March, 2023 - Organizer

Google Pixel Watch costs $123 to make, new report shows

1:46 am | March 3, 2023

Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Tags: Google Pixel Watch | Comments: Off

Google launched its Pixel Watch last year and priced it from $349 in the US. But just how much does it cost the company to make the smartwatch? A new report today from Counterpoint Research focuses on exactly that. The in-depth analysis reveals that the total Bill of Materials (BoM) for the Pixel Watch amounts to $123. That number doesn't include R&D and marketing costs, bear in mind. Samsung is the primary financial beneficiary, netting around 20% of the BoM cost for itself, thanks to the supply of the chipset, LTE transceiver for the LTE-capable model, as well as "other paired...

Google Pixel Watch costs $123 to make, new report shows

1:46 am |

Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Tags: Google Pixel Watch | Comments: Off

Alienware AW720H review: experience immersive hi-res gaming through sound

1:00 am |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets | Tags: PC | Comments: Off

Alienware AW720H: Two-minute review

The Alienware AW720H is finally putting Alienware on the peripherals map. The gaming brand might not be a newbie in the gaming headset world, but while it's already established itself a major player in the gaming PC and gaming laptop game, it has always kind of sat on the side lines of the peripherals market.

Its new wireless gaming headset is changing that, coming in strong with hi-res audio that instantly elevates your listening experience, whether it's a new PC game you're immersing yourself in or the latest blockbuster to come out on streaming. And, while that crisp and detailed audio is enough to convince me, the addition of Dolby Audio support rounds it out beautifully, making it among the best that have ever pumped audio into my ears.

Naturally, it comes with that coveted-but-never-replicated Alienware design stamp. If you've ever owned or seen an Alienware laptop or PC, then you'll know immediately what I mean when I say that the Alienware AW720H fits right in. Putting it next to my own Alienware laptop makes it look like its offspring, which is cool if you're as big of a fan as I am of the brand.

Alienware AW720H on a desk — (Image credit: Future / Michelle Rae Uy)

It's got that same sleek and rounded space-age vibe, the same RGB-lit alien logo, the same Lunar Light colorway (though it also comes in Dark Side of the Moon as well). The ear cups have a unique shape to them, which I do appreciate and look like if K-2SO from Rogue One and one of the battle droids from The Phantom Menace had babies, and the memory foam ear pads with a breathable fabric cover keeps things cool and comfortable during intense game sessions.

If you tend to sweat while playing, you'll appreciate that fabric cover, even if you're missing out on the luxuriously plush leatherette finish that many high-end gaming headsets come with.

That comfort extends to the headband that comes with its own adjustable suspension band, which I find effective at keeping the pressure off your head and keeps things nice and airy.

I do, however, wish that the design suited those with smaller heads like mine better. In an effort to make the Alienware AW720H fit most gamers, Alienware has also inadvertently made it a little too big. Because there's plenty of space where my head should be, I find that I have to drag the suspension band lower, which then puts a lot more space between my head and the headband, which in turn makes it look weird on me.

Still, there's lot here to make me love the headset enough to risk me looking like I'm cosplaying as Princess Leia. I love the voice prompts that tell you things like when your mic is on or when the headset is powering down. And I appreciate the albeit minimal app support that let's you (1) customize the RGB lighting on the alien logo, and (2) customize the audio and toggle surround sound.

The surround sound customizations are done on the Dolby Access app, which you do have to enable and access on the Alienware Command Center. It gives you five surround sound presets for different types of media, each with its own finetuning such as the EQ preset options (i.e. you can choose the game preset then pick between "detailed," "balanced," "warm," or "off" EQ). There are also three customizable options where you can enable surround sound, volume leveling, and adjust a 10-band EQ.

The preset EQ options in the app are subtle enough that some listeners may have trouble distinguishing between them. But, they are still very useful if you prefer your audio to have a little more clarity or a little more mid-range.

The Dolby Atmos surround sound is nicely implemented. When on, I can feel everything expanding, sounding wider and more three dimensional. While the sound quality isn't as sharp or detailed, the good news is that it doesn't sound hazy like most virtual surround sounds.

At default, however, the Alienware AW720H already sounds fantastic. In Hogwarts: Legacy, I get a great sense of space because of its nice wide soundstage even without Dolby Atmos enabled. There's also very accurate imaging; I can feel the different elements in the environment and where they are in relation to my own movements.

In Kena: Bridge of Spirits, there's a lot of bass and I can hear all the small elements - each of the rot spirits, for example - individually. The audio is very detailed and very crisp, adding to my immersion.

There is something weird going on with the bass. When watching Wakanda Forever: Wakanda Forever and Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, I find that anything that's deep sub-bass is just not there and anything that's not true bass isn't artificially pumping up the low end. However, those that are in the low frequencies above the sub-bass are pretty prominent. This means that your experience with the bass will vary depending not just on the media itself but also the different frequencies used in individual titles.

The mid range does have a little bit of a boost, making it a little richer-sounding. Some might prefer it to be a little less full, but the way it is on the AW720H is already pretty good. The volume is well-controlled. There's plenty of volume for use, but you’ll probably have to turn it up all the way.

There's also a lot of battery on tap - 30 hours, more specifically. And, fast-charging is on hand should you forget to charge, giving you about six hours of gameplay after 15 minutes of charging. In fact, I haven't charged my test unit once during my time with it after that initial full charge.

And, finally, the mic... This boom mic that cleverly retracts into the left ear cup when not in use sounds loud and clear, though a little compressed and mid-range heavy, which is typical for many boom mics. While there's little bit of sibilance, it's pretty good at minimizing plosives.

Unfortunately, it has no background noise rejection so louder sounds around you will be heard clearly by folks on the other side of that call. Though background noise do get slightly quieter when user is speaking, it’s still prominent enough to be distracting.

Alienware AW720H: Price & availability

How much does it cost? $159.99 (about £160 / AU$235)
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia

At $159.99 (about £160 / AU$235), the Alienware AW720H wireless gaming headset may not be cheap, but it is competitively priced, sitting in the same price range as other top-quality wireless gaming headsets and is cheaper than some of the higher-end ones.

Its price is comparable to the highly-rated SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Wireless, which boasts solid neutral sound quality and plenty of customizations via the Sonar app, while slightly pricier than the Corsair HS65 Wireless, which has an incredibly immersive soundstage and long-range connectivity.

Alienware AW720H: Specs

Should you buy the Alienware AW720H?

Buy it if...

You want an affordable hi-res gaming headset
The Alienware AW720H delivers impressive, highly detailed audio and an immersive soundstage for less than you'd expect.

You need both style and substance
It boasts that Alienware stamp, which means it looks just as good as it sounds.

Don't buy it if...

You're penny-pinching
It's affordable, but it's not what I would consider budget. If you're on a tight budget, there are cheaper options.

You need a mic with background noise rejection
While its mic sounds clear and crisp, it doesn't do a good job of rejecting background noise.

Alienware AW720H: Also consider

How I tested the Alienware AW720H

One-week testing
Tested for PC gaming and streaming

I put the Alienware AW720H through rigorous testing of playing PC games and streaming blockbusters to really what its surround sound and hi-res audio are made of. I chose, for example, Kena: Bridge of Spirits to see just how detailed the headset's high frequencies are since the game has a lot of environmental noises that typically shine with hi-res audio devices, and Hogwarts: Legacy to check just how wide its soundstage and how accurate its imaging is, especially with Dolby Atmos enabled. I also put on Wakanda Forever and Glass Onion to test its bass frequencies.

I also played around with the Alienware Command Center and the Dolby Atmos app to gauge the level of customizations available to users and the differences among the sound profiles and modes on hand. Naturally, since they're just as important as sound quality, I also gave special attention to its fit, comfort, and battery life.

I've been testing gaming headsets, headphones, and other audio devices for years, writing reviews for several tech publications, including TechRadar, before I joined the team as a TechRadar Editor.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed March 2023

Corsair K70 RGB OPX review: the optical-mechanical keyboard to beat

9:25 pm | March 2, 2023

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets | Tags: RGB | Comments: Off

Corsair K70 RGB OPX: One-minute review

The Corsair K70 RGB OPX can easily be considered one of the best gaming keyboards for its price and overall performance. It's a full-size board, complete with 105 keys and a dedicated media bar that plugs in through USB-C.

Unlike some mechanical gaming keyboards, this version of the K70 opts for proprietary microswitches, which use a hybrid of mechanical and optical for a lightweight feel that's quieter than standard switches and far more accurate than membrane.

With its high polling rate and Doubleshot keycaps, there's a premium feel to the Corsair K70 RGB OPX for its sub-$200 / £200 / AU$300 price point. It performs above its station as a gaming keyboard that looks a little different and feels substantially better than many others I've used over the years for a similar rate.

Corsair K70 RGB OPX: Price and Availability

How much does it cost? $179.99 / £179.99 / AU$299
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US, the UK, and Australia

Corsair K70 Pro RGB OPX: Specs

Layout: Full
Switch: Proprietary Corsair
Programmable keys: Yes
Dimensions: 440 x 166 x 40 mm
RGB or backlighting: Yes

The Corsair K70 Pro RGB OPX gaming keyboard aligns itself somewhere in the middle of Corsair's gaming keyboard range. At $179.99 / £179.99 / AU$299, it's far from one of the best budget gaming keyboards but isn't quite as expensive as the flagship models such as the Corsair K100 RGB, which retails around 20% more.

If you're solely interested in one of the best mechanical gaming keyboards then you may want to turn your attention to the similarly priced Corsair K70 RGB Pro, which is available with the standard click-clack you would hope for. The closest possible competitor for the Corsair K70 Pro RGB OPX would be the Razer Huntsman V2, which is available with a similar optical-mechanical setup for around $10 / £10 / AU$20 more.

Value: 4 / 5

Corsair K70 Pro OPX — (Image credit: Future)

Corsair K70 RGB OPX: Design

Available in black and white
Comes with a dedicated wrist rest
PBT DOUBLE SHOT PRO Keycaps

My particular Corsair K70 RGB OPX review unit came in the white colorway that certainly stands out from the sea of black gaming keyboards available. It's a full-size gaming keyboard with a dedicated media roller as well as media keys on the top right. As expected, there's iCue RGB lighting that can be dimmed with a specific button to be as bright as you like when gaming.

The aluminum frame is one of the stronger-feeling backboards so you should be catered to here if you're a particularly heavy typer or like to pound the keys when playing games. The keyboard connects through a braided USB-C cable, which doesn't drag or pull.

The Corsair K70 RGB OPX has an 8,000Hz polling rate with Full-key anti-ghosting for smooth rollover. The brand describes its proprietary switches as "hyper fast key switches" that are unique to the board. There's an actuation distance of just 1mm and 150 million guaranteed keystrokes on the PBT Doubleshot Pro keycaps.

There's also a generously sized magnetic wrist rest in the matching white colorway.

Design: 4.5 / 5

Corsair K70 RGB OPX: Performance

Quiet operation
8,000 Hz polling rate
Dedicated media bar

I've been using the Corsair K70 RGB OPX as my main keyboard for work and gaming for around three months now. As my first experience with an optical-mechanical keyboard, after previously being dedicated to the Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini, the initial difference in feel took a while to get accustomed to.

You're getting the same level of precision and satisfaction with key presses, but losing the riotous thunder of a firm and tactile clickiness. If you want to keep your noise levels down when working, you'll love how this gaming keyboard feels.

Gaming on the Corsair K70 RGB OPX feels great. Over the summer and winter months, I've played everything from Battlefield 2042 and Overwatch 2 to Cruelty Squad for my FPS fix. As someone who writes professionally for a living, having a high-end keyboard with satisfying action without the noise has been instrumental, and the hundreds of articles I've written with it are a testament to that.

It's going to be difficult to return to a regular mechanical gaming keyboard, even when previously yellow and green switches were my ride-or-die for the better part of a decade.

Performance: 5 / 5

Should I buy the Corsair K70 RGB OPX?

Buy if...

Don't buy if...

Corsair K70 Pro RGB OPX: Report card

First reviewed February 2023

How I tested the Corsair K70 Pro RGB OPX

I've been using Corsair K70 Pro RGB OPX as my main gaming keyboard since September 2022. In that time, I've played a vast array of different games and also written over a hundred articles with it, too.

Design Details

Each G3 series model provides four HDMI 2.1 (48Gbps bandwidth) ports and supports 4K 120Hz, VRR, FreeSync Premium, and Nvidia G-Sync for gaming. A Game Optimizer on-screen menu lets users easily switch between game genre presets, including a new customizable User option. According to LG, G3 OLEDs are also the first sets to be certified by the HDMI organization for Quick Media Switching Variable Refresh Rate (QMS-VRR), a feature designed to eliminate the "black screen" that can pop up when switching between different HDMI-connected sources.

G3 models will also be outfitted with an ATSC 3.0 tuner for pulling in over-the-air next-gen digital broadcasts in the US.

LG’s "ultra-seamless One Wall Design'' for the G3 models lets them be wall-mounted with no visible gap, and the sets are constructed from a new, lightweight composite fiber material (83-inch model excepted). They also feature Super Anti Reflective technology to reduce screen glare and come with a five-year panel warranty to ease owners' anxiety about OLED screen burn-in, though part of the LG G3 presentation I attended was dedicated to explaining how its WOLED (white plus red, green, and blue pixels) tech is less prone to that issue than competing QD-OLED tech.

A new feature of the webOS 23 smart interface found on G3 models is a Quick Settings menu that provides quick onscreen access to frequently used adjustments (contrast and brightness for example) and also lets users edit the settings located within. Another new feature is Quick Cards, which provides easy access to apps and settings for categories such as Music, Sports, Smart Home, and Home Office. That last Quick Card option will be a good fit for LG's new optional Smart Cam, which can be used for video chats and meetings.

Along with AI Sound Pro, audio features of the G3 series include integration with the company's soundbars, which support Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and IMAX Enhanced. WOW Orchestra combines an LG soundbar's output with the TV's built-in speakers to widen the soundstage – something it does very effectively in a demo I heard of it – and WOWCAST uses Wi-Fi to make a wireless audio connection between the TV and an external device.

LG OLED TV smort onscreen interface showing new Quick Settings menu — LG's new Quick Settings menu for its 2023 TVs. (Image credit: Future)

Eyes-on with the LG G3 OLED TV

LG's briefing and viewing session arrayed a 65-inch G3 model alongside the company's G2 OLED, Samsung's S95B QD-OLED, and Sony's A95K QD-OLED (all 2022 models). Each TV was set to its default Filmmaker mode (except for the Sony, which was set to Custom mode) according to the LG rep who conducted the demo.

The comparison started out with a screening of the montage section from the Spears & Munsil UHD HDR Benchmark, with the disc's 4,000 nits option selected. Along with those clips from the S&M montage, LG also screened some of its own test material mastered at 2,000 nits that was designed to stress-test a TV's HDR tone mapping capability.

In each sequence I viewed, the G3 had both better peak and overall brightness than the other three TVs in the comparison. A full white screen test pattern also showed the G3 to have superior white uniformity, something the company attributed to the TV's MLA tech.

The G3's HDR tone mapping of high peak luminance clips was also better than last year's G2 – that new OLED Dynamic Tone Mapping Pro in action – and a significant improvement on what could be seen on both the Samsung and Sony QD-OLED screens. A clip that showed sunlight reflected on the surface of water made for a compelling demonstration of the new G3's capabilities, with highlights showing a wide range of detail that was absent on the G2, and all but obliterated on the two QD-OLED TVs.

LG G3 OLED TV with other TVs showing test pattern — LG used test patterns designed to show each set's ability to display colors at very low brightness levels. (Image credit: Future)

Ramp patterns mastered at a low brightness level designed to test a TV's ability to display dark colors also showed the G3 to advantage, with the new LG OLED easily showing red, green, and blue hues descending from dark to near-black. On the Samsung and Sony QD-OLED TVs, these same dark ramp patterns had a pale, washed out appearance.

Another observation I had when viewing both video clips and test patterns in LG's comparison was that the new G3 excelled in delivering light colors in image highlights, performing notably better than last year's competition and the company's own G2 in that respect. It also showed a higher degree of picture detail without coming across as unnaturally crisp or enhanced. These advantages are most likely due to LG's new α9 Gen6 AI Processor, which is only found on the company's 2023 G3, LG C3, and Z3 8K models.

LG G3 OLED TV in dark room side by side with other TVs showing colorful image onscreen — A test of video upscaling on all four TVs used in LG's demo. (Image credit: Future)

Is LG's new G3 series OLED as good as the company makes it out to be? Given what I saw in LG's comprehensive demo and comparison, it would be hard to argue that it doesn’t crush the existing OLED TV competition. Then again, it was a controlled demo conducted by LG with no hands-on component, so it's impossible to say if the G3 is as demonstrably superior to current models on the market as it appeared to be. It will also face tough competition this year from the Samsung S95C and Sony A95L QD-OLED models, both of which will arrive with improved brightness among other enhancements.

Any final G3 conclusion will come with our own full review, so stay tuned to read that in the near future.

Revised OnePlus Nord CE 3 specs leak: 6.72″ 120Hz display, Snapdragon 782G

7:02 pm |

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

Recently, there was some confusion about the upcoming OnePlus Nord 3 with two conflicting reports on its features. The new CE model wasn’t spared from this uncertainty either – leaked AIDA64 screenshots revealed some specs back in January, but now there is a new report on the OnePlus Nord CE 3, which paints a different picture. The new CE will have a 6.72” 120Hz FHD+ display and it will allegedly be an AMOLED panel rather than LCD as claimed earlier. Also, it will be powered by the Snapdragon 782G, according to MySmartPrice’s sources, not the SD 695. The chipset will be paired with 8/12GB...

Report: Galaxy Z Fold5 hinge undergoing final tests

5:11 pm |

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

According to a new report by the The Elec, Samsung has started testing the new teardrop hinge for its upcoming Galaxy Z Fold5 smartphone, expected to launch in the second half of this year, presumably August, as usual. The teardrop hinge is a commonly used design that lets the axis roll on itself inside the hinge and has several advantages. It reduces the gap between the two halves of the phone as well as minimize the wrinkles on the screen. During this year's CES 2023, Samsung demonstrated a new hinge design that's 14mm thin as opposed to the current implementation measuring 15.8mm...

OnePlus 11R hands-on review

5:03 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones reviews | Comments: Off

Sony’s new X95L mini-LED TV gets closer to OLED contrast, but it’s not there yet

4:46 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets | Tags: OLED | Comments: Off

Sony's range of 2023 TVs includes the Sony X95L mini-LED model, as well as a lower-end Sony X93L mini-LED model in some countries, including the US (but not the UK). Sony hasn't confirmed pricing or release date yet, but these sets will sit below the flagship Sony A95L QD-OLED TV and above the more mid-range Sony X90L full-array LED TV, and should launch during the first half of 2023 to challenge the best TVs in the world.

I had the chance to see the Sony X95L in action with test footage and movie scenes, in a direct comparison with last-year's Sony X95K equivalent model, and the LG C2 OLED TV, along with a Sony reference monitor (the kind used in actual film production for being near 'perfect' pictures), all showing the same images.

The good news is that the Sony X95L is a great upgrade on last year's model, adding extra brightness that makes the whole picture pop, way more detail in dark scenes, and with a little extra sharpness and smoothness in motion, based on my time with it.

That will be partly thanks to the latest-gen XR image processor, which includes a new XR Clear Image algorithm that now analyzes the exact bitrate, resolution and source of video when upscaling it, so it's less of a one-size-fits-all approach to improving low-res video.

The latest XR Backlight Master Drive algorithm comes from the processor, so it can drive a higher number of dimming zones in the backlight. As a result, the X95L is capable of better dynamic range when light and dark areas are next to each other, and less blooming (where the light bleeds from bright areas into dark areas, causing black tones to look gray).

I was viewing all of the TVs in their 'Vivid' mode, or equivalent (with the exception of the Sony reference monitor, obviously), and yet the X95L also impressed me with how much closer it was to the color tone of the reference monitor than the previous model was – I assume that will be even better when viewed in a more movie-friendly mode, but we'll have to wait for our full review to judge that.

The Sony X95L on a TV stand, with an image showing a Japanese house — (Image credit: Future)

The new Sony X95L is an improvement in almost every way compared to last year's version, then, but the comparison with the LG C2 OLED is more complicated. As anyone who knows anything about mini-LED and this kind of mid-range OLED screen would expect, the maximum brightness of the Sony was way, way beyond what the LG C2 is capable of.

In individual scene highlights, this is clear; in sports or other bright settings with lots of colors, the difference is actually even clearer – the average brightness (not just in HDR highlights) is so much higher in the mini-LED TV. At a cursory glance, all this extra pop can easily make it seem the more appealing TV.

And it seems to have other advantages too – Sony's motion processing appears to be superior, and in the scenes we saw there was less color banding in big blocks of color, such as skies. This means, in the case of the examples we saw, you get a more realistic and natural graduation of colors in the huge (but subtly different) range of blue tones that make up any shot of the sky.

Again, this might vary depending on the mode, so we'll reserve full judgment until we can test it ourselves.

However, it was also clear that despite the big improvement in detail in dark areas, it loses out to OLED in that area. More texture was visible in the darkest areas on the C2, for example, and the dark areas appeared elevated (meaning more gray than near-black) in the hardest scenes.

And, of course, even though the X95L improves on the blooming from its mini-LED backlight compared to the older model, the contrast is still nowhere near as precise as OLED's self-lighting pixels deliver.

Also, although the punchier brightness is an advantage in many cases (especially if you watch in a bright room), and has an obvious appeal when put side-by-side with OLED, the LG C2's image overall looked closer to what I was also seeing on the Sony reference monitor.

I was watching in a dark room – the optimum way to view an OLED TV – so the C2 was really in its element. In a brighter room, the C2 may have been more washed-out among reflections, with the Sony A95L more able to push the picture through that. That's the advantage of bright mini-LED TVs.

When it comes to sound, Sony is using a new Acoustic Multi Audio+ system here, which is a bit different to the Acoustic Surface Audio+ used in the Sony A95L. Rather than turning the screen into a speaker, this attaches tweeter drivers to the frame of TV high up on the left and right, combined with other speakers further down. The idea is to steer the sound to add positional audio, though I wasn't able to test this.

As is usual with higher-end Sony TVs, there's HDMI 2.1 support (on two of the four HDMI ports) for 4K 120Hz gaming with VRR. This TV is also 'Perfect for PlayStation 5', which means it supports the PS5's Auto HDR Tone Mapping (which means the PS5 adjusts the HDR of its pictures so it's optimal for your exact screen), and the auto-switching of gaming modes depending on the genre of game you're playing.

Sony's new gaming hub menu is also supported, which makes it easy to adjust specific gaming options, including raising black tones so you can see in the dark more easily, and even making the picture smaller within the screen, so that you can make it more 'glanceable' for some competitive games where that's an advantage.

It's hard to say where the Sony X95L is likely to fall in the scheme of the best 4K TVs without knowing its price, and without being able to test it in greater depth and under our own control; but if it can undercut the price of similar Sony QN95C, then it's shaping up to be a great choice for those who watch in a brighter room.

Garmin Forerunner 265S review

4:14 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets | Tags: Australia, Garmin Forerunner, UK, US | Comments: Off

This is an early review of the Garmin Forerunner 255S. We've only spent around an hour with the watch, so stand by for a more comprehensive full review in a few weeks' time.

The Garmin Forerunner 265S, alongside its siblings the Garmin Forerunner 965 and Garmin Forerunner 265, has only just been announced at the time of writing. However, given that the watches are essentially last year's world-class Forerunners with updated screens and added features, I feel quite confident they'll earn their places on our best Garmin watches list – as long as the screen doesn't impact the watch's battery performance beyond what's listed.

Garmin's beautiful new AMOLED touchscreen is on par with any other smartwatch you care to mention, even the best Apple Watch, and still measures battery life in days and weeks rather than hours. The Garmin Forerunner 265S purports to have 13 days of life in smartwatch mode, and up to 25 hours in GPS mode. Time will tell if that's accurate.

Otherwise, there are a few differences beyond the screen that separates the Forerunner 265S from its predecessor, the Garmin Forerunner 255S. There's no dedicated 'music' model to signify that the watch has music storage: that's now baked-in to every model in the updated Forerunner line. It's also got the Training Readiness score previously available to the 955, which we'll dive into later in this review.

Garmin Forerunner 265S: Price and availability

$449 in the US
£429 in the UK
Australia pricing TBC

The Garmin Forerunner 265S is priced at $449 in the US, and £429 in the UK. We'll have pricing information for Australia as soon as possible, but the Garmin Forerunner 265S will be available in all three markets, just like the rest of Garmin's flagship range.

At present, the watch is available from the Garmin website.

Garmin Forerunner 265S: Design

Screen looks great, with only slight judders
Gorilla Glass means it's as rugged as ever
New, larger 'run' button easier to operate mid-workout

The watch is only slightly bigger than the 255S was, at 42mm (well, 41.7) compared the older model's 41mm. The screen is eye-popping and absolutely gorgeous: 360 x 360 AMOLED, with a Corning Gorilla Glass lens to ensure the watch stays rugged and hard-wearing enough to survive adventures and triathlons with peace of mind.

Scrolling through the screens, it's not quite as smooth as the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, but considering it's got around five times the battery life, I can forgive a slight bit of motion blur. You can see the AMOLED next to the old memory-in-pixel format below, side-by-side with the Garmin Fenix 6X:

The watch packs a slightly redesigned titanium case and bezel, complete with the larger start-stop button in the top right, appropriately redesigned as a 'run' button. Even though the other buttons are unchanged, the larger profile of your 'main' button is going to make operating the watch quickly during a workout a breeze, even while wearing gloves. It's more or less the only functionality I use on most runs, unless I need to scroll through my navigation options.

The larger start/stop button reminds me of the Apple Watch Ultra's Action Button, which protrudes from the case to operate on the same principle. I think we're seeing a trend forming among fitness watches right now, and I wouldn't be surprised to see other brands follow suit.

Otherwise, the watch comes with new faces such as the one shown, which takes full advantage of the updated screen and the new ability to tap on a feature to bring up the appropriate widget. Scrolling through your options using the up and down buttons on the watch's left-hand-side will be familiar to anyone who's ever used a Garmin watch before: there's no reinventing the wheel here. It's a brighter version of the 255.

The whitestone color I was able to get my hands on is complemented by those lime-green undertones in the band, which extends to the underlay in the recesses of the run button. It's a neat design choice, and I think the watch looks great.

Garmin Forerunner 265S with redesigned run button — (Image credit: Future)

Garmin Forerunner 265S: Features

Touchscreen is responsive
Training Readiness Score added
Music included
No topo maps

The 265S has a few new tricks, the touchscreen being first among them. This is only the second touchscreen that has arrived on the Forerunner series, the first being the Garmin Forerunner 955 last year. You can use the touchscreen to scroll up and down the list, rather than using the buttons, and a tap to hone in on different features, instead of using the start/stop button to select. But it's an option, not a requirement: if you're training hard, getting sweaty or wearing gloves, you'll default to using the buttons as normal.

The added Training Readiness score is a feature Garmin implemented last year, again on the 955, and it's good to see it filter down toward the smaller watches. An updated version of the Body Battery score, your Training Readiness score takes into account the intensity of your last few sessions of exercise, your sleep, heart rate, time elapsed between sessions, and so on. It then feeds you an updated score based on how ready for performance your body is likely to be.

It's a really useful feature, and I use it a lot on the 955. I'm currently training for my first marathon, so I use the Training Readiness score to understand how long it takes my body to recover from big runs so I can plan my tapering strategy ahead of race day. But the Training Readiness score was added to the Garmin Fenix 7 via a firmware update last year. Did we need a whole new watch for it this time?

The other nice thing about the 265 and 265S is that music is included as standard: on the previous models, we had the 255, 255 Music, 255S, and 255S Music. The 265 watches come with 8GB storage as standard, enough for plenty of music to see you through long races.

Otherwise, the 265 doesn't seem to have actively lost any features per se, or slimmed down the number of its available widgets. VO2 max, weather and tide information, the 255's impressive running metrics, and Garmin's state-of-the-art GPS are all here. It's still an awesome watch that's only adding to the already-impressive chassis of the 255. But other than the above, it is the 255: a brighter, sleeker, more attractive version, but a 255 nonetheless.

Garmin Forerunner 255S: Early verdict

Garmin's new small Forerunner looks great. The 255 wasn't a bad-looking watch, but the 265S looks sporty and fun, with its two-tone redesign and bright, bold screen. It'll stand out on the wrist (although not in a bad way) and is easily seen in all the lighting conditions we've tested so far. The touchscreen is fun, and a good addition for anyone unused to the way Garmin's buttons work.

The Garmin Forerunner 265S has also added a smattering of new features, but not enough to differentiate it properly from the 255. It could have been called the Forerunner 255X or something and I wouldn't have batted an eyelid. But it's come so soon after the release of its predecessor – not even a year! – that there just hasn't been time for a real update of these watches.

We're starting to get into Apple Watch territory here, with smaller, cosmetic updates designed to draw new customers in each year, rather than encourage existing ones to upgrade. It's a great watch, but one I couldn't recommend to existing Forerunner users because of how similar it is to last year.

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