Not even a year since Insta360’s original Flow Pro smartphone stabilizer arrived on the market, and it already has a successor in the shape of the Flow 2 Pro. The new gimbal (perhaps unsurprisingly given the timeframe) doesn’t represent a huge leap forward, however – merely a logical progression in a few key areas.
This is another compact handheld gimbal for keeping an attached smartphone level and its movements smooth, enabling the user to capture more stable and professional-looking video footage while on foot or, with the gimbal perched on a flat surface thanks to its integrated tripod, use their phone like an automated camera operator, moving around while the gimbal uses its software to track and follow their movements, keeping them in the frame.
All the key advantages of the original model either remain untouched or improved upon, thankfully. The lightweight folding design, for instance, makes the Flow 2 Pro one of the most portable smartphone stabilizers around, just like the Flow Pro. And, like the Flow Pro, it features a magnetic clamping system that makes mounting your phone and deploying the gimbal and a refreshingly quick and painless process. The clamp grips securely to the sides of your phone, accommodating devices between 64mm and 84mm wide, and then simply sticks to the gimbal arm via its strong magnet, fixing into place with a satisfying ‘thunk’.
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(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)
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I think the design is even better this time around, though, because the Flow 2 Pro’s construction is tougher and more durable than that of its predecessor, even down to the built-in tripod legs being less awkward to pull out and providing a more stable platform for hands-free stabilization.
In its folded state the Flow 2 Pro is impressively small. I was even able to lug it around in my coat pocket, which isn’t something I could say for many of the other best smartphone gimbals. The basic bundle comes with a soft cloth drawstring bag for storage in such situations, but Insta360 also sells an optional hard-sided carry case with snug cut-outs for the gimbal, magnetic clamp and (also optional) fill light. This case, which comes with a removable shoulder strap and netted compartment space inside the lid for storing cables and other small accessories, is the ideal way to store the Flow 2 Pro when not in use, and I’d have liked it included in the basic package – but I suppose keeping it as an optional upgrade does hold the overall cost down for those who want to get in at the lowest price point.
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(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)
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As for the smartphone stabilization itself, I have no significant complaints at all – it all works brilliantly, and the Flow 2 Pro feels much more comfortable in my hand than the original Flow Pro. The three-axis gimbal can support handsets up to 300g in weight, stabilizing them using one of three modes: Follow (which follows both the pan and tilt movements of the user but keeps the roll axis fixed); Pan Follow (similar, but keeps both the tilt and roll axes fixed); and FPV (which follows the user’s movement on all three axes).
There’s also an Auto mode, which follows tilt and pan movements and adapts its sensitivity automatically in real-time, plus the option to fix all axes in place at any time by holding down the trigger on the handle. The sixth and final mode is Active Plus, which adds extra sensitivity and responsiveness to the above modes and is engaged by tapping, then holding down the trigger.
You can also manually move the gimbal using the on-handle controls, with the thumb stick supporting tilt and pan motion and, in FPV mode, the jog wheel controlling roll axis movement. Single tapping the trigger turns subject tracking on and off, double tapping resets the phone to a level central position and triple tapping spins the phone through 180º so that it faces the opposite direction to its current facing.
The minimalist circular control setup is similar to the Flow Pro’s, albeit with a few tweaks to aid ergonomics. It’s now slightly more tactile and the four mode lights for Auto, Follow, Pan Follow and FPV are situated at 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock on the circle rather than in a row at the top. The green indicator light, which pops on to tell you that tracking is in progress, is retained from the Flow Pro, as is the NFC tap point above it, which can be used for first-time one-tap pairing for both Android and Apple phones.
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The 21cm extension stick, which expands out from the handle to create extra distance between the user and the phone, is retained from the previous model but a new Free Tilt option expands the Flow 2 Pro’s repertoire of motion. It moves the arm out of the way, which allowed me to capture upwards and downwards tilting shots I wouldn’t otherwise have been able to get.
On the software side of things, the Flow 2 Pro retains its Apple DockKit support, which means it can track subjects in over 200 iPhone camera apps, including the likes of BlackMagic Camera, TikTok and the iPhone’s own native camera app. Obviously this leaves Android users feeling a little short-changed in comparison, as the only way they can track on the Flow 2 Pro is via the Insta360 app.
However, the app is great – and I think delivers by far a smoother, smarter and more responsive tracking experience than any apps that use the DockKit integration. New tracking features added for the Flow 2 Pro include the ability to track groups of people, track while zoomed up to 15x and the Pro Framing Grid, which can modify tracking to keep the subject off-center in the frame for a more pleasing ‘golden ratio’ composition.
The app also includes support for Dolby Vision and Apple ProRes video recording, a new teleprompter option to help content creators stick to the script and support for remote control of the gimbal via a second smartphone or an Apple Watch. I like the idea of a remote control but having to pull out a second smartphone isn’t really ideal – so hopefully Insta360 will take inspiration from the Hohem iSteady M7’s integrated remote control for future stabilizers.
I did get the opportunity to try out a couple of the optional accessories such as the MagSafe mount, which is a much more elegant and slick mounting option than the spring-loaded magnetic grip and the LED fill light, which slots directly onto the gimbal arm’s USB-C output (which can also be used to top up your phone’s battery) and provides either warm, neutral or cool light in one of three intensities. It’s not as flexible as the LED that comes included on the Hohem M7, but it’s powerful enough to enable night-time vlogging, and can face both forwards and backwards.
With up to 10 hours of battery life, the Flow 2 Pro delivers roughly the same amount of use on a full charge as the original model. By the standards of small stabilizers, it’s good – and significantly longer than the 6.5 hours offered by the DJI Osmo 6 Mobile, its closest rival.
Insta360 Flow 2 Pro: Price and Availability
The Insta360 Flow 2 Pro is available to order from its launch day, 16 January 2025, in two bundles and two color finishes: Stone Grey and Summit White.
The Standard Bundle costs $159.99 / £144.99 / AU$239.99, and includes the Flow 2 Pro itself plus a magnetic clamp, USB-A to USB-C charging cable and soft storage back. The Creator Bundle costs $189.99 / £169.99 / AU$289.99, and includes all of the above plus a USB-C to USB-C charging cable, a magnetic phone mount for MagSafe iPhones and the Spotlight, a small fill light that clips directly to the gimbal arm.
This launch price is slightly higher than the launch price of original Flow Pro (which arrived in July 2024); taking into account inflation, however, I’d consider it roughly the same – although I would expect the original Flow Pro to fall in price now that its successor has arrived – the Flow 2 Pro’s most established rival, the DJI Osmo 6 Mobile, has already.
Insta360 Flow 2 Pro: specs
Insta360 Flow 2 Pro: Also Consider
DJI Osmo Mobile 6 We think DJI’s small folding gimbal feels nicer in the hand than the Flow 2 Pro, but in other areas the Insta360 has it beat thanks to longer battery life and, for Apple users at least, that all-important ability to track using third-party camera apps. We’d expect the upcoming Osmo Mobile 7 (or equivalent) to up its game sharply, however.
Hohem iSteady M7 While significantly pricier and bulkier than the Flow 2 Pro, the M7’s impeccable stabilization can balance phones up to 500g in weight. Even better, it comes with app-agnostic tracking via an AI camera module that doubles as a fully customizable fill light, plus a touchscreen module that works as a remote control.
*Our Hohem iSteady M7 review is in progress
Should I buy the Insta360 Flow 2 Pro?
(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)
Buy it if...
You want the best small gimbal for iPhone The Flow 2 Pro’s Apple DockKit support grants it far more utility for iPhone users than its folding, compact competitors, allowing human subject tracking for over 200 iOS camera apps.
You travel light With its folding, lightweight build, which also manages to be reassuringly sturdy, the Flow 2 Pro is the perfect stabilizer with which to document your day trips and weekend breaks. It works as a power bank, selfie stick and tripod too!
Don't buy it if...
You want the best all-round tracking gimbal Larger, pricier stabilizers like the Hohem iSteady M7 and Zhiyun Smooth 5A AI feature AI tracking modules that allow them to track human subjects with any app for both Android and iPhone.
You already own the original Flow Pro The improvements here are notable, but not so valuable that it’s worth ditching your nearly new Flow Pro for the upgrade. If you own the original, our advice would be to wait until the Flow 3 Pro (or equivalent) comes along.
How I tested the Insta360 Flow 2 Pro
One week of use
Tested with iPhone 13 and various iOS apps
Used inside and outdoors both on tripod and in hand
I used the Insta360 Flow 2 Pro in and around my home for a week, using it to record footage both on the move and with it fixed it place via its built-in tripod. I tested it with my Apple iPhone 13 and a variety of camera apps – including the Insta360 app, BlackMagic Camera and the iPhone’s own native camera – to record b-roll and vlog-style videos.
If you're new to bird feeder cameras and want an easy and affordable starting point, the FeatherSnap Scout is just the ticket. It's easy to set up, and offers a robust design, reliable Wi-Fi connectivity, durable battery performance with solar charging, plus a straightforward app through which you can enjoy watching your garden visitors. These attributes combine to great effect, and made this review both easy to write and highly enjoyable, while assuring me that the FeatherSnap Scout is one of the best bird feeder cameras available.
I live in the countryside in the UK, and we get plenty of feathered visitors in the garden. I already have regular bird feeders set up in various spots, so why not swap one out for a feeder with a camera? Doing so enabled me to get a closer look at the birds I otherwise only see from a distance, from the comfort of my home, and has been a wonderful experience.
In fact, while writing this review at TechRadar's offices, many miles from home, I've been able to keep the FeatherSnap Scout's live feed active on my phone to see (and hear) which birds are stopping by – a welcome distraction that puts a smile on my face.
Setting up the FeatherSnap Scout is simple. Having pinpointed the best spots to position the bird feeder, it took me a matter of minutes to unbox the camera, head into the garden and fix it to my chosen tree using the supplied strap. I've tried placing it in a couple of spots, and once I've established the best position I'll screw it in place more securely.
(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
With the FeatherSnap Scout in place and filled with feed, I connected it to my home Wi-Fi network via FeatherSnap's free app (available for iOS and Android) – I was able to get connected promptly, despite there being a large distance between the camera and my home router.
The app is easy to navigate, though you'll want the paid-for subscription to get the very best features – for me the video downloads proved the real highlight. Still, without the subscription you can still receive pictures that the camera takes when it detects movement, plus enjoy the live feed, complete with audio.
Image quality is what I'd expect from a basic camera with ultra-wide angle lens; color depth and resolution are limited. However, the same can be said of all bird feeder cameras, and the detail here is pretty sharp. Over the weeks using the FeatherSnap Scout I've learnt that it's a breeze to get started, reliable, offers decent battery life, and comes in at a highly competitive price point. Top stuff.
FeatherSnap Scout bird feeder camera: price and availability
$179.99 / £159.99 / AU$TBC
App subscription plan $59.99 / £49.99 per year or $6.99 / £5.99 per month
Compared to a premium option such as the 5 star-rated Birdfy Feeder 2 Duo, the FeatherSnap Scout is a snip at just $179.99 / £159.99 (availability and pricing for Australia is TBC), especially when you consider that it features two built-in solar panels. That said, to get the most out of the camera features, you'll want the paid-for Unlimited Plan, which costs $59.99 / £49.99 per year, or $6.99 / £5.99 per month. Without it you can't access some of the best features, which for me means video downloads, although personally I can take or leave the bird identification features, which didn't always prove to be accurate. At the time of writing, the best price can be found on the FeatherSnap website and Amazon – for the latter make sure to select FeatherSnap as the seller to get the prices above.
(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
FeatherSnap Scout bird feeder camera: specs
FeatherSnap Scout bird feeder camera: design
Motion detection camera with ultra-wide lens and stable 2.4Ghz Wi-Fi connection
Strap or screw-in mount
Potentially unlimited battery life thanks to twin solar panels
The FeatherSnap Scout arrives fully assembled, with no construction needed, complete with twin solar panels built into its roof. The camera unit is packaged separately and snaps securely into place, attached through its USB-C port which connects it to the solar panels for continuous power.
The fiddliest part of setting the feeder up was strapping it to a tree. For a tree with thinner trunk I wrapped the strap around twice, and it feeds through a lock that's completely secure and stable. For another, larger tree, I wrapped the strap once and the setup was equally secure. I wouldn't be against attaching the camera to a tree using screws, once I know I'm fully happy with its position for year-round coverage, and if I can do that without damaging the tree.
My review period took place over the winter months in the UK, which means cold weather, short days and limited sunlight. The rugged device has withstood inclement weather, including a category 2 storm, and countless visitors (although I'm lucky that the squirrels haven't discovered it yet), and all remains well.
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Initial pairing to my home Wi-Fi network took no time at all through FeatherSnap's app, and I was impressed with the stability of the connection considering the distance between my router and the device. In one position the app showed a strong connection with a distance of around 50ft / 15m, while from another side of the house, as much as 82ft / 25m, the connection was weaker but still worked.
A large battery unit is supplied, and this has a USB-C port built into it for direct wired charging. In one of the locations where I set the feeder up it was almost entirely in the shade and daylight hours were few, with the weather hovering around 32F / 0C, plus the camera was regularly active snapping visitors, and the battery was losing about 15% of its charge each day, so that's good for about a week of use.
I repositioned the camera where it would get more sunlight on sunny days, and the battery life increased. By my reckoning, provided the camera has reasonable exposure to daylight, it'll maintain its charge thanks to the twin solar panels, and most people will seldom if ever need to charge the battery.
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(Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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FeatherSnap says the bird feeder camera has a -20F to 130°F / -29C to 54.4C operating temperature. Such extremes have never been recorded where I live, but the device has worked flawlessly in freezing temperatures. It's also proved durable, in the wind and rain, and I have little doubt that it'll be up and running in my garden for a long time to come.
I will caveat any notes about durability by saying the feeder has only had feathered visitors during my review period, the largest of which was a curious magpie. Squirrels could be a different matter – they have tormented other bird feeder camera reviewers for TechRadar, damaging the likes of the otherwise-stylish Netvue Birdfy Bamboo. The FeatherSnap Scout's open trays mean that squirrels aren't likely to root around too much and damage it, and from what I can tell the extendable perch is the most likely weak point.
Something the FeatherSnap Scout lacks, which can be found in some other premium bird feeder cameras from the likes of Bird Buddy, is a speaker to project sounds, which is typically used to deter and scare away unwanted visitors. That's not been an issue in my case, but it could be for you if you get a lot of squirrels.
FeatherSnap Scout bird feeder camera: performance
4MP photos are sharp enough, though color depth and dynamic range is limited
Full HD videos of up to 15 seconds in length taken from photo gallery in app
Excellent Wi-Fi performance and stable connection for a live feed, complete with sound
The FeatherSnap Scout relies on a single camera with an ultra-wide field of view. It's motion sensitive, and it snaps into action when visitors come, capturing 15-second video clips distilled into a set of three photos in the 'Snaps' gallery. Should you like any of those photos, which you can view in a chronological feed in the app, you can download them at an image size of 4MB.
That image size is pretty modest, but so far as bird feeder cameras go, it's respectable. As someone who's spoilt by using the best professional cameras, however, I've been underwhelmed by the image quality of the FeatherSnap Scout. Color depth and dynamic range is very limited, with little latitude for bringing back highlight details during sunny days or adding punch on cloudy days, to the JPEG-only files.
I'll qualify those disappointments by saying that the same is true from all bird feeder cameras that I've seen – don't get your hopes up regarding image quality. In its defense, the FeatherSnap Scout's images look pretty sharp, especially if you're mainly viewing them on a smartphone.
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One of my more exotic visitors – a great spotted woodpecker (Image credit: Tim Coleman)
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In addition to photo downloads, you can request the video captured by the camera. These Full HD 1920 x 1080 pixel sequences are 15 seconds in length, and can be viewed at 1x or 5x slow motion, but you can't download the latter. Video downloads are only available with the paid-for subscription. The camera's live feed is another way to enjoy feeder's visitors in real time.
During my review, I've accumulated hundreds of videos / image sequences, and these are stored / viewed in the app. You can request a download of those images, and they'll remain in the app for up to 72 hours (with the free plan) or 10 days (with the paid-for subscription) before being wiped from the gallery.
I'd love an easier way to manage all of those files, especially considering that 95% of the content in my gallery is of the same five bird species. There are bird identification functions in the app – which by the way incorrectly identified a rare visit of a great spotted woodpecker to be that of a great tit – so I'd assume there's potential for AI to play its part in managing files.
It would be nice to get a highlights of the day reel, or have a method of selecting which birds are snapped and which ones are ignored – say based on your own Bird Book (which is used to log your sitings in the app). Perhaps that's too complicated an ask, and in fairness the present setup of wiping the gallery after 72 hours / 10 days is a sensible and simple approach.
Should you buy the FeatherSnap Scout bird feeder camera?
Buy it if...
You want a close-up view of your feathered visitors Bird feeder cameras remain one of the more affordable bits of gear for getting a close-up view of the wildlife around you, and for me the live feed provided welcome entertainment / distraction.
You're after a gift that keeps on giving The FeatherSnap Scout is relatively affordable, and could make a great gift for a nature-loving family member.
You're looking for your first bird feeder camera The FeatherSnap Scout is super-easy to get started with, and performs flawlessly thanks to a stable wireless connection and stellar battery life. View Deal
Don't buy it if...
You're expecting award-winning garden wildlife images Bird feeder cameras in general are better seen as viewing and documenting devices – their basic cameras can't match the quality of even your smartphone's.
You don't want to be tied down to a paid-for subscription The FeatherSnap Scout can be used completely for free through the app, but to get its best features – namely video downloads – you'll need the premium package.
You'll likely need to deter unwanted visitors
Unlike the best bird feeder cameras from the likes of Bird Buddy, FeatherSnap Scout lacks features designed to deter squirrels.
How I tested the FeatherSnap Scout bird feeder camera
Mounted to a couple of different trees and connected to my home Wi-Fi
Operated through cold winter months, with little daylight / sunlight
I monitored the visiting birds daily using the FeatherSnap app, with the paid-for subscription unlocking premium features
I set up the FeatherSnap Scout by strapping it to two different trees over the course of several weeks. Screwing the feeder into place is another option, provided you take the necessary steps to avoid damaging the tree.
My test was conducted in the UK over cold winter months, when days were short and sunlight limited. I was able to connect the FeatherSnap Bird Feeder camera to my home Wi-Fi and monitor any visitors the camera detected via the live feed, and the pictures stored in the gallery.
I used the paid version of the app to unlock all the premium features, including video downloads and bird identification.
The Go series is Onyx’s latest Boox range of ereaders and e-paper writing tablets, with the Boox Go 6 being the newest – and smallest – member. It was released a couple of months after the first two Go series devices, giving Onyx time to fix the software issues I had highlighted in my Boox Go Color 7 review. And given how much I like the Boox Go 10.3 as a writing tablet, I had high expectations from this 6-inch entry-level ereader.
Its design doesn’t disappoint at all, with a slim, compact and lightweight body that makes it very portable indeed. Despite this light build, it still manages to feel quite robust. It also uses the latest E Ink Carta 1300 screen that makes reading a far superior experience over the Amazon Kindle (2024), and can easily hold its own against the Kobo Clara BW and the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024), both of which use the same display. Plus, having a microSD card tray to expand the 32GB internal storage if you need more space is a bonus. And that’s where the positives end for me.
While it’s adequate as an ereader, Onyx hasn’t quite taken full advantage of that fabulous display because ghosting is still a problem on Boox devices, even though Amazon has seemingly found a way to completely eliminate this issue in its 2024 Kindles.
(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
Then there are the software and performance woes. To be fair to Onyx, my issue with the unlinked Fonts folder has been rectified – you no longer need to manually create a separate folder within the Storage tab to make third-party fonts work – but I ran into other issues instead.
For starters, while I can connect to my Google Drive account, during my testing, files couldn’t be transferred wirelessly as it wouldn't give me access to anything other than the existing Onyx folder from previous Boox devices. As a Mac user, I couldn’t even use a wired connection to move ebooks onto the Go 6 as only Windows machines register the Boox tablets as external devices and, despite OTG (USB on-the-go) support and the device reading my external hard drive, I still couldn’t move my files. Thank goodness for BooxDrop!
I will admit that the Boox Go 6 powers on or wakes up much quicker than any Kindle or Kobo I have tested (even the latest ones), but page turns are rather slow. I found that pages with images on them can take over a second to flip over. While most users won’t necessarily be reading graphic novels, comics or history books with image plates, it’s still sluggish compared to the competition. Even battery life is disappointing here.
I’m also quite miffed that Onyx has chosen to use Android 11 as the Go 6’s operating system when the other devices in this series run on Android 12. And while not really a deal breaker, there’s no waterproofing here either.
As much as I admire Onyx for churning out ereaders and writing tablets every few months, I think the company ought to slow down to perfect the performance of its ereaders. It seems to be able to do that for its writing tablets, so why not its basic reading devices too?
(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
Onyx Boox Go 6 review: price & availability
Announced August 2024
List price: $149.99 / €169.99 / AU$279
Available now directly from the Boox Shop and select third-party retailers
Compared to Kindle or Kobo, Boox devices have always been a little on the expensive side. The Boox Go 6 is no exception, listed for $149.99 / €169.99 (about £143) / AU$279 at the time of writing. That’s significantly more than the equivalent Kindle or Kobo.
The Amazon Kindle (2024) costs $129.99 / £104.99 / AU$199 sans ads on the lock screen, although you only get 16GB of storage (half that of the Boox Go 6) and it uses the older E Ink Carta 1200 screen. On the other hand, the Kobo Clara BW – which also only comes with 16GB of storage – will set you back $129.99 / £119.99 / AU$239.95 at full price, but it boasts the E Ink Carta 1300 display and is IPX8-certified waterproof, which the Go 6 isn't. It also happens to be repairable.
In fact, the Boox Go 6 is only marginally cheaper than the 7-inch Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024), which costs $179.99 / £159.99 / AU$299 for the version without ads and 16GB of storage, but you get waterproofing and a larger Carta 1300 screen that has no performance issues.
• Value score: 3 / 5
(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
Onyx Boox Go 6 review: specs
Onyx Boox Go 6 review: Design & display
Very sharp and clear 6-inch E Ink Carta 1300 display
Robust build quality with microSD card tray
Lacks waterproofing
The one thing I’ve always been impressed by is the design of the Boox devices – they all look premium, and the Boox Go 6 is no exception. Despite being made from plastic, the black chassis appears metallic on the front – something Amazon and Kobo ought to learn to do – and, despite being the same thickness as the 2024 base Kindle, it feels a lot more solid in the hand… and much more secure too. That doesn’t imply the rear panel is textured – it’s a matte finish compared to the shiny front, but it attracts every single fingerprint, far more than any other ereader I've had the joy of using. Thankfully Onyx makes an optional sleepcover (identical to the one used with the Onyx Boox Poke 5) to keep the body smudge-free.
The only embellishment on the Go 6 is the Boox branding on the front and rear. The former is in grey printed on the large lower bezel, while the latter is embossed black on black. The power button is on the right corner of the top edge, and you’ll find the USB-C port, microphone and microSD card tray on the bottom edge. There are no speakers here, like you’ll find on some other Boox devices and that’s a good thing – I’ve never found the sound to be nice enough to use anyway.
While it looks very much like the Boox Poke 5, it’s lighter at 146g compared to 160g, which also makes it a touch lighter than the latest edition of the base Kindle (158g) and the Kobo Clara BW (174g).
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(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
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This lightweight body houses what is arguably the best e-paper screen that E Ink (the company that supplies the displays to ereader makers) has made. And it makes reading a lovely experience. Everything is displayed sharp and clear, with very good contrast. However, compared to the Kindles released in 2024, ghosting remains a major problem on Boox devices, which tells me optimization isn't...well, optimal.
Like all current Boox devices, the frontlight is adjustable for both brightness and temperature. This makes the display comfortable to use in any environment, whether indoors or out, and even at night when yellow light can reduce eye strain.
Also like the Boox Poke 5, the Go 6 also misses out on any kind of waterproofing, which is a shame as it’s more expensive than the Kobo Clara BW, which does get you some security from accidental dunks in the kitchen sink, bath or pool. That said, waterproofing doesn’t seem to be too important to Onyx as even the Go Color 7 is listed as being just “splashproof” (with no rating provided).
• Design & display score: 4 / 5
The rear panel looks good but it's a smudge magnet (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
Onyx Boox Go 6 review: Software
Runs Android 11 – other Go series devices run on Android 12
Slightly more streamlined UI than older Boox devices
AI Assistant app is superfluous
I have to hand it to Onyx for trying to simplify the user interface on the Boox Go 6. There are fewer customization options in Settings as compared to older Boox ereaders, which makes it a little easier to use. Despite that, if you’ve never used a Boox device before, you’ll likely still need a little time to wrap your head around some of the settings. Other important ones, though, like for the library, are still hidden away.
The initial setup is also annoyingly complicated when it really doesn’t need to be. While you just have to follow the on-screen instructions, there are too many pop-ups, and being asked to set up Gestures even before you log in is unnecessary. You’ll also need to accept Onyx’s user agreement and privacy policy twice before you can connect to your Wi-Fi network – surely once would do. I was even presented with the keyboard audio recording pop-up before the full setup was complete, not when I needed to use the keyboard for the first time. These little bits and bobs are useful, I understand, but can be set up later rather than at the startup process.
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(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
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One thing I’m really pleased about is Onyx fixing one of the software issues that has plagued Boox devices from the start – having to create a new fonts folder within Storage to make third-party sideloaded fonts work. The existing Fonts folder has now been linked correctly and that extra step is no longer needed.
However, I’m surprised the company chose to use Android 11 as the OS, rather than the newer Android 12 that’s running on the other two Go series devices. Admittedly it’s a perfectly acceptable choice for an ereader's operating system, but disappointing nonetheless.
As with all Onyx devices, you can choose any of the five tabs as your home screen via System Display in the Settings tab: Library, Store, Storage, Apps or Settings. These are accessible at the bottom of the screen. Personally, I prefer Apps or Settings as my home screen as I find the library can tend to look a little messy, but that’s just me.
Apps is where you will find all the native applications, including a browser, the Google Play Store and the AI Assistant. While I find most of the apps useful, the last one is rather superfluous. You can use the built-in AI to write a short story or start a simple conversation, but I really found no need to use it on a basic ereader. In fact, I thought it was gimmicky on the Boox Go Color 7 too and I didn't take any advantage of it on the Go 10.3 either.
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Onyx has fixed the issue with the fonts folder in Storage... (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
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..which is now correctly linked for third-party fonts (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
The bookstore isn’t going to be much use to most readers as all you can find are classics and titles available in the public domain. However, you can purchase content via the browser or by installing the Kindle or Kobo apps, but then you will need to use the respective apps to read or listen to the content you purchase. These will not be added to the device’s library.
You will need to sideload titles if you want to use the native library application. Transferring files to the Go 6, in theory, can be done both wirelessly and via a USB-C cable plugged into your computer, although I ran into trouble in both cases. I’ve previously linked my Google Drive account to transfer files to the other Boox devices I've tested but, this time, although I could access Drive, it only presented me with my existing Onyx folder that had notes and files from older devices, nothing else. Even after moving my ebooks folder to within my existing Onyx subfolder within Drive, I was still unable to see it. Multiple restarts of the device didn't help, neither did a full factory reset. Which meant I couldn’t download any ebooks I had stored on the cloud. As a MacBook user, I’ve found that no Boox ereader gets registered, so there’s no way for me to use a wired connection either.
(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
There is OTG support here, which allows you to plug an external storage device directly into the Go 6 to access files. In my case, I tried both the Samsung T5 portable SSD and the T7 – while they registered as USB-C connected devices on the Go 6 and I can view the files, I was unable to transfer any of them, as has been the case previously on all other Boox tablets I've used.
I had to rely on Onyx’s own BooxDrop application, which allows me to use a web-based platform to ‘push’ files onto the ereaders for a wireless transfer. It’s not a bad way to do things, but when there are easier options, I’m saddened that bugs and software glitches don’t allow them to work as expected.
• Software score: 3 / 5
(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
Onyx Boox Go 6 review: User experience
Easier to use but unnecessarily complicated setup process
Screen could be better optimized
Can have issues with wired and cloud transfers
With software bugs still plaguing Boox ereaders, the user experience, for me personally, is far from smooth, even though reading on it is wonderful. As I’ve already mentioned, the lackluster user experience begins right at the start, thanks to an unnecessarily complicated setup process that could throw off first-time users. Both Amazon and Kobo do a much smoother job of getting users set up on their new devices, so I don’t know why Onyx can’t adopt a similar approach.
File transfers also shouldn’t be as difficult as I found them to be. Sure, BooxDrop works a charm, but using a wired connection can be quick. And with no Windows machine at my disposal to use a cable to transfer files, or with OTG never having worked for me on any Boox device with support, I was hoping to use Google Drive. While that has worked for me previously, I'm not sure what happened this time round. It could be an isolated issue, but a full factory reset didn't help, so I can't be so sure.
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(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
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(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
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(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
Fixing the fonts folder problem was fabulous, but then I had to restart the Go 6 three times to get the sideloaded Bookerly font to work. These are little things, but they do clock up for a user.
That said, I can't emphasize how good the display is for reading. I think it's better than the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024), which uses the same screen. I compared them both side by side, with the same Bookerly font for the same page on the same page – the smaller screen with a tighter pixel density definitely works in the Go 6's favor. I even compared it right beside the Amazon Kindle (2024 release), with both books covers and text looking darker and sharper. However, it doesn't offer as much joy reading as the overall user experience isn't as good.
While the user interface isn’t as complicated as it used to be on older Boox devices, a learning curve is still required if you’ve never used one of Onyx’s ereaders before. More so because many important settings, like those for the library (NeoReader) app, are hidden away. They’ll require a tap or two more on the top of the screen when the app is in use to bring them up, and it’s not particularly intuitive. What I really like about the Boox library app is the Floating Toolbar that can be customized for functions you use the most.
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The Boox Go 6 (left) has a better, higher contrast display than the 2024 Amazon Kindle (right) (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
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The Boox Go 6 (left) displays the same page of the same ebook just as well as the 2024 Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (right) (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
Onyx really has the makings of a good ereader in the Boox Go 6, but until its user experience is refined and simplified, plus the software issues ironed out, it will be hard to recommend over a Kindle or a Kobo ereader.
• User experience score: 3 / 5
Onyx Boox Go 6 review: Performance
Ghosting is still a problem
Sluggish page turns
Middling battery life
When it comes to overall performance, the other two Go series devices are better devices than the Boox Go 6. I was critical about the Go Color 7 and loved the Go 10.3, but sadly the Go 6 disappoints in comparison and I’m struggling to find anything positive to say here.
Some important library settings are hidden away behind 2 taps on the screen (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
Where the other two Go series tablets use the 2.4GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 processor, the Go 6 has an older 2GHz octa-core CPU. That shouldn’t have been an issue on an ereader, as it really doesn’t need too much processing power, but is seems to have had an effect here.
Page turns are sluggish even when only a single title is open in the library app (the library can have several tabs open). During my testing, I found that ebooks with images are particularly slow, sometimes taking up to a second to load the next page. Those with only text, though, are quicker, although at an average of 500ms per turn, they are a touch slower than what I’ve experienced on the 2024 Kindles and Kobos.
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Images on the Boox Go 6 invariably have a ghosting problem... (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
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..with a light overlay of the previous page still visible (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
Pages with images also suffer from significant ghosting, where a dim overlay of the previous page is visible. In fact, I encountered ghosting even when trying to sign into Google Drive when setting up the device. In comparison, the Go Color 7 was more impressive with a lot less ghosting, although this has been a major issue with other Boox devices I’ve tried.
In use, I’ve found third-party apps can crash often. Both the Kindle and the Kobo apps, while quick to open, can crash immediately after, or while in the middle of loading a title. That said, other apps like CPU X, which I have used on all three Go series tablets to determine certain specs, have worked just fine.
(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
Another disappointment is the battery life. While it uses the same 1,500mAh capacity as the Boox Poke 5, the drain on the Go 6 is a lot more than the former. I found that the battery level drops 1% every couple of minutes when the display is on, but not being used (meaning, no titles are being read or any apps in use), which does seem excessive. And this is with the screen light set at low levels. When in use, the drain on the battery increases slightly, with about 3% to 4% dropping every couple of minutes.
That means I got no more than 2 weeks of use, reading for about 30 minutes per day with the brightness set to a low level and the system’s refresh rate set to per 5 taps. Wi-Fi, though, was always on, as was Bluetooth. Switching them off didn’t make too much of a difference during my testing. As a point of comparison, the Kobo Clara BW also uses a 1,500mAh battery and gave me about 4 weeks of use on a single charge, as did the Boox Poke 5.
Top-up time for the battery, however, is quick. Connected to a 67W wall charger via a good quality USB-C to C cable raised battery levels from 4% to 56% in 45 minutes. It was fully topped up in 1 hour and 30 minutes. Of course, charging time will be much longer if you use your computer or one of the best power banks to top up the Go 6, but if that isn’t much of an issue, I’d say the battery charging times of this ereader is the best I've encountered.
• Performance score: 3 / 5
(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
Should I buy the Onyx Boox Go 6?
Buy it if...
You want a very portable ereader indeed As one of the lightest ereaders I’ve tested, the 6-inch Boox Go 6 will pop into a jacket pocket easily enough or slip into any bag.
You want plenty of storage If you’re an avid reader, the 32GB onboard storage will serve you well. And if even that is too little, you can always use a microSD card to expand it further. While Onyx hasn’t specified the maximum storage capacity for the card tray, previous Boox devices have been able to manage up to 1TB.
You have an existing library of ebooks and audiobooks Given the built-in bookstore isn’t ideal, the best use case for Boox ereaders would be to sideload your own existing library you’ve purchased from elsewhere. Or you use the Kindle or Kobo apps on the device. And given the amount of storage you can get, you can carry around thousands of titles with you everywhere.
Don't buy it if...
You want an easy-to-use basic ereader It’s not bad, but given the user interface isn’t the most intuitive there is, first-time users might have a hard time getting to grips with the Go 6, or any other Boox ereader. If it’s a simple reading device you want, consider a 6-inch Kindle or Kobo and they’ll be cheaper too.
You need top performance There are too many little software issues and performance problems with the Go 6. If you want a smoother reading experience, you’d be better off looking at Amazon's ereaders or a Kobo.
You’re already part of the Amazon or Kobo ecosystems If you’ve used either a Kindle or Kobo ereader before and are looking for an upgrade, you might be better off sticking to your already-chosen brand, particularly if you’ve got subscriptions to Kindle Unlimited or Kobo Plus.
Also consider
I’d be very surprised if you’d consider opting for the Boox Go 6 after reading my review, but if you are keen on a new ereader, the three options listed below would serve you better. I’ve also included another Boox device that I think is worth considering if you want don't want to get caught up within either Amazon's or Kobo's ecosystems.
Kobo Clara BW Arguably the best 6-inch entry-level ereader on the market, the Kobo Clara BW not only takes full advantage of the E Ink Carta 1300 display, but has no performance issues at all. And, unlike other entry-level ereaders, it’s actually got IPX8 waterproofing. Read my full Kobo Clara BW review to learn more
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024) For a little extra cash, you'll get a much smoother user experience, the same screen but larger at 7 inches, and a bookstore that will keep you reading lifelong and still not let you finish scratching the surface. Read my in-depth Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024) review
Onyx Boox Page It might still have a relatively complicated user interface, but if you want a Boox ereader specifically, I'd recommend the Page. With physical page-turn buttons, it's ergonomic. It's also got far fewer software issues – at least it did when I tested it – than the Go 6. It's the older Carta 1200 screen but it's 7 inches, but these advantages will cost you more. Learn more in my full Onyx Boox Page review
How I tested the Onyx Boox Go 6
Used as a daily ereader for about 6 weeks
Sideloaded books, music, image files and more via BooxDrop
Changed settings to test battery life for different scenarios
Downloaded different third-party apps via the Play Store
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(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
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(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / TechRadar)
While I usually sign into my existing Onyx account to sync files across devices, I took a different tack with the Boox Go 6. I set it up as a new device first, then signed into my Google account to access Drive and the Play Store. While I could use both, the former only gave me access to my Onyx folder that had notes and PDF files from other Boox writing tablets, but wouldn’t allow me access to any other folder I had (like my ebooks), and that’s despite moving my book collection into the Onyx folder. Instead, I used BooxDrop to transfer ebooks, music files and some photos to the Go 6.
As for third-party apps, I downloaded CPU X to determine what hardware was under the hood of the Go 6, as well as the Kindle and Kobo apps to access my existing library on the respective platforms.
I used NeoLibrary to read the sideloaded ebooks, used the native music player to listen to the audio files and, out of curiosity, opened the photos I had transferred in the Gallery application to see what they looked like.
I read on the Go 6 for about 30 minutes to an hour each day during the trial period, although there were a few days when I exceeded 2 hours of reading. I kept an eye on the battery life as I use it, and also altered brightness settings to see how it affected battery drain.
While I didn’t use the AI Assistant app on the Go 6, my previous experience on the Go Color 7 wasn’t particularly good enough for me to want to try it again. Moreover, I found no need to use an AI for anything while I was reading, especially since the Go 6 is more an entry-level ereader rather than an advanced one like the Boox Note series.
Chinese electronics brand XGIMI is on a continued mission to be the brand of choice when searching for a projector, hoping to lure you away from the likes of Samsung, BenQ or LG in the process. The MoGo 3 Pro, released alongside the much higher-end Aura 2 4K UST projector towards the end of 2024, certainly has a resumé to suggest it’s in with a fair shot of becoming one of the best portable projectors: full HD resolution, 450 ISO lumens brightness, Google TV and Netflix onboard and, of course, a portable design. And yes, I recognize XGIMI has diverted away from the design of the previous two MoGo projectors and has instead adopted something akin to Samsung’s The Freestyle projector.
Admittedly, the new XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro’s new look does make it a lot more portable and it has added practical benefits. The cylindrical design allows the projector lens to remain covered up when it’s not in use and it can be tilted through a 130º angle. XGIMI claims this allows the projector to beam onto the ceiling but, in my use, I wasn’t able to do so without physically angling the whole projector unit itself. A full 180º of tilt would allow it to perform better in this regard, if that’s what you’re looking for in a projector.
Images projected onto a wall using the XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro are of excellent quality, although you will want to dive into the picture settings to make some adjustments for the best results. Out of the box, images could look washed out and overexposed, but after diving into the albeit limited picture settings and making a few adjustments, I found that the projected images were able to deliver good color and contrast. I was impressed with its ability to combat some bright ambient light filtering into my testing room, too. Naturally, when the lights went down, the images projected onto my wall became much clearer.
(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
Because the MoGo 3 Pro is a portable projector it needs to rely on its built-in speakers for sound, which is where things get less positive. The XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro has 2 x 5W Harman Kardon speakers built in which, sadly, fail to deliver anywhere near a cinematic experience, despite XGIMI's claims. Dolby Audio and Dolby Digital Plus are both supported formats, but it adds little to what is an overall unengaging sound. For casual viewing with friends, family or even by yourself, it can pass, but if you’re planning on movie nights when you’re away camping or on holiday, for example, then you’ll likely be disappointed. You can connect a Bluetooth speaker to help boost things on the audio front, and a Mini HDMI connection is onboard with ARC support, meaning you can connect a soundbar, for example, using a Mini HDMI-to-HDMI cable. But if you’ve taken the MoGo 3 Pro away on a camping trip, you’re unlikely to have access to a full-fat external audio system.
The XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro also doesn’t have a built-in battery, which naturally can also affect its portability. If you know you’re going to want to take it somewhere where a power outlet won’t be accessible, then you can connect a USB-C power bank with a minimum power output of 65W, or you can buy the optional PowerBase stand, which not only raises the projector off the ground or a small table, but has its own built-in battery to keep it powered. XGIMI says the stand allows you to “continuously play a full-length movie without interruption,” although I found that would be the case only if said movie is 2.5 hours or less.
The other disappointing aspect I found when using the XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro was that it could be slow in use. Volume adjustments using the remote control took a few seconds to register; navigating around the main home page regularly suffered from lag and I even found when trying to watch a particularly fast moving scene from The Incredibles on Disney+ that the projector just completely crashed. I should stress that this was an isolated incident that I couldn’t repeat with other fast-motion content such as sports.
The XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro projector is, ultimately, a good option for anyone who wants big-screen thrills when on the go or perhaps as an option for a second bedroom at home in place of installing a TV. Keep in mind when comparing projectors, the 450 ISO lumens from the MoGo 3 Pro is about equivalent to 500 ANSI lumens. It does well against its main competition, Samsung’s The Freestyle projector, particularly when it comes to brightness. But, if your budget can stretch, you’ll find greater performance from the likes of the 4K RGB Laser equipped LG CineBeam Q.
XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro review: Price & availability
Launched on September 6, 2024
List price of $449 / £429 / AU$1,099
Optional accessories cost extra
The XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro was announced and officially launched at IFA Berlin on September 6, 2024, alongside the Aura 2 4K UST projector. It’s available to buy now for $449 / £429 / AU$1,099 for the standalone projector. You can buy it bundled with the PowerBase stand for $499 / £499 / AU$1,199
You can also pick up an optional carry case for the MoGo 3 Pro projector, which is only available in green, for $69 / £59 / AU$99.
The XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro portable projector’s list price is significantly less than the Samsung The Freestyle projector in the US, UK and Australia. However, Samsung’s projector does have greater HDR support, with HDR10+ available. The MoGo 3 Pro maxes out at ‘standard’ HDR10, although as we said in our Samsung The Freestyle projector review, “I didn’t see much of a picture quality difference when viewing in HDR from standard HD format”, so the MoGo 3 Pro’s lack of extended support isn’t necessarily a mark against it.
XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro review: Specs
XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro review: Design & features
(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
Compact and lightweight
Google TV interface
Can double up as a Bluetooth speaker
The XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro sports a cylindrical form factor and is finished in an anodized silver aluminum color. It’s lightweight at just over one kilogram, making it a breeze to not only move around your home, but to throw into a bag to take on the road with you. The main projector unit itself features an integrated stand, which also houses the built-in speaker system.
When connected to power, the MoGo 3 Pro turns on as soon as you lift it up to separate it from its stand. You can then tilt it through 130º to project an image onto a wall or screen. Alternatively, when you lift the projector from its integrated stand to power it on, you can leave it in this position, where it will light up in one of three selectable colors. In this mode, you can use it as a nightlight or you can stream music to it via Bluetooth, and you can select an option that will see the light pulse – this is more of a flickering of the light rather than it moving in time with the music.
(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
A remote control comes supplied with the XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro and two AAA batteries to power it. The remote feels good to hold, although I wasn’t enamored with the layout of the buttons. I found it required a bit of a learning process: the home button is in the bottom right for example and I’m used to it being more central on the majority of other remote controls I’ve used. I also occasionally pressed the Google Assistant button when I actually wanted to select ‘settings’. The remote control isn’t backlit, which can make things even trickier. Fortunately, the volume button is in an obvious and hard-to-miss place at the bottom, although I found the projector took a short while to register whenever I wanted to turn the volume up. Alternatively, because the XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro uses the Google TV operating system, you’re able to use your phone as a remote control via the Google Home app.
The single-chip DLP projector uses an LED light source, which XGIMI says is good for 25,000 hours of use. The company’s ISA 2.0 technology is onboard, which gives access to a number of especially useful setup tools, including automatic keystone correction, autofocus, obstacle avoidance, screen alignment and eye protection. Automatic screen adjustments are just a click away via a button on the remote control and you’re free to manually adjust settings further if you wish. I found autofocus to be the most successful of all the settings, while auto keystone correction delivered mixed results. The idea of this setting is that it will automatically realign the screen if you move the projector around. In most instances it worked fine, but I was occasionally forced to dive into the manual settings to get the screen aligned properly.
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(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
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(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
A small selection of accessories is available for the MoGo 3 Pro, including a PowerBase stand which has a built-in 20,000mAh battery for keeping the projector running when a power outlet isn’t accessible. XGIMI says it’s good for 2.5 hours of playback time when the projector’s brightness setting is set to Eco mode, which is just enough for movies such as Deadpool vs Wolverine, but too short for recent releases such as Wicked. When using the MoGo 3 Pro with just the PowerBase stand, the projector defaults to Eco mode. It can be changed, but it will impact battery life significantly.
A carry case is also available to keep it better protected during transport and a Creative Optical Filter can be placed over the MoGo 3 Pro’s lens to project a much larger image onto a wall. It’s intended to be used with the XGIMI Wall app to project underwater seascapes or immersive starry night sky images.
While the XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro features a Mini HDMI input for connecting to either an external sound system or a media streaming device, for the most part, you’ll likely be using the built-in apps to access content. In this regard, it’s good news as the MoGo 3 Pro uses Google TV, which provides access to a huge selection of apps and services. Perhaps most crucially, Netflix is supported. The ubiquitous streaming service doesn’t always play nicely with projector systems – a third-party app is required to access it on XGIMI's own Aura 2 for example, which uses the Android TV OS instead – so it’s great to see it front and center here. In a similar vein to the Samsung Freestyle projector, the XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro uses the older Wi-Fi 5 standard, which is more than capable enough to handle streaming, and didn’t cause any issues during my use.
(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
As a predominantly streaming-focused projector, connections on the MoGo 3 Pro are limited to micro HDMI. It would have been great to have received a cable or adaptor in the box, but alas, you’ll need to buy one if you want to connect an external gaming console, Blu-ray player, or other HDMI source. The micro HDMI connection does support HDMI-ARC, which allows you to connect it to a soundbar or other audio system, but there isn’t a 3.5mm audio output. You can also stream music to the projector via Bluetooth, or from the projector to a Bluetooth speaker thanks to dual Bluetooth support. I connected the projector to a Beats Pill to test this feature and experienced no obvious signs of audio delay. Android users can stream wirelessly via Google Cast, and AirPlay is supported too. XGIMI says in the support menus that you need to download the MagiCast app from the Google Play Store, but I searched for it and had no luck. I eventually found another app called AirMirror that allowed me to mirror the screen of my iPhone and stream music via AirPlay.
Design & features score: 4 / 5
XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro review: Picture & sound quality
(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
Decent brightness even in ambient light conditions
Impressive picture quality after some adjustments
Sound is poor unless you turn it up to maximum
I went into my review of the XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro with limited expectations about the picture quality it would be able to produce, given its size and limited specs. I’d previously reviewed the XGIMI Aura 2 which produced a gorgeous and bright image, but this was expected since it has a 2300 ISO lumens rating. The MoGo 3 Pro’s 450 ISO lumens rating, therefore, suggested to me it would only really function at its best in the dark.
The XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro supports the HDR10 HDR format, which did provide some benefit to contrast in movie scenes with dark and bright elements. The company claims the projector supports 90% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. With Game mode activated, XGIMI says the MoGo 3 Pro has input lag of ≈ 27ms with auto keystone correction turned off and ≈ 60ms with it turned on.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that it held up well in a brighter room, with ambient sunlight coming in through a small opening. With the overhead lights turned on, it was totally unusable, but with just some sunlight creeping in, I was able to watch the projected image without too much fuss. You are able to project an image up to 200 inches in size, but XGIMI says that for best results you’ll want to stay within a boundary of 60 to 120 inches. For reference, the size of the image I was able to project onto my wall was around 80 inches, with the projector positioned around 200cm (80 inches) from the wall. XGIMI says the throw ratio of the MoGo 3 Pro is 1.2:1.
There are slightly different picture presets depending on whether you’re watching HDR or SDR content. The majority of my testing used HDR content, which presented Standard, Sport and Game presets. I left it on Standard most of the time as I felt this offered the best overall picture. I was surprised to not find a ‘Movie’ picture preset, especially given the fact this will likely be the projector’s main use.
(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
There are also three different brightness settings hidden within the menus: Standard, Eco and Performance. Again, I left the standard option selected the majority of the time. Eco mode limits brightness to 40% to help prolong battery life, and in darker rooms is perfectly fine to watch. If you’re watching in a brighter room, however, it doesn’t do as good a job.
Performance mode, meanwhile, introduces a blue tint to the image, which was a little peculiar... I was expecting this mode to ramp up the brightness further, but it seemed to have the opposite effect. When this mode is selected, the built-in cooling fan also gets turned up to 11 to the point where it’s clearly audible. It’s also worth noting that the performance brightness mode can only be enabled when the official power adapter is plugged directly into the projector unit. It won’t work with other power adapters or when connected to a power bank or the PowerBase stand.
Enabling Performance brightness mode introduced a blue/green tint to the image. (Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
A stream of Alien: Romulus provided a good test of darker content for the MoGo 3 Pro and, considering its size, specs and price, I was pleased with the results when watching in a dimly lit room. It was able to unearth details in shadowy areas of a scene, while brighter areas such as lights had a satisfying pop.
I switched over to Toy Story on Disney Plus for its color-rich palette and generally bright scenes. The various reds, yellows, greens and blues were prominent, although not quite as vibrant as I’ve seen on TVs and higher-specced projectors. Nevertheless, it was still an enjoyable watch.
Seeing as though the XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro is designed to be taken out of the home with you, I set it up in my courtyard to see how it fared when being used outside. I will preface by saying I was projecting onto a dark grey wall, but it was also at night and so, despite the color of the wall coming through, I was still able to watch without trouble. I have no doubts that if you project onto a white wall, a sheet or even a portable projection screen, you will have no issues when watching movies on the road.
(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
I also watched my favorite clip from The Incredibles and came across an issue with a fast-moving scene about two-thirds into the movie. When Dash is running through the forest away from Syndrome’s goons, the projector seemed to just crash and stopped playing the movie. Pressing the home button returned me to the main home page, but the same thing happened again when I attempted to watch the scene again. I wasn’t able to replicate this again with any other content, so it could be a one-off, isolated incident or due to a bug that can be fixed via a future firmware update.
The projector’s built-in speaker system is more difficult to be excited about. At full volume it does produce a spacious sound that will ultimately pass for whatever you’re watching. At lesser volumes however, it’s too quiet to do any real service and it lacks any real impact. Connecting a Bluetooth speaker is a fuss-free experience and can work wonders to boost the overall sound output, especially as I didn’t experience any signs of audio lag.
Picture & sound quality score: 4 / 5
XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro review: Value
Cheaper than its closest competitor
Great features and performance
Portable power options cost extra
(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
With a list price of $499 / £449 / AU$1,099, the MoGo 3 Pro offers enough to make it worth recommending. Its most obvious competitor, the Samsung The Freestyle, costs more in most markets yet has a similar specs list. Samsung’s offering doesn’t go quite as bright, but it does use the excellent Tizen operating system and it supports cloud gaming. Like the MoGo 3 Pro, there’s no built-in battery, but an optional base is available to make it truly portable.
To this end, I think the XGIMI's optional battery-powered base is the better choice as it’s also a tripod. Samsung’s option only raises the projector a few extra inches, so you may still need a table to put it on for optimal results. XGIMI's MoGo 3 Pro also has the added benefit of keeping the lens protected when it’s not in use. You will need to consider spending extra on the PowerBase stand (which is more cost effective to buy as a bundle with the projector) or a power bank that meets the required criteria.
If you can spend more and your only need for a portable projector is to use it in your garden, then almost any projector will do the job when plugged into an extension cord.
Value score: 4 / 5
Should you buy the XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro?
Buy it if...
You want a well-specced portable projector The MoGo 3 Pro is especially portable thanks to a compact design and lightweight build. A lightweight battery-powered tripod base, or power from an external power bank, allows it to be used practically anywhere.
You plan to watch in dark conditions The MoGo 3 Pro does well to combat ambient lighting in rooms, but when the sun goes down, it really comes into its own.
Don't buy it if...
You want 4K picture The MoGo 3 Pro only supports up to full HD 1080p, which does mean picture quality can diminish if you supersize your projected image
You like to game at odd angles 27ms of input lag with auto keystone turned off is pretty decent, but this does mean you have to have the projector set up to directly face your projection surface.
Also consider
Samsung The Freestyle 2nd Gen It’s been mentioned throughout this review for good reason, Samsung’s portable projector looks incredibly similar and has a similar spec sheet. It fares better in the gaming arena, but its picture isn’t quite as bright. But it costs quite a bit more than the XGIMI, and rarely receives discounts. Read our in-depth Samsung The Freestyle 2nd Gen review.
LG CineBeam Q LG’s portable projector rocks a funky retro design and supports 4K content with HDR. Color performance is excellent and brightness levels are good for a portable model. It does cost a lot more, but you also get a lot more in return compared to the MoGo 3 Pro. Read our full LG CineBeam Q review.
How I tested the Xgimi MoGo 3 Pro
I used the projector in a range of light conditions
Set it up inside and outside to test portability
Watched a variety of dark and bright content
I tested the XGIMI MoGo 3 Pro at home over a period of about a month so I could experience it during various daytime living conditions. This meant multiple light sources, be it natural daylight or overhead lightbulbs, came into my testing room, at which point I rated the picture to see how well it performed.
The projector was tested against a white wall for the duration of my review, but also on a dark grey wall outside to assess its portable credentials. Both performed well and I could see noticeable differences before and after calibration.
I used a variety of content, including HDR and SDR content from a variety of streaming services.
My testing evaluates the projector's performance against other reviews my colleagues at TechRadar have conducted. I have been writing about and reviewing displays for five years.
The Optoma UHZ66 is a rather staid update to the company’s projector lineup. It offers a bright 4K picture with solid contrast and the useful ability to drop down to 1080p and run at 240Hz for smooth gaming, but it’s not breaking the mold in any particular way. It may have good color, but it does not match competitors like the JMGO N1S Ultra.
HDR viewing on the Optoma UHZ66 leaves plenty to be desired, and its bland design isn’t offset by helpful utilitarian features you find on the best 4K projectors like vertical lens shift — something the BenQ X3100i includes. Factor in the lack of an onboard smart TV system for streaming, the bottom-of-the-barrel remote control, and the weak built-in speaker, and you get a system that’s not offering much value on top of the picture quality.
The Optoma UHZ66 really needed to do more to win our hearts. It’s got a good picture, but the picture is just about all it has, and even at its recent price of about $2,000, a good picture simply isn’t enough.
Optoma UHZ66 4K laser projector review: price and release date
Release date: October 2023
Price: $1,999 (around £1,637 / AU$3,230)
The Optoma UHZ66 has been on the market for a little while now, launching in late 2023. When it arrived, it had a retail price of $2,999 (about £2,935, AU$4,460), but street pricing has come down considerably since then. It’s readily available for $1,999 (around £1,637 / AU$3,230) at the time of writing and has wavered between about $1,800 and $2,300 for much of the past year. At $2,999, it would be an immediate pass for us, but at $1,999, it offers a slightly more competitive value.
The UHZ66 control buttons are located on the projector's top (Image credit: Future)
Optoma UHZ66 4K laser projector review: Specs
Connections include 2 HDMI 2.0 ports (1 with eARC) (Image credit: Future)
Optoma UHZ66 4K laser projector review: design and features
Bland design next to recent competitors
Limited optical adjustments
Requires additional home theater equipment
The Optoma UHZ66 is not one of those projectors that's gotten a recent glow-up, like the JMGO N1S Ultimate or any from Xgimi. Instead, it's your classic white plastic brick that would look just as at home in an office as it would in a home theater. The front of the projector is a flat piece of white plastic with a large lens protruding out of it. The sides are fully vented with grilles and the rear has an additional grille for even more airflow.
On the top of the Optoma UHZ66, you can find a handful of buttons that allow you to navigate the controls in case you misplace the remote control, which will be easy to do given how tiny it is. The top also includes a little slot with access to the zoom dial. That dial gives the UHZ66 an adjustable throw ratio, though no matter what you’re not getting a fairly long throw. The minimum is a 1.4:1 ratio. While optical zoom is useful, the Optoma UHZ66 unfortunately lacks vertical lens shift. I found placing it on a mantle at the back of a room too high to use it at all and also too low to use flipped upside-down. The most ideal setup is likely mounted to the ceiling with a long throw.
The Optoma UHZ66 sits on three small rubber feet allowing for some angle and tilt adjustments to help you align the projection with your wall. There are also mounting holes to set the UHZ66 up with a ceiling mount.
On the back of the projector, you’ll find a small selection of ports. You get two HDMI 2.0 inputs, including one with eARC, a USB port, a 3.5mm audio output, and RJ-45 and RS-232 ports. Given the projector only has a single speaker, an optical audio output would have also been good to see for more options and compatibility with different home theater setups given that HDMI eARC has a length limit and a 3.5mm port won’t carry a surround signal.
The remote included with the UHZ66 is not meant for much. It's a flat little thing about the size of a few stacked credit cards. It has three columns of buttons with no way to physically discern between them, which makes navigating it a pain. It also lacks backlighting, so it's hard to see in the dark conditions of a home theater. It does the job, but it has a long way to go to be user-friendly. It at least provides quick access to a few of the more important settings, such as input selection, picture mode, and keystone controls.
Design and features score: 2.5/5
The UHZ66's included remote isn't particularly user-friendly (Image credit: Future)
System stutters during setting adjustments and signal switches
Let’s start with the good. The Optoma UHZ66 offers a respectably bright image and is easy to get exceptionally sharp with the focus dial. The 4K picture goes a long way at the sizes the projector is ready to display at. The contrast achieved by the projector is also commendable. Many projectors struggle with elevated black levels, but the UHZ66 can dim down quite low for blacks.
As bright as the UHZ66 may get, it doesn't appear to want to get as bright as it's rated for. Instead of hitting its rated 4,000 lumens, it comes closer to 2200 lumens, and even that requires a cooler color temperature setting to achieve. With the default warmer color, it falls toward 2100 lumens. I fiddled with a bunch of settings to see if I couldn’t figure out which might achieve Optoma’s lofty 4,000-lumen mark, but none quite got there.
Running the projector at its brightest settings requires opting for a cooler color temperature which makes the fans kick in. They can be fairly noisy if you're close to them, though they're not shrill or very loud in a larger room. Different settings also don't require the fans to run as hard, such as the dimmer Reference mode.
The color output of the UHZ66 is impressive. ALPD laser projectors haven’t always had the most impressive color gamut coverage in my experience testing, but the UHZ66 blasts out impactful color for something like the opening credits of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. One catch, though: it doesn’t seem to want to display its full color gamut when HDR is enabled. Everything turns rather mellow when HDR comes on. This is pretty much the opposite of what you’d expect from HDR content, so if you prefer a vibrant look, you’re better off setting your source devices to SDR output. Now, movies and TV don’t look bad in this condition, but they just lack some of the pop that they could have.
Trying to find ideal settings on the Optoma UHZ66 can be a real headache. The projector offers plenty of settings for tweaking the image, but navigating the menus is tedious thanks to the remote. And even just changing the volume on the Optoma UHZ66 is enough demand for the processor to actually cause the image to stutter. Switching picture modes or major settings can see blips where the projector goes out and comes back after a couple of seconds. And this happens not only when you’re changing settings yourself but also when you’re watching content and then back out to a menu.
A boon for gamers is the Optoma UHZ66’s ability to switch between 4K 60Hz and 1080p 240Hz modes. In its gaming mode, latency is minimal. It’s hard to detect input lag at 60Hz on the UHZ66 and it's practically imperceptible at the 240Hz mode. DLP projection systems are rather fast as well, providing quick pixel response times to avoid ghosting.
The UHZ66’s single speaker sounds boxed in and rather awful. It's nowhere near loud enough to match the kind of picture you can get from the UHZ66, and really shouldn't be relied on for anything.
Picture quality score: 3.5/5
The UHZ66 has manual zoom and focus controls, but no lens shift (Image credit: Future)
Optoma UHZ66 4K laser projector review: value
Limited utility for the price
Calls for streaming devices and external speakers
The Optoma UHZ66 is just one piece of a home theater setup. While it does include a speaker, it’s poorly matched for the theater capabilities of the projector. The lack of an onboard smart TV system also means you’ll need a source device no matter what setup you go for. While there are certainly some nice extras, like the 240Hz mode, it’s still largely filling just one role. If it came with more flexibility, such as an adjustable lens offset or hardware keystone, it would offer more value. But as it is, it’s fairly expensive to leave so much out, especially when competing projectors don’t make such omissions.
Value score: 2.5/5
Should I buy the Optoma UHZ66 4K laser projector?
(Image credit: Future)
Buy it if...
You’ve got a good ceiling mount already: Between its longer throw and vertical offset, the Optoma UHZ66 will serve well mounted to a ceiling at the back of a room and wired into an existing home theater setup.
You’re looking for responsive gaming: The gaming mode on the UHZ66 offers minimal input lag, and that lag drops to imperceptible levels in the 1080p 240Hz mode.
Don’t buy it if…
You want the best picture: The Optoma UHZ66 is good, but not amazing. The color from the JMGO N1S Ultra is more impressive and less finicky with HDR content.
You want an all-in-one package: Though the UHZ66 includes a speaker, it’s not up to the task for home theater audio. And the lack of a smart TV interface means you’ll need at least a streaming stick to get going.
You have aesthetic concerns: Not many projectors have what I’d call stunning aesthetics, but the UHZ66 makes little attempt at being pretty or subtle. The bland white hunk of plastic isn’t going to lend much to your decor.
Also consider...
BenQ X3100i The BenQ X3100i offers several upgrades over the UHZ66. It may not be as bright, but it’s geared up for gaming, is flexible, and offers an Android TV streaming stick for the money.
BenQ X300G The BenQ X300G is cheaper, but still reasonably bright and ready to shine a 4K 60Hz picture or 1080p 240Hz picture. It’s competent competition and a little better looking, too.
JMGO N1S Ultra The JMGO N1S Ultra is an all-in-one package with stunning visuals, excellent color, Google TV built-in, impactful speakers, and easy projection adjustments (even if many of them are digital).
Tested at home in multiple, real-world viewing conditions
Presented the display with a variety of media and formats
I have tested numerous projectors and displays over the last half-decade
I tested the Optoma UHZ66 at home, in real-world conditions. This saw it faced with ambient light coming in from numerous windows, in-room lighting, as well as ambient noise that both the projector and speaker systems had to overcome. The projector was tested both against a bare, white wall and an Akia Screens CineWhite screen. It was presented with streamed content, HDR and non-HDR, and PC gameplay.
My testing evaluates the projector’s performance with respect to its price and competition from other models I and colleagues at TechRadar have tested.
I have been testing projectors since 2021 and displays for even longer.
Lenovo's ThinkPad lineup has always been a significant grouping of offerings for business professionals. The Lenovo ThinkPad P16v Gen 2 is no different. It targets professionals who need workstation-grade performance on the go.
The ThinkPad P16 is one of the best Lenovo ThinkPad laptops around - ideal for heavy computational and graphical work. Compared to the P16, I view the P16v Gen 2 as a ThinkPad P16 lite. But that's not any official branding; it's just my viewpoint. It's a slightly less powerful P16, but still very much enterprise-focused and workstation-esque.
Lenovo ThinkPad P16v Gen 2: Price and Availability
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16v Gen 2 starts at $1,791.92 (pre-tax) and quickly scales up to well over $3,500 before any pre-installed software options if you want to max out the hardware offerings.
These and custom builds are available on Lenovo's website, and pre-built models are available in places like Amazon or other computer retailers.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Lenovo ThinkPad P16v Gen 2: Unboxing and First Impressions
The ThinkPad P16v Gen 2 laptop comes in the Lenovo packaging, a beefy yellow-tipped Lenovo charger (though you can also charge via USB-C, albeit slower), and other essential documentation. I was immediately reminded of the P16, though the P16v is a bit slimmer and lighter (4.89 lb vs. 6.5 lb).
Another thing that I noticed right away was the port offering and location. I'll discuss this more later, but right off the bat, I was surprised to see a full ethernet port and ports on the back; then again, though thin, this is a workstation. Lastly, I genuinely like the matte black finish on this laptop. It feels professional, and I like it for the same reasons. Though I love some sweet backpack colors, I will always choose black. I love some splashes of color from Apple these days, but I always prefer simple colors. It's clean, goes with everything, and it looks professional.
Lenovo ThinkPad P16v Gen 2: Design and Build Quality
Specs
CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 165H to Ultra 9 185H options GPU: NVIDIA RTX 2000 Ada Gen or RTX 3000 Ada Gen Display: 16” WUXGA (1920 x 1200), IPS, 100% sRGB to 16" WQUXGA (3840 x 2400), IPS, 100%DCI-P3, 60Hz Storage: 2x 2TB SSD M.2 drives RAM: 8GB DDR5, upgradable to 96GB .
Unsurprisingly, the Lenovo ThinkPad P16v Gen 2 is very similar to the ThinkPad P16 in design, much like the name. The P16v Gen 2 is slimmer and more portable than a ThinkPad P16. However, it still feels relatively robust and like any of the best mobile workstations I've tried, with actual portability in mind. Thanks to the real estate left behind due to the 16" screen, Lenovo could add a full numpad to the right of the entire keyboard, and better yet, it's comfortable to type on.
The port offering on this computer is excellent for the modern employee needing workstation-grade power. There is an SD Card Reader, an optional Smart Card reader, a full-size HDMI port, a USB-A Port, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, and a full RJ45 Ethernet port. What's fascinating and pretty brilliant is that one of the Thunderbolt ports and the Ethernet port are on the back of the ThinkPad P16v Gen 2. This makes it super easy to plug into a Thunderbolt Docking station and/or that ethernet port, both of which you'd want running away from your desk or workspace exactly how they will when plugged into the back of your laptop.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Lenovo ThinkPad P16v Gen 2: In use
I've had this laptop in my rotation for the last couple of weeks, and it has been a pretty good computer. It can easily handle my productivity suite of tasks, content creation and video editing, and photo editing. It can handle the 3D modeling software for my 3D printer and all of it at once. I really appreciate the ethernet port and Thunderbolt 4 port on the back, as I could have the not-so-flexible ethernet port run away from my computer when I needed to hardline into the internet at one of my job sites. Whenever I am at my desk, I can easily plug into the docking station I have set up running to my monitors and peripherals.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Another thing worth mentioning is the reliability and usability of the ThinkPad keyboards. While I never want to use the famous TouchPoint embedded within the keyboard, it's handy when I think about using it. On top of that, the typing experience is quite comfortable, even for all-day typing, as I do.
Lenovo has also chosen to utilize the space granted by the 16-inch screen to fit in a numpad. Some laptops, even with 16-inch screens, will just fit the exact size keyboard in the center of the allotted space. Lenovo chose to utilize that space fitting in a full-numberpad. For those who work with spreadsheets, phone numbers, or numbers in general, having a dedicated numpad makes data entry exponentially faster, and that's easy to do with the ThinkPad P16v Gen 2, adding to the allure for the business professional.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Lenovo ThinkPad P16v Gen 2: Final verdict
The ThinkPad P16v Gen 2 delivers an exceptional balance of power, portability, and professional features. While it doesn’t quite match the raw performance of the P16, its lighter build and price point make it an excellent choice for professionals on the move who need a reliable machine.
In an age of hybrid work environments, having a reliable docking station can significantly enhance productivity. The Plugable USB-C Dual 4K Display HDMI or DisplayPort Docking Station is designed for professionals who need multi-monitor support, excellent connectivity, and powerful charging options, all with DisplayLink baked in. That's what this Plugable dock has to offer.
It may be tailored to Mac, but with the design language and the use of DisplayLink, it can be used with any operating system. Having reviewed many of the best laptop docking stations, I have tried it with Windows, iPadOS, and MacOS. While the latter two have limitations on-screen usage, it's good to know that you are set to go with multiple displays in one way or another.
Plugable USB-C Dual 4K HDMI or DisplayPort Dock: Price and Availability
The Plugable USB-C Dual 4K HDMI or DisplayPort Dock is available for $200 directly from Plugable's website or Amazon and is backed by a two-year warranty with lifetime support from the Plugable team.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Plugable USB-C Dual 4K HDMI or DisplayPort Dock: Unboxing and First Impressions
The Plugable USB-C Dual 4K HDMI or DisplayPort Dock is a very simple-looking dock overall. The packaging is simple, the labels are clear, and the inclusion of DisplayLink is prominent. What’s great, though, is that while this dock is relatively wide, it has clean lines, flat sides (not rounded or protruding), and is pretty thin. This makes it a perfect candidate to be mounted, in my opinion, and that’s precisely what I did.
The only thing that sets this apart from a simple plug-and-play is if you will use the DisplayLink feature. If you are not using this with a MacBook or only plan on using one monitor, you can run this dock as a plug-and-play solution. I run my desk this way about 70% of the time. The other 30% of the time, I add another monitor or swap out monitors to test at this desk. When I do that, I need to run the DisplayLink driver and software on my MacBook Pro, which is super easy to download and relatively lightweight.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Plugable USB-C Dual 4K HDMI or DisplayPort Dock: Design and Build Quality
Specs
Video Output: Dual 4K @ 60Hz via 2x HDMI or 2x DisplayPort. Ports: 2x HDMI, 2x DisplayPort, 2x USB-C, 4x USB 3.0, SD/microSD readers, Ethernet, 3.5mm jack. Power Delivery: 100W charging for laptops. Compatibility: macOS, Windows, ChromeOS (driver installation required for macOS).
The port arrangement on this dock is laid out with desk organization in mind. The front-facing quick-access ports are easily accessible, and the backports are nicely arranged and easy to work with, even when facing away from the desk. All the monitor connections and devices that generally stay connected (rather than get unplugged and plugged in frequently) are also neatly organized.
The USB-C on the side runs to the laptop cable tucked away so I can route it around my desk shelf or directly to my laptop. In my case, I used one of my new favorite accessories, the right-angle 40Gbps USB-C adapter, to help keep everything tucked away and tidy.
I could see this dock used at home and in traditional office workspaces. However, I would not want this to be a portable dock to take with me from place to place, as it is designed to stay on a desk or workstation.
Plugable USB-C Dual 4K HDMI or DisplayPort Dock: In use
So far, my experience with this dock has been smooth sailing. It easily handles my monitor usage, and since it has both HDMI and DisplayPort, it has made running my vast array of monitors quite effortless -- no adapters necessary. The USB-A ports are great, and for some setups, that might be all you need; however, if you are working with large files or a lot of newer generation tech that is USB-C or even Thunderbolt, you may want to check out a different model of Plugable docks.
The best part of this dock is that it has built-in DisplayLink, allowing me to run multiple monitors on my otherwise limited MacBook Pro. It's annoying, but I'm thankful for companies like Plugable that put DisplayLink in their docks so that I can circumvent this limitation on my setup.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Plugable USB-C Dual 4K HDMI or DisplayPort Dock: Final verdict
The Plugable USB-C Docking Station offers exceptional functionality for power users who demand high-resolution multi-monitor setups and robust connectivity. While its reliance on drivers and lack of USB-C/Thunderbolt may deter some, its performance and built-in DisplayLink make it a worthwhile investment for many.
New for 2025 in the world of health and fitness technology is the enticing COSORI Smart Nutrition Scale. I actually first encountered it on TikTok where I've seen a couple of viral posts about it, and now COSORI has officially launched the Smart Kitchen Scale in the UK. See the Price and Availability section for full details.
As a fitness enthusiast with an interest in food and nutrition, but as someone who often struggles to track food and count calories, the COSORI seemed right up my street, and after my initial go at using the scale I have to say I'm really impressed. It's not perfect, and the methodology has a couple of obvious flaws I'll get to, but this is a nifty little kitchen gadget that will catch the eye of guests and make a great sub-£50/$50 gift for the gym enthusiast in your life.
Out of the box, 6he COSORI feels premium and well-built, which you'd hope for a scale that costs nearly 50 bucks. The plastic base houses three AAA batteries, while the platform is made up of food-grade 304 stainless steel that's designed to be easy to clean. The sizing is pretty generous, it's a lot larger than my bog-standard kitchen scale and feels more useful as a result, without being unwieldy.
(Image credit: Future)
The COSORI Smart Kitchen Scale is designed to provide you with accurate information about the food you eat, revealing the exact amount of calories, protein, fat, carbs, and micronutrients like fiber based on weight. Naturally, it requires a companion app where you'll access the database of food, scanning barcodes (or searching for food) as you go.
The scale arrives ready to use, with a QR code included for the VeSync app, I'd say installation, registration, and pairing all took less than a minute. The process to set up the scale was extremely easy and straightforward, with zero hiccups. So far, so good.
(Image credit: Future)
The COSORI Smart Kitchen Scale is so easy to use that there's very little to explain when it comes to its functionality. The VeSync app, which syncs with Apple Health and Fitbit, includes a daily food-tracking platform. You enter your target calories and your desired breakdown of protein, carbs, and fat, the big three 'macronutrients' essential to balancing a diet, shedding weight, or building muscle.
Once your numbers are locked in, you log food just as you would in apps like MyFitnessPal. The most convenient way to do this is by scanning barcodes. The process is super snappy, but has an obvious flaw. The food data comes from Nutritionix, which boasts nearly one million food items. However, if your food isn't listed, you'll need to enter the details manually or pick a substitute.
I did a quick go-around of my fridge and was surprised to find eggs and Greek yogurt from one household UK supermarket didn't show up. However, eggs from another large supermarket showed up just fine, as did some frozen berries from my freezer, and a body-building mainstay: Pringles potato crisps. Your mileage will definitely vary when it comes to what foods are supported, and might even depend on where you live and shop.
Manually entering the information isn't the end of the world, but it's certainly frustrating when the barcode scanner doesn't throw up results.
(Image credit: Future)
Once you've successfully identified your food, you simply pop it on the scale and the COSORI will automatically weigh it and provide you with a breakdown of all the nutrients in the food. Once you're happy with your amount, you simply tap 'Save and Add More', and you're done. Congrats, you've successfully logged the exact weight and calorific breakdown of the food you're about to eat.
In principle, you can use the COSORI Smart Kitchen Scale to track an entire day's worth of eating, with calorie tracking accuracy down to the nearest gram.
So who would benefit? While the COSORI can be used to simply weigh something, this is a lot of money to spend on a scale that you use purely for weight. The COSORI really needs to be used to its full potential to justify the outlay. I'd say that gym-goers, bodybuilders, and anyone trying to build a food regime to complement their fitness plan would absolutely love the COSORI.
It would especially lend itself to people who like to try new foods, mix up recipes, and experiment. By contrast, if you meal prep seven days of boiled chicken, rice, and broccoli every Sunday afternoon, you might be better off with a regular scale.
(Image credit: Future)
The COSORI is particularly helpful for giving you insight into calories and ingredients which don't have an obvious calorie makeup, like a spoonful of peanut butter. I distinctly recall one TikToker being mortified at just how many calories were to be found in a fairly meager serving of peanut butter, for instance. If you take an interest in your diet, calories, and portions, the COSORI could take you from a portion enthusiast to a culinary Rain Man.
While you could in theory use the COSORI alongside something like MyFitnessPal to track your food, you'd lose out on the snappy, automatic tracking and instant results that make the COSORI an attractive package. Therefore, anyone who's already heavily invested in a different food or fitness app might not want to make the switch. The COSORI app even features recipes, including recipes you can use with the best air fryers (some of which, coincidentally, are also made by COSORI).
COSORI Smart Nutrition Scale: Price and availability
(Image credit: Future)
$39.99 / £47.42
No AUS availability
Different brand name in the US
The COSORI Smart Kitchen Scale is available now in the UK from Amazon at the cost of £47.42. In the U.S, you can buy one under the brand name Etekcity, also from Amazon, at the cost of $39.99. Both COSORI and Etekcity are subsidiaries of the VeSync brand, and these are the same product. Unfortunately, the product is not currently available in Australia.
COSORI Smart Nutrition Scale: Specifications
COSORI Smart Nutrition Scale: Scorecard
COSORI Smart Nutrition Scale: Should I buy?
(Image credit: Future)
Buy if it...
You care deeply about food and nutrition
This scale is the perfect companion for anyone tracking calories or trying to hit a fitness goal.
You want an easy way to track your calories
It doesn't get easier than scanning your food and then weighing it.
You tend to eat lots of different foods and create new recipes
This scale is particularly useful for tracking a varied diet and for people who like to mix it up a bit. View Deal
Don't buy it if...
You just want a scale to weigh food
If you don't care about the app or the tracking insights, this is too expensive as a normal scale.
There's not a lot of variation in your diet
While still useful, the COSORI will be less valuable to people who tend to eat the same foods over and over again.
Also consider
(Image credit: Future)
The Renpho Kitchen Scales are an obvious alternative to the COSORI, and a lot cheaper. However, you won't get that epic LCD display the nutritional information, and it's a bit smaller too.
How I tested
I paired the COSORI Smart Kitchen Scale with my iPhone, exploring all of the features of the app. I used the scale to weigh a number of household foods to determine accuracy, as well as the barcode scanner to test the food library function.
The world of portable monitors is incredibly vast and diverse, and it has only been going on more these last few years with people working from home, coffee shops, and their couches. I'm writing this paragraph from my home office away from my home office -- my dining room table, my couch, or my chair in my bedroom. Yes, there are plenty of times that I work strictly from my laptop, but sometimes, there are tasks that I could benefit from having a second display. When it's time to complete those tasks, and I am unable to grab my monitor, I opt for a portable monitor instead.
Over the years, I have tried many portable monitors; I always used my 11in iPad Pro as a portable monitor (until I swapped it for an iPad Mini 7). Though all of those portable monitors are fantastic for one reason or another, there is something incredible about the Plugable 15.6-inch Portable USB-C Monitor. It's not the most brilliant-looking display, at only 1920 x 1080, it's not the largest display at 15.6 inches, and it's not the fanciest display, but it is the one I have been grabbing most frequently over the last few months of working from home a ton with sick family I am taking care of.
Plugable has somehow found a way to give me what I need in this regard, without any fluff. One of the best portable monitors I've used, this one is incredibly lightweight, easy to use, and even upgradable (but more on that later).
Plugable 15.6" Portable USB-C Monitor: Price and Availability
The Plugable 15.6" USB-C Display is sold through the official Plugable website (click here) and online retailers such as Amazon for $199.95 and is backed by lifetime support. This purchase gets you the monitor, a magnetic folio, and a USB-C Cable to connect to your device.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Plugable 15.6" Portable USB-C Monitor: Unboxing and First Impressions
As I previously said, I have tried a lot of portable monitors and monitors in general. The one thing that immediately stood out about this monitor was its light. I was blown away taking it out of the box and thought something was wrong. Then, once I added the folio case, it was barely any heavier. I quickly got acquainted with the ports and a couple of buttons on the monitor, grabbed the USB-C cable, and plugged it into my laptop. It sprung to life immediately, showcasing how easy this monitor is to use.
Right off the bat, I thought the monitor looked great and wanted to use it. The folio base is excellent for stability on a couch, bed, chair, table, desk, café, and everywhere I have tried. The folio adds protection to the screen without needing another pouch or sleeve that will go unused, helping this setup stay incredibly minimal, and this portable monitor is super easy to slide into a bag, backpack, or purse to bring with you anywhere and everywhere.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Plugable 15.6" Portable USB-C Monitor: Design and Build Quality
Specs
Screen Size: 15.6 inches. Resolution: 1920 x 1080 @ 60Hz. Panel Type: IPS with LED backlight. Brightness: 300 nits. Ports: 1x USB-C for host connection, 2x USB-C 10Gbps hub ports with pass-through charging Weight: 840g (1.85lbs) with folio. Viewing Angles: 178° vertical and horizontal.
The Plugable 15.6" portable USB-C Display is incredibly slim, portable, minimalist, and durable. I've taken this monitor with me on numerous trips, putting it in my backpack for some and in a suitcase for others, and it just keeps working. Something about it being so slim and light makes me think it won't hold up, but I'm surprised every single time that it's durable, too.
In addition to being durable, it's packed with the valuable features you need and none that you don't. This portable monitor has three high-speed USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 ports with up to 10Gbps data transfer and up to 100W PD (85W charging) for your laptop or another connected device through TAA-compliant ports that will work with most USB-C, USB4, and Thunderbolt, and USB-C cables. It also has a glare-resistant screen, a sharp 300-nit IPS LED display, universal compatibility, and even playback-protected content (HDCP) from streaming services, which some displays block.
Lastly, the folio with this display works as the stand, meaning it's incredibly minimal and does not need additional accessories to hold the display up.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Plugable 15.6" Portable USB-C Monitor: In use
The Plugable 15.6-inch portable USB-C display has been a game changer for me for the last few weeks. It is not the best in every area, but it's phenomenal in most places that count, which makes it just right for almost everyone. To quickly list a few things this doesn't have, there is no VESA mount option or any Magsafe or stand options even though the folio snaps into place, nor is this a high-resolution or high-brightness screen. Instead, it's a 1920 x 1080 display with 300 nits of brightness, a few ports, and a folio stand.
But, what this has been able to do for me is extend my work to another screen pretty much anywhere I am. It's helped me get so much more done when another screen is helpful, whether I have my fancy home office, another monitor to plug into, or a proper workspace. This monitor offers 85W charging, which is plenty for even my 13" M2 MacBook Pro, or most of my laptops. Plus, I can do that with the third port if I ever need to charge another device (such as my laptop light bar modification (more on this later) or transfer data with a drive, all with whatever computer I am using as long as it has USB-C, which is all even semi-recent computers.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
There are a few things that I have added to this monitor that have taken it to another level. Since I have used it heavily for the past few months, especially on trips or working at night away from my home office, I have worked a lot in the dark, either late at night or early in the morning. I don't know about you, but the glaring difference between a screen and a dark room can sometimes be very straining on my eyes, or if there are other things I am referencing or other things around my workspace, even a drink, I like seeing my workspace a bit, if nothing else to help me stay awake on those very long nights.
So, what I did was I added the BenQ Laptop Light Bar to my portable monitor; this way, it can stay as a single desk setup, and I can unplug my laptop, go wherever else I may need to go and come right back to a complete setup. I did this by adding a MagSafe adhesive on the back of the monitor (specifically, it was an extra one from a Rolling Square attachment I have on my laptop). Then, the laptop light bar magnetically sticks to that. Now, anywhere I am working, I can have a replica of my full desk setup in a tear-down that can easily fit in a backpack. I also added a right-angle adapter to the end of the USB-C cable to pull my laptop close to the monitor and have the cable out of the way, but this is just a personal preference.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Plugable 15.6" Portable USB-C Monitor: Final verdict
The Plugable USB-C Portable Monitor stands out as an excellent tool for professionals seeking an extra screen. Its premium build, IPS display, and seamless connectivity make it a valuable asset for productivity and entertainment on the go. While its brightness limits outdoor use and the resolution may not be the best for graphic designers or video editors, it remains a solid choice for anyone in need of a versatile portable monitor.
The Acer Predator controller is more than a little disappointing given the brand’s track record of producing high-quality gaming hardware. It’s apparent that this is one of Acer’s first forays into the realm of gaming controllers, as the Predator is pretty bare-bones for what it offers in terms of features. That, and its overall build quality, leaves something to be desired.
Don’t expect remappable buttons, trigger locks, or even basics like a good overall build quality here; the Predator’s closest analog is probably the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller. And even there, Nintendo’s official pad has the Predator beat on both build and battery life.
This isn’t to say the Acer Predator isn’t at least worth a look. It still gets plenty of things right. Hall effect sticks allow for a controller that could last you years, and it does support Switch-friendly features like gyro aiming for games like Splatoon 3. It is a bit lamentable that the Predator requires AA batteries to be used wirelessly, but both Bluetooth and 2.4GHz connectivity are supported here and overall battery life is pretty decent at around 20 hours on average.
In summary, if you’re after a simple, no-frills controller similar to the official Nintendo Switch option, the Acer Predator might just be for you. However, when its peers are handily one-upping it in terms of design, features, and performance - often at the same price or less - it probably shouldn’t be at the top of your list.
(Image credit: Future)
Acer Predator controller: Price and availability
£69.99 (around $87.99 / AU$139.99)
Purchasable from Acer’s website in certain regions
Limited overall availability, with the controller seemingly not available in the US
While the Acer Predator controller seems to be unavailable (at time of writing) in the US, it is available for £69.99 in the UK and can be purchased from Acer’s own website. Unlike most other third-party controllers, availability (at the time of writing) appears to be extremely limited. The controller isn’t listed at retailers like Amazon, Argos, or John Lewis in the UK. Moreover, Acer itself doesn’t have a store page for the controller in the US or Australia.
In terms of price, the Acer Predator is fairly competitive when you consider that many other top controllers fall within that £60-£70 price bracket. As mentioned, though, it’s not the most complete feeling controller out there when compared to other pads in this range. It would have been a more attractive purchasing option, I feel if it came in at £10 or even £15 cheaper than its current retail price.
Acer Predator controller: specs
(Image credit: Future)
Acer Predator controller: design and features
Simple, but nonetheless eye-catching sci-fi-esque livery
Lacking in build quality in comparison to its competitors
D-pad and triggers feel noticeably spongy
Starting off with the positives, I really like the aesthetic touches on the Acer Predator controller. It’s emblazoned with cool sci-fi-looking patterns that definitely lend it some unique identity, but it’s understated enough to not stand out in a garish way. The bumpers up top also offer a soft, tactile clicky feel. Thumbsticks also feel great here with a comfortable amount of concavity for your thumbs to firmly rest on.
Other aspects of the controller don’t fare as well. The d-pad and face buttons have an overly mushy feel. It doesn’t help that the former is extremely basic and rather flat in design which did make for an occasional mispress during gameplay. Triggers, meanwhile, did grow on me after some time, but these are fairly wide and offer an unsatisfyingly spongy feel. A pretty mixed bag overall, then, in terms of buttons and modules.
It’s also worth noting that the Acer Predator’s 2.4GHz dongle is not separate in the box. Rather, it’s housed within the controller’s onboard battery compartment. So make sure you’re taking that out first before inserting any AA batteries if you’re planning to use it wirelessly on PC.
It’s a slightly strange choice for a controller, and it does take a little bit of wrestling to release it from the controller’s slot. But it does at least offer a safe way to store the dongle to prevent you from losing it when not in use.
(Image credit: Future)
Acer Predator controller: performance
Hall effect thumbsticks make for a long-lasting controller
Well-developed rumble that offers a robust and impactful play experience
Battery life is decent but may vary depending on your battery brand of choice
Design issues aside, the Acer Predator does perform admirably as a controller, with few notable faults. Despite the pad feeling outdated in some aspects, I’m grateful for the inclusion of Hall effect sticks first and foremost. This will make for a long-lasting gamepad that’s resistant to stick drift issues. On that front alone, the Predator is worth considering if you’re tired of cycling through controllers on a semi-regular basis.
What surprised me most here is the Predator’s incredibly effective rumble tech. It’s not exactly haptic feedback a la the PS5’s DualSense wireless controller, but it feels significantly less flat than many other controllers in this regard.
Playing action-heavy titles like Wuthering Waves, Zenless Zone Zero, and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, I was really impressed with the impactful register of sword swipes and other special abilities. It’s a well-rounded vibration that successfully adds a good layer of immersion to whichever game you’re playing. However, you still may wish to switch off vibrations for competitive play as I do feel such a strong rumble could disrupt things like aim or other desired inputs.
The Acer Predator controller also matches many of its peers on compatibility and connection types. It works with Nintendo Switch, PC, and mobile devices (both Android and iOS) and supports 2.4GHz and Bluetooth for wireless connectivity, as well as USB-C for wired connections. Switch compatibility is an especially big plus here, as I feel the Acer Predator makes for a decent alternative to the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller.
Battery life is also pretty decent overall. Acer’s own website states you’ll get around 25 hours here, but this will of course vary based on the AA battery brand used. The controller comes with a pair of Energizer AA batteries included in the box. With these, I managed to get around 20 hours of playtime before needing to swap them out. Again this will vary based on brand and the types of games you play, but this is an overall decent number that means you shouldn't have to swap out batteries too often.
(Image credit: Future)
Should I buy the Acer Predator controller?
Buy it if...
You want a good Switch Pro Controller alternative While many of the best Nintendo Switch controllers do outshine Nintendo’s official pad in terms of design and features, the Acer Predator still puts up a decent show and is a good pick if you’re looking for a reliable Hall effect controller.
You like rumble This is arguably the Acer Predator controller’s standout feature and really comes alive in action-heavy games. While not quite haptic feedback or Nintendo’s own HD Rumble, it’s nonetheless very robust and impactful here.
Don't buy it if...
You want better, sturdier build quality There is an overtly cheap feel to the Acer Predator controller, from its chassis to its individual buttons and modules. While not the absolute worst we’ve ever tested in this regard, it still leaves much to be desired.
You want a more reliable wireless solution It’s quite rare for contemporary controllers to run on AA batteries, and if you don’t like the idea of having to purchase these to keep playing wirelessly, you should consider a controller that offers a more modern charging solution.View Deal
Also consider...
If the Acer Predator is proving to be a hard sell, refer to the table below in which we compare its specs to two other great controllers.
8BitDo Ultimate The 8BitDo Ultimate still finds itself at the top of our best Nintendo Switch controllers guide for good reason. Superb build quality, lovely additional features, and an included charging dock all at a very reasonable price.
Nintendo Switch Pro Controller Despite lacking modernities like Hall effect sticks, the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller is still a real workhorse of a gamepad, with excellent build quality and best-in-class battery life for the console.
Compared to the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller and 8BitDo Ultimate
I tested the Acer Predator controller over the course of a week, hopping between PC and Nintendo Switch. By doing this, I was able to test multiple connection types from 2.4GHz to Bluetooth and wired, while also sampling a wide range of excellent games including Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Astral Chain, Zenless Zone Zero, and Wuthering Waves.
While certainly far from the best controller I’ve ever tested, it did eventually somewhat win me over thanks to its broad compatibility, strong rumble tech, and impressive battery life - even if I’m not personally a fan of having to rely on AA batteries for wireless play.
