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Dreame Gleam Hair Dryer review
8:00 pm | December 24, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Hair Care Home Small Appliances | Comments: Off

Dreame Gleam Hair Dryer two-minute review

The $99/£80/€79 Dreame Gleam hair dryer offers a decent blend of thoughtful design, user-friendliness, and performance – especially for such a relatively cheap dryer. It’s lightweight and compact, making it comfortable to hold and easy to use. Its slim design also makes it a good travel companion, as it fits neatly into bags without taking up too much space. All of this make it a strong contender amongst the best hair dryers on the market.

Aesthetically, the Gleam has a cylindrical design, curved edges, and a soft matte finish. The main temperature and mode controls are found on the back of the handle and while this placement isn’t great for making adjustments mid-style, it's intuitive enough once you get the hang of it. By contrast, the power and speed slider, conveniently and comfortably placed within reach of your thumb, is great for quick changes between the Low and High speed settings.

In addition to these speeds, the Gleam has four heat modes – Cool, 57C Constant, Hot, and a Hot/Cold Cycle. Its 65m/s airflow delivers fast, efficient drying, even on the lower heat settings and the built-in ion technology, which releases 200 million negative ions, breaks down water molecules quickly, helping to reduce frizz and leave hair smooth and shiny.

One of my favorite features is the Cool mode, which provides a true blast of cold air. It’s fantastic for setting styles, reducing frizz, and adding extra shine. My waves and curls held their shape noticeably longer after a quick blast of cool air. By comparison, while the 57C Constant mode is great for offering gentle heat for damaged hair, I found it to be my least favorite mode. It adds a substantial amount to the drying time without drastically improving the quality and finish of your hair.

Dreame Gleam hair dryer on reviewer's dressing table

(Image credit: Future)

The best results, in terms of speed vs finish was with the Hot/Cold Cycle on High speed. Using this mode, I was able to dry my long, thin hair in under five minutes, and the result was soft, glossy, and full of life. This shine and smooth finish was even better when paired with the magnetic concentrator nozzle. This nozzle is excellent for directing the airflow precisely where you need it, making it ideal for smoothing out sections of hair. It's quite narrow, which doesn't lend itself well to drying all of your hair with the nozzle, but if you're willing to put in the extra time, it's worth it. Sadly, the Gleam doesn’t include a diffuser and this is a shame for people with naturally curly hair.

In terms of noise, the Gleam operates quietly, with a sound level that’s comfortable for most situations. It’s easy to carry on a conversation while using it, even at higher speeds, making it less disruptive than other dryers I’ve tried. In my tests, the noise levels averaged 70dB and never exceeded 80dB, even on the High speed setting. This is quite a bit louder than Dreame's advertised 59dB, but is a minor gripe.

And speaking of gripes, the fan is positioned at the base of the handle, where it meets the 5.9ft (1.8m) cord. This design makes the barrel more compact and prevents hair from getting caught in the fan blades but I constantly kept blocking it with my hand and this soon become tedious.

Dreame Glory Hair Dryer review: price & availability

  • List price: $99/£80/€79
  • Available: US/UK/EU

The $99 / £80 / €79 Gleam hairdryer is Dreame's entry-level model, coming in at around half the price of its €159 Dreame Pocket, and €139 / A$299 Dreame Glory.

It's available in the US and Europe from the Dreame website, as well as Amazon, in a pastel pink color. You can also buy it from Amazon UK in grey. Across all regions, the dryer ships with a concentrator nozzle although it doesn't have a dedicated diffuser. You can use the diffuser that ships with the Dreame Glory, as it connects in the same way, but who realistically is going to own both dryers in order to make this swap?

The price and power of the Gleam puts the dryer in the lower mid-range bracket, putting it on par with the likes of the $95 BaBylissPRO, and $90 Hot Tools Pro Artist Tourmaline dryer. The BaByliss Pro ships with a similar concentrator nozzle to the Gleam, yet the Hot Tools dryer is sold with two nozzles and a diffuser for a similar price.

The lack of color options and accessories make it difficult to recommend the Dreame Gleam when other, cheaper dryers offer more value and choice. That said, its power and features coupled with its focus on hair health help elevate its appeal and at least justify its price.

  • Value for money score: 4 out of 5

Dreame Gleam Hair Dryer specs

Dreame Gleam Hair Dryer review: design

  • Compact design
  • 4 heat modes and 2 airflow speeds
  • Concentrator attachment

If it wasn't for the pink color and soft-matte finish, it would be easy to mistake the Dreame Gleam for the Dreame Glory. The dryer’s body is cylindrical, with the same rounded edges. The two dryers are almost identical in size, shape and weight. Even down to the position of the fan at the base of the handle, and the matching power/speed and temperature controls on the side.

Dreame Gleam hair dryer on reviewer's dressing table

(Image credit: Future)

On the rear of the Gleam dryer, where the fan is usually found, is a flat, smooth panel. Beneath this panel, on the handle, is a sliding power switch that lets you toggle between the two speed settings – Low and High. This switch is perfectly located in just the right spot so that your thumb can easily reach it without having to re-adjust your grip mid-style and this is a small but welcome feature. Below this switch is a circular button surrounded by an LED ring which lets you switch between the Gleam's four temperature modes:

  • Cold
  • 57°C Constant
  • Hot
  • Hot/Cold Cycle

As you'd expect, the Cold mode blows cold air, and the Hot mode blows hot air. The Hot/Cold Cycle Mode cycles between hot and cold air as you style your hair and the 57C Constant mode offers a consistent temperature designed to prevent heat damage.

I first used the Hot/Cold cycle feature on the BaByliss Air Wand and more recently on the Dreame Pocket and Dreame Glory. I initially thought I wouldn't this mode that much because it increases the styling time slightly, however it is now my go-to because it makes a noticeable difference to the finish and feel of my hair.

To switch between these modes, you press the circular button found on the rear of the handle and its LED ring will change color, depending on the mode selected. Cold mode is represented by a blue LED ring; Hot mode has a red ring; Hot/Cold cycle's LED ring alternates between red and blue; and the ring on the 57C Constant mode is yellow. It's impossible to see these colors mid-style, due to the position of the button on the rear of the handle and this makes it difficult to select different modes without looking. The more you use the dryer, the more you get used to what the different modes sound and feel like but it's not massively intuitive.

Dreame Gleam hair dryer on reviewer's dressing table

(Image credit: Future)

At just 11.6oz / 330g, the Dreame Gleam is incredibly easy to lift and move around your head, and its dimensions – 3 × 3.2 inches (7.6 × 8.2 cm) for the barrel and a 10-inch (25.5 cm) handle – make it a compact and well balanced styler. The longer handle, which I initially thought might make the dryer top-heavy, is balanced and provides a confident grip while styling.

There is only one attachment for the Dreame Gleam – a smoothing concentrator nozzle that snaps onto the barrel using a satisfying magnetic mechanism. This mechanism is strong enough to keep the attachments in place during styling, but gives you the freedom to twist and turn the nozzle to different angles to reach different parts of your head and hair. The nozzle doesn't get too hot during styling either, which adds to this ease-of-use.

Dreame Gleam hair dryer on reviewer's dressing table

(Image credit: Future)

Being positioned at the base of the handle, where it meets the 5.9ft / 1.8m cord, means its easy to block the fan with your hand. This is preferable to the fan being on the rear of the dryer and sucking your hair in, as is the case with some other dryers, but I don't love this positioning. The air outlet at the front of the Dreame Gleam is then wide enough to provide the powerful 70 m/s airflow.

  • Design score: 4.5 out of 5

Dreame Gleam Hair Dryer review: performance

  • 1600-watt motor
  • High-speed motor operates at 110,000RPM
  • 76dB average noise

From my first use of the Dreame Gleam, I noticed how quickly it dried my hair, even on the lower speed and temperature settings. It handled my long, fine hair in minutes without the usual frizz or tangles and I love that you don't have to rely on intense heat to do the job. Instead, its high-speed airflow and 200 million negative ions help to break down water droplets faster, leaving my hair smooth and shiny in a short period of time.

The quickest results came from using the Hot mode, in which my hair went from wet to dry in four and a half minutes on High speed. The Hot/Cold Cycle on high speed added an extra minute to this, but my hair was noticeably softer and had more movement. This combination of warm and cool air also seemed to lock in the sleek finish for much longer. The slowest results came from using the Constant 57C setting. It took more than six minutes to dry my hair on this mode and there wasn't a huge improvement in the feel or look of my hair either. This will be a great addition for very fragile or damaged hair, but may feel a bit redundant for anyone else.

Dreame Gleam hair dryer on reviewer's dressing table

(Image credit: Future)

The Cool mode is a standout feature, though. Unlike some dryers where the cool setting just feels like slightly less warm air, the Gleam delivers a genuine blast of cold air almost immediately. After curling my hair, I used the Cool mode to lock in the waves and not only did the curls hold their shape for hours longer, they were noticeably more shiny. This mode is also great for smoothing flyaways or finishing a blowout with a polished look.

The concentrator nozzle deserves a mention too. It’s great for targeting specific sections, like when I want to smooth the hair around my face. It's not the largest of nozzles so if you use it to style the whole of your head, you'll probably need to add another three or four minutes to the overall styling time. Adjusting or removing it is easy though. It's a shame that the Gleam doesn't offer a diffuser. It is possible to add the Glory's diffuser onto the barrel of the Gleam due to their identical size, but not everyone will have access to both stylers (and nor should they have to.)

Dreame Gleam hair dryer on reviewer's dressing table

(Image credit: Future)

Another thing I appreciated about the Gleam is how quiet it is. I could still chat with my family while drying my hair and even on High speed, the dryer never exceeded 80dB. This makes it marginally quieter than the Dreame Glory. It should be noted that Dreame claims the Gleam operates around 59dB but even on the slowest, lowest setting, my app registered an average of 70dB.

It's not a perfect dryer but for the price and the power, it's a worthwhile choice.

  • Performance score: 4.5 out of 5

Should you buy the Dreame Gleam Hair Dryer?

Buy it if…

You want a powerful, affordable, lightweight dryer

The Dreame Gleam delivers high-speed airflow in a compact, 330g body.

You need quick drying with minimal damage

The Gleam's range of temperature controls protects hair while providing rapid, frizz-free drying.

You value sleek, modern design

The Gleam’s matte finish and magnetic attachments add style and convenience – especially at this relatively low price point.

Don’t buy it if….

You need a diffuser for curly hair

The Gleam only includes a concentrator nozzle, limiting options for people with natural curls.

You dislike rear fan placement

The fan at the base of the Dreame Gleam's handle can be accidentally covered during use.

You want a wider range of colors

The Dreame Gleam comes with limited color options which may not suit everyone's aesthetic.

How I tested the Dreame Gleam Hair Dryer

I used the Dreame Gleam as my daily hair dryer over the course of four weeks at home. I used it most mornings as a replacement for my go-to hair dryer – the Revlon One Step – to dry and style my long, thin hair.

To test the dryer, I experimented with the full range of speed and temperature combinations, and attachment. I paid close attention to the dryer’s features, how fast and effectively each of the modes worked, and how easy it was to use. I measured the decibel levels of the dryer on Low and High speeds throughout the testing period to achieve an average noise score.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed November 2024

Nest Learning Thermostat Fourth-Generation Review: A stunning design infused with AI
2:30 am | December 23, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Smart Home Smart Thermostats | Tags: , , , | Comments: Off

One Minute Review

The fourth-generation Nest Learning Thermostat blends a terrific redesign with the smart features that we've all come to expect from the company's devices. Google arguably set the bar very high back in 2011, with a control set that mirrored an iPod, and the ability to learn your cooling or heating schedule from the get-go.

Between the facelift that makes it look more like a piece of art on your wall and the 'AI' power infused into its already well-regarded learning features, the fourth-generation Learning Thermostat is a pretty easy recommendation for most folks. Even when accounting for the price increase of up to $280, the fourth-generation model is more than a bit smarter, and now includes a temperature sensor in the box as well.

I especially liked the smaller changes, including the ability to accept or decline suggested temperature changes to my schedule, but besides the design, the best functionality change is the adjustable and more helpful display. Displaying the active temperature and visual for the weather from afar, and showing highs and lows as I get close, the FarSight feature means the new Nest Learning Thermostat is useful even when I'm not using it to adjust temperatures.

Setup within the Google Home app was easy for me, but my colleagues weren't as lucky, and most of the experience with the app is pretty basic. It might be intentional, but something a bit more full-featured would have been nice. Even so, adding Matter will make the folks waiting to use a Nest natively in the Apple Home app pretty darn happy. Myself included.

As a whole, the fourth-generation Nest Learning Thermostat evolves into the modern age of the smart home in a successful fashion, which I think will make folks upgrading from a previous model quite happy (even though it's not plug-and-play). People new to Nest will find it to be feature-filled. That makes the decision of only releasing the fourth generation in the United States and Canada a bit more baffling.

Nest Learning Thermostat 4th Gen: price and availability

The Nest Learning Thermostat Fourth-Generation is available in the United States and Canada. You get your pick of Polished Gold, Polished Silver, or Polished Obsidian for $279.99 in the United States, or $379.99 in Canada. A temperature sensor is included in the box, but you can buy a single additional unit for $29.99 or a three-pack for $99.99.

As of now, there is no timeframe for when the fourth generation might launch outside the United States or Canada.

Nest Learning Thermostat 4th Gen: design

Nest Learning Thermostat Fourth Generation in Polished Gold

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)
  • The new Nest Learning Thermostat looks stunning.
  • It was a simple install, though it's not plug-and-play if you're upgrading from an existing Nest.
  • The larger, upgraded display steals the show and navigation is still impressively simple.

While the fourth generation model still inherently operates like the original Nest Learning Thermostat that dropped way back in 2011, it’s by far the biggest redesign the device has ever received. When mounted on the wall, it looks more like a piece of art hanging than a thermostat – especially in the ‘Polished Gold’ that I’ve been testing, which gives major rosy vibes when the light hits it right.

It’s the best-looking smart thermostat around, neither screaming 'technology' nor resembling a classic plastic thermostat. It’s sort of a cross between the two, with a design that allows the true smarts of the Nest Thermostat to shine through. More on that later.

Rather than a small, thick circular thermostat that gets placed on a bracket and then a mounting plate if you so desire, the Nest Thermostat fourth-generation has a slightly larger footprint on the wall itself. That’s not a bad thing, because this circular piece is attached via the bracket to your wall, acting as the stand for the thermostat's slim and elegant main hull.

It’s kind of like a supersize Google Pixel Watch 3, with the 3.9-inch circular, almost bezel-free dome giving the impression that it’s floating. You’ll turn this whole piece to the right or left to raise or lower the temperature. Google’s design team is still adamantly against touchscreens here, so you’ll click and turn it to complete most other tasks too (including some parts of the setup process), but you'll mainly use it to adjust heating and cooling modes.

The installation was really a breeze; in my apartment in New Jersey, where I’ve been testing the fourth-generation Nest Thermostat for several months, it took me no more than about 15 to 20 minutes to install. I wasn’t upgrading from a previous Nest, but considering the plate here is a different size, you will need to swap those out if you are. That's kind of a bummer, as it’s not a super simple swap for the faithful already invested in the ecosystem.

Nest Learning Thermostat Fourth Generation in Polished Gold

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

Still, Google provides mostly everything in the box, including the main bracket and a helpful wiring guide. Essentially, you’ll install the main steel bracket and use the included screws to get that on the wall. Then you have the thermostat base, which you’ll guide the wires through. You also get the mounting plate, which I opted to use, but that's optional.

Google is continuously moving things into its main Google Home app, which my colleague Lance Ulanoff, TechRadar’s Editor-at-Large, found particularly troublesome when trying to install his fourth-gen Nest Learning Thermostat. In my case, since I was setting this up as new in my ‘Google Home,’ things went a bit more smoothly – though Google Home did take a few tries to successfully connect to the thermostat after proper installation with wiring in my HVAC system, and ultimately, it’s a very basic control app for this thermostat.

The idea is that if you're currently using the Nest app, it will push you to use the Google Home app instead, and if you’re new, you’ll need to start with Google Home. Even if you bought the Nest Learning Thermostat for its Matter capability so you can use it with Apple's Home app (which does work eventually), you need to start with Google Home. Luckily, the team brought the easy installation help to the Google app, which will perform some checks, including a test of heating and cooling modes.

Once it's set up in Google Home, you get to take advantage of the major benefit of the Nest Learning Thermostat, and that’s the Matter support. Oddly enough, there is no Thread connectivity here, which is a strange omission. If you select your Nest Learning Thermostat within the Google Home app and then navigate to Settings > Device information > Linked Matter apps & services, it will generate a code that you can scan or send to Apple’s Home app, for example. You can also select and review the Matter code on the Nest Learning Thermostat itself.

You’ll need to set it up with a Google account in the Google Home app first, but the nice thing about a Nest thermostat is that the app eventually fades away, and you can focus on controlling it from the device itself or let the smart scheduling take the wheel.

As far as the classic mechanic, it’s smooth as ever with just the right amount of resistance to maneuvering the dial I’ve had more than a few friends ask me what it is when spotting it on the wall in the front of my apartment – it’s simply an eye-catcher.

The 3.9-inch LCD screen almost appears like it’s hidden behind the finish – a cool effect – and the content can change based on where you are. For example, if it doesn’t detect you directly nearby, it will use larger graphics that can be seen from a distance. If you approach, the Soli sensor – read as radar – will detect you and adjust the content as you get nearer. It’s dubbed the ‘Farsight’ display, and you can adjust it to show high and low temperatures, air quality, and even weather. You’ll set these from the device itself, but the weather animations are really neat.

It’s also a point of difference with competing thermostats like those from Ecobee, which tosses a speaker and a microphone into select models. I think the Nest Thermostat packs features that make more sense. Seeing the weather quickly as you’re heading out the door or picking what coat to wear is neat.

The display feels inherently meshed with this new look – it won’t steer away the folks who have loved Nest from the beginning, and it really looks dynamite. There also isn’t a better control system than just turning to the left or right and pushing in. Apple had it first with the iPod, but considering multitouch, I think it’s the gold standard for thermostat control.

  • Design Score: 4.5/5

Nest Learning Thermostat 4th Gen: Performance

Nest Learning Thermostat Fourth Generation in Polished Gold

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)
  • The Google Home app is pretty basic, and it has some connectivity issues.
  • Yes, the Nest finally works with Apple Home.
  • The AI-infused learning features impress and make cooling or heating a home easier.

I’ve been testing the Nest Thermostat Fourth-Generation for several months, which means I’ve used it for a few seasons, including summer, fall, and winter. That’s pretty important to see how the smart scheduling reasoning and, ultimately, the functionality of the Nest handle the swap from cooling to heating.

Much like any other gadget released in 2024, Google has tossed in some AI capabilities, mainly affecting how the Nest Thermostat adjusts the temperature. This makes the previous learning aspects of Nest – arguably, the main appeal – a bit smarter and quicker once you get in a rhythm, but also more actionable. For instance, with the new Smart Schedule feature, you can accept or decline the adjustments it suggests, whether that’s a degree or cooler at night or warmer in the morning.

Further, as it begins to notice the change from cooling or heating, it takes a few days to stop suggestions and focus on learning before updating and delivering a custom schedule that you can manage if you like.

These minute changes that the Nest Thermostat suggests could lower your energy bill (aka the cost of cooling or heating your home), but you may not see those impacts immediately. What you might be able to do here in the United States is to see if your utility provider offers any rebate for the cost, as the latest Nest isn’t the cheapest.

Beyond learning from your habits and adjustments – on the thermostat, via the app, or through a smart assistant – it will consider conditions around your home. For example, if it’s a warmer day in the winter, it might lower your heating temperature to save on energy and factor in that your home might stay warmer for longer on its own. It's the same thing for a cooler summer day, and it works quite well. Similarly, if your forecast predicts a frigid temperature turn, it might turn the heating on earlier to ensure you’re still at a comfortable temperature in your home.

Nest Learning Thermostat Fourth Generation in Polished Gold

(Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

As with previous Nest thermostats, you can expect all of these to get better as you spend more time with the unit, and that’s exactly what I’ve found. I wouldn’t go into it expecting it to master your desired temperatures after just a few days, but you need to spend a week or two with it to see meaningful suggestions.

The thermostat also comes with a pebble-shaped sensor, which helps measure the temperature more accurately inside your home. The idea is to place this somewhere in your house away from the Nest Thermostat, which contains its own sensor, so it can get a proper read of the temperature and ensure the desired conditions are found throughout.

Including this in the box is pretty nice, and helps to make up for the price increase to $280. Unfortunately, although the Nest Thermostat works with Matter and therefore Apple Home the sensor doesn’t seem to move over. There were also several occasions when adjusting the temperature in the Apple Home app didn't work properly the first time, especially shortly after I first installed the unit. Thankfully that's now become far less frequent, and I’ve successfully controlled it from a range of Apple devices and through Siri. You can also integrate it through automation within Apple Home; the same goes for Google Home’s automation.

As far as the Google Home app goes, it’s pretty basic for controlling the Nest Learning Thermostat, but that might be intentional as the real appeal is these AI-infused learning features, which ultimately still impress. The fourth-generation Nest Thermostat shows an evolution in terms of features and revolution with design, but it’s still a compelling experience that lets you spend less time fiddling with a thermostat.

  • Performance Score: 4/5

Scorecard

Should I buy theNest Learning Thermostat 4th Gen?

Buy it if...

You want an easy-to-use, good-looking thermostat

There's never been a better-looking thermostat than the fourth-generation Nest, and luckily, it keeps the impressive controls that made it a winner back in 2011.

You want a Nest Thermostat that works with Apple Home

Thanks to Matter support, after setup in the Google Home app, you can easily generate a code and add the Nest to your Apple Home.

You want a thermostat that factors in environmental conditions and does the heavy lifting for you...

Like every Nest thermostat before it, the learning features are the stand out feature here and it now factors in your local weather to see if it needs to adjust the temperature.

Don't buy it if...

You're not in the United States or Canada

Sadly, the fourth-generation Nest is only available in the US and Canada, so you'll need to consider a different model.

You don't want to use the Google Home app

You'll need to have a Google account and use the Google Home app to setup and get the most out of the Nest Learning Thermostat.View Deal

Also consider

Nest Thermostat E – Read our review here

With a much more affordable price tag, the Nest Thermostat E is an excellent model to consider if you can find it in stock as it utilizes the same easy controls that put Nest on the map.View Deal

Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker review: drip coffee just got a whole lot smarter
6:00 pm | December 22, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Coffee Machines Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances | Comments: Off

Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker: 2-minute review

The Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker is a super slick, modern drip coffee machine that gives filter brewing the smart treatment with automatic water temperature adjustment, dosage calculations, carefully timed blooming of coffee before brewing, and presets tailored for different roasts. There's even a cold brew mode, which produces deliciously smooth results without you having to wait overnight.

If that sounds like a little too much effort (or you live with someone who's less exacting about their brew), there's also an Auto Brew mode that lets you use the Aiden like an ordinary manual drip machine - just load in your preferred quantity of grounds, and it will run until the water tank is empty.

The timer is a smart addition, though you'll need to make sure you're prepared with your coffee mug as soon as it's finished because the Aiden Precision Coffee Maker doesn't have a hot plate and while the carafe is double-walled it loses heat quite rapidly. You can minimize this problem by pre-heating it before brewing, but that's not a viable option if you're using the timer.

Single basket inserted in Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker

The machine comes with two baskets - one for single brews (green) and one for batch brews (blue) (Image credit: Future)

The Aiden Precision Coffee Maker has a mobile app (available for iOS and Android) with some handy extra features, like customizable brewing profiles that you can share with other people, and the option to update the machine's firmware. You can link the coffee machine to your phone using a QR code by selecting 'Connectivity' from the settings menu, but it's entirely optional.

Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker: price & availability

  • Launched at $365 / £365 (about AU$580).
  • Available with coffee grinder for $111 more

The Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker launched in July 2024 and is available direct from Fellow in the US, or from Amazon in the UK. It has a list price of $365 / £365 (about AU$580).

Unlike some drip coffee makers we've tested, such as the Cuisinart Grind & Brew, the Aiden Precision Coffee Maker doesn't have a grinder. If you don't already own one, Fellow offers the machine bundled with a conical burr grinder for $476 (about £380 / AU$760).

That's about the same price as the Moccamaster KBGV Select, which currently sits at number one in our guide to the best drip coffee makers, and costs $359 / £229 / AU$515. Both are premium machines, but with the KBGV Select you're paying for a super tough manual machine that should last a lifetime, while the Aiden's price tag comes from its smart brewing technology. Both justify their list prices - it's just a question of where your priorities lie.

  • Value score: 4.5/5

Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker: design

  • Stylish, modern aesthetic
  • Simple control dial
  • Single and batch brewing baskets

The Aiden Precision Coffee Maker is beautifully designed - a compact black cuboid with a small, bright display panel, a single control dial, and a matching matt black carafe. Every part of the machine feels robust and well-made, from the sturdy hinge on the frosted plastic water tank (with clearly marked measurements on the front) to the smooth movement of the control knob.

During brewing, the LCD display shows a countdown timer and the current stage of the brewing process (such as 'blooming' or 'pulsing'), which is particularly handy since the black carafe doesn't let you see how much coffee is inside.

The machine has a maximum capacity of 1.5 liters (about 53oz), and brews in increments of 120ml (a standard tasse à café). A typical coffee mug holds around 280ml, so you'll need to set it to two cups for your usual morning brew.

Single and double baskets for Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker

The machine can recognize which basket is inserted (Image credit: Future)

It's supplied with two baskets - one for servings up to three cups, and one for bigger batch brews. It comes with filter papers designed for the larger basket; during testing, I found that my standard flat-bottomed 1x4 filter papers fitted the small one just fine. The machine can detect which basket you have inserted and will instruct you to set the 'shower' head to the appropriate color-coded setting so water is pulsed evenly over the grounds.

The carafe is well crafted, with a drip-free spout and sturdy handle, but as mentioned above, there's no hot plate in the machine's base to keep it warm when brewing has finished.

The Aiden is a piece of cake to keep clean; the baskets and carafe are easy to wash with warm, soapy water, and you can keep the body of the machine looking like new with a damp cloth. There's also a descaling mode to keep the water lines clear, which works with regular coffee machine descaling liquid. It's recommended that you do this every three months.

Fellow advises grinding your coffee coarser if you find mess in the brewing chamber once you're done, but this was never an issue for me. I used a Dualit burr grinder on a relatively coarse setting suggested for drip machines.

  • Design score: 4/5

Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker with water tank removed

The Aiden Precision Coffee Maker has a maximum capacity of 1.5 liters (Image credit: Future)

Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker: performance

  • Automatic and guided brewing modes
  • Very quiet in operation
  • No hotplate, and carafe cools quickly

The Aiden Precision Coffee Maker gives you a choice: an Instant Brew mode that works like a standard manual drip coffee maker, and a Guided Brew option that lets you tinker with settings, suggests an appropriate dosage, and brews only the amount of coffee you've specified.

Guided Brew defies the preconception that drip coffee is inferior to espresso, tailoring the temperature of the water, how long the coffee is allowed to bloom, and how long is spent sending pulses of water through it afterward depending on the dosage and whether you've selected light, medium, or dark roast. You'll even be asked to enter your elevation relative to sea level during setup. It's not something I'd typically consider, but water boils at temperatures below 100°C/212°F at elevations above sea level, which can result in under-extracted coffee if you don't adjust for it.

Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker on counter with carafe removed, cup of coffee and small plant

The carafe is beautifully designed, but tends to lose heat rapidly (Image credit: Future)

I particularly enjoyed the machine's cold brew setting. It's much quicker than brewing overnight in your fridge, taking 1.5-2 hours from start to finish depending on the quantity. The Aiden Precision Coffee Maker still uses hot water to bloom the coffee but then switches to cold for the remainder of the process, and the resulting coffee is incredibly smooth. Pop the carafe in the fridge for a while once it's done, and it's fantastic.

There's also a timer, which is something I always appreciate with a drip coffee machine. The lack of a hot plate means you'll need to be organized in the morning to grab your fresh brew before it cools, but it shouldn't disturb any light sleepers who want a lie-in. During my tests, it only reached a maximum of 59dB while pulsing water through the grounds. That's about the same as a dishwasher, and the sound only lasted a couple of seconds at a time. Cold brew mode doesn't pulse and is nearly silent.

Woman's hand turning dial on Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker

The machine is controlled using a single dial - turn it to scroll through menus, and press to select an option (Image credit: Future)

For me, the drawback of the Aiden Precision Coffee Maker is how quickly the hot coffee cools down. Not only is there no hot plate, the carafe seems to lose heat quickly despite its double-walled design and Fellow's claim that it "keeps your coffee warm for hours in any room of the house". In my tests, a four-cup serving cooled down significantly within half an hour in my kitchen.

That's not a problem if you're only brewing a cup or two, but the machine has a maximum capacity of 1.5 liters, and it's a real shame if you brew a batch and it goes cold before you can get through it all. You could decant your coffee into an insulated bottle or carafe once it's done brewing to keep it nice and hot, but that's an extra step I'd rather avoid if possible.

Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker carafe with lid removed

The carafe and baskets are easy to clean with warm, soapy water (Image credit: Future)

Not everyone likes keeping their drip coffee on a hot plate, and leaving your drink on one for too long will definitely affect the taste, but for me, one of the joys of a drip machine is being able to brew a carafe and come back for a second cup. And if I've set a timer to brew my coffee in the morning, I don't want to find a cold carafe if I hit snooze on my alarm and spend a few extra minutes in bed.

It's a shame because the Aiden Precision Coffee Maker is otherwise superb. It does its job exceptionally well, but you should be aware that it won't keep your beautifully brewed drink hot for long.

  • Performance score: 4/5

Should you buy the Aiden Precision Coffee Maker?

Buy it if

You want to optimize your drip coffee brewing

There aren't many drip machines as smart as the Aiden, and its highly configurable settings will appeal to filter aficionados who want to optimize flavor extraction from their beans.

You enjoy cold brew coffee

The Aiden Precision Coffee Maker produces the best cold brew I've tasted and does so in just two hours. It uses hot water to bloom the coffee before the cold infusion, and the result is super smooth.

Don't buy it if

You want to brew big batches

The lack of a hot plate means you'll need to enjoy your coffee as soon as possible, and although the carafe is double-walled, it doesn't retain heat very well. A separate insulated bottle or jug will be necessary if you want to keep it hot for longer.

You'll only use the Quick Brew mode

The digital Guided Brew mode is what makes the Aiden special. If it doesn't appeal, you're better off saving some cash and choosing a simpler drip coffee maker instead.

Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker: also consider

If the Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker hasn't won you over, here are two other options to think about.

Moccamaster KBGV Select

Our top-rated drip coffee maker, the KBGV Select doesn't have the smarts of the Aiden but is extremely well-built and very well regarded among filter enthusiasts. It has a hot plate, too.

Read our full review

Smeg Drip Filter Coffee Machine

If you're looking for a simple drip coffee machine with a timer for your morning brew, Smeg has you covered - and in style, too. It doesn't have the largest carafe, but this little machine does its job very well, including keeping your coffee hot until you're ready for breakfast.

Read our full review

How I tested the Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker

I tested the Aiden Precision Coffee Maker using a variety of coffees from Clifton Coffee Roasters, comparing the results to those from a fully manual filter coffee machine and a V60 coffee dripper. The cold brew was compared to coffee steeped overnight in a fridge. Coffee was ground to the same coarseness using an electric burr grinder. The baskets and carafe were cleaned between uses, and I used filtered tap water for all beverages.

For more details, see how we test.

Govee Table Lamp 2 review: this captivating smart lamp stole my heart and brightened my mood
8:00 pm | December 21, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Smart Home Smart Lights | Comments: Off

Govee Table Lamp 2 review

The Govee Table Lamp 2 is listed at $69.99 / £69.99, although, at the time of writing, there’s a sale on the Govee website lowering the price to $55.99 / £58.99. This may seem a little steep for a small light-up lamp but, if like me, you’re a fan of anything bright and colorful, appreciate extensive customization options, and enjoy the convenience of a smart lamp, then it’s definitely worth the cost.

When it’s off, the design of the Govee Table Lamp 2 looks pretty nice. It’s got a modern aesthetic, with silver-colored accents and a pearly finish on the circular control panel. The lamp's outer doesn’t have the cheap, unattractive finish that many lower-cost RGB lamps do; in fact, it looks like it could be made of glass, and the ridged titanium-colored inner makes for a nice feature.

The Govee Table Lamp 2 is unlit and sits on a stone surface with wooden slats and a pink wall behind.

(Image credit: Future)

The only slight negative I found was that the outer surface proved to be a bit of a dust and fiber magnet. I noticed a subtle texture on the side of the cylindrical lamp and realized that fibers had accumulated after only a few hours of use. This isn’t hugely noticeable, though, and our reviews office sees a lot of cardboard boxes and products daily, so the dust levels are certainly higher than average.

The controls on the device include power and two brightness adjustment buttons on the top panel, as well as color and scene cycling buttons that can be customized within the Govee Home app, meaning I was able to assign eight different colors/lighting effects to each button respectively.

The Govee Table Lamp 2 is unlit, the shot shows a close-up of the circular control panel on the top of the lamp.

(Image credit: Future)

Naturally, the design really came to life when the Govee Table Lamp 2 was on, and the effects were as beautiful as anything from the best smart lights. There’s a huge array of fantastic effects on offer via the Govee Home app, including several preset color collections, an RGB color wheel, plus another sectioned color wheel to choose colors. The latter had different emotions assigned to different color areas; choices included jolly, surprised, concerned, disappointed, and aggravated. I’m not sure I associate purple with “horrify” myself, but the assigned emotions amused me, anyway. There were over 60 scene presets to choose from, with collections of lighting effects arranged under themed tabs such as natural, festival, and sleeping, and I had great fun investigating them all.

The Govee Table Lamp 2 is lit up in lava-like colors and sits on a stone surface with wooden slats and a pink wall behind.

(Image credit: Future)

My personal favorite scenes were some of the most colorful (naturally): Rainbow produced a beautiful gradient of pastel colors that slowly swirl about the outside of the lamp, and Fish Tank showed colorful shapes swirling around the center of the lamp. A great additional feature with some of these presets is that I could alter the speed, so I could set them to be as calm or as energetic as I fancied. On the few occasions I didn’t want colorful lighting effects, say when I wanted a warm light to read with, or to brighten the immediate area up, this lamp had me covered with a temperature range of 2700 – 6500K.

As if the huge array of scene and color presets weren’t enough, the AI feature was fantastic. It was like an easy-to-use online chat format, and I could ask it to create a scene via text or voice command, or take or attach a photo. I decided to take a photo of a stack of boxes in the office, and the AI bot recommended a “vibrant, dynamic lighting effect that dances and shimmers, mirroring the colorful packaging”. I accepted the recommendation, and the resulting light effect was a gorgeous pale lavender and pastel orange gradient that slowly waved from the bottom in an upwards diagonal direction – I was then able to save it to my DIY library.

The textured internals of the base of the Govee Table Lamp 2 is lit up white, and the lamp is turned so you can see where the power cable connects to the lamp.

(Image credit: Future)

The Govee Home app was delightfully easy to navigate and provides a great user experience. The different light features are laid out simply under labeled icons, and I really appreciated that the app allowed me to adjust the layout to suit my needs, allowing me to sort, hide, and show the quick access and modes right where I needed them.

Wonderfully bright and colorful even in a well-lit office, the Govee Table Lamp 2 was even more so in darker environments. Even on the bright white setting in darkness the light is diffused enough not to be harsh on the eyes, and the warmer lights targeted toward reading and night-time were soft and comforting.

One thing I noticed is that the Table Lamp 2 became warm after a little while, but not to a concerning extent. As I tested it in the winter, it actually proved to be a positive, as it was nice to feel a slight warmth when using the touch controls.

The Govee Table Lamp 2 is lit up with blue and purple colors and sits on a stone surface with wooden slats and a pink wall behind.

(Image credit: Future)

After an enjoyable period of testing and other than it collecting a little dust, there was nothing I didn’t like about the Govee Table Lamp 2. When unlit, it was unobtrusive and attractive, as much as one of these lamps can be. And when switched on it provided beautifully eye-catching and colorful light displays with what felt like endless scenes, combinations, and customizations.

As a lover of anything colorful with plenty of options to mix things up, I’m a huge fan of this smart little lamp, so if this is something you’re in the market for, you won’t feel let down by the Govee Table Lamp 2.

Govee Table Lamp 2 review: Price and specs

Should you buy the Govee Table Lamp 2?

Buy it if...

You want a light with lots of options and customization
This table lamp certainly isn't lacking when it comes to preset scenes and options to make your own. From personalized color collections to speed and brightness levels, the intuitive Govee app makes it light work to create the effects you want.

You want to go hands-free
The fantastic app isn't the only smart feature here as you can easily connect the Govee Table Lamp 2 to smart home tech like Alexa or Google Assistant, plus it has Matter connectivity too.

Don't buy it if...

You want a lamp that's super bright as well as smart
It's perfectly bright enough for reading or when working close to the lamp. However, as one would expect from a lamp of this size, it isn't going to illuminate a room.

You want something cheap and cheerful
While this lamp certainly gives some bang for your buck, it is on the pricey side. There are plenty of cheaper alternatives floating about – just be mindful that the build quality may be lacking, and you might be hard-pressed to find anything with such a satisfying array of features.

Govee Table Lamp 2 review: Also consider

Philips Hue Twilight
If you've got (a lot) more to spend, and you're a die-hard Philips smart home tech fan, then this purpose-built wake-up light could be the one for you. It features two light sources, one at the rear of the lamp that scatters color up the wall, and one inside the lampshade. It features an attractive, modern design, and two buttons for automation and light control, but you'll need a Hue Bridge to make the most of all the features. If you'd like to learn more, check out our full Philips Hue Twilight review.

How I tested the Govee Table Lamp 2

  • I thoroughly enjoyed using the Govee Table Lamp 2 for one week
  • I tested the different features and customizable settings
  • I observed the brightness and visibility of the scenes in light and dark environments

I used the Govee Table Lamp 2 as a calming and mood-lifting addition to my desk setup in the TechRadar reviews office for one week. I evaluated the usability and performance of the Govee companion app and went down the rabbit hole playing with all the different settings.

I enjoyed exploring the various presets within the app. I also made some of my own color sequences, and used the AI scene creator from photos and prompts.

I assessed the different light modes in brighter and darker conditions to see how visible they were in daylight and bright office lights, and to see just how vibrant the colors were in the dark.

Tineco Floor One Switch S6 review: a five-in-one wet-dry vacuum for all kinds of floor
6:35 am | December 19, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances | Tags: , | Comments: Off

Tineco Floor One Switch S6: Two-minute review

There aren’t too many vacuum mops like the Tineco Floor One Switch S6 – it goes from being a wet-dry vacuum mop to just a vacuum to a handheld unit. Tineco claims the Switch S6 is a 5-in-1, but I found it to be more of a 3-in-1. Still, it's one of the most versatile vacuum cleaners I’ve tested. It takes into account that no two homes are alike and that several have mixed floor types – and I don’t mean just rugs; I mean homes with either wood or tile floors as well as wall-to-wall carpeting.

Product info

The Tineco Floor One Switch S6 is available in the US and Australia. In the UK, only the Tineco Floor One S6 is being sold, which is the vacuum mop without the hot-swappable vacuum attachment that allows it to also become a handheld unit. The wet-dry vacuum mop, though, is nearly identical in functionality, with just a minor difference in the display.

Its primary function is to be a wet-dry vacuum mop, so it does both at the same time. That means its main body consists of a front-mounted dirty-water tank, which has a filter to capture solids (like debris and hair) and a clean-water tank on the rear which can also take Tineco’s proprietary cleaning solution. In tests, I found that the vacuum mop was incredibly easy to use and its cleaning prowess was quite good on both wet and dry spills, thanks to really good water dispersal and the 450rpm roller cleaning head.

This wet cleaning head gets constantly washed with each rotation, plus there’s a scraper built into the casing that, as the name suggests, keeps scraping away the dirt from the roller so as not to transfer any muck back onto your just-cleaned floor.

I found the auto dirt-detection sensors to be quite good too, with the vacuum mop dynamically altering power and water dispersion to match the spill you’re trying to clean up. Equally good is its self-cleaning process, which uses clean water heated to 70ºC / 158ºF to clean the entire machine, although you will need to first manually clean out the dirty-water tank. The roller brush is then flash-dried with air, which I’m glad for, as it reduces the chances of it growing its own little ecosystem and eliminates odors. The self-cleaning process, though, I found to be rather noisy.

Where the Tineco Floor One Switch S6 falls short is when using it as purely a vacuum. Again, it’s not bad, but there’s just not enough suction power on the hot-swappable attachment to match some of the best vacuum cleaners on the market. However, I have to commend Tineco for making such a versatile cleaning machine, as it can still handle the small, quick jobs. And, thanks to being lightweight in vacuum mode, it makes sucking up cobwebs hanging off the ceiling corners easy.

Given the battery is shared between both the wet-dry functionality and the hot-swappable vacuum, the runtime of the Switch S6 isn’t too bad. Mopping, being the more power-heavy functionality, gets you a top of 35 minutes per charge, while you'll get nearly double that amount when using it as a vacuum. There are other vacuum mops with longer runtimes, but given its versatility and excellent performance on hard floors, there’s good value for money here.

Tineco Floor One Switch S6 review: price & availability

  • Launched in May 2024; available in the UK and Australia now via Amazon
  • List price: $649 / AU$999
  • UK model lacks the hot-swappable vacuum attachments

Having entered the market in May 2024, the Tineco Floor One Switch S6 has already seen some discounts during major sales but, even at full price, it offers plenty of bang for your hard-earned buck.

Unlike other vacuum cleaner models, the Tineco Floor One Switch S6 is identical in the US and Australia, where it will set you back $649 / AU$999 without a discount. Based on TechRadar’s price brackets, this price point puts the Switch S6 in the lower-premium / upper mid-range band (we consider anything over $500 / £400 / AU$1,000 as premium), but given it can be had for a discounted price at certain times of the year (usually down to around $440 / AU$640 mark), it really does represent good value as it’s so versatile.

This specific model isn’t available in the UK, although the standalone Tineco Floor One S6 is sold for £449 at full price. This is just the wet-dry vacuum mop main unit, without the swappable attachments for floor and handheld vacuuming.

While the standard S6 has plenty of comparable models from various manufacturers, including Shark and Roborock, there’s nothing quite like the Switch S6 to do a fair price comparison. Still, to put its value into perspective, the Dyson WashG1 costs $699.99/ £599.99 / AU$999, and it’s just a standard wet-dry vacuum mop. On the other end of the spectrum, the Shark HydroVac costs just $359.99 / £329.99 / AU$399.99. It’s not a versatile machine like the Tineco Floor One Switch S6, though.

You can purchase Tineco products directly from the manufacturer in the US and UK, but in Australia, the vacuums are sold via Amazon AU.

  • Value score: 4.5/5

Tineco Floor One Switch S6 review: specs

Tineco Floor One Switch S6 review: design

  • Removable motor for switching units
  • Lighter than other wet-dry vacuum mops
  • Easy storage to keep all attachments together

Tineco Floor One Switch S6 motor being removed

(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)

The first thing that hit me when I opened up the Tineco Floor One Switch S6 box was the staggering number of pieces that came out of it. And putting it all together while following the diagrams in the user manual was a losing battle. Thankfully, there are easier instructions on the box.

Given this is the first Tineco machine I’ve tested, I was a little surprised (pleasantly, I might add) to see that the motor is a separate piece on its own, which made sense to me once I realized it could be swapped between the vacuum mop and the standalone cordless vacuum. To handle those different tasks, there are two floor cleaning attachments in the box – the wet roller and a ZeroTangle brush. There’s also a Mini Power Brush for upholstery and a 2-in-1 crevice/dusting tool. Tineco even supplies a cleaning brush for the dirty water tank.

Tineco Floor One Switch S6 docking cradle with all attachments

(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)

While the main charging dock houses the mopping unit of the S6, a small side cradle fixes onto the side of the dock to hold the vacuum in place and stow the other attachments as well. So essentially, every part of this versatile machine is in one place, and the total footprint isn’t too large – so you can consider this model if you live in a smaller apartment.

The vacuum alone is really quite light and, when used as a handheld, is easy to hold up to get to cobwebs on your ceiling. And, in comparison to some other vacuum mops we’ve tested here at TechRadar, the main unit of the Switch S6 isn’t too heavy either. At 4.3kg (9.5lbs), it’s about half the weight of the Roborock Dyad Pro and the Tineco Floor One S7 Pro. Well, it is a little smaller than both of them, with the front-mounted dirty-water tank holding only 450ml of liquid compared to 720ml in the Floor One S7 Pro. So while it’s not entirely ideal for larger homes, it is more than enough for smaller ones.

Image 1 of 3

Tineco Floor One Switch S6 clean water tank

(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
Image 2 of 3

Tineco Floor One Switch S6 dirty water tank

(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
Image 3 of 3

Tineco Floor One Switch S6 LED display

(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)

The dirty-water tank is also what prohibits the Switch S6 from sliding under furniture – it’s not bendy and tilting it beyond a 145º angle will see water slosh all over your feet. The swappable vacuum unit, though, is better able to clean under furniture, but you will need to be mindful that the angle of the cleaning head doesn’t change – if it lifts off the floor, its limited suction will be diminished further.

Like many other vacuum mops, the Switch S6 also boasts an LED display that shows you the battery life in the centre and the current cleaning mode. These include ‘auto’, ‘max’ or ‘eco’ depending on the attachment you have connected. A ring of light can be seen around the outer edge of the display that, for the most part in my case, remains blue, telling you that your floor is clean. If the iLoop sensor detects an especially dirty area of floor or a lot of debris, this turns red and the motor will increase its suction power to get your floor clean. Tineco says this function works for both the wet roller head and the vacuum head, but I only noticed it working for the former. There’s no touch functionality, but all the physical controls are within reaching distance of your fingers, so using the Switch S6 is easy. Importantly, it moves over floors smoothly, so you don’t need to exert too much energy when getting your cleaning done.

Image 1 of 4

Tineco Floor One Switch S6 crevice attachment

(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
Image 2 of 4

Tineco Floor One Switch S6 crevice attachment with brush

(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
Image 3 of 4

Tineco Floor One Switch S6 being used with vacuum attachment

(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)
Image 4 of 4

Tineco Floor One Switch S6 being used with upholstery attachment

(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)

Aside from the main wet/dry foam roller head, the Tineco Floor One Switch S6 also comes with a swappable vacuum head for carpets and soft flooring. It’s fitted with what Tineco calls – and claims to be – a ZeroTangle brush to prevent fluff, hair and other debris getting caught up and affecting its cleaning performance. In my time using the vacuum head on carpets and rugs, I can certainly support the claims as I’ve not once had to pick or clean anything out of the brush.

Smaller attachments include an upholstery brush for use on a sofa or in the car, for example, and a crevice tool with a brush that can be attached or removed to the end to assist with agitating debris in hard to reach areas. An extender pole can be attached to the main motor unit too, and the crevice tool can also be used on the end of it.

The removable motor, which can be swapped between the mop unit and the vacuum, is easy to remove from the former but, during my testing, I found that it’s a little harder to take off from the vacuum. It needs a little extra elbow grease, so it’s a good thing it has its own handle.

  • Design score: 4.5/5

Tineco Floor One Switch S6 review: performance

  • Excellent mopping, but not a lot of suction when vacuuming
  • Auto dirt detection works effectively to boost performance
  • Self-cleaning functionality is good, but noisy

While I personally hadn’t tested any Tineco vacuum prior to the Switch S6, we have tested a few of the brand’s machines previously and have been impressed with what the company has been able to achieve at the mid-range price tag in terms of performance. The S7 Pro – while now discontinued in Australia – continues to be our pick of one of the best wet-dry vacuum cleaners for other markets.

So the expectations were high for the Switch S6 going into testing and, while it didn't outperform its older sibling, it still holds its own – particularly as a vacuum mop. I was very surprised at how much dirt it gathered in its tank, even when I thought the floors in my test space (which, for this review, was my own apartment) were looking quite clean. Importantly, none of the mopped-up dirt made its way back onto the floor.

I found that leaving the machine on Auto mode was ideal for my purposes, but there is also a Boost option for some extremely stubborn spills. The wet roller rotates at 450rpm and the cleaning head does a good job of dispersing water onto the floor for easy mopping. I found that even with caked-in stains, the Switch S6 needed no more than 3-4 passes before it mopped it all up. I was pleasantly surprised with how quickly the water dried, meaning I could walk on my floor within a matter of minutes.

What impressed me the most was how well the wet roller cleaned along the edges of a room (along skirting boards). While it won’t necessarily be able to get into very tight spaces, I found that it was able to automatically boost cleaning if it detected more dirt along room edges. I was relieved to find this didn’t need to happen very often in my apartment, but it was also reassuring to learn the iLoop sensor was doing its job.

Dynamic suction is also available for the hot-swappable vacuum as well, but don’t expect it to perform like a Dyson or Shark. While Tineco hasn’t revealed how many air watts of power is available for suction, I suspect it’s around 120 air watts. That's not as good as the approximately 250aw you get from the Dyson Gen5detect or Samsung Bespoke Jet AI, but it’s enough to handle the little clean-up jobs you might need in a pinch. I also appreciated the LED light in the vacuum head to help shine a light on otherwise invisible debris, ensuring I didn’t miss any spots. The vacuum could handle the regular weekly vacuuming, but I think the mop does such a fantastic job that vacuuming becomes unnecessary as a regular chore, saving me time.

The mopping head also made light work of liquid spillages, with just one pass being enough to clean up some milk from the floor. The iLoop sensor also kicked into gear to recognise there was a major spill and so adjusted its suction power accordingly. It also did an admirable job with grains such as rice, easily vacuuming up a small portion of rice from the floor and taking it through to the dirty water tank.

While the regular vacuum attachment does a good job with everyday dust and debris, it doesn't perform as well when attempting to vacuum up the same portion of rice. As you can see in the video, I vacuumed up a small portion of risotto rice, and while it seemed as though it had all been collected from the floor, when I picked the vacuum up, it all fell back out.

The lack of suction power also means that if you do have mixed flooring, the vacuum would definitely struggle on wall-to-wall carpeting with hair and dirt embedded deep into the fibres. I used it on the bedroom carpet and on a living room rug and wasn’t quite enthused by its suction, despite being in Boost mode. It’s still effective on hard floors, but only with everyday debris and crumbs.

However, I appreciate the fact that the Switch S6 also converts into a handheld unit. As I’ve mentioned earlier in this review, it’s light enough to keep raised for long periods of time, so cleaning upholstery or ceiling fans isn’t too hard at all.

  • Performance score: 3.5 / 5

Tineco Floor One Switch S6 review: maintenance

  • Has a self-cleaning process that is good, but noisy
  • Flash-drying of the mop takes place automatically
  • Manual cleaning of the dirty-tank is necessary

When you’ve finished a clean using the mopping roller head and returned the machine to its docking station, the voice prompt (if you leave it activated) will instruct you to perform a self-cleaning cycle. A button on the handle with a water droplet icon is all you need to press and the machine takes care of the rest. The self-cleaning cycle sees the machine using leftover clean water heated to 70ºC to blast the roller head while it spins to remove any dirt and debris. Dirty water collected in the tray is then vacuumed up into the dirty water tank. This process takes a couple of minutes, after which the Switch S6 blasts the roller head with hot air for around a further five minutes to dry it completely. Suction continues to be used to remove any last dirty water droplets.

It’s an effective process but one that is pretty noisy and much louder than when the machine is used for cleaning. I used a decibel meter app on my phone and recorded a reading of around 78dB. Even with the machine in my laundry room towards the back of my apartment and the door shut, I could still hear it from my living room roughly 26ft / 8m away.

Once the self-cleaning cycle is complete, the voice prompt will inform you it’s finished and tell you to empty the dirty water tank to prevent odors. I absolutely agree you should do this, as (to my surprise) odor can build up quickly. Removing the tank is simple, and you’ll want to separate the lid and the filter and run everything under a tap to remove any debris collected. I left the pieces to air dry before attaching them back to the main unit.

Tineco supplies a small brush to help agitate and remove debris from the filter. You’re also able to remove the roller head entirely to give it an even deeper clean, and Tineco supplies a spare to swap over.

  • Maintenance score: 5/5

Tineco Floor One Switch S6 review: software

  • Voice prompts are a lovely touch
  • Tineco Life app is superfluous but handy

Tineco wants to make your time using the Floor One Switch S6 as easy as possible and so has integrated a voice prompt feature to give you useful instructions and to let you know what the machine is doing. These include telling you to perform a self-cleaning cycle, that it’s charging and which cleaning mode has been selected. If you don’t want to hear them, you can silence them within the Tineco Life app, or simply reduce the volume a few notches.

I found that the app itself wasn’t all that useful, and in some instances, totally unusable. I found that the machine has to be on, or at least ‘woken up’ for the app to connect. I wasn’t going to hold my phone whilst using the vacuum, so the only realistic time you can view information is soon after you’ve put it on the charging dock. It will eventually power itself down entirely, at which time I found the app didn’t connect.

Screenshots from Tineco Floor One Switch S6 app

(Image credit: Future / Max Langridge)

When you do manage to get the app to connect to view information, there isn’t really much to see. You can view a bar graph infographic showing the amount of time you spent cleaning on a particular day, and the current state of the water tanks and the roller head. On all occasions they all returned a ‘Normal’ result during my time testing, but the intention is that it will tell you if something needs cleaning.

There is a user manual in the app too, but I was never able to get this to open. It instructs you to “tap to enter the corresponding tutorial manual”, but in my experience, there was never anything to tap on. The app also regularly displayed the battery level as 0%, despite it being fully charged on the charging dock.

  • Software score: 3.5 / 5

Tineco Floor One Switch S6 review: battery life

  • Decent battery life but not adequate for large homes
  • Up to 35 minutes mopping; up to 65 minutes vacuuming
  • Takes a while to top up

The Tineco Floor One Switch S6 has average battery life for a vacuum mop. The company hasn’t revealed what battery capacity it’s using, but you won’t get more than 35 minutes when using the main vacuum mop unit. That’s because it needs more power to suck up dirt and debris while washing floors and keeping the brush rolling. This may not seem like much, but I found it more than enough for my apartment (which has an approximate total cleaning area of 120 sqm / 1,300 sqft), but potential users living in larger homes will need to consider another option with better battery life.

If you’re just vacuuming, however, there’ll be up to 65 minutes available on tap.

  • Battery score: 4 / 5

Should I buy the Tineco Floor One Switch S6?

Buy it if...

You want one machine for all floor types

With a mopping head and a regular vacuum attachment, the Switch S6 can tackle all floor types with just one swappable motor. View Deal

You want an assured clean

With the iLoop sensor in mopping mode, suction power automatically increases when it detects major dirt and debris, meaning you can be sure everything will get sucked up. View Deal

You have a smaller home

I had no issues concerning battery life in a 2 bedroom apartment, with plenty of juice left in the tank after a clean.View Deal

Don't buy it if...

You have deep pile carpet

The vacuum attachment for carpet doesn’t have the suction power to get deep within the fibres.View Deal

You have a tight budget

You are essentially getting four vacuum cleaners in one, but there are cheaper alternatives that do a similar – and sometimes better – job.View Deal

Also consider

Shark HydroVac Cordless
This 3-in-1 machine cleans and vacuums hard floors and carpets with a single roller head. No other attachments means it struggles with tight corners and ceilings, but for main tasks, it offers great value.

Read our full Shark HydroVac Cordless reviewView Deal

Dyson V15s Detect Submarine
Excellent performance in both mopping and vacuuming functions, but some design flaws keep it from getting full marks. Plus, you'll need to spend Dyson money.

Read our full Dyson V15s Detect Submarine reviewView Deal

How I tested the Tineco Floor One Switch S6

I tested this vacuum over a period of about a month in my apartment, which has a mixture of sealed wood flooring, tiles and carpets. I ran tests to see how well both main attachments picked up liquid spills and common solid spills such as rice and other grains.

Roborock Qrevo Slim review
4:00 am |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Robot Vacuums Smart Home | Comments: Off

Roborock Qrevo Slim: two-minute review

Although sporting a lower-profile design than some rivals, the Roborock Qrevo Slim is otherwise a full-size robotic vacuum and mop that is powerful, intelligent and packed with features. The redesigned LiDAR system means it can slide more easily under low furniture, getting to floorspace that other robots can't, without any noticeable compromise in navigation performance.

The well-appointed Roborock app serves up no fewer than five suction levels, plus configurability for the cleaning route and mopping performance. It also smartly raises its dual spinning mops when carpet is detected, and features a spinning side brush that pivots outwards to reach into the corners of every room.

With up to 11,000Pa of suction power, the Qrevo Slim is more powerful than many rivals, including the pricier Eufy Omni S1 Pro, and you can even view a live stream from the front-facing camera in the Roborock app, turning the vacuum cleaner into a pet monitor.

The Slim does not feature the bouncy 'AdaptiLift Chassis' found on the Roborock Qrevo Curv, which launched alongside the Slim in September 2024. However, perhaps thanks to the improved navigation system, the Slim robot itself still tackles thick rugs and raised door thresholds with a confidence missing from most rivals. It's also worth noting that despite the low profile, this is still a relatively large robot, with an equally large docking station, so it's best-suited to medium and larger homes. That's the short version; read on for my full Roborock Qrevo Slim review.

Roborock Qrevo Slim robot vacuum in its dock

(Image credit: Future)

Roborock Qrevo Slim review: price & availability

  • List price: $1,399
  • Launched: September 2024
  • Availability: US

The Qrevo Slim launched in September 2024 and sits in the premium price bracket. It comes with a list price of $1,399, but you might be able to avoid paying that – I've spotted it discounted to around $999. At time of writing (because this market moves fast!) it sits at the top of Roborock's Qrevo range at, which itself occupies the middle tier of the company's robotic vacuum offering.

Below it you'll find the budget Q Series, and above you'll find the flagship S Series family, where prices start just below the Qrevo Slim (you'll pay $1,300 for the S7 Max Ultra), and extend all the way up to the range-topping, $1,800 S8 MaxV Ultra.

A four-figure vacuum may sound expensive, but that $1,300 buys you a lot of smart technology, and in this case your money goes into an interpretation of LiDAR known as 'StarSight', which is unique among robot vacuums, and is responsible for the Qrevo Slim's reduced height. You also get very high suction power – and in fact, at 11,000Pa, the Slim is more powerful than even Roborock's flagship S Series, which peaks at 10,000Pa. For comparison with other brands, the equally expensive Eufy Omni S1 Pro is rated at just 8,000Pa.

There is no ongoing subscription cost for the Qrevo Slim, although you'll need to purchase replacement dust bags every couple of months (Roborock says they get full in about seven weeks), and the side brush and mopping pads will eventually need replacing too.

  • Value for money score: 4 out of 5

Roborock Qrevo Slim specs

Roborock Qrevo Slim review: design

  • Low-profile design fits under furniture
  • Self-cleaning and emptying charge dock
  • Dual rotating mop pads

The ‘slim' part of this robot's name refers to how it doesn't have a spinning LiDAR sensor on top. This makes it shorter than most rivals, and at 8.2 cm tall it can drive places other robotic vacuums cannot. Roborock has replaced the conventional LiDAR sensor with a system it calls StarSight. This includes a dual-light, solid-state LiDAR system, plus a 3D time-of-flight sensor, a camera and infrared sensors. (Head to TechRadar's article on how robot vacuums navigate for a deep-dive into this area.)

Roborock Qrevo Slim robot vacuum flipped over to show underside

(Image credit: Future)

The rest of the Qrevo Slim's design is similar to other self-cleaning robovacs in the Roborock range. The robot is circular, with dual spinning mops at the rear (this style of mop is typically better at scrubbing than the fixed, D-Shaped pad style), a rotating brush at the side that cleverly extends to reach into corners, and a pair of rotating rubber brushes underneath. The charge dock has a dust bin and a pair of water tanks – one clean and one dirty – to work with the robot's mopping function.

Roborock Qrevo Slim robot vacuum in its dock

(Image credit: Future)

The robot itself measures 350mm (13.8in) wide, 353mm (13.9in) deep and 82mm (3.23in) tall, while the dock is 340mm (13.4in) wide, 487mm (19.2in) deep (including a ramp the robot parks on) and 521mm (20.5in) tall, although you'll need to leave space for the water tanks, which are removed by lifting them upwards from the dock.

Roborock also sells the Qrevo Slim with a refill-and-drainage system. This works in the same way, but plumbs into your home's water supply, so can refill and drain the mopping water tanks automatically. This dock is the same width and depth, but is shorter, at 405 mm (15.9in). For this review we're looking at the regular model with the larger, manually-refilled and emptied water tanks.

Top of Roborock Qrevo Slim robot vacuum dock, showing water tanks

(Image credit: Future)

As with other such robots, the Qrevo Slim dock charges the robot's battery and empties its dust bin into a larger bag that Roborock says only needs changing every seven weeks, although that will vary depending on what you're asking it to pick up. The robot also has its mopping pads cleaned with warm water and dried during charging, while the onboard water tank is emptied into the dock.

Back to the robot itself, and the Qrevo Slim can automatically lift and lower its mops, depending on the floor surface and what cleaning task is required. The side brush and one of the spinning mops can also move outwards, touching the walls and skirting boards for a complete clean.

There are three buttons on the top of the robot for quick access to key functions, like powering up, pausing and sending it back to its dock. Removing the magnetic cover gives access to the dust bin and filter, which can then be removed and cleaned or replaced.

The robot and dock take up a fair bit of space, and it's recommended that you place the dock against a wall, but with enough space either side for the robot to drive into, ensuring it cleans every last bit of your floor. You don't have to do this though, and you can sit the dock in a corner if needed; just make sure the ramp is clear for the robot to drive onto.

  • Design score: 4.5 out of 5

Roborock Qrevo Slim review: performance

  • Handles thick rugs and raised thresholds with ease
  • Automatic switching between vacuum and mop
  • Cleans deeply and reliably

Right away, I want to highlight how good the Roborock Qrevo Slim is at driving through thick rugs and over raised doorway thresholds. These are both tasks other robotic vacuums can really struggle with, and even flagship models with four-figure price tags have failed to clamber their way from my exposed-floorboard hallway into the carpeted bedroom.

Not the Qrevo Slim though. It drove over every threshold, every time. It even managed to wade its way through a thick rug in the lounge – something no other robot has achieved reliably – during its first exploratory drive. During that drive it used its camera and imaging sensor to create a map of my flat, which it automatically split into labeled rooms. It got most of the labelling correct, but I still had to jump into the app and make a few edits before saving the map.

Its off-roading abilities meant I could leave the Qrevo Slim to get on with its job, safe in the knowledge that it would drive into every room, clear the rug (and automatically vacuum it, too) and return to base without me checking if it had got trapped. On a couple of occasions, it briefly got stuck on a raised threshold, but always managed to clear it by reversing and driving forward again at a higher speed.

The automatic mode selection also impressed me. Since it's so often a challenge for robotic vacuums, I usually roll the rug up and set a robot to mop and vacuum the wooden floor. But with the Roborock I left it to do its own thing, where it vacuumed and mopped the wooden floor, then automatically raised its mop to vacuum the rug, before lowering it again to continue mopping the floor and ensuring the rug stayed dry.

As well as recognizing the difference between floor types, and where each room ends, the robot can also spot common household items like beds, sofa and television stands, which it then adds to the map.

Dock for Roborock Qrevo Slim robot vacuum, with front cover removed to show internal dust bag

(Image credit: Future)

On test, the Qrevo Slim's navigation was usually very good, driving confidently into small gaps, not crashing into anything at speed and not getting stuck. But on one occasion it got confused and failed to find its way back to the dock. Understandable if it was stuck under the sofa, or somewhere else far from the charging station, but it was just a foot or so from the dock, yet after lots of spinning around it declared defeat via an app notification. I don't know what caused this, but it only happened once during several weeks of testing.

Onto the specific cleaning tests. I begin by scattering a mix of oats and flour across approximately one square meter of wooden kitchen floor. I began in the quietest, least powerful vacuuming mode, with the robot driving a standard pattern and completing the route only once.

At just 60 dB, Quiet mode really is very quiet indeed, with the vacuuming itself no louder than the motors driving the robot around. As expected, this mode didn't do a particularly good job at picking up debris. It's okay for dust (or flour in this case) but struggled with the oat mix. Just like most other robotic vacuums, the Qrevo Slim's rotating side brush tends to flick debris around the room, and out of the robot's path. Telling it to perform the route twice mostly fixes this, as the flicked debris will be collected on the second pass.

Roborock Qrevo Slim robot vacuum with dust bin removed

(Image credit: Future)

Turning the vacuum power up to Balanced (one level up from Quiet) and telling the robot to clean the same area twice made a big difference. Despite only being slightly louder (about 63 dB), this setting sucked up almost all of the oat mix, with just a few pieces flicked out of reach by the side brush. Turbo mode is the next step, but at 65 dB it's only slightly louder than Balanced, but clearly has more power and was able to pick up all of the flour and almost every piece of oat.

Max vacuum strength is noticeably louder, at 69 dB. This is when the Qrevo Slim starts to really sound like a vacuum cleaner, but it's still the sort of volume you can talk over with a slightly raised voice. The cleaning power is also ramped up, providing an excellent clean.

However, on this run I noticed how when you create a zone for the robot to vacuum, it won't go right to the edges of a room, even if the zone you create overlaps the walls of the room map. This means you'll be left with a line of debris – in this case flour – swept to within a few inches of the wall but not collected. This is despite me telling the robot to clean right up to the wall. It also frequently failed to clean up directly in front of its docking station. Telling it to clean the whole room fixed this.

Finally, it's time for Max+, which even comes with a warning that it will shorten battery life due to being so power-intensive. This mode peaked at 70 dB and did a great job of collecting the debris, but the routing still meant some oats were flicked across the room and left behind; I also spotted how the robot drove over some flour without the vacuum on, then left a line of white tire tracks that it failed to pick up on subsequent passes. Requesting another clean, on a lower power setting, addressed this.

To summarize, cleaning whole rooms twice using Turbo or Max mode is best in most cases.

Roborock Qrevo Slim robot vacuum with side brush extended

(Image credit: Future)

I then repeated these tests on carpet, and saw very similar results. The Quiet and Balanced modes are fine for a little-and-often approach, but failed to pick up all debris. Turbo and Max modes performed better, while Max+ feels like overkill for regular cleaning, but is still a nice-to-have. If I'd just moved into a new home, I'd be using the full 11,000 Pa of suction with Max+ in every room to start with, then switch to Routine or Turbo for scheduled cleaning.

Turbo mode is the best all-rounder, mixing an ability to suck flour out of a reasonably dense carpet, with a low volume level. I still wish the robot was better at collecting debris flicked around by the rotating brush, but this is only apparent when faced with very specific tests. You won't notice this during regular cleaning, but might need to occasionally pick up a few bits of debris with a handheld vacuum.

Roborock Qrevo Slim robot vacuum cleaning a hard floor

(Image credit: Future)

Finally, the mop. The Qrevo Slim has a pair of mops that spin at 200 rpm and push downwards for a deep clean. There are three preset water flow options (low, medium and high), plus a custom option where you can pick from a flow rate between one and 30. You can then tell the mop to clean an area once or twice, and pick from four route options, ranging from the quickest, through to Deep+, which is more thorough but takes much longer.

For my test I scattered some hot sauce across the wooden kitchen floor, left it to partially dry, then set the Roborock to work. I asked it to mop the entire room, using a moderate water flow (number 20 of 30), with two cleaning passes, and the Standard route option. In short, it did a great job. The right-hand rotating mop extends outwards, so that it can clean right up against the walls or skirting boards on an initial lap of the room, before tucking back into its default position and working together with the left-hand mop to give the entire floor a thorough wipe.

All of the hot sauce was removed, but only because I set the robot to make two passes; some stains were still visible after the first pass.

The side brush spins slowly during mopping, so it's best to use the mop on a dried stain instead of a fresh spill, as any liquid will be wiped by the brush and require manual cleaning later. It's also worth remembering that the mop uses only warm water and no detergent. (You can find premium robot vacuums that offer hot water mopping, although it's rare – the option to add detergent is more common and is included on other Roborocks, including the S8 MaxV Ultra).

Water tank removed from Roborock Qrevo Slim robot vacuum dock

(Image credit: Future)

The mopping process is all very quiet, ranging from 44 bB to 58 dB as the water tank is filled from the docking station, then emptied again, and the mop is cleaned using hot water and dried with warm air. The mop takes three hours to fully dry, but during that time you can ask the robot to either mop again, or do some vacuuming. The dock base (the part the robot sits on while charging) self-cleans with a pair of rotating scrapers, but can also be removed for a manual scrub. After several weeks of testing, the base still appeared as-new.

There's even a sensor in the charge station that checks how clean the robot's water is, then cleans the mops more thoroughly if required.

Lastly, the robot has a voice control system that responds to the command 'Hello Rocky'. It can be asked to 'vacuum the bedroom', 'mop the kitchen' or 'dry the mop', for example. The robot responds quickly and accurately, making voice commands a convenient way to access basic functions without finding your phone and diving into the app for more granular control.

The Qrevo Slim's battery life is a claimed 180 minutes. This feels fairly accurate, but will vary considerably depending on which settings are used.

  • Performance score: 4.5 out of 5

Roborock Qrevo Slim review: app

  • Easy to use, but…
  • Lots of customization on offer. Almost overkill
  • SmartPlan and homescreen widgets are handy one-tap solutions

The Roborock app works like most other robotic vacuum controllers. There are several customizable cleaning parameters to adjust, including five levels of suction power, three levels of water flow for the mopping function, and the option to clean an area once or twice, plus an option to pick between the standard or faster, more efficient cleaning route. Or, it can be set to only vacuum or mop a certain room or area, depending on your needs.

There's also the SmartPlan, which uses artificial intelligence to learn your cleaning habits and preferences, then creates a customized vacuuming and mopping plan.

Screenshots for Roborock Qrevo Slim robot vacuum companion app

(Image credit: Roborock)

On top of all that are the routines. If you don't want to clean the whole map, or a single room, you can instead select the After Meals routine, which can be configured to clean only the kitchen and dining room, for example. Routines appear on the home screen of the app, and can be activated with just one tap. iPhone users can create a homescreen widget with one-tap access to a couple of your most-used routines. With that set up, it's a case of unlocking your phone and tapping once on the widget to start a cleaning routine.

There are even a few pet-friendly app features, including a function where the robot will go and look for your pet without the vacuum running, using its forward-facing camera to show a live stream of what's going on.

Screenshots for Roborock Qrevo Slim robot vacuum companion app

(Image credit: Roborock )

As with other robotic vacuum apps, there are options to reconfigure your map and rename rooms. There are also masses of settings to adjust, if you wish, from cleaning schedules, to how the robot uses its lifting mops, what temperature water it uses to clean the mops, how often it empties its dust bin, and much more.

These can almost all be left to their default setting, but I strongly urge pet owners to enable pet mode in the Reactive Obstacle Avoidance page of the settings menu, since this ensures the robot recognizes and avoids pets and their waste with extra precision.

  • App score: 4.5 out of 5

Should you buy the Roborock Qrevo Slim?

Buy it if...

You have low furniture

It might sound a bit niche, but its lack of height is the defining feature of the Qrevo Slim. It can drive into and clean places other robots can't reach, while the side brush and one of the mops cleverly pivot outwards to clean right up against every wall.

You need lots of power

Despite its more compact design, the Qrevo Slim is currently Roborock's most powerful robotic vacuum cleaner, with 11,000Pa of suction. The most powerful setting consumes lots of power, and is fairly loud, but it does a fantastic job of cleaning carpets and hard floors alike. Much quieter settings are also available.

You want an equally impressive mop

The Qrevo Slim's dual-rotor mop is impressive. Both mops push downwards and spin at 200 rpm, while the amount of water used is highly configurable and the robot automatically works harder on tougher stains.

Don't buy it if...

You're tight on space

Despite the name, this robot is only compact in one dimension – height. The diameter of the robot is still on par with other high-end rivals, and so too is the considerable size of the docking station. A smaller dock is available, but you'll need to be able to plumb it into your water supply.View Deal

You value simplicity

While this robot can function in a simple, one-tap way, to even get to that stage requires a fair bit of setup. There are pages and pages of settings to tinker with, routines to create, a voice assistant to learn phrases for and all manner of configuration, including no fewer than 30 levels of water flow for the mop.

You're on a budget

Although it isn't quite the most expensive robotic vacuum around, the Qrevo Slim is right up there. I think it still represents good value as a premium product, but there are also plenty of options for shoppers wanting to spend less. Roborock itself has the more affordable Q Series, for example.

How I tested the Roborock Qrevo Slim

I set up the Qrevo Slim and used it as my only vacuum cleaner for several weeks. After using it for general vacuuming and mopping duties, I performed a series of tests to appraise its cleaning abilities, as well as its noise levels and how well Roborock's smartphone app works.

Read more about how we test robot vacuum cleaners

  • First reviewed November 2024
Arzopa Digital Picture Frame WiFi 15.6-inch review: a big photo frame that’s not quite bright or brilliant enough
2:34 pm | December 17, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Smart Home | Tags: , , | Comments: Off

Arzopa Digital Picture Frame WiFi 15.6-inch review

The Arzopa Digital Picture Frame WiFi 15.6-inch is an affordable digital photo frame that uses the third-party Frameo app to enable you to easily share your snaps via the frame. Right out of the gate, the first thing you’re likely to notice is that price; while its $149.99 / £169.99 retail price isn’t anything to write home about, during sales season we've been seeing prices around $89.99 / £89.99 – that’s a seriously low price for such a sizeable digital photo frame.

Connecting with the Arzopa Digital Picture Frame is nice and easy. Once you’ve powered it up and connected it to your Wi-Fi, you can scan an on-screen QR code to download the Frameo app. Now, simply press the "Add a Friend" button on the Arzopa’s screen, punch in the code that appears into the Frameo app, and you’re ready to start sharing pics. Even better, you can repeat this step to set up friends and family so they too can share their snaps with your frame.

Not everyone wants to share their photos with the cloud, particularly if they’re security conscious or have young children. If this is you, then the Arzopa’s offline storage will be music to your ears. The frame includes 32GB of internal storage and, should you fill this up, you can easily expand its storage capacity up to 128GB via its SD card port. This does fall short of what some of the best digital photo frames offer, but it still isn't bad, all things considered.

All digital photo frames built on the Frameo app work in the same way and, generally speaking, I’d say this is a positive. The app is easy to use: you can browse your device’s whole image library or just specific albums, adding individual photos or uploading up to 10 at a time. Unfortunately, if you want to upload more than this in one go, you’ll need to upgrade to Frameo+. The cost of this isn't exorbitant at $1.99 / £0.99 a month or $16.99 / £7.99 a year, but you'll need to bear this in mind when calculating if this frame is the right price for you.

As I mentioned in my Pexar 11-inch Digital Picture Frame review, I’m not entirely keen on the way the Frameo app handles cropping images for digital photo frame’s auto-rotate feature. When uploading each image, you’ll set a circular focal area that the frame will ensure remains in frame in either orientation. However, this can still leave some images oddly centered or cropping out details you hadn’t anticipated. I’d rather just have the option to manually set the crop for each image.

The Arzopa Digital Picture Frame WiFi 15.6-inch showing a macro image of a bumblebee in front of a muted purple rhododendron.

(Image credit: Future / Josh Russell)

Once your shots are on the Arzopa, its 15.6-inch display definitely delivers your snaps with impact; the frame feels generously sized compared to many of the other affordable frames out there. Since its 1920 x 1080 resolution is shared over that larger screen estate, pixel density does fall somewhat next to rivals such as the Pexar 11-inch Digital Picture Frame at 212ppi. However, images still look pretty crisp; rendering my macro shot of a bumblebee, the Arzopa frame shows off every grain of pollen and every hair of her fuzzy coat in decent detail.

Image 1 of 3

The Arzopa 15.6-inch WiFi Digital Picture Frame showing a macro image of a bumblebee in front of a muted purple rhododendron.

(Image credit: Future / Josh Russell)
Image 2 of 3

A macro image of a bumble bee collecting nectar in a bright pink rhododendron.

(Image credit: Josh Russell)
Image 3 of 3

Bright red maple leaves with hues of scarlet, burgundy and amber.

(Image credit: Josh Russell)

Unfortunately, where things start to come undone is with color. On my iPhone 16 Pro’s screen, a photo I took of a fireworks display reveals a shower of magenta and violet stars in a glowing pink nebula. But when I uploaded it to the Arzopa, the red and pink hues looked washed out, completely robbing the image of any punch. Similarly, floral shots completely underwhelmed, the lack of vibrancy going far beyond slight variations in color profile to looking actively anemic and poorly shot.

The Arzopa Digital Picture Frame WiFi 15.6-inch does fare better when it comes to black-and-white photography at least. Thanks to its deep blacks and bright highlights, its display is sufficiently contrasty to deliver monochrome landscape and architectural shots with impressive details. The Arzopa frame definitely shows off HDR photography to a high standard.

However, even this bold contrast was slightly undermined by its screen. Perhaps even more than its muted hues, the lack of a matte finish really damages the Arzopa’s performance in bright light. Without any treatment to diffuse incoming light, my photos were always obscured by hard-edged, geometric reflections of the panel lighting in the TechRadar offices; it was almost impossible to ignore since it made it difficult to make out details in the images. Worse, this reflectiveness means the frame is almost certainly unusable in direct sunlight, further restriction its position in your home.

This tendency toward glossiness extends to other elements of the frame’s design. The Arzopa’s frame feels a little cheap and plasticky, but thanks to its black color, this doesn’t feel so in your face. However, the frame’s bezels are much harder to ignore – despite the fact their beveled edges are designed to make them look more like mounting, the white plastic is so cheap-looking and reflective that it does detract from the overall quality of the frame.

Plus, there are other unusual design choices: the frame’s stand is literally just a plastic stick that screws into one corner of the frame. While it seems to do an okay job of supporting the frame in either horizontal or vertical orientation, I’m not convinced it’s sturdy enough to withstand becoming damaged over time.

Buy it on sale, however, and the Arzopa Digital Picture Frame WiFi 15.6-inch is available for an astoundingly good price – and it’s almost certainly better quality than some of the bargain-basement frames you’ll find on Amazon. In terms of crispness of picture, contrast and ease of use, it’s great value for money. However, its muted hues, overly reflective screen and the cheapness of its finish do make my recommendation here equivocal – if you can only find it at a higher price, some of the similarly priced best digital photo frames might make a better choice.

The Arzopa Digital Picture Frame WiFi 15.6-inch showing the screen reflecting its immediate surroundings.

(Image credit: Future)

Arzopa Digital Picture Frame WiFi 15.6-inch review: price & release date

  • MSRP of $149.99 / £169.99 but currently reduced to $89.99 / £89.99
  • Available now in both the US and UK
  • Frameo app free or $1.99 / £0.99 a month for Frameo+

The Arzopa Digital Picture Frame WiFi 15.6-inch is available now in both the US and UK.

Its price varies to quite a degree, which has a huge impact on the value you’re getting. At its full price of $149.99 at Amazon US or £169.99, at Amazon UK, it effectively costs as much as the $159.99 / £149.99 Pexar 11-inch Digital Picture Frame, which I'd argue is a much higher-quality frame, thanks to its anti-glare screen and delivery of bold colors. However, some of the sale prices we’ve seen bring the Arzopa frame down to around $89.99 / £89.99, which makes it a far more appealing option, especially if you can’t stretch to the more expensive Pexar.

One other important consideration here in terms of price is the Frameo app. While the base tier is free, to upload more than 10 photographs at a time or videos longer than 15 seconds, you’ll need to upgrade to Frameo+, which costs $1.99 / £0.99 a month or $16.99 / £7.99 a year. That will allow you to upload 100 images at a time, send two-minute video clips, and manage the content on your Arzopa remotely via the app.

The bottom of Arzopa Digital Picture Frame WiFi 15.6-inch showing its ports.

(Image credit: Future)

Arzopa Digital Picture Frame WiFi 15.6-inch review: specs

The Arzopa Digital Picture Frame WiFi 15.6-inch showing a monochrome image of the Roman Bridge of Córdoba.

(Image credit: Future / Josh Russell)

Should I buy the Arzopa Digital Picture Frame WiFi 15.6-inch?

Buy it if…

You want a big, crisp screen
At 15.6-inches, the Arzopa Digital Picture Frame WiFi delivers a lot of screen estate on which to display your snaps. And while pixel density is lower than the 212ppi of the Pexar 11-inch Digital Picture Frame, photos still look crisp and clear.

You can get it on sale
Whether the Arzopa frame delivers good value very much depends on the price you pay for it. Pick it up for the sale price of around $89.99 / £89.99 and you’re getting a very good deal, but you don’t have to spend much more than its MSRP of $149.99 / £169.99 to get a superior product.

Don’t buy it if…

You want your colorful snaps to pop
Vibrant hues aren't the Arzopa frame’s forte – colorful subjects such as flowers and fauna can look muted at best, and downright drab at their worst. Fans of black-and-white photography needn’t worry – but if you want your walls to be a riot of color, other frames might prove a wiser investment.

You want to use it in bright rooms
The Arzopa’s glossy screen means it's entirely unforgiving when it comes to reflections – whether using it during the day or at night, I found natural and artificial sources of light completely overwhelmed the brightness of the screen. Fundamentally, if it's to sit opposite windows or under harsh lighting, you’d be better off looking for a frame with a matte screen.

Arzopa Digital Picture Frame WiFi 15.6-inch review: also consider

Pexar 11-inch Digital Picture Frame
The Pexar 11-inch Digital Picture Frame scarcely costs any more than the Arzopa at full price, at $159.99 / £149.99; however, performance is superior. It offers a 2000 x 1200 resolution across its smaller 11-inch screen, delivering higher pixel density, while colors are far more vibrant. Plus, its matte, anti-glare screen keeps reflected light to a minimum. Read our full Pexar 11-inch Digital Picture Frame review.

Aeezo Portrait 01
If you’re unable to stretch to the Arzopa – or can’t find it at a reduced price – the Aeezo Portrait 01 is a bargain alternative that also includes internal storage and costs just $69.99 / £55.99. You’ll get bolder albeit sometimes slightly unnatural, colors; but the sacrifice is resolution at only 1280 x 800, rather than the Arzopa’s 1080p. Read our full Aeezo Portrait 01 review.

How I tested the Arzopa Digital Picture Frame WiFi 15.6-inch

I tested the Arzopa Digital Picture Frame WiFi 15.6-inch over several weeks. I uploaded a range of photos to it using the Frameo app and connected multiple other people to enable them to share images with the frame, too.

To test the performance of the frame, I uploaded a wide array of portrait and landscape images and included everything from brightly colored shots of flowers and animals to monochrome architectural shots. Additionally, I positioned the frame in multiple places around my home and the TechRadar office and changed its orientation between portrait and landscape.

I have many years of experience taking photos, both on my Canon DSLR and my iPhone 16 Pro and, over the past 15 years, I’ve taken over 40,000 photos. I’ve also spent many years working in print publishing, doing post-production on photos and preparing images for print. This means I have a lot of experience in making images look as close to their source as possible.

Levoit LVAC-200 Cordless Vacuum review
12:00 pm | December 14, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Small Appliances Vacuums | Comments: Off

Levoit LVAC-200 cordless vacuum: two-minute review

The Levoit LVAC-200 is a lightweight cordless vacuum that won't break the bank. I tested one out to see how it compares to the rest of the best vacuum cleaners, as well as the best cordless vacuums specifically.

This brand is better known for its air purifiers, but as an affordable alternative to high-end cordless vacuums, the LVAC-200 impresses. At only 6lbs, it's easy to maneuver no matter the configuration. There are three suction levels to choose from, and in my testing, I found these were enough to tackle most messes, including fine dust. The fact you'll need to unleash the battery-sapping max mode for carpets means it's perhaps better suited to homes with mostly hard floors and perhaps the occasional rug.

Admittedly, the LVAC-200 can have some trouble picking up larger debris, especially if you go over the debris too quickly, and it struggles to vacuum in reverse. However, it still offers solid performance for the price.

The battery lasts over 40 minutes on the lowest suction setting, and while that's not the longest runtime around, it's in line with what I'd expect from today's best cheap vacuums and will be plenty sufficient for most people's needs. That's the short version; read on for my full Levoit LVAC-200 Cordless Vacuum review.

Levoit LVAC-200 cordless vacuum, standing upright, next to supplied accessories, in reviewer's home

(Image credit: Future)

Levoit LVAC-200 review: price & availability

  • List price: $199.99 / £159.99 / AU$399
  • Launch date: November 2023
  • Availability: UK / US / AU

The Levoit LVAC-200 Cordless Vacuum is sold in a range of territories, including the US, UK, and Australia. It was first announced in November 2023 and sits in TechRadar's budget price bracket for manual vacuums.

It's priced at $199.99 in the US, and is sold direct at Levoit as well as a range of third party retailers. In the UK and Australia, it's only available at third-party retailers like Amazon, and costs around £160 or AU$400.

At time of writing, this is the only vacuum in Levoit's range. Based on the number of accessories that you get, the length of the battery life, and the quality of the build, I think this vacuum is well priced.

  • Value for money score: 4.5 out of 5

Levoit LVAC-200 specs

Levoit LVAC-200 cordless vacuum review: design

  • Super lightweight, and comes with two accessories
  • Can be used as a stick vacuum or a handheld
  • Three suction speeds

The Levoit LVAC-200 Cordless Vacuum is one of the lightest vacuums I've ever tested. At 6.17 lbs or 2.85kg, it is easy to maneuver this vacuum no matter if you're using it as a stick vacuum, a handheld vacuum, or by taking the vacuum head off and using the wand to clean in high places.

The stick vacuum itself is mostly white with black accents, and has a removable battery. In terms of size, it's 9.8 inches long, 7.7 inches wide, and 43.3 inches tall or 110 x 19.5 x 25 centimeters. Three LED lights are located on the front of the vacuum head. Inside that vacuum head is an anti-tangle brush. The wand is not bendable (as is the case with the best Shark vacuums on the market), but it can lie 180-degrees flat so you can vacuum underneath furniture with relative ease.

Levoit LVAC-200 cordless vacuum broken up into its component parts

(Image credit: Future)

Setting up the vacuum took no time at all. I connected the wand to the handheld part and then attached the vacuum head to the wand. The dustbin is 0.75L, and it's attached to the front of the vacuum. This was a smart design choice by Levoit as it allows the vacuum to stand upright on its own, and not fall over when the vacuum head is locked into place. A wall mount is provided if you'd prefer.

Levoit LVAC-200 cordless vacuum standing upright on its own

(Image credit: Future)

On top of the dustbin is a power button. In front of the power button is the suction speed button that lets you move between suction speeds – I, II, or III. If I needed to increase the power, I'd just push the button, and the vacuum would increase the suction. According to Levoit, the suction power is 70AW – that's likely the maximum power, although this isn't specified. (Here's more on how to tell how much suction a vacuum has).

Close up of handle and controls on Levoit LVAC-200 cordless vacuum

(Image credit: Future)

Thanks to a 5-stage filtration system, this vacuum is able to capture 99.9 percent of particles as small as 0.3 microns. The filter is washable.

The charger plugs into the side of the battery. Two accessories are provided: a crevice tool that also doubles as a brush tool, and a 2-in-1 pet tool. You'll have to store these accessories when not in use since this vacuum doesn't come with a base or has a built-in holder.

  • Design score: 4 out of 5

Levoit LVAC-200 vacuum review: performance

  • Cleans up fine materials perfectly on medium and max mode
  • Vacuums poorly in reverse no matter the floor type
  • Better on hard floor than on carpet

The Levoit LVAC-200 Cordless Vacuum is lightweight with a vacuum head that swivels with ease. It can be broken down into three configurations – as a cordless stick vacuum with the vacuum head, a vacuum with just the wand, and as a handheld vacuum. There are three different suction modes that are labeled in roman numerals – I, III, and III – with sound ratings of 78, 82, and 83 dB respectively.

I tested this vacuum in my house, which has three types of flooring (hardwood, laminate, and rugs). I also utilized the different accessories to clean my furniture and blinds.

My testing process began by vacuuming my entire house as I normally would. Originally, I felt like it did a good job vacuuming the hard floors in my house as well as the large rugs. There was some dirt and dried mud in my mud room that it picked up well, and hair in my bathroom that it cleaned away without the hair getting stuck in the brush. However, if the caked mud was larger in size, I had to vacuum over the pieces more slowly for the vacuum to suction it all up.

I am a big fan of bendable vacuum wands, and unfortunately, this Levoit LVAC-200 is not equipped with one. I was able to lean the vacuum completely down to 180 degrees so I could reach under my bed and couch for more thorough cleaning, but this required me to crouch down. The floorhead is equipped with LED lights to help illuminate dingy areas.

Levoit LVAC-200 cordless vacuum cleaning a rug

(Image credit: Future)

I should also note that this vacuum doesn't have any smart capabilities, which means it can't sense or notify you if the floor is dirty or clean. That's not surprising at this price point – mid-range models like the Shark Detect Pro can sense if they're on carpet or hard floor, and boost or lower suction in response, while very high-end models like the Dyson V15 Detect or Gen5detect can adjust suction specifically based on what needs sucking up on any particular patch of floor. Here, you'll have to change the suction mode manually.

Close up of floorhead and accessories for Levoit LVAC-200 cordless vacuum

(Image credit: Future)

I also tested out the two supplied detail tools. I used the crevice tool to clean tight spaces around furniture and the corners of the wall. The crevice tool doubles as a brush tool, and I used that and the middle suction setting to clean my blinds, which were very dusty. The results were great.

Levoit LVAC-200 cordless vacuum in handheld mode, cleaning in the corner of a room

(Image credit: Future)

I should also note that I was surprised by how well the 2-in-1 pet tool managed to pull up hair from my couch. Granted, I had to put the handheld vacuum on the highest suction setting and brush the couch as the vacuum suctioned, but it did better than most vacuums I have tested – and impressively well for a budget model.

Levoit LVAC-200 cordless vacuum in handheld mode, being used to clean reviewer's sofa

(Image credit: Future)

Although it appeared like the vacuum did a good job cleaning my floors, I wanted to do more thorough tests with the Levoit LVAC-200 Cordless Vacuum. To do that, I poured cereal, dried tea, and flour on my hard floors and on one of my rugs and then vacuumed over these items on the lowest suction setting.

No matter the flooring, it was clear that this vacuum is not equipped to vacuum in reverse, especially when it came to larger debris like cereal. Occasionally the cereal particles got stuck behind the wheels of the vacuum, and generally I noticed that the vacuum didn't pick up the dried tea or the flour as well when vacuuming in reverse as it did when vacuuming forward.

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Levoit LVAC-200 picking up fine debris on hard floor

(Image credit: Future)
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Levoit LVAC-200 picking up cereal on hard floor

(Image credit: Future)
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Levoit LVAC-200 picking up cereal on hard floor

(Image credit: Future)

When I tested the vacuum on my historic hardwood and laminate floorings, I found it did a good job suctioning dried tea while set on the lowest suction setting and performed fairly well in cleaning up the flour, leaving only a slight sheen of flour on the floor. In my opinion, it's best to use the middle or high suction level when vacuuming fine materials on hard floors just to pick everything up in one go.

What surprised me the most was how much difficulty the vacuum had with picking up cereal on hard floors. When I pushed the vacuum head forward, larger pieces of the cereal would get pushed ahead of the vacuum head. Just like what occurred with large pieces of caked mud, I had to slowly vacuum over the cereal for the vacuum to suction the cereal up.

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Levoit LVAC-200 picking up flour on a rug

(Image credit: Future)
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Levoit LVAC-200 picking up flour on a rug

(Image credit: Future)

When I ran these same tests on my rugs, the results were slightly different. The Levoit vacuum picked up cereal way better on carpet than it did on hard floors. Unfortunately, when I vacuumed over the flour and the dried tea, I had to do a few passes to clean these fine materials.

Again, using higher suction settings, such as the medium or high setting, requires only one or two passes on rugs. If you want to use this vacuum on carpet, you'll need to use the higher suction settings (which will sap battery fairly quickly). On balance, I don't think this is the best vacuum choice if your home has a lot of carpet.

Emptying the bin on the Levoit LVAC-200 cordless vacuum

(Image credit: Future)

All the dust and debris are contained in a dustbin on the front of this cordless vacuum. It is very easy to dump the bin. I just had to remove the handheld portion of the vacuum from the wand, take it to a trash can, press a latch, and the dust and debris went straight into the trash can.

Beyond that, I didn't have to do much maintenance. The brushroll does a good job of preventing the tangling of hair, string, or debris. However, it's simple to remove it from the vacuum head and wash it separately if required. The filters are also washable and should be washed once a month, then replaced every three months.

  • Performance score: 3.5 out of 5

Levoit LVAC-200 cordless vacuum review: battery life

  • 16 mins on max mode, 25 mins on medium and 42 on min mode
  • Less than the quoted 50 minutes, but enough for most people
  • It takes about 2 hours and 40 minutes to fully recharge

According to Levoit, the LVAC-200 Cordless Vacuum has a battery life of 30-50 minutes. However, when I ran the vacuum on the lowest suction setting, it only lasted about 42 minutes. On the medium suction setting I managed 25 minutes of cleaning. In maximum mode, I only got about 16 minutes of battery life (probably long enough to clean less than 900 square feet in a single go).

In my opinion, the vacuum has a decent battery life considering how much it costs. It was more than enough time for me to clean my home – in fact, I could clean my house almost three times over in 42 minutes. If you have a much larger home, pricier models will give you longer – up to a full hour on a single charge. The fact that the battery is removable means you could also buy a backup battery and hot-swap them to eke out a longer cleaning time.

What is most impressive is that the LVAC-200 took about 2 hours and 40 minutes for the battery to fully recharge. This is much faster than the 4-5-hour estimate that Levoit provides on its website.

  • Battery life score: 4 out of 5

Should you buy the Levoit LVAC-200 cordless vacuum?

Buy it if...

You're on a budget
The main selling point here is really how affordable this vacuum is. You're getting solid performance, battery life and build quality for the price.

You have mostly hard floors
In my tests I found the LVAC-200 did a good job of clearing debris on hard floor, and can also handle rugs with no issues.

You need a vacuum that can handle a variety of jobs around the house
The Levoit LVAC-200 has three configurations and comes with two accessories. Essentially, you can vacuum hard floors and rugs with ease, as well as clean furniture, blinds, baseboards, and in tight spaces. View Deal

Don't buy it if...

Your home is full of carpets
This vacuum is better suited to homes with hard floors and rugs. For a proper clean on carpet, you'll need to use the maximum suction mode, which will run down the battery quickly. If you have a number of rooms with carpets, you'll be better with a more powerful model.

You want or need to vacuum efficiently, in a hurry
There are no automation features here, you'll have to vacuum slowly to pick up large debris, and this model doesn't vacuum very well in reverse. All that can extend your cleaning times.

You have lots of furniture to clean around
Although the floorhead pivots well, this vacuum doesn't have the outright maneuverability of a Dyson model, nor does the wand bend forwards to easy under-furniture cleaning as is possible with many Shark vacs.

How I tested the Levoit LVAC-200

I used the Levoit LVAC-200 as my main vacuum for a couple of weeks, using it to clean my apartment – which has a mixture of hardwood, laminate, and rugs. During this time, I got a feel for how well designed it is, how easy to maneuver, and whether there are any usability issues.

To get a more objective idea of this vacuum's suction powers, I ran TechRadar's standard tests, on both hard floor and soft rugs. These tests included vacuuming cereal, flour, and dried tea forwards and in reverse to determine the vacuum's suction capability. I also tested the sound rating and battery life to see if it matched up with the specs provided by the brand.

Read more about how we test vacuum cleaners.

  • First reviewed November 2024
Blink Outdoor 4 review: affordable, beginner-friendly home security that gets the job done
8:19 am | December 12, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Home Home Security Smart Home | Tags: , , | Comments: Off

Blink Outdoor 4: one-minute review

The Blink Outdoor 4 is an outdoor-intended camera that offers weather resistance and a simple, easily fixed square design that's perfect for placing up in the corner of a roof or sitting on a windowsill. Its best feature is a phenomenal two-year battery life, powered by two easily replaceable AA batteries – though if you really want, the camera can be powered via a USB-C connection.

Available for $99 / £92.24 / AU$149, this outdoor, battery-powered camera may be attractive just for its low cost. Blink is Amazon’s budget home security brand, and unlike its premium brand Ring, Blink is focused on affordability. Still, the camera works quite well and has a worthwhile range of features. With the included Sync Module 2, offline video capture and storage can be facilitated, provided you have a USB-A device connected (below 256GB).

Aside from this offline solution, you may instead wish to subscribe to one of Blink’s paid memberships, which offer additional features like unlimited 60-day cloud storage and photo capture. However, for most of my time with the Blink Outdoor 4, I used the free subscription with the Sync Module 2, and found it to be a perfectly fine experience.

Setting up the Blink Outdoor 4 was extremely easy. Everything happens through the Blink app for Android and Apple handsets, where you’re prompted to set up an account (you can link to your Amazon account in the app). Pairing your Outdoor 4 with your Sync Module comes next – and as long as they’re both on the same Wi-Fi network, everything works seamlessly. You can place the Sync Module 2 anywhere in your home provided it has power.

After setup, I could check-in on the camera at any time through an always-online live feed. This offers decent (if a bit grainy and motion blurry) 1080p stream, along with two-way audio with sound quality that isn’t terrible, but isn’t the clearest either. Motion-triggered notifications are available with all three subscriptions, but motion event recording, live view recording and person detection are restricted to paid subscriptions.

Motion detection is reliable and you are given the option to turn up the sensitivity in the settings (you can even adjust retrigger time between events). Person detection is serviceable and I generally didn’t have any problems with it, testing it both inside and out.

On the hardware side, the Blink Outdoor 4 is easily mounted on the outside of a home with the included bracket, and its IP65 rating gives it a fair amount of resistance to the elements. A basic mounting kit and power adapter is included in the box, but I’ve happily had the Outdoor 4 sitting on my windowsill over the past couple of months with no mount attached.

Adjusting privacy zones in the app is easy, but selection is limited to an array of rectangular zones on the display (privacy zones will be completely greyed out). The same goes for setting activity zones, though you are given slightly more depth of customization with this setting.

In terms of quality, you may be left unimpressed with the Blink Outdoor 4 if you’re after a replacement for a premium outdoor camera from Ring or Eufy. The 1080p resolution is perfectly fine for a first time home camera, but it’s no premium device. Selecting the ‘best picture quality’ setting will resolve some issues with moving object blur, but you may still find it a bit too grainy. Improving the video quality does reduce battery life. It may be unattractive to you if you already have a robust security system, and it's more intended as a first-time device.

Overall, you’ll be impressed with the Blink Outdoor 4 if you’re after a cheap and reliable battery-powered camera for outdoor or indoor use. It’s not the best security camera on the market but it’s a good entry-level pick for a security-minded homebody. Check out our article on the best home security cameras if you’re shopping for an alternative.

Blink Outdoor 4: price and availability

A hand holding the Blink Outdoor 4 wireless security camera

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)
  • List price: $99 / £92.24 / AU$149
  • Availability: US, UK, and Australia
  • Release date: November 2023 (October 2024 in Australia)

The Blink Outdoor 4 is available at quite a low price when compared to other home security cameras, but it’s designed to be an affordable solution. It's been available in the US and UK since November 2023, but only made its way to Australia (along with the Blink brand) in October 2024.

Directly compared to its predecessor, the Outdoor 3, the Outdoor 4 sports a slightly wider field of view (143 degrees versus 110), upgraded night infrared vision, better motion detection, dual-zone motion alerts and person detection. Additional purchases for things such as mounts may be required depending on where you want to place the Outdoor 4 in your home.

Being able to store all footage locally is a huge plus, but note that you’ll need to use the included Sync Module 2 and your own USB-A storage device (up to 256GB). Stored footage can be viewed through the Blink app.

  • Value score: 4 / 5

Blink Outdoor 4 subscription offers

A Blink Outdoor 4 wireless security camera sitting on a shelf

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)

Blink has two subscription tiers to choose from, both offering unlimited recording cloud storage for up to 60 days. Monthly or yearly billing is available.

  • Blink Basic: $3p/m | £2.50p/m | AU$4.95p/m
  • Blink Plus: $10p/m | £8p/m | AU$15p/m

Blink Basic includes support for one device, motion event recording, live view recording, automatic local storage backups, instant video access, video sharing, person detection and photo capture. Blink Plus includes all Basic features, along with unlimited device inclusion, moments capture, notification snoozing and 10% off Blink devices.

Blink Outdoor 4: specifications

Blink Outdoor 4: design and features

The Blink Outdoor 4 on brickwork

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)
  • Easy setup
  • No privacy cover
  • No remote control capabilities

Setup for the Blink Outdoor 4 couldn’t be more simple. After slotting in the batteries, all I had to do was download the app, scan the barcode on the back of the device, and follow the prompted steps. Setup for the Sync Module 2 is similarly simple.

The Blink Outdoor 4 is only available in Black, and though a basic mounting kit is included in the box, you can get by with just sitting the Outdoor 4 on a flat surface. There’s no motorized movement, meaning you’ll need to make any position adjustments by hand.

The basic mounting kit can be screwed into the wall or ceiling, but note that you’ll likely want it to be within easy reach to replace the batteries. There’s no privacy cover and no ability to simply cut recording unless you physically remove the batteries.

Setting privacy zones is easy enough, but you may be left underwhelmed by the lack of customization. Zones can only be created as collections of rectangles, as can activity zones (though activity zones are given slightly smaller rectangles to modify, allowing for greater coverage control). If you so wish, you can disable video recording or disable the audio connection.

  • Design and features score: 4/5

Blink Outdoor 4: performance

The Blink Outdoor 4 camera in hand

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / TechRadar)
  • Two years of battery life
  • Some lag and pixelization
  • Can be positioned almost anywhere

I reviewed the Blink Outdoor 4 in two different positions – sitting atop my lounge room shelves (keeping an eye on the room) and sitting on the windowsill (keeping an eye on my front door/lawn). In these spots, I tried out all the different recording qualities and, predictably, was most satisfied with the highest quality selection. Two years of battery life is quite a long time to begin with, so I’m not too worried about running the device flat too quickly.

Accessing these settings is easy. Go to the app, then tap the three dots displayed in the corner of the camera’s view, then click device settings. If you have multiple devices set up, you may want to tap the settings icon in the bottom right corner, then access Device and System Settings, then tap the ‘System’ you want to edit, followed by ‘All Devices’, then the camera you want to modify.

All of the video quality options are quite acceptable for the price. Graininess and blurred movements are fine at this end of the market, and ultimately the quality was never so insufficient that the camera was unusable. The camera is set to ‘Standard’ mode out of the box, with lower quality ‘Saver’ mode and ‘Best’ also available. Night vision was also sufficiently capable, but it’s not presented in colour, owing to the lack of an LED light on the device.

Screenshots taken from Blink app showing video footage

(Image credit: Zachariah Kelly / Future)

Audio quality was fine and is most comparable to a standard intercom buzzer for an apartment. Back and forth communication is easy with microphones and speakers on both ends (on the camera and on your smartphone), but Ring fans may find it lower quality than what they’re used to. Motion sensitivity was fine, and for the duration of my review, I had it set to the default setting of five. I could turn the sensitivity up if I wished, but I found no need.

It’d be nice if the Blink Outdoor 4 had the option to view footage on a browser or computer, or any device without the smartphone app. Being limited to your small phone screen for your home security is disappointing, so hopefully this is changed at some point.

Finally, obviously the two year battery life is an estimation provided by Amazon. Unfortunately I’m not a time traveller, so I can’t provide a good estimation of my own on this – though over my two months of use, it hasn’t had any battery issues (the battery is still reportedly ‘OK’ in the app with no percentage offered). Most of my use was inside however, so I could have easily gotten by with USB-C delivered power.

  • Performance score: 3.5/5

Should I buy the Blink Outdoor 4?

Buy it if…

You want a security camera that saves locally

Though you have to bring your own storage device, the included Sync Module 2 allows you to store footage for ready access.View Deal

You want to save money

The Blink Outdoor 4 is built to save you money and you get decent value with what’s on offer.View Deal

You want a long battery life, wireless camera

Two years of battery life with two AA batteries is nothing to balk at!View Deal

Don't buy it if...

You already have a robust home security system

The Blink Outdoor 4 isn’t compatible with anything outside of the Blink ecosystem (apart from access through Alexa). It doesn’t mix with Ring, despite being owned by the same company.View Deal

You want the highest quality footage

Recording at a maximum of 1080p, the Blink Outdoor 4 doesn’t shoot the highest quality footage, and you may find videos grainy and blurry at times.View Deal

You dislike using apps only

Though the Blink camera app is quite well designed, you can’t currently access your camera system through a computer app or browser, meaning you’re limited to a smartphone or tablet display when previewing footage.View Deal

Blink Outdoor 4: also consider

Blink Mini 2

A sibling to the Outdoor 4, the Mini 2 is a wired-only alternative, capable of shooting in the same resolution and sold at a cheaper price point. It might be more attractive if you intend to place the device indoors, but setting it up outside will require extra handiwork. Read our Blink Mini 2 review.View Deal

Arlo Ultra 2

Shooting at up to 4K and offering HDR night vision, the Arlo Ultra 2 is a more premium wireless outdoor camera than the Outdoor 4. That being said, its six month battery life is nothing compared to the Outdoor 4’s two years of charge, and it’s considerably more expensive. Read our Arlo Ultra 2 review.View Deal

How I tested the Blink Outdoor 4

  • Tested it over two months in my home
  • Assessed the device on sound and video quality
  • Set it up in several different spots in several different configurations

From the moment I received the Blink Outdoor 4, I got to work testing it. I put it through its paces as a casual device, not putting it into a hardcore testing environment and instead treating it as something I would use in my own home.

For most of my review period, the Outdoor 4 was positioned at the top of my shelves, looking over my lounge room. It was given a decently lit and sized room to allow for motion and person capture, and I was given the ability to test privacy and activity zoning with a lot of freedom.

I tested audio quality by giving the camera to a friend and going to the next room, allowing us to have a conversation over the two devices. I frequently checked the camera through the app and would use it to make sure I closed my front door.

I assessed the Blink Outdoor 4 as a first time device, as somebody who has never had a home security camera.

Read more about how we test.

First reviewed December 2024

Dreame Glory Hair Dryer review
12:47 pm | December 11, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Hair Care Home Small Appliances | Comments: Off

Dreame Glory Hair Dryer two-minute review

The Dreame Glory hair dryer balances well-thought-out design, ease of use, and a strong performance. It's comfortable to hold and maneuver, thanks to its lightweight and streamlined build, and this also makes it easy to store and travel with.

In terms of design, the Glory looks modern, with the curved edges and white gloss finish making it look more expensive than it is. Its main controls are on the rear of the barrel, which can make it difficult to switch modes mid-style, but the power and speed settings are within easier reach on the handle. The fan is then positioned at the base of the handle, where it meets the 5.9ft / 1.8m cord. While this makes the barrel smaller and prevents hair getting caught in the blades, it's too easy to block this fan with your hand during styling.

There are four temperature modes (Cold, 57C Constant, Hot, and a Hot/Cold Cycle) plus two airflow speeds (Low and High). The high-speed 70 m/s airflow is impressive, allowing quick drying even when paired with one of the lower heat settings. The dryer then uses ion technology that releases millions of negative ions to help break down water molecules quickly, reduce static, and leave hair with a smooth, frizz-free finish. When I used the Hot/Cold Cycle on High speed, it took less than five minutes to dry my hair completely, leaving it looking healthy, soft, and shiny.

The Cold setting is one of my favorites. It offers a true cool blast, perfect for setting styles in place and reducing frizz. I noticed my curls and waves held up significantly better throughout the day after being blasted with the Cold mode. I also found the 57C Constant setting to be a good balance, especially for fine or damaged hair, as it provides a moderate heat that dries efficiently without overexposure.

The included magnetic attachments – a concentrator nozzle and, in Europe, a diffuser – click securely into place and are easy to swap mid-style. The concentrator nozzle is relatively compact and great for directing the fast airflow, while the diffuser’s wider bowl design allows for even distribution, reducing frizz and boosting the definition of my curls. That said, I found the diffuser a bit large compared to the sleek barrel of the dryer, and I'm not a fan of the brown color. Plus, its large size makes it trickier to store and travel with.

On the noise front, the Dreame Glory operates at an average of 76 dB, making it reasonably quiet; it's possible to have a conversation during use and the app refers to it as the equivalent to being inside a car. At higher speeds, it does produce a bit more noise, approaching an average of 80dB, and this is noticeable in quieter environments. Even so, this is quieter than similarly priced models and remains comfortable to use.

In terms of value, the Dreame Glory offers great features for its price. Despite minor quirks, the dryer delivers quick, effective drying with a smooth finish. Its combination of high-speed airflow, heat control, and ergonomic design make it a worthwhile investment if you're looking for a dependable hair dryer.

Dreame Glory Hair Dryer review: price & availability

  • List price: €139/AU$299
  • Available: EU/AU

The €139 / A$299 Dreame Glory sits between the €79 Dreame Gleam and €159 Dreame Pocket.

It's predominantly sold in continental Europe and Asia-Pacific directly from the Dreame website and Amazon. In Europe, the dryer is known as the Dreame Glory Combo and ships with a concentrator nozzle and diffuser attachment. Outside of Europe, the dryer only ships with the nozzle. Depending on the region, the Glory dryer is then sold in white, and rose gold.

The dryer was previously sold in the UK at a list price of £119 but has since been discontinued, although you may still be able to buy it via third parties. Elsewhere, Dreame's PR told us that the Glory is only available offline in the US, and it's available from select sites in other regions, including Walmart Canada.

Its price and power puts the Glory dryer in the lower mid-range bracket, sandwiched between the likes of the €130 Parlux Alyon and €150 Parlux Advance dryer, and the €140 Babyliss 4Artist Steel FX dryer.

It should be noted that the Parlux, and Babyliss competitors only ship with concentrator nozzles, although the Parlux models are available in a wider range of colors than the Glory. With all of this in mind, the Dreame Glory is good value for money and versatile and, with its focus on hair health, it is a worthy investment.

  • Value for money score: 4.5 out of 5

Dreame Glory Hair Dryer specs

Dreame Glory Hair Dryer review: design

  • Compact design
  • 4 heat modes and 2 airflow speeds
  • Concentrator and Diffuser attachments

The Dreame Glory hair dryer strikes a decent balance between design and usability. Its light, 12.2oz / 345g weight, coupled with its compact design, is the first thing I noticed when picking up the dryer for the first time.

The relatively small 3 × 3.2 in / 7.6 × 8.2 cm barrel means you can get the Glory close to your head, making it great for precision drying and when styling your roots or bangs. Meanwhile, the long, slim 10in / 25.5cm handle gives a good level of control. I was worried that the seeming mismatch between the length of handle and barrel would make the dryer feel unbalanced but it was surprisingly ergonomic, without ever making my wrist feel strained, or feeling awkward as I moved the dryer around my head.

This compact size and weight also means the Glory is easy to store, and easy to travel with.

Dreame Glory Hair Dryer

(Image credit: Future)

Onto attachments. Both the concentrator nozzle and diffuser click into place on the dryer with a satisfying magnetized system. These magnets are strong enough to keep the attachments in place during styling, but give you the freedom to twist and turn the nozzle – should you need to change the angle – while also making it easy to switch between attachments without fumbling.

I’ve had dryers in the past where the nozzles were so tight that I had to wrestle them off, but the Dreame Glory's attachments are much more smooth. The attachments don't get too hot during styling either, which adds to this ease-of-use.

The nozzle is relatively compact, although the diffuser is bigger than I'd like and looks bulky and large next to the shape and size of the Glory. This means you can style a lot of curls and hair at the same time but it's a shame. As is the brown color.

Dreame Glory Hair Dryer

(Image credit: Future)

Visually, the Glory has a modern, minimalistic design that blended in well with the rest of my stylers. I tested the white model and this coloring, coupled with its glossy finish, makes the Glory dryer look and feel more expensive than it is.

The dryer’s body is cylindrical, with rounded edges. On the rear of the dryer, where the fan is usually found, is a flat panel with four icons on it, each one representing the four temperature modes:

  • Cold: Blows cool air for to set your style
  • 57°C Constant: A consistent temperature designed to prevent heat damage.
  • Hot: Suitable for fast drying.
  • Hot/Cold Cycle: Alternates between seven seconds of hot air and five seconds of cool air to reduce heat damage without sacrificing speed.

The Cold and Hot modes are relatively self-explanatory. The Hot/Cold Cycle Mode then cycles between hot and cold air as you style your hair. I first used this feature on the BaByliss Air Wand and more recently on the Dreame Pocket and while it increases the styling time slightly, it made a noticeable difference to the finish and feel of my hair.

To switch between these four modes, you have to press the circular button found on the rear of the handle until the icon for your chosen mode lights up. Due to the position of the panel on the rear of the dryer, it's difficult to select different modes mid-style without looking. The more you use the dryer, the more you get used to what the different modes sound and feel like but it's not massively intuitive.

Dreame Glory Hair Dryer

(Image credit: Future)

Above this button is a sliding power switch that lets you toggle between the two speed settings – Low and High. In a world of increasing buttons and even touch-based controls on rival dryers, I really appreciated how easy this switch is to operate, even mid-drying. It’s located in just the right spot so that your thumb can easily reach it without having to re-adjust your grip, which is a small but welcome feature.

The fan is then positioned at the base of the handle, where it meets the 5.9ft / 1.8m cord. This is increasingly common as the shape and size of hair dryers barrels continue to shrink, but I don't love this design. I quite often cover the fan with my hand by mistake, or the fan grill – designed to be removed for easy cleaning – has a tendency to slip off. Both are minor points but do detract from an otherwise good design. One positive of this design is that your hair won't get caught in it, thought, which is always a problem for me when using traditional dryers.

The air outlet at the front of the Dreame Glory is then wide enough to provide the strong 70 m/s airflow, but doesn’t feel overly bulky and adds further to the precision of the dryer.

All things considered, the Dreame Hair Glory ticks a lot of boxes in terms of style and substance. It's lightweight, user-friendly and its shape and controls are largely well thought-out. There are a number of small flaws and things I'd change, but none of them are dealbreakers.

  • Design score: 4.5 out of 5

Dreame Glory Hair Dryer review: performance

  • 1600-watt motor
  • High-speed motor operates at 110,000RPM
  • 76dB average noise

When it comes to performance, the Dreame Glory offers almost everything you want in a dryer – it dries your hair quickly and efficiently, even at low speeds, without frying it or leaving it full of knots and frizz. My preferred mode was the Hot/Cold Cycle on High speed. This combination took my long, thin hair from wet to dry in just under five minutes, and left it looking and feeling soft and shiny. Something I credit to the millions of negative ions the dryer claims to produce. These ions help break down water droplets faster, reducing drying time while smoothing the hair cuticle for a sleeker finish.

It was possible to style my hair almost a minute faster on Hot mode but this left my hair looking dryer and less shiny, while using Low speed with the Hot/Cold Cycle pushed the styling time up to almost seven minutes; a noticeable difference. The 57C Constant mode is a good middle ground – not too hot, not too cold – which will suit damaged or curly hair. The different heat settings, paired with airflow options, does bring out the versatility of this dryer, though.

Dreame Glory Hair Dryer

(Image credit: Future)

Elsewhere, the Cold mode worked like a dream. Cold shots tend to just drop the dryer's regular heat temperature slightly, which doesn't make much of a difference. On the Glory, however, the air actually felt cool almost instantly when using Cold mode. This was a game-changer – not just because it helped enhance the shine of my hair but because it meant my styles lasted much longer than they normally do. My hair is naturally curly so becomes frizzy easily, especially in humid environments. This rarely happened during the time I was reviewing the Dreame Glory. I could leave the house in the morning and my hair would look very similar by the time I got home.

The Cold mode also helped me set styles that weren't even created using the dryer. For example, after curling my hair with a curling wand, I used the Dreame Glory's Cold setting coupled with the diffuser to lock in the finish. The blast of cool air worked like a charm, setting the style without leaving any frizz. I found that using the Cold shot also extended the life of my curls by several hours compared to how long they usually last.

Dreame Glory Hair Dryer

(Image credit: Future)

Speaking of the diffuser, I could really feel the difference in how evenly it distributed the airflow on the Dreame Glory – no random blasts of air that can leave curls looking more chaotic than defined. The diffuser’s wide, bowl-like design cupped my hair well, allowing me to dry it without losing any natural bounce or movement.

Similarly, the concentrator nozzle really shines – literally. It helped direct the airflow where I needed it and added to the precision that comes from the dryer's design. I found it particularly helpful when I wanted to smooth out sections of my hair, like those around my face.

In terms of noise, the Dreame Glory operates at an average 76dB on Low speed and 80dB on High speed. I could hold a conversation while using both speeds, although at High speed it was a little harder to hear my son from across the room. This noise level will be fine for most users, but if you're particularly sensitive to sound or often style your hair in a shared space, it could be a slight downside.

The Dreame Glory's powerful airflow, combined with its range of controls, left my hair looking shiny and feeling smooth. The Cold shot helped to lock in styles that lasted and it's a quiet machine. This performance is impressive anyway, let alone when you factor in the price.

  • Performance score: 4.5 out of 5

Should you buy the Dreame Glory Hair Dryer?

Buy it if…

You want a lightweight, ergonomic dryer

The Dreame Glory's 12.2oz / 345g weight and balanced design make it comfortable to use.

You need a choice of heat and speed settings

The Glory has four temperature modes and two speeds to provide a range of styling options for different hair types and styles.

You want frizz-free, shiny hair

The Glory's ion technology helps smooth hair cuticles, reduces frizz and leaves hair looking shiny and soft.

Don’t buy it if….

You need a compact diffuser attachment

The diffuser, though effective, is bulkier than the dryer’s streamlined design.

You need a super-quiet dryer for shared spaces

The Glory dryer’s noise levels aren't excessive but, on high speeds, they could potentially be disruptive in quieter environments.

You want a wider range of colours

Color options for the Dreame Glory are limited to white and rose gold which may not suit all aesthetics or needs.

How I tested the Dreame Glory Hair Dryer

I used the Dreame Glory as my daily hair dryer over the course of four weeks at home and during a week-long cruise. I used it most mornings as a replacement for my usual hair dryer – the Revlon One Step – to dry and style my long, thin hair.

To thoroughly test the dryer, I experimented with the full range of speed and temperature combinations, and attachments. I paid close attention to the dryer’s features, how fast and effectively each of the modes and attachments worked, and how easy it was to use. I measured the decibel levels of the dryer on Low and High speeds throughout the testing period to achieve an average noise score.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed December 2024

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