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Weekly poll results: Realme 11 Pro+ has potential, the 11 Pro doesn’t deserve its name
11:22 pm | June 17, 2023

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

How can you call a phone “pro” when it doesn’t even have basics like an ultra wide camera? Voters in last week’s poll were not impressed by what the Realme 11 Pro has to offer and believe there are much better mid-rangers on the market right now – not the least of which is its own sibling, the Pro+. What went wrong? Well, the 11 Pro lacks an UW camera, but that’s not all. There were the usual complains about the lack of a microSD slot and a 3.5mm headphone jack (at least there are stereo speakers on board). That Dimensity 7050 also had a tough time concealing that it’s a 1080 underneath, a...

Samsung Galaxy Watch6 and Watch6 Classic appear in colorful renders
5:30 pm |

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

Next month, Samsung is hosting the Galaxy Unpacked event in South Korea to unveil the Galaxy Z Fold5 and Galaxy Z Flip5, where it's also expected to make the Galaxy Watch6 and Galaxy Watch6 Classic official. We got our first look at the Galaxy Watch6 Classic last month, which has now appeared in official-looking images with the vanilla Watch6, showing the smartwatches in different colors. Samsung Galaxy Watch6 • Samsung Galaxy Watch6 Classic The source claims that the Samsung Galaxy Watch6 will come in silver, black, and beige colors in two sizes - 40mm and 44mm. The Samsung...

Asus Zenfone 10’s design and color options revealed through leaked renders
2:00 pm |

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

The Asus Zenfone 10, launching on June 29, has appeared in official-looking press renders, giving us our best look yet at the flagship and revealing its color options. These renders, leaked by reliable leakster Evan Blass, show the Asus Zenfone 10 in five colors, with the green shade already confirmed by Asus. The Asus Zenfone 10 packs a punch hole display, confirmed by Asus to measure 5.9" diagonally, but its resolution is yet to be confirmed. Asus Zenfone 10 leaked renders The Zenfone 10's frame has antenna lines, meaning they are made of metal. The smartphone has a...

Qobuz review
12:00 pm |

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

Two-minute review

If Qobuz was a member of your circle of friends, it would be the strong-minded one. You know the type, the slightly eccentric leader who's ferociously talented and admirably principled. Qobuz is the friend who does things their own way and in their own time, or not at all. 

The French music service (which also offers any music lover the chance to rent and purchase hi-res music even if they don't subscribe) was founded in September 2007 but took its sweet time to travel and expand. In fact, it only launched in the US in May 2019 and only arrived in Australia in April 2021.

The name comes from an ancient bowed musical instrument called kobyz, which has two strings made of horsehair. Although Qobuz is happy to look back into music history, it's thoroughly modern in its output of hi-res files – more so even than some of the best music streaming services we've tested. In 2013, Qobuz received the Hi-Res Audio certification from the Japan Audio Society (JAS), which guarantees that audio streams delivered by Qobuz meet the criteria and standards defined by the JAS. It took Apple Music an awful long time to catch up now, didn't it? 

And anyone who takes issue with Spotify's minuscule $0.003—$0.005 per stream payments to artists might just have found the ideal service for them. In April 2020, during the early months of the Covid-19 crisis, Qobuz gave 100% of the revenue from each new subscriber’s first paid month straight back to the rights holders. 

All of which is pretty refreshing, no? Add to this the clear Hi Res Audio stickers on all available content along with clearly displayed resolution on each track, plus the fact that Qobuz ditched MP3s years ago to focus solely on lossless streaming and it's a compelling proposition. 

It's not the most sociable choice out there mind you (you won't find any AI DJs or Wrapped-style festival lineup posters for sharing on social media) but if you know what you like and you're as strong-minded as Qobuz itself, you may have met your ideal musical match. 

For balance, it's worth noting that since June 2021 Apple Music's offering has included Spatial Audio with support for Dolby Atmos as well as fun extras such as Apple Music Sing and even a free-to-subscribers Apple Music Classical app, all of which is made even better if you own an Apple source device and a set of the best AirPods to listen with. There's none of that with Qobuz. It is toying with THX, but at the time of writing there isn't an awful lot of it. 

Meanwhile, Spotify has been promising its own high-fidelity audio service, Spotify HiFi, for years now – and we'll be honest, we think it's never coming – but Spotify AI DJ is kind of fun, if you like that kind of thing. And you won't find that with Qobuz. 

Ultimately, it'll come down to whether you like Qobuz's admirable commitment to the best resolution and interesting extras such as a magazine, which includes news pieces and interviews with artists, all for slightly more than Spotify or Apple Music per month. We like Qobuz a lot. It's kookier than Tidal, the interface is less jumbled than Apple Music and the music quality easily trounces anything in Spotify's catalog. Oh, and it's cheaper than Tidal's similar offering. 

Qobuz on a laptop screen on pink background

Qobuz' Discover homepage (desktop) is clear and easy to navigate (Image credit: Future)

What is Qobuz?

Qobuz is a music streaming subscription service and download/rental music site.

It launched in 2007 in France and has since spread to 24 countries, but it is probably a relative newcomer in your territory compared to the likes of Spotify. While it focuses on music you can stream, you can also purchase and download albums or tracks to listen to offline and keep forever – in various resolutions. While you don't need a subscription at all to do this (the Qobuz Store lets you search for and purchase content simply by creating an account), paying for Qobuz's top Sublime tier, rather than the regular Studio tier, gets you discounts of up to 60% on any purchases you do make. 

Qobuz can lay claim to being the first ever service to offer 16- and 24-bit audio files for both streaming and download, and having the biggest hi-res catalog right now, but it does come at a slight premium compared to several of its rivals. 

Also, the ecosystem is stronger than you might think, especially if you've yet to become acquainted. There's a web player (to listen direct from your browser), applications for Mac, iOS and Android, integration with hi-fi heavy hitters such as Roon software, Bowers & Wilkins and Bang & Olufsen hi-fi products, Chromecast (to listen to Qobuz on all your devices using Google Cast) and Samsung TV to stream Qobuz direct from the TV. Oh, and you can listen to Qobuz directly in your car with CarPlay or Android Auto. 

And it's not just music streaming and downloading! Within Qobuz's Oeuvre, there's also Qobuz Magazine, which includes features, news, tutorials and hi-fi product reviews. 

Like all that but want a few social features? In March 2023, Qobuz launched something called Qobuz Club to check that particular box – in its own way. Qobuz Club is free to all Qobuz account holders, which means you don't actually need to be paying for a subscription to either Studio or Sublime to join in. It's billed as an “interactive forum” enabling users to “convene with like-minded listeners on topics such as music discovery and recommendations, as well as hardware and hi-fi advice”. 

So basically, this is Qobuz moving away from AI and algorithm recommendations (think Spotify's counterfactual machine learning) and over towards the advice, tips, enthusiasm and opinions of actual, real-life human beings. And we like it. 

Qobuz: pricing and subscription

  • A Qobuz Studio subscription costs $12.99 / £12.99 / AU$24.99 per month
  • A Qobuz Sublime subscription costs $17.99 / £17.99 / AU$29.99 per month
  • One-month free trial

You can start listening to Qobuz now with a free trial, which lasts one month. If you love it after the trial period and know you want to commit to 12 months, you can save a little on the quoted monthly subscription fees above by paying one annual lump sum. This costs $129.99 / £129.99 / AUS24.99 per year for Studio or $179.99 / £179.99 / AU$299.99 for Sublime, and comes down to around $10.83 / £10.83 for Studio per month or $15 / £15 per month for Sublime. 

Notably, there’s no free ad-based streaming tier available as there is with Spotify (or Tidal in the US), although you can buy digital albums from Qobuz and enter the Qobuz Club simply by creating an account. 

Qobuz also offers Studio Duo, Studio Family, Sublime Duo and Sublime Family tiers, which start at $14.99 / £14.99 a month for Studio Duo (when you pay for a whole year upfront). Yes, it's a little confusing, but if you and your significant other both want hi-res streaming, Studio Duo is probably the best value option there is here. 

Both Qobuz Studio and Qobuz Sublime get you Studio quality streaming (FLAC 24-Bit up to 192 kHz), over 100 million tracks, original editorial content and offline listening. What does Sublime get you that Studio doesn't? Discounts on hi-res purchases of up to 60%, so if you're planning regular visits to the download store on Qobuz, it's good value.  

This pricing makes Qobuz more expensive than Apple Music ($9.99 / £9.99 / AU$11.99 per month) and Spotify (also $9.99 / £9.99 / AU$11.99 per month), but cheaper than Tidal's HiFi Plus tier, which is most comparable to Qobuz Studio (because Tidal doesn't offer a download site). Tidal HiFi Plus costs $19.99 / £19.99 / AU$23.99. 

Qobuz on three iPhone screens, on pink raspberry background

Qobuz app for iOS is clean and easy to navigate (Image credit: Future)

Qobuz: audio quality

  • FLAC 24-Bit up to 192 kHz (aka hi-res, which is better than CD quality audio) 
  • Billed as the biggest hi-res catalog in the world 
  • Hi-Res tracks and resolution clearly displayed, which beats the competition

Qobuz's entire catalog is available in either CD quality (16-bit/44.1kHz) or better, at up to a maximum bit-depth and sampling frequency of 24-bit/192kHz – and remember, anything better than CD quality is considered high resolution audio. 

Qobuz's trump card is that it has the biggest hi-res collection of any streaming service, available on any device (as long as your kit is up to scratch) without limitation. And it sounds good across the board – clear, agile, nuanced and as crisp through the leading edges as the artist (as well as whoever was at the mixing desk) intended. 

Refreshingly, along with the Hi-Res Audio yellow sticker you'll see as you scroll albums and tracks, Qobuz gives you the figures too (with 24-bit/44.1kHz coming up a lot, in our searches) or sometimes just 'CD-quality' written underneath a track. Other streaming services group the vague resolution using terms such as 'lossless', 'SD' and 'HD'; Qobuz gives it to you straight up. 

Now, if you're listening on even the best noise-cancelling headphones, you might want to go wired and maybe nab one of the best portable DACs to boot when listening to Qobuz's beyond-CD offerings. Why? Because as with Apple Music's Lossless and Hi-Res Lossless tracks, Bluetooth connectivity applies its own limitations on quality and it still isn't quite good enough to get those hi-res files at their full potential. 

Many music streaming services are upping their game to bring subscribers better music quality. Apple Music and Tidal already offer their own form of hi-res audio; Apple Music uses its own AAC and ALAC formats, Tidal favors MQA and Qobuz is a FLAC house – and because FLAC is a lossless compression format, the files sound good. 

Although several streaming services are following suit with better quality audio, certain platforms also offer more immersive content with Spatial Audio (Apple Music), 360 Reality Audio (Tidal) and Dolby Atmos (both of the above). 

In addition, Amazon Music HD has a "3D Audio" offering. On its FAQ page, Amazon writes: "We support over 750 tracks mastered in Dolby Atmos and Sony’s 360 Reality Audio codecs from some of the world’s biggest artists."

Qobuz is still relatively slow on the uptake with three-dimensional audio, but when it does go 3D, it prefers THX. Available to anyone listening from a device of their choice over any headphones, THX Spatial Audio uses advanced signal processing to place sounds "out of the head" and transform conventional audio with realistic acoustics ensuring a unique listening experience.

It's worth bringing Amazon's HD tracks into the debate too. These have a bit depth and sample rate of 16bit/44.1kHz (CD-quality) and an average bitrate of 850 kbps. Ultra HD tracks have a bit depth of 24 bits and sample rates ranging from 44.1 kHz up to 192 kHz – so an average bitrate of 3730 kbps.

Qobuz: music catalog

  • 100 million tracks
  • Very limited THX immersive audio content
  • Claimed catalog now equals that of Spotify/Apple Music

Qobuz claims there are more than 100 million tracks available to stream on its site – which, at the time of writing, equals Spotify's collection and Apple Music's declared catalog. 

In the past, we have knocked Qobuz for the holes in its catalog compared with Spotify and Apple Music; it doesn't matter how good the resolution of the song you don't want is, if it doesn't carry the one track you do desire. Based on our searches now, that has changed. Of course, your journey and musical tastes may vary wildly and that's why one-month trials exist, but we want to give Qobuz credit here – a lot has changed. 

What Qobuz doesn't offer is podcasts or audiobooks – you need to go elsewhere for those. What it does offer that lots of services don't is an online magazine (remember those?) with video interviews, news stories, long-form 'panorama' features on musical genres, music history, artists and such as well as hi-fi tutorials and reviews. Because one way to learn about the music you might like is to read about it while you stream. 

Radio? No, although under the playlists tab you'll find various 'moods' or options for 'listening with' your favorite acts, to the point that it almost feels like a dedicated station. 

Qobuz Magazine on an iPhone 13 Pro

The Qobuz Magazine is a good read (Image credit: Future)

Qobuz: platforms and apps

  • Homescreen and tabs are easy to navigate
  • A dedicated hi-res tab is refreshing

As mentioned, can listen to Qobuz on all kinds of devices including iPhone, iPad, Android, tablet, CarPlay, PC, Android, Samsung Smart TV and your Google Cast device. 

As well as the web player (to listen directly from your browser), there are applications for Mac, iOS and Android integration with hi-fi heavy hitters such as Roon software, Bowers & Wilkins and Bang & Olufsen hi-fi products, Chromecast (to listen to Qobuz on all your devices using Google Cast) and Samsung TV to stream Qobuz direct from the TV. Oh, and you can listen to Qobuz directly in your car with CarPlay or Android Auto.

And across all of them, the design is simple and likeable – much easier to navigate than Apple Music's congested design. A lovely touch is the dedicated Hi-Res playlist under the playlists tab (right after 'All'), which actually groups together the newest hi-res offerings from Qobuz. Where so many streaming sites keep things shrouded in mystery here, forcing you to go looking specifically for a specific track to see if you're lucky enough to get it in a higher resolution, Qobuz is honest, open and helpful. It might sound like a small detail, but to the audiophile it's a huge plus to have a hi-res roundup such as this. 

Across the top bar of the desktop app and web player, you'll see tabs for Discover, Magazine, My Playlists, Favourites and Purchases. On mobile, it's Discover, Magazine, My Qobuz, Imports, and a search bar. All easy, all likeable – in fact Qobuz's simple and clean design is one of our favorites across all streaming services. 

Qobuz: playlists and recommendations

  • My Weekly Q gets mixed reviews
  • Qobuz Magazine offers valuable extra content 
  • Spotify has the edge with niche mixes and AI DJs

In terms of discovering new music, Qobuz is not a front-runner in the way Spotify is. For example, the big green giant can curate niche mixes especially for you if you discover a penchant for goblincore or pagode, say. Qobuz cannot do that. And neither does it ask for you to select ever multiplying bubbles containing the names of genres or acts you already like in the way that Apple Music does upon first signing up.

That said, Qobuz does offer My Weekly Q, a selection of tracks curated and available for you every Friday. Any good? That depends. Reviews are mixed, with some users vehemently preferring Spotify and claiming that Qobuz's algorithm and subsequent suggestions are based much more on their location and age, rather than what they actually listen to. For our money, the tracks we received were refreshing and we actually did discover a few new new bands we liked – particularly German soul and hip-hop bands, since you ask.

There are human-curated playlists here for the discerning listener too. Think 'A History of Rock: 1951' or '50 Jazz tracks to test your speakers' and our favorite offering hands-down is the Hi-Res collection – a thing we desperately wish other streaming services would offer. 

Essentially, if you know the kind of music you want and you just want to love it more, you'll enjoy Qobuz. And any fresh discoveries on top of that just add to the fun, right? 

Should I subscribe to Qobuz?

Qobuz on an iPad with My Weekly Q playlist

(Image credit: Future)

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iQOO Neo 7 Pro’s processor and charging speed officially confirmed ahead of July 4 unveiling
10:30 am |

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

A few days ago, iQOO revealed the design of the iQOO Neo 7 Pro, which will be unveiled on July 4 in India. Now the company has confirmed a couple of key specs of the smartphone - its processor and charging speed. iQOO has confirmed that the iQOO Neo 7 Pro will be powered by the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC, which will be joined by an "Independent Gaming Chip" (IG Chip) to take the "gaming experience to new heights" and deliver "enhanced graphics and smooth gameplay." The iQOO Neo 7 Pro will also support 120W FlashCharge technology, advertised to juice up the phone's battery up to 50% in...

Realme 11 Pro+ has a record-breaking first sale in India
11:59 pm | June 16, 2023

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

Realme first unveiled the 11 Pro+ in China in May, and then it was made official for international markets last week. In India, the first sale was held on June 15 - yesterday. Today, the company has tallied up the numbers and they reveal something special: the 11 Pro+ managed to have a record-breaking first sale for Realme's over INR 25,000 segment. Over 60,000 units were sold yesterday, and that's definitely nothing to scoff at. Unprecedented Success: Breaking First Sale Records and Setting New Standards!Cheers to all the #realmeFans. #realme11ProPlus5G #200MPzoomToTheNextLevel...

Realme 11 Pro+ has a record-breaking first sale in India
11:59 pm |

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

Realme first unveiled the 11 Pro+ in China in May, and then it was made official for international markets last week. In India, the first sale was held on June 15 - yesterday. Today, the company has tallied up the numbers and they reveal something special: the 11 Pro+ managed to have a record-breaking first sale for Realme's over INR 25,000 segment. Over 60,000 units were sold yesterday, and that's definitely nothing to scoff at. Unprecedented Success: Breaking First Sale Records and Setting New Standards!Cheers to all the #realmeFans. #realme11ProPlus5G #200MPzoomToTheNextLevel...

AdGuard VPN review
8:37 pm |

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

If you're looking for a way to increase your online security and privacy, AdGuard VPN may be the solution you've been searching for. RUssian internet company AdGuard is a leading provider of online security and privacy products, and its best VPN offering is one of the most popular on the market. 

The service offers two main products: AdGuard VPN and Adguard Premium. AdGuard VPN is a virtual private network that encrypts your traffic and hides your IP address from websites, ISPs, and other third parties. Adguard Premium is an ad blocker that blocks all types of ads on all devices. There’s no free trial and nothing like the best free VPN offers you’ll find elsewhere, so you must purchase a subscription before using it.

This VPN offers over 50 VPN servers across 42 countries, including the US, UK, Australia, India,and Germany. Frankly, that’s not many compared to other big-name competitors in the field.  

Pricing & plans

AdGuard offers three different subscription plans: monthly, yearly, and bi-annual. 

The monthly plan costs $11.99 a month or $71.40 a year (which works out to $3.99 per month). The bi-annual plan costs $119 every two years (which works out to only $2.99 per month). There may not be a free trial, however, there is a 30-day money-back guarantee. So you can use this service and request a refund within 30 days if you are not satisfied with their service.

We thought AdGuard's pricing is very competitive when compared to other VPN providers on the market. For example, NordVPN charges $5.95 per month for their monthly plan, while IPVanish charges $10.00 per month. AdGuard's yearly plan is also cheaper than most other providers' monthly plans, making it a great value for those who are looking to commit to a longer-term subscription. 

You can only pay via Paypal and credit cards. This could be a challenge for someone who wants other payment methods like cryptocurrency and Payoneer.  

AdGuard VPN during TechRadar tests

(Image credit: AdGuard VPN)

Privacy & encryption

As you’d expect from a VPN, Adguard offers both privacy and encryption, using encryption technology based on the OpenVPN protocol. There’s also AES-256-bit encryption with a 2048-bit key length. It also claims to offer a strict no-logs policy, ensuring that your data and online activities are never stored or monitored.

Adguard's split tunneling allows you to choose what data goes through the VPN tunnel and what doesn't. This is a great feature if you want to improve your privacy without sacrificing speed. It also offers a VPN kill switch, which will prevent your data from leaking if the connection drops.  

AdGuard VPN during TechRadar tests

(Image credit: AdGuard VPN)

Torrenting & P2P

AdGuard VPN does act as a VPN for torrenting and P2P because it has a strict no-logs policy. This means your activities will never be tracked or monitored. AdGuard also offers strong encryption to keep your data safe and secure. 

Ad blocker 

AdGuard also offers a DNS-based ad blocker that can prevents ads on all your devices, even if they don't have the company’s AdBlock installed. We found the ad blocker used a combination of blacklisting and heuristics to keep our experience ad-free. 

AdGuard VPN during TechRadar tests

(Image credit: AdGuard VPN)

VPN for China

If you’re looking to AdGuard as the best VPN for China, you’re out of luck. We tried connecting the VPN to mainland China, unfortunately, this service does not work in the country at the moment. 

Support

AdGuard VPN can be used on an unlimited number of devices and platforms — all you need is to have an AdGuard account and download the AdGuard VPN app. 

You’ll find decent support for a wide range of platforms, with desktop software for Windows, macOS, and Linux, and mobile VPN apps for Android, and iOS, as well as routers. We installed the Windows version of the app on our computer and it worked fine. Additionally, Adguard has browser extensions for Chrome, Opera, and Firefox.

AdGuard offers 24/7 support via email. The company also has a strong social media presence, with an active Twitter account. AdGuard's website features a comprehensive FAQ section, as well as detailed tutorials on how to use the service. 

The only downside here is the company doesn’t live chat and phone support. This could be a challenge for someone who prefers using live chat or phone support. You may consider ExpressVPN and IPvanishVPN as both services offer live chat and phone customer support.

AdGuard VPN during TechRadar tests

(Image credit: AdGuard VPN)

Speed & experience 

We tested Adguard VPN on our Windows machine. The results were not as favorable as we had hoped. Our baseline speed without Adguard was about 65Mbps. With AdGuard enabled, Our speed slowed to a range of 10Mbps. 

That’s quite a significant drop and made streaming video and gaming difficult. We also experienced several connection drops while using Adguard.  Overall, We were quite disappointed with AdGuard’s performance.

Streaming

During our tests, we found AdGuard to be one of the best VPNs for Netflix (and one of the best streaming VPNs in general). It unblocks US Netflix, UK Netflix, Canada Netflix, France Netflix, and Japan Netflix. Adguard also unblocks Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, and more. 

Elsewhere, it did a great job of unblocking Hulu, HBO Max, and BBC iPlayer. We were able to stream content on all three platforms without any issues. 

Alternatives 

While AdBlocker VPN does a great job of blocking ads, it's not the only option out there. If you're looking for an alternative, here are some other options we recommend trying:

ExpressVPN is known for its fast speeds and easy-to-use interface. There’s also a money-back guarantee, so you can try it risk-free.

NordVPN is another popular VPN service that offers strong encryption and 24/7 customer support.

Surfshark is a newer VPN service that's quickly gaining popularity. It offers affordable plans and features like unlimited simultaneous connections and a strict no-logs policy. 

Verdict 

AdGuard VPN is a great choice for those looking for a VPN with a lot of features. However, there are also some drawbacks to using AdGuard VPN. AdGuard does not offer live chat or phone support and there is no free trial. Additionally, AdGuard's speed and performance were disappointing. You may consider ExpressVPN or Surfshark if you want a VPN service provider that offers 24/7 live chat, a free trial, and better overall performance. 

AdBlock VPN review
8:06 pm |

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

AdBlock is one of the most popular browser tools in existence, with more than 30 million users worldwide on all major browsers. Developed by Michael Gundlach in 2009 and originally created as an anti-malware tool to protect against online threats like malware or viruses; it now helps people enjoy their browsing experience without being distracted by ads that often slow down internet speeds.

But can the popular developer deliver the goods with its best VPN offering?  

AdBlock VPN is open-source software that allows users to have full control over what they see when browsing the internet. It also enables them to take steps towards privacy by blocking many of these advertising tools which track people's activities while online - giving you more peace than ever before. So, with strong-grade encryption and security features, it lets you browse the internet anonymously and protect your data from prying eyes. 

The company is working hard to make the internet a better place by blocking pesky ads. They have been part of an industry-wide effort called "Acceptable Ads" where publishers agree that their advertisements must meet certain criteria in order for them not to be annoying or invasive.

Pricing & plans 

AdBlock VPN has a very simple pricing structure. There are only two plans available, one is the monthly plan and the other is the yearly plan. The monthly plan costs $3.99 per month and the yearly plan costs $2.92/month billed at $34.99 per year. 

This VPN is more affordable compared to bigger rivals in the VPN space. For example, the ExpressVPN monthly plan starts at $12.95, or $8 a month billed annually; CyberGhost starts at $12.99 a month or $4.29 a month when you choose the annual plan. 

There’s also a 30-day money-back guarantee with AdBlock VPN, so you can try it risk-free. They accept only Paypal and Credit cards as methods of payment. 

AdBlock VPN during TechRadar testing

(Image credit: AdBlock)

Privacy & encryption 

AdBlock VPN is a new VPN service that promises to block ads and trackers, as well as encrypt your traffic. That’s an impressive claim to make - and useful, too - so we took a closer look to see if it lives up to its claims. 

AdBlock VPN uses the OpenVPN protocol with 256-bit AES encryption. This is the same level of encryption used by government agencies and businesses around the world to protect their data. 

It also supports Perfect Forward Secrecy, which means that your traffic is encrypted with a different key each time you connect. This makes it impossible for anyone to decrypt your traffic, even if they have your encryption key. AdBlock VPN does not keep any logs of your activity or IP address. This means that your privacy is protected even if the company is subpoenaed by a government agency. There’s also a VPN kill switch that prevents your traffic from leaking if the VPN connection drops.

VPN for China

The AdBlock VPN website claims that its service will allow you to "access any website or app without censorship or restrictions." But is it really one of the best VPNs for China?

We decided to find out and so, put the service to the test. We installed the app on a computer and connected it to a server in mainland China. Then, we tried accessing some popular websites that are typically blocked in China, such as Google, Facebook, and YouTube. Unfortunately, We were not able to access any of these websites while connected to AdBlock VPN.

It's possible that AdBlock VPN simply doesn't work in China yet. Or, it's possible that AdBlock VPN is being blocked by the Great Firewall. Either way, we would not recommend AdBlock VPN as a VPN solution for China at this time. If you're looking for a VPN to use in China, we recommend ExpressVPN or VyprVPN

AdBlock VPN during TechRadar testing

(Image credit: AdBlock)

Ad blocking

The privacy comes with a built-in ad blocker. It was a feature we just had to test out. So, we checked by by visiting a few websites that are known for having intrusive advertising. AdBlock VPN successfully blocked some of the ads on these websites, but it didn't block all of them.

Overall, AdBlock VPN's ad blocking functionality is decent. But it's not as good as dedicated ad blockers like uBlock Origin or Adblock Plus.

Torrenting and P2P

This is billed as a VPN for torrenting and P2P downloading on all of its servers. And it lived up to our expectations during testing. 

We explored the tool’s torrenting functionality by trying to download a few files using the BitTorrent protocol. AdBlock VPN worked well, and we found we were able to download files without any issues. 

Streaming

Need the best VPN for streaming? It’s another box-tick from AdBlock VPN, which unblocks Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, and BBC iPlayer. 

Testing this functionality, we attempted to stream content from each of these platforms. The service was able to successfully unlock all of the platforms that we tested.

Speed & experience

AdBlock VPN's speeds are decent. We tested AdBlock VPN's speeds by connecting to a server in the US and then running a speed test. AdBlock VPN had an average download speed of about 40.05 Mbps, which is good for most activities like browsing the web and streaming video. 

AdBlock VPN is available on Windows and macOS, with mobile VPN apps for iOS and Android. There’s also support for routers. The AdBlock VPN app is easy to install and use. Overall, we were impressed with AdBlock VPN's performance, experience, and interface. 

AdBlock VPN during TechRadar testing

(Image credit: AdBlock)

Support

AdBlock VPN provides 24/7 support through their website. They have a live chat option as well as a ticket system. We contacted them via live chat and they responded within a few minutes. The agent was very helpful and answered all my questions. 

However, this VPN provider does not offer support via phone calls and email. So if you are looking for VPNs that offer email and phone support, you may go for ExpressVPN and IPvanishVPN

Alternatives 

AdBlock VPN is a popular VPN service, but it is not the only one on the market. If you are looking for AdBlock VPN alternatives, here are some other options to consider.

ExpressVPN is another great option for those looking for an AdBlock VPN alternative. ExpressVPN has over 2000 servers in more than 94 countries, so you can access the internet from almost anywhere in the world. The company also offers a money-back guarantee, so you can be sure that you are getting what you pay for.

Read our full ExpressVPN review

CyberGhost VPN is a great AdBlock VPN alternative that offers a wide range of features and benefits. CyberGhost VPN has over 700 servers in more than 50 countries, which means that you can access the internet from almost anywhere in the world. The company also offers a strict no-logs policy, so you can be sure that your online activity is completely private.

Read our full CyberGhost VPN review

NordVPN is another excellent AdBlock VPN alternative that offers a high level of security and privacy protection. NordVPN has over 5000 servers in 62 countries, so you can find a server that meets your needs. 

Read our full NordVPN review 

Verdict

AdBlock VPN is a good VPN service with decent speeds and unblocking capability. However, there are some areas where the service could improve, such as its customer support and improving server locations. 

If you're looking for a VPN that offers better customer support or a larger server location, we would recommend CyberGhost VPN or NordVPN. But if you're just looking for a basic VPN service, AdBlock VPN is a good option. 

Monday Sales CRM review 2026
7:59 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro Software & Services | Tags: | Comments: Off

Monday CRM is a customizable sales platform that aims to streamline the entire sales cycle, from lead capture to deal closing. As part of the broader Monday.com suite of work management tools, the CRM integrates seamlessly with Monday's other offerings while also functioning well as a standalone solution.

What immediately stood out to me during my review of Monday was its playful and vibrant interface — a stark contrast to the simple spreadsheet-like design of many of the best CRM platforms. But don't let the playful exterior fool you. Under the hood, Monday CRM packs some serious power and flexibility.

The platform allows you to tailor pipelines, data fields, automations, and more to match your unique sales processes. Collaboration is a core focus, with tools for communicating with both colleagues and clients. Dashboards and reporting features give you real-time visibility into sales performance. In this in-depth review, I'll share my firsthand experience using Monday as a CRM, examining its key features, ease of use, pricing, and more to help you determine if it's the right fit for your sales team.

At TechRadar Pro, we recognize that your CRM is the engine of your business. Our experts don’t just read feature lists. We perform hands-on, multi-day testing to see how these platforms perform in the real world. For our Monday Sales CRM review, we navigated the entire user journey - from importing complex datasets to building custom automation sequences and testing the platform’s AI capabilities.

This review, like all of those we undertake, is 100% independent. We never accept payment for product rankings or positive coverage, ensuring our verdict is based solely on a platform's usability, performance, and value.

Monday.com CRM: Core capabilities

screenshot of monday.com crm

(Image credit: Monday.com)

As I explored Monday’s core capabilities, I found that it provides a solid CRM foundation with contact and account management. I found it easy to centralize all customer data, including contact details, communication history, and associated deals, in one place. I liked how the ability to create detailed customer profiles helps build a 360-degree view of each account.

Capturing leads from various sources and tracking them through the sales funnel felt intuitive. I appreciated being able to customize lead stages and create multiple pipelines to match my unique sales processes. A drag-and-drop interface made it simple to move deals between stages as they progressed.

For those worried about using a workplace management platform for sales forecasting, Monday.com thankfully has you covered. By setting probability percentages for each deal stage, I could generate revenue projections and understand my pipeline's health at a glance. The ability to track actual revenue against forecasted amounts added an extra layer of insight.

Monday.com’s no-code workflow automation builder comes with templates for beginners, making it easy to implement automation without requiring extensive technical expertise. I was able to set up various automated workflows, such as assigning leads to specific team members based on criteria or sending follow-up emails after a certain period of inactivity. These automations saved considerable time and ensured consistent follow-up processes.

Monday offers a wide range of pre-built dashboards and reports covering sales activity, team performance, revenue trends, and more. I found the reports visually appealing and easy to understand and I liked the ability to drill down into individual metrics, which provided granular insights. However, I did find the report customization options somewhat limited compared to other CRMs that I've used.

Monday’s mobile app provides a dedicated on-the-go experience with access to all key features. Being able to manage my pipeline, log calls, and view reports on the go was incredibly convenient. The app's interface was intuitive and optimized for mobile, making it a seamless extension of the desktop platform.

In the last few months, Monday has also introduced a range of AI-enabled features to its CRM platform. For example, AI-powered email composition was particularly impressive, helping me draft personalized emails quickly based on context and previous communications. Another nice addition was the AI-driven insights and suggestions, such as identifying the best times to contact leads or highlighting deals that may need attention. But while these features were generally helpful, I found that the AI capabilities are still evolving, occasionally producing suggestions that weren't quite on target.

However, I did identify a few areas for improvement. The platform currently lacks some advanced features like territory management and sales coaching tools that are found in more enterprise-focused CRMs. Additionally, while the reporting is solid overall, I would have liked to see more flexibility in creating custom report templates. Despite these limitations, I found that Monday’s core features are still strong enough to carry it through as a strong CRM.

At the end of the day, Monday's core capabilities are robust and comprehensive, making it a strong contender in the CRM market. While there are some areas for improvement, the platform can still be a valuable asset for sales teams across small, medium, or large enterprises.

How easy is Monday.com CRM to use?

screenshot of monday.com crm

(Image credit: Monday.com)

During my time with the CRM, Monday’s customizable dashboards and drag-and-drop functionality made it simple to tailor the CRM to my specific needs and preferences. I found that I could easily create custom pipelines, add new data fields, and rearrange components to optimize my workflow without any coding knowledge.

There’s an extensive library of pre-built templates, covering a wide range of sales processes and industries to provide a solid foundation for users to build upon. I was able to quickly set up my CRM by selecting a relevant template and then fine-tuning it to match my unique requirements. This significantly reduced the time and effort needed to get started with the platform.

Monday’s no-code automation builder is once again a feature worth mentioning, because it offers an easy way to reduce the non-essential tasks on a sales manager’s plate, making the user experience that much more intuitive. It’s sleek, responsive, and customized to the needs of most modern businesses.

During the onboarding process, Monday offers a comprehensive knowledge base filled with articles, video tutorials, and step-by-step guides that cover every aspect of the CRM. I found these resources useful when I needed to learn how to perform specific tasks or troubleshoot issues. Additionally, Monday also provides webinars and live training for users who prefer a more hands-on learning approach.

Overall, the learning curve for Monday CRM is relatively gradual, thanks to its intuitive design and helpful resources. As a relatively new user, I was able to navigate the platform and perform basic tasks within a matter of hours. The visual nature of the interface, with its color-coded pipelines and clear data organization, made it easy to understand the flow of information and take action accordingly.

What's more, earlier this year, Monday introduced a significant UI update to combat tab fatigue. This included a new global navigation tab, which displays the last seven items (boards, dashboards, or docs) you visited across the entire Work OS, not just the CRM. It's also now possible to use the Monday AI assistant to generate content and instantly turn that output into a work doc with one click. This is particularly useful for drafting custom proposals or internal post-mortems after a deal closes.

But while the CRM is relatively straightforward to use and offers a high degree of flexibility, more complex configurations require a deeper understanding of the platform's capabilities. In these cases, I had to spend more time exploring the knowledge base and experimenting with different settings to achieve my desired outcomes.

Another area where Monday CRM could improve is its mobile app experience. While the app provides access to essential CRM features on the go, I found that some functionality was limited compared to the desktop version. For example, certain customization options and reporting features were not available on mobile, which could be inconvenient for users who heavily rely on their smartphones for work.

Monday.com CRM integrations

screenshot of Monday.com app marketplace

(Image credit: Monday.com )

With over 200 pre-built integrations and a powerful API, Monday.com seamlessly connects with a wide range of popular business applications, ensuring a smooth flow of data and streamlined processes across the organization.

For starters, Monday’s app marketplace offers a diverse range of pre-built connectors, covering essential integration categories such as communication, collaboration, marketing, finance, and development. Popular tools like Slack, Gmail, Microsoft Teams, and Outlook are all supported. The ability to sync meetings, automate emails, and receive notifications directly in Monday significantly streamlined my daily tasks and reduced the need to switch between multiple applications. For instance, I could receive Slack notifications for important CRM updates or access Google Drive files directly within the CRM interface.

In cases where a pre-built integration was not available, Monday CRM's open API proves very valuable. Thanks to the well-documented API, you can develop your own integrations from scratch using common programming languages. While the API documentation is well-structured, however, this is something that only professional developers should attempt because of the steep learning curve.

If you can’t find a pre-built connector for your application but aren’t confident enough to code a custom integration from scratch, Monday offers another option — Zapier. Zapier acts as a bridge, connecting Monday with over 2,000 other apps, vastly expanding the possibilities for automation and data sharing. I was able to create complex workflows and automate repetitive tasks across multiple applications without any coding knowledge.

While the integration capabilities are generally impressive, however, I did encounter a few limitations. Some advanced features, such as custom field mapping and bi-directional data syncing, were not available for certain integrations. Thankfully, these instances were relatively minor and did not significantly impact the overall functionality of the platform.

How good is Monday.com customer support?

Monday offers a comprehensive range of support channels, ensuring that users can get help whenever they need it, through whichever method they prefer. It boasts a robust knowledge base filled with articles, video tutorials, and step-by-step guides covering every aspect of the CRM. The documentation is well-organized, easy to navigate, and regularly updated to reflect the latest features and enhancements.

Monday.com also operates an in-app learning center that’s meant to help you familiarize yourself with the platform in a more contextual setting. Being able to learn the ropes without having to leave the CRM is a welcome addition in my book, since it reduces the need for back and forth and the cognitive workload from having to cross-reference tutorials with the in-app interface.

In addition to the knowledge base, Monday provides a community forum where users can connect with each other, share best practices, and seek advice from experienced practitioners. I found the community to be active and supportive, with users readily offering their insights and solutions to common challenges.

When it comes to live support, Monday offers multiple channels, including phone, chat, and email. Its average response time has been well within industry standards, with most questions being addressed within a matter of hours. The platform boasts an impressive average resolution time of 1.67 hours, which is among the best in the industry.

However, there are a few things that could stand to improve. Currently, phone support is only available during limited hours, which may be inconvenient for users in different time zones. Monday could also stand to benefit from more one-on-one training and certification programs for new users, which would be helpful in boosting user adoption after implementation. Currently, these programs are only accessible to enterprise customers.

Monday.com CRM pricing and plans

screenshot of monday.com crm

(Image credit: Monday.com)

Plan

Basic

Standard

Pro

Enterprise

Price

$12/user/month

$17/user/month

$28/user/month

Custom quote

Best for

Small teams starting with CRM

Growing teams needing automation

Sales teams requiring advanced features

Large organizations with complex needs

Features

Unlimited customizable pipelines; Contact management; Basic lead tracking

Two-way email integration; AI email generator; Custom CRM automations

Sales forecasting; Mass email capabilities; Advanced analytics

Lead scoring; Enterprise-scale automations; Advanced security features

Limitations

Limited automation and integration options

Restricted to 250 automation actions per month

Some advanced features still unavailable

Pricing may be prohibitive for smaller teams

Monday offers four distinct pricing tiers: Basic, Standard, Pro, and Enterprise, with prices ranging from $12 to $28 per month when billed annually. Note that per user prices are actually lower, but Monday requires that you buy at least 3 seats to be able to access its CRM platform. While this shouldn’t be a problem for most organizations, solo entrepreneurs or startups with one-person sales teams may not be the intended demographic for the platform. Annual billing also provides an 18% discount on each plan, so monthly subscription costs are typically higher.

In terms of value for money, Monday’s feature set is quite comprehensive, even at the lower pricing tiers. The Basic plan starting at $12 per user per month includes unlimited customizable pipelines, contacts, and boards, as well as templates for lead, contact, and deal management. This is a solid foundation and helps make Monday.com one of the best CRM for start ups.

As you move up the pricing tiers, the feature set expands significantly. The Standard plan at $17 per user per month introduces advanced account, contact, and deal management, two-way email integration with Gmail and Outlook, and custom CRM automations. For businesses with more complex needs, the Pro plan at $28 per user per month offers sales forecasting, email tracking, mass email capabilities, and increased storage and integration actions.

However, some advanced features, such as Monday’s lead scoring, team goals, and advanced analytics, are only available on the Enterprise plan. Recently, Monday has added more granular enterprise-grade security to this plan - another selling point - including tighter board structuring and SAML-based synchronization. It is worth noting, however, that the Enterprise plan requires contacting Monday for a custom quote, but it’s only suitable for large organizations anyway. While this is not uncommon for enterprise-level CRM solutions, it may be a barrier for smaller businesses that need access to certain advanced capabilities.

When you compare the per-user pricing, Monday’s costs are actually much lower than those of competitors like Freshsales and Salesforce. However, the lack of a single-user purchase option does little to highlight the additional affordability. Still, Monday offers discounts for students and nonprofits, which is a nice touch. Additionally, the company provides a 14-day free trial of the Pro plan, allowing potential users to test out the platform's features before committing to a paid subscription.

How to pick

For an organization, selecting a CRM is a high-stakes decision that shifts the focus from features to operational fit. When evaluating a platform like Monday Sales CRM, the first thing to do is to define your operational North Star. Before looking at demos, identify your primary bottleneck. Do you want high-volume prospecting, stronger relationships, or more accurate forecasting?

Another aspect to consider is ease-of-use. Even the most powerful CRM is a liability if your sales reps refuse to use it. During a trial, have a senior sales rep try to log a call and update a deal stage. If it takes more than three clicks or requires a manual, the platform will likely fail in your organization.

Finally, calculate a 24-month financial path. Try to avoid the starter trap where CRM prices start small but quickly ramp up as your business grows. Don't just look at the immediate budgetary fit - but what this might look like in the future. When evaluating if Monday.com is the right fit for your business, remember to consider all the above.

How we choose

Choosing the right CRM is more than just a software purchase - it is a foundational business decision. When we select and rank platforms like Monday Sales CRM, our editorial team follows a strict evaluation framework designed to filter out marketing hype in favor of operational reality. Our picking process is built on a number of core benchmarks: agility, AI capabilities, pricing, and interoperability.

We prioritize CRMs that can be deployed in days, not months. Moreover, in today’s market, we no longer recommend CRMs that offer only basic data entry. To make our list, a CRM must feature autonomous AI agents - tools that don't just suggest text but can actually perform tasks, such as cross-referencing prospect data or updating pipeline stages automatically.

In addition, we penalize platforms with hidden costs, such as predatory seat-minimums or expensive API access fees. We look for a clear, predictable growth path where a small business can scale from a free tier to a professional tier without a 500% price jump.

Finally, we believe that a CRM should act as the brain of your tech stack. We pick tools that offer deep, bi-directional integrations with the tools you already use - like Slack, Google Workspace, and Microsoft 365 - ensuring that data flows freely without manual export/import cycles.

By using the above criteria, we ensure that a recommendation for Monday Sales CRM isn't just about its famous interface; it’s about its ability to handle complex, AI-driven workflows while remaining accessible to a non-technical sales team.

Monday.com CRM review: Final verdict

Monday’s core CRM capabilities are comprehensive and well-implemented, providing users with powerful tools for managing contacts, leads, and opportunities. While some advanced features are reserved for higher-tier plans, the overall functionality is impressive, even at lower price points.

An intuitive design, coupled with extensive onboarding resources, ensures a smooth learning curve for new users. The visual interface, with its color-coded pipelines and drag-and-drop functionality, makes it easy to navigate and understand complex sales processes at a glance.

It’s not without its faults — some essential features like sales coaching tools, custom reporting templates, and custom field mapping for integrations are sadly missing from the platform. Although there's always room for improvement, I believe that Monday.com is a highly functional and useful CRM whether you’re a small business, a medium-sized organization, or a large-scale enterprise.

Monday.com FAQ

Is Monday.com a CRM or project management tool?

The truth is that Monday.com is a work operating system that offers several specialized products. While you can use the Work Management product for projects, the Monday Sales CRM is a standalone product with features specifically for lead tracking, email integration, and sales forecasting.

What integrations does Monday offer?

Monday Sales CRM has expanded its ecosystem to offer 200+ native integrations and thousands more through third-party connectors. The platform's strength lies in its "No-Code" integration builder, which allows you to create "recipes" in seconds (e.g., "When a lead is created in HubSpot, create a row in Monday").

How does Monday’s AI compare to HubSpot or Salesforce?

Monday's AI has certainly evolved beyond a chatbot. While Salesforce (Agentforce) and HubSpot (Breeze) are often seen as being more enterprise-ready for complex data modeling, Monday AI is praised for its accessibility. It employs AI Blocks that allow non-technical users to build automations - like summarizing a meeting and automatically updating a status column - without needing a developer.

How does Monday handle accounting and invoicing?

Although Monday is not an accounting tool, it has strong Quote-to-Cash integrations. Today, many users ask how to sync it with Xero or QuickBooks. While it can generate quotes and track payment statuses via integrations, it does not handle tax filing or deep ledger accounting natively.

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