The Panasonic Toughbook 40 is a fantastic, rugged laptop designed for professionals operating in the most extreme environments. While many computers boast portability, lack of bezels, thin form factors, lightweight design, and sleek designs, the Panasonic Toughbook is the opposite. It has a fully rugged MIL-STD-810H and IP66-certified build, offering extreme durability.
We've reviewed the best rugged laptops, and while most people won't need this kind of laptop, for those who do, such as military, emergency services, fieldwork, and so on, this is a great option. The Toughbook 40 stands out due to its modularity, ability to expand internal storage, built-in IO ports, etc.
When I see large and bulky laptops, I immediately flash back to my old Dell laptop from 2010. It was clunky, had a terrible battery, would sound like a fighter jet taking off when I launched a program, and would scorch my lap if I had it on there for too long. This bulky laptop is helping me refine that mindset. Bulky doesn't mean slow here, it just means durable. And the Panasonic Toughbook 40 is a great example of that.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Panasonic Toughbook 40: Pricing & availability
The Panasonic Toughbook 40 starts at $4,899 for the base model, including an Intel Core i5, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB SSD. The Toughbook 40 can be upgraded up to an Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM, and 4TB of storage if desired, obviously jumping the price up quite a bit as well.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Uniquely to this laptop, the Modular xPAK expansions allow for additional storage, optical drives, security card readers, and more. This helps the Toughbook 40 become a truly all-in-one beast of a durable machine with over 6,000 possible configurations through modular components.
The Panasonic Toughbook 40 can be purchased on Amazon, Panasonic's website, and other Toughbook/rugged book retailers.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Panasonic Toughbook 40: Unboxing & first impressions
The Toughbook 40 arrives in minimalist packaging, focused on protection and durability rather than aesthetics and portability. Unboxing this computer feels like taking a warhead out of top-secret packaging it's so intense. Opening up the packaging reveals what looks like it could be another case, except this time it's the laptop in all its glory. I will say, that Panasonic, even with the painfully obvious rugged design, has tried to make it a bit more portable with the inclusion of a carrying handle. However, the need for a carrying handle to add portability is also an admission of the lack of portability in the first place.
My first impressions of this machine are similar. The highlight is that this laptop has a robust magnesium alloy build, reinforced with bumpers and protective port covers. This isn't your ordinary business laptop that you throw in a backpack. This is the laptop you bring in the field knowing that it will get beat up and (probably) being okay with that.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Panasonic Toughbook 40: Design & build quality
Specs
Processor: Intel Core i5-1145G7 (base model), Intel Core Ultra 5 or i7 options available Memory: Configurable up to 64GB DDR5 RAM Storage: 512GB to 4TB SSD with quick-release functionality Display: 14-inch FHD 1920 x 1080 touchscreen with up to 1200 nits of brightness Battery Life: 12 hours on a single charge, up to 24 hours with a second battery Weight: 7.4 lbs Durability: MIL-STD-810H, IP66
The Panasonic Toughbook 40's bulk is prominent, but also necessary for its incredible durability. This design adheres to the MIL-STD-810H and IP66 standards, ensuring that it can withstand nearly any brutal environment when it comes to rain, dust, shock, and extreme temperatures. The included modular components are something that I don't see very often on even the best business laptops as most of those are resorting to thin and streamlined form factors and minimalist ports, relying on Thunderbolt to push dongles and adapters for those needing legacy ports. With the Panasonic Toughbook 40, however, Panasonic has included xPAK slots that allow users to swap out whatever combination of additional accessories they so choose, making this one of the most customizable rugged laptops on the market. Further, integrated port covers ensure that the internal components remain protected, and the laptop’s physical build, including a reinforced magnesium alloy chassis, feels indestructible.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Panasonic Toughbook 40: In use
As I briefly mentioned, I have a bad habit of feeling like bulky laptops are slow. It's a terrible bridge in my mind that I need to remove, but bulky laptops make me feel like the laptop is going to be sluggish, overheat, and underpowered. The Panasonic Toughbook 40 is the laptop that is destroying that mindset for me. So far, I have been blown away at just how powerful this laptop is. My unit has 64GB of RAM and an Intel Core Ultra 7 165 Processor. This thing is nowhere near sluggish. In my daily tasks, it excels, and even in 3D rendering, and 3D Modeling software that I played around with on here, there was not even a moment of hesitation with the files I was using.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Panasonic is also thinking ahead with the Toughbook 40, as its dedicated Neural Processing Unit (NPU) enhances AI capabilities, making it ideal for real-time data analysis, especially in remote or disconnected environments. Essentially, this laptop is not built for "just in case this computer goes into a rough environment" it's built for those people who will, without a doubt, be in those rough environments and need the power to work through their needs.
The 14-inch FHD display with 1200 nits brightness ensures clear visibility even in outdoor environments which continues the tale of this laptop being built for outdoors. Power is great, durability is great, but if that is paired with a dim screen that can only be seen inside, then that power is wasted.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Somehow, Pansonic has made the touchscreen work with gloves and even while wet. While I was able to test this with gloves on, and I can attest that the touchscreen still works as it should, I did not take my laptop into the shower, nor did I go swimming with it, however with the IP66 rating, this laptop is noted to be protected from splashing, sprays, ocean waves, and heavy rain, but it is not technically waterproof. So, consider that before you bring your Toughbook 40 deep sea diving, or before you try and consider any other laptop for your ocean-side exploration.
The base configuration provides up to 12 hours of battery life, with the option to extend to 24 hours using a second, hot-swappable battery. This battery life is huge for those who are working in remote areas, or perhaps are just on the move for their job.
Lastly, this laptop has a great port offering. Especially since you can add whatever IO you want through the modular xPAK system.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future)
Panasonic Toughbook 40: Final verdict
The Panasonic Toughbook 40 is an impressive choice for professionals who need both computing power and extreme durability. Its modular design makes it highly adaptable, while its performance and rugged good looks set it apart. Though its size and weight might not appeal to every user, this is a tool built for serious, high-stakes environments.
Yale Smart Video Doorbell and Doorbell Chime: two-minute review
The Yale Smart Video Doorbell and Doorbell Chime set lets you see and speak to visitors no matter where you are in the world, providing you have a mobile phone connection. Although the concept isn’t new (Ring pioneered the video doorbell concept a few years back), this is a very good alternative solution – and one that works out cheaper too.
There are two options: either use your existing doorbell wiring, or charge the doorbell via its built-in rechargeable battery using the provided USB-A to USB-C cable. We chose the latter which means it does need to be unclipped from its bracket and topped up with power every couple of months, depending on how much it is used.
Installation is surprisingly straightforward, thanks in part to the video installation guides within the Yale Home app that talk you through the various options. Simply attach the white mounting plate to the door frame with the screws/wall plugs provided, using the additional ‘wedge’ if you need to angle the plate slightly.
An additional wedge-shaped mounting plate lets you mount the doorbell at an angle, if necessary (Image credit: Chris Price)
Then, once charged, clip the video doorbell into the bracket. This can be removed later for re-charging using the security pin provided (the same kind of pin you use to take a SIM card out of your phone). For added security, a tamper alert notification can be sent to your phone if someone tries to remove the doorbell from its housing.
After pairing the Yale video doorbell with your home’s Wi-Fi (a quite straightforward process via the Yale app), it’s then a case of customizing to suit your needs. For example, using the ‘house settings’ option you can name the house, even add a photo of it, as well as edit house owners so your partner, house mates or children get alerts if someone comes to the door.
The doorbell is supplied with screws and wall plugs, plus double-sided tape (Image credit: Chris Price)
In addition to house settings, there also options for adjust speaker volume (handy if you live on a noisy street), image brightness, night vision and video quality. Two recording options are available, either medium (720p) or high (1080p). In addition to operating as a video doorbell showing you who is at the door when pressed, you can also detect and record movement like a standard security camera. However, while human detection is provided as standard, you will need to subscribe if you want alerts for pets, packages and vehicles on your driveway.
Two subscriptions are available, both free for the first month. For £3.50 (about $5 / AU$7) a month the camera plan offers AI motion detection and cloud recording for one camera while for £9 a month (about $12 / AU$20) you get cloud recording for all cameras plus a cellular back up (see subscription options below).
Adding the Yale Doorbell Chime lets you hear when a visitor calls from elsewhere in your house, and offers different chime options (Image credit: Chris Price)
Finally, the Yale Video Doorbell is designed to be connected to other home devices including Yale’s range of smart locks, smart alarms and home security cameras. We paired ours to Yale’s plug in door chime which comes with a volume button and multiple tones, much like a standard doorbell.
For added connectivity, we also linked the doorbell with Yale’s Amazon Alexa so we could receive alerts via a number of Echo Dot devices (support is also provided or Apple HomeKit and Google Home products).
Yale Smart Video Doorbell: subscription options
Yale Camera Plan: AI motion detection, cloud recording for one camera, Yale home app. £3.50 a month.
Yale Secure Plan: Automated call alert, AI motion detection, cloud recording for all cameras, cellular back up, Yale home app. £9 a month.
Yale Smart Video Doorbell and Doorbell Chime: price and availability
Although wired-only video doorbells are usually a cheaper option, a wireless (battery powered) doorbell is obviously much more convenient if you have less technical expertise, or don’t already have wiring in place. Considering it offers both wired and wireless connectivity, Yale’s Smart Video Doorbell and Chime therefore represents pretty good value for money at £129.99 (about $170 / AU$250) for the doorbell alone, and £29.99 (about $40 / AU$60) for the additional chime.
The price of the hardware is broadly similar to its closest competitor, Ring’s Battery Video Doorbell Plus and Chime. You may also find bundled deals if you decide to buy the two components - doorbell and chime - together (though it is possible to just use the doorbell by itself if you so choose).
Of course, as with many home security products, it isn’t just the cost of the hardware you have to bear in mind, but also the subscription plans. Here, Yale fares quite well too. Its basic subscription is particularly good value for money costing £3.50 (about $5 / AU$7) a month for free cloud storage after a free month’s trial. This compares to $4.99 / £4.99 / AU$4.95 for the basic Ring subscription plan.
Rather more expensive is the premium Yale subscription plan at £9 a month (about $12 / AU$20). However, this is probably only worth it if you have multiple cameras you want to monitor via the app - for example if you are the landlord of several AirBnB properties. It may also be necessary if you live in an area where WiFi is very patchy and need to rely on the cellular network to keep the security system going.
Value score: 4/5
Yale Smart Video Doorbell and Doorbell Chime: design
Easy to install mounting bracket
Solidly built video doorbell
Simple plug-in chime
Unlike smart cameras, even the best video doorbells usually require some level of DIY skill. Thankfully this is minimal with the Yale video doorbell given its wireless design. Just mount the bracket on the door frame using the wall plugs and screws provided, then clip the solidly built video doorbell inside. A tall, narrow weatherproof (IP65) design, the doorbell incorporates three elements – the wide angle (154 degrees) lens and sensor at the top and the large doorbell button marked with a chime symbol underneath.
The Yale Smart Video Doorbell is easy to install, and comes with all the fittings you need (Image credit: Chris Price)
As soon as you get within range of the doorbell this illuminates green and triggers motion recording while pressing the button will send a notification to connected smart phones and devices (Alexa, Google Home etc). Just one thing you need to be careful of and that’s to mount the video doorbell at the right height. Because the camera is on top, it’s easy to place the doorbell a little higher than it needs to be. Best play around with the doorbell first before installing the bracket. Finally, the doorbell chime needs to be plugged in where everyone can best hear it – in our case the hallway was best.
Design score: 4.5/5
Yale Smart Video Doorbell and Doorbell Chime: performance
High quality 1080p image resolution
Stable connection
Slow video streaming
When it comes to performance, there are two aspects to a video doorbell. One is how it captures motion, the other – arguably more important – is how well it acts as replacement doorbell. If you live on a busy street then chances are you have a lot of passers-by and maybe quite a bit of passing traffic too. Unless you want to record everything going on (which will really use up the battery) we recommend adjusting motion detection settings.
We recommend adjusting the motion detection settings to avoid accidental triggers from passing pedestrians and traffic (Image credit: Chris Price)
Thankfully the Yale isn’t overly sensitive. Nevertheless, for optimum results we found it best to keep motion sensitivity to low or medium and to use to use Detection Zone settings so that the camera only tracks motion within a certain area (and doesn’t pick up people walking or driving past your house). Clip length can be adjusted between 10 seconds and one minute, or ended as soon as motion stops. In low-light situations, the camera automatically switches to night vision and there are both 720p and 1080p recording options.
Once the camera has recorded movement, notifications are pushed through to the user’s mobile phone (either via text or text with image). Alternatively, you can go in via the app and click the Activity tab at the bottom to view them. Our only criticism is that they tend to take a few seconds to load even with a fast internet connection. Recordings can be downloaded onto your device or a snapshot taken from them.
You can review footage from the doorbell in the mobile app (Image credit: Chris Price)
When it comes to using the Yale Video Doorbell to speak to people coming to the door, results are a little more mixed. Video is very good and sound is generally OK (though we found we needed to turn it up to higher levels because of traffic noise). However, there can be a slight delay ‘waking the camera up’ before talking to someone at the door. One time, a courier who rang the bell didn’t wait for the call to be connected and decided just to leave the parcel on the porch rather than take it next door (thankfully it wasn’t stolen).
Performance score: 4/5
Video quality is good, but there's a noticeable lag if you want to speak to a caller (Image credit: Chris Price)
Should I buy the Yale Smart Video Doorbell and Doorbell Chime?
Buy it if
You want to track movement around your property Thanks to customizable detection zone settings, the Yale is great for capturing motion
You want easy installation
It’s a versatile security solution offering mains and battery powered options
Don't buy it if
You regularly need to speak to people on the doorstep
We experienced a delay answering calls from people ringing the doorbell.
You have a poor Wi-Fi connection
Like most video doorbells, you will need a good Wi-Fi connection unless you want to pay a premium subscription for cellular backup.
Yale Smart Video Doorbell and Doorbell Chime: also consider
Not sold on the Yale Smart Video Doorbell and Chime? Here are two alternatives you should consider.
Ring Battery Video Doorbell Plus
Amazon-owned company Ring has firmly established itself as the ‘go to’ company for video doorbells and now has several including this latest wire-free model.
An affordable wired video doorbell, the Arlo device offers a lot of useful features, but you will need to pay for a subscription to benefit from many of them.
How I tested the Yale Smart Video Doorbell and Doorbell Chime
I used the doorbell every day for several weeks
I set it up myself without any assistance (expert installation is available for £90)
The doorbell was set up on the front door facing towards the road
To put the Yale video doorbell to the test, I installed on my front door for over two weeks, covering up my existing entry-phone system. During this period it captured hundreds of clips, most of which were generated from delivery people and friends coming to the door.
On most occasions when the doorbell was pressed we were in the property and the chime in the hallway was triggered. However, on a few we were out. Unfortunately on at least occasion the courier left a parcel on the doorstep on full view because it took too long to connect the call from the video doorbell to my smartphone!
The HP EliteBook X was easily one of the highlights of the HP Imagine 2024 event, showcasing that despite the tech giant launching high-performing AI PCs with the latest in AI-powered CPUs and NPUs, it's not satisfied resting on its laurels. Instead, HP continues to push the envelope in terms of specs and performance, attempting to give us the best laptop on the market.
The EliteBook X was touted as the "most powerful AI device" available right now and, judging from the specs that HP has provided us with, I'm inclined to agree. At the very least, this AI PC outfitted with an AMD chip does feel like an evolution in terms of design as well as hardware.
HP EliteBook X: price and availability
As of right now, we don't have either an official price point, release date, or availability for the HP EliteBook X. However, judging from previous HP AI PCs, the laptop should be available in the US, UK, and Australia at the very least.
HP EliteBook X: specs
Here are the specs for the HP EliteBook X at a glance.
HP EliteBook X: design
(Image credit: Future)
The outside of the laptop is a beautiful light silver, almost white, color. The chassis is lightweight yet feels sturdy and the hinges are solid. Opening it up, it has a standard keyboard with well-sized keys with a nice snap as you type, along with a responsive touchpad that's the perfect size.
One of the best features of the laptop is the fact that it has a manual switch for the webcam, which is ideal for proper security as it ensures that potential hackers can't hack into it and spy on you. It also has a pretty solid port selection, easily one of the best for an AI laptop so far, including two Thunderbolt 4 with USB Type-C ports, one Type-C port, one USB Type-A port, one headphone and mic combo jack, and one HDMI port. If it had an ethernet cable port and an SD card slot, it would be perfect.
It also has a lovely display, with two options for an LED screen and an OLED screen. One is a WUXGA (1920 x 1200) display and the other is a 2.8K (2880 x 1800). Both feature 400 nits, though the former has sRGB 100%, a touch screen, and a 120Hz refresh rate.
Not only does it boast an aesthetically pleasing design, but a sustainable one as well. According to HP, the EliteBook X is built with 60% of its major parts containing recycled material including up to 80% recycled aluminum in the covers, 21% recycled cooking oil in the bezel, 30% ocean-bound plastic on the speaker box, a heat plate made with 50% recycled copper, and 100% sustainable materials on the packaging.
HP EliteBook X: performance
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The most promoted part of the HP EliteBook X is that it has the highest performance of any AI PC currently on the market. Normally this claim would be hyperbole at best and completely unfounded at worst, but the fact that HP currently has the only NPU that runs at a staggering 55 TOPs as well as a much higher speed memory makes it clear why this boast is most likely true - for now.
That said, we can't fully verify these claims as of yet, at least until we get our hands on an EliteBook X and thoroughly test it ourselves.
It does have another feature that's sure to keep performance running as high as possible, which is Wolf Security. It comes with a host of tools and programs that will protect this laptop including external attacks and cyber threats. As a bonus, Wolf uses the NPU for AI security, which reduces the load on the CPU and GPU and prevents slowdown.
There are other features as well including a hyperbolic cooling system that should prevent overheating, Suresense to protect your laptop from malware, and Smart Hibernate that detects if the laptop is in a bag. Both are powered by an accelerometer sensor. Finally, there's Onlooking detection which blurs the screen when someone approaches the laptop.
HP EliteBook X: early verdict
(Image credit: Future)
Though we still have yet to properly formulate a final verdict, so far the HP EliteBook X looks and sounds promising. Visually it's a beautiful laptop that's easy to transport with a stunning display. Its performance looks to match its appearance, fitting a ton of power in its thin frame.
I'm most excited to get my hands on an AMD-powered AI PC to see how well it compares to both Qualcomm and Intel's own chips. Coupled with it supposedly being the most powerful AI PC, it'll be fascinating to see how well that claim holds up. Regardless, this is definitely one laptop to keep an eye out for in the coming months.
The Asus Zenbook S 14 has given us our first real look at what an Intel Lunar Lake laptop is capable of, and we’re definitely impressed by what we’ve seen.
Its ceralumium design is stunning, with the material boasting a rugged nature in a lightweight and slim package (coming in at 1.2kg / 2.7lbs and a thickness of 1.2cm / 0.5 inches). Best of all, it doesn’t get easily ruined by fingerprint smudges – something which can’t be said for many other laptops we’ve tested.
The 14-inch 3K 120Hz OLED display is also beautiful, offering a fluid experience as you scroll through page after page, and a great screen for watching a film after a busy day of work. Unfortunately, the 14-inch screen size can feel a little cramped the moment you want to run two windows side-by-side.
I also wish it had a few more ports. The five the Zenbook S 14 offers isn’t always enough, and I would have been happy to sacrifice some sleekness to sneak in an extra USB port and maybe an SSD card slot.
Performance-wise there’s less to complain about. In our benchmarks and real world tests, the Asus Zenbook S 14 performed very well, and we have no doubt it’ll serve you well as a productivity machine – even when you’re trying to complete several tasks on the PC at once.
Though if you’ve been drawn in by Intel’s boasts about Lunar Lake’s gaming performance, don’t get it twisted. While this machine can run titles like Cyberpunk 2077, you're not getting any higher than the lowest graphical settings, so if gaming prowess is something you value I’d highly recommend looking elsewhere (especially at this price - more on that in a moment).
The AI side of things are a little trickier to test right now, because while this machine is Copilot+ ready thanks to Lunar lake’s superb NPU, Copilot+ itself isn’t ready – the new features don’t arrive until November. Though when they do arrive, this laptop should have the specs to handle everything Microsoft wants to throw at it.
However this power and beauty comes at a price – $1,499.99 / £1,599 / AU$3,399 for the standard Intel Core Ultra 7 Processor 258V, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB SSD storage model to be precise. And in the UK things can get even pricier; this review has us testing out the £1,749 model, which boasts a 1TB SSD, 32GB of RAM, and an Intel Core Ultra 9 288V Processor.
Asus Zenbook S 14: Price and availability
How much does it cost? Starts at $1,499.99 / £1,299 / AU$3,399
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia
The Asus Zenbook S 14 has a few model variants depending on where you live. The standard model available in the US, UK, and Australia costs $1,499.99 / £1,599 / AU$3,399 and nets you an Intel Core Ultra 7 Processor 258V, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD.
In the UK you can also find a more affordable £1,299 model which sports an Intel Core Ultra 5 226V Processor , 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. There's a top of the line model as well with a 1TB SSD, 32GB of RAM, and an Intel Core Ultra 9 288V Processor which costs £1,749. At the time of writing, there’s no word yet when these models (especially the souped up Ultra 9 model) will make it to other regions.
This review was conducted using the top of the line specs, so I can get a feel for what Asus’ best Zenbook S 14 model is capable of.
Asus Zenbook S 14: Specs
Asus Zenbook S 14: Design
Fingerprint free (Image credit: Future)
Ceralumium finish looks beautiful
Lightweight and durable
Too few ports
This slim and lightweight laptop (weighing in at 1.2kg / 2.7lbs and measuring just 1.2 cm / 0.5 inches thick) is ideal for sticking in your rucksack and carrying with you all day with little challenge.
But being lightweight doesn’t mean it isn’t durable. The Zenbook S 14 is clad in Asus’ new ceralumium material which it says combines the best properties of ceramic and aluminum to create a portable yet resilient laptop, which also looks gorgeous. Our Computing Editor Christian Guyton likened the laptop’s look and feel to an ancient Roman tablet in these regards and I can absolutely see where he’s coming from. Oh, and did we mention ceralumium is 100% recyclable, which Asus says is part of its more sustainable approach to making tech.
Beyond aesthetics, one of my favorite aspects of the new ceralumium finish is that it doesn’t get easily marked by fingerprints. My partner uses an older Asus Flip and the back is always looking smudgy. The Zenbook S 14 on the other hand is looking as clean as the day I unboxed it – if you ignore the touchscreen.
Speaking of, I love the touchscreen. I like to pretend I’m a laptop purist who just wants to rely on a classic mouse (or trackpad) and keyboard to navigate menus, but every time I try a touchscreen PC I find it so convenient, and I got so used to it with the S 14 that when I swapped back to my personal PC I actually tried to swipe on my regular monitor like a fool.
It’s time for me to accept that touchscreen laptops aren’t just a gimmick, though remember to clean your screen every so often.
And it’s worth keeping the screen clean as the 14-inch 3K 120Hz OLED display looks beautiful. It’s perfect for watching a movie or show after a long day’s work – with the OLED providing perfect contrast in those dark scenes that are tough to follow on typical LCDs – and the refresh rate makes scrolling through pages a more fluid experience. Though if you’re trying to run two windows side by side the 14-inch screen can feel a little cramped.
Not too bad for ports on this side (Image credit: Future)
Ports-wise, the Asus Zenbook S 14 boasts five of them – an HDMI 2.1 port, two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, and a 3.5mm audio port on the left, and a 3.2 Gen 2 USB Type-A port on the right.
I would have liked at least one more USB Type-A port so I wouldn’t have to unplug my mouse whenever I want I want to use an external drive, and don’t feel the extra couple of millimeters it would have added would ruin the S 14’s sleekness. Granted, you can always supplement the Zenbook's ports with one of our picks for the best USB-C hubs as a simple solution.
Design score: 4/5
Asus Zenbook S 14: Performance
Lunar Lake performs well even under pressure
Ready for Copilot+ to launch
The Asus Zenbook S 14 I’ve been testing is powered by the Intel Core Ultra 9 288V chipset from its latest Lunar Lake chip release. Throw in 32GB of RAM and it’s no wonder this laptop was able to perform well in our benchmarks – save for an oddly disappointing Geekbench score, I ran it a few times and it performed consistently at this level.
Asus Zenbook S 14 review: Benchmarks
Here's how the Asus Zenbook S 14 performed in our suite of benchmark tests: 3DMark: Night Raid: 28,199; Fire Strike: 7,124; Time Spy: 3,619 Cinebench R23: Multi-core: 9,195; Single-core 1,822 Geekbench 6.3: Multicore: 10,615; Single-core: 2,565 PCMark 10: 6,954 Crossmark: Overall:1,759 ; Productivity:1,596 ; Creativity: 2,127 ; Responsiveness: 1,334 Battery Life (TechRadar movie test): 20 hours, 22 minutes
Regardless, the Asus handled everything I threw at it with aplomb – even that one time I was listening in on a video team meet, while also running Lofi Girl’s YouTube livestream for some relaxing tunes, and had plenty of other tabs open in the background that I needed to help me research an article I was typing up.
It’s responsive too, booting up speedily and opening up apps without leaving me waiting around for noticeable periods. Though I did have some issues loading up some of the benchmarking tools when I started testing it – since then however, I can report I faced zero hiccups.
You’ll also find this machine is equipped with a powerful NPU (it can perform 48 trillion operations per second) for handling AI tasks, plus a dedicated button for calling on Windows Copilot (and Copilot+ when it launches later this year) when you want to talk with the chatbot. Asus says this NPU helps to deliver a 173% better AI performance compared with last gen’s Intel chips, so if you care about onboard AI efficiency, it’s an important factor to consider.
Another USB port wouldn't hurt (Image credit: Future)
While this laptop is not a gaming machine, I did give it a whirl with a few personal favorites including Marvel Snap and Cyberpunk 2077 to see how well it could do – the latter of which was the title Asus used in its announcement presentation to explain the performance improvements offered by the new Lunar Lake chipset.
With every graphics setting at its lowest option – at higher settings things were noticeably choppy – and my PC’s power settings at Best Performance, I was able to successfully explore Night City and complete a few missions without much issue. A dedicated external mouse is a must, and the laptop did run hot, but it did work even if the experience was a little rough around the edges.
If gaming is a priority, you’ll be far better served by the best gaming laptops, but if you like to occasionally amuse yourself every so often and aren’t concerned with graphical or performance excellence this Zenbook does a passable job.
Performance score: 4.5/5
Asus Zenbook S 14: Battery
When Asus announced its latest range of laptops, one standout feature was the Zenbook’s battery life, which under the company’s offline movie test conditions achieved a total runtime of 27 hours. In our version, we didn’t get quite as much juice out of it, but it was still phenomenally impressive – clocking in at 20 hours and 22 minutes.
In a more real world test, once it was back up to 100% battery I took it out on a press trip which had me traveling all day. I took my charger with me just in case, but ended up not needing it. The laptop easily survived the day trip, and went until about 3pm the next day, at which point the Zenbook S 14 alerted me that it was time to plug it back in because its battery was starting to run low.
Battery score: 5/5
Should you buy the Asus Zenbook S 14?
Buy it if...
You need a big battery If you need a laptop that can easily go a whole working day without needing a recharge then this machine will serve you well.
You need something light and powerful At 1.2kg / 2.7lbs and just 1.2 cm / 0.5 inches thick, this Asus machine is super portable, yet still manages to deliver a punchy performance.
You care about AI Intel’s Lunar Lake chips pack a serious AI performance upgrade compared with last gen’s models. If this is an area you care about you’ll want a laptop that packs one like the Zenbook S 14.
Don't buy it if...
You’re on a budget While this PC has a solid performance to back up its price tag, $1,499.99 / £1,599 / AU$3,399.00 isn’t cheap. If you’re on a budget you’ll need to wait for a sale or find a different laptop.
Gaming is a priority Yes the Zenbook S 14 can technically run games like Cyberpunk 2077 (if you crank the graphics settings all the way down), but if gaming is near the top of your priority list, this ain’t the laptop for you.
You want plenty of ports Slimmer laptops like this often sacrifice a few ports as they simply aren’t thick enough to accommodate them, and from my experience, one sole USB Type-A port can be inconvenient at times.
Also Consider
Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M3) The Apple MacBook Air 15-inch with M3 is one of the best lightweight laptops on the market, and its performance is top-notch too.
I tested the Asus Zenbook S 14 laptop for two weeks
Tested it using productivity and creative applications and benchmarks
Stress-tested the battery using the TechRadar movie test
With any new laptop, I start by swapping it in for my work PC so I can get a feel for how it handles day-to-day workloads and get it warmed up. I then pass it through the gauntlet of TechRadar benchmark tests to see how its processor handles them, and get a sense for how long the battery lasts.
Because it's a portable laptop, I also made sure to take the Asus Zenbook S 14 on any press trips or when I commuted into the office to verify if it's lightweight enough for this task. I also made sure to keep an eye on its ventilation, and how hot the machine can get especially with high-stress tasks.
To round things off, I made sure to play a mix of games on the machine, something I was especially keen to try after seeing Lunar Lake's gaming credentials boasted about in several conferences.
The era of AI phones has well and truly arrived, and the Xiaomi 14T Pro proves that mid-range phones don't have to miss out on all the fun. As with previous generations of T Pro models, Xiaomi hasn't skimped on the hardware included in this latest edition, meaning the door is more open than ever for accessible, and affordable, AI exploration.
Unlike many of the latest phones, however, Xiaomi hasn't put all its focus into AI, and it's for the better. Straight out of the box, you can see some of the new thought that's gone into the 14T Pro's design, with the phone sporting a clean aluminum frame and what Xiaomi describes as a "3D curved back". These changes, partnered with a traditionally large (if now a tad less obvious) camera bump, give the 14T Pro a superbly premium feel and weightiness in the hand.
Get it loaded up and frankly, AI is the last thing you'll be thinking about. Xiaomi's HyperOS is smoother than ever, and the continued priority given to the phone's display and processing capabilities means you'd easily be fooled into thinking you're handling a much more pricey device than it is.
Xiaomi's new 14T Pro in Titan Grey features an improved design, with a glass back and color matched camera bump. (Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne)
Xiaomi's ventures into AI are much more measured than we've seen from the likes of Google and Samsung, and, in fairness, what you're given here is a pretty good starting point if you're looking to AI-ify your day-to-day life. While Xiaomi has, of course, added Android-wide features such as Circle to Search and Gemini to the 14T Pro, it has taken positive, if potentially cautious, steps in its own direction in terms of what's offered uniquely on its devices. Rest assured, though, that the Xiaomi 14T Pro is a more than capable scalpal with which to enter the AI world.
Whether your focus is on AI or some of the other more necessary advancements Xiaomi has made in recent years – I'm looking at you, wireless charging – then you're unlikely to be disappointed with the Xiaomi 14T Pro. In fact, as ever, you'll likely find yourself seriously impressed with just how much can be packed into a device whose price tag doesn't even come close to those of its flagship competition.
Xiaomi does, however, continue to limit the markets in which it operates (by choice or otherwise), which does a disservice to the Xiaomi 14T Pro. Lacking availability in America leaves a market gap that the likes of Samsung or OnePlus can quite happily fill, and while the price of the 14T Pro is impressively cheap for a phone of this quality, there are plenty more premium options out there for, in some cases, only a fraction more money.
Xiaomi 14T Pro review: price and availability
Starts at £650 for 256GB and 12GB RAM
Unavailable in the US or Australia
No rise in price from the previous model
As a value proposition, the Xiaomi 14T Pro stands strong. No price rise from its predecessor, but a host of increase-worthy upgrades such as an aluminum alloy frame and wireless charging mean you're now getting even more bang for your buck than you'd once have expected, which is something we rarely see from mobile phone manufacturers nowadays.
Here's how much the Xiaomi 14T Pro costs in each of its available regions:
Despite being an extremely high-value phone, the 14T Pro's availability in other regions is frustratingly limited. Since Xiaomi's US presence became muted in the wake of the controversy surrounding Huawei, there's never been a direct route through which to buy a Xiaomi phone in the US. This alone is seriously annoying given how well the 14T Pro fares against similarly priced competition from the likes of OnePlus and Samsung. Maybe next time, US readers.
Value score: 4 / 5
Xiaomi 14T Pro review: specifications
The Xiaomi 14T Pro boasts some impressive specs given its price tag. Take a look at the full breakdown below:
Xiaomi 14T Pro review: design
(Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne)
New aluminum frame with 3D-curved back
Smaller camera bump than previous models
Some fingerprint issues
The Xiaomi 14T Pro takes a notable step up in terms of design versus its predecessor, but that doesn't make it flawless. Coming in three colors – Titan Grey, Titan Blue, and Titan Black – you'd almost expect the phone to be built from titanium, right? Well, despite pre-launch rumors hinting at such an upgrade, there is, in fact, no titanium on the Xiaomi 14T Pro, which, while disappointing, isn't necessarily a bad thing.
All three colors look positively premium, and with the aluminum alloy frame and 3D-curved back, the phone possesses a flagship-like feel in the hand, much like the Google Pixel 8, which isn't bad company to be in whatsoever. One thing I did find in testing, however, was that while the back of the phone is indeed lovely, it was an absolute fingerprint magnet. I mainly used the phone in the case that comes with it, but my Titan Gray test model became covered in fingerprints the moment it left that case, which is somewhat of an annoyance when frankly the phone is otherwise rather pleasing to the eye.
The camera bump on the Xiaomi 14T Pro has seen serious improvements versus the 13T Pro. (Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne)
The biggest improvement in terms of design comes to the phone's camera bump. The best Xiaomi phones are known for their cameras, mainly due to the brand's partnership with Leica (which we'll come to later), but also due to the sheer size of their camera bumps. In reality, the Xiaomi 14T Pro is no different; the bump covers over 50% of the width of the phone and, by rough maths, over a third of the length, from its position in the top left of the back panel. Despite this, the bump is a huge upgrade from prior models, with this year's cameras not only protruding less far from the rear of the phone, but also being housed in a color-matched bump.
Gone are the days of a large, garish black block on the back of your device. Instead, you get a lovely, Lego brick-esque square in a color that matches your back panel seamlessly. What's more, the reduced depth and increased width of the bump means you experience very little wobble should you choose to use your phone without a bump-eliminating case or any case at all, which is a nice (if a tad niche) benefit.
Design score: 4 / 5
Xiaomi 14T Pro review: display
(Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne)
Bounds of brightness with viewing angles to match
Great responsiveness thanks to adaptive 144Hz capabilities
The 14T Pro continues the Xiaomi trend of putting superb displays on phones you wouldn't expect. The display resolution sits between FHD and QHD at 1220 x 2712 pixels, a resolution unique to Xiaomi, Xiaomi Redmi, and Xiaomi Poco devices.
It's near impossible to find fault with a display like this; CrystalRes AMOLED technology and adaptive refresh rates up to 144Hz meant, more often than not, I had a seriously smooth and vibrant experience. Whether gaming, streaming, or simply scrolling Instagram, the adaptability of the phone's display meant I rarely saw any choppiness that impacted my experience, and I mostly enjoyed 120Hz of seriously pleasant viewing. What's more, if you want to save battery, there's always the option to lock the display to a maximum of 60Hz. That is, if the app you are using doesn't automatically limit your refresh rate, should you choose to simply use the default refresh rate settings.
One limitation I found of the 14T Pro's unique display composition was the compensation some apps made to accommodate it. Most often this came in the form of black bars on either side of applications in landscape mode, which is a frustrating, but not fatal, flaw, especially if you're trying to see the full benefit of the now 93.3% screen-to-body ratio when streaming, for example.
Despite this, the display's 4,000 nit peak brightness and lack of glare make for a very consistent viewing experience at almost any angle. With phones such as the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, manufacturers boast about readability, but this seems to have gone especially under the radar with the Xiaomi 14T Pro, despite it being continuously impressive and something that day-to-day use benefits from tremendously during brighter days.
Display score: 4.5 / 5
Xiaomi 14T Pro review: software
(Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne)
HyperOS with Android 14
Steady but well-thought-out steps into the world of AI
Every phone right now seems to be throwing all its eggs in the AI basket, but Xiaomi seems to be taking a more measured approach to its AI rollout. Despite this, there are still some fundamental qualms I have with Xiaomi's approach that tarnish the near-premium experience the rest of the phone provides. While the days of being greeted by tens of preinstalled apps on Xiaomi devices are long gone, it seems that Xiaomi isn't quite ready to give up on them entirely.
On loading up the phone, you're not only greeted by the array of on-device tools and features, which I'll get to in a second, but you're also met with apps such as AliExpress, TikTok, WPS Office, and LinkedIn. Plus, in the same app folder, you're bombarded with a host of recommended apps and games that aren't yet installed but could be downloaded from the Mi Store via a shortcut, which overall seems a tad messy and unnecessary in an otherwise impressively clean layout.
Pre-installed qualms aside, there's very little to take offense to about Xiaomi's HyperOS or the tools that come installed with the Xiaomi 14T Pro. Instead, this is where we start to see Xiaomi's slow and steady approach to introducing AI come into its own. First and foremost, your digital assistant comes preset to Google Gemini rather than Google Assistant, and, while it wasn't available during our review, Circle to Search will also be rolling out to these devices.
Xiaomi's HyperOS offers a superbly clean experience, including what it calls Super Wallpapers such as the Mars example above, which spins as you flick between pages. (Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne)
Outside of what Google adds to the device, Xiaomi's app offerings have become evermore positive since the launch of HyperOS. The biggest benefactor for mobile users of the HyperOS upgrade was the Gallery, which not only saw a number of small feature improvements to improve efficiency and add easy access to auto-generated folders and media types, but also gave prominence to Xiaomi's Best Take feature, which can analyze multiple similar photos and tell you which of the shots is, you guessed it, the best.
The general theme of HyperOS was always to improve the interconnectivity of Xiaomi devices, which essentially boiled down to making everything look clean, work efficiently, and interact seamlessly with each other, no matter what device you were using. The downside of having the nicest user experience on Android, however, is that HyperOS hides some of its best features in the depths so as to not look overly messy – which is made more baffling by the array of apps you're shown on receiving the device.
One of the best examples of this is Xiaomi's AI Subtitles feature, which you can use to translate conversations either in-person using the microphone, or even to translate films and TV shows by configuring it to translate system audio. Pretty cool right? The issue is, to find this feature, which worked impressively well in testing, you need to go into the depths of the settings menu, apply for beta access (as it is yet to be fully released), and then add a shortcut to your home screen.
Xiaomi's Control Center was one of the biggest benefactors of HyperOS, gaining this new, clean layout with an array of customizable options. (Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne)
Xiaomi is, however, remaining steady with its AI releases, and we're expecting AI Recorder and some AI Film features to arrive in the near future. One thing's for sure, though: this is the most polished HyperOS we've seen since launch and the Xiaomi 14T Pro is, arguably, the perfect example of this software given just how smoothly you can access everything, from settings in the updated Control Center to your favorite photos via improved image searching.
If the slow, steady, and simple approach does one thing very well for HyperOS and the Xiaomi 14T Pro in particular, it's the extent to which simplicity is combined with effectiveness throughout its apps and interfaces. Whether you're using the Control Center to control your music or the redesigned weather app to check the forecast, there is little to no excess in terms of what you're shown, and yet you can quickly access anything you might need. When partnered with the Xiaomi 14T Pro's hardware, this gives you a seriously impressive mobile experience.
Software score: 4 / 5
Xiaomi 14T Pro review: cameras
(Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne)
Leica partnership continues to impress with standard shooting
Some strange variations in light capture and vibrance
If there's one thing the Xiaomi 14T Pro is supposed to excel at, it's photography, but right now I'm constantly flitting between loving it and hating it. Since Xiaomi brought its Leica-partnered camera systems to its T series with the 13T and 13T Pro, it has probably set the bar for mid-range photography. With these latest phones, however, it seems to play jump-rope with this bar a little too much, with some features seriously pushing the mark, and some falling annoyingly beneath.
Take, for example, close-up photographs. There's no denying that the results I was able to achieve were extremely positive, especially when you consider that the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, aka the best camera phone from the brand, offers similar close-up performance. However, I often found myself resorting to standard camera modes rather than the usually more effective portrait mode to take the best shots, as I was having difficulty getting the right levels of focus and exposure otherwise. This isn't a major issue, but if one mode can get into focus in less than half the time that another can and produce equal – if not better – results, why wouldn't I use that?
Xiaomi's partnership with Leica brings into focus several features that supposedly enhance your shooting capabilities. The first of these you'll likely encounter is the shooting styles: Leica Authentic, and Leica Vibrant. Shooting with the 50MP wide lens is the best opportunity to see the variations in style in action, as the results can be starkly different. Something that became immediately apparent using the Xiaomi 14T Pro was that, whether you chose Authentic or Vibrant, you were guaranteed an immense amount of color. In either mode, shooting in wide made each color almost excessively saturated, with greens of grass making England seem much more beautiful than it was in reality, and, in fairness, making a much more visually appealing scene out of something that was otherwise rather grey. All in all, superb photos, but not necessarily the most honest to the colors in the scene.
In our tests, our best results came in close-quarters shooting scenarios, with impressive colours and crisp focus. (Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne)
Something this color-frenzy does help with, however, is the 14T Pro's night photography. This was something that Xiaomi put immense focus on in the build-up to launch, and, with its AI processing systems helping along the way, is an element they've pulled off impressively. There's little to complain about on the night photography front: great colors, impressive light collection, and all-around enjoyable results.
If there's one thing that continues to irk me about Xiaomi's camera systems, it's the interface. Xiaomi continues to assume that you'll instantly understand everything about its cameras, and when I say everything, there's a lot! Take shooting video, for example. You have a standard video mode, and film mode. Within these, you've then got options for Xiaomi's Master Cinema mode, which is given zero explanation anywhere in the camera app itself and requires a Google to work out what it is, as well as options for functionalities such as Motion Tracking Focus and Steady Video. Other settings can also be found in the Camera settings area and the same goes for photos and other modes, too.
When you take into consideration the likely increase in AI functions coming to Xiaomi phones in the next few years, I hope this design gets a rethink. Some of Xiaomi's AI-related photo tools are already hidden in the icons menu of Gallery, and others are annoyingly poorly marked in the editor windows, which isn't an issue once you find everything, but it could take you a while to do just that.
The bottom line is this: Xiaomi's cameras continue to elevate what we expect from phones at this price. While, yes, there are definitely some areas that frustrate – most notably some strange instances of smoothing and occasional extreme amounts of light being pulled in – there's no denying that the results you get are often some of the most stunning among mid-range competitors. In the same way, although there are annoying limitations in terms of camera layout, there's no denying the Leica partnership has played a key role in driving overall quality forward. The 14T Pro, then, is a great all-round camera phone.
Cameras score: 4 / 5
Camera samples
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Xiaomi 14T Pro review: performance
(Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne)
Dimensity 9300+ chipset benchmarks seriously well
Impressive performance in intense gaming scenarios, if a tad hot
As it doesn't come from Snapdragon or Apple, the Xiaomi 14T Pro's Dimensity 9300+ chipset could be easily overlooked, but, if our testing is anything to go by, there's a seriously impressive bit of kit powering this phone, and I struggled to find any scenarios that put this in any doubt.
In our benchmark testing, the Dimensity 9300+ scored only just under the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra in single-core testing, and above the S24 Ultra in multi-core, so I wasn't joking when I said it could hold its own. Whether it's the focus on simplicity and efficiency behind HyperOS, sheer performing power, or, most likely, a combination of both, I struggled to create any scenario that caused a genuine performance impact, so you don't need to worry about killing the 14T Pro off with Chrome tabs or your daily Wordle.
The sheer amount of RAM available on the Xiaomi 14T Pro could also play a big part in these benchmark scores, with the device having up to 12GB physical LPDDR5X RAM onboard, plus the option to extend this by up to a further 12GB using the device's internal memory. For the majority of the testing period, I ran the 14T Pro with 6GB of Memory Extension as Xiaomi calls it, meaning it totaled 18GB of available RAM at any time with the model I was reviewing, but, in all honesty, that's probably as much as anyone would need, so having a further 6GB of extension available is just an added bonus.
In gaming scenarios, most notably with the likes of Call of Duty Mobile and Mortal Kombat, I saw very little in terms of performance drops or impact post-session, with the phone able to comfortably play these more graphically intense titles at maximum settings without impacting my ability to smoothly demolish my foes. One thing to note, however, is that the phone was playing games while running at between 38 and 40 degrees Celsius – or 100 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit, if that's your preferred unit of measure. Not exceptionally hot, but hot enough that even with a case on you could tell there was some serious work happening under the hood. Either way, the lack of any performance drops no matter the circumstance puts the Xiaomi 14T Pro in strong company in terms of performance.
Performance score: 4.5 / 5
Xiaomi 14T Pro review: battery
(Image credit: Future // Rob Dunne)
120W wired HyperCharge continues to impress
Wireless charging finally available with 50W wireless HyperCharge
For me, perhaps the best upgrade available on the Xiaomi 14T Pro is the arrival of wireless charging. What for many phones has seemed like a reasonably standard feature for several years now has long been missing from Xiaomi's mid-range phones, but now it has arrived with truly Xiaomi-worthy power capabilities.
With 50W wireless charging, the Xiaomi 14T Pro instantly puts the cat among the pigeons in terms of wireless capabilities across both Android and Apple devices. The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, for example, only offers 15W wireless charging, also for a 5000mAh battery, so this is a serious step in the charging game for Xiaomi, whose flagship phones were, frankly, already among the best available from a charging perspective.
The Xiaomi 14T Pro continues to offer Xiaomi's 120W HyperCharge when wired, meaning you can get a full charge in around 20 minutes, though Xiaomi is yet to confirm any official charge times. Partner this with a 50W wireless charging alternative, and a 5000mAh battery, and you needn't worry about regularly charging the 14T Pro.
Regular day-to-day use saw me comfortably get multiple days' worth of runtime from the 14T Pro, while more intense use from gaming saw a battery drain of roughly 10% per hour, which, when you consider the strain of maximum graphics settings and online gameplay, is seriously impressive. Nice work, Xiaomi.
Battery score: 4.5 / 5
Should you buy the Xiaomi 14T Pro?
Buy if...
You love a beautiful display While the resolution is a tad strange, there's no denying that the display on the Xiaomi 14T Pro is one of the most enjoyable to use for day-to-day mobile tasks, gaming, and, streaming.
You never want to worry about charging again Xiaomi's offering of both 120W wired charging and 50W wireless charging on a phone with a 5,000mAh battery and some serious efficiency features means you'll never be left wanting for battery life.
You want serious gaming performance In our tests, the Xiaomi 14T Pro handled even some of the most intense games with ease, and without completely wiping out your battery after one round.
Don't buy if...
You want an infinite array of AI capabilities While a whole host of AI capabilities are available from Xiaomi, with more to come too, it's still behind some competitors in terms of the variety and amount of AI-oriented features available.
A pricier but more premium alternative. The Honor Magic 6 Pro offers an equally, if not slightly more, premium experience in the same regions as the Xiaomi 14T Pro.
If you don't quite fancy escaping the safety of Samsung in terms of Android, the newly released Samsung Galaxy S24 FE offers a toned down and affordable version of Samsung's flagship device that will be sure to suit.View Deal
How I tested the Xiaomi 14T Pro
I spent around 10 days with the Xiaomi 14T Pro prior to its launch, using the device as my day-to-day machine. During this time, I tested every feature, and was able to conduct benchmarking tests and more technical testing surrounding temperatures, refresh rates, and battery drains.
Day-to-day use of the phone saw me test features such as calling, texting, gaming, Android Auto, and playing music via Bluetooth-connected devices and the built-in speakers. I also performed work-based tasks like searching the web, and using Google tools such as Sheets, Docs, Drive, and Photos. Finally, I used the phone to take pictures, videos, and selfies, while editing these with both the in-built editing tools and Google's editing tools.
My CPU and GPU benchmarking tests were carried out using Geekbench, while temperature and refresh rate tests were conducted using the developer tools built into the Xiaomi 14T Pro. My battery tests were completed using a standardized process for all TechRadar phone reviews.
You can find out more about how we test devices such as the Xiaomi 14T Pro in our dedicated how we test guide.
The PowerA OPS v1 is a wireless PC controller that's also compatible with mobile devices and cloud gaming services. Being a cheaper alternative to the PowerA OPS v3 Pro, it understandably misses out on some of that controller's standout features. Those include Lumectra RGB lighting, 'quick-twist' thumbsticks and the remappable bumper buttons.
That said, the OPS v1 is still a decent option if you're on a budget. Drift-resistant Hall effect thumbsticks are present here, as well as four remappable buttons on the rear which can be programmed on the controller itself with a dedicated button. You're also getting a Turbo button function and support for 2.4Ghz, Bluetooth and USB-C connectivity.
One particularly impressive aspect of the OPS v1 is that the textured grips on this controller actually feel nicer than on the OPS v3 Pro. On the more expensive gamepad, I found the textured grips to be a touch too rough over longer play sessions. Here, they are unintrusive and provide the perfect amount of grip for comfortable sessions of any length.
The controller itself - and its various buttons, bumpers and triggers - do feel quite cheap overall with some rather flimsy-feeling plastic being used. It's not horrendous by any means, but certainly a downgrade when compared to the v3 Pro and many of the best PC controllers out there today.
(Image credit: Future)
PowerA OPS v1: Price and availability
$49.99 / £49.99 for the standard model
Special Fortnite edition for $54.99 / £54.99
Available at PowerA in the US and Amazon in the UK
The PowerA OPS v1 launched in August 2024, and is available to purchase for $49.99 / £49.99. It's available at PowerA's own website in the US, but those in the UK will need to rely on retailers like Amazon to secure the bag there. A Fortnite edition is also available (pictured throughout the review) which features a distinct livery. This one comes in slightly pricier at $54.99 / £54.99.
This is significantly cheaper than the PowerA OPS v3 Pro which costs $99.99 / £99.99 and is a solid alternative at half the price. As mentioned, the lower price point does mean that the OPS v1 is pared back when it comes to features, so you may wish to keep that in mind when comparing the two models.
Admittedly, at this price point, the OPS v1 has some very stiff competition in the form of the GameSir T4 Kaleid which goes for $41.99 / £41.99. You are losing out on wireless connectivity with GameSir's pad, but it's more than made up for in excellent build quality, superb micro switch buttons, and a lovely RGB profile.
PowerA OPS v1: Specs
(Image credit: Future)
PowerA OPS v1: Design and features
Cheap-feeling build
Textured grips are preferable compared to the OPS v3 Pro
Rather plain, all-black aesthetic
As a more budget-friendly controller, you can expect the PowerA OPS v1 to be slightly pared back in terms of design and feature set, especially compared to the OPS v3 Pro. Firstly, build quality on the OPS v1 is lacking in comparison, with a cheaper plastic presumably to keep the gamepad's costs down.
Much like with the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro, I'm also not a fan of the plain, all-black aesthetic for the OPS v1's standard model. The special edition Fortnite version is certainly more eye-catching, though, and is the model I'd recommend going with if you're willing to spend 5 bucks extra (and, naturally, if you're a fan of the free-to-play shooter).
One aspect of the OPS v1's design I do really like is the texture on the rear of the grips themselves, and on the bumpers and triggers. The textured grips on the OPS v3 Pro were a little too rough for my liking. Here, though, they're a comparatively light touch and actually feel far more comfortable as a result. The added texture on the bumpers and triggers is also a really nice touch.
(Image credit: Future)
As for features, the OPS v1 shows up with the Hall effect thumbsticks that are swiftly becoming the standard for third-party controllers. It's now quite rare that I test a controller that lacks Hall effect, but it is great to see more affordable gamepads adopt the technology. Sony and Nintendo, please take notes.
The OPS v1 also shares some features with its pricier counterpart. You're still getting four remappable buttons on the rear of the pad, as well as three-stage trigger locks and three types of connectivity (2.4GHz, Bluetooth and wired via USB-C). The box includes a USB-C cable, too. But unlike the v3 Pro, there's sadly no charging dock bundled with the OPS v1.
PowerA OPS v1: Performance
Perfectly responsive during wireless play
A decent 20 hours of battery life
Like the OPS v3 Pro, trigger locks don't work great
There's really not much to complain about when it comes to the PowerA OPS v1's performance while actually gaming. I tested games across a wide variety of genres in my Steam library, including Street Fighter 6, Final Fantasy 14 Online, Cyberpunk 2077 and Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance. All that is to say the OPS v1 is a perfectly adequate controller no matter what kind of single-player games you're into.
A 2.4GHz wireless adapter is included in the box, offering 500Hz polling rate which is solidly responsive for wireless play. I'd still recommend going wired if you're interested in playing the best fighting games or the best FPS games for peak responsiveness, but you can't go wrong either way here.
(Image credit: Future)
Unfortunately, as was the case with the v3 Pro, the OPS v1's trigger locks are hit-and-miss. When unlocked, or set to lock halfway, the triggers work perfectly fine. However, I found that the highest notch simply didn't work for any of the games I tested. That's a huge shame as it's a feature that's always nice to see on cheaper gamepads.
As for battery life, you're getting around 20 hours here according to the manufacturer. I did find this to be accurate during my time testing the controller, as I did have to charge up from empty after around a week of play that consisted of 2-3 hour sessions each day. Expect the OPS v1 to take a few hours to charge back to full, too, when hooked up via USB-C. For optimum efficiency here, I'd recommend charging with the cable included and potentially leaving it hooked up overnight so you don't have to wait.
Should I buy the PowerA OPS v1?
Buy it if...
You’re looking for a solid and affordable PC controller Coming in below the $50 / £50 mark, the PowerA OPS v1 offers good value and a decent feature set given its price tag.
You’re after a versatile and customizable PC controller With Hall effect sticks, remappable buttons and trigger locks, there's plenty of options for customization on the OPS v1.
Don't buy it if...
You're hoping for better build quality The PowerA OPS v1 sadly falters in the build quality department, with cheap-feeling plastic for its casing, buttons, and triggers.
Also consider...
If the PowerA OPS v1 misses the mark for you, we’ve got a couple of other suggestions that we’ve tested and reviewed for your consideration below.
PowerA OPS v3 Pro This smartly-priced Pro controller locks in with Hall effect sticks and gorgeous Lumectra RGB lighting, making it worth checking out at the sub-$100 / £100 price tag. There are some design frustrations here, but it's still a very capable gamepad.
GameSir T4 Kaleid This is still my favorite budget-priced PC controller that's also compatible with Nintendo Switch. It's wired only, but comes in slightly cheaper than the OPS v1 and offers excellent build quality, sublime micro switch buttons and a lovely RGB profile.
Played primarily on PC across a wide variety of games
Compared and contrasted to the pricier PowerA OPS v3 Pro
I tested the PowerA OPS v1 over the course of about a week, tackling 2-3 hour gaming sessions each day. During my time with the gamepad, I found I only needed to charge it up once. That total time lasted around 20 hours, lining up with PowerA's battery life claim.
I made sure to test a wide variety of games on PC, including Cyberpunk 2077, Fields of Mistria, Vampire Survivors, Street Fighter 6 and Final Fantasy 14 Online. This is a mix of my go-to games and some I determined to be a great fit for the budget OPS v1.
McAfee Total Protection Essential may be McAfee’s starter security suite, but don’t give up on it just yet. There’s antivirus and browsing protection for up to five desktop or mobile devices; a password manager; powerful data breach monitoring for email addresses, phone numbers, credit cards, bank accounts and more; mobile apps include a scam detector to spot and block links in dangerous texts, and while Avast and Bitdefender include very restricted VPNs in their starter suites, McAfee’s VPN is the full and unlimited service.
If that’s still not enough, the McAfee+ antivirus software suites extend the range with antivirus for unlimited devices, comprehensive identity theft protection, and online tools to optimize your social media privacy settings, and detect and remove your personal information held by data brokers or in your old online accounts. Check out our McAfee+ Premium review if that sounds like what you need.
We think McAfee Total Protection Essential has the core features most users need, though, and in this review we’ll take a look at how they perform, and whether this could be the ideal security suite for you.
(Image credit: Future)
McAfee Total Protection Essential: Protection
McAfee hasn’t always had great results in testing, but recently it’s scoring very well. McAfee is currently equal third with Avira in AV-Comparatives Real-World Protection Test, just behind Avast and AVG, and it scored full marks in both AV-Test’s last Windows report and SE Labs’ consumer endpoint protection test,
We take the results from nine of the most important lab tests, then use a custom algorithm to generate a single overall score between 0 and 10. Right now that places Avast in first and Bitdefender second, but McAfee is an excellent third, outperforming both Norton and Avira.
The big labs carry out more detailed testing than anyone else around, but we think it’s still important to run further checks of our own, as they often turn up useful extra information.
McAfee didn’t detect most of our test phishing sites. (Image credit: Future)
We began by attempting to access 50 brand new phishing sites, and logging what happened. McAfee WebAdvisor blocked a well below average 32%. It’s better than nothing - some VPNs who claim to shield you from malicious URLs don’t block a single site - but it’s also far behind even free antivirus from providers including Bitdefender (64%), Avira (90%) and Avast (94%.)
There’s a second problem. McAfee WebAdvisor is a browser extension, which means it can’t protect non-standard browsers or other apps. We use a custom browser for testing, and it was able to freely access every one of our phishing sites without McAfee complaining.
McAfee scans downloads as they’re saved to your device. (Image credit: Future)
Moving to our malware test, we tried to download very dangerous files from 50 malicious sites.
McAfee managed a solid 88%, but was still a little behind Avira (90% in its last test), Avast (94%) and Bitdefender (an excellent 100%.)
Finally, we matched McAfee against our own custom ransomware simulator. McAfee got off to a great start, immediately killing the threat before it could touch a single file. But when we modified our file just a little, it got past McAfee and managed to encrypt thousands of documents.
That’s not a bad performance, but again, others have done better. Norton spotted what our simulator was doing and killed it after it encrypted six files, and Bitdefender stopped the threat before it could cause any damage at all.
Put it all together and we think our results broadly confirm the lab reports: McAfee does offer strong protection, but it’s not quite as capable as Avast or Bitdefender.
(Image credit: Future)
McAfee Total Protection Essential: Safe Connect VPN
McAfee Total Protection comes with an unlimited version of McAfee Safe Connect VPN, which itself uses the popular TunnelBear VPN underneath.
The VPN is built into the Total Protection app, making it very convenient to access. The Total Protection dashboard has a ‘Secure VPN’ which shows whether you’re connected or not, and if you need browsing protection, you can turn it on in a couple of clicks.
(Well, that’s the idea. During our review, the VPN once hung on ‘Connecting’ for several minutes. Why didn’t we click Cancel? The app has no way to cancel a connection, so all we could do was reboot.)
(Image credit: Future)
McAfee’s VPN has a marginally above average choice of 48 countries. Unlike TunnelBear, there’s no choice of city or regional locations (McAfee has one US location, TunnelBear has 13.)
McAfee’s location list doesn’t include five of the countries most commonly supported by VPNs: Hong Kong, India, Israel, Russia and Turkey. But it has servers everywhere else we would expect, and delivers more coverage than usual in Africa (Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa) and South America.(Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Columbia and Peru.)
Connection times could be slow on our test Windows system, sometimes ten seconds or more. If you’re used to some of the much faster competition (ExpressVPN typically takes less than a second), that can become frustrating.
(Image credit: Future)
McAfee VPN has very few settings. There’s a kill switch (called Safe Reconnect) to protect your traffic if the VPN drops, and some Automatic Connect options to automatically connect when using untrusted or specific networks, and that’s about it.
There’s no choice of protocol, but that’s not quite the issue it is with some VPNs. McAfee VPN supports both WireGuard and OpenVPN, automatically choosing the best option for the initial connection and switching if the first try doesn’t work. We would still like the option to choose manually, but that’s because we like to have some control, and that may not have any benefit in real-world use.
The ‘Safe Reconnect’ kill switch is more of a concern. It performed well in most cases, but we noticed that if the VPN’s driver failed, then the kill switch closed active connections but couldn’t stop any that followed afterwards. If a web page is downloading when the driver fails, for instance, the download would break with an error, but click Refresh and you can resume as normal.
This is a very tough test, but most specialist VPN providers do better. When we put NordVPN through the same test, it didn’t just block our internet correctly, it also quickly diagnosed the problem, restored the driver, and automatically reconnected.
(Image credit: Future)
We test VPN download speeds by connecting to a number of speed test sites from a cloud PC with a fast 1Gbps connection. McAfee Safe Connect managed a best average speed across multiple sessions of 270Mbps, well behind the performance champions (Surfshark and others reach 950Mbps+), but more than enough for browsing, streaming and most other tasks.
McAfee sells Secure Connect VPN for its privacy and security, and doesn’t mention unblocking streaming sites at all. We ran unblocking tests for Netflix and a number of other streaming sites anyway, but with poor results. McAfee got us into ITV and Channel 4 in the UK, and 9Now in Australia, but it couldn’t unblock Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney Plus or BBC iPlayer.
(Image credit: Future)
McAfee Total Protection Essential: True Key Password Manager
True Key is a basic password manager which allows users to create secure logins, store and share them across all their devices. (And with Android and iOS apps for mobile devices, and browser extensions for Chrome, Edge and Firefox covering everything else, you can run it almost everywhere.)
Getting started is relatively easy. True Key can import stored passwords directly from Edge and Chrome, a couple of top password managers in LastPass and Dashlane, and generic CSV support might allow True Key to read logins from elsewhere. We tried importing 600+ Dashlane logins and it appeared to handle everything correctly, including multiple logins for the same site.
True Key also has a Wallet where you can store personal details - names, addresses, phone numbers, date of birth and more. This is only useful as a form of secure storage, though. True Key can’t use this kind of information to fill forms, unlike Dashlane and other top password managers.
In terms of the password management basics, though, True Key works reasonably well. Usernames and passwords are captured automatically as you enter them. When you’re creating an account, it can generate and enter a secure password in a couple of clicks. When we opened a login page, True Key displayed any matching profile (that could include multiple usernames if you’ve several accounts on the site), and clicking the profile logged us in successfully.
There’s not much in the way of advanced functionality. True Key doesn’t have secure password sharing, for instance, and there’s no ‘Password Health’-type feature to warn you about reused or weak passwords.
(Image credit: Future)
True Key does have one unusual highlight in its excellent multi-factor authentication support. There’s nothing more important to protect than your password manager account, so it’s great to see that True Key doesn’t solely rely on a master password. You can optionally choose a second factor - a known trusted device, a second device, your Windows Hello PIN or biometric authentication - to protect your logins from snoopers.
Overall, True Key is a basic but decent tool which handles simple login tasks with ease. It’s better than the typical password managers we see in security suites, but if you need form filling or other advanced features, you’re still much better off with Dashlane, LassPass or the best of the competition.
(If you’re unsure and would like to try before you buy, download True Key’s Freemium version. It only supports 15 logins, but that’s enough to sample the service and get a feel for how the app works for you.)
(Image credit: Future)
McAfee Total Protection Essential: Dark Web Monitoring
Many antivirus apps now include some form of dark web monitoring, where they raise an alert if your personal details show up in a data breach, so you can prevent identity theft. But often they’ll only search for email addresses, something you can already do for free at sites like haveibeenpwned.com.
McAfee tramples all over these vendors with the ability to monitor up to 10 email addresses, 10 phone numbers, your date of birth, 10 usernames, two passports, two national IDs, two health IDs, 10 credit cards, 10 bank accounts and two tax IDs.
That’s impressive, but there are similar (and maybe better) services around. Norton Identity Protection can’t match McAfee everywhere (no health IDs, no national IDs, no tax IDs, only supports five email addresses), but it does watch for a couple of important extra items in your real-world addresses and your mother’s maiden name.
Norton makes it easier to add some items, too. Add a phone number to McAfee and it sends a verification code by SMS to confirm that you own it; great for privacy, not so welcome if it’s a landline or can’t receive SMS. Norton doesn’t require verification, so it works with any number.
McAfee does have some welcome advantages, though. In particular, the web dashboard highlights especially important breaches which include a password; Norton just lists breach names, forcing you to open each one in turn to see what it contains.
Put it all together and while McAfee Identity Monitoring isn’t ground breaking in any way (and we really wish it looked out for addresses), it’s still a capable service which outperforms most of the competition.
(Image credit: Future)
McAfee Total Protection Essential: ‘Advanced’ Firewall
McAfee Total Protection claims to include an advanced firewall, but the reality is a little different.
McAfee doesn’t protect you from incoming connections, for instance: it leaves Windows Firewall to do that.
McAfee Total Protection does monitor outgoing connections, and blocks anything that looks risky, but most paid security suites do something similar.
The firewall has no configuration options beyond the ability to manually allow a connection it’s blocked, or block a connection the firewall has allowed.
Put it all together and while we’re glad it’s here, the firewall really doesn’t do very much, or add much value to the suite beyond the web protection we’ve already described.
(Image credit: Future)
McAfee Total Protection Essential: File Shredder
Delete documents with sensitive information and you might feel more secure, but if someone else gets access to your device, they may be able to undelete the files.
McAfee File Shredder addresses this problem by overwriting the files multiple times before they’re deleted, for example by filling each document with zeroes. Even if someone can undelete a file, the original contents will have disappeared.
Using File Shredder is easy. You can overwrite the contents of the Recycle Bin, choose some other target folder in the McAfee app, or select multiple items in Explorer, right-click and choose the Shred option. But while this worked most of the time, occasionally File Shredder simply told us that the files couldn’t be deleted, with no further explanation.
File Shredder is a decent example of a secure deletion tool. It goes a little further than Bitdefender’s version by overwriting every file at least twice, and giving you the option to overwrite up to five times. If you’re an experienced Windows user who would like more, though, tools like Eraser or Microsoft’s command line SDelete give you many more expert-level secure deletion features for free.
(Image credit: Future)
McAfee Total Protection Essential: Tracker Remover
Tracker Remover can protect your privacy by deleting tracker and all other browser cookies, as well as browser history, and is able to free up storage space by deleting temporary files and the contents of the Recycle Bin, too.
There’s nothing here you can’t do elsewhere, and Tracker Remover isn’t configurable enough to make itself genuinely useful. Avast’s similar cleaner is at least able to delete tracker cookies but keep your other cookies, for instance, so it’s less likely to be a nuisance.
Tracker Blocker can also take a long time to run - more than two minutes on our test system - and may not delete everything you’ve requested. (If a file needs admin rights to be deleted, Tracker Blocker will leave it up to you.) You can set a scheduler to run Tracker Blocker automatically when you’re not around, but if you still have to manually check and delete files yourself, that doesn’t have a lot of value.
McAfee Total Protection Essential: Final verdict
The McAfee Total Protection Essential highlight is its antivirus engine, which does more to keep you safe than most. The dark web monitoring tracks way more personal data than the rest of the competition, too, but the browsing protection and the underpowered VPN let the suite down.
If price is your top priority then it might still be worth signing up for the first year deal: $35.99 for an antivirus this good and a full VPN is as good a deal as you’ll get anywhere. (A one year TunnelBear account costs $59.88 all on its own.)
If you expect more from a security suite, though, consider McAfee+ for its web privacy tools and unlimited antivirus, or competing suites such as Avast One Gold or Bitdefender Total Security for extra features and even better protection.
The Galaxy S24 FE is a phone that almost makes too much sense to get excited about. I spent a couple of hours with the phone in a hands-on look, and we have a sample being tested by one of our reviewers now, but I can already see how this will be a phone worth buying. I reviewed the Galaxy S23 FE, which was my favorite phone in this price range. The Galaxy S24 FE, while a bit more expensive, delivers even more.
It’s been years since Samsung’s ‘FE’ devices were sold as ‘Fan Edition’ phones, tablets, and now wearables, but it’s easy to see how Samsung fans get what they want for less money with the Galaxy S24 FE. The phone looks much like the Galaxy S24, though maybe a bit cheaper. The colors are more muted than I’d hoped, but the blue and teal look pleasantly bright and friendly.
Inside, you get a Samsung Exynos 2400 chipset, but don’t fret if you were hoping for a Snapdragon. This platform powers the Galaxy S24 in most of the world, just not in the US. It’s plenty potent for all of the new AI features that Samsung is loading onto the Galaxy S24 FE.
The Galaxy S24 FE costs $649 / £649 / AU $1,099 at launch, and there are surprisingly few good phones in that price range, at least not brand-new models. You can buy a Google Pixel 8 for that much, or maybe an iPhone 14, but those phones are a year and two years old, respectively. They won’t get all of the latest AI features, while Samsung is launching this phone specifically to bring AI to a lower price point.
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
That works for me! Samsung’s AI is some of the most fun to use, and the company has so far avoided many of the problems and stumbles that other phone makers have faced. I’m happy to get Samsung AI photo editing, or Samsung’s generative writing tools, on a less-expensive Galaxy model. That’s better than waiting for the price to drop on an iPhone 16.
I could dive into the specs on this phone, but that would be missing the point. The specs are good. The specs are so good that if you want a bigger phone but can’t spend more on a Galaxy S24 Plus, you might consider the Galaxy S24 FE instead. With a 6.7-inch display, it’s a decidedly big phone this year, not middle-of-the-road.
The cameras look good on paper, but we’ll have to test them to be sure. At this price, you rarely see a 3X telephoto zoom lens, and Samsung gives you real zoom in addition to an ultrawide and a normal wide-angle main camera. That’s before we get to all the new AI camera mumbo-jumbo that Samsung has presumably added. I’ve used a lot of Samsung cameras; they are reliably good, especially when shooting specialty photos.
What makes this phone interesting? It’s a great value for its power and features, and it comes with the same promise of seven years of Android OS updates and security patches that you get with a Galaxy S24. That makes it a good investment for companies looking to equip a fleet with professional phones that are also easy on the eyes.
I also expect interesting deals and bundles with this phone. You might buy a Galaxy S24, or you could find a Galaxy S24 FE with a free Galaxy Watch FE, Galaxy Buds FE, or some other accessory FE. Or a Galaxy Ring … you get the point. The lower price will give carriers more room to make bundle offers, and Samsung gear is more fun when it works together.
We’ll have a full review of the Galaxy S24 FE soon, and we’re making sure it lives up to its promise and my enthusiasm. We’ll be sure to compare this phone against the best Samsung phones and all the best bargain phones you can buy.
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE: Price and availability
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Starts at Starts at $649 / £649 / AU $1,099 for 128GB of storage
Available up to 256GB storage, colors vary by region of storage
Available up to 256GB storage, colors vary by region
The Galaxy S24 FE costs $649 / £649 / AU $1,099, which is $150 / £150 / AU $300 less than the Galaxy S24. You get a bigger screen on the Galaxy S24 FE, and that amounts to a bigger battery as well. The screen isn’t as sharp or as bright as the regular Galaxy S24 phones, but it still looked very nice in my hands-on time at Samsung’s New York City showroom.
I was looking forward to seeing the color choices for the Galaxy S24 FE, because Samsung proved with the Galaxy S23 FE that it was willing to cut loose when it came to flashy, saturated hues. The Galaxy S24 FE is a bit more muted and professional, so it won’t jump out of a crowd and into traffic with a bright pink or orange.
Instead, the Galaxy S24 FE comes in a very pretty blue, a nice mint, an acceptable graphite grey, and boring black. There’s also a yellow color, but it wasn’t available in my US hands-on. Oh, and sorry Australia friends, it looks like black and yellow aren’t coming your way, at least not at launch.
You can pre-order the Galaxy S24 FE right now from Samsung, but you may want to wait to see what your favorite carrier offers. This phone seems ripe for a ‘get it free’ offer, or a bundle with other Galaxy accessories, and Samsung accessories are worth a look if you have a Samsung phone.
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE: Specs
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Exynos 2400e processor – okay, calm down, it’s not so bad
Same camera specs, new camera tricks
Below, we've rounded up the keys specs of the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE.
The Galaxy S24 FE is a small step down from the Galaxy S24 in most ways, but not enough that most people will notice. I expect this phone to have no trouble playing the latest games, running through your productivity apps, and showing off the latest AI parlor tricks. A lot of the AI stuff happens in the cloud, but the Exynos 2400e processor should be able to handle the tasks.
Wait, what is that ‘e’ on the end of the Exynos chipset? The Galaxy S24 didn’t have the same ‘e’ designation. Samsung’s VP of Product Management, Drew Blackard, told me that this would be a slightly clocked-down version of the same processor.
That choice usually makes sense for two reasons. First, it cuts down on power consumption. Blackard says that this phone has great battery life, even compared to other Samsung phones with close to the same battery size.
Second, a slower chip is usually less expensive. Yes, this is a Samsung phone with a Samsung chipset, but you may as well consider Samsung Semiconductor, a different company. After all, Samsung used a MediaTek chip in the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra, which launched on the same day as the Galaxy S24 FE.
So, compared to the Galaxy S24, what do you lose if you buy the Galaxy S24 FE? Let’s go spec by spec.
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
The Galaxy S24 FE is slightly thicker and heavier than the Galaxy S24 or even the Galaxy S24 Plus, which has the same 6.7-inch display size. It uses Gorilla Glass Victus Plus and Victus 5 on the front and back instead of Victus 2 glass, like the Galaxy S24. Thankfully, it is just as water resistant, with IP68 certification.
The display on the Galaxy S24 FE is not as sharp in terms of pixel density as the Galaxy S24 or Galaxy S24 Plus. It has the same resolution as the Galaxy S24 but is stretched to a larger display size. The FE cannot get as bright as the Galaxy S24; it reaches around 1,900 nits peak brightness versus a glaring 2,600 nits on the Galaxy S24. That still gives you a very bright phone with the Galaxy S24 FE.
The Galaxy S24 FE is only available with 8GB of RAM, while you can find a Galaxy S24 with up to 12GB of RAM, and 12GB is the standard for the Galaxy S24 Plus.
The battery on the Galaxy S24 FE is 4,700 mAh, much larger than the 4,000 mAh cell on the Galaxy S24. Samsung says it should even last longer than the 4,900 mAh battery on the Galaxy S24 Plus. The Galaxy S24 FE can charge up to 25W, the same as the Galaxy S24, and it can also handle the same wireless charging. You can even charge other devices using reverse wireless charging from the Galaxy S24 FE.
Overall, I’d say the sacrifices are worth the phone's price. Better battery life is always a boon, so I’m willing to trade a drop in performance for a few more hours of screen time. Of course, we’ll need to test all of these features and claims to ensure they live up to the Galaxy S24 FE’s promise. We’re reviewing this phone now, so check back soon for an in-depth look with testing from Future Labs.
The Galaxy S24 FE is a phone that almost makes too much sense to get excited about. I spent a couple of hours with the phone in a hands-on look, and we have a sample being tested by one of our reviewers now, but I can already see how this will be a phone worth buying. I reviewed the Galaxy S23 FE, which was my favorite phone in this price range. The Galaxy S24 FE, while a bit more expensive, delivers even more.
It’s been years since Samsung’s ‘FE’ devices were sold as ‘Fan Edition’ phones, tablets, and now wearables, but it’s easy to see how Samsung fans get what they want for less money with the Galaxy S24 FE. The phone looks much like the Galaxy S24, though maybe a bit cheaper. The colors are more muted than I’d hoped, but the blue and teal look pleasantly bright and friendly.
Inside, you get a Samsung Exynos 2400 chipset, but don’t fret if you were hoping for a Snapdragon. This platform powers the Galaxy S24 in most of the world, just not in the US. It’s plenty potent for all of the new AI features that Samsung is loading onto the Galaxy S24 FE.
The Galaxy S24 FE costs $649 / £649 / AU $1,099 at launch, and there are surprisingly few good phones in that price range, at least not brand-new models. You can buy a Google Pixel 8 for that much, or maybe an iPhone 14, but those phones are a year and two years old, respectively. They won’t get all of the latest AI features, while Samsung is launching this phone specifically to bring AI to a lower price point.
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
That works for me! Samsung’s AI is some of the most fun to use, and the company has so far avoided many of the problems and stumbles that other phone makers have faced. I’m happy to get Samsung AI photo editing, or Samsung’s generative writing tools, on a less-expensive Galaxy model. That’s better than waiting for the price to drop on an iPhone 16.
I could dive into the specs on this phone, but that would be missing the point. The specs are good. The specs are so good that if you want a bigger phone but can’t spend more on a Galaxy S24 Plus, you might consider the Galaxy S24 FE instead. With a 6.7-inch display, it’s a decidedly big phone this year, not middle-of-the-road.
The cameras look good on paper, but we’ll have to test them to be sure. At this price, you rarely see a 3X telephoto zoom lens, and Samsung gives you real zoom in addition to an ultrawide and a normal wide-angle main camera. That’s before we get to all the new AI camera mumbo-jumbo that Samsung has presumably added. I’ve used a lot of Samsung cameras; they are reliably good, especially when shooting specialty photos.
What makes this phone interesting? It’s a great value for its power and features, and it comes with the same promise of seven years of Android OS updates and security patches that you get with a Galaxy S24. That makes it a good investment for companies looking to equip a fleet with professional phones that are also easy on the eyes.
I also expect interesting deals and bundles with this phone. You might buy a Galaxy S24, or you could find a Galaxy S24 FE with a free Galaxy Watch FE, Galaxy Buds FE, or some other accessory FE. Or a Galaxy Ring … you get the point. The lower price will give carriers more room to make bundle offers, and Samsung gear is more fun when it works together.
We’ll have a full review of the Galaxy S24 FE soon, and we’re making sure it lives up to its promise and my enthusiasm. We’ll be sure to compare this phone against the best Samsung phones and all the best bargain phones you can buy.
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE: Price and availability
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Starts at Starts at $649 / £649 / AU $1,099 for 128GB of storage
Available up to 256GB storage, colors vary by region of storage
Available up to 256GB storage, colors vary by region
The Galaxy S24 FE costs $649 / £649 / AU $1,099, which is $150 / £150 / AU $300 less than the Galaxy S24. You get a bigger screen on the Galaxy S24 FE, and that amounts to a bigger battery as well. The screen isn’t as sharp or as bright as the regular Galaxy S24 phones, but it still looked very nice in my hands-on time at Samsung’s New York City showroom.
I was looking forward to seeing the color choices for the Galaxy S24 FE, because Samsung proved with the Galaxy S23 FE that it was willing to cut loose when it came to flashy, saturated hues. The Galaxy S24 FE is a bit more muted and professional, so it won’t jump out of a crowd and into traffic with a bright pink or orange.
Instead, the Galaxy S24 FE comes in a very pretty blue, a nice mint, an acceptable graphite grey, and boring black. There’s also a yellow color, but it wasn’t available in my US hands-on. Oh, and sorry Australia friends, it looks like black and yellow aren’t coming your way, at least not at launch.
You can pre-order the Galaxy S24 FE right now from Samsung, but you may want to wait to see what your favorite carrier offers. This phone seems ripe for a ‘get it free’ offer, or a bundle with other Galaxy accessories, and Samsung accessories are worth a look if you have a Samsung phone.
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE: Specs
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Exynos 2400e processor – okay, calm down, it’s not so bad
Same camera specs, new camera tricks
Below, we've rounded up the keys specs of the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE.
The Galaxy S24 FE is a small step down from the Galaxy S24 in most ways, but not enough that most people will notice. I expect this phone to have no trouble playing the latest games, running through your productivity apps, and showing off the latest AI parlor tricks. A lot of the AI stuff happens in the cloud, but the Exynos 2400e processor should be able to handle the tasks.
Wait, what is that ‘e’ on the end of the Exynos chipset? The Galaxy S24 didn’t have the same ‘e’ designation. Samsung’s VP of Product Management, Drew Blackard, told me that this would be a slightly clocked-down version of the same processor.
That choice usually makes sense for two reasons. First, it cuts down on power consumption. Blackard says that this phone has great battery life, even compared to other Samsung phones with close to the same battery size.
Second, a slower chip is usually less expensive. Yes, this is a Samsung phone with a Samsung chipset, but you may as well consider Samsung Semiconductor, a different company. After all, Samsung used a MediaTek chip in the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra, which launched on the same day as the Galaxy S24 FE.
So, compared to the Galaxy S24, what do you lose if you buy the Galaxy S24 FE? Let’s go spec by spec.
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
The Galaxy S24 FE is slightly thicker and heavier than the Galaxy S24 or even the Galaxy S24 Plus, which has the same 6.7-inch display size. It uses Gorilla Glass Victus Plus and Victus 5 on the front and back instead of Victus 2 glass, like the Galaxy S24. Thankfully, it is just as water resistant, with IP68 certification.
The display on the Galaxy S24 FE is not as sharp in terms of pixel density as the Galaxy S24 or Galaxy S24 Plus. It has the same resolution as the Galaxy S24 but is stretched to a larger display size. The FE cannot get as bright as the Galaxy S24; it reaches around 1,900 nits peak brightness versus a glaring 2,600 nits on the Galaxy S24. That still gives you a very bright phone with the Galaxy S24 FE.
The Galaxy S24 FE is only available with 8GB of RAM, while you can find a Galaxy S24 with up to 12GB of RAM, and 12GB is the standard for the Galaxy S24 Plus.
The battery on the Galaxy S24 FE is 4,700 mAh, much larger than the 4,000 mAh cell on the Galaxy S24. Samsung says it should even last longer than the 4,900 mAh battery on the Galaxy S24 Plus. The Galaxy S24 FE can charge up to 25W, the same as the Galaxy S24, and it can also handle the same wireless charging. You can even charge other devices using reverse wireless charging from the Galaxy S24 FE.
Overall, I’d say the sacrifices are worth the phone's price. Better battery life is always a boon, so I’m willing to trade a drop in performance for a few more hours of screen time. Of course, we’ll need to test all of these features and claims to ensure they live up to the Galaxy S24 FE’s promise. We’re reviewing this phone now, so check back soon for an in-depth look with testing from Future Labs.
Platform reviewed: PS5 Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch Release date: Early Access: September 22, 2024 | Full release: September 27, 2024
EA’s approach to its annual football simulator is not unlike Apple’s approach to iPhones. Time and again, the developer has gotten away with making minor upgrades to a flagship product that it knows will fly off the shelves, regardless of the extent to which those upgrades improve the product itself. Sure, EA Sports FC 24 marked a radical departure for the series in naming terms, but it was essentially FIFA 23 with slightly better graphics and a new logo. That’s not necessarily a criticism, just the truth.
The same is, to an extent, true of EA Sports FC 25, however this year, it feels like we’ve reached a point where the overall experience is so good that it’s hard to chastise EA for making small improvements to an already excellent foundation. To continue the Apple analogy, the iPhone 16 Pro Max isn’t an earth-shattering upgrade over the iPhone 15 Pro Max, but it’s still the best iPhone ever made. In the same way, EA Sports FC 25 is, without question, the best football game ever made. The tweaks have added up.
While reviewing EA’s newest FC entry, I found myself asking, “What more could I want from a football game?”. Yes, many elements are bafflingly similar to FC 24 – not even the color scheme has changed; the main menu had me questioning whether I’d booted up the correct title – but the customarily small tweaks made to graphics and gameplay add up to a near-perfect footballing experience.
Get your Pep on
The new Player Roles system in EA Sports FC 25 (Image credit: EA Sports)
Let’s get the “what’s new?” question out of the way early doors. The major additions to this year’s FC title are two-fold: FC IQ and Rush. The former is the umbrella term for what EA is describing as the "most significant change to tactics in over a decade", while the latter is a new 5v5 mode that can be played in Ultimate Team, Career, Clubs, and Kick-Off.
FC IQ is for the football purists. In a nutshell, you’re now given the freedom to break away from traditional formations and implement match strategies that more closely align with those of real-world managers. You’ve seen Ancelotti's Real Madrid fluidly shift between 4-3-3 and 4-5-1 formations on TV, and now you can recreate such transitions – and come up with new ones – for your virtual team in FC 25.
In-game tactical suggestions in EA Sports FC 25 (Image credit: EA Sports)
Much of this strategizing is done in pre-match menus, which newcomers or tactics-averse players might find jarring, but FC IQ also introduces an in-game tactical suggestions tool that feels a lot more accessible. A press of the down button in-play will now bring up a list of recommended tactical changes (Tiki Taka, Park The Bus, etc.) that the FC 25 overlords deem to be the best course of action for the current match situation. Selecting one of these tactics will temporarily expand the mini-map for an at-a-glance look at how that tactic has influenced player positions, and the commentators will respond to these changes, too (“rather than hurt the opposition further, they’re now just trying to keep the ball and frustrate them”), which makes them feel real and consequential.
The other big feature of FC IQ is an all-new Player Roles system. As with formations, you’re now able to grant individual players the freedom to operate outside of their traditional positions in hybrid roles. Inverted fullbacks, deep-lying midfielders, and attacking wingbacks are now very much part of the FC experience – even in Ultimate Team – and while many players will no doubt ignore this new mechanic entirely, it’s nice to be given yet another string to your tactical bow.
The new Rush mode in EA Sports FC 25 (Image credit: EA Sports)
A quick word on Rush, which is this year’s completely-unnecessary-but-totally-harmless (and occasionally fun) new mode. It’s essentially a 5-a-side off-shoot for Ultimate Team, Career, Clubs, and Kick-Off, with smaller pitches and a basketball-style energy. I imagine it’s what the game of football would become if American sports executives were in charge of FIFA (check out the luminescent Nike-sponsored stadium), and while I don’t expect many players will return to it again and again, it’s certainly a fun diversion for a few hours. Let’s call it a happy medium between normal matches and Volta.
The (really) beautiful game
Christopher Nkunku in action for Chelsea in EA Sports FC 25 (Image credit: Future / Axel Metz)
My mother used to regularly mistake old FIFA gameplay for real-world football matches (“Who’s playing?” she would say), but I’d forgive her for making the same mistake with FC 25. Truly, these are the best sports game graphics ever, and although I can’t put my finger on what, exactly, is different this year, FC 25 looks noticeably prettier than FC 24.
I think it’s the players’ faces. Sweat and hair look more life-like than ever before, and players now visibly grimace, curse, and just generally have more personality. Sure, that’s been the case every year, but FC 25 takes things to another level. Marquee players, in particular, look stunningly real; go and play a few matches with Haaland, Bellingham, and Mbappe, and you’ll see what I mean.
Gameplay, too, feels fast and responsive, and you won’t get any of that ‘new FIFA sluggishness’ that seemed to plague so many previous entries in the series. Seriously, I’m not sure where EA goes next when it comes to gameplay and graphics.
Refreshing the classics
Jude Bellingham in EA Sports FC 25 (Image credit: EA Sports)
In my EA Sports FC 25 preview, I talked a lot about how FC 25 could be the dream game for Career mode lovers, and although I was already pretty happy with the way Career mode played in FC 24, EA has made yet more welcome tweaks to my favorite aspect of the series.
Before you even dive into a new Career save, you’re now given more options to customize the way you like to play. For instance, if, like me, you’re not fussed about conducting regular team training, you can now toggle an option to have the game automatically deal with training sessions for you (if you’re really lazy, you can even set player Energy and Sharpness levels to remain at 100% for the entirety of the season). You can give yourself a transfer embargo, too, and determine both the level of wind and weather effects and their respective influence on ball mechanics (trust me: set both to ‘high’).
The new Career interface in EA Sports FC 25 (Image credit: Future / Axel Metz)
Once you’re past the set-up screen, you’ll notice that the Career interface has been massively streamlined. The main screen now comprises a Task List and an interactive social media feed where you can see how fans react to club announcements, as well as those made by popular transfer accounts like The Athletic and, of course, Fabrizio Romano. This new widget adds another level of authenticity to proceedings, and the Task List, while perhaps simplifying things a little too much, does at least mean that you don’t have to keep dipping into your inbox to remove notifications. As before, information relating to your squad, transfers, and calendar can be found on different tabs.
Best bit
(Image credit: Future / Axel Metz)
I know this sounds weird, but seeing the level of realism in Christopher Nkunku’s in-game braids for the first time made me appreciate just how far sports game graphics have come (top tip: play a Premier League match in the rain for the most authentic experience).
Other Career upgrades include playable youth tournaments – where you can develop young players in 5v5 Rush matches – and Live Start Points, which let you dive into real-world club situations as they happen throughout the season. There’s no option to sim or part-play these youth tournament matches, but I suppose that’s the point: it forces you to actually familiarize yourself with nondescript youngsters. It’s a great feeling, too, when you end up bringing one of these youngsters onto the pitch in a proper first-team match. Live Start Points are a great idea, but I haven’t had a chance to try these out yet as the season has only just begun.
Ultimate Team, for its sins, finally felt like less of a pay-to-win experience in FC 24 – or at least, it was easier to compete with points-buying players through SBCs alone – and that trend continues in FC 25. The new Duplicate SBC Storage mechanic, which lets you store untradeable duplicates for use at a later date, is a game-changer for SBC fans (you no longer need to needlessly quick sell potential assets), and the mind-boggling number of card types means that highly-rated gold players are relatively easy to buy, even at the start of the game.
Accessibility
The Accessibility menu in EA Sports FC 25 (Image credit: Future / Axel Metz)
EA Sports FC 25 offers a comprehensive suite of accessibility options, including settings for color blindness, subtitles, button remapping, and increasing the size of the player indicator. These can all be found in a dedicated Accessibility Settings tab. The game has six difficulty levels – Beginner, Amateur, Semi-Pro, Professional, World Class, Legendary, and Ultimate – and features support for 21 languages.
Should I play EA Sports FC 25?
(Image credit: EA Sports)
Play it if…
Don’t play it if…
How I tested EA Sports FC 25
I played EA Sports FC 25 for 10 days ahead of its official release. During that time, I had access to all modes and features and was able to compete against real-world players as part of EA’s Early Access promotion. I played on PS5, using a standard DualSense controller, on a Samsung QN95A Neo QLED 4K TV, with audio coming via a five-speaker Bose Lifestyle 550 Home Entertainment System. I’ve played every FIFA / EA Sports FC game since FIFA 13, and also reviewed FIFA 22, FIFA 23, and EA Sports FC 24 for TechRadar Gaming.
