Batman: Arkham Shadow is a masterclass in what a VR game should be. It thrusts you into an immersive experience with gameplay that encourages realistic fighting movement and interacting with your environment in ways a flat console title could never offer, and the narrative-driven mystery is packed with emotionally powerful scenes that’ll have you forgetting you aren’t really Bruce Wayne for a moment.
Review Info
Platform reviewed: Meta Quest 3 Available on: Meta Quest 3, Meta Quest 3S Release date: October 21, 2024
These elements culminate in an experience that I never wanted to put down. Every one of my Arkham Shadow play sessions would begin with me unplugging my fully charged Meta Quest 3, and end with me taking it off because my battery had hit zero.
The only letdown from this otherwise flawless VR game is Arkham Shadow is chocked full of glitches.
The vast majority are minor – visual defects here and there – and anything actually game-breaking is easily solved by resetting to the last generously doled-out checkpoint (meaning I lost at most 10s of progress any time I had to reload). However, a few bugs near the finale caused my game to crash partway through what felt like a significant flashback (when I rebooted the title I had skipped it, with no way to rewatch it) and the final challenging puzzle of the adventure became an utter frustration as I was forced to replay it half a dozen times because interactable items wouldn’t behave properly causing me to fail (with it only being solved by another hard reset).
Can you save Gotham? (Image credit: Meta / Camouflaj)
Batman: Arkham Shadow is easily up there with the best VR games ever, there are even arguments to be made that it’s the best VR game of all time. It's such a delightful experience I’d count it among the top games of 2024, period. Everyone with a Meta Quest 3 or Meta Quest 3S should play it whether they got it free with a recent headset purchase or not, and those of you who have previously dismissed VR should seriously consider getting a Quest 3 to try this game (and then explore everything else the platform has to offer like Vendetta Forever, Asgard’s Wrath 2, and Walkabout Mini Golf).
Unfortunately, the glitches have to knock it down a peg right now – which is why it’s not getting a five-star score despite my praise. I’m sure in a month or two when the holes have been patched it’ll be perfect, but as it stands today it’s not quite there.
Ready for a brawl
Now that I’ve frontloaded my only issue with Arkham Shadow, let’s get into everything that makes it special starting with combat.
Arkhamverse titles are defined by their fighting, a flowing dance of blows interspersed with combo finishers and gadget trickery. Beyond moving the camera from third to first person, Arkham Shadow is a perfect recreation of this system with fights feeling utterly thrilling.
To build up your combo you must do more than merely fling your arms wildly, instead like a boxer you must mix up your straight punches with hooks or a quick flurry of blows as the game instructs you. You’ll also want to dodge out of the way of attacks or punch to counter them and keep building your combo. And just like any other Batman game, you can rely on a well-timed Batarang or small explosive to disorientate your enemies to earn a few extra points in your combat scorecard and level up faster.
Leveling up allows you to upgrade your skills, armor, and gadgets – with my favorite being a quick takedown option for knife enemies that have you pull off a brutal finishing blow after dodging their swipes.
Arkham Shadow's combat is fantastic (Image credit: Meta / Camouflaj)
There’s also the iconic predator mode stealth sections in which Batman is encouraged to take a more discrete approach – silently taking enemies down by choking them out while they’re not looking or suspending them from perches.
These more puzzle-like combats require a mixture of patience and out-of-the-box thinking to solve them silently, though you can always rely on a quick smokescreen if stealth isn’t your forte.
Once you have mastered your predator and combat skills you can put them to the test in three bonus challenge scenarios respectively. They’re short and sweet but give you a chance to truly flex once you’ve unlocked every upgrade and finished the campaign.
Who is the Rat King?
Speaking of, while I’ll keep things spoiler-lite, know that the Arkham Shadow narrative is a treat – even Batman super fans will get caught up in the Cult of the Rat King mystery that will keep you guessing until the credits roll.
Best Bit
(Image credit: Meta / Camouflaj)
I adored the mystery of Arkham Shadow, even as an Arkhamverse and Batman fan I was caught off guard by the narrative's twists.
One big deviation Arkham Shadow takes from the rest of the series is a decent chunk of your time (I’d say about 15 to 20% of the game) is spent out of the suit. This gives you the chance to interact with members of Gotham City on a more human level, even RP as Bruce Wayne a bit with dialogue choices. This isn’t the Batman Telltale game, your actions won’t impact the story’s outcome at all, though it will change a few interactions and make it feel like you’re able to put your stamp on Batman.
Through its Batman, and non-Batman, encounters, Arkham Shadow does well to carve out its take on the series’ allies and Rogues Gallery too. Given the title's placement between Origins and Asylum developer Camouflaj is somewhat restricted in what it can and can’t do. Jim Gordon, for example, can’t be killed off because we know he survives into future entries.
You wouldn’t notice these constraints while playing, however. The compelling narrative has a believable flow, and Arkham Shadow finds time and space to show us a different side to the likes of Jim Gordon, Harleen Quinzel, Harvey Dent, and others while still making them feel like the characters we love (or love to hate).
While you can get more up close and personal with the Arkhamverse lore in this entry, fans of the series’ collectibles which reward you with bonus side-stories and background info will appreciate the litany of secrets hidden in Shadow.
There are Rat King Idols and Broadcasts to destroy, patient tapes to recover, memories of Arkham Origins to recollect, and carvings to decipher. Each is hidden just out of sight, behind a tricky puzzle, or requiring you to come back later once you’ve picked up a gadget in Asylum’s Metroidvania style.
Collectathons can feel tedious, but gathering up every item was a lot of fun with a really solid mix of puzzles relying on uniquely VR gameplay or simple brain teasers – or in some cases, not so simple.
Gathering them all as I did should mean Arkham Shadow will last you between 10 and 15 hours, which is about as long as the campaign of Arkham Asylum with a side quest or two thrown in.
Should you play Batman: Arkham Shadow?
Play it if...
You've always wanted to be Batman More so than any game before it Arkham Shadow turns you into Gotham's vigilante that'll leave you wanting to shout iconic quotes long into the night.
You have a Meta Quest 3 If you have a Quest 3 or Quest 3S even if you didn't get this title for free with your headset you need to play it ASAP.
Don't play it if
You hate glitches Arkham Shadow is fun but darn glitchy. If you want a smooth experience wait for a few more patches then give it a try.View Deal
You get very easily motion sick With no teleportation movement Arkham Shadow is a little inaccessible to VR newcomers and those of you who get easily motion sick. That said, I can struggle with motion sickness in VR too still, but this game's other comfort controls helped my enjoy hours long play sessions.View Deal
Accessibility
Like other VR games, Arkham Shadow requires a fair amount of movement. You can play it seated using the height calibration setting (though standing is more immersive), but you will need a full range of arm movement to engage with the combat and its mobility puzzles.
Additionally, this game can only be played with smooth control stick movement giving it a ‘Moderate’ score on Meta’s comfort scale. Even though I’m a VR veteran at this point I still get motion sickness very easily so this did worry me, however, I found that with the vignette turned to medium I was able to play for hours – literally the whole battery life of my Meta Quest 3 – without feeling sick. Absolute newcomers may want to get a little more used to VR before diving in quite so deeply, but from my experience, the lack of teleportation movement shouldn’t be a major accessibility issue.
How I tested Batman: Arkham Shadow
For this review of Batman: Arkham Shadow I achieved a 100% completion rate – that means I found every collectible and finished the story. I had intended to simply complete the main quest, but I found the experience so gripping I wanted to squeeze every last drop of Batman I could out of this title. I also played on Hard difficulty which provided a decent challenge. If you’ve played Arkham games or a few VR action titles before this is the level I’d recommend.
To review it I did try the game on my Meta Quest 3S, but the vast majority of the time I used my Meta Quest 3. It’s the standard headset outfitted with the Razer head strap and facial interface for added comfort – something I greatly appreciated during my hours-long play sessions.
The SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds might be the best gaming earbuds I’ve ever tested. As an overall package they deliver on every front; from battery life to audio quality, to comfort and fit, to features. They are truly impressive and are one of the easiest recommendations I’ll ever make.
Coming in chic white or slick black (depending on the platform variant you go for), each GameBud is of a compact and neat design that sits nicely in the ear, with a simple push-and-twist motion to keep them secure. They’re lightweight too, and the touchpad makes for easy control. The case is also compact and can easily slip into a pocket neatly.
The GameBuds’ stature may be small, then, but they cram in a bunch of features that make the proposition incredibly compelling - before you even put them on. With active noise canceling (ANC), IP55 water-resistant rating, and multi-platform compatibility, the feature set is off to a strong start - but it gets much better.
The inclusion of a quick-charge function and a wireless charging-compatible case is an excellent bonus and means you have another chance to keep your case and buds juiced for longer use, while dual 2.4Ghz and Bluetooth 5.3 offer the latest wireless connectivity. The headline feature and bonus however is, like this year’s addition to the SteelSeries headset lineup, the Arctis Nova 5 Wireless, the GameBuds work with the SteelSeries Arctis App giving you access to more than 100 expertly designed audio presets for an enormous amount of games.
A good design and extensive feature set are all well and good, but it needs to be backed up with quality and excellence in gaming audio - which the GameBuds do by the bucket load. Channeling all that makes SteelSeries gaming audio gear excellent and outrageously good for all games, the GameBuds provide brilliant audio, across all genres and gameplay situations, be they quiet and tense, or busy and wild. Our testing revealed barely any weaknesses in work, play, and entertainment use, and the GameBuds are some of the finest-sounding buds I’ve used.
Caveats and negatives are few and far between on the whole. You will get a better fit with third-party foam tips as the standard rubber ones provided are basic at best, and the controls do take a noticeable amount of pressure which means you will rock or push the earbud into your ear a bit every time you engage with them. However, beyond that, there’s very little to detract from the GameBuds’ performance in any way.
Some competing gaming earbuds may fulfill their particular brief with more specificity - like the PlayStation Pulse Explore earbuds and their PlayStation Portal compatibility, for example - but if you’re looking for the most complete package generally, then these might just be the best gaming earbuds you can buy right now.
(Image credit: Future)
SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds: Price and availability
List price: $159.99 / £159.99 / AU$359
Launch at retailers on October 29
Pre-order stock fluctuated due to popularity
Squarely in the same price bracket as the Sony Inzone Buds, the Razer Hammerhead HyperSpeed buds, and the PlayStation Pulse Explore buds, the GameBuds find themselves in good company. All are targeting the high-end wireless gaming earbud market, and all earn their place in it, with the GameBuds certainly doing enough to rub shoulders (or ears, I suppose) with the aforementioned sets.
Already proving incredibly popular, the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds have sold out on the brand’s own storefront in the pre-order phase too, and I’d expect interest to remain high after launch.
Given the feature set on offer here, I think the GameBuds are priced fairly and almost aggressively; they can run a race with any other premium earbud set, and go a long way to justify the price tag.
SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds: Specs
(Image credit: Future)
SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds: Design and features
Neat, tidy, and compact design
Push controls are intuitive but need a bit of pressure
Wireless charging is a great bonus
Weighing only 0.19oz / 5.3g each, it only takes a simple push and a slight twist to make them sit nicely and fit comfortably in the ear. SteelSeries says it has used scans of 40,000 ears to help shape the design of the GameBuds, though gaming earbuds will always be subject to your own unique ears. I have found them comfortable, on the whole, while also easy to interact with, and not subject to falling out of my ears easily.
Much like the Pulse Explore earbuds, however, I have found in my testing that the included ear tips are bang average; serviceable at best, but not brilliant for really long sessions. I have much preferred using third-party foam tips as a solution for a better fit - and one that aids sound isolation and quality too. It's slightly disappointing that another purchase is needed to augment and really get the best out of the GameBuds’ fit.
The GameBuds ditch the usual touch controls often seen on earbuds and instead, opt for something more akin to a laptop touchpad. This makes accidental inputs much harder which is welcome, but I have found that the touchpad still requires a decent push to actuate, thus slightly rocking or pushing back the earbud while it’s in your ear. It never quite feels like I’m pushing them out of position or making them loose, but it’s still not quite perfect.
(Image credit: Future)
The 2.4Ghz wireless connectivity is not new but is excellent, and the corresponding dongle is wonderfully compact and has been designed with the PS5’s USB-C ports in mind, ensuring it doesn’t block one port while plugged into another. Teaming this with Bluetooth 5.3 rounds out a robust pairing of wireless connections.
In terms of compatibility, our PlayStation unit will play nice with PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac, and mobile. If you want the best level of multiplatform compatibility, however, then go for the Xbox version, which follows the modern gaming headset trend of being compatible with all major consoles and devices.
The case is a small pill box, with a nice finish and compact nature, carrying the two buds and the dongle in sweetly. The ace up the sleeve of the case is the fact that it’s wireless charging compatible, however, and this is a really welcome extra feature adding a welcome level of functionality to what is otherwise just a regular charging and carrying case. Having another means of charging and potential battery life can be a critical factor for wireless gaming peripherals, and having such an extra without the need for a cable is even better. Adding this onto the claimed battery life of up to 10 hours per charge for the buds and you’ve got a robust proposition.
SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds: Performance
Excellent audio for earbuds
Incredible flexibility and customizability with the app
Great battery life
Straight out of the box, the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds have excellent sounds. Crammed into those tiny 6mm drivers is an audio soundstage that’s incredibly detailed and wonderfully vibrant up and down the spectrum. I was even nicely surprised by the amount, quality, and depth of bass. Along with the Pulse Explore earbuds (with their fancy planar magnetic drivers), these produced some of the finest gaming audio I’ve experienced in buds. From single-player games like Star Wars Outlaws and Doom (2016) to playing Diablo 4 online with a pal, the GameBuds excelled. After a while, it didn’t feel like I was receiving audio from just small earbuds, and the buds can certainly run some PS5 headsets or Xbox Series X headsets for their money on audio quality alone.
This default audio quality is made better with the Arctis Companion App. Replicating its success with the Nova 5 headset, the companion app allows you to swap between expertly crafted audio presets while playing games simultaneously. These presets and this flexibility are not a gimmick, either, and you can really find EQs to suit all kinds of games that will enhance the audio experience. The ANC does kill off the bass a little as I’ve always found with it, but it’s robust enough to remain a welcome feature.
(Image credit: Future/SteelSeries)
As mentioned above, actually using the onboard controls walks the risky line between being good for avoiding accidental presses, while requiring a bit of force so as to move the buds a little with each push. It’s not a deal breaker and is another thing I have got used to with time but remains a slight crease in the experience.
Going some way to mimic a solution that the Nova Pro Wireless offers with its infinity power system (USB-C cable charging, while its dock also charges a spare battery ready to swap in at any point), I have found the case’s wireless charging functionality to be a great boon and a fine way of extending the charge and life available to me. More broadly, in my testing, I’ve found the battery life claims SteelSeries about the buds to be true to life (around 10 hours per charge for the buds).
The mic is pretty good too, for some earbuds at least. After a slight raising of the volume of the mic on PS5, my buddy reported that I didn’t sound anything majorly different from my usual headset too, and it also came across as crystal clear during work and phone calls.
With such performance on offer, layered on top of the fine design, and extensive feature set, it's sufficient to say that the SteelSeries Arctis Game Buds are some of the best in the business and could be the only pair of gaming earbuds you’ll ever need.
(Image credit: Future)
Should you buy the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds?
Buy it if...
You want the best all-around gaming earbuds package going Simply put, the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds do it all, and do so fantastically. From superb audio to compatibility and customizability, and from a slick design to an ingenious addition to battery life, there are barely any chinks in the GameBuds’ armor.
You want some of the best sounding gaming earbuds Putting all the features and design qualities to one side, the Arctis GameBuds are simply one of the best sets of gaming earbuds when it comes to sheer audio quality.
You need excellent versatility, flexibility, and customizability in your earbuds From multiplatform compatibility to choosing audio presets on the fly through the app on your phone, the options available to you with the GameBuds is superb and should be noted by anyone looking to get the most out of one set of buds.
Don't buy it if...
You only need cheap multiplatform compatibility via wired buds The GameBuds’ wireless multiplatform compatibility is in a wireless form which bumps up the price a bit. If you only need something cheap to go multiplatform then a wired set might be best for you.
You need buds for the PlayStation Portal Despite being excellent for PlayStation consoles, the Arctis GameBuds won’t serve you by default on PlayStation Portal due to Sony owning the wireless connection to its handheld remote play device.
Also consider...
If you’re still not sold on the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds then consider these two similar products.
PlayStation Pulse Explore earbuds For users on PS5 and PlayStation Portal particularly, the Pulse Explore earbuds and their planar magnetic drivers offer some of the best gaming audio I’ve ever experienced in buds. If you value super high-quality audio quality and mainly play on PS5 and PS Portal then these are a great alternative.
Razer Hammerhead Hyperspeed earbuds Designed for Xbox, these Razer earbuds are a great option for those who prioritize Razer-grade gaming audio that emanates from sizable drivers (10mm in this case), and decent battery life. Note: Our Hammerhead Hyperspeed review is of the PS5 model of the buds, but the quality and specs are the same as the Xbox variant.
Used on multiple platforms including PS5, PC, and mobile
Compared to other earbuds from the likes of Razer and PlayStation
I tested the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds over the course of about four weeks for my review. Putting them to the test on my RTX 3090-powered gaming PC, PS5, and mobile, I used them for a whole host of functions from gaming to work meetings, from phone calls to music listening
They replaced my usual earbuds, the Razer Hammerhead True Wireless earbuds when going out for walks or on the commute, and they replaced my SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless on PC and PS5 for work and play. As a result, I was able to compare them directly to those headsets, as well as the PlayStation Pulse Explore earbuds that I have for use on my PS5 and PlayStation Portal.
In terms of specific games, I tested the GameBuds with Frostpunk 2 on PC, and on Doom (2016), Star Wars Outlaws, Pentiment, and Diablo 4 on PS5 (the latter being an online co-op playthrough with a friend who was able to verify the quality of the mic during gameplay action).
Platform reviewed: PS5 Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, Nintendo Switch Release date: October 29, 2024 (Nintendo Switch TBC)
In retrospect, Life is Strange: Double Exposure seems like an almost impossible sequel for developer Deck Nine to create. Even if that’s not the case, it’s hard to argue that the one we received is a success.
Who is Max Caufield? That depends on the decisions you made playing the first episodic supernatural adventure game. Don’t Nod’s 2013 success with the original Life is Strange was a lightning bolt, an episodic coming-of-age story driven by the emotional impulses of both the player and Max acting as one. Returning to Arcadia Bay and meeting your lost friend culminating in a decision to save her life and destroy your hometown or allow her to die to save it, commits the first game to a contained but forceful and emotional arc about the morality of controlling the fates of others.
In Life is Strange: Double Exposure, Max is no longer the teenager we once knew. She’s an adult, a photographer-in-residence, and a teacher at Caledon University in Vermont. She has a new life. She can’t use her rewind powers anymore to turn back time, but she’s seemingly settled in a new home and has two close friends in the geeky astronomer Moses and Safi, a poet and undergraduate.
One night, after watching a meteor shower on the snowy observatory rooftop, Safi leaves to take a phone call only to be shot dead in the night by a mystery assailant. Shocked by trauma, Max discovers a new ability to switch between a timeline where she lives and one where she dies, and uses this ability to try and understand her death, who killed her, and perhaps even save her.
Scars of the Past
(Image credit: Square Enix)
Make no mistake, my disappointment with Life is Strange: Double Exposure doesn’t come from a disdain for the decision not to bring back fan-favorite Chloe, Max’s romantic interest from the first game. While there has been some controversy over this decision, as she fails to make an appearance regardless of whether you let her live or die in the first game, this is not what holds things back narratively.
The overhanging cloud of Arcadia Bay, and the gulf between the state of reality where Chloe lives and dies, are so massive that attempting to tell a story that fails to commit to making one ending canon (or possibly both) results in a game that seems unable to move beyond history to explore who Max is today. Max claims that she has moved on, but the game inherently can’t. The result hamstrings the story from developing in certain directions at risk of contradicting either ending while stopping it from really having anything interesting to say by the time credits roll.
The result is a big disconnect between Max and the player. You may remember the events of the first game, and they may influence the way you act here, but the story can't acknowledge them. The loss of your friend and love interest, or the loss of an entire town, are major events that should define Max but are entirely absent aside from a few easter eggs.
(Image credit: Square Enix)
Narrative aside, there are also some problems with the mechanics this time around. Rather than a rewind ability like in the original game, Max discovers an evolution of her powers that allows her to jump between two timelines; her own, and another where Safi is still alive. What could be a tool to play with the morals of jumping between both to manipulate dual versions of these characters instead feels like annoying busywork.
In the moment-to-moment action, the power is surprisingly limited. You can’t switch timelines at will, nor integrate your experiences and knowledge from each timeline into gameplay without the game prompting you first. This means you’re left running backwards and forwards to find the spot to jump, and are left with little reason to even think about using the power without being prompted first unless you want to seek out collectible photos. It’s exhausting rather than interesting.
Best bit
(Image credit: Square Enix)
Moments of reflection backed by a strong selection of licensed indie pop offer genuine tranquility in the calm and beautiful snow-covered Vermont landscapes.
Compared to how much time travel was an active part of the narrative, the timeline-shifting powers merely dilute the characters we interact with. We barely get to know any of them before the major inciting incident and the resulting timeline split creates two versions of every character which prevents us from getting to know them deeply. Amanda is positioned as a love interest, but the interactions with this simultaneously disinterested and intrigued rural lesbian in differing timelines left me unable to understand who she was, or even care about learning more.
No matter how disinterested I acted in both timelines, Vinh also would not stop acting flirtatiously and I soon wanted to file a restraining order. Conversations and relationships between characters are a major step down from the last Deck Nine installment, Life is Strange True Colors.
What is it all for?
(Image credit: Square Enix)
Safi’s death and the mystery behind that should draw you in but we barely know Safi before her death. I spent multiple episodes effectively trying to save a girl that I knew nothing about. Even when you do learn more about her past through our investigation and other events, much of her past remains obscured in a way that leaves her feeling like more of a plot device than a real friend. Major story decisions I made involving her character felt cold and meaningless.
It’s hard not to see this as a missed opportunity. The franchise has continued Max’s story before, albeit in comic form. It even integrates multiple timelines and shifting powers. While this comic begins continuing the story from the perspective of one ending (the destruction of Arcadia Bay), it also uses multiple timelines to its advantage, and in doing so creates a canon where both endings can exist.
By embracing the difficult decision, rather than trying to avoid it, it’s possible to more deeply introspect on Max as a character in a way that not only keeps you invested, but even makes you reconsider what was truly the right thing to do.
Does this mean that the game should have merely remade the comics? No! But it shows that committing to the impossible choice of the past rather than trying to skirt around it allows you to explore these characters in the depth they deserve.
Life is Strange: Double Exposure is trapped by continuity. The past makes us who we are, but we are not defined by it. It’s a shame that developer Deck Nine didn't get the memo.
Should I play Life is Strange: Double Exposure?
Play it if...
The series’ gameplay is the main draw While the story suffers, the gameplay formula that blends puzzles with talking to characters and making decisions that impact relationships with them remains the same as ever.
Don't play it if...
You care for the story Narratively the game is disjointed and disconnected. If you’re here to enjoy Max’s story, it unfortunately falls short.
Building character relationships is key Often the split timelines leave you unable to connect with a character due to their constantly-shifting personalities between two timelines, making this core part of the narrative hook of the games suffer as a result.
Accessibility
Life is Strange: Double Exposure offers extensive accessibility settings and content warnings for transphobia, mentions of suicide, blood, loud noises, and more. Accessibility includes obvious things like subtitles, but also a camera assist, the ability to skip some gameplay, longer choice times, reduced motion, simple power effects to avoid flashing lights, and alternate controls for anything that needs multiple button presses.
How I reviewed Life is Strange: Double Exposure
I played Life is Strange: Double Exposure on a launch model PS5 using a DualSense Wireless Controller and an ASUS VG27AQL1A gaming monitor. For audio, I utilized a wireless headphone adapter and played the game using Apple AirPods Max. It took just shy of 10 hours to complete the five episodes and reach the ending.
Platform reviewed: PS5 Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC Release date: October 31, 2024
Dragon Age: The Veilguard offers a flawed yet engrossing story-driven action role-playing game (RPG) experience. Uplifted by a compelling cast of supporting characters, an impressively dynamic combat system, and gorgeous environments, Veilguard never quite escapes the long shadow of its predecessors. This makes for a memorable third-person fantasy adventure which, while likely to appeal to long-time fans of the series, may bamboozle newcomers with its onslaught of proper nouns and specialist terms.
It’s been nearly a decade since the RPG veterans at BioWare released Dragon Age: Inquisition, the predecessor to Veilguard. Despite this gap, Veilguard builds directly and insistently upon plotlines and themes developed in Inquisition, to the extent that the 2014 RPG often feels like required reading for this latest release.
This issue is baked into the RPG’s core premise. You play as ‘Rook’, a troubleshooter employed by Varric, a sassy and lovable bard from Dragon Age 2 and Inquisition who is putting together a team to stop the ancient elven mage Solas (another Inquisition character) from ending the world in a catastrophic ritual.
(Image credit: EA/BioWare)
After an exciting twist, you’ll put together a team of talented misfits while squatting in Solas’ magical interdimensional summerhouse, using a network of portals to zip across the world to put out fires, make friends, and try to prevent an impending apocalypse. These trips involve journeys to gorgeous, explorable environments where you’ll traverse beautiful vistas, battle bad guys, and solve problems. Sometimes you’ll make tough ethical decisions along the way which affect the main story, too, though such opportunities are more scarce than would be ideal.
As pitches for a grand adventure go, it’s strong, if a little by the numbers. However, if you don’t know who Varric or Solas are or why the world of Thedas is in this mess, you may find yourself adrift. Contrary to the likes of Baldur’s Gate 3 and Metaphor: ReFantazio which stand alone, Veilguard exists under the long shadow of its predecessors, building on existing themes and plotlines while rarely establishing new threads. Though there is an in-game repository of information (known as the ‘codex’), the vast reams of text on offer can often feel off-putting rather than inviting.
For long-time series fans, this is a feature, rather than a bug. Seeing answers and resolutions to long-time mysteries (some of which date back to the original Dragon Age: Origins in 2009) makes for some powerful and rewarding catharsis. However, regardless of its impressive combat and strong writing, Veilguard is defined by its past. While the RPG never outright collapses under the weight of its predecessors, it certainly buckles and bends with regularity.
Fight club
(Image credit: EA/BioWare)
Veilguard’s combat system is a courageous offering, combining engaging, kinetic action with occasional moments of thoughtful strategy. As you battle, you’ll use a real-time combination of attacks, dodges, parries, and special skills to win victory. Much like BioWare’s sci-fi series Mass Effect, combat exists in real-time but may be paused at the touch of a button, allowing you to direct your comrades or select some of your more powerful, cooldown-based abilities. These abilities vary wildly depending on your build. As a Rogue, I had access to special bombs, daring shooting techniques, and devastating sword attacks, all of which could be refined and tweaked as I leveled up.
Abilities can be strung together in combos, where certain actions ‘detonate’ corresponding status ailments (such as ongoing damage over time or a flat damage reduction), creating a satisfying magical explosion. What’s more, given that these abilities work on a cooldown, you often have to choose between damaging combos and necessary combat utility. Is it better to heal or to unleash a maelstrom of deadly necrotic magic? Do I have my ally taunt my opponents, or should I order them to make me temporarily invulnerable with an inspiring shout? Questions like this keep Veilguard’s combat engaging hundreds of battles into the campaign.
(Image credit: EA/BioWare)
All of this is punctuated by a slick system of parries and dodges, allowing you to rapidly react to enemy attacks. Parry at the right time, and you’ll perform a ‘perfect parry’, sometimes stunning your opponent and, depending on your build, offering you significant buffs to damage. This adds an ebb and flow to battles, rewarding you for attentive play. However, those looking for a more laid-back experience can easily customize Veilguard’s combat difficulty to suit their needs, tweaking granular elements from parry windows to enemy health.
This sort of customisability is at the forefront of Veilguard. Not only is the character creation process detailed enough to give Starfieldand Cyberpunk 2077 a run for their money with its wide range of body types and permutations, but you also have access to a massive advancement tree which varies depending on your class. This tree contains dozens of nodes, each unlocking novelties ranging from significant passive buffs to brand-new abilities. Each of the game’s three core classes (Warrior, Rogue, and Mage) boasts a completely different tree and, thanks to the meaningful choices on offer, I always found myself looking forward to my next level up.
Bonding moments
(Image credit: EA/BioWare)
BioWare RPGs tend to live and die on the strength of their supporting cast, and Veilguard is no exception. While I shall do my best to avoid spoilers, rest assured that the cast of supporting characters in Veilguard is diverse and relatable.
Each companion’s personal storyline is a coherent multi-part adventure, composed of dramatic set-piece battles, gripping dialogue, and gentle walk-and-talk scenes framed against Veilguard’s jaw-dropping environments. Having a gut-wrenching discussion about family trauma is one thing, but doing so on a sprawling, torchlit coastline at dusk elevates the scene to new heights. Though these scenes are occasionally undermined by slightly janky facial animations, such flaws rarely detract from the meaningful exchanges on the screen.
Best Bit
(Image credit: EA/BioWare)
Getting to know Taash, a brusque dragon hunter, was a particular highlight. Without spoiling too much, Taash’s story is intimate and relatable, addressing themes of family, identity, and personal growth in a moving and refreshing way. It’s arguably one of the strongest personal storylines in a Bioware game to date.
Veilguard draws each of its companions from a different faction and, by extension, a different region of the setting. This ensures that their differences in opinion seem organic rather than forced. It follows that an upstanding and knightly Grey Warden would be skeptical of a dubious assassin from the cutthroat, Venice-inspired nation of Antiva.
Unfortunately, not every aspect of Veilguard’s storytelling is as consistent or impressive as these character-driven vignettes. The RPG’s explorable environments boast plenty of side quests, but almost all of them are forgettable and leave little scope for decision points and player agency. In one particularly disappointing showing, you meet a fan-favorite character from Dragon Age 2, only for her to have you fight a series of repetitive arena battles as she offers repeated, canned dialogue after each of your victories. While Veilguard rarely stumbles to this extent, the side-quests often feel rushed and do little to broaden the fantasy.
Despite its high barrier to entry, the main story does demonstrate opportunities to make meaningful decisions as a player character. One particularly gut-wrenching decision forced me to choose between two missions offered by different companions. There was only time for one, and, no matter what I did, somebody was bound to lose out. When I made my decision, the venomous disappointment of the offended party felt compelling and realized.
It’s these moments that cement Veilguard’s place in the Dragon Age canon. While flawed, janky, and rushed in places, BioWare’s latest delivers a coherent and rewarding adventure that will delight fans of the series. However, those newer to Dragon Age will need to hit the books if they want to enjoy everything Veilguard has to offer.
Should you play Dragon Age: The Veilguard?
Play it if...
You’re a Dragon Age fan For fans of the Dragon Age setting, Veilguard is an absolute treat. If you’ve been yearning to return to Thedas, you’ve come to the right place. The campaign is a whistle-stop tour of yet-unexplored locales - a wish come true for long-time fans.
You love ensemble casts Veilguard treats its supporting characters with love and attention. Invest time and effort into this RPG’s ensemble and you’ll be rewarded with resonant, relatable, and memorable character drama.
You enjoy character customization The character creation systems in Veilguard are as comprehensive as they come. In addition to extensive face and body customization which includes a wide range of gender presentations, you can also choose from six meaningful backstories which affect dialogue in the game proper.
Don't play it if...
You're concerned about having to learn a whole new fantasy setting While it’s entirely possible to enjoy Veilguard as a newcomer, complex in-setting terms and weighty pre-existing plotlines come at you thick and fast. If you’re new, make sure you’ve got a wiki open in another tab or you’re liable to have a confusing time. If you’re looking for a fantasy epic with less of a buy-in, we recommend Baldur’s Gate 3.
You’re looking for a full-on open-world experience Veilguard frames its main campaign and companion missions amidst a range of gorgeous and varied environments. While there are places to explore and things to collect, the side-quests are far thinner than would be ideal. Those looking for an open-world RPG will be better served by Elden Ring or Diablo 4.
Accessibility
Dragon Age: The Veilguard offers a broad range of accessibility options. The game offers filters for colorblind players with Protanopia, Deuteranopia, and Tritanopia. Subtitle size and frequency can also be customized. Visual effects such as motion blur, camera shake, and depth of field can also be adjusted.
Combat and exploration are highly customizable. Difficulty in battle can be tailored to remove requirements for quick and precise input timing while the glint distance on objects can be adjusted along with objective marker and waypoint visibility. There are also sliders for the camera and aiming sensitivity.
(Image credit: EA/BioWare)
How I reviewed Dragon Age: The Veilguard
I spent over 35 hours with Dragon Age: The Veilguard, taking time to explore the central campaign, companion storylines, and numerous side-quests. I took the time to experiment with all three classes as well as a wide range of different builds. I also replayed certain set pieces throughout the game to test the extent to which making different choices would affect the story.
I played the game on PS5 on a 48-inch LG C2 OLED 4K TV with a Dualsense Wireless Controller. The game mostly ran smoothly, but I did occasionally notice input lag when in menus. That said, the lag was rarely sufficient to meaningfully detract from the experience.
The Vitafit Smart Bathroom Scale is an incredibly cheap bathroom scale that has become essential to my fitness routine. It’s well-built and features a minimalist design that will look at home in almost any bathroom setting.
Connection to an Android smartphone or iPhone is provided via Bluetooth, and the results are delivered to a comprehensive companion app that lets you track your metrics, in addition to trends over time in all your key measurements.
It provides all the markers of body composition you’d expect including BMI, weight, body fat, and more. Accuracy-wise, it delivers surprisingly on-point results in comparison to a premium body composition machine when it comes to the core metrics, but some more niche measurements yielded more erratic results.
With a very high max weight of 180kg / 400lb and features for measuring children and babies, this is a great cheap smart scale for the whole family, lacking a few premium features of more expensive rivals, but one that certainly belongs on our best smart scales list.
(Image credit: Future)
Vitafit Smart Bathroom Scale: Price and availability
Available now
$20 / £39.99 / AU$25.99
The Vitafit Smart Bathroom Scale is available exclusively through Amazon in the UK, US, and Australia, as well as plenty of other territories.
In the UK, it’s priced at £35.99, whereas in the US and AU, it’s significantly cheaper at $20 / AU$25.99 respectively. You can usually find it on Amazon discounted in the UK, especially around big sales events, where it’s routinely reduced by up to 50%.
The unit reviewed here was bought during one of these sales for £19.99.
Value score: 5/5
Vitafit Smart Bathroom Scale: Design
(Image credit: Future)
Sleek design
Well-built
The Vitafit Smart Bathroom Scale is a 28cm-square of sleek, tempered glass raised up on a plastic base. It houses four electrodes, one in each corner, connected to sensors housed in the base of the device. The LED display, which shows your initial weight and the status screen while measurements are carried out, measures 3.4 inches x 1.6 inches. A foot in each corner features an anti-slip pad to stop the scale from moving around on the floor.
As with most smart scales, there’s not much to write home about here, but the design that is on show really impresses. For a $20-ish smart scale, the glass feels strong and premium, as do the electrodes. The overall aesthetic won’t look out of place in any bathroom, and there’s also a silver option if the black isn’t up your street.
Underneath hides the battery compartment, which houses three AAA batteries for power (included). Overall, the design is really clean and minimalistic, and the scale is very well put together and exudes strong build quality.
Design score: 5/5
Vitafit Smart Bathroom Scale: Features
(Image credit: Future)
High max weight
Rich choice of metrics
Very strong companion app
For a scale so cheap, the Vitafit houses an impressive array of features. Present (but not tested) include a baby mode you can use to keep track of your baby’s weight and a child mode for 2-18-year-olds. The former gives you weight measurements for a baby held in your arms, and the latter measures only weight and BMI in children.
The Vitafit works with its accompanying Vitafit app for iPhone and Android. Once connected, you simply open the app and step on the scales. The app provides almost instant measurements for weight, as well as a quick-glance view of how that has changed since your last measurement.
The Body Composition screen of the app lists weight, body fat, body fat-free, bone mass, muscle mass, protein, and body water metrics, as well as a differential if you’ve inputted a target weight. The second screen on the app’s measurement page shows your BMI (body mass index), visceral and subcutaneous fat, skeletal muscle, BMR (basal metabolic rate), and metabolic age (a number indicating the theoretical "age" of your body).
There’s also a screen where you can input key measurements, such as your height.
(Image credit: Future)
The other noteworthy feature is the trends screen, which can give you day, week, and month views of your measurement trends for six key metrics including weight, BMI, and body fat. This helps gauge your progress over time to make sure you’re trending in the right direction if you’re trying to lose weight or build muscle as part of your fitness routine.
The Vitafit app also synchronizes with Google Fit, Fitbit, and Apple Health, so you can see your measurements in your native fitness app of choice. We tested the Vitafit using an iPhone, and the synchronization with the Apple Health app was seamless, automatically populating the Body Measurements section with all the relevant info. The Vitafit app works with iOS 9 and beyond, or Android 4.3 and later, so any of the latest smartphones will be compatible.
The Vitafit supports multiple users, who can be added to the app by a user selection screen, and Vitafit says you can add an unlimited number of users, making it perfect for couples or larger families.
There’s also a zero-current mode, making this scale suitable for pregnant women and babies. Zero-current mode provides a weight and BMI reading, but none of the other metrics.
The Vitafit’s weight limit is registered as 400 pounds / 180kg, which is a lot higher than our current best smart scale pick, the Xiaomi Mi Body Composition Scale 2, making the Vitafit suitable for those on the heavier side. The Vitafit does lack Wi-Fi connectivity, so you’ll need your smartphone handy when you use it. It also lacks some features of more premium options like heart rate monitoring.
Features score: 4.5/5
Vitafit Smart Bathroom Scale: Performance
(Image credit: Future)
Very quick results
Strong accuracy in key measurements
Some wayward readings
In terms of setup and ease of use, the Vitafit Smart Bathroom Scale performs admirably. Connecting it to my smartphone was a doddle, and once paired, the relay time between scale and iPhone was surprisingly snappy. Your weight readout will appear on your iPhone in less than a second, and the other metrics in maybe five seconds, so there’s no standing around waiting for the machine to calibrate or gather its data.
The only true test of a smart scale’s performance is its accuracy, however. To that end, we tested the Vitafit smart scale in a direct comparison against the Tanita MC-780MA P body composition machine, housed in my local gym.
I ran a test on the Vitafit, then the Tanita within about five minutes, before returning home and re-running the test on the Vitafit again. Each result is compared against the Tanita in the difference column.
As you can see from the below table, the Vitafit provides some results that came incredibly close to the £6,500/$8,500 medical grade Tanita. In both tests, the Vitafit came within 150 grams of the Tanita for body weight. Bone Mass in kg was also incredibly similar, as were skeletal muscle mass and BMI.
A couple of results showed a bit more variance, notably Body Fat as a percentage and Fat Free Mass (FFM) expressed as kilograms. Muscle mass on the Tanita was given as a weight, but as a percentage on the Vitafit, converted, the latter was less than 1.5 kg out.
There were a couple of big misses, including body water – off by more than 5% in each reading, and BMR (basal metabolic rate). It’s worth noting, however, that there are multiple ways to calculate the latter that can yield different results, so it’s possible this may reflect a difference in methodology rather than a discrepancy in the measurement.
Visceral Fat and Metabolic age were also pretty wild, the former – a measure of belly fat within the abdominal cavity – was probably the most alarming given that the Tanita gave us a healthy reading, while the Vitafit gave us an excessive score.
Overall, given the price of the Vitafit and its competition, I’d say this is an impressive set of results. Most importantly, crucial markers of health and well-being like weight, body fat, and BMI all appear to be super-accurate when using the Vitafit. Undoubtedly it’s not perfect, but I’d say that for the price this is unparalleled performance.
It’s worth taking some of Vitafit’s more specialized measurements with a pinch of salt, but it's more than a match when it comes to the main metrics you’d expect, making it an ideal companion for weight loss or overall monitoring of your health and wellbeing.
What’s more, the small variance between the two Vitafit scores shows more generally it’s giving out consistent results with each use and can still be massively effective as a tool for weight loss and health tracking, provided you allow for the margin of error.
Performance score: 3.5/5
Vitafit Smart Bathroom Scale: Scorecard
Vitafit Smart Bathroom Scale: Should I buy?
(Image credit: Future)
Buy it if...
You want the cheapest smart scale
The Vitafit is unbelievably good value considering its price and feature set.
You want a companion for weight loss tracking
The Vitafit is excellent for tracking your weight loss goals and overall trends in body composition.
You want a scale the whole family can use
With multiple users and features for babies and children, this is an ideal scale for the whole family.
Don't buy it if...
You want the most accurate measurements
In some fringe metrics, the Vitafit delivers wayward results.
You want premium features
The Vitafit lacks some premium smart scale features like Wi-Fi and heart rate readings.
Also consider
How I tested
I have used the Vitafit smart scale for four months, regularly weighing myself using the app on my iPhone. I’ve tested every corner of the app and its features, and conducted rigorous testing for accuracy, comparing results in a controlled environment versus the Tanita MC-780MA body composition analyzer, a professional-grade body composition machine worth £6,500.
The Garmin X310 is a 5-star dash cam that is compact, easy to use, and shoots 4K video with HDR at 30 fps. It ticks a lot of boxes, while also looking and feeling like a quality product, reliably recording high-quality footage, and packing several routes for upgrading – from a parking mode, to the option for live remote viewing and connecting several synchronized dash cams to one vehicle.
It all works very well, as Garmin dash cams have for years now, and the integrated polarizing lens is a nice bonus. But the X310 is expensive, and while 4K video is nice to have, it doesn’t offer enough to convince owners of Garmin’s last flagship, the Dash Cam 67W, a reason to upgrade. However, if you’re new to dash cams and have the budget, this is a fantastic option and one of the best dash cams available.
(Image credit: Future)
Garmin Dash Cam X310: price and availability
As of October 2024, this is the new flagship of the Garmin dash cam range. It is priced at $399.99 / £349.99 / AU$679 and is available now.
It sits above the equally new X210 ($299.99 / £259.99 / AU$499), the X110 ($199.99 / £199.99 / AU$349) and the entry-level Dash Cam Mini 3 ($149.99 / £149.99 / AU$249).
Garmin Dash Cam X310: specs
Garmin Dash Cam X310: Design
This is Garmin’s flagship dash cam, but it’s still remarkably compact, at 70 x 42.2 x 19.5 mm. It’s about twice the size of the tiny Dash Cam Mini 3, which considering the X310 has a 2.41-inch display on the back and 4K capabilities, is mighty impressive.
The simple, rectangular body houses two buttons on the right (for power and manually saving a recording), a USB-C port on the left, and a microSD card slot on the bottom. Garmin doesn’t include a memory card with this dash can, which feels a bit mean considering the high price and that this is their flagship model.
(Image credit: Future)
Garmin’s fantastically simple windshield mount makes a welcome return for this generation of dash cam. It’s a short arm that attaches to the dash cam with a ball-and-socket joint for plenty of adjustability, then fixes to a magnetic metal disc, which then sticks to the windshield with adhesive. The disc stays on your windshield, while the dash cam can be removed whenever you like, then snaps back into place magnetically when you need it.
The whole mounting system takes up far less space than that of any other dash cam brand, and makes for a discrete installation.
(Image credit: Future)
Garmin Dash Cam X310: Performance
The specs alone should be enough to tell all you need to know. It doesn’t feel long since 4K dash cams represented a brave new world, and a world where video quality didn’t necessarily live up to expectations. There are no such concerns with the Garmin X310.
By default, it records 4K resolution with HDR at 30 frames per second, and the footage looks fantastic. You could argue that 4K is overkill for a dash cam, and while you may often be right, there‘s no denying the quality displayed here. Videos are smooth and full of detail, with accurate colors and nice control over the exposure and white balance.
The X310 also lets you record in 1080p Full HD with HDR at 30 fps, or if you drop the HDR the frame rate can be cranked up to 120 fps. The latter is a perfectly good option, and results in even smoother footage that retains plenty of detail when paused, thanks to all those extra frames. But the default 4K option is probably what most buyers will stick with, and for good reason. This produces some of the best video I’ve seen from any dash cam – and certainly the best from one as compact as the Garmin X310.
Previously an optional extra, Garmin now fits its dash cams with an integrated polarizing filter. This is designed to reduce windshield reflections and on a sunny day we found it did a great job. The blue fabric dashboard of our test car (used for the daytime recording in this review) was practically invisible, and didn’t once reflect across the windshield.
(Image credit: Future)
Nighttime recordings lose some detail, naturally, and there’s more noise as the camera battles against the low light. Footage is still very good though, and while vehicle license plates generally aren’t readable on the move, they come into clear focus when stationary and in reasonably close proximity.
One small downgrade from Garmin’s previous flagship, the 67W, is how the lens field of view has shrunk from 180 degrees to 140. I always liked how Garmin’s lenses were wider than the competition, but losing 40 degrees in pursuit of a less distorted image – one that suffers less from a curved fisheye effect at its edges – isn’t such a big deal.
Using the X310 is as easy as ever. You don’t even have to create a Garmin account, if you don’t want to. Just insert a microSD card (there isn’t one included in the box), plug it in to the 12-volt (lighter) socket and away you go; it starts recording when the car is switched on. The 2.4in touchscreen can be used to adjust settings, like video resolution, so you don’t need to use Garmin’s Drive app either, if you don’t want to.
(Image credit: Future)
That said, the app is used to handle software updates (one was available when we began our review), and it’s an easier way to access the dash cam’s settings menu. Here, I chose to switch off the collision warning system, since it twice alerted me to an imminent collision, despite my car being parked at the time. On one occasion there wasn’t even another vehicle passing by. The app is also where you set up Vault, an optional subscription service where recordings are uploaded to Garmin’s cloud storage via your smartphone’s internet connection. It’s a handy feature, but at £9.99 a month I feel it doesn’t offer enough, especially versus the Nextbase iQ smart dash cam with its connected features. I’m happy to have recordings saved to my microSD card instead, where they can be transferred to my phone manually.
Paying for Vault also unlocks the Parking Guard function, which requires a constant power supply (cables sold separately) and an active Wi-Fi connection, such as to a hotspot left in the car. With all that set up, the dash cam will alert your phone when it senses a collision (or potential theft) and provide a live view.
Lastly, Garmin’s voice control system works as well as ever. It’s a handy way to turn the microphone off, or manually save a piece of footage (although pressing a button or tapping the screen does the same thing).
Should you buy the Garmin Dash Cam X310?
(Image credit: Future)
Buy it if...
You want 4K video This dash cam shoots 4K video with HDR at 30 fps. The results are fantastic, with lots of detail, accurate colors, balanced exposure and very little grain, even at night. There’s also an option for 1080p at 120 fps, if you prefer.
You need GPS Integrated GPS means all your video recordings include your vehicle’s speed and location, using GPS coordinates. These can act as crucial pieces of evidence if you’re accused of causing a collision.
You’d like the option for expansion Although it works great on its own, the X310 can be improved. Garmin sells a permanent power cable to enable the parking mode. After that, you can add a Wi-Fi hotspot to your car and access the dash cam remotely via the Drive app, then through the same app you can add up to three more Garmin dash cams, all recording in sync to provide 360-degree coverage around your vehicle.
Don't buy it if...
You’re on a tight budget This is an expensive dash cam and 4K video is very much a luxury that many drivers can do without. Dash cams can cost very, very little, and while we wouldn’t necessarily recommend the cheapest possible model, there are many alternatives that cost a third of the X310.
You want the smallest dash cam The X310 is compact for what it offers, but if you want one even smaller you should look at the equally new Garmin Dash Cam Mini 3 instead. It lacks a screen (and GPS) but is truly tiny.
You already have the Garmin 67W Garmin’s latest flagship, the 67W, is still a great dash cam. The X310 adds 4K video and a polarizing lens, yet costs over 50 percent more. If you have a 67W and it still works fine, the new model isn’t worth upgrading to.
How I tested the Garmin Dash Cam X310
I installed the Dash Cam X310 into two cars
I used the dash cam during multiple journeys, during the day and also at night
I set up the dash cam using the Garmin Drive smartphone app
I installed the Garmin X310 in two different cars and used it frequently for a variety of journeys during the day and at night. I tried out its various features and transferred video recordings to both my smartphone and computer for a closer look.
If you’re on the hunt for an affordable, bass-heavy party speaker the Earfun UBoom X might be your perfect match. This mini boombox sets out to deliver one thing above all – powerful, ground-shaking low frequency sound. Thankfully it achieves this without any difficulty.
Here’s the thing, though: the Earfun UBoom X isn’t a beautiful-sounding all-rounder for the audiophiles out there. It doesn’t offer massively detailed sound or the sharpest quality across the frequencies and steers clear of offering fancy audio codecs like aptX or LDAC. But again, this isn’t really too much of a miss given its party-ready profile. On top of that, sound is actually pretty customizable – just download the Earfun Audio app and you can select from a giant cohort of EQ options, including genre-specific, environment-optimized and custom options.
Some of these, such as Outdoor+, BOOM xxX and Ground 0 really lean into the strengths of the speaker’s bass. However, if you prefer a more neutral sound, there are options like Studio, which was crafted by audio expert and multi-time Earfun collaborator Oluv’Sone.
With meaty bass comes plenty of weight too. Yes, this is a pretty heavy creature and so the option to carry it via a handle for short distances or the included strap for longer ones is most welcome. And that’s part of a wider theme with the UBoom X – it’s a very practical speaker. Whether we’re talking about its IP67 dustproof and waterproof rating or its ability to double up as a power bank, you’ll find plenty of utility here. Sure, looks-wise it may not be as pretty as some of the best Bluetooth speakers, but you do still get LED lights that are decently fun and customizable and can be turned off if you’d prefer.
Another attractive aspect of the UBoom X is its excellent battery life. You get around 30 hours of playtime here, which stands up against some top competitors in the party speaker space, like the Tribit Stormbox Blast, for instance. Features-wise, you also get a relatively generous amount to play with, including the aforementioned EQ settings, video mode (for low latency), voice assistant compatibility and LED light calibration.
So, for a deep bass floor, top battery life and healthy portion of features, you’d expect to pay up a fair amount. However, Earfun are already offering the UBoom X on discount – it’s widely available for as little as $159.99 / £149.99 (about AU$240), which is impeccable value.
Overall, the Earfun UBoom X is a speaker worth your while, but only if you’re a certain type of listener. If you’re someone that wants a more balanced, intricately detailed and crisp sound, you may prefer a Bluetooth speaker like the JBL Xtreme 4, which also launched in 2024. However, if you’re someone that’s all about bass-heavy bangers, loves to throw house parties or wants enough low-end power for noisy outdoor events, this is a strong pick. With waterproofing, a sturdy build and a tempting low-price, the Earfun UBoom X is a very solid boombox-style speaker and one that can compete competently against even some of the best party speakers.
(Image credit: Future)
Earfun UBoom X review: price and release date
List price of $189.99 / £189.99 (around AU$280)
Launched on October 2024
Already discounted despite recent release
The Earfun UBoom X is available at a pretty modest price for a Bluetooth speaker of its size. I mean, it launched with a list price of $189.99 / £189.99 (around AU$280), but it’s (perhaps cheekily) already available for considerably less. When I checked both the Earfun website and Amazon, I spotted the UBoom X listed for $159.99 / £149.99, so don’t spend any more than this if you decide to snap it up.
This is a very new Bluetooth speaker, having only launched on 8 October 2024 in the US and UK. Perhaps unfortunately, though, the UBoom X released with just one color variant, a plain yet classic Black.
(Image credit: Future)
Earfun UBoom X review: specs
Earfun UBoom X review: features
Excellent 30-hour battery life
Awesome EQ settings
Easy-to-use companion app
The Earfun UBoom X may not have an exhaustively long feature-set, but it still has all the key inclusions you’d expect from a party-ready Bluetooth speaker.
First things first, you’re getting a simple and decently well-equipped Earfun Audio companion app that is free to download. The star of the show here is EQ adjustment – there are a ton of presets available, but you can also customize your own sound or tweak existing options. The core Earfun EQ options are very solid and I often found myself switching to Electronic for deep bass with bright treble or Hit for percussion-heavy tracks. In addition, you get a unique section of EQ options from audio specialist Oluv’Sone, including some truly earth-shaking options like BOOM xxX and Ground 0.
There’s not a load more to play with in the app. You can activate video mode, which reduces audio latency, adjust voice volume or consult the user manual. But the main attraction outside of EQ is adjustable light settings. Although you can adjust the inbuilt LED lighting on the speaker itself, being able to switch things up remotely is super convenient, especially if you’re in a dark room / outdoor space. You can select between rhythmic flashing and a constant display or just switch the lights off entirely, but you can also adjust the color to your liking (or stick to the default multicolor option).
Beyond app functionality, you also get Party Mode, which enables you to connect up to 50 UBoom X speakers at once. If any of you out there are planning to pair 50 of these, I fear you could cause tremors to spread across the land – honestly, this will give you some incredible low-end power – ideal if you’re hosting an outdoor event. One multi-device feature that I was hoping to see was multi-point. This enables you to connect two (or more) devices to a Bluetooth speaker at once – ideal if you’re sharing DJ responsibilities with a friend. Unfortunately, this was missing, but if you’re using Spotify to play music, you can always just use the Jam function instead of connecting two devices separately.
Finally, it's worth noting some features that make the UBoom X an ultra-practical Bluetooth speaker. First of all, it has an inbuilt microphone, meaning you can take hands-free calls and also harness the power of both Google assist and Apple’s Siri voice assistant. Secondly, the UBoom X can double up as a power bank, thanks to its USB-C out port, which can be a lifesaver if your phone is on its last legs when you’re out and about. And there’s plenty of power to go around. This speaker boasts up to 30 hours of playtime – that’s truly exceptional and means you’ll rarely have to charge it.
Features score: 4/5
(Image credit: Future)
Earfun UBoom X review: sound quality
Almighty bass output
Decent but not particularly detailed audio performance
Pretty loud thanks to total 80W output
OK reader, let’s get something straight before we dive into sound quality. This is, at its core, a party speaker. So what am I looking for? Booming bass that can cut through background noise or outdoor distractions, high potential volume and relatively clear overall audio quality. And luckily, the Earfun UBoom X has all three of these.
And given that this chunky lad has ‘Boom’ in its name let’s start with bass. Just as you’d hope, this thing goes really hard on the low-end – even when using the default EQ mode I was struck by meaty bass with impressive depth. When I tuned into I Want You by Moloko I instantly found my head bopping to the pumping, room-filling bass and when switching to BOOM xxX mode, our testing space was almost shaking from the pure power on display. Sure, the breathiness of vocals in the intro wasn’t recreated in the most natural-sounding or authentic manner, but this wasn’t a huge concern for me given the UBoom X’s party speaker profile.
The Earfun UBoom X speaker is undoubtedly inclined to lean heavily on bass straight out of the box, which is perfect if you’re into house, drum and bass or any genres that emphasize low frequency sounds above all. For instance, when listening to Da Fonk (feat. Joni) by Mochakk – an energetic house track – the UBoom X was truly in its element, with hard-hitting, intoxicating bass hits, which were astonishingly powerful in Ground 0 mode. OK, some of the vocal chops didn’t cut through as clearly as you’d expect from a more balanced (and expensive) party speaker like the JBL Xtreme 4, but they weren’t muddied too badly at all. And this ground-shaking bass output isn’t just pleasing sonically; it's very practical for a portable boombox like this, especially if you’re hosting outdoor events or visiting places with lots of background noise, like the beach.
Let’s say, though, just for the sake of it, you’d like to tone bass levels down a bit for a more balanced sound. Well, you’re in luck. You can select the Studio EQ option from the Earfun app – this is more neutral-sounding, albeit quieter. I tried listening to The Ripple Effect podcast from James Lawrence Alcott in this mode and found vocals to be clear, even at high volumes.
Audio isn’t always particularly detailed, however. For instance, when listening to You Can Go Your Own Way by Fleetwood Mac, harmonies in the chorus sounded slightly narrow and restricted. At times, mid range sounds were slightly overpowered by low-frequency ones too. I also found when tuning into Holy Holy by Geordie Greep (using default EQ settings) that the theatrical strings, smooth bass, dancing keys and choppy electric guitar – although all audible – lacked the levels of instrumental separation that I’d like. One more critique on sound (sorry Earfun) – treble can be quite bright with the UBoom X, but it’s not always ultra-crisp. For instance, in Rains again by Solji the intermittent downpour sound effects were a tad staticky, but again, for a boombox-style speaker, this won’t be grating for most listeners.
I did, however, encounter one more slight audio-related issue during the testing process. On a number of occasions, I would turn the volume up or down on my phone while connected to the speaker via Bluetooth, and sound would cut out for a split second. Earfun assured me that this is not a common issue, but that it should be fixed via an in-app firmware update around the end of October 2024.
Overall, though, the UBoom X completes what it sets out to do very nicely. OK, it’s not going to blow the socks off audiophiles with super-detailed sound, there’s no fancy codecs like LDAC or similar and bass may be a little heavy-handed for some. But for an out-and-out party speaker at this price-point, I think this has a great sound profile with respectable loudness, thanks to an 80W maximum power output. Just don’t expect prime sonic clarity, especially as you edge closer to 100% volume.
Sound quality score: 4/5
(Image credit: Future)
Earfun UBoom X review: design
Doesn’t look the most high-quality
Fairly low-key light show
IP67 dustproof and waterproof rating
The Earfun UBoom X delivers exactly what you’d expect from a larger Bluetooth speaker. It dons a mini-boombox look with a blocky, solid build and wide carry handle. It definitely pulls off the boombox aesthetic well, but it does admittedly lack a splash of character. For instance, there are no color options here – it’s black or nothing – which is fine, but I’d prefer some more vibrant alternatives. The bass radiators on the side of the speaker are also a bit plain and don’t have the most visually satisfying vibration effect, leaving this speaker looking slightly flat in the looks department.
On that point, this isn’t a premium product so you shouldn’t expect stunning build quality, but I couldn’t help but feel that the UBoom X is a tad cheap-looking. The outer casing is pretty plasticky and the black speaker grille doesn’t look or feel very hardy. This isn’t too much of a problem given that this is available for less than £200 / $200, but if you want a super-stylish speaker it may be worth looking elsewhere.
Something I did personally like about the UBoom X’s design, though, is its LED lights. These are bright and eye-catching, but don’t venture into the tacky or overbearing territory that so many competitors fall victim of. We’ve not always been a fan of in-your-face lighting on party speakers like the Tribit Stormbox Blast, but the UBoom X never oversteps with its two circular LEDs. It’s worth noting that these only shine through the front of the speaker grille too, so if you’re someone that wants something ultra-flashy, this might not be your best option.
Something that is indisputably brilliant about this Bluetooth speaker, though, is its IP67 dustproof and waterproof rating. This means that the speaker can survive being submerged under a meter of water for up to 30 minutes. It’s also floatable, meaning you can take it in the sea or pool with you without fear of a disastrous malfunction. Another practical inclusion is metal hooks on top of the speaker. There’s a strap included with the UBoom X so that you can carry it around – a neat touch given that this thing is a heavy beast. Yep, it weighs in at 9.2lbs / 4.2kg and that’s quite hefty, so the option to sling it over your shoulder adds a lot of portability points.
One final highlight is the speaker’s simplistic yet effective layout. For instance, the button controls are all well-sized and it’s clear what function they provide. There’s also a rubber tab on the reverse side that can be undone to access the AUX port and access the USB-C input or output ports. So, although this may not be the sleekest boombox imaginable, it still offers more than enough convenience as well as protection against the elements – for a party speaker, that’s what matters most.
Design score: 4/5
(Image credit: Future)
Earfun UBoom X review: value
Won’t set you back too much at all
Great bass output against similarly priced competitors
Buying multiple may be worth it
When it comes to value, the Earfun UBoom X performs very nicely. I think it’s clear – you can’t expect astonishing overall audio from this thing. In fact, there’ll be a lot of other boombox style speakers around that can boast even better low-end output. But if you want a cheap, bass-heavy Bluetooth speaker, the UBoom X is a textbook compromise between price and performance.
This speaker is already available for around $159.99 / £149.99 (about AU$240), which isn’t much at all for a larger portable speaker like this. That’s even less than the likes of the Tribit Stormbox Blast, a similarly sized party speaker. Brands like JBL can charge double or more than this for their boombox speaker, meaning you may even prefer to grab two UBoom Xs and harness the power of Party Mode. Given the 30 hour battery life and highly customizable sound here, the UBoom X is a great value option for your next Bluetooth speaker.
Value score: 4.5/5
(Image credit: Future)
Should I buy the Earfun UBoom X?
Buy it if...
You love bass-heavy bangers The Earfun UBoom X doesn’t leave much to the imagination with its name. You know what you’re getting: bold, pumping bass that’s always looking to be the star of the show. If you love house, drum and bass, or any genre that lays it on thick in the low end, you’ll likely love what this Bluetooth speaker’s got going on. You can get even more power in the bass department with the BOOM xxX and Ground 0 EQ modes too, so make sure to have a play around if you want to max out lower-frequency sounds.
You’re always hosting house parties or outdoor events If you’re hosting a lot of parties (or impromptu gatherings tend to escalate), this is an awesome option. Not only does it have incredible bass output to keep your guests moving, but it's IP67-rated, meaning it's fit for environments like pools, beaches or similar.
Don't buy it if...
You want a more rounded and refined sound If you’re an audiophile wanting beautifully calibrated, neutral and hi-res sound, you’re looking in the wrong place. This is, at its core, a party speaker that is far more weighted towards bass output than anything else. OK, it performs adequately across the mid-range and treble, but you’re not going to hear every intricate, textured detail in your favorite tracks, especially given the absence of fancier audio codecs, such as LDAC.
Gorgeous looks matter most to you I’ll come clean…I had a lot of fun with the Earfun UBoom X but I’d be lying if I said it’s a thing of beauty. Sure, it’s pretty faithful to the typical boombox design, but it is a tad cheap-looking and plasticky. Not to mention it only comes in one color variant. If stunning looks are a non-negotiable, this might not be for you.
Earfun UBoom X review: also consider
Tribit Stormbox Blast We’ve recommended the Tribit Stormbox Blast many a time – and for good reason too. It's a speaker that just keeps going (and going) thanks to its epic 30 hour battery life. It also boasts massive sound, excellent ease-of-use and eye-catching LED lights. It's typically priced very similarly to the Earfun UBoom X too, making it a worthy consideration in your hunt for a party speaker. Be warned, however, this is one big boy weighing in at 11.6lbs / 5.3kg – so prepare for a workout if you’re planning to take it out and about. Read our full Tribit Stormbox Blast review.
JBL Xtreme 4 Let’s address the elephant in the room – this is a considerably more expensive speaker than the Earfun UBoom X. However, the JBL Xtreme 4 has appeared on sale a handful of times in 2024, at times dropping below the $290 / £260 mark. Now, if you have the extra cash, the JBL Xtreme 4 is an excellent, lighter weight choice. It has beautifully well-rounded and surprisingly detailed sound, a rough and ready design and brilliant battery life. Bass doesn’t boom quite as hard as the UBoom X but is still impactful here with some EQ tweaks. Read our full JBL Xtreme 4 review.
Earfun UBoom X review: how I tested
(Image credit: Future)
Spent hours listening to music, podcasts and video
Primarily used in music testing space, future Labs
Predominantly tested using Tidal on Samsung Galaxy S24 FE
I spent hours listening to the Earfun UBoom X in our music testing space at future Labs. During my time with the UBoom X, I played tons of tracks from my personal music library, but also tuned into the TechRadar testing playlist, which I always use to pick apart performance across a variety of genres and frequency ranges. When listening to music, I connected to the speaker with the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE and primarily listened via Tidal.
This wasn’t all though: I also listened to a podcast on Spotify and watched video content on YouTube in order to assess quality across different platforms and mediums. When appropriate, I used the JBL Xtreme 4 to compare audio quality, design choices and usability.
Smart rings have been picking up steam in the wearables space since the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Ring, which helped to put this burgeoning tech trend on the map. However, hone in on the price – or the ongoing subscription fees – and it’s easy to be put off. That’s where a more affordable option such as the RingConn Gen 2 smart ring comes in.
At $299 (around £250 / AU$485) it isn't "cheap" in real terms, but next to the competition the RingConn Gen 2 is an appealing option – especially when you consider it delivers solid health metric tracking in a sleek and stylish package.
It tracks your sleep, heart rate, activity, and stress, to determine your overall wellness score – plus it can gamify keeping healthy further with badges awarded for good habits. You’ll find it falls down somewhat when it comes to fitness tracking, because it doesn’t start this tracking automatically, so you can forget to log your workouts. In addition, it only tracks running, cycling, and walking right now. So if you’re someone looking for tech to help you achieve your sporting goals, this ring is unlikely to be for you.
The band itself – which comes in sizes 6 to 14, in black, gold or silver – looks just like any other regular ring, and it’s durable with a top-class IP68 dust-proof and waterproof rating plus a design that even after a few weeks of regular use didn't appear to become scratched.
The RingConn Gen 2 also offers a supremely long battery life, remaining charged for up to 12 days. With the charging case you can get an additional 150 days out of it before you need to search out a plug socket again.
This long battery life helps ensure the RingConn Gen 2 won’t run out of power overnight for several nights in a row, which is of importance for its new sleep apnea monitoring feature. It isn't yet FDA-approved, but it does apparently boast a 90.7% accuracy rating, and can help to either warn you of potential health issues or provide some peace of mind – although it isn't a replacement for a medical professional.
Overall, then, the RingConn Gen 2 is a solid option for people who want to try a smart ring but don’t want to over-commit, and while it's a little pricier than its predecessor, the upgrades go some way to justify its higher price.
(Image credit: Future)
RingConn Gen 2: Specs
RingConn Gen 2: Price and Availability
The RingConn Gen 2 is available for purchase online through the company's website for $299 or around £250 / AU$485. RingConn does ship to the UK and Australia, although the price online is only given in dollars.
One major cost advantage of the RingConn Gen 2 and its predecessor – beyond their already relatively budget-friendly price – is that RingConn doesn’t charge you a monthly fee to access its full set of features. On the flipside the RingConn’s tracking isn’t quite as in depth as you’ll find from pricier options on our list of the best smart rings.
It’s a slight disappointment that the Gen 2 model is pricier than its $279 predecessor, although given how frequently the previous model was on sale, we expect this new RingConn smart ring will be discounted regularly, too. In particular, keep an eye out for sales events such as Black Friday to see if you can pick it up for a lower price.
RingConn Gen 2: Design
Thin yet durable design
Comes in three colors
Supports sizes from 6 to 14
The RingConn Gen 2 doesn't reinvent the wheel, so to speak, when it comes to smart ring design. It's a classic band shape that's available in sizes from 6 to 14. Based on your size, it weighs between 2g and 3g, and has a width of 6.8mm, and a thickness of 2mm. In essence, you won't be able to tell the difference between this ring and any other band unless someone catches it glowing when the sensors are monitoring your health metrics.
It's available in three colors; I’m a fan of the matte black finish, but jewelry traditionalists might prefer the silver or gold options. Whichever band you choose, the RingConn Gen 2 arrives with an IP68 dust-proof and waterproof rating, so it can survive being worn to the beach, or when you’re washing the dishes.
(Image credit: Future)
I can’t speak for the durability of the other bands, but even following several weeks of constant use, my matte black RingConn Gen 2 is showing no visible signs of wear and tear – the band is scuff-free and about as pristine as the day I received it in the mail.
Just a few point to note for those of you who haven’t used a smart ring before. Before buying a RingConn smart ring, I’d recommend requesting a free sizing kit – you do this when you order your ring by selecting the “Don’t know my size” option. I'd request the kit even if you regularly wear a ring or have a smart ring from a different brand, since the RingConn sizes might not be an exact match to what you’re wearing because of the bumps on the inside edge from the placement of sensors.
Wear the dummy rings constantly for a couple of days; your ring size fluctuates through the day, so the "perfect fit" at the time you happen test could end up being too big or too small overall. The ideal size will fit snuggly: it shouldn’t slide off, but neither should it be a struggle to remove. This will mean the ring sits in the correct position throughout the day, rather than moving out of its proper orientation – something that can lead to inaccurate readings. Place your order once you’re certain of the size you need.
In addition, if like me you're not a regular ring wearer, you’ll need to get into the habit of not losing your band when you take it off. I recommend putting the ring in its case if you do take it off, or leaving it in a specific spot each time.
Design score: 4/5
RingConn Gen 2: Features
New sleep apnea tracking
Monitors health vitals, sleep, stress and activity
Limited fitness tracking
Using the smart ring and accompanying RingConn app, you can monitor five key stats: Sleep, Activity, Stress, Heart Rate and SpO2 levels. Using these metrics, the RingConn app provides you with an overall Wellness Balance score, and tips on how to improve your rating. I’ve taken it easy these past few days, so right now for me it’s recommending I try some moderate or high-intensity workouts to relieve some stress and up my activity rating.
Beyond a simple score for each metric you can click into the Sleep, Stress, Vital Signs and Activity sub-menus to view more in-depth stats such as a graph of your sleep cycle, your heart rate throughout the day, and a record of the calories the ring estimates you’ve burned.
If stats alone aren’t enough to keep you motivated, the app awards badges for achieving optimal health targets for a little added gamification.
(Image credit: Future)
In addition to the main stats, there’s also a fifth menu for the RingConn Gen 2’s brand new Sleep Apnea tracking, which is reportedly 90.7% reliable according to RingConn’s studies (although it's yet to be FDA approved). After initiating a comprehensive assessment over three nights of sleep, the app will either end regular monitoring if you don’t appear to have an issue, or will recommend that you speak to a medical professional if it believes you might have sleep apnea.
While the RingConn Gen 2 isn't suitable for in-depth monitoring or treatment of the condition, the sleep apnea feature can help to put your mind at ease if you’re concerned about your sleep health (although a doctor is the best person to speak to if you’re worried about sleep apnea).
However, it's with fitness tracking that the RingConn Gen 2 falls down. It doesn't have the capability to automatically detect when you start exercising; you have to manually start tracking from within the app – with it currently only supporting running, cycling and walking. As such, I often didn't remember to activate fitness tracking, meaning much of my activity went unrecorded.
Features score: 3.5/5
RingConn Gen 2: Performance
12-day battery life
In-depth sleep stats
Fitness tracking is easy to forget to activate
Throughout the day, the RingConn Gen 2 automatically collects your health metrics – at five- or thirty-minute intervals based on your preferences – and stores them on the device until it can sync with the RingConn app. Note, however, that you can manually request a scan using the RingConn app.
I did find it had some occasional syncing issues during testing, although on these occasions I was simply left waiting for a few more seconds for the app to update with the latest info. Overall, it was a seamless experience.
The app itself is fairly intuitive, and while there is a fair amount going on, the homescreen struck the right balance between busy and informative. Conversely, the sub-menus that deliver more in-depth analysis of your stats were a little more cluttered, although the ability to edit those busier menus and rearrange the blocks meant I was able to move the stats I cared most about to the top to help simplify my health data monitoring.
When it comes to accuracy, the RingConn Gen 2 appears to do a great job, with its results matching up closely with the scores achieved through my Fitbit.
(Image credit: RingConn)
The smart ring’s fitness tracking it isn't too bad, but as mentioned, it's held back by limited sports options and the fact it doesn’t activate automatically. If you do switch it on for your walk, run, or bike ride, the app will deliver an in-depth breakdown in the activity menu that shows how far you travelled (complete with a map of your route), the number of calories you burned, and a graph of your heart rate, color-coded to different heart rate zones such as Warm-Up, Fat Burning, and Aerobic. In terms of the latter, it will even break down precisely how long you spent in each zone as you'll see with other fitness trackers.
The one area that the RingConn Gen 2 is truly superb is battery life, with its 12-day offering trumping even top-end rivals such as the Samsung Galaxy Ring with its seven-day battery life. During tests, the RingConn Gen 2 delivered on its promise, and when it did eventually start to run low, the ring’s charging case – which can store an additional 150 days worth of charge – was able to top it up fairly speedily.
Now, I simply charge the ring whenever I take a shower, to keep it hovering steadily around the upper end of its battery life. In the app I can see the percentage and estimated usage time it has remaining by tapping on the ring icon in the top-right corner.
Performance score: 4/5
Should you buy the RingConn Gen 2
Buy it if...
You want an affordable option At only $299, and with no monthly fees, the RingConn Gen 2 smart ring is a solid, affordable yet still well-specced alternative to the best smart rings out there.
You need a long battery life Offering a 12-day battery life and a charging case that can extend it to 150 days before you need to rely on a power outlet, this smart ring can definitely go the distance.
You’re not sure about smart rings With its relatively easy set-up process and low(ish) cost, the RingConn Gen 2 is an excellent choice for people who want to try the smart ring experience without over-committing.
Don’t buy it if…
You want a fitness tracker Smart rings are useful for health monitoring, but this ring isn’t the best for fitness tracking due to limited workout options and because it won’t turn on automatically.
You want something high-end While there’s a lot to be said for an affordable option, high-end models from rivals such as Oura and Samsung do offer a more seamless and in-depth experience (albeit at a higher cost).
You value function over fashion Smart rings are ideal for people who want to wear a regular watch but don’t want to lose out on health tracking. If you’d rather get something more feature-rich, a smartwatch or fitness tracker would be a better bet.
Also Consider
Samsung Galaxy Ring With excellent software, and no monthly payments, the Galaxy Ring is our current pick for the best smart ring available. It's pricier, but its added benefits could be enough to sway you. Read our Samsung Galaxy Ring review
Oura Gen 4 Oura is almost synonymous with smart rings, and its latest gen 4 model has just entered the scene. While it's pricier (especially when you factor in the subscription), those interested in buying a smart ring should at least give this one some attention. Read our Oura Ring 4 review
Fitbit Luxe If you aren’t dead-set on getting a smart ring, then the Fitbit Luxe is our pick for the best fitness tracker in general thanks to its excellent monitoring abilities and stylish design Read our Fitbit Luxe review
How I tested the RingConn Gen 2
To test the RingConn Gen 2 I wore it pretty much all day, every day for a few weeks. It tracked me while I worked from home, when I did workouts, when I went out for walks, and while I slept. This meant I was able to see how well the ring performed in my regular daily routine as a health monitoring tool.
For a few days of testing the RingConn Gen 2, I wore my trusty Fitbit tracker alongside to compare the results of both devices and gauge accuracy. The results weren’t always an exact match, but for the stats that both devices were monitoring, they did align fairly closely.
A brand new model from a company that has been producing security solutions since 2009, the Altas (not Atlas) PT Ultra is intended for those who are serious about security. A bulky model featuring a 355-degree pan and 90-degree tilt camera, it’s ideally suited for small businesses and individuals wanting to monitor their premises on a regular, or even constant, basis.
However, it’s not the most straightforward to install, requiring a little bit of DIY skill to mount the bracket which the camera then slots into. Thankfully though, mounting templates, screws, and wall plugs are all provided in the box. Various mounting options are catered for, including a ceiling and wall mount. It’s even possible to install on a tree using the tree mounting strap provided.
(Image credit: Chris Price)
As with most of the best home security cameras these days, the Altas is controlled via your smartphone. Simply download the Reolink app and scan the QR code printed on the device to go through the setup instructions, complete with voice commands. Unlike many security cameras, the Reolink Altas PT Ultra supports both 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi frequencies. It can also store footage on a MicroSD card up to 512GB (not supplied) or the company’s Home Hub/Home Hub Pro server (also not supplied).
Alternatively, you can pay for a subscription to store footage in the cloud. Currently the standard plan costs $6.99 / £3.49 / AU$4.99 per month or $69.99 / £34.49 / AU$49.99 a year for 30-day cloud video history, 30GB video storage and support for up to five cameras.
Using the app, you can set the pan and tilt camera both to record and track different types of movement automatically (human, animals, cars etc.) or you can control the camera manually via the app using the up and down arrow keys. There’s even a 10-second pre-record option which, like a body-worn camera or dashcam, constantly records in the background (this can be switched off if the battery falls to below a certain level).
(Image credit: Chris Price)
Notifications can either be pushed to your mobile phone or via email if you want to go old school. If you want to record more than just motion-triggered events, you can set the camera up for continuous recording. Alternatively, it’s possible to set up a timer schedule of when you want recordings to take place using the slider controls in the menu.
Finally, in addition to recording footage there’s also the option of talking to potential intruders via the built-in microphone. And if reasoning with them doesn’t work there are also options to trigger the onboard alarm or switch the camera’s bright lights on all at the touch of a button.
Reolink Altas PT Ultra: subscription options
Reolink Cloud, Classic Plan Series. Standard Plan: Up to 30-day cloud video history, up to five cameras supported, up to 30GB cloud storage. $6.99 / £3.49 / AU$4.99 per month or $69.99 / £34.49 / AU$49.99 per year.
Reolink Cloud, Classic Plan Series. Premier Plan: Up to 30-day cloud video history, up to 10 cameras supported, up to 80GB cloud storage. $10.99 / £6.89 / AU$9.99 per month, $104.99 / £68.19 / AU$99 per year.
Reolink Altas PT Ultra: price and availability
How much does it cost? $229 / £229 / AU$359
When is it available? Available since October 2024
Where is it available? UK / US / Australia
Given you can now get an outdoor security camera for under £100 (such as the £89 Ring Stick-Up Cam) the Reolink seems very expensive at first glance. But then this device isn’t just intended for personal use. It’s also ideal for small businesses who want to keep an eye on their premises.
Another benefit is that you don’t have to pay the monthly subscription fee which often helps to subsidise the price of security cameras, rather like expensive printer cartridges subsidise cheap printers. Instead, you can use a MicroSD card or a ReoLink home hub to store footage rather than paying to store it in the cloud.
Also, unlike other models, the Reolink Altas PT Ultra combines a very large integrated lithium ion battery with a stand-alone solar panel as standard whereas often this is an optional extra. And while the solar panel didn’t prove particularly useful in the UK during a rainy and overcast couple of weeks in Autumn, it’s a great way of supplementing the device’s power in sunnier times.
Of course, the Reolink Atlas PT Ultra isn’t for everyone. There are much certainly much cheaper models on the market if you just want to track occasional motion. But if it’s constant monitoring combined with high performance video you are after then it’s certainly worth paying the premium.
Value score: 3.5/5
Reolink Altas PT Ultra: design
Solidly built
Hefty mounting bracket provided
Large integrated camera
The first thing you notice about the ReoLink Altas PT Ultra is just how big and heavy it is. Not that this is a criticism necessarily, just that it feels much chunkier than other models on the market. It also requires some DIY skills to drill all the necessary holes to install the mounting bracket into which the camera slots.
We installed the ReoLink Atlas on the front of a back garden office, but equally it could have been mounted on a ceiling. The only thing you need to be mindful of is leaving enough room for the built-in antenna which is designed to be angled directly upwards from the pan and tilt camera.
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(Image credit: Chris Price)
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(Image credit: Chris Price)
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A waterproof cover beneath the lens hides the MicroSD storage while above the lens are the powerful white lights. These lights are triggered by motion when it’s dark or can be switched on by pressing a button on the app. A microphone hole and daylight sensor are also provided in the main camera housing with a large speaker and USB-C charging port located on the underside of the unit close to the mounting bracket.
(Image credit: Chris Price)
You can simply slide the camera out of the mounting bracket to charge it via the mains using the USB-C cable provided (you will need your own USB plug as this isn’t supplied). Alternatively, you can connect the camera via the same USB-port to the solar panel for additional power on sunny days. A generous amount of cable is provided for the solar panel and it’s surprisingly easy both to install (just three screws required), as well as angle towards the sky.
Design score: 4/5
Reolink Altas PT Ultra: performance
4K ultra high-definition resolution
Large battery for continuous recording
Color night vision
Undoubtedly, it’s when it comes to performance that the Reolink Altas PT really comes into its own. Testing the video quality during the day, I was impressed with the 4K resolution which displayed the flora and fauna of my garden in rich detail as well as capturing family members and pets in high resolution (no intruders were spotted during the test period!)
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(Image credit: Chris Price)
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(Image credit: Chris Price)
However, it’s at night where the camera really excels. Whereas most security cameras only display poor black and white images at night, the Reolink features ColorX technology enabling full-color footage without the need for spotlights (though in extremely dark environments the built-in spotlights will come on to enhance visibility).
Obviously, because the Reolink Altas PT is a 355-degree pan and 90-degree tilt camera it’s able to track and record movement from various sources without worrying about any blind spots. Another bonus is the large built in 20,000 mAh battery – over twice the size of the battery in the Eufy 4K S330 security camera, for example. This enables continuous recording 12 hours a day for over a week.
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(Image credit: Chris Price)
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(Image credit: Chris Price)
Reolink claims that the 6W solar panel can charge up to 35% of the battery with just one day of sunshine. However, we found that the solar panel actually contributed very little during rainy Autumn days in London – certainly not more than a couple of percent in a day. Nevertheless, even without the solar panels contributing much power, we found that during a 10 day period outdoors we didn’t need to remove the camera from its mount once for charging.
Performance score: 4.5/5
Should you buy the Reolink Altas PT Ultra?
Buy it if
You want to monitor your property constantly
The large rechargeable battery combined with solar panel means that can record footage 12 hours a day for over a week.
You want high quality video footage
The Reolink offers exceptional video quality, particularly at night thanks to its color night vision facility.
Don't buy it if
You want a lightweight plug and play solution
The Reolink is a bulky unit which requires DIY installation.
You're on a limited budget
Featuring a wealth of features, the Reolink is more expensive than some of its lower-specification competitors.
Reolink Altas PT Ultra: also consider
Not completely sold on the Reolink Altas PT Ultra? Here are two more options to consider.
Ring Spotlight Cam Pro (Battery)
Available in black or white, this outdoor security camera from Amazon-owned Ring boasts two 3,000K spotlights. You can also buy a mains-powered version as well as a separate solar panel.
An extremely innovative battery and solar-powered camera, the Eufy can be used with the supplied 4G Sim card to capture recordings, making it ideal for those who live in areas with poor Wi-Fi/broadband.
I set it up myself using the fittings provided by the manufacturer
The security camera was installed on the outside of my garden office (the solar panel was set up temporarily)
I installed the Reolink Altas on the front of my garden office for around 10 days so it could capture footage from the garden. After this period I then brought it indoors so I could use it to track movement a little more and also check battery usage.
Before setting up I made sure that the camera only focused on my own property by excluding parts of the frame that could capture the neighbour’s garden using the app. I also switched off the siren and only used the powerful spotlights briefly outdoors. Both the siren and spotlights were tested more thoroughly indoors.
Because it was autumn in the UK and the solar panel was largely ineffective, this was installed only temporarily on an outdoor table and also on the garden office door for a few days.
The Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro hopes to distill the brand’s sonic pedigree into a gaming headset, by adopting a minimal design in every sense, devoid of extra features, and focusing completely on audio quality and comfort.
The appearance is certainly spartan. The total-black design is only offset by a few dashes of orange, but that’s about the only giveaway as to its intended gaming audience. Overall, I think it is a smart-looking headset that doesn't draw attention to itself.
This minimalism extends to its overall form, as the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro cuts a rather slender profile, at least compared to some of the best wired gaming headsets. It also feels quite light, and the thick cable surprisingly doesn’t weigh it down.
The whole headset feels premium and engineered to a high standard, but as I’ve found with other Beyerdynamic headsets, the mechanism for adjusting the driver position feels clunky. Also, the strain reliefs on the cable fail to reassure me that they’ll prevent fraying over time.
As you would expect from Beyerdynamic, the MMX 300 Pro has excellent sound, with all frequencies coming through clearly. However, the bass is a little weak compared to headphones designed for music, so the headset wouldn’t be my go-to choice for audio playback alone. However, compared to other gaming headsets, it’s still among the best in this regard – it’s a shame, though, that there are no listening modes to choose from or EQ adjustments to make.
The microphone is well-made and very sturdy, yet the gooseneck design still allows for flexible adjustments. This makes getting it in the optimal position easy. While it doesn't detach or retract, it does fold out of the way quite well. The vocal quality is excellent, and it does a great job of blocking unwanted sounds coming through.
As for comfort, the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro excels in this department too. Although the fit is tight, the ear cups and headband provide enough cushioning for extended use. However, the inside of the drivers did make slight contact with my ears, which can cause fatigue after a while – but this takes a very long time to manifest.
The connectivity and usability flaws found on the Beyerdynamic MMX 200 Wireless are non-existent here, with the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro making for a slimmer, easier-to-use headset with arguably even better sound. However, given its hefty price tag, it’s hard to recommend it over other wired gaming headsets, as the competition is so fierce in this sector, making for better value alternatives than the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro.
Case in point: the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro, which is the best wireless gaming headset in our view, is cheaper but still has great sound and packs in more features. Meanwhile, the Epos H3, our pick as the best wired headset, is considerably cheaper and performs brilliantly in most areas.
(Image credit: Future)
Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro review: Price and availability
$299 / £259 / AU$499
Available now
Black only (unless customized)
The Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro costs $299 / £259 / AU$499 and comes in one stock color: black. If you order from the company’s website, you can customize the look of the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro in a variety of ways, with intricate patterns and engraving options available.
Beyerdynamic’s wireless gaming headset, the MMX 200 Wireless, is considerably cheaper than the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro, despite its multiple connectivity options and extra features. However, by keeping things simple with wired connectivity, the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro avoids many of the pitfalls of the MMX 200 Wireless. It’s also less bulky and more comfortable, yet still offers Beyerdynamic’s trademark audio quality, albeit with less low-end impact than you might expect. Whether these advantages of the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro justify the steep price increase, I’m not so sure – especially when you consider the lack of features.
For those looking for more out of a gaming headset, the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro could fit the bill: not only does it come with software to adjust various parameters, but it’s also wireless and cheaper than the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro. And if you’re after one of the best PC gaming headsets specifically, then the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is our top pick in this sector: although it’s considerably more expensive than the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro, it does feature multiple connectivity options and a long battery life, in addition to great sound.
Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro review: Specs
(Image credit: Future)
Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro review: Design and features
Austere looks
Thin, light and comfortable
Lacking features
Much like Beyerdynamic’s other gaming headsets and headphones, the MMX 300 Pro cuts an understated figure. The black finish is enlivened slightly by some orange accents, but these are the only concessions to its gaming audience. Most aspects of the headset look and feel premium. The hard plastic shells of each driver have a smooth matte finish, while the headband and ear cups are plush yet durable.
The drivers are supported by heavy-duty metal hooks which again are solidly built. However, the mechanism used to adjust their position fails to match the same level of engineering, as it feels clunky to operate – an issue I’ve found with other Beyerdynamic headsets and headphones.
However, the form factor of the MMX 300 Pro represents an improvement over other Beyerdynamic models. It has a relatively slim profile, being less wide and unwieldy than the MMX 200 Wireless. The divers and ear pads are thinner, and the whole headset feels lighter too.
The Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro is also more comfortable to wear, offering plenty of cushioning around the ears and the headband. The materials used here feel durable, but both the headband and the ear pads are replaceable should they perish.
I’m usually not fond of circular driver designs, preferring an oval shape, but here, thanks to the lack of bulk, I had no trouble wearing them, even with glasses. Unlike the MMX 200 Wireless, the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro didn’t get in the way when I leaned back in a chair or sofa. However, I did notice the inside of the drivers touching my ears slightly, which can cause aches after very long sessions exceeding two or three hours. They also don’t swivel, which means hanging them around your neck or storing them isn’t as easy as with other headsets.
(Image credit: Future)
The analog cable is thick and strong, yet it doesn’t weigh down the headset; I could barely tell it was there, which is exactly what you want from a headphone cable. There’s some strain relief around the jacks, but these don’t seem to be the strongest, so I’m not completely confident they’ll prevent fraying in the long run. Another drawback is the rubber material on these reliefs, as it picks up dust and debris far too easily.
The jack secures tightly into the left driver, which is deeply recessed. However, it doesn’t offer an audible click when inserted, which can make it tricky to know if it’s inserted all the way. The instructions say to twist it slightly when inserting, but there is no feedback indicating how much this needs to be done, and it didn’t seem to make a difference whether I twisted it in or not.
The inline control module, which features output and input volume controls and a mute mic slider, is chunky but unobtrusive. The buttons and wheel feel premium here too and are easy to operate, although perhaps a touch too small for my liking.
The microphone on the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro is similarly well-built. The swivel function is smooth yet sturdy, and the cloth tip cover is thicker than on some other gaming headsets, which bodes well for its longevity. The gooseneck is easily adjustable and stays in position once fixed, making for the perfect blend of flexibility and security.
One drawback of the mic, however, is that it still can’t be detached or folded away completely, although it can be rotated upwards to keep it out of the way. In contrast, the MMX 200 Wireless has a detachable mic, and the PlayStation Pulse Elite, one of the best PS5 headsets, has a retractable mic for an even more elegant solution.
In focusing on high-quality audio, the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro appears to have sacrificed features. There are no options to adjust the sound, other than volume, either via buttons or software. For a wired headset at this price, you would expect more; even the cheaper MMX 200 Wireless has an Augmented Mode for ambient noise passthrough, but the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro gets no such endowments.
(Image credit: Future)
Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro: Performance
Superb gaming audio
Great mic clarity
Low-end lacking slightly
The sound produced by the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro is impressive. The STELLAR.45 drivers render all frequencies with clarity, especially the highs and upper mids. The closed-back design helps to improve the sense of space and immersion as well.
However, while there is some punch to the low end, it still lacks the depth of bass you would expect. This isn’t such a problem for gaming, but it’s more disappointing when listening to music. Other headsets feature different modes for different scenarios, but this isn’t an option with the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro – you get what you are given.
The integrated microphone claims to maximize vocal clarity thanks to the high-quality condenser capsule, and during my tests, this did indeed prove to be the case. Voices come through with a high degree of fidelity, and unwanted noises, such as coughs and other plosive sounds, are all but eliminated.
However, as with the output of the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro, there are no adjustments for the microphone, save for the standard volume controls. The closed-back design and natural noise isolation mean that you can barely hear your own voice, which some gamers, including myself, may find a little disconcerting, so the option to allow some sort of input monitoring would’ve been welcomed.
(Image credit: Future)
Should you buy the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro?
Buy it if...
You want stellar gaming audio There’s no denying the sound quality of the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro, and although the bass may be a tad weak, it’s still excellent for a gaming headset.
You want something comfortable The ear pads and headband provide hours of wearing comfort – only extremely long sessions will cause fatigue.
Don't buy it if...
You want to cut the cords There’s only wired connectivity here, which, at this price, is a shame.
You want multiple features There are no adjustments you can make to the sound, and no feature to allow you to hear your own voice through the mic.
You’re on a budget For a wired gaming headset, the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro sits right at the top end of the market. Whether the excellent sound quality alone is worth this much, I’m not sure.
Also consider...
Razer BlackShark V2 Pro If you want to ditch the cables, then the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro is our pick as the best wireless gaming headset around. As a renowned peripheral maker, it’s no surprise this headset from Razer offers high build and audio quality, and we were especially impressed with its battery life too.
Epos H3 As our best wired headset, the Epos H3 is perfect for those who want an ultra-reliable connection and aren’t worried about a trailing cable. A wireless version is available in the form of the H3Pro Hybrid. Naturally, this is more expensive, but its amazingly still cheaper than the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro.
I tested the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro for several days, using it on a Windows 11 PC, a PS5, and a Nintendo Switch. I played a variety of games, includingSilent Hill 2 Remake,The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and Sea of Thieves – the latter of which I played online to test the microphone. I also recorded my own voice via the mic and played it back to hear how I sounded.
As well as playing games, I also used the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro to listen to music and watch video content on YouTube and Netflix.
I have been gaming for over twenty years, and have experienced many headsets and headphones during this time. These include various Beyerdynamic models, such as the DT 770 Pro, and I have previously tested the MMX 200 Wireless gaming headset.
