Tixati is one of the popular torrent clients to embrace a minimalist design, and it is quite light on system resources as well, which is another plus point here.
Tixati is entirely free, and also advert-free, yet it still boasts several advanced features that should help with getting the best possible download speeds. It is available to download on all popular operating systems, excluding macOS.
Windows 10 is supported, plus Windows 8, 7, Vista, and XP, with users able to install the 32-bit or 64-bit versions directly from the website. Tixati also supports most Linux distros like Fedora, RHEL, Ubuntu, Mint, Mandriva, and more.
The client has been getting regular monthly updates, and the latest version of Tixati (2.73) was released in April 2020. Tixati is not available on any mobile platforms currently.
(Image credit: Tixati)
Features
Tixati lets users manage downloads by allowing them to limit the bandwidth used and even filter the IP addresses. The client offers the ability to schedule tasks and subscribe to the RSS feeds of your favorite websites.
(Image credit: Tixati)
Tixati's user interface may appear to be a little outdated in terms of design. However, Tixati offers tooltips and pop-ups, and the setup process is a breeze.
If you’re switching from any other torrent client, Tixati may feel slightly different initially because its layout is rather distinct. While most torrent clients come with a left-aligned menu, Tixati has all the tabs aligned along the top. Further note that Tixati offers an option to tweak the interface slightly based on your preferences.
The sheer number of customization options that Tixati offers makes it one of the favored clients among pro users. It provides access to a complete set of low-level details regarding swarms, and that is one of the reasons that makes it stand apart from the competition.
The Tixati client provides access to a comprehensive help and support section. This helps users in addressing any issues they may face with the torrent client. There are plenty of troubleshooting tips, help guides, and additional useful hints that can aid in minimizing any downtime.
Additionally, the highly active community forum can help address almost any issue the users may be facing. The community is quite lively and provides real-time support and quick solutions.
(Image credit: Tixati)
Security
Tixati is a closed source platform. While that means it lacks the transparency of open source torrent clients, which can have their code examined by anyone, there’s no particular need to worry about the security of Tixati, at least not going by VirusTotal, which registered zero threats after scanning the installer file (at the time of writing).
Note that Tixati offers increased security for users via support for forced RC4 encryption and a SOCKS5 proxy, and it is always advisable to hide your IP address, which is otherwise broadly visible. We have an exhaustive guide to the best VPN for torrenting and torrents.
Piracy
While torrents allow users to download their favorite content off the internet, and torrent clients make the process easier, remember that there is, of course, copyrighted material online, and downloading that is breaking the law. Of course, TechRadar does not support or endorse piracy or illegal downloads.
(Image credit: Tixati)
Final verdict
While Tixati has a rather different layout and look for its interface, the overall performance of this client is very satisfactory. The high degree of customization available, ad-free interface, and regular updates are a few major plus points that make Tixati a must-try torrent client.
Transmission is one of the most widely-used cross-platform torrent clients. It has numerous features and is compatible with the most popular desktop operating systems.
Transmission is a torrenting app known for its intuitive interface and widespread compatibility. It’s easy to understand even for non-technical users. Its free and open-source nature makes it a popular choice for people seeking to download content.
We’re reviewing Transmission to help you decide whether it’s a good choice. We’ll dive into its features, security, ease of use, and other crucial factors.
Transmission: Version and platforms
Transmission is widely compatible. It can be downloaded on macOS, Windows, Linux, and Unix. It’s also compatible with numerous Linux distributions, such as Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian, Mint, OpenSUSE, Raspberry Pi, and CentOS.
The extensive PC compatibility makes Transmission a top choice for geeks running atypical operating systems. If macOS and Windows aren’t your thing, you can still download Transmission on many other operating systems.
The drawback is that Transmission lacks an Android mobile app, unlike many rival tools.
(Image credit: Future)
Transmission: Features
Transmission is a torrenting app mainly used to download content. The process is simple: First, you download a torrent from an external source. Then, you launch the torrent on Transmission to begin the download.
There is no built-in search engine for directly finding torrents, which we consider a drawback. Users must download the torrents from external sites before launching them on Transmission.
After downloading a file, you become a “seeder,” uploading it to the torrenting network for other users. Transmission depends on seeders to provide fast download speeds for all users.
You can limit the speed at which you seed (upload) files for other users; this limit helps conserve bandwidth. You can also set a maximum speed for your downloads.
We observed fast download speeds when using Transmission. However, your speed can vary depending on how many seeders are available for the torrent you download. The higher the number of seeders, the faster the download speed. The fewer the seeders, the slower the download speed.
You can monitor your downloads from a user-friendly dashboard. This dashboard shows the progress of current downloads and the list of all previous downloads. You can pause or cancel a download that’s still in progress.
Transmission uses less memory than most torrenting apps we’ve tested. Some torrenting apps are memory hogs, slowing down other programs because of their excessive consumption. In contrast, Transmission has a lightweight structure that keeps your PC at its optimal performance when downloading content. It doesn’t interfere with the performance of other apps.
Transmission has a collection of add-ons that provide complementary features. You can download these add-ons from Transmission’s official website. For instance, you can download add-ons that let you control Transmission remotely from a smartphone.
(Image credit: Future)
With a remote control add-on, you can pause, resume or delete torrent downloads from your smartphone. You can filter torrent lists, download new torrents, and receive notifications about completed downloads.
You can also download an add-on to control Transmission from your browser instead of the standalone app. With this add-on, you can manage and monitor all torrents from your browser instead of constantly juggling your browser and the standalone Transmission app.
Being free and open-source are major reasons for choosing Transmission. Users can examine the code and certify that Transmission isn’t engaging in schemes like malware and adware to generate revenue. Transmission is a free tool maintained by a global network of volunteer developers, so there’s no incentive to cut corners to make money.
Some torrenting apps are infamous for bundling flash ads, pop ads, and tracking users to harvest data for money. Transmission doesn’t have these issues. It provides sophisticated torrenting features for free.
Transmission: Interface and in-use
Transmission is more user-friendly than most rival torrenting apps. Notably, the desktop app incorporates unique interfaces for each operating system.
For instance, the macOS app has the sleek, simple interface Apple is known for. The Windows app has a modernized interface that makes using it easy. The Linux apps follow the recommended GNOME human interface guidelines.
Thanks to its extensive developer network, Transmission features customized interfaces for different operating systems. The app incorporates minimalistic design with features neatly arranged at the top and configurations at the bottom. The icons are self-explanatory, making it easy to find different features. Any layperson can quickly get acquainted with Transmission’s interface and download content.
Transmission: Security and privacy
Torrenting clients are generally secure but have risks. For instance, open-source torrenting apps often receive unofficial builds from malicious developers who use them to introduce malware. Transmission has experienced this issue but quickly blocked malicious builds.
Transmission has security features to prevent your torrenting activities from leaking to third-parties. For instance, you can block specific IP addresses from sharing files with your PC, which are usually IPs known for sharing malicious files.
For further security, you should switch on a VPN before downloading torrents. VPNs encrypt your traffic by routing it through remote servers. This encryption prevents third-parties from snooping on your torrenting activities.
Despite Transmission’s advanced security features and the additional use of a VPN, no torrenting app is 100% secure. Motivated actors can exploit flaws to snoop on users’ torrenting activities. Hence, avoid using Transmission for illegal activities. TechRadar doesn’t endorse piracy.
Transmission: Final Verdict
Transmission is an excellent choice if you need a simple yet sophisticated torrenting client. It has some drawbacks, such as a lack of a built-in search engine, but its advanced features, impressive download speeds, and other pros outweigh the cons.
The Final Audio ZE3000 SV arrive in a very competitive sector of the best budget earbud market equipped to compete. A combination of app and touch control, very decent battery life, some swanky new 10mm dynamic drivers (that word in conjunction with a port to keep pressure levels within the earbuds acceptable), and a light, comfortable design all bode very well.
Then you realize the app and the touch controls don’t really do as much as you’d like. And that Final Audio has deliberately tuned the active noise-cancellation to impact as little as possible on sound quality rather than to impact as much as possible on external sounds. As a result, you start to wonder if perhaps spending $99 on a pair of ZE3000 SV might not be as good an idea as spending it on, say, a pair of Sony’s excellent WF-C710N.
Fortunately, the Final Audio reassert themselves, to an extent, when it comes to audio performance. No, the ZE3000 SV aren’t the most exciting listen you’ve ever experienced, and for some people this lack of audio energy will be enough to rule them out of the best earbuds race, irrespective of budget. But they are balanced, detailed, fairly dynamic and very revealing of the minutiae of a recording. Their midrange reproduction, in particular, is naturalistic and convincing, while low-frequency presence is impressive too. Or, at least, it is provided you’ve made sure the earbuds fit just so.
Final Audio ZE3000 SV review: Price and release date
(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)
Released on February 27, 2025
Priced $99 / £89 / AU$169
The Final Audio ZE3000 SV have been on sale since the very end of February this year, and in every territory in which they’re on sale, they’re aggressively priced. That’s not the same as saying they have a clear shot, of course – very similar money to this buys well-regarded alternatives from the likes of JBL, Nothing and Sony, to name just three…
Bluetooth 5.3 with SBC, AAC and LDAC codec compatibility
28 hours of battery life (including charging case) with ANC on
The Final Audio ZE3000 SV use Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless connectivity, and have multipoint connectivity if you need to connect them to two devices at once. They’re compatible with the LDAC codec as well as the bog-standard SBC and AAC alternatives, so an appropriate source player will be able to stream at half-decent quality.
Once audio information is on board, it’s delivered to your ears by a couple of newly developed 10mm ‘F-Core SV’ dynamic drivers. Final Audio is claiming a frequency response of 20Hz to 20kHz from this new design, and they work in conjunction with ‘F-Link’ port technology in an effort to optimize acoustic pressure within the body of the earbud.
Active noise-cancellation is a four-stage system: ‘off’, ‘on’, ‘wind-cut’ and ‘ambient sound’. With ANC on, you can expect around seven hours of action from the earbuds, and there are a further three full charges stored in the case. Ten minutes charging via the case’s USB-C slot should be good for around an hour's listening.
You can use the capacitive touch surface on the left earbud to toggle between ‘on’ and ‘ambient sound’. The left earbud also takes care of ‘skip backwards’ and ‘volume down’, while the right earbud is in charge of ‘play/pause’, ‘skip forwards’ and ‘volume up’.
The Final Connect control app is similarly brief – there are no playback controls here, and no ability to embed a streaming service. All you get, in fact, is the ability to check for firmware updates, an indication of remaining battery life, full ANC control, and access to a seven-band equaliser with storage space for one custom setting. You can also switch ‘gaming mode’ on or off. Final reckons latency is down below 60m/s when it’s engaged.
Features score: 4/5
(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)
Final Audio ZE3000 SV review: Sound quality
Balanced, detailed and quite direct sound
Decent dynamism and good low-end presence…
Provided you’ve got the fit just right
Some earbuds at the more affordable end of the market like to make things as exciting as possible, a sort of sonic grabbing by the lapels that seems designed to make you ignore their shortcomings in favor of marveling at their vigor. The Final Audio ZE3000 SV are not those earbuds.
They have plenty going for them in terms of sound quality, of course. A listen to Ty Segall’s version of Hot Chocolate’s Every 1’s a Winner reveals them to be a nicely balanced and quite informative listen, able to extract and present even quite fine details buried in the mix. They control their low frequency presence well, so bass sounds hit respectably hard but don’t overstay their welcome or drag at the rhythm. The midrange is open and natural-sounding, so voices get to reveal a lot of their character as well as their tone. And the top of the frequency range is, again, open and detailed, and has just about enough substance to balance out its shine – there’s a reasonable amount of crispness to the way the earbuds attack treble sounds, even if they’re just slightly rolled off in absolute terms.
Frequency integration is smooth, and the tonal balance is quite neutral too. There’s a decent amount of dynamism on display too, both where the big shifts in volume and the more subtle harmonic variations are concerned. And the ZE3000 SV can lay out a soundstage in a clear and easy-to-understand manner, keeping plenty of elbow room between every competing element of a recording but at the same time delivering it as a whole.
(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)
All the above depends very much on your achieving a correct fit with the earbuds, though. Every true wireless or wired in-ear monitors require a decent fit in order to sound its best, but the Final Audio ZE3000 SV are more fit-dependent than any other earbuds I’ve heard in a long time. It’s just as well the company provides so many pair of eartips – you're gonna need them.
Still, at least you can take active measures to ensure the ZE3000 SV sound as good as they can. What you can’t do is mitigate their fundamental sonic attitude, which is rather matter-of-fact and undemonstrative. It’s one thing to not be one of those ‘eyes out on stalks’, ‘excitement at all costs’ listens, but it’s quite another to go too far the other way. With a little more energy and animation to their presentation, the ZE3000 SV would be an even more competitive proposition.
Mind you, if their active noise-cancellation got anywhere close to ‘cancellation’ they’d be more attractive, still. Yes, it’s true that Final Audio’s decision to ensure its ANC algorithms don’t impact on sound quality means the ZE3000 SV sound exactly the same whether it’s switched on or off, but it’s so light-touch in its effectiveness that it almost seems worth some sonic disruption for ANC that does what it’s supposed to do.
Sound quality: 4/5
Note the stabilizer fins and separate tips (Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)
Final Audio ZE3000 SV review: Design
4g per earbud
‘Shibo’ textured finish
Five sizes of eartip included
What do you want from your true wireless in-ear headphones' design? If you’re anything like me, you want them to be small, light and comfortable, and ideally with a good range of eartip sizes to help with the fit. If that sounds familiar, you’ll be very pleased indeed with the design of the ZE3000 SV.
The little pebble-shaped earbuds themselves are a nicely ergonomic shape, and at 4g each are no kind of burden. A choice of five differently sized pairs of eartips helps to achieve a secure and comfortable fit, and the ‘Shibo’ finish that Final Audio has been so keen on lately not only makes them look mildly distinctive but also helps when taking them out (either of the charging case or of your ears).
The charging case itself is similarly compact, similarly light and, thanks to that aforementioned ‘Shibo’ finish, is less likely to show any marks or scuffs than is usual. A single tiny LED on its front face lets you know what the state of play is.
The standard of build and finish is very acceptable indeed. The ZE3000 SV may be necessarily lightweight, but that doesn’t translate to a feeling of flimsiness. The earbuds’ IPX4 rating lets you know that things have been properly screwed together.
Design score: 5/5
(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)
Final Audio ZE3000 SV review: value
Good specification, build and finish
Lots to like in audio terms
Need greater sonic liveliness
‘Nice’ is not automatically faint praise, and the Final Audio ZE3000 SV are a nice product. They're well-made, properly finished, competitively specified, comfortable to wear, and quite pleasant to listen to in any number of ways. Judged against their obvious rivals from the likes of the Sony WF-C710N and Nothing Ear (3), the ZE3000 SV are an interesting option and represent, I suppose, the path less traveled.
Unless you’re easily overstimulated, though, the earbuds’ lack of sonic animation has to count as a negative when you're talking about outright value for money.
Value: 4/5
(Image credit: Future / Simon Lucas)
Should I buy the Final Audio ZE3000 SV?
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Features
Four ANC options, solid capacitive touch possibilities and good battery life, but limited app functionality
4/5
Sound quality
Balanced and detailed, natural-sounding midrange, but only if the fitting is spot-on
4/5
Design
Comfortable, with excellent standard of build and finish, lots of (necessary) eartips
5/5
Value
A solid product, nicely finished, but lacks sonic liveliness
4/5
Buy them if…
You like a long listening session The Final Audio ZE3000 SV have the battery life and the comfort to keep you listening for hour after hour.
You have a decently specified source of music LDAC codec compatibility means access to one of the better forms of Bluetooth streaming.
You value understatement Between their compact dimensions and the ‘Shibo’ finish, the ZE3000 SV manage to look unusual and subtle at the same time.
Don’t buy them if…
You crave sonic stimulation ‘Grown up’ is a perfectly valid audio attitude, ‘slightly dull’ not so much.
You like full control Both the touch controls and the app give partial, rather than complete, control over the ZE3000 SV.
Your ears are of peculiar dimensions The Final Audio rely even more than most earbuds on the fit being exactly right if they’re to sound their best
8.5hrs (ANC on) 12hrs (ANC off); plus 30 hours in the case
Weight
4g per bud
5g per bud
4.62g (buds); 51.9g (case)
5.2g (per bud)
Connectivity
Bluetooth 5.3 (SBC, AAC, LDAC)
Bluetooth 5.3 with LDAC, USB-C
Bluetooth 5.3
Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C (SBC, AAC)
Waterproofing
IPX4
IP55
IP54
IPX4
JBL Live Beam 3 Solid audio quality and great battery life add to the appeal of the JBL's remote screen control, but the standard of ANC detracts from it more than somewhat. Read more in our JBL Live Beam 3 review.
Nothing Ear They score over the Final Audio where low-end heft and excitement are concerned, and they’re attractive lookers in a kind of ‘try hard’ way. Meager battery life is an obvious down-side, though. Get the full picture in our Nothing Ear review.
Sony WF-C710N Now routinely available for less than £100, these junior Sonys have the beating of the Final Audio where noise-cancellation and energy of sound are concerned. No LDAC, though, and they’re not as visually sophisticated as the ZE3000 SV, either. Get the full picture in our Sony WF-C710N review.
How I tested the Final Audio ZE3000 SV
Connected to a FiiO M15S and Apple iPhone 14 Pro
Used indoors and outdoors
With a range of music and of file types
I made the Final Audio ZE3000 SV my default true wireless earbuds for well over a week during the course of this review.
When listening outdoors I almost always used my iPhone 14 Pro as a source (using the AAC codec) – it’s loaded with Presto, Spotify and Tidal apps, so there’s plenty of accessible music.
Indoors, I tended to link it to my FiiO M15S DAP using LDAC. The player has a lot of very hi-res music stored locally, so I was able to listen to everything from DSD128 and 24bit/192kHz FLAC down to 128kbps stuff.
uTorrent is one of the most popular torrent clients globally. To many, it’s synonymous with torrenting itself. This platform maintains a stellar reputation because of its performance, speed, and ubiquitous features.
I’m reviewing uTorrent to help you decide whether it’s worth the hype. My review will focus on crucial factors like its features, speed, performance, security, and pricing. Read on to learn the pros and cons of uTorrent in detail.
uTorrent: Pricing
Unlike many torrenting clients, uTorrent offers different tiers of its product. Its basic version is free for anyone to download. However, this free version includes ads on the interface, which can be distracting when downloading content.
The paid tiers of uTorrent include
Ad-Free: For $4.95 per year, you can remove all ads from your interface. This version is also optimized to consume less bandwidth.
Pro: For $19.95 yearly, you can enjoy an ad-free experience and integrated virus scanning when downloading torrents.
Pro + VPN: This tier combines the features of the Pro tier and includes a VPN for secure content downloads. A VPN routes torrenting traffic through secure remote servers to avoid being tracked by third-parties.
uTorrent accepts cryptocurrency and credit/debit card payments. The paid tiers lack a free trial.
uTorrent: Versions
Extensive compatibility is one of uTorrent’s strengths. It has apps for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It also has an Android but no iOS app, which is typical for torrenting clients. Apple frowns upon torrenting apps appearing on its App Store, so you’ll hardly find any torrenting platform compatible with iOS.
(Image credit: Future)
uTorrent: Features
uTorrent is the most feature-rich torrenting client in my opinion, as it offers functionalities I’ve hardly encountered in other rival clients. It has a simple mechanism. You’ll first find a .torrent file from an external website. This file contains the metadata of the content you want to download.
Then, you’ll upload the .torrent file on uTorrent to begin downloading the relevant content. uTorrent notably supports bulk downloads at fast speeds, a feature many torrenting clients lack.
I observed fast download speeds when testing uTorrent. The app auto-adjusts bandwidth usage based on your network connection to provide fast speeds.
Download speeds are determined partly by the number of “seeders,” or uploaders, available on uTorrent’s network. Fortunately, as the most popular torrenting client, there’s hardly a lack of seeders to share files on uTorrent and maintain reliable speeds for everyone on the network.
uTorrent lets you schedule downloads ahead of time. For example, you can upload a .torrent file while at the office and instruct uTorrent to download it several hours later when you connect to your home’s WiFi network.
I was able to control my upload and download speeds to conserve bandwidth when using uTorrent. By default, after downloading a torrent on uTorrent, you automatically become a seeder uploading the files for other users on the network. Capping the data upload speed helped me conserve bandwidth when sharing files.
(Image credit: Future)
uTorrent supports remote access, which allows you to manage your torrenting activities from external devices. For example, I was able control downloads on a home computer from my smartphone while at work.
During testing, I enjoyed uTorrent’s light performance despite its many features. It’s not a memory hog that strains your PC’s resources and causes its fans to run at full speed. Instead, it’s a lightweight app with a hardly noticeable impact on your PC’s performance.
With uTorrent, you can download content while seamlessly handling other activities on your web browser or desktop apps.
uTorrent’s Android app is similar to its desktop app. It offers light performance, advanced features, impressive download speeds, and a simple user interface. You can use this Android app to control uTorrent on your PC and other devices.
A drawback I observed with uTorrent is the presence of ads on the basic version. These ads are distracting and, occasionally, users get ads for grey apps flagged by virus scanners. You should exercise caution when interacting with ads on uTorrent.
uTorrent: Interface and in-use
uTorrent has a modern, responsive interface that beats most torrenting clients. Its sleek interface spots a white or dark background (adjustable) with features brightly highlighted with contrasting colors.
The features are neatly arranged on the left, and the main menu is on the right. The buttons to add new torrents and begin downloading are boldly displayed on the main menu, so you can quickly find and switch between different features.
uTorrent is easy for a non-technical person to use. It performs excellently in the user-friendliness criterion, which isn’t the case for some torrenting platforms.
uTorrent: Security
Security is paramount when downloading torrents, as ISPs and other third-parties often seek to identify and block users. uTorrent has many security features to protect users from data leaks and cyber threats.
The Pro version comes with an integrated virus scanner. It scans every .torrent file for viruses and alerts you if any are detected. This feature is crucial because .torrent files are a common vector for introducing malware. It protects your PC from potential damage from viruses.
It’s advisable to turn on a VPN to encrypt your traffic before downloading torrents, which I did. This encrypts your torrenting data from third-parties, like ISPs, that want to snoop on it. The Pro + VPN feature includes an annual subscription to CyberGhost VPN. This VPN offers fast servers across the globe, letting you choose the most convenient location for different use cases.
If you already have a VPN, you can get the Pro version instead of the Pro + VPN version. Any reliable VPN will encrypt your uTorrent activities and prevent prying eyes.
uTorrent: Final Verdict
We can confidently call uTorrent one of the best torrenting clients you can choose. It’s not all rosy, as the basic version includes distracting ads and lacks the integrated virus scanner of the Pro version. However, when you exercise caution, uTorrent is one of the best apps for downloading content at impressive speeds.
TechRadar is dedicated to helping you choose the best software tools. Hence, I reviewed one of the most popular torrent clients to help you decide if it’s worthwhile.
You might have heard of Vuze, formerly called Azureus. Its name frequently appears when people search for torrenting clients on Google and across the web. I tested the app extensively to judge whether it lives up to its fame. Read on to learn about its features, pricing, security, user-friendliness, and other crucial factors.
Vuze: Pricing
I’ve tested endless torrenting clients, and many of them are completely free. However, Vuze is not. It has a free version that includes ads (which I often found annoying), but an ad-free interface requires paying $3.99 monthly for Vuze Plus.
To be fair, Vuze Plus includes other features like DVD burning and the ability to play media files while they’re still downloading. Yet, I’m not a fan of paying for a torrenting client when many free alternatives are available.
Vuze: Versions
Vuze is available on the three major desktop operating systems: Windows, macOS, and Linux. But, something feels odd about this app. It was officially released in 2017, and development seems to have stalled since then.
Vuze used to have an Android app available on the Play Store, but I checked endlessly for it and found none. The app was removed from the Play Store for unclear reasons, making it only accessible by directly downloading the APK file. I think the APK process is too much work for the average user.
(Image credit: Future)
Vuze: Features
Vuze is a feature-rich torrenting client whether you’re using the free or paid version. The free version includes a search bar to find torrents right from the app. This feature is important because many torrenting clients don’t provide help in finding .torrent files to download. Instead, you’ll have to visit an external site to get the files.
The search feature is split into a torrent search and web search. The former encompasses .torrent files stored on Vuze’s database, and the latter helps you find .torrent files across the web. For instance, if you search for Jazz music, you can view torrent files for them across the web or the results directly from Vuze’s database.
If you have the relevant .torrent file already installed on your PC, you can add it to Vuze and begin the download. The .torrent file contains the metadata of the larger file you want to download, and Vuze quickly begins the process.
You can also download torrents via their magnet links, which are hyperlinks containing the metadata of the relevant file. Paste this link into Vuze, and it’ll quickly begin downloading the file.
Likewise, users can download files by providing the torrent hash. I liked that Vuze offers flexible ways to discover and download .torrent files. I encountered variable speeds when downloading content from this app. Some files downloaded much faster than others, likely due to the availability of more seeders for those files.
(Image credit: Future)
Seeding in torrenting is the process of uploading a file for other users. When you download any content on Vuze, you automatically become a seeder uploading that same content for other users. That’s how the network maintains enough capacity to offer reliable downloads for users. Uploading content can consume considerable bandwidth, so Vuze lets you cap your upload speed to conserve bandwidth.
Though downloading the APK file for the Android app seemed tedious, I had to do it to provide a rigorous review. After setting it up, I used it to control torrent downloads on my PC. The Android app lets you start, stop, and pause downloads remotely from any location. For instance, you can be at work and control downloads on your home PC.
I enjoyed testing Vuze Plus even if I wish I didn’t have to pay for the extra features. It includes a built-in DVD player that lets users play media directly while downloading. I couldn’t wait to watch my favorite movie when downloading, so I had to press that play button.
Vuze Plus also removes ads, which I mostly found distracting. I’m not a fan of ads, so maybe that’s why I found them annoying. However, I think an average user can easily tolerate and ignore the ads on the free Vuze version.
Vuze has an outstanding feature called Swarm Discoveries. This feature searches for similar content based on what you've previously downloaded on Vuze, akin to an algorithm recommending related content to download. It recommends related content that you may enjoy, helping you discover the best movies, music, and more at no cost.
Vuze: Interface and in-use
I didn’t have issues navigating Vuze’s interface on the desktop and Android apps. It’s a well-designed app with a modern, sleek interface. The features are arranged on the left, and the main dashboard is on the right.
Vuze is a lightweight app that didn’t consume significant computing resources, which I can’t say for many torrenting clients. Some clients I’ve tested hijacked my PC’s resource space and left little room for other apps, but not Vuze.
However, I think Vuze has a steep learning curve for the average person. You’ll likely need some time to get used to its numerous features.
Vuze: Security
Security is paramount when using any torrenting client. ISPs don’t like torrenting and often want to identify users downloading torrents. Hence, you should switch on a VPN before downloading torrents to protect yourself from third-party snooping.
I liked that Vuze Plus has a built-in antivirus scanner (based on Bitdefender). This tool scans all incoming torrents for viruses and alerts you if any are detected. It’s vital, given that torrents are a common vector through which malicious actors spread malware.
Vuze: Final Verdict
I enjoyed Vuze’s feature richness and user-friendliness. I have some complaints, such as the free version including distracting ads, but we don’t always get what we want. Overall, I’ll recommend Vuze as a torrenting solution for everyone.
DrayTek keeps raising the bar for small-to-medium business networks with powerful routers and cutting-edge features. The Vigor2865Lax-5G is the newest member of the (extended) 2865 family, adding to the multi-WAN flexibility with a built-in dual SIM quad-antenna 5G/4G LTE modem for the fastest possible mobile broadband.
We have previously reviewed the DrayTek Vigor2865ax (with similar specs but no 5G) and found it excellent. The Lax-5G model has a few key feature upgrades, but also retains (almost) everything that we liked about the 2865 series. For a start, you get a VDSL2 modem with 35b Supervectoring and ADSL2+ backward compatibility, so you can still pull up to 300 Mbps from a fiber-to-the-node line.
There’s also a switchable Gigabit Ethernet WAN/LAN port, plus a USB 2.0 socket for extra 4G/3G fallback, a printer, storage or even a temperature sensor.
Of course, where the 2865Lax-5G really stands out is the inclusion of a dual Nano-SIM slot and an integrated Cat 19 5G/LTE modem. You can set it up as a backup with automatic failover or load balancing between other connections, including VDSL and WAN.
Wireless performance remains the same as the 2865ax, with AX3000-class Wi-Fi 6 radios running 2×2 MU-MIMO with dual antennas. That gives you up to 2,402 Mbps on 5 GHz and 574 Mbps on 2.4 GHz. While we would have liked to have seen a Wi-Fi 6GHz 6E or 7 update, we respect the decision to keep it simple and reduce costs. Especially since the router is best networked to an array of Wi-Fi access points, and in fact DrayTek also sells the router as a 2865L-5G model with no Wi-Fi at all.
Under the hood you’ll find hardware acceleration to keep multi-WAN traffic and encrypted tunnels from becoming a bottleneck. Like the 2865ax, IPsec throughput can hit 800 Mbps and SSL VPN sessions manage 130 Mbps. With up to 32 VPN tunnels (including 16 SSL VPN) available, the router makes it easy for remote teams to tap into their company's main network.
This router maintains the series’ robust feature set: support for 16 VLANs and eight LAN subnets, a high-performance firewall with content filtering and QoS, plus zero-touch management of up to 20 DrayTek access points and 10 switches. If you run the VigorACS 3 network management software, you also get SD-WAN orchestration for even smarter traffic routing.
So the spec is good, but how is it to actually use in the real world? Setup was straightforward, and I always enjoy using DrayTek’s plain but robust web interface. As expected, wired performance is rock-solid, and in our tests Wi-Fi throughput peaked at around 578 Mbps at close range, tapering to roughly 377 Mbps at ten meters.
Using the 5G connection we saw maximum downlink speeds of 304 Mbps, with uplink around 121 Mbps – though keep in mind that this is highly dependent on your 5G service provider, cellular bands used, signal strength and the capabilities of the cellular tower you are connected to. While the modem itself is capable of very high speeds in theory, it’s connected into the router via USB 2.0, which limits the maximum throughput to about 400 Mbps.
All told, I was quite impressed with the Vigor2865Lax-5G. Sure, there are little niggles that I expand on further down, but it does manage to combine the 2865 series’ enterprise-grade routing and security with the flexibility of high-performance 5G. So all in all, I think it’s an excellent choice for businesses that need cutting-edge mobile broadband along with a lot of flexibility.
DrayTek Vigor2865Lax-5G: Price & availability
The Vigor2865Lax-5G looks like a standard router without the 5G antennas installed (Image credit: Future)
How much does it cost? $799 / £699 / AU$1,250
When is it out? Available now
Where can you get it? Stocked in most major markets including the US, UK and Australia
The DrayTek Vigor2865Lax-5G isn’t always the easiest to find, but head to your local DrayTek website (or your country's authorized reseller) for more info on local purchase options.
While comparatively easy to find in Australia and the UK, the Vigor2865Lax-5G is harder to buy in the US and at times has been unavailable.
There’s not a huge amount of competition in the 5G-capable VDSL2 modem-router space, but overall the Vigor2865Lax-5G is priced well against similar products.
Value: 4 / 5
DrayTek Vigor2865Lax-5G: Specifications
Cellular: RxCat 19, Tx Cat 18 5G/4G LTE Antenna: 4 external LTE/5G, 2x external Wi-Fi Wi-Fi: 802.11ax 2×2 MU-MIMO Interfaces: 1x GbE WAN/LAN, 4x GbE LAN, 1x RJ-11, 1x USB 2.0 Wireless Speed: 2.4 GHz up to 574 Mbps, 5 GHz up to 2402 Mbps Dimensions: 241 × 145 × 44 mm Weight: 650 g
DrayTek Vigor2865Lax-5G: Design
The Vigor2865Lax-5G puts most of the status LEDs and wired port interfaces on the front (Image credit: Future)
Four external magnetic 5G antennas
Wall and rack mountable
Easy to access front ports
The DrayTek Vigor2865Lax-5G looks just like the rest of the 2865 series, albeit with a few minor differences and the addition of the cellular antennas. The router puts all the ports and status LEDs on the front, while the antennas, SIM card slot and power are at the rear.
The cellular antennas can be mounted directly to the router, but space is tight, or they can use the included bases with 100 cm cables. The bases are solidly weighted and include a magnet and are easy to spread out and securely attach to metal surfaces.
The SIM card slot has a cover secured by two screws, and once removed, the tray can be pressed to release and it pops out. The SIMs themselves sit on each side of the tray. Note that there is no eSIM support.
The power connector, Wi-Fi antennas, 5G antenna connections and sim card slot are all on the rear (Image credit: Future)
The 2865Lax-5G is powered by the included 12V, 3A PSU. It can be wall mounted using the attachment points on the underside and includes two screws for this. Alternatively, it can be rack-mounted with the optional DR101 rack-mount bracket.
You also get an RJ11 and RJ45 cable in the box. Other optional accessories include an external USB thermometer for temperature monitoring and alternate Wi-Fi antennas.
Overall, the design is good, with everything easily accessible but not unnecessarily showy for a device that will likely be out of sight.
Design: 4 / 5
DrayTek Vigor2865Lax-5G: Features
The Vigor2865Lax-5G web interface is comprehensive yet laid out in an easy to use way (Image credit: Future)
Dual SIM cellular modem
VDSL2 modem
Flexible multi-WAN management
The key design goal of the Vigor2865Lax-5G is flexibility, with its combination of 5G connectivity, a VDSL2 modem, fast Wi-Fi and loads of management options. The need for a VDSL modem varies, but for businesses (or remote offices) without fiber, being able to extract the most from a VDSL connection is critical. With 35b Supervectoring, the router can handle up to 300 Mbps over VDSL, making it ideal for those still reliant on fiber-to-the-node or copper-based services. The inclusion of ADSL2+ compatibility is also great, as it gives useful support for legacy connections.
Of course, what sets the Lax-5G apart is its integrated 5G modem and dual Nano-SIM slots, which offer native mobile broadband support without the need for USB dongles. The modem’s 5G connection is rated for a maximum NSA (non-standalone) downlink rate of 3400 Mbps, with an uplink of 550 Mbps. For standalone (SA) 5G, it is rated for 2400 Mbps downlink and 900 Mbps uplink. It uses the 5G bands n1, n20, n28, n3, n38, n40, n5, n7, n77, n78 and n8. Supporting both NSA and SA 5G means the router is relatively future-proof, as it can operate entirely on 5G as needed.
For LTE (4G), you get category 19 for downlinks (up to 1600 Mbps) and Cat 18 for uplinks (up to 200 Mbps). It supports FDD (Frequency Division Duplexing) bands 1 (2100MHz), 20 (800MHz), 28 (700MHz), 3 (1800MHz), 5 (850MHz), 7 (2600MHz), 8 (900MHz), plus TDD (Time Division Duplexing) bands 38 (2600MHz), 40 (2300MHz), as well as WCDMA (3G) bands 1 and 8.
While the cellular modem here is excellent, with the latest technology, it is connected internally in the router via USB 2.0, which will limit throughput to under 400 Mbps. But more on that later. The Vigor2865Lax-5G also supports sending and receiving SMS, using SMS for hotspot verification, as well as sending SMS alerts for status changes, such as loss of WAN or VDSL connection.
While the router accepts dual SIMs, only one can be used at a time, but they can be set to failover. This is ideal as a backup when relying on cellular, as you can have services from two providers. It also allows flexibility if traveling between areas with varying coverage. You can even add an external USB 4G/5G dongle as an entire extra backup mobile connection that can run at the same time as the built-in 5G connection, including using load sharing.
The cellular connections can also be managed alongside the other internet options, so the router can maintain internet access via VDSL, Ethernet WAN or 5G, with automatic failover and load balancing to switch between them as required. These capabilities are backed by robust traffic management tools like bandwidth limiting, QoS prioritization and advanced routing rules. Not to mention, you can still add in an extra USB 4G dongle for a secondary backup mobile connection.
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The rear card slot takes two SIMs (one on each side of the holder) (Image credit: Future)
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The 5G antennas can can be position at various angles to maximize the connection speed (Image credit: Future)
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The 5G antennas have a weighted magnet base, so can be easily position in a variety of ways (Image credit: Future)
Wi-Fi is handled by an AX3000-spec dual-band radio supporting Wi-Fi 6. While you don’t get access to the 6GHz band, it’s still enough for excellent wireless performance. Plus, the router also supports wireless WAN modes and mesh networking, and is ideally set up to act as a central manager of additional DrayTek access points.
As always, DrayTek’s overall ecosystem approach is a major benefit. The 2865Lax-5G can manage up to 20 Vigor access points and 10 switches, making it an ideal base for expanding small to medium business networks with simplified, centralized control. The USB port also adds further flexibility by supporting external devices such as printers, temperature sensors or storage drives.
To ensure top-notch performance, the Vigor2865Lax-5G incorporates hardware acceleration to maximize routing and VPN throughput. Dual-WAN configurations get the benefit of up to 1.3 Gbps of NAT throughput, and IPsec VPN sessions can hit up to 800 Mbps. The idea here is that even when combining VDSL, 5G, and Ethernet WAN, network traffic won’t hit any major internal bottlenecks.
Like the rest of the 2865 series, the Lax-5G includes a comprehensive array of business-focused features. These range from an advanced captive hotspot portal with custom landing page options, to a full-featured firewall, web content filtering and secure remote access via SSL or IPsec VPNs.
The online Draytek Vigor ACS 3 demo is a good way to see if this management option is the right fit for your business (Image credit: Future)
One of the key features of the Vigor2865Lax-5G for business users is its ability to manage a wider DrayTek-based network. Directly through the router’s interface, you can control up to 20 Vigor access points and 10 Vigor switches, including support for mesh networks with up to seven wireless nodes. This makes it a strong foundation for small to medium-sized deployments that may need to scale over time.
Even before reaching a high number of devices, network management can start to feel complex. While the router supports TR-069 provisioning tools, DrayTek also offers a more advanced option in the form of VigorACS 3. This server-based management platform unlocks SD-WAN features on supported hardware, including the Vigor2865Lax-5G. SD-WAN is a practical choice for businesses with remote staff, offering secure and flexible access to company resources from home or while traveling.
There’s a lot to unpack, but overall the Vigor2865Lax-5G offers a well-rounded mix of modern wireless, fixed-line, and cellular connectivity in a single, business-ready device without jumping to enterprise price tiers.
But don’t take my word for it – the DrayTek website has online demos available that let you poke around the interface and explore the features yourself. I highly recommend you take a look, as I don’t have the space here to cover everything the 2865Lax-5G can do. Check out the 2865 series demo at http://eu.draytek.com:22865/.
DrayTek also makes it easy to give VigorACS a try, and buying a compatible device means you get a free 30-day trial. Or, if you want to take a look right now, there’s also an online demo.
Features: 4.5 / 5
DrayTek Vigor2865Lax-5G: Performance
The Vigor2865Lax-5G has a variety of easy to read status lights on the front panel (Image credit: Future)
Excellent failover and load balancing
Useful hardware acceleration
Decent performance for the spec
Getting the Vigor2865Lax-5G up and running was straightforward and entirely handled through the web interface. For basic setups it’s quick, but once you start digging into more advanced features, the interface does get dense. That said, DrayTek provides an excellent range of support materials, including detailed manuals, step-by-step guides and a knowledge base that is very helpful if you get stuck.
DrayTek also has an app available, and while I preferred the web interface, it lets you handle most of the setup and control, with some limitations for the more advanced configuration changes, diagnostics and firmware updates.
For hands-on testing, I slotted the 2865Lax-5G into a mixed network that included DrayTek access points, a Vigor switch, a NAS, IP cameras and a wide variety of connected devices. I tested with both 5G as the primary WAN, and as a backup, combined with a connection via the WAN port. The router handled multiple WAN sources without issue and automatic failover and load balancing worked as expected.
Testing in Australia, I used a Telstra data SIM on the 5G network with high signal strength. At peak, downloads reached 304 Mbps and uploads hit 121 Mbps, with latency averaging around 35 ms. I ran the 5G as my primary connection for a week, and had no issues at all, even with sustained high throughput. As mentioned earlier, the cellular modem uses an internal USB 2.0 connection, which limits the maximum bandwidth to no more than about 400 Mbps. Considering the modem is capable of much more, this is a potential bottleneck for the future, but in the real world right now not many setups would sustain more than this anyway. Load balancing across 5G and WAN during this test worked reliably, with the router distributing traffic as needed.
The Vigor2865Lax-5G includes a 1Gbps LAN/WAN port, plus 4x 1 GbE ports and an RJ11 DSL port (Image credit: Future)
Wi-Fi performance was solid overall. Mesh setup with other DrayTek access points was fast using the built-in wizard. Once connected, mesh handover between nodes worked well. At short range on a Wi-Fi 7 laptop, I measured top speeds of 578 Mbps. Two internal walls dropped that down to 404 Mbps, and at a distance of ten meters it managed 377 Mbps.
That’s a respectable result for Wi-Fi 6, though not exceptional, and at longer range, performance was decent but nothing spectacular – likely due to the relatively low-gain stock antennas. For those who want to optimize wireless coverage, DrayTek offers optional higher-gain and directional patch antennas that can help improve the experience in more demanding spaces.
I also tested with large network file transfers, though these were capped by the speed of the Gigabit LAN ports. As the LAN/WAN port is also Gigabit Ethernet, the router won’t suit faster 1Gbps+ internet connections.
Overall, the Vigor2865Lax-5G handled everything I threw at it with aplomb, and there were no failures or even hiccups, to report. Bandwidth allocation, VPN tunnels, VLAN separation and WAN prioritization all worked exactly as described and managing the wider test network of DrayTek devices through the 2865’s interface was straightforward.
Of course, getting the router set up the way you want takes time, but once configured, the Vigor2865Lax-5G is a workhorse, and gives stable multi-WAN connectivity with the added benefit of built-in 5G for backups and in the field connections.
Performance: 4 / 5
DrayTek Vigor2865Lax-5G: Final verdict
The Vigor2865Lax-5G is a capable and well-rounded router that brings built-in 5G to the already versatile 2865 router series. For businesses without access to fiber, or those needing a reliable backup or mobile WAN option, the combination of VDSL2, Ethernet WAN, 5G and even USB 4G fallback makes it a very flexible option.
While some of the hardware is not cutting-edge, performance is solid overall with no issues encountered during testing. Hardware acceleration gives the router enough throughput to comfortably handle high network usage, VPN connections, load balancing and a range of management and QoS options without choking under pressure. It is limited by its Gigabit-only ports, so it will not suit offices with multi-gigabit fiber plans, but for typical SME use cases, it has more than enough headroom.
It’s important to reiterate that the 2865Lax-5G works best when used as part of a wider DrayTek setup. With support for managing access points, switches and full integration with the VigorACS management platform, it becomes a practical core device for branch offices, mobile sites, or retail networks. SD-WAN functionality, VPN policy control and centralized monitoring all add significant value for those who need a lot of flexibility.
DrayTek continues to deliver strong support and the router is backed by extensive online documentation, setup guides and a responsive help site, which makes it easier to unlock the full range of features. While the web interface and app are not exactly glamorous, both are reliable, easy-to-use interfaces with excellent depth of control.
There are some limits to be aware of, like the lack of multi-gig ports, USB 2.0 connections and old Wi-Fi 6 spec, but these are understandable trade-offs at this price point. So if your business needs dependable, multi-WAN connectivity and 5G as part of its network, the Vigor2865Lax-5G delivers exactly what it promises with very little fuss.
Should you buy the DrayTek Vigor2865Lax-5G?
Value
Well priced for the fairly unique set of features
4 / 5
Design
Simple yet effective
4 / 5
Features
Loads of business-focused features that give excellent management and internet redundancy options
4.5 / 5
Performance
Some limits due to the hardware chosen but well suited to its target audience.
4 / 5
Overall
A versatile modem-router that will suit small to medium businesses with varied networking needs
4 / 5
Buy it if...
You need a fast primary or backup 5G connection The dual SIM 5G makes for very cheap yet versatile backups, or enables high-speed connections where there are no wired options.
Your business uses an FTTN or copper-based connection The built-in modem with 35b Supervectoring support means you can max out the VDSL speeds, while ADSL2+ backward compatibility is still surprisingly important in many regions.
Don't buy it if...
You don’t need the VDSL modem For those who want the 5G and the other WAN options, but don’t need the built-in DSL modem, consider options like the DrayTek Vigor2927Lax-5G instead.
You don't need a cellular connection Having built-in 5G backup is fantastic, but if you don’t need it, then the DrayTek Vigor2865ax has all the same features (minus the cellular connection) for half the price.
German manufacturer Bosch has been a long-standing name in home appliances since it released its first refrigerator back in 1933. So, it's no surprise that the company finally took the plunge into the lucrative air fryer market with the release of the Bosch Series 6 Air Fryer.
You'd perhaps forgive Bosch for having some teething issues with its first-ever air, but the Series 6 has very few. Instead of prioritizing a surplus of extra cooking programs, modes, and features, the Series 6 offers a more streamlined experience, focusing on the quality of life features and cooking programs the average user needs rather than unnecessary add-ons.
The Bosch Series 6 doesn't have dozens of modes, but those it does offer produced consistently good results (Image credit: Vic Hood)
There are eight cooking programs, which cover the most typical food types cooked in an air fryer: Keep Warm, French Fries, Poultry, Meat, Fish, Vegetables, Bread, and Small Pastries (because who doesn't love an air-fried croissant?) We found each program to cook food consistently well, though some tweaking may be required for taste, especially when it comes to meats.
These programs are straightforward to use thanks to the air fryer's clear touch controls, while a handful of quality-of-life features make the Series 6 a joy to use. Its illuminated drawer and window allow you to check food without letting out heat, its Shake alert lets out clear, loud chirps, and its included grill rack and skewers allow you to grill food with ease. It's also generally easy to clean with minimal elbow grease and fairly compact given its 7.2-liter capacity.
The included grill rack and skewers make cooking easy (Image credit: Vic Hood)
While the Series 6 is a great appliance overall, it's not perfect. It's one of the louder air fryers this reviewer has tested (hitting 68dB in some cases), and removing the aforementioned metal grill rack and skewers from the basket safely can prove a bit of a struggle. We'd also have loved for the aforementioned grill rack to be securable within the basket to prevent rubbing on the non-stick plate. We also found that it struggled to balance keeping chicken moist inside while crispy outside.
These are minor issues, however, and the Bosch Series 6 Air Fryer provides an excellent experience otherwise. Though it is perhaps more suited to smaller households or those who only wish to cook one food item at a time.
Bosch Series 6 air fryer: price and availability
Price: £159.99 (roughly $212.58 / AU$329.16)
Available in the UK, but not available in the US and Australia
Unfortunately, this appliance isn't currently available in the U.S. or Australia, but those in the UK can purchase it from Bosch directly or a range of trusted third-party retailers, such as Argos and Amazon.
If its current price tag is a little over your budget, don't fret. Regular discounts at Bosch and other retailers see this air fryer's price dropping to around the £100 mark, saving you nearly £60 on the usual RRP.
Value score: 5/5
Bosch Series 6 air fryer: specifications
Review model
MAF671B1GB
Number of baskets
1
Number of cooking programs
8
Cooking programs
Bread, Fish, French Fries, Keep Warm, Meat, Small Pastries, Poultry, Vegetables
Extra functions
Shake signal
Smart control
No
Wattage
1,800W
Capacity
7.6 quarts / 7.2 liters
Temperature range
104F-392F / 40C-200C
Time range
1 min-2 hours, up to 8 hours on keep warm or 40C-80C
Dimensions (including handles)
12.4 x 12.2 x 15.3in / 314 x 309 x 388mm
Dishwasher-safe
Yes
Weight
13lbs / 5.9kg
Bosch Series 6 air fryer: design
7.2-liter capacity, but fairly combat
Illuminated drawer basket with window
Removable handle
Comes with metal grill rack and five skewers
The Bosch Series 6 offers a 7.2L capacity in a relatively compact design (compared to its competitors). The body of this air fryer is glossy black, with a silver rim around the top, a single drawer basket, and a removable handle. The touchscreen interface is easy to use, with the temperature adjustable in five-degree intervals.
The drawer is illuminated, meaning a light (which you can turn off and on at the touch of a button) comes on when you remove it, and thanks to an oven-like window, you can easily check your food without stopping the cooking process.
The drawer is illuminated, and the fryer has a clear window so you can check on your food during cooking (Image credit: Vic Hood)
The included physical user manual is thorough, making it easy to set up and use this appliance – even if you're a beginner. A physical food guide is also included, which provides a rough cooking guide and tips for each of the air fryer's eight programs. We do wish the food guide were slightly more detailed and included more food types, especially when it comes to cooking vegetables.
The food guide does come with a QR code, though, that leads you to a Quick Start Guide that features a handful of excellent recipes for this specific air fryer. We just wish there were more of them.
The basket and its crisper plate are dishwasher-safe, though we generally prefer to hand-wash anything with a non-stick coating (Image credit: Vic Hood)
This air fryer also comes with a metal grill rack accessory and five skewers that fit into the grill rack. These are a welcome addition for grilling, but we found removing the hot grill rack difficult after cooking due to the depth of the basket and its metal design. We also wish the grill rack could be locked into the basket's plate to avoid it moving around and potentially damaging the plate's non-stick coating long-term.
While the 7.2L basket is a bit bulky, it's easy to hand wash with minimal elbow grease – though, inside the window is slightly trickier to reach. Fortunately, the basket and its plate are dishwasher-proof, though we at TechRadar tend to recommend hand washing anything with a non-stick coat.
The main design drawback of this air fryer is its volume. We logged a max 68dB reading when the appliance was running at its maximum temperature, making it loud enough that we couldn't hear our kitchen TV and could hear it from our living room next door. This is particularly loud for an air fryer (based on those we've tested) and several decibels louder than the 63dB Bosch claims.
Design score: 4/5
Bosch Series 6 air fryer: performance
Quality performance across cooking programs
Useful Shake alert
Some foods could be crispier
We found the Bosch Series 6 air fryer performed consistently well across its eight cooking programs: Bread, Fish, French Fries, Keep Warm, Meat, Small Pastries, Poultry, and Vegetables.
We started our testing with 500g of frozen fries , utilizing the air fryer's French Fries preset, while tweaking the time slightly as recommended by the food guide. After 23 minutes, we had fairly evenly cooked fries (a couple were slightly over for my taste), but overall, the fries were fluffy inside and golden outside.
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A couple of the frozen fries were slightly overdone for my liking, but for the most part they were golden and crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside (Image credit: Vic Hood)
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Home-made fries turned out well too, and unlike some other air fryers, the Bosch didn't burn the ends (Image credit: Vic Hood)
Following the frozen fries, we tried 700g of handmade fries, soaked and with one tablespoon of oil, on the same setting, using the exact preset time and temperature. Again, the fries were fluffy inside and golden outside but could have been a little crispier. Unlike other air fryers, however, the Bosch Series 6 didn't leave our fries with overdone ends – a common issue we've encountered with testing.
Next, we tested the grill and skewer accessories. We loaded up each of the five skewers with chicken, onion, tomato, and peppers – but may have overloaded them a little as the five skewers struggled to fit beside each other. My advice: make sure your cuts of veggies and meat are smaller to avoid this.
Make sure the meat and vegetable pieces threaded onto the skewers aren't too large (Image credit: Vic Hood)
The skewers sit on indents in the grill rack, which is placed in the basket. We've mentioned our issues with the grill rack generally, but despite the overcrowding, we found our skewers cooked well on the Poultry preset, though some of the vegetables were becoming overdone and the chicken slightly overdone, so we had to remove them a few minutes early. You likely need to adjust this timing based on what you skewer.
We also tried cooking a couple of chicken breasts on the grill rack (with some seasoning and a tablespoon of oil) on the Poultry preset. They came out slightly dry and with not quite enough crisp on the outside for our taste, but overall very tasty.
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Chicken turned out tender, though the outside wasn't quite as crisp as I would have liked (Image credit: Vic Hood)
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Chicken turned out tender, though the outside wasn't quite as crisp as I would have liked (Image credit: Vic Hood)
We had this same crisping issue with drumsticks prepared using a Bosch recipe and dry-rubbed wings (my go-to Cosori recipe), both cooked well and were juicy inside, but the skin didn't crisp up quite enough. The pre-baked petit pains we cooked on the Bread preset, too were soft inside, but not quite crunchy enough outside.
The Bosch recipes are a great starting point for this air fryer, and we particularly enjoyed its roasted cauliflower and egg omelette muffin recipes (both turned out perfect). The apple turnover recipe, while very tasty, resulted in turnovers with overly soggy bottoms – though that's likely down to chef error on my part.
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Roasted cauliflower turned out brilliantly (Image credit: Vic Hood)
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Bosch's recipe for omelette muffins was a success as well (Image credit: Vic Hood)
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Apple turnover wasn't such a success, but that may have been due to user error (Image credit: Vic Hood)
Other presets may require some tweaking of the timings. Sausages on the Beef preset were slightly underdone after seven minutes, which may be down to the fact that they were chunky Cumberlands.
Vegetables, too, like most air fryers, require some experimentation. The food guide isn't very detailed on how long to cook certain vegetables and just covers "Grilled Vegetables." While this was the perfect preset for my chantanay carrots, my broccoli, onions and peppers needed to be removed early to avoid becoming too charred. Again, this is something we've encountered with several air fryers.
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Our sausages were a little underdone at the end of the cooking time, but that may be because they were particularly chunky (Image credit: Vic Hood)
Now, if you've read our air fryer reviews before, you'll know we love an air fryer that can bake. The Bosch Series 6 can manage that feat for small cakes and muffins, so we used our usual Ninja muffin recipe with the Muffin preset to test its capabilities. It was perhaps the best result I've had for this test, with the muffins perfectly golden on top, not too dry inside, and little to no overspill.
Overall, the Bosch Series 6 performs brilliantly; however, you may need to experiment a bit to get the right balance of crispness and doneness for certain foods.
Performance score: 4.5/5
Should you buy the Bosch Series 6 air fryer?
Bosch Series 6 Air Fryer report card
Attribute
Notes
Score
Value
This air fryer is excellent value for its price tag, and thanks to regular sales, you can pick it up for closer to £100.
5/5
Design
The design is pretty compact for its 7.2L capacity, plus it's easy to use and clean. While the accompanying grill rack and skewers are welcome accessories, we wish they could lock into the basket plate and were easier to remove after cooking. This is also one of the louder air fryers we've reviewed.
4/5
Performance
Performance across all eight cooking programs is solid, though some foods could be slightly crispier on the outside. You may need to experiment a bit for optimal results on certain presets.
4.5/5
Buy it if
You want a decent capacity air fryer, but haven't space for a dual-basket
The Bosch Series 6's 7.2L capacity is pretty sizeable, and while it's not compact enough to be counted as a small air fryer, it's nowhere near as big as some competitors. Plus, the handles are detachable, making it slightly easier to store.
You're looking for a solid, budget air fryer
With its £159.99 price tag, the Bosch Series 6 is already great value for money, but regular discounts see that price knocked down to roughly £100, making it an ideal choice for those on a £100 budget.
You want a streamlined air frying experience
The Bosch Series 6 is a great entry-level air fryer for those who want a straightforward, streamlined experience. It comes with enough features to make it pleasant to use without overwhelming you with extras.
Don't buy it if
You want to cook more than one food at once
The Bosch Series 6's capacity means you can fit a decent amount of food in, but if you've got a larger household that plans to make larger quantities or food or you want to cook more than one type of food at once, you may struggle with this.
You want a bunch of extras
This is down to personal preference. While this air fryer comes with a grill rack, it only air fries, and the cooking programs cover the basics. If you want features like smart control, synced cooking, or different cooking modes (like grilling and steaming), then this may not be the best choice for you.
How I tested the Bosch Series 6 air fryer
I used the Bosch Series 6 air fryer for a week, cooking a wide variety of foods including fries, sausages, fresh vegetables, and pastries. I tested all the air fryer's various modes and cleaned the air fryer in line with the instructions provided in the manual. For more details, see how we test, rate, and review products at TechRadar.
German manufacturer Bosch has been a long-standing name in home appliances since it released its first refrigerator back in 1933. So, it's no surprise that the company finally took the plunge into the lucrative air fryer market with the release of the Bosch Series 6 Air Fryer.
You'd perhaps forgive Bosch for having some teething issues with its first-ever air, but the Series 6 has very few. Instead of prioritizing a surplus of extra cooking programs, modes, and features, the Series 6 offers a more streamlined experience, focusing on the quality of life features and cooking programs the average user needs rather than unnecessary add-ons.
The Bosch Series 6 doesn't have dozens of modes, but those it does offer produced consistently good results (Image credit: Vic Hood)
There are eight cooking programs, which cover the most typical food types cooked in an air fryer: Keep Warm, French Fries, Poultry, Meat, Fish, Vegetables, Bread, and Small Pastries (because who doesn't love an air-fried croissant?) We found each program to cook food consistently well, though some tweaking may be required for taste, especially when it comes to meats.
These programs are straightforward to use thanks to the air fryer's clear touch controls, while a handful of quality-of-life features make the Series 6 a joy to use. Its illuminated drawer and window allow you to check food without letting out heat, its Shake alert lets out clear, loud chirps, and its included grill rack and skewers allow you to grill food with ease. It's also generally easy to clean with minimal elbow grease and fairly compact given its 7.2-liter capacity.
The included grill rack and skewers make cooking easy (Image credit: Vic Hood)
While the Series 6 is a great appliance overall, it's not perfect. It's one of the louder air fryers this reviewer has tested (hitting 68dB in some cases), and removing the aforementioned metal grill rack and skewers from the basket safely can prove a bit of a struggle. We'd also have loved for the aforementioned grill rack to be securable within the basket to prevent rubbing on the non-stick plate. We also found that it struggled to balance keeping chicken moist inside while crispy outside.
These are minor issues, however, and the Bosch Series 6 Air Fryer provides an excellent experience otherwise. Though it is perhaps more suited to smaller households or those who only wish to cook one food item at a time.
Bosch Series 6 air fryer: price and availability
Price: £159.99 (roughly $212.58 / AU$329.16)
Available in the UK, but not available in the US and Australia
Unfortunately, this appliance isn't currently available in the U.S. or Australia, but those in the UK can purchase it from Bosch directly or a range of trusted third-party retailers, such as Argos and Amazon.
If its current price tag is a little over your budget, don't fret. Regular discounts at Bosch and other retailers see this air fryer's price dropping to around the £100 mark, saving you nearly £60 on the usual RRP.
Value score: 5/5
Bosch Series 6 air fryer: specifications
Review model
MAF671B1GB
Number of baskets
1
Number of cooking programs
8
Cooking programs
Bread, Fish, French Fries, Keep Warm, Meat, Small Pastries, Poultry, Vegetables
Extra functions
Shake signal
Smart control
No
Wattage
1,800W
Capacity
7.6 quarts / 7.2 liters
Temperature range
104F-392F / 40C-200C
Time range
1 min-2 hours, up to 8 hours on keep warm or 40C-80C
Dimensions (including handles)
12.4 x 12.2 x 15.3in / 314 x 309 x 388mm
Dishwasher-safe
Yes
Weight
13lbs / 5.9kg
Bosch Series 6 air fryer: design
7.2-liter capacity, but fairly combat
Illuminated drawer basket with window
Removable handle
Comes with metal grill rack and five skewers
The Bosch Series 6 offers a 7.2L capacity in a relatively compact design (compared to its competitors). The body of this air fryer is glossy black, with a silver rim around the top, a single drawer basket, and a removable handle. The touchscreen interface is easy to use, with the temperature adjustable in five-degree intervals.
The drawer is illuminated, meaning a light (which you can turn off and on at the touch of a button) comes on when you remove it, and thanks to an oven-like window, you can easily check your food without stopping the cooking process.
The drawer is illuminated, and the fryer has a clear window so you can check on your food during cooking (Image credit: Vic Hood)
The included physical user manual is thorough, making it easy to set up and use this appliance – even if you're a beginner. A physical food guide is also included, which provides a rough cooking guide and tips for each of the air fryer's eight programs. We do wish the food guide were slightly more detailed and included more food types, especially when it comes to cooking vegetables.
The food guide does come with a QR code, though, that leads you to a Quick Start Guide that features a handful of excellent recipes for this specific air fryer. We just wish there were more of them.
The basket and its crisper plate are dishwasher-safe, though we generally prefer to hand-wash anything with a non-stick coating (Image credit: Vic Hood)
This air fryer also comes with a metal grill rack accessory and five skewers that fit into the grill rack. These are a welcome addition for grilling, but we found removing the hot grill rack difficult after cooking due to the depth of the basket and its metal design. We also wish the grill rack could be locked into the basket's plate to avoid it moving around and potentially damaging the plate's non-stick coating long-term.
While the 7.2L basket is a bit bulky, it's easy to hand wash with minimal elbow grease – though, inside the window is slightly trickier to reach. Fortunately, the basket and its plate are dishwasher-proof, though we at TechRadar tend to recommend hand washing anything with a non-stick coat.
The main design drawback of this air fryer is its volume. We logged a max 68dB reading when the appliance was running at its maximum temperature, making it loud enough that we couldn't hear our kitchen TV and could hear it from our living room next door. This is particularly loud for an air fryer (based on those we've tested) and several decibels louder than the 63dB Bosch claims.
Design score: 4/5
Bosch Series 6 air fryer: performance
Quality performance across cooking programs
Useful Shake alert
Some foods could be crispier
We found the Bosch Series 6 air fryer performed consistently well across its eight cooking programs: Bread, Fish, French Fries, Keep Warm, Meat, Small Pastries, Poultry, and Vegetables.
We started our testing with 500g of frozen fries , utilizing the air fryer's French Fries preset, while tweaking the time slightly as recommended by the food guide. After 23 minutes, we had fairly evenly cooked fries (a couple were slightly over for my taste), but overall, the fries were fluffy inside and golden outside.
Image 1 of 2
A couple of the frozen fries were slightly overdone for my liking, but for the most part they were golden and crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside (Image credit: Vic Hood)
Image 2 of 2
Home-made fries turned out well too, and unlike some other air fryers, the Bosch didn't burn the ends (Image credit: Vic Hood)
Following the frozen fries, we tried 700g of handmade fries, soaked and with one tablespoon of oil, on the same setting, using the exact preset time and temperature. Again, the fries were fluffy inside and golden outside but could have been a little crispier. Unlike other air fryers, however, the Bosch Series 6 didn't leave our fries with overdone ends – a common issue we've encountered with testing.
Next, we tested the grill and skewer accessories. We loaded up each of the five skewers with chicken, onion, tomato, and peppers – but may have overloaded them a little as the five skewers struggled to fit beside each other. My advice: make sure your cuts of veggies and meat are smaller to avoid this.
Make sure the meat and vegetable pieces threaded onto the skewers aren't too large (Image credit: Vic Hood)
The skewers sit on indents in the grill rack, which is placed in the basket. We've mentioned our issues with the grill rack generally, but despite the overcrowding, we found our skewers cooked well on the Poultry preset, though some of the vegetables were becoming overdone and the chicken slightly overdone, so we had to remove them a few minutes early. You likely need to adjust this timing based on what you skewer.
We also tried cooking a couple of chicken breasts on the grill rack (with some seasoning and a tablespoon of oil) on the Poultry preset. They came out slightly dry and with not quite enough crisp on the outside for our taste, but overall very tasty.
Image 1 of 2
Chicken turned out tender, though the outside wasn't quite as crisp as I would have liked (Image credit: Vic Hood)
Image 2 of 2
Chicken turned out tender, though the outside wasn't quite as crisp as I would have liked (Image credit: Vic Hood)
We had this same crisping issue with drumsticks prepared using a Bosch recipe and dry-rubbed wings (my go-to Cosori recipe), both cooked well and were juicy inside, but the skin didn't crisp up quite enough. The pre-baked petit pains we cooked on the Bread preset, too were soft inside, but not quite crunchy enough outside.
The Bosch recipes are a great starting point for this air fryer, and we particularly enjoyed its roasted cauliflower and egg omelette muffin recipes (both turned out perfect). The apple turnover recipe, while very tasty, resulted in turnovers with overly soggy bottoms – though that's likely down to chef error on my part.
Image 1 of 3
Roasted cauliflower turned out brilliantly (Image credit: Vic Hood)
Image 2 of 3
Bosch's recipe for omelette muffins was a success as well (Image credit: Vic Hood)
Image 3 of 3
Apple turnover wasn't such a success, but that may have been due to user error (Image credit: Vic Hood)
Other presets may require some tweaking of the timings. Sausages on the Beef preset were slightly underdone after seven minutes, which may be down to the fact that they were chunky Cumberlands.
Vegetables, too, like most air fryers, require some experimentation. The food guide isn't very detailed on how long to cook certain vegetables and just covers "Grilled Vegetables." While this was the perfect preset for my chantanay carrots, my broccoli, onions and peppers needed to be removed early to avoid becoming too charred. Again, this is something we've encountered with several air fryers.
Image 1 of 1
Our sausages were a little underdone at the end of the cooking time, but that may be because they were particularly chunky (Image credit: Vic Hood)
Now, if you've read our air fryer reviews before, you'll know we love an air fryer that can bake. The Bosch Series 6 can manage that feat for small cakes and muffins, so we used our usual Ninja muffin recipe with the Muffin preset to test its capabilities. It was perhaps the best result I've had for this test, with the muffins perfectly golden on top, not too dry inside, and little to no overspill.
Overall, the Bosch Series 6 performs brilliantly; however, you may need to experiment a bit to get the right balance of crispness and doneness for certain foods.
Performance score: 4.5/5
Should you buy the Bosch Series 6 air fryer?
Bosch Series 6 Air Fryer report card
Attribute
Notes
Score
Value
This air fryer is excellent value for its price tag, and thanks to regular sales, you can pick it up for closer to £100.
5/5
Design
The design is pretty compact for its 7.2L capacity, plus it's easy to use and clean. While the accompanying grill rack and skewers are welcome accessories, we wish they could lock into the basket plate and were easier to remove after cooking. This is also one of the louder air fryers we've reviewed.
4/5
Performance
Performance across all eight cooking programs is solid, though some foods could be slightly crispier on the outside. You may need to experiment a bit for optimal results on certain presets.
4.5/5
Buy it if
You want a decent capacity air fryer, but haven't space for a dual-basket
The Bosch Series 6's 7.2L capacity is pretty sizeable, and while it's not compact enough to be counted as a small air fryer, it's nowhere near as big as some competitors. Plus, the handles are detachable, making it slightly easier to store.
You're looking for a solid, budget air fryer
With its £159.99 price tag, the Bosch Series 6 is already great value for money, but regular discounts see that price knocked down to roughly £100, making it an ideal choice for those on a £100 budget.
You want a streamlined air frying experience
The Bosch Series 6 is a great entry-level air fryer for those who want a straightforward, streamlined experience. It comes with enough features to make it pleasant to use without overwhelming you with extras.
Don't buy it if
You want to cook more than one food at once
The Bosch Series 6's capacity means you can fit a decent amount of food in, but if you've got a larger household that plans to make larger quantities or food or you want to cook more than one type of food at once, you may struggle with this.
You want a bunch of extras
This is down to personal preference. While this air fryer comes with a grill rack, it only air fries, and the cooking programs cover the basics. If you want features like smart control, synced cooking, or different cooking modes (like grilling and steaming), then this may not be the best choice for you.
How I tested the Bosch Series 6 air fryer
I used the Bosch Series 6 air fryer for a week, cooking a wide variety of foods including fries, sausages, fresh vegetables, and pastries. I tested all the air fryer's various modes and cleaned the air fryer in line with the instructions provided in the manual. For more details, see how we test, rate, and review products at TechRadar.
The Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 is a very capable projector. It comes in one of the more stylish designs I’ve seen for this class of projector, separating itself even from the latest group of more design-conscious models.
The Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 features a powerful RGB laser projection system that beams a bright enough picture for use in different environments. Its color is excellent, and it benefits from an optical zoom for more flexible placement.
For gamers, the VisionMaster Pro 2 can switch to a low-latency mode or even drop down to 1080p resolution to run at 240Hz. Alas, its speakers don’t quite live up to the visual performance, but that’s typical even for the best projectors.
All that capability comes at a price, with the VisionMaster Pro 2 listed for $2,999. This places it on the high end for this type of compact enthusiast home projector, even surpassing the Hisense C2 Ultra, which is nearly as capable and features an integrated gimbal stand and an additional speaker. Because of that, I’d point most people to the Hisense instead, but the VisionMaster Pro 2 still has the edge in terms of connectivity and looks, and it doesn’t disappoint when it comes to picture quality.
Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 review: Price & release date
Valerion's remote control is larger and more polished-looking than the ones you’ll typically find on Android and Google TV projectors (Image credit: Future)
Release date: December 2024
Price: $2,999
The Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 was released at the end of 2024. It launched with a price of $2,999, but has seen some discounts since then, including the July Amazon Prime Day sales event, where it dropped to the $2,599 range. The VisionMaster Pro 2 is available directly from Valerion as well as from Amazon.
A mute switch is provided on the projector's top surface for turning off the built-in mic used for Google voice commands (Image credit: Future)
Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 review: Design & features
The projector's extensive connections include two HDMI 2.1 ports plus a third with HDMI eARC support (Image credit: Future)
Elegant design with a simple kickstand
Built-in speakers and Google TV
Optical zoom
The Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 is gorgeously built. It has a metal chassis with ribs wrapping all around the sides and top of the device, giving it the appearance of a metal heat sink. The front and back are simpler, flat slabs of what feels like high-quality plastic (almost to the point that it could be glass).
Interestingly, Valerion includes a cover on the back to conceal its ports. This does give it a cleaner look, but only when it’s not in use, as you can’t even plug in the power if the cover is in place.
The VisionMaster Pro 2 includes a simple, heavy-duty foot underneath near the front that can prop it up to adjust the angle, and the back has two more little feet that can screw out to adjust the tilt. This isn’t quite as useful as the gimbal stands found on some competitors like the Hisense C2 Ultra, but Valerion does sell a quality metal unit of its own (a $139 option) that can attach to the VisionMaster Pro 2 and give it full-range tilting capabilities, and even the option to flip completely upside-down — helpful if you’re doing a mantel or bookshelf placement).
While the gimbal or foot can help adjust the projection somewhat, the projector’s optical zoom can be even more useful. This lets the VisionMaster Pro 2 shift from a 0.9:1 throw ratio up to 1.5:1. The projector can perform plenty of automated setup adjustments, like focus, keystone correction, and obstacle avoidance as well.
The VisionMaster Pro 2 supports the Dolby Vision and HDR10+ high dynamic range formats and is IMAX Enhanced. The projector offers Wi-Fi 6E connectivity for fast and stable wireless networking, though Ethernet is also available.
For this class of projector, the VisionMaster Pro 2 has a surprising selection of ports. Where many competitors would offer just two HDMI ports, the VisionMaster Pro 2 has three: two HDMI 2.1 and one HDMI 2.0 with eARC support. There’s also a 3.5mm audio jack, an optical digital audio output, and two USB-A ports for data or powering dongles.
Like other laser projectors, the VisionMaster Pro 2 has an eye protection feature that is meant to dim the laser if someone stands in its path. But this feature proved incredibly inconsistent in my use. Sometimes the system's eye protection feature activates for no reason, and other times it's not nearly sensitive enough about things obviously out in front of it. Even when it seems to be working as intended, it’s rather slow to kick in.
To get up and running quickly, the projector offers Google TV and has a pair of built-in speakers, giving you everything you need to start streaming. And since this is the kind of projector you might take on the go, Valerion has included a carrying case made out of rigid styrofoam.
Valerion has put a bit of extra effort into its remote control, which is larger and more polished-looking than you’ll typically find on Android and Google TV projectors. It offers the standard navigation controls, a Google Assistant button, volume buttons, shortcuts to a handful of streaming services, and a dedicated input source button. There’s even some backlighting, but it doesn’t cover all of the buttons. The volume buttons are also not differentiated from a handful of other buttons, so you can’t just feel them out without also memorizing where they are.
The projector can also listen for voice commands, responding to a quick “Hey, Google.” And if you don’t want the projector to listen, there’s a mute switch on the top.
Design & features score: 4/5
Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 review: Picture & sound quality
An RGB laser light engine gives the picture the potential for dazzling color (Image credit: Future)
Bright and colorful picture
Strong contrast
Smooth-running operating system
The Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 beams an excellent-looking picture. It's plenty bright for even fairly well-lit rooms, though dark scenes don’t look as good. It also has strong contrast that can be further enhanced by changing some of the default picture settings.
The triple-laser light source has the same advantages I’ve seen from other projectors like the Hisense C2 Ultra and Hisense PX3-Pro, giving the picture the potential for truly dazzling color. The VisionMaster Pro 2 isn’t inclined to overdo the color in its main HDR and SDR picture presets, however, instead keeping it more balanced and natural.
Like many other projectors, the VisionMaster Pro 2 comes out of the box with some unfortunate motion smoothing enabled. This may serve to smooth out panning shots in movies, but it also introduces so many weird motion artifacts that it calls for disabling. The lowest motion setting, Film, avoids the most distracting artifacts while still looking smooth with camera movement. The projector also provides an option to customize the motion smoothing with two adjustable settings, letting you dial it in as you like.
Black levels are decently low, but not low enough that the letterbox bars in widescreen movies look truly black. But with a few tweaks to the settings, specifically enabling active contrast and dynamic laser luminance, the overall brightness can dim down for wonderfully deep black levels in dark scenes. This doesn’t play well with subtitles, however, as they’ll sometimes brighten the picture up.
The display is also up to snuff for gaming. It can deliver 4K 60Hz with reasonably low input lag in its game mode. And for those who want to really dial up the gaming performance, it can drop down to 1080p and run at up to 240Hz for ultra-smooth visuals.
Two adjustable feet can be used for tilt correction during setup (Image credit: Future)
The speakers inside the VisionMaster Pro 2 aren’t bad, putting out enough sound to fill a small room. They sound fairly full, too, but there’s little getting around the narrow soundstage they present. Even simple stereo sound isn’t presented well. And occasionally, deeper voices can sound a little resonant, giving them an unnatural quality.
One easy-to-overlook aspect of projector performance that the VisionMaster Pro 2 deserves credit for is its operating system. It runs Google TV like many other projectors, but appears to have a faster processor and more memory to help it run smoother than some of its competition. This makes it much easier to use the projector, whether you’re browsing Google TV or just want to quickly switch over to another input.
Picture and sound quality score: 4/5
Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 review: Value
The projector's sturdy styrofoam case can be used for transport (Image credit: Future)
Highly integrated package
On the expensive end for projectors in this class
All-in-one design enhances value
The Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 is expensive, but you get a lot for that money. It presents a more colorful and bigger image than most TVs, and compared to 100-inch TVs, it’s not so expensive. That said, it is on the expensive side for this category of projector. The Hisense C2 Ultra is just as pricey, though it has an integrated gimbal stand. It has also seen more discounts in the time since its launch than the VisionMaster Pro 2 has.
Still, the VisionMaster Pro 2 can do plenty. Its projection system is flexible, and it’s good for casual viewing in bright rooms, while delivering cinematic quality in dark rooms. You can opt for 4K with broad HDR support or zoom along at 1080p 240Hz for high-speed gaming. Also, having the Google TV smart TV system baked in never hurts, especially when it runs as smoothly as it does here.
It’s just a shame the VisionMaster Pro 2’s speakers aren’t better, and that it doesn’t come with a more adjustable stand.
Value score: 4/5
Should I buy the Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2?
(Image credit: Future)
Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 review
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Design and features
Simple but elegant design, and packs plenty of features for a fully-integrated system. The remote could be better, as could the eye protection
4/5
Picture and sound quality
An excellent picture with plenty of tools to adjust it to your liking. It even runs Google TV well, but the speakers don’t keep up
4/5
Value
Faces the diminishing returns of high-end products, but is still a good value thanks to its ability to beam a huge, bright, and colorful image from an all-in-one device.
4/5
Buy it if...
You want a powerful and flexible The VisionMaster Pro 2 has an excellent projection system. It beams brightly and has rich color and strong contrast. Thanks to its zoom lens, you should have an easier time placing it without having to crop the imageView Deal
You want a gaming projector While the VisionMaster Pro 2 is fantastic for home cinema, it’s also strong for gaming. If you want a projector that can do both quite well, it has you covered.View Deal
You like your tech to be pretty One thing that sets the VisionMaster Pro 2 apart is how elegant it looks. The metal chassis is something to behold, and the remote looks pretty classy as well. View Deal
Don't buy it if...
You’re not too picky about visuals The VisionMaster Pro 2 provides an excellent picture, but it comes at a high price. If you don’t need all the brightness and color this projector offers, there are much cheaper models that can otherwise tick a lot of the same boxes.View Deal
You don’t care for Google TV For some, Google TV will be an advantage. But if you don’t need it, the Hisense C2 Ultra offers just about everything that the VisionMaster Pro 2 does, has a few extra features (like a “subwoofer” and gimbal stand), and tends to be cheaper.View Deal
You want one projector to handle everything The VisionMaster Pro 2 is brilliant as far as visuals go, and it even has a good, smooth-running streaming platform. But its speakers don;t come close to matching the projection quality.View Deal
2x HDMI 2.1 (1 with eARC), 1x USB-C (PD Out, DP In, 2x USB-A 1x 3.5mm
2x HDMI 2.1 (1 with eARC), 2x USB-A, 1x S/PDIF, Ethernet, 1x 3.5mm, Bluetooth
HDMI x2 (x1 eARC), USB-A (power), 3.5mm
BenQ GP520
At half the price, the BenQ GP520 naturally makes some trade-offs. It’s not as elegant, not as bright, not as colorful, and doesn’t have as extensive support for HDR formats. But if you just want to go big with 4K, it can do that job pretty well.
If you’re watching in a dark room anyway and don’t mind a little slower Google TV experience, the JMGO N1S Pro will let you save a good deal of money while still getting a gorgeous 4K picture from an RGB laser projection system. You’ll miss out on optical zoom and 1080p 240Hz capabilities, though.
Almost the VisionMaster Pro 2’s equal in every way (including price), the Hisense C2 Ultra is a solid alternative. It runs its own VIDAA OS, but it’s a quick one. It also has a built-in gimbal stand and a bonus “subwoofer” speaker. And since the C2 Ultra is a little bit older (don’t worry, not by much), it has had an opportunity for discounts.
Tested at home in multiple, real-world viewing conditions
Presented the display with a variety of media and formats
I have tested numerous projectors and displays over the last half-decade
I tested the Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 at home, in real-world conditions. This saw it faced with ambient light coming in from numerous windows, in-room lighting, as well as ambient noise that both the projector and speaker systems had to overcome. The projector was tested both against a bare, white wall and an Akia Screens CineWhite screen. It was presented with streamed nsd Blu-ray content, HDR and non-HDR, and PC gameplay.
My testing evaluates the projector’s performance with respect to its price and competition from other models I and colleagues at TechRadar have tested.
I have been testing projectors since 2021 and displays for even longer.
The Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 is a very capable projector. It comes in one of the more stylish designs I’ve seen for this class of projector, separating itself even from the latest group of more design-conscious models.
The Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 features a powerful RGB laser projection system that beams a bright enough picture for use in different environments. Its color is excellent, and it benefits from an optical zoom for more flexible placement.
For gamers, the VisionMaster Pro 2 can switch to a low-latency mode or even drop down to 1080p resolution to run at 240Hz. Alas, its speakers don’t quite live up to the visual performance, but that’s typical even for the best projectors.
All that capability comes at a price, with the VisionMaster Pro 2 listed for $2,999. This places it on the high end for this type of compact enthusiast home projector, even surpassing the Hisense C2 Ultra, which is nearly as capable and features an integrated gimbal stand and an additional speaker. Because of that, I’d point most people to the Hisense instead, but the VisionMaster Pro 2 still has the edge in terms of connectivity and looks, and it doesn’t disappoint when it comes to picture quality.
Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 review: Price & release date
Valerion's remote control is larger and more polished-looking than the ones you’ll typically find on Android and Google TV projectors (Image credit: Future)
Release date: December 2024
Price: $2,999
The Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 was released at the end of 2024. It launched with a price of $2,999, but has seen some discounts since then, including the July Amazon Prime Day sales event, where it dropped to the $2,599 range. The VisionMaster Pro 2 is available directly from Valerion as well as from Amazon.
A mute switch is provided on the projector's top surface for turning off the built-in mic used for Google voice commands (Image credit: Future)
Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 review: Design & features
The projector's extensive connections include two HDMI 2.1 ports plus a third with HDMI eARC support (Image credit: Future)
Elegant design with a simple kickstand
Built-in speakers and Google TV
Optical zoom
The Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 is gorgeously built. It has a metal chassis with ribs wrapping all around the sides and top of the device, giving it the appearance of a metal heat sink. The front and back are simpler, flat slabs of what feels like high-quality plastic (almost to the point that it could be glass).
Interestingly, Valerion includes a cover on the back to conceal its ports. This does give it a cleaner look, but only when it’s not in use, as you can’t even plug in the power if the cover is in place.
The VisionMaster Pro 2 includes a simple, heavy-duty foot underneath near the front that can prop it up to adjust the angle, and the back has two more little feet that can screw out to adjust the tilt. This isn’t quite as useful as the gimbal stands found on some competitors like the Hisense C2 Ultra, but Valerion does sell a quality metal unit of its own (a $139 option) that can attach to the VisionMaster Pro 2 and give it full-range tilting capabilities, and even the option to flip completely upside-down — helpful if you’re doing a mantel or bookshelf placement).
While the gimbal or foot can help adjust the projection somewhat, the projector’s optical zoom can be even more useful. This lets the VisionMaster Pro 2 shift from a 0.9:1 throw ratio up to 1.5:1. The projector can perform plenty of automated setup adjustments, like focus, keystone correction, and obstacle avoidance as well.
The VisionMaster Pro 2 supports the Dolby Vision and HDR10+ high dynamic range formats and is IMAX Enhanced. The projector offers Wi-Fi 6E connectivity for fast and stable wireless networking, though Ethernet is also available.
For this class of projector, the VisionMaster Pro 2 has a surprising selection of ports. Where many competitors would offer just two HDMI ports, the VisionMaster Pro 2 has three: two HDMI 2.1 and one HDMI 2.0 with eARC support. There’s also a 3.5mm audio jack, an optical digital audio output, and two USB-A ports for data or powering dongles.
Like other laser projectors, the VisionMaster Pro 2 has an eye protection feature that is meant to dim the laser if someone stands in its path. But this feature proved incredibly inconsistent in my use. Sometimes the system's eye protection feature activates for no reason, and other times it's not nearly sensitive enough about things obviously out in front of it. Even when it seems to be working as intended, it’s rather slow to kick in.
To get up and running quickly, the projector offers Google TV and has a pair of built-in speakers, giving you everything you need to start streaming. And since this is the kind of projector you might take on the go, Valerion has included a carrying case made out of rigid styrofoam.
Valerion has put a bit of extra effort into its remote control, which is larger and more polished-looking than you’ll typically find on Android and Google TV projectors. It offers the standard navigation controls, a Google Assistant button, volume buttons, shortcuts to a handful of streaming services, and a dedicated input source button. There’s even some backlighting, but it doesn’t cover all of the buttons. The volume buttons are also not differentiated from a handful of other buttons, so you can’t just feel them out without also memorizing where they are.
The projector can also listen for voice commands, responding to a quick “Hey, Google.” And if you don’t want the projector to listen, there’s a mute switch on the top.
Design & features score: 4/5
Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 review: Picture & sound quality
An RGB laser light engine gives the picture the potential for dazzling color (Image credit: Future)
Bright and colorful picture
Strong contrast
Smooth-running operating system
The Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 beams an excellent-looking picture. It's plenty bright for even fairly well-lit rooms, though dark scenes don’t look as good. It also has strong contrast that can be further enhanced by changing some of the default picture settings.
The triple-laser light source has the same advantages I’ve seen from other projectors like the Hisense C2 Ultra and Hisense PX3-Pro, giving the picture the potential for truly dazzling color. The VisionMaster Pro 2 isn’t inclined to overdo the color in its main HDR and SDR picture presets, however, instead keeping it more balanced and natural.
Like many other projectors, the VisionMaster Pro 2 comes out of the box with some unfortunate motion smoothing enabled. This may serve to smooth out panning shots in movies, but it also introduces so many weird motion artifacts that it calls for disabling. The lowest motion setting, Film, avoids the most distracting artifacts while still looking smooth with camera movement. The projector also provides an option to customize the motion smoothing with two adjustable settings, letting you dial it in as you like.
Black levels are decently low, but not low enough that the letterbox bars in widescreen movies look truly black. But with a few tweaks to the settings, specifically enabling active contrast and dynamic laser luminance, the overall brightness can dim down for wonderfully deep black levels in dark scenes. This doesn’t play well with subtitles, however, as they’ll sometimes brighten the picture up.
The display is also up to snuff for gaming. It can deliver 4K 60Hz with reasonably low input lag in its game mode. And for those who want to really dial up the gaming performance, it can drop down to 1080p and run at up to 240Hz for ultra-smooth visuals.
Two adjustable feet can be used for tilt correction during setup (Image credit: Future)
The speakers inside the VisionMaster Pro 2 aren’t bad, putting out enough sound to fill a small room. They sound fairly full, too, but there’s little getting around the narrow soundstage they present. Even simple stereo sound isn’t presented well. And occasionally, deeper voices can sound a little resonant, giving them an unnatural quality.
One easy-to-overlook aspect of projector performance that the VisionMaster Pro 2 deserves credit for is its operating system. It runs Google TV like many other projectors, but appears to have a faster processor and more memory to help it run smoother than some of its competition. This makes it much easier to use the projector, whether you’re browsing Google TV or just want to quickly switch over to another input.
Picture and sound quality score: 4/5
Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 review: Value
The projector's sturdy styrofoam case can be used for transport (Image credit: Future)
Highly integrated package
On the expensive end for projectors in this class
All-in-one design enhances value
The Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 is expensive, but you get a lot for that money. It presents a more colorful and bigger image than most TVs, and compared to 100-inch TVs, it’s not so expensive. That said, it is on the expensive side for this category of projector. The Hisense C2 Ultra is just as pricey, though it has an integrated gimbal stand. It has also seen more discounts in the time since its launch than the VisionMaster Pro 2 has.
Still, the VisionMaster Pro 2 can do plenty. Its projection system is flexible, and it’s good for casual viewing in bright rooms, while delivering cinematic quality in dark rooms. You can opt for 4K with broad HDR support or zoom along at 1080p 240Hz for high-speed gaming. Also, having the Google TV smart TV system baked in never hurts, especially when it runs as smoothly as it does here.
It’s just a shame the VisionMaster Pro 2’s speakers aren’t better, and that it doesn’t come with a more adjustable stand.
Value score: 4/5
Should I buy the Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2?
(Image credit: Future)
Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 review
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Design and features
Simple but elegant design, and packs plenty of features for a fully-integrated system. The remote could be better, as could the eye protection
4/5
Picture and sound quality
An excellent picture with plenty of tools to adjust it to your liking. It even runs Google TV well, but the speakers don’t keep up
4/5
Value
Faces the diminishing returns of high-end products, but is still a good value thanks to its ability to beam a huge, bright, and colorful image from an all-in-one device.
4/5
Buy it if...
You want a powerful and flexible The VisionMaster Pro 2 has an excellent projection system. It beams brightly and has rich color and strong contrast. Thanks to its zoom lens, you should have an easier time placing it without having to crop the imageView Deal
You want a gaming projector While the VisionMaster Pro 2 is fantastic for home cinema, it’s also strong for gaming. If you want a projector that can do both quite well, it has you covered.View Deal
You like your tech to be pretty One thing that sets the VisionMaster Pro 2 apart is how elegant it looks. The metal chassis is something to behold, and the remote looks pretty classy as well. View Deal
Don't buy it if...
You’re not too picky about visuals The VisionMaster Pro 2 provides an excellent picture, but it comes at a high price. If you don’t need all the brightness and color this projector offers, there are much cheaper models that can otherwise tick a lot of the same boxes.View Deal
You don’t care for Google TV For some, Google TV will be an advantage. But if you don’t need it, the Hisense C2 Ultra offers just about everything that the VisionMaster Pro 2 does, has a few extra features (like a “subwoofer” and gimbal stand), and tends to be cheaper.View Deal
You want one projector to handle everything The VisionMaster Pro 2 is brilliant as far as visuals go, and it even has a good, smooth-running streaming platform. But its speakers don;t come close to matching the projection quality.View Deal
2x HDMI 2.1 (1 with eARC), 1x USB-C (PD Out, DP In, 2x USB-A 1x 3.5mm
2x HDMI 2.1 (1 with eARC), 2x USB-A, 1x S/PDIF, Ethernet, 1x 3.5mm, Bluetooth
HDMI x2 (x1 eARC), USB-A (power), 3.5mm
BenQ GP520
At half the price, the BenQ GP520 naturally makes some trade-offs. It’s not as elegant, not as bright, not as colorful, and doesn’t have as extensive support for HDR formats. But if you just want to go big with 4K, it can do that job pretty well.
If you’re watching in a dark room anyway and don’t mind a little slower Google TV experience, the JMGO N1S Pro will let you save a good deal of money while still getting a gorgeous 4K picture from an RGB laser projection system. You’ll miss out on optical zoom and 1080p 240Hz capabilities, though.
Almost the VisionMaster Pro 2’s equal in every way (including price), the Hisense C2 Ultra is a solid alternative. It runs its own VIDAA OS, but it’s a quick one. It also has a built-in gimbal stand and a bonus “subwoofer” speaker. And since the C2 Ultra is a little bit older (don’t worry, not by much), it has had an opportunity for discounts.
Tested at home in multiple, real-world viewing conditions
Presented the display with a variety of media and formats
I have tested numerous projectors and displays over the last half-decade
I tested the Valerion VisionMaster Pro 2 at home, in real-world conditions. This saw it faced with ambient light coming in from numerous windows, in-room lighting, as well as ambient noise that both the projector and speaker systems had to overcome. The projector was tested both against a bare, white wall and an Akia Screens CineWhite screen. It was presented with streamed nsd Blu-ray content, HDR and non-HDR, and PC gameplay.
My testing evaluates the projector’s performance with respect to its price and competition from other models I and colleagues at TechRadar have tested.
I have been testing projectors since 2021 and displays for even longer.
