The new CrowVi portable monitor has all the bells and whistles of a modern screen while being simple. The glossy 13.3” FHD IPS panel is bright at 300 nits and offers an 800:1 contrast level. Being thin at less than 10mm and weighing around 350 grams, the monitor can easily be moved around. The IPS technology also provides a great viewing angle and faithful color reproduction. The supplied plastic cover doubles as a stand while protecting the screen.

Although the black 1cm bezel border isn’t the thinnest available, the screen will look great on any office desk. The glossy finish and a ten-point touch-based panel turn it into a fingerprint magnet. Two display ports, a Type-C and a mini HDMI, provide display connectivity. An audio socket and 2W stereo speakers complete the media section. 

The CrowVi 13.3-inch screen is available on the Elecrow website for $139. Two other models are available. The non-touch version will take $114.9 off your wallet, while the 15.6-inch costs $10 less than the 13.3-inch. These displays can readily connect to a small embedded computer, such as the newly released Raspberry Pi 5, also sold by Elecrow. 

CrowVi: Design

The CrowVi 13.3-inch ships with two display cables, one USB power cable, and an HDMI to mini HDMI adapter. A small 5V 10W AC adapter, a plastic cover, and the customary user manual are also included. The wall adapter is only sufficient to power the display, and a beefier adapter is needed if the user wants to power something like a Pi 5 through the display. The 13.3-inch display measures 31cm x 20cm x 1cm and weighs 773g.

The display is well constructed, with the glass touchscreen glued to the metal frame without any screws. The back of the display holds securely to the supplied magnetic cover. The left side hosts two user switches and a Type-C power port. The right side has two display inputs: one mini HDMI, a USB Type-C, and an audio socket.

CrowVi's IPS panel is bright at 300 nits and offers excellent viewing angles. An 800:1 contrast level guarantees an image that stands out in a dark room. Internally, Elecrow uses a 1920 x 1080 FHD panel made by Sharp. The 25ms response time at a 60Hz refresh rate puts the panel beyond serious gaming. The screen shows no white bleeding at corners on a black background.

The USB-accessible ten-point touch panel is accurate and responsive, with no calibration required from the user. The glossy glass surface is the only drawback. At TechRadar-Pro, we are more fond of matte finish displays since they are better for reading while offering less reflection at the expense of being less appealing.

CrowVi: In use

The CrowVi display turns on whenever power is present. The default brightness, contrast, and black level profile are excellent for watching movies, showcasing the sharpness and brightness of the IPS panel. The user can change settings by pressing the side knob. At this point, a simple menu allows changing settings typically available for an LCD screen. One interesting item is the HDR mode, which changes the backlight intensity depending on the image content.

The ten-point touchscreen and stereo speakers work seamlessly with any modern OS, such as Windows 11. The display inputs on the right side allow connecting two hosts to the CrowVi display, and a button on the left side permits switching between the two sources. The Type-C display port is the only one the user should ever need as it can provide display and power to the screen.

The CrowVi power consumption is about 6W, which translates into low heat dissipation and better battery life when connected to portable devices such as laptops and game consoles. The wide input voltage range, from 5V to 20V, makes the unit compatible with many standard and industrial setups. The built-in 2W speakers do not produce noticeable noise even when set to the maximum output.

CrowVi: Competition

What makes the CrowVi display stand out is the build quality and features at a low price. A sub $150 FHD 13.3” display with touch capability is hard to find, whereas a generic 13.3” display costs $155 on Amazon with a coupon applied. Elecrow provides a compatibility table on its website so the user can be sure the display will work in their system.

CrowVi: Final verdict

The CrowVi is an excellent screen that won't break the bank. It works out of the box, providing superb image quality and a touch interface. The low power consumption and built-in speaker make it an essential accessory for crowded spaces like desktops. Its best feature is that it works with only one Type-C connection, providing power, display, and touch input.

The main negative point is the glossy screen, which can distract from serious work. The bezel isn’t the smallest found on a portable display, and while using only a slide button for the menu might be economical, this renders navigating the settings time-consuming.

We list the best portable power stations.

The new CrowVi portable monitor has all the bells and whistles of a modern screen while being simple. The glossy 13.3” FHD IPS panel is bright at 300 nits and offers an 800:1 contrast level. Being thin at less than 10mm and weighing around 350 grams, the monitor can easily be moved around. The IPS technology also provides a great viewing angle and faithful color reproduction. The supplied plastic cover doubles as a stand while protecting the screen.

Although the black 1cm bezel border isn’t the thinnest available, the screen will look great on any office desk. The glossy finish and a ten-point touch-based panel turn it into a fingerprint magnet. Two display ports, a Type-C and a mini HDMI, provide display connectivity. An audio socket and 2W stereo speakers complete the media section. 

The CrowVi 13.3-inch screen is available on the Elecrow website for $139. Two other models are available. The non-touch version will take $114.9 off your wallet, while the 15.6-inch costs $10 less than the 13.3-inch. These displays can readily connect to a small embedded computer, such as the newly released Raspberry Pi 5, also sold by Elecrow. 

CrowVi: Design

The CrowVi 13.3-inch ships with two display cables, one USB power cable, and an HDMI to mini HDMI adapter. A small 5V 10W AC adapter, a plastic cover, and the customary user manual are also included. The wall adapter is only sufficient to power the display, and a beefier adapter is needed if the user wants to power something like a Pi 5 through the display. The 13.3-inch display measures 31cm x 20cm x 1cm and weighs 773g.

The display is well constructed, with the glass touchscreen glued to the metal frame without any screws. The back of the display holds securely to the supplied magnetic cover. The left side hosts two user switches and a Type-C power port. The right side has two display inputs: one mini HDMI, a USB Type-C, and an audio socket.

CrowVi's IPS panel is bright at 300 nits and offers excellent viewing angles. An 800:1 contrast level guarantees an image that stands out in a dark room. Internally, Elecrow uses a 1920 x 1080 FHD panel made by Sharp. The 25ms response time at a 60Hz refresh rate puts the panel beyond serious gaming. The screen shows no white bleeding at corners on a black background.

The USB-accessible ten-point touch panel is accurate and responsive, with no calibration required from the user. The glossy glass surface is the only drawback. At TechRadar-Pro, we are more fond of matte finish displays since they are better for reading while offering less reflection at the expense of being less appealing.

CrowVi: In use

The CrowVi display turns on whenever power is present. The default brightness, contrast, and black level profile are excellent for watching movies, showcasing the sharpness and brightness of the IPS panel. The user can change settings by pressing the side knob. At this point, a simple menu allows changing settings typically available for an LCD screen. One interesting item is the HDR mode, which changes the backlight intensity depending on the image content.

The ten-point touchscreen and stereo speakers work seamlessly with any modern OS, such as Windows 11. The display inputs on the right side allow connecting two hosts to the CrowVi display, and a button on the left side permits switching between the two sources. The Type-C display port is the only one the user should ever need as it can provide display and power to the screen.

The CrowVi power consumption is about 6W, which translates into low heat dissipation and better battery life when connected to portable devices such as laptops and game consoles. The wide input voltage range, from 5V to 20V, makes the unit compatible with many standard and industrial setups. The built-in 2W speakers do not produce noticeable noise even when set to the maximum output.

CrowVi: Competition

What makes the CrowVi display stand out is the build quality and features at a low price. A sub $150 FHD 13.3” display with touch capability is hard to find, whereas a generic 13.3” display costs $155 on Amazon with a coupon applied. Elecrow provides a compatibility table on its website so the user can be sure the display will work in their system.

CrowVi: Final verdict

The CrowVi is an excellent screen that won't break the bank. It works out of the box, providing superb image quality and a touch interface. The low power consumption and built-in speaker make it an essential accessory for crowded spaces like desktops. Its best feature is that it works with only one Type-C connection, providing power, display, and touch input.

The main negative point is the glossy screen, which can distract from serious work. The bezel isn’t the smallest found on a portable display, and while using only a slide button for the menu might be economical, this renders navigating the settings time-consuming.

We list the best portable power stations.

Acquire is a help desk solution that works a little differently than some of the others we’ve reviewed. It’s designed to work most effectively in offering multichannel support, so if you are simply looking for a live chat solution then there are better options out there for you.

However, if you’re looking for a piece of software that can revamp your customer support in a more holistic way, then Acquire ticks a lot of boxes. It can unify your support through its multitasking capability and numerous integrations. It comes with chat functionality, video calling, SLA alerts, reporting, and more. 

Acquire’s pricing may be a little steep for some organizations, but this is a platform that is not really targeting smaller players that may have smaller budgets. On the contrary, its extensive language support suggests that this is a solution designed to meet the needs of multinational enterprises - the kind where Acquire’s price tag is less likely to be an issue.

This is a highly scalable solution that is being lauded by companies from a wide range of industries for the way it is helping to streamline workflows, boost conversions, and provide automation where it’s needed most.

Acquire Review: Plans and pricing

In terms of its pricing, Acquire may not be the cheapest but whether you consider it to be value for money all depends on what kind of features you need from your help desk solution. Currently, there are only two types of pricing plans available: self-service and an integrated solution. 

The self-service plan is priced at $500 per month (billed annually) plus an additional $25 per agent per month. As you can see, there are a lot of other help desk solutions available promising to improve your customer support for a lot less. What you get with Acquire’s cheapest plan is a chat widget, SLA alerts, prioritizations, and two-way video. You’ll also gain access to agent workspace reporting.

With the integrated plan, you’ll receive all the aforementioned features, plus call deflection and use of the SMS and email channels. This is available for $2000 per month (billed annually) plus and extra $45 per agent per month. 

Acquire also promises that there is a third pricing level “coming soon” offering more channels, a chatbot, video recording (bringing it into direct competition with Smartsupp), and task management functionality. There’s no mention of how much this subscription tier will cost, but it will certainly cost more than the integrated offering. 

The platform also offers tailored professional services should require a more bespoke help desk solution. To receive a quote for how much this will cost, you’ll need to get in touch with the sales team directly, however. If you’d rather see what all the fuss is about yourself, Acquire does offer potential customers the option of scheduling a demo or signing up for a free trial.

Features

One of the unique features offered by Acquire is Business Rules, which aims to provide additional context around customer conversations. Business Rules are designed to help you customize and automate how you route customer inquiries. For instance, if you want to assign a particular chatbot to a certain webpage, use a form to capture visitor information, or assign an agent to incoming emails, you can create a Business Rule to facilitate this.

In order to create a Business Rule, simply visit settings, then workflows, click on “Business Rules and choose “New Rule”. You’ll then be presented with a menu asking you to name and describe the rule and select an entry point. Your entry point is the channel that your visitors use to engage with your site and could be SMS, chat, email, private form, or telephone.

Other features that are included with your Acquire plan include robust live chat functionality. During customer conversations, your agents can tailor their support by accessing customer information, conversation history, and previous notes created by other agents. Your agents can also enjoy a single, unified view of multiple conversations to aid with multitasking. This can greatly increase your agent productivity as well as lead to a more personalized customer experience. 

You can also optimize your workflows with Acquire, resolving customer issues quicker with skill-based routing. Across your entire technology stack, you can enhance your prioritization, queue management, and self-servicing to improve agent efficiency. You can create workflows based on priority, skills, keywords, location, and custom attributes.

Call deflection and video calls are also available with Acquire to give users additional options for meeting customer needs. In particular, we found the video communication especially straightforward, with no third-party integrations required. Altogether, the platform’s features give agents a number of different options for engaging with customers. As Acquire says, it’s all about letting “customers choose how to connect.”

Integrations

Acquire supports a large number of integrations, including many of the most popular connections that you see with other help desk solutions. This includes tools like DocuSign, Shopify, HubSpot, Salesforce, and Zoom.

More interestingly, Acquire has stated that it is looking more deeply at a few of its other integrations, including IBM Watson, which recently announced an AI makeover. This presents businesses with a different approach to creating chatbot with Acquire. Stripe is another integration that Acquire is exploring further and means organizations can include a payment gateway natively within their payment support channels.

Although it’s a little disappointing that Acquire is still working on a number of its integrations so they may not quite function as intended yet, there’s still a large number of third-party connections provided here. The fact that many of Acquire’s integrations reach beyond the usual players that seem to be included with every help desk solution is another nice touch. 

Interface and ease of use

Acquire’s interface is intuitive and easy to use. If you need additional help getting to grips with the UI, the Acquire employee is happy to assist during the demo. There could be a few more customization options, however, which would allow you to shape the interface to suit your liking. 

Unifying such a wide variety of channels could introduce a fair deal of complexity for users of Acquire, so it’s reassuring that this hasn’t been our experience. Connecting the platform to disparate channels, from email to SMS, is easy with Acquire - and moving between them is seamless too. 

Perhaps the strongest evidence of Acquire’s ease of use can be found in the large number of positive customer case studies. For example, online credit solution Elevate made use of Acquire’s live chat, chatbots, and co-browsing features to reduce resolution time for customer issues and, ultimately, boost the processing of loan applications. Acquire’s user-friendly chat interface was referenced specifically in Elevate’s account of how the platform had significantly improved its customer service. 

Support

This is an area where Acquire could certainly do better. It’s very difficult to locate the platform’s support documentation and although there is a contact page that asks businesses to reach out if in need of support, I couldn’t see any contact details. The company does have an X (formerly known as Twitter) account, so it’s not as if they are completely uncontactable, but specific support channels are elusive.

Security

All data within the Acquire platform is encrypted in transit and at rest, with Acquire making use of the AES256-bit encryption protocol. The company also confirms that it ‍carries out vulnerability scans at least quarterly, with any security gaps being resolved “within a reasonable timeframe.” Acquire also employs a third party for penetration testing on its assets annually. Although this isn’t especially lax, many organizations are moving towards real-time penetration testing to ensure more robust security. 

With its access controls, login security features, and secure-by-design principles, Acquire delivers some pretty decent security. It also leverages disaster recovery, with its plan tested annually, so should a security incident get through Acquire’s defenses, there hopefully won’t be any lost information. 

The competition

Among a fast-growing field of help desk software tools, Acquire stands out from the crowd. If you are looking for a live chat solution and nothing more, you’ll be better suited in going for a cheaper option. In fact, there are some support programs that offer free-forever plans, such as Tawk.to and Smartsupp.

On the other hand, if you are looking for a help desk solution that brings some clarity to a more holistic support program, one where customers engage with your brand across several channels, then look no further than Acquire - as long as your budget is large enough, of course.

Acquire review: Final verdict

Acquire is an expensive but full-featured help desk solution. Integrations are also extensive and multiple languages are supported. If you’re a large enterprise with a sizable support team already, then Acquire is a great choice. Its support options are pretty limited, however, so make sure your team gets all its questions answered during the platform’s demo if you have one.

Pricing aside, Acquire is an impressive help desk solution. There seems to be more to come too, with an entirely new pricing tier set to be launched and more advanced integrations coming. It looks like this is a solution that is only likely to get better.

In today’s competitive technology landscape, there are a whole host of platforms claiming to be the best help desk software around. And now, you can add Smartsupp to the list. Although that would be a difficult claim to justify, this is one of the few solutions that can claim to offer a free-forever plan for an unlimited number of users with few restrictions. 

There are certainly some other reasons to score Smartsupp highly. It is intuitive and offers a large number of integrations - especially with ecommerce platforms - but here you can also see why this perhaps isn’t the most advanced help desk software on the market. Users may find that integrations don’t allow for the use of the full gamut of Smartsupp’s functionality at time. You also won’t find any native mobile apps here. 

Overall, then, Smartsupp isn’t a bad help desk solution by any means. It boats some impressive core functionality and an intuitive interface (even if it isn’t the prettiest). But if you drill down a little deeper, you might find that the platform is lacking in a few areas. Still, it’s difficult to be too critical when Smartsupp offers many of its features free of charge with no time restrictions.  

Smartsupp Review: Plans and pricing

As mentioned above, Smartsupp provides a generous free-forever plan, with many of its features made available without cost for an unlimited number of users. This makes it a great choice for larger teams on a budget. In fact, the only real competitor with similar pricing is Tawk.to.

With Smartsupp’s free plan, users gain access to live chat, email, and Facebook Messenger communication channels. You’ll also be able to conduct 50 conversations a month, have access to a 14-day conversion history, and can engage visitors with one automatic message. 

If you want access to more advanced functionality, you’ll need to sign up for the Standard plan, which will set you back $19.50 a month. This plan comes with an unlimited number of conversions, the option of looking back over a year’s worth of conversion history and up to 50 chatbot conversations a month. There are also some lead generation features that you don’t get with the free plan.

Supposedly, the most popular plan that Smartsupp offers customers is its Pro plan, which comes with everything that you get on the Standard plan, plus five automatic messages for visitor engagement, team stats and routing, and takes the number of chatbot conversations you get a month up to 100. There are also various add-ons you can access (for a price) at this subscription level. 

Finally, Smartsupp offers an Ultimate tailor-made solution, but businesses have to get in touch with sales directly to receive a bespoke quote. As you’d expect, the Ultimate plan takes things up a notch, coming with all the platform’s advanced features, as well as AI chatbots powered by chatGPT, WhatsApp integration, and a dedicated account manager

Although your company may require the paid plans that Smartsupp offers, particularly if you need access to more segmentation or analytics features, but most organizations are likely to focus on the free plan. This is generous in terms of what’s on offer, but it’s nice that organizations can choose to upgrade if they need to. Here, they’ll also gain access to a 14-day free trial, so they can explore whether it’s worth paying for the greater functionality before they commit themselves for the long term.

Features

Let’s start with Smartsupp’s core features. These are included with all subscription levels and include live chat functionality for websites and online stores. More than simply providing an opportunity for customer queries, this will hopefully boost conversions, which is why many ecommerce platforms are exploring help desk and live chat solutions. 

Other core features include a web dashboard, a contact hub, and file transfer features, as well as iPhone, Android, and web app functionality. As you move up the pricing plans, you’ll gain access to a greater number of chat box customizations, with contact forms, position and language support all coming with greater flexibility with the paid plans. 

The auto-messaging that comes with the paid versions of Smartsupp is a handy feature for businesses that want to engage with visitors. For instance, if you notice that a potential customer is spending a large amount of time on a particular webpage but not converting, you can set up an automotive message asking him or her if they have any questions. This could be the extra motivation that gets that sale over the line. 

You also have more analytics functionality with the paid-for plans. For example, you can analyze the data that you’ve gathered from your customer coversations, which can help improve the productivity of your agents. 

Perhaps the feature that stands out the most, however, is Smartsupp’s video recording. Unique among live chat solutions in offering this functionality, this feature is a good way for brands to get to know their website visitors better but perhaps there is a reason why no other tool offers this. Sure, you can view a customer’s buying process and identify potential bottlenecks but is it really any better than having the data that tells you the same thing? It’s a nice feature to have, but seems far from essential. 

Integrations

In terms of the sheer number of integrations that Smartsupp offers, there’s plenty to admire here. You can find connections with 58 other tools in total, including many of those that will already be well-known to businesses. This includes ecommerce platforms like Shopify and BigCommerce, as well as platforms that are better known as CMS providers, such as WordPress and LightCMS. Other integrations offered by Smartsupp include Wix, Weebly, and other website builder services.

Having said that, if you take a close look at the integrations on offer, you could end up slightly disappointed. For example, the video recording functionality that Smartsupp makes such as big deal of isn’t supported for some integrations. That’s why it’s a good idea to explore whether the platform integrates fully with another platform if you are thinking of signing up for a premium plan.

Interface and ease of use

Ease of use is an area where Smartsupp really shines. While the platform is not the best looking on the agent side, this will always be secondary to the actual functionality. Here, the platform performs well and your agent should have no problem getting to grips with all the functionality and settings here.  

The installation process is extremely straightforward - even for users who might not be the most tech-savvy. It’s simply a case of copying the relevant code into the body of your website and your Smartsupp help desk offering will be displayed to visitors. Detailed instructions make this easier still, should you encounter difficulties.

It’s also easy to customize the colors and content of your chat window, although you might encounter some restrictions here if you are using the free plan. This is extremely useful if your site employs a particular style or you simply want your chat box to align with the rest of your branding. Overall, this is a hello desk tool that may not look great, but is as intuitive as any other we’ve reviewed. 

Support

Customer support varies depending on which payment plan, individuals are signed up to. For instance, there’s no specific support channel provided with the free plan, while anyone on the Standard plan have access to support via email, and the Pro plan comes with priority support. Of course, free users still have access to tutorials via the online help site, as well as the Smartsupp Educational Resource Center, complete with a host of online resources to support users. 

While it’s slightly disappointing that free users are left to solve their own problems, Smartsupp has to make money somehow. We’ve found the email support that comes with the Standard offering to be pretty responsive, so if you feel like you might need additional help, you’ll have to stump up some cash. 

Security

In terms of security, Smartsupp is compliance with GDPR and issues a Personal Data Processing Agreement with all its customers. Of course, the platform’s video recording feature does add a privacy issue that don’t get with other help desk platforms. 

Smartsupp is extremely clear that recording user behavior online is legal and provides guidance on whether businesses should inform visitors that this is taking place. The platform also uses SSL / TLS encryption for additional security. 

The competition

As mentioned above, the main competitor to Smartsupp would have to be Tawk.to, especially if you look at tools that provide a similar free-forever plan. However, there are a huge number of help desk solutions on the market, such as the likes of Tidio, Freshdesk, and LiveAgent.

Although Smartsupp can obviously beat many of its rivals on price, others can lay claim to boasting more advanced functionality or tighter integrations. It all depends on what your priorities are 

Smartsupp review: Final verdict

Is price the most important thing for you when choosing your help desk software? If so, you could do a lot worse than Smartsupp. Having said that, there are some disappointing elements of the platform, including its design and integrations. It might be worth researching these further if you are considering signing up for one of the paid plans. 

The Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Pro builds on the previous Photon Mono M series printers, and with each iteration, Anycubic makes huge leaps forward in design and print quality. This latest printer is one of the best-looking resin 3D printers out there. In a departure from Anycubic's usual design, the protective cover is shaded black rather than the usual yellow, giving it a far more stylish look than its predecessors

An initial check through the specifications shows that things look much the same as the M5S series, with the 14k resolution screen providing a resolution of 13,320 x 5,120 pixels across a 10.1-inch screen, which is actually the same as the M5S. On the M5S, this high resolution produced stunning print quality and made it one of the best resin printers in the mid-range. With that history of quality, you can almost guarantee that the prints from the M7 Pro are going to be equal, but the big difference here is the speed, with the high-speed resins reaching 170mm/h from 130mm/h on the previous iteration.

The machine's design has improved design in terms of aesthetics, with a slightly retro look that balances the overall look. Some of the other key features of the new machine include an auto-resin refill system, auto-adaptive temperature control, and a high print speed of up to 170mm/h with high-speed resin. But is it one of the best 3D printers? We put it to the test/

Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Pro: Design

In the last iteration of this model, the design was slightly boosted, and there were a few additions, such as the heater element. While these additions boosted the performance, the implementation could have been more refined, with the heater block requiring an additional power supply and needing to be essentially stuck in place. The M7 Pro is a world apart, with the heater block integrated into the system neatly, and the entire design of the machine seems far more refined, as well as a step up in overall quality.

While there are Anycubic design familiarities with the large logo, when you take a step back, you can see that Anycubic has worked on this machine from the ground up. More physical design is needed that reflects the previous models. Even the protective cover, made from UV-blocking material while retaining the lift-off design switches from yellow to black. It's a shame, with all the design overhaul that Anycubic has carried out, that they've retained the lift design, as it is not as user-friendly as the more modern flip-up covers seen in other brands.

The resin tank uses a secure bolted-down design, which is effective but lacks the convenience of quick-release mechanisms available in some competing models. Notably, the Photon Mono M7 Pro introduces an auto-resin refill system. This is an addition that needs to be fitted during the setup process and connects to a bottle external to the machine. Additionally, like the M5S, there's the temperature control. However, this iteration sees an auto-adaptive version that helps to ensure optimal printing conditions and maintains consistent resin temperature even in cooler environments. During the test of the M5S, this temperature control module made a huge difference in print quality.

The Photon Mono M7 Pro incorporates significant updates over the M5S despite running a screen with the same size and resolution. However, the intelligent workflow-assist features, heater element, auto-resin feed, and refinements in design instantly make the M7 Pro a far more attractive machine.

Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Pro: Features

The Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Pro features a 10.1-inch monochrome 14k resolution (13,320 x 5,120 pixels) LCD screen capable of an XY resolution of 16.8*24.8μm. This high resolution, combined with 85% light uniformity across the screen, helps ensure that intricate model details and sharp edges are produced in every print, wherever they are on the print platform.

One of the two features of interest for the M7 Pro is the auto-resin refill system. This system automatically manages resin levels and should reduce the need for manual resin monitoring. What's interesting about this system is that Anycubic has produced not only an auto-fill but also an auto-resin withdrawal feature so that the bulk of resin can be removed from the system easily prior to cleaning.

The other big feature of the Photon Mono M7 Pro is the auto-adaptive temperature control system. Like the heater and filter module in the M5S, this temperature control system helps maintain a consistent air temperature of up to 40°C, ensuring that the resin remains above 20°C, even in cooler environments.

Alongside the two big additions, speed leaps with high-speed printing capabilities, with the printer reaching speeds of up to 170mm/h when using high-speed resin. This additional print speed has been made possible by the third-generation high-speed ACF film, which reduces peeling force and height, thereby increasing lifting speed over the previous version. Whether this film can be applied to the M5S as a retrofit has yet to be confirmed.

For anyone who has used resin printers, the process of levelling every few prints can be a hassle. This new model features a levelling-free design, which has become a standard in Anycubic’s high-end models. It uses floating platform technology and internal sensors to adjust automatically and ensure consistent printing quality, which should mean less levelling, if any. In addition, there is a smart detection system that helps identify resin residue and adjusts the peeling height according to the model’s shape. Ultimately, this prevents failures and damage to the tank film if something falls from the print platform or misprints.

A common feature across all printers these days is the Anycubic App, which again has seen a significant overhaul in the last year and provides one-touch printing.

Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Pro: Performance

Print quality is, of course, the most important focus of the machine, and the quality of the M5S set a high standard to follow. From the outset, once the auto-fill system has been correctly fitted and primed and the tank filled with resin, the printer fires into action. Whether it's the additional weight over the M5S or the refinement in design, the machine sits solidly, printing with a low hum of the internal fans and motors. It seems really quite subdued compared to some other midrange models and positively silent compared with high-speed filament printers.

The speed is instantly noticeable, with prints firing off the build platform at almost double the speed of standard prints using the high-speed resin. The print quality is also exceptional, although, as we've found with Anycubic resin in the past, the need to wash and remove supports from the model as quickly as possible after the completion of the print is just as important here. If you leave the print for an hour after washing, the curing makes the supports incredibly tough, and for some models, these can be incredibly difficult to remove, including one of the sample prints.

The Anycubic Photon Workshop handles slicing for the printer and generally does a great job with plenty of options. However, the focus, as ever, is on the support structures rather than the quality settings. Here, plenty of adjustments are made in a way that's easy to understand and gives you a good number of options regarding the strength and density of the supports used. As always, it takes a while to get used to these options, and for some more detailed prints, adjusting the orientation of the model will dramatically change the quality of the print. This version of the slicer also includes drain hole and hollow features, which again will need some experimentation to get 100% right. The success of the model's quality with this and all resin printers comes down to the quality of the support structure.

When it comes to print quality, the 14k screen delivers exceptional detail, producing prints with sharp edges and intricate features, as seen in the Dragon and Warlock prints using both standard and high-speed resins. Testing with high-speed resin showed the printer's true capability to produce high-quality prints quickly, with prints showing exceptional quality. However, we did find that attempting to hollow out a high-speed print had mixed results. As we have found before, high-speed resin tends to be more brittle than other resins, which requires a little more delicacy when cleaning and removing the support structure.

Switching to standard resin, it's surprising just how much slower the prints are produced, but it again offers outstanding quality, easier support removal, and less brittleness. While you lose the speed when producing high-quality prints, the slower resin was preferable when it came to quality compared with the higher-speed resins.

There are a couple of notes on quality. Firstly, having a decent wash machine is essential, with the Anycubic Wash & Cure Max machine being a good example. This not only enables you to wash off excessive resin but will help with the cleaning of the prints, and after a good wash, the supports are far easier to remove. The other point is that if prints do start to fail, using the clean function will quickly expose the tank, enabling you to peel off a few layers of set resin. We found that in 80% of cases, this cured most issues. However, while this is a no-levelling system, after 4kg of resin went through the system, we did find running through the levelling process was required.

Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Pro: Final verdict

The Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Pro is an exceptional resin 3D printer. It offers high-resolution printing and advanced features that, when everything is set up and working, provide a clear and easy workflow. The design update gives the machine a slightly retro but fresh aesthetic that ultimately looks great.

The lift-off cover, bolted resin tank, and overall design may not be as refined as the rest of the printer's design and don't really reflect the more streamlined designs we see from other manufacturers. However, the integration of an auto-resin refill system, auto-adaptive temperature control, and high-speed printing capabilities takes the features up a level.

The auto-resin refill system worked on and off, with the filling system working well when the bottle was full but then tapering off once the bottle got to under half full. Likewise, the automatic removal of resin from the tank was also a little hit and miss, sometimes working and other times just making noises but not actually doing the job.

When it came to those housekeeping tasks, the machine's cleaning and levelling functions worked incredibly well, and with time, knowing the machine's small intricacies will help achieve consistent results over the long term.

When it comes to the all-important print quality, the Photon Mono M7 Pro excels, producing intricate, detailed prints that rival more expensive models. The 14k screen and intelligent workflow-assist features all help to ensure consistent and reliable printing, making it a great choice for enthusiasts and professionals looking for a mid-range printer.

Should you buy the Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Pro?

The Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Pro is ideal for serious hobbyists and professionals who prioritize high-resolution printing and advanced features. With a 14K resolution screen, auto-resin refill, and auto-adaptive temperature control, it ensures exceptional detail and print quality. High-speed printing capabilities further enhance its appeal. However, the traditional design and higher cost may not suit budget-conscious users or those seeking modern aesthetics. If you demand precision and efficiency in your 3D prints, this printer is a worthwhile investment, offering features that justify its price for high-quality, detailed projects.

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For more machines for crafting, we tested out the best laser engravers.

The Flsun S1 is a delta 3D printer, a design that in the past has been known for speed and precision, although the mechanics are somewhat complicated, which has made servicing for most a little more tricky than the more common Cartesian style. Like the Cartesian counterparts, delta technology has leapt forward at a pace as we recently saw with the superb TriLab AzteQ Industrial. The Flsun follows in the same vein of design but adds more features and comes in at almost half the price while offering a huge 320 x 430 mm build area.

The machine's delta kinematics come in a fully enclosed casing with a few additional features that make this not just one of the best 3D printers for business we've tried, but also one of the most interesting high-end enthusiast, professional machines on the market at present. One of those features is the built-in dry filament box at the top, which helps to keep the filament in the best possible condition during the print process. AI tools join this, and a print speed that makes some of the other hyper-speed printers look decidedly slow.

Flsun S1: Design

The design of the Flsun S1 is large, with the machine measuring 550 x 595 x 1030 mm. This means that you're going to need some space to place it, and when you consider the doors to the enclosure to cope with as well, this isn't a standard desktop printer. If you do go to place it on a surface, make sure it's good and strong; a standard IKEA desk, for instance, will bend under the 41 kg weight.

The size, weight, and design mean that this is a machine that, once placed, is best left where it is, making it ideal for a workshop, classroom, or office where you know the machine won't need to move regularly. Out of the box, there are a few steps to go through before printing, but when it comes to construction, there are only a few small items to attend to. The first is to bolt on the doors; again, the size of these makes the process a little fiddly, but with some help, it's easy enough. Then it's just a case of removing a few retainer screws and zip ties, and you can plug in and power up, ready to load the cable. The only other parts that need to be attached are the large touchscreen and control panel.

The build process takes less than ten minutes, and the machine is 95% ready to go. During this time, you can check out the quality of the frame and construction, which is solid and ensures maximum stability during the high-speed printing process.

The dry box at the top, which houses the filament, is quite an interesting design feature; this is something unique at this price point. At the base of the machine is the large touch screen; this is beautifully designed, and the UI is clear with good icons and layout. The only other real area of interest with the design is the removable PEI build platform, which enables you to remove prints when finished easily.

• Design: 4.5/5

Flsun S1: Features

The Flsun S1 boasts a range of features that complement the high-speed delta kinematics and help ensure fast and smoother prints with fewer failures.

Some of the key features include speed, with a maximum of 1200 mm/s, which is double that of most fast printers and enables extremely fast print production. Maximum acceleration speeds of 40000 mm/s² and a flow rate of 110 mm³/s when using fast PLA all add to the machine's high-speed capabilities.

When it comes to print size, the S1 is one of the largest printers at this price point, with only the Elegoo Giga Orange beating it in pure scale. The print area is 320 x 430 mm, providing ample scope for what you can print onto the PEI flexible print platform.

What's interesting about the design is that it's fully enclosed, making it extremely neat in the workshop, with no reels sitting externally as with other large-scale printers. The inclusion of the built-in dry box for a single reel is a great idea and helps to boost the quality of prints. This dry box is a separate section above the main print area. Another environment-enhancing feature is the CPAP high-pressure turbofan that helps maintain an ideal temperature in the build area for the material you're using.

Print reliability is a huge consideration for Flsun, especially with a printer this size, which can go through a kilo of filament in a surprisingly fast time. To help avoid print failures, a binocular structured light system monitors the print and detects if anything goes wrong. This system consists of two cameras and a micron laser. It is coupled with AI tools that further support the detection of any issues.

One of the energy-saving features that we're starting to see more of is intelligent zone heating. We first saw this at the consumer level on the Elegoo Neptune 4 Pro and, more recently, on the professional Original PRUSA XL. Here again, a zone system is used so that only the parts of the build platform that are in contact with the base of the print are heated.

A common feature of all 3D printers these days is auto-leveling. Here, it's slightly more advanced due to the delta design, so having an advanced computer system behind the scenes helps to ensure that all-important first-layer accuracy.

Alongside auto-levelling are a few new and emerging features, such as DPA (Dynamic Pressure Advance), that help ensure each layer sticks, as well as growing features such as vibration reduction.

While PLA is mostly odourless, many other materials do produce an odour. To help combat this, the S1 has a built-in filter that reduces the gases that can escape the filament during printing, making it safer to use in an office or workshop without ventilation.

• Features: 4.5/5

Flsun S1: Performance

The initial set-up of the printer is relatively quick and straightforward, but it should be noted that this is a two-person task as this printer is larger and heavier than most. Just removing it from the box takes some effort, and once you get the machine in position, you won't want to move it again.

The machine comes almost ready to go; just attach the doors and the control panel, power on, load the filament, and you're done. The machine comes with a USB containing a good selection of models to print, enabling you to test if everything is working as it should be. Our set-up process took around 15 minutes, most of which was spent getting someone to hold the door still as the hinge was screwed into place. The filament loading was easy but fiddly, with little clearance between the filament roll and feeder tube, which meant the filament needed to be inserted and pushed through before the filament could be installed.

Loading the filament was quick, and the hot end heated at an incredible speed as the filament was loaded. Once done, the machine is set and ready to go. The first few prints used in the test were supplied by the manufacturer and printed at speed and with impressive accuracy. The 3D Benchy test, for instance, printed in a little over eight minutes, around five minutes faster than most high-speed printers.

Going through the test prints, the one that stood out was the vase, the quality of which was incredible. Although the vase setting in the slicer wasn't set, there was a seam. Testing this with other vases and switching the vase setting on gets impressive results.

Through real-world tests with a variety of materials, the speed and quality of the printer really stand out. The only issue was the noise. Inside, there's a turbofan, and there's absolutely no missing it when the machine starts a print or gets too hot. However, for most instances, if you're using PLA, opening the door of the enclosure will regulate the temperature and quieten the fan, or if you delve into the settings, you can switch it off. However, compared to the ultra-low noise printers that we have seen recently, this is a little more industrial.

The benchmark tests were carried out after running through several reels of filament. While the prints looked exceptional, the print accuracy needed to catch up to some of the latest printers. Print dimensional accuracy was slightly lower than expected, and while it coped with the negative features, overhangs, and bridging well, it was all a little off what was expected. We are talking about measurements of a few microns rather than millimetres.

With the small issues aside—and they are small—the speed and print quality make this a superb professional choice. It enables you to turn around print iterations quickly. In an educational environment, it enables you to print out students' work quickly and between lessons, which again will make a huge difference to workflows.

• Performance: 4 / 5

Flsun S1: Final verdict

The Flsun S1 directly competes with the excellent TriLab printers and, in many respects, takes the edge when it comes to overall print quality. However, there are a few small issues, such as feeding the filament into the machine, which can be a little tricky due to the position of the feeder tube. Likewise, once the filament has finished, it rarely unloads back through the feeder tube quickly, requiring you to unlink the feeder tube closer to the tool head. This process takes a few seconds but still needs to be a more neat solution than you would expect.

The rest of the build is superb, and the huge touchscreen and interface are one of the best on the market. The remote printing function works well, but the quality of the prints really stands out. If you look at the prints in isolation, they are among the cleanest that any printer has produced, but when you consider the pure printing speed, it becomes even more impressive.

The Flsun takes a different approach to design than most, enabling a printer with a huge print area and a speed and accuracy that are hard to beat. For product design, engineering, and especially education, this is one of the best printers out there for pure simplicity, speed, and quality of finish. However, you do need to be aware of the fan noise, which can be excessive.

Should You Buy the Flsun S1?

The Flsun S1 combines speed, quality, and ease of use in a robust package. Its delta design allows for fast and smooth prints, while the user-friendly interface and auto-leveling system ensure a hassle-free experience. Despite some limitations, the S1's overall performance and value make it a strong contender in the 3D printing market.

We tested out the best laser engravers

The HP Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw, known as the HP Color LaserJet Pro 3202dw in the UK, means business. This color laser printer is smaller than most letter-sized desktop devices and it looks rather smart in HP’s grey and blue livery. It’s aimed at the home office and SMB (small to medium-size business) and it has the speed and capacity to satisfy both sectors.

Being a laser printer, the print rate is a prompt 26ppm (prints per minute) and there’s room for 250 sheets of A4 or Letter paper in the main tray. It can take fairly high-yield cartridges too, although there’s not actually much toner in the box. 

We’ve tested out hundreds of the best small business printers. With its convenient multi-purpose tray and a host of security features, the HP Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw (or HP Color LaserJet Pro 3202dw in the UK) could suit both the home or the office, so let’s find out where it works best. 

HP Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw: Design and build

Unlike many of the best laser printers we’ve seen, the HP Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw is small for its type, especially a color model. With the home office in mind, HP has made this desktop design easy to accommodate while still having enough room for 250 sheets of paper in the main drawer. It’s a very standard form-factor with the output tray on the top, the input tray at the bottom and a front panel that opens to reveal the toner cartridges. 

Inside you can see the drawer holding the four closely packed cartridges, which are themselves not that big. The highest capacity carts available can only yield up to 3,200 black pages and 2,500 color. That’s considerably less than the 7,600 and 5,500 pages seen in our Canon i-SENSYS MF754Cdw review, for example. 

The two-inch display is not a touchscreen, but it’s easy to read, while the multi-purpose tray for single sheets of paper or envelopes, is located conveniently at the front. At the rear are connections for ethernet and USB cables. 

HP Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw: Features & specifications

The HP Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw is a duplex printer with a few additional features essential for use in a home office or shared workspace. Dual-band Wi-Fi is built in with Wi-Fi Direct and AirPrint wireless connectivity, or you can use the USB and Ethernet ports for wired connections. There’s no NFC (near field communication) module, but HP has embedded its Wolf Pro Security software to satisfy business users. 

There’s no touchscreen and no front USB Host port either, but the front-loading multi-purpose tray is a welcome feature. You can load single sheets of letter-headed paper or envelopes into its motorised slot for those one-off print jobs that would otherwise involve reloading the main paper tray. 

There’s room for 250 sheets of paper on board and that’s any size media up to A4 and up to 200g/m² in weight. The output tray can hold 100 sheets. Being a laser, it prints equally quickly in mono or color and at a rate of 26ppm (using US letter paper) with two-sided printing at 15ppm, which means it can turn the page over itself more quickly than a lot of duplex machines.

The HP Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw ships with four TerraJet cartridges, which use less plastic than other types and are especially energy efficient thanks to the toner’s low melting point. Annoyingly, there’s only enough inbox toner for 600 black and white pages and 500 color.

HP Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw: Setup & operation

The TerraJet toner cartridges come pre-installed, so setting up the HP Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw takes only a couple of minutes. Just load some paper, turn on and follow the prompts on the display to set the date/time/region and connect to your Wi-Fi network. The only fiddly bit is entering the Wi-Fi password using the tiny cursor buttons. A touchscreen would make this easier, but it’s not essential on a print-only device, so I won’t mark it down for that.   

HP Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw: Performance

The HP Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw printed quickly and well and without a miss-step throughout our best printer test procedure. The quoted print speed of 26ppm (or 25ppm when using A4) is about right. Pages of text usually look sharper on a laser than an inkjet printer, due to the fact that toner never leaks into the page as ink does, and that’s the case here. For consistency and legibility at very small point sizes, this printer’s output is hard to fault. 

The TerraJet black is satisfyingly dark and the colored toner is particularly vibrant, giving mixed color documents a punchy and professional-looking finish. At 600dpi (dots per inch), the resolution looks sharp enough. The only problem is with printing photographs. HP’s brochure claims the TerraJet colors look true-to-life, but I have to disagree. The vivid tones do not look natural and they don’t shade gradually so that photos always look odd. Laser printers cannot compete with inkjets when it comes to the best photo printers, but this one is particularly bad at it. This is a laser office printer, not an inkjet photo printer, and it’s so good at printing letters and colorful pie charts, it can be forgiven for its inability to produce a lifelike photo.   

HP Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw: Final verdict

The HP Color LaserJet Pro 3201dw is equally well designed for the home office or a workgroup environment thanks to its small form factor and rapid print rate. It's not the best printer ever - this is not a premium device and there’s no touchscreen, USB Host port, or NFC, but it does possess the features that matter. That includes auto duplex printing, dual-band Wi-Fi with AirPrint and the embedded security essential in a shared office. The front-facing multi-purpose tray is convenient, while the 250-sheet paper capacity will be plenty for most purposes. HP’s vivid and efficient TerraJet toner is great for printing eye-catching text pages and brightly colored documents. It’s just a pity that it makes photographs look garish and unrealistic. There’s not much toner in the box either and replacement cartridges are somewhat expensive. Used in the right way, however, there’s still much to recommend this colorful and compact printer. 

Like the brand? We compared the best HP printers 

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