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ProCook’s semi-automatic espresso machine is one of the best I’ve ever used – and one of the most affordable, too
12:00 pm | February 7, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Coffee Machines Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances | Tags: | Comments: Off

ProCook Barista Bean to Cup Espresso Machine: two-minute review

The ProCook Barista Bean to Cup Espresso Machine is a semi-automatic coffee maker sporting a smart design, a beginner-friendly interface, and an impressive set of features that belie its entry-level price. At £399 (about $500 / AU$800), it's one of the most affordable bean-to-cup coffee makers I've tested, and also one of the best.

With its integrated burr grinder, manual steam wand, and centrally positioned display, it looks similar to premium semi-automatic machines such as the Breville Barista Touch Impress; but there are some key differences. For example, parts of the ProCook machine's chassis are made from plastic rather than metal, reducing both the weight and cost; its screen is crisp monochrome rather than color; and it has a manual steam wand rather than an automatic milk frothing system.

ProCook Barista Bean To Cup Espresso Coffee Machine on kitchen counter

The ProCook Barista Bean to Cup is a good-looking semi-automatic espresso machine, with a case made from a combination of brushed stainless steel and silver-toned plastic (Image credit: Future)

None of those factors will be a problem if it will be your first espresso machine, and you're after something that will perform well and guide your hand while you get to grips with the process. Just select your preferred drink using the clear, high-contrast screen and set of four buttons, customize it if you like, and the ProCook Barista will guide you through (almost) ever step of the process.

There are a few quirks along the way. For example, the machine doesn't reveal that after pulling the lever for the steam wand, you'll have to wait half a minute for the steam to actually begin, even if the machine has already heated to temperature. neither does it tell you to tamp your ground coffee, instead directing you to transfer the portafilter straight from the grinder to the group head – a potentially messy mistake.

Those are small quibbles, though; overall, the ProCook Barista is a likeable, fun introduction to the world of espresso-making that demystifies what can sometimes be an intimidating craft.

The biggest drawback is that it's currently only available in the UK. If you live elsewhere, take a look at my list of alternative recommendations further down this guide.

Person selecting drink using ProCook Bean To Cup Espresso Coffee Machine

There are six coffee drinks to choose from, each of which can be customized (Image credit: Future)

ProCook Barista Bean to Cup Espresso Machine: price and availability

  • Only available to buy direct from ProCook in the UK
  • Currently priced at £399 (about $500 / AU$800)
  • One of the most affordable bean-to-cup machines we've tested

The ProCook Barista Bean to Cup Espresso Machine is available to buy now direct from ProCook in the UK for £399 (although its usual price is £599). It isn't currently available in other countries. This is very good value, and cheaper than anything in our guide to the best bean-to-cup coffee machines.

If you're on a tighter budget, the ProCook Espresso Coffee Machine is an entry-level espresso maker in the same series priced at £199 (usual price £249). It has a similar LCD panel and manual steam wand, but lacks the built-in grinder of the Barista machine. It's available bundled with a standalone grinder for £269 (typical price £349).

There's also the premium ProCook Barista Elite Bean to Cup Espresso Coffee Machine, which has a full color display rather than monochrome, and an automatic steam wand with heat sensor. It's available for £599 (usual price £999).

  • Value score: 5/5

ProCook Barista Bean to Cup Espresso Machine: specs

ProCook Barista Bean to Cup Espresso Machine: design

  • Chassis is made from a combination of plastic and brushed metal
  • Controlled using high-contrast monochrome display and four buttons
  • Excellent integrated conical burr grinder with easy adjustments

With its centrally positioned display and brushed metal finish, the ProCook Barista Bean to Cup Espresso Machine bears a passing resemblance to semi-automatic espresso machines from Breville, but there are some significant differences. Firstly, the ProCook machine's chassis isn't made entirely from stainless steel, but has strategically placed plastic panels that reduce both the weight and cost, without having a significant impact on aesthetics.

I certainly welcomed the lighter build when moving the ProCook Barista into position in my kitchen (at 21.38lbs / 9.7kg, it weighs a lot less than most similar espresso machines). The only downside is that plastic doesn't conduct heat well, which means you can't use the top of the ProCook Barista as a cup warmer (the circular depression I initially took for a cup holder is actually just a place to store the tamper).

ProCook Bean To Cup Espresso Coffee Machine bean hopper

Turning the bean hopper adjusts the grind size, and pressing it down while twisting lets you remove it to clean the burrs (Image credit: Future)

The tamper and portafilter handle are also light in the hand. They don't feel as sturdy as those you'd get with a pricier machine, and if you're particular about your accessories then you may prefer to invest in a heavier metal tamper that will help you apply more even pressure. However, the lightweight handle here could be a benefit for people with limited strength or mobility in their hands and wrists.

The bean hopper can be twisted to change the grind size, with markings on the side showing the difference your selection will make to the speed of extraction. It's a small but helpful touch for users grinding their own coffee for the first time.

You can remove the hopper by pressing down as you turn, then take the top off the grinder assembly to clean it using the stiff-bristled brush provided. The machine won't prompt you to do this, but it's a good idea to clean it regularly to avoid build-up of debris in the burrs.

ProCook Bean To Cup Espresso Coffee Machine burr grinder opened for cleaning

The machine comes with a stiff-bristled brush that's ideal for cleaning the burr grinder (Image credit: Future)

The ProCook Barista's display is large and clear, with the decent contrast ratio making it easy to read, no matter the level of lighting in your kitchen. It doesn't offer touch controls; instead, you scroll through menus and select options using four buttons –two either side of the screen.

It's a system that works well and is extremely straightforward to use, although I was surprised to find that there's no simple way to exit a menu and go back to the previous screen. For example, if you selected "single espresso" but have changed your mind and actually want a double, you can't go back to the drinks menu – even if you haven't started grinding the beans yet. Instead, you have to restart the machine. It's a small quibble, but was unexpected considering how much thought has gone into designing the interface.

ProCook Bean To Cup Espresso Coffee Machine with water tank removed

The generously sized reservoir is easy to lift off the back of the machine, and has an integrated handle for carrying (Image credit: Future)

The 95oz / 2.8-liter water reservoir is easy to lift off the rear of the machine for filling. Note that it doesn't have a filter, and ProCook doesn't sell any separately. As such, you may want to use pre-filtered water to avoid minerals changing the taste of your coffee and to slowdown the build-up of limescale.

  • Design score: 4.5/5

ProCook Barista Bean to Cup Espresso Machine: performance

  • Default brew settings produce consistently good results
  • Experimentation is encouraged, even for new users
  • Steam wand is particularly well designed

Some espresso machines come with an inch-thick instruction manual, but not the ProCook Barista. In fact, I found no manual in the box at all, because this machine simply doesn't need one. Just load up the bean hopper, fill the water tank, power it on, and you'll be guided through each step of the coffee-making process with clear on-screen instructions and diagrams.

There's no setup process to go through before you can start brewing; the machine takes you directly to a menu of drink options. There are six coffee drinks to choose from (single espresso, double espresso, cappuccino, latte, flat white, and americano), plus hot milk and hot water – the latter of which is dispensed via the steam wand.

You can stick with the default settings for each drink, or press and hold the "select" button to pick your own grind time (which correlates to dosage), water volume (to suit the size of your cup) and water temperature.

Grinding notification on screen of ProCook Bean To Cup Espresso Coffee Machine

The on-screen instructions are clear, but don't attach the portafilter to the group head without tamping first (Image credit: Future)

Note, however, that the instructions do miss a couple of steps. For example, you're told to insert the portafilter directly into the group head, with no mention of tamping the grounds, so a little familiarity with making coffee will be helpful.

The machine also doesn't mention that after pulling the lever on the right-hand side, you need to wait a little while for it to actually start. This wait time is actually quite helpful, giving new users a window to get themselves and their milk jug in position; but if you're used to other espresso machines then you might mistakenly believe that the wand isn't working.

Person steaming milk using ProCook Bean To Cup Espresso Coffee Machine

The cool-touch steam wand is a joy to use (Image credit: Future)

Like many manufacturers of coffee machines, ProCook advertises the pump's maximum pressure of 15 bars, but this isn't really relevant, and the machine will use the industry recommended nine bars when actually brewing. One thing I particularly like about the ProCook Barista is that it displays the exact pressure on-screen during the brewing process, so you can see the impact of your chosen beans, grind size, and tamping technique before you taste the finished drink.

During tests, the default settings provided consistently good results (although I did gravitate towards using my own metal tamper rather than the plastic one provided). The machine encourages experimentation, which is great for those new to espresso, who will find it interesting to see how tinkering with individual properties, such as water temperature, grind size, or bean type, can have a noticeable effect on flavor.

The steam wand is a pleasure to use. It has a cool-touch exterior, which I hadn't expected for an espresso machine at this price. It maintains good pressure, giving you plenty of time to stretch and heat your milk, and its angle makes it easy to achieve a good "whirlpool". It’s controlled using an arm on the right-hand side of the machine, which is pleasingly tactile; simply pull it forward to start the steam and push it back for hot water, as directed by the on-screen instructions. The only potential drawback is that there’s no control over the steam pressure, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing for a machine designed not to overwhelm beginners.

Steam arm on side of ProCook Bean to Cup Espresso Coffee Machine

The steam arm on the right-hand side of the machine is pleasingly tactile (Image credit: Future)

Maintenance is refreshingly straightforward. The exterior of the machine can be wiped clean using a cloth, and the drip tray (easily pulled out), handle, and filters can be hand-washed in warm, soapy water. The ProCook machine arrives with a pair of cleaning brushes, plus a pin for clearing the nozzle of the steam wand if it becomes clogged.

As mentioned earlier, there's no water filter for the reservoir, and unlike pricier espresso machines from the likes of KitchenAid or Smeg, there are no settings for water hardness. You can use tap or filtered water, but whichever option you pick, you will be prompted to run the machine's descaling program once you've used it to brew 300 coffees. However, you can run it sooner if you notice that the water flow has become inconsistent, or it's making odd noises.

Speaking of noise, my decibel meter recorded a maximum volume of 75dB while the machine was grinding coffee, and 60dB while pumping water, which is about standard for a bean-to-cup coffee machine. If you want a quieter bean-to-cup machine, the KitchenAid Fully Automatic Espresso Machine KF8 averaged just 44dB in our tests.

  • Performance score: 5/5

Should you buy the ProCook Barista Bean to Cup Espresso Machine?

Buy it if

You want your first espresso machine

As a semi-automatic machine, the ProCook Barista helps you with some of the trickier parts of making espresso, while letting you tackle the fun parts (such as steaming milk). It's easy to use and explains what's happening at each stage of the process, so you can see the effect of tinkering and experimenting on your finished drinks.

You don't want to spend a fortune

This is one of the most affordable bean-to-cup coffee machines we've tested, yet ProCook hasn't compromised on components where it really matters.

You're tired of using capsules

Its integrated grinder with automated dosing means fresh coffee beans are just as easy to use as foil-sealed coffee pods.View Deal

Don't buy it if

You don't live in the UK

At the time of writing, this machine is only available to buy in the UK directly from ProCook.

You already have a grinder

ProCook also sells a version of this machine without the built-in grinder, and it's even cheaper.

ProCook Barista Bean to Cup Espresso Machine: also consider

Not sure that the ProCook Barista Bean to Cup Espresso machine is right for you? Here are two other options to bear in mind.

Breville The Barista Touch Impress

We awarded the Barista Touch Impress a full five stars thanks to its excellent, consistently brewed espresso and auto milk frother that handles both dairy and plant-based alternatives with ease. However, it does cost well over twice what you'd pay for the ProCook Barista.

Read our full Breville The Barista Touch Impress review

De'Longhi Dedica Style

If you're looking for a manual espresso machine that won't break the bank or take up too much space in your kitchen, this stylish little number is the one for you. It has an impressive steam wand, and it's super affordable. It lacks a grinder, though.

Read our full De'Longhi Dedica Style review

How I tested the ProCook Barista Bean to Cup Espresso Machine

I used the ProCook Barista Bean to Cup Espresso Machine in place of my usual Gaggia Classic and Dualit burr grinder for two weeks. I prepared all drinks from the menu, customizing several of them to suit different-sized mugs and experimenting with heat and grind time settings.

I used coffee beans from Exhale Healthy Coffee, which were provided by ProCook, and freshly roasted beans from Clifton Coffee Roasters here in Bristol. I tested the machine using both full-fat dairy milk and almond milk, which were used cold from the fridge.

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

First reviewed January 2025

I like a large mouse as much as the next gamer, but the Turtle Beach Kone II Air is too much for me to handle
9:30 am |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Gadgets Mice Peripherals & Accessories | Tags: | Comments: Off

Turtle Beach Kone 2 Air: Two-minute review

The Turtle Beach Kone 2 Air is a large gaming mouse with some useful features aimed at improving the user experience for players. It stands out due to that size and its shape, with its concave sides, the left of which juts out at the bottom to accommodate the Easy Shift button. The body is very smooth with no texturing.

The white colorway features some subtle gray accents on the buttons and scroll wheel, and overall it looks relatively mature compared to other gaming peripherals, although it still isn’t exactly elegant.

Compared to the best gaming mouse out there, the RGB lighting on the Kone 2 Air is relatively large, with two stripes running along the top, as well as the usual LED on the scroll wheel.

The Kone 2 Air adopts a wide, squat stance and features a relatively flat top, so those with larger hands will likely find this fills their palms more substantially than other gaming mice do. With that large size, though, comes a heavy 110g weight.

Turtle Beach Kone II Air on desk with USB cable and dongle

(Image credit: Future)

By contrast, the clicks are light and snappy, yet well damped, and the same is true of the two side buttons and the DPI cycle button on top. The scroll wheel feels smooth to the touch and features 4D scrolling, allowing you to tilt it left and right for horizontal navigation. It also has a free spin function, activated by pressing the button above the DPI cycle. This allows you to disengage the notching to scroll much faster, yet it still feels reassuringly weighty and smooth.

However, without free spin activated, there’s a little too much play in the wheel, making it hard to get a feel for single flicks. The scroll click, however, is reassuringly solid and easy to press in the heat of the moment, as well as providing satisfying feedback and a clearly audible click.

The included USB cable is braided and light, so there’s next to no drag when using it. However, it doesn’t seem as thick or as durable as those on other gaming mice. It’s also quite short, so you’ll need your machine relatively close by if you want to play in wired mode.

Turtle Beach’s peripheral software, Swarm 2, allows for numerous adjustments and customizations. There are numerous rebinding options, such as keyboard keys (including in combination with modifiers) and media controls, but there’s only two system level shortcuts available: one for shutdown and one for sleep. There’s also a wholly separate layer for assigning secondary inputs courtesy of Easy Shift, and naturally, you can also customize the RGB lighting in Swarm 2.

Swarm 2 features some useful adjustments for gaming too, such as Motion Sync and Angle Snapping, as well as a debounce time slider between 0-10 (no unit is given here).

However, there’s no setting labeled lift-off distance; instead, there’s what Swarm 2 calls DCU Calibration. You have settings for low and very low, as well as a custom setting which takes you to a calibrator, asks you to make circular movements with the cursor, and automatically selects an appropriate lift-off distance for you – although it doesn’t tell you what this distance is.

There’s also the typical DPI settings, with five predefined points for you to adjust for cycling. There’s a DPI calibrator too, which asks you to hit a series of targets in order to automatically pick what it thinks is the best DPI setting for you.

Macro recording is possible, and Swarm 2 even includes a range of default macros for a number of popular games and productivity software, including Microsoft Office and Photoshop.

Side buttons of Turtle Beach Kone II Air

(Image credit: Future)

Gaming with the Kone 2 Air is a mixed experience. All buttons are responsive and satisfying to use, but the overall form isn’t the most ergonomic, as the sides don’t offer enough grip, even if you apply the included grip tape.

The indentation of each side only occurs towards the rear, and flattens out immediately, which meant my thumb and fingers couldn’t set in place for greater security. As a result, I had to squeeze tighter than I normally would for, which naturally compromises movement speed; I never truly felt comfortable holding the Kone 2 Air.

That hefty weight the Kone 2 Air is saddled with only adds to the problem. It prevents glides from being smooth and seamless. The weight is also concentrated towards the rear, which makes the mouse feel unbalanced as it has a tendency to tilt backwards when lifting off.

Thankfully, the Easy Shift button is easy to reach and hit with your thumb. The RGB lighting also changes color when held, which is a useful indicator that I was just able to make out in my peripheral vision, without it being distracting.

When it comes to connectivity, using the Kone 2 Air via Bluetooth or the 2.4GHz is as quick and easy as can be, and switching between two devices on the fly works pretty much flawlessly, merely requiring a flick of the switch underneath.

Turtle Beach states a very long battery life for the Kone 2 Air: 350 hours via Bluetooth and 150 via the 2.4GHz wireless dongle. Although I wasn’t able to test its limits during my time with it, I can say that after several days of varied use, it only dropped a few percentage points, so its claims would seem to hold water.

The Kone 2 Air is a divisive gaming mouse, then. Those with larger hands may prefer it more, thanks to its size and weight. However, those after speed and comfort will be better served by lighter, higher-performing mice, such as the Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro – and, if saving money is a top priority, the Logitech G305 Lightspeed and Cooler Master MM311 are better alternatives.

Underneath of Turtle Beach Kone II Air and USB dongle

(Image credit: Future)

Turtle Beach Kone 2 Air: Price & availability

  • $119 / £119 (about AU$182)
  • Available now in black and white colorways
  • Undercuts some popular brands

The Turtle Beach Kone 2 Air costs $119 / £119 (about AU$182) and comes in two colorways: black and white. A wired only version is also available for considerably less, at $59 / £59 (about AU$90).

Compared to the best wireless gaming mice, it sits towards the lower end of the market. It’s cheaper than popular offerings from Razer, including the DeathAdder V3 Pro. That mouse, though, is capable of polling at 8K (albeit requiring an additional adapter).

There are some that undercut it, including mice in Logitech’s Lightspeed range, such as the G305 Lightspeed and G309 Lightspeed. However, the former can only connect wirelessly via the Lightspeed USB dongle (there’s no Bluetooth), and both have no rechargeable battery, requiring a AA each instead.

Then there’s the Cooler Master MM311, our pick as the best gaming mouse for those on a budget. It massively undercuts the competition, and although this too has no rechargeable battery or Bluetooth connectivity, it still offers brilliant gaming performance with wireless capability.

Turtle Beach Kone 2 Air: Specs

Should I buy the Turtle Beach Kone 2 Air?

Buy it if...

You want multiple connectivity options
With Bluetooth, a 2.4GHz receiver and USB-C connectivity, the Kone 2 Air is ideal for multi-device setups, allowing you to switch between the different modes on the fly.

You have large hands
The size and weight of the Kone 2 Air lends itself to those with big palms, although even they may struggle to grip it securely.

Don't buy it if...

You want something small
The Kone 2 Air is about as full as they come, so if you don’t like your mouse filling your palm, this won’t be for you.

You want pro-level performance
The heavy weight and 1K polling rate likely won’t cut it for pro-level players, who require the utmost speed and smoothness in their movements.

Turtle Beach Kone 2 Air: Also consider

Cooler Master MM311
If you’re on a budget, then you can’t do much better than the MM311. It shares the same 1K polling rate as the Kone 2 Air, although it’s considerably lighter at 77g. However, it has no inbuilt battery, requiring a AA instead. There’s also no wired or Bluetooth modes available. However, if you can live without these, then the MM311 offers serious value for money. Read our full Cooler Master MM311 review.

Logitech G305 Lightspeed
Another pick as one of the best wireless gaming mouse for those on a budget, the G305 Lightspeed offers serious performance for the money. It’s only a little more expensive than the Cooler Master, and still a whole lot cheaper than the Kone 2 Air. However, it too has no rechargeable battery and no Bluetooth connectivity. Read our Logitech G305 Lightspeed review.

How I tested the Turtle Beach Kone 2 Air

  • Tested for several days
  • Played FPS titles
  • 10+ years PC gaming experience

I tested the Kone 2 Air for several days, during which time I used it for playing games, productivity, and general use.

I played Counter-Strike 2, the litmus test for gaming mice, as well as Black Mesa. I made sure to try as many features and functions as possible on both the mouse and in the GG software.

I have been PC gaming for over 10 years, and during that time I have experienced a variety of mice. I have also reviewed numerous units, ranging in size, weight, performance and price.

The Cherry XTRFY M64 Wireless fits my hand like a glove, but I’m not sure it’s the best value gaming mouse around
9:30 pm | February 6, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Gadgets Mice Peripherals & Accessories | Tags: | Comments: Off

Cherry XTRFY M64 Wireless: Two-minute review

The Cherry XTRFY M64 Wireless is a lightweight wireless gaming mouse with a small size and a unique form factor for improved ergonomics and handling.

Aesthetically, the M64 Wireless keeps things rather simple. The black colorway with mint green accents that I tested looked sharp and understated. White and blue variants with green and orange accents respectively are also available. No model has any RGB lighting, though, which is something of a rarity in this sector.

The asymmetrical shape of the M64 Wireless fit my hand and grip style very well. It’s among the best gaming mouse in terms of ergonomics, with the long indentations of the side walls and downwards rake of the mouse buttons accommodating my thumb and fingers perfectly.

What may prove contentious, however, is the location of the USB-C port. It’s on the rear right side, which, depending on your particular gaming setup, may put play-and-charge beyond your reach – literally.

Rear of Cherry XTRFY M64 Wireless on table with pink background and plant

(Image credit: Future)

Thankfully, the included USB cable is very light and causes next to no drag at all. It’s also very long, so even if your PC is to your left, you still might be able to find some way to route it adequately. The recess of the port on the mouse body is also very deep, so I had no concern about accidentally knocking it out either.

The M64 Wireless has no accompanying software; rather, all adjustments are made via the power slider and selector buttons underneath, as well as a few combinations of the topside buttons. The power slider has three positions for selecting the CPI, polling rate, and debounce time. With one of these selected, the selector button cycles through the various settings for each of these parameters.

Despite not being able to fine-tune these settings via any software, I found the available presets to be sufficient. There are eight CPI settings, ranging from 400 to 26,000, four polling rates from 125Hz to 1000Hz, and four debounce times ranging from 2ms to 12ms. A small LED light flashes certain colors to indicate the setting selected, with the key detailed in the manual.

On paper, it’s a clever solution given the lack of software, but it can be quite fiddly, as it involves referring back to the manual to check what color indicates what setting, although it could be argued that after initial setup, you probably won’t be changing them regularly. Still, a software tool would’ve made on-the-fly adjustments simpler and quicker.

Various topside button combinations can be used to alter the lift-off distance between 1mm and 2mm, as well as toggle Motion Sync on or off. There’s also a combination for checking the battery level, with four different colors indicating the percentage range. Personally, I would’ve liked the more precise readout that software provides. Also, these button combinations are again quite fiddly and inconvenient to use quickly.

Side of Cherry XTRFY M64 Wireless on table with pink background and plant

(Image credit: Future)

To game with, however, I found little fault with the M64 Wireless’ performance. The aforementioned form factor made it easy to grip and maneuver, further helped by the light 53g weight and ultrasmooth PTFE skates – although these are quite thin, so aren’t the best for unpadded surfaces. The precision and speed of the Pixart 3395 sensor is also great for a 1K mouse.

The Huano Transparent Blue Shell Pink Dot switches in the main mouse buttons are snappy yet controlled, and the same goes for the two side buttons. The scroll wheel is also notched just right, allowing for quick yet secure flicks. The scroll click strikes a similar balance, being responsive without causing accidental spins.

Cherry claims the M64 Wireless can last 75 hours on a single charge, and I’m inclined to believe this figure. After several days of use, I was still in the green, indicating a level between 76-100%.

Considering its price, the M64 Wireless sits a little too close to the M68 Pro, which offers a similar shape and performance, yet has an 8K polling rate for maximum pro-level performance, although only serious gamers will likely notice the difference.

It’s also about the same as the Razer DeathAdder V3 Hyperspeed, which has the benefit of integrating with Synapse, Razer’s in-depth peripheral software, offering numerous tweaks and customizations, including button rebinds and HyperShift functionality.

So while the M64 Wireless is a great feeling and excellent performing wireless gaming mouse, there are equally capable pointers at this price point, yet offer more in the way of features and functionality.

Cherry XTRFY M64 Wireless on table with USB dongle on pink background with plant

(Image credit: Future)

Cherry XTRFY M64 Wireless: Price & availability

  • $92 / £99 / AU$133
  • Available now in various colors
  • Same price as better-equipped rivals

The M64 Wireless costs $92 / £99 / AU$133 and is available now in black, white, and blue colorways. It comes with a USB-A-to-C cable for charging and wired play.

It sits a little too close to the M68 Pro Wireless, which is only about $30 more, yet has an upgraded polling rate of 8K. The ergonomic form is very similar too, although the mouse buttons slope even more, which might deter some.

The Cooler Master MM311 is one of the best wireless gaming mouse picks for those on a budget, thanks to its ultra-low price and great performance. It’s heavier than the M64 Wireless at 77g and requires a AA battery, but if you can live with these facts, it’s hard to beat for sheer value.

Cherry XTRFY M64 Wireless: Specs

Should I buy the Cherry XTRFY M64 Wireless?

Buy it if...

You want a lightweight mouse
At 53g, the M64 Wireless is on the light side of the spectrum, which makes it easy to maneuver.

You want great ergonomics
The unique shape of the M64 Wireless provided me with a comfortable grip, and the downwards slope of the mouse buttons was a natural fit for my fingers too.

Don't buy it if...

You want plenty of features
There’s no software for the M64 Wireless, which means no rebinding or macros options. There aren’t many on-board buttons either.

You want esport-grade performance
Since the polling rate only goes up to 1K, competitive players might need something even more precise.

Cherry XTRFY M64 Wireless: Also consider

Cherry XTRFY M68 Pro Wireless
For not much more, you could get the M68 Pro Wireless instead, which ups the polling rate to 8K for unparalleled cursor precision and smoothness. It also has a similar shape to the M64 Wireless, although the rake of the mouse buttons is even steeper, which might not sit so well with some gamers.

Cooler Master MM311
As one of the best value gaming mice out there, the MM311 is a bargain considering its performance and comfort levels. It’s heavier than the M64 Wireless at 77g, and there’s no rechargeable battery, but if those drawbacks don’t bother you, you can’t do much better at this price point than the MM311. Read our full Cooler Master MM311 review.

How I tested the Cherry XTRFY M64 Wireless

  • Tested for several days
  • Used for gaming, working, and browsing
  • Over 10 years of PC gaming experience

I tested the M64 Wireless for several days, during which time I used it for gaming, working, and general browsing.

To assess its performance, I played Counter-Strike 2 - a stern test for the speed and accuracy of gaming mice, as well as featuring certain settings that can reveal a pointer’s true potential. I also played S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, another FPS title but one that involves more variation to the pace and range of mouse movements.

I have been PC gaming for over 10 years, and in that time I have experienced plenty of gaming mice. I have also reviewed a number of them, including another offering from Cherry XTRFY, the M68 Pro Wireless.

Shot Scope V5 review
6:28 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness | Comments: Off

Shot Scope V5: One minute review

Shot Scope V5

(Image credit: Future / David Usher)

If money is no object and you want one of the best golf watches at any price, then there are technically better options out there than the Shot Scope V5. However, if you aren’t looking to spend upwards of $500/£500/AU$900 on a watch that you only plan on wearing for golf, the V5 is a great option as it offers some features that you wouldn’t usually get in the mid-price range it falls in.

As well as providing the basic front, middle, and back yardage numbers, the V5 offers some other useful functions too, such as accurate distances to hazards, layups, and doglegs. It comes with 36,000 preloaded courses worldwide and you also get full maps of each hole so you can see what lies ahead as you prepare your strategy on the tee.

The V5 is button-operated rather than touchscreen, rather like some of the best running watches, which might seem a little outdated but it’s arguably more practical and efficient during activities. Many golfers find touchscreens can be a little erratic, especially in the rain or while wearing gloves. The button system is simple to use once you become familiar with it, making it easy to scroll through the hazards and record your score on each hole.

Where the V5 really stands out though is in the post-round shot tracking and the analytics on offer. It comes with 16 individual club tags which attach to the butt of a club’s grip and record data from each shot. After the round, you have access to all manner of useful data that allows you to hone the areas you need to improve. Other brands offer this too, but usually, you have to pay for the tags and/or a yearly subscription to access the data. Shot Scope offers all of this at a very reasonable single price point.

Shot Scope V5: Specifications

Shot Scope V5: Price and availability

Shot Scope V5

(Image credit: Future / David Usher)
  • £239.99/$249.99/AU$429.99
  • One price and color
  • Cheaper than many rivals

The Shot Scope V5 costs £239.99/$249.99/AU$429.99 and is widely available from numerous online retailers. There is only one color choice (black) and there are no alternative strap color options either.

If you do want alternative color options then the very similar Shot Scope X5 might fit the bill, as it does offer a slightly more premium look and has a choice of five straps, but in terms of features and functionality, there’s very little between the V5 and the X5. In fact, almost all of the features are the same – but the V5 is button-operated whereas the X5 uses a touchscreen.

The V5 is £40 cheaper as a result of that, but many people will actually prefer the buttons, which makes the price very attractive. It’s also worth mentioning that touchscreens can often suffer in rainy conditions and buttons are certainly more reliable in the wet. The V5 has a longer battery life too, so in our view, it’s the better option, especially at this lower price point.

  • Value score: 5/5

Shot Scope V5: Design

Shot Scope V5

(Image credit: Future / David Usher)
  • Simple, clean design
  • Comfortable and lightweight
  • Doesn't intrude on swing

The V5 probably isn’t a watch that many will choose to wear away from the golf course but personally, I’d have no qualms about doing so. It’s a simple, black design and looks nice on the wrist. It’s very comfortable and lightweight too (weighing just 50g), so on the course it’s not intrusive or distracting during the swing. The dust-resistant silicone strap is nice and flexible and sits snugly on the wrist. In fact, it’s actually one of the more comfortable golf watches I’ve tested.

In terms of construction, the V5 has a 1.2” daylight-readable color display made from hardened mineral glass. While I’ve mentioned already that for the watch itself, there are no color options other than black, in terms of the display you have five colors to choose from. Four buttons (two on each side) are used to operate the watch, but the buttons are quite discreet and certainly don’t stand out too much or detract from the aesthetics.

  • Design score: 4/5

Shot Scope V5: Features

Shot Scope V5

(Image credit: Future / David Usher)
  • 36,000 preloaded courses
  • Shot tracking
  • In depth stats

The V5 comes preloaded with 36,000 golf courses and you get the standard front, middle, and back yardages. However if you can see where the pin is on the green and want a more specific number, there is a function that allows you to move the pin around on the screen to the right location. This will provide more accurate yardage, but I had no interest in using this feature, to be honest; scrolling through the options to find the pin and then continually clicking the button to move the flag around to the desired spot can be irritating. Frankly, I don’t need a number to be that accurate, as I’m not that good of a player to know, to the exact yard, how far I’m likely to hit my approach shot. A ballpark figure is more than sufficient for me, but the option is there for those who want it.

You do have access to excellent shot tracking information if you use the tags that come with this watch. They attach to the grip of your club and will record each shot you hit which then gives you access to very detailed information on your performance. If you’re into that, then this is an excellent feature. It’s very similar to services provided by Garmin and Arccos, but the difference is that you have to pay a yearly subscription fee for those whereas Shot Scope provides this free of charge.

I could talk all day about how in-depth this is as there are statistics available for everything you can think of, as well as plenty that you probably can’t! As well as being able to get ‘shots gained’ data, there are other interesting things available, such as how well you historically play particular golf courses or even specific holes. If you’re a golf nerd, this is something that will really appeal to you, and given that you don’t have to pay for any of it once you have made the initial purchase of the watch, for me this is the main selling point of the Shot Scope V5.

  • Features score: 4/5

Shot Scope V5: Performance

Shot Scope V5

(Image credit: Future / David Usher)
  • Unlock button can be annoying
  • Shot tracking not automatic
  • Very easy to use

Upon arrival at the course, I found that the V5 identified the course fairly quickly. It isn’t always the same speed though. The first time I used it I found it was very quick, probably less than 10 seconds. Other times it has taken a little longer and on one occasion it was around a full minute. I find that to be normal though, and I’ve tested premium Garmin watches that have taken longer to locate the course than the V5 does, so from that perspective, I was quite impressed.

The trickiest thing for me, to begin with, was getting used to pressing the unlock button before attempting to access any of the functions. Without pressing the unlock button (the bottom left button), nothing else works, and initially, it was quite frustrating simply because I normally use a watch where I don’t need to do that. By the time I got to the back nine, I was generally okay with it, although I would occasionally still forget. After that first round, though, it became second nature.

That being said, having to press the unlock button first does make it slightly more of a pain to access some of the functions I like to use, such as the hazard map and distances, but this isn’t a premium watch – so there will naturally be some compromises to be made.

The watch does not automatically track individual shots on the course, but you can activate the track option after hitting a shot. Again, this is not ideal for me personally, as I often forget to do it, especially if I’m chatting with playing partners or feeling rushed due to a group behind me.

Some more expensive watches, such as the Garmin Approach S62 (my current watch of choice) or the newer Garmin Approach S70, track shots automatically and you don’t have to do anything. You hit your shot, start walking and the watch will immediately begin counting the yards until you reach your ball. This is a feature I use all the time, not specifically so I can see how far I’ve hit it, but more because it makes finding a ball that has strayed from the fairway a lot easier. For instance, if like me you know you usually carry your drive 200 yards, then it really narrows your search area considerably if the watch is telling you where exactly 200 yards is and you’re having to just guess. Having used the Garmin Approach S62 for a few years I’ve come to completely rely on that feature, and because it does it automatically it is hard to then get into the habit of doing it manually.

So when testing the V5 I kept forgetting to activate it and it was very frustrating, but that’s more of a me problem than a failing of the watch. Automatic tracking would be nice, but at the price point the V5 comes in at, it would be unreasonable to expect it.

There’s a lot to like about the V5 though. The app is excellent and simple to use; it’s just a case of downloading to your smartphone, creating an account, and then adding your device (in this case the V5, but there are other Shot Scope products you can add too).

It was straightforward enough to set up the tags too. They are pre-marked so there’s very little to do other than screw them into the specific club. Then, in the app, you can make up your bag by adding in your specific clubs. There are 16 tags so you can have spare clubs, which is handy if, for example, you occasionally switch out a hybrid for an extra wedge or vice versa.

In terms of the charger, the cable is extremely secure. Perhaps too secure, as I had to be quite forceful to remove it and that makes me nervous. I’ve had enough iPhones over the years to know how easily charging ports can be damaged when you’re too heavy-handed with them.

  • Performance score: 4/5

Shot Scope V5: Scorecard

Shot Scope V5: Should I buy?

Buy it if...

You’re looking for detailed analytics without extra cost

For the golf nerd who wants to soak in as much information about their own strengths and weaknesses, this is a fantastic option and the club trackers come free with the watch.

You prefer using buttons to a touchscreen

While many people prefer the functionality of a touchscreen, it can be more difficult to use in wet or cold conditions. The V5 utilizes four buttons for navigation and (once you get used to them) it’s very easy to operate.

You want something with nice features that doesn’t cost a fortune

There’s enough here for the golfer who wants more than just the basic front, middle, and back yardages, and the detailed data available through the Shot Scope app when using the tags is really next level.View Deal

Don't buy it if...

You want your golf watch to be a top smartwatch

If you're looking for your next golf watch to be a versatile, fully functioning smartwatch that you can wear all the time then this is absolutely not the watch for you. It isn’t going to allow you to read messages, track your heart rate, or do any of the other things you get from an actual smartwatch.

You want a watch with a touchscreen

As previously mentioned, the V5 operates using four buttons rather than a touchscreen. So if you’re used to a touchscreen and that’s your preference, you might want to look at something else.

Also consider

Garmin Approach S70

An ultra-premium, do-it-all golf watch.

Read our full review

Garmin Approach S62

The best golf watch we’ve tried for maps. A bit older, but it’s now also a bit cheaper.

Read our full review

How I tested the Shot Scope V5

I have played two full rounds and a further nine holes using the Shot Scope V5. Weather conditions were varied and on one occasion the rain was quite heavy for a time. To find out how accurate the GPS numbers were I compared the numbers to that of my Garmin Approach S62 and also used a laser for a more exact yardage. The Shot Scope V5 was always within two yards of the laser and was usually bringing up the same numbers as the Garmin.

First reviewed: February 2025

I reviewed Sony’s LinkBuds Speaker, and it’s the Bluetooth speaker that best fits into my real home life, thanks to unique features
5:00 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Hi-Fi Wireless & Bluetooth Speakers | Tags: | Comments: Off

Sony LinkBuds Speaker: Two-minute review

Sony has released a fair few speakers in its day but the new LinkBuds Speaker is the first to be released under its LinkBuds branding; the original Sony LinkBuds were novel for having open-ring designs so you could hear your surroundings while also streaming music, but the name now just seems to be used for a range of lifestyle audio options instead of applying to that particular open design, so here we are.

I often having to get name whingeing out of the way early when I review products like the Sony LinkBuds Speaker, because I want to save the rest of the review to focus on compliments on the device (and because I love a good name-whinge).

Don’t make the mistake I did when I first started using the speaker – unlike many other entries into our annals of the best Bluetooth speakers, this creation isn’t designed for house parties or loud gatherings. Instead, it’s a svelte house-trained pet that does its best work when you keep it domestic.

That’s most evident from the charging cradle, which was my favorite aspect of the entire speaker. It charges the speaker when you’re not using it (or when you are), acting as a hub that you can easily whisk the speaker away from when you’re marching into another room.

But there’s more evidence as to the LinkBuds Speaker’s introverted state. Its understated design means it fits snugly into your home decor, but it's not as rugged as the best waterproof speakers. Its microphone means you can use it as an ersatz home assistant (via your phone, at least) and a range of other features such as a programmable musical alarm clock and hourly time alerts all indicate that this is a housebound gadget.

That doesn’t mean you’ll be left in the lurch if you take it outside, especially with a surprisingly big 25-hour battery, but you might not find the audio fits parties or summer cookouts. That’s doubly the case with audio which proves quite directional, and doesn’t quite equal some rivals on the market in terms of energy and vibrancy – if you’re looking for a party speaker, the Sony will disappoint.

I was pleasantly surprised with the feature set offered by Sony, with its Sound Connect app boasting quite a few handy features – some are ones I haven’t seen on rival devices, which is a neat touch. Admittedly some of these features are hidden deep in the app – I still have no idea how I enabled the aforementioned hourly notification – and not all of them work wonders.

But it’s another illustration of how the Sony offers brains over the raw brawn of some of its rivals. It’s no slouch in the audio department, but it’s found a different way to best the likes of the JBL Flip 6: the features.

I should cap this intro by saying one more thing if you like the ideas of these extra features: only buy this if you use Spotify, Amazon Music or Endel. Loads of the extra features require a subscription to one of these three streaming services so you're not going to be able to use all the features if you use Tidal, Apple Music or YouTube Music.

Sony LinkBuds Speaker review: Price and release date

  • Released in October 2024
  • Officially priced at $179.99 / £139 / AU$249

The Sony LinkBuds Speaker was announced in October 2024, alongside two new earbud additions to the brand: the LinkBuds Fit and LinkBuds Open.

You can buy the speaker for $179.99 / £139 / AU$249 so it costs a little more than rivals in the area such as the JBL Flip 6, Ultimate Ears Boom 4 or Bose SoundLink Flex, but it roughly matches the Sonos Roam 2 which we rate as the best Bluetooth speaker.

I should point out that at the time of testing, three months after the LinkBuds Speaker’s release, it’s already on offer from some retailers, so it’s worth hunting around to find a discount as they're easy to find.

The Sony LinkBuds Speaker on a shelf beside a bed.

(Image credit: Future)

Sony LinkBuds Speaker review: Specs

The Sony LinkBuds Speaker on a shelf beside a bed.

(Image credit: Future)

Sony LinkBuds Speaker: Features

  • A 25-hour battery life
  • Lots of features thanks to Sound Connect app
  • Many tools require Spotify, Amazon Music or Endel

The Sony LinkBuds Speaker offers a surprisingly admirable 25 hours of battery life, which laps most of its close rivals – you can expect between 10 and 15 hours of listening time on its competitors.

Thanks to how the aforementioned charging cradle fits into my real-world experience, I never actually had to test this figure the hard way, but that’s not the end of the world – it just goes to prove that you’ll never have battery anxiety with the LinkBuds Speaker.

You can get many more features from the LinkBuds Speaker by using Sony’s Sound Connect app – until recently called Headphones Connect.

One useful feature is auto-play, so you can set your speaker to start auto-playing from Spotify, Amazon Music or Endel at certain times on certain days, basically like an alarm clock. In my testing, I was unable to choose which playlist Spotify auto-played from, and it default to carrying on whatever I last listened to, but the writing in the app suggests that I should be able to pick them. Hopefully a software update will change this.

As I'll discuss in the Design section of this review, the speaker has a quick access button. Using the app, you can map this to use two of: Spotify Tap, Amazon Music Play Now or Endel Quick Access (all three bring up a curated playlist from the app of choice). As you can tell, these are the only three apps supported by Sony’s app – sorry, Tidal fans – but you can use other streaming platforms for standard speaker playback. You just can’t use the extra features.

Audiophiles will also be pleased to hear that there’s an in-app equalizer. It’s a five-band one with an extra Clear Bass dial to increase or decrease bass prominence between -10 and 10. You can save two different custom EQs, and there are no presets. In my experience I didn’t find that the equalizer made much of a difference on the sound quality.

Sony’s auto-EQ mode is back, but I’ve not previously been impressed by this, and the LinkBuds Speaker didn’t change that. The way it works is that the app presents you with five different EQ mixes and you have to choose your favorite; you do this twice and the app creates a custom mix for you. The problem is that the mixes it suggests to you are often so indistinct that I can never tell the difference between them, so it’s not a good way of gauging my actual tastes.

I was impressed by a few of the quality-of-life features Sound Connect offers. You can choose the auto-power-off length, toggle on a battery-saving mode that stops you overcharging the speaker, connect two multiple devices (including LinkBuds earbuds, which can automatically switch your music from the buds to the speaker when you get near) and can enable a Sony-made audio decompression feature to improve the sound of music on lossy streaming services. They all just improve the way you use the speaker in small but meaningful ways.

A feature I got really close to liking is the ability to set hourly reminders. This was surprisingly convenient to help mark the passage of time through the day, reminding me that it was lunchtime or that my working hours were finished… except there's no way in the app to silence it for certain hours. I was woken several times by the speaker announcing that it was 2am or 3am and so turned this otherwise-handy feature off.

I’ll briefly touch on pairing: when I first started using the LinkBuds Speaker, I simply couldn’t connect to it via Bluetooth pairing. However as soon as I opened the Sound Connect app, it immediately recognized and paired. So if you’ve just bought this gadget and can’t get it to connect, download the app now!

  • Features score: 4/5

The Sony LinkBuds Speaker on a shelf beside a bed.

(Image credit: Future)

Sony LinkBuds Speaker review: Design

  • Black or gray squoval
  • Has a hook for hanging; charging pad in box
  • A fair range of buttons

The Sony LinkBuds Speaker basically looks like a small furry squoval. (It's a real word! A portmanteau of square and oval!) Compared to lots of other portable speakers it’s a little plain looking, but I liked how it blended into the background of my home more than other speakers I test. Sometimes nondescript is good. The fabric cover also gives it a premium look that many other rivals lack.

It’s not a huge speaker, measuring 11cm tall and with body dimensions of 8.4 x 9cm, but it’s a little heavier than you’d think at first glance at 520g.

The ‘back’ of the speaker – a word I use because the sound is pretty directional, as I’ll get into in the sound quality section – has its power button as well as the USB-C charging port (which you can use instead of the included base plate, another feature I’ll explain later on). It also has a hook that you can use to hang the speaker on a hook in the bathroom, on the back of a chair or wherever works – but it’s not that big so it was hard to clip onto certain objects, plus the way the speaker hangs has problems with the directional sound (yet another tease about a future point to discuss).

On top of the speaker are buttons: volume up, volume down, play/pause/accept phone call, and the quick access button. There’s also a small light: white when the speaker is on and red when it’s off, and purple sometimes… for some reason? If there’s a way of turning the LED off, I couldn’t find it, which was a little annoying at night.

I’d be remiss not to include mention of the LinkBuds Speaker’s base plate, because it became an integral part of the experience during my testing. Included in the box is a charging cradle, which you plug into a USB-C charger, and it holds the speaker firm and slowly charges it up. Once I set this up in my office, it became a ‘home’ of sorts for the speaker – when I was listening during work, it would power up so that there was charge for when I was taking it out and about. Super convenient, two thumbs up from me.

You can buy the speaker in black or light gray, and your choice will affect the base plate as well as the speaker itself. It has an IPX4 rating so it’s protected against splashes of water but not solid jets or submersion, so it may not be at home at a pool party.

The Sony LinkBuds Speaker on a shelf beside a bed.

(Image credit: Future)
  • Design score: 4/5

Sony LinkBuds Speaker review: Sound quality

  • Good, not great audio quality
  • Volume fine indoors but not loud enough for outdoors
  • Directional audio poses a problem

The Sony LinkBuds Speaker combines a tweeter and woofer in a classic two-way system; I couldn’t find much information on either component from Sony's materials.

There’s no use beating about the bush; the LinkBuds Speaker doesn’t quite sound as great as rivals I’ve tested at this price point from Ultimate Ears and JBL. It offers a balanced audio mix, but lacks the 'oomph' that portable Bluetooth speakers generally need.

For example: there’s ample bass, but not as much as you’d get on an outdoor speaker; clear treble, but a distinct lack of shine to some instruments; the same lack of soundstage that you get on smaller speakers like this thanks to mono audio. The maximum volume is sufficient if you plan to use the speaker exclusively at home or in your garden, but in wider open spaces, it might prove hard to hear. Unlike its rivals, Sony hasn't turned any one element up to 11.

The mono audio problem can be fixed, according to the Sony website, by simply buying a second speaker and pairing them together to get stereo sound. That will, of course, double the amount you’re paying to listen.

My main concern when I started listening to the LinkBuds Speaker was simply that audio didn’t sound as energetic or exciting as on many other portable speakers I’ve tested; lots of rivals are designed as party devices and going in with the same expectations here will leave you disappointed.

This was underlined when I used the LinkBuds Speaker to play music at a gathering; after a few drinks, balanced audio isn't as important as vibrant bass. However once I figured out that the Sony is designed for a different use case – namely home listening – I could appreciate it a little more.

The LinkBuds Speaker’s sound depends a lot on the direction you are to it – that’s not uncommon in speakers, as 360-degree audio is a rare treat. But it makes a marked difference in the LinkBuds Speaker, and it’s doubly annoying for two reasons.

Firstly, due to its design, it’s pretty hard to glean which way the front is from a glance – close up, you can see the way the buttons are facing and where the hook is. If the speaker is in the corner of a room, you’ll have to guess if you’re getting the full experience. Secondly, when you use the hook to hang the speaker up, its positioning means that the tweeter and woofer point downwards – the only person getting optimal audio is the downstairs neighbor.

Sony boasts about its Sound Diffusion Processor in the LinkBuds’ web post, which is supposed to spread sound from the speaker out into a wide area, but I can only assume this listing was written on opposite day because my experience was that music sounded so much better when the speaker was facing you.

The Sony LinkBuds Speaker on a shelf beside a bed.

(Image credit: Future)
  • Sound quality: 3.5/5

Sony LinkBuds Speaker review: Value

I can't go so far as to say that the Sony LinkBuds Speaker is outstanding value for money, but it ticks all the boxes that you want when you're paying this much.

The range of features, the audio quality, the design; I'm pretty sure I'd be able to accurately predict the LinkBuds' price because it's in line with expectations.

That changes a little if you can find the speaker discounted, though, and if you find it nearing the $100 / £100 / AU$180 mark, it may tip more into 'must-buy' territory.

  • Value score: 3.5/5

The Sony LinkBuds Speaker on a shelf beside a bed.

(Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Sony LinkBuds Speaker?

Buy it if…

You're a homebody
Looking for a Bluetooth speaker that you plan to use at home, rather than in outdoor events? Look no further.

Battery life is important
No-one likes that most gadgets take constant charging. You can put it off for 25 hours at a time with the LinkBuds Speaker, and top it up super-easily.

You want to be woken up by music
The LinkBuds Speaker's musical alarm clock feature has woken me up for the last week, and I'm all for it.

Don’t buy it if…

You're a party planner
The LinkBuds Speaker lacks the max volume, overwhelming bass or rugged design needed to make it a real party speaker.

You're not an app fan
Some people don't like having to use an app to control their speaker or headphones, and that's a fair stance, but you won't like the LinkBuds Speaker in that case.

Sony LinkBuds Speaker review: Also consider

JBL Flip 6
It's been around for years, but it remains a stalwart rival in the Bluetooth speaker space. It has a balanced sound and a hardy design, though it lacks some features (and the long battery life) that the Sony has – you can dig into it in our full JBL Flip 6 review.

Bose Soundlink Flex Gen 2
Another well-received rival from Bose, this gadget takes some party speaker DNA but not as much as some other rivals. It provide balanced audio, but perhaps doesn't quite have the charm of the Sony, but you can read more in our full Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2 review.

I tried out the Asus ExpertWiFi EBR63 – read how easy this Wi-Fi 6 router is for price, and security
2:27 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro | Comments: Off

This review first appeared in issue 355 of PC Pro.

Asus’ ExpertWiFi product family speaks to small businesses and retail outlets requiring a complete network security solution that’s affordable and simple to deploy. The EBR63 is a prime example: this deceptively small router teams up dual-band Wi-Fi 6 services with a heap of gateway security measures and delivers them all for only £125.

On the wireless side, the EBR63 has an AX3000 rating derived from claimed speeds of 574Mbits/sec on its 2.4GHz radio and 2,402Mbits/sec on the 5GHz radio, with the latter supporting high-performance 160MHz Wi-Fi 6 channels. However, the EBR63’s switch is only endowed with gigabit WAN and LAN ports so you won’t see the full performance potential of its Wi-Fi 6 credentials.

A positive takeaway is support for Asus’ AiMesh technology so you can use any compatible Asus wireless device to increase wireless coverage with up to 12 mesh nodes. You can also create up to five wireless SSIDs and present custom captive portals to guests and customers.

The EBR63 is a compact plastic unit that can be wall- or ceiling-mounted using the two holes in its rear panel. It also has a flip-out desk stand, but we wouldn’t recommend using this in a busy environment as it’s quite flimsy and, with the router only weighing 415g, it could easily get knocked over.

Internet redundancy is present, with the dual WAN feature able to apply failover or load balancing across two internet connections using the WAN port and a LAN port of your choosing. A quick fix if your main internet connection goes down is to connect a mobile to the EBR63’s USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 port and use it as an instant internet backup.

Full view of the Asus ExpertWiFi EBR63

The EBR63 is deceptively small and delivers decent overall speeds (Image credit: Future)

Deployment is a breeze using the ExpertWiFi mobile app. With this loaded on an iPad, we connected it to the router’s secure default SSID and followed a wizard to activate the device and update its firmware.

Management choices abound. The EBR63 presents a well-designed web interface, which we used to create more wireless, or self-defined, networks. This is nicely handled as you choose from a list that includes employee, portal, guest, scheduled and IoT options, then fill in the fields presented and choose WPA2 or the more secure WPA3 encryption. The “Scenario Explorers” makes this even easier as you choose an environment such as office, coffee shop or home working and it will present you with the most appropriate settings.

Security features are quite remarkable considering the price. The SPI firewall can be customized with up to 128 rules, while the Trend Micropowered AiProtection Pro service blocks malicious sites, stops infected systems from accessing the network, provides intrusion prevention services (IPS) and generates security assessment reports.

Web content and app filtering can be applied to selected clients where you tick boxes next to any of the four categories, choose a discovered device from the drop-down list and add a new rule. VPN options are outstanding, as Asus supports PPTP, OpenVPN, IPsec and WireGuard VPN servers, while the VPN Fusion feature creates secure connections for devices that can’t run VPN client software. In addition, quality of service (QoS) features are handled by Asus’ Adaptive QoS, which prioritizes traffic from different apps and activities using a customizable list.

Desktop screenshot of the Asus ExpertWiFi EBR63's web interface

The EBR63 delivers great security and traffic analysis features (Image credit: Future)

Despite only having gigabit ports, the EBR63 delivered respectable speeds in our real-world tests. Using a Dell Windows 11 Pro workstation equipped with a TP-Link Archer TXE75E Wi-Fi 6/6E PCI-E adapter, we saw close-range large file copies between the client and a LAN-connected Windows server return a rock-steady 112MB/sec, dropping to 89MB/sec with the router placed ten meters away in an adjoining room.

The ExpertWiFi EBR63 will appeal to small businesses that want all their network services and security in one, easily-managed device. The gigabit ports do limit wireless performance but overall speeds are impressive nonetheless, and Asus delivers an incredible range of security measures at a very tempting price.

We also rated the best software for small businesses.

I tested the Zyxel XMG1915-10EP – see how this pocket-sized switch delivers on power
2:21 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro | Comments: Off

This review first appeared in issue 356 of PC Pro.

Zyxel’s XMG1915 family of switches is aimed at small businesses that want plenty of multi-gigabit ports in a space-saving design and at a competitive price. The range comprises three models, and we reviewed the XMG1915-10EP, which provides high-power PoE++ services.

Measuring only 250 x 104 x 27mm (WDH), this desktop switch packs in eight 2.5GbE multi-gigabit ports all capable of delivering up to 60W. It partners them with a pair of 10GbE SFP+ fiber ports for high-speed uplinks. It has a good power budget of 130W, which is facilitated by a chunky 150W external power brick that’s over half the size of the switch.

The switch uses its chassis as a heatsink and its fan-less design means it’s completely silent. Management options are good: you can run it in standalone mode or hook it up with Zyxel’s Nebula Control Center (NCC) service for full cloud access.

The switch packs plenty of LEDs into its front panel, with lights showing system and cloud connection status, while a three-color PoE LED warns if you’re getting close to the power budget. Each port is also assigned an LED that shows whether its connection speed is 100Mbits/sec, gigabit or 2.5GbE.

Full view of the Zyxel XMG1915-10EP

The diminutive XMG1915-10EP packs in eight 2.5GbE multi-gigabit ports (Image credit: Future)

The switch is easy to deploy in standalone mode, with its local web console presenting four wizards for setting a default admin password and SNMP community names, and configuring security features, VLANs and quality of service (QoS). Not that it will concern the target audience, but the XMG1915-10MP is a pure Layer 2 switch and doesn’t offer the “Lite-L3” static routing features found in Zyxel’s larger PoE switches.

Standard L2 features are plentiful and include port and protocol-based VLANs plus static and LACP link aggregation groups. VoIP networks are on its radar as the switch identifies traffic from IP phones using a customizable organizationally unique identifier (OUI) list and automatically prioritizes it by dynamically creating voice VLANs.

The web console’s dashboard shows details on system utilization, port speeds, whether they’re supplying power and overall power consumption for all connected powered devices (PDs). One of three power priorities can be assigned to each port so if the power draw gets close to the maximum available, those with the lowest priority will be switched off first.

Unless you’re planning on deploying power-hungry PoE IP cameras with integral PTZ functions, it’s unlikely you’ll get close to the maximum power budget. We tested this by connecting two Zyxel Wi-Fi 6E access points (APs) and the new WBE660S Wi-Fi 7 model plus Netgear’s tri-band WAX630E AP; we saw from the web console that the total draw didn’t go above 43W, leaving us with 87W still to play with.

Cloud deployment is swift. We used the Nebula iOS app on an iPad to scan the QR code label on the switch’s base. Two minutes later the switch popped up in our cloud portal and received all our site settings, including a new admin password.

Desktop screenshot of the NCC cloud service featured with Zyxel XMG1915-10EP

The switch can be managed in standalone mode or remotely from Zyxel’s NCC cloud portal (Image credit: Future)

The widget-based NCC dashboard can be easily customised and we added widgets to show the online status of our switch and total power usage. Selecting the switch took us to its monitoring page, with color-coded views of all ports and 24-hour traffic and power graphs, which can be extended to seven days with an optional NCC Plus license and to one year with the Pro version.

For general switch operations, Nebula provides remote access to all the same features as standalone mode. Up to five global PoE schedules can be assigned to specific ports that determine when attached PDs are active and you can disable and enable PoE services on each one as well – very handy for remotely rebooting a PD that isn’t responding.

The compact XMG1915-10EP is a great choice for small businesses that want plenty of multi-gigabit ports and high-power PoE++ services. It supports standalone and cloud management and the remarkably low price includes an impressive set of features.

We also ranked the best apps for small businesses.

I tried the TP-Link VIGI NVR1004-4P, see what I thought of this surveillance and recording solution
2:18 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Pro | Tags: | Comments: Off

This review first appeared in issue 356 of PC Pro.

TP-Link may be best known for its affordable business networking products, but it also has a strong presence in the video surveillance market. Its VIGI family offers a range of network video recorders (NVRs) and cameras, and in this review we look at its NVR1004-4P four-channel NVR and test it with TP-Link’s latest C540V outdoor PTZ IP camera.

Costing under £100, the NVR looks great value but you’ll need to add the extra cost of a SATA hard disk to store video recordings. At the rear are four network camera ports, each delivering PoE+ services, and it has a total power budget of 53W.

HDMI and VGA ports support local monitors, two old-school phono jacks are provided for audio in and out and a separate Fast Ethernet port facilitates NVR web management. Setup is easy; after fitting a 4TB Western Digital Red Pro hard disk in the NVR, we connected an HD monitor and followed the onscreen wizard.

To secure access, you choose an admin password and provide a recovery email address. You can also set a global username and password as well as a recovery email that are applied to VIGI cameras when they first come online.

The wizard finishes by displaying QR codes for TP-Link’s VIGI mobile apps. To use them, you create a TP-Link ID account and bind the NVR to it from its web console. We also loaded TP-Link’s Security Manager app on a Windows host and linked it to our ID account for remote NVR access, although this doesn’t provide event management.

Full view of the TP-Link VIGI NVR1004-4P

It’s great value, but you’ll need to add a SATA hard disk to store recordings (Image credit: Future)

To add the C540V camera, we connected it to a PoE port and waited ten seconds while the NVR discovered it. All security settings and firmware updates were applied for us, and the NVR assigned a base set of video parameters that included enabling the latest H.265+ codec.

This IP66-rated camera delivers great image quality. Along with good contrast and color balance, it has a sharp focus, handles bright sunlight well and its motorized pan and tilt functions cover a lot of ground. The IR LED provides good night illumination up to around 20 meters, its white LEDs are blindingly bright, and the powerful integral speaker will scare the living daylights out of intruders.

The C540V camera is designed for home surveillance

(Image credit: Future)

The NVR1004-4P can’t match Synology’s DVA appliances, which provide slick people counting, face recognition and crowd control features, but it does offer a good range of detection and recording features. For basic motion detection, you draw multiple polygonal shapes in the camera view where you want it applied, set object height and width filters, tweak the sensitivity and enable human and vehicle detection.

Smart events go further, and allow you to draw lines in the camera view to denote digital fences and choose one-way or two-way directions. Custom detection zones can be monitored for objects being removed or those that linger in them for a specific period, while entry and exit regions are used to keep an eye on specific areas such as building entrances.

Along with event recording, trigger actions can include pop-up warnings, sounding NVR and camera audio alarms and activating a camera’s security lights. Recordings can be viewed from the NVR’s local monitor or web console, the Security Manager and mobile app, with options to choose camera channels and scroll through their timelines to points of interest.

Examples of recordings taken by the C540V camera

The NVR supports a wide range of motion detection events (Image credit: Future)

The NVR1004-4P supports ONVIF-compliant IP cameras and it discovered our D-Link models as soon as we connected them to the PoE ports. We customized the live view to show all camera feeds, but features are more limited as we could only apply basic motion detection events to them.

You’ll need to use TP-Link’s VIGI cameras to get the best from it, but the NVR1004-4P is a good choice for small businesses seeking affordable in-house video surveillance. It offers plenty of video analytics features, the C540V camera scores highly for image quality, and the components are offered at very competitive prices.

We've also rated the best secure smartphones.

INIU I212 Adjustable 15W Fast Wireless Charger review: Android users rejoice! finally a good wireless charger that’s not made just for iPhones
12:00 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Phone Accessories Phones | Comments: Off

INIU I212 Adjustable 15W Fast Wireless Charger review

The INIU I212 Adjustable 15W Fast Wireless Charger is listed at $32.99 / £26.99 on the INIU website and is also available to purchase at Amazon. This price makes it a more costly alternative to the similar non-MagSafe Anker 313 Wireless Charger Stand, but this is warranted due to its performance and flexible design.

As this isn't a magnetic charger (although phones do need to be MagSafe to charge on it), there's nothing to stop a phone from sliding off if knocked, but the design is otherwise pretty sturdy thanks to the charging stand's overall weight and square base.

The adjustable viewing angle is my favorite part of the INIU I212 Adjustable 15W Fast Wireless Charger's design. The phone cradle pivots on the top with a range of 90 degrees, so my phone could be positioned vertically or laid back almost flat. The included USB-C power cable is only a meter long – this may be adequate for some, but I would have preferred a longer length, as it limited my placement options.

The INIU I212 Adjustable Wireless Charger holds an iPhone and is angled as far back as it will go.

(Image credit: Cesci Angell / Future)

At first, I was unimpressed with the charging speed of the INIU I212 Adjustable 15W Fast Wireless Charger, as it took over three hours to charge an iPhone 13 Pro from 0% - 100%, a test I perform on all chargers I review to be able to make a solid comparison. As this was a questionably long time for a charger that claims to be "fast", I had a read of the small print and found that INIU recommends using a charging adapter of 18 watts or higher.

Personally, I feel that any charger requiring a wall adapter above a specific output to achieve anywhere near the charging speeds stated should include one in the box. The INIU I212 Adjustable 15W Fast Wireless Charger does not. Naturally, I have plenty of spare plugs about, but the average buyer may not; so it's worth bearing this in mind, as a further purchase may be needed to get the most out of this charger.

The INIU I212 Adjustable Wireless Charger is pictured sitting on a grey stone surface against a pink background. There is an iPhone on the charger; its screen shows that it is charged to 100%.

(Image credit: Cesci Angell / Future)

Once I'd repeated the test with a suitable plug, the INIU I212 Adjustable 15W Fast Wireless Charger was able to fully charge the iPhone 13 Pro in 2 hours and 16 minutes, putting it in the same league as most of the MagSafe chargers I've tested so far. This also makes it much faster than the Anker 313 Wireless Charger Stand that currently features in our list of the best wireless chargers. This result made me do a 360 on my opinion of the INIU I212 Adjustable 15W Fast Wireless Charger, as this charging speed is good for the price.

Overall, this is a well-designed and versatile phone charging stand. The vast majority of the wireless chargers I test are compatible with iPhones only, so to test a charger that can charge a range of devices at a good speed with a sturdy and adjustable design has been refreshing. So if you're on the lookout for a decent and fairly priced phone charger that'll remain usable even if you switch your allegiance come upgrade time, the INIU I212 Adjustable 15W Fast Wireless Charger is a good shout.

INIU I212 Adjustable 15W Fast Wireless Charger review: Price & specs

Should I buy the INIU I212 Adjustable 15W Fast Wireless Charger?

Buy it if…

You want viewing flexibility
If you're anything like me and will more often than not continue to use your phone as it recharges, then an adjustable stand is a must. The viewing angle on this INIU charger is easy to alter, making it easy to consume content while it's juicing up.

You want a versatile charger
Whether you're rocking two phones, or want a simple charging solution located in a communal space, this INIU charger's compatibility with both iPhones and Androids means less cables and clutter.

Don't buy it if…

You're a die-hard iPhone user
As much as I like this charger, as an avid iPhone user, I much prefer the reassurance that a MagSafe charger provides. It provides a more secure hold, which is appreciated by someone as klutzy as me.

You don't want to feel tethered
Granted, this isn't the only charger that comes with a disappointingly short power cable, but the 3.3 ft / 1 m cable can limit placement options.

INIU I212 Adjustable 15W Fast Wireless Charger review: Also consider

Anker 313 Wireless Charger Stand
If you're just looking for something cheap and cheerful, and aren't fussed about charging speeds or adjustable angles, then this Anker charger may just take your fancy. Like the I212, it's compatible with iPhones and Androids and can accommodate phones up to 5mm thick.

The CMF Watch Pro 2 feels like more of a spin-off than a sequel
9:00 am |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Health & Fitness Smartwatches | Tags: | Comments: Off

CMF Watch Pro 2: One minute review

CMF Watch Pro 2

(Image credit: Future)

The CMF Watch Pro 2 is undoubtedly one of the best cheap smartwatches you can buy right now, if not the absolute best pick, and it wins huge points purely for its incredibly affordable price tag.

Despite the cost-saving efforts, it has an impressive design and build and comes with plenty of features that make it a perfect beginner smartwatch for anyone new to the form factor. The screen is perfectly adequate, the software works well enough, and there are myriad smartwatch features including workout tracking, sleep monitoring, GPS, and more.

However, it lacks a couple of key features, including NFC payments, and it can't really be used in water. Also, some of its features, like raise and tap to wake, as well as workout detection, are a little temperamental. Perhaps my biggest issue with it is that I prefer the larger, squircle shape of the previous model, but I've reviewed it here on its own merits.

Nothing still sells both, and it's a big departure from what I believe is the ultimate smartwatch success formula. However, it does deliver some good upgrades, including a better display and more watch faces.

CMF Watch Pro 2: Specifications

CMF Watch Pro 2: Price and Availability

CMF Watch Pro 2

(Image credit: Future)
  • $69 / £69 / AU$99
  • Four colors

The CMF Watch Pro 2 is available now in two colors from Nothing's website as well as from retailers like Amazon. It costs $69 / £69 / AU$99 but does occasionally see discounts of up to 25%.

There's only one size, the 42mm watch face, available in four colors: Blue, Ash Grey, Orange, and Dark Grey pictured here.

Pound for pound, this has to be the best-value smartwatch you can buy on the market right now, considering it's compatible with both iPhone and Android and it has an impressive feature set. It only gets a 5/5 because I can't award a higher score.

  • Value score: 5/5

CMF Watch Pro 2: Design

CMF Watch Pro 2

(Image credit: Future)
  • Cool circular display
  • Divisive change from the 1st-gen
  • Solid, premium build

You're going to hear a lot of "for a $69 watch" in the next few minutes. But honestly, for a $69 Watch, the CMF Watch Pro 2 is a really impressive piece of design.

Nothing is famous for making cool-looking tech gadgets, and the CMF Watch Pro 2 is no different. However, we need to talk about the elephant in the room. I'm very much team "smartwatches should be squircle," but the CMF Watch Pro 2 eschews the design of the first CMF Watch Pro in favor of a completely circular design more akin to the Google Pixel Watch 3. It's a big change, and one fans of the first watch might not like. The 42mm display is housed in a 45mm chassis, and the rather thick bezel is tapered towards the middle to create a unique bowl effect.

While the styling is divisive, it's certainly not generic. The digital crown is also premium and feels nice and responsive to use. My only build gripe is the liquid silicon strap, which is pretty thin and not very premium-feeling. That being said, it is comfortable, and I didn't experience much in the way of wrist fatigue during any of my testing.

The bezel is interchangeable, so you can pop it off and replace it with a purchased alternative to change up the style and color of your watch pretty quickly. This is another fairly unique feature that you won't really find on other smartwatches.

CMF Watch Pro 2

(Image credit: Future)

The display is a 1.32-inch AMOLED measuring 466x466. It's a slight upgrade on the previous generation, now putting out 620 nits of peak brightness with a 60fps refresh rate, vs 58Hz and 600 nits in the old one. The display is considerably smaller than the previous model, another divisive change. However, the overall shift makes the watch much smaller in profile, so people with smaller wrists or those who want a more unintrusive experience will prefer this.

The screen has a new auto-brightness feature, as well as five levels you can manually select from. At 620 nits peak, it's not exactly a looker (even the Apple Watch SE 2 puts out 1,000 nits) but it's perfectly adequate. In fact, for a $69 watch, it's definitely a decent display.

Some colors look a little washed out, like the temperature dials on my multifunction face. But colorful faces like the Prismatic Time face definitely have some pop to them. There are some weird pixel-shifting issues I've seen on some of the interfaces, lines that should be straight are wonky in places, but I can't tell if this is a hardware or a software issue. At a glance, it's not really that noticeable.

Durability-wise, the CMF Watch Pro 2 comes with an IP68 water rating. That means it's dustproof and can withstand immersion in up to 1.5 meters of water for 30 minutes. However, Nothing says the Watch Pro isn't suitable for use while swimming, in the shower, saunas, steam rooms, or any kind of water sports or activity. Basically, water is a no-go, which is definitely a key weak spot.

  • Design score: 4/5

CMF Watch Pro 2: Features

CMF Watch Pro 2

(Image credit: Future)
  • Lots of sports tracking and health metrics
  • Bluetooth, GPS, heart rate metrics
  • No NFC

For a $69 watch (I won't stop), there's an awful lot going on here. The CMF Watch Pro 2 offers a myriad of features you'd expect to find in a smartwatch, with a couple of key missing features reflective of the price.

Let's start with what you do get. Underpinning most of the best smartwatches these days is health and fitness, and the CMF Watch Pro 2 offers 120 sport modes, as well as five smart recognition activities that can detect your workouts without manual input (I'll get to whether this works in the Performance section). Some exercises even have a warm-up option that triggers a quick slew of animated warm-up stretches and movements before you work out, something you won't even find on any of the best Apple Watches.

Health tracking delivers an Active Score, round-the-clock heart rate and blood oxygen monitoring, sleep tracking, menstrual cycle tracking, step count, calories, resting heart rate, and alerts for abnormal heart rate and blood oxygen.

You also get key features like reminders, music controls, a remote camera control, a calendar, a calculator, and alarms. The Watch Pro 2 works with both iOS (13 and above) or Android (8.0 and above), so you should get plenty of cross-compatibility and synchronization between features like reminders and alarms on your watch and whichever smartphone you use.

You'll also get a Find My Phone feature, flashlight, and a voice assistant functionality, although I found the latter one is a bit of a gimmick, it's supposed to trigger your phone's voice assistant, and while I could see the watch waking up Siri on my iPhone, I couldn't actually ask questions or use it for anything.

Crucially, the Watch Pro 2 lacks NFC, so can't be used to make mobile payments from your wrist, which might be a deal breaker for some.

  • Features score: 4.5/5

CMF Watch Pro 2: Performance

CMF Watch Pro 2

(Image credit: Future)
  • Decent workout tracking
  • Some obvious quirks
  • Snappy day-to-day use
  • Good battery life

I'll start with the performance positives because there are a couple of quirks with the CMF Watch Pro 2 you should be aware of.

I generally found workout tracking to be consistent. A direct test with my Apple Watch Series 10 for an indoor run measured almost identical readings for distance traveled. The average heart rate was just one bpm off, and the range was pretty much spot-on. As far as workout tracking on a smartwatch can be accurate (the jury is out on just how useful it is generally), I'd say the CMF Watch Pro 2 delivers pretty reasonable accuracy across the board.

I've seen other reviews comment on GPS quirks, but I didn't experience any issues with it. Battery life on the Watch Pro 2 is pretty impressive, rated for up to 11 days of typical use, 9 days of heavy use, or 25 hours using GPS. I've found that generally to hold true in testing, and the battery life is definitely one of the positives.

CMF Watch Pro 2

(Image credit: Future)

While syncing with iOS and my iPhone was generally seamless, it doesn't play nice with Apple's notifications because these are restricted for third-party hardware. As such, iOS Focus modes don't work, one consideration for iPhone users. Notifications are pretty limited in use also, whereas you can respond to them in watchOS on devices like the Apple Watch or Wear OS, all you can do is read and dismiss them here.

As you might have picked up, the CMF Watch Pro 2 runs Nothing's proprietary smartwatch software rather than Wear OS. I actually prefer the look and feel over Wear OS, but like Wear OS, some elements of the UI remain poorly optimized for the circular display. Scrolling and swiping were very snappy overall, and I never experienced any performance lags. In fact, the Watch Pro 2 is noticeably snappier than even the Garmin Instinct 3 I was recently hands-on with.

Throughout my testing, I couldn't get 'raise to wake' to work at all. I even wrote this portion of the review, describing it as the CMF Watch Pro 2's biggest flaw and one that really hobbled the user experience. Then, out of nowhere, the feature began to work perfectly.

Now, whenever I lift my wrist, the watch immediately springs into life. Tap to wake is less reliable, and I've seen other reviews flag that raise to wake is an issue. So while I can no longer say it doesn't work full stop, it is definitely quirky and a problem to watch out for.

Workout detection does work, sort of. While out walking, my watch notified me that I was doing exactly that and asked if I'd like to track the experience. I tapped yes, but the tracker started from zero. Workout detection on Apple Watch is always running in the background, so if you get a detection notice after 10 minutes of walking, that 10 minutes of activity is included in your metrics. The Watch Pro 2 starts from scratch, which isn't exactly how I'd expect workout detection to function. Basically, it's handy if you forget to start your workout and need a reminder.

One final flaw, the vibration motor isn't nice. It resonates at just the wrong frequency and shakes the whole watch with an annoying, high-pitched buzz, it's the only part of the experience that feels cheap.

  • Performance score: 3/5

CMF Watch Pro 2: Scorecard

CMF Watch Pro 2: Should I buy?

Buy it if...

You've never had a smartwatch before

This is a perfect beginner smartwatch, an easy investment to see if using one is for you.

You're on a budget

You'll struggle to find a better smartwatch at this price.

Don't buy it if...

You like water

Nothing warns against use in any kind of water, so this is not the pick if you want a watch you never have to take off.

You want true software synchronization

Both Apple Watch or Wear OS models are going to offer better integration with their respective operating systems

CMF Watch Pro 2: How we tested

I used the CMF Watch Pro 2 over a number of weeks, as a daily smartwatch, during workouts, and more. I tested all of its main features and it was connected to an iPhone for the duration of testing.

CMF Watch Pro 2: Also consider

The original CMF Watch Pro is still fantastic, similarly priced, bigger, and has more battery life. It's a great alternative, as there aren't a ton of improvements in the new one.

Read our full CMF Watch Pro Review

For exactly the same price, this Amazfit offers a similar experience with a more Apple Watch-esque design. It's GPS is impressive and it's light and comfortable, but you won't get the same build quality or workout tracking accuracy. Really, consider this pick vindication that Nothing is king of the cheap smartwatch.

Read our full Amazfit Bip 3 Pro Review

First reviewed: February 2025

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