I’ve been waiting a long time for a smart light brand to release a truly smart wake-up light, and it’s no surprise that Philips Hue is first with its beautiful new Twilight smart light.
While most smart lights offer some form of wake-up or circadian functionality, and many smart home hubs also allow you to turn your regular smart lights into bona fide wake-up lights, the Philips Hue Twilight is first to thoughtfully incorporate wake-up functionality into the design and software from end-to-end, cementing it as one of the best smart lights I’ve ever tested.
Standing at 12.9-inches / 33cm tall, the Twilight lamp is an exercise in design mastery from Philips Hue. Available in either a black or white casing, the unit’s rounded stem is footed by a cork base, and tapers towards the head of the lamp, which is shaped like an upturned cup. It’s a slick and chic device that looks wonderful in either color – and while it might not be for everyone, it’s a major step up in aesthetics from Hue compared to some of its previous designs, such as the Philips Hue Go Table lamp and Hue Bloom.
On the top of the head are two programmable buttons that by default trigger automations and cycle through six different scenes, offering both “press” and “press and hold” controls. Through the Philips Hue app, you can change how the buttons and the lights behave, presenting a fantastic level of customizability.
Behind the frosted-encased rear panel sit the LED lights. It isn’t the most attractive look, but since the rear of the light will in all likelihood be wall-facing, it isn’t a dealbreaker. The LEDs point slightly upwards, which enables them to spray a wonderful cone of light up walls – plus they also feature separate strips that can create gradient lights using Hue’s new Gradient ColorCast technology. The head also contains another set of independently controllable direct LED lights, and can be rotated 90 degrees to the left and right – a nice touch for those who enjoy reading in bed.
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The part of the design I wasn’t so impressed by is the 2.4 x 1.9 x 3.1-inches / 6 x 4.8 x 8cm (h x w x d) power supply. If your plug socket is directly behind your bedside table, you’ll likely need your table to be sitting further away from the wall to account for the Twilight’s very proud plug.
However, when it comes to the light itself, I’d go as far as to say this is the best I’ve seen from Hue – and given the bar is pretty high, I’m very much impressed. Hue claims it can be dimmed to 0.5% brightness, and while I couldn’t easily measure that, what I can say is that dimming proved incredibly smooth, with a near-imperceptible transition between the light's lowest brightness and fading out completely.
According to Hue, there’s more than just some buttons and software that make Twilight well-suited for use as a wake-up light. The night-time scenes that come included as defaults for both manual and in-app control omit blue light, which suppresses melatonin, while its wake-up scenes are attuned to emulate sunrise.
In addition to its natural light settings, the Philips Hue Twilight smart light is also able to reproduce the full range of colors you’d expect from a Hue device, meaning you can also set the mood with some beautifully vibrant scenes. In addition, the rear light is fully programmable, so you can also create custom gradients to match other gradient lights such as the Hue Signe.
The Twilight integrates easily into the Hue app, with both Bluetooth and Hue Bridge connectivity on offer – but here lies one of the biggest issues I have with the product: its limited functionality when paired via Bluetooth. For some reason, the two light sources can’t be controlled in conjunction with one another in this configuration, and many of the automations aren’t available.
Price and availability
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List price: $279 / £249
The Philips Hue Twilight smart light will set you back $279 / £249, and is available in both black and white colorways. Compared even to Philips Hue’s own alternatives, such as the Hue Go portable table lamp (list price: $159.99 / £139.99), that’s one frighteningly expensive lamp.
It’s a running issue with Philips Hue. While its smart lighting is arguably some of the best – if not the best – on the market, such a lofty price tag is tough to swallow. In Twilight’s defense, both its design and performance are top-tier – with the exception of my gripes with its plastic casing, limited Bluetooth functionality and large power supply. I have the same opinion about the Hue Go portable table lamp. Given that there are a wealth of more affordable smart lights on the market, some competitive pricing from Philips Hue feels in order.
Specs table
Score card
How I tested
I used the Philips Hue Twilight lamp as my main wake-up light and bedroom lamp for two weeks
I tried all of its various presets and features
I used it both with and without a Hue Bridge
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I used the Philips Hue Twilight for two weeks as my main bedroom light, testing all of its wake-up and wind-down presets, morning and night, to see how effectively they helped to regulate my sleep schedule.
I paired it both via Bluetooth and also through my Philips Hue Bridge to compare its feature set and functionality in various connectivity modes. I controlled it through my smart home speakers to see how responsive it was, and tested the various color options to see how vibrant of a payoff the lights delivered.
I’ve been testing smart home technology for over two years, filling my home with abundant smart lighting and devices from the likes of not only Philips Hue, but some of the biggest competition across smart lighting.
The Roomba Combo J5+ is a combination robot vacuum and mop launched in summer/fall 2023. It is cheaper than many of the best robot vacuums, officially priced around $650 / £479 / AU$1,299, but often found on sale. The packaging is mostly cardboard, making components easy to identify. Setting it up involves unboxing, downloading the iRobot app, and mapping your home.
Its sleek design measures 13.8 by 3.6 inches and includes additional parts such as mopping cloths. The unit has bright green rubber brushes and a single-side sweeper, and the dustbin can be swapped for a mopping unit. It features an integrated light and camera for navigation. It is user-friendly but noisy, and you can control it via the iRobot app and integrate it into a smart home system if you use one.
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Due to its single-brush design, it performs well on rugs but less so on hardwood floors. So, while it'll keep things generally clean on a day-to-day basis, you'll still need one of the best vacuum cleaners on hand to give your home a proper deep clean.
The mopping function requires swapping the vacuum bin for the mopping one and, unfortunately, doesn't match traditional mopping in thoroughness. The vacuum also struggled with larger particles during our tests. While the vacuum navigates obstacles well, it may struggle with smaller objects and isn't flawless at obstacle avoidance. One helpful feature is its ability to return to its charging dock when the battery is low and resume cleaning afterward.
iRobot Roomba Combo J5 Plus review: price & availability
List price: US$649.99 / £479 / AU$1,299
Launch date: September 2023
Availability: UK / US / AU / worldwide
The Roomba Combo J5+ is available from most online stores, including Amazon, Best Buy, and iRobot's site. It is also available in the United States, Australia, the UK, and other regions where iRobot products are available.
Because it's no longer the most recent model in iRobot's Roomba range, you can grab it slightly cheaper than the most up-to-date products that would set you back. In the US, the vacuum is just under $650, but you'll find it on sale periodically and during large sales events like Black Friday.
The J5+'s relative age doesn't diminish its features, as it still boasts all of the pros inherent in the Roomba range. It sits in TechRadar's mid-range price bracket for the wider robot vacuum, and is decent value for a self-empty robot vacuum from a well-known and highly respected brand.
Value for money score: 4 out of 5
iRobot Roomba Combo J5 Plus specs
iRobot Roomba Combo J5 Plus review: design
Not particularly lightweight
Easy to set up
Vacuum and mop bins need to be swapped for different functions
The Roomba Combo J5+'s packaging is mostly cardboard, with only the unit in a plastic bag. Smaller boxes neatly contain additional parts, including mopping cloths. This makes it easy to identify each component, which is particularly helpful for robot vacuum beginners.
Setting up the Roomba Combo J5+ is a straightforward process that involves unboxing the vacuum, downloading the iRobot app, creating an account to link the device, and mapping your home for future navigation. The iRobot app controls the vacuum, letting you start cleaning sessions, view and edit your home map, and set specific room-based cleaning tasks. It can also be integrated with any smart home system, allowing automated routines.
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The Roomba Combo J5+ looks great, with a sleek, contemporary design that mirrors the signature shape and style of other vacuums from the brand. Measuring 13.8 inches across by 3.6 inches high, it's the right height to navigate under sofas and cabinets. The top panel features a single clear button to avoid confusion. The black finish with a stocky dustbin adds to the premium appeal, even if the unit is quite large.
The underside features bright green rubber brushes and a single-side sweeper. Whenever you need to change modes, you can swap the bin for the mopping unit (included in the box).
There's also an integrated light and camera that help the vacuum intelligently navigate and avoid obstacles. The overall setup is user-friendly and intuitive, though the relatively compact size of the vacuum unit does not automatically mean this is an ideal choice for small spaces. The dustbin accounts for much of the footprint, but the unit is also heavy. The weight contributes to noise levels as the vacuum moves across rooms, particularly in homes like mine. These homes have lots of furniture, corners, and raised wooden dividers between rooms.
If you plan to use the mop function, you must first swap out the vacuum bin for the mopping one. Fill the tank with your chosen solution and attach the mopping cloth. This is a key difference between the J5+ and Roomba Combo J7+, which can vacuum and mop simultaneously without swapping out any parts. If you don't want the hassle of switching bins during your cleaning routine, you may want to opt for the newer model.
The Roomba was tested in the household of a black cat who sheds hair absolutely everywhere. The vacuum doesn't disappoint in this regard, as it successfully picked up the abundance of pet hair from my floors. There was no issue with pet hair clogging the mechanisms, but I found that my longer human hair did wrap around the brushes, and they needed manual de-hairing after a while. I'd consider this one of the best robot vacuums for pet hair.
Design score: 4.5 out of 5
iRobot Roomba Combo J5 Plus review: performance
Good at picking up larger particles but struggles with dust
Obstacle avoidance feature only works for some items
Mopping functionality has limitations
The Roomba Combo J5+ performed well during general use and specific tests, living up to the promise of its feature set. Dual multi-surface rubber brushes adjust to maintain constant contact with carpets and hard floors, and it promises to pick up everything from tiny dust particles to large debris, courtesy of a 3-stage cleaning system.
The device features a navigation system that maps your home, allowing it to transition smoothly between different floor types and navigate obstacles. The Roomba also boasts cliff-detection sensors that prevent falls down stairs or ledges, though I couldn't test this in my ground-floor apartment. Notably, it can return to its charging dock automatically when its battery is low and resume cleaning afterward.
One useful feature of Roomba vacuums is the audio error messages. These messages suggest why your vacuum stopped operating in the middle of the hallway instead of leaving you to guess. So, if you find your vacuum stuck in a corner, you can hit the button and have it tell you what the problem is.
It's worth mentioning that the Roomba Combo J5+ can be noisy during operation, especially when emptying the bin. It operates at an average noise level of 48dB, which is not overly loud but becomes significantly noisier during docking and emptying its tank.
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Interestingly, the vacuum works more consistently on rugs than hardwood floors. This is mainly because robot vacuum brushes sometimes scatter loose dirt around the room, potentially missing some debris. However, rug cleaning performance remains stellar. Just note that the Combo J5+ might struggle with edges due to its single brush design, limiting its ability to reach corners and crevices.
Its obstacle avoidance feature is generally successful but not flawless. While it successfully avoids clothing, shoes, and pet droppings, it struggles with smaller objects like curtains and small toys. To be safe, you'll still need to pick up various items before letting the Roomba loose.
The Roomba Combo J5+'s mopping functionality is adequate for surface-level dirt cleaning of hard floors. However, it doesn't match traditional mopping thoroughness, especially for more stubborn or ingrained dirt.
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Flour and crushed biscuits on a kitchen floor to be cleaned by the iRobot Roomba Combo j5+ (Image credit: Future)
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iRobot Roomba Combo j5+ cleaning flour and crushed biscuits off a kitchen floor (Image credit: Future)
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Results of the iRobot Roomba Combo j5+ cleaning up flour and crushed biscuits (Image credit: Future)
In testing, the Roomba Combo J5+ struggled with fine dust while performing well with larger debris. For instance, it picked up biscuit particles easily but struggled with finer particles like flour. It also needed to empty itself multiple times when dealing with large amounts of debris, like rice spread across the floor.
After extended use, though, the Roomba Combo J5+ needs minimal maintenance. This included removing the main rubber brushes to clear them of hair and ensuring the side brush was obstructed. Occasionally, it should also be wiped down to keep its sensors clean.
Performance score: 3.5 out of 5
iRobot Roomba Combo J5 Plus review: app
Easy-to-use interface
Accurate and customizable mapping feature
Real-time updates on the vacuum's progress
The iRobot app, available on iOS and Android, significantly enhances the Roomba Combo J5+ user experience with its various controls and features. Users can schedule cleaning sessions, view their cleaning history, and customize cleaning preferences in one place. It also offers access to Clean Map reports, where you can track the areas cleaned after each session.
The J5+ is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, offering voice-activated control for hands-free operation. The mapping feature accurately rendered the layout of my home. I regularly played with features like customizable room dividers and real-time updates on the vacuum's progress. The app also allows for specific room cleaning and virtual barriers.
The app works remarkably well, providing an estimated time frame for task completion. Once everything is set up, you can select which rooms you want and don't want to be cleaned. For example, if you command it to clean the kitchen, it will complete the task swiftly. It will send a push notification to your device and then return to its charging base.
App score: 5 out of 5
Should you buy the Roomba Combo J5 Plus?
Buy it if…
You really want a robot mop with your vacuum
The vacuum is great for cleaning most dirt from carpets and hard floors with just a switch of a bin.
You appreciate a great app
Smart technology integration with the iRobot app and compatibility with smart home systems allow for convenient control and scheduling.
You have pets
I have a black cat that sheds everywhere, and the J5+ was great at removing this from both hard floors and carpet.
Don't buy it if…
You have mostly hard floors
The vacuum works perfectly on carpet, but can run into problems with fine dust and debris on hard floors.
You want the cleaning completely taken care of
If you're adamant you don't want to go over corners and edges after the vacuum has been round, then it might not be for you.
You want something quiet
General noise while cleaning is average, but the noisy operation during tank emptying could potentially cause disruption.
How I tested the iRobot Roomba Combo J5 Plus
I sprinkled crushed digestive biscuits and flour on my kitchen floor to test the Roomba Combo J5+ on different surfaces in my one-bedroom apartment. The vacuum successfully picked up the biscuit particles but struggled with the flour, leaving some behind. I also spread rice on hard floors and carpets to simulate larger debris.
I observed how the vacuum and its accompanying app performed over several weeks, and thankfully, it only required occasional major cleaning interventions at this time.
This model has slightly different names and product codes in different territories:
In the US:
Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum and Mop with XL HEPA Self-Empty Base RV2610WA
More basic model: Shark Matrix Self-Empty Robot Vacuum RV2310AE
In theUK:
Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop RV2620WDUK
Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 Self-Empty Robot Vacuum & Mop RV2620WAUK
For this review, I tested the RV2620WAUK. There may be minor differences between different countries' models.
I’ve been testing robot vacuums for several years and, while I’ve long accepted that no robot will ever allow me to retire from manual vacuuming altogether, I’m forever hopeful one will come close! Shark has an excellent reputation in the vacuuming world, so I was cautiously optimistic when the Shark Matrix Plus Robot 2-in-1 landed on my doorstep.
Some might say the popular tech brand was late to the robot party, at least in the UK. Shark has had success with robot vacuums in the US for a while now, but only added them to its UK lineup in spring 2024. I tested the Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 Self-Empty, which can vacuum, mop and empty its own bin. Happy days.
As you might expect from Shark, this smart little robot packs plenty of techy features. A major highlight is its 360-degree LiDAR sensors. This light detecting and ranging technology is aimed at quickly and accurately mapping your home and navigating around obstacles and I can confirm the Shark’s works very well. It also has a special air blasting feature, which I haven’t encountered before, that blows out air to push debris away from edges and corners and into the path of the suction channel. Again, I was impressed.
Although it didn’t blow my mind, the mopping results were better than I’ve experienced from a robot in the past. Rather than just dragging a vaguely damp mop pad along the floor, the Shark Matrix Plus Plus’ mop pad oscillates as it goes (100 times a minute, allegedly), to mimic a scrubbing motion. Many people will also love that the bin unit the self-emptying vacuum discharges into doesn’t need to be emptied for 60 days. Unless you have two hairy kids and two hairy dogs that is – I didn't make it past two weeks.
I tested the Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 on the ground floor of my four-bed home for a month. Although it wasn’t perfect and the app wasn’t as slick as I’m used to, I really did rate this robot, especially for those who are tight on money as well as time. I'd have no qualms about giving it a place on our best robot vacuum list. Read on for the full low down on my time testing the Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 robot vacuum.
Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 specs
Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 review: price & availability
List price: $699.99 / £449.99
Available: US and UK
The Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 sells in the US for $699.99 on Shark’s own website. At time of writing, there are seven robots in the range, with the Matrix Plus being the third most expensive, behind two PowerDetect models that come with self-refill water reservoirs in the base and cost up to $999.99. The cheapest Shark robot you can get in the US is the Shark ION, which is just $279.99 but unappealingly basic.
There are just three robot models available in the UK, and the Matrix Plus 2-in-1 I tested boasts the most diverse spec. In the world of robot vacuuming, I’d say its £449.99 price tag is more than reasonable (even allowing for exchange rates, it’s a better deal than in the US), but you can save yourself £100 if you empty the bin manually and get the entry-level model that still mops but doesn’t self-empty. Or, if you mostly have carpets so want a robot that’s more focused on vacuuming, invest £50 more and go for the top spec Shark PowerDetect.
Whichever side of the pond you are shopping for a Shark Matrix Plus, I’d say the brand has priced it very reasonably, especially when you consider most robots that include mopping capabilities, for example iRobot’s Roomba, cost $1k plus. It’s not entirely flawless, but the Matrix Plus 2-in-1 represents excellent value in terms of build quality, features and cleaning prowess.
Value for money score: 4 out of 5
Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 review: design
Low-key looks
Compact base station
Tricky mop insert
The Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 won’t blow your mind with its futuristic looks or striking shape, but it won’t scare the horses either. It’s black and round with a neat little base and sat under the table in our hallway just fine. It arrived nicely packaged, with a great deal of cardboard and other eco-friendly packaging and precious little plastic.
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Underneath, the design is also fairly innocuous, but I was a tad worried by the corner brush, which has just one brush arm, instead of the usual three-to-five I am used to seeing. The roller head had rubber fins – which tend to be good on solid floors – as well as carpet-friendly brushes, but there was only one roller, and some of the better robots I have tested have two.
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The base station (which measures H14 x W12 x D9 inches) only caters for dirt; there’s no water reservoir. But the bin capacity is generous and it’s easy to see when it’s getting full due to the vertical strip of transparent Perspex. It also clips in and out easily, as does the filter in the other side of the base station – a large, foam creation that needs cleaning under the tap once a month. I appreciated that the base station has a plastic disc the size of the robot, which is to protect wood floors from getting soggy when the mop attachment is in place.
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On the top of the Shark Matrix Plus are just two buttons, one to power on/off and the other to start/stop, everything else is done by the app, which I will cover in depth lower down this review.
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Design score: 4 out of 5
Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 review: app
Good mapping skills
Scheduling and spot cleaning
No multi-maps
To get started, I just had to pop on the side brush, plug in the base (then charge the robot for six hours) and download and connect the app. Do make sure you only connect it to a 2.4 GHz wi-fi network, I wasted about half an hour trying to connect it to my 5 GHz but that was my fault for not reading the instructions. In my defense, the instructions that come with the Shark Matrix Plus are not particularly enlightening, but are enough to get you set up (if you read them properly).
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Compared to other robots I have tested, the SharkClean app is pretty basic and rather annoying. Hopefully there will be upgrades as Shark gets its head around robot life. It is basic in that it doesn’t allow you to schedule specific rooms or more than one clean per day, it doesn’t let you choose how the robot cleans (perimeter-first works best for our pet-filled home), and you can’t change the power levels once it’s working.
The annoyances generally iron out, but they can be frustrating. Mainly I found it slow to connect, which is annoying when you’ve decided to pop a clean going before you jump in the car. The cleaning reports didn’t always record/save, and I found it hard to move between actions. For example, if it was returning to base, I couldn’t get the app to show me the maps so I could plan the next job. Sometimes the map disappeared completely, or the app froze, and once or twice it wouldn’t acknowledge that we had a robot in the house at all!
The other downer that didn’t bother me, but might you, is that it will only map one floor. I am happy to use my cordless vacuum upstairs (where it lives) and have never been one for carrying robots up and down levels but if you want to use the robot on multiple floors, you’ll only be able to map one of them.
It's not all bad news though. The actual map the Shark Matrix Plus created was perfect first time and was created really quickly – in less than 10 minutes. I also found it very easy to add rooms, as well as rugs (to prevent wet carpets in mopping mode) and create a schedule for each day (to coincide with the school run).
App score: 3 out of 5
Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 review: performance
Good at corners and edges
Quieter than advertised
Mopping a bit basic
Using in vacuum mode
The Shark Matrix Plus comes with the regular vacuum cleaning insert installed, which has a small bin and filter inside and automatically empties its payload back at the mother base. I needn’t have worried about the measly single-arm corner brush, as it did an excellent job of getting dog dander and dust bunnies out from along the skirting boards and corners of cabinets etc.
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Shallow enough to get under all our freestanding furniture, including the sofas and the kitchen kickboards, the Shark Matrix Plus also had no problem climbing onto chunky rugs or over the wooden thresholds between rooms, many of which have thwarted less agile robots.
Being largely open view with level flooring throughout the ground floor, our home is the perfect setup for robotic cleaning. But I was also hugely relieved to discover the Shark Matrix Plus could hoist itself over the legs of the lounge chairs in our kitchen, which have grounded every other robot I’ve ever hosted. This meant I’d have to lift the heavy chairs onto the sofa out of the way or go and rescue the robot and restart it mid-clean. I was delighted the Shark Matrix Plus glided over them with barely a grunt.
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Another genius benefit of the Shark Matrix Plus is its ‘Matrix’ cleaning system, which essentially means it cleans back and forth and then up and down, in a grid-like pattern. The difference between that and a simple back and forth clean was significant. You can only use Matrix if you’re doing one room, presumably because it takes more time and power, but I liked to use it on the living room because that’s our only carpeted room and the results were much better.
You can also Matrix Clean a 5’ x 5’ area without the app, which is great for random spills. You need to carry the robot to the spot, then press and hold the start button for five-to-seven seconds until it says, ‘starting spot clean’.
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I used this spot cleaning function to test the Shark Matrix Plus on an area of flour and oats. As you can see from the photo gallery above, the results were average. It cleared most of the flour, except in the grooves between the wood planks, and left just a few crumbs of oats. I still had to get out my cordless to finish the job, and I only used the low power setting to get the flour out of the grooves, suggesting that my cordless is better than the Shark Matrix Plus, even on its lowest power setting. Annoyingly, there was quite a lot of flour and oats left around the base station when it returned to empty the bin, and I had to get the cordless to clear that up, too.
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As I work from home, I really appreciated how quiet the Shark Matrix Plus was, my decibel meter recorded just 46 dB in the low power mode, which is the one I mostly used on our hard flooring. This is similar to the sound of bird calls or in a library and was much lower than Shark’s official rating, which presumably has to include the bin emptying sound level. Being so quiet meant I could have it running around in the background when working, except during Zoom meetings, without feeling distracted or annoyed. It is indeed much louder when emptying the bin into the base station, but it’s very short-lived.
On the point of bins, I did love having the extra capacity of the base station as my usual robot requires daily emptying. However, it fell far short of the 60-day emptying schedule advertised – I found two weeks was about the longest I could leave it.
Our carpets and rugs are all low pile (upstairs, too), so I can’t tell you how well the Shark Matrix Plus might manage on a thick pile rug, but it did well on our wool carpet in the living room and the jute rug in the kitchen. I mean, it’s hard to say how deep down the clean was, but I didn’t feel the need to get another vacuum out afterwards.
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Using in mop mode
Before mopping, I first had to add rug zones to my map, so it didn’t soak the rugs or carpets. This was pretty easy to do, until it got to the exploration run, which you’re meant to do to make sure you have got the rug placements right. The Shark Matrix Plus wandered close to where I’d marked the kitchen rug, and then went a bit mad, zig-zagging all over it. I decided I didn’t have the patience to worry about it and sent it back to base.
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Once the module is in, the Shark Matrix Plus automatically recognizes it is mopping and – this bit is amazing – it will vacuum and mop at the same time. I’ve only tested one robot vacuum that claimed to mop and was disappointed to discover that it really couldn’t. That other model barely made my floors damp, let alone cleaning them, and because it had to go round and vacuum first, it also took a lifetime to do a terrible job.
By contrast, the Shark Matrix Plus did a much more thorough job and you could see trail marks where it had been, which showed decent coverage. The pad oscillates over the surface, which presumably picks up more dirt than just sliding along. The mop pad was reassuringly dirty when it was done, too. As most of our ground floors are real engineered wood flooring, I also appreciated that the Shark Matrix Plus didn’t flood them in water as that would almost certainly damage them. Oh, and it also managed to find, and skip past, the rugs.
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In truth, the results didn’t compare with what can be achieved with an actual mop, and it didn’t get very close into the corners or skirtings, but it was good enough for a mid-week freshen up before getting the mop and bucket out on Saturday morning.
Performance score: 4 out of 5
Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 review: battery life
Plenty of power
Charges quickly
The battery life ranges from about 85-110 minutes, depending on what power mode you have it on. This isn't anything to rave about, but it only needed one quick recharge when covering our ground floor in max power, which took around 131 minutes (including charging time) to do all six rooms and the hallway (which the Shark app says is 112sq m worth of cleaning). Once recharged, it would return to the spot it left off and merrily resume cleaning.
The official Shark stats say the battery takes six hours to fully recharge, but I found it only took about three so perhaps it wasn’t completely empty whenever it went back to base. Either way, I had no complaints about the battery life.
Battery score: 5 out of 5
Should you buy the Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1?
Buy it if…
You hate emptying bins
As I own a robot that requires emptying every single day, I can assure you that you need a self-emptying base station.
You have hairy housemates
The roller is anti-hair-trapping and it works well. There were a few hairs around the middle after a month’s testing but nothing like what I’m used to seeing wrapped around my robot’s rollers. It also has proper HEPA dust filtration.
You want zero drama
Of all the robots I have tried, this was the least needy. It never once got stuck or lost, nor sent me a distress message to say it had ‘fallen off a cliff’ (when in reality it was just straddling the doormat).
Don’t buy it if…
Tech stresses you out
The app is glitchy and unreliable and not terribly informative, either. There may have been swearing…
You want to clean upstairs, too
The mapping currently only covers one floor level, so choose wisely.
You’re OCD about dirt
Like most (possibly all) robots, the suction power isn’t comparable to manually operated vacuum cleaners – use it for daily maintenance cleaning, then do a ‘proper’ vacuum on the weekend.
Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 review: also consider
Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1
The Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 and Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 are both powerful robot vacuums with mopping capabilities, but they differ in key areas. The AI Ultra excels in smart navigation and AI-powered obstacle avoidance, while the Matrix Plus offers a better clean thanks to its multi-surface brushroll and Matrix Clean
The Narwal Freo X Ultra and Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 both offer advanced vacuuming and mopping, but they've very differently priced. For the extra loot, the Narwal Freo X Ultra offers self-cleaning mop pads and autonomous water management, ideal for hands-free maintenance.
I vacuumed carpets and vacuumed and mopped hard floors
I recorded the sound levels using a Decibel Meter App
I used the Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 to clean the ground floor of our four-bed, Victorian family home for a month, using it every day on all our downstairs floors, which include terracotta and porcelain tiles, engineered timber, wool carpet and three rugs. The total area is around 120sq m.
I checked out every feature on the app, and did Spot cleans, Matrix cleans and mopping runs. I liked being able to pick specific rooms, so I could just get the main kitchen and hallway done quickly, but mostly I scheduled the robot to work while I was out of the house, so I could arrive home to nice clean floors throughout.
During testing, I used the decibel meter on my iPhone to monitor noise levels and conducted a test to see how the vacuum coped with flour and oats on hard flooring.
As part of my job as a journalist specialising in kitchens and bathrooms, I’ve been reviewing vacuum cleaners for publication both online and in print for several years now. I’ve tested lots of robot vacuums, and currently own an Anker by Eufy Hybrid X8, which I like well enough, but I liked the Shark Matrix Plus more.
The Twinkly Strings are smart LED string lights that you can use to decorate your Christmas tree or drape anywhere else in your home that's in need of a little festive cheer. Once you've mapped their position using the Twinkly app, you can set them to a solid color, take your pick from dozens of animations, or even use them to create a picture (either a preset from the app, or one of your own).
They come in four lengths: 26.2ft (100 LEDs), 65.6ft (250 LEDs), 105ft (400 LEDs), and 157.5ft (600 LEDs). I tested the 400 LED set, but 250 LEDs would have been ample for my 4ft tall Christmas tree. The LEDs arrive divided in two bundles as shown in the images below, so I hung one set around the tree and the other across the room.
I tested the Twinkly Strings RGB lights, but there's also an RGB+W version, which could be a good choice if you're planning to have the lights up all year round and would therefore enjoy more subtle white lighting at different color temperatures outside the festive period. The RGB lights are available with black or green cables, and if you opt for the RGB+W version, then you can also opt for clear cables that will be less obtrusive when installed more permanently.
The lights are positioned on springy, zig-zag-shaped wires, which are easy to hang and position. They don't become tangled as easily as conventional string lights; the shape of the wire makes them easy to bundle up once you're done, then secure each bundle with the Velcro tie included in the box. Although I had the black version, the wires weren't very visible when tucked among the tree branches.
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I tested the 105ft Twinkly Strings with RGB LEDs (Image credit: Future)
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The strings are divided into two bundles connected by a length of cable, which allows you to spread them out more easily (Image credit: Future)
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The zig-zag shape of the cable allows it to stretch (Image credit: Future)
Once you've draped the Strings to your liking, open the Twinkly app on your phone (you'll need to create an account if you haven't used it before), switch on the lights and hold the button on the controller until the light turns turquoise. The app will then be able to find the lights, and you can connect them to your home Wi-Fi network. This worked perfectly during my tests, as it did with the Twinkly Line LED strip that I also tested recently.
When that's done and you've installed any necessary firmware updates as prompted, you'll be asked to use your camera to map their layout so that the software can assign the correct color to each bulb to create gradients, patterns and pictures. There are two ways to do this: Easy Mapping, which requires a simple straight-on view of your lights, works fine if they'll mostly be viewed from one angle; and Advanced Mapping, which uses images from multiple angles, and would be useful if you've positioned your Christmas tree in the center of the room or wrapped the lights around something outdoors.
There are two ways to map the Twinkly Strings: Easy, which only requires a front-on view of the lights, and Advanced, which uses images from various different angles (Image credit: Future)
Simple mapping worked just fine for my tree, which was against a wall. Interestingly, the software was able to deduce where the lights on the back were positioned well enough to project a smooth gradient onto the wall, as you can see in this review's main image.
The various preset animations work well, and you can create a playlist that will store them on the Strings' in-line controller, so you don't have to open the app each time you want to change them. Pressing the button on the controller will cycle through your saved options, and holding it will switch them off.
You can save your favorite light settings to the Twinkly Strings' controller as playlists (Image credit: Future)
Some of the preset animations can be synced to music, as indicated by a musical note beside its name. This uses input from your phone, or from the Twinkly Music sound sensor dongle, which is available to buy separately. It would be nice if there was a microphone integrated into the controller, particularly since the Music dongle requires a USB power supply and the lights will already be using one of your electrical outlets.
I also experimented with using the Twinkly Strings to display a picture, but my tree was too small for this to work well. You could get the general idea, but there weren't enough lights visible at once to create a "canvas" with a sufficiently high resolution. It would be much more effective on a larger tree using the full complement of lights.
The Twinkly Strings work with all the major smart home platforms, and I had no issues at all connecting them to Google Home. The app found them immediately and added them to my living room. I was then able to use them like any other smart lights, and create automations that would turn on all the lights in the room at once with a voice command (such as "Merry Christmas"), or at a particular time.
Once you've chosen an animation in the Twinkly app, you can see how it will be mapped to your lights and make changes (Image credit: Future)
If you only have room for a smaller tree (under 4ft) then you may find that the smallest size (26.2ft) is too long, so you might prefer to opt for the shorter Twinkly Dots.
Covering extra large areas isn't a problem, though. While you can't add extensions to the Twinkly Strings, you can group multiple Twinkly products via the app and use them all together as a massive "canvas".
Twinkly Strings: price and availability
The Twinkly Strings are available globally direct from Twinkly, or from third-party retailers such as Amazon. The price depends on the length of the string, and whether you opt for the RGB or RGB+W lights.
These prices are around a third less than the equivalent Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance Festavia string lights.
Govee (Twinkly's main rival for the best smart lights on a budget) doesn't have a product that's an exact equivalent – its Christmas String Lights are more like the Twinkly Dots, with LED beads inside a flexible tube that can be wrapped around objects.
The lights are very attractive in use, and the various sparkling animations are particularly festive (Image credit: Future)
Twinkly Strings: specs
Should you buy the Twinkly Strings?
Buy it if
You want lights you can use all year round
The Twinkly Strings can be used indoors or out, and the RGB+W version have clear cables that will blend into your decor when not in use – they'll be practically invisible until you're ready to get in the party mood.
You like to go all-out at Christmas
One of the biggest advantages of Twinkly's smart lights is the ability to connect multiple devices together via the app and use them all together to create a massive display.
Don't buy it if
You only want to liven up a small area
Even the shortest Twinkly Strings is 26.2ft long, with 100 bulbs, and it can't be cut to length. If you want to jazz up a smaller area, the Twinkly Dots may be a better choice. They come in a 9.8ft version with 60 LEDs.
You want to keep it classic
The Twinkly Strings offer so many fun options, it would be a shame not to make the most of them by experimenting with colors, animations, and sound reactivity. They can do a classic twinkling effect, but if that's all you want then the smart Strings will be overkill.
Twinkly Strings: also consider
Still not sold on the Twinkly Strings? Here are two other options you might want to consider.
Nanoleaf Smart Holiday String Lights
Like the Twinkly Strings, these festive lights are a more affordable alternative to the Philips Hue Festavia strings. They only come in one length, but it should be suitable for a typical 6ft Christmas tree. Unlike many smart string lights, these are Matter-compatible to help future-proof your festive setup.
These lights take the form of LED "beads" encased in a clear, flexible cable. They're easier to drape than conventional string lights – but the cable is quite noticeable, particularly on a small tree. They're bright and vibrant, though, and make a fun display.
To test the Twinkly Strings, I wound one half of the 105ft length around a 4ft artificial Christmas tree, and strung the other half across the length of my living room. I used the Twinkly app for Android to connect them to my home Wi-Fi network. and tested both the simple and advanced mapping options to address the LEDs.
I used them together with the Twinkly Line LED strip, connecting the two devices in the Twinkly app, where I could control them as a single device. I also connected them to my Google Home setup and created custom automations to control them.
The Narwal Freo X Plus is a budget-friendly robot vacuum and mop that does many things well, but a few things fairly badly. If you're just looking at the pros and cons list, the score of this review might not make sense as there are plenty more positives than negatives – but those few negatives can make for a frustrating experience.
If you're willing to put in the time to understand this model, it could potentially be one of the best robot vacuums for you, especially if you're on a budget. After all, most of the best vacuums that include mopping ability are not going to be this cheap, unless you get something manual like the Bissell CrossWave OmniForce. When it comes to robot vacuums specifically, the price tag for great performance, feature set, and overall functionality goes way up.
The vacuuming performance of the Narwal Freo X Plus is very solid. However, like most budget models that just pull a single stationary pad across the floor, its mopping capability is just passable. Still, you'll generally end up with clean floors.
However, the Narwal Freo X Plus seems to have a mind of its own. Unless you just set it to clean your whole space in the most thorough way possible, you'll end up with incomplete cleaning cycles. Or it might decide to head off on a different, unassigned job.
At least it has a tiny base station, so that the Narwal Freo X Plus is easier to place than most robot vacuums. Another added benefit is that it's possible to pair and use through a voice assistant like Alexa. All in all, the Narwal Freo X Plus is a somewhat capable robot vacuum that comes with some frustrating aspects, such as its erratic cleaning behavior. But they may be worth dealing with if you're on a budget, or just want to be able to do a basic, whole-home clean.
Everything you'll find in the box (Image credit: Future)
Narwal Freo X Plus robovac review: price & availability
List price: $399.99 / AU$899 (about £310)
Launch date: March 2024
Available: US and Australia
The Narwal Freo X Plus is available in the US and Australia, with a list form of $399.99 / AU$899. That puts it in TechRadar's budget price bracket, which is particularly significant when you consider it offers mopping as well as vacuuming functionality. Of course, whether it's a good value buy or not will depend on whether you're okay dealing with its navigational quirks. It will still deliver fairly clean floors, but can be a pain to deal with.
This is not necessarily unique to the Narwal Freo X Plus, as the recently reviewed Ecovacs Deebot N10 Plus came with its own quirky frustrations, not to mention weaker suction power than the Narwal, and it comes with a higher $649.99 / £499 / AU$999 price tag. It is, however, available in the UK unlike the Narwal, and comes with better mopping ability.
One of the strange things about the Narwal Freo X Plus is the fact that the company's flagship, Narwal Freo X Ultra, offers much better cleaning performance along with a range of other bells and whistles. Granted, that one is far more expensive (the Ultra costs $1,399.99 / AU$2,299 – about £1,110), but it's strange to see issues with the software given that it's coming from the same company.
Value for money score: 4 out of 5
Narwal Freo X Plus specs
Narwal Freo X Plus robovac review: design
Compact base station
Two side brushes and an anti-tangling brush roll
Single, stationary mop pad
When taking a look at the Narwal Freo X Plus' design, the first thing that jumps out is in regards to its teeny, tiny base station. Since its only function is to charge the robot vacuum and give it a place to rest, it doesn't need to do a lot. Still, it's cute in its own way, not to mention makes it easier to find a good place in your space for the robot vacuum. Bigger models with self-emptying dustbins and water reservoirs, such as the flagship Narwal mentioned earlier, need a lot more space (although, of course, there are benefits of having these capabilities built-in).
Because it doesn't have self-empty capabilities, the dock is compact (Image credit: Future)
As far as the robot vacuum itself, it has the typical rounded shape. There are two side brushes instead of one, giving it a leg up on the vacuuming front compared to models that only have one side brush. The main brush roll is of the anti-tangling kind so you won't find it wrapped with hair, something that's not always considered on budget robot vacuums.
The underside of the Freo X Plus, with side brushes unclipped (Image credit: Future)
The mop pad is of the single, flat variety that sits along the bottom back half of the unit. While it does apply some downward pressure, it doesn't do much in the way of scrubbing. I'll talk a little more about how this affects its performance below, but just know that this is normal for budget models and that more expensive ones seem to completely abandon this approach in favor of dual spinning mop pads.
Regarding the manual controls, there are just two buttons – a power button and a home button, each with a secondary function (start/pause/resume cleaning and child lock, respectively).
Remove the magnetic cover to reveal water reservoir and dust cup (Image credit: Future)
The Narwal Freo X Plus is a fairly sleek looking robot vacuum in its all-white aesthetic. That's partially because it covers its small water reservoir and dustbin with a glossy white top that stays in place due to some cleverly placed magnets. Both the reservoir and dustbin are easily removable and easy to fill up or empty, respectively.
Design score: 4 out of 5
Narwal Freo X Plus robovac review: performance
Very good vacuuming
Mopping is just okay
Erratic behavior in how it cleans
There are a couple different factors to consider with a robot vacuum's performance, but the core one is vacuuming. Luckily, the Narwal Freo X Plus does a very good job here. Thanks to having two side brushes, it's able to get debris on either side of it. Since it has an anti-tangle brushroll, it's able to tackle aside from charge cords (the kryptonite of all robot vacuums).
The dustbin is easy to empty (Image credit: Future)
I ran this robot vacuum in a house with two French Bulldogs as well as four adult humans, two of whom have long hair, and it did a great job keeping the floor clean, picking up everything from smaller dust-like particles to debris the size of a leaf. It also picked up hair without issue and without any tangling. I even tested it with a pile of sugar and cereal and it took one pass to suck it all up.
The Freo X sucked up both fine debris and chunkier spillages with ease (Image credit: Future)
I used it on tile, hardwood floors, and a small but thick bath mat. In terms of just vacuuming, this robot vacuum has the goods regardless of the surface. The Narwal Freo X Plus has 7800 Pa of suction power, which isn't the highest on the market, but based on my tests is still enough to deal with most household cleaning requirements.
Mopping performance is a little weaker (Image credit: Future)
Its mopping capability is a little less stellar. I would actually describe it as okay. Since it has the one pad, it's only applying downward pressure. So, somewhat dried pieces of mud in the foyer that a robot vacuum with spinning mop pads would pick up are unaffected. More frustratingly, unless I used the highest mopping humidity setting, it didn't always wet the entire area it mopped, leaving slightly streaky results. If you are going to use this robot vacuum for mopping, my recommendation is to use the highest settings and be prepared to regularly refill the water reservoir.
As far as getting to the edges, it does well with vacuuming, thanks to those two side brushes, but doesn't really get all that close when mopping.
It gets nice and close to the edges of rooms when vacuuming (Image credit: Future)
The object avoidance, on the other hand, is pretty good. It won't necessarily give a wide berth to any randomly placed object but it will brush up against it. When I placed the bath mat down, the Narwal Freo X Plus vacuumed right up to it on all sides before deciding it could tackle it. Only then did it vacuum it.
It took a little time, but the Freo X eventually realized it could vacuum my bathmat (Image credit: Future)
Where the Narwal Freo X Plus falls short is in how it decides to clean. When I use the Freo Advice setting in the app, it will take the strangest path. Maybe it's only picking up certain debris on its sensor, but it will clean up maybe 20% of the area that it should. Also concerning, when I run to only clean a particular room, it will decide to move onto another room after finishing its initial job and start vacuuming there instead of returning to the base station. It's frustrating enough that I would rather have it clean the entire space instead of attempting to do any kind of spot cleaning.
Performance score: 3.5 out of 5
Narwal Freo X Plus robovac review: app
Easy-to-use app
Mapping has some shortcomings
Works well with third-party voice support
The Narwal Freo app is pretty straightforward to use, from setup to choosing the kind of cleaning you want to accomplish (vacuum only, vacuum and mop, and vacuum then mop). It's also a fairly attractive looking app. I didn't ever feel lost navigating to various settings, whether it's adjusting the specific cleaning settings such as suction power or mopping humidity or opening up the schedule to plan a cleaning.
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(Image credit: Future)
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(Image credit: Future)
The map is pretty easy to use, and you can even see a 3D representation of your mapped space. Of course, it suffers from the same editing shortfalls of a lot of robot vacuum apps, where you're limited on how you partition your space. If you have an open or semi-open floor plan like the space that I often test in, you'll only be able to partition once as you can't section a partitioned space in half.
Erratic route-planning in action (left) and issues with open-plan spaces (right) (Image credit: Future)
On the bright side, setting it up with third-party control – I tested it with Amazon Alexa – was fairly easy to do. The only quirk is knowing the very specific phrases that it can understand. “Alexa, run the robot vacuum” doesn't work, while “Alexa, ask my robot to start cleaning” does.
App score: 4 out of 5
Narwal Freo X Plus robovac review: battery
Very long battery life
Will return to base when getting low
Possibly because the Narwal Freo X Plus is a bit lighter on features than more expensive units or possibly because it doesn't have spinning mop pads, its battery life of up to 254 minutes is quite a bit longer than what I usually see with robot vacuums. For reference, most units these days have up to 210 minutes of use.
While that's more than enough battery life for even fairly large spaces, the robot vacuum will return to its base when necessary for an extra charge before continuing on with its task if it's running out of juice.
Battery score: 5 out of 5
Should you buy the Narwal Freo X Plus robot vacuum?
Buy it if...
Don't buy it if...
Narwal Freo X Plus robovac review: also consider
Narwal Freo X Ultra If you want the full-fat version of what Narwal has to offer, the Freo X Ultra is a much more robust cleaning experience with spinning mop pads that self-clean, a self-emptying base station with clean and dirty water reservoirs, and a whole host of features. It's also much, much more expensive.
To test the Narwal Freo X Plus, I used it for a couple weeks to vacuum and mop the hardwood floors and a bath mat (to simulate carpeting) in my house. I also tested all the features listed in the app, from mapping to scheduling. I took note of how well the vacuum cleaned the edges of a room as well as around obstacles, not to mention running how the handheld vacuum performed.
The Dreo MC710S is part tower fan, part air purifier. It promises both cleaner air and a cooler room with a host of smart features thrown in for good measure. It’s definitely on the larger, heavier side, and its industrial grey/silver plastic finish may not win any beauty contests. But, its height and build are practical and deliberate to make sure it offers the range of features and power needed.
One such feature is its dual DC motors. These motors push air at a speed of up to 27 feet per second, meaning you can put it at one end of a large-to-medium-sized room and still feel a breeze at the other. The oscillation option, which covers up to 120 degrees, then makes sure this air reaches into the corners of the room (albeit at an oscillating speed that's much slower than I'd like).
The fan operates in four modes: Normal, Sleep, Auto, and Breeze. The Sleep mode lowers the fan speed and noise, making it barely noticeable at night. The Auto mode adjusts the fan speed based on the room's temperature. As its name suggests, Breeze mode creates a gentle flow of air; this is the default setting for when the purifier is running. Note that you can run the fan without the purifier, but not the purifier without the fan. This is a little annoying when you just want to clear, and not cool the air, but it's a minor complaint. Overall, it compares well to the rest of the best fans on the market.
(Image credit: Future)
Speaking of the purifier, the MC710S' dual filtration system includes a pre-filter and a True HEPA filter. This combo captures 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns, making it great for reducing allergens, dust, and other pollutants. During my review, I noticed a significant drop in dust and pollen, and my hayfever was noticeably more manageable.
There are three purification settings – Low (1), Medium (2) and High (3) – plus an Auto mode that automatically adjusts the power based on the air quality. In tests, the low setting was pretty slow and poor at clearing particulates from the air, yet the high setting was fantastic, clearing dirty air in minutes. The purifier is not as great at getting rid of smells as other, cheaper purifiers I've used like the Levoit 300S, though, so if you’re cooking or have pets, you might still notice some lingering odors.
One of my favorite things about the MC710S is its smart features and remote controls. You can change the settings on the MC710S using the Dreo app, remote control, or through voice commands with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Setting this up is straightforward, and I loved the convenience of being able to adjust settings without getting up. The app shows near-live air quality data and lets you set schedules, which is a nice touch.
The LED touch display on the fan itself is also intuitive, showing all your selected settings at a glance. The unit also features a color-coded light strip that indicates air quality: blue for Excellent, green for Good, orange for Moderate, and red for Poor. This visual cue is handy for quickly seeing the air quality in your room but I'd like the option to enable alerts that warn me when levels are higher than they should be in case I'm not in the room.
If you’re looking for a multi-purpose appliance that improves your home's air quality and keeps you cool, the MC710S is definitely worth considering. While it's not the most aesthetically pleasing of appliances and lacks some finesse, its performance, smart features, and ease of use make it a worthwhile investment.
Dreo MC710S air purifier tower fan review: price and availability
At first glance, the Dreo MC710S's $300 price looks to be on the expensive side. Especially when no other Dreo tower fans exceed $150, and its standalone purifiers top out at $210, for the Macro Max S . In fact, the MC701S is the most expensive product across Dreo's product range.
However, this price looks more reasonable when you consider that you effectively get two appliances in one; rival products such as Dyson's $649.99 TP07 Purifier Cool or the $550 LG AeroTower Air Purifying Fan are around twice the price; and the MC710S is full of the latest motor and smart tech.
The most like-for-like alternatives to the Dreo MC710S are the $299.99 Shark HC450, and the $239.99 Hunter HPF500. The Shark model offers a heater function, but lacks Dreo's dual-motor, while the Hunter fan is cheaper because it has fewer speed settings – 9 versus 12 – and lacks Dreo's smart features, but offers the same HEPA protection.
While $299.99 is far from cheap, it represents good value for money in terms of features, protection, versatility and tech. The smart controls elevate it above many competitors, and with its multi-function design, you don't have to buy or store multiple products.
Value for money score: 4 out of 5
Dreo MC710S Air Purifier Tower Fan specs
Dreo MC710S Air Purifier Tower Fan review: design
Bulky, industrial design
Digital, color-coded controls
No matter how you look at it, the Dreo MC710S is large, bulky and bordering on ugly with its industrial-looking grey/silver plastic finish. Measuring 46.46 inches x 118cm tall, it's much taller than I was expecting and looks like a tower fan balanced on top of a purifier... which it technically is. The top half of the appliance is where you'll find the controls, LED display and the tower fan portion of the MC710S. Below the tower fan section is a transparent cylinder where the MC710S' dual-motors can be seen spinning, and this cylinder sits on top of the purifier element.
The touch control icons, and the corresponding remote control buttons, are relatively self-explanatory and (moving anti-clockwise) represent:
Timer: This button lets you set a timer. Once the allotted time has passed, the fan will automatically turn off.
Info: This button get you access to the fan's settings.
Minus symbol: Used to reduce the fan speed.
Power button
Plus symbol: Used to increase fan speed.
Purification mode: This button is used to select what level of purification you need, ranging from Auto up to Level 3.
Oscillation: Used to set the oscillation range of the tower fan, from 0° to 120°
(Image credit: Future)
All of your selected settings are then shown on the LED display located at the top of the tower fan, below the touch panel. This display lets you see, at a glance, the room temperature, which purifying and fan modes are enabled, the lifespan of your filter, and the fan speed (when adjusted manually).
It also features a thin strip of light that changes color based on your room's air quality. A blue light means the air quality is Excellent; green means it's Good; orange warns you when particulate levels are Moderate and higher than they should be; while a red light is an indication that your air quality is Poor.
(Image credit: Future)
The remote control features the same icons found on the touch panel. Alternatively, you can control the MC710S using the Dreo app, or via your voice by connecting the air purifier tower fan to your Amazon Alexa, or Google Assistant.
Setup of these smart features is quick and easy. In fact, setup of the appliance generally takes less than five minutes, including getting it out of the box and removing the plastic cover from the filter. The only slightly lengthy task in the whole process is setting up a Dreo account, but even this is painless.
(Image credit: Future)
Elsewhere, there is a carry handle on the rear of the appliance to make it easy to move around, but the bulky shape and hefty, 17.8lbs / 8.1kg weight don't lend themselves well to portability so you're unlikely to move the fan after you've got it in place.
I typically like to move my purifier into different rooms, depending on my needs i.e I put it in the kitchen when I'm cooking steak or fajitas, or I put it in my youngest son's room at night when the pollen count is high. This is nigh-on impossible with the MC710S. To put this weight into perspective, the Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool Formaldehyde HP09 which is often seen as one of the bulkiest on the market weighs less, at 12.6lbs / 5.5kg.
With the MC710S, it's clear Dreo has prioritized function over form. It doesn't win any points for subtlety, nor does it blend seamlessly into the background, but it is incredibly easy to set up and use and the extra height and weight helps maximize its performance.
Design score: 3 out of 5
Dreo MC710S Air Purifier Tower Fan review: performance
Powerful airflow
Doesn't reduce odors as well as expected
Purification speeds vary
The Dreo MC710S aims to hit the sweet spot between being a powerful fan and an effective air purifier and it almost manages it.
As a fan, the Dreo MC710S works well. It's powered by dual DC motors and pushes air at a speed of up 27 feet per second. This means that if you place it at one end of a large-to-medium-sized room, you’ll feel a breeze all the way across the room, even on the lower speeds. The oscillation feature, which swings up to 120 degrees, then helps make sure the cool air reaches the corners of the room. The fan comes with four modes – Normal, Sleep, Auto and Breeze.
The Sleep setting lowers the fan speed, and noise. The Breeze setting reduces the power of the air flow, and the Auto setting sees the fan automatically adjusting its speed setting based on the room's ambient temperature. The fan isn't as powerful or effective as an air conditioner, and the oscillation speed is slower than I'd like, but it does a decent job of making a room feel cooler by moving the air around efficiently.
(Image credit: Future)
The downside is that the blast of air is almost icy and this can feel a little uncomfortable if you get the angle, speed or distance slightly wrong. It took a fair amount of tweaking and experimenting to find the optimum settings. Talking of settings, the fan can be on without the purifier, but the purifier can't be on without the fan. As soon as your turn the purifier on, the fan runs gently on 'Breeze' mode and oscillates at a default 30 degrees. You can't disable these features.
I assume that this helps to improve the effectiveness of the purifier, because I don't know why else this would be the case, but it's not always needed and meant that I had to be particular about where I placed the unit so I wasn't cold while the purifier was running. On Breeze mode, as well as on the lower fan settings the fan is whisper quiet. I barely even realised it was on. The noise does increase considerably on higher settings – as high as 69dB on the top speed, which is around the sound of a car running – and this makes it difficult to have on when you're watching TV or similar. Especially if you're the one sat closest to it.
(Image credit: Future)
When it comes to air purification, the Dreo MC710S uses a dual filtration system that includes a pre-filter, which traps larger particles like dust and hair, as well as a True HEPA filter. The MC710S promises to captures 99.97% of tiny particles as small as 0.3 microns and this means it can reduce allergens, dust, and other pollutants in the air. My son and I both suffer from hayfever and even on days when there were so-called 'pollen bombs' in my local area, neither of us experienced symptoms to the extent we normally would. This makes it great for people with asthma, allergies or other respiratory problems.
What's more, my kitchen was undergoing a renovation during my review period and the purifier helped remove a noticeable amount of the dust in the air. Even though it wasn't in the kitchen itself, and was in the living room on the other side of the house. It performed less admirably in removing odors, compared to some other air purifiers I've tested such as the Levoit 300S.
(Image credit: Future)
There are three purification settings – Low (1), Medium (2) and High (3) – plus an Auto mode that automatically adjusts the power based on the air quality. To test these purifying capabilities, I sprayed deodorant directly at the purifier for five seconds and timed how long it took for the air quality to return to normal on the lowest, and highest settings.
During the first test, on the lowest setting, the particulate level rose to 880ug/m3. It then took an hour and 15 minutes to return the air quality to normal/excellent. By comparison, on the highest setting it took just 15 minutes to go from Poor (960ug/m3) to Excellent. Interestingly, the purifier continues to take air quality readings even when it's not on, and this is useful for identifying trends and tracking air-quality changes based on certain events.
I just wish that it would alert me when air quality reached dangerous levels so I could turn the purifier on and clear the room. Or even better, it turned on automatically – from being plugged in but switched off – cleared the particulates and turned off again. I found myself regularly asking "Alexa, what is the PM2.5 of Tower Fan" and becoming almost obsessive about it. A little more automation would give me peace of mind.
(Image credit: Future)
Speaking of voice controls, this soon became my favorite way to control the fan. If I heard a lot of drilling going on downstairs, I could ask Alexa to turn the purifier on and off while upstairs. It let me set timers and adjust the fan remotely, so the room was cool for when my sons got home from school, and I could then track all of these settings on the Dreo app. This convenience goes a long way towards mitigating some of the minor complaints I have about the unit.
I didn't have the purifier on constantly during the four-week review period. I would use it twice a day – once in the morning and once in the evening – to clear the room, occasionally turning it on at other times, when we had friends over or when the building work was particularly busy. The filter only dropped to 98% during this time. A replacement filter costs $39.99 and Dreo recommends replacing it at least every six months so you need to factor this cost in.
Overall, the Dreo Air Purifier Tower Fan MC710S does a decent job as both a fan and a purifier. It has its flaws, and there are features that could elevate it from decent to good, or even great, but it works as you'd expect and does what you need it to do.
Performance score: 4 out of 5
Dreo MC710S Air Purifier Tower Fan review: voice control
Easy to set up
Adds an extra level of control and personalization
Perfect when juggling work or the kids
One of the standout features of the Dreo MC710S is the ability to control it using voice commands via your smart speaker. I have Amazon Echos in a number of rooms across my house and being able to check on the air quality, and control the purifier and fan no matter where I was in my home, was great.
Once the purifier is connected to your home Wi-Fi, it can connect to any Amazon Echo or Google Home device on the same network at the press of a button through the Dreo app. This app also gives you voice command prompts to get you started, which can be found via Settings and clicking the voice assistant you've connected it to – either Amazon Alexa, or Google Assistant.
You can ask Google or Alexa to turn the purifier on and off and adjust the fan speed – either by asking it to select a specific speed, increasing or decreasing the speed, or setting it to maximum/minimum. You can also ask your smart speaker to set the MC710S to a specific mode – Normal, Auto, Sleep, or Breeze. By connecting to Alexa, you can also access basic controls via the Alexa app – on/off, fan speed, mode, and display options.
Dreo MC710S Air Purifier Tower Fan review: app
Offers a range of control options
Color-coded design is intuitive and simple to use
Near-live air quality data
The app, as well as using voice commands, is one of my favorite features of the Dreo MC710S. It's intuitive, and everything is well-labelled and clear. An image of the fan sits in the center of the app's home page. If you have multiple Dreo devices you can swipe left and right to access each. Below this image on the left is a clock icon, where you can quickly set the fan to turn on after a set amount of time, plus the on/off button on the right.
Below the clock icon is the Climate widget that shows the live air-quality levels above the ambient temperature, next to a Schedules widget. In the next row is your current filter life, and the settings menu.
When the device is on, you can see which mode it's on and whether both the fan and purifier are enabled, or just the fan. Clicking either of these icons takes you to detailed controls page which shows:
Mode
Temperature
A live air quality reading with corresponding color
Purification on/off button
Fan on/off button
Fan mode controls and speed slider
Oscillation controls
Preferences
Clicking the Climate widget shows you air quality and temperature readings for the past 24 hours, and 30 days. These readings are shown on a color-coded chart – red for Poor, orange for Moderate, green for Good, and blue for Excellent. As the air quality changes, so does this number and the screen's color.
Despite the fact these charts deal with some complex information and could be confusing, Dreo makes them easy to navigate and read by carrying through its color-coded system and keeping details to a minimum.
There's a delay of around five minutes in this chart being updated following an air quality change, so it's not hugely useful in the moment, but it's interesting and useful to check after the fact. It's also reassuring to see how the levels change over the day and how well the purifier responds.
App score: 5 out of 5
Should I buy the Dreo MC710S Air Purifier Tower Fan?
Buy it if...
Don't buy it if...
You're on a budget At $299.99, the Dreo MC710S is pricey compared to other standalone fans and purifiers on the market.
How I tested the Dreo MC710S Air Purifier Tower Fan
I used the Dreo MC710S Air Purifier Tower Fan and its partner app for 4 weeks
Stress testing different substances
Experimented with different speeds, modes and settings
I used the Dreo MC710S Air Purifier Tower Fan in the living room of my home for four weeks in peak hayfever season. During which time my kitchen was also being renovated and builders were in the house every day.
Every morning and evening I used the device to track and manage the air quality, and used the fan on a range of speeds and settings in different scenarios, including when I had friends over. I also experimented with controlling the device using the Dreo app, the physical remote control, and via my Amazon Alexa speaker.
To test the air purification monitoring and speed, I sprayed a heavy particulate aerosol (deodorant) on the purifier for five seconds while it was in different purification modes and timed how long it took for the air to clear. I also measured the volume with a mobile phone decibel meter.
The Doro Hemma is a beginner-friendly video doorbell that can transform that knock on the door into something you can respond to, wherever you are. It comes packed with both an adhesive sticker and a wall mount that can be screwed beside your front door, and you can have it up and running within 10 minutes.
The doorbell also comes with a USB-C cable for recharging it, which is necessary after about 10 days of use. The 1080P camera resolution is clear, and it can detect movement, letting you know thanks to notifications sent to your device. The camera also has night vision, so you can have a clear feed when someone visits at night.
After testing the Hemma doorbell for several weeks, I’ve found it to be a great option for those just getting started with using smart home devices. The Doro Hemma app, available to download for free from Apple's App Store and Google’s Play Store, is very straightforward and makes the main features of the doorbell easily accessible in seconds. The Doro Hemma Chime, which can plug into any UK power socket, can ring loudly to alert you that someone has arrived while you're at home.
The Doro Hemma app is available for iOS and Android, and makes it easy to set up and operate your doorbell (Image credit: Future)
However, there are a few drawbacks. The doorbell detects any movement. This can be a hassle if you live in an apartment block and people walk past your door frequently, so be prepared for a bunch of notifications to alert you if 'movement' is enabled. Additionally, the lack of support for HomeKit, Apple’s smart home framework, is disappointing. This means you can’t check someone at the door while managing your smart lights or Apple TV in the Home app, nor can you use Siri to view the video feed.
That said, Doro’s Hemma Doorbell is still a great entry-level device if you’re new to smart home appliances, especially for £150 (about $200/AU$300) with no monthly subscription fee. Combine that with an easy-to-use app that lets you respond to someone at the door at any time, anywhere, the Hemma is an easy contender to be featured in our guide to the best video doorbells.
The Doro Hemma can be attached to your doorframe with an adhesive strip if you don't want to drill holes (Image credit: Future)
Doro Hemma Doorbell: price and availability
List price: £150 (about $200 / AU$300)
The Doro Hemma Doorbell is available for £150 on Doro's UK website, which is a fair price for what it offers, and about average for a battery-operated video doorbell. Inside the box, you'll find the doorbell, a plug to amplify the bell chime, an adhesive to stick the doorbell to a wall, a mount if you prefer to screw it to a wall, and an instruction manual.
There are no extra accessories for the Hemma Doorbell - it’s a straightforward smart home appliance that focuses on one job to respond to those knocking on your front door - but that's what makes this doorbell so appealing. There's also no monthly subscription fee to access its full features, unlike many other video doorbells.
The Doro Hemma isn't available outside the UK at the time of writing.
Value score: 4.5/5
Doro Hemma Doorbell: specs
The bottom cover releases to reveal the USB-C charging port, but doesn't detach completely so it can't get lost (Image credit: Future)
Doro Hemma Doorbell review: Design
Easy to set up
Great app to check video footage
Rechargeable battery
The Doro Hemma is a video doorbell and nothing more. It's designed for people who don’t own a variety of smart home products, and don't necessarily choose to keep up to date with the latest smartphones. Instead, Doro has made a doorbell that simply shows you who's at the door through a video feed and respond accordingly.
The Hemma Doorbell delivers on that with a clear HD camera and a responsive button that produces a clear chime and a flashing green light when pressed. Its white casing may clash with certain doors, but perhaps that’s the point. This doorbell must be seen, otherwise visitors may end up knocking on the door, wondering why no one is answering.
The battery isn’t removable, so expect to charge the Hemma Doorbell through its USB-C port about once every 10 days. Thankfully, you’ll get a helpful notification sent to your device that it needs charging, so it won't run our of juice unexpectedly.
You'll receive a notification when someone rings the Doro Hemma doorbell (Image credit: Future)
The Doro Hemma app, available on Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store, is well made for someone who doesn’t use their smartphone often. Its clean layout means that every option and toggle is a press away, as well as offering the ability to watch the live video feed from the doorbell at any time. A couple of features stand out, safety-wise. The 'Assist' function can divert the video feed to a friend or relative, so they can answer the stranger at the door if needed. There's also a 'Siren' button in the app that will generate a loud noise from the doorbell, alerting anyone nearby if you feel unsafe.
Overall, the Hemma app is intuitively designed that empowers the most inexperienced tech user, enabling them to manage a video feed or call someone for help if needed.
Design score: 4.5
Doro Hemma Doorbell: performance
Good wireless connectivity
Virtually no delay when speaking with visitors via mobile app
Motion detection slightly too sensitive
Once the Doro Hemma Doorbell is installed near your front door and set up using the instructions in the mobile app, it’s time to put it through its paces.
As long as there’s an active internet connection, you can reach the doorbell through the Hemma app on an iPhone, iPad, or Android phone to glance at the video feed. During testing the feed always displayed perfectly, whether I was using a Wi-Fi network or mobile data. I could easily see the outside of my apartment while listening to anything in the area if I wanted to, without any issues.
When someone presses the doorbell button, a chime will play thanks to the plug that will be nearby, and your phone will receive a notification that someone is at the door. The chime is loud and hard to miss, and if you’re away from home, pressing on the notification will open the Hemma app lets you respond to the person at the door by speaking to them.
The delay on the video feed was minimal - it was similar to having a chat through FaceTime or Google Meet. The audio was impressively clear too, whether I used my iPhone's speaker or wireless earbuds, making it easy to speak with visitors.
There's minimal delay on the video feed, which makes it easy to hold a conversation with visitors through the app when you're away from home (Image credit: Future)
However, I recommend switching off the motion detection feature. I found it to be very sensitive, sending constant notifications to my iPhone whenever something went by my front door. Whether it was someone who lives in an apartment adjacent to me, or kids running by, the notifications would pile up. If you don't live in a detached house, consider deactivating it.
Overall, Doro’s Hemma Doorbell is a straightforward product that does its job well, especially for those new to smart home appliances. The doorbell easily alerts users that someone is at the door via a great app, as well as the great quality of the video and audio that it provides.
Doro Hemma Doorbell not for you? Try out one of these alternatives...
Doro Hemma Doorbell review: How I tested
I tested the Doro Hemma Doorbell for several weeks, using the Hemma app on my iPhone 15 Pro Max and Pixel 4a handsets.
I attached the Doro Hemma Doorbell to the side of my front door with the supplied adhesive with the ‘detect movement’ setting enabled to make sure it worked. After a while, I turned it off once it was proven to be the case.
I used the Hemma app to open the video feed on a Wi-Fi, public Wi-Fi, and 5G Cellular connection to test the quality of the feed. I also tested the audio when family knocked on to see how clear my wife and I sounded across the different internet connections.
The video was captured thanks to the storage in the Doro Hemma Doorbell and replayed on my iPhone and Apple TV to see how it looked.
The Dreame Pocket Hair Dryer is a petite styler that performs surprisingly well considering its small size. In my hunt for the best hair dryer, I've yet to come across a compact styler that truly delivers full power and perfect performance, but the Dreame Pocket comes tantalizingly close.
Despite weighing just 10.5oz / 300g and measuring a tiny 1.97 x 5.71 x 7.91in / 5 x 14.5 x 20.1cm, it has all the power and versatility of a full-sized styler. Its high-speed motor operates at 110,000 RPM and generates a powerful airflow of 70 m/s, all while keeping noise levels below 80dB. It provides five modes to suit different hair types and needs, ranging from Cold, Warm and Hot to the Instant Cold Air cool shot, and Hot & Cold Cycling mode designed to reduce potential heat damage. It comes with two attachments: the Unfrizz nozzle for sleek, straight hair, and the Curling nozzle for creating curls or waves.
In my tests, it took 3 minutes and 45 seconds on average to rough dry my long, thin hair using the dryer's Warm mode, on Low speed. This dropped to just 2 minutes and 35 seconds on Warm mode at High speed. The drying time increased slightly to 4 minutes and 5 seconds, on average, when using the Cycling Mode on High speed but the improvement in hair quality was worth this small time sacrifice.
(Image credit: Future)
And all this is before we even get to the fact the Dreame Pocker dryer is foldable. This not only only means it can be easily stored inside its Dreame-branded storage bag ready for travelling, but it also allows you to adjust how the dryer is used. For example, when the dryer is in the "7" shape, it can be used on its own, or with the Unfrizz nozzle attached. You can then extend the barrel up into a "1" shape before attaching the Curling nozzle and turning the dryer into a curling wand. This hinged design additionally allows you to change the angle of the barrel mid-style, to help you dry hard-to-reach areas and bring a high-level of precision and control.
The dryer isn't perfect, though. The performance of the Curling nozzle lets it down, and the attachments themselves are so clunky that they detract from the effort that has been made to pack a whole load of power into such a compact shape. That doesn't mean the Dreame Pocket isn't a good investment. Whether you need a quick touch-up on the go, or a full styling session at home, this hair dryer delivers professional results in a compact package. Just don't expect miracles.
The $159.99 / €159 Dreame Pocket hair dryer is the latest launch in Dreame's growing hair care range, joining the $99 / €79 Dreame Gleam, and $129 / €129 Dreame Glory.
It's sold in the US as well as in a select number of countries in continental Europe from the Dreame website, and Amazon. The folding dryer is available in a Titanium Gold color and ships with two attachments – the Unfrizz Nozzle, and Curling Nozzle – as standard.
Its price and power puts the Pocket dryer in the mid-range bracket, sandwiched between the likes of the $129 T3 Featherweight and the $149.99 BaByliss Pro Portofino. Its folding design and compact, lightweight shape also position it in the travel dryer category, where its rivals include the $139 Drybar Baby Buttercup and the $199 GHD Flight+, while the attachments even draw comparisons with the Shark FlexStyle and even the Dyson Airwrap.
As a result, the Dreame Pocket stands largely in a category of its own and this enhances its value for money and versatility. It's not cheap but these features go a long way towards justifying its price tag.
Value for money score: 4.5 out of 5
Dreame Pocket Hair Dryer specs
Dreame Pocket Hair Dryer review: design
3-in-1 folding design
5 modes and 2 airflow speeds
Curling and Unfrizz attachments
Comes with storage bag
The first thing I noticed about the Dreame Pocket hair dryer, other than just how light and compact it is at 10oz / 300g, was its folding design. Other foldable dryers tend to mask or disguise the folding mechanism. Dreame instead makes a feature of it by not only designing the hinge in chrome, while the rest of the dryer is a brushed gold color, but also in showing almost the full hinge itself.
(Image credit: Future)
The mechanism is incredibly smooth and the barrel locks securely into place, whether you're using it as a standard dryer, in the so-called "7" shape; extending the barrel upwards into a "1" shape with the Curling nozzle attached; or when you're folding it in half, into an "N" shape, ready to pack into a bag. The Pocket dryer measures 1.97 × 5.71 × 7.91in / 5 × 14 × 20.1cm.
(Image credit: Future)
On the rear of the cylindrical barrel is a curved filter, and there are just two controls on the dryer's handle – the Airflow switch, and a Mode selection button. This buttons are used to control Pocket's two airflow speeds, Low and High, and its five temperature modes:
Cold
Warm
Hot
Instant Cold Air Mode
Hot & Cold Cycling Mode
The Cold, Warm and Hot modes are relatively self-explanatory. The Instant Cold Air mode is effectively a Cool Shot that allows you to blast your hair with cold air instantly, without having to re-cycle through the modes to reach the dedicated Cold setting. As the name suggests, the Hot and Cold Cycling Mode then cycles between hot and cold air as you style your hair, in a bid to reduce potential heat damage. I first used this feature on the BaByliss Air Wand and while it increases the styling time slightly, it makes a noticeable difference to the finish and feel of your hair.
(Image credit: Future)
It's easy to see at a glance which mode you're using on the Dreame Pocket, thanks to color-coded LEDs on the Mode selection button. A solid blue light represents Cold mode. Press the button again and you'll see a solid orange light which represents Warm mode. A solid red light represents Hot mode, and the lights will repeatedly flash between red and blue on the Cycling Mode. To enable the Instant Cold Air mode, just press and hold the button until the light turns blue. Note that once you stop pressing and holding the button, the dryer will return to whichever mode was previously selected.
The hair dryer comes with two attachments, designed to create and set a range of straight, wavy and curly styles, and which both lock in to place on the Pocket's barrel using magnets. The Curling Nozzle looks almost identical to the curling wand attachment on the Shark FlexStyle, and it uses the same coanda effect found on both the FlexStyle and Dyson Airwrap to pull the hair and wrap it around the barrel. This dries the hair and sets it into a curl or wave, depending on how tight you wrap the hair, and how long you hold it in place.
(Image credit: Future)
Dreame's Unfrizz Nozzle reminds me of the Flyaway attachment found on the Dyson Supersonic. It uses the Coanda effect to draw the hair towards the attachment, before using the so-called Bernoulli effect to reduce frizz and flyaways. The Bernoulli effect means that the faster the air, the lower the pressure. When used on the Pocket dryer, this effect helps calm flyaway hairs, causing them to lie flat.
Both attachments are large compared to the compact dryer, and look almost out of place when attached. The Curling nozzle alone is the same height as the entire dryer and this detracts slightly from the travel-friendly nature of the whole setup. To put this into perspective, the dryer ships with a small Dreame-branded, waterproof storage bag which is only just big enough to store the dryer and its 5ft / 1.5m cord. You need to do some clever packing in order to get the zip to do up with the attachments inside, and even then, it's tight.
To truly appeal to all hair types, I would have liked to see the Dreame Pocket ship with a diffuser, but this is a minor point. Also, the Pocket is not dual voltage, unlike the GHD Flight+, which may limit its usability in regions with different electrical standards.
Design score: 4.5 out of 5
Dreame Pocket Hair Dryer review: performance
1000-watt motor
High-speed motor operates at 110,000RPM
79dB average noise
There is very often a trade-off in power and performance when you buy a travel hair dryer, or even a compact dryer for that fact. This is not the case with the Dreame Pocket. I was amazed – and I don't use that word lightly – with how well this dryer performed on my longer, fine hair.
The airflow speed, even on Low, does a fantastic job of drying the hair quickly without blasting it into submission. Despite the small barrel and grille, the hair dryer manages to cover a large amount of hair as it dries, and being able to grip the handle completely provides a high level of precision and control, as does the fact you can subtly alter the angle of the barrel to direct the airflow. I had worried that the location of the buttons would cause me to knock them mid-style by accident, but this wasn't the case. They're perfectly positioned to be able to apply enough pressure to change the mode, without ever getting in the way.
(Image credit: Future)
In my tests, it took 3 minutes and 45 seconds on average to rough dry my hair using the Warm mode, on Low speed. This dropped to just 2 minutes and 35 seconds on Warm mode at High speed. The drying time increased slightly to 4 minutes and 5 seconds, on average, when using the Cycling Mode on High speed.
I experimented with all of the various combinations of airflow speeds versus modes and the best results I achieved were using the Pocket Dryer on Cycling mode at High speed. The smooth and sleek finish it creates is worth the slightly longer drying times, plus after four weeks of use, my hair felt and looked healthier. Adding the Unfrizz nozzle to the mix then further enhanced just how smooth and healthy my hair looked. This nozzle takes a little getting used to as you run it along the shaft of the hair but it makes a noticeable difference. It also helps bring second-day and even bed-hair under control.
(Image credit: Future)
I had less success with the Curling nozzle, however. I've never rated the Airwrap all that highly because I find its curling wands to be poor, and I had the same issue with the Pocket dryer. To get the best results, your hair can't be too dry or too wet and getting this balance right is an art in itself. The Pocket's Curling nozzle does a better job, in my opinion, of pulling the hair into place than the Dyson, but it's still too unwieldy and temperamental for my liking. I get much quicker, better, long-lasting results with my curling tong. I also found the weight distribution to be a little unbalanced when using the Pocket in the "1" shape and this added to my frustrations. This is a major flaw in an otherwise fantastic dryer.
(Image credit: Future)
On the plus side, the magnets do a great job of keeping the attachments locked in place when you need them to, while allowing you to swap the nozzles in and out easily and safely while styling. And the final positive feature of note on the Pocket dryer is how quiet it is. There is little difference, noise-wise, between the Low and High speed settings with both averaging just 79dB during my review period. It is easy to have a conversation, or hear your music or TV while using this dryer.
Performance score: 4.5 out of 5
Should you buy the Dreame Pocket Hair Dryer?
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if….
How I tested the Dreame Pocket Hair Dryer
I used the Dreame Pocket as my go-to styler over the course of four weeks at home and during a weekend trip away. 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. For travel testing, I packed the dryer in its storage bag and included it in my carry-on luggage for a weekend trip.
To thoroughly test the dryer, I experimented with the full range of speed and temperature combinations, and nozzles. 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.
EZVIZ’s EP3x Pro Doorbell is a smart device that allows you to view and respond to those knocking at your front door at any time. This doorbell has two cameras - one at a 2K resolution to see the person at the door, and another at 1080P that’s angled to display any parcels on your doorstep. The video from these cameras is super clear, especially at night. The doorbell also emits a bright light when it’s dark, providing a colorful night vision video, allowing you to see who was at your front door while you were fast asleep.
Granted, the EP3x Pro looks like a bigger, chunkier cousin of the Ring Video Doorbell Pro, but when you start looking at what EZVIZ’s doorbell offers, you can forgive the bigger size. First off, it’s battery powered, which lasted around four weeks during our tests. You can recharge the doorbell via a USB-C port, but it also comes with a solar charger that you can place beside it to keep it charged. This also means that you can place the doorbell anywhere you want, without having to worry about connecting it to a power cable.
The built-in 32GB storage is another standout feature, allowing the doorbell to record video straight away without a subscription. It’s a breath of fresh air compared to many of the best video doorbells, which often lock cloud services and exclusive features such as recording behind a paywall. It's a welcome approach, especially for users who may be buying a smart doorbell for the first time.
The EZVIZ app guides you through the process of installing the doorbell, and we had it running within minutes (Image credit: Future)
Throughout our time with the EP3x Pro, we used the EZVIZ app, available on both Apple’s App Store and Google's Play Store. The app was required for setting up the smart doorbell, which was a seamless affair. We had it up and running within minutes. The app provides a guided tour of its features, as well as how to maintain the doorbell with software updates and manage the video and audio settings.
One feature worth mentioning is the record list, which lets you play back video clips showing anyone who knocked at your door over the last 30 days. This can be very handy if you need to check on a missed delivery.
The EP3x Pro has two cameras, one of which is angled down to record packages left by your door (Image credit: Future)
EZVIZ EP3x Pro: price and availability
List price: $149.99 / £129.99 (about AU$220)
You can buy EZVIZ’s EP3x Pro Doorbell from Amazon, or direct from EZVIZ. It’s a great price for what this doorbell offers: dual cameras, night vision, great battery life, 32GB internal storage, and the ability to save video clips without a subscription.
The EP3x Pro is a particularly good option if you’re looking for a video doorbell that doesn’t need to be connected to the mains in order to work. Its price tag of $149.99 / £129.99 (about AU$220) and lack of membership fee mean it's also one of the more affordable battery-operated options around.
Value score: 5/5
EZVIZ EP3x Pro: specs
The doorbell can be charged using its USB-C port (Image credit: Future)
EZVIZ EP3x Pro review: design
Dual-lens cameras to get a good view of the person and the package
Battery can be recharged via USB-C or solar charger
Very easy to install
The EZVIZ’s EP3x Pro has a minimalist design that reflects its main purpose: to show you who’s knocking on your door, and let you see packages on your porch.
The dual-lens cameras are very useful when you’re away from home to see who’s visited with a delivery, no matter if it was during the day or the night. Thanks to the EP3x Pro's bright light, visibility was never an issue during my tests.
I also appreciated the solar power attachment, which saves you the hassle of having to charge the EP3x Pro when it’s low on power. Some people may think it's an ugly thing to have beside their front door, but it’s a very useful one.
Installing the EP3x Pro is very straightforward, thanks to the supplied adhesive and mount. Combine that with the very handy dual-lens cameras and you’ve got a smart doorbell that will be a fixture outside any home for years to come.
Design score: 4.5/5
EZVIZ EP3x Pro review: performance
Setting up the EP3x Pro is easy enough, from charging the doorbell via USB-C to mounting it near your front door. The EZVIZ app gives you a helpful step-by-step guide to what the doorbell is capable of, with annotated pictures that describe every button and function in detail to prevent you from pressing the wrong setting.
You can use the EZVIZ app to see up to six months of video clips, thanks to the 32GB of storage that’s built into the EP3x Pro. It’s a welcome addition, as many smart doorbells usually require you to buy a microSD card as well as a monthly subscription to use similar features.
The EZVIZ app sends you notifications when the doorbell detects motion, and allows you to review videos captured by its two cameras (Image credit: Future)
When the doorbell detects motion, it will send a notification to your phone that you can tap to open the app and play any video that the EP3x Pro has captured. It’s a useful feature, and we were able to respond to visitors in real time. However, notifications were sometimes delayed, meaning that we missed someone who had pressed the doorbell. We experienced this when connected to a public Wi-Fi network or 5G, so we suspect this is a bug that EZVIZ should look into.
The built-in battery with the supplied solar attachment is a standout feature. Unlike many other doorbells, which have to be connected to the mains, you can have the EP3x Pro run on solar power without having to worry about it, especially if there are power cuts.
Overall, the EP3x Pro is a fantastic smart doorbell that doesn't require a monthly subscription. Once you’ve bought it, you can take advantage of everything it offers. From that alone, it’s a smart doorbell that’s worth considering.
Performance score: 4.5/5
The EZVIZ EP3x Pro has a clean, minimalist design (Image credit: Future)
Do you think EZVIZ's EP3x Pro isn't for you? Try out one of these alternatives instead...
EZVIZ’s EP3x Pro review: How I tested
I tested the EZVIZ’s EP3x Pro for several weeks, using the EZVIZ app on my iPhone 15 Pro Max on Wi-Fi and cellular connections
I attached the EZVIZ’s EP3x Pro beside my front door with the supplied adhesive. I enabled ‘Intelligent Detection’ to allow the doorbell to spot anyone outside my apartment, so it could send me a notification to my phone if it did.
I used the EZVIZ app to view the video feed on a Wi-Fi, public Wi-Fi, and 5G Cellular connection through my iPhone 15 Pro Max in order to test the quality of the feed. I also tried out the audio when family knocked on to see how clear my wife, son, and I sounded across the different internet connections.
Video was captured thanks to the 32GB built-in storage of the EP3x Pro Doorbell, which was Replayed on my iPhone and Apple TV to see how well it looked.
How can you unlock a door? Let me count the ways. That's the ethos of the current generation of best smart locks, including the new Lockly Visage Zeno Series smart deadbolt. It will happily let you gain access with an old-fashioned key, fingerprint, pin code, your face, your smartphone, and even your smartwatch.
This is the second Lockly smart lock I’ve brought into my home and, if I'm being honest, I didn't have high hopes. My last Lockly worked well enough, but it also ate through AA batteries as if they were candy (eight at a time!), needed a dedicated and finicky Wi-Fi hub, and seemed incapable of remembering fingerprints for more than a week. It was also large, loud, and – as my wife often told me – ugly.
The Lockly Visage, though, is a welcome change of pace. Not only is it 35% smaller and more attractive-looking on both sides of the door, it finally uses a rechargeable battery pack, and it even ships with two batteries so that when one drains, you have another fully-charged one ready to go.
It's got built-in Wi-Fi (and Bluetooth), which means you no longer need to have a separate hub and, perhaps best of all, it's Apple Home Key-compatible, which means you can unlock your door with one of the best iPhones.
Unlike my last Lockly, the Visage does not include a video doorbell, but that's fine, since that only worked half the time with my old lock. Instead, there's a camera on the front that lets you use your face (once you've registered it) to unlock the door. While I got so tired of the various quirks of my previous Lockly that I didn’t bother to change out the batteries, so we were basically using it as a dumb deadbolt, the new Lockly Visage feels like its first truly smart lock.
In particular, the integration with Apple Home Key allows us to do proximity unlocking. When we pull into our driveway, the home network sees that we’re there and asks if we want to run the unlock routine before we even set foot on the front porch. I could get used to this.
Lockly Visage Zeno Series review: price and availability
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(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
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(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
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(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
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(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
List price: $349
Available at Home Dept starting September 5
Not currently for sale on Amazon
US only
At $349, the Lockly Visage Zeno Series smart deadbolt ranks as one of the more expensive smart locks. The August Smart Lock Pro, which lacks features like facial recognition, and fingerprint unlocking (like the Lockly, it does support Apple HomeKit, Alexa, and Google) might run you a hundred less. Such is the price of versatility.
Along with the two control units (for the front and back of the door), the Lockly Visage ships with a pair of rechargeable batteries, the deadbolt, door-open sensors, and two keys.
The smart deadbolt is only available in the US for now. Lockly says: "The Zeno Series of locks will launch in the US first. The company will continue to bring new products to the global audience, including the Zeno Series, at a later date."
Value: 4/5
Lockly Visage Zeno Series review: specifications
Lockly Visage Zeno Series review: design and installation
(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Helpful video guide
Drops the ball on wiring storage
Solid construction
Even under the best circumstances, deadbolt installation can be difficult. While much of the hardware is standardized, I’ve found that you often must make small adjustments to compensate for differences in hardware. Sometimes, this involves chipping away a bit of wood to make space for slightly different-shaped deadbolt plates, while other times you might need to carve out space for a sensor.
I was lucky, though. My previous Lockly smart deadbolt installation meant that most of the pieces of the Lockly Visage just fit. I didn’t even have to cut a new space for the magnet side of the deadbolt sensor; I just left the old one in place in my door frame and lined up the new sensor with it on the door side.
This is not to say there were no installation issues. Smartlocks use DC electricity and a bundle of wiring to make their magic and I found that while most of Lockly's installation instructions were clear, when I had to fit a cluster of cables behind the interior side lock and battery pack, they didn’t fit. It took me a bit of trial and error to realize that some of that wiring had to be shoved back inside the lock housing to properly seat the interior lock on my door.
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(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
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(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
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(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Lockly also shipped me an optional smart deadbolt insert that I could've used to get rid of the external door-closed sensors. Unfortunately, the installation would have entailed dismantling a sealed part of the Lockly Visage's interior housing, and I didn‘t feel comfortable doing that (at least not yet).
Once I had everything seated properly, both sides of the lock fit snugly against my door. The exterior plate is smaller and less cluttered than my old Lockly. I like that it no longer has what I saw as an unnecessary metal cover over the keyhole.
The interior cover now slips off easily to access a battery compartment that takes one palm-sized battery pack. As soon as I put it in and pressed the program key for four seconds, the Lockly Visage began a self-check. I noticed that the battery was only 60% charged. I plugged the other one into a USB-C charger just to make sure it would be ready for when this one died. One of the benefits of using Apple HomeKit is that I can run the Lockly without Wi-Fi access and save a significant amount of battery life. I've left it on to see how quickly the battery drains and, after almost a week of use, its down to 58%, just 2% lower than where it started.
Design and installation: 4.5/5
Lockly Visage Zeno Series review: control
Decent app with a lot of options (sometimes hidden)
The best use of Apple HomeKit
Unlock the way you want
The app setup was easy, and integration with Apple HomeKit was a matter of scanning the code on the lock and then adding it to my Home.
Apple HomeKit and the Home app controller turned out to be a highlight of the Lockly Visage experience. The Home app asked me if I wanted to automate unlocking using my iPhone and I said yes. All four of my family members are registered as part of my Apple iCloud Family account, which means that now all of them can unlock the door with their phones.
To unlock, you need to hold your phone near the lock and using FaceID to confirm your identity.
Lockly Visage Zeno Series on Apple Home (Image credit: Future)
My wife, ever the skeptic about all things smart-home, was impressed that the system just worked. And when she found that she could set up the system to unlock when she arrived home she admitted, "That might be useful." And when it actually worked she called it "amazing." That's high praise indeed from someone who expressed outright hatred for our previous Lockly smart lock.
While I was happy to continue using my phone and watch to unlock the door, I did set up fingerprint recognition, which let me register multiple fingers in succession. I like that the fingerprint scanner is now on the front of the external lock instead of the side.
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(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
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(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
For FaceID unlocking, I registered my face by looking at the lock from different angles as the app on the phone guided me through the process. Such operations require Bluetooth, which means I need to keep my phone close to the lock for face unlock to work.
I am a bit disappointed that Lockly went with Bluetooth 4.2 instead of the longer-range BLE 5.0. Similarly, it's unfortunate that the Lockly Visage only supports 2.4Ghz Wi-Fi and not 5GHz Wi-Fi.
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The smart lock with the deadbolt extended (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
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The magnetic door open/closed sensor (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
To unlock with my face, I need to tap a small circle on the Lockly Visage outside unit’s screen. It worked pretty much instantly. Both Lockly and Apple's Home App will notify me when the door is locked, unlocked, or jammed. I turned off the notifications from Apple's Home app because it was becoming too much.
Another nice but not immediately obvious upgrade is that this smart deadbolt is a lot quieter than my last Lockly. I can still hear the motor locking and unlocking but, it's noticeably quieter.
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(Image credit: Future)
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(Image credit: Future)
Performance: 4.5/5
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How I tested the Lockly Visage Zeno Series smart deadbolt
I installed it in my home's front door
We use it every day
I installed the Lockely Visage Zeno Series smart deadbolt in my home’s front door, which is our primary point of access.
We tested and continue to use all the features of the lock, especially the HomeKit-enabled automation features.
