The Roku TV interface is easy to navigate, but we experienced some lag when making selections during our testing of the Roku Streaming Stick (Image credit: Future)
The Roku Streaming Stick is cheap, compact, and easy to use. As the cheaper of Roku’s two newest streaming sticks, the other being the Roku Streaming Stick Plus, it has its limitations – specifically, no 4K or HDR support – but the value proposition here is very good. If you’re trying to save money, it might be among the best streaming devices out there.
As far as competition goes at this price point, there’s really only the Amazon Fire TV Stick HD, which is slightly more expensive. Of course, if you care about getting the best performance and features and are willing to pay for it, I suggest going for the Roku Ultra (2024) instead.
The Roku Streaming Stick is literally just a stick with an HDMI port on the end, and is small even by streaming stick standards. When I reviewed the Amazon Fire TV Sticks that came out in 2023 ( still current models), I had trouble fitting their bulky bodies into the HDMI slots behind my TV, so the svelte design of the Roku Streaming Stick is welcome.
The only visual difference between this and the Streaming Stick Plus version is that the Roku logo is purple as opposed to an etched design, making it look just a bit cheaper than its big brother. Otherwise, it’s identical, with the same somewhat convex case, with the HDMI male jack on one end, and the USB-C charging port on the other. There’s also a reset button, and that’s it.
It’s worth noting that Roku only provides a USB-C to USB-A cable for charging – there’s no power supply or adapter. When I first saw this on the Roku Streaming Stick Plus (again, they’re identical in this regard), I was a little upset that I was expected to pay extra for an adapter. But then I realized there was a good reason for the lack of an adapter, since you’re expected to use the USB port on your TV to power the streaming stick.
Because you’re powering the stick from the TV’s USB port, which is usually just a few slots over from the HDMI connections, there are no hanging cables from the device. This means you’ll end up with a cleaner-looking setup using the Roku Streaming Stick.
The Roku Streaming Stick comes with a USB cable and a remote with a voice control option (Image credit: Future)
The included remote control is Roku’s voice remote. It has a slightly bulky body with a little bit of weight that makes it nice to handle while still being fairly compact. The buttons include dedicated play/pause buttons – a feature I appreciate over the navigation wheel layout that most remotes have. And there’s also a voice assistant button, which lets you make voice commands when holding it down. It’s not Roku’s best remote – that would be the one included with the Roku Ultra – but it’s good enough and about what one would expect at this price point.
The Roku Streaming Stick is intended to be an entry-level HD device, so there’s no 4K or HDR support. I tested it on a 65-inch TV, and the picture quality was still pretty good. If you’re getting this for a guestroom TV, it’s probably worth saving the few extra bucks.
The Roku Streaming Stick’s biggest sticking point is its performance. Given the stick’s low price, you shouldn’t expect the world, but it’s still worth noting. The actual streaming experience is fine and without interruption, but the Roku Streaming Stick has a slight delay when interacting with it, with the onscreen cursor moving just a fraction of a second after a button press, so you feel like it’s catching up.
It’s worth noting that the Roku Streaming Stick uses the old 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi standard, which is even slower than the 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) one used by the Roku Streaming Stick Plus. You probably don’t need the latest Wi-Fi standard for a streaming device, but the Streaming Stick’s slower and older WiFi standard is a potential reason why it runs a little slower.
The Streaming Stick’s interface is the usual intuitive one I expect from Roku. There are a few watch suggestions at the top, but the home screen is otherwise just a series of tiles for different apps. I appreciate its simplicity compared to the more congested interfaces used by Google TV, Fire TV, and other smart TV platforms. If you prefer that type of layout, Roku has a similar setup when you click on the “What To Watch” tab on the homescreen.
There’s a good amount of free content available to stream directly through the Roku interface. There’s also a Sports tab, but you still need a subscription to whichever service has the rights to your favorite sport. Otherwise, Roku’s interface here is its usual rock-solid self.
Roku Streaming Stick: Price and release date
The super-compact Roku Streaming Stick is powered by your TV's USB port (Image credit: Future)
$29.99 / £29.99 (about AU$50)
Released April 2025
Thirty bucks or quid for a streaming device is impossible to beat. The closest to that is probably the Amazon Fire TV Stick HD that I mentioned earlier at $34.99 / £39.99 / AU$69.
The question you need to ask yourself is whether it’s worth saving ten bucks for this version over the Roku Streaming Stick Plus, which goes for $39.99 / £39.99 (about AU$70). The design of both sticks is the same, and so are the limitations in performance. If you’re trying to just get the cheapest streaming stick with 4K and HDR support (but not Dolby Vision), the Plus version is the one you’ll want. But if you have an older TV that doesn’t support those features, the basic Roku Streaming Stick will be ideal.
The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (2023) is also a good streamer to look at as it’s regularly discounted to the same price as the Roku Streaming Stick Plus. And unlike Roku products, that model is available for purchase in Australia.
Roku's remote control sits nicely in the hand and features a mic button for voice search commands (Image credit: Future)
Should you buy the Roku Streaming Stick?
Roku Streaming Stick
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Features
HD streaming with Dolby Atmos but no 4K or HDR support
3/ 5
Performance
It’s fine when streaming, but it lags when interacting with the interface and menus, possibly due to using an older Wi-Fi standard
3.5 / 5
Design
It’s slim and is designed to get power from the TV it’s connected to, helping provide a cleaner, more tangle-free look
4.5 / 5
Value
Streaming doesn’t get cheaper than this. You just have to decide if you can forgo 4K and HDR support
5 / 5
Buy it if...
You’re on a strict budget Getting the Roku Streaming Stick is on par, pricewise, with dinner for two from a fast food chain. You can’t really get cheaper than this
You want to hide the cables The ability to draw power from a TV’s USB port is a nice touch that allows for a cleaner-looking setup, especially if you plan on wall-mounting your TV.
You want a Roku device There are other almost as cheap options. But if you like the Roku smart interface, then this is the perfect entry-level device for it.
Don't buy it if...
You want top performance The slight lag while navigating is a performance-related concern, as it can be frustrating to feel like you’re always a quarter step behind.
You want 4K and HDR The Roku Streaming Stick does have features like Dolby Atmos, but you’re missing out on the 4K resolution and HDR support that pricier models have.
Roku Streaming Stick review: Also consider
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (2023)
If you’re an Amazon Prime Video subscriber and/or own Alexa smart home products, then the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (2023) is the way to go. It has faster Wi-Fi6 support, not to mention 16GB of onboard storage and Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support. It is very Prime-centric, however, and shows ads for Prime content every time it’s idle.
If you want both speedy performance and the Roku ecosystem, The Roku Ultra (2024) is your best bet. Sure, it can’t tuck behind the TV discreetly like the Streaming Stick or Streaming Stick Plus, but the Ultra is the company’s best and most robust streaming device. It supports just about every feature, including 4K and Dolby Vision HDR, and it comes with Roku’s best remote.
I used the Roku Streaming Stick regularly for a few days to evaluate everything it can do. I used it to stream Roku content and movies and shows from apps like Max. I also spent time using the remote and testing its various functions.
I’ve tested a lot of tech gear over the years, from laptops to keyboards and speakers, and so have been able to use my expertise towards giving an honest and fair opinion, not to mention a critical eye, to any product I test.
The Wobkey Rainy 75 Pro is a wireless mechanical keyboard with numerous connectivity options for great flexibility. It has a rather restrained aesthetic, although the vibrant RGB lighting and various colorways help make it stand out. It lacks the pomp of many gaming keyboards, and it’s all the better for it in my view.
In terms of build quality, the Rainy 75 Pro is dense and very heavy, while the aluminum casing makes it near impossible to dent or damage. The double-shot PBT keycaps also feel premium, with their smooth texture and subtle indentations.
The board is also quite thick, especially at the back, and there are no adjustable feet. Thankfully, the stock angle allows for a good typing position, although I still would’ve welcomed some form of wrist support, since I did find the Rainy 75 Pro uncomfortable after long periods.
Customizations are available courtesy of the VIA web app. Here you’ll find a macro creator and RGB lighting adjustments, with plenty of effects to choose from. There are also myriad shortcuts available for remapping, rivaling many of the best keyboard options around, although the interface doesn’t do a great job of presenting them in the cleanest manner.
There are other issues with this web app: it requires you to download JSON files to work, while profiles have to be saved as files on your PC, both of which feel outdated and clunky. What’s more, there aren’t any performance-related tweaks, and sometimes it would lose connection to the keyboard altogether.
Thankfully, in action, the Rainy 75 Pro provides a mostly enjoyable experience. The linear Cocoa switches in my unit were snappy and responsive, with a light actuation and a very satisfying feel, which made for fast typing. However, beware that they are quite loud.
Connectivity is mostly great, and switching between Bluetooth and 2.4.GHz devices is easy. However, I did experience momentary lagging in one particular instance when connected via the latter method to my PC, which is obviously disappointing, but thankfully only occurred once.
Despite how solid and pleasurable it is to use, the Rainy 75 Pro is still an expensive keyboard and it faces some stiff competition, such as the Razer Pro Type Ultra and the MonsGeek FUN60 Ultra, the latter of which is cheaper but performs equally well. If you’re looking for the sturdiest board around with effortless typing, the Rainy 75 Pro is hard to beat on these fronts. But all things considered, it's hard to justify its expense in a market full of great value alternatives.
(Image credit: Future)
Wobkey Rainy 75 Pro review: price and availability
$139 / £159 / AU$239
Available now in multiple variants
High-end of the market
The Rainy 75 Pro costs $139 / £159 / AU$239 and is available in multiple colorways and switch types. Wired and non-RGB versions are also available with lower prices. It comes with a keycap puller, USB cable, 2.4GHz USB dongle, and three spare switches.
This places it at the premium end of the space, although when you consider its high build quality, mechanical switches and multiple connectivity modes, it makes a little more sense. It’s close to the same price as the Razer Pro Type Ultra, although that board is full-size, making it a better choice for productivity purposes.
However, the Rainy 75 Pro is more expensive than the MonsGeek FUN60 Ultra. That board has analog switches, which allow for various actuation adjustments to be made, an aspect shared by some of the best gaming keyboard options. It also features multiple wireless modes, although it has a 60% layout, which means it lacks quite a few useful keys present on the Rainy 75 Pro.
Value: 3 / 5
Wobkey Rainy 75 Pro review: specs
Layout
75%
Switch
Mechanical
Programmable keys
Yes
Dimensions
12.6 x 5.4 x 1.8 inches (32 x 13.7 x 4.6cm)
RGB or backlighting
Yes (customizable)
(Image credit: Future)
Wobkey Rainy 75 Pro review: design and features
Exceptionally heavy
Well made
Not the most convenient software
The Wobkey Rainy 75 Pro has a somewhat muted appearance, especially in the white colorway I had on my review unit. It looks modern enough, and the lack of gamer touches is something I welcome, while the RGB lighting does enough to add vibrancy.
It’s also one of the heaviest keyboards I’ve ever used. It feels extremely dense and sturdy as a result, and if you’re prone to gamer rage, be careful of venting your frustrations out on this one. The aluminum casing feels very premium and hard wearing too.
The Rainy 75 Pro is also quite thick, although mercifully it has a fairly steep tilt angle, so the front end is lower to the ground than the back. This makes getting a comfortable position easier, although I found that my wrists still had to bend noticeably to reach the keys.
The double-shot PBT keycaps have a smooth texture and feel high quality, as you would expect. They also have minimal indentation, but it’s enough to secure your finger tips in place.
There are some useful default shortcuts on the Rainy 75 Pro, including the ability to hot-switch between Bluetooth and 2.4GHz devices using the Fn and Tab keys. However, it’s a shame that none of the keys have their Fn shortcuts labelled on them.
(Image credit: Future)
However, what’s more inconvenient is the switch for activating the wireless capability, since it’s located underneath the Caps Lock key, meaning you have to remove it to access it – a baffling design choice and one I’ve seen before on the MonsGeek FUN60 Ultra.
Thankfully, it’s rarely needed as it can be left in the on position, even when using the board with a wired connection. The only time I needed to switch it to the off position was when installing a firmware update.
The Rainy 75 Pro makes use of the VIA web app for its customization abilities. This provides the usual tinkering options, with macro creation, RGB settings, and plenty of remapping options.
However, the web app isn’t the most user-friendly interface, requiring you to download and then upload JSON files manually to get working. You also have to save your custom settings as files to your computer, which is also inconvenient and outdated.
I encountered other usability issues, too. There were occasions where the key remapping function wouldn't work, and sometimes the board lost connection to the web app, requiring me to refresh the page to remedy.
The layout of this web app also leaves a lot to be desired, as the scattergun approach to listing all the remaps isn’t the best presented, making it hard at times to find the shortcuts you need.
Design & features: 3.5 / 5
Wobkey Rainy 75 Pro review: performance
Light and snappy
Great for typing
Can get uncomfortable
The performance of the Rainy 75 Pro is excellent, whether you’re gaming or typing. The linear Cocoa switches in my unit had a very light and snappy actuation, with plenty of rebound and a relatively short travel, all of which made for quick taps and fast typing. Their lubed yet clicky feel also provided plenty of feedback, resulting in a tactile feel to match the best mechanical keyboards.
However, typing is quite loud, and while the Rainy 75 Pro is comfortable to use for the most part, that aforementioned thickness and the wrist bend required to access the keys did cause me some discomfort after a while. This is yet another keyboard where I would’ve appreciated a wrist pad.
Connectivity is seamless in the main, and I found switching between Bluetooth and 2.4GHz quick and easy. Battery life also seems reasonable, if not exceptional, dropping to 80% after several days of varied use between Bluetooth and 2.4GHz.
However, I did experience some serious lag on one occasion when playing a game, causing a severe delay to my inputs. My mouse inputs were unaffected, so I don’t believe it was an issue with the game.
This is obviously concerning, but I should stress this only happened once during my several days with the Rainy 75 Pro, and what’s more, it was fleeting. Still, it’s worth mentioning all the same.
(Image credit: Future)
Performance: 4/ 5
Should I buy the Wobkey Rainy 75 Pro?
Gamakay TK75HE V2 Scorecard
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Value
The Rainy 75 Pro is quite expensive, and although it offers a lot, there are plenty of competitors at this price point – and below.
3 / 5
Design and features
The Rainy 75 Pro is exceptionally solid and heavy, and it uses double-shot PBT keycaps. The customization web app isn’t the best, though, and it’s a little too thick for long-term comfort.
3.5 / 5
Performance
Light and snappy, the Rainy 75 Pro is great for typing and gaming, with a satisfying feel. I did experience a brief connection issue on one occasion, though.
4 / 5
Overall
The Rainy 75 Pro is very enjoyable to use, and the build quality is very impressive. However, the lack of wrist support, awkward software, and high price hold it back somewhat.
3.5 / 5
Buy it if…
You want easy typing The snappy actuation and fast rebound make this a very tactile and easy board to type fast on.
You a sturdy unit The sheer weight of the Rainy 75 Pro alone is testament enough to its build quality, but the aluminum material further consolidates this.
Don’t buy it if…
You want the best software The VIA web app isn’t the easiest or most convenient to use, and there are no performance-based tweaks available for hardcore gamers.
You want to save money The Rainy 75 Pro isn’t exactly cheap, and there are plenty of keen competitors around at this price.
Wobkey Rainy 75 Pro review: also consider
Wobkey Rainy 75 Pro
MonsGeek FUN60 Ultra
Razer Pro Type Ultra
Layout
75%
60%
Full size
Switch
Mechanical
Analog (TMR magnetic)
Mechanical
Programmable keys
Yes
Yes
Yes
Dimensions
12.6 x 5.4 x 1.8 inches (320 x 137 x 46mm)
Not stated
17.28 x 5.16 x 1.57 inches (439 x 131 x 40mm)
RGB or backlighting
Yes (customizable)
Yes (customizable)
Yes (customizable)
Razer Pro Type Ultra If you’re looking for a similarly premium experience, the Razer Pro Type Ultra is a great alternative, especially if you plan on doing a lot of typing. It’s about the same price as the Rainy 75 Pro, but has a full-size layout. However, like the Rainy 75 Pro, we found its angle a little steep for optimum comfort levels, but in all other regards, it’s an excellent keyboard for work and play. Read our full Razer Pro Type Ultra review.
MonsGeek FUN60 Ultra Another formidable slab of a keyboard, the FUN60 Ultra has a 60% layout, so it lacks some keys useful for productivity and certain games. However, it’s great for typing with, and its TMR analog switches make it a boon for gamers. What’s more, it’s remarkably cheap considering its premium feel and performance, so it’s certainly a board worth considering if you can live with the compromised layout. Read our full MonsGeek FUN60 Ultra review.
How I tested the Wobkey Rainy 75 Pro
Tested for several days
Used for gaming and typing
Plentiful keyboard experience
I tested the Rainy 75 Pro for several days, during which time I used it for gaming and typing. I used all of its connectivity modes on both Windows 10 and Windows 11 systems. I played Counter-Strike 2, a good test for keyboards since it requires fast and accurate inputs.
I have been PC gaming for over a decade and have plenty of experience with keyboards of all kinds. I have also reviewed a large number of them, with different connectivity methods, switch types, layouts, and price points.
The Meze Audio Poet are a posh pair of ‘phones. At this price point, you deserve nothing less than ‘posh’, and the Poet deliver in spades – from an impressive quality of build to a lagoons-deep listening experience. Smart touches like magnetically attached earpads and a nifty adjustment mechanism exemplify the thoughtfulness with which the Poet were designed, like many of the best wired headphone available.
A narrow soundstage and an eventually fatiguing listening experience serve to slightly dull these premium cans' shine to sit easily among the best over-ear headphones on the market – but only because of the increased scrutiny such premium prices invite. For those with the budget and inclination, the Poet are a hard set to turn down.
(Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw)
Meze Audio Poet review: Price and release date
Released February 20, 2025
$2,000 / £1,899 / AU$3,550
Meze Audio is a relatively young headphone company – at least, young against the years held by the generational heavyweights that tend to claim column inches such as these. Yet in a relatively short period of time, this underdog has curried a not-so-relatively high level of consumer trust and goodwill, thanks to an ever-expanding range of headphones both accessible and incomparable.
These are the Meze Audio Poet, a recent entrant into their range of upper-crust audiophile headphones. They continue the tradition of posh Meze units past, coupling forward-thinking driver design with rarefied aesthetic design to make something as fun to look at as they are to listen through.
The Poet aren't the most expensive pair on Meze’s audiophile-range docket, but at $2,000 / £1,899 / AU$3,550, nor are they 'cheap". How, then, do they fare?
(Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw)
Meze Audio Poet review: Features
State-of-the-art planar drivers
Smart, musical acoustic design
Earpads easy to detach
The Meze Audio Poet are a serious piece of audiophile-listening kit. This fact is borne out, in part, by the abject lack of anything that conventionally constitutes a ‘device feature’. If you, as someone new to this echelon of listening device, are looking for consumer-grade bells and whistles, such as wireless connectivity, active noise cancelling or aggressive digital EQ sculpting/bass-boosting, you’ll come up mercifully short.
The features that stand the Poet apart are those that make their listening experience worth the outlay – starting with its drivers.
The Poet have planar magnetic drivers, designed and manufactured exclusively for Meze by Rinaro. This is a partnership that goes back a way, and which has produced special fruit – both in the form of a unique diaphragm design (found here, and in other audiophile Meze-mezze like the Elite and Meze Empyrean), and in a new MZ6 driver design, which combines incomparable fidelity with incomparable compactitude. Planar drivers have their own USPs, including (among many other attributes) extensive upper-range detail and smoothness. Here, you’re getting the cream of the crop.
Meze Audio has also licensed proprietary Acoustic Metamaterial Tuning System (AMTS) tech from Dan Clark Audio – a clever system of physical frequency-damping that serves to tame fatigue-inducing high-end. Since these babies have a fidelity of up to 96kHz, you can see the appeal of such high-end control.
On the practical side of the equation, a somewhat-novel feature presents in the complete removability and replaceability of the ear pads with incontestable ease. They’re held in place magnetically, and can be plucked off for cleaning or replacement without the demented and destructive picking and tugging that the same events can often require in other headphones.
This kind of modularity is a vote of confidence in the headphones, too. Meze expects you to go the distance with the Poet, so much so that it wants you to be able to take the best possible care of them, thereby maintaining the best possible listening experience. It may be a bare-minimum expectation for something so priced as the Poet, but in the world we live in, and with the unscrupulous design decisions undertaken by other consumer brands, a win is very much a win.
Features score: 5 / 5
(Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw)
Meze Audio Poet review: Sound quality
Excellent depth of sound
Voices, woodwinds and transients are glorious
Soundstage a little narrow
Though the Poet are open-back headphones, they still have some interesting closed-back-y isolation created by the ear cups – with partial thanks to the snug fit they create around your ears. The ear cup cushioning is plush and deep, and docking into them feels like closing an airlock around your face. It’s pleasantly uncanny, hearing a quieter, still-clear outside world while your ears feel like they’re in a different space altogether.
Listening to my digital copy of Pile’s luminary album All Fiction is disarming for the impressive attack these cans possess; this is one of the more convincing translations of the album I’ve heard, insofar as feeling like Rick Maguire is frustratedly plucking those guitar strings in real space, close by my ears.
The soundstage isn’t the most three-dimensional I’ve heard – more on which shortly – but the depth and separation between instruments is highly commendable. For instance, in Pile’s Blood, auxiliary strings thrum through its emotional climax. I usually perceive them as a searing block; a unit. Through the Poet, though, they’re the multitudes they were recorded as – strands, vibrating apart, and catching one another’s air.
Alabaster DePlume’s work was a particular high point for me with these headphones. Not Even Sobbing, from Come With Fierce Grace, is a sparse elegy that fills in from the outside, its endless swells and dwells between saxophone, voices, violins and bass that seem to gain volume by mitosis, crowding in close around your ears like you’re the fire they’re singing round. The Poet hear them beautifully.
(Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw)
This is the Poet’s strength. They can readily resolve disparate instruments within an arrangement, in a way that highlights the figurative space between performances, musicians, and takes. Lesser headphones have a tendency to glue, smear, and otherwise daub, often imperceptibly – which can render the background more as an oil painting than a relief.
Hearing a creak in the piano at the start of Andy Shauf’s I’m Not Falling Asleep, from The Bearer Of Bad News,sealed the deal with this line of enquiry. The rendering of a space and time with open clarity and tangibility gives you new angles from which to feel close to something special.
The Poet are dynamite with transients, too. Everything’s whip-crack sharp and responsive. This is a particularly cathartic demeanor when it comes to the dead drums and plucky electric piano of Demon Fuzz’s Afreaka!, or the delicate, tentative textures of The Books’ collage-folk The Lemon of Pink.
All this said, the Poet do tend to prefer vocals – simultaneously a strength in one sense, and a weakness in others. The prominence of that upper-mid range over the lower-mids can make for an occasionally imbalanced experience, but also gave another high point in listening to Dirty Projectors and Bjork’s When The World Comes to an End, from the phenomenal, voice-led EP Mount Wittenberg Orca.
The open-back design doesn’t bring as much width as other headphones, and many of the albums I listened to across multiple devices and formats felt ‘closer’ than I felt they ought to. That said, they do seem to do the trick with respect to low end, which feels quite bloomy, but in a plush and rich way (as opposed to the boomy, indistinct way many closed-backs ultimately provide).
I thought this, plus the tighter soundstage and V-shaped frequency response, would make heavier tracks like those of Queens of the Stone Age’s Songs For The Deaf a little lacklustre. Boy, was I wrong. The vocals are a little floaty, but that grinding muffled-guitar core is everything you’d hope for and more – and the bass a silky undercurrent enjoying newfound fidelity and focus. Ultimately, these headphones are an indulgent listen.
Sound quality score: 4.5 / 5
(Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw)
Meze Audio Poet review: Design
Impeccably put-together
Satisfying practical design flourishes
Robust enough to assuage your worry
The Meze Audio Poet are premium kit, so it should come as no surprise that there’s some pristine design in and around them. It’s hard not to start with the case – a foam-lined ABS hard-case with an unnecessarily neat pleather-clad hinge. It’s not the most opulent outer shell in the world, but opening it does feel like unwrapping a gift every time (particularly with a well-chosen, pleasant-to-use clasp at the front).
The headphones themselves, more importantly, are a veritable work of art. Precision-milled backplates catch the light in intoxicating ways via their contemporary art-deco-ish patterning, and feel hugely solid against my hands' light compressive force.
On the connectivity front, the cables are thankfully discrete from the ear cups. Each ear cup jack receives its respective TS connector with a stiff and reassuring click. I’m confident that, in the unlikely event you comedically wrap your Poet cable around a nearby hatstand while in transit, the hatstand would follow you for the ride.
(Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw)
Something I absolutely love about the Poet’s design is their complete embracement of simple solutions over flashy tech. Ear cup adjustment isn’t some encapsulated, easy-to-break ratcheting system, but rather a simple friction-based push-fit system – it moves slowly and surely up and down, but freely in rotation. Exceedingly simple, and exceedingly well executed.
That lean to simplicity does create a fun potential pitfall or two in places, though. For instance, the titanium bars that host the earcups are resonant, and all too eager to transmit their gong-like overtures through to your ears with the slightest bang or brush. Meanwhile, the headband is a single length of suede leather, which promotes ease of fit to your bonce but doesn’t play as nice with headphone stands.
Minuscule gripe aside, these headphones are self-evidently designed with careful thought – and with something of a reverence for those people that’ll be spending their hard-earned on grabbing a pair. I’m a fan!
Design score: 5 / 5
(Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw)
Meze Audio Poet review: Value
Price not to be sniffed at, even if cheaper than other audiophile headphones
Justify their price point well...
… but minor shortcomings stand out more
With a pair of headphones as, frankly, luxuriant as these, two key issues present.
For one, they will handily reveal the shortcomings of practically any sound source you put before them. For another, they will wear their own shortcomings all the more prominently, if only for the increased scrutiny that such a high asking price places on them.
It’s an easy trap to fall into with something as good, and as expensive, as the Meze Audio Poet. And bear in mind, too, that this is still the ‘budget’ end of the audiophile spectrum, one which, at the other extremity, straight-facedly asks you to spend tens of thousands. I love these things, but the threshold for unequivocal endorsement gets exponentially higher against cost, just as returns tend to diminish.
It is with this line of thinking, and these resulting caveats, that I say the Meze Audio Poet do a great job of justifying their expense, but that certain behaviors – from a narrower-than-expected soundstage to the unexpected fatigue of longer listening sessions – stand out more for that expense. Your money is paying for cutting-edge planar drivers, meticulously designed and stunningly beautiful earcups, effortless ergonomics and quality materials; it also needs to buy you an experience greater than the sum of its parts, which the Poet readily do. With some small asterisks.
Value score: 4 / 5
(Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw)
Meze Audio Poet review: Should you buy them?
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Features
Free from the tyranny of consumer-grade bells-and-whistles; cutting-edge drivers and acoustic design are triumphs.
5 / 5
Sound quality
Bright, clear, deep, reedy – the Poet are a rich set, friendly to vocals but incredibly adept with transients.
4.5 / 5
Design
Beautifully made, with some well-executed minimal mechanisms; a joy to behold and to wear.
5 / 5
Value
The research, design and commitment to quality justify the price, but the little things, stand out against that price all the more.
4 / 5
Buy them if...
You value your hi-fi Audiophile headphones are the haunt of the discerning listener. The Poet are here to render your records and audio files in the clearest, deepest light – and will perform all the better when placed after quality sources.
You’re an active listener These headphones dock over your ears like visiting spaceships. Though open-back, they create a remarkable distance between you and the world around. This, coupled with the three-dimensional rendering the Poet are capable of, make scrutinizing your faves for new discoveries all the more thrilling.
Don't buy them if...
You’re risking your credit score to do so Impeccable as the Poet sound, they're only worth investing in if you’ve the money spare. You’ll find more bang-for-buck, and near-equivalent enjoyability, in cheaper Meze Audio cans!
You’re choosing open-backs for the soundstage Despite their open-back nature, the Poet do not quite ‘breathe’ the same as other open-backs this writer has tried and enjoyed. I’m reminded more of closed-back headphones by the fit and feel, as well as the dimensionality of sound.
(Image credit: Future / James Grimshaw)
Meze Audio Poet review: Also consider
Meze Audio Poet
FiiO FT5
Edifier Stax Spirit S5
Type:
Over-ear
Over-ear
Over-ear
Open-back or closed-back:
Open-back
Open-back
Open-back
Driver:
Planar magnetic
Planar magnetic
Planar magnetic
Frequency range:
4Hz to 96kHz
7Hz to 40kHz
10Hz to 40kHz
Impedance:
55 ohms
36 ohms
18 ohms
Connector:
Dual mono TS 3.5mm to 6.3mm TRS
Dual mono TS 3.5mm to 3.5mm TRRRS
Wireless (Bluetooth, LDAC/aptX Lossless)
Weight:
405g
465g
347g
Extras:
ABS hard case, dual TS to 6.3mm stereo cable, dual TS to 3.5mm stereo cable
FiiO FT5 FiiO’s FT5 over-ear headphones are, if anything, disruptive. FiiO has done some incredible things with its position in the hi-fi market, including bringing stunning leaps in planar magnetic driver tech to the mid-range much quicker than anyone else has dared. Do they sound better than the Poet? No. Are they four times cheaper and still Actually Very Good? Yes. Read the full FiiO FT5 review here
Edifier Stax Spirit S5 If you actually want those high-tech gubbins I was so gleefully celebrating the absence of before, try the Edifier Stax Spirit S5 on for size. Wireless tech and app connectivity collide with planar magnetic driver design in this Actually Quite Affordable pair of quality listening ‘phones. Read our full Edifier Stax Spirit S5 review here
Meze Audio Poet review: How I tested
Tested for five weeks
Used as listening headphones at home
Mainly tested with digital music sources, via my computer and a Universal Audio interface
Also listened to vinyl on a Victrola Stream Sapphire, via the headphone out of a Cambridge Audio amplifier
Headphones are a daily fixture for me. As a freelance writer often in need of ‘locking in’, as a music lover with an ever-expanding library of too-cool-for-school records, and as a freelance musician reliant on headphones for recording, monitoring and mixing.
My experience with headphones of all types, purposes and budgets puts me in a fun position to evaluate the Meze Audio Poet – a pair of audiophile cans which became my resident listening headphones at home, spending time between my living room and attic studio space.
In the attic, the Poet were used to listen to digital copies of records from my collection and via streaming, through a Universal Audio Volt 4 audio interface. In the living room, the headphones were plugged into my Cambridge Audio Azur 540r receiver, which received the sound of my record collection via a Victrola Stream Sapphire turntable (outfitted with an Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge).
The Llano V10 Gaming Laptop Cooling Pad is a relatively high-end option for keeping your gaming or productivity laptop cool. At $89.99 / £116.26 (around AU$140), it certainly costs a pretty penny; but in return you get a cooling pad with a giant 4.72-inch turbo fan capable of spinning at up to a ludicrous 3,500rpm.
Unlike more shy and retiring options, the Llano V10 isn’t scared to announce its presence – in fact, it’s a little bit of a loudmouth. To benchmark this laptop cooling pad, I ran a 3DMark stress test on our Acer Predator Helios 300 testing laptop with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 GPU testing laptop, while running the Llano V10 at max power for 15 minutes. Using a sound level meter, I measured the noise it was kicking out 10 minutes into the test; it registered 69dB from a few inches away, and 57.5dB at my head height. This makes the Llano the second-noisiest cooling pad I’ve tested, right after the Llano RGB Laptop Cooling Pad, which clocked 79dB and 64dB respectively.
But the one thing you can count on from this little blowhard is that it blows – hard. I measured our gaming laptop’s peak temperature before benchmarking, and again at the conclusion of the 15-minute stress test. With the Llano running at max, its temperature rose from 81.5ºF (27.5ºC) to 103ºF (39.5ºC), a rise of just 21.5ºF (12ºC). This performance is right up there with the best cooling pads, with the only one I’ve tested that could beat it being the Llano RGB Laptop Cooling Pad. So, you’re getting pretty icy cooling here.
(Image credit: Future)
When it comes to design, the Llano V10 looks decent enough, treading just on the right side of cyberpunk styling without looking too conspicuously edgy or brutalist. The polygonal RGB lighting bars along the sides and back are tastefully done, allowing you to choose between a range of shifting hues. Unlike some laptop cooling pads, it isn't available in an array of colors; but the black offered looks just fine to my eyes.
The Llano also feels pretty ergonomic in use. It offers only a single height setting, which may not suit everyone, but I did find the 10-degree angle at which it held my laptop pretty comfortable for long-term use. However, its build does feel a little more insubstantialthan products such as the Llano RGB Laptop Cooling Pad – the V10's materials and buttons feel a little more plasticky and clicky than I’d like.
Probably the biggest question when it comes to the $89.99 / £116.26 (around AU$140) Llano V10 is down to value. On the one hand, you’re absolutely getting the cooling you’re paying for – the fact that it prevented our laptop from warming more than 21.5ºF (12ºC) is the second-best result from any laptop cooler I’ve tested.
The only issue is the best result: the Llano RGB Laptop Cooling Pad trimmed that warming back to 8ºC and yet costs only $119.99 / £129.99 (around AU$188.33), which isn't much more. Plus, it's often available for even less – for example, costing $95.99 at the time of writing in the US. That slightly weakens the Llano V10’s value in comparison.
(Image credit: Future)
Llano V10 Gaming Laptop Cooling Pad review: price & availability
Launched on May 17, 2024
List price of $89.99 / £116.26 (around AU$140)
Having launched on May 17, 2024, the Llano V10 Gaming Laptop Cooling Pad is available now. It can be purchased from Amazon at a list price of $89.99 / £116.26 (around AU$140). While that’s at the higher end of the market, it's still its lowest ever price in the UK, and only a few dollars off the $87.99 it briefly dropped down to in May 2025. As such, it represents a decent deal.
Unfortunately, though, the fact that this is a premium product means it has quite a few rivals nipping at its heels. From one end of the market, the budget-priced $19.99 / £20.99 / AU$66.91 Liangstar Laptop Cooling Pad offered disproportionately frosty cooling for its mild price, seeing our test laptop rise by 27.5ºF (15.3ºC). Conversely, if you catch it on sale then you can pick up the Llano RGB Laptop Cooling Pad from as little as $95.99 / £129.99 – it stopped our testing rig from warming any more than 14.5ºF (8ºC), which is a substantial performance boost for comparatively little extra spend.
(Image credit: Future)
Should I buy the Llano V10 Gaming Laptop Cooling Pad?
Buy it if…
You want exceptional cooling This is one of the most chill laptop cooling pads I’ve ever had my hands on. It stopped our laptop from warming any more than 21.5ºF (12ºC) during our stress test, which is seriously impressive.
You want an attractive, comfortable cooling pad Sitting at an ergonomic 10-degree angle, the Llano V10 is comfortable to use over long stretches of time. And its restrained use of RGB lighting means its looks aren’t too in your face, either.
Don’t buy it if…
You want the best cooling for your cash With the Liangstar offering only marginally weaker cooling for much less money, and the Llano RGB Laptop Cooling Pad offering superior cooling for not much more, the V10 probably isn’t the best value option out there.
You hate noise The Llano V10 isn’t the loudest laptop cooling pad I’ve ever tested, but it isn't far off. Both the pad and our testing laptop registered at a combined 69dB during tests, which is nearly as loud as highway traffic, according to the Center for Hearing and Communication.
(Image credit: Future)
Llano V10 Gaming Laptop Cooling Pad review: also consider
Llano RGB Laptop Cooling Pad The higher-end stablemate of the V10, the Llano RGB Laptop Cooling Pad offers the best cooling performance I’ve encountered in tests so far. Even during our 3DMark stress test, this cooling pad kept our laptop's temperature from rising any more than 14.5ºF (8ºC), which is seriously arctic chilling. That’s a pretty impressive step up from the V10, given its list price is just $30 / £13.73 (around AU$48.33) higher. Read our full Llano RGB Laptop Cooling Pad review.
Liangstar Laptop Cooling Pad If you can’t stretch to premium prices, the Liangstar Laptop Cooling Pad is your best shot for glacial cooling. During tests, it kept our laptop from rising by more than 27.5ºF (15.3ºC) – that’s pretty decent cooling in its own right. But it’s rendered far more impressive when you factor in its list price, which at just $18.99 / £23.59 / AU$63.33, means it costs less than a quarter of the price of the V10. Read our full Liangstar Laptop Cooling Pad review.
(Image credit: Future)
How I tested the Llano V10 Gaming Laptop Cooling Pad
Tested over the course of multiple days
Measured its cooling while running a stress test on our testing laptop
Recorded the combined volume of the cooling pad and laptop’s fans
I tested the Llano V10 Gaming Laptop Cooling Pad over the course of several days, using the standard TechRadar testing process I designed. First, I recorded the baseline temperature of our Acer Predator Helios 300 with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 testing laptop using a thermal camera. Then I ran a 3DMark stress test on the laptop for 15 minutes while setting the cooling pad to its highest setting, recording the laptop’s temperature again at the end of the test to measure the impact the cooling pad had on the laptop's warming.
In addition, I measured the peak volume of the laptop and cooling pad to assess how much noise they kicked out. When the stress test had been in progress for 10 minutes, I checked the volume of the combined fan noise using a sound level meter, both from a few inches away and at my head height (21 inches from the surface of the laptop).
I also tested how the Llano V10 Gaming Laptop Cooling Pad felt in use, while working and playing games, to assess its overall build quality and ergonomics. In terms of additional experience, I’ve been using a gaming laptop and using creative workflows for decades, meaning I’m very familiar with the struggle of keeping a laptop cool.
The MSI Raider A18 HX is a high-end, premium gaming laptop with a price point to match. Featuring some of the absolute best specifications on offer on the market right now, there’s no need to worry about low frame rates or poor game quality when sporting this titan of a machine.
You do get absolutely brilliant gaming performance on the MSI Raider A18 HX, however this is the expectation when it comes to a laptop at this price point. This device is by no means an option for those who are budget-conscious, however, but you get gaming performance like no other, a stunning 4K display, and a laptop which is future-proofed for years to come.
It does, however, come with some big flaws. Of course, you’d expect an 18-inch gaming laptop to be large, but this device really and truly is on another level in terms of both size and weight.
It’s a behemoth of a device which does have its perks, such as an immersive screen size and lots of ports, but on the other hand, it's so large to a point I wouldn’t necessarily consider it portable. It also only features a 2TB SSD, which despite sounding large, will easily be filled with the size of AAA titles in this day and age.
MSI Raider A18 HX: Price and availability
How much does it cost? $5,609.99 / £4,799
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? UK and US
The MSI Raider A18 HX is a top-of-the-line laptop in terms of performance and of course that comes with a matching price point. Coming in at over $5,000 for the highest specification edition of this laptop, this price point is not for the faint of heart. Considering the specifications of the laptop, the price point does make sense as similar options are around the same price point.
The Asus ROG Strix Scar 18, which also features a RTX 5090 graphics card and a larger SSD, will set you back $4,499.99 / £5,099.
You can currently get this laptop in the UK, US and other select regions across the world. However, it’s currently not available in Australia.
Value: 4 /5
MSI Raider A18 HX: Specs
(Image credit: Future)
MSI Raider A18 HX: Specs
Base configuration
Review configuration
Model
Raider A18 HX A9WIG-003
Raider A18 HX A9WJG-002
Price
$4,499.99 / £3,999
$5,609.99 / £4,799
CPU
AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D Processor
AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D Processor
GPU
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
RAM
64GB DDR5
64GB DDR5
Screen
Mini LED, 18inch, 3840 x 2400p, 120Hz refresh rate
Mini LED, 18inch, 3840 x 2400p, 120Hz refresh rate
The MSI Raider A18 HX is a top-end gaming device where you can either opt for the Nvidia RTX 5090 or Nvidia RTX 5080 graphics cards. While both of these provide high-level graphics performance, if you really want the best of the best in terms of specifications then of course the Nvidia RTX 5090 is the clear option.
All the other specs between these two devices are identical, so no matter which option you pick up, you’ll be getting a mighty processor as well as an almost excessive amount of RAM with 64GB at your disposal.
Image 1 of 3
(Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 3
(Image credit: Future)
Image 3 of 3
(Image credit: Future)
MSI Raider A18 HX: Design
Large and heavy
18-inch screen looks fantastic
Plenty of ports
When first unboxing the MSI Raider A18 HX, all I could think was… woah. Weighing in at 3.6kg, this definitely isn’t the lightest of laptops, and pair this with the absolutely massive size measuring at 404 x 307.5 x 32.05 mm, this device is almost certainly too big for most laptop backpacks.
Being an avid collector of laptop bags, I tried it in a whole load of different bags, and the only thing I could fit this device in was a suitcase. This is definitely something to take note of if you’re planning to use a gaming laptop on the go.
Size aside, the laptop itself is very traditionally gamer-y in terms of style. You get red accents around the edge of the device as well as RGB on the logo and along the bottom bezel. Contributing to this aesthetic is the font of the keyboard, which is quite aggressive.
You get a stunning 18-inch screen with this laptop with a 3840 x 2400 resolution, perfect for playing AAA titles in 4K. However, for those who play competitive titles where frames win games - you also get a 120Hz refresh rate, ensuring you have the best of both worlds with this display.
The MSI Raider A18 HX features 3 USB-A ports, 2 USB-C ports and a headphone jack. You also get an ethernet port and HDMI port on the back of the device. While this is more than enough ports for a standard set up of gaming peripherals, you’ll likely need extenders if you’re hoping to run a full streaming setup.
I did have some teething issues when first booting up the MSI Raider A18 HX. At first it was freezing frequently and at one point in the middle of benchmarking it completely froze and I needed to hold down the power button to shut it off. I realised the main issue was when the battery dropped below 10% - it became practically useless, even when I adjusted power saving settings to ensure the best performance.
I resorted to using the laptop plugged in the majority of the time because of the power draw, and risking dropping below 10% battery and having the entire system shut off was not a gamble I was willing to take - especially when playing online. However, when the laptop did work as intended, it was absolutely fantastic, I got top-tier performance from every single title I booted up in Ultra.
Whether I was running lower-intensity titles or AAA games, which did send the fans of the laptop into orbit, I was able to get amazing quality graphics and high frames every time.
It’s worth noting that - as with a lot of gaming machines of this calibre - it did get very hot and very loud quite quickly, with fans going full throttle as soon as I would boot up a game in 4K.
The speakers on the laptop are pretty good, while they of course don’t match headset-level quality, they are perfectly fine for gaming with.
However, if you're looking for pinpoint-accurate directional audio, you won’t really find that from laptop speakers in general anyway, and should in vest in the best PC speakers.
Performance: 4 / 5
MSI Raider A18 HX: Battery life
The battery life was the biggest let down of this laptop. Of course, most gaming laptops have a very high power draw since they contain some pretty intense components, but the MSI Raider A18 HX really was unbelievably low.
When playing AAA games at 4K, I got less than an hour out of the laptop before it would shut itself off. Considering the performance issue I experienced when reaching low battery levels, this rendered the device even more useless for portability.
In tune with the size of the laptop, you get an absolutely gigantic 400w charging brick which also contributes to the lack of portability. However, the perk of having such a big charging brick is that your laptop will charge back to full battery very quickly with mine going from 10% back to 100% in around an hour.
It’s clear that this laptop was designed to remain plugged in at all times, whether it's due to the size of the device itself, the size of the charger or just the battery life in general. While it is a gaming laptop, it’s clearly one intended to remain stationary.
Battery life: 1 / 5
Should you buy the MSI Raider A18 HX?
(Image credit: Future)
MSI Raider A18 HX: Scorecard
Attributes
Notes
Value
Value
4 / 5
Priced appropriately based on specs, the one downside here is the lack of availability in certain territories
Design
3 / 5
Despite coming with a gorgeous chassis, it’s hard to look past just how big this laptop is which takes away from its portability.
Performance
4 / 5
You get fantastic performance here which is let down when you get to lower battery percentages.
Battery
1 / 5
The battery is a major letdown when it comes to this laptop to the point I wouldn’t even consider using it unplugged.
Average rating
3 / 5
The MSI Raider A18 HX is huge and chugs through its battery, but there's no faulting the level of performance for the price, even if it comes at the (literal) cost of everything else.
Buy it if...
You want top-of-the-line performance The specifications of this laptop are some of the best on the market right now, which deliver top-tier performance
You want something with the traditional gamer aesthetic You get a traditional gamer-y style with this laptop including RGB and aggressive font
You want a built-in 4K display You get a stunning display on this laptop which makes for a beautiful gaming experienceView Deal
Don't buy it if...
You want a portable gaming solution Despite being a laptop, this device is so large that it means portability is essentially non-existent.View Deal
You need something with good battery life All that power comes at the cost of (expectedly) woeful battery life. You'll need to keep a wall socket handy for this oneView Deal
If you’re looking for a powerful gaming laptop which provides you with immaculate performance regardless of if you’re looking for stunning visuals or high frame rates all packed into a compact and stunning chassis, then the Razer Blade 14 is a great option.
The MSI Katana 15 is a great budget option for those who are looking for a powerful gaming laptop without having to fork out too much cash. You can pick it up at less than £1,000 and still get decent AAA performance in 1080p.
How I tested the MSI Raider A18 HX
I spent two weeks using the MSI Raider A18 HX as my everyday laptop for work and leisure. I was sure to use the device all day for my typical work day, and then also used it for gaming in the evening. I took it on the go with me to different locations where I needed to work to see how it would feel outside of my workstation. As well as using it every day I also benchmarked the laptop using a range of different benchmarking software.
The MSI Raider A18 HX is a high-end, premium gaming laptop with a price point to match. Featuring some of the absolute best specifications on offer on the market right now, there’s no need to worry about low frame rates or poor game quality when sporting this titan of a machine.
You do get absolutely brilliant gaming performance on the MSI Raider A18 HX, however this is the expectation when it comes to a laptop at this price point. This device is by no means an option for those who are budget-conscious, however, but you get gaming performance like no other, a stunning 4K display, and a laptop which is future-proofed for years to come.
It does, however, come with some big flaws. Of course, you’d expect an 18-inch gaming laptop to be large, but this device really and truly is on another level in terms of both size and weight.
It’s a behemoth of a device which does have its perks, such as an immersive screen size and lots of ports, but on the other hand, it's so large to a point I wouldn’t necessarily consider it portable. It also only features a 2TB SSD, which despite sounding large, will easily be filled with the size of AAA titles in this day and age.
MSI Raider A18 HX: Price and availability
How much does it cost? $5,609.99 / £4,799
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? UK and US
The MSI Raider A18 HX is a top-of-the-line laptop in terms of performance and of course that comes with a matching price point. Coming in at over $5,000 for the highest specification edition of this laptop, this price point is not for the faint of heart. Considering the specifications of the laptop, the price point does make sense as similar options are around the same price point.
The Asus ROG Strix Scar 18, which also features a RTX 5090 graphics card and a larger SSD, will set you back $4,499.99 / £5,099.
You can currently get this laptop in the UK, US and other select regions across the world. However, it’s currently not available in Australia.
Value: 4 /5
MSI Raider A18 HX: Specs
(Image credit: Future)
MSI Raider A18 HX: Specs
Base configuration
Review configuration
Model
Raider A18 HX A9WIG-003
Raider A18 HX A9WJG-002
Price
$4,499.99 / £3,999
$5,609.99 / £4,799
CPU
AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D Processor
AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D Processor
GPU
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
RAM
64GB DDR5
64GB DDR5
Screen
Mini LED, 18inch, 3840 x 2400p, 120Hz refresh rate
Mini LED, 18inch, 3840 x 2400p, 120Hz refresh rate
The MSI Raider A18 HX is a top-end gaming device where you can either opt for the Nvidia RTX 5090 or Nvidia RTX 5080 graphics cards. While both of these provide high-level graphics performance, if you really want the best of the best in terms of specifications then of course the Nvidia RTX 5090 is the clear option.
All the other specs between these two devices are identical, so no matter which option you pick up, you’ll be getting a mighty processor as well as an almost excessive amount of RAM with 64GB at your disposal.
Image 1 of 3
(Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 3
(Image credit: Future)
Image 3 of 3
(Image credit: Future)
MSI Raider A18 HX: Design
Large and heavy
18-inch screen looks fantastic
Plenty of ports
When first unboxing the MSI Raider A18 HX, all I could think was… woah. Weighing in at 3.6kg, this definitely isn’t the lightest of laptops, and pair this with the absolutely massive size measuring at 404 x 307.5 x 32.05 mm, this device is almost certainly too big for most laptop backpacks.
Being an avid collector of laptop bags, I tried it in a whole load of different bags, and the only thing I could fit this device in was a suitcase. This is definitely something to take note of if you’re planning to use a gaming laptop on the go.
Size aside, the laptop itself is very traditionally gamer-y in terms of style. You get red accents around the edge of the device as well as RGB on the logo and along the bottom bezel. Contributing to this aesthetic is the font of the keyboard, which is quite aggressive.
You get a stunning 18-inch screen with this laptop with a 3840 x 2400 resolution, perfect for playing AAA titles in 4K. However, for those who play competitive titles where frames win games - you also get a 120Hz refresh rate, ensuring you have the best of both worlds with this display.
The MSI Raider A18 HX features 3 USB-A ports, 2 USB-C ports and a headphone jack. You also get an ethernet port and HDMI port on the back of the device. While this is more than enough ports for a standard set up of gaming peripherals, you’ll likely need extenders if you’re hoping to run a full streaming setup.
I did have some teething issues when first booting up the MSI Raider A18 HX. At first it was freezing frequently and at one point in the middle of benchmarking it completely froze and I needed to hold down the power button to shut it off. I realised the main issue was when the battery dropped below 10% - it became practically useless, even when I adjusted power saving settings to ensure the best performance.
I resorted to using the laptop plugged in the majority of the time because of the power draw, and risking dropping below 10% battery and having the entire system shut off was not a gamble I was willing to take - especially when playing online. However, when the laptop did work as intended, it was absolutely fantastic, I got top-tier performance from every single title I booted up in Ultra.
Whether I was running lower-intensity titles or AAA games, which did send the fans of the laptop into orbit, I was able to get amazing quality graphics and high frames every time.
It’s worth noting that - as with a lot of gaming machines of this calibre - it did get very hot and very loud quite quickly, with fans going full throttle as soon as I would boot up a game in 4K.
The speakers on the laptop are pretty good, while they of course don’t match headset-level quality, they are perfectly fine for gaming with.
However, if you're looking for pinpoint-accurate directional audio, you won’t really find that from laptop speakers in general anyway, and should in vest in the best PC speakers.
Performance: 4 / 5
MSI Raider A18 HX: Battery life
The battery life was the biggest let down of this laptop. Of course, most gaming laptops have a very high power draw since they contain some pretty intense components, but the MSI Raider A18 HX really was unbelievably low.
When playing AAA games at 4K, I got less than an hour out of the laptop before it would shut itself off. Considering the performance issue I experienced when reaching low battery levels, this rendered the device even more useless for portability.
In tune with the size of the laptop, you get an absolutely gigantic 400w charging brick which also contributes to the lack of portability. However, the perk of having such a big charging brick is that your laptop will charge back to full battery very quickly with mine going from 10% back to 100% in around an hour.
It’s clear that this laptop was designed to remain plugged in at all times, whether it's due to the size of the device itself, the size of the charger or just the battery life in general. While it is a gaming laptop, it’s clearly one intended to remain stationary.
Battery life: 1 / 5
Should you buy the MSI Raider A18 HX?
(Image credit: Future)
MSI Raider A18 HX: Scorecard
Attributes
Notes
Value
Value
4 / 5
Priced appropriately based on specs, the one downside here is the lack of availability in certain territories
Design
3 / 5
Despite coming with a gorgeous chassis, it’s hard to look past just how big this laptop is which takes away from its portability.
Performance
4 / 5
You get fantastic performance here which is let down when you get to lower battery percentages.
Battery
1 / 5
The battery is a major letdown when it comes to this laptop to the point I wouldn’t even consider using it unplugged.
Average rating
3 / 5
The MSI Raider A18 HX is huge and chugs through its battery, but there's no faulting the level of performance for the price, even if it comes at the (literal) cost of everything else.
Buy it if...
You want top-of-the-line performance The specifications of this laptop are some of the best on the market right now, which deliver top-tier performance
You want something with the traditional gamer aesthetic You get a traditional gamer-y style with this laptop including RGB and aggressive font
You want a built-in 4K display You get a stunning display on this laptop which makes for a beautiful gaming experienceView Deal
Don't buy it if...
You want a portable gaming solution Despite being a laptop, this device is so large that it means portability is essentially non-existent.View Deal
You need something with good battery life All that power comes at the cost of (expectedly) woeful battery life. You'll need to keep a wall socket handy for this oneView Deal
If you’re looking for a powerful gaming laptop which provides you with immaculate performance regardless of if you’re looking for stunning visuals or high frame rates all packed into a compact and stunning chassis, then the Razer Blade 14 is a great option.
The MSI Katana 15 is a great budget option for those who are looking for a powerful gaming laptop without having to fork out too much cash. You can pick it up at less than £1,000 and still get decent AAA performance in 1080p.
How I tested the MSI Raider A18 HX
I spent two weeks using the MSI Raider A18 HX as my everyday laptop for work and leisure. I was sure to use the device all day for my typical work day, and then also used it for gaming in the evening. I took it on the go with me to different locations where I needed to work to see how it would feel outside of my workstation. As well as using it every day I also benchmarked the laptop using a range of different benchmarking software.
The Insta360 Link 2C is a webcam that has pretty large shoes to fill. When the Chinese camera company released its predecessor a few years back, it was lauded as a top-tier, premium option, thanks to its excellent 4K video and smart use of AI. So now comes the Insta360 Link 2C, which aims to offer even more AI capabilities and superior noise cancellation among other things. So, does it deliver?
Well, before I answer that definitely, I want to start by exploring picture and video quality on the Insta360 Link 2C. Now, whether I was taking a video call on Google Meet or simply messing around with the camera app on my Windows laptop, I always looked ultra clear, with finer details – including individual hair strands, facial hairs, and markings on my face all bubbling to the surface.
That’s largely thanks to the Insta360 Link 2C offering up 4K resolution – something we always look for in our hunt for the best webcams. Of course, that premium quality isn’t going to come through on all video calling software, but if you’re a content creator or simply want top-tier performance, 4K support is going to be a must-have. For reference, this webcam also supports lower resolutions, such as 1080p, 720p and 360p, at varying frame rates.
Yes, if you’re taking a video in 4K, for example, you’re going to get 30fps – more than enough for some, but 4K 60fps is available on models like the pricey Elgato Facecam Pro. 60fps is available on the Link 2C, though you’ll have to drop the resolution to 1080p or 720p.
When holding up objects like an earbuds charging case or a piece of paper, the webcam was also excellent at shifting focus onto them. That’s thanks to enhanced Phase Detection Auto Focus, which speedily captures details on anything you want to highlight to your colleagues, students, or family on a video call.
And there are so many more features to uncover too, many of which can be found on the free-to-download Insta360 Link Controller software. Here, you’re able to mess around with a range of picture settings like exposure and white balance, as well as try out different filters – stuff like blur, bokeh, and even a makeup tool. I felt that the Link 2C could be a bit better in low-light conditions, but this doesn’t have to be the case if you drill into the settings in this companion. Simply jump in and activate HDR while also flicking brightness up and you’ll see a big improvement.
Insta360 Link Controller also lets you toggle gestures on and off – something I was really looking forward to using. If you hold your hand up – you know, like those big red hands on crossing lights – you can frame the shot to you. There’s also a whiteboard option, which will keep whatever you’re writing on squared and in focus. Both of these work well, and I found them useful when making a video call or just having a bit of fun in the companion software.
But one option that didn’t work so seamlessly for me, was the zoom in and zoom out gesture. You have to make an ‘L’ shape with your hand, which will make the webcam’s green LED light flash. After this, you can move that L shape up or down to zoom in or out respectively. But I found this to work a little more sporadically than I’d hoped. A good amount of the time, it worked well, but I often found that I had to make the L shape multiple times before it was registered, or the zooming would end a little prematurely.
Still, the vast majority of features worked without question on a very consistent basis. Stuff like auto-framing and AI tracking followed my movements with ease – ideal for an especially fidgety person like myself. Meanwhile, the 2C adds pause-track areas, which help the webcam to recognize areas that it shouldn't track you – perhaps if you don’t want to show under your desk, say.
(Image credit: Future)
One of the improvements that the Link 2C is intended to bring is superior noise cancelling. That’s something you’re gonna want if you’re taking calls in a busy office environment, for example. I asked a colleague to make some noises while I called my friend and the results were decent, all things considered. Clapping, for instance, was still very much audible, but stuff like typing and light chatter was dulled nicely.
There are three modes: Voice Focus, Voice Suppression, and Music Balance – but none of these are going to offer the clarity you’ll get from the best microphones for streaming. Ultimately, my voice didn’t sound ultra-crisp on the 2C, but it will plate up clear enough quality for more casual users.
Still, audio is handled pretty well by webcam standards. But something that’s truly fantastic about the Link 2C is its design. It has a real premium metallic feel and finish, diminutive magnetic clip-stand and discreet detailing around the lens. It’s also ultra practical thanks to its compact size, slider for covering the camera and USB-C connectivity. There’s no gimbal or tripod for the 2C model, but if you’re after that, you can grab the standard Link 2 model.
There’s only one way I can tie all of this together and that’s by talking about price. Now, my mind was genuinely blown by the price of the original Insta360 Link – it was almost $300 / £320 / AU$570! But the Link 2C is far more affordable, while still offering some improvements over its predecessor, including better noise cancelling and a sleeker look. This newer webcam will set you back just under $150 / £150 / AU$250, and given the overall performance and quality of the product, I’d say that’s strong overall value for money.
So, at the end of it all, would I recommend the Insta360 Link 2C? Yes, definitely! You get super sharp video, responsive auto-frame adjustment, decent audio (well, by webcam standards), and really neat companion software for fine-tuning everything to your liking. In honesty, the Link 2C has given my setup the facelift I didn’t even know it needed – I’m seeing more detail and fluidity than ever, in each video call. And that’s something I’ve really grown to appreciate.
Sure, the zoom in/out gesture could be a little more reliable and I’d still be inclined to purchase a separate mic for the best speech clarity. But from the upgrade I’ve seen to my work the Insta360 Link 2C is still a fantastic all-round package.
(Image credit: Future)
Insta360 Link 2C review: price & availability
$149 / £149 / AU$249
Launched in September 2024
The Insta360 Link 2C launched alongside the Link 2 in September 2024, two years after its predecessor. The Link 2C carries a list price of $149 / £149 / AU$249, which is drastically, and I mean drastically, cheaper than the original model cost at launch. Yep, the original Insta360 Link released with a list price of $299 / £319 / AU$569 – woah. But don’t be fooled: the 2C has made some improvements over its predecessor, with better noise cancelling, AI features and a prettier build. I know which one I’d pick!
It’s worth noting, by the way, that the Link 2C comes in two color variants: Arctic White; or the version I tested, Graphite Black. The version you pick should have little to no bearing on the price you pay.
Insta360 Link 2C review: specs
Supported resolutions
4K at 30fps, 1080p / 720p at 60fps, 360p at 30fps
Sensor
1/2-inch
Lens
Not specified
Focal length
26mm
Aperture
f/1.8
Focal length
26mm
Field of view
79.5 degrees
(Image credit: Future)
Should you buy the Insta360 Link 2C?
Insta360 Link 2C webcam report card
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Design
Practical, diminutive and premium-feeling build, sleeker than original.
5/5
Performance
Great video quality, plenty of settings to play with, some gesture issues.
4/5
Value
Huge price-cut over original, not too pricey against competition.
4.5/5
Buy it if...
You need quality video for online work or education I found picture quality to look detailed and lifelike throughout my entire time testing the Insta360 Link 2C. If you’re an online teacher, content creator, or someone that takes a lot of video conference calls, this webcam can take your on-screen presence to the next level.
You want a highly customizable user experience If you download the Insta360 Link Controller software, you’ll be able to adjust all kinds of picture settings, use filters and toggle gestures on and off. If you want a highly tuneable webcam experience, the Link 2C offers just that.
Don't buy it if...
You need 4K at 60fps video OK, so I was impressed by the 4K at 30fps video offered by the Insta360 Link 2C. But for some, that may still not be enough. If you’re a content creator, for instance, who wants to unlock true peak performance, it could be worth checking out a webcam that supports 4K at 60fps video, such as the Elgato Facecam.
You’re on a tight budget Although the Link 2C is great value, especially considering the launch price of its predecessor, its still fairly pricey at $149 / £149 / AU$249. If you’re on a budget but want to improve video on your setup, I’d recommend checking out the Osbot Meet SE, which I’ll discuss a little more down below.
Insta360 Link 2C: also consider
Insta360 Link 2C
HP 960 4K Streaming Webcam
Obsbot Meet SE
Price
$149 / £149 / AU$249
$219.99 / £180 / AU$295
$69 / £65 / AU$119
Supported resolutions
4K at 30fps, 1080p / 720p at 60fps, 360p at 30fps
4K at 30fps, 1080 / 720p at 60fps
1080p at 100fps, 720p at 150fps
Sensor
1/2-inch
Not specified
1/2.8-inch
Lens
Not specified
18mm
Not specified
Focus range
0.1m to ∞
0.1m to ∞
0.1m to ∞
Aperture
f/1.8
f/2.0
f/1.8
Focal length
26mm
Not specified
26mm
Field of view
79.5 degrees
78 / 90 / 100 degrees
78 degrees
HP 960 4K Streaming Webcam The HP 960 4K Streaming Webcam currently stands as the number one pick in our guide to the best webcams. Why? Well, you get incredible image and audio quality, a premium design and top-tier software features. It’s fairly pricey and may be a little heavy for smaller laptops, say, but it’s a great webcam all the same. Read our full HP 960 4K Streaming Webcam review.
Obsbot Meet SE Meanwhile, our top overall pick is the Obsbot Meet SE, which is a fair bit cheaper than the Insta360 Link 2C. You’re not going to get 4K video – though a huge portion of video calling platforms won’t support that anyway. So, what you do get is fluid 1080p, 100fps video and a cute, compact design at an excellent low price. Again, gesture controls aren’t perfect and this isn’t the most high-end option, but we love what the Meet SE has to offer. Read our full Obsbot Meet SE review.
How I tested the Insta360 Link 2C
(Image credit: Future)
Tested in a one-week period
Made video calls and experimented with photo and video independently
Exhausted range of features and settings in companion software
I had the Insta360 Link 2C connected to my work setup across a one-week period, testing out its various features and functions. Well, actually, I’ve kept it in my setup beyond initial testing – I’ve enjoyed using it that much!
In order to assess the Link 2C’s quality I tried making a number of video calls, taking photos, and playing around with picture settings in the Insta360 Link Controller software. I compared it to my laptop’s inbuilt camera, tried out gesture controls and also tested quality in both natural and low-light conditions.
Speaking more generally, I’ve tested a huge quantity of products here at TechRadar as a resident Reviews Writer. That covers everything from the latest TVs through to electric shavers – I’ve got experience right across the board.
The Insta360 Link 2C is a webcam that has pretty large shoes to fill. When the Chinese camera company released its predecessor a few years back, it was lauded as a top-tier, premium option, thanks to its excellent 4K video and smart use of AI. So now comes the Insta360 Link 2C, which aims to offer even more AI capabilities and superior noise cancellation among other things. So, does it deliver?
Well, before I answer that definitely, I want to start by exploring picture and video quality on the Insta360 Link 2C. Now, whether I was taking a video call on Google Meet or simply messing around with the camera app on my Windows laptop, I always looked ultra clear, with finer details – including individual hair strands, facial hairs, and markings on my face all bubbling to the surface.
That’s largely thanks to the Insta360 Link 2C offering up 4K resolution – something we always look for in our hunt for the best webcams. Of course, that premium quality isn’t going to come through on all video calling software, but if you’re a content creator or simply want top-tier performance, 4K support is going to be a must-have. For reference, this webcam also supports lower resolutions, such as 1080p, 720p and 360p, at varying frame rates.
Yes, if you’re taking a video in 4K, for example, you’re going to get 30fps – more than enough for some, but 4K 60fps is available on models like the pricey Elgato Facecam Pro. 60fps is available on the Link 2C, though you’ll have to drop the resolution to 1080p or 720p.
When holding up objects like an earbuds charging case or a piece of paper, the webcam was also excellent at shifting focus onto them. That’s thanks to enhanced Phase Detection Auto Focus, which speedily captures details on anything you want to highlight to your colleagues, students, or family on a video call.
And there are so many more features to uncover too, many of which can be found on the free-to-download Insta360 Link Controller software. Here, you’re able to mess around with a range of picture settings like exposure and white balance, as well as try out different filters – stuff like blur, bokeh, and even a makeup tool. I felt that the Link 2C could be a bit better in low-light conditions, but this doesn’t have to be the case if you drill into the settings in this companion. Simply jump in and activate HDR while also flicking brightness up and you’ll see a big improvement.
Insta360 Link Controller also lets you toggle gestures on and off – something I was really looking forward to using. If you hold your hand up – you know, like those big red hands on crossing lights – you can frame the shot to you. There’s also a whiteboard option, which will keep whatever you’re writing on squared and in focus. Both of these work well, and I found them useful when making a video call or just having a bit of fun in the companion software.
But one option that didn’t work so seamlessly for me, was the zoom in and zoom out gesture. You have to make an ‘L’ shape with your hand, which will make the webcam’s green LED light flash. After this, you can move that L shape up or down to zoom in or out respectively. But I found this to work a little more sporadically than I’d hoped. A good amount of the time, it worked well, but I often found that I had to make the L shape multiple times before it was registered, or the zooming would end a little prematurely.
Still, the vast majority of features worked without question on a very consistent basis. Stuff like auto-framing and AI tracking followed my movements with ease – ideal for an especially fidgety person like myself. Meanwhile, the 2C adds pause-track areas, which help the webcam to recognize areas that it shouldn't track you – perhaps if you don’t want to show under your desk, say.
(Image credit: Future)
One of the improvements that the Link 2C is intended to bring is superior noise cancelling. That’s something you’re gonna want if you’re taking calls in a busy office environment, for example. I asked a colleague to make some noises while I called my friend and the results were decent, all things considered. Clapping, for instance, was still very much audible, but stuff like typing and light chatter was dulled nicely.
There are three modes: Voice Focus, Voice Suppression, and Music Balance – but none of these are going to offer the clarity you’ll get from the best microphones for streaming. Ultimately, my voice didn’t sound ultra-crisp on the 2C, but it will plate up clear enough quality for more casual users.
Still, audio is handled pretty well by webcam standards. But something that’s truly fantastic about the Link 2C is its design. It has a real premium metallic feel and finish, diminutive magnetic clip-stand and discreet detailing around the lens. It’s also ultra practical thanks to its compact size, slider for covering the camera and USB-C connectivity. There’s no gimbal or tripod for the 2C model, but if you’re after that, you can grab the standard Link 2 model.
There’s only one way I can tie all of this together and that’s by talking about price. Now, my mind was genuinely blown by the price of the original Insta360 Link – it was almost $300 / £320 / AU$570! But the Link 2C is far more affordable, while still offering some improvements over its predecessor, including better noise cancelling and a sleeker look. This newer webcam will set you back just under $150 / £150 / AU$250, and given the overall performance and quality of the product, I’d say that’s strong overall value for money.
So, at the end of it all, would I recommend the Insta360 Link 2C? Yes, definitely! You get super sharp video, responsive auto-frame adjustment, decent audio (well, by webcam standards), and really neat companion software for fine-tuning everything to your liking. In honesty, the Link 2C has given my setup the facelift I didn’t even know it needed – I’m seeing more detail and fluidity than ever, in each video call. And that’s something I’ve really grown to appreciate.
Sure, the zoom in/out gesture could be a little more reliable and I’d still be inclined to purchase a separate mic for the best speech clarity. But from the upgrade I’ve seen to my work the Insta360 Link 2C is still a fantastic all-round package.
(Image credit: Future)
Insta360 Link 2C review: price & availability
$149 / £149 / AU$249
Launched in September 2024
The Insta360 Link 2C launched alongside the Link 2 in September 2024, two years after its predecessor. The Link 2C carries a list price of $149 / £149 / AU$249, which is drastically, and I mean drastically, cheaper than the original model cost at launch. Yep, the original Insta360 Link released with a list price of $299 / £319 / AU$569 – woah. But don’t be fooled: the 2C has made some improvements over its predecessor, with better noise cancelling, AI features and a prettier build. I know which one I’d pick!
It’s worth noting, by the way, that the Link 2C comes in two color variants: Arctic White; or the version I tested, Graphite Black. The version you pick should have little to no bearing on the price you pay.
Insta360 Link 2C review: specs
Supported resolutions
4K at 30fps, 1080p / 720p at 60fps, 360p at 30fps
Sensor
1/2-inch
Lens
Not specified
Focal length
26mm
Aperture
f/1.8
Focal length
26mm
Field of view
79.5 degrees
(Image credit: Future)
Should you buy the Insta360 Link 2C?
Insta360 Link 2C webcam report card
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Design
Practical, diminutive and premium-feeling build, sleeker than original.
5/5
Performance
Great video quality, plenty of settings to play with, some gesture issues.
4/5
Value
Huge price-cut over original, not too pricey against competition.
4.5/5
Buy it if...
You need quality video for online work or education I found picture quality to look detailed and lifelike throughout my entire time testing the Insta360 Link 2C. If you’re an online teacher, content creator, or someone that takes a lot of video conference calls, this webcam can take your on-screen presence to the next level.
You want a highly customizable user experience If you download the Insta360 Link Controller software, you’ll be able to adjust all kinds of picture settings, use filters and toggle gestures on and off. If you want a highly tuneable webcam experience, the Link 2C offers just that.
Don't buy it if...
You need 4K at 60fps video OK, so I was impressed by the 4K at 30fps video offered by the Insta360 Link 2C. But for some, that may still not be enough. If you’re a content creator, for instance, who wants to unlock true peak performance, it could be worth checking out a webcam that supports 4K at 60fps video, such as the Elgato Facecam.
You’re on a tight budget Although the Link 2C is great value, especially considering the launch price of its predecessor, its still fairly pricey at $149 / £149 / AU$249. If you’re on a budget but want to improve video on your setup, I’d recommend checking out the Osbot Meet SE, which I’ll discuss a little more down below.
Insta360 Link 2C: also consider
Insta360 Link 2C
HP 960 4K Streaming Webcam
Obsbot Meet SE
Price
$149 / £149 / AU$249
$219.99 / £180 / AU$295
$69 / £65 / AU$119
Supported resolutions
4K at 30fps, 1080p / 720p at 60fps, 360p at 30fps
4K at 30fps, 1080 / 720p at 60fps
1080p at 100fps, 720p at 150fps
Sensor
1/2-inch
Not specified
1/2.8-inch
Lens
Not specified
18mm
Not specified
Focus range
0.1m to ∞
0.1m to ∞
0.1m to ∞
Aperture
f/1.8
f/2.0
f/1.8
Focal length
26mm
Not specified
26mm
Field of view
79.5 degrees
78 / 90 / 100 degrees
78 degrees
HP 960 4K Streaming Webcam The HP 960 4K Streaming Webcam currently stands as the number one pick in our guide to the best webcams. Why? Well, you get incredible image and audio quality, a premium design and top-tier software features. It’s fairly pricey and may be a little heavy for smaller laptops, say, but it’s a great webcam all the same. Read our full HP 960 4K Streaming Webcam review.
Obsbot Meet SE Meanwhile, our top overall pick is the Obsbot Meet SE, which is a fair bit cheaper than the Insta360 Link 2C. You’re not going to get 4K video – though a huge portion of video calling platforms won’t support that anyway. So, what you do get is fluid 1080p, 100fps video and a cute, compact design at an excellent low price. Again, gesture controls aren’t perfect and this isn’t the most high-end option, but we love what the Meet SE has to offer. Read our full Obsbot Meet SE review.
How I tested the Insta360 Link 2C
(Image credit: Future)
Tested in a one-week period
Made video calls and experimented with photo and video independently
Exhausted range of features and settings in companion software
I had the Insta360 Link 2C connected to my work setup across a one-week period, testing out its various features and functions. Well, actually, I’ve kept it in my setup beyond initial testing – I’ve enjoyed using it that much!
In order to assess the Link 2C’s quality I tried making a number of video calls, taking photos, and playing around with picture settings in the Insta360 Link Controller software. I compared it to my laptop’s inbuilt camera, tried out gesture controls and also tested quality in both natural and low-light conditions.
Speaking more generally, I’ve tested a huge quantity of products here at TechRadar as a resident Reviews Writer. That covers everything from the latest TVs through to electric shavers – I’ve got experience right across the board.
Billingham began making bags in 1973. The world’s changed a lot since then, but its satchels have stood the test of time. Known for their premium materials and classic style, Billingham bags are the kind you can use for years, then gift to the next generation.
So it is with the Hadley Pro 2020. A gently updated version of the established Hadley Pro, it’s a camera bag built in the British tradition of leather and canvas craftsmanship. It’s also one that’s perfectly sized for most photographers on the go. Combining field-ready functionality with rugged good looks, it’s easy to see why the Hadley Pro is a best-seller.
Granted, it demands a pretty significant up-front investment. In our list of the best camera bags, you’ll find options that cost half the price of the Hadley Pro which can carry the same amount of gear (or more). But what you’re paying for here is enduring quality. Read around online and you’ll find praise from users who’ve carried a Hadley for decades.
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(Image credit: Chris Rowlands)
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(Image credit: Chris Rowlands)
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(Image credit: Chris Rowlands)
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(Image credit: Chris Rowlands)
Unboxing the bag, it’s immediately clear why. From the straps to the reinforced handle, every inch of the Hadley Pro 2020 gives a sense of durability. You can spec the bag with a cotton canvas or synthetic FibreNyte shell. Either way, you get three-layer waterproofing. That’s complemented by solid brass fittings and full-grain leather edging. It’s all got a hard-wearing, workhorse quality.
So much so, that I initially found the leather quick-release straps not so quick to release. I’m assured that these will ease up with use over time. In fact, the whole bag feels like one that will wear well. It’s certainly one that’s designed to adapt to your gear. Those buckles on the front allow you adjust how tightly the lid straps shut. You also have the option of looping extra accessory pockets onto each end.
Most users won’t need to do that. What appears at first glance to be a modest messenger bag actually turns out to be something of a Tardis. With the padded insert slotted into place, the capacity of the Hadley Pro 2020 is surprisingly cavernous. Thanks to its flexible sides, the satchel can swallow a lot of kit. You also get two vertical and two horizontal dividers which can be arranged using velcro tabs to help you manage the space.
It can comfortably accommodate an APS-C system with a trio of mid-sized lenses. Equally, I had no trouble fitting an enthusiast DSLR body with a nifty fifty attached, plus wide-angle and telephoto zooms. Those velcro dividers give you the flexibility not just to separate lenses, but also to create shelves which suspend smaller accessories closer to the top of the bag. The insert also has a padded lid piece as well, which can be folded back out of the way for easier access.
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(Image credit: Chris Rowlands)
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(Image credit: Chris Rowlands)
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(Image credit: Chris Rowlands)
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(Image credit: Chris Rowlands)
Longer lenses are where you’ll find the limits of the Hadley Pro. The bag isn’t exactly shallow, but bigger body and glass combinations will need to be laid sideways to fit in. If you want all of your kit stacked vertically, you’ll need to divide camera and barrel in the name of neatness. This is really the only compromise to speak of: the Billingham is bigger than you think.
The padded insert is complemented by front pockets that are similarly roomy. These are ideally placed for quick access to accessories. The 2020 version of the Hadley Pro also benefits from a weatherproof zip pocket for storing documents on the rear. What you don’t get is a dedicated laptop slot, although you can unofficially fit a 13-inch MacBook Air between the padded insert and the back wall of the bag.
In short, the storage capacity of the Hadley Pro is limited more by the weight you can bear than by space in the satchel itself. The advantage of a messenger bag is that you can keep your gear within arm’s reach, but the single-strap setup means the burden falls on one shoulder. You can also haul the Hadley Pro using its reinforced carry strap or sling it over a suitcase handle using the built-in retainer. But most users are going to rely on its removable shoulder sling.
And if you do, you’ll want to shell out for the optional SP40 shoulder pad. This clip-on leather strip is as beautifully made as the rest of the bag and ships in four colorways to match. For the price of the pack, it should really be included as standard. Without it, the cotton webbing can cut into your shoulder when the bag is heavily laden.
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(Image credit: Chris Rowlands)
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(Image credit: Chris Rowlands)
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(Image credit: Chris Rowlands)
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(Image credit: Chris Rowlands)
Still, in for a dime, in for a dollar. Adding the shoulder pad makes an already expensive camera bag that bit more costly. But it’s hard to feel hard done by. If you’re serious about photography, either as a hobby or a profession, this is a camera bag that will see you through. Count up the cost per use over the many years you’ll be toting it and the equation soon becomes a more reasonable one.
The Hadley Pro is certainly at home on the job. Its traditional aesthetic might not be to every taste, but the classic approach is both professional and versatile. It can go from wilderness to wedding and not look out of place. Plus it’s robust enough to survive both, a hundred times over.
If you really need room for more gear, the Hadley One is an even larger version with a proper laptop sleeve. But for my money, the Billingham Hadley Pro 2020 gets it just right. It’s a fantastic daily satchel for photographers. Practical to the core and well-crafted in every respect, it’s hard to find fault. If you like the look, this is a camera bag that’s very much worth the investment.
Billingham Hadley Pro 2020 review: price
Billingham released the Hadley Pro 2020 camera bag in August 2019. It’s a slightly updated version of the company’s best-selling Hadley Pro. New features for the 2020 edition include a reinforced carry handle, built-in suitcase retaining strap, removable shoulder strap and weatherproof document pocket.
The Hadley Pro 2020 is officially priced at $383 / £308 (around AU$625). It can be found for less from some online camera equipment stores. There’s no escaping that this is a premium camera bag, but you get what you pay for. Use it for decades and the real cost per use becomes very reasonable.
Every Hadley Pro 2020 has leather detailing and can be ordered with a canvas or FibreNyte exterior. The bag comes in eight standard color and material combinations:
Navy canvas / chocolate leather (chocolate lining)
You want a bag for life Thanks to rugged materials and quality craftsmanship, the Hadley Pro 2020 is a camera bag that’s built to last. Three-layer waterproofing keeps your gear dry, while leather and brass detailing will last for decades.
You appreciate classic style With roots in fishing and shooting, Billingham bags have a timeless style. This aesthetic looks the part everywhere from city streets to safari shoots. It’s also got the polish to work events as a professional.
You want flexible storage The Hadley Pro is surprisingly spacious. Its padded camera insert is easily divided, with large front pockets for stashing accessories. There’s space inside to squeeze a laptop, while optional end pockets offer bolt-on storage.
Don't buy it if...
You prefer a contemporary look The traditional appearance won’t be to every taste. For a camera bag with cleaner lines and a more contemporary look, you’re better off choosing a backpack with a modern design. There are plenty out there.
You want a two-strap solution Messenger bags like the Hadley Pro give quick access to camera gear, but put all the weight on one shoulder. Backpacks distribute the weight more evenly, making them more comfortable to use on longer shoots.
You use a lot of large lenses The Billingham has impressive capacity, but larger lenses will find its limits. You’ll need to detach longer glass from your camera body and lay it flat. Even then, some might need to stay at home.
Billingham Hadley Pro 2020 review: Also consider
Billingham Hadley Pro 2020
Peak Design Everyday Messenger 13 V2
Gomatic McKinnon Camera Pack 35L
External dimensions
41 x 16 x 28cm
39.5 x 36 x 19cm
56 x 34 x 23cm
Internal dimensions
34 x 80 x 21cm
35.3 x 31 x 9.5cm
53 x 32 x 13cm
Weight
1230g
1210g
2600g
Total volume
8.5L
16L
35L
Carry-on friendly
Yes
Yes
Yes
Laptop sleeve
No
Yes
Yes
Waterproofing
3-layer waterproof fabric
Water-repellent coating, waterproof bottom liner
Optional rain cover
Peak Design Everyday Messenger 13 V2 A modern messenger bag with an adaptable design, the Peak Design Everyday Messenger 13 V2 is a contemporary alternative to the Billingham Hadley Pro 2020. Its semi-rigid design limits capacity, but FlexFold dividers keep things organized inside. It also benefits from a separate laptop/tablet pocket. A neat and versatile alternative for those who like to shoot on the commute. Read more in our in-depth Peak Design Everyday Messenger 13 V2 review
Gomatic McKinnon Camera Pack 35L If you’re happy to spend a similar amount on a modern bag, the Gomatic McKinnon Camera Pack is a high-end backpack for traveling photographers. It offers space for camera kit and personal items, with clever touches to keep things neat. It’s comfortable to carry and the build quality is superb, although access isn’t quick and useful accessories are costly. Read more in our in-depth Gomatic McKinnon Camera Pack 35L review
How I tested the Billingham Hadley Pro 2020
Carried around every day for two weeks
Packed with a DSLR plus three lenses
Used in different settings and conditions
If you’re buying a camera bag that promises to last for years, you’ll want it to perform in all kinds of shooting scenarios. So that’s exactly how I tested the Billingham Hadley Pro 2020. My aim was to get a first-hand impression of its durability and utility, working in a range of environments.
To test its carrying capacity, I loaded it up with all the gear I’d want to carry on a standard shoot. That included a DSLR body, a 50mm prime, a 70-300mm telephoto and a 10-24mm wide-angle zoom. I also packed out its pockets with accessories, including battery chargers, lens hoods and a compact flashgun.
I then took the Hadley Pro out and about, walking extensively through streets and fields alike. I tried carrying the bag both with and without the optional shoulder pad fitted, to see how much of a difference it made in terms of comfort. I also switched lenses from bag to body, to get an idea of how easy the Billingham would be to work with on the fly.
While the relatively brief duration of my test means I can’t give long-term feedback, a fortnight was enough time to form a detailed impression of the build quality and usability of the Billingham Hadley Pro 2020. It helps that I’ve been working with cameras – and carrying them around – for more than a decade, so I know what to look for in a good camera bag.
CPU: AMD Ryzen V1500B Graphics: None RAM: 4GB DDR4 ECC SODIMM (Max 32GB) Storage: 80TB (20TB HDD x4), 1.6TB (800GB M.2 x2) Ports: 2x Type-A (5Gbps), 1x Type-C (5Gbps), 2x 2.5GbE Ethernet ports Size: 166 x 199 x 223mm (6.5 x 7.8 x 8.8 inches) OS installed: DSM 7 Accessories: 2xLAN cables, 2x drive-bay lock keys, AC power cord
Synology has been producing network attached storage (NAS) technology for over 20 years, and its devices have maintained a consistent look and feel. In that time, the company has developed a highly polished operating system that’s packed with a wide variety of bespoke and third-party apps that do everything from simply backing up files on a home or office network, through managing a household’s multimedia requirements, to running a business’s entire IT stack. The latter includes enterprise-grade backup, all kinds of server functionality, email and web-hosting, virtual machine management, surveillance camera management and much, much more.
In more recent years, Synology has hunkered down in its own segment of the NAS market – eschewing broad compatibility with third-party hardware providers and a Wild-West application community in favor of a more closed and professional operating environment, where you have to buy expensive Synology drives to populate the boxes. While these compatibility changes have driven some users away, what remains is still an incredibly robust, well-supported and well-documented ecosystem that has a huge community following.
The new DiskStation DS925+ is something of a popular, sweet-spot size that can suit new users and network admins alike. At a glance, it looks exactly like several generations of its predecessors and it operates very much like them. Its most significant features include four bays that support both 3.5-inch and 2.5-inch drives and two M.2 NVMe SSD slots. Its tool-less design and simple setup wizards make it quick and easy to build, and you can be up and running in less than 15 minutes. It runs quietly and can be positioned on top of a desk or hidden away (in a ventilated location) discreetly. To casual users (with deep pockets) who want access to Synology’s apps and need only basic NAS functionality, we could stop there. Enthusiasts will want to know more.
(Image credit: Nick Ross)
The list of compatible drives is now smaller than ever. While Synology has kicked certification of third-party drives over to vendors like Seagate and WD, it doesn’t appear to have resulted in more choice… yet. At the time of writing, you’re still limited to Synology’s latest Plus Series consumer drives (which go up to 16TB), its Enterprise drives (up to 20TB), its 2.5-inch SSDs (up to 7TB) and its Enterprise-level M.2 NVMe drives (up to 800GB). All of them are considerably more expensive than incompatible third-party counterparts.
The DS925+ comes with one of its two SO-DIMM slots populated with 4GB of DDR4 ECC RAM. You can upgrade to two sticks of Synology’s own 16GB ECC RAM (for 32GB total) if required, but not if you’re looking to save money. The introduction of error-correcting (ECC) RAM at this level is a boon, nonetheless.
It should be noted that if you’re looking to the DS925+ as an upgrade for an older Synology NAS, it will allow third-party drives if it recognizes an existing DSM installation. However, you’ll get constant drive compatibility warnings in return.
Positive new hardware features include a beefed-up, quad-core, eight-thread AMD Ryzen V1500B processor (note that there’s no integrated GPU) and its two network ports are finally 2.5GbE. There are both front and rear-mounted USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports plus a new, slightly controversial, USB-C port for connecting an external, 5-bay extension unit (replacing old eSATA-connected options). What’s most bothersome, though, is the lack of a PCIe network expansion for upgrading to 10GbE connectivity, which limits the possible network transfer speeds.
Ultimately, the initial outlay for a DS925+ can be enormous compared to rivals on the market. However, if you’re going to make use of the vast libraries of free software applications and licenses, it’ll represent great value.
Synology DiskStation DS925+: Price & availability
Synology’s DiskStation DS925+ only recently launched and has limited availability in only a few markets. It’s listed at $830 / £551 / AU$1,099.
Overall, it's well priced compared to its closest competitors such as the TerraMaster F4-424 Max, as well as other Synology NAS devices.
Value score: 4.5 / 5
Synology DiskStation DS925+: Design & build
While the DiskStation DS925+ looks like its predecessors, I felt that it was somewhat more robust and less rattly than some of its forebears. Regardless of that, it’s still a small and discreet black box that will not draw attention to itself, wherever it’s located.
(Image credit: Nick Ross)
The tool-less design makes adding hard drives simple. For 3.5-inch drives, you just lift up the drive bay door, pull out the drive tray, unclip the tray’s side bars, put the drive in the tray, clip the bars back on (they use rubber grommets to reduce sound and vibrations) and slide it back in. If you want, you can ‘lock’ each drive bay with a key to deter opportunistic thieves.
Adding RAM involves removing the drive bays and adding SO-DIMMs to the internal slots on the side. Adding the M.2 NVMe drives involves simply unclipping the covers on the base and sliding them in. Adding six drives takes less than five minutes.
A fully populated DS925+ runs very quietly – Synology says just 20dB – and I can attest that there’s only a very quiet whooshing noise made by the dual 92mm fans, and the drives only make occasional, very low clicking and popping sounds.
Installing the operating system is also simple. A QR code in the box provides access to an online setup document with a link that automatically finds your NAS on the network before offering to install everything for you. After a quick firmware update, it reboots and you’ll be looking at the DSM desktop, in a web browser, just a few minutes later. The NAS will then prompt you to sign into a Synology account, set up SSO and MFA log-ins and install some basic apps.
Newcomers might struggle at first with the terminology surrounding the initial setup of the drives, but (at the basic level) the NAS walks you through the process. It involves organizing the drives into a storage pool, then creating a volume and then adding folders. You’ll also be prompted to list which users can have View, Read or Write access. At this point you’ve got functional network-attached storage that can be accessed across your network.
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The operating system is well-polished and installing bespoke and third-party apps is simple thanks to the Package Center application which operates like a free App Store. It’s also simple to enable remote access using Synology’s QuickConnect ID short-web-link system.
An interesting change with the DiskStation DS925+ is the removal of the (6Gbps) eSATA port for connecting Synology’s optional, legacy, external drive bays and its replacement with a single (5Gbps) USB-C port which connects to a Synology DX525 5-bay expansion unit. I didn't have an expansion bay on hand to test this, but the performance difference should be minimal.
While there are only two 2.5GbE network ports, you can combine them in various ways, with the easiest (load balancing) becoming operational in just a few clicks. It’s more suited to multiple connections rather than improving top speed, though.
Finally, it’s worth noting that compatibility with third-party drives is now strictly limited. At the time of writing, the DS925+ was only compatible with its own (up to 16TB) prosumer Plus Series hard drives, its (up to 20TB) Enterprise Series hard drives and (up to 7TB) SSDs, plus its 400GB and 800GB M.2 NVMe drives. All of these cost considerably more than third-party equivalents. Synology is blunt about why it has limited compatibility so much – it got sick of dealing with support requests that often boiled down to conflicts and crashes caused by drive failures and subsequent arguments with third-party drive vendors. While it’s annoying, I can sympathize with that.
Design & build score: 5 / 5
Synology DiskStation DS925+: Features
(Image credit: Nick Ross)
It’s tricky to know just where to start with the numerous features that are available with the DiskStation DS925+. It performs just about every business and consumer task you can imagine. For many smart-home users, the various multi-device backup utilities, multimedia organization tools and media-server functionality (including Plex, Emby and Jellyfin) will be used more than anything else.
For prosumer and business users, it can be your full-stack IT service provider. There are apps that can transform your NAS into an enterprise-grade backup solution with off-site (third-party and Synology C2) cloud capabilities; email server; web server; Synology Office application provider; surveillance camera manager; anti-malware protection; virtual machine manager and a VPN server.
In all of these applications, multiple user licenses are included, which boosts the value proposition through the roof.
There’s a multitude of third-party applications and high-quality documentation (covering just about everything) that has been created by a large and mature Synology-enthusiast community.
Network admins will also like the numerous drive-formatting options, granular user permission management and SSO and MFA security options.
Storage capacity can be increased via a USB-C connected, five-drive-bay expansion unit.
The two USB-A ports (front and rear) have had many functions removed so they can no longer be used to connect potential security nightmares like printers, media devices, or network adapters, but they can still be used for connecting external USB storage devices.
The twin 92mm fans are quiet and, in conjunction with well-designed vents, do a good job of cooling the NAS. That said, be sure to place it in a location where airflow isn’t impeded and the vents won’t get clogged with dust.
Features score: 5 / 5
Synology DiskStation DS925+: Performance
(Image credit: Nick Ross)
To test the DiskStation DS925+, I installed four Synology 3.5-inch, 4TB hard drives and formatted them with Synology’s own RAID-5-like Btrfs file system which offers striped performance boosts, disk-failure redundancy protection and numerous enhancements that work with Synology’s backup utilities. It left me with a 10.4TB volume and meant I could lose/remove any one drive without suffering data loss.
I also installed two 400GB M.2 NVMe SSDs as a single Btrfs storage volume (they can also be used for caching) which gave me a usable capacity of 362.4GB.
I transferred files from one volume to the other and hit sustained transfer speeds that peaked at 435MB/s, but most people will be moving data externally.
I subsequently performed multiple tests to find its real-world limits, see what doing without a 10GbE port option meant and discover what benefits the two (configurable) 2.5GbE LAN ports offered. I did this by connecting the NAS to a high-end, TP-Link Deco BE85 Wi-Fi 7 Router (with 10GbE LAN ports) via Ethernet and downloading large video files using various wired and wireless configurations.
I compared the DS925+’s performance to that of an older, two-bay Synology DiskStation DS723+ that has a 10GbE wired connection, a dual 3.5-inch hard drive volume and a newly fitted, single, 800GB Synology M.2 NVMe SSD-based volume.
I tested using a high-end Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 X3D gaming laptop with a 2.5GbE LAN connection and Wi-Fi 6E, as well as a new Core Ultra (Series 2) Asus Vivobook 14 Flip with Wi-Fi 7.
I started with the DS723+ which I’ve been using for testing Wi-Fi routers. With the Scar’s 2.5GbE Ethernet port connected by wire to the Deco router, I saw sustained transfer speeds that hit 245MB/s for both the DS723+’s HDD volume and its NVMe volume. Over a 5GHz Wi-Fi 6E wireless connection, this dropped to 194MB/s for both volumes. Over a 6GHz Wi-Fi 6E wireless connection, it achieved 197MB/s using the HDD volume and 215MB/s for the NVMe volume.
Switching to the Wi-Fi 7 VivoBook, on the 5GHz wireless connection, it managed 180MB/s for both the HDD and NVMe volumes. However, when using the 6GHz Wi-Fi 7 network, it achieved 244MB/s for the HDD volume and an astonishing 347MB/s for the NVMe volume. That right there is the power of having a 10GbE-equipped NAS (with an NVMe drive) connected to a Wi-Fi 7 network. Cables, schmables! That’s more than enough for editing multiple streams of UHD video at once.
(Image credit: Nick Ross)
So, how did the newer DS925+ compare? When it was connected to the Deco via a single 2.5GbE port, the 2.5GbE LAN connected Asus laptop reached 280MB/s for the HDD volume and 282MB/s for the NVMe volume – a good 35MB/s quicker than the two-bay DS723+. Over 5GHz Wi-Fi these scores both dropped to 190MB/s which is similar to the DS723+, illustrating a likely 5GHz Wi-Fi bottleneck. Interestingly, performance was consistently slower during the Scar’s 6GHz tests, where it hit 163MB/s (HDD volume) and 172MB/s (NVMe volume), but this is again likely caused by the network, not the NAS.
When the VivoBook connected via the 5GHz network, it managed 186MB/s transfers for both volumes. Over Wi-Fi 7 this jumped up to 272MB/s for the HDD volume and 278MB/s for the SSD volume. So, thus far, the file transfer performance benefits of having NVMe storage on the DS925+ aren’t significant when passing through the bottleneck of its 2.5GbE LAN port.
Consequently, I bonded the two 2.5GbE connections together to form a ‘single’ 5GbE connection in an effort to boost performance. This takes just a few clicks in DSM’s control panel. I opted for the basic Adaptive Load Balancing option, but there are several other configurations for various types of network topology.
(Image credit: Nick Ross)
So, with the DS925+’s two Ethernet cables forming a single 5Gbps connection to the Deco router, I ran the tests again. The 2.5GbE-connected ROG Strix Scar saw transfer speeds (to both the HDD and SSD volumes) only reach 168MB/s, which is around 120MB/s slower than when the NAS was connected via a single 2.5GbE wired connection. Over 5GHz Wi-Fi this boosted (slightly) to 188MB/s for both volumes and over the 6GHz network, it dropped back to 170MB/s for both volumes. It’s fair to say that combining the DS925+’s two 2.5GbE ports is better suited to handling multiple network streams rather than boosting performance of a single connection.
Nonetheless, I repeated the test with the VivoBook. Over 5GHz Wi-Fi, both volumes saw transfer speeds of 176MB/s. Over 6GHz Wi-Fi 7, it hit 283MB/s.
So, what have we learned about the DS925+’s file transfer-speed potential? Using a 2.5GbE wired connection to and from the router, it tops out at 280MB/s. Connecting the laptop via 5GHz Wi-Fi typically sees transfer speeds of between 160MB/s and 185MB/s, but over 6GHz Wi-Fi 7, up to 283MB/s is possible. This means that, in the right circumstances, Wi-Fi 7 can match 2.5GbE connection speeds.
We also learned that combining the DS925+’s two 2.5GbE connections (at least, in my particular setup) reduces the top transfer speed. Most importantly, that means losing the option for a 10GbE upgrade stops us hitting insane 347MB/s speeds over Wi-Fi 7, and 283MB/s is the reduced ceiling. As such, it’s straight-up not worth using the M.2 drives for file transfer performance boosting as the 2.5GbE connection(s) act as a bottleneck.
That all said, the M.2 drives can still improve performance through caching functionality and Synology notes it can give a 15x improvement to random read and write IOPS. This will be a much bigger deal in situations with multiple connections occurring simultaneously.
While some high-end users will miss the option to upgrade to a 10GbE performance ceiling, I found it’s still more than enough to facilitate very high bitrate, 60FPS, UHD+ video playback (and multiple UHD video stream editing) in addition to having multiple simultaneous connections performing numerous lesser tasks.
Performance score: 4.5 / 5
Should you buy the Synology DiskStation DS925+?
It has become normal to gripe about the design decisions and limitations that Synology imposes on each generation of its prosumer NAS boxes. However, if we eliminate the potential purchasers it won’t suit – i.e. those who need a 10GbE connection and those who cannot afford all the expensive Synology hard drives required to populate it – it’s absolutely worth buying.
Its highly evolved chassis is deceptively well built in terms of tool-less access, rigidity, cooling and airflow. Its operating environment remains secure, robust and intuitive and is packed with features. Its software library will satisfy casual and demanding consumers plus network admins alike and almost all of it is free.
While it’s lost the hodgepodge, stick-your-old-hard-drives-in-a-box-and-hack-a-NAS-together old-school vibe, it’s now a reliable (and scalable) professional backbone for any business or smart-home.
As an all-around package, it’s the best on the market for its target audience. Yes, it can be expensive to populate with drives, but the subsequent total cost of ownership borne through reliability, software licensing and built-in security features help offset the burden of the initial outlay. This means that the DS925+ is, once again, a highly desirable winner from Synology.
Attribute
Notes
Score
Value
A closed market makes buying drives expensive. But, the free software library can make it a bargain, regardless.
4.5
Design
It’s incredibly simple to put together thanks to its tool-less design. The software is voluminous, polished, mature, secure and reliable. It also runs cool and quiet.
5
Features
Whether you’re an undemanding consumer or a network admin, the DS925+ can do it all.
5
Performance
The lack of an upgrade option to a 10GbE port limits peak performance, but it’s still not slow.
4.5
Total
Synology’s latest 4-bay NAS is as attractive as its predecessors, which is high praise indeed.
5
(Image credit: Nick Ross)
Buy it if...
You want a one-stop box that can support your smart home
Its ease of setup, friendly multimedia apps, security, reliability and ability to operate almost every facet of a smart home make it a winner.
You want a one-stop box that can support your entire organization
Whether it’s enterprise-grade backups, hosting web or email servers or virtual machines or even providing free office software, this one box can do it all.
Don't buy it if...
You need the fastest file transfers
The lack of 10GbE connectivity means that top transfer speeds are no longer available.
You're on a tight budget
Getting access to Synology’s incredible value and mostly free software library now involves an even heavier initial outlay for compatible drives.
