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Cuisinart’s Soft Serve Ice Cream Maker is cheaper than the Ninja Creami Swirl, but its results left me a little cold
2:30 pm | February 23, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances | Comments: Off

Cuisinart Soft Serve Ice Cream Maker: one-minute review

If you can't get your hands on the Ninja Creami Swirl, the Cuisinart Soft Serve Ice Cream Maker could be the next best thing. It isn't as advanced as the Ninja machine, but can produce a smooth and creamy dessert once you get used to its quirks.

Preparing your ice cream is straightforward, and Cuisinart provides a good online recipe book to get you started. However, you have to keep a very close eye on the machine to ensure you stop it when your mix reaches the right temperature. Stop it too late and you'll have to wait for it to melt, or pull the churning mechanism out and scoop your ice cream out with a spoon. It's not the end of the world, but a timer would help avoid such issues arising.

The miniature hot plate for keeping sauces or melted chocolate warm is a nice touch and works well, but I'd argue that there's no need for three different topping containers – particularly since the design of their dispensing mechanism means most candies are too large.

It can be fun to use, but it would be difficult to justify spending on the Cuisinart Soft Serve Ice Cream maker unless you eat frozen desserts several times a week. It's reasonably priced and often available at a discount, but it takes up a lot of valuable space in your kitchen

Cuisinart Soft Serve Ice Cream Maker

Stop the machine when your ice cream reaches "Goldilocks" consistency, and it should pour out smoothly when you open the dispenser (Image credit: Future)

Cuisinart Soft Serve Ice Cream Maker: price and availability

  • List price $179.95 / £200 / AU$249
  • Sometimes available at a discount
  • About half the price of Ninja Creami Swirl

The Cuisinart Soft Serve Ice Cream Maker has a list price of $179.95 / £200 / AU$249. It's available direct from Cuisinart's online store, and from third-party retailers such as Amazon. It's sometimes available for a discount, and you'll find all today's best prices below.

For comparison, the Ninja Creami Swirl comes in at almost twice the price at $349. At the time of writing (February 2025), international prices and availability had yet to be announced.

If you have a KitchenAid stand mixer, the ice cream maker attachment works in a similar way to the Cuisinart, using a frozen bowl and a rotary motor to churn your ingredients while they freeze, but it lacks a soft-serve dispenser. It retails for $99.99 / £149 / AU$209.

  • Value score: 4.5/5

Cuisinart Soft Serve Ice Cream Maker: design

  • Bulky, not very attractive
  • Excellent mini hotplate for sauces
  • Topping dispensers aren't ideal

The Cuisinart Soft Serve Ice Cream Maker is a large appliance, and at 17.7 inches / 45cm, it only just fit beneath my kitchen wall cabinets. Its footprint is relatively small though (9.4 x 11 inches / 24 x 28cm), which is more compact than a lot of coffee makers. You might not want to keep it on the kitchen counter at all times, though; its white plastic chassis is functional and easy to clean, but not a thing of great beauty.

From a mechanical perspective, it's quite simple. There's a double-insulated bowl that you freeze ahead of time, which cools your ingredients to freeze them as they're churned. When your ice cream is ready, simply switch off the motor, open a tap on the bottom, and the finished dessert pours out in a smooth stream (provided you've judged the timings correctly).

Cuisinart Soft Serve Ice Cream Maker

You'll need to freeze the main bowl and chill your blended ingredients for at least four hours before making your ice cream (Image credit: Future)

There are three removable topping containers on the top right of the machine, which I initially loaded with candy. Unfortunately, I later realized that they were only capable of dispensing very small items such as sprinkles due to the size of the mechanism inside. Toppings such as M&Ms or nuts will be too large, which is a shame. All three toppings are dispensed through a single funnel, which propels them into your ice cream as it pours. During my tests this mostly worked well, but some sprinkles ended up overshooting.

The Soft Serve Ice Cream Maker also has a small hotplate on the left-hand side of the bowl, with a little saucepan that you can use to melt a sauce to pour over your finished ice cream.

  • Design score: 3.5 / 5

Cuisinart Soft Serve Ice Cream Maker: performance

Cuisinart's website has a good selection of simple recipes for the Soft Serve Ice Cream Maker, all of which can be adapted to suit your tastes. I started with the fresh strawberry ice cream, which is a mix of double cream, milk, hulled strawberries, lemon juice, and sugar.

You need to keep the bowl upright while it freezes, but I found it fitted in my freezer's deepest drawer quite easily, and I was able to stuff it with small frozen items to make good use of the space until I was ready to use it.

You'll need to blend your mix (take a look at our roundup of the best blenders, if you've been thinking about upgrading) then chill the mix for at least four hours before you start churning.

Once your mix is cold, it's time to begin. The frozen bowl fits easily into place inside the machine, then the lid with the churning mechanism clips on top. Once it's all in place, you start the machine using the switch on the left; make sure the lever is pushed up into the "closed" position, and pour your mix through the L-shaped hole in the top. I forgot to check the lever on my first attempt, which was a messy mistake.

The mini hotplate is activated by turning the control dial all the way to the right, and during testing it worked very well. It provides gentle heat while your ice cream churns, and will melt a cube or two of chocolate by the time your dessert is ready.

Cuisinart Soft Serve Ice Cream Maker

I initially filled the topping dispensers with candy, but they're not actually suitable for anything larger than sprinkles (Image credit: Future)

Unlike the Ninja Creami Swirl, the Cuisinart Soft Serve Ice Cream Maker relies on gravity to dispense your ice cream, so it needs to be just the right consistency. If you allow the mix to chill too long, it will fail to flow through the dispenser, and eventually the churning mechanism will stop turning. This won't break the machine, but you'll need to wait for the ice cream to thaw a little before you can continue, or remove the lid and churning mechanism (which can be tricky if the ice cream has become stiff) and scoop out the dessert instead.

For best results, don't churn for longer than 20 minutes. If I wasn't sure that I'd achieved the right consistency, I found it helpful to turn off the machine, then use a spoon to scoop some of the mixture out of the bowl to assess its thickness. A programmable timer would be a good addition to avoid accidentally over-chilling the mix.

Cuisinart Soft Serve Ice Cream Maker

The topping dispenser has a tendency to overshoot your dessert (Image credit: Future)

I also found that the blades didn't quite reach all the way to the edge of the bowl, which created a layer of hardened ice cream that wouldn't dispense. This was difficult to remove with a spoon without thawing everything completely.

  • Performance score: 3.5 / 5

Should you buy the Cuisinart Soft Serve Ice Cream Maker

Buy it if

You eat a lot of ice cream

Large single-use appliances such as this are tricky to justify unless you'll be using them frequently. If you're more of an occasional dessert fan, an attachment for your stand mixer may be a more economical choice.

You have kids

Custom ice creams with different toppings will definitely appeal to youngsters (or to your inner child).

Don't buy it if

You're easily distracted in the kitchen

This isn't the kind of appliance you can set and forget. You'll need to watch the consistency of your ice cream closely to make sure it's just right.

You have a small kitchen

This is a bulky machine that will take up a lot of room on your counter, or in a cupboard.

Cuisinart Soft Serve Ice Cream Maker: also consider

Ninja Creami Swirl

The hugely popular soft-serve ice cream maker isn't available outside the US at the time of writing, but it's definitely more advanced than the Cuisinart machine (particularly its dispenser).

KitchenAid Ice Cream Maker

If you have a KitchenAid stand mixer, this freezable bowl and churning attachment will do basically the same job as the Cuisinart Soft Serve Ice Cream Maker, for less cash. You don't get the dispenser nozzle, though.

How I tested the Cuisinart Soft Serve Ice Cream Maker

I used the Cuisinart Soft Serve Ice Cream Maker to prepare several recipes from Cuisinart's website, including soft-serve ice cream and sorbet. I tested the hotplate with different types of chocolate, and tried various sprinkles and candies in the topping dispensers.

For more details. see how we test, review, and rate products at TechRadar.

First reviewed February 2025

This dinky hair dryer blew me away with its powerful airflow, scalp-friendly modes, and super-cute design
10:00 am |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Hair Care Home Small Appliances | Comments: Off

Laifen Mini hair dryer: two-minute review

The Laifen Mini is a scaled-down, mini hair dryer that offers the kind of power and features you'd expect from a full-sized option. It has the same streamlined silhouette as the majority of the best hair dryers on the market these days – it has a minimalist barrel, with most of the weight in the handle – but the whole unit has been shrunk down to a more portable size. The fact it comes with a carry bag suggests Laifen has travel in mind here, but I'd happily consider it as a main hair dryer if I was short on space.

It's lightweight and comfortable to use, with the (new with this model) matte finish adding grip as well as bumping up this model's style credentials. In terms of modes, there's the standard temperature and windspeed options, but also a couple more advanced modes. One will cycle hot-to-cold every two seconds, and is designed to protect your scalp and also set your locks as you style, and the other is a child mode that uses lower pressure and is better for delicate hair.

Although neither were required for my own styling routine, they both work as advertised and offer a more specialized option for those who want them. In the auto-cycle mode, it took two and a half minutes to rough-dry my hair to 90 per cent dry – a little longer than my full-sized dryer, but still very acceptable and impressively efficient for a travel-sized option.

There are some potential downsides, though. The cord is short and the fact there's currently no compatible diffuser will frustrate curly haired customers. I also found the controls a point of irritation – you set the mode using a series of long or short button presses, and you'll need to memorize these because the only way to note the current mode is by watching the glowing ring on the dryer's barrel and remembering what each color sequence means. It certainly looks cool, but it isn't the most efficient way to convey information.

Those frustrations aside, this is a very strong addition to the Laifen lineup. It's also affordably priced for the features it brings, sitting in the mid-range bracket and delivering strong performance, versatility and a cool look for that price. That's the short version – read on for my full Laifen Mini hair dryer review.

Laifen Mini hair dryer review: price & availability

  • List price: €129.99
  • Available: Europe, UK (via EU site)
  • Launched: September 2024

The Laifen Mini was unveiled at IFA in September 2024, and at time of writing is available to buy in the UK, other European territories, as well as South Africa. The UK situation is a little odd because it's only available to buy via the Laifen EU site and the price is listed in Euros, but Laifen has confirmed it's available for UK shoppers here, and you can specify that it come with a UK plug.

At time of writing, Laifen didn't have any information on if/when the Mini might be launched in the US or Australia – although when my teammate saw the dryer at IFA she was told the differences in voltage were a barrier to launching in the US.

At list price it costs €129.99 – roughly $135 / £107 / AU$213 – although it was reduced to €110.49 at the time of writing. This puts the Laifen Mini in the mid-range price bracket for hair dryers, and I think it's decent value for what it offers. It's a step up on basic in terms of features; it feels robust and good quality; and the design has a premium vibe.

  • Value for money score: 4 out of 5

Laifen Mini hair dryer specs

Laifen Mini hair dryer review: design

  • Stylish, small and lightweight build
  • Comes with magnetic concentrator and carry bag
  • Controlled via button and slider on handle; cord rather short

The Laifen Mini is a shrunk-down version of the brand's popular Laifen Swift hair dryer. Originally, that was part of a wave of new dryers with designs heavily inspired by the then-hot-new-thing, the Dyson Supersonic.

The new addition still has that streamlined shape with the weight in the handle and a minimal barrel. However, it now looks less like a knock-off and more of its own thing, and I'm a big fan of Laifen's styling. It's the first Laifen dryer to add a matte coating – this brings the double benefit of improving grip while also avoiding that cheap-looking shiny plastic look. It's available in four muted, pastel colors (arguably more on-trend than the tropical tones still favored by Dyson).

Laifen Mini hair dryer, bag and concentrator

The Mini comes with a Concentrator and carry bag (Image credit: Future)

My review model is Glacier Blue (a grey-blue), but it's also available in Jungle Green (an olive-toned color), Coral Pink (really more baby pink) and Arctic White. It arrives with one styling attachment – a concentrator that snaps on and off magnetically. Other Laifen dryers have a compatible diffuser that can be purchased separately, but that isn't an option here.

To help with portability it comes bundled with a carry bag in either grey or brown (color chosen at random). It's just big enough for the dryer, cable and attachment to nestle inside, and is magnetic all the way along the top, making it super easy to open and close.

Laifen Mini hair dryer in its travel case

(Image credit: Future)

At 5.9ft / 1.8m, the cable is on the short side. That might be annoying if you're planning to use this as your main dryer, but it does make sense as a travel option. There's a rubbery cable tidy for when you want to pack the dryer in its bag.

For reference, most full-sized dryers have a cable that's around 8.5-10ft (2.5-3m) long. However, it's worth flagging that Laifen in general is stingy with its cables – the full-sized Swift has the same length cord as this Mini version.

Controls & modes

Controls are via two switches on the handle. There's a slider to turn the dryer on and move between the two different windspeed options, indicated by icons (0, I, II). The second button is used to set the mode.

Close up of controls on Laifen Mini hair dryer

(Image credit: Future)

Here's where things become a little confusing, because different modes require different press types:

  • Long press: temperature cycling mode
  • Two short presses: child mode
  • Single short press: shift between low, medium and high temperature

A ring around the barrel will glow different colors to indicate temperature; but other than that, there's no way to determine which mode you're in.

When the dryer arrived, Laifen had added a wrapper to the handle with instructions printed on it, and I was grateful that I took a photo at the time for reference – because once it's gone, you'll need to rely on your memory to know what's going on.

The temperature control is described as "smart", but that just means there's a sensor inside to prevent overheating, which I'd hope wouldn't happen anyway. Like most modern dryers, bar the ultra-budget models, it releases ions as it dries, to discourage frizz.

  • Design score: 4 out of 5

Laifen Mini hair dryer review: performance

  • Good amount of power for a travel-sized dryer
  • Controls are fiddly and require memorizing
  • Lightweight and comfortable to hold and use

The Laifen Mini is comfortable to hold, with a well-balanced design and good grip thanks to the matte coating. It's lightweight enough for use over long periods, and packs a decent amount of power for a travel-sized dryer. I tested it out on my armpit-length, naturally wavy hair, and my drying times were slightly longer than when using my Dyson Supersonic Nural, but not unreasonably so.

While the dinky size and helpful carry bag make it perfect for taking on trips, I think this would also work as a main hair dryer for someone who's especially short on storage space. The power and functionality are similar to what you'd get with a full-sized dryer; the main compromise you're making is the length of the cord (bear this in mind if your power outlets aren't helpfully placed close to your mirrors).

Laifen Mini hair dryer with concentrator attachment on

(Image credit: Future)

In terms of attachments, the provided concentrator snaps on and off easily and feels secure in use. It's just a shame there's no compatible diffuser for curly haired customers.

Modes in use

Let's take a closer look at the operation. There are two windspeeds; most modern dryers offer three, although I think two will be fine for most people's needs.

You're also slightly more limited than usual on temperature options. Most dryers these days will come with three temperature options plus a separate cold shot button. Here, you just have a medium, hot or cold temperature mode. The band around the barrel will glow yellow, red or blue respectively in these modes.

I was fine with having to cycle through temperature setting to access the cold mode, although others may prefer the more usual approach of a separate, dedicated button. Laifen's approach is easier for prolonged cold setting use, because it doesn't require a button to be held down.

If you're styling your hair or are particularly concerned about scalp health, you can opt for a temperature cycling mode, in which the Mini will switch from hot to cold every two seconds. At the same time, the band will gradually transition from pink to red to purple to blue. The aim of this mode is to prevent your scalp from becoming too hot, and to set your style as you're drying.

It took around two and half minutes to get my hair to 90 per cent dry in this mode. In comparison, with the Dyson Supersonic Nural's "auto" mode it takes around two minutes. I didn't find the automatic temperature cycling that useful for my styling needs or routine, but I appreciate the option is there if you want it.

Laifen Mini hair dryer glowing orange, yellow and pink

(Image credit: Future)

A new addition with the Laifen Mini is the child mode. This isn't a child lock, but rather a mode designed for drying children's hair.

Laifen states that in this mode the dryer "maintains the same airspeed as regular modes, but the wind pressure is reduced, making the air feel gentler on the skin". Activate child mode and the dryer will stay at either 38ºC at low speed, or 48ºC in high speed, and the ring will pulse yellow.

Laifen Mini hair dryer with blue glowing ring

(Image credit: Future)

I appreciate that Laifen is offering up more than just your standard modes here. While they won't all be useful for everyone – and for my styling routine, I found myself mostly sticking to the high windspeed, high temperature option – I appreciate the options are there to cater to different customers' needs and priorities.

However, I do have a slight issue with the labelling – or lack thereof. I'm all for a minimalist design, but the only way to know which temperature mode you're in is to sit and watch the lights (and remember what they mean). Unless you have a great memory, switching modes will probably be a process of trial and error for some time.

  • Performance score: 4 out of 5

Should you buy the Laifen Mini hair dryer?

Buy it if...

You want a hair dryer for travel
The compact build and helpful carry pouch make this the perfect companion for weekends away – and it packs a good amount of power for its size, too. All of these qualities make it a good choice if you're short on dressing table space as well.

You want a dryer for children / delicate hair
Unusually, the Mini comes with a child mode that reduces the wind pressure for use on delicate hair and scalps.

You want a stylish and advanced dryer on a budget
This is one of the best-looking hair dryers I've seen, and while it isn't the techiest option on the market, it packs some cool added features for an affordable price.

Don't buy it if...

You value simplicity
The controls here aren't super clear, and not everyone will want temperature cycling or a child-friendly mode. If you'd prefer a simpler design with your standard temperature and windspeed sliders, there are plenty of options to choose from.

You're annoyed by a short cable
The cord here is short, so if your power outlets aren't ideally placed – or you like some freedom while you style – this isn't the best choice.

Laifen Mini hair dryer review: alternatives to consider

Dyson Supersonic Nural
It's significantly pricier and more hi-tech than the Laifen Mini, but if you want to push the boat out, the Supersonic Nural is the crème de la crème of hair dryers. This full-sized option comes with an extensive range of attachments, and boasts a Scalp Protect mode that senses how far it is from your head and raises or lowers temperature accordingly.

Read our full Dyson Supersonic Nural reviewView Deal

T3 Fit

The T3 fit is another lightweight, travel-friendly option. It's simpler than the Laifen Mini with fewer modes and (in my opinion) a much less stylish design. However, the cable is longer and there's a compatible diffuser if you want one.

Read our full T3 Fit reviewView Deal

How I tested the Laifen Mini hair dryer

I used the Laifen Mini as my main hair dryer for two weeks. For reference, I have armpit-length, naturally wavy hair. According to my hairdresser, the strands are fine but there are a lot of them. For this review, I tested all the different modes, recorded how long it took to rough-dry my hair from wet to 90 per cent dry in maximum windspeed and temperature mode, as well as in temperature cycling mode. I assessed how comfortable it was to use, and how straightforward the controls were. In all of these areas, I compared my experience with the Laifen Mini to other dryers including the Dyson Supersonic Nural (which I use as my everyday dryer) and more basic, cheaper models.

Read more about how we test

  • First reviewed February 2025
I spent days with this Jiga Power Bank and it has cool features but also some problems that make it hard to carry
10:00 pm | February 22, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Phone Accessories Phones | Comments: Off

Jiga 27000mAh Power Bank review

The Jiga Power Bank is a capacious power bank with a 22.5W maximum output, designed to offer plenty of charges for your smaller devices.

It probably won’t win any awards for its looks, as it adopts a strictly utilitarian design. There are variants with orange and red front panels, but that’s the only flourish you get.

The build quality of the Jiga Power Bank seems good at least: the chassis feels reasonably sturdy and the power button functioned well during my time with it. However, it isn’t as thin or as light as the best power banks out there, although given its 27,000mAh capacity, this isn’t much of a surprise.

There are five small LEDs surrounding the power button: four to indicate battery level and a lightning symbol that turns green to indicate charging – a handy visual to reassure you that your device is definitely charging.

The Jiga Power Bank also has an integrated flashlight, which is quite bright, although it does require holding the power button a little too long to toggle, which diminishes its usefulness somewhat.

Unfortunately, the Jiga Power Bank doesn’t come with a USB-C-to-C cable, only a short USB-C-to-A cable, although the USB-A ports are the most powerful, delivering 22.5W each. The USB-C port is close behind with 20W, and thankfully three-way simultaneous charging is possible as well.

There’s also a Micro USB port, which is odd on two counts: it’s rather outdated now, and can only be used to charge the Jiga Power Bank itself, not to charge other devices. Still, if you’ve got any of those cables laying around, then it could prove a useful inclusion.

Charging my Google Pixel 7a from 50% to 100% using the USB-C port took just over an hour, which is a reasonable performance. The bank’s battery remained on four bars, which seems to suggest that Jiga’s claim of getting between three and five phone charges out of it holds true.

For under $30, the Jiga Power Bank represents good value considering its output and capacity. It undercuts the Juovi J2621, for instance, which has less capacity (20,000mAh), but it does have more power (45W).

Usually, power banks with high capacities tend to have high power outputs to match, which inevitably brings the cost up, so the Jiga Power Bank occupies a rather niche position for those who like to charge small and medium devices multiple times.

Close-up of USB ports and flashlight on Jiga 27000mAh Power Bank on plinth with pink background

(Image credit: Future)

Jiga 27000mAh Power Bank review: price & specs

Side view of Jiga 27000mAh Power Bank on plinth with pink background

(Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Jiga 27000mAh Power Bank?

Buy it if…

You need to charge multiple times
With its 27,000mAh capacity, the Jiga Power Bank is ideal for regularly charging your devices.

You often find yourself in the dark
Thanks to the handy inbuilt flashlight, the Jiga Power Bank might be a good pick for those who need to use it at night.

Don't buy it if…

You want the best travel companion
Given it’s reasonably heavy and thick, the Jiga Power Bank might be too much for those who travel light, or who want to carry their bank in their pocket.

You have large devices to charge
The 22.5W output might not be enough to charge big ticket items, such as laptops and the like.

Jiga 27000mAh Power Bank review: also consider

Iniu B61
Another good value power bank, the B61 offers the same number of ports (minus the rather redundant Micro USB port) and power output, although less capacity (10,000mAh). However, unlike the Jiga Power Bank, it features a digital display for the battery readout, and it’s much thinner and lighter. It also looks better, if that’s important to you in a power bank. Read our Iniu B61 review.

I’ve tested a lot of coffee machines, and the Siemens EQ900 Plus makes the best macchiato I’ve tasted
9:00 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Coffee Machines Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances | Tags: | Comments: Off

Siemens EQ900 Plus: two-minute review

The Siemens EQ900 Plus is one of the best bean-to-cup coffee machines for those who enjoy a latte, cappuccino or macchiato thanks to its excellent milk-texturizing system. It brews a very good espresso, too; but for me, the milk frothing is definitely the standout feature, and easily compares with the results an experienced user can get with a manual steam wand – with none of the effort.

Another key selling point of the EQ900 Plus that differentiates it from most of the best coffee makers is the fact that it has two hoppers, which make it easy to switch between different beans or roasts on the fly, or change to decaf in the evening. Some other bean-to-cup coffee makers I've tested (models from KitchenAid, for example) have a chute that you use to insert a scoop of ground coffee when you want something different to what's in the hopper, but this system is more convenient. The only downside is that the hoppers aren't removeable, plus the extensive set of cleaning and maintenance programs don't include a function for emptying beans and grounds from the machine, which makes it tricky to purge the system.

Latte macchiato prepared using Siemens EQ900 Plus coffee maker

The Siemens EQ900 Plus is one of the best bean-to-cup coffee machines around when it comes to milk texturizing (Image credit: Future)

The machine offers a system called "beanIdent" that lets you describe the beans you've loaded into each hopper (including type, roast, and blend) and then adjusts factors including water contact time and grind size to suit. It also encourages you to tinker to achieve the flavor you prefer. There are two customization modes (Comfort and Barista), with support for 10 user profiles.

You can even set your preferred drinks as "favorites", much like the favorites list in your web browser, which is welcome and something I'd like to see in more coffee machines. I appreciate not having to browse through a menu to find my carefully created custom cappuccino setting.

Coffee menu on Siemens EQ900 Plus coffee maker screen

The EQ900 Plus encourages tinkering, and Barista mode offers full control over the brewing process (Image credit: Future)

The smart cleaning programs are another key selling point of the EQ900 Plus, and bring another point of difference over the standard EQ900. The Plus has a hatch above the milk tank where you insert two tablets – one for cleaning and one for descaling. You'll be prompted to do this when setting up the machine, and it means you can run a full cleaning cycle whenever the machine needs it without having to hunt around for the necessary supplies or remove the brew unit to add a tab.

One of the biggest problems I find with bean-to-cup coffee machines is that the time you save grinding beans and adjusting brew settings is offset by the time spent maintaining the machine, so this smart cleaning is a welcome feature. However, I'm not sure it justifies the price difference between the EQ900 and EQ900 Plus. At the time of writing, the EQ900 Plus is only available for the full list price of £2,199 (about $2,800 / AU$4,300), whereas the standard EQ900 can be found for as little as £1,300 (about $1,600 / AU$2,600) on sale.

Siemens EQ900 Plus: price and availability

  • List price £2,199 (about $2,800 / AU$4,300)
  • Not widely available outside Europe
  • Can be found more cheaply if you shop around

The Siemens EQ900 Plus launched in October 2023, and has a list price of £2,199 (about $2,800 / AU$4,300) – although note that it isn’t widely available outside Europe. That puts it firmly at the top end of the price bracket for home bean-to-cup coffee makers, at about the same price as the Breville Oracle Touch (or Sage Oracle Touch, as it’s known in the UK).

The EQ900 Plus definitely feels like a premium machine with its stainless steel build, huge color touchscreen, smart cleaning, and advanced customization options. However, for a more affordable version consider the standard Siemens EQ900 (without the automatic maintenance system), which has a list price of £1,799 (about $2,300 / AU$3,600) and can be found for as little as £1,300 (about $1,600 / AU$2,600) if you shop around.

There's also a version of the EQ900 with a single hopper, priced at £1,599 (about $2,000 / AU$3,200), which may be preferable if you only enjoy one specific bean. Personally, I appreciate having the choice.

You'll find all of today's best prices for the Siemens EQ900 Plus below.

  • Value score: 3/5

Siemens EQ900 Plus: specifications

Siemens EQ900 Plus

  • Premium brushed metal build
  • Two bean hoppers
  • Intensive self-cleaning system
  • Cleverly designed milk system

The Siemens EQ900 Plus is a premium bean-to-cup coffee machine with a brushed stainless steel case and a huge 6.8-inch full-colour touchscreen. It’s the most impressive display I’ve seen on any coffee maker I’ve tested so far, and is even capable of displaying smooth animations (when you’re not using it to swipe through the drinks menu and tweak the various beverages to your liking).

At the top you’ll find two hoppers that you can fill with two different types of coffee beans. Some other coffee machines I’ve tested (the KitchenAid KF6 and KF8, for example) come with a chute to which you can add a scoop of pre-ground coffee if you fancy a change, but this twin-hopper system is even better. Some coffees (such as those with notes of caramel) are well suited to milk, while fruitier beans work better black – with this system you can choose the best one for your drink on the fly. You could also keep one hopper full of regular beans for the morning, and the other full of decaf for after lunch. A blue light will illuminate when one of the hoppers needs refilling.

Image 1 of 2

Beans loaded into Siemens EQ900 Plus coffee maker

The machine has two bean hoppers so you can switch between different types and roasts on the fly (Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 2

Empty bean hopper warning light on Siemens EQ900 coffee maker

A blue light warns you when a bean hopper is empty (Image credit: Future)

The EQ900 Plus’s water tank is hidden on the left of the machine, and can be lifted out for filling using the integrated handle. It has a generous 2.3-liter capacity, and can be fitted with an optional filter to reduce limescale build-up to improve the taste of your coffee. Note that there’s no transparent panel, though, so you can't see the current water level at a glance.

Milk is stored in a smaller tank that sits on the right, just underneath containers for descaling and cleaning tablets. It’s unusual for a coffee machine to keep descaling and cleaning tablets on-board, but it makes sense and means you don’t have to hunt around for the packet when it’s time for regular maintenance. This is the EQ900 Plus's main point of difference with the standard EQ900.

Brew unit inside Siemens EQ900 coffee maker

Removing the water tank and side panel lets you access the brew unit for rinsing (Image credit: Future)

Most fully automatic espresso machines have a separate container for milk that sits beside the machine. Here, a tank slots into the side of the chassis, delivering a much neater design. The lid means you can also keep your milk in the fridge between uses.

The drip tray slides out easily for cleaning, with a removable grille at the front and a slim section at the back that makes pouring clean and convenient. Used coffee pucks are dispensed into a bin that sits in the drip tray and can be lifted out for easy emptying.

  • Design score: 4/5

Siemens EQ900 Plus

  • Eight coffee profiles, plus two milk and two hot water
  • Coffee presets are easy to customize and save to your profile
  • Excellent milk frothing
  • Espresso is good, but crema not as stable as some

Some automatic coffee machines present customization as an optional extra, but it’s at the heart of the experience here. There are two control options, Barista and Comfort, depending on the degree to which you want to tweak your beverages; but all users are encouraged to tinker with their drinks to create something bespoke.

Operating modes on Siemens EQ900 Plus coffee maker

The EQ900 Plus offers two modes of operation: Comfort and Barista (Image credit: Future)

Barista mode offers the most control, allowing you to choose whether beans are taken from the left or right hopper, choose the correct cup size, and tweak the strength (1-9), grinding level (1-6), contact time (for instance, how long the water is in contact with the grounds), milk ratio, and brewing temperature. Comfort mode is simpler and designed for more casual coffee fans, only letting you set the aroma (mild, balanced, or distinctive), strength (light, normal, strong, or extra strong), and cup size.

Once you’ve created a custom drink (which is easy thanks to the sensitive touchscreen), you’ll be prompted to save it to a profile (the EQ900 Plus supports up to 10, so everyone in your household and their guests can create their own) and give it a name. Typing on the EQ900 is surprisingly easy; the screen is large enough to accommodate a full QWERTY keyboard, making the whole experience much less frustrating than it could be.

You can even choose a background color, so you can see at-a-glance whether your profile is the one selected, and save your most frequently made drinks to a favorites menu, accessible via a quick tap of the star button under the screen. Preset drink options include:

  • Espresso
  • Espresso doppio
  • Caffe crema
  • Caffe grande
  • Caffe XL
  • Cappuccino
  • Latte macchiato
  • White coffee
  • Foamed milk
  • Warm milk
  • Hot water (enough for a cup of tea)
  • Coffee pot (a larger amount of hot water for pour-over)

The crema wasn’t quite as thick as that created by the KitchenAid K6, which is a cheaper machine, and it didn’t last as long either, despite being brewed using the same beans (purchased fresh that day).

However, milk texturizing was impressive, with the Siemens EQ900 quickly turning whole dairy milk into a generous layer of long-lasting foam. A powerful jet of steam creates the perfect foundation for your cappuccino or latte macchiato.

You can slide the dispenser up and down easily, and unlike many bean-to-cup coffee makers, it’s easy to remove it for cleaning – just pull it towards you to detach it, then disassemble the components and wash them all with warm water and dish soap. Once done, push it back into place.

During testing, I found the water tank a little awkward to refit when filled to the maximum mark; you have to position the bottom of the tank, then align the top while also folding the handle down. The water tank and milk container are also tricky to clean and dry inside, since there’s very little space for your hand. The machine has a cleaning setting that removes all water from the interior, but you'll still need to thoroughly hand-dry the tanks before transporting or storing the machine.

Drip tray from Siemens EQ900 Plus coffee maker

You'll receive a warning when it's time to empty the drip tray, but not necessarily when the coffee grounds bin is full (Image credit: Future)

The machine notified when the drip tray was full, but didn’t push out an alert to inform me that the used coffee grounds required emptying. Most bean-to-cup machines deliver a warning after making about four drinks, but that wasn't the case here, and I ended up with some grounds stuck to the area above the drip tray when I pulled it out. It's a minor flaw, but a surprising one for a premium machine.

The beanIdent system is interesting, and lets the machine adjust its own settings to suit your two different beans so it can determine the optimum setting for each one. Once you've loaded the two hoppers, you tell the EQ900 Plus the type of bean you've chosen for each one (arabica or robusta), the roast (light or dark) and the blend, and it will set factors including grind size and water temperature automatically.

Of course, your preferences may be different from those of the engineers and experts at Siemens, so you can tweak these settings to suit your tastes. Nevertheless, they provide a very useful starting point.

  • Performance score: 4.5/5

Should you buy the Siemens EQ900 Plus

Buy it if

You enjoy milky coffee drinks

The Siemens EQ900 Plus is the best bean-to-cup coffee machine I've tried to date for texturizing milk, producing a thick, silky, and stable foam every time.

You have a large household

The EQ900 Plus encourages you to tinker with settings to create your ideal drinks, and lets you save them to one of 10 user profiles, with quick access to your favorites at the tap of a button.

Don't buy it if

You're on a budget

The standard EQ900 is much better value if you don't mind losing the smart cleaning feature. It still offers the same excellent customization and milk texturizing.

You favor one particular coffee bean

The twin hoppers are excellent if you want to switch between two beans on the fly, but if you're loyal to one particularly type and roast, you won't get best use out of them.

Siemens EQ900 Plus: also consider

Not totally sure that the Siemens EQ900 Plus is the right coffee maker for you? Here are two other bean-to-cup machines to consider:

KitchenAid KF6

Its milk texturizing doesn't quite match that of the Siemens EQ900 Plus, but the KitchenAid KF8 is a more affordable machine and brews one of the most delicious espressos I've ever had, with thick and stable crema.

Read our full KitchenAid KF6 review

De’Longhi La Specialista Arte Evo

This is our favorite manual bean-to-cup machine, and an excellent introduction to the world of espresso. It's cheaper than the KitchenAid KF6, too, making it excellent value.

Read our full De’Longhi La Specialista Arte Evo review

How I tested the Siemens EQ900 Plus

I tested the Siemens EQ900 Plus using fresh coffee beans from local coffee shops Mokoko and Clifton Coffee (one in each hopper), and chilled whole milk. I used each of the machine’s preset drink options, experimenting with settings in Comfort and Barista mode, and creating a custom profile.

I also ran all of the machine’s basic and intensive cleaning programs, washed and dried the dispenser, milk tank and water tank, and ran the frost protection program to remove water from the machine's internal circuits. For more details, see how we test, review, and rate on TechRadar.

First reviewed February 2025

This slim 10K MagSafe power bank is the fastest I’ve tested to date
7:00 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Phone Accessories Phones | Comments: Off

Anker MagGo Power Bank (10K, Slim) review

The Anker MagGo Power Bank (10K, Slim) is a 10,000mAh MagSafe power bank with a slimmer-than-average profile. One of Anker’s most expensive MagSafe power banks at the time of writing, it’s available at a list price of $74.99 / £69.99 / $139.95 on the Anker website, and can also be purchased at Amazon.

When inspecting the build quality of the Anker MagGo Power Bank (10K, Slim), it looked and felt sturdy. It has a metal frame around the edge and a liquid silicone covering over the charging area, which proved a little more grippy than other Anker MagSafe power banks I’ve tested. I always love to see a brand incorporate eco-conscious practices into its manufacturing, and Anker has done just that by using 75% recycled materials in the Anker MagGo Power Bank (10K, Slim).

Using this power bank was a simple case of snapping the phone into place before pressing the small button on the lower right-hand side of the charger once to activate charging. I found the grip to be strong, so I didn’t have any concerns that the phone would fall off at any point.

The curved edges and the finish of the metal frame and matte back panel made it comfortable to hold. I was impressed with the material finish, as it didn’t show fingerprints or get scratched from regular use or after sliding around on my desk. The only scratch it sustained was during photography when it had an altercation with the corner of the small cement block it was sitting on, but it can’t be blamed for that.

The power bank is standing on its end, and the silicone charging area if facing forward.

(Image credit: Future / Cesci Angell)

I can say with confidence that the Anker MagGo Power Bank (10K, Slim) is the slimmest power bank I’ve tested, but not quite slim or light enough to be a game changer for me. It’s worth noting that I have smaller-than-average hands, however, so those with average or larger hands may find that the slimmer design does make a noticeable difference. The power bank felt warm as it charged an iPhone 13 Pro; Anker states that they regulate the charging surface to stay below 104 degrees Fahrenheit / 40 degrees Celsius, and it didn’t get uncomfortably warm (quite the opposite in fact, as I was testing it on a winter day in the UK), so this wasn’t a concern.

At 200g, the Anker MagGo Power Bank (10K, Slim) felt a little on the heavy side, despite being just 0.58 inches / 14.7mm deep. But when compared to other 10K power banks such as the Ugreen Uno Magnetic Wireless Power Bank 10000mAh 15W, which weighs 230g, and the 260g Iniu B43 MagSafe 10000mAh Compact Power Bank, I may have been expecting too much considering they’ve managed to pack a 10K capacity battery into such a small package. One thing I miss compared to other power banks I’ve tested is an integrated stand. That’s just my personal preference, however, and as its slim profile is the key feature, it wouldn’t have made sense for Anker to bulk it up just to fit in a stand.

A view of the slim depth of the power bank, the textured button, and the USB-C port can be seen.

(Image credit: Future / Cesci Angell)

I was very impressed with how quickly the Anker MagGo Power Bank (10K, Slim) recharged an iPhone 13 Pro, taking just one hour and fifty minutes to do so. This result makes it the fastest MagSafe power bank I’ve tested, and the second fastest out of the large number of MagSafe chargers I’ve tested, at just twelve minutes slower than the Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Stand. When it comes to charging the power bank itself, Anker states that it can recharge fully in up to two and a half hours when using a 30W adapter. When the Anker MagGo Power Bank (10K, Slim) is fully charged, it’s stated to have the ability to recharge an iPhone 15 Pro 1.8 times.

Overall, I was very impressed with the Anker MagGo Power Bank (10K, Slim). The fast charging speeds, 10K battery capacity, and slimmer profile make it a great choice when traveling. The lack of a stand is a shame, but we can’t have it all, and given the choice I’d rather have the speedy charging. Personally, I found it to be a little on the heavy side, so if you prefer something lightweight I’d recommend looking at a lower-capacity 5,000mAh charger like the Ugreen 5000mAh Magnetic Wireless Power Bank.

If the price tag on the Anker MagGo Power Bank (10K, Slim) is a little steep, or you’d like more features for your money, then there are plenty of other chargers at a range of price points to explore in our best power bank and best wireless charger guides.

An iPhone lays charging on top of the power bank.

(Image credit: Future / Cesci Angell)

Anker MagGo Power Bank (10K, Slim) review: Price & specs

Should I buy the Anker MagGo Power Bank (10K, Slim)?

Buy it if…

You want a slim power bank that’ll recharge your phone more than once
While it may not be the slimmest power bank on the market, this power bank manages to squeeze a 10,000mAh battery into a satisfyingly slimline casing.

You want a quick charge when on the go
With the ability to charge an iPhone 13 Pro in just one hour and fifty minutes, this charger is proof that good things really do come in small packages.

Don't buy it if…

You want something lightweight
Despite the slim design, this power bank still felt pretty heavy, especially with an iPhone 13 Pro attached. I’d recommend looking at 5,000mAh batteries if a lighter weight is on your must-have list.

You want something with a stand
Many of us enjoy streaming content on our phones, which makes stands very convenient as we can sit back and relax without worrying about our phone batteries taking a nose dive. Presumably, to keep bulk to a minimum, Anker hasn’t included a stand on this power bank, making hands-free viewing a little tricky.

Anker MagGo Power Bank (10K, Slim) review: Also consider

Anker 621 Magnetic Battery
If you’ve not set your heart on a higher-capacity battery, the Anker 621 could prove the perfect alternative. At just 0.45 inches / 11.4mm thick, it’s even slimmer than the Anker MagGo Power Bank (10K, Slim). Plus, as it’s a smaller-capacity battery, it weighs much less at just 4.5oz / 129g, making it satisfyingly lightweight and compact for little top-ups on short trips. If you'd like to learn more, check out the full Anker 621 Magnetic Battery review.

I tried this seriously stylish budget gaming microphone for a week, but its middling sound left me wanting more
5:00 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming Gaming Accessories | Tags: , , , | Comments: Off

JBL Quantum Stream Talk: One-minute review

The real highlight of the JBL Quantum Stream Talk are its design and feature set, which punch above its budget-friendly price point.

It’s super compact and very stylish, with a robust stand that incorporates metal elements to look and feel premium. It’s incredibly easy to adjust and position too, thanks to a small, foam-footed base and a smart swivel mechanism that allows the microphone to be rotated by a full 360 degrees.

The prominent LED ring indicator is a smart inclusion and something that you wouldn’t necessarily expect at this price point, providing a convenient and easy way to check whether the microphone is muted and even adjust some basic settings on the fly.

That said, the recording quality is a let-down out of the box. Its default configuration sounds very jagged and does a poor job of cutting out background noise. Luckily, the compatible JBL Quantum Engine software gives you everything that you need for better recordings. With a few settings tweaked, namely the EQ profile and noise reduction level, it’s perfect for chatting with friends or dialing into meetings - but still not clear enough to rank among the best microphones for streaming.

If you're interested in picking up a streaming microphone on a budget, there are options out there that look and feel substantially worse, but sound noticeably better such as the AKG Ara. If you can wait for a sale, you can regularly find old favorites like the Blue Snowball for not that much more than the price of the JBL Quantum Stream Talk which offers far more bang for your buck.

A close up of the JBL Quantum Stream Talk.

(Image credit: Future)

JBL Quantum Stream Talk: Price and availability

  • Costs $49.95 / £39.99
  • Available via Amazon and JBL
  • Easy to find in the US and UK

The JBL Quantum Stream Talk is readily available from both Amazon and JBL in the US and UK. It costs $49.95 / £39.99, making this the cheapest entry in the JBL Quantum Stream line right now. At this price, it’s a good value option overall for general use, especially if you’re looking for a more affordable choice that doesn't take up a lot of space on your desk.

That said, those seeking a microphone for content creation would be better off waiting for a sale and spending a little more on something like the HyperX DuoCast - which routinely drops down to around the $60 / £40 mark and offers higher quality recordings.

JBL Quantum Stream Talk: Specs

JBL Quantum Stream Talk: Design and features

  • Stylish and compact
  • Feels premium
  • Good set of features

The JBL Quantum Stream Talk is very stylish for a microphone of its price. It’s compact, with a circular plastic base complete with a small foam ring to help keep it in place on your desk.

It has a simple stalk-like design, with a cylindrical metal column and a small plastic capsule connected by a ball joint that allows it to be rotated a full 360 degrees. Also joining the column and capsule is a short wire with an orange and black braided that introduces subtle splash of color.

At the end of the capsule is a translucent ring illuminated by an LED. This is a bright green by default, turning red when the microphone is muted. The option to dim or even turn off this light would be appreciated, but it’s not particularly intrusive either way.

On the base, you will find a gray JBL logo and an adjustment dial. It's a good size and can be used to adjust the monitoring headphone volume when you’re connected to a 3.5mm headphone jack on the rear. It can also be pressed down to quickly mute the microphone, or held for a few seconds to adjust the microphone gain - indicated by the mic’s LED turning purple. It’s all very intuitive and one of the biggest reasons to consider the JBL Quantum Stream Talk.

While the microphone itself is a single unit, there is a removable USB-C cable. This is a good 6ft length and feels high-quality, matching the orange and black aesthetic of the wire found on the mic.

While I very much like the integrated stand setup, you should bear in mind that this microphone cannot be mounted to a boom arm unlike other budget picks, so is not suitable if that’s your preferred setup.

The JBL Quantum Stream Talk muted and rotavated.

(Image credit: Future)

JBL Quantum Stream Talk: Performance

  • Audio quality isn’t great out of the box
  • Sounds much better when you tweak the EQ
  • Noise reduction also helps

When you first plug the JBL Quantum Stream Talk into a computer, a popup automatically appears asking whether you would install the compatible JBL Quantum Engine Software - a convenient feature that saves you from having to dig around on a support website to find it. I would highly recommend installing it, as I found that tweaking the microphone’s settings is almost essential.

Out of the box, I was unimpressed with its performance - recordings sounded choppy with a flat, almost nasal quality to them. Booting up Discord for a quick call, background noise was very noticeable, as was any movement of the surface on which the mic was placed. This is a little strange, as the JBL Quantum Stream Talk uses a super-cardioid pickup pattern that should, in theory, really help it hone in on just your voice.

Still, you can achieve decent sound with the JBL Quantum Engine Software in hand. For me, the sweet spot was enabling the “Bright” EQ profile, which bumps up the level of almost every frequency, and turning up both the noise gate and noise reduction settings to medium. Listening back to recordings made with Audacity, my voice sounded a little sharp but otherwise more than ideal for casual chatting. With a few more tweaks, I am sure I could get it to sound even better.

The JBL Quantum Engine Software.

(Image credit: JBL)

JBL notes that the microphone is compatible with the PlayStation and Nintendo Switch too. Plugging it into my PS5, it provided significantly better sound than the integrated microphone of the DualSense Wireless Controller but is not up to par with any of the mics on the best PS5 headsets. Still, the option to use this model with your console is appreciated and increases its utility somewhat.

That said, this is also marketed as a streaming microphone and I am hesitant to recommend it for that purpose. If you’re able to spend a little more, you can find models that sound better out of the box.

This is doubly true if you’re shopping over a sale period, where the likes of the iconic Blue Snowball routinely have their prices slashed to just $20 / £20 or so more. Still, if your budget really can’t extend beyond the $49.95 / £39.99 mark and you just need something quick, this should just about suffice until you’re able to upgrade.

Should I buy the JBL Quantum Stream Talk?

Buy it if...

You want a small microphone
The JBL Quantum Stream Talk is a good option if you’re looking for something compact - its small size makes it easy to fit on your desk and it’s very stylish overall.

You want a good set of features
Its LED indicators, useful mute button, and decent set of options in the JBL Quantum Engine software all help the JBL Quantum Stream Talk punch above its modest price tag.

Don't buy it if...

You’re a content creator able to spend more
If you’re keen to get into streaming, then I would recommend spending a little bit more on a model that sounds better out of the box. Alternatively, wait for the sale and pick up a favorite like the Blue Snowball for cheap.

Also consider...

Want to weigh up your options? Here are two gaming microphones to consider alongside the JBL Quantum Stream Talk.

AKG Ara
The AKG Ara is a decent alternative at a similar price. It sounds better out of the box but lacks the gain control, looks worse, and feels cheaper in the hands.

For more information, check out our full AKG Ara review

HyperX DuoCast
The HyperX DuoCast is frequently available on sale for only slightly more than the JBL Quantum Stream Talk. This entry-level streamer mic offers better sound, two distinct polar patterns, and pleasant RGB lighting if you’re able to stretch the budget.

For more information, check out our full HyperX DuoCast review.

A close up of the branding on the JBL Quantum Stream Talk.

(Image credit: Future)

How I tested the JBL Quantum Stream Talk

  • Used for over a week
  • Tried with PC and console
  • Tested with calls and local recording

I used the JBL Quantum Stream Talk as my daily driver for over a week. During that time I tested it with both PC and console with a range of tasks including making calls to friends, recording audio files locally, and attending virtual meetings for work. I made sure to thoroughly test the compatible JBL Quantum Engine software, experimenting with its features to find the best setup.

Throughout my time with the microphone, I compared my experience with my hands-on testing of other models all across the price spectrum ranging from the likes of the Blue Snowball to the Blue Yeti and SteelSeries Alias.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed January 2025.

I tested Sony’s Bravia Projector 8, and its class-leading motion handling and ultra-low input lag make it fantastic for gaming
1:11 am |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Theater Projectors Televisions | Tags: | Comments: Off

Sony Bravia Projector 8: two-minute review

The Sony Bravia Projector 8 (VPL-XW6100ES) is the latest addition to the company’s lineup of native 4K projectors, all of which use the Z-Phosphor laser light source. This new beamer, along with the flagship Bravia Projector 9 (VPL-XW8100ES), adds several key features that bring the brand’s higher-end models in line with their chief competitors among the best 4K projectors, the JVC DLA-NZ800 and JVC DLA-NZ900.

Brightness for the Sony Projector 8 has been increased to 2,700 lumens and both models now use Sony’s professional-grade XR Processor. One of the key benefits is genuine dynamic tone mapping for a superior HDR experience.

The Projector 8 and 9 retain the same chassis and Advanced Crisp-Focus (ACF) lens, motorised lens controls and lens memories as the previous generation, but unlike the JVC projectors, they don’t support HDR10+ high dynamic range or 3D.

The Projector 8’s design is the same as previous generations, but the compact chassis remains well-built. The menu system is easy to navigate, installation is flexible, and the backlit remote control makes this beamer a pleasure to operate. The connectivity has been upgraded and now includes two HDMI 2.1 inputs, which means the Projector 8 accepts signals with higher frame rates up to 4K 120p – great news for next-generation console and high-end PC rig gamers.

The inclusion of 4K 120p isn’t the only good news for gamers, with the Projector 8 supporting ALLM. As a result, it automatically goes into the game mode when a console is detected, and the input lag is an incredibly low 10ms. All of this finally makes this beamer the ideal companion to the brand’s own PlayStation 5 game console, as well as other consoles and PC gaming rigs.

It’s not perfect of course. There’s no HDR10+ or 3D support, the colour gamut could go wider, the black levels dig a little deeper, and shadows retain more detail, but overall this high-end beamer delivers the big screen goods. In fact, its smooth motion, superior processing, fast responses, and improved HDR are sure to please even the most demanding cinephile or competitive gamer.

Sony Bravia Projector 8 review: price and release date

  • First available: October 2024
  • Price: £15,999 / $15,999 / around AU$21,170

The Sony Bravia Projector 8 (VPL-XW6100ES) is the new mid-range model in the brand’s line-up of home cinema projectors and is available now in a choice of matte black or white finishes. The Projector 8 currently retails for £15,999 in the UK or $15,999 in the US.

Sony Bravia Projector 8 lens close up

The Sony Projector 8 has a specified 2,700 lumens light output, and its laser light engine has a 20,000-hour lifespan (Image credit: Future)

Sony Bravia Projector 8 review: Specs

Sony Bravia Projector 8 shown at angle

The Projector 8 is available with either a white or black casing (Image credit: Future)

Sony Bravia Projector 8 review: design

  • Advanced Crisp-Focus (ACF) lens
  • Motorised lens controls and memories
  • Backlit remote control

The Sony Projector 8 looks identical to the brand’s previous generations, with the same angled design and centrally-mounted lens. There are air intake grilles at the front, exhaust vents at the rear, and some basic controls on the left-hand side as you face the lens.

The Projector 8 measures 460 x 210 x 517mm (WxHxD), and weighs in at 14kg. Sony offers a choice of matte black or matte white, and you can also choose between a stand or ceiling mount. The build quality is good, although it feels less substantial when compared to the JVC NZ800.

The Projector 8 uses the Advanced Crisp-Focus (ACF) 70mm lens introduced on earlier models, which is designed to resolve more detail. The lens controls are also motorised, making setup easier, and there are lens memories to create different aspect ratios if you use a 2.35:1 screen.

The connections are all located in a recess along the bottom left-hand side as you face the projector. Here you’ll find two HDMI 2.1 inputs, which is a welcome addition, along with an Ethernet port and RS-232C connector, a 12V trigger, an IR input jack, and a USB port for power.

The provided remote is the same large and backlit zapper included with previous generations of Sony beamers. The buttons are laid out sensibly, it’s comfortable to hold and use with one hand, and includes all the controls you’ll need to set up and operate the Projector 8.

  • Design score: 5/5

Sony Bravia Projector 8 rear ports

Ports include 2 HDMI 2.1 connections with 4K 120Hz support for gaming (Image credit: Future)

Sony Bravia Projector 8 review: features

  • Z-Phosphor laser light source
  • Dynamic HDR Tone Mapping
  • Support for 4K 120Hz high frame rate

The Sony Projector 8 uses the brand’s current 0.61-inch SXRD chip to deliver native 4K (3840 x 2160) images. The projector has a refresh rate of 120Hz, and thanks to the addition of the two HDMI 2.1 inputs it can now support higher frame rates up to 4K 120p.

The Projector 8 also uses a Z-Phosphor laser light source, with an increased claimed brightness of 2,700 lumens and a claimed lifespan of up to 20,000 hours. That basically means you could watch a film a day for the next ten years without worrying about the image dimming like a lamp or bulb.

The inclusion of wide dynamic range optics and Sony’s XR Triluminos Pro technology promises deeper blacks, more saturated colours and improved contrast ratios. Sony’s professional-grade XR Processor also promises advanced image processing and real-time optimisation of the picture.

Thanks to the addition of the XR Processor the Projector 8 has XR Clear Image processing for intelligent upscaling and noise reduction, along with improved HDR thanks to image cross-analysis, depth mapping and focal point recognition. There’s also XR Deep Black laser dimming and XR Dynamic Tone Mapping for optimised HDR10 based on analysis of the incoming signal.

There’s Motionflow frame interpolation for fast-paced sports action and a low-latency mode for gaming. In addition to the support for 4K 120p high frame-rate gaming, the Projector 8 also has ALLM (auto low latency mode) that puts it into game mode when a games console is detected.

  • Features score: 4

Sony Bravia Projector 8 setup menus

The Sony's Reference picture mode proved very accurate out of the box (Image credit: Future)

Sony Bravia Projector 8 review: picture quality

  • Bright and detailed pictures
  • Impressive HDR tone mapping
  • Very low input lag for gaming

The Sony Projector 8 (VPL-XW6100ES) delivers awesome big-screen pictures thanks to its native 4K (3840 x 2160) resolution and Advanced Crisp-Focused (ACF) 70mm lens. This results in detailed and distortion-free images, along with wider dynamic range optics. All of this means you’ll get pin-sharp resolution across the entire screen – no matter how big that screen is.

If you have a really large screen, there’s no need to worry, because this beamer has a Z-Phosphor laser light source that can reach an extremely bright 2,700 lumens. It also has a claimed lifespan of 20,000 hours, so you’ll never have to worry about changing a lamp, plus the laser itself delivers a consistent colour performance and doesn’t dim significantly over its long average lifespan.

The Reference picture mode proves very accurate out of the box, and the extensive calibration controls can be used to dial in a near-perfect picture. The black levels are not as good as the JVC NZ800, and I measured the Projector 8’s contrast ratio at 12,000:1. Sony only quotes a dynamic contrast ratio of infinity to one, but this is achieved by turning the laser off, which doesn’t represent mixed content.

The big selling point of a Sony projector is its image processing, and the XR Processor doesn’t disappoint. When watching a high quality 1080p source, you’ll be rewarded with an upscaled picture that makes full use of the projector’s more than eight million pixels, producing images that are expertly rendered so they appear clean, detailed and free of unwanted artefacts or noise.

Sony’s Reality Creation detail enhancement applies sharpening to any resolution, including 4K, but is so sophisticated that it achieves this without introducing distracting artefacts. Motion handling is class-leading, appearing fluid and free of judder or other issues, even without engaging Motionflow. Although for fast sports the frame interpolation feature can be beneficial.

The Projector 8 supports HDR10 and HLG, but not HDR10+. The addition of dynamic tone mapping is most welcome, performing frame-by-frame analysis of incoming HDR signals, and adjusting the tone mapping dynamically through pixel processing and the laser power. The results are impressive for a projector, bringing out details in the darkest and brightest parts of the picture.

While I was generally impressed by the picture quality, I do feel that to get the most out of this beamer you need to use all the processing. The Reference mode, which bypasses a lot of the processing, often appeared flat and lifeless, but when switched to Film 1 or Film 2 it was a different story. The images burst into life with detail, depth and colour that really add to SDR and HDR.

Watching Passengers reveals a detailed native 4K image with well rendered HDR and rich colours that retain plenty of depth. The same is true with the saturated primaries in The Greatest Showman, which the Projector 8 handles with skill. It’s only when watching a darker film like The Batman that the weaker blacks of the Projector 8 are laid bare, but at least the shadows are free of crush and the peak highlights don’t suffer from loss of detail or clipping.

The Projector 8 is a great choice for gamers thanks to its bright and detailed images, as well as its peerless motion handling. The performance with SDR is superb, while HDR gaming is exceptional due to the laser light source and HDR enhancements. The overall gaming experience is smooth and responsive thanks to a dedicated game mode that delivers an input lag of 18ms with 4K 60p, and just 10ms with 4K 120p. Both these latency measurements are lightning-fast for a projector, and better than many TVs.

  • Picture quality score: 4.5/5

Sony Bravia Projector 8 remote control

The Sony's fully backlit remote control makes it easy to adjust settings in a dark room and has all of the adjustments you'll need (Image credit: Future)

Sony Bravia Projector 8 review: value

  • Priced to directly compete with superior JVC NZ800
  • Expensive when compared to very similar JVC NZ700

The Sony Bravia Projector 8 (VPL-XW6100ES) is priced to compete directly with the JVC DLA-NZ800, which also costs £15,999/$15,999. However, the NZ800 does have the edge due to its all-glass lens, deeper blacks, superior dynamic tone mapping, and support for both HDR10+ and 3D.

The Projector will also face serious competition from JVC’s DLA-NZ700, which currently retails for £9,499/$8,999. The NZ700 isn’t as bright at 2,300 lumens, but it delivers better contrast and HDR tone mapping, and it supports HDR10+. However, the Sony still has the edge with gaming thanks to its lower input lag and support for 4K 120p compared to the JVC, which is limited to 4K 60p.

  • Value score: 4/5

Sony Bravia Projector 8 on-projector controls

The Projector 8's surface controls (Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Sony Bravia Projector 8?

Sony Bravia Projector 8 shown from front

(Image credit: Future)

Buy it if...

You want class-leading image processing
The XR Processor brings professional-grade processing to the Projector 8, ensuring superb upscaling, noise reduction, and dynamic HDR tone mapping for awesome big-screen images.

You want 4K 120p support

The HDMI 2.1 inputs allow the Projector 8 to support frame rates of up to 4K 120p, making this beamer a perfect choice for next-gen console owners or anyone using a high-end PC gaming rig.

You want superior motion handling
Motion handling is an area where Sony projectors have always been strong, and the Projector 8 is no exception. Whether it's films, sport or gaming the movement is smooth, clean and detailed.

Don’t buy it if… 

You want deep inky blacks
Sony’s SXRD LCoS display tech is better at delivering blacks than LCD or DLP, but it still can’t reach the inky depths of JVC’s D-ILA, which is also LCoS but remains the king of contrast.

You want support for HDR10+
The Projector 8 doesn’t support HDR10+, so if you want to benefit from the format’s dynamic metadata, which is very handy for beamers, you’ll need to look at models from Epson or JVC.

You want support for 3D
Sony has dropped 3D support with this generation, so if you’re a fan of the third dimension you’ll either have to look at a DLP projector with their poor blacks and rainbows or JVC’s NZ800.

Also consider...

Epson QB1000
The Epson QB1000 has higher brightness than the Sony and also costs less. The Sony has superior black levels and actual 4K imaging chips, however, and its gaming performance is better.

Read our full Epson QB1000 review

Epson LS12000
Epson's LS12000 has the same brightness as the Sony and costs less. It's also a great choice for gaming with 4K 120Hz support though the Sony has the added benefit of ultra-low input lag.

Read our full Epson LS12000 review

JVC DLA-NZ800
The JVC is priced the same as the Sony and has better black levels and HDR10+ and 3D support. It also has 4K 120Hz support for gaming but higher input lag than the Sony.

Read our full JVC DLA-NZ800 review

Sony Bravia Projector 8 shown at angle

(Image credit: Future)

How I tested the Sony Bravia Projector 8

  • Measured with Calman calibration software
  • Evaluated using SDR and HDR content
  • Reviewed in a dedicated home cinema

As with all my TV and projector reviews I use a combination of subjective viewing and objective measurements against the industry standards. For projectors, I also do all my testing in a dedicated home cinema with a completely blacked-out environment and high-quality screen.

The subjective testing is based around watching a variety of familiar scenes, primarily sourced from 4K and 1080p Blu-rays, plus the Spears & Munsil UHD Benchmark 4K disc. Any test scenes have been specifically chosen to evaluate a display’s black levels, contrast performance, colour accuracy, upscaling, image processing, motion handling, and HDR tone mapping.

For the objective testing, I measured the Projector 8’s brightness, greyscale and colour gamut in SDR, before doing the same in HDR. I also evaluated the accuracy of the HDR tone mapping, along with the colour gamut coverage for DCI-P3. To do this I used a pattern generator and colour meter combined with Portrait Display’s Calman calibration software. I measured the Projector 8’s input lag in milliseconds using a specialised Leo Bodnar tester.

First reviewed: February, 2025

The Atari 7800+ is a decent retro gaming package with a few too many frustrations to fully recommend
9:00 pm | February 21, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming Gaming Accessories | Comments: Off

Atari 7800+: One-minute review

The Atari 7800+ is the latest attempt at a retro console from the iconic gaming brand. I was hopeful going into this one, as I was quite fond of the previous Atari 2600+ which I awarded four stars in my review. Unfortunately, I feel like the Atari 7800+ is a step down overall, offering little in the way of quality-of-life improvements and a genuinely terrible pack-in controller.

Now, I wasn’t the biggest fan of the 2600+’s included CX40+ joystick, citing its stiffness as a major point of contention. I like the CX78+ even less; the option of wireless connectivity is nice, but a lack of a pause or reset button (these are only on the console itself) and its bizarre D-pad / analog stick hybrid make for a miserable play experience. And don’t go thinking you can just swap it out for a third-party controller; the lack of USB ports on the console means that this is strictly not an option.

On a more positive note the VIP Boxset I was sent for testing came with a handful of Atari 7800 games, and they all are good fun. That Atari charm is still in full effect here, with its limited graphical and audio capabilities still allowing for a fascinating and unique gaming experience. It’s a shame that each game takes a decent chunk of time to actually load, but once you’re in, there’s undoubtedly plenty of enjoyment to be had here.

Overall then, the Atari 7800+ is only really recommendable to serious Atari enthusiasts. With its use of physical cartridges (that would need to be bought separately), lack of quality modernities and no support for third-party controllers, it’s authentic to a fault. For some, that’ll be great news. But for a more approachable and affordable retro gaming experience, you might want to consider something like the Evercade VS or the handheld brilliance of the Super Pocket instead.

Atari 7800+

(Image credit: Future)

Atari 7800+: Price and availability

  • $129.99 / £99.99
  • Includes the console and CX78+ gamepad
  • Also includes Bentley Bear’s Crystal Quest physical cartridge

The Atari 7800+ has been available since November 2024, and will cost you $129.99 / £99.99. You can buy it directly from Atari’s website, or at retailers including Amazon in the US and Argos across the pond in the UK. This is the same price that the Atari 2600+ launched at, and given the 7800+’s compatibility with 2600 game cartridges and controllers, it’s undoubtedly the one to choose today if you’re deciding between the two, though I do think the 2600+ is the more attractive unit from an aesthetics standpoint.

It’s a pretty expensive investment considering the console only ships with one controller and a single (relatively simple) game. But like devices such as the Evercade EXP and Evercade Alpha, you’ll likely want to buy it in the interest of building up a collection of games. On that note, Atari 7800 and 2600 cartridges can be purchased from the brand’s website for $29.99 / £24.99 a pop. These come with authentic cardboard packaging, adding to the overall value somewhat.

Atari 7800+: Specs

Atari 7800+ controller

(Image credit: Future)

Atari 7800+: Design and features

  • Feels lightweight and hollow out of the box
  • CX78+ controller is pretty terrible
  • Thankfully very easy to set up

Let’s get the positives out the way first. The Atari 7800+ is incredibly easy to set up, and you will be gaming with it within moments of taking it out of the box. In said box, you’re getting the console itself, a CX78+ wireless controller (more on this thing in a moment), and a single game cartridge for Bentley Bear’s Crystal Quest - a homebrew title from developer Robert DeCrescenzo. As an aside, I think it’s a wonderful thing that Atari is so prominently promoting members of its homebrew community here, but I’ll talk more about this in the performance section below.

The box has most of everything you’ll need to get the Atari 7800+ up and running on your TV or gaming monitor including a HDMI cable, a DB9 wireless dongle for the controller, and a USB-C cable for power. The console will work simply by plugging it into a USB port, but if you want to hook it up to the mains, you’ll need to source your own USB plug. Atari cites this omission as a means to cut down on e-waste, which is fair enough.

The console itself has little in the way of buttons or ports. The front houses two DB9 controller ports, while the rear has a single HDMI and USB-C port, as well as a switch to flip between 16:9 and 4:3 resolution. The top then has a large cartridge slot (which unfortunately doesn’t have a dust cover), and power, pause, select and reset buttons.

Atari 7800+

(Image credit: Future)

As I alluded to at the top, this is a pretty authentic package, albeit with the addition of a HDMI port for modern displays. I do wish Atari could’ve found some room for a standard USB port or two, to offer functionality for the best Xbox controllers or best PC controllers like we see on the Evercade VS and Evercade Alpha.

That’s largely because you’ll be relying on the pack-in CX78+ wireless controller for gameplay. In a word, this thing is awful. While appearing faithful to the original 7800 controller, its boxy shape doesn’t sit well in the hands and its D-pad / analog stick hybrid is beyond uncomfortable to play with. In fairness, its two face buttons are just fine, and it instantly paired to the console by holding down the pairing button for a second.

But there’s really not much else to say about the CX78+. It’s good that there’s one in the box, but it had me begging for third-party controller support.

One last gripe I have is with the cartridge slot. Cartridges never quite feel like they’re securely in place here. Yet simultaneously, you really have to jimmy the cartridges from side to side in order to dislodge them, which creates a rather uncomfortable squeaking sound as they come loose.

Atari 7800+: Performance

  • Simple, but very charming game library
  • Emulation is broadly excellent
  • Games can take some time to boot

Now I get to talk about my favorite part of the Atari 7800+ experience - the games themselves. Like with the Atari 2600+, I found myself surprised at how well many of these games held up as well as how much fun I was having. Look, I’m old, but Atari was still before my time. Cut me some slack.

The pack-in game, Bentley Bear’s Crystal Quest, is excellent. This is an Adventure Island-esque side-scrolling platformer with simple yet charming visuals and surprisingly moreish gameplay. You’ll run from left to right, dispatching enemies with a reliable projectile attack. Your health bar also acts like a timer, counting down as you progress, but thankfully it can be topped up with semi-plentiful health items. It’s good simple fun and has a decent level of challenge to it.

Atari 7800+ box

(Image credit: Future)

I was also a huge fan of Ninja Golf, which is exactly what it sounds like. Here, you whack your ball up a course, and you’ll then have to run towards it, eliminating enemy ninjas and wild creatures on the way. It again plays very well if you can get used to the CX78+ controller.

I also got to test out an impressive Rad Racer-like combat racing game in Fatal Run, as well as two relatively simpler experiences in Frenzy and Asteroids Deluxe. Overall, there’s a good amount of variety if you’re planning to shop around for extra cartridges on Atari’s website. I don’t personally own any old 2600 or 7800 cartridges myself, but Atari’s website claims the 7800+ has “near-perfect compatibility with original and third-party Atari games.”

It’s worth noting that each game did take a surprising amount of time to boot, often upwards of 10 seconds for games with more detailed visuals like Ninja Golf and Fatal Run. It’s also quite irksome that the CX78+ controller (likely for the sake of authenticity) doesn’t have a pause button - so you’ll need to rely on the one found on the console instead.

Should I buy the Atari 7800+?

Buy it if...

You want an authentic retro gaming experience
With top emulation and a reliance on physical cartridges, the Atari 7800+ is a fine choice if you’re looking to kickstart a new game collection especially if you’re enthusiastic about some of the earliest games in our medium’s history.

You already own a good number of old Atari cartridges
The Atari 7800+ is broadly compatible with authentic 2600 and 7800 game cartridges. As a result, the 7800+ provides a good excuse to dust away those cobwebs and put your old collection to use once more.

Don't buy it if...

You haven’t the cash to spare
The console itself is already pretty pricey, but you’ll also need to buy more cartridges separately. This can add up to a pretty hefty investment overall.

You were hoping for more controller support
Having the option to use an Xbox Wireless Controller or similar would’ve been a serious boon here. Instead, you’ll be relying on Atari’s own controller, and it isn’t particularly good.View Deal

Also consider...

If the Atari 7800+ isn’t quite doing it for you, you might want to consider one of these other retro console devices.

Atari 2600+
The Atari 2600+ is the 7800+’s predecessor and technically less capable given its lack of 7800 cartridge support, but I’m a big fan of its authentic look from its dip switches to elements of a wood finish. If you prize aesthetics, this console is more attractive than its successor.

Read our full Atari 2600+ review

Evercade VS
It supports the entire Evercade cartridge library, is more affordable and features four USB ports for its own controller as well as third-party gamepad support. This one’s a real winner if you’re keen to have a more arcade-focused collection from developers including Capcom, Taito, Technos and more.

Read our full Evercade VS review

Atari 7800+

(Image credit: Future)

How I tested the Atari 7800+

  • Tested over the course of a week
  • Played on a 24-inch AOC Gaming 24G2SP monitor
  • A wide selection of games tested

I played the Atari 7800+ over the course of about a week, primarily with it hooked up to a smaller display to get the best results out of its simplistic visuals. My monitor of choice here was the AOC Gaming 24G2SP monitor, with games played via HDMI at 1080p resolution. Though I did make sure to test games back and forth between 16:9 and 4:3 aspect ratios.

Games tested included Bentley Bear’s Crystal Quest, Fatal Run, Frenzy, Asteroids Deluxe and Ninja Golf. As I couldn’t play these games with a third-party controller, I had to make use of the pack-in CX78+ controller.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed February 2025

I’ve used the Hori Split Pad Pro with my Nintendo Switch for years and it’s still great, but there are some better options in 2025
7:00 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Consoles & PC Gadgets Gaming Nintendo | Tags: , , | Comments: Off

Hori Split Pad Pro: One-minute review

The Hori Split Pad Pro was easily one of the best Nintendo Switch controllers when it first launched in conjunction with Daemon X Machina over five years ago, offering a fantastic wired-only Joy-Con alternative that delivered superior comfort and performance at the cost of a few nice-to-have features like HD Rumble, motion controls, and wireless compatibility. It remains a decent option in 2025, especially given its relatively modest price point, but the rise of absolutely killer, feature-packed alternatives like the CRKD Nitro Deck or CRKD Nitro Deck+ mean it’s not quite the titan that it once was.

The full-size thumbsticks, larger face buttons, and massively improved shoulder buttons are among its biggest advantages still, especially compared to the standard Joy-Con controllers. It’s hard to overstate just how much this can improve some games, especially shooters like Borderlands 3 or Doom Eternal where the limited thumbstick motion and shallow triggers of the Joy-Con are a constant frustration. Even so, the absence of motion controls is a real shame in this regard, especially when most Nintendo Switch shooters now support them for more precise aiming, and makes it unsuitable for the likes of Splatoon 3 if that’s your preferred input method.

The D-pad of the Hori Split Pad Pro is a strong point too and perfect for precise platforming in games like Super Mario Bros. Wonder. It’s joined by some handy extras, like two remappable rear inputs and an optional turbo mode, though I don’t find myself reaching for either of these that often. All of this can be configured on the controllers themselves, which eliminates the need for any extra software.

There’s also the matter of the controller’s overall shape, which is significantly larger than that of the Joy-Con. Does this make your Nintendo Switch harder to stash in a bag? Absolutely, but I think this trade-off is worth it given the greater level of comfort that it brings. It makes the Nintendo Switch a joy to play over extended periods of time and can be a lifesaver if you're trying to game throughout a long journey.

Image 1 of 2

The Hori Split Pad Pro on a desk mat.

(Image credit: Future)
Image 2 of 2

The rear of the Hori Split Pad Pro.

(Image credit: Future)

Hori Split Pad Pro: Price and availability

  • Plain models go for $49.99 / £39.99
  • Licensed versions get expensive
  • Accessory pack available for TV mode wired play

The plain black version of the Hori Split Pad Pro is easy to find for $49.99 / £39.99 at online retailers like Amazon in addition to Best Buy and Walmart in the US or Argos and Currys in the UK. There are also a plethora of licensed versions available, though these are generally more expensive. To give an example, the The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom variant that I tested costs $59.99 / £53.99 at the time of writing, so only spring out for these editions if you’re willing to pay more for the aesthetic.

This price point puts the Hori Split Pad Pro in close competition with the $59.99 / £59.99 CRKD Nitro Deck, especially when you bear in mind that the latter is almost perpetually on sale for as low as $39.99 / £37.99. Having tested both extensively, I can say the CRKD Nitro Deck is definitively better thanks to a slightly more comfortable shape (though the Split Pad Pro is still comfy) and the addition of features like motion control and rumble. Still, the Hori Split Pad Pro is worth choosing if you prefer its smaller form factor - or want something that doesn’t need a mobile app to tweak.

You can also buy the Hori Split Pad Pro in a bundle that comes with a small attachment that goes in between the controllers for wired TV mode play and also enables PC compatibility. This comes in at $79.99 / £69.99 and is the only way to buy that attachment as it is not sold separately.

Hori Split Pad Pro: Specs

A close up shot of the Hori Split Pad Pro.

(Image credit: Future)

Hori Split Pad Pro: Design and features

  • Much more comfortable than the Joy-Con
  • But light weight feels quite cheap
  • Turbo mode, plus remappable buttons featured

Taking the Hori Split Pad Pro out of the box, the first thing you’ll notice is its light weight. These controllers come in at just 0.18 lbs / 80 g each - which is actually a little more than the standard Joy-Con but, because of the increased size, feels a lot less substantial in the hands. They come across as almost hollow, which isn’t the best first impression given the price. Thankfully, this is barely noticeable once you slot them into the Joy-Con rails, and they slide in seamlessly before securing in place with a reassuring click.

Hori has opted for an unusual, almost squashed look with the Split Pad Pro, giving the impression of a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller that someone has accidentally sat on. The grips are tiny, lumpy protrusions on the corner of each side of the gamepad, which honestly looks pretty ridiculous. That said, the company must be on to something here as the Hori Split Pad Pro is seriously comfortable to hold.

The grips fit nicely in my palms and the chunky depth gives you loads to grasp on to. The shoulder buttons are a massive improvement over those found on the Joy-Con, coming in larger and with a much softer press to them. The triggers are also enhanced, with a bit of extra movement for a more satisfying pull. Likewise, the thumbsticks have a great range of motion, allowing for more precise inputs than the fiddly tiny ones on the Joy-Con - though they are unfortunately not Hall effect like those of the CRKD Nitro Deck. There’s also a proper D-pad, with a satisfying, spongy feel (not too dissimilar to that of the Nintendo 2DS) and a slight concave shape that’s pleasant on the thumb.

When it comes to features, you have a modest selection to choose from. Each side of the Split Pad Pro has its own rear input, which can be mapped by holding the tiny ‘Assign’ button on the front. This can only be achieved while your Nintendo Switch is powered on but, thankfully, does save your selection in between uses. There’s also a turbo button, which you can hold to simulate rapid button presses without ruining your thumb - handy if you play a lot of arcade shoot-’em up style games.

As I’ve previously mentioned, this is a wired controller that can only be used attached to the Switch. Unlike the Joy-Con, you also don’t get HD Rumble (or any vibration for that matter), gyroscope controls, an IR camera, or Amiibo support which is a shame but not too surprising in the realm of third-party controllers.

A close up shot of the right hand side of the Hori Split Pad Pro.

(Image credit: Future)

Hori Split Pad Pro: Performance

  • Very comfortable to use
  • Perfect for shooters
  • Outclassed by the CRKD Nitro Deck

There’s very little I can fault the Hori Split Pad Pro on in raw performance. It feels great in the hands and remains so over extended sessions. I often find my fingers become cramped after multiple hours with the Joy-Con and that’s not at all the case here.

The buttons and D-pad are perfectly responsive and a great size for those with larger hands too, further adding to the comfort factor. The larger thumbsticks don’t have a lot of resistance so are ideal for quick motion, whether that’s in 3D adventures like Super Mario Odyssey or fast-paced driving games such as Rocket League.

My only complaint with the buttons is the use of a very soft rubbery material for the start, select, home, ‘Assign’ and turbo buttons, which makes them fairly dull and slow to press. These aren’t buttons that you’re going to be using all the time, of course, but plastic would be a big improvement. Although I do miss the ability to tweak settings like thumbstick sensitivity, the fact that you don’t need an app to access the rear button assignment and turbo is refreshing and would make this a particularly good fit if you’re shopping for a child.

Unfortunately, the Hori Split Pad Pro suffers because of its relative age. The CRKD Nitro Deck and CRKD Nitro Deck+ have launched over the last couple of years and outclass it in almost every regard - be that the presence of motion control, rumble, two more rear inputs, a HDMI port, or Hall effect components. Having tested both extensively, I even found that the Nitro Deck is a tad more comfortable thanks to its increased heft and certainly has a more premium build. The one area where the Hori Split Pad Pro comes up on top is the fact that it is smaller and easier to remove, so slightly more portable overall.

The Hori Split Pad Pro being used to play a Super Mario game on Nintendo Switch OLED.

(Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Hori Split Pad Pro?

Buy it if...

You want a simple Joy-Con alternative
If you want an easy-to-use handheld grip that doesn’t require an app to access any of its features, then the Hori Split Pad Pro is for you.

You love handheld play
The Hori Split Pad Pro is excellent for handheld play, offering a huge improvement over the Joy-Con controllers included with the Nintendo Switch.

You love the licensed designs
With designs inspired by The Legend of Zelda, Pokémon, and more, the Hori Split Pad Pro is definitely worth picking up if you’re a fan of the look.View Deal

Don't buy it if...

You want a wireless controller with all the features
If you want a controller with all of the features of the Joy-Con, you’re going to need to look elsewhere. The Hori Split Pad Pro can only be used in a wired capacity, and also lacks features like rumble, gyroscope controls, and Amiibo support.View Deal

The CRKD Nitro Deck is on sale
When it’s on sale, the CRKD Nitro Deck is practically the same price as the cheapest version of the Hori Split Pad Pro. It’s also noticeably better, with Hall effect components and a more premium build, plus loads of extra features.View Deal

Also consider...

Considering the Hori Split Pad Pro? These alternatives should also be on your radar.

CRKD Nitro Deck
The CRKD Nitro Deck is the closest equivalent to the Hori Split Pad Pro and offers a wider set of features, plus more remappable buttons, at a very similar price.

Read our full CRKD Nitro Deck review

Nintendo Switch Pro Controller
If you want a fully-featured, wireless controller for your Nintendo Switch then you can never go wrong with the official option. The Nintendo Switch Pro Controller feels great in the hands and has best-in-class battery life.

Read our full Nintendo Switch Pro Controller review

A close-up of the Hori Split Pad Pro.

(Image credit: Future)

How I tested the Hori Split Pad Pro

  • Tested this unit for two weeks
  • Tried with a huge a variety of Nintendo Switch games
  • Compared to other Nintendo Switch accessories

Although Hori provided the The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom edition for the purposes of this review, I have owned the black version of the Hori Split Pad Pro for years with it being my main Nintendo Switch controller between 2021 and 2023, at which point I upgraded to the CRKD Nitro Deck. I have spent literally hundreds of hours with it, testing all of its functions and playing a huge variety of Nintendo Switch games.

For this review, I compared my experience with the Hori Split Pad Pro to that with other Nintendo Switch controllers and accessories - namely the CRKD Nitro Deck.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed February 2025

The Iniu B41 is one of the thinnest power banks I’ve used, but it won’t be powerful enough for everyone
5:57 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Phone Accessories Phones | Comments: Off

Iniu B41 power bank: review

The Iniu B41 is a basic power bank with limited features, but a form factor that’s sure to please those who like to travel as light as possible. The power and battery indicator LED is in the shape of a paw – a design choice that’s not explained, but one I’m happy to go along with; if nothing else, it helps to liven up the monotony of the black colorway. Fortunately, the B41 caters to those who like a little more vibrancy, as it also comes in blue, orange, and red variants.

The matt rubberized finish does help to elevate its appearance, and the power button is integrated and seamless with the material, which adds to its sleekness. It feels premium too, although it’s maybe not quite on a par with some rivals. The overall build quality of the B41, though, is quite good. The joins are tight and secure, and there’s barely any flex to any of the panels.

It’s also very thin and light for a 10,000mAh battery, even when compared to the best power banks. This makes it one of the most pocket-friendly power banks I’ve ever used, so those who are constantly on the go will certainly welcome this aspect. Iniu even claims it’s the market’s thinnest 10K power bank.

As for port selection, the B41 features one USB-C port and two USB-A ports, a generous selection considering just how thin it is. Another nice touch is the inbuilt flashlight, which is quite bright considering its small size. It can be easily toggled with two quick presses of the power button.

It took about 90 minutes to charge my Google Pixel 7a from half to full capacity, which is a decent performance. Doing so depleted the battery by only one bar, which means you should be able to get a couple of full charges out of it. However, charging the B41 itself took about three hours from two to four bars, which isn’t a particularly impressive performance.

What’s more, with only 15W of power, this isn’t a bank for charging your larger devices, such as laptops. At a stretch it can charge some tablets, such as the iPad Mini, but Iniu states it will only manage 1.6 charges for this device. At least multiport charging is possible, though.

For about $20, the B41 is also good value, undercutting many of its rivals. However, Iniu also has its B61 power bank, which isn’t much more, yet offers 22.5W of power instead of 15W, as well as a screen displaying the battery readout. But while it’s thin, it’s not as thin as the B41. The B61 might be the better pick therefore, unless thinness is a top priority for you, in which case the B41 is preferable.

Iniu B41 power bank on plinth on desk with pink background

(Image credit: Future)

Iniu B41 power bank review: price & specs

Iniu B41 power bank on plinth on desk with pink background

(Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Iniu B41 power bank?

Buy it if…

You want to travel light
As one of the thinnest 10K power banks out there, the B41 is certainly easy to carry in your bag or pocket.

You want to save money
The B41 is something of a bargain, yet still offers enough performance for keeping your smaller devices topped up.

Don't buy it if…

You have big devices to charge
With only 15W of power, the B41 won’t cut the mustard for laptop or larger tablet charging.

You want more features
The integrated flashlight is a nice touch, but there’s no digital display, and there are 10K banks with more ports and even wireless charging.

Iniu B41 power bank review: Also consider

Iniu B61
Another well-priced offering from Iniu, the B61 is similarly light and offers the same port selection, although it has more power (22.5W). It’s slightly thicker, but not by much, yet it manages to fit in a digital display which provides a battery life readout. For many, this could be the better option. Read our Iniu B61 review.

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