• Original review date: November 2022
• Launch price: $199.99 / £169.99 / AU$ n/a
• Official price now: $169.99 / £159.99 / AU$ n/a
Update: March 2024. The Vantrue N2 Pro is dual-view dash cam that records what's happening on the road in front and inside the cabin in Full HD. With no Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, it's a straightforward dash cam that's simple to set up and use. It features in our list of the best dash cams as our top pick for ride-share drives, thanks to its interior recording and reliable video quality. As it's been on the market for a couple of years, the price has dropped since launch. It's also one to watch during seasonal deal events: we saw significant discounts on the N2 Pro during last year's Cyber Monday sales, for example.
Two-minute review
You’re not alone in thinking the Vantrue N2 Pro is a curious-looking dash cam. The angular body with buttons, lenses and design details seemingly scattered across every surface, is unlikely to win many awards on aesthetics alone. But not many of the world's best dash cams are design pieces, so we’re willing to mostly skip over the design of the N2 Pro and instead focus on its features, functions and performance.
Although not attractive, the Vantrue is reasonably compact considering it houses a pair of cameras, plus a TFT display and six buttons used to navigate the operating system. Aimed primarily at taxi and rideshare drivers, this dash cam records forwards out of the windscreen, but also rearwards into the interior – keeping an eye on the traffic, but also on fare-paying passengers, too.
The front-facing camera records at up to 2.5K, which is a resolution of 2560x1440p, at 30 frames per second or 1920x1080p at 60fps, through a 170-degree lens. We say 'up to', because maximum resolution and frame rate are only possible when the rear camera is disabled. Switch the camera to record in both directions at once, and both are capped at 1080p and 30fps; the rear lens has a field-of-view of 140 degrees.
The interior camera is aided with infrared night vision to help produce a clear, greyscale, view of the driver and their passengers at night. Again, this is very much a dash cam for taxi drivers rather than car owners generally. The secondary camera can be rotated 45 degrees up or down to ensure a good view.
(Image credit: TechRadar)
A suction mount is included in the box, which is good news for those who don’t want an adhesive pad forever stuck to their windscreen. This slots into a mount on the top of the dash cam, which then locks into place. It isn't the most elegant mounting system we’ve seen, but it does the job.
The mount has a USB port of its own, so the dash cam can be powered either via this connection, or directly from its own USB socket. If you're permanently installing the camera in your car, plugging into the windscreen mount makes most sense, as then the cable is closer to the roof lining, into which it can be hidden and routed to the car’s USB port or 12V socket.
That said, a rotating lock used to secure the suction mount takes up a fair bit of space, and because it rotates upwards to the 12 o’clock position, it is likely to touch the roof lining at the top of your windscreen, or the plastic housing of your car’s own forward-facing cameras and sensors. For us, this meant placing the dash cam lower down the windscreen than we’d like, partially blocking our view of the road ahead. Admittedly, our car has a small, shallow windscreen, and owners of larger vehicles shouldn’t have any problems.
A short USB cable, plus a longer cable attached to a 12V lighter socket adapter with integrated USB port, are both included in the box. A microSD card is not included, so you’ll have to provide your own.
(Image credit: TechRadar)
Bucking a trend followed by most other dash cams, the Vantrue N2 Pro has no wireless connectivity at all. Although the lack of GPS is disappointing, as this helps to add accurate speed and location data to video recordings, we wonder if some buyers will actually welcome a dash cam that works without first installing a smartphone app.
There’s no Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, so the camera is entirely self-contained – and crucially, there’s no account creation process and no submission of personal data to Vantrue. You just insert a microSD card, plug the camera in, adjust a few settings via the display, and away you go.
While that will appeal to some buyers, the downside is that footage cannot easily be transferred to a smartphone. Instead, you need to remove the memory card and pop that into your computer or tablet. We’re not convinced this is a total deal-breaker, although removing a pointless cover every time you want to access the SD card is a frustrating design quirk.
Also strange is the button layout, where those for scrolling through the menu system are on the underneath, but the ok/select button is on the front – and for good measure it’s a different shape and color, too. No, we don’t know why either.
Navigating the system is simple enough (pro tip: you’ll want to turn the annoyingly loud button beeps off right away), but don’t be fooled by the GPS setup page. This only works if you buy Vantrue’s GPS-equipped windscreen mount separately.
We were pleasantly surprised by the video quality of the Vantrue. Setting both cameras to Full HD produced footage that is sharp, clear and smooth, with crucial details like registration plates and street signs easy to read. The interior camera sometimes struggles a little in bright sunlight, with parts of its view washing out, but this is only a small criticism of what was otherwise an impressive performance.
Audio quality is also good, and while most dash cam buyers will likely switch this off in the interests of passenger privacy, taxi drivers could benefit from decent sound if they ever need to provide evidence against misbehaving passengers.
(Image credit: TechRadar)
A hardwiring kit is available separately for giving the Vantrue a constant power supply from the car’s battery. Doing this frees up the 12V socket, but also enables the dash cam’s parking mode, which records footage when movement is detected.
There isn’t much more to say about the N2 Pro and, honestly, we think that’s a good thing. Good video quality is far and away the most important dash cam feature, and we’ve often felt some models overwhelm the buyer with too many additional features.
Some consumers will demand Wi-Fi for quickly transferring footage to a smartphone, or Bluetooth for configuring the dash cam via an app. But we suspect many others will like how simple the Vantrue is and, aside from it lacking GPS, we think that simplicity is a good thing.
• Original review date: November 2022
• Launch price: $449.99 / £419.99 / AU$749
• Official price now: $449.99 / £419.99 / AU$749
Update: March 2024. Garmin's DriveCam 76 is a feature-packed sat nav and dash cam combo that records the road in Full HD while giving directions. It's an expensive tool and one that's only worth the cost if you'll use all of its features. Still, thanks to its 7-inch display and rich visuals, you'll find it in our best dash cams guide as our top pick for vehicles without a built-in infotainment system. While its official price hasn't dropped since launch, we have seen significant seasonal discounts on the DriveCam 76, so it's worth watching during during events like Amazon Prime Day.
Two-minute review
You’d be forgiven for thinking that dedicated sat navs were a thing of the past, usurped first by integrated systems from car manufacturers, then by smartphones. This may be true for many drivers, but for those who want a navigation system that promises to outshine both car and phone, a dedicated unit can still be the way to go. Especially if you are a habitual road-tripper keen for international adventure, and would rather keep your smartphone hidden safely away from the windshield.
The Garmin DriveCam 76 fits this bill, but also throws in a dash cam. Like the best dash cams, it quietly records the view ahead on every journey, then securely saves footage if a collision is detected or the manual record icon is tapped.
It’s an extension of Garmin’s DriveSmart family of navigation systems, only with a Full HD dash cam attached to the rear of its 7-inch touchscreen display. This addition bumps the price up from $299.99 / £229.99 for the similarly sized DriveSmart 76, to a considerable $449.99 / £419.99 for the DriveCam 76. Check out the Garmin promo codes that could help your buying decision.
The resolution of the TFT panel is 1024 x 600. While that pixel count doesn’t sound too impressive compared to a modern smartphone or tablet of a similar size, it’s absolutely fine for a sat nav. The interface is bright, clear and intuitive, with large icons that are easy to read and tap while on the move. Brightness isn’t adjusted automatically, which is a shame, but it only takes a couple of taps and a swipe to dim the screen so it doesn’t dazzle in the dark.
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(Image credit: Alistair Charlton)
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(Image credit: Alistair Charlton)
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(Image credit: Alistair Charlton)
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(Image credit: Alistair Charlton)
The DriveCam 76 fits to your windscreen with a suction cup. This clips securely into place with a clamp, and fits to the back of the sat-nav with a ball-and-socket joint that allows for adjustment in every direction. The dash cam lens also adjusts horizontally, and between these two movements you’ll find a position that points the display towards the driver and the camera directly at the road ahead.
Power comes via a USB-C port and an included 12V lighter socket adapter. There’s 32GB of internal storage, plus a microSD card slot for storing up to 256GB of dash cam recordings; a card is not included in the box. Battery life is a claimed 30 minutes, but in reality this is a device you’ll want to always have plugged in, unless you’re on the shortest of journeys.
Given the large size of this product compared to a regular dash cam, you’ll have to think carefully about placement to avoid blocking your view. Cars with shallow windscreens and integrated displays that stick up from dashboard leave very little space for the DriveCam 76. This review was conducted using a Mazda MX-5, and there really wasn’t enough space to fit the Garmin. Sat between the car’s central mirror and its own display, too much of the windshield was blocked for our liking. Naturally, a larger vehicle, or one with a display positioned differently (or without one at all) should be just fine.
That’s really the point here: the DriveCam 76 is a great addition to older vehicles that lack their own infotainment and navigation systems. As well as mapping and dash cam functionality, the Garmin can show a local weather forecast, in addition to incoming notifications from your smartphone – although you’ll want to switch off everything apart from calls and messages in the system to avoid being notified for absolutely everything. There are also speed camera alerts, plus lane drift and forward collision warnings.
Garmin made a name for itself with excellent mapping systems, and this is where the DriveCam 76 shines brightest. Addresses are easy to input and instructions are loud, clear and well-timed. You can also speak locations to the voice recognition system, summoned by saying ‘Hey Garmin’. Being told street names and landmarks with directions really helps when navigating an unfamiliar area, and the interface switches to a split-screen with graphics to help you take the correct lane at roundabouts and junctions.
Moving to Garmin navigation from Google Maps or Apple Maps takes a bit of acclimatisation. Once you’re tuned into how its instructions are delivered – and what its visual prompts look like – you’ll have no issues at all. It’s arguably a better navigation experience than a smartphone, and only takes some getting used to in the same way as switching from one navigation app to another does.
Live traffic data comes from your phone’s data connection. This is set up by downloading Garmin’s smartphone app and connecting to the DriveCam 76 via Bluetooth. This connection is established automatically after the initial setup. The device also has Wi-Fi, which can connect to your home router for downloading software updates and new mapping databases.
Integrated data from FourSquare and TripAdvisor helps you find places by stating their name instead of their address, but we found this didn’t always work perfectly, with the DriveCam occasionally suggesting an incorrect destination. Some buildings are rendered in 3D to further help with navigation and, when connected to your smartphone’s data connection, live fuel prices are shown at stations along your route. Pair with your phone, and you can also make and receive calls, either by tapping the DriveCam or issuing a voice command.
(Image credit: Alistair Charlton)
The built-in dash cam captures footage in Full HD at 30 frames per second. By default, the DriveCam 76 overlays the current time, date and vehicle speed. With HDR and a resolution of 1920 x 1080, video quality is fairly good. Details like road signs and number plates are legible, while exposure is balanced.
Given the DriveCam 76 is partly a dash cam with a massive screen, we liked how it is easy to view recordings (along with a map to show where they took place) on the device itself, rather than having to transfer everything to a phone or computer.
The 140-degree lens is wide enough, but falls short of the 180 degrees of the Garmin Dash Cam 67W. Also counting against the DriveCam is how footage wobbles and distorts, likely due to the stabilisation software trying to iron out bumps in the road. This doesn’t take any detail away, but means footage is worse than from some other Garmin dash cams. This made the dash cam feel like an afterthought, rather than a key feature of what is an expensive and otherwise premium-feeling product.
• Original review date: November 2022
• Newer Roomba Combo J9 Plus now out
• Launch price: $1,099.99 / £999 / AU$2,199
• Official price now: The same, though frequently discounted by circa. $200 / £200 / AU$400
Updated: January 2024. While it's no longer iRobot's leader of the pack, the iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus still stands as one of the best robot vacuums. Still, we imagine it'll move to a slightly lower position once we've been able to test the more premium Combo J9 Plus. The J7 Plus is regularly discounted at this point; as of writing, it's £749 / AU$1899, and we've seen prices drop to $899 in the US previously during Black Friday. Especially at this discounted price, it's well worth the money, offering one of the most thorough and intelligent cleans we've seen. The rest of this review remains as previously published.
One-minute review
The Roomba Combo J7 Plus (stylized as Roomba Combo j7+) is a revelation. It’s without doubt one of the best robot vacuums on the market right now, thanks to the fantastic features we’ve come to expect from iRobot, and the fact that it can mop too. It’s the first of its kind, introducing a new retractable mop pad mechanic that marks a significant improvement over the bottom-mounted mop pads we’re used to seeing on robovacs, with which there was a risk of dampening carpets.
Otherwise, it mirrors the vacuum-only iRobot Roomba J7 Plus in almost every way – which is no bad thing, considering we were impressed by its intelligence, suction power, and design elements such as the dual rubber brushes that prevent hair from becoming tangled around the brush bar. Mapping is superb, and as the robot learns more about your home, it will suggest areas that might need more attention.
As one of the pioneers in the robovac market, it’s no surprise to see great quality from iRobot. While this model isn’t quite as premium as the Roomba S9 Plus in terms of its suction power, the J7 Plus still holds its own, collecting dust and debris from both hard floors and carpets with relative ease.
It’s an incredibly smart machine, armed with a full gamut of exciting smart features, including object and dirt detection. These are powered by built-in AI that can spot the most common items cluttering your home, and your pets, cleaning around them without incident. Plus, it can pick up particles as small as 0.7 microns and can detect and avoid pet poop, making it perfect for pet owners. Note that iRobot regularly updates its operating system, so you can expect to see new functions added to your bot in the future.
As with other iRobot models, the “Plus” suffix refers to the inclusion of a larger base station that facilitates automatic dirt disposal. After each clean, or whenever the 14oz / 0.4-liter internal dustbin is full, the vacuum will empty itself into a 57oz / 1.7-liter bag in its home base, which can hold up to 60 days worth of dirt, depending on how regularly you clean your floors. Using this feature does mean you’ll have to consider the longer-term cost of replacing the bags, however.
All of these features make the iRobot Roomba J7 Plus one of the most hassle and hands-free robot vacuum cleaners we’ve tested, and during our time using it, we also noticed a reduction in the amount of time we spent cleaning – a real boon when life gets in the way. However, this robot vacuum is very expensive at $1,099.99 / £999 / AU$2,199, so you definitely pay for the privilege of a low-maintenance cleanup.
Keep in mind though that Roomba Black Friday deals are live now. You might find this model at a heavily discounted price.
The iRobot Roomba Combo j7+ charging in its base (Image credit: Future)
iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus price & availability
List price: $1,099.99 / £999 / AU$2,199
The iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus robot vacuum and mop is currently available online, and can be bought directly from the iRobot store and Amazon for $1,099.99 / £999.99 / AU$2,199. As well as the self-emptying base, the Plus model comes with two AllergenLock bags, an extra filter, and a spare side brush. If you want to skip out on the base, the regular Roomba Combo J7 will set you back £799 / AU$1,699; as of writing, only the Plus package is available in the US.
There’s no denying this cleaner is expensive, and if this sophisticated robot vacuum’s many bells and whistles don’t appeal to you, it definitely won’t be money well spent. However, especially compared to budget-friendly vacuums, the intelligence and low-maintenance nature of this cleaner make it well worth the money for those with busy lifestyles or an aversion to cleaning. Plus, the mopping function adds only $200 / £100 / AU$400 to the price tag of the regular J7.
Of course, there are ongoing costs to consider, too. You’ll need to replace the self-emptying base station’s vacuum bags if you intend to use this feature regularly, and if you want a deeper clean with the mop pad than just using water, you’ll want to pick up some of the iRobot-approved cleaning solution, too.
Value: 4 / 5
The iRobot Roomba Combo j7+ with its dustbin removed (Image credit: Future)
iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus design
Self-emptying bin
Retractable mop pad
14oz / 0.4-liter dust bin
In most ways, the iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus mirrors its regular vacuum-only sibling, the Roomba J7 Plus. It’s an all-black beauty with a matte black casing and a gunmetal disc on its flush top. Here, you’ll also find its very minimalist control system: one button you can press to pause and start the vacuum or hold for five seconds to send it home. Measuring 13.3 x 13.3 x 3.4 inches / 33.8 x 33.8 x 8.6cm (h x w x d), it has relatively good clearance but will struggle with some lower-down furnishings.
Of course, the big difference is the retractable mop pad, which sits on the top of the vacuum at the rear. When called upon, the mop pad lifts and tucks beneath the unit in an incredibly satisfying, smooth motion - it's a real feat of design. You can attach the mop pads to the arm easily by sliding and clicking in the snap-fit attachments.
Lifting the top-mounted mop arm on the Roomba Combo j7+ with a mop pad attached (Image credit: Future)
The front half of the vacuum is surrounded by a plastic bumper, which has a window through which the robovac’s detectors can sense its surroundings and obstacles. On its underside, there are two bidirectional wheels and one swivel wheel, a three-armed side brush to flick debris out of corners and away from walls, and dual rubber brush bars. These bars are designed to be flexible, working across floor types without damaging them, and preventing hair from becoming tangled.
On the rear half, there’s the 14oz / 0.4-liter dust bin, which can be ejected by pressing the tactile panel next to it. This is also where you’ll find the liquid chamber – and, unlike some other robot vacuums and mops, the Roomba Combo J7 Plus is cleaning solution-compatible, arriving with a sample bottle of iRobot cleaning solution that won’t damage your device. iRobot’s help section suggests Bona Hardwood/Hard Surface Cleaner is safe to use, too.
The dustbin eject button can be a little tricky to operate, but it does make the unit more robust (Image credit: Future)
As with previous models, the Combo J7 Plus comes with plenty of swish features that are designed to make life easier. Instead of manually controlling suction, the clever robovac can detect dirtier areas and increase power if need be, which doubles as a great battery conservation feature if you want thorough cleaning but can’t supervise the vacuum to adjust its suction settings in dirtier rooms. The built-in camera helps the robot navigate intelligently, but also detects obstacles and hazards – from socks to stairs. And, of course, this model comes with iRobot’s Pet Ownership Official Promise – also known as P.O.O.P – to detect and avoid pet messes, thus preventing nasty clean-up jobs.
This model includes iRobot’s Clean Base with automatic dirt disposal. Unfortunately, it can’t clean your mop pads or refill the water tank, but considering it does just about everything else, we’ll let that slide. The clean base measures 12.55 x 13.39 x 15.35 inches / 31.9 x 34 x 39cm and needs clearance of 1.5ft / 0.5m on each side and 4ft / 1.2m in front. Like the vacuum itself, the base is all-black with some textured accents, and a brown-leather tag provides easy access to the bin.
Under the base hood, there’s a pre-fitted cleaning bag and one spare in a neat little compartment that reduces the need for extra external storage space – although additional space to house a spare mop pad and side brush would have been welcome. The vacuum bags can hold up to 60 days of dirt, according to iRobot, and the LED indicator on the front of the canister will turn red when the dirt bag is full.
Design: 5 / 5
The Combo J7 Plus did well toeing the line between tile and rug (Image credit: Future)
iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus performance
Fantastic pickup on both carpet and hard floor
Object detection works wonderfully
Mop works well once it soaks through
As we’ve highlighted earlier in this review, the iRobot Combo J7 Plus vacuums to the same high standard as the non-mopping J7 Plus model. It performs well on hard floors, collecting both fine debris and larger crumbs, although with larger spills in particular, the side brush will often make a meal of flicking the litter across the floor, which extends cleaning time.
Large spills of fine powders such as those in our flour and biscuit test will be tracked across the floor by the bot, and when overwhelmed by such debris, the vacuum throws some of it back on the ground when making its way to the charging station to unload. When it returned to the floor to finish the job, it mostly collected the remnants; however, some of the oats that had been flung further afield were missed. Of course, the frequency with which your robot vacuum will be collecting large amounts of concentrated debris is fairly minimal. During a regular clean, the vacuum is very systematic and successful at sucking up standard household grime; we never once saw it creating any mess.
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The iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus systematically cleaned up the mess... (Image credit: Future)
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... until it got too full, then it head home and made a bit more of a mess... (Image credit: Future)
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Considering the size and density of the mess, however, the iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus did a pretty good job at cleaning most of it up. (Image credit: Future)
As stated earlier, there’s no manual control option for suction power on the Combo J7 Plus. Instead, it intelligently detects the dirt level on the floor and makes adjustments itself accordingly. The bot will maintain a winding route around your home while cleaning, but if it detects a messier space, it will pause to go over it before resuming on its path. Similarly, when encountering an obstacle, the bot will pause, find a way around whatever clutter it has identified (we tested with socks, wires and toys), either avoiding the object to continue its journey from the next logical place, or intentionally nudging larger, non-furniture obstacles such as toys out of its way.
The standout feature with the Combo J7 Plus is, of course, its mopping ability, and we were really impressed by how it performed. We were concerned that the mop pad wouldn’t dock neatly below the unit, or that its arms would be too delicate to deliver the pressure required to mop floors well. On the contrary, the Combo J7 Plus was capable of giving our floors a lovely shine-up, especially when we used the cleaning solution sample included with the vacuum. In the app, you can decide for each of your favorite cleaning modes whether you’d like to use a minimal, medium or maximum dose of liquid.
There are a few drawbacks. First, the mop pad takes a while to soak through; in our test, we had to wait about 5 minutes during the cleaning process before we saw consistent, non-streaky results. If the water tank is full, it can also sometimes leave the odd drip mark. If you’re planning to use the mopping function regularly, note that you’ll lose some of the hands-free perks of the self-emptying base station. All of the mopping features, from replacing and cleaning the mop pads to refilling the liquid, are entirely manual.
However, there’s no doubt that the Combo J7 Plus offers a mopping experience that’s far superior to anything we’ve yet seen in a combination robot vacuum and mop. Once it gets going, the mop is great – and it left our floors shiny and mark-free.
The Combo J7 Plus treats carpets with care, giving them a thorough clean before moving on to mop and vacuum the floors. We tested our vacuum to see if we could trick it into mopping our bathroom rug, by moving it around before and during a cleaning cycle. However, the clever little bot was more than capable of identifying the change in texture and storing away its mop so as to not damage or dampen the carpet.
(Image credit: Future)
In general, the Combo J7 Plus was fairly quiet as it made its way around our home, registering a maximum of 68dB on our decibel meter – generally, it’s even quieter, but the volume rises by around 5dB when the vacuum natively boosts its suction. However, we had a nasty shock when it returned to base for the first time. The noise of the self-emptying function scared the living daylights out of us, registering a colossal 90dB – and while it lasts for only a few seconds, it’s loud enough that we’d strongly recommend against using it in any circumstance where you need to be noise-conscious.
Performance: 4.5 / 5
iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus app
Can set vacuum to clean while you’re out
Snaps any obstacles or errors
Works with Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant
If we were to summarise the iRobot app in three words, they’d be “peace of mind”. The app exists to make owning the Combo J7 Plus as easy and intelligent as possible, guiding you through the initial mapping phase, all the way through to voice assistant setup and map customization. There are tips and reminders, you can check the lifespan of the vacuum’s components, and you can even name your vacuum – we called ours Buttercup!
Since there are no advanced manual controls on the vacuum, the app plays a huge role in managing this robovac. It’s always preferable to give customers the option, but it makes sense to push people towards the app when you consider how many of those price-inflating features depend on user interaction.
The iRobot app is really fun, allowing you to do everything from map setup, clean zone suggestions and explore obstacles encountered (Image credit: Future)
Mapping is excellent, and it doesn’t end after your robot’s initial mapping task; the Combo J7 Plus continues to learn. It can detect different surface types and provides estimations in the app of where different rooms start and end. Even in larger, split rooms like our testing environment, it was able to identify where the living room space ended and where the kitchen/dining room began. It also noted the area in my kitchen where I most often stand to cook as a cleaning zone that requires more attention, notifying me in the app that it had a new recommendation.
The zoning feature also helped us solve a particular challenge we face with robot vacuums: doorstops. Living in an apartment with heavy fire doors that close without a doorstop isn’t the best setup for a robot vacuum that can’t open doors, and the bot doesn’t yet recognize doorstops as an obstacle, so it frequently dislodged them. However, with the zoning tool, we were able to fence off the area where our door is and stop the vacuum from imprisoning itself.
App: 5 / 5
iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus battery
Takes roughly two hours to recharge
Difficult to tell how much charge remains
Intelligent recharging while job is paused
Overall, the battery specs of the iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus are something of a beautiful mystery; there’s no official word from iRobot on the length of the battery life, but we found it pretty difficult to drain. We were able to complete three full cleans (mopping and vacuuming) of our one-bedroom apartment and still have battery life to spare, so it can last at least 120 minutes.
The vacuum will automatically return to its base between jobs, or if it runs out of battery during a task, the spinning circular light around the button on its lid will let you know when it’s finished charging, shifting to illuminate just the lower half of the button. It does use a “very small amount of energy” when docked, says iRobot, but it’s possible to change its settings in the app to reduce this further.
• Original review date: November 2022
• Newer Roomba Combo J9 Plus now out
• Launch price: $1,099.99 / £999 / AU$2,199
• Official price now: The same, though frequently discounted by circa. $200 / £200 / AU$400
Updated: January 2024. While it's no longer iRobot's leader of the pack, the iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus still stands as one of the best robot vacuums. Still, we imagine it'll move to a slightly lower position once we've been able to test the more premium Combo J9 Plus. The J7 Plus is regularly discounted at this point; as of writing, it's £749 / AU$1899, and we've seen prices drop to $899 in the US previously during Black Friday. Especially at this discounted price, it's well worth the money, offering one of the most thorough and intelligent cleans we've seen. The rest of this review remains as previously published.
One-minute review
The Roomba Combo J7 Plus (stylized as Roomba Combo j7+) is a revelation. It’s without doubt one of the best robot vacuums on the market right now, thanks to the fantastic features we’ve come to expect from iRobot, and the fact that it can mop too. It’s the first of its kind, introducing a new retractable mop pad mechanic that marks a significant improvement over the bottom-mounted mop pads we’re used to seeing on robovacs, with which there was a risk of dampening carpets.
Otherwise, it mirrors the vacuum-only iRobot Roomba J7 Plus in almost every way – which is no bad thing, considering we were impressed by its intelligence, suction power, and design elements such as the dual rubber brushes that prevent hair from becoming tangled around the brush bar. Mapping is superb, and as the robot learns more about your home, it will suggest areas that might need more attention.
As one of the pioneers in the robovac market, it’s no surprise to see great quality from iRobot. While this model isn’t quite as premium as the Roomba S9 Plus in terms of its suction power, the J7 Plus still holds its own, collecting dust and debris from both hard floors and carpets with relative ease.
It’s an incredibly smart machine, armed with a full gamut of exciting smart features, including object and dirt detection. These are powered by built-in AI that can spot the most common items cluttering your home, and your pets, cleaning around them without incident. Plus, it can pick up particles as small as 0.7 microns and can detect and avoid pet poop, making it perfect for pet owners. Note that iRobot regularly updates its operating system, so you can expect to see new functions added to your bot in the future.
As with other iRobot models, the “Plus” suffix refers to the inclusion of a larger base station that facilitates automatic dirt disposal. After each clean, or whenever the 14oz / 0.4-liter internal dustbin is full, the vacuum will empty itself into a 57oz / 1.7-liter bag in its home base, which can hold up to 60 days worth of dirt, depending on how regularly you clean your floors. Using this feature does mean you’ll have to consider the longer-term cost of replacing the bags, however.
All of these features make the iRobot Roomba J7 Plus one of the most hassle and hands-free robot vacuum cleaners we’ve tested, and during our time using it, we also noticed a reduction in the amount of time we spent cleaning – a real boon when life gets in the way. However, this robot vacuum is very expensive at $1,099.99 / £999 / AU$2,199, so you definitely pay for the privilege of a low-maintenance cleanup.
Keep in mind though that Roomba Black Friday deals are live now. You might find this model at a heavily discounted price.
The iRobot Roomba Combo j7+ charging in its base (Image credit: Future)
iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus price & availability
List price: $1,099.99 / £999 / AU$2,199
The iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus robot vacuum and mop is currently available online, and can be bought directly from the iRobot store and Amazon for $1,099.99 / £999.99 / AU$2,199. As well as the self-emptying base, the Plus model comes with two AllergenLock bags, an extra filter, and a spare side brush. If you want to skip out on the base, the regular Roomba Combo J7 will set you back £799 / AU$1,699; as of writing, only the Plus package is available in the US.
There’s no denying this cleaner is expensive, and if this sophisticated robot vacuum’s many bells and whistles don’t appeal to you, it definitely won’t be money well spent. However, especially compared to budget-friendly vacuums, the intelligence and low-maintenance nature of this cleaner make it well worth the money for those with busy lifestyles or an aversion to cleaning. Plus, the mopping function adds only $200 / £100 / AU$400 to the price tag of the regular J7.
Of course, there are ongoing costs to consider, too. You’ll need to replace the self-emptying base station’s vacuum bags if you intend to use this feature regularly, and if you want a deeper clean with the mop pad than just using water, you’ll want to pick up some of the iRobot-approved cleaning solution, too.
Value: 4 / 5
The iRobot Roomba Combo j7+ with its dustbin removed (Image credit: Future)
iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus design
Self-emptying bin
Retractable mop pad
14oz / 0.4-liter dust bin
In most ways, the iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus mirrors its regular vacuum-only sibling, the Roomba J7 Plus. It’s an all-black beauty with a matte black casing and a gunmetal disc on its flush top. Here, you’ll also find its very minimalist control system: one button you can press to pause and start the vacuum or hold for five seconds to send it home. Measuring 13.3 x 13.3 x 3.4 inches / 33.8 x 33.8 x 8.6cm (h x w x d), it has relatively good clearance but will struggle with some lower-down furnishings.
Of course, the big difference is the retractable mop pad, which sits on the top of the vacuum at the rear. When called upon, the mop pad lifts and tucks beneath the unit in an incredibly satisfying, smooth motion - it's a real feat of design. You can attach the mop pads to the arm easily by sliding and clicking in the snap-fit attachments.
Lifting the top-mounted mop arm on the Roomba Combo j7+ with a mop pad attached (Image credit: Future)
The front half of the vacuum is surrounded by a plastic bumper, which has a window through which the robovac’s detectors can sense its surroundings and obstacles. On its underside, there are two bidirectional wheels and one swivel wheel, a three-armed side brush to flick debris out of corners and away from walls, and dual rubber brush bars. These bars are designed to be flexible, working across floor types without damaging them, and preventing hair from becoming tangled.
On the rear half, there’s the 14oz / 0.4-liter dust bin, which can be ejected by pressing the tactile panel next to it. This is also where you’ll find the liquid chamber – and, unlike some other robot vacuums and mops, the Roomba Combo J7 Plus is cleaning solution-compatible, arriving with a sample bottle of iRobot cleaning solution that won’t damage your device. iRobot’s help section suggests Bona Hardwood/Hard Surface Cleaner is safe to use, too.
The dustbin eject button can be a little tricky to operate, but it does make the unit more robust (Image credit: Future)
As with previous models, the Combo J7 Plus comes with plenty of swish features that are designed to make life easier. Instead of manually controlling suction, the clever robovac can detect dirtier areas and increase power if need be, which doubles as a great battery conservation feature if you want thorough cleaning but can’t supervise the vacuum to adjust its suction settings in dirtier rooms. The built-in camera helps the robot navigate intelligently, but also detects obstacles and hazards – from socks to stairs. And, of course, this model comes with iRobot’s Pet Ownership Official Promise – also known as P.O.O.P – to detect and avoid pet messes, thus preventing nasty clean-up jobs.
This model includes iRobot’s Clean Base with automatic dirt disposal. Unfortunately, it can’t clean your mop pads or refill the water tank, but considering it does just about everything else, we’ll let that slide. The clean base measures 12.55 x 13.39 x 15.35 inches / 31.9 x 34 x 39cm and needs clearance of 1.5ft / 0.5m on each side and 4ft / 1.2m in front. Like the vacuum itself, the base is all-black with some textured accents, and a brown-leather tag provides easy access to the bin.
Under the base hood, there’s a pre-fitted cleaning bag and one spare in a neat little compartment that reduces the need for extra external storage space – although additional space to house a spare mop pad and side brush would have been welcome. The vacuum bags can hold up to 60 days of dirt, according to iRobot, and the LED indicator on the front of the canister will turn red when the dirt bag is full.
Design: 5 / 5
The Combo J7 Plus did well toeing the line between tile and rug (Image credit: Future)
iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus performance
Fantastic pickup on both carpet and hard floor
Object detection works wonderfully
Mop works well once it soaks through
As we’ve highlighted earlier in this review, the iRobot Combo J7 Plus vacuums to the same high standard as the non-mopping J7 Plus model. It performs well on hard floors, collecting both fine debris and larger crumbs, although with larger spills in particular, the side brush will often make a meal of flicking the litter across the floor, which extends cleaning time.
Large spills of fine powders such as those in our flour and biscuit test will be tracked across the floor by the bot, and when overwhelmed by such debris, the vacuum throws some of it back on the ground when making its way to the charging station to unload. When it returned to the floor to finish the job, it mostly collected the remnants; however, some of the oats that had been flung further afield were missed. Of course, the frequency with which your robot vacuum will be collecting large amounts of concentrated debris is fairly minimal. During a regular clean, the vacuum is very systematic and successful at sucking up standard household grime; we never once saw it creating any mess.
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The iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus systematically cleaned up the mess... (Image credit: Future)
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... until it got too full, then it head home and made a bit more of a mess... (Image credit: Future)
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Considering the size and density of the mess, however, the iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus did a pretty good job at cleaning most of it up. (Image credit: Future)
As stated earlier, there’s no manual control option for suction power on the Combo J7 Plus. Instead, it intelligently detects the dirt level on the floor and makes adjustments itself accordingly. The bot will maintain a winding route around your home while cleaning, but if it detects a messier space, it will pause to go over it before resuming on its path. Similarly, when encountering an obstacle, the bot will pause, find a way around whatever clutter it has identified (we tested with socks, wires and toys), either avoiding the object to continue its journey from the next logical place, or intentionally nudging larger, non-furniture obstacles such as toys out of its way.
The standout feature with the Combo J7 Plus is, of course, its mopping ability, and we were really impressed by how it performed. We were concerned that the mop pad wouldn’t dock neatly below the unit, or that its arms would be too delicate to deliver the pressure required to mop floors well. On the contrary, the Combo J7 Plus was capable of giving our floors a lovely shine-up, especially when we used the cleaning solution sample included with the vacuum. In the app, you can decide for each of your favorite cleaning modes whether you’d like to use a minimal, medium or maximum dose of liquid.
There are a few drawbacks. First, the mop pad takes a while to soak through; in our test, we had to wait about 5 minutes during the cleaning process before we saw consistent, non-streaky results. If the water tank is full, it can also sometimes leave the odd drip mark. If you’re planning to use the mopping function regularly, note that you’ll lose some of the hands-free perks of the self-emptying base station. All of the mopping features, from replacing and cleaning the mop pads to refilling the liquid, are entirely manual.
However, there’s no doubt that the Combo J7 Plus offers a mopping experience that’s far superior to anything we’ve yet seen in a combination robot vacuum and mop. Once it gets going, the mop is great – and it left our floors shiny and mark-free.
The Combo J7 Plus treats carpets with care, giving them a thorough clean before moving on to mop and vacuum the floors. We tested our vacuum to see if we could trick it into mopping our bathroom rug, by moving it around before and during a cleaning cycle. However, the clever little bot was more than capable of identifying the change in texture and storing away its mop so as to not damage or dampen the carpet.
(Image credit: Future)
In general, the Combo J7 Plus was fairly quiet as it made its way around our home, registering a maximum of 68dB on our decibel meter – generally, it’s even quieter, but the volume rises by around 5dB when the vacuum natively boosts its suction. However, we had a nasty shock when it returned to base for the first time. The noise of the self-emptying function scared the living daylights out of us, registering a colossal 90dB – and while it lasts for only a few seconds, it’s loud enough that we’d strongly recommend against using it in any circumstance where you need to be noise-conscious.
Performance: 4.5 / 5
iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus app
Can set vacuum to clean while you’re out
Snaps any obstacles or errors
Works with Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant
If we were to summarise the iRobot app in three words, they’d be “peace of mind”. The app exists to make owning the Combo J7 Plus as easy and intelligent as possible, guiding you through the initial mapping phase, all the way through to voice assistant setup and map customization. There are tips and reminders, you can check the lifespan of the vacuum’s components, and you can even name your vacuum – we called ours Buttercup!
Since there are no advanced manual controls on the vacuum, the app plays a huge role in managing this robovac. It’s always preferable to give customers the option, but it makes sense to push people towards the app when you consider how many of those price-inflating features depend on user interaction.
The iRobot app is really fun, allowing you to do everything from map setup, clean zone suggestions and explore obstacles encountered (Image credit: Future)
Mapping is excellent, and it doesn’t end after your robot’s initial mapping task; the Combo J7 Plus continues to learn. It can detect different surface types and provides estimations in the app of where different rooms start and end. Even in larger, split rooms like our testing environment, it was able to identify where the living room space ended and where the kitchen/dining room began. It also noted the area in my kitchen where I most often stand to cook as a cleaning zone that requires more attention, notifying me in the app that it had a new recommendation.
The zoning feature also helped us solve a particular challenge we face with robot vacuums: doorstops. Living in an apartment with heavy fire doors that close without a doorstop isn’t the best setup for a robot vacuum that can’t open doors, and the bot doesn’t yet recognize doorstops as an obstacle, so it frequently dislodged them. However, with the zoning tool, we were able to fence off the area where our door is and stop the vacuum from imprisoning itself.
App: 5 / 5
iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus battery
Takes roughly two hours to recharge
Difficult to tell how much charge remains
Intelligent recharging while job is paused
Overall, the battery specs of the iRobot Roomba Combo J7 Plus are something of a beautiful mystery; there’s no official word from iRobot on the length of the battery life, but we found it pretty difficult to drain. We were able to complete three full cleans (mopping and vacuuming) of our one-bedroom apartment and still have battery life to spare, so it can last at least 120 minutes.
The vacuum will automatically return to its base between jobs, or if it runs out of battery during a task, the spinning circular light around the button on its lid will let you know when it’s finished charging, shifting to illuminate just the lower half of the button. It does use a “very small amount of energy” when docked, says iRobot, but it’s possible to change its settings in the app to reduce this further.
• Original review date: November 2022
• Launch price: Starting at $999 / £999 / AU$1,699
• Target price: $599 / £499 / AU$899
Update – August 2024: I won't lie, when this laptop was released and reviewed in 2022, it really wasn't good enough to warrant serious consideration for our best laptop list.
Its performance, port selection, and battery life were all significantly underwhelming, and that's even more true when factoring in the recently released Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, which is an absolutely stellar device that starts at the same launch price as the Surface Laptop 5 did.
If you're in the market for a Surface Laptop, I strongly suggest you buy the latest model with Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus or X Elite processor, even at full price. Only really consider the Surface Laptop 5 if it is aggressively discounted on the clearance shelf, otherwise, it just isn't worth it with the Surface Laptop 7 widely available.
Original review follows.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5: Two minute review
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 is a middling laptop... possibly as middle of the road as you can get. While it’s technically functional and isn’t awful, there’s very little actually going for this machine, especially at this price. The market is simply too competitive for a mediocre option such as this to be worth buying.
At first glance, the price isn’t too steep, with the cheapest configuration being $999 / £999 / AU$1,699. But that’s for an Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, and 256GB SSD, which is pretty bad. For that amount you could nab the far superior MacBook Air M1 (2020) instead, or even the recent M2 MacBook Air. If you want something decent – like an i7, 16GB RAM, and 512GB SSD – be prepared to spend about $1,700 / £1,700 / AU$2,700, which is right at Ultrabook prices. At least it’s readily available in the US, UK, and Australia.
Though it’s refreshing to see several colors available for the laptop, they all end up looking drab and washed out, with the exception of the gorgeous Sandstone. The design itself is also rather dated.
Then there are the performance issues. As it turns out, there are a lot of background processes going on while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 is running. This not only slows you down whether browsing the internet or working on a spreadsheet, but also has the added effect of crashing random programs if they take a certain threshold of memory to run. In fact, we experienced it during one of the benchmarks we tried to run, PC Mark 10.
Nor is the battery life the 18 hours that was claimed during the October Surface event. In fact, the final scores show a battery life of half of that, with productivity work running down the laptop after around 10 hours while movie streaming will give you just seven and a half hours. It does charge quickly, but the Surface Connect port seriously needs to go by the wayside to make room for Thunderbolt 4.
On the plus side, though, the keyboard and trackpad are quite lovely to use and the touch screen is also sensitive and responsive. We also welcome the newly added features plus a true revamping of the accessibility options, which are now easy to activate across all your apps.
It’s a shame that so much care was taken to make these accessibility and productivity features work, because they do - and well. But when you slap them on a laptop with so many issues, it’s hard to appreciate them.
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5: Price and availability
(Image credit: Future)
How much does it cost? 13.5-inch starting at $999 / £999 / AU$1,699, 15-inch starting at $1,299 / £1,299 / AU$2,149
When is it out? It's out now
Where can you get it? In the US, UK, and Australia
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 Key Specs
Here is the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 configuration sent to TechRadar for review:
CPU: Intel Core i7-1255U Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics RAM: 16GB Screen: 13.5-inch PixelSense Display, 2256 x 1504 Storage: 512GB LPDDR5x Optical drive: None Ports: 1 USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 1 Thunderbolt 4 port, 1 3.5mm combo audio jack, 1 Surface Connect port Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6: 802.11ax, Bluetooth 5.1 Camera: 720p Weight: 2.8 lb Size: 8.8 x 12.1 x .57 inches (W x D x H)
Though the starting price for a 13.5-inch version of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 is $999 / £999 / AU$1,699, the configuration TechRadar received costs $1,699 / £1,699 / AU$2,699. And honestly, it’s difficult to justify that price when you consider how barebones the laptop’s specs are.
Availability is excellent, however, with the laptop readily available not only in the US but in the UK and Australia too - and in almost every configuration you could hope for.
Value: 2 / 5
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5: Design
(Image credit: Future)
Thin and light form factor
Outdated look
Bad port selection
The Surface Laptop 5 is a very thin and light laptop, weighing just 2.8 lbs. for the 13.5-inch model. And for those sticking with that size, there are four colors to choose from: Sandstone, Platinum (which features an Alcantara fabric), Matte Black, and a new Sage color, which is the one we received. The Sage version isn't bad per se, but it's a bit underwhelming due to its muted nature.
The port selection remains pretty weak, with one USB Type-C, one USB Type-A, an audio jack, and a Surface Connect port that should have gone to the wayside ages ago. At least Microsoft kept the Type-A option, but the number of ports should be higher considering how much it costs.
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(Image credit: Future)
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(Image credit: Future)
The bezels on the screen are a little on the thick side, which is why it’s perplexing that the webcam is still 720p. At times, said camera has surprisingly clear picture quality due to auto-correcting capabilities that fix any white balance issues, but in anything other than good lighting the image looks a bit pixelated.
Though the laptop and keyboard function just as they should, there’s an oddly artificial feeling to them; they bring to mind the plasticky older MacBook models from the mid-2000s. Plus, the shape of the laptop itself is outdated, which lends itself to a boring and drab look. Thankfully the touchscreen itself is great, hitting the right blend of sensitivity and responsiveness, though the panel itself looks rather dim as it's not OLED.
Design: 3 / 5
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5: Performance
(Image credit: Future)
Sound quality is top-tier
Great new features that utilize the touchscreen
Terrible performance all around
Performance on the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 is a mixture of the good, the bad, and the ugly. Let’s deal with the good first - namely the expanded accessibility options and productivity features.
First is the Focus function, which locks out notifications for a certain period of time so you can focus on productivity. Another addition is Snap, which allows you to divide your screen into various areas, then place windows into those sections for easy multitasking.
File explorer is another quality-of-life change in which you can open multiple tabs of computer file folders in the same window. The Start menu itself also houses some quality-of-life changes, including being able to organize apps within folders, as well as scroll through recommended apps.
You can also activate a host of accessibility options within Windows 11. This has the benefit of automatically working across 20,000-plus apps, avoiding the need for you to make changes within individual programs.
Sound quality is also excellent - in fact, this is one of the best non-gaming laptops we've ever heard. Music is clear enough that you can hear every instrument and voice in a single track, yet loud enough to blast said song from the rooftops. It's everything you could ever want from a laptop's sound system.
Finally in terms of positives, the touchscreen is impressively responsive, especially when using a stylus. Too bad said stylus isn't included out of the box but instead is an add-on.
Benchmarks
Here's how the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 performed in our suite of benchmark tests:
3DMark: Night Raid: 16,871; Fire Strike: 4763; Time Spy: 1793 Cinebench R23 Multi-core: 8499 points GeekBench 5: 1674 (single-core); 8709 (multi-core) Battery Life (Web Surfing): 9 hours and 50 minutes Battery Life (TechRadar movie test): 7 hours and 38 minutes Civilization VI (1080p, Ultra): 42 fps; (1080p, Low): 55 fps
However, both the bad and ugly rear their ugly heads once you delve into the Surface Laptop 5’s performance. While the benchmark testing places it squarely at its market average, actually using the laptop is its own issue.
In the first screenshot below, you can see how many processes are running in the background, which is a staggering 43. That's after we installed all current Windows 11 updates as well as the benchmark programs.
(Image credit: Future)
Here's the second screenshot, which shows how many programs are running in the background, which is an unbelievable 57. And this is just after we fully wiped the PC, without any updates or program installations.
(Image credit: Future)
As you can imagine, this much going on in the background has a profound effect on how well the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 runs. We could not run PC Mark 10 in the slightest, for instance. No matter how many times we uninstalled, reinstalled, and reset the laptop, it would instantly crash the moment we tried to do anything. And at one point it even crashed Geekbench.
Keep in mind this is a laptop with a Core i7, 16GB RAM, and 512GB SSD of storage. And it's perplexing, because Google Chrome and other browsers ran without crashing, even when displaying tabs full of YouTube videos. However, we did notice some slowdown when running more taxing productivity tasks.
For the price, these performance issues are absolutely unacceptable.
Performance: 3 / 5
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5: Battery life
(Image credit: Future)
Battery life isn't bad but not great
Charges decently fast
Microsoft claims “up to 18 hours” of battery life for the Surface Laptop 5, but in our testing we achieved nothing like that. When web surfing, the laptop lasted for nearly 10 hours, while our movie test netted a battery life of seven hours and 38 minutes. At least it charges decently fast.
Still, the Surface Laptop 5 should last long enough for a full day’s work, unless you plan to stream a movie during your lunch break. This is an acceptable result, albeit a little disappointing considering there’s no OLED screen or HDR draining power.
We pride ourselves on our independence and our rigorous review-testing process, offering up long-term attention to the products we review and making sure our reviews are updated and maintained - regardless of when a device was released, if you can still buy it, it's on our radar.
Canva may be famed for its impressive - and impressively simple - online design app. But the platform offers a lot more than that.
The company offers easily one of the best free PDF editors - especially if you’re looking for a simple-to-use PDF editor in your browser, look no further.
With a new set of tools, including some AI cleverness, we've re-reviewed the latest version of the popular online document design platform to see how it compares today.
Canva PDF Editor: Pricing & plans
Generous and entirely free with only a few limits
Across the board, Canva costs nothing. It’s not just the PDF editor that’s gratis - you can also use the video editing software, photo editor, free logo designer, and a whole host of other digital design tools without opening your wallet, let alone breaking the bank.
It’s generous. But there are a few limitations on the free plan. Premium assets like stock photos and illustrations are locked behind a subscription.
Canva has three monthly/annual subscriptions, Pro, Teams, and Enterprise (the yearly plans are at least 16% cheaper than the monthly ones). Each unlock more tools like cloud storage, social media scheduling, and brand kits - ideal for maintaining consistent company colors and logos across multiple designs. There are also additional plans for those in academia. Pro is for individuals, Teams needs to include a minimum of three people, and you pay per seat, and Enterprise is a more bespoke plan, with uniquely tailored pricing.
With Canva PDF Editor, you have full editing control over the existing content of a PDF for free (Image credit: Canva)
Easy to use in almost every way
In order to start working on a PDF, you have to create an account with Canva (if you don’t already have one). Don't worry, just like the PDF service we’re exploring, doing this is free, and only takes a few minutes to perform. Once in, all you need do next is upload the file you wish to work on.
Creating a new PDF document through Canva's editor is different to, say, Adobe Acrobat (or the countless best Acrobat alternatives out there). Rather than setting you free on a blank canvas from the get-go, you’ll need to upload a file.
Once you’ve got your document uploaded, Canva will process it and transform it into an editable file. And it works far better than you might expect, capable of identifying images, text blocks, and backgrounds.
There’s very little you can’t modify at this point simply by clicking on the relevant component. Just to make it even easier, hover over any on-page element and a pink outline will let you know what can be edited, deleted, or moved in your PDF.
If you’d rather build a document from scratch, you can do this through the main Canva design app by creating an A4 canvas, using one of the many templates included, then exporting as a PDF. The design process, however, remains the same.
The PDF editor’s layout is more or less the same as with its graphic design software, and even the Canva Logo Maker and Canva Video Editor.
So, if you’re familiar with these, you should have no trouble getting started here. But even if this is a new platform for you, Canva is delightfully simple to use - it’s one of the key reasons it’s become a popular tool for businesses.
Tools line the left-hand panel. It’s here where you can select a new template, find new elements (in the PDF realm, this is mostly stock photos and vector graphics), upload your own media, and tweak background colors for all or individual pages.
Head down to the Apps category and you’ll find a host of useful extras. Want to connect your Google Drive or YouTube channel to the platform? This is where you’ll do it. It’s also where you can import media files from the likes of Box, Dropbox, and Google Photos.
Elsewhere, you’ll find a basic, but fun drawing tool that lets you - what else? - draw on your PDF files like it’s Microsoft Paint.
Notably, the section includes a QR code creator - the comeback kid of the tech world. Just add your URL and hit Generate QR Code. Just like everything else in Canva, these are customizable, with options to change both background and foreground colors to fit your brand and your PDF design.
Ultimately, the Apps category is pretty vast, and we recommend exploring it top to toe to find tools that’ll fit your workflow.
Interface & experience: 5/5
Canva PDF Editor: Editing & modifying
Drag and drop pretty much anything around the page to change the layout at will (Image credit: Canva)
Simple software for editing PDFs
Dragging and dropping is the name of the game in Canva PDF Editor. Once an element - be it a text box, image, or anything else - is added, you can get it into position simply by dragging it around the page.
Usefully, when moving elements, the tool adds invisible guidelines. This makes it incredibly easy to align blocks with each other or lock an element dead-center. So, even if you’re new to creating and modifying PDFs, you can walk away with a professional-looking document.
If you’re printing your PDF, you can also add margins and bleed lines to ensure you haven’t placed objects too close to the edge, thereby cutting off content.
To remove or edit existing content, click on an element. This reveals a small pop-up just above it, letting you add a comment (to engage in online collaboration), duplicate, or delete the element. Hit the three dots to that menu’s right to unfurl even more options, such as copy, paste, align and work with layered elements.
For even more efficiency, Canva PDF Editor supports keyboard shortcuts - the traditional ones you’re used to, such as copy, paste, duplicate, undo and redo work as expected, you can precisely move elements using the arrow keys, or select an element, hit delete and it’ll vanish.
It is quite remarkable the level of control you have over a PDF: usually, being able to alter the existing content of a document is relegated to the premium side of a service, but here, you can do it all for free.
Editing & modifying: 5/5
Canva PDF Editor: Tools
Insert new templates, elements, text boxes and more (Image credit: Canva)
Limited tools beyond PDF creation and editing
One of the features that sets top PDF editors apart are the inclusion of advanced tools like eSign software and OCR software. For example, Foxit PDF Editor is equipped with a powerful set of redaction tools - perfect for businesses that need to remain compliant with the raft of data security regulations and laws. The same goes for EaseUS PDF Editor, which has a massive range of professional editing tools.
And this is where Canva’s online PDF editor begins to show its (admittedly few) limitations. Since Canva is, first and foremost, a digital art tool, it doesn’t feature the usual bag of tricks you’ll find in dedicated editors.
Take PDF conversion as an example. Many platforms let you upload a file and convert it to another. That’s technically possible with Canva PDF Editor - but it’s a more complicated method than most, as you’ll upload a document or image file and download it as a PDF (and vice versa). But it’s not a true PDF converter. It lacks a range of output formats. Nor is it as efficient as other platforms because of this.
As such, it’s tailor-made for creating, say, marketing assets or admin forms (there’s even a Canva Forms tool for this specific purpose, with Typeform integration, too).
It's also remarkably easy to share files for review, simply by clicking the Share button, which is where you can also change the filetype and download your documents. However, it likely won’t suffice if, for example, you need to track the documents you send to others, check who’s signed them, and perform OCR on scanned documents.
Tools: 3/5
Canva PDF Editor: Scorecard
Should I buy?
Your export options are limited, especially if you wish to convert your PDF to another format (Image credit: Canva)
Buy it if…
You need a simple but powerful PDF editor to create new PDF documents or modify existing files.
Don’t buy it if…
You need an advanced PDF service with more collaborative tools, including signature tracking and OCR capabilities.
Canva PDF Editor: Alternatives
Adobe Acrobat, Foxit PDF Editor, EaseUS PDF Editor, and Nitro PDF Pro are great if you want extra power from your PDF editor.
Update: February 2024. Although it's no longer Rega's latest progeny – that would be the flagship September 2023-launch Rega Naia –the Planar PL1 is still the newest affordable deck from the revered UK firm. And most importantly, the 2021 proposition is still one of the best turntables on the market – because this is vinyl, not smartphone iterations. That said, for similar money today, you could get a more forward-thinking deck (see Victrola's record turntable with repeat function or the 2023 Victrola Stream Carbon which will work with your Sonos multi-room wireless setup) but for vinyl purists on a budget, the PL1 remains hard to beat. Take note though, its price rarely sees any discounts. If anything, its continued popularity is only sending the price one way, so if you find it retailing for even a fraction cheaper than the launch price, consider yourself extremely lucky… The rest of this review remains as previously published.
Rega Planar PL1: one-minute review
The Rega Planar PL1 is the latest version of an entry-level record player first introduced in 2005 – and this may be the best version yet, which is saying something. For very nearly 50 years now, Rega has been setting turntable standards – and at all price-points.
The Rega Planar PL1 is not a very luxurious item, no – paying out for this doesn't buy you something that looks deluxe. But everything about the Planar PL1 is fit for purpose, and where the real essentials are concerned, it’s worth every penny. The motor, bearings, tonearm and cartridge are all carefully designed and engineered, and the attention to detail here is apparent in the sound quality.
In almost every way, the Rega explains what it is people love about the best turntables as a way to enjoy music and, by extension, why vinyl has dodged the coffin all these years. It presents music as a unified, integrated whole, as a tangible performance rather than as a collection of individual strands or events. It does great work making rhythms and tempos feel natural, it extracts an awful lot of fine detail without getting uptight about it, and it has the sort of dynamic heft that can make your hair stand on end.
Not every turntable brand considers this sort of money to be ‘entry level’, it’s true. But if you want to know why vinyl is still a preoccupation for so many music-lovers, and if you perhaps want to be lured into a lifetime of tonearm adjustment, cartridge upgrades and vinyl subscription services, well… you know what to do.
This 'entry-level' Planar may just be Rega's best version yet (Image credit: Simon Lucas)
Rega Planar PL1 review: price and release date
Released in 2021
$595 / £299 / AU$645
This version of Rega Planar PL1 was released in 2021 (it's taken a few different forms since the P1 launch in 20005). In the United Kingdom it costs £299 or thereabouts. In America it’s a rather more prohibitive $595 or so, while in Australia you’ll need to part with AU$645.
No matter the territory in which you’re shopping, there’s no denying this is quite a lot of money for what the manufacturer blithely calls an ‘entry level’ turntable. But then not every manufacturer has the hard-won reputation of Rega.
Rega Planar PL1 review: Design
Matte white, black and walnut effect finishes
Well made and finished, with pre-fitted cartridge
Belt drive
‘Design’ is to overstate it somewhat, of course. Not much designing has gone on here – only the cheapest or the most expensive turntables try to do something other than follow the template that was set down three-quarters of a century ago. There’s a reason all turntables look like this, after all.
As an object, the Planar PL1 is perfectly fine. It’s properly made and quite nicely finished. But, as always with Rega, the bulk of your money is going on components and top-of-the-line engineering rather than on luxurious materials or other fripperies.
The plinth is now available in three different finishes, and no matter which one you choose, it stands on three quite assertive feet that provide both stability and vibration-rejection. There’s also an ‘on/off/ switch under here.
On top, the latest version of Rega’s well-regarded RB110 tonearm is pre-fitted with an equally capable Rega Carbon moving magnet cartridge. The arm features new low-friction bearings, automatic bias adjustment and, just to prove Rega isn’t as hair-shirted as you might imagine, an integrated clip for keeping the arm secure when it’s not in use.
The RB110 tonearm is pre-fitted with an equally capable Rega Carbon moving magnet cartridge. (Image credit: Simon Lucas)
Rega has fitted a synchronous motor with a reworked PCB and an aluminium pulley to drive the platter – technology that has trickled down from the company’s more expensive models. The platter itself is made from phenolic material, and is relatively high-mass, especially at the outside, in an effort to guarantee speed stability and assist the flywheel effect.
You might not expect much from the belt drive, but Rega has had just as much of a think about the rubber belt on this product as for the rest of the Planar PL1. The drive belt is moulded, cryogenically frozen, and then barrelled to ensure its cross-section is perfectly round. This is in an effort to provide accurate stability, too, and it apparently extends the lifespan of the belt by a margin at the same time.
The drive belt is moulded, cryogenically frozen, and then barrelled to ensure its cross-section is perfectly round. (Image credit: Simon Lucas)
Rega Planar PL1 review: Sound quality
Open and convincing soundstage
Good dynamic heft
Impressive detail levels
What sort of records do you own? What sort of music do you like? Whatever it might be, the Rega Planar PL1 likes it too.
Really, it doesn’t matter the vinyl you play, the PL1 relishes it all. In this test we slipped on everything from Simon & Garfunkel’s Bookends to Cosmogramma by Flying Lotus via Arrival by ABBA, all of which was easy to listen to – and that’s meant in the least pejorative, most positive sense.
The vinyl format hasn’t survived this long by accident. There are virtues to the way it presents music that make it the only way to listen, for some people at least, and the Rega Planar PL1 embodies all of them to a lesser or greater extent.
The soundstage it describes, for example, is open, well-defined and easy to understand. It locks individual elements of a recording securely, and it allows each contributor to a recording all the breathing space they need in order to express themselves. Yet it manages to do this without letting anything sound remote, or estranged, or in any way dislocated. Recordings are delivered with a unity and a coherence that makes the word ‘performance’ entirely appropriate.
It’s equally confident where tonality is concerned. Bass sounds are robust, properly textured and loaded with detail. Yes, some other turntables (inevitably more expensive than this) can give the low end a little more speed and momentum, but the PL1 is no slouch in this regard. At the opposite end of the frequency range, treble sounds are similarly detailed and so similarly articulate. Again, there could conceivably be even more sparkle to the sound, but don’t imagine the Rega is in any way dull or blunt. And in the midrange, which is where the action is for singers and so on, the PL1 is just as eloquent, just as information-rich and just as direct as it is elsewhere.
Integration through the frequency range is smooth and convincing, and the Rega has the sort of low-end positivity that allows rhythms good expression. It’s helped by the dynamic headroom that’s on offer here – the distance from the quietest moments of a recording to the most raucous is considerable – as well as the harmonic variations the turntable can identify and describe.
If we’re being picky (and we usually are), the PL1 is a little too ready to indulge lush or luxuriant recordings. The Simon & Garfunkel album, for example, can sound a little less perky than is ideal – the Rega seems seduced by the warmth of its sound. But let’s not get carried away, this is a minor shortcoming, one we mention really for no other reason than it doesn’t suit us to be utterly uncritical.
Update: February 2024. The H20 Audio Tri Multi-Sport headphones are still a great buy over a year on, even with the advent of a Pro model. Onboard storage and streaming options, a cheaper price from launch and bone-conduction tech, which hasn't really advanced much, means it's standing the test of time very well. The rest of the review remains as previously published.
H2O Audio Tri Multi-Sport: One-minute review
The H2O Audio Tri Multi-Sport Waterproof Open Ear Headphones are a contender for our best waterproof headphones guide. Thanks to their dual Bluetooth/flash memory, these headphones are so versatile you’ll only need the one set for all your workouts, whether underwater or not.
Fully waterproof, they have surprisingly good sound in most Bluetooth conditions and from the onboard 8GB flash drive for uninterrupted play while swimming. Bluetooth’s limitations in water mean you need both modes if you never want to be without sound. While you could jerry-rig a smartwatch to your swim cap or goggles, keep in mind you’ll need the two devices within three to four inches of each other.
As with most bone conduction headphones, they’re worn on the cheekbones – an improvement over the H2O Audio Sonar (one of our waterproof headphone picks) which need to be attached to swim goggles.
Our main quibble is that the control buttons sometimes need a couple of attempts to perform how we want rather than working on the first try. Of the three function buttons, the main button controls a lot, so you need to be very precise with how you hit it and how long you hold it. This should improve after the button design change in the next production run.
H2O Audio Tri Multi-Sport: Price and availability
How much does it cost? $149.99 (£128.00, AU$225.00)
Where is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US, the UK, and Australia
H2O Audio Tri Multi-Sport: SPECS
Interface: Bluetooth and onboard media player Battery life: 8-9 hours play time Storage: 8GB Audio formats: MP3, WMA, and Apple iTunes’ M4A Weight: 1.16 oz / 33g
Both on H2O Audio’s website and on Amazon, these versatile headphones are currently on sale at the time of writing. However, they retail at $149.99 (£128.00, AU$225.00). They’re manufactured in China and designed in San Diego, California. They ship internationally, though additional taxes and shipping fees vary by country.
It’s rare to find waterproof headphones, especially at this price, with both Bluetooth and onboard memory so you can have uninterrupted sound regardless of the conditions. For example, Shokz OpenSwim headphones have only an MP3 player (no Bluetooth) at a cost of $149.95. On sale for $89 (from $129) are the Bluetooth-only YouthWhisper SuperQ3 bone conduction headphones. While Zygo Solo headphones allow you to stream flawlessly from your phone underwater via an FM radio transmitter, it’ll cost you $299 and you need to bring extra gear to the pool.
Value: 4.5 / 5
(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
H2O Audio Tri Multi-Sport: Design
IPX8 waterproof rating means you can swim without worry
Stream via Bluetooth or from the onboard flash drive
8MB of storage of MP3, WMA and M4A files
The H2O Audio Tri Multi-sport Waterproof Open Ear Headphones have the maximum waterproofing rating – IPX8. That means they can withstand immersion in 12 feet (3.6 m) of water for an unlimited time (so you’ve lost one more excuse for cutting your workout short).
(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
Fairly typical for bone conduction headphones, these have two round transducers that sit below your temple, hooks that go over the top of each ear, and two rectangles that sit behind your ears with the controls and battery. The device is mostly black, though you have your choice of Caribbean blue, hot pink, or black for the band that wraps behind your neck. No need to worry if you expect to be tossed around in the waves, they come with a little rubber leash to secure them to swim goggles or a wetsuit zipper. For regular wear, you likely won’t need it – they stayed comfortably in place for us during a jog and while swimming laps.
(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
Charging the headphones and downloading files to the 8GB flash drive is through a compact proprietary cable that pairs four metal circles on each device via a magnet. While you can’t sub one of your dozens of other cords in, you don’t have to worry if water will seep into the charging port.
Once the cable connects your headphones to your computer, a window instantly pops up to transfer files. Our headphones arrived with two dozen songs already loaded, and we can attest that Janis Joplin belting out “Me and Bobby McGee” energizes for several extra laps in the pool. It’s easy to drag and drop whatever MP3, WMA, or M4A (iTunes) files you like into folders and organize them by type, workout, or however you like. Note that you can’t download files from subscription services like Spotify or Apple Music because they’re copyright protected (but you can stream them via Bluetooth).
(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
Three buttons manage the controls. With a click, two buttons raise or lower the volume; holding one skips to the next or previous track (or forward or back a few seconds on podcasts). In memory mode, a double click of a volume button skips to the next or previous folder. The main button turns power on and off, pauses and restarts play, and toggles between Bluetooth and memory. In memory mode, the main button also controls shuffle play and, in Bluetooth mode, answers calls as well as activates voice assistants.
The battery lasts eight to nine hours though playing at higher volumes will drain it more quickly. You’ll know your headphones are fully charged when their light turns from red to blue. A polite British lady announces the battery status when you turn the headphones on and she gives you an hour’s worth of periodic warnings when the battery level is low. She also confirms when you’ve toggled successfully between Bluetooth and memory modes.
Design: 5 / 5
(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
H2O Audio Tri Multi-Sport: Performance
Easy to download to the 8GB memory and organize files how you want
Great sound, though a bit bass-y underwater
Button controls can be a bit finicky
Because the H2O Audio Tri Multi-sport Waterproof Open Ear Headphones stream sound two ways, you only need this one set for all your sports needs. Overall, sound quality is quite good, especially for music and podcasts, though a bit echo-y for phone calls. In the air, both music and podcasts sounded great and were surprisingly rich, whether streaming by Bluetooth or from the flash drive. Underwater, podcasts’ sound quality was just as good as in the air. For music underwater, we would have liked more treble and less bass, but it wasn’t a deal breaker (and we were happy that the bass wasn’t so strong that our cheekbones vibrated, as with some other bone conduction headphones).
Because water blocks Bluetooth signals, sound did go in and out while swimming in Bluetooth mode when our head was even just a couple of inches below the surface. The headphones performed better at the end of the pool nearest where our phone was sitting and less well 60 feet away at the pool’s other end. Keep in mind that the headphones must be in Bluetooth mode to receive phone calls.
Swimming is why you want headphones with a built-in MP3 player. In memory mode, the sound was great and didn’t cut out at all whether we swam on the surface or dived to the bottom of our four-and-a-half-foot-deep lap pool.
Our biggest complaint is that the control buttons of the H2O Audio Tri Multi-sport are a bit finicky, especially the main button which controls play, pause, toggling between Bluetooth and memory modes, and a few other functions. Sometimes it took a few tries to get the device to do what we wanted; occasionally we gave up and just pulled out our phone to get the sound to restart rather than continue to try to hold the button for the exact right number of milliseconds. Now, most people won’t do the extent of toggling and control adjustments that we do during testing, but keep this in mind if you frequently want to skip ads, pause and restart play, or switch back and forth from Bluetooth to memory mode. In circumstances when your hands aren’t free (or dry) to use the controls on your phone, make sure you’ve downloaded enough podcasts or music to the flash drive so you don’t need to toggle and then don’t touch the controls once it’s playing how you like it.
We’re told that H2O Audio is updating the design for the next production run to make the control buttons bigger so that they’re easier to press. This is likely to reduce the problem significantly.
As with all bone conduction headphones, you’ll need to turn the sound up in noisy environments because, unless you also wear the supplied earplugs, nothing blocks your ears. The open-ear design is a safety advantage – you want to hear the cyclist or car zooming up behind you or if another swimmer is trying to pass. Unlike with other bone conduction headphones we’ve tried, there was very minimal sound bleed (and, phew, no complaints from the noise-sensitive person we share home and office space with).
The 8GB storage is a fairly standard size and generally means you can store 1500 to 2000 songs. Downloading files onto the headphones was drag-and-drop easy – our biggest challenge was finding MP3 podcasts and songs in a Bluetooth world.
Performance: 3.5 / 5
Should I buy the H2O Audio Tri Multi-Sport?
(Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)
Buy it if...
Don't buy it if...
Also consider
H2O Audio Tri Multi-Sport: Report card
First reviewed November 2022
How we test
We pride ourselves on our independence and our rigorous review-testing process, offering up long-term attention to the products we review and making sure our reviews are updated and maintained - regardless of when a device was released, if you can still buy it, it's on our radar.
• Original review date: November 2022
• Launch price: From $179.99 / £149.99 / AU$ n/a
• Official price now: From $150 / £120 / AU$ n/a
Update: March 2024. Vantrue's E1 dash cam remains one of the best compact-sized dash cams, ideal for small cars and unobtrusive placement. Despite its diminiutive dimensions, it packs 2.5K video and a neat magnetic mount setup and connection. You'll still find it in our best dash cams guide, although the market is starting to fill with other small dash cams, you're not short of choice here. Now it's been available for some time, it's worth looking out for the E1 on sale, especially during an Amazon Prime Day when we've seen some heavy discounts.
Vantrue E1: two-minute review
Available in black, red, and blue, the Vantrue E1 is a compact dash cam that features a 2.5K resolution Sony Starvis sensor, voice commands, and an included remote control for manually recording footage. If you're looking for a good-value car camera that has built-in GPS smarts and a magnetic mount, it's one of the best dash cams around.
The E1's magnetic windscreen mount sticks to your screen in the normal way, but then connects to the E1 with a magnet that also carries a data and power connection. That way, the mount is plugged into your car’s 12v socket (or with the optional hardwiring kit), and the camera can easily be removed – handy for taking the E1 into the house to transfer footage, or hiding it if you’re concerned about it being stolen.
The magnetic mount works really well and serves as a secure but convenient way to attach and detach the dash cam. We do wonder, though, if the camera would stay in place after a heavy rear impact.
There’s a second USB-C port on the camera itself. This isn’t for power and is instead for transferring footage to a computer. It’s great that Vantrue is using USB-C, as all too often we find dash cam companies use microUSB or even the aged mini USB connection, making video transfer a pain if you misplace the included cable.
(Image credit: TechRadar)
On the rear, there’s a tiny, 1.54-in display and the Vantrue E1's interface is navigated via three buttons on the bottom panel. The screen is just about large enough to help with installing the E1 in the right place, but after that, it serves as a distraction. Instead, you’re best going into the settings page of the Vantrue smartphone app, which connects to the camera via Wi-Fi and switching the display off. The same goes for a blinking green light that shows the E1 is recording.
There’s also an app for PC and Mac that shows precise locational and speed data captured with every video recording, thanks to the E1 having GPS. The app smartly shows exactly where you were on a map during each recording, along with movement on the X, Y, and Z axis of the E1’s G sensor.
(Image credit: TechRadar)
One thing to note with Vantrue’s Mac application is how we had to disable our Mac’s security to install the app, as it couldn’t be checked for malicious software. A Vantrue spokesperson said the company is arranging for its app to be available from Apple’s Mac App Store, but couldn’t offer a timeline for this.
Unusually, the Vantrue E1 comes bundled with a wireless remote control, which can be stuck to your dashboard and has two buttons for manually saving the most recent recording and turning the microphone on or off. Most drivers won’t need this, but if you drive a van or other vehicle with a tall windscreen, where the dash cam and its own buttons might be out of reach, the remote could be useful. Of course, the E1 also automatically saves recordings when it detects a collision.
By default, video is recorded in 2.5K, also known as 2592x1944. It can also record 2560x1440 with HDR, but both of these resolutions are limited to 30 frames per second. We preferred to use 1920x1080 because that is recorded at a smoother 60 frames per second, which retains more detail when paused or viewed slowly – in other words, when working out what caused a collision and who was at fault.
(Image credit: TechRadar)
Detailed footage is recorded day and night, with accurate colors and acceptable levels of noise when recording in low light. The E1 would surely benefit from the polarizing filter offered by Vantrue as an optional extra; this screws onto the 160-degree lens and should remove most of the dashboard reflections that partially obscured recordings made on a sunny day.
The voice recognition system is convenient for taking photos, saving footage, and controlling the Wi-Fi and microphone without pressing buttons or reaching for your phone. This currently works in English, Chinese, Japanese, and Russian.
A 12" memory foam mattress that comes in 2 firmness levels
Superb pressure relief can help alleviate aches and pains
Prone to trapping heat, despite its cooling tech
The Saatva Loom & Leaf mattress was introduced in 2015 as an affordable alternative to Tempur-Pedic's line of high-end beds – and despite a gradual price increase due to the cost of living crisis, it still is. The Loom & Leaf sits on the higher end of the mid-range bracket; a queen retails for around $2,300 for either a relaxed firm or firm feel. Fortunately, regular mattress sales knock up to $250 off.
The Saatva Classic holds the number one spot in our best mattress guide, so how does its all-foam counterpart stack up? We slept on a relaxed firm Loom & Leaf mattress for three weeks and found its most impressive feature to be its pressure relief. In fact, our lead reviewer experienced a marked improvement in her lower back pain as a result of sleeping on the Loom & Leaf, and it occupies a well-earned top position in our best mattress for back pain roundup.
This 12" mattress has a 5lb core of body-hugging memory foam plus multiple high-density foam layers for perfectly cushioned support, no matter your sleep position. The middle third of the mattress is reinforced with a gel-infused foam lumbar crown for lower back support to keep everything properly aligned.
Unlike the more buoyant Saatva Classic, you'll feel 'hugged' by the Loom & Leaf mattress. The quilted foam pillow top gives it an even plusher feel, which may turn off sleepers who like a firmer, flatter surface. It's also not designed to support sleepers weighing over 300lbs, so a hybrid like the Saatva Classic may be a better option there.
Still, the Loom & Leaf is a quality-made bed. Handcrafted in the USA, long-time customers praise its durability and long-lasting comfort. What's more, Saatva offers a lifetime warranty with the Loom & Leaf, which suggests the brand's confidence in the integrity of its materials and construction.
There are some cooling materials within – a 2in layer of perforated gel memory foam and a breathable cotton cover. Whilst we were comfortably dry during short-term naps, the Loom & Leaf is prone to trapping heat during longer stretches of sleep. We'd recommend a specialized cooling mattress over the Loom & Leaf is overheating is your primary sleep concern.
However, motion isolation here is excellent, which should appease sleepers who share a bed with a restless partner. Meanwhile, edge support falls somewhere in the middle of the scale, although we tested a twin-sized bed – we imagine larger sizes of the Loom & Leaf have more stable edges.
If your budget doesn't quite reach Tempur-Pedic proportions – but you can afford more than a Nectar or Tuft & Needle – the Loom & Leaf is a solid choice, especially if pain relief is your main priority; another alternative would be the Saatva Memory Foam Hybrid. Unlike most beds purchased online, the Loom & Leaf arrives flat and includes free in-home set-up. You'll also get a full year to trial it at home so you can test it throughout all seasons. (Just beware of a $99 return fee.)
Loom & Leaf mattress review: price & value for money
A queen Loom & Leaf mattress retails for $2,395
Regular sales knock between $200 and $250 off
Includes white glove delivery but returns cost $99
The Loom & Leaf mattress sits in the higher bracket of the mid-range market, even with steadily-growing MSRPs. A queen now retails for $2,395, which is a $200 increase from when we tested it in November 2022. Fortunately, regular Saatva mattress sales knock between $200 and $250 off list prices, and there are Saatva coupons available too so it it should always be possible to save.
Here's the official pricing for the Loom & Leaf mattress:
Twin MSRP: $1,195
Twin XL MSRP: $1,575
Full MSRP: $2,295
Queen MSRP: $2,395
King MSRP: $2,745
Cal King MSRP: $2,745
Split King MSRP: $3,150
Split Cal King MSRP: $3,150
Standard with every handcrafted Loom & Leaf mattress is in-room delivery and setup, with the option to remove your existing mattress if needed. Also included is a 1-year mattress trial plus a lifetime warranty – each an industry-best amenity. However, you'll be on the hook for a $99 returns fee if you want to send it back.
The Loom & Leaf was introduced as an affordable alternative to Tempur-Pedic's prestigious line of NASA-developed mattresses. Even in light of rising costs due to inflation, that's still the case today. A queen Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Adapt mattress retails from $2,749 and comes with much shorter trial and warranty periods (90 nights and 10 years, respectively).
A closer competitor to the Loom & Leaf is the GhostBed Luxe, a luxury foam cooling mattress. It's a cheaper option upfront thanks to frequent sales of 50% off (a queen GhostBed Luxe is currently marked down to $1,485). However, GhostBed offers 101 nights to try it out, compared to a full-year trial with the Loom & Leaf.
During Saatva's Black Friday mattress sale, we saw queen-sized Loom & Leaf mattress drop to $1,795 after $400 off – not all that close to the $1,499 we were hoping for. However, ongoing supply chain issues have contributed to a rise in retail prices across the industry; thus, it's unlikely we'll see prices that low any time soon, although we have an eye on the upcoming 4th of July mattress sales for some worthwhile Saatva savings.
See the Loom & Leaf mattress at Saatva If you have regular backaches or sore joints, the Loom & Leaf's superb pressure relief will be a godsend. You won't have to worry about hauling this heavy foam mattress into your room, either, as white glove delivery comes standard. Choose from either a relaxed firm or firm feel, depending on the level of support you need. A lifetime warranty applies, and you'll have a full year to trial it at home – just beware of the $99 fee if you elect to send it back.View Deal
Loom & Leaf mattress review: design & materials
A 12-inch foam mattress with six layers and 2 level of firmness
The top three layers focus on lumbar support and temp regulation
The bottom half of the bed is built for all-body support and stability
The 12-inch Loom & Leaf mattress features six layers. The first three layers focus on providing lower back support and cooling, whilst the bottom three layers emphasize all-body support and stability.
It's topped by a tufted cover made from breathable organic cotton. Below that are two layers of gel-infused foam for cooling. There's a thin strip across the middle third of the bed for specialized lumbar support, followed by a 2-inch layer of perforated foam that takes up the whole length of the mattress.
(Image credit: Saatva)
The second half of the Loom & Leaf mattress features a 2.5-inch foam core for that body-hugging feel found among the best memory foam mattresses. Directly underneath that is a 2-inch layer of transitional foam that determines how firm the mattress will be. A 5.5-inch base of support foam helps keep everything in place.
The Loom & Leaf's cotton cover is treated with a botanical antimicrobial treatment that's meant to limit the growth of bacteria and allergens. However, investing in one of the best mattress protectors will help prolong the lifespan of the mattress by safeguarding it against spills and bed bugs.
(Image credit: Future)
The Loom & Leaf is a beautifully-made handcrafted mattress. However, we did spot were a few stray threads in the stitching – a possible byproduct of each mattress being hand-sewn. However, this didn't impact performance either way, and we were able to carefully remove the threads.
Saatva includes a lifetime warranty with its Loom & Leaf mattress, which indicates that the brand has a lot of faith in the integrity of its product.
Loom & Leaf mattress review: firmness & comfort
Comes in either relaxed firm or firm
We tested a relaxed firm and rate it a 7 out of 10 firmness
Suits all sleep styles but some might find it too plush
The Loom & Leaf mattress is available in either a relaxed firm or firm feel. We tested a relaxed firm mattress and rate it a 7 out of 10 on the firmness scale. That skews on the higher end of Loom & Leaf's self-assessment (5-7 out of 10). Meanwhile, the firm version of the Loom & Leaf mattress is rated an 8 out of 10 on the firmness scale.
Per Saatva, a relaxed firm Loom & Leaf mattress suits all sleep styles – and based on our experience, we're inclined to agree. In addition to our lead reviewer, we had six individuals of varying body types and sleep preferences try the Loom & Leaf mattress. Regardless of their weight, stature, or dominant sleep position, every one of our testers found it cozy and supportive in all the right places, with very little required needed to break it in.
The Loom & Leaf's reinforced middle-third relieves pressure in the lumbar and pelvis without too much sinkage, which benefited our stomach and back sleepers. Meanwhile, our side sleepers felt the mattress contour to their shoulders, hips, and knees almost immediately. Combination sleepers liked how quick the mattress was to adapt to their shifting positions.
(Image credit: Future)
Whilst everyone in our testing group found the Loom & Leaf cozy, those who are accustomed to sleeping on a firmer bed found the quilted pillow top a bit too plush for their liking. Conversely, participants who sleep on a softer mattress at home acknowledged the Loom & Leaf was firmer than what they're used to but still plush enough for them to rest comfortably.
Our lead tester found it led to a marked improvement in her back pain. Since we first reviewed this mattress, Saatva has added a more luxurious mattress for back pain to its lineup – head to our Saatva RX mattress review for more on that.
The Saatva Loom & Leaf mattress is best suited for sleepers who weigh 300lbs or less, regardless of firmness. (Nobody on our testing panel exceeds that max weight.) Thus, larger bodies will want to go for a mattress that's built to sufficiently support them. One of our favorites, the hybrid DreamCloud Mattress, is excellent for this.
Loom & Leaf mattress review: performance
(Image credit: Future)
Sleepers with back pain will benefit from excellent pressure relief
Very low motion transfer makes it great for co-sleepers
Prone to trapping heat so it doesn't always sleep cool
We put a twin relaxed firm Loom & Leaf mattress through its paces for three weeks, which is the average time it takes for most bodies to adjust to a new bed. Areas of performance we evaluated include pressure relief, motion isolation, temperature regulation and edge support.
In addition to feedback from our lead reviewer and six additional testers, we've also analyzed hundreds of user reviews from verified Loom & Leaf customers to provide a complete look at what it's like to sleep on this luxury memory foam mattress. Here's what we discovered...
Pressure relief
To test the pressure relief of the Loom & Leaf mattress, we placed a 56lb kettlebell in the center of the mattress – as well as slightly off center, closer to where one's knees would lay. This allowed us to compare the level of support between its reinforced lumbar crown and the rest of the mattress.
The mattress compressed by roughly three inches when we dropped the 56lb weight in the dead center of the mattress. There wasn't as much give when the kettlebell was moved off-center – about two inches there. In either scenario, the mattress quickly returned to form without any obvious impressions on the surface once we removed the weight.
Our human testers praised the Loom & Leaf mattress for its superb pressure relief – especially our average-sized lead reviewer, who is recovering from a lower back injury. Despite being a natural side/front sleeper, she found the most comfort whilst lying on her back. Thanks to the Loom & Leaf's concentrated lumbar support, she no longer wakes up in any significant pain.
(Image credit: Future)
As for the rest of our back sleepers, they felt well-supported throughout – but especially in their lumbar. The reinforced middle also helped our stomach sleepers remain properly aligned without any significant dips in the pelvic area. The side sleepers of our group noted how soft the Loom & Leaf felt along their hips and shoulders. Our combination sleepers liked how quickly the bed adapted to their movements.
All of our testers experienced a 'sink-in' feeling – albeit some more than others. Though everyone was generally comfortable resting on the Loom & Leaf, the taller members of our group (5ft9in and above) said they sank too deeply into the mattress after a few moments. However, the majority of our group (5ft7in and below) said it felt more form-fitting than anything.
If you're not keen on the sink-in feel of a memory foam mattress, check out the firm version of the Saatva Classic. Like its all-foam sibling, this hybrid bed has a tufted top but with a more subtle contouring of the joints.
Pressure relief score: 4.5 out of 5
Motion isolation
Since a twin mattress is only designed to comfortably accommodate one person, we conducted a series of drop tests using a 10lb weight and an empty wine glass.
We dropped the weight about 25in away from the glass to simulate three scenarios: a partner switching positions in bed (4in high), a partner getting in or out of bed (8in high), and a partner jumping in our out of bed (12in high).
(Image credit: Future)
The wine glass stayed in place after the 4in drop, suggesting you won't be disturbed if your partner tosses and turns. There was a very slight jiggle after the 8in drop but again, nothing to suggest your sleep will be interrupted if your partner wakes up earlier than you do.
The most movement we detected was following the 12in drop – a slight jiggle of the wine glass. However, we don't believe a sleeping human will be terribly bothered by their partner jumping in or out of bed when sleeping on this mattress.
Our verdict: the Loom & Leaf mattress is an excellent choice for couples who share a bed with a restless partner or operate on varying schedules. Low motion transfer is a hallmark of many memory foam beds, and this is no exception.
Motion isolation score: 4.5 out of 5
Temperature regulation
The Loom & Leaf isn't a proper cooling mattress, but it does feature a 2in layer of gel-infused perforated memory foam and an organic cotton cover to draw away body heat. Plus, the memory foam lumbar crown is infused with cooling gel to help improve circulation in the lower back.
Our testing panel slept comfortably dry when taking short naps. However, our lead tester had a handful of nights when which she woke up slightly sweaty. Bear in mind we tested this mattress during a change in seasons from warm to cool, sleeping on a set of lightweight poly-cotton sheets with a mid-weight comforter.
(Image credit: Future)
Relative to other full-foam mattresses our head reviewer has slept on, the Loom & Leaf falls somewhere in the middle when it comes to temperature regulation. If you overheat at night, a mattress that's designed specifically to address that concern may be your best bet.
Memory foam is known to trap heat, but fortunately there are specially-designed foam beds with cooling tech that will allow you to stay dry without sacrificing that 'hugging' feeling. A couple of memory foam cooling mattresses we could recommend the Nectar Premier Copper and the Cocoon by Sealy Chill.
Temperature regulation score: 3.5 out of 5
Edge support
To test the edge support of the Loom & Leaf mattress, we placed a 56lb kettlebell on the edge of the mattress, in the middle of the perimeter. The edge compressed by about two inches and the top layer bulged slightly – thought it quickly returned to form when we removed the weight.
We also had our human testers sit on the edge of the mattress –on either corners and in the center perimeter. Reactions were mixed here. Most of our panel felt well supported whilst sitting on the corners, but not as much when we moved toward the middle of the bed. Overall, it was comfortable enough for us to get up out of bed without sinking too deeply into the mattress – a plus for those of us with injuries. who need to take our time getting in or out of bed.
(Image credit: Future)
It's important to note that memory foam mattresses aren't typically renowned for their superior edge support. (Although there are outliers, like the budget-priced Siena Memory Foam mattress.) Much like its temperature regulating properties, the Loom & Leaf's edge support falls somewhere in the middle relative to other memory foam mattresses our head tester has tried.
We're also going to consider the possibility of the Loom & Leaf featuring more reinforced edges with its larger sizes. One may believe that edge support on a twin bed isn't as much of a priority compared to a queen or king; however, we feel it's an important factor regardless of size.
Edge support score: 3 out of 5
Loom & Leaf mattress review: Customer experience
Free white glove delivery as standard, optional free old mattress removal
Very long trial and warranty
Fee for returns
There was very little we had to do on our part when it came to setting up our Loom & Leaf mattress. We just had to confirm the best date and time for the drivers to come by and set up the mattress.
Saatva partners with a local logistics company to send a couple of crew members to deliver and unwrap the mattress – as well as place it on your frame or foundation. The Loom & Leaf mattress arrives flat, not compressed and vacuum-sealed in a box like most mail-order mattresses. We were able to lay on it almost immediately after set-up.
Our lead reviewer is recovering from a lower back injury, so she was appreciative of this complimentary white glove delivery, especially since a twin Loom & Leaf mattress weighs 61lbs. Meanwhile, a queen is 93lbs and a king is a hulking 116lbs.
There's also free removal of your existing mattress if you need it; just make sure to select this option at checkout. Since we had already donated our previous mattress to a friend, we had no need for this service.
Foam mattresses are prone to off-gassing, which emits a 'chemical' scent that's otherwise harmless. The Loom & Leaf is no exception. Although it didn't arrive vacuum-sealed in a box, we still noticed an obvious smell emanating from the mattress. Cracking a window after 30 minutes helped dissipate this odor, and it was hardly noticeable by the time we went to sleep later that night.
Like most of the best memory foam mattresses, Saatva uses CertiPUR-US-certified foam in its Loom & Leaf mattress.
Customer experience score: 4.5 out of 5
Loom & Leaf mattress specs
Loom & Leaf mattress: customer reviews
Our 7-member testing panel features individuals of various heights, weights, and sleep preferences – but it's still a small sample size. Thus, we analyzed user reviews for the Loom & Leaf from the Saatva website, the only outlet from which this bed can be purchased.
The Loom & Leaf mattress has a near-flawless 4.9 stars out of 5 from almost 600 reviews as of November 2022. Reviews can be filtered by rating and whether there are images attached. Fortunately, the built-in search is quite intuitive, so it's possible to find what you're most interested in knowing about this mattress.
The 5-star ratings make up almost 95% of all customer reviews. A lot of the most helpful positive comments come from sleepers who say sleeping on the Loom & Leaf mattress helped reduce or eliminate their aches and pains. Several couples have sung their praises for the high level of motion isolation.
Negative feedback is few and far between for the Loom & Leaf. The most common theme among the less-than-stellar reviews is the level of perceived firmness being too hard, although it's not always clear which firmness level those customers tried.
Because we only tested it for three weeks, we also scoured the customer reviews for feedback from long-time users, to get some idea of how durable this mattress might be. The consensus among consumers who have owned their Loom & Leaf mattress for at least two years is overwhelmingly positive. They report no obvious indentations or sagging and feel it's as comfortable as the first weeks they slept on it.
Should you buy the Loom & Leaf mattress?
For most sleepers with back pain or joint pain, we highly recommend the Loom & Leaf mattress for its superb pressure relief (especially along the lumbar) and all-around support. Plus, the complimentary white glove delivery will save you the hassle of possibly trying to maneuver such a heavy mattress on your own, saving you from further injury.
No matter your sleep style, the relaxed firm Loom & Leaf mattress should provide you with the right blend of comfort and support. Back and stomach sleepers may want to opt for the firm option for a more subtle give. Regardless of firmness level, the Loom & Leaf mattress has a quilted pillow top that'll satisfy sleepers who enjoy the 'hug' of foam.
If you sleep warm, the Loom & Leaf might not always provide the temperature regulation you need as it's prone to trapping heat overnight. For an all-foam cooling model, we recommend the Cocoon by Sealy Chill mattress. It's one of the least expensive name-brand beds that's also among the best cooling mattresses on the market.
The Loom & Leaf mattress sits at the high end of the mid-range market but it's an affordable alternative to a Tempur-Pedic mattress if you're seeking pain relief. Plus, you'll receive a 1-year trial, a lifetime warranty, and complimentary in-home set-up. You may pay more upfront for a Loom & Leaf than a Nectar or Tuft & Needle memory foam mattress, but you'll likely save in the long term since the quality of Loom & Leaf's build and materials will mean not having to replace it as often.
