Pro is hampered by a few key design weaknesses. For one, the textured grips - while usually welcome on a controller like this - feel very rough to the touch. This, along with the awkward placement of those rear remappable buttons (they’re slightly misaligned with where your fingertips naturally rest) lead to a slightly uncomfortable play experience. While it doesn’t render the v3 Pro unusable, you may want to consider a more standard Xbox Wireless Controller or even a GameSir T4 Kaleid for longer gaming sessions from a comfort perspective.
While hit and miss on design aspects, then, one thing that does boost the v3 Pro’s value is the inclusion of a charging stand. Much like the 8BitDo Ultimate, the v3 Pro’s stand is incredibly convenient; simply hook it up to your PC via USB-C, magnetically attach the gamepad to the top and you’re good to go. Charge time is a little slow at 3-4 hours from empty to full, so we’d recommend an overnight charge to avoid waiting.
PowerA OPS v3 Pro: Performance
Sublime d-pad and bumpers
Top notch 30-hour battery life
Micro switch face buttons miss the mark
Much like the PowerA OPS v3 Pro’s overall design, performance has a number of hits and misses, too. The controller cannot be faulted on battery life; during my two weeks testing the controller - which included around two to three hours of gaming across most days - I never once needed to charge it. PowerA touts battery life of around 30 hours, and this appears to be accurate in my experience.
In terms of individual buttons and such, the d-pad and bumpers, powered by micro switches, are sublime. They have the perfect amount of clicky tactility and are simply a joy to use, especially with competitive games that often require rapid inputs. Games I tested that fit this criterion include Guilty Gear Strive, Final Fantasy 14 Online, and Fortnite. I found the controller to be a good fit for all three. Plus, with a 1,000Hz polling rate when wired to PC (and 500Hz via 2.4Ghz wireless), it’s fantastically responsive on its target platform.
(Image credit: Future)
Other areas of the gamepad are a bit of a letdown when it comes to overall performance. For one, while there are three stages of trigger lock, the lowest sensitivity setting (with the shortest trigger press) failed to work across all games tested. The trigger press simply didn’t register at this setting. And for the other two, there really isn’t much difference.
As a result, I think you’d be better off leaving the trigger lock settings entirely default. This is a shame, as the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro’s trigger lock settings are similar - with three distinct settings - and work beautifully on PC and console. It’s things like this that firmly cement the OPS v3 Pro as the more budget option with decidedly less polish.
Another problem area lies with the micro switch face buttons. While perfectly responsive, there’s a slight bump on the way down as you press the button. While certainly not a huge issue, it does take away much of the tactility and thus the novelty of having micro switch-based buttons.
Should I buy the PowerA OPS v3 Pro?
Buy it if...
You’re looking for a good value PC controller Controllers with this kind of feature set tend to push well above $100 / £100. The OPS v3 Pro comes in at just under that, making it relatively more affordable than its ‘Pro’ level competition.
You’re after a versatile and customizable PC controller Fully customizable Lumectra RGB, delightful quick-twist thumbsticks and half a dozen remappable buttons make for a highly versatile controller.
Don't buy it if...
A top-quality level of design is a must-have in your controllers Between awkwardly placed remappable buttons, rough textured grips and face buttons that feel slightly off, there are a lot of smaller frustrations with the OPS v3 Pro that build up to an experience that’s not as satisfying as it could be.
Also consider...
If the PowerA OPS v3 Pro isn’t quite doing it for you, we’ve got a couple of other options that we’ve tested and reviewed for your consideration below.
Razer Wolverine V3 Pro This is the absolute best premium PC and Xbox controller you can buy right now. It’s much pricier, but it makes up for all the OPS v3 Pro’s shortcomings with more satisfying tactile feedback, better build quality and compatibility with Xbox.
GameSir T4 Kaleid It’s a cheaper option and doesn’t have nearly the same number of features as the OPS v3 Pro. However, this is my favorite budget-friendly PC controller, with sublime-feeling Hall effect thumbsticks, tactile micro switch buttons and a gorgeous translucent build complete with RGB lighting.
I tested the PowerA OPS v3 Pro across a wide variety of games on PC, including some of the best fighting games like Guilty Gear Strive, Tekken 8and the newly-released Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics. Here, I found the superbly responsive d-pad and bumpers to be a perfect fit for this genre. Elsewhere, I made sure to test a wide range of titles, including Fortnite, Fall Guys, Final Fantasy 14 Online and Elden Ring.
One aspect that surprised me most about the OPS v3 Pro was its ultra-resilient battery life. During my two weeks with the gamepad, from full charge, I never once had the top up, which leads me to believe that PowerA’s estimates of 30 hours is absolutely doable here.
During my testing of the PowerA OPS v3 Pro, I integrated it into my overall gaming PC setup which includes the Razer Fujin Pro gaming chair, an AOC Gaming 24G2SP monitor and Razer BlackShark V2 X wired headset.
