January, 2025 - Organizer

Technics EAH-AZ100 review: premium true wireless earbuds that bridge gap between ‘good’ and ‘great’

8:30 pm | January 7, 2025

Technics EAH-AZ100: Two-minute review

Technics EAH-AZ100 in-ear headphones on a white surface — (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Announced at a press conference at CES2025, the new Technics EAH-AZ100 are the company’s latest and (on paper, at least) and most thorough attempt to make meaningful waves in the stacked markets that are the best earbuds and best noise-cancelling earbuds.

There’s no denying the lengths to which the company has gone. From the extremely thorough specification (covering everything from multipoint connectivity and adaptive noise-cancellation to Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity with LDAC compatibility) to design (smaller, lighter and yet somehow no less premium in look and feel to the model they replace), the Technics EAH-AZ100 are ready to compete. Control options are numerous and well implemented, and the carefully ergonomic design extends as far as providing five different sizes of ear tip.

Of course, if you’re competing at the upper end of the market it’s important to go to these sorts of lengths. The most obvious products the Technics EAH-AZ100 intend to usurp – Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, the Pi6 by Bowers & Wilkins, the ubiquitous WF-1000XM5 from Sony – all look good on paper, too. The fight, as always, will be won or lost where sound quality is concerned.

And the sound quality that’s available here is convincing in pretty much every respect – or, at least, it is with ANC switched on. With noise-cancelling engaged, the AZ100 sound robust, insightful and thoroughly musical and sit easily among the best ANC earbuds out there. They can turn their hand to pretty much anything where styles of music are concerned, and are able to extract the most transient details in the most unpromising circumstances. Switch ANC off, through, and the solidly punchy and nicely controlled low frequencies lose a lot of their substance - and the Technics sound fractionally lightweight as a result. There’s a lesson there somewhere…

Technics EAH-AZ100: Price and release date

Release date: 7 January, 2025
Price: $299; £259; AU$478 (approx.)

The Technics EAH-AZ100 are on sale from 7 January 2025, having been unveiled at CES 2025 in Las Vegas. They are an update on Technics' much lauded EAH-AZ80, which arrived in 2023. A US price of $299 (the same asking fee as their predecessors) also puts the AZ100 into competition with any number of well-regarded rivals – think Bose, Bowers & Wilkins, Sennheiser and Sony just for starters…

Technics EAH-AZ100: Specs

Technics EAH-AZ100: Features

App screenshots showing settings for the Technics EAH-AZ100 in-ear headphones — (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Bluetooth 5.3 with SBC, AAC, LDAC and LC3 codec compatibility
10mm free-edge dynamic drivers with ‘magnetic fluid’ technology
Three-device multipoint connectivity

No matter what you think of the way the Technics EAH-AZ100 perform, there’s no arguing with the feature set here. Technics has laid it on with the proverbial trowel.

For instance, the EAH-AZ100 use Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless connectivity, and compatibility with SBC, AAC, LDAC and LC3 codecs means there’s something for everyone here. Perhaps it might have been nice to see Qualcomm’s aptX range of codec supported, too, but I guess you can’t have everything,

Once the digital audio information has been wirelessly received, it’s delivered to your ears by a pair of 10mm full-range dynamic drivers with free-edge aluminum diaphragms. The gap between the driver magnet and the voice-coil is filled with a viscous liquid charged with magnetic particles – Technics suggests this results in precise low-frequency response and low distortion throughout the frequency range. They quote a frequency response of 20Hz - 40kHz.

You’re able to enjoy this full-range sound for a good while, too. In the most favorable circumstances (using the AAC codec with active noise-cancellation switched off) the earbuds should play for around 12 hours between charges, and even if you go to town (using the hi-res LDAC codec with ANC switched on) you should be good for seven hours or so. The charging case is good for a respectable-but-hardly-startling one-and-a-half further charges, and you can go from ‘flat’ to ‘full’ in around two hours when charging via USB-C. Fifteen minutes on the juice is good for 90 minutes of playback. The EAH-AZ100 are compatible with Qi-certified charging pads, too, and need around three hours to become fully charged this way.

The noise-cancelling itself is of a new ‘adaptive’ design that intends to adapt to fit the wearer’s ear and deliver optimal results. Three mics per earbud also look after voice control telephony, and Technics has introduced ‘Voice Focus AI’ in order to provide the best possible call quality. The AI noise-reduction chip analyzes your surroundings in order to filter out unwanted sound, and at the same time assesses the incoming call quality in an effort to make conversations as pain-free as possible.

What else? Well, the AZ100 offer three-point connectivity for the inveterate multi-taskers among us. A suite of Dolby technologies – ‘Atmos’, ‘Audio’ and ‘Head-tracking’ – offers spatial audio, enhanced clarity for voice-based content, and a sound-field that responds to the movement of your head respectively.

Feature quality score: 5/5

Technics EAH-AZ100: Design

Technics EAH-AZ100 in-ear headphone case on white surface — (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

21 x 26 x 25mm (earbud); 36 x 69 x 27mm (charging case)
5.9g (earbud); 42g (charging case)
Five sizes of ear tip

Technics has long had a bee in its bonnet about the fit of true wireless in-ear headphones, and with the EAH-AZ100 it has gone to even greater lengths than before to ensure the earbuds are a secure and comfortable fit for lugholes of all shapes and sizes.

Both the earbuds and the case in which they charge are smaller and lighter than the outgoing EAH-AZ80 model. The concha shape and fit has been reworked, and there are now five sizes of ear tip provided in the package. It seems unlikely in the extreme that you’ll be unable to ensure your AZ100 fit snugly and remain comfortable for hours on end.

Otherwise, it’s high-end Technics earbuds business as usual. The EAH-AZ100 are available in silver or black, and no matter which finish you prefer, you’ll find yourself in possession of well-made, carefully finished and quite tactile earbuds that travel in a smooth, robust charging case with a nice slice of aluminum across the top which bears the company logo.

App showing different controls for Technics EAH-AZ100 in-ear headphones — (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Controlling the AZ100 can be done in a number ways, each nicely implemented and responsive. Your source player’s native voice assistant is available, of course, and interactions are rapid and reliable. The same can be said for the capacitive touch-surface on each earbud - it’s in the same spot as the brand logo, and is as responsive and reliable as these things ever get. And you can rearrange the meaning of the various ‘touch’ or ‘hold’ commands in the newly reworked ‘Technics Audio’ control app that’s free for iOS and Android. It’s not, perhaps, the most exciting-looking control app around, but it has a huge array of functionality (from adjusting EQ settings to finessing the amount of noise-cancellation you prefer) and proves utterly stable over the long haul.

Design quality score: 5/5

Technics EAH-AZ100: Sound quality

Technics EAH-AZ100 in-ear headphones, one facing up and the other facing down, on a white surface — (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Balanced, detailed and respectably dynamic sound
Energetic and unified presentation
Pronounced difference in sound depending on whether ANC is on or off

Asking a premium price for true wireless headphones means there’s really no hiding place when it comes to sound quality – ‘good’ is nothing like good enough. Happily, the Technics EAH-AZ100 are never less than ‘very good indeed’ and are capable of giving the class leaders plenty to worry about.

No matter if they’re dealing with a 16bit/44.1kHz FLAC file of Summon the Fire by The Comet Is Coming via AAC or a 24bit/96kHz copy of Weyes Blood’s Grapevine using LDAC, they’re a balanced and insightful listen, more than capable of bringing order to ear no matter how unruly a recording might think it is. Detail levels are high at every turn, and the AZ100 organize and lay out a recording with such confidence that even the densest tunes are easy to understand.

With ANC on and EQs set to ‘direct’ (which basically means ‘flat’), these Technics are a straightforwardly enjoyable and entirely convincing listen. Low frequency activity is deep, punchy and textured, and controlled with enough authority to make sure rhythms are expressed with assurance. The midrange is open and informative, with a whole stack of detail regarding tone and timbre not only made available but put carefully into context. And there’s proper drive and attack at the top end, but treble sounds have sufficient substance to ensure they never become hard or bitey.

Best of all is the way the AZ100 unify the entirety of the frequency range. They’re completely even-handed, and the sweep from the top end to the bottom is smooth – no area is given undue prominence, no area is underplayed. It’s possible to alter this stance quite radically if you fiddle with the EQ settings, of course, but it’s obvious Technics’ engineers have found a suitable balance – it’s called ‘direct’.

Despite the carefully judged frequency response and naturalistic tonal balance, though, the AZ100 are an energetic and decently dynamic listen when the material you’re listening to demands it. They fairly power through up-tempo stuff like Claro Intelecto’s Peace of Mind and make broad and fine dynamic variations completely obvious. They do this all with absolute authority – the Technics are always in control, and consequently the organization of the soundstage never gets blurred or uncertain.

All the above applies if you have active noise-cancellation switched on, and the ANC itself is pretty effective by the standards of any premium brand that isn’t Bose. Companies both large and small have tried in vain to replicate the almost eerie Bose Blanket of Silence, and all have failed – Technics is simply the latest. But if you accept that the ANC here can be bettered, it’s actually very effective where all but the most near-field, loud and toppy frequency occurrences are concerned.

Switch ANC off, though, and the AZ100 undergo a strange and obvious change in their sonic character. Low frequencies lose a degree of substance, and the overall presentation becomes rather flimsy and lightweight. It may well be fair to suggest that very few people buy a pair of true wireless earbuds with active noise-cancellation in order to leave the ANC turned off, but it’s equally fair to point out that any number of alternative designs sound exactly the same no matter if the ANC is operating or not.

Sound quality score: 4.5/5

Technics EAH-AZ100: Value

Rear of Technics EAH-AZ100 in-ear headphones carry case, showing USB-C charging port — (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)

Look and feel like a premium item
Balanced, convincing sound (with ANC on)
Very thoroughly specified

Touching and wearing the Technics EAH-AZ100 is a very pleasant experience. They’re nicely made and finished from tactile materials, and the care the company has taken where ergonomics are concerned means getting a secure and comfortable fit is no problem whatsoever.

Technics has been similarly thorough when it comes to specification, too. If you judge value for money by the spec-sheet yardstick, a) you’re not alone, and b) you’re in business here. The AZ100 are handsomely specified, with triple-device multipoint connectivity to boot. Only the lack of aptX compatibility sounding the mildest of false notes.

Sound quality score: 4.5/5

Should you buy the Technics EAH-AZ100?

Buy them if...

You value comfort
Small, light, very carefully shaped and with a very wide choice of ear tips, the EAH-AZ100 are no kind of burden to wear for hours on end

You enjoy vibrant, informative sound
Keep the ANC switched on and the Technics will reward you with an audio performance that strikes a very nice balance between ‘insight’ and ‘entertainment’

You’re a full-on multi-tasker
Triple-point wireless connectivity means your EAH-AZ100 can connect simultaneously to your laptop, your tablet and your smartphone, and switch seamlessly between them

Don't buy them if...

You’re far from mains power for days at a time
Seven hours (with ANC on) from the earbuds and another 10 hours or so from the charging case ain’t bad – but not if you like to rock around the clock…

Noise-cancellation is the most important thing
To be honest, Technics is far from alone in having ANC that’s not quite as good as that provided by Bose. If noise-cancellation is paramount, buy a pair of QuietComfort Ultra and be done with it

You’re not very dextrous
The earbuds fit snugly into their charging case, and unless you have fingers like cocktail sticks it can be a little tricky getting them out

Technics EAH-AZ100: Also consider

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
If you’re after class-leading noise-cancellation along with very competitive ‘everything else’ you need to check out the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds – oh, and they are also available at a new and improved price-point. Read our full Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds review.

Sony WF-1000XM5
They’re surely not long for this world, but that just means that the Sony WF-1000XM5 are now routinely available for less than $230, and that means they are even more difficult to ignore than before. Read our full Sony WF-1000XM5 review.

How I tested the Technics EAH-AZ100

Connected to an iPhone 14 Pro and a FiiO M15S
Various codecs, various file types and various styles of music
Listened (on and off) for very nearly a month

When connected to my iPhone 14 Pro, I am of course limited to the AAC codec - but this is nevertheless a decent-sounding smartphone and reveals a lot of what makes the EAH-AZ100 tick. The best results, though, naturally come via the FiiO M15S digital audio player – it’s compatible with the LDAC codec, which means higher resolution and an altogether fuller audio experience.

I spent the best part of a month (not 24/7, obviously) listening to the Technics earbuds, and in that time listened to a lot of different types of music, of different file standards and resolutions. And it wouldn’t be any kind of hardship to have to do it all again…

OnePlus 13: Two-minute review

The OnePlus 13 is extravagant and restrained. It’s a beautiful phone, sure, but OnePlus has made beautiful phones before. The OnePlus 13 is trustworthy. It’s durable, maybe the most durable phone I’ve tested that wasn’t made with military standards in mind. It’s also refined, with a look that is equally pretty and smart. It will also get four years of Android updates from OnePlus, which is longer than you’ll probably own this phone.

I highly recommend the OnePlus 13, and my biggest concern is that people won’t know what the hell phone I’m talking about. OnePlus fans know the company very well; other folks… not so much.

As I reviewed the OnePlus 13, I met more people than ever asking me what’s that gorgeous phone I’m using (sorry, embargo). I’d tell them it’s the new OnePlus, then I had to spell the name of the company because they’d never heard of it. OnePlus is a company you need to know about if you’re in the market for a premium phone.

OnePlus 13 loOnePlus 13ck screen with Never Settle wallpaper — (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

OnePlus had a fascinating trajectory. It started as a flagship-killer-maker, which means it made phones that gave you some of the features found on the best Samsung and best Apple phones, at a lower price. You might get a great display and amazing performance but middling cameras and no wireless charging. You’d also pay hundreds less.

That’s not true for the OnePlus 13. This phone is uncompromising in every way. It’s one of the first phones to use the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, and this chipset delivers on Qualcomm’s lofty promises.

The OnePlus 13 has the best display on any smartphone* (*according to DisplayMate). It has the biggest battery and the longest battery life; and even better, it charges much faster than any Samsung or Apple or Google phone.

The OnePlus 13 has great cameras, too. It can match the best camera phones in many situations, offering just enough artistic flair to compete with the iPhone while giving you AI assistance to zoom like a Galaxy.

Missing features that used to hold OnePlus back have become its biggest strengths on the OnePlus 13. My key complaint about OnePlus phones was the lack of IP68 certification. Apple’s iPhone and Samsung’s Galaxy phones have been water resistant for almost a decade, but OnePlus has never officially certified any of its flagship phones for IP68 durability. This year, the OnePlus 13 takes the plunge with unbeatable IP69 certification, and it’s been the most durable phone I’ve ever tested that doesn’t look like a brick made out of a Jeep.

OnePlus phones also used to lack wireless charging, but today’s OnePlus 13 has so-called AirVOOC wireless charging at up to 50W. To compare, the Qi2 charging standard supports up to 15W, and that’s what you’ll get with iPhone and Galaxy devices. The OnePlus 13 charges faster wirelessly than the iPhone 16 Pro can charge with a USB-C cable.

OnePlus 13 from back with AirVOOC charger fan attached to aramid fiber case — A OnePlus 13 in the aramid fiber case with the AirVOOC charger attached (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

You can’t buy a OnePlus phone at your local carrier store. That’s probably why your friends or your parents haven’t heard of OnePlus. Selling a phone through Verizon or Vodafone is an expensive proposition that requires testing, free samples, and marketing money. By skipping the carriers and selling direct (mostly), OnePlus says it keeps its prices lower.

Unfortunately, that means a lot of people who would probably love the OnePlus 13 will never hear about it. It also means the OnePlus 13 is harder to afford. When you buy a new iPhone or Galaxy from your carrier, they give you a big discount if you agree to pay for it for the next three years. You don’t get the massive discount with a OnePlus phone, but you also don’t get the three-year obligation.

It’s hard to find anything I don’t like about the OnePlus 13. I don’t wish it had any more AI features now, but the lack of AI might mean this phone gets left behind when the good stuff – agentic AI – finally arrives in a couple of years.

If you’re remotely considering the OnePlus 13, just buy it, you’ll be happy. The battery life alone makes this an easy decision, and the performance, polished interface, and delightful touches throughout make this a phone that will keep you happy as long as you own it, which will be a long time, thanks to its improved durability. The hardest part might be choosing the color and the magnetic case to go with it.

OnePlus 13 review: price and availability

$899.99 / £899 for 12GB RAM, 256GB storage in black only
$999 / £999 for 16GB RAM, 512GB storage and the good colors

OnePlus 13 in blue from back showing cameras — (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

If the OnePlus 13 seems a bit expensive for a sleeper hit, that’s because OnePlus is great at making phones, but not so good at pricing them. You can ignore the list prices (below), because OnePlus offers a perpetual discount on all of its best phones that usually keeps the price lower. In the US, for instance, there is a $100 discount on the upgraded 512GB/16GB model, as well as a guarantee of at least $100 no matter what phone you trade. That means the price is effectively $799.99.

The OnePlus 13 is competing with the absolute top-tier flagship phones, but you can buy it for the price of the base model. The OnePlus 13 cameras, display, and battery life all compete handily against the iPhone 16 Pro Max and Galaxy S24 Ultra, but the phone can be purchased for the price of an iPhone 16 or Galaxy S24.

The real problem for OnePlus is where and how you can purchase the OnePlus 13. You can buy it directly from OnePlus, or you can buy it from Best Buy, but only the blue or black models, and if you walk into a Best Buy you’ll only find the black. Amazon will have the OnePlus 13 in the near future, but it’s not available on Amazon yet.

OnePlus offers payment plans in the US through third-party Affirm, but doesn’t seem to have similar plans in the UK, which means many people will have to pay up front for the OnePlus 13. That’s not how most of us buy phones, so if you’re used to paying a monthly installment through your mobile carrier, there will be some sticker shock with the OnePlus 13.

OnePlus 13 in every color, black, blue, and white — OnePlus 13 in every color: black, blue, and white (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

Hang in there, though, because having an unlocked phone that you own is a huge benefit. You can shop around for any cell phone plan on any carrier, and when it comes time to sell your phone, you’ll be able to sell it without having a lien from a carrier agreement.

The OnePlus 13 is available in three colors at launch: Midnight Ocean (blue); Arctic Dawn (white); and Black Eclipse (black). My review sample was the blue color, which might be the best one, but the white is quite striking, with a bit of texture in the back that makes it stand out. Also, there’s black.

Value score: 4/5

OnePlus 13 review: specs

OnePlus 13 theme wallpaper showing a woman with a hairless cat — (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

Except for a couple of hardcore gaming phones, the OnePlus 13 is the first mainstream phone we’ve tested with the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite processor inside. The chipset delivers on Qualcomm’s promises. It’s much faster than the previous generation, and it beats Apple’s latest A18 Pro-powered iPhone 16 Pro in many benchmark tests.

The wins don’t stop there. OnePlus says the display is the best that DisplayMate has ever seen, and our tests show it beats competitors in color gamut, if not average brightness. The RAM and storage are significant, and more than enough to drive all of the phone’s AI features and more.

The most impressive specs might be the 6,000mAh battery and the accompanying 80W charging. I’ve never seen a battery this big in a phone that wasn’t made for hardcore gaming. With the huge battery and Snapdragon 8 Elite, the OnePlus 13 is our new battery life champ, and it charges back to full faster than any Samsung or Apple phone, even with the larger cell inside.

OnePlus 13 review: design

Lovely vegan microfiber (aka plastic) on the dark blue
Excellent cases with magnets that make MagSafe accessories work

OnePlus 13 in white up close showing camera, next to blue and black models — (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

I’ve long been a big fan of OnePlus phone designs, but I had a major complaint that kept me from recommending them more often: OnePlus phones weren’t durable. They were not certified to be water and dust resistant, unlike every major Samsung phone since the Galaxy S7. That all changes with the OnePlus 13, and it changes in a big way.

For such a gorgeous phone, the OnePlus 13 is shockingly durable. Most phone makers test phones to IP68 requirements, which means they can be submerged in one meter of water for thirty minutes, and they won’t allow any dust particles inside. OnePlus turns that dial to 11 with, it claims, the first IP69 certified phone. Technically, IP69 just means IP68 plus more, and OnePlus gave this phone a lot more.

I saw OnePlus reps drop the OnePlus 13 into a clothes washing machine and run it with a full load. I saw the phone placed into a dishwasher, where it sat for a full dish cycle, including the drying. This phone doesn’t just take a dunk. It takes a dunk, a spray, and a punch to the face.

It can’t handle salt water, sadly, but that only leaves room for future improvement. But seriously, this might be the most durable phone you can buy that isn’t made for the military or deep sea drilling operations.

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OnePlus 13 from side showing volume and power — (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

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OnePlus 13 from side showing mute switch — (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

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OnePlus 13 USB-C port on the bottom — (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

OnePlus makes the best looking phones you can buy, and the OnePlus 13 continues the trend. While I miss the swirly green from the OnePlus 12, which seemed like a magical object I picked up on my journey through an elfen forest, the Midnight Ocean blue is so strikingly classy that it’s undeniably a good evolution for OnePlus.

For accessories, I highly recommend buying the Aramid Fiber Magnetic case, which is not only incredibly functional, it also looks snazzy with that bright red ring around the camera bump. OnePlus is also offering the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 in a matching hue, a very nice touch.

The OnePlus 13 feels fantastic when you hold it, especially in the blue color with its soft, inviting, ‘microfiber vegan’ finish that makes me wonder why I’d ever consider a cold, glass-backed phone like the iPhone or Galaxy. The circular camera bump seems purposeful and stylish, unlike the embarrassed portholes on the iPhone 16 Pro and Galaxy S24 Ultra. Be proud of your cameras! Of course, you get the Hasselblad H stamp next to the ring, for the three people you meet who have heard of Hasselblad – they will be very impressed.

OnePlus keeps the mute switch on the side of the phone, and it’s the most useful mute switch on any device thanks to intuitive haptic feedback that clearly tells you when the phone will make a ruckus or when it will keep quiet.

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OnePlus 13 in aramid fiber case from back showing red ring — (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

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OnePlus 13 in wooden case and aramid fiber case on red table top — (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

I usually ignore phone cases in my review, but OnePlus has gone above and beyond with this year’s offerings. My review sample came with the aramid fiber case (DuPont’s Kevlar is an aramid fiber), which also has magnets built in that by design line up perfectly with every MagSafe charger and attachment. With the case on, I had no trouble charging my OnePlus 13 on my Anker 3-in-1 cube, or attaching my magnetic wallet to the back – the one that came with my iPhone 16 Pro case.

The OnePlus 13 with my favorite Peak Design magnetic tripod, thanks to the magnetic case (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

If you’re considering switching from an iPhone to OnePlus, all of your MagSafe gear will work fine if you also have one of the new cases attached to your OnePlus 13. It’s an incredibly smart system that – sorry Apple – every phone maker should adopt. Let’s make magnet placement a standard across all phones. OnePlus told me that it kept magnets out of the phone itself to keep the price down, but its cases are gorgeous, and third-party options are already making an appearance.

Design score: 5/5

OnePlus 13 review: display

Fantastic display is rated tops by DisplayMate, apparently
Great colors with a slick design that is curved on all four sides

OnePlus 13 with TechRadar.com on Chrome browser on sccreen — (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

OnePlus points to DisplayMate, which says the OnePlus 13 earned DisplayMate’s Highest Ever Display Performance Grade of A++. Who am I to argue? Our own testing in Future Labs showed a wider color gamut than the iPhone 16 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, except when the Galaxy was boosting its color with Vivid mode turned on.

OnePlus loves to flaunt its maximum brightness numbers, but you will never see the phone reach the 4,500 nits that OnePlus claims. In our tests, the display was not as bright as the iPhone or Galaxy using HDR mode. In my real-world time with the phone, I had no trouble seeing the display even in bright sunlight, and OnePlus handed me the phone after flying me to Miami, so it was plenty bright.

OnePlus 13 fingerprint scanner icon on screen — (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

The fingerprint reader under the display was a delight, the most responsive I think I’ve ever used. I don’t remember a missed attempt in my entire three-week review period, while my Galaxy phone fails to read my thumb print on the daily.

I even like the subtle curve all around the edges of the display. It makes for a very appealing device to hold and swipe around. My fingers never caught on the edges, and it gives the phone a premium feel.

Display score: 5/5

OnePlus 13 review: software

The best-looking Android interface, with just the right features
Not as much AI as a Pixel or iPhone, for better and for worse

OnePlus 13 showing OnePlus shelf widget software — (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

At its best, the OnePlus Oxygen OS 15 interface is delightful. It’s colorful enough to be engaging and unique, without feeling cartoonish or distracting. The OnePlus shelf is a brilliant way to handle widgets, with great designs, and the system settings and notification menus are refined and restrained. Every other Android phone maker should be following OnePlus’s lead, because the OnePlus interface doesn’t go too far, like Samsung’s OneUI, or oversimplify, like Google’s vanilla Pixel Android.

Sometimes, OnePlus gets a bit silly in its pursuit to take on Apple, but it's an earnest attempt to create the most thoughtful and appealing phone software you’ll use. There is a fake Dynamic Island on the OnePlus 13 that mimics the pill-shaped island on the latest Apple iPhone 16. Unlike the iPhone, the OnePlus Dynamic Island persists even when the phone is in landscape mode. The feature Apple created to hide the hole in its screen is now being copied to create a fake hole in the screen.

OnePlus 13 Zen Space software setup screen — (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

I appreciated the attempt, and OnePlus sees utility in having a tiny little window with animations for app activity, like your Uber Eats meal approaching or your Audible audiobook playing. All around the OnePlus 13 I found thoughtful touches and flourishes. It never went too far, and OnePlus even retains its controversial Zen Space, an app that will literally lock you out of your own phone, with no way to regain access, for a period that you specify. Zen indeed.

On the other hand, not everything is perfect. OnePlus claimed that its phones could tap to share with the iPhone, which would be a huge win for an Android phone. In fact, your iPhone friends need to download special OnePlus software, then walk through a series of steps. It’s not as seamless as OnePlus made it sound, and I’d never subject my iPhone friends to this process when I can just email a photo or file instead.

OnePlus 13 with Google's Circle To Search scanning for a lighthouse — Google's Circle To Search scanning for a lighthouse (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

If you’re a huge fan of smartphone AI, what you get on the OnePlus 13 won’t compete with Apple Intelligence or Google’s Pixel phones. You get a lot of Google AI features, including Google Gemini and Circle to Search, but Google isn’t handing over all of the AI magic to its Android partners. For instance, my Pixel 9 Pro will screen calls using an AI assistant, but the OnePlus 13 can’t do that.

OnePlus 13 Quick Settings drop-down menu with notifications — (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

OnePlus also loads its phones with just a bit more first-party bloat than I’d like. There’s a Clone Phone app and that Zen Space app, and those should just be Settings options. The OnePlus Community app should be an optional download. There are sadly two Photos apps, because one is actually Google Photos and the other is from OnePlus. And why is there a strange ‘Internet’ web browser from third-party developer HeyTap? Chrome works fine.

Software score: 4/5

OnePlus 13 review: cameras

Wonderful cameras for action photos and low-light shooting
Heavy reliance on computational tools, but photos look great

OnePlus 13 up close in blue showing cameras and H Hasselblad logo

(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

The OnePlus 13 has three 50-megapixel cameras, but forget about the megapixels because megapixels don’t matter. What matters is the size of the sensor. The main sensor on the OnePlus 13 is the Sony LYT-808, the same sensor used on the OnePlus 12. The iPhone 16 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra each use slightly larger main sensors, but the difference is minimal: around 0.06-inches diagonally.

The OnePlus 13 has excellent cameras, and it’s one of the best camera phones you can buy. The OnePlus approach to mobile photography is going to be more and more important in the near future. Instead of packing the phone with massive sensors, OnePlus is aggressively enhancing images with computational photography techniques, to mostly excellent effect.

From the main sensor, I got photos that fell somewhere between the oversaturated, explosive colors I see from the Galaxy S24 Ultra, and the staid, film-like softness of the iPhone 16 Pro. The OnePlus 13 takes photos that are stylish and realistic, without being dull.

OnePlus 13 in blue in between iPhone 15 Pro Max and Galaxy S24 Ultra — (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

In some ways, the OnePlus camera is truly remarkable, like with zoom shots and action photos. Though the OnePlus 13 gets a lot of help from AI to fix the 3x zoom long-distance pics, the result is much better than the competition. Zooming in on my kid on the football field, the iPhone left him grainy and blurred, while the Galaxy made him look cartoonish. The OnePlus 13 offered remarkable detail and sharpness without much blur, even on action shots taken in low light.

Shooting fast-action scenes gave the OnePlus 13 even more advantage. OnePlus paid for me to take a Royal Caribbean cruise with other tech media (I know, I know) to preview the OnePlus 13 and OnePlus 13R, and I got to photograph folks riding the simulated surfing wave. Under cloudy skies or even at night with disco lights, I got amazing shots that other phone cameras couldn’t approach.

I still think that the iPhone 16 Pro offers a better look, and the photos from my iPhone look like real photo prints, which can be charming. The OnePlus 13 offers amazing dynamic range, but it suffers from the classic camera phone problem of balancing everything too evenly. Sometimes I don’t want to see so much detail, I want a little more mystery.

Camera score: 4/5

OnePlus 13 review: camera samples

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A sunset view of a river in Connecticut with fancy yachts wrapped for the winter season — (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

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Two men on boogie boards wipe out while riding Flow Rider on the Royal Caribbean cruise during the day — (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

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A beer in a tulip glass with Tree House in lights behind — (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

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A teacup fairy with insect wings on a glass tabletop. She is asleep and wearing a fancy dress. — (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

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A man rides a surf board on the Flow Rider ride on a Royal Caribbean cruise at night with disco lighting — (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

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La Picante restaurant in SoNo collection mall with lit sign and booth seats — (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

OnePlus 13 review: performance

The fastest phone you can buy, if you need that
Android needs software to justify performance gains, besides AI

Vampire Survivors on the OnePlus 13 — (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

What do you do with the fastest phone in the world? That’s the question I’m left pondering after my time with the OnePlus 13, which scored higher in important benchmarks than any other phone we’ve tested in Future Labs. It beat the iPhone 16 Pro Max handily in multi-core processing performance and on most graphics tests. Against the Galaxy S24 Ultra, the OnePlus 13 was twice as fast on some tests.

In the real world? Yes, it’s the fastest phone I’ve ever used. The interface is incredibly snappy, and OnePlus says its doing work behind the scenes to make sure that everything apps open and windows render faster on the OnePlus 13 than any other phone. Still, phones were already plenty fast, and I don’t know a single human who can perceive the difference between the fastest overall and the third, fourth, or tenth fastest phone.

The problem is that Android software, especially, hasn’t caught up to the performance benefits. Sure, I can use Adobe Lightroom or Adobe Premiere to edit photos and videos, but the software doesn’t work the same as it does on a desktop computer. Even worse, Apple has far more desktop-class applications developed for its mobile platforms, likely because it took the lead with pro software like Logic Pro and Final Cut Pro. Where is the Final Cut for Android? What apps justify the need for so much power?

OnePlus 13 with Snapdragon 8 Elite plaque and mock-up processor in foreground — (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

I suspect that all of the Snapdragon 8 Elite’s processing power will be used eventually by upcoming AI features. For now, the AI story is confusing. It seems that the OnePlus 13 is offloading most of its AI work to various cloud servers. It isn’t doing much machine learning computation on the phone itself, even though that’s supposed to be the whole point of the Snapdragon 8 Elite.

Frankly, the Snapdragon will benefit Samsung more than OnePlus, because Samsung stuffs its phones full of software features like the DeX desktop environment, the Bixby assistant, and more robust edge panels and pop-up bonuses. You’ll find a useful, simpler edge panel on the OnePlus 13 by swiping in from the edge of the phone, but you won’t find a desktop computer hidden inside. I appreciate that OnePlus doesn’t overload its phones with features I’d hardly use.

Performance score: 5/5

OnePlus 13 review: battery

The longest battery life of any phone we’ve tested
Astonishing charging speeds, even charging wirelessly

Ahhh, here’s the answer to the Snapdragon question: How does the OnePlus 13 benefit from using the Snapdragon 8 Elite? It’s the battery life, which is the best I’ve ever experienced from a mobile phone. My OnePlus 13 lasted longer than a full day of use every day I used it, and I would often forget to charge it at night in my first week of testing because I simply wasn’t worried that it would run out of juice.

In our lab testing, the OnePlus 13 lasted 15 minutes shy of 20 hours. The iPhone 16 Pro Max lasted just over 17 and a half hours, while the Galaxy S24 Ultra couldn’t last 17 hours in our testing. That’s the longest any phone has lasted, though it shouldn’t be a huge surprise because the phone to beat was the OnePlus 12R, a big battery powerhouse with an efficient Snapdragon inside.

OnePlus 13 with aramid fiber case and AirVOOC charger on top, laying on marble counter — In the aramid fiber case with the AirVOOC charger (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)

In my real-world use, honestly I’m not entirely sure because charging the OnePlus 13 is very fun. It charges so fast, it’s incredible. OnePlus also gave me the new AirVOOC wireless charging puck with a cooling fan built in, and it attaches magnetically to the back of the OnePlus 13 when it’s wearing a case. Even with the wireless charger, the OnePlus 13 charges faster than my iPhone or Galaxy. But connected to a special OnePlus red cable? Superhuman (phone) speeds.

When I can charge my phone past 50% in the 15 minutes it takes me to shower, I barely worry about battery life. Or I can drop my phone onto the wireless charger and get a full charge in an hour while I catch up on work. The OnePlus 13 lasts longer than any other phone, sure, but it almost doesn’t need to last so long because, even with the huge battery, it charges faster than all the rest.

In 15 minutes, the OnePlus 13 charges to 52% full. In the same time, my iPhone 16 Pro Max reached 29%, and my Galaxy S24 Ultra hit 39%. After charging for 30 minutes, the OnePlus was five minutes from being totally topped up, while the other phones weren’t even three-quarters charged.

OnePlus even gives you a charger in the box, though it must, because no other charger will charge the OnePlus 13 that fast. You must use the special OnePlus charger. In the near future, OnePlus will be releasing an even more special charger than can charge the phone to the full 100W speed, instead of just 80W, though that big brick will cost a lot extra.

Battery score: 5/5

Should you buy the OnePlus 13?

Buy it if...

You want the best battery and fastest charging
The OnePlus 13 has the best battery life of any phone I’ve tested, and it can charge to full in just over 30 minutes like a fiend.

You want a beautiful phone that is delightful to use
The OnePlus 13 turns heads and makes people ask what phone I’m using. I’m happy to show them, the interface is just as pretty.

You want to switch from iPhone to Android
I’m calling it: the OnePlus 13 is the phone to consider if you want to switch from iPhone to a more versatile, powerful phone with better battery life.

Don't buy it if...

All your friends have iPhones
Sorry to say that OnePlus’s iPhone sharing capabilities don’t live up to the hype, and may frustrate friends more than help.

You don’t have that much cash on hand
Your mobile carrier will practically give you a Galaxy or iPhone free if you sign your soul away for a few years.

You want the best camera phone
The OnePlus 13 is one of the best camera phones, but the Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 16 Pro still take better photos in many situations.

OnePlus 13 review: also consider

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Apple’s big phone gives you a Camera Control button, Apple Intelligence, and all of Apple’s unique features that only work between iPhones.
Read our full Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max review.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
This Galaxy is about to be replaced, but it still hits hard with amazing cameras, the water resistant S Pen camera remote, and tons of other features.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra review.

How I tested the OnePlus 13

OnePlus flew me to Miami to give me a OnePlus 13 review sample, then paid for me to join the company and around three dozen other reviewers on a 4-day Royal Caribbean cruise. OnePlus had no say in any part of this review and did not ask for any consideration in return. I tested the OnePlus 13 and OnePlus 13R during that period and for two weeks after, side-by-side against all of my best phones.

I tested the phone by submerging it in water, spraying it with a hose, and generally abusing it with liquids then washing it in the sink.

I had the OnePlus 13 for around three weeks before this review was published. I used it as my primary work phone that time, including Slack, Google Meet, Vampire Survivors, and Google’s office suite. I also used Google Gemini Advanced with my own personal subscription to the service.

I used the OnePlus 13 primarily as a camera and video camera, but I also played a lot of games, listened to music, and used it for maps and navigation. I connected the OnePlus 13 to my car stereo via Bluetooth and Android Auto, and I connected to a variety of other headphones including the matching OnePlus Buds Pro 3, Sony Bluetooth headphones, Google Pixel Buds Pro, and more.

I benchmarked the OnePlus 13 using a variety of benchmarking software available from the Google Play Store. The phone was also independently tested in Future Labs by our reviews testing team.

Why you can trust TechRadar

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First reviewed January 2025

Nikon Z50 II review: a pocket rocket at a competitive price

7:03 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Cameras Computers Gadgets Mirrorless Cameras | Tags: ISO | Comments: Off

Nikon Z50 II: two-minute review

A tidily packaged APS-C camera with great handling and plenty of features at decent price, we rated the original Nikon Z50 highly. Its successor takes that recipe and supercharges it, with the help of an Expeed 7 processor. The result is a versatile mirrorless camera that’s perfect to learn and grow with.

Its dimensions are neat enough to compete with the best travel cameras, yet Nikon hasn’t sacrificed ergonomics. Slightly larger than the original, the Z50 II feels fantastic in the hand. With a deep grip and plenty of direct-access controls, as well as a useful vari-angle touchscreen and upgraded viewfinder, it’s a satisfying camera to shoot with, whether you’re capturing stills or video.

Under the hood, Nikon’s latest Expeed 7 processor runs the show – the same silicon found in the Nikon Z9 and Z8. It might be pitched as an entry-level option, but that chip gives the Z50 II some serious pace. The interface is quick as you like, while autofocus performance is superlative. Equipped with detection modes for nine different subject types, including people, animals and vehicles, it’s as fast and accurate as many of Nikon’s more expensive models.

Processor aside, a lot remains unchanged from the Z50. That includes the APS-C sensor which, at 20.9MP, is bettered by many of the best beginner mirrorless cameras. That said, it’s still capable of producing detailed and realistic images when paired with a quality Z mount lens. If you already own a Z50, you won’t notice a huge difference in overall quality – although noise performance has been improved thanks to the Expeed 7 processor, meaning stills are cleaner at the same ISO settings.

Nikon Z50 II mirrorless camera on a wooden tabletop — (Image credit: Future / Chris Rowlands)

Nikon has also bolstered the video capabilities of the Z50 II, boosting its status as an all-rounder. 4K frame rates now top out at 60fps, albeit with a 1.5x crop, and it becomes the first Nikon APS-C camera to support 10-bit N-log video – giving videography enthusiasts more flexibility when color grading in post. A headphone socket is a welcome addition, too.

The features above are complemented by a new Product Review mode, which allows influencers to produce content where the focus shifts seamlessly from presenter to product. There’s also a Picture Control button on the top plate, which gives easy access to color presets, with the option to add downloaded Creator Recipes alongside the built-in presets.

Taken as a whole, the Z50 II proves that one camera can work effectively for different creative styles and experience levels. Buy it as a beginner and it will quickly yield impressive results. Stick with it as you improve and the Z50 II has the controls and capabilities to continue delivering.

Nikon Z50 II: price and release date

Body-only price: $909.95 / £849 / AU$1499.95
With the 16-50mm kit lens: $1,346.95 / £1,199 / AU$ N/A
Available now

Like the original Z50, the Z50 II is positioned at the entry-level end of Nikon’s Z mount line-up. With a body-only price of $909.95 / £849 / AU$1499.95, that feels like a competitive offer for such a well-rounded APS-C camera.

In Australia and the US, the Z50 II costs pretty much the same as the original did at launch. In the UK, it’s cheaper by £50. That makes it excellent value. While the Z50 can now be found at a discount online, we think the second-gen version is the smarter buy: it’s not a total upgrade, but its powerful processor and video upgrades make it the more accomplished all-rounder.

That price also makes it slightly cheaper than the Canon EOS R10, our current favorite camera for beginners and arguably the Nikon Z50 II’s closest rival. Both are compact APS-C cameras with modern autofocus and comparable video skills. Which is right for you will come down to more than cost alone, but the Z50 II wins on price.

The Z50 II can also be picked up with bundled lenses. If you’re not already bought into the Z mount system, this is a great way to save on entry-level glass. Options include a single-lens kit with a 16-50mm VR lens for $1,049.95 / £999, and a twin-lens kit which throws in a 50-250mm VR number for $1,299.95 / £1,199. There’s also an 18-140mm kit in the UK and Australia for £1,299 / AU$2,279.

Price score: 5/5

Nikon Z50 II: specs

Nikon Z50 II: design and handling

Upgraded viewfinder and vari-angle touchscreen
Slightly bigger dimensions with a deeper grip
Dedicated Picture Controls button for style presets

At first glance, the Nikon Z50 II bears a strong resemblance to the original Z50. It’s a tidily packaged camera, very much in the established mold of entry-level mirrorless models. Its dimensions are compact enough to be travel friendly, yet it also benefits from a sturdy build and comfortable ergonomics.

That’s in part because the Z50 II is marginally bigger and heavier than the first version. In the hand, we found its grip substantial enough to wrap our fingers around, without being cumbersome. We also appreciated the extra grams: the body features plenty of plastic, but doesn’t feel flimsy in use.

Look closer at the Z50 II and you’ll find several welcome refinements. The tilting screen of the original has become a fully articulating display, a much more flexible solution for framing on the move. This is especially useful for videography and vlogging, as it can flip all the way around to face the front. So is the addition of a headphone port, which allows aspiring filmmakers to monitor audio in real time when recording footage.

The viewfinder has also received the attention of Nikon’s product developers. It has the same 2.36m-dot resolution as before, but is now twice as bright at up to 1000 nits. In practise, that makes the EVF an easier adjustment for the eyes when framing and shooting in daylight conditions.

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Eagle eyes will also discover new additions to the control layout. In our review of the Z50, we complimented the layout and balance of its buttons and dials, praising its resemblance to full-frame Nikon siblings like the Z6 and Z7. The Z50 II gets closer still, with the addition of five new buttons.

You still don’t get a joystick, which means selecting the AF point requires use of the touchscreen. What you do get are zoom buttons, a display button and a dedicated drive button. These aren’t game-changing additions, but we valued their presence: they bolster the Z50 II’s chops for aspiring enthusiasts, making it easier to change key settings, without cluttering the interface.

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The fifth new button sits on the top plate. A first for any Nikon camera, it gives instant access to Picture Controls – a library of aesthetic presets. To seasoned users, this might sound like a fad, but we think it will appeal to learners who want to get creative while shooting JPEGs. 31 profiles come pre-installed, with the option to adjust them through NX Studio. You can also download Creator Recipes from Nikon Imaging Cloud, and select which appear in the list.

The button’s presence leans into the Z50 II’s status as a camera for all kinds of creators. So does the fact that you can re-program its function, a useful option which will appeal to users as they move into shooting RAW stills and making color edits in post.

Design score: 4.5/5

Nikon Z50 II: features and performance

Expeed 7 processor drives subject-recognition AF
Same 20.9MP APS-C sensor as the Nikon Z50
First Nikon APS-C camera with 10-bit N-log video

If you already own a Nikon Z50, you’ll find a lot of familiar numbers on the spec sheet. The Z50 II uses the same 20.9MP APS-C sensor as its predecessor. Its mechanical burst speeds max out at 11fps. And, like many of the best mirrorless cameras for beginners, it still doesn’t offer in-body image stabilization. What it does have is a new engine.

The headline upgrade for the Z50 II is its Expeed 7 processor – the same chip used by the flagship Nikon Z9 and, subsequently, the Z8. This is the first time it’s been fitted to an APS-C body. As the motor that drives everything from autofocus to burst shooting speeds to video frame rates, it has a lot to do. Based on our experience, the Expeed 7 makes the Z50 II a proper pocket rocket.

Chief among the benefits of that new chip is top-spec subject-recognition autofocus. It might be an entry-level model, but the Nikon Z50 II can detect and lock on to targets rapidly and reliably. It has dedicated detection modes for nine different subject types, including people, animals, birds and cars, as well as an auto setting which can pick up a range of subjects at the same time.

In our experience, the Z50 II’s autofocus performance feels just as snappy in action scenarios as many of Nikon’s more expensive full-frame Z series models. With a new High-Speed Frame Capture+ mode which allows you to shoot at up to 30fps using the electronic shutter, this is a camera that’s perfectly comfortable covering action. We did encounter some rolling shutter when using this mode, but it's nevertheless an impressive feature for an entry-level camera.

It helps that the SD card slot now supports UHS-II cards for faster read and write speeds. The USB port has also been upgraded to a Type-C number, which brings a host of benefits: as well as 5Gbit/s transfer rates, it can be used to charge the camera directly, while UVC/UAC compatibility means it can be used as a webcam without the need for additional software.

Nikon has pitched the Z50 II as a hybrid, which is reflected in its video skills. Even with the same sensor as the Z50, Nikon has harnessed the power of the Expeed 7 to squeeze more recording performance out of it. That includes the ability to capture 4K/60p video, albeit with a 1.5x crop. Uncroppped 4K footage is shot at 30fps, oversampled from 5.6K.

It’s also the first Nikon APS-C camera to support 10-bit N-log video, as well as the option to use RED Luts. This makes the Z50 II a camera with the flexibility for budding filmmakers to grow with, as they learn the ropes of videography and start to explore the possibilities of color grading.

These enthusiast-grade video capabilities might go beyond what most beginners need, but the Z50 II is also well-equipped for first-timers. A new Product Review mode seamlessly adjusts focus from the presenter to an object brought into the frame, similar to the Product Showcase feature found on cameras like the Sony ZV-1. It won’t be relevant to everyone, but if you have ambitions of becoming an influencer, it’s an effective tool.

Like the Z50, the Z50 II features electronic vibration reduction to help steady handheld footage. As before, this applies a 1.3x crop to video. Nikon claims that the feature has been improved for the Z50 II, though our tests found that it still isn’t a replacement for full in-body image stabilization.

Features and performance score: 4.5/5

Nikon Z50 II: image and video quality

Excellent image quality in most conditions
Better noise-handling than the Z50 at the same ISO
4K/60p video with a 1.5x crop

On the whole, images from the Z50 II are as they were with the Z50: realistic, vibrant and clear. While its competitors offer higher resolutions, the 20.9MP sensor inside the Z50 II still does an admirable job of capturing detail.

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Sample images shot with the Nikon Z50 II — (Image credit: Chris Rowlands)

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With the white balance on automatic, we found stills out of the camera to be nicely saturated and just the right amount of dynamic range, without straying too far from neutral. The metering system coped well in a range of lighting scenarios, delivering well-judged exposures. We found that skin tones in particular were rendered faithfully in natural lighting, with a touch of warmth only detectable when shooting under heavy artificial lighting.

While its sensor size and ISO range are unchanged, we found that the Nikon Z50 II handles noise better than the Z50, thanks to the Expeed 7 processor. It was always going to lose out to its full-frame siblings, but you can get away with pushing the ISO number higher on the Z50 II before significant smoothing becomes an issue. ISO 12800 is still the upper limit, but you can comfortably lean on ISO 6400 if the conditions demand it.

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Nikon Z50 II sample images — (Image credit: Chris Rowlands)

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If you’re purely a stills photographer, you will get better resolution elsewhere. What sets the Z50 II apart as a value offering is its autofocus performance, as well as its hybrid video abilities. As noted above, stabilization isn’t perfect, but the same adjectives are true of 4K footage from the Z50 II as for its stills.

We found 4K/60p video to be well-defined and nicely balanced. In our tests, the Z50 II adapted well to different light sources and levels, producing lifelike footage that’s good for grading. Used with a tripod, we can’t see content creators having any issues with the video that the Nikon Z50 II captures.

Image and video quality score: 4.5/5

Nikon Z50 II: testing scorecard

Should I buy the Nikon Z50 II?

Buy it if...

You want top-spec autofocus
Driven by Nikon’s Expeed 7 processor, the Z50 II offers autofocus performance to rival the flagship Z9. With subject detection modes for people, animals and more, it’s rapid and reliable.

You value ergonomics and handling
A deeper grip makes the Z50 II even more comfortable to shoot with. A vari-angle touchscreen is helpful for framing, while new buttons bring its control layout in line with full-frame Z models.

You want to shoot a mix of stills and video
With 4K/30p footage oversampled from 5.6K, plus support for N-log 10-bit recording and a useful Product Review mode for vloggers, the Z50 II has the video capabilities of a proper hybrid.

Don't buy it if...

You already own the Z50
Performance improvements from the Expeed 7 processor are notable, but with few other changes to the overall package, there’s probably not enough here to justify upgrading from the original Z50.

You need in-body image stabilization
Like many entry-level mirrorless cameras, the Z50 II lacks in-body image stabilization. Electronic video stabilization is available with a crop, but you’ll need a VR lens for optical shake reduction.

You want high-resolution stills
At 20.9MP, the Z50 II’s APS-C sensor doesn’t have the highest pixel count. If the number of megapixels matters to you, other entry-level mirrorless cameras offer more for similar money.

Nikon Z50 II: also consider

Canon EOS R10

Our top pick for beginners, the R10 is a similarly priced entry-level mirrorless camera with a compact design, impressive autofocus and rapid burst speeds. It also benefits from a deep grip. Like the Z50 II, it has no in-body image stabilization and puts a crop on 4K/60p video.

Read our in-depth Canon EOS R10 review

Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV

Its 20MP Micro Four Thirds sensor is smaller than the APS-C type inside the Z50 II and has (fractionally) fewer megapixels, but the Mark IV impresses in other ways. It offers excellent in-body image stabilization, classic styling and a compact body, all at a more accessible body-only price.

Read our in-depth Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV review

Nikon Z fc

Another APS-C Nikon Z mount camera, the Z fc offers a stunning blend of old and new. It uses the same sensor as the Z50 II, packaged in a body inspired by the retro FM2. You also get a vari-angle touchscreen, making this a great value casual alternative.

Read our in-depth Nikon Z fc review

How I tested the Nikon Z50 II

Tested a production model over a fortnight
Shot with multiple Nikon Z mount lenses
Used with Nikon’s SnapBridge smartphone app

I tested the Nikon Z50 II for a fortnight, shooting with it on a daily basis. Nikon supplied me with three Z mount lenses for this review: the Z 35mm f/1.4, the Z 85mm f/1.2 S and the Z 70-180mm f/2.8. This allowed me to cover a range of subjects and scenarios with the Z50 II, from street scenes to portraits.

To assess its hybrid capabilities, I used the Z50 II to shoot a combination of stills and video. I also shot fast-moving subjects, including children and dogs, to put its autofocus and burst speeds to the test. During testing, I used one of the best SD cards, a SanDisk Class 10 U3 model, to ensure that performance wasn’t throttled by the memory card.

I also tested the Z50 II at various times of day and in different weather conditions, from bright sunlight to overcast skies. The resulting stills let me assess the white balance out of the camera, as well as how effectively the Z50 II handled noise at different ISO settings.

First reviewed January 2025

iOS 18.2.1 arrives with critical bug fixes

6:11 pm |

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

Nearly a month after iOS 18.2’s official rollout, Apple is now seeding iOS 18.2.1, which brings important bug fixes. The update is joined by iPadOS 18.2.1, with Apple recommending that all users update their devices to the latest version as soon as possible. iOS 18.2.1 update changelog The latest iOS update comes in at 372-511 MB depending on your device, and Apple has yet to detail the exact vulnerabilities tackled with this release. As usual, the update should have popped up as a notification on your device. You can also manually check for the update by going to the software...

Severance season 2 review: Apple TV Plus’ superb mystery thriller gets back to work with a bigger, bolder, and more brilliantly bizarre entry

5:01 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Apple TV + Computers Gadgets Streaming | Comments: Off

It's been three years since Severance captivated us with its mystery-filled plot. Apple's dark comedy thriller series rightly earned plenty of acclaim and awards for its debut season, but, amid the seemingly infinite unanswered questions its twisty-turny story posed, one in particular has stood out since season 1 ended in April 2022: could a second installment, which was greenlit days after season 1's final entry, live up to or even exceed fan expectations?

Despite a lengthy development cycle that was hindered by the 2023 Hollywood strikes, the answer is a resounding yes on both fronts. Season 2 is as tightly-paced and enthrallingly enigmatic as its forebear but, galvanized by an stronger emotional core, and a deliberate but methodical splicing of its real-world and Lumon Industries-set storylines, Severance's long-overdue return has been worth the wait.

'Welcome back, Mark... been a minute'

Mark S holding a red ball while smiling and sitting down in Severance season 2 — Mark Scout's return to Lumon Industries poses some immediate questions for him and viewers alike (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

After a brief audio montage of the season 1 finale's bombshell moments plays over a black screen, Severance season 2 opens on Mark Scout's (Adam Scott) surprisingly swift return to Lumon. Episode 1's cleverly-executed 'one-shot' reintroduction sequence, which is essentially an extended version of Severance season 2's first teaser, shows Mark's 'innie' – i.e. Mark S – racing through the shady institution's maze-like corridors to seemingly reunite with his colleagues Helly R (Britt Lower), Dylan G (Zach Cherry), and Irving B (John Turturro).

I would've liked to have seen more of Mark butting heads with his new co-workers

Or so he thinks. Eventually finding his way back to the Macrodata Refinement office, Mark S is unexpectedly greeted by some unfamiliar faces, including the Severed Floor's new deputy manager Ms Wong (Sarah Bock).

Seth Milchick (Tramell Tillman), who's replaced Harmony Cobel (Patricia Arquette) as the the floor's head honcho, then appears to reveal that five months have passed since Mark and his fellow 'innies' carried out their Overtime Contingency stunt. That prison break-style quest, dubbed the 'Macrodata Uprising', saw the 'innies' successfully – albeit temporarily – merge with their 'outies' in the real world and almost expose Lumon's nefarious working practices to the unsuspecting public. That incident, Milchick claims, led to 'Severance Reform', a supposedly radical overhaul of Lumon's working conditions and employees' rights.

Tramell Tillman smiles next to balloons with Mark Scout's face — Way to burst Mark's balloons, Seth... (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

But it's not all good news. Per more succinct story exposition, Milchick claims that Helly, Irving, and Dylan decided not to rejoin Mark at Lumon, hence the aforementioned strangers being hired to replace them.

This specific revelation cleverly reimagines the show's very first episode, which saw Mark S welcome chaotic newcomer Helly to Lumon. This time, Mark is positioned as the group's rebel-in-chief, with his attempts to sabotage his new colleagues and reunite with his previous workmates bringing the series' pleasing blend of absurdist humor and disquieting drama to the fore mere minutes into season 2's premiere.

Peculiarly, this nascent team restructuring is a short-lived affair as, spoilers notwithstanding, it isn't long before Mark S is reunited with his Lumon peers. Given the slick and sharp chemistry between the show's main cast, I understand why creator Dan Erickson and director/producer Ben Stiller waste little time in reconnecting them. Nevertheless, I would've liked to have seen more of Mark butting heads with his new co-workers, and raging against the megacorporate machine over their hiring to humorous and dramatic effect before being reunited with the aforementioned trio.

Getting the band back together

Helly and Mark stand in a dark Lumon Industries hallway in Severance season 2 — Helly and Mark S investigate new areas of Lumon Industries throughout season 2 (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

That reunion, which occurs just before episode 1's midpoint, is necessitated by season 2's overarching plot, and the inter- and intrapersonal relationships that make the Apple TV Plus show tick.

Severance's strength lies in the friendships, and the budding romance between Mark S and Helly, that were established in season 1. So, while there's a need to fill in the narrative gaps between last season's cliffhanger and this season's premiere – a series of episode 2 flashbacks get us up to speed on what's happened in the interim – expanding on those key relationships and other character-driven aspects is vital to Severance's ongoing success. It's not a complete shock, then, that Mark S is reunited with his buddies as early as possible.

Season 2's expasion of those key relationships and other character-driven aspects is vital to Severance's ongoing success

But things aren't hunky dory upon the group's reformation. Whether it's Helly's reluctance to tell the others that her 'outie' is none other than Helena Egan, aka the daughter of Lumon's current CEO, or other spoiler-filled subplots which I can't expand on, season 2 does a upstanding job of putting its core characters through the psychological and emotional wringer. Much of that stems from their individual and collective decision-making in last season's finale, the ramifications of which are keenly felt in this season's early episodes and make for engrossing viewing as Mark S and company grapple with the severity and significance of their so-called uprising.

Dylan and Irving chatting inside Lumon Industries in Severance season 2 — Dylan and Irving's entertaining bromance is examined further in season 2 (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

Those problems also bring the conflicting ideals, motives, and desires of each individual's 'outie' and 'innie' into sharp focus. As the show's protagonist, Mark's intrapersonal dynamic was examined extensively throughout season 1, but, as he wrestles with new and long-standing issues this season, there's a gratifying evolution to his character arc that puts a distinct spin on the series' exploration of morality. Indeed, whether it's his desire to quit Lumon, ensure his 'innie' succeeds in rescuing Ms Casey (Dichen Lachman) – remember, she's the 'innie' version of Mark's deceased, real-world wife – or take an experimental, life-threatening leap into the unknown, the moral complexities of Mark and his 'innie' character feel more substantial this season.

Season 2 does a upstanding job of putting its core characters through the psychological and emotional wringer

Pleasingly, this exploration also extends to Helly, Irving B, and Dylan G, how the choices made by their 'innie' personas impact their 'outies', and the growing unease and/or anger over the lack of autonomy that these 'innies' have compared to their 'outie' counterparts.

Just as season 1 did with Mark, season 2 analyzes who these people are outside of Lumon, including the struggles they face – yes, even someone as emotionally manipulative and callous as Helena is confronted with everyday challenges – and the real-world relationships they maintain. Examining the lives of each character's 'outie' humanizes (or, in Helena's case, dehumanizes) them in enlightening ways and occasionally made me re-evaluate who I was rooting for as new light was shed on the moral ambiguity of, and internal battles taking place within, each character.

Out of office

Helly, Mark, Irving, and Dylan wearing winter clothing in Severance season 2 — In season 2, the 'innies' are intentionally dropped into the real world by Lumon Industries (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

Following on from the embryonic blending of the real-world and Lumon narratives in last season's finale, Severance's second chapter slowly and deliberately continues to merge its dual storylines together, oftentimes to devastating effect. From episode 4's real-world company retreat for the 'innies', which adds a deliciously novel layer of trippy horror to proceedings, to Lumon's unsevered higher-ups wilfully seeking out the Macrodata Refiners' loved ones, such as Mark's sister Devon (Jen Tullock) for devilish reasons, the interweaving of the 'innie' and 'outie' worlds triggers some blindsiding character incidents that' I suspect will reverberate through season 2 and beyond.

The interweaving of the 'innie' and 'outie' worlds triggers some blindsiding character moments

Season 2's much-needed exploration of the wider threat posed by Lumon is most welcome, too. The Egan family-founded organization's questionable practices have been notable from the outset, but there was the inherent belief among audiences that their operation was restricted to the US. Season 2 heavily implies that this isn't the case, however, and I'm certainly intrigued to see how big Lumon's global reach is as this season and the overall series progresses, and whether Mark S and his cohorts stand any chance of tearing it down from the inside.

Sarah Bock's mystery character standing in a Lumon office in Severance season 2 — Sarah Bock's Ms Wong is one of nine new additions to Severance's cast in season 2 (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

Severance's ability to dangle mysteries right in front of our noses without offering much, if anything, in the way of explanations is equally riveting. Season 2 maintains the show's puzzle-laced aura and penchant for 'new weird' storytelling with mesmeric effect, and I'm convinced an immeasurable amount of new fan theories will be born out of the latest secrets and enigmas it presents. Oh, and for anyone besotted by season 1's baby goats, you'll be pleased to learn that, even though they were teased in Severance season 2's official trailer, their reappearance isn't superficial. Just don't expect any of your most pressing questions about them to be answered (there is, though, an amusing season 1 call-back as part of this installment's goats-based subplot, which I appreciated).

Gwendoline Christie's mystery character holding a cowbell in Severance season 2 — Gwendoline Christie's enigmatic character has ties to Severance's adorable baby goats (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

As for this season's fledgling new dynamics, Milchick and Ms Wong's is the most worthy of being highlighted. The introduction of other enigmatic characters, such as Mr. Drummond (Ólafur Darri Ólafsson), certainly add sinister weight to one of the best Apple TV Plus shows' sophomore outing. Nevertheless, the addition of a pre-teen in Bock's Ms Wong to Lumon's ranks underpins the clandestine organization's iniquitous nature and only intensifies the unease I felt every time she appeared and/or was chastized by one of her superiors. Her hiring as Milchick's junior and questioning of his true aspirations, though, ruffles her supervisor's feathers, and I'm fascinated to see how this dynamic evolves as season 2 progresses.

Harmony Cobel is largely relegated to the sidelines in season 2's early entries

The only minor issue I have with this dynamic is it deprives us of season 1's tetchy and enthralling Cobel-Milchick partnership. In fact, Cobel is largely relegated to the sidelines in season 2's early entries, which greatly disappointed me. I've no doubt that Arquette's cryptic individual has a bigger role to play in Severance's sequel season, but I would've loved to see more of her verbal bouts with Lumon's hierarchy and Mark, especially in the wake of last season's fiery finale.

My verdict

If Severance wasn't already one of Apple's best TV Originals, I'd say it deserves a promotion. Season 1 positioned it as a whip-smart program that poked fun at office culture and the power that multinational companies wield, and that helped to differentiate it from the crowd.

I'd argue, though, that its follow-up is a darker, more unsettlingly comedic, oft-times saccharine, and intelligently assembled season that's equal parts a coming-of-age story and corporate retelling of the classic David versus Goliath tale. Truth be told, there's very little about Severance season 2 that made me want to *ahem* sever ties with it. Simply put, it's the first unmissable show of 2025.

Severance season 2 premieres on Apple TV Plus on Friday, January 17. New episodes air weekly.

Nvidia announces RTX 50-series graphics cards with DLSS 4

4:27 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Tags: DLSS, RTX | Comments: Off

Nvidia today announced the GeForce RTX 50 series, the company’s next generation of desktop and mobile graphics processors. Based on the latest Blackwell architecture, the product stack currently includes the RTX 5090, the RTX 5080, the RTX 5070 Ti, and the RTX 5070 in both desktop and mobile variants. The four GPUs have obvious spec differences but let’s focus on things that are common first. All new Blackwell GPUs are built on the TSMC 4NP process. They feature new 5th generation Tensor cores and 4th generation ray tracing cores. There’s a newer 9th gen NVENC encoder and 6th gen...

Nvidia announces RTX 50-series graphics cards with DLSS 4

4:27 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Tags: DLSS, RTX | Comments: Off

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