The Ninja BlendBOSS Tumbler Blender with 26oz Travel Tumbler is ideal for people who want to quickly make smoothies, iced coffee, and other frozen beverages on the go. Just put your ingredients into the tumbler, screw on the blade lid, screw the blade lid onto the 1,200-watt motor base, and press one of the four blend mode buttons. There are three intelligent preset programs: Smoothie, Ice Crush, and Blend. These modes combine pulsing, blending, and pausing so you don't have guess. Unscrew the tumbler and screw on the drinking lid, grab a straw if you like, and you're on your way.
All three of the removable parts (tumbler, blade, travel lid) are easy to clean and dishwasher-safe. The base, which stays stable on your counter with suction cups, doesn't need to be washed. Simply wipe with a damp cloth if spills happen.
The Ninja BlendBOSS Tumbler Blender is aesthetically pleasing, with four whimsical colorways. The travel tumbler resembles trendy water bottle styles.
Ninja BlendBOSS Tumbler Blender: price and availability
List price: $119.99 (about £90 / AU$180)
Not widely available outside the US
The Ninja BlendBOSS Tumbler Blender with 26oz Travel Tumbler is available at all major retailers in the US, both online and in brick-and-mortar stores. Find it at Ninja's own website or at Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Amazon, and many more. It comes in four fun colorways: Lavender Lemonade (purple and yellow, as seen in my photos), Blue Raspberry (light blue and seafoam green), Watermelon Bubblegum (sage green and pale pink), and Cyberspace (gray and steel blue). It retails for $119.99 (about £90 / AU$180)
It's not widely available outside the US at the time of writing, though you may be able to find it imported via Amazon Marketplace.
Value score: 4/5
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Ninja BlendBOSS Tumbler Blender: specifications
Price
$119.99
Blending functions
Three intelligent programs blend automatically: Smoothie, Ice Crush, and Blend. A fourth button, Pulse, lets you choose.
Size
7.2 in L x 6.69 in W x 12.91 in H
Container material
Plastic
Container included
26-ounce travel tumbler
Color options
Lavender Lemonade (purple and yellow, as seen in my photos), Blue Raspberry (light blue and seafoam green), Watermelon Bubblegum (sage green and pale pink), and Cyberspace (gray and steel blue)
Ninja BlendBOSS Tumbler Blender: design and features
Blend directly into the travel tumbler
Four blending modes (three are automatic)
1,200-watt motor
Ninja BlendBOSS Tumbler Blender with 26oz Travel Tumbler is well-designed for its purpose. The powerful 1200-watt motor quickly and easily blends ice and frozen fruit for smoothies, iced coffee, and other frozen beverages to go. The tumbler is large but the tapered base fits into most cars' cupholders.
The tumbler has measurement markings on it, so you can combine your ingredients directly into it. The six-ounce marking also serves as the minimum liquid marking, since you must use at least six ounces of liquid in order for the BlendBOSS to blend properly. There is also a max fill line near the top, at the 24-ounce mark. This gives you space at the top to add whipped cream or other toppings after you're done blending.
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There are four buttons on the base of the Ninja BlendBOSS Tumbler Blender. Three of them are automatic settings that use a combination of pulses and pauses to take the guesswork out of blending. The first button, Blend IQ, runs for 60 seconds. The second, Smoothie IQ, runs for 55 seconds. Ice Crush IQ is the third button, and it goes for 50 seconds. The fourth button, Pulse, is the only manual button. Any blender can be pretty loud, though this one isn't louder than others I've used. The IQ buttons allow you to walk away while your treat is blending, so you don't even have to listen to it up close.
The base is pretty big and heavy for a tumbler blender, probably due to its 1200-watt motor. It does have two suction cups on the bottom to keep it from moving around when you blend. The blade lid and the travel lid both screw on securely and easily. The travel/chug lid has a button so you can pop it open, revealing the chug opening. When you close it, the lid is leak-proof.
I did have one issue with the chug lid. If you do indeed chug directly from the lid (as opposed to using a straw), the top of the lid falls down on your head when you're taking your last sips. I found that pretty annoying, and found myself either using a straw or removing the lid entirely and just drinking directly from the tumbler.
Design score: 4.5/5
Ninja BlendBOSS Tumbler Blender: performance
I made a number of different recipes to test out the Ninja BlendBOSS Tumbler Blender, including several different smoothies, pancake batter, pasta sauce, and an iced drink. In every case, the blender was super fast and blended everything completely. Even the spinach in one of my smoothies was blended so fine that I couldn't see or taste the spinach at all. The ice in my iced lemonade was essentially turned to a slushy snow. I did try blending smoothies with less than the recommended amount (six ounces) of liquid, and ended up having to stop the blender, take off the blending lid, and stir around the contents. Everything else I made (with the proper amount of liquid) blended just perfectly without my having to do anything besides press the start button.
In the images below, I was making a smoothie with frozen blueberries and spinach, and it came out perfectly smooth. There were no chunks of blueberry skin or spinach.
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Below are photos of the iced lemonade I made. The BlendBOSS turned ice into snow incredibly quickly and thoroughly.
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I got a little creative below, making a protein pancake batter from cottage cheese, eggs, and oats. The result was a smooth liquid with no chunks at all.
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Next I made some pasta sauce. Here I blended a can of whole tomatoes and cottage cheese. I didn't even do a whole blend cycle, a few seconds was all it took to turn that into sauce. I poured the contents of the blender into a pot I had on the stove with olive oil and browned garlic.
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Performance score: 5/5
Should you buy the Ninja BlendBOSS Tumbler Blender?
Ninja BlendBOSS Tumbler Blender report card
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Value
This is fairly expensive for a tumbler blender, but it's also pretty powerful.
4/5
Design
This is a cute blender; it all works well except for the chug lid dropping on my nose when chugging.
4.5/5
Performance
Blending performance was excellent, whether using the automatic IQ buttons or the manual pulse button.
5/5
Overall
This small but powerful blender will fill just about all of your blending needs as long as you use enough liquid.
4.5/5
Buy it if
You want to make smoothies and iced beverages on the go
Iced coffee, smoothies, protein drinks, or other frozen beverages are made perfectly smooth and ready to go in seconds. The included tumbler is cute, holds up to 26 ounces of liquid, and fits into most cars' cupholders.
You want to make other blended foods too
Make sauces, soups, batters, salad dressing, and more. As long as you put in enough liquid (about 6 ounces), this blender can handle it.
You want easy cleanup
Cleaning up couldn't be easier. Blend a drop of liquid detergent and water to quickly hand wash the tumbler, blade lid, and chug lid. Or, put all three in the dishwasher if you prefer. A quick swipe with a damp cloth is all you need for the base.
Don't buy it if
You like super thick smoothies
Since this is a gravity blender, you do need sufficient liquid. I tried using less and had to stop mid-cycle to scrape down the sides. It did work, but it's pretty messy to stop in the middle like that. You definitely want to use more liquid.
You like to chug directly from the travel lid
When I tried that, the flap kept falling on my nose, which was annoying. That's a problem easily solved by using a straw or just removing the lid entirely. But if you're a dedicated chugger, it's something to keep in mind.
You don't need that much power
There are definitely less powerful portable blenders you can buy that are substantially smaller and cheaper. If you're mixing protein powder or making mostly liquid drinks with just a little ice, save your money and get one of those. The BlendBOSS will be more blender than you need.
Ninja BlendBOSS Tumbler Blender: also consider
If you're not sure about the Ninja BlendBOSS Tumbler Blender, here are some other blenders you might like
Vitamix A3500
Vitamix has been my own blender of choice for over a decade. If you need power, you need a Vitamix. Love a thick, chunky smoothie with no liquid at all? A Vitamix can handle it.
If you don't need as much power as the BlendBOSS has to offer, this cheap and cheerful little portable blender will be enough for you. Plus the whole thing is portable and rechargeable.
I used it for weeks to make a variety of beverages and foods
I cleaned it after every use
I made a variety of smoothies, all of them with the minimum amount of liquid and heavy on the frozen fruit and ice. I made a cherry-yogurt-almond milk smoothie, a banana-yogurt-almond milk smoothie that included a number of powders and seeds, and a banana-blueberry-spinach-hemp seed smoothie. I made an iced lemonade beverage that included ice, water, and lemon balsamic vinegar. I made protein pancake batter with equal parts egg whites, cottage cheese, and dry oatmeal. I made pasta sauce with cottage cheese and canned whole tomatoes (added to browned garlic and olive oil on the stove.) Everything I made blended perfectly smooth with no evidence of seeds or skins.
When you think of the best video editing software, you more often think of the big players like Adobe Premiere Pro, Apple Final Cut Pro, and even DaVinci Resolve. The problem is, these professional-grade tools can feel intimidating.
And that's where CyberLink PowerDirector 365 comes in. It offers high-end tools and editing workflow, wrapped up in an easy-to-understand interface that's suitable for beginners.
So, we look a look at the latest version (v24) to see how PowerDirector stacks up.
CyberLink PowerDirector 365: Price & availability
Competitively priced subscription
Often discounted
Like so many software packages these days, PowerDirector is only available on a subscription. You do have a couple of options though: pay $80 for the year for it alone, or combine it with PhotoDirector for $145 annually.
That’s the basic price, but you’ll find CyberLink often offers steep discounts for its software. For instance, as of this writing, you can get these for $60 or $93 respectively.
It’s definitely much cheaper than Adobe Premiere Pro, and it would take 4 years of you paying for PowerDirector at full price to exceed the cost of Apple’s Final Cut Pro. So price-wise, it’s pretty good.
Even better, you can download the software and start using it for free to make sure it works as you intend it to. You’ll encounter limitations, such as a watermark output, and a host of advanced tools and effects which are off limits to you, but the essential ones aren’t.
CyberLink PowerDirector 365: Interface
(Image credit: CyberLink // Future)
Well-organized interface
Clear navigation
Launch PowerDirector and you’ll be graced with its welcome screen. From there, you can of course click on ‘New Project’ and get into the editing side of things (more on that in a minute), but that’s not all that window has to offer. You’ll find a handful of large icons, most of which offer quick drag-and-drop effects.
They’re there if you’ve already got a video clip or exported project which you wish to alter with one specific effect throughout. Click on one of those icons, a pop up window appears, drop a clip onto it, and the software will get working. Convenient, yes, but editing this isn’t. So let’s check out the editing side of things.
We’ve reached the stage now in terms of interface development, that if you’ve seen one video editor, you’ve pretty much seen them all. I don’t view that as a bad thing: it makes it easy to switch between them; aside from having a sidebar on the right instead of on the left, or similar, it should take you seconds to find your way around PowerDirector’s interface.
You’ll find a list of icons, top left, which control the top third of the interface. These allow you to switch between your clips, and specific functions, such as titles, transitions, effects, and so on. Top right is the preview section; it’s linked either to your timeline (which takes up the bottom half of the interface) or any selected clip in your media section.
Unlike Premiere Pro, the interface isn’t customisable. You work with what you get. It’s even more inflexible than Final Cut Pro - and I thought FCP was strict! - but at the end of the day, that’s not entirely a bad thing: it means you can sit in front of any computer with PowerDirector installed and know where everything is. That’s a big plus in my book. But the price for that familiarity is a rigid interface. A price worth paying? That would depend on your preference and workflow.
CyberLink PowerDirector 365: Tools
(Image credit: CyberLink // Future)
Everything you need to edit a video
Free to add effects, transitions, and titles
No keyboard controls
Everything you need to edit a video project is there for you to use. The timeline has multiple layers, so you can end up making a relatively complex movie. You’ll find various animated titles, Transitions, Effects, Particles, Stickers, and more, all ready to spruce up your edit. They are all excellent and well crafted.
If you’re on a subscription, it’s all available to you, but if you’re working with the free version, you’ll encounter some serious limitations: most of these tools are ‘premium’ ones; you can recognise them thanks to a small black crown inside a yellow circle, top left of a tool’s icon. Despite that, you’ll still be able to insert them into your project, but when it comes to exporting it, you’ll be offered the option of forking out some of your money to be able to use them, or having them automatically removed prior to rendering.
Some tools can’t be accessed unless you log in to your CyberLink account (which is free to setup). That’s because they’re AI-based and require credits to function. You do get 100 credits per month with a subscription, and any additional credit packs are reduced by 50% as long as you keep paying, but you can also get these packs at full price while using the free version. They start at 100, and go up to 2,000, and obviously the more you buy, the cheaper each individual credit gets.
Editing is simple, but it could be easier, mind you. Maybe it’s because I’m used to more professional editors: I use the keyboard a lot when editing, and other programs allow me to use the JKL keys to playback in reverse, stop and go forward respectively; using the left and right arrow keys moves me back or forward one frame, and the up and down arrow keys jump me to the next or previous edit point…
And there are so many others. These greatly speed up my work. Unfortunately, PowerDirector doesn’t have any of those, which forces users to rely more on the mouse or trackpad. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, especially if you’re not used to such shortcuts, but the lack of options certainly is.
CyberLink PowerDirector 365: Latest updates
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Strong push for AI-based tools,
AI credits required, but not consumer-friendly implementation
Devs regularly adding new features
One of the great things about PowerDirector, is that new features are regularly released - whether they’re new effects to celebrate a forthcoming festive season, or new tools. At the time of review (January 2026), CyberLink is making an increasing push for AI-based tools which are, as you’d expect, powered by separately purchased credits.
One of the newest additions is ‘Video Generator’. The way it works is, you choose a style from a list of thumbnails, add your own photo, and PowerDirector will transform it to match that style and animate it as well for 5 or 10 seconds, for good measure.
The one that appealed to me the most was the ‘AI Anime Video Effect’, as it transforms your clip into animation. You have 17 styles to choose from, and the process is designed to turn 10, 20 or 30 seconds of video into your preferred style.
The only problem I can see with such features, is you have to pay before you see the results. You do get a tiny preview of the effect based on some placeholder image by mousing over the thumbnail, but truth be told, that’s really not enough.
What if ‘Vivid’ didn’t work as an anime style for your project, but ‘Classic’ would’ve been better? Well, you’ll have to pay again. The idea and concepts are good, but the implementation doesn’t feel consumer-friendly to me.
It's packed with all the tools most general users will need for content creation - and at a fraction of the price of higher-end and premium software. Especially if you manage to grab a discounted subscription. Bonus points for offering a free, if limited, option.
I like the overall workflow and the number of features that keep coming to PowerDirector. I even enjoyed using the AI tools here. But the fact that you need to keep buying credits without the ability to simply preview the AI generation means it loses a star in my review. For me, that doesn't feel fair to users.
Beyond that, though, there's not much I don't like about PowerDirector 365, especially for those who want to create professional-looking videos without the steep learning curve I often see in other video editors.
Should I buy CyberLink PowerDirector 365?
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Buy it if... You want a video editor that is simple to use, is affordable (or even free), and gets regularly updated with new tools and fun effects, transitions, and animated texts.
Don't buy it if... You feel you need a video editor that’s more fluid, and you’re not a fan of the ‘pay before you see’ model that’s used for the AI tools.
The Ricoh iX2400 is a simple office document scanner that enables you to load up to 100 sheets of A4 paper into its auto feeder. You can then hit scan, and the entire stack of paper will be scanned and formatted, ready for review in a couple of minutes.
In August last year, I tested the more advanced iX2500, which is essentially the same machine with network connectivity. This stripping back of any type of wired or wireless network connectivity will appeal to those who are increasingly security-minded.
This does mean that the machine is only accessible from a single device, and if you want to use it from your desktop, laptop, or another person’s computer, then you’ll have to physically reconnect the hardware via USB. That’s not too much of an issue; it just isn't as convenient as the more expensive option.
In terms of performance, there’s little to no difference. It handles multiple A4 documents, bills, or even old photographs being scanned in colour, or for that matter, black and white, with absolute accuracy and speed.
The scanning speed is extremely fast. You can use the button on the front of the machine to directly scan or go through the software. Another slight change compared to the iX2500 is the lack of a touchscreen. This is a very stripped-down version, which will likely suit most people, especially when you consider the savings in price.
I’ve been using the machine in the office to scan agreements, household bills, and more over the past month, and, as I found with the iX2500, it’s just an extremely quick and easy way to keep on top of your household or small business administration.
The user interface with the software still feels a little dated. It looks like something left over from the 1990s and doesn’t seem to have progressed design-wise. However, it functions exceptionally well, enabling you to scan documents in various formats and resolutions for later use and even upload directly to the cloud.
One useful aspect of the ScanSnap iX2400 is the OCR capability. If you're scanning a whole series of documents, you can activate the option to create a searchable PDF, which converts the printed word into fully searchable documents using OCR technology.
If you’re working in a smaller office and are likely to leave this machine connected to a single computer or laptop, then it’s a good value, if not overly cheap. However, if you need broader accessibility or network integration, paying a bit extra for the iX2500 definitely makes sense. Either way, in any office, this machine, or one extremely similar, is a great asset.
Ricoh ScanSnap iX2400: Price & availability
How much does it cost? £310 / $399
When is it out? Now
Where can you get it? Widely available
While the price of the ScanSnap iX2400 is lower than the more advanced network-connected iX2500, it still carries a relatively hefty price of $399 / £310. It’s widely available, including from major online retailers such as Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.
Value: 4 / 5
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
Ricoh ScanSnap iX2400: Design
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
Specifications
Ports: USB 3.2, Power input Connectivity: USB only (USB 3.2 Gen 1) Size: 292 × 161 × 152 mm Weight: 3.2kg Accessories: USB cable, AC adapter, ScanSnap Home software licence
The iX2400 has been designed as a compact piece of office equipment. At first glance, you might mistake it for a standard desktop printer. The compact profile is available in both black and white. For this review, I looked at the black option, which is stylish and fits neatly on a desktop surface or shelf.
The quality of design is extremely good. The whole thing feels very solid, clearly designed for office use and daily operation, rather than occasional home use. This is also reflected in the premium pricing.
Checking over the machine, it’s a bit more simplistic than other versions I’ve reviewed. On the front is a single scan button, which, when connected to a computer, enables fast scanning of any documents. On the back, unlike other ScanScap options, there’s only a USB-C port—no Wi-Fi or network connection.
It weighs in at 3.2 kg, and with its compact size of 292 x 161 x 152 mm, it feels heavier than expected.
The design, while simple, is clever. The fold-up lid becomes the 100-sheet feeder holder, securely holding documents, A4, A5 paper or photographs ready for scanning. The adjustable guides are linked, so moving one moves the other, securely positioning whichever paper size you’re scanning.
The machine is also a duplex scanner. What’s interesting here is that rather than feeding documents through twice to scan both sides, it uses a dual-scanning system that captures both sides of each sheet simultaneously. If you’re scanning a photograph, it recognises there’s only one side to scan. Settings can be adjusted using the software.
As documents are scanned, they exit from the bottom of the machine into a pull-out tray, which helps keep things neat. At the machine’s speed, if you're scanning 100 documents, having the tray extended makes sense; otherwise, paper can scatter.
Whether you're using the machine occasionally or keeping it on your desktop, the compact design makes it minimalistic. During the review, I had it set up on one of my test benches, linked to a workstation connected to the network. It was convenient, and when I needed to move it, the small size and solid build made it easy to pack away and store.
Design: 4.5 / 5
Ricoh ScanSnap iX2400: Features
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
For simplicity, the iX2400 is one of the easiest document scanners I’ve reviewed. To get started, just remove the tape that keeps it safe in transit, plug in the power and USB cable, download and install the software, and you’re ready in under five minutes.
Then, simply load the software on your computer, insert your documents, and press scan. The scanner and software handle the rest, scanning content directly into the application where you can view, email, or share the results.
If you want more control, you can select the format, PDF, Word, image, or upload directly to the cloud via ScanSnap's own service (with an account), or connect to Microsoft Teams or Google Drive.
Everything is set up with sensible defaults. The only additional step I’d recommend is activating OCR if you want to make scanned documents searchable, especially when exporting to PDF or Word.
You have multiple options: duplex scanning, scanning up to 100 documents into a single file or as individual files. It supports duplex scanning at up to 45 pages per minute (90 IPM) with a resolution of up to 600 DPI.
While the scanner is designed to be simple and straightforward, you can delve into the settings to adjust image quality, which is useful when scanning old photographs. There are also quality and distribution settings within the software. While functional, it does look dated, especially in terms of design.
Features: 4.5 / 5
Ricoh ScanSnap iX2400: Performance
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
The iX2400 is the base model in the range, and it keeps things simple. It connects to your computer via a USB-C cable, with no network port or Wi-Fi. This makes it an offline-only solution, which I find appealing, particularly for scanning secure financial or NDA-related documents.
The setup was extremely easy. Without needing to worry about Wi-Fi or network placement, the single USB-C cable was all that was required. With the software installed, the machine was instantly recognised and ready to use.
To test, I inserted a stack of photographs and hit the scan button, more out of initial curiosity, once the machine was set up, rather than as a focused part of the test. I was surprised at the speed at which it got to work, and within a few seconds, 20 images were displayed on-screen.
Being familiar with ScanSnap software, I’d already set up scanning profiles for saving files to specific folders, which are then backed up to my NAS. It’s quick and easy to do, although the software’s interface does look dated, and the guides take some time to get used to.
While basic scanning is obvious, advanced options like OCR require a bit more digging. On the scan screen, you’ll see options for different document types, documents, business cards, receipts, and photos, along with colour mode, scan side, image quality, rotation, and file format.
OCR is off by default to reduce processing time. To enable it, you must click the 'Options' button next to the file format (when PDF is selected). Then, tick the 'Searchable PDF' box. This does increase processing time slightly, but it results in a fully searchable file, essential for NDAs and invoices.
You can also password-protect documents during scanning, a useful security feature for personal or sensitive information.
During testing, I scanned most of the paperwork accumulated over the past month. While it wasn’t a huge amount, using the duplex option sped things up. Unlike some scanners, native duplex scanning in this machine means very few (if any) jams.
I liked being able to insert a mixed batch, A4 sheets, A5, and business cards. It handled each without issue, scanning in the correct format.
Compared to one of my flatbed scanners, this machine is also incredibly quiet. Even when scanning 100 sheets, the noise level is minimal and short-lived.
This scanner is clearly designed for office use, not creative workflows. You can scan up to A4-sized photos, and the quality is decent, but it’s not suitable for colour-critical archiving. For casual scanning of old 5x6 prints, the quality suffices, but dedicated photo scanners are better for that use case.
While simpler than the iX2500, I personally prefer the design and simplicity. Plugged into an old PC, it’s now part of a dedicated admin area alongside a laser printer. It might feel a bit retro, but the offline functionality and security make it ideal for handling sensitive personal documents.
Performance: 4.5 / 5
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
Ricoh ScanSnap iX2400: Final verdict
(Image credit: Alastair Jennings)
When starting a small business, you often overlook the small peripherals that larger businesses take for granted. But as paperwork builds up, even in a paperless office, keeping on top of it becomes time-consuming.
Now, with this scanner, I can scan everything directly, place documents in relevant folders, and make them searchable for future reference. It’s also useful for receipts, which I scan on the go for my accountant. While there’s no direct integration with Xero, you can connect it to services like QuickBooks.
Personally, I like the ability to connect to Google Drive and Microsoft Teams, both of which I use in different areas of my work. Scanning documents directly to cloud storage is helpful, especially for sharing photographic examples and documentation with students and colleagues.
While it lacks network and Wi-Fi connectivity, the iX2400 makes perfect sense for small businesses or home offices. The cost might seem high for a scanner, but Ricoh has carefully considered small business workflows, and it will save you hours of time, especially near the end of the tax year. It’s a quick and reliable way to digitise and organise paperwork.
If you don’t already have a decent scanning solution or are still using a flatbed scanner, my recommendation this year is to purchase a Ricoh ScanSnap iX2400. It may lack network connectivity, but the time and stress it saves will be worth the investment.
Should I buy the Ricoh ScanSnap iX2400?
Value
The price puts it at the premium end of the market, but its speed and ease of use make it exceptional value for money
4
Design
The compact design means it will fit almost any office, and the high-quality build ensures it will withstand daily use with ease
4
Features
The feature set is basic, with no network connection, but if you prioritise security and simplicity, it's perfect
4
Performance
The scanning speed is incredibly fast and ideal for business use
4.5
Overall
The scanning speed is incredibly fast and ideal for business use
4
Buy it if...
You scan in bulk If you frequently scan large volumes of paper and need a fast, jam-free, reliable desktop scanner, it's ideal.
You want a simple set-up It's a great choice if you just want a scanner that works without fuss, plug it in, press a button, and scan directly to file or cloud.
Don't buy it if...
You need wireless scanning This won't meet requirements if you require Wi-Fi or mobile device scanning for flexible office or team setups.
You're using it for creative workflows Avoid the scanner if you're looking to digitise photos or images with color-critical accuracy; this device is best for documents.
Light spoilers follow for all six episodes of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
HBO's Game of Thrones (GoT) franchise could use a boost right now. The eponymous show's incredibly divisive finale is still being discussed to this day, and while House of the Dragon's (HotD) first season repaired some of the damage its forebear's last-ever episode caused, its most recent eight-part installment was similarly not without criticism for narratively spinning its wheels.
The hope, then, is that A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (AKotSK) will course-correct HBO's Thrones-Verse once more – and it does. It may lack Thrones' apocalyptic stakes and the ongoing fiery family feud that permeates HotD, but HBO's latest retelling of another George R.R. Martin book series more than makes up for it with a rib-tickling, haunting, and triumphant tale of beating the odds.
A knight's tale
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms authentically adapts George R.R. Martin's 'The Hedge Knight' novella (Image credit: Steffan Hill/HBO)
Based on The Hedge Knight, the first entry in Martin's 'Dunk and Egg' novella trilogy, and set a century before Game of Thrones, AKotSK tells the story of Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey) – or, to use his less formal moniker, Dunk.
After burying his deceased mentor and hedge knight – the term used for a wandering, chivalrous sword-for-hire – Ser Arlan of Pennytree (Danny Webb), Dunk travels to Ashford Meadow to try and win its latest tourney and prove his worth as a noble warrior. There, he encounters Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell), an unruly but intelligent boy who implores Dunk to let Egg be his squire. Thus begins a fellowship that, unbeknownst to the pair, will forever etch their names into Westeros' history.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms isn't averse to dialling up the humor when required
AKotSK's premise – one that positions it as a dirt-covered folktale (think of street-level scenes from GoT and HotD, and you'll get the idea) – sets it out as an unusually intimate story compared to its more illustrious and narratively epic siblings, but that's intentional.
It doesn't possess the multi-House fight for The Iron Throne or the grimdark, apocalyptic events of Game of Thrones, nor does it come close to matching the destructive intrafamilial warfare on display in House of the Dragon. And, sure, high-ranking clans – the Targaryens and Barathons being the most noteworthy – feature throughout AKotSK, so characters from privileged backgrounds have increasingly prominent parts to play in the HBO Max TV Original.
Ser Arlan of Pennytree is the first mentor that Dunk ever had (Image credit: Steffan Hill/HBO)
Nonetheless, even with its more introspective, grounded narrative, AKotSK is no less dramatic, action-oriented, tragic, or amusing than its larger-scale brethren. In fact, where the last of those descriptors are concerned, it's no contest that AKotSK is the funniest live-action adaptation of Martin's literary works so far.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is no less dramatic, action-oriented, tragic, or amusing than its larger-scale brethren
Whether it's slapstick moments, black comedy, toilet humor, fish-out-of-water moments involving Dunk, or the clever use of smash cuts and cutaway shots in present-day and flashback sequences, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms isn't averse to dialing up the amusement when required.
The jokes are never overused and don't outstay their welcome, either. Instead, they enliven and brighten proceedings, especially in early episodes as Dunk navigates socially awkward interactions, and they allow AKotSK to strike a more optimistic, lighter note than HBO's other Thrones interpretations.
Aerion Targaryen (left) is this season's primary antagonist (Image credit: Steffan Hill/HBO)
As I alluded to earlier, that's not to say that AKotSK eschews what's made previous Game of Thrones adaptations so absorbing.
Amid the whimsy and hilarity, an underlying tension is always gently simmering in the background, but only threatens to boil over from the high-fantasy drama's midpoint. Here, AKotSK takes a sobering, emotionally-strung turn that not only significantly raises the stakes for Dunk, but also douses the series in a tragic light, with multiple tear-jerking moments that hit me hard despite the limited time I'd spent with its supporting cast. If it's adrenaline-fueled action, suspense-filled spectacle, and moving melodrama you're after, episodes 4 through 6 deliver the goods in spades.
Hedge your bets
Audiences will instantly fall in love with Egg and Dunk (Image credit: Steffan Hill/HBO)
Before those episodes arrive, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms relies on the endearing, odd-couple partnership between its protagonists to drive its comedy-drama-based story forward.
At times akin to a two-hander, AKotSK wastes no time introducing its protagonists to each other – the pair crossing paths less than 10 minutes into its premiere. In doing so, it dispenses with the sluggish, exposition-filled opening that some viewers might deem necessary for a series that's not only set in a new period of the Thrones timeline, but also introduces numerous new characters to those who haven't read Martin's literary works.
It's clear from Dunk and Egg's first encounter that Claffey and Ansell have great chemistry and rapport
It's clear from Dunk and Egg's first encounter, though, that Claffey and Ansell have great chemistry and rapport. Highlighting this efficacious, buddy cop-like relationship as early as possible gives us a charming albeit at times testy friendship to invest in and rally around as the show unspools its secrets and other shock-value moments.
Westeros hasn't seen the likes of a buddy-cop pairing like Dunk and Egg's (Image credit: Steffan Hill/HBO)
Ansell is as paramount to the successful portrayal of Dunk and Egg's dynamic in a live-action capacity as his senior scene-partner. Indeed, with a performance and acting capabilities that belie his tender years, Ansell faithfully captures Egg's boisterousness, foolhardiness, cleverness, and impunity with ease.
Peter Claffey delivers a towering performance in every sense of the word
It's Claffey, though, who truly steals the show as AKotSK's naive yet chivalrous loner.
An unassuming hero despite his evident stature, Dunk is a righteous man in a not-so-righteous world whose worldview is constantly tested by external forces. Initially ostracized by those at the Ashford Meadow tourney and plagued by bouts of impostor syndrome throughout, he's a seemingly oafish individual whose imposing frame hides a deep vulnerability that Claffey inhabits with real poise and emotional precision.
It's a towering performance in every sense of the word and, while I know fans will get a kick out of his portrayal from the outset, I can already see the superlatives that'll be thrown Claffey's way after his bellowing, scene-jolting speech in episode 4's final minutes, and tear-jerking moments in AKotSK's final two chapters.
Baelor Targaryen isn't as fearsome as he appears, I promise! (Image credit: Steffan Hill/HBO)
It would be remiss of me not to spotlight members of the supporting cast, too. Daniel Ing's Lyonel Baratheon steals every scene he's in, while Finn Bennett's Aerion Targaryen is a pantomime villain of menacing proportions. Bertie Clavell's Baelor Targaryen, Sam Spruell's Maekar Targaryen, and Shaun Thomas' Raymun Fossoway are also captivating presences whenever they appear.
If I have one major gripe about A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, I wish more time had been spent building out certain character arcs and relationships. Great though it is, not enough screentime is devoted to Dunk and Egg's bond. I'd similarly point the finger at some of its eclectic supporting cast of characters, too, all of whom operate on Dunk's orbit but, where some individuals are concerned, are given short shrift from a character development perspective.
I wish more time had been spent building out certain character arcs and relationships
At 30 to 40 minutes per episode, AKotSK's short runtimes – compared to GoT and HotD – might make its week-to-week release model unbearable and/or draw complaints from viewers who may feel short-changed by their brevity.
However, I didn't mind the pace at which its plot progressed, nor did each episode's length feel curt in conjunction with the short story that The Hedge Knight tells. In fact, I'd say the addition of original storytelling components actually increases the duration of certain chapters, and – whisper it so book purists can't hear me say this – bolster its narrative.
My verdict
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is a undeniably triumphant underdog tale. What begins as an unsuspecting story about two misfits fated to find each other soon evolves into a rip-roaring crowd-pleaser that'll have you running the emotional gamut, particularly in its latter half.
Okay, its primary theme – that being how friendship and co-operation trumps all – is clichéd. Nevertheless, given the fractured state of our own world, in which division runs riot across the sociopolitical spectrum, it's a timely message to heed.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms premieres on Sunday, January 18 (North and South America) and Monday, January 19 (everywhere else). Learn more about it ahead of launch via my guide to A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.
GMKtec is an established brand that makes a wide selection of mini PCs, and the M5 Ultra is a follow-up to the previous M5 and M5 Plus models (see my M5 review and the M5 Plus review).
The original M5 used a Ryzen 7 5700U, a Zen 2 architecture chip, the M5 Plus used the Zen 3 era Ryzen 7 5825U. And, the new M5 Ultra goes Zen 4 with a Ryzen 7 7730U.
From the outside, these all look remarkably similar, but internally, the M5 Ultra is 2023 technology and not the 2022 and 2021 tech used in the previous generations.
While the number of cores remains the same, the Ryzen 7 7730U offers better CPU and GPU clock speeds and better power efficiency.
However, it still uses DDR4 memory, and the best USB it has to offer is USB 3.2 Gen 2. Those wanting USB4 need to consider the M7 Ultra that I’ll be reviewing on Tech Radar Pro shortly.
But what made the original M5, and then the M5 Plus, so popular was their competitive pricing, and the M5 Ultra is also remarkably cheap, especially if you buy it ‘barebones’ and provide your own memory and storage.
With a starting price of under $260 for a barebones machine, this is a well-specified NUC system that has enough power for general office tasks once you’ve added memory, storage and an OS.
And with dual 2.5GbE LAN ports and easy internal upgrades, this is a highly flexible system that can be repurposed if required.
While this system doesn’t offer the raw performance of Ryzen AI or Ryzen 9 systems, or the latest USB4 technology, it’s a logical replacement for older desktop systems.
The inclusion of dual LAN ports, dual M.2 slots, and easily upgradable RAM might see this system join our best mini PC round-up, purely on the basis of flexibility and great value.
GMKtec NucBox M5 Ultra: Price and availability
How much does it cost? From $260/£210/€240
When is it out? Available now
Where can you get it? Direct from GMKtec and via online retailers
The M5 Ultra is available in a range of SKUs from GMKtec directly, though through online retailers, these are either ones with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, or 32GB of memory and 1TB of drive space.
And I'm seeing a few sites selling ones with those memory capacities and storage mixed up, but the cheapest option is to buy this system directly from GMKtec as a barebones system.
If you have spare DDR4 SODIMMs and a Gen 3 NVMe module to install, that could get you this system for only $259.99 in the US, £209 in the UK and €239.99 across the EU.
The review specification costs $489.99 for US residents via GMKtec.com, £382 for UK residents, and €439.99 for Europe, direct from GMKtec in Germany.
What’s most striking here is the difference between the barebones and populated system, which can be interpreted as 1TB of storage and 32GB of DDR4 being worth almost half the cost of the system. Therefore, if you have those things, the barebones makes more sense, and if you don’t, then the intermediate SKU with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage is worth considering, as it could save you $90 on the whole system.
Looking for machines that use this same processor, these are thin on the ground. According to my searches, these include the AceMagic Kron Mini K1, Kamrui E3B Mini PC, GenMachine Ren7000 and FakestarPC Fanless Mini PC. Of these, I’ve only got direct experience with AceMagic, and this brand typically delivers quality construction and innovative designs.
The Kron Mini K1 bears an uncanny resemblance to the M5 Ultra, and sells for $408.49 via Amazon for a system with 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. Making it cheaper than the equivalent M5 Ultra. Also from Amazon, the Kamrui E3B Mini PC is $479. I couldn’t find either the FakestarPC Fanless Mini PC or GenMachine Ren7000 available.
The fact that so few designs exist for this platform suggests that not many Mini PC makers thought it was a good idea, and the few who did pitched it as a mid-range device, where a good portion of the cost is determined by how it is outfitted with memory and storage. And it's worth noting that if you go barebones with this gear, the price doesn't include the Windows 11 Pro license.
Value: 4 / 5
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
GMKtec NucBox M5 Ultra: Specs
Item
Spec
CPU:
AMD Ryzen 7 7730U ( 8C/16T, up to 4.6GHz)
GPU:
AMD Radeon Vega 8, up to 2.0 GHz
NPU:
N/A
RAM:
32GB DDR4-3200 (16GB x 2) expandable to 64GB
Storage:
1TB M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 3
Expansion:
1x M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 3
Ports:
1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 2x USB 2.0, 1x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x 3.5mm Audio
Networking:
2x 2,5GbE Realtek RTL8125, WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2
OS:
Windows 11 Pro (pre-installed)
Base Power:
15W
PSU:
19V 3.42A 65W
Dimensions:
128.8 x 127 x 47.8 mm
GMKtec NucBox M5 Ultra: Design
Basic build quality
VESA mountable
Easy internal access
If this NUC has a significant weakness, it's that it's entirely built from plastic. And, if you look at some of my images, you might notice that the one I was sent already got a scuff along the way.
Because it might not be the most durable case, mounting it on the rear of a monitor using the VESA bracket GMKtec provides could be a strategic move to keep it out of harm's way.
I think part of the issue here is that GMKtec has used a fine paint finish on its enclosure that highlights any contact rather than ignoring it.
Better considered are the port positions, where the USB options are liberally distributed with both Type-A and Type-C ports on the front, and more Type-A ports on the rear. There is only one USB-C port, and all the ports with USB 3.2 Gen 2 specifications are on the front.
The rear has to USB 2.0 ports for mouse and keyboard, two video outputs (one each of HDMI and DisplayPort) and dual 2.5GbE LAN ports.
That last option makes this platform perfect for a hardware firewall, since you could buy it barebones, add some memory and install a Linux firewall distro on it extremely cheaply.
One interesting sidenote to the LAN ports is that GMKtec has taken to putting a label over the ports, suggesting that if you want to use the machine immediately, then don’t connect the network. Microsoft seems oblivious to how annoying it is for new owners to wait while Windows 11 devours the medieval feast of updates to the distribution installation. Why Microsoft hasn’t bundled these into the base install, I’ve no idea, but it probably rhymes with the word decrepitude.
Sadly, because this is Windows, eventually connecting the network will become a necessity, but at least warning people that this comes with a downside was good on GMKtec’s part.
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
As with all the GMKtec Nuxbox designs I’ve seen, access to the inside is remarkably straightforward.
On this model, the top of the machine can be easily pulled off, and that reveals four screws that hold a plastic fan mount, blowing air on the system, which can be removed. With this part out of the way, the memory and storage are all available to be replaced or, in the case of the storage, upgraded.
There are two SODIMM slots for DDR4, which on the review hardware were occupied with two 16GB modules. The maximum addressable memory by the AMD Ryzen 7 7730U is 64GB, so you could install two 32GB modules to achieve that. But, from an economic point of view, I’d consider choosing a system that used DDR5, rather than adding more RAM to a DDR4 system.
The M.2 situation is even better, since this machine has an unused 2280 M.2 NVMe slot. While both the M.2 slots in here are only Gen 3, and not Gen 4, for those with the modules, you could use two 8TB sticks, giving a combined storage of 16TB. That would hold a decent media collection or a significant amount of data.
Overall, within the limitations of a system that uses DDR4 and PCIe 3.0, the M5 Ultra provides the best possible options and makes what is already a flexible solution even more adaptable.
Design: 4 / 5
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
GMKtec NucBox M5 Ultra: Hardware
AMD Ryzen 7 7730U
DDR4 Memory
PCIe Gen 3 M.2 Slots
As I mentioned earlier, not many systems have used the AMD Ryzen 7 7730U, and maybe some of the reason is that this is a Zen 3 architecture CPU that was officially released with other 7030 series Barcelo-R chips in early 2023.
These were the tail end of AMD’s TSMC 7nm FinFET products before they shifted to 6nm on the 7025 series and then 4nm fabrication with the 7040 series. The first 7040-series chips with Zen 4 architecture appeared only three months after the Ryzen 7 7730U, so it never had much of an opportunity to develop a following.
That’s a shame, because the 7020 series it replaced only used the Zen 2 architecture, didn’t have any Ryzen 7 models, and had a maximum of four cores (eight threads). However, the 7020 series did at least support DDR5, which this processor did not, reverting to DDR4.
That’s the critical choice that erodes much of the performance benefit of having eight cores and sixteen threads.
This design also offered built-in USB ports, avoiding the need for PCIe lanes to be used for that function. This was also one of the last CPU designs to use the older Vega 8 GPU before the RDNA2 680M appeared with the 7035 series.
In short, this CPU and GPU combination where at the cusp of a major change, and the timescale between the rollover to DDR5, RDNA2 graphics and 4nm fabrication took away this silicon as an obvious choice for system builders.
(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)
It’s a guess, but a good number of these chips were probably made, and AMD might have a significant number that they are willing to sell cheaply now, which would explain their appearance here.
One downside to this architecture compared to later designs is that it only supports PCI Express 3.0 and has only 16 usable lanes, giving it the equivalent of 8 PCIe 4.0 lanes in later series.
Because it has built-in USB technology that isn’t a huge issue, but it does limit the M.2 slots here to Gen 3 mode, so buying Gen 4 drives for this machine is pointless. There are sufficient lanes for dual PCIe 3.0 M.2 slots, and for dual 2.5GbE LAN ports, since this system doesn’t have USB4 or other bandwidth-eating options.
Overall, the AMD Ryzen 7 7730U was a slightly odd choice, and its existence would suggest that in 2023, at the very least, AMD was strategically all over the place.
Releasing a new series when you intend to stomp on it within three months now looks like a severe lack of planning, and this system is one of the ripples of those rock-in-the pond choices.
Features: 3.5 / 5
GMKtec NucBox M5 Ultra: Performance
Mini PC
GMKtec NucBox M5 Ultra
Alliwava U58
CPU
AMD Ryzen 7 7730U
AMD Ryzen 7 5825U
Cores/Threads
8C 16T
8C 16T
RAM
32GB DDR4 (2x16GB)
32GB DDR4 (2x16GB)
Storage
1TB NVMe
512GB SSD
Graphics
Radeon Vega 8
Radeon Vega 8
3DMark
WildLife
6711
8218
FireStrike
3154
3764
TimeSpy
1264
1402
Steel Nom Lt.
1035
1307
CineBench24
Single
78
85
Multi
414
473
Ratio
5.29
5.59
GeekBench 6
Single
1806
1978
Multi
5939
7941
OpenCL
12823
16925
Vulkan
11472
15457
CrystalDisk
Read MB/s
3624
3650
Write MB/s
2642
2717
PCMark 10
Office
5581
6445
WEI
8.1
8.1
I’ve not seen any other system with this processor, so I decided to compare it to another mini PC that also uses older AMD chip technology - the Alliwava U58 I recently reviewed.
Where the M5 Ultra uses the AMD Ryzen 7 7730U, U58 uses the AMD Ryzen 7 5825U, a 5000 series processor from exactly a year earlier, in January 2022.
On paper, these processors have the same number of cores and threads, the same DDR4 memory technology, the same base and boost clocks, and very similar Vega 8 GPUs.
It’s tempting to think that the 7730U is just a rebranded 5825U, and there is some truth in that.
However, in these tests, for reasons I can’t fathom, the Alliwava U58 performs better or the same as the GMKtec NucBox M5 Ultra across a wide range of benchmarks.
Typically, the U58 is 10% better, but in some of the graphics tests, it manages to be even more superior.
Not sure why this is the case, but due to the U58 only having a single 1GbE LAN port, and a single M.2 slot, I’m still not convinced that it’s the better option.
Perhaps a firmware upgrade of the M5 Ultra might bring it up to a similar performance level at some point. However, if you want more power, then I’d avoid systems that use DDR4 and pay the extra to have a DDR5 system.
Performance: 3.5 / 5
GMKtec NucBox M5 Ultra: Final verdict
(Image credit: GMKtec)
This is an odd system, as it ended up with a CPU that few system builders considered and even fewer made into machines.
Looking at the performance, the reason is obvious, because it didn’t deliver a dramatic improvement over previous generations, and it was overtaken by new products in three months.
That said, it works perfectly well in this context, and for someone with spare DDR4 handy, it’s an inexpensive system that is dramatically better than an Intel N300-powered NUC or a Ryzen 5 system.
What GMKtec got right with the M5 Ultra is that it supports a decent amount of memory, has dual M.2 slots and dual 2.5GbE LAN ports, which increases the number of roles that this system could occupy exponentially. There are plenty of medium-power NUCs around, but like the U58 I mentioned in the benchmarking, they don’t have the LAN ports or the storage expansion options.
Those who are interested in those features, and perhaps less concerned with raw performance, might find the GMKtec M5 Ultra an interesting proposition.
Should I buy a GMKtec NucBox M5 Ultra?
Value
Affordable system, especially barebones
4/5
Design
Mostly plastic, but the port layout is logical
3.5/5
Features
Odd processor, but easy upgrades
3.5/5
Performance
Not the fastest Ryzen 7, but powerful enough for most jobs
3.5/5
Overalls
Flexible and easy to upgrade at a bargain price
4/5
Buy it if...
You want a low-cost NUC Even with memory and storage, this NUC is affordable, and barebones, it's a bargain. It might not be the fastest Ryzen around, but it's quick enough for daily Office tasks.View Deal
You want a flexible mini PC Compared to some NUC designs, this one is very flexible. With two 2.5GbE LAN ports, it could be used as a hardware firewall, a media server, or in a dozen other contexts. The power and performance of this platform allow it to drive up to three monitors for promotional graphics, and it has more than enough power for typical office tasks.View Deal
Don't buy it if...
You want ultimate performance This is a value-led mini PC, so it's not going to be as powerful as machines loaded with the fastest processors - for top performance, check out mini PCs using the AMD Ryzen AI platforms like the Ryzen AI Max+ 395, with 16 cores and 32 threads.View Deal
Also consider
Geekom A5 The Geekom A5 mini PC delivers a decent user experience for office work in a small, easy-to-deploy package. It doesn't have a second M.2 slot, but it does have a SATA and a place for a 2.5-inch drive. In testing it produced almost identical performance to the M5 Ultra, using its AMD Ryzen 5 7430U CPU.
GMKtec NucBox M5 Plus Another mid-tier mini system, this time the prior design from the same brand as the M5 Ultra. This one utilises the AMD Ryzen 7 5825U (8 cores, 16 Threads) CPU and features 1TB of onboard NVMe storage. Where this is slightly better than the A5 is that the second M.2 slot is 2280, and it has dual 2.5GbE LAN ports.
If you’re looking for an ultra-cheap pair of noise cancelling headphones, the Tribit QuietPlus 81 appear to be a very tempting option indeed. With a list price of just $49.99 / £49.99 (about AU$75), they pack a lot in – ANC, a ton of playtime, and a neat, foldable design. But are they really worth checking out?
Well, in a lot of ways, these headphones are impressive. Above all, I was blown away by their ultra-long battery life. You get 70 hours with ANC on, and a whopping 110 hours with ANC off. That means you’ll barely have to charge these cans, ideal if you’re someone that’s on the go quite a bit… or are just forgetful like I am.
Like the best headphones around, these also have pretty extensive EQ options. There are a range of genre and situation-specific presets, but you can also set your own with the included 10-band equalizer. This means that you can create the sound that works best for you – an important inclusion, given that these headphones do not sound great out of the box.
Yes, I understand that these are incredibly cheap, and I didn’t have big expectations for these headphones, sonically speaking. But still, I think there are better-sounding options in the budget category – more on those in the ‘Also consider’ section. But essentially, these cans just lack the clarity, dynamism, and detail that others offer.
When listening to Black Eye by Allie X, synth beat intro lacked the razor-sharp delivery that makes it so impactful. The drum machine that follows sounds pretty deep, but also quite bloated, leaving the track devoid of its intense, energetic character. With the standard ‘Music’ tuning, instruments in the treble range are concealed, but even with a custom setup, I wasn’t able to get the expressive sound I was chasing.
Moving over to 12 O.C Riddim by M-High – a track that’s great for testing the low-end capabilities of headphones – and the picture was fairly mixed. High-pitched percussion in the build up again lacked the vibrancy and edge I was looking for, and although the headphones could reach down to the track’s dark depths, bass wasn’t agile or clean enough for a truly immersive listen.
Just generally, these headphones lack the refined sound you’d expect from a budget model like the 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51. With a custom EQ, you can get adequate sound when listening at mid-volumes, just don’t expect to get anything out of the ordinary for $50 / £50 headphones.
(Image credit: Future)
Let’s get onto another crucial area and discuss ANC. So, these headphones can be used in normal mode, transparency mode (for enhanced awareness), and with noise cancelling on. I spent most of my time testing the headphones with ANC on, and in honesty, it was about as good as I’d expected.
When working in the office, I could still hear chatter and typing with volume set to 70%. On walks, traffic noise was still pretty prominent too, as was the sound of passerbys talking. Sure, these dampen surrounding sounds decently enough, but they’re unlikely to impress on the noise cancelling front.
One feature that interested me on these headphones, though, was their ability to trigger transparency mode in an instant. You can simply hold down on the right earcup, and hear your surroundings – as seen on the excellent Sony WH-1000XM6. Is this the most responsive? No – the feature doesn’t activate instantly as it would on the XM6. But still, it’s fairly effective, and a worthwhile inclusion.
More generally though, controls on the QuietPlus are pretty poor. After a firmware update, I was able to access ‘customizable touch controls’, but I couldn’t set playback control to the right ear cup… that’s limited to physical button controls. These buttons are black on black, and are slightly hard to read – and the volume controls being bound to one small-sized button is very impractical.
Touch controls themself are fairly responsive, but all they can do is activate XBass mode – which doesn’t sound good – or summon a voice assistant. I personally would’ve preferred standard touch controls to play, pause, or skip music – as seen on a model like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen).
There are a few other features to explore, like a lower-latency game mode, wired listening via a 3.5mm slot, and hearing protection. You can find just about everything you need in the Tribit app, although this is a pretty rudimentary piece of software – something I flagged in my review of the Tribit PocketGo.
In terms of design, these headphones are hit and miss. They’re foldable, which makes them pleasingly compact, and their adjustable headband makes them easy to fit. One thing that's not too well-designed is the packaging. The box says these headphones offer "ULTRA LONG BATT" and "SMOOTH TALKING"... that's one way to make a first impression.
Anyway, in spite of their use of ‘protein leather cushioning and memory foam’, I found the QuietPlus 81 to be a little uncomfortable for extended use. To me, they’re a little tight-feeling, and padding on the headband feels a little thin. Looks-wise, however, these headphones are solid. They don’t look ultra plasticky, and the earcups have a rounded look, which is fairly appealing.
In the end, then, would I recommend the Tribit QuietPlus 81 headphones? Unfortunately, the answer is no. There are certainly some commendable qualities on offer here, like that brilliant battery life and ten-band equalizer. But sonically, these fail to beat out rivals in their price category. Combine that with some unremarkable ANC and features, and I’d say you’re better off putting that $50 / £50 towards a pair of the best cheap headphones instead.
(Image credit: Future)
Tribit QuietPlus 81 review: specs
Drivers
40mm dynamic
Active noise cancellation
Yes
Battery life
70 hours ANC on; 110 hours ANC off
Weight
283g
Connectivity
Bluetooth 6.0, 3.5mm
Frequency range
20Hz-20kHz
(Image credit: Future)
Tribit QuietPlus 81 review: price and release date
$49.99 / £49.99 (about AU$75)
Launched in December 2025
The Tribit QuietPlus 81 headphones were released in December 2025, and are available via Tribit’s website directly, or over on Amazon. They have a list price of $49.99 / £49.99 (about AU$75), which plants them firmly in the budget category.
(Image credit: Future)
Should I buy the Tribit QuietPlus 81?
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Features
Excellent battery life, but unremarkable ANC and clunky app.
3/5
Sound quality
Can get pretty deep, but audio is pretty muddy and lacks dynamism.
2.5/5
Design
Not particularly comfortable, poor controls, but decent looking.
2/5
Value
Cheap, but quality doesn’t match up to other budget rivals.
3/5
Buy them if...
You want ANC for less The Tribit QuietPlus 81 provide active noise cancelling capabilities for less than $50 / £50. Sure, it’s not the most amazing ANC around, but these headphones will still dampen noise from your surroundings decently.
You want headphones with a whole lot of battery life With 110 hours of battery life with ANC off and 70 hours with it on, the Tribit QuietPlus 81 supply a whole lot of playtime. That’s more than the majority of budget rivals, and makes them ideal for those who don’t want to charge their headphones all too often.
Don't buy them if...
You want some comfy cans In my experience, the QuietPlus 81 weren’t very comfortable. There’s not much padding on the adjustable headband, and they were a slightly tight fit, meaning they’re not ideal for longer listening sessions. If you want some seriously comfortable headphones, my top recommendation would be the Anker Soundcore Space One Pro.
You’re looking for good sound quality The underwhelming audio of the Tribit QuietPlus 81 is one of their key flaws, and sees them lag behind some of the budget-friendly competition. If you want better audio at a still-low price, I’d recommend one of the options down below.
Tribit QuietPlus 81 review: also consider
Tribit QuietPlus 81
1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51
OneOdio Focus A6
Price
$49.99 / £49.99 (about AU$75)
$89 / £99 / AU$130
$55 / £55 (about AU$110)
Drivers
40mm dynamic
40mm dynamic
40mm composite
Active noise cancellation
Yes
Yes
Yes
Battery life
70 hours ANC on; 110 hours ANC off
65 hours ANC on; 100 hours ANC off
75 hours ANC off; 40 hours ANC on
Weight
283g
246g
240g
Connectivity
Bluetooth 6.0, 3.5mm
Bluetooth 5.4, 3.5mm
Bluetooth 6.0, USB-C audio passthrough
Frequency range
20Hz-20kHz
20Hz-40kHz
20Hz-40kHz
1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 The 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 remain as the top budget pick in our guide to the best noise-cancelling headphones, and for good reason. With genuinely good ANC, seriously impressive audio, and plenty of playtime, they feel like the ultimate cheap pair of headphones. They’re often on sale for less than their already phenomenally low list price, and I’d certainly recommend them over these Tribit cans. Read our full 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 review.
OneOdio Focus A6 These ultra-cheap headphones really impressed us with their comfy fit and quality build, their exhaustive suite of features, and their genuinely good sound quality. You really can’t do much better than this for cans sitting around the $50 / £50 mark, so these are well-worth checking out. Read our full OneOdio Focus A6 review.
How I tested the Tribit QuietPlus 81
(Image credit: Future)
Tested for one week
Used in the office and while on walks
Predominantly tested using Tidal
I spent one week testing the Tribit QuietPlus 81, during which time I took them just about everywhere I went. Whether I was on a walk, working in the office, or doing chores at home, I made sure to have the headphones at hand – allowing me to test the quality of their ANC in a wide range of settings.
When listening to music, I predominantly made use of Tidal, but I did dip into Spotify from time to time as well. As always, I commenced my testing by running through the TechRadar testing playlist, which features songs from a wide range of genres, but I also tuned into a heap of tracks from my personal music library.
On top of that, I made use of the various features on the QuietPlus 81, messing around with the customizable controls, ANC modes, and custom equalizer. More generally, I’ve been a Reviews Writer here at TechRadar for almost two years, during which time I’ve tested a whole lot of headphones, including premium releases like the Sennheiser HDB 630 and budget alternatives like the Baseus Bowie 30 Max.
The Honeywell Home X2S Smart Thermostat is an easy-to-use Energy Star certified thermostat. It’s not the most sleek or modern-looking device, but it does the job.
The Honeywell Home X2S Smart Thermostat is compatible with up to 2 heat/2 cool conventional, up to 2 heat/1 cool heat pump with electric backup, hot water heat, forced air (gas, oil, or electric.) It isn't compatible with electric baseboard heat (120-240V).
This thermostat comes with detailed installation instructions, but we found it beyond us and ended up hiring a professional to do it. Installation does require a C wire, though Honeywell Home does sell an adaptor kit if your home lacks one. Once the thermostat was physically installed in my home, I had no trouble at all setting it up with the app and getting it working. And it works beautifully.
You’ll need to download the First Alert by Resideo app initially to set up your schedule. You can create a 5-1-1 day cycle, 5-2 day cycle, 7-day cycle, or set up one-week increments. You can also create a vacation schedule, even after you've left. Toggle on the Auto Away feature to allow the thermostat to update automatically based on your phone's location. You can also have the app send you filter change reminders. The First Alert app can also control any of their other home devices you may own, such as CO2/smoke alarms, security cameras, air quality filters, water leak sensors, and more.
(Image credit: Future)
Don't like using a separate app? You can also control the thermostat with your ecosystem of choice, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, or Apple HomeKit (Matter certified.) I'm an Apple user, and I did not find that Siri voice control worked properly. However, Control Center worked just fine.
You can also manage the thermostat the old-fashioned way, toggling through the menu with the six buttons next to the display.
(Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)
Honeywell Home X2S Smart Thermostat: Price and availability
The Honeywell Home X2S Smart Thermostat was announced at CES in January 2025 and was released for sale in the US and Canada in the spring of 2025. As of this writing, it retails for $79.99 in the US but isn’t for sale yet outside of North America. You can find it at Amazon, Walmart, and tons of other major retailers online and in brick and mortar stores.
This model, otherwise known as RTH2CWF/U X2S Smart Thermostat, replaces Honeywell Home’s RTH6580 WiFi 7-day Programmable Thermostat, which retailed for a similar price. It’s not as fancy-looking as some of the models you’ll find on our roundup of the best smart thermostats, but it gets the job done.
(Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)
Honeywell Home X2S Smart Thermostat: Design
Honeywell Home X2S Smart Thermostat comes in just one colorway. Honeywell Home calls it “white,” but I’d call it dove gray and off-white to be more specific. It measures 3.44 in/87 mm high, 5.13 in/130 mm wide, and 1.188 in/29.5 mm deep. It has a basic black-on-gray LCD display that lights up when you press a button. When dormant, the thermostat screen shows Mode, Current Temperature, Set Temperature, Status Display, Fan, and Time. It’s much easier to read when lit up, but it can be read when dormant as well.
The thermostat comes with detailed directions, so you can install it yourself if you’re fairly handy. I ended up calling a professional to install it, since I was unable to do it myself and I was having some other work done as well. It didn’t take the professional long at all. Installation does require a C-wire (24 VAC), which my home didn’t have. Honeywell Home does sell an adapter kit in case your home doesn’t have this wire. You also need to have WiFi 2.4 or 5GHz (802.11 b/g/n) in order for the smart features to work properly. Once you install Honeywell Home’s UWP wall plate, future upgrades will be easier, since you can just change the thermostat without redoing all of the wiring.
(Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)
The Honeywell Home X2S Smart Thermostat is Energy Star certified. You’ll need to download Resideo’s First Alert app on your smartphone in order to set up the thermostat. It’s also the easiest way to control the thermostat. But once you’ve set it up, you can control it manually on the thermostat itself, or with Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, or Google Assistant. The thermostat is Matter-certified.
The thermostat is compatible with up to 2 heat/2 cool conventional, up to 2 heat/1 cool heat pump with electric backup, hot water heat, forced air (gas, oil, or electric.) It does not work with electric baseboard heat (120-240V).
You don’t need to waste money heating or cooling your home unnecessarily when you’re away. Set up the thermostat’s schedule for a 5-1-1 day cycle, 5-2 day cycle, 7-day cycle, or one-week increments. You can also set up a vacation schedule. Toggle on the Auto Away feature to allow the thermostat to update based on your location.
(Image credit: Karen Freeman / Future)
Honeywell Home X2S Smart Thermostat: Performance
The Honeywell Home X2S Smart Thermostat was only released months ago, but it looks like something from an earlier time. It’s not unattractive, but it doesn’t look particularly modern either. You can fully operate with the buttons just like you could in the 'old days', but you’ll have to go through a lot of menus to do so. It’s easier just to operate it within the app.
(Image credit: Future)
I hate to put yet another app on my iPhone, but this one, First Alert by Resideo, is important for the best experience with the Honeywell Home X2S Smart Thermostat. I did try controlling it from Control Center on my iPhone, but features are limited there. I also tried voice commands to Siri, but it didn’t work well. The thermostat definitely 'heard' me and changed the temperature, but it did not go to the temperature I said.
Using the First Alert app, the Honeywell Home X2S Smart Thermostat works great. I set it to heat my home to 68°F/20°C during the day and 63°F/17°C at night. Since my husband and I both often work from home, I didn’t set a daytime “away” temperature, though I could. I did take a nine-day vacation and set up a special vacation schedule, which worked beautifully. I checked multiple times on my vacation to make sure my home was only heated enough to avoid the pipes freezing. My home was comfortably warm when I returned on a particularly cold January day.
(Image credit: Future)
The Honeywell Home X2S Smart Thermostat is compatible with Apple HomeKit (Matter enabled), Google Assistant, and Amazon Alexa. The First Alert app makes it easy to change the temperature, set up a daily/weekly schedule, turn your fan on and off, switch from heat to cool, and create vacation settings. You can also track your HVAC runtime in the app. You can also run other First Alert products via the app, such as air filters, smoke/CO2 alarms, security cameras, and water leak/freeze detectors.
I found that the Honeywell Home X2S Smart Thermostat worked quite well in heating my home to my specifications. I like being able to set the schedule to my precise daily needs, and being able to set up vacation mode even while already away on vacation. I feel like there is a lot less wasted HVAC use, as the thermostat makes it easy to set up a tailored schedule.
Should you buy the Honeywell Home X2S Smart Thermostat?
Buy it if
You want a reasonably-priced smart thermostat
While not the cheapest option on the market, there are certainly pricier ones out there. You can find this one well under the retail price if you shop around.View Deal
You only want to pay to heat and cool your home when you’re in it
Set up granular daily and weekly controls tailored to your schedule. Plus you can set up Auto Away so the thermostat updates based on your phone’s location and Vacation Settings as needed.View Deal
You want a flexible smart thermostat
The First Alert app is very easy to use, but you can also control the thermostat with your home’s ecosystem of choice. You can also go old school and use the buttons on the thermostat itself.View Deal
Don't buy it if
You don’t want to deal with another app
Yes, you do have to install the First Alert by Resideo app to get the thermostat set up. However, you could delete it later and just use your home’s ecosystem assistant or the buttons to control it.View Deal
You’re not handy and don’t want to pay a pro to install it
My husband is pretty handy (I’m not) but we ended up having to pay a pro to install the thermostat. Your mileage may vary.View Deal
You prefer to use voice activation
I had no trouble using Control Center on my iPhone to control the thermostat, but Siri’s voice activation didn’t work for me.View Deal
Honeywell Home X2S Smart Thermostat: alternatives to consider
If you're in the market for a smart thermostat and you're not sure Honeywell Home X2S Smart Thermostat is the one, here are some others you might consider checking out.
Google Nest Learning Thermostat (Gen 4)
This one topped our Best Smart Thermostat list due to its great looks, automatic heating schedule creation, and the fact that it compensates for outdoor temperature. It doesn’t require a C wire, which may make installation easier. However, it’s not compatible with Apple HomeKit.
This one is compatible with Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit. You can also use the Hive app if you don’t have any of them. The thermostat has a clear touchscreen display instead of buttons and it makes home heating more efficient.
Sony makes it very clear who the Inzone E9 in-ear gaming headphones are for. Developed in partnership with eSports team Fnatic, these wired in-ear monitor (IEM) style earbuds are squarely aimed at competitive first-person shooter (FPS) players or those with a generous budget aspiring to become one.
Retailing for $149.99 / £129 / AU$209, they’re competing closely with some of the best gaming earbuds like the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds, but don’t deliver the same all-round performance. If you’re looking for something that will elevate your experience in some of the best story games like God of War Ragnarokor Cyberpunk 2077, then these are certainly not it.
The Sony Inzone E9 headphones are highly comfortable to wear and come with a superb carrying case, but the unapologetically flat sound is not going to help cutscenes or action sequences sound their best. The GameBuds, or even Sony’s own but more expensive Inzone Buds, are clearly better choices, but it's hard to fault the Inzone E9 in-ear gaming headphones for that, as that’s obviously not what they’re for.
(Image credit: Future)
They really come into their own in a competitive first-person shooter (FPS) setting, pairing well with games like Counter-Strike 2, Valorant, and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. Here, the lack of bass prevents explosion and gunfire sound effects from overwhelming your senses, allowing you to focus on the impressive directional reproduction instead. The direction of key audio cues like footsteps is crystal clear and remarkably easy to discern, potentially giving you an advantage over those without such specialised audio gear.
The noise isolation is exquisite, thanks in no small part to the excellent seal of the headphones in your ears. A plethora of ear tips is included in the box to make it easy to find the perfect fit, and the included USB-C audio box stores EQ profile settings to make for a hassle-free setup every time - ideal if you’re competing in tournaments and need to access the same settings on a new machine.
Sony Inzone E9: Price and availability
$149.99 / £129 / AU$209
Available directly via Sony
Also at a range of retailers including Amazon
The Sony Inzone E9 in-ear gaming headphones are priced at $149.99 / £129 / AU$209. This is a significant investment for a pair of wired gaming earbuds, with top wireless options like the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds costing not much more at $159.99 / £159.99 / AU$359.
In addition to traditional gaming options, the Sony Inzone E9 in-ear gaming headphones are also competing with the pricey in-ear monitor (IEM) earbuds favored by some FPS players. Here they come in at a very similar price to relatively affordable models from other big brands, such as the $149.99 / £129.99 Sennheiser IE 200. The Sony Inzone E9 in-ear gaming headphones are made specifically for gaming, however, setting them apart from most of the market and helping to justify the price.
The Sony Inzone E9 in-ear gaming headphones are available directly via Sony in the US and UK. They can also be found at a wide range of retailers, such as Best Buy in the US or Amazon in the UK. In Australia they’re in stock at both JB Hi-Fi and Harvey Norman.
Sony Inzone E9: Specs
Price
$149.99 / £129 / AU$209
Weight
0.16oz / 4.7g
Compatibility
PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X and Series S, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, mobile
Connection type
Wired (3.5mm / USB-C with audio box)
Battery life
N/A
Features
USB-C audio box, spatial audio
Software
Inzone Hub (PC)
Sony Inzone E9: Design and features
IEM style design
Included USB-C audio box stores settings
Fantastic carrying case
The Sony Inzone E9 in-ear gaming headphones will have a familiar design if you’ve used a pair of IEM earbuds before.
They’re lightweight, with rounded earbuds connected to a rigid section of cable that hooks around the top of your ears. Two colorways are available: black and white. Both are rather plain, but the abundance of Inzone logo branding printed on the earbuds does give them some character.
Sony has definitely made some smart decisions when it comes to practicality, particularly with the length of the headphone’s cable. At 5.9ft / 1.8m, I found that it was more than long enough to comfortably reach my ears directly from my gaming PC’s 3.5mm headphone jack without the need for a cable extender. If you play on a console, you won’t have any issues hooking it up to your controller.
I also appreciate the clear left / right marking that’s printed on each earbud, with the latter presented in a bright red that makes it easy to spot at a glance.
(Image credit: Future)
A wealth of alternate ear tips come in the box, with a total of eight pairs to choose from. This includes standard silicone rubber ear tips and more foamy noise isolation earbud tips, both in four sizes (ranging from extra small to extra large). These are Sony’s widespread EP-EX10A and EP-NI1010 series tips - so replacements are easy to find if you need them later down the line.
You get a USB-C audio box for use with PCs, too. This can be used to store settings from the compatible Inzone Hub software, like your desired equalizer pre-sets or custom profiles. It also lets you use a dedicated spatial sound mode, giving a good impression of sound in a 3D space, albeit at the cost of some overall fidelity.
(Image credit: Future)
Between uses, you can store everything in the included carrying case that benefits from a surprisingly unique design. It’s divided into two compartments (one for the earbuds and the other for the audio box) joined together by a springy rubberized strip.
The underside of the strip has little magnetic buttons, clipping down to keep everything in place. It might be a bit hard to imagine, but it works really well and is much more practical than the cheap pouches included with most earbuds these days.
You also get a little Inzone-branded cable tidy, which is a neat bonus.
Sony Inzone E9 review: Performance
Clear sound
Highly tuned for FPS games
Underwhelming with other genres
The Sony Inzone E9 in-ear gaming headphones have quite a flat sound profile out of the box, though this is presumably intentional. There’s not a lot of bass leading to quite an unexciting sound. Playing through some Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eaterand Assassin’s Creed Shadowson PS5, key story moments felt a tad muted with the backing music missing the punch needed to really drive the emotion home.
You can address this somewhat by tweaking the EQ settings in the compatible Inzone Hub software, but there’s only so much that you can do to increase the bass on hardware that’s not designed for it. For story-focused games, the results were never punchier than what you get out of the box with the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds and far less effective than even cheap wired over-ear sets like the Corsair HS50.
This lack of bass makes a lot more sense when you jump into a competitive shooter like Counter-Strike 2. Flashbangs and grenades are no longer overwhelming and don’t threaten to deafen you if you’re playing at higher volumes. Gunfire is more subdued, helping you stay focused in firefights.
The sound is crystal clear too, with an impressive level of directionality that makes it easy to track enemy movements using key sounds like footsteps. It’s very impressive, especially given how well the effect holds up in more frantic situations. Diving into an explosive match of Nuketown in Black Ops 7, I was able to accurately hear where nearby opponents were moving, even against the constant barrage of explosions conjured by grenades and killstreaks.
(Image credit: Future)
The detail is excellent, which is borderline essential in tense extraction shooters such as Escape From Tarkov,where being able to discern the subtle snapping of a twig can often mean the difference between life and death. If you’re currently one of the many people devoting every waking moment to Arc Raiders, I could see the Sony Inzone E9 in-ear gaming headphones being worth the asking price on this fact alone.
Despite offering no active noise cancellation (ANC), the Sony Inzone E9 in-ear gaming headphones do a commendable job of blocking out background noise by virtue of the strong seal of their fit. No, it’s not as effective as the ANC of the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds, but it is good enough to drown out household sounds and conversations with the volume set at a decent level.
Although very uncommon in the IEM market, I’m also a little disappointed that the Sony Inzone E9 in-ear gaming headphones don’t come with a small built-in microphone. It’s not a dealbreaker by any means, but it did mean that I had to reach for my Final VR2000 gaming earbuds when I wanted to chat with a friend while playing an Xbox Series X game.
(Image credit: Future)
Should I buy the Sony Inzone E9 in-ear gaming headphones?
Buy it if...
You’re a die-hard FPS fan If you’re an FPS-head shopping for a pair of earbuds that you want to use exclusively to play the latest shooters, then the Sony Inzone E9 in-ear gaming headphones could be a very worthwhile investment.
You want every possible advantage The directionality offered by the Sony Inzone E9 in-ear gaming headphones is excellent and could mean the difference between a win and a loss in a competitive gaming setting. Pick up a pair if you want to ensure you have every possible advantage.View Deal
Don't buy it if...
You want a general use pair The flat sound profile of the Sony Inzone E9 in-ear gaming headphones means that they’re not ideal for general use. At this price, there are loads of strong alternatives if you want something designed for a wider selection of genres with a microphone to help you chat with friends.
Also consider...
Not sure whether the Sony Inzone E9 in-ear gaming headphones are worth it for you? Check out these two compelling alternatives.
Sony Inzone E9
SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds
Sony Inzone Buds
Price
$149.99 / £129 / AU$209
$159.99 / £159.99 / AU$359
$199 / £179.99 / AU$249
Weight
0.16oz / 4.7g
0.19oz / 5.3g (each bud); 1.7oz / 48.7g (case)
0.2oz / 6.8g
Compatibility
PC, Xbox Series X and Series S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, Mobile
GameBuds for PlayStation: PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac, Meta Quest 2/3, mobile; GameBuds for Xbox: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac, Meta Quest 2/3
PS5, PS4, PC, Nintendo Switch, Mobile
Connection type
Wired (3.5mm / USB-C with audio box)
2.4Ghz (via USB-C), Bluetooth 5.3 (mobile)
2.4GHz wireless (via dongle), Bluetooth 5.3
Battery life
N/A
Up to 40 hours (buds 10 hours; case 30 hours)
Up to 24 hours (buds 12 hours; case 12 hours)
Features
USB-C audio box, spatial audio
360° Spatial Audio, Qi Wireless Charging Case, 6mm neodymium drivers, four-mic ANC, transparency mode, in-ear detection/sensor, IP55 rating, fast charge, companion app with more than 100 presets
360 spatial sound, optimization for your ear, tap controls. 8.4mm drivers, IPX4 waterproof
SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds The SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds are a brilliant all-rounder. They’re wireless, compatible with most platforms, and offer superb sound that can be fully customized to your liking. They have microphones for chatting, plus effective ANC built in.
Sony Inzone Buds If you’re shopping for something specifically in the Inzone product line but don’t care about competitive FPS games, then the more general Inzone Buds are a better pick. They offer spatial sound, ANC, and a low-latency wireless connection.
How I tested the Sony Inzone E9 in-ear gaming headphones
Tested for nearly three months
Used with a wide range of platforms
Compared to lots of other products
I tested the Sony Inzone E9 in-ear gaming headphones over a period of roughly two and a half months. During that time, they were my primary gaming earbuds across all of my usual platforms. This included PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC.
I tried the earbuds with a wide selection of games, ranging from story-based titles such as Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater to some of the most popular FPS games like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Black Ops 7, Valorant, and Counter-Strike 2.
Throughout my time with the earbuds, I compared their performance to my hands-on testing of a wide range of other gaming audio devices across the price spectrum.
I’ve reviewed over 50 desks in the last few years, and I have a pretty good feel for what not only makes for the best standing desks, but also what the standards are, what is consistent across brands, and what makes some stand out compared to others.
What I'm saying is, it’s not often that a desk’s differences stand out as easily as the Marinamantra Flow. Most noticeable is that the Flow allows you to use it while sitting on the floor, at standard sitting height, and while standing up. I can't think of many, if any, other desks that offer that right now (most I test are sitting or standing-only).
The Flow has been getting nearly daily use in my workspace for three months. In that time, I’ve used it for late-night working sessions, testing monitors, testing laptops, writing, coding, responding to emails, handling virtual meetings, building forts for my kids underneath, giving my children rides up and down the world's tamest rollercoaster, and more.
This is one of those desks that you want to use, one that you enjoy using, and almost feels fun every time you go to get started.
At the time of review, you can choose between a white or black frame, with a desktop size of 26 x 58in.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
Marinamantra Flow: Unboxing and First Impressions
Again, I’ve done a good number of these now, but this desk was unique. The assembly wasn’t overly hard, but due to the unique design, the scissor legs, and the felt-covered undercarriage, this desk had a way of stamping itself on my memory.
The closest thing I can compare it to is the Lilipad standing desk. But where the Lillipad retracts so low is because it's designed to be stowed away after use, the primary reason the Flow reaches those low heights is to enable floor-sitting.
Unboxing and setting up was different than all the other desks I have set up, but not difficult. I just felt like, for the first time in a long time, like I was having to pay attention to the instructions rather than relying on past desk building experience.
Marinamantra sent all the proper tools, though I still used my Hoto electric screwdriver when I could just to help speed up the screwdriver process a little bit. The legs came connected together, so I simply had to get them connected in the proper location on the underside of the desk and then latch them in place.
Once I got everything attached, I added in the felt undercarriage and cabling, and then we were ready to flip over and get to work.
Marinamantra Flow: Design & Build Quality
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
The felt cable tray is shockingly good. At first, I thought it was clunky and perhaps a gimmick. But once I got everything put together, I realized it was very helpful for keeping the built-in desk cables tucked away, leaving only what I add visible. If desired, and if I wanted to build out a more complex desk here, I could tuck more cables in that felt liner, though I’d want to take it off to make sure that I am not getting cables stuck in the tracks.
Speaking of cables, one thing this does right is that it has power through the leg. I’ve started to see desks do this now. The first one I noticed doing it was the Secretlab Magnus Pro. Since then, I’ve seen a few more taking that approach, helping with cable management, not having a cable dangling down from the top of the desk at whatever height it may be, all the way down to either outlet height or the floor. This seemingly small element really helps declutter the workspace.
I also like that there are two outlets on the desktop that run through the same power line that goes out of the base, plus the power for actually raising and lowering the desk, of course. Marinamantra chose to have one of those available outlets in the back of the desk, in the built-in cable tray, which is excellent, and another in the front, making it super easy for the user to power whatever they need.
At first, I wanted another outlet on the back of the desk, but after getting everything set up, I realized I wouldn’t even use it for my setup, and if I did need it, it's easy enough to add an additional power strip.
Marinamantra Flow: In use
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
Specs
Desktop size: 28 x 56in Lifting capacity: 176lb / 80kg Height range: 14.9 to 47in
I’ve had this desk on the second floor of my home for the last three months. I’ve used it for at least 5 days a week during that time, sometimes for many hours at a time.
Since assembling it, I’ve raised and lowered the desk an obnoxious number of times, I’ve used both power ports, I’ve run my forearm on the control panel and accidentally changed the height, and I’ve even caught my kids playing under the desk, treating it as a fort. So far, stability is solid, height adjustments are smooth, though there are some clicking sounds from the legs when adjusting, and the desk itself has held up well.
I’m 6’2”, so for me, having a desk that can reach my preferred standing height is not always possible. But the Marinamantra Flow can get my preferred height and drop all the way down to a great seated or floor-sitting height without any problem. It’s probably due to the scissor-leg style instead of the standard leg, but that comes with trade-offs as well.
I love how smooth it moves up and down, and the incredible range, dropping so low and also so high, but as a taller individual, having the legs cross right where my knees means I have to contort my legs around the scissor legs if I’m pulled all the way into the desk. The only spot I can kick my legs out is in the dead center, so using anything to rest my legs on would not work with this desk, nor would kicking my legs out with a chair that has a leg rest.
Speaking of the legs, another thing that I noticed, perhaps because I previously used the Lilipad desk, is that the caps on the legs are mediocre. I can tell that this is a first-generation desk from Marinamantra. However, with that being said, it’s a spectacular attempt at a new desk style in almost every way,
Back to the legs, the power inlay through the legs makes a bigger difference than I originally thought. I expected it to be helpful, but not a game-changer. But for this style desk, which, for me, has stayed relatively minimal and straightforward, I haven’t needed anything more than what has been given.
I have a simple, yet powerful setup. I have an Anker Prime Docking Station plugged into the power port on the back of the desk, with the dock sitting on the top left, plugged into that I have the power line that runs to my laptop, a USB-C desk lamp. I ran one to the right side where I plug in my iPad, hard drive, or iPhone, and that’s about it. I can plug in some other drives or accessories on the dock itself, but beyond that, I have intentionally kept it pretty clean and straightforward.
There's something about this desk that makes me want to keep it simple in the best way. The front power port has come in super handy for charging my chair (review coming soon), yes, you read that right, or for other miscellaneous things I need to charge or plug into power in this room.
Last but not least, I’ll talk a little bit about the control panel. It’s simple, it reminds me of Ergonofis, and it works pretty well. In fact, it may be a bit too sensitive. My wife bumped it a few times with her forearm while we wrapped presents on this desk, and it sprang into height-adjusting action.
Marinamantra Flow: Final verdict
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
The Flow is a fantastic first-generation standing desk from Marinamantra, and it gets the fundamentals right. It’s designed to be minimalist, though it could be built out for more if you wanted, and it’s got a few great features up its sleeve that other desk companies could learn from.
If you are looking for a desk that can drop down to the ground, and then back up to meet the height of even some of the tallest people around, it's worth checking out.
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(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )
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For more office furniture, check out our guide to the best office chairs we've tested.
The Canon R6 Mark III is the brand's latest enthusiast-level hybrid camera, and successor to one of Canon's most popular models. It's perhaps the clearest expression of a 'hybrid' Canon camera yet within its price range, with a fresh 33MP sensor that not only offers a significant bump in resolution (from 24MP), but a host of new video features such as 7K open-gate.
Outwardly, you could be mistaken in thinking that the Mark III offers a relatively iterative upgrade versus the previous generation. The overall design of the camera is essentially identical. Under the hood, however, subtle tweaks and improvements provide an upgrade that's bigger than the sum of its parts.
Everything is just a little bit better with the Mark III. You get a nice bump in resolution, a massively expanded video tool-kit, and useful autofocus features from the higher-end bodies like Priority People Detect. Even minor annoyances like video white balance have been smoothed out. Overall, it's an incredibly refined and well-designed camera that simply just works without any fuss. That's high praise, indeed.
(Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
In real-world testing, the R6 Mark III is also a stunning stills and video camera, capable of producing superb results in both fields. In a field where competitors are eager to champion stacked BSI sensors, the Mark III proves that you need neither to achieve great performance. Images are detailed with great dynamic range and flexibility, and you still get an impressive 40fps burst rate, despite the significant jump in resolution.
Perhaps the biggest stumbling block for the R6 III isn’t necessarily the camera itself, but the increasingly competitive field it sits within. Rival brands are not only producing exceptional cameras currently, but they do so on democratized and open lens mounts.
For example, the Nikon Z6 III undercuts the R6 on price, the Panasonic S1 II features more powerful video tools, and the Sony A7 V falls back on its vast lens ecosystem. In comparison, the R6 III looks like the jack of trades - a safe, if somewhat unexciting pick in the best mirrorless cameras landscape.
Those already faithful to the Canon RF-Mount will be overjoyed with this camera, however. As previously stated, there's a refined assuredness to the R6 Mark III that makes it a reliable hybrid workhorse. Regardless of whether you're a professional wedding photographer, amateur videographer, or even a serious beginner, it's hard not to recommend the R6 Mark III because of its compelling mix of usability, image quality, and value. Yes, it's pricier than the Mark II, but considering the new sensor (and inflation), you definitely get a good amount of camera for the money here.
Canon EOS R6 Mark III specs
Canon EOS R6 Mark III specs
Type:
Mirrorless camera
Sensor:
Full-frame (36x24mm) FSI CMOS
LCD:
3-inch, fully-articulated, 1.62M dots
Memory:
1x UHS-II SD, 1x CFexpress Type B
Resolution:
32.5-megapixels
Video:
Up to 7K30p (open gate)
ISO range:
ISO 50-102,400
Mechanical Shutter speeds:
30-1/8000sec
Electronic Shutter speeds:
30-1/16000sec
Viewfinder:
3.69M dot, OLED EVF, 0.76x
Processor:
DIGIC X
Connectivity:
WiFi, Bluetooth, USB-C, HDMI, audio, mic
Weight:
609g
Canon EOS R6 Mark III: Price and availability
Announced November 6th, 2025
Body only price of $2,799 / £2,799.99 / AU$4199.95
Kit options available, including RF 24-105mm f4 L IS
The R6 Mark III retails for $2,799 / £2,799.99 / AU$4199.95, which makes it pricier than the previous iteration by a few hundred dollars / pounds. Interestingly, the EOS R6 II isn’t being discontinued (at least, immediately), and instead will be available for a list price of 1,979 / £1,918 / AU$3,099.
The Mark III is essentially slotting in the market between its two major competitors - the Sony A7 V for $2900 / £2800 and the Nikon Z6 III for $2700 / £2500. Of the three, however, it’s worth noting that the Z6 III has been on the market for the longest time and tends to be particularly partial to price cuts. You’ll likely have to wait a while to find an R6 Mark III or Sony A7 V for anywhere near as cheap as Nikon's alternative.
What can I say about the design of the R6 Mark III? Well, it’s typical Canon, in the most refined and best manner possible. If you’re familiar with the Mark II, the design is essentially identical, with only a few minor tweaks to the buttons surrounding the shutter, a new tally light, and revisions to the mode dial.
Is it boring? Well, it’s certainly sensible. All of the camera’s main functions are laid out in a purposeful and meticulous manner. The thumb, for example, naturally rests next to the back-button focus, an AF joystick, and an autofocus mode quick select. On the top, you have the typical three-way on-off switch, top-mounted dial, and extremely useful M-Fn quick dial menu that are again extremely easy to operate.
All of the above, of course, are fully mappable with the camera’s extensive customization options. A total of nine buttons are fully mapable, so you have plenty of options here for both video and photo applications.
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The camera is made of a sturdy polymer outer shell with environmental weather sealing (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
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The R6 Mark III has a protective shutter to keep the sensor clean when no lens is mounted. (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
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The camera retains the classic Canon button control layout (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
If you’re already a Canon shooter, no doubt you’ll be right at home here. My only minor criticism is that I wish Canon would add a second ring/middle finger button on the front of the body next to the grip. It’s something that’s featured on the higher-end Canon bodies, but it’s conspicuously missing from the R6 and R5 line. With such expansive customization features, it would be a fantastic addition to the body in my opinion.
In the hand, the R6 Mark III is sturdy and solid, with a generous grip that pairs well with popular lenses like the 24-70mm f/2.8. As part of the review process, Canon also sent me the EOS R8, and in comparison to the lower-end model, the R6 Mark III is much better suited to the chunkier RF glass. Unlike the feather-weight R8, the R6 Mark III balances well with fast primes like the 20mm f/1.4 and 85mm f/1.4 - both of which are noticeably front-heavy on the entry-level model.
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The Canon R6 Mark III next to the Mark II (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
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The cameras are almost identical, with the only changes being to button graphics, the mode dial, and the addition of a tally light. (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
In terms of viewfinder and display, you get a 3.69M dot 120Hz OLED and 3-inch 1.62M dot panel respectively; both of which are holdovers from the previous model. The R6's displays are bright, relatively wide, and easy to use. No complaints here, although it's worth noting that both the Nikon Z6 III and Sony A7 V do have a slight edge over the R6. In the case of the Nikon, you get a higher-res 5.76M dot EVF, while the Sony A7 V features a 2.1M dot rear display that both articulates and tilts - a handy feature for both stills and video.
For ports, one of the main changes from the second-generation model is that the Mark III now features one CFexpress Type B slot and one UHS-II SD instead of two of the latter. Upgrading to a CFexpress card will incur a slight cost, but you’re going to need it if you want to record Raw video internally or make full use of the uncapped 40fps burst rate. Videographers will also be pleased to note that the Mark III now features a full-size HDMI port rather than the MicroHDMI on the previous iteration.
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The R6 Mark III now features a CF-Express Type B card slot (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
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Support for full-size HDMI (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
The R6 Mark III now utilizes the newer LP-E6P battery from the R5 Mark II. The older LP-E6NH batteries are still technically supported, but you'll need to use the newer iteration to fully unlock all the R6 Mark III's features. In this case, smartphone connectivity and the full array of 6K open-gate video modes.
Note that the R6 Mark III's battery is rated for 270 shots with the viewfinder and 510 with the rear screen. On paper, that's significantly lower than the Sony Alpha A7 V's rating of 630 / 750 shots respectively. I wouldn't say battery life is particularly poor, however. In real-world testing, I found the battery life to be far better than the ratings would suggest, with more than enough juice for a full day of stills photography. Videographers may want to pack a second battery just in case, though.
Design score: 5/5
Canon EOS R6 Mark III: Performance and features
Reliable autofocus for stills and video
Registered People Priority mode
7K footage at 30p ‘open-gate’
The R6 Mark III is interesting in that it lacks a few of the high-end features from the R5 II like the ability to control the focus point with your eye, in-camera 'AI' upscaling, and Action Priority modes. What it does offer, however, is rock-solid performance for a vast range of both photo and stills applications.
As the ‘enthusiast’ level body in the range, the R6 has a lot of ground to cover, but it essentially achieves the mark on all counts. Using the camera, is again, a very refined experience in terms of operation and ease-of-use.
For example, the R6’s autofocus performance is accurate and reliable even with fully automated operation. A simple press of the ‘set’ button will engage subject tracking, which is easily one of the ‘stickiest’ I’ve ever used on a camera. Even without the advanced bells and whistles of the R5, the R6 Mark III is exceptional at both subject tracking and detection.
There were only a few rare occasions when the autofocus missed the mark. For example, a case in a relatively dimly-lit room where the camera failed to focus on my parents’ cat’s eyes. This subject, with his black coat, is notoriously difficult to photograph. Even specifically engaging the R6 MIII’s animal detection mode gave me a few examples where the camera focused on his ears or whiskers rather than his eyes.
Another extreme example was a moving human target in a low-light situation. Even with a high-contrast backlit scene the camera slightly missed the mark when shooting with a 20mm prime fully wide open at f/1.4.
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The R6 Mark III slightly forward-focused in this extreme low-light scene at f/1.4. (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
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The camera ever-so-slightly missed focus on the cat's eye in this scene at f/2.8, instead focusing on the ear. (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
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The camera still maintained an impressive hit rate, however. This is the next frame in the series and it's in focus. (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
Are these fair use cases? Well, certainly they are extreme situations where any camera would be tested. By most accounts, the R6 Mark III’s autofocus is still one of the best I’ve ever used on any camera.
We’re reaching a point now where all major camera brands have excellent out-of-the-box autofocus performance on reasonably priced bodies, but Canon does still have a few unique tricks. The Registered People Priority mode, for example, is the closest thing to a 'killer-app' I've seen on an enthusiast-level camera.
As a brief overview, this feature allows you to map autofocus tracking to specific faces, with the idea that the camera will prioritize them even in crowded scenarios. If you have a reference shot like a group headshot, then the camera detects and allows you to pick a specific face via the RPP mode.
During my testing, I didn't have a scenario where I could really stress-test this feature with large groups. In small groups of two to three people, however, the tracking was reliable. Overall, the Registered People Priority mode definitely has the potential to be a useful feature for certain scenarios, like event or wedding photography.
Canon EOS R6 Mark III video modes
Aspect / Mode
Dimensions
Frame rates
3:2 / 7K RAW
6960 x 4640
30, 25, 24, 23.98
3:2 / 7K Compressed
6912 x 4608
30, 25, 24, 23.98
1.89:1 / 7K
6960 x 3672
60, 50, 48, 30, 25, 24, 23.98
1.89:1 / DCI 4K
4096 x 2160
120, 100, 60, 50, 48, 30, 25, 24, 23.98
1.89:1 / DCI 2K
2048 x 1080
180, 150, 120, 100, 60, 50, 48, 30, 25, 24, 23.98
16:9 / UHD 4K
3840 x 2160
120, 100, 60, 50, 48, 30, 25, 24, 23.98
16:9 / Full HD
1920 x 1080
180, 150, 120, 100, 60, 50, 48, 30, 25, 24, 23.98
In terms of video, the R6 Mark III features an impressive array of recording options. There's not only the option for oversampled 4K up to 120p, but 7K footage at 30p ‘open-gate’ on the camera’s native 3:2 aspect ratio. For maximum post-production flexibility, there’s the option to shoot in Canon’s proprietary Cinema Raw format or the brand’s Clog 2 or Clog 3 profiles.
If all these features look familiar, it’s because the R6 Mark III shares the same sensor and bones as the Canon EOS C50. Unlike its video-centric sibling, however, the R6 doesn’t feature an in-built fan, so you will face restricted recording times for the heavier open-gate and 7K capture modes. That's also a key advantage of the rival Panasonic S1 II, alongside support for 120p at 4K.
One other upgrade for the Mark III is the camera’s overall burst-rate performance. While the camera lacks the Action Priority autofocus mode from the higher-end Canon bodies, it manages to retain the 12fps mechanical / 40fps e-shutter burst rates from the previous model despite the significant jump in resolution. You’ve still got the helpful inclusion of pre-burst capture here, but unlike the Mark II, the III doesn’t feature a standalone “Raw Burst mode” to enable it. It’s instead now integrated into the standard drive mode menu.
Performance score: 5/5
Canon EOS R6 Mark III: Image quality
33MP resolution (up from 24MP)
Pleasing, warm colors
Sharp video with flexible profiles
The Canon R6 Mark III is somewhat unusual in its peer group in that its sensor is neither back-side-illuminated nor ‘stacked’ like rivals from Sony or Nikon. It's an interesting distinction because rivals have long trumpeted the various advantages of these additions in a world where sensor development has seemingly slowed in recent years.
On paper, a stacked sensor does enable faster readout speeds, whereas a back-side-illuminated sensor should, in theory, give you cleaner images at high ISO. Recent testing has even proven that the Sony A7 V and Panasonic S1 II have slightly better ISO invariance than the Canon R6 Mark III thanks to dual-gain readouts.
So, does the Mark III lag behind the competition in terms of image quality? I'd have a hard time believing so. Based on real-world testing, I've found the camera to produce consistently excellent stills.
Out in the wild, I imagine the differences between all of these cameras is likely to be so minimal that you'd almost certainly not notice outside of incredibly niche use cases. It certainly shouldn't be the main deciding factor behind these cameras; ergonomics, video features, and available lenses are all much more important.
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Original shot, RAW, shot with the RF 24-70mm f/2.8 (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
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Same scene, shadows lifted to taste in Adobe Lightroom (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
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Another RAW example taken with the same 24-70mm f/2.8 lens (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
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Same scene, shadows lifted to taste in Adobe Lightroom (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
In terms of dynamic range, for example, you have heaps to work with here. Despite the significant increase in resolution from the previous iteration, the R6 Mark III produces lovely, clean RAW files (and even JPEGs) with ample headroom.
On several test shots, I was able to salvage significant details from a scene without much color cast or noise. Zooming in, noise is certainly still present, but it's relatively well controlled and very much in line with other modern full-frame bodies.
In low light the R6 Mark III handles exceptionally well, too. I shot a few hundred images in a local indoor amusement park that features a host of strobe and fluorescent lighting. It's the kind of environment that not only tests autofocus to the extreme, but often results in strange colors that are a nightmare to post-process.
When I pull up the files from the R6 Mark III, colors are well captured, even at ISO 10,000 and over. The first example in the gallery below was shot at that ISO, and the colors are absolutely spot-on for the scene, despite there being noise present in some of the shadows. Again, the R6 Mark III is an extremely capable stills camera in real-world testing.
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RAW sample shot, ISO 10,000, taken with RF 20mm f/1.4 (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
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RAW sample shot, ISO 1,250, taken with RF 20mm f/1.4 (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
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RAW sample shot, ISO 320, taken with RF 20mm f/1.4 (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
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RAW sample shot, ISO 640, taken with RF 20mm f/1.4 (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
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RAW sample shot, ISO 200, taken with RF 20mm f/1.4 (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
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RAW sample shot, ISO 1,600, taken with RF 20mm f/1.4 (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
Briefly touching on resolution; the upgrade from 24MP to 33MP does give you a nice bump in cropping potential without resulting in massive file sizes. Arguably, 24MP is still more than enough for most use cases, but 33MP is definitely a 'nice to have'. I certainly appreciated the little bit extra when cropping all the sample images on this page from the camera's native 3:2 to a web-friendly 16:9 format.
Colors are gorgeous, too. Even with RAW files, the images have a pleasing warmth to them without being overbearing. Skin tones look great straight from the camera, and in all cases, the files were great to work on in Adobe Lightroom.
In the gallery below, you can see a selection of RAW files. The opening shots are tweaked in Lightroom to my own tastes, whereas the following portrait shots show you both RAW files and a few of the camera's built-in JPEG profiles.
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RAW edited to taste in Lightroom, taken with RF 24-70mm f/2.8 (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
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RAW edited to taste in Lightroom, taken with RF 24-70mm f/2.8 (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
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RAW edited to taste in Lightroom, taken with RF 24-70mm f/2.8 (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
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RAW edited to taste in Lightroom, taken with RF 24-70mm f/2.8 (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
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RAW edited to taste in Lightroom, taken with RF 24-70mm f/2.8 (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
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RAW edited to taste in Lightroom, taken with RF 24-70mm f/2.8 (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
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RAW edited to taste in Lightroom, taken with RF 24-70mm f/2.8 (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
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An example of a RAW file from a studio scene, taken with the RF 24-70mm f/2.8 (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
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An example of a RAW file, next to the camera's 'Vivid' and 'Warm' JPEG profiles (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
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Examples of the camera's black-and-white, 'Vivid', and 'Warm' JPEG profiles (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
For video, you have a flexible set-up thanks to the R6 Mark III's myriad record modes and support for Clog2 and Clog3 formats. Of the two, the former gets you a flatter image with the most dynamic range possible for color grading, while the latter offers a more saturated and clean image for quick and easy editing. In either case, you can upload your own LUTs to the camera, and white balance can also be set in video mode, which was a common annoyance with the previous model.
As you'd imagine with a body that shares the same sensor as the Canon EOS C50, the R6 Mark III captures excellent footage. In my testing, I mostly used Canon's proprietary Canon 709 standard color profile (non-flattened), and the 4K footage in particular was fantastic. Colors were rich but true-to-life, the image was detailed, and there was plenty of dynamic range.
For an easy video workflow, there is very little to fault the R6 Mark III on. Even if you're a video-heavy hybrid shooter, don't overlook the Mark III in favor of the C50. You get a great video toolkit here with the added benefit of image stabilization and a mechanical shutter for stills.
Image quality score: 4.5/5
Canon EOS R6 Mark III: testing scorecard
Canon EOS R6 Mark III
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Price
The R6 Mark III is well priced considering the level of performance. That said, it is pricier than the previous iteration, and it sits within a competitive field.
4/5
Design
The R6 Mark III is almost identical to the previous iteration. It's a super design, however, with fantastic ergonomics and customization.
5/5
Performance
Autofocus is superb for both stills and video. IBIS works admirably. Registered People Priority is a genuinely useful feature.
5/5
Image quality
Great straight-out-of-camera files for both stills and video. Flexible RAWs, and a huge array of video formats for both casual and professional use.
4.5/5
Should I buy the Canon EOS R6 Mark III?
Buy it if...
You're already invested in the Canon RF mount
Those already invested in the eco-system will absolutely love the R6 Mark III. It sits in a competitive field, but if you already have plenty of RF glass, then you're getting a lot of camera for your money here.View Deal
You shoot stills, with a bit of video
The Canon R6 Mark III is perfect if you're primarily a photographer but also need an easy video workflow. You get everything you need here for excellent results.View Deal
Don't buy it if...
You need advanced video options
With that said, if you're primarily a videographer, you may want to consider the Canon EOS R50 or Panasonic S1 II. Both include longer recording times thanks to internal fans. View Deal
You're on a budget
If you need a powerful hybrid camera but want to save some cash, there are strong rival options right now. The Nikon Z6 III, for example, undercuts the R6 Mark III on price. Even the older R6 Mark II is still available and offers a viable alternative without the newer bells and whistles.View Deal
Also consider
Sony A7 V
As if on cue, Sony released the Alpha A7 V just one month after the R6 Mark III. In comparison, the A7 V is a little pricier than the R6 and doesn't have options for open gate video. It does, however, have a much more diverse lens ecosystem and innovative dual-gain ISO read-out thanks to its partially stacked sensor, which gives a slight edge in stills dynamic range.
Nikon's all-rounder, the Z6 III also features a partially stacked sensor, but with a resolution of just 24MP. That said, video recording is up to 6K 60p, and the Z6 III is blazing fast, also being supported by powerful in-body image stabilization. Launched in July 2024, it has come down in price and can be had for much less than the Canon EOS R6 Mark III.
I used several lenses, including the RF 24-105mm f/4 kit lens
Samples were shot in a diverse range of environments, including low light
Subject detection was tested using real-world situations
Canon loaned me the R6 Mark III alongside the R8, R6 Mark II, and several lenses for an extensive three-week period. In that time, I was fully able to test the camera in a range of scenarios for both stills and video.
As an overview, the lenses used include the RF 20mm f/1.4, the RF 85mm f/1.4, the RF 24-70mm f/2.8L, and the RF 24-105mm f/4 - the latter of which is available as a kit lens for the R6 III. All of the above image samples on this page were taken with these lenses in various scenarios, including both mid-day and difficult low-light environments.
